bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patterns of opioid initiation at first visits for pain in United States primary care settings
Authors: Mundkur Mallika L. , Rough Kathryn , Huybrechts Krista F. , Levin Raisa , Gagne Joshua J. , Desai Rishi J. , Patorno Elisabetta , Choudhry Niteesh K. , Bateman Brian T.
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The primary objective of this study was to characterize variation in patterns of opioid prescribing within primary care settings at first visits for pain, and to describe variation by condition, geography, and patient characteristics.

Methods

2014 healthcare utilization data from Optum's Clinformatics™ DataMart were used to evaluate individuals 18 years or older with an initial presentation to primary care for 1 of 10 common pain conditions. The main outcomes assessed were (1) the proportion of first visits for pain associated with an opioid prescription fill and (2) the proportion of opioid prescriptions with >7 days' supply.

Results

We identified 205 560 individuals who met inclusion criteria; 9.1% of all visits were associated with an opioid fill, ranging from 4.1% (headache) to 28.2% (dental pain). Approximately half (46%) of all opioid prescriptions supplied more than 7 days, and 10% of prescriptions supplied ≥30 days. We observed a 4‐fold variation in rates of opioid initiation by state, with highest rates of prescribing in Alabama (16.6%) and lowest rates in New York (3.7%).

Conclusions

In 2014, nearly half of all patients filling opioid prescriptions received more than 7 days' of opioids in an initial prescription. Policies limiting initial supplies have the potential to substantially impact opioid prescribing in the primary care setting.
Respective Contribution Research of Soft Component and Macroinitiator on Synthesis and Performance of MCPA‐PEA Materials
Authors: Xu Sheng , Wang Zhenxi , Liu Lingli , Dai Xin , Zhang Shangxi , Cao Meng
Published: October 2017

The monomer casting polyamide‐polyether amine (MCPA‐PEA) materials initiated by TDI‐PEA macroinitiator presented an obvious toughness characteristic which was contributed by the combination effect of PEA‐TDI macroinitiator and soft PEA component itself. The MCPA‐PEA materials with different content of PEA‐TDI macroinitiator or PEA component were prepared and then the respective contribution of PEA‐TDI macroinitiator and soft PEA component on the synthesis and performance were researched. It was found that the PEA‐TDI macroinitiator presented the dominant contribution and main influence on the polymerization process with higher activation energy and reaction order than PEA component. The PEA molecular chains did not participated in the crystallization process and made no influence on crystal structure of MCPA material whatever the way of copolymerization or blending. The PEA‐TDI macroinitiator also showed the dominant contribution on the decreasing effect of crystallization properties than PEA component with lower crystallinity and smaller spherulites size. The fibrous‐structure for MCPA‐0.3%PEA matrix was more obvious with notable deformation and high impact strength which further indicated the dominant contribution of PEA‐TDI macroinitiator on toughness. The toughening mechanism was deduced as the vast energy consumption by intense extension of fibrous‐structure and the highly orientation of molecular chains. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:1353–1361, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Thermal analysis of foamed polyethylene rotational molding followed by internal air temperature profiles
Authors: González‐Núñez Rubén , Moscoso‐Sánchez Francisco J. , Aguilar Jacobo , López‐GonzálezNúñez Rosa G. , Robledo‐Ortíz Jorge R. , Rodrigue Denis
Published: October 2017

In this study, the internal air temperature (IAT) profile was measured to analyze the thermal behavior of a polymer for a complete rotational molding cycle. Foamed and unfoamed linear low density polyethylene parts were produced by biaxial rotational molding using a chemical blowing agent based on azodicarbonamide at different concentrations (0, 0.15, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0% wt) with different oven temperatures (270, 280, and 285°C). The analysis proposed is based on the temperature profiles and their derivatives to better determine the different transitions occurring in a complete molding cycle. The analysis is completed with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to get more information related to the dynamics of the different processing stages like polymer melting, exothermic decomposition of the chemical blowing agent, and polymer crystallization. The results obtained show a good agreement between the melting and crystallization temperatures from IAT derivatives and DSC. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:E235–E241, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Influence of graphitization degree of carbon microspheres on properties of PET flame retardant
Authors: Xue Baoxia , Niu Mei , Yang Yongzhen , Wang Weiya , Peng Yun , Song Yinghao , Liu Xuguang
Published: October 2017

