bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of mortality in acute hospitalised COVID-19 pneumonia patients: A retrospective cohort study at two tertiary-level hospitals in Zambia
Authors:   Internal Medicine, Ndola Teaching Hospital, Zambia, Banda J ,   Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Mweemba A ,   Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia, Bulaya T ,   Internal Medicine, Ndola Teaching Hospital, Zambia, Chenga N ,   Internal Medicine, Ndola Teaching Hospital, Zambia, Siyiza S ,   Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia
Published: April 2022

Background. The global COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased acute hospitalisations, a high demand for intensive care and high in-hospital mortality, placing a huge burden on healthcare systems. Objectives. To assess in-hospital mortality outcomes and associated factors in acute hospitalised COVID-19 pneumonia patients in Zambia. Methods. We performed a retrospective cohort review of patients admitted to two tertiary-level hospitals in Zambia from 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2021. We examined the factors (demographic, clinical and laboratory) that were associated with in-hospital mortality using multivariate logistic analysis. Adjusted odds ratios with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are reported. Results. Of 350 patients, 59.4% were aged ≥55 years and 52.6% were male. The commonest comorbidities were hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), HIV/AIDS and chronic kidney disease (49.6%, 28.5%, 22.0% and 8.1%, respectively). The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 42.6%, and mortality was significantly increased in patients aged ≥55 years (52.0% v. 48.0%) and in those with DM (52.1% v. 47.9%), cardiac disease (68.0% v. 32.0%), a Quick Sequential (Sepsis-Related) Organ Failure Assessment (q-SOFA) score ≥2 (75.4% v. 24.6%), and admission blood glucose levels ≥7.0 mmol/L (66.3% v. 33.7%). Compared with patients who survived, who spent a median (interquartile range) of 6 (3 - 10) days in hospital, the median time between admission and death in those who died was 2.5 (1 - 6) days. In multivariate logistic analysis, age ≥55 years, a q-SOFA score ≥2 and a random blood sugar level ≥7.0 mmol/L were predictors of in-hospital mortality, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.54 (95% CI 1.09 - 2.17), 2.17 (95% CI 1.40 - 3.38) and 1.65 (95% CI 1.18 - 2.30), respectively. Raised serum creatinine was not associated with in-hospital COVID-19 mortality after adjusting for other confounders. Conclusions. This study highlights that high in-hospital COVID-19 mortality was associated with a high q-SOFA score, hyperglycaemia on admission and older age. The study reinforces the need to invest in emergency healthcare services for optimal management of COVID-19 patients presenting with high q-SOFA scores in resource-limited countries.
Pandemic politics
Authors:   South African Medical Journal, Farham B
Published: April 2022

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El delito de injurias y las redes sociales. El número de ‘followers’ y otras variables ambientales como elementos de valoración del daño
Authors:   Universidad de Burgos, Miguel Barrio Rodrigo
Published: April 2022

Internet se caracteriza por ser un canal de difusión de ideas y pensamientos a gran escala. Las redes sociales generan un efecto multiplicador por su propia condición de canales divulgativos de ideas e informaciones. Cuando a través de estos se diseminan mensajes de odio o injurias, la utilización de estos canales proyecta la ofensa por el mundo cibernético, lo que incrementa la lesividad en la víctima a consecuencia de los múltiples potenciales receptores del mensaje. A través del presente trabajo se realizará una aproximación a esta situación, con especial interés en el número de seguidores que tiene el emisor de la injuria en la red social, como un elemento para la valoración del daño por la expansión de dicha injuria mediante estos canales. Y todo ello en consonancia con otras posibilidades ofrecidas por las redes sociales, tales como el retweet o el hashtag, instrumentos para compartir o indexar el mensaje o palabras clave en la red y maximizar su divulgación, lo que ocasiona un incremento en el daño a la víctima.
Dret a la desconnexió o obligació empresarial de desconnexió remota? Reptes legislatius des de la perspectiva laboral
Authors:   Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Sole-Truyols Montse
Published: April 2022

Aquest article parteix de la base que el treball en l’entorn digital no modifica la naturalesa de la relació laboral. Des d’aquesta perspectiva, argumenta algunes de les raons per les quals la flexibilitat no es pot considerar una característica inherent del treball amb dispositius TIC. En la mesura que el dret a la desconnexió cerca garantir el descans del treballador sense renunciar a la flexibilitat, altera la correlació de drets i deures pròpia del contracte de treball i resulta una mesura ineficaç pel que fa a l’objectiu del descans. Partint de la base que la legislació sobre desconnexió ha de mantenir els fonaments de la relació laboral, l’article utilitza una potencial obligació de desconnexió remota de l’empresari com a estudi de cas per identificar els reptes més importants als quals la normativa hauria de donar resposta. La idea és avançar en els aspectes rellevants per tal que puguin ser útils en futures mesures.
UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY IN ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Authors: SODANO Valeria , GORGITANO Maria Teresa
Published: April 2022

