bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
II.—Some New Data on “Kylitic” Sills and Associated Picrites in Ayrshire, Scotland
Authors: Drever H. I. , MacDonald J. G.
Published: June 2012

Synopsis

The definition of the name “kylite” is reviewed and it is suggested that its usage should be discontinued. What is now emphasised as the criterion of most importance in distinguishing “kylites” from crinanites and teschenites is the development of a strongly zoned purplish pink augite in advance of feldspar. Basic alkaline doleritic rocks in which the augite develops in this manner could be referred to simply as kylitic. Specimens were systematically collected from the picritic sill near Dalmellington which is kylitic in type. Rocks from different levels in this sill have been chemically analysed, and also unzoned olivine (Mg74.4) and zoned augite. A vein (and the augite from it) in the kylitic sill near Troon, known as the Hillhouse Quarry Sill, have also been chemically analysed. The chemical compositions of all these analysed rocks and of the analysed augites are compared with appropriate data from, in particular, the sills of the Shiant Isles and Lugar, and the Black Jack Sill in New South Wales. Some relationships of kylitic rocks with the differentiation trends in these sills are briefly discussed with the aid of variation diagrams. On the basis of the available evidence it is inferred that in the olivine-rich Dalmellington Sill, olivine has accumulated prior to intrusion and that subsequent “flowage differentiation” has apparently been inoperative.
IV.—On the Biology of a herbivorous Fish, the White Amur or Grass Carp,Ctenopharyngodon idellaVal
Authors: Hickling C. F.
Published: June 2012

Synopsis

The important macrophyte-feeding cyprinid fishCtenopharyngodon idellaVal., the White Amur or Grass Carp, is native to temperate climates. The present paper is concerned with its biology when transplanted to Malacca, a tropical research station in latitude 2° 17′ N.

At this station, the fish has a faster growth-rate, and may mature at an earlier age and smaller size, than in its native habitat. There are no marked seasonal changes at Malacca, and in these conditions the Grass Carp shows no spawning cycle, but some fish are ripe at any time of the year. While the testes of the males appear to develop normal milt, the ovaries in the fish examined seldom produced as many eggs as in their native habitat, and the eggs themselves have been shown to be mostly defective and to undergo early atresion.

Consequently, though the ovulation of eggs of normal size was induced by pituitary injection in nineteen out of forty-eight trials, no success was got in the artificial fertilization of the eggs, though elsewhere success has been got in 25 per cent and more of trials. It is suggested that this fish may need the external stimuli which are associated with its natural spawning season to develope normal fertile eggs.
XIII.—Preliminary Cytological Investigation of the Collembolan Hypogastrura viatica (Tullberg 1872)
Authors: Sanderson Ann R.
Published: June 2012

Synopsis

The breeding season of Hypogastrura viatica (Tullberg 1872) appears to reach its peak in mid-April when both sexes occur in about equal numbers. Cytological examination reveals a karyotype of 14/XX in the female and 13X/O in the male. The investigation of spermateleosis and maturation of the egg is incomplete but arguments for and against the occurrence of parthenogenesis are presented.
XXII.—Placental Fusion in Mice
Authors: Carr J. G.
Published: June 2012

Since it is recognised that a female rodent will litter best if left alone, it is rare for breeders to see the placenta, which is usually devoured by the mother immediately after the birth of the young. Work upon the milk factor for mammary carcinoma in mice has necessitated frequent examination of mice about to litter in order to exchange litters as soon after birth as possible, and thus a number of placentas have been seen when the mouse was caught in the act of littering. Nevertheless these represent only a small proportion compared with the number of mice born during this work. It is of some interest that two cases of placental fusion have been noted among this small series, which suggests that this condition may be fairly common among mice. A rough estimate of the frequency in this series is about 1 per cent. No reports of similar cases have been found in the literature, though a note by Merton (1938) that two embryos had been “implanted in the same place” may refer to a similar case. Because of the implications of this finding in relation to sexual and genetical differentiation in the mouse, a description of this material seems justified.
XIII.—The History, Organisation and Work of Moredun Institute Animal Diseases Research Association
Authors: Greig J. Russell
Published: June 2012

I am privileged to-day in having been invited to give this address, but I feel that I am particularly privileged also in that, so far as I can discover, this is the first occasion in the annals of the Royal Society of Edinburgh on which a veterinarian has been asked to address the Society on matters concerning the diseases of animals.

