bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Judicial review and criminal trials: considerations in comparative law
Authors: Massaro João Paulo Gomes , Ifanger Fernanda Carolina de Araujo , Laurentiis Lucas Catib de
Published: June 2024

The present article has, as its main objective, to analyze the trials of the GSS Torture Case by Israel’s Supreme Court and the Habeas Corpus 126.292, by the Brazilian Supreme Court under the point of view of Minister Luís Roberto Barroso’s vote, aiming to reflect on the Judicial Review institute through the analysis of such cases. For such task, the article has employed the individual analysis of each one of the chosen cases and, in sequence, analyzed  bibliographic works on the matter. The results attained by the research showed, therefore, that both cases involve situations in which the Judicial Review has been employed to grant legitimacy to determined positionings to the detriment of the legal order. Ultimately, it was possible to observe that the Judicial Review is an institute whose inadequate application can cause the most diverse range of damages, although it can also be considered as an important tool in the task of maintenance of the constitutional order.
Formulating Global Policies and Strategies for Combating Criminal Use and Abuse of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Samuel-Okon Amaka Debie , Olateju Omobolaji Olufunmilayo , Okon Samuel Ufom , Olaniyi Oluwaseun Oladeji , Igwenagu Udochukwu ThankGod Ikechukwu
Published: June 2024

This study investigates the criminal use and abuse of artificial intelligence (AI), exploring the effectiveness of various mitigation strategies. It employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data from a survey of 211 experts with qualitative insights from academic, governmental, and industrial publications. The research examines four key hypotheses: the impact of public and organizational awareness, the role of advanced detection technologies, the effectiveness of ethical guidelines, and the influence of penalties and enforcement. The findings reveal that awareness, technology, ethics, and enforcement all contribute to mitigating AI misuse. The study concludes by proposing comprehensive strategies, including targeted awareness campaigns, investment in detection technologies, robust ethical guidelines, and strengthened legal frameworks, to effectively combat the criminal use of AI.
Metacognitive Awareness of Writing Strategies, Oral Proficiency, and Writing Instructions: A Structural Equation Model of Academic Writing Skills in Filipino Language
Authors: Villaruz Jomar M. , Palma Reita C.
Published: June 2024

Aims: To determine the best-fit model for the academic writing skills of students in the Filipino language using metacognitive awareness of writing strategies, oral proficiency, and writing instructions as exogenous variables and academic writing skills as endogenous variables.
Study design:  The study used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at private schools in Region 12, Philippines, during the school year 2023-2024.
Methodology: The study's respondents were Grade 12 students from private schools selected using Raosoft. A four-part questionnaire was employed to collect the data. All items in each indicator received a high Cronbach's alpha coefficient, indicating excellent internal consistency and reliability, suggesting that the instruments are highly reliable.
Results: The study revealed that metacognitive awareness of writing strategies, oral proficiency, writing instruction, and academic writing skills is highly evident among students in varied situations. The results indicate that students frequently use writing strategies based on their metacognitive awareness in planning, monitoring, and evaluating their academic compositions. Moreover, a high level of oral proficiency, including accurate pronunciation and comprehension, along with effective writing instruction, contributes to the improvement of students' academic writing skills. Furthermore, there was a significant relationship and influence between the three exogenous variables and the endogenous variable, indicating a strong correlation. Out of the five models analyzed, Model 5 exhibited indices that aligned with the criteria for selecting the most appropriate model, which suggests that the goodness of fit measures are highly acceptable.
Conclusion: The study shows that specific indicators have peaked, but activities that enhance students' academic writing skills and oral proficiency can lead to further improvement. Teachers play an important role in facilitating learning by providing clear instructions on writing standards and methods. Moreover, receiving feedback from teachers and peers is crucial for improving students' proficiency in academic writing, specifically in areas such as grammar, spelling, language structure, and technical aspects. The study emphasizes that high levels of metacognitive awareness of writing strategies, oral proficiency, and writing instructions significantly contribute to academic writing skills in the Filipino language.
Determination of the Sulfur Content of Gasoline from Four Major Fuel Distributors in Dakar
Authors: Kane Amadou , Samb Issa , Ndiaye Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane , Diouf Silver Boucar , Ndiaye Saloly , Omar Ly Seydina Cheikhou , Gaye Mohamed Lamine
Published: June 2024

Sulfur dioxide is an acidifying gaseous pollutant. It contributes to the acidification of the environment. When emitted into the air and in the presence of water, sulfur dioxide forms sulfuric acid, which contributes to the phenomenon of acid rain. Acidifying substances disrupt the composition of air, surface water and soil.
Sulphur dioxide (SOx) emissions are closely linked to the use of fuels containing sulphur, and the maximum permitted sulphur content is one of the most closely monitored fuel parameters. In this article, we determined the sulfur content of gasoline samples taken from four service stations belonging to the most representative groups in terms of light petroleum product distribution in Senegal. The aim is to assess the environmental impact of sulfur dioxide emissions resulting from the use of gasoline by vehicles, and to reduce upstream sulfur content.
Assessment of Required Sample Sizes for Estimating Proportions
Authors: Garren Steven T. , Cleathero Brooke A.
Published: June 2024

