bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sensitization to cross‐reactive carbohydrate determinants in relation to alcohol consumption
Authors: Gonzalez‐Quintela A. , Garrido M. , Gude F. , Campos J. , Linneberg A. , Lojo S. , Vidal C. 
Published: November 2007

SummaryBackground
Alcohol consumption is associated with increased serum IgE of unknown specificity.Objective
To investigate the prevalence of specific IgE to cross‐reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs) in adults, and its relation to alcohol consumption.Methods
Population‐based survey of 457 adults (218 abstainers, 195 light‐to‐moderate drinkers, 44 heavy drinkers). Specific IgE determinations included a CCD (MUXF3, the N‐glycan of bromelain), pollens (Lolium perenne and Olea europaea), Hymenoptera venoms (Apis mellifera and Vespula spp.), and a mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus). We replicated these studies in an additional sample of alcoholics (n=138). Inhibition assays were performed in selected cases.Results
In the general population, 5.6% of individuals (95% confidence interval 3.5–7.6%) showed positive (0.35 kU/L) CCD‐specific IgE. The levels of CCD‐specific IgE were particularly high in heavy drinkers, who also showed a high prevalence of positive IgE to pollens and Hymenoptera venoms, doubling (at least) the prevalence found in alcohol abstainers and light‐to‐moderate drinkers. The presence of IgE to pollens and Hymenoptera venoms was closely correlated with the presence of CCD‐specific IgE. These features were confirmed in the additional sample of alcoholics. Inhibition studies indicated a role of CCD interference in IgE positivity to pollen and Hymenoptera allergens in alcoholics.Conclusions
CCD‐specific IgE is prevalent in heavy drinkers, and is associated with positive IgE to pollens and Hymenoptera venoms. Specific IgE results should be interpreted with caution in heavy drinkers.
Assessment of ecological status in U.K. rivers using diatoms
Authors: KELLY MARTYN , JUGGINS STEVE , GUTHRIE ROBIN , PRITCHARD SARAH , JAMIESON JANE , RIPPEY BRIAN , HIRST HEIKE , YALLOP MARIAN 
Published: November 2007

Summary1. The European Union's Water Framework Directive requires all water bodies to achieve ‘good ecological status’ by 2015 and this paper describes a rationale for defining ‘good ecological status’ based on diatoms, a significant component of the biological quality element ‘macrophyte and phytobenthos’.2. A database of benthic diatom samples collected over the past 20 years was assembled. New sampling, specifically for this project, was undertaken during 2004 to supplement these data. In total 1051 samples were included in the database with matching environmental data.3. ‘Reference sites’, relatively unimpacted by human activity, were selected from this database by a series of screening steps and these sites were used to develop a site‐specific reference typology.4. Environmental variables not related to the pressure gradient were used to predict the ‘expected’ Trophic Diatom Index (TDI) values at each site. Site‐specific TDI predictions were used to generate ecological quality ratios (EQRs) ranging from ≥1, where the diatom assemblage showed no impact, to (theoretically) 0, when the diatom assemblage was indicative of major anthropogenic activities.5. The boundary between ‘high’ and ‘good’ status was defined as the 25th percentile of EQRs of all reference sites. The boundary between ‘good’ and ‘moderate’ status was set at the point at which nutrient‐sensitive and nutrient‐tolerant taxa were present in equal relative abundance. An ecological rationale for this threshold is outlined in the paper.
Pathogenicity of T helper 2 T‐cell clones from T‐cell receptor transgenic non‐obese diabetic mice is determined by tumour necrosis factor‐α
Authors: He Jing , Haskins Kathryn 
Published: November 2007

SummaryAutoimmune diabetes is predominated by a T helper 1 (Th1) response at the expense of an impaired Th2 response. Although T cells producing Th2 cytokines are generally thought to counter a Th1 response, there have been reports of Th2 T‐cell clones with pathogenic activity, including one previously reported by us in which the Th2 T‐cell clone was derived from a T‐cell receptor transgenic (TCR‐Tg) mouse bearing pathogenic TCR. In this study, our goal was to determine whether Th2 T‐cell clones derived from a TCR‐Tg in which the autoantigen was absent would be pathogenic and if so, to investigate possible mechanisms by which the Th2 T‐cell clone could promote disease. We found that a Th2 T‐cell clone derived from the 6·9 TCR‐Tg/non‐obese diabetic (NOD).C6 mouse in which 6.9 T cells do not encounter autoantigen, produced Th2 cytokines but not interferon‐γ. This Th2 T‐cell clone, like the previous one we had isolated from the 2.5 TCR‐Tg/NOD mouse, also turned out to be pathogenic. Intracellular staining revealed that these Th2 T‐cell clones produce low levels of tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) in vitro, and after adoptive transfer, they migrate to the pancreas where they produce TNF‐α as well as Th2 cytokines (interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐10). Induction of disease was prevented by administration of soluble TNF‐α receptor to recipient mice, suggesting that the diabetogenicity of these Th2 T‐cell clones is caused by their low level production of TNF‐α.
