bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Breaking down the lithification bias: the effect of preferential sampling of larger specimens on the estimate of species richness, evenness, and average specimen size
Authors: Hawkins Andrew D. , Kowalewski Michał , Xiao Shuhai 
Published: March 2018

AbstractLithification, the transition of unconsolidated sediments to fully indurated rocks, can potentially bias estimates of species richness, evenness, and body size distribution derived from fossil assemblages. Fossil collections made from well-indurated rocks consistently exhibit lower species richness, lower evenness, and larger average specimen size relative to collections made from unconsolidated sediments, even when collections are drawn from the same assemblage. This phenomenon is known as “lithification bias.” While the bias itself has been demonstrated empirically, much less attention has been paid to its causes. Proposed causes include taphonomic processes (e.g., destruction of small specimens during early diagenesis) and methodological differences (e.g., sieving vs. counting specimens on outcrops, bedding surfaces, or mechanically split surfaces). Here we investigate the potential effects of preferential intersection that could also result in a methodologically related bias: the preferential sampling of larger specimens relative to smaller ones when fossils are counted on rock surfaces. We used an analogue model to simulate preferential intersection (fossil collection via splitting fossiliferous rocks) and compare the results with a random-draw model that approximates the effects of sieving. The model was parameterized using nine different combinations of species abundance and species size distributions. The results show that, with rare exceptions, species richness is 5–23% lower, evenness 5–25% lower, and average specimen size 24–150% larger in preferential-intersection than in random-draw simulations. We conclude that preferential intersection can impose a significant bias independent of other mechanisms (e.g., preferential destruction of smaller specimens during diagenetic or sampling processes), that the magnitude of this bias is partially dependent on the species abundance and size distributions, and that this bias alone does not fully account for empirically observed lithification bias on species richness (i.e., other sources of bias are also at work).
A multidisciplinary study of ecosystem evolution through early Pleistocene climate change from the marine Arda River section, Italy
Authors: Crippa Gaia , Baucon Andrea , Felletti Fabrizio , Raineri Gianluca , Scarponi Daniele 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe Arda River marine succession (Italy) is an excellent site to apply an integrated approach to paleoenvironmental reconstructions, combining the results of sedimentology, body fossil paleontology, and ichnology to unravel the sedimentary evolution of a complex marine setting in the frame of early Pleistocene climate change and tectonic activity. The succession represents a subaqueous extension of a fluvial system, originated during phases of advance of fan deltas affected by high-density flows triggered by river floods, and overlain by continental conglomerates, indicating a relative sea level fall and the establishment of a continental environment. An overall regressive trend is observed through the section, from prodelta to delta front and intertidal settings. The hydrodynamic energy and the sedimentation rate are not constant through the section, but they are influenced by hyperpycnal flows, whose sediments were mainly supplied by an increase in Apennine uplift and erosion, especially after 1.80 Ma. The Arda section documents the same evolutionary history of coeval successions in the Paleo-Adriatic region, as well as the climatic changes of the early Pleistocene. The different approaches used complement quite well one another, giving strength and robustness to the obtained results.
