bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reduction of Fibrosis and Scar Formation by Partial Reprogramming In Vivo
Authors: Doeser Markus C. , Schöler Hans R. , Wu Guangming
Published: May 2018

Transient expression of the transcription factors OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and C-MYC (OSKM) to induce partial reprogramming while avoiding the pluripotent state and teratoma formation has recently been discussed as a strategy for regenerating damaged tissues in vivo, whereby the impact of partial reprogramming on tissue repair remains to be elucidated. Here, we activated OSKM transcription factors in cutaneous wounds of OSKM-inducible transgenic mice and found that induction of OSKM factors in excisional wounds caused a diminished fibroblast transdifferentiation to myofibroblasts and wound contraction. Gene expression analyses showed downregulation of the profibrotic marker genes transforming growth factor beta 1, Collagen I, and vascular endothelial growth factor. Consequently, histological analyses demonstrated that OSKM induction in incisional wounds resulted in reduced scar tissue formation. These data provide proof of concept that OSKM-mediated partial reprogramming in situ can diminish fibrosis and improve tissue healing with less scar formation without the risk of tumor formation. This new insight into the effects of partial reprogramming in vivo may be relevant for developing reprogramming-based regenerative therapies for tissue injury and fibrotic diseases.
Concise Review: Using Fat to Fight Disease: A Systematic Review of Nonhomologous Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cell Therapies
Authors: Bateman Marjorie E. , Strong Amy L. , Gimble Jeffrey M. , Bunnell Bruce A.
Published: May 2018

The objective of this Review is to describe the safety and efficacy of adipose stem/stromal cells (ASC) and stromal vascular fraction (SVF) in treating common diseases and the next steps in research that must occur prior to clinical use. Pubmed, Ovid Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for articles about use of SVF or ASC for disease therapy published between 2012 and 2017. One meta-analysis, 2 randomized controlled trials, and 16 case series were included, representing 844 human patients. Sixty-nine studies were performed in preclinical models of disease. ASCs improved symptoms, fistula healing, remission, and recurrence rates in severe cases of inflammatory bowel disease. In osteoarthritis, ASC and SVF improved symptom-related, functional, radiographic, and histological scores. ASC and SVF were also shown to improve clinical outcomes in ischemic stroke, multiple sclerosis, myocardial ischemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic liver failure, glioblastoma, acute kidney injury, and chronic skin wounds. These effects were primarily paracrine in nature and mediated through reduction of inflammation and promotion of tissue repair. In the majority of human studies, autologous ASC and SVF from liposuction procedures were used, minimizing the risk to recipients. Very few serious, treatment-related adverse events were reported. The main adverse event was postprocedural pain. SVF and ASC are promising therapies for a variety of human diseases, particularly for patients with severe cases refractory to current medical treatments. Further randomized controlled trials must be performed to elaborate potential safety and efficacy prior to clinical use.
Identification of the Coiled-Coil Domain as an Essential Methyl-CpG-Binding Domain Protein 3 Element for Preserving Lineage Commitment Potential of Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Hirasaki Masataka , Ueda Atsushi , Asaka Masamitsu N. , Uranishi Kousuke , Suzuki Ayumu , Kohda Masakazu , Mizuno Yosuke , Okazaki Yasushi , Nishimoto Masazumi , Sharif Jafar , Koseki Haruhiko , Okuda Akihiko
Published: May 2018

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) exhibit two salient features beneficial for regenerative medicine: unlimited self-renewal and pluripotency. Methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 3 (Mbd3), a scaffolding component of the nucleosome remodeling deacetylase complex, is a specific regulator of pluripotency, as ESCs lacking Mbd3 are defective for lineage commitment potential but retain normal self-renewal properties. However, functional similarities and dissimilarities among the three Mbd3 isoforms (a, b, and c) have not been intensively explored. Herein, we demonstrated that Mbd3c, which lacks an entire portion of the MBD domain, exerted equivalent activity for counteracting the defective lineage commitment potential of Mbd3-knockout ESCs. Our analyses also revealed that the coiled-coil domain common to all three MBD3 isoforms, but not the MBD domain, plays a crucial role in this activity. Mechanistically, our data demonstrate that the activity of the coiled-coil domain is exerted, at least in part, through recruitment of polycomb repressive complex 2 to a subset of genes linked to development and organogenesis, thus establishing stable transcriptional repression.
Perceptions and Actions of Commercial Fishers in Response to Conservation Measures in Canadian Pacific Salmon Fisheries
Authors: Watson Maryann S. , Cook Katrina V. , Young Nathan , Hinch Scott G.
Published: May 2018