The Veterinary profession has long been recognised as a handmaid of Agriculture but, like her sister profession Medicine, her services, until comparatively recently, have been based on knowledge acquired by long experience derived from trial and error, as distinct from planned experiment based on scientific principles.
XVI.—Vascular Architecture of the Rat Uterus
Authors: Young Archibald
Published: June 2012

Synopsis

The form and structure of the uterus of the albino laboratory rat are described. Cyclical vascular changes are noted, and attention is drawn to the presence of spiral arteries in the endometrium. A common lower cervical canal is described.
XXI.–Estimation of Fertile and Infertile Marriages and Size of Family
Authors: Burns C. Margaret
Published: June 2012

Synopsis

From the proportion of first births in any year it is possible to calculate the average size of fertile family which would be produced if the rate of reproduction remained constant and equal to that of that year. From marriage age and total married fertility rate the corresponding size of all families may be estimated. The relation of these two figures gives the percentage of fertile unions corresponding to the aforesaid reproduction rate. The proportion of fertile unions in various countries during the two wars, and under the varying economic conditions of peace, has been studied, and the great variations demonstrated. The importance of these variations is considered.
XIII.—The Mid-Winter Rumen Microfauna of the Seaweed-Eating Sheep of North Ronaldshay
Authors: Eadie J. Margaret
Published: June 2012

Synopsis

In January 1956 a visit was made to North Ronaldshay, one of the Orkney Islands, to examine the rumen ciliate protozoa of the seaweed-fed native sheep. Rumen material from thirteen sheep was examined and the ciliate species identified. The numerical ratio of holotrich to oligotrich ciliates appeared to be much the same as in the hay-fed sheep's rumen;Isotriclia intestinalisStein was, however, always absent. Certain experiments on the protozoan utilization of carbohydrates were carried out and the results compared with those of similar experiments on rumen liquor from hay-fed sheep. The holotrich ciliates of North Ronaldshay sheep were found to store amylopectin when the rumen liquor was incubated with laminarin, to a lesser extent when incubated with galactose and to be unaffected by mannose. These three results differ from previous experience with hay-fed sheep. No seaweed carbohydrate other than laminarin was utilized by the North Ronaldshay sheep holotrichsin vitro.
XVI.—Ecological Distribution of the Lumbricidæ in the Hebrides
Authors: Boyd J. Morton
Published: June 2012

Synopsis

The mineral base of the soils in Islay, Tiree, Coll and the Outer Hebrides is composed mainly of erosion products of Lewisian and Torridonian rocks, together with materials taken from solution in the sea biotically, and subsequently deposited in the form of shell-sand on the windward coasts. The soils composed for the most part of erosion products are acid, and those of marine products basic. Along transect lines at right angles to the coast there is in many places a wide range of soil conditions from calcareous sand to peat, in distances of about 1 kilometre.

The distribution of the Lumbricidæ, a group known to be affected by pH, available calcium content, and moisture content of the soil, is studied within this range in soil types. Seventeen species are involved, three of which are grouped (in numerical considerations) owing to taxonomic difficulties, and these are described in groups living in the main ecological zones of the soil habitat. Relationships are found between the abundance of those species and soil types.

The occurrence of earthworms in three different soil niches—open soil, in and under cow-pats, and under stones—is described, and niche preferences of the dominant species discussed.
I.—Copepoda (Crustacea) from the Meiobenthos of Some Scottish Marine Sub-littoral Muds
Authors: Wells J. B. J.
Published: June 2012

Synopsis

Among collections of meiobenthos from some sub-littoral muds off the coast of Scotland were eighty-five species of Copepoda. Twelve of these were found to be new species of Harpacticoida. In addition, the hitherto unknown males of four species were discovered.
II.—The Hydroid Collections of James Ritchie
Authors: Rees William J. , Thursfield Sarah
Published: June 2012

Synopsis

The introduction contains an appreciation of the work of James Ritchie (1882–1958) on hydroids. His collections in the Royal Scottish Museum consisting of 266 species have been re-examined and listed with up-to-date synonymy, this also serving as a catalogue of all the identified hydroid material in this Museum.

Among the important collections are those made by W. S. Bruce in theScotiaand E. H. Shackleton's Antarctic Expeditions; there is also much valuable secondary material, especially in the form of micro-preparations, from collections reported on by Ritchie, notably those of the AustralianThetisExpedition, the Scottish Loch collections of Sir John Murray, the Indian Museum and collections by Cyril Crossland, James Simpson and Rudmose Brown and others.

Ritchie described many new species and varieties and all the type material has been noted, lectotypes being designated where necessary.

Hydroids from theGoldseekercollections of the Fishery Board for Scotland were not reported on by Ritchie although he identified a considerable number of samples from Scottish waters—these have been included in this survey. These new records are of considerable value for compiling distribution lists. Apart from Ritchie's own work little has been done on hydroids from waters around the north of Scotland since the days of Hincks, Allman and Norman. The bibliography contains a full list of James Ritchie's hydroid papers.
II.—Non-Associative Algebra and the Symbolism of Genetics
Authors: Etherington I. M. H.
Published: June 2012

The statistical material of genetics usually consists of frequency distributions—of genes, zygotes and mating couples—from which new distributions referring to their progeny arise. Combination of distributions by random mating is usually symbolised by the mathematical sign for multiplication; but this sign is not taken literally for the simple reason that the genetical laws connecting the distributions of progenitors and progeny are inconsistent with the laws governing multiplication in ordinary algebra. This is explained more fully in § 2.
XIX.—pH Phenomena in Relation to Stomatal Opening: II–V
Authors: Small J. , Clarke M. I. , Crosbie-Baird J.
Published: June 2012

The control of stomatal aperture by intensity of light, under normal conditions of water-relations of surrounding cells, has apparently been established by Nutman (1937) for coffee leaves. This control results in the closing of stomatal pores both with too little and with too much illumination. Since photosynthesis in the guard-cells is not known to decrease with increase in light intensity, up to the limit of full sunshine, some other factor or factors are suggested as coming into action.

