bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Women in the Middle East And North Africa and Universal Suffrage
Authors: Üngör Beraët Zeki 
Published: June 2007

Emancipation of women and equalization of their political rights have been successful only in part in the coun tries of the Middle East and North Africa. The condition of women depends on the behavior of the man in the family and on the family's geographic location and cultural and economic level. Variations in these factors result in two basic types of differentially structured collectivities. Positive factors are current political regimes abiding by egalitarian and reform principles, cultural progress, women's organizations, and the struggle against illiteracy. Negative factors are customs or tra ditions, obscurantism, and ignorance. Governmental measures taken vary according to whether the states are secular or Moslem and whether Moslem states follow the traditional or reformed version of Islam. Agrarian reform, industrialization, and changes in mores will contribute to the growth of women's equality, socially and economically as well as politically. There is a clear trend toward a universal civilization in which women will be called upon to play an effective role. A supplementary note on the situation of women in Israel is found at the end of the article. It has been prepared by the Special Editor of this volume.—Ed.
International Collaboration Concerning Southeast Asia
Authors: Koh T.T.B. 
Published: June 2007

Following conventional usage, Southeast Asia is defined as the region consisting of Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, North and South Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. At present there is no organization to which all Southeast Asian nations belong. Regional economic collaboration is being obstructed or impeded by nationalism, national economic policies of autarchy, industrialization based on import substitution, and an un-ripened sense of regional identity. In view of the seriousness of the obstacles, regional bodies such as ASEAN should devote themselves to the promotion of practical projects and not aim for grandiose schemes which are beyond their present capacities to realize. Collaboration between two or three countries in the region should be encouraged. Encouraging progress is being made in the fields of education and training, which is not only important in itself but also builds confidence for other forms of regional collaboration. A plea is made for greater support from the developed countries, particularly from the major powers, for regional projects. Such support should, ideally, be accorded high priority in the aid policies of the developed countries. The collaboration between ASEAN and ECAFE (Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East) is also seen as important, and could provide a valuable impetus to the growth of regionalism in Southeast Asia.
Congressional Information Processes for National Policy
Authors: Beckman Norman 
Published: June 2007

Conventional wisdom holds that the Congress is too fragmented to identify and act on national priorities. Yet through constant modifications Congress has managed to maintain its unique roles of access and creativity without centralization of power or major reorganization. Complementing and overlaying the crucial role played by the committee system is a network of information resources within the Congress that contributes to intelligent consideration of interrelated public policy concerns. Recent developments reveal strengthened staff support, more active party policy-making, reform of committee procedures and staffing, and expanded information, investigation, and analytical resources. Continuing improvements in congressional decision-making machinery will permit Congress to continue to be a partner with the President in representing the public interest.
Effect of choline chloride in allergen-induced mouse model of airway inflammation
Authors: Mehta A. K. , Gaur S. N. , Arora N. , Singh B. P. 
Published: June 2007

The incidence of asthma has increased the world over, and current therapies for the disease suffer from potential side-effects. This has created an opportunity to develop novel therapeutic approaches. Here, the anti-inflammatory activity of choline was investigated in a mouse model of allergic airway inflammation.Choline (1 mg·kg−1) was administeredviaoral gavage or intranasally before and after ovalbumin (OVA) challenge in sensitised mice. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine was measured in the mice by whole-body plethysmography. Type-2 T-helper cell cytokine and leukotriene levels were estimated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and spleen culture supernatant by ELISA. Eosinophil peroxidase activity was also determined in the BALF supernatant.Choline treatment in sensitised mice before OVA challengeviaoral/intranasal routes significantly inhibited eosinophilic airway inflammation and eosinophil peroxidase activity. It also reduced immunoglobulin E and G1 production and inhibited the release of type-2 T-helper cell cytokines and leukotrienes. However, the development of AHR was prevented effectively by intranasal choline treatment. Most importantly, choline treatment after OVA challenge by both routes could reverse established asthmatic conditions in mice by inhibiting AHR, eosinophilic airway inflammation and other inflammatory parameters.This study provides a new therapeutic approach for controlling as well as preventing asthma exacerbations.
Anti-inflammatory activity of β2-agonists in primary lung epithelial cells is independent of glucocorticoid receptor
Authors: Lovén J. , Svitacheva N. , Jerre A. , Miller-Larsson A. , Korn S. H. 
Published: June 2007

In patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the addition of long-acting β2-agonists (LABA) to glucocorticosteroids (GCS) results in better control than increasing the dose of GCS alone. In smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts, one apparent underlying mechanism involves the ability of LABAs to activate the glucocorticoid receptor (GR).The present study investigates the effects of formoterol (FORM), salmeterol (SALM) and budesonide (BUD) on GR activation in bronchial epithelial cellsviatumour necrosis factor-α-stimulated granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) release, GR nuclear translocation and GR-regulated reporter gene activity.Both BUD and FORM inhibited GM-CSF release by ≤50%. The combination of these two drugs, in clinically relevant concentrations, inhibited GM-CSF release by 85% down to unstimulated levels. A similar inhibition was obtained when combining BUD and SALM. The ability of FORM to inhibit GM-CSF synthesis was not altered by small interfering RNA-mediated depletion of GR and FORM nor SALM-induced GR translocation into the cell nucleus. In addition, FORM did not activate GR-regulated reporter gene activity (SALM was not tested), in contrast to the clear effect of BUD.It was concluded that in bronchial epithelial cells, inhibition of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor synthesis by formoterol and salmeterol does not actviapreviously demonstrated glucocorticoid receptor-related mechanisms, suggesting an alternative pathway in these cells.
Transforming growth factor-β as a differentiating factor for cultured smooth muscle cells
Authors: Gawaziuk J. P. , Ma X. , Sheikh F. , Cheng Z-Q. , Cattini P. A. , Stephens N. L. 
Published: June 2007

The aim of the present study was to determine whether the development of supercontractile smooth muscle cells, contributing to the nonspecific hyperreactivity of airways in asthmatic patients, is due to transforming growth factor (TGF)-β.In cultured smooth muscle cells starved by removal of 10% foetal bovine serum for 7 days, growth arrest was seen; 30% became elongated and demonstrated super contractility. Study of conditioned medium suggested that the differentiating factor was TGF-β. Sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) was carried out on conditioned medium from the arrested cells. Two protein bands were identified as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and TGF-β1. To determine second messenger signalling by SMAD2, Western blotting and confocal microscopy were employed.Conditioned medium from arrested cultures showed the presence of MMP-2 and TGF-β1, as revealed by SDS–PAGE; 68- and 25-kDa bands were seen. Differentiation was confirmed by upregulation of marker proteins, smooth muscle type myosin heavy chain and myosin light chain kinase. Confirmation was obtained by downregulating these proteins with decorin treatment, which reduces the levels of active TGF-β and an adenoviral dominant-negative vector coding for a mutated type II TGF-β-receptor. Activation of second messenger signalling was demonstrated immunocytochemically by the presence of phosphorylated SMAD2 and SMAD4.Transforming growth factor-β is likely to be the differentiating factor responsible for the development of these supercontractile smooth muscle cells. The development of such cellsin vivoafter cessation of an asthmatic attack could contribute to the nonspecific hyperreactivity of airways seen in patients.
A DArT platform for quantitative bulked segregant analysis
Authors: Wenzl Peter , Raman Harsh , Wang Junping , Zhou Meixue , Huttner Eric , Kilian Andrzej 
Published: June 2007

Abstract

Background
Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) identifies molecular markers associated with a phenotype by screening two DNA pools of phenotypically distinct plants for markers with skewed allele frequencies. In contrast to gel-based markers, hybridization-based markers such as SFP, DArT or SNP generate quantitative allele-frequency estimates. Only DArT, however, combines this advantage with low development and assay costs and the ability to be deployed for any plant species irrespective of its ploidy level. Here we investigate the suitability of DArT for BSA applications using a barley array as an example.

