bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Armed Conflicts in Africa and Western Complicity: A Disincentive for African Union's Cooperation with the ICC
Authors: Eberechi Ifeonu 
Published: June 2012

AbstractIntrinsic in the concept of international justice for violations of international humanitarian law is the requirement of cooperation by states and, to a large extent, regional bodies with the International Criminal Court (ICC). Unlike domestic courts, the ICC is not endowed with law enforcement power nor could such power be imputed to it as part of its functions. It is against this background that the on-going crisis of corporation between the ICC and the African Union (AU) following the indictment of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for international crime portends a far reaching implication for the administration of international criminal accountability. As part of a broader diagnosis of the reasons for the AU's opposition, this paper, while discussing armed conflicts in Africa, which provides the fillip for gross human rights violations in the region, exposes the contributions of the West. It concludes that an effective enforcement of international justice in the region must include an inquiry into the role of international actors and Western powers in promoting and exacerbating the situation.
Violence in Kenya: Any Role for the ICC in the Quest for Accountability?
Authors: Nmaju Mba Chidi 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThis article examines the violence that broke out in Kenya after the 2007 presidential elections. After weeks of fighting and the establishment of a coalition government made up of the incumbent president and the leader of the opposition, relative calm returned to the country. However, the government has been slow to implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into Post Election Violence (Waki Commission). One key suggestion the Waki Commission made was to call upon the Kenyan government to establish an independent Special Tribunal made up of domestic and international jurists to prosecute those responsible for the crimes committed during the violence. At the time of writing, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber II had been assigned the matter to determine whether the Office of the Prosecutor could initiate investigations. This article argues that the crimes committed in Kenya during the post election violence do not meet the ICC threshold on jurisdiction and gravity, and do not have the essential legal attributes of genocide and crimes against humanity. However, the manner in which the ICC handles this situation has the potential to influence the way future crimes are tried; thus the ICC must ensure that impunity does not prevail over accountability.
Endoscopic solutions for stricturing Crohn's disease
Authors: Szmola Richard , Rácz Károly , Tulassay Zsolt , Miheller Pál 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Intestinal stenosis is a frequent and oftentimes recurring problem in patients with Crohn's disease, accompanied by a high-risk for bowel resection and subsequent short bowel syndrome. Medical therapy has not proven successful, and even the most conservative surgical options are hampered by a definite mortality rate (and high recurrence rates) without doubt. Technical improvements in endoscopic devices over recent years have created an operative subspecialty (therapeutic endoscopy) that can be applied to several gastrointestinal diseases. Endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) for Crohn's disease has been developed to prevent or delay the need for surgical resection. The endoscopy-assisted dilatation is a safe and effective treatment modality for uncomplicated, short Crohn's strictures, and therefore should be offered to Crohn's disease patients. Here, we briefly review the current knowledge on hydrostatic balloon dilatation and present a relevant case from our clinical practice.
A Scoping Review of the Photovoice Method: Implications for Occupational Therapy Research
Authors: Lal Shalini , Jarus Tal , Suto Melinda J. 
Published: June 2012

Background. Photovoice is a participatory action research method combining photography and group work to give people an opportunity to record and reflect on their daily lives. Purpose. To review the use of Photovoice in health research and consider the implications for occupational therapy research. Methods. Literature review, guided by a scoping framework, reveals the purposes, rationales and populations with whom Photovoice has been used. Findings. From 351 documents retrieved, 191 original studies were surveyed; 68% were peer-reviewed. The majority of studies (76%) occurred within the public health domain and a smaller percentage (24%) with individuals experiencing a specific illness and/or disability, with very few (2%) documented in the occupational therapy literature. Implications. Photovoice provides a useful framework to apply a participant-centred research approach on occupational participation. It is important to consider and further examine ethical and methodological issues related to stigma, physical and cognitive capacities, mobility and technical accessibility related to using this method.
The Timeliness of Bad Earnings News and Litigation Risk
Authors: Donelson Dain C. , McInnis John M. , Mergenthaler Richard D. , Yu Yong 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACT
This study investigates whether the timely revelation of bad earnings news is associated with a lower incidence of litigation. The timeliness of earnings news is captured by a new measure based on the evolution of the consensus analyst earnings forecast. Holding total bad earnings news and other determinants of litigation constant, we find that earlier revelation of bad earnings news lowers the likelihood of litigation. This result holds for both settled and dismissed lawsuits. Further, we reconcile our findings with prior work that measures timeliness using managerial warnings via press releases. These tests suggest our findings are attributable to the ability of our timeliness measure to capture bad earning news revealed through disclosure channels beyond press releases.
Data Availability: Data are available from public sources identified in the paper.
JEL Classifications: K22; K41; M41.
Vortices in superconducting nano-networks with anti-dots array
Authors: Hirata Kazuto , Thakur Ajay , Ooi Shuuichi , Mochiku Takashi 
Published: June 2012

