bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The International Convention on the Prevention of Odious Agreements: A Human Rights-Based Mechanism to Avoid Odious Debts
Authors: SCHNEIDER FRIEDRICH BENJAMIN 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThere is a lively discussion as to whether debts incurred by despotic regimes and used to the detriment of the population are legally valid. This article gives a brief introduction to the concept of so-called odious debts and argues that a legal solution is not only desirable, but feasible. Subsequently, international human rights are identified as the missing link between the behaviour of the debtor state and the assessment of individual debts. Consequently, a human rights-based mechanism for the prevention of odious agreements is developed, based on an international convention annexed to this article. The convention provides that a state is classified as odious debts-prone if it is responsible for serious and systematic violations of human rights or international humanitarian law, or if its public sector is governed by severe and systemic corruption. Agreements concluded with an odious debts-prone state are void, unless the agreement complies with principles of responsible contracting as developed in this article. Finally, the scope of application of the convention and possible state parties are specified.
The pandemic potential of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus: a review
Authors: TANNER W. D. , TOTH D. J. A. , GUNDLAPALLI A. V. 
Published: July 2015

SummaryIn March 2013 the first cases of human avian influenza A(H7N9) were reported to the World Health Organization. Since that time, over 650 cases have been reported. Infections are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, particularly within certain demographic groups. This rapid increase in cases over a brief time period is alarming and has raised concerns about the pandemic potential of the H7N9 virus. Three major factors influence the pandemic potential of an influenza virus: (1) its ability to cause human disease, (2) the immunity of the population to the virus, and (3) the transmission potential of the virus. This paper reviews what is currently known about each of these factors with respect to avian influenza A(H7N9). Currently, sustained human-to-human transmission of H7N9 has not been reported; however, population immunity to the virus is considered very low, and the virus has significant ability to cause human disease. Several statistical and geographical modelling studies have estimated and predicted the spread of the H7N9 virus in humans and avian species, and some have identified potential risk factors associated with disease transmission. Additionally, assessment tools have been developed to evaluate the pandemic potential of H7N9 and other influenza viruses. These tools could also hypothetically be used to monitor changes in the pandemic potential of a particular virus over time.
Geochemical evidence of different sources of long-period seismic events at Deception volcano, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica
Authors: Padrón Eleazar , Hernández Pedro A. , Carmona Enrique , Pérez Nemesio M. , Melián Gladys , Sumino Hirochika , Almendros Javier , Kusakabe Minoru , Wakita Hiroshi , Padilla Germán D. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThis is the first detailed analysis of a CO2diffuse degassing time series from Deception volcano, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, performed during an episode of anomalously high long-period (LP) seismicity. Diffuse CO2emissions measured by an automatic geochemical station between 7 December 2009 and 13 February 2010 showed an excellent temporal agreement with the LP seismicity in December 2009. The absence of such a temporal correlation with the second burst of seismicity that occurred in late January 2010 suggests a different source for this LP activity. This was confirmed by analysis of seismic array data. The LP seismicity observed during December 2009 was caused by fluid-driven cracks that originated from pressure fluctuations in the volcano-hydrothermal systems beneath Deception volcano that were probably caused by a deep injection of undegassed magma before December 2009. The diffuse CO2degassing data have provided evidence of the activation of at least two different sources of seismicity during the study period at Deception volcano.
Solar Surface Anisotropy effect on the Magnetic Field
Authors: Bommier Véronique 
Published: July 2015

