bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Positional Candidate Approach for the Gene Responsible for Benign Adult Familial Myoclonic Epilepsy
Authors: Sano Akira , Mikami Masaaki , Nakamura Masayuki , Ueno Shu‐ichi , Tanabe Hirotaka , Kaneko Sunao
Published: March 2003

Summary: Benign adult familial myoclonic epilepsy (BAFME) is an autosomal dominant idiopathic epileptic syndrome characterized by adult‐onset tremulous finger movement, myoclonus, epileptic seizures, and nonprogressive course, recognized in Japanese families. We recently assigned the gene locus to chromosome 8q23.3‐q24.11 by linkage analysis. In this study, we identified the sequence of human cDNA encoding Kv8.1, a neuronal modulatory α‐subunit of the voltage‐gated potassium channel, mapped to human chromosome 8q22.3‐8q24.1. Human Kv8.1 cDNA had a 1,500‐nucleotide open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 500 amino acids, in which six hydrophobic transmembrane segments were well conserved, and its overall amino acids homology as compared with those of rat and golden hamster was 95.0% and 95.0%. Tissue‐distribution analysis by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) showed the presence of the Kv 8.1 transcript exclusively in the brain. The analysis of the genomic organization of the human gene revealed consistency of three exons interrupted by two introns each of 1.2 and 3.5 kb. We analyzed the genomic sequence of the patients with BAFME and found no change in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Pathophysiologie der Helicobacter pylori‐Infektion
Authors: Gschwantler M. , Dragosics Brigitte
Published: March 2003

Als Folge der Helicobacter pylori (H. p.)‐Infektion tritt regelmäßig eine chronisch aktive Gastritis auf. Dabei schädigt H. p. das Epithel sowohl direkt durch die Produktion zytotoxischer Substanzen als auch indirekt über eine Stimulation des Immunsystems. Als Folge der Antrumgastritis tritt eine Hypergastrinämie auf. Der Einfluß der H. p.‐Infektion auf die Säureproduktion ist komplex: Im allgemeinen kommt es bei Patienten mit Ulcus duodeni zu einer Zunahme der basalen und stimulierbaren Säuresekretion, während bei Patienten mit Magenkarzinom die Säureproduktion abnimmt.  Das Spektrum H. p.‐induzierter Krankheitsbilder des oberen Verdauungstraktes ist sehr weit und reicht von der asymptomatischen, chronisch aktiven Gastritis zur gastroduodenalen Ulkuskrankheit, zum Magenkarzinom und zum MALT‐Lymphom. Der individuelle Verlauf wird durch ein komplexes Zusammenspiel von bakteriellen Virulenzfaktoren, Wirtsfaktoren sowie Umwelteinflüssen bestimmt. Das Ausmaß der Säureproduktion ist wahrscheinlich die wichtigste Variable: Bei Patienten mit hoher Säuresekretion bleibt die Gastritis im wesentlichen auf das Antrum beschränkt und es besteht ein hohes Risiko, ein Ulcus duodeni zu entwickeln. Im Unterschied dazu kommt es bei niedriger Säureproduktion vorzugsweise zur Entstehung einer Pangastritis, in welcher sich über eine chronisch atrophe Gastritis ein Magenkarzinom entwickeln kann.
Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of the Bundle Branch Reentrant Ventricular Tachycardia
Authors: Petrač D. , Radič B. , Vukosavić D.
Published: March 2003

Summary: Bundle branch reentrant ventricular tachycardia (BBRVT) has a suitable anatomic substrate for radiofrequency catheter ablation. However, the experience with this treatment is still small. In the current study, we examined the safety and the long‐term efficacy of radiofrequency ablation in the cure of patients with BBRVT.  Four patients with BBRVT, identified during electrophysiological study, underwent temperature‐controlled radiofrequency ablation of the right bundle branch (RBB). All of them had syncope and structural heart disease with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.  The baseline examination revealed an intraventricular block, prolonged HV interval and inducible sustained VT because of bundle branch reentry in all patients. RBB was successfully abolished in all patients after the delivery of 3 ± 1 radiofrequency pulses. After ablation, a permanent pacemaker was implanted in one patient with significantly prolonged HV interval. All patients were free of BBRVT during a mean follow‐up of 20 months. One patient received implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator for myocardial VT five months after ablation. Two patients developed congestive heart failure.  Radiofrequency catheter ablation of the RBB is a safe and highly effective therapeutic procedure for definitive cure of BBRVT. Long‐term prognosis of these patients depends mainly on the underlying heart disease and the treatment of other VT.
Current Treatment Options in Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma)
Authors: Stummvoll G. H.
Published: March 2003

Summary: Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) or Scleroderma is a generalized autoimmune disease with variable involvement of the skin and major organs. Etiology and pathogenesis are still largely unknown, but a variety of humoral and cellular autoimmune phenomena can be observed, and a pivotal role of T lymphocytes in SSc pathogenesis is postulated. The rarity of the disease, the wide spectrum of clinical manifestations and severity as well as a variable course render therapy in SSc a major challenge. In view of the immunopathogenesis of SSc, many (presumed) immunomodulatory agents have been used, but no single agent has been proven to be convincingly effective. Trials with extracorporeal therapies (such as photopheresis, plasmapheresis) or even stem cell transplantation are in progress.  In contrast to the hitherto unsuccessful therapeutic approaches for the overall disease course, some life‐threatening organ manifestations can often be treated successfully, e.g. interstitial pneumonitis with i.v. cyclophosphamide and scleroderma renal crisis with ACE inhibitors and haemodialysis, respectively. Furthermore, pharmacological and supportive treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon and gastrointestinal involvement can alleviate the burden of the disease. Current therapeutic options as well as hitherto investigated immunomodulators are reviewed in this article.
Inhibition of Leukocyte and Platelet Aggregation in vitro by Antithrombin
Authors: Gritti Donatella , Gasparetto Chiara , Malinverno Angela , Ricevuti G.
Published: March 2003

