bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Facile Strategy for Constructing Boron‐Rich Polymer Nanoparticles via a Boronic Acid‐Related Reaction
Authors: Zhang Luzhong , Lin Ying , Wang Jingjing , Yao Wei , Wu Wei , Jiang Xiqun
Published: January 2011

We present here a facile strategy for constructing Dextran‐poly(3‐acrylamidophenylboronic acid) (Dextran‐PAPBA) nanoparticles (NPs) through a radical polymerization of the monomer 3‐acrylamidophenylboronic acid (APBA) bound by dextran via a boronic acid‐diol reaction in aqueous solution. The synthesized Dextran‐PAPBA NPs are stable in a wide pH range. Their size and composition are tunable by varying the feeding molar ratio of the glucopyranoside unit in dextran to APBA. Additionally, the NPs have good biocompatibility and cell membrane penetrability, as demonstrated by in vitro experiments. Doxorubicin was encapsulated in the NPs and exhibited a sustained and strongly pH‐dependent release profile that would greatly favor the in vivo drug delivery performance of the NPs. The facility of this strategy together with the tunable boron content and outstanding drug release and cellular membrane crossing performance of the produced NPs should greatly boost their applications in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) and chemotherapy for cancer treatment.

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Vocational Identity Trajectories: Differences in Personality and Development of Well–Being
Authors: Hirschi Andreas
Published: January 2011

This person–centred study investigated the longitudinal patterns of vocational identity development in relation to personality, the development of well–being, gender, nationality and the attended school track among two cohorts of Swiss adolescents in 8th or 9th grade ( N = 269) and in 11th or 12th grade ( N = 230). The results confirmed the existence of four identity statuses, namely, achievement, foreclosure, moratorium and diffusion. Forty–two per cent of students showed progressive patterns of identity development, while 37% remained in their identity status over time. Students with different statuses and status change patterns differed significantly in their personality traits. Higher neuroticism related to the emergence of identity exploration over time, while conscientiousness related to maintaining or achieving a sense of identity commitment in terms of achievement or foreclosure. Controlling for the effects of socio–demographics and personality traits, students who reached or maintained a state characterized by identity clarity and commitment showed a relative increase in life satisfaction, while those entering a state of identity crisis or exploration showed a decrease in life satisfaction. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mechanical Properties of Plasma‐Polymerized Tetravinylsilane Films
Authors: Cech Vladimir , Hosein Hazel‐Ann , Lasota Tomas , Drzal Lawrence T.
Published: January 2011

Continuous stiffness measurement (CSM) and dynamic contact module (DCM) nanoindentation measurements were used to characterize the mechanical properties of plasma‐polymerized tetravinylsilane films deposited by PECVD at RF powers ranging from 10 to 70 W. The Young's modulus and hardness as a function of the indenter displacement (5–500 nm) were investigated for films of 1‐µm thickness. The Young's modulus (hardness) was observed to increase from 8.3 (0.9 GPa) to 58 GPa (9.5 GPa) with enhanced RF power. Nanoindentation analysis together with AFM imaging revealed a grain character of films deposited at a higher power. Finite element analysis was used to simulate nanoindentation measurements and evaluate properties of the elastic–plastic material.

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Structure of Plasma‐Deposited Poly(acrylic acid) Films
Authors: Fahmy Alaa , Mix Renate , Schönhals Andreas , Friedrich Jörg F.
Published: January 2011

Poly(acrylic acid) films with a thickness of about 150 nm were deposited using a pulsed plasma onto aluminum and glass. The structure/property relationships of these samples were studied in dependence to the duty cycle (DC) of the plasma by a broad combination of different techniques and probes. For the first time, volume sensitive methods (FTIR, dielectric spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry) are combined with surface analyses i.e. XPS. For an unambiguous identification of COOH groups by XPS, derivatization with trifluoroethanol was accomplished. Quantitative FTIR investigations give qualitatively a dependence of the concentration of COOH groups upon DC similar to that given by XPS investigations. The observed differences are discussed considering the different analytical depths of both methods. The dielectric measurements reveal that the structure of the plasma deposited films is different from that of the bulk material. Moreover, these measurements show also that the plasma deposited films are not thermally stable but undergo a post plasma chemical reaction during heating, where the reaction kinetics depends on DC.

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Surface magnetization reversal and magnetic domain structure in amorphous microwires
Authors: Gonzalez Julian , Chizhik Alexander , Zhukov Arcady , Blanco Juan Mari
Published: January 2011

This paper presents a review on magneto‐optical investigations of the glass‐coated amorphous microwires including magneto‐optical magnetometry and microscopy. We also discuss a Kerr‐effect method of domain‐wall‐motion detection in glass‐coated wires within a classical Sixtus–Tonks experimental scheme. The developed techniques make it possible to observe the surface magnetization reversal and to establish the main mechanisms of domain‐structure formation and transformation.
Theoretical investigation on the structural, dynamical, and thermodynamic properties of the zinc‐blende InX (X = P, As, Sb)
Authors: Hou Hai‐Jun , Kong Fan‐Jie
Published: January 2011

