bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of the transgenic human thyrotropin receptor A-subunit in thyroiditis induced by A-subunit immunization and regulatory T cell depletion
Authors: Mizutori Y , Nagayama Y , Flower D , Misharin A , Aliesky H A , Rapoport B , McLachlan S M
Published: October 2008

Transgenic BALB/c mice that express intrathyroidal human thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) A-subunit, unlike wild-type (WT) littermates, develop thyroid lymphocytic infiltration and spreading to other thyroid autoantigens after T regulatory cell (Treg) depletion and immunization with human thyrotropin receptor (hTSHR) adenovirus. To determine if this process involves intramolecular epitope spreading, we studied antibody and T cell recognition of TSHR ectodomain peptides (A–Z). In transgenic and WT mice, regardless of Treg depletion, TSHR antibodies bound predominantly to N-terminal peptide A and much less to a few downstream peptides. After Treg depletion, splenocytes from WT mice responded to peptides C, D and J (all in the A-subunit), but transgenic splenocytes recognized only peptide D. Because CD4+ T cells are critical for thyroid lymphocytic infiltration, amino acid sequences of these peptides were examined for in silico binding to BALB/c major histocompatibility complex class II (IA–d). High affinity subsequences (inhibitory concentration of 50% < 50 nm) are present in peptides C and D (not J) of the hTSHR and mouse TSHR equivalents. These data probably explain why transgenic splenocytes do not recognize peptide J. Mouse TSHR mRNA levels are comparable in transgenic and WT thyroids, but only transgenics have human A-subunit mRNA. Transgenic mice can present mouse TSHR and human A-subunit-derived peptides. However, WT mice can present only mouse TSHR, and two to four amino acid species differences may preclude recognition by CD4+ T cells activated by hTSHR-adenovirus. Overall, thyroid lymphocytic infiltration in the transgenic mice is unrelated to epitopic spreading but involves human A-subunit peptides for recognition by T cells activated using the hTSHR.
Analysis of the interindividual conservation of T cell receptor α- and β-chain variable regions gene in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Luo W , Ma L , Wen Q , Wang N , Zhou M-Q , Wang X-N
Published: October 2008

The aim of this study was to find conserved motifs in specific T cell receptor (TCR) α- and β-chains, and to analyse the association between complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) spectratype and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) activity. TCR α-and β-chain CDR3 spectratypes were analysed in 20 SLE patients. The CDR3 spectratypes of three patients were monitored over time, and the CDR3 regions of clonally expanded T cells were sequenced. CDR3 spectratype analysis showed prominent usage of TCR AV8, AV14, AV23, AV30, AV31, BV2, BV8, BV11, BV14, BV16, BV19 and BV24 families in SLE patients. The CDR3 spectratype showed dynamic change correlating with SLE activity. The sequence of the CDR3 region in clonally expanded T cells suggested a conserved GGX amino acid motif in both α- and β-chains. The Ja34 and Jb2s1 region genes were found in high frequency. Both TCR Vα and Vβ gene usage is highly restricted in SLE, suggesting that the TCRs recognize a limited number of antigenic epitopes. The conserved motifs and limited use of joining region genes may indicate the recognition of similar antigenic epitopes in multiple individuals.
Longitudinal analysis of immune function in the first 3 years of life in thymectomized neonates during cardiac surgery
Authors: Mancebo E , Clemente J , Sanchez J , Ruiz-Contreras J , De Pablos P , Cortezon S , Romo E , Paz-Artal E , Allende L M
Published: October 2008

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of neonatal thymectomy in the functional capacity of the immune system. We selected a group of 23 subjects, who had undergone thymectomy in their first 30 days of life, during an intervention for congenital heart disease. Several parameters of the immune system were evaluated during their first 3 years of life. Lymphocyte populations and subpopulations (including naive, memory and effector subpopulations), T cell receptor (TCR) Vβ repertoire, response of T cells following in vitro stimulation by mitogen, quantification of immunoglobulins, TCR excision circles (TRECS) and interleukin (IL)-7 were measured. We found that neonatal thymectomy produces long-term diminution in total lymphocyte counts, especially in naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Additionally, TRECS were decreased, and plasma IL-7 levels increased. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between absolute CD4+ T cells and IL-7 (r = −0·470, P = 0·02). The patients did not suffer more infectious events than healthy control children, but thymectomy in neonates resulted in a significant decrease in T lymphocyte levels and TRECS, consistent with cessation of thymopoiesis. This could produce a compromise in immune function later in life, especially if the patients suffer T cell depletion and need a reconstitution of immune function.
Influence of temperature on the spatial distribution of first spawning dates of the common frog (Rana temporaria) in the UK
Authors: CARROLL E. A. , SPARKS T. H. , COLLINSON N. , BEEBEE T. J. C.
Published: October 2008

