bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prudential Regulations And Performance Of Finance Of Tier 2 Banks In Kenya
Authors: Khamusali John Wenslause , Theuri Mathenge
Published: October 2024

The research delves into the intricate relationship between prudential regulations and the performance of finance of Tier 2 banks in Kenya. Through a comprehensive analysis, the study aims to shed light on how adherence to prudential standards impacts the operational and financial outcomes of these banks. By examining key variables such as credit, liquidity, corporate governance, and capital regulations, the research seeks to uncover the underlying mechanisms that drive performance of finance within the banking sector. Drawing on a comparative design and employing a linear regression model, the study reveals significant insights into the effects of prudential rules on the performance of finance of Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) in Kenya. Prior to the implementation of prudential legislation, factors such as liquidity, membership growth, core capital, and credit management did not significantly predict performance of finance. However, post-implementation, these variables emerged as crucial determinants of financial success, emphasizing the importance of regulatory compliance for sustainable business growth. The findings underscore the necessity for SACCOs and Tier 2 banks to adhere to prudential standards to enhance their performance of finance and capitalize on increased business opportunities. By bridging the gap in existing literature and providing a nuanced understanding of the impact of prudential regulations, this research contributes valuable insights to the ongoing discourse on banking regulations and financial stability in Kenya
Estimating the Cross‐Shelf Export of Riverine Materials: Part 2. Estimates of Global Freshwater and Nutrient Export
Authors: Izett Jonathan G. , Fennel Katja
Published: December 2017

Rivers deliver large amounts of fresh water, nutrients, and other terrestrially derived materials to the coastal ocean. Where inputs accumulate on the shelf, harmful effects such as hypoxia and eutrophication can result. In contrast, where export to the open ocean is efficient riverine inputs contribute to global biogeochemical budgets. Assessing the fate of riverine inputs is difficult on a global scale. Global ocean models are generally too coarse to resolve the relatively small scale features of river plumes. High‐resolution regional models have been developed for individual river plume systems, but it is impractical to apply this approach globally to all rivers. Recently, generalized parameterizations have been proposed to estimate the export of riverine fresh water to the open ocean (Izett & Fennel, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GB005667; Sharples et al., 2017, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GB005483). Here the relationships of Izett and Fennel (), https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GB005667 are used to derive global estimates of open‐ocean export of fresh water and dissolved inorganic silicate, dissolved organic carbon, and dissolved organic and inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen. We estimate that only 15–53% of riverine fresh water reaches the open ocean directly in river plumes; nutrient export is even less efficient because of processing on continental shelves. Due to geographic differences in riverine nutrient delivery, dissolved silicate is the most efficiently exported to the open ocean (7–56.7%), while dissolved inorganic nitrogen is the least efficiently exported (2.8–44.3%). These results are consistent with previous estimates and provide a simple way to parameterize export to the open ocean in global models.
Dampened El Niño in the Early and Mid‐Holocene Due To Insolation‐Forced Warming/Deepening of the Thermocline
Authors: White Sarah M. , Ravelo A. Christina , Polissar Pratigya J.
Published: December 2017

El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) dominates interannual climate variability; thus, understanding its response to climate forcing is critical. ENSO's sensitivity to changing insolation is poorly understood, due to contrasting interpretations of Holocene proxy records. Some records show dampened ENSO during the early to mid‐Holocene, consistent with insolation forcing of ENSO amplitude, but other records emphasize decadal‐centennial fluctuations in ENSO strength, with no clear trend. To clarify Holocene ENSO behavior, we collected proxy data spanning the last ~12 kyr and find relatively low El Niño amplitude during the early to mid‐Holocene. Our data, together with published work, indicate both a long‐term trend in ENSO strength due to June insolation forcing and high‐amplitude decadal‐centennial fluctuations; both behaviors are shown in models. The best supported mechanism for insolation‐driven dampening of ENSO is weakening of the upwelling feedback by insolation‐forced warming/deepening of thermocline source waters. Elucidating the thermocline's role will help predict future ENSO change.
Twentieth Century Regional Climate Change During the Summer in the Central United States Attributed to Agricultural Intensification
Authors: Alter Ross E. , Douglas Hunter C. , Winter Jonathan M. , Eltahir Elfatih A. B.
Published: December 2017

Both land use changes and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have significantly modified regional climate over the last century. In the central United States, for example, observational data indicate that rainfall increased, surface air temperature decreased, and surface humidity increased during the summer over the course of the twentieth century concurrently with increases in both agricultural production and global GHG emissions. However, the relative contributions of each of these forcings to the observed regional changes remain unclear. Results of both regional climate model simulations and observational analyses suggest that much of the observed rainfall increase—as well as the decrease in temperature and increase in humidity—is attributable to agricultural intensification in the central United States, with natural variability and GHG emissions playing secondary roles. Thus, we conclude that twentieth century land use changes contributed more to forcing observed regional climate change during the summer in the central United States than increasing GHG emissions.
Which Triggers Produce the Most Erosive, Frequent, and Longest Runout Turbidity Currents on Deltas?
Authors: Hizzett J. L. , Hughes Clarke J. E. , Sumner E. J. , Cartigny M. J. B. , Talling P. J. , Clare M. A.
Published: December 2017

