bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Illicit drug abuse in second-generation immigrants: a register study in a national cohort of Swedish residents
Authors: Hjern Anders
Published: February 2004

Aims: This study investigates ethnic and socioeconomic risk factors for hospital admissions related to illicit drug abuse in second-generation immigrants in Sweden. Method: Cox analyses of proportional hazards were used to estimate the relative risk of sociodemographic covariates in analyses of register data on hospital admissions because of illicit drug abuse during 1990 - 99. The study population was a national cohort of 1.25 million residents (aged 10 - 30 years). Results: Second-generation immigrants had two- to three fold higher age and sex-adjusted relative risks (RRs) for hospital admissions because of illicit drug use compared with the Swedish majority population with a limited variation between different ethnic groups. The RRs decreased greatly after the model was adjusted for socioeconomic indicators of the childhood household. Intercountry adoptees had the highest risk for hospital admission related to illicit drug abuse of all study groups after adjustment for sociodemographic variables (RR 2.8). Conclusions: Second-generation immigrants are at particular risk for illicit drug abuse in Sweden. Adverse socioeconomic living conditions are very important in explaining this high risk.
Physical Inactivity in a country in transition: a population-based survey in Tirana City, Albania
Authors: Shapo Laidon , Pomerleau Joceline , McKee Martin
Published: February 2004

Aims: This paper describes the work and leisure-time physical activity levels of adults living in Tirana City (Albania). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in Tirana City in mid-2001. It included 1120 adults aged 25 years and over (response rate=72.7%). Results: Overall, 19.3% of male and 28.4% of female respondents reported a low level of physical activity at work. During leisure time, 49.5% of men and 57.6% of women (age-standardized prevalence [adjusted to the adult population of Tirana]: 43.4% and 51.9% for men and women respectively) said that they participated in only sedentary activities such as reading and watching television. The gender difference in the likelihood of low physical activity at work and during leisure time was significant even after adjusting for age (age adjusted odds ratios (OR)=1.86 99% confidence interval (CI) 1.12; 3.09 and OR=1.60 99% CI 1.17; 2.22 respectively). The likelihood of leisure-time sedentarity increased with age in both genders but it did not vary significantly with education level or income. Being sedentary during leisure time was also not significantly associated with other unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, including smoking, consumption of vegetables less than six days per week, and daily alcohol intake. Conclusions: In a country such as Albania that has undergone a rapid transition from a largely unmechanized society, characterized inevitably by high levels of exercise, the generalized high prevalence of low physical activity level during leisure time gives cause for concern regarding future health trends.
Systematic medical data collection of intentional injuries during armed conflicts: a pilot study conducted in West Bank, Palestine
Authors: Helweg-Larsen Karin , Abdel-Jabbar Al-Qadi Ashraf Hasan , Al-Jabriri Jalal , Brønnum-Hansen Henrik
Published: February 2004

Aims: A study was undertaken on implementing medical data collection as a tool to assess the relative number and character of intentional injuries before and during an armed conflict. Methods: Data on hospital contacts due to intentional injury were collected retrospectively at two hospitals in West Bank, Palestine, and classified by ICD10 and the new International Classification of External Causes of Injuries (ICECI). A three-month period prior to the current Intifada, June - August 2000 and two three-month periods of the Intifada, September - December 2000 and June - August 2001 were chosen. Results: The number of contacts increased from 23 in the period prior to the Intifada to 740 during the first and 199 during the second period of the Intifada. During the period before the Intifada the victims were men, and no one was younger than 10 years. During the Intifada 9% were women, 3% below 10 years, and 9% aged 10 - 14 years. Prior to the Intifada all injuries were caused by blunt force. During the Intifada 65% of the injuries were caused by firearms or explosives, 19% by beating and 6% by gaseous substances. Among children most lesions were localized to the head, including eye and brain damage, and were mostly caused by firearms. Conclusions: Injury registration by ICD10 combined with ICECI codes facilitates analyses of correlations between characteristics of armed conflicts and injuries. Medical data collection is an important instrument in documentation of the effects of weapons and in surveillance of violations of humanitarian law, particularly as to the worrying magnitude of young children being seriously victimized.
The impact of income: assessing the relationship between income and health in Sweden
Authors: Fritzell Johan , Nermo Magnus , Lundberg Olle
Published: February 2004