In view of the forthcoming Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform, it is important to add information on the results of the current CAP in relation to the objectives it tried to achieve so far. The paper endeavors to understand whether in Italy the CAP has reached the stated societal and environmental goals, with emphasis on sustainability and rural development. In order to achieve such aim, we built a set of descriptive statistics using the data set which reports information on the beneficiaries of CAP payments, in accordance with the transparency rules set by Regulation (EU) No 908/2014. The results indicate that CAP interventions in Italy have not been able to achieve all the objectives set by the Ciolos reform for correcting the weaknesses of the previous CAP. First, we found that neither the correction of the excesses of aid to large beneficiaries nor the aid redistribution towards the weaker farmers have been achieved, due to the strong asymmetry in the distribution of direct aid. Second, we found that environmental objectives, received scarce resources. Third, our results also showed the inability of the CAP in supporting small traditional farmers and maintaining a living and healthy economic and social fabric in the rural areas of the country. These results are interesting as regards the debate on the new CAP, which seems not able to overcome the old CAP shortcomings in terms of sustainability and rural development.
PARENT MATERIAL AS A KEY DETERMINANT OF SOIL PROPERTIES IN SOUTHERN PART OF NATIONAL PARK KRKA, CROATIA
Authors: BENSA Aleksandra , ŠVOB Mirna , DOMÍNGUEZ-VILLAR David , PERICA Dražen , KRKLEC Kristina
Published: April 2022

Parent material is an important factor in soil formation, especially in soils formed in Mediterranean region dominated by calcareous sedimentary rocks. Their basic properties (mineralogical composition, coherence, and permeability for water) influence the resistance to weathering and type of weathering products, its amount, particle size distribution, as well as the intensity of physicochemical transformations within the original rock residue. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of parent material on soil properties in southern part of Krka National Park, Croatia. Weathering of carbonate parent material (limestones, dolomites, conglomerates, marls) along with other soil forming factors was the base for soil development in this area. Thus, Calcocambisols and Terra rossa, typical and ilimerized are the most widespread soil types, while Calcomelanosols, Colluvium and Rendzinas are as well represented, but in much lesser extent. Soil depth, presence of coarse fragments and carbonate content in these soils vary considerably depending on parent material, although factors such as relief, vegetation and anthropogenic impact cannot be neglected. In general, shallow soils ( 35 cm) were formed on limestones and conglomerates, while medium deep soils (35-70 cm) were formed on marly substrates. The content of coarse fragments of variable size in soils (fine gravel 2-6 mm to boulders 60-200 cm) is related to different weathering processes of parent material. The presence of carbonate nodules on soil surface and within soil profile also indicates pedogenetic processes related to different types of carbonate parent material.
Phraseological translation of specialized speech: contrastive analysis of sports press in Russian and Spanish
Authors: Рамирес Родригес Пабло
Published: April 2022

This article discusses one of the most relevant topics from the point of view of translation: collocations in the sports press. The reason why this field was chosen is due to the great interest of linguists to include new words in dictionaries due to the influence of other areas of the language and the spread of sports in society. The result of the observed processes is that even native speakers of the Russian language find it difficult to read and understand sports news, and for foreigners interested in sports, these features of the sports press may present insurmountable difficulties, since the actual sports vocabulary is present in textbooks and dictionaries is limited. The analyzed corpus does not have the representative power inherent in large national and parallel corpora, however, this study has revealed several interesting phenomena and outlined ways to further study sports discourse: further study of collocations and productive models based on the material of large Russian and Spanish language corpora, Yandex search engines, blogs and other lexicographic online tools is of undoubted interest. In the process of assimilation of collocations, difficulties arise, since stable phrases are always difficult and impossible to predict. During the study, we saw that usually the components of combinations in one language do not coincide with other languages, since there is an influence on the language of the culture in which their own use of metaphors manifests itself. The compilation of multilingual educational dictionaries and the identification of productive collocation models can significantly expand the field of mastering the Russian language by foreigners and develop skills in predicting the meanings of unfamiliar words and collocations when getting acquainted with different types of discourse.
Robust Deep Interpretable Features for Binary Image Classification
Authors: Hu Robert , Sejdinovic Dino
Published: April 2022

The problem of interpretability for binary image classification is considered through the lens of kernel two-sample tests and generative modeling. A feature extraction framework coined Deep Interpretable Features (DIF) is developed, which is used in combination with IntroVAE, a generative model capable of high-resolution image synthesis. Experimental results on a variety of datasets, including COVID-19 chest x-rays demonstrate the benefits of combining deep generative models with the ideas from kernel-based hypothesis testing in moving towards more robust interpretable deep generative models.
Identification and analysis of sucrose synthase gene family associated with polysaccharide biosynthesis in Dendrobium catenatum by transcriptomic analysis
Authors: Jiang Min , Li Shangyun , Zhao Changling , Zhao Mingfu , Xu Shaozhong , Wen Guosong
Published: April 2022

Background

Dendrobium catenatum is a valuable traditional medicinal herb with high commercial value. D. catenatum stems contain abundant polysaccharides which are one of the main bioactive components. However, although some genes related to the synthesis of the polysaccharides have been reported, more key genes need to be further elucidated.

Results

In this study, the contents of polysaccharides and mannose in D. catenatum stems at four developmental stages were compared, and the stems’ transcriptomes were analyzed to explore the synthesis mechanism of the polysaccharides. Many genes involved in starch and sucrose metabolisms were identified by KEGG pathway analysis. Further analysis found that sucrose synthase (SUS; EC 2.4.1.13) gene maybe participated in the polysaccharide synthesis. Hence, we further investigated the genomic characteristics and evolution relationships of the SUS family in plants. The result suggested that the SUS gene of D. catenatum (DcSUS) had undergone the expansion characterized by tandem duplication which might be related to the enrichment of the polysaccharides in D. catenatum stems. Moreover, expression analyses of the DcSUS displayed significant divergent patterns in different tissues and could be divided into two main groups in the stems with four developmental stages.

