bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toward the Minjiu Incident
Authors: Worthing Peter
Published: April 2007

This article analyzes the struggle that occurred from 1911 to 1921 between two militarists in Guizhou province, Liu Xianshi and his nephew Wang Wenhua, to shed light on the diversity of China's warlords and the complexity of their relationships. Although members of the same family, Liu and Wang represented two different generations of militarists, one from the 1911 era and one from the May Fourth era; as a result they became embroiled in a power struggle and a violent coup known as the Minjiu (1920) Incident. The article also examines the various methods and tactics that Guizhou militarists employed in their power struggle, paying particular attention to militarist attempts to control the student movement to serve their own needs. An understanding of these various methods of struggle enhances our insight into the varied nature of warlordism and militarist competition in China during the early twentieth century.
Japanization or the Persistence of the Liberal Market? US Employment Relations in Transition
Authors: Kwon Hyeong-ki
Published: April 2007

By exploring changes in US production and employment relations in the 1990s and the early 21st century, this article challenges prevalent theoretical paradigms. Both those who claim a path-dependent persistence of the US model and those who argue for convergence towards a best practice do not properly understand the transformation of US production and employment relations. This article claims that this American transformation is neither convergence nor a path-dependent persistence of the traditional model, but the creation of a new divergence, different from those of countries like Japan and Germany. This divergence is not predetermined by culture and institutions, but is produced as a consequence of politics among reflexive agents.
Training, Social Dialogue and Collective Bargaining in Western Europe
Authors: Heyes Jason
Published: April 2007

Training is commonly regarded as essential to the competitiveness of national economies and individual enterprises. It is also seen as a vital means of enhancing the employment security of workers. To that extent, it has been claimed that continuing training may provide fertile ground for the development of social dialogue and joint initiatives by employers and trade unions. Trade unions across Europe have also increasingly sought to have training included on collective bargaining agendas. This article examines recent developments in collective bargaining and social dialogue in respect of continuing training. It explores experiences in a number of Western European economies, in addition to social dialogue at the European level. It is suggested that the prospects for the development of effective social dialogue and consensual approaches to continuing training are more uncertain than is sometimes supposed.
Associations Between Contract Preference and Attitudes, Well-Being and Behavioural Intentions of Temporary Workers
Authors: De Cuyper Nele , De Witte Hans
Published: April 2007

Previous research suggests that contract preference (volition) is more important in predicting job satisfaction among temporaries than formal employment status (temporary vs permanent employment). This study provides an advanced test of this assumption by

(1) investigating whether volition either mediates or moderates the relationship between employment status and outcomes, and

(2) considering multiple outcomes: job satisfaction, organizational commitment, irritation and turnover intention. Analyses were based on a sample of 189 temporaries and 371 permanents. No evidence

was found for mediation by volition. However, the interaction terms between employment status and volition were significant for all outcomes, except for organizational commitment: volition was positively related to the outcomes among the permanent sample, but not among the temporary sample. Implications for future research are discussed.
The Effect of Visual Performance Feedback on Teacher Use of Behavior-Specific Praise
Authors: Reinke Wendy M. , Lewis-Palmer Teri , Martin Emma
Published: April 2007

This study evaluated the effects of visual performance feedback (VPF) on teacher use of behavior-specific praise. In addition to receiving individual VPF, teachers participated in group consultation focused on increasing competence in the use of behavior-specific praise. Three general education elementary teachers and six students participated in the study. Classroom peer composite data were also collected. Teacher and student behaviors were monitored across baseline and VPF conditions in a multiple baseline design. The results indicated that VPF resulted in an increase in behavior-specific praise for participating students across all teachers relative to baseline. Additionally, teachers increased their use of behavior-specific praise with classroom peers. The findings highlight the need for direct assessment of intervention implementation and for the collection of peer data to identify collateral intervention effects.
The Effectiveness of an Experimental Treatment When Compared to Care as Usual Depends on the Type of Care as Usual
Authors: van de Wiel Nicolle M. H. , Matthys Walter , Cohen-Kettenis Peggy T. , Maassen Gerard H. , Lochman John E. , van Engeland Herman
Published: April 2007

In psychotherapy, effectiveness of an experimental treatment often is compared to care as usual. However, little if any attention has been paid to the heterogeneity of care as usual. The authors examined the effectiveness of manualized behavior therapy on school-aged disruptive behavior disordered (DBD) children in everyday clinical practice. A total of 77 DBD children (8-13 years) were randomly assigned to the Utrecht Coping Power Program (UCPP) condition or the care as usual condition. Care as usual consisted of family therapy (FT) or behavior therapy (BT). Decrease in parent-reported overt aggression was significantly larger in the UCPP condition than in the FT condition, but UCPP and BT did not differ significantly in this respect. The effect sizes of difference scores on other variables were more in favor of UCPP when compared to FT than to BT. The comparison of an experimental treatment to care as usual depends on the type of usual treatment.
Individuals with Mental Illness Can Control their Aggressive Behavior Through Mindfulness Training
Authors: Singh Nirbhay N. , Lancioni Giulio E. , Winton Alan S. W. , Adkins Angela D. , Wahler Robert G. , Sabaawi Mohamed , Singh Judy
Published: April 2007