Aims: This paper explores the relationship between income and health among adults in Sweden. An analysis was made as to what extent the association differs when one studies individual earnings and equivalent disposable income, as well as gender differentials. Further, a study was undertaken to investigate how, and by what magnitude, the income - health relationship changes when one controls for other structural factors, such as education and class. Finally the functional form of the relationship was scrutinized, because of its obvious policy impact. Methods: Data came from the 1996-97 Swedish Living Condition Surveys, which include individuals aged 25 - 64 (n=7,201). Logistic regression was used, including various polynomial terms of the income variable. Results: The results show that both earnings and disposable household income are strongly related to health, a finding that holds for both women and men. The strength of the association becomes somewhat weaker when one controls for other structural factors, but in the final model the association is in fact about the same as the bivariate association, owing to the impact of age. Moreover, a curvilinear association was revealed by the authors' analyses. Conclusions: A clear association was found between income and health, also when other structural variables are controlled for. This indicates that income, as such, is of great importance for the risk of illness. The shape of the association between income and health is consistent with earlier debates concerning the relation between income distribution and population health indicators, and, as such, indicates that income-equalizing policies may have an impact on health.
Evolution of hepatitis C virus variants following blood transfusion from one infected donor to several recipients: a long-term follow-up
Authors: Löve Arthur , Molnegren Vilma , Månsson Ann-Sofie , Smáradóttir Agnes , Thorsteinsson Sigurdur B. , Widell Anders
Published: February 2004

Variants of hepatitis C virus (HCV) from a single infected blood donor and 13 viraemic recipients who were traced were examined by sequencing and cloning to determine the extent of virus diversity in hypervariable region 1. Serum-derived viral isolates were studied from the donor when his HCV infection was discovered in 1993, in his recipients that year (0·3–5 years post-transfusion) and 5 years later in the donor and six viraemic recipients who were still alive. Viral variants of broad diversity were readily demonstrated in the baseline samples of the donor (nucleotide p-distance 0·130), but significantly less (P<0·00003) diversity was observed in the recipients' first samples (p-distances within recipients 0·003–0·062). In the first blood samples of the recipients, many of the viral variants identified were closely related to a strain variant from the donor. In follow-up samples drawn 5 years later from the donor and six recipients, the p-distance among donor clones had increased (0·172, P<0·0005) compared with the recipients, who displayed significantly narrower quasispecies (0·011–0·086). A common finding was that recipients of blood components processed from the same donation differed substantially in persisting HCV infectious sequence. Markedly few changes leading to changes of amino acids had occurred during follow-up in four of six recipients. These results question the significance of the development of viral variants as a necessary phenomenon in the evolution of HCV and pathogenesis of the disease.
Isolation and characterization of a rhabdovirus from starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) collected from the northern portion of Puget Sound, Washington, USA
Authors: Mork Christina , Hershberger Paul , Kocan Richard , Batts William , Winton James
Published: February 2004

The initial characterization of a rhabdovirus isolated from a single, asymptomatic starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) collected during a viral survey of marine fishes from the northern portion of Puget Sound, Washington, USA, is reported. Virions were bullet-shaped and approximately 100 nm long and 50 nm wide, contained a lipid envelope, remained stable for at least 14 days at temperatures ranging from −80 to 5 °C and grew optimally at 15 °C in cultures of epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells. The cytopathic effect on EPC cell monolayers was characterized by raised foci containing rounded masses of cells. Pyknotic and dark-staining nuclei that also showed signs of karyorrhexis were observed following haematoxylin and eosin, May–Grunwald Giemsa and acridine orange staining. PAGE of the structural proteins and PCR assays using primers specific for other known fish rhabdoviruses, including Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus, Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus, Spring viremia of carp virus, and Hirame rhabdovirus, indicated that the new virus, tentatively termed starry flounder rhabdovirus (SFRV), was previously undescribed in marine fishes from this region. In addition, sequence analysis of 2678 nt of the amino portion of the viral polymerase gene indicated that SFRV was genetically distinct from other members of the family Rhabdoviridae for which sequence data are available. Detection of this virus during a limited viral survey of wild fishes emphasizes the void of knowledge regarding the diversity of viruses that naturally infect marine fish species in the North Pacific Ocean.
Cell-mediated immune responses in healthy children with a history of subclinical infection with Japanese encephalitis virus: analysis of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell target specificities by intracellular delivery of viral proteins using the human immunodeficiency virus Tat protein transduction domain
Authors: Kumar Priti , Krishna Venkatramana D. , Sulochana Paramadevanapalli , Nirmala Gejjehalli , Haridattatreya Maganti , Satchidanandam Vijaya
Published: February 2004

Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV), a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus of the familyFlaviviridae, is the major cause of paediatric encephalitis in Asia. The high incidence of subclinical infections in Japanese encephalitis-endemic areas and subsequent evasion of encephalitis points to the development of immune responses against JEV. Humoral responses play a central role in protection against JEV; however, cell-mediated immune responses contributing to this end are not fully understood. The structural envelope (E) protein, the major inducer of neutralizing antibodies, is a poor target for T cells in natural JEV infections. The extent to which JEV non-structural proteins are targeted by T cells in subclinically infected healthy children would help to elucidate the role of cell-mediated immunity in protection against JEV as well as other flaviviral infections. The property of the Tat peptide ofHuman immunodeficiency virusto transduce proteins across cell membranes, facilitating intracellular protein delivery following exogenous addition to cultured cells, prompted us to express the four largest proteins of JEV, comprising 71 % of the JEV genome coding sequence, as Tat fusions for enumerating the frequencies of virus-specific CD4+and CD8+T cells in JEV-immune donors. At least two epitopes recognized by distinct HLA alleles were found on each of the non-structural proteins, with dominant antiviral Th1 T cell responses to the NS3 protein in nearly 96 % of the cohort. The data presented here show that non-structural proteins are frequently targeted by T cells in natural JEV infections and may be efficacious supplements for the predominantly antibody-eliciting E-based JEV vaccines.
Molecular characterization of Porcine circovirus type 2 isolates from post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome-affected and non-affected pigs
Authors: de Boisséson Claire , Béven Véronique , Bigarré Laurent , Thiéry Richard , Rose Nicolas , Eveno Eric , Madec François , Jestin André
Published: February 2004

