bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Child/youth, family and public engagement in paediatric services in high‐income countries: A systematic scoping review
Authors: Gurung Gagan , Richardson Amy , Wyeth Emma , Edmonds Liza , Derrett Sarah
Published: January 2020

Background

Patient and public engagement in paediatric health‐care decision making is under‐researched, and there is a lack of systematically reviewed literature in this area.

Objective

To examine the extent, range and nature of published research investigating the engagement of children/youth, families and the public in paediatric service improvement, to summarize key aspects of the research identified and to identify gaps to help inform future research needs.

Methods

Literature was sought in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL. Eligible articles presented research focused on patient, family and public engagement strategies in the paediatric health‐care setting. Two reviewers extracted and charted data and analysed findings using a descriptive numerical summary analysis and a thematic analysis.

Results

From 4331 articles, 21 were eligible. Most were from the United States. The majority of studies were undertaken in hospital settings and used quantitative methods. Various patient and public engagement strategies/interventions were examined, including shared decision‐making tools, questionnaires, youth councils/family advisory groups, patient portals and online networks. Most of the studies examined child/youth/parent satisfaction, with fewer investigating treatment outcomes or service improvement. The majority of studies investigated an engagement strategy at the ‘individual treatment’ level of engagement. Regarding the continuum of engagement, most of the studies were at either the ‘consultation’ or ‘involvement’ stage.

Conclusion

Future research needs to focus on the investigation of engagement strategies delivered in primary care, and the use of more qualitative and mixed methods approaches is recommended. There is a gap in the area of engagement strategies directed towards ‘service design and resources’ and ‘macro/policy’ levels.
Metronidazole‐loaded glass ionomer dental cements
Authors: Salehi Ghazaleh , Behnamghader Aliasghar , Pazouki Mohamad , Mozafari Masoud
Published: January 2020

The incorporation of antibiotics in glass ionomer cements (GICs) for the treatment of periodontal diseases has been considered as an effective therapeutic strategy. In this research, metronidazole was added to silanized glass fiber‐reinforced GICs. The fiber‐reinforced cements containing antibiotic were made by adding 6.0 w% silanized E‐glass fibers and 3.0 w% metronidazole to the GIC powder. The GIC reinforced with 6.0 w% silanized fibers showed maximum values of 57 MPa, 2.1 GPa, and 1.3 MPa‧m0.5 for the flexural strength, flexural modulus, and fracture toughness, respectively. The release of metronidazole showed a two‐step release in which about 65% of total amount was released in the first 24 hours. Antibacterial test exhibited no bacteria number (CFU/mL) in the presence of GIC containing metronidazole. In addition, gene expression of Streptococcus mutans was performed by real‐time PCR method. Based on PCR results, metronidazole significantly reduced the gtfB and gtfC genes expression, related to adherence and biofilm formation, up to 98% after 7 days in comparison to the control one (P < .001). According to the obtained results, GICs reinforced with silanized fibers containing metronidazole are effective in inhibiting bacteria associated with caries and also acceptable mechanical properties for the development of the next generation of restoration dental materials.
Impact of air classification, with and without micronisation, on the lipid component of rice bran (Oryza sativa L.): a focus on mono‐, di‐ and triacylglycerols
Authors: Spaggiari Marco , Righetti Laura , Folloni Silvia , Ranieri Roberto , Dall'Asta Chiara , Galaverna Gianni
Published: January 2020

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) bran is an important by‐product produced during the milling of brown rice, rich in several valuable compounds, such as lipids. Moreover, considering the valorisation potential of these material, the application of innovative and low‐impact techniques can improve the overall quality of by‐products for their future exploitation in the food manufacturing. In this study, the impact of air classification and micronisation (fine grinding) of rice bran on the lipid components was studied. These treatments allowed to obtain bran fractions, with different granulometry, from coarse to very fine. The total crude fat content was significantly higher in fine air‐classified rice bran fractions. Besides, polyunsaturated triacylglycerols (TAG) were the most abundant compounds and monoacylglycerols concentration increased from ~15% in rice bran to ~22% in fine fraction. Considering the relevant emulsifying properties of these compounds, this fraction could be used as functional ingredient for the quality improvement of cereal‐based products, without modifying the valuable fatty acid profile.
Polymorphisms in IL‐1A are associated with endometrial cancer susceptibility among Chinese Han population: A case–control study
Authors: Liu Ying , Sun Yao , Wu Jiamin , Xiong Zichao , Du Shuli , Niu Fanglin , Jin Tianbo , Guo Ling
Published: January 2020

