bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How often should general practitioners provide nutrition care to patients? A forecasting activity to determine the target frequency for chronic-disease management in Australia
Authors: Ball Lauren , Lee Patricia , Ambrosini Gina L , Hamilton Kyra , Tuffaha Haitham
Published: September 2016

Supporting patients to have healthy dietary behaviours contributes significantly to preventing and managing lifestyle-related chronic diseases. ‘Nutrition care’ refers to any practice provided by a health professional to support a patient to improve their dietary behaviours and subsequent health outcomes. Approximately 3% of consultations by Australian general practitioners (GPs) involve the provision of nutrition care. The aim of the present paper was to forecast the potential implications of a higher frequency of nutrition care by GPs. Evidence on the effect of improved dietary behaviours on chronic disease outcomes, number of Australian adults estimated to have poor dietary behaviours and effectiveness of GPs providing nutrition care were taken into consideration. Using hypertension as a case example, for GPs to provide nutrition care to all hypertensive adults who would benefit from improved dietary behaviours, GPs would need to provide nutrition care in a target rate of 4.85% of consultations or 4.5 million different patients each year. The target aligns with the existing priorities for supporting chronic-disease prevention and management in Australia by increasing the rate that brief lifestyle interventions are provided by primary health professionals. This conservative target presents a considerable challenge for GPs, support staff, researchers and policy makers, but can be used to inform future interventions to support nutrition care by GPs.
A constructional perspective on conceptual constituency
Authors: Beliën Maaike
Published: September 2016

Cognitive Grammar distinguishes three types of constituents: phonological,
conceptual, and grammatical constituents. This study argues that this distinction
offers a new and promising perspective on constructions whose constituent
structure, or ‘constituency’, has seemed to defy analysis in the past. In particular,
the study proposes a method to analyze conceptual constituency, which crucially
relies on semantic considerations. The method is applied to constructions
from Dutch with adpositions whose syntactic status has been unclear: they have
been analyzed as postpositions by some, yet as particles by others. Using corpus
data rather than constructed data with grammaticality judgments, the study
concludes that the method provides new arguments for a ‘particle analysis’.
Constructions with subject vs. object experiencers in Spanish and Italian
Authors: Vázquez Rozas Victoria , Miglio Viola G.
Published: September 2016

This study analyzes Spanish and Italian clauses that denote processes or states
of feeling or emotion involving two participants, an experiencer and a stimulus.
Some of these clauses construe the experiencer as Subject and the stimulus as
Object, while others have experiencers coded as dative or accusative Objects
and stimuli as Subjects.
Using corpus data, we track the frequency and distribution of a number
of discourse-related properties of the arguments, such as animacy, person, and
syntactic category, in order to gain insight into how both constructions are
really used and conceived of by speakers. The results point to a non-random
distribution of these properties when comparing the ‘Experiencer-as-Subject’
with the ‘Experiencer-as-Object’ constructions, and reveal striking differences
in their frequency across textual genres.
Sense-based and lexeme-based alternation biases in the Dutch dative alternation
Authors: Bernolet Sarah , Colleman Timothy
Published: September 2016

In semantic studies of argument structure alternations as well as in psycholinguistic
studies on syntactic priming, lexical alternation biases are typically measured
at the level of the verb lexeme. This study explores the hypothesis that the
proper locus of subcategorization probabilities is the verb sense. It investigates
the effects of lexical polysemy on the subcategorization probabilities of Dutch
dative alternating verbs as reflected in frequency data from natural language
corpora and from a priming experiment. A sense-based distinctive collexeme
analysis on the corpus data indicates that distinct senses of the same verb may
indeed display different alternation biases. The response patterns in our priming
experiment suggest that language users keep track of verb subcategorization
preferences at different levels of schematization.
Brain Death and True Patient Care
Authors: Nguyen Doyen
Published: September 2016

The “brain death” standard as a criterion of death is closely associated with the need for transplantable organs from heart-beating donors. Are all of these potential donors really dead, or does the documented evidence of patients destined for organ harvesting who improve, or even recover to live normal lives, call into question the premise underlying “brain death”? The aim of this paper is to re-examine the notion of “brain death,” especially its clinical test-criteria, in light of a broad framework, including medical knowledge in the field of neuro-intensive care and the traditional ethics of the medical profession. I will argue that both the empirical medical evidence and the ethics of the doctor–patient relationship point to an alternative approach toward the severely comatose patient (potential brain-dead donor).

