bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quercetin Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Cell Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Responses via Regulation of the TLR4-NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Bovine Rumen Epithelial Cells
Authors: Jiang Maocheng , Wang Kexin , Huang Yinghao , Zhang Xuelei , Yang Tianyu , Zhan Kang , Zhao Guoqi
Published: August 2023

Subacute rumen acidosis (SARA) will cause an increase in endotoxin, which will have a negative effect on the bovine rumen epithelial cells (BREC). Flavonoids are effective in treating inflammation caused by endotoxin. Quercetin is a vital flavonoid widely occurring in fruits and vegetables and has received significant interest as a prospective anti-inflammatory antioxidant. Nonetheless, quercetin’s protective machinery against such damage to BREC induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) remains unclear. A combined quercetin and LPS-induced BREC inflammation model was utilized to elucidate the effect of quercetin protecting BREC from LPS-induced injury. After treating BREC with different doses of LPS (1, 5, and 10 μg/mL) for 6 h or 24 h, the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors was detected. Our experimental results show the establishment of the BREC inflammation model via mRNA high expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in BREC following 6 h treatment with 1 µg/mL LPS. The promotive effect of 80 μg/mL quercetin on BREC growth via the cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay was observed. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, notably tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), Interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, CC-motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), CCL20, CCL28, and CXC motif chemokine 9 (CXCL9), etc., was significantly reduced by quercetin supplementation. We also analyzed the mRNA detection of related pathways by qRT-PCR. Our validation studies demonstrated that quercetin markedly curbed the mRNA expression of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation primary response protein (MyD88) and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in LPS-treated BREC. In addition, western blot result outcomes confirmed, as expected, that LPS significantly activated phosphorylation of p44/42 extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2) and NF-κB. Unexpectedly, this effect was reversed by adding quercetin. To complement western blot results, we assessed p-ERK1/2 and p-p65 protein expression using immunofluorescence, which gave consistent results. Therefore, quercetin’s capacity to bar the TLR4-mediated NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways may be the cause of its anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-induced inflammatory reactions in BREC. According to these results, quercetin may be utilized as an anti-inflammatory medication to alleviate inflammation brought on by high-grain feed, and it also lays out a conceptual foundation regarding the development and utilization of quercetin in the later stage.
Knowledge Production on Congenital Chagas Disease across Time, Borders and Disciplines: A Comprehensive Scoping Review
Authors: Rapp Elise , Gold Marina
Published: August 2023

Congenital transmission is a key route of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in Latin America and globally, contributing significantly to the burden of Chagas disease. The interruption of transmission from mother to child has recently become a focus issue. However, the research landscape on congenital Chagas disease remains largely unexplored. The purpose of this scoping review is to assess the production of knowledge on congenital Chagas disease (CCD), aiming to identify research trends and potential gaps. Our initial hypothesis was that the CCD literature overly represents the medical sciences and that there is a need for socio-cultural research on the subject. We conducted a systematic search of publications focusing on congenital Chagas disease in six languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German and Italian). This comprehensive literature search identified 876 studies that met the inclusion criteria, out of a total of 8893 sources. The relevant literature was analyzed by language, year of publication, discipline, source type and research location. The main outcome of this study has been to prove our hypothesis that there is a scarcity of knowledge produced within the non-biomedical sciences on CCD. This underscores the need for further exploration into the social and structural issues surrounding this disease. Visually clear data concerning congenital Chagas disease produced by this study can contribute to hone in future research efforts and support funding applications. Additionally, this article provides a reference list that other researchers can consult for their own studies.
Seed Transmission of Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus and Triticum Mosaic Virus in Differentially Resistant Wheat Cultivars
Authors: Gautam Saurabh , Chinnaiah Senthilraja , Herron Benjamin , Workneh Fekede , Rush Charles M. , Gadhave Kiran R.
Published: August 2023

Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) and Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) are important viral pathogens of wheat in the Great Plains. These viruses individually or in mixed infections with High Plains wheat mosaic virus cause a devastating wheat streak mosaic (WSM) disease. Although seed transmission of WSMV has been studied, no information is currently available on that of TriMV. Furthermore, no study has explored the implications of mixed infections of WSMV and TriMV on seed transmission of one or both viruses. To study both aspects, seeds from differentially resistant field-grown wheat plants (cv. TAM 304 (susceptible), Joe (WSMV resistant, Wsm2 gene), and Breakthrough (BT) (WSMV and TriMV resistant, Wsm1 gene)) showing characteristic WSM symptoms were collected and analyzed to quantify both viruses using qRT-PCR. The percentage of seeds tested positive for WSMV or TriMV individually and in mixed infection varied with cultivar and virus combinations; 13% of TAM 304 seeds tested positive for WSMV, followed by 8% of BT and 4% of Joe seeds. Similarly, TriMV was detected in 12% of BT seeds, followed by 11% of TAM 304 and 8% of Joe seeds. Lastly, mixed infection was detected in 7% of TAM 304 seeds, followed by 4% in BT, and 2% in Joe. Dissection of field-collected seeds into three parts, embryo, endosperm, and seed coat, revealed both WSMV and TriMV accumulated only in the seed coat. Consistent with seeds, percent infection of WSMV or TriMV in the plants that emerged from infected seeds in each treatment varied with cultivar and virus combinations (WSMV: BT 3%; Joe 2%; TAM 304 9%; TriMV: BT 7%; Joe 8%; and TAM 304 10%). Plants infected with mixed viruses showed more pronounced WSM symptoms compared to individual infections. However, both viruses were present only in a few plants (BT: 2%, Joe: 1%, and TAM 304: 4%). Taken together, this study showed that TriMV was transmitted vertically at a higher frequency than WSMV in resistant cultivars, and the seed transmission of TriMV with WSMV increased the virulence of both pathogens (measured via WSM symptom severity) in the emerged plants. Furthermore, Wsm1 and Wsm2 genes considerably reduced WSMV transmission via infected seeds. However, no such effects were observed on TriMV, especially in progeny plants. These results reiterated the importance of planting clean seeds and highlighted the immediate need to identify/develop new sources of TriMV resistance to effectively manage the recurring WSM epidemic.
Associations of Serum Calprotectin, Arterial Stiffness and Long COVID Symptoms in Dalmatian Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Đogaš Tina , Novak Ivana , Babić Marija , Vučković Marijana , Tandara Leida , Radić Josipa
Published: August 2023

We aimed to explore long COVID symptoms, serum calprotectin levels, and the parameters of arterial stiffness in Dalmatian kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and their possible associations. A cross-sectional, single-center case-control study on 98 KTRs who had recovered from COVID-19 was performed. Long COVID symptoms were explored via standardized questionnaires assessing quality of life, and serum calprotectin was also measured. Out of 98 KTRs with a mean age of 62 years, 63 (64.3%) were men. Medical history, clinical and laboratory parameters, and arterial stiffness measurements were obtained for each study participant. Difficulties with mobility were present in 44.3% of the KTRs, while difficulties with self-care were present in 6.2%, difficulties with usual activities were demonstrated by 35.1%, pain in the extremities was present in 52.5%, and anxiety and depression were present in 26.8%. Our results showed significant differences regarding serum calprotectin levels in clinical manifestations of acute COVID-19 and follow-up laboratory parameters. The most significant positive predictors of the serum calprotectin value in the KTRs were respiratory insufficiency, acute kidney failure, the prescription of antihypertensives, leukocyte and neutrophil counts, the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and lactate dehydrogenase levels. Negative predictors were the time since COVID-19, high-density lipoprotein levels, kidney function parameters, and the lymphocyte count. To conclude, serum calprotectin has emerged as a possible promising biomarker for subclinical allograft rejection; however, further studies are needed to better understand this subject.
Characterization of the Nitrogen Removal Potential of Two Newly Isolated Acinetobacter Strains under Low Temperature
Authors: Zhong Yongjun , Xia Haiyang
Published: August 2023

Excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the water causes several ecological problems for nutrients. Biological nitrogen removal is an economical and efficient way to prevent excessive nitrogen in the environment. For most areas of China, temperatures are usually lower than 20 °C except during the summertime. It is necessary to discover microbes that can efficiently remove nitrogen at low temperatures. In this study, two Acinetobacter strains were isolated from a sample in a wastewater tank in Taizhou for their capabilities to remove NO3−–N and NO2−–N at 15 °C. Heterotrophic nitrification experiments showed that both strains could efficiently remove nitrogen from the culture medium. The maximum removal rates of NH4+–N were 3.15 mg/L·h and 4.74 mg/L·h for heterotrophic nitrification by the strains F and H, respectively. Strain H grew faster and removed both nitrite and nitrate more efficiently than strain F. Genome sequencing showed that strains F and H could be classified into Acinetobacter johnsonii and Acinetobacter bereziniae, respectively. NO2−–N (100 mg/L) was completely removed in 3 days by strain H. The maximum NO3−–N removal rate was 3.53 mg/L·h for strain F. When strain H was cultured in a broth with 200 mg/L NO3−–N, 97.46% of NH4+–N (200 mg/L) was removed in 5 days, and the maximum NH4+–N removal rate was 4.04 mg/L·h. Genomic sequence analysis showed that both the strains lacked genes involved in the denitrification pathway that transforms NO3− into N2. This implies that nitrate or nitrite is removed through the nitrogen assimilation pathway. Genes responsible for nitrate assimilation are clustered together with molybdopterin cofactor biosynthesis genes. Strain H contains fewer resistance genes and transfer elements. All the above data demonstrate that strain H is a promising candidate for nitrogen removal at lower temperatures. But there is still a lot to be done to systematically evaluate the potential of A. bereziniae strain H in treating wastewater at a pilot scale. These include the long-term performance, environmental tolerance, and nitrogen removal efficiency in wastewater. And the application of these Acinetobacter strains in diverse wastewater treatment settings might require careful optimization and real-time monitoring.
Risk Assessment of Sudden Water Pollution Accidents Associated with Dangerous Goods Transportation on the Cross-Tributary Bridges of Baiyangdian Lake
Authors: Yang Zhimin , Yan Xiangzhao , Tian Yutong , Pu Zaohong , Wang Yihan , Li Chunhui , Yi Yujun , Wang Xuan , Liu Qiang
Published: August 2023