Summary: Glycosaminoglycan‐mediated aggregation of cells occurs through adhesion mechanisms in which heparan sulfate chains bind to counter receptors on these cells. As antithrombin interacts with heparan sulfate proteoglycans through its heparin‐binding domain and inhibits leukocyte adhesion in ischaemia/reperfusion, it may affect leukocyte aggregation. Leukocyte aggregation was therefore monitored in vitro as the increase in transmission of light through stirred suspensions in a platelet aggregometer. Aggregation curves were quantified as the area under the curve in the first 6 min following stimulation. Leukocytes in platelet‐rich plasma were obtained from heparinized whole blood of healthy donors by centrifugation; the ratio of leukocytes to platelets was about 1 : 45, and the final concentration of autologous plasma was 80 %. Neutrophils were purified by dextran sedimentation, density centrifugation, and hypotonic lysis of erythrocytes. Aggregation was induced by phytohaemagglutinin (0.24 mg/mL) or formyl‐Met‐Leu‐Phe (0.2 × 10–6 M), with or without various concentrations of antithrombin. During the observation period (6 min) no aggregation of leukocytes in platelet‐rich plasma or isolated neutrophils could be induced either with medium or with antithrombin (0.2 × 100 to 0.2 × 10–6 IU/mL). Addition of phytohaemagglutinin or formyl‐Met‐Leu‐Phe stimulated aggregation of leukocytes in platelet‐rich plasma and neutrophils to different extents. Additional presence of antithrombin significantly inhibited phytohaemagglutinin‐induced aggregation of leukocytes in platelet‐rich plasma, whereas formyl‐Met‐Leu‐Phe‐induced aggregation was not affected by antithrombin. Data show that in the presence of plasma and platelets, aggregation of normal white blood cells after stimulation with lectin but not with chemotaxin is inhibited by antithrombin, suggesting specific interactions of antithrombin with lectin‐activated processes of neutrophil aggregation that occur in the presence of platelets and/or plasma.
Long‐Term Citrate Anticoagulation for High‐Flux Haemodialysis in a Patient with Heparin‐Induced Thrombocytopenia Type II
Authors: Unver Beate , Sunder‐Plassmann G. , Hörl W. H. , Apsner R.
Published: March 2003

Summary: For the first time, long‐term use of regional citrate anticoagulation for high‐flux haemodialysis is reported in a patient with heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia type II. A simple, flow‐independent, citrate infusion protocol allowed efficient anticoagulation. Excellent solute removal, indicated by KT/V values of 1.52 to 1.98, was achieved. Electrolyte and acid – base balance as well as calcium homeostasis were well controlled over a period of 9 months.
Rekanalisation von chronisch verschlossenen Koronararterien
Authors: Auer J. , Berent R. , Weber T. , Porodko M. , Mayr H. , Maurer E. , Laßnig Elisabeth , Eber B.
Published: March 2003

Zusammenfassung: Die Eröffnung verschlossener Koronararterien wird einerseits im Rahmen der Akutangioplastie beim akuten Myokardinfarkt angestrebt, andererseits werden Rekanalisationen chronischer Koronarverschlüsse mit der Zielsetzung einer Verbesserung der Angina‐pectoris‐Symptomatik oder einer Funktionsverbesserung der linksventrikulären Pumpfunktion durchgeführt. Gerade bei länger bestehenden Verschlüssen ist die Erfolgsrate der Rekanalisation limitiert. Eine Charakterisierung von chronischen Koronarokklusionen, die mit Erfolg rekanalisiert werden können, ist daher von Interesse. Ziel der Untersuchung war eine Analyse der Erfolgsraten von versuchten Koronarrekanalisationen in Abhängigkeit von der Lokalisation des Verschlusses und von verschiedenen technischen Variablen.  Es wurden die Krankengeschichten von 124 konsekutiven Patienten anhand einer retrospektiven Analyse analysiert, die im Zeitraum vom 1. 1. 1998 bis zum 31. 12. 1998 einem Rekanalisationsversuch einer verschlossenen nativen Koronararterie unterzogen wurden.  Bei den 124 Patienten (92 Männer, 32 Frauen) war die Rekanalisation in 84 Fällen (64 Männer, 20 Frauen) erfolgreich, die Erfolgsrate betrug somit 67,7 % (Männer – 69,6 %, Frauen – 62,5 %; p = 0,42). Der Ramus interventrilularis anterior (RIVA; LAD) war in 49 Fällen das Zielgefäß, wobei die Erfolgsrate bei 65,3 % lag. Die Erfolgsrate von 69,3 % bei den „Nicht‐LAD‐Gefäßen” war nicht signifikant unterschiedlich (p = 0,35). Bei den erfolgreichen Interventionen konnte mit der Verwendung von einem Drahtsystem in 77,3 % das Auslangen gefunden werden, bei den letztlich erfolglosen Rekanalisationsversuchen wurde mit 47,5 % signifikant häufiger zumindest ein weiteres Drahtsystem zur Anwendung gebracht (p < 0,05). Die Verwendung eines oder mehrerer weiterer Drahtsysteme war in 50 % bei primär erfolglosem Passageversuch des Verschlusses schließlich doch mit einer erfolgreichen Rekanalisation assoziiert. Die Implantation eines Koronarstents erfolgte in 77,4 % der Rekanalisationen, wobei eine rekanalisierte LAD in 84,4 % mit einem Koronarstent versorgt wurde. Bei den „Nicht‐LAD‐Gefäßen” betrug die Stentrate 59,7 %.  In etwa zwei Drittel der Fälle ist die versuchte Rekanalisation erfolgreich durchführbar. In der überwiegenden Anzahl der Fälle gelingt die Passage des Verschlusses unter Verwendung von nur einem Drahtsystem, im Falle eines ersten erfolglosen Versuches ist durch die Verwendung von zumindest einem weiteren Drahtsystem in der Hälfte der Fälle eine erfolgreiche Intervention möglich. Drei von vier Patienten mit erfolgreicher Rekanalisation eines Koronararterienverschlusses wurden mit einem Koronarstent versorgt.
Effect of age and sex on the sensitivity of antennal and palpal olfactory cells of houseflies
Authors: Kelling F. J. , Biancaniello G. , Den Otter C. J.
Published: March 2003