In this work, the influence of graphitization degree of carbon microspheres (CMSs) on flame retardancy of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) composites was examined. The graphitized CMSs (abbreviated as, TCMSs) were prepared through an annealing treatment, and both the CMSs/PET and TCMSs/PET composites with variable filler amounts were fabricated by the melt blending method. The results suggested that the graphitization degree of CMSs played an important role in the flame retardancy of PET. On the one hand, the TCMSs acted as effective heat shields to delay the ignition time (TTI), improve the initial thermal decomposition temperature of PET, decrease the heat absorption, and enhance the limiting oxygen index (LOI) values. On the other hand, the graphitized TCMSs decreased both the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and fire risk (FGI) through the formation of a more compact crosslinked carbon layer of graphitized carbon. With the addition of 2% TCMSs, the LOI of TCMSs/PET composites increased from 21% (neat PET) to 26.3%, the PHRR value decreased from 531.90 to 332.46 kW/m2, and the residue amount increased from 9.31% to 19.31%. Compared to the CMSs, the dispersion of TCMSs in PET matrix and tensile strength of TCMSs/PET composites were also improved. Thus, these novel graphitized TCMSs show promise as efficient flame retardants for future applications. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:1399–1408, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Impact of various oxidation degrees of graphene oxide on the performance of styrene–butadiene rubber nanocomposites
Authors: Chen Yang , Yin Qing , Zhang Xumin , Jia Hongbing , Ji Qingmin , Xu Zhaodong
Published: October 2017

In this work, graphene oxide (GO) with various oxidation degrees were synthesized by adjusting the dosage of oxidation agent based on a modified Hummers' method, and were then used for the fabrication of the styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR)/GO nanocomposites through latex coagulation method, followed by a high‐temperature cure process. The vulcanization characteristics, thermal stability, mechanical properties, thermal conductivity as well as solvent resistance of SBR/GO nanocomposites were investigated. The results indicated that various surface structures of GO due to oxidation degrees may lead to different dispersion states of GO in the rubber matrix, and thus greatly influenced the cure rate, mechanical properties as well as thermal conductivity of SBR/GO nanocomposites. The optimal (moderate) oxidation degree of GO was achieved at the oxidation agent (KMnO4)/graphite weight ratio 9/5, for which case the tensile strength, tear strength, and thermal conductivity of SBR/GO nanocomposites increased by 271.3%, 112.3%, and 28.6%, respectively, compared with those of neat SBR. In addition, the mentioned nanocomposites also showed the best solvent resistance in toluene. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:1409–1418, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
PSCA promotes prostate cancer proliferation and cell‐cycle progression by up‐regulating c‐Myc
Authors: Li Ermao , Liu Luhao , Li Futian , Luo Lianmin , Zhao Shankun , Wang Jiamin , Kang Ran , Luo Jintai , Zhao Zhigang
Published: October 2017

Background

The Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐anchored protein. Increasing evidence has indicated PSCA plays an important role in tumorigenesis. However, its function and the underlying molecular mechanisms in prostate cancer (PCa) are still not fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of PSCA on cell cycle of PCa cells and its mechanism research.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry, quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR (qRT‐PCR) and Western blotting were used to quantify PSCA expression pattern in PCa tissues and cell lines. The association of PSCA expression with the biochemical recurrence (BCR)‐free survival and overall survival (OS) of PCa patients were analyzed using Kaplan‐Meier method. The roles of PSCA in PCa were confirmed based on both in vitro and in vivo systems.

Results

Immunohistochemistry results showed that PSCA was upregulated in PCa tissue. PSCA overexpression were significantly associated with high Gleason score (GS) (P = 0.028), positive BCR (P = 0.002), and poor OS (P = 0.032) and high c‐Myc expression (P = 0.019). PSCA promoted PCa cell cycle progression and tumor growth via increased c‐Myc expression. Additional, PI3K/AKT signaling pathways was involved in PSCA‐mediated c‐Myc expression and cell proliferation.

Conclusions

PSCA is a novel cell cycle regulator with a key role in mediating c‐Myc‐induced proliferation. PSCA may be a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for patients with PCa.
Circulating and intraprostatic sex steroid hormonal profiles in relation to male pattern baldness and chest hair density among men diagnosed with localized prostate cancers
Authors: Zhou Cindy Ke , Stanczyk Frank Z. , Hafi Muhannad , Veneroso Carmela C. , Lynch Barlow , Falk Roni T. , Niwa Shelley , Emanuel Eric , Gao Yu‐Tang , Hemstreet George P. , Zolfghari Ladan , Carroll Peter R. , Manyak Michael J. , Sesterhenn Isabell A. , Levine Paul H. , Hsing Ann W. , Cook Michael B.
Published: October 2017

Background

Prospective cohort studies of circulating sex steroid hormones and prostate cancer risk have not provided a consistent association, despite evidence from animal and clinical studies. However, studies using male pattern baldness as a proxy of early‐life or cumulative androgen exposure have reported significant associations with aggressive and fatal prostate cancer risk. Given that androgens underlie the development of patterned hair loss and chest hair, we assessed whether these two dermatological characteristics were associated with circulating and intraprostatic concentrations of sex steroid hormones among men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer.

Methods

We included 248 prostate cancer patients from the NCI Prostate Tissue Study, who answered surveys and provided a pre‐treatment blood sample as well as fresh frozen adjacent normal prostate tissue. Male pattern baldness and chest hair density were assessed by trained nurses before surgery. General linear models estimated geometric means and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) of each hormone variable by dermatological phenotype with adjustment for potential confounding variables. Subgroup analyses were performed by Gleason score (<7 vs ≥7) and race (European American vs. African American).