The issue of sudden water pollution resulting from accidents is a challenging environmental problem to address. The frequency of transport accidents involving hazardous materials over tributary bridges is steadily rising due to rapid industrialization and urbanization processes. This trend poses a significant threat to both the water’s ecological environment and human well-being. To effectively mitigate the risks associated with water pollution caused by accidents during the transportation of dangerous goods, this research focused on Baiyangdian Lake, the largest freshwater lake in North China. Thid study employed the expert judgment fuzzy language method and Bayesian network model as analytical tools to assess and analyze the potential risks associated with sudden water pollution accidents caused by the transportation of hazardous materials on bridges spanning tributaries. Through an examination of the various risk factors involved, the research identified four primary indicators and ten secondary indicators. Additionally, an oil leakage accident scenario was simulated, and recommendations for risk prevention and control measures were provided. The findings of the study indicated that: (1) The likelihood of risk associated with driver factors, vehicle emergency factors, fuel tank emergency factors, road factors, and lighting factors is elevated. (2) The probability of a dangerous goods transportation accident occurring on the Baiyangdian cross-tributary bridge is substantial, thereby presenting a potential hazard to both the water environment and human health. (3) Vehicle emergency factors, vehicle wear factors, and weather factors exert a significant influence on the incidence of accidents. (4) The highest likelihood of accidents is associated with a combination of factors, including driver fatigue, vehicle and fuel tank deterioration, and adverse weather conditions. (5) In instances where the vehicle and fuel tank are well-maintained, the probability of accidents is greatest on the cross tributary bridge, particularly when the driver is fatigued, weather conditions are unfavorable, and there is a lack of street lighting during nighttime. Implementing emergency prevention and control measures proved to be an effective approach in mitigating the risk of sudden water pollution accidents. This study offers valuable insights into risk mitigation and management strategies for emergent water pollution incidents, and the framework presented herein can be readily applied to other rivers worldwide confronting comparable risk challenges.
Characteristics of Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotope Composition in Precipitation, Rivers, and Lakes in Wuhan and the Ecological Environmental Effects of Lakes
Authors: Zhang Ao , Zhao Xinwen , He Jun , Huang Xuan , Zhao Xingyuezi , Zhao Yongbo
Published: August 2023

Wuhan has a dense network of rivers and lakes. Due to the city’s development, the water system has been fragmented, the degradation of lakes is becoming increasingly severe, and the eco-environment has been significantly damaged. By collecting samples of the central surface water bodies in Wuhan, including Yangtze River water, Han River water, lake water, and precipitation, and by utilizing hydrogen and oxygen isotopes and multivariate statistical methods, the hydraulic connectivity and ecological environmental effects between the Yangtze River, the Han River, and the lakes were revealed. The results indicated the following: (1) The local meteoric water Line (LMWL) in the Wuhan area was δD = 7.47δ18O + 1.77. The river water line equation was approximately parallel to the atmospheric precipitation line in the Wuhan area. The intercept and slope of the lake waterline equation were significantly smaller. The enrichment degree of δ18O and δD was Yangtze River < Hanjiang River < lake water. (2) The cluster analysis showed that the lakes could be divided into two types, i.e., inner-flow degraded (IFD) lakes and outer-flow ecological (OFE) lakes. Urban expansion has resulted in fragmentation of the IFD lakes, changing the connectivity between rivers and lakes and weakening the exchange of water bodies between the Yangtze River and lakes. Simultaneously, evaporation has caused hydrogen and oxygen isotope fractionation, resulting in the relative enrichment of isotopes. The IFD lakes included the Taizi Lake, Yehu Lake, and the Shenshan Lake. The OFE lakes and the Yangtze River were active, evaporation was weak, and the hydrogen and oxygen isotopes were relatively depleted, mainly including the Huangjia Lake, the East Lake, the Tangxun Lake, etc. (3) The excessive deuterium (d-excess) parameter values in the Yangtze River and the Han River water were positive. In contrast, the d values in the lakes were mainly negative. In the case of a weakened water cycle, the effect of evaporation enrichment on lake water δ18O and δD had a significant impact. It is suggested that the water system connection project of “North Taizi Lake-South Taizi Lake-Yangtze River” and the small lakes connecting to large lakes project of “Wild Lake-Shenshan Lake-Tangxun Lake” should be implemented in time to restore the water eco-environment.
Water Quality Influences Self-Purification in the Cihawuk and Majalaya Segments Upstream of the Citarum River, West Java, Indonesia
Authors: Pratiwi Desty , Sumiarsa Dadan , Oktavia Dina , Sunardi Sunardi
Published: August 2023

