bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The consumption of gambling in everyday life
Authors: Parsons Ken , Webster David
Published: September 2010

This paper is concerned with the escalation of gambling in the UK and the consequences this has for the consumer. Reasons why people consume risk through the medium of gambling are provided with social factors, presented here, as important variables that have influenced this consumption. The National Lottery in the UK is highlighted as the most recent example that provides the context for this escalation in the consumption of gambling. The paper then presents research data obtained from reformed problem gamblers and describes the social ills associated with their compulsive gambling behaviour traits and their worries over the impact that gambling has on the individual and the community. The paper suggests that there will be an increase in the number of problem gamblers as a result of the increasing exposure of the consumer towards many forms of gambling.
The synergistic effects of maltodextrin and high‐fructose corn sweetener 90 in a fat‐reduced muffin
Authors: Conforti Frank D. , Nee Patricia , Archilla Leslie
Published: September 2010

Low‐fat muffins were prepared using as fat substitutes a combination of maltodextrin and high‐fructose corn sweetener 90 (HFCS‐90), which replaced sucrose at a rate of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. The focus of the investigation was to determine the synergistic effects of these two ingredients on the physical properties in a low‐fat muffin. Results indicated that maltodextrin and HFCS‐90 were effective in maintaining moisture and water activity (aw) levels similar (P> 0.05) to the full‐fat muffin. Texture profiles indicated that the low‐fat variations were firmer (P< 0.05) than the full‐fat counterpart. Increased levels of HFCS‐90 had a significant effect (P< 0.05) on crust and crumb darkening. Maltodextrin alone significantly (P< 0.05) impeded the staling rate during storage. However, when maltodextrin was combined with increased levels of HFCS‐90, the staling rate accelerated. The two ingredients were found to be effective in maintaining product quality, but HFCS‐90 could only be used up to a 50% replacement before any adverse effects in product quality were observed.
The complexity of food choices in an everyday context
Authors: Palojoki Päivi , Tuomi‐Gröhn Terttu
Published: September 2010

This study aims to understand the complexity of food choices in an everyday household context. The qualitative data are based on homemakers’ (n= 18) context‐specific accounts of their choice of milk brand, i.e. milk varieties with different fat contents (noted in a 4‐day qualitative food diary and a semi‐structured interview based on the diary). These accounts were considered an approximation of real food choices in households. The necessity of making compromises between contradictory expectations makes food choices, as well as milk brand choices, problematic. The homemakers' accounts involve various levels affecting household activities. At the individual level, the most important motive of choice is the taste and practical use of a product. At the level of households, the traditions stemming from one's childhood and the social aspect of acknowledging other family members’ taste preferences are important. The influence at the level of society and culture leads towards healthier choices, e.g. by providing examples of new, healthier food habits. Here, the special nature of everyday knowledge is emphasized as context dependent. This provides a complementary view to the more traditional, cognitive views of studying the relationship between knowledge of nutrition and food choices. Choices are determined not only by stimulus, cognition or societal structures, but are also constrained by everyday conditions, as well as by the activities of other people.
Why do European consumers smoke? Responses from the rational addiction model
Authors: Escario José Julián , Molina José Alberto
Published: September 2010

In this paper, we test whether European consumers are addictive smokers and, if this is the case, then whether such addictions can be explained by the rational addiction theory. To this end, we start from a non‐separable intertemporal utility function, which allows us to derive a demand function that is estimated using tobacco time‐series. The results are in accordance with the model of rational addiction for all European smokers. Thus, we observe the addictive character of tobacco consumption and, secondly, we note that the addiction is not the result of myopic consumer behaviour, but rather of the maximization of total utility, implying that consumers consider the future effects of their current decisions.
Consumer purchase behaviour of irradiated beef products: a simulated supermarket setting
Authors: Hashim I. B. , McWatters K. H. , Rimal A. P. , Fletcher S. M.
Published: September 2010

