bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Armed Non-State Actors and Cultural Heritage in Armed Conflict
Authors: Lostal Marina , Hausler Kristin , Bongard Pascal 
Published: December 2017

Abstract:This article presents the preliminary findings of a scoping study that Geneva Call is conducting to understand the existing dynamics between armed non-state actors (ANSAs) and cultural heritage. Geneva Call is a Swiss-based non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting the respect of international humanitarian law by ANSAs. The study centres on three case studies—Syria, Iraq, and Mali—on which information has been obtained through desk and field research, interviews with ANSAs operating in those countries, and with leading organizations committed to the protection of cultural heritage, globally or regionally. The article first maps the various attitudes of ANSAs toward cultural heritage, highlighting both positive and negative examples from current practices. Then it analyzes the response of specialized organizations to the impact of ANSAs on cultural heritage and their level of engagement with these actors on cultural heritage issues. Finally, the conclusion offers some tentative recommendations to enhance the respect of cultural heritage by ANSAs in non-international armed conflicts.
Maternal obesity and excessive maternal weight gain during pregnancy: effects on outcomes after neonatal cardiac surgical procedures
Authors: Tsang Rocky , Hilvers Pamela , Lupo Philip J. , Bronicki Ronald , McKenzie Dean , Checchia Paul A. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIntroductionMaternal obesity is associated with an increased risk for adverse perinatal outcomes. Obesity is also associated with a chronic inflammatory state and metabolic derangements that affect the newborn. The additional use of cardiopulmonary bypass during the neonatal period could impact the systemic inflammatory response in the immediate postoperative period that manifests as cardiac depression and multi-organ dysfunction. This study aimed to determine the association of maternal obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy with the immediate postoperative morbidity of neonatal patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass.MethodsA retrospective review of neonates who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass within the first 30 days of life at our institution between 2011 and 2013 was conducted. Postoperative variables investigated included the duration of length of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the ICU, peak vasoactive inotrope scores, and peak lactate level. Maternal obesity was defined as 1st trimester body mass index ⩾30 kg/m2. Excessive weight gain was defined as ⩾12 kg gained during pregnancy. In order to determine the association between maternal obesity or excessive weight gain and postoperative variables, we used multiple linear regression, adjusting for birth weight and risk adjustment for congenital heart surgery score.ResultsRecords from 58 mother–baby dyads were examined. After controlling for birth weight and risk adjustment for congenital heart surgery score, there were no significant associations between maternal obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy versus all postoperative outcomes measured.ConclusionDespite the known negative impact of maternal obesity on perinatal outcomes, we were unable to find associations between maternal obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy versus postoperative outcomes.
Effects of cover crop termination and cotton planting methods on cotton production in conservation systems
Authors: Duzy Leah M. , Kornecki Ted S. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIn conservation agriculture, cover crops are utilized to improve soil properties and to enhance cash crop growth. One important part of cover crop management is termination. With smaller profit margins and constraints on time and labor, producers are searching for ways to reduce time and labor required to terminate cover crops while maintaining or increasing profitability. This study examined the effect of 11 different combinations of terminating cereal rye (Secale cerealeL.) and planting cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL.) on population, seed cotton yield, total costs and net returns; and how combined operations affect labor, fuel consumption and carbon (CO2) emissions in a conservation system. Cereal rye followed by cotton was planted in central Alabama during the 2009–2011 crop years. Treatments included cotton planted directly into standing cereal rye, cover crops terminated at early milk growth stage using mechanical (roller or roller/crimper) with or without chemical termination (spraying) followed by cotton planting, and cover crop termination combined with cotton planting using spraying with or without rolling termination. While the 2011 crop year had the lowest plant populations, there was no year effect on seed cotton yields, total costs or net returns. Rolling with or without spraying yielded higher plant populations (26%), seed cotton yields (18.3%) and net returns (17.2%) than cotton planted into standing rye; however, rolling with or without spraying also had 23.8% higher costs due to increased fuel usage, machinery and labor hours, and yield varying costs. While rolling with spraying had slightly higher total costs compared with rolling alone (6.5%), plant populations, seed cotton yields and net returns were 11.42%, 6.4% and 6.5% higher, respectively. Converting from three separate operations for cover crop termination and cotton planting to rolling and spraying combined with planting, producers could potentially reduce CO2emissions from fuel use and labor hours associated with cover crop termination and cotton planting by up to 51%.