Between 1998 and 2007, the UK Phenology Network collected nearly 70 000 records of the first spawn dates of the common frog Rana temporaria. Annual national mean dates varied by more than 2 weeks and were closely related to January–March temperatures. A 1 °C increase in Central England Temperature advanced national mean spawning by 5.1 days. The temporal pattern of spawning records varied between years; sometimes unimodal in form, sometimes multimodal, seemingly associated with steady or erratic rises in spring temperatures, respectively. Spatial patterns of frogspawn were similar in different years, the earliest records occurring in the southwest with records progressively later in the north and east. On average, 100 km of eastwards progression took 7.4 days and 100 km of northwards progression took 4.7 days. A composite map for the 1998–2007 period is constructed and compared with an earlier published map based on data 60 years previously. The similarity and dissimilarity of these two maps is discussed; the general progression pattern of frogspawn phenology is similar but an advance of a 10‐day contour category is apparent. We anticipate further advances of frog spawning dates in the future and an increase in the numbers of pre‐January 1 records of frog breeding.
The usefulness of Conners' Rating Scales‐Revised in screening for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children with intellectual disabilities and borderline intelligence
Authors: Deb S. , Dhaliwal A.‐J. , Roy M.
Published: October 2008

Background  Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are believed to be common in children with intellectual disabilities (ID). Conners' Rating Scales are widely used for screening ADHD among children who do not have ID, but little is known about their usefulness among children with ID.

Aims  To find cut‐off scores for the Conners' Parent Rating Scales‐Revised (CPRS‐R) and the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale‐Revised (CTRS‐R) that will give optimum levels of sensitivity and specificity for screening for ADHD among children with ID and borderline intelligence.

Method  Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to compare a clinical diagnosis of ADHD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 4th revision‐Text Review criteria with scores according to the CPRS‐R and the CTRS‐R.

Results  Among children with ID, a CPRS‐R total score of 42 provided a sensitivity of 0.9 and a specificity of 0.67 with an area under the curve of 0.84. Similarly, a CTRS‐R total score of 40 provided a sensitivity of 0.69 and a specificity of 0.67 with an area under the curve of 0.71. There was poor concordance between the CPRS‐R and the CTRS‐R total scores (Intraclass Correlation; ICC = 0.17). There were statistically significant differences in the total score of the CPRS‐R and most of its sub‐scores between children with ID with and without ADHD. The CTRS‐R total score and its sub‐scores did not show any statistically significant difference between two groups. Factor analysis showed three clinically distinct factors for both the CPRS‐R and the CTRS‐R items, although the CPRS‐R factors were better and had less item overlap than the CTRS‐R factors.

Conclusions  The CPRS‐R scores may distinguish between children with ID with and without ADHD but not the CTRS‐R scores. Many items in the CPRS‐R and the CTRS‐R are not applicable to children with severe and profound ID who do not have speech. The CPRS‐R and the CTRS‐R scores did not correlate with each other. There is a need to develop an ADHD screening instrument specifically for children with ID.
Expressive communication of children with autism: the use of challenging behaviour
Authors: Chiang Hsu‐Min
Published: October 2008

Background  There is a lack of empirical research investigating challenging behaviour in children with autism with severe speech impairments in naturalistic settings. The aim of the present study was to investigate challenging behaviour among Australian and Taiwanese children with autism who are non‐verbal or have limited speech (i.e. less than five functional words) in school settings and to address the following questions: (1) What are the communicative characteristics (e.g. communicative functions, partners, activities and partner's responses) of challenging behaviour? (2) Do sample characteristics (e.g. age, severity of autism, adaptive behaviour level, the use of graphic symbols, the use of non‐symbolic acts, the use of speech) associate with the amount of challenging behaviour? (3) Do cultural differences exist in communicative variables of challenging behaviour?

Method  Naturalistic observations were used to investigate challenging behaviour in children with autism. A total of 32 (17 Australian and 15 Taiwanese) children with autism who were non‐verbal or had limited speech participated in the current study and each participant was videotaped for 2 h during his/her everyday school routines.

Results  Sixteen out of 32 children had challenging behaviour. Challenging behaviour was used for requesting and rejecting communicative functions. A paired‐samples t‐test revealed that no significant differences existed in the frequency of occurrence between request and reject. Challenging behaviour was directed to adults and peers. A paired‐samples t‐test revealed that challenging behaviour was directed to adults significantly more frequently than to peers. Communicative partners showed different responses (e.g. deny, no response, delivered, removed, acknowledge) to challenging behaviour. A repeated‐measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a main effect for partner response. Deny was the most common response. Challenging behaviour occurred across a variety of classroom activities (e.g. academic activities, morning circle, morning tea, lunch, free time). A repeated‐measures ANOVA revealed a main effect for activity. Challenging behaviour occurred most often during academic activities. A set of correlation analyses indicated a significant correlation existed between the use of graphic symbols and the amount of challenging behaviour. A series of Mann–Whitney U‐tests revealed significant differences between Australian and Taiwanese children on the amount of challenging behaviour, communicative functions and partners. A Chi‐squared test revealed that there were significantly more Australian children with autism who displayed challenging behaviour than Taiwanese children.

