bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Domestic-Level Factors and Negotiation (In)Flexibility in the WTO
Authors: Lilja Jannie 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Some suggest that the fault lines of the WTO’s perceived failures actually lie in failures at the domestic level. This study examines the factors that can explain flexibility (and inflexibility) in multilateral trade negotiations within WTO member states. To shed light on the role of domestic factors in influencing WTO positions, we examine one member state in connection with a high-level meeting. India at the July 2008 Ministerial is selected primarily for methodological reasons. The empirical analysis provides preliminary support for the proposition that domestic policy-making structures marked by continuous information exchange and coordination are more likely to yield negotiation flexibility in multilateral talks. More specifically, the intense interaction that marks the relationships between actors involved in policy making on Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) and services, where the Indian negotiation position was flexible overall, stands in contrast to what took place in the area of agriculture, where India took a manifestly inflexible stand. Competing explanations fail to fully account for the variation in these negotiating postures. A key insight from the analysis is that organized and regularized consultations, involving the same actors over time, are important. There is also a need for public outreach strategies in connection with high-level WTO meetings.
The Ambiguous Role of the WTO in Times of Stalled Multilateral Negotiations and Proliferating FTAs in East Asia
Authors: Lindberg Lena , Alvstam Claes G. 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
The world trading system is characterized by a growing number of free trade agreements (FTAs). Limited progress in the negotiations at the multilateral level within the WTO has contributed to this development, inducing countries to seek faster, alternative ways to speed up liberalization, which make it possible to take advantage of preferential treatment with key trading partners. This article discusses what role the WTO should take with regard to FTAs in times of stalled multilateral negotiations and proliferating FTAs, and how FTAs can contribute to the multilateralization of regionalism. When results at the multilateral level are scarce, there may be a shift towards other alternatives in which the WTO is left out. This may force the WTO to function reactively, simply facing facts as an organization, rather than proactively, where it may play some role in shaping the FTA development. FTAs are not an entirely separate phenomenon from the WTO, since countries that negotiate FTAs play two roles. They are members of the WTO and as such are part of the work and negotiations of the organization. They are also part of trade arrangements that are limited to a smaller number of countries, and hence can negotiate against the interest of the entire multilateral organization. This article explores how these agreements can facilitate the work and negotiations of the WTO to regionalize bilateralism and multilateralize regionalism, here named the “sticky rice” approach. Various East Asian trade arrangements are used as empirical examples.
The Protection of Traditional Knowledge in the Knowledge Economy: Cross-Cutting Challenges in International Intellectual Property Law
Authors: Dagne Teshager 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
This article explores and analyses existing frameworks and current initiatives for legal protection of traditional knowledge (TK) in international intellectual property law. The need to protect TK and to secure fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from its use is accepted in major forums of international intellectual property law-making. Considerable differences exist, however, on the mode and scope of protection, and the extent to which the issue of TK protection can be addressed in respective institutions entrusted with the task: the CBD, WIPO, WTO, and FAO. In this article, general trends and specific problems that underlie demands for the protection of TK are analysed in light of contemporaneous trends of global economic integration in the age of global knowledge economy. After consideration of challenges and threats to TK that need to be addressed through a protection system, initiatives for the protection of TK in national and international frameworks are analytically explored, and various proposals and approaches for protection are critically examined.
When Are We Speculating on History? A Mandelbaumian Theory
Authors: Verstegen Ian 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
This paper is a classic critique of speculative philosophies of history based on Maurice Mandelbaum’s work. Unlike the more famous invective by Karl Popper, I argue that Mandelbaum’s is a richer and more interesting approach, which reveals through exposition a deeper unity to Mandelbaum’s work than is normally evident. Because Popper’s nominalism is suspicious of all metaphysics, it loses credibility whereas Mandelbaum placed reflection on the nature of society and causality at the center of his interests. Mandelbaum’s critique then is an invitation to investigate metaphysics on realist principles and he requires that we have a robust theory of historical ontology and truth with which to judge what goes beyond the proper representation of history and becomes speculative.
Impact of Covariance Localization on Ensemble Estimation of Surface Downwelling Longwave and Shortwave Radiation Fluxes
Authors: Forman B. A. , Margulis S. A. 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Accurate estimates of terrestrial hydrologic states and fluxes are, in large part, dependent on accurate estimates of the spatiotemporal variability and uncertainty of land surface forcings, including downwelling longwave (LW) and shortwave (SW) fluxes. However, such characterization of land surface forcings does not always receive proper attention. This study attempts to better estimate LW and SW fluxes, including their uncertainties, by merging different sources of information while considering horizontal error correlations via implementation of a 2D conditioning procedure within a Bayesian framework. A total of 25 experiments were performed utilizing four different, readily available downwelling radiation products. The localized region of space used to constrain horizontal error correlations was defined using an influence length, , specified a priori. Quantitative comparisons are made against an independent, ground-based observational network. In general, results suggest moderate improvement in cloudy-sky LW fluxes and modest improvement in clear-sky SW fluxes during certain times of the year when using the 2D framework relative to a more traditional 1D framework, but only up to a certain influence length scale. Beyond this length scale the flux estimates were typically degraded because of the introduction of spurious correlations. The influence length scale that yielded the greatest improvement in LW radiative flux estimation during cloudy-sky conditions, in general, increased with increasing cloud cover. These findings have implications for improving downwelling radiative flux estimation and further enhancing existing Land Data Assimilation System (LDAS) frameworks.
Generalized extragradient iterative method for systems of variational inequalities
Authors: Ceng Lu Chuan , Wong Mu Ming , Latif Abdul 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
The purpose of this article is to investigate the problem of finding a common element of the solution sets of two different systems of variational inequalities and the set of fixed points a strict pseudocontraction mapping defined in the setting of a real Hilbert space. Based on the well-known extragradient method, viscosity approximation method and Mann iterative method, we propose and analyze a generalized extra-gradient iterative method for computing a common element. Under very mild assumptions, we obtain a strong convergence theorem for three sequences generated by the proposed method. Our proposed method is quite general and flexible and includes the iterative methods considered in the earlier and recent literature as special cases. Our result represents the modification, supplement, extension and improvement of some corresponding results in the references.

Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): Primary 49J40; Secondary 65K05; 47H09.
The effect of dietary zinc - and polyphenols intake on DMBA-induced mammary tumorigenesis in rats
Authors: Bobrowska-Korczak Barbara , Skrajnowska Dorota , Tokarz Andrzej 
Published: April 2012

Abstract

Background
The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with zinc and polyphenol compounds, i.e. resveratrol and genistein, on the effectiveness of chemically induced mammary cancer and the changes in the content of selected elements (Zn, Cu, Mg, Fe, Ca) in tumors as compared with normal tissue of the mammary gland.

Methods
Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into study groups which, apart from the standard diet and DMBA (7,12-dimethyl-1,2- benz[a]anthracene), were treated with zinc ions (Zn) or zinc ions + resveratrol (Zn + resveratrol) or zinc ions + genistein (Zn + genistein) via gavage for a period from 40 days until 20 weeks of age. The ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry) technique was used to analyze the following elements: magnesium, iron, zinc and calcium. Copper content in samples was estimated in an atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Results
Regardless of the diet (standard; Zn; Zn + resveratrol; Zn + genistein), DMBA-induced breast carcinogenesis was not inhibited. On the contrary, in the Zn + resveratrol supplemented group, tumorigenesis developed at a considerably faster rate. On the basis of quantitative analysis of selected elements we found - irrespectively of the diet applied - great accumulation of copper and iron, which are strongly prooxidative, with a simultaneous considerable decrease of the magnesium content in DMBA-induced mammary tumors. The combination of zinc supplementation with resveratrol resulted in particularly large differences in the amount of the investigated elements in tumors as compared with their content in normal tissue.

Conclusions
Diet supplementation with zinc and polyphenol compounds, i.e. resveratrol and genistein had no effect on the decreased copper level in tumor tissue and inhibited mammary carcinogenesis in the rat. Irrespectively of the applied diet, the development of the neoplastic process in rats resulted in changes of the iron and magnesium content in the cancerous tissue in comparison with the healthy mammary tissue. The application of combined diet supplementation with zinc ions and resveratrol considerably promoted the rate of carcinogenesis and increased the number of DMBA-induced mammary tumors.
'maskBAD' - a package to detect and remove Affymetrix probes with binding affinity differences
Authors: Dannemann Michael , Lachmann Michael , Lorenc Anna 
Published: April 2012

Abstract

Background
Hybridization differences caused by target sequence differences can be a confounding factor in analyzing gene expression on microarrays, lead to false positives and reduce power to detect real expression differences. We prepared an R Bioconductor compatible package to detect, characterize and remove such probes in Affymetrix 3’IVT and exon-based arrays on the basis of correlation of signal intensities from probes within probe sets.