Verbal and physical aggression are risk factors for community placement of individuals with serious and persistent mental illness. Depending on the motivations involved, treatment typically consists of psychotropic medications and psychosocial interventions, including contingency management procedures and anger management training. Effects of a mindfulness procedure, Meditation on the Soles of the Feet , were tested as a cognitive behavioral intervention for verbal and physical aggression in 3 individuals who had frequently been readmitted to an inpatient psychiatric hospital owing to their anger management problems. In a multiple baseline across subjects design, they were taught a simple meditation technique, requiring them to shift their attention and awareness from the anger-producing situation to the soles of their feet, a neutral point on their body. Their verbal and physical aggression decreased with mindfulness training; no physical aggression and very low rates of verbal aggression occurred during 4 years of follow-up in the community.
An HIV-Preventive Intervention for Youth Living With HIV
Authors: Lightfoot Marguerita , Rotheram-Borus Mary Jane , Tevendale Heather
Published: April 2007

As the number of youth infected with HIV rises, secondary prevention programs are needed to help youth living with HIV meet three goals: (a) increase self-care behaviors, medical adherence, and health-related interactions; (b) reduce transmission acts; and (c) enhance their quality of life. This article describes an intervention program for youth living with HIV. Youth engage in small-group activities with other infected peers to modify their behavioral patterns. The intervention aims to (a) reduce substance use and sexual behaviors that may transmit or enhance transmission of the HIV virus; (b) reduce negative impacts of substance use on seeking and utilizing health care, assertiveness, and adherence to health regimens; and (c) enhance the quality of life to maintain behavior changes over time. Interventions that target youth living with HIV are warranted. A variety of delivery strategies are discussed for secondary interventions.
Manufacturing a Feminized Siege Mentality
Authors: Sehgal Meera
Published: April 2007

This article examines the discursive and embodied processes employed at Hindu nationalist paramilitary camps for women that transform traditional, middle-class Hindu women into committed, active participants in the powerful, right-wing Hindu Nationalist Movement in India. Based on ethnographic research on the Rashtra Sevika Samiti (the Samiti), a core women's organization in the movement, I argue that the Samiti effectively manufactures a feminized siege mentality. This mentality is a learned disposition in which female members of a community perceive themselves as potential prey to male members of a community of “outsiders.” The discursive practices include entwined discourses of Hindu women's victimization by Muslim men and empowerment by the Samiti. The embodied practices include a paramilitary physical training program that masquerades as self-defense training but in fact manufactures a fear of sexual attacks by Muslim men in the public sphere, while deflecting from sources of violence within the private sphere.
Revolutionaries, Wanderers, Converts, and Compliants
Authors: Linden Annette , Klandermans Bert
Published: April 2007

Life-history interviews were conducted with thirty-six extreme right activists in the Netherlands (1996-1998). Becoming an activist was a matter of continuity, of conversion, or of compliance. Continuity denotes life histories wherein movement membership and participation are a natural consequence of prior political socialization; conversion to trajectories wherein movement membership and participation are a break with the past; and c ompliance to when people enter activism, not owing to personal desires but because of circumstances they deemed were beyond their control. Stories of continuity in our interviews were either testimonies of lifetimes of commitment to extreme right politics (labeled revolutionaries) or lifelong journeys from one political shelter to the other by political wanderers (labeled converts). Activists who told us conversion stories, we labeled converts and those who told compliance stories, compliants. The article presents a prototypical example of each type of career and suggests each prototype to hold for different motivational dynamics.
Developing Historical 50-State Indices of Innovation Capacity and Commercialization Capacity
Authors: Hall Jeremy L.
Published: April 2007

Recent attention to innovation as the core of a knowledge-based economy has resulted in an array of studies and reports that seek to measure states' relative ranks as they advance their economic agendas. This study improves on state performance measurement by distinguishing innovation capacity from innovation outcomes by examining change over a 20-year period with consistent measures and by empirically grouping measures into core resource categories using factor analysis. Factor analysis is used to generate new measures of innovation capacity, and the efficacy of these new measures is tested using pooled cross-sectional time-series analysis to examine their effects on state patent generation. The findings indicate moderate to strong impacts of the innovation capacity variables on patent generation; the results provide a new grounded metric for examining state capacity for innovation and state financial capacity for commercialization over time.
Do Metropolitan Areas With Rich Central Cities Experience Less Sprawl?
Authors: Kurban Haydar , Persky Joseph
Published: April 2007

This study explores the extent to which richer central cities are associated with slower suburban sprawl. The authors use a unique approach to categorizing municipalities in urbanized areas based on their relative densities. Richness is measured in terms of the central city's relative share of high-income households. The central finding (both for the decade from 1990 to 2000 and for 2000 to 2004) is that although metropolitan areas with rich central cities sprawl somewhat less, the pace of suburban sprawl is primarily driven by metropolitan growth.
Access to Venture Capital and the Performance of Venture-Backed Start-Ups in Silicon Valley
Authors: Junfu Zhang
Published: April 2007