Self-purification plays an important role in water regulating ecosystem services aimed at protecting river water quality from pollutant inputs. The Citarum River is the longest river in West Java, Indonesia where the water quality has declined due to pollutant inputs from domestic and non-domestic activities. This study aims to investigate the status of self-purification ecosystem services and the influence of water quality in the upstream of the Citarum River, in the Cihawuk and Majalaya segments, which are rural and urban areas. The self-purification status was determined by the deoxygenation rate using Thomas’s slope method, and by the reaeration rate according to O’Connor and Dobbins’ method. The polynomial component regression (PCR) was performed to determine the significance of the influence of physicochemical factors on self-purification. The deoxygenation rates (k1) in the rural and urban areas upstream of the Citarum River were 0.044 per day and 0.058 per day, respectively, while the reaeration rates (k2) in the rural and urban areas were 0.196 per day and 0.156 per day, respectively. These deoxygenation and reaeration rates indicate that the self-purification status upstream of the Citarum River has been disturbed. This result also indicates that chemical factors have a significant influence on the deoxygenation process, while the reaeration process is most significantly influenced by physical factors. The deterioration of self-purification in the Citarum River poses a risk to the long-term availability of water resources. Therefore, this research encourages the reduction in the input of organic pollutants and develops a strategic plan for river management.
N2O Emissions from Saline Soils in Response to Organic–Inorganic Fertilizer Application under Subsurface Drainage
Authors: Zhai Yaming , Zhu Qinyuan , Xiao Ying , Chen Jingnan , Hou Maomao , Zhu Lin
Published: August 2023

Organic fertilizer applications and subsurface drainage are two important measures for improving coastal saline soil; however, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from saline soil under a combination of these two measures are seldom evaluated. In this study, saline soil cultivated with sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) was employed as an experimental system. Prior to the experiment, the saline soils were buried with three different spacings (10 m (S1), 15 m (S2), and 20 m (S3)) of subsurface drainage pipes. The nitrogen nutrients that are needed by sunflowers came from two different nitrogen sources (organic and inorganic fertilizer), including six application schemes of either 100% organic fertilizer (100%OF), 75% organic fertilizer combined with 25% inorganic fertilizer (75%OF), 50% organic fertilizer (50%OF), 25% organic fertilizer (25%OF), 0% organic fertilizer (0%OF), and no fertilizer (CK). The results show that the cumulative N2O emissions from the treatments under S1, S2, and S3 throughout the entire growth period were 8.9–15.8, 9.5–17.5, and 10.1–17.6 kg ha−1, respectively. A smaller spacing between adjacent drainage pipes or a higher replacement proportion of organic fertilizer reduced the accumulative N2O emissions. The increased replacement of organic fertilizer decreased the soil salinity, whereas it increased the C/N ratio and total carbon content. The fertilization treatments significantly increased the nitrogen uptake of sunflower plants, with increase ranges of 18.1–47.2%, 8.6–40.5%, and 8.8–34.5% under S1, S2, and S3, respectively, compared with CK. The highest yield of sunflowers was achieved under S2 combined with 25%OF, reaching 3.82 t ha−1. Correlation analysis showed that the N2O emission flux was positively correlated with the soil salinity, crop yield, and crop nitrogen uptake, whereas it was negatively correlated with the total carbon, C/N ratio, and organic carbon content. We concluded that using 25% organic fertilizer instead of inorganic fertilizer was beneficial for reducing N2O emissions while maintaining the crop yield under subsurface drainage.
¿Es la Botarga de lisa, una apuesta comercial en Colombia?
Authors: Obeid-Manjarres Katherine Rocio , Rodríguez-Forero Adriana
Published: August 2023

Colombia presenta una gran diversidad de peces, la cual es el sustento de numerosas comunidades costeras, cuyos productos se destacan por poseer una variedad de propiedades nutricionales. Aunque, la actividad relacionada con la pesca y la acuicultura no ha recibido el impulso suficiente para potenciarse y para que además de su significativo aporte alimentario muestre las opciones para el procesamiento y adición de valor de sus productos. Este estudio pretendió revisar la información referente a la “botarga” un producto artesanal derivado del procesamiento de la gónada madura de las lisas (mugílidos), que tiene un importante valor comercial en los mercados internacionales. Esta revisión se llevó a cabo a través del análisis de diferentes artículos científicos y trabajos de investigación encontrados en las bases de datos bibliográficas, en la que se obtuvo escasa información reciente sobre la temática, por lo que se realizaron filtros y ecuaciones de búsquedas específicas en Scielo, Dialnet, Redalyc, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Google Scholar, entre otras, en los periodos comprendidos entre 1981 y 2022. De esta manera, se extrajeron alrededor de 90 referencias para presentar una descripción de las especies de mugílidos conocidos como lisas y su relevancia en el sector, para el aprovechamiento de sus subproductos como la botarga y de cómo este se ha convertido en un exquisito manjar de alto valor nutricional y económico en el mercado internacional resultando en un producto con la capacidad de ser explotado en el país, con un plus para el desarrollo social. También se expone la situación actual del sector artesanal pesquero y la situación de las comunidades que trabajan alrededor de esta actividad en Colombia en el ámbito de ciencia, tecnología e innovación dejando a la vista un panorama poco alentador.
Patients from general practice with non-specific cancer symptoms: a retrospective study of symptoms and imaging
Authors: de Chiffre Jonas Michele Dorph , Ormstrup Tina Elisabeth , Kusk Martin Weber , Hess Søren
Published: August 2023