Subaerial rivers and turbidity currents are the two most voluminous sediment transport processes on our planet, and it is important to understand how they are linked offshore from river mouths. Previously, it was thought that slope failures or direct plunging of river floodwater (hyperpycnal flow) dominated the triggering of turbidity currents on delta fronts. Here we reanalyze the most detailed time‐lapse monitoring yet of a submerged delta; comprising 93 surveys of the Squamish Delta in British Columbia, Canada. We show that most turbidity currents are triggered by settling of sediment from dilute surface river plumes, rather than landslides or hyperpycnal flows. Turbidity currents triggered by settling plumes occur frequently, run out as far as landslide‐triggered events, and cause the greatest changes to delta and lobe morphology. For the first time, we show that settling from surface plumes can dominate the triggering of hazardous submarine flows and offshore sediment fluxes.
Real‐Time Magnitude Characterization of Large Earthquakes Using the Predominant Period Derived From 1 Hz GPS Data
Authors: Psimoulis Panos A. , Houlié Nicolas , Behr Yannik
Published: December 2017

Earthquake early warning (EEW) systems' performance is driven by the trade‐off between the need for a rapid alert and the accuracy of each solution. A challenge for many EEW systems has been the magnitude saturation for large events (MW > 7) and the resulting underestimation of seismic moment magnitude. In this study, we test the performance of high‐rate (1 Hz) GPS, based on seven seismic events, to evaluate whether long‐period ground motions can be measured well enough to infer reliably earthquake predominant periods. We show that high‐rate GPS data allow the computation of a GPS‐based predominant period (τg) to estimate lower bounds for the magnitude of earthquakes and distinguish between large (MW > 7) and great (MW > 8) events and thus extend the capability of EEW systems for larger events. It has also identified the impact of the different values of the smoothing factor α on the τg results and how the sampling rate and the computation process differentiate τg from the commonly used τp.
Satellite Evidence that E. huxleyi Phytoplankton Blooms Weaken Marine Carbon Sinks
Authors: Kondrik D. V. , Pozdnyakov D. V. , Johannessen O. M.
Published: December 2017

Phytoplankton blooms of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi are known to produce CO2, causing less uptake of atmospheric CO2 by the ocean, but a global assessment of this phenomenon has so far not been quantified. Therefore, here we quantify the increase in CO2 partial pressure (ΔpCO2) at the ocean surface within E. huxleyi blooms for polar and subpolar seas using an 18 year ocean color time series (1998–2015). When normalized to pCO2 in the absence of bloom, the mean and maximum ΔpCO2 values within the bloom areas varied between 21.0%–43.3% and 31.6%–62.5%, respectively. These results might have appreciable implications for climatology, marine chemistry, and ecology.
Investigation of the radiation dose from cone‐beam CT for image‐guided radiotherapy: A comparison of methodologies
Authors: Buckley Jarryd G. , Wilkinson Dean , Malaroda Alessandra , Metcalfe Peter
Published: December 2017

Four methodologies were evaluated for quantifying kilovoltage cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) dose: the Cone‐Beam Dose Index (CBDI), IAEA Report 5 recommended methodology (IAEA), the AAPM Task Group 111 methodology (TG111), and the current dose metric; the Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDI) on two commercial Varian cone‐beam CT imaging systems; the Clinac iX On‐Board Imager (OBI); and the TrueBeam X‐ray Imaging system (XI). The TG111 methodology measured the highest overall dose (21.199 ± 0.035 mGy OBI and 22.420 ± 0.002 XI for pelvis imaging) due to the full scatter of the TG111 phantom and was within 5% of CTDI measurements taken using a full scatter TG111 phantom and 30‐cm film strips. CBDI measured the second highest overall dose, within 10% of the TG111, with IAEA measuring the third highest dose. For head CBCT protocols, CBDI measured the highest dose, followed by IAEA. The CTDI method measured lowest across all scan modes highlighting its limitations for CBCT dosimetry. The XI imaging system delivered lower doses for head and thorax scan modes and similar doses to the OBI system for pelvis scan modes due to additional beam hardening filtration in the XI system. The TG111 method measured the highest dose in the center of a CBCT scan during image guidance procedures; however, CBDI provided a good approximation to TG111 with existing CTDI equipment and may be more applicable clinically.
Stimuli‐Responsive Bioinspired Materials for Controllable Liquid Manipulation: Principles, Fabrication, and Applications
Authors: Wang Yuanfeng , Ma Kaikai , Xin John H.
Published: December 2017

Many emerging interfacial technologies, such as self‐cleaning surfaces, oil/water separation, water collection, and microfluidics, are essentially liquid manipulation processes. In this regard, micro‐nanostructures of the living organisms are highly preferable, by virtue of the evolutionary pressure and the adaptation to the specific environments, to inspire the optimization of man‐made interfaces. With the increasing demands of modern life, research, and industry, intelligent materials with stimuli‐responsive liquid manipulation functions have gained substantial attention from interfacial scientists. This review introduces the recent progress in the development of stimuli‐responsive liquid‐manipulating materials with bioinspired structures and surface chemistry according to two classified manipulation modes: (i) smart manipulation of liquid wetting behaviors, including lyophobic/lyophilic and superlyophobic/superlyophilic, and (ii) smart manipulation of liquid motion behaviors, including coalescence, transportation, rolling/adhesion, and sliding/pinning. At the beginning of the presentation of each classification, the theoretical basis and the sources of inspiration are introduced comprehensively to ensure a better understanding. This review mainly focuses on the mechanisms, fabrication, and applications of the state‐of‐the‐art works related to smart and biomimetic liquid‐manipulating materials. Finally, conclusions and future prospects are provided, and the remaining problems and promising breakthroughs in fabricating large‐scale, cost‐effective, and efficient smart liquid‐manipulating materials are outlined.
Integration of Stiff Graphene and Tough Silk for the Design and Fabrication of Versatile Electronic Materials
Authors: Ling Shengjie , Wang Qi , Zhang Dong , Zhang Yingying , Mu Xuan , Kaplan David L. , Buehler Markus J.
Published: December 2017

