bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tumor necrosis factor‐alpha −308G/A single nucleotide polymorphism and red‐complex periodontopathogens are independently associated with increased levels of tumor necrosis factor‐α in diseased periodontal tissues
Authors: Trombone A. P. F. , Cardoso C. R. , Repeke C. E. , Ferreira Jr S. B. , Martins Jr W. , Campanelli A. P. , Avila‐Campos M. J. , Trevilatto P. C. , Silva J. S. , Garlet G. P.
Published: December 2008

Background and Objective:  Inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor‐alpha are involved in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. A high between‐subject variation in the level of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha mRNA has been verified, which may be a result of genetic polymorphisms and/or the presence of periodontopathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola (called the red complex) and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. In this study, we investigated the effect of the tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNFA) −308G/A gene polymorphism and of periodontopathogens on the tumor necrosis factor‐alpha levels in the periodontal tissues of nonsmoking patients with chronic periodontitis (n = 127) and in control subjects (n = 177).

Material and Methods:  The TNFA−308G/A single nucleotide polymorphism was investigated using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, whereas the tumor necrosis factor‐alpha levels and the periodontopathogen load were determined using real‐time polymerase chain reaction.

Results:  No statistically significant differences were found in the frequency of the TNFA−308 single nucleotide polymorphism in control and chronic periodontitis groups, in spite of the higher frequency of the A allele in the chronic periodontitis group. The concomitant analyses of genotypes and periodontopathogens demonstrated that TNFA−308 GA/AA genotypes and the red‐complex periodontopathogens were independently associated with increased levels of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha in periodontal tissues, and no additive effect was seen when both factors were present. P. gingivalis, T. forsythia and T. denticola counts were positively correlated with the level of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha. TNFA−308 genotypes were not associated with the periodontopathogen detection odds or with the bacterial load.

Conclusion:  Our results demonstrate that the TNFA−308 A allele and red‐complex periodontopathogens are independently associated with increased levels of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha in diseased tissues of nonsmoking chronic periodontitis patients and consequently are potentially involved in determining the disease outcome.
Relationship between periodontal parameters and Behçet’s disease and evaluation of different treatments for oral recurrent aphthous stomatitis
Authors: Arabaci T. , Kara C. , Çiçek Y.
Published: December 2008

Background and Objective:  The highest prevalence of Behçet’s disease (BD) has been reported in Turkey, and therefore research of relations between BD and other disorders have become important in the Turkish population. Since oral aphthous ulcers impair tooth brushing, reducing complaints about aphthous ulcers will motivate the patient to maintain better oral hygiene performance and will thus reduce plaque accumulation and periodontal scores. The purpose of this controlled case study was to evaluate the relationship between the severity of periodontal scores and Behçet’s disease, and to compare the treatment modalities with neodymium‐doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser and medication on the recurrent aphthous ulcers in BD patients by considering the degree of pre‐ and post‐treatment pain, discomfort and functional complications.

Material and Methods:  The periodontal status of 28 BD patients was evaluated according to periodontal indices. The BD patients were also assessed for clinical severity score as described previously. Levels of pre‐ and post‐treatment pain and functional complications were assessed at patient visits on days 1, 4 and 7.

Results:  Periodontal indices, the number of oral ulcers and the daily frequency of tooth brushing were related to the severity scores of BD (p < 0.001). The results indicated that BD patients treated with the Nd:YAG laser had less post‐treatment pain and fewer functional complications and reported immediate relief of pain and faster healing (p < 0.001).

Conclusion:  Our results suggest that periodontal status is worse in BD patients and is associated with disease severity; also, the Nd:YAG laser has better patient acceptance, shorter treatment time and lower rates of pain and post‐treatment adverse events among BD patients with oral recurrent aphthous stomatitis.
Fatal paraneoplastic pemphigus associated with a mediastinal tumor
Authors: Pfistershammer Katharina , Minimair Gerald , Födinger Dagmar , Czerny Martin , Zauner Christian , Pieczkowski Friederike , Stingl Georg , Karlhofer Franz M.
Published: December 2008

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is a rare life‐threatening autoimmune bullous skin disease which is an obligate paraneoplasma. A 34‐year‐old woman presented with recalcitrant stomatitis and a generalized lichenoid rash. A diagnosis of PNP was established based on clinical findings, immunofluorescence, histopathology and biochemistry. A localized mediastinal mass was found with CT imaging and excised. The histologic diagnosis was dendritic cell sarcoma. Despite removal of tumor and immunosuppressive therapy, the PNP progressed rapidly and the patient died of septic multiorgan failure.
Early excision of congenital melanocytic nevi under tumescent anesthesia and skin expansion by intracutaneous double butterfly sutures
Authors: Rothfuß Marcus , Schilling Melany , Breuninger Helmut
Published: December 2008

Background: Excision of large congenital melanocytic nevi is recommended because of the risk of malignant transformation and for aesthetic reasons. Our treatment concept includes 1) excision in one or more steps preferably before the age of one year, 2) skin expansion through high‐tension wound closure with intracutaneous double butterfly sutures and 3) performing surgery with tumescent or general anesthesia.

Patients and Methods: A retrospective survey was conducted among all parents with children treated for congenital melanocytic nevi in 2004 or 2005 with a maximum age of 6.0 years. The parents were asked to evaluate the trauma associated with their child's surgery and the aesthetic result.

