bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Underlying Causes of Violence in the Middle East
Authors: Salih K. O. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractIn the last five decades the Middle East has been the scene of very intensive conflict, violence and terror. The magnitude of violence has intensified following the events of September 11, 2001. There has been an outpouring of writing and scholarship that focuses on the analysis of this phenomenon. This paper attempts to reveal the major factors that have contributed to the state of violence in the Middle East. The paper argues that the failure of most of the Middle Eastern regimes to widen the arena of political participation, as well as their inabilities to improve the socio‐economic conditions of the masses, has been the major cause for violence. Adding to this the US global strategy to fight terror, and subsequently the invasion of Iraq, as well as the failure to reconcile the Palestinian issue also precipitated the state of violence in the Middle East. It is only after redressing the socio‐economic and political grievances of the masses, and finding remedies to both the Palestinian and Iraqi issues that we can contemplate the idea of a peaceful and stable Middle East. In this article, the author will attempt to address each of these factors.
The Voting Behavior of Kuwaiti Citizens in the 2006 Parliamentary Elections: an Analytical Field Study
Authors: Gharaibeh Mazen K. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThis study was designed to investigate the voting behavior of the Kuwaiti citizens during the Parliamentary elections that took place in 2006. In a more specific way, the study tried to answer some questions related to the theoretical framework of voting behavior. These questions were concerned with who voted, and for whom? And why did they select that candidate? The study proceeded to scrutinize the factors that influenced the voter to choose candidates from certain tendencies.A questionnaire was designed as a tool to collect the data necessary to answer the study questions. The questionnaire included many sections, each of which was tailored to investigate a group of related variables.For the purpose of this study, different statistical analysis techniques were manipulated to process the data. The analysis of the study data was instrumental in drawing some conclusions that can help understand the voting behavior of the Kuwaiti citizens in that election.
Caring for the Elderly in Kuwait
Authors: Al‐Qabandi Siham Ali 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThis article is based on the author's research investigation titled “Toward visualizing a proposal from a general practice perspective in social work to reach the social adjustment in the elderly residing the social nursing home: applied study on the old‐age home (asylum) in Sulaibikhat area in the city of Kuwait.” Caring for the elderly is a humane issue encountered by many developed and developing nations. This dilemma of caring for the elderly has increasingly spread throughout the world. United Nations statistics reveal that there are over 200 million people who were over 60 years of age in 1950. The number increased in 1975 to 350 million, and further increased to 950 million in 2000. It is expected that the number will exceed 1,100 million people by the year 2025. In Kuwait, the number of elderly people has increased rapidly. Table 1 shows the number of elderly people in the last three years, according to gender and nationality.It is clear from the data displayed in Table 1 that there is a continuous annual increase in the number of elderly people residing in Kuwait. In light of this continuous increase and the government's interest in providing full care for the citizens, there is a great need to reconsider the status of this helpless group once again to fulfill their basic needs in accordance with the latest scientific and social development that is carried out by the country. The needs of the elderly are considered an important necessity, resulting from psychological and biological factors, as well as the nature of social relations associated with aging. Satisfying these needs will ensure the social adjustment of the elderly, while at the same time, accomplish the societal goals. Satisfying these and other emotional needs has given impetus to establishing comprehensive nursing homes in Kuwait, and shed more light on the social adjustment of the elderly residing in these homes.
Marriage: An Integrated Study in the Context of Cultural Variation
Authors: Al‐Zu'abi Ali Z. , Jagdish Jisha Subin 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to identify the structure of marriage, with regional and local variations, in a Kuwaiti tribal community and an Indian village. It provides a rich description of life and culture of the study area in which it highlights the cultural differences between these areas. As the study progresses, it gives a comparative account of marriage and attempts to explain how the structure of marriage is shaped according to the culture. It also sheds light on how the empowerment of women has affected the institution of marriage and family. Finally, the paper shows that marriage is the basic institution in any society, regardless of the cultural variation.
