bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rhabdastrellic acid‐A inhibited PI3K/Akt pathway and induced apoptosis in human leukemia HL‐60 cells
Authors: Guo Jing‐Feng , Zhou Jun‐Min , Zhang Yong , Deng Rong , Liu Jian‐nan , Feng Gong‐Kan , Liu Zong‐Chao , Xiao Ding‐Jun , Deng Song‐Zhi , Zhu Xiao‐Feng 
Published: September 2007

AbstractIncreasing evidence suggests that aberrant activation of PI3K/Akt is involved in many human cancers, and that inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway might be a promising strategy for cancer treatment. Our investigation indicates that Rhabdastrellic acid‐A, an isomalabaricane triterpenoid isolated from the sponge, Rhabdastrella globostellata, inhibits proliferation of HL‐60 cells with an IC50 value of 0.68 μg/ml, and induces apoptosis. Rhabdastrellic acid‐A also induces cleavage of the death substrate poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) and caspase‐3. Pretreatment of HL‐60 cells with the caspase‐3 specific inhibitor, DEVD‐CHO, prevents Rhabdastrellic acid‐A‐induced DNA fragmentation and PARP cleavage. Activated PI3K and Akt significantly decreases after treatment with Rhabdastrellic acid‐A in HL‐60 cells. Expression levels of protein bcl‐2, bax remain unchanged in response to Rhabdastrellic acid‐A treatment in HL‐60 cells. These results suggest that Rhabdastrellic acid‐A inhibits PI3K/Akt pathway and induces caspase‐3 dependent‐apoptosis in HL‐60 human leukemia cells.
Challenges in measuring obstetric fistula
Authors: Stanton C. , Holtz S.A. , Ahmed S. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractObstetric fistula is gaining visibility within national and international public health agencies. With increased attention to this dire condition comes the demand for better epidemiologic data. This article assesses the current state of knowledge regarding population‐based estimates of the incidence and prevalence of obstetric fistulas; proposes a method for better estimating these rates; and discusses the feasibility of this method. We show that there are no solid population‐based estimates of the numbers of obstetric fistulas anywhere (the estimate from the most rigorous study being based on only 2 reported fistula cases); and for advocacy purposes, we recommend using the estimates from the 1990 Global Burden of Disease report. To estimate the incidence and prevalence of obstetric fistula, we propose an adaptation of the sibling‐based method for direct estimation of maternal mortality. A series of questions are proposed for this use and sample size calculations are provided. The questions may require refinement, however, and we invite research groups to consider testing them.
A review of postoperative care for obstetric fistulas in Nigeria
Authors: Shittu O.S. , Ojengbede O.A. , Wara L.H.I. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractNigeria harbors an estimated 40% of all the women affected with obstetric fistulas today, and at the current rate of treatment in this country, it would take about 300 years to treat them if no new fistulas occurred. This situation obviously runs contrary to the ideals of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and needs to be reversed. We reviewed the literature on fistula treatment in Nigeria to identify strategies and practices that, if adopted, would likely accelerate the pace of fistula repair and improve postoperative fistula care in this country. A comprehensive nationwide survey, a stronger political will and commitment of resources, a systematic postoperative care and follow‐up, more fistula centers, and more fistula campaigns are necessary. Technically, the involvement of all surgeons trained in fistula repair and an experience‐based postoperative management protocol will relieve the disease burden carried by women living with fistulas in Nigeria.
Complex obstetric fistulas
Authors: Genadry R.R. , Creanga A.A. , Roenneburg M.L. , Wheeless C.R. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractObstetric fistulas are rarely simple. Most patients in sub‐Saharan Africa and parts of Asia are carriers of complex fistulas or complicated fistulas requiring expert skills for evaluation and management. A fistula is predictably complex when it is greater than 4 cm and involves the continence mechanism (the urethra is partially absent, the bladder capacity is reduced, or both); is associated with moderately severe scarring of the trigone and urethrovesical junction; and/or has multiple openings. A fistula is even more complicated when it is more than 6 cm in its largest dimension, particularly when it is associated with severe scarring and the absence of the urethra, and/or when it is combined with a recto‐vaginal fistula. The present article reviews the evaluation methods and main surgical techniques used in the management of complex fistulas. The severity of the neurovascular alterations associated with these lesions, as well as inescapable limitations in staff, health facilities, and supplies, make their optimal management very challenging.
MALARIA-RELATED HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOUR AND CHALLENGES FOR CARE PROVIDERS IN RURAL ETHIOPIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR CONTROL
Authors: DERESSA WAKGARI , ALI AHMED , HAILEMARIAM DAMEN 
Published: September 2007