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common malignant tumours of the female genital tract, and it has become a serious malignant disease of the female genital tract in China. Existing researches have revealed the association between polymorphisms of IL‐1A and several gynaecological diseases. In this research, we analysed the association between IL‐1A gene polymorphisms and endometrial cancer susceptibility in Chinese female population. A total of 81 patients and 198 healthy people were selected. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression. Genetic models and analyses showed that IL‐1A rs3783550 TT and rs3783546 CC increased the risk of endometrial cancer under the recessive model, respectively (rs3783550: OR = 2.80, 95%CI: 1.32–5.92, p = .008; rs3783546: OR = 2.79, 95%CI: 1.32–5.89, p = .008). In the recessive model, we also found that both IL‐1A rs1609682 and IL‐1A rs3783521 increased the risk of endometrial cancer, respectively (rs1609682: OR = 2.79, 95%CI: 1.32–5.89, p = .0081; rs3783521: OR = 2.80, 95%CI: 1.32–5.92, p = .008). Haplotype analysis was performed that did not reveal any significant results. In summary, IL‐1A rs3783550, rs3783546, rs1609682 and rs3783521 polymorphisms may be associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer in Chinese female populations.
Adverse birth outcomes and the risk of dental caries at age 3 years
Authors: Soares Fernanda Cunha , Dahllöf Göran , Hjern Anders , Julihn Annika
Published: January 2020

Background

Since birth outcome is associated with maternal and newborn health, it can be a predictor of the future health of the child.

Aim

To investigate the association between adverse birth outcomes and dental caries.

Design

The present registry‐based cohort study included all children born in 2000‐2003, residing in Stockholm County, Sweden and who received a dental examination at the age of 3 years (n = 74 748). National registries supplied data on socioeconomic conditions, maternal health, maternal health behavior, and birth outcomes. Forward stepwise binary logistic regression was performed to determine predictors of caries experience in the 3‐year‐olds.

Results

Of the subjects, 6.0% had caries experience (decayed, extracted, and filled teeth [deft] ≥ 1), 5.6% were born preterm (<37 weeks); 2.2% were born small (SGA) and 3.7% large (LGA) for gestational age. Of the studied adverse birth outcomes, only SGA was significantly associated with caries experience at 3 years of age, and only for mothers who had refrained from smoking during pregnancy.

Conclusions

SGA is associated with caries experience in 3‐year‐old children; however, this relationship occurs only in mothers who did not smoke during pregnancy.
Carryover effects of baloxavir acid in human nasopharyngeal/pharyngeal swabs on infectious titer testing of influenza virus
Authors: Baba Keiko , Oka Ryoko , Shano Shinya , Omoto Shinya , Noshi Takeshi , Shishido Takao , Naito Akira , Kawaguchi Keiko , Ishibashi Toru , Uehara Takeki
Published: January 2020

Baloxavir marboxil (BXM) demonstrated a rapid and profound decline in infectious viral titer 1 day after BXM administration. Rapid reduction in virus titer is a characteristic of BXM. There may be a possibility that drug carryover effects have impacts on the observed antiviral effects due to the poor correlation that was observed between viral titer reduction and alleviation of influenza symptoms. Here, we report possible carryover effects of baloxavir acid (BXA), an active form of BXM, on infectious titer testing. Our findings indicate that there is little impact of BXA carryover on the infectious titer testing.
Agricultural Policy in Tropical Africa: is a Turnaround Possible?
Authors: Due Jean M.
Published: January 2020

The food crisis in Africa has entered our living rooms through television and the press. Why is per capita agricultural production lower now than at independence in the early 1960s? This article examines the factors responsible and outlines some solutions. Both external and internal factors have converged to create the crisis ‐ low prices to farmers to placate vocal urban consumers, inefficient, high‐cost marketing boards, governments' neglect of agriculture in favor of industry, over‐valued exchange rates, lack of foreign exchange and increasing debt burdens. Externally the depressed world market decreased demand for Africa's exports and contributed to the stagnation of the economics. Drought, a population growth rate approaching 3%/year and a shortage of human capital added to the crisis.
Changing Agricultural Comparative Advantage
Authors: Abbott Philip C. , Thompson Robert L.
Published: January 2020

Special circumstances in the agricultural sector have limited the use of comparative advantage in addressing the planner's dilemma of allocating investment between industry and agriculture and in examining the doctrine of food self‐sufficiency. A three‐factor model of agricultural trade, extending earlier models, is used to address some of these special circumstances and to formulate a theory of agricultural comparative advantage under changing economic conditions. Emphasis is placed on the short‐run fixity of sector‐specific capital stocks, the role of qualitative differences in land (natural resource) endowments, and on non‐homothetic preferences. In addition to insights on agricultural comparative advantage, implications for project evaluation are considered.
Short‐run dynamics of feed ingredient prices facing the EC: a causal analysis
Authors: Dronne Yves , Tavéra Christophe
Published: January 2020

This paper attempts to (1) shed some light on the EC – US controversy concerning the effect of the EC oilseeds market regime on EC imports of US soybean products, essentially soy meal, and (2) provide information on another EC – US controversy: Does corn‐gluten feed behave as a substitute for (EC view) or a complement to (US view) feed grains, and do EC corn‐gluten feed imports displace EC grain production or not?