Background

Patients with non-specific symptoms or signs of cancer (NSSC) present a challenge as they are a heterogeneous population who are not candidates for fast-track work-up in an organ-specific cancer pre-planned pathway (CPP). Denmark has a cancer pre-planned pathway for this population (NSSC-CPP), but several issues remain unclarified, for example, distribution and significance of symptoms and findings, and choice of imaging.

Aim

To investigate symptoms, cancer diagnoses, and diagnostic yield of computed tomography (CT) and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) in patients on NSSC-CPP to improve the overall diagnostic process.

Design & setting

A retrospective medical chart review in a 1-year consecutive cohort (2020).

Method

A total of 802 referrals were reviewed for diagnostic imaging in patients with NSSP from general practices, specialist practices, or the local hospital diagnostic centre responsible for NSSC-CPP.

Results

The study included 248 patients; 21% had cancer, most frequently gastrointestinal cancer (27%). The most frequent symptom was weight loss (56%). CT had a sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 87%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 65%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 96%. For18F-FDG-PET/CT, the numbers were sensitivity 82%, specificity 62%, PPV 33%, and NPV 94%. Patients frequently underwent subsequent examinations following initial imaging.

Conclusion

The findings were in accordance with the literature. Patients with NSSC had a cancer prevalence of 21%, most frequently gastrointestinal. The most frequent symptom was weight loss and, even as the only symptom, it is a potential marker for cancer. CT and18F-FDG-PET/CT were sensitive with high NPV, whereas PPV was superior in CT. Better stratification by symptoms or findings is an obvious focus point for future studies to further optimise the NSSC-CPP work-up strategy.
La relation d’insatisfaction
Authors: Dieterlen Pierre
Published: August 2023

The relation of unsatisfaction.

Economists are often concerned with growth, inf requenlly with stagnation — now unfashionable : — never with regression. The gap is serious, for regression is the reverse of growth. How can the transition from growth to regression be explained ? Growth requires net investment, regression is due to net disinvestment. Regression may be absolute, or relative, when an economy grows less fast than its rivals. Relative regression eventually becomes absolute. In every economy there is a conflict between the conservative type of entrepreneur, who seeks to maintain a given economic structure, and the innovator, who qeeks to transform it by creating new needs in order to sell his new product. In a mature society, the former, exhibiting a prefe-rence for established structures, may easily stifle the taller and thus choke the flow of innovations which stimulate the economy’s growth. But needs in the stagnating economy continue to develop either under the impetus of earlier growth or because of the demonstration effect of foreign economies. Since the stagnating economy cannot satisfy these growing needs, foreign, more dynamic economies will do so. This leads to disinvestment and absolute regression in the stagnating economy, and the sequel is either social upheaval or loss of independence. A model illustrates the argument.
Le système fiscal et certains aspects de la croissance économique
Authors: Shoup Carl S.
Published: August 2023

The fiscal system and certain aspects of economic growth.

The object of the article is to determine the effect of various fiscal systems on the supply of labour, risk and investment, the volume of government expenditure and of the public debt being given.

Income tax exerts two influences on the supply of labour : a «warning effect» making for a reduction of effort , a «payment effet» encouraging increased effort in order to compensate the loss of income due to the payment of tax. If the rates applied to the lower ranges of income are increased, and those applied to the higher ranges reduced, the payment effect is increased relative to the warning effect and the supply of labour is increased.

Income tax reduces risk defined as the degree of dispersion between the profit and loss of a speculation, but less than proportionally to the rate of tax. Consequently, it encourages speculation with little risk. But if the taxpayer has other sources of income and can deduct his losses, the risk will be reduced in the same proportion as the rate of tax and more risky investments will be encouraged.

Rapid amortization, allowed on the basis of income tax, encourages new investment but only if the rates of tax are high and the volume of marginal investment projects considerable. These conditions are not fulfilled during a depression. During a period of expansion the stimulus exists but is only justified if the production of consumer goods is excessive.