Lay Summary: Though legally accepted and widely practiced, the “brain death” standard for the determination of death has remained a controversial issue, especially in view of the occurrence of “chronic brain death” survivors. This paper critically re-evaluates the clinical test-criteria for “brain death,” taking into account what is known about the neuro-critical care of severe brain injury. The medical evidence, together with the understanding of the moral role of the physician toward the patient present before him or her, indicate that an alternative approach should be offered to the deeply comatose patient.
“Validity” and “Liceity” in Conjugal Acts: A Reply to Stephen Napier on the HIV-Condom Debate
Authors: Arias Joseph
Published: September 2016

Stephen Napier has argued against the soundness of what he calls the “Canon-Law argument” against the moral permissibility of a couple employing a condom for the sake of one spouse avoiding the contraction of HIV from the other spouse. Without an attempt to provide a full defense of the Canon-Law argument per se, this paper argues that Napier has not shown that argument to be inadequate. Napier's critique of that argument suffers from unsubstantiated counterexamples and from a failure to take into account analogous senses of “procreative end” in reference to the conjugal act. Using magisterial documents and canonical sources, this paper suggests that the distinction between validity and liceity can be usefully applied to conjugal acts.

Lay Summary: Stephen Napier has argued in favor of the claim that there is no plausible argument for thinking that married couples who use a condom in order to prevent HIV transmission are necessarily doing something morally wrong. In responding to Napier by showing that his arguments in favor of his claim are inconclusive, this article introduces a distinction, frequently used in sacramental theology, between validity and liceity (lawfulness) and applies this distinction to marital actions. I argue that some modifications to martial actions make them merely unlawful, whereas other modifications—such as using an intact condom—make them both unlawful and “invalid.”
Is Tube Feeding Futile in Advanced Dementia?
Authors: Lynch Matthew C.
Published: September 2016

It is controversial whether tube feeding in people with dementia improves nutritional status or prolongs survival. Guidelines published by several professional societies cite observational studies that have shown no benefit and conclude that tube feeding in patients with advanced dementia should be avoided. However, all studies on tube feeding in dementia have major methodological flaws that invalidate their findings. The present evidence is not sufficient to justify general guidelines. Patients with advanced dementia represent a very heterogeneous group, and evidence demonstrates that some patients with dementia benefit from tube feeding. However, presently available guidelines make a single recommendation against tube feeding for all patients. Clinicians, patients, and surrogates should be aware that the guidelines and prior commentary on this topic tend both to overestimate the strength of evidence for futility and to exaggerate the burdens of tube feeding. Shared decision making requires accurate information tailored to the individual patient's particular situation, not blanket guidelines based on flawed data.

Lay Summary: Many doctors believe that tube feeding does not help people with advanced dementia. Scientific studies suggest that people with dementia who have feeding tubes do not live longer or gain weight compared with those who are carefully hand fed. However, these studies are not very helpful because of flaws in design, which are discussed in this article. Guidelines from professional societies make a blanket recommendation against feeding tubes for anyone with dementia, but an individual approach that takes each person's situation into account seems more appropriate. Patients and surrogates should be aware that the guidelines on this topic tend both to underestimate the benefit and exaggerate the burdens of tube feeding.
Assimilation of problematic experiences in Brief Strategic Therapy: Olivia and her fear of dying / La asimilación de experiencias problemáticas en la Terapia Breve Estratégica: Olivia y su miedo a morir
Authors: Pérez-Ruiz Sergio , Caro-Gabalda Isabel
Published: September 2016

In this research process, Stiles’ assimilation of problematic experiences scale is used to study Olivia’s process of change. The objectives of this study are: first, to describe Olivia’s therapeutically successful assimilation of the problematic experience of fear of dying, treated with brief strategic therapy; and second, to study how that pattern of assimilation unfolded. We can conclude that Olivia assimilated her problematic experience of fear of dying by following a fluctuating and irregular pattern.
Garner’s Modern English Usage
Authors: Garner Bryan A.
Published: September 2016

Over 6000 entries

With more than a thousand new entries and more than 2,300 word-frequency ratios, the magisterial fourth edition ofGarner’s Modern English Usagereflects usage lexicography at its finest. It delights while providing instruction on skillful, persuasive, and vivid writing. Garner liberates English from two extremes: both from the hidebound “purists” who mistakenly believe that split infinitives and sentence-ending prepositions are malfeasances and from the linguistic relativists who believe that whatever people say or write must necessarily be accepted.

The judgments here are backed up not just by a lifetime of study but also by an empirical grounding in the largest linguistic corpus ever available. In this fourth edition, Garner has made extensive use of corpus linguistics to include ratios of standard terms as compared against variants in modern print sources. No other resource provides as comprehensive, reliable, and empirical a guide to current English usage.

