bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Recombinant antibody 2G12 produced in maize endosperm efficiently neutralizes HIV‐1 and contains predominantly single‐GlcNAc N‐glycans
Authors: Rademacher Thomas , Sack Markus , Arcalis Elsa , Stadlmann Johannes , Balzer Simone , Altmann Friedrich , Quendler Heribert , Stiegler Gabriela , Kunert Renate , Fischer Rainer , Stoger Eva 
Published: November 2007

SummaryAntibody 2G12 is one of a small number of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) monoclonal antibodies exhibiting potent and broad human immunodeficiency virus‐1 (HIV‐1)‐neutralizing activity in vitro, and the ability to prevent HIV‐1 infection in animal models. It could be used to treat or prevent HIV‐1 infection in humans, although to be effective it would need to be produced on a very large scale. We have therefore expressed this antibody in maize, which could facilitate inexpensive, large‐scale production. The antibody was expressed in the endosperm, together with the fluorescent marker protein Discosoma red fluorescent protein (DsRed), which helps to identify antibody‐expressing lines and trace transgenic offspring when bred into elite maize germplasm. To achieve accumulation in storage organelles derived from the endomembrane system, a KDEL signal was added to both antibody chains. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy confirmed the accumulation of the antibody in zein bodies that bud from the endoplasmic reticulum. In agreement with this localization, N‐glycans attached to the heavy chain were mostly devoid of Golgi‐specific modifications, such as fucose and xylose. Surprisingly, most of the glycans were trimmed extensively, indicating that a significant endoglycanase activity was present in maize endosperm. The specific antigen‐binding function of the purified antibody was verified by surface plasmon resonance analysis, and in vitro cell assays demonstrated that the HIV‐neutralizing properties of the maize‐produced antibody were equivalent to or better than those of its Chinese hamster ovary cell‐derived counterpart.
Real exchange rate and exchange rate policy in Hungary
Authors: Halpern László 
Published: November 2007

AbstractFive real exchange rate indicators are computed to assess the international competitiveness of Hungarian industry. These indicators are explained in econometric equations by employment, unemployment, productivity, interest spread and real producer wage. Causality tests reveal that external performance has an impact on real exchange rates, and contributes to explaining real exchange rates. There is very limited scope for policy intervention to constrain the negative effects of capital inflows without incurring other costs.
Bank‐led restructuring in Poland: the conciliation process in action1
Authors: Gray Cheryl W. , Holle Arnold 
Published: November 2007

AbstractPoland's 1993 Enterprise and Bank Restructuring Programme (EBRP) tried to force state‐owned commercial banks to build institutional capacity and resolve their problem loans. The outcome of its innovative bank‐led workout (‘conciliation’) process, documented in this study of 62 firms, is decidedly mixed. The EBRP forced banks to confront their problems, helped them to build instituional capacity in their workout units, and furthered the difficult task of weeding out and closing clearly unviable firms. Yet it had limited power to promote needed restructuring or privatization in firms. The conciliation agreements were relatively unsophisticated and include few tangible requirements for operational or management change. The first two years of implementation saw a slowdown (over earlier years) in the rate of layoffs, a decline in average operating profitablility, and very little real privatization. The main impact of conciliation appears to have been to reduce debt service and thereby give firms ‘breathing room’.
Bank‐led restructuring in Poland (II): bankruptcy and its alternatives
Authors: Gray Cheryl W. , Holle Arnold 
Published: November 2007

AbstractPoland's 1993 Enterprise and Bank Restructuring Programme (EBRP) provided for the resolution of problem loans through bank‐led or court‐led workouts, liquidation, or loan sales. This paper examines the workings of three traditional exit processes ‐ court‐led conciliation, bankruptcy, and state enterprise liquidation. Neither bankruptcy nor court conciliation as currently designed gives creditors in Poland enough control over firsm in financial distress. Suggested improvements in design need to be complemented by strong economic policies that give banks and other creditors powerful incentives to use these debt collection mechanisms. The most problematic of the three exit routes is state enterprise liquidation, and although on paper designed for solvent firms, it is often used to get around bankruptcy and keep debtor management in control of assets for as long as possible. Now that the special bank conciliation process has expired as an option, Poland should shift its energies to improving traditional, broadly applicable exit and workout processes.
Industrial restructuring in Russia: early reactions fo firms to the shock of liberalization1
Authors: Duflo Esther , Senik‐Leygonie Claudia 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper looks at the reaction of Russian firsm to the shock of liberalization. Firms are exposed to two kinds of shocks. A supply affects their profitability. A demand shock reflects the new expression of consumers and the opening of the country to foreign competition. Econometric tests show that firms adapt to these changes. They react by adjusting their output. They are not able to change their production techniques for lack of fresh capital. Employment is more stable that output: it is preserved by the adjustment of real wages. Therefore, firms with a low share of material inputs are relatively better off.
A portfolio approach to a cross‐sectoral and cross‐national investment strategy in transition economies
Authors: Buiter Willem H. , Lago Ricardo , Rey Hélène 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper takes a systematic look at the portfolio choice problem faced by Investment Banks or Funds investing in transition economies. We relate the performance of projects in the transition economies to the broader macroeconomic and international environments, which affect the project through their input‐output structures and financial balance sheets. Among the macroeconomic determinanst of enterprise behaviour are productivity growth, real wage growth, movements in the international terms of trade, shocks to the relative price of traded and non‐traded goods, domestic and foreign interest rates, currency depreciation and the rate of inflaction. We evaluate the attractiveness of alternative investment strategies and provisioning rules from the perspective of portfoio theory.
Industrialization and spatial income inequality in rural China, 1986‐921
Authors: Yao Shujie 
Published: November 2007