In December 1997, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of irradiation to kill harmful bacteria in beef. As a result of limited information about consumers’ potential response to implementation of this technology, a supermarket simulation setting (SSS) test was conducted to assess consumer purchase behaviour. The objectives were to determine consumers’ willingness to purchase irradiated beef products when provided with information at the grocery store level and consumer's perceptions towards irradiated beef. Primary household grocery shoppers (n = 207) in Griffin, Georgia, USA who consumed beef at least twice per week participated in the study. Ground beef, ground chuck, top round steak and rib eye steak were displayed in refrigerated cases in either traditionally labelled packages (non‐irradiated) or in packages labelled as irradiated. Irradiated and non‐irradiated beef had the same unit price. Participants were instructed to purchase two packages of each cut on their first shopping trip; they then shopped a second time after an informative poster about irradiation had been placed in the display cases. The results indicated that irradiation information displayed on the poster at the point of purchase was effective in causing significant change in beef purchase behaviour. The information caused some consumers who had bought traditional packages initially to buy irradiated packages subsequently while others who bought irradiated packages initially subsequently bought traditional packages. Hence, the net effect of the information was minimal. A mean test across form/cut showed that consumers did not differentiate between the ground form and the muscle form in selecting irradiated packages.
A gender perspective on the use of supplemental healthcare plans
Authors: Hira Tahira K. , Loibl Cäzilia
Published: September 2010

Because employer‐provided health coverage represents the main source of health insurance for Americans and its costs for employees are rising, accurate knowledge about health coverage would seem to be crucial for making sound decisions on choosing the plans that best meet the specific needs of a family. However, previous research suggests that most employees have little understanding of the scope and monetary value, or even the existence of many components of their health benefit package. This paper re‐examines employees’ general financial learning efforts and knowledge level, and how they relate to participation in and importance attached to supplemental healthcare plans. We find that, while self‐directed financial learning and general financial knowledge significantly predicted plan participation and the importance attached to them, demographic factors, such as gender, age and job classification, dominated the supplemental healthcare decisions.
Gender differences in consumers’ acceptance of genetically modified foods
Authors: Moerbeek Hester , Casimir Gerda
Published: September 2010

Research has shown that women are less accepting of genetically engineered products than men. We expect two mechanisms to be at work here. First, in consumer behaviour theory, more knowledge is assumed to lead to more acceptance. We assumed that for genetically engineered foods, this general principle does not apply since long‐term consequences are not known yet. The well‐informed consumer is likely to be comparatively more concerned with this lack of knowledge. We call this the information paradox. Theory on the topic is relatively recent. The results of this study will help to distinguish consumer behaviour with regard to new types of food as compared with traditional foods. Second, we assumed that there is a gender factor included in attitudes toward foods. In general, women still plan food and household purchases. A tentative attitude and an accompanying reluctance toward food innovation are adopted when buying food for children. We call this the gender paradox. In this exploratory study we use data from the Eurobarometer. Eurobarometer surveys have been executed since 1973 by the European Commission among the adult population of European Union member countries (n > 10 000), monitoring the evolution of public opinion. Analysis of these surveys shows that gender differences exist in the acceptance of genetically modified (GM) foods in Europe. Women tend to be less accepting toward genetically modified foods. This supports our gender hypothesis. However, no evidence was found to support the assumed information paradox. It seems that knowledge leads to acceptance, also of GM foods, but more so for men than for women.
Creative teachers and creative teaching strategies
Authors: Horng Jeou‐Shyan , Hong Jon‐Chao , ChanLin Lih‐Juan , Chang Shih‐Hui , Chu Hui‐Chuan
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study is to explore the factors that influence creative teaching and to find out what effective strategies are used by three award‐winning teachers in the learning area of Integrated Activities. As creative thinking is crucial for the knowledge economy, it is essential that education serves its purpose in improving this important aspect. The methods used for data collection include in‐depth interview, focus group interview, classroom observation and content analysis. Three teachers with a GreaTeach Creative Instruction Award for creative teaching in the Integrated Activities field were selected as subjects. Results were acquired by analysing the interview content, the teaching plans, teachers’ reflection and the classroom observation videotapes. The study found that: the factors influencing creative teaching in Integrative Activities are (a) personality traits: persistence, willingness to develop, acceptance of new experiences, self‐confidence, sense of humour, curiosity, depth of ideas, imagination, etc.; (b) family factors: open and tolerant ways of teaching children, creative performance of parents, etc.; (c) experiences of growth and education: self‐created games and stories, brainstorming between classmates, etc.; (d) beliefs in teaching, hard work, motivation and (e) the administrative side of school organization. Among these factors, beliefs in teaching, hard work and motivation are the main aspects. The effective teaching strategies used by the awarded teachers are: student‐centred activities, a connection between teaching contents and real life, management of skills in class, open‐ended questions, an encouragement of creative thinking and use of technology and multimedia. Integrated Activities are closely connected to life experience and a basis for the development of creative thinking within education.
Lesson practice and teachers’ views on citizenship and gender: focusing on home economics and civics in Japan
Authors: Arai Noriko , Ohta Tomoko
Published: September 2010