Porcine circovirustype 2 (PCV2) is recognized as a primary cause in post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). In this study, both PCV1 and PCV2 types were studied in pigs originating from PMWS-affected (+) and non-affected (−) herds from Brittany. PCV2 was identified by PCR in 100 % of animals from PMWS(+) herds and in 76 % from PMWS(−) herds, while PCV1 was not detected. The complete sequences of 38 PCV2 isolates were determined and 23 new variants were identified, displaying between 94·6 and 99·9 % nucleotide identity with one another. Although highly related to all the PCV2 sequences available in databases, the isolates from France gathered in a distinct subcluster. Compared with the 13 PCV2 from PMWS(+) farms, the 10 PMWS(−) sequences exhibited a slightly higher variability. No viral molecular marker specific to a pathogenic state could be identified, even by including other PCV2 variants isolated from PMWS-suffering animals from other countries. We concluded that the PMWS outbreaks in Brittany are most likely not due to the emergence of a new genotype of circovirus.
Genetic characterization of equine arteritis virus during persistent infection of stallions
Authors: Balasuriya Udeni B. R. , Hedges Jodi F. , Smalley Victoria L. , Navarrette Andrea , McCollum William H. , Timoney Peter J. , Snijder Eric J. , MacLachlan N. James
Published: February 2004

Equine arteritis virus (EAV) causes a persistent infection of the reproductive tract of carrier stallions. The authors determined the complete genome sequences of viruses (CW96 and CW01) that were present 5 years apart in the semen of a carrier stallion (CW). The CW96 and CW01 viruses respectively had only 85·6 % and 85·7 % nucleotide identity to the published sequence of EAV (EAV030). The CW96 and CW01 viruses had two 1 nt insertions and a single 1 nt deletion in the leader sequence, and a 3 nt coding insertion in ORF1a; thus their genomes included 12 708 nt as compared to the 12 704 nt in EAV030. Variation between viruses present in the semen of stallion CW and EAV030 was especially marked in the replicase gene (ORF1a and 1b), and the greatest variation occurred in the portion of ORF1a encoding the nsp2 protein. The ORFs 3 and 5, which respectively encode the GP3 and GP5 envelope proteins, showed greatest variation amongst ORFs encoding structural EAV proteins. Comparative sequence analyses of CW96 and CW01 indicated that ORFs 1a, 1b and 7 were highly conserved during persistent infection, whereas there was substantial variation in ORFs 3 and 5. Although the variation that occurs in ORF5 results in the emergence of novel phenotypic viral variants as determined by neutralization assay, all variants were neutralized by high-titre polyclonal equine antisera, suggesting that immune evasion is unlikely to be responsible for the establishment of persistent EAV infection of carrier stallions. Northern blot analyses of RNA extracted from cell culture propagated viruses isolated from 10 different persistently infected stallions failed to demonstrate any large genomic deletions, suggesting that defective interfering particles are also unlikely to be important in either the maintenance or clearance of persistent EAV infection of the reproductive tract of carrier stallions.
Peptide transport activity of the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) is inhibited by an early protein of equine herpesvirus-1
Authors: Ambagala Aruna P. N. , Gopinath Raju S. , Srikumaran S.
Published: February 2004

Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) downregulates surface expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules on infected cells. The objective of this study was to investigate whether EHV-1 interferes with peptide translocation by the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) and to identify the proteins responsible. Using an in vitro transport assay, we showed that EHV-1 inhibited transport of peptides by TAP as early as 2 h post-infection (p.i). Complete shutdown of peptide transport was observed by 8 h p.i. Furthermore, pulse–chase experiments revealed that maturation of class I molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was delayed in EHV-1-infected cells, which may be due to reduced availability of peptides in the ER as a result of TAP inhibition. Metabolic inhibition studies indicated that an early protein(s) of EHV-1 is responsible for this effect.
Comparison of the genome sequence of FP9, an attenuated, tissue culture-adapted European strain of Fowlpox virus, with those of virulent American and European viruses
Authors: Laidlaw Stephen M. , Skinner Michael A.
Published: February 2004