Knowledge Management Approach to Performance: a United Arab Emirates Experience
Authors: Boumarafi Behdja 
Published: March 2010

AbstractKnowledge management is gaining prominence in academia and practice. The need for organizations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to empower themselves through knowledge management cannot be ignored. Yet, not much empirical evidence on the subject can be found in the literature. This study investigates the effect of the following factors: organizational culture, organizational infrastructure, technical infrastructure, management support, reward and vision clarity on organizational performance in terms of efficiency, customer satisfaction, decision‐making, quality of work, and financial benefits. A questionnaire was used to collect data from general managers, functional managers, IT managers and chief knowledge officers from a variety of business companies from private and public sector drawn from Dubai Financial Market website. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results show that all investigated knowledge management dimensions are implemented in UAE organizations subject of this study. They are also significantly correlated with performance improvement except reward.
The Scientific Contributions of Arab Scientists to the International Research: a Study of the Indicators for Select Arab Countries
Authors: Elgohary Amgad 
Published: March 2010

AbstractUsing SCOPUS database, the research productivity of Arab researchers in five countries has been investigated. The analysis included subject, geographical and time range indicators. The relationship between the most published journals and their quality was investigated. The results revealed the leadership of Egypt among the other countries studied and discovered a great gap between scientific contributions of Arab and developed countries.
Caspofungin Use in Patients with Invasive Candidiasis Caused by Common Non-
albicans Candida
Species: Review of the Caspofungin Database
Authors: Colombo Arnaldo L. , Ngai Angela L. , Bourque Michael , Bradshaw Susan K. , Strohmaier Kim M. , Taylor Arlene F. , Lupinacci Robert J. , Kartsonis Nicholas A. 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACT

Increasing rates of invasive candidiasis caused by non-
albicans Candida
species have been reported worldwide. Particular concerns have been raised for
C. parapsilosis
because of reduced
in vitro
susceptibility to echinocandins. We identified 212 patients with invasive candidiasis due to non-
albicans Candida
species (≥5 cases per species) in 5 clinical trials of caspofungin monotherapy from the pharmaceutical sponsor's (Merck and Co., Inc.) database: 71 cases were caused by
C. parapsilosis
, 65 by
C. tropicalis
, 54 by
C. glabrata
, 10 by
C. krusei
, 9 by
C. guilliermondii
, and 5 by
C. lusitaniae
. One hundred sixty-seven cases caused by
C. albicans
were also identified. Efficacy was assessed at the end of caspofungin therapy. Success (favorable overall response) required favorable clinical and microbiological responses. The mean APACHE II scores were 16.5 in the non-
albicans
group and 15.7 in the
C. albicans
group. Neutropenia at study entry was more common in the non-
albicans
group (12%) than in the
C. albicans
group (5%). The median duration of caspofungin therapy was 14 days in both groups. The success rates were 77% in both groups and at least 70% for each non-
albicans
species: 74% for
C. parapsilosis
, 71% for
C. tropicalis
, 85% for
C. glabrata
, 70% for
C. krusei
, 89% for
C. guilliermondii
, and 100% for
C. lusitaniae
. The times to negative blood culture were similar for the various species. The overall mortality rates were 26% in the non-
albicans
group and 29% in the
C. albicans
group. Drug-related serious adverse events and discontinuations due to caspofungin toxicity were uncommon. Although the sample sizes were limited, caspofungin demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety profiles in the treatment of invasive candidiasis caused by the following non-
albicans Candida
species:
C. parapsilosis
,
C. tropicalis
,
C. glabrata
,
C. krusei
,
C. guilliermondii
, and
C. lusitaniae
.
