bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chitosan coated alginate beads containing poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) for dual‐stimuli‐responsive drug release
Authors: Shi Jun , Alves Natália M. , Mano João F.
Published: July 2007

Chitosan coated alginate beads containing poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAM), were prepared to be used as a controlled pH/temperature sensitive drug delivery system with improved encapsulation efficiency and delayed release rate. The studied beads were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Water uptake and release studies using indomethacin as a model drug were also performed. The drug loading efficiency of the beads with the polyelectrolyte complex coating is significantly higher (84%) than that of the uncoated ones (74%). The equilibrium swelling of the developed materials was found to be pH‐ and thermo‐ responsive. For all the conditions it was found that the release profile was slower for the coated beads, indicating that the polyelectrolyte complex coating could slow down the release rate effectively. These results suggest that the studied smart system has potential to be used as an effective pH/temperature sustainable delivery system for biomedical applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2008
Effects of load and indicator type upon occlusal contact markings
Authors: Saad Muhammad N. , Weiner Gabriel , Ehrenberg David , Weiner Saul
Published: July 2007

Statement of Problem: Clinicians use occlusal indicators to identify tooth contacts. However, the reliability of these indicators has been questioned. At times occlusal contacts are not identified or false positive occlusal contacts are observed. Purpose of Study: This study was designed to compare the number and size of occlusal indicator marks from both thick and thin occlusal indicator materials with different loads. Materials and Methods: Ivorine casts were articulated and mounted on an Hana Mate nonadjustable articulator. Loads of 100N, 150N, and 200N were applied with Accufim (25 μm thick, Parkell, Farmingdale, NY) and Articulating Paper (60 μm thick, G.E. Rudischauer Dental Articulating Paper, Brooklyn, NY) as the occlusal indicators. A fresh piece of indicator was used for each trial. Comparisons were made of the number and size of the contacts for both the thick and thin occlusal indicators at the different loads. Results: Observation of the marks recorded with the thicker occlusal indicator demonstrated both a greater number marks and a larger size to the marks when compared to the thinner Accufilm, p ≤ 0.02–0.0001. However, there was no significant increase in the number or size of the marks with an increased load for either material. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2008
Antisense glutaminase inhibition modifies the O‐GlcNAc pattern and flux through the hexosamine pathway in breast cancer cells
Authors: Donadio Ana C. , Lobo Carolina , Tosina Marta , de la Rosa Vanessa , Martín‐Rufián Mercedes , Campos‐Sandoval José A. , Matés José M. , Márquez Javier , Alonso Francisco J. , Segura Juan A.
Published: July 2007

Glutamine behaves as a key nutrient for tumors and rapidly dividing cells. Glutaminase is the main glutamine‐utilizing enzyme in these cells, and its activity correlates with glutamine consumption and growth rate. We have carried out the antisense L‐type glutaminase inhibition in human MCF7 breast cancer cells, in order to study its effect on the hexosamine pathway and the pattern of protein O‐glycosylation. The antisense mRNA glutaminase expressing cells, named ORF19, presented a 50% lower proliferation rate than parental cells, showing a more differentiated phenotype. ORF19 cells had an 80% reduction in glutamine:fructose‐6‐P amidotransferase activity, which is the rate‐limiting step of the hexosamine pathway. Although the overall cellular protein O‐glycosylation did not change, the O‐glycosylation status of several key proteins was altered. O‐glycosylation of O‐GlcNAc transferase (OGT), the enzyme that links N‐acetylglucosamine to proteins, was fivefold lower in ORF19 than in wild type cells. Inhibition of glutaminase also provoked a 10‐fold increase in Sp1 expression, and a significant decrease in the ratio of O‐glycosylated to total protein for both Sp1 and the Rpt2 proteasome component. These changes were accompanied by a higher Sp1 transcriptional activity. Proteome analysis of O‐glycosylated proteins permitted the detection of two new OGT target proteins: the chaperonin TCP‐1 θ and the oncogene Ets‐related protein isoform 7. Taken together, our results support the hexosamine pathway and the O‐glycosylation of proteins being a sensor mechanism of the nutritional and energetic states of the cell. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 800–811, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Loss of ERE binding activity by estrogen receptor‐α alters basal and estrogen‐stimulated bone‐related gene expression by osteoblastic cells
Authors: Rudnik Volha , Sanyal Arunik , Syed Farhan A. , Monroe David G. , Spelsberg Thomas C. , Oursler Merry Jo , Khosla Sundeep
Published: July 2007

