Agricultural open data in the Caribbean: Institutional perceptions, key issues and opportunities

Open government data and open agricultural data are rapidly emergent focus areas in Caribbean policy, research and development circles. CTA has been investigating open data through different activities to contribute to agricultural knowledge acquisition, policy and value chain development in African, Caribbean and Pacific countires

Collapse and recovery of forage fish populations prior to commercial exploitation

We use a new, well‐calibrated 500 year paleorecord off southern California to determine collapse frequency, cross correlation, persistence, and return times of exploited forage fish populations. The paleorecord shows that “collapse” (defined as <10% of the mean peak biomass) is a normal state repeatedly experienced by northern anchovy, Pacific hake, and Pacific sardine which were collapsed 29–40% of the time, prior to commercial fishing exploitation. Mean (± SD) persistence of “fishable biomass” (defined as one third mean peak biomass from the paleorecord) was 19 ± 18, 15 ± 17, and 12 ± 7 years for anchovy, hake, and sardine. Mean return times to the same biomass was 8 years for anchovy but 22 years for sardine and hake. Further, we find that sardine and anchovy are positively correlated over 400 years, consistent with coherent declines of both species off California. Persistence and return times combined with positive sardine‐anchovy correlation indicate that on average 1–2 decades of fishable biomass will be followed by 1–2 decades of low forage. Forage populations are resilient on the 500 year time scale, but their collapse and recovery cycle (based on the paleorecord) are suited to alternating periods of high fishing mortality and periods of little or no fishing.Key PointsThe paleorecord shows that “collapse” is a normal state repeatedly experienced by northern anchovy, Pacific hake, and Pacific sardineMean return times to “fishable” biomass was 8 years for anchovy, but 22 years for sardine and hake, and persistence was of the same orderSardine and anchovy are positively correlated over 400 years, consistent with coherent declines of both species off CaliforniaPeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136405/1/grl55551.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136405/2/grl55551_am.pd

Geochronological studies in Santa Barbara Basin: <SUP>55</SUP>Fe as a unique tracer for particulate settling

Sediments accumulate in the Santa Barbara Basin relatively rapidly: about 3-4 mm yr-1 based on the analysis of varves. These deposits are ideal for studying the applicability of nuclear geochronological techniques in a natural situation. Studies of the depth distribution of several radionuclides, manmade 55Fe and naturally occurring 210Pb and Th isotopes, in recent Santa Barbara sediment layers permit an evaluation of the geochemical behavior of Fe, Pb, and Th in coastal waters and have established the usefulness of 55Fe and 210Pb for dating coastial or near coastal sediments deposited during the last decade and half-century respectively

Engaging stakeholders in research to address water-energy-food (WEF) nexus challenges

The water–energy–food (WEF) nexus has become a popular, and potentially powerful, frame through which to analyse interactions and interdependencies between these three systems. Though the case for transdisciplinary research in this space has been made, the extent of stakeholder engagement in research remains limited with stakeholders most commonly incorporated in research as end-users. Yet, stakeholders interact with nexus issues in a variety of ways, consequently there is much that collaboration might offer to develop nexus research and enhance its application. This paper outlines four aspects of nexus research and considers the value and potential challenges for transdisciplinary research in each. We focus on assessing and visualising nexus systems; understanding governance and capacity building; the importance of scale; and the implications of future change. The paper then proceeds to describe a novel mixed-method study that deeply integrates stakeholder knowledge with insights from multiple disciplines. We argue that mixed-method research designs—in this case orientated around a number of cases studies—are best suited to understanding and addressing real-world nexus challenges, with their inevitable complex, non-linear system characteristics. Moreover, integrating multiple forms of knowledge in the manner described in this paper enables research to assess the potential for, and processes of, scaling-up innovations in the nexus space, to contribute insights to policy and decision making

The Second International Conference on Sentinel Node Biopsy in Mucosal Head and Neck Cancer