Investigations, in the Department of Botany, Queen's University, Belfast, by three research students have progressively elucidated some of the factors concerned.
XXIX.—The Effects of Radiation on Pollen Grain Development, Differentiation, and Germination
Authors: Koller P. C.
Published: June 2012

Tradescantiapollen grains are excellent material for the analysis of X-ray effects. The influence of radiation on cell development, nuclear differentiation, as well as on chromosome structure can be studied. Extensive quantitative analyses, which primarily concern the mechanism of chromosome breaks and reunions induced by radiation, have already been made (Riley, 1936; Sax, 1938, 1940, 1941; Fabergé, 1940). The present paper contains data which show the effects of radiation on cell development, chromosome behaviour, nuclear differentiation, and pollen germination. It is expected that the data obtained will throw some light on the intricate mechanism present within the cell and show that the governing centre of this mechanism is the nucleus.
VII.—Lack of Transmission of Avian Tumour Virus from Carrier Hens to their Offspring via the Egg
Authors: Carr J. G.
Published: June 2012

The frequent reports of 20 per cent, or more losses due to neoplastic diseases in poultry flocks indicate that this is one of the greatest troubles of the industry. Though certain of the avian tumours have been favourite subjects for experimental cancer research, little attention has been directed to the problem of the ætiology and control of avian cancer itself. Consequently, despite the urgency of the problem, there is little information available which can be used as a basis for prescribing any preventive measures. It is not even known whether the majority of the spontaneous tumours are induced by a virus. Not many attempts have been made to transplant and study these tumours, considering the wealth of material available; and only a small proportion of the attempts have succeeded. Though most of these successfully transplanted sarcomas were found to be associated with a causative virus, it is impossible to state whether this is the usual condition of spontaneous tumours, or whether the few successful transplants were aberrant forms whose associated virus altered the growth characteristics and thus enabled a successful transplant to be made more easily.
XV.—The Effect of Certain Factors on the Formation of Root Nodules on Pea Plants in Aseptic Culture
Authors: McGonagle Moira P.
Published: June 2012

The experiments described in the present paper were undertaken as the outcome of an investigation into the possibility of securing nodule formation on leguminous roots cultured separately from the shoots. During that investigation it soon became clear that experiments on whole plants were necessary, in order to test the effect, on the nodulation of the normal whole plant, of certain conditions under which nodulation of root cultures was being attempted. It is thought that these observations on whole plants, though ancillary to the main investigation (which is still in progress), are of sufficient interest to be published separately. The observations are concerned with the effect of the following conditions or treatments on nodule development in a particular variety of pea:—

(a) Depriving the plant of light;

(b) the presence of sucrose in the rooting medium;

(c) the presence of nitrate in the rooting medium; and

(d) the presence of certain accessory growth substances, viz. aneurin and nicotinic acid, in the rooting medium.
XIX.—The Structure and Behaviour of Hiatella gallicana (Lamarck) and H. arctica (L.), with special reference to the Boring Habit
Authors: Hunter W. Russell
Published: June 2012

Of the genera of rock-boring lamellibranchs which occur in British waters, Hiatella (= Saxicava) is the commonest. But the method of boring remains obscure, and for this reason the present research was suggested by Professor C. M. Yonge, under whose direction it was conducted. Observations were made during 1945 and 1946 in the Clyde Sea Area and at the Millport Laboratory, while other work on living and preserved material from both the Clyde and Plymouth areas was carried out at the Department of Zoology, University of Glasgow. Acknowledgments are due for assistance in technical problems to Dr H. F. Steedman of the University of Glasgow, for help with the nomenclature of the genus to Mr R. Winckworth, and for much kindness and help to the late Mr R. Elmhirst, Director of the Millport Laboratory.
XX.—Inheritance of Resistance to Blight (Phytophthora infestans) in Potatoes: Comparison of A and B Strains
Authors: Black William
Published: June 2012

Previous reports (Black, 1943, 1945) on the resistance of potatoes to the blight fungus (Phytophthora infestans) have shown the existence of at least two major genetic factors (Ra and Rb) in the host, and the occurrence of not less than two strains (A and B) of the pathogen.

From the studies then reported, it was concluded that the two genes had been brought into the potato from different phyletic sources and that one, Ra, when in the dominant state, conferred resistance to strain A, while similarly Rb conferred resistance to strain B.
XXI.—A Study of the Incidence, Distribution and Characteristics of Blood Spots and Miniature Eggs
Authors: Sharma Ganpati Parshad
Published: June 2012

There are two commonly met with types of defective eggs laid by the domestic hen that result in considerable financial loss to the poultry farmer, and are frequent enough in their occurrence to affect perceptibly the potential food supply derived from the poultry industry.

