bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Blood Diamonds, Dirty Gold and Spatial Spill-overs Measuring Conflict Dynamics in West Africa
Authors: Balestri Sara , Maggioni Mario A. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractAlthough conflict incidence is likely to be characterized by spatial dependence, the scientific literature on conflicts often neglects the issue thus, implicitly, assuming independence among observations. We argue that such assumption could lead to biased and inconsistent results and we provide an exemplary application to the case of the Mano River Region (MRR) in West Africa. Once we detected the existence of spatial dependence within the distribution of conflict incidence, we introduce spatial econometrics techniques in order to explore diffusion paths of violence within the region. We firstly project on a spatially disaggregated map, built as a regular grid, the conflict occurrence and several georeferenced determinants of civil conflicts. Then, we model spatial dependence through the introduction of spatial autoregressive terms on both dependent and independent variables (SAR and SD Models). Across several models, civil conflict is found steadily clustered in space with significant spill-over effects on contiguous locations. Among other determinants, natural resources – namely diamonds and gold – are confirmed as relevant drivers of conflict diffusion and show neighbouring effects since their location and proximity may affect conflict dynamics.
Aβ regulation-based multitarget strategy for drug discovery against Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Guo Xiaodan , Jiang Wei , Li Chenjing , Zhu Zhiyuan , Shen Xu 
Published: October 2014

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressively neurodegenerative disease that eventually leads to the irreversible loss of neurons and intellectual abilities, including cognition and memory. AD has become the most common cause of dementia in aged people, and the ill-defined pathogenesis of AD is seriously impeding the current drug discovery against this disease. To date, there is still a lack of etiologically therapeutic drugs for AD, although some symptomatic treatments have been successfully developed. The β-amyloid (Aβ)-induced neurodegeneration is determined as the main pathogenesis of AD, and by targeting the regulation of Aβ in production inhibition or clearance promotion, many active agents have been designed potentially for AD treatment, but no drug has yet been approved in clinical use. Actually, AD has a complex pathogenic mechanism that involves multiple aberrant signaling genes and pathways, and the idea of ‘single target’ for anti-AD drug research is thus full of challenges. Recently, with a deep understanding of AD pathogeneses and the development of advanced pharmacological techniques, ‘multiple target’-based strategy has been widely applied for the drug discovery against this disease, and many promising results have been achieved. Here, we review the recent multitarget strategies for the drug discovery in the treatment of AD by focusing on the involvement of Aβ regulation.
E2F1 induces miR‐224/452 expression to drive EMT through TXNIP downregulation
Authors: Knoll Susanne , Fürst Katharina , Kowtharapu Bhavani , Schmitz Ulf , Marquardt Stephan , Wolkenhauer Olaf , Martin Hubert , Pützer Brigitte M 
Published: October 2014

AbstractMalignant melanoma is highly lethal due to its aggressive invasive properties and metastatic dissemination. The transcription factor E2F1 is crucial for melanoma progression through poorly understood mechanisms. Here, we show that the miR‐224/miR‐452 cluster is significantly increased in advanced melanoma and invasive/metastatic cell lines that express high levels of E2F1. miR‐224/miR‐452 expression is directly activated by E2F1 through transactivation of the GABRE gene. Ectopic expression of miR‐224/miR‐452 in less aggressive cells induces EMT and cytoskeletal rearrangements and enhances migration/invasion. Conversely, miR‐224/miR‐452 depletion in metastatic cells induces the reversal of EMT, inhibition of motility, loss of the invasive phenotype and an absence of lung metastases in mice. We identify the metastasis suppressor TXNIP as new target of miR‐224/miR‐452 that induces feedback inhibition of E2F1 and show that miR‐224/452‐mediated downregulation of TXNIP is essential for E2F1‐induced EMT and invasion. The E2F1‐miR‐224/452‐TXNIP axis constitutes a molecular signature that predicts patient survival and may help to set novel therapies.
Clinical and Genetic Factors Related to Cancer-Induced Bone Pain and Bone Pain Relief
Authors: Scarpi Emanuela , Calistri Daniele , Klepstad Pål , Kaasa Stein , Skorpen Frank , Habberstad Ragnhild , Nanni Oriana , Amadori Dino , Maltoni Marco 
Published: October 2014