The 266 kbp genome sequence of plaque-purified, tissue culture-adapted, attenuated EuropeanFowlpox virusFP9 has been determined and compared with the 288 kbp sequence of a pathogenic US strain (FPVUS). FP9 carries 244 of the 260 reported FPVUS ORFs (both viruses also have an unreported orthologue of conserved poxvirus gene A14.5L). Relative to FPVUS, FP9 differed by 118 mutations (26 deletions, 15 insertions and 77 base substitutions), affecting FP9 equivalents of 71 FPVUS ORFs. To help to identify mutations involved in adaptation and attenuation, the virulent parent of FP9, HP1, was sequenced at positions where FP9 differed from FPVUS. At 68 positions, FP9 and HP1 sequences were identical, reflecting differences between American and European lineages. Mutations at the remaining 50 positions in FP9 relative to FPVUS and HP1, involving 46 ORFs, therefore accounted for adaptation and attenuation. ORFs deleted during passage included those encoding members of multigene families: 12 ankyrin repeat proteins, three C-type lectin-like proteins, two C4L/C10L-like proteins, one G-protein coupled receptor protein, one V-type Ig domain protein, two N1R/p28 proteins and one EFc family protein. Tandem ORFs encodingVariola virusB22R orthologues were fused by a 5·8 kbp deletion. Single-copy genes disrupted or deleted during passage included those encoding a homologue of murine T10, a conserved DNA/pantothenate metabolism flavoprotein, photolyase, the A-type inclusion protein and an orthologue of vaccinia A47L. Gene assignments have been updated for DNase II/DLAD, binding proteins for IL-18 and interferon-γ, phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPX/GPX-4) and for a highly conserved homologue of ELOVL4.
Interleukin-18 improves the early defence system against influenza virus infection by augmenting natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity
Authors: Liu Beixing , Mori Isamu , Hossain Md Jaber , Dong Li , Takeda Kiyoshi , Kimura Yoshinobu
Published: February 2004

The role of interleukin (IL)-18 in the development of the host defence system against influenza virus infection was investigated. IL-18-deficient (IL-18−/−) C57BL/6 mice that were inoculated intranasally with the mouse-adapted strain of human influenza A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) virus showed an increased mortality with the occurrence of pathogenic changes in the lung for the first 3 days of infection, which included pronounced virus growth with massive infiltration of inflammatory cells and elevated nitric oxide production. The interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) level induced in the respiratory tract of IL-18−/−mice in the first few days after virus infection was significantly lower but, in contrast, the IL-12 level was slightly higher than the corresponding levels in wild-type C57BL/6 mice. Natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity in the lung of IL-18−/−mice was poorly activated. Local immune responses in the lung such as specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte and antibody production were induced upon influenza virus infection equally well in both strains of mice. These results indicate that IL-18 is involved in controlling influenza virus replication in the lung, especially at an early stage of infection, through activation of the innate immune mechanisms such as IFN and NK cells.
Topogenesis in membranes of the NTB–VPg protein of Tomato ringspot nepovirus: definition of the C-terminal transmembrane domain
Authors: Wang Aiming , Han Sumin , Sanfaçon Hélène
Published: February 2004

The putative NTP-binding protein (NTB) ofTomato ringspot nepovirus(ToRSV) contains a hydrophobic region at its C terminus consisting of two adjacent stretches of hydrophobic amino acids separated by a few amino acids. In infected plants, the NTB–VPg polyprotein (containing the domain for the genome-linked protein) is associated with endoplasmic reticulum-derived membranes that are active in ToRSV replication. Recent results from proteinase K protection assays suggested a luminal location for the VPg domain in infected plants, providing support for the presence of a transmembrane domain at the C terminus of NTB. In this study, we have shown that NTB–VPg associates with canine microsomal membranes in the absence of other viral proteinsin vitroand adopts a topology similar to that observedin vivoin that the VPg is present in the lumen. Truncated proteins containing 60 amino acids at the C terminus of NTB and the entire VPg exhibited a similar topology, confirming that this region of the protein contains a functional transmembrane domain. Deletion of portions of the C-terminal hydrophobic region of NTB by mutagenesis and introduction of glycosylation sites to map the luminal regions of the protein revealed that only the first stretch of hydrophobic amino acids traverses the membrane, while the second stretch of hydrophobic amino acids is located in the lumen. Our results provide additional evidence supporting the hypothesis that the NTB–VPg polyprotein acts as a membrane-anchor for the replication complex.
Transcription and promoter analysis of pif, an essential but low-expressed baculovirus gene
Authors: Gutiérrez Serafín , Kikhno Iryna , López Ferber Miguel
Published: February 2004