SummaryA range of activities are currently underway to improve access to malaria prevention and control interventions. As disease control strategies change over time, it is crucial to understand the health-seeking behaviour and the local socio-cultural context in which the changes in interventions operate. This paper reflects on how people in an area of seasonal malaria perceive the causes and transmission of the disease, and what prevention and treatment measures they practise to cope with the disease. It also highlights some of the challenges of malaria treatment for health care providers. The study was undertaken in 2003 in Adami Tulu District in south-central Ethiopia, where malaria is a major health problem. Pre-tested structured questionnaires and focus group discussions were conducted among men and women. Malaria, locally known as busa, was perceived as the most important cause of ill health in the area. Respondent’s perception and knowledge about the cause and transmission of the disease were relatively high. The newly introduced insecticide-treated nets were not popular in the area, and only 6·4% of households possessed at least one. The results showed that patients use multiple sources of health care for malaria treatment. Public health facilities, private clinics and community health workers were the main providers of malaria treatment. Despite higher treatment costs, people preferred to use private health care providers for malaria treatment due to the higher perceived quality of care they offer. In conclusion, effort in the prevention and control of malaria should be intensified through addressing not only public facilities, but also the private sector and community-based control interventions. Appropriate and relevant information on malaria should be disseminated to the local community. The authors propose the provision of effective antimalarial drugs and malaria prevention tools such as subsidized or free insecticide-treated nets.
Praziquantel and the benzodiazepine Ro 11-3128 do not compete for the same binding sites in schistosomes
Authors: PICA-MATTOCCIA L. , RUPPEL A. , XIA C. M. , CIOLI D. 
Published: September 2007

SUMMARYThe benzodiazepine Ro 11-3128 (methyl-clonazepam) presents several similarities with praziquantel with regard to its anti-schistosomal mode of action, since both drugs cause spastic paralysis, calcium influx and tegumental disruption in the parasites. In order to know whether the two compounds share the same binding sites in the schistosomes, we performed in vivo and in vitro competition experiments. We took advantage of the fact that Ro 11-3128 is active against immature Schistosoma mansoni (whereas praziquantel is inactive), and praziquantel is active against S. japonicum (which is insensitive to Ro 11-3128). An excess of praziquantel did not inhibit the activity of Ro 11-3128 against immature S. mansoni and an excess of Ro 11-3128 did not inhibit the activity of praziquantel against S. japonicum, suggesting that the schistosome binding sites of the two drugs are different. On the other hand, cytochalasin D, an agent known to perturb – among other things – calcium channel function, was capable of inhibiting the schistosomicidal activity of both praziquantel and Ro 11-3128, thus adding another element of similarity between the two anti-schistosomal agents. A similar, albeit partial, inhibition of the schistosomicidal activity of the two drugs was exerted by some of the classical calcium channel blockers. Taken together, these results suggest that praziquantel and Ro 11-3128, although binding to different schistosome receptor sites, may use the same basic anti-schistosomal effector mechanisms.
Inoculation of Balb/c mice with live attenuated tachyzoites protects against a lethal challenge ofNeospora caninum
Authors: BARTLEY P. M. , WRIGHT S. , CHIANINI F. , BUXTON D. , INNES E. A. 
Published: September 2007