By using a constrained vectorial autoregressive model of Rotterdam prices for soy meal, sunflower meal, rape meal, corn‐gluten feed and cassava, we show that (1) the decrease in EC imports of US soymeal are mot mainly caused by the EC milling subsidies, and (2) corn‐gluten feed is both a substitute for soymeal due to its protein content and a substitute for cassava (and grains) due to its energy content: US and EC views are only partial views.
Predictive performance of the World Bank's commodity price projections
Authors: Warr Peter G.
Published: January 2020

The World Bank's commodity price projections are widely used for various planning purposes. Two aspects of the Bank's projections of relative prices are studied in this paper. The first is whether the forecasts make efficient use of the information available at the time the forecast is made. The second is whether the forecasts predict future prices with greater accuracy than alternative forecasting methods. These matters are studied by comparing the World Bank's past price projections with the actual prices that were subsequently observed. The results show that, overall, the World Bank forecasts do not pass either test. First, the World Bank forecasts are informationally inefficient. Prediction error (projection minus actual price) tends to be positively correlated with the projections themselves. Although the direction of future price movements tends to be correctly predicted, the magnitude of these movements tends to be overpredicted. Second, the World Bank forecasts do not perform well even compared with the simplest of alternative forecasting methods ‐ the prediction of no change.
Effects of pricing policy on seasonal storage of wheat in Pakistan
Authors: Pinckney Thomas C.
Published: January 2020

Most studies of stockholding in less developed countries have concentrated on public, interannual stocks. A recent change in Pakistan government policy for the pricing of wheat highlights the need to examine seasonal storage issues, considering explicitly the effects of policy on the behavior of private agents who hold seasonal stocks of grain. Using H. Working's supply of storage theory and a simple monthly model, implications of the policy change for fiscal cost, private storage, and government procurement are explored. Costs of the policy could be reduced dramatically by increasing marginally the gap between the procurement and release price. Expected cost to the consumer of a wider gap would be no larger than under the previous policy.
The Alberta hog industry problem of the 1960s: its definition and resolution
Authors: Hawkins M.H. , Lerohl M.L.
Published: January 2020

The hog industry in Western Canada in 1960s was in a state of turmoil associated with a vague, poorly understood production and marketing problem. Hog production was largely a supplementary farm activity producing an overfat product increasingly shunned by consumers. The structure, and also probably the existence, of the industry was in question. During the following 20 years, the industry changed fundamentally as various groups achieved a better definition and understanding of the problem. A reshaping of the industry was carried out by farmers, the Provincial Government, and a variety of agricultural professionals concerned with industry structure, emerging pork markets, physical characteristics of the product, and creation of a policy environment that provided incentives for output and productivity growth. The outcome has been the development of a viable pork industry in the Province (in spite of some past and continuing hindrances to industry growth) that has substantially solved the problem.
Dynamic factor demand equations in U.S. and Canadian agriculture
Authors: Friesen J. , Capalbo S. , Denny M.
Published: January 2020

This research provides one of the first empirical estimates of a data‐based dynamic factor demand model for American and Canadian agriculture. Models such as these deserve more widespread use in the empirical analysis of agriculture. These models have the advantage that they do not impose inappropriate dynamics on the data. Rather they permit the data to select the appropriate dynamics.

We use a model originally developed by Anderson and Blundell. This model is a general first‐order dynamic model which contains as testable hypothesis several simpler models. This model permits us to estimate the long‐run agricultural production structure as a subset of the dynamic parameter estimates. We will test this long‐run structure for symmetry, homotheticity and neutral technical change.

The estimated models may be used to test for three alternative dynamic structures. In the limit, dynamics may not be needed and we can test for the static long‐run equilibrium model. Two intermediate cases are the autoregressive and the partial adjustment models which are simpler than the general model but still include dynamics.

Our results suggest that the long‐run equilibrium model is unsatisfactory in both countries. A dynamic model is needed. In both countries, the two more restricted dynamic models are rejected. The general dynamic model is required. In Canada, the long‐run equilibrium structure is homothetic with neutral technical change. In the United States, homotheticity is also accepted but neutral technical change is rejected.
Linking of U.S. monetary policy and exchange rates to world soybean markets
Authors: Thraen Cameron S. , Hwang Tsorng‐Chyi , Larson Donald W.
Published: January 2020

The linkage between macroeconomic policies and agricultural commodity trade has become an important research issue of agricultural economists. This paper investigates the macroeconomic linkage of soybean trade competition between the exporting countries of the United States, Brazil, and Argentina in the EC‐12 and Japan import markets. It is argued that U.S. monetary growth may have important impacts on the competitive position of U.S. soybean exports through exchange rates. Two relationships are investigated: (a) the effects of U.S. monetary growth on the agricultural trade weighted exchange rates, and (b) the responsiveness of agricultural commodity prices and U.S. exports to exchange rate movements. Results indicate that a weak dollar increases imports of soybeans and soymeal significantly which serves to increase the equilibrium world price and increase both U.S. and Brazil/Argentina exports in the long run. However, during periods of more expansionary U.S. monetary policy there is little evidence of significant increases in market share position for U.S. soybeans and soymeal in world markets.
A proposal for the reduction of domestic price variability during the phase‐in period of trade liberalization
Authors: Hayes Dermot J. , Wahl Thomas I. , Johnson S.R.
Published: January 2020

Countries replacing existing trade barriers with a fixed tariff may find that domestic price variability rises to politically unacceptable levels. This paper shows how the tariff‐reduction formula can be modified to delay the transmission of world price variability. The importance of this modification is demonstrated by a simple two‐country, one‐commodity simulation model.