AbstractObjective.The study objective was to evaluate whether there are clinical or genetic differences between patients with cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) and patients with non-CIBP, and, in the CIBP group, in those with good versus poor opioid response.Materials and Methods.A total of 2,294 adult patients with cancer who were receiving opioids for moderate or severe pain were included in the European Pharmacogenetic Opioid Study. Pain intensity and pain relief were measured using the Brief Pain Inventory. Linkage disequilibrium of 112 single nucleotide polymorphisms was evaluated in 25 candidate genes, and 43 haplotypes were assessed. Correlations among demographical factors, disease-related factors, genetic factors, CIBP, and pain relief were analyzed by logistic regression models corrected for multiple testing. Patients with bone metastases and bone/soft tissue pain were defined as having prevalent bone pain (CIBP population). This population was compared with patients who had other types of cancer pain (non-CIBP).Results.A total of 577 patients (26.2%) had CIBP, and 1,624 patients (73.8%) had non-CIBP. Patients with CIBP had more breakthrough cancer pain episodes (64.2% vs. 56.4%, p = .001), had significantly higher pain interference in “walking ability in the past 24 hours” (p &lt; .0001), used more adjuvant drugs (84.1% vs. 78.3%, p = .003), and had a higher, albeit nonsignificant, median overall survival (3.8 vs. 2.9 months, p = .716) than patients with non-CIBP. None of the examined haplotypes exceeded p values corrected for multiple testing for the investigated outcomes.Conclusion.Patients with CIBP who were taking opioids had a clinical profile slightly different from that of the non-CIBP group. However, no specific genetic pattern emerged for CIBP versus non-CIBP or for responsive versus nonresponsive patients with CIBP.
El informe integrado: una propuesta de encaje para la información sobre capital humano
Authors: Saitua Ainhoa , Andicoechea Lorea , Albizu Eneka 
Published: October 2014

