bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trauma Shall Be No More: A Rhetorical-Canonical Reading of Isaiah 35:1-10 and 40:1-5, 10-11
Authors: Musa Hassan
Published: January 2024

This article engages the reading of Isaiah from a trauma hermeneutical perspective. It presents a reading of Isaiah with special attention to the comforting message of Yahweh to the exiles in Babylon for the dawn of the new time of their release and restoration to Jerusalem. The argument of the article presents a response to Rambo (2010) and Groenewald (2018) on the question of trauma. The fact is that trauma shall end with the coming of the Lord as the God who frees people from the place and state of trauma. This argument projects the possibility of the end of trauma, which remains a further theological-ethical stimulant for biblical interpreters to participate in the healing process and the restorative actions of God. As typical of the prophetic books, the book of Isaiah is both a book of judgement and a book of restoration. It presents the goodness of life in the acts of God’s gifts of freedom. The sensitivity of God helps us to reimagine the image of God in the context of the suffering of his people. Isaiah 35:1-10 and 40: 1-5, 10-11 is the good news of hope that helps its readers to rejoice for the coming time of true freedom and the tender care of God. Keywords: Trauma, Cultural Trauma, Exile, Joy, Redemption, Hope, Healing
Assessment of Levels of Physical Activity among Overweight and Obese Adults Attending General Out-Patient Clinic in Lagos University Teaching Hospital
Authors: Adeyemi Samuel Sogo , Akodu Babatunde , Lar-ndam Nimkong , Orumbie Patrick , Michael Ogunbanwo Babatunde
Published: January 2024

Background: A sedentary lifestyle is more likely in obese people which does not only aid weight gain but also increases the risk of complications like diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, coronary artery disease, hypertension and cancers.

Aim of the Study: The study will ascertain the degree of physical activity among adult patients who are overweight/obese and who visit General Out-Patient Clinic (GOPC), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Methodology: The research was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. The study population comprised of overweight and obese adults, aged 18 to 64, who attended the GOPC of the FMD, LUTH between July and September, 2019.  The sample was 285. Data was collected through pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS IBM) version 25 was used for data entry and analysis. Frequency and percentage were used to represent all categorical variables, and means, standard deviation, or, in the case of skewed continuous variables, median and interquartile range, were used to summarize them. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was employed to evaluate the normality of the data. The association between categorical variables was evaluated using the Fischer exact test and chi-square analysis.

Findings: The study found that there is an inverse and possibly bidirectional causal relationship between physical activity and unhealthy BMI (overweight and obesity). The result revealed there is a high percentage of physical inactivity and low percentage of high physical activity among adult patients who are overweight and obese visiting GOPC, LUTH.

Conclusion and Recommendations: The study recommended that physical activity interventions should receive special attention in the handling of overweight and obese adults, given the high levels of physical inactivity among them.
Gene Therapy Advancements for Precision Cancer Treatment: Challenges and Opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa – Nigeria Perspective
Authors: Sheudeen Abubakar, A  , Ibitoroko George-Opuda  , Anthony Augustine U  , Ben-Chioma Adline E  , Elekima Ibioku
Published: January 2024

Recent breakthroughs in gene therapy have ushered in a new era in precision cancer treatment, offering a transformative approach to combating malignancy and high mortality rates. The development of cutting-edge techniques in gene therapy for cancer treatment has led to a more precise strategy in cancer treatment by focusing on the genetic architecture of the cancer cells and enhancing the immune response to these malignant cells. This article looks at four (4) basic approaches: gene replacement techniques, gene editing techniques, RNA-based techniques and oncolytic viruses; these strategies have revolutionised oncology and cancer treatment, especially in the 21st century, with many of their principles stemming from the 20th century. For example, using the CRISPR-Cas9 technology has revolutionised disease treatment - cancer since its development by Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudnagene by improving genetic expression and correcting mutation editing. Aside from these techniques, there are many emerging gene therapy approaches for cancer treatment, with many in their final clinical trial stage. These emerging techniques involve the utilisation of neoantigens/cancer vaccines, epigenetic modulation and combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Although this novel approach offers better prospects than conventional cancer treatment, they still face challenges, such as ethical issues, regulation and enhancement of vectors. Sub-Saharan Africa - Nigeria stands a chance to benefit from these novel strategies for cancer through commitment, building infrastructures and private-public partnerships. The roles played by biomedical scientists and researchers are pivotal to offering better prospects for precision medicine in cancer treatment.
Early Results of Endoscopic Versus Open Saphenous Vein Harvesting in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Single Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Elhelw Eslam , Hamza Usama , Ayed Tamer Mansour , Abdellateef Amr , Elhelali ‎Mostafa
Published: January 2024

Background: The great saphenous vein (GSV) remains the most commonly used conduit worldwide for the majority of coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) procedures, despite concerns regarding the long-term patency of arterial revascularization. Therefore, our aim is to assess and demonstrate the impact of harvesting techniques on patient quality of life and early post-operative outcomes.