Results

We found strong positive associations of balding status with serum testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), estradiol, and sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG), and a weak association with elevated intraprostatic testosterone. Conversely, neither circulating nor intraprostatic sex hormones were statistically significantly associated with chest hair density. Age‐adjusted correlation between binary balding status and three‐level chest hair density was weak (r = 0.05). There was little evidence to suggest that Gleason score or race modified these associations.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that balding status assessed at a mean age of 60 years may serve as a clinical marker for circulating sex hormone concentrations. The weak‐to‐null associations between balding status and intraprostatic sex hormones reaffirm differences in organ‐specific sex hormone metabolism, implying that other sex steroid hormone‐related factors (eg, androgen receptor) play important roles in organ‐specific androgenic actions, and that other overlapping pathways may be involved in associations between the two complex conditions.
RNA interference of two glutathione S‐transferase genes, Diaphorina citriDcGSTe2 and DcGSTd1, increases the susceptibility of Asian citrus psyllid (Hemiptera: Liviidae) to the pesticides fenpropathrin and thiamethoxam
Authors: Yu Xiudao , Killiny Nabil
Published: October 2017

BACKGROUND

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, is an important agricultural pest of citrus globally. Foliar application of chemical insecticides is the most widely used option for reducing D. citri populations. Knockdown of glutathione S‐transferase (GST) in several insect species leads to increased susceptibility to insecticides; however, information about the detoxifying role of GST genes in D. citri is unavailable.

RESULTS

Via a sequence homology search, we isolated and characterized three DcGST genes (DcGSTd1, DcGSTe1 and DcGSTe2) from D. citri. Phylogenetic analysis grouped DcGSTd1 into the delta class of GST genes, whereas DcGSTe1 and DcGSTe2 were clustered in the epsilon clade. Gene expression analysis revealed that chlorpyrifos treatment increased the mRNA levels of DcGSTe1 and fenpropathrin enhanced the expression level of DcGSTd1, while DcGSTe2 was significantly up‐regulated after exposure to thiamethoxam at a dose of 30% lethal concentration (LC30). RNA interference (RNAi) of DcGSTe2 and DcGSTd1 followed by an insecticide bioassay increased the mortalities of thiamethoxam‐treated psyllids by 23.0% and fenpropathrin‐treated psyllids by 15.0%. In contrast, knockdown of DcGSTe1 did not significantly increase the susceptibility of D. citri to any of these three insecticides. Further, feeding with double‐stranded RNA (dsDcGSTe2‐d1) interfusion co‐silenced DcGSTe2 and DcGSTd1 expression in D. citri, and led to an increase of susceptibility to both fenpropathrin and thiamethoxam.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that DcGSTe2 and DcGSTd1 play unique roles in detoxification of the pesticides thiamethoxam and fenpropathrin. In addition, co‐silencing by creating a well‐designed dsRNA interfusion against multiple genes was a good RNAi strategy in D. citri. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Growth rate and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope trophic discrimination factors of lion and leopard whiskers
Authors: Mutirwara Ruwimbo , Radloff Frans G.T. , Codron Daryl
Published: October 2017

Rationale

Stable isotope analysis (SIA) of whiskers has been used to identify temporal feeding habits, intra‐population diet variation, as well as individual dietary specialisation of marine and terrestrial carnivores. However, the potential of the method to disclose such dietary information for large wild felids is hampered by lack of information on species‐specific whisker growth rates, whisker growth patterns and whisker‐diet trophic discrimination factors (TDFs).

Methods

Whisker growth rates and growth patterns were measured for four lions (Panthera leo) and one leopard (Panthera pardus) held at the National Zoological Gardens, Pretoria, South Africa. Actively growing whiskers of the felids were 'marked' four times over 185 days using 13C‐depleted, C3‐based giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) meat. The periods with low δ13C values, identified following serial sectioning of the regrown whiskers at 1 mm intervals and isotopic analysis, were then correlated to specific giraffe meat feeding bouts and hence growth periods. δ13C and δ15N whisker‐diet TDFs were estimated for five lions whose diet remained consistent over multiple years.

Results

The whisker growth rates of three lionesses and the leopard were similar (mean = 0.65 mm day−1), despite species, sex and age differences. There was a decrease in whisker growth rate over time, suggesting a non‐linear whisker growth pattern. However, linear and non‐linear growth simulations showed slight differences between the two growth patterns for the proximal ~50 mm of whiskers. δ13C and δ15N lion whisker‐diet TDFs were also similar amongst individuals (mean = 2.7 ± 0.12 ‰ for δ13C values and 2.5 ± 0.08 ‰ for δ15N values), irrespective of age and sex.

