Divorcing romance, rights and radicalism:Beyond pro and anti in the lesbian and gay marriage debate

In this article about ‘For Better or Worse? Lesbian and Gay Marriage’ (Feminism & Psychology, 14[1]) we focus on the contributions to the special feature, the commentaries provided by Ellen Lewin (2004), Sheila Jeffreys (2004) and Sue Wise and Liz Stanley (2004), and on wider debates about lesbian and gay marriage and partnership recognition. We agree that ‘there is a lot of confusion/assumptions made about what “it” (i.e. “marriage”) is’ (Wise and Stanley, 2004: 333). Thus, when talking about same-sex partnership recognition we are concerned with civil marriage (or civil union, or civil partnership), and not religious marriage. Our emphasis is on the public not on the private sphere; we are less interested with the personal aspects of relationships (such as intimacy or commitment) than with their public function in, for instance, obtaining ‘rights and responsibilities’.

Corrosion and passivation of steel in concrete

A study of several chemical and electrochemical factors which affect the behaviour of embedded steel in cement pastes and concrete has been made. The effects of internal and external sources of chloride ions on the pore solution chemistry of Portland cement pastes, with and without additions of anodic corrosion inhibitors, have been studied using a pore solution expression device which has enabled samples of pore solution to be expressed from hardened cement pastes and analysed for various ionic species. Samples of pure alite and tricalcium aluminate have been prepared and characterised with respect to morphology, free lime content and fineness. Kinetics of diffusion of chloride ions in hardened pastes of alite and alite blended with tricalcium aluminate have been investigated and an activation energy obtained for the diffusion process in alite. The pore structures of the hardened pastes and the chloride ion binding capacity of alite have also been determined. Concrete cylinders containing embedded steel with four different surface conditions were exposed to various environments. The electrochemical behaviour of the steel was monitored during the period of exposure by means of rest potential measurements and the steel corrosion products analysed before and after being embedded. An examination was made of the nature of the interfacial zones produced between the embedded steel and cement. Rest potential measurements were monitored for steel embedded in alite paste in the presence of chloride ions and cement paste containing various levels of inhibitors in combination with chloride ions. In the latter case the results were supported by polarisation resistance determinations.

The role of zinc in the anti-tumour and anti-cachectic activity of D-myo-inositol 1,2,6-triphosphate

Background: D-myo-inositol-1,2,6-triphosphate (a-trinositol, AT) is a polyanionic molecule capable of chelating divalent metal ions with anti-tumour and anti-cachectic activity in a murine model. Methods: To investigate the role of zinc in this process, mice bearing cachexia-inducing MAC16 tumour were treated with AT, with or without concomitant administration of ZnSO4. Results: At a dose of 40mgkg-1, AT effectively attenuated both weight loss and growth of the MAC16 tumour, and both effects were attenuated by co-administration of Zn2+. The concentration of zinc in gastrocnemius muscle increased with increasing weight loss, whereas administration of AT decreased the levels of zinc in plasma, skeletal muscle and tumour, which were restored back to control values after administration of ZnSO4. Conclusion: These results suggest that zinc is important in both tumour growth and cachexia in this animal model.

Role of β-adrenergic receptors in the anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects of zinc-α2-glycoprotien (ZAG)

Objectives: The goal of the current study is to determine whether the ß-adrenoreceptor (ß-AR) plays a role in the anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects of zinc-a2-glycoprotein (ZAG). Material and methods: This has been investigated in CHO-K1 cells transfected with the human ß1-, ß2-, ß3-AR and in ob/ob mice. Cyclic AMP assays were carried out along with binding studies. Ob/ob mice were treated with ZAG and glucose transportation and insulin were examined in the presence or absence of propranolol. Results: ZAG bound to the ß3-AR with higher affinity (Kd 46±1nM) than the ß2-AR (Kd 71±3nM) while there was no binding to the ß1-AR, and this correlated with the increases in cyclic AMP in CHO-K1 cells transfected with the various ß-AR and treated with ZAG. Treatment of ob/ob mice with ZAG increased protein expression of ß3-AR in gastrocnemius muscle, and in white and brown adipose tissues, but had no effect on expression of ß1- and ß2-AR. A reduction of body weight was seen and urinary glucose excretion, increase in body temperature, reduction in maximal plasma glucose and insulin levels in the oral glucose tolerance test, and stimulation of glucose transport into skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, were completely attenuated by the non-specific ß-AR antagonist propranolol. Conclusion: The results suggest that the effects of ZAG on body weight and insulin sensitivity in ob/ob mice are manifested through a ß-3AR, or possibly a ß2-AR.

From 'perfect mix' to 'potion magique':regulatory T cells and anti-inflammatory cytokines as adjuvant targets

The efficacy of vaccines can be greatly improved by the addition of adjuvants, which enhance and modify immune responses. Historically, adjuvants have been discovered empirically by using experimental models.