SUMMARYNeospora caninumtachyzoites attenuated through passage in tissue culture were tested for their ability to induce protective immunity against a lethal challenge dose of parasites. Balb/c mice were each inoculated with either 1×106live virulent tachyzoites (Group 1) or 1×106live attenuated tachyzoites (Group 2), while (Group 3) received a control inoculum. All mice were each challenged 28 days later with 5×106virulent parasites. Histopathological lesions in the brains including necrosis and microgliosis were observed following post-mortem on day 28 post-challenge (p.c.) in 71% of Group 1 and 56% of Group 2. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) of these lesions showed tachyzoites andNeosporaantigens to be associated with moderate brain lesions in 17% of Group 1, while in 11% of Group 2N. caninumtissue cysts were detected, but these were not associated with lesions, Parasite DNA was detected by PCR in the brains of 86% of mice in Group 1 and 56% of mice in Group 2. Following challenge the mice in Group 3 showed high morbidity and 100% mortality within 17 days p.c. Positive IHC forN. caninumwas seen in 88% of the Group 3 mice and parasite DNA was detected in all brain samples. This study shows that it is possible to protect against a lethal challenge ofN. caninumthrough inoculation with attenuated or virulent tachyzoites. However, more severe pathology developed in mice initially inoculated with virulent parasites following a secondary challenge, compared to mice initially inoculated with attenuated parasites.
U.S. Congress considers hurricane research bills
Authors: Holle Kate Von 
Published: September 2007

Legislation currently being considered by both the U.S. House and Senate would create a National Hurricane Research Initiative. The legislation was developed in response to a January 2007 U.S. National Science Board report,“Hurricane warning: The critical need for a National Hurricane Research Initiative.”Both bills require the hurricane research initiative to set objectives in order to make recommendations to the National Science Board and to assemble U.S. science and engineering expertise through an interagency effort designed to bring together the latest research focusing on infrastructure, forecasting, and mitigating impacts on coastal populations. The bills also require the initiative to set objectives for making grants for hurricane research on a variety of topics, ranging from hurricane dynamics to improving emergency communications networks. Coordination of the interagency effort would fall under the jurisdiction of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Science in NASA's exploration strategy
Authors: Jolliff Bradley 
Published: September 2007

The NASA Advisory Council held a work shop on science associated with lunar exploration planned for the Vision for Space Exploration. The workshop focused on science objectives in astrophysics, Earth science, heliophysics, planetary science, and planetary protection. The goal of the workshop was to assess and prioritize science objectives within the context of the developing exploration architecture. Science is one of six themes of the exploration strategy, and NASA wants to ensure that activities of highest priority to the science community are not precluded by the architecture to the extent that is feasible and affordable.Key objectives from a planetary science perspective fall within four main themes. First is the Moon as a recorder of the impact history of the inner solar system and of events that might have occurred to perturb various impactor populations elsewhere. Second is the Moon as a recorder of early planetary differentiation processes through studies of its crust and interior. Key to understanding the Moon's interior is a geophysical network, especially to better deter mine global seismic structure. Third is the potential record of volatile deposition processes, especially near the poles, and the possibility of concentrated volatile‐element deposits in permanently shaded craters. Fourth is to better delineate the character and distribution of potential resources and to better understand potential hazards to sustained human presence. Some of these objectives can be accomplished at a polar outpost site whereas others require access to multiple locations and sample collection.
Sahel climate change: Workshop on Sahel climate change, Columbia University, New York, 19–21 March 2007
Authors: Blasutti Michela , Glannini Alessandra , Sobel Adam H. , Held Isaac M. , Chiang John C. H. 
Published: September 2007

