bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
U.K. Researchers Mind the Gap: New collaboration patches cracks in research on aging
Authors: Miller Katharine 
Published: August 2003

To address quality-of-life issues related to aging--many of which lie in the spaces between traditional scientific disciplines--four British research councils launched the National Collaboration on Ageing Research (NCAR) at a conference held in Birmingham on 12 November. These agencies, each of which runs its own program on aging, will now collaborate to identify and eventually sponsor joint projects. "It is imperative that we bring together the different research efforts," says Alan Walker, a social scientist and director of NCAR. "The U.K. is simply not getting the maximum impact from researchers who are locked in disciplinary pigeonholes." The councils--which fund research on biotechnology and biology; medicine; economics and social science; and engineering and physical sciences--will also team up with governmental agencies "to shorten the time it takes to translate research output into policy and practice," says Walker.
The impetus for the collaboration flowed from AgeNet, a U.K. governmental initiative that established a Web site and held workshops to stimulate research in the field of aging. When funding for AgeNet ended in March 2000, the research councils and the Department of Health decided to keep the AgeNet Web site alive and develop a coordinated approach to research on aging. During the next year and a half, Walker, as director of the Growing Older Programme for the Economic and Social Research Council, gained backing from the British government and the financial support to manage the collaboration--although there is still no pot of money to fund specific projects. "It's been a long time coming, and it's taken a lot of backroom effort to convince key players, but we've had an absolutely massive response from scientists," he says.
Some possible ideas for joint projects include using medical, engineering, and social science expertise to improve access to transportation or design better living environments for seniors; using biological, health care, and social science resources to help older people regain independence after a stroke or major injury; and getting biotechnologists, engineers, doctors, and social scientists to explore high-tech solutions to the needs of homebound people.
As these ideas develop, the research councils will prepare for the next step: creating a funding route to make the projects happen. This phase of the project will require that councils commit some of their money to NCAR programs, an act that might meet some resistance. But if NCAR succeeds, the potential payback in quality of life for Britain's elderly should be worth the effort.
--Katharine Miller

Further Reading

UK National Collaboration on Ageing Research
http://www.shef.ac.uk/ukncar
Vive la France: Minister announces budget and priorities for new aging institute
Authors: Mertl Melissa 
Published: August 2003

The outlines of a new French institute for aging research are taking shape. After more than 8 months of discussion, the French minister of research announced in late October that a new Longevity Institute "without walls" will provide 21 million French francs (about US$3M) next year to fund and organize research on genetics, sensory loss, animal models of aging, and assisted-living technologies.
Citing an oncoming epidemic of aging, research minister Roger-Gérard Schwartzenberg explains the need to better coordinate aging research in the country. "The life expectancy [of the French] is among the highest in the world," he says. By 2011, France will have more people over the age of 60 than under the age of 20. Half the French girls born today are expected to become centenarians, he adds, and an increase in longevity could place the publicly funded health care and pension systems in jeopardy.
Étienne-Émile Baulieu, a hormone and reproduction specialist who is vice president of the French Academy of Sciences, led the proposal for the new federal aging initiative and has been named its future coordinator. The leaders of the projects listed as priorities for funding have just learned of the minister's intentions themselves and "haven't started to bargain yet" for shares of the financial pie, Baulieu says.
Epidemiologist Philippe Amouyel, who directed the collection of serum and plasma samples for the so-called three city study expected to lie at the heart of the new national aging initiative, says he was "thrilled" to hear Baulieu's announcement. Almost 10,000 people over the age of 65 living in the vicinity of three major cities in France are participating in the longitudinal study, which tracks about 500 variables for each individual. Next year, researchers will start using the data to seek genes and other biological markers associated with the ailments of old age, such as stroke, dementia, and hypertension.
The new national institute has targeted other areas as well. It is prioritizing research on disorders of vision, hearing, and balance and plans to create a national breeding center and tracking repository for animals used in aging research. In addition, the institute intends to support research on technology that can help the elderly live more comfortable and healthy lives. The fabled goal of retirement at age 60 with a full pension and a French country house might need a petit revision; Schwartzenberg describes the creation of "smart homes" that might have gadgets not only to assist with independent living but also to monitor an elderly person's cardiorespiratory function, cognition, and ability to move around.
As a new generation of French citizens vie to beat the longevity record set by their compatriot Jeanne Calment (who died in 1997 at the age of 122), research leaders in the country will be toiling to understand--and put a shine on--those golden years.
--Melissa Mertl

