bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Personal Autonomy as Institutional Form – Focus on Europe Against the Background of Article 27 of the ICCPR
Authors: Suksi Markku 
Published: September 2008

AbstractFor an attempt to establish an institutional content for personal autonomy, it is submitted that the reference to ‘community’ in Article 27 of the CCPR implies a certain form of organization. Persons who belong to minorities shall have the complete freedom to organize themselves in associations of various kinds in order to pursue common aims. The notion of ‘association’ includes, on the top of regular membership associations, a broader spectrum of private law entities, but the main point is that there shall be a freedom for a minority in the creation of non-governmental organizations, leading to personal autonomy as an organizational form. It is hence not necessarily so that all forms of autonomy are created on the basis of special legislation, endowing the autonomous character for the minority institution from top-down. A bottom-up creation of minority institutions can actually involve a right to personal autonomy.
National Cultural Autonomy in the Russian Federation: Implementation and Impact
Authors: Torode Nicky 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThis article explores the meaning of national cultural autonomy both in the Soviet period and in the Russian Federation at the time of, and following, the adoption of the 1996 Federal Law on National Cultural Autonomy. The author examines the cartography of national cultural autonomies, that is the ethnic minority associations, set up since 1996 to understand the motivations by ethnic minority communities for establishing an autonomy, often in addition to pre-existing ethnic minority organizations and cultural institutions. For ethnic minority community leaders the autonomy model appeared attractive – the access to state powers and perceived provision of financial resources. The state saw an obvious benefit in autonomy as a means in regulating its relations with a plethora of ethnic organisations which had formed in the final days of the Soviet regime. Although the law marked a historic departure in the history of ethnic minorities by being the first law to name ‘certain ethnic groups’ as the beneficiaries of the promotion of their rights it has not been without its problems. This author suggests the inherent hierarchical structure prescribed within the law whereby only one federal autonomy could exist increased intra-ethnic rivalry rather than unifying ethnic organisations. It also inadvertently brought the Russian question to the fore, that is the place of ethnic Russians in a post-communist Russia who attempted to avail themselves of cultural autonomy. Despite the shortcomings of cultural autonomy both in theory and practice it has performed an essential role in opening up the debate on the national question in the Russian Federation.
Functional Autonomy: The Case of Finland with Some Notes on the Basis of International Human Rights Law and Comparisons with Other Cases
Authors: Suksi Markku 
Published: September 2008

AbstractIt is possible to distinguish functional autonomy, consisting of various administrative arrangement, as a specific form of autonomy on the top of territorial, cultural and personal autonomy. Functional autonomy may be understood as an organizational option for the provision of adequate linguistic services to a minority population in respect of a certain public function (such as education) by means of creating special linguistically identified administrative units at different hierarchical levels inside the general line-organization charged with the national or local administration of the public function. Language (and sometimes even religion) can be used as a divisor by which the principle of ‘separate but equal’ is implemented in ways that defy organizational characterizations commonly found in textbooks of administrative law or public administration. Functional autonomy is a pragmatic approach to the promotion of rights of a minority population and could be more commonly used.
Condition(s) for Island Autonomy
Authors: Olausson Pär , Ackrén Maria 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe inquiry is focusing on why island autonomy occurs. Our point of departure considers four possible conditions such as geographical distance, ethnicity, GDP/capita and size according to population leading towards island autonomy. We use two sample groups in our study: one encompassing autonomous islands deriving from different parts of the world, with three main islands illustrating what we mean by island autonomy. These consist of the Azores, the Faroe Islands and Isle of Man. The second group consists of so called non-autonomous islands scattered around the world.The analysis is carried out with a specific technique within the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) family and that is Multi-Value QCA (MVQCA). MVQCA is an extension of the Crisp-Set QCA (CSQCA) and withholds a dichotomous dependent variable, while the possible explanatory variables (independent variables) can have multi-values. As a second technique Fuzzy-Set QCA (FSQCA) is employed as a control technique only. While assessing these techniques we receive combinations of conditions leading to the outcome in question. Results show that with MVQCA we receive four different paths towards island autonomy. Ethnicity as the only explanation is one route towards the outcome. A second path is small or large size. Long geographical distance combined with no ethnic diversity is a third way towards island autonomy. The fourth path is long geographical distance combined with the lower or upper middle income group. All the paths are equally valid.
The Competence of Autonomous Entities in the International Arena – With Special Reference to the Åland Islands in the European Union
Authors: Silverström Sören 
Published: September 2008