AbstractWithin the literature there are at least 15 references indicating that the horizontal magnetic flux does not exactly balance vertical flux in sunspots, leading to the surprising result that div$\vec{B}$would depart from zero. Intuitively, this has to be related to the stratification at the surface of the star, due to which horizontal and vertical typical lengths are different. This surface anisotropy results from gravity, but how does gravity influence the magnetic field? To answer this question, a scenario has been proposed in two recent publications, based on anisotropic Debye shielding. The presentation reported in this paper was devoted to investigate the possibility and causes of a non-zero div$\vec{B}$. A scaling law associated with the anisotropy is able to reestablish the nullity of div$\vec{B}$, which would lead to a renewed MHD in the solar photosphere layer. An eventual observation in the laboratory is also reported.
Atomic Scattering Polarization. Observations, Modeling, Predictions
Authors: Bueno J. Trujillo , Alemán T. Del Pino , Belluzzi L. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThis paper highlights very recent advances concerning the identification of new mechanisms that introduce polarization in spectral lines, which turn out to be key for understanding some of the most enigmatic scattering polarization signals of the solar visible spectrum. We also show a radiative transfer prediction on the scattering polarization pattern across the Mg iih & k lines, whose radiation can only be observed from space.
Chromospheric diagnosis with forward scattering polarization
Authors: Carlin E. S. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractIs it physically feasible to perform the chromospheric diagnosis using spatial maps of scattering polarization at the solar disk center? To investigate it we synthesized polarization maps (in 8542 Å) resulting from MHD solar models and NLTE radiative transfer calculations that consider Hanle effect and vertical macroscopic motions. After explaining the physical context of forward scattering and presenting our results, we arrive at the definition of Hanle polarity inversion lines. We show how such features can give support for a clearer chromospheric diagnosis in which the magnetic and dynamic effects in the scattering polarization could be disentangled.
Parallelization of the SIR code for the investigation of small-scale features in the solar photosphere
Authors: Thonhofer Stefan , Rubio Luis R. Bellot , Utz Dominik , Hanslmeier Arnold , Jurçák Jan 
Published: July 2015

AbstractMagnetic fields are one of the most important drivers of the highly dynamic processes that occur in the lower solar atmosphere. They span a broad range of sizes, from large- and intermediate-scale structures such as sunspots, pores and magnetic knots, down to the smallest magnetic elements observable with current telescopes. On small scales, magnetic flux tubes are often visible as Magnetic Bright Points (MBPs). Apart from simple V/I magnetograms, the most common method to deduce their magnetic properties is the inversion of spectropolarimetric data. Here we employ the SIR code for that purpose. SIR is a well-established tool that can derive not only the magnetic field vector and other atmospheric parameters (e.g., temperature, line-of-sight velocity), but also their stratifications with height, effectively producing 3-dimensional models of the lower solar atmosphere. In order to enhance the runtime performance and the usability of SIR we parallelized the existing code and standardized the input and output formats. This and other improvements make it feasible to invert extensive high-resolution data sets within a reasonable amount of computing time. An evaluation of the speedup of the parallel SIR code shows a substantial improvement in runtime.
Circumstellar Polarimetry
Authors: Magalhães A. M. , Carciofi A. C. , Seriacopi D. B. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractStarlight polarization provides insight into the physical mechanisms in and around the source as well as its geometry, whether or not the source is resolved. In this talk we will review mechanisms that polarize light in stellar envelopes. The observations and modeling can be used to probe the physics of the circumstellar environment as well as its relation to the ambient interstellar environment.
Probing disk inhomogeneities using spectropolarimetry in the extreme binary epsilon Aurigae
Authors: Geise Kathleen , Stencel Robert 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe ϵ Aurigae system is a single–line spectroscopic binary system that consists of a variable F0 supergiant star and an occulting disk surrounding an unseen object, probably a B star. The eclipse occurs every 27 years and lasts for almost 2 years. Spectral features attributed to the disk exhibit line shifts due to the rotation of the disk that are easily observed in spectra. We obtained 50+ epochs of high dispersion optical spectropolarimetric data from the ESPaDOnS instrument at the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope before, during, and after the most recent eclipse (2009–2011). We found numerous 3–sigma (or greater) linear polarization features in the spectra and associated these with atomic absorption features also present in the spectra. We observed dramatic changes to polarization and position angles with time during eclipse, particularly around 3rd contact. The increased polarization could be due to a localized increased number of scatterers.
Three-dimensional simulations of scattering polarization and the Hanle effect in MHD chromospheric models
Authors: Štěpán J. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractScattering line polarization and the Hanle effect are among the most important mechanisms for diagnostics of the solar and stellar atmospheres. The fact that real stellar atmospheres are horizontally inhomogeneous makes the spectral synthesis and interpretation very challenging because the effect of thermodynamic fluctuations on spectral line polarization is entangled with the action of magnetic fields. This applies to the spatially resolved as well as to the averaged spectra. The necessary step towards the interpretation of such spectra is to study the line formation in sufficiently realistic 3D MHD models and compare the synthetic spectra with observations. This paper gives an overview of recent progress in the field of 3D NLTE synthesis of polarized spectral lines resulting from investigations with the radiative transfer code PORTA.
Mitochondrial complex II is a source of the reserve respiratory capacity that is regulated by metabolic sensors and promotes cell survival
Authors: Pfleger J , He M , Abdellatif M 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe survival of a cell depends on its ability to meet its energy requirements. We hypothesized that the mitochondrial reserve respiratory capacity (RRC) of a cell is a critical component of its bioenergetics that can be utilized during an increase in energy demand, thereby, enhancing viability. Our goal was to identify the elements that regulate and contribute to the development of RRC and its involvement in cell survival. The results show that activation of metabolic sensors, including pyruvate dehydrogenase and AMP-dependent kinase, increases cardiac myocyte RRC via a Sirt3-dependent mechanism. Notably, we identified mitochondrial complex II (cII) as a target of these metabolic sensors and the main source of RRC. Moreover, we show that RRC, via cII, correlates with enhanced cell survival after hypoxia. Thus, for the first time, we show that metabolic sensors via Sirt3 maximize the cellular RRC through activating cII, which enhances cell survival after hypoxia.
Structural prerequisites for G-protein activation by the neurotensin receptor
Authors: Krumm Brian E. , White Jim F. , Shah Priyanka , Grisshammer Reinhard 
Published: July 2015