Conclusion

In general, our results revealed that DcSUS is likely involved in the metabolic process of the stem polysaccharides, providing crucial clues for exploiting the key genes associated with the polysaccharide synthesis.
“destruição” de um quilombo na Serra do Cubatão (1827-1828)
Authors: Azevedo Larissa Biato de
Published: April 2022

No século XIX, impedir a formação e a continuidade dos quilombos tornou-se uma atribuição do Estado brasileiro. O assunto foi incluído na lei referente aos Juízes de Paz, de 15 de outubro de 1827, e incorporado a outras normas do Império posteriormente. Concomitantemente à elaboração desse parâmetro legislativo, diferentes autoridades administravam a questão nas Províncias. O objetivo deste texto é refletir sobre o tratamento oficial dos quilombos no Brasil das primeiras décadas do Oitocentos a partir de uma documentação ainda não explorada, especialmente as correspondências relativas a um quilombo encontrado e “destruído” na Serra do Cubatão, Província de São Paulo. Indica-se as leis e práticas dirigidas a esses agrupamentos na década de 1820, como as diligências contra o quilombo paulista foram organizadas, que escravos o compunham e de que forma é possível compreender o retrato atribuído a eles na ocasião.
orixá desaparecido:
Authors: Fontes Larissa
Published: April 2022

Este artigo é um recorte de uma tese de doutorado cujo objeto central é a Coleção Perseverança, composta de peças roubadas dos terreiros de Maceió em um episódio de repressão político-religiosa ocorrido em 1912. Abrigado pelo Instituto Histórico e Geográfico de Alagoas, o acervo nunca foi objeto de estudos científicos. Esta pesquisa tenta preencher lacunas, traçando a grande transformação ritual e litúrgica sofrida pelo xangô alagoano. A partir de um processo de construção de um inventário desses objetos, uma investigação foi realizada em busca de seus usos originais para referenciá-los devidamente. A construção da biografia dos objetos foi realizada com a participação da comunidade religiosa afro-alagoana e baiana, privilegiando o conhecimento tradicional, a mitologia e o sistema cosmológico. Essas biografias também possibilitaram importantes descobertas, como uma divindade que desapareceu completamente do panteão local junto com seu conhecimento litúrgico – trata-se do orixá Baiani, considerado raro e atualmente só encontrado em alguns terreiros da Bahia.
Escravos brancos no Brasil oitocentista:
Authors: Rosa Marcus Vinicius de Freitas
Published: April 2022

As reflexões aqui presentes fazem parte de uma pesquisa mais ampla sobre os significados de ser branco no Brasil escravista. Neste artigo, o objetivo é analisar os sentidos e as práticas envolvidos no aparecimento de escravos brancos que, no contexto das consequências geradas pelo fim do tráfico atlântico, foram vendidos no mercado interno brasileiro e se tornaram conhecidos na imprensa durante a segunda metade do século XIX. São casos que se prestam à investigação acerca dos complexos vínculos estabelecidos entre cor, escravidão e liberdade. De forma mais específica, buscamos analisar os aspectos raciais da linha que estabelecia a separação entre escravos e livres, bem como situar o branco no centro da análise racial, procedimento ainda pouco usual entre historiadores brasileiros.
desventuras do Doutor Jacarandá:
Authors: Pereira Leonardo Affonso de Miranda
Published: April 2022

Este artigo acompanha a trajetória de Manoel Vicente Alves, homem negro que ficaria conhecido como Doutor Jacarandá. Nascido em 1869 em Alagoas, onde se escolarizou, mudou-se para em 1894 para o Rio de Janeiro. Nos primeiros anos na capital federal exerceu diferentes ofícios braçais, até valer-se de seu letramento para atuar como solicitador em pequenos casos judiciais. Em um momento no qual o diploma de bacharel em direito não era um pré-requisito para o exercício da advocacia, começava assim uma carreira como advogado que, ao mesmo tempo em que o projetava como um tipo popular da cidade, faria dele o alvo constante das ironias e ataques da imprensa da cidade. Analisar os desafios e obstáculos colocados à atuação de afrodescendentes como ele ao longo da Primeira República se mostra por isso uma forma de refletir sobre a força singular assumida pelo racismo nas décadas imediatamente posteriores à abolição.
Elas compravam, vendiam e castigavam:
Authors: Carula Karoline
Published: April 2022

Resenha de:
JONES-ROGERS, Stephanie E. They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2019. 320 p.
Primavera islâmica na historiografia africanista
Authors: Mota Thiago Henrique
Published: April 2022

Resenha de:
NGOM, Fallou; KURFI, Mustapha H.; FALOLA, Toyin (orgs.). The PalgraveHandbook of Islam in Africa. Londres: Palgrave Macmillan, 2020. 774 p.
Algumas palavras sobre Torto Arado
Authors: Lima Mirella Márcia Longo Vieira
Published: April 2022

Resumo de:
VIEIRA JUNIOR, Itamar. Torto arado. São Paulo: Todavia, 2019, 262 p.
Releituras críticas para a história do pós-abolição
Authors: Butler Kim D.
Published: April 2022