This article examines start-ups' access to venture capital in Silicon Valley using a comprehensive database. The author finds that Silicon Valley consistently absorbs 20% to 26% of the total venture capital investment in the United States, and start-ups in this region benefit from the abundance of local venture capital. Venture-backed firms in Silicon Valley receive venture capital at a younger age and complete more rounds of financing. On one hand, this better access to capital makes start-ups in Silicon Valley more likely than start-ups elsewhere to complete initial public offerings and helps offset some of the negative effects of intense competition in the region. On the other hand, better access to venture capital is associated with a higher bankruptcy rate, possibly because competition for new ventures makes it more likely that poor business plans will get funding.
Clusters, Agglomeration, and Economic Development Potential: Empirical Evidence Based on the Advent of Slab Casting by U.S. Steel Minimills
Authors: Giarratani Frank , Gruver Gene , Jackson Randall
Published: April 2007

Ten new steel plants were constructed in the United States from 1989 to 2001, each taking advantage of new steel slab casting technologies that gave scrap-based minimills access to the flat-products market. This market had been served previously exclusively by ore-based integrated mills. Some of the new minimills were built in established steel industry agglomerations. Others were built in greenfield locations with little or no prior steelmaking activity. This research, based on direct observation and plant visits, brings new evidence to bear on the nature and importance of agglomeration economies associated with steel production by analyzing industry clusters related to the advent of slab casting by steel minimills. The authors find that industry clusters can play an important role in the process of market entry; however, certain product and firm characteristics can shape the nature of industry agglomerations and their effect on firms and regions.
Urbanization process and the changing agricultural landscape pattern in the urban fringe of Metro Manila, Philippines
Authors: Malaque Isidoro R. , Yokohari Makoto
Published: April 2007

This paper discusses physical changes in the urban fringe agricultural landscape of Metro Manila and the socioeconomic factors and other pressures underlying these changes. In 1982, agricultural land use dominated in both of the two study areas, but the area under cultivation had decreased by 1997. The changing pattern in the northwest study area was one of phased transition towards a more urban land use. In contrast, in the southeast study area, there was a sudden change from an agricultural to an urban landscape. The paper explores the reasons for this difference and recommends the conservation of green open spaces through the adoption of an ecological planning approach involving a mixture of urban and agricultural land uses.
The peri-urban interface in Shahpur Khurd and Karnera, India
Authors: Narain Vishal , Nischal Shilpa
Published: April 2007

This paper describes the peri-urbaninterfacein two villages — Shahpur Khurd and Karnera — located in the state of Haryana in north-west India, and close to Delhi, India's capital. The paper argues that devising policy interventions for the peri-urban interface requires explicit attention to strengthening rural—urban linkages that materialize through the two-way flow of goods and services between villages and urban centres. Improving transportation and connectivity have a clear role in this, and this requires collaboration across not only rural and urban governments but also across authorities at various levels — village, state and national. As the peri-urban interface emerges, there is a need for protecting common property resources that are diverted to other activities and purposes, or to provide an alternative to those who have conventionally depended on them for their sustenance. Finally, improving the quality of life in peri-urban settlements requires explicit attention to the siting and location of factories, which can adversely impact the quality of life of peri-urban dwellers.
Vulnerabilities and responses to climate change for Dhaka
Authors: Alam Mozaharul , Rabbani M.D. Golam
Published: April 2007

The relationship between climate change and cities is complex. City-based activities contribute significant amounts of greenhouse gases and, simultaneously, are often more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Dhaka is now the world's eighth largest city and a significant proportion of Bangladesh's greenhouse gases are generated there although, relative to total emissions worldwide, the contribution is negligible. But this contribution is likely to increase rapidly with the continuing growth of the city's population, economy and electricity consumption, as well as increased motor vehicle use. At the same time, Dhaka is prone to damaging and costly flooding, both from the rivers that bound it and from rainfall that generates runoff that is beyond the capacity of the drains. In less than 20 years, the city has faced three major floods, each causing huge damage and economic loss. Although the government has taken a number of measures to improve both Dhaka's air quality and its capacity to withstand floods, there are further opportunities in both areas. This paper discusses, in specific terms, the scale of the threats, the measures taken to address them and the potential for more effective action.
Flexural-flexural-torsional Nonlinear Vibrations of Pre-twisted Rotating Beams with Asymmetric Cross-sections
Authors: Avramov K.V. , Pierre C. , Shyriaieva N.
Published: April 2007

The equations of nonlinear flexural-flexural-torsional vibrations of rotating beams with asymmetric cross-sections are derived. As the cross-section is asymmetric the centre of gravity and shear centre of a beam cross-section are not assumed to coincide. The nonlinear vibrations are expanded into flexural-torsional vibrational mode series. Using the Galerkin technique, the large-scale system of ordinary differential equations is derived. The non-linear modes are used to study teh free vibrations of a rotating beam, and the backbone curves of the free vibrations and the surfaces of the non-linear modes are also presented.
The h-, p-, and r-refinements of Finite Element Analysis of Flexible Slider Crank Mechanism
Authors: Kuo Y.L. , Cleghorn W.L.
Published: April 2007