Methods: This prospective, single-blinded randomized controlled study enrolled patients with ischemic heart disease indicated for CABG. The study was conducted at the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Center (CVSC) at Mansoura University, Mansoura, and El-Galaa Military Hospital, Cairo, involving 32 patients. Patients were categorized into two groups: Group I comprised sixteen patients where the GSV was harvested using the open vein harvesting technique (OVH), and Group II included sixteen patients where the GSV was harvested using the endoscopic vein harvesting technique (EVH).

Results: Multivariate regression analysis evaluating the effect of the endoscopic technique revealed a significant correlation with postoperative outcomes, particularly in terms of leg wound complications assessed by the ASEPSIS score (p < 0.001) and the prediction of postoperative NRS values for leg pain (p 0.001). Additionally, the impact on patients' quality of life across all subclinical categories was assessed using the Euro-Qol 5D (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: EVH presents itself as a viable minimally invasive alternative to traditional OVH techniques. It offers greater patient comfort, improved cosmetic satisfaction, a reduced incidence of postoperative leg wound complications, and lower levels of pain. Moreover, there is a statistically significant association between performing EVH techniques and enhanced quality of life, as well as a decrease in total ASEPSIS scores.
Effect of Chemical Treatment and Wrapping Materials on Physico-Chemical Properties and Storage Life of Litchi Fruits (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) Cv. Shahi
Authors: Singh A. K. , Kumari Ranju , Tiwari Divya , Azmi N. Y. , Singh J. N.
Published: January 2024

Litchi fruits have poor shelf life and losses its commercial value within two days after harvest. Several physiological and chemical changes take place which reduces the quality of fruits at room temperature. To overcome these problems, the experiment was conducted at Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agriculture Sciences, BHU, Varanasi to find out the effect of post-harvest application of hot water treatment and dipping in different concentrations of calcium nitrate (1 %, 1.5% and 2 %) for five minutes followed by fruit wrapping in newspaper and perforated polythene on physico-chemical changes and storage life of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) cv. Shahi. Fruits without treatment were considered as control. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications and observations were recorded on alternate days up to 13 days of storage. It was observed that fruits treated with 2.0% calcium nitrate in combination with perforated polythene bags recorded minimum losses due to spoilage percentage (12.15%), minimum decrease in fruit size (length- 4.97% and breadth- 5.49%) as compared to control on 11th day of storage. Significantly minimum pH (5.1) change and the best economic life up to 11th day of storage were recorded in perforated polythene wrapping with different concentration of calcium nitrate. Total Sugar Content (17.00%) was recorded significantly highest in polythene wrapping along with 1.5 and 2.0% calcium nitrate.  Less loss in volume (17.58%) was recorded in fruits treated with hot water along with polythene wrapping. Based on the above observations, it can be suggested that fruit dipping in calcium nitrate at 2.0 percent concentration with polythene wrapping (20% vent) gives better results for extending the storage life of litchi fruit at room temperature.
Climatic Shifts and Agricultural Strategies: A thorough Review on Impact of Climate Change on Food Security and Crop Productivity
Authors: Praveena K.  , Malaisamy A.
Published: January 2024

This comprehensive review delves into the intricate change of climate, assessing its profound impact on global food security and crop productivity. The examination addresses key questions, exploring the consequences of climate change on agriculture, with a specific focus on the challenges encountered in vulnerable regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Emphasizing the urgency of adaptive strategies for sustainable global agriculture, the review navigates through the complexities of mitigating climate-induced disruptions in crop growth patterns. Furthermore, it scrutinizes the implications of climate change on biodiversity, acknowledging the interconnectedness of ecological systems. Highlighting the imperative for innovation, the review underscores the pressing need for transformative farming methods to effectively tackle the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change. The emphasis is on ensuring the resilience of global agriculture in the face of climatic shifts. In conclusion, the review provides a compelling call to action, advocating for the prompt implementation of innovative farming practices to fortify the global agricultural sector against the evolving challenges brought about by climate change, fostering sustainability and adaptability.
A Review on Nano Chitosan and Bio Capsules on Growth Yield and Quality of Strawberry
Authors: Beniwal Mahendra , Dhaka Anirudh , Poonia Naveen , Subhamanand  , Mishra Saket , Ekka Shashi Kant , Kujur Reena , Lakra Johnson
Published: January 2024

The properties of utilizing biocapsules with accommodating microorganisms and eco-accommodating and acceptable nano chitosan were the subject of the exploration. Higher growth limits, increased fruit yields, and greater fruit excellence, including flavor and nutritional value, suggest that strawberry plants performed better. It might be doable to make a more viable and capable strawberry development system by utilizing biocapsules and nano chitosan, and the mix of nano chitosan and bio containers with gainful microorganisms can offer a reasonable and further developed development framework for strawberries, with beneficial outcomes on development, yield, and organic product quality.
Solution of Inhomogeneous Differential Equations with Polynomial Coefficients in Nonstandard Analysis, in Terms of the Green's Function
Authors: Morita Tohru
Published: January 2024

Discussions are presented by Morita and Sato on the problem of obtaining the particular solution of an inhomogeneous differential equation with polynomial coefficients in terms of the Green's function. In a preceding paper, solution is given without using the Green's function, on the basis of nonstandard analysis, for a restricted class of inhomogeneous terms. In the present paper, the corresponding solutions are given in terms of the Green's function. It is applied to Kummer's and the hypergeometric differential equation.
Integrated System for Accurate Electrical Measurement Monitoring
Authors: Muchtar Taufik , Utami Atikah Tri Budi , Lutfi  , Gani Hamdan
Published: January 2024

Aims: This study aims to develop an integrated system for accurate electrical measurement monitoring.

