bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Industrial Policy in an Export-Propelled Economy: Lessons from South Korea's Experience
Authors: Westphal Larry E
Published: August 2012

Korea provides an illuminating case of state intervention to promote economic development. Like many other third world governments, Korea's government has selectively intervened to affect the allocation of resources among industrial activities. It has used taxes and subsidies, credit rationing, various kinds of licensing, and the creation of public enterprises, for example. But these policies have been applied in the context of a radically different development strategy, one of export-led industrialization. Moreover, Korea's economy has experienced exceptionally rapid development with relatively equitable distribution of the gains. This paper argues that the government's selective industrial policies have contributed importantly to Korea's rapid achievement of international competitiveness in a number of industries. Though accepted by many knowledgeable observers, the conclusion is controversial—inherently so owing to insufficient historical information and lack of agreement about the required counterfactual.
The Latin American State
Authors: Fishlow Albert
Published: August 2012

The role of the state in Latin American economic development is undergoing fundamental reconsideration. This essay focuses on the reasons underlying the new commitment to reduced state participation. In particular, I suggest that the impetus comes less from newfound ideological conviction in the virtues of the market than from ineffective macroeconomic policy in the 1980s. The principal problem confronted by the countries of the region is a fiscal shortfall, not massive inefficiency resulting from misallocation of resources. Latin America is not Eastern Europe, where reform translates into elimination of the monopoly of state ownership and the structure of central command. Latin American countries have adhered to market capitalism, but without experiencing its magical effects in recent years. It is the contest between the micro- and macroeconomic explanations that illuminates why surface agreement on a reduced state role conceals a continuing divergence of views within the region.
On the Economics of State Lotteries
Authors: Clotfelter Charles T , Cook Philip J
Published: August 2012

This article examines several aspects of the economics of state lotteries, focusing primarily on the demand for lottery products. We begin by giving a descriptive overview. The succeeding sections examine the motivations for playing lottery games and evidence on the determinants of lottery demand. The final section considers the welfare economics of the apparent objective of lotteries—to maximize profits for the state.
Puzzles: Professional Advice and Other Hazards
Authors: Scotchmer Suzanne
Published: August 2012

This edition includes four puzzles, all with answers given at the end.
Symposium on the Economic Status of African-Americans
Authors: Aaron Henry J
Published: August 2012

The purpose of this symposium is to explore a number of controversial issues that divide economists and remain relevant to current debates on public policy. The central questions explored in these papers concern the economic progress of American blacks: Why did they progress economically when and to the degree that they did? What has been the relative importance of education, migration, family structure, job experience, shifts in aggregate demand, voluntary reductions in discrimination, and government anti-discrimination policies in the economic advance of blacks?
The Labor Market Status of Black Americans: 1939–1985
Authors: Jaynes Gerald D
Published: August 2012

Among the empirical changes in the labor maket status of black Americans since 1939, three stand out: 1) three decades of rapid progress followed by two decades of relative stagnation in many aggregate measures of relative black earnings and incomes; 2) declining employment of black males; and 3) heightened inequality within the black population. Why has relative black employment fallen when blacks' wages and their access to occupations and to institutions of higher education have improved so much? To what extent may these changes be attributed to changes in discrimination and its consequences; changes and differences in skills; and changes in the relative wages of workers of different skills. Many of these issues remain important open questions. But we can conclude that changes in the economy during the past two decades have had particularly adverse effects on the demand for low-skilled workers. In particular, lowerskilled black males, who are disproportionately among those with the least educational achievements and attainments, appear to be in very low demand and may have responded to this low demand by withdrawing from the regular labor market.
Anomalies: The Endowment Effect, Loss Aversion, and Status Quo Bias
Authors: Kahneman Daniel , Knetsch Jack L , Thaler Richard H
Published: August 2012

A wine-loving economist we know purchased some nice Bordeaux wines years ago at low prices. The wines have greatly appreciated in value, so that a bottle that cost only $10 when purchased would now fetch $200 at auction. This economist now drinks some of this wine occasionally, but would neither be willing to sell the wine at the auction price nor buy an additional bottle at that price. Thaler (1980) called this pattern—the fact that people often demand much more to give up an object than they would be willing to pay to acquire it—the endowment effect. The example also illustrates what Samuelson and Zeckhauser (1988) call a status quo bias, a preference for the current state that biases the economist against both buying and selling his wine. These anomalies are a manifestation of an asymmetry of value that Kahneman and Tversky (1984) call loss aversion—the disutility of giving up an object is greater that the utility associated with acquiring it. This column documents the evidence supporting endowment effects and status quo biases, and discusses their relation to loss aversion.
An Introduction to the Law and Economics of Intellectual Property
Authors: Besen Stanley M , Raskind Leo J
Published: August 2012