Further Reading

French Ministry of Research
http://www.recherche.gouv.fr/english
Playful Rejuvenation: Researchers turn to music and other diversions for inspiration (People)
Authors: Davenport R. John 
Published: August 2003

Donna Holmes
is skeptical of the "Grandmother Hypothesis" (see
Holmes Perspective
). But when a proponent of the theory contacted the University of Idaho researcher and suggested that the two of them didn't think that differently, Holmes worked hard to sort out the data on each side. "She sent me a vast amount of literature," says Holmes. "I'm still struggling to process all that information." When faced with such intense intellectual challenges, Holmes says she often retreats to the local bar and sits down with a margarita to focus on the problem at hand. If things get really overwhelming, however, she dons a vintage dress and a tiara.

Drive through Moscow, Idaho, on the right night and you might catch Holmes belting out Motown tunes with "The Hot Flashes." The diversion helps her set aside the challenges of studying aging and get mentally refreshed, she says: "Singing and performing just seem to require a whole different set of abilities and personality traits."
For several other scientists who study aging, creating music or venturing into the natural world brings perspective. For instance, Rudolph Tanzi, who studies Alzheimer's disease at Harvard Medical School in Boston, refreshes himself by tickling the ivories. "I just play piano and improvise on some jazz theme until I relax," he says. "It works every time." Music is more than just a diversion, however. In the '80s, Tanzi played steady gigs with Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple--and could even have passed up college to tour with Blackmore's new band at the time. Tanzi still records, and he intends the music from his "Quiet Mind Project" to do just what it says.

On the other side of the continent, when Caleb "Tuck" Finch of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles isn't investigating genomic regulation of aging processes, he's fiddlin' old-time music with the Iron Mountain String Band. Across the Atlantic, Adam Antebi blows the saxophone, which he says helps inspire his work on
Caenorhabditis elegans
aging and development at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin, Germany.

Music isn't the only thing that rejuvenates researchers; others turn to the great outdoors. María Blasco of the National Center of Biotechnology in Madrid says conversations with her husband during long hikes give her "a more global view." And scuba diving gets
Simon Melov
out of a rut. Melov, of the Buck Institute for Age Research in Novato, California, also recharges himself through visits to alien landscapes by reading science fiction.

What inspires you? Add a comment to this story and share how you refresh your mind.
--R. John Davenport
Real‐time resistivity sounding using a hand‐held broadband electromagnetic sensor
Authors: Huang Haoping , Won I. J. 
Published: August 2003

Common situations encountered in geophysical investigations involving environmental and engineering problems call for simple and fast onsite interpretation of the survey data so results can be available in a timely manner for the projects. We have developed a method of interpreting broadband electromagnetic induction (EMI) data using a hand‐held electromagnetic (EM) sensor based on a layered‐earth model. In conductive environments, a hand‐held EM sensor yields sufficient information for shallow resistivity soundings. The result is a conductivity–depth section based on the frequency‐sounding principle. Tests using simulated data show that the method can reasonably recover earth conductivity structures with up to several layers.We have field tested the method using data obtained with a GEM‐2 broadband EMI sensor. The conductivity–depth section converted from the field data reasonably reflects the known variations in earth conductivity. Because the current GEM‐2 is band‐limited to 48 kHz, the method works mainly in conductive environments. Sample GEM‐2 and GEM‐3 data collected over shallow seawater produced a bathymetric section with a precision of a few centimeters. Application of the method in resistive environments requires a broader bandwidth.
A proven method for acquiring highly repeatable towed streamer seismic data
Authors: Eiken Ola , Haugen Geir Ultveit , Schonewille Michel , Duijndam Adri 
Published: August 2003

