bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Astronomical education in Armenia
Authors: Harutyunian Hayk A.
Published: August 2007

Astronomy pupils in Armenia get their first ideas on astronomy at elementary schools. Astronomy as a distinct subject is taught at all secondary schools in the country. Teaching is conducted according to a unified program elaborated jointly by professional astronomers and astronomy teachers. Unfortunately only one hour per week is allotted for teaching astronomy, which obviously is not enough workload to hire specialized astronomy teachers at every school, and at many schools this subject is tutored by non-specialists. Many schools partly compensate this lack of teachers by organizing visits to the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) for pupils, where they also attend short lectures on astronomy. In some schools optional training in astronomy is organized by amateurs, for the purpose of a deeper understanding in astronomy.

During recent years annual competitions for revealing gifted pupils in astronomy have been organized. These competitions have three rounds, namely, in schools, in districts and the final round is, as a rule, held at BAO. The national winners successfully participate in and win prestigious prizes at international astronomical Olympiads as well.

At Yerevan State University (YSU) there is a department for astrophysics, which was set up in 1946 and is operating to date. This department trains specialists for a career in astrophysics. Only one or two students graduate from this department yearly at present, while in the 1980s a dozen specialists were trained every year. BAO serves as the scientific base for the students of YSU as well, and a number of staff members from BAO conduct special courses for YSU students. YSU provides a Master's degree in astrophysics, and BAO is granting a Doctor's (PhD) degree since the 1970s.
Astronomy in Serbia and in Montenegro
Authors: Atanacković-Vukmanović Olga
Published: August 2007

After a brief survey of the foundations, development and the present status of astronomy education at all levels, a review of research in astronomy in Serbia and in Montenegro is given.
Projects of the Teaching and Popularization section of LIADA
Authors: Bretones Paulo Sergio , de Oliveira Vladimir C.
Published: August 2007

The goal of this work is to present an analysis of the observational projects developed by the Teaching and Popularization Section of the Liga Ibero-Americana de Astronomía (LIADA). The Section is based in Brazil and counts on the support of 16 volunteer coordinators from most Latin-American countries. The observational projects are described on the home page of LIADA and aim to attract the attention of the general public, teachers and students to encourage their active participation in observational astronomy. The strategy is to circulate support material and open a discussion forum about each of the astronomical phenomena to enhance their consideration by and visibility to the public. Participants' reports are posted on the Internet forum and the web page of LIADA. We have analyzed the records of these activities and present an evaluation of the difficulties with written reports, the need of a dynamic maintenance of the home page, the establishment of a useful communications network and the visibility of the activities of LIADA.
Modern facilities in astronomy education
Authors: Harutyunian Hayk , Mickaelian Areg
Published: August 2007

Astronomical education is entering a new stage of development which is closely connected with the development of new technologies for communication, computing and data visualization. We discuss this evolution in the context of astronomy education in Armenia. As students spend only a short time in Byurakan Observatory for training in observations, they are not able to carry out systematic astronomical observations. Hence their training places emphasis on the use of astronomical archives and analysis of observational data obtained previously with the Byurakan telescopes and other ground-based and space telescopes. Thus, one of the aims of the Armenian Virtual Observatory is to support the training of students in this modern context.
The United Nations Basic Space Science Initiative: the TRIPOD concept
Authors: Kitamura Masatoshi , Wentzel Don , Henden Arne , Bennett Jeffrey , Al-Naimiy H.M.K. , Mathai A.M. , Gopalswamy Nat , Davila Joseph , Thompson Barbara , Webb David , Haubold Hans
Published: August 2007

Since 1990, the United Nations has held an annual workshop on basic space science for the benefit of the worldwide development of astronomy. Additional to the scientific benefits of the workshops and the strengthening of international cooperation, the workshops lead to the establishment of astronomical telescope facilities through the Official Development Assistance (ODA) of Japan. Teaching material, hands-on astrophysics material, and variable star observing programmes had been developed for the operation of such astronomical telescope facilities in the university environment. This approach to astronomical telescope facility, observing programme, and teaching astronomy has become known as the basic space science TRIPOD concept. Currently, a similar TRIPOD concept is being developed for the International Heliophysical Year 2007, consisting of an instrument array, data taking and analysis, and teaching space science.
The United Nations Basic Space Science Initiative for IHY 2007
Authors: Gopalswamy Nat , Davila Joseph , Thompson Barbara , Haubold Hans
Published: August 2007

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the International Heliophysical Year (IHY) community have joined hands to deploy arrays of small, inexpensive instruments such as magnetometers, radio telescopes, GPS receivers, all-sky cameras, and particle detectors around the world to provide global measurements of ionospheric, magnetospheric and heliospheric phenomena. The small instrument programme is envisioned as a partnership between instrument providers, and instrument hosts in developing countries as one of United Nations Basic Space Science (UNBSS) activity. The lead scientist will provide the instruments (or fabrication plans for instruments) in the array; the host country will provide manpower, facilities, and operational support to obtain data with the instrument, located typically at a local university. This paper provides an overview of the IHY/UNBSS programme, its achievements and future plans.
The Space Weather Monitor Project: bringing hands-on science to students of the developing world for the IHY2007
Authors: Scherrer Deborah , Rabello-Soares M. Cristina , Morrow Cherilynn
Published: August 2007