For all concerned with writing and editing,Garner’s Modern English Usagewill prove invaluable as a desk reference. Garner illustrates with actual examples, cited with chapter and verse, all the linguistic blunders that modern writers and speakers are prone to, whether in word choice, syntax, phrasing, punctuation, or pronunciation. This is the liveliest and most compulsively readable reference work for writers of our time.
Berkshire Encyclopedia of Sustainability
Authors: Anderson Ray C.
Published: September 2016

887 entries

In this seminal work, experts from around the world provide authoritative coverage of the growing body of knowledge about ways to restore the planet. Focused on solutions, this interdisciplinary publication draws from the natural, physical, and social sciences to bring readers an unprecedented array of 887 articles from over 900 contributors from 53 countries on environmental law and ethics, green business practices, regional sustainability issues, and resource and ecosystem management.

There is no shortage of information about environmental problems and no dearth of people calling themselves experts on sustainability. In fact, there is all too much information, and strident voices with opposing claims and frightening predictions. This encyclopedia solves the problem of information overload with concise overviews from experts on an array of sustainability-related topics. The reader will find solid research data, thorough analyses, and jargon-free discussion, effectively transforming a fast-developing research domain.
Networked Individualism, East Asian Style
Authors: Chua Vincent , Wellman Barry
Published: September 2016

“Networked individualism” represents the phenomenon that people are managers of their own personal networks. Networked individualism in an East (and Southeast) Asian context draws attention to the significant role of Asian social institutions and culture in the patterning of personal communities. When compared to Western situations—particularly American—East Asian personal communities are just as vibrant and supportive. They have woven seamlessly with digital media, extend both near and far, and are rich in social support. There are several differences that make East Asian societies unique, such as their strong focus on kinship, the salience of hierarchical social capital, the culture of mutual monitoring occurring through strong ties (e.g., guanxi), and the accelerated rise of digital media in everyday life.
Communication and Recruitment to Clinical Research Studies
Authors: Krieger Janice L. , Neil Jordan M.
Published: September 2016

Strategic communication is an essential component in the science and practice of recruiting participants to clinical research studies. Unfortunately, many clinical research studies do not consider the role of communication in the recruitment process until efforts to enroll patients in a timely manner have failed. The field of communication is rich with theory and research that can inform the development of an effective recruitment plan from the inception of a clinical research study through informed consent. The recruitment context is distinct from many other health contexts in that there is often not a behavioral response that can be universally promoted to patients. The appropriateness of a clinical research study for an individual is based on a number of medical, psychological, and contextual factors, making it impossible to recommend that everyone who is eligible for a clinical research study enroll. Instead, clinical research study recruitment efforts must utilize strategic communication principles to ensure that messages promote awareness of clinical research, maximize personal relevance, minimize information overload, and facilitate informed choice. This can be accomplished through careful consideration of various aspects of the communication context described in this chapter, including audience segmentation, message content, message channels, and formative, process, and outcome evaluation, as well as the enrollment encounter.
Experimental Design in the Study of Crime Media and Popular Culture
Authors: Rabe-Hemp Cara , Navarro John C.
Published: September 2016

In the study of crime media and popular culture, researchers have a wide range of research methodologies at their disposal. Each methodology or standardized practice for producing knowledge involves an epistemological foundation and rules of evidence for making a claim, as well as a set of practices for generating evidence of the claim. The research methodology chosen is contingent upon the question being studied, as each methodology has strengths and weaknesses.

As the most stringent research design, experiments are unique because they are the only methodology able to establish causality. This is because experimental design’s major advantage is that researchers can control the environment, conditions, and variables that are being studied. However, experiments suffer from a major disadvantage as well: the precision and control utilized in experiments make it difficult to apply the findings to the real world, referred to as generalizability. This is especially poignant in crime media and popular culture studies where researchers are often interested in exploring how the criminal justice system, participants, and processes are socially constructed and how the mediated images impact our conceptualization of criminality and appropriate criminal justice system responses.
Class and Religion in America
Authors: Mirola William A.
Published: September 2016

Scholars pursuing questions on the links between religion and social class typically examine several distinct sets of dynamics. A main research focus has addressed how religious beliefs, behaviors, and experiences vary across different social class contexts. Studies in this tradition draw on quantitative and qualitative data to illustrate such differences. Statistical studies have demonstrated economic and educational differences in patterns of an array of religious beliefs, religious service participation, and other religious behaviors, and especially social and political attitudes on everything from gay rights to gun control to political party preference. Qualitative work typically delves into the lived religious experiences of individuals from different classes as well as examining the ways in which religious expression is itself shaped by class cultures.