Seismic reservoir monitoring has become an important tool in the management of many fields. Monitoring subtle changes in the seismic properties of a reservoir caused by production places strong demands on seismic repeatability. A lack of repeatability limits how frequently reservoir changes can be monitored or the applicability of seismic monitoring at all. In this paper we show that towing many streamers with narrow separation, combined with cross‐line interpolation of data onto predefined sail lines, can give highly repeatable marine seismic data. Results from two controlled zero time lag monitoring experiments in the North Sea demonstrate high sensitivity to changing water level and variations in lateral positions. After corrections by deterministic tidal time shifts and spatial interpolation of the irregularly sampled streamer data, relative rms difference amplitude levels are as low as 12% for a deep, structurally complex field and as low as 6% for a shallow, structurally simple field. Reducing the degree of nonrepeatability to as low as 6% to 12% allows monitoring of smaller reflectivity changes. In terms of reservoir management this has three important benefits: (1) reservoirs with small seismic changes resulting from production can be monitored, (2) reservoirs with large seismic changes can be monitored more frequently, and (3) monitoring data can be used more quantitatively.
Biochemical support for the V-ATPase rotary mechanism: antibody against HA-tagged Vma7p or Vma16p but not Vma10p inhibits activity
Authors: Aviezer-Hagai Keren , Padler-Karavani Vered , Nelson Nathan 
Published: August 2003

SUMMARYV-ATPase null mutants in yeast have a distinct, conditionally lethal phenotype that can be obtained through disruption of any one of its subunits. This enables supplementation of this mutant with the relevant subunit tagged with an epitope against which an antibody is available. In this system, the effect of antibody on the activity of the enzyme can be analyzed. Towards this end we used HA to tag subunits Vma7p, Vma10p and Vma16p, which are assumed to represent, respectively, the shaft, stator and turbine of the enzyme, and used them to supplement the corresponding yeast V-ATPase null mutants. The anti-HA epitope antibody inhibited both the ATP-dependent proton uptake and the ATPase activities of the Vma16p-HA and Vma7p-HA containing complexes, in intact vacuoles and in the detergent-solubilized enzyme. Neither of these activities was inhibited by the antibody in Vma10p-HA containing enzyme. These results support the function of Vma10p as part of the stator, while the other tagged subunits are part of the rotor apparatus. The HA-tag was attached to the N terminus of Vma16p; thus the antibody inhibition points to its accessibility outside the vacuolar membrane. This assumption is supported by the supplementation of the yeast mutant by the homologues of Vma16p isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana and lemon fruit c-DNA. Contrary to yeast, which has five predicted helices, the plant subunit Vma16p has only four. Our results confirm a recent report that only four of the yeast Vma16p complexes are actually transmembrane helices.
Comparison of renal and salt gland function in three species of wild ducks
Authors: Bennett Darin C. , Hughes Maryanne R. 
Published: August 2003