Stanford's Solar Center, Electrical Engineering Department, and local educators have developed inexpensive Space Weather Monitors that students around the world can use to track solar- and lightning-induced changes to the Earth's ionosphere. Through the United Nations Basic Space Science Initiative (UNBSSI) and the International Heliophysical Year (IHY) Education and Public Outreach programme, our Monitors are being deployed to 191 countries. In partnership with Chabot Space and Science Center, we are designing and developing classroom and educator support materials to accompany the distribution. Materials will be culturally sensitive and will be translated into the six official languages of the United Nations (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish). Monitors will be provided free of charge to developing nations and can be set up anywhere there is access to power.
Topographic variability on Mars: Implications for lava flow modeling
Authors: Glaze L. S. , Baloga S. M.
Published: August 2007

A new data analysis technique is presented for quantifying topographic variability on the surface of Mars directly from Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) Precision Experiment Data Record (PEDR) elevation data. The statistic expressing the degree of variability is the mean standard deviation of the residuals resulting from regressions on MOLA PEDR elevation profiles. This topography statistic is determined for ten volcanic areas on the basis of thousands of data points from 181 PEDRs. The topography statistic varies considerably, exhibiting a strong correlation to volcanic area. Despite the correlation with volcanic area, the correlation between topographic variability and slope is weak. Lava flow thickening behavior is quantified with two statistics that are, in turn, used as a rough measure of rheologic change. There is a strong, significant correlation between both flow thickening statistics and topographic variability. These results suggest that the influence of local topographic variability is more important than previously thought in modeling lava flows on Mars.
On the fractal nature of the magnetic field energy density in the solar wind
Authors: Hnat B. , Chapman S. C. , Kiyani K. , Rowlands G. , Watkins N. W.
Published: August 2007

The solar wind exhibits scaling typical of intermittent turbulence in the statistics of in situ fluctuations in both the magnetic and velocity fields. Intriguingly, quantities not directly accessed by theories of ideal, incompressible, MHD turbulence, such as magnetic energy density, B2, nevertheless show evidence of simple fractal (self‐affine) statistical scaling. We apply a novel statistical technique which is a sensitive discriminator of fractality to the B2 timeseries from WIND and ACE. We show that robust fractal behaviour occurs at solar maximum and determine the scaling exponents. The probability density function (PDF) of fluctuations at solar maximum and minimum are distinct. Power law tails are seen at maximum, and the PDF is reminiscent of a Lévy flight.
High magnetic susceptibility produced in high‐velocity frictional tests on core samples from the Chelungpu fault in Taiwan
Authors: Tanikawa Wataru , Mishima Toshiaki , Hirono Tetsuro , Lin Weiren , Shimamoto Toshihiko , Soh Wonn , Song Sheng‐Rong
Published: August 2007

We carried out high‐velocity frictional tests on crushed fault gouge from core samples from Hole B of the Taiwan Chelungpu‐fault Drilling Project to investigate the cause of high magnetic susceptibilities in the fault core. Black ultracataclasite resembling that observed in Hole B formed during the experiments, even under low axial stress of 0.5 to 1.5 MPa. The bulk magnetic susceptibility of the tested samples was proportional to the frictional work applied and increased as slip increased. Thermomagnetic analysis of the samples before frictional testing revealed that magnetization increased at temperatures above 400 °C, probably because of thermal decomposition of paramagnetic minerals. Both the thermally and mechanically induced formation of ferrimagnetic minerals by high‐velocity friction might have caused a magnetic susceptibility anomaly. Our experimental results support the assumption that heat generation of short duration, even if it is below the melting point, can increase magnetic susceptibility.
IMMUNOGENICITY OF RNA‐PROTEIN FRACTION ISOLATED FROM AXENIC ENTAMOEBA HISTOLYTICA (NIH:200)
Authors: Sharma GL , Naik SR , Vinayak VK
Published: August 2007

The immunogenicity of Entamoeba histolytica RNA (EhRNA) was studied in guinea‐pigs. Animals immunized with a single dose of EhRNA and Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) showed a high level of cell‐mediated immune response (CMIR) as assessed by percent leucocyte migration inhibition (74·8 ± 2·9) after 1 week of immunization. This response faded away gradually and by week 5 after immunization the percent leucocyte migration inhibition was 27·1 ± 8·27, which is quite close to control values. The immunogenic activity of EhRNA was found to be specific, since yeast RNA failed to elicit immunological responses, and was RNase‐sensitive. The CMIR could be maintained at its high level by giving boosters or multiple doses. Anti‐EhRNA antibodies (haemagglutinins or precipitins) could not be demonstrated at any stage.
IN VITRO TRANSLATION OF PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM PROTEINS
Authors: Upcroft Jacqueline , Chiu Suying , Kidson Chev
Published: August 2007

RNA was prepared from cultured Plasmodium falciparum using ribonucleoside‐vanadyl ribonuclease inhibitors and assayed in a rabbit reticulocyte, cell‐free lysate translation system. Discrete proteins, ranging from <10,000 to >200,000 daltons, were synthesized. Some of these proteins were precipitated by immune serum and were similar to those metabolically synthesized. Purified poly [A] mRNA was also translated and differences between the fractions which either bind or pass through a poly [U] Sepharose column are described.
VACCINATION AGAINST CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS IN MICE USING NONPATHOGENIC CLONED PROMASTIGOTES OF LEISHMANIA MAJOR AND IMPORTANCE OF ROUTE OF INJECTION
Authors: Mitchell Graham F , Handman Emanuela , Spithill Terry W
Published: August 2007