Three common refinement methods of achieving more accurate finite element solutions are to increase the number of elements, to employ higher-degree interpolation functions, and to implement an adaptive mesh by moving the nodes but maintaining the same number of elements as well as the degree of interpolation functions. This paper presents a finite element analysis by applying these refinements to a flexible slider crank mechanism. The formulation is based on the Euler—Lagrange equation, for which the Lagrangian includes the components related to the kinetic energy, the strain energy, and the work done by axial loads in a link that undergoes elastic transverse deflection. A beam element is modeled based on a translating and rotating motion. An error analysis is demonstrated by defining several error indicators, which are based on energy of an entire mechanism, transverse displacement, and bending strain of midpoints on crank and coupler. This paper also demonstrates the effect of the stiffness of the crank.
Health, Disease and Healthcare in Africa
Authors: De-Graft Aikins Ama , Marks David F.
Published: April 2007

This editorial introduction to `Health, disease and healthcare in Africa' addresses some of the key issues for health psychology in the continent. African populations face a health crisis driven by a double burden of disease, a nutrition transition, war and conflict, and poverty. Health systems are under-funded and underresourced. Research suggests that the most prevalent diseases in Africa are preventable and treatable, and that most deaths are avoidable. Health practices and systems that may aid equitable, cost-effective and sustainable healthcare exist but remain untapped. We advocate a reflective, action-oriented health psychology that challenges social injustice and racism, and develops strategies that promote more just and healthy societies.
`Dying Twice'
Authors: Campbell Catherine , Nair Yugi , Maimane Sbongile , Nicholson Jillian
Published: April 2007

We highlight the complex interplay of psychological and social factors driving AIDS stigma, drawing on a study of community responses to HIV/AIDS in two communities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We draw on 120 semi-structured interviews and focus groups, in which open-ended topic guides were used to explore community responses to HIV/AIDS. Drivers of stigma included fear; the availability and relevance of AIDS-related information; the lack of social spaces to engage in dialogue about HIV/AIDS; the link between HIV/AIDS, sexual moralities and the control of women and young people; the lack of adequate HIV/AIDS management services; and the way in which poverty shaped people's reactions to HIV/AIDS. We discuss the implications of our findings for stigma-reduction programmes.
Epilepsy, Culture, Identity and Well-being
Authors: Allotey Pascale , Reidpath Daniel
Published: April 2007

Epilepsy presents an identity of exclusion, which at multiple levels hinders the ability to engage with one's community. This article describes an exploratory, mixed methods study ( N = 42) of the relationship between the social, cultural and environmental context and the experience of living with epilepsy in Cameroon. Participants were identified as `epileptics', consequently restrictions placed on them reduced their ability to perform traditional roles, affected their social value and excluded them from their communities. Participants detail the effects of their reduced `social value' and the challenges they face in attempts to be reintegrated as productive and functioning members of society.
The Prevalence of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Nigeria
Authors: Njoku Mary Gloriac C. , Jason Leonard A. , Torres-Harding Susan R.
Published: April 2007

The present study found adult rates of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in Nigeria that were somewhat higher than rates from community-based CFS epidemiologic studies in the USA. The rates of chronic fatigue for both adults and children were also higher than in existing community-based studies. It is possible that the presence of several fatiguing illnesses such as malaria and typhoid, the lack of adequate healthcare resources and poverty in Nigeria, place individuals at greater risk for fatigue and its syndromes. There is a need for more epidemiologic studies on the prevalence and sociodemographic characteristics of CFS in developing countries.
HIV/AIDS Support and African Pentecostalism
Authors: Adogame Afe
Published: April 2007

International and African discourses on the HIV/AIDS pandemic and intervention neglect the role of religion and religious organizations. Social science perspectives in tackling health and disease neglect religious doctrines and faith central to worldviews and praxis of religious groups. Both aspects are important for religious groups and individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. Informed by a religious studies paradigm and through the religious ethnography of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Nigeria and the Diaspora, this article demonstrates mechanisms employed by African Pentecostals to combat the epidemic and provide support for infected members. The RCCG conceptualization of disease and healing is central to understanding responses and measures in combating HIV/AIDS.
Integrating Mental Health into Post-conflict Rehabilitation
Authors: Medeiros Emilie
Published: April 2007

This report discusses the relationship between mental health care and post-conflict rehabilitation in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Data were collected during the author's involvement in mental health programmes for extremely distressed so called `child soldiers' in both countries, as well as involvement in co-ordinating and supporting professionals in charge of the war-affected population. Analysis suggested that mental health was neglected. However consideration of mental health is crucial to rehabilitation efforts because it facilitates understanding and appropriate responses to the difficulties encountered by both professionals and demobilized youth, and needs to be incorporated into designing policy, training and interventions.
Equity, Empowerment and Choice
Authors: Ratna Jalpa , Rifkin Susanb.
Published: April 2007