The simulation results show that tariffication of existing EC variable levies/export subsidies would dramatically increase price variability within the European Community and that the transmission of this variability can be delayed by slightly altering the ***adjustment formula.
Soil, water and crop management alternatives in rainfed agriculture in the Sahel: an economic analysis
Authors: Day John C. , Hughes David W. , Butcher Walter R.
Published: January 2020

Most agriculture in the Sahel Region is carried out under rainfed conditions where low and uncertain soil moisture levels limit productivity. Improved soil, water and crop management practices are required to reverse the steady decline in per capita food production and sustain output over the long term. Several technological innovations and related farm management practices are evaluated in a case study of a typical farm in Mali. Through use of a soil‐water balance model and a whole‐farm economic model an optimal mix of these measures is identified. Compared to a base case where no modern inputs are utilized, the combination of animal traction (oxen team), low levels of NPK fertilizer, tied‐ridges, traditional long‐season food grain crops and early planting was most effective: food grain output was 35% higher than with the traditional base case; soil erosion was reduced by 72%; and even with residual future soil erosion damage capitalized into current income, net farm income was larger by a factor of almost 45.
Growth in horticultural trade: Japan's market for developing countries
Authors: Honma Masayoshi
Published: January 2020

This paper explores possibilities and opportunities of expansion of horticultural exports from developing countries through an investigation on a rapidly growing market, Japan, as an example among major promising markets. In this paper six horticultural commodities are selected to analyze, emphasizing on exports from developing countries.

Observations on Japan's horticultural imports make us presume that consumers differentiate products by place of production. Therefore, import behavior is considered in a two‐stage budgeting procedure. The second‐stage demands for imports from different sources are specified in an almost ideal demand system (AIDS) model and estimated statistically as well as the first‐stage import demand equations. The estimated second‐stage AIDS equations show that the magnitude of own‐price coefficients varies with the source of imports and so does that of expenditure coefficients. Therefore, the characteristics of import demand on a commodity basis, which are captured by the estimates of the first‐stage import demand equations, are not equally transmitted to the demand for imports by source in each commodity.

The estimated coefficients of the first‐stage import demand and the second‐stage AIDS equations were combined to obtain the total effects of price and income changes on imports by source. The calculated own‐price elasticities are greater than one in absolute value in ten of the 15 cases and so are the calculated income elasticities in twelve cases. The large elasticities promise suppliers that they benefit from Japan's income growth and that they increase their earnings if they can reduce the price by lowering their costs.

However, factors in non‐price competition also play import roles in the import growth. In this paper, the importance of sales promotions by exporters and preshipment inspections was indicated in the cases of mangoes and cut flowers. Other factors such as market structure and public infrastructure for post‐harvest activities were also discussed.
Inflation, capital markets and the supply of beef
Authors: Sapelli Claudio
Published: January 2020

This paper puts forward an explanation for the negative elasticity of supply of beef found in many LDC's. As is explained by Jarvis (1974), the elasticity of supply of beef may be negative in the short run due to the dual role of cattle as both a capital and a consumption good. But in some LDC's, and especially in Latin America, one may find a long‐run negative association between slaughter and prices, that cannot be explained by assuming shocks to slaughter are causing changes in prices. It is no coincidence that Jarvis' hypothesis itself was developed to explain developments in Argentina, a country with chronic high inflation. The paper argues that this long‐run relationship cannot be explained by the Jarvis hypothesis, and offers an alternative hypothesis based on the demand for cattle as a hedge against inflation.

The long‐run negative association between slaughter and prices has been found in high inflation countries. High inflation combined with excessive regulation of capital markets cause the well known phenomenon of desintermediation. It is argued here that cattle plays a role in the inflation hedged portfolio that is then demanded. Therefore, with imperfect capital markets the supply of beef is affected by the demand for cattle as an asset, and this demand, in turn, is affected by inflation. This paper will only attempt to prove the link between imperfect capital markets and the supply of beef. The way inflation in a repressed capital market leads to an imperfect capital market is not addressed here, for reasons of brevity. The paper will develop a model that in the context of imperfect capital markets results in a negative elasticity of supply. The model will then be tested with Uruguayan data. Uruguayan data are very adequate to test the hypothesis because they cover both a period without inflation and a period of high inflation. The results support that cattle was used as an alternative to money holdings when inflation signified a big tax on the latter. Inflation therefore affected the demand for cattle, or, conversely, the supply of beef.
On‐site economic evaluation of soil conservation practices in Honduras
Authors: Cárcamo Julio A. , Alwang Jeffrey , Norton George W.
Published: January 2020