The olfactory system of newly emerged houseflies (Musca domestica L.; Diptera, Muscidae) is already functional; very few differences compared to sexually mature houseflies exist for the responses to 1‐octen‐3‐ol, amylacetate, 2‐pentanone, 3‐methylphenol, R‐limonene, muscalure, and 6‐methyl‐5‐hepten‐3‐one. Sex differences are also almost absent, except for a higher sensitivity of females to acetic acid. Large differences exist between the sensitivity of antennae and palps to different odours. Antennae are sensitive to all odours tested. Palps are mainly sensitive to 3‐methylphenol and 2‐pentanone, both in percentage of responding cells and in response level. The sensitivity to amyl acetate was similar in palps and antennae. The responses to other odours were low in the palps. We conclude that traps baited with attractive odours may lure houseflies of all ages and both sexes.
Evaluation of Bt oilseed rape on the non‐target herbivore Athalia rosae
Authors: Howald Rahel , Zwahlen Claudia , Nentwig Wolfgang
Published: March 2003

Laboratory feeding experiments using two transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) rape cultivars (Bt‐Westar and Bt‐Oscar) both expressing the Cry1Ac protein, and the corresponding untransformed lines, were carried out to study the effects of transgenic Bt rape on the non‐target herbivore Athalia rosae (L.) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae). Furthermore, Cry1Ac protein concentration in Bt rape leaves, A. rosae larvae fed Bt rape, their faeces, eonymph instars, pupae, and adults were quantified using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). There were no significant differences in mortality, larval development, and weight between transgenic Bt rape and non‐transgenic rape fed A. rosae. Additionally, we did not detect any significant differences in the fecundity and fertility of adult females either fed as larvae with transgenic Bt or with non‐transgenic rape. However, results of the ELISA indicated that Cry1Ac protein was detectable in larvae and faeces (Bt‐Westar 1.1 ± 0.2 and Bt‐Oscar 0.3 ± 0.2 µg Cry1Ac protein/g fresh weight) although this was less than in the leaf material, where concentrations were 2.2 ± 0.8 µg Cry1Ac protein/g fresh weight for Bt‐Westar and 7.5 ± 2.9 µg Cry1Ac protein/g fresh weight in Bt‐Oscar. In contrast, Cry1Ac protein could not be detected in eonymphs, pupae, or adults of A. rosae. Our results suggest that Cry1Ac protein in Bt rape does not have a significant effect on the herbivore A. rosae but the protein is still detectable after ingestion and excretion by these herbivores, thus providing the possibility of exposure to organisms other than herbivores.
Autoimmune thyroid disease susceptibility loci in a large Chinese family
Authors: Villanueva R. , Tomer Y. , Greenberg D. A. , Mao C. , Concepcion E. S. , Tucci S. , Estilo G. , Davies T. F.
Published: March 2003

objectives The autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) comprising Graves’ disease (GD) and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) are complex genetic diseases, which result from an interaction between predisposing genes and environmental triggers. The aim of our study was to dissect the genetic predisposition to GD and HT in one large Chinese family with multiple members affected with AITD.

patients We completed a whole genome screen of a large multiplex Chinese–American family. We enrolled 27 family members from three generations. Eight members were affected with AITD, six had GD and two had HT.

design We determined the information limits of the family. Power calculations indicated that the maximum attainable LOD scores were 5·1 assuming dominant inheritance, and 3·4 assuming recessive inheritance. These estimates both assumed 100% penetrance and one gene. Whole genome screening was performed using 400 highly polymorphic and densely spaced microsatellite markers spanning the entire human genome (intermarker distance < 10 cM). Linkage analysis was performed using two‐point and multipoint parametric and nonparametric methods.