Results
In a first test experiment, we compared two bulks of 40 Steptoe/Morex DH plants with contrasting pubescent leaves (mPub) alleles on chromosome 3H. At optimized levels of experimental replication and marker-selection threshold, the BSA scan identified 433 polymorphic markers. The relative hybridization contrast between bulks accurately reflected the between-bulk difference in the frequency of the mPub allele (r = 0.96). The 'platform noise' of DArT assays, estimated by comparing two identical aliquots of a DNA mixture, was significantly lower than the 'pooling noise' reflecting the binomial sampling variance of the bulking process. The allele-frequency difference on chromosome 3H increased in the vicinity of mPub and peaked at the marker with the smallest distance from mPub (4.6 cM). In a validation experiment with only 20 plants per bulk we identified an aluminum (Al) tolerance locus in a Dayton/Zhepi2 DH population on chromosome 4H with < 0.8 cM precision, the same Al-tolerance locus that had been mapped before in other barley populations.

Conclusion
DArT-BSA identifies genetic loci that influence phenotypic characters in barley with at least 5 cM accuracy and should prove useful as a generic tool for high-throughput, quantitative BSA in plants irrespective of their ploidy level.
Activation and localization of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in the skeletal muscle of the muscular dystrophy dog (CXMDJ)
Authors: Fukushima Kazuhiro , Nakamura Akinori , Ueda Hideho , Yuasa Katsutoshi , Yoshida Kunihiro , Takeda Shin'ichi , Ikeda Shu-ichi 
Published: June 2007

Abstract

Background
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are key regulatory molecules in the formation, remodeling and degradation of all extracellular matrix (ECM) components in both physiological and pathological processes in various tissues. The aim of this study was to examine the involvement of gelatinase MMP family members, MMP-2 and MMP-9, in dystrophin-deficient skeletal muscle. Towards this aim, we made use of the canine X-linked muscular dystrophy in Japan (CXMDJ) model, a suitable animal model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Methods
We used surgically biopsied tibialis cranialis muscles of normal male dogs (n = 3) and CXMDJ dogs (n = 3) at 4, 5 and 6 months of age. Muscle sections were analyzed by conventional morphological methods and in situ zymography to identify the localization of MMP-2 and MMP-9. MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity was examined by gelatin zymography and the levels of the respective mRNAs in addition to those of regulatory molecules, including MT1-MMP, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and RECK, were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

Results
In CXMDJ skeletal muscle, multiple foci of both degenerating and regenerating muscle fibers were associated with gelatinolytic MMP activity derived from MMP-2 and/or MMP-9. In CXMDJ muscle, MMP-9 immunoreactivity localized to degenerated fibers with inflammatory cells. Weak and disconnected immunoreactivity of basal lamina components was seen in MMP-9-immunoreactive necrotic fibers of CXMDJ muscle. Gelatinolytic MMP activity observed in the endomysium of groups of regenerating fibers in CXMDJ did not co-localize with MMP-9 immunoreactivity, suggesting that it was due to the presence of MMP-2. We observed increased activities of pro MMP-2, MMP-2 and pro MMP-9, and levels of the mRNAs encoding MMP-2, MMP-9 and the regulatory molecules, MT1-MMP, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and RECK in the skeletal muscle of CXMDJ dogs compared to the levels observed in normal controls.

Conclusion
MMP-2 and MMP-9 are likely involved in the pathology of dystrophin-deficient skeletal muscle. MMP-9 may be involved predominantly in the inflammatory process during muscle degeneration. In contrast, MMP-2, which was activated in the endomysium of groups of regenerating fibers, may be associated with ECM remodeling during muscle regeneration and fiber growth.
Repressor of temperate mycobacteriophage L1 harbors a stable C-terminal domain and binds to different asymmetric operator DNAs with variable affinity
Authors: Ganguly Tridib , Bandhu Amitava , Chattoraj Partho , Chanda Palas K , Das Malabika , Mandal Nitai C , Sau Subrata 
Published: June 2007

Abstract

Background
Lysogenic mode of life cycle of a temperate bacteriophage is generally maintained by a protein called 'repressor'. Repressor proteins of temperate lambdoid phages bind to a few symmetric operator DNAs in order to regulate their gene expression. In contrast, repressor molecules of temperate mycobacteriophages and some other phages bind to multiple asymmetric operator DNAs. Very little is known at present about the structure-function relationship of any mycobacteriophage repressor.

