Presidential elections in Guinea Bissau 2005: a stabilizing factor in a fragile democracy or only a spot test of the state of affairs?

This article describes the 2005 Guinea Bissau presidential elections. First, the recent historical background is discussed in terms of the rise of parties, emergence of an electoral system, and the range of candidates and political powers at play in 2005. Next, the fifteen days of electoral campaigning are examined, followed by a consideration of the significance of ethnic voting in the elections. The penultimate section describes the attempts of international bodies to observe the electoral process's fairness and transparency. The closing considers the future of electoral development in the country and region, emphasizing the need for the international community to remain involved in political oversight

Oxidative stress stimulates alpha-tocopherol transfer protein in human trophoblast tumor cells BeWo

alpha-Tocopherol transfer protein (alpha-TTP) has been identified as the major intracellular transport protein for the antioxidant vitamin E (alpha-Tocopherol). Expression of alpha-TTP on the reproductive system has been described both in mouse uterus and lately in the human placenta. The aim of this study was to clarify if placental expression of alpha-TTP can be modified by substances causing oxidative reactions. The human choriocarcinoma cell line BeWo was, therefore, treated with two known pro-oxidants. alpha-TTP expression was determined with immunocytochemistry and evaluated by applying a semiquantitative score. The presence of pro-oxidants in BeWo cells induced alpha-TTP expression. We thus hypothesize that stimulation of alpha-TTP expression by oxidative stress, as this was induced by pro-oxidants, could be part of an antioxidant process occurring in the placenta in the aim of enhancing the supply of alpha-Tocopherol. This process could occur both in normal pregnancies, as well as in pregnancy disorders presented with intensified oxidative stress. In that view, this model is proposed for further oxidative stress studies on trophoblast and placenta, on the grounds of clarifying the role of alpha-Tocopherol in pregnancy physiology and pathophysiology

The Frontal Hydraulic Head: A Micro-α Scale (~1 km) Triggering Mechanism for Mesoconvective Weather Systems

Measurements from the NOAA Boulder Atmospheric Observatory (BAO) 300 m tower, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Sabreliner aircraft, and the NOAA GOES-5 satellite, give evidence for the cross-front scale collapse of nonprecipitating surface cold-frontal zones to horizontal distances of ∼1 km or less. The leading edges of these frosts possess the characteristic structure of density current flows: an elevated hydraulic head followed by a turbulent wake. Vertical motions at the frontal heads exceed 5 m s−1 at 300 m (AGL). The ascent at the frontal head may act as a (∼1 km-scale) triggering mechanism for the release of potential instability and the formation of intense squall-line mesoconvection

Impact of Quantitative Feedback via High-Fidelity Airway Management Training on Success Rate in Endotracheal Intubation in Undergraduate Medical Students—A Prospective Single-Center Study

Endotracheal intubation is still the gold standard in airway management. For medical students and young professionals, it is often difficult to train personal skills. We tested a high-fidelity simulator with an additional quantitative feedback integration to elucidate if competence acquisition for airway management is increased by using this feedback method. In the prospective trial, all participants (n = 299; 4th-year medical students) were randomized into two groups—One had been trained on the simulator with additional quantitative feedback (n = 149) and one without (n = 150). Three simulator measurements were considered as quality criteria—The pressure on the upper front row of teeth, the correct pressure point of the laryngoscope spatula and the correct depth for the fixation of the tube. There were a total of three measurement time points—One after initial training (with additional capture of cognitive load), one during the exam, and a final during the follow-up, approximately 20 weeks after the initial training. Regarding the three quality criteria, there was only one significant difference, with an advantage for the control group with respect to the correct pressure point of the laryngoscope spatula at the time of the follow-up (p = 0.011). After the training session, the cognitive load was significantly higher in the intervention group (p = 0.008) and increased in both groups over time. The additional quantitative feedback of the airway management trainer brings no measurable advantage in training for endotracheal intubation. Due to the increased cognitive load during the training, simple airway management task training may be more efficient for the primary acquisition of essential procedural steps

Bürgerkontaktsystem (BKS) - ein virtueller Behördengang per Internet

Aus Punkt 1: "Unsere Zeit ist charakterisiert durch den Übergang von der Industriegesellschaft zur Informations- und Wissensgesellschaft. Grundlage dafür ist die rasante Entwicklung der Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie, insbesondere seit Mitte der 90-iger Jahre. Netzwerke, allen voran das Internet, Computer, mobile Endgeräte und eine Vielzahl etablierter Dienste gestatten · eine unkomplizierte Kommunikation; · eine Bereitstellung von Informationen und Diensten weltweit und rund um die Uhr; Waren die neuen Medien in den Anfängen nur einem elitären Kreis vorbehalten, so entwickelt sich deren Nutzung derzeit zu einem Massenmarkt. Für die Verwaltung ist es eine Herausforderung, in diesem Prozess nicht nachzustehen. Der Bürger verlangt zunehmend die Inanspruchnahme der neuen Medien als Unterstützung für die Erledigung seiner Behördengänge. Gebündelt sind die vielfältigen Aktivitäten zur Neuausrichtung der IT-Angebote unter der E-Government-Initiative des Bundes der Länder und der Kommunen. Richtungsweisende Projekte gibt es im Zusammenhang mit der Entwicklung des Informationsverbundes Berlin–Bonn (IV-BB), dem Internetangebot www.bund.de auf Bundesebene, dem Pilotprojekt Media@Komm auf regionaler und kommunaler Ebene.

Synthese pharmakologisch relevanter Ringsysteme durch neuartige Cyclisierungsreaktionen von Dinucleophilen mit Dielektrophilen

Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit sollte es sein, Dielektrophile mit Dinucleophilen zur Reaktion zu bringen und durch diese Cyclisierungsreaktionen pharmakologisch interessante Ringsysteme aufzubauen. So wurden 1,1-Bis(trimethylsilyloxy)ketenacetale mit Oxalylchlorid in einer „Eintopfreaktion“ zu 3-Hydroxymaleinsäueanhydriden umgesetzt. In weiteren „Eintopfreaktionen“ konnten die in situ generierten Iminiumsalze des Chinoxalins und des Pyrazins mit 1,1-Bis(trimethylsilyloxy)ketenacetalen und mit 1,5-Bis(silylenolethern) cyclisiert werden. Es gelang somit, erfolgreich polycyclischen Ringsystemen mit Chionoxalingrundgerüst herzustellen. 1,1-Bis(tosyloxymethyl)cyclopropan und –butan konnten mittels SN2- Reaktionen mit Sauerstoff- und Schwefel-Dinucleophilen zu einer Vielzahl von Heterospiranen umgesetzt werden. Ein weiteres Ziel dieser Arbeit war die Synthese stickstoff- und schwefelhaltiger 2-Vinylchroman-4-on-Analoga sowie deren pharmakologische Untersuchung