Resenha de:
GLEDHILL, Sabrina. Travessias no Atlântico Negro: reflexões sobre Booker T. Washington e Manuel R. Querino. Salvador: EDUFBA, 2020. 300 p.
Discrimination between transmembrane ion gradient‐driven and electron transfer‐driven ATP synthesis in the methanogenic bacteria
Authors: Al-Mahrouq H.A. , Carper S.W. , Lancaster J.R.
Published: July 2002

As with Methanococcus voltae [(1986) FEBS Lett. 200, 177–180], ATP synthesis in Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum (ΔH) can be driven by the imposition of a sodium gradient, but only in the presence of a counterion. Monensin (but not SF6847) inhibits this synthesis. Methanogenic electron transfer‐driven ATP synthesis, however, is insensitive to the combination of these two ionophores. In M. voltae, 117 μM diethylstilbestrol effectively inhibits both membrane potential‐ and sodium gradient‐driven ATP synthesis, but has no effect on ATP production coupled to methanogenesis. In Mb. thermoautotrophicum (ΔH), a similar pattern of inhibition is exhibited by harmaline, an inhibitor of sodium‐linked membrane transport systems. We conclude that ATP‐driven sodium translocation and electron transfer‐driven ATP synthesis are accomplished by separate entities, at least for these two only distantly related species of methanogen.
Calcium/calmodulin‐dependent regulation of the NH2‐terminal F‐actin binding domain of utrophin
Authors: Winder S.J. , Kendrick-Jones J.
Published: July 2002

The cytoskeletal proteins utrophin, dystrophin and α‐actinin are predicted to form antiparallel dimers thus potentially bringing their NH2‐terminal F‐actin binding domains in close proximity to their EF‐hand containing COOH‐terminal domains. This arrangement would allow for calcium‐dependent regulation of F‐actin binding. We tested this hypothesis by determining the effect of the ubiquitous calcium binding protein calmodulin on their F‐actin binding capabilities. Binding of the NH2‐terminal F‐actin binding domain of utrophin to F‐actin was inhibited by increasing concentrations of calmodulin in a calcium‐dependent manner. The homologous F‐actin binding domains from dystrophin and α‐actinin were not regulated by calmodulin in the presence or absence of calcium. These findings have implications for the structural organisation of utrophin dimers and also for the replacement of dystrophin by over‐expression of utrophin in dystrophic muscle.
Unique molecular properties of superoxide dismutase from teleost fish skin
Authors: Nakano Toshiki , Sato Minoru , Takeuchi Masaaki
Published: July 2002

A unique Cu,Zn‐SOD was found and isolated from plaice Paralichthys olivaceus skin. Surprisingly, the properties of purified fish skin SOD were very different from those of SOD from other sources reported so far. The purified SOD was composed of four same subunits of 16 kDa and the molecular weight of the native SOD was found to be around 65 kDa. The dominant amino acids of the SOD were Ser, Thr, Pro and Glu. Above 70°C, thermostability of the SOD was much lower than that of bovine erythrocyte Cu,Zn‐SOD.
Evidence for multiple interacting binding sites in bovine tryptase
Authors: Fiorucci Laura , Erba Fulvio , Coletta Massimo , Ascoli Franca
Published: July 2002

The interaction of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) and bovine tryptase, which are co‐localized in the same granules of bovine mast cells, has been analyzed at 30°C in 0.1 M Tris‐HCl, pH 8.0. The analysis has unravelled that the functional unit of bovine tryptase is formed of (at least) four binding sites for this inhibitor. These interaction sites display a simple binding behaviour for small inhibitors (and substrates), whereas heterogeneous properties have been observed in the binding of BPTI. Furthermore, in the presence of BPTI, a positive functional interaction can be detected among the binding sites also for a small synthetic inhibitor, like benzamidine. Such features indicate the existence of a complex functional interplay among the sites of the functional unit which is transmitted through the secondary specificity sites.
Structure of the photosynthetic reaction centre from Rhodobacter sphaeroides reconstituted with anthraquinone as primary quinone QA
Authors: Kuglstatter Andreas , Miksovska Jaroslava , Sebban Pierre , Fritzsch Günter
Published: July 2002

In the photosynthetic reaction centre (RC) from the purple bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides, the primary quinone, a ubiquinone‐10 (QA), has been substituted by anthraquinone. Three‐dimensional crystals have been grown from the modified RC and its structure has been determined by X‐ray crystallography to 2.4 Å resolution. The bindings of the head‐group from ubiquinone‐10 and of the anthraquinone ring are very similar. In particular, both rings are parallel to each other and the hydrogen bonds connecting the native ubiquinone‐10 molecule to AlaM260 and HisM219 are conserved in the anthraquinone containing RC. The space of the phytyl tail missing in the anthraquinone exchanged RC is occupied by the alkyl chain of a detergent molecule. Other structural changes of the QA‐binding site are within the limit of resolution. Our structural data bring strong credit to the very large amount of spectroscopic data previously achieved in anthraquinone‐replaced RCs and which have participated in the determination of the energetics of the quinone system in bacterial RCs.
Translation termination factor aRF1 from the archaeon Methanococcus jannaschii is active with eukaryotic ribosomes
Authors: Dontsova Maria , Frolova Ludmila , Vassilieva Julia , Piendl Wolfgang , Kisselev Lev , Garber Maria
Published: July 2002

