Unbreakable bones: Christian mission and the resilience of Temi culture

This thesis is concerned with the Batemi of northern Tanzania and the symbols through which they assign meaning in their world. At the centre of the research lies the inquiry of how the Batemi reproduce their individual and communal identity through practices and beliefs in the context of a modernizing post-colonial nation-state. Interacting amongst themselves and with their immediate neighbours – primarily the Maasai – the Batemi show a remarkable resilience in promoting their own choices which are based on their customs, called gitɛmi. The research is based on a long-term involvement with the Batemi and draws from a multitude of collected empirical material, interviews, participant observation, historical materials, and on the insights gained from discussions with Temi contributors. The investigation combines primary data revealing the Batemi’s insights and interpretations of their culture along with my own reflections and understanding of the significance of core processes that shape Temi self-understanding. The Batemi are often portrayed as an unusually hard case of successful resistance against Christianity and Westernization at a time when the majority of other Tanzanian people groups have undergone significant change after having been affected by Christianity. In the encounter between the Batemi and outside observers (colonial personnel, anthropologists and missionaries), the latter portrayed Temi religion almost exclusively as a set of beliefs in a divine being called Ghambageu. Convinced that Ghambageu provided an opportune analogy to communicate a Christian gospel, the missionaries focused on a comparison between Jesus and Ghambageu in their attempt to evangelize the Batemi. However, this study concludes that the core of Temi religion, and indeed of their culture, is tied up with activities and beliefs surrounding the Kirimo rituals, rather than with the myths of Ghambageu. Furthermore, I suggest that it is this misguided notion of Temi religion which ultimately led to a failure to establish a viable church among the Batemi. The study calls for a reappraisal of the Christian mission approach to traditional African communities like the Batemi, and an invitation to re-evaluate a dogmatic concept of religion in the light of the presented Temi religious phenomenon

Watersiporidae (Bryozoa) in Iberian waters: an update on alien and native species

Species of the genus Watersipora comprise an important invasive fouling group but are difficult to identify up to species level. This problem, in conjunction with the recent re-description of several member species, requires the revision of previous records and newly collected material in order to more precisely determine their actual presence and distribution. Here, we revise the identity and distribution of alien and native species of Watersiporidae in Iberian waters based on newly collected material, historical collections, and bibliographic data. Four species of Watersipora are now known from here. Watersipora cucullata is the only native species, present in the Spanish Mediterranean. Watersipora subatra seems to have been introduced relatively recently in Iberian and European Atlantic waters and has been expanding to other Atlantic localities. Watersipora arcuata was collected for the first time in Europe at the SW Spanish Atlantic coast in 1990 and recently in Mediterranean marinas. Watersipora souleorum is known in Iberian waters from two localities in the Gulf of Cadiz and in Gibraltar. With the recent redescription of the genus Watersipora, W. complanata is no longer a member. A new watersiporid genus, Terwasipora gen. nov., is described for this species. In Iberian waters, T. complanata comb. nov. is considered a native species, frequent and abundant in shallow waters along the Atlantic coastThe work of Javier Souto was supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF, project number AP28954-B29). Part of the samples was collected thanks to the support of the project ‘Fauna Ibérica: Briozoos II (Familia Cribrilinidae–Familia Watersiporidae)’ co-financed by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Spanish government) and FEDER (project number CGL2010-22267-C07-02)S

Redescription of some species of Bryozoa described by J. Jullien and L. Calvet in the NE Atlantic

Five species described by Jullien and/or Calvet from the NE Atlantic are redescribed and stabilized by typification: Hippothoa amoena, Schizoporella confusa, S. jullieni, S. ovum and Smittia guernei. Three new synonymies are established: Schizoporella jullieni with Hippothoa amoena, S. ovum with Escharina alderi, and Escharella pseudopunctata with Smittia guernei. A new trypostegid genus, Pulpeirina gen. nov., is erected for H. amoena. Three new combinations are introduced.This work was partially supported by the project “Fauna Ibérica: Briozoos II (Familia Cribrilinidae – Familia Watersiporidae)” (CGL2010-22267-C07-02), co-financed by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spanish Government, and FEDER. JS thanks the Austrian Science Fund (FWF, Lise Meitner Program, grant M1444-B25) for financial supportS

¿Un europeo olvidado? Salvador de Madariaga y la integración europea

En este artículo me ocupo de Salvador de Madariaga (1886-1978), quien, como erudito, diplomático y político, acuñó el “principio de la integración europea”. El texto analiza sus ideas a favor de la integración y su actuación en unas instituciones en las que entonces existía un intenso debate entre una integración global o una integración en el nivel europeo. La investigación se ocupa, concretamente, de dos tramos temporales claramente diferenciados por la historia: antes y después de la II Guerra Mundial. El contraste de estos dos tramos temporales coincide con el cambio de las teorías de Madariaga a favor de la integración supranacional. En el debate acerca de la integración europea, en síntesis, Madariaga se encuentra en el área conflictiva situada entre las ideas del idealismo y del realismo. Por lo demás, su compromiso con la integración de Europa ilustra la transición de una idea abstracta de una Europa unificada a la acción de la “política real”

Three non-indigenous species from Madeira harbors, including a new species of Parasmittina (Bryozoa)