The purpose of this article is to illustrate how a framework that links equity and empowerment to improved health outcomes for those who live in poverty can be a useful tool for planning and managing health programmes. Using the work of Amartya Sen, Susan Rifkin has developed a framework described in the acronym CHOICE. The article applies the framework to two case studies from Kenya seeking to reduce the disease burdens of malaria and HIV/AIDS. The article examines how the process of pursuing equity and empowerment either supports the positive health outcomes identified as objectives and/or strengthens these outcomes.
Mouse neutrophilic granulocytes express mRNA encoding the macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (CSF-1R) as well as many other macrophage-specific transcripts and can transdifferentiate into macrophages in vitro in response to CSF-1
Authors: Sasmono R Tedjo , Ehrnsperger Achim , Cronau Stephen L , Ravasi Timothy , Kandane Rangi , Hickey Michael J , Cook Andrew D , Himes S Roy , Hamilton John A , Hume David A
Published: April 2007

The differentiation of macrophages from their progenitors is controlled by macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1), which binds to a receptor (CSF-1R) encoded by the c-fms proto-oncogene. We have previously used the promoter region of the CSF-1R gene to direct expression of an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter gene to resident macrophage populations in transgenic mice. In this paper, we show that the EGFP reporter is also expressed in all granulocytes detected with the Gr-1 antibody, which binds to Ly-6C and Ly-6G or with a Ly-6G-specific antibody. Transgene expression reflects the presence of CSF-1R mRNA but not CSF-1R protein. The same pattern is observed with the macrophage-specific F4/80 marker. Based on these findings, we performed a comparative array profiling of highly purified granulocytes and macrophages. The patterns of mRNA expression differed predominantly through granulocyte-specific expression of a small subset of transcription factors (Egr1, HoxB7, STAT3), known abundant granulocyte proteins (e.g., S100A8, S100A9, neutrophil elastase), and specific receptors (fMLP, G-CSF). These findings suggested that appropriate stimuli might mediate rapid interconversion of the major myeloid cell types, for example, in inflammation. In keeping with this hypothesis, we showed that purified Ly-6G-positive granulocytes express CSF-1R after overnight culture and can subsequently differentiate to form F4/80-positive macrophages in response to CSF-1.
Structural differences within the loop E motif imply alternative mechanisms of viroid processing
Authors: Owens Robert A. , Baumstark Tilman
Published: April 2007

Viroids replicate via a rolling circle mechanism, and cleavage/ligation requires extensive rearrangement of the highly base-paired native structure. For Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd), the switch from cleavage to ligation is driven by the change from a multibranched tetraloop structure to a loop E conformation. Here we present evidence that processing of Citrus viroid III (CVd-III), a member of a related group of viroids that also replicate in the nucleus, may proceed via a distinct pathway. Chemical probing of PSTVd and CVd-III miniRNAs with DMS and CMCT revealed that the loop E motifs of these two viroids have quite different tertiary structures. As shown by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis, the presence of two likely Watson–Crick GC pairs results in a significant overall stabilization of the CVd-III loop E-like motif. Unlike PSTVd, the upper strand of the CVd-III loop E-like motif cannot fold into a GNRA tetraloop, and comparison of suboptimal structures indicates that the initial cleavage event could occur on the 5′ side of the only GU wobble pair in a helix involving a nearby pair of inverted repeats. According to our model, rearrangement of 3′ sequences into a hairpin stem containing an identical arrangement of GC, GU, and CG base pairs and a second cleavage event is followed by formation of loop E, which serves to align the 5′ and 3′ termini of the CVd-III monomer prior to ligation. Because ligation would occur within loop E itself, stabilization of this motif may be needed to hold the 5′ and 3′ termini of CVd-III in position for the host ligase.
Studies on the red sweat of the Hippopotamus amphibius
Authors: Hashimoto Kimiko , Saikawa Yoko , Nakata Masaya
Published: April 2007

The secretion from the hippopotamus' skin changes its color from colorless to red, and then brown by polymerization of its pigments. The responsible pigments for the coloring reaction were isolated and denoted as hipposudoric acid (the red pigment) and norhipposudoric acid (the orange pigment). The syntheses of these pigments and the related derivatives were performed, and the latter were of use to elucidate the structures of these pigments including their tautomeric structures in aprotic and protic solvents. These pigments were estimated to be medicines for the hippopotamus, having the effect of both protecting the skin from sunburn and preventing infection by some microbes.
Biologically active compounds from bryophytes
Authors: Asakawa Yoshinori
Published: April 2007

Liverworts produce a great variety of lipophilic terpenoids, aromatic compounds, and acetogenins. Many of these constituents have characteristic scents, pungency, and bitterness, and display a quite extraordinary array of bioactivities and medicinal properties. These expressions of biological activity are summarized and discussed, and examples are given of the potential of certain lead compounds for structure-activity studies and synthesis.
Discovery of micafungin (FK463): A novel antifungal drug derived from a natural product lead
Authors: Fujie Akihiko
Published: April 2007

FR901379, which is a novel, water-soluble, echinocandin-like lipopeptide, was isolated from a microbial culture broth. It showed potent in vivo antifungal activity against Candida albicans and inhibits the synthesis of 1,3-β-glucan. However, this compound had hemolytic activity and was also less active against Aspergillus fumigatus. To overcome these shortcomings, we synthesized FR131535 bearing an octyloxybenzoyl acyl side chain instead of a fatty acid. FR131535 retained the original activity displayed by FR901379, acquired potent anti-Aspergillus activity, and its hemolytic activity was significantly reduced. Further extensive chemical modification of FR901379 has led to the discovery of micafungin (FK463), which is effective against Candida and Aspergillus spp. Micafungin has been marketed in Japan and the United States as a candin-class parenteral antifungal agent for life-threatening mycoses.
Enantioselective constructions of quaternary carbons and their application to the asymmetric total syntheses of fredericamycin A and discorhabdin A
Authors: Kita Yasuyuki , Fujioka Hiromichi
Published: April 2007

