bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gender differences in the development of depression
Authors: AHNLUND KARIN , FRODI ANN 
Published: May 2008

The present study attempted to examine possible gender differences in the vulnerability to depression, specifically with regard to eliciting factors, marital status, age of onset, season of hospitalization, and type of treatment. The records of all patients (67 women and 34 men), treated during 1991 for major depression, dysthymia, or depression NOS at a psychiatric hospital in Southeastern Sweden were examined, and placed in empirically derived categories regarding eliciting factors.The results indicated significant gender differences with regard to eliciting factors, marital status, and age. The eliciting factor in female depression was most commonly “threat to social bonds” whereas in male depression it was “threat to self esteem” or “threat to self respect”. Married women were more prone to depression than were married men, as were men living alone compared to women living alone. Women above 60 years of age were significantly more prone to depression than were men of this age group. The results were discussed from two theoretical perspectives: gender role theory and gender‐specific developmental theory.
PRICING OF OIL: ROLE OF THE CONTROLLING POWER
Authors: Jaidah Ali M. 
Published: May 2008

Prior to 1960 ‐ and the formation of OPEC ‐ the oil industry was concentrated in the hands of seven major international companies, generally known as “The Seven Sisters.” But this was only prima facie the situation; in actual fact, the real or “controlling” power lay, not with the companies themselves, but with their countries of origin – namely Great Britain and the United States. Since there was no competitive situation, normal commercial criteria never applied: the industry was entirely geared to serving the economic interests of consuming countries. In the serving of those interests, the pricing of oil played a key role – Just as it does today, but in a vastly different context!It is with the evolution of oil pricing under the conditions described above and its future development in the right of the harsh economic realities of our time thai this article by the Secretary General of OPEC is concerned. In view of its importance and the wide interest it has awakened since it was first delivered at an Energy Seminar sponsored by Harvard University on May 9, this year, we reproduce the article, in full, in the OPEC Review.
LNG EXPORTS – A CONTRIBUTION TO WORLD ENERGY SUPPLIES IN THE DECADES TO COME
Authors: Laoussine Nordine Ait 
Published: May 2008

This paper deals with the impact which the development of OPEC gas – in the form of LNG – could have on world energy supplies in the decades to come. In it, the author submits that, merely to stop the wasteful flaring of natural gas, could add over two million barrels per day of oil equivalent to world energy supplies, and that full development of this resource base could increase the figure ten‐fold, equivalent to a 60 percent increase in current OPEC oil production levels. And this at a lower cost – in terms of capital expenditure – than alternative new sources of energy.The writer warns that we are now entering a “dangerous period” of two to three years, during which energy supplies will appear to be adequate. This could breed a false sense of security, leading to a delay in making necessary decisions. We must, he says, avoid complacency!In conclusion, he opines that_ exports of OPEC LNG could increase many times over in the coming decades, leading to a massive upsurge in orders for ships, plants, pipelines and so on, which would have a direct, positive impact on the balance of payments of consumer economies. But in order to bring this about, the economic fact of higher energy prices needs to be grasped now and a more equitable burden of risks between producers and consumers worked out.
Inequality aspects of alternative CO2 agreement designs
Authors: Welsch Heinz 
Published: May 2008