Selective Recruitment or Voter Neglect? Race, Place, and Voter Mobilization in 2016
Authors: Ramírez Ricardo , Solano Romelia , Wilcox-Archuleta Bryan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis paper takes up the question of who asks racial-ethnic minority voters to vote, relative to white voters? We examine more closely the targeted mobilization strategies in the 2016 Presidential election cycle and highlight the roles of race, demographic context, and mobilization source on patterns of reported mobilization. Utilizing the 2016 Collaborative Multi-Racial Post-Election Survey we model the impact of demographic profiles on the probability of mobilization by white mobilizers and compare that to mobilization by minorities. Our analysis suggests that even when controlling for battleground context and likely voter characteristics, minority voters are neglected, but this is contingent on the racial demographics of those doing the mobilizing. These findings shed light on the discrepancy of turnout across racial and ethnic groups in the United States
Association of energy and protein intakes with length of stay, readmission and mortality in hospitalised patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Ingadottir Arora R. , Beck Anne M. , Baldwin Christine , Weekes C. Elizabeth , Geirsdottir Olof G. , Ramel Alfons , Gislason Thorarinn , Gunnarsdottir Ingibjorg 
Published: March 2018

AbstractLow energy and protein intakes have been associated with an increased risk of malnutrition in outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to assess the energy and protein intakes of hospitalised COPD patients according to nutritional risk status and requirements, and the relative contribution from meals, snacks, drinks and oral nutritional supplements (ONS), and to examine whether either energy or protein intake predicts outcomes. Subjects were COPD patients (n 99) admitted to Landspitali University Hospital in 1 year (March 2015–March 2016). Patients were screened for nutritional risk using a validated screening tool, and energy and protein intake for 3 d, 1–5 d after admission to the hospital, was estimated using a validated plate diagram sheet. The percentage of patients reaching energy and protein intake ≥75 % of requirements was on average 59 and 37 %, respectively. Malnourished patients consumed less at mealtimes and more from ONS than lower-risk patients, resulting in no difference in total energy and protein intakes between groups. No clear associations between energy or protein intake and outcomes were found, although the association between energy intake, as percentage of requirement, and mortality at 12 months of follow-up was of borderline significance (OR 0·12; 95 % CI 0·01, 1·15; P=0·066). Energy and protein intakes during hospitalisation in the study population failed to meet requirements. Further studies are needed on how to increase energy and protein intakes during hospitalisation and after discharge and to assess whether higher intake in relation to requirement of hospitalised COPD patients results in better outcomes.
Medium-chain TAG improve intestinal integrity by suppressing toll-like receptor 4, nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain proteins and necroptosis signalling in weanling piglets challenged with lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Xu Xiao , Chen Shaokui , Wang Haibo , Tu Zhixiao , Wang Shuhui , Wang Xiuying , Zhu Huiling , Wang Chunwei , Zhu Jiadong , Liu Yulan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis study was conducted to evaluate whether medium-chain TAG (MCT) could alleviate Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury by regulating intestinal epithelial inflammatory response, as well as necroptosis. A total of twenty-four weanling piglets were randomly allotted to one of four treatments in a 2×2 factorial arrangement including diet type (5 % maize oil v. 4 % MCT+1 % maize oil) and immune stress (saline v. E. coli LPS). The piglets were fed diets containing maize oil or MCT for 21 d. On 21 d, piglets were injected intraperitoneally with saline or LPS. The blood and intestinal samples were collected at 4 h post injection. Supplementation with MCT improved intestinal morphology, digestive and barrier function, indicated by increased jejunal villus height, increased jejunal and ileal disaccharidases (sucrase and maltase) activities, as well as enhanced protein expression of claudin-1. Furthermore, the protein expression of heat-shock protein 70 in jejunum and the concentration of TNF-α in plasma were reduced in the piglets fed diets supplemented with MCT. In addition, MCT down-regulated the mRNA expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain proteins (NOD) signalling-related genes in jejunum and ileum. Finally, MCT inhibited jejunal and ileal enterocyte necroptosis indicated by suppressed mRNA expression of the receptor-interacting protein 3 and mixed-lineage kinase domain-like protein. These results indicate that MCT supplementation may be closely related to inhibition of TLR4, NOD and necroptosis signalling pathways and concomitant improvement of intestinal integrity under an inflammatory condition.
INDIVIDUAL- AND COMMUNITY-LEVEL
DETERMINANTS OF ANTENATAL HIV TESTING IN
ZIMBABWE
Authors: Gazimbi Martin Marufu , Magadi Monica Akinyi 
Published: March 2018

SummaryThis study contributes to the dialogue on the
prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission
(PMTCT) through the use of HIV and antenatal care
(ANC) integrated services. The determinants of
antenatal HIV testing in Zimbabwe were explored.