The Sahel transition to persistent drought in the early 1970s is an archetypal example of recent abrupt climate change. This workshop assessed the mechanisms for variability at interannual and interdecadal timescales, and discussed mechanisms of future climate change and sources of model disagreement. Participating scientists brought a diverse range of expertise: mesoscale and paleo observationalists; atmospheric dynamicists; dust and vegetation modelers.There was strong agreement that the main driver of the Sahel drought was sea surface temperature (SST) variations and not land use or cover changes associated with human activity. This conclusion stems from general circulation model studies reporting successful simulations of multidecadal Sahel rainfall variations given the long‐term history of observed SST. Attribution is uncertain, as possible ultimate causes of SST and rainfall variability include anthropogenic forcing by greenhouse gases and aerosols, variations to the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, and dust forcing from the Sahara. Specific atmospheric mechanisms connecting SST anomalies to the Sahel region remain uncertain, as do the relative roles of the Indo‐Pacific warming and North Atlantic SST anomalies. Atmospheric changes from aerosols may directly influence Sahel rainfall without mediation from SST.
Principles of Environmental Chemistry
Authors: Hathaway Ruth A. 
Published: September 2007

Roy M. Harrison, Editor RSC Publishing; ISBN 0854043713; × + 363 pp.; 2006; $69.95Environmental chemistry is an interdisciplinary science that includes chemistry of the air, water, and soil. Although it may be confused with green chemistry, which deals with potential pollution reduction, environmental chemistry is the scientific study of the chemical and biochemical principles that occur in nature. Therefore, it is the study of the sources, reactions, transport, effects, and fates of chemical species in the air, water, and soil environments, and the effect of human activity on them. Environmental chemistry not only explores each of these environments, but also closely examines the interfaces and boundaries where the environments intersect.
AGU cosponsors hurricane briefings
Authors: Von Holle Kate 
Published: September 2007

Two briefings cosponsored by AGU on 10 July 2007 helped to inform U.S. congressional staff about the effects of hurricanes. The briefings—one each in the House and the Senate—were timed to inform staff about legislation before Congress that would implement the recommendations of the January 2007 National Science Board Report, Hurricane Warning, by creating a National Hurricane Research Initiative.Speakers addressed different aspects of hurricanes, including improved forecasting, reducing coastal vulnerability, and developing better warnings and emergency responses in hurricane‐prone areas. Craig Fugate, director of Florida's Division of Emergency Management, emphasized that eight of the top 10 costliest disasters in U.S. history have been hurricanes. He also stressed that improved emergency response and preparedness can reduce loss of life and aid in reducing property damage.
Ecology of Harmful Algae
Authors: Roelke Daniel L. 
Published: September 2007

Edna Graneli and Jefferson T.Turner, Editors; Ecological Studies Series, Vol. 189; Springer; ISBN 3540322094; 413 pp.; 2006; $195Harmful algal blooms (HABs) affect commercially and recreationally important species, human health, and ecosystem functioning. Hallmark events are the visually stunning blooms where waters are discolored and filled with ichthyotoxin‐producing algae that lead to large fish kills. Of most concern, however, are HABs that pose a threat to human health. For example, some phycotoxins bioaccumulate in the guts and tissues of commercially and recreationally important species that when consumed by humans, may result in nausea, paralysis, memory loss, and even death. In addition to the deleterious impacts of phycotoxins, HABs can be problematic in other ways. For example, the decay of blooms often leads to low dissolved oxygen in subsurface waters. Blooms also reduce light penetration into the water column. Both processes disrupt ecosystems and in some cases have completely destroyed benthic communities.
Meshing American Indian concerns with goals of EarthScope's USArray
Authors: Semken Steven , Fouch Matthew , Garnero Edward , Zah Peterson , Lippert Donald 
Published: September 2007

American Indian nations are not monolithic in their response to outsiders seeking access to their lands for scientific research, but certain factors can be expected to apply in all cases. First, homelands are considered to be sacred. Sacredness of land, frequently cited although not often defined simply, implies a kinship among people, landforms, biota, and natural phenomena, manifested as a complex system of beliefs linked directly to places [Kelley and Francis, 1994].In particular, geoscientific research in these places may be regarded by many American Indians as inappropriate, disrespectful, or even sacrilegious—much as anyone might feel about intrusive medical or psychological research conducted on a loved one. An ongoing federal court battle over the use of reclaimed wastewater for snowmaking on the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, Ariz., an extinct stratovolcano sacred to a number of tribes but outside of any official tribal jurisdiction, demonstrates that American Indian people will defend lands they hold sacred on the basis of religious freedom.
Southern Africa moisture map
Authors: Showstack Randy , Kumar Mohi 
Published: September 2007