Conclusions

The whisker growth rate and δ13C and δ15N lion whisker‐diet TDFs obtained in this study can be applied in future studies to assign dietary information contained in analysed felid whiskers to the correct time period and improve deductions of prey species consumed by wild felids.
Breaking Down Uncertain Risks for Risk Communication: A Conceptual Review of the Environmental Health Literature
Authors: Jansen Tom , Claassen Liesbeth , van Poll Ric , van Kamp Irene , Timmermans Daniëlle R. M.
Published: October 2017

In this conceptual review, we describe how the concept of “uncertain risk” is addressed in the scientific environmental health literature in order to clarify its meaning for risk communication. By using the International Risk Governance Council (IRGC) risk governance framework as an analytic tool we aimed to answer the question: What aspects of risk scientists are uncertain about when they refer to uncertain risks? To put the findings in context, we also answered the question what cases of uncertain risks are discussed in the literature and from what scientific research perspective these cases are addressed. We identified six situations in which scientists can refer to an uncertain risk. These situations have in common that when they are present in risk assessment definitive statements about probabilities of occurrence (to what risk generally refers to) cannot be made. Based on our analysis we advocate judicious and specific risk communication in case of uncertain risks. This involves taking into account possible different interpretations of risk terminology by different expert and societal groups and specifically expressing about what aspects of risks, like an agent's intrinsic properties, uncertainty exists rather than speaking of “potential risk.”
Case of heterotopic cervical pregnancy and total placenta accreta after artificial cycle frozen‐thawed embryo transfer
Authors: Saito Kazuki , Fukami Maki , Miyado Mami , Ono Ichiro , Sumori Keijiro
Published: October 2017

Case

A 39‐year‐old woman presented with a genital hemorrhage at 5 weeks of gestation after an artificial cycle double frozen‐thawed embryo transfer. She was diagnosed with a cervical heterotopic pregnancy. Although hormone supplementation was discontinued to terminate the pregnancy at 5 weeks of gestation, the intrauterine and cervical gestational sacs continued to develop.

Outcome

The cervical gestational sac was surgically removed and the intrauterine pregnancy continued uneventfully, except for vasa previa. At 36 weeks of gestation, the patient underwent a cesarean section and gave birth to a healthy female infant. At the delivery, massive bleeding occurred and a hysterectomy was performed due to total placenta accreta.

Conclusion

This case provides a novel example of a near‐term delivery after a cervical heterotopic pregnancy and emphasizes the need for intensive care, even after the successful management of a cervical pregnancy. Most importantly, the present case implies a possible link between hormonal withdrawal and abnormal placentation.
Event‐triggered predictive control for networked control systems with network‐induced delays and packet dropouts
Authors: Yang Hongjiu , Guo Xiaodong , Dai Li , Xia Yuanqing
Published: October 2017

This paper presents an event‐triggered predictive control approach to stabilize a networked control system subject to network‐induced delays and packet dropouts, for which the states are not measurable. An observer‐based event generator is first designed according to the deviation between the state estimation at the current time and the one at the last trigger time. A predictive control scheme with a selector is then proposed to compensate the effect of network‐induced delays and packet dropouts. Sufficient conditions for stabilization of the networked control system are derived by solving linear matrix inequalities and the corresponding gains of the controller and the observer are obtained. It is shown that the event‐triggered implementation is able to realize reduction in communication and save bandwidth resources of feedback channel networks. A simulation example of an inverted pendulum model illustrates the efficacy of the proposed scheme.
Direct likelihood inference on the cause‐specific cumulative incidence function: A flexible parametric regression modelling approach
Authors: Mozumder Sarwar Islam , Rutherford Mark , Lambert Paul
Published: October 2017

In a competing risks analysis, interest lies in the cause‐specific cumulative incidence function (CIF) that can be calculated by either (1) transforming on the cause‐specific hazard or (2) through its direct relationship with the subdistribution hazard. We expand on current competing risks methodology from within the flexible parametric survival modelling framework (FPM) and focus on approach (2). This models all cause‐specific CIFs simultaneously and is more useful when we look to questions on prognosis. We also extend cure models using a similar approach described by Andersson et al for flexible parametric relative survival models. Using SEER public use colorectal data, we compare and contrast our approach with standard methods such as the Fine & Gray model and show that many useful out‐of‐sample predictions can be made after modelling the cause‐specific CIFs using an FPM approach. Alternative link functions may also be incorporated such as the logit link. Models can also be easily extended for time‐dependent effects.
Popular Research Topics in Marketing Journals, 1995–2014
Authors: Cho Yung-Jan , Fu Pei-Wen , Wu Chi-Cheng
Published: October 2017

During the past two decades, the focus of marketing has moved from the tactics of persuasion to the strategies of value cocreation. After moving toward cognitive science and corporate strategies in the early 2000s, marketing research returned to its traditional domains of consumer psychologies and customer management. While conscientious consumers are gradually restraining themselves from selfish indulgence, marketers have refocused on a new set of values that encompass mental, experiential, and societal well-being. In this regard, we adopt an unprecedented approach by incorporating topic modeling with social network analysis. The results show that, in terms of topic heterogeneity, the most impactful journals are the most diverse, whereas each runner-up has a unique focus. Among the journals, we detect two major co-authorship communities, and among the topics, we detect three. Further, we find that the communities of the most cited papers are composed of heterogeneous clusters of similar topics. The pivots within, and the bridges between, these communities are also reported. In the spirit of collaborative research, our topic model and network analysis are shared via online collaboration and visualization platforms that readers can use to explore our models interactively and to download the dataset for further studies.
Animal Ethics in Animal Research
Authors: Röcklinsberg Helena , Gjerris Mickey , Olsson I Anna S.
Published: October 2017

