bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Arginine‐rich cell penetrating peptides: Design, structure–activity, and applications to alter pre‐mRNA splicing by steric‐block oligonucleotides
Authors: Abes R. , Arzumanov A. , Moulton H. , Abes S. , Ivanova G. , Gait M. J. , Iversen P. , Lebleu B. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractRerouting the splicing machinery with steric‐block oligonucleotides (ON) might lead to new therapeutic strategies in the treatment of diseases such as β‐thalassemia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, or cancers. Interfering with splicing requires the sequence‐specific and stable hybridization of RNase H‐incompetent ON as peptide nucleic acids (PNA) or phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMO). Unfortunately, these uncharged DNA mimics are poorly taken up by most cell types and conventional delivery strategies that rely on electrostatic interaction do not apply. Likewise, conjugation to cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) as Tat, Arg9, Lys8, or Pen leads to poor splicing correction efficiency at low concentration essentially because PNA– and PMO–CPP conjugates remain entrapped within endocytotic vesicles. Recently, we have designed an arginine‐rich peptide (R‐Ahx‐R)4 (with Ahx for aminohexanoic acid) and an arginine‐tailed Penetratin derivative which allow sequence‐specific and efficient splicing correction at low concentration in the absence of endosomolytic agents. Both CPPs are undergoing structure–activity relationship studies for further optimization as steric‐block ON delivery vectors. Copyright © 2008 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prior neonatal isolation reduces induction of NGF mRNA and decreases GDNF mRNA in the hippocampus of juvenile and adult rodents subjected to immobilization stress
Authors: Kawano Ki‐Ichiro , Morinobu Shigeru , Sawada Takuya , Tsuji Seiichi , Erabi Kaori , Fuchikami Manabu , Kozuru Toshiro , Yamawaki Shigeto , Hisaoka Kazue , Takebayashi Minoru 
Published: January 2008

AbstractNumerous studies have demonstrated that early adverse experiences are associated with the development of susceptibility to stress later in life. Although it is known that early experience of adversity, such as neonatal isolation, maternal separation, and low maternal care, enhances the activity of the hypothalamo‐pituitary‐adrenalaxis in rodents, the detailed mechanism underlying stress susceptibility induced by early adversity remains to be elucidated. Since neurotrophins have been shown to have a neuroprotective effect, we examined the influence of repeated neonatal isolation on expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), glia cell‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and neurotrophin‐3 mRNA in the hippocampus of juvenile and adult rats subsequently exposed immobilization stress, using real‐time quantitative PCR and in situ hybridization. Neonatal isolation did not affect the basal hippocampal expression of these neurotrophin mRNAs in either juvenile or adult rats not subsequently exposed to immobilization. Similarly, there was a significant interaction between neonatal isolation and immobilization that affected the expression of NGF and GDNF mRNAs. Neonatal isolation attenuated the induction of NGF mRNA in both groups of rats and decreased GDNF mRNA in juvenile rats in response to immobilization. The decreased induction of NGF mRNA and reduced GDNF mRNA in response to immobilization was found in the CA3 pyramidal cell layer and dentate gyrus granular cell layer in the hippocampus of adult rats that had been subjected to neonatal isolation. These findings suggest that susceptibility to stress arising from prior neonatal isolation might be a result of decreased neuroprotective support through NGF and GDNF. Synapse 62:259–267, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Age‐ and Sex‐Related Incidence of Surgically Treated Primary Hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Miller Barbra S. , Dimick Justin , Wainess Reid , Burney Richard E. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBackgroundPrimary hyperparathyroidism (1° HPT) is reported most often in women over the age of 50. Beyond that, little is known about the epidemiology of this condition, and no studies have specifically examined the age and gender distribution of patients with 1° HPT.MethodsWe analyzed patients from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), a 20% random sample of all hospital stays from 2000–2004, and also from the University of Michigan endocrine surgery database from 1999–2005. Surgically treated 1° HPT was used as a surrogate marker for 1° HPT. An age‐ and sex‐based frequency distribution was computed for each dataset.ResultsA total of 7,513 females and 2,677 males who underwent surgery for 1° HPT in the 5‐year period 2000 through 2004 were reported in the NIS. At the University of Michigan from 1999 through 2005, 790 females and 276 males underwent parathyroidectomy for 1° HPT. In both datasets, the frequency of 1° HPT began to rise slowly in both sexes at age 11 and increased more rapidly among females than males beginning at age 21–25 (NIS) and 26–30 (UM). Incidence curves for both women and men in both databases were similar in shape and unipolar in configuration. Peak incidence was at age 56–60 (NIS) and 61–65 (UM) in females and age 56–60 in males (both datasets). The female:male ratio was noted to rise steadily among the NIS patients until perimenopausal age, after which it became stable for the next 20 years before decreasing again. No change in the female:male ratio over time was seen among the UM patients.ConclusionsPrimary HPT occurs more frequently in females than in males at all ages. The incidence increases steadily after age 25 in both sexes. The female:male ratio does not change during the peri‐ and postmenopausal years. This information should stimulate new hypotheses to explain the difference in the incidence of 1°HPT between men and women.