Factors affecting the cost to the farmer of employing soil erosion reduction strategics are examined for the steep hillsides near Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Linear programming and MOTAD are used to examine these factors. Results indicate that some modest reductions in erosion can be achieved at little cost to the farmer by reorganizing production, switching rotations, and using contour plowing. These modest reductions still lead to extremely high rates of erosion. Sharper reductions may be achieved at progressively higher costs as erosion control structures are constructed and acreage is left fallow. There is a high cost to the farmer of reducing erosion to ‘sustainable’ levels. A consistent tradeoff emerges between levels of soil conservation, income, and risk; erosion reduction efforts lead to lower incomes and higher risk. The analysis of likely benefits to farmers for erosion reduction shows that even under assumptions of very high yield losses from soil erosion, optimal farm plans still lead to high rates of soil loss, implying a need for policies that internalize externalities if off‐farm damages are to be minimized.
Expectations, supply response, and marketing boards: An example from Kenya
Authors: Winter‐Nelson Alex
Published: January 2020

Whether farmers form price expectations adaptively or in a forward‐looking manner has implications for supply response analysis and for the implementation of agricultural policy reform. This paper examines the formation of price expectations by Kenyan export‐crop farmers who market their produce through a monopsonistic parastatal. The analysis allows for relaxation of the small‐country assumption within a rational expectations framework. Production behavior is consistent with expectations of future prices based on indicators of aggregate supply and of the marketing board's purchasing capacity. The finding that price forecasts may be formed using information other than previous price levels implies that marketing reforms that raise prices may not raise the relevant price expectations. To elicit a positive supply response, market reforms should be sensitive to farmers' interpretation of institutional signals as well as previous prices.
Economy‐wide reform and agricultural recovery: Observations of economic Darwinism among transition economies
Authors: Valdes Alberto , Gnaegy Suzanne
Published: January 2020

The fitness of an economy and its prospects for continued prosperity will be measured and determined by its robustness and its ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Some countries in transition are adapting much more easily than others to rapid changes in the orientation of their economy, the common objective of which is to achieve economic growth through the adoption of a range of characteristics generally associated with a market economy.

Economic growth does not have to be very fast, but it must be efficient and sustainable. Policy adjustments must address political economy concerns, while seeking to achieve macroeconomic equilibrium and price stabilization, competitiveness, efficiency and flexibility, and the protection of the living standards of the most vulnerable population The process of agricultural sector reform will be determined both by economy‐wide policies and sector‐specific policies.

This paper first outlines a taxonomy of the objectives of agricultural sector reform, and then discusses the way in which indirect price interventions (specifically exchange rate and interest rate policies, expansive fiscal policies and industrial protection policies), influence agricultural growth. Lessons of experience drawn from the UNDP/World Bank Trade Expansion Program structural and sectoral adjustment operations in Poland, and the cases of New Zealand and Chile are employed to illustrate not only the constraints that countries face in this regard, but also in identifying targets for further action.

The third section presents what is called the architecture of incentives for agriculture'. In defining a strategy of agricultural sector reform, experience has shown that a structure of incentives can be developed that creates an environment ripe for agricultural growth‐incentives relating, for example, to taxation, prices, foreign investment, privatization and demonopolization, decentralization and institutional reform. Special considerations that will require additional attention by policy‐makers outside of this structure include the maintenance of GATT‐legal principles in trade policies, issues relating to tariffication (including concerns about price risk management, food supply, and the role of food aid), input and credit subsidies as a means to correct for market failures, and the role of regional trading blocks in world trade.
Dynamic adjustment in the US beef market with imports
Authors: Buhr Brian L. , Kim Hanho
Published: January 2020

This paper hypothesizes that while there are important qualitative differences in domestic beef and imported beef, beef and cattle imports also represent attempts by the US beef processing and wholesale sector to adjust to short‐run changes in supply and demand. Dynamic production theory is applied to the problem to test for this adjustment process, and presents a production theory approach to meat trade that has previously been included in demand functions. The results of this analysis suggest that the method used provides a reasonable and appropriate representation of the import behavior of the US processing and wholesale beef sector.
Structures and processes required for research, higher education and technology transfer in the agricultural sciences: a policy appraisal
Authors: Whittemore C.T.
Published: January 2020