Study Design: The acquisition embedded system is developed using research and development study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Machinery Automation System, Polytechnic ATI. Makassar, Indonesia, between March 2021 and October 2021.

Methodology: The performance of the proposed integrated acquisition embedded system and conventional measurement is compared through different testing.

Results: The results showed that the device worked as expected and was right on target. The device test error is compared with direct measurement with the measuring instrument; the voltage error is 0.17%, the current error is 0.46%, the power error is 0.89%, and the frequency error is 0.01%. System devices can measure and monitor several electricity measurements.

Conclusion: The experimental results show that the system can function correctly. The integrated acquisition system can operate with great accuracy. This study is expected to contribute to establishing a system that will benefit the government's efforts to preserve energy efficiency.
Fetal hypertension: an insight into the pathogenesis of the twin–twin transfusion syndrome
Authors: Mahieu‐Caputo D. , Salomon L. J. , Le Bidois J. , Fermont L. , Brunhes A. , Jouvet P. , Dumez Y. , Dommergues M.
Published: August 2003

Objectives

To investigate if systemic hypertension occurs in fetuses with twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).

Methods

We conducted an observational cohort study in a tertiary care centre in 23 pregnant women with TTTS. Polyhydramnios stuck twin sequence occurred at a median gestational age of 22 weeks (range 15–27). Biventricular myocardial hypertrophy was diagnosed in 22/23 recipient fetuses. In cases with atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVR), it was possible to estimate the fetal systolic systemic blood pressure by ultrasound, on the basis of the simplified Bernouilli equation. The diagnosis of fetal hypertension (FHT) was made when the estimated systolic arterial pressure was equal to or above 1.6‐fold the expected value.

Results

In 10 pregnancies (group A), fetal blood pressure could be assessed in recipients with AVR. The maximum velocities ranged from 2.9 to 5 m/s, leading to estimates of systemic fetal arterial pressure from 37 to 104 mmHg, that is, 1.6‐ to 2.8‐fold the expected values. In 13 pregnancies (group B), fetal blood pressure could not be assessed in the absence of AVR. In group A, perinatal death (16/20) and hydrops (7/20) were significantly more frequent than in group B (8/26 and 1/26 respectively).

Conclusion

Fetal systemic hypertension may occur in recipient twins and could play a role in the pathophysiology of TTTS. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison between fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and quantitative‐fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF‐PCR) for the detection of aneuploidies in single blastomeres
Authors: Sato Takeshi , Ikuta Katsuo , Sherlock Jon , Adinolfi Matteo , Suzumori Kaoru
Published: August 2003

Objectives

The aim of our investigation was to compare the efficiencies of the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and the quantitative‐fluorescent PCR (QF‐PCR) methods for the detection of sexing and numerical chromosome disorders in single blastomeres collected from the same preimplantation human embryos.

Methods

FISH analysis was carried out on 145 blastomeres from the 79 surplus embryos with probes specific for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y. QF‐PCR was performed with each one or two of the primers specific for the same chromosomes on 151 blastomeres from the same embryos obtained from patients undergoing IVF treatment.

Results

Analyses were possible on 135 blastomeres (93%) by FISH and on 117 blastomeres (77%) by QF‐PCR. Of 65 embryos, which could be analyzed by both methods, 20 embryos (31%) were diagnosed as abnormal.

Conclusion

The present study shows that FISH tests are more accurate than QF‐PCR assays for the detection of numerical chromosome disorders when performed on single blastomeres. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oxidation of thioanisole by hydrogen peroxide: activation by nitriles
Authors: Gillitt Nicholas D. , Domingos Josiel , Bunton Clifford A.
Published: August 2003

The oxidation of thioanisole (PhSMe) by H2O2 is activated by acetonitrile (MeCN) and propionitrile (EtCN) and involves the formation of a transient peroxyimidate, 1, by reaction of $\rm{HO}_2^-$ and RCN, and 1 can be rapidly trapped by PhSMe. The rate of oxidation of PhSMe is then independent of the concentrations of PhSMe and of H2O2, but varies linearly with $\rm{HO}_2^-$ and [RCN]. In very dilute PhSMe it and H2O2 compete in reacting with 1, and the rate then depends on [PhSMe]. The initial reaction gives PhSOMe, and subsequent formation of PhSO2Me is slow. The rates of oxidation are slightly higher than that expected from the MeCN‐activated decomposition of H2O2, which involves a second molecule of H2O2 in conversion of the peroxyimidate into amide and oxygen. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Positive reinforcement training to elicit voluntary movement of two giant pandas throughout their enclosure
Authors: Bloomsmith M.A. , Jones M.L. , Snyder R.J. , Singer R.A. , Gardner W.A. , Liu S.C. , Maple T.L.
Published: August 2003