Multilevel logistic regression models were applied
to data for 8471 women from 406 clusters who gave
birth in the 5 years preceding Zimbabwe Demographic
and Health Surveys conducted in 2005/6 and 2010/11.
The uptake of antenatal HIV testing was found to be
determined by a wide range of individual-level
factors relating to women’s economic and demographic
status, as well as HIV-related factors, including
HIV awareness and stigma within the community.
Important individual-level enabling and perceived
need factors included high socioeconomic status, not
having observed HIV-related stigma and knowledge of
HIV status (based on a previous HIV test), such that
these groups of individuals had a significantly
higher likelihood of being tested for HIV during
pregnancy than their counterparts of lower
socioeconomic status, and who had observed
HIV-related stigma or did not know their HIV status.
The results further revealed that community HIV
awareness is important for improving antenatal HIV
testing, while stigma is associated with reduced
testing uptake. Most contextual community-level
factors were not found to have much effect on the
uptake of antenatal HIV testing. Therefore, policies
should focus on individual-level predisposing and
enabling factors to improve the uptake of antenatal
HIV testing in Zimbabwe.
The mirage of ‘Arabrew’: Ideologies for understanding Arabic-Hebrew contact
Authors: Hawker Nancy 
Published: March 2018

Abstract‘Arabrew’ denotes a mixture of the languages that index two nations known for their seemingly intractable conflict. It is supposedly spoken by Palestinians and other Arabs who are citizens of Israel. Evidence from the field gathered in 2015 shows some codeswitching, especially inter-sentential, and borrowing, mostly of nouns for specialist terminology, and of a few discourse markers. This does not support the claim that a new variety has emerged, yet the debate around it channels concerns about nonlinguistic issues relating to the political economy of Israel and to anxieties about Israeli-Palestinian relations. This debate invokes ideologies, including language ideologies, of nationalism, colonialism, liberalism, and more, that are identifiably linked to the historical and material contexts. The study uses critical discourse analysis and contact linguistics to outline the articulation between distinctions of national identity, socioeconomic class, the way people speak, and the way this speech is ideologically received. (Arabic, Hebrew, codeswitching, ideology)*
NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF HEALTH KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION INITIATIVES IN UGANDA
Authors: Basaza Robert , Kinegyere Alison , Mutatina Boniface , Sewankambo Nelson 
Published: March 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to provide evidence about the design and implementation of policies for advancing the sustainability of knowledge translation (KT) initiatives and policies in Uganda's health system.Methods: We searched for and reviewed evidence about KT sustainability issues in Uganda, the impacts of options, barriers to implementing these options, and implementation strategies to address such barriers. In instances where the systematic reviews provided limited evidence, these were supplemented with relevant primary studies. Documents such as the government reports and unpublished literature were also included in the search. Key informant interviews and a policy dialogue were conducted, and an expert working group guided the study.Results: The KT sustainability issues identified were: the absence of a specific unit within the health sector to coordinate and synthesize research; health worker not familiar with KT activities and not often used. Furthermore, Uganda lacks a mechanism to sustain its current national health frameworks or platforms, and does not have a system to ensure the sustained coordination of existing national health KT platforms. The policy options proposed include: (i) the identification of a KT champion; (ii) the establishment of an operational KT framework; (iii) KT capacity building for researchers and research users, as well as policy and decision makers.Conclusions: The sustainability of KT will be influenced by the prevailing context and concerns within healthcare both in Uganda and internationally. Furthermore, the availability of resources for KT advocacy, communication, and program design will impact on the sustainability of Uganda's KT activities.
Weed Science in the 1990s: Will It be Forward or in Reverse?
Authors: Lebaron Homer M. 