AbstractInternational law and the international community is primarily based on the dominant role of the state. Other actors are increasingly involved in conducting international affairs. This article examines different solutions for bringing autonomous entities to the international level, taking one specific autonomous entity, the Åland Islands, as an example. The article concentrates on competences of autonomous entities in relation to international treaties and the European Union.
Experimenting with Territorial Administrative Autonomy in Corsica: Exception or Pilot Region?
Authors: Daftary Farimah 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThis article provides an overview of the gradual establishment since 1982 of territorial administrative autonomy on the French island of Corsica. The impetus for the reforms was provided by a growing self-determination movement concerned with protecting the specific Corsican identity and dealing with the social and economic challenges arising from insularity. It argues that neither institutional experimentation coupled with substantial aid nor periodic crackdowns on nationalists have succeeded in resolving the conflict. The difficult functioning of autonomy can be attributed in part to the late initiation of reform following the onset of violence as well as to weak and confusing arrangements, as well as an unfavourable political, economic and social context. The persistent use of violence by nationalists, partially justified by the fact that a number of their key demands remain unaddressed, and fuelled by inconsistent state policies, have constituted further obstacles. Last but not least, the extension of measures initially designed for Corsica to the rest of the French territory in successive waves of decentralisation have undermined the symbolic impact of the reforms.
Autonomous Districts and/or Ethnic Homelands: An Ethnographic Account of the Genesis of Political Violence in Assam (North-East India) Against the Normative Frame of the Indian Constitution
Authors: Barbora Sanjay 
Published: September 2008

AbstractAutonomous arrangements have always been a matter of contention in Northeast India. In the federal unit of Assam, conflict and inter-ethnic tensions have been markers of a peculiar kind of constitutional politics that are unable to resolve competing claims for resources and power in a manner that prevents violent political mobilisation. This article examines the trajectory of political events in Karbi Anglong, the largest autonomous district in Assam, and traces the course of social and cultural changes that have affected politics in the district. The article also looks at possible ways out of the impasse created by constitutional political vocabularies in the said district.
Canada's Experiment with Aboriginal Self-Determination in Nunavut: From Vision to Illusion
Authors: Légaré André 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe paper presents a geographical and historical overview of the Territory Nunavut (Canada) established in 1999 and inhabited by a majority of Inuit People. The author outlines the process that led to the conclusion of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and the current structure of the government of Nunavut, which can best be described as a form of Inuit self-government. Th e main objective of the paper consists in an overview and analysis of current socio-economic challenges faced by the government of Nunavut. Based on the visions of the Bathurst Mandate, the author attempts to assess the success of the ‘Nunavut Project’.The author concludes that because of Nunavut's weak economy and fi scal dependency on the central federal government of Canada, the numerous socio-economic challenges have not been resolved. The Nunavut experiment has not yet been proven a success. The prosperous vision, expressed through the Bathurst Mandate, of a viable Nunavut seems for now just an illusion.
Characteristics of Forms of Autonomy
Authors: Tkacik Michael 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThis article recasts our understanding of the forms autonomy may take. Rather than emphasizing a rigid set of definitions, the article argues that autonomy forms can be characterized by the aggregate number of issues controlled by the local community (scope), the level of local control over any given issue (depth) and the territorial insularity of the autonomous community. So characterized, autonomies run the gambit from personal to cultural to functional to administrative to legislative. Of course, there are grey areas between these types of autonomy and some agreements may fall somewhere in between. The article also further breaks legislative autonomy into strong and weak forms.
Do Religion and Human Rights Interact?
Authors: Lerner Natan 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe two reviewed books belong to a series of “Studies in Religion, Secular Beliefs and Human Rights” published by Martinus Nijhoff. Both constitute a significant contribution to the literature on religion and human rights that developed in the last decade, after many years of neglect of the subject. Both are collective books and the outcome of international conferences. They deal with diverse aspects of the interaction between religion and human rights and international law. A recurrent question is to what extent has religion influenced human rights or if these are a post World War II and post-Holocaust phenomenon, strictly secular. Does God Believe in Human Rights? contains an introduction and 14 essays. The volume Religion, Human Rights and International Law is subtitled A Critical Examination of Islamic State Practices, a subject to which a considerable part of the volume is devoted. It contains 18 individual contributions, in addition to introductory reflections by the editors.
European Minority Protection: The Past and Future of a “Major Historical Achievement”
Authors: Bowring Bill 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThis review essay questions whether European standards for the protection of minorities are “a major historical achievement”. Two questions are posed. Why has this development taken place in Europe? Why has it taken place since 1990? These questions are answered in the light of the historical and political context. After a brief account of the extraordinary experiment in minority rights protection in the inter-War period, the review turns to the origins of the Council and of the OSCE in the Cold War, and comments on the legitimacy and efficacy of these texts and mechanisms.
Scientific Verification of Deterministic River Stage Forecasts
Authors: Welles Edwin , Sorooshian Soroosh 
Published: September 2008