Antipyretic, analgesic and anti-oxidative activities of Aquilaria crassna leaves extract in rodents

In Thailand, the leaves of Aquilaria crassna have been used traditionally for the treatments of various disorders, but without any scientific analysis. In this study, the antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties of A. crassna leaves extract were investigated at a wide dose range in rodents. Experimental animals were treated orally with an aqueous extract of Aquilaria crassna leaves (ACE). They were tested for antipyretic (Baker′s yeast-induced fever in rats), analgesic (hot plate test in mice) and anti-inflammatory (carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats) activities. An anti-oxidative effect of ACE was evaluated by using the DPPH anti-oxidant assay. The results showed that, after 5 hours of yeast injection, 400 and 800 mg/kg ACE significantly reduced the rectal temperature of rats. Mice were found significantly less sensitive to heat at an oral dose of 800 mg/kg ACE, after 60 and 90 min. No anti-inflammatory activity of ACE at an 800 mg/kg dose could be observed in the rat paw assay. An anti-oxidative activity of ACE was observed with an IC 50 value of 47.18 g/ ml. No behavioral or movement change could be observed in mice after oral administration of ACE (800 or 8,000 mg/kg) for seven consecutive days. Interestingly, from the second day of treatment, animals had a significant lower body weight at the 8,000 mg/kg dose of ACE compared to the control. No toxicity was identified and the results of this study state clearly that Aquilaria crassna leaves extracts possess antipyretic, analgesic and anti-oxidative properties without anti-inflammatory activity.

Within-role, extra-role and anti-role behaviours in retail banking

Purpose: This paper aims to explore front line employee performance in retail banking and presents distinct components of employee performance, including extra-role and sabotage behaviours. Design/methodology/approach: Data was collected from Irish bank employees. Usable responses were received from 404 respondents and subjected to exploratory factor analysis. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to undertake a confirmatory factor analysis of the emergent five-factor model. Findings: Results indicate front line employee performance is multi-faceted and comprised of civility, assurance and reliability, customer orientation, as well as extra-role behaviour and anti-role behaviour, or sabotage. Research limitations/implications: This exploratory study focuses on the Irish banking sector. To explore the generalisabilty of results, replication studies among other samples of branch banking employees in other countries are in order. Moreover, our survey is limited to the views of branch employees. We advocate research among bank managers and customers to triangulate potentially divergent views about performance. Practical implications: Findings have implications for recruitment, training and rewards. To ensure new hires are service minded, managers must consider their potential for extra-role or sabotage behaviour. Employees who demonstrate extra-role behaviours must be rewarded to encourage the adoption of such behaviours. Managers must also seek to minimise job stress in order to curtail anti-role behaviours. Originality/value: This paper offers insights into employees' views about their own performance at the front line. It extends the conceptualisation of service quality, by considering extra-role behaviour and sabotage as components of employee performance. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Antidepressant/anxiolytic and anti-nociceptive effects of novel 2-substituted 1,4-benzodiazepine-2-ones

Oxazepam (4a) has been used as overall starting material in the synthesis of novel 2-substituted 1,4-benzodiazepines. By reacting Oxazepam 4a with commercially available hydrazines, hydrazides, semicarbazide, aminoguanidine and N,N-dimethylamino aniline in ethanol under acetic conditions, a series of diazenyl-1,4-benzodiazepines 5a-5i and 2-amino- 1,4-benzodiazepine 5k were obtained in good yields. These novel compounds served as new chemical entities (NCE) for testing in mice. The diazo-benzodiazepine 5d has shown a promising antidepressant effect in initial experiments in vivo at a dose of 5 mg/kg. The highly coloured 2-aminobenzodiazepine derivative 5k showed over a dose range from 5-50 mg/kg an analgesic effect in mice. © Singh et al.

In-Vivo Corrosion and Fretting of Modular TI-6AL-4V/CO-CR-MO Hip Prostheses: The Influence of Microstructure and Design Parameters

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of corrosion and fretting in 48 retrieved titanium-6aluminum-4vanadium and/or cobalt-chromium-molybdenum modular total hip prosthesis with respect to alloy material microstructure and design parameters. The results revealed vastly different performance results for the wide array of microstructures examined. Severe corrosion/fretting was seen in 100% of as-cast, 24% of low carbon wrought, 9% of high carbon wrought and 5% of solution heat treated cobalt-chrome. Severe corrosion/fretting was observed in 60% of Ti-6Al-4V components. Design features which allow for fluid entry and stagnation, amplification of contact pressure and/or increased micromotion were also shown to play a role. 75% of prosthesis with high femoral head-trunnion offset exhibited poor performance compared to 15% with a low offset. Large femoral heads (>32mm) did not exhibit poor corrosion or fretting. Implantation time was not sufficient to cause poor performance; 54% of prosthesis with greater than 10 years in-vivo demonstrated none or mild corrosion/fretting.

Changes in [18F]Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose incorporation induced by doxorubicin and anti-HER antibodies by breast cancer cells modulated by co-treatment with metformin and its effects on intracellular signalling

Peer reviewed

Changes in [18F]Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose incorporation induced by doxorubicin and anti-HER antibodies by breast cancer cells modulated by co-treatment with metformin and its effects on intracellular signalling

Peer reviewed

Changes in [18F]Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose incorporation induced by doxorubicin and anti-HER antibodies by breast cancer cells modulated by co-treatment with metformin and its effects on intracellular signalling

Peer reviewed