The production of structural and functional materials with enhanced mechanical properties through the integration of soft and hard components is a common approach to Nature's material design. However, directly mimicking these optimized design routes in the lab for practical applications remains challenging. For example, graphene and silk are two materials with complementary mechanical properties that feature ultrahigh stiffness and toughness, respectively. Yet, no simple and controllable approach is developed to homogeneously integrate these two components into functional composites, mainly due to the hydrophobicity and chemical inertness of graphene. In this study, well‐dispersed and highly stable graphene/silk fibroin (SF) suspension systems are developed, which are suitable for processing to fabricate polymorphic materials, such as films, fibers, and coatings. The obtained graphene/SF nanocomposites maintain the electronic advantages of graphene, and they also allow tailorable mechanical performance to form including ultrahigh stretchable (with a strain to failure to 611 ± 85%), or high strength (339 MPa) and high stiffness (7.4 GPa) material systems. More remarkably, the electrical resistances of these graphene/SF materials are sensitive to material deformation, body movement, as well as humidity and chemical environmental changes. These unique features promise their utility as wearable sensors, smart textiles, intelligent skins, and human–machine interfaces.
Versatile Microfluidic Platforms Enabled by Novel Magnetorheological Elastomer Microactuators
Authors: Tang Shi‐Yang , Zhang Xuchun , Sun Shuaishuai , Yuan Dan , Zhao Qianbin , Yan Sheng , Deng Lei , Yun Guolin , Zhang Jun , Zhang Shiwu , Li Weihua
Published: December 2017

Microfluidic systems enable rapid diagnosis of diseases, biological analysis, drug screening, and high‐precision materials synthesis. In spite of these remarkable abilities, conventional microfluidic systems are microfabricated monolithically on a single platform and their operations rely on bulky expensive external equipment. This restricts their applications outside of research laboratories and prevents development and assembly of truly versatile and complex systems. Here, novel magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) microactuators are presented including pumps and mixers using an innovative actuation mechanism without the need of delicate elements such as thin membranes. Modularized elements are realized using such actuators, which can be easily integrated and actuated using a single self‐contained driving unit to create a modular, miniaturized, and robust platform. The performance of the microactuators is investigated via a series of experiments and a proof‐of‐concept modular system is developed to demonstrate the viability of the platform for self‐contained applications. The presented MRE microactuators are small size, simple, and efficient, offering a great potential to significantly advance the current research on complex microfluidic systems.
Optical Data Storage and Multicolor Emission Readout on Flexible Films Using Deep‐Trap Persistent Luminescence Materials
Authors: Zhuang Yixi , Wang Le , Lv Ying , Zhou Tian‐Liang , Xie Rong‐Jun
Published: December 2017

The fast‐growing amount of data that is produced every year creates an urgent need for ultracapacity storage media. However, 2D spatial resolution in the conventional optical data storage media has almost reached the limit. Further enlargement of storage capacity may rely on the development of the next‐generation data storage materials containing multiplexed information dimensions. Herein, a series of novel deep‐trap persistent luminescence materials (Sr1‐xBax)Si2O2N2:Eu/Yb,Dy with multicolor emissions in the whole visible region is developed and demonstrated a bit‐by‐bit optical data storage and readout strategy based on photon trapping and detrapping processes in these materials. Optical data can be handily encoded on a flexible film by a commercially available 405 nm laser and decoded by heating or by 980 nm laser scanning. The decoded information contains tunable spectral characteristics, which allows for the emission–intensity–multiplexing or emission–wavelength–multiplexing. The storage and readout strategy not only shows a great promise in the application of multidimensional rewritable optical data storage, but also opens new opportunities for advanced display technology and information security system.
Hydroxide‐Membrane‐Coated Pt3Ni Nanowires as Highly Efficient Catalysts for Selective Hydrogenation Reaction
Authors: Wang Pengtang , Shao Qi , Cui Xiaoneng , Zhu Xing , Huang Xiaoqing
Published: December 2017