results Initial whole genome screening performed with 400 microsatellite markers identified two markers that showed evidence for linkage to AITD in this family, D11S4191 and D9S175, with two‐point LOD scores of 2·31 and 2·05, respectively. Multipoint linkage analysis focusing on the regions containing these markers revealed a maximum multipoint LOD score (MLS) of 2·13 and a nonparametric linkage score (NPL) of 6·1 for D11S4191 and an MLS of 2·01 and NPL of 7·5 for D9S175.

conclusions These results showed that this Chinese family harboured susceptibility loci for AITD which were distinct from those previously found in the Caucasian population. This suggests that different susceptibility loci exist between different ethnic groups. Furthermore, even within a single family from a genetically homogenous population, more than one gene was involved in the genetic susceptibility to AITD, supporting the notion that AITDs are caused by multiple genes of varying influences.
Hic-5 Communicates between Focal Adhesions and the Nucleus through Oxidant-Sensitive Nuclear Export Signal
Authors: Shibanuma Motoko , Kim-Kaneyama Joo-ri , Ishino Keiko , Sakamoto Nobuko , Hishiki Tomoko , Yamaguchi Kaeko , Mori Kazunori , Mashimo Jun-ichi , Nose Kiyoshi
Published: March 2003

hic-5 was originally isolated as an H2O2-inducible cDNA clone whose product was normally found at focal adhesions. In this study, we found that Hic-5 accumulated in the nucleus in response to oxidants such as H2O2. Other focal adhesion proteins including paxillin, the most homologous to Hic-5, remained in the cytoplasm. Mutation analyses revealed that the C- and N-terminal halves of Hic-5 contributed to its nuclear localization in a positive and negative manner, respectively. After the finding that leptomycin B (LMB), an inhibitor of nuclear export signal (NES), caused Hic-5 to be retained in the nucleus, Hic-5 was demonstrated to harbor NES in the N-terminal, which was sensitive to oxidants, thereby regulating the nuclear accumulation of Hic-5. NES consisted of a leucine-rich stretch and two cysteines with a limited similarity to Yap/Pap-type NES. In the nucleus, Hic-5 was suggested to participate in the gene expression of c-fos. Using dominant negative mutants, we found that Hic-5 was actually involved in endogenous c-fos gene expression upon H2O2treatment. Hic-5 was thus proposed as a focal adhesion protein with the novel aspect of shuttling between focal adhesions and the nucleus through an oxidant-sensitive NES, mediating the redox signaling directly to the nucleus.
Peroxisome Biogenesis Occurs in an Unsynchronized Manner in Close Association with the Endoplasmic Reticulum in Temperature-sensitiveYarrowia lipolyticaPex3p Mutants
Authors: Bascom Roger A. , Chan Honey , Rachubinski Richard A.
Published: March 2003

Pex3p is a peroxisomal integral membrane protein required early in peroxisome biogenesis, and Pex3p-deficient cells lack identifiable peroxisomes. Two temperature-sensitive pex3 mutant strains of the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica were made to investigate the role of Pex3p in the early stages of peroxisome biogenesis. In glucose medium at 16°C, these mutants underwent de novo peroxisome biogenesis and exhibited early matrix protein sequestration into peroxisome-like structures found at the endoplasmic reticulum-rich periphery of cells or sometimes associated with nuclei. The de novo peroxisome biogenesis seemed unsynchronized, with peroxisomes occurring at different stages of development both within cells and between cells. Cells with peripheral nascent peroxisomes and cells with structures morphologically distinct from peroxisomes, such as semi/circular tubular structures that immunostained with antibodies to peroxisomal matrix proteins and to the endoplasmic reticulum-resident protein Kar2p, and that surrounded lipid droplets, were observed during up-regulation of peroxisome biogenesis in cells incubated in oleic acid medium at 16°C. These structures were not detected in wild-type or Pex3p-deficient cells. Their role in peroxisome biogenesis remains unclear. Targeting of peroxisomal matrix proteins to these structures suggests that Pex3p directly or indirectly sequesters components of the peroxisome biogenesis machinery. Such a role is consistent with Pex3p overexpression producing cells with fewer, larger, and clustered peroxisomes.
Breaking the bond
Authors: Kochan Anna
Published: March 2003

This paper outlines a new technology for creating adhesive bonds that can be broken at end‐of‐life. Also describes its potential application in the automotive industry, particularly for glazing application.
Intelligent picking of chaotically stored objects
Authors: Dieter Schraft Rolf , Ledermann Thomas
Published: March 2003

A robot system for the intelligent picking of chaotically stored objects by the analysis of depth data is presented in this research article. This “bin‐picking” enables the automatic storing of objects which is a prerequisite for the automatic supply of a processing machine. In order to improve conventional localization systems, special attention is paid – apart from the identification of object positions – to gripping point calculation for the picking and to collision avoidance. To adapt the system to different object geometries, an approach that aims at storing the necessary object data in an off‐line generated data base was chosen.
Force‐guided robot in automated assembly of mobile phone
Authors: Suh Chin Kong , Maran Ratnam Mani , Mandava Rajeswari
Published: March 2003