Estrogen receptor (ER)‐α can signal either via estrogen response element (ERE)‐mediated pathways or via alternate pathways involving protein–protein or membrane signaling. We previously demonstrated that, as compared to wild type (WT) controls, mice expressing a mutant ER‐α lacking the ability to bind EREs (non‐classical estrogen receptor knock‐in (NERKI)) display significant impairments in the skeletal response to estrogen. To elucidate the mechanism(s) underlying these in vivo deficits, we generated U2OS cells stably expressing either WT ER‐α or the NERKI receptor. Compared to cells transfected with the control vector, stable expression of ER‐α, even in the absence of E2, resulted in an increase in mRNA levels for alkaline phosphatase (AP, by 400%, P < 0.01) and a decrease in mRNA levels for insulin growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) (by 65%, P < 0.001), with no effects on collagen I (col I) or osteocalcin (OCN) mRNA levels. By contrast, stable expression of the NERKI receptor resulted in the suppression of mRNA levels for AP, col I, OCN, and IGF‐I (by 62, 89, 60, and 70%, P < 0.001). While E2 increased mRNA levels of AP, OCN, col I, and IGF‐I in ER‐α cells, E2 effects in the NERKI cells on AP and OCN mRNA levels were attenuated, with a trend for E2 to inhibit col I mRNA levels. In addition, E2 had no effects on IGF‐I mRNA levels in NERKI cells. Collectively, these findings indicate that ERE signaling plays a significant role in mediating effects of estrogen on osteoblastic differentiation markers and on IGF‐I mRNA levels. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 896–907, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Removal of Congo red from aqueous solution using a chitosan/organo‐ montmorillonite nanocomposite
Authors: Wang Li , Wang Ai‐qin
Published: July 2007

To further improve the adsorption capacity of chitosan (CTS), a series of novel chitosan/organo‐montmorillonite nanocomposites (CTS/OMMT) were synthesized and the adsorption abilities for Congo red (CR) investigated in this study. The nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the results indicated that an exfoliated nanostructure was formed in CTS/OMMT nanocomposites. Compared with the adsorption capacity of OMMT (192.4 mg g−1), CTS/OMMT with an amount of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide equal to 0.75 CEC of MMT and molar ratio of CTS to OMMT of 1:10 exhibited the higher adsorption capacity (290.8 mg g−1). The adsorption behaviours of OMMT and CTS/OMMT showed that the adsorption kinetics and isotherms were in good agreement with a pseudo‐second‐order equation and the Langmuir equation, respectively. The IR spectra revealed that a chemical interaction occurred between CTS/OMMT and CR. The adsorption capacity of CTS/OMMT nanocomposite was higher than that of other absorbents; this study suggested that the CTS/OMMT nanocomposite could be used as an adsorbent to remove CR dye from aqueous solution. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Electrolytic reduction improves treatability of humic acids containing water streams
Authors: Satyawali Yamini , Van de Wiele Tom , Saveyn Hans , Van der Meeren Paul , Verstraete Willy
Published: July 2007

BACKGROUND:An understanding of the structure of humic acids is essential for their degradation or physical removal from wastewaters. This work aims at targeting the reactivity of these molecules by modifying their properties. Structural alterations were carried out by electrolytically reducing the solution containing humic acid in an electrolytic cell to convert them into less polar structures.

RESULTS:Overall it was observed that electrolytic reduction of humic acids strongly facilitated their further treatability. First, the reduced forms of humic acids exhibited improved adsorption on activated carbon. For 1 kW h of electrical energy consumed during electrolytic reduction, the additional chemical oxygen demand (COD) adsorbed was 60 g for a synthetic humic acid solution. Similarly, the additional COD adsorbed (kW h)−1 was found to be 35 g and 112 g for humic acid‐rich effluent and landfill leachate, respectively. In comparison with non‐reduced control samples, a 200‐fold decrease in the chloroform formation was observed when electrolytically reduced drinking water samples were supplemented with a chlorine dosage of 150 mg L−1. Moreover, an enhanced membrane flux was obtained with electrically reduced samples, indicating their improved membrane filterability.

CONCLUSION:The electrolyzed humus species were characterized by analyzing their surface tension and particle size. This work addresses an alternative technology for the treatment of water streams containing humic acids. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Stabilized production of highly concentrated bioethanol from fermentation broths by Zymomonas mobilis by pervaporation using silicone rubber‐coated silicalite membranes
Authors: Ikegami Toru , Negishi Hideyuki , Yanase Hideshi , Sakaki Keiji , Okamoto Masayoshi , Koura Nobuyuki , Sano Tsuneji , Haraya Kenji , Yanagishita Hiroshi
Published: July 2007