In vaccination studies, mice have been injected by different routes with living promastigotes of nonpathogenic leishmania followed by cutaneous challenge with pathogenic promastigotes. Parasites used for vaccination have been promastigotes of the cloned parasite lines A12 and A52 derived from Leishmania major isolate L137, or long‐term cultured promastigotes of the leishmaniasis recidiva isolate, L32 (L.t.tropica). None of these protozoa causes lesions after cutaneous injection to mice. Disease in previously injected mice has been monitored after cutaneous challenge with promastigotes of a virulent cloned line, V121, derived from isolate L137. Mice used were C57BL/6 (genetically resistant), BALB/c and BALB/c.H‐2b (genetically susceptible) and BALB/c.H‐2k (also genetically susceptible but sometimes less so than BALB/c). C57BL/6 mice were almost completely resistant to subsequent cutaneous disease when challenged after intra‐peritoneal injection of viable nonpathogenic cloned promastigotes. In contrast, BALB/c, BALB/c.H‐2b and BALB/c.H‐2k mice challenged after intravenous or intraperitoneal injection were only protected partially against cutaneous leishmaniasis. These vaccinated mice generally showed persistent low grade cutaneous disease for many months after challenge. High doses of viable L32 promastigotes injected intraperitoneally were also able to induce a degree of resistance to subsequent cutaneous leishmaniasis. Using any protocol, subcutaneous injections have been totally without protective effects as have been killed promastigotes injected by any route to mice. Subcutaneous injections appeal to be ineffective rather than counterproductive in that mice injected by both the intravenous and subcutaneous routes with nonpathogenic living cloned promastigotes resemble mice injected by the intravenous route in their disease status following challenge
TICK‐PARALYSIS TOXOID: AN EFFECTIVE IMMUNIZING AGENT AGAINST THE TOXIN OF IXODES HOLOCYCLUS
Authors: Stone BF , Neish AL
Published: August 2007

Glutaraldehyde treatment of the toxin of the Australian paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus produced a potent, immunogenic toxoid. Three subcutaneous injections (2 to 4 weeks apart) into rabbits produced very high antitoxin titres in their serum, although circulating antitoxin titres declined in the absence of stimulation. Twenty weeks later, immunized rabbits were unaffected by lethal doses of toxin injected subcutaneously.
ACQUIRED PATERNAL INFLUENCE IN MICE. ALTERED SERUM ANTIBODY RESPONSE IN THE PROGENY POPULATION OF IMMUNIZED CBA/H MALES
Authors: Steele EJ
Published: August 2007

First generation offspring derived from CBA/H males immunized in adult life against rat blood cell antigens displayed altered immune reactivity to rat erythrocytes (RE) as assayed at a single lime point after challenge, For the low antigen challenge doses employed (106 to 107 RE i.p.) the population of test offspring showed a significant enhancement of serum antibody response relative to the control population of progeny of unimmunized males; at higher antigen challenge doses (108 RE i.p.) the response in the test progeny population was suppressed.
A SIMPLIFIED METHOD FOR ESTIMATING 5‐PHOSPHORIBOSYL 1‐PYROPHOSPHATE IN MOUSE LIVER AND SPLEEN
Authors: Chalmers AH
Published: August 2007

A simplified method for the estimation of 5‐phosphoribosyl 1‐pyrophosphate (PRPP) in mouse liver and spleen is described. The method uses the enzymic conversion of [8‐14C] hypoxanthine to [8‐14C] inosine 5′‐monophosphate in the presence of PRPP and has the advantage over previously published methods in that the enzyme used in this assay, hypoxanthine‐guanine phosphoribosyl‐transferase (HG‐PRTase), is present in the tissue being analyzed and does not require preparation. In addition, each assay uses as its internal standard PRPP, thus overcoming the problem of the chemical instability inherent in this molecule. The two‐minute heal treatment used in the method was found to destroy most interfering enzymes and resulted in average recovery of PRPP of 56% and 85% for the liver and spleen, respectively. The counts obtained in the assay were about ten‐fold above background (80 c.p.m) and allowed accurate measurement of the phosphoribose sugar. The levels of PRPP (± standard deviation) found for liver and spleen in twelve (12) separate Bath/C male mice were 6·3 ± 1·8 and 10·8 ± 5·0 nmoles/g wet weight tissue, respectively, and agree with the tissue concentrations already reported for this metabolite. A further advantage of this assay is that it gives an index of the HG‐PRTase activity in the tissues.
INTERSPECIFIC CHIMERISM—THE CHARACTERIZATION AND IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSIVENESS OF BOS TAURUSBOS INDICUS HAEMOPOIETIC CHIMERAS PRODUCED BY EMBRYO TRANSFER
Authors: Summers PM , Shelton JN , Morris Bede , Bell K
Published: August 2007

Bos taurus‐Bos indicus twin calves were produced by embryo transfer and their degree of haemopoietic chimerism and immune responsiveness examined. All 10 pairs of Friesian‐Brahman twins were chimeric compared with only 6 out of 12 pairs of Jersey‐Brahman twins. In the Friesian‐Brahman twins, Friesian lymphocytes predominated in all calves while in the Jersey‐Brahman twins there was no uniform dominance of one cell type over another. All calves that had chimeric lymphocyte populations were also erythrocyte chimeras, although in two pairs of twins the genotype of the erythrocytes was different from the genotype of the lymphocytes. The lymphocytes of all chimeric calves failed to respond in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) tests to the lymphocytes of their co‐twins but gave vigorous responses to cells from other calves.