Rational design of effective catalysts with both high activity and selectivity is highly significant and desirable for hydrogenation reaction. In this paper, for the first time an efficient approach to controllably construct 1D metal nanowires (NWs) coated with hydroxide (NixM(OH)2 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, and Al)) membranes as highly active and selective hydrogenation catalysts is reported. The optimized Ni32Cu(OH)2 membrane coated Pt3Ni nanowires show much enhanced selectivity of 87.9% for the hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde to hydrocinnamaldehyde instead of hydrocinnamyl alcohol, in contrast with the pristine Pt3Ni nanowires and Pt3Ni nanowires on Ni(OH)2 membranes. The enhanced selectivity of Pt3Ni@Ni32Cu(OH)2‐2 NWs is ascribed to confinement/poisoning effects of the coated Ni32Cu(OH)2 membranes as well as the intimate interaction between the Pt3Ni NWs and Ni32Cu(OH)2 membranes, as confirmed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The coated structures also show good stability after five recycle runs. The present work highlights the importance of surface engineering for the design of multicomponent composites with desirable activity and selectivity toward hydrogenation reaction and beyond.
Few‐Layer Tin Sulfide: A Promising Black‐Phosphorus‐Analogue 2D Material with Exceptionally Large Nonlinear Optical Response, High Stability, and Applications in All‐Optical Switching and Wavelength Conversion
Authors: Wu Leiming , Xie Zhongjian , Lu Lu , Zhao Jinlai , Wang Yunzheng , Jiang Xiantao , Ge Yanqi , Zhang Feng , Lu Shunbin , Guo Zhinan , Liu Jie , Xiang Yuanjiang , Xu Shixiang , Li Jianqing , Fan Dianyuan , Zhang Han
Published: December 2017

As an analogue compound of black phosphorus, a new 2D semiconducting few‐layer SnS is successfully synthesized, and its nonlinear optical response is investigated. It is shown that its nonlinear refractive index and third‐order nonlinear susceptibility are measured as n2 ≈ 10−5 (cm2 W−1) and ≈ 10−10 (e.s.u.), respectively. By taking advantage of such a large Kerr nonlinearity, an all‐optical switching technique based on few‐layer SnS is realized through modulating the propagation of the signal beam by another controlling beam. The achievement of all‐optical switching indicates that few‐layer SnS could be developed as an excellent optical material for all‐optical signal processing. More importantly, a conceptually new and reliable information conversion system based on spatial cross‐phase modulation in few‐layer SnS, that is, the transmission and conversion of a sequence of bit information from one wavelength channel to the other, is presented. The contributions reveal potential applications of few‐layer SnS as a new type of optical information material, and it is therefore anticipated that SnS and other IV–VI compound‐based 2D nanomaterials could find promising applications in photonic devices such as optical modulators, optical switches, detectors, etc.
Quantitative Assessments of Mechanical Responses upon Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy
Authors: Liu Yajun , Chen Xiaodong , Guo Anyi , Liu Sijin , Hu Guoqing
Published: December 2017

Although radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) has been widely used to treat orthopedic disorders with promising clinical results, rESWT largely relies on clinicians' personal experiences and arbitrary judgments, without knowing relationships between administration doses and effective doses at target sites. In fact, practitioners lack a general and reliable way to assess propagation and distribution of pressure waves inside biological tissues quantitatively. This study develops a methodology to combine experimental measurements and computational simulations to obtain pressure fields from rESWT through calibrating and validating computational models with experimental measurements. Wave pressures at the bottom of a petri dish and inside biological tissues are measured, respectively, by attaching and implanting flexible membrane sensors. Detailed wave dynamics are simulated through explicit finite element analyses. The data decipher that waves from rESWT radiate directionally and can be modeled as acoustic waves generated from a vibrating circular piston. Models are thus established to correlate pressure amplitudes at the bottom of petri dishes and in the axial direction of biological tissues. Additionally, a pilot simulation upon rESWT for human lumbar reveals a detailed and realistic pressure field mapping. This study will open a new avenue of personalized treatment planning and mechanism research for rESWT.
The impact of changes in the AgriStability program on crop activities: A farm modeling approach
Authors: Liu Xuan , Duan Jun , van Kooten G. Cornelis
Published: December 2017

To analyze the production impacts of changes made in 2013 to Canada's AgriStability risk management program, we calibrate a crop allocation model using positive mathematical programming (PMP). Because PMP is not straightforward if farmers are assumed to maximize expected utility (as a risk parameter also needs to be calibrated), we consider possible ways to address this issue but settle on a traditional approach used in the EU's Farm System Simulator. We calibrate farm management models for six different Alberta regions and use it to determine how changes in the AgriStability's payment trigger affect production incentives. Results indicate that, although the initial introduction of the AgriStability program in 2008 might have tilted farmers’ planting decisions toward crops with higher returns and greater risk, changes to this program reduce indemnities and farmers’ expected profits, but do not further alter land‐use decisions. Rather, it is increases in farmers’ aversion to risk that lead to the greatest changes in crop allocation. [EconLit citations: Q14, Q18, C61].
Comparison of the guidelines for colorectal cancer in Japan, the USA and Europe
Authors: Shinagawa Takahide , Tanaka Toshiaki , Nozawa Hiroaki , Emoto Shigenobu , Murono Koji , Kaneko Manabu , Sasaki Kazuhito , Otani Kensuke , Nishikawa Takeshi , Hata Keisuke , Kawai Kazushige , Watanabe Toshiaki
Published: December 2017