When estimating a population proportion p within margin of error m, a preliminary sample of size n is taken to produce a preliminary sample proportion y/n, which is then used to determine the required sample size (y/n)(1-y/n)(z/m)2, where z is the critical value for a given level of confidence. The population is assumed to be infinite, so these Bernoulli(p) observations are mutually independent. Upon taking a new sample based on the required sample size, the coverage probabilities on p are determined exactly for various values of m, n, p, and z, using a commonly-used formula for a confidence interval on p. The coverage probabilities tend to be somewhat smaller than their nominal values, and tend to be a lot smaller when np or n(1 - p) is small, which would result in anti-conservative confidence intervals. As a more minor conclusion, since the given margin of error m is not relative to the population proportion p, then the required sample size is larger for values of p nearest to 0.5. The mean and standard deviation of the required sample size are also computed exactly to provide prospective, regarding just how large or how small these required sample sizes need to be.
Effect of Locally Available Feed on the Zootechnical Performance of Local Chickens in Niger
Authors: Nouri Brah , Ousseini Moussa Hassan , Salissou Issa
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to investigate the impact of incorporating locally available ingredients into the diet of young indigenous chickens in Niger on their growth performance. Two hundred chickens, aged 6 weeks, were utilized in the study and randomly assigned to four groups of ten birds each, housed on peanut shell bedding. The diets were formulated using a variety of local ingredients including millet, wheat bran, millet bran, peanut cake, sorrel seeds, fish meal, locust meal, moringa leaves, and bone meal. Water was provided ad libitum to all birds, and the feeding trial lasted for 4 months. Results revealed that the third diet was the most preferred by the local chickens. The diet significantly influenced the live weight of the chickens in the second month (P=0.000) and showed a significant effect during the third month (P=0.020) of the experiment. Sexual dimorphism was observed between hens and roosters for diets 2, 3, and 4. Statistical analysis indicated a significant difference in the Average Daily Gain of local chickens among the different treatments during the first month. Additionally, the diet significantly influenced the consumption index of local chickens during the first month of the experiment (P=0.055). Based on the findings, it is suggested that Diet 2, containing fish meal, can be utilized in areas where fish availability and accessibility are high. Conversely, Diets 3 and 4 may be more suitable for regions prone to locust infestations. To facilitate the adoption of these dietary formulations, it is recommended to replicate the experiments in rural settings.
Screening of Chilli Genotypes for Resistance to Leaf Curl Virus
Authors: Palled Apoorva , Jawadagi Raveendra , Evoor Shashikanth , D Satish , Kumar Ravi , Mudenur Vinaykumar M
Published: June 2024

Leaf curl virus disease is a most destructive threat to chilli production. In the present investigation 54 chilli genotypes were screened for leaf curl virus resistance in the natural epiphytotic field conditions and artificial inoculation using viruliferous white flies at Horticulture Research and Extension Centre (University of horticulture science, Bagalkot) during 2020-2023. The genotypes DCA-262, Khandhari and Bhoot Jolokia were found to be immune and genotypes EC 391087 (9%), IC 342426 (5%), Punjab Lal (7%), Punjab Surkh (9%) were found to be highly resistant to leaf curl virus under natural conditions. Screening with artificial inoculation confirmed that the genotypes Khandhari and Bhoot Jolokia were found to be immune and genotypes EC 391087 (11%), Punjab Lal (10%), Punjab Surkh (10%) were highly resistant to leaf curl virus. The checks Byadgi Dabbi (100%) and Byadgi Kaddi (98%) were found to be highly susceptible in both natural and artificial conditions.
Exploring the Pedagogical Potential of Schenkerian Analysis in Japan: A Case Study on Teaching with Schenkerian Graphs
Authors: Zixuan Peng
Published: June 2024

Despite Schenkerian analysis's widespread use in music theory education in many countries, this analytical approach has not been comprehensively introduced or widely applied in Japan. This study explores the application of Schenkerian analysis to deepen the understanding of musical structure among non-music major students in Japan. Utilizing foreground graphs, the study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching Schenkerian techniques to individuals without extensive theoretical backgrounds. Five participants from Kyushu University engaged in a structured learning process involving listening, analysis, and comparison of musical scores and Schenkerian graphs. Qualitative data were collected through a combination of multiple-choice questions and open-ended responses. Results indicate that foreground graphs significantly enhance participants' comprehension of musical structure, though understanding the theoretical principles of Schenkerian analysis varied among participants. Feedback suggests that while the method is effective, additional instructional strategies are needed to address the complexity of Schenkerian concepts. Future research will focus on increasing participant numbers, incorporating practical activities, using diverse musical examples, and adopting qualitative methods to further explore the educational potential of Schenkerian analysis.
Economic, Social, and Environmental Aspects of Dairy Farming in Sub-saharan Africa: A Literature Review
Authors: Tagba S. , Puchooa D. , Sina H.
Published: June 2024

