bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of change: Stakeholder Engagement in the Australian Resource Sector through CSR
Authors: Fordham Anne Elizabeth , Robinson Guy M. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe study sought to draw new perspectives on how corporate social responsibility (CSR) is shaped and created within the resource sector. The study focused on examining the role of external stakeholders in influencing the CSR strategies implemented by Australian resource companies. Data were gathered by semi‐structured interviews with key stakeholders involved with 25 resource companies located in South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory.Consistent with sociological theories of CSR, stakeholders such as business and community leaders, non‐government organizations (NGOs), and government employees were able to influence CSR by empowering communities to participate in CSR, bridging cultural divides between companies and communities, and linking companies to key society standards. This was facilitated by the expression of personal ethical values and knowledge sets by stakeholders and where relevant those of their organization.A range of stakeholders were active agents of change, bringing in new ideology, skills, and expertise, and, at times, challenging existing corporate practice. This process was underlined by relationship building and trust. Stakeholders effectively introduced higher ethical values to concepts of public accountability, environmental sustainability, and social justice in line with personal and organizational ethics.The study also identified factors which promoted stakeholder influence and gave stakeholders power within CSR. This included a range of institutional‐level factors such as regulatory and legal frameworks, company policy, and cultures, but also interpersonal skills and abilities of the individuals involved.The study highlights the strategic benefits of stakeholder involvement in CSR within the Australian resource sector and discusses implications for the broader resource industry. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
The effect of ethical climate and employees' organizational citizenship behavior on U.S. fashion retail organizations' sustainability performance
Authors: Lee Stacy H.N. , Ha‐Brookshire Jung 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTo support businesses' efforts to improve sustainability performance, the role of employees should not be neglected, as organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) can improve the effectiveness and flexibility of a business as a whole. Given the potential impact of OCB on organizations' performance, this study investigated how the role of employees' OCB can help to achieve the triple bottom line of sustainability‐financial, social and environmental performance. Using U.S. fashion retail employees as the sampling framework, a total of 278 datasets were used to test the hypothesized relationship. The results showed that the ethical climate of an organization indeed positively affects employees' OCB, consistent with previous studies in non‐fashion retail organizations. Regardless of the size of the organization, the role of employees on the organization's overall sustainability performance was found to be highly important. These findings suggest that businesses should consider ethical climate to enhance sustainability through employees' OCB.
A Low‐Energy‐Gap Thienochrysenocarbazole Dye for Highly Efficient Mesoscopic Titania Solar Cells: Understanding the Excited State and Charge Carrier Dynamics
Authors: Wang Junting , Xie Xinrui , Weng Guorong , Yuan Yi , Zhang Jing , Wang Peng 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMaintaining both a high external quantum efficiency and a large open‐circuit photovoltage of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is a crucial challenge in the process of developing narrow‐energy‐gap dyes for the capture of infrared solar photons. Herein, we report two donor–acceptor organic dyes, C294 and C295, with a polycyclic heteroaromatic unit, 6,11‐dihydrothieno[3′,2′:8,9]chryseno[10,11,12,1‐bcdefg]carbazole (TCC), as the central module of the electron donor, and ethylbenzothiadiazole‐benzioc acid as the electron acceptor. The interfacial charge recombination was successfully mitigated by introducing an additional branched aliphatic chain in C295. Furthermore, the O⋅⋅⋅S nonbonding interaction between the oxygen atom of the alkoxy group and the sulfur atom of the thiophene in C295 controlled the conformation of C295, resulting in a narrow energy‐gap. Time‐resolved spectroscopic measurements on C294 and the model dye C272 indicated that the elevation of the HOMO energy level decreased the kinetics and yield of hole injection owing to a reduction in the driving force and that the shortened excited‐state lifetime caused by the narrowing of the energy gap was unfavorable for electron injection. By fine tuning the composition of the electrolyte, C294 and C295 eventually achieved high power conversion efficiencies of 11.5 % and 12.4 %, respectively, under full sunlight of air mass 1.5 global conditions.