Home economics and civics as school subjects in Japan have a common feature, in that both subjects nurture a sense of citizenship at home, in the workplace and in the wider society. In addition, both have the potential to help students recognize the gender bias around them and can empower them to help make a more gender‐equal society. Focusing on this, the purpose of this report was to investigate home economics and civics teachers’ views, in order to analyse the features of the two subjects and the relationship between them. Questionnaires were sent to home economics and civics teachers of all the senior high schools in four prefectures around Japan in October 2001, and 357 samples were analysed. The results were as follows: (a) Home economics teachers and female teachers expressed more interest in lessons on gender than civics teachers and male teachers. Concerning lessons on citizenship, no statistical difference in teachers’ interest was found. (b) Topics on citizenship were learned in the fields of consumer, environment and social welfare issues in both subjects. More lessons were reported to take place in home economics than in civics. (c) In home economics, topics on gender were learned as core issues in the areas of family relations, family law and parenting. On the other hand, in family law, civics, topics on gender were taught as marginal issues in the area of basic human rights and labour issues. (d) Home economics teachers thought the goals of gender education were to empower students to overcome narrow gender roles and to strengthen self‐respect. In contrast, civics teachers thought it would empower a sense of human rights. Concerning citizenship education, teachers of both home economics and civics thought the goals would enable students to recognize social problems as their own issues and try to solve them.
Deracializing Exploitation? ‘Black Economic Empowerment’ in the South African Wine Industry
Authors: DU TOIT ANDRIES , KRUGER SANDRA , PONTE STEFANO
Published: September 2010

This paper considers the discourse and practice of ‘Black Economic Empowerment’ (BEE) in the South African wine industry. It argues that far from representing a decisive break with an inequitable past, BEE allows the South African wine industry to avoid potentially more uncomfortable options to redress current and past race‐based imbalances – such as land redistribution, import boycotts and better working conditions for grape pickers. An essentialist racial discourse, pivoting on ahistorical and dislocated notions of ‘blackness’, has been used to displace the transformation agenda away from addressing the conditions faced by workers, and to an ameliorism that allows a small cohort of black entrepreneurs to become the preferred beneficiaries of ‘transformation’ in the wine industry. The new terrain is characterized by branding, advertising and image building on the one side: and by codes of conduct, a sectoral BEE charter, scorecards and auditing on the other. These allow the standardization, legitimation and ostensible deracialization of exploitative labour and social relations in the South African wine industry.
Transnational Sourcing Practices in Ghana's Perennial Crop Sectors
Authors: FOLD NIELS
Published: September 2010

Neo‐liberal policies increasingly affect African agricultural production and the influence and power of transnational agro‐food companies have deepened substantially since the turn of the century. As a consequence the conditions of transactions of many African export crops have been modified or changed completely. This paper examines the changes and emerging patterns of transnational buyers’ sourcing practices within four of Ghana's perennial crop sectors: cocoa, pineapple, oil palm and shea nut. The findings suggest that transnational sourcing practices are primarily determined by the need for immediate processing of the crop after harvest and that control over this process is essential for value adding via product differentiation. Different transnational sourcing practices have distinctive spatial outcomes reflected by new patterns of rural transformation within privately regulated territories.
The Development of Aquaculture in Central Thailand: Domestic Demand versus Export‐Led Production
Authors: BELTON BEN , LITTLE DAVID
Published: September 2010