Midcycle pericoital intravaginal bee honey and royal jelly for male factor infertility
Authors: Abdelhafiz Ahmed T. , Muhamad Jehan A. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of pericoital intravaginal applications of a mixture of Egyptian bee honey and royal jelly (H/RJ) in the midcycle for the treatment of infertility due to asthenozoospermia.MethodsSohag University Hospital and Asyut Gynecology and Infertility Clinic conducted a crossover study of 99 couples affected by asthenozoospermia. One group used midcycle pericoital vaginal applications of H/RJ and the other underwent a standard intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedure, for 3 cycles or until conception occurred for both groups. After a washout period of 2 months, the couples for whom no pregnancy occurred were crossed over.ResultsA total of 553 cycles were analyzed. There were 23 (8.1%) and 7 (2.6%) pregnancies per cycle, respectively, in the H/RJ and the IUI groups, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001).ConclusionUsing H/RJ intravaginally might be a simple and reasonably effective method of treating asthenozoospermia.
Effects of dietary polyphenols on gene expression in human vascular endothelial cells
Authors: Nicholson Sonja K. , Tucker Gregory A. , Brameld John M. 
Published: January 2008

Previous studies have shown that consumption of fruit and vegetables plays a role in preventing the onset of CVD. These beneficial effects have been linked to the presence of polyphenolic compounds in plant-derived foods and their antioxidant capacity. It has been hypothesised that polyphenols may also have a direct effect on vascular endothelial cell growth and the expression of genes involved in angiogenesis and other roles of the endothelium. Previous studies in this area have tended to use concentrations of polyphenols that are supraphysiological (1–100 μm). The effects of more physiological concentrations (0·1 μm) of various individual polyphenols on gene expression were therefore investigated in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) using both microarray and quantitative RT–PCR methodologies. Treatment of HUVEC with ferulic acid, quercetin or resveratrol (0·1 μm) resulted in changes to gene expression that for the three treatments amounted to significant (>2-fold) down-regulation of the expression of 363 genes and significant (>2-fold) up-regulation of 233 genes of the 10 000 genes present on the microarray. The majority of these genes were affected by resveratrol. Quantitative RT–PCR studies indicated that resveratrol (0·1 μm) significantly increased the expression of the gene encoding endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), which synthesises the vasodilator molecule NO, and both resveratrol and quercetin decreased expression of the potent vasoconstrictor, endothelin-1 (ET-1), while ferulic acid had no effect. The effects of resveratrol (0·1 μm) were also investigated when HUVEC were under oxidative stress following treatment with H2O2 (0–50 μm), which dose-dependently increased expression of eNOS and ET-1. Resveratrol stimulated eNOS mRNA in the absence of H2O2 and still allowed the increase with H2O2, but the effects were not additive. In contrast, resveratrol blocked the stimulatory effect of H2O2 on ET-1 expression. Hence, resveratrol has potent effects at a physiological concentration (0·1 μm) that would be expected to result in vasodilation and therefore help reduce blood pressure and the risk of CVD.