AbstractRural industrialization has been a dominant factor responsible for China's rapid economic growth over the last 18 years, but it has been accompanied by increased inter‐regional income inequality. Using the most recent rural income data and two alternative Gini coefficient decomposition methods, this study finds that income inequality, especially inter‐regional income inequality increased significantly in the period 1986‐92. More than half of national income inequality was due to its inter‐provincial component, and three quarters of inter‐provincial inequality was due to its inter‐zonal component. Uneven development of township and village enterprises has been a major cause of increased regional income inequality.
Employment and wage behaviour of industrial enterprises in transition economies: The cases of Poland and Czechoslovakia1
Authors: Basu Swati , Estrin Saul , Svejnar Jan 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn this paper we use two very large panel datasets from Poland, 1988‐90 and Czechoslovakia, 1990‐1992 to explore the dynamics of employment and wage determination at the enterprise level in the early years of transition. The study is intended to assist in building a coherent picture of microeconomic adjustment in transition, a field which was not sufficiently explored in the early years of reform. We find that Polish firms were already to some extent responsive to market conditions pre‐reform, notably to demand in determining employment. Czechoslovak firms, however, were largely unresponsive to such pressures in 1989‐90. The elasticities rose significantly in both countries in the early years of reform, especially in Czechoslovakia which quickly attained initial Polish patterns of adjustment. Firms became much more responsive to sales and cost pressures in adjusting employment and to their own productivity in setting pay. Ownership effects in these early years were, however, much more modest, with state‐owned firms adjusting employment more than their private counterparts, perhaps because over‐manning was more serious in that sector.
State enterprise performance and soft budget constraints: The case of Bulgaria
Authors: Claessens Stijn , Peters R. Kyle 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper analyses the performance of state enterprises in Bulgaria during 1992‐94. Consistent with the literature on other transitional economies, this paper finds that one key factor underlying (the lack of) enterprise adjustment in Bulgaria during this period was the availability of financing. Empirically, the (lack of) past adjustment and the softness of finance are the best predictors of current adjustment. Many state enterprises, mostly smaller ones, appear to have adjusted to the new economic structure, partly in response to tighter budget constraints. However, a number of large, hard‐core lossmaking state enterprises did not adjust, due primarily to the soft budget constraints that they faced. These enterprises crowded out profitable enterprises, both public and private, through their large financing requirements, adversely affecting economic growth. Moreover, continued bank financing of these large loss‐makers decapitalized the banking system, and budgetary financing of their losses, largely through tax arrears, has undermined fiscal policy. This lack of enterprise adjustment and the resulting financial indiscipline lies at the core of the macroeconomic difficulties that Bulgaria has recently faced.
Restructuring financial systems in transition and developing economies: an approach based on the French financial system
Authors: Bertero Elisabetta 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to contribute to the debate on the redesigning of financial systems in Central and Eastern European and developing countries by focusing attention on specific financial institutions appropriate to easing the transition and fostering the creation of markets. The paper argues that the immediate emulation of the better‐known institutions of the most developed, market‐based financial systems, i.e. the US and the UK, should not be taken for granted. It underlines, instead, the importance of drawing inspiration from the experiences of a variety of institutions and financial systems. Particularly relevant are those systems that have experienced forms of transition and a mix, over time, of market and state intervention.The approach of this paper is one of institutional financial economics (Neave, 1991 and Williamson, 1986), in which structural details of financial institutions and contracts, in our case French financial institutions, are analysed. We argue that the principles on which some French financial institutions are based and aspects of their functioning are of value to reformers. We discuss the lessons that can be learnt from the Crédit National, the Commissariat Général du Plan, the CODEVI and the SOFARIS.
A net impact analysis of active labour programmes in Hungary
Authors: O'Leary Christopher J. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper presents estimates of the impact on re‐employment and earnings of the two most popular active labour programmes used during the economic transition in Hungary: retraining and public service employment (PSE). To adjust for non‐random assignment of programme participants, net impacts were computed using matched pair samples and regression models. The evidence suggests retraining may improve the chance for reemployment, is unlikely to improve re‐employment earnings, but may improve job durability. Net societal benefits could be improved by retraining relatively more males, older persons, and those with less education. PSE does not appear to provide a reliable path to a regular non‐subsidized job, and may even lower re‐employment earnings. PSE might best be viewed as an income transfer programme having the collateral benefit of maintaining basic work habits. The net societal impact of PSE could increase if it involved relatively more females and older persons.
Poverty dynamics in Hungary during the transformation1
Authors: Spéder Zsolt 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAt the time of transoformation in Hungary, poverty was one of the most discussed public questions. This paper focuses mainly on the longitudinal aspect of poverty. It describes the development of the poverty figures by the application of different poverty concepts. The dual nature of poverty is both poverty. We aim to dispel some of the doubts about poverty, and portray, the portray the different social groups experiencing permanent and transitory poverty.
A Gini decomposition analysis of inequality in the Czech and Slovak Republics during the transition1
Authors: Garner Thesia I. , Terrell Katherine 
Published: November 2007