In Canadian Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. commercial fisheries, a policy of selective fishing includes a mandatory release program intended to reduce impacts on vulnerable populations. However, there remain concerns of noncompliance with these regulations, potentially resulting in higher mortality of released fish than is accounted for. Though estimations of postrelease mortality have improved the management of commercial fisheries, the influence of fishers’ behavior is not directly considered by the regulatory framework. Additionally, perceptions of the selective fishing strategy have not been evaluated among fishers, despite knowledge that their acceptance of regulations is critical to successful management outcomes. We conducted 21 semistructured interviews with fishers from the commercial purse seine fleet for Pacific salmon about their perceptions of selective fishing, and found that attitudes towards regulations and managers are a primary determinant of compliance. We also found that greater incentives for selective fishing practices and improved communication among the fishing, management, and scientific communities would likely enhance support for management systems among members of the purse seine fleet.
Relationship Between Visceral Obesity and Postoperative Inflammatory Response Following Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy
Authors: Okamura Akihiko , Watanabe Masayuki , Fukudome Ian , Yamashita Kotaro , Yuda Masami , Hayami Masaru , Imamura Yu , Mine Shinji
Published: May 2018

Background

Esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is one of the most invasive surgeries. However, the factors influencing postoperative systemic inflammatory response following esophagectomy have not been elucidated. Recently, visceral fat has been shown to play an important role in both chronic and acute inflammation. In this study, we assessed the relationship between visceral obesity and postoperative inflammatory response following minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE).

Methods

Visceral fat area (VFA) was measured using computed tomography in 152 patients undergoing MIE for esophageal cancer. We assessed perioperative serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels preoperatively and on postoperative days (PODs) 1–5 and analyzed the relationship between VFA and perioperative serum CRP levels.

Results

VFA was positively associated with preoperative serum CRP level (P < 0.001). Univariate analysis revealed that VFA was significantly associated with increased serum CRP levels on PODs 1–5 (P < 0.001 for each day), whereas multivariate analysis revealed that it was independently associated with increased serum CRP levels on PODs 1–4 (P = 0.033, 0.035, 0.001, and 0.006, respectively). Similar results were observed in patients who did not have postoperative infectious complications, such as pneumonia, anastomotic leak, and surgical site infection. VFA was not an independent risk factor for the occurrence of these postoperative infectious complications.

Conclusions

Visceral obesity might be associated with chronic inflammation in patients with esophageal cancer and promote postoperative inflammatory response following MIE.
An Alternative Interpretation of the Linearly Weighted Kappa Coefficients for Ordinal Data
Authors: Kvålseth Tarald O.
Published: May 2018

When two (or more) observers are independently categorizing a set of observations, Cohen’s kappa has become the most notable measure of interobserver agreement. When the categories are ordinal, a weighted form of kappa becomes desirable. The two most popular weighting schemes are the quadratic weights and linear weights. Quadratic weights have been justified by the fact that the corresponding weighted kappa is asymptotically equivalent to an intraclass correlation coefficient. This paper deals with linear weights and shows that the corresponding weighted kappa is equivalent to the unweighted kappa when cumulative probabilities are substituted for probabilities. A numerical example is provided.
Examining the perceptions and effects of survey consequentiality across population subgroups
Authors: Morgan O. Ashton , Huth William L. , Hindsley Paul
Published: May 2018

Recent research examining voting behavior in contingent valuation referenda informs on how consequential survey respondents behave and its impact on willingness-to-pay (WTP) values. This research attempts to examine whether this behavior holds across population subgroups. We consider resident and nonresident users of artificial reefs and find improved construct validity for our resident models over nonresident models. Specifically, resident behavior is in line with a priori expectations with consequential residents more likely to vote in favor of a policy for additional reef funding – a result that is consistent with the “protest no” literature. Consequently, consequential resident voters exhibit a greater WTP than inconsequential voters. Nonresident behavior differs, however. For this subgroup, consequentiality does not influence voting behavior and WTP values do not differ by consequentiality. Overall, more work is required to appropriately identify WTP values for nonresident populations, particularly from a benefit-cost perspective, where appropriately identifying subgroup WTP values are a critical component of measuring the net present value of a given policy.
The Extent of Stability and Relational Permanence Achieved for Young Children in Care in Northern Ireland
Authors: McSherry Dominic , Fargas Malet Montserrat
Published: May 2018

Placement stability is sought for children who enter care and need a place to call home. This is deemed to be necessary for the formation and continuation of secure and loving relationships with parents and carers. However, the term placement stability does not capture the quality of the placement or the subjective experience of the young person. In contrast, the term relational permanence denotes an enduring and supportive relationship between a young person and a caring adult. Research studies have tended to focus on placement stability, or legal and physical permanence, and overlook relational permanence. Within the current study, we found high levels of long-term placement stability for the study population, 354 young people who were under five and in care in Northern Ireland on the 31st March 2000. Placements for those who were adopted, on Residence Order, and rehabilitated with birth parents were more likely to be stable than those in long-term foster care and kinship foster care. However, early interview data with 30 young people and/or their parents/carers revealed high levels of relational permanence, irrespective of placement type, and that placement disruption did not necessarily mean a breakdown in the relationship. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Genetics of breast cancer in African populations: a literature review
Authors: Abbad A. , Baba H. , Dehbi H. , Elmessaoudi-Idrissi M. , Elyazghi Z. , Abidi O. , Radouani F.
Published: May 2018

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most complex, diverse and leading cause of death in women worldwide. The present investigation aims to explore genes panel associated with BC in different African regions, and compare them to those studied worldwide.

