bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tax Reform, Sector‐specific Labor Supply and Welfare Effects*
Authors: Dagsvik John K. , Locatelli Marilena , Strøm Steinar
Published: April 2009

This paper focuses in particular on the 1992 tax reform in Norway. In this reform the top marginal tax rates were cut considerably. We find that the impact on overall labor supply is rather modest, but these modest changes shadow for stronger sectoral changes. The tax reform stimulated the women to shift their labor from the public to the private sector and to work longer hours. A calculation of mean compensated variation, calculated within the framework of a random utility model, shows that the richest households benefited far more from the 1992 tax reform than did the poorest households.
Endogenous Sunk Costs, Flexible Manufacturing and the Productivity Effects of International Trade
Authors: Eckel Carsten
Published: April 2009

The paper addresses the productivity effects of international trade in the presence of flexible manufacturing and endogenous sunk costs (cost‐reducing R&D). It shows that international trade raises R&D expenditures, but this will not necessarily boost productivity because of possibly counteracting market structure effects. The analysis is conducted in general equilibrium so that implications for real wages and welfare can also be addressed. Both can fall when trade leads to excessive R&D investment.
Interest on Reserves and the Flexibility of Monetary Policy in the Euro Area
Authors: Neyer Ulrike
Published: April 2009

This paper shows that remunerating required reserves can increase the flexibility of monetary policy. The remuneration at the current policy rate implies constant net marginal interest costs of holding required reserves. This allows the central bank to change the policy rate also within a reserve maintenance period without inducing a problematic reserve shifting on behalf of the banks. In the euro area, required reserves are remunerated at an average rate. Therefore, the way in which reserves are remunerated has to be changed in order to make use of the advantage of a higher flexibility of monetary policy.
The National in Everyday Life: A Critical Engagement with Michael Billig's Thesis of Banal Nationalism
Authors: Skey Michael
Published: April 2009

This paper is designed to provide a critical engagement with Michael Billig's seminal thesis of Banal Nationalism (1995), perhaps the most influential study of everyday forms of nationhood. With an increasing number now focusing on the (re) production, dissemination and negotiation of the national through routine texts and practices (cf Foster, 2002 ; Edensor, 2002 ; Madianou, 2005 ; Brubaker et al., 2006 ; Bratsis, 2006 ) and others employing the concept of banality in relation to non-national ( Gorringe, 2006 ) and post-national identities ( Aksoy and Robins, 2002 ; Szerszynski and Urry, 2002 ; Beck, 2006 ; Cram, 2001 ), it would seem like an opportune moment to assess Billig's contribution and also the limits of his approach.
The Economic Psychology of Stock Market Bubbles in China
Authors: Yao Shujie , Luo Dan
Published: April 2009

The Chinese stock markets were extremely volatile during the period 2005–08. The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) Composite Index increased more than sixfold from 1,012 in 2005 to 6,124 by the end of 2007. It then declined continuously to reach a low of 1,929 on 17 September 2008, or a drop of 70 per cent from its peak in less than 10 months. Although the market downturn may have been affected by the financial crisis in the United States and the rest of the world, the extreme fluctuations of stock prices signify a big market bubble, and the burst of that bubble must be explained by intrinsic characteristics or the economic psychology of Chinese investors. Based on a detailed market data analysis, this paper attributes the development of the stock market bubble to three key psychological factors: ‘greed’, ‘envy’ and ‘speculation’, and the burst of the bubble to three contrasting factors: ‘fear’, ‘lack of confidence’ and ‘disappointment’. It concludes that only after Chinese companies become really commercialised and profitable and investors become rational can the stock markets become stable without extreme volatility as seen in the past. Government policies can play a role in soothing market volatility detrimental to shareholders and the wider economy, but investors should not depend on government for making their own investment decisions.
LOCATION‐SPECIFIC HUMAN CAPITAL, LOCATION CHOICE AND AMENITY DEMAND*
Authors: Krupka Douglas J.
Published: April 2009

ABSTRACT The role of amenities in the flow of migrants has long been a subject of debate. This paper advances an original model of amenities that work through household production instead of directly through utility. Area characteristics (amenities) affect household production, causing certain kinds of human capital investments to be rewarded more than others. Area heterogeneity thus makes such investments location‐specific. This specificity—along with a period of exogenous location—increases the opportunity costs of moving, diminishes migration flows between dissimilar locations and increases valuation of amenities that were present in the originating area. These theoretical results emphasize people's sorting across areas and thus differ from the results of the standard model of compensating differentials. Empirical tests of the model's predictions using NLSY79 data show that childhood investments affect migration flows in the way proposed by the model.
HOW DO DIFFERENCES IN PROPERTY TAXES WITHIN CITIES AFFECT URBAN SPRAWL?*
Authors: Song Yan , Zenou Yves
Published: April 2009

ABSTRACT We develop a duocentric‐city model and show that the ratio between the property tax in the suburbs and in the center has an ambiguous impact on the size of the city. We test this model by using a dataset of effective property tax rates which we developed using GIS techniques for central cities and suburbs in 445 urbanized areas. Results from the empirical analyses suggest that a lower property tax rate in the suburbs as compared to the central city is associated with more expansive urban growth and a greater level of decentralization of population and employment.
Against the mainstream: Nazi privatization in 1930s Germany1
Authors: BEL GERMÀ
Published: April 2009