But changes in tax structure will only have effect on growth if taxes are sufficiently high to create a reaction on the part of the taxpayer.
Fiscalité et croissance économique : commentaires sur des problèmes choisis
Authors: Harris C. Lowell
Published: August 2023

Taxation and economic growth : remarks on selected problems.

The influence of fiscal policy on economic growth, defined as an increase in real per capita income, is difficult to determine for it varies according to the economic and social conditions within which the tax system operates.

Still it can he shown that a high level of taxation affects both the extent of growth (by encouraging ploughing-back of profits) and its form (by encouraging certain types of activity). In particular, tax rates make it possible to shift in a desired direction the limit between market and non-market activities.

Progressive income tax is unfavourable to risk because of the absence of symmetry in the treatment of gains and losses. Progressive rates reduce risk stimuli as well as risk-taking capacity because of the amputation of previous profits.

In the United States, these effects are attenuated by offsetting losses over several years and in respect of several types of activity and by various exemptions (capital gains, for example).

As family concerns remain highly important in a market economy, inheritance taxes also affect growth. The payment of death duties implies a previous withdrawal of liquid funds, which reduces the firm's investment capacity, and can endanger its existence.

Taxes influence capital accumulation by their action on savings. Consequently, a greater degree of equality in income distribution seems to be irreconciliable with economic growth. But as it does give rise to «investment in men» it can contribute to growth even more than investment in things.

Finally, fiscal policy acts on capital maintenance, unfavourably during inflation, or favourably if certain net investment costs can be deducted as amortization.
Marché du travail et analyse de la répartition
Authors: Sellier François
Published: August 2023

The labour market and an analysis of income distribution.

Modern theory has rendered the concept of the market, an adaptation by pure price relationships, infinitely more complex and makes it possible to use the labour market concept in a study of income distribution.

The problem of wage differentials may be studied in relation to the labour market if the latter is defined as an organized set of related prices.

The functional relationship between all wages during a short period of six years (1948 to 1953) in various industries in the United States brings out the factors of stability of differentials and homogeneity of inter-industry relationships which characterize the labour market. The latter appears as a groups of distinct categories which are nevertheless relatively competitive and inter dependant.

A general characteristic of wage payments is their arbitrary character. Neither the employer nor the trade union try ot attribute to the worker a known share of the value of the final product.

The arbitrary character of wage determination also appears in the fixing of minimum, socially desirable wage levels.

But the total volume of wage payments is a “strategic” factor because of its importance for the level of consumption demand. The concept of a labour market is less useful for the study of the share of wages in the national income.
Étude concrète de l'effet de domination
Authors: Voss-Lytton Annie
Published: August 2023

Factual study of the domination impact : Unilever

Unilever is studied here as a pole of attraction in both the geographical and economic sense, and as a dominant firm whose influence on its competitors is only partly irreversible. Unilever's sphere of influence is worldwide, the firm-holds a dominant position in the markets for several products and its turnover amounted in 1951, to 9% of the National Income of the United Kingdom.

In this article, only the two main products of the firm, soap and margarine, are studied : Unilever is responsible for 50% and 75% respectively of the United Kingdom's output of these two products.

The dominant firm is usually able to impose its own conditions on its suppliers, so that total vertical concentration, implying ownership of raw material supplies, etc., is not always desirable. This proved to be the case for Unilever, and the firm has grown by a process of horizontal expansion. Lever first enlarged his own business, and then proceeded to eliminate his competitors on the national market. The final stage of the process was the merger with the Dutch firm Margarine Unie N. V. in 1929.

Despite the tendency to price rigidity in an oligopolistic industry, the constant struggle for domination leads the oligopolist to bid for a larger proportion of the market, either by lowering his prices, which may be dangerous, or by intense publicity campaigns. The importance attached to the latter by Lever himself is still characteristic of Unilever today, but the lack of detailed figures makes it impossible to prove the existence of any price leadership in either the soap or the margarine industry.
Restrictions sur les échanges et les paiements internationaux
Authors: Reddaway William Brian
Published: August 2023

Discussions on convertibility cannot avoid considering at one and the same time restrictions on international trade and payments. In particular , the concrete results of decisions taken in one of these two fields can only be perceived in the light of their effects on the other.

The role of international agreements on the abolition of trade and pay¬ ments restrictions is discussed in relation to the work of the O. E. E. C. It is concluded that a country should choose its trade and payments policy taking into account the possibilities-offered by international agreements rather than acting unilaterally.

In any case , errors of judgment often result from the failure to consider the concrete results of policy decisions for the different categories of individuals or organizations directly affected by those decisions. The concept of the general interest of the country is insufficient. It may be noted, also, that the results of decisions taken by one country can depend largely upon decisions taken by other countries. The example of commodity shunting illustrates this.