The structural, dynamical, and thermodynamics properties of InX (X = P, As, Sb) with zinc‐blende structure are investigated by performing first‐principles calculations within the local density approximation (LDA). The phonon‐dispersion curves along several high‐symmetry lines at the Brillouin zone together with the corresponding phonon density of states are determined using density‐functional perturbation theory (DFPT). It is found that the lattice constants and the phonon frequencies at the Γ, X points of the Brillouin zone were in very good agreement with the other calculations and experimental values. We also calculate the thermodynamic functions using the phonon density of states, and the results are in good agreement with experimental data.
Monitoring of Probabilistic Timed Property Sequence Charts
Authors: Zhang Pengcheng , Li Wenrui , Wan Dingsheng , Grunske Lars
Published: January 2011

Run‐time monitoring is an important technique to detect erroneous run‐time behaviors. Several techniques have been proposed to automatically generate monitors from specification languages to check temporal and real‐time properties. However, monitoring of probabilistic properties still requires manual generation. To overcome this problem, we define a formal property specification language called Probabilistic Timed Property Sequence Chart (PTPSC). PTPSC is a probabilistic and timed extension of the existing scenario‐based specification formalism Property Sequence Chart (PSC). We have defined a formal grammar‐based syntax and have implemented a syntax‐directed translator that can automatically generate a probabilistic monitor which combines timed B”uchi automata and a sequential statistical hypothesis test process. We validate the generated monitors with a set of experiments performed with our tool WS‐PSC Monitor. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Highly Stable 3D Porous Lanthanum Metal‐organic Framework Constructed From A New Flexible Bis(benzoic acid) Ligand Produced in Situ
Authors: Wen Yong‐Hong , Jiang Chong , Wang Shi‐Ying , Wang Lei
Published: January 2011

By employing diethyl 1,3‐propylidenebis(4‐oxybenzoate) as a precursor, the new three‐dimensional metal‐organic framework [La2L2(HL)2]n [L = 1,3‐propylidenebis(4‐oxybenzoate)] was prepared and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P$\bar{1}$, with cell parameters: a = 8.299 (2) Å, b = 14.127 (3) Å, c = 14.520 (3) Å, α = 112.43 (3) °, β = 103.10 (3) °, γ = 95.28 (3)°, V = 1502.2 (5) Å3, and Z = 1. Under hydrothermal reaction conditions, two ester groups of the ligand hydrolyzed into carboxylate groups. The carboxylate groups coordinated in situ to metal ions to form the 3D coordination polymer. It exhibits a 10.4 × 10.6 Å rhombic channel along the [011] direction. On the basis of the results of TG analysis, the structure is thermally stable up to ≈︁ 400 °C.
Establishing a Comprehensive Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging Service in a Community Hospital
Authors: Panu Neety , Morris Elizabeth
Published: January 2011

Advances made since the first application of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the late 1980s have made it an integral complement to a comprehensive breast assessment centre. Incorporating breast MRI into an existing practice can appear daunting, but a structured and organized approach allows for a smoother transition. With a well thought out plan that engages all team members and experience in interpretation and performing of interventional procedures, breast MRI will serve to add valuable information in patient management.
Gestational chronic mild stress: Effects on acoustic startle in male offspring of rats
Authors: Hougaard K.S. , Mandrup K.R. , Kjaer S.L. , Bøgh I.B. , Rosenberg R. , Wegener G.
Published: January 2011

An increasing number of scientific studies indicate that maternal stress during pregnancy influences fetal development of the nervous system and thereby the behavioural phenotype. We have previously reported attenuated prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reaction in adult female rats derived from dams exposed to chronic mild stress (CMS) during gestation. In humans, decreased PPI has been reported to be associated with anxiety. Because of its potential translational value across species, the modulation of startle reactivity may be a useful tool in examining altered emotional reactivity following prenatal insults. The present study aimed at investigating whether prenatally stressed male offspring would display altered startle phenotype. Stress was induced by maternal gestational exposure to alternating procedures, i.e. CMS. At the age of 3 months, half of the offspring were blood sampled under restraint. At the age of 6 months, i.e. three months later, all animals were tested in the acoustic startle and the light enhanced startle (LES) paradigm. Control and CMS male offspring showed similar basal startle and LES levels. Maternal gestational exposure to the relatively mild, variable paradigm of stressors affected the PPI response pattern in male rats. In prenatally manipulated males, the PPI response differed statistically significantly, depending on prior exposure to an episode of postnatal acute stress (blood sampling under restraint). In contrast, the PPI response in control males was unaffected by this postnatal experience. The present work supports the hypothesis that the maternal environment is a long‐term determinant of phenotypic differences in sensitivity to stressors.
Postpartum contraceptive needs in northern Haiti
Authors: Lathrop Eva , Telemaque Youseline , Goedken Peg , Andes Karen , Jamieson Denise J. , Cwiak Carrie
Published: January 2011

Objective

To assess the knowledge of, attitudes toward, and practices regarding postpartum contraception among healthcare providers and postpartum women in northern Haiti.