The use of animals in research has always been surrounded by ethical controversy. This book provides an overview of the central ethical issues focusing on the interconnectedness of science, law and ethics. It aims to make theoretical ethical reasoning understandable to non-ethicists and provide tools to improve ethical decision making on animal research. It focuses on good scientific practice, the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement), ethical theories applied to specific cases and an overview of regulatory issues. The book is co-authored by experts in animal research, animal welfare, social sciences, law and ethics, and provides both animal researchers and members of animal ethics committees with knowledge that can facilitate their work and communication with stakeholders and the public. The book is written to provide knowledge, not to argue a certain position, and is intended to be used in training that aims to fulfil EU Directive 2010/63/EU.
Sediment Routing Systems
Authors: Allen Philip A.
Published: October 2017

This cutting-edge summary combines ideas from several sub-disciplines including geology, geomorphology, oceanography and geochemistry to provide an integrated view of Earth surface dynamics in terms of sediment generation, transport and deposition. Introducing a global view of fundamental concepts underpinning source-to-sink studies, it provides an analysis of the component segments which make up sediment routing systems. The functioning of sediment routing systems is illustrated through calculations of denudation and sedimentation as well as the response to external drivers; with the final sections focusing on the stratigraphic record of sediment routing systems. Containing quantitative solutions to a wide range of problems in Earth surface dynamics, it is suitable for graduate students as well as academic and professional researchers; and will enable an understanding of sediment routing systems.
American Grand Strategy and East Asian Security in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Kang David C.
Published: October 2017

East Asia is richer, more integrated and more stable than ever before, whilst East Asian defense spending is now roughly half of what it was in 1990 and shows no sign of increasing. There is no evidence of any Asian arms race. All countries in the region are seeking diplomatic, not military solutions with each other. Yet this East Asia reality still runs counter to a largely Western narrative that views China's rise as a threat and the region as increasingly unstable. In this important book, David C. Kang argues that American grand strategy should emphasize diplomatic and economic relations with the region, rather than military-first policies. Using longitudinal and comparative data, statistical analysis, and intensive research in selected East Asian countries, he suggests that East Asia is in sync with the American desire to share burdens and that the region may in fact be more stable than popularly believed.
Latin America's Radical Left
Authors: Marchesi Aldo
Published: October 2017

This book examines the emergence, development, and demise of a network of organizations of young leftist militants and intellectuals in South America. This new generation, formed primarily by people who in the late 1960s were still under the age of thirty, challenged traditional politics and embraced organized violence and transnational strategies as the only ways of achieving social change in their countries during the Cold War. This lasted for more than a decade, beginning in Uruguay as a result of the rise of authoritarianism in Brazil and Argentina, and expanding with Che Guevara's Bolivia campaign in 1966. These coordination efforts reached their highest point in Buenos Aires from 1973 to 1976, until the military coup d'état in Argentina eliminated the last refuge for these groups. Aldo Marchesi offers the first in-depth, regional and transnational study of the militant left in Latin America during the turbulent 1960s and 1970s.
Guest Editors’ Introduction:Gender, Business Ethics, and Corporate Social Responsibility: Assessing and Refocusing a Conversation
Authors: Grosser Kate , Moon Jeremy , Nelson Julie A.
Published: October 2017

This article reviews a conversation between business ethicists and feminist scholars begun in the early 1990s and traces the development of that conversation in relation to feminist theory. A bibliographic analysis of the business ethics (BE) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) literatures over a twenty-five-year period elucidates the degree to which gender has been a salient concern, the methodologies adopted, and the ways in which gender has been analyzed (by geography, issue type, and theoretical perspective). Identifying significant limitations to the incorporation of feminist theory in these literatures, we discuss how feminist scholarship relating to behavior (through psychology and related fields), organizations (through feminist organization studies), and economics (through feminist economics) could be integrated. We suggest that a better integration of feminist theory would strengthen BE/CSR research, and point to new research directions and agendas arising from our approach.
A Rational Regulatory Strategy for Governing Financial Innovation
Authors: CHIU Iris H-Y
Published: October 2017

Modern financial regulation has predominantly been economically-driven,1progressing from addressing market failures to making markets more competitive and workbetter.2The UK Financial Conduct Authority is expressly mandated to pursue regulatory objectives that maintain market integrity and protect consumers (addressing market failures) and to promote competition (making markets workbetter).3Both the FCA and its sister regulator, the Prudential Regulation Authority (for banks), have recently adopted innovative regulatory initiatives to promote technologically-driven innovation, aimed at making markets work better. These initiatives are also a response to the recent explosion of technologically-led financial innovation outside of the regulatory perimeter.