The pif gene (per os infectivity factor) of Spodoptera littoralis nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpliNPV) encodes a structural protein essential for oral infection. This protein is expressed in very low quantities. In this study, transcription and promoter analysis of SpliNPV pif were carried out to understand more fully the regulation of pif gene expression. Transcription in the pif gene region was examined using RT-PCR, Northern blot, primer extension, ribonuclease protection and 3′ RACE. The pif gene was encoded by a late bicistronic messenger, which was characterized. This 1·9 kb messenger was present in very small amounts. In addition, this messenger was part of a set of six late mRNAs overlapping the pif sequence. A functional complementation assay was used to analyse the pif promoter. This assay allowed the detection of amounts of PIF which were sufficient for the production of orally infectious virions. The 13 bp region upstream from the initial ATG of pif was required and sufficient for the production of orally infectious virions. This promoter region was much shorter than the studied baculovirus promoters. A late promoter motif (TTAAG) is situated at the 5′ end of this region. This motif was shown to be the promoter core by using single mutations of the motif in the complementation assay. These results suggest that the low expression of the pif gene is regulated chiefly at the transcriptional level.
Identification in gelada baboons (Theropithecus gelada) of a distinct simian T-cell lymphotropic virus type 3 with a broad range of Western blot reactivity
Authors: Van Dooren Sonia , Shanmugam Vedapuri , Bhullar Vinod , Parekh Bharat , Vandamme Anne-Mieke , Heneine Walid , Switzer William M.
Published: February 2004

Antibodies to simian T-cell lymphotropic virus (STLV) were found in serum or plasma from 12 of 23 (52·2 %) gelada baboons (Theropithecus gelada) captive in US zoos. A variety of Western blot (WB) profiles was seen in the 12 seroreactive samples, including human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-1-like (n=5, 41·7 %), HTLV-2-like (n=1, 8·3 %), HTLV-untypable (n=4, 33·3 %) and indeterminate (n=2, 16·6 %) profiles. Phylogenetic analysis oftaxorenvsequences that had been PCR amplified from peripheral blood lymphocyte DNA available from nine seropositive geladas showed that four were infected with identical STLV-1s; these sequences clustered with STLV-1 from Celebes macaques and probably represent recent cross-species infections. Thetaxsequences from the five remaining geladas were also identical and clustered with STLV-3. Analysis of the complete STLV-3 genome (8917 bp) from one gelada, TGE-2117, revealed that it is unique, sharing only 62 % similarity with HTLV-1/ATK and HTLV-2/Mo. STLV-3/TGE-2117 was closest genetically to STLV-3 from an Eritrean baboon (STLV-3/PH969, 95·6 %) but more distant from STLV-3s from red-capped mangabeys from Cameroon and Nigeria (STLV-3/CTO-604, 87·7 %, and STLV-3/CTO-NG409, 87·2 %, respectively) and Senegalese baboons (STLV-3/PPA-F3, 88·4 %). The genetic relatedness of STLV-3/TGE-2117 to STLV-3 was confirmed by phylogenetic analysis of a concatenatedgag-pol-env-taxsequence (6795 bp). An ancient origin of 73 628–109 809 years ago for STLV-3 was estimated by molecular clock analysis of third-codon positions ofgag-pol-env-taxsequences. LTR sequences from five STLV-3-positive geladas were >99 % identical and clustered with that from aPapio anubis×P. hamadryashybrid Ethiopian baboon, suggesting a common source of STLV-3 in these sympatric animals. LTR sequences obtained 20 years apart from a mother–infant pair were identical, providing evidence of both mother-to-offspring transmission and a high genetic stability of STLV-3. Since STLV-3-infected primates show a range of HTLV-like WB profiles and have an ancient origin, further studies using STLV-3-specific testing are required to determine whether STLV-3 infects humans, especially in regions of Africa where STLV-3 is endemic.
Hepatitis B virus X antigen promotes transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) activity by up-regulation of TGF-β1 and down-regulation of α 2-macroglobulin
Authors: Pan Jingbo , Clayton Marcy , Feitelson Mark A.
Published: February 2004

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X antigen (HBxAg) may contribute to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by activation of signalling pathways such as NF-κB. To identify NF-κB target genes differentially expressed in HBxAg-positive compared to -negative cells, HepG2 cells consistently expressing HBxAg (HepG2X cells) were stably transfected with pZeoSV2 or pZeoSV2-IκBα. mRNA from each culture was isolated and compared by PCR select cDNA subtraction. The results showed lower levels ofα2-macroglobulin (α2-M) in HepG2X-pZeoSV2 compared to HepG2X-pZeoSV2-IκBαcells. This was confirmed by Northern and Western blotting, and by measurement of extracellularα2-M levels. Elevated transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) levels were also seen in HepG2X compared to control cells. Serum-free conditioned medium (SFCM) from HepG2X cells suppressed DNA synthesis in a TGF-β-sensitive cell line, Mv1Lu. The latter was reversed when the SFCM was pretreated with exogenous, activatedα2-M or with anti-TGF-β. Since elevated TGF-β1 promotes the development of many tumour types, these observations suggest that the HBxAg-mediated alteration in TGF-β1 andα2-M production may contribute importantly to the pathogenesis of HCC.
The core 2 β-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-M encoded by bovine herpesvirus 4 is not essential for virus replication despite contributing to post-translational modifications of structural proteins
Authors: Markine-Goriaynoff Nicolas , Gillet Laurent , Karlsen Odd A. , Haarr Lars , Minner Frédéric , Pastoret Paul-Pierre , Fukuda Minoru , Vanderplasschen Alain
Published: February 2004

