bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gacaca: Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation in Postconflict Rwanda?
Authors: Rettig Max 
Published: December 2008

Abstract:In institutionalizing gacaca, the Rwandan government has launched one of the most ambitious transitional justice projects the world has ever seen. But gacaca is controversial, and its contribution to postconflict reconciliation is unclear. Through public opinion surveys, trial observations, and interviews, this study provides a window into how gacaca has shaped interethnic relations in one Rwandan community. Although gacaca has brought more people to trial than the ICTR, transnational trials, and the ordinary Rwandan courts combined, gacaca exposes—and perhaps deepens—conflict, resentment, and ethnic disunity. Lies, half-truths, and silence have limited gacaca's contribution to truth, justice, and reconciliation.
The Elephant in the Room: Confronting the Colonial Character of Wildlife Conservation in Africa
Authors: Garland Elizabeth 
Published: December 2008

Abstract:This article draws attention to the structural inequalities that characterize the position of Africans within the global symbolic and political economies of African wildlife conservation, and theorizes these inequalities in ways that move beyond the critique of conservation as simply a colonial or neocolonial imposition. Conceptualizing wildlife conservation in Africa as a mode of global capitalist production, the article argues both for broadening the analytic lens through which the effects of conservation on Africa are assessed, and for redressing the global power dynamics that currently surround the protection of African wild animals.
Federalism in Europe and Latin America: Conceptualization, Causes, and Consequences
Authors: Eaton Kent 
Published: December 2008

Recent events in Europe and Latin America have triggered serious debate over federalism. In response, political scientists have turned to the new institutionalism literature in the attempt to understand both the causes and the consequences of federal institutions. Continuing a long tradition in the scholarship on federalism, each of the books under review defines the term differently, reflecting a lack of conceptual agreement that may complicate the development of more robust theories.Despite these conceptual differences, and their focus on very different time periods, the four books under review are alike in the emphasis they place on bargaining between national and subnational politicians. While this interest in bargaining clearly demonstrates the continuing impact of William Riker's work, much of the new research challenges parts of the Rikerian framework. As a measure of their quality, these four books will significantly shape the course of the emerging literature on comparative federalism, but future work should pay greater attention to interests, ideas, and international factors.
Autocrine Regulation of Interferon γ in Mesenchymal Stem Cells Plays a Role in Early Osteoblastogenesis
Authors: Duque Gustavo , Huang Dao Chao , Macoritto Michael , Rivas Daniel , Yang Xian Fang , Ste-Marie Louis Georges , Kremer Richard 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Interferon (IFN)γ is a strong inhibitor of osteoclast differentiation and activity. However, its role in osteoblastogenesis has not been carefully examined. Using microarray expression analysis, we found that several IFNγ-inducible genes were upregulated during early phases of osteoblast differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). We therefore hypothesized that IFNγ may play a role in this process. We first observed a strong and transient increase in IFNγ production following hMSC induction to differentiate into osteoblasts. We next blocked this endogenous production using a knockdown approach with small interfering RNA and observed a strong inhibition of hMSC differentiation into osteoblasts with a concomitant decrease in Runx2, a factor indispensable for osteoblast development. Additionally, exogenous addition of IFNγ accelerated hMSC differentiation into osteoblasts in a dose-dependent manner and induced higher levels of Runx2 expression during the early phase of differentiation. We next examined IFNγ signaling in vivo in IFNγ receptor 1 knockout (IFNγR1−/−) mice. Compared with their wild-type littermates, IFNγR1−/− mice exhibited a reduction in bone mineral density. As in the in vitro experiments, MSCs obtained from IFNγR1−/− mice showed a lower capacity to differentiate into osteoblasts. In summary, we demonstrate that the presence of IFNγ plays an important role during the commitment of MSCs into the osteoblastic lineage both in vitro and in vivo, and that this process can be accelerated by exogenous addition of IFNγ. These data therefore support a new role for IFNγ as an autocrine regulator of hMSC differentiation and as a potential new target of bone-forming cells in vivo.