AbstractVortices (magnetic flux quanta) in the superconducting networks perforated with anti-dots (holes) arrays behave as electrons in atomic lattice of crystals. Repulsive and attractive interaction among vortices and anti-dots resemble to those among electrons and atoms in crystals. To confirm the variety of the vortex physics similar to the solid state physics, we have fabricated such superconducting networks with antidots array in metallic, inter-metallic and high-T c superconductors (HTSCs), and have measured magneto-resistance of vortex-flow. In these materials, we have observed integer-matching at the matching fields and fractional-matching effect between them. Most of them are well explained by commensurability between Abrikosov vortex lattice and anti-dots array. Furthermore, the effect of the anti-dots array in HTSCs appears as another kind of phase transitions instead of to the first-order melting transition of vortex lattice in pristine samples.
Reduction of aromatic nitro compounds to amines using zinc and aqueous chelating ethers: Mild and efficient method for zinc activation
Authors: Kumar Pookot , Lokanatha Rai Kuriya 
Published: June 2012

AbstractA mild, environmentally friendly method for reduction of aromatic nitro group to amine is reported, using zinc powder in aqueous solutions of chelating ethers. The donor ether acts as a ligand and also serves as a co-solvent. Water is the proton source. This procedure is also a new method for the activation of zinc for electron transfer reduction of aromatic nitro compounds. The reduction is accomplished in a neutral medium and other reducing groups remained unaffected. The ethers used are dioxolane, 1,4-dioxane, ethoxymethoxyethane, dimethoxymethane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, and diglyme.
Synthesis of new dendritic antenna-like polypyridine ligands
Authors: Zalas Maciej , Gierczyk Błażej , Cegłowski Michał , Schroeder Grzegorz 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAn efficient synthesis of multidentate polypyridine ligands, 3,5-bis(2,2′-bipyridin-4-ylethynyl)benzoic acid and 3,5-bis(2,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-pyridin-4-ylethynyl)benzoic acid, with potential application in the production of ruthenium dyes for dye-sensitised solar cells was developed. Isolation of intermediate products and final compounds is simple and the yields are very high. The ligands obtained can be used in the synthesis of dendritic analogues of well known and very efficient N3 dye and “black dye”.
Comparison of Longitudinal Sciatic Nerve Movement With Different Mobilization Exercises: An In Vivo Study Utilizing Ultrasound Imaging
Authors: Ellis Richard F. , Hing Wayne A. , McNair Peter J. 
Published: June 2012

Study Design Controlled laboratory study using a single-group, within-subjects comparison. Objectives To determine whether different types of neural mobilization exercises are associated with differing amounts of longitudinal sciatic nerve excursion measured in vivo at the posterior midthigh region. Background Recent research focusing on the upper limb of healthy subjects has shown that nerve excursion differs significantly between different types of neural mobilization exercises. This has not been examined in the lower limb. It is important to initially examine the influence of neural mobilization on peripheral nerve excursion in healthy people to identify peripheral nerve excursion impairments under conditions in which nerve excursion may be compromised. Methods High-resolution ultrasound imaging was used to assess sciatic nerve excursion at the posterior midthigh region. Four different neural mobilization exercises were performed in 31 healthy participants. These neural mobilization exercises used combinations of knee extension and cervical spine flexion and extension. Frame-by-frame cross-correlation analysis of the ultrasound images was used to calculate nerve excursion. A repeated-measures analysis of variance and isolated means comparisons were used for data analysis. Results Different neural mobilization exercises induced significantly different amounts of sciatic nerve excursion at the posterior midthigh region (P<.001). The slider exercise, consisting of the participant performing simultaneous cervical spine and knee extension, resulted in the largest amount of sciatic nerve excursion (mean ± SD, 3.2 ± 2.0 mm). The amount of excursion during the slider exercise was slightly greater (mean ± SD, 2.6 ± 1.5 mm; P = .002) than it was during the tensioner exercise (simultaneous cervical spine flexion and knee extension). The single-joint neck flexion exercise resulted in the least amount of sciatic nerve excursion at the posterior midthigh (mean ± SD, −0.1 ± 0.1 mm), which was significantly smaller than the other 3 exercises (P<.001). Conclusion These findings are consistent with the results of previous research that has examined median nerve excursion associated with different neural mobilization exercises. Such nerve excursion supports theories of nerve motion associated with cervical spine and extremity movement, as generalizable to the lower limb. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(8):667–675, Epub 18 June 2012. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.3854
Immediate Changes in Widespread Pressure Pain Sensitivity, Neck Pain, and Cervical Range of Motion After Cervical or Thoracic Thrust Manipulation in Patients With Bilateral Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Martínez-Segura Raquel , de-la-Llave-Rincón Ana Isabel , Ortega-Santiago Ricardo , Cleland Joshua A. , Fernández-de-las-Peñas César 
Published: June 2012