The Chicken or Egg Question of Adolescents’ Political Involvement
Authors: Šerek Jan , Machackova Hana , Macek Petr 
Published: December 2017

Abstract. Research on the political behavior of young people often approaches psychological factors such as political efficacy or interest as antecedents of political participation. This study examines whether efficacy and interest are also outcomes of participation and if this effect differs across three types of political participation. Data from a two-wave longitudinal survey of 768 Czech adolescents (aged 14–17 years at Time 1, 54% females) was used. Findings support the proposition that psychological factors are affected by participatory experiences. Cross-lagged models showed longitudinal effects from participation to changes in psychological factors, but not effects in the opposite direction. Protest participation predicted higher interest and internal political efficacy, but lower external political efficacy, volunteering predicted higher external political efficacy, and representational participation had no effects on psychological factors. Overall, our findings point out the formative role of participatory experiences in adolescence and the diverse effects of different types of political participation on political development.
ROS-induced cleavage of NHLRC2 by caspase-8 leads to apoptotic cell death in the HCT116 human colon cancer cell line
Authors: Nishi Kensuke , Iwaihara Yuri , Tsunoda Toshiyuki , Doi Keiko , Sakata Toshifumi , Shirasawa Senji , Ishikura Shuhei 
Published: December 2017

AbstractExcess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is known to cause apoptotic cell death. However, the molecular mechanisms whereby ROS induce apoptosis remain elusive. Here we show that the NHL-repeat-containing protein 2 (NHLRC2) thioredoxin-like domain protein is cleaved by caspase-8 in ROS-induced apoptosis in the HCT116 human colon cancer cell line. Treatment of HCT116 cells with the oxidant tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) induced apoptosis and reduced NHLRC2 protein levels, whereas pretreatment with the antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine prevented apoptosis and the decrease in NHLRC2 protein levels seen in tBHP-treated cells. Furthermore, the ROS-induced decrease in NHLRC2 protein levels was relieved by the caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk. We found that the thioredoxin-like domain of NHLRC2 interacted with a proenzyme form of caspase-8, and that caspase-8 cleaved NHLRC2 protein at Asp580 in vitro. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated knockdown of caspase-8 blocked the ROS-induced decrease in NHLRC2 protein levels. Both shRNA and CRISPR-Cas9-mediated loss of NHLRC2 resulted in an increased susceptibility of HCT116 cells to ROS-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that excess ROS production causes a caspase-8-mediated decrease in NHLRC2 protein levels, leading to apoptotic cell death in colon cancer cells, and indicate an important role of NHLRC2 in the regulation of ROS-induced apoptosis.
Cross-boundary subsidy cascades from oil palm degrade distant tropical forests
Authors: Luskin Matthew Scott , Brashares Justin S. , Ickes Kalan , Sun I-Fang , Fletcher Christine , Wright S. Joseph , Potts Matthew D. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractNative species that forage in farmland may increase their local abundances thereby affecting adjacent ecosystems within their landscape. We used two decades of ecological data from a protected primary rainforest in Malaysia to illutrate how subsidies from neighboring oil palm plantations triggered powerful secondary ‘cascading’ effects on natural habitats located >1.3 km away. We found (i) oil palm fruit drove 100-fold increases in crop-raiding native wild boar (Sus scrofa), (ii) wild boar used thousands of understory plants to construct birthing nests in the pristine forest interior, and (iii) nest building caused a 62% decline in forest tree sapling density over the 24-year study period. The long-term, landscape-scale indirect effects from agriculture suggest its full ecological footprint may be larger in extent than is currently recognized. Cross-boundary subsidy cascades may be widespread in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems and present significant conservation challenges.