A significant portion of this type of research examines how religion impacts the life and work experiences of those at the bottom of the class hierarchy, the working and nonworking poor. Here the way that faith shapes how poor people view the challenges of their lives and their views of the larger society are particularly central concerns. Addressing a second related set of questions, researchers also examine how participation in religious communities contributes to forms of social mobility in terms of socioeconomic status indicators. Statistical analyses dominate in this area, illustrating how denominational affiliation and measures of religious belief and practice predict views regarding income and wealth accumulation, educational attainment, and occupational choice. Another distinct area of scholarship examines the role religion has played in shaping the history of capitalism and the dynamics of the traditionally understood industrial working classes and the organized labor movement. Here, too, scholars examine how working-class individuals use religion as a way to understand their work and the evolution of global capitalism. Labor historians in particular have examined historical and contemporary instances in which religious leaders and organizations play active roles in industrial conflicts.

Whichever route one takes to explore religion and social class, studying their intersections has been of longstanding interest to social scientists, historians, religious studies scholars, and theologians for more than a century. This article bridges these approaches and provides an overview of their complex intersections in contemporary social contexts.
Martin Luther in Dialectical Theology
Authors: McGrath Alister E.
Published: September 2016

Following the deep and unsettling questions raised about the legacy of German Protestant theology as a result of the Great War (1914‒1918), a new interest emerged in returning to the fons et origo of Protestant theology in the writings of Martin Luther and other reformers. This was given additional impetus through the work of Karl Holl, who is widely credited with shaping the “Luther Renaissance” of 1919‒1921. Dialectical theology was a movement focused on Karl Barth that arose within German-speaking Protestantism in the aftermath of the Great War. The reception of Luther within the dialectical theology movement is complex and not easily reduced to simple categorizations. The diverse theological and confessional commitments within the movement led to various readings of Luther, generally mediated through secondary sources or channels. The movement portrayed itself in terms of a theocentric new reformation, breaking free from the cultural compromises and entanglements of German liberal theology in the first two decades of the twentieth century, particularly in relation to anthropology, Christology, and the understanding of sin. The movement presented itself as both the heir and reinterpreter of the theological legacy of the Reformation, particularly the theology of Martin Luther, most notably its emphasis on divine revelation. Yet its leading representatives—Karl Barth, Emil Brunner, Rudolf Bultmann, and Friedrich Gogarten—understood Luther in somewhat different manners. It is therefore important to consider the use made of Luther by each of these figures individually, rather than try to collapse them into a single generic approach which is held to be representative of dialectical theology. The high profile these four writers accorded to Luther unquestionably stimulated Luther studies in the postwar period and contributed significantly to the current appreciation of Luther in contemporary theological debate.
The Cross and the Theologia Crucis
Authors: Saler Robert C.
Published: September 2016

While the term theologia crucis itself is most prominent in Luther’s early works, the later texts bear up the scholarly contention that the fundamental contrast between “cross” and “glory,” with its various methodological and theological implications, remains and is in fact amplified throughout Luther’s later writings. Indeed, considered topically, Luther’s treatment of virtually every significant theological locus throughout his canon—e.g., revelation, ecclesiology, and ethics is impacted by his understanding of the cross.

“Theology of the cross” in Luther does not refer to a bound set of theological statements but rather a methodological stance in which epistemological fidelity to the modes in which God chooses to reveal himself—in suffering, death, and contradiction to expectation—marks the whole of the theologian’s orientation to knowledge of God and the world. While the theology of the cross in Luther’s deployment certainly touches on sociopolitical and ecclesial realities within his time, it is crucial for readers of Luther to understand that for him the motif was bound up within the total “thickness” of Christian life—the sacraments, prayer, discipleship, etc. In contrast to the temptation to treat the notion as a critical principle that can be detached from this total picture of Christian existence, scholarly attention to Luther must take seriously the ecclesiastically embedded character of theologia crucis—with all of the interweaving strands of inquiry that such embeddedness necessitates—in order to get the full picture of how Luther understood the cross’s impact on theology and the Christian life.

The cross is also crucial theologically for Luther because it gets at the core of what he sees the theological project being able to do—deal with God in God’s self-revelation, under the confusing and sometimes seemingly paradoxical terms by which God chooses to engage humanity. Theologia crucis thus stands as the theological putting to death of the Old Adam—who is aligned, for Luther, with theologies of glory—so as to allow the theologian to hear and proclaim the gospel apart from pretension or undue speculation.
Honor Ideology, Dueling Culture, and Judicial Lies in 1920s Uruguay
Authors: Parker David S.
Published: September 2016