Results: Fifty‐nine families were contacted, of whom 51 replied. Forty‐two parents assessed surgery‐associated trauma as light or very light. Thirty‐nine parents rated the aesthetic results as good to very good. Severe complications did not occur.

Conclusion: The proposed surgical concept is a safe procedure with good aesthetic results and low surgery‐associated trauma for the child.
Post‐ischemic brain damage: NF‐κB dimer heterogeneity as a molecular determinant of neuron vulnerability
Authors: Pizzi Marina , Sarnico Ilenia , Lanzillotta Annamaria , Battistin Leontino , Spano PierFranco
Published: December 2008

Nuclear factor‐kappaB (NF‐κB) has been proposed to serve a dual function as a regulator of neuron survival in pathological conditions associated with neurodegeneration. NF‐κB is a transcription family of factors comprising five different proteins, namely p50, RelA/p65, c‐Rel, RelB and p52, which can combine differently to form active dimers in response to external stimuli. Recent research shows that diverse NF‐κB dimers lead to cell death or cell survival in neurons exposed to ischemic injury. While the p50/p65 dimer participates in the pathogenesis of post‐ischemic injury by inducing pro‐apoptotic gene expression, c‐Rel‐containing dimers increase neuron resistance to ischemia by inducing anti‐apoptotic gene transcription. We present, in this report, the latest findings and consider the therapeutic potential of targeting different NF‐κB dimers to limit ischemia‐associated neurodegeneration.
Post‐ischemic brain damage: effect of ischemic preconditioning and postconditioning and identification of potential candidates for stroke therapy
Authors: Pignataro Giuseppe , Scorziello Antonella , Di Renzo Gianfranco , Annunziato Lucio
Published: December 2008

Because clinical trials of pharmacological neuroprotective strategies in stroke have been disappointing, attention has turned to the brain’s own endogenous strategies for neuroprotection. Two endogenous mechanisms have been characterized so far, namely ischemic preconditioning and ischemic postconditioning. The neuroprotective concept of preconditioning is based on the observation that a brief, noninjurious episode of ischemia is able to protect the brain from a subsequent longer ischemic insult. Recently, a hypothesis has been offered that modified reperfusion subsequent to a prolonged ischemic episode may also confer ischemic neuroprotection, a phenomenon termed postconditioning. Many pathways have been proposed as plausible mechanisms to explain the neuroprotection offered by preconditioning and postconditioning. Unfortunately, so far, none of them has clearly identified the mechanism involved in preconditioning and postconditioning. The present article will review the main mechanisms reported to date to explain the neuroprotective effect of both ischemic preconditioning and postconditioning.
Super life – how and why ‘cell selection’ leads to the fastest‐growing eukaryote
Authors: Groeneveld Philip , Stouthamer Adriaan H. , Westerhoff Hans V.
Published: December 2008

What is the highest possible replication rate for living organisms? The cellular growth rate is controlled by a variety of processes. Therefore, it is unclear which metabolic process or group of processes should be activated to increase growth rate. An organism that is already growing fast may already have optimized through evolution all processes that could be optimized readily, but may be confronted with a more generic limitation. Here we introduce a method called ‘cell selection’ to select for highest growth rate, and show how such a cellular site of ‘growth control’ was identified. By applying pH‐auxostat cultivation to the already fast‐growing yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus for a sufficiently long time, we selected a strain with a 30% increased growth rate; its cell‐cycle time decreased to 52 min, much below that reported to date for any eukaryote. The increase in growth rate was accompanied by a 40% increase in cell surface at a fairly constant cell volume. We show how the increase in growth rate can be explained by a dominant (80%) limitation of growth by the group of membrane processes (a 0.7% increase of specific growth rate to a 1% increase in membrane surface area). Simultaneous activation of membrane processes may be what is required to accelerate growth of the fastest‐growing form of eukaryotic life to growth rates that are even faster, and may be of potential interest for single‐cell protein production in industrial ‘White’ biotechnology processes.
Enhanced DNA dynamics due to cationic reagents, topological states of dsDNA and high mobility group box 1 as probed by PicoGreen
Authors: Noothi Sunil K. , Kombrabail Mamata , Kundu Tapas K. , Krishnamoorthy G. , Rao Basuthkar J.
Published: December 2008

We report a study of dynamics with a dsDNA‐specific dye called PicoGreen bound to plasmid DNA (3.4 kb), and show that at low dye/DNA phosphate ratios (1 : 100 and below), PicoGreen dynamics reflect the motional dynamics of dsDNA. We further evaluated the usefulness of this probe by measuring the time‐resolved fluorescence dynamics of PicoGreen bound to dsDNA in the presence of cationic reagents that affect DNA dynamics [MgCl2 and polyethyleneimine (PEI)] and also with plasmid DNA in different topological states. Among these conditions, MgCl2, PEI and the supercoiled form of plasmid resulted in increases in the very short component (0.2–0.4 ns) of the rotational correlation time. Separately, HMGB1 protein enhanced DNA dynamics, as observed from the rotational correlation times of very short (0.2–0.4 ns) and short (2–4 ns) rotational correlation timescale components. By studying the effect of specific deletion mutants HMGB1‐ΔA (deletion of 98 N‐terminal amino acids) and HMGB1‐ΔC (deletion of 30 C‐terminal amino acids), we show that the acidic C‐terminal tail is required for enhancement of DNA dynamics. We then discuss the possible mechanisms and implications of HMGB1‐mediated flexibility of DNA in the context of formation of large nucleoprotein complexes.
Reversible tetramerization of human TK1 to the high catalytic efficient form is induced by pyrophosphate, in addition to tripolyphosphates, or high enzyme concentration
Authors: Munch‐Petersen Birgitte
Published: December 2008