There is a great deal of interest in applying positive reinforcement training to improve the care and management of captive animals. The purpose of the present study was to test the usefulness of positive reinforcement training in managing the “shifting” behavior of two, young giant pandas. This report describes the steps in the training process, the amount of personnel time required, compliance by the pandas and a brief analysis of contextual factors affecting their perfomance. Positive reinforcement training techniques successfully increased the pandas' level of compliance during times of day when they were not routinely asked to move through doorways. During the last 15 training sessions in the seven months that were evaluated for this study, the compliance of each of the two pandas was 87% during routine times and 89% during non‐routine times. Each panda was typically trained during three or four sessions per week, and the mean session duration was 12 minutes; trainers spent a mean of 46 minutes per panda per week on training this behavior. An analysis of the effects of context (on‐going activities at the time a command to shift was given) indicated that most of the time (66%), even when there was a potentially distracting activity taking place, the pandas still responded to the first or second command given. As a wider range of animal species is being trained in zoo settings, unique challenges need to be considered when designing training progams for each of them. Zoo Biol 22:323–334; 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bayesian Inference Under Partial Prior Information
Authors: Moreno Elias , Bertolino Francesco , Racugno Walter
Published: August 2003

Partial prior information on the marginal distribution of an observable random variable is considered. When this information is incorporated into the statistical analysis of an assumed parametric model, the posterior inference is typically non‐robust so that no inferential conclusion is obtained. To overcome this difficulty a method based on the standard default prior associated to the model and an intrinsic procedure is proposed. Posterior robustness of the resulting inferences is analysed and some illustrative examples are provided.
GASB's Survival Potential: An Agency Theory Perspective
Authors: Gordon Lawrence A. , Hamer Michelle
Published: August 2003

The primary objective of this article is to develop a framework for examining the survival or demise of an accounting standards setting body, with specific emphasis on analyzing the survival potential of the proposed GASB (Government Accounting Standards Board). In meeting this objective, we will first contrast the survival of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with the demise of the Cost Accounting Standards Board (CASE), based on a framework derived from recent developments in agency theory.

The position taken in this article is neither that of an advocate nor an adversary of the various accounting regulatory bodies discussed. Instead, the authors' intent is to shed light on the complex issues surrounding the potential for survival of such bodies. An improved understanding of these issues should, in turn, permit a more enlightened analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of such bodies.
Value for Money Auditing in Local Administration
Authors: Butt Henry A.
Published: August 2003

Editors’ Note: This article is based on a paper presented by But at the 4th Annual Conference of the Canadian Comprehensive Auditing Foundation. Value for money auditing, or VFM, is that country's in the U.S.
Eschew Beaucoup Q
Authors: Miller Katharine
Published: August 2003

Everything that once used oxygen to produce energy contains a multipurpose lipid called ubiquinone or coenzyme Q, but Q-loaded meals might be more curse than blessing: Adult roundworms live longer without dietary Q, according to new research. Because coenzyme Q can foster the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), molecular mischief-makers that damage a wide range of cellular molecules, the results might support the view that ROS promote an animal's demise. The work, published in the 4 January issue of
Science
(p.
120
), also contributes to the notion that aging results from the activity of genes that benefit an animal early in life--so that it reaches reproductive maturity--but harm it later.
Acquired jejuno‐ileal diverticular disease: a diagnostic and management challenge
Authors: El‐Haddawi Falah , Civil Ian D.
Published: August 2003

Background:  Acquired jejuno‐ileal diverticular disease (JID), a result of abnormalities in the smooth muscle or myenteric plexus of the small bowel, is less rare than was once believed. Approximately 1.3% of the population has JID, of whom approximately 10% present with life‐threatening complications such as inflammation, perforation, bleeding, obstruction and malabsorption. Jejuno‐ileal diverticular disease can be diagnostically and therapeutically challenging, and complications are often diagnosed only at laparotomy, while the best management is not agreed on in the literature. To increase the awareness of this condition and its complications, the Auckland Hospital's experience of JID was reviewed.

Methods:  Retrospective review was carried out of the audit data and the discharge coding records of Auckland Public Hospital for the 5 year period leading to November 2001.

Results:  Nine cases with a variety of presentations were found. Those cases are described and a literature review of JID is provided.