In Montevideo in 1923, streetcar company executive Juan Cat shot at journalist and Communist parliamentarian Celestino Mibelli in the atrium of the Uruguayan Congress. Despite this premeditated assassination attempt in front of numerous witnesses, Cat was released, the judge accepting the possibility that his actions were in legitimate self-defense. The logic that led police, prosecutor, and judge to arrive at conclusions that seemed to contradict both the evidence and the law hinged upon, and in the process reveals, deeply conflicting ideas of honor, family, the public versus the private sphere, and the unwritten laws that governed journalism in 1920s Uruguay. Mibelli had published a series of scandalous newspaper stories, one involving Cat’s young daughter, and many Uruguayans identified with the aggrieved father, arguing that an attack on family honor was no different from a physical assault. The only legally and socially acceptable remedy for Cat was to challenge his slanderer to a duel, but Mibelli refused to accept challenges because he considered dueling elitist. In the end, the police report, the prosecutor’s brief, and the judge’s ruling each subtly distorted the details of the encounter to construct Cat’s attack as a quasi-duel, a frustrated attempt to “demand explanations” from Mibelli, following a ritualized script set down in the dueling codes of the era. Factually, Cat’s actions were no such thing, but by crafting the narrative of an “affair of honor” gone wrong, official lies reflected deeper cultural truths.
shops and shopping
Authors: Holleran Claire
Published: September 2016

Almost all inhabitants of the ancient world were dependent to varying degrees on retailers to supply them with at least some food items, raw materials, or manufactured goods, and this was particularly true of urban inhabitants. While the amount of built commercial space increased in the Hellenistic period and was a particular feature of Roman urban centres, we cannot trace a simple linear development from periodic markets through to permanent shops. Instead the retail trade remained varied throughout antiquity, consisting of periodic and permanent markets, shops and workshops, and street stalls and ambulant hawkers, all of which performed complementary roles within an integrated network of distribution. The size of the local market, however, inevitably had an impact on the organisation of the retail trade, with increased specialisation and clustering of trades possible in larger urban centres, where a wider range of products was typically available to the consumer and capital investment in dedicated commercial space was encouraged by the level of demand for goods.

Ancient shopping was an immersive and interactive experience. Prices fluctuated in response to market pressures and were very often arrived at through haggling and bargaining. Markets, shops, and streets were as much places of social interaction as they were of shopping, and men and women mixed freely as both buyers and sellers. Advertising and marketing may have been rudimentary, but the attempts by retailers to maximise sales contributed to the colorful and vibrant nature of the ancient commercial environment; the open doorways of shops and workshops facilitated interaction between those inside and outside, and goods, sellers, and customers often spilled out onto the street, while painted notices and signs displayed goods for sale, and the distinctive shouts of sellers competed loudly for the attention of potential customers.
Stigmatization and Labeling
Authors: Crewe Sandra Edmonds , Guyot-Diangone Julie
Published: September 2016

This article provides an overview of the phenomenon of labeling and stigma. Research studies are used to illuminate the many ways devalued or discredited identities negatively affect the health and well-being of stigmatized groups and additionally burden the socially and economically marginalized. In addition to conveying an understanding of the social process by which a stigma is developed and the role that culture plays in defining and determining any given stigma, this article offers ways in which social work professionals may counter stigma through education/awareness campaigns and in routine client interactions. Anti-stigma work is presented from social justice and ethical perspectives. Stigma as a social construct is discussed, along with its link to discrimination and prejudice. The article helps to unpack the meaning of stigma, including descriptions of the various forms, levels, and dimensions it may take, affecting all spheres of life, including the social, psychological, spiritual, and physical.
Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Authors: Lewis Carol M. , Kulkarni Shanti
Published: September 2016

Despite downward trends in the U.S. teen birth rate overall, the associated social and economic costs are still significant. Historically, teen pregnancy prevention policy and program adoption have been influenced by the sociopolitical environment at national, state, and local levels. Recent federal efforts have begun to re-emphasize the importance of developing and supporting evidence-based prevention efforts. Current teen pregnancy prevention approaches are reviewed with attention to the range of program philosophies, components, settings, populations served, and documented effectiveness. Promising directions in pregnancy prevention program development for adolescents are also highlighted.
Rural Social Work in Australia
Authors: Alston Margaret
Published: September 2016

This article examines the role of social workers in rural and remote areas of Australia. The uniqueness of Australia’s landscape, its vast distances, and sparse population base, create unique issues relating to service delivery in general and social work in particular. High levels of poverty, poorer health, lower socio-economic status, and an aging population base typify Australia’s remote areas. Despite these factors, inland regions of the country are subject to economic rationalist policies that make service access problematic. It is in these regions that rural and remote social workers practice. The article outlines the personal, practical, and professional challenges facing social workers and notes the unique opportunities available to workers who choose to live and work in these regions.
Human Rights Perspectives in Social Work Education and Practice
Authors: Meshelemiah Jacquelyn C.A.
Published: September 2016