This literature review on dairy cattle rearing in sub-Saharan Africa aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the current situation of this activity in the region. It examines the various dimensions of dairy farming, such as its economic importance, its impact on food security and its role in poverty reduction. The review also looks at existing farming systems, factors influencing dairy cow productivity, constraints and challenges faced by farmers, good practices and innovations, environmental impacts, and policies and programmes to support dairy cow farming. The aim of this review is to provide valuable information for improving this activity in the region.
The Ability of Temperature to Reduce Antibiotic Residues in Livestock Products: A Review
Authors: Pame Kuleswan , Laskar S.K. , Handique K.M. , Borah S. , Choudhary S.
Published: June 2024

The use of antibiotic drugs in livestock production cannot be avoided; it has to be used for various reasons like therapeutics, prophylactic and even as growth promoters. However the irrational use of antibiotics in livestock has led to the accumulation of its residues in animal tissues and their products. The deposition of residues in food originated from livestock animals is a critical problem in many countries and the problem is more serious in developing countries around the world, due to their potential health hazards. Generally the residues are more procedurally estimated on uncooked meat, but meat food undergoes varying degree of heat treatment during cooking process, therefore information on heat stability of antibiotics is an important area of research to give a more accurate estimate of consumer’s exposure to these antibiotic compounds and their metabolites. It has been stated that heat treatment at different time-temperature combinations degrades and reduces antibiotic drug residues in animal products. However, cooking processes do not guarantee complete degradation of antibiotic drug residues. So the objective of this review paper is to illustrate            various changes of the compound during cooking process, supported by various studies and findings.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST): About 3 Cases
Authors: Jatal S. N. , Jatal Sudhir , Punpale Ajay , Ingle Sachin
Published: June 2024

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are mesenchymal tumors that typically occur in the gastrointestinal tract. About 70% of GISTs are benign, while approximately 30% are malignant. GISTs represent less than 0.1% to 3% of all gastrointestinal tumors. These tumors are thought to originate from intestinal cells of Cajal (ICCs) or stem cell-like precursors. ICCs, often referred to as the "pacemaker" cells of the GI autonomic nervous system, regulate GI motility and are found around the myenteric plexus and the muscularis propria throughout the GI tract.
 
GISTs are composed of different types of cells: approximately 70% are spindle cells, 20% are epithelioid cells, and 10% are mixed cells. Around 85% of GISTs contain mutations in one of two receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), KIT or PDGFRA, which play a central role in the pathogenesis of these tumors. Additionally, about 95% of GISTs test positive for the CD117 antigen.
Clinically, GISTs are most commonly found in the stomach (60%), followed by the small intestine (30%), duodenum (5%), rectum (3%), colon (1%), and oesophagus (0.5%). Occurrences in the omentum and mesentery are rare. GISTs affect men and women equally and most commonly occur between the ages of 50 to 70 years. The annual incidence rate is between 6.5 and 14.5 per million people worldwide.
In our study, we report three cases of GISTs located in the duodenum, jejunum, and transverse colon. Diagnosis in these cases was confirmed via CT scan and all cases tested positive for the CD117 antigen.
Unraveling the Gut Microbiota: Key Insights into its Role in Gastrointestinal and Cardiovascular Health
Authors: Cheemala Seema Charitha , Syed Saif , Bibi Ruqiya , Suhail Muawaz Bin , Dhakecha Mayankkumar D , Subhan Muhammad , Mahmood Muhammad Shoaib , Shabbir Ahsan , Islam Hamza , Islam Rabia
Published: June 2024

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract harbors a diverse and dynamic community of microorganisms known as the gut microbiome, which plays a fundamental role in maintaining gastrointestinal (GI) and cardiovascular health. It explores the intricate interplay between the gut microbiota, GI health, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). It discusses the essential roles of the gut microbiome in energy metabolism, nutrient absorption, immune regulation, and gut barrier integrity. Dysbiosis, characterized by an imbalance in gut microbiota composition, has been linked to various GI conditions, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as well as CVDs such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and heart failure. Therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiome, including probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and precision nutrition, offer promising avenues for managing GI and cardiovascular diseases. Recent research has brought attention to the significance of gut microbiota in CVDs, highlighting sex-specific variations, microbial metabolites' impact, and potential therapeutic interventions. Challenges in microbiome research, such as sample size limitations and methodological variability, are addressed, along with opportunities for innovation, including multi-omics integration and personalized medicine guided by microbiome data. By addressing these challenges and leveraging opportunities, gut microbiome research can revolutionize healthcare, ushering in a new era of personalized and microbiome-informed medicine. This comprehensive analysis offers valuable perspectives into the intricate relationship between gut microbiota, GI health, and cardiovascular diseases, paving the way for future research and clinical applications in this burgeoning field.
Response of Zinc and Panchagavya on Growth and Yield of Sweet Corn (Zea mays L. saccharata)
Authors: Golmei Linda , Singh Shikha
Published: June 2024

