bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Translational Control of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase by p38 MAPK in Islet β-Cells
Authors: Nishiki Yurika , Adewola Adeola , Hatanaka Masayuki , Templin Andrew T. , Maier Bernhard , Mirmira Raghavendra G. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThe MAPKs are transducers of extracellular signals such as proinflammatory cytokines. In islet β-cells, cytokinesacutely activate expression of the Nos2 gene encoding inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which ultimately impairs insulin release. Because iNOS production can also be regulated posttranscriptionally, we asked whether MAPKs participate in posttranscriptional regulatory events in β-cells and primary islets in response to cytokine signaling. We show that cytokines acutely reduce cellular oxygen consumption rate and impair aconitase activity. Inhibition of iNOS with l-NMMA or inhibition of Nos2 mRNA translation with GC7 [an inhibitor of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) activity] reversed these defects, as did inhibition of p38 MAPK by PD169316. Although inhibition of p38 had no effect on the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor κB or the abundance of Nos2 transcripts during the immediate period after cytokine exposure, its inhibition or knockdown resulted in significant reduction in iNOS protein, a finding suggestive of a permissive role for p38 in Nos2 translation. Polyribosomal profiling experiments using INS-1 β-cells revealed that Nos2 mRNA remained associated with polyribosomes in the setting of p38 inhibition, in a manner similar to that seen with blockade of translational elongation by cycloheximide. Consistent with a role in translational elongation, p38 activity is required in part for the activation of the translational factor eIF5A by promoting its hypusination. Our results suggest a novel signaling pathway in β-cells in which p38 MAPK promotes translation elongation of Nos2 mRNA via regulation of eIF5A hypusination.
Protective buttressing of the human fist and the evolution of hominin hands
Authors: Morgan Michael H. , Carrier David R. 
Published: December 2012

SUMMARY
The derived proportions of the human hand may provide supportive buttressing that protects the hand from injury when striking with a fist. Flexion of digits 2–5 results in buttressing of the pads of the distal phalanges against the central palm and the palmar pads of the proximal phalanges. Additionally, adduction of the thenar eminence to abut the dorsal surface of the distal phalanges of digits 2 and 3 locks these digits into a solid configuration that may allow a transfer of energy through the thenar eminence to the wrist. To test the hypothesis of a performance advantage, we measured: (1) the forces and rate of change of acceleration (jerk) from maximum effort strikes of subjects striking with a fist and an open hand; (2) the static stiffness of the second metacarpo-phalangeal (MCP) joint in buttressed and unbuttressed fist postures; and (3) static force transfer from digits 2 and 3 to digit 1 also in buttressed and unbuttressed fist postures. We found that peak forces, force impulses and peak jerk did not differ between the closed fist and open palm strikes. However, the structure of the human fist provides buttressing that increases the stiffness of the second MCP joint by fourfold and, as a result of force transfer through the thenar eminence, more than doubles the ability of the proximal phalanges to transmit ‘punching’ force. Thus, the proportions of the human hand provide a performance advantage when striking with a fist. We propose that the derived proportions of hominin hands reflect, in part, sexual selection to improve fighting performance.
Proposing the Bonding Requirements for Investment in Africa: A Tripartite Solution for the Environmental Protection
Authors: Liu Deming 
Published: December 2012

AbstractAfrican countries do not have an effective legal framework to address the environmental damage that would be caused by the mining activities and oil exploitation of the transnational corporations. To resolve the issue, the paper proposes the modified bonding requirements under a tripartite agreement whereby the corporations’ home governments are involved. Conducting the discussion in the context of the Chinese investment in Africa and the environmental concerns that arise, the paper shows that such a scheme offers many advantages over the conventional bonding requirements and that it benefits both the local and the Chinese governments. Further, it proposes that the scheme should be made mandatory for any investors and governments in respect of their investments in the mining and oil industries in Africa.
Combating Food Shortages in Least Developed Countries: Current Development Assistance Approaches
Authors: Tomkins Alan J. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThis paper discusses the major policy initiatives that have been developed to combat chronic food shortages in the world’s least developed nations. The United States has taken the world’s leadership position in trying to address chronic hunger and under-nutrition as part of its Feed the Future initiative, an effort that is linked to the G8’s L’Aquila Food Security initiative. Both initiatives focus on activities and outcomes that are intended to reduce food insecurity in the medium and long terms. Both initiatives operate in the context of the immediate food relief policies and practices that most nations subscribe to as part of the United Nations food security initiatives.