Abstract
One element of a complete verification system is the ability to determine why forecasts behave as they do. This paper describes and demonstrates an operationally feasible method for conducting this type of diagnostic verification analysis. Hindcasts are generated using different configurations of the forecast system and then the skill of the generated hindcasts is compared. The hindcasts and comparisons are constructed to isolate individual elements of the forecast process. The approach is used to evaluate the role of model calibration, model initial conditions, and precipitation forecasts in generating skill for deterministic river forecasts. The authors find that calibration and initial conditions provide skill for the short lead-time forecasts, with precipitation forecasts providing the majority of the skill in forecasts of high stages at longer lead times. At all lead times, this study shows model calibration is essential, as the calibration makes forecasts reliable.
Antileukemic effects of the novel, mutant FLT3 inhibitor NVP-AST487: effects on PKC412-sensitive and -resistant FLT3-expressing cells
Authors: Weisberg Ellen , Roesel Johannes , Bold Guido , Furet Pascal , Jiang Jingrui , Cools Jan , Wright Renee D. , Nelson Erik , Barrett Rosemary , Ray Arghya , Moreno Daisy , Hall-Meyers Elizabeth , Stone Richard , Galinsky Ilene , Fox Edward , Gilliland Gary , Daley John F. , Lazo-Kallanian Suzan , Kung Andrew L. , Griffin James D. 
Published: September 2008

Abstract
An attractive target for therapeutic intervention is constitutively activated, mutant FLT3, which is expressed in a subpopulation of patients with acute myelocyic leukemia (AML) and is generally a poor prognostic indicator in patients under the age of 65 years. PKC412 is one of several mutant FLT3 inhibitors that is undergoing clinical testing, and which is currently in late-stage clinical trials. However, the discovery of drug-resistant leukemic blast cells in PKC412-treated patients with AML has prompted the search for novel, structurally diverse FLT3 inhibitors that could be alternatively used to override drug resistance. Here, we report the potent and selective antiproliferative effects of the novel mutant FLT3 inhibitor NVP-AST487 on primary patient cells and cell lines expressing FLT3-ITD or FLT3 kinase domain point mutants. NVP-AST487, which selectively targets mutant FLT3 protein kinase activity, is also shown to override PKC412 resistance in vitro, and has significant antileukemic activity in an in vivo model of FLT3-ITD+ leukemia. Finally, the combination of NVP-AST487 with standard chemotherapeutic agents leads to enhanced inhibition of proliferation of mutant FLT3-expressing cells. Thus, we present a novel class of FLT3 inhibitors that displays high selectivity and potency toward FLT3 as a molecular target, and which could potentially be used to override drug resistance in AML.
Intestinal double-positive CD4+CD8+ T cells of neonatal rhesus macaques are proliferating, activated memory cells and primary targets for SIVMAC251 infection
Authors: Wang Xiaolei , Das Arpita , Lackner Andrew A. , Veazey Ronald S. , Pahar Bapi 
Published: September 2008