Nationalization was particularly important in the early 1930s in Germany. The state took over a large industrial concern, large commercial banks, and other minor firms. In the mid‐1930s, the Nazi regime transferred public ownership to the private sector. In doing so, they went against the mainstream trends in western capitalistic countries, none of which systematically reprivatized firms during the 1930s. Privatization was used as a political tool to enhance support for the government and for the Nazi Party. In addition, growing financial restrictions because of the cost of the rearmament programme provided additional motivations for privatization.
Why Fiscal Stimulus is Likely to Work
Authors: Fatás Antonio , Mihov Ilian
Published: April 2009

We provide an overview of the effectiveness of fiscal policy actions by summarizing evidence from empirical and theoretical studies. Empirically, expansionary policy is found to have output multipliers greater than one. Given current economic conditions, we argue that the fiscal cost of not stabilizing the economy is likely to be much higher than the cost of a deficit that helps the economy go faster towards a recovery path.
C-Reactive Protein in Migraine Sufferers Similar to That of Non-Migraineurs: The Reykjavik Study
Authors: Gudmundsson LS , Aspelund T , Scher AI , Thorgeirsson G , Johannsson M , Launer LJ , Gudnason V
Published: April 2009

C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, has been associated with cardiovascular disease. Risk of cardiovascular disease is increased in migraineurs with aura. Results from a clinical report, case-control and a cohort study suggest that CRP is elevated in migraineurs compared with non-migraineurs. We examined the proposed association in a case-control study nested within two large population-based studies. The relationship between migraine and CRP (high-sensitivity CRP) was studied in 5906 men and women aged 55.0 ± 8.5 years in the Reykjavik Study and 1345 men and women aged 27.7 ± 5.5 years from the Reykjavik Study for the Young. A modified version of the International Headache Society's criteria was used to categorize people into migraineurs (two or more symptoms) or non-migraineurs. Migraineurs with visual or sensory symptoms were further defined as having migraine with aura (MA) or without aura (MO). Multivariable-adjusted CRP levels were similar in migraineurs and nonmigraineurs for men (0.83 vs. 0.79 mg/l, P = 0.44) and for women (0.87 vs. 0.87 mg/l, P = 0.90). When further stratified by migraine aura and age, no differences were found between non-migraineurs, MO and MA among men. In women, CRP levels were borderline higher in those with MO compared with non-migraineurs and those with MA (1.01 mg/l vs. 0.81 and 0.75 mg/l, P = 0.08 and P = 0.08) in age group 19-34 years, but significantly lower in age group 60-81 years (0.52 mg/l vs. 1.07 and 1.01 mg/l, P = 0.007 and P = 0.03). CRP levels were not increased among migraine sufferers compared with non-migraineurs. Older women migraineurs without aura had lower CRP values than nonmigraineurs and migraineurs with aura.
Effect of Systemic Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) on Headache and Pericranial Muscle Sensitivity
Authors: Baad-Hansen L , Cairns BE , Ernberg M , Svensson P
Published: April 2009

We conducted a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study to investigate the occurrence of adverse effects such as headache as well as pain and mechanical sensitivity in pericranial muscles after oral administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG). In three sessions, 14 healthy men drank sugar-free soda that contained either MSG (75 or 150 mg/kg) or NaCl (24 mg/kg, placebo). Plasma glutamate level, pain, pressure pain thresholds and tolerance levels, blood pressure (BP), heart rate and reported adverse effects were assessed for 2 h. No muscle pain or robust changes in mechanical sensitivity were detected, but there was a significant increase in reports of headache and subjectively reported pericranial muscle tenderness after MSG. Systolic BP was elevated in the high MSG session compared with low MSG and placebo. These findings add new information to the concept of MSG headache and craniofacial pain sensitivity.
A Genome‐wide Association Study of Autism Reveals a Common Novel Risk Locus at 5p14.1
Authors: Ma Deqiong , Salyakina Daria , Jaworski James M. , Konidari Ioanna , Whitehead Patrice L. , Andersen Ashley N. , Hoffman Joshua D. , Slifer Susan H. , Hedges Dale J. , Cukier Holly N. , Griswold Anthony J. , McCauley Jacob L. , Beecham Gary W. , Wright Harry H. , Abramson Ruth K. , Martin Eden R. , Hussman John P. , Gilbert John R. , Cuccaro Michael L. , Haines Jonathan L. , Pericak‐Vance Margaret A.
Published: April 2009

Although autism is one of the most heritable neuropsychiatric disorders, its underlying genetic architecture has largely eluded description. To comprehensively examine the hypothesis that common variation is important in autism, we performed a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) using a discovery dataset of 438 autistic Caucasian families and the Illumina Human 1M beadchip. 96 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) demonstrated strong association with autism risk (p‐value < 0.0001). The validation of the top 96 SNPs was performed using an independent dataset of 487 Caucasian autism families genotyped on the 550K Illumina BeadChip. A novel region on chromosome 5p14.1 showed significance in both the discovery and validation datasets. Joint analysis of all SNPs in this region identified 8 SNPs having improved p‐values (3.24E‐04 to 3.40E‐06) than in either dataset alone. Our findings demonstrate that in addition to multiple rare variations, part of the complex genetic architecture of autism involves common variation.
Foraging ecology, fluctuating food availability and energetics of wintering brent geese
Authors: Tinkler E. , Montgomery W. I. , Elwood R. W.
Published: April 2009