Since pervaporation performance of ethanol‐permselective silicalite membrane, which is an aluminum‐free hydrophobic zeolite, in the separation of fermentation broths by yeast are negatively affected by succinic acid, the potential of pervaporation using silicone rubber‐coated silicalite membranes of ethanol fermentation broths, not containing succinic acid, by Zymomonas mobilis was investigated for the reliable production of concentrated bioethanol. In the separation of fermentation broths, the pervaporation performance was influenced by nutrients used for the preparation of fermentation broths. In the separation of a broth prepared with yeast extract, pervaporation performance was greatly compromised by accumulation of a substance(s) having an ultraviolet absorption maximum at approximately 260 nm not only in total flux, but also in permeate ethanol concentration compared to the separation of binary ethanol/water mixtures. When supplying a prepared broth with corn steep liquor without the accumulation of a substance(s) having an ultraviolet absorption maximum at approximately 260 nm, the permeate ethanol concentration did not decrease. Treating the prepared broth with activated carbon was effective in restraining the decrease in total flux. Pervaporation performance is also deteriorated by the adsorption of lactic acid contained in corn steep liquor onto the silicalite crystals. In the separation of ternary mixtures of ethanol/water/lactic acid, accomplished by adjusting the ternary mixtures to pH > 5, more than 90% of the permeation flux in the separation of binary ethanol/water mixtures was obtained, and the permeate ethanol concentration was comparable to that obtained in the separation of binary mixtures. For stably performing pervaporation, it is important to prepare ethanol fermentation broths by Zymomonas mobilis in which lactic acid concentration is as low as possible. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Towards the design of a scalable and commercially viable technique for plasmid purification using a methacrylate monolithic stationary phase
Authors: Danquah Michael K , Forde Gareth M
Published: July 2007

A monolithic stationary phase was prepared via free radical co‐polymerization of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) with pore diameter tailored specifically for plasmid binding, retention and elution. The polymer was functionalized with 2‐chloro‐N,N‐diethylethylamine hydrochloride (DEAE‐Cl) for anion‐exchange purification of plasmid DNA (pDNA) from clarified lysate obtained from E. coli DH5α‐pUC19 culture in a ribonuclease/protease‐free environment. Characterization of the monolithic resin showed a porous material, with 68% of the pores existing in the matrix having diameters above 300 nm. The final product isolated from a single‐stage 5 min anion‐exchange purification was a pure and homogeneous supercoiled (SC) pDNA with no gDNA, RNA and protein contamination as confirmed by ethidium bromide agarose gel electrophoresis (EtBr‐AGE), enzyme restriction analysis and sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This non‐toxic technique is cGMP compatible and highly scalable for production of pDNA on a commercial level. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
A concise synthesis of single‐enantiomer β‐lactams and β‐amino acids using Rhodococcus globerulus
Authors: Lloyd Michael , Lloyd Richard , Keene Philip , Osborne Andrew
Published: July 2007

BACKGROUND: Pharmaceutical companies continue to evaluate β‐amino acids and β‐lactams in a range of drug candidates. The development of a highly efficient and selective bioresolution of cyclic β‐lactam substrates could yield enantiopure lactams and β‐amino acids with medicinal potential. The aim of this work was to discover and develop a biocatalyst capable of selectively hydrolysing β‐lactam substrates.

RESULTS: Screening of our in‐house culture collection led to the discovery of a microorganism, Rhodococcus globerulus (NCIMB 41042) with β‐lactamase activity. Whole‐cell bioresolutions of the β‐lactams 1–4 were successfully carried out and in all cases enantiomeric excesses of the residual lactam and amino acid product were found to be greater than 98%. For one example, the bioresolution was optimised to operate at 60 g L−1 substrate concentration with a 20% wt/wt cell paste loading.

CONCLUSION: A microorganism, Rhodococcus globerulus (NCIMB 41042), capable of selectively hydrolysing a range of cyclic β‐lactams, has been discovered. A scalable whole‐cell bioresolution process has been developed, leading to the synthesis of multigram quantities of enantiomerically pure β‐lactams and β‐amino acids. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Bioethanol production from bio‐ organosolv pulps of Pinus radiata and Acacia dealbata
Authors: Muñoz Claudio , Mendonça Regis , Baeza Jaime , Berlin Alex , Saddler John , Freer Juanita
Published: July 2007

Wood chips from Pinus radiata and Acacia dealbata were pretreated with the white‐rot fungi Ceriporiopsis subvermispora and Ganoderma australe, respectively, for 30 days at 27 °C and 55% relative humidity, followed by an organosolv delignification with 60% ethanol solution at 200 °C for 1 h to produce pulps with high cellulose and low lignin content. Biotreatment for 30 days was chosen based on low weight and cellulose losses (lower than 4%) and lignin degradation higher than 9%. After organosolv delignification, pulp yield for P. radiata and A. dealbata pulps was 45–49% and 31–51%, respectively. P. radiata bio‐pulps showed higher glucan (93%) and lower lignin content (6%) than control pulps (82% glucan and 13% lignin). A. dealbata bio‐pulps also showed higher glucan (95%) and lower lignin content (2%) than control pulps (92% glucan and 4% lignin). Pulp suspensions at 2% consistency were submitted either to separate enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) or simultaneous enzymatic saccharification and fermentation (SSF) for bioethanol production. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used for fermentation. Glucan‐to‐glucose conversion in the enzymatic hydrolysis of control and bio‐pulps of P. radiata was 55% and 100%, respectively, and it was 100% for all pulp samples case of A. dealbata. The highest ethanol yield (calculated as percentage of theoretical yield) during SHF of P. radiata control and bio‐pulps was 38% and 55%, respectively, and for A. dealbata control and bio‐pulps 62% and 69%, respectively. The SSF of P. radiata control and bio‐pulps yielded 10% and 65% of ethanol, respectively, and 77% and 82% for A. dealbata control and bio‐pulps, respectively. In wood basis, the maximum conversion obtained (g ethanol per kg wood) in SHF was 37% and 51% (for P. radiata and A. dealbata pulps, respectively) and 44% and 65% in SSF (for P. radiata and A. dealbata pulps, respectively) regarding the theoretical yield. The low wood‐to‐ethanol conversion was associated with low pulp yield (A. dealbata pulps), high residual lignin amount (P. radiata pulps) and the low pulp consistency (2%) used for SHF and SSF. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Protein identification via ion‐trap collision‐induced dissociation and examination of low‐mass product ions
Authors: Bowers Jeremiah J. , Liu Jian , Gunawardena Harsha P. , McLuckey Scott A.
Published: July 2007