A General Strategy to Disperse and Functionalize Carbon Nanotubes Using Conjugated Block Copolymers
Authors: Zou Jianhua , Khondaker Saiful I. , Huo Qun , Zhai Lei 
Published: December 2008

AbstractA general strategy to disperse and functionalize pristine carbon nanotubes in a single‐step process is developed using conjugated block copolymers. The conjugated block copolymer contains two blocks: a conjugated polymer block of poly(3‐hexylthiophene), and a functional non‐conjugated block with tunable composition. When the pristine carbon nanotubes are sonicated with the conjugated block copolymers, the poly(3‐hexylthiophene) blocks bind to the surface of de‐bundled carbon nanotubes through non‐covalent π–π interactions, stabilizing the carbon nanotube dispersion, while the functional blocks locate at the outer surface of carbon nanotubes, rendering the carbon nanotubes with desired functionality. In this paper, conjugated block copolymers of poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(acrylic acid), and poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(poly(ethylene glycol) acrylate) are used to demonstrate this general strategy.
Combined Effect of Nitrogen‐ and Oxygen‐Containing Functional Groups of Microporous Activated Carbon on its Electrochemical Performance in Supercapacitors
Authors: Hulicova‐Jurcakova Denisa , Seredych Mykola , Lu Gao Qing , Bandosz Teresa J. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractMicroporous activated carbon originating from coconut shell, as received or oxidized with nitric acid, is treated with melamine and urea and heated to 950 °C in an inert atmosphere to modify the carbon surface with nitrogen‐ and oxygen‐containing groups for a systematic investigation of their combined effect on electrochemical performance in 1 M H2SO4 supercapacitors. The chemistry of the samples is characterized using elemental analysis, Boehm titration, potentiometric titration, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Sorption of nitrogen and carbon dioxide is used to determine the textural properties. The results show that the surface chemistry is affected by the type of nitrogen precursor and the specific groups present on the surface before the treatment leading to the incorporation of nitrogen. Analysis of the electrochemical behavior of urea‐ and melamine‐treated samples reveal pseudocapacitance from both the oxygen and the nitrogen containing functional groups located in the pores larger than 10 Å. On the other hand, pores between 5 Å and 6 Å are most effective in a double‐layer formation, which correlates well with the size of hydrated ions. Although the quaternary and pyridinic‐N‐oxides nitrogen groups have enhancing effects on capacitance due to the positive charge, and thus an improved electron transfer at high current loads, the most important functional groups affecting energy storage performance are pyrrolic and pyridinic nitrogen along with quinone oxygen.
Tuning and Transcription of the Supramolecular Organization of a Fluorescent Silsesquioxane Precursor into Silica‐Based Materials through Direct Photochemical Hydrolysis–Polycondensation and Micropatterning
Authors: Sallenave Xavier , Dautel Olivier J. , Wantz Guillaume , Valvin Pierre , Lère‐Porte Jean‐Pierre , Moreau Joel J. E. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractA new fluorescent silsequioxane precursor with tuned optical properties and controlled aggregation properties is designed. The two cyclohexyl moieties introduced in the molecular structure allow the formation of very good quality films. The J‐aggregated structure is transcribed into the solid by photoacid‐catalyzed hydrolysis–polycondensation. Aggregation of the chromophores is reduced and highly fluorescent materials are obtained. The photoacid generator lies on the surface of the homogeneous layer of the sol–gel precursor. This phase separation presents several advantages, including UV protection of the chromophore and easy removal of the PAG. The first example of chemical amplification in the photolithography of the conjugated silsesquioxane precursor is demonstrated. As hydrolysis–polycondensation could be achieved in a controlled way by UV exposure, chemically amplified photolithography is achieved by irradiating a composite film (∼110 nm thick) on silicon wafer by using a copper TEM grid as shadow mask. The pattern is produced uniformly on a miscroscopic scale of 3 mm, the photopatterned pixels remaining highly fluorescent. The sizes of the photolithographed pixels correspond to the sizes of the rectangular holes of the 300 × 75 mesh grid (hole: 63 <$>μ<$>m × 204 <$>μ<$>m).