Expansion of aquaculture in Central Thailand since the 1970s is intimately linked to growth in other sectors of the local and national economy, and to participation in global trade. Thailand's agro‐industrialization has led to the diversification of agriculture in the Central Region and the co‐development of aquaculture. Production of domestic aqua‐products is largely positive for consumers, farmers and the environment. By contrast, intensive production of shrimp for export has been characterized by periods of boom and bust resulting from disease outbreaks and international competition. At the farm level this has translated into surges of profit followed by overcapitalization, debt and environmental degradation.
Genomic expression changes induced by topical N‐acetyl glucosamine in skin equivalent cultures in vitro
Authors: Bissett Donald L , Farmer Teresa , McPhail Sara , Reichling Tim , Tiesman Jay P , Juhlin Kenton D , Hurley George J , Robinson Michael K
Published: September 2010

N‐acetyl glucosamine (NAG) has been shown to be effective in reducing the appearance of hyperpigmented spots. From published in vitro mechanistic testing, glucosamine inhibits enzymatic glycosylation, a required processing step in converting inactive human pro‐tyrosinase to the active tyrosinase, a key enzyme in the production of melanin. There is also published literature discussing the anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant properties of glucosamine compounds. To identify additional mechanisms by which NAG might affect melanin production, an in vitro genomics experiment was conducted in SkinEthic skin equivalent cultures, which were topically dosed with NAG vs. a vehicle control. Relative to vehicle, NAG reduced melanin production, and the expression of several pigmentation‐relevant genes were affected (down‐regulated or up‐regulated) by NAG treatment. Thus, there are several mechanisms that may be operative in the observed pigmentation effects.
An analysis of entry‐level postgraduate students’ readiness for student‐centred, Masters Level learning
Authors: Kell Clare
Published: September 2010

Allied health professionals have an obligation, through their rules of professional conduct, to maintain currency of practice and to demonstrate active continuous professional development (CPD). Many therapists choose postgraduate (M‐Level) studies as part of their ongoing CPD activity. Assuming that practitioner maturity and autonomy can be transferred to educational contexts, many M‐Level courses adopt a student‐centred approach to their learning and teaching activities. This article reports the results of a learning profile exercise on a group of entry postgraduate students. The results suggest that some students have learning profiles incompatible with direct transition into a student‐centred, M‐Level learning environment. Learning profiles appear to reflect routes to professional qualification, namely degree vs. graduate diploma. The article will consider the possible learning support needs of postgraduate learners.
Patient safety investigations: the need for interprofessional learning
Authors: Wakefield Ann , Carlisle Caroline , Hall Andy , Attree Moira
Published: September 2010

Selected findings from the qualitative aspect of an impact evaluation examining the effectiveness of a Root Cause Analysis 3‐day Training Programme relating to interprofessional learning and work are reported in this paper. The study sample comprised managers, clinicians, administrators and human resource personnel (n = 38) employed at Band 6 or above, and 18 key organizational stakeholders from three National Health Service case study sites who seconded staff to the Root Cause Analysis programme. Although the study was primarily designed to assess the impact of using a blended e‐learning approach to educate staff about Root Cause Analysis, participants revealed that working in interprofessional teams was a vital element of any patient‐safety investigation. Interprofessional learning and inter‐disciplinary collaboration was a particularly valued element of the training programme. One of the main benefits of interprofessional learning identified by participants was that it improved networking and promoted more open communication. Moreover, participants felt interprofessional learning allowed them to increase their understanding of each other's roles, leading to greater cooperation, collaboration and increased confidence. For this reason, the paper examines the extent to which the management of patient‐safety‐related incidents and patient‐safety investigations can be improved by using an interprofessional learning format. Finally, the study will suggest that interprofessional approaches to patient‐safety education should be adopted by course designers so as to encourage participants to think beyond their respective occupational silos.
What do midwifery mentors need? Priorities and impact of experience and qualification
Authors: Fisher Margaret , Webb Christine
Published: September 2010