A whole‐protein tandem mass spectrometry approach for protein identification based on precursor ion charge state concentration via ion/ion reactions, ion‐trap collisional activation, ion/ion proton‐transfer reactions involving the product ions, and mass analysis over a narrow m/z range (up to m/z 2000) is described and evaluated. The experiments were carried out with a commercially available electrospray ion‐trap instrument that has been modified to allow for ion/ion reactions. Reaction conditions and the approach to searching protein databases were developed with the assumption that the resolving power of the mass analyzer is insufficient to distinguish charge states on the basis of the isotope spacings. Ions derived from several charge states of cytochrome c, myoglobin, ribonuclease A, and ubiquitin were used to evaluate the approach for protein identification and to develop a two‐step procedure to database searching to optimize specificity. The approach developed with the model proteins was then applied to whole cell lysate fractions of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The results are illustrated with examples of assignments made for three a priori unknown proteins, each selected randomly from a lysate fraction. Two of the three proteins were assigned to species present in the database, whereas one did not match well any database entry. The combination of the mass measurement and the product ion masses suggested the possibility for the oxidation of two methionine residues of a protein in the database. The examples show that this limited whole‐protein characterization approach can provide insights that might otherwise be lacking with approaches based on complete enzymatic digestion. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of electrolyte concentration on crevice corrosion of pure nickel
Authors: Abdulsalam M.I.
Published: July 2007

In this work an artificial crevice electrode was used in conjunction with a fine microprobe assembly to measure the potential inside the crevice. Using this setup crevice corrosion of commercially pure nickel was investigated in sulfuric acid with concentrations: 0.5, 1 and 2N. The outer surface of the Ni was held at a passive potential of 530 mV(SCE) while the experiment was running. The results showed a steep potential decay observed in all concentrations. For 0.5, 1 and 2N H2SO4, the total potential drop inside the crevice was: 681, 619 and 593 mV, respectively. This indicates the higher the acid concentration is the lower the potential drop will be. On the other hand, the measured current was highest (4.09 mA) for 2N and lowest (1 mA) for 0.5N. On the crevice wall a boundary was found to exist between the passive and the active regions. These findings point toward the IR voltage drop mechanism operating for this system.
Effect of turbulent flow on the anodic and cathodic kinetics of API X52 steel corrosion in H2S containing solutions. A rotating cylinder electrode study
Authors: Galvan‐Martinez R. , Mendoza‐Flores J. , Duran‐Romero R. , Genesca J.
Published: July 2007

This work presents the electrochemical kinetics results measured during the corrosion of API X52 pipeline steel immersed in aqueous environments, containing dissolved hydrogen sulfide (H2S) under turbulent flow conditions. In order to control the turbulent flow conditions, a rotating cylinder electrode (RCE) was used. Five different rotation rates were studied: 0 (or static conditions), 1000, 3000, 5000 and 7000 rpm. It was found that the turbulent flow increases the corrosion rate and the corrosion mechanism for X52 steel exhibits a significant dependence on mass transfer on the cathodic kinetics.
Barrier and self‐healing abilities of corrosion protective polymer coatings and metal powders for aluminum alloys
Authors: Yabuki A. , Yamagami H. , Noishiki K.
Published: July 2007

Several types of coatings, designed to improve the resistance of aluminum alloys to corrosion in seawater, were examined. A coating with a thickness of approximately 30 μm was applied to the surface of aluminum alloy 3003, and after creating an artificial defect by means of a knife‐edge, a corrosion test was carried out in 3% NaCl solution at a temperature of 70°C and pH 1.5. The test results showed that a fluorine resin and sol‐gel coatings both had excellent barrier abilities. The fluorine resin coating had self‐healing abilities, and this was improved by the addition of a metal powder.
The use of experimental design method for the investigation of pitting potential of aluminum
Authors: Tosun A. , Ergun M. , Balbaşi M. , Tamirci M.
Published: July 2007