Increased gas solubility in nanoliquids: Improved performance in interfacial catalytic membrane contactors
Authors: Pera‐Titus Marc , Miachon Sylvain , Dalmon Jean‐Alain 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe kinetics of gas‐liquid catalytic reactions can be strongly promoted when these are performed in interfacial catalytic membrane reactors instead of other three‐phase reactors such as slurry stirrers or trickle beds. The well‐defined gas‐liquid‐catalyst contact in this system avoiding diffusional limitations is usually argued as the main reason for such enhancement. In this work, using nitrobenzene hydrogenation as a model reaction, we propose that this increased catalytic performance might also be attributed, at least partially, to increased gas solubilities in mesoconfined solvents (or simply “nanoliquids”) in interfacial contactors overcoming the values predicted by Henry's Law. To support this hypothesis, we provide experimental evidence of a dramatic increase of H2 solubility in confined ethanol using mesoporous γ‐Al2O3 as confining solid. Gas‐liquid solubilities can be enhanced up to five times over the corresponding bulk values for nanoliquid sizes lower than 15 nm as long as the gas‐liquid interface is confined in a mesoporous array. In such a situation, the volume of the gas‐liquid interface is no longer negligible compared to the total volume of the confined liquid, and the high surface excess concentrations of the gas adsorbed on the liquid surface make solubility grow up dramatically. According to these measurements, we discuss how nanoliquids might form in catalytic membrane contactors, which gas‐liquid configuration in the reactor appears to be more appropriate, and how the structure of the mesoporous catalytic layer contributes to their increased gas solubilization performance. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
The effect of natural flow of aquifers and associated dispersion on the onset of buoyancy‐driven convection in a saturated porous medium
Authors: Hassanzadeh Hassan , Pooladi‐Darvish Mehran , Keith David W. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractCarbon dioxide injection into deep saline aquifers is an important option for managing CO2 emissions. Injected CO2 dissolves into formation brines from above, increasing brine density and creating an unstable hydrodynamic state favorable for natural convection. Long‐term buoyancy‐driven flow of high‐density CO2‐saturated brine leads to faster trapping through improved dissolution and can reduce the risk of CO2 leakage from storage sites. We investigate the role of natural flow of aquifers and associated dispersion on the onset of convection. A linear stability analysis of a transient concentration field in a laterally infinite, horizontal, and saturated porous layer with steady horizontal flow is presented. The layer is subjected to a sudden rise in CO2 concentration from the top and is closed from the bottom. Solution of the stability equations is obtained using a Galerkin technique and the resulting equations are integrated numerically. We found simple scaling relationships that follow tDc∼60(1 + PeT)Ra‐2 for the onset time of convection and a∼0.05Ra/(1 + PeT) for the wavenumber of the initial instabilities. Results reveal that transverse dispersion increases the time to onset of convection for the entire range of Ra. Furthermore, transverse dispersion decreases the critical wavenumber of the instabilities. These results facilitate screening candidate sites for geological CO2 storage. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
Association of the dystrobrevin binding protein 1 gene (DTNBP1) in a bipolar case–control study (BACCS)
Authors: Gaysina Darya , Cohen‐Woods Sarah , Chow Philip C. , Martucci Livia , Schosser Alexandra , Ball Harriet A. , Tozzi Federica , Perry Julia , Muglia Pierandrea , Craig Ian W. , McGuffin Peter , Farmer Anne 
Published: December 2008

AbstractRecent studies suggest a degree of overlap in genetic susceptibility across the traditional categories of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. There is some evidence for an association of the dystrobrevin binding protein 1 gene (DTNBP1) with schizophrenia, and, thus, this gene has also become a focus of further investigation in bipolar disorder (BD). The aim of our study is to explore the association of DTNBP1 with BD and with a sub phenotype, presence/absence of psychotic symptoms, in a sample of 515 patients with BD (ICD10/DSMIV) and 1,316 ethnically matched control subjects recruited from the UK. Seven DTNBP1 SNPs: rs2743852 (SNP C), rs760761 (P1320), rs1011313 (P1325), rs3213207 (P1635), rs2619539 (P1655), rs16876571 and rs17470454 were investigated using the SNPlex genotyping system and 1 SNP (rs2619522) genotypes were imputed. Association analyses were conducted in a sample of 452 cases and 956 controls. We found significant differences in genotypic and allelic frequencies of rs3213207 and rs760761 of DTNBP1 between bipolar patients and controls. We also showed a global haplotypic association and an association of a particular haplotype with BD. Our results are consistent with previous studies in term of a general association between DTNBP1 and bipolar disorder and provide additional evidence that a portion of the genotypic overlap between schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder is attributable to this gene. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mutation screen and association analysis of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) in childhood‐onset mood disorders (COMD)
Authors: Mill J. , Wigg K. , Burcescu I. , Vetró Á. , Kiss E. , Kapornai K. , Tamás Z. , Baji I. , Gádoros J. , Kennedy J.L. , Kovacs M. , Barr C.L. ,   The International Consortium for Childhood‐Onset Mood Disorders
Published: December 2008

AbstractDepressive disorders are highly heterogeneous psychiatric disorders involving deficits to cognitive, psychomotor, and emotional processing. Considerable evidence links disruption to the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis to the etiology of depression, with specific deficits reported in glucocorticoid receptor (GR)‐mediated negative feedback. Given the role of GR‐mediated negative feedback in mediating response to stress, and the clear link between stress and depression, it is plausible that polymorphisms in the GR gene (NR3C1) act to increase susceptibility. Maternal behavior in rats epigenetically alters a NGF1‐A transcription factor binding‐site in the promoter region of the GR gene, providing a mechanism by which environmental cues can regulate GR expression and thus response to stress. The analogous region of the human GR gene (NR3C1) has not been studied, but it is possible that polymorphisms in this region may alter the binding of transcription factors known to regulate GR expression. In this study, we have performed bioinformatic analyses on the promoter region of NR3C1 to identify conserved promoter sequences and predicted transcription factor binding sites. These regions were screened with denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and direct re‐sequencing, and several novel polymorphic variants were identified. We genotyped nine polymorphisms across NR3C1 in a large sample of Hungarian nuclear families ascertained through affected probands with a diagnosis of childhood‐onset mood disorders (COMD). Single‐marker analysis provided little evidence for an association of this gene with COMD, but multi‐marker analysis across a region of high linkage disequilibrium revealed modest evidence for the biased transmission of several haplotypes. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Production and perception of sex differences in vocalizations of Wied's black‐tufted‐ear marmosets (Callithrix kuhlii)
Authors: Smith Adam S. , Birnie Andrew K. , Lane Kent R. , French Jeffrey A. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractMales and females from many species produce distinct acoustic variations of functionally identical call types. Social behavior may be primed by sex‐specific variation in acoustic features of calls. We present a series of acoustic analyses and playback experiments as methods for investigating this subject. Acoustic parameters of phee calls produced by Wied's black‐tufted‐ear marmosets (Callithrix kuhlii) were analyzed for sex differences. Discriminant function analyses showed that calls contained sufficient acoustic variation to predict the sex of the caller. Several frequency variables differed significantly between the sexes. Natural and synthesized calls were presented to male–female pairs. Calls elicited differential behavioral responses based on the sex of the caller. Marmosets became significantly more vigilant following the playback of male phee calls (both natural and synthetic) than following female phee calls. In a second playback experiment, synthesized calls were modified by independently manipulating three parameters that were known to differ between the sexes (low‐, peak‐, and end‐frequency). When end‐frequency‐modified calls were presented, responsiveness was differentiable by sex of caller but did not differ from responses to natural calls. This suggests that marmosets did not use end‐frequency to determine the sex of the caller. Manipulation of peak‐and low‐frequency parameters eliminated the discrete behavioral responses to male and female calls. Together, these parameters may be important features that encode for the sex‐specific signal. Recognition of sex by acoustic cues seems to be a multivariate process that depends on the congruency of acoustic features. Am. J. Primatol. 71:324–332, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of factors predicting clickthrough in Web searching using neural network analysis