The first of these results from the inclusion of blood or meat spots in eggs, and the second is the production of eggs so small as to make the majority of them unsaleable—the so-called “Miniature” eggs.

The presence of blood on the yolk of an egg was recorded by Aristotle as early as 300 B.C., and he attributed it to premature ovulation. Later, about A.D. 1600, Fabricius (Adelmann, 1942), during a demonstration of “sanguineous” eggs to his anatomy class, described a livercoloured body included in an egg. The occurrence of blood spots in eggs led both these authors to propound the theory that the yolk was directly formed from blood.
XVIII.—New Lamellibranchs from the Gutterford Burn Flagstones (Gala-Tarannon) of the Pentland Hills, near Edinburgh
Authors: Lamont Archie
Published: June 2012

Synopsis

Along with a note on Chonetes aff. edmundsi Williams and other associated fossils, nine new Lamellibranch species are described from what appear to be the Gutterford Burn Flagstones (Monoclimacis crenulata Zone), repeated by folding or thrusting, northwest of the North Esk reservoir and in the lower part of the Deerhope glacial-overflow valley, in the Pentland Hills. The localities occur respectively in the Midlothian and Peeblesshire parts of the Silurian sequence. The fauna represents an Upper Gala-Tarannon horizon, and is intermediate in age between Upper Llandovery and Lower Wenlock.
XXIV.—Egg Attachment inCrangon vulgarisand other Caridea
Authors: Yonge C. M.
Published: June 2012

Synopsis

In the Caridea, unlike the allied Euphausiacea and Penæidea, developing eggs are attached by means of a “cement” to specialized non-pinnate ovigerous setæ on pleopods 1–4; inCrangonalso to periopods 4 and 5. The presence of these eggs does not prevent flexure of the abdomen and execution of backward escape movements. The form of the abdomen differs in relation to habit, and this, together with the disposition of the ovigerous setæ, which varies greatly in different genera and in different pleopods of the same species, conditions the arrangement of the egg-mass. Ovigerous setæ increase both in numbers and in length with age; so do the number of eggs which have to be attached. There is concentration in the pleopods of “cement” glands identical with the tegumental glands which secrete the epicuticle which the “cement” resembles in all respects. Ducts run into the ovigerous setæ but it remains obscure where the “cement” emerges; possibly it dissolves its way through the integument of the setæ to emerge at many places simultaneously. Attachment of eggs in the Caridea may be associated with the many different habits exhibited; the developing eggs are protected and hatch out in the often restricted environment of the parent.
VI.—An Investigation of the Hepatotoxic Effects in the Fowl of Ragwort (Senecio jacobæa Linn.), with special reference to the Induction of Liver Tumours with Seneciphylline
Authors: Campbell J. G.
Published: June 2012

Synopsis

The alkaloids of Ragwort (Senecio jacobæa Linn.) are known to be hepatotoxic to farm animals and man. Survivors invariably show permanent impairment of the liver, manifested by cirrhosis and its sequelæ. Senecio infusions may be consumed in small amounts in Britain as a herbal remedy, and in South Africa the Bantu frequently incorporate them in native medicines. It has been shown that these tribes have a high incidence of cirrhosis and primary liver cancer, and there is good evidence that their deficient diet may play an important part in sensitizing the liver to toxins. In the present study, the ragwort alkaloid seneciphylline has been administered by injection to fowls maintained on both adequate and deficient diets, and further fowls received the dried plant in their food. A significant proportion of these birds subsequently developed primary liver tumours. Although there was a higher mortality rate in both treated and controls fed the deficient diet, there was no evidence of a greater tendency to develop liver tumours compared with the birds on the balanced diet.

It is also suggested that the condition known as “cavernous angioma” of the liver of cattle and sheep in Britain may be due to ingestion of ragwort in sub-lethal amounts.
Assessing the Effect of Information on the Reservation Price for Champagne: What are Consumers Actually Paying for?
Authors: Combris Pierre , Lange Christine , Issanchou Sylvie
Published: June 2012

Two series of Vickrey auctions have been performed to assess the effect of packaging information (bottle and label) on the reservation prices of ordinary consumers for five brut non-vintage Champagnes. As in other studies on wine tasting, packaging information is found to explain much more of the variation in willingness to pay than sensory information. Participants are unable, or unwilling, to put different values on the Champagnes after blind tasting, but significant differences in reservation prices appear when labels are disclosed. Detailed analysis of choices reveals a large heterogeneity in individual behaviors and valuations of the Champagnes included in this study. (JEL Classification: C91, D12)
Growers vs. Merchants Bargaining on the Price of Champagne Grapes and The Role of Contracts when Bargaining is Unbalanced
Authors: Chambolle Claire , Saulpic Olivier
Published: June 2012