Results
Using highly purified repressor (CI) of temperate mycobacteriophage L1, we have demonstrated here that L1 CI harbors an N-terminal domain (NTD) and a C-terminal domain (CTD) which are separated by a small hinge region. Interestingly, CTD is more compact than NTD at 25°C. Both CTD and CI contain significant amount of α-helix at 30°C but unfold partly at 42°C. At nearly 200 nM concentration, both proteins form appreciable amount of dimers in solution. Additional studies reveal that CI binds to O
64 and O

L
types of asymmetric operators of L1 with variable affinity at 25°C. Interestingly, repressor – operator interaction is affected drastically at 42°C. The conformational change of CI is most possibly responsible for its reduced operator binding affinity at 42°C.

Conclusion
Repressors encoded by mycobacteriophages differ significantly from the repressor proteins of λ and related phages at functional level but at structural level they are nearly similar.
Virus detection and identification using random multiplex (RT)-PCR with 3'-locked random primers
Authors: Clem Amy L , Sims Jonathan , Telang Sucheta , Eaton John W , Chesney Jason 
Published: June 2007

Abstract

Background
PCR-based detection and identification of viruses assumes a known, relatively stable genome. Unfortunately, high mutation rates may lead to extensive changes in viral nucleic acid sequences making dedicated PCR primer use problematic. Furthermore, in bioterrorism, viral consensus sequences can be genetically modified as a countermeasure to RT-PCR and DNA chip detection. Accordingly, there is a great need for the development of rapid and universal virus detection and identification technologies.

Results
We report herein that viral genomic DNA or RNA can be separated from host nucleic acids in plasma by filtration and nuclease digestion, and randomly amplified in a single PCR using a mixture of primers designed to be resistant to primer-dimer amplification (5'-VVVVVVVVAA-3', V = A, G or C; 38 or 6561 primers). We have termed this novel PCR method Random Multiplex (RT)-PCR since hundreds of overlapping PCR amplifications occur simultaneously. Using this method, we have successfullydetected and partially sequenced 3 separate viruses in human plasma without using virus-specific reagents (i.e., Adenovirus Type 17, Coxsackievirus A7, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus B). The method is sensitive to ~1000 genome equivalents/ml and may represent the fastest means of detection of unknown viruses.

Conclusion
These studies suggest that the further development of random multiplex (RT)-PCR may lead to a diagnostic assay that can universally detect viruses in donated blood products as well as in patients suffering with idiopathic disease states of possible viral etiology.
Mannose receptor regulation of macrophage cell migration
Authors: Sturge Justin , Todd S Katrina , Kogianni Giolanta , McCarthy Afshan , Isacke Clare M 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe migration of macrophages through peripheral tissues is an essential step in the host response to infection, inflammation, and ischemia as well as in tumor progression and tissue repair. The mannose receptor (MR; CD206, previously known as the macrophage MR) is a 175-kDa type I transmembrane glycoprotein and is a member of a family of four recycling endocytic receptors, which share a common extracellular domain structure but distinct ligand-binding properties and cell type expression patterns. MR has been shown to bind and internalize carbohydrate and collagen ligands and more recently, to have a role in myoblast motility and muscle growth. Given that the related Endo180 (CD280) receptor has also been shown to have a promigratory role, we hypothesized that MR may be involved in regulating macrophage migration and/or chemotaxis. Contrary to expectation, bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) from MR-deficient mice showed an increase in random cell migration and no impairment in chemotactic response to a gradient of CSF-1. To investigate whether the related promigratory Endo180 receptor might compensate for lack of MR, mice with homozygous deletions in MR and Endo180 were generated. These animals showed no obvious phenotypic abnormality, and their BMM, like those from MR-deficient mice, retained an enhanced migratory behavior. As MR is down-regulated during macrophage activation, these findings have implications for the regulation of macrophage migration during different stages of pathogenesis.
An Effect of Structural Modification in the Photo-hydrogen-evolving RuIIPtII Dimers
Authors: Ozawa Hironobu , Sakai Ken 
Published: June 2007