Although economists have written on topics of intellectual property for a long time, the impact of economics on public policy in this area has been slight, especially as compared to the influence of professional writings in areas such as antitrust and taxation. We believe that too few of the profession's resources have been devoted to these issues and that, of those resources that have been employed, too few have been devoted to empirical analyses. We hope that this introductory essay and the three papers that follow will stimulate interest in this subject. This introductory essay first describes some of the basic economic tradeoffs involved in intellectual property law, and then describes the framework of the law in the six areas described above: patent, copyright, semiconductor protection, trademark, trade secret, and misappropriation. It is intended both to provide thumbnail descriptions of the various intellectual property regimes to economists working in this area and to indicate where additional economic research might be useful.
Some Economics of Trade Secret Law
Authors: Friedman David D , Landes William M , Posner Richard A
Published: August 2012

Despite the practical importance of trade secrets to the business community, the law of trade secrets is a neglected orphan in economic analysis. This paper sketches an approach to the economics of trade secret law that connects it more closely both to other areas of intellectual property and to broader issues in the positive economic theory of the common law.
Institutions
Authors: North Douglass C
Published: August 2012

Institutions are the humanly devised constraints that structure political, economic, and social interaction. They consist of both informal constraints (sanctions, taboos, customs, traditions, and codes of conduct), and formal rules (constitutions, laws, property rights). Throughout history, institutions have been devised by human beings to create order and reduce uncertainty in exchange. Together with the standard constraints of economics they define the choice set and therefore determine transaction and production costs and hence the profitability and feasibility of engaging in economic activity. They evolve incrementally, connecting the past with the present and the future; history in consequence is largely a story of institutional evolution in which the historical performance of economies can only be understood as a part of a sequential story. Institutions provide the incentive structure of an economy; as that structure evolves, it shapes the direction of economic change towards growth, stagnation, or decline. In this essay, I intend to elaborate on the role of institutions in the performance of economies and illustrate my analysis from economic history.
Are Economists Different, and If So, Why?
Authors: Carter John R , Irons Michael D
Published: August 2012

Do economists behave differently from noneconomists? Some evidence suggests they do. In a well-known 1981 study in the Journal of Public Economics, Gerald Marwell and Ruth E. Ames found that free riding was significantly greater among a group of economics graduate students than among other student groups in their experiments. Marwell and Ames offered two conjectures for why economics students might in fact behave differently. First, students who are particularly concerned with economic incentives might self-select into economics. In addition, or alternatively, economics students might adapt their behavior over time to the basic axioms of the theories they study. These conjectures may be called respectively the selection and learning hypotheses. In this paper we explore whether Marwell and Ames' result is robust—whether economists are indeed different. In particular, we use a simple ultimatum bargaining experiment to test whether economics students behave more in accordance with predictions of the rational/self-interest model of economics. Finding that a behavioral difference does exist, we then conduct tests to discriminate between the selection and learning hypotheses.
Labor Economics and the Psychology of Organizations
Authors: Lazear Edward P
Published: August 2012

This essay is a discussion of how economists are attempting to understand institutions within the organizations of the labor market. The institutions and issues discussed include mandatory retirement; discontinuous jumps in wages; pay compression; rights of tenure; up-or-out hierarchies; timing of raises, promotions and evaluations; the existence of partnerships; the use of bonuses vs. penalties; and pay as a motivator.
Product and Occupational Liability
Authors: Viscusi W. Kip
Published: August 2012

Increased liability for risks posed by jobs and products has transformed the cost structure of job and product markets. Liability costs used to be an incidental expense; now they are a factor of substantial economic consequence. The costs associated with a more active economic role of liability are not necessarily undesirable. However, examination of the economic objectives of the liability system will indicate that the current structure is not ideal. Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of the emerging role of liability is that it has been contemporaneous with an expansion in governmental risk regulation. The subsequent sections explore the performance of product and occupational liability with respect to the objectives of efficient deterrence and insurance, in the context of seeking an optimal mix between legal and regulatory institutions.
The Introduction of Markets in a Hypercentralized Economy: The Case of Romania
Authors: Ben-Ner Avner , Montias J. Michael
Published: August 2012

This paper discusses communist Romania, the economy in the Ceausescu era, 1965-1989, the economy after the Revolution of December 22, 1989, and current problems and prospects for the Romanian economy.
Yugoslavia: The Case of Self-Managing Market Socialism
Authors: Estrin Saul
Published: August 2012

For many years the Yugoslav economic system appeared to offer a middle way between capitalism and Soviet central planning. The Yugoslavs' brand of market socialism placed reliance on markets to guide both domestic and international production and exchange, with the socialist element coming from the “social ownership” and workers' self-management of enterprises. The system seemed successful until the late 1970s. However, in recent years, many of the problems besetting other socialist economies like Poland and Hungary—like stagnation, international debt, enterprise inefficiency, and inflation—have emerged to bring the whole experiment into question. Reforms paralleling those elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe are now on the agenda. This paper will first describe how the Yugoslav economy has been distinguished from those of its socialist neighbors. The following sections will describe the economic record of Yugoslavia since the 1950s and the lessons to be drawn from the long-standing Yugoslav experiment.
Poland Under “Solidarity” Rule
Authors: Wellisz Stanislaw
Published: August 2012