Methods

Six focus groups were conducted with postpartum patients and 3 were conducted with maternity service providers; a structured questionnaire was then administered to postpartum patients.

Results

In total, 282 postpartum women were included in the present study: 249 in the survey and 33 in focus groups. Although 97.9% of women expressed a desire for family‐planning counseling before discharge from the postpartum ward, only 6.0% of women received such counseling. Most women wanted to space or limit their pregnancies; 79.8% of women, including those with only 1 child, wanted to choose a contraceptive method before discharge. Providers expressed concern for the volume of induced abortions and maternal deaths within the hospital, which many felt could be averted by improving postpartum family planning. However, there was no postpartum contraceptive counseling or method provision in the present setting, and no providers had experience in initiating methods immediately postpartum.

Conclusion

Efforts to integrate family planning into postpartum care services could help to reduce the unmet need for family planning, and help patients and providers reach their goals.
Use of fetal colon thickness for auxiliary term dating of pregnancy
Authors: Vidal de Carvalho Ana A. , Marchiori Edson , Carvalho José‐Antônio , Figueiredo Israel , Velarde Luis G.C.
Published: January 2011

Objective

To verify whether fetal colon thickness can be used as a marker for estimating, independent of biometrics and fetal weight percentile, the gestational age (GA) of fetuses between 37 and 40 weeks.

Methods

The study group was 1296 fetuses aged between 33 and 40 weeks. The correlation between GA and colon thickness was assessed by the Pearson correlation test. For term fetuses (≥ 37 weeks), comparisons among the mean colon thickness for different weight percentiles at each GA (in weeks) were made with an analysis of variance test.

Results

A significant relationship was observed between GA and colon thickness (P < 0.001, r2 = 0.6). For term fetuses, significant differences were observed among the mean colon thickness values for different weight percentiles at 38 and 39 weeks. Of the 157 term fetuses for which biometrics would have underestimated GA by 2 weeks or more, 126 (80.3%) had a colon thickness equal to, or greater than, 14 mm. This colon thickness was also observed in 52 (70.3%) of term fetuses weighing less than the 10th percentile (n = 74).

Conclusion

The present study suggested that colon thickness might be a good marker for 37 weeks of gestation, and might identify term fetuses for which biometrics has underestimated the GA.
Pulmonary rhodococcosis in a cat
Authors: Passamonti Fabrizio , Lepri Elvio , Coppola Giacomo , Sforna Monica , Proietti Patrizia Casagrande , Chiodetti Irma , Coletti Mauro , Marenzoni Maria Luisa
Published: January 2011

Feline Rhodococcus equi infection is rare, despite the bacteria is widespread in the environment. R equi infection is typically observed in equine species but the infection has also been reported in dogs, cats and other domestic animals. There are a few reports regarding pulmonary R equi infection in cats and the disease appears to be limited to the skin and the subcutaneous tissue. This report describes the pathological, microbiological and the virulence features associated with an acute necrosuppurative pneumonia in a cat. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of feline pulmonary R equi infection in Italy.
Prevalence of echocardiographic evidence of cardiac disease in apparently healthy cats with murmurs
Authors: Nakamura Reid K. , Rishniw Mark , King Megan K. , Sammarco Carl D.
Published: January 2011

The objective of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence of echocardiographic evidence of heart disease in apparently healthy cats with heart murmurs. Thirty-two privately owned domestic cats were examined. All cats were considered healthy on the basis of history and physical examination, except for the finding of a heart murmur on auscultation. Cats on any medications (besides regular flea, tick and heartworm preventative) or that were pregnant or lactating were excluded from this study. The prevalence of echocardiographic evidence of heart disease in this population of cats was 53%. Therefore, identification of a heart murmur on routine physical examination in apparently healthy cats warrants further investigation.
Primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma with nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis: A case report
Authors: Lee Ming‐Hsing , Hsu Yung‐Hsiang
Published: January 2011

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) is occasionally found in patients with carcinoma (lung or gastrointestinal) or debilitating diseases. Definite diagnosis of NBTE should be performed by autopsy. It is difficult to diagnose NBTE if patients have no clinical signs of thromboembolism. Here, we present a case of primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma with NBTE as proven by autopsy.
The effect of gestational undernutrition on maternal weight change and fetal weight in lines of mice selected for different growth characteristics
Authors: Dwyer Cathy M. , Moinard Christine , McIlvaney Kirstin M. , Morgan Colin A. , Bünger Lutz
Published: January 2011