Conclusions  The current study shows that a high proportion of children with autism with severe speech impairments used challenging behaviour as a form of expressive communication in their school environments. The findings from the present study may have implications for practitioners who work with children with autism.
Role of prolipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase (Lgt) and lipoprotein‐specific signal peptidase II (LspA) in localization and physiological function of lipoprotein MsmE in Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Arimoto T. , Igarashi T.
Published: October 2008

Introduction:  To clarify the role that prolipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase (Lgt) and lipoprotein‐specific signal peptidase II (LspA) play in the physiological function of MsmE, we constructed lgt‐deficient and lspA‐deficient mutants of Streptococcus mutans 109c and examined the potential role of Lgt and LspA in membrane anchoring and growth in a melibiose medium of S. mutans.

Methods:  The lgt‐, lspA‐, and msmE‐deficient mutants of S. mutans 109c were constructed by double‐crossover recombination of their respective genes. Localization of MsmE was demonstrated by Western blot analysis with an MsmE antiserum. The growth of S. mutans cells was examined in a Trypton medium containing melibiose or glucose.

Results:  In the S. mutans lgt mutant, localization of the surface lipoprotein MsmE changed with the culture supernatant. The growth of the S. mutans lgt and lspA mutants was remarkably reduced in the melibiose medium; however, growth was recovered in the strains complemented with the lgt or the lspA gene. Therefore, lipid‐modification by Lgt and subsequent signal peptide cleavage by LspA were crucial for membrane anchoring and the physiological function of MsmE in S. mutans.

Conclusion:  These results demonstrate that MsmE is required for melibiose metabolism in S. mutans and that modification by Lgt and LspA are important processes for the physiological function of MsmE.
Interactions Between Multiple Forms of Nuptial Feeding in the Wood Cricket Nemobius sylvestris (Bosc): Dual Spermatophores and Male Forewings
Authors: Prokop Pavol , Maxwell Michael R.
Published: October 2008

Nuptial feeding is widespread in insects, with many species showing one form of feeding. In the wood cricket Nemobius sylvestris, the male may provide multiple forms of feeding during an encounter: two kinds of edible spermatophores (microspermatophore and macrospermatophore) and forewing secretions. We examined the roles and interactions of the spermatophores and forewing exposure in the mating sequence of this species. The small microspermatophore was not found to contain sperm, whereas the larger macrospermatophore contained sperm. In mating trials, the microspermatophore may be transferred to the female early in the trial. Transfer of the microspermatophore was not a necessary prerequisite to the subsequent transfer of one or more sperm‐filled macrospermatophores. Forewing exposure increased male mating success, as males with exposed forewings were more successful in transferring the macrospermatophore than males with experimentally covered forewings, both in terms of occurrence of successful transfer and the number of macrospermatophores transferred. Male mating success was very low when the male’s forewings were covered and when the male did not transfer a microspermatophore. The sperm‐filled macrospermatophore may have nutritional value, as females eventually consumed all transferred macrospermatophores, and males consumed all rejected macrospermatophores. Somewhat unexpectedly, this study casts doubt on the role of the forewings in nuptial feeding. Although males with exposed forewings were more successful in macrospermatophore transfer, females actually palpated these males’ forewings less. We posit the alternative hypothesis that the forewing secretions play a role in chemical communication to the female (e.g., signaling male quality), possibly instead of female nourishment.
Individual response of growing pigs to lysine intake
Authors: Heger J. , Křížová L. , Šustala M. , Nitrayová S. , Patráš P. , Hampel D.
Published: October 2008

Nitrogen (N) balance experiment was carried out to study the individual and group response of growing pigs to lysine (Lys) intake. A series of 15 purified diets limiting in Lys were fed sequentially to nine pigs (initial body weight, 39 kg) during a 15‐day experiment. Lysine concentration ranged from 50% to 140% of its assumed requirement. N retention in individual pigs was related to Lys intake using linear‐plateau (LP) and quadratic‐plateau (QP) models. No difference in the closeness of fit between the models was found (p = 0.72). There were significant differences between the slopes of individual regression lines in the LP model (p = 0.018) and between the individual plateau values in both models (p < 0.0001). The breakpoint values in the QP model were greater than those of the LP model (p = 0.027), while the plateau values estimated by both models were similar (p = 0.32). In the LP model, no relationship was found between the slopes and plateau values (p = 0.67, r = 0.17) or between the slopes and breakpoint values (p = 0.55, r = −0.23), thus suggesting that pigs with higher protein deposition rate do not utilize lysine more efficiently. However, there was a close positive correlation between breakpoint and plateau values (p = 0.0005, r = 0.92). Based on LP and QP models, the mean daily requirement of Lys for a 47‐kg gilt was estimated to be 20.8 and 24.2 g (0.79 and 0.92 g/MJ metabolizable energy), respectively, with coefficients of variation of approximately 10%. Marginal efficiency of Lys utilization derived from the LP model was 0.67 and was dependent on the range of input data selected. Lysine disappearance was a curvilinear function of Lys intake, indicating that Lys catabolism is not directly related to Lys intake. The closeness of fit of exponential, saturation kinetics or four‐parameter logistic models applied to data set of all pigs was similar to that of LP or QP models.
Anti‐Ma2 paraneoplastic encephalitis associated with testicular germ cell tumor treated by carboplatin, etoposide and bleomycin
Authors: Kimura Masaki , Onozawa Mizuki , Fujisaki Akira , Arakawa Takashi , Takeda Katsuhiko , Dalmau Joseph , Hattori Kazunori
Published: October 2008