The coalition cabinet in which Solidarity played a leading role, but which also included Communists and their allies, won Parliamentary approval on September 12, 1989. This coalition inherited from the Communists an economy in deep crisis: inflation was raging, shortages of virtually all goods were rampant, and the black market was all-pervasive. The new government pledged to restore the market economy. This paper discusses the economy under Solidarity rule, focusing on stabilization and the restoration of private enterprise.
Symposium on Economic Transition in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe
Authors: Murrell Peter
Published: August 2012

This symposium examines the economic problems facing the reforming countries of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, the interrelationships between these problems, and current knowledge on how to deal with them. The word “reform” is surely a misnomer for what is occurring; “revolution” is more fitting.
The Process of Socialist Economic Transformation
Authors: Fischer Stanley , Gelb Alan
Published: August 2012

In this paper, we consider the reform process in those Central and East European countries that have made the decision to move from a more-or a less-planned socialist system to a private market economy, one in which private ownership predominates and most resources are allocated through markets. Because the reform process is both complex and intertwined with political factors—especially the shift towards representative democracy—and because there are substantial differences among the reforming countries, no single detailed road map can guide the way to the new systems. Rather, the paper sets out general considerations that provide a framework for reform and relates the choices to some initial conditions of the various reforming countries. (The framework applies also to the Soviet Union, or in the event of its disintegration, to its successor states as they move to market systems.)
An Evaluation of the Treasury Plan for Banking Reform
Authors: Mishkin Frederic S
Published: August 2012

The Treasury plan for banking reform--Modernizing the Financial System: Recommendations for Safer More Competitive Banks--was released on February 5, 1991 (U.S. Treasury, 1991), and has a stated purpose of promoting a safe, sound, and competitive banking system. It contains recommendations for the most thorough overhaul of the banking regulatory system since the Great Depression. This paper provides a framework for understanding the U.S. banking regulatory system and how it has produced the current crisis in the banking industry, and uses this analysis to evaluate the Treasury plan.
Distinguished Fellow: Honoring Roy Radner
Authors: Hahn Frank
Published: August 2012

Roy Radner has been elected a Distinguished Fellow of the American Economic Association. To illustrate the Radner style, I have chosen the example of his turnpike theorem, even though this is not quite illustrative of his central concerns. I shall follow this with a brief survey of his contributions to general equilibrium theory and the theory of rational expectations equilibrium. I shall then turn to his work on teams, and conclude with one of his more game-theoretic studies of organizations and private information.
The Limits of Trade Policy Reform in Developing Countries
Authors: Rodrik Dani
Published: August 2012

Trade reform is now raising some new issues. This paper deals with three sets of questions: First, how can trade reform be sustained? Can governments convince business, labor, or consumers that trade reform will be lasting, so as to forestall possible adverse reactions that would jeopardize the sustainability of the reform? Second, what role should trade reform play when it is implemented in the context of macroeconomic instability? Are there potential conflicts between the standard desiderata for trade reform and the requirements of macro stability? Finally, should we be worried about the consequences of trade reform in the imperfectly competitive market environments that characterize the developing economies?
Economists as Public Policy Advisers
Authors: Hamilton Lee H
Published: August 2012

As a member of the Joint Economic Committee for over 15 years I have had ample occasion to observe economists testifying. When I was Chairman of the Committee in the last Congress, for example, we held over 100 hearings and heard from at least that many different economists. From this experience, I have developed some views about how economists can be effective witnesses and, more generally, how they can make a useful contribution to economic policy. For me, the most important quality for economists to have when they are testifying or advising policymakers is the ability to express their ideas on important policy issues clearly and simply, without jargon. There is an art to telling policymakers what they need to know but don't want to hear. An economist who wants to contribute to the policy-making process needs to be a good salesman—but not a snake-oil salesman. I encourage more economists to take an active interest in public policy and to contribute to the debate on the economic issues.
The New Keynesian Synthesis
Authors: Romer David
Published: August 2012

The new Keynesians made more rapid progress in understanding the microeconomics of unemployment than in understanding the microeconomics of nominal price rigidity. But the past five years have seen important breakthroughs in this second area. This paper will describe these breakthroughs, discuss our current understanding of nominal rigidity, and assess the work that remains to be done.
In Honor of Paul Krugman: Winner of the John Bates Clark Medal
Authors: Dixit Avinash
Published: August 2012

