bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mobilization of Personal Social Networks and Institutional Resources of Private Entrepreneurs in China*
Authors: FONG ERIC , CHEN WENHONG 
Published: September 2008

Les auteurs examinent les liens micro et macroscopiques dans l'étude de l'économie en transition, en analysant la façon dont les entrepreneurs mobilisent leurs réseaux sociaux personnels intégrés à diverses institutions, afin de protéger leurs ressources d'affaires. Les résultats démontrent que les membres du réseau travaillant dans les organismes du gouvernement ou du parti jouent, en gros, un rôle essentiel dans l'obtention des ressources importantes comme les contacts gouvernementaux et l'information sur le marché et le financement. Ils démontrent aussi que les entrepreneurs utilisent différents membres de leurs réseaux pour différents types de ressources. Les auteurs discutent les différentes conséquences que cela entraine pour l'étude des réseaux et de l'économie en transition.This paper addresses the micro and macro link in studying transitional economy by examining how entrepreneurs mobilize their personal social networks embedded in various institutions to secure business resources. The results show that, by and large, network members working in government/party agencies play an essential role in obtaining important resources, such as those for government contact and market information/funding. The results also show that entrepreneurs utilize different members of their networks for different types of resources. Implications to the study of networks and transitional economy are discussed.
Hospital Volunteers and Carework*
Authors: MELLOW MURIEL 
Published: September 2008

L'auteure analyse les soins fournis par des bénévoles d'hôpitaux en utilisant des données d'entrevues, des descriptions de täches et des statistiques concernant les bénévoles de quatre hôpitaux d'Alberta, Canada. Les employés des hôpitaux s'attendent à ce que les bénévoles fournissent des soins instrumentaux et affectifs, mais ils restreignent également leur tàche en imposant des limites aux heures de travail réalisé par les bénévoles ainsi qu'à la somme d'information qu'ils reçoivent sur les patients. Les bénévoles surmontent ces contraintes en entretenant des conversations informelles destinées à augmenter leurs connaissances, tout en étant flexibles par rapport aux heures accordées aux patients, afin de pouvoir s'occuper de leurs besoins émotionnels. L'auteure considère également la répartition des sexes chez les bénévoles et l'influence qu'elle exerce sur leurs attentes.Carework done by hospital volunteers is examined using interview data, task descriptions and volunteer statistics from four hospitals in Alberta, Canada. Hospitals expect volunteers to provide instrumental and affective care but also constrain this work by limiting volunteers' work time and the amount of information they are given about patients. Volunteers overcome these constraints by initiating informal conversation to broaden their knowledge and capitalizing on flexibility in how they spend their time to attend to patients' emotional needs. I also consider how the volunteer workforce is gendered and how this influences expectations of volunteers.
Stark–Heegner points and the Shimura correspondence
Authors: Darmon Henri , Tornaría Gonzalo 
Published: September 2008

AbstractLet $g = \sum c(D)q^D$ and $f=\sum a_n q^n$ be modular forms of half-integral weight k+1/2 and integral weight 2k respectively that are associated to each other under the Shimura–Kohnen correspondence. For suitable fundamental discriminants D, a theorem of Waldspurger relates the coefficient c(D) to the central critical value L(f,D,k) of the Hecke L-series of f twisted by the quadratic Dirichlet character of conductor D. This paper establishes a similar kind of relationship for central critical derivatives in the special case k=1, where f is of weight 2. The role of c(D) in our main theorem is played by the first derivative in the weight direction of the Dth Fourier coefficient of a p-adic family of half-integral weight modular forms. This family arises naturally, and is related under the Shimura correspondence to the Hida family interpolating f in weight 2. The proof of our main theorem rests on a variant of the Gross–Kohnen–Zagier formula for Stark–Heegner points attached to real quadratic fields, which may be of some independent interest. We also formulate a more general conjectural formula of Gross–Kohnen–Zagier type for Stark–Heegner points, and present numerical evidence for it in settings that seem inaccessible to our methods of proof based on p-adic deformations of modular forms.