AbstractPeripheral blood and thymic double-positive (DP) CD4+CD8+ T cells from neonates have been described earlier, but the function and immunophenotypic characteristics of other tissue-derived DP T cells are not clearly understood. Here, we demonstrate the functional and immunophenotypic characteristics of DP cells in 6 different tissues, including thymus from normal neonatal rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) between 0 and 21 days of age. In general, intestinal DP T cells of neonates have higher percentages of memory markers (CD28+CD95+CD45RAlowCD62Llow) and proliferation compared with single-positive (SP) CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. In addition, percentages of DP T cells increase and CD62L expression decreases as animals mature, suggesting that DP cells mature and proliferate with maturity and/or antigen exposure. Consistent with this, intestinal DP T cells in neonates express higher levels of CCR5 and are the primary targets in simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection. Finally, DP T cells produce higher levels of cytokine in response to mitogen stimulation compared with SP CD4+ or CD8+ T cells. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that intestinal DP T cells of neonates are proliferating, activated memory cells and are likely involved in regulating immune responses, in contrast to immature DP T cells in the thymus.
How we treat a hemophilia A patient with a factor VIII inhibitor
Authors: Kempton Christine L. , White Gilbert C. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe most significant complication of treatment in patients with hemophilia A is the development of alloantibodies that inhibit factor VIII activity. In the presence of inhibitory antibodies, replacement of the missing clotting factor by infusion of factor VIII becomes less effective. Once replacement therapy is ineffective, acute management of bleeding requires agents that bypass factor VIII activity. Long-term management consists of eradicating the inhibitor through immune tolerance. Despite success in the treatment of acute bleeding and inhibitor eradication, there remains an inability to predict or prevent inhibitor formation. Ideally, prediction and ultimately prevention will come with an improved understanding of how patient-specific and treatment-related factors work together to influence anti–factor VIII antibody production.
FOXP3 expression accurately defines the population of intratumoral regulatory T cells that selectively accumulate in metastatic melanoma lesions
Authors: Ahmadzadeh Mojgan , Felipe-Silva Aloisio , Heemskerk Bianca , Powell Daniel J. , Wunderlich John R. , Merino Maria J. , Rosenberg Steven A. 
Published: September 2008

Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are often found in human tumors; however, their functional characteristics have been difficult to evaluate due to low cell numbers and the inability to adequately distinguish between activated and Treg cell populations. Using a novel approach, we examined the intracellular cytokine production capacity of tumor-infiltrating T cells in the single-cell suspensions of enzymatically digested tumors to differentiate Treg cells from effector T cells. Similar to Treg cells in the peripheral blood of healthy individuals, tumor-infiltrating FOXP3+CD4 T cells, unlike FOXP3− T cells, were unable to produce IL-2 and IFN-γ upon ex vivo stimulation, indicating that FOXP3 expression is a valid biological marker for human Treg cells even in the tumor microenvironment. Accordingly, we enumerated FOXP3+CD4 Treg cells in intratumoral and peritumoral sections of metastatic melanoma tumors and found a significant increase in proportion of FOXP3+CD4 Treg cells in the intratumoral compared with peritumoral areas. Moreover, their frequencies were 3- to 5-fold higher in tumors than in peripheral blood from the same patients or healthy donors, respectively. These findings demonstrate that the tumor-infiltrating CD4 Treg cell population is accurately depicted by FOXP3 expression, they selectively accumulate in tumors, and their frequency in peripheral blood does not properly reflect tumor microenvironment.
Chronic ethanol induces inhibition of antigen-specific CD8+ but not CD4+ immunodominant T cell responses followingListeria monocytogenesinoculation
Authors: Gurung Prajwal , Young Betty M , Coleman Ruth A , Wiechert Susan , Turner Lucas E , Ray Nancy B , Waldschmidt Thomas J , Legge Kevin L , Cook Robert T 
Published: September 2008