Paul Krugman is the winner of the 1991 John Bates Clark Medal, given every two years to “that American economist under forty who is adjudged to have made a significant contribution to economic thought and knowledge.” I shall attempt to convey a flavor of Krugman's research contributions, grouped into some major themes: product diversity and monopolistically competitive trade; oligopoly and strategic trade policy; the dynamics of trade and exchange rates; and much more. Finally I discuss his brilliant popular book, The Age of Diminished Expectations (1991).
Political Regimes and Economic Growth
Authors: Przeworski Adam , Limongi Fernando
Published: August 2012

Does democracy in the political realm foster or hinder economic growth? Our discussion of this question begins with a review of arguments in favor of, and against, democracy. Then we summarize statistical studies in which political regime is included among determinants of growth and identify some methodological problems entailed in such studies. The conclusion is that social scientists know surprisingly little: our guess is that political institutions do matter for growth, but thinking in terms of regimes does not seem to capture the relevant differences.
Children's Prospects and Children's Policy
Authors: Haveman Robert , Wolfe Barbara
Published: August 2012

This paper offers some facts on trends in children's economic status in the United States as well as an economic perspective for thinking about public policy toward children. Throughout, we will attempt to make clear what is known and what is not known empirically about the relationships that are embodied in our perspective. We consider whether America is “underinvesting in children”; what type of investments in children would be best; to which children investments should be directed; and whether governments should provide the services directly or whether parents should be given the resources and incentives to better nurture their children. We examine the determinants of children's success and propose a course of action for investing in children.
Global Warming Policy: A Public Finance Perspective
Authors: Poterba James M
Published: August 2012

In the last few years, a substantial volume of research has considered the design of taxes to slow greenhouse gas emissions as well as the economic effects of such policies. In this paper, I summarize the insights that have emerged from this work. I begin by explaining that while efficiency considerations create a presumption for using coordinated international policies to alter greenhouse gas emissions, the prospects for such action are bleak. Then I focus on the public finance of carbon taxes at the national level, considering the design of such taxes as well as their incidence across and within nations. Next, I focus on greenhouse gas emission policies that could be enacted in less-developed countries, such as the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies and other policies to slow deforestation. Finally I suggest several promising directions for future study.
Two Distinct Processes of Bone-like Tissue Formation by Dental Pulp Cells after Tooth Transplantation
Authors: Hosoya Akihiro , Yukita Akira , Yoshiba Kunihiko , Yoshiba Nagako , Takahashi Masafumi , Nakamura Hiroaki
Published: August 2012

Dental pulp is involved in the formation of bone-like tissue in response to external stimuli. However, the origin of osteoblast-like cells constructing this tissue and the mechanism of their induction remain unknown. We therefore evaluated pulp mineralization induced by transplantation of a green fluorescent protein (GFP)–labeled tooth into a GFP-negative hypodermis of host rats. Five days after the transplantation, the upper pulp cavity became necrotic; however, cell-rich hard tissue was observed adjacent to dentin at the root apex. At 10 days, woven bone-like tissue was formed apart from the dentin in the upper pulp. After 20 days, these hard tissues expanded and became histologically similar to bone. GFP immunoreactivity was detected in the hard tissue-forming cells within the root apex as well as in the upper pulp. Furthermore, immunohistochemical observation of α–smooth muscle actin, a marker for undifferentiated cells, showed a positive reaction in cells surrounding this bone-like tissue within the upper pulp but not in those within the root apex. Immunoreactivities of Smad4, Runx2, and Osterix were detected in the hard tissue-forming cells within both areas. These results collectively suggest that the dental pulp contains various types of osteoblast progenitors and that these cells might thus induce bone-like tissue in severely injured pulp.
Heparan Sulfate Biosynthesis
Authors: Multhaupt Hinke A. B. , Couchman John R.
Published: August 2012

Heparan sulfate is perhaps the most complex polysaccharide known from animals. The basic repeating disaccharide is extensively modified by sulfation and uronic acid epimerization. Despite this, the fine structure of heparan sulfate is remarkably consistent with a particular cell type. This suggests that the synthesis of heparan sulfate is tightly controlled. Although genomics has identified the enzymes involved in glycosaminoglycan synthesis in a number of vertebrates and invertebrates, the regulation of the process is not understood. Moreover, the localization of the various enzymes in the Golgi apparatus has not been carried out in a detailed way using high-resolution microscopy. We have begun this process, using well-known markers for the various Golgi compartments, coupled with the use of characterized antibodies and cDNA expression. Laser scanning confocal microscopy coupled with line scanning provides high-quality resolution of the distribution of enzymes. The EXT2 protein, which when combined as heterodimers with EXT1 comprises the major polymerase in heparan sulfate synthesis, has been studied in depth. All the data are consistent with a cis-Golgi distribution and provide a starting point to establish whether all the enzymes are clustered in a multimolecular complex or are distributed through the various compartments of the Golgi apparatus.
The Mutual Impact of Syndecan-1 and Its Glycosaminoglycan Chains—A Multivariable Puzzle
Authors: Eriksson Anna S. , Spillmann Dorothe
Published: August 2012