Primary and secondary immune responses to keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) antigen were studied in the efferent prefemoral lymph in normal Jersey, Friesian and Brahman calves, in 1 set of Jersey‐Brahman twins and in 5 sets of Friesian‐Brahman twins. The immune responses of chimeric twins with genetically identical lymphocyte populations were quite dissimilar and were characteristic of the somatic genotype of the calf and not of the genotype of the lymphocyte population. The chimeric status of the cell population in the lymph did not change significantly during the response. These results suggest that cither the genetic capacity of a population of lymphocytes to recognize and respond to antigens can be modified during ontogeny in an alien genetic environment or that a crucial determinant of the final outcome of an immune response is not the immunocompetent cell itself but the physiological and anatomical environment in which it exists.
LUMINOL‐DEPENDENT CHEMILUMINESCENCE PRODUCED BY NEUTROPHILS STIMULATED BY IMMUNE COMPLEXES
Authors: Cheung Kee , Archibald Anna C , Robinson Michael F
Published: August 2007

The origin of luminol‐dependent chemiluminescence (CL) in neutrophils stimulated by immune complexes (IC) was investigated. It was found that CL induced by soluble IC and aggregated human gamma globulin (AHG) was glucose‐independent, while insoluble IC‐induced CL was diminished in the absence of glucose, AHG‐induced CL was not inhibited by superoxide dismutase, catalase or 2,5‐dimethyl furan, but was suppressed in the presence of phenol, sodium benzoate, sodium formate and mannitol. The CL was also inhibited by inhibitors of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism including 5,8,11,14‐eicosate‐traynoic acid, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, quinacrine, indomethacin and aspirin, and by prostaglandins E1 and E2, theophylline and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Luminol‐dependent CL was also studied in cell‐free systems including AA plus soybean lipoxygenase, hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid plus peroxidase and xanthine oxidase plus xanthine. Our results indicate that, in neutrophils exposed to soluble IC and AHG, CL is produced and this is closely linked to the formation of free radicals during the metabolism of AA. The radical(s) involved is likely to include the hydroxyl radical. In neutrophils stimulated by large aggregates of IC or micro‐organisms, superoxide anion, H2O2 and singlet oxygen are also produced as a result of activation of NAD(P)H oxidase. These oxygen species function as oxidizing agents for AA metabolism and amplify the production of hydroxyl radical along the lipoxygenase (and possibly cyclooxygenase) pathway(s).
PROMOTING EFFECT OF BEER AND ETHANOL ON ANTI‐TUMOUR CYTOTOXICITY: UNAFFECTED GROWTH OF A TRANSPLANTABLE RAT TUMOUR
Authors: Autelitano Dominic J , Howarth Andrew E , Pihl Eric
Published: August 2007

The effects of beer and alcohol (4·8% ethanol v/v) were studied on (i) the growth of a syngeneic colonic carcinoma transplantable in male D/A rats, (ii) levels of blood B and T‐lymphocyte classes, (iii) antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and (iv) direct lymphocyte anti‐tumour cytotoxicity. Beer and alcohol had no effect on tumour growth, but led to significant increases in non‐specific anti‐tumour cytotoxicity in the levels of blood lymphocytes labelled by the monoclonal antibody OX/8 (cytotoxic/suppressor cells) and in the levels of total T‐lymphocytes; ADCC was not affected. It is concluded that alcohol stimulates non‐specific cell‐mediated immunity (CMI) but that it either does not affect tumour growth or that the increased CMI is compensatory for a tumour‐growth stimulatory effect of alcohol.
THE EFFECTS OF AMICON AND MILLIPORE MEMBRANES UPON THE LYMPHOKINE TITRES OF CULTURE SUPERNATANTS
Authors: Attridge SR , Kotlarski Ieva
Published: August 2007

Antigen‐ and Concanavalin A‐induced culture supernatant have been reported to contain inhibitors of interleukin 2 (IL2) activity which necessitate concentration of samples over Amicon membranes prior to lymphokine assay. However, since we found this to be unnecessary, we have re‐evaluated the effects of Amicon and millipore membranes upon the lymphokine litres of such supernatants. Our findings do not support the notion of an IL2 inhibitor, but indicate that lymphokine levels can be dramatically reduced as a consequence of millipore filtration.
BABESIA MICROTI IN MICE. SUBPOPULATIONS OF CELLS INVOLVED IN THE ADOPTIVE TRANSFER OF IMMUNITY WITH IMMUNE SPLEEN CELLS
Authors: Meeusen E , Lloyd S , Soulsby EJL
Published: August 2007