AbstractWe previously determined the structure of neurotensin receptor NTSR1 in an active-like conformation with six thermostabilizing mutations bound to the peptide agonist neurotensin. This receptor was unable to activate G proteins, indicating that the mutations restricted NTSR1 to relate agonist binding to G-protein activation. Here we analyse the effect of three of those mutations (E166A3.49, L310A6.37, F358A7.42) and present two structures of NTSR1 able to catalyse nucleotide exchange at Gα. The presence of F3587.42 causes the conserved W3216.48 to adopt a side chain orientation parallel to the lipid bilayer sealing the collapsed Na+ ion pocket and linking the agonist with residues in the lower receptor part implicated in GPCR activation. In the intracellular receptor half, the bulkier L3106.37 side chain dictates the position of R1673.50 of the highly conserved D/ERY motif. These residues, together with the presence of E1663.49 provide determinants for G-protein activation by NTSR1.
Flotillin-2 promotes metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by activating NF-κB and PI3K/Akt3 signaling pathways
Authors: Liu Jie , Huang Wei , Ren Caiping , Wen Qiuyuan , Liu Weidong , Yang Xuyu , Wang Lei , Zhu Bin , Zeng Liang , Feng Xiangling , Zhang Chang , Chen Huan , Jia Wei , Zhang Lihua , Xia Xiaomeng , Chen Yuxiang 
Published: July 2015

AbstractLipid raft proteins have been confirmed to be important in cell signal transduction. Some reports have shown that the aberrant expression of lipid raft proteins is associated with malignant phenotypes in some cancers. However, the role of the lipid raft protein flotillin-2 (Flot-2) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains to be comprehensively characterized. Here, overexpression of Flot-2 in NPC tissues and cell lines was detected by immunostaining and Flot-2 expression was found to be positively associated with NPC metastasis. Furthermore, inhibiting Flot-2 expression impaired the malignancy of the highly metastatic NPC cell line 5-8F by constraining its growth and proliferation, mobility and migration and decreasing the capacity of 5-8F cells to metastasize in nude mice. In contrast, forced overexpression of Flot-2 increased the malignancy of 6-10B, a non-metastatic NPC cell line that weakly expresses Flot-2. Moreover, in 5-8F-shFlot-2 cells, which have inhibited Flot-2 expression, the NF-κB and PI3K/Akt3 pathways were inactivated. Subsequently, MMPs expression were decreased and Foxo1 activity was increased. In addition, enhanced NF-κB and PI3K/Akt3 activities were observed in Flot-2 overexpressing 6-10B cells. Thus, Flot-2 exerts a pro-neoplastic role in NPC and is involved in tumor progression and metastasis. Moreover, Flot-2 exerts its role through NF-κB and PI3K/Akt3 signaling.
Comparison of Therapeutic Effect of Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator by Treatment Time after Onset of Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Wang Hai-rong , Chen Miao , Wang Fei-long , Dai Li-hua , Fei Ai-hua , Liu Jia-fu , Li Hao-jun , Shen Sa , Liu Ming , Pan Shu-ming 
Published: July 2015