Mentoring is a feature of most professional education programmes, although its purpose may vary. In some cases, a mentor performs solely a supporting role, while in others it may include assessment of practice competence. The aim of this study was to explore and prioritize the needs of midwifery mentors and investigate any relationship between these and duration of experience and/or level of qualification. A two‐stage cross‐sectional correlational study of 82 mentors was carried out in a maternity unit in the southwest of England. Content, univariate and bivariate analysis of the data were performed. The focus group identified 15 needs which formed the basis of the subsequent questionnaire. Overall ranking showed that ‘guidance’ and ‘frequent shifts’ were important to all mentors. Of least importance were ‘choice in allocation’ and ‘involvement in selection’. Statistically significant findings emerged relating to mentors’ academic level of qualification, background of direct entry or Registered Nurse, length of experience and place of work. The programme followed by the students also had an impact. Some of the conclusions were that mentors need more overt recognition of their role, breaks between students and consideration of their area of work and the type of student allocated. Tutors need to offer increased availability, support, guidance and feedback. Students should have frequent shifts rostered with their mentor and be encouraged to provide feedback. A ‘mentor pyramid of needs’ was developed which could be used by educators and managers to audit and prioritize mentor support. The findings of the study are of particular relevance in the context of recent regulatory body standards.
INTERNAL ARCHITECTURE OF MIOCENE PSEUDOTABERINA AND ITS RELATION TO CARIBBEAN ARCHAIASINS
Authors: RENEMA WILLEM
Published: September 2010

Abstract:  Well‐preserved, isolated specimens of Pseudotaberina were found at three localities in Indonesia, thus enabling the study of the relationships between this genus and Caribbean Archaiasinae. The internal architecture of the chambers of Pseudotaberina consists of four layers of stolon planes, each of which is divided by superposed septula into chamberlets. The chamberlets are connected to the next chambers by foramina opposing the septula. The stolons are Y‐shaped. All other Archaiasinae have radial stolon axes combined with an initial involute growth stage, whereas the Soritinae have cross‐wise oblique stolon axes, but with evolute growth in the early stages. Pseudotaberina shows a combination of the characters of these two subfamilies, confirming the need to study more Tethyan material to elucidate phylogenetic relationships within this group of large benthic foraminifera.
A NEW ANGUIMORPH LIZARD FROM THE LOWER MIOCENE OF NORTH‐WEST BOHEMIA, CZECH REPUBLIC
Authors: KLEMBARA JOZEF
Published: September 2010

Abstract:  The cranial remains of a new Lower Miocene anguimorph, Merkurosaurus ornatus gen. et sp. nov., are described from north‐west Bohemia (Czech Republic). The animal is morphologically very similar to the Recent Shinisaurus crocodilurus, but it differs in several ways. The distinctive features of Merkurosaurus are: the nasal process of premaxilla is long and slender with a bilaterally constricted shaft and bilaterally broadened dorsal portion; the dorsal portion of the nasal process divides into three processes of which the median one is the longest; the ornamented surface of the parietal is subdivided into five pustule‐like mounds on both right and left sides, with one further mound around the posterior and lateral margins of the parietal foramen. A close phylogenetic affinity to the anguimorph genera Shinisaurus, Bahndwivici, Dalinghosaurus and Carusia, and partially to Xenosaurus, is indicated by characters such as: frontal fused with deep cristae cranii; lateral border of frontals strongly constricted between orbits; double interorbital row of large mounds diverge posteriorly along orbital margin; sculptured postorbital ramus of jugal; small mounds on frontal and parietal with ornamented vermiculate structures; and parietal foramen within parietal but close to anterior margin. Merkurosaurus is the only taxon of this affinity known from the Cenozoic of Eurasia.
A NEW GENUS OF RHYNCHOSAUR FROM THE MIDDLE TRIASSIC OF SOUTH‐WEST ENGLAND
Authors: HONE DAVID W. E. , BENTON MICHAEL J.
Published: September 2010