In promoting financial innovation, we argue that the regulators have insufficiently focused on the need to govern financial innovation more generally. Although this concern may seem premature, the regulatory innovations are increasingly extending the perimeter for regulatory oversight of financial innovations. As the regulatory innovations have the potential to develop into more mature regulatory frameworks for governing financial innovation, we argue that regulators should manage the risks of their current approach and develop a regulatory strategy framework for balancing regulatory objectives and developing regulatory policy. We propose a framework anchored in rationality, consistency and accountability in governing financial innovation.
TESTING THE MIDDLE GROUND IN ASSYRO-ANATOLIAN MARRIAGES OF THEKĀRUMPERIOD
Authors: Heffron Yağmur
Published: October 2017

Central Anatolia in the Middle Bronze Age is marked by a well-documented Old Assyrian presence during thekārumperiod (20th–17thcenturyb.c.), a dynamic time of long-distance trade and cultural contact. One of the idiosyncrasies of the social history of this period is a special bigamous arrangement which allowed Assyrian men to enter second marriages on the condition that one wife remained at home in Aššur, and the other in Anatolia. In testing the extent to which a middle ground for cross-cultural compromise is recognisable in such Assyro-Anatolian marriage practices, this article considers whether the terminology used in reference to the first and second wives (amtumandaššatumrespectively) can be interpreted as the crucial element of misunderstanding in middle ground formation.
Two-dimensional stability of finite-amplitude gravity waves on water of finite depth with constant vorticity
Authors: Francius M. , Kharif C.
Published: October 2017

A numerical investigation of normal-mode perturbations of a two-dimensional periodic finite-amplitude gravity wave propagating on a vertically sheared current of constant vorticity is considered. For this purpose, an extension of the method developed by Rienecker & Fenton (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 104, 1981, pp. 119–137) is used for the numerical computations of the finite-amplitude waves on a linear shear current. This method enables to compute accurately waves with or without critical layers and pressure anomalies. The numerical results of the linear stability analysis extend the weakly nonlinear analytical results of Thomas et al. (Phys. Fluids, vol. 24, 2012, 127102) to fully nonlinear waves. In particular, the restabilization of the Benjamin–Feir modulational instability, whatever the depth, for an opposite shear current is confirmed. For these sideband instabilities, the numerical results show some deviations with the weakly nonlinear theory as the wave steepness of the basic wave and vorticity are increased. Besides the modulational instabilities, new instability bands corresponding to quartet and quintet instabilities, which are not sideband disturbances, are discovered. The present numerical results show that with opposite shear currents, increasing the shear reduces the growth rate of the most unstable sideband instabilities but enhances the growth rate of these quartet instabilities, which eventually dominate the Benjamin–Feir modulational instabilities.
One-dimensional self-consistent kinetic models as Vlasov equation solutions
Authors: Barminova Helen Y.
Published: October 2017

One-dimensional self-consistent kinetic models may describe some states of intense charged particle beams. In the collisionless approximation, which is appropriate for the short current pulse duration, the kinetic distribution function may be built as a function of the motion integrals. Two situations are considered corresponding to the wide charged particle flux with the sharp front and to the sheet continuous beam freely propagating in space. In both cases, one-dimensional Vlasov equation solutions are shown to exist, which are based on algebraic functions of the motion invariants.
The discursive construction of English naming practice in Mainland China: A nationalism and authenticity perspective
Authors: Wang Hao , Yao Mingfa
Published: October 2017

Recently, a regional newspaper agency in Mainland China reported on the Chinese celebrity Angelababy by using her English name (Net Ease Entertainment, 2016). A reader complained about this, suggesting that Angelababy's Chinese name needs to be in the report as well. The reader's comment and the nameAngelababywent viral on many online news outlets, and comments were posted about the problems associated with such an English name from a large number of Chinese netizens.
Bone Considerations: Archaeology, Heritage, and Ethics at Mamilla, Jerusalem
Authors: Sulimani Gideon , Kletter Raz
Published: October 2017

Mamilla cemetery was one of the largest and most important Muslim cemeteries in Jerusalem. The plans to build a “Museum of Tolerance” in it led to heated protests and a prolonged legal procedure in Israel’s Supreme Court of Justice. In 2008, the court approved the plans and many hundreds of graves were exhumed. Through the available sources, including the court’s archival files, we discuss political, legal, and archaeological aspects of this case, focusing on ethics about cemeteries and descendant communities. The discussion shows that the Israel Antiquities Authority breached the court orders and that the treatment of the archaeological remains was biased. “Their” graves were destroyed, and the bones reburied in secret, while “our” remains in the same areas were carefully excavated and preserved. Tolerance to “our” heritage at the expense of “theirs” is intolerance.
What Does It Take to Protect Cultural Property? Some Aspects on the Fight against Illegal Trade of Cultural Goods from the Greek Point of View
Authors: Nikolentzos Kostas , Voutsa Katerina , Koutsothanasis Christos
Published: October 2017