La manera de informar de las empresas presenta algunos problemas (Lizcano, 2011), tanto en relación con la cantidad y complejidad de normas, como con la calidad de la información corporativa que divulga cada compañía. En concreto, en los informes anuales que emiten las empresas, la información obligatoria sobre el personal en las distintas jurisdicciones es, en general, reducida. Pero en la sociedad del conocimiento actual, las explicaciones verbales sobre el capital humano adquieren mayor importancia (Knauer, 2010; Gamerschlag y Moeller, 2011). En este contexto, la iniciativa Integrated Reporting pretende crear un marco de información para satisfacer las necesidades de un mundo más sostenible que incluya aspectos sociales junto con la información financiera, ambiental y de gobierno corporativo. Como principios de los informes integrados se especifica que la información debería ser: relevante, interconectada, homogénea, comparable, manejable, equilibrada, estratégica a corto plazo, medio y largo plazo, y verificable (IIRC, 2012).Según los escenarios planteados por el International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), la Asociación Española de Contabilidad y Administración de Empresas (AECA) sugiere que el engranaje ideal para introducir la información integrada es el Informe de gestión (AECA, 2012d) o el equivalente Management Commentary, siguiendo la terminología del International Accounting Standards Board (IASB, 2010). En este trabajo, se revisa la literatura sobre divulgación narrativa, en especial sobre recursos humanos, y una vez analizadas las recientes iniciativas normalizadoras, se elabora una propuesta acerca del posible encaje de la información sobre recursos humanos dentro del informe integrado.
Plant Growth Regulator and Soil Surfactants’ Effects on Saline and Deficit Irrigated Warm‐Season Grasses: II. Pigment Content and Superoxide Dismutase Activity
Authors: Schiavon Marco , Leinauer Bernd , Serena Matteo , Maier Bernd , Sallenave Rossana 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTDrought conditions on turf areas are frequent in the Southwest due to limited rainfall and a shortage of potable irrigation water. A study was conducted at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM during the summers of 2010 to 2012 to determine bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylonL.) cultivar Princess 77 and seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatumSwartz) cultivar Sea Spray treated with either a soil surfactant (Revolution [modified methyl capped block copolymer]) or a plant growth regulator (PGR) (Trinexapac‐ethyl [TE]; 4‐[cyclopropylhydroxymethylene]‐3,5‐dioxocyclohexanecarboxylic acid) response to drought stress. Plots were irrigated at 50% reference evapotranspiration with either saline (electrical conductivity [EC] = 02.3 dS m−1) or potable (0.6 dS m−1) water from either a sprinkler or subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) system. Chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids content and superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) in leaves and stolons were measured monthly to assess response to turf stress. Princess 77 plots treated with TE showed the highest chlorophyll and carotenoids content (15.7 and 6.0 µg g−1fresh weight [FW], respectively) and greatest SOD activity in leaves (37.7 units mg−1proteins). Both grasses under SDI had higher pigment content at the end of the study than sprinkler‐irrigated grasses, suggesting that SDI may be more effective than sprinkler under deficit evapotranspiration (ET) replacement conditions. Only a weak correlation was found between chlorophyll content and either Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) or visual ratings.
Lodging‐Related Stalk Characteristics of Maize Varieties in China since the 1950s
Authors: Ma Daling , Xie Ruizhi , Liu Xin , Niu Xingkui , Hou Peng , Wang Keru , Lu Yanli , Li Shaokun 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTStalk lodging often limits maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield potential and also causes difficulties in harvest operations. Stalk characteristics [e.g., plant height, ear height, and rind puncture strength (RPS)] have close relationships with stalk lodging in maize. The objectives of this 2‐yr field study were to (i) report the changes in stalk lodging in maize cultivars that were widely grown in China since the 1950s, (ii) examine the stalk morphological and mechanical properties of maize within this timeframe, and (iii) assess the stalk lodging and grain yield of maize populations as related to changes in their stalk traits. The results showed that stalk lodging decreased significantly with the year of maize cultivar release. There was marked genotypic variation in lodging‐related morphological and mechanical traits. The grain yield, dry matter accumulation (DMA), harvest index (HI), length of the 13th and 14th internodes, RPS of the fourth internode, and bending strength of the first internode all significantly increased in more modern cultivars. Length of the fourth and fifth internodes clearly decreased with improved maize cultivars. Among these traits, DMA, HI, and the length of fifth and 13th internodes were closely related to lodging resistance. As a result of stepwise regression analysis, stalk lodging was determined to be partially affected by variability in ear height or ear ratio. There were no significant correlations between stalk mechanical traits and stalk lodging. Our results indicated that improving the lodging resistance of maize cultivars was not accomplished by intentionally selecting these characteristics in China.
Is local hypoperfusion the reason for transient neurological deficits after STA-MCA bypass for moyamoya disease?
Authors: Mukerji Nitin , Cook Douglas J. , Steinberg Gary K. 
Published: October 2014

OBJECT
Hyperperfusion is believed to be the cause of transient neurological events (TNEs) in patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) who have undergone an extracranial-to-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass between the superficial temporal artery (STA) and the middle cerebral artery (MCA). The objective of this study was to evaluate this possibility by analyzing cerebral blood flow (CBF) data obtained with thermal diffusion probes used at the authors' center.

METHODS
The authors examined postoperative cerebral perfusion in 31 patients with MMD who underwent a direct EC-IC STA-MCA bypass. A Hemedex Q500 flow probe was placed in the frontal lobe adjacent to the bypass and connected to a Bowman cerebral perfusion monitor, and CBF data were statistically analyzed using JMP 8.0.2 software. Seven patients experienced a TNE after surgery in the left hemisphere (that is, after left-sided surgery), manifesting as dysphasia approximately 24 hours postoperatively and which had improved by 48 hours. No TNEs were observed after right-sided surgeries. Operative and postoperative CBFs in the left side with the TNE were compared with those in the left side with no TNE and on the right side.