A field experiment was conducted during Zaid summer season of 2023 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 10 treatment and replicated thrice. The results showed significantly increase in growth parameter with application of zinc (25 kg/ha) and panchagavya (3 sprays of 3%) recorded the highest plant height (166.55 cm), dry weight (69.59 g/plant) at 80 DAS. Whereas number of cobs per plant (2.00 g), number of rows per cobs (15.50 g), number of grains per cobs (28.93 g), cob yield (5.24 t/ha) were recorded at harvest. Treatment combination with zinc 25 kg/ha and panchagavya 3 sprays of 3% produced highest gross returns (Rs 2,19,560/ha), net return (Rs 1,61,952.45/ha), and benefit cost ratio (2.81) which was significantly superior to other treatments.
Estimate the Resource use Efficiency in Production of Chick-Pea in Chhattisgarh, India
Authors: Sharma Shashank , Pandey Sneha , Verma Anjali
Published: June 2024

The study is based on 225 respondents of various size-groups, marginal, small, medium and large. Cobb-Douglass production function was applied for estimating resource use efficiency of chick-pea cultivation. Objective of the study is to workout resource use efficiency of chick-pea cultivation. Value of R2 was observed as 0.7940, which explaining that 79.40 per cent variation in yield of chick-pea crop was explained by included factor in the study area. MVP (Marginal Value Product) of all included factors were found more than unity, explaining that there is further scope of investment on this factor to realizing optimum production.
Antimicrobial and Immunostimulatory Effects of Senna occidentalis Ethanolic Extract against Aspergillus flavus-Induced Mycotic Keratitis: A Promising Therapeutic Approach
Authors: El-Badry Anwer S. , El-Mowafy Eman E. , Amer Saida M. , El-Shourbagy Mohamed S. , Saad-Allah Khalil M.
Published: June 2024

Background: Mycotic keratitis (MK) poses a significant risk as a severe and difficult-to-treat corneal infection with potentially life-threatening consequences. Fungi are commonly implicated as causative agents. Additionally, improper care of contact lenses increases the susceptibility to MK.
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition and therapeutic potential of Senna occidentalis ethanolic leaf extract in the treatment of Aspergillus flavus-induced mycotic keratitis.
Methodology: The selected plant extract was tested for antimicrobial activity, analyzed for active ingredients and evaluated in vivo for physiological (Kidney and liver functions), histological (corneal tissue healing rates) and immunological responses (IgM levels).
Results: The GC/MS analysis revealed high levels of some active components, including o-methyl glucose, tetramethyl hexadecenol, hexadecenoic acid, and octadecatrienoic acid. The ethanolic extract of S. occidentalis demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against A. flavus in an albino rabbit model. Treatment with the extract at a concentration of 12.5 mg/ml resulted in a significant healing rate without any side effects, as evidenced by reduced levels of blood urea, creatinine, AST, and ALT in infected rabbits. Moreover, S. occidentalis extract effectively stimulated the immune system, as indicated by increased levels of IgM in both infected and non-infected rabbits. Histopathological analysis of the eye cornea further confirmed the complete disappearance of inflammation and restoration of normal tissue appearance and layer arrangement.
Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of S. occidentalis extract as a safe, affordable, and easily accessible treatment for A. flavus-induced mycotic keratitis, owing to its rich content of safe and bioactive phytochemicals.
Determining Factors of Dividend Payout Ratio in The Top Five Banking Companies on The Indonesian Stock Exchange
Authors: Prihandoko Toni , Abadiyah Fajriyatul
Published: June 2024

One manifestation of investing is getting dividends or giving the company free bonuses, which are distributed to investors based on excess profits generated in a certain period. This research seeks to examine the influence of profitability and capital structure on the dividend payout ratio, which includes indicators of net profit margin (NPM), return on assets (ROA), return on investment (ROI), and debt-to-equity ratio (DER). Panel data regression analysis is used in this research to answer the problem formulation with an observation period from 2018-2022. The research results show that net profit margin and debt-to-equity ratio have a negative and significant effect on the dividend payout ratio, while return on assets and return on investment do not have a significant effect on the dividend payout ratio of the top five banking companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.
Analysis of The Influence of Supplier and Government Partnerships on Hospital Supply Chain Performance
Authors: Pasaribu Aiko , Silitonga Roland Y. H. , Setiawati Marla
Published: June 2024

Indonesia's healthcare industry has expanded rapidly alongside population growth to 278 million by 2023, driving a notable increase in healthcare expenditure. Hospitals form the backbone of healthcare provision, Within the complex landscape of the healthcare industry, the hospital supply chain (HSC) is crucial for ensuring the timely delivery of medical resources. Partnerships may play a crucial role in improving an HSC’s overall performance. This study employs System Dynamics modeling to analyze the impact of supplier and government partnerships on HSC performance. The study extends the existing literature by incorporating both CLD and SFD methodologies to provide a more comprehensive analysis of the factors and intricacies within hospital supply chain partnerships. The findings indicate that high trust, IT integration, and hospital dynamic capabilities improve hospital supply chain performance through better information sharing and integration. Hospital demand significantly influences government regulations and control, further affecting performance. Theoretically, this study advances how dynamic interactions and feedback loops between multiple stakeholders within the HSC can be effectively modeled to gain insight and enhance healthcare supply chains.
Delineating stratigraphic breaks at the bases of postglacial eolian dunes in central Alberta, Canada using a portable OSL reader
Authors: Munyikwa Kennedy , Brown Selena , Kitabwalla Zehra
Published: April 2012

