An annotated checklist of the Coleoptera (Insecta) of the Cayman Islands, West Indies

A faunal list of 605 species of Coleoptera in 396 genera in 63 families is presented for the Cayman Islands. For most species, island and locality within island collecting information is provided

The prevalence of primary headache disorders in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the epidemiology of primary headache disorders in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains very limited. We performed a population-based survey in rural and urban areas of Ethiopia, using methods similar to those of an earlier study in Zambia and tested in multiple other countries by Lifting The Burden. METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey we visited households unannounced in four regions of Ethiopia: the mostly urban populations in Addis Ababa and its environs and rural populations of selected districts in Oromia, Amhara and South Nations Nationalities and People's Regions States (SNNPRS). We used cluster-randomized sampling: within clusters we randomly selected households, and one adult member (18-65 years old) of each household. The HARDSHIP structured questionnaire, translated into the local languages, was administered face-to-face by trained interviewers. Demographic enquiry was followed by diagnostic questions based on ICHD-II criteria. RESULTS: From 2,528 households approached, 2,385 of 2,391 eligible members (1,064 [44.7%] male, 596 [25.0%] urban) consented to interview (participating proportion 99.8%). Headache in the preceding year was reported by 1,071 participants (44.9% [95% CI: 42.4-46.3]; males 37.7%, females 49.9%), and headache yesterday by 170 (7.1% [6.2-8.2]; males 45 [4.1%], females 125 [9.2%]). Adjusted for gender, age and habitation (urban/rural), 1-year prevalence of migraine was 17.7%, of tension-type headache (TTH) 20.6%, of all headache on ≥15 days/month 3.2%, and of probable medication-overuse headache (pMOH) 0.7%. The adjusted prevalence of headache yesterday was 6.4%. Very few cases (1.6%) were unclassifiable. All headache disorders were more common in females. TTH was less common in urban areas (OR: 0.3; p < 0.0001), but pMOH was very strongly associated (OR: 6.1; p < 0.0001) with urban dwelling. Education was negatively associated with migraine (OR: 0.5-0.7; p < 0.05) but (at university level) positively with pMOH (OR: 2.9; p = 0.067). Income above ETB 500/month showed similar associations: negatively with migraine (OR: 0.8; p = 0.035), positively with pMOH (OR: 2.1; p = 0.164). CONCLUSIONS: Findings for migraine and TTH in Ethiopia were quite similar to those from Zambia, another SSA country; pMOH was much less prevalent but, as in Zambia, essentially an urban problem. Primary headache disorders are at least as prevalent in SSA as in high-income western countries

Natural extensions and entropy of α\alpha-continued fractions

We construct a natural extension for each of Nakada's $\alpha$-continued fractions and show the continuity as a function of $\alpha$ of both the entropy and the measure of the natural extension domain with respect to the density function $(1+xy)^{-2}$. In particular, we show that, for all $0 < \alpha \le 1$, the product of the entropy with the measure of the domain equals $\pi^2/6$. As a key step, we give the explicit relationship between the $\alpha$-expansion of $\alpha-1$ and of $\alpha$

Neuronal precursor cells with dopaminergic commitment in the rostral migratory stream of the mouse

Neuroblasts born in the subventricular zone of adult mammals migrate via the rostral migratory stream into the granular cell layer or periglomerular layer of the olfactory bulb to differentiate into interneurons. To analyze if new neurons in the granular cell layer or periglomerular layer have different origins, we inserted a physical barrier into the rostral migratory stream, depleted cell proliferation with cytarabine infusions, labeled newborn cells with bromodeoxyuridine, and sacrificed mice after short-term (0, 2, or 14 days) or long-term (55 or 105 days) intervals. After short-term survival, the subventricular zone and rostral migratory stream rapidly repopulated with bromodeoxyuridine(+) cells after cytarabine-induced depletion. Nestin, glial fibrillary acidic protein and the PAX6 were expressed in bromodeoxyuridine(+) cells within the rostral migratory stream downstream of the physical barrier. After long-term survival after physical barrier implantation, bromodeoxyuridine(+) neurons were significantly reduced in the granular cell layer, but bromodeoxyuridine(+) and dopaminergic neurons in the periglomerular layer remained unaffected by the physical barrier. Thus, newborn neurons for the granular cell layer are mainly recruited from neural stem cells located in the subventricular zone, but new neurons for the periglomerular layer with dopaminergic predisposition can rise as well from neuronal stem or precursor cells in the rostral migratory stream

