bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Challenges to the South Caucasus Regional Security Aftermath of Russian–Georgian Conflict: Hegemonic Stability or New Partnership?
Authors: Kakachia Kornely K. 
Published: November 2010

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Caspian Sea and South Caucasus has become the focus of considerable international attention, primary because it is one of the oldest and potentially richest oil and gas producing areas in the world. The August 2008 Russian invasion of the Georgia and the unilateral recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia fundamentally changed the situation in the region. The war has created a new strategic situation. And the question is now how to handle this delicate situation in a strategically and geopolitically important region. So by controlling Georgia (in case Russia reaches abovementioned aims), Russia actually will be able to cut off Central Asia and Caspian resources. It means Russia would be able to isolate and cut off Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries and it will significantly strengthen its energy monopoly over Europe with all results coming out from that fact. So it's about major shift in the energy policy and major shift in geopolitics based on this energy policy and Russian energy monopoly. The August war in Georgia demonstrated some risks associated with the functioning of the transit energy corridor in the southern Caucasus. It also demonstrated the need for broader security guarantees for a region that is vital to European and global energy security. Paper deals with economic damage inflicted by the Russo-Georgian war in South Caucasus and its implications for regional security.
Homology stability for unitary groups overS-arithmetic rings
Authors: Collinet G. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractWe prove that the homology of unitary groups over rings ofS-integers in number fields stabilizes. Results of this kind are well known to follow from the high acyclicity ofad-hocpolyhedra. Given this, we exhibit two simple conditions on the arithmetic of hermitian forms over a ringArelatively to an anti-automorphism which, if they are satisfied, imply the stabilization of the homology of the corresponding unitary groups. WhenRis a ring ofS-integers in a number fieldK, andAis a maximalR-order in an associative composition algebraFoverK, we use the strong approximation theorem to show that both of these properties are satisfied. Finally we take a closer look at the case of On(ℤ[½]).
Influence of lipoproteins and fibrinogen on pathogenesis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Oreskovic Z , Shejbal D , Bicanic G , Kekic B 
Published: November 2010

AbstractAim:To evaluate the relationship between lipoproteins, fibrinogen and sudden sensorineural hearing loss in a Croatian population. Since pathological derangement of lipoproteins and fibrinogen could be one of the causes of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, we hypothesised that patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss would have more abnormal fibrinogen and lipoprotein concentrations, compared with subjects with normal hearing.Methods:Plasma concentrations of cholesterol, fibrinogen and triglycerides in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss were compared with those in a control group (i.e. subjects with normal hearing function).Results:Patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss had significantly higher plasma concentrations of cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, compared with controls.Conclusion:Higher cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were found in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss, within a Croatian population. Cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations may be important factors in the pathogenesis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and should be assessed during the investigation of patients with this condition.
FRENCH CROSSINGS: I. TALES OF TWO CITIES
Authors: Jones Colin 
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACTUnder the general title, ‘French Crossings’, the presidential addresses over the next four years will explore intersections and relationships between cultures, periods, disciplines, approaches, historiographies and problems, all within the general field of early modern and modern French history. ‘Tales of Two Cities’ takes as its approach both comparative history andl'histoire croisée. It compares and contrasts the very differing cultural impact on each side of the Channel of one of the most influential British novels about Franco-British political culture, namely, Charles Dickens'sA Tale of Two Cities(1859). The novel has been conventionally hailed in England, especially from the end of the nineteenth century, as a parable unfavourably contrasting France's revolutionary tradition with the allegedly more humane political evolutionism of England. In France, the novel has been largely ignored or else viewed as a Burkean rant. Yet Dickens's personal attitudes towards France and in particular Paris suggests a more ambiguous and complicated history. For Dickens, modern Paris, as regenerated under Haussmann, was a brilliant success story against which he contrasted both Paris in the 1790s and the social and political circumstances he claimed to detect within English metropolitan culture in the recent past and present. Dickens views the radical and disinherited workers’ suburb of the Faubourg Saint-Antoine less, it is suggested, as quintessentially French than as quintessentially plebeian, and the prospect of a slide into revolutionary politics as a lurking threat within England as well as France.
Evolution of individual snowflakes during metamorphism
Authors: Chen Si , Baker Ian 
Published: November 2010