Changing energy requirements and dramatic shifts in food availability are major factors driving behaviour and distribution of herbivores. We investigate this in wintering East Canadian High Arctic light‐bellied brent geese Branta bernicla hrota in Northern Ireland. They followed a sequential pattern of habitat use, feeding on intertidal Zostera spp. in autumn and early winter before moving to predominantly saltmarsh and farmland in late winter and early spring. Night‐time feeding occurred throughout and made a considerable contribution to the birds' daily energy budget, at times accounting for >50% of energy intake. Nocturnal feeding, however, is limited to the intertidal, possibly because of predation risk on terrestrial habitat, and increases with moonlight. The amount of Zostera spp., declined dramatically after the arrival of birds, predominantly, but not entirely, due to consumption by the birds. Birds gained fat reserves in the first 2 months but then this was dramatically lost as their major food source collapsed and their daily energy intake declined. Single birds consistently fared worse than paired birds and pairs with juveniles fared better than those without suggesting a benefit of having a family to compete for food. Many birds leave the Lough at this time of reduced Zostera spp. for other sea inlets in Ireland but some remain. Body condition of the latter gradually improved in early spring and reflected a heavy reliance on terrestrial habitats, particularly farmland, to meet the birds' daily energy requirements. However, even in the period immediately before migration to the breeding ground, the birds did not regain the amount of abdominal fatness observed in November. The dramatic changes in available food and requirements of the birds drive the major changes seen in foraging behaviour as the birds evade starvation in the wintering period.
The reproductive cycle of Norway lobster
Authors: Mente E. , Karapanagiotidis I. T. , Logothetis P. , Vafidis D. , Malandrakis E. , Neofitou N. , Exadactylos A. , Stratakos A.
Published: April 2009

The reproductive biology of female Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus was studied throughout an annual cycle from January to December 2007 in Pagasitikos Gulf, a large semi‐enclosed Gulf in the central west Aegean Sea, in Greece. Six ovarian maturation stages were described to follow gonadal development, based on the combined external observation and histological examination of the ovary. Reproduction showed clear seasonality both in terms of ovarian maturation and brooding period. The proportion of fully mature females in the catch increased from January to the summer months with a peak in June. The species has a protracted brooding period that peaks in November and December, while the release of eggs from females' pleopods occurs from January to March. The size at which 50% of females reached sexual maturity was estimated, using a logistic model, to be 28.1 mm of carapace length. The undiscovered reproductive dynamics will be valuable for optimizing population models and management strategies for this important fishery resource.
Developing conditions for environmentally sustainable consumption: drawing insight from anti‐smoking policy
Authors: Krause Rachel M.
Published: April 2009

This paper starts from the premise that, particularly in industrialized countries, the consumption decisions made by individuals and households are a major source of environmental strain. Several international organizations and national governments have addressed this issue, but, thus far, their efforts have had minimal effect. This paper examines the conditions necessary for the implementation of policy able to effectively reduce the environmental impact of household consumption. It draws from the experience of American tobacco control, a relatively rare example of a public effort that succeeded in reducing the negative consequences of an entitled consumer behaviour.

An extensive review of the tobacco control literature informs the conclusion that three fundamental changes brought about conditions conducive to a widespread reduction in smoking, namely, information about its negative effects became common knowledge and was widely believed as true; cigarettes became a target for taxes that raised the price of smoking while placing a penalty on a behaviour increasingly seen as ‘bad’; the public sentiment regarding smoking shifted, deglamourizing the behaviour. The paper further suggests that these changes, which were the result of a concerted public effort, have a similar potential in reducing environmentally unsustainable consumption. A closer tying of consumption to the issue of climate change is suggested as a primary facilitating strategy.
Haptoglobin binds apolipoprotein E and influences cholesterol esterification in the cerebrospinal Fluid
Authors: Salvatore Alfonso , Cigliano Luisa , Carlucci Alessandro , Bucci Enrico M. , Abrescia Paolo
Published: April 2009

Haptoglobin (Hpt) binds the apolipoprotein (Apo) A–I domain, which is involved in stimulating the enzyme lecithin‐cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) for cholesterol esterification. This binding was shown to protect ApoA–I against hydroxyl radicals, thus preventing loss of ApoA–I function in enzyme stimulation. In this study, we report that Hpt is also able to bind ApoE. The Hpt binding site on the ApoE structure was mapped by using synthetic peptides, and found homologous to the Hpt binding site of ApoA–I. Hydroxyl radicals promoted in vitro the formation of ApoE‐containing adducts which were detected by immunoblotting. Hpt impaired this oxidative modification whereas albumin did not. CSF from patients with multiple sclerosis or subjects without neurodegeneration contains oxidized forms of ApoE and ApoA–I similar to those observed in vitro. CSF was analyzed for its level of ApoA–I, ApoE, Hpt, cholesteryl esters, and unesterified cholesterol. The ratio of esterified with unesterified cholesterol, assumed to reflect the LCAT activity ex vivo, did not correlate with either analyzed protein, but conversely correlated with the ratio [Hpt]/([ApoE]+[ApoA–I]). The results suggest that Hpt might save the function of ApoA–I and ApoE for cholesterol esterification, a process contributing to cholesterol elimination from the brain.
Splice variants of the glutamate transporter GLT1 form hetero‐oligomers that interact with PSD‐95 and NMDA receptors
Authors: González‐González Inmaculada M. , García‐Tardón Noemí , Giménez Cecilio , Zafra Francisco
Published: April 2009