RESULTS
A detailed analysis of 64,980 minute-by-minute flow observations showed that the initial postbypass CBF was higher on the left side where the TNEs occurred. This CBF increase was followed by a widely fluctuating pattern and a statistically significant and sharp drop in perfusion (p < 0.001, mean difference of CBF between groups, paired t-test) associated with a TNE not observed in the other 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of the authors' initial observations, an early-onset altered pattern of CBF was identified. These findings suggest local hypoperfusion as the cause of the TNEs. This hypoperfusion may originate from competing blood flows resulting from impaired cerebral autoregulation and a fluctuating flow in cerebral microcirculation.
RADIX: a minimal-resources rapid-access drilling system
Authors: Schwander J. , Marending S. , Stocker T.F. , Fischer H. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractDetermining the expected age at a potential ice-core drilling site on a polar ice sheet generally depends on a combination of information from remote-sensing methods, estimates of current accumulation and modelling. This poses irreducible uncertainties in retrieving an undisturbed ice core of the desired age. Although recently perfected radar techniques will improve the picture of the ice sheet below future drilling sites, rapid prospective drillings could further increase the success of deep drilling projects. Here we design and explore a drilling system for a minimum-size rapid-access hole. The advantages of a small hole are the low demand for drilling fluid, low overall weight of the equipment, fast installing and de-installing and low costs. We show that, in theory, drilling of a 20 mm hole to a depth of 3000 m is possible in ∼4 days. First concepts have been realized and verified in the field. Both the drill cuttings and the hole itself can be used to characterize the properties of the ice sheet and its potential to provide a trustworthy palaeo-record. A candidate drilling site could be explored in ∼2 weeks, which would enable the characterization of several sites in one summer season.
Et l'État dans tout ça ?
Authors: Daadouch Christophe 
Published: October 2014

Depuis la loi de 2007 qui réforme la protection de l’enfance, les départements sont compétents dans ce domaine. Pourtant, dès lors que les enfants à protéger sont étrangers et isolés, les conseils généraux sont prompts à renvoyer cette charge vers l’État. Si on peut déplorer la mauvaise volonté des départements, on peut s’interroger sur la part de responsabilité de l’État dans le fiasco actuel de la prise en charge des mineurs isolés étrangers.
Au Mali, la difficile défense des expulsés
Authors: Lecadet Clara 
Published: October 2014

Créée en 1996 à Bamako, l’Association malienne des expulsés constitue une pionnière dans ce domaine. En 20 ans, elle a su faire émerger sur la scène politique malienne la question du retour et de la « réinsertion » des expulsés maliens, et donner de la voix à des « inaudibles ». Mais chaque médaille a son revers.
On Global Citizenship
Authors: Tully James 
Published: October 2014

On Global Citizenship develops James Tully's distinctive and influential approach to political philosophy, first outlined in his 2008 two-volume work Public Philosophy in a New Key, and applies it to the field of citizenship.
The second part of the book contains responses from influential interlocutors including Bonnie Honig and Marc Stears, David Owen and Adam Dunn, Aletta Norval, Antony Laden, and Duncan Bell. These provide a commentary not just on the ideas contained in this volume, but on Tully's approach to political philosophy more generally, thus making the book an ideal first source for academics and students wishing to engage with Tully's work. The volume closes with a response from Tully to his interlocutors.
A gestão do design como diferencial de qualidade nas indústrias moveleiras do Alto Uruguai Gaúcho
Authors: Silva José Paulo Medeiros da , Beltrame Thiago Favarini , Schmidt Alberto Souza 
Published: October 2014