The dependence of the pitting potential (Ep) of aluminum on chloride concentration, pH and the temperature of the solution was studied by the potentiodynamic method according to a statistical experimental design. The parameters of the statistical Ep model offered on the basis of Box‐Wilson experimental design method were evaluated with the use of the experimental data. Comparison of the predicted values from the model with the observed values showed that the model is a good fit. From the model equation the most noble Ep value of − 420 mV was obtained when Cl− ion concentration, temperature and pH of the solution were 57 ppm, 22°C, and 8.3 respectively. Box‐Wilson experimental design technique was proved to be applicable in modelling Ep of aluminum.
Schweißzusatzwerkstoffe können/müssen nicht immer die Anforderungen der Grundwerkstoffe erfüllen
Authors: Heuser H. , Jochum C.
Published: July 2007

Die Entwicklung von neuen Stählen ist jeweils eine Herausforderung für die Hersteller von Schweißzusatzwerkstoffen. Je höher die Anforderungsprofile der Grundwerkstoffe für z. B. Streckgrenze, Festigkeit, Zähigkeit oder Korrosionsbeständigkeit sind, je schwieriger sind diese Vorgaben in Schweißverbindungen zu erzielen. In vielen Fällen sind artfremde Schweißzusätze notwendig bzw. können die geforderten Eigenschaften nur mit bestimmten Schweißprozessen realisiert werden. In diesem Beitrag werden Beispiele zu Stählen mit hohen Festigkeitsanforderungen behandelt und die Grenzen bei der schweißtechnischen Verarbeitung aufgezeigt: Automobilindustrie (Hochfeste Stähle (LIP) und Mangan‐Austenite), Mobilkrane (Ultrahochfeste Stähle mit Streckgrenzen ≥ 960 MPa), Erdbewegungsmaschinen (verschleißbeständige Stähle) und Offshore (Supermartensitische Stähle). Spezifische Probleme werden diskutiert und Lösungsmöglichkeiten aufgezeigt. Die Beispiele machen deutlich, dass ein erfolgreicher Einsatz neuer Stähle in erster Linie abhängt von realisierbaren Konzepten zur schweißtechnischen Verarbeitung.
Elektronenstrahlschweißen an Atmosphäre – von der Entwicklung bis zum industriellen Einsatz
Authors: Masny H.
Published: July 2007

Bedingt durch die zunehmende Standardisierung in vielen Bereichen der industriellen Fertigung, die Ressourcenschonung und dadurch der Zwang zum Leichtbau sowie die rasche Entwicklung auf dem Werkstoffsektor, werden an die Fügetechniken immer komplexere Aufgaben herangetragen. Dies betrifft sowohl das Fügeverfahren selbst, das den zu verbindenden Grundwerkstoffen in metallurgischer Hinsicht gerecht werden muss, als auch seine Wirtschaftlichkeit. In diesem Zusammenhang kommt dem Elektronenstrahlschweißen an Atmosphäre ‐ NV‐EBW ‐ als Verbindungstechnik eine immer größere Bedeutung und steigendes Interesse seitens der Industrie zu. Das NV‐EBW verbindet die vielen bekannten Vorteile des Elektronenstrahlschweißens im Vakuum mit der Möglichkeit unter normalem Umgebungsdruck zu arbeiten. Mit einem Anlagenwirkungsgrad von über 50 % und den sehr hohen erreichbaren Schweißgeschwindigkeiten von bis zu 60 m/min bei Aluminiumwerkstoffen ist der Elektronenstrahl an Atmosphäre ein effizientes und wirtschaftliches Werkzeug in der Schweißtechnik.

Im ISF wird seit Jahren unter der Leitung von Professor U. Dilthey an der NV‐EBW Technologie in engem Kontakt mit industriellen Partnern geforscht. Dabei wurden wesentliche Beiträge zur Entwicklung eines rotationssymmetrischen Druckstufensys­tems sowie zur Erprobung und Optimierungen des Verfahrens hinsichtlich der jeweiligen Schweißaufgaben geleistet.
Telomere shortening in diaphragm and tibialis anterior muscles of aged mdx mice
Authors: Lund Troy C. , Grange Robert W. , Lowe Dawn A.
Published: July 2007

The progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is, in part, due to satellite cell senescence driven by high replicative pressure as these muscle stem cells repeatedly divide and fuse to damaged muscle fibers. We hypothesize that telomere shortening in satellite cells underlies their senescence. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the diaphragm and a leg muscle from dystrophic mice of various ages for telomere dynamics. We found 30% telomere shortening in tibialis anterior muscles from 600‐day‐old mdx mice relative to age‐matched wildtype mice. We also found a more severe shortening of telomere length in diaphragm muscles of old mdx mice. In those muscles, telomeres were shortened by ∼15% and 40% in 100‐ and 600‐day‐old mdx mice, respectively. These findings indicate that satellite cells undergo telomere erosion, which may contribute to the inability of these cells to perpetually repair DMD muscle. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Human muscle‐derived cell injection in a rat model of stress urinary incontinence
Authors: Kim Yong Tae , Kyung Kim Dae , Jankowski Ron J. , Pruchnic Ryan , Usiene Irmute , De Miguel Fernando , Chancellor Michael B.
Published: July 2007