The present study investigated whether the genetic growth characteristics (fast or slow growing, lean or fat) of a mother influences her ability to partition nutrients to developing offspring. A total of sixty-one pregnant mice of three selected lines were used: fast-growing, relatively fat (FF, n 19); fast-growing, relatively lean (FL, n 23); and normal growth, relatively lean (NL, n 19). On day 1 of pregnancy, mice were given either ad libitum access to food (control (C): n 32) or pair-fed at 80 % of C intake (restricted (R): n 29). Feed intake and dam weight were measured daily. The weight of the mouse, organs, mammary tissue and the weight of fetuses and placentas were determined at day 18 of gestation. Overall, R dams gained less than half the weight of C dams during gestation. NL dams gained the most weight, and FF dams gained the least weight (P < 0·001). R dams in the fast-growing lines mobilised significantly more body fat during gestation than the NL line (P < 0·001) and had a greater reduction in mammary tissue growth. The relative weight of the litter increased in R dams of the FF line but was reduced in both the lean lines. Undernutrition reduced fetal and placental weight, and reduced placental efficiency in all the lines. The reduction was least in the FF line and greatest in the FL line. The data suggest that selection of animals for different growth characteristics alters their response to undernutrition during pregnancy, the relatively fat line was better able to buffer its offspring from the effects of undernutrition than the lean lines, regardless of their underlying rate of growth.
Atheroprotective effects of dietary l-arginine increase with age in cholesterol-fed rabbits
Authors: Cremers Stephanie G. , Wolffram Siegfried J. , Weinberg Peter D.
Published: January 2011

NO has several putative atheroprotective properties but its precursor, l-arginine, and inhibitors of its synthesis have had inconsistent effects on the extent of experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits. The location and character of experimental atherosclerosis differ between immature and mature rabbits; both phenomena have been attributed to changes with age in the NO pathway. We investigated whether the influence of dietary l-arginine on experimental atherosclerosis is also age-related. The frequency of lesions was mapped in the descending thoracic and upper abdominal aorta of immature and mature rabbits fed 1 % cholesterol, with or without supplementary l-arginine, for 8 weeks. Consistent with earlier data, the distribution of lesions around the branch points changed with age in control rabbits. The mean frequency of lesions was essentially the same at both ages. l-Arginine supplements had no effect on the distribution of lesions at either age. They significantly reduced the mean frequency of lesions in mature animals but not in immature animals. Thus, the atheroprotective effect of dietary l-arginine in cholesterol-fed rabbits increases with age.
Transitions between food insecurity and food security predict children's social skill development during elementary school
Authors: Howard Larry L.
Published: January 2011

Recent findings indicate that household food insecurity affects children's social skill development in the early years of elementary school. It is important to assess the persistency of developmental consequences and investigate whether all categories of social skills are equally affected by food insecurity experiences. The present paper estimates population-averaged and subject-specific models for children's social skill scores reported by school teachers using longitudinal data on 2310 boys and 2400 girls in the USA enrolled in the 1st (aged 6–9 years), 3rd (aged 8–11 years) and 5th (aged 10–13 years) grades (1999–2003) from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten. The main findings are, first, significantly (P < 0·05) negative, contemporaneous and transitional relationships between food insecurity experiences and children's social skill scores are evident. Estimates based on sex-stratified samples indicate that the contemporaneous association is strongest among girls, while the association of an early transition from food insecurity in the 1st grade to food security in the 3rd grade is strongest among boys. Second, food insecurity experiences predict children's social skill scores emphasising self-control, attentiveness and task persistence, rather than interpersonal relationships or externalising behaviour. Overall, the findings underscore the multifaceted effect that household food insecurity has on children's social skills and provide the strongest empirical evidence to date that the experiences are linked with non-nutritional developmental consequences for children over a time horizon spanning several years.
Effects of short-term infusion of lipid emulsions on pro-inflammatory cytokines and lymphocyte apoptosis in septic and non-septic rats
Authors: Scheiermann Patrick , Ott Juliane , Hoegl Sandra , Hecker Matthias , Hofstetter Christian , Seeger Werner , Zwissler Bernhard , Bausch Britta , Boost Kim A. , Mayer Konstantin
Published: January 2011

Long-term administration of PUFA is known to modulate immune functions and apoptotic pathways depending on the respective amount of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids (FA). Data on short-term effects on apoptotic pathways are rare. Apoptosis of splenic lymphocytes is the hallmark of detrimental sepsis. Therefore, we aimed to compare the immediate effects of parenterally administered n-6-enriched soyabean oil (SO)- and n-3-enriched fish oil (FO)-based lipid emulsions after laparotomy (LAP; sham procedure) and after induction of acute, severe sepsis by caecal ligation and incision. After 390 min of observation time, plasma was analysed for IL-1β, IL-6 and NEFA. Apoptosis in splenic lymphocytes was quantified by Annexin-V expression. After LAP, infusion of both FO and SO did not change cytokine concentrations. Sepsis increased both cytokines. FO but not SO further augmented the rise. After LAP, SO increased NEFA, and both lipid emulsions reduced free arachidonic acid (AA). Sepsis resulted in a dramatic decrease in NEFA and AA. The drop in NEFA and AA was prevented by both SO and FO. In addition, FO resulted in an increased concentration of n-3 FA under both conditions. Infusion of both lipid emulsions induced apoptosis in splenic lymphocytes after LAP. Sepsis-induced apoptosis was not further enhanced by FO or SO. The present study shows that short-term administration of FO as opposed to SO caused pro-inflammatory effects during sepsis. Moreover, short-term administration of both SO and FO suffices to induce apoptosis in splenic lymphocytes. Finally, SO and FO do not further enhance sepsis-induced splenic apoptosis.
1-Phenyl-6,7-dihydroxy-isochroman suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced pro-inflammatory mediator production in human monocytes
Authors: Trefiletti Giuliana , Rita Togna Anna , Latina Valentina , Marra Carolina , Guiso Marcella , Togna Giuseppina I.
Published: January 2011