Survival Analysis of Left Truncated Income Protection Insurance Data
Authors: LIU QING , Pitt David , Wang Yan , Wu Xueyuan 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
One of the main characteristics of Income Protection Insurance (IPI) claim duration data, which has not been considered in the actuarial literature on the topic, is left-truncation. Claimants that are observed are those whose sickness durations are longer than the deferred periods specified in the policies, and hence left-truncation exists in these data. This paper investigates a series of conditional mixture models when applying survival analysis to model sickness durations of IPI claimants, and examines the consequence of treating the IPI data with lengthy deferred periods as complete data and therefore ignoring the left-truncation by fitting the corresponding unconditional distributions. It also quantifies the extent of the bias in the resulting parameter estimates when ignoring the left-truncation in the data. Using the UK Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI) sickness duration data, some well-fitting survival model results are estimated. It is demonstrated that ignoring the left-truncation in certain IPI data can lead to substantially different statistical estimates. We therefore suggest taking left-truncation into account by fitting conditional mixture distributions to IPI data. Furthermore, the best fitting model is extended by introducing a number of covariates into the conditional part to do regression analysis.
Law and Technology of Data Privacy: A Case for International Harmonization
Authors: Ko Haksoo 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Data crosses national borders routinely. And any regulation on data privacy by an individual national authority could easily have ramifications beyond its jurisdictional boundary. This article lays out some of the relevant issues and provides an argument for international coordination and harmonization. As technology advances, various techniques are being employed and will continue to be employed to gather information on users. At the same time, with the information thus gathered, companies engage in highly sophisticated data analytics. In response to these developments, several national and regional authorities have put forward major reform proposals and discussions are under way. The current framework of addressing data privacy issues at a country level or at a regional level, however, has a risk of splintering the overall regulatory and enforcement regime at the global level. This article examines economic incentives of individual authorities and illustrates that, without international harmonization, there is a systematic risk that global welfare would be reduced due to individual authorities’ sub-optimal regulations. The article then discusses possible options for international coordination and harmonization.
Diagnosis of cleft lip-palate during nuchal translucency screening – case report and review of the literature
Authors: Jadhav Ashwin R. , Monteagudo Ana , Santos Rosalba , Timor Ilan 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Orofacial clefts are the most common group of craniofacial anomalies. The detection rate of cleft lip during the mid-trimester, using two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound screening, has improved over the last three decades. However, the detection rates of defects involving the hard palate or isolated cleft palate have remained poor. Over the last decade, many investigators have studied the use of 3D ultrasound to improve the detection rates of these defects. With the increasing use and acceptance of first-trimester aneuploidy screening in the US, there is growing interest in performing first-trimester fetal anatomy surveys. Reports of first-trimester diagnosis of cleft lip and palate are rare, and this aspect of prenatal sonographic diagnosis remains underexplored. We report a case of unilateral cleft lip and cleft palate diagnosed during a routine first-trimester screening at 12 weeks’ gestation and review the pertinent literature on first-trimester diagnosis of cleft lip/palate.
Cervico-isthmic pregnancy with cervical placenta accreta
Authors: Weichert Alexander , Thomas Anke , Henrich Wolfgang , Köhler Christhardt , Dudenhausen Joachim W. , Kalache Karim D. 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Cervical pregnancies are a rare form of ectopic pregnancies. The reported incidence is estimated to affect one in 1000 to 18,000 pregnancies. Whereas true cervical pregnancies are rare, cervico-isthmic pregnancies are more common, and in addition more lethal as the maternal risk for massive hemorrhage increases with the advancement of the gestational period. Risk factors include tubal disease, uterine surgery as well as in vitro fertilization. We report a case of a 35-year-old woman at 20 weeks of gestation who was referred to our department because of cervical shortening and recurrent painless vaginal bleeding. Transvaginal ultrasound revealed that the placental implantation site was located within the cervix and the uterine isthmus while the fetus was developing in the uterus. Furthermore, we suspected placenta accreta. After counseling expectant management was chosen. At 31+5 weeks of gestation the patient developed severe vaginal bleeding leading to an emergency cesarean section with hysterectomy after an unsuccessful effort to stem the hemorrhage conservatively. The pathology report confirmed our sonographic findings. It can be concluded that cervico-isthmic pregnancies are rare implantation disorders that require interdisciplinary peripartum management. Expectant management can be offered. Preterm delivery and probable requirement of a hysterectomy need to be discussed with the patient.
Prelabor uterine rupture and extrusion of fetus with intact amniotic membranes: a case report
Authors: Kaya Barış , Akıl Aybala , Yıldırım Yusuf 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Introduction: The increasing rate of cesarean sections is an important issue globally, especially in developed countries. During the last decade, despite decreasing rates of vaginal delivery attempts after a previous cesarean section, the risk of uterine rupture has remained. Uterine rupture is a significant and catastrophic obstetric complication associated with maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. We report here a very rare case of prelabor uterine rupture with intact membranes.