The social work profession has evolved extensively since its inception in 1898. The profession began with a focus on helping others and recognizing social injustices as its core charges. The profession is now being called to view human rights as its professional responsibility, too. As driving forces behind this new charge, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) are taking concrete steps to ensure that the human rights perspective is being integrated into social work education and practice.
Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Authors: Bledsoe Sarah E. , Lombardi Brianna M. , Chesworth Brittney , Lawrence Samuel
Published: September 2016

This article discusses interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), a psychotherapeutic intervention developed by Gerald Klerman, Myrna Weissman, and colleagues in the 1970s as an outpatient treatment for major depression in adults. Based on the theories of Harry Stack Sullivan and Adolph Meyer, IPT is a manualized, time-limited intervention that addresses the underlying interpersonal antecedents and correlates of psychiatric illness. The goal of IPT as originally developed is to reduce depressive symptoms and improve interpersonal relationships. IPT has been widely tested in adults and adolescents and is an empirically supported treatment for major depression. IPT has been adapted for a variety of psychiatric illnesses and problems of living including perinatal depression, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders. Current evidence detailed below supports the use of IPT across cultures, illnesses, and populations.
Pitfalls in Inferring Human Microbial Dynamics from Temporal Metagenomics Data
Authors: Cao Hong-Tai , Gibson Travis E. , Bashan Amir , Liu Yang-Yu
Published: September 2016

Human gut microbiota is a very complex and dynamic ecosystem that plays a crucial role in our health and well-being. Inferring microbial community structure and dynamics directly from time-resolved metagenomics data is key to understanding the community ecology and predicting its temporal behavior. Many methods have been proposed to perform the inference. Yet, we point out that there are several pitfalls along the way, from uninformative temporal measurements to the compositional nature of the relative abundance data, focusing on highly abundant species by ignoring or grouping low-abundance species, and implicit assumptions in various regularization methods. These issues have to be seriously considered in ecological modeling of human gut microbiota.
Decellularised Human Liver is too Heterogeneous for Designing a Generic ECM-mimic Hepatic Scaffold
Authors: Mattei Giorgio , Magliaro Chiara , Pirone Andrea , Ahluwalia Arti
Published: September 2016

Decellularised human livers are considered the perfect ECM (extracellular matrix) surrogate because both 3-dimensional architecture and biological features of the hepatic microenvironment are thought to be preserved. However, donor human livers are in chronically short supply, both for transplantation or as decellularised scaffolds, and will become even scarcer as life expectancy increases. It is hence of interest to determine the structural and biochemical properties of human hepatic ECM to derive design criteria for engineering bio-mimetic scaffolds. The intention of this work was to obtain quantitative design specifications for fabricating scaffolds for hepatic tissue engineering using human livers as a template. To this end, hepatic samples from 5 human donors were decellularised using a protocol shown to reproducibly conserve matrix composition and micro-structure in porcine livers. The decellularisation outcome was evaluated through histological and quantitative image analyses to evaluate cell removal, protein and glycosaminoglycan content per unit area. Applying the same decellularisation protocol to human liver samples obtained from 5 different donors yielded 5 different outcomes. Only 1 liver out of 5 was completely decellularised, while the other 4 showed different levels of remaining cells. Moreover, protein and glycosaminoglycan content per unit area after decellularisation were also found to be donor-dependent. The donor-to-donor variability of human livers thus precludes their use as templates for engineering a generic 'one-size fits all' ECM-mimic hepatic scaffold.
Range Stability Predicts Lineage Persistence in a Morphologically Cryptic Ground Squirrel Species Complex
Authors: Phuong Mark A. , Bi Ke , Moritz Craig
Published: September 2016

The processes responsible for patterns of cytonuclear discordance remain unclear. Here, we employ an exon capture dataset, demographic methods, and species distribution modeling to elucidate the impact of historical demography on patterns of genealogical concordance and discordance in ground squirrel lineages from theOtospermophilus beecheyispecies complex. Previous studies inO. beecheyirevealed three morphologically cryptic and highly divergent mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages (named the Northern, Central, and Southern lineages based on geography) with only the Northern lineage exhibiting concordant divergence in nuclear markers. We show that these mtDNA lineages likely formed in allopatry during the Pleistocene, but responded differentially to climatic changes that occurred since the last interglacial (∼120,000 years ago). We find that the Northern lineage maintained a stable range throughout this period, correlating with genetic distinctiveness among all genetic markers and low migration rates between the other lineages. In contrast, our results support a scenario where the Southern lineage expanded from Baja California Sur during the Late Pleistocene and hybridized with the Central lineage, eventually driving the Central lineage to extinction. While high intraspecific gene flow among newly colonized populations eroded significant signals of Central ancestry from autosomal markers, male sex-biased dispersal in this system preserved signals of this past hybridization and introgression event in matrilineal-biased X-chromosome and mtDNA markers. Our results highlight the importance of range stability in maintaining the persistence of phylogeographic lineages, whereas unstable range dynamics can increase the tendency for lineages to interact and collapse upon secondary contact.
Direct and Indirect Models for Protein Chemical Denaturation are Characteristic of Opposite Dynamic Properties
Authors: Lim Liangzhong , Miao Linlin , Song Jianxing
Published: September 2016

