The Karadžić Genocide Conviction: Inferences, Intent, and the Necessity to Redefine Genocide

This Article first discusses and analyzes the Genocide Convention and its strict definition of genocide and the intent requirement. It then focuses on the evolution of this definition in light of the recent Karadžić case. This Article demonstrates that in modern-day conflicts, the finding of genocidal intent may be an impossible task for the prosecution and that the ICTY Trial Chamber’s method of inferring intent based on knowledge and other indirect factors may be the only way that prosecutors will be able to obtain future genocide convictions. This Article then discusses a possible re-drafting and re-conceptualizing of the genocide definition in light of modern-day conflicts and warfare

Effects of FTY720 on Lung Injury Induced by Hindlimb Ischemia Reperfusion in Rats

Background. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a biologically active lysophospholipid mediator involved in modulating inflammatory process. We investigated the effects of FTY720, a structural analogue of S1P after phosphorylation, on lung injury induced by hindlimb ischemia reperfusion (IR) in rats. Methods. Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into groups SM, IR, F3, F5, and F10. Group SM received sham operation, and bilateral hindlimb IR was established in group IR. The rats in groups F3, F5, and F10 were pretreated with 3, 5, and 10 mg/kg/d FTY720 for 7 days before IR. S1P lyase (S1PL), sphingosine kinase (SphK) 1, and SphK2 mRNA expressions, wet/dry weight (W/D), and polymorphonuclear/alveolus (P/A) in lung tissues were detected, and the lung injury score was evaluated. Results. W/D, P/A, and mRNA expressions of S1PL, SphK1, and SphK2 were higher in group IR than in group SM, while these were decreased in both groups F5 and F10 as compared to IR (p<0.05). The lung tissue presented severe lesions in group IR, which were attenuated in groups F5 and F10 with lower lung injury scores than in group IR (p<0.05). Conclusions. FTY720 pretreatment could attenuate lung injury induced by hindlimb IR by modulating S1P metabolism and decreasing pulmonary neutrophil infiltration

Host-Guest Interaction Induced Rapid Self-Assembled Fe3O4@Au Nanoparticles with High Catalytic Activity

A novel Fe3O4@Au nanocatalyst was successfully self-assembled induced by host-guest interaction between ferrocene and beta-cyclodextrin. This self-assembly system consisted of Fe3O4 nanoparticles modified with ferrocene (Fe3O4@Fc) and gold nanoparticles coated with beta-cyclodextrin (Au@CD). The self-assembly process between these two kinds of nanoparticles was extremely fast, and the self-assembled Fe3O4@Au nanoparticles showed high catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. Fe3O4@Au nanoparticles demonstrated good magnetic recoverability and high conversion (&gt;98%) after 10 successive cycles. The stable uniform distribution of gold nanoparticles on the surface of Fe3O4 played an important role in the enhancing catalytic activity. Meanwhile, beta-cyclodextrin promoted the catalytic performance since it could tether the 4-nitrophenol to the gold nanoparticles. Furthermore, this self-assembly system exhibited good store stability even for 6 months and could be controllably redox-responsive disassembled. This facile self-assembly method could serve as inspiration in catalysis, biosensor, bioseparation, SERS detection, and so on

RIP1 Regulates Mitochondrial Fission during Skeletal Muscle Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Background Dynamin related protein-1 (Drp1)-mediated mitochondrial fission relates to ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury, and its association with necroptosis is implied. We hypothesized that receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP1), a key kinase in necroptosis, acted as an upstream of Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission during skeletal muscle IR. Methods Thirty rats were randomized into the SM, IR, NI, MI, and DI group (n = 6). The rats in the SM group were shamly operated, and those in the IR group were subjected to 4-hour ischemia of the right hindlimb that was followed by 4-hour reperfusion. Intraperitoneal administration of Nec-1 1 mg/kg, Mdivi-1 1.2 mg/kg and same volume of DMSO were given before ischemia in the NI, MI and DI groups, respectively. Upon reperfusion, the soleus muscles were harvested to determine morphological changes and the expression of RIP1, total Drp1 and p-Drp1 (Ser616). Moreover, the muscular oxidative stress indicators and plasma muscle damage biomarkers were detected. Results IR led to impaired histopathological structures and mitochondrial fragmentation in the soleus muscle tissue, accompanied with increased muscular oxidative stress and muscle injury biomarkers, which could be similarly alleviated by Mdivi-1 and Nec-1 (p < 0.05). RIP1 and p-Drp1 (Ser616) protein levels were significantly upregulated in the soleus muscle subjected to IR injury, this upregulation was attenuated in the NI group, and Mdivi-1 downregulated the protein expression of p-Drp1 (Ser616) but not of RIP1 (p < 0.05). Conclusion RIP1 functions as an upstream of Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission in the execution of necroptosis during skeletal muscle IR

Process Modeling of Boron Isotopes Separation by Cross-Current and Counter-Current Solvent Extraction

Boron has two stable isotopes, namely,10B and 11B, which play important roles in the nuclear industry due to their excellent neutron absorption (10B) and neutron transmission (11B) properties, respectively. Nevertheless, the separation of the two isotopes is extremely difficult because of their very similar chemical properties. The traditional separation method based on the chemical-exchange rectification of BF3 and ethers is highly corrosive and requires expensive equipment. The separation based on solvent extraction (SX) of boric acid is potentially a greener alternative. Here we present the process modeling of SX separation of boron isotopes. The effects of separation factor, extraction ratio, and extraction stages on the purity and yield of boron isotopes have been discussed in detail. In the cross-current SX, the enrichment of isotopes increases linearly with increasing extraction stages, while the yield decreases exponentially, consequently the separation of the isotopes is not possible. In the counter-current SX, the enrichment of the isotope increases with increasing extraction stages, and the yield is >1 - EY (EY is the extraction ratio of the less extractable isotope). Assuming the separation factor beta = 1.02, 11B and 10B can be enriched to be >95% in about 200 and 500 extraction stages, respectively. The higher the separation factor, the faster enrichment and the higher yield. Therefore, future research should focus on increasing the separation factor and on the precise control of hundreds of extraction stages