We investigated the use of human muscle‐derived cells (hMDCs) for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in a nude rat model. hMDCs were isolated from adult skeletal muscle. Three groups of six animals consisting of controls, animals undergoing sciatic nerve transection (SNT) with periurethral sham‐injection, and SNT with hMDCs (1 × 106 cells/20 μl saline) were utilized. Leak point pressure (LPP) was measured 4 weeks following injection. Bilateral SNT resulted in a significantly lower LPP that was significantly higher following hMDCs than sham injection. The results demonstrate the efficacy of human muscle cell therapy alone in improving physiologic outcomes in an animal model of SUI. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Effective stress concept in unsaturated soils: Clarification and validation of a unified framework
Authors: Nuth Mathieu , Laloui Lyesse
Published: July 2007

The effective stress principle, conventionally applied in saturated soils, is reviewed for constitutive modelling purposes. The assumptions for the applicability of Terzaghi's single effective stress are recalled and its advantages are inventoried. The possible stress frameworks applicable to unsaturated soil modelling are reassessed in a comparative manner, specifically the Bishop's single effective stress, the independent stress variables approach and the generalized stress framework. The latter considerations lead to the definition of a unified stress context, suitable for modelling soils under different saturation states. In order to qualify the implications brought by the proposed stress framework, several experimental data sets are re‐examined in the light of the generalized effective stress. The critical state lines (CSLs) at different saturation states tend to converge remarkably towards a unique saturated line in the deviatoric stress versus mean effective stress plane. The
effective stress interpretation is also applied to isotropic paths and compared with conventional net stress conception. The accent is finally laid on a second key feature for constitutive frameworks based on a unified stress, namely the sufficiency of a unique mechanical yield surface besides the unique CSL. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recursive Krylov‐based multigrid cycles
Authors: Notay Yvan , Vassilevski Panayot S.
Published: July 2007

We consider multigrid (MG) cycles based on the recursive use of a two‐grid method, in which the coarse‐grid system is solved by µ⩾1 steps of a Krylov subspace iterative method. The approach is further extended by allowing such inner iterations only at the levels of given multiplicity, whereas V‐cycle formulation is used at all other levels. For symmetric positive definite systems and symmetric MG schemes, we consider a flexible (or generalized) conjugate gradient method as Krylov subspace solver for both inner and outer iterations. Then, based on some algebraic (block matrix) properties of the V‐cycle MG viewed as a preconditioner, we show that the method can have optimal convergence properties if µ is chosen to be sufficiently large. We also formulate conditions that guarantee both, optimal complexity and convergence, bounded independently of the number of levels. Our analysis shows that the method is, at least, as effective as the standard W‐cycle, whereas numerical results illustrate that it can be much faster than the latter, and actually more robust than predicted by the theory. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The ministerial system in Niue
Authors: Thynne Ian S.
Published: July 2007

A ministerial system of government has been developed in the tiny micro state of Niue, and in this article the pattern of ministerialization is compared with a typology derived from a study of the ministerial systems in other countries with ministries and ministerial departments. In Niue while the foundations of responsible government were being laid, and functions and powers transferred to an elected executive committee, no corresponding moves were made to reorganize established public service departments and there is, therefore, a mismatch between ministers and departments. Niue like New Zealand has a form of ministerialization that initially appears to conform to the least developed mode in the typology. Niue, however, has a unique arrangement in having a Secretary to Government who is the head of the public service and chief administrative officer with control over all departments, and with a right to attend Cabinet meetings and speak on any matter. Niue, as a consequence, has a ministerial system which overall does not conform with the typology and has interest as an attempt to develop a form appropriate to a micro state.
Meeting basic needs in Asia, Part I: Government capacity and performance
Authors: Rondinelli Dennis A. , Mandell Marvin B.
Published: July 2007

Questions concerning the distribution of income and wealth, and access to services have attracted increased attention during the 1970s to complement the earlier emphasis on the promotion of macro‐economic development. This article provides a comparative review of service needs in Asia. It presents an inventory of the types of services provided by, or through, government, and assesses their adequacy for rural development. It explores problems with mobilizing resources and delivering services, and it identifies arrangements that appear most effective. The article emphasizes the problem of extending the coverage, and increasing the quality, of social and productive support services for vast rural populations and it stresses that more appropriate ways must be found of delivering services that are needed. A second article, to appear in the next number of Public Administration and Development, reviews ways of improving the capacity of governments and local communities to provide services needed by rural populations.
Revenue allocation and the stability of the Nigerian Federation 1960‐1980
Authors: Ndongko Wilfred A.
Published: July 2007

Since 1960 a succession of different formulae have been used to allocate revenue under Nigeria's constitutions. This article reviews the formulae used and suggests ways in which they have contributed to the stability of the federation. The author then argues that in the 1980's the revenue allocation system should take more account of the need to reduce economic and social disparities in the different geographical areas of the country and so safeguard in the longer term the political stability of this federation.
Meeting basic needs in Asia, Part II: Improving the performance of government and local communities
Authors: Rondinelli Dennis A. , Mandell Marvin B.
Published: July 2007