Two major models, namely direct and indirect models, have been proposed for the protein chemical denaturation but it remains challenging to experimentally demonstrate and distinguish between them. Here, by use of CD and NMR spectroscopy, we succeeded in differentiating the effects on a small but well-folded protein WW4, of GdmCl and NaSCN at diluted concentrations (≥200 mM). Both denaturants up to 200 mM have no alternation of its average structure but do reduce its thermodynamic stability to different degrees. Despite acting as the stronger denaturant, GdmCl only weakly interacts with amide protons, while NaSCN shows extensive interactions with both hydrophobic side chains and amide protons. Although both denaturants show no significant perturbation on overall ps-ns backbone dynamics of WW4, GdmCl suppresses while NaSCN enhances its μs-ms backbone dynamics in a denaturant concentration dependent manner. Quantitative analysis reveals that although they dramatically raise exchange rates, GdmCl slightly increases while NaSCN reduces the population of the major conformational state. Our study represents the first report deciphering that GdmCl and NaSCN appear to destabilize a protein following two models respectively, which are characteristic of opposite μs-ms dynamics.
GPhase: Greedy Approach for Accurate Haplotype Inferencing
Authors: Tayal Kshitij , Sivadasan Naveen , Srinivasan Rajgopal
Published: September 2016

We consider the computational problem of phasing an individual genotype sample given a collection of known haplotypes in the population. We give a fast and accurate algorithm GPhase for reconstructing haplotype pair consistent with input genotype. It uses the coalescent based mutation model of Stephens and Donnelly (2000). Computing optimal solution under this model is expensive and our algorithm uses a greedy approximation for fast and accurate estimation. Our algorithm is simple, efficient and has linear time and space complexity. Experiments on real datasets revealed improved gene level phasing accuracy for GPhase tool compared to other widely used tools such as SHAPEIT, Beagle, MaCH and Impute2. On simulated data, GPhase tool was able to phase samples each containing more than 1700 markers with high accuracy. GPhase can be used for gene level phasing of individual samples using publicly available haplotype datasets such as HapMap data or 1000 genome data. This finds applications in studies on recessive Mendelian disorders where parent data is lacking. GPhase is freely available for download and use fromhttps://github.com/kshitijtayal/GPhase/.
An efficient electroporation protocol for the genetic modification of mammalian cells
Authors: Chicaybam Leonardo , Barcelos Camila , Peixoto Barbara , Carneiro Mayra , Limia Cintia Gomez , Redondo Patrícia , Lira Carla , Paraguassú-Braga Flávio , Vasconcelos Zilton , Barros Luciana , Bonamino Martin Hernán
Published: September 2016

Genetic modification of cell lines and primary cells is an expensive and cumbersome approach, often involving the use of viral vectors. Electroporation using square wave generating devices, like Lonza´s Nucleofector, is a widely used option, but the costs associated with the acquisition of electroporation kits and the transient transgene expression might hamper the utility of this methodology. In the present work we show that our in house developed buffers, termed Chicabuffers, can be efficiently used to electroporate cell lines and primary cells from murine and human origin. Using the Nucleofector II device, we electroporated 14 different cell lines and also primary cells, like mesenchymal stem cells and cord blood CD34+, providing optimized protocols for each of them. Moreover, when combined with Sleeping Beauty based transposon system, long-term transgene expression could be achieved in all types of cells tested. Transgene expression was stable and did not interfere with CD34+ differentiation to committed progenitors. We also show that these buffers can be used in CRISPR-mediated editing ofPDCD1gene locus in 293T and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The optimized protocols reported in this study provide a suitable and cost-effective platform for the genetic modification of cells, facilitating the widespread adoption of this technology.
Crystal structure of 1,3-bis(3-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl)-1,3-diazinan-5-ol monohydrate
Authors: Rivera Augusto , Miranda-Carvajal Ingrid , Ríos-Motta Jaime , Bolte Michael
Published: September 2016

In the title hydrate, C28H42N2O3·H2O, the central 1,3-diazinan-5-ol ring adopts a chair conformation with the two benzyl substituents equatorial and the lone pairs of the N atoms axial. The dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 19.68 (38)°. There are two intramolecular O—H...N hydrogen bonds, each generating an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, classical O—H...O hydrogen bonds connect the 1,3-diazinane and water molecules into columns extending along the b axis. The crystal structure was refined as a two-component twin with a fractional contribution to the minor domain of 0.0922 (18).
Non-performance of financial contracts in agricultural lending
Authors: Savitha Basri , Kumar K. Naveen
Published: September 2016

Purpose

Evaluating a portfolio of agricultural loans has become an important issue in recent years primarily due to a large number of loan defaults. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors influencing credit repayment behavior of farmers in Karnataka.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on secondary data of 590 farmers collected from a private bank in the state of Karnataka, India. Binary logistic regression and multinomial regression analysis was carried out to estimate the probability of non-payment of a loan.