Footnotes 1. The emission data analyzed in this section are from Deutscher Bundestag (1990), the income data from Statistisches Bundesamt (1989). 2. On the construction of the Lorenz curve, see any textbook in elementary statistics. 3. Note that some countries have been deliberately deleted from the sample, although their carbon emissions are larger than those of some countries included. The reason is either that they do not fit into the categorization of countries considered below or that they exhibit too spurious a relationship between emissions and income. The latter is the case for those countries, whose incomes depend mainly on oil exports. By including the omitted countries, another five per cent of world emissions would have been covered. 4. It should be recalled that technical progress is neglected in the model.
Social Security in Britain—Twenty Years After Beveridge
Authors: BURNS EVELINE M. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryIn one major respect British experience with social security policies since 1946 has vindicated Beveridge's analysis, namely that to be successful, any income maintenance program must be buttressed by an effective attack on other social problems. Two of these, the complications resulting from the varying size of families and the burden of medical care costs, have been the subject of special measures, Children's Allowances and the National Health Service. The former is not as effective as it might be, owing to the still modest level of the allowance per child; the latter has undoubtedly made the task of the income maintenance and public assistance services much easier by freeing them from the necessity of attempting to pay benefits or allowances to cover medical care costs, a particularly important consideration in regard to the aged.But in the areas of housing and employment less has been done. The lack of adequate housing means that in many cases the Assistance Board has to grant higher allowances to cover unduly high rents or to carry a heavy burden of supplementation to meet rent charges. And although Britain has, until recently, enjoyed a surprisingly high degree of full employment, there is little evidence that this has been the result of deliberate policy; the situation now seems to be changing. The next few years may well see social security policy responding, as in the prewar period, to the needs of the unemployed rather than so exclusively to the needs of the aged. And it seems likely too that the needs of the unemployed will be interpreted more broadly than was the case in the prewar period, when it was thought sufficient merely to ensure some modicum of income. In the future it can be anticipated that there will be much greater pressure on the government to provide employment, through general expansionist policies, measures to revive depressed areas, more effective retraining and transfer programs, and perhaps also expanded public works.In another respect, however, Britain's postwar social security experience has demonstrated that income security policy itself can never be determined once and for all. Increasing affluence has called in question the appropriateness of Beveridge's assumption that all that was needed was to ensure a very low minimum social insurance payment. Greater knowledge of the circumstances of those with little or no income has raised doubts as to the extent to which economic insecurity could be eliminated through universal coverage by social insurance, unsupported by a quite extensive national assistance system. It has also become clear, in view of the persistence in a period of high employment of groups of employable persons who for personal reasons are unable to secure or retain jobs, that assurance of income alone is not enough. The future is likely to witness a considerable expansion of social services other than income maintenance, not only for such groups but also for the aged whose needs are increasingly seen to demand something more than minimum income maintenance.
Cultural Patterns in the Role of the Manager
Authors: HAIRE MASON , GHISELLI EDWIN E. , PORTER LYMAN W. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThis is a preliminary report of data. More exhaustive analysis will appear later. Meanwhile, some general findings emerge:1. One cannot help but be struck by the consistent groupings of countries through all three parts of the study. Not only is the grouping consistent, but it tends to follow ethnic lines rather than level of industrialization.2. The pattern of uniformity and diversity in the data is also striking. It seems possible to identify variables which are enduring and relatively culture‐free characteristics of people and other variables which are more situationally determined. This is outstanding in the uniformity of importance of needs and the great difference in their satisfaction. It also appears in the uniform swings on attitudes toward leadership while preserving national differences and in the similar grouping on the semantic differential.3. Managers in all the countries studied could profitably examine these data. They might ask themselves if this is the way they see it, if this is the way they want it, and what the differences may mean to their countries' economies.
Equity and Strategy in Union Retirement Policy
Authors: BERS MELVIN K. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryUnions have been much concerned with retirement policy. Pensions are valued by the members and, at the same time, aid union security and bargaining effectiveness. While the new programs have been drafted in a context of economic emergency, there is no reason to believe that in their main outlines they are but temporary expedients. Some recent internal union tensions over the subject have been transitional in nature, but others promise to be more permanent. The integration of pension and retirement policy with other major union programs remains to be worked out. And only experience will enable the memberships to digest the cost‐benefits implications of the new retirement programs and to make the adjustments most consistent with internal political reality.
Growth and Mortality of Ostrea edulis at Two Sites on the Damariscotta River Estuary, Maine, USA
Authors: Carnegie Ryan B. , Barber Bruce J. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe Damariscotta River estuary is a center of oyster culture in Maine, yet the comparative performance of flat oysters Ostrea edulis at different locations in this now Bonamia ostreae‐enzootic estuary has not been assessed. Juvenile O. edulis were deployed in July 1997 among replicate floating trays at one estuarine (Little Point) and one marine site (Lowes Cove), and growth, mortality, and B. ostreae prevalence were compared through December 1999. Growth was faster at Little Point though oysters at both locations reached market size in less than three full growing seasons. Mortality was similar between locations except following a June 1998 rain event that decreased salinity more precipitously at Little Point. Cumulative mortality was greater at Little Point (45.8%) than Lowes Cove (26.7%). Surprisingly, B. ostreae was observed in only a single oyster from Little Point in May 1998. These data indicate that flat oysters in Maine may grow well across a wide range of environments, yet may demonstrate better survival at marine sites where salinity fluctuations are less extreme. While B. ostreae is likely still a threat, selection of sites where rapid growth to market size is possible may reduce its impact.
Pharmacokinetics of potassium bromide in adult horses
Authors: Raidal SL , Edwards S 
Published: May 2008

