Steroidogenesis of the testis - new genes and pathways

Defects of androgen biosynthesis cause 46,XY disorder of sexual development (DSD). All steroids are produced from cholesterol and the early steps of steroidogenesis are common to mineralocorticoid, glucocorticoid and sex steroid production. Genetic mutations in enzymes and proteins supporting the early biosynthesis pathways cause adrenal insufficiency (AI), DSD and gonadal insufficiency. The classic androgen biosynthesis defects with AI are lipoid CAH, CYP11A1 and HSD3B2 deficiencies. Deficiency of CYP17A1 rarely causes AI, and HSD17B3 or SRD5A2 deficiencies only cause 46,XY DSD and gonadal insufficiency. All androgen biosynthesis depends on 17,20 lyase activity of CYP17A1 which is supported by P450 oxidoreductase (POR) and cytochrome b5 (CYB5). Therefore 46,XY DSD with apparent 17,20 lyase deficiency may be due to mutations in CYP17A1, POR or CYB5. Illustrated by patients harboring mutations in SRD5A2, normal development of the male external genitalia depends largely on dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is converted from circulating testicular testosterone (T) through SRD5A2 in the genital skin. In the classic androgen biosynthetic pathway, T is produced from DHEA and androstenedione/-diol in the testis. However, recently found mutations in AKR1C2/4 genes in undervirilized 46,XY individuals have established a role for a novel, alternative, backdoor pathway for fetal testicular DHT synthesis. In this pathway, which has been first elucidated for the tammar wallaby pouch young, 17-hydroxyprogesterone is converted directly to DHT by 5α-3α reductive steps without going through the androgens of the classic pathway. Enzymes AKR1C2/4 catalyse the critical 3αHSD reductive reaction which feeds 17OH-DHP into the backdoor pathway. In conclusion, androgen production in the fetal testis seems to utilize two pathways but their exact interplay remains to be elucidated.

In Search of Political Influence: Strategic Choices and Media Coverage of Political Parties, Interest Groups and Social Movements in Western European Countries

Outside lobbying is a key strategy for social movements, interest groups and political parties for mobilising public opinion through the media in order to pressure policymakers and influence the policymaking process. Relying on semi-structured interviews and newspaper content analysis in six Western European countries, this article examines the use of four outside lobbying strategies – media-related activities, informing (about) the public, mobilisation and protest – and the amount of media coverage they attract. While some strategies are systematically less pursued than others, we find variation in their relative share across institutional contexts and actor types. Given that most of these differences are not accurately mirrored in the media, we conclude that media coverage is only loosely connected to outside lobbying behaviour, and that the media respond differently to a given strategy when used by different actors. Thus, the ability of different outside lobbying strategies to generate media coverage critically depends on who makes use of them.

Unsane taukef : liturgick song of the Hebrew New Year and Day of Atonement ; [voice and piano solo]

by Joachim Kurantmann

Unsane taukef : liturgick song of the Hebrew New Year and Day of Atonement ; [violin solo]

by Joachim Kurantmann

The sacred musical compositions of the late Israel Lazarus Mombach : containing the services for Sabbaths and festivals, New Year and Day of Atonement, consecration hymns, psalms and choral wedding service

ed. by M. Keizer

Heralding a new society, and venerating the English King: Australische, neuseeländische und indische Soldaten in Gallipoli und an der Westfront

Der Erste Weltkrieg war – das hatten deutsche Militärs vor 1914 schon erwartet – von Beginn weg ein globaler Krieg. Grossbritannien und Frankreich setzten nämlich schon ab den ersten Monaten Truppen aus anderen Teilen der Welt auch in Europa ein. Dazu gehörten auch Soldaten aus Australien, Neuseeland und Indien. Teile letzterer kämpften schon im Herbst 1914 in Nordfrankreich und Belgien mit, andere waren ab April 1915 auf der türkischen Halbinsel Gallipoli aktiv. Dort kamen erstmals auch australische und neuseeländische Soldaten und Offiziere zum Einsatz. Ab 1916 wurden diese dann zu grossen Teilen an der Westfront verlegt, während die meisten indischen Verbände ab diesem Zeitpunkt im Nahen Osten zum Einsatz kamen. Der vorliegende Beitrag versucht auf der Grundlage von Selbstzeugnissen und Fremdbeschreibungen an exemplarischen Beispielen aufzuzeigen, wie es dazu kam, dass Soldaten und Offiziere aus Australien, Neuseeland und Indien in Gallipoli und an der Westfront zum Einsatz kamen, welches ihre Motivationen und Ziele waren, inwiefern sie sich dabei als Minderheit verstanden und welche Vorstellungen sie mit Blick auf ihre Rolle bzw. die Rolle ihrer Heimat nach dem Krieg hatten. Zum Schluss soll noch ein kurzer Blick auf die Bedeutsamkeit dieser Soldaten im Rahmen der nationalen und regionalen Erinnerungskultur in den drei Ländern geworfen werden.