The glutamate transporter GLT1 is expressed in at least two isoforms, GLT1a and GLT1b, which differ in their C termini. As GLT1 is an oligomeric protein, we have investigated whether GLT1a and GLT1b might associate as hetero‐oligomers. Differential tagging (HA‐GLT1a and YFP‐GLT1b) revealed that these isoforms form complexes that could be immunoprecipitated when co‐expressed in heterologous systems. The association of GLT1a and GLT1b was also observed in mixed primary cultures of rat brain and in the adult rat brain, where specific antibodies for GLT1a immunoprecipitated GLT1b and vice versa. Dual immunofluorescence in mixed cultures demonstrated the partial co‐localization of both isoforms in neurons and in glial cells. Because GLT1b interacts with an organizer of post‐synaptic densities, PSD‐95, we examined the capacity of GLT1a to associate with this protein. GLT1a was immunoprecipitated from the rat brain in protein complexes that contained not only GLT1b but also PSD‐95 and NMDAR. The interaction between GLT1a with PSD‐95 and NMDAR was reproduced in transfected COS7 cells and it appears to be indirect as it requires the presence of GLT1b. These results indicate that the major isoform of the glutamate transporter, GLT1a, can acquire the capacity to interact with PDZ proteins through its inclusion in hetero‐oligomers containing GLT1b.
Collapse of an avifauna: climate change appears to exacerbate habitat loss and degradation
Authors: Mac Nally Ralph , Bennett Andrew F. , Thomson James R. , Radford James Q. , Unmack Guy , Horrocks Gregory , Vesk Peter A.
Published: April 2009

Aim  We characterized changes in reporting rates and abundances of bird species over a period of severe rainfall deficiency and increasing average temperatures. We also measured flowering in eucalypts, which support large numbers of nectarivores characteristic of the region.

Location  A 30,000‐km2 region of northern Victoria, Australia, consisting of limited amounts of remnant native woodlands embedded in largely agricultural landscapes.

Methods  There were three sets of monitoring studies, pitched at regional (survey programmes in 1995–97, 2004–05 and 2006–08), landscape (2002–03 and 2006–07) and site (1997–2008 continuously) scales. Bird survey techniques used a standard 2‐ha, 20‐min count method. We used Bayesian analyses of reporting rates to document statistically changes in the avifauna through time at each spatial scale.

Results  Bird populations in the largest remnants of native vegetation (up to 40,000 ha), some of which have been declared as national parks in the past decade, experienced similar declines to those in heavily cleared landscapes. All categories of birds (guilds based on foraging substrate, diet, nest site; relative mobility; geographical distributions) were affected similarly. We detected virtually no bird breeding in the latest survey periods. Eucalypt flowering has declined significantly over the past 12 years of drought.

Main conclusions  Declines in the largest woodland remnants commensurate with those in cleared landscapes suggest that reserve systems may not be relied upon to sustain species under climate change. We attribute population declines to low breeding success due to reduced food. Resilience of bird populations in this woodland system might be increased by active management to enhance habitat quality in existing vegetation and restoration of woodland in the more fertile parts of landscapes.
Effects of Health on Wages of Australian Men
Authors: CAI LIXIN
Published: April 2009

This study uses the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey to investigate the effect of health on wages of working‐age Australian men. A simultaneous equation model of health and wages is estimated to account for the endogeneity of health. The results confirm the findings in the literature that health has a significant and positive effect on wages; it is also found that treating health as exogenous underestimates the effect substantially. Although the reverse effect of wages on health is found to be insignificant, there is evidence on the endogeneity of health arising from unobserved factors.
The Historiography of a Construct: “Feudalism” and the Medieval Historian
Authors: Abels Richard
Published: April 2009

Between 1974 and 1994, two influential critiques of feudalism were published, an article in 1974 by Elizabeth A. R. Brown and a book by Susan Reynolds in 1994, that crystallized doubts about the construct of feudalism harbored by many historians of the Middle Ages. Over the last few years textbooks have begun to reflect the new consensus. Medieval historians responsible for chapters on the Middle Ages in Western Civilization and World Civilization textbooks now shy away from the term ‘feudalism’. This reticence is less evident in civilization textbooks lacking a medievalist among the collaborators. In several of these we still find the ‘feudal Middle Ages’ presented without apology, as well as comparisons drawn between Japanese, Chinese, and medieval Western feudalisms. Whether or not the assigned textbook mentions ‘feudalism’, most Western civilization instructors probably continue to use the term because it is familiar to them and to their students. This article presents an overview of the historiography of one of the key concepts for the study of the Middle Ages, and an assessment of where the state of the question now stands. The author concludes that, although the critique of feudalism is powerful and necessary, the pendulum is threatening to swing too far in the other direction, away from the vertical ties and power relations that once dominated discussions of medieval politics and society, and toward a new paradigm of horizontal bonds, consensus making, and community.
Culvert Replacement and Stream Habitat Restoration: Implications from Brook Trout Management in an Appalachian Watershed, U.S.A.
Authors: Poplar‐Jeffers Ira O. , Petty J. Todd , Anderson James T. , Kite Steven J. , Strager Michael P. , Fortney Ronald H.
Published: April 2009