Anti‐Ma2‐associated encephalitis is a paraneoplastic disorder that predominantly affects the limbic system, diencephalon and brainstem, and is usually associated with tumors of the testis. We report a 35‐year‐old man with a right testicular mass who presented with multiple neurological complains, and clinical, serological and radiological features compatible with anti‐Ma2‐associated encephalitis. After three courses of carboplatin, etoposide and bleomycin for metastatic testicular germ‐cell tumor, all elevated tumor markers normalized and the retroperitoneal metastases disappeared, but the neurological disorder deteriorated. To our knowledge, this is the first case in which orchiectomy followed by carboplatin, etoposide and bleomycin for a testicular tumor with anti‐Ma2 encephalitis was performed.
Fracture analysis of strength undermatched Al‐Alloy welds in edge cracked tensile panels using FITNET procedure
Authors: CICERO S. , YENI Ç. , KOÇAK M.
Published: October 2008

This paper presents a methodology for the assessment of the remaining load carrying capacity of thin‐walled components under tension containing highly strength undermatched welds and edge cracks. The analysis is based on the strength mismatch option of the fracture module, part of the newly developed European fitness‐for‐service (FFS) procedure FITNET. The mismatch option of the FITNET fracture module allows weld features such as weld tensile properties and weld geometry to be taken into account in the fracture analysis of cracked welded components. The methodology described was verified for centre cracked Al‐alloy large tensile panels containing undermatched welds in Ref. [1] and hence the present work provides validation with experimental results of the single edge cracked (SEC) and double edge cracked (DEC) panels. The material used is an age‐hardening aluminium alloy 6013 in T6 temper condition used in welded airframe components. The welds in the form of butt joints were produced using the CO2 laser beam welding process. The results show that by using the FITNET FFS methodology with an appropriate selection of the input parameters, safe acceptable predictions of the maximum load carrying capacity of the welded panels can be obtained. It should also be noted that one of the main difficulties that engineers encounter when applying mismatch analysis for first time is its apparent complexity. A step‐by‐step analysis is proposed here in order to provide guidance for this kind of assessments.
Examination of fatigue crack driving force parameter
Authors: XIONG Y. , KATSUTA J. , KAWANO K. , SAKIYAMA T.
Published: October 2008

Most of the previous parameters that utilized as a crack driving force were established in modifying the parameter Kop in Elber's effective SIF range ΔKeff(=Kmax−Kop). However, the parameters that replaced the traditional parameter Kop were based on different measurements or theoretical calculations, so it is difficult to distinguish their differences. This paper focuses on the physical meaning of compliance changes caused by plastic deformation at the crack tip; the tests were carried out under different amplitude loading for structural steel. Based on these test results, differences of several parameter ΔKeff in literature are analysed and an improved two‐parameter driving force ΔKdrive(=(Kmax)n(ΔK∧)1‐n) has been proposed. Experimental data for several different types of materials taken from literature were used in the analyses. Presented results indicate that the ΔKdrive parameter was equally effective or better than ΔK(=Kmax−Kmin), ΔKeff(=Kmax−Kop) and ΔK*(= (Kmax)α(ΔK+)1−α) in correlating and predicting the R‐ratio effects on fatigue crack growth rate.
The narrow fellow in the grass: human infants associate snakes and fear
Authors: DeLoache Judy S. , LoBue Vanessa
Published: October 2008

Why are snakes such a common target of fear? One current view is that snake fear is one of several innate fears that emerge spontaneously. Another is that humans have an evolved predisposition to learn to fear snakes. In the first study reported here, 9‐ to 10‐month‐old infants showed no differential spontaneous reaction to films of snakes versus other animals. In the second study, 7‐ to 18‐month‐old infants associated snakes with fear: As predicted, they looked longer at films of snakes while listening to a frightened human voice than while listening to a happy voice. In the third study, infants did not look differentially to still photos of snakes and other animals, indicating that movement is crucial to infants’ association of snakes with fear. These results offer support for the view that humans have a natural tendency to selectively associate snakes with fear.
The Simple Analytics of Illicit Drug Policy
Authors: Doessel D. P. , Williams Ruth F. G.
Published: October 2008