Fine structure, magnetic field and heating of sunspot penumbrae

We interpret penumbral filaments as due to convection in field-free, radially aligned gaps just below the visible surface of the penumbra, intruding into a nearly potential field above. This solves the classical discrepancy between the large heat flux and the low vertical velocities observed in the penumbra. The presence of the gaps causes strong small-scale fluctuations in inclination, azimuth angle and field strength, but without strong forces acting on the gas. The field is nearly horizontal in a region around the cusp-shaped top of the gap, thereby providing an environment for Evershed flows. We identify this region with the recently discovered dark penumbral cores. Its darkness has the same cause as the dark lanes in umbral light-bridges, reproduced in numerical simulations by Nordlund and Stein (2005). We predict that the large vertical and horizontal gradients of the magnetic field inclination and azimuth in the potential field model will produce the net circular polarization seen in observations. The model also explains the significant elevation of bright filaments above their surroundings. It predicts that dark areas in the penumbra are of two different kinds: dark filament cores containing the most inclined (horizontal) fields, and regions between bright filaments, containing the least inclined field lines.Comment: submitted to A&

Structural colour in Chondrus crispus.

The marine world is incredibly rich in brilliant and intense colours. Photonic structures are found in many different species and provide extremely complex optical responses that cannot be achieved solely by pigments. In this study we examine the cuticular structure of the red alga Chondrus crispus (Irish Moss) using anatomical and optical approaches. We experimentally measure the optical response of the multilayer structure in the cuticle. Using finite-difference time-domain modelling, we demonstrate conclusively for the first time that the dimensions and organisation of lamellae are responsible for the blue structural colouration on the surface of the fronds. Comparison of material along the apical-basal axis of the frond demonstrates that structural colour is confined to the tips of the thalli and show definitively that a lack of structural colour elsewhere corresponds with a reduction in the number of lamellae and the regularity of their ordering. Moreover, by studying the optical response for different hydration conditions, we demonstrate that the cuticular structure is highly porous and that the presence of water plays a critical role in its ability to act as a structural light reflector.The research leading to these results has received funding from the BBSRC David Phillips fellowship (BBSRC David Phillips, BB/K014617/1). BJG thanks the Leverhulme Trust grant (F/09-741/G). RHW thanks the British Phycological Society for a Project Award (2012).This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from NPG via http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep1164

Bullying girls - Changes after brief strategic family therapy: A randomized, prospective, controlled trial with one-year follow-up

Background: Many girls bully others. They are conspicuous because of their risk-taking behavior, increased anger, problematic interpersonal relationships and poor quality of life. Our aim was to determine the efficacy of brief strategic family therapy (BSFT) for bullying-related behavior, anger reduction, improvement of interpersonal relationships, and improvement of health-related quality of life in girls who bully, and to find out whether their expressive aggression correlates with their distinctive psychological features. Methods: 40 bullying girls were recruited from the general population: 20 were randomly selected for 3 months of BSFT. Follow-up took place 12 months after the therapy had ended. The results of treatment were examined using the Adolescents' Risk-taking Behavior Scale (ARBS), the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-D), and the SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Results: In comparison with the control group (CG) (according to the intent-to-treat principle), bullying behavior in the BSFT group was reduced (BSFT-G from n = 20 to n = 6; CG from n = 20 to n = 18, p = 0.05) and statistically significant changes in all risk-taking behaviors (ARBS), on most STAXI, IIP-D, and SF-36 scales were observed after BSFT. The reduction in expressive aggression (Anger-Out scale of the STAXI) correlated with the reduction on several scales of the ARBS, IIP-D, and SF-36. Follow-up a year later showed relatively stable events. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that bullying girls suffer from psychological and social problems which may be reduced by the use of BSFT. Expressive aggression in girls appears to correlate with several types of risk-taking behavior and interpersonal problems, as well as with health-related quality of life. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

Use of medicinal plants for headache, and their potential implication in medication-overuse headache: Evidence from a population-based study in Nepal

Background In Nepal, traditional treatment using medicinal plants is popular. Whereas medication-overuse headache is, by definition, caused by excessive use of acute headache medication, we hypothesized that medicinal plants, being pharmacologically active, were as likely a cause. Methods We used data from a cross-sectional, nationwide population-based study, which enquired into headache and use of medicinal plants and allopathic medications. We searched the literature for pharmacodynamic actions of the medicinal plants. Results Of 2100 participants, 1794 (85.4%) reported headache in the preceding year; 161 (7.7%) reported headache on ≥15 days/month, of whom 28 (17.4%) had used medicinal plants and 117 (72.7%) allopathic medication(s). Of 46 with probable medication-overuse headache, 87.0% (40/46) were using allopathic medication(s) and 13.0% (6/46) medicinal plants, a ratio of 6.7:1, higher than the overall ratio among those with headache of 4.9:1 (912/185). Of 60 plant species identified, 49 were pharmacodynamically active on the central nervous system, with various effects of likely relevance in medication-overuse headache causation. Conclusions MPs are potentially a cause of medication-overuse headache, and not to be seen as innocent in this regard. Numbers presumptively affected in Nepal are low but not negligible. This pioneering project provides a starting point for further research to provide needed guidance on use of medicinal plants for headache