Large‐scale culvert replacement programs could benefit migratory fish populations by reconnecting reproductive and foraging habitats in fragmented watersheds. The objectives of this study were to: (1) identify stream and culvert characteristics contributing to fish passage barriers within an Appalachian watershed, U.S.A.; (2) quantify the total amount of Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) reproductive habitat isolated above culverts; and (3) use an ecological currency to identify culvert replacement priorities and stream mitigation credit opportunities. We surveyed 120 state‐owned culverts and used a fish passage assessment filter to determine the “passability” of each culvert. We then constructed a geographic information system stream network model to quantify the amount of trout reproductive habitat isolated by culverts. Ninety‐seven percent of surveyed culverts were classified as obstacles or complete barriers to trout dispersal. Culvert impassability was higher in small streams with slopes exceeding 3–5%, suggesting a direct relationship between slope and impassability. Thirty‐three percent of Brook trout reproductive habitat, representing over 200 km of stream, was isolated by culverts. This is a conservative estimate, because we did not survey privately or federally owned culverts. The top 20 prioritized culverts accounted for nearly half of the habitat loss. Our results indicate that standard culvert designs placed in streams with slopes exceeding 5% consistently produce trout dispersal barriers and should be avoided during new road construction. The process developed here provides an efficient method for identifying culvert replacement priorities and may be used to maximize watershed scale benefits of stream restoration.
Vegetation Management for Promoting Ecosystem Resilience in Fire‐Prone Mediterranean Shrublands
Authors: Valdecantos A. , Baeza M. J. , Vallejo V. R.
Published: April 2009

Dense shrublands constitute highly hazardous fuels in Mediterranean countries. The combination of agricultural land abandonment and fire occurrence in many Mediterranean areas has led to a landscape dominated by shrublands where resprouter species are scarce or absent. Major goals in the management of these areas are to reduce both the fuel loads and their continuity and increase the resilience of the ecosystems by introducing resprouter species. We investigated the performance of one‐year‐old seedlings of native resprouters, that is, Pistacia lentiscus, Quercus ilex, and Rhamnus alaternus, in a combination of vegetation clearing and mulching with brush chipping in three sites with high amount of fuel load. The planting holes inside the shrublands showed lower radiation and soil surface temperature than those in the cleared areas, whereas soil water content was higher in the mulched holes than in the unmulched ones, especially when water availability was lowest. Seedling survival of Q. ilex and R. alaternus significantly increased within the shrubland; P. lentiscus showed the opposite effect, but its survival was enhanced by the mulching treatment. The three species grew faster in the cleared plots although, unexpectedly, mulching showed a negative effect on Q. ilex relative growth rate in diameter. Our results suggest that the combination of fuel control and reforestation as techniques for shrubland management is an appropriate option, at least in the short term, to redirect vegetation dynamics toward later successional stages, improving ecosystem resilience by the introduction of woody resprouter species.
Significant Achievements in Protection and Restoration of Alpine Grassland Ecosystem in Northern Tibet, China
Authors: Gao Qing‐zhu , Li Yue , Wan Yun‐fan , Jiangcun Wang‐zha , Qin Xiao‐bo , Wang Bao‐shan
Published: April 2009

Alpine grassland is a fragile ecosystem, and a large area of this grassland type has been severely degraded in Northern Tibet, to the extent that it has become the primary ecological problem in the region. Various levels of government, including the national central government, the Tibetan Autonomous Region government, and the Nagqu Prefecture government have worked together to achieve alpine grassland ecosystem protection and prevent grassland degradation. These efforts have resulted in significant ecological, social, and economic benefits in Northern Tibet.
A Twin Study of Depression and Migraine: Evidence for a Shared Genetic Vulnerability
Authors: Schur Ellen A. , Noonan Carolyn , Buchwald Dedra , Goldberg Jack , Afari Niloofar
Published: April 2009

Objective.— To determine if shared genetic or environmental vulnerabilities could underlie depression and migraine.

Background.— Depression and migraine headaches frequently coexist and their comorbidity may be due to shared etiologies.

Methods.— Female twins in the University of Washington Twin Registry responded to a mailed survey regarding their health history. Depression and migraine were determined by self‐report of a physician's diagnosis. We used bivariate structural equation modeling to test for shared genetic, common environmental, and unique environmental components, and to estimate the magnitude of any shared component.