AbstractChronic ethanol consumption results in immunodeficiency. Previous work with chronic ethanol-fed mice has shown reduced splenic weight and cellularity, including reduced numbers of CD8+ T cells. However, antigen-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses in chronic ethanol-fed mice have been studied relatively little. We have used an attenuated Listeria monocytogenes strain DPL 1942 (LM ΔactA) to inoculate mice and subsequently used CD4+ and CD8+ immunodominant peptides of LM to measure the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses after chronic ethanol exposure. We found no major differences between control and ethanol-fed mice in the kinetics and persistence of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells in response to an immunodominant LM peptide, as measured by intracellular IFN-γ staining. In contrast to CD4+ responses, three methods of in vitro antigen presentation indicated that the primary response of CD8+ T cells to several different epitopes was reduced significantly in mice chronically fed ethanol. Antigen-specific CD8+ T cells were also reduced in chronic ethanol-fed mice during the contraction phase of the primary response, and memory cells evaluated at 29 and 60 days after inoculation were reduced significantly. BrdU proliferation assays showed that in vivo proliferation of CD8+ T cells was reduced in ethanol-fed mice, and IL-2-dependent in vitro proliferation of naive CD8+ T cells was also reduced. In conclusion, these results suggest that antigen-specific CD4+ T cell responses to LM are affected little by chronic ethanol consumption; however, antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses are reduced significantly, as are in vivo and in vitro proliferation. The reduction of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells may contribute strongly to the immunodeficiency caused by ethanol abuse.
The cytolytic enzymes granyzme A, granzyme B, and perforin: expression patterns, cell distribution, and their relationship to cell maturity and bright CD57 expression
Authors: Chattopadhyay Pratip K , Betts Michael R , Price David A , Gostick Emma , Horton Helen , Roederer Mario , De Rosa Stephen C 
Published: September 2008

AbstractCytolytic enzymes (CEs) are critical mediators of anti-viral and -tumor immunity; however, as a number of molecules belong to this enzyme family, our understanding of CEs remains limited. Specifically, it remains unclear what combinations of granzymes and perforin (Perf) are expressed by various immune cells and how CE content relates to cellular differentiation. Using polychromatic flow cytometry, we simultaneously measured expression of the most common human CEs [granzyme A (gA), granzyme B (gB), and Perf] alongside markers of αβ and γδ T cell maturation (CD45RO, CCR7, CD27, CD57). Additionally, we measured CE content in NK cell subsets (defined by their expression of CD16 and CD56). We found that among a wide variety of immune cells, CE content was linked to cellular maturity. Moreover, common expression patterns were shared across cell types, such that gB+ cells always contained gA, and Perf+ cells were primarily gA+ gB+. Most importantly, CD57 expression correlated strongly with simultaneous expression of gA, gB, and Perf. Thus, the use of CD57 provides a means to easily isolate viable cells with high cytolytic potential, without the need for lethal fixation/permeabilization techniques.
Guest Entrapment via Type and Size of Dibenzo–Monoaza–Crowns-based N,N-Bis(alkyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)alkylamine Host
Authors: Rungsimanon Thitiporn , Laobuthee Apirat , Miyata Mikiji , Chirachanchai Suwabun 
Published: September 2008

Abstract
A simple but effective preparation of ring-enlarged dibenzo–monoaza–crowns, 12- to 14-membered macrocycles 3–6, obtained from the reaction of N,N-bis(alkyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)alkylamine with ditosylated compound is proposed. Studies on alkali ion extraction using Pedersen’s technique clarify that the ion-extraction efficiency is achieved as a consequence of the structure and size of the cavity of the macrocycles. An extension study on dibenzo–monoaza–12-crown-3, 4, confirms unique performance in terms of being a ligand to accept a perchlorate anion.