Authors: Zhang Ying , Jansen Bernard J. , Spink Amanda 
Published: December 2008

AbstractIn this research, we aim to identify factors that significantly affect the clickthrough of Web searchers. Our underlying goal is determine more efficient methods to optimize the clickthrough rate. We devise a clickthrough metric for measuring customer satisfaction of search engine results using the number of links visited, number of queries a user submits, and rank of clicked links. We use a neural network to detect the significant influence of searching characteristics on future user clickthrough. Our results show that high occurrences of query reformulation, lengthy searching duration, longer query length, and the higher ranking of prior clicked links correlate positively with future clickthrough. We provide recommendations for leveraging these findings for improving the performance of search engine retrieval and result ranking, along with implications for search engine marketing.
Including prenatal diagnoses in birth defects monitoring: Experience of the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program
Authors: Cragan Janet D. , Gilboa Suzanne M. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Advances in prenatal diagnosis have led to changes in the management of pregnancies affected with birth defects. These changes pose unique challenges for birth defects monitoring programs which use hospital‐based sources. METHODS: In 1994, Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program (MACDP) abstractors began to visit area perinatologists' offices to identify pregnancies diagnosed prenatally with fetal defects. These pregnancies were then linked with existing MACDP cases and the hospital deliveries abstracted. Those without a hospital delivery were included as having unknown outcomes. Prenatally diagnosed defects were classified as definite or possible based on the certainty of the prenatal description. For 1995–2004, we calculated minimum and maximum adjusted defect prevalences by adding definite prenatal defects, and definite plus possible prenatal defects, to the hospital‐based cases. RESULTS: We identified 1009 pregnancies with a prenatally diagnosed defect not ascertained from MACDP hospital sources. Including these increased the total defect prevalence from 28 per 1000 live births to a minimum of 29.94 (6.9% increase) and maximum of 30.14 (7.7% increase) per 1000. The minimum increase was greater than 50% for conjoined twins, triploidy, craniorachischisis, cystic hygroma, Klinefelter syndrome, anencephaly, Turner syndrome, and trisomies 13, 18 and 21 among mothers ≥35. CONCLUSIONS: These data reflect the variety of congenital abnormalities that can be detected prenatally and the importance of including prenatal diagnoses in birth defects monitoring data. Birth defects monitoring programs should assess individually the extent to which prenatal diagnosis can affect the accuracy and completeness of their data. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2009. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A review of Donnai‐Barrow and facio‐oculo‐acoustico‐renal (DB/FOAR) syndrome: Clinical features and differential diagnosis
Authors: Pober Barbara R. , Longoni Mauro , Noonan Kristin M. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractMutations in the gene LRP2 have recently been identified as the cause of Donnai‐Barrow and Facio‐oculo‐acoustico‐renal (DB/FOAR) syndrome. More than two dozen cases, the first reported more than 30 years ago by Holmes, have been published. Summarizing available information, we highlight the cardinal features of the disorder found in ≥90% of published cases. These features include: agenesis of the corpus callosum, developmental delay, enlarged anterior fontanelle, high myopia, hypertelorism, proteinuria, and sensorineural hearing loss. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia and omphalocele are reported in only half of the patients. There is no evidence for genotype‐phenotype correlation, though the sample size is too small to preclude this with certainty. Although several conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis are highlighted, the diagnosis of DB/FOAR syndrome should not be difficult to establish as its constellation of findings is strikingly characteristic. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.