On the classification of rank-two representations of quasiprojective fundamental groups
Authors: Corlette Kevin , Simpson Carlos 
Published: September 2008

AbstractSuppose that X is a smooth quasiprojective variety over ℂ and ρ:π1(X,x)→SL(2,ℂ) is a Zariski-dense representation with quasiunipotent monodromy at infinity. Then ρ factors through a map X→Y with Y either a Deligne–Mumford (DM) curve or a Shimura modular stack.
On the lifting of hermitian modular forms
Authors: Ikeda Tamotsu 
Published: September 2008

AbstractLet K be an imaginary quadratic field with discriminant −D. We denote by 𝒪 the ring of integers of K. Let χ be the primitive Dirichlet character corresponding to K/ℚ. Let $\Gamma ^{(m)}_K=\mathrm {U} (m,m)({\mathbb Q})\cap \mathrm {GL}_{2m}({\cal O})$ be the hermitian modular group of degree m. We construct a lifting from S2k(SL2(ℤ)) to S2k+2n(ΓK(2n+1),det −k−n) and a lifting from S2k+1(Γ0(D),χ) to S2k+2n(ΓK(2n),det −k−n). We give an explicit Fourier coefficient formula of the lifting. This is a generalization of the Maass lift considered by Kojima, Krieg and Sugano. We also discuss its extension to the adele group of U(m,m).
Counting Morse functions on the 2-sphere
Authors: Nicolaescu Liviu I. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractWe count how many ‘different’ Morse functions exist on the 2-sphere. There are several ways of declaring that two Morse functions f and g are ‘indistinguishable’ but we concentrate only on two natural equivalence relations: homological (when the regular sublevel sets f and g have identical Betti numbers) and geometric (when f is obtained from g via global, orientation-preserving changes of coordinates on S2 and ℝ). The count of homological classes is reduced to a count of lattice paths confined to the first quadrant. The count of geometric classes is reduced to a count of certain labeled trees, which is encoded by certain elliptic integrals.
Antibody Responses of Cervids (Cervus elaphus) following ExperimentalMycobacterium bovisInfection and the Implications for Immunodiagnosis
Authors: Harrington Noel P. , Surujballi Om P. , Prescott John F. , Duncan J. Robert , Waters W. Ray , Lyashchenko Konstantin , Greenwald Rena 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTCaptive and free-ranging wildlife animals are implicated in the maintenance and transmission of bovine tuberculosis and therefore pose a significant obstacle to eradication of the disease from domestic livestock. The current antemortem diagnostic method, the intradermal tuberculin skin test, is impractical for routine use with many wild animals. Antibody-based assays are particularly attractive because the animals are handled only once and immediate processing of the sample is not required. This report characterizes the antibody responses of red deer-elk hybrids (Cervus elaphus) againstMycobacterium bovisand subsequently evaluates the diagnostic performance of select antigens in a rapid-test format. Sequential serum samples were collected from 10 animals experimentally infected withM. bovisand 5 noninfected animals over a 7-month period postinfection (p.i.). Samples were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, immunoblot analyses, and multiantigen print immunoassays for seroreactivity to mycobacterial antigens. Although all infected animals produced antibodies toM. bovisprotein antigens, there was significant animal-to-animal variation in the kinetics and magnitudes of responses and the antigens recognized. The most frequently recognized antigens included MPB83, ESAT-6, CFP10, and MPB70. Responses to some antigens, such as MPB83, were consistently detected as early as 4 weeks after inoculation, whereas other antigens were detected only much later (>140 days p.i.). Antibody responses were boosted by injection of tuberculin for intradermal tuberculin skin testing. Comparison of single-antigen (fluorescence polarization assay) with multiantigen (CervidTB STAT-PAK) rapid tests demonstrated that a highly sensitive and specific serodiagnostic test for tuberculosis in cervids will require multiple and carefully selected seroreactive antigens covering a broad spectrum of antibody specificities.
Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Disrupts Adherens Junctions and Increases Endothelial Permeability by Inducing Degradation of VE-Cadherin
Authors: Qian Li-Wu , Greene Whitney , Ye Fengchun , Gao Shou-Jiang 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a vascular tumor of proliferative endothelial cells caused by KS-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection. Aberrant vascular permeability is a hallmark of KS manifested as multifocal edematous skin and visceral lesions with dysregulated angiogenesis and vast inflammatory infiltrations. In this study, we showed that KSHV infection increased the permeability of confluent endothelial monolayers to serum albumin, blood-derived cells, KSHV-infected cells, and KSHV virions. KSHV-induced permeability was associated with the disruption of adherens junctions and the degradation of vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) protein. Both the inactivation of KSHV virions by UV irradiation and the blockage of de novo protein synthesis with cycloheximide failed to reverse the KSHV-induced disruption of adherens junctions. However, soluble heparin that blocked KSHV entry into cells completely inhibited KSHV-induced permeability. Furthermore, the KSHV-induced degradation of VE-cadherin was dose dependent on the internalized virus particles. Together, these results indicate that KSHV infection induces vascular permeability by inducing VE-cadherin degradation during virus entry into cells. KSHV-induced aberrant vascular permeability could facilitate virus spread, promote inflammation and angiogenesis, and contribute to the pathogenesis of KSHV-induced malignancies.
Murine Coronaviruses Encoding nsp2 at Different Genomic Loci Have Altered Replication, Protein Expression, and Localization
Authors: Gadlage Mark J. , Graham Rachel L. , Denison Mark R. 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT
Partial or complete deletion of several coronavirus nonstructural proteins (nsps), including open reading frame 1a (ORF1a)-encoded nsp2, results in viable mutant proteins with specific replication defects. It is not known whether expression of nsps from alternate locations in the genome can complement replication defects. In this report, we show that the murine hepatitis virus nsp2 sequence was tolerated in ORF1b with an in-frame insertion between nsp13 and nsp14 and in place of ORF4. Alternate encoding or duplication of the nsp2 gene sequence resulted in differences in nsp2 expression, processing, and localization, was neutral or detrimental to replication, and did not complement an ORF1a Δnsp2 replication defect. The results suggest that wild-type genomic organization and expression of nsps are required for optimal replication.
Estimating In Vivo Death Rates of Targets due to CD8 T-Cell-Mediated Killing
Authors: Ganusov Vitaly V. , De Boer Rob J. 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTDespite recent advances in immunology, several key parameters determining virus dynamics in infected hosts remain largely unknown. For example, the rate at which specific effector and memory CD8 T cells clear virus-infected cells in vivo is hardly known for any viral infection. We propose a framework to quantify T-cell-mediated killing of infected or peptide-pulsed target cells using the widely used in vivo cytotoxicity assay. We have reanalyzed recently published data on killing of peptide-pulsed splenocytes by cytotoxic T lymphocytes and memory CD8 T cells specific to NP396 and GP276 epitopes of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) in the mouse spleen. Because there are so many effector CD8 T cells in spleens of mice at the peak of the immune response, NP396- and GP276-pulsed targets are estimated to have very short half-lives of 2 and 14 min, respectively. After the effector numbers have diminished, i.e., in LCMV-immune mice, the half-lives become 48 min and 2.8 h for NP396- and GP276-expressing targets, respectively. Analysis of several alternative models demonstrates that the estimates of half-life times of peptide-pulsed targets are not affected when changes are made in the model assumptions. Our report provides a unifying framework to compare killing efficacies of CD8 T-cell responses specific to different viral and bacterial infections in vivo, which may be used to compare efficacies of various cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-based vaccines.
Phylogenetic Analysis of the SpeciesTheilovirus: Emerging Murine and Human Pathogens
Authors: Liang Zhiguo , Kumar A. S. Manoj , Jones Morris S. , Knowles Nick J. , Lipton Howard L. 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTTheCardiovirusgenus of the familyPicornaviridaeincludes two distinct species,Encephalomyocarditis virusandTheilovirus. We now report the complete nucleotide sequences of three Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) strains (TO Yale, TOB15, and Vie 415HTR) and of Vilyuisk human encephalomyelitis virus (VHEV). This information, together with the recently reported sequences of divergent theiloviruses (Theiler's-like rat virus [TRV] and Saffold viruses 1 and 2 [SAFV-1 and SAFV-2]), enables an updated phylogenetic analysis as well as a reexamination of several gene products important in the pathogenesis of this emerging group of viruses. In the light of the known neurotropism of TMEV and the new human SAFV-1 and SAFV-2, the resulting data suggest the existence of theiloviruses that cause human central nervous system infections. Our phylogenetic analyses point to the classification of presently known theiloviruses into five types: TMEV, VHEV, TRV, SAFV-1, and SAFV-2.
