bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of dissemination of aspergillosis in poultry and possible control measures
Authors: Kapetanov Milos , Potkonjak Dubravka , Milanov Dubravka , Stojanov Igor , Zivkov-Balos Milica , Prunic Bojana
Published: June 2011

Fungi belonging to genus Aspegillus are ubiquitous saprophytic microorganisms
which are, in certain circumstances, responsible for clinical infections of
respiratory tract in all poultry, particularly in young birds. In case of a
lung form, Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger and A. glaucus are the most
frequently isolated fungi. In general, poultry is constantly exposed to these
fungi in its environment. Predisposing factors, such as long exposition and
highly contaminated environment and litter, high humidity in poultry houses,
poor ventilation, malnutrition and stress, all contribute to clinical
aspergillosis. Some geographic and seasonal regularities are observed in
relation to the distribution of disease outbreaks. In this sense, cases of
aspergillosis in our country were more frequently noted in wild areas located
northern from the rivers Sava and Danube. Influence of some factors on the
outbreak and spreading, as well as predominant clinical features of
aspergillosis in poultry were investigated in this paper. Possible
prophylactic and intervention measures were discussed. The occurrence of
Aspergillus sp. in poultry was analyzed according to the clinical and
laboratory investigations performed during the two selected years, 2000 and
2010. Widespread aspergillosis was noted in poultry flocks of different age,
both in young and adult birds. During the years 2000 and 2010, acute
aspergillosis was found in 12 and 16 commercial flocks of chickens and
turkeys, respectively. Ocular infection with Aspergillus was determined in 10
day old broilers from two flocks. Aspergillus sp. was isolated from unhatched
eggs (6.86%), litter (23.07%), environmental (36.17%) and hatchery swabs
(3.85%). Besides the appropriate antifungal therapy, enforcement of proper
sanitary-hygiene measures on poultry farms and hatcheries, as well as
microbiological control of feed are considered essential for an efficient
control of infection and its spreading.
Antioxidant properties of hot water extracts from carpophore and spores of mushroom Ganoderma lucidum
Authors: Klaus Anita , Kozarski Maja , Niksic Miomir
Published: June 2011

Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss.:Fr.) Karst is one of the medicinal mushrooms, which
possesses enviable antioxidant properties. Objective of this investigation
was to evaluate antioxidant activity, reducing power, scavenging abilities on
1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and chelating effects on
ferrous ions of hot water extracts obtained from carpophore and spores of
this mushroom. Hot water extract from carpophore (Gl-I) showed high
antioxidant activity of 85.7 ? 0.7%, at 10 mg/ml, while antioxidant activity
of hot water extract from spores (Gl-Is) was 9.2 ? 0.3% at 10 mg/ml. Reducing
power of Gl-I reached a plateau of 3.4 ? 0.1 at 20 mg/ml, and 0.3 ? 0.0 at 20
mg/ml for Gl-Is. At 10 mg/ml, scavenging ability on DPPH radicals of Gl-I
increased to 96.8 ? 2.5%, whereas Gl-Is scavenged DPPH radicals by 69.6 ?
2.5% at 10 mg/ml. Gl-I chelated 81.6 ? 3.6 % of ferrous ions at 20 mg/ml,
while the chelating effect of Gl-Is was 73.8 ? 1.7%. The antioxidative
activities of hot water extracts from carpophore and spores of the mushroom
G. lucidum were concentration dependent and increased with an increase in the
concentration.
Antioxidant activity of water extracts from fruit body of Lentinus edodes enriched with selenium
Authors: Savic Milena , Klaus Anita , Kozarski Maja , Niksic Miomir
Published: June 2011

Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) belongs to medically important and delicious
fungi. It is recognizable for its healing properties, excellent taste and
rich aroma. According to the traditional Japanese and Chinese medicine,
shiitake mushroom significantly increases the strength and vitality of the
body. Shiitake contains immunostimulants, compounds that lower cholesterol,
prevents clogging of blood vessels, regulates the pressure, balances blood
sugar levels, regulates digestion, and improves the performance of
respiratory organs by its antirheumatic and antiallergic activities. Shiitake
is recommended to use as food, prevention and cure, usually in a form of a
spice (dried and ground) or tea. It can be consumed fresh, too. The objective
of this study was to test the effect of enrichment in selenium on
antioxidant, reducing and free radical scavenging activity of water extracts
from fruit body of Lentinus edodes. The fungus was enhanced by adding organic
selenium, zinc (II) complex with the ligand 2.6-bis diacetylpyridine
(selenosemicarbazon) and inorganic compounds (Na2SeO3) of selenium in
nutritional substrate where the fungus was grown. The total selenium content
in fruit body was around 50 ppm for the sample enriched with selenium
originating from organic sources, and 80 ppm for the sample enriched with
selenium from inorganic sources. Samples were prepared by extraction of
fruiting bodies in heated water. The results indicated that water extracts of
whole fruit bodies, from both control and mushrooms supplemented with
selenium, had quite good antioxidant activity. However, there was no
significant difference between the samples supplemented with selenium content
and those that were not.
Comparative study of cellulolytic activity of three rumen fungi on different substrates
Authors: Atanasova-Pancevska Natalija , Kungulovski Dzoko , Kungulovski Ivan
Published: June 2011