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers globally as well as in Japan and has shown a pattern of increasing incidence and mortality rates. Therefore, guidelines for CRC are considered to be crucial for establishing standard medical treatment not only in Japan but also around the world. In this article, we explain the features of the representative guidelines in Japan (Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum [JSCCR]), the USA (National Comprehensive Cancer Network [NCCN]) and Europe (European Society for Medical Oncology [ESMO]) and review the differences among these guidelines for CRC. We focus, in particular, on the descriptions of local treatments, including endoscopic treatment for CRC and transanal excision for lower rectal cancer; surgical treatments with lymph node dissection, including management of lower rectal cancer with lateral lymph node metastasis and laparoscopic surgery; and chemotherapy. Although the guidelines share basic principles, some details are different. Consulting the guidelines of various regions from around the world may aid in more precise and effective examination of the details and backgrounds of our own native guidelines.
Regioselective Acylation of 2,3,4,6‐Tetrahydro‐1,6‐dithia[3‐a]azaphenalene toward Donor–Acceptor‐Type Benzophenones
Authors: Wu Yuewei , Zhao Jinlian , Yan Chaoxian , Li Dongxu , Shao Xiangfeng
Published: December 2017

2,3,4,6‐Tetrahydro‐1,6‐dithia[3‐a]azaphenalene (THDTAP) is a heteropolycycle possessing two reactive sites for acylation. The regioselective acylation of THDTAP was achieved at the para and meta positions with respect to the nitrogen atom under conditions of AlCl3 (1.3 equiv, 25 °C) and AlCl3 (4 equiv, 40 °C), respectively. A series of para‐ and meta‐benzophenones having a donor–acceptor‐type structure were then synthesized, in which the THDTAP and benzoyl moieties serve as donor and acceptor, respectively. Under typical McMurry reaction conditions, para‐ and meta‐benzophenones show different reactivity, and the electronic nature of the aryl group also plays a pivotal role. Theoretical, electrochemical, and photophysical studies indicate that the electronic structures of para‐ and meta‐benzophenones are distinct because the electronic communication between donor and acceptor subunits are different for the two regioisomers. The para‐benzophenones show off/on fluorescence upon acidification/neutralization and hence might be useful as chemosensors.
Phase‐Contact Engineering in Mono‐ and Bimetallic Cu‐Ni Co‐catalysts for Hydrogen Photocatalytic Materials
Authors: Muñoz‐Batista Mario J. , Motta Meira Debora , Colón Gerardo , Kubacka Anna , Fernández‐García Marcos
Published: December 2017

Understanding how a photocatalyst modulates its oxidation state, size, and structure during a photocatalytic reaction under operando conditions is strongly limited by the mismatch between (catalyst) volume sampled by light and, to date, the physicochemical techniques and probes employed to study them. A synchrotron micro‐beam X‐ray absorption spectroscopy study together with the computational simulation and analysis (at the X‐ray cell) of the light‐matter interaction occurring in powdered TiO2‐based monometallic Cu, Ni and bimetallic CuNi catalysts for hydrogen production from renewables was carried out. The combined information unveils an unexpected key catalytic role involving the phase contact between the reduced and oxidized non‐noble metal phases in all catalysts and, additionally, reveals the source of the synergistic Cu‐Ni interaction in the bimetallic material. The experimental method is applicable to operando studies of a wide variety of photocatalytic materials.
National survey on anatomical sciences in medical education
Authors: McBride Jennifer M. , Drake Richard L.
Published: December 2017

The drivers for curricular change in medical education such as the addition of innovative approaches to teaching, inclusion of technology and adoption of different assessment methods are gaining momentum. In an effort to understand how these changes are impacting and being implemented in gross anatomy, microscopic anatomy, neuroanatomy/neuroscience, and embryology courses, surveys were sent out to course directors/discipline leaders at allopathic Medical Schools in the United States during the 2016‐2017 academic year. Participants in the study were asked to comment on course hours, student experiences in the classroom and laboratory, amount of faculty participation, the use of peers as teachers in both the classroom and laboratory, methods used for student assessment and identification of best practices. Compared to data published from a similar survey in 2014, a number of changes were identified: (1) classroom hours in gross anatomy increased by 24% and by 29% in neuroanatomy/neuroscience; (2) laboratory hours in gross anatomy decreased by 16%, by 33% in microscopic anatomy, and by 38% in neuroanatomy/neuroscience; (3) use of virtual microscopy in microscopic anatomy teaching increased by 129%; and (4) the number of respondents reporting their discipline as part of a partially or fully integrated curriculum increased by greater than 100% for all four disciplines. Anat Sci Educ 11: 7–14. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.
Presynaptic GLP‐1 receptors enhance the depolarization‐evoked release of glutamate and GABA in the mouse cortex and hippocampus
Authors: Rebosio Claudia , Balbi Matilde , Passalacqua Mario , Ricciarelli Roberta , Fedele Ernesto
Published: December 2017

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptors (GLP‐1Rs) have been shown to mediate cognitive‐enhancing and neuroprotective effects in the central nervous system. However, little is known about their physiological roles on central neurotransmission, especially at the presynaptic level. Using purified synaptosomal preparations and immunofluorescence techniques, here we show for the first time that GLP‐1Rs are localized on mouse cortical and hippocampal synaptic boutons, in particular on glutamatergic and GABAergic nerve terminals. Their activation by the selective agonist exendin‐4 (1–100 nM) was able to increase the release of either [3H]d‐aspartate or [3H]GABA. These effects were abolished by 10 nM of the selective GLP1‐R antagonist exendin‐3 (9–39) and were prevented by the selective adenylyl cyclase inhibitor 2′,5′‐dideoxyadenosine (10 µM), indicating the involvement of classic GLP‐1Rs coupled to Gs protein stimulating cAMP synthesis.