Thymidine kinase (TK1) is a key enzyme in the salvage pathway of deoxyribonucleotide metabolism, catalyzing the first step in the synthesis of dTTP by transfer of a γ‐phosphate group from a nucleoside triphosphate to the 5′‐hydroxyl group of thymidine, forming dTMP. Human TK1 is cytosolic and its activity is absent in resting cells, appears in late G1, increases in S phase coinciding with the increase in DNA synthesis, and disappears during mitosis. The fluctuation of TK1 through the cell cycle is important in providing a balanced supply of dTTP for DNA replication, and is partly due to regulation of TK1 expression at the transcriptional level. However, TK1 is a regulatory enzyme that can interchange between its dimeric and tetrameric forms, which have low and high catalytic efficiencies, respectively, depending on pre‐assay incubation with ATP. Here, the part of ATP that is necessary for tetramerization and how the reaction velocity is influenced by the enzyme concentration are determined. The results show that only two or three of the phosphate groups of ATP are necessary for tetramerization, and that kinetics and tetramerization are closely related. Furthermore, the enzyme concentration was found to have a pivotal effect on catalytic efficiency.
Catabolite repression in Escherichia coli– a comparison of modelling approaches
Authors: Kremling Andreas , Kremling Sophia , Bettenbrock Katja
Published: December 2008

The phosphotransferase system in Escherichia coli is a transport and sensory system and, in this function, is one of the key players of catabolite repression. Mathematical modelling of signal transduction and gene expression of the enzymes involved in the transport of carbohydrates is a promising approach in biotechnology, as it offers the possibility to achieve higher production rates of desired components. In this article, the relevance of methods and approaches concerning mathematical modelling in systems biology is discussed by assessing and comparing two comprehensive mathematical models that describe catabolite repression. The focus is thereby on modular modelling with the relevant input in the central modules, the impact of quantitative model validation, the identification of control structures and the comparison of model predictions with respect to the available experimental data.
Biological and chemical control and their combined use to control different stages of the Rhizoctonia disease complex on potato through the growing season
Authors: Wilson P.S. , Ahvenniemi P.M. , Lehtonen M.J. , Kukkonen M. , Rita H. , Valkonen J.P.T.
Published: December 2008

Rhizoctonia solani causes stem canker and black scurf diseases on potato and negatively affects the yield in all potato‐growing areas. While seed‐borne infection can be efficiently controlled by dressing with fungicides, few means of effective control are available against soil‐borne infection. In this study, commercially available antagonistic fungi and bacteria, and the combination of antagonistic Trichoderma harzianum and seed dressing with flutolanil, were tested for their efficacy in the control of soil‐borne infection of R. solani in the field. Combined use of flutolanil and T. harzianum was found feasible because even the highest tested concentration of flutolanil [13.0 μg active ingredient (a.i.) mL−1] had little effect on the growth of T. harzianuminvitro, whereas over 100‐fold lower concentrations (0.1 μg a.i. mL−1) were sufficient to strongly inhibit the growth of R. solani (EC50 0.045 ± 0.0068 μg a.i. mL−1). The variables under focus in plants inoculated with R. solani were the relative stem lesion index; sprout/stem number; stolon number, weight and incidence of symptoms on stolons; total yield and the yield of marketable sized tubers, and incidence of black scurf on the marketable‐sized tubers. Flutolanil and its combined application with T. harzianum reduced the damage to sprouts and severity of stem canker at the early stages of growth (up to 30 days postplanting). Towards the end of the growing season, T. harzianum was required to reduce disease severity. When applied in‐furrow alone or in combination with flutolanil‐dressed seed potatoes, T. harzianum increased the proportion of marketable‐sized tubers in yield from 35% to 60% and decreased the incidence of black scurf on progeny tubers from 31% to 11%, which was not achieved using flutolanil alone. The number and weight of stolons and the yield of plants remained lower in the inoculated plants than un‐inoculated control plants regardless of the method of control used. The other two antagonists tested, Streptomyces griseoviridis and Gliocladium catenulatum, showed no consistent control of R. solani. Taken together, the results suggest that combining the application of the antagonist T. harzianum with seed dressing with flutolanil may provide the best protection of the potato crop against damage caused by R. solani throughout the growing season.
Arabidopsis sucrose non‐fermenting‐1‐related protein kinase‐1 and calcium‐dependent protein kinase phosphorylate conserved target sites in ABA response element binding proteins
Authors: Zhang Y. , Andralojc P.J. , Hey S.J. , Primavesi L.F. , Specht M. , Koehler J. , Parry M.A.J. , Halford N.G.
Published: December 2008