Abstract:  We present a description of new cranial and postcranial material representing a new genus of rhynchosaur (Diapsida, Archosauromorpha) from the Otter Sandstone Formation (Mid Triassic) of Devon, south‐west England. The taxon had been named Rhynchosaurus spenceriBenton, 1990, but cladistic analysis of the clade, and one autapomorphy, show that it does not belong to Rhynchosaurus, and a new generic name is required. We propose the name Fodonyx for this genus. A cladistic analysis of the Rhynchosauria confirms the main discoveries of previous analyses, and that Fodonyx is sister group to the Hyperodapedontinae, the clade of Late Triassic rhynchosaurs. The new cladistic analysis, for which many more characters were coded for Fodonyx than before (a rise from 39 to 75 per cent), counter‐intuitively produced less well‐resolved results: the new codings of previously uncoded characters introduced conflict so that Fodonyx turns out to be less like the Late Triassic rhynchosaur clade than had been assumed before.
AN ESTIMATE OF THE SIZE ANL STRUCTURE OF THE NATIONAL PRODUCT OF THE EARLY ROMAN EMPIRE
Authors: Goldsmith Raymond W.
Published: September 2010

On the basis of rough estimates from the expenditure as well as from the income side, it is suggested that the national product per head of the Roman Empire at the death of Augustus (AD 14) was somewhat below 400 sesterces (31 g gold) yielding an aggregate national product of fully HS 20 billion for a population of 55 million and that these figures were approximately valid from the late first century BC to the mid‐second century AD. The share of government expenditures in national product was very low, probably not above five percent, and that of gross capital expenditures even lower, probably not in excess of two percent. An attempt is also made to appraise the concentration of personal income and it is estimated that the 600 senatorial families, representing approximately the top 0.04 per m of the population, received about 0.6 percent of total personal income while the share of the top three percent of income recipients was in the order of 20–25 percent of total personal incomes. The second part of the article compares these estimates as well as a few indicators of the standard of living and of welfare in the early Roman Empire with the corresponding figures for a few countries before the industrial revolution and for mid‐20th century less developed countries.
THE MEASUREMENT OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION
Authors: Chakravarty Satya R. , D'Ambrosio Conchita
Published: September 2010

This paper develops an axiomatic approach to the measurement of social exclusion. At the individual level, social exclusion is viewed in terms of deprivation of the person concerned with respect to different functionings in the society. At the aggregate level we treat social exclusion as a function of individual exclusions. The class of subgroup decomposable social exclusion measures using a set of independent axioms is identified. We then look at the problem of ranking exclusion profiles by the exclusion dominance principle under certain restrictions. Finally, applications of decomposable and non‐decomposable measures suggested in the paper using European Union and Italian data are also considered.
Non‐audit Service Fees and Audit Quality: The Impact of Auditor Specialization
Authors: LIM CHEE‐YEOW , TAN HUN‐TONG
Published: September 2010

We posit that the effect of non‐audit fees on audit quality is conditional on auditor industry specialization. Industry specialist auditors are more likely than nonspecialists to be concerned about reputation losses and litigation exposure, and to benefit from knowledge spillovers from the provision of non‐audit services. We find evidence that audit quality measured by increased propensity to issue going‐concern opinion, increased propensity to miss analysts' forecasts, as well as higher earnings‐response coefficients increases with the level of non‐audit services acquired from industry specialist auditors compared to nonspecialist auditors.
REGULAR(IZED) HEDGE FUND CLONES
Authors: Giamouridis Daniel , Paterlini Sandra
Published: September 2010

This article addresses the problem of portfolio construction in the context of efficient hedge fund investments replication. We propose a modification to the standard Sharpe “style analysis” by introducing a constraint on the asset weights 1‐norm and 2‐norm. This constraint regularizes the optimization problem, allows efficient selection of relevant factor's and has significant effects on the stability of the resulting asset mix and the risk–return characteristics of the replicating portfolio. The empirical results suggest that the norm‐constrained replicating portfolios exhibit significant correlations with their benchmarks, often higher than 0.9; have a fraction, which is about half to two‐thirds, of active positions relative to those determined through the standard method; and are obtained with turnover, which is in some instances about one‐fourth of that for the standard method.
DEBT FORGIVENESS AND STOCK PRICE REACTION OF LENDING BANKS: THEORY AND EVIDENCE FROM JAPAN
Authors: Isagawa Nobuyuki , Yamaguchi Satoru , Yamashita Tadayasu
Published: September 2010