Cellular Transcription Factors Sp1 and Sp3 Suppress Varicella-Zoster Virus Origin-Dependent DNA Replication
Authors: Khalil Mohamed I. , Hay John , Ruyechan William T. 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT
The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) origin of DNA replication (oriS) contains a 46-bp AT-rich palindrome and three consensus binding sites for the VZV origin binding protein (OBP) encoded by VZV ORF51. All three OBP binding sites are upstream of the palindrome in contrast to the sequence of the herpes simplex virus oriS, which has required OBP binding sites upstream and downstream of the AT-rich region. We are investigating the roles that sequences downstream of the palindrome play in VZV oriS-dependent DNA replication. Computer analysis identified two GC boxes, GC box 1 and GC box 2, in the downstream region which were predicted to be binding sites for the cellular transcription factor Sp1. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and supershift assays showed that two members of the Sp family (Sp1 and Sp3) stably bind to GC box 1, but not to GC box 2. A predicted binding site for the cellular factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) that overlaps with GC box 2 was also identified. Supershift and mutational analyses confirmed the binding of YY1 to this site. Mutation of GC box 1 resulted in loss of Sp1 and Sp3 binding and an increase in origin-dependent replication efficiency in DpnI replication assays. In contrast, mutation of the YY1 site had a statistically insignificant effect. These results suggest a model where origin-dependent DNA replication and viral transcription are coupled by the binding of Sp1 and Sp3 to the downstream region of the VZV replication origin during lytic infection. They may also have implications regarding establishment or reactivation of viral latency.
Crystal Structure and Carbohydrate Analysis of Nipah Virus Attachment Glycoprotein: a Template for Antiviral and Vaccine Design
Authors: Bowden Thomas A. , Crispin Max , Harvey David J. , Aricescu A. Radu , Grimes Jonathan M. , Jones E. Yvonne , Stuart David I. 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT
Two members of the paramyxovirus family, Nipah virus (NiV) and Hendra virus (HeV), are recent additions to a growing number of agents of emergent diseases which use bats as a natural host. Identification of ephrin-B2 and ephrin-B3 as cellular receptors for these viruses has enabled the development of immunotherapeutic reagents which prevent virus attachment and subsequent fusion. Here we present the structural analysis of the protein and carbohydrate components of the unbound viral attachment glycoprotein of NiV glycoprotein (NiV-G) at a 2.2-Å resolution. Comparison with its ephrin-B2-bound form reveals that conformational changes within the envelope glycoprotein are required to achieve viral attachment. Structural differences are particularly pronounced in the 579-590 loop, a major component of the ephrin binding surface. In addition, the 236-245 loop is rather disordered in the unbound structure. We extend our structural characterization of NiV-G with mass spectrometric analysis of the carbohydrate moieties. We demonstrate that NiV-G is largely devoid of the oligomannose-type glycans that in viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and Ebola virus influence viral tropism and the host immune response. Nevertheless, we find putative ligands for the endothelial cell lectin, LSECtin. Finally, by mapping structural conservation and glycosylation site positions from other members of the paramyxovirus family, we suggest the molecular surface involved in oligomerization. These results suggest possible pathways of virus-host interaction and strategies for the optimization of recombinant vaccines.