AbstractWe aimed to compare the therapeutic effect of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) administered at different time windows within the first 6 hours after onset of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). A retrospective analysis was performed of data collected from 194 patients who received rt-PA thrombolysis within 4.5 hours after AIS onset and from 29 patients who received rt-PA thrombolysis between 4.5–6 hours after AIS onset. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were statistically decreased in both groups (P < 0.05) at 24 hours and 7 days after onset. There was no statistical difference in the modified Rankin score or mortality at day 90 after treatment between the two groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, AIS patients who received rt-PA treatment between 4.5–6 hours after onset were similar in therapeutic efficacy to those who received rt-PA within 4.5 hours after onset. Our results suggest that intravenous thrombolytic therapy for AIS within 4.5–6 hours after onset is effective and safe.
Variable-angle high-angle annular dark-field imaging: application to three-dimensional dopant atom profiling
Authors: Zhang Jack Y. , Hwang Jinwoo , Isaac Brandon J. , Stemmer Susanne 
Published: July 2015

AbstractVariable-angle high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) imaging in scanning transmission electron microscopy is developed for precise and accurate determination of three-dimensional (3D) dopant atom configurations. Gd-doped SrTiO3 films containing Sr columns containing zero, one, or two Gd dopant atoms are imaged in HAADF mode using two different collection angles. Variable-angle HAADF significantly increases both the precision and accuracy of 3D dopant profiling. Using image simulations, it is shown that the combined information from the two detectors reduces the uncertainty in the dopant depth position measurement and can uniquely identify certain atomic configurations that are indistinguishable with a single detector setting. Additional advances and applications are discussed.
14-3-3ζ deficient mice in the BALB/c background display behavioural and anatomical defects associated with neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Xu Xiangjun , Jaehne Emily J. , Greenberg Zarina , McCarthy Peter , Saleh Eiman , Parish Clare L. , Camera Daria , Heng Julian , Haas Matilda , Baune Bernhard T. , Ratnayake Udani , Buuse Maarten van den , Lopez Angel F. , Ramshaw Hayley S. , Schwarz Quenten 
Published: July 2015

AbstractSequencing and expression analyses implicate 14-3-3ζ as a genetic risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. In support of this notion, we recently found that 14-3-3ζ−/− mice in the Sv/129 background display schizophrenia-like defects. As epistatic interactions play a significant role in disease pathogenesis we generated a new congenic strain in the BALB/c background to determine the impact of genetic interactions on the 14-3-3ζ−/− phenotype. In addition to replicating defects such as aberrant mossy fibre connectivity and impaired spatial memory, our analysis of 14-3-3ζ−/− BALB/c mice identified enlarged lateral ventricles, reduced synaptic density and ectopically positioned pyramidal neurons in all subfields of the hippocampus. In contrast to our previous analyses, 14-3-3ζ−/− BALB/c mice lacked locomotor hyperactivity that was underscored by normal levels of the dopamine transporter (DAT) and dopamine signalling. Taken together, our results demonstrate that dysfunction of 14-3-3ζ gives rise to many of the pathological hallmarks associated with the human condition. 14-3-3ζ-deficient BALB/c mice therefore provide a novel model to address the underlying biology of structural defects affecting the hippocampus and ventricle and cognitive defects such as hippocampal-dependent learning and memory.
Stomatal closure is induced by hydraulic signals and maintained by ABA in drought-stressed grapevine
Authors: Tombesi Sergio , Nardini Andrea , Frioni Tommaso , Soccolini Marta , Zadra Claudia , Farinelli Daniela , Poni Stefano , Palliotti Alberto 
Published: July 2015