AbstractDisposable income inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient and using the Family Budget Survey data, increased very little, and by a similar amount, from 1989 to 1993 in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This surprising result is examined with an analysis of changes in the channels of redistribution and Gini decomposition. We find that the sizeable increase in overall inequality due to changes in the wage earnings component is mitigated by changes in the tax and transfer components in both republics. As for the relative effects of government policies, changes in the transfer component contributed more than changes in the tax component to lowering the growth of inequality in the Czech Republic, while the reverse was true for Slovakia.
The governance of privatized firms: authority, reposnisbility and disclosure1
Authors: Klipper Miriam Z. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn any market economy, a fundamental question is how to make management accountable to shareholders and also to the requirements of law. This paper raises selective, critical issues of corporate governance that are particularly relevant to problems of the accountability of boards of directors to their shareholders in transition economies. These issues include the separation of ownership and control and the duties of directors; the need for disclosure given that separation; and the corporate charter as a vehicle for the direct participation of shareholders in governance. The paper suggests that one of the best models of corporate governance that transition economies can use is that employed by the leveraged‐buyout (LBO) and venture capital funds operating in the West. It argues that weaknesses in corporate governance may undermine the entire privatization process. Economics and law are too often seen as separate disciplines. In reality, they come together in transition economies perhaps with greater impact than elsewhere.
Housing demand in Russia: Rationing and reform1
Authors: Buckley Robert M. , Gurenko Eugene N. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn a number of articles Alexeev (1988a) and (1988b) shows that in the former Soviet Union the administrative rationing of housing was partially replaced by market forces acting through the second economy. This paper uses a much richer dataset to update his analysis for Russia to consider housing demand in 1992, the last year of the administrative allocation system. Almost immediately after the survey used for this analysis Russia began to privatize the housing stock as part of its movement towards a market economy. The questions we ask are: Were households really able to beat the system, as argued by Alexeev and, if so, were they still able to do so in 1992? Our answer to the second question is that in 1992 households were not able to beat the system. Income had no observable effect on housing demand. Furthermore, we do not think that the difference in our empirical results and Alexeev's is due only to the broader economic changes that occurred since his estimation or the richer dataset available to us. Indeed, our answer to the first question is that there are good reasons for arguing that Alexeev's estimates of the income elasticity of housing demand are biased upwards.
Voucher privatization: implications for macroeconomic policy1
Authors: Allen Chris , Smidkova Katerina 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper analyses the impact of voucher privatization schemes on the behaviour of households and the consequences for macroeconomic policy. The stylized facts of the voucher privatization scheme are described for the Czech case. The consumption as well as portfolio decision of households during the voucher scheme are modelled within the framework of a consumption function and a system of demand functions for financial assets. The envelope theorem is used to modify the standard Almost Ideal Demand (AID) system. The empirical results are presented. The paper concludes that the interdependence between privatization and macroeconomic stability should be better understood by policy‐makers in transitional countries that are going to adopt a similar approach to privatization to that applied in the Czech Republic.
Managing capital flows in Poland, 1995‐98
Authors: Gomulka Stanislaw 
Published: November 2007