The impact of alternative drug policy objectives, specifically harm reduction/harm minimisation or prohibition, is unclear. The literature is confusing. This article conceptualises the causal connection between drug consumption and health harm (or reduced health status) then clarifies the implication of ‘drug related harm’. By applying some geometrical tools from economics, the choice of policy objective is analysed. The preferences of policy advocates are then incorporated. Policy advocates are conceived as arguing that decision‐makers and consumers should adopt their preferences between drugs and health harm. With this approach, the difference between alternative drug policies, in particular prohibition and harm minimisation/reduction, is demonstrated.
Regulatory Policy and the Efficiency of the Banking Sector in Australia
Authors: Paul Satya , Kourouche Khaled
Published: October 2008

This paper examines the technical efficiency of Australian banks during the post‐Wallis period (1997–2005). The results based on data envelopment analysis reveal that the extent of technical efficiency varies across the banks and over the years. The National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank and Macquarie Bank are found to be technically efficient, whereas Adelaide Bank, the Bank of Queensland and Westpac Bank are found to be prominently inefficient. Technical efficiency is the lowest among small banks and has declined over time largely due to deterioration in scale efficiency. Medium‐sized banks have outperformed both the small and large banks in terms of efficiency improvements. Some insights into the debate over the removal of the ‘four‐pillar’ policy are provided.
The Use of Dental Services among Older Australians: Does Location Matter?
Authors: Vecchio Nerina
Published: October 2008

Based on the National Health Survey of 2005, this study examined the use of dental services among non‐institutionalised older Australians. The results of the regression revealed differences in the frequency of dental visits across the states. The greater the public dental health expenditure per capita in each state the more likely residents of that state were to have visited the dentist in the previous year. Older people residing outside major cities experienced the greatest disadvantage. In addition to the socioeconomic factors reported by studies, in Australia inequalities in access to dental health services was associated with urbanicity and Australian states.
An Estimated Trade Restrictiveness Index of the Level of Protection in Australian Manufacturing
Authors: Lloyd Peter , MacLaren Donald
Published: October 2008

In this paper we provide a new 31‐year time series of the level of protection in the Australian manufacturing sector. The index used is an estimate of the partial equilibrium form of the Trade Restrictiveness Index recently developed by the World Bank. This is the theoretically correct welfare based average of levels of nominal protection. The paper outlines the index and its properties. Some comments are made on the insights gained from the new series and on the record of the Labor and coalition governments in making reforms to industry assistance.
Infrastructure: What Is Needed and How Do We Pay for It?
Authors: Keating Michael
Published: October 2008

Claims of an infrastructure crisis lack definition, and fail to provide evidence that investment projects that would generate an economic return, including both private and social benefits, are not being funded.

This paper shows how setting economic prices for energy, water, transport and communications will provide a better guide to the optimal amount of future infrastructure investment than the likely responses by proponents of an alleged infrastructure crisis.
GMOs and the Developing World: A Precautionary Interpretation of Biotechnology
Authors: Lieberman Sarah , Gray Tim
Published: October 2008

The subject of genetically modified (GM) products has raised considerable controversy in recent years, especially in developed countries, where it has led to tension over regulatory differences between the United States (US) and the European Union (EU). One aspect of this tension is its impact on developing countries, especially in Africa. The aim of this article is to explore this impact, paying particular attention to GM food aid policy and GM crop growing promotion. We use the theoretical framework of the precautionary principle (PP) to evaluate the issues involved. Our conclusion is that the EU's strong interpretation of the PP in relation to GMOs (‘potential difference’) currently prevails over the US's weak interpretation of the PP in relation to GMOs (‘substantial equivalence’) in developing countries, but that this could change as a result of non-GM crop failure and improved performance of GM crops.
Articulating Particularistic Interests: The Organic Organisers of Hegemony in Germany and France
Authors: Macartney Huw
Published: October 2008

Recent debates in IPE have (re)visited questions of the material and ideological in historical materialist analysis. The article begins with a rereading of the Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci which argues that, according to Gramsci, certain (organic) material phenomena reveal the contradictions of the capital relation and hence precipitate the role of ideas. The focus of the article is then an empirical examination of the role of intellectuals in producing neo-liberal common sense, shaping responses to crises in Germany and France. Two economic research institutes are considered, arguing that they are both ‘organic’ to transnational class fractions in their respective member states. The article asserts that these institutes aim to present the corporate (‘neo-liberal’) interests of these fractions as universally beneficial; this is the crucial stage in the production of common sense/good sense. Finally though, in examining the international community of economists the article seeks to demonstrate the privileged position of the ‘Atlantic’ heartland in shaping this pan-European form of knowledge.
Teaching Democracy: The Role of Political Science Education
Authors: Sloam James
Published: October 2008

Politicians and academics have pointed to the fact that young people are increasingly disengaged from conventional politics in the UK. This is illustrated by the dramatic fall in electoral turnout and the ageing of political party memberships in recent decades. Yet recent research has shown that young people remain interested in politics even if they are put off by the political process. In the context of higher education (HE), political science programmes have seen a significant increase in applications (mostly from young people). While a lot of attention has been paid to citizenship education in secondary schools, surprisingly little emphasis has been placed upon the role of the tertiary section in teaching democracy. This article argues that political science education can play an important part in rejuvenating politics by adopting a constructivist approach, establishing synergies between pedagogical and participatory goals.
Board Structure, Ownership, and Voluntary Disclosure in Ireland
Authors: Donnelly Ray , Mulcahy Mark
Published: October 2008

Manuscript Type:Empirical

Research Question/Issue:This is a cross‐sectional study of the relation between corporate governance and voluntary disclosure in Ireland.