This paper describes how force‐guided robot can be implemented in the automated assembly of mobile phone. A case study was carried out to investigate the assembly operations and strategies involved. Force‐guided robot was developed and implemented in the real environment. Proportional‐based external force control with hybrid framework was developed and implemented to perform the compliant motion. In order to perform assembly operations, three basic force‐guided robotic skills are identified. These are stopping, alignment and sliding skills, where the motions are guided by the force feedback. The force‐guided robotic skills are combined and reprogrammed with fine motion planning to perform notch‐locked assembly. The system is optimized for high assembly speed while considering the constraints and limitations involved.
The expectations hypothesis, term premia, and the Canadian term structure of interest rates
Authors: Hejazi Walid , Lai Huiwen , Yang Xian
Published: March 2003

In this paper monthly data are used over the period 1960:7 to 1995:12 to examine the determinants of term premia implicit in the Canadian T‐bill term structure of interest rates. In sharp contrast to U.S. evidence, the conditional variances of Canadian macroeconomic variables are found to be insignificant predictors of term premia in the Canadian T‐bill term structure. The conditional variances of U.S. macroeconomic variables, however, are found to be important determinants of Canadian term premia. JEL Classification: E43, G1

L'hypothese des anticipations, les primes de temps et la structure temporelle des taux d'intérêt canadiens. Ce mémoire utilise des données mensuelles de juillet 1960 à décembre 1995 pour examiner les déterminants des primes de temps implicites dans la structure des taux d'intérêt pour les bons du trésor canadiens. Contrairement à ce que l'on trouve aux Etats‐Unis, il semble que les variances conditionnelles des variables macroéconomiques canadiennes ne sont pas des prédicteurs utiles de ces primes. Cependant, il appert que les variances conditonnelles des variables macroéconomiques des Etats‐Unis sont des déterminants importants de ces primes.
The effect of additions to or deletions from the TSE 300 Index on Canadian share prices
Authors: Masse Isidore , Hanrahan Robert , Kushner Joseph , Martinello Felice
Published: March 2003

In this paper we examine shares that have been added to or deleted from the TSE 300 Index to determine whether abnormal price movements have occurred. We apply the dummy variable approach to event study methodology and adjust the estimated standard errors for arbitrary heteroscedasticity and clustering of events. We also use a non‐parametric method of inference. Like authors of U.S. studies, we find that the market reacts positively to inclusion and negatively to deletion, albeit not significantly in the latter case. The information content of inclusion does not account for the entire share price response, lending support to the hypothesis of increased purchases by index funds. JEL Classification: G14

Ce texte examine les titres qui ont été ajoutés ou soustraits de l'indice TSE 300 pour déterminer si des mouvements anormaux de prix s'en sont suivis. On utilise l'approche des variables fictives dans le cadre d'une méthodologie qui étudie l'impact d'événements, et on ajuste les erreurs standards pour tenir compte de l'hétéroskédasticité arbitraire et de l'agglomération d'événements. On utilise aussi une méthode non‐paramétrique d'inférence. Comme dans des études américaines du même type, on découvre que les marché réagit positivement à l'inclusion et négativement à la soustraction d'un titre, mais que l'effet n'est pas significatif dans ce dernier cas. Le contenu informationnel de l'inclusion n'explique pas entièrement le mouvement dans le prix du titre, ce qui apporte un support à l'hypothèse de l'impact des achats accrus par des fonds indexés.
The bargaining family revisited
Authors: Konrad Kai A. , Lommerud Kjell Erik
Published: March 2003

We suggest a family bargaining model where human capital investment decisions are made non‐cooperatively in a first stage, while day‐to‐day allocation of time is determined later through Nash bargaining, but with non‐cooperative behaviour as the fall‐back. One finding is that overinvestment in education may be even more of a problem in such a semi‐cooperative model than in a fully non‐cooperative one. Even though both the semi‐cooperative model and the fully non‐cooperative model predict overinvestment in education, policy conclusions that follow from the two models are distinctly different. JEL Classification: D13, J24

Les auteurs suggèrent un modèle de famille qui marchande où les décisions d'investissement en capital humain sont prises de manière non‐coopérative dans un premier temps, alors que l'allocation du temps au jour le jour est déterminée plus tard par un marchandage à la Nash, mais avec un comportement noncoopératif comme choix de second ordre. On découvre que le surinvestissement dans l'éducation peut être encore plus problématique dans un tel modèle de semi‐coopération que dans un modèle de non coopération. Même si les deux modèles prévoient un surinves;chtissement dans l'éducation, les conclusions au plan de la politique publique qui découlent de ces deux modèles sont fort différentes.
Phases of the Canadian business cycle
Authors: Bodman Philip M. , Crosby Mark
Published: March 2003

In this paper we contrast a number of univariate models of Canadian GDP. Our preferred models are used to provide a business cycle chronology for Canada, which is compared with some existing, more judgmentally determined chronologies. We find that a simple, ‘two quarters of negative growth’ rule for determining recession dates is the most similar to our chronology. We also find that the most recent recession in Canada was unique in both its length and the slow speed of recovery. JEL Classification: C22, C51, C52, E32

Phases du cycle d'affaires au Canada. Dans ce mémoire, les auteurs contrastent un certain nombre de modèles du PIB canadien. Les modèles préférés sont utilisés pour définir une chronologie des cycles économiques du Canada qu'on peut comparer avec d'autres chronologies existantes basées davantage sur le jugement. On découvre que la règle “deux trimestres de croissance négative” est celle qui se rapproche le plus de la chronologie proposée quand il s'agit de définir les dates de récession. On découvre aussi que la récente récession canadienne a été unique tant par sa durée que par la lenteur avec laquelle la reprise subséquente s'est amorcée.
Public policy and R&D when research joint ventures are costly
Authors: Vilasuso Jon , Frascatore Mark R.
Published: March 2003