Temporal constraints for the Late Pleistocene deposition of eolian dunes that occur in central and northern Alberta, Canada can be provided by dating sediments from the dune bases using luminescence techniques. In places, however, the postglacial dunes overlie glaciofluvial sands that resemble the eolian deposits in texture such that demarcating the bases of the dunes is often problematic. In this study we address the problem by employing a portable optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) reader to construct luminescence profiles that depict luminescence signal variation with depth. With the portable OSL reader, measurement can be performed on bulk sediments, negating the need for laborious separation procedures to isolate pure mineral fractions, as is required in regular luminescence dating. Measurements can also be carried out in the field, permitting quicker decision making during sample collection. Results from this study, presented as depth variations of feldspar derived infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) signals and predominantly quartz‐generated post‐IR blue OSL signals, show that luminescence profiling enables one to distinguish between eolian deposits that make up the dunes from the underlying non‐eolian sands. The identification of such cryptostratigraphic interfaces is made possible by differences in the dosimetric histories of the sediments. The delineation of the dune bases allows targeted sampling that yields best luminescence age approximations for the initiation of postglacial eolian deposition in the region. Luminescence profiling of eolian sequences would also, in theory, permit the identification of depositional breaks of extended duration. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An interactome map of the nucleocapsid protein from a highly pathogenic North American porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus strain generated using SILAC‐based quantitative proteomics
Authors: Jourdan Stefanie S. , Osorio Fernando , Hiscox Julian A.
Published: April 2012

Positive strand RNA viruses replicate in the cytoplasm of an infected cell and encode nucleocapsid proteins. These proteins function to promote encapsidation of the RNA genome and virus particle assembly as well as playing potential roles in viral RNA synthesis. Nucleocapsid proteins can also associate with cellular proteins and signaling cascades. The arterivirus nucleocapsid (N) protein is no exception and localizes to both the cytoplasm and the nucleolus in virus‐infected cells. This study generated an interactome map of the N protein from a highly virulent North American strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). This is a major pathogen of swine resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Crucial to the study was the use of SILAC coupled to affinity purification using GFP‐traps and LC‐MS/MS. This approach has not been applied before to the investigation of host/viral protein interactomes and this study revealed that the PRRSV N protein interacts with the host cell protein synthesis machinery especially at the level of translation initiation as well as with the RNA post‐transcriptional modification machinery. Applications of the dataset can include studies of virus/host interactions and the design of live attenuated recombinant vaccines.
Metastable supertubes and non-extremal black hole microstates
Authors: Bena Iosif , Puhm Andrea , Vercnocke Bert
Published: April 2012

Abstract

We study the dynamics of supertubes in smooth bubbling geometries with three charges and three dipole charges that can describe black holes, black rings and their microstates. We find the supertube Hamiltonian in these backgrounds and show that there exist metastable supertube configurations, that can decay into supersymmetric and nonsupersymmetric ones via brane-flux annihilation. We also find stable non-supersymmetric configurations. Both the metastable and the stable non-supersymmetric configuration are expected to describe microstate geometries for non-extremal black holes, and we discuss the implication of their existence for the fuzzball proposal.
Drought‐induced mortality affects understory vegetation: release after death
Authors: Suarez M. L. , Sasal Y.
Published: April 2012

In recent decades, severe droughts have become an important cause of canopy disturbance in forests, and have shown potential to cause rapid and pronounced vegetation shifts. Under dead canopy, undamaged understory could influence the nature of resource limitation for seedling growth and survival, limiting forest regeneration. We assessed the release response of understory vegetation after a severe drought event in temperate forests of northern Patagonia. Growth trends of dominant tree saplings, and changes in vegetation biodiversity and cover were compared between drought‐dead and unaffected canopy. Nothofagus dombeyi undergo growth release after the climatic event in affected forests, and the response was evidenced immediately after the disturbance. For Austrocedrus chilensis, the growth release response was less evident, due mainly to a difference in age structure. In the understory the release response was barely discernable for some components. There was a tendency towards higher cover of the shrub layer in the understory of drought‐affected forests, and an important presence of the exotic shrub Rosa rubiginosa. However, the clearest biotic response following drought mortality was the release in growth of understory dominant tree component. Those results strongly suggest that the environment under drought‐dead canopy, and the die‐off in woody sapling cohorts in a self‐thinning process, could favor crown expansion and growth release of understory species that could help predict future forest trajectories in the context of the influence of climatic extreme events.
Adherence to medication in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and pro re nata dosing of psychostimulants: A systematic review
Authors: Caisley H. , Müller U.
Published: April 2012

