Danish Balance of Payments Support

Summaries This study is an analysis of Danish Balance of Payments Support (BOP) covering the period 1988–94. This aid instrument was not as significant in Denmark as in other like minded donor countries. Danish BOP was mainly used in a residual manner to keep up disbursement rates and promote procurement from Danish suppliers. Commodity Import Support (CIS) was by far the dominant modality used, although fundamental changes have been on the way since 1991. Nonetheless, despite the macroeconomic nature of BOP assistance existing evaluation studies and reviews have focused on microeconomic and administrative issues. Very little can therefore at this stage be concluded about the macroeconomic impact of Danish BOP aid

Introduction: Aid?effectiveness, Prisoners' Dilemmas, and Country Allocations

SUMMARY In theory — and in project and country experience — aid has proved its potential to stimulate growth, and sometimes to reduce poverty. But the record has been worsening, for four reasons. First, donors' self?interest impedes their attempts to help recipients to improve policy. Second, each donor (and each recipient ministry), in pursuing its own interests, damages the total performance of aid. Third, the recent shifts from project to programme aid require better support with manpower training, and subtler concepts of ‘policy dialogue’. Finally, the growing scandal of country aid allocations needs attention. SOMMAIRE Introduction: l'efficacité de l'aide, les dilemmes de prisonnier, et l'allocation par pays En théorie — et en pratique (des projets et des pays) — l'aide a démontré le potentiel de stimuler la croissance, et a parfois réduit la pauvreté. Mais la situation s'est détériorée pour quatre raisons. D'abord, le propre intérêt des donneurs mine leurs efforts d'aider les pays recevants à améliorer leurs politiques. En second lieu, chaque donneur (et chaque ministère récipient), en agissant selon ses propres intérêts, amoindrit les résultats totaux de l'aide. Troisièmement, la réorientation récente de l'aide aux projets, vers de l'aide aux programmes, exige une soutenance améliorée, et des concepts plus raffinés de dialogue de la politique. Enfin, il faut tirer l'attention sur le scandal aggrandissant de l'allocation de l'aide par pays. RESUMEN Introducción: Efectividad de la ayuda, dilemas de los prisioneros y distribución por paises En teoría, así como en la experiencia relativa a proyectos y a países, la ayuda ha probado su potencialidad para estimular el crecimiento y, a veces, para reducir la pobreza. No obstante, los impactos positivos de la ayuda han ido menguando debido a cuatro razones. Primero, los intereses propios de los donantes interfieren sus intentos para ayudar a mejorar las políticas a los receptores. Segundo, cada donante (y cada ministerio receptor) al perseguir su propio interés, daña el resultado total de la ayuda. Tercero, los cambios recientes de la ayuda de proyectos a programas, requieren de un mejor apoyo que implica entrenamiento en capacitación y el concepto sutil ‘diálogo sobre politicas’. Finalmente, el creciente escándalo sobre la asignación de la ayuda por países, requiere atención

The Structural Basis of Gas-Responsive Transcription by the Human Nuclear Hormone Receptor REV-ERBβ

Heme is a ligand for the human nuclear receptors (NR) REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ, which are transcriptional repressors that play important roles in circadian rhythm, lipid and glucose metabolism, and diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, inflammation, and cancer. Here we show that transcription repression mediated by heme-bound REV-ERBs is reversed by the addition of nitric oxide (NO), and that the heme and NO effects are mediated by the C-terminal ligand-binding domain (LBD). A 1.9 Å crystal structure of the REV-ERBβ LBD, in complex with the oxidized Fe(III) form of heme, shows that heme binds in a prototypical NR ligand-binding pocket, where the heme iron is coordinately bound by histidine 568 and cysteine 384. Under reducing conditions, spectroscopic studies of the heme-REV-ERBβ complex reveal that the Fe(II) form of the LBD transitions between penta-coordinated and hexa-coordinated structural states, neither of which possess the Cys384 bond observed in the oxidized state. In addition, the Fe(II) LBD is also able to bind either NO or CO, revealing a total of at least six structural states of the protein. The binding of known co-repressors is shown to be highly dependent upon these various liganded states. REV-ERBs are thus highly dynamic receptors that are responsive not only to heme, but also to redox and gas. Taken together, these findings suggest new mechanisms for the systemic coordination of molecular clocks and metabolism. They also raise the possibility for gas-based therapies for the many disorders associated with REV-ERB biological functions

Metabolic and morphological alterations induced by proteolysis-inducing factor from Walker tumour-bearing rats in C2C12 myotubes

BACKGROUND: Patients with advanced cancer suffer from cachexia, which is characterised by a marked weight loss, and is invariably associated with the presence of tumoral and humoral factors which are mainly responsible for the depletion of fat stores and muscular tissue. METHODS: In this work, we used cytotoxicity and enzymatic assays and morphological analysis to examine the effects of a proteolysis-inducing factor (PIF)-like molecule purified from ascitic fluid of Walker tumour-bearing rats (WF), which has been suggested to be responsible for muscle atrophy, on cultured C2C12 muscle cells. RESULTS: WF decreased the viability of C2C12 myotubes, especially at concentrations of 20-25 mug.mL-1. There was an increase in the content of the pro-oxidant malondialdehyde, and a decrease in antioxidant enzyme activity. Myotubes protein synthesis decreased and protein degradation increased together with an enhanced in the chymotrypsin-like enzyme activity, a measure of functional proteasome activity, after treatment with WF. Morphological alterations such as cell retraction and the presence of numerous cells in suspension were observed, particularly at high WF concentrations. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that WF has similar effects to those of proteolysis-inducing factor, but is less potent than the latter. Further studies are required to determine the precise role of WF in this experimental model. © 2008 Yano et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

The catatonic dilemma expanded

Catatonia is a common syndrome that was first described in the literature by Karl Kahlbaum in 1874. The literature is still developing and remains unclear on many issues, especially classification, diagnosis, and pathophysiology. Clinicians caring for psychiatric patients with catatonic syndromes continue to face many dilemmas in diagnosis and treatment. We discuss many of the common problems encountered in the care of a catatonic patient, and discuss each problem with a review of the literature. Focus is on practical aspects of classification, epidemiology, differential diagnosis, treatment, medical comorbidity, cognition, emotion, prognosis, and areas for future research in catatonic syndromes