Anaerobic chytridiomycete fungi are found in the gastrointestinal tracts of
many domesticated ruminant and nonruminant herbivores and of a wide variety
of wild herbivorous mammals. They produce high levels of cellulases and
hemicellulases; these enzymes are regulated by substrate (especially soluble
sugars) available to the organisms. The aim of this paper was to do a
comparative study of cellulolytic activity of three rumen fungi on
carboxymethyl cellulose and Avicel. The capacity of enzymes was determined by
monitoring the growth on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and Avicel. Enzyme
activity was detected extracellularly in culture supernatants after
vegetative growth. All of the isolates degraded CMC and avicel, and exhibited
cellulolytic activities (carboxymethyl cellulose-(CMC-ase) and avicelase).
Ligninolytic enzyme production by Lenzites betulinus on selected plant raw materials
Authors: Knezevic Aleksandar , Milovanovic Ivan , Stajic Mirjana , Vukojevic Jelena
Published: June 2011

To get a better insight into the ligninolytic system of Lenzites betulinus,
the effect of wheat straw and oak sawdust, as carbon sources, on production
of Mn-oxidizing peroxidases and laccase, under solid-state and submerged
fermentation, was studied. Obtained results revealed considerable differences
related to the both factors affecting enzyme activities. Wheat straw was more
favorable carbon source for Mn-oxidizing peroxidases and oak sawdust for
laccase activity. Solid-state fermentation of wheat straw was optimal for
Mn-dependent peroxidase activity (72.1 Ul-1). In contrary to this, submerged
fermentation of the same residue gave the highest level of versatile
peroxidase activity (25.4 Ul-1). The peak of laccase activity was noted
during solid-state fermentation of oak sawdust (32.3 Ul-1), while this enzyme
was not detected under submerged fermentation of any plant residues.
Mold attack on frescoes and stone walls of Gradac monastery
Authors: Stupar Milos , Ljaljevic-Grbic Milica , Vukojevic Jelena , Jelikic Aleksa
Published: June 2011

Microfungi can colonize stone surfaces and form sub-aerial biofilms which can
lead to biodeterioration of historic monuments. In this investigation samples
for mycological analyses were collected from stone material with visible
alteration on stone walls of Gradac monastery exterior. The prevailing fungi
found on stone walls were dematiaceous hyphomycetes with melanized hyphae and
reproductive structures (Alternaria, Aureobasidium, Cladosporium and
Epicoccum species). The frescoes inside the monastery building were also
analyzed for the presence of mycobiota. The predominant fungi found on
frescoes were osmophilic species from genera Aspergillus and Penicillium. The
significant result is identification of human pathogen species Aspergillus
fumigatus on frescoes.
Auditor Workload Compression and Busy Season Auditor Switching
Authors: López Dennis M , Peters Gary F
Published: June 2011

SYNOPSIS

This study investigates the impact of the busy season and concomitant concentrated demands on audit resources on the likelihood of auditor switching. Hereafter, we refer to the concentration of companies with the same fiscal year-end date within an auditor's client portfolio as “workload compression.” Despite the economic significance of December year-end clients for audit firms and the challenges imposed by workload compression, the busy season remains a relatively unexplored area of study in the archival auditing literature (Sweeney and Summers 2002). This study represents an attempt to fill this void and validate some of the findings of prior behavioral studies from an empirical perspective. We employ a sample of 10,238 company-year observations for years 2004 through 2007 and find evidence consistent with December year-end companies having a lower likelihood of auditor switching than that of non-December year-end companies. However, we also find evidence of a significantly positive association between the likelihood of auditor switching and workload compression. Thus, our results suggest that it is not just the fiscal year-end month of a client that matters, but the concentration of busy season companies within an auditor's client portfolio also affects the auditor-client relationship.

Data Availability: Data are available from public sources identified in the paper.
An Ex Post Examination of Auditor Resignations
Authors: Catanach Anthony , Irving James H , Perry Williams Susan , Walker Paul L
Published: June 2011

SYNOPSIS

The auditor change literature has generally concluded that clients from whom an audit firm resigns are risky clients, yet little is known about the period after a predecessor auditor has resigned from an engagement. We investigate a sample of resignations to determine why an audit firm chooses to accept the role of successor auditor on a presumably risky engagement and whether this decision is associated with a future adverse outcome. Consistent with prior studies, our results indicate that, relative to Non-Big N firms, Big N firms are more selective in accepting the successor auditor role when the predecessor auditor has resigned. Incremental to these prior studies, we find that Big N firms factor in two variables to help mitigate their potential risk—the timing of the predecessor audit firm's resignation and their own firm's expertise. Our analysis of future outcomes indicates that the resigned clients engaged by Non-Big N successor auditors are associated with weaker long-term financial ratios, shorter survival tenures, and a greater proportion of adverse outcomes compared with the resigned clients engaged by Big N successor auditors.