We provide a simple model for analyzing how debt forgiveness affects the stock price of a lending bank. Our model shows that although debt forgiveness increases shareholder wealth of a bank in healthy financial condition, it decreases shareholder wealth of a bank in unhealthy financial condition. We empirically investigate the announcement effect of debt forgiveness on bank stock prices in Japanese markets. On average, lending banks experience a significant negative announcement effect with respect to debt forgiveness. Consistent with the prediction of the model, we find a negative relation between the announcement effect and the net bad loan ratio as a proxy of the unhealthiness of the financial condition of the bank.
STATE DEPENDENCY OF BANK STOCK REACTION TO FEDERAL FUNDS RATE TARGET CHANGES
Authors: Yin Haiyan , Yang Jiawen , Handorf William C.
Published: September 2010

We investigate the effects of changes in the federal funds target rate on bank stock returns through an event‐study analysis. We examine the state dependency of such effects and focus on the surprise elements of policy changes derived from the federal funds futures market. Although we confirm an inverse relation between bank stock returns and changes in the federal funds target rate previously supported in the literature, we find that bank stock returns only respond to surprise or unexpected changes in the federal funds target rate. We also find that such responses are conditional on the context in which policy changes take place.
Latinos/as and White Racial Frame: The Procrustean Bed of Assimilation
Authors: Feagin Joe R. , Cobas José A.
Published: September 2010

When North American slavery was established in the 1600s, an interpretive perspective was developed that sought to justify the institution of African American slavery. This composite perspective, a “white racial frame,” was later extended by whites to other racial groups such as Latinos/as. This racial frame, which has become white “common sense,” includes important racial stereotypes, understandings, images, and inclinations to act. Various forms of this racial framing exist among different U.S. racial groups, but a strong white racial frame has prevailed because whites have long had the power and the resources to impose this reality. A hegemonic situation occurs when people of color consent in various ways to this white racial framing and common sense. This acceptance varies. We discuss four forms of consent to white racial framing that appear in our in‐depth interviews in a national sample of Latinos/as. Three forms reference Latinos: acceptance of elements of the racial frame, active enactment of the racial frame, and internalized violence. The fourth use of racial framing is directed by Latinos at African Americans.
Stimulant Formulation and Motivation for Nonmedical Use of Prescription Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Medications in a College‐Aged Population
Authors: Upadhyaya Himanshu P. , Kroutil Larry A. , Deas Deborah , Durell Todd M. , Van Brunt David L. , Novak Scott P.
Published: September 2010

There is relatively little research examining motives for nonmedical use (NMU) of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications and predictors of motivation. We present results of a secondary analysis of an Internet‐based epidemiological survey to explore the relationship between stimulant formulation and motivation for NMU of ADHD stimulant medications in a college‐aged population. Demographic predictors of motivation to engage in NMU were also explored to investigate the potential correlates of recreational versus performance‐enhancement motivations. Respondents scoring higher on the Adult ADHD Self‐Report Scale were significantly more likely to engage in NMU of ADHD stimulant medications. Those using extended release (ER) stimulant formulations were less likely to endorse “staying awake” as a reason for NMU compared to those using immediate release (IR) stimulant formulations. (Am J Addict 2010;00:1–9)
Programed cell death shapes the expression of horns within and between species of horned beetles
Authors: Kijimoto Teiya , Andrews Justen , Moczek Armin P.
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY
Holometabolous insects provide an excellent opportunity to study both the properties of development as well as their evolution and diversification across taxa. Here we investigate the developmental basis and evolutionary diversification of secondary trait loss during development in the expression of beetle horns, a novel and highly diverse class of secondary sexual traits. In many species, horn growth during late larval development is followed by a period of dramatic remodeling during the pupal stage, including the complete resorption of horns in many cases. Here we show that programed cell death plays an important and dynamic role in the secondary resorption of pupal horn primordia during pupal development. Surprisingly, the degree of cell death mediated horn resorption depended on species, sex, and body region, suggesting the existence of regulatory mechanisms that can diversify quickly over short phylogenetic distances. More generally, our results illustrate that secondary, differential loss of structures during development can be a powerful mechanism for generating considerable morphological diversity both within and between species.
Wnt signaling and induction in the sponge aquiferous system: evidence for an ancient origin of the organizer
Authors: Windsor Pamela J. , Leys Sally P.
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY
The importance of polarity—the possession of a primary body axis—is evident in the functional features of animals, such as feeding, and therefore must have arisen simultaneously with the evolution of multicellular animal body plans. Sponges are thought to represent the most ancient extant lineage of multicellular animals and whereas adult sponges do not possess obvious polarity, they are useful study organisms in which to examine the origin and evolution of body polarity. We tested the effect of pharmacological agents known to disrupt the polarity of a wide variety of animals on sponge organization during development. Lithium chloride and alsterpaullone, which mimic canonical Wnt signaling in other animals, caused formation of ectopic oscula and disrupted the ability of the sponge to feed. Transplanted oscula were able to attach to and induce canal reorganization in host sponges suggesting that the osulum has inductive capabilities. This work suggests that canonical Wnt signaling is responsible for setting up the aquiferous system, which acts as an organizing center polarizing the sponge.
Coping Styles of Pregnant Adolescents
Authors: Myors Karen , Johnson Maree , Langdon Rachel
Published: September 2010