Results.— Among 758 monozygotic and 306 dizygotic female pairs, 23% reported depression and 20% reported migraine headaches. Heritability was estimated to be 58% (95% confidence interval: 48‐67%) for depression and 44% (95% confidence interval: 32‐56%) for migraine. Bivariate structural equation modeling estimated that 20% of the variability in depression and migraine headaches was due to shared genes and 4% was due to shared unique environmental factors.

Conclusions.— The comorbidity of depression and migraine headache may be due in part to shared genetic risk factors. Research should focus attention on shared pathways, thereby making progress on 2 disease fronts simultaneously and perhaps providing clinicians with unified treatment strategies.
Familial Cluster Headache: Demographic Patterns in Affected and Nonaffected
Authors: Sjöstrand Christina , Russell Michael Bjørn , Ekbom Karl , Waldenlind Elisabet
Published: April 2009

(Headache 2010;50:374‐382)

Objective.— Smoking has been claimed to be more common in cluster headache (CH) sufferers than in nonaffected subjects. Other demographic information such as handedness, body mass index, eye color, education, occupation, and alcohol use has been described as being different in CH patients compared with a control population. The aim of this study was to get more detailed information in CH patients with a positive family history and their nonaffected relatives, assuming that there would be demographic differences between the groups.

Materials and methods.— Affected CH patients and nonaffected first‐ and second‐degree relatives (n = 114) received a posted questionnaire. Information from 83 subjects (42 affected and 41 first‐ and/or second‐degree relatives) from 23 families was received. P < .05 was chosen to be significant.

Results.— Parental cigarette smoking during childhood and adolescence of patients and controls and current or former smoking was significantly more common in CH patients. Frequent alcohol intake (2‐3 times/week or more) was significantly more common in the affected group of CH patients. There were significant differences as regards the life history of head trauma, but some of the affected had had the trauma after the age of onset of CH. Interestingly, CH patients worked more full‐time than nonaffected.

Conclusion.— Formerly described demographic relationships in CH regarding cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and head trauma were also seen in our CH patients and their nonaffected relatives. These findings might represent a gene environment interaction in affected CH patients or it could be personality‐lifestyle‐related phenomena or a combination of these mechanisms.
Frequency of Chronic Headaches in Japanese Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: With Special Reference to Opticospinal and Common Forms of Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Doi Hikaru , Matsushita Takuya , Isobe Noriko , Ishizu Takaaki , Ohyagi Yasumasa , Kira Jun‐ichi
Published: April 2009

Background.— Headache is common in Western patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), but its frequency has not been reported in Asian patients. In Asians, the opticospinal form of MS, showing similar characteristics to relapsing neuromyelitis optica in Westerners, is regarded as a different subtype from conventional MS.

Objectives.— The aim of this study was to clarify the frequency of primary and chronic secondary headaches in Japanese patients with MS and the factors associated with the emergence of such headaches.

Methods.— We investigated 127 consecutive patients with clinically definite MS. Frequencies of primary and chronic secondary headaches were compared according to clinical subtype, administration of interferon beta, and anti‐aquaporin‐4 antibody status.

Results.— The frequency of patients with primary and chronic secondary headaches at the time of interview was 64/127 (50.4%); the frequency of migraine was 26/127 (20.4%) and that of tension‐type headache was 38/127 (29.9%). The frequencies of patients with primary and chronic secondary headaches and migraine without aura after the onset of MS were higher in patients undergoing interferon beta therapy than in those not on the therapy (42.4% vs 23.4%, P < .05 and 15.1% vs 4.3%, P = .05, respectively). There were no significant differences in the frequency of primary and chronic secondary headaches based on clinical subtype of MS. However, among patients not receiving interferon beta, the occurrence of migraine with aura after the onset of MS was significantly higher in patients with anti‐aquaporin‐4 antibody than in patients without the antibody (13.3% vs 0.0%, P < .05).

Conclusions.— In Japanese patients with MS, the frequency of primary and chronic secondary headaches, especially migraine, was higher than in the general Japanese population. Administration of interferon beta was related to a higher frequency of primary and chronic secondary headaches, especially migraine without aura, irrespective of clinical subtype of MS.
No Influence of 5‐HTTLPR Gene Polymorphism on Migraine Symptomatology, Comorbid Depression, and Chronification
Authors: Wieser Thomas , Dresler Kathrin , Evers Stefan , Gaul Charly , König Dorothea , Hölzl Daniela , Berger Klaus , Nyholt Dale , Deufel Thomas
Published: April 2009

(Headache 2010;50:420‐430)

Background.— The serotonergic system is thought to play an important role for mediating susceptibility to migraine and depression, which is frequently found comorbid in migraine. The functional polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5‐HTTLPR/SLC6A4) was previously associated with attack frequency and, thus, possibly with chronification.

Objective.— We hypothesized that patients with the “s” allele have higher attack frequency and, paralleling results in depression research, higher scores of depression.

Methods.— Genetic analysis of the SLC6A4 44 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism (5‐HTTLPR) was performed in 293 patients with migraine with and without aura. Self‐rating questionnaires were used for assessment of depression.

Results.— Multinomial logistic regression analysis found no evidence for association of the 5‐HTTLPR polymorphism with either depression or migraine attack frequency.