Data Availability: Data are available from the sources indicated in the text.
Expression of Hypoxia-Inducible Factors, Regulators, and Target Genes in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Patients
Authors: van der Horst Irene W.J.M. , Rajatapiti Prapapan , van der Voorn Paul , van Nederveen Francien H. , Tibboel Dick , Rottier Robbert , Reiss Irwin , de Krijger Ronald R.
Published: June 2011

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is associated with lung hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension and has high morbidity and mortality rates. The cause and pathophysiology of CDH are not fully understood. However, impaired angiogenesis appears to play an important role in the pathophysiology of CDH. Therefore, we examined different components of an important pathway in angiogenesis: hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs); HIF regulators von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) and prolyl 3-hydroxylase (PHD3); and HIF target genes vascular endothelial growth factor A ( VEGF-A) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 ( VEGFR-2). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction of lung tissue showed a significantly decreased expression of VEGF-A mRNA in the alveolar stage of lung development in CDH patients compared with matched control patients. In the canalicular stage, no differences for VEGF-A were seen between the lungs of CDH patients and those of control patients. Other components of angiogenesis (VHL, HIF-1α,HIF-2α, HIF-3α, VEGFR-2 mRNA, PHD3 protein) that were analyzed showed no differences in expression between CDH and control patients, independent of the developmental stage. A lower expression of VEGF mRNA in CDH patients in the alveolar stage, possibly as a result of downregulation of HIF-2α might indicate a role for these factors in the pathophysiology of CDH.
Intraobserver, interobserver, and intermethod agreement for results of myelography, computed tomography-myelography, and low-field magnetic resonance imaging in dogs with disk-associated wobbler syndrome
Authors: De Decker Steven , Gielen Ingrid M. V. L. , Duchateau Luc , Corzo-Menéndez Nuria , van Bree Henri J. J. , Kromhout Kaatje , Bosmans Tim , Van Ham Luc M. L.
Published: June 2011

Objective—To determine intraobserver, interobserver, and intermethod agreement for results of myelography, computed tomography-myelography (CTM), and low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in dogs with disk-associated wobbler syndrome (DAWS).

Design—Prospective cross-sectional study.

Animals—22 dogs with DAWS.

Procedures—All dogs underwent myelography, CTM, and low-field MRI. Each imaging study was interpreted twice by 4 observers who were blinded to signalment and clinical information of the patients. The following variables were assessed by all 3 techniques: number, site, and direction of spinal cord compressions; narrowed intervertebral disk spaces; vertebral body abnormalities; spondylosis deformans; and abnormal articular facets. Intervertebral foraminal stenosis was assessed on CTM and MRI images. Intraobserver, interobserver, and intermethod agreement were calculated by κ and weighted κ statistics.

Results—There was very good to good intraobserver agreement for most variables assessed by myelography and only moderate intraobserver agreement for most variables assessed by CTM and low-field MRI. There was moderate to fair interobserver and intermethod agreement for most variables assessed by the 3 diagnostic techniques. There was very good or good intraobserver, interobserver, or intermethod agreement for the site and direction of the worst spinal cord compression as assessed by all the imaging modalities; abnormal articular facets and intervertebral foraminal stenosis were the least reliably assessed variables, with poor interobserver agreement regardless of imaging modality used.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—There was considerable variation in image interpretation among observers and between use of various imaging modalities; these imaging techniques should be considered complementary in assessment of dogs with DAWS.
Evaluation of sedation and analgesia in standing horses after administration of xylazine, butorphanol, and subanesthetic doses of ketamine
Authors: Wagner Ann E. , Mama Khursheed R. , Contino Erin K. , Ferris Dora J. , Kawcak Christopher E.
Published: June 2011

Objective—To evaluate the sedative and analgesic effects of subanesthetic doses of ketamine in horses sedated with xylazine, with or without butorphanol.

Design—Prospective, randomized, controlled study.

Animals—10 adult horses.

Procedures—Each horse was sedated multiple times by administration of xylazine (treatment X), xylazine and butorphanol (treatment XB), xylazine with 1 of 2 dosages of ketamine (treatment XK1 or XK2), or xylazine and butorphanol with 1 of 2 dosages of ketamine (treatment XBK1 or XBK2). Head height and various behaviors, including responses to noise, insertion of a dental float, needle prick on the flank, algometer pressure on the scapula, and bilateral carpal arthrocenteses, were evaluated.

Results—No significant differences were detected among sedation treatments for head height, response to noise, or response to arthrocenteses. Insertion of a dental float was easiest with treatment XBK2 and most difficult with treatments XK1 and XK2. Response to a needle prick on the flank was lowest with treatment XB and highest with treatment XK2. Tolerance to algometer pressure over the scapula was highest with treatment XBK2 and lowest with treatment X.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Administration of a subanesthetic dosage of ketamine with xylazine and butorphanol may facilitate certain procedures, such as insertion of a dental float, in horses and enhance tolerance to pressure stimulation, but it may worsen responses to acute pain, such as that caused by a needle prick. Further evaluation is needed to determine whether subanesthetic dosages of ketamine might be useful when performing certain clinical procedures in horses.
An Anthropomimetic Approach to High Performance Traction Control
Authors: Kirchner William , Southward Steve C.
Published: June 2011

The ability to learn and adapt to changing environmental conditions, as well as develop perceptive models based on stimulus-response data, provides expert human drivers with significant advantages. When it comes to bandwidth, accuracy, and repeatability, automatic control systems have clear advantages over humans; however, most high performance control systems lack many of the unique abilities of a human expert. This paper documents our first step toward the development of a novel automatic traction control algorithm using an anthropomimetic approach. The primary objective of this approach was to synthesize a high performance longitudinal traction control system by incorporating desirable human behavior distilled from human-in-the-loop (HIL) testing on a 6-DOF driving simulator. The proposed control algorithm was developed in a general framework, and applied to the specific task of longitudinal traction control. Simulation results confirm that the proposed anthropomimetic traction control algorithm provides improved performance relative to a well-tuned conventional PID-based traction control algorithm. Results are also compared with the HIL response data from a behavioral study.
Philosophical dialogue as a space for seeking a good life, identity and critical thinking
Authors: Šulavíková Blanka
Published: June 2011