Our data demonstrate the existence and activity of presynaptic receptors for GLP‐1 that could represent additional mechanisms by which this neurohormone exerts its effects in the CNS. © 2017 BioFactors, 44(2):148–157, 2018
Novel compound heterozygous mutations in the PARK2 gene identified in a Chinese pedigree with early‐onset Parkinson's disease
Authors: Shi Yingying , Kawakami Hideshi , Zang Weizhou , Li Gang , Zhang Jiewen , Xu Changshui
Published: December 2017

Objects

To capture point mutations and short insertions/deletions in 49 previously reported genes associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) in a Chinese pedigree with early‐onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD)‐affected individuals.

Methods

Clinical examinations and genomic analysis were performed on 21 subjects belonging to three generations of a Chinese family. Target region capture and high‐throughput sequencing were used for screening 49 genes, which were previously reported to be associated with PD. The direct Sanger sequencing method in all subjects further verified the abnormal DNA fragments in the PARK2 gene.

Results

Four family members, including a mother (I‐1) and her three children (II‐2, II‐3, and II‐7), were diagnosed with PD by clinical manifestations and/or PET/CT imaging analyses. Novel compound heterozygous mutations, consisting of a fragment deletion in exon 1 to 2 (EX 1‐2 del) and a splicing point mutation c.619‐1 (G > C) in the 6th intron of the PARK2 gene, were identified in II‐2, II‐3, and II‐7. Individual EX 1‐2 del or c.619‐1 (G > C) mutations were detected in I‐1 and the third generation (III‐2, 3, 5, 10, and 11).Other mutations were not detected in the 49 known PD‐associated genes.

Conclusion

Novel compound heterozygous mutations were identified in a Chinese pedigree and might represent a cause of familial EOPD with autosomal dominant inheritance.
Sustainable Consumption: Proposal of a Multistage Model to Analyse Consumer Behaviour for Organic Foods
Authors: Torres‐Ruiz Francisco José , Vega‐Zamora Manuela , Parras‐Rosa Manuel
Published: December 2017

Explanatory models of consumer behaviour can be used to steer decision‐making in the complex task of designing generic strategies to increase sustainable consumption. This paper proposes an operational model which assumes that the purchase of an organic food is a complex process that can be broken down into phases. It is applied to a concrete case – organic olive oil in the Spanish market – quantifying each phase to determine which ones should be acted on to increase demand. Results indicate that it is possible to adopt the model proposed, and that the problems hindering consumption are a lack of confidence in organic certification, not perceiving differences between organic and conventional foods, and the perception of barriers in their purchase. Given the context, marketing communications strategies have a key role to play. This model can be used to analyse the specific situation of each market and propose development strategies. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Designed Cluster Assembly of Multidimensional Titanium Coordination Polymers: Syntheses, Crystal Structure and Properties
Authors: Wang Chao , Liu Chao , Tian Hong‐Rui , Li Lei‐Jiao , Sun Zhong‐Ming
Published: December 2017

The exploitation of new titanium‐based coordination polymers (Ti CPs) with high crystallinity is difficult but highly desirable for their potential applications in photocatalysis. Herein, a cluster‐cooperative assemble strategy is developed to synthesize Ti CPs. By utilizing various bifunctional ligands containing carboxylate acids and N‐donor groups, we successfully assembled the zero‐dimensional (0D) [(Ti3O)(iPrO)8]2+ or [(Ti4O2)(iPrO)6]6+ clusters into one‐dimensional (1D) tube‐, ribbon‐, or helical chain‐shape architectures, two‐dimensional (2D) layered structures, and a rare parallel 2D→three‐dimensional (3D) polycatenation framework with various copper iodide dopants, including rhombus‐ or wing‐shaped Cu2I2 and tetrahedron‐ or ladder‐shaped Cu4I4. The as‐synthesized compounds display strong absorption in the visible region with narrow band gaps ranging from 1.70 to 2.72 eV and exhibit good photocatalytic activities in the degradation of organic pollutants.
NOE‐Derived Methyl Distances from a 360 kDa Proteasome Complex
Authors: Chi Celestine N. , Strotz Dean , Riek Roland , Vögeli Beat
Published: December 2017

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is the prime tool to probe structure and dynamics of biomolecules at atomic resolution. A serious challenge for that method is the size limit imposed on molecules to be studied. Standard studies are typically restricted to ca. 30–40 kDa. More recent developments lead to spin relaxation measurements in methyl groups in single proteins or protein complexes as large as a mega‐Dalton, which directly allow the extraction of angular information or experiments with paramagnetic samples. However, these probes are all of indirect nature in contrast to the most intuitive and easy‐to‐interpret structural/dynamics restraint, the internuclear distance, which can be measured by nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE). Herein, we demonstrate time‐averaged distance measurements on the 360 kDa half proteasome from Thermoplasma acidophilium. The approach is based on exact quantification of the NOE (eNOE). Our findings open up an avenue for such measurements on very large molecules. These restraints will help in a detailed determination of conformational changes upon perturbation such as ligand binding.
Novel Hybrid Prins/Aza‐Prins Oxocarbenium/N‐Acyliminium Cascade: Expedient Access to Complex Indolizidines
Authors: Berthet Mathéo , Beauseigneur Alice , Moine Charlotte , Taillier Catherine , Othman Mohamed , Dalla Vincent
Published: December 2017