Conclusion.— We were not able to demonstrate any influence of the serotonin transporter 5‐HTTLPR polymorphism on migraine phenomenology (attack frequency or comorbid depression), thereby excluding this variant to be a common genetic denominator for chronic migraine and depression.
Migraine Following Trans‐Septal Access for Catheter Ablation of Cardiac Arrhythmias
Authors: Saravanan Palaniappan , Lang Christopher , Davidson Neil
Published: April 2009

There is increasing recognition that migraine with aura may be associated with intra‐cardiac shunting because of a patent foramen ovale. Radio‐frequency ablation to treat cardiac arrhythmias is an increasingly popular means of treating cardiac arrhythmias. Trans‐septal puncture is routinely performed to gain access to the left atrium in order to ablate arrhythmias originating in the left heart. We report several cases of migraine triggered acutely by trans‐septal puncture at our center.
Rejection and Acceptance of Possible Side Effects of Migraine Prophylactic Drugs
Authors: Kowacs Pedro A. , Piovesan Elcio J. , Tepper Stewart J.
Published: April 2009

Introduction.— Successful prophylactic therapy might require not only efficacy but meeting patients' expectations about the potential side effects of the preventative drug selected. Prior to prescribing prophylactic drugs to prophylaxis‐naive migraine patients, we aimed to quantify the acceptance or rejection of some of the possible adverse events associated with migraine prophylactic drugs.

Methods.— A total of 203 prophylactic‐naive migraine/chronic migraine patients, 17 (8.4%) male, 186 (91.6%) female, aged 19 to 65 years were serially selected and asked to answer bidirectional visual numerical scales designed for this purpose, with 1 scale for each side effect. The question posed was: “How much would you accept or reject the following side effects to get rid of your migraine headaches?” The side effects listed were dry mouth, epigastric burning, low energy, tingling, somnolence, depression, tremor, insomnia, memory loss, sluggishness, weight gain, and weight loss.

Results.— The most rejected possible side effects were weight gain, memory loss, and depression. Weight loss was better accepted by patients with a higher body mass. In general, there was a higher acceptance of side effects for patients taking more than 10 symptomatic medications a month, especially for loss of energy and somnolence. Older patients lacked an acceptance of tremor.

Conclusion.— Our findings reinforce and quantify findings similar to those in the literature, and provide new data regarding the preference determinants for prophylactic medication.
Prevalence of Headache in the Entire Population of a Small City in Brazil
Authors: Junior Ariovaldo S. , Krymchantowski Abouch , Moreira Pedro , Vasconcelos Luiz , Gomez Rodrigo , Teixeira Antonio
Published: April 2009

Objective.— To estimate the 1‐year prevalence of headache, using face‐to‐face interviews of the entire population of a city in Brazil.

Methods.— This was a cross‐sectional, population‐based study. We conducted face‐to‐face interviews of all individuals older than 10 years, in a town (Capela Nova) in Brazil. Prevalence of the headache was estimated using prevalence ratios, adjusted by gender, age, marital status, and level education.

Results.— The estimated 1‐year prevalence of any headache was 65.4%. Headache was 1.5 times more prevalent in women and individuals aged 20 and 29, but less prevalent in the elderly and divorced. There was not association with the level of education.

Conclusions.— From a public healthcare perspective, headache should be seen as hypertension and diabetes, and actively screened and treated.
Clinical Relevance of a Raised Plasma N‐Terminal Pro‐Brain Natriuretic Peptide Level in a Population‐Based Cohort of Nonagenarians
Authors: Vaes Bert , De Ruijter Wouter , Degryse Jan , Westendorp Rudi G. J. , Gussekloo Jacobijn
Published: April 2009

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether plasma N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) remains a specific marker of cardiac illness in very old age and can be used to identify very elderly people at high risk for death independent of the presence of known cardiac diagnoses.

DESIGN: Prospective, observational, population‐based follow‐up study within the Leiden 85‐Plus Study of a 2‐year birth cohort (1912–1914).

SETTING: General population, municipality of Leiden, the Netherlands.

PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred seventy‐four participants were followed up from age 90 onward (median follow‐up 42.3 months, interquartile range 20.2–50.2 months).

MEASUREMENTS: Plasma NT‐proBNP level, indicators of general health and functioning, and specific cardiac diagnoses at age 90 and mortality from age 90 onward.

RESULTS: Plasma levels of NT‐proBNP were not correlated with indicators of poor health or poor functioning, but the level of NT‐proBNP increased significantly with increasing numbers of cardiac diagnoses (P<.001). High NT‐proBNP was associated with overall mortality in participants with (hazard ratio (HR)=2.8, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.5–5.2) and without (HR=3.5, 95% CI=1.6–7.5) specific cardiac diagnoses. This was also found for cardiovascular mortality risks (with specific cardiac diagnoses HR=4.1, 95% CI=1.5–11 vs without HR=5.6, 95% CI=1.0–30) and noncardiovascular mortality risks (with specific cardiac diagnoses HR=1.9, 95% CI=0.84–4.5 vs without HR=3.4, 95% CI=1.3–8.6).