In recent years (since the 1980s) we have witnessed growth in the practical application of philosophy. Some authors talk about a so-called “shift in philosophical counselling” or “philosophical practice” taking place chiefly in western countries. Some Slovak authors also discuss the application of philosophy in practice but this issue is only in its infancy here. The author of this paper seeks to establish the boundaries of understanding the possibilities philosophy has to offer in practical life and to formulate an opinion on the competency of philosophy in this area. The author believes that it is the “good life” that is central to the agenda of philosophical practice. The aim of philosophical counselling is to advise people through their personal life philosophy. It is a conversational process that controls dialectic thinking and reflects the fears and questions that arise in everyday life as well as questions about the meaning of life as a whole. The author understands philosophical dialogue as a space for seeking a good life, identity and critical thinking.
Emblems of Authority in The Admirable Crichton
Authors: Gould Marty
Published: June 2011

J.M. Barrie's The Admirable Crichton dramatizes the conflict between text and performance as they constitute authority. My argument focuses on the costumes, gestures, and stage props specified in Barrie's revised “narrative” stage directions to show how the play destabilizes normative metropolitan markers of gender and class as it explores the naturalness of artificial social roles and relationships. Although it is most obviously preoccupied with social class, the play exhibits a significant interest in the differential dynamics of authority and gender: text serves as the primary means by which power is authorized and exercised, while costume functions as the site at which gender norms are negotiated. I take up each of these concept/property pairings in turn as I investigate the role of the island in the expression of metropolitan anxieties over the nature and necessity of social difference. I also take note of how these issues have been handled in selected stage and film productions, as actors and directors make use of – or in some cases misunderstand – the symbolic system of Barrie's problem play.
Pozzo's Knook, Beckett's Boys, and Santa Claus
Authors: Cohen Robert
Published: June 2011

This article makes two related assertions about Beckett's Waiting for Godot and Endgame. First, it uncovers the original source of the word “knook,” which is the term Pozzo uses to describe Lucky, his carrier, in Godot. And second, referencing explanations in a letter written by Beckett to this author in 1960, it discusses sequences from the French versions of both Godot and Endgame that Beckett did not include in his English translations. Taken together, in the context of these and other Beckett literary works (Molloy, All That Fall, Embers), these assertions coalesce to open a new window on Beckett's mental landscape.
The “Sexuation” of Sublimation: A Žižekian Approach to John Mighton'sPossible Worlds
Authors: Wolfe Graham
Published: June 2011

“The ‘Sexuation’ of Sublimation” takes a new look [at] Possible Worlds, a highly successful work by Canadian playwright John Mighton. Drawing upon the recent writings of Slavoj Žižek, the article investigates the paradoxes of love, desire, and sublimity that arise amidst the play's shifting worlds. It argues that this highly fantastical play ultimately stages what Jacques Lacan calls a “traversal of the fantasy,” modelling a radical reconfiguration of the subject's relation to Symbolic reality. Understood in this way, the play sheds new light on theatre's potential as a site of transformation and gestures toward new modes of configuring – and staging – the sublime.
Creativity Unbound - Policies, Government and the Creative Industries
Authors: Ooi Can-Seng , Stöber Birgit
Published: June 2011

No abstract available.
International Film Festivals: For the Benefit of Whom?
Authors: Strandgaard Pedersen Jesper , Mazza Carmelo
Published: June 2011

Film festivals have become a widespread phenomenon over the last fifty years and are leading events establishing the reputation of film professionals and constitute a well-established field in itself. Studying the cities of Copenhagen and Rome the authors are asking why the public authorities of these cities establish their own film festivals in an lready saturated field of international film festivals? The focus is on the strategic responses and work made by two late adopters of film festivals – Copenhagen and Rome and their international film festivals, CIFF and ’Festa del Cinema di Roma’ (FCR). The comparative case study is based on qualitative data and methods. It investigates how the two festivals establish, legitimate and position themselves within the existing, institutionalised field of international film festivals. Combining the classical work on early and late adopters in the diffusion of ideas and practices (Tolbert & Zucker 1983) with forms of legitimacy (Suchman 1995) and institutional work (Lawrence & Suddaby 2006), it is demonstrated how different and sometimes conflicting demands from various stakeholders, like public authorities and the film industry, have shaped the frames used to position and legitimize the film festivals.
Re-scaling Governance in Berlin’s Creative Economy
Authors: Lange Bastian
Published: June 2011

The paper aims at discussing the issue of governance in respect to creative scenes, a central structural element of the creative economy, exemplifying the case of Berlin. Berlin has a fast growing creative industry that has become the object of the city’s development policies and place marketing. The core question is: What are the spatial-organizational driving forces of creativity in Berlin - can they be steered by public administration? I am using Berlin as a reference case to articulate the gap between ’stateled planning’ on the one hand and the organisational practices of self-governed creative scenes on the other. I attempt to demonstrate why a perspective change in terms of re-scaling is necessary, in order to respond to the particular practices of emerging industries and their societal form ’scenes’. By re-scaling I mean the conceptualization of governance in different nonhierarchical organisational as well as spatial scales, based on the observation that scenes are considered to be a central element of the functionality of creative industries.
Translating Fashion into Danish
Authors: Riegels Melchior Marie , Skov Lise , Faurholt Csaba Fabian
Published: June 2011