We extracted relevant information from 43 studies performed in Africa using the following criteria: case-control study, association between genetic variations and BC risk. Data were provided on mutations and polymorphisms associated with BC without fixing a specific date. Case-only studies and clinical trials were excluded.

Our study revealed that the majority of African BC genetic studies remain restricted to the investigation of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and differences in their mutations spectrum. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage African researchers to characterize more genes involved in BC using methods generating global information such as next-generation sequencing in order to guide specific and more effective therapeutic strategies for the African community.
Cooperatives versus Corporations: Survival in the French Wine Industry
Authors: Valette Justine , Amadieu Paul , Sentis Patrick
Published: May 2018

This article examines the survival rates of cooperatives in the French wine industry. Traditional theory claims that cooperatives are inefficient and consequently are prone to failure, but recent literature suggests a higher resilience. Can cooperatives cope better? We find that French wine cooperatives survive longer than corporations. This result is robust in semi-parametric and parametric models, even when we control for mergers and acquisitions. The higher survival rate of wine cooperatives seems to be associated with their ability to pass changes in their business environments on to their members. (JEL Classifications: C41, G30, Q13)
“Sometimes a Bee Can Move an Ox”: Biblical Epics and One Man's Quest to Promote Jewish Values in Blacklist-Era Hollywood
Authors: Paul Andrew
Published: May 2018

In the 1950s, the top American Jewish organizations chose a single man, John Stone, to represent their collective interests in Hollywood. Over the course of the decade, Stone's Motion Picture Project sought to prevent antisemitism on film and to inspire the creation of positive Jewish characters. Negotiating the cultural politics of the era, however, resulted in an increasing tendency to favor depictions of biblical Jews over contemporary American ones. In a strange twist, Stone endorsed no film with as much zeal asBen-Hur, a New Testament celebration of Jesus. By following Stone's tortuous attempts to navigate Cold War controversies, and by casting new light on the phenomenal success of biblical epics in the 1950s, this essay suggests that at the heart of postwar popular culture was a shift toward a particular discourse of liberal humanism.
Clustered networks protect cooperation against catastrophic collapse
Authors: SPENCER GWEN
Published: May 2018

Assuming a society of conditional cooperators (or moody conditional cooperators), this computational study proposes a new perspective on the structural advantage of social network clustering. Previous work focused on how clustered structure might encourage initialoutbreaks of cooperationor defend against invasion by a few defectors. Instead, we explore the ability of a societal structure to retain cooperative norms in the face of widespread disturbances. Such disturbances may abstractly describe hardships like famine and economic recession, or the random spatial placement of a substantial numbers ofpure defectors(orround-1 defectors) among a spatially structured population of players in a laboratory game, etc.

As links in tightly clustered societies are reallocated to distant contacts, we observe that a society becomes increasingly susceptible tocatastrophic cascades of defection: mutually-beneficial cooperative norms can be destroyed completely by modest shocks of defection. In contrast, networks with higher clustering coefficients can withstand larger shocks of defection before being forced to catastrophically low levels of cooperation. We observe a remarkably linearprotective effect of clusteringcoefficient that becomes active above acritical level of clustering. Notably, both the critical level and the slope of this dependence is higher for decision-rule parameterizations that correspond to highercosts of cooperation. Our modeling framework provides a simple way to reinterpret the counter-intuitive and widely cited human experiments of Suri and Watts (2011) while also affirming the classical intuition that network clustering and higher levels of cooperation should be positively associated.
Effect of the Health Tourism weight loss programme on body composition and health outcomes in healthy and excess-weight adults
Authors: Sagayama Hiroyuki , Shizuma Kayoko , Toguchi Makiko , Mizuhara Hiroji , Machida Yukiko , Yamada Yosuke , Ebine Naoyuki , Higaki Yasuki , Tanaka Hiroaki
Published: May 2018

Excess weight loss while minimising fat-free mass (FFM) loss is important for health. Travel is a particular period at risk for weight gain and for which the effects of a short-term intensive weight loss programme have not been studied. Therefore, we studied the effect of a novel, 1-week supervised health travel programme combining high volume, low-to-moderate intensity exercise and energy intake restriction on weight, body composition and health outcomes in adults. Weight was also monitored for 12 weeks after the programme. In all, thirty-six subjects (nineteen men, seventeen women) consisting of sixteen excess-weight (BMI: 27·1 (sd1·7) kg/m2) and twenty healthy-weight (BMI: 22·3 (sd1·8) kg/m2) individuals participated. Subjects performed 1 h of slow-paced intermittent jogging three times per d and other leisure activities, whereas consuming only provided foods without water restriction. Body mass significantly decreased from pre- to post-intervention in excess-weight and healthy-weight individuals (−3·5 (sd1·5) and −3·5 (sd1·3) %, respectively;P<0·001 for both), and losses were maintained at 12 weeks post-intervention in both groups (−6·3 (sd3·8) and −1·7 (sd4·0) %, respectively;P<0·01 for both). Fat mass also significantly decreased in both groups (excess weight: −9·2 (sd4·6) %: healthy weight: −13·4 (sd9·0) %;P<0·01 for both), whereas FFM was maintained. Similar improvements were observed for blood biochemistry and pressure in both groups. This short-term weight loss intervention yielded favourable outcomes in both excess- and healthy-weight adults, particularly a 3·5 % weight loss with no significant change to FFM. In addition, participants maintained weight loss for at least 12 weeks. Of multiple programme choices, the Health Tourism weight loss programme’s results indicate that it is a viable option.
Fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of depression: accumulative evidence from an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies
Authors: Saghafian Faezeh , Malmir Hanieh , Saneei Parvane , Milajerdi Alireza , Larijani Bagher , Esmaillzadeh Ahmad
Published: May 2018