Evidence is provided that plant transcription factors of the ABA response element binding protein (AREBP) class are phosphorylated by sucrose non‐fermenting‐1‐related protein kinase‐1 (SnRK1) and a calcium‐dependent protein kinase at highly conserved target sites. Two target sites for SnRK1 were identified in AREBPs using a specially developed motif search pipeline. Peptides containing the AREBP sites were phosphorylated by purified SnRK1 in vitro and by calcium‐dependent and calcium‐independent activities present in soluble protein extracted from Arabidopsis seedlings grown in liquid culture. Most (69–77%) of the calcium‐independent phosphorylation of these peptides was removed by immunoprecipitation using anti‐SnRK1 antisera, linking this activity unambiguously to SnRK1. It is possible that the protein kinase responsible for the calcium‐dependent activity was SnRK3, a protein kinase that is related to SnRK1 and which has similar requirements for target site recognition. However, the involvement of other calcium‐dependent protein kinases cannot be ruled out.
The nucleus of NGC 253 and its massive stellar clusters at parsec scales
Authors: Fernández-Ontiveros J. A. , Prieto M. A. , Acosta-Pulido J. A.
Published: December 2008

Very Large Telescope adaptive optics images of NGC 253 with resolutions down to 200 mas resolve the central 300 pc of this galaxy in ∼37 infrared (IR) bright knots, a factor of 3 larger than previously reported and extended diffuse emission. The angular resolution, comparable to that of available Very Large Array 2 cm maps, permits us a very accurate IR-radio registration. Eight radio sources are found to have an IR counterpart. The knots have Hα equivalent width of about 80 Å, sizes of ∼3 pc, magnitudes in L band of about 12 mag and relatively high extinction, AV∼ 7 mag. Their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) look very similar, characterized by a maximum at 20 μm and a gentle bump in the 1–2 μm range. These features can be well reproduced by considering an important contribution of very young stellar objects to the IR, efficiently heating their dust envelope. The evidence indicates that these are young massive clusters bursting from their dust cocoons. A median SED of the knots is provided, which may represent one of the most genuine templates of an extragalactic circumnuclear star-forming region. The lack of any optical or IR counterpart for the previously identified radio core calls into question its supposed active nucleus nature. This source may instead represent a scaled up version of Sgr A* at the Galactic Centre.
Intrinsic absorption in 3C 279 at GeV—TeV energies and consequences for estimates of the extragalactic background light
Authors: Tavecchio Fabrizio , Mazin Daniel
Published: December 2008

We revisit the limits of the level of the extragalactic background light (EBL) recently reported by the MAGIC collaboration based on the observed γ-ray spectrum of the quasar 3C 279, considering the impact of absorption of high-energy γ-ray photons inside the broad-line region (BLR) of the quasar. We use the photoionization code cloudy to calculate the expected optical–ultraviolet radiation field inside the BLR and the optical depth for a relatively extended set of the parameters. We found that the absorption of γ-ray photons, though important for the estimate of the true radiative output of the source, does not produce an important hardening of the spectrum of 3C 279 in the energy band accessible by MAGIC, supporting the method used to infer the upper limits to the level of the EBL.
The complex polarization angles of radio pulsars: orthogonal jumps and interstellar scattering
Authors: Karastergiou A.
Published: December 2008

Despite some success in explaining the observed polarization angle swing of radio pulsars within the geometric rotating vector model, many deviations from the expected S-like swing are observed. In this Letter, we provide a simple and credible explanation of these variations based on a combination of the rotating vector model, intrinsic orthogonally polarized propagation modes within the pulsar magnetosphere and the effects of interstellar scattering. We use simulations to explore the range of phenomena that may arise from this combination, and briefly discuss the possibilities of determining the parameters of scattering in an effort to understand the intrinsic pulsar polarization.
Wide Field CAMera survey of M31 globular clusters: low-mass X-ray binaries
Authors: Peacock Mark B. , Maccarone Thomas J. , Waters Christopher Z. , Kundu Arunav , Zepf Stephen E. , Knigge Christian , Zurek David R.
Published: December 2008

We investigate the relationship between low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) and globular clusters (GCs) using United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) observations of M31 and existing Chandra, XMM–Newton and ROSAT catalogues. By fitting King models to these data, we have estimated the structural parameters and stellar collision rates of 239 of its GCs. We show a highly significant trend between the presence of a LMXB and the stellar collision rate of a cluster. The stellar collision rate is found to be a stronger predictor of which clusters will host LMXBs than the host cluster mass. We argue that our results show that the stellar collision rate of the clusters is the fundamental parameter related to the production LMXBs. This is consistent with the formation of LMXBs through dynamical interactions with little direct dependence on the neutron star retention fraction or cluster mass.
A Competitive European Agriculture Designed for the Citizens – Romania’s Perspective Une agriculture européenne compétitive au service des citoyens : La perspective de la Roumanie Eine an die Bedürfnisse der Bürger angepasste, wettbewerbsfähige Europäische Landwirtschaft – die Perspektive Rumäniens
Authors: Cioloş Dacian
Published: December 2008

A Competitive European Agriculture Designed for the Citizens – Romania’s Perspective