Selection of Known
Plasmodium falciparum
Resistance-Mediating Polymorphisms by Artemether-Lumefantrine and Amodiaquine- Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine but Not Dihydroartemisinin- Piperaquine in Burkina Faso
Authors: Somé Anyirékun Fabrice , Séré Yves Y. , Dokomajilar Christian , Zongo Issaka , Rouamba Noël , Greenhouse Bryan , Ouédraogo Jean-Bosco , Rosenthal Philip J. 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACT

Artemether-lumefantrine (AL), dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP), and amodiaquine-sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (AQ-SP) offer excellent antimalarial efficacy but may select for parasite polymorphisms that decrease drug sensitivity. We evaluated the selection of known polymorphisms in genes encoding putative transporters (
pfcrt
and
pfmdr1
) and SP targets (
pfdhfr
and
pfdhps
) in parasites that caused new infections within 42 days of therapy for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Burkina Faso. In 559 children in 2006, 42-day genotype-uncorrected failures were seen in 31.2% with AL, 11.8% with AQ-SP, and 7.6% with DP. After prior AL therapy, selection of wild-type sequences was seen for K76T in
pfcrt
(72.7% mixed or mutant results pretreatment versus 52.1% in new infections;
P
= 0.008) and N86Y (36.0% versus 18.7%;
P
= 0.025) and Y184F (66.7% versus 45.8%;
P
= 0.009) in
pfmdr1
. After prior AQ-SP therapy, selection of mutant sequences was seen for N51I (30.8% versus 61.5%;
P
= 0.05), C59R (28.2% versus 76.9%;
P
= 0.002), and S108N (30.8% versus 76.9%;
P
= 0.005) in
pfdhfr
. After prior DP therapy, selection was not seen for K76T (72.7% versus 77.8%;
P
= 0.96) in
pfcrt
or N86Y (36.0% versus 33.3%;
P
= 0.84), Y184F (66.7% versus 77.8%;
P
= 0.39), or D1246Y (9.3% versus 0%;
P
= 0.42) in
pfmdr1
. In 378 additional treatments with DP in 2007, 42-day uncorrected failure was seen in 10.9%. After prior DP, selection was again not seen for K76T (66.7% mixed or mutant results versus 59.5%;
P
= 0.43) in
pfcrt
or N86Y (38.7% versus 40.5%;
P
= 0.85), Y184F (67.6% versus 73.0%;
P
= 0.54), or D1246Y (3.6% versus 8.1%;
P
= 0.50) in
pfmdr1
. Despite its chemical similarity, piperaquine did not select for the same polymorphisms as chloroquine or AQ, suggesting different mechanisms of resistance.
Comparative
In Vitro
Antimicrobial Activities of Torezolid (TR-700), the Active Moiety of a New Oxazolidinone, Torezolid Phosphate (TR-701), Determination of Tentative Disk Diffusion Interpretive Criteria, and Quality Control Ranges
Authors: Brown Steven D. , Traczewski Maria M. 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the spectrum of activity of torezolid (TR-700), the active moiety of torezolid phosphate (TR-701), and proposes tentative MIC and disk diffusion breakpoints as well as quality control ranges. The
in vitro
susceptibilities of 1,096 bacterial isolates, representing 23 different species or phenotypic groups, were determined for torezolid, linezolid, cefotaxime, and levofloxacin using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) broth microdilution MICs, minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs), agar dilution, and disk diffusion testing methods. Torezolid was very active against the majority of Gram-positive strains, including methicillin-susceptible and -resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MIC
50
= 0.25 μg/ml, MIC
90
≤ 0.5 μg/ml), coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS; MIC
50
= 0.25 μg/ml, MIC
90
≤ 0.5 μg/ml), enterococci (MIC
50
and MIC
90
≤ 0.5 μg/ml), and streptococci (MIC
50
and MIC
90
≤ 0.25 μg/ml). Based upon MIC
90
s, torezolid was 4-fold more active than linezolid against
S. aureus
, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and the enterococci and 8-fold more active than linezolid against the streptococci. With the use of tentative MIC breakpoints of ≤2 μg/ml for susceptibility, torezolid disk diffusion zone diameter breakpoints are proposed using a 20-μg disk. In addition, MIC quality control ranges of torezolid were determined for three CLSI-recognized standard ATCC reference strains.