Class‐1 translation termination factors (release factors (RFs)) from Eukarya (eRF1) and Archaea (aRF1) exhibit a high degree of amino acid sequence homology and share many common motifs. In contrast to eRF1, function(s) of aRF1 have not yet been studied in vitro. Here, we describe for the first time the cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of the gene encoding the peptide chain RF from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Methanococcus jannaschii (MjaRF1). In an in vitro assay with mammalian ribosomes, MjaRF1, which was overproduced in E. coli, was active as a RF with all three termination codon‐containing tetraplets, demonstrating the functional resemblance of aRF1 and eRF1. This observation confirms the earlier prediction that eRF1 and aRF1 form a common structural–functional eRF1/aRF1 protein family, originating from a common ancient ancestor.
Induction of cytokines in glial cells surrounding cortical β‐amyloid plaques in transgenic Tg2576 mice with Alzheimer pathology
Authors: Mehlhorn Gaby , Hollborn Margrit , Schliebs Reinhard
Published: July 2002

β‐Amyloid plaque deposition observed in brains from Alzheimer patients, might function as immune stimulus for glial/macrophages activation, which is supported by observations of activated microglia expressing interleukin (IL)‐1β and elevated IL‐6 immunoreactivity in close proximity to amyloid plaques. To elucidate the mechanisms involved in β‐amyloid‐mediated inflammation, transgenic mice (Tg2576) expressing high levels of the Swedish double mutation of human amyloid precursor protein and progressively developing typical β‐amyloid plaques in cortical brain regions including gliosis and astrocytosis, were examined for the expression pattern of a number of cytokines.

Using ribonuclease protection assay, interleukin (IL)‐1α,‐β, IL‐1 receptor antagonist, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐12, IL‐18, interferon‐γ, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) mRNA were not induced in a number of cortical areas of Tg2576 mice regardless of the postnatal ages studied ranging between 2 and 13 months. Using immunocytochemistry for IL‐1α,β, IL‐6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, and macrophage chemotactic protein (MCP)‐1, only IL‐1β was found to be induced in reactive astrocytes surrounding β‐amyloid deposits detected in 14‐month‐old Tg2576 mice. Using non‐radioactive in situ hybridization glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) mRNA was detected to be expressed by reactive astrocytes in close proximity to β‐amyloid plaques. The local immune response detected around cortical β‐amyloid deposits in transgenic Tg2576 mouse brain is seemingly different to that observed in brains from Alzheimer patients but may represent an initial event of chronic neuroinflammation at later stages of the disease.
Enter the dragon: China's courtship of Hong Kong, 1982–1999
Authors: Baum Richard
Published: July 2002

From 1982, when the Chinese government first signalled its intention to take back Hong Kong, to the actual transfer of sovereignty in 1997, the PRC engaged in a long-term campaign to “win friends and influence people” in the British colony. Hoping to prevent a large-scale flight of capital and manpower, and wishing to cultivate a core group of sympathetic local notables as future political leaders, Beijing issued frequent pledges of non-interference in Hong Kong's affairs and adopted classic “united front” tactics — flattering, cajoling, and otherwise wooing potential supporters while snubbing (and sometimes smearing) outspoken critics. Despite intensely negative local reaction to the 1989 “Tiananmen Massacre”, over the long haul Beijing largely succeeded in disarming public fears of a heavyhanded Chinese takeover. Consequently, the handover itself was an extremely calm, tranquil affair. And in the first 2 years of Hong Kong's new status as a “Special Administrative Region” of China, the PRC earned generally high marks for honoring its pledge to uphold the principle of “one country, two systems”.
Development of New Strains for the Food Industry
Authors: Benítez Tahía , Gasent‐Ramírez José María , Castrejón Francisco , Codón Antonio C.
Published: July 2002

This review examines the desired characteristics and possibilities of genetic manipulation of industrial yeasts. Brewing, wine, and distillers' yeasts are characterized by good utilization of sugar, alcohol tolerance and production, flavor and aroma, flocculation, fermentation rate, cropping ratio, ability to utilize trisaccharides, dextrines and starch, rapid onset of fermentation, nonfoaming fermentation, and low H2S production. The characteristics required for a good bakers' yeast include high potential glycolytic activity, ability to adapt rapidly to changing substrates, high invertase activity, high potential maltose fermentation rate and quality in terms of dough fermentation, storage ability, and osmotic resistance to salts and sugars. In all of these cases, the major desirable factors are under genetic control and hence are potentially subject to improvement by genetic manipulation. However, this control is thought to be governed by several, in most cases, unidentified genes. So, although most genetic techniques developed for laboratory yeasts are potentially applicable to the study and improvement of the properties of industrial yeast strains, traits such as homothallism, aberration in mating behavior, polyploidy, aneuploidy, poor sporulation and poor spore viability, etc., make conventional hybridization and isolation of single spore clones more difficult.
Expression of Vitreoscilla Hemoglobin Is Superior to Horse Heart Myoglobin or Yeast Flavohemoglobin Expression for Enhancing Escherichiacoli Growth in a Microaerobic Bioreactor
Authors: Kallio Pauli T. , Tsai Philip S. , Bailey James E.
Published: July 2002