The morphological changes of individual snowflakes evolving within a dry snow aggregate have been studied using X‐ray computed microtomography (micro‐CT). Fresh dry snow was collected during a snowfall, sealed, and stored in a −5°C cold room between periodic observations using micro‐CT. Time series 3‐D images were used to examine the structural evolution of an individual snowflake within the aggregate over a 2‐month period, after which the snowflake had lost its original dendritic structure. Analysis of the aggregate showed that the fraction of large ice particles increased over this period while the total number of particles decreased, presumably to lower the free energy of the snow specimen. This approach enables the study of metamorphism of individual snowflakes in a local environment close to that found in nature. The evolution of structural parameters, including the volume fraction of ice, the surface‐to‐volume ratio of the ice matrix, the thickness and separation of the ice structure determined by the distance transform of the ice and pore space, were monitored and analyzed using coarsening theories. The computed growth exponent was smaller than the values obtained in the earlier work by Legagneux et al. (2004) and Kaempfer and Schneebeli (2007), who also interpreted the isothermal metamorphism in terms of coarsening theories.
The Hymenoptera Genome Database
Authors: Elsik Christine , Munoz-Torres Monica , Reese Justin , Childers Christopher , Bennett Anna , Sundaram Jaideep , Vile Donald 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe Hymenoptera Genome Database (HGD) is an informatics resource supporting genomics of hymenopteran insect species. This relational database implements open-source software and components providing access to curated data contributed by an extensive, active research community. HGD includes the genome sequences and annotation data of honey bee _Apis mellifera_ and its pathogens ("http://BeeBase.org":BeeBase.org) the parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis ("http://NasoniaBase.org":NasoniaBase.org) and a portal to the genomes of six species of ants. Together, these species cover approximately 200 MY in the phylogeny of Hymenoptera, allowing to leverage genetic, genome sequence, and gene expression data, as well as the biological knowledge of related model organisms. The availability of resources across an order greatly facilitates comparative genomics and enhances our understanding of the biology of agriculturally important Hymenoptera species through genomics. HGD has supported research contributions from an extensive community from almost 80 institutions in 14 countries. Community annotation efforts are made possible thanks to a remote connection to a Chado database by Apollo Genome Annotation client software. Curated data at HGD includes predicted and annotated gene sets supported with evidence tracks such as ESTs/cDNAs, small RNA sequences and GC composition domains. Data at HGD can be queried using genome browsers and / or BLAST/PSI-BLAST servers, and it may also be downloaded to perform local searches. We encourage the public to access and contribute data to HGD at "http://HymenopteraGenome.org":HymenopteraGenome.org.This poster contains material included in an article accepted for publication in Nucl. Acids Res.©: 2011. The Database Issue. Published by Oxford University Press.
Structures of two cell wall‐associated polysaccharides of a Streptococcus mitis biovar 1 strain
Authors: Bergström Niklas , Jansson Per‐Erik , Kilian Mogens , Skov Sørensen Uffe B. 
Published: November 2010

The cell wall of Streptococcus mitis biovar 1 strain SK137 contains the C‐polysaccharide known as the common antigen of a closely related species Streptococcus pneumoniae, and a teichoic acid‐like polysaccharide with a unique structure. The two polysaccharides are different entities and could be partially separated by gel chromatography. The structures of the two polysaccharides were determined by chemical methods and by NMR spectroscopy. The teichoic acid‐like polymer has a heptasaccharide phosphate repeating unit with the following structure:The structure neither contains ribitol nor glycerol phosphate as classical teichoic acids do, thus we have used the expression teichoic acid‐like for this polysaccharide. The following structure of the C‐polysaccharide repeating unit was established:where AAT is 2‐acetamido‐4‐amino‐2,4,6‐trideoxy‐d‐galactose. It has a carbohydrate backbone identical to that of one of the two structures of C‐polysaccharide previously identified in S. pneumoniae. C‐polysaccharide of S. mitis is characterized by the presence, in each repeating unit, of two residues of phosphocholine and both galactosamine residues in the N‐acetylated form. Immunochemical analysis showed that C‐polysaccharide constitutes the Lancefield group O antigen. Studies using mAbs directed against the backbone and against the phosphocholine moiety of the C‐polysaccharide revealed several different patterns of these epitopes among 95 S. mitis and Streptococcus oralis strains tested and the exclusive presence of the group O antigen in the majority of S. mitis biovar 1 strains.
Chemical mimics with systemic efficacy.
Authors: Mor A. 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Host-derived cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and their synthetic variants are widely regarded as a potential source of future therapeutic agents against a broad range of pathogens. This is due to a remarkable set of advantageous properties, ranging from molecular simplicity that readily allows for time- and cost-efficient establishment of structure-activity relationships, to an essentially non-specific multitargeted mode of action, which significantly limits the capacity of pathogens to develop efficient resistance mechanisms. Nevertheless, difficult challenges need to be overcome as we move towards their eventual use in therapeutics, including improved bioavailability, toxicity and production costs. To address these issues, an increasingly rich variety of strategies for improving AMP properties are currently available for designing chemical mimics that reproduce the most critical biophysical characteristics of AMPs. In this chapter, I review the main strategies for the de novo design of AMP mimics that have generated systemically active lead compounds and showed promise for therapeutic development. Conceptually, the known designs can be distinguished on the basis of backbone rigidity. Thus, aft er a brief discussion of recent advances on representative approaches used to generate relatively stiffantimicrobial structures, this chapter focuses on the acyl-lysyl approach, which allows the design of structurally bendable molecules that none the less can selectively target a variety of microbial cells.
Structural studies of antimicrobial peptides provide insight into their mechanisms of action.
Authors: Wang G. S. 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

