bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Olfactory Receptor Pseudogene whose Function emerged in Humans
Authors: Lai Peter , Bahl Gautam , Gremigni Maryse , Matarazzo Valery , Clot-Faybesse Olivier , Ronin Catherine , Crasto Chiquito 
Published: November 2007

AbstractHuman olfactory receptor, hOR17-210, is identified as a pseudogene in the human genome. Experimental data has shown however, that the gene product of cloned hOR17-210 cDNA was able to bind an odorant-binding protein and is narrowly tuned for excitation by cyclic ketones. Supported by experimental results, we used the bioinformatics methods of sequence analysis, computational protein modeling and docking, to show that functionality in this receptor is retained due to sequence-structure features not previously observed in mammalian ORs. This receptor does not possess the first two transmembrane helical domains (of seven typically seen in GPCRs). It however, possesses an additional TM that has not been observed in other human olfactory receptors. By incorporating these novel structural features, we created two putative models for this receptor. We also docked odor ligands that were experimentally shown to bind hOR17-210 model. We show how and why structural modifications of OR17-210 do not hinder this receptor's functionality. Our studies reveal that novel gene rearrangement that result in sequence and structural diversity in has a bearing on OR and GPCR function and evolution.
Endogenous glucocorticoids control neutrophil mobilization from bone marrow to blood and tissues in non‐inflammatory conditions
Authors: Cavalcanti D M H , Lotufo C M C , Borelli P , Ferreira Z S , Markus R P , Farsky S H P 
Published: November 2007

Background and purpose:We have shown that endogenous glucocorticoids control neutrophil mobilization in the absence of inflammation. In this study the role of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the physiological control of neutrophil mobilization was investigated, focusing on the specific mechanisms for mature neutrophils in bone marrow, circulating neutrophils and endothelial cells.Experimental approach:Male Wistar rats were treated with RU 38486 or adrenalectomized. Cell numbers in bone marrow and circulation were morphologically quantified and expressions of L‐selectin determined by flow cytometry. Expressions of P‐selectin, E‐selectin, PECAM‐1, VCAM‐1 and ICAM‐1 were measured by immunohistochemistry on vessels of cremaster muscle and their mRNA levels quantified in primary cultured endothelial cells. NF‐κB activity in neutrophils and endothelium was quantified by EMSA.Key results:RU 38486 treatment altered the maturation phases of neutrophilic lineage and reduced expression of L‐selectin in mature neutrophils from bone marrow; increased the number of neutrophils in the circulation and elevated the expression of L‐selectin in these cells. P‐selectin and E‐selectin expression in endothelial cells was unchanged by adrenalectomy or RU 38486 treatment. Membrane expressions, mRNA levels of ICAM‐1, VCAM‐1 and PECAM‐1 and NF‐κB translocation into the nucleus were higher in the endothelium of adrenalectomized and RU 38486 treated rats.Conclusions and implications:Endogenous glucocorticoids, through activation of GR on neutrophils, physiologically control the rolling behaviour of these cells and, by modulating endothelial functions, affect their adhesiveness. The molecular mechanism induced by activated GR is different in each cell, as NF‐κB translocation was only altered in endothelial cells.British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 152, 1291–1300; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707512; published online 5 November 2007
CB2receptor‐mediated migration of immune cells: it can go either way
Authors: Miller A M , Stella N 
Published: November 2007

Though many studies have examined the role of CB2receptors in immune cell migration, it has been difficult to form definitive conclusions about the physiopathological role of these receptors in regulating immune responses and how this might be pharmacologically targeted for therapy. Do cannabinoids promote inflammation through the recruitment of immune cells, or reduce inflammation by interfering with the action of other chemoattractants? Is therapeutic intervention with an agonist or antagonist more appropriate for the reduction of inflammation? In this review, we will summarize the progress that has been made in answering these questions and outline current hypotheses.British Journal of Pharmacology(2008)153, 299–308; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707523; published online 5 November 2007
Functional coupling of angiotensin II type 1 receptor with insulin resistance of energy substrate uptakes in immortalized cardiomyocytes (HL‐1 cells)
Authors: Alfarano C , Sartiani L , Nediani C , Mannucci E , Mugelli A , Cerbai E , Raimondi L 
Published: November 2007