In nearly all Asian countries services available to rural populations are inadequate and inappropriate. Improvement is crucial not only to fulfilling basic human needs, but for raising productivity and generating more broadly based economic development. This article reviews the types of obstacles in the way of improving service delivery, and assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the major institutional arrangements for delivering services. In the light of this review the article identifies four issues of major importance, first, the priority to be given to providing social and productive services; second, the most appropriate approach to delivering social and productive services; third, how to finance social services more effectively; and finally what alternative means there are of improving the administration of services. This article follows on from Part I which presented a comparative review of service needs in Asian countries.
Constitutional, legal and political problems of local government in Nigeria
Authors: Smith B. C. , Owojaiye G. S.
Published: July 2007

The new Nigerian local government system was clearly intended by its creators to be a representative and democractic system of devolution. The speed with which elected councils have been dissolved and replaced by caretaker committees and state appointees contrasts strangely with the constitutional provision that there should be a system of local government by democratically elected local councils. The constitutionality of dissolution has been confused with the constitutionality of further local government reform. Dissolution should be seen as an emergency measure to be used rarely in cases of proven maladministration by a local government. Further reform and reorganization of a state's system of local government should be regarded as a legitimate power of the state legislature. The role given by the Constitution to local government should not be interpreted as entrenching the system. Constitutional amendment is not required should further reform be necessary.
Microstates: Public administration for the small and beautiful
Authors: Murray David J.
Published: July 2007

Microstates can easily be dismissed as of peripheral interest and importance yet their number gives them a growing significance. One symptom of their marginal situation is that in the literature of public and development administration the circumstances of microstates have been largely overlooked, and the assumption made that administrative prescriptions can be applied in states irrespective of their size. In practice in microstates there has been improvization and experiment designed to develop administration appropriate to small states, and though judged in conventional terms much of this innovation may be criticized, it is argued in this article that attention should be given to it as a constructive attempt at coping with the problems of small scale.
Crises and continuities in development theory and administration: First and Third World perspectives
Authors: Dwivedi O. P. , Nef J.
Published: July 2007

‘Development Administration’ as an academic discipline originated in the West and has been dominated by Western thought. This article traces the development of the discipline and outlines its Western theoretical foundations and assumptions. The failure of Development Administration to solve the problems of the Third World is outlined, and the ‘indigenization of underdevelopment’ is discussed. New challenges to the discipline, that have been previously seen as ‘heretical’, are presented as alternatives to Western models that have proven their ineffectiveness. China, Guinea‐Bissau, India, Tanzania and Libya are used as examples of countries attempting alternative routes to development and development administration. The article stresses the need for open examination of non‐traditional models that may provide valuable clues in the struggle for a viable developmental strategy. It concludes by suggesting four major issues around which a new conceptualization can be built: accountable development administration, the role of values, the emergence of fundamentalist ideologies, and the challenges posed by the Third Development Decade.
Comparative public adminstration: The United States view in international perspective
Authors: Henderson Keith M.
Published: July 2007

In the study of comparative public administration in the United States, there are currently four directions of development associated with bureaucratic and policy models, case and component approaches, the comparative study of organizations, and application. The characteristics of these developments are outlined in this article, recent publications surveyed and future trends discussed. The extent to which there is a peculiarly American or Western tradition in the comparative study of administration is considered and issue is taken with the argument presented by Dwivedi and Nef (1982) for greater autonomy.
Institution‐building for development forestry in Latin America
Authors: Guess George M.
Published: July 2007

It is frequently assumed that development forestry suffers from insufficient funding, lack of knowhow and an inability to make innovative or creative choices. International donors and the countries themselves imagine that this is so and attempt rectification through an institution building strategy which builds up planning and administrative knowhow while supplying additional funds. But the traditional premises should be challenged on the grounds that incentives must first exist for demand of the precious ‘knowhow’ resource.

In most Latin American countries few incentives exist to invest in development forestry and public bureaucracies responsible for this programme area do not provide support for forestry. Strengthening these bureaucracies or making them independent will make little difference to results until organizations are redesigned to permit directly productive forestry functions to be driven by considerations of profit, while retaining research and extension as support functions for the public sector. Interference with incentive structures is more politically threatening than recommendations for training and co‐ordination within the present institutional context. Nevertheless, where decision capacities are low as in most Latin American forestry environments, donor and host governments must either make these prior changes or, given the complex nature of development forestry, spend the funds on other basic needs. The latter option, however, is paradoxical in that the high opportunity costs of ignoring development forestry opportunities will raise the costs of achieving basic needs.
Decentralization: The latest fashion in development administration?
Authors: Conyers Diana
Published: July 2007

There has been a resurgence of interest in decentralization, but decentralization is now somewhat differently conceived from the way it was in the 1960s. With somewhat different objectives, decentralization also take different forms and this calls into question the value of the well established categories of devolution and deconcentration.
Staffing the higher civil services in Bangladesh: An analysis of recruitment and selection processes
Authors: Zafarullah Habib Mohammad , Khan Mohammad Mohabbat
Published: July 2007

In developing a recruitment and selection policy for the Bangladesh Civil Service there has been significant disagreement over whether this should be based exclusively on merit or whether merit should be modified in the interests of equity.