Background: The Second International Conference on Sentinel Node Biopsy in Mucosal Head and Neck Cancer was hosted by the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery of the University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, from September 12 to 13, 2003. The aims of this conference were to present the results of validation studies and to achieve a consensus on methodological requirements. Methods: More than 80 delegates from 20 countries attended the conference. The presented validation studies were summarized and compared with the literature. Consensus was achieved concerning requirements for lymphatic mapping and histopathologic work-up. Results: Twenty centers presented results on 379 patients with cN0 disease. Sentinel nodes were identified in 366 (97%) of 379. Of these 366, 103 (29%) were positive for occult metastasis, and 263 (71%) were negative. Of those 263 patients, 11 patients (4%) showed nodal disease not revealed by the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB). The negative predictive value of a negative sentinel node for the remaining neck was 96%. The consensus conference resulted in the use of a radiotracer, lymphoscintigraphy, and a handheld gamma probe for lymphatic mapping as minimal requirements. The use of conventional hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin is mandatory. Step-sectioning of the entire node at intervals of 150μm is recommended. Conclusions: The conference attracted delegates from all over the world, thus underscoring the high interest in the topic. With regard to the presented data and the data from the literature, SNB for early oral and oropharyngeal cancer is sufficiently validated. The consensus conference resulted in the definition of minimal methodological requirements for accurate SN

The role of primary healthcare professionals in oral cancer prevention and detection

AIM: To investigate current knowledge, examination habits and preventive practices of primary healthcare professionals in Scotland, with respect to oral cancer, and to determine any relevant training needs. SETTING: Primary care. METHOD: Questionnaires were sent to a random sample of 357 general medical practitioners (GMPs) and 331 dental practitioners throughout Scotland. Additionally, focus group research and interviews were conducted amongst primary healthcare team members. RESULTS: Whilst 58% of dental respondents reported examining regularly for signs of oral cancer, GMPs examined patients' mouths usually in response to a complaint of soreness. The majority of GMPs (85%) and dentists (63%) indicated that they felt less than confident in detecting oral cancer, with over 70% of GMPs identifying lack of training as an important barrier. Many practitioners were unclear concerning the relative importance of the presence of potentially malignant lesions in the oral cavity. A high proportion of the GMPs indicated that they should have a major role to play in oral cancer detection (66%) but many felt strongly that this should be primarily the remit of the dental team. CONCLUSION: The study revealed a need for continuing education programmes for primary care practitioners in oral cancer-related activities. This should aim to improve diagnostic skills and seek to increase practitioners' participation in preventive activities

Two novel missense mutations in ABCA1 result in altered trafficking and cause severe autosomal recessive HDL deficiency

AbstractExtremely low concentrations of high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and apolipoprotein (apo) AI are features of Tangier disease caused by autosomal recessive mutations in ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1). Less deleterious, but dominantly inherited mutations cause HDL deficiency. We investigated causes of severe HDL deficiency in a 42-year-old female with progressive coronary disease.ApoAI-mediated efflux of cholesterol from the proband's fibroblasts was less than 10% of normal and nucleotide sequencing revealed inheritance of two novel mutations in ABCAI, V1704D and L1379F. ABCA1 mRNA was approximately 3-fold higher in the proband's cells than in control cells; preincubation with cholesterol increased it 5-fold in control and 8-fold in the proband's cells, but similar amounts of ABCA1 protein were present in control and mutant cells. When transiently transfected into HEK293 cells, confocal microscopy revealed that both mutant proteins were retained in the endoplasmic reticulum, while wild-type ABCA1 was located at the plasma membrane.Severe HDL deficiency in the proband was caused by two novel autosomal recessive mutations in ABCA1, one (V1704D) predicted to lie in a transmembrane segment and the other (L1379F) in a large extracellular loop. Both mutations prevent normal trafficking of ABCA1, thereby explaining their inability to mediate apoA1-dependent lipid efflux