Adherence to a regular medication regimen may be challenging for adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Some report taking psychostimulants on a pro re nata (PRN) basis. This review aims to establish the rate of adherence, and reasons for and consequences of non-adherence to medication for ADHD in adults, and to review literature on PRN dosing of psychostimulants in these patients. A systematic literature search was conducted. Four primary research studies have investigated the rate of adherence to medication in adults with ADHD. Mean adherence rate in two studies ranged from 52% to 87%. A number of possible reasons for poor adherence have been suggested. Prospective studies are needed to further define the rate of adherence and causes of poor adherence. Evidence examining whether differences in adherence affect clinical outcomes is equivocal. Therefore, caution should be applied to the assumption that maximising adherence to regular medication regimens will improve clinical outcomes. Two articles acknowledge that patients take medication on a PRN basis. Studies comparing the effectiveness of a regular and PRN regimen of psychostimulants are needed. If PRN dosing is as effective as a regular regimen, advantages might include enhanced doctor-patient communication, reduced side effects and cost savings.
α‐Actinin4 nuclear translocation mediates gonadotropin‐releasing hormone stimulation of follicle‐stimulating hormone β‐subunit gene transcription in LβT2 cells
Authors: Yu Han , Li Zhengjun , Ghosh Dipanjana , Lim Teck Kwang , He Yuehui , Lin Qingsong
Published: April 2012

Gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) regulates the synthesis and secretion of follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) by stimulating the transcription of Fshβ gene. Our iTRAQ quantitative proteomics result showed that the abundance of α‐actinin4 (ACTN4) increased in the nuclei of LβT2 cells upon GnRH induction. Using RNA interference, reverse transcription and real‐time PCR, luciferase and transient transfection assays, we proved that ACTN4 is involved in the regulation of mouse Fshβ gene (mFshβ) transcription and its C‐terminal calmodulin (CaM)‐like domain is crucial for this process. Our study suggests that ACTN4 nuclear translocation mediates GnRH stimulation of mFshβ gene transcription.
Constitutively active Cullin‐RING‐Ligases fail to rescue loss of NEDD8 conjugation in Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Authors: Girdwood David , Robertson Morag , Gordon Colin
Published: April 2012

In fission yeast, the only known essential function of Ned8p is the modification of the cullin, Pcu1p, and subsequent Cullin‐RING‐Ligase (CRL) activation and substrate ubiquitination. We show here that a functional Pcu1p mutant, deleted for its C‐terminal autoinhibitory domain, which negates the requirement of neddylation for ligase activity, is unable to rescue the loss of neddylation. These findings suggest that the neddylation of non‐cullin substrate(s) are required for Schizosaccharomyces pombe viability.
Extensions of PSD‐95/discs large/ZO‐1 (PDZ) domains influence lipid binding and membrane targeting of syntenin‐1
Authors: Wawrzyniak Anna Maria , Vermeiren Elke , Zimmermann Pascale , Ivarsson Ylva
Published: April 2012

PDZ1‐PDZ2
and
peptide
bind by fluorescence technology (View Interaction: 1, 2, 3, 4).
Antihypertensive drug use and the risk of dementia in patients with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Johnson Michael L. , Parikh Niraj , Kunik Mark E. , Schulz Paul E. , Patel Jeetvan G. , Chen Hua , Aparasu Rajender R. , Morgan Robert O.
Published: April 2012

Background

Diabetes and hypertension are independent risk factors for dementia, and hypertension may increase this risk in patients with diabetes. It is unclear whether antihypertensive drugs are associated with risk of dementia in these patients.

Methods

A retrospective study using a national cohort of beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs who have diabetes examined incidence of dementia over a 2‐year follow‐up period. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the unique effects of comorbid hypertension and antihypertensive medications on risk of dementia, after adjusting for several potential confounders.

Results

In all, 377,838 patients were studied (mean age: 75.53 ± 6.07 years). After adjustments were made for sociodemographic factors, duration of diabetes, comorbidity, and comedications, hypertension was associated with increased risk of developing dementia (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03, 1.14). Antihypertensive medications decreased risk, ranging from 24% for angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) to 4% for β‐blockers. In a stratified analysis of patients without hypertension, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (HR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.69, 0.94) and ARBs (HR = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.34, 0.88) continued to show protective effects.

Conclusions

Comorbid hypertension was associated with increased risk of dementia, whereas antihypertensive medications, especially angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors and ARBs, were associated with reduced risk, even among patients without hypertension. Consequently, these agents may have potential therapeutic roles in delaying the onset of dementia in patients with diabetes.
The Sin Quyen Cu–Fe–Au–REE deposit (northern Vietnam): composition and formation conditions
Authors: Gas’kov I.V. , Anh Tran Tuan , Hoa Tran Trong , Dung Pham Thi , Nevol’ko P.A. , Can Pham Ngoc
Published: April 2012