Results
Using completely mouse genomes we determined type 1 (false negatives) and type 2 (false positives) errors with high accuracy and we show that our method routinely outperforms previous methods. When detecting 76.2% of known SNP/indels in mouse expression data, we obtain at most 5.5% false positives. At the same level of false positives, best previous method detected 72.6%. We also show that probes with differing binding affinity both hinder differential expression detection and introduce artifacts in cancer-healthy tissue comparison.

Conclusions
Detection and removal of such probes should be a routine step in Affymetrix data preprocessing. We prepared a user friendly R package, compatible with Bioconductor, that allows the filtering and improving of data from Affymetrix microarrays experiments.
Ecological partitioning and diversity in tropical planktonic foraminifera
Authors: Seears Heidi A , Darling Kate F , Wade Christopher M 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackgroundEcological processes are increasingly being viewed as an important mode of diversification in the marine environment, where the high dispersal potential of pelagic organisms, and a lack of absolute barriers to gene flow may limit the occurrence of allopatric speciation through vicariance. Here we focus on the potential role of ecological partitioning in the diversification of a widely distributed group of marine protists, the planktonic foraminifera. Sampling was conducted in the tropical Arabian Sea, during the southwest (summer) monsoon, when pronounced environmental conditions result in a strong disparity in temperature, salinity and productivity between distinct northern and southern water masses.ResultsWe uncovered extensive genetic diversity within the Arabian Sea planktonic foraminifera, identifying 13 morphospecies, represented by 20 distinct SSU rRNA genetic types. Several morphospecies/genetic types displayed non-random biogeographical distributions, partitioning between the northern and southern water masses, giving a strong indication of independent ecological adaptations.ConclusionsWe propose sea-surface primary productivity as the main factor driving the geographical segregation of Arabian Sea planktonic foraminifera, during the SW monsoon, with variations in symbiotic associations possibly playing a role in the specific ecological adaptations observed. Our findings suggest that ecological partitioning could be contributing to the high levels of 'cryptic' genetic diversity observed within the planktonic foraminifera, and support the view that ecological processes may play a key role in the diversification of marine pelagic organisms.
Analysis of plant LTR-retrotransposons at the fine-scale family level reveals individual molecular patterns
Authors: Domingues Douglas S , Cruz Guilherme MQ , Metcalfe Cushla J , Nogueira Fabio TS , Vicentini Renato , de S Alves Cristiane , Van Sluys Marie-Anne 
Published: April 2012

Abstract

Background
Sugarcane is an important crop worldwide for sugar production and increasingly, as a renewable energy source. Modern cultivars have polyploid, large complex genomes, with highly unequal contributions from ancestral genomes. Long Terminal Repeat retrotransposons (LTR-RTs) are the single largest components of most plant genomes and can substantially impact the genome in many ways. It is therefore crucial to understand their contribution to the genome and transcriptome, however a detailed study of LTR-RTs in sugarcane has not been previously carried out.

Results
Sixty complete LTR-RT elements were classified into 35 families within four Copia and three Gypsy lineages. Structurally, within lineages elements were similar, between lineages there were large size differences. FISH analysis resulted in the expected pattern of Gyps y/heterochromatin, Copia/euchromatin, but in two lineages there was localized clustering on some chromosomes. Analysis of related ESTs and RT-PCR showed transcriptional variation between tissues and families. Four distinct patterns were observed in sRNA mapping, the most unusual of which was that of Ale1, with very large numbers of 24nt sRNAs in the coding region. The results presented support the conclusion that distinct small RNA-regulated pathways in sugarcane target the lineages of LTR-RT elements.