The contract between growers and merchants for the exchange of grapes on the Champagne market is a long-term agreement based on quantities. Commitments on quantities are made for several years and negotiated individually between growers and merchants. Each year, prices are negotiated at the interprofessional level, the interprofessional committee including members of the growers union, members of the merchants union and a government commissioner. It turns out that industrial organization theory, and more precise mechanisms outlined by incomplete contract theory are relevant to the analysis of such contracts in which prices and quantities are negotiated sequentially and by different groups of actors. We show that imposed pricing by the interprofessional organization can, in some cases, balance the bargaining power between growers and merchants and thus increase social welfare. At a time when the European Common Organization of Wine Markets casts doubt on interprofessional organizations, this result tends to justify their positive role. (JEL classifi cation: L42, L50)
Price Formation in the California Winegrape Economy
Authors: Heien Dale
Published: June 2012

This paper presents a theory of price determination for winegrapes in California. As the California wine economy developed, winegrape contracts took on a role as one of the centerpieces of this transformation. The theory is presented and it is shown how two important factors, weather and fi nancial uncertainty, served to shape the contracts. Hence, long term planting contracts for new vineyards, specifying the price, helped ameliorate the uncertainty to growers. Similarly, shorter contracts played a similar role for established vintners. The model deals with two types of growers: those with contracts made well before the year in question and those who will sign a contract in the Spring of the year of harvest. This paper hopes to illuminate these elements and their interaction. The model is then empirically estimated and tested. (JEL classifi cation: K12, Q11)
A Note on a Test for the Sum of Ranksums
Authors: Quandt Richard E.
Published: June 2012

In wine tastings, in which several tasters (judges) taste several wines, it is important to insure objectivity to the extent possible. This is usually accomplished by holding the tasting “blind,” i.e., covering the bottles so that the tasters do not know which wine is in which bottle. At some agreed upon point in the proceedings, the tasters reveal what they think about the various bottles. Ideally, this revelation would take place by secret ballot, lest a taster's choices be influenced by what he or she hears another taster say. But in any event, there are two standard ways of rating the wines. The older method is to assign them “grades” on a scale of, say, up to 100 points (Parker) or up to 20 points as in the famous face-off between California wines and French Bordeaux wines in 1976 (see Ashenfelter et al., 2007). As Ashenfelter at al. point out, this has the distinct disadvantage that a judge with greater dispersion in his or her grades will have a greater influence on the average score that each wine achieves.
On Wine Bullshit: Some New Software?
Authors: Quandt Richard E.
Published: June 2012

The inspiration for the exegesis that follows comes directly from Harry G. Frankfurt, distinguished emeritus professor of philosophy at Princeton University, who recently published an enormously successful essay on the subject of bullshit (Frankfurt, 2005). In the author's view,

“One of the most salient features of our culture is that there is so much bullshit. Everyone knows this. Each of us contributes his share. But we tend to take the situation for granted. Most people are rather confident of their ability to recognize bullshit and to avoid being taken in by it. So the phenomenon has not aroused much deliberate concern. We have no clear understanding of what bullshit is, why there is so much of it, or what functions it serves.” (Frankfurt, 2005, p. 1)

A fine philosophical insight into bullshit is provided by Bernie Laplante, played by Dustin Hoffman in the movie “Hero.”
The Wines of West Africa: History, Technology and Tasting Notes
Authors: Noll Roger G.
Published: June 2012

For centuries West Africans have made wines from palm sap, and hard liquor (“gin”) from palm wine. This essay describes the role of palm wine in West African society, attempts to regulate its production and consumption since colonial times, the basics of the production process, and the appearance, bouquet and flavor of unpasteurized palm wine as it ages through its useful life of a day or two. (JEL Classification: L66, L51,118)
Guest Editor's Introduction to Symposium
Authors: McCluskey Jill J.
Published: June 2012

The articles in this symposium analyze the economics of evolving international wine markets, including issues associated with taxes, measures of quality, reputation, consumer preferences, globalization, and emerging markets in China. This special symposium consists of peer-reviewed papers presented at the “Competitive Forces Affecting the Wine and Winegrape Industries: An International Conference on World Wine Markets,” sponsored by the Washington State University Impact Center, the Center for Wine Economics and Business of the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Sciences and the Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics, University of California, in Davis, California, August 8–10, 2007, and the American Association of Wine Economists in Portland, Oregon, August 14–16, 2008.

The first paper, by Rachael Goodhue, Jeffrey LaFrance and Leo Simon, provides a theoretical analysis of the impact of taxes on the quantity and quality produced by a competitive firm of goods like wine for which market value. They consider the effects of various tax systems on wine quality and quantity distortions.
Economic Feasibility of Wine Grape Production in the Arid US: A Northwest Nevada Example
Authors: Curtis Kynda R. , Bishop Carol D. , Harris Thomas R.
Published: June 2012