Findings

The results of the regression confirm a significant relationship between non-repayment of agricultural credit and characteristics of borrowers such as the age, years of banking relationship, yield of the crop, distance to bank branch, size and tenure of the loan, farm size and leverage and efficiency ratio.

Practical implications

The factors predicted by the model do certainly help in improving the decision-making process in agricultural lending. A rigorous assessment of family responsibilities, farm size, credit-to-asset ratio, interest burden on the farmers and farm income is suggested to reduce the probability of doubtful assets.

Originality/value

The studies that predict default risk in agricultural loan are limited in India. This is one of the few studies that estimate the determinants of substandard and doubtful categories of credit in a private sector bank.
Participation and output effect of a Block Farm Credit Programme in selected districts of Northern Ghana
Authors: Donkoh Samuel A. , Eliasu Abdulai , Setsoafia Edinam Dope , Ansah Isaac Gershon Kodwo
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) Block Farm Credit Programme (BFCP) participation on crop output in four districts in the Northern region of Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 240 beneficiary and non-beneficiary farmers of BFCP. The treatment effect model that accounts for selectivity bias was employed to examine the socioeconomic determinants of farmers’ decision to participate in the BFCP and the effect of BFCP participation on crop output.

Findings

Even though the BFCP participation increases output, inadequacy and late delivery of BFCP inputs, low publicity about the programme and difficulty in accessing the inputs from the districts agricultural officers are factors that prevent the full realization of the benefits of the programme. Improving extension services to create more awareness and a re-introduction of the BFCP to make inputs available and affordable to farmers can help boost farm productivity.

Practical implications

The positive effect of the BFCP means that the provision of low-cost production credit has the potential to increase productivity and improve incomes. Hence, MoFA should endeavour up scaling and properly managing the scheme.

Originality/value

This study is the first to evaluate the BFCP in Northern region of Ghana, particularly in relation to its contribution to crop value. The findings are very useful to advise policy by taking account of the programme deficiencies and enhance effectiveness.
Current trends in cooperative finance
Authors: Briggeman Brian C. , Jacobs Keri L. , Kenkel Phil , Mckee Gregory
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the recent financial trends affecting grain and farm supply cooperatives.

Design/methodology/approach

Review of and descriptive analysis of current cooperative finance topics.

Findings

In recent years three important trends have become apparent among grain marketing and farm supply cooperatives. These farmer-owned firms have been rapidly investing in infrastructure, reformulating profit distribution and equity strategies, and have pursued consolidation with other cooperatives.

Originality/value

Grain and farm supply cooperatives are changing at a rapid clip to meet the needs of their evolving and growing farmer-owners. New research is needed to help these cooperatives meet these needs, and this paper identifies new areas of research in cooperative finance.
Farm income variability and off-farm employment in Ireland
Authors: Loughrey Jason , Hennessy Thia
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the potential relationship between farm income variability and off-farm employment decisions in the short and medium term for the case of Irish farm operators.

Design/methodology/approach

Panel probit models of off-farm labour supply are estimated using Teagasc National Farm Survey data for Irish farms. The framework is based largely on standard expected utility but includes a constraint for recent employment history.

Findings

The analyses identifies some evidence of a positive association between farm income variability and off-farm employment in the medium term but no significant relationship in the short term. This suggests that off-farm employment is part of a wider portfolio decision but is not a strong solution to short-term farm income shocks.

Practical implications

European farmers increasingly face high income variability but financial risk management tools are not sufficiently developed or widely accessible to assist farmers in managing the associated risk. This deficiency can have negative implications for household economic welfare and future farm investments and hence the future farm income. Off-farm employment can form part of a wider medium-term portfolio strategy but more effective tools are also required for risk management particularly in dealing with short-term volatility and where off-farm employment is not a realistic endeavour given time constraints and/or demographics.

Originality/value

The estimation of farm income variability includes a detrending method thus reducing the likelihood of overestimating farm income variability for farms in deliberate expansion or decline. While previous research has typically focused on the short-term response of farmers to historical farm income variability, this research has distinguished between the short and medium term.