Published: March 2018

Dr. Homer M. LeBaron is Senior Research Fellow in the New Technology and Basic Research Department of CIBA-GEIGY Corporation, where He has the responsibility for coordinating and directing outside basic research on all of CIBA-GEIGY agricultural products. He has been employed in various R&D positions with Geigy and CIBA-GEIGY for 27 years. From 1960 to 1964, Dr. LeBaron was employed as a plant physiologist at the Virginia Tech Experiment Station in Norfolk, Virginia, mainly researching weed problems in vegetables and fruit crops.LeBaron was born May 13, 1926 in Southern Alberta, Canada, the third in a family of 10 children, and grew up on a diversified irrigation farm. He obtained his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Utah State University in 1955 and 1957. He received his Ph.D. degree from Cornell in 1960.LeBaron, in addition to WSSA, is a member of the American Society of Agronomy, American Chemical Society, Entomological Society of America, American Phytopathological Society, CAST, Sigma Xi, Aquatic Plant Management Society, European Weed Research Society, and all of the regional weed science societies.He has held numerous positions in several of these and other scientific societies. Homer served as president of NEWSS in 1969–70 and as president of the SWSS in 1986–87. He served on several WSSA committees, including the Executive Board of Directors. In 1978, Dr. LeBaron was elected a Fellow in the WSSA, and received the Distinguished Service Award in the SWSS in 1984.He is author of over 70 scientific publications, and has been editor and author of five books on herbicide and pesticide resistance and biotechnology. He is currently serving on the parent Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) under GIFAP, as well as on the ALS/AHAS Inhibitors Resistance Working Group and as Chairman of the Triazine Resistance Working Group. He is on the Planning Committee and Co-Chair of the Weed Resistance Management Working Group within the International Organization for Pest Resistance Management (IOPRM). In addition to his busy professional schedule, Dr. LeBaron has always been involved in church and community affairs. He has 7 children and 20 grandchildren.
The use of Runoff and Surface Water Transport and Fate Models in the Pesticide Registration Process
Authors: Zubkoff Paul L. 
Published: March 2018

In support of the registration and reregistration processes under FIFRA ‘88, numerical models are used to estimate the dissolved runoff and soil erosion loadings of pesticides to surface waters and the subsequent fate and transport of pesticides in the receiving waters. Uses for simulations include:1. Helping to determine whether additional studies on the fate and distribution of a candidate chemical in the environment and/or ecological effects may be needed when full chemical characterization is incomplete.2. Helping to more fully integrate data submissions of laboratory and field observations.3. Estimating probable fate and distribution of an agrochemical after a severe runoff event.4. Comparing alternative chemical application rates and methods for the same chemical/soil/crop/environmental combinations.5. Comparing different soil/crop/environmental combinations representing different geographical areas with the same chemical.6. Evaluating preliminary designs of proposed field studies.7. Gaining insight into the environmental fate of modern chemicals that are applied at 1 to 2% of the rates of older chemicals when sampling designs and analytical methods are not available.The Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) commonly employs the SWRRB (45, 46) and PRZM (8, 9) models for runoff and EXAMS II (5), a fate and transport model, for surface waters. These three models are used in conjunction with appropriate databases for soils, chemical properties, and meteorological and other environmental parameters. Registrants are encouraged to clearly state assumptions, identify values for parameters by citation, report results of simulations with summary tables and graphics, and interpret their results in relation to current scientific disciplines.
Common St. Johnswort
Authors: Mitich Larry W. 
Published: March 2018

Worldwide, 10 genera and 400 species comprise the Hypericaceae, the St. Johnswort Family. The genus Hypericum, with 350 of these species (11), includes evergreen or deciduous shrubs, subshrubs, and herbaceous perennials. The hypericums have simple, opposite or whorled leaves and usually golden-yellow many-stamened flowers.Common St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum L.) is a hairless perennial, reproducing by seeds and by runners from the base of the stem. It grows 20 to 100 cm tall, with spreading branches and small deep green glabrous oblong-ovate leaves, perforated by many translucent glandular dots. Branched clusters of golden yellow flowers with tiny black spots are produced from May to August (14).