Protection against a primary Babesia microti infection in mice, induced by the adoptive transfer of immune spleen cells, was abolished when the immune spleen cells were treated with mitomycin C prior to transfer. Since mitomycin C treatment prevents the replication of lymphocytes without affecting other cell functions, these results would suggest that the transferred cells required proliferation in the recipient mice before they could exert their protective effect, and this excludes the already differentiated antibody‐forming cells (AFC's), macrophages and sensitised helper T cells. This was partly supported by the finding that Sephadex G‐10 non‐adherent immune cells, depleted of macrophages and AFC's, still conferred a strong protection after transfer. However, the Sephadex G‐10 adherent cells, on a cell to cell basis, initially conferred a better protection against B. microti than did the non‐adherent cells or unfractionated immune spleen cells. The possibility of the retention of an intermediate B memory cell type on the Sephadex G‐10 columns and the suppression of antibody production are discussed in view of these results.
ANTIGEN‐SPECIFIC RESPONSE AMONG T LYMPHOCYTES FOLLOWING INTESTINAL ADMINISTRATION OF ALLOANTIGENS
Authors: Husband AJ , Dunkley ML , Cripps AW , Clancy RL
Published: August 2007

The kinetics of T lymphocyte responses to mucosally presented antigen and the appearance of antigen‐reactive T cells in mucosal and systemic tissues have been investigated by measuring secondary mixed lymphocyte culture reactivity after intestinal administration of alloantigens. The data indicate that T lymphocytes in the intestine are able to respond to mucosally presented alloantigens, and that following immunisation the T cell reactivity occurs first in Peyer's patches then sequentially in mesenteric lymph nodes, thoracic duct lymph, gut lamina propria and distant mucosal sites. The response was mucosally restricted and the ultimate location of antigen‐reactive cells is influenced by site of antigen administration. Evidence is also presented for the existence of systemic non‐reactivity to mucosally presented antigens.
INDUCTION AND CHARACTERISATION OF LOCAL (SIMPLE) CALCERGY IN GRANULATION TISSUE IN THE RAT BY LEAD ACETATE INJECTION INTO POLYURETHANE SPONGES
Authors: Hirsch RS , McClure J , Vernon‐Roberts B
Published: August 2007

Granulation tissue was allowed to grow into polyurethane sponges implanted subcutaneously in rats for 14 days prior to injection of saline (control) or lead acetate (PbAc) into the sponge centres. The reaction was studied for 21 days post‐injection utilising sponge dry weight gain, histology and electron microscopy. Five hours after PhAc injection, calcification was demonstrable within the central tissue‐free portion of the sponges. Calcification in granulation tissue was associated with collagen fibres and elicited a macrophage and multinucleated giant cell reaction. Mast cells were not found within sponges. Hydroxyapatile deposition was associated with an increase in sponge weight compared with controls. The injection of PbAc elicited calcification in granulation tissue in the same time scale reported for calcergy in mature connective tissue and the phenomenon of calcergy does not require the presence of collagen fibres or mast cells in its early stages.
LECTINS FROM INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN WILDFLOWERS—DETECTION OF LECTINS FROM BAUHINIA CARRONII, HARDENBERGIA COMPTONIANA, PTILOTIS OBOVATUS AND RHADOGIA CRASSIFOLIA
Authors: Flower RLP , Wilcox GE , Chugg V , Neal JR
Published: August 2007

Extracts from 21 indigenous Australian plant species, representing eight genera, were tested for haemagglutinating activity to human and animal erythrocytes. Extracts from Bauhinia carronii, Hardenbergia comptoniana, Ptilotis obovatus and Rhadogia crassifolia agglutinated at least one of the erythrocyte types tested. The extracts from B. carronii and R. crassifolia contained mitogens for human lymphocytes. Both the haemagglutinating and mitogenic activity of the B. carronii extract were inhibited by lactose. Both the haemagglutinating and mitogenic activity of R. crassifolia were inhibited by maltose and α‐methyl‐glucoside. The haemagglutinating activity of H. comptoniana was inhibited by raffinose and the haemagglutinating activity of P. obovatus by maltose and α‐methylglucoside.
Protein kinase A increases the binding affinity and the Ca2+ release activity of the inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptor type 3 in RINm5F cells
Authors: Chaloux Benoit , Caron Annabelle Z. , Guillemette Gaétan
Published: August 2007

Background information. In endocrine cells, IP3R (inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptor), a ligand‐gated Ca2+ channel, plays an important role in the control of intracellular Ca2+ concentration. There are three subtypes of IP3R that are distributed differentially among cell types. RINm5F cells express almost exclusively the IP3R‐3 subtype. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of PKA (protein kinase A) on the activity of IP3R‐3 in RINm5F cells.

Results. We show that immunoprecipitated IP3R‐3 is a good substrate for PKA. Using a back‐phosphorylation approach, we show that endogenous PKA phosphorylates IP3R‐3 in intact RINm5F cells. [3H]IP3 (inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate) binding affinity and IP3‐induced Ca2+ release activity were enhanced in permeabilized cells that were pre‐treated with forskolin or PKA. The PKA‐induced enhancement of IP3R‐3 activity was also observed in intact RINm5F cells stimulated with carbachol and epidermal growth factor, two agonists that use different receptor types to activate phospholipase C.