Regulation of Virulence Gene Transcripts by the
Francisella novicida
Orphan Response Regulator PmrA: Role of Phosphorylation and Evidence of MglA/SspA Interaction
Authors: Bell Brian L. , Mohapatra Nrusingh P. , Gunn John S. 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACT

Francisella tularensis
subsp.
tularensis
is the etiologic agent of tularemia and has been designated a category A biothreat agent by the CDC. Tularemia is characterized by replication and dissemination within host phagocytes. Intramacrophage growth is dependent upon the regulation of
Francisella
pathogenicity island (FPI) virulence genes, which is poorly understood. Two-component regulatory systems (TCS) are widely employed by Gram-negative bacteria to monitor and respond to environmental signals. Virulent strains of
F. tularensis
subsp.
tularensis
are devoid of classical, tandemly arranged TCS genes, but orphaned members, such as that encoding the response regulator PmrA, have been identified. In the
F. novicida
model system, previous work has shown that a
pmrA
mutant shows decreased expression of FPI genes, is deficient for intramacrophage growth, and is avirulent in the mouse model. Here, we determine that phosphorylation aids PmrA binding to regulated promoters
pmrA
and the FPI-encoded
pdpD
, and KdpD is the histidine kinase primarily responsible for phosphorylation of PmrA at the aspartic acid at position 51 (D51). A strain expressing PmrA D51A retains some DNA binding but exhibits reduced expression of the PmrA regulon, is deficient for intramacrophage replication, and is attenuated in the mouse model. With regard to virulence gene induction, PmrA coprecipitates with the FPI transcription factors MglA and SspA, which bind RNA polymerase. Together, these data suggest a model of
Francisella
gene regulation that includes a TCS consisting of KdpD and PmrA. Once phosphorylated, PmrA binds to regulated gene promoters recruiting free or RNA polymerase-bound MglA and SspA to initiate FPI gene transcription.
YopJ-Promoted Cytotoxicity and Systemic Colonization Are Associated with High Levels of Murine Interleukin-18, Gamma Interferon, and Neutrophils in a Live Vaccine Model ofYersinia pseudotuberculosisInfection
Authors: Zhang Yue , Bliska James B. 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTSeveralYersiniaspecies have been utilized as live attenuated vaccines to prime protective immunity against yersiniae and other pathogens. A type III secretion system effector known as YopJ inY. pseudotuberculosisandY. pestisand YopP inY. enterocoliticahas been shown to regulate host immune responses to liveYersiniavaccines. YopJ/P kills macrophages and dendritic cells, reduces their production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-12 (IL-12), and promotes systemic colonization in mouse models of intestinalYersiniainfection. Furthermore, YopP activity decreases antigen presentation by dendritic cells, and ayopPmutant of a liveY. enterocoliticacarrier vaccine elicited effective priming of CD8 T cells to a heterologous antigen in mice. These results suggest that YopJ/P activity suppresses both innate and adaptive immune responses to liveYersiniavaccines. Here, a sublethal intragastric mouse infection model using wild-type and catalytically inactiveyopJmutant strains ofY. pseudotuberculosiswas developed to further investigate how YopJ action impacts innate and adaptive immune responses to a live vaccine. Surprisingly, YopJ-promoted cytotoxicity and systemic colonization were associated with significant increases in neutrophils in spleens and the proinflammatory cytokines IL-18 and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in serum samples of mice vaccinated withY. pseudotuberculosis. Secretion of IL-18 accompanied YopJ-mediated killing of macrophages infectedex vivowithY. pseudotuberculosis, suggesting a mechanism by which this effector directly increases proinflammatory cytokine levelsin vivo. Mice vaccinated with the wild-type strain or theyopJmutant produced similar levels of antibodies toY. pseudotuberculosisantigens and were equally resistant to lethal intravenous challenge withY. pestis.The findings indicate that a proinflammatory, rather than anti-inflammatory, process accompanies YopJ-promoted cytotoxicity, leading to increased systemic colonization byY. pseudotuberculosisand potentially enhancing adaptive immunity to a live vaccine.