SUMMARYThree processes central to osmoregulation of marine birds were compared in three species of ducks that differ in habitat affinity, diet and saline tolerance. These processes are filtration of Na+ and water from the plasma by the kidneys, their reabsorption along the renal tubules, and secretion by the salt glands. Barrow's goldeneyes Bucephala islandica, the most marine species, have the highest rates for all three processes and only this species can secrete all the infused salt viathe salt glands. Rates of all three processes are lower in mallards Anas platyrhynchos, the most freshwater species. Following saline acclimation,mallards could excrete all the infused Na+ by a combined Na+ excretion of the kidneys and salt glands. Canvasbacks Aythya valisineria, despite being more saline tolerant than mallards,are unable to excrete all the infused Na+. They produce a large volume of urine (like mallards) that has a low [Na+] (like goldeneyes). Salt gland secretion Na+ concentration did not differ among the three species, but only goldeneyes secrete at a rate sufficient to eliminate all infused Na+via the salt glands. Differences in saline tolerance of these ducks species cannot be fully explained by differences in their filtration, reabsorption and secretion of Na+and water, suggesting that the intestinal tract plays an important role.
Monolith‐ and Silica‐Supported Carboxylate‐Based Grubbs–Herrmann‐Type Metathesis Catalysts
Authors: Krause Jens O. , Lubbad Said , Nuyken Oskar , Buchmeiser Michael R. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThe synthesis of silica‐ and monolith‐supported Grubbs–Herrmann‐type catalysts is described. Two polymerizable, carboxylate‐containing ligands, exo, exo‐7‐oxanorborn‐2‐ene‐5,6‐dicarboxylic anhydride and 7‐oxanorborn‐2‐ene‐5‐carboxylic acid were surface‐immobilized onto silica‐ and ring‐opening metathesis (ROMP‐) derived monolithic supports using “grafting‐from” techniques. The “1st generation Grubbs catalyst”, RuCl2(CHPh)(PCy3)2, was used for these purposes. In addition, a poly(norborn‐2‐ene‐b‐exo, exo‐norborn‐2‐ene‐5,6‐dicarboxylic anhydride)‐coated silica 60 was prepared. The polymer supported anhydride and carboxylate groups were converted into the corresponding mono‐ and disilver salts, respectively, and reacted with the Grubbs–Herrmann catalyst RuCl2(CHPh)(IMesH2)(PCy3) [IMesH2=1,3‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)‐4,5‐dihydroimidazol‐2‐ylidene]. Heterogenization was accomplished by exchange of one chlorine ligand with the polymeric, immobilized silver carboxylates to yield monolith‐supported catalysts 4, 5, and 6 as well as silica‐supported systems 7, 8 and 9. The actual composition of these heterogenized catalysts was proven by the synthesis of a homogeneous analogue, RuCl[7‐oxanorbornan‐2‐(COOAg)‐3‐COO](CHPh)(IMesH2)(PCy3) (3). All homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts were used in ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) of diethyl diallylmalonate, 1,7‐octadiene, diallyldiphenylsilane, methyl trans‐3‐pentenoate, diallyl ether, N,N‐diallyltrifluoracetamide and t‐butyl N,N‐diallylcarbamate allowing turnover numbers (TON's) close to 1000. In a flow‐through set‐up, an auxiliary effect of pendant silver carboxylates was observed with catalyst 5, where the silver moiety functions as a (reversible) phosphine scavenger that both accelerates initiation and stabilizes the catalyst by preventing phosphine elution. Detailed catalytic studies were carried out with the monolith‐supported systems 4 and 6 in order to investigate the effects of temperature and chain‐transfer agents (CTA's) such as cis‐1,4‐diacetoxybut‐2‐ene. In all RCM experiments Ru‐leaching was low, resulting in a Ru‐content of the RCM products ≤3.5 μg/g (3.5 ppm).
Lewis Acids as Highly Efficient Catalysts for the Decarboxylative Esterification of Carboxylic Acids with Dialkyl Dicarbonates
Authors: Gooßen L. , Döhring A. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractMild Lewis acids such as Mg(ClO4)2 show a new level of catalytic activity for the decarboxylative esterification of carboxylic acids with commercially available dialkyl dicarbonates. In the presence of as little as one mol % Mg(ClO4)2 catalyst, carboxylic acids can thus easily and near quantitatively be protected at room temperature, e.g., as methyl, benzyl, or t‐butyl esters. Only volatile by‐products are released so that the purification of the products is particularly easy. Many sensitive functionalities are tolerated, including even phenol esters, or free hydroxy and BOC groups.
Efficient Osmium/Rhenium‐Catalyzed Dihydroxylation of Olefins with Hydrogen Peroxide under Acidic Conditions
Authors: Éll Alida H. , Closson Adam , Adolfsson Hans , Bäckvall Jan‐E. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractSimple addition of citric acid confers great stability to the catalytically active osmium and rhenium species involved in a triple catalytic system utilizing aqueous hydrogen peroxide as the terminal oxidant. The resulting system is capable of dihydroxylating traditionally resistant olefins in high yields.
Combinatorial Design of Copper‐Based Mixed Nanoclusters: New Catalysts for Suzuki Cross‐Coupling
Authors: Thathagar Mehul B. , Beckers Jurriaan , Rothenberg Gadi 
Published: August 2003

AbstractQuantum dots (2–5 nm) of copper and copper/palladium mixtures are found to be good catalysts for Suzuki cross‐coupling. The catalysts are applicable to a wide range of iodo‐ and bromoaryl substrates, and give moderate yields using chloroaryl substrates. Cluster activity and stability is found to depend strongly on the preparation method and the reaction conditions. The mechanism of cluster deactivation and the sensitivity of the cluster‐catalysed reaction to substituent effects are studied and discussed.
Montmorillonite KSF‐Catalyzed One‐Pot, Three‐Component, Aza‐Diels–Alder Reactions of Methylenecyclopropanes with Arenecarbaldehydes and Arylamines
Authors: Shao Li‐Xiong , Shi Min 
Published: August 2003