Conclusion. The results of the present study reveal a converging step where the cAMP and the Ca2+ signalling systems act co‐operatively in endocrine cell responses to external stimuli.
A Facile and Efficient Conversion of Aldehydes into 1,1-Diacetates (Acylals) using Iron(III) Fluoride as a Novel Catalyst
Authors: Kamble V. T. , Tayade R. A. , Davane B. S. , Kadam K. R.
Published: August 2007

Aldehydes are smoothly converted into the corresponding 1,1-diacetates (acylals) in high yields in the presence of a catalytic amount (0.1 mol-%) of iron(III) fluoride at room temperature. The noteworthy features of the present system are shorter reaction times, chemoselective protection of aldehydes, and solvent-free conditions. The procedure is especially useful for large-scale syntheses as the catalyst is highly effective from the view of activity, selectivity, reusability, and economy in the preparation of 1,1-diacetates (acylals).
Inositols: The Effect of Bulky Substituents on Conformations
Authors: Angyal Stephen J. , Anderson J. Edgar , Craig Donald C.
Published: August 2007

Inositols have been converted into their triphenylsilyl derivatives. In all cases only five substituents could be introduced, the remaining free hydroxy group being hindered. The derivative of myo-inositol and one of two of neo-inositol were found to be in the inverted chair conformation, but those of other inositols are in the normal chair form. The structures of two penta-substituted derivatives have been determined by X-ray crystallography.
The shift from defined benefit pensions to 401(k) plans and the pension assets of the baby boom cohort
Authors: Poterba James , Venti Steven , Wise David A.
Published: August 2007

The rise of 401(k) plans and the decline of defined benefit plans will have an important effect on the wealth of future retirees. Changing demographic structure also will affect the aggregate stock of retirement wealth. We project the stock of assets held in retirement plans and the average retirement saving of retirees through 2040. Our projections show large increases in wealth at retirement, especially if the returns on corporate equities are comparable with historical returns. Retirement wealth will grow, however, even if equity returns fall substantially below their historical level.
Evidence on early-life income and late-life health from America's Dust Bowl era
Authors: Cutler David M. , Miller Grant , Norton Douglas M.
Published: August 2007

In recent decades, elderly Americans have enjoyed enormous gains in longevity and reductions in disability. The causes of this progress remain unclear, however. This paper investigates the role of fetal programming, exploring how economic progress early in the 20th century might be related to declining disability today. Specifically, we match sudden unexpected economic changes experiencedin uteroin America's Dust Bowl during the Great Depression to unusually detailed individual-level information about old-age disability and chronic disease. We are unable to detect any meaningful relationship between early life factors and outcomes in later life. We conclude that, if such a relationship exists in the United States, it is most likely not a quantitatively important explanation for declining disability today.
Jet stream intraseasonal oscillations drive dominant ecosystem variations in Oregon's summertime coastal upwelling system
Authors: Bane John M. , Spitz Yvette H. , Letelier Ricardo M. , Peterson William T.
Published: August 2007

Summertime wind stress along the coast of the northwestern United States typically exhibits intraseasonal oscillations (ISOs) with periods from ≈15 to 40 days, as well as fluctuations on the 2- to 6-day “weather-band” and 1-day diurnal time scales. Coastal upwelling of cool, nutrient-rich water is driven by extended periods of equatorward alongshore winds, and we show that the ≈20-day ISOs in alongshore wind stress dominated the upwelling process during summer 2001 off Oregon. These wind stress ISOs resulted from north–south positional ISOs of the atmospheric jet stream (JS). Upper-ocean temperature, phytoplankton, and zooplankton varied principally on the ≈20-day time scale as well, and these correlated with the ISOs in alongshore wind stress and JS position, even though there also were weather-band stress fluctuations of comparable magnitude. Such wind stress ISOs are typical along Oregon in the summer upwelling season, occurring in 10 of 12 years examined, including 2001. We present a previously unreported direct connection from the atmospheric JS to oceanic primary and secondary production on the intraseasonal time scale and show the leading importance of ISOs in driving this coastal upwelling ecosystem during a typical summer.
Fossil genes and microbes in the oldest ice on Earth
Authors: Bidle Kay D. , Lee SangHoon , Marchant David R. , Falkowski Paul G.
Published: August 2007

Although the vast majority of ice that formed on the Antarctic continent over the past 34 million years has been lost to the oceans, pockets of ancient ice persist in the Dry Valleys of the Transantarctic Mountains. Here we report on the potential metabolic activity of microbes and the state of community DNA in ice derived from Mullins and upper Beacon Valleys. The minimum age of the former is 100 ka, whereas that of the latter is ≈8 Ma, making it the oldest known ice on Earth. In both samples, radiolabeled substrates were incorporated into macromolecules, and microbes grew in nutrient-enriched meltwaters, but metabolic activity and cell viability were critically compromised with age. Although a 16S rDNA-based community reconstruction suggested relatively low bacterial sequence diversity in both ice samples, metagenomic analyses of community DNA revealed many diverse orthologs to extant metabolic genes. Analyses of five ice samples, spanning the last 8 million years in this region, demonstrated an exponential decline in the average community DNA size with a half-life of ≈1.1 million years, thereby constraining the geological preservation of microbes in icy environments and the possible exchange of genetic material to the oceans.
Scaffold proteins confer diverse regulatory properties to protein kinase cascades
Authors: Locasale Jason W. , Shaw Andrey S. , Chakraborty Arup K.
Published: August 2007