Background and purpose:Increased angiotensin II levels and insulin resistance coexist at the early stages of cardiomyopathies. To determine whether angiotensin II increases insulin resistance in cardiomyocytes, we studied the effect of angiotensin II on basal and insulin‐stimulated transport rate of energy substrates in immortalized cardiomyocytes (HL‐1 cells).Experimental approach:Glucose and palmitic acid uptakes were measured using [3H]2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose and [14C]palmitic acid, respectively, in cells exposed or not exposed to angiotensin II (100 nM), angiotensin II plus irbesartan or PD123319, type 1 and 2 receptor antagonists, or PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK1/2 activation. Cell viability, DNA, protein synthesis and surface area were evaluated by the MTT test, [3H]thymydine, [3H]leucine and morphometric analysis, respectively. Type 1 receptor levels were measured by western blot analysis.Key results:Basal uptakes of glucose and palmitic acid by HL‐1 cells (0.37±0.07 and 7.31±0.22 pmol per 104cells per min, respectively) were both stimulated by 100 nM insulin (+91 and +64%, respectively). Cells exposed to angiotensin II remained viable and did not show signs of hypertrophy. In these conditions, the basal palmitic acid uptake of the cells increased (11.41±0.46 pmol per 104 cells per min) and insulin failed to stimulate the uptake of glucose and fatty acids. Changes in the rate of uptake of energy substrates were prevented or significantly reduced by irbesartan or PD98059.Conclusions and implications:Angiotensin II is a candidate for increasing insulin resistance in cardiomyocytes. Our results suggest a further mechanism for the cardiovascular protection offered by the angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 153, 907–914; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707563; published online 5 November 2007
A simple immune system simulation reveals optimal movement and cell density parameters for successful target clearance
Authors: Nicholson David , Nicholson Lindsay B. 
Published: November 2007

SummaryWe report here a simple simulation of the immune system in which we analysed the behaviour of responder cells in the presence of target cells. Variable parameters determined the behaviour of the cells within the simulation, and many simulations using the same parameters ensured that statistical variability was achieved. The model demonstrated that high mobility of the target or responder cells produced a more robust response, and that clearance by the immune system was favoured when effector cells moved rapidly compared with the target cells. Therefore, the high motility coefficients exhibited by T cells studied in vivo may play a role in optimizing the effector response to pathogens. Surprisingly, when the number density of responding cells was increased, target cell numbers were limited more effectively, but there was an increased likelihood of a prolonged response.
Transcription of plastid genes is modulated by two nuclear‐encoded α subunits of plastid RNA polymerase in the moss Physcomitrella patens
Authors: Kabeya Yukihiro , Kobayashi Yuki , Suzuki Hiromichi , Itoh Jun , Sugita Mamoru 
Published: November 2007

SummaryIn general, in higher plants, the core subunits of a bacterial‐type plastid‐encoded RNA polymerase (PEP) are encoded by the plastid rpoA, rpoB, rpoC1 and rpoC2 genes. However, an rpoA gene is absent from the moss Physcomitrella patens plastid genome, although the PpRpoA gene (renamed PpRpoA1) nuclear counterpart is present in the nuclear genome. In this study, we identified and characterized a second gene encoding the plastid‐targeting α subunit (PpRpoA2). PpRpoA2 comprised 525 amino acids and showed 59% amino acid identity with PpRpoA1. Two PpRpoA proteins were present in the PEP active fractions separated from the moss chloroplast lysate, confirming that both proteins are α subunits of PEP. Northern blot analysis showed that PpRpoA2 was highly expressed in the light, but not in the dark, whereas PpRpoA1 was constitutively expressed. Disruption of the PpRpoA1 gene resulted in an increase in the PpRpoA2 transcript level, but most plastid gene transcript levels were not significantly altered. This indicates that transcription of most plastid genes depends on PpRpoA2‐PEP rather than on PpRpoA1‐PEP. In contrast, the transcript levels of petN, psbZ and ycf3 were altered in the PpRpoA1 gene disruptant, suggesting that these are PpRpoA1‐PEP‐dependent genes. These observations suggest that plastid genes are differentially transcribed by distinct PEP enzymes with either PpRpoA1 or PpRpoA2.
When density dependence is not instantaneous: theoretical developments and management implications
Authors: Ratikainen Irja I. , Gill Jennifer A. , Gunnarsson Tómas G. , Sutherland William J. , Kokko Hanna 
Published: November 2007

AbstractMost organisms live in changing environments or do not use the same resources at different stages of their lives or in different seasons. As a result, density dependence will affect populations differently at different times. Such sequential density dependence generates markedly different population responses compared to the unrealistic assumption that all events occur simultaneously. Various field studies have also shown that the conditions that individuals experience during one period can influence success and per capita vital rates during the following period. These carry‐over effects further complicate any general principles and increase the diversity of possible population dynamics. In this review, we describe how studies of sequential density dependence have diverged in directions that are both taxon‐specific and have non‐overlapping terminology, despite very similar underlying problems. By exploring and highlighting these similarities, we aim to improve communication between fields, clarify common misunderstandings, and provide a framework for improving conservation and management practices, including sustainable harvesting theory.
Township‐village enterprises, local governments and rural communities: the Chinese village as a firm during economic transition1
Authors: Pei Xiaolin 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe nature of TVEs and the real functions of township‐village governments are rooted in the Chinese township‐village organization. The management of common property in a village group or a rural community is quite different from management in a situation where the boundaries of common property are unclear. Before economic reform, the cooperative elements or interspecific resources, such as low information costs, kinship ties, trust and cooperative spirit belonged in common to all villagers, yet cooperation was absent because the Chinese state appropriated the collective benefits. During the course of reform, the link between village official and state is being gradually broken down and the official is returning to his own village organization. The original interspecific resources of villagers and the identity of the village leader as government official are institutionalized as specific contractual relations in China's reform circumstances. The Chinese village behaves as a firm‐type organization and the collective benefits can be internalized during the economic transition.
High skills pay off: the changing wage structure during economic transition in Poland
Authors: Rutkowski Jan 
Published: November 2007