In this paper we examine the role of policy when forming a R&D joint venture is costly. Contrary to previous studies, we document an active role for public policy, since the interests of firms are not necessarily aligned with societal interests. The nature of policy, however, depends on the joint venture cost. If it is relatively low, then policy may call for subsidizing the joint venture to encourage collaboration. If forming a joint venture is very costly, however, then there are cases where social welfare is improved if policy encourages R&D competition with no joint venture. JEL Classification: D43, L13

Politique publique et R&D quand les alliances stratégiques en recherche sont coûteuses. Ce mémoire examine le rôle de la politique publique quand la mise en place d'une alliance stratégique en recherche est coûteuse. Contrairement à ce qu'ont suggéré des études antérieures, les auteurs montrent qu'il y a un rôle positif pour la politique publique, à proportion que les intérêts des entreprises ne sont pas nécessairement alignés sur les intérêts de la société. La nature de la politique dépend cependant du coût de l'alliance stratégique. Si le coût est faible, alors une politique de subvention pour encourager la collaboration peut s'imposer. Si le coût est élevé, alors il existe des cas où une politique de concurrence dans le R&D sans alliance stratégique peut mieux servir le mieux être collectif.
Entrepreneurship and Extraregional Trade in the Producer Services
Authors: Krmenec Andrew J. , Esparza Adrian X.
Published: March 2003

Traditional explanations of interaction (trade) in city systems fail to capture the breadth and complexity of extraregional markets in the producer services. Building on market‐process theory, which argues that markets are adaptive and rarely in equilibrium, the development of extraregional trade in the producer services was investigated as a form of firm‐level entrepreneurship. While firms' entrepreneurial behaviors are influenced by a variety of internal characteristics, such as entrepreneurial spirit, size, age, and ownership, it is argued that a firm's location is an important conditioning factor on the degree of success it achieves with market expansion. The hypothesis is evaluated using spatial market extent data developed from a survey of 615 producer service firms located in 16 Midwest cities. A firm's degree of entrepreneurship is indexed by a qualitative assessment of its marketing activities, ranging from “aggressive” to “none.” Cox proportional hazards models, in a spatial‐analog of survival analysis, were used to examine the influence of entrepreneurship on the spatial extents of firms' markets. The results confirm that location, more so than firm size or age, has a significant influence on the spatial extent of a firm's extraregional trade. The influence of location is generally complex: surfacing directly as a market scale effect, and indirectly as a conditioning factor on the success of a firm's entrepreneurial behavior. The results suggest that extraregional trade in producers services is predicated on more than just production cost (i.e., internal or external scale economies) or distribution cost (i.e., distance) factors, and that behavioral theories of the market can provide meaningful insight into the geography of market interaction.
How States Augment the Capabilities of Technology–Pioneering Firms
Authors: Feldman Maryann P. , Kelley Maryellen R.
Published: March 2003

State governments offer a variety of programs to assist technology intensive entrepreneurial firms yet there is a limited understanding of how firms use these programs. This paper provides a framework for categorizing state technology programs and uses detailed case studies to examine how these programs augment firms’ capabilities. It is concluded that firms made extensive use of state programs that provide access to university intellectual property and research facilities. In addition, firms participated in programs that provided incentives for faculty to conduct joint research with industry. Finally, state venture capital programs, though small relative to federal R&D grants or venture capital, appear to nurture firms’ development.
Integrating Discrete and Continuous Change in a Logical Framework
Authors: Pinto Javier A.
Published: March 2003

The goal of our work is to develop theoretical foundations for the representation of knowledge in domains in which properties may vary continuously. One achievement of our research is that it extends the applicability of current research on theories of action. Furthermore, we are able to apply known approaches to the frame and ramification problems, developed for discretely changing worlds, to domains in which the world changes continuously.

Our approach is based on the discrete situation calculus and on a monotonic solution to the frame problem. In order to address the combined frame and ramification problems, we extend Lin and Reiter's work. We use Pinto and Reiter's extension to the situation calculus to represent occurrences. We extend this work further to allow for reasoning by default. For example, if we know that a ball is falling and we do not have any reason to believe that an action would interfere with the ball's motion, then we assume that the ball will hit the ground. Finally, we extend the language of the situation calculus to allow for properties that change within situations. We also show that our proposed situation calculus inherits the solutions to the frame and ramification problems.
Temporal Reasoning and Bayesian Networks
Authors: Tawfik Ahmed Y. , Neufeld Eric M.
Published: March 2003

This work examines important issues in probabilistic temporal representation and reasoning using Bayesian networks (also known as belief networks). The representation proposed here utilizes temporal (or dynamic) probabilities to represent facts, events, and the effects of events. The architecture of a belief network may change with time to indicate a different causal context. Probability variations with time capture temporal properties such as persistence and causation. They also capture event interaction, and when the interaction between events follows known models such as the competing risks model, the additive model, or the dominating event model, the net effect of many interacting events on the temporal probabilities can be calculated efficiently. This representation of reasoning also exploits the notion of temporal degeneration of relevance due to information obsolescence to improve the efficiency.
A Shallow Text Processing Core Engine
Authors: Neumann Günter , Piskorski Jakub
Published: March 2003