Expression of a gene encoding hemoglobin (VHb) from the aerobic bacterium Vitreoscilla sp. in several organisms, including Escherichia coli, has been shown to improve microaerobic cell growth and enhance oxygen‐dependent product formation. The suitability of VHb to enhance microaerobic metabolism has been suggested to depend on its unusual oxygen binding characteristics. To examine whether hemoproteins of other origins can also elicit the positive effects VHb exerts in microaerobic E. coli cells, we subcloned the genes encoding Vitreoscilla VHb, horse heart myoglobin (HMb), and yeast flavohemoglobin (YFb) behind the IPTG‐inducible tac promoter on a medium‐copy‐number vector and transformed these globin‐expression plasmids into E. coli MG1655 and DH5α. Biologically active VHb, HMb, and YFb were produced from these constructions in E. coli as judged by their ability to abduct carbon monoxide. The presence of HMb increased the growth of wild‐type cells during the early stages of fed‐batch growth, but the final optical densities of HMb‐expressing cultures were comparable with the wild‐type control not synthesizing HMb. The presence of VHb increased the cell density by 70% under the same cultivation conditions. The expression of wild‐type YFb reduced the final cell density by 30% relative to the non‐globin‐expressing control.
Dual‐Fractal Analysis for Antigen−Antibody Binding Kinetics for Biosensor Applications
Authors: Sutaria Milind , Sadana Ajit
Published: July 2002

The diffusion‐limited binding kinetics of antigen (or antibody) in solution to antibody (or antigen) immobilized on a biosensor and other surfaces is analyzed within a fractal framework. Often, the binding kinetics may be described by a single‐fractal analysis. In some cases, the binding curve exhibits complexities. Then, for these cases, the dual‐fractal analysis provides an improved fit when compared with a single‐fractal analysis. This indicates a change in the reaction mechanism on the surface. It is of interest to note that the state of disorder (or the fractal dimension) and the binding rate coefficient both increase as the reaction progresses on the biosensor surface. For example, for the binding of 10 nM insulin growth factor‐1 in solution to insulin growth factor binding protein‐1 immobilized on a biosensor surface, a 64% increase in the fractal dimension from 1.73 (Df1) to 2.85 (Df2) leads to an increase in the binding rate coefficient by a factor of 31.8 from 3.92 (k1) to 125 (k2) . Furthermore, as the IGF‐1 concentration in solution increases from 10 to 80 nM in solution, k2 and Df2 exhibit a linear increase. k1 and Df1 exhibit a linear increase with the reciprocal of the IGF‐1 concentration in solution. The different examples analyzed and presented together provide a means by which the antigen−antibody reactions may be better controlled by noting the magnitude of the changes in the fractal dimension and in the binding rate coefficient as the reaction progresses on the biosensor surface. Also, the magnitude of the changes in the binding rate coefficients (k1 and k2) and in the fractal dimensions (Df1 and Df2) as different parameters are changed for the different biosensor applications are of particular value, since they provide us with a measure or extent of changes in the binding rate coefficient on changing different experimental parameter values. It is of interest to note the effect of different parameters on the extent or heterogeneity that exists on the surface and how this influences the binding rate coefficients. This may be one method to help manipulate or control the binding rate coefficients on the reaction surface.
Recovery and Reuse of the Molecular Chaperone GroEL for in Vitro Protein Refolding
Authors: Guise Andrew D. , Chaudhuri Julian B.
Published: July 2002

The chaperones GroEL and GroES from Escherichia coli are known to improve in vitro protein refolding yields. We show that, for the molecular chaperone‐assisted refolding of hen egg white lysozyme, GroES is not an essential requirement and that activity is recovered with GroEL and ATP alone. The refolding yields of lysozyme in the presence of GroEL are much greater than those obtained by dilution because of a reduction in protein aggregation. On the basis of the large difference in molecular weight between the GroEL complex (MW 840 000) and lysozyme (MW 14 600), we have demonstrated that using an ultrafiltration membrane (MW 30 000) GroEL may be easily retained after refolding while lysozyme passes freely into the permeate. The chaperonin recovered from the refolding solution was then reused several times for further refolding experiments. The effectiveness of GroEL‐assisted refolding was found to decrease with reuse, and this has been attributed to a reduction in the GroEL:lysozyme molar ratio.
Characterization of an activated mutant of focal adhesion kinase: ‘SuperFAK’
Authors: GABARRA-NIECKO Veronica , KEELY Patricia J. , SCHALLER Michael D.
Published: July 2002

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that plays an important role in normal cellular processes such as adhesion, spreading, migration, proliferation and survival. In addition, FAK is overexpressed in a variety of cancer cells and tumours and may play a role in the development of human cancer. As a prelude to modelling the role of aberrant FAK signalling in the initiation of cancer, the goal of the present study was to engineer point mutations in FAK that would enhance enzymic activity. A number of substitutions that were reported as activating mutations in other tyrosine kinases were introduced into FAK. Glutamic acid substitutions for two lysine residues in the activation loop of FAK, based upon the K650E (Lys650→Glu) mutant of fibroblast-growth-factor receptor 3, were made to create ‘SuperFAK'. Two brain-specific exons were engineered into avian FAK to create FAK6.7. SuperFAK and, to a lesser extent, FAK6.7, exhibited increased catalytic activity in vitro compared with wild-type FAK. The expression of SuperFAK and FAK6.7 in fibroblasts led to hyperphosphorylation of FAK substrates. Although the catalytic activity of SuperFAK and FAK6.7 was largely independent of cell adhesion, tyrosine phosphorylation of downstream substrates was adhesion-dependent. Further, since SuperFAK exhibited the same ability as wild-type FAK to recruit Src family kinases, tyrosine phosphorylation of substrates was likely due to direct phosphorylation by FAK. In addition to enhanced biochemical signalling, SuperFAK also increased the motility of epithelial cells. SuperFAK and FAK6.7 may be valuable molecular tools to investigate the potential role of aberrant FAK signalling in human disease.
Thermal denaturation of influenza virus and its relationship to membrane fusion
Authors: EPAND Richard M. , EPAND Raquel F.
Published: July 2002