Neurotensin and neurotensin receptor 1 mRNA expression in song‐control regions changes during development in male zebra finches
Authors: Merullo Devin P. , Asogwa Chinweike N. , Sanchez‐Valpuesta Miguel , Hayase Shin , Pattnaik Bikash R. , Wada Kazuhiro , Riters Lauren V. 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTLearned vocalizations are important for communication in some vertebrate taxa. The neural circuitry for the learning and production of vocalizations is well known in songbirds, many of which learn songs initially during a critical period early in life. Dopamine is essential for motor learning, including song learning, and dopamine‐related measures change throughout development in song‐control regions such as HVC, the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium (LMAN), Area X, and the robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA). In mammals, the neuropeptide neurotensin strongly interacts with dopamine signaling. This study investigated a potential role for the neurotensin system in song learning by examining how neurotensin (Nts) and neurotensin receptor 1 (Ntsr1) expression change throughout development.NtsandNtsr1mRNA expression was analyzed in song‐control regions of male zebra finches in four stages of the song learning process: pre‐subsong (25 days posthatch; dph), subsong (45 dph), plastic song (60 dph), and crystallized song (130 dph).Ntsexpression in LMAN during the subsong stage was lower compared to other time points.Ntsr1expression was highest in HVC, Area X, and RA during the pre‐subsong stage. Opposite and complementary expression patterns for the two genes in song nuclei and across the whole brain suggest distinct roles for regions that produce and receiveNts. The expression changes at crucial time points for song development are similar to changes observed in dopamine studies and suggestNtsmay be involved in the process of vocal learning. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 78: 671–686, 2018
Prefrontal cortex NG2 glia undergo a developmental switch in their responsiveness to exercise
Authors: Tomlinson Lyl , Huang Po Hsuan , Colognato Holly 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTAerobic exercise is known to influence brain function, e.g., enhancing executive function in both children and adults, with many of these influences being attributed to alterations in neurogenesis and neuronal function. Yet oligodendroglia in adult brains have also been reported to be highly responsive to exercise, including in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a late myelinating region implicated in working memory. However, whether exercise affects oligodendroglia or myelination in juveniles, either in the PFC or in other brain regions, remains unknown. To address this, both juvenile and young adult mice were provided free access to running wheels for four weeks followed by an analysis of oligodendrocyte development and myelination in the PFC and the corpus callosum, a major white matter tract. Working memory and PFC NG2+ cell development were both affected by exercise in juvenile mice, yet surprisingly these exercise‐mediated effects were distinct in juveniles and young adults. In the PFC, NG2+ cell proliferation was increased in exercising juveniles, but not young adults, whereas newly‐born oligodendrocyte production was increased in exercising young adults, but not juveniles. Although no overall changes in myelin genes were found, elevated levels of Monocarboxylate Transporter 1, a glial lactate transporter important during active myelination, were found in the PFC of exercising young adults. Overall our findings reveal that long‐term exercise modulates PFC glial development and does so differentially in juvenile and young adult mice, providing insight into the cellular responses that may underlie cognitive benefits to teenagers and young adults in response to exercise. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 78: 687–700, 2018
Unambiguous identification and characterization of a long‐term human metabolite of dehydrochloromethyltestosterone
Authors: Forsdahl Guro , Geisendorfer Thomas , Göschl Lorenz , Pfeffer Sandra , Gärtner Peter , Thevis Mario , Gmeiner Günter 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn doping control analysis, the characterization of urinary steroid metabolites is of high interest for a targeted and long‐term detection of prohibited anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS). In this work, the structure of a long‐term metabolite of dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (DHCMT) was elucidated. Altogether, 8 possible metabolites with a 17α‐methyl‐17β‐hydroxymethyl – structures were synthesized and compared to a major DHCMT long‐term metabolite detected in reference urine excretion samples. The confirmed structure of the metabolite was 4α‐chloro‐18‐nor‐17β‐hydroxymethyl‐17α‐methyl‐5α‐androst‐13‐en‐3α‐ol.
