Abbreviata abbreviata (Rudolphi, 1819) as a new nematode parasite for Malpolon insignitus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1827) recorded in Albania

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O sono louco

O sono louco é o título de trabalho de um projeto exibido recentementecomo instalação na galeria Casamata, no Rio de Janeiro. Combinando métodos de pesquisa acadêmica com prática artística, o projeto investiga os problemas de sono do próprio artista, por meio de um teste caseiro realizado no período de um mês com um relógio de ponto de vigia noturno do século XIX. Os resultado obtidos pareceram apontar para a existência de um transtorno psíquico transitivo que consiste em uma notável resistência em despertar-se, um problema ainda pouco estudado na passagem entre sono e vigília. O presente ensaio apresenta uma tentativa de interpretar esse “estudo de caso” em primeira pessoa, com referências à ciência dos sonhos de Freud, às estruturas de dominação do capitalismo industrial e ao amor louco dos surrealistas

Albinism in Natrix tessellata (Serpentes: Natricidae)

Albinism in Natrix tessellata (Serpentes: Natricidae). The Dice Snake, Natrix tessellata, varies in color and pattern, and has several color morphs. Except for melanism, color aberrations are quite rare in the species. Of the two published records of albinism in N. tessellata, the first, from the mid–19th century in Italy is dubious; the second is from Israel. Herein, albinism in juvenile N. tessellata from Slovakia is documented, and the occurrence of albinism in all species of European snakes is discussed.Albinismo em Natrix tessellata (Serpentes: Natricidae). Natrix tessellata varia em cor e padrão e tem várias formas de cores. Exceto pelo melanismo, as aberrações cromáticas são muito raras na espécie. Dos dois registros de albinismo publicados para essa espécie, o primeiro, de meados do século 19 na Itália, é duvidoso; o segundo é de Israel. Documentamos aqui o albinismo em jovens de N. tessellata da Eslováquia e examinamos o contexto de albinismo observado entre outras serpentes da Europa

Use of processing fluid samples for longitudinal monitoring of PRRS virus in herds undergoing virus elimination

This was an observational study that prospectively followed 29 breeding herds for 65 weeks in the U.S.A. that became infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv). The herds operated in a four-week batch farrowing system and adopted a load-close-expose strategy using a modified-live virus vaccine to achieve PRRSv stability. The purpose of this study was to describe time to stability (TTS) based on RT-qPCR testing for PRRSv RNA on processing fluid samples in herds undergoing PRRSv elimination, after implementing herd closure and mass exposure to a PRRS modified-live virus (MLV) vaccine. For the purpose of this study, stability was defined as consistently producing PRRSv-negative pigs. Study herds were monitored until two consecutive piglet batches tested PRRSv RT-qPCR negative, then 30 due-to-wean piglet sera from the second batch were tested for PRRSv RNA by RT-qPCR. Once the farm re-opened, sera from incoming naïve gilts were tested for anti-PRRSv antibodies by ELISA at 30- and 60-days post-entry to confirm negative status to PRRSv. Day zero was the day of whole-herd exposure to a commercial PRRS vaccine virus. Twenty-eight of 29 herds (96.55%) achieved TTS within the study period. TTS ranged from 18 to 55 weeks with a median of 27 weeks. Serum from due-to-wean piglets was collected on 28 farms, of which 26 (92.85%) obtained PRRSv RT-qPCR-negative results on the first collection. At the end of the observational period, 16 sow farms successfully re-introduced PRRSv-naïve gilts with no detected serologic response. In conclusion, the median time to achieve TTS in breeding herds being operated in a four-week batch farrowing system undergoing PRRSv elimination using load-close-expose with attenuated virus vaccine was 27 weeks. Also, processing fluid-based monitoring of breeding herds under PRRS elimination was practical and reliable to assess PRRSv stability

Novi podaci o rasprostranjenosti pseudoškorpiona u Albaniji (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae)

The chernetid pseudoscorpions Pselaphochernes lacertosus (L. Koch, 1873) and P. scorpioides (Hermann, 1804) are here recorded for the first time from Albania and the second locality from Albania of the species Dendrochernes cyrneus (L. Koch, 1873) is reported.Pseudoškorpioni iz porodice Chernetidae Pselaphochernes lacertosus (L. Koch, 1873) i P. scorpioides (Hermann, 1804) zabilježeni su prvi puta za Albaniju, a rad donosi i drugi lokalitet u Albaniji za vrstu Dendrochernes cyrneus (L. Koch, 1873)

SMS texts on corruption help Ugandan voters hold elected councillors accountable at the polls

Many politicians manipulate information to prevent voters from holding them accountable; however, mobile text messages may make it easier for nongovernmental organizations to credibly share information on official corruption that is difficult for politicians to counter directly. We test the potential for texts on budget management to improve democratic accountability by conducting a large (n = 16,083) randomized controlled trial during the 2016 Ugandan district elections. In cooperation with a local partner, we compiled, simplified, and text-messaged official information on irregularities in local government budgets. Verified recipients of messages that described more irregularities than expected reported voting for incumbent councillors 6% less often; verified recipients of messages conveying fewer irregularities than expected reported voting for incumbent councillors 5% more often. The messages had no observable effect on votes for incumbent council chairs, potentially due to voters\u27 greater reliance on other sources of information for higher profile elections. These mixed results suggest that text messages on budget corruption help voters hold some politicians accountable in settings where elections are not free and fair