The X-31 strain of influenza virus was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), CD and SDS/PAGE analysis as a function of both temperature and pH. A bromelain-treated virus was also studied by these methods. The major transition observed in the intact virus was a result of the denaturation of the haemagglutinin (HA) protein. At pH7.4, this transition was similar in the intact virus and the isolated HA, but was absent in the bromelain-treated virus. However, at pH5 the denaturation temperature and enthalpy were both higher for HA in the virus than in the isolated protein, indicating that HA interacts with other molecular components in the intact virus. The transition observed by DSC occurs at a higher temperature than does the thermal transition observed by CD. The temperature of the CD transition coincides with the temperature at which the fusogenicity of the virus increases, and probably corresponds to the formation of an extended coiled-coil conformation. Analysis by SDS/PAGE at neutral pH under non-reducing conditions demonstrates a selective loss of the HA protein trimer, resulting in the formation of aggregates in the range of temperatures of 55 to 70°C. In contrast, at acidic pH, the HA protein is largely in the monomeric form at 25°C, and there is little change with temperature. There is thus a weakening of the quaternary structure of HA at acidic pH prior to heating. At the temperature at which the virus exhibits an increased fusogenicity at neutral pH, there is a loss of secondary structure and a beginning of a destabilization of the trimeric form of HA. This temperature is lower than that required for the major endothermic peak observed in DSC experiments. The results demonstrate that there is no kinetically trapped high-energy form of HA at neutral pH.
Antibacterial peptides in stimulated human granulocytes
Authors: Wang Yuqin , Griffiths William J , Jörnvall Hans , Agerberth Birgitta , Johansson Jan
Published: July 2002

Antibacterial peptides were isolated from human peripheral granulocytes of a healthy donor who had been treated with granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) and cortisol. Peptides were solubilized in acidified chloroform/methanol, and partitioned in chloroform/methanol/water. Water‐ soluble polypeptides were separated by cation‐exchange and reversed‐phase chromatography. Several previously characterized antibacterial polypeptides were identified; defensins 1–3, defensin 4, lysozyme, eosinophil cationic protein, and calgranulin A. In addition, several histone fragments were isolated and exhibited activity against the Gram‐ positive bacterium Bacillus megaterium strain Bm11. These fragments included two C‐terminal fragments of histone H1A, three C‐terminal fragments of histone H1D, one fragment of histone H1B, and two fragments of histone H4. The molecular masses of both histone H1A fragments, as determined by electrospray (ES) MS, were 270 Da higher than those calculated from their amino acid sequences. The two histone H1A fragments corresponded to Lys152–Lys222 (7527 ± 1 Da) and Lys167–Lys222␣(6023 ± 1 Da). Tandem MS (MS/MS) of the 7.5 kDa and 6.0 kDa fragments indicated that the post‐translational modification is on Lys222, the ε‐amino group of which was conjugated with the α‐carboxyl group of the tripeptide Arg‐Gly‐Gly. This finding was substantiated by digestion of the 7.5‐kDa polypeptide with trypsin and analysis of the resulting peptides by ES MS and MS/MS. The tripeptide Arg‐Gly‐Gly corresponded uniquely to the three C‐terminal residues of ubiquitin, demonstrating the presence of ubiquitinated histone H1A.
Experimental demography of rhizome populations of establishing clones ofSolidago altissima
Authors: Meyer Andrea H. , Schmid Bernhard
Published: July 2002

1Solidago altissimaforms large compact below‐ground rhizome systems. The rhizome systems of 30 genets in a population that had colonized an old‐field in 1984 were mapped yearlyin situfrom 1988 to 1992. Branching angles, lengths and survival of rhizomes, and production of daughter rhizomes, were calculated from digitized maps.

2We hypothesized that genets ofS. altissimawould prevent intraclonal crowding by producing longer but fewer rhizomes as they increased in size. In addition, we tested the effects of environmental factors on rhizome dynamics by (i) mowing in late summer, (ii) cutting of rhizome connections, and (iii) removal of close neighbour plants.

3Most rhizomes were initiated at an angle of 60°−65° relative to the parent rhizome. Subsequent growth tended towards the parent axis and towards more centrifugal growth. Rhizome angles were not influenced by any treatment.

4In control genets, rhizome density increased 1.3‐fold from March 1988 to March 1992. The number of newly produced rhizomes per genet decreased and their length increased from 1988 to 1992. Longer rhizomes had a higher survival probability than shorter rhizomes did. The number of newly produced rhizomes per parent rhizome was positively correlated with mean rhizome length per genet.