In the coming months and years the European Union has to make fundamental choices for the future of agriculture, food, landscape and quality of life within its whole territory. These choices have now to be made for 27 Member States, which together give a new configuration to the Community. Poland and Romania together now represent nearly half of the total active population involved in EU agriculture. European agriculture has to be multifunctional, competitive not only for the market but also for citizens, as an economic activity that uses and manages renewable resources of public interest. Higher competitiveness inevitably leads to restructuring and modernisation of the agro‐food sector in the New Member States. This must be achieved gradually to avoid a negative social impact, through a rural development policy supporting job creation outside agriculture. Romanian agriculture employs about 30 per cent of the country’s active population and half of the country’s population live in rural areas. Romania, therefore, aims to preserve a substantial CAP budget to promote investment in agriculture and quality of life in rural areas. It is in the interest of the whole EU to ensure not just proper use of the productive potential of Romanian agriculture but also economic development of the Romanian countryside.
Health Check: Major Surgery or Cosmetic Procedures? Bilan de santé: Opération de grande importance ou démarche cosmétique Der Gesundheitscheck: Größere Operation oder kosmetischer Eingriff?
Authors: Moss Joan , Binfield Julian , Patton Myles , Zhang Lichun , Westhoff Pat
Published: December 2008

Health Check: Major Surgery or Cosmetic Procedures?

The impacts of the CAP Health Check proposals are examined using a partial equilibrium modelling framework. Health Check scenario projections are compared with a Baseline projection that assumes unchanged policies. The results indicate that the impact of the Health Check reforms on agriculture in the EU is small. The further decoupling of direct payments has a marginal impact on production and prices in the arable and livestock sectors. Under current CAP policy most of the arable area payment has been included in the Single Farm Payment and thus extending decoupling further has little impact, while the retention of the coupled Suckler Cow Premium and Ewe Annual Premium within the proposals help to maintain animal numbers. The proposed changes to intervention prices in the crop sector have no impact since favourable market price conditions mean that intervention purchases are not triggered in the Baseline. The proposed phased expansion in milk quotas prior to abolition in 2015 has little impact at the overall EU‐27 level since the already agreed 2 per cent increase in milk quotas in the 2008/2009 marketing year absorbs latent EU production potential under the conditions projected here. Nonetheless, there is a redistribution of milk production between member states within the EU.
US Farm Bill 2008: Back to the Future? La loi agricole de 2008 aux États‐Unis : Retour vers le futur? Das US‐Landwirtschaftsgesetz von 2008: Zurück in die Zukunft?
Authors: Westhoff Patrick , Binfield Julian
Published: December 2008

US Farm Bill 2008: Back to the Future?

After years of deliberation, eight temporary extensions of expiring law and two overridden vetoes, the Food, Conservation and Energy Act became law on June 18, 2008, framing the policy environment for US farmers for several years to come. The farm bill was written in a period of lean supplies, soaring demand, increased budget deficits, and intense scrutiny. When the dust settled the bill had five new titles, a new disaster program, and a new option offering an irrevocable choice of the traditional price‐based safety net or a new revenue‐based program. The latter constituted a new direction for US policy, moving towards more revenue based payments, a move that was resisted by the administration concerned with the implications for the WTO and that disapproved of the changes to the budget that financed the new programs. In the end the desires of the members of Congress trumped the administration’s veto. FAPRI–MU’s analysis shows that the impact of the 2008 farm bill on agricultural markets will be small. However, the direction of US agricultural policy is likely to put the farm bill at odds with the WTO, especially if there is a new agreement under the Doha round.
Food Security Strategies: Building Resilience Against Natural Disasters Stratégies de sécurité alimentaire : améliorer la résistance aux catastrophes naturelles Strategien für die Sicherung der Ernährung: Stärkung der Widerstandsfähigkeit gegen Naturkatastrophen
Authors: De Haen Hartwig
Published: December 2008

Food Security Strategies: Building Resilience Against Natural Disasters

A large and growing share of the world’s poor lives under a double risk. They are food insecure and live in conditions in which high risk of natural hazards coincides with high vulnerability. As a result natural disasters hit the poor disproportionately. This article argues that in order to mitigate disaster impacts on poor population groups, development policy and disaster management need to become more mutually supportive. Focusing on food security, it is suggested that in disaster‐prone locations, measures to improve disaster resilience should be an integral part of food security policies and strategies. A ‘triple track strategy’ is recommended. In addition to investments in productivity enhancement, primarily for the rural poor (track one) and social safety nets for the most needy (track two), such a strategy would entail cross‐cutting investments in building resilience against disaster impacts and risk management. Practical areas requiring more attention include risk information and analysis; land use planning; upgrading physical infrastructures; diversification and risk transfer mechanisms. As agriculture is particularly vulnerable to disaster risk, protecting agricultural lands, water and assets, should get greater weight in development strategies and food security policies. There is evidence that the benefits of this approach could significantly outweigh the costs.
How Effective is Farmer Early Retirement Policy? Quelle est l’efficacité de la politique de préretraite pour les agriculteurs? Wie effektiv ist das Vorruhestandprogramm für Landwirte?
Authors: Caskie Paul , Davis John , Wallace Michael
Published: December 2008

How Effective is Farmer Early Retirement Policy?

