Interrogating the neo-pluralist orthodoxy in American anthropology

For most of the twentieth century the state was not a major part of the anthropological toolkit. Despite significant archaeologically driven work on evolution and state formation, most socio-cultural anthropologists have viewed the state with empiricist scepticism, populist hostility, or ethnographic indifference. Typically, state-theory has been left to other disciplines, such as political science and sociology. Since the end of the cold war there has been a greatly increased interest in the state among anthropologists. Philip Abrams, Michael Herzfeld, and Akhil Gupta, who coined the phrase “ethnography of the state”, have been particularly important to this development. However, there remains no serious engagement with the body of state-theory generated, over the last century, by political activists, scientists, sociologists, and anthropologists. It will be argued that this has allowed for the growth of an unproblematised orthodoxy around an ethnographically informed variant of classic American pluralist state-theory. This orthodoxy has hobbled the understanding and explanation of complex political phenomena, led to confusion between hypotheses and conclusions, and tied parts of the discipline to a partisan political project that remains largely un-interrogated. This essay seeks to provide context and clarification on state-theory as a step towards discussion of anthropology’s contemporary engagement with the state and broader questions of political action and social change.     

Inhibitory actions of dopamine on Limulus visceral muscle involve a cyclic AMP-dependent mechanism

1. The catecholamines dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine were detected in alumina extracts of Limulus midgut tissue using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Moderate levels of norepinephrine (28.2 +/- 2.1 ng/g) and dopamine (24.0 +/- 5.2 ng/g) were detected in the midgut, while epinephrine levels (7.4 +/- 0.9 ng/g) were less. Catecholamines were present in all regions along the longitudinal axis of the midgut, and norepinephrine and dopamine levels were highest in posterior regions. 2. Catecholamines decreased muscle tonus and inhibited spontaneous contractions of the Limulus midgut. Dopamine typically decreased spontaneous midgut activity at doses of 10(-8) M or greater, and produced inhibitory actions on all regions of the Limulus midgut. In some preparations epinephrine and norepinephrine elicited a secondary rhythmicity. The actions of dopamine opposed the excitatory effects produced by either proctolin or octopamine. 3. Catecholamines significantly elevated levels of cyclic AMP in Limulus midgut muscle rings. Dopamine (10(-5) M) increased cyclic AMP with a time course consistent with its physiological effects. Forskolin and several methyl xanthines increased Limulus midgut cyclic AMP levels and mimicked the inhibitory effects of dopamine on the isolated midgut preparation. Cyclic nucleotide analogues also produced dopamine-like effects on the isolated midgut preparation. Inhibition of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase prior to addition of dopamine enhanced the effect of this amine to decrease baseline muscle tension. 4. The inhibitory effects of 10(-5) M dopamine on the midgut persisted in solutions of zero sodium and in the presence of tetrodotoxin. Zero calcium solutions gradually reduced spontaneous midgut activity and the effects of dopamine. Calcium channel blockers did not prohibit dopamine-induced relaxation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Clinical and Treatment Aspects of Brown–Black Fungi

Brown–black (or dematiaceous) fungi are responsible for a wide variety of infectious syndromes in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients, including local infections, allergic disease, pneumonia, brain abscess, and disseminated infection. They are distinct from the more common hyaline molds, Aspergillus and Fusarium, that cause human disease. They are often found in soil and generally distributed worldwide. In recent years, these fungi have been increasingly recognized as important pathogens. Dematiaceous fungi may have unique pathogenic mechanisms owing to the presence of melanin in their cell walls, which imparts the characteristic dark color to their spores and hyphae. Diagnosis rests on careful microscopic and pathologic examination, as there are no specific laboratory tests to reliably identify these fungi. Therapy depends upon the clinical syndrome, although disseminated infection often has high mortality. Triazoles such as voriconazole, posaconazole, and itraconazole are the most active antifungal agents available. Further studies are needed to better understand the pathogenesis and optimal treatment of these uncommon infections.     

Efficacy of different types of aerobic exercise in fibromyalgia syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Introduction  

The efficacy and the optimal type and volume of aerobic exercise (AE) in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) are not established. We therefore assessed the efficacy of different types and volumes of AE in FMS.     

Ecosystem Perspective of Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in India and Relevance in Policy

Millions of people living in India are at risk by consuming arsenic contaminated groundwater. Several technological solutions have failed to address the problem due to segmental approaches, resulting in human suffering for a period of three decades. The article is based on an analysis of arsenic-related health problems from an ecosystem perspective through a primary survey conducted in five arsenic affected villages in the state of West Bengal and review of existing research and policy documents. Although modern agricultural practices and drinking water policies have resulted in arsenic contamination of groundwater, current mitigation policy is essentially confined to biomedical approaches, which includes potable water supply and medical care. The study also shows that existing disparity, difficulty in coping, inaccessibility to health service and potable water supply and lack of participation in decision making have resulted in more suffering among the poor. On the other hand, spreading of arsenic contamination in the ecosystem remains unabated. Foods grown in the affected area have emerged as additional sources of exposure to humans. There is lack of evidence of any perceivable benefits due to sustainable agriculture, as present nature of agriculture practice is essentially driven by crop yield only. Further research is needed to generate credible evidence of alternative agriculture paradigms that may eventually reduce body burden of arsenic through reduced dependency on groundwater.     

Development and characterization of 21 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the aphidophagous gall midge, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphidoletes aphidimyza</Emphasis> (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

We have developed and characterized 21 microsatellite markers in the aphidophagous gall midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). All 21 loci tested were polymorphic: the number of alleles ranged from 2 to 17. Allelic richness and observed heterozygosities were higher in females than in males. Several loci had no heterozygosity in males, suggesting that the loci were located on sex chromosomes or E-chromosomes, common to cecidomyiids. The high polymorphism detected in this study suggests the markers will be of value in analyzing genetic structure of field populations.