AbstractEconomic transition turns the inherited wage structure upside down. Changes are rapid and dramatic. The Polish example shows that even in the first year of market‐oriented reforms, there was a marked increase in earnings inequality, a dramatic rise in the wage premium for white‐collar skills, and a significant jump in the returns to education. In contrast, skills acquired under the old system lost their value. It is younger workers who are rewarded with higher wages. The changes are spearheaded by the private sector, where inequalities and the educational premium are higher than in the public sector. Privatization, thus, has its social aspects in that it strengthens the incentive for human capital investment. This paper documents these changes and sets out possible explanations.
Exchange rate policies during transition from plan to market
Authors: Rosati Dariusz 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper reviews the exchange rate policies adopted in the early years of transition, paying attention to the dilemmas concerning the degree of convertibility, the initial choice of exchange rate regime and the required scale of devaluation. The initial liberalization and devaluation were then followed by a period of real exchange rate appreciation, which was accompanied by improving export performance; this second phase has policy implications that are briefly discussed. Throughout, a key constraint is the inability of the central bank to target simultaneously monetary aggregates, interest rates and the exchange rate. In the presence of large capital inflows the authorities have to manage the exchange rate and domestic monetary policy in order to keep inflation acceptably low while maintaining international competitiveness.
Monetary policy, macroeconomic adjustment and currency speculation under floating exchange rates: the case of Bulgaria
Authors: Dobrinsky Rumen 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper deals with the Bulgarian experience with exchange rate policy and the related macroeconomic adjustment in the transition period. It is argued that in the context of the Bulgarian macroeconomic environment, the exchange rate regime and the exchange rate policy (or the lack of such) did play a crucial role in determining the patterns of macroeconomic adjustment in this period. A simple general equilibrium model is suggested that provides some insights into the stylized performance of an economy under certain assumptions, similar to those characterizing the transitional state of the Bulgarian economy. Finally, some aspects of Bulgarian macroeconomic performance in recent years are analysed on the basis of the available empirical information and using the framework of the theoretical model. The paper concludes with the policy lessons of this experience.
Stabilization and exchange rate policy in Romania*
Authors: Daianu Daniel 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper presents the major traits of the stabilization efforts underway, underlining the role of exchange rate policy. The surprisingly good response of the economy to the “policy shock” of 993–1994 is explained by the ubiquitous large X‐inefficiencies and the impact of the foreign exchange market on information and transaction costs. It is argued that restructuring and the imposition of good corporate governance on a wide scale, which are essential for reducing further inflation, need much more capital inflows (foreign direct investment) and the latter can be encouraged by faster privatization. Since systemic strain makes “stop and go” measures almost unavoidable, the challenge for policy‐makers is to avoid policy fluctuations of large amplitude and to enhance steadily their credibility.
The Chenery hypothesis and structural change in Eastern Europe
Authors: Dohrn Roland , Heilemann Ullrich 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe Newly Liberalizing Countries (NLCs) in Eastern Europe have to undergo a fundamental structural change. In this paper the Chenery Hypothesis (CH) is employed to make a quantitative assessment of this change. The CH, roughly speaking, relates an economy's sectoral structure to its stage of development, its size, and its endowment with natural resources. The paper tests this hypothesis for a sample of 31 developed and developing economies and finds it still valid. Then it uses the results obtained to measure distortions in the NLCs' existing economic structure and to give a projection of future structural change. The calculations make it evident that the industrial sector in the NLCs will experience a marked downsizing whilst the service sector turns out to be too small. But sectoral patterns are not too uniform for all groups of countries. Thus, all projections depend highly on the reference group used to evaluate a ‘master pattern’.
Reasons for the low valuation of Russian shares
Authors: Wilier Dirk , Nash Roland 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis note analyses the valuation of Russian assets focusing on the market capitalization of major Russian firms trading in Moscow. It documents that valuations are very low compared to similar assets in mature economies. Several reasons are advanced to explain this phenomenon. The most important of these seems to be the poor record of Russian firms with respect to honouring shareholder rights. Some policy proposals are made to address this problem.
Uncertain recovery prospects in Russia
Authors: Havlik Peter 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBy mid‐1996, restrictive fiscal and monetary policies have brought lower inflation and exchange rate stability to Russia. The mass privatization was an apparent success although it contributed to an unclear ownership structure and weak corporate governance. The production decline continues and the structure of the Russian economy has been deteriorating. The popular dissatisfaction with the drop in living standards is reflected by a deep split in society, despite Mr. Yeltsin's victory in the presidential elections. As in the recent past, the new government will continue with ‘stop‐and‐go’ reform policies, probably with a stronger accent on the protection of domestic producers, legal reforms and economic growth. Because of serious structural and institutional distortions, the Russian economy is more likely to stagnate than to grow strongly in the near future.
Job creation and temporary emigration: the Albanian experience1
Authors: Mancellari Ahmet , Papapanagos Harry , Sanfey Peter 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper focuses on job flows and unemployment in Albania during the transition from a closed, communist system to an open, free‐market economy, and examines the role of emigration in the restructuring of the country. Our theoretical model indicates that in Albania, temporary emigration may have a significant positive effect on hiring in the private sector, reducing unemployment. Using sectoral data on employment, we illustrate the importance of emigration as an alternative for the Albanian labour force, and we measure the extent to which job ‘destruction’ in some sectors of the economy has been compensated for by job ‘creation’ in others. On these grounds, we compare the progress of Albania with other former socialist countries in Europe.
Output decline and recovery in the transiton economies: causes and social consequences1
Authors: Brenton Paul , Gros Daniel , Vanadille Guy 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper suggests that output in the transition economies of eastern Europe and the countries of the former Soviet Union is related to, firstly, macroeconomic stabilization, and secondly, the speed of transition. The statistical analysis suggests that those countries which have been most successful in reducing inflation have experienced a lower level of output decline and have been first to achieve recovery in real output. There is also strong evidence that the economies which have been boldest in adopting reforms have been most successful in limiting the fall in output and promoting growth. No support is found for the assertion that the faster the speed of transition the greater the adverse impact on basic social indicators, such as mortality rates.
Inflation dynamics in Kazakhstan1
Authors: De Broeck Mark , De Masi Paula , Koen Vincent 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn January 1992, Kazakhstan initiated a reform programme to move towards market‐determined prices. The price liberalization process was characterized by large relative price shifts and an increase in the overall price level towards those observed in market economies. The paper shows how the piecemeal manner in which prices were liberalized resulted in strong relative price variability over a prolonged period of time, against a background of high inflation. Convergence towards international relative and absolute price levels has progressed but is not complete, with prices for energy and services in particular still below market economy levels.
The impact of Czech privatization methods on enterprise performance incorporating initial selection‐bias correction1
Authors: Marcinèin Anton , van Wijnbergen Sweder 
Published: November 2007