This descriptive study examined the coping styles and specific strategies used by a group of pregnant adolescents attending an adolescent family support service. Seventy‐one adolescents, with a mean age of 17 years, and a mean gestation of 25 weeks, completed the Revised Jalowiec Coping Scale (JCS‐R). The findings demonstrated that the optimistic coping style (emotion‐focused) was the most frequently used and most effective coping style for these young women. A confrontive coping style (problem‐focused) was also used and found to be effective. A combination of problem‐focused and emotion‐focused styles is recommended, with an increased emphasis on problem‐focused approaches. The focus by the adolescents on optimistic approaches is suggestive of a lack of understanding of the challenges that motherhood will place upon them, but is consistent with their age and developmental stage. A longitudinal study of coping styles and changes in style throughout pregnancy and early motherhood is recommended. Initial assessment and monitoring of coping styles of pregnant adolescents is proposed. This assessment would be the beginning point for a teaching program that highlights increased use of adaptive coping styles (problem‐focused) with decreased use of maladaptive approaches, and includes emotion‐focused styles. By expanding the repertoire of coping styles and strategies available to the adolescent, the public health nurse (PHN) prepares these vulnerable mothers for the challenges ahead.
Community Assessment: A Church Community and the Parish Nurse
Authors: Swinney Jean , Anson‐Wonkka Cecilia , Maki Elizabeth , Corneau Jeannette
Published: September 2010

In central Massachusetts a large urban parish asked the University of Massachusetts, Amherst School of Nursing to conduct a community assessment for the church and newly employed parish nurse. The aims of the assessment were: to determine the health status of parishioners, identify their perceived health needs and perceived barriers in meeting those needs, and to assist the church and parish nurse in developing a health program for their faith community.

Findings of the assessment are based on questionnaire and focus group data. Four hundred and twenty‐one questionnaires were completed, and six focus groups were held to validate the data. Results showed most parishioners felt they were in good health (93%), believed faith and spiritual beliefs were important in maintaining health and well‐being (91%), and thought that the church should play a role in helping parishioners meet their health needs (70%). In addition, focus group discussions revealed a need for respite care for primary caretakers of the ill and elderly, and health education programs for their teen and elderly populations. In conclusion, parishioners were positive and articulated support of the parish nurse and activities designed to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of their community.
Disparities in Smoking Behaviors Among Those With and Without Disabilities From 2001 to 2005
Authors: Becker Heather , Brown Adama
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT Objectives:Past research has suggested smoking disparities among individuals with disabling conditions. We contrasted smoking behaviors of those with and without disabilities from 2001 to 2005.

Design:Descriptive correlational study.

Sample:Telephone interviews were conducted in all states with noninstitutionalized adults. Half were female; most were Anglo (70.5%) and had