With their association to enterprise and innovation, creative industries have emerged as a legitimate concern in national cultural and economical policy in many countries across the world. In Denmark, the fashion business, in particular, has been hailed as a model for successful (post)industrial transformation. In this paper, we explore the birth of Danish fashion from the ashes of the country’s clothing manufacturing industry, suggesting that the very notion of Danish fashion is indicative of – and enabled by – a development towards a polycentric fashion system. The intriguing idea that fashion could emanate from Denmark and secure growth, jobs and exports even outside the fashion business has taken hold among policymakers, and compelled the government to embrace fashion as a national project. In investigating the emergence and rising stature of Danish fashion, particular at home, we first establish a theoretical frame for understanding the cultural economic policy and the motives, principles and strategies behind it. Then – drawing inspiration from Michel Callon’s “sociology of translation” with its moments of translation: problematization, interessement, enrolment and mobilization – we identify the actors and analyze their strategic roles and interrelationship through various phases of the development of Danish fashion. Callon’s actor network theory (ANT) is based on the principle of “generalized symmetry” – originally using a single repertoire to analyze both society and nature. We adapt this principle to study the realms of market, culture and politics within a common analytical framework. In our analysis, the state responds to industry transformation, interprets it and develops its own agenda. But it can hardly be said to develop policies for the industry. On the contrary, we suggest, fashion is mobilized to lend its luster to the nation, its institutions and politicians.
Meaningful-Experience Creation and Event Management: A Post-Event Analysis of Copenhagen Carnival 2009
Authors: Holst Kjær Sarah
Published: June 2011

A carnival is a cultural event within the experience economy, and can be considered an activity of added value to a city when creating place-awareness for tourists and residents. ’Culture’ is used as a way to regenerate post-industrial and run down places, when studying EU – as well as Nordic – cultural policy reports. This might be too much to expect from the cultural sector though. Amongst other external factors, cultural policy ideals co-create and affect the experiential content of an event in various ways. Thus studying a carnival one has to include external and internal factors in order to evaluate their meaningfulness in the total experience of the event. One way to investigate what a meaningful experience is can be to apply a cultural consumer perspective. How different consumer segments directly and indirectly inform the event organisation and how the consumer’s cultural preconceptions judge the event is vital when an event organisation designs and improves its experience concepts and experience setting. Thus, the way the carnival’s venue and activities are culturally received is closely linked to the management of the organisation’s external and internal resources. The goal of an event organisation is to produce meaningful and appealing experience concepts and perform them in real time. But how is this organised in practice? This article evaluates the production of the Copenhagen Carnival 2009 and is based on ethnographic material. Through a model of Value Framework for Experience Production by the Dutch experience economists Albert Boswijk, Thomas Thijssen & Ed Peelen (2007) I analyse how the practical organisation, technical solutions and cultural assumptions of a carnival are part of an event organisation’s work-process when creating a spectacle. Furthermore, the organisation of voluntary professional culture workers and the navigation in a metropolitan, political and institutional context is examined through the management concepts of routine, creativity and co-creation.
Socioeconomic Differences in the Effectiveness of the Removal of the “Light” Descriptor on Cigarette Packs: Findings from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Thailand Survey
Authors: Siahpush Mohammad , Borland Ron , Fong Geoffrey T. , Elton-Marshall Tara , Yong Hua-Hie , Holumyong Charamporn
Published: June 2011

Many smokers incorrectly believe that “light” cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes. To address this problem, many countries have banned “light” or “mild” brand descriptors on cigarette packs. Our objective was to assess whether beliefs about “light” cigarettes changed following the 2007 removal of these brand descriptors in Thailand and, if a change occurred, the extent to which it differed by socioeconomic status. Data were from waves 2 (2006), 3 (2008), and 4 (2009) of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Thailand Survey of adult smokers in Thailand. The results showed that, following the introduction of the ban, there was an overall decline in the two beliefs that “light” cigarettes are less harmful and smoother than regular cigarettes. The decline in the “less harmful” belief was considerably steeper in lower income and education groups. However, there was no evidence that the rate of decline in the “smoother” belief varied by income or education. Removing the “light” brand descriptor from cigarette packs should thus be viewed not only as a means to address the problem of smokers’ incorrect beliefs about “light” cigarettes, but also as a factor that can potentially reduce socioeconomic disparities in smoking-related misconceptions.
Orexin Receptor Targets for Anti-Relapse Medication Development in Drug Addiction
Authors: Zhou Luyi , Sun Wei-Lun , See Ronald  E.
Published: June 2011

Drug addiction is a chronic illness characterized by high rates of relapse. Relapse to drug use can be triggered by re-exposure to drug-associated cues, stressful events, or the drug itself after a period of abstinence. Pharmacological intervention to reduce the impact of relapse-instigating factors offers a promising target for addiction treatment. Growing evidence has implicated an important role of the orexin/hypocretin system in drug reward and drug-seeking, including animal models of relapse. Here, we review the evidence for the role of orexins in modulating reward and drug-seeking in animal models of addiction and the potential for orexin receptors as specific targets for anti-relapse medication approaches.
Post-Disaster Image Processing for Damage Analysis Using GENESI-DR, WPS and Grid Computing
Authors: Bielski Conrad , Gentilini Simone , Pappalardo Marco
Published: June 2011