Proteoglycans, with their core proteins and attached glycosaminoglycan chains, are recognized as important partners in many biological processes, yet often experimental analysis of their molecular action is considered for only part of these molecules: either the protein or the carbohydrate unit. In this article, we have tried to summarize, with an example of the syndecan family in general and more specifically with syndecan-1, what is known considering the mutual influence of these different components, and we follow whether the nature of the glycosaminoglycan chains matters for these effects.
More than Fit: Brand Extension Authenticity
Authors: Spiggle Susan , Nguyen Hang T. , Caravella Mary
Published: August 2012

This article introduces a new determinant of brand extension success, brand extension authenticity (BEA), as a complement to fit. The authors develop the BEA construct and a scale to measure it and then demonstrate that BEA captures consumer perceptions of brand extension legitimacy and cultural contiguity along four interrelated but distinct dimensions: maintaining brand standards and style, honoring brand heritage, preserving brand essence, and avoiding brand exploitation. They demonstrate the power of BEA in predicting consumer reactions to brand extensions, particularly among consumers with strong self–brand connections. Not only is BEA distinct from two conceptualizations of fit in brand extension literature—fit as similarity and fit as relevance—but it also moderates the effects of both fit dimensions on brand extension responses. By capturing a cultural and consumer relational perspective that shapes reactions to brand extensions, BEA provides an important, complementary construct for predicting brand extension success and enhancing brand value. Brand managers attentive to BEA may be able to stretch brands further than assessments of fit alone would suggest, but they risk failure in otherwise well-fitting extensions perceived as inauthentic.
Kinetic Modeling and Optimization of Immobilized Candida antarctica Lipase B Catalysed Synthesis of Butyl-4-Methyl-3-Oxopentanoate using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Yadav Ganapati D. , Shinde Somnath Dattatray
Published: August 2012

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to model and optimize the immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B catalysed synthesis of butyl-4-methyl-3-oxopentanoate. To determine optimum conditions of the transesterification, a four-factor and five-level central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was used. The factors studied were enzyme load (A), reaction temperature (B), methyl-4-methyl-3-oxopentanoate concentration (C) and n-butanol concentration (D). A quadratic polynomial regression model was used to analyze the experimental data at a 95% confidence level (p < 0.05). The results indicated that the RSM approach gave reasonable results for the optimization of the reaction parameters in the range of tested parameters. The optimal conditions for the enzymatic reaction were obtained at 0.01 mol of methyl-4-methyl-3-oxopentanoate and 0.03 mol of n-butanol using 104 mg of Novozym 435 at 55 °C and 300 rpm for 6 h. Under these conditions, the transesterification percentage was 87 %. Further, kinetic modelling of the enzymatic synthesis was illustrated. Initial rate data and progress curve data were used to arrive at a suitable model. The kinetics was found to obey the ternary complex ordered bi-bi model with inhibition by the substrate methyl-4-methyl-3-oxopentanoate. The values of kinetic parameters obtained from nonlinear regression analysis were found to be Vmax of 0.04 mol/L.min; Km(A) 0.11 mol/L; Km(B) 2 mol/L and Ki(A) 2.2 mol/L.
Evaluation of Antiulcer Potential of Mimusops hexandra in Experimental Gastro Duodenal Ulcers
Authors: Modi Karuna P. , Lahiri Suman K. , Goswami Sunita S. , Santani Dev D. , Shah Mamta B.
Published: August 2012

The study was aimed to investigate antiulcer effects of acetone extract and its different fractions Mimusops hexandra against experimental gastro-duodenal ulcers. 80% acetone extract of stem bark of Mimusops hexandra (Extract A, p.o.) and its different fractions namely diethyl ether (Extract A1, p.o.), ethyl acetate (Extract A2, p.o.) and aqueous (Extract A3, p.o.) were tested for the presence of preliminary phytoconstituents and were screened for their antiulcer potential in experimental animals using ethanol-HCl and aspirin-induced gastric damage at the dose of 500 mg kg–1p.o. Extract A2 being the most active fraction amongst all the fractions tested was also studied at different doses to find its ED50. Further, to establish the mechanism of action, Extract A2 was also tested for its effects in acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer models and cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcer. The effect was compared with cimetidine. Flavonoids (quercetin), procyanidins, saponins and triterpenoids were found to be present in bark. Oral administration of Extract A2 inhibited formation of gastric lesions induced by aspirin in a dose dependent manner. Elevated level of lipid peroxidation due to ethanol-HCl and aspirin induced gastric damage was significantly (p<0.05) reduced by the treatment with Extract A2. Further, Extract A2 at the dose of 100 mg kg-1 (p.o.) reduced extent of acetic acid induced gastric ulcer in experimental animals. Moreover, protection afforded by Extract A2 against cysteamine-induced duodenal lesions was evident from dose dependent decrease in ulcer index (p<0.05), score for intensity (p<0.05) and total lesion area (p<0.05), when compared with the control group. The antiulcer activity shown by Extract A2 in experimental gastro-duodenal ulcer could be attributed to decrease in gastric acid secretory activity along with strengthening of mucosal defensive mechanisms.
Preparing for Another Round of Swine Flu: Will the WHO's Plan Prove to be a Success for the Global Community and Will the U.S. Lead the Way?
Authors: Maxwell Katie
Published: August 2012