Innate immunity in insects: surface‐associated dopa decarboxylase‐dependent pathways regulate phagocytosis, nodulation and melanization in medfly haemocytes
Authors: Sideri Maria , Tsakas Sotiris , Markoutsa Eleni , Lampropoulou Maria , Marmaras Vassilis J. 
Published: November 2007

SummaryPhagocytosis, melanization and nodulation in insects depend on phenoloxidase (PO) activity. In this report, we demonstrated that these three processes appear to be also dependent on dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) activity. Using flow cytometry, RNA interference, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence, we demonstrated the constitutive expression of Ddc and its strong association with the haemocyte surface, in the medfly Ceratitis capitata. In addition, we showed that Escherichia coli phagocytosis is markedly blocked by small interfering RNA (siRNA) for Ddc, antibodies against Ddc, as well as by inhibitors of Ddc activity, namely carbidopa and benzerazide, convincingly revealing the involvement of Ddc activity in phagocytosis. By contrast, latex beads and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) did not require Ddc activity for their uptake. It was also shown that nodulation and melanization processes depend on Ddc activation, because antibodies against Ddc and inhibitors of Ddc activity prevent haemocyte aggregation and melanization in the presence of excess E. coli. Therefore, phagocytosis, melanization and nodulation depend on haemocyte‐surface‐associated PO and Ddc. These three unrelated mechanisms are based on tyrosine metabolism and share a number of substrates and enzymes; however, they appear to be distinct. Phagocytosis and nodulation depend on dopamine‐derived metabolite(s), not including the eumelanin pathway, whereas melanization depends exclusively on the eumelanin pathway. It must also be underlined that melanization is not a prerequisite for phagocytosis or nodulation. To our knowledge, the involvement of Ddc, as well as dopa and its metabolites, are novel aspects in the phagocytosis of medfly haemocytes.
Transition as a process of large‐scale institutional change
Authors: Dewatripont Mathias , Roland Gérard 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAfter several years of transition experience the theory is very poorly developed except in regard to macroeconomtc stabilization. Another key dimension of transition is institutional change to provide the organizational infrastructure for a market economy. Such issues are analysed here through a series of models focusing on: uncertainty of outcomes, complementarities and interactions between reforms, and political constraints. The choice between “big bang” and more gradualist strategies is studied under various conditions and the paper also examines specific incentive and allocative aspects of the transition from socialism to capitalism.
Complementarities and the managerial challenges of state enterprise restructuring: evidence from two shipyards
Authors: Johnson Simon , Kotchen David , Loveman Gary W. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe authors examine detailed organizational changes in two similar Polish state enterprises over the past five years. Effective restructuring requires a coherent package of complementary change in at least eight aspects of the business. The requirements on management are formidable and suggest that state enterprise restructuring will be more difficult than is widely believed.
Regulatory reform in telecommunications in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Armstrong Mark , Vickers John 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn this paper we discuss public policy towards the telecommunications sector in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), focusing primarily on the need to ensure adequate capital investment. The analysis falls into two main parts: the regulation of monopoly, and policy on liberalization. Concerning regulation, we discuss how policy credibility is likely to be a problem in the region, and how reputational considerations, the design of regulatory institutions, and methods of price control can help to ameliorate this problem. Concerning liberalization, we consider the effects of potential competition on investment incentives, and construct a simple model to analyse the different effects of liberalization and regulatory risk on investment. Some preliminary policy conclusions are drawn, and we argue that in the CEE region – in contrast to more well developed countries – a reasonable case can be made for allowing a temporary period of monopoly for basic services.
Complementarities in economic reform
Authors: Friedman Eric J. , Johnson Simon 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe authors report on technical work which examines the implications of combining complementarities and convex adjustment costs in a model of economic reform. The main results are that the optimal pace of reform is higher if there is a larger initial crisis, stronger pro‐reform institutions, and greater immediate potential entrepreneurship. This supports the argument that radical reform was appropriate for most countries in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, while gradualism was more appropriate for a country like China.
Foreign direct investment in economic transition: the changing pattern of investments
Authors: Lankes Hans‐Peter , Venables A. J. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractForeign direct investment into transition economies is reviewed in detail, both from aggregate data and from a survey of senior managers in 117 western manufacturing companies. It is found that host country transition progress, political stability and perceived risk influence FDI inflows as well as the predominant type of investment.