Conclusion:  Jejuno‐ileal diverticular disease should be included in the differential diagnosis when dealing with surgical emergencies in the elderly presenting with features of bowel perforation, obstruction or bleeding.
Asking Fathers and Employers to Volunteer: A (De)Tour of Reconciliation Policy in Germany?1
Authors: VOGT ANDREA , ZWINGEL SUSANNE
Published: August 2003

In Germany, up until recently, the combination of weak antidiscrimination laws and the rationale of family benefits had sustained the male breadwinner–female family caretaker model as the norm in social policy arrangements and gender relations. In the context of the unification of East and West Germany and the change in government to a left‐wing coalition in the late 1990s, the biases of this deeply entrenched model have been significantly put into question. After providing a brief description of the German welfare state context, the article presents the development of reconciliation policies in two parts. First, the measures taken by the Christian Democrat/Liberal governments in the 1980s and 1990s are critically summarized. Second, we examine new steps taken by the Social Democrat/Green governments since 1998 and discuss the possible impact of the new approach on reconciliation policy. In this context, we also consider reconciliation policies at the firm level, an object of recent government attention. The article concludes with some further reflections on a gender‐balanced future between work and family obligations in the German context.
Growing Old in Style
Authors: Leslie Mitch
Published: August 2003

Wrinkled and sluggish, turtles rarely inspire envy. Yet turtles and some kinds of trees, fishes, whales, and hydras might age at a glacial pace--or perhaps not at all. Scientists are just beginning to explore the latter possibility, and so far they can't say whether aging stops or just slows drastically. In any case, discovering how these Methuselah organisms resist the ravages of time might help us curtail our own aging.
Staying Cool When Dry: Worms surmount desertlike assault (Stress resistance)
Authors: Davenport R. John
Published: August 2003

Even a camel can't match this trick for surviving extreme drought. The minute nematode
Aphelenchus avenae
can lose nearly all its body water, then rebound years later to its slippery self when conditions moisten. New work uncovers several genes that might contribute to this creature's antidesiccation powers. Understanding its resilience could give researchers insight into how living things handle the more modest but related stresses of aging.

A. avenae
and other anhydrobiotic plants and animals--creatures that can live without water--produce large amounts (up to 20% of a cell's mass) of certain sugar molecules that harden into a semisolid state. Molecules enmeshed in this gel are locked into place, which freezes the random chemical movements that normally cause them to deteriorate. The sugars contain many polar chemical groups, which substitute for water and stabilize cellular proteins and membranes until the parched period is over. Recent studies have suggested that numerous genes, in addition to those involved in sugar synthesis, are required for plants to survive extreme dehydration.

Now researchers have found that at least one of these genes also functions in the nematode. Browne and colleagues dried out
A. avenae
individuals and sought genes that ramp up in response. One of the several they identified resembles a plant gene called
LEA
that's also turned on by desiccation. The results raise the possibility that nematodes and plants use some of the same equipment to fight drought. Researchers don't know how these pieces of molecular machinery prevent living things from withering, but previous work in plants suggests that the genes produce ultrastable proteins that help form the protective sugar mesh.

Many mutations and treatments that extend life-span in model organisms also enhance the ability to withstand harsh conditions (see
"Survivor!"
). For instance, the nematode
Caenorhabditis elegans
can enter a semidormant state known as a dauer to wait out hard times. Animals that carry certain mutations in genes required for dauer formation live much longer than normal worms do and are more resistant to heat and damaging chemicals.
C. elegans
does not possess the same ability to survive without water as
A. avenae
does, and the two species are only distantly related. But
C. elegans
also harbors a gene similar to
LEA
, according to co-author Ann Burnell, a geneticist at the National University of Ireland in Maynooth, although its function has not been pinpointed.

No one knows how the capacity to endure dryness might influence nematode aging, says Burnell. But such feats of endurance could lead researchers to fundamental mechanisms by which organisms stave off the environmental assaults that likely contribute to their demise.

--R. John Davenport

J. Browne, A. Tunnacliffe, A. Burnell, Plant desiccation gene found in a nematode.
Nature
416
, 38 (2002).
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
Summertime ... and the Learnin' Is Easy
Authors: Toy Jennifer
Published: August 2003

Didn't get enough of school? Sweltering summertime offers three courses for up-and-coming researchers in the field of aging who thirst for more. Located around the country, all three are free for participants. One provides a broad survey of the field, one caters to the needs of early-career faculty members, and the third targets graduate students and includes a lab component. But all receive high marks on instruction, stimulation, and fun.
Trash Talk: AGEs might participate in cell-death signal (Cell death; AGEs)
Authors: Davenport R. John
Published: August 2003

Long deemed sinister, a particular type of molecular junk might serve a crucial cellular purpose. As cells burn sugar to harness the energy contained in its bonds, they create destructive chemicals. Some of these toxicants, such as methylglyoxal (MG), can glom onto proteins, forming advanced glycation end products (AGEs). These troublesome appendages accumulate in aging organisms and perhaps contribute to the tissue deterioration observed in older animals (see
"Aging Research Grows Up"
). AGEs were originally thought to be junk that gets tangled in protein machines by chance, but new research suggests that they might instead participate in cellular signaling pathways.

Van Herreweghe and colleagues made this discovery by chance while investigating how a protein called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) kills human cancer cells. To understand the molecular changes induced by TNF, they sought proteins that receive a phosphate group in response to TNF exposure. That chemical addition commonly regulates protein activity. TNF treatment of cultured cancer cells caused phosphorylation of a protein called glyoxylase I. Scientists don't fully understand the function of glyoxylase I, but it appears to disarm MG molecules by turning them back into sugar. Knowing that, the team wondered whether phosphorylation of glyoxylase might hinder its ability to eradicate MG; the resulting accumulation of MG might transmit the deadly signal initiated by TNF.