Financial support for EU farmers seeking early retirement is a discretionary element of CAP rural development policy and some EU member states, most notably France, Ireland and Greece have chosen to implement the measure. We explore whether the introduction of such schemes is likely to represent good value for money. We use data from Northern Ireland, a region with a relatively small‐scale family‐farm structure, where there have been periodic calls from farmer groups to introduce support for early retirement. We estimate the benefits that might arise from the introduction of such a scheme using FADN data and a separate survey of 350 farmers aged 50 to 65. We find that farm scale is a significant determinant of profit per hectare but that operator age is not. Benefits from releasing land through an early retirement scheme are conditional on such transfers bringing about significant farm expansion and changes in land use. Even when these conditions are satisfied, however, pensions payments of only about one‐third the statutory maximum could be justified in a best‐case scenario. Almost a quarter of all payments would incur deadweight losses, i.e., go to farmers who would be retiring anyway. Overall, the economic case for such a scheme is considered to be weak.
The Effect of Glucose Availability and Utilization on Chylomicron Metabolism in the Rat
Authors: Brown David F. , Olivecrona Thomas
Published: December 2008

Following i.v. administration of H3 palmitate labelled chylomicrons a greater amount of radioactivity was recovered from adipose tissue of refed than fasted rats and from insulin treated than insulin deprived diabetic rats. Adipose tissue uptake of label appeared to be potentiated by insulin in normal as well as in diabetic rats. No definite differences in the rate of clearing chylomicrons from blood was noted in insulin treated and insulin deprived diabetic rats. Although the enhanced adipose tissue uptake of triglyceride fatty acid might be related to the availability of α glycerophosphate for esterification it is equally possible that adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase content may be a regulating factor. Heparin, as opposed to saline administration prior to chyle injection, produced marked acceleration in the rate of removal of chyle from the blood of treated and untreated diabetic animals. The accelerated removal was related to accelerated uptake of activity by the liver and could be attributed in part to intravascular lipolysis of chyle triglyceride. The effect of heparin on the degree and the nature of hepatic uptake was no different in treated and untreated diabetic animals.
An Evoked Potential Study of Different Pathways from the Hindlimb to the Somatosensory Areas in the Cat
Authors: Norrsell Ulf , Wolpow Edward R.
Published: December 2008

Evoked potentials from contralateral hindlimb nerves were recorded in SI and SII of cats anesthetized with Nembutal. Initially positive short latency potentials could be elicited from low threshold cutaneous afferents and low (groups I and II) and high (group III) threshold muscle afferents as well as high threshold afferents of the posterior knee‐joint nerve. The low threshold muscle afferents were not of stretch receptor origin. The effects were transmitted via two spinal pathways, the dorsal columns and the spinocervical tract. The transmission via the spinocervical tract was faster by 2 msec for cutaneous impulses and by 7 msec for impulses from group III muscle afferents. The finding of McIntyre (1962b) that the low threshold afferents of the interosseous nerve project mainly to SII via the dorsal columns was confirmed. After transection of the above‐mentioned pathways, initially negative short latency potentials could be elicited from low threshold cutaneous afferents and high threshold muscle afferents via a pathway in the ventral quadrant contralateral to the stimulated nerves.
Peripheral Autonomic Influence on the Motility of the Urinary Bladder in the Cat: III. Micturition
Authors: Gjone Ragnar
Published: December 2008

The micturition act was found to be regulated by an antagonistic nervous influence mediated through the two peripheral autonomic pathways to the bladder. The alterations of micturition following section and stimulation of these nerves were recorded by means of a technique (Gjone and Setekleiv 1963, Gjone 1965a, b) which does not interfere with the emptying function of the bladder. By section of the parasympathetic vesical supply the micturition reflex was abolished, whereas micturition was induced by parasympathetic stimulation. In accordance with the results of previous workers, excitatory effects on micturition were thus found to be mediated by this pathway. Following primary section of the sympathetic nerves the micturition threshold was markedly reduced, and by sympathetic stimulation interruption of reflex micturition ensued. By the latter effect, not previously demonstrated, the inhibitory influence of the sympathetic nerves to the bladder, was established. The activity of the so called“internal sphincter” was studied through direct cystoscopic examination as well as by pressure recording from the outlet region. It was concluded that the smooth muscle surrounding the internal urethral orifice acts in phase with and as part of the detrusor musculature, viz., the closure of the bladder outlet is due to relaxation, and its opening is caused by contraction. In support of this view it was noted that urinary continence persisted when the musculature of 1 he bladder neck was divided by a vertical incision, whereas incomplete and prolonged emptying of the bladder ensued subsequent to this procedure.
Radiostrontium, Radiophosphorus, Stable Strontium, Stable Calcium, DNA and DNA‐P in Ram Spermatozoa
Authors: ÅBerg Bertil , Gillner Margot
Published: December 2008

A detailed study was performed in order to determine the normal content of DNA, DNA‐P, Sr and Ca in ram spermatozoa. Furthermore 89Sr and 32P were injected intravenously and their uptake by spermatozoa followed as well as their effect on the sperm cell picture. The normal content of DNA in spermatozoa was found to be 2.9 pg per cell and the content of DNA‐P 0.21 pg per cell. The ratio stable strontium to stable calcium in spermatozoa was 1: 118 and the ratio stable strontium to DNA‐P 1: 1,846. The ratio stable calcium to DNA‐P was found to be 1: 18. After intravenous administration of radio‐strontium to rams a maximal concentration occurred in the spermatozoon on the 3rd to 7th day. At that time the ratio 89Sr: DNA‐P was 0.25‐10‐8. After i.v. administration of radiophosphorus to rams the maximal ratio of 52P: DNA‐P was 0.17‐ 10‐6. When 31.5 mCi of 89Sr was i.v. administered to a ram the sperm cells were dead between the 45th and 52nd day. Eight weeks after the administration the sperm cell picture was normalised.
Cardiac Output in the Supine and Sitting Position Determined by a CO2 Method
Authors: Lundin G. , Thomson D.
Published: December 2008