As competition for water resources increases and water availability in arid regions declines, agricultural producers are encouraged to adopt water-conserving strategies. This study examines the economic feasibility of implementing wine grapes in northwest Nevada as a diversification and water conservation strategy. Results show profit potential when vitis interspecific wine grape varieties are produced in the region. Net returns based upon point estimates from two separate analyses show per-acre net returns at $1,065 and $3,022, respectively. However, the large variation in potential net returns shown in the risk analysis, combined with a high capital investment cost of more than $17,000 per acre, may preclude producers from exercising their option to adopt wine grape production. Also, including wine grapes in the on-farm crop portfolio will affect its risk and return characteristics, likely impacting producer preferred level of wine grape adoption. (JEL Classification: Q11, Q15, Q25, Q54)
Predicting the Quality and Prices of Bordeaux Wine
Authors: Ashenfelter Orley
Published: June 2012

Bordeaux wines have been made in much the same way for centuries. This article shows that the variability in the quality and prices of Bordeaux vintages is predicted by the weather that created the grapes. The price equation provides a measure of the real rate of return to holding wines (about 2–3% per annum) and implies far greater variability in the early or ‘en primeur’ wine prices than is observed. The analysis provides a useful basis for assessing market inefficiency, the effect of climate change on the wine industry and the role of expert opinion in determining wine prices. (JEL Classification: D43, Q11)
Do Tasting Notes Add Value? Evidence from Napa Wines
Authors: Ramirez Carlos D.
Published: June 2012

This paper evaluates whether tasting notes—the brief testimony that describes the sensory properties of wines—add value. The analysis is based on a sample of over 2700 recent-vintage cabernet sauvignon wines evaluated byWine Spectator. I estimate a dynamic wine price model to evaluate the marketing effect of the note, controlling for quality measures as well as other wine characteristics. The results indicate that the length of the tasting note exerts a strong positive influence on the wine's price, even after controlling for quality. A 10 percent increase in the number of characters in the tasting note (about 23 additional characters) contributes about two to four dollars to the price of the wine. Further analysis reveals that the value of the tasting note does not come from the “analytical” words contained in the note but rather, from the more subjective component of it. (JEL Classification: L66, L11, C23)
Too Much of a Good Thing? Causes and Consequences of Increases in Sugar Content of California Wine Grapes
Authors: Alston Julian M. , Fuller Kate B. , Lapsley James T. , Soleas George
Published: June 2012

The sugar content of California wine grapes has increased significantly over the past 10–20 years, and this implies a corresponding increase in the alcohol content of wine made with those grapes. In this paper we develop a simple model of winegrape production and quality, including sugar content and other characteristics as choice variables along with yield. Using this model we derive hypotheses about alternative theoretical explanations for the phenomenon of rising sugar content of grapes, including effects of changes in climate and producer responses to changes in consumer demand. We analyze detailed data on changes in the sugar content of California wine grapes at crush to obtain insight into the relative importance of the different influences. We buttress this analysis of sugar content of wine grapes with data on the alcohol content of wine. (JEL Classification: Q54, Q19, D12, D22)
From Monasteries to Multinationals (and Back): A Historical Review of the Beer Economy
Authors: Poelmans Eline , Swinnen Johan F.M.
Published: June 2012

This article reviews beer production, consumption and the industrial organization of breweries throughout history. Monasteries were the centers of the beer economy in the early Middle Ages. Innovation and increased demand later induced the growth of commercial breweries. Globalization and scientific discoveries transformed the beer industry and increased competition from the 16th through the 19th century. The 20th century was characterized by dramatic (domestic and international) consolidation, major shifts in consumption patterns, and the re-emergence of small breweries. (JEL Classification: N30, N40, L23, L66)
Connolly and Hirschmann receive 2011 N. L. Bowen Awards: Response from James A. Connolly
Authors: Connolly James A.
Published: June 2012

James A. Connolly and Marc M. Hirschmann received the 2011 N. L. Bowen Award at the 2011 AGU Fall Meeting, held 5–9 December in San Francisco, Calif. The award recognizes “outstanding contributions to volcanology, geochemistry, or petrology.”
Massive layer of pure anorthosite on the Moon
Authors: Yamamoto S. , Nakamura R. , Matsunaga T. , Ogawa Y. , Ishihara Y. , Morota T. , Hirata N. , Ohtake M. , Hiroi T. , Yokota Y. , Haruyama J.
Published: June 2012

We present a new global survey of the purest anorthosite (PAN) rock using the Spectral Profiler onboard Kaguya. We found that PAN rocks are widely distributed over the Moon, including the Feldspathic Highland Terrain and the south and north polar regions. All PAN sites are associated with huge impact structures with diameters larger than 100 km. Based on the global distributions of PAN and olivine‐rich sites, we propose the existence of a massive PAN layer with a thickness of ∼50 km below an uppermost mafic‐rich mixed layer with a thickness of ∼10 km. Below the PAN layer, a lower crustal layer with olivine‐rich materials may be present on the nearside, but not on the far side of the Moon. The existence of a PAN layer with a thickness of ∼50 km suggests an Al2O3 abundance of 33 to 34 wt.% in the lunar crust, which is higher than previous estimates of <32 wt.%. Our data indicate the massive production event of PAN during the early stage of the formation of the Moon, supporting the lunar magma ocean scenario.
Solidification dynamics in channeled viscoplastic lava flows
Authors: Robertson J. C. , Kerr R. C.
Published: June 2012