Environmental determinism, and not interspecific competition, drives morphological variability in Australasian warblers (Acanthizidae)
Authors: García‐Navas Vicente , Rodríguez‐Rey Marta , Marki Petter Z. , Christidis Les 
Published: March 2018

AbstractInterspecific competition is thought to play a key role in determining the coexistence of closely related species within adaptive radiations. Competition for ecological resources can lead to different outcomes from character displacement to, ultimately, competitive exclusion. Accordingly, divergent natural selection should disfavor those species that are the most similar to their competitor in resource use, thereby increasing morphological disparity. Here, we examined ecomorphological variability within an Australo‐Papuan bird radiation, the Acanthizidae, which include both allopatric and sympatric complexes. In addition, we investigated whether morphological similarities between species are related to environmental factors at fine scale (foraging niche) and/or large scale (climate). Contrary to that predicted by the competition hypothesis, we did not find a significant correlation between the morphological similarities found between species and their degree of range overlap. Comparative modeling based on both a priori and data‐driven identification of selective regimes suggested that foraging niche is a poor predictor of morphological variability in acanthizids. By contrast, our results indicate that climatic conditions were an important factor in the formation of morphological variation. We found a significant negative correlation between species scores for PC1 (positively associated to tarsus length and tail length) and both temperature and precipitation, whereas PC2 (positively associated to bill length and wing length) correlated positively with precipitation. In addition, we found that species inhabiting the same region are closer to each other in morphospace than to species outside that region regardless of genus to which they belong or its foraging strategy. Our results indicate that the conservative body form of acanthizids is one that can work under a wide variety of environments (an all‐purpose morphology), and the observed interspecific similarity is probably driven by the common response to environment.
Heard but not seen: Comparing bat assemblages and study methods in a mosaic landscape in the Western Ghats of India
Authors: Wordley Claire F. R. , Sankaran Mahesh , Mudappa Divya , Altringham John D. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWe used capture (mist‐netting) and acoustic methods to compare the species richness, abundance, and composition of a bat assemblage in different habitats in the Western Ghats of India. In the tropics, catching bats has been more commonly used as a survey method than acoustic recordings. In our study, acoustic methods based on recording echolocation calls detected greater bat activity and more species than mist‐netting. However, some species were detected more frequently or exclusively by capture. Ideally, the two methods should be used together to compensate for the biases in each. Using combined capture and acoustic data, we found that protected forests, forest fragments, and shade coffee plantations hosted similar and diverse species assemblages, although some species were recorded more frequently in protected forests. Tea plantations contained very few species from the overall bat assemblage. In riparian habitats, a strip of forested habitat on the river bank improved the habitat for bats compared to rivers with tea planted up to each bank. Our results show that shade coffee plantations are better bat habitat than tea plantations in biodiversity hotspots. However, if tea is to be the dominant land use, forest fragments and riparian corridors can improve the landscape considerably for bats. We encourage coffee growers to retain traditional plantations with mature native trees, rather than reverting to sun grown coffee or coffee shaded by a few species of timber trees.
Controlling an Autonomous Agent for Exploring Unknown Environments Using Switching Prelearned Modules
Authors: HATA TAKAHITO , SUGANUMA MASANORI , NAGAO TOMOHARU 
Published: March 2018

SUMMARYIn this paper, we try to acquire various behavior patterns of autonomous exploration agent using several learning environments. In case of previous learning methods using a single behavior rule set, it is hard to acquire the behavior that covers all learning environments. In our method, we divide learning environments into some primitive environments whose properties differ each other, and then generate modules that are specialized for each primitive environment. To optimize behavior rules of agents, we adopt graph structured program evolution (GRAPE) which can automatically generate graph structured programs. In unknown environments, each module is switched by a program named “switcher”. The switcher selects the module that acts better in a neighboring environment. Through several experiments, our method achieved higher exploration rate in unknown environments compared to simple GRAPE, random search, and the method that switches modules randomly.