An efficient enantioselective construction of quaternary carbons including spiro carbons is an area of intense interest due to the importance of these units as components of biologically active natural products. Prominent methods are presented for the synthesis of chiral, nonracemic quaternary carbon centers by (i) stereospecific rearrangement of optically active epoxides, (ii) enzyme-catalyzed resolution, and (iii) hypervalent iodine reagent-induced ipso-substitution of para-substituted phenol derivatives. These methods were applied to the total syntheses of fredericamycin A and discorhabdin A.
Calreticulin transacetylase (CRTAase): Identification of novel substrates and CRTAase-mediated modification of protein kinase C (PKC) activity in lymphocytes of asthmatic patients by polyphenolic acetates
Authors: Gulati Ruchika , Kumar Ajit , Bansal Seema , Tyagi Yogesh K. , Tyagi Tapesh K. , Ponnan Prija , Malhotra Shashwat , Jain Sapan K. , Singh Usha , Bansal Surendra K. , Raj Hanumantharao G. , Dwarakanath Bilikere S. , Chaudhury Nabo K. , Vij Anjana , Vijayan Vannan K. , Rastogi Ramesh C. , Parmar Virinder S.
Published: April 2007

Earlier reports from our laboratory established the acetyl transferase function of calreticulin (CRT), enabling CRT to transfer acetyl groups from the acetoxy groups of polyphenolic acetates (PAs) to certain receptor proteins. We have in this paper documented the ability of CRT to catalyze the possible transfer of acetyl moiety from 7-acetamido-4-methylcoumarin (7-N-AMC) to the proteins, glutathione S-transferase (GST), and NADPH cytochrome c reductase, leading to the modification of their catalytic activities. 7-Acetoxy-4-methylthiocoumarin (7-AMTC) compared to 7-acetoxy-4-methylcoumarin (7-AMC) when used as a substrate for calreticulin transacetylase (CRTAase) yielded significantly higher catalytic activity. PM3-optimized geometries suggested that the availability of electrons on the sulfur atom of the thiocarbonyl group of the thiocoumarin may render the substrate binding more favorable to the active site of the enzyme as compared to its oxygen analog. Further CRTAase activity was characterized in the human blood lymphocytes. There was no appreciable difference in CRTAase activity of lymphocytes of asthmatic patients as compared to those of normal subjects. The results presented here highlight for the first time the irreversible inhibition of human blood lymphocytes protein kinase C (PKC) by 7,8-diacetoxy-4-methylcoumarin (DAMC) possibly by way of acetylation. The activity of PKC in lymphocytes of asthmatic patients was found to proportionally increase with the severity of the disease. When PA was incubated with lymphocytes of normal patients, PKC was inhibited marginally. On the other hand, lymphocyte PKC of severe asthmatic patients was inhibited drastically. Several PAs inhibited PKC of asthmatic patients in tune with their specificity to CRTAase. DAMC was found to exert maximum inhibitory action on PKC, while 7,8-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (DHMC), the deacetylated product of DAMC, failed to inhibit PKC. These observations clearly describe DAMC as the novel irreversible inhibitor of PKC, and DAMC may be found useful in the control of inflammation and may serve as a potential drug candidate in the therapy of asthma.
Molecular characterization of vomeronasal sensory neurons responding to a male-specific peptide in tear fluid: Sexual communication in mice
Authors: Haga Sachiko , Kimoto Hiroko , Touhara Kazushige
Published: April 2007

Pheromonal signals received by the vomeronasal organ (VNO) have been shown to elicit various behavioral and physiological responses that are typically stereotyped and preprogrammed. Recently, we found a novel male-specific peptide, named exocrine gland-secreting peptide 1 (ESP1), that is secreted in tear fluid and stimulates the VNO in mice. Excreted ESP1 appears to be transferred to the female VNO, where it induces c-Fos expression and elicits an electrical response in a small subset of vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSNs). We report here the identification of molecular components expressed in ESP1-stimulated VSNs by double-staining with c-Fos. We found that the c-Fos-induced cells were localized amongst the Gαo-expressing VSNs. Furthermore, the ESP1 signal was received by VSNs expressing a single type of vomeronasal receptor type 2 (V2Rp5). Finally, double in situ hybridization of the V2Rp5 and various members of the M1 and M10 families of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Ib molecules revealed that V2Rp5-expressing VSNs can express multiple MHC molecules. These results suggest that a V2R rather than MHC molecule is mainly responsible for the recognition of ESP1. The identification of the putative sex-pheromone ESP1 and its cognate receptor therefore will help clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying pheromone recognition in the mouse vomeronasal system.
Haemophilia A: molecular insights
Authors: Castaldo Giuseppe , D'Argenio Valeria , Nardiello Paola , Zarrilli Federica , Sanna Veronica , Rocino Angiola , Coppola Antonio , Di Minno Giovanni , Salvatore Francesco
Published: April 2007