The European Space Agency (ESA) announced on 16 July 2007 the availability of new soil moisture maps for southern Africa that could lead to better forecasting of weather and extreme events such as floods and droughts. The maps, based on data from ESA's Envisat satellite, have a spatial resolution of one kilometer. Soil moisture plays an important role in the global water cycle: with too little moisture, rain‐fed crops and vegetation can wilt; too much moisture increases the risk of flooding, flash floods, and erosion.“This [mapping] brings hydrology into the 21st century and makes life better for people,” said Geoff Pegram of the University of KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa. Pegram served as the African technical partner and liaison to African user groups for the ESAbacked SHARE (Soil Moisture for Hydrometeorological Applications in the Southern African Development Community Region) project, which is demonstrating that spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar instruments can deliver soil moisture data at high spatial and temporal resolution. For more information, visit the Web site: http://www.ukzn.ac.za/sahg/share/.
1,000 wells for Darfur
Authors: Virji Hassan 
Published: September 2007

A new humanitarian mission called “1,000 Wells for Darfur” grew out of the discovery from recent space data of an ancient megalake in a large basin in that region. Eman Ghoneim, a research professor at Boston University's Center for Remote Sensing, and Center director Farouk El‐Baz mapped the ancient lake's boundary using Landsat, RADARSAT, and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data.The newly mapped lake once occupied 30,750 square kilometers and would have contained approximately 2530 cubic kilometers of water when full during historically humid climate phases.
Mine‐induced seismicity likely caused Utah mine event
Authors: Showstack Randy 
Published: September 2007

With six coal miners trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine in east central Utah since 6 August, seismologists analyzing the estimated 3.9 magnitude event have indicated that it most likely was caused by an underground cavity collapse rather than by a tectonic earthquake.“Most of the seismic wave energy is consistent with an underground collapse; however, the cause of the mine collapse is still unknown,” according to an analysis of the event by Douglas Dreger, assistant professor of geophysics with the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory (BSL) at the University of California, Berkeley, and colleagues at BSL and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (http://seismo.berkeley.edu/‐peggy/Utah20070806.htm).
Main safety issues at the transition from ITER to fusion power plants
Authors: Gulden W. , Ciattaglia S. , Massaut V. , Sardain P. 
Published: September 2007

In parallel to the ITER design process and in close cooperation with the designers a fusion-specific safety approach was developed and implemented. Detailed safety assessments have been performed and documented in the ITER Generic Site Safety Report (GSSR). Following the decision on ITER construction in France, results from the GSSR and from on-going safety-related activities tailored to the Cadarache site and the French licensing process are now being used to write the ITER Preliminary Safety Analysis Report.In the most recent European fusion power plant conceptual study (PPCS) inherent fusion favourable features have been exploited, by appropriate design and choice of materials, to provide major safety and environmental advantages. The study focused on five power plant models, which are illustrative of a wider spectrum of possibilities. These span a range from relatively near-term concepts, based on limited technology and plasma physics extrapolations, to a more advanced conception. All five PPCS plant models differ substantially in their plasma physics, blanket and divertor technology, size, fusion power and materials compositions, and these differences lead to differences in economic performance and in the details of safety and environmental impacts.This paper uses the quite detailed information available from ITER safety documents and highlights the differences between ITER and future fusion power plants. The main areas investigated are releases and doses during normal operation and under accidental conditions, occupational radiation exposure and optimization and waste management, including recycling and/or final disposal in repositories.Due to an error, an incorrect version of this paper was published in issue 7. For the convenience of the reader we have included the correct full article below rather than a list of changes.