Case report: A 28-year-old, gravida 3, para 2 Turkish woman was referred to our emergency unit at 34 weeks’ gestation because of the absence of fetal movements and abdominal pain. She had had a vaginal birth in 2007 and a cesarean section in 2009. In the delivery room, the fetal extremities were palpated at the abdominal wall, and an ultrasonography revealed ruptured uterus and fetal death. A midline laparotomy was carried out to open the peritoneal cavity. An intact amniotic sac with fetus was observed in the abdominal cavity, and the uterus was also observed to be ruptured. The male fetus, weighing 2500 g, was dead. The rupture was extending from the left lateral side of cervix to the fundus. The tear was repaired by primarily suturing the uterus in two layers after ligation of the left uterine artery to control hemorrhage. The total estimated blood loss was about 1300 mL. The patient received two units of blood transfusion during the operation. In the 4th postoperative day, the patient was discharged.

Conclusion: Complete uterine rupture is a rare but catastrophic event, and if diagnosed late, can result in mortality. Uterine rupture is rare during a trial of vaginal labor in a patient with a history of cesarean section; it is much rarer to occur before any trial of vaginal labor in such a patient. If a patient with a history of cesarean section, especially with an unknown type of incision, presents with complaints of abdominal tenderness or vaginal bleeding in the 3rd trimester, the possibility of complete uterine rupture must be considered.
Endoscopic anatomical study of the arachnoid architecture on the base of the skull. Part I: The anterior and middle cranial fossa
Authors: Kurucz Peter , Baksa Gabor , Patonay Lajos , Hopf Nikolai J. 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Minimally invasive neurosurgery requires a detailed knowledge of microstructures, such as the arachnoid membranes. In spite of many articles addressing arachnoid membranes, its detailed organization is still not well described. The aim of this study is to investigate the topography of the arachnoid in the anterior cranial fossa and the middle cranial fossa. Rigid endoscopes were introduced through defined keyhole craniotomies, to explore the arachnoid structures in 110 fresh human cadavers. We describe the topography and relationship to neurovascular structures and suggest an intuitive terminology of the arachnoid. We demonstrate an “arachnoid membrane system”, which consists of the outer arachnoid and 23 inner arachnoid membranes in the anterior fossa and the middle fossa. The inner membranes are arranged in two “arachnoid membrane groups” in the examined regions. The first is the carotid membrane group, located in the suprasellar region, consisting of seven paired and three unpaired inner membranes and the outer arachnoid on its base. The second is the Sylvian membrane group, composed of three inner membranes of the Sylvian fissure and completed by the outer arachnoid. Our findings should be very helpful in understanding the complex organization of the cranial arachnoid, which is mandatory for the safe and effective use of minimally invasive endoscopic techniques.
Multiple paternity in Asian black bear Ursus thibetanus (Ursidae, Carnivora) determined by microsatellite analysis
Authors: Yamamoto Toshiaki , Tamatani Hiroo , Tanaka Junpei , Kamiike Kumiko , Yokoyama Shotaro , Koyama Masaru , Kajiwara Mayuka 
Published: December 2012

AbstractWe performed microsatellite paternity analyses of two Asian black bear
Jenseits des Naturzustandes. Eine postkoloniale Lektüre von Hobbes und Rousseau
Authors: Purtschert Patricia 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
The state of nature is a fundamental concept of modern political philosophy. As such, it is particularly associated with Thomas Hobbes’ and Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s work. As the following article shows, the state of nature is not simply an auxiliary construction [Hilfskonstruktion] for a theory that aims to clarify the relation between the political order and its origins and normative principles. It is also a figure of thought that introduces colonial images into political philosophy. The following reading of Hobbes and Rousseau, which also draws on image analysis, traces how their conceptions of the state of nature are constitutively linked to imaginations of the savage that emanate from contemporary colonial discourses. Moreover, by comparing the writings of Hobbes and Rousseau it becomes apparent that the colonial difference increasingly takes on a systematic relevance. This development further contains significant similarities with the changing use of gender differences in political philosophy.
Die Eigenständigkeit des Krankheitsbegriffs in der Psychiatrie
Authors: Schramme Thomas 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Does the reference to a mental realm in using the notion of mental disorder lead to a dilemma that consists in either implying a Cartesian account of the mind-body relation or in the need to give up a notion of mental disorder in its own right? Many psychiatrists seem to believe that denying substance dualism requires a purely neurophysiological stance for explaining mental disorder. However, this conviction is based on a limited awareness of the philosophical debate on the mind-body problem. This article discusses the reasonableness of the concept of mental disorder in relation to reductionist and eliminativist strategies in the philosophy of mind. It is concluded that we need a psychological level of explanation that cannot be reduced to neurophysiological findings in order to make sense of mental disorder.
