The angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor antagonizes the growth effects of the AT1 receptor: gain-of-function study using gene transfer.

The type 1 angiotensin II (AT1) receptor is well characterized but the type 2 (AT2) receptor remains an enigma. We tested the hypothesis that the AT2 receptor can modulate the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells by transfecting an AT2 receptor expression vector into the balloon-injured rat carotid artery and observed that overexpression of the AT2 receptor attenuated neointimal formation. In cultured smooth muscle cells, AT2 receptor transfection reduced proliferation and inhibited mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the AT2 receptor mediated the developmentally regulated decrease in aortic DNA synthesis at the latter stages of gestation. These results suggest that the AT2 receptor exerts an antiproliferative effect, counteracting the growth action of AT1 receptor.

A Divine Round Trip: the Literary and Christological Function of the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif in the Gospel of John

The thesis of this dissertation is that the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif, which includes the language of not only descending and ascending, but also going, coming, and being sent, performs a significant literary and christological function in the Gospel of John. The Evangelist's Descent/Ascent Leitmotif becomes the Gospel's organizing principal, drawing together a constellation of verbs and a number of themes, including Jesus-Son's origin, identity, relationship to God, authority, signs and works, life, and glory. In the introductory chapter, after providing a layout of the dissertation, the discussion turns to the spacial dimensions and christological importance of the vertical and horizontal depictions of the descending, ascending, coming, going, and being sent verbs. The focus of chapter two is to explain and illustrate, using a version of the Cinderella story, a method that serves to identify the Leitmotif and the verbs, motifs, and themes the Leitmotif draws within its constellation. This approach, titled a thematic structural method, integrates works from thematic scholars Horst Daemmrich and Eugene Falk with works from literary structural scholars A. J Greimas and Roland Barthes, and is a tool to analyze the influence of the Leitmotif as the Gospel's organizing principal on the relationships between the Leitmotif and numerous themes from which John's Christology emerges. The task of chapter three is to explain the rationale for the selection of the Leitmotif's verbs of descending, ascending, coming, going, and being sent. Chapters four and five investigate how the Evangelist, with the repetition of the Leitmotif, constructs his narrative to tell the story of the historical Jesus and shape the Evangelist's Christology. Additionally, the focus is to analyze the transforming influences of the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif on the themes of Jesus-Son's origin, identity, relationship to the Father, and authority, through his signs and works, life, and glory. The Descent/Ascent Leitmotif depicts a divine round trip, and the emphasis of chapter six is to examine the role of the Leitmotif in Jesus-Son's departure from the world and return to God. The Evangelist's use of the Leitmotif in Jesus' prayer to the Father (John 17) and the promise of the Paraclete are included in this chapter. Due to the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif's inherent spatial overtones, elements related to Jesus' return, including heaven, world, the hour, and his form after his resurrection, are explored from a cosmological and ontological perspective.

Examining the Alliance-Outcome Relationship: Reverse Causation, Third Variables, and Treatment Phase Artifacts

Psychotherapy research reveals consistent associations between therapeutic alliance and treatment outcomes in the youth and adult literatures. Despite these consistent findings, prospective associations are not sufficient to support the claim that the alliance is a change mechanism in psychotherapy. The current study examined the direction of effect of the alliance- outcome relationship, the contribution of early symptom change in treatment to the development of therapeutic alliance, and the potential for pretreatment interpersonal functioning characteristics to be third variables that account for the association between alliance and outcome. Participants were adolescents with depression and a history of interpersonal trauma that presented to a community mental health center for treatment. Findings demonstrated that a more positive therapeutic alliance predicted greater subsequent symptom improvement, even after removing symptom change occurring before the measurement of alliance. Results also suggested that early change only slightly contributed to alliance development. Finally, though pretreatment interpersonal functioning was related to the first session alliance, these pretreatment client characteristics were not related to later alliance or symptom change. Overall, results provided some support for therapeutic alliance as a mechanism of change in psychotherapy. Methodological and clinical issues are discussed.