Restructuring outcomes and the evolution of ownership patterns in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Carlin Wendy , Aghion Philippe 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper begins from the proposition that ‘deep restructuring’ requires both finance and managerial expertise. It addresses the question of how this second stage of enterprise restructuring will come about in the majority of state‐owned or former state‐owned firms that are not owned by foreigners. In particular, it seeks to identify how the initial post‐privatization ownership and control structure impinges on the likelihood that deep restructuring takes place. Conclusions for the design of privatization policy are drawn. The initial post‐privatization ownership structures in the Visegrad countries and Russia are surveyed along with evidence of the transfer of ownership from insiders to outsiders.
Enterprise restructuring and adjustment in the transition to market economy: lessons from the experience of Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Dobrinsky Rumen 
Published: November 2007

AbstractSome aspects of the process of enterprise restructuring and adjustment in the Central and Eastern European countries are analysed on the basis of evideance from recent empirical research on microeconomic performance in these transition economies. The paper outlines a stylized picture of some types of enterprise behaviour which occur in this period and highlights a number of issues related to the process of enterprise restructuring and adjustment such as the problem of micro budget constraints, the motivation for enterprise restructuring, the issues of corporate governance. Some of the current impediments to enterprise restructuring as well as some of the determinants of enterprise performance in the transition periód are also featured in the paper.
Enterprise restructuring and social benefits
Authors: Commander Simon , Schankerman Mark 
Published: November 2007

AbstractSoviet era firms provided generous social benefits, including health and child care. Despite recent cuts, firm survey data show that benefits have remained a major component of total compensation. With benefits largely firm‐specific and firms dominated by insiders, continuing attachment of workers as well as widespread informal sector participation has resulted. This has impeded restructuring, in part by generating significant set‐up costs for new private firms. We simulate the effects of a cut in subsidies to benefits provision. We show that while this leads to falls in benefits and employment and an increase in wages, the outcome critically depends on the availability of alternative providers. The key to cushioning these adverse consequences is the stimulation of a market in benefits provision. Given initial conditions, rapid removal of benefits supports will require transitional income support scheme of transitional support and show that it can be financed from the savings from removal of current subsidies to benefits.
Old and new problems in the estimation of national accounts in transiton economies1
Authors: Bartholdy Kasper 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe paper discusses the measurement and interpretation of real GDP in transition economies. It argues that the statistical offices in Eastern Europe, the Baltics and the CIS should place emphasis in the years ahead on improving the mechanism by which estimates of output, consumption, investment and foreign trade are balanced to ensure compliance with standard accounting identities. Improvements to this ‘balancing mechanism’may substantially strengthen the reliability of national accounts data and would not necessarily require a major further financial outlay for the statistical offices. In its discussion of the interpretation of real GDP data, the paper demonstrates that the use of the measured change in output at constant prices as a proxy for the evolution of ‘social welfare’may be particularly problematic in the context of transition economies.
The paradox in the privatization of Hungary's public housinhg: a national gift or a bad bargain?1
Authors: Dániel Zsuzsa 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe vast majority of Hungary's publicly owned, rental housing, once heavily subsidized, has passed through privatization into owner‐occupation. Most tenants hoped to gain a financial advantage by privatization. This study sets out to discover how far such expectations have been met. Bearing in mind the cost of neglected renovation, what does a new owner gain by acquiring ownership of the dwelling and what costs does he or she incur? The study shows that privatization has presented the tenants, who had already benefitted from subsidies, with a sizeable ‘national gift’. The bigger and better the home they rented, the greater their privatization gift. However, there is a paradox to analyse: why has the gift proved a burden to many recipients? The study also looks at how the adaptation occurring in the housing sector might be improved and how the losses of those who find themselves in a predicament after privatization might be reduced.
The influence of owners on voucher provatized firms in the Czech Republic
Authors: Kenway Peter , Chlumský Jiří 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper analyses evidence gathered via a survey of former state enterprises in the Czech Republic to investigate how far these now privatized firms have been subject to the influence and control of their new owners, principally investment privatization funds. The paper summarizes the survey evidence and sets out its findings under two broad headings: First, the extent and nature of the way these funds have sought to exercies control over the firms they own; and second, the various facets of a firm's operations that have, or have not, been altered by the change of owner. The paper discusses the reasons behing the findings, arguing particularly that Czech voucher privatization, although in itself complete, should be seen and judged as the real privatization and not the finish.
Welfare change and the elimination of the shortage economy in Russia: some representative‐household results1
Authors: Roberts Bryan W. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe welfare consequences of eliminating the shortage economy for the representative Russian household are quantitatively assessed. Before price liberalization, households either bought goods and services at state prices and paid searching and queuing costs, or they bought on parallel markets at higher monetary prices. An equation is derived that permits empirical evaluation of the extent to which welfare gains from eliminating searching and queuing costs offset welfare losses from falling real consumption. Available data suggest that when regime change was initiated in Russia in 1992, welfare gains from eliminating shortage were substantial and may have completely offset welfare losses from falling real consumption.