The goal of the two year Ground European Network for Earth Science Interoperations-Digital Repositories (GENESI-DR) project was to build an open and seamless access service to Earth science digital repositories for European and world-wide science users. In order to showcase GENESI-DR, one of the developed technology demonstrators focused on fast search, discovery, and access to remotely sensed imagery in the context of post-disaster building damage assessment. This paper describes the scenario and implementation details of the technology demonstrator, which was developed to support post-disaster damage assessment analyst activities. Once a disaster alert has been issued, response time is critical to providing relevant damage information to analysts and/or stakeholders. The presented technology demonstrator validates the GENESI-DR project data search, discovery and security infrastructure and integrates the rapid urban area mapping and the near real-time orthorectification web processing services to support a post-disaster damage needs assessment analysis scenario. It also demonstrates how the GENESI-DR SOA can be linked to web processing services that access grid computing resources for fast image processing and use secure communication to ensure confidentiality of information.
Chemical Quality Status of Rivers for the Water Framework Directive: A Case Study of Toxic Metals in North West England
Authors: Rowland Phil , Neal Colin , Sleep Darren , Vincent Colin , Scholefield Paul
Published: June 2011

This paper provides data from two years of monitoring of the chemical quality of rivers and streams in North West England from the clean headwaters to polluted rivers just above the tidal reach and covers 26 sites including the Ribble, Wyre and the tributary rivers of the Calder and Douglas. Across the basins that include areas of rural, urban and industrial typologies, data is presented for three of the priority substances in the Water Framework Directive i.e., nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb). Average concentrations are low and well below the Environmental Quality Standards values for all three of these substances. Cadmium and Pb appear in approximately equal proportions in the dissolved (0.45 µm) whilst Ni occurs predominantly in the dissolved form (92%). Regional inputs of these metals arise mostly from diffuse sources as the storm-flow concentrations are generally greater than at base-flow condition. Greater concentrations of Ni are transported at the headwaters and smaller tributary sites under storm flow condition than for the main stream of the Ribble. For Ni, amounts increase as the river proceeds from its headwaters down towards the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, whilst Cd and Pb show consistent values throughout the catchment. There is annual cycling of dissolved concentrations of Cd, Pb and Ni for the clean headwater streams that gives maxima during the latter half of the year when the river flow is greater. For the impacted sites the pattern is less distinct or absent. Our estimates suggest that the Ribble estuary receives 550 t y−1 of dissolved Ni, 16 t y−1 of dissolved Cd and 240 t y−1 of dissolved Pb.
Ampliatio et mora : Evergètes récalcitrants d'Afrique romaine
Authors: Jacques François
Published: June 2011

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG

Bei ihrem Wahlversprechen (pollicitatio) haben die afrikanischen Wohltäter den in Aussicht gestellten Betrag häufig überschritten. Man nahm an, seit die Höhe der pollicitationes festgesetzt war und gleich blieb, sei diese ampliatio (oder adiectio) ein Mittel gewesen, andere Bewerber zu übertrumpfen. Ebenso hat man die von Testamentvollstreckern vorgenommene ampliatio aus dem Wunsch erklärt, am Ansehen, welches das Legat verschuf, teilzuhaben.

Einige afrikanischen Inschriften belegen jedoch, dass diese ampliatio manchmal mit einer beträchtlich verspäteten Einlösung des Zahlungsversprechens übereinstimmte, weil die Spender offenbar nur widerwillig zahlten.

Zwei kaiserliche Reskripte geben Grund zu der Annahme, dass in diesen Fällen die Zusatzsumme {summa adiecta) keine liberalitas ist, sondern eine Gebühr, die sich nach dem Zahlungsverzug bemisst. Nach Digesten, 50, 10 5 hat Antoninus Pius verfügt, dass für eine testamentarische Schenkung ein Vollzugstermin festzusetzen sei ; nach dessen Ablauf hatten die Erben die Zinsen der zur Schenkung bestimmten Summe zu zahlen. Digesten, 50, 12, 1 weist nach, dass diese Regelung auch für die pollicitationes gilt. Ulpian führt dort ein Reskript von Septimius Severus und Caracalla an. Die Pflicht, Zinsen zu zahlen, ist jedoch, u.E., weit älter.

Inschriften, die zugleich den ursprünglich versprochenen Betrag, die adiectio und den Einlöstermin anführen, sind selten. Aber in zwölf Fällen zögernder oder gezwungener Einlösung von pollicitationes kann die ampliatio pecuniae kaum anders als durch Aufschlag der Zinsen auf die ursprünglich versprochene Summe erklärt werden. Dasselbe gilt für drei Fälle von Vollstreckung testamentarischer Verfügungen.