AbstractWater saving under drought stress is assured by stomatal closure driven by active (ABA-mediated) and/or passive (hydraulic-mediated) mechanisms. There is currently no comprehensive model nor any general consensus about the actual contribution and relative importance of each of the above factors in modulating stomatal closurein planta. In the present study, we assessed the contribution of passive (hydraulic) vs active (ABA mediated) mechanisms of stomatal closure inV. viniferaplants facing drought stress. Leaf gas exchange decreased progressively to zero during drought and embolism-induced loss of hydraulic conductance in petioles peaked to ~50% in correspondence with strong daily limitation of stomatal conductance. Foliar ABA significantly increased only after complete stomatal closure had already occurred. Rewatering plants after complete stomatal closure and after foliar ABA reached maximum values did not induced stomatal re-opening, despite embolism recovery and water potential rise. Our data suggest that in grapevine stomatal conductance is primarily regulated by passive hydraulic mechanisms. Foliar ABA apparently limits leaf gas exchange over long-term, also preventing recovery of stomatal aperture upon rewatering, suggesting the occurrence of a mechanism of long-term down-regulation of transpiration to favor embolism repair and preserve water under conditions of fluctuating water availability and repeated drought events.
2D map projections for visualization and quantitative analysis of 3D fluorescence micrographs
Authors: Sendra G. Hernán , Hoerth Christian H. , Wunder Christian , Lorenz Holger 
Published: July 2015

AbstractWe introduce Map3-2D, a freely available software to accurately project up to five-dimensional (5D) fluorescence microscopy image data onto full-content 2D maps. Similar to the Earth’s projection onto cartographic maps, Map3-2D unfolds surface information from a stack of images onto a single, structurally connected map. We demonstrate its applicability for visualization and quantitative analyses of spherical and uneven surfaces in fixed and dynamic live samples by using mammalian and yeast cells and giant unilamellar vesicles. Map3-2D software is available at http://www.zmbh.uni-heidelberg.de//Central_Services/Imaging_Facility/Map3-2D.html.
Genome-wide high-throughput SNP discovery and genotyping for understanding natural (functional) allelic diversity and domestication patterns in wild chickpea
Authors: Bajaj Deepak , Das Shouvik , Badoni Saurabh , Kumar Vinod , Singh Mohar , Bansal Kailash C. , Tyagi Akhilesh K. , Parida Swarup K. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractWe identified 82489 high-quality genome-wide SNPs from 93 wild and cultivated Cicer accessions through integrated reference genome- and de novo-based GBS assays. High intra- and inter-specific polymorphic potential (66–85%) and broader natural allelic diversity (6–64%) detected by genome-wide SNPs among accessions signify their efficacy for monitoring introgression and transferring target trait-regulating genomic (gene) regions/allelic variants from wild to cultivated Cicer gene pools for genetic improvement. The population-specific assignment of wild Cicer accessions pertaining to the primary gene pool are more influenced by geographical origin/phenotypic characteristics than species/gene-pools of origination. The functional significance of allelic variants (non-synonymous and regulatory SNPs) scanned from transcription factors and stress-responsive genes in differentiating wild accessions (with potential known sources of yield-contributing and stress tolerance traits) from cultivated desi and kabuli accessions, fine-mapping/map-based cloning of QTLs and determination of LD patterns across wild and cultivated gene-pools are suitably elucidated. The correlation between phenotypic (agromorphological traits) and molecular diversity-based admixed domestication patterns within six structured populations of wild and cultivated accessions via genome-wide SNPs was apparent. This suggests utility of whole genome SNPs as a potential resource for identifying naturally selected trait-regulating genomic targets/functional allelic variants adaptive to diverse agroclimatic regions for genetic enhancement of cultivated gene-pools.