Haemophilia A is the most common inherited bleeding disorder caused by defects in the

Clin Chem Lab Med 2007;45:450–61.
Limits of usual biochemical alcohol markers in cord blood at term: a fetal/maternal population-based study
Authors: Gallot Denis , de Chazeron Ingrid , Boussiron Didier , Ughetto Sylvie , Vendittelli Françoise , Legros Franz J. , Roszyk Laurence , Llorca Pierre-Michel , Lemery Didier , Sapin Vincent
Published: April 2007

Clin Chem Lab Med 2007;45:546–8.
A novel frameshift mutation of the lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) gene associated with renal failure in familial LCAT deficiency
Authors: Bender Bernhard U. , Quaschning Thomas , Neumann Hartmut P.H. , Schmidt Dieter , Kraemer-Guth Annette
Published: April 2007

Clin Chem Lab Med 2007;45:483–6.
Implementing the Stockholm Conference hierarchy of objective quality criteria in a routine laboratory
Authors: Dhatt Gurdeep S. , Agarwal Mukesh M. , Bishawi Bassam , Gill Janice
Published: April 2007

Clin Chem Lab Med 2007;45:549–;52.
Bangladesh in 2006: Living in “Interesting Times”
Authors: Hagerty Devin T.
Published: April 2007

Bangladesh's public life in 2006 was dominated by furious jockeying for political advantage in the face of upcoming elections slated for January 2007. As the year unfolded, the “politics of the street” increasingly supplanted the country's fragile democratic institutions. By year's end, political tumult posed a serious threat to the future of Bangladeshi democracy.
Pakistan in 2006: Safe Center, Dangerous Peripheries
Authors: Khan Adeel
Published: April 2007

In 2006 Pakistan saw increased ethnic violence in Balochistan, the reassembling and resurgence of Taliban forces across its western and northern borders, the watering down of the draconian Hudood Ordinances, and small symbolic steps toward democratization by the two major opposition leaders.
Cambodia in 2006: Self-Promotion and Self-Deception
Authors: Weggel Oskar
Published: April 2007

At first sight, 2006 was one of the better years within the history of the new kingdom of Cambodia, which began in 1993. The three leading political parties became to some extent reconciled. Economic growth remained high and the country witnessed the biggest bumper rice harvest in its history. The end of much misery and famine was, however, the beginning of a lot of self-delusion.
Indonesia in 2006: Cautious Reform
Authors: Kingsbury Damien
Published: April 2007

Indonesia in 2006 appeared to be stabilizing after several years of political and economic upheaval. Cautious reforms continued, but official corruption remained problematic. It appeared that the Aceh conflict was over. At year's end, Indonesia still faced many daunting problems but appeared to be charting a steadier course.
Timor-Leste in 2006: The End of the Post-Independence Honeymoon
Authors: Nevins Joseph
Published: April 2007

Sporadic sociopolitical violence plagued Timor-Leste for much of 2006, a manifestation in many ways of the festering wounds associated with Indonesia's war and occupation. This violence spurred both international military intervention in an attempt to restore order and also a change in government, aggravating an already difficult socioeconomic situation.
Vietnam in 2006: Stronger Global Integration and Resolve for Better Governance
Authors: Luong Hy V.
Published: April 2007

In 2006 Vietnam continued its momentum of economic growth and stronger global integration, partly through World Trade Organization accession. Following significant turnover in the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Communist Party in April, personnel changes were made in many top positions in the state apparatus. The new leaders resolved to improve governance by combating corruption and power abuse in the bureaucratic system.
Japan in 2006: A Political Transition
Authors: Park Gene , Vogel Steven
Published: April 2007

Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro stepped down in September 2006 after a five-year term in which he reshaped Japanese politics by undermining his own party's political machine, stretched the constraints on Japan's military role, and promoted a program of “structural” economic reform. In his final year in office, he confronted a backlash against his economic reform program and presided over a chill in relations with China and South Korea. Abe Shinzo replaced Koizumi, pledging to repair relations with Japan's neighbors and to promote a pro-growth economic strategy.
Taiwan in 2006: A Year of Political Turmoil
Authors: Chu Yun-han
Published: April 2007

The year 2006 will long be remembered by the people of Taiwan as a year of political turmoil. Chen Shui-bian's escalating political crisis at home raised the risk of instability for Washington. Taiwan's economy registered another disappointing year with sluggish growth and a slew of poor statistics.
Russia and the CIS in 2006: Asserting Russian Interests on Korean Security, Energy, and Central Asia
Authors: Wishnick Elizabeth
Published: April 2007

Russia's contribution to regional security and economic cooperation in Asia remains mixed. Record oil prices in 2006 highlighted Russia's potential position as a key energy supplier, but the government's priority has been on strengthening its hold over the industry, increasingly to the detriment of its foreign energy partners.
Mongolia in 2006: Land of the Rising Khan
Authors: Noerper Stephen
Published: April 2007