The Proto-Oncogene Bcl3, Induced by Tax, Represses Tax-Mediated Transcription via p300 Displacement from the Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Promoter
Authors: Kim Young-Mi , Sharma Neelam , Nyborg Jennifer K. 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT

The etiology of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-induced adult T-cell leukemia is linked to the expression of the viral oncoprotein Tax. Although the mechanism of retroviral transformation is unknown, Tax interferes with fundamental cellular processes, including proliferation and apoptosis, and these events may directly link Tax to early steps in malignant progression. In this study, we examined the interplay between Tax and the potent proto-oncogene
B
-cell
c
hronic
l
eukemia protein
3
(Bcl3). Bcl3 is a critical regulator of cell survival and proliferation and is overexpressed in HTLV-1-infected cells. We found that Tax induced Bcl3 expression through stimulation of the NF-κB pathway. An intronic NF-κB binding site within the Bcl3 gene served as the primary target of Tax-induced NF-κB activation. We next considered the consequence of Bcl3 overexpression on Tax function. Interestingly, we found that Bcl3 formed a stable complex with Tax and that this complex potently inhibited Tax-dependent HTLV-1 transcription. Importantly, Bcl3 associated with the HTLV-1 promoter in a Tax-dependent manner and inhibited the binding of the critical cellular coactivator p300. The conserved ankyrin repeat domain of Bcl3 mediated both Tax binding and inhibition of p300 recruitment to the HTLV-1 promoter. Together, these data suggest that Tax-induced Bcl3 overexpression benefits the virus in two important ways. First, Bcl3 may promote cell division and thus clonal proliferation of the virus. Second, Bcl3 may attenuate virion production, facilitating immune evasion. One consequence of this regulatory loop may be Bcl3-induced malignant transformation of the host cell.
Interaction of Parvovirus B19 with Human Erythrocytes Alters Virus Structure and Cell Membrane Integrity
Authors: Bönsch Claudia , Kempf Christoph , Ros Carlos 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT

The unique region of the capsid protein VP1 (VP1u) of B19 virus (B19V) elicits a dominant immune response and has a phospholipase A
2
(PLA
2
) activity required for the infection. Despite these properties, we have observed that the VP1u-PLA
2
motif occupies an internal position in the capsid. However, brief exposure to increasing temperatures induced a progressive accessibility of the PLA
2
motif as well as a proportional increase of the PLA
2
activity. Similarly, upon binding on human red blood cells (RBCs), a proportion of the capsids externalized the VP1u-PLA
2
motif. Incubation of B19V with RBCs from 17 healthy donors resulted in extensive virus attachment ranging between 3,000 and 30,000 virions per cell. B19V empty capsids represent an important fraction of the viral particles circulating in the blood (30 to 40%) and bind to RBCs in the same way as full capsids. The extensive B19V binding to RBCs did not cause direct hemolysis but an increased osmotic fragility of the cells by a mechanism involving the PLA
2
activity of the exposed VP1u. Analysis of a blood sample from an individual with a recent B19V infection revealed that, at this particular moment of the infection, the virions circulating in the blood were mostly associated to the RBC fraction. However, the RBC-bound B19V was not able to infect susceptible cells. These observations indicate that RBCs play a significant role during B19V infection by triggering the exposure of the immunodominant VP1u including its PLA
2
constituent. On the other hand, the early exposure of VP1u might facilitate viral internalization and/or uncoating in target cells.
Smuggling as the “key to a combined market”: British American Tobacco in Lebanon
Authors: Nakkash R , Lee K 
Published: September 2008

Objectives:To understand the strategy of British American Tobacco (BAT) and other transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) to gain access to the Lebanese market, which has remained relatively closed under monopoly ownership and political instability.Methods:Analysis of internal industry documents, local language secondary sources and industry publications.Results:TTCs have relied on legal and illegal channels to supply the Lebanese market since at least the 1970s. Available documents suggest smuggling has been an important component of BAT’s market entry strategy, transported in substantial quantities via middlemen for sale in Lebanon and neighbouring countries. TTCs took advantage of weak and unstable governance, resulting in uncertainty over the Regie’s legal status, and continued to supply the contraband trade despite appeals by the government to cease undermining its revenues. Since the end of the civil war in the early 1990s, continued uncertainty about the tobacco monopoly amid political instability has encouraged TTCs to seek a legal presence in the country, while continuing to achieve substantial sales through contraband.Conclusion:Evidence of the complicity of TTCs in cigarette smuggling extends to Lebanon and the Middle East where this trade has especially benefited from weak governance and chronic political instability. The regional nature of TTC strategy supports strong international cooperation under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to tackle the problem.