The influence of a viscoplastic lava rheology on the dynamics of channeled lava flows is analyzed using analogue experiments. The experiments used slurries of polyethylene glycol and kaolin, which flowed with a constant flux down an inclined channel under water. Three sets of complementary experiments are presented: isothermal, cooling, and solidifying flows which quantified the effects of the viscoplastic rheology on shear, internal convection and surface crust formation. The isothermal and cooling experiments showed the formation of unyielded central plug regions which were not broken up by the convective overturning. In the solidifying experiments flows fell into one of three regimes: a tube regime, in which crust covered the entire flow surface; a shear‐controlled regime, with a mobile raft of crust in the channel center and open shear zones near the walls; and a plug‐controlled regime where the width of the central crust was determined by the width of the central plug region. The crust coverage is parameterized in terms of two dimensionless parameters: the ratio wp of central plug region width to channel width and a parameter ϑ which characterizes the relative importance of the strain and solidification rates. Finally the dynamics of typical lava flows on Mt Etna and the 1984 Mauna Loa lava flow are examined. We show that our parameterization agrees with lava flow crust widths observed in the field and find that even small yield strengths have a major effect on crust coverage.
Differential storm responses of dissolved and particulate organic carbon in a mountainous headwater stream, investigated by high‐frequency, in situ optical measurements
Authors: Jeong Jong‐Jin , Bartsch Svenja , Fleckenstein Jan H. , Matzner Egbert , Tenhunen John D. , Lee Sang Don , Park Seon Ki , Park Ji‐Hyung
Published: June 2012

Although land‐water carbon (C) transport represents a critical link in the global C cycle, rare attempts have been made to compare hydrologic controls over storm pulses of dissolved organic C (DOC) and particulate organic C (POC) in mountainous watersheds. An immersible UV/Vis spectrophotometer was used to comparatively investigate the rapid storm responses of stream water DOC and POC in a small mountainous forested watershed in South Korea. High‐frequency measurements at 5‐min intervals during 42 hydrologic events, including monsoon storms and winter snowmelts, showed consistent patterns: POC concentrations were lower than DOC concentrations during base flow and small storm events but exceeded them during the peak flow periods of intense storm events. Although both the DOC and POC concentrations had hysteretic relationships with discharge, the POC concentrations showed larger increases and variations after crossing a threshold discharge on the rising limb of the storm hydrograph. Stronger responses to intense storms resulted in a disproportionately large export of POC at high flow, whereas a large portion of the total DOC flux was exported under prevailing low‐flow conditions. The results demonstrate the potential of in situ optical measurements for investigating fine‐resolution dynamics of the DOC and POC export during storm events. Stronger storm responses of the POC export compared to the limited response range of the DOC export suggest that erosion‐induced POC export will become more important as a major pathway for the hydrologic soil C loss from mountainous watersheds in response to an increasing occurrence of extreme storm events.
What's in a Term? Paranormal, Superstitious, Magical and Supernatural Beliefs by Any Other Name Would Mean the Same
Authors: Lindeman Marjaana , Svedholm Annika M.
Published: June 2012

What are paranormal, superstitious, magical, and supernatural (PSMS) beliefs and what, if anything, separates them? Currently, use of the concepts is ambiguous and agreement is weak. A literature search for articles dealing with PSMS beliefs during the last two decades produced conceptual definitions that we grouped into seven groups. Five groups consisted of definitions that were domain-general, namely false beliefs, belief in scientifically impossible phenomena, and associative biases (covariation bias, laws of sympathetic magic, and irrational acts). Two sets of definitions were domain-specific (content-dependent), namely counterintuitive and intuitive beliefs about physical, biological, and psychological phenomena. Empirical methods were reviewed to show what kinds of beliefs have been examined under the rubrics paranormal, supernatural, magical, or superstitious. We concluded that the concepts paranormal, superstitious, magical, and supernatural denote the same thing and that domain-general definitions are inadequately precise. Defining PSMS beliefs as category mistakes that confuse the distinctive attributes of mental phenomena, material objects, living, and animate organisms, and the processes these engage in, fared best in distinguishing PSMS beliefs from other beliefs and covering relevant beliefs. We suggest researchers sharpen the content of the measures and strive to integrate lines of research that have so far remained separate.
False Memories and Persuasion Strategies
Authors: Leding Juliana K.
Published: June 2012

Research on false memories, which has increased drastically in the past decade, has mainly focused on the cognitive influences that lead to the creation of false memories, such as the theoretical causes of decreased memory strength and source confusion. Although there is certainly a cognitive component to false memories, in this article, I argue that false memories are more likely to be created with the use of persuasion strategies. Within a variety of false memory paradigms, including the misinformation effect, the imagination inflation paradigm, and false confession research, persuasion strategies help create and strengthen false memories. My conclusion is that false memories often occur without the presence of persuasion strategies, but that they are more frequent and compelling with the presence of persuasion strategies. I discuss this conclusion in relation to the source monitoring framework. I also discuss the applied implications of this research (e.g., a detective in a crime investigation “suggesting” details or an interrogator trying to elicit a confession).
Nothing in Popular Culture Makes Sense except in the Light of Evolution
Authors: Saad Gad
Published: June 2012