Analyzing linear spatial features in ecology
Authors: Buettel Jessie C. , Cole Andrew , Dickey John M. , Brook Barry W. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe spatial analysis of dimensionless points (e.g., tree locations on a plot map) is common in ecology, for instance using point‐process statistics to detect and compare patterns. However, the treatment of one‐dimensional linear features (fiber processes) is rarely attempted. Here we appropriate the methods of vector sums and dot products, used regularly in fields like astrophysics, to analyze a data set of mapped linear features (logs) measured in 12 × 1‐ha forest plots. For this demonstrative case study, we ask two deceptively simple questions: do trees tend to fall downhill, and if so, does slope gradient matter? Despite noisy data and many potential confounders, we show clearly that topography (slope direction and steepness) of forest plots does matter to treefall. More generally, these results underscore the value of mathematical methods of physics to problems in the spatial analysis of linear features, and the opportunities that interdisciplinary collaboration provides. This work provides scope for a variety of future ecological analyzes of fiber processes in space.
Panel of serum protein biomarkers to grade the severity of traumatic brain injury
Authors: Anada Raj Poovindran , Wong Kum Thong , Jayapalan Jaime Jacqueline , Hashim Onn Haji , Ganesan Dharmendra 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), which classifies patients into mild, moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), is a system used to prioritize treatment and prognosticate the severity of head injury. In this study, sera of patients with various stages of TBI, as well as control subjects, were analyzed to screen for proteins that may be used to complement the GCS system. By subjecting pooled serum samples to iTRAQ analysis for quantitative comparison of protein abundance, and attesting their altered levels using ELISA, we have detected increased levels of serum amyloid A, C‐reactive protein, leucine‐rich alpha‐2‐glycoprotein, lipopolysaccharide‐binding protein, fibronectin, vitronectin and alpha‐1‐antichymotrypsin in patients across all strata of TBI relative to the controls. However, kininogen was decreased only in moderate and severe TBI, whereas apolipoprotein E and zinc‐alpha‐2‐glycoprotein were only increased in severe TBI. Hence, we propose a panel of serum biomarkers, which if analyzed within 24 h of the injury, can be used to diagnose patients with TBI into mild, moderate or severe stratification objectively, thus complementing the traditional GCS.
Effect of nutritional status on arsenic and smokeless tobacco induced genotoxicity, sperm abnormality and oxidative stress in mice in vivo
Authors: Das Samrat , Langthasa Pimily , Barhoi Dharmeswar , Upadhaya Puja , Giri Sarbani 
Published: March 2018

Background: Recently, high concentrations of arsenic have been documented in ground waters of Southern Assam, India. Indiscriminate smokeless tobacco consumption is a common practice in this region. Correlation between nutritional status and arsenic and smokeless tobacco‐induced health effects has not been taken up in humans or other test systems.Methods: Mice were divided into groups based on protein (casein) content in the diet: High protein (40%), optimum protein (20%), and low protein (5%). Simultaneous chronic exposure (90 days) to arsenic and smokeless tobacco (sadagura) orally was given to evaluate the extent of the cytological and genotoxicological damage. Micronucleus assay and Comet assay of the femur bone marrow cells were conducted. Germ cell toxicity was evaluated by recording the sperm head abnormalities and total sperm count. Cell cycle analysis was performed in femur bone marrow cells using flow cytometer. Hepatic, renal, and intestinal tissues were analyzed for various oxidative stress evaluations. Histological examination of liver and kidney was performed.Results: Notably, high protein diet groups had lower arsenic and sadagura induced genotoxicity, germ cell abnormalities and oxidative stress as compared to optimum protein and low protein diet counterparts.Conclusion: Our study indicates that sufficient levels of dietary protein appear to reduce the long‐term arsenic and smokeless tobacco‐induced toxicity in mice test system, as compared to lower or deficient amount of protein in the diet. This observation has implications and invites further studies especially epidemiological studies in the human population exposed to arsenic in South East Asian countries. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 59:386–400, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