An overview of both the theoretical approach and the set of actions taken during the last decade by Greece – a country with a profound historical background and rich cultural heritage – to face the problem of the illicit trade of cultural goods. The article contains not only statistical data on recent cases of thefts, clandestine excavations, confiscations, and repatriations of cultural goods but also information on law enforcement and the effort to establish a network to fight the phenomenon on an international level. Aspects such as conforming to the international law, monitoring auctions of antiquities, raising people’s awareness, and reinforcing the current security status of museums and archeological sites are taken into consideration as successful methods for protecting the cultural heritage.
Take the Long Way Home: The Recovery of 32 Chinese Gold Foils from France
Authors: Liu Hao
Published: October 2017

The rational and efficient recovery of Chinese archaeological objects from market nations is a crucial issue that is confronting the Chinese government. Although the 1970 UNESCO Convention was accepted in China in 1989, the destruction of Chinese archaeological sites through illicit excavations and illegal trade has increased, rather than diminished, in the nearly 30 succeeding years. For a better understanding of the challenges that confront the Chinese government, this article provides a case study approach to analyze the case of gold foils stolen from the Eastern Zhou tombs in the Dapuzishan Mountain Region of Lixian County in Gansu Province in the People’s Republic of China. The author identifies prominent issues that exist in relation to repatriation claims and offers some practical advice on the recovery of Chinese archaeological objects, which may assist the Chinese government in its decision making.
Historic Global Commodity Networks: the Research Potential of Rubbish Dumps for the Study of Rural Household Market Access during the late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries
Authors: GREGORY DERWIN , LICENCE TOM
Published: October 2017

This article discusses the research potential of rubbish dumps for the study of rural household market access during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. By investigating the global commodity networks associated with four rubbish dumps excavated by the authors in the East Anglian region, at Hempstead (Norfolk), Kirton and Falkenham (Suffolk) and Holme Hale (Norfolk), the article will show how these archives can be used to locate individual rural households within the international capitalist system. This article also discusses the potential challenges faced when analysing the historic rubbish dump archives.
Who is behind the stocking of energy-dense foods and beverages in small stores? The importance of food and beverage distributors
Authors: Ayala Guadalupe X , D’Angelo Heather , Gittelsohn Joel , Horton Lucy , Ribisl Kurt , Sindberg Lesley Schmidt , Olson Christina , Kharmats Anna , Laska Melissa N
Published: October 2017

Objective

The present study examined food and beverage distributors’ sourcing, placement and promotion of obesogenic (energy-dense, nutrient-poor) product categories from the perspective of small food store owners/managers. The obesogenic product categories of interest were savoury snacks, sugary beverages, sweet snacks, confectionery and frozen treats. Specifically, we examined how frequently distributors sourced these products, and the types of agreements and expectations they had for their placement and promotion. Differences were explored by store size and ethnicity. Fresh produce was used as a comparison when examining differences in frequency of sourcing only, with implications for healthy food access.

Design

Survey research involving in-person interviews.

Setting

Four urban areas in the USA: Baltimore, MD; Durham, NC; Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN; and San Diego, CA.

Subjects

Seventy-two small food store owners/managers, 65 % consent rate.

Results

Most distributors sourced obesogenic products weekly. Agreements to place products were predominantly informal (e.g. handshake) with sweet snack, confectionery and frozen treat distributors, and formal (e.g. contract) with savoury snack and sugary beverage distributors. Free-standing displays were the most common incentive provided by distributors and they expected some control over their placement and pricing. Free/discounted products and signage were also common incentives but slotting fees were not. Smaller stores and ethnic stores were less likely to receive various incentives, but among sweet snack distributors, they were more likely to control the price in ethnicv. non-ethnic stores.

Conclusions

Obesogenic products are ubiquitous. Influencing what is made available to consumers in the retail food environment needs to consider the distributor.
BOUND STATES IN WEAKLY DEFORMED WAVEGUIDES: NUMERICAL VERSUS ANALYTICAL RESULTS
Authors: AMORE PAOLO , BOYD JOHN P. , FERNÁNDEZ FRANCISCO M. , JACOBO MARTIN , ZHEVANDROV PETR
Published: October 2017

We study bound states in weakly deformed and heterogeneous waveguides, and compare analytical predictions using a recently developed perturbative method with precise numerical results for three different configurations: a homogeneous asymmetric waveguide, a heterogenous asymmetric waveguide and a homogeneous broken strip. We have found excellent agreement between the analytical and numerical results in all the examples; this provides a numerical verification of the analytical approach.
A NEW MINIMIZATION PRINCIPLE FOR THE POISSON EQUATION LEADING TO A FLEXIBLE FINITE ELEMENT APPROACH
Authors: LAMICHHANE B. P.
Published: October 2017

A new minimization principle for the Poisson equation using two variables – the solution and the gradient of the solution – is introduced. This principle allows us to use any conforming finite element spaces for both variables, where the finite element spaces do not need to satisfy the so-called inf–sup condition. A numerical example demonstrates the superiority of this approach.
Weed Suppression in Cover Crop Monocultures and Mixtures
Authors: Baraibar Barbara , Hunter Mitchell C. , Schipanski Meagan E. , Hamilton Abbe , Mortensen David A.
Published: October 2017