Bosnia v. Serbia: Lessons from the Encounter of the International Court of Justice with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
Authors: GOLDSTONE RICHARD J. , HAMILTON REBECCA J. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThis article uses the recent judgment of the ICJ in Bosnia v. Serbia to highlight the potential problems that arise when international courts have to adjudicate on overlapping situations. It describes the dispute between the ICJ and the ICTY on the appropriate legal standard for the attribution of state responsibility, and finds that the ICJ's approach in this case suggests that those keen to minimize the fragmentation of international law between adjudicative bodies should not overlook the need for consistency within those bodies. With regard to fact finding, this article raises serious concerns about the manner in which the ICJ relied on the ICTY's work. The decision of the ICJ not to demand crucial documents from Serbia is discussed and criticized. Based on its approach to fact finding in this case, doubts are raised as to whether the ICJ will ever hold a state responsible for genocide outside the parameters of the prior criminal convictions of individual perpetrators.
Does the United States Really Prosecute Its Service Members for War Crimes? Implications for Complementarity before the International Criminal Court
Authors: PITTMAN THOMAS WAYDE , HEAPHY MATTHEW 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThis article addresses the prosecution of service members by the United States for the commission of war crimes, specifically whether or not the offences charged in such cases can truly be considered ‘war crimes’. The answer has implications in terms of application of the complementarity provision of the Rome Statute, as well as the stigmatic effect that is avoided when the United States prosecutes ordinary criminal offences rather than war crimes.
A Tightrope Walk between Legality and Legitimacy: An Analysis of the Israeli Supreme Court's Judgment on Targeted Killing
Authors: KELLER HELEN , FOROWICZ MAGDALENA 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe Israeli official policy of targeted killing has often been a subject of controversy and criticism. Although still applied by the state of Israel, this cruel practice was recently limited in a courageous decision handed down by the Israeli Supreme Court. The new restrictions on targeted killing represent an important step towards its criminalization. Despite this, the Court's interpretation of the international humanitarian law requirements is still too broad and there is a need for more restrictive safeguards. In addition, the current uncertainties of this field of law, replicated in the decision, exacerbate the problem further. The main difficulty, however, lies in the theoretical assumption that targeted killing is legal. This article proposes instead to view targeted killing as an exception to the presumption of protection of the civilian population. The authors review the recent trends in international humanitarian law in order to assess the impact of the Court's reasoning. Although this landmark case represents an important breakthrough, it will certainly not be the last word on targeted killing.
Parliament and Good Governance: A Bangladeshi Perspective
Authors: RAHAMAN MUHAMMAD MUSTAFIZUR 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe attainment of good governance is the question of the day in Bangladesh. This paper discusses the ‘bedrock of good governance’, parliamentary accountability, and assesses the effectiveness of the Bangladesh Parliament in ensuring governmental accountability and promoting good governance since 1991 when the country re-entered into parliamentary democracy. Considerable discrepancies between the expected role and practical performances are identified and the study further identified a number of problems that severely hinder parliament's accountability function. This paper primarily argues that Bangladesh vested excessive powers in the hands of the executive branch; it, therefore, lacks the proper checks and balances a strong parliament could provide.
Defining hospital markets for antitrust enforcement: new approaches and their applicability to The Netherlands
Authors: VARKEVISSER MARCO , CAPPS CORY S. , SCHUT FREDERIK T. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractEffective antitrust enforcement is of crucial importance for countries with a market-based health care system in which hospitals are expected to compete. Assessing hospital market power – a central issue to competition policy – is, however, complicated because the presence of third party payers and the general unobservability of prices make it difficult to apply the standard methods of market definition. Alternative, less formal methods historically employed in the hospital industry have proven inaccurate; these methods were even called inapplicable in a recent US court decision. In this paper, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of several new approaches to defining hospital markets that are suggested in the recent economic literature. In particular, we discuss the applicability of the time-elasticity approach, competitor-share approach, and option-demand approach to the recently partly deregulated Dutch hospital market. We conclude that the appropriate approach depends crucially on how health insurers contract with hospitals and how patients select their hospital.