Forest productivity in southwestern Europe is controlled by coupled North Atlantic and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillations
Authors: Madrigal-González Jaime , Ballesteros-Cánovas Juan A. , Herrero Asier , Ruiz-Benito Paloma , Stoffel Markus , Lucas-Borja Manuel E. , Andivia Enrique , Sancho-García Cesar , Zavala Miguel A. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) depicts annual and decadal oscillatory modes of variability responsible for dry spells over the European continent. The NAO therefore holds a great potential to evaluate the role, as carbon sinks, of water-limited forests under climate change. However, uncertainties related to inconsistent responses of long-term forest productivity to NAO have so far hampered firm conclusions on its impacts. We hypothesize that, in part, such inconsistencies might have their origin in periodical sea surface temperature anomalies in the Atlantic Ocean (i.e., Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, AMO). Here we show strong empirical evidence in support of this hypothesis using 120 years of periodical inventory data from Iberian pine forests. Our results point to AMO+ NAO+ and AMO−NAO− phases as being critical for forest productivity, likely due to decreased winter water balance and abnormally low winter temperatures, respectively. Our findings could be essential for the evaluation of ecosystem functioning vulnerabilities associated with increased climatic anomalies under unprecedented warming conditions in the Mediterranean.
Inter-annual and decadal changes in teleconnections drive continental-scale synchronization of tree reproduction
Authors: Ascoli Davide , Vacchiano Giorgio , Turco Marco , Conedera Marco , Drobyshev Igor , Maringer Janet , Motta Renzo , Hacket-Pain Andrew 
Published: December 2017

AbstractClimate teleconnections drive highly variable and synchronous seed production (masting) over large scales. Disentangling the effect of high-frequency (inter-annual variation) from low-frequency (decadal trends) components of climate oscillations will improve our understanding of masting as an ecosystem process. Using century-long observations on masting (the MASTREE database) and data on the Northern Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), we show that in the last 60 years both high-frequency summer and spring NAO, and low-frequency winter NAO components are highly correlated to continent-wide masting in European beech and Norway spruce. Relationships are weaker (non-stationary) in the early twentieth century. This finding improves our understanding on how climate variation affects large-scale synchronization of tree masting. Moreover, it supports the connection between proximate and ultimate causes of masting: indeed, large-scale features of atmospheric circulation coherently drive cues and resources for masting, as well as its evolutionary drivers, such as pollination efficiency, abundance of seed dispersers, and natural disturbance regimes.
Midbrain circuit regulation of individual alcohol drinking behaviors in mice
Authors: Juarez Barbara , Morel Carole , Ku Stacy M. , Liu Yutong , Zhang Hongxing , Montgomery Sarah , Gregoire Hilledna , Ribeiro Efrain , Crumiller Marshall , Roman-Ortiz Ciorana , Walsh Jessica J. , Jackson Kelcy , Croote Denise E. , Zhu Yingbo , Zhang Song , Vendruscolo Leandro F. , Edwards Scott , Roberts Amanda , Hodes Georgia E. , Lu Yongke , Calipari Erin S. , Chaudhury Dipesh , Friedman Allyson K. , Han Ming-Hu 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAlcohol-use disorder (AUD) is the most prevalent substance-use disorder worldwide. There is substantial individual variability in alcohol drinking behaviors in the population, the neural circuit mechanisms of which remain elusive. Utilizing in vivo electrophysiological techniques, we find that low alcohol drinking (LAD) mice have dramatically higher ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neuron firing and burst activity. Unexpectedly, VTA dopamine neuron activity in high alcohol drinking (HAD) mice does not differ from alcohol naive mice. Optogenetically enhancing VTA dopamine neuron burst activity in HAD mice decreases alcohol drinking behaviors. Circuit-specific recordings reveal that spontaneous activity of nucleus accumbens-projecting VTA (VTA-NAc) neurons is selectively higher in LAD mice. Specifically activating this projection is sufficient to reduce alcohol consumption in HAD mice. Furthermore, we uncover ionic and cellular mechanisms that suggest unique neuroadaptations between the alcohol drinking groups. Together, these data identify a neural circuit responsible for individual alcohol drinking behaviors.