Research Findings/Results:We report clear evidence that voluntary disclosure increases with the number of nonexecutive directors on the board. Firms that have a nonexecutive chairman make greater voluntary disclosures than other firms. This finding is not robust to the inclusion of other explanatory variables. We find no evidence that ownership structure is related to voluntary disclosure.

Theoretical Implications:The results regarding nonexecutive directors are interpreted as independent boards facilitating a reduction in information asymmetry between owners and managers. While this supports the predictions of agency theory, the absence of evidence that ownership structure influences voluntary disclosure does not. It is posited that sociological and organizational factors (e.g., informal networking) that pervade the Irish market mitigate against our disclosure measure capturing all aspects of voluntary disclosure. Furthermore, indirect evidence is provided that there are other costs and benefits to disclosure that vary across firms and may outweigh agency costs in many situations. We conclude that while agency theory has some explanatory power for voluntary disclosure, it cannot explain all the cross‐sectional differences in voluntary disclosure by Irish public limited companies.

Practical Implications:The results support the attention paid by regulators to the proportion of nonexecutive directors on the board. However, the costs and benefits to disclosure vary across firms. Regardless of agency considerations and regulatory guidelines, firms will ultimately formulate their disclosure policy with reference to overall marginal costs and marginal benefits.
Collected Customs Duties: The Level of Taxation on Imports Applied by the US and the EU
Authors: Gallezot Jacques , Aussilloux Vincent
Published: October 2008

Relating the collected customs duty to the value of imports enables the estimation of a rate of applied duty that takes into account all pricing components and their use. Indeed, this ad valorem equivalent integrates the complex dimensions of customs duties, the measures of exemption and suspension, and those concerning preferential regimes. Processing collected duties for all the products reveals that the 1.5 per cent rate of duty actually applied in 2003 is the same for the EU and the US. Nevertheless, it appears that the US taxes more the least developed countries (LDCs) and developing countries than does the EU. Thus, setting aside those products which enter free of duty, the rate of taxation applied by the US is 15 per cent and 6.2 per cent respectively with regards to LDCs and developing countries, whereas in the EU it is only 3.7 per cent and 4.1 per cent. In the US market the sectors that are the most highly taxed upon importation are textiles, apparel and clothing, cotton and articles of leather, whereas in the EU it is more agricultural and food products (fruits and preserves, meats, sugars and cereals).
Assessing the Enlargement and Deepening of the European Union
Authors: Gil Salvador , Llorca Rafael , Martínez‐Serrano J. Antonio
Published: October 2008

This paper estimates a theoretically‐motivated gravity model to examine the effect of the European Union (EU) on trade and whether the order of entry has affected the trade performance of member countries. Additionally, we analyse the impact of the different phases of EU integration on trade. The results show that both original countries and successive enlargements boost intra‐bloc trade. Moreover, the results suggest that the deepening in the integration process has led to more trade creation among members. Finally, only the latter phase of the European integration process (the single currency) has increased trade with non‐members.
On the New Economic Policies Promoted by the 17th CCP Congress in China
Authors: Yao Shujie , Morgan Stephen
Published: October 2008

The 17th Chinese Communist Party Congress in October 2007 attracted attention within and outside China for the bold development agenda that was placed before delegates. After 30 years of economic reform that has produced a remarkable improvement in living standards and China's reintegration into the world economy, the Party unveiled a programme that would push China to become a world superpower over the next 30 years. China's ambition is to become a technologically innovative state, to make China a ‘moderately prosperous’ and ‘harmonious society’ with a ‘scientific outlook on development’, and to achieve full industrialisation and sustainable prosperity. Whether China is able to attain its objectives will critically depend on the Party's ability to implement the new economic policies and address the social and political challenges that economic growth has created. The aim of the paper is to examine the policies, motivations and constraints that China faces in achieving the objectives laid out at the Party Congress.
Exchange Rates and FDI: Goods versus Capital Market Frictions
Authors: Buch Claudia M. , Kleinert Jörn
Published: October 2008