The assembly of multiple signaling proteins into a complex by a scaffold protein guides many cellular decisions. Despite recent advances, the overarching principles that govern scaffold function are not well understood. We carried out a computational study using kinetic Monte Carlo simulations to understand how spatial localization of kinases on a scaffold may regulate signaling under different physiological conditions. Our studies identify regulatory properties of scaffold proteins that allow them to both amplify and attenuate incoming signals in different biological contexts. These properties are not caused by the well established prozone or combinatorial inhibition effect. These results bring coherence to seemingly paradoxical observations and suggest that cells have evolved design rules that enable scaffold proteins to regulate widely disparate cellular functions.
First-Time Fathers’ Study: Psychological Distress in Expectant Fathers During Pregnancy
Authors: Boyce Philip , Condon John , Barton Jodi , Corkindale Carolyn
Published: August 2007

Objective: High levels of distress have previously been reported among expectant fathers, with the level of distress for new fathers falling after the birth and during the first year of their infants’ lives. The aim of the present study was to report on the associations with the fathers’ initial high levels of distress.

Method: The men completed a series of questionnaires on various aspects of their psychological functioning at a baseline assessment when their partners were in the late first trimester of their pregnancy. The General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) was the key measure of psychological distress for the present study. Men scoring >5 on the GHQ were considered to be cases of distress. The cases and non-cases were contrasted on the baseline psychosocial measures.

Results: A total of 312 men completed the questionnaires, of whom 18.6% were designated as cases. GHQ caseness was associated with high levels of symptoms on other measures of psychological distress, higher levels of alcohol consumption, poorer quality of their current intimate relationship, poorer social support, a lower quality of life, high levels of neuroticism and the use of immature ego defences. Multiple regression analysis identified the key variables associated with psychological distress to be high levels of neuroticism, dissatisfaction with social support and an excess number of additional life events.

Conclusions: Psychological distress among expectant fathers is associated with a range of psychological variables, particularly poor marital relationship and poor social networks. This is consistent with a general vulnerability model for psychological distress. Fathers who had insufficient information about pregnancy and childbirth were also at risk of being distressed, suggesting that more attention needs to be paid to providing information to men about their partner's pregnancy, childbirth and issues relating to caring for a newborn infant.
Mirtazapine for Anorexia Nervosa with Depression
Authors: Jaafar Nik Ruzyanei Nik , Daud Tuti Iryani Mohd. , Abdul Rahman Fairuz Nazri , Baharudin Azlin
Published: August 2007

Objective: To report the use of Mirtazapine in the treatment of anorexia nervosa with depression primarily regarding its propensity for weight gain.

Method: We present an outpatient case report of anorexia nervosa with depression. The patient's subsequent progress was recorded.

Results: The patient gained 2.5 kg within 3 months to eventually attain a body mass index of 15 after 5 months. Her depression achieved full remission at 6 weeks of treatment.

Conclusions: Mirtazapine is the choice medication in this case. However, treating depression requires caution, given these patients’ physical vulnerability. Controlled trials of Mirtazapine for anorexia nervosa are needed.
Plasticity of Polyubiquitin Recognition as Lysosomal Targeting Signals by the Endosomal Sorting Machinery
Authors: Barriere Herve , Nemes Csilla , Du Kai , Lukacs Gergely L.
Published: August 2007

Lysosomal targeting is fundamental for the regulated disposal of ubiquitinated membrane proteins from the cell surface. To elucidate ubiquitin (Ub) configurations that are necessary and sufficient as multivesicular body (MVB)/lysosomal-sorting motifs, the intraendosomal destination and transport kinetics of model transmembrane cargo molecules bearing monoubiquitinated, multi-monoubiquitinated, or polyubiquitinated cytoplasmic tails were determined. Monomeric CD4 chimeras with K63-linked poly-Ub chains and tetrameric CD4-mono-Ub chimeras were rapidly targeted to the lysosome. In contrast, lysosomal delivery of CD4 chimeras exposing K48-linked Ub chains was delayed, whereas delivery of monoubiquitinated CD4 chimeras was undetectable. Similar difference was observed in the lysosomal targeting of mono- versus polyubiquitinated invariant chain and CD4 ubiquitinated by the MARCH (membrane-associated RING-CH) IV Ub ligase. Consistent with this, Hrs (hepatocyte growth factor regulated tyrosine kinase phosphorylated substrate), an endosomal sorting adaptor, binds preferentially to K63-Ub chain and negligibly to mono-Ub. These results highlight the plasticity of Ub as a sorting signal and its recognition by the endosomal sorting machinery, and together with previous data, suggest a regulatory role for assembly and disassembly of Ub chains of specific topology in lysosomal cargo sorting.
DNA reference alignment benchmarks based on tertiary structure of encoded proteins
Authors: Carroll Hyrum , Beckstead Wesley , O'Connor Timothy , Ebbert Mark , Clement Mark , Snell Quinn , McClellan David
Published: August 2007

Motivation: Multiple sequence alignments (MSAs) are at the heart of bioinformatics analysis. Recently, a number of multiple protein sequence alignment benchmarks (i.e. BAliBASE, OXBench, PREFAB and SMART) have been released to evaluate new and existing MSA applications. These databases have been well received by researchers and help to quantitatively evaluate MSA programs on protein sequences. Unfortunately, analogous DNA benchmarks are not available, making evaluation of MSA programs difficult for DNA sequences.