Manchmal ist die ampliatio ein Indiz für den Sieg der in ihrer Rechtsposition starken res publica; sie setzt sich gegen eine lokale Persönlichkeit durch, die versucht hat, sich einer ohne Begeisterung eingegangenen Pflicht zu entziehen.
A thousand Tracian Recruits for Mauretania Tingitana
Authors: Speidel Michael P.
Published: June 2011

Le réexamen d'une inscription funéraire de Cherchel éclaire certains aspects du recrutement de l'armée romaine d'Afrique. D'après ce texte, Sextius Iulius lulianus, tribun du numerus Syrorum Malvensium est mort à Caesarea alors qu'il conduisait 1 000 recrues thraces en Maurétanie tingitane.

L'importance de ces effectifs souligne la part du recrutement thrace dans les unités engagées sur les frontières, alors qu'en vertu de considérations climatiques on avait surestimé le rôle en Afrique des contingents orientaux.

L'inscription confirme ce que nous pouvons savoir des modalités du transfert des troupes à l'échelle des provinces et à celle de l'empire. La ventilation des renforts entre les différentes unités incombait aux gouverneurs qui communiquaient leurs besoins, en cas d'urgence, à une agence centralisée de recrutement à Rome.

L'acheminement de ces recrues de Caesarea en Maurétanie tingitane soulève un autre problème : l'inscription avait été invoquée pour suggérer un transfert par mer et conclure à l'absence d'une liaison terrestre, par le Sud du Rif, entre les deux Maurétanies. L'absence de continuité constatée par ailleurs dans les installations frontalières des deux provinces n'exclut pas cependant la réalité de contacts prolongés ni la possibilité d'un contrôle temporaire de cet itinéraire terrestre. C'est lui qu'aurait pu emprunter le renfort thrace à partir du numerus Syrorum, dernière position à l'ouest de la nova praetentura, pour se rendre à Volubilis.
Présentation du modèle Métricx
Authors: Allard Dominique , Bloch Laurence , Bœuf Patrick , Fraichot Jean-Pierre , Kadjar Annette , Loué Jean-François , Rabemananjara Roger , Ralle Pierre , Bureau Dominique
Published: June 2011

Présentation du modèle Métricx,

par les équipes Inséé et Direction de la prévision.

Le modèle Métric, construit conjointement par l'Inséé et la Direction de la prévision a été utilisé régulièrement depuis 1976 à des fins de prévisions et d'évaluation de la politique économique.

Toutefois, la richesse de la conjoncture des années récentes a rendu nécessaire une révision des comportements les plus importants. Cet article présente Métricx, modèle trimestriel de référence actuel de l'Insée et de la Direction de la prévision. Du modèle initial, on a conservé la structure fondamentale, mais la cohérence d'ensemble a été améliorée en particulier sur les demandes de facteurs et la boucle prix-salaires, tandis que la dynamique des équations a été affinée. Après avoir décrit la structure keynésienne et les principales équations du modèle, l'article analyse le fonctionnement des blocs, puis compare certains de ses résultats à ceux du modèle Métric, et à d'autres modèles de l'économie française.
Une exploration des procédures d'appels d'offres portant sur des combinaisons prix-qualité
Authors: Bureau Dominique , Norotte Michel , Rey Patrick
Published: June 2011

Une exploration des procédures d'appels d'offres portant sur des combinaisons prix-qualité,

par Dominique Bureau, Michel Norotte, Patrick Rey.

L'expérience récente a donné lieu à une extension des procédures d'appels d'offres, associée à une évolution des modalités de gestion du service public ou une redéfinition de celui-ci : malgré leurs différences, on peut rapprocher dans cette perspective les opérations concernant l'attribution de chaînes télévisées, de la desserte d'Orly ou du tunnel sous la Manche. En effet, s'il est courant de laisser la possibilité de variantes techniques, l'ampleur des choix technologiques qu'avaient les offreurs dans ces différents cas apparaît exceptionnelle.

En fait cette tendance à l'introduction de paramètres de qualité dans les procédures de mise en concurrence pour les marchés publics apparaît très générale et conduit par exemple à donner la préférence à celles dites d'appels d'offres au détriment des adjudications qui ne retiennent que la seule variable de coût.

Ainsi l'intérêt de préciser systématiquement les conséquences d'un regroupement du prix et de la qualité dans une même consultation dépasse le champ des cas exceptionnels mentionnés ci-dessus. Une telle étude conduit finalement à des conclusions nuancées.

En effet, en première analyse, les procédures dans lesquelles les vendeurs proposent simultanément un couple prix-qualité apparaissent préférables, car elles leuroffrent moins de possibilité d'échapperà la concurrence à la Bertrand.

Toutefois ce raisonnement peut se trouver en défaut dans certains contextes, par exemple lorsque le critère de l'acheteur est flou, ou lorsque l'on doit envisager une répétition d'appels d'offres de même nature. Dans ce dernier cas, la plus grande dispersion des gains possibles dans le cas des procédures mêlant prix et qualité peut créer les conditions d'une collusion parfaite entre acheteurs. Celle-ci ne résulte alors que du seul jeu des menaces de punition inscrites dans leurs stratégies, en l'absence de toute coopération institutionnelle illégale.

En définitive, le choix de la bonne procédure nécessite donc une analyse au cas par cas.
La gestion du système de retraite face au vieillissement de la population
Authors: Saint-Paul Gilles
Published: June 2011

The Management of Retirement Systems in view of the Ageing of the Population,

by Gilles Saint-Paul.