Changes in exchange rates affect countries through their impact on cross‐border activities such as trade and foreign direct investment (FDI). With increasing activities of multinational firms, the FDI channel is likely to gain in importance. Economic theory provides two main explanations why changes in exchange rates can affect FDI. According to the first explanation, FDI reacts to exchange rate changes if there are information frictions on capital markets and if investment depends on firms’ net worth (capital market friction hypothesis). According to the second explanation, FDI reacts to exchange rate changes if output and factor markets are segmented, and if firm‐specific assets are important (goods market friction hypothesis). We provide a unified theoretical framework of these two explanations. We analyse the implications of the model empirically using a dataset based on detailed German firm‐level data. We find greater support for the goods market than for the capital market friction hypothesis.
The Uneven Pace of Deindustrialisation in the OECD
Authors: Nickell Stephen , Redding Stephen , Swaffield Joanna
Published: October 2008

Throughout the OECD, the period since the 1970s saw a secular decline in manufacturing's share of GDP and a secular rise in the share of services. Despite this being a central feature of growth, the economic forces behind deindustrialisation and the reasons why its pace varied so markedly across OECD countries are not well understood. Adopting an econometric approach founded in neoclassical production theory, we provide an empirical analysis of the role of changes in relative prices, technology and factor endowments in driving changes in production structure. The speed of adjustment to changes in these determinants of production structure varies across OECD countries and is correlated with levels of employment protection.
Monetary Policy, Vagabonding Liquidity and Bursting Bubbles in New and Emerging Markets: An Overinvestment View
Authors: Schnabl Gunther , Hoffmann Andreas
Published: October 2008

‘Capitalism without failure is like religion without sin’. Charles Kindleberger's bookManias, Panics and Crashespoints out that speculation and crises have always been present: the world economic crisis of the 20th century, the South Sea bubble in the 18th century, and the tulip mania in the first part of the 17th century. Starting with the Japanese bubble in the 1980s we take the reader on a tour through 20 years of bubbles in emerging markets and industrial countries which have recently culminated in the 2007/08 US subprime market crisis. We explain the global stock market and real estate booms based on the real and monetary overinvestment theories of Hayek, Wicksell and Schumpeter, arguing that ample liquidity supply originating in the large industrialised countries has contributed – independent from the exchange rate regime – to overinvestment cycles in new and emerging markets around the globe. The policy implication is to keep interest rates not too low for too long in response to bursting bubbles.
Competition and productivity growth in South Africa
Authors: Aghion Philippe , Braun Matias , Fedderke Johannes
Published: October 2008

This article shows that mark‐ups are significantly higher in South African manufacturing industries than they are in corresponding industries worldwide. We test for the consequences of this low‐level of product market competition on productivity growth. The results of the paper are that high mark‐ups have a large negative impact on productivity growth in South African manufacturing industry. Our results are robust to three different data sources, two alternative measures of productivity growth, and three distinct measures of the mark‐up. Controlling for potential endogeneity of regressors does not eliminate the findings.
South Africa's export predicament*
Authors: Hausmann Ricardo , Klinger Bailey
Published: October 2008

Using South Africa as an example, this article explores how the structure of production affects export diversification and economic growth. We show that the lagging process of structural transformation is part of the explanation for stagnant exports per capita in South Africa over the past 40 years. This slow structural transformation is shown to be a consequence in part of the peripheral nature of South Africa's productive capabilities: the country is specialized in sectors intensive in highly specific factors of production that cannot be easily redeployed to other activities. Using this methodology, we examine the sectoral priorities of the South African Department of Trade and Industry and explore the policy implications of the country's orientation in the product space.
South African trade policy matters Trade performance and trade policy*
Authors: Edwards Lawrence , Lawrence Robert
Published: October 2008

South African trade policy has exerted a major influence on the composition and aggregate growth of trade. In the Apartheid period, South Africa developed a comparative advantage in capital‐intensive primary and manufactured commodities partly because of its natural resource endowments, but also because the pattern of protection was particularly detrimental to exports of non‐commodity manufactured goods. By contrast, trade liberalization from 1990 not only increased imports, but by reducing both input costs and the relative profitability of domestic sales also boosted exports. This evidence suggests that additional trade liberalization and policies that afford South African firms access to inputs at world prices could well be part of the strategy to enhance export diversification.
Fiscal and monetary policy in a commodity‐based economy1
Authors: Frankel Jeffrey , Smit Ben , Sturzenegger Federico
Published: October 2008

A rough description of macroeconomic policy in South Africa would be that monetary policy concentrates on building nominal credibility through focusing on inflation, while the brunt of the responsibility for output stabilization rests on fiscal policy. This aricle discusses the convenience of such a policy mix. First, we estimate the business cycle impact of fiscal and monetary policy to find that so far fiscal policy has been mostly pro‐cyclical, whereas monetary policy has been, over the last couple of years, mildly counter‐cyclical. We argue that fiscal policy should be made significantly more counter‐cyclical than it has been – a strategy that would deliver more macroeconomic stability and potentially higher growth. Furthermore, we believe the Central Bank has earned the credibility to operate macro policy with a more decisive output stabilization objective, and we discuss several reinterpretations of the inflation targeting regime that provide the flexibility to do so without risking the strong anti‐inflationary credibility of the SARB. On exchange rate policy we recommend that the authorities take a pragmatic approach to floating, mostly allowing the currency to move freely, but intervening to avoid overvaluation. We explain why and discuss how this objective could be achieved.
Why has unemployment risen in the New South Africa?1
Authors: Banerjee Abhijit , Galiani Sebastian , Levinsohn Jim , McLaren Zoë , Woolard Ingrid
Published: October 2008