Findings from observational studies investigating the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of depression were inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarise available data on the association between fruit and vegetable intake and depression. A systematic literature search of relevant reports published in Medline/PubMed, ISI (Web of Science), SCOPUS and Google Scholar until Oct 2017 was conducted. Data from 27 publications (sixteen cross-sectional, nine cohort and two case–control studies) on fruit, vegetables and/or total fruit and vegetable consumption in relation to depression were included in the systematic review. A total of eighteen studies that reported relative risks (RR), hazard ratios or OR for the relationship were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled RR for depression in the highest v. the lowest category of fruit intake was 0·83 (95 % CI 0·71, 0·98) in cohort studies and 0·76 (95 % CI 0·63, 0·92) in cross-sectional studies. Consumption of vegetables was also associated with a 14 % lower risk of depression (overall RR=0·86; 95 % CI 0·75, 0·98) in cohort studies and a 25 % lower risk of depression (overall RR=0·75; 95 % CI 0·62, 0·91) in cross-sectional studies. Moreover, an inverse significant association was observed between intake of total fruit and vegetables and risk of depression (overall RR=0·80; 95 % CI 0·65, 0·98) in cross-sectional studies. In a non-linear dose–response association, we failed to find any significant association between fruit or vegetable intake and risk of depression (fruit (cross-sectional studies): Pnon-linearty=0·12; vegetables (cross-sectional studies): Pnon-linearty<0·001; (cohort studies) Pnon-linearty=0·97). Meta-regression of included observational studies revealed an inverse linear association between fruit or vegetable intake and risk of depression, such that every 100-g increased intake of fruit was associated with a 3 % reduced risk of depression in cohort studies (RR=0·97; 95 % CI 0·95, 0·99). With regard to vegetable consumption, every 100-g increase in intake was associated with a 3 % reduced risk of depression in cohort studies (RR=0·97; 95 % CI 0·95, 0·98) and 5 % reduced odds in cross-sectional studies (RR=0·95; 95 % CI 0·91, 0·98). This meta-analysis of observational studies provides further evidence that fruit and vegetable intake was protectively associated with depression. This finding supports the current recommendation of increasing fruit and vegetable intake to improve mental health.
Inulin supplementation reduces the negative effect of a high-fat diet rich in SFA on bone health of growing pigs
Authors: Sobol Monika , Raj Stanisława , Skiba Grzegorz
Published: May 2018

Consumption of a high-fat diet, rich in SFA, causes deterioration of bone properties. Some studies suggest that feeding inulin to animals may increase mineral absorption and positively affect bone quality; however, these studies have been carried out only on rodents fed a standard diet. The primary objective of this study was to determine the effect of inulin on bone health of pigs (using it as an animal model for humans) fed a high-fat diet rich in SFA, having an unbalanced ratio of lysine:metabolisable energy. It was hypothesised that inulin reduces the negative effects of such a diet on bone health. At 50 d of age, twenty-one pigs were randomly allotted to three groups: the control (C) group fed a standard diet, and two experimental (T and TI) groups fed a high-fat diet rich in SFA. Moreover, TI pigs consumed an extra inulin supply (7 % of daily feed intake). After 10 weeks, whole-body bone mineral content (P=0·0054) and bone mineral density (P=0·0322) were higher in pigs of groups TI and C compared with those of group T. Femur bone mineral density was highest in pigs in group C, lower in group TI and lowest in group T (P=0·001). Femurs of pigs in groups TI and C had similar, but higher, maximum strength compared with femurs of pigs in group T (P=0·0082). In conclusion, consumption of a high-fat diet rich in SFA adversely affected bone health, but inulin supplementation in such a diet diminishes this negative effect.
Role of pressure solution in the formation of bedding-parallel calcite veins in an immature shale (Cretaceous, southern UK)
Authors: MENG QINGFENG , HOOKER JOHN , CARTWRIGHT JOE
Published: May 2018