The Bo17 gene of bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) is the only virus gene known to date that encodes a homologue of the cellular core 2β-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-mucine type (C2GnT-M). Recently, our phylogenetic study revealed that the Bo17 gene has been acquired from an ancestor of the African buffalo around 1·5 million years ago. Despite this recent origin, the Bo17 sequence has spread to fixation in the virus population possibly by natural selection. Supporting the latter hypothesis, it has been shown by our group for the V. test strain that Bo17 is expressed during BoHV-4 replicationin vitro, and that Bo17 expression product (pBo17) has all three enzymic activities exhibited by cellular C2GnT-M, i.e. core 2, core 4 and I branching activities. In the present study, firstly it was investigated whether encoding a functional C2GnT-M is a general property of BoHV-4 strains. Analysis of nine representative strains of the BoHV-4 species revealed that all of them express the Bo17 gene and the associated core 2 branching activity during virus replicationin vitro. Secondly, in order to investigate the roles of Bo17, its kinetic class of expression was analysed and a deleted recombinant strain was produced. These experiments revealed that Bo17 is expressed as an early gene which is not essential for virus replicationin vitro. However, comparison of the structural proteins, produced by the wild-type, the revertant and the deleted viruses, by 2D gels demonstrated that pBo17 contributes to the post-translational modifications of structural proteins. Possible roles of Bo17in vivoare discussed.
Work motivation and job satisfaction in the Nordic countries
Authors: Eskildsen Jacob K. , Kristensen Kai , Westlund Anders H.
Published: February 2004

This paper studies differences in job satisfaction and intrinsic work motivation between employees with different characteristics. Based on a study of the literature assumptions regarding these differences are developed and tested on data from a survey in the Nordic countries. In this survey 9,623 employees from randomly selected households in the Nordic countries participated. Among the findings are that Danish workers were found to be the most satisfied and that there is no difference between the genders with respect to job satisfaction in the Nordic countries.
Attitudes towards pay and promotion in the Malaysian higher educational sector
Authors: Morris David , Yaacob Arzmi , Wood Geoff
Published: February 2004

The article, based on an extensive survey of employees within a Malaysian tertiary educational institution, explores employee attitudes and perceptions towards existing pay and promotional policies and the organisational implications thereof. It was found that sizeable components of the workforce were dissatisfied with existing procedures. The limitations of the present system highlight the need to develop new models for organising work and rewards within the state and quasi‐state sectors, models that balance the need for effective service provision with financial sustainability; and that reconcile wider social needs with “best practices” of human resource management.
New rights for old
Authors: Fraser Melanie
Published: February 2004

Employees have a statutory right to request a change to their working hours or conditions to enable them to care for children (so long as they meet certain criteria). The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 enables workers to claim that a requirement, such as to work on a full‐time basis, is discriminatory. There are no eligibility requirements for this argument although there is an evidentiary burden. The penalties for breach of the Sex Discrimination Act are greater than the new right. To what extent do the new Flexible Working Regulations provide a right to a change in working patterns, and what role remains for the Sex Discrimination Act?
New employee representation
Authors: Barry Michael , May Robyn
Published: February 2004

Legislative protections supporting New Zealand's compulsory arbitration system made unions a vital part of industrial relations from 1894 to 1991. Following a dramatic shift to a more deregulated labour market, the union movement suffered a sharp decline in influence and membership during the 1990s. In October 2000 the Labour‐Alliance Coalition that formed government in 1999 introduced its Employment Relations Act that includes new protections for registered trade unions. The early impact of the legislation has been to promote the registration of a plethora of new unions. However, the new unions formed since the introduction of the Act represent very few workers and have narrow interests. Although they exist formally as unions, these organisations are more accurately alternative forms of employee representation that exist to facilitate enterprise bargaining and, in some instances, to allow employers to frustrate the activities of larger, established unions.
Development economics in the Department of Economics at the University of Manchester
Authors: Leeson P.F. , Nixson F.I.
Published: February 2004

The objective of this paper is to focus on the evolution of development economics, both as an academic discipline and as a subject taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, at the University of Manchester, from approximately the early‐1950s onwards. It is not a history or survey of development economicsper sebut concentrates rather on the richness and variety of the contributions made by a number of eminent economists while they were in the Department of Economics (since 1993, the School of Economic Studies), to both the development of theory and to empirical analysis and to policy prescription, and to the teaching of development economics. Only a limited account is given of the work of these economists once they were no longer in Manchester.
Three (marginal?) questions regarding convergence
Authors: Goerlich Francisco J. , Mas Matilde
Published: February 2004