Buffer capacity and Cu affinity of soil particulate organic matter (POM) size fractions
Authors: Sebastia J. , VanOort F. , Lamy I. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryParticulate organic matter fractions (POM), defined as sand‐sized organic separates in soils, are known to be labile organic components with a rapid turnover. Recently, POM fractions were identified to be metal‐enriched in both metal‐contaminated and uncontaminated soils. However, mechanisms for such metal‐enrichment are poorly understood, because of the paucity of information on the chemical properties of POM. The aim of this study was to quantify the reactivity of POM towards Cu and to show a POM‐size effect on this reactivity. POM was isolated from soils with different organic amendment managements: straw (S), conifer compost (CC), and non‐amended (NA). Two POM size fractions were isolated by density‐fractionation in water: 50–200 μm and 200–2000 μm. These fractions were studied for their metal contents, acid‐base properties and affinity toward Cu. The buffer capacity and Cu affinity were modeled by FITEQL 4.0 software and compared between the two POM size fractions. Each POM size fraction provided a buffer capacity due to the presence of reactive sites, the greatest being for the 50–200 μm POM fractions. A signature of organic inputs as seen by the buffer capacities was observed for the 50–200 μm but not for the 200–2000 μm POM fractions. But Cu affinity was comparable between the coarse and fine POM fractions and no significant differences were found between NA, S and CC samples. We checked the hypothesis that decreasing POM size due to degradation processes generates more reactive surface sites. Results confirmed that soil POM plays a key role as a metal sink, due to its chemical properties.
Effect of organic matter applications on 13C‐NMR spectra of humic acids of soil
Authors: Dou S. , Zhang J. J. , Li K. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryMuch attention has been paid to improving soil fertility with organic matter (OM) application, which not only deals with organic wastes and protects the environment, but also maintains soil fertility and increases crop yields. Much research has also been on the effects of OM applications on the soil’s physical, chemical and biological properties, but relatively less attention has been spent on humic substance (HS). In order to clarify the mechanism of improving soil fertility by applying OM, we analysed the changes of structural characteristics of humic acid (HA) from OM applications to soils by 13C‐NMR, chemical analysis, thermal analysis, optical properties, IR and fluorescence spectroscopy. Samples of a brown soil (Paleudalf) and a paddy soil (an anthropogenic soil originating from Udifluvents) were collected from the plough layer of the long‐term field experiment at Shenyang Agricultural University and Liaoning Provincial Alkali‐Saline Soil Institute, respectively. Both field experiments included three treatments each: (i) brown soil, zero‐treatment (CKbr) and two pig manure (PM) applications (O1 and O2) at annual rates of 0.9 t ha−1 and 1.8 t ha−1 of organic carbon, respectively; and (ii) paddy soil, zero‐treatment (CKpad), pig manure (Op) and rice straw (Or) at annual rates of 2.62 t ha−1 and 1.43 t ha−1 of organic carbon, respectively. An incubation experiment was also carried out to test the field experiment on the brown soil, namely four treatments: zero‐treatment (CKc), and three pig manure applications at rates of 30 g kg−1 (C1), 50 g kg−1 (C2) and 70 g kg−1 (C3), respectively. The total incubation was 180 days. The results indicated that number‐average molecular weights (Mn), total acidity, aromaticity, excitation maximum wavelength (λExmax), and the heat ratio of the high to moderate temperature exothermic regions (H3/H2) of the HA all decreased after OM application. The degree of activation (AD), the absorption intensity ratio of 2920 cm−1 to 1720 cm−1 in infrared spectra (IR2920/1720), alkyl C and O‐alkyl C of the HA increased. The HA structure tended to become simpler and more aliphatic.