An evolutionary lens can inform the study of cultural forms in a myriad of ways. These can be construed as adaptations, as exaptations (evolutionary byproducts), as gene–culture interactions, as memes, or as fossils of the human mind. Products of popular culture (e.g., song lyrics, movie themes, romance novels) are to evolutionary cultural theorists what fossils and skeletal remains represent to paleontologists. Although human minds do not fossilize or skeletonize (the cranium does), the cultural products created by human minds do. By identifying universally recurring themes for a given cultural form (song lyrics and collective wisdoms in the current article), spanning a wide range of cultures and time periods, one is able to test key tenets of evolutionary psychology. In addition to using evolutionary psychology to understand the contents of popular culture, the discipline can itself be studied as a contributor to popular culture. Beginning with the sociobiology debates in the 1970s, evolutionary informed analyses of human behavior have engendered great fascination and animus among the public at large. Following a brief summary of studies that have explored the diffusion of the evolutionary behavioral sciences within specific communities (e.g., the British media), I offer a case analysis of the penetration of evolutionary psychology within the blogosphere, specifically the blog community hosted by Psychology Today.
Blinded by the Starlight: An Evolutionary Framework for Studying Celebrity Culture and Fandom
Authors: De Backer Charlotte J. S.
Published: June 2012

Seeing is believing. Historically, print media has used visual illustrations to add credibility to their texts. The power of visuals is indeed stronger than the power of words. Even though pictures can be manipulated to not portraying any truth, we more easily believe what we see, compared with what we hear or what we read. Visual representations of reality create the false belief as if we witness the situation; an eye-witness perception translates into an I-witness emotional response. From an evolutionarily point of view, this can be labeled as a mismatch outcome of evolved psychological mechanisms. Adaptations to deal with situations that existed in our evolutionary past are being triggered by modern artifacts that might not be fitness-relevant themselves, but look a lot like fitness-relevant cues from the past. A classic example is, for instance, a fear reaction upon encountering a water hose that looks a lot like a snake. In a similar fashion, pictures, being visual representations of the world, look a lot like personal perceptions of the real world and might trigger mental mechanisms to deal with problems associated with this world. Applying this to understand the worship of stars, the author explains how mainly visual stimuli contribute to the formation of parasocial (one way) bonds between stars and their audience. The author draws on theories from the social sciences (communication studies, politics, and sociology), psychology, economics, and evolutionary biology, first to explain the field of celebrity or star studies, second to address the importance of visuals in the production of stars, and finally to explore why audiences worldwide tend to become emotionally involved with individuals they encounter on screens, with whom any form (or possibility of) physical interaction is highly unlikely.
The Pop Culture of Sex: An Evolutionary Window on the Worlds of Pornography and Romance
Authors: Salmon Catherine
Published: June 2012

Pornography and romance, at first glance they seem to be two genres that are almost polar opposites. Yet both are the products of our evolved human sexuality and both have been the subjects of a variety of authors and researchers. Particularly in the case of pornography, some have argued strongly against its very existence, charging it, its creators and consumers with many of the evils in the world (real and imagined). In the case of romance, many have been derogatory and dismissive of the writers' skills and the readers' minds. In this article, I hope to introduce a different approach to these genres, through an evolutionary lens that serves to illuminate the way in which our sexual natures combined with modern technology to create such widespread distribution and sales. Romance and pornography are both multibillion dollar industries, and their stark contrasts reflect the deep divide at the heart of male and female erotic fantasies. These differences reflect the fact that the selection pressures males and females faced in the reproductive realm over human evolutionary history were not identical.
Sexual Hookup Culture: A Review
Authors: Garcia Justin R. , Reiber Chris , Massey Sean G. , Merriwether Ann M.
Published: June 2012

“Hookups,” or uncommitted sexual encounters, are becoming progressively more engrained in popular culture, reflecting both evolved sexual predilections and changing social and sexual scripts. Hook-up activities may include a wide range of sexual behaviors, such as kissing, oral sex, and penetrative intercourse. However, these encounters often transpire without any promise of, or desire for, a more traditional romantic relationship. A review of the literature suggests that these encounters are becoming increasingly normative among adolescents and young adults in North America, representing a marked shift in openness and acceptance of uncommitted sex. We reviewed the current literature on sexual hookups and considered the multiple forces influencing hookup culture, using examples from popular culture to place hooking up in context. We argue that contemporary hookup culture is best understood as the convergence of evolutionary and social forces during the developmental period of emerging adulthood. We suggest that researchers must consider both evolutionary mechanisms and social processes, and be considerate of the contemporary popular cultural climate in which hookups occur, in order to provide a comprehensive and synergistic biopsychosocial view of “casual sex” among emerging adults today.