Bedding-parallel fibrous calcite veins in black shales (Cretaceous, southern UK) were investigated using a combined field, stable isotopic geochemistry, petrographic and crystallographic method to examine their formation mechanism. Calcite veins occur in all shale beds and are most abundant in the bituminous shales of the Chief Beef Beds. The calcite fibres in these veins exhibit either an antitaxial fibre growth with curvy stylolites as the median zone, or a predominantly syntaxial, upwards growth. The calcite veins range from –0.49 to 1.78‰ of δ13C values, and –6.53 to –0.03‰ of δ18O values, which are both similar to those of their host shales. Our petrographic observations demonstrate that subhorizontal and interconnecting microstylolite networks commonly occur within the calcite veins. Equant calcite grains in the median zones exhibit indenting, truncating and also interpenetrating grain contacts. It is interpreted that the fibrous calcite veins were sourced by neomorphic calcite from their host shales, with evidence from the δ13C signatures, pressure-solution features (stylolites, microstylolites and grain contact styles) and embedded fossil ghosts within the veins. The diagenetic fluids, from which calcite was precipitated, were a mixing of the original seawaters and18O-depleted meteoric waters. Development of bedding-parallel calcite veins is considered to have been enhanced by pressure solution as a positive feedback mechanism, which was facilitated by the overburden pressure as the maximum principal stress. Calcite fibres, with a predominant subvertical c-axis orientation, exhibit a displacive growth in porous shales and a replacive growth at vein-limestone contacts. This study highlights the critical role of pressure solution in the formation of bedding-parallel calcite veins during burial and diagenesis of immature black shales.
The mismatch between location of protected areas and suitable habitat for the Vulnerable taruka Hippocamelus antisensis
Authors: Mata Cristina , Fuentes-Allende Nicolás , Malo Juan E. , Vielma André , González Benito A.
Published: May 2018

Protected areas help to decrease human impacts on threatened mammals but do not always include species’ core habitats. Here we focus on the Vulnerable taruka Hippocamelus antisensis near the Atacama Desert, Chile, a population that is mainly threatened by interactions with local human communities. We develop a species distribution model for taruka and assess the contribution of protected areas to safeguarding its preferred habitat. From sightings (collected during 2004–2015), absence records (collected in 2014), and environmental variables, we determined that taruka habitat is scarce, highly fragmented and limited to humid areas. Only 7.7–11.2% of the taruka's core habitat is under protection. We recommend the establishment of a protected area in the south of Arica-Parinacota district, an area without settlements that lies within the taruka's core habitat, along with educational programmes, fencing of crops, and inclusion of communities in decision-making in areas where farmer–taruka interactions are negative.
On Slippery Slopes
Authors: Devine Philip E.
Published: May 2018

I here discuss an argument frequently dismissed as a fallacy – the slippery slope or camel's nose. The argument has three forms – analogical, argumentative, and prudential. None of these provides a deductive guarantee, but all can provide considerations capable of influencing the intellect. Our evaluation of such arguments reflects our background social and evaluative assumptions.
A difficult to explain phenomenon: increasing complexity in the prenominal position
Authors: GÜNTHER CHRISTINE
Published: May 2018

In English, the position of the AP in the nominal phrase is determined by its form: only structurally simpler phrases are said to be licit in prenominal position, more complex ones have to follow the noun. Recent studies have reported an increasing use of nominal premodifiers in English, so the question arises whether this trend affects only simpler phrases or whether a new structural option emerges – complex APs in prenominal position. Drawing on data from COHA, this article investigates which types of AP occur prenominally. The data show that certain types of complex APs are gaining ground in the prenominal position. Most of these can be analyzed as complex words rather than complex phrases and hence do not indicate major syntactic changes in the English NP. However, some of the attestations, such as easy-predicates with a to-infinitival clause, are complex phrases. It is argued that it is the dependency relation between their rightmost element, a lexical verb, and the noun they modify which makes them occur in prenominal position.
Validation of a novel image-weighed technique for monitoring food intake and estimation of portion size in hospital settings: a pilot study
Authors: Ofei Kwabena T , Mikkelsen Bent E , Scheller Rudolf A
Published: May 2018

Objective

Optimal nutrition for hospital patients is crucial and routine monitoring of patients’ nutrient intake is imperative. However, personalised monitoring and customised intervention using traditional methods is challenging and labour-intensive, consequently it is often neglected in hospital settings. The present pilot study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the Dietary Intake Monitoring System (DIMS) against the weighed food method (WFM).

Design

The DIMS 2.0 is composed of an integrated digital camera, weighing scale, radio-frequency identification sensor and WIFI connection for real-time image and weight dietary data acquisition and analysis. The DIMS equipment was used to collect data for a paired set of meals both before and after meal consumption at lunchtime.

Setting

Odense University Hospital, Denmark.

Subjects

Photos and weights of seventeen patient meals were captured.

Results

The results showed a significant correlation between DIMS and WFM for energy (r=0·99, P<0·01) and protein intake (r=0·98, P<0·01). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) revealed a high degree of agreement among the four non-trained assessors for estimates of portion size of each food item before (0·88, P<0·01) and after consumption (0·99, P<0·01). The ICC for energy and protein intake were 0·99 (P<0·01) and 0·99 (P<0·01), respectively. Bland–Altman plots revealed no systematic bias.