This paper first points out the way in which the ageing of the population alters the optimal intertemporal consumption pattern. The consequences of this alteration on the management of the retirement system are then examined and an attempt is made to determine to what extent it is advisable to replace the allocation scheme by voluntary saving. The stability of equilibriums obtained is also touched upon. The outcome of this study is that, as long as economic growth is not fast enough, the best alternative is an increase in contributions with a substantial decrease in benefits.
L'appréciation de la progressivité d'un impôt : une méthode et des illustrations
Authors: Maillard Didier
Published: June 2011

Appréciation de la progressivité d'un impôt : une méthode et des illustrations,

par Didier Maillard.

L'objet de cet article est de présenter la construction d'un indicateur synthétique pour qualifier le degré de progressivité d'un impôt, tout particulièrement d'un impôt sur le revenu. Les questions de méthodologie sont discutées, un indicateur est calculé sur le cas de la France pour les contribuables mariés avec deux enfants. L'effet de diverses mesures fiscales, réelles ou envisageables, sur la progressivité de l'impôt, est mesuré à l'aide de cet indicateur, comme illustration de ses usages possibles.
Un instrument de mesure des aides au secteur agricole
Authors: Berger Jean-Jacques
Published: June 2011

An instrument of measurement for agricultural support,

by Jean-Jacques Berger.

Multilateral negotiations require a common frame of values and instruments in order to measure and control mutual concessions. This paper discusses the main features and the limits of such an approach in the case of the Uruguay-Round.
Une difficulté d'interprétation de l'approche Logit : l'exemple de l'économie des transports
Authors: Bouyaux Pascal
Published: June 2011

Une difficulté d'interprétation de l'approche Logit : l'exemple de l'économie des transports,

par Pascal Bouyaux.

Cet article présente un tour d'horizon des fondements et interprétations traditionnels de l'approche Logit appliquée à la modélisation de la demande de transport urbain. Utilisant le concept de rationalité stochastique introduit par Falmagne (1978), il formalise le cadre théorique dans lequel McFadden (1974) a dérivé le modèle Logit de la maximisation d'une fonction d'utilité aléatoire. Ce cadre, correspondant exclusivement à la modélisation de l'hétérogénéité des préférences d'une population d'individus, reste trop étroit dans la mesure où il ne tient pas compte du caractère non répétitif du processus de choix des voyageurs. Aussi une formalisation alternative, développée à l'origine par Beggs, Cardell et Hausman (1981), est-elle présentée : le modèle Logit ordonné. Au-delà de l'hétérogénéité des préférences, cette nouvelle approche permet de rendre à la modélisation de la demande de transport urbain tout son caractère « behavionste ».
Recours au travail posté et caractéristiques des entreprises
Authors: Cette Gilbert
Published: June 2011

Recours au travail posté et caractéristiques des entreprises,

par Gilbert Cette.

A partir d'informations sur les bilans fournies par la Banque de France et de constats effectués par le Ministère du travail, cette étude analyse certaines interdépendances entre degré d'utilisation des facteurs de production et autres composantes de la combinaison productive. Structurellement lié à la lourdeur des conditions de production, le recours au travail en équipes rend compatibles différences réduites entre durées de travail et écarts importants de durée d'utilisation des équipements. Lesgrandesentreprisesyfontappel plus que les autres mais leurdimension ne détermine ni l'importance, ni l'intensité de ce recours.
La détermination de l'emploi dans sept grands pays de l'Ocdé
Authors: Thouluc Hélène
Published: June 2011

Die Ermittlung der Beschaftigungsgegebenheiten in 7 grossen Lândern der Oecd,

von Hélène Thouluc.

Für die Analyse der Unterschiede zwischen den einzelnen Ländern kann es von Interesse sein Länderpanels zu bilden. Dieser Artikel untemimmt den Versuch, diese Methode in Bezug auf die Lohn-und Beschäftigungsfunktionen der wichtigsten Länder der Oecd anzuwenden. Es stellt sich allerdings heraus, daß den Lohnbildungsprozessen eher spezifische als gemeinsame Prinzipien zugrunde liegen. Andererseits darf eine gewisse structurelle Homogenität der Beschäftigungsfunktionen angenommen werden, so daß unter diesem Gesichtspunkt gewisse Diyergenzen in den Produktionsleistungen dieser Länder auf die unterschiedliche Preisentwicklung zurückzuführen sind.
Quelques réflexions à propos de la mesure de l'impact des transferts sociaux sur les comportements individuels
Authors: Ray Jean-Claude
Published: June 2011

Reflexiones sobre la medida del impacto de las transferencias sociales

sobre los compartamientos individuates,

por Jean-Claude Ray.

Cuando las transferencias sociales constituyen una masa del orden de 1 300 mil milliones de francos, ? puedo todavía hacerse la hipótesis de que no se encuentran en el origen de ningûn efecto macroeconómico ? Los datos individuates de que se dispone hoy-en día (encuestas ante los hogares, ficheros de Seguridad Social), i pueden acaso servir de ayuda para conocer mejor el impacto de tal o cual prestación sobre los compartimientos de los hogares ? El objetivo de este artículo es de ilustrar, en base a los trabajos realizados desde hace siete años por un equipo pequeño de investigadores universitarios (Nancy II), las posibilidades que se presentan en la materia, subrayando a la vez las dificultades de la empresa y el interés por las políticas económicas y sociales, conclusiones que se pueden sacar de una integración de las transferencias sociales en los modelos de selección individuales.