Heavy silyl enol ethers (mostly TIPS and TBS) combine with cyclic N‐alkenyl N‐acyliminium salts generated in situ from their N,O‐acetal precursors, to furnish highly functionalized indolizidines through an unprecedented double Mukaiyama–Mannich–Prins cascade transformation. This novel cascade annulation process demonstrates a promising scope, and takes place mostly catalytically with interesting stereocontrol. Furthermore, an appealing facet of this chemistry is emphasized with a bicatalytic approach by which the Mannich–Prins cascade follows a Ru‐catalyzed N‐allylamide to N‐(E)‐propenyl isomerization of the aminal counterpart in a one‐pot operation.
Evaluation of disease‐free survival as an intermediate metric of overall survival in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma: A trial‐level meta‐analysis
Authors: Harshman Lauren C. , Xie Wanling , Moreira Raphael B. , Bossé Dominick , Ruiz Ares Gustavo J. , Sweeney Christopher J. , Choueiri Toni K.
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND

Overall survival (OS) is a critical endpoint in adjuvant trials but requires long durations to events and significant patient resources. In the current study, the authors assessed whether disease‐free survival (DFS) can be an early clinical surrogate for OS in the adjuvant setting for localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODS

Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, the authors performed a systematic literature review of PubMed and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, European Society for Medical Oncology, and ClinicalTrial.gov Web sites (1996‐2016). Inclusion in the current study required randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of adjuvant systemic therapy for localized RCC after nephrectomy with ≥3 years of outcomes data. Data regarding hazard ratios (HRs) and 5‐year event‐free rates from Kaplan‐Meier estimates were extracted. A trial‐level meta‐analysis correlated estimates of 5‐year DFS and 5‐year OS as well as treatment effects (HRs) on these endpoints, weighted by the number of DFS events. R‐squared ≥ 0.7 was prespecified as being indicative of a strong correlation and the potential for surrogacy.

RESULTS

Thirteen RCTs encompassing 6473 patients who were treated with a variety of systemic therapies met eligibility. Only a modest correlation was observed between 5‐year DFS and 5‐year OS rates (R‐squared, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.14‐0.67) and between treatment effects as measured by DFS and OS HRs (R‐squared, 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.00‐0.69).

CONCLUSIONS

Across RCTs of adjuvant systemic therapy for localized RCC, there was no strong correlation noted between 5‐year DFS and 5‐year OS rates or between treatment effects on these endpoints. These results highlight the need to identify alternative and more rapid clinical or biologic endpoints to hasten drug development and improve clinical outcomes. Cancer 2018;124:925‐33. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Identification of mechanisms of resistance to treatment with abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide in patients with castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)
Authors: Pal Sumanta Kumar , Patel Jaymala , He Miaoling , Foulk Brad , Kraft Katherine , Smirnov Denis A. , Twardowski Przemyslaw , Kortylewski Marcin , Bhargava Vipul , Jones Jeremy O.
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND

Two androgen receptor (AR)‐targeted therapies, enzalutamide and abiraterone acetate plus prednisone (abiraterone), have been approved for the treatment of metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Many patients respond to these agents, but both de novo and acquired resistance are common. The authors characterized resistant phenotypes that emerge after treatment with abiraterone or enzalutamide.

METHODS

Patients who received abiraterone or enzalutamide in the course of routine clinical care were consented for serial blood collection. A proprietary system (CellSearch) was used to enumerate and enrich circulating tumor cells (CTCs). RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐seq) was performed on pools of up to 10 epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)‐positive/CD45‐negative CTCs. The impact of gene expression changes observed in CTCs between patients who responded or were resistant to abiraterone/enzalutamide therapies was further explored in a model cell line system.

RESULTS

RNA‐seq data from CTCs identified mutations commonly associated with CRPC as well as novel mutations, including several in the ligand‐binding domain of AR that could facilitate escape from AR‐targeted agents. Ingenuity pathway analysis of differentially regulated genes identified the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and cyclin D1 (CCND1) signaling pathways as significantly upregulated in drug‐resistant CTCs. Transfection experiments using enzalutamide‐sensitive and enzalutamide‐resistant LNCaP cells confirmed the involvement of SMAD family member 3, a key mediator of the TGFβ pathway, and of CCND1 in resistance to enzalutamide treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The current results indicate that RNA‐seq of CTCs representing abiraterone and enzalutamide sensitive and resistant states can identify potential mechanisms of resistance. Therapies targeting the downstream signaling mediated by SMAD family member 3 (SMAD3) and CCND1, such as cyclin‐dependent kinase 4/cyclin‐dependent kinase 6 inhibitors, could provide new therapeutic options for the treatment of antiandrogen‐resistant disease. Cancer 2018;124:1216‐24. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
The changing landscape of hereditary cancer genetic testing
Authors: Webster Rachel D. , Ross Jessica L. , Arun Banu K.
Published: December 2017

With the expansion of hereditary cancer panel testing, it is vital to fully evaluate the benefits and limitations of each testing option to ensure proper patient care and prudent use of health care resources. Continuous education for health care providers is necessary for continued integration of genetic testing into oncology care.
Acupressure bands do not improve chemotherapy‐induced nausea control in pediatric patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy: A single‐blinded, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Dupuis L. Lee , Kelly Kara M. , Krischer Jeffrey P. , Langevin Anne‐Marie , Tamura Roy N. , Xu Ping , Chen Lu , Kolb E. Anders , Ullrich Nicole J. , Sahler Olle Jane Z. , Hendershot Eleanor , Stratton Ann , Sung Lillian , McLean Thomas W.
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting remain common, distressing side effects of chemotherapy. It has been reported that acupressure prevents chemotherapy‐induced nausea in adults, but it has not been well studied in children.