In 2006 Mongolia saw expanding foreign relations, growing domestic political difficulties, and continuing, though complicated, economic growth. The country's political consolidation has seen rocky times, with infighting dominating all sides. Despite remarkable economic growth, Mongolia struggles with the pacing of reforms, a shortage of basic services, and a widening income gap.
Deconstructing d'Indy, or the Problem of a Composer's Reputation
Authors: Pasler Jann
Published: April 2007

Perhaps more than any of his contemporaries in turn-of-the-century France, the composer Vincent d'Indy fashioned an identity based on opposition. Understanding the dynamic of oppositional politics, he defined himself, his music, and the music school he directed, the Schola Cantorum, through difference. This has led both his successors and his critics up through the present to associate him with defiant ultra-conservatism. However, d'Indy was also a man of alliances, alliances that served the composer and the state well. In "Deconstructing d'Indy," I throw into question the attitudes that have accumulated about him and suggest a more nuanced view of the man and his politics based on his practices, particularly before 1900. I show how he allowed government officials to use his difference to help them combat monopolies and bridge conflict with the Republic. The article argues that in misconstruing the nature and function of political differences in France and their relationship to reputation-building strategies, we risk substituting ideology and our own projections of its meaning for a composer's identity and importance in his or her times.
Book Reviews
Authors: Stevenson Lisa
Published: April 2007

Anthropology in the Margins of the State By Veena Das and Deborah Poole. eds. Santa Fe, NM. School of American Research Press. 2004.
Intravascular lymphomatosis: diagnostic problems of a rare disease
Authors: Szőts Mónika , Bors László , Kálmán Endre , Szapáry László , Illés Zsolt
Published: April 2007

Az intravascularis lymphomatosis ritka, high-grade malignitású non-Hodgkin lymphoma, melyben a sejtek immunhisztokémiailag B- vagy T-sejteknek bizonyulnak. A leginkább érintett szervek a bőr és a központi idegrendszer. A leggyakoribb tünetek közé sorolható az intermittáló láz, fokális neurológiai tünetek, progresszív demencia. A laborparaméterek emelkedett süllyedést, anémiát, magas LDH-szintet mutatnak, a cerebrális képalkotó eljárások általában aspecifikusnak bizonyulnak. A végleges diagnózis csak biopszia segítségével állítható fel. Egy, a fenti klinikai tüneteket mutató beteg esetét ismertetik a szerzők. Az előzőekben felsorolt jellegzetes laborleletek mellett a koponya MR vizsgálat aspecifikus volt. Paraneoplasiás encephalitis gyanúja miatt végzett tumorkutatás derített fényt mellékvese-malignitásra, melynek biopsziás szövettani vizsgálata vezetett a pontos diagnózishoz. Az eset kapcsán a szerzők felhívják a figyelmet a betegség célzott keresésének szükségességére, az érintett szervek biopsziájának elengedhetetlen voltára gyorsan progrediáló tisztázatlan tudatzavar, demenciának, stroke-nak vagy encephalitisnek imponáló klinikai kép esetén.
The effects of seasonal variations and weather conditions on the occurrence of heart attacks in Hungary between 2000–2004
Authors: Kriszbacher Ildikó , Czopf László , Bódis József
Published: April 2007

Bevezetés:
Az akut myocardialis infarktus kialakulásának időpontja szezonális variációt mutat, melyet a nem, a kor és az időjárási körülmények változásai is befolyásolhatnak. Jelen tanulmányunk célja, hogy megvizsgálja: 2000 és 2004 között kimutatható-e szezonális ingadozás a szívinfarktus bekövetkeztének időpontjában, továbbá az egyes meteorológiai tényezők (hőmérséklet, légköri nyomás, fronthatás) befolyásolják-e a szívinfarktus incidenciáját.
Vizsgálati módszer és minta:
Retrospektív elemzést végeztünk Magyarországon 2000 és 2004 között a klinikákra és a kórházi osztályokra felvett akut szívinfarktuson (
n
= 81956) átesett betegek körében. Az adatokat az Országos Egészségbiztosítási Pénztár adatbázisából a Betegségek Nemzetközi Osztályozása kódok szerint gyűjtöttük össze. Az időjárásra vonatkozó adatokat az Országos Meteorológiai Szolgálattól kaptuk.
Eredmények:
Az évszakonkénti eloszlás tekintetében a szívinfarktus csúcsidőszaka a tavaszi, a legkisebb esetszám a nyári hónapokra esett. A különböző évszakokhoz tartozó esetszámok közötti különbség szignifikáns volt (
F
= 34741;
p
< 0,001). A havi középhőmérséklet és az akut myocardialis infarktus előfordulása között közepes erősségű negatív korrelációt (
r
= –0,404) találtunk. A frontátmenetek és az esetszám évszakonkénti előfordulása között gyenge pozitív korrelációs kapcsolat mutatható ki (
r
= 0,053).
Következtetés:
Adataink szerint az egyes meteorológiai tényezők a hirtelen hőmérséklet- és légnyomásváltozás, valamint a frontátmenetek száma összefüggésbe hozhatók a szívinfarktus bekövetkeztének időpontjával, de feltehetően más tényezők is szerepet játszanak.