Exploiting proteomics in the discovery of drugs that target mitochondrial oxidative damage

To understand how oxidative stress contributes to aging and age-related diseases and to better evaluate the therapeutic effect of antioxidant drugs, it would be highly desirable to have a comprehensive and detailed readout of the types of oxidative damage that occur to proteins at a global or proteome level. In this Perspective, I examine how proteomics, defined here as the science of examining all proteins in an organelle, cell, or tissue in the context of biological phenomena, can be used to provide molecular details of mitochondrial protein oxidative damage. Specifically, I discuss approaches that combine knowledge of the mitochondrial proteome with newer mass spectrometry-based techniques that are capable of identifying proteins and sites of oxidative modification in a high-throughput manner.     

Caregiving role affects family relationships of African American grandmothers as new mothers again: a phenomenological perspective

Currently, African American grandmothers are becoming caregivers to grandchildren whose parents, for various reasons, are not providing them with adequate care. Replacing their adult children, as parents, while continuing to mother them along with caring for grandchildren are essential components of this complex situation. A part of the findings from this qualitative study of the experience of grandmother caregivers indicated that family relations are affected with their grandchildren, the parents of their grandchildren, and their other adult children. Implications for culturally sensitive, family-centered clinical practice and future research are discussed.     

The NGOs and the Grand Illusions of Development and Democracy

The role of civil society in the improvement of equitable development and the stimulation of democratic culture has been notably recognised by international development agencies. In the new policy of ‘good governance’ that proposes progress regarding development and democracy in parallel in the developing countries, civil society is often represented by non-governmental organisations (NGOs). This paper bases its arguments primarily on theories in relation to the role of civil society with regard to development and democracy to raise concerns about current policy trends of ‘good governance’ in the general context of developing countries with the main focus on Africa. The concerns are substantiated by empirical verification through a review of literature. The paper concludes that NGOs are unlikely to have the strength to either promote development or foster democracy.     

Counter-geographies: The campaign against rationalisation of agricultural research stations in New South Wales, Australia

This paper discusses an example of community action mounted in a rural region of New South Wales, Australia, in response to proposals by the State Government to rationalise agricultural research stations operated by the Department of Primary Industries. Informed by a Foucaultian understanding of power and the concept of governmentality, neoliberalism is theorised as being the broad governmental context in which rationalisation proposals were put forward. Recent literature drawing on this theoretical perspective has emphasised that neoliberalism is enacted through a relationship of power, and is not monolithic or inevitable. Neoliberalism is always negotiated by those seeking to govern and those who are the object of such governmental actions. This paper analyses how plans to rationalise publicly funded agricultural research stations were opposed by those seeking to keep research facilities open in the case study area. The paper discusses the methods and scope of community action and, drawing on interviews, identifies a series of discourses articulated by campaigners. Non-local actors were depicted as uncaring and insensitive. In contrast, campaigners discussed the emergence of a ‘city-country divide’ in domestic politics; the need for specialist agricultural knowledge given the region's unique geographical location; and local impacts of an economic, social and emotional nature. Central were discourses of maintaining community, tradition, and continuity in unique local places defined by their climate, biophysical environment and economy. These were ‘counter-geographies’ that sought (successfully, it would transpire) to disrupt the state's imagined geography of a homogenous and flexible administrative space in which research services could be relocated wherever most efficient. Important too were embodied resistances to the way rural industries and people were subjected. Campaigners refused to accept preferred codes of neoliberal behaviour (particularly mobility and rationality) and instead demanded respect for their careers, families and communities. Important considerations are suggested for further research on impacts and negotiations of neoliberalism. This study particularly highlights the successes—as well as contradictions and limitations—of arguments that construct rural places as socialised, unique and unfairly treated (by governments), in opposition to metropolitan dominance and ‘placeless’ neoliberalism.     

制度与契约的关系研究

制度和契约是两个难以分清的概念。长期以来,人们认为制度就是契约,契约就是制度。实际上契约与制度既有着紧密联系,又有着重大区别。法学和制度经济学对于制度和契约关系的理解是分别从不同的侧面进行的,都是不全面的。作者从契约与制度的基本概念入手,通过对二者关系的深入考察,得出制度是契约的核心内容、是契约的外在表现这一结论。     

The Making of Multiple Personality Disorder: A Social Constructionist View

This article explores the social construction of multiple personality disorder by analyzing professional agreements about the nature of the diagnosis, while locating these within their historical and cultural context. First, a historical review of the disorder traces various overlapping streams of discourse that have shaped the construction of the diagnosis. This is followed by a cross-cultural comparison of MPD and dissociative phenomena in several non-Western societies. The article concludes with some reflections on the cultural meanings of MPD in contemporary America.     

Arbeitslos oder erwerbsunfähig?

An international comparison of unemployment rates suggests a poor performance of the German labour market. Based on comparative analyses for Germany, the Netherlands, France, Denmark, the UK and the United States the paper tries to show that a more sophisticated picture can be drawn by taking additional forms of non-employment (e.g. disability, retirement or out of labour force) into account. For this purpose data from the “European Social Survey” (ESS) and the survey “Citizenship, Involvement and Democracy” collected in 2004 and 2005 is analysed. While “unemployment” plays a dominant role in Germany, people with comparable demographic characteristics and similar health status are increasingly classified as “permanently disabled” in the other countries. The results stress that an international comparison of labour market performance and especially a comparison of the effectiveness of labour market and social policy reforms should not only rely on employment and unemployment rates. Taking alternative forms of non-employment into account can increase our knowledge and understanding of functional differences of labour markets in Europe and the United States.     

《神秘的河流》中的“河流”书写

《神秘的河流》是澳大利亚小说家凯特·格伦维尔的一部反映殖民时期的历史小说。小说真实再现了英国殖民者在澳洲的创业、发迹过程中伦理和事业的两难抉择。《神秘的河流》中河流不仅是索尼尔个人精神家园栖居地,也是人类远离尘嚣的重要媒介;小说通过河流意象的书写,揭示出田园牧歌式的创业史实则是欲望机器中的田园挽歌。     

“新闻自由”与“公平审判”的权衡困境

美国自沃伦法院以来在联邦司法体系也包括地方司法体系中对有关"新闻自由"与"公平审判"之间不断权衡,这两种权益之间的冲突某种程度上内化于宪法第一修正案与第六修正案之间的冲突。对案件的新闻报道与公开审判某种程度上是为防止司法裁决不公,但在陪审员制度下的司法裁决体系下,新闻报道带来的舆论影响又会在某种程度上影响案件的公平审判。如何权衡两种权益,并没有一个完美的解决方案。在很多情况下要具体案件具体分析,但在不同时代的司法理念主导下,法院的权衡又多少有些偏好。