Interest in planting mixtures of cover crop species has grown in recent years as farmers seek to increase the breadth of ecosystem services cover crops provide. As part of a multidisciplinary project, we quantified the degree to which monocultures and mixtures of cover crops suppress weeds during the fall-to-spring cover crop growing period. Weed-suppressive cover crop stands can limit weed seed rain from summer- and winter-annual species, reducing weed population growth and ultimately weed pressure in future cash crop stands. We established monocultures and mixtures of two legumes (medium red clover and Austrian winter pea), two grasses (cereal rye and oats), and two brassicas (forage radish and canola) in a long fall growing window following winter wheat harvest and in a shorter window following silage corn harvest. In fall of the long window, grass cover crops and mixtures were the most weed suppressive, whereas legume cover crops were the least weed suppressive. All mixtures also effectively suppressed weeds. This was likely primarily due to the presence of fast-growing grass species, which were effective even when they were seeded at only 20% of their monoculture rate. In spring, weed biomass was low in all treatments due to winter kill of summer-annual weeds and low germination of winter annuals. In the short window following silage corn, biomass accumulation by cover crops and weeds in the fall was more than an order of magnitude lower than in the longer window. However, there was substantial weed seed production in the spring in all treatments not containing cereal rye (monoculture or mixture). Our results suggest that cover crop mixtures require only low seeding rates of aggressive grass species to provide weed suppression. This creates an opportunity for other species to deliver additional ecosystem services, though careful species selection may be required to maintain mixture diversity and avoid dominance of winter-hardy cover crop grasses in the spring.
Methylation of transcription factor YY2 regulates its transcriptional activity and cell proliferation
Authors: Wu Xiao-nan , Shi Tao-tao , He Yao-hui , Wang Fei-fei , Sang Rui , Ding Jian-cheng , Zhang Wen-juan , Shu Xing-yi , Shen Hai-feng , Yi Jia , Gao Xiang , Liu Wen
Published: October 2017

Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a multifunctional DNA-binding transcription factor shown to be critical in a variety of biological processes, and its activity and function have been shown to be regulated by multitude of mechanisms, which include but are not limited to post-translational modifications (PTMs), its associated proteins and cellular localization. YY2, the paralog of YY1 in mouse and human, has been proposed to function redundantly or oppositely in a context-specific manner compared with YY1. Despite its functional importance, how YY2’s DNA-binding activity and function are regulated, particularly by PTMs, remains completely unknown. Here we report the first PTM with functional characterization on YY2, namely lysine 247 monomethylation (K247me1), which was found to be dynamically regulated by SET7/9 and LSD1 both in vitro and in cultured cells. Functional study revealed that SET7/9-mediated YY2 methylation regulated its DNA-binding activity in vitro and in association with chromatin examined by chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with sequencing (ChIP-seq) in cultured cells. Knockout of YY2, SET7/9 or LSD1 by CRISPR (clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats)/Cas9-mediated gene editing followed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed that a subset of genes was positively regulated by YY2 and SET7/9, but negatively regulated by LSD1, which were enriched with genes involved in cell proliferation regulation. Importantly, YY2-regulated gene transcription, cell proliferation and tumor growth were dependent, at least partially, on YY2 K247 methylation. Finally, somatic mutations on YY2 found in cancer, which are in close proximity to K247, altered its methylation, DNA-binding activity and gene transcription it controls. Our findings revealed the first PTM with functional implications imposed on YY2 protein, and linked YY2 methylation with its biological functions.
Individual-level trait diversity predicts phytoplankton community properties better than species richness or evenness
Authors: Fontana Simone , Thomas Mridul Kanianthara , Moldoveanu Mirela , Spaak Piet , Pomati Francesco
Published: October 2017

Understanding how microbial diversity influences ecosystem properties is of paramount importance. Cellular traits—which determine responses to the abiotic and biotic environment—may help us rigorously link them. However, our capacity to measure traits in natural communities has thus far been limited. Here we compared the predictive power of trait richness (trait space coverage), evenness (regularity in trait distribution) and divergence (prevalence of extreme phenotypes) derived from individual-based measurements with two species-level metrics (taxonomic richness and evenness) when modelling the productivity of natural phytoplankton communities. Using phytoplankton data obtained from 28 lakes sampled at different spatial and temporal scales, we found that the diversity in individual-level morphophysiological traits strongly improved our ability to predict community resource-use and biomass yield. Trait evenness—the regularity in distribution of individual cells/colonies within the trait space—was the strongest predictor, exhibiting a robust negative relationship across scales. Our study suggests that quantifying individual microbial phenotypes in trait space may help us understand how to link physiology to ecosystem-scale processes. Elucidating the mechanisms scaling individual-level trait variation to microbial community dynamics could there improve our ability to forecast changes in ecosystem properties across environmental gradients.