This article seeks to determine whether countries in the global community have governance systems or domestic laws that will enable them to be effective in their preparation and response to influenza pandemics. It begins by analyzing the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, discussing the events leading up to Mexico triggering the IHRs and determining which aspects of Mexico’s pandemic influenza preparedness and response should be used again in the future and which should be retired. It will then take a closer look at how six WHO member states—Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States—have or have not integrated lessons learned from the swine flu into their own plans for outbreaks of influenza, evaluating the plans from a comparative perspective in order to determine which plans provide the best guidance for the future.
Whistleblower and Liability Protections for Scientific Laboratory Employees
Authors: Gonzalez Jarod S. , Sutton Victoria
Published: August 2012

The American whistleblower protection scheme as applied to whistleblowers in the laboratory context is a complex patchwork of federal, state, and local laws. Substantial differences in whistleblower protection for laboratory employee whistleblowers depend on a number of factors, including whether the laboratory employee whistleblowers work for public or private institutions and the location of the whistleblower. This document provides a basic summary of the American whistleblower protection scheme applicable to workers employed in laboratories in the United States, with a focus on biological laboratories, and those working with select agents, which are highly infectious agents that warrant special regulations for public safety and national security reasons.
The role of hyperosmotic stress in inflammation and disease
Authors: Brocker Chad , Thompson David C. , Vasiliou Vasilis
Published: August 2012

Hyperosmotic stress is an often overlooked process that potentially contributes to a number of human diseases. Whereas renal hyperosmolarity is a well-studied phenomenon, recent research provides evidence that many non-renal tissues routinely experience hyperosmotic stress that may contribute significantly to disease initiation and progression. Moreover, a growing body of evidence implicates hyperosmotic stress as a potent inflammatory stimulus by triggering pro-inflammatory cytokine release and inflammation. Under physiological conditions, the urine concentrating mechanism within the inner medullary region of the mammalian kidney exposes cells to high extracellular osmolarity. As such, renal cells have developed many adaptive strategies to compensate for increased osmolarity. Hyperosmotic stress is linked to many maladies, including acute and chronic, as well as local and systemic, inflammatory disorders. Hyperosmolarity triggers cell shrinkage, oxidative stress, protein carbonylation, mitochondrial depolarization, DNA damage, and cell cycle arrest, thus rendering cells susceptible to apoptosis. However, many adaptive mechanisms exist to counter the deleterious effects of hyperosmotic stress, including cytoskeletal rearrangement and up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes, transporters, and heat shock proteins. Osmolyte synthesis is also up-regulated and many of these compounds have been shown to reduce inflammation. The cytoprotective mechanisms and associated regulatory pathways that accompany the renal response to hyperosmolarity are found in many non-renal tissues, suggesting cells are commonly confronted with hyperosmotic conditions. Osmoadaptation allows cells to survive and function under potentially cytotoxic conditions. This review covers the pathological consequences of hyperosmotic stress in relation to disease and emphasizes the importance of considering hyperosmolarity in inflammation and disease progression.
Recommendations on prenatal screening and the connections to other diseases such as thyroid dysfunction
Authors: Springer Drahomira , Potlukova Eliska , Limanova Zdenka , Zima Tomas
Published: August 2012

The aim of general maternal-foetal care is to ensure an uncomplicated birth of a healthy baby to a healthy mother. There is a large range of screening tests used during pregnancy: for gestational diabetes, infection, rhesus-D status, thyroid dysfunction, as well as other tests. An important part of prenatal care is the screening of major aneuploidies, primarily for Down’s syndrome. This screening is possible in either the first or second trimester, or in both. Management of this type of screening is very similar around the world. Hypothyroidism can affect the psychomotor development of the child. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), autoantibodies against thyroperoxidase (TPOAb), and free thyroxin (FT4) were determined within our group of 7530 pregnant women. Elevated concentrations of TSH were found in 5.1%, suppression was found in 2.9% and 11.5% were TPOAb positive. Either a familial or personal history of thyroid or autoimmune diseases was present in 58.3% of those women who tested positive on any thyroid test. At minimum, 40% of women TPOAb positive during pregnancy have some kind of thyroid disorders after delivery. These results support the efficacy of general thyroid function screening in early pregnancy, as well as the follow-up after delivery of those women who are positive.
Heterologous production and functional and thermodynamic characterization of cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) transporters of mesophilic and hyperthermophilic origin
Authors: Goswami Devrishi , Kaur Jagdeep , Surade Sachin , Grell Ernst , Michel Hartmut
Published: August 2012