1‐3‐Type Composites Based on Ferroelectrics: Electromechanical Coupling, Figures of Merit, and Piezotechnical Energy‐Harvesting Applications
Authors: Bowen Christopher R. , Topolov Vitaly Yu. , Zhang Yan , Panich Alexander A. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe physical and microgeometric factors that are able to improve the piezoelectric performance, anisotropy, and energy‐harvesting characteristics of modern 1‐3‐type composites based on ferroelectrics are discussed. The composite connectivity patterns of particular interest for this study include 1‐3‐0, 1‐0‐3, and 1‐2‐2. The active components of the studied composites are chosen from conventional perovskite‐type ferroelectric ceramics, lead‐free materials, or domain‐engineered single crystals, all of which exhibit particularly intriguing electromechanical properties. Examples of the large anisotropy of piezoelectric coefficients, electromechanical coupling factors, squared figures of merit, and large hydrostatic parameters of the three‐component 1‐3‐type composites are considered in the context of their piezotechnical applications. The applications of these materials include piezoelectric transducers, sensors, energy‐harvesting, and hydroacoustic devices.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with t(7;12)(q36;p13) is associated with infancy and trisomy 19: Data from Nordic Society for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (NOPHO‐AML) and review of the literature
Authors: Espersen Anne Dorte Lerche , Noren‐Nyström Ulrika , Abrahamsson Jonas , Ha Shau‐Yin , Pronk Cornelis Jan , Jahnukainen Kirsi , Jónsson Ólafur G. , Lausen Birgitte , Palle Josefine , Zeller Bernward , Palmqvist Lars , Hasle Henrik 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe t(7;12)(q36;p13) (MNX1/ETV6) is not included in the WHO classification but has been described in up to 30% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in children <2 years and associated with a poor prognosis. We present the clinical and cytogenetics characteristics of AML cases with t(7;12)(p36;p13). A literature review identified 35 patients with this translocation, published between 2000 and 2015. Outcome data were available in 22 cases. The NOPHO‐AML (Nordic Society for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology) database contained 651 patients with AML from 1993 to 2014 and seven (1.1%) had the translocation. The t(7;12) was only present in patients <2 years of age (median age 6 months) but none was diagnosed as newborn. These patients constituted 4.3% of the patients <2 years of age. There was a strong association with trisomy 19 (literature: 86%, NOPHO: 100%) and +8 (literature: 19%, NOPHO: 14%). Seventeen of 22 patients from the literature with t(7;12) and four of seven patients from the NOPHO database suffered from relapse. The patients with t(7;12) had a 3‐year event free survival of 24% (literature) vs. 43% (NOPHO) and a 3‐year overall survival of 42% (literature) vs. 100% (NOPHO). None of the NOPHO patients was treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in first complete remission. Relapse was frequent but the salvage rate using HSCT was high. We conclude that t(7;12)(q36;13) is a unique subgroup of childhood AML with presentation before 2 years of age with most cases being associated with +19.
Health conditions and unmet needs for assistance to perform activities of daily living among older adults with dementia in Chile
Authors: Zhou Yi , Slachevasky Andrea , Calvo Esteban 
Published: March 2018

ObjectiveThis study aims to address gaps in health conditions and unmet needs in daily activities between people with dementia (PWD) and without dementia in a developing country and to identify the variables associated with unmet needs among PWD to guide practitioners and policymakers in dealing with an increased burden of dementia.MethodsNationally representative data on 4655 Chileans age 60 and over were used to compare health conditions and unmet needs in daily life activities between individuals with (N = 455, 9.6%) and without dementia. Regression analysis was conducted to identify the variables associated with unmet needs among PWD.ResultsOverall, PWD had worse health and needed greater assistance in performing daily activities than people without dementia. Among PWD, being male was associated with more unmet needs, in both activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL. Lower educational level and fewer caregivers were associated with more unmet needs for ADL, while inferior functional ability was associated with more unmet needs for instrumental ADL.ConclusionsThe results from this study call for action by practitioners and policymakers to foster caregiver training, increase supportive services, and advance care planning for PWD.