The Sin Quyen Cu–Fe–Au–REE deposit is localized in the Proterozoic deposits of the Phan Xi Pang zone, northern Vietnam. The mineralization is formed by lenticular and sheet-like bodies occurring concordantly with the host rocks. Seventeen orebodies have been recognized in the deposit, which form an ore horizon up to 140 m in total thickness, about 2 km in strike, and up to 350 m in dip. The ores are of simple mineral composition: Au-rich copper and iron sulfides (chalcopyrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite) and iron oxides (magnetite, hematite). Gold and silver are distributed unevenly in the ores: Their contents vary from hundredths and tenths of ppm to 1.8 ppm. Copper sulfide ores are the main concentrator of gold and silver. All ores are characterized by high REE contents, tens and hundreds of times exceeding the element clarkes. The highest contents have been revealed for Ce and La. Orthite is the main carrier of REE. No correlation between REE and ore elements of sulfide-oxide ores has been revealed, which points to the independent formation of the mineralization. Orebodies together with the host rocks underwent metamorphism at 500–600 to 630–685 °C and 3–7 kbar. The spatial association of the mineralization with amphibolites (metamorphosed basites) and the mineral composition of ores suggest that the Sin Quyen deposit is of Cyprian volcanogenic type.
The Verkhoyansk–Chukchi area of the recent orogeny: zoning and the main formation stages
Authors: Smirnov V.N.
Published: April 2012

The Verkhoyansk–Chukchi orogenic area formed on the vast land mass that had appeared as a result of collision in the Early Cretaceous and that had consolidated the Mesozoic protoorogenic structures in northeastern Asia. This heterostructural land mass was the basis on which spatially and structurally coupled orogens developed in the late Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The protoorogenic stages in the evolution of the Verkhoyansk–Chukchi area were followed by several large orogenic stages: Albian–Cenomanian, Eocene, and Pliocene–Quaternary. The Okhotsk–Chukchi volcanic-block and the Yana–Kolyma fold-block orogenic systems formed at stage 1. The Taui–Anadyr continental-margin rift system formed at stage 2. This shaped the structure of the Verkhoyansk–Chukchi area. The internal structure of the orogenic systems formed through the Pliocene–Quaternary (neotectonic) stage, which was dominated by uplifting throughout the Verkhoyansk–Chukchi area. The neotectonic structure was mostly inherited from the previous orogenic stages.
Long-term electromagnetic core–mantle coupling and the Earth’s rotation acceleration in the Mesozoic Era
Authors: Zhang Weijia , Sun Yuanlin , Kelley Neil , Lei Yang , Yu Hangjie
Published: April 2012

Growth lines in the mineralized tissues of living and fossil organisms often exhibit regular patterns that record daily, monthly, or annual cycles. Growth laminations in fossil corals and other marine invertebrates indicate long-term deceleration of the Earth’s rotation, probably largely due to tidal friction, resulting in a decline in the number of days per year over the Earth’s history. Fossils suggest the rate of decline has not been uniform, with the trend between the late Carboniferous and Cretaceous in particular departing from preceding and subsequent periods. However, insufficient data have obscured the nature and cause of the apparent halt in despinning within this time interval. Here we present new fossil geochronometer data that reveal a sustained acceleration in the Earth’s rotation in the early Mesozoic Era, lasting about 90 million years and producing a decrease in the length of day (LOD) at an average rate of about 3 ms/cy. The coincidence of this acceleration with certain geophysical events including the final assembly of Pangaea and a change in the intensity and stability of the geomagnetic field strongly suggests that its cause is rooted in the deep interior of the Earth. A similar explanation has been proposed for observed decadal variations in the Earth’s rotation. Our results suggest large-scale linkage of rotational variation, tectonics, and the geomagnetic field to core–mantle boundary (CMB) dynamics. Furthermore the newly identified acceleration in the Earth’s rotation which began at the end of the Paleozoic, and the geophysical factors that are associated with it, can ultimately bear on the causal mechanisms behind the Permo-Triassic mass extinction.
Cavity suppression in nitride based superluminescent diodes
Authors: Kafar A. , Stańczyk S. , Grzanka S. , Czernecki R. , Leszczyński M. , Suski T. , Perlin P.
Published: April 2012

We have fabricated two types of InGaN superluminescent diodes applying two different concepts of cavity suppression: a tilted waveguide geometry and passive absorber solution. Both types of devices showed superluminescence behavior, but both eventually lased under the application of high enough current. The lasing threshold turned out to be higher for tilted waveguide devices. By using long (2 mm) waveguides, we managed to demonstrate the power in superluminescent mode exceeding 100 mW in blue/violet part of the spectrum.
Spin reorientation and spin-flop transition in multiferroic manganites Y1–xTbxMnO3 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2) single crystals
Authors: Li H. N. , Huang J. W. , Xiao L. X. , Peng L. P. , Wu Y. Y. , Du G. H. , Ouyang Z. W. , Chen B. R. , Xia Z. C.
Published: April 2012

We investigated the structure and magnetic properties of the multiferroic hexagonal manganite Y1−xTbxMnO3 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2) single crystals. At 23 K, a Mn spin reorientation transition, which is not reported in the parent compound YMnO3, is observed in Y0.8Tb0.2MnO3. At a lower temperature, another new transition is observed in the doping system, which is attributed to the formation of long range antiferromagntic order of the doped Tb3+ moments. Based on the experimental results, we suggest that the effect of Tb doping is to bring about the increase of the Mn-O-Mn bond angle and the relief of the magnetic frustration. With increasing the doping level, for x = 0.2, when a magnetic field is applied parallel to the c axis, the field induced spin-flop transition is appeared, which indicates the reorientation of the Mn3+ moments along with the field-induced ferromagnetic ordering of the Tb3+ moments. These results suggest that the possibility of the Tb doping can change the magnetic structure and ferroelectricity properties of YMnO3.
Gene delivery to mitochondria by targeting modified adenoassociated virus suppresses Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy in a mouse model
Authors: Yu Hong , Koilkonda Rajeshwari D. , Chou Tsung-Han , Porciatti Vittorio , Ozdemir Sacide S. , Chiodo Vince , Boye Sanford L. , Boye Shannon E. , Hauswirth William W. , Lewin Alfred S. , Guy John
Published: April 2012