AbstractPoland has been encouraging foreign direct investment, including the purchase of company shares, but has been attempting to limit the inflow of speculative short‐term capital. The policy so far has been effective without the use of any capital controls. The paper explains the policy and the reasons for its apparent success. The paper also discusses the evolving threats to macroeconomic stability of the Polish economy and policy responses to these threats.
Serine racemase expression and d‐serine content are developmentally regulated in neuronal ganglion cells of the retina
Authors: Dun Ying , Duplantier Jennifer , Roon Penny , Martin Pamela M. , Ganapathy Vadivel , Smith Sylvia B. 
Published: November 2007

Abstract d‐Serine, the endogenous ligand for the glycine modulatory binding site of the NMDA receptor, and serine racemase, the enzyme that converts l‐serine to d‐serine, have been reported in vertebrate retina; initial reports suggested that localization was restricted to Müller glial cells. Recent reports, in which d‐serine and serine racemase were detected in neurons of the brain, prompted the present investigation of neuronal expression of d‐serine and serine racemase in retina and whether expression patterns were developmentally regulated. RT‐PCR, in situ hybridization, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunocytochemical methods were used to localize d‐serine and serine racemase in intact retina obtained from 1 to 3 day, 3 week, and 18 week mouse retinas and in primary ganglion cells harvested by immunopanning from neonatal mouse retina. Results of these analyses revealed robust expression of d‐serine and serine racemase in ganglion cells, both in intact retina and in cultured cells. The levels appear to be developmentally regulated with d‐serine levels being quite high in ganglion cells of neonatal retinas and decreasing rapidly postnatally. Serine racemase levels are also developmentally regulated, with high levels detected during the early postnatal period, but diminishing considerably in the mature retina. This represents the first report of neuronal expression of d‐serine and serine racemase in the vertebrate retina and suggests an important contribution of neuronal d‐serine during retinal development.
Highly polymorphic microsatellite loci in the rice‐ and maize‐infecting fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group 1 IA
Authors: ZALA M. , MCDONALD B. A. , DE ASSIS J. BERNARDES , CIAMPI M. B. , STORARI M. , PEYER P. , CERESINI P. C. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractTen polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from the rice‐ and maize‐infecting Basidiomycete fungus Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group AG‐1 IA. All loci were polymorphic in two populations from Louisiana in USA and Venezuela. The total number of alleles per locus ranged from four to eight. All 10 loci were also useful for genotyping soybean‐infecting R. solani AG‐1 isolates from Brazil and USA. One locus, TC06, amplified across two other AG groups representing different species, showing species‐specific repeat length polymorphism. This marker suite will be used to determine the global population structure of this important pathogenic fungus.
Speech and language therapy students’ perceptions of learning in a university clinical setting
Authors: Brumfitt Shelagh , Freeman Margaret 
Published: November 2007

AbstractA university speech and language therapy clinical learning experience was evaluated. A group of postgraduate pre‐registration speech and language therapy students were placed with a group of adults with severe acquired dysarthria for a period of 10 once‐weekly sessions with a lecturer‐therapist in charge. In order to examine the student perspective, a focus group was held before the commencement of the placement and a second group held at the end of the placement. The evaluation of the data from the focus groups demonstrated that it was possible to identify a range of factors which influenced learning in this context.
A SURVEY OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD EPILEPSY
Authors: Caveness William 
Published: November 2007

SUMMARYA concept of the present day public attitude toward epilepsy was gained through the quota sampling method of the American Institute of Public Opinion.Knowledge of Epilepsy is widespread. Over half the national sample is acquainted with an epileptic. A similar proportion has seen a seizure. School and play participation is approved by over half, objected to by one‐quarter. A link with insanity is denied by over half, affirmed by thirteen percent. Employment is advocated by forty‐five per cent, objected to by thirty‐five per cent. Upon further analysis, the more enlightened opinion appears among the better educated and younger age groups; the opposite among the less informed, rural, and older age groups.
Ethchlorvynol in the Treatment of Mixed Grand and Petit Mai Epilepsy
Authors: CARTER C. H. 
Published: November 2007

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS1. Ethchlorvynol was compared with previous medication in the treatment of 49 cases of mixed grand and petit mal epilepsy.2. When ethchlorvynol was added to previous medication or substituted for it, complete or partial control of seizures was obtained with 73.5 per cent of the patients.3. Although one‐fourth of these patients had a concomitant increase in frequency of either grand mal or petit mal, this increase was in most cases outweighed by the overall decrease in frequency.4. With 26.5 per cent of the patients, there was a high average increase in seizure frequency. In ordinary clinical practice, use of the drug should be discontinued in the cases where seizures increase.5. The observations made in this study indicate the value of ethchlorvynol in the management of severe and refractory cases of mixed grand and petit mal epilepsy.