AbstractA series of novel quinoline derivatives having a spirocyclopropyl ring can be synthesized by one‐pot, three‐component aza‐Diels–Alder reactions of arenecarbaldehydes, arylamines, and methylenecyclopropanes (MCPs) using a heterogeneous solid acid catalyst, montmorillonite KSF, under mild reaction conditions in good to excellent yields.
Catalyzed Reactions of Enol Ethers with SN1 Active Groups: A Novel Method for the Preparation of α‐Alkylated Ketones
Authors: Gansäuer Andreas , Fielenbach Doris , Stock Christoph , Geich‐Gimbel Daniel 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThe performance of tert‐alkylations, alkoxyalkylations, and aldehyde enolate allylations proceeding with low catalyst loading (0.1 mol %–5 mol %) is described. The reactions are complete within short times and can even be performed without solvent and under ambient conditions. The mechanism of the reaction was investigated by deuterium labeling and cross‐over studies.
A Novel Mesoporous Silica‐Supported Lewis Acid Catalyst for CC Bond Formation Reactions in Water
Authors: Sreekanth Pentlavalli , Kim Sang‐Wook , Hyeon Taegwhan , Kim B. Moon 
Published: August 2003

AbstractCatalytic allylation of carbonyl compounds in water using tetraallyltin in the presence of lanthanum sulfonate immobilized on mesoporous silica (SBA‐15) has been carried out for the first time. The reaction proceeded smoothly in water and furnished the corresponding homoallylic alcohols in good to excellent yields. The catalyst could be reused without significant loss of catalytic activity.
Practical Short Synthesis of 1β‐Methylcarbapenem Utilizing a New Dehydration Type Ti‐Dieckmann Condensation
Authors: Tanabe Yoo , Manta Naoki , Nagase Ryohei , Misaki Tomoniri , Nishii Yoshinori , Sunagawa Makoto , Sasaki Akira 
Published: August 2003

AbstractAn efficient, practical, and stereocontrolled synthesis of 1β‐methylcarbapenems has been performed utilizing a new dehydration type of Ti‐Dieckmann (intramolecular Ti‐Claisen) condensation. This cyclization reaction has the advantage of direct incorporation of the thiol moiety into the target 1β‐methylcarbapenem, compared with the traditional basic Dieckmann condensation. Another advantage is the use of environmentally benign (low toxicity and safe) reagents (TiCl4 and Et3N or Bu3N).
Polymer‐Supported Lewis Bases for the Baylis–Hillman Reaction
Authors: Huang Jin‐Wen , Shi Min 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThe use of polymer‐supported Lewis bases such as PEG4600‐(PPh2)2 and poly(DMAP) in the Baylis–Hillman reactions of N‐tosylimines (ArCHNTs) 1 or the corresponding arenecarbaldehydes with α,β‐unsaturated ketones has been investigated. The corresponding Baylis–Hillman adducts are obtained in good yields. The polymer‐supported Lewis bases can be easily recovered by filtration and the Lewis base PEG4600‐(PPh2)2 can be reproduced by reduction with LiAlH4 and CeCl3.
Chemie und Biologie des Roseophilins und der Prodigiosin‐Alkaloide: 2500 Jahre im Überblick
Authors: Fürstner Alois 
Published: August 2003

AbstractDie Pyrrolalkaloide der Prodigiosin‐Familie haben ein ungewöhnliches Kapitel der Alkaloidchemie geschrieben. Aufgrund ihrer charakteristischen roten Farbe können Kolonien der Prodigiosin‐produzierenden Gram‐negativen Bakterien Blutstropfen zum Verwechseln ähneln. Dies hat in der Vergangenheit offenbar für Verwirrung gesorgt und dürfte wohl zahlreiche scheinbar “wundersame” Ereignisse erklären. Seitdem jedoch der Schritt vom Aberglauben zur Naturwissenschaft vollzogen ist, ziehen die Prodigiosine wegen ihrer vielversprechenden physiologischen Eigenschaften einige Aufmerksamkeit auf sich. Besonders relevant sind in diesem Zusammenhang ihre immunsuppressiven Wirkungen, zumal In‐vivo‐Studien einen synergetischen Effekt bei gemeinsamer Verabreichung mit den klinisch eingesetzten Medikamenten Cyclosporin A und FK 506 nachweisen. Des Weiteren wird in diesem Aufsatz die Chemie des mit den Prodigiosinen nahe verwandten, strukturell ungewöhnlichen Alkaloids Roseophilin zusammengefasst, eines cytotoxischen Naturstoffs, der in den letzten Jahren Gegenstand zahlreicher innovativer Totalsynthesen war.