In this article we present SMES–SPPC, a high–performance system for intelligent extraction of structured data from free text documents. SMES–SPPC consists of a set of domain–adaptive shallow core components that are realized by means of cascaded weighted finite–state machines and generic dynamic tries. The system has been fully implemented for German; it includes morphological and on–line compound analysis, efficient POS–filtering, high–performance named–entity recognition and chunk parsing based on a novel divide–and–conquer strategy. The whole approach proved to be very useful for processing free word order languages such as German. SMES–SPPC has a good performance (more than 6000 words per second on standard PC environments) and achieves high linguistic coverage, especially for the divide–and–conquer parsing strategy, where we obtained an f–measure of 87.14% on unseen data.
What Makes a State Advocacy Structure Effective? — Conflicts Between Bureaucratic and Social Movement Criteria
Authors: Malloy Jonathan
Published: March 2003

State “advocacy structures”—agencies nominally designated to advance the status of collective social movements in public policy and society—must operate under conflicting criteria for “effectiveness.” While government actors likely measure effectiveness as the ability to manage a policyissue—advancing policy influence by prioritizing and packaging demands —collective movements additionally or primarily emphasize structures' performance as representatives of the priorities and diversity of movements. This consequently leads to differing evaluations of agency “effectiveness.” A case study of the Ontario Women's Directorate (OWD) analyzes the inherent conflicts and tensions between these two roles, particularly under repeated changes in government. The experiences of the OWD and other advocacy structures suggest that conflicting criteria are inherent and unavoidable in such institutions.
Women's Work? The Distribution and Prestige of Portfolios in the Canadian Provinces
Authors: Studlar Donley T. , Moncrief Gary F.
Published: March 2003

Historically not only have women cabinet ministers in Western democracies been few in number, but they have generally been limited to “women's ministries” such as education, health, social services, and culture. This article systematically investigates the responsibilities and prestige of portfolios that women cabinet ministers in the ten Canadian provinces have held over a 21‐year period, 1976–1997, an era in which their share of cabinet positions rose from less than 4% to almost 25%. Although still concentrated in traditional women's ministries, they have diversified the portfolios they hold. Using a tri‐fold classification of portfolios into (1) important, (2) middle range, and (3) junior positions, we find that women increasingly have achieved more prestigious portfolios, perhaps a reflection of the reduced number of cabinet positions in the 1990s and more concerted attempts to promote women. But the law of increasing disproportion still exists, at least in overall terms of the relative prestige of cabinet positions.
Policy Transfer and Policy Learning: A Study of the 1991 NewZealand Health Services Taskforce
Authors: Jacobs Kerry , Barnett Pauline
Published: March 2003

Research into policy transfer and lesson drawing has been criticized asfew authors have convincingly shown how cross‐national policy learning actually influences policy formation in a particular jurisdiction. This article addresses this gap by presenting a study of the development of the 1991 health policy in New Zealand. By studying the process of policy development, rather than just a policy document, it was possible to disaggregate different aspects of the policy and to identify sources and influences. This article finds that the ‘conspiracy’ model of policy formation does not fit this case as it presents an overly simplistic view, which allows little space for policy learning. This case illustrates the subtle and multifaceted influence of different jurisdictions, different institutions, and different individuals on a given policy.
Agricultural Retrenchment Revisited: Issue Definition and Venue Change in the United States and European Union
Authors: Sheingate Adam D.
Published: March 2003

The case of agriculture in the United States and the European Union indicates that retrenchment opportunities wax and wane. In the first half of the 1990s, both the U.S. and the EU instituted significant farm policy reforms. But as the 1990s came to an end, subsidies in both countries increased as policymakers became less enthusiastic about reducing benefits for farmers. This variability highlights the shortcomings of current political science explanations of retrenchment: the literature has yet to explain why policy change occurs in some circumstances but not others. In this paper, I employ the concepts of issue definition and venue change in order to explain why the United States and the European Union fluctuate in their capacity to reduce farm subsidies. I argue that, in agriculture, retrenchment advocates must redefine the issue of subsidies in a manner that highlights the negative externalities associated with farm policy. Second, retrenchment advocates must also exploit opportunities for strategic venue change so that policy decisions in agriculture do not rest solely with those who benefit from the status quo. By adding the concepts of issue definition and venue change to studies of retrenchment, we gain a better understanding of the conditions that make policy change possible, as well as an account of the mechanism through which retrenchment takes place.
Conclusion to Special Issue on the Institutional Balance and the Future of EU Governance: The Treaty of Nice, Institutional Balance, and Uncertainty
Authors: Sbragia Alberta M.
Published: March 2003

Debates about institution–building within the European Union focus on how national power and transnational representation and accountability should be organized institutionally within the context of regionalism. An “institutional balance” allows the EU to benefit from administrative capacity and the representation of both national executives and national electorates while not being transformed into either a transnational political system or a traditional federation. The Treaty of Nice laid the groundwork for enlargement by re–examining issues of representation that had previously been accepted as givens. In so doing, the member states made clear that the evolution of the EU was going to be subject to uncertainty and institutional fluidity.
From Leviathan to Gulliver? The Decline of the Developmental State in Brazil
Authors: Weyland Kurt
Published: March 2003