Evidence is forwarded of a will for rationalisation of higher education, research and technology transfer processes; but the actions which have taken place in all three structures have, in contrast, produced irrationality and inefficiency. Tertiary education institutions are proposed as the spine for reconstruction, but pre‐requisite is a logical hierarchy of missions appropriate to the various educational sectors. This done, research institutions may usefully coalesce with the universities, while development and advisory agencies may beneficially integrate into the polytechnic sector from which their information flow is sourced. There is strong mutually supportive efficiencies from education, research and extension emanating from a single resource base; but that base needs to be tiered according to the aptitude and requirement (science, technology, skills), and integrated with the industry. These proposals are not founded only as coping strategies in the face of funding withdrawals, but as optimisation movements bringing benefits of sharing of common human and physical resource for the three sectors; education, research, and technology transfer. An optimisation lost by their separation, and by competition amongst organisations within each sector (but especially education) striving for similar goals and for limited resources when the national requirement is for diversity.
Trends in China's regional grain production and their implications
Authors: Yang Hong
Published: January 2020

The paper examines the growth of China's regional grain production during the reform period. Impacts of regional trends on China's interregional grain transfers and international trade are tackled. It linds that there are significant variations between regions in terms of magnitudes and patterns of growth. Northern regions experienced a faster growth than southern regions. There is a tendency to shift grain production centres towards north, leading to a modification of crop composition in total national output, a reversal of the prevailing direction of interregional transfers and a change in contents of grain flows. The study argues that this shift is an inevitable resulf of the uneven progress of reforms and economic development and, consequently, the varying opportunity costs of grain production in different regions. The analysis suggests that for China as a whole, further growth of grain output has been impeded by the lack ot new technologies and increasingly high opportunity costs of grain production. In the northeast region where the potential for increasing maize output is relatively high, production has been constrained by the shortage of transport and storage facilities as well as policy obstacles. The study concludes that there is a necessity for China to decentralize its grain international trade. In doing so, the imports of grain in the south will increase, and so will the exports of maize in the north.
Managerial efficiency under risk for broiler producers in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Sherif Sherin A. , Al‐Kahtani Safer H.
Published: January 2020

Managerial efficiency for broiler producers m Saudi Arabia is generally difficult lo achieve. High investment costs coupled with relatively high average production costs and the consequent incompetent market prices, have resulted in projects either working at less than full capacity or being shut down completely. The aim here is to determine the most efficient production alternatives (actions) available to managers under business risk considerations. The ordinary stochastic dominance approach was used to solicit the most efficient production alternatives for broilet producing projects of all sizes in the Central Region of Saudi Arabia. For small‐and medium‐sized projects, the efficient production alternatives concentrated on marketing risk. For large projects, the efficient actions concentrated on both marketing and production risks. For the three sizes of projects, the two production alternatives that proved to be the most efficient, were the one that contains creating morc marketing strategies and the one that adopts good veterinary care systems. On the other hand, the production alternative that deals with selecting good breeds of chicks appeared to be most efficient for small and large projects only.
Export taxes and sectoral economic growth: evidence from cotton and yarn markets in Pakistan
Authors: Hudson Darren , Ethridge Don
Published: January 2020

Pakistan used an export tax on raw cotton from 1988‐1995 in order to suppress the internal price of cotton to benefit the domestic yarn industry. An analysis was conducted to estimate the impact of this policy on both the cotton and yarn sectors. These effects were simulated using the results ol a structural econometric model of these sectors of Pakistan's economy Results indicated that the export tax had a negative impact on the growth rale in the cotton sector, while having little or no impact on the yarn sector. Thus, the export lax did not achieve its objective of increasing the growth rate of value‐added (yarn) production above what would have occurred naturally.
Analysis in an Imperfect World
Authors: Wallace Michael
Published: January 2020

When we observe the world, we sometimes make mistakes. Michael Wallace, on behalf of the measurement error topic group of the STRATOS Initiative, explains the potentially severe consequences of this often overlooked issue, and how statistics can help bring us back – or at least a little closer – to the truth
“Statistical Literacy for All!”
Authors: Tarran Brian
Published: January 2020

Statistics teacher and stats education ambassador Christine Franklin tells Brian Tarran that “giant leaps” are still needed to make statistical literacy a priority in education
Tumour suppressive long non‐coding RNA AFDN‐DT inhibits gastric cancer invasion via transcriptional regulation
Authors: Lai Yuexing , Xu Ping , Wang Jing , Xu Kai , Wang Lin , Meng Yuchen
Published: January 2020

Emerging evidence has revealed that dysregulation of lncRNA is associated with the initiation and progression of cancer. However, the function of these lncRNAs in cancer remains largely unexplored. Here, we reported that AFDN‐DT, an lncRNA that is repressed in gastric cancers (GC), functions as a tumour suppressor by inhibiting cell growth and metastasis through transcriptional repression of genes involved in metastasis. Using in vitro and in vivo models, we demonstrated that overexpression of AFDN‐DT inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of GC. We found that AFDN‐DT was located at the nucleus and interacted with the chromatin in gastric cells. Further, ChIRP‐seq experiments and RNA‐seq analysis revealed that AFDN‐DT directly bound to the promoter regions and regulated the expression of genes essential for malignant transformation. Moreover, we demonstrated that DNA hypermethylation could repress AFDN‐DT expression and treatment with DNA methylation inhibitors restored its expression. Collectively, the results of our study demonstrated the tumour suppressive role of AFDN‐DT in GC and elucidated the transcription regulatory role of tumour suppressive lncRNAs, which can serve as potential prognostic markers for GC.
The marine‐derived furanone reduces intracellular lipid accumulation in vitro by targeting LXRα and PPARα
Authors: Li Ting , Hu Shu‐Mei , Pang Xiao‐Yan , Wang Jun‐feng , Yin Jia‐Yu , Li Fa‐Hui , Wang Jin , Yang Xiao‐Qian , Xia Bin , Liu Yong‐Hong , Song Wei‐Guo , Guo Shou‐Dong
Published: January 2020