Population density and age structure of the freshwater pearl mussel,Margaritifera margaritifera, in two Iberian rivers
Authors: OUTEIRO ADOLFO , ONDINA PAZ , FERNÁNDEZ CARLOS , AMARO RAFAELA , MIGUEL EDUARDO SAN 
Published: January 2008

Summary1. The European freshwater pearl mussel,Margaritifera margaritifera(Bivalvia: Unionoida), is one of the most threatened mussels. The Iberian populations of this species are considered peripheral because their distinct characters such as growth rate and longevity, and require development of effective conservation strategies.2. We assessed population density and age structure of pearl mussels in two Galician rivers (Eo and Masma in north‐west Spain). Four sampling sites were selected in each river to cover stretches of 100 m. The mean density of mussels in each of these sampling transects was estimated using the adaptive sampling technique, given that mussels occur at low densities and are highly aggregated in these rivers.3. Age structure was inferred for each population using length–age keys. The empty shells encountered during sampling were used to determine the length of the specimens at different ages (years), together with length‐at‐age data from shells previously analysed for computing growth rates from the same rivers. Water samples from both rivers were analysed for typical physicochemical parameters.4. Mean densities were very variable, even within the same river (from 0.27 to 6.55 m−2in the River Eo and from 0.98 to 2.38 m−2in the River Masma). Individuals in the 0‐ to 5‐year age class were scarce in both rivers.5.Margaritifera margaritiferashowed a preference for the strip of river bed within 1.5 m from the river bank and avoided sites at greater distances. The species also showed a preference for sites with more than 80% tree cover and avoided sites with <50% cover.6. Iberian populations exhibit the highest growth rate, together with the lowest maximum age and maximum length known forM. margaritifera. Detailed knowledge about these peripheral Iberian populations will contribute to developing strategies for conservation and management of this endangered species.
Does the Redfield ratio infer nutrient limitation in the macroalga Spirogyra fluviatilis?
Authors: TOWNSEND S. A. , SCHULT J. H. , DOUGLAS M. M. , SKINNER S. 
Published: January 2008

Summary1. The cellular nutrient contents of microalgae, when growing at or approaching maximum rates, approximate the Redfield C : N : P (molar) ratio of 106 : 16 : 1. Deviations from this optimal ratio can be used to infer nutrient limitation of microalgal growth. However, this ratio may not be applicable to macroalgae, which are distinguished from microalgae by forming a thallus that is a discrete structure visible to the naked eye. The utility of the Redfield ratio to infer nutrient limitation of the growth of macroalgae was tested for Spirogyra fluviatilis in a field experiment conducted in tropical Australia.2. The optimal cellular C : N : P ratio for S. fluvialitis was estimated by means of in situ nutrient addition. This was compared with S. fluvialitis cellular ratios determined from eight sites with a wide range of soluble N concentrations (<1–90 μg L−1), a smaller range of soluble P concentrations (5–12 μg L−1), and soluble molar N : P ratios of 0.11– 27.3. Spirogyra fluviatilis had an optimal molar C : N : P ratio of 1800 : 87 : 1 which differs substantially from the Redfield ratio, and suggests that the latter ratio is not applicable to this macroalga. Concentrations of N and P in the river deviated from the optimal N : P ratio of 87 : 1, inferring nutrient limitation of growth.4. C : P and C : N ratios of S. fluviatilis varied in accordance with general stoichiometric relationships for autotrophs under nutrient limitation of growth. Ratios of C : P and C : N increased, respectively, with increased severity of P‐ and N‐limitation. Additionally, C : P ratios increased with increased N : P ratios, whilst the C : N ratio increased with decreased N : P ratios. The C : N molar ratio however was an insensitive indicator of nutrient depletion compared with the C : P ratio. Under N‐limitation of growth, luxury amounts of P were stored by S. fluviatilis.5. In aquatic environments where macroalgae are sufficiently abundant to be sampled, their cellular carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry can be used to infer nutrient limitation of growth when their optimal C : N : P ratio is known.