5Mowing strongly decreased rhizome density from 1988 to 1992, mainly due to reduced production of new rhizomes.

6Rhizome cutting led to a slight decline in the rhizome population and to shorter lengths of rhizomes in their second year compared with controls.

7The removal of close neighbour plants led to increased rhizome densities. These rhizomes grew longer than controls in unmown plots and shorter in mown plots and had higher probabilities of surviving into their second year.

8Yearly mowing could successfully prevent the further spread ofS. altissimabecause it acts on rhizome and shoot dynamics as well as on seed output.
Spread of hepatitis C virus infection within families
Authors: Caporaso N. , Ascione A. , Stroffolini T. , Group Investigators of an Italian Multicenter
Published: July 2002

In 1995, the intrafamilial spread of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was evaluated among 1379 household contacts of 585 HCV antibody‐positive HCV RNA‐positive subjects (index cases) in Italy. All index cases were patients with histologically proven chronic liver disease. The presence of antibodies to HCV (anti‐HCV) was assessed by third‐generation enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to test for HCV RNA. The overall anti‐HCV prevalence among household contacts of index cases was 7.3% (101/1379); it was 15.6% in spouses and 3.2% in other relatives (P<0.05; odds ratio (OR), 6.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.5–8.6). Spouses married to index cases for longer than 20 years had a significantly higher anti‐HCV prevalence than those married 20 years or less (19.8%vs 8.0%; P<0.05; OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.5–5.3). Parenteral risk factors were more likely to be reported in anti‐HCV positive than in anti‐HCV negative household contacts. After adjustment for confounders by multiple logistic regression analysis, age greater than 45 years (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.6–5.3) and any parenteral exposure (OR, 3.7; 95% CI, 1.7–8.1), were the only independent predictors of the likelihood of anti‐HCV positivity among household contacts. Spouses versus other relatives and length of marriage were both no longer associated. These findings suggest that sexual transmission does not seem to play a role in the intrafamilial spread of HCV infection.
MHC multimerization, antigen expression and the induction of APC amnesia in the developing immune response
Authors: Lake Richard A , Robinson Bruce W S , Hayball John D
Published: July 2002

Class II multimer formation is an important event in immune recognition. Not only is multimerization a prerequisite for T cell activation, but it is a signal to APC. In the present article, we propose that multimerization can result in the specific removal of ligand complexes from the cell surface of the APC, an event which may influence the overall pattern of T cell reactivity.
CYCLOSPORIN A (CyA) MONITOrING BY CALCULATION OF AREA UNDER THE CURVE (AUC)
Authors: D Goodman , D DeCaneva R Power , B Murphy , J Agar
Published: July 2002

Background The introduction of CyA resulted in a significant prolongation in renal transplant survival but was complicated by the difficulty in distinguishing between transplant rejection and drug toxicity. More recently the conversion of stable transplant recipients to the microemulsion form of CyA resulted in significant nephrotoxicity at trough levels that were previously within the therapeutic range. We have studied AUC determinations as an alternative to trough monitoring for transplant recipients.

Methods Fifty five renal transplant recipients underwent venesection prior to administration of their morning CyA dose (Pre) then 2 hours after the dose (post). The Pre (C0) and the post (C2) CyA levels were determined using the AXSYM system (Abbot) then the AUC determined from the equation where AUC = 1.84 X C0 + 4.39 X C2 + 312.66 (Keown et al 1996). Two or more AUC determinations were performed in 13 patients. The serum creatinine (Cr), age, sex, weight, CyA dose, calculated creatinine clearance (Cockcroft and Gault) and history of rejection were recorded at the time of CyA assay.

Results 63 patient were studied (41 males & 22 females). The average age was 46 years (range 20‐72). The mean serum creatinine was 0.168 (range 0.07‐0.415). The C2 was the major determinant of the AUC with a correlation coefficient of 0.99 (R squared). The C0 had a weaker correlation with AUC (R squared 0.34). Serum Cr, total CyA dose, dose/kg did not correlate significantly with AUC. In individual patients who underwent multiple AUC determinations there was insufficient data to correlate with renal function.

Conclusion The strong correlation between C2 and AUC suggests that a single 2 h CyA estimation is sufficient to determination the AUC using the equation AUC = 4.6 X C2 + 432. This will permit further studies of the role of CyA AUC to optimise immunosuppressive therapy without doubling the number and cost of CyA determinations.
Mad talk: attending to the language of distress
Authors: Crowe Marie , Alavi Christine
Published: July 2002

This paper will examine how the narrative of one woman, Madeleine, can be constructed as symptomatic of the diagnosis of schizophrenia, and how it can also be read from other perspectives, particularly a poststructural feminist one. The readings are presented as possibilities for understanding the woman’s experiences and the implications of this for mental health nursing practice. A poststructural feminist reading acknowledges the gendered experiences of subjectivity and how those experiences are constructed in language.

The purpose of this paper is to identify for mental health nursing practice an approach which recognizes the figurative and literal characteristics of language in order to provide nursing care which positions the individual’s experience of mental distress as central. This requires an acknowledgement of Madeleine’s path into mental distress rather than simply a categorization of what is observed in a clinical setting. Intervention may need to include a range of strategies: medical and nonmedical, psychotherapeutic and social, physical and environmental. It may also require the provision of sanctuary and security whilst these options are explored.