This paper focuses on three (marginal?) questions surrounding the analysis of economic convergence and uses Spanish provinces as a means of illustration. The three questions in hand are as follows. Given that the geographical units of analysis are usually quite different in economic size, is the weighting of economic units relevant in convergence analysis? The average per capita income of a given region, or country, is the first moment in the distribution of income, but what about the second moment, inequality, have we converged in inequality? An aggregate welfare index must take into account, at least, the evolution of the first two moments of the distribution of income, and so does the adjustment for inequality make important differences in the evolution of average per capita income? The answer to the first two questions is yes, but to the third it is clearly no.
Dynamic modelling of fiscal and exchange rates policy effects in a developing country
Authors: Baffoe‐Bonnie John
Published: February 2004

A non‐structural model is used to analyze the dynamic effects of fiscal and exchange rate policies on Ghana's economy. In particular, the paper sheds light on how these two key structural adjustment policy variables affect the short‐run and long‐run dynamics of inflation, output and exports. The general conclusion is that exchange rate changes have a moderate dynamic effect on inflation, output and exports. In contrast, government expenditures are less effective in influencing any of the above macroeconomic variables, either in the short‐run or in the long‐run. The impulse response functions derived from the VAR suggest that the impact of devaluation is strongly felt in either the third or the fourth year. The variance decompositions indicate that exchange rate changes account for about 30 percent, 7 percent and 27 percent in the variation of ouput, inflation and exports, respectively, in the ninth year. However, the percentage of the variation in the above variables owing to changes in government expenditures is very small. The implication of these results is that the structural adjustment policies in relation to changes in exchange rate and government expenditures may not be very effective as previously envisaged.
Keynes, Chicago and Friedman
Authors: Smithin John
Published: February 2004

This paper is a review essay of Leeson, R. (Ed.), Keynes, Chicago and Friedman (2 volumes), Pickering and Chatto, London, 2003. These volumes contain a comprehensive collection of previously published papers, and also some interesting new materials, relating to the controversy about the accuracy of Milton Friedman's depiction of the “oral tradition” in monetary economics at the University of Chicago in the 1930s and 1940s. As such, the work is a notable addition to the scholarly literature. The broader issue raised by this collection is the precise relationship between Friedman's “monetarism” and the so‐called “Keynesian economics” of the neoclassical synthesis, and specifically, whether there was any real difference between them.
Fostering local knowledge and human development in globalization of education
Authors: Cheong Cheng Yin
Published: February 2004

Since there are increasing international concerns with both the positive and negative impacts of globalization on indigenous and national development, how to manage the realities and practices of globalization and localization in education for maximizing the benefits and minimizing the disadvantages for the development of individuals and their local community inevitably becomes a key issue in educational development particularly in the developing countries. Proposes a typology of multiple theories of fostering local knowledge and human development to address this key concern. These theories have varied emphasis on global dependence and local orientation and therefore they have their own characteristics, strengths, and limitations. The typology can provide a wide spectrum of alternatives for policy‐makers and educators to conceptualize and formulate their strategies and practices in developing local education. Also presents how to facilitate individual learning and organizational learning in fast‐changing local and global environments and how to foster both individual knowledge and institutional knowledge in schools as the major contribution to the growth of local knowledge and local development. It is hoped that the theories and ideas raised in this paper can benefit the ongoing international efforts for globalization and localization in education for the future of our next generations in the new millennium.
Students’ motives for enrolling on business degrees in a post‐1992 university
Authors: Bennett Roger
Published: February 2004

A total of 284 first‐year undergraduate business studies students in a post‐1992 university in Greater London completed a questionnaire regarding their motives for deciding to participate in higher education. The questionnaire also queried whether the decision to enrol had been “marginal”, or was something about which they had never had any doubts or reservations. An amended version of the questionnaire was filled in by 139 second‐year BTEC and GNVQ students in two further education colleges in the catchment area of the university hosting the main investigation. This modified questionnaire asked the respondents whether they did or did not intend going to university, and examined their motives for wanting or not wanting to become undergraduates. It emerged that “goal orientation”, “learning orientation”, financial pressures and parental encouragement to enter university represented major motivational factors among both groups of students. Certain personality traits that previous research has found to influence HE enrolment decisions did not appear to explain the behaviour of the undergraduates; although academic self‐concept and self‐esteem did affect the decisions of the FE college students in the anticipated manner. In the case of the university students, self‐esteem and academic self‐concept significantly moderated the impact of a “financial pressure” variable on the decision to go to university. Other findings were generally in accord with the conclusions of prior empirical literature in the field.
Leading professional development: a case study
Authors: Heaney Liam
Published: February 2004

Presents a case study that probes the process of leading professional development in a specific educational setting, namely, a primary school, and offers a critical analysis of the process over an eight‐ to ten‐month period. Hopes that the approaches used and the lessons learned will have a relevance to the wider field of educational research and practice.
A case study of the fidelity approach in an educational innovation
Authors: Weedall Michael
Published: February 2004