Bacteroides fragilisEnterotoxin Induces Human β-Defensin-2 Expression in Intestinal Epithelial Cells via a Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase/IκB Kinase/NF-κB-Dependent Pathway
Authors: Yoon Young Mee , Lee Jin Young , Yoo Doyoung , Sim Young-Suk , Kim Young-Jeon , Oh Yu-Kyoung , Kang Ju Seop , Kim Sunil , Kim Joo Sung , Kim Jung Mogg 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTEnterotoxigenicBacteroides fragilis(ETBF) produces an approximately 20-kDa heat-labile enterotoxin (BFT) that plays an essential role in mucosal inflammation. Although spontaneous disappearance of ETBF infection is common, little information is available on regulated expression of antibacterial factors in response to BFT stimulation. This study investigates the role of BFT in human β-defensin 2 (hBD-2) induction from intestinal epithelial cells. Stimulation of HT-29 and Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cell lines with BFT resulted in the induction of hBD-2. Activation of a reporter gene for hBD-2 was dependent on the presence of NF-κB binding sites. In contrast, suppression of AP-1 did not affect hBD-2 expression in BFT-stimulated cells. Inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) using SB203580 and small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection resulted in a significant reduction in BFT-induced IκB kinase (IKK)/NF-κB activation and hBD-2 expression. Our results suggest that a pathway including p38 MAPK, IKK, and NF-κB activation is required for hBD-2 induction in intestinal epithelial cells exposed to BFT, and may be involved in the host defense following infection with ETBF.
The
Streptococcus mutans
Serine/Threonine Kinase, PknB, Regulates Competence Development, Bacteriocin Production, and Cell Wall Metabolism
Authors: Banu Liliana Danusia , Conrads Georg , Rehrauer Hubert , Hussain Haitham , Allan Elaine , van der Ploeg Jan R. 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACT

Bacteria can detect, transmit, and react to signals from the outside world by using two-component systems (TCS) and serine-threonine kinases and phosphatases.
Streptococcus mutans
contains one serine-threonine kinase, encoded by
pknB
. A gene encoding a serine-threonine phosphatase,
pppL
, is located upstream of
pknB
. In this study, the phenotypes of
pknB
and
pppL
single mutants and a
pknB pppL
double mutant were characterized. All mutants exhibited a reduction in genetic transformability and biofilm formation, showed abnormal cell shapes, grew slower than the wild-type strain in several complex media, and exhibited reduced acid tolerance. The mutants had reduced cariogenic capacity but no significant defects in colonization in a rat caries model. Whole-genome transcriptome analysis revealed that a
pknB
mutant showed reduced expression of genes involved in bacteriocin production and genetic competence. Among the genes that were differentially regulated in the
pknB
mutant, several were likely to be involved in cell wall metabolism. One such gene, SMU.2146c, and two genes encoding bacteriocins were shown to also be downregulated in a
vicK
mutant, which encodes a sensor kinase involved in the response to oxidative stress. Collectively, the results lead us to speculate that PknB may modulate the activity of the two-component signal transduction systems VicKR and ComDE. Real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) showed that genes downregulated in the
pknB
mutant were upregulated in the
pppL
mutant, indicating that PppL serves to counteract PknB.
The Multi-Copper-Ion Oxidase CueO of
Salmonella enterica
Serovar Typhimurium Is Required for Systemic Virulence
Authors: Achard Maud E. S. , Tree Jai J. , Holden James A. , Simpfendorfer Kim R. , Wijburg Odilia L. C. , Strugnell Richard A. , Schembri Mark A. , Sweet Matthew J. , Jennings Michael P. , McEwan Alastair G. 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACT

Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium possesses a multi-copper-ion oxidase (multicopper oxidase), CueO (also known as CuiD), a periplasmic enzyme known to be required for resistance to copper ions. CueO from
S
. Typhimurium was expressed as a recombinant protein in
Escherichia coli
, and the purified protein exhibited a high cuprous oxidase activity. We have characterized an
S
. Typhimurium
cueO
mutant and confirmed that it is more sensitive to copper ions. Using a murine model of infection, it was observed that the
cueO
mutant was significantly attenuated, as indicated by reduced recovery of bacteria from liver and spleen, although there was no significant difference in recovery from Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes. However, the intracellular survival of the
cueO
mutant in unprimed or gamma-interferon-primed murine macrophages was not statistically different from that of wild-type
Salmonella
, suggesting that additional host factors are involved in clearance of the
cueO
mutant. Unlike a
cueO
mutant from
E. coli
, the
S
. Typhimurium
cueO
mutant did not show greater sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide and its sensitivity to copper ions was not affected by siderophores. Similarly, the
S
. Typhimurium
cueO
mutant was not rescued from copper ion toxicity by addition of the branched-chain amino acids and leucine.