During a study investigating the identity and abundance of fouling non-indigenous species in marinas from the Madeira Archipelago, three species of bryozoans were detected on experimental settlement plates. These three species are described and figured. Celleporaria inaudita was previously only known from Vanuatu (South Pacific Ocean) and Safaga Bay (Red Sea). Parasmittina alba was previously only known from the Brazilian coast. The origin of Parasmitina multiaviculata sp. nov. is unknown. Secondary introduction by anthropogenic vectors (via hull fouling of recreational vessels) seems the most plausible explanation for the presence of these species in the Madeira IslandsThe work of J.S. was supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF, Lise Meitner Program M1444-B25 and Project Number AP28954-B29). P. Ramalhosa holds a research fellowship in the Project M1420-01-0145-FEDER-000001 — project Observatório Oceânico da Madeira (OOM). J. Canning-Clode was supported by a starting grant in the framework of the 2014 FCT Investigator Programme (IF/01606/2014/CP1230/CT0001)S

Therapy of disseminated nocardiosis with recombinant Interferon Gamma-1b

Nocardiosen sind seltene Erkrankungen die durch einige Arten der bakteriellen Gattung Nocardia hervorgerufen werden. Insbesondere in einer disseminierten Verlaufsform weist die Erkrankung ein hohes Mortalitätsrisiko auf. Die Arbeit von Derungs et al. stellt einen adjuvanten Therapieansatz der Erkrankung vor und behandelt die Frage, inwiefern die Einbeziehung der Pathologie des Wirts (host-directed therapy) den Therapieerfolg der Nocardiose verbessern kann. Die konventionelle antibiotische Therapie der Erkrankung adressiert den Krankheitserreger. Mit der additiven Gabe von rekombinantem Interferon Gamma 1b soll zusätzlich eine Modifikation von krankheitsbedingenden Wirtsfaktoren erreicht werden. Dabei sind methodologische Herausforderungen zu berücksichtigen, die sich bei wissenschaftlich abgesicherten Therapien seltener Erkrankungen stellen. Die Aussagekraft der Untersuchung ist primär durch die niedrige Fallzahl und eine fehlende klinische Kontrollgruppe begrenzt. Vor dem Hintergrund des allgemein reduzierten Evidenzniveaus aller Therapieoptionen der disseminierten Nocardiose liefert sie eine Rationale zur Komplementierung der aktuell vorherrschenden Behandlungsstrategien. Limitierte Behandlungserfolge bei der konventionellen Therapie disseminierter Nocardiosen stehen einerseits in einem engen Zusammenhang mit der komplexen und dynamischen Taxonomie der Gattung der Erreger. Andererseits ist dafür die Immunpathologie des Wirts von großer Bedeutung. Die Arbeit demonstriert einen innovativen Therapieansatz auf Basis der beschriebenen Fälle und in Rückgriff auf die Pathophysiologie der Erkrankung.Nocardiosis is a rare disease caused by some species of the bacterial genus Nocardia. Especially disseminated manifestation of the disease has a high mortality risk. The work of Derungs et al. presents an adjuvant therapeutic approach to disseminated Nocardiosis and addresses the question to what extent host-directed therapy is able to improve therapeutic results. While conventional antibiotic therapy of the disease addresses the pathogen, additive administration of recombinant interferon gamma 1b aims to alter disease-causing host factors. Methodological challenges that arise with science-based therapies for rare diseases need to be taken into account. The validity of the study is primarily limited by the low number of cases and the lack of a clinical control group. Against the background of the generally limited level of evidence of all therapy options for disseminated nocardiosis, it provides a rationale for complementing the currently prevailing treatment strategies. On the one hand, limited treatment successes in the conventional therapy of disseminated nocardiosis are closely related to the complex and dynamic taxonomy of the genus of the pathogen. On the other hand, the immunopathology of the host is of great importance. The work demonstrates an innovative therapeutic approach based on the cases described and in recourse to the pathophysiology of the disease

Diversity of Bugulidae (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata) colonizing artificial substrates in the Madeira Archipelago (NE Atlantic Ocean)

Until very recently the Madeira Archipelago registered a total of eight Bugulidae species. In the present study we include descriptions of seven Bugulidae species, now with Scanning Electron Microscopy images, with four new records for the Archipelago: Bugulina fulva and Bugulina simplex for Madeira Island and Bugula neritina and Crisularia gracilis for the neighbouring Island of Porto Santo. Furthermore, we report the correction of the previous identification of Bugulina calathus minor earlier reported from Funchal harbour in 1998, now as Bugulina flabellata. This study is part of an ongoing monitoring program for detecting non-indigenous species in all marinas from the Madeira archipelago, between 2007 and 2015. Specimens were collected in previously deployed PVC settling plates, marina pontoons, and also on recreational hull vessels while performing dry dock inspections at a local shipyard. Our study reveals that the Madeira archipelago now registers a total of ten Bugulidae species, contributing therefore to the total bryozoan fauna of the Archipelago, now with more than 100 records. These numbers could increase, as Madeira is considered to be a “hotspot” for bryozoan diversity when compared to other nearby regions. Finally, hull fouling is considered as the most likely vector of introduction for the non-indigenous species of Bugulidae detected in MadeiraP. Ramalhosa was partially funded by the Project Observatório Oceânico da Madeira-OOM (M1420-01-0145-FEDER-000001), co-financed by the Madeira Regional Operational Programme (Madeira 14-20), under the Portugal 2020 strategy, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). J. Canning-Clode was supported by a starting grant in the framework of the 2014 FCT Investigator Programme (IF/01606/2014/CP1230/CT0001). The work of J. Souto was supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF, Lise Meitner Program, Grant M1444-B25). This is contribution number 31 of Marine Biology Station of FunchalS