Although there is a need for wider international discussion of all aspects of trade and payments problems it is likely that results will be achieved more rapidly through existing international organizations once the dimensions of the problems posed are realized.
Évolution récente et tendances de la politique monétaire aux États-Unis
Authors: Chandler Lester Vernon
Published: August 2023

Recent trends in U. S. monetary policy

Since the inauguration, in March 1951, of the new flexible monetary policy in the United States, the Federal Reserve System has been struggling with the difficult task of evolving new objectives and policy guides in its task of exercising monetary control.

The agreement, in March 1951, between the Treasury and the Federal Reserve System gave the latter more freedom in its policy of supporting the government securities market and allowed more attention to be given to problems of employment, the level of production, and prices. Notably, it then became possible to envisage the use of a restrictive monetary policy to control inflationary tendencies.

As a result, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee has given up its policy of according direct support to the market for long-term government securities both as regards new and outstanding issues and, today, concentrates attention on the short end of the market.

However, refraining from dealing in long-term government securities, does not lessen the effectiveness of Federal Reserve policy as regards the loan market, due to the sensitive response of the latter to conditions on the market for short term money. The Federal Reserve System has thus become more independent of the Treasury and, as a result, pays more attention to general economic conditions. The objectives of the System, in this respect, have been sumarized by Federal Reserve officials as being concerned with «achieving and maintaining maximum employment, a maximum sustainable rate of economic growth, and stable price levels».

In assessing the results achieved by the Federal Reserve System, it should be born in mind that the system, although independent of the Treasury, is extremely sensitive to the state of opinion in Congress and, as a result, in the country as a whole. Given the reduced tolerence, in the United States, for unemployment and the insistence on rapid economic growth, Federal Reserve officials have not failed to point out that the maintenance of stable prices is rendered more difficult. Rut it is impossible to say in advance what would be the outcome of a serious conflict between these objectives.

In the technical sphere, the Federal Reserve System has had to revise the instruments at its comand for implementing a flexible monetary policy. One result of this policy has been a reduced reliance on changes in legal reserve requirements of member banks. On the other hand, open-market operations and discount policy have become more important and are rendered more effective by the increase in member bank borrowing from the System and the maintenance of the tradition against continued indebtedness towards Federal Reserve banks.

It may be concluded that, unless economic problems become graver than they have been since 1951, main reliance will continue to be put upon Federal Reserve use of monetary policy. But a severe shump or inflation would render necessary other broader policy measures.
L'évolution et les tendances de la politique monétaire canadienne
Authors: Neufeld Edward Peter
Published: August 2023

Evolution and trends of canadian monetary policy

Since 1950, Canada has made increasing use of monetary policy for the maintenance of economic stability. Immediate post-war policy stressed particularly non-monelary controls such as fiscal policy, cyclical budgeting and other types of built-in stabilizers. However, the persistance of inflation and the need to deal quickly with the, fairly mild, changes in economic activity met with after 1945 led to a revision of policy and renewed emphasis on monetary controls. Although the principle of anti-cyclical budget policy has been maintained by the Canadian government, past experience in this field is not entirely satisfactory.

The control of the central bank over the volume and cost of credit, already adequate as regards longterm interest rates, has been reenforced, since 1954, by the creation of a market for Treasury bills. The control of the Central bank over money-rates has been increased by the end, in 1950, of the policy of supporting the level of the government debt on the market. At the same time, the influx of short-term capital from the United Slates was instrumental in the decision to adopt a floating rate for the Canadian dollar. In 1956, Central bank control of bank credit was further reenforced by the obligation for commercial banks to keep 15 % of their deposits in the form of Treasury bills.

Recent experience in Canada is examined in the light of the new trend towards the use of monetary, rather than direct, controls.

The statistical and other evidence available suggests that Canadian banking authorities have been able to deal with the problems raised by the maintenance of economic stability. This is due to the institutional framework and its adaptation to the nature of the problems met with. It should not be concluded that monetary policy can do everything but certainly, in the context of Canadian experience during the last few years, it has been very successful.
Sur les énergies nouvelles et la croissance. Le coût de l'énergie nucléaire et l'analyse théorique du coût
Authors: Mouly Jean
Published: August 2023

On new energy sources and economic growth the cost of nuclear energy and theoretical cost analysis.

The function of costs of production in determining the distribution of factors of production is only very imperfectly fulfdled whenever large-scale indivisible investments, external economies, joint production and new products are concerned. These are precisely the characteristics of the atomic energy industry. It is suggested that cost calculations on a national level, based upon accounting principles of an enterprise economy, are «unintelligible» economically.