The Europeanisation of Criminal Law and the Criminal Law Dimension of European Integration. Research Papers in Law, 3/2005

From the Introduction. In the academic year 1991-1992, Utrecht University, on my initiative, started to offer courses in European criminal law. This initiative came at a symbolic moment, just prior to the entry into force of the EU Treaty of Maastricht1 and the outlining of European policy in the areas of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA). The Director of the Legal Department, Paul DEMARET, was aware of the significance of this development and I have been given the opportunity to teach this subject at the College of Europe since 1995. Since then, JHA has evolved into one of the main areas of EU legislation. Now we are again on the threshold of an important historical feat. In June 2003, the European Convention reached agreement concerning a draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.2 The use of the term “Constitution” for the future EU Treaty is not simply cosmetic. The realisation has dawned that EU integration must be embedded in a treaty document which also regulates the rights and duties of citizens, not just with respect to European citizenship, but also with respect to, for example, Justice. Where JHA is concerned, this result acknowledges that the harmonisation of criminal law and criminal procedure and transnational cooperation cannot preclude the harmonisation of principles of due law and fair trial. Despite the substantial Europeanisation of criminal law, many criminal lawyers are defending the achievements and typicalities of their national criminal law like never before. EU initiatives are assessed from the perspective of the national agenda and national achievements. We are still too far removed from a European criminal law policy that is both European and enjoys national support. The core issue is therefore not how to keep our criminal (procedural) law national and free from European influences, but rather how to ensure democratic decision making, the quality of the constitutional state and the guarantees of criminal law in a national administrative model which has to operate increasingly interactively within a European and international context. In this contribution, the contours of the Europeanisation of criminal law are outlined and analysed. First, attention will be paid to the EC and, second, to the JHA. Following this, an evaluation and a look ahead at the current IGC are indicated.

The poetical works of Edmund Spenser.

Illustrated title pages.

The temple of the Scottish rite, Washington, D.C. /

The Architectural review, vol. IV (Old series, vol. XXI) number 1, January 1916.

The New Testament manuscripts of the Freer collection.

The first part of this volume is not a new ed., but a reprint of the 1912 ed. cf. Pref.

Dissertations on the apostolic age, reprinted from editions of St. Paul's Epistles.

Armorial book-plate: Oundle School Library.

John Udell Journal, kept during a trip across the plains,

Mode of access: Internet.

The Elector's guide. Addressed to the freeholders of the county of York.

No. I. The "Catholic question".--No. II. The general state of the country banks and paper money; Death of Alexander, emperor of Russia; State of parties in the kingdom; A letter to Fountayne Wilson, esq.; Duncombe and the treadmill; Poetry and miscellanies.--No. III. A letter to the Duke of York; Auri sacra fames; or, Sturdy beggars: a county job; Church Methodism; A Protestant confessor; His Majesty's speech to Parliament; Miscellanies, and poetry.--No. IV. A letter to Daniel Sykes, esq. on West Indian slavery; Catholic and Protestant; The last man; Confidence in banks; Hints to electors; The proceedings in Parliament, &c., &c., &c.--No. V. An address to the suffering people of England; Slavery; A letter to Sir John Bayley, knt,; Banks; The Protestant champion; Poetry, &c., &c.--No. VI. A charge of His Grace the Archbishop of York to the clergy of the diocese; A secret; A good action.--No. VII. Observations upon county representation; A full account of the county meeting, &c., &c.

National estuarine inventory : land use and the Nation's estuaries /

Mode of access: Internet.

The visitation of Cheshire in the year 1580,

Mode of access: Internet.

Testimony taken before the Joint committee of the Senate and Assembly of the state of New York to investigate and examine into the business and affairs of life insurance companies doing business in the state of New York.

Vol. 10 contains also various bills introduced in the Legislature by the committee, and "Index to the Testimony and Exhibits ... Brandow printing company, state printers,Albany, N.Y. 1905."

Potted fiction : being a series of extracts from the world's best sellers, put up in thin slices for hurried consumers /

Verso of t.p.: Published July, 1908.

The history and rudiments of architecture /

I. The orders of architecture -- II. Architectural styles of various countries -- III. The nature and principles of design in architecture -- IV. An accurate and complete glossary of architectural terms.