Extra-virgin olive oil is an integral ingredient of the Mediterranean diet, and it has been suggested that its high consumption has beneficial effects on human health. Its protective effect, in particular against the development of CVD, has been related not only to the high content of oleic acid, but also to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols. In order to verify the anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties of hydroxy-isochromans, a class of ortho-diphenols present in extra-virgin olive oil, we investigated the potential ability of 1-phenyl-6,7-dihydroxy-isochroman (L137) to modulate the production of key inflammatory mediators by human monocytes, by evaluating its in vitro effects on prostanoid (thromboxane A2 and PGE2) and cytokine (TNF-α) production. Its effect on the protein expression of the inducible form of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), a pro-inflammatory enzyme responsible for elevated prostanoid levels, was also explored. The results showed that L137 significantly inhibited both prostanoid and TNF-α production in lipopolysaccharide-primed human monocytes in a dose-dependent manner, by inhibiting the COX activity of COX-2. We also demonstrated that the effects of the isochroman are mediated, at least partly, through the suppression of NF-κB activation leading to the down-regulation of the synthesis of COX-2.
COMPARATIVE INTERNATIONAL LAW? THE ROLE OF NATIONAL COURTS IN CREATING AND ENFORCING INTERNATIONAL LAW
Authors: Roberts Anthea
Published: January 2011

Academics, practitioners and international and national courts are increasingly seeking to identify and interpret international law by engaging in comparative analyses of various domestic court decisions. This emerging phenomenon, which I term ‘comparative international law’, loosely fuses international law (as a matter of substance) with comparative law (as a matter of process). However, this comparative process is seriously complicated by the ambiguous role that national court decisions play in the international law doctrine of sources, under which they provide evidence of the practice of the forum State as well as being a subsidiary means for determining international law. This article analyses these dual, and sometimes conflicting, roles of national courts and the impact of this duality on the comparative international law process.
SECURING HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FACE OF INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATION
Authors: de Jesús Butler Israel
Published: January 2011

The continuous transfer of authority from the national sphere to inter-governmental organizations gives rise to an increasing risk that States may be mandated by their obligations under these organizations to take measures that are inconsistent with their obligations under International Human Rights Law. Drawing on the approaches of various international, regional and national jurisdictions, this article explores two possible models for restructuring International Law that could ensure that human rights obligations remain effective. The ‘international constitutional’ approach would ensure that human rights are enshrined within the ‘constitutional’ instruments of IGOs, preventing incompatible rules from emerging. The ‘parochial’ approach would ensure that human rights as protected at the national or regional level would take precedence over conflicting international obligations.
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN FRANCE: ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK
Authors: Hunter-Henin Myriam
Published: January 2011

A major constitutional reform has occurred in France. On 1 March 2010, by virtue of the Constitutional Act of 10 December 20091 (itself pursuant to the constitutional reform of 23 July 2008)2 a new form of constitutional review came into force,3 with the blessing of the Conseil constitutionnel (the Constitutional council).4 The changes are considerable: the role of the Conseil constitutionnel has undergone a revolution which will have implications for ordinary courts as well as for citizens' rights. Arguably, the reform transforms the Conseil constitutionnel—so far a council with limited powers of review—into a true Constitutional court, and as discussed below, opens up constitutional issues in ordinary litigation, enhancing the protection of citizens' human rights. Owing to the reform, ‘Constitutional rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution’ can now be invoked against legislation in the course of litigation. This is a true revolution in France because, up until now, no individual was allowed to invoke the jurisdiction of the Conseil constitutionnel,5 nor were they authorized to invoke a constitutional principle in litigation, as this would have been asking ordinary judges to assess a piece of legislation against the Constitution, a task which exclusively belongs to the Conseil constitutionnel.6 Constitutional rights and liberties will now (as is further discussed below) play a key part in ordinary litigation.
‘INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HUMAN RIGHTS’ BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
Authors: Young Rebecca
Published: January 2011

Article 21(3) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Rome Statute)1provides that the International Criminal Court must consider ‘internationally recognized human rights’ in its interpretation and application of applicable law. This article highlights the difficulty of meaningfully interpreting this reference to ‘internationally recognized human rights’ in accordance with the ordinary rules of treaty interpretation. These interpretative difficulties lead the article to adopt a practical focus, examining the initial jurisprudence of the Court utilizing this aspect of article 21(3), concluding that although such jurisprudence reveals a number of shortcomings, the provision's tremendous potential as a tool of evolution and innovation is evident.
II. THE UNITED KINGDOM AND PARLIAMENTARY SCRUTINY OF TREATIES: RECENT REFORMS
Authors: Barrett Jill
Published: January 2011