The members of the cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) family transport heavy metal ions and play an important function in zinc ion homeostasis of the cell. A recent structure of an Escherichia coli CDF transporter protein YiiP has revealed its dimeric nature and autoregulatory zinc transport mechanism. Here, we report the cloning and heterologous production of four different CDF transporters, two each from the pathogenic mesophilic bacterium Salmonella typhimurium and from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus, in E. coli host cells. STM0758 of S. typhimurium was able to restore resistance to zinc ions when tested by complementation assays in the zinc-sensitive GG48 strain. Furthermore, copurification of bicistronically produced STM0758 and cross-linking experiments with the purified protein have revealed its possible oligomeric nature. The interaction between heavy metal ions and Aq_2073 of A. aeolicus was investigated by titration calorimetry. The entropy-driven, high-affinity binding of two Cd2+ and two Zn2+ per protein monomer with Kd values of around 100 nm and 1 μm, respectively, was observed. In addition, at least one more Zn2+ can be bound per monomer with low affinity. This low-affinity site is likely to possess a functional role contributing to Zn2+ transport across membranes.
Cyclophilin involvement in the replication of hepatitis C virus and other viruses
Authors: Baugh James , Gallay Philippe
Published: August 2012

In recent months, there has been a wealth of promising clinical data suggesting that a more effective treatment regimen, and potentially a cure, for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is close at hand. Leading this push are direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), currently comprising inhibitors that target the HCV protease NS3, the viral polymerase NS5B, and the non-structural protein NS5A. In combination with one another, along with the traditional standard-of-care ribavirin and PEGylated-IFNα, these compounds have proven to afford tremendous efficacy to treatment-naíve patients, as well as to prior non-responders. Nevertheless, by targeting viral components, the possibility of selecting for breakthrough and treatment-resistant virus strains remains a concern. Host-targeting antivirals are a distinct class of anti-HCV compounds that is emerging as a complementary set of tools to combat the disease. Cyclophilin (Cyp) inhibitors are one such group in this category. In contrast to DAAs, Cyp inhibitors target a host protein, CypA, and have also demonstrated remarkable antiviral efficiency in clinical trials, without the generation of viral escape mutants. This review serves to summarize the current literature on Cyps and their relation to the HCV viral life cycle, as well as other viruses.
Aminoquinolines as fluorescent labels for hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography of oligosaccharides
Authors: Struwe Weston B. , Rudd Pauline M.
Published: August 2012

In this study, we investigated the potential of four different aminoquinoline (AQ) compounds as fluorescent labels for glycan analysis using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and fluorescence detection (FLD). We confirmed the optimal excitation and emission wavelengths of 3-AQ and 6-AQ conjugated to glycan standards using three-dimensional fluorescent spectral scanning. The optimal excitation and emission wavelengths for 6-AQ were confirmed at λex=355 nm and λem=440 nm. We concluded that the optimal wavelengths for 3-AQ were λex=355 nm and λem=420 nm, which differed considerably from the wavelengths applied in previous reports. HILIC-FLD chromatograms using experimentally determined wavelengths were similar to 2-aminobenzamide controls, but the peak capacity and resolution differed significantly when published 3-AQ λex/em values were applied. Furthermore, we found that 5-AQ and 8-AQ labeled maltohexaose did not display any fluorescent pro\xadperties when used as a carbohydrate tag for HPLC analysis. Finally, we applied experimentally determined wavelengths to 3-AQ labeled N-glycans released from human IgG to illustrate changes in retention time as well as to demonstrate that AQ labeling is applicable to complex sample analysis via exoglycosidase sequencing.
Numerical inversions for space-dependent diffusion coefficient in the time fractional diffusion equation
Authors: Li Gongsheng , Gu Wenjuan , Jia Xianzheng
Published: August 2012

This paper deals with
numerical inversion for space-dependent diffusion coefficient in a
one-dimensional time fractional diffusion equation with additional
boundary measurement. An implicit difference scheme for the
forward problem is presented based on discretization of Caputo
fractional derivative, and numerical stability and convergence of
the linear system are proved with the help of matrix analysis. An
optimal perturbation regularization algorithm is introduced to
determine the space-dependent diffusion coefficient numerically in
different approximate space, and numerical inversions are carried
out by several numerical examples. Furthermore, impacts of the
fractional order, approximate space, regularization parameter,
numerical differential step, and initial iterations on the
inversion algorithm are analyzed showing that the inversion is of
numerical uniqueness, and the inversion algorithm is efficient at
least to the inverse problem here. The order of fractional
derivative not only represents a global property of the forward
problem, but also indicates ill-posedness of the corresponding inverse problem.
Regularization for ill-posed parabolic evolution problems
Authors: Fury Matthew A.
Published: August 2012