“Our” Weed Science Society of America: In Transition
Authors: Messersmith Calvin G. 
Published: March 2018

Dr. Calvin G. Messersmith is Professor of Plant Sciences at North Dakota State University (NDSU), where he has been involved in teaching and research since 1966. He developed the undergraduate weed science option, the introductory weed science course, and the internship program for crop and weed science majors at NDSU. Dr. Messersmith introduced many teaching innovations into his undergraduate courses, including development of autotutorial laboratories, lecture and laboratory manuals, permanent plant mounts embedded in plastic resin, and educational films. Dr. Messersmith serves as coordinator of the departmental undergraduate teaching program, advisor for about 20 undergraduate students annually and assists in career placement. Dr. Messersmith has served as major professor for seven Ph.D. and eight M.S. graduates.Dr. Messersmith has specialized in perennial weed control, especially leafy spurge. He is coordinator of a multidisciplinary leafy spurge control project at NDSU that includes biological, chemical, cultural, and physical control. The project includes cooperating scientists from the Departments of Agricultural Economics, Animal and Range Sciences, Botany, Plant Sciences, Entomology, and Plant Pathology.Dr. Messersmith served the North Central Weed Science Society (NCWSS) as Editor of the Research Reports for 8 yr and was on the board of directors for about 16 yr, including 1 yr as President in 1985. Prior to becoming the WSSA Vice President in 1995, he served on the WSSA board of directors for 3 yr and was the first Editor who designed and launched Weed Technology from 1985 to 1990. Dr. Messersmith has been honored as an NCWSS Honorary Member and WSSA Fellow.Dr. Messersmith received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Nebraska and his Ph.D. degree from NDSU. He has received several awards for contributions to education, including the American Society of Agronomy CIBA-Geigy Award, the first NDSU-wide Odney Award for Excellence in Teaching, the FarmHouse Fraternity Master Builder of Men Award, the WSSA Outstanding Teacher Award, the Burlington Northern Foundation Faculty Achievement Award at NDSU, and the NACTA (National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture) Teaching Award of Merit.
Medicine and Contextual Justice
Authors: RHODES ROSAMOND 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:This article provides a critique of the monolithic accounts that define justice in terms of a single and often inappropriate goal. By providing an array of real examples, I argue that there is no simple definition of justice, because allocations that express justice are governed by a variety of reasons that reasonable people endorse for their saliency. In making difficult choices about ranking priorities, different considerations have different importance in different kinds of situations. In this sense,justice is a conclusionabout whether an allocation reflects the human interests and priorities that are at stake. The article describes how several principles of justice have a legitimate place in medical allocations. To achieve justice within medical practice, professionals should focus on the human interests and compelling reasons for prioritizing specific principles within their specific medical domain.
The Effects of Closed-Loop Brain Implants on Autonomy and Deliberation: What are the Risks of Being Kept in the Loop?
Authors: GILBERT FREDERIC , O’BRIEN TERENCE , COOK MARK 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:A new generation of implantable brain–computer interfaces (BCI) devices have been tested for the first time in a human clinical trial, with significant success. These intelligent implants detect specific neuronal activity patterns, such as an epileptic seizure, and provide information to help patients to respond to the upcoming neuronal events. By forecasting a seizure, the technology keeps patients in the decisional loop; the device gives control to patients on how to respond and decide on a therapeutic course ahead of time. Being kept in the decisional loop can positively increase patients’ quality of life; however, doing so does not come free of ethical concerns. There is currently a lack of evidence concerning the various impacts of closed-loop system BCIs on patients’ decisionmaking processes, especially how being in the decisional loop impacts patients’ sense of autonomy. This article addresses these gaps by providing data that we obtained from a first-in-human clinical trial involving patients implanted with advisory brain devices. This article explores ethical issues related to the risks involved in being kept in the decisional loop.