CONCLUSION: Plasma NT‐proBNP is a disease‐specific marker of cardiac illness in nonagenarians and can possibly be used as a predictor of mortality in elderly people with and without specific cardiac diagnoses.
The value of automated gel column agglutination technology in the identification of true inherited D blood types in massively transfused patients
Authors: Summers Jr Thomas , Johnson Viviana V. , Stephan John P. , Johnson Gloria J. , Leonard George
Published: April 2009

BACKGROUND: Massive transfusion of D− trauma patients in the combat setting involves the use of D+ red blood cells (RBCs) or whole blood along with suboptimal pretransfusion test result documentation. This presents challenges to the transfusion service of tertiary care military hospitals who ultimately receive these casualties because initial D typing results may only reflect the transfused RBCs. After patients are stabilized, mixed‐field reaction results on D typing indicate the patient's true inherited D phenotype. This case series illustrates the utility of automated gel column agglutination in detecting mixed‐field reactions in these patients.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The transfusion service test results, including the automated gel column agglutination D typing results, of four massively transfused D− patients transfused D+ RBCs is presented. To test the sensitivity of the automated gel column agglutination method in detecting mixed‐field agglutination reactions, a comparative analysis of three automated technologies using predetermined mixtures of D+ and D− RBCs is also presented.

RESULTS: The automated gel column agglutination method detected mixed‐field agglutination in D typing in all four patients and in the three prepared control specimens. The automated microwell tube method identified one of the three prepared control specimens as indeterminate, which was subsequently manually confirmed as a mixed‐field reaction. The automated solid‐phase method was unable to detect any mixed fields.

CONCLUSION: The automated gel column agglutination method provides a sensitive means for detecting mixed‐field agglutination reactions in the determination of the true inherited D phenotype of combat casualties transfused massive amounts of D+ RBCs.
Effects of storage and leukoreduction on lymphocytes and Epstein‐Barr virus genomes in platelet concentrates
Authors: Qu Lirong , Rowe David T. , Donnenberg Albert D. , Griffin Deborah L. , Triulzi Darrell J.
Published: April 2009

BACKGROUND: Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) persists in infected B lymphocytes in blood donors. Lymphocytes are viable during platelet (PLT) storage. The effects of storage and leukoreduction on lymphocytes and EBV genomes are evaluated.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Forty nonleukoreduced PLT concentrates were stored at 20 to 24°C for up to 7 days. EBV genomes in B cells were quantified on Days 1 and 5. Viable white blood cells (WBCs) and T and B cells were quantified in 10 of 40 units on Days 1, 3, 5, and 7 of storage. For the leukoreduction study, four pools of PLTs were leukoreduced within 24 hours of collection. B cells from before leukoreduction and all peripheral blood mononuclear cells from after leukoreduction were assayed for EBV.

RESULTS: Viable WBCs and T cells were stable whereas viable B cells were reduced to 71% of the Day 1 level by Day 5. A total of 31 of 37 (83.8%) units were EBV positive. Although EBV genomes remained stable in most units, 12 of 37 units demonstrated a median of 5.1 (range 2‐ to 134)‐fold increase in EBV genomes per 105 B cells on Day 5. For the leukoreduction study, EBV genomes were detected in four of four pools before leukoreduction with a median of 3.8 (range, 0.2‐93.6) EBV genomes per 105 B cells. EBV genomes were not detected in any of the postleukoreduction specimens.

CONCLUSIONS: Seventy percent of B lymphocytes are viable on Day 5 of PLT storage. Although the mean number of EBV genomes remained stable, a subset of units had increased EBV genomes during storage. Leukoreduction removed polymerase chain reaction–detectable EBV genomes from PLT pools.
Language, Agglomeration and Hispanic Homeownership
Authors: Haurin Donald R. , Rosenthal Stuart S.
Published: April 2009

As of the fourth quarter of 2007, 74.9% of white non‐Hispanic families but only 48.5% of Hispanic families owned homes. We argue that low rates of homeownership in Hispanic communities create a self‐reinforcing mechanism that contributes to this large disparity. In part, this occurs because proximity to other homeowners belonging to a family's social network improves access to information about how to become a homeowner. Role model effects may also be relevant. We investigate these issues using household‐level data on out‐of‐state movers from the 2000 Decennial Census. Three especially important results are obtained. First, proximity to Hispanic homeowners in the 1995 place of residence increases the propensity of a Hispanic family to own a home in 2000. Second, that effect is especially strong with respect to proximity to weak English‐speaking Hispanic homeowners. Third, these patterns hold regardless of the Hispanic family's own ability to speak English. From a policy perspective, these results suggest that local programs designed to promote homeownership among weak English‐speaking Hispanic families likely increase Hispanic homeownership beyond just the immediate program participants.
Homeownership and Child Welfare
Authors: Barker David , Miller Eric
Published: April 2009

Recent studies have concluded that homeownership is beneficial to children. This result is important because it is used to justify large government subsidies that encourage homeownership. We reexamine the results of two of the most prominent of these studies using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, Public Use Microsample, and National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data. We extend this research by controlling for residential mobility, wealth, dwelling type and vehicle ownership, as well as by using a “differences in differences” methodology to deal with possible treatment effects bias. We find that the beneficial effects of homeownership previously measured are substantially reduced or eliminated by controlling for these factors. We confirm these results using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study.