Recent studies have demonstrated that commercially available lipid‐lowering drugs cause various side effects; therefore, searching for anti‐hyperlipidaemic compounds with lower toxicity is a research hotspot. This study was designed to investigate whether the marine‐derived compound, 5‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐butylfuran‐2(5H)‐one, has an anti‐hyperlipidaemic activity, and the potential underlying mechanism in vitro. Results showed that the furanone had weaker cytotoxicity compared to positive control drugs. In RAW 264.7 cells, the furanone significantly lowered ox‐LDL‐induced lipid accumulation (~50%), and its triglyceride (TG)‐lowering effect was greater than that of liver X receptor (LXR) agonist T0901317. In addition, it significantly elevated the protein levels of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARα) and ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporters, which could be partially inhibited by LXR antagonists, GSK2033 and SR9243. In HepG2 cells, it significantly decreased oleic acid‐induced lipid accumulation, enhanced the protein levels of low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), ABCG5, ABCG8 and PPARα, and reduced the expression of sterol regulatory element‐binding protein 2 (~32%). PPARα antagonists, GW6471 and MK886, could significantly inhibit the furanone‐induced lipid‐lowering effect. Furthermore, the furanone showed a significantly lower activity on the activation of the expression of lipogenic genes compared to T0901317. Taken together, the furanone exhibited a weak cytotoxicity but had powerful TC‐ and TG‐lowering effects most likely through targeting LXRα and PPARα, respectively. These findings indicate that the furanone has a potential application for the treatment of dyslipidaemia.
Drivers of Government Activity in European Countries: Do Partisan Politics Still Divide East and West?
Authors: Beckmann Joscha , Schweickert Rainer , Ahlborn Markus , Melnykovska Inna
Published: January 2020

This article takes a novel look at the relationship between government activity, partisan preferences and varieties of capitalism. Evidence from panel regressions for 25 EU countries from 1990 to 2014 suggests that there are major divides among European countries in terms of the drivers of government activity, that is, government spending and government regulation. The European divide appears to be even more pronounced between liberal and coordinated economic systems than between the classical geographical divide of east and west, which is typically used in most contributions. While both divides apply to the determinants of government activity in general, a reversal of the classical partisan effect for the east is to be found only in specific cases and, is most likely in government spending in liberal eastern countries.
Is visceral abdominal fat area a better indicator for hyperglycemic risk? Results from the Pinggu Metabolic Disease Study
Authors: Zhang Fang , Li Yufeng , Zhao Yingxi , Zhou Xianghai , Ji Linong
Published: January 2020

Aims/Introduction

The aim of the present study was to analyze the strength of association between fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2‐h postprandial glucose (2h PPG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), disposition index (DI) and nine anthropometrics measures, to explore the best indicator for hyperglycemia.

Materials and Methods

Analyses were based on the cross‐sectional data of 3,572 adults from the Pinggu Metabolic Disease Study. Anthropometrics were measured, visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area were calculated using an abdominal computed tomography scan. Linear regression was used to analyze the association between FPG, 2h PPG, HbA1c, DI and nine anthropometrics measures (height, weight, waist circumference [WC], body mass index and waist‐to‐hip ratio [WHR], waist‐to‐height ratio, VFA, subcutaneous fat area, and visceral‐to‐subcutaneous ratio). Logistic regression was further carried out to understand the association between per standard increase and risk for hyperglycemia.

Results

Higher VFA and subcutaneous fat area were associated with higher FPG, 2h PPG, HbA1c and DI after adjusting for other covariates. The strongest association observed after adjustment was WC for FPG, with one standard deviation greater WC being associated with 1.70 increased odds; WHR for 2h PPG, with one standard deviation greater WHR being associated with 1.83 increased odds. The strength of the association between VFA and FPG, 2h PPG, HbA1c, and DI was less than WHR and WC, but slightly stronger than body mass index. Stratified analyses showed that VFA performs better as an anthropometrics indicator in predicting hyperglycemic risk in women than men.

Conclusions

WHR and WC remain the best indicators for hyperglycemic risk among ahealthy Chinese population.
Reduced risk of suicidal behaviours associated with the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa with tumour necrosis factor alpha antagonists: results from the US FDA Adverse Events Reporting System pharmacovigilance database
Authors: Gupta M.A. , Vujcic B. , Sheridan A.D. , Gupta A.K.
Published: January 2020

Background

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, recurrent condition that presents as painful, suppurating lesions in the apocrine gland‐bearing skin regions. HS has been associated with increased suicidal behaviours (SB), independent of any treatment. TNF‐alpha antagonists are used to treat moderate‐to‐severe HS and have also been associated with SB, a factor that could confound the decision to use the TNF‐α antagonists in the moderately to severely affected HS patients, who may already be experiencing increased SB risk.