Abstract
The second example of a photo-hydrogen-evolving (PHE) molecular device consisting of a Ru(bpy)32+ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) derivative and a cis-PtCl2 unit has been successfully prepared and characterized to reveal that the PHE activity is quite sensitive to the structural modification at the bridging spacer unit connecting the RuII and PtII centers.
Effect of Nanoparticle Addition into Anode Electrodes for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells
Authors: Park Namsin , Shiraishi Takeyuki , Kamisugi Kazuyoshi , Hayase Shuzi 
Published: June 2007

Abstract
The effect of nanoparticle addition into an anode electrode on direct ethanol fuel cells is reported. When nanopartilces such as TiO2, SnO2, and SiO2 were added to the anode electrode, the short circuit current (Jsc) increased from 2.8 to 4.4–9.0 mA cm−2. The nanoparticle and the carbon-supported PtRu (PtRu/C) were mixed merely at the ratio of 1:1. The PtRu content decreased to a half of the original electrode, but, Jsc increased after the nanoparticle addition. The results were explained by the increase in the fuel diffusion and the catalyst activity. These effects of the nanoparticle addition were not observed for direct methanol fuel cells.
Synthesis and Mesomorphism Study of Novel Carbohydrate-derived Liquid Crystals Containing Glucosyl and Chenodiolyl Residues
Authors: Xiao Wenqiang , Zhang Baoyan , Cong Yuehua 
Published: June 2007

Abstract
Synthesis of carbohydrate-derived liquid crystals by assembling d-(+)-glucose with mesogenic units containing chenodiolyl moieties and a flexible spacer is reported for first time and the thermal properties and liquid-crystalline behavior were carefully studied.
Vervet Monkey Disease: Experimental Infection of Monkeys with the Causative Agent, and Antibody Studies in Wild-Caught Monkeys
Authors: Simpson D. I. H. , Bowen E. T. W. , Bright W. F. 
Published: June 2007

The experimental infection of rhesus and vervet monkeys with the causative agent of a fatal disease in German and Yugoslav laboratory workers is described. All the monkeys developed a uniformly fatal illness irrespective of the dose or route of inoculation. The agent was detected in the monkeys’ blood, tissues, saliva and urine. No complement-fixing antibodies to the agent were detected in any of the 201 mostly vervet monkey sera collected in Uganda in areas from which the incriminated batches came, nor in the serum of one langur monkey which had been in contact with these batches at London. The hazards of handling recently captured wild primates and their tissues are pointed out.
Some Aspects of Reproductive Performance in Inbred Mice
Authors: Festing Michael 
Published: June 2007

An examination of litter size, interval between litters, the ‘litter index’ (a measure of the persistency of breeders), preweaning mortality and productivity 70, 120 and 170 days after mating was made in 9 inbred lines of mice. The data were collected over a period of at least a year from the breeding records of 360 monogamous pairs of mice. Litter size was not significantly affected by parity. There were significant strain differences in the pattern of intervals between litters. Typically, the interval between mating and the first litter was short, followed by a longer interval between the first and second litter, followed again by a shorter interval both between the second and third and between the third and fourth litters. This pattern was most pronounced in the BALB/c, but did not occur in the DBA/2, where the intervals between all litters were approximately equal. There were statistically significant strain differences in all seven characters, and heritabilities in the broad sense ranged from 0.36 for the interval between litters to 0.89 for preweaning mortality. The heritabilities of the other three components of 170–day productivity (litter size, litter index and interval between litters) were less than the heritability of 170-day productivity itself. The shape of the productivity curve was found to be genetically determined, although in the typical case there was a linear decline in productivity from the first to the third 50–day period. No significant linear relationship was found between litter size or interval between litters and 170–day productivity using simple linear regression. There was a significant linear relationship between 170–day productivity and preweaning mortality, and between 170-day productivity and the litter index. Multiple linear regression showed that the four factors: litter size, interval between litters, preweaning mortality and litter index, accounted for about 32, 10, 32 and 23 per cent respectively of the variation in 170-day productivity.