A new statutory right for Parliament to control the ratification of treaties for the United Kingdom has recently entered into force.1 The topic of ‘Ratification of Treaties’ may have attracted fewer headlines than some others originally proposed for inclusion in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (the CRaG Act),2 but reform in this area succeeded, with cross-party support, and is now in operation.3 These new statutory provisions replace the ‘Ponsonby Rule’ in the UK.
III. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA: THE PRAGMATIC REVOLUTION OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS
Authors: Gilbert Jérémie
Published: January 2011

The definition and scope of indigenous peoples' human rights are usually contentious in the context of Africa.2While in recent years indigenous peoples' human rights have expanded immensely internationally, in Africa indigenous peoples' rights are still perceived to be in their infancy.3At the United Nations, the group of African States delayed the process that finally led to the adoption of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007 (UNDRIP).4At a national level, most of the States in Africa are still reluctant to recognize the specific rights of indigenous peoples.5Until recently, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission), the leading human rights institution for the continent,6had kept a low profile on the issue and had ‘not always interpreted indigenous peoples’ rights favourably'.7From this perspective Commission regarding the communication submitted by the indigenous Endorois community against Kenya casts new light on the rights of indigenous peoples in Africa.8The decision, which has already been hailed as a ‘landmark,’9touches on several crucial issues regarding the development of indigenous peoples' human rights in Africa. This groundbreaking decision did not materialize unexpectedly but is part of a wider evolution of the Commission regarding indigenous peoples' human rights in Africa. It echoes the work of the Commission's own Working Group of Experts on Indigenous Populations/Communities (Working Group) which was established in 2001 with the mandate to focus specifically on the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples in Africa.10The mandate of the Working Group is to examine the concept of indigenous communities in Africa, as well as to analyse their rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (African Charter).11In 2003 the Commission adopted the report of the Working Group which proposes several avenues for the recognition and promotion of indigenous rights in Africa.12The adoption of an Advisory Opinion by the Commission to support the adoption of UNDRIP marked another step toward the affirmation of indigenous peoples' rights in Africa.13The Advisory Opinion not only participated in unlocking the reluctance of the group of African States to adopt the UNDRIP, but also reflected developments taking place at the international level on the rights of indigenous peoples as well as their connection to the continent. Remarkably, in recent years, the Commission has started to refer to indigenous peoples' rights in its examination of States' periodic reports.14All these factors and the recent decision of the Commission in the Endorois case indicate the emergence of a consistent jurisprudence on indigenous peoples' rights in Africa.
I. INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE,CASE CONCERNING THE DISPUTE REGARDING NAVIGATIONAL AND RELATED RIGHTS (COSTA RICA V NICARAGUA)JUDGMENT OF 13 JULY 2009
Authors: Bjorge Eirik
Published: January 2011

The technique of ‘evolutive interpretation’ is well known in public international law.2It is particularly associated with treaty regimes like that of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).3The currency of this technique of interpretation has, however, been less evident ingeneralpublic international law. It is not insignificant therefore that the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in a case about navigational and related rights has now made unambiguously clear that, where the parties have used generic terms in a treaty, aware that the meaning of the terms was likely to evolve over time, and where the treaty is one of continuing duration, the parties as a general rule must be presumed to have intended those terms to have an ‘evolving meaning’.4
On the depinning of a drop of partially wetting liquid on a rotating cylinder
Authors: THIELE UWE
Published: January 2011

We discuss the analogy of the behaviour of films and drops of liquid on a rotating horizontal cylinder on the one hand and substrates with regular one-dimensional wettability patterns on the other hand. On the basis of the similarity between the respective governing long-wave equations, we show that a drop of partially wetting liquid on a rotating cylinder undergoes a depinning transition when the rotation speed is increased. The transition occurs via a sniper bifurcation, as in a recently described scenario for drops depinning on heterogeneous substrates.
Entrainment and mixing of water droplets across a shearless turbulent interface with and without gravitational effects
Authors: GERASHCHENKO S. , GOOD G. , WARHAFT Z.
Published: January 2011

We describe experiments of the entrainment and mixing of water (sub-Kolmogorov scale) droplets across a turbulent–non-turbulent interface (TNI) as well a turbulent–turbulent interface (TTI) in shearless grid turbulence, over a time scale in which evaporation is insignificant. The flow is produced by means of a splitter plate with an active grid and water sprays on one side and screens or an active grid on the other side. The Taylor microscale Reλ on the turbulent side is 275 and the average dissipation scale Stokes number, Stη ≈ 0.2, and based on the integral scale, Stl ≈ 0.003. By changing the orientation of the grid system, gravitational effects may be excluded or included. We show that in the absence of gravity, for the Stokes number range studied (0.06 ≤ Stη ≤ 1.33), the droplet distribution does not change across the interface. With gravity, the larger drops are selectively mixed and this is more pronounced for the TNI than for the TTI. The particle concentration distribution is an error function for the TTI but departs significantly for the TNI due to the intermittency in the flow. In terms of particle concentration, the entrainment is most efficient for the TTI with gravity. The results are related to droplet entrainment in clouds.
Computer-based analysis with three-dimensional imaging constructed from fine-slice computed tomography scan of supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy: report of two cases
Authors: Seino Y , Nakayama M , Okamoto M , Hayashi S
Published: January 2011

Objective:

Supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy is an organ-preserving surgical technique used to treat laryngeal cancer. This procedure resects the vocal folds; however, it is unclear how the sound source and airway morphology are involved in phonation through the post-operative neoglottis.