Study Design Randomized clinical trial. Objectives To compare the effects of cervical versus thoracic thrust manipulation in patients with bilateral chronic mechanical neck pain on pressure pain sensitivity, neck pain, and cervical range of motion (CROM). Background Evidence suggests that spinal interventions can stimulate descending inhibitory pain pathways. To our knowledge, no study has investigated the neurophysiological effects of thoracic thrust manipulation in individuals with bilateral chronic mechanical neck pain, including widespread changes on pressure sensitivity. Methods Ninety patients (51% female) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: cervical thrust manipulation on the right, cervical thrust manipulation on the left, or thoracic thrust manipulation. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) over the C5–6 zygapophyseal joint, lateral epicondyle, and tibialis anterior muscle, neck pain (11-point numeric pain rating scale), and cervical spine range of motion (CROM) were collected at baseline and 10 minutes after the intervention by an assessor blinded to the treatment allocation of the patients. Mixed-model analyses of covariance were used to examine the effects of the treatment on each outcome variable, with group as the between-subjects variable, time and side as the within-subject variables, and gender as the covariate. The primary analysis was the group-by-time interaction. Results No significant interactions were found with the mixed-model analyses of covariance for PPT level (C5–6, P>.210; lateral epicondyle, P>.186; tibialis anterior muscle, P>.268), neck pain intensity (P = .923), or CROM (flexion, P = .700; extension, P = .387; lateral flexion, P>.672; rotation, P>.192) as dependent variables. All groups exhibited similar changes in PPT, neck pain, and CROM (all, P<.001). Gender did not influence the main effects or the interaction effects in the analyses of the outcomes (P>.10). Conclusion The results of the current randomized clinical trial suggest that cervical and thoracic thrust manipulation induce similar changes in PPT, neck pain intensity, and CROM in individuals with bilateral chronic mechanical neck pain. However, changes in PPT and CROM were small and did not surpass their respective minimal detectable change values. Further, because we did not include a control group, we cannot rule out a placebo effect of the thrust interventions on the outcomes. Level of Evidence Therapy, level 1b. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(9):806–814, Epub 18 June 2012. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.4151
Recovery From Depressive Symptoms Over the Course of Physical Therapy: A Prospective Cohort Study of Individuals With Work-Related Orthopaedic Injuries and Symptoms of Depression
Authors: Wideman Timothy H. , Scott Whitney , Martel Marc O. , Sullivan Michael J.L. 
Published: June 2012