This chapter reviews structural studies of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), with a focus on human defensins and cathelicidins. Also discussed are the major steps for structural determination of AMPs by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, including bacterial expression and purification, sample preparations, data collection, sequential signal assignments, structure calculations, validation and coordinate deposition. A variety of three-dimensional structures (α-helices, β-strands, αβ-fold and non-αβ structures) have been discovered for AMPs, which can induce similar biophysical consequences in membranes such as positive curvature or lipid domain formation. Therefore, it is the amphipathic surface, not polypeptide backbone scaffolds, that is essential for the antimicrobial activity of AMPs. A proper presentation of side chains (e.g. cationic and hydrophobic) on the surface of AMPs determines not only membrane perturbation potential, but also other biological functions. Reduction in hydrophobicity is a fundamental strategy to improve peptide selectivity. Structures of AMPs in complex with membranes or non-membrane targets also form the foundation for engineering a new generation of antimicrobials that will supplement or replace traditional resistant antibiotics.
Role of vitamin D in the enhancement of antimicrobial peptide gene expression.
Authors: White J. H. , Bitton A. J. 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D), the hormonally active form of vitamin D, was initially identified as a key regulator of calcium homeostasis. 1,25D signals through the nuclear vitamin D receptor, a ligandregulated transcription factor. More recent studies have revealed that 1,25D regulates a number of physiological processes, including innate immunity. The innate immune system is responsible for rapid, non-specific host responses to pathogenic infection. Unlike adaptive immunity, innate immune responses do not confer lasting protection on the host. 1,25D induces the expression of LL-37 and hBD-2, antimicrobial peptides that serve as vanguards of innate immune responses. Antimicrobial peptides are small proteins with antibiotic properties that can also acts as signalling molecules to modulate specific responses such as wound healing and cytokine induction. This chapter focuses on the gene regulatory activity of 1,25D, with an emphasis on its role in the potentiation of innate immune responses and the promotion of antimicrobial peptide expression.
Prognostic value of serial B‐type natriuretic peptide measurement in asymptomatic organic mitral regurgitation
Authors: Klaar Ursula , Gabriel Harald , Bergler‐Klein Jutta , Pernicka Elisabeth , Heger Maria , Mascherbauer Julia , Rosenhek Raphael , Binder Thomas , Maurer Gerald , Baumgartner Helmut 
Published: November 2010

AimsOptimal timing of surgery is crucial in mitral regurgitation (MR) to avoid excess mortality and morbidity. The role of brain‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in this setting remains controversial. We evaluated the value of serial BNP measurements for early prediction of deterioration in asymptomatic MR.Methods and resultsEighty‐seven consecutive asymptomatic patients with severe organic MR, normal left ventricular (LV) function (ejection fraction ≥60%, end‐systolic diameter index <26 mm/m2), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) <50 mmHg, and no atrial fibrillation underwent clinical assessment, echocardiography, and measurement of BNP and N‐terminal pro‐BNP (NT‐proBNP) at 6‐month intervals. The primary endpoint was the development of symptoms and/or LV dysfunction. The secondary endpoint was the occurrence of atrial fibrillation or sPAP ≥50 mmHg. Over a mean follow‐up of 786 ± 454 days, 20 patients reached the primary endpoint and 5, the secondary endpoint. By univariate analysis, age, BNP, NT‐proBNP, and sPAP were significant predictors of reaching the primary endpoint during the 6 months following testing, whereas LV function and dimensions were not. By multivariate analysis, only BNP (P = 0.03) and sPAP (P = 0.04) remained independent predictors. When secondary endpoints were additionally considered, results remained unchanged. Receiver operator curve analysis yielded AUC‐values of 0.90, 0.84, and 0.80 for BNP, NT‐proBNP, and sPAP, but 0.60 and 0.57 for left ventricular ejection fraction and end‐systolic diameter. The negative predictive value for normal neurohormone levels and sPAP was high (98–100%). A BNP of 145 pg/mL had a positive predictive value of 36%.ConclusionBrain natriuretic peptide and NT‐proBNP independently predict outcome in asymptomatic MR. Serial measurements may help to improve timing of surgery. Low plasma levels with their high negative predictive values appear to be particularly helpful by identifying low‐risk individuals.
A perspective on positive relationships between genetic diversity and abundance in fishes
Authors: UTTER FRED , SEEB JAMES 
Published: November 2010