Method:

Multidetector helical computed tomography scanning was performed on two patients who had undergone supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy. The cricoid and arytenoid cartilages and the airway were visualised using three-dimensional images.

Results:

The mobility of the arytenoid cartilages was well preserved in the one patient with bilateral arytenoids, and in the other patient with only one arytenoid remaining. Two types of airway configuration were observed during phonation: one patient had a single stream airway, while the other had a combination of several streams.

Conclusion:

In the patient with only one arytenoid remaining, the preserved arytenoid tended to be rotated excessively inward. Therefore, phonation may have also occurred in various airways followed by mucosal vibration, which may be a sound source.
Intraosseous trigeminal schwannoma of mandible with intracranial extension
Authors: Sun Z , Sun L , Li T , Ma X , Zhang Z
Published: January 2011

Objective:

There have been few previous reports of intraosseous schwannomas within the mandible with extension into the cranium. We report two such cases and discuss the relevant clinical features, radiological manifestations and treatment protocols.

Method:

Two case reports of trigeminal schwannoma of the mandible with intracranial extension, including analysis of clinical, radiological and pathological aspects.

Results:

Panoramic radiographs showed both tumours as multilocular radiolucencies. Solid and cystic components were seen on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The two tumours extended into the cranium through the pterygomandibular space and an obviously expanded foramen ovale.

Conclusion:

Trigeminal schwannoma of the mandible can develop to involve intracranial extension. Radiological identification of an expanded foramen ovale may facilitate pre-operative identification.
Diagnosis of tuberculosis in the head and neck
Authors: McAllister K A , MacGregor F B
Published: January 2011

Objectives:

To establish the features of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in the head and neck region, and to determine which investigations have the greatest diagnostic accuracy.

Study design:

Region-based, retrospective cohort study.

Method:

The study included 148 patients with tuberculosis of the head and neck treated in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde region between 2000 and 2007.

Results:

The following diagnostic sensitivities were calculated: 53 per cent for fine needle aspiration, 95 per cent for core biopsy and 91 per cent for lymph node excision biopsy. There was a statistically significant difference between the sensitivity results for fine needle aspiration versus core biopsy (p = 0.0003) and fine needle aspiration versus excision biopsy (p < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference between the sensitivity results for core biopsy and excision biopsy.

Conclusion:

Core biopsy has equivalent diagnostic accuracy to excision biopsy in the investigation of head and neck tuberculosis. We suggest that core biopsy should be used in preference to lymph node excision, as it can be performed under local anaesthetic outside the operating theatre. A proposed algorithm for diagnostic management is included.
Melanoma of the middle ear: initial presentation, Fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging and follow up
Authors: Huellner M W , Cousin M , Linder T , Soyka J D , Bussmann C , Eberle L , Strobel K
Published: January 2011

Background:

We present a rare case of primary mucosal melanoma of the middle ear imaged with 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT).

Method:

Clinical, radiological, intra-operative and histological findings are discussed.

Results:

An 88-year-old woman presented with intermittent otorrhoea of the left ear for several months. Otoscopy revealed a livid protrusion of the tympanic membrane. Melanoma was not suspected initially, but was established on transmembranous biopsy. Pre-operative 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography revealed a mass lesion in the left tympanic cavity with high fluoro-deoxyglucose uptake, as well as an ipsilateral intraparotid lymph node metastasis. The patient underwent surgical treatment. The diagnosis of melanoma was confirmed histologically.

Conclusion:

In this rare case, clinical, radiological and surgical findings led to the diagnosis of a primary mucosal melanoma of the middle ear.
First bite syndrome as presenting symptom of parapharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma
Authors: Deganello A , Meccariello G , Busoni M , Franchi A , Gallo O
Published: January 2011

Introduction:

First bite syndrome refers to the development of pain in the parotid region after the first bite of each meal.

Case report:

A man was referred to our institution with first bite syndrome as his only symptom. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head and neck revealed a deep lobe parotid mass in close contact with the external carotid artery. Computed tomography guided fine needle biopsy indicated adenoid cystic carcinoma. Total parotidectomy was performed, with en bloc resection of the infiltrated external carotid artery and a selective neck dissection of levels Ib to III. High-weight ion radiotherapy was administered post-operatively.