The study is divided into two parts : in the first, an external criticism based on statistical evidence of cost calculations is presented. It is concluded that the wide divergences between the component elements of these calculations do not seem to prevent a close grouping of all results around the present cost of electricity produced from traditional sources. In the second, a theoretical appreciation of the efforts to estimate costs in nuclear energy production is presented. These efforts have less significance in terms of economic rationality calculations than as aspects of struggles for export markets between countries and, finally, of struggles between rival economic systems.
Vues générales sur l’application du calcul des probabilités en Économie Politique
Authors: Fréchet Maurice
Published: August 2023

After a brief review of the application of probability calculations to economics, the author suggests that the application of the mathematical theory of probabilities to all types of probabilities met with in economics is not possible, because an important category of probabilities in economics concerns irrational probabilities. Yet this category is of fundamental importance in economic life and represents, at the present time, a field of enquiry where further research is most urgently needed.
La vitesse de circulation de la monnaie et l'équilibre monétaire
Authors: Jong Frits Jacob de
Published: August 2023

Velocity of circulation of money and monetary equilibrium

The work of Wicksell led to two lines of research : the modern theory of interest and the concept of monetary equilibrium. This article is concerned with the latter aspect. The author first defines the velocity of circulation and then proceeds to analyse the factors which influence it. He examines, in particular, the time interval between payments, the degree to which receipts and expenditures coincide, the role of the average number of economic units in the circular flow, and, finally , liquidity preference.

The preceeding analysis enables the author to examine the concept of monetary equilibrium, notably as it has been developed by J. G. Koopmans. This leads to a comparison with the Post-Keynesian concept of income equilibrium and to an exposition of the ideas developed by the Dutch economist, J. Zijlsira. He concludes that the definition of monetary equilibrium as being synonymous with monetary neutrality is incorrect. As regards practical policy, it should not be concluded that monetary equilibrium is a normative concept.

The objectives of monetary policy should not be divorced from the targets of general economic policy.
Dépenses de consommation, épargne et avoirs liquides
Authors: Cohen Morriss
Published: August 2023

Consumer spending, saving and liquid assets

Many, frequently divergent, theoretical explanations have been presented of the influence of liquid assets on consumer spending and saving habits. The author sets out to test some of these theories against empirical evidence drawn from American experience.

It is found that liquid assets are highly concentrated in all income groups and that this distribution does not change much over time. As a result, only a few persons compared with all consumer units, hold most liquid assets. This being the case, the effect on overall spending of liquid assets cannot be considerable.

Because they are distributed in roughly the same way, the same argument may be applied to holdings of other types of financial assets. Going even further, it may be said that, net worth itself being highly concentrated, the same conclusion holds.

The second empirical test concerns the cyclical influence of price changes, via liquid assets, on the consumption function. In the 1930's there does not appear to have been any marked shift in the consumption function. From 1947 to 1948 the change observed is best considered as a once-for-all effect. It would seem that the Korean years do not furnish much support for liquid asset theories either.
Prix, profit et développement économique. Problèmes de l'optimum global
Authors: Gruson Claude
Published: August 2023

Prices, profit and economic growth prorlems of the gloral optimum

Optimisation problems are now studied either in a partial equilibrium setting, or in highly abstract general theories inapplicable to economic reality. The value of the partial studies is limited by the assumptions they have to make about such things as prices and the behaviour of interest rates. Even greater problems arise if our concern is with medium or long term forecasting for the economy as a whole. If we begin from technological and sociological conditions, a wide range of equally plausible assumptions might be made about the evolution of such matters as technical development, the structure of consumption, external trade, etc. It is therefore necessary to compare the quantitative results that different assumptions ivould give, not in order to derive absolute criteria for policy but to specific questions.

The author uses such a procedure to examine the optimisation problems arising, first in an economy with perfect foresight, and then in one with imperfect foresight. In neither case can a firm basis be found for choosing between the different options which any model must leave open. In particular, we are left with two general questions : what system of prices should be used to make volume comparisons ? What interest rate should be used in calculations of present value ? In addition, if forecasting is imperfect, the econometric models we can use must necessarily be very rough, and it becomes impossible adequately to restrict the range of possible assumptions about such matters as the evolution of consumption. The author concludes that it might be possible to provide a firmer basis for forecasting over say, a five-year period, by greater systematisation of technical information. For longer periods, many important decisions must involve a gamble : at best, these decisions, once taken, might themselves be treated as the basis for optimisation calculations.
Intérêt, profit et accumulation du capital
Authors: Keirstead Burton Seely
Published: August 2023

Interest, profit and accumulation

Having defined the terms to be used, the author proceeds to construct a system to show the relations which exist between interest, profit and accumulation. He suggests that entrepreneurs’ decisions regarding investment are the most important elements determining the rale of accumulation. These decisions depend, on the one hand, upon the degree of uncertainty, and on the other, upon profit expectations.

Even wealthy societies meet limits to the rate of accumulation they can achieve. The public may impose general limits under the headings of resistance to taxation, to inflation and to avertising. Other factor suppliers also restrict entrepreneurial exuberance. The trade unions are particularly important in this respect. Finally, entrepreneurs may limit their investments for precautionary motives.

The author concludes that a dichotomy exists in the theory of capital as regards the nature of the forces determining the rate of interest. The keyne-sian attempt at a synthesis gave too much importance to liquidity preference. A new synthesis is needed and the approach to it has been indicated in this article.