Conclusions
Individual LTR-RT sugarcane families have distinct structures, and transcriptional and regulatory signatures. Our results indicate that in sugarcane individual LTR-RT families have distinct behaviors and can potentially impact the genome in diverse ways. For instance, these transposable elements may affect nearby genes by generating a diverse set of small RNA's that trigger gene silencing mechanisms. There is also some evidence that ancestral genomes contribute significantly different element numbers from particular LTR-RT lineages to the modern sugarcane cultivar genome.
Independent effects of adding weight and inertia on balance during quiet standing
Authors: Costello Kerry Elizabeth , Matrangola Sara Louise , Madigan Michael Lawrence 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackgroundHuman balance during quiet standing is influenced by adding mass to the body with a backpack, with symmetrically-applied loads to the trunk, or with obesity. Adding mass to the body increases both the weight and inertia of the body, which theoretically could provide counteracting effects on body dynamics and balance. Understanding the independent effects of adding weight and inertia on balance may provide additional insight into human balance that could lead to novel advancements in balance training and rehabilitation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the independent effects of adding weight and inertia on balance during quiet standing.MethodsSixteen normal-weight young adult participants stood as still as possible on a custom-built backboard apparatus under four experimental conditions: baseline, added inertia only, added weight only, and added inertia and weight.ResultsAdding inertia by itself had no measurable effect on center of pressure movement or backboard movement. Adding weight by itself increased center of pressure movement (indicated greater effort by the postural control system to stand as still as possible) and backboard movement (indicating a poorer ability of the body to stand as still as possible). Adding inertia and weight at the same time increased center of pressure movement but did not increase backboard movement compared to the baseline condition.ConclusionsAdding inertia and adding weight had different effects on balance. Adding inertia by itself had no effect on balance. Adding weight by itself had a negative effect on balance. When adding inertia and weight at the same time, the added inertia appeared to lessen (but did not eliminate) the negative effect of adding weight on balance. These results improve our fundamental understanding of how added mass influences human balance.
Stent implantation for a totally occluded right coronary artery in a six-year-old boy after Kawasaki disease: a case report
Authors: Hsu Ya-Chi , Liang Kae-Woei , Lin Ming-Chih , Fu Yun-Ching , Jan Sheng-Ling 
Published: April 2012

Abstract

Introduction
Coronary stenting has previously been considered to be less feasible in children under 12 years old due to the limitation of vascular access. We report the case of a six-year-old boy who successfully underwent stent implantation for his totally occluded right coronary artery.

Case presentation
A Taiwanese boy aged six years and nine months old was found to have giant aneurysms after an acute episode of Kawasaki disease. An angiography revealed that his middle right coronary artery was totally occluded. A 0.014-inch guidewire was advanced to cross the totally occluded site. After pre-dilating the middle portion of his right coronary artery with a 1.5 mm balloon, stenting of his right coronary artery was accomplished using a 2.5 × 28 mm and a 2.5 × 18 mm bare metal stent. A final angiography demonstrated no residual stenosis or dissection.

Conclusion
Coronary stenting could be a therapeutic option for children as young as six years old. Close follow-up is mandatory because the long-term outcome is still unclear, especially in a small child.
Comparison of shoe‐length fit between people with and without diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a case–control study
Authors: McInnes Alistair D , Hashmi Farina , Farndon Lisa J , Church Amanda , Haley Maria , Sanger Debora M , Vernon Wesley 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackgroundAmongst the many identified mechanisms leading to diabetic foot ulceration, ill‐fitting footwear is one. There is anecdotal evidence that people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy wear shoes that are too small in order to increase the sensation of fit. The aim of this study was to determine whether people with diabetic sensory neuropathy wear appropriate length footwear.MethodsA case–control design was used to compare internal shoe length and foot length differences between a group of people with diabetes and peripheral sensory neuropathy and a group of people without diabetes and no peripheral sensory neuropathy. Shoe and foot length measurements were taken using a calibrated Internal Shoe Size Gauge® and a Brannock Device®, respectively.ResultsData was collected from 85 participants with diabetes and 118 participants without diabetes. The mean difference between shoe and foot length was not significantly different between the two groups. However, a significant number of participants within both groups had a shoe to foot length difference that lay outside a previously suggested 10 to 15 mm range. From the diabetic and non‐diabetic groups 82% (70/85) and 66% (78/118), respectively had a foot to shoe length difference outside this same range.ConclusionsThis study shows that although there is no significant difference in shoe‐length fit between participants with and without neuropathy, a significant proportion of these populations wear shoes that are either too long or too short for their foot length according to the 10 to 15 mm value used for comparison. The study has highlighted the need for standardised approaches when considering the allowance required between foot and internal shoe length and for the measurement and comparison of foot and shoe dimensions.