AbstractGovernments with transitional economies have applied different privatization methods, from an almost free distribution to the direct sale of state assets. While a free distribution was believed to ensure the political feasibility of the programme and its fairness, direct sales, (or more generally, standard privatization methods) had a significant advantage in creating concentrated ownership structures as the prerequisite to corporate control and restructuring. Many economists believe that the two goals of mass privatization, political feasibility and the creation of proper ownership incentives, contradict each other and recent empirical comparisons of enterprises seem to support this view. However, all empirical works have been based on the weak assumption that privatization methods were applied on a randomly selected sample of enterprises, which then allowed for a direct comparison between these enterprises. Our main claim is that governments actually selected enterprises non‐randomly and therefore, the resulting selection‐bias must be incorporated into the analyses. To show this, we apply a Heckman two‐step regression method on a sample of 559 Czech enterprises. The main point of this paper then is that performance is influenced by the selection process and that the combination of vouchers with outsider owners is preferred over 100 per cent voucherization.
Non‐standard methods in the privatization strategies of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland1
Authors: Bornstein Morris 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland followed different strategies in the use of non‐standard methods of privatization. In regard to restitution, the Czech Republic carried out physical return of property, Hungary weakly implemented financial compensation and Poland has not yet approved a programme. Management and employee buyouts were eschewed in the Czech Republic, took the form of employee stock ownership plans in Hungary and were accomplished chiefly by lease‐purchase in Poland. The Czech mass privatization programme distributed a considerable amount of joint‐stock company shares free through voucher auctions in which citizens participated directly or through financial intermediaries. In contrast, the Polish programme provided citizens free shares in investment trusts that exercise corporate governance over operating companies and restrure them for divestiture. Hungary's programme, which offered people only interest‐free loans to buy some shares in intial public offerings, was abandoned soon after its start.