METHODS

In this multicenter, prospective, randomized, single‐blind, sham‐controlled trial, the authors compared acute‐phase nausea severity in patients ages 4 to 18 years who were receiving highly emetic chemotherapy using standard antiemetic agents combined with acupressure wrist bands, the most common type of acupressure, versus sham bands. Patients wore acupressure or sham bands continuously on each day of chemotherapy and for up to 7 days afterward. Chemotherapy‐induced nausea severity in the delayed phase and chemotherapy‐induced vomiting control in the acute and delayed phases also were compared.

RESULTS

Of the 187 patients randomized, 165 contributed nausea severity assessments during the acute phase. Acupressure bands did not reduce the severity of chemotherapy‐induced nausea in the acute phase (odds ratio [OR], 1.33; 95% confidence limits, 0.89‐2.00, in which an OR <1.00 favored acupressure) or in the delayed phase (OR, 1.23; 95% CL, 0.75‐2.01). Furthermore, acupressure bands did not improve daily vomiting control during the acute phase (OR, 1.57; 95% CL, 0.95‐2.59) or the delayed phase (OR, 0.84; 95% CL, 0.45‐1.58). No serious adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Acupressure bands were safe but did not improve chemotherapy‐induced nausea or vomiting in pediatric patients who were receiving highly emetic chemotherapy. Cancer 2018;124:1188‐96. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Determination of Seminal Concentration of Fingolimod and Fingolimod‐Phosphate in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Receiving Chronic Treatment With Fingolimod
Authors: David Olivier J. , Berwick Amy , Pezous Nicole , Lang Michael , Tiel‐Wilck Klaus , Ziemssen Tjalf , Li Peng , Hara Hisanori , Schmouder Robert
Published: December 2017

The safety profile of fingolimod 0.5 mg, approved therapy for relapsing multiple sclerosis, is well established in clinical and real‐world studies. As fingolimod is teratogenic in rats, it was considered important to assess the concentrations of fingolimod and its active metabolite, fingolimod‐phosphate, in the semen of male patients on treatment and the risk of harming a fetus in a pregnant partner. In this multicenter open‐label study, 13 male patients receiving fingolimod for at least 6 months provided 1 semen and 1 blood sample for analyte concentration measurements. The steady‐state seminal concentrations of fingolimod and fingolimod‐phosphate were close to those simultaneously observed in blood. The amount of fingolimod‐related material in 10 mL of ejaculate was estimated to be 47.5 ng. The estimated fingolimod and fingolimod‐phosphate blood Cmax values in a woman having regular sexual intercourse with a male patient treated with fingolimod 0.5 mg were approximately 400 and 2400 times smaller than the estimated values in the embryo‐fetal development study in rats at the no‐observed‐adverse‐event level. Consequently, the risk of harming a fetus in a pregnant woman is considered extremely unlikely.
Speeding up NMR by in Situ Photo‐Induced Reversible Acceleration of T1‐Relaxation (PIRAT)
Authors: Stadler Eduard , Dommaschk Marcel , Frühwirt Philipp , Herges Rainer , Gescheidt Georg
Published: December 2017

Increasing the signal‐to‐noise ratio is one of the major goals in the field of NMR spectroscopy. In this proof of concept, we accelerate relaxation during an NMR pulse sequence using photo‐generated paramagnetic states of an inert sensitizer. For the follow‐up acquisition period, the system is converted to a diamagnetic state. The reversibility of the photo‐induced switching allows extensive repetition required for multidimensional NMR. We thus eliminate the obstacle of line‐broadening by the presence of paramagnetic species. In this contribution, we show how cycling of synchronized light/pulse sequences leads to an enhanced efficiency in multidimensional NMR. Our approach utilizes a molecular spin switch reversibly altering between a paramagnetic and diamagnetic state.
External Pressures or Internal Governance – What Determines the Extent of Corporate Responses to Climate Change?
Authors: Damert Matthias , Baumgartner Rupert J.
Published: December 2017

To prevent adverse effects from climate change, it is vital to involve the private sector in mitigation efforts. So far, however, research has insufficiently addressed the determinants of corporate action in specific industries. Our paper aims at bridging this gap by empirically analyzing the global automotive industry's response to climate change mitigation issues. We use publicly available information from 105 sector leaders to investigate the role of external institutional pressures and intra‐organizational governance in the extent of corporate action. Based on a multiple regression analysis, we find that organizational involvement and the integration of climate change into risk management exhibit the greatest influence. Moreover, companies with business activities that necessitate interaction with the end consumer tend to be most active. Our analysis furthermore indicates that neither the stringency of a firm's home country's climate policy regime nor the degree of internationalization is associated with a higher implementation level of response strategies. © 2017 The Authors. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management published by ERP Environment and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.