Further experiments support that idea. Cell death by TNF depends on the phosphorylation of glyoxylase I: A chemical that blocks phosphorylation of glyoxylase I--but not other proteins--reduces by 50% the amount of cell death triggered by TNF. In addition, cells treated with TNF contain more MG than do untreated cells. The researchers also found that inhibition of glyoxylase I phosphorylation reduces the amount of AGEs produced by MG. Based in part on these observations, the researchers propose that phosphorylated glyoxylase might help create specific MG-derived AGEs that trigger cell death.

The idea that AGEs carry messages in cell signaling pathways represents a significant shift in thinking, according to biochemist John Baynes of the University of South Carolina, Columbia. Perhaps future work will clarify how phosphorylation tweaks the operation of glyoxylase I and confirm the role of MG in the TNF pathway. But the results hint that AGEs might expunge organismal dirt--cancer cells--rather than just gum up the works.

--R. John Davenport

F. Van Herreweghe, J. Mao, F. W. R. Chaplen, J. Grooten, K. Gevaert, J. Vandekerckhove, K. Vancompernolle, Tumor necrosis factor-induced modulation of glyoxalase I activities through phosphorylation by PKA results in cell death and is accompanied by the formation of a specific methylglyoxal-derived AGE.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.
99
, 949-954 (2002).
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
Older and Stronger
Authors: Seydel Caroline
Published: August 2003

A close relative of aspirin helps plants fight disease once they're mature, according to a new report. The results provide insight into a way in which some organisms get robust rather than feeble as they grow old. Some researchers caution, however, that salicylic acid's place in this so-called age-related resistance system is not yet clear.
UV–visible spectroscopic study of the hydrophilic and solvatochromic 4‐[2,6‐diphenyl‐4‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)pyridinium‐1‐yl]‐2,6‐bis(pyridin‐3‐yl)phenolate betaine dye in eight binary solvent mixtures
Authors: Herodes Koit , Koppel Juta , Reichardt Christian , Koppel Ilmar A.
Published: August 2003

Solvent effects on the recently synthesized hydrophilic and negatively solvatochromic 4‐[2,6‐diphenyl‐4‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)pyridinium‐1‐yl]‐2,6‐bis(pyridin‐3‐yl)phenolate betaine dye [ET(8) dye] in binary solvent mixtures of dimethyl sulfoxide and acetonitrile with water, methanol, propan‐2‐ol and 2‐methylpropan‐2‐ol were studied by UV–visible spectroscopy and compared with analogous measurements of the standard ET(30) betaine dye [2,6‐diphenyl‐4‐(2,4,6‐triphenylpyridinium‐1‐yl)phenolate]. A preferential solvation model was applied to the data obtained. The applicability of the ET(8) betaine dye for the determination of ET(30) values for aqueous media is discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantification of arecoline (areca nut alkaloid) in neonatal biological matrices by high‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray quadrupole mass spectrometry
Authors: Pichini Simona , Pellegrini Manuela , Pacifici Roberta , Marchei Emilia , Murillo Janeth , Puig Carme , Vall Oriol , García‐Algar Oscar
Published: August 2003

A high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with mass spectrometric detection is described for determination of arecoline in newborn meconium, urine and cord serum, using pilocarpine as internal standard. The analytes were extracted from neonatal biological matrices with chloroform/isopropanol (95:5, v/v) at alkaline pH. Extracts were analyzed by HPLC coupled to an electrospray (ESI) interface and a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Chromatography was performed on a C8 reversed‐phase column using 10 mM ammonium acetate (pH 4.3)/acetonitrile (90:10, v/v) as mobile phase. The mass spectrometer was operated in selected ion monitoring mode. The method was validated over the concentration range 0.005–1.00 μg/g meconium, 0.004–1.00 μg/mL cord serum and 0.001–1.00 μg/mL urine. Mean recoveries ranged between 86.5 and 90.7% for arecoline in the different biological matrices, with precision always better than 10%. The quantification limits of arecoline were 0.005 μg/g meconium, 0.004 μg/mL cord serum, and 0.001 μg/mL urine. The method was applied to the analysis of neonatal biological matrices to assess eventual fetal exposition to arecoline. Two newborns from Asian mothers who declared areca nut consumption presented arecoline in meconium with concentrations in the range 0.006–0.008 μg/g; also the urine from one neonate tested positive for the drug. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of proteins separated by one‐dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization ion trap mass spectrometry; comparison with matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass fingerprinting
Authors: Zeng Rong , Chen Yong‐Bing , Shao Xiao‐Xia , Shieh Chia‐Hui Paul , Miller Ken , Tran Helen , Xia Qi‐Chang
Published: August 2003