Conclusions

Considering the huge benefits associated with routine monitoring, technological advances have made it possible to develop a novel, easy-to-use DIMS that, according to the findings, is a valid alternative for use in hospital settings.
International Posturing amidst Domestic Neglect: India's Agricultural Policy Examined
Authors: GUPTA PRIYANSHU , BABU R. RAJESH
Published: May 2018

India has actively tried to shape the WTO agricultural negotiations by submitting detailed proposals, building coalitions, and even taking hard stands (veto) at critical junctures. However, this aggressive posturing presents a sharp contrast with India's domestic agricultural space, where the situation highlights policy neglect, manifesting in agrarian distress and farmer suicides. This paper analyzes contradictions between India's internationally espoused negotiating positions and its domestic policy goals. It argues that India's core focus has been to preserve status quo in the domestic food markets, driven by the political need to provide food-based consumption subsidies and manage an assured price and supply protection to its vulnerable consumers. As a result, India's interests are divergent from most of its developing country coalition partners in the G-20 as well as the G-33 groups. Our discussion has significant implications for both the domestic policy, as well as the sustainability of India's strategy in global agricultural trade negotiations.
A WEAK HILBERT SPACE THAT IS A TWISTED HILBERT SPACE
Authors: Suárez de la Fuente Jesús
Published: May 2018

We construct a weak Hilbert space that is a twisted Hilbert space.
Addressing cancer patient and caregiver role transitions during home hospice nursing care
Authors: Hudson Janella , Reblin Maija , Clayton Margaret F. , Ellington Lee
Published: May 2018

Objective

Many family caregivers and hospice patients experience role changes resulting from advancing illness and the need for increased caregiver responsibility. Successful navigation of conflicts that arise because of these role transitions has been linked to higher quality of patient care and improved caregiver bereavement adjustment. Nursing communication with patients and their caregivers plays an important role in facilitating these transitions. Our objective is to describe patient-caregiver-nurse communication during transitions at end of life.

Method

A secondary, qualitative analysis was conducted on transcripts. Using an iterative process of constant comparison, coders inductively categorized nurse, caregiver, and patient communication behavior into overarching themes. Participants were home hospice nurses and cancer patient/spouse caregiver dyads; participants were >45 years of age, English speaking, and cognitively able to participate. Research took place in the home during nurse visits.

Result

Nineteen unique home hospice visits were analyzed. Patient-caregiver conflict occurred in two major content themes (1) negotiating transitions in patient independence and (2) navigating caregiver/patient emotions (e.g., frustration, sadness). Nurse responses to transition conflict included problem-solving, mediating, or facilitating discussions about conflicts. Nurse responses to emotional conflict included validation and reassurance.

Significance of results

Our findings provide insight into the topics and processes involved in patient and caregiver transitions in home hospice and the role hospice nursing communication plays in mediating potential conflict. Nurses are often asked to take on the role of mediator, often with little conflict resolution communication education; results can be used for nursing education.
NATIVE PEOPLE AND VIOLENT CRIME
Authors: Deer Sarah
Published: May 2018

Exciting changes are happening in criminal jurisdiction in Indian country at the national level. Due in large part to activism on the part of Native women, Congress has attempted to improve criminal justice on tribal lands. The reforms do not go far enough, however, and many of the recent legal changes have not yet been challenged in the federal courts. This article will preview many of the legal issues likely to ignite a firestorm of litigation and lobbying around issues of crime in Indian country. This article will also wrestle with the difficult question of whether tribal nations should adopt or sustain the typical carceral law and order model used by Anglo-American governments. In an effort to take advantage of the changes in federal law, tribal nations are explicitly required to comply with certain Anglo-American norms. The risks and rewards of such adherence will also be explored.
Mechanical and chemical techniques for separating microfossils from rock, sediment and residue matrix
Authors: Harris Anita G. , Sweet Walter C.
Published: May 2018

Microfossils are most profitably studied as discrete specimens that have been freed from the enclosing rock matrix. Techniques for separating microfossils from matrix and from matrix residues are numerous and relatively simple. Choice of a procedure will depend on the types of microfossils sought, their composition, and the laboratory facilities available. Our own work deals mostly with phosphatic microfossils (conodonts), which are chemically resistant and may be freed from rock matrix and concentrated fairly easily. Calcareous microfossils, such as foraminifers and ostracodes, may be separated and concentrated from relatively unconsolidated sediments rather easily, but freed from some other rock types only with considerable effort (Lethiers and Crasquin-Soleau, 1988), inadequately, or not at all. Many of the laboratoryprocessing techniques for phosphatic, calcareous, and siliceous microfossils are the same. We have not included techniques (e.g., thin-sectioning, preparation of latex replicas, or slabbing) for studying these microfossil groups in rock matrix.
Techniques for studying molluscan shell microstructure
Authors: Carter Joseph G. , Ambrose Wallace W.
Published: May 2018

Until the mid-1960's, procedures for studying shell microstruetures were laborious and, for many purposes, unsatisfactory. Depositional surfaces were observed with binocular microscopy, and shell material was embedded in various media, sectioned, mounted on a glass slide, and observed with ordinary light and polarized light microscopy. These procedures revealed the major microstructural organization of shell layers and their optical crystallographic properties, but they provided little information regarding what is now termed shell ultrastructure. Nevertheless, these techniques provided the basis for a number of important pioneering works on molluscan shell microstructure between 1921 and 1967.
Making thin sections
Authors: Wells Neil A.
Published: May 2018