This article advances an institutionalist explanation for the decline of Brazil's developmental state, showing how an initially strong state undermined its own strength over time. The Brazilian state greatly expanded its interventionism and fragmented society—through state‐corporatist mechanisms—in order to enhance its power to guide development. Yet the mushrooming state apparatus increasingly lacked internal coordination. This disunity diminished the state's capacity to attain its goals and provided added opportunities for the fragmented social groups created by the state's divide‐and‐rule strategies to “capture” public agencies. The resulting weakening of the state is evident in taxation, the policy focus of this article. Competing state agencies granted proliferating tax privileges, and business sectors supported by clientelist politicians blocked governmental efforts to maintain or raise the tax burden. This decline in extractive capacity contributed to the fiscal crisis that has paralyzed Brazil's developmental state since the early 1980s.
Shaping Administrative Reform and Governance: An Examination of the Political Nexus Triads in Three Asian Countries
Authors: Moon Myung‐Jae , Ingraham Patricia
Published: March 2003

When addressing administrative reform, many scholars have referred to the fact that governments confront multiple internal challenges such as fiscal stress, distrust of bureaucracy, and higher demands for public services (Peters and Savoie 1995). Externally, governments become more sensitive to global issues and tend to be more influenced by international environments (Garcia‐Zamor and Khator 1994). Faced with internal and external challenges, governments seek new paradigms for governance (Ingraham and Romzek 1994) and often initiate administrative reform (AR) aimed at enhancing governmental performance and improving the administrative system through technological advances, managerial improvements, administrative innovations and continued enhancement of administrative capabilities (Caiden 1991).

Administrative reform and its diffusion among Western countries are well documented in the literature (Campbell and Peters 1988; Savoie 1994; Halligan 1996; Peters and Savoie 1995). However, studies are skewed toward Western countries and little attention has been paid to Asia. Even less attention has been paid to comparative studies on Asian administrative reform, even though many Asian countries have developed their own AR trajectories to improve public efficiency and productivity (Burns 1994; Zhang, De Guzman, and Reforma 1992). As many students of comparative public administration (CPA) understand, it is always a challenging task, both methodologically and theoretically, to examine a group of different countries (Aberbach and Rockman 1987; Heady 1996a; 1996b; Peters 1988; Peters 1996). It is an even more challenging and controversial task to develop a single comparative framework from which we can examine different countries.

This article attempts to fill a gap in the literature by examining Asian AR from a comparative perspective. First, we propose an exploratory theoretical framework, a Political Nexus Triad (PNT). PNT is an extended model, which adds civil society as the third dimension to the traditional politics‐administration model. We suggest the PNT and its dynamic trajectory as a building block of the comparative study of Asian administrative reform. This is similar to the power interaction models in which Peters (1988) addresses the power interactions between politicians and bureaucrats.1 Second, we examine the conventional patterns of PNT for three Asian countries: China, Japan, and Korea. Third, we survey AR of the three countries, focusing on actors, contents and potential impacts to the new PNT. Finally, we discuss conclusions and comparisons
A New Perspective on Employee Lateness
Authors: Koslowsky Meni
Published: March 2003

In contrast to absence and turnover, the relevant antecedents that would lead an individual to arrive late at work have not yet been clearly presented in one model. This article suggests a two‐stage formulation with attitudes triggering one track, and other antecedents including personality, commuting‐related variables, culture, and work‐family conflict serving to influence a second source of lateness. Furthermore, the model integrates some of the ideas usually included in a progression model by delineating a process that links the various types of withdrawal measures. Finally, the article describes another set of variables, minor withdrawal behaviours, which are hard for management to detect but may serve as a behavioural antecedent of employee lateness.
Working in East German Socialism in 1980 and in Capitalism 15 Years Later: A Trend Analysis of a Transitional Economy’s Working Conditions
Authors: Fay Doris , Frese Michael
Published: March 2003

Many studies document the changes that have taken place in the new German states, the former German Democratic Republic (GDR), since the end of socialism. Most research looks at the changes that took place after the unification of East and West Germany, but little is known about the differences between the present, somewhat settled situation in the new German states and the stable situation in the GDR before the system change.

The goal of this study was to enlarge our knowledge on these differences. With a trend analysis, aspects of work in the GDR in 1980 (n=337) were compared with the new German states in 1995 (n=168). Results showed that there was more job control and complexity, more activity in work improvement and better work organisation in the new German states than in the GDR. There was no difference in stress variables and social support by colleagues between both groups. Relationships with supervisors and appreciation for suggestions for work improvement were better in the GDR than after the introduction of capitalism.
The Ethical Orientation of Russian Entrepreneurs
Authors: Sommer Steven , Welsh Dianne , Gubman Boris
Published: March 2003

Ethics has been a significant concern in the management literature and recent efforts have investigated ethical orientations across culture. However, little, if any, work has looked at ethical orientations among entrepreneurs and managers in the transforming Russian economy. This study surveyed the ethical orientations of Russian owner‐managers (n=194) involved in entrepreneurial and privatisation activities. A cross‐cultural comparison to US normative responses found no difference in Machiavellian orientation in general, though female Russian entrepreneurs perceived themselves as more likely to engage in opportunistic behaviour. Additionally, Russian entrepreneurs in general perceived themselves as more ethically rigid. These respondents also felt Russian organisations fostered more interpersonally collective but structurally opportunistic organisational climates.