Digests from ten gel bands containing low abundance proteins were analyzed by both matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization ion trap (MALDI‐IT) and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) methods. MALDI‐TOF techniques were able to identify only one protein from all 10 gel bands, while MALDI‐IT identified eight proteins from the same 10 bands. The ability to perform MS/MS experiments with a MALDI‐IT instrument leads to protein identifications based on both peptide molecular mass and sequence information, and is much less prone to errors and uncertainties introduced by peptide fingerprinting methodologies in which protein identification is based on peptide molecular masses alone. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On Unbiased Estimation of Positive Integral Powers of the Natural Parameter in Exponential Families
Authors: Baringhaus Ludwig
Published: August 2003

We explore the structure of one‐parameter exponential families admitting an unbiased estimator for a positive integral power of the natural parameter. It is seen that only exponential families dominated by Lebesgue measure can have this property. It is outlined that similar results can be obtained for other functions of the natural parameter.
Bartlett's Test Applied to Variance Component Models
Authors: Madsen Jesper , Tabanera René
Published: August 2003

Exact methods for testing equality between variance components obtained from several cases of the same type of balanced orthogonal design are discussed. In particular, methods for successively testing equality of a number of components using Bartlett's tests are outlined for univariate and multivariate responses. Two clinical trial examples of repeated‐measures data are presented.
Confidence Intervals for Intraclass Correlation in Inter‐Rater Reliability
Authors: Rousson Valentin , Gasser Theo , Seifert Burkhardt
Published: August 2003

Abstract Calculation of a confidence interval for intraclass correlation to assess inter‐rater reliability is problematic when the number of raters is small and the rater effect is not negligible. Intervals produced by existing methods are uninformative: the lower bound is often close to zero, even in cases where the reliability is good and the sample size is large. In this paper, we show that this problem is unavoidable without extra assumptions and we propose two new approaches. The first approach assumes that the raters are sufficiently trained and is related to a sensitivity analysis. The second approach is based on a model with fixed rater effect. Using either approach, we obtain conservative and informative confidence intervals even from samples with only two raters. We illustrate our point with data on the development of neuromotor functions in children and adolescents.
On Studying Public Budgets
Authors: Foundation Olivetti
Published: August 2003

Editors' Note: The articles included in this section of the journal are revised versions of the papers presented at the conference on “Major Budgetary Problems in the Eighties” held in Siena, Italy, November 4–5, 1981, under the auspices of the Centro Studi Fondazione Adriano Olivetti, the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and the Gruppo Monte dei Paschi di Siena.
Flexibility and Adjustment in Public Budgeting: The Netherlands Experience
Authors: LeBlanc L.J.C.M , Meys Th. A.J.
Published: August 2003

This article deals with the flexibility of public expenditure, or perhaps the lack of it. Inflexibility finds its roots in the establishment of public services, their expansion and development. Therefore, in this article the structure and development of the public sector is discussed. In many western countries the largest part of the public sector consists of transfer expenditures. These statutory programs are directly affected by economic development, cyclical and structural. That is why attention is directed here to the relationship between the economic situation and perspective on the one hand and the public sector on the other. These are also a reflection of the sociological and political development of the society in question. This is a relationship that is difficult to examine in terms of managing expenditures. In addition, inflexibility is a product of the public services provided, and certain methods, such as multiyear budgeting, can further enhance inflexibility. In the last part of this article, methods to create more flexibility in public expenditure are discussed. Experience with new budget techniques to enlarge flexibility is considered.
Does Budget Format Really Govern the Actions of Budgetmakers?
Authors: Grizzle Gloria A.
Published: August 2003

For well over half a century students of budgeting have assumed that the format into which a budget is cast influences budget decisions. Yet as late as 1980 Haves stated that “there is little or no material on the factors affecting outcomes in the budget process and, indeed, little basis for any judgment as to whether the character of the process has any significant impact on the results obtained.... The fundamental need is for analyses of exerience.” Since that time, several studies have analyzed budget outcomes quantitatively and related them to the budget formats used. This article provides a framework for integrating the results of these studies with earlier case descriptions of budget reforms. It then identifies an area that still needs exploring and presents the results of one study that addresses this need.
Gramm‐Rudman‐Hollings: Origins and Implementation
Authors: Havens Harry S.
Published: August 2003

On December 11, 1985, Congress passed the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. This bill, popularly known as Gramm‐Rudman‐Hoilings, was signed by the president on December 12.

The act represents a dramatic departure from traditional approaches to budgeting and fiscal policy. The merits of the new approach have been widely debated, and the purpose of this article is not to judge the process, but rather to describe it and to offer one explanation of how it came into existence.
Comparing Feminist Policy in Politics and at Work in France and Germany: Shared European Union Setting, Divergent National Contexts
Authors: MAZUR AMY G. , ZWINGEL SUSANNE
Published: August 2003

This essay introduces the seven articles in the symposium. Placing this special issue within the purview of the new field of Feminist Comparative Policy, the analysis shows how the symposium contributes to comparative theories of feminist policy formation in Western postindustrial democracies. It then defines the three subareas of feminist policy covered in the rest of the volume—political representation, equal employment, and reconciliation—explains why the German and French cases were selected for comparative analysis, discusses the importance of the ongoing process of Europeanization for feminist policy in the two countries, and finishes with a presentation of the outline for the seven articles.
Telomeres, Apoptosis, and Senescence
Authors: Campisi Judith
Published: August 2003

View lecture notes on cellular senescence, apoptosis, and telomeres and their respective roles in aging. The lectures are part of a course called
Physiology of the Aging Process
directed by Paola Timiras of the University of California, Berkeley. Notes are available as individual JPEG files or compiled into three PDFs.