Thin sections are slices of rock, mounted on glass, that are ground thin enough to transmit light. This allows microscopic examination of crystals, grains, fossils, and rock fabrics. Thin sections are of special value to three groups of paleontologists: 1) taxonomists studying groups whose classification rests on internal features or skeletal fabrics (such as foraminifera, stromatoporoids, some coelenterates & bryozoa, etc.), 2) paleoecologists interested in reconstructing biofacies from sand-size skeletal fragments, and 3) those interested in diagenesis of fossils and initial mineralogy. Almost anything can be made into a thin section, although metals and certain opaque minerals will not transmit light.
Preparation of serial sections
Authors: Sandy Michael R.
Published: May 2018

Serial sectioning (also referred to as serial grinding) is used to investigate the internal structures of three-dimensional (rock or fossil). In this process series of sections are ground or cut in sequence through a specimen to reveal its internal structures. The specimen is ground down against an abrasive surface (e.g., abrasive powder on a sheet of steel or a rotating diamond wheel on a lathe) or cut with a saw blade. The details of each section can be recorded by drawing or photography. A permanent record of each surface can be made by taking acetate peels and mounting them in glass slides (Wilson and Palmer, this volume, Chapter 13). Serial section information can be digitized and reconstructed in three-dimensions using computer techniques (Chapman, this volume, Chapter 15).
Uses of ultrasonic cleaners in paleontological laboratories
Authors: Pojeta John , Balanc Marija
Published: May 2018

Ultrasonic cleaning is a fast and usually safe method for cleaning many hard objects that are not glued together, and it is thus useful in paleontological laboratories. It is relatively ineffective for cleaning soft materials such as rubber, cloth, and fibers. Ultrasonic cleaning machines use sound waves, or mechanical vibrations, that are above the human hearing range, and operate at frequences up to 55,000 cycles per second. The sound waves are generated by a transducer (Figure 1), which changes high frequency electrical energy to mechanical energy. This mechanical energy, or vibration, is then coupled into the liquid in the cleaning tank. The vibrations cause alternating high and low pressure waves in the liquid. This action forms millions of microscopic bubbles, which expand during low pressure waves and form small cavities. During the high pressure waves, these cavities collapse, or implode, creating a mechanical scrubbinglike action, which loosens dirt on all surfaces in contact with the cleaning solution. This action can take place up to 55,000 times a second, making it seem as though the dirt is being blasted from the surface and cavities of the object being cleaned. Ultrasonic cleaning is effective wherever capillary action will take the solution. Complete cleaning usually requires from 30 seconds to two minutes (Anonymous, 1983).
Glues and other stick'ums and patch'ums stabilizing compounds for strengthening fossils
Authors: Wolberg Donald L.
Published: May 2018

All of the taphonomic and other factors involved in fossilization, exposure and collection of fossils affect the preservation state, the condition in which the fossils become available for collection. These factors also determine what should be done to, at the very least, at least maintain that preservation state, and ideally provide a stabilized specimen that can, if desired, be restored. Weathering of rocks and their contained fossils is always a combination of mechanical and chemical processes. The collection of fossils in the field, and later work in the laboratory, attempts to halt or slow those processes (Rixon, 1976; Converse, 1984).
Screen-washing unconsolidated sediments for small macrofossils
Authors: Miller Barry B.
Published: May 2018

Screen-washing bulk samples of fossilliferous matrix is the method of choice for concentrating relatively large numbers of small fossils from unconsolidated sediments. The technique is most effective when used to disaggregate dry and unconsolidated sand, silt, and silty clay. Ideally, when the dry fossil-bearing particles will pass through an appropriate size screen-mesh, leaving behind a residue of fossils and coarser grain sizes. Organic-rich sediments, overconsolidated silt, silty clay, maris and clays may require soaking in dilute chemical solutions to encourage disaggregation. The extraction of fossils from these more intractable sediments, therefore, generally will be limited to the processing of quantitatively small samples (several hundred grams), in the laboratory.
Latex casting of macroinvertebrate fossils
Authors: Parsley Ronald L.
Published: May 2018

Latex casting of macroinvertebrate fossils, when filling natural molds, produces a positive, or cast, reproduction of the organism. The use of latex molds to cast fossils in plaster or plastic materials will be discussed elsewhere in this volume. The purpose of this paper is to describe the preparation of latex casts for study and photography. The procedure for preparing a latex mold is essentially the same. Latex casts, carefully made, reproduce surficial detail with remarkable fidelity and a photograph of a whitened, stained-latex cast is often times indistingushable from a photograph of a well- preserved whitened body fossil.
Enlarging latex molds and casts
Authors: Wilson Mark A.
Published: May 2018

The procedure for permanently enlarging natural latex casts and molds up to 50% larger without appreciable material distortion was first reported by Fuehrer (1939). The technique was later modified for casts and molds of polybutadiene rubber by Gunther et al. (1979).
Mold making with room temperature vulcanizing silicone rubber
Authors: Chaney Dan S.
Published: May 2018