Bio-inspired reversible underwater adhesive
Authors: Zhao Yanhua , Wu Yang , Wang Liang , Zhang Manman , Chen Xuan , Liu Minjie , Fan Jun , Liu Junqiu , Zhou Feng , Wang Zuankai 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe design of smart surfaces with switchable adhesive properties in a wet environment has remained a challenge in adhesion science and materials engineering. Despite intense demands in various industrial applications and exciting progress in mimicking the remarkable wet adhesion through the delicate control of catechol chemistry, polyelectrolyte complex, and supramolecular architectures, the full recapitulation of nature’s dynamic function is limited. Here, we show a facile approach to synthesize bioinspired adhesive, which entails the reversible, tunable, and fast regulation of the wet adhesion on diverse surfaces. The smart wet adhesive takes advantage of the host–guest molecular interaction and the adhesive nature of catechol chemistry, as well as the responsive polymer, allowing for screening and activation of the interfacial interaction simply by a local temperature trigger in an on-demand manner. Our work opens up an avenue for the rational design of bioinspired adhesives with performances even beyond nature.
On the homogeneity and heterogeneity of cortical thickness profiles in Homo sapiens sapiens
Authors: Koten Jan Willem , Schüppen André , Morozova Maria , Lehofer Agnes , Koschutnig Karl , Wood Guilherme 
Published: December 2017

AbstractCortical thickness has been investigated since the beginning of the 20th century, but we do not know how similar the cortical thickness profiles among humans are. In this study, the local similarity of cortical thickness profiles was investigated using sliding window methods. Here, we show that approximately 5% of the cortical thickness profiles are similarly expressed among humans while 45% of the cortical thickness profiles show a high level of heterogeneity. Therefore, heterogeneity is the rule, not the exception. Cortical thickness profiles of somatosensory homunculi and the anterior insula are consistent among humans, while the cortical thickness profiles of the motor homunculus are more variable. Cortical thickness profiles of homunculi that code for muscle position and skin stimulation are highly similar among humans despite large differences in sex, education, and age. This finding suggests that the structure of these cortices remains well preserved over a lifetime. Our observations possibly relativize opinions on cortical plasticity.
Hydrocortisone administration was associated with improved survival in Japanese patients with cardiac arrest
Authors: Niimura Takahiro , Zamami Yoshito , Koyama Toshihiro , Izawa-Ishizawa Yuki , Miyake Masashi , Koga Tadashi , Harada Keisaku , Ohshima Ayako , Imai Toru , Kondo Yutaka , Imanishi Masaki , Takechi Kenshi , Fukushima Keijo , Horinouchi Yuya , Ikeda Yasumasa , Fujino Hiromichi , Tsuchiya Koichiro , Tamaki Toshiaki , Hinotsu Shiro , Kano Mitsunobu R. , Ishizawa Keisuke 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThere are few reports on hydrocortisone administration after cardiac arrest, and those that have been published included few subjects. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of hydrocortisone administration on the outcomes of patients who experienced cardiac arrest. We investigated the survival discharge rates and the length of hospital stay from cardiac arrest to discharge, stratified by use of hydrocortisone, using a Japanese health-insurance claims dataset that covers approximately 2% of the Japanese population. The study included the data of 2233 subjects who experienced either in-hospital or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between January 2005 and May 2014. These patients were divided into two groups, based on the administration of hydrocortisone. We adjusted the baseline characteristics, medical treatment, and drug administration data of the two groups using propensity scores obtained via the inverse probability of treatment weighted method. The hydrocortisone group had a significantly higher survival discharge rate (13/61 [21.1%] vs. 240/2172 [11.0%], adjusted odds ratio: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.60–10.98, p = 0.004). In addition, the administration of hydrocortisone was independent predictor of survival to discharge (hazard ratio: 4.6, p < 0.001). The results demonstrate a correlation between hydrocortisone administration and the high rates of survival to discharge.