Cardiac output was determined in the supine and sitting position with a CO2 rebreathing method. Eight normal adult subjects were used. A mean cardiac output of 3.5 1/min in the sitting position and 4.3 1/min in the supine, was found. The stroke volumes were 50 ml and 66 ml respectively.
Effects of Picrotoxin on Stretch‐Activated Post‐Synaptic Inhibitions in Spinal Motoneurones
Authors: Kellerth Jan‐Olof , Szumski Alfred J.
Published: December 2008

The effects of picrotoxin on post‐synaptic inhibitions were intracellularly investigated in cat popliteal, common peroneal and hamstring motoneurones which were activated by stretch of the triceps surae, tibialis anterior or semitendinosus muscles. In some experiments a single electrical shock to the nerve was also used as a stimulus. Inhibitions from muscle stretch were studied by the following criteria: i) hyperpolarization of the post‐synaptic membrane, ii) decrease in size of the monosynaptic excitatory post‐synaptic potential, iii) reduction of firing rate of a motoneurone stimulated by injected depolarizing current, iv) ‘synaptic activation noise’ in a hyperpolarizing direction, and v) sensitivity of the post‐synaptic inhibition to an increased intracellular concentration of chloride ions. Post‐synaptic inhibitions remaining after picrotoxin (picrotoxin‐resistant) and those abolished by picrotoxin (picrotoxin‐sensitive) were identified. Both types of inhibition were shown definitely to act on the post‐synaptic membrane. As with strychnine‐resistant post‐synaptic inhibition (Kellerth and Szumski 1966), picrotoxin‐sensitive post‐synaptic inhibition was found to have characteristics similar to those described for presynaptic inhibition. In no case was a post‐synaptic inhibition found to be resistant to both strychnine and picrotoxin. and in strychninized cats, the remaining post‐synaptic inhibitions were always abolished by picrotoxin.
A Comparison of the Biological Value of Various Types of Swedish Bread and the Effect of Added Lysine
Authors: Larson Stig
Published: December 2008

Feeding experiments on rats given diets made from various types of bread widely used in Sweden are reported. It was found that the addition of L‐lysine to all diets increases the activities of glutamic‐oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) and ornithine‐carbamyl transferase (OCT) of the liver. At the same time the total body fat decreases. It was also shown that the common wheat bread, crisp bread and school bread have about the same biological value. Wheat‐rye bread and rye bread have low biological values which may be elevated by lysine supplementation. It is suggested that some types of obesity are influenced by the biological value of the diets.
Dopamine in Human Urine during Muscular Work
Authors: Häggendal Jan , Werdinius Bengt
Published: December 2008

In four healthy men the urinary excretion of total (free and conjugated) adrenaline and noradrenaline rose during hard muscular work, while dopamine and homovanillic acid were unchanged or even decreased somewhat. The source of urinary dopamine is discussed.
Vasoconstriction in Isolated Blood‐Perfused Rabbit Lungs and its Inhibition by Cresols
Authors: Hauge A. , Lunde P. K. M. , Waaler B. A.
Published: December 2008

Perfusion of isolated rabbit lungs with heparinized whole blood was complicated by the development of a very marked increase in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), which occurred in the course of from 10 min to 2 hr. This increase in PVR occurred also when nearly all thrombocytes had been removed from the perfusate. Inhibition of the vasoconstrictor action of noradrenaline, 5‐hydroxytryptamine, histamine or acetylcholine did not prevent the development of the increase in PVR. Plasma kinins, which cause marked vasoconstriction in this preparation, were not present in significant amounts in the perfusate during periods of high PVR. The increase in PVR could be efficiently counteracted by tri‐cresol, 4–8 μ/ml perfusate. Two of the cresol isomers, namely o‐cresol and p‐cresol, were more efficient than the third isomer, m‐cresol. Adeno‐ sine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in doses above a certain level caused vasoconstriction in the preparation. Their vasoconstrictor effect, which increased very markedly during the first part of the perfusion, was inhibited by tri‐cresol. Also the vasoconstrictor effect of noradrenaline was reduced by tri‐cresol. Apart from these actions and from that on the spontaneously increasing PVR, tri‐cresol had no other apparent effects on the preparation. A relationship between the increase in PVR and effects of ATP and ADP in the preparation seems likely.
The Effect of Bradykinin, Kallidin and Eledoisin upon the Pulmonary Vascular Bed of an Isolated Blood‐Perfused Rabbit Lung Preparation
Authors: Hauge A. , Lunde P. K. M. , Waaler B. A.
Published: December 2008