Specimens of all types and sizes can be molded with room temperature vulcanizing silicone rubber (R.T.V.). Mold making procedures, when using R.T.V., differ little from those followed when molding with latex, polysulfide, or polyurethane rubbers. The most important difference is that when using R.T.V. separators are not, under normal circumstances, required either in the making of the mold or in the production of the cast. This allows for the ultimate in surface detail replication in the cast. Thus R.T.V. compounds are ideal for molding small specimens and portions of larger specimens requiring examination using electron microscopy, typically used in vertebrate paleontology for the examination of micro-striations on teeth (for masticatory functions and dietary studies) or bones (for pathologic and taphonomic examinations).
Casting with plaster of Paris
Authors: Babcock Loren E.
Published: May 2018

Plaster of Paris is a general term for gypsum plasters and gypsum cements. Plaster, which has been in widespread use for producing casts of fossils since the Nineteenth Century (e.g., Green, 1832; Ward, 1866), is easily used for making rigid, long-lasting, and inexpensive casts of study specimens, and for making field casts from natural molds. Good general descriptions of the use of plaster are given in Clarke (1938) and Rich (1947), as well as in many recent books on sculpture (e.g., Miller, 1971; Chaney and Skee, 1973; Andrews, 1983), and in various brochures distributed by manufacturers (e.g., United States Gypsum Company, 1987a, 1987b). Using plaster for casting paleontological specimens was previously discussed in works by Quinn (1940), Keyes (1959), Heintz (1963), Rigby and Clark (1965), Rixon (1976), and Chase (1979).
Photographic procedures
Authors: Feldmann Rodney M.
Published: May 2018

Preparation of appropriate photographs is absolutely essential in conveying paleontological information. The effort expended in adequate cleaning and preparation of specimens is not only reflected in exposing the detail of material so that it can be properly described but also in permitting the morphologic information to be transmitted to others through photography. Therefore the purpose of this chapter is to describe the general procedures involved in preparing high quality, publishable photographs because special techniques related to photography of microfossils will be treated elsewhere, the emphasis within this chapter will be upon photography of macrofossils, specimens large enough to be photographed using a normal spectrum of photographic lenses and extension tubes. Because nearly all paleontological material is illustrated as black and white photographs, no reference will be made to the preparation of color illustrations.
The First Comparison Between Swarm‐C Accelerometer‐Derived Thermospheric Densities and Physical and Empirical Model Estimates
Authors: Kodikara Timothy , Carter Brett , Zhang Kefei
Published: May 2018

The first systematic comparison between Swarm‐C accelerometer‐derived thermospheric density and both empirical and physics‐based model results using multiple model performance metrics is presented. This comparison is performed at the satellite's high temporal 10‐s resolution, which provides a meaningful evaluation of the models' fidelity for orbit prediction and other space weather forecasting applications. The comparison against the physical model is influenced by the specification of the lower atmospheric forcing, the high‐latitude ionospheric plasma convection, and solar activity. Some insights into the model response to thermosphere‐driving mechanisms are obtained through a machine learning exercise. The results of this analysis show that the short‐timescale variations observed by Swarm‐C during periods of high solar and geomagnetic activity were better captured by the physics‐based model than the empirical models. It is concluded that Swarm‐C data agree well with the climatologies inherent within the models and are, therefore, a useful data set for further model validation and scientific research.
Ionizing Electrons on the Martian Nightside: Structure and Variability
Authors: Lillis Robert J. , Mitchell David L. , Steckiewicz Morgane , Brain David , Xu Shaosui , Weber Tristan , Halekas Jasper , Connerney Jack , Espley Jared , Benna Mehdi , Elrod Meredith , Thiemann Edward , Eparvier Frank
Published: May 2018

The precipitation of suprathermal electrons is the dominant external source of energy deposition and ionization in the Martian nightside upper atmosphere and ionosphere. We investigate the spatial patterns and variability of ionizing electrons from 115 to 600 km altitude on the Martian nightside, using CO2 electron impact ionization frequency (EIIF) as our metric, examining more than 3 years of data collected in situ by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft. We characterize the behavior of EIIF with respect to altitude, solar zenith angle, solar wind pressure, and the geometry and strength of crustal magnetic fields. EIIF has a complex and correlated dependence on these factors, but we find that it generally increases with altitude and solar wind pressure, decreases with crustal magnetic field strength and does not depend detectably on solar zenith angle past 115°. The dependence is governed by (a) energy degradation and backscatter by collisions with atmospheric neutrals below ~220 km and (b) magnetic field topology that permits or retards electron access to certain regions. This field topology is dynamic and varies with solar wind conditions, allowing greater electron access at higher altitudes where crustal fields are weaker and also for higher solar wind pressures, which result in stronger draped magnetic fields that push closed crustal magnetic field loops to lower altitudes. This multidimensional electron flux behavior can in the future be parameterized in an empirical model for use as input to global simulations of the nightside upper atmosphere, which currently do not account for this important source of energy.