Philosophie als Gespräch
Authors: Schnädelbach Herbert , Dietz Simone , Vogel Matthias 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Looking back onto 50 years of teaching and research, Herbert Schnädelbach describes factors that shaped the development of philosophy during these years, leading foremost to a scientification of philosophy and to a specialization of philosophers. Simultaneously, he makes the diagnosis of a transformation from a personalized interpretation and explanation discipline to a cooperative effort, distinguished more by an increased interest in systemic questions and cooperation than by irreconcilable frontline positioning. The influence of the university reforms of the 1960s and of the years from 2000 onwards, how he relates to Kant, Hegel, and Adorno and to the role of the Critical Theory are also subject matters of the interview, as are questions regarding the tasks of philosophy in modern society.
Vom intuitiven Wissen zur dialektischen Bewegung des Denkens. Symposium zu: Eckart Förster: Die 25 Jahre der Philosophie
Authors: Schlösser Ulrich 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
This paper critically analyses two of Eckart Förster’s claims on the development of German idealism. The first claim is the following: In his writings on colour and on plant development, Goethe uses a method that is grounded in Spinoza’s third form of knowledge, scientia intuitiva. According to the second claim, Goethe’s methodology played a crucial role in establishing a developmental approach to knowledge in Hegel’s early Jena period. The paper assesses objections to both claims.
The Role of eGovernance in Mitigating Corruption
Authors: Mistry Jamshed J. 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT
This paper presents a model that illustrates the enablers of corruption, and delineates how eGovernance, based on the principles of transparency and accountability, can dismantle the enablers of corruption. Key enablers of corruption, such as economic rents, discretionary power of bureaucrats, and weak institutions, are identified from the extant literature to argue that these enablers undermine the public interest through unequal access to basic goods and services. The critical role of accounting and accounting information systems is highlighted by examining selected eGovernance initiatives that enhance transparency and accountability in dismantling corruption. Reduction of the discretionary power of bureaucrats, enforced consequences, and the demand for accountability enables equal access to information and public goods and services that could result in a bridging of the economic divide in a developing country such as India. Hence, a case study of India is utilized to analyze and assess the success of eGovernance initiatives and/or strategies to combat corruption. Various data sources were analyzed to assess the success or lack thereof of such initiatives. The results provide encouraging evidence that corruption can be mitigated through initiatives that enable transparency and accountability to dismantle the enablers of corruption.
Comparability of Earnings in Scandinavian Countries: The Impact of Mandatory IFRS Adoption and Stock Exchange Consolidations
Authors: Caban-Garcia Maria T. , He Haihong 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT
This study examines the impact on the comparability of earnings of two important events that occurred in 2005 in the Scandinavian region: the European Union-mandated adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the mergers between the three national exchanges of Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. Our tests follow two approaches. The first approach relies on mean-centered earnings/price multiples following Land and Lang (2002) to determine if the multiples converge in the 2005–2008 period. Our results show that all countries except Finland experienced a lower mean-centered earnings/price ratio in the 2005–2008 period. Additionally, in the 2005–2008 period, the mean-centered earnings/price ratio in Norway deviates from the region's mean more than it deviates from the mean in Finland, Denmark, and Sweden, even after controlling for other firm and country factors. Our second approach uses a firm-year comparability measure (De Franco et al. 2011) calculated during the 2001–2004 and 2005–2008 periods to assess whether comparability increases during the 2005–2008 period. Since the two events in our study are contemporaneous, we use Norway as a benchmark to separate the effect of IFRS from that of harmonized regulation after the merger. The results generally show that comparability is significantly higher during the 2005–2008 period in all countries. Our multivariate tests also confirm that comparability increases (although marginally) for all OMX Nordic Exchange countries, relative to Norway, from the 2001–2004 to the 2005–2008 period.
Data Availability: Data are available from public sources indicated in the paper.
Application of splines for determining the velocity characteristic of a medium from a vertical seismic survey
Authors: Bogdanov Vladimir , Karsten Wladimir , Miroshnichenko Valeriy , Volkov Yuriy 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
A method for solving the inverse kinematic problem of determining the velocity characteristic of a medium from a vertical seismic survey, is proposed. It is based on the combined use of the eikonal equation and spline methods of approximation for multivariable functions. The problem is solved by assuming a horizontally stratified medium; no assumptions about the number of layers and their thickness are made. First, using the data of the first arrival times of the seismic signal from several shotpoints, which are registered by detectors located in the vertical borehole, a spline approximating the function of first arrival time of the signal from source points to any point in the Earth subsurface is constructed. Then with the help of the eikonal equation, the characteristic of the medium around the borehole is determined. Numerical experiments on the model and the real data show high efficiency of the proposed method.