Objective To determine the pharmacokinetics of potassium bromide (KBr) in horses after a single and multiple oral doses.Animals Twelve adult Standardbred and Thoroughbred maresProcedure Horses were randomly assigned into two treatment groups. In Part 1 of the study, horses were given a single oral dose of 120 mg/kg KBr. Part 2 of the study evaluated a loading dose of 120 mg/kg KBr daily by stomach tube for 5 days, followed by 40 mg/kg daily in feed for 7 days. Serum concentrations of bromide were determined by colorimetric spectrophotometry following drug administration to permit determination of concentration versus time curves from which pharmacokinetic parameters could be calculated. Treated horses were monitored twice daily by clinical examination. Serum concentrations of sodium, potassium and chloride ions and partial pressures of venous blood gases were determined.Results Maximum mean serum bromide concentration following a single dose of KBr (120 mg/kg) was 284 ± 15 µg/mL and the mean elimination half‐life was 75 ± 14 h. Repeated administration of a loading dose of KBr (120 mg/kg once daily for 5 days) gave a maximum serum bromide concentration of 1098 ± 105 µg/mL. The administration of lower, maintenance doses of KBr (40 mg/kg once daily) was associated with decreased serum bromide concentrations, which plateaued at approximately 700 µg/mL. Administration of KBr was associated with significant but transient changes in serum potassium and sodium concentrations, and possible changes in base excess and plasma bicarbonate concentrations. High serum concentrations of bromide were associated with an apparent increase in serum chloride concentrations, when measured on an ion specific electrode.Conclusions and clinical relevance A loading dose of 120 mg/kg daily over 5 days and maintenance doses of approximately 90–100 mg/kg of KBr administered once daily are predicted to result in serum bromide concentrations consistent with therapeutic efficacy for the management of seizures in other species. The clinical efficacy of this agent as an anticonvulsant medication and/or calmative in horses warrants further investigation.
Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Norovirus Genomes in Oysters by a Two-Step Isothermal Amplification Assay System Combining Nucleic Acid Sequence-Based Amplification and Reverse Transcription-Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assays
Authors: Fukuda Shinji , Sasaki Yukie , Seno Masato 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
We developed a two-step isothermal amplification assay system, which achieved the detection of norovirus (NoV) genomes in oysters with a sensitivity similar to that of reverse transcription-seminested PCR. The time taken for the amplification of NoV genomes from RNA extracts was shortened to about 3 h.
In Silico and In Vivo Evaluation of Bacteriophage φEF24C, a Candidate for Treatment of
Enterococcus faecalis
Infections
Authors: Uchiyama Jumpei , Rashel Mohammad , Takemura Iyo , Wakiguchi Hiroshi , Matsuzaki Shigenobu 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT

Along with the increasing threat of nosocomial infections by vancomycin-resistant
Enterococcus faecalis
, bacteriophage (phage) therapy has been expected as an alternative therapy against infectious disease. Although genome information and proof of applicability are prerequisites for a modern therapeutic phage,
E. faecalis
phage has not been analyzed in terms of these aspects. Previously, we reported a novel virulent phage, φEF24C, and its biology indicated its therapeutic potential against
E. faecalis
infection. In this study, the φEF24C genome was analyzed and the in vivo therapeutic applicability of φEF24C was also briefly assessed. Its complete genome (142,072 bp) was predicted to have 221 open reading frames (ORFs) and five tRNA genes. In our functional analysis of the ORFs by use of a public database, no proteins undesirable in phage therapy, such as pathogenic and integration-related proteins, were predicted. The noncompetitive directions of replication and transcription and the host-adapted translation of the phage were deduced bioinformatically. Its genomic features indicated that φEF24C is a member of the SPO1-like phage genus and especially that it has a close relationship to the
Listeria
phage P100, which is authorized for prophylactic use. Thus, these bioinformatics analyses rationalized the therapeutic eligibility of φEF24C. Moreover, the in vivo therapeutic potential of φEF24C, which was effective at a low concentration and was not affected by host sensitivity to the phage, was proven by use of sepsis BALB/c mouse models. Furthermore, no change in mouse lethality was observed under either single or repeated phage exposures. Although further study is required, φEF24C can be a promising therapeutic phage against
E. faecalis
infections.
Acyl Chain Specificity of the Acyltransferases LpxA and LpxD and Substrate Availability Contribute to Lipid A Fatty Acid Heterogeneity in
Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Bainbridge Brian W. , Karimi-Naser Lisa , Reife Robert , Blethen Fleur , Ernst Robert K. , Darveau Richard P. 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT

Porphyromonas gingivalis
lipid A is heterogeneous with regard to the number, type, and placement of fatty acids. Analysis of lipid A by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry reveals clusters of peaks differing by 14 mass units indicative of an altered distribution of the fatty acids generating different lipid A structures. To examine whether the transfer of hydroxy fatty acids with different chain lengths could account for the clustering of lipid A structures,
P. gingivalis lpxA
(

lpxA
Pg

) and

lpxD
Pg

were cloned and expressed in
Escherichia coli
strains in which the homologous gene was mutated. Lipid A from strains expressing either of the
P. gingivalis
transferases was found to contain 16-carbon hydroxy fatty acids in addition to the normal
E. coli
14-carbon hydroxy fatty acids, demonstrating that these acyltransferases display a relaxed acyl chain length specificity. Both LpxA and LpxD, from either
E. coli
or
P. gingivalis
, were also able to incorporate odd-chain fatty acids into lipid A when grown in the presence of 1% propionic acid. This indicates that
E. coli
lipid A acyltransferases do not have an absolute specificity for 14-carbon hydroxy fatty acids but can transfer fatty acids differing by one carbon unit if the fatty acid substrates are available. We conclude that the relaxed specificity of the
P. gingivalis
lipid A acyltransferases and the substrate availability account for the lipid A structural clusters that differ by 14 mass units observed in
P. gingivalis
lipopolysaccharide preparations.
Dendritic Cell Internalization of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus: Influence of Heparan Sulfate Binding on Virus Uptake and Induction of the Immune Response
Authors: Harwood Lisa J. , Gerber Heidi , Sobrino Francisco , Summerfield Artur , McCullough Kenneth C. 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
Dendritic cells (DC), which are essential for inducing and regulating immune defenses and responses, represent the critical target for vaccines against pathogens such as foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). Although it is clear that FMDV enters epithelial cells via integrins, little is known about FMDV interaction with DC. Accordingly, DC internalization of FMDV antigen was analyzed by comparing vaccine virus dominated by heparan sulfate (HS)-binding variants with FMDV lacking HS-binding capacity. The internalization was most efficient with the HS-binding virus, employing diverse endocytic pathways. Moreover, internalization relied primarily on HS binding. Uptake of non-HS-binding virus by DC was considerably less efficient, so much so that it was often difficult to detect virus interacting with the DC. The HS-binding FMDV replicated in DC, albeit transiently, which was demonstrable by its sensitivity to cycloheximide treatment and the short duration of infectious virus production. There was no evidence that the non-HS-binding virus replicated in the DC. These observations on virus replication may be explained by the activities of viral RNA in the DC. When DC were transfected with infectious RNA, only 1% of the translated viral proteins were detected. Nevertheless, the transfected cells, and DC which had internalized live virus, did present antigen to lymphocytes, inducing an FMDV-specific immunoglobulin G response. These results demonstrate that DC internalization of FMDV is most efficient for vaccine virus with HS-binding capacity, but HS binding is not an exclusive requirement. Both non-HS-binding virus and infectious RNA interacting with DC induce specific immune responses, albeit less efficiently than HS-binding virus.
Genetic Interactions among the West Nile Virus Methyltransferase, the RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase, and the 5′ Stem-Loop of Genomic RNA
Authors: Zhang Bo , Dong Hongping , Zhou Yangsheng , Shi Pei-Yong 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT

Flavivirus methyltransferase catalyzes both guanine N7 and ribose 2′-OH methylations of the viral RNA cap (GpppA-RNA→m
7
GpppAm-RNA). The methyltransferase is physically linked to an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) in the flaviviral NS5 protein. Here, we report genetic interactions of West Nile virus (WNV) methyltransferase with the RdRp and the 5′-terminal stem-loop of viral genomic RNA. Genome-length RNAs, containing amino acid substitutions of D146 (a residue essential for both cap methylations) in the methyltransferase, were transfected into BHK-21 cells. Among the four mutant RNAs (D146L, D146P, D146R, and D146S), only D146S RNA generated viruses in transfected cells. Sequencing of the recovered viruses revealed that, besides the D146S change in the methyltransferase, two classes of compensatory mutations had reproducibly emerged. Class 1 mutations were located in the 5′-terminal stem-loop of the genomic RNA (a G35U substitution or U38 insertion). Class 2 mutations resided in NS5 (K61Q in methyltransferase and W751R in RdRp). Mutagenesis analysis, using a genome-length RNA and a replicon of WNV, demonstrated that the D146S substitution alone was lethal for viral replication; however, the compensatory mutations rescued replication, with the highest rescuing efficiency occurring when both classes of mutations were present. Biochemical analysis showed that a low level of N7 methylation of the D146S methyltransferase is essential for the recovery of adaptive viruses. The methyltransferase K61Q mutation facilitates viral replication through improved N7 methylation activity. The RdRp W751R mutation improves viral replication through an enhanced polymerase activity. Our results have clearly established genetic interactions among flaviviral methyltransferase, RdRp, and the 5′ stem-loop of the genomic RNA.