Organizational innovation is a difficult process. Most innovations fail. If an innovation fails there is a high probability the organization will be fractured. It is easy to break apart an organization. It is much more difficult to build it back up. This is a case study of an innovation in a branch of a large private English language school in Japan. The head teacher decided to improve a portion of the educational system using a fidelity approach. She felt the innovation was entirely technical. Consequently, she thought she could achieve her objectives without the help of the teachers. Her approach failed and caused deep fractures in the branch’s social and work systems. This paper outlines the innovation plan. It shows why it failed, and suggests strategies the head teacher could have used to increase the likelihood of a positive outcome.
Evaluation of the training program for Greek Olympic education
Authors: Grammatikopoulos Vasilios , Papacharisis Vasilios , Koustelios Athanasios , Tsigilis Nikolaos , Theodorakis Yannis
Published: February 2004

The aim of this study was to develop an instrument to evaluate the educational program’s training. The program used for this purpose was the Olympic Education Program, which has been implemented in Greek primary and secondary schools since 2000. First, the face validity of items was evaluated, second, the pool of the items selected was factor analyzed. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a three‐factor solution with high internal consistency. The instrument, Professional Development Evaluation Form of the Olympic Education Program, consisted of three factors containing 21 items. The three factors obtained were “training”, “study groups”, and “total impression”. The results provide adequate psychometric support for the instrument. The questionnaire seems a promising tool for the evaluation of professional development procedures. Although the results were encouraging, further research would be very helpful in order to improve the instrument.
Supplier segmentation in the automotive industry
Authors: Svensson Göran
Published: February 2004

The competitive business environment in the automotive industry has forced vehicle manufacturers (VMs) to improve their relationship strategies towards their suppliers. VMs have implemented supplier segmentation in order to optimise current business activities and existing resource allocations. Supplier selection criteria have also become crucial in order to achieve an appropriate evaluation of suppliers. Models of supplier segmentation and supplier selection criteria underpin theoretically this research. Empirical illustrations of supplier segmentation based on the perspectives of a VM and its suppliers are presented. The principal contributions of this study are the various models therein. One of the models consists of two dimensions: the supplier's commitment to a VM; and the commodity's importance to a VM. In extension, another model of dynamic relationship strategies is introduced. It consists of four relationship strategies towards suppliers in the automotive industry, such as family, business partner, friendly, and transactional. Furthermore, a four‐phase process for the analysis, selection, and managerial decision of a dynamic relationship strategy towards suppliers in the automotive industry is outlined.
Productivity and efficiency in the trucking industry
Authors: Margaret Weber Mary , Weber William L.
Published: February 2004

Develops and estimates efficiency and productivity measures in the US trucking and warehousing industry in the 48 contiguous states during the years 1994‐2000. The model, estimated via data envelopment analysis, accounts for both desirable outputs and undesirable outputs produced by a given vector of inputs. The model establishes an efficient frontier of operation for each year studied and can be used to determine, on an annual basis, which of the 48 states operate on the frontier. The findings indicate that the trucking and warehousing industry does not operate efficiently in all 48 states during the period studied. If the industry were to operate on the frontier of the feasible output set by using inputs to produce outputs efficiently, it could eliminate three to four fatal traffic accidents per state per year, while simultaneously increasing industry income by between $38 to $47 million per state per year. In addition, finds that traditional techniques of estimating efficiency that ignore traffic fatalities bias estimates of efficiency and total factor productivity growth.
Reverse logistics in e‐business
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Samar K. , Setoputro Robert
Published: February 2004

In an Internet direct sales supply chain, the customers buy direct from the manufacturer sacrificing the benefit of physical inspection of the product. This increases the likelihood that customers will have some dissatisfaction with the product and would like to return it. A clearly explained and generous return policy, then, will be welcome by the customers and therefore will enhance demand. From the manufacturer's point of view, this will increase revenue, but will also increase cost due to increased likelihood of return. This paper develops a profit‐maximization model to obtain optimal policies for price and the return policy in terms of certain market reaction parameters. It obtains jointly a number of managerial guidelines for using marketing and operational strategy variables to influence the reaction parameters so as to obtain the maximum benefit from the market. The paper mentions several future research possibilities.
Minority report
Authors: Maxwell Gillian A.
Published: February 2004

Academic interest in managing diversity is now developing from conceptual analyses to practical examples. However, the conceptual relationship between managing diversity and equal opportunities remains rather blurred. Perhaps investigation of managing diversity in practice may help bring greater focus to the relationship. This article seeks to bring further insight into the debate on managing diversity in terms of its link with equal opportunities and key dimensions in practice. On the basis of consideration of theoretical perspectives and dimensions of managing diversity, a practical development of managing diversity is discussed in a longitudinal case study of a proactive diversity initiative in BBC Scotland.
National Intellectual Capital Index
Authors: Bontis Nick
Published: February 2004

The intellectual capital of a nation (or a region of nations) requires the articulation of a system of variables that helps to uncover and manage the invisible wealth of a country. Most importantly, an emphasis on human capital allows for a better understanding of the hidden values, individuals, enterprises, institutions, and communities that are both current and potential future sources of intellectual wealth. This paper endeavours to address the five research questions. The main outcomes of this paper are the development of a national intellectual capital measurement methodology and index. The NICI is also used within a structural equation model to test several hypotheses related to national intellectual capital development.