Results: This work presents the first known multiple DNA sequence alignment benchmarks that are (1) comprised of protein-coding portions of DNA (2) based on biological features such as the tertiary structure of encoded proteins. These reference DNA databases contain a total of 3545 alignments, comprising of 68 581 sequences. Two versions of the database are available: mdsa_100s and mdsa_all. The mdsa_100s version contains the alignments of the data sets that TBLASTN found 100% sequence identity for each sequence. The mdsa_all version includes all hits with an E-value score above the threshold of 0.001. A primary use of these databases is to benchmark the performance of MSA applications on DNA data sets. The first such case study is included in the Supplementary Material.

Availability: The databases, further details and the Supplementary Material are publicly available at http://csl.cs.byu.edu/mdsas/http://csl.cs.byu.edu/mdsas/

Contact:  hyrumdc@gmail.com

Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A Matter of Interest: Diplomatic Protection and State ResponsibilityErga Omnes
Authors: Vermeer-Künzli Annemarieke
Published: August 2007

International law recognizes two mechanisms for the protection of individuals in case of violations of peremptory norms affecting individuals: invocation of State responsibilityerga omnesand diplomatic protection. While they share some fields of applications and are both based on some measure of indirect injury, there are important differences between these two mechanisms. This paper analyses and discusses these differences and similarities, and concludes by demonstrating that the essential distinction is to be found in the legal interest in the claim and the nature of the claim. The traditional conditions for the bringing of a claim based on indirect injury that are applicable to diplomatic protection (exhaustion of local remedies and nationality of claims) are not applicable to invocation of responsibilityerga omnes. This paper will argue that the latter is based on an obligation owed to the community as a whole, including the claimant State, and therefore constitutes a direct claim. In the interest of enhancing protection of individuals against violations of peremptory norms, the simultaneous existence of these two mechanisms should be welcomed.
III. The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf: Joint Submission by France, Ireland, Spain, and the United Kingdom
Authors: Warbrick Colin , Llewellyn Huw
Published: August 2007

On 19 May 2006, France, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom deposited a joint submission with the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (the Commission) concerning the continental shelf extending beyond 200 nautical miles out into the Bay of Biscay and the Celtic Sea. The Commission was established under Annex II of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This was the sixth submission received by the Commission, but the first such joint submission made by a group of coastal States.1 The Commission's task is to make recommendations on the outer limits of the continental shelf, not to delimit the boundaries of the continental shelf among the four coastal States. That will be done by the four States themselves through consultation and negotiation after the Commission has made its recommendations. The Commission began consideration of the joint submission at its 18th session which began on 21 August 2006 at the UN Headquarters in New York. The Sub-Commission that it appointed to examine the joint submission in detail has held a number of hearings with the four delegations—in August 2006, and January and March 2007. It is not expected to transmit its recommendations to the full Commission until the 20th session beginning in August 2007.
I. Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Bosnia and Herzegovina v Serbia and Montenegro)
Authors: Barker J Craig , Sivakumaran Sandesh
Published: August 2007

The judgment in theCase Concerning the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide(‘Genocidecase’) was handed down on 26 February 2007.1Broadcast live across Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and making front-page news,2it is a landmark opinion of considerable substance that contains a whole host of interesting international legal issues. The judgment and individual opinions attached thereto contain many important points on evidence, the law on genocide and state responsibility. This comment will touch upon only some of the many issues raised. In order to do so, though, it is first necessary to recall the history of the case.
IV.ProsecutorvThomas Lubanga, Decision of Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court, 29 January 2007
Authors: Barker J Craig , Happold Matthew
Published: August 2007

On 29 January 2007, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (the ICC) handed down its decision confirming the charges brought against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, the first defendant to appear before the Court. In this and earlier decisions in the case, the Chamber has said a number of interesting things about the admissibility of cases before the Court, the elements of the war crime of child recruitment and the modes of liability under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (the Rome Statute).140More generally, however, the Chamber's actions also say much about the role the judges of the ICC see themselves as undertaking in the Court's proceedings.

Thomas Lubanga is a national of the Democratic Republic of Congo (the DRC). He describes himself as a politician. It is alleged that from its foundation in 2000 he has been the leader of theUnion des patriots congolais(the UPC) and commander-in-chief of its military wing, theForces patriotiques pour la liberation du Congo(the FPLC). From mid-2002 to the end of 2003, the FPLC was engaged in fighting in the region of Ituri in the DRC. During the conflict, the UPC/FPLC is alleged to have committed numerous atrocities, including the widespread recruitment of children into its ranks.141

The DRC had become a party to the Rome Statute on 11 April 2002 and, accordingly, the Statute entered into force for it on 1 July 2002, the date of the Court's establishment. Following strong hints from the Prosecutor,142on 19 April 2004 the President of the DRC referrred to the Court ‘the situation of crimes within the juris- diction of the Court allegedly committed anywhere in the territory of the DRC since the entry into force of the Rome Statute’.143On 23 June 2004, the Prosecutor opened an investigation into the situation, the ICC's first.144On 19 March 2005, Lubanga was arrested and detained by the DRC authorities, and charged with genocide, crimes against humanity, murder, illegal detention and torture in relation to crimes alleged committed between May 2003 and February 2005. On 17 March 2006, Lubanga was transferred from Congolese custody to that of the ICC.