The volatile relationship between deficits and inflation in Ukraine, 1992‐1996
Authors: de Ménil Georges 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper compares the annual average of inflation in Ukraine, from 1992 to 1996, with its steady‐state tendency each year. The steady‐state tendency is, in turn, computed from data on monetary velocity and on the proportion of the total public deficit financed by domestic monetary emissions. Velocity is that of the base of the inflation tax in the steady‐state, namely household M2 plus a fraction of enterprise M2. The use of this concept rather than high‐powered money corresponds to the public and quasi‐public nature of most commercial banks and many large and medium‐sized enterprises until 1996. The demonstrated rough correspondence between actual inflation and calculated, steady‐state inflation confirms the validity of the underlying monetary model.
Wages distribution in Poland: The roles of privatization and international trade, 1992‐96
Authors: Newell Andrew , Socha Mieczyslaw 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper reports an investigation into the changes in the wage distribution in Poland in the first half of the 1990s. We concentrate on the effects of privatization and international trade. We show that the tendency towards increased dispersion in wages halted between 1992 and 1996, despite a rapid expansion in private‐sector work. We also show that, during the same period, private‐sector workers typically earned less than their state‐sector counterparts on an hourly basis, and this gap widened. However, if one controls for experience, tenure and size of workplace, then there existed a small positive private‐sector premium. On the effects of international trade, we find suggestive circumstantial evidence that the increase in trade with Western Europe raised wages and employment in manufacturing.
Altered bank and exchange volatility
Authors: Kočenda Evžen 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper examines the behaviour of the Czech crown's exchange rate when pegged to a currency basket. The peg is supposed to limit the overall instability of the currency. The GARCH(1,1) model with a dummy variable for the volatility response is used to account for a change in the width of the fluctuation band. The results of this paper show that volatility of the exchange rate decreased after a much wider fluctuation band was introduced to limit movements of the currency basket index.
Tax awareness and reform of the welfare state: Hungarian survey results
Authors: Csontos László , Kornai János , Tóth István György 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper reports the results of a survey on the tax awareness of the Hungarian population. Knowledge of tax types and levels is investigated, followed by questions on preferences for state expenditures. The design of the survey is aimed at a contingent evaluation of public sector involvement in health, pensions and higher education. The results show that fiscal illusions have their roots in poor knowledge of the tax cost of public expenditures. When people are provided with additional information on these factors, preferences for state involvement seem to diminish. Possible reform scenarios can be modelled with alternative formulations of institutional arrangements. Respondents tend to have most support for mixed strategies, while ‘pure state’ and ‘pure market’ solutions receive the lowest levels of support. However, since the outcome of any public sector reforms depends heavily on evaluation of the current regimes, an extensive part of the paper is devoted to the investigation of the ‘status quo effect’. The paper, though descriptive in general, provides normative evaluations and suggestions for further reforms.
The emerging Russian banking system1
Authors: Warner Andrew M. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractValue‐added in Russian banks grew by 43 per cent while GDP declined by 32 per cent in the early years of the transition in Russia. This paper offers explanations for the unusual success of the Russian banking sector and the determinants of individual bank performance. The evidence comes from balance sheet data for 563 Moscow banks and 160 regional banks on January 1, 1995 and January 1, 1996. Important factors include the Central Bank policy of channelling low‐interest directed credits to state enterprises through banks, the ability of banks to obtain large‐scale interest‐free deposits, and the resulting high interest rate spreads in an environment of high inflation, and the extent to which banks were formerly part of the Soviet system.
Foreign direct investment in Russia's regions 1993‐95. Why so little and where has it gone?
Authors: Brock Gregory J. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn this paper, foreign direct investment (FDI) into Russia's regions during the period 1993‐95 is analysed using recently available regional data. Russia's regions are shown to be much richer than China's, but much poorer than US states, though with far less FDI than either country. FDI into the regions is also low compared to both Western and Eastern European countries, but has grown substantially from very low levels. Relatively higher FDI is found to occur when crime is lower, market size is bigger and risk is less. Surprisingly, the education of the workforce is found to be important only in the two major cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow, suggesting FDI into Russia's regions is not drawn by cheap labour. Unlike other countries, no evidence for either infrastructure or privatization influencing FDI could be found. The use of tax breaks and exemptions to attract FDI may be short‐sighted as the consequent cut in budget revenues hampers the ability of the region to fight crime and to lower business risk, resulting in an implicit marginal tax increase for future foreign investors that exceeds any benefits from shortterm tax breaks.