The polypeptides bradykinin, kallidin and eledoisin were more potent vasoconstrictors in an isolated blood‐perfused rabbit lung preparation than were noradrenaline, 5‐hydroxytryptamine and histamine. Acetylcholine was, however, even more potent as a vasoconstrictor in the preparation than were the three polypeptides. The polypeptides were apparently not acting via a liberation into the perfusate of circulating noradrenaline, 5‐hydroxytryptamine or histamine. Bradykinin and kallidin both showed some tachyphylaxis, and also cross‐tachyphylaxis, indicating a common site of action. Eledoisin showed a very marked tachy‐phylaxis, but no cross‐tachyphylaxis towards the two other peptides, indicating a different site of action from that of bradykinin and kallidin. Phenylbutazone and sodium salicylate reduced the responses to plasma kinin injections by some 30–60 per cent, but nonspecifically, as e.g. 5‐hydroxytryptamine responses were reduced to the same extent.
Insulin Antagonistic Effect of Human Plasma Albumin on Protein Synthesis in vitro and on Glycogen Synthesis in vivo in the Rat Diaphragm Muscle
Authors: Jervell Jak
Published: December 2008

The earlier finding of an antagonistic effect of human plasma albumin on the insulin‐stimulated glucose uptake of the cut rat diaphragm in vitro has been confirmed. In the intact rat hemidiaphragm in vitro 1 mU of insulin per ml caused a marked increase (40–70 per cent) of the incorporation of 14C‐labelled phenylalanine into protein. Adding 5 per cent albumin caused a significant reduction of this insulin effect. Intraperitoneal injection of 1mU of insulin caused a marked increase in glycogen content and 14C‐labelled glucose incorporation into glycogen in the diaphragm muscle in vivo. This effect was antagonized by the simultaneous injection of 50–150 mg of “antagonistic” albumin; control injections of “non‐antagonistic” albumin had no such effect. Increasing the insulin dose 10‐fold abolished the antagonistic effect of the albumin. The result support the assumption that the “synalbumin” antagonist is a physiological antagonist of insulin action.
Excretion of Methylmalonate and Succinate in the Urine of Rats during Deficiency of Vitamin B12 and after Administration of Propionate
Authors: Asunta Jussi , Koivusalo Martti , Suorsa Markku
Published: December 2008

The excretion of methylmalonate and succinate in the urine of rats was studied during deficiency of vitamin B12 induced by feeding a diet deficient in vitamin B12. If the diet was given already to the pregnant rats and continued to the offspring for 7 weeks the excretion of methylmalonate by the litters increased 50—100 fold as compared with the corresponding controls. If the diet was started later, only a slight increase in the excretion of methylmalonate was found. When normal rats were fed 1 g of sodium propionate per day for 2 days there was a slight increase in the excretion of methylmalonate and a marked increase in the excretion of succinate. Methylmalonate and succinate were isolated and determined by silicic acid column and thin layer chromatography and by paper chromatography.
Estimation of the Protein Concentration of the Capillary Filtrate by an Isotope Technique
Authors: Appelgren L. , Jacobsson S. , Kjellmer I.
Published: December 2008

A method for direct estimation of the protein content of the capillary filtrate during venous congestion and muscular exercise is descr bed. The volume changes of the calf muscles of the cat are recorded plethysmo‐graphically. Changes in the albumin content of the calf are recorded by external monitoring of the activity from intravenously injected radioactive iodinated human serum albumin. Corrections for changes of activity due to variations in regional blood volume are made possible by the simultaneous measurement of changes of the activity from Cr51‐labelled erythrocytes. The difficulties and errors of the method are discussed. The protein content of the capillary filtrate is low both during venous congestion and exercise, about 0.3 g/100 ml or less than 10 % of that of plasma.

As a control of the method the protein content of the filtrate formed during continuous intraarterial infusion of histamine was also studied. In these experiments the protein concentration of the capillary filtrate rose to as much as 75% of that in plasma.
Theory of the Heated Thermocouple Principle
Authors: Grängsjö G. , Sandblom J. , Ulfendahl H. R. , Wolgast M.
Published: December 2008

The heated thermocouple principle is widely used for blood flow measurements in tissues. A theoretical deduction of the relationship between the fluid flow and the response of the heated thermocouple is shown to be a hyperbola. Experimental values from model and animal experiments fit the theoretical curve quite well. It seems quite impossible to precalibrate the thermocouples due to the fact that they are surrounded by a nonperfused zone of injured tissue or noncirculating blood.
Urinary Excretion of Catecholamines and Vanilmandelic Acid in Rats Exposed to Cold
Authors: Motelica Ion
Published: December 2008

Male Sprague Dawley rats of an average weight of 300 g excreted during laboratory conditions at 20–22o C on an average 18 ng/kg/hr adrenaline (A), 97 ng/kg/hr noradrenaline (NA) and about 4 /ig/kg/hr vanilmandelic acid (VMA). Individual, diurnal and seasonal variations were noticed. During exposure to a temperature of +3o C, NA increased to 300– 400 ng/kg/hr in the first 24 hrs and remained high for the entire duration of exposure, while adrenaline excretion increased gradually to about 50 ng/kg/hr. The VMA excretion increased to about 10 jug/kg/hr during exposure to +3o C. After bringing the rats back to room temperature catecholamines and VMA excretion reverted to normal values in 1–2 days.
Compensatory Hypertrophy of the Rat's Submaxillary Gland
Authors: Elmèr Mats , Ohlin Per
Published: December 2008

The secretory activity of the submaxillary gland in the conscious rat is increased in the acute experiment when the secretion from one or more of the other salivary glands is prevented from reaching the oral cavity. In chronic experiments the weight of the submaxillary gland is augmented after duct ligation of other salivary glands. It seems likely that increased secretory activity as observed in the acute experiments, is the cause of this glandular hypertrophy.