The development of technological innovation, driven by the internationalization process of companies, products and markets, is triggering major changes in economic performance, competition, in deregulation and in the revolution of knowledge. Realizing of essential importance to understand what function and role design plays in the national furniture industry and to understand how its products are developed, the focus of this study is to identify culturally how the furniture industry in Alto Uruguai/RS operates in relation to the design and propose actions to implement the Design Management, aiming to the effectuation of the design and improvement of quality in the companies. The work was supported by bibliographic and documental resources, structured and semi-structured interviews and also by fieldwork. The research showed that the vast majority of companies demonstrate to understand the importance of design for the development of its products; however, there are few that invest in its accomplishment. Therefore, the design management, being a means of integration and interaction of different areas, can reverse this situation by promoting in the companies the competitive differential that is so necessary for their survival, such as the economic development in the region in which it operates.
La transnationalisation de la symbolique guerrière
Authors: Crettiez1 Xavier 
Published: October 2014

L’étude présentée ici a pour ambition d’apporter une lumière originale sur les échanges et emprunts culturels qui s’opèrent entre certains régionalismes violents en Europe. À partir d’une analyse croisée des traces figuratives produites par les mouvements nationalistes basques, corses et nord-irlandais, cet article se penche sur le phénomène de transnationalisation de la représentation de la violence. Que ce soit par le biais des véhicules du symbolisme, des symboles eux-mêmes ou des rhétoriques utilisées, on retrouve chez chacun des groupes étudiés une constellation d’images et de pratiques iconographiques communes qui sert à renforcer le message et à asseoir une certaine légitimité. Cela étant dit, ce caractère transnational d’une « culture » de la violence ne doit toutefois pas cacher les singularités de chacune des factions nationalistes, et notamment des répertoires d’action qui demeurent relativement différents tel que recours à l’assassinat, aux explosifs ainsi que si la violence est dirigée à l’interne ou à l’externe.
Les acteurs privés de la sécurité transnationale et leurs victimes
Authors: Mulone1 Massimiliano , Tanner Samuel 
Published: October 2014

Le présent article s’intéresse aux réactions formelles relatives aux déviances commises par les acteurs de la sécurité privée transnationale sur le théâtre d’opérations militaires. Par l’entremise d’une analyse des poursuites intentées à l’encontre de compagnies militaires privées (CMP) américaines et de leurs employés durant le conflit irakien entre 2003 et 2008, il se donne pour objectif de saisir la source, le cheminement et l’aboutissement de ces poursuites en vue de mieux comprendre l’avenir de la régulation de cette industrie. Notre démarche méthodologique, inductive, s’appuie sur l’ensemble des poursuites effectivement intentées. Les données témoignent en premier lieu de l’extrême difficulté que les victimes rencontrent dans la poursuite de leurs bourreaux et, dans ces rares cas, dans l’obtention d’une décision de culpabilité. L’analyse laisse également entrevoir qu’il existe deux sortes de déviances susceptibles de mettre en marche le système de justice, soit les cas très graves (et généralement très médiatisés) de violence commise à l’encontre de civils irakiens, et les situations où les victimes sont des soldats américains ou des employés de CMP qui se plaignent de manquements ou de négligences commis par une compagnie. À partir de cette constatation, une réflexion sur l’avenir de la régulation de l’industrie de la sécurité privée transnationale, et notamment sur sa capacité à s’autoréguler, est proposée.
Dynamical changes in the tropical Pacific warm pool and zonal SST gradient during the Pleistocene
Authors: Dyez Kelsey A. , Ravelo A. Christina 
Published: October 2014

AbstractIn the late Pleistocene, the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (pCO2) is thought to be a primary driving force for tropical sea surface temperature (SST) change because glacial‐interglacial changes in tropical Pacific SST covary with pCO2. However, if the regional radiative effects of pCO2 were the only agent of change, tropical SST gradients should have remained similar as pCO2 varied with time. Instead, a new record of SST from the west Pacific shows that tropical SST gradients were different, even reversed, in the past, suggesting an important role for dynamical circulation changes. Specifically, changes in the temperature of upwelled source water, in addition to local pCO2 forcing, influenced tropical Pacific SST. These dynamical changes, rather than pCO2, may have shifted the background state of the tropics and even helped set the stage for the mid‐Pleistocene transition.