Thanks to Chang-Su Lim and Patrick Kaminker for preparing the notes so they could be posted on SAGE KE.

[View Notes]
Quantum Fluctuation in Thermal Vacuum State for Nondissipative Mesoscopic Capacitance Coupling Circuit
Authors: Song Tong-Qiang
Published: August 2003

By means of the thermal field dynamics (TDF) theory we study the quantum fluctuation of a nondissipative mesoscopic capacitance coupling circuit at a finite temperature.
Birth of healthy children after preimplantation diagnosis of β‐thalassemia by whole‐genome amplification
Authors: Jiao Zexu , Zhou Canquan , Li Jie , Shu Yimin , Liang Xiaoyan , Zhang Mingfang , Zhuang Guanglun
Published: August 2003

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) offers couples at risk for transmitting an inherited disorder the possibility to avoid the need to terminate affected pregnancies. PGD for monogenic diseases is most commonly accomplished by blastomere biopsy from cleavage‐stage embryos, followed by PCR‐based DNA analysis. However, the molecular heterogeneity of many monogenic diseases requires a diagnostic strategy capable of detecting a range of mutations and compound genotypes. With the above considerations, we developed an accurate and reliable strategy for analysis of β‐globin gene mutations, applicable for PGD for the wide spectrum of β‐thalassemia major mutations in the Chinese population. The strategy involves primer‐extension preamplification (PEP), followed by nested PCR and reverse dot blot (RDB) for mutation detection since it facilitates simultaneous analysis of more than one mutation in a single cell. This report describes the application of the strategy in two clinical IVF/PGD cycles at risk for transmitting β‐thalassemia major, which resulted in the first thalassemia‐free children born after PGD in China. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sequential FISH analysis of oocytes and polar bodies reveals aneuploidy mechanisms
Authors: Cupisti S. , Conn C. M. , Fragouli E. , Whalley K. , Mills J. A. , Faed M. J. W. , Delhanty J. D. A.
Published: August 2003

Objectives

Constitutional aneuploidy occurs in at least 5% of recognised pregnancies, with apparent preferential involvement of the X chromosome and the smaller autosomes. Molecular cytogenetic investigations of cleavage‐stage embryos have revealed anomalies affecting all sizes of chromosomes. The aim was to investigate the variety of anomalies arising during maternal meiosis I by analysis of unfertilised oocytes and polar bodies to gain insight into aneuploidy mechanisms.

Methods

Sequential FISH analysis was carried out with specific probes derived from eight chromosomes, representing all sizes. Only imbalance due to a gain of a whole chromosome or chromatid, represented by extra signals, was counted to avoid artefact.

Results

Data were obtained on 236 eggs from 124 patients of average age 32.5 years (range 22–44). Ten patients (average 32.6 years) had abnormal eggs. The abnormality rate for oocytes and for polar bodies was close to 4% for each. Fourteen hyperploidies were found, seven involving additional single chromatids. The abnormalities affected chromosomes 13,16,18, 21 and X but not chromosomes 1, 9 or 12.

Conclusion

The data provide evidence for several mechanisms leading to aneuploidy, including classical non‐disjunction of whole univalents; pre‐division of chromatids prior to anaphase I, leading to imbalance detected at metaphase II; gonadal mosaicism for a trisomic cell line and preferential involvement of the smaller chromosomes. Monosomy for the large autosomes is not uncommon in cleavage‐stage embryos and may additionally arise from anaphase lag preferentially affecting such chromosomes. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changes in urinary concentrations of total estrogen and pregnanediol in a female giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) from 1991 to 2000
Authors: Narushima Etsuo , Hayashi Takako , Hara Tatsuoko , Nose Nagahiro , Komiya Teruyuki
Published: August 2003

Total estrogen and pregnanediol concentrations in urine samples from one female giant panda were measured from 1991–2000. This female experienced her first estrus at the age of 5 years 3 months in 1991. From 1992 on, estrous behavior was observed every year between January and June, and the peak values of total estrogen ranged from 28.3 ng/ml in 1992 to 85.6 ng/ml in 1999. The female's estrus in 2000 was very weak, and she died in July 2000. She was artificially inseminated every year from 1994 to 1999, but no pregnancy occurred. The concentration of pregnanediol rose 3–11 weeks after the total estrogen concentration peaked, and reached peak concentration 78–111 days after the peak of total estrogen concentration. The peak value of pregnanediol ranged from 0.72 to 1.79 µg/ml. It was not possible to accurately predict pregnancy based on pregnanediol concentrations. Zoo Biol 22:383–387, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.