We prove regularization for a certain ill-posed parabolic evolution problem in a Banach space X by obtaining Hölder-continuous dependence of its solution on modeling. In particular, we consider the generally ill-posed problem , , with initial data , in X where is the infinitesimal generator of a bounded holomorphic semigroup of angle on X, and for each with for . Assuming there exists a solution of the problem adhering to certain stabilizing conditions, we approximate by the solution of an approximate well-posed problem. We then use this estimate to prove the existence of a family of regularizing operators for the given ill-posed problem. The theory has applications to the backwards heat equation and other ill-posed partial differential equations in , , with time-dependent coefficients.
A curriculum to teach and evaluate resident skills in the management of postpartum hemorrhage
Authors: Quinn Kristen H. , Mackey Amy , Cohen Jerry , Smith Stephen J.
Published: August 2012

Aim: The aim of this study was the development of a curriculum for the management of postpartum hemorrhage and an objective assessment of technical skills (OSATS) for uterine compression sutures.

Method: Twenty-two residents participated in the study. Evaluations included the global rating scale, task-specific checklist, and pass/fail rating for the OSATS and task-specific checklist for the hemorrhage drill. The reliability and validity of the evaluation tools were calculated.

Results: The inter-rater reliability was 0.98 for the hemorrhage drill checklist, 0.77 for the global rating scale, and 0.93 for the uterine suture checklist. Construct validity evaluation revealed senior residents performed superiorly to junior residents on the global rating scale (P=0.006) and on the uterine suture checklist (P=0.04). There was an improvement in performance on the post-test in comparison to the pretest (P=0.001).

Conclusion: We present an inexpensive, reliable, and valid curriculum to teach and evaluate the medical and surgical management of postpartum hemorrhage.
Transport properties of high-performance cementitious composites incorporating micro and nano SiO2 into the binder
Authors: Jalal Mostafa
Published: August 2012

In this paper, transport properties of high-performance self-compacting concrete (SCC), as one of the important cementitious composites incorporating micro and nano silica (NS) (SiO2) into the binder, have been investigated. For this purpose, different mixtures were designed with different amounts of silica fume (SF) and NS admixtures. Different binder contents were also investigated to observe the binder content effect on the concrete properties. Corrosion behavior was evaluated by chloride penetration and resistivity tests. Water absorption and capillary absorption were also measured as other durability related properties. The results showed that water absorption, capillary absorption, and Cl ion percentage decreased rather significantly in the mixtures containing admixtures especially the blend of SF and NS. By addition of the admixtures, resistivity of the SCC mixtures increased, which can lead to reduction of corrosion probability.
Computationelle Neurolinguistik
Authors: beim Graben Peter , Drenhaus Heiner
Published: August 2012

Computational neurolinguistics integrates methods from computational (psycho-)linguistics and computational neuroscience in order to model neural correlates of linguistic behavior. We illustrate these techniques using an example of the language processing of German negative polarity items (NPI) in the event-related brain potential (ERP) paradigm. To that aim, we first describe the syntactic and semantic licensing conditions of NPIs by means of slightly modified minimalist grammars. In a second step we use dynamic cognitive modeling (DCM) to map the state descriptions of a minimalist parser onto activation patterns of a neural network. Thirdly, the network’s synaptic weights are trained with the correct parse of NPI constructions. Using these weights we calculate neural harmony measures for correct and for ungrammatical NPI constructions. In a final step we correlate the harmonies of the dynamical model with experimentally obtained ERP amplitudes by means of a simple statistical model.
Study on synthesis and performance of alite-strontium calcium sulfoaluminate cement
Authors: Lu Lingchao , Li Qiuying , Wang Shoude , Cheng Xin
Published: August 2012

Synthesis conditions and performance of a novel alite-strontium calcium sulfoaluminate cement are reported: the clinker composition is modified from that of Portland cement. The mineral composition and the microstructure of the clinker were analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM–EDS) and lithofacies. The results show that strontium calcium sulfoaluminate and the minerals of Portland cement clinker can coexist in one clinker system. The optimal composition of alite-strontium calcium sulfoaluminate clinker is as follows: strontium calcium sulfoaluminate 9% (mass %), C3S 59·35%, C2S 14·14%, C3A 7·50%, C4AF 10·00%. The content of strontium calcium sulfoaluminate produced during the sintering process at 1380°C is high. The compressive strength of the cement prepared under the testing conditions reaches 30·5 MPa, 58·4 MPa and 122·2 MPa at 1 day, 3 days and 28 days curing ages, respectively.