Given over 90 combined years in academic and professional activities related to genetics and fishery management (FU 57, JS 36—see Waples et al. 2008), we are pleased to provide an invited perspective generated by the interesting and useful article of McCusker & Bentzen (2010). These authors reaffirm the apparent signature of neutrality of mitochondrial and microsatellite markers through an exhaustive analysis of archived genotypic data for 105 marine and freshwater fishes. They note that their conclusions are consistent with earlier and less comprehensive analyses and that they do not exclude the operation of some selective activity (e.g. genetic ‘draft’), which may be overwhelmed by Ne‐related stochastic processes. Here, we provide a complementary focus, recalling relevant issues related to neutrality and selection in applications of molecular variations in fishery management.
The Breakdown of the Spanish Urban Growth Model: Social and Territorial Effects of the Global Crisis
Authors: GARCÍA MARISOL 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe present global crisis has manifested itself in Spain with special force, but what is happening today has its roots in the recent economic and urban growth model. Whereas much has been written on the economic weakness of a model heavily based on the construction industry, little attention has been given to the internal regulations, policies, social and cultural factors in which the Spanish urban growth model was embedded. The question insufficiently addressed by current debates is therefore: to what extent is Spain's current crisis the result of its urban economic and social growth model? In this essay I argue that the crisis in the Spanish urban growth model reveals a particular interaction of globalizing forces with national and local processes, characterized both by specific structures of economic incentives and path‐dependent cultural traits. The combination of these factors goes some way towards an explanation of the housing bubble. This specific combination of factors, however, makes the outlook for the aftermath of the housing bubble in Spain different from that experienced in the United States.Résumé La crise mondiale actuelle a fortement affecté l’Espagne, mais ce qui se passe aujourd’hui tient au récent modèle de croissance économique et urbaine. Alors qu’on a beaucoup écrit sur la faiblesse économique d’un modèle fondé largement sur le secteur du bâtiment, on ne s’est guère intéressé aux réglementations internes, politiques publiques ou facteurs socio‐culturels dans lesquels s’inscrit le modèle de croissance urbaine espagnole. La question que les débats actuels n’abordent que trop peu est donc : dans quelle mesure la crise que connaît l’Espagne résulte‐t‐elle de son modèle de croissance socio‐économique urbaine? Il est affirmé ici que la crise de ce modèle révèle une interaction particulière des forces mondialisatrices avec les processus nationaux et locaux, caractérisés les uns comme les autres par des structures spécifiques d’incitations économiques et par des traits culturels tributaires de chemins de dépendance. La combinaison de ces facteurs participe à une explication de la bulle du logement. Concernant ce phénomène, l’association spécifique des facteurs étudiés permet d’envisager des répercussions différentes pour l’Espagne comparée aux États‐Unis.
Conflicting attitudes and scepticism towards online shopping: the role of experience
Authors: Soopramanien Didier 
Published: November 2010

AbstractResearchers typically study how levels of risk perception about online shopping affect whether and how consumers use the channel to buy products. In this paper, we propose to study how different types of attitudes towards online shopping are formed when consumers consider both the benefit and the risk of using the Internet to do their shopping. We consider the possibility that general types of attitudes are formed when consumers' perception of the risk and the benefit of using online shopping conflict. We pay particular attention to the concept of online shopping scepticism where consumers may fully realize the benefit of using the Internet to do their shopping, but also express a certain level of concern about the risk of using that channel. In the risk literature, researchers have shown that experience and increased exposure to a particular technology usually involves the accumulation of more and better knowledge that in turn may lead to a reduction in the perception of the risks involved. In this research, we also explore the role of experience in the context of consumers' intention to use online shopping. More specifically, we postulate that online shopping experience has a direct effect as well as an indirect effect on the intention to use online shopping. Experience with online shopping directly increases the consumer's intention to use the Internet to buy products but it also reduces the degree of scepticism and risk aversion, and that in turn, also increases the intention to use online shopping.