Insulator–metal transition in substrate-independent VO2 thin film for phase-change devices
Authors: Taha Mohammad , Walia Sumeet , Ahmed Taimur , Headland Daniel , Withayachumnankul Withawat , Sriram Sharath , Bhaskaran Madhu 
Published: December 2017

AbstractVanadium has 11 oxide phases, with the binary VO2 presenting stimuli-dependent phase transitions that manifest as switchable electronic and optical features. An elevated temperature induces an insulator–to–metal transition (IMT) as the crystal reorients from a monoclinic state (insulator) to a tetragonal arrangement (metallic). This transition is accompanied by a simultaneous change in optical properties making VO2 a versatile optoelectronic material. However, its deployment in scalable devices suffers because of the requirement of specialised substrates to retain the functionality of the material. Sensitivity to oxygen concentration and larger-scale VO2 synthesis have also been standing issues in VO2 fabrication. Here, we address these major challenges in harnessing the functionality in VO2 by demonstrating an approach that enables crystalline, switchable VO2 on any substrate. Glass, silicon, and quartz are used as model platforms to show the effectiveness of the process. Temperature-dependent electrical and optical characterisation is used demonstrating three to four orders of magnitude in resistive switching, >60% chromic discrimination at infrared wavelengths, and terahertz property extraction. This capability will significantly broaden the horizon of applications that have been envisioned but remained unrealised due to the lack of ability to realise VO2 on any substrate, thereby exploiting its untapped potential.
Evaluation of serum MMP-9 as predictive biomarker for antisense therapy in Duchenne
Authors: Lourbakos A. , Yau N. , de Bruijn P. , Hiller M. , Kozaczynska K. , Jean-Baptiste R. , Reza M. , Wolterbeek R. , Koeks Z. , Ayoglu B. , de Klerk D. , Campion G. , Zaharieva I. , Nadarajah V. D. , Nilsson P. , Al-Khalili Szigyarto C. , Muntoni F. , Lochmüller H. , Verschuuren J. J. , Goemans N. , Tulinius M. , Niks E. H. , de Kimpe S. , Aartsma-Rus A. , ’t Hoen Peter A. C. , Spitali P. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractDuchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a severe muscle disorder caused by lack of dystrophin. Predictive biomarkers able to anticipate response to the therapeutic treatments aiming at dystrophin re-expression are lacking. The objective of this study is to investigate Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as predictive biomarker for Duchenne. Two natural history cohorts were studied including 168 longitudinal samples belonging to 66 patients. We further studied 1536 samples obtained from 3 independent clinical trials with drisapersen, an antisense oligonucleotide targeting exon 51: an open label study including 12 patients; a phase 3 randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study involving 186 patients; an open label extension study performed after the phase 3. Analysis of natural history cohorts showed elevated MMP-9 levels in patients and a significant increase over time in longitudinal samples. MMP-9 decreased in parallel to clinical stabilization in the 12 patients involved in the open label study. The phase 3 study and subsequent extension study clarified that the decrease in MMP-9 levels was not predictive of treatment response. These data do not support the inclusion of serum MMP-9 as predictive biomarker for DMD patients.
Automated Detection of Iris Furrows and their Influence on Dynamic Iris Volume Change
Authors: Chua Jacqueline , Thakku Sri Gowtham , Pham Tan Hung , Lee Ryan , Tun Tin A. , Nongpiur Monisha E. , Tan Marcus Chiang Lee , Wong Tien Yin , Quah Joanne Hui Min , Aung Tin , Girard Michael J. A. , Cheng Ching-Yu 
Published: December 2017

AbstractWe introduced a new method for detecting iris surface furrows and identify its associations with dynamic changes in iris volume in healthy eyes. Swept-source optical coherence tomography was performed on 65 subjects with open angle under light and dark conditions. Iris boundaries were identified and a reconstruction of the anterior iris surface was obtained. Furrows were detected by identifying locally deep (minima) points on the iris surface and reported as furrow length in millimetres. Iris volume was quantified. Associations between furrow length and dynamic changes in iris volume were assessed using linear regression model. With pupil dilation, furrow length increased (15.84 mm) whereas iris volume decreased (−1.19 ± 0.66 mm3). Longer furrow length was associated with larger static iris volume, as well as smaller loss of iris volume with pupil dilation (β = −0.10, representing 0.1 mm3 less loss in iris volume per 10 mm increase in iris furrow length; P = 0.002, adjusted for age, gender and changes in pupil size). Our iris furrow length measurements are robust and intuitive. Eyes with longer furrows have larger iris volume and lose less volume during physiological pupil dilation. These findings highlight the potential for iris surface features as indicators of iris morphological behavior.