Objectives

To determine presence or absence of a safety signal for SB when HS is treated with TNF‐α antagonists.

Methods

We calculated the reporting odds ratios (ROR) with 95% CI of SB associated with treatment for HS with TNF‐α antagonists vs. the reference group of all other treatments for HS in the US Food and Drug Administration pharmacovigilance database from 1 January 2004 to 31 March 2019. A second analysis excluded isotretinoin (which has been used to treat HS and has also been associated with SB) from the reference group.

Results

There was a signal for decreased risk of SB with TNF‐α antagonists (ROR = 0.1959, 95% CI 0.1247–0.3079; z = 7.071, P < 0.0001] vs. all other HS treatments; the ROR did not change significantly after isotretinoin was excluded from the reference group.

Conclusions

Treatment of HS with TNF‐α antagonists is associated with a decreased risk of SB.
Regional variations in the use of statutory skin cancer screenings in Germany: population‐based spatial multisource analysis
Authors: Augustin J. , Sorbe C. , Augustin M. , Zander N. , Kis A.
Published: January 2020

Background

Due to the increasing incidence of skin cancer, programmes for the prevention of skin cancer have been developed and implemented in Germany. However, utilization of skin cancer screenings shows marked regional differences. Reasons and predictors of such variations are unclear.

Objectives

The objective of the study is to identify predictors for regional use of skin cancer screening variations in Germany.

Methods

Analysis of the population set of ambulatory claims data (2009–2015) of the statutory health insurances (SHI) in Germany (70.2 million people in 2015). Skin cancer screening utilization rate was determined on county level. Descriptive, cluster and multivariate analyses were performed to identify spatial patterns in skin cancer screening utilization.

Results

Overall, 6.5–7.9 million people participated in skin cancer screenings. Utilization rates of people ≥35 years of age were 9.74% (2009) and 10.96% (2015). Marked regional variations were identified between the counties. Dermatologists in Saxony and Westphalia‐Lippe as well as general practitioners in Lower Saxony and North Rhine showed particularly high utilization rates. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated e.g. positive associations between the skin cancer screening utilization rates and employees with higher vocational qualifications and shorter travel time by car to the nearest major urban centre.

Conclusion

Utilization rates of skin cancer screening vary largely in Germany with specific spatial patterns. Multivariate analyses demonstrate associations with socio‐economic and geographical determinants. The results indicate the importance of health policy measures. These should be used in a more targeted manner in the regions in order to increase utilization of skin cancer screening.
The risk of treated anxiety and treated depression among patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis treated with apremilast compared to biologics, DMARDs and corticosteroids: a cohort study in the United States MarketScan database
Authors: Vasilakis‐Scaramozza C. , Persson R. , Hagberg K.W. , Jick S.
Published: January 2020

Background

Anxiety and depression are common among psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients, but rates may differ by treatment.

Objective

To quantify the risk of incident treated anxiety, depression and mixed anxiety + depression in users of apremilast compared with users of other treatments for psoriasis and PsA.

Methods

We conducted two separate cohort studies of psoriasis and PsA patients treated with apremilast, tumour necrosis factor inhibitor biologics, interleukin‐17, ‐23 or ‐12/23 inhibitor biologics, conventional DMARDs or systemic corticosteroids in the United States MarketScan database. Cohort entry was date of first study drug after 21 March 2014. We identified cases who had a depression and/or anxiety diagnosis with a prescription for antidepressant/antianxiety medication within 30 days of the diagnosis code. We calculated incidence rates (IRs) and incidence rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for treated anxiety, treated depression and treated anxiety + depression per 1000 patient‐years (PY) among patients.

Results

Among the psoriasis cohort, IRs for each outcome were similar between exposure categories and highest among users of systemic corticosteroids alone. IRs (95% CI) for apremilast alone were 9.2 (6.6–12.5), 4.6 (2.8–7.1) and 4.6 (2.8–7.1) per 1000 PY for treated anxiety, treated depression and treated anxiety + depression, respectively. In the PsA cohort, the rate of anxiety was highest among users of apremilast alone; rates of depression and anxiety + depression were similar for apremilast compared with other PsA treatments. IRs for each outcome were also high for users of corticosteroids in both the psoriasis and PsA cohorts.

Conclusions

Among patients with psoriasis, users of apremilast had similar rates of anxiety and depression as users of other non‐corticosteroid systemic psoriasis treatments. Among PsA patients, users of apremilast had similar rates of depression and anxiety + depression compared with users of other systemic non‐corticosteroid PsA drugs; however, the rate of anxiety was slightly higher.