Study Design Prospective cohort. Objectives (1) To determine the trajectory of depressive symptoms over the course of physical therapy, (2) to identify variables that best predict the resolution of depressive symptoms, and (3) to explore the relationship between recovery from depressive symptoms and long-term outcomes. Background Twenty-five percent to 50% of patients referred to physical therapy for orthopaedic injuries suffer from symptoms of depression. Depressive symptoms have been identified as an influential risk factor for problematic response to physical therapy. Despite these findings, there is a dearth of research specifically exploring the trajectory and determinants of patients' depressive symptoms over the course of physical therapy, which has impeded the evidence-based management of patients with depressive symptoms. Methods One hundred six patients with work-related musculoskeletal injuries and symptoms of depression received 7 weeks of physical therapy and were followed 1 year after treatment onset. Pain intensity, depressive symptoms, and other psychosocial factors were evaluated throughout treatment, and data were collected at 1-year follow-up. Results Depressive symptoms resolved in 40% of patients, and resolution was linked to pain and disability at 1-year follow-up. Persistence of depressive symptoms at treatment completion was predicted by elevated levels of depressive symptoms and pain catastrophizing at pretreatment, and by lack of improvement in levels of depressive symptoms and pain self-efficacy at midtreatment. Conclusion For many patients, depressive symptoms resolve over the course of physical therapy, and resolution is associated with long-term improvements in pain and disability. These findings will help identify patients whose depressive symptoms are least likely to respond to physical therapy and may therefore warrant additional treatment. Level of Evidence Prognosis, level 1b. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(11):957–967, Epub 18 June 2012. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.4182
Towards optimal defibration: Energy reduction by fatiguing pre-treatment
Authors: Björkqvist T. , Engberg B. A. , Salminen L. I. , Salmi A. 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
A motive for fatiguing wood prior to defibration would be to reduce the energy consumption needed in mechanical pulping processes. Therefore, the effects of fatiguing pre-treatment were here studied on wood samples, on defibration and also on produced paper. The results indicate that pre-fatiguing changes the mechanic response of wood to be more favorable for harsh defibration which in turn is positive for the process efficiency.
3D network simulations of paper structure
Authors: Lavrykov S. , Ramarao B. V. , Lindström S. B. , Singh K. M. 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
The structure of paper influences its properties and simulations of it are necessary to understand the impact of fiber and papermaking conditions on the sheet properties. We show a method to develop a representative structure of paper by merging different simulation techniques for the forming section and the pressing operation. The simulation follows the bending and drape of fibers over one another in the final structure and allows estimation of sheet properties without recourse to arbitrary bending rules or experimental measurements of density and/or RBA. Fibers are first modeled as jointed beams following the fluid mechanics in the forming section. The sheet structure obtained from this is representative of the wet sheet from the couch. The pressing simulation discretizes fibers into a number of solid elements around the lumen. Bonding between fibers is simulated using spring elements. The resulting fiber network was analyzed to determine its elastic modulus and deformation under small strains. The influence of fiber dimensions, namely fiber lengths, widths and thicknesses as well as bond stiffnesses on the elasticity of the network are studied. A brief account of inclusion of fines, represented by individual cubical elements is also shown.
Mechanical properties of cellulose nanofibrils determined through atomistic molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Ketoja Jukka , Paavilainen Sami , McWhirter James Liam , Róg Tomasz , Järvinen Juha , Vattulainen Ilpo 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
We have carried out atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to study the mechanical properties of cellulose nanofibrils in water and ethanol. The studied elementary fibrils consisted of regions having 34 or 36 cellulose chains whose cross-sectional diameter across the fibril was roughly 3.4 nm. The models used in simulations included both crystalline and non-crystalline regions, where the latter were designed to describe the essentials parts of amorphous cellulose nanofibrils. We examined different numbers of connecting chains between the crystallites, and found out that the elastic constants, inelastic deformations, and strength of the fibril depend on this number. For example, the elastic modulus for the whole fibril can be estimated to increase by 4 GPa for each additional connecting chain.
Optical measurement of deformation of paper under tensile load
Authors: Post Paul-Philipp , Berger Christian , Villforth Klaus , Schaffrath Heinz-Joachim , Schabel Samuel 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
A test method for simultaneous contactless measurement of lateral contraction and change in thickness of paper in tensile testing is presented. All the investigated paper samples showed transverse shrinkage as well as an increase in thickness during loading. Consequently, in-plane Poisson’s ratios for different tested papers were positive, whereas Poisson’s ratios in thickness direction had negative values. In general, the transverse shrinkage proved to be detectable while the resolution and accuracy of the thickness determination in some cases still requires optimization.
Fibre deformations induced by different mechanical treatments and their effect on zero-span strength
Authors: Zeng Xiling , Fu Shiyu , Retulainen Elias , Heinemann Sabine 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Fibre deformations have a significant effect on fibre strength and sheet properties. There is little information, however, on the kinds of deformations different types of treatments induce and how they affect the fibre strength. In the present study, first-thinning bleached pine kraft pulp was treated with three mechanical devices: a wing defibrator (high consistency treatment), an E-compactor (high consistency treatment) and a conventional Valley beater (low consistency treatment). The fibre properties were determined with a fibre analyser. The fibre cutting induced by the hydrochloric acid (HCl) treatment (‘cleavage index’) was used for the quantification of the fibre defects. The zero-span tensile strength of dry and wet paper was used to estimate the fibre strength. Each mechanical treatment induced fibre deformations in its own characteristic way. The wing defibrator induced fibre kinks and curl whereas the E-compactor, in addition to fibre cutting, favoured kinks. Low consistency Valley beating straightened the fibres and released fibre deformations. The fibre deformations, especially the number of kinks, correlated well with the wet zero-span tensile strength. The cleavage index had some correlation with the zero-span tensile strength, but the results indicated that the cleavage index may not be directly related to the mechanical defects in fibres but depend more on the chemical conditions on the fibre surface and the wall structure.
Time-dependent, stochastic failure of paper and box
Authors: Uesaka Tetsu , Juntunen Janne 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Time-dependent, stochastic failure is most common in practical situations where paper and board are used, such as web breaks and box failure. A theoretical treatment has been presented, starting from Coleman’s stochastic failure model to the models with structural hierarchy. Creep failure data of box and board published in the literature were analysed from the light of the proposed theoretical model. The results showed that the distribution of life time (not only mean life time) of corrugated boxes changes very sensitively with loading and environmental conditions. Generally the coefficient of variation varied from 6% to 90%. Another important parameter, the load sensitivity of damage growth also varied from 1.7 to 27. Such enormous variation of the key parameters is not a mere fluctuation of experimental condition, but represents the very nature of timedependent, stochastic failure. The stochastic failure model presented provides a framework for analyzing experimental data as well as for predicting life time distributions under general fluctuating loading conditions other than creep.