To introduce DNA into mitochondria efficiently, we fused adenoassociated virus capsid VP2 with a mitochondrial targeting sequence to carry the mitochondrial gene encoding the human NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit 4 (
ND4
). Expression of WT
ND4
in cells with the G11778A mutation in
ND4
led to restoration of defective ATP synthesis. Furthermore, with injection into the rodent eye, human
ND4
DNA levels in mitochondria reached 80% of its mouse homolog. The construct expressed in most inner retinal neurons, and it also suppressed visual loss and optic atrophy induced by a mutant
ND4
homolog. The adenoassociated virus cassette accommodates genes of up to ∼5 kb in length, thus providing a platform for introduction of almost any mitochondrial gene and perhaps even allowing insertion of DNA encompassing large deletions of mtDNA, some associated with aging, into the organelle of adults.
Precision genome engineering with programmable DNA-nicking enzymes
Authors: Kim Eunji , Kim Sojung , Kim Duk Hyoung , Choi Beom-Soon , Choi Ik-Young , Kim Jin-Soo
Published: April 2012

Zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) are powerful tools of genome engineering but are limited by their inevitable reliance on error-prone nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which gives rise to randomly generated, unwanted small insertions or deletions (indels) at both on-target and off-target sites. Here, we present programmable DNA-nicking enzymes (nickases) that produce single-strand breaks (SSBs) or nicks, instead of DSBs, which are repaired by error-free homologous recombination (HR) rather than mutagenic NHEJ. Unlike their corresponding nucleases, zinc finger nickases allow site-specific genome modifications only at the on-target site, without the induction of unwanted indels. We propose that programmable nickases will be of broad utility in research, medicine, and biotechnology, enabling precision genome engineering in any cell or organism.
Role of the dorsal hippocampus in object memory load
Authors: Sannino Sara , Russo Fabio , Torromino Giulia , Pendolino Valentina , Calabresi Paolo , De Leonibus Elvira
Published: April 2012

The dorsal hippocampus is crucial for mammalian spatial memory, but its exact role in item memory is still hotly debated. Recent evidence in humans suggested that the hippocampus might be selectively involved in item short-term memory to deal with an increasing memory load. In this study, we sought to test this hypothesis. To this aim we developed a novel behavioral procedure to study object memory load in mice by progressively increasing the stimulus set size in the spontaneous object recognition task. Using this procedure, we demonstrated that naive mice have a memory span, which is the number of elements they can remember for a short-time interval, of about six objects. Then, we showed that excitotoxic selective lesions of the dorsal hippocampus did not impair novel object discrimination in the condition of low memory load. In contrast, the same lesion impaired novel object discrimination in the high memory load condition, and reduced the object memory span to four objects. These results have important heuristic and clinical implications because they open new perspective toward the understanding of the role of the hippocampus in item memory and in memory span deficits occurring in human pathologies, such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia.
DBpedia and the live extraction of structured data from Wikipedia
Authors: Morsey Mohamed , Lehmann Jens , Auer Sören , Stadler Claus , Hellmann Sebastian
Published: April 2012

Purpose

DBpedia extracts structured information from Wikipedia, interlinks it with other knowledge bases and freely publishes the results on the web using Linked Data and SPARQL. However, the DBpedia release process is heavyweight and releases are sometimes based on several months old data. DBpedia‐Live solves this problem by providing a live synchronization method based on the update stream of Wikipedia. This paper seeks to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Wikipedia provides DBpedia with a continuous stream of updates, i.e. a stream of articles, which were recently updated. DBpedia‐Live processes that stream on the fly to obtain RDF data and stores the extracted data back to DBpedia. DBpedia‐Live publishes the newly added/deleted triples in files, in order to enable synchronization between the DBpedia endpoint and other DBpedia mirrors.

Findings

During the realization of DBpedia‐Live the authors learned that it is crucial to process Wikipedia updates in a priority queue. Recently‐updated Wikipedia articles should have the highest priority, over mapping‐changes and unmodified pages. An overall finding is that there are plenty of opportunities arising from the emerging Web of Data for librarians.

Practical implications

DBpedia had and has a great effect on the Web of Data and became a crystallization point for it. Many companies and researchers use DBpedia and its public services to improve their applications and research approaches. The DBpedia‐Live framework improves DBpedia further by timely synchronizing it with Wikipedia, which is relevant for many use cases requiring up‐to‐date information.

Originality/value

The new DBpedia‐Live framework adds new features to the old DBpedia‐Live framework, e.g. abstract extraction, ontology changes, and changesets publication.