Conclusion:

First bite syndrome has hitherto only been described following parapharyngeal space surgery. We present the first case of parotid gland adenoid cystic carcinoma presenting with first bite syndrome as the only symptom. The presence of first bite syndrome should prompt the clinician to investigate the parapharyngeal space and deep lobe of the parotid gland, especially in the absence of other signs or symptoms.
Positive entropy invariant measures on the space of lattices with escape of mass
Authors: KADYROV SHIRALI
Published: January 2011

On the space of unimodular lattices, we construct a sequence of invariant probability measures under a singular diagonal element with high entropy, and show that the limit measure is zero.
¿El empresario nace o se hace? Educación y empresarialidad en la España Contemporánea
Authors: Tortella Gabriel , Quiroga Gloria , Moral-Arce Ignacio
Published: January 2011

This article studies the possible effect that education may have upon entrepreneurial success. It uses two data bases, one for Spanish, the other for English entrepreneurs. By means of statistical and econometric analysis, we examine the effects on entrepreneurial behaviour of a series of variables, several relating to education. We compare the Spanish with the English sample. The main conclusions are: education indeed has a considerable bearing upon entrepreneurial success; this bearing is much more evident in the English than in the Spanish samples; both educational systems are quite different; and, lastly, family income seems to have little effect either on entrepreneurial success or on the studies of future entrepreneurs.
Anti-tuberculosis drug resistance patterns and trends in a tuberculosis referral hospital, 1997–2009
Authors: LIU C. H. , LI H. M. , LI L. , HU Y. L. , WANG Q. , YANG N. , WANG S. , ZHU B.
Published: January 2011

Information about the changing epidemiology of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in hospitals in China over the past decade remains largely unknown. This study examined the susceptibility patterns and trends of drug-resistant TB cases in the 309 Hospital in Beijing, China. Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were retrospectively identified, drug susceptibility test (DST) results and clinical data were analysed for the period 1997–2009. Of the 5523 culture-positive TB patients, 47·1% had resistance to any anti-TB drug, 14·8% had mono-resistant TB, 19·8% had poly-resistant TB, 19·4% had multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), and 1·3% had extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB). Drug-resistant TB was significantly associated with age group, residential situation, and TB treatment history (P<0·001). During 1997–2000, the percentage of TB patients with any resistance, mono-resistant TB, poly-resistant TB, MDR-TB and XDR-TB all increased significantly (P<0·001). During 2000–2003, the increasing trends of MDR-TB and XDR-TB cases were reversed. During 2004–2009, the percentage of TB patients with any resistance, mono-resistant TB, poly-resistant TB, MDR-TB and XDR-TB all declined significantly (P<0·001), but the prevalence of MDR-TB and poly-resistant TB cases remained high. Our study provides evidence demonstrating that intensive TB control measures have helped reverse the increasing trends of drug-resistant TB in China, but continuous surveillance of drug-resistant TB and better case management are still needed to further reduce the remaining high prevalence of drug-resistant TB.
Implicitly threaded parallelism in Manticore
Authors: FLUET MATTHEW , RAINEY MIKE , REPPY JOHN , SHAW ADAM
Published: January 2011

The increasing availability of commodity multicore processors is making parallel computing ever more widespread. In order to exploit its potential, programmers need languages that make the benefits of parallelism accessible and understandable. Previous parallel languages have traditionally been intended for large-scale scientific computing, and they tend not to be well suited to programming the applications one typically finds on a desktop system. Thus, we need new parallel-language designs that address a broader spectrum of applications. The Manticore project is our effort to address this need. At its core is Parallel ML, a high-level functional language for programming parallel applications on commodity multicore hardware. Parallel ML provides a diverse collection of parallel constructs for different granularities of work. In this paper, we focus on the implicitly threaded parallel constructs of the language, which support fine-grained parallelism. We concentrate on those elements that distinguish our design from related ones, namely, a novel parallel binding form, a nondeterministic parallel case form, and the treatment of exceptions in the presence of data parallelism. These features differentiate the present work from related work on functional data-parallel language designs, which have focused largely on parallel problems with regular structure and the compiler transformations—most notably, flattening—that make such designs feasible. We present detailed examples utilizing various mechanisms of the language and give a formal description of our implementation.
Vers une modélisation continue de la structure prosodique: le cas des proéminences syllabiques
Authors: AVANZI MATHIEU , LACHERET-DUJOUR ANNE , OBIN NICOLAS , VICTORRI BERNARD
Published: January 2011

L'objectif de cet article est de présenter un outil développé en vue de modéliser semi-automatiquement la structure prosodique du français. Sur la base d'un alignement en phonèmes, notre système procède à la détection des syllabes proéminentes en prenant en considération des critères acoustiques basiques tels que la f0, la durée et la présence de pauses. À partir des mesures ainsi prises, le système attribue un degré de proéminence à chacune des syllabes identifiées comme saillante. Nous illustrons ensuite les résultats de l'analyse d'extraits du corpus PROSO_FR. Plus précisément, nous comparons l'analyse prosodique de phrases que l'on pourrait faire avec les règles traditionnelles de la phonologie prosodique avec l'analyse conduite par notre logiciel. Nous discutons ainsi de trois règles: la règle de dominance droite, la règle de clash accentuel et la règle des sept syllabes.