We document the rise in unemployment in South Africa since the transition in 1994. We describe how changes in labour supply interacted with stagnant labour demand to produce unemployment rates that peaked between 2001 and 2003. Meanwhile, compositional changes in employment at the sectoral level widened the gap between the skill‐level of the employed and the unemployed. Using nationally representative panel data, we show that stable unemployment rates mask high individual‐level transition rates in labour market status. Our analysis highlights several key constraints to addressing unemployment in South Africa. We conclude that unemployment is near equilibrium levels and is unlikely to self‐correct without policy intervention.
South Africa: Macroeconomic challenges after a decade of success1
Authors: Frankel Jeffrey , Smit Ben , Sturzenegger Federico
Published: October 2008

More than halfway through the decade, the South African economy has done very well. This report asks whether such achievements provide grounds for complacency. In particular it discusses the current account challenge in light of the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (ASGI‐SA) program. Our assessment is that a cautionary note on the need to reduce external imbalances is needed. We provide policy recommendations to minimize the negative impact of a possible sudden stop of capital inflows. On the consistency of ASGI‐SA program, we note that, given South Africa's recent employment and productivity performance a large investment program would be required to deliver the desired growth rates. In our view this imposes a large burden on public investment and on the current account itself.
Understanding South Africa's economic puzzles*
Authors: Rodrik Dani
Published: October 2008

South Africa has undergone a remarkable transformation since its democratic transition in 1994, but economic growth and employment generation have been disappointing. Most worryingly, unemployment is currently among the highest in the world. While the proximate cause of high unemployment is that prevailing wages levels are too high, the deeper cause lies elsewhere, and is intimately connected to the inability of the South African to generate much growth momentum in the past decade. High unemployment and low growth are both ultimately the result of the shrinkage of the non‐mineral tradable sector since the early‐1990s. The weakness in particular of export‐oriented manufacturing has deprived South Africa of growth opportunities as well as of job creation at the relatively low end of the skill distribution. Econometric analysis identifies the decline in the relative profitability of manufacturing in the 1990s as the most important contributor to the lack of vitality in that sector.
Labor Market Institutions and Individual Absenteeism in the European Union: The Relative Importance of Sickness Benefit Systems and Employment Protection Legislation
Authors: FRICK BERND , MALO MIGUEL Á.
Published: October 2008

In this article, we analyze the determinants of individual absenteeism focusing on the “strictness” of employment protection and the “generosity” of sickness benefits. The data come from the “European Survey on Working Conditions” launched in 2000. Due to its coverage (the EU‐14), the data enable us to identify the relative importance of the institutional framework for explaining differences in absence behavior across nations. Our results reveal that, first, employment protection does not influence the number of absence days while sickness benefits increase absenteeism. And, second, the impact of the institutional framework is smaller than that of some individual worker characteristics.
Do Unions Benefit from Working in Partnership with Employers? Evidence from Ireland
Authors: GEARY JOHN
Published: October 2008

Advocates and critics of voluntary workplace partnership have presented a series of theoretical arguments as to the potential consequences for unions working under partnership arrangements. A survey of Irish employees’ views is used to assess these competing claims. The study is timely on two counts: first, empirical investigations of the effects of partnership on union influence and members’ commitment to unions are rare; and, second, it is 11 years since employers, unions, and government in Ireland first signed a national framework agreement to promote the diffusion of partnership as a means for the handling of workplace change. The evidence provides support for the arguments as advanced by advocates.
The Union Wage Effect in Japan
Authors: HARA HIROMI , KAWAGUCHI DAIJI
Published: October 2008

Previous studies point to Japanese labor unions’ lack of bargaining power that results from their organization at an enterprise level. However, a detailed examination of the institutional setting backed by the Labor Standard Law and Trade Union Law reveals that unions have strong bargaining power against deteriorating work conditions. This paper examines the effect of unions on wages using the Japanese General Social Surveys 2000–2003, which cover a period of economic stagnation. We find a robust union wage premium for both males and females. A Cotton–Neumark decomposition reveals that about one‐fifth of union workers’ higher wage is explained by the difference in the union and nonunion wage structures. We also can confirm the union wage compression effect using the DiNardo, Fortin, and Lemieux (1996) method. Union workers are likely to think that they will not find jobs with similar compensation packages if they leave their current jobs. In summary, unions in Japan contribute to an increase in the average wage and compress the wage distribution among their workers. This result is reconciled with previous findings by considering the uniqueness of the macroeconomic conditions of the sample period.