The government has, in practice, required that the policy should recognize the principle of equity and various interests have been given a privileged status in recruitment. At the same time the administration of the recruitment process has been conducted in a way that has undermined confidence in it. The authors describe the policy differences and problems of administration concluding with ideas on desirable reforms.
Information transfer implications of development research administration in Nigeria
Authors: Aiyepeku Wilson O.
Published: July 2007

The study of research utilization and administration has been a growing field, but the emphasis in this field has been on industrialized countries. This article presents the results of a pioneering study of the use of research by senior officials in the Nigerian Federal Government. The article focuses first on Federal Government‐sponsored research, it reviews how such research was initiated and conducted, how results were presented and what affected the use of the results. The article then describes expatriate‐sponsored research, casts light on the conventional assumption about the amount of such research and points to the fact that there was comparatively less awareness of the results. The article not only provides significant information about the administration of research in Nigeria but emphasizes the need to give attention to this aspect of administration.
Upgrading the managerial process of small entrepreneurs in West Africa
Authors: Chuta Enyinna
Published: July 2007

In spite of their contribution to employment and value‐added of the economies of West African countries, the future of small enterprises depends on their financial viability. To this management efficiency makes a crucial contribution and available empirical evidence surveyed in this article shows major weaknesses in it. Often the right motivations are lacking, problems are ill‐defined and record keeping as a major tool of information gathering and analysis is not practised. It is argued that more detailed investigation of the managerial processes of these enterprises should be undertaken as a basis for innovating in management practices in a way that is adapted to the needs and circumstances of the heterogenous types of small enterprises in West Africa. It is also suggested that facilities available for management training are too centralized adequately to reach rural towns and villages. A decentralized approach to extension should make training facilities more accessible to larger numbers of small entrepreneurs. The inclusion of management training in the traditional apprenticeship system and in the curricula of government trade and vocational training centres would also bring benefits.
The project orthodoxy in development: Re‐evaluating the cutting edge
Authors: Morgan E. Philip
Published: July 2007

This paper takes a broad critical posture towards the project as an instrument of development. It addresses the multidimensional features of what has become the project orthodoxy in development management, and some of the attending effects. It suggests that some of the virtues of the project have been offset by a number of negative consequences as it has become institutionalized in the procedures of both donor agencies and national governments in developing countries. An attempt is made to distinguish between those kinds of activities in which the project mode is most useful, and those for which its basic features and attendant trappings have great limitations. The argument concludes with a reassertion of the need for better linkages with programme management and the sources of policy.
Learning lessons from experience: The role of evaluation in the administration of the U.K. aid programme
Authors: Cracknell B.
Published: July 2007

Formal evaluation has now become well established in the Overseas Development Administration (ODA) which has a separate Evaluation Department with an annual budget of £300,000 for commissioned studies. This enables about twenty to twenty‐five evaluations to be carried out annually, usually by mixed ODA/outside teams. The reports are submitted to ODA'S Projects and Evaluation Committee and are usually made available to people with a professional interest. Many useful lessons have been learnt not only about ODA'S internal aid procedures, but also about factors that affect the success or otherwise of projects and programmes and also concerning aid and development strategy as a whole. The evaluations have led to improved monitoring, greater emphasis on sociological and environmental factors, greater awareness of the need to associate manpower and training with capital aid, and more appreciation of the need to look at projects in their wider context.
Management problems of the proliferation of local government in Nigeria
Authors: Nwankwo G. Onyekwere
Published: July 2007

Local government throughout Nigeria was reconstituted on a uniform basis in 1976. The 1979 Constitution then empowered state governments to create new local governments. This article describes how the state governments have used their authority to proliferate the number of local governments; it explains the reasons for doing this both on the part of state governments and on that of local communities. The drive to create additional local governments has derived in part from a desire to promote local level development, yet enquiries into the managerial capacity of existing local governments suggest that this expectation will be frustrated.
Managing the fight against corruption: A case study
Authors: Klitgaard Robert
Published: July 2007

Corruption is one of the foremost problems facing policy‐makers and managers in developing countries, but it is a remarkably difficult one to study. This case study—an actual episode that has been disguised to preserve confidentiality—provides a vehicle for illustrating both the application of analytical tools to corruption and the importance of practical issues of implementation and politics. The case suggests that anti‐corruption policies should carefully assess (1) the relative severity of various kinds of illicit activities, including who gains and loses; (2) the relative susceptibility of the various activities to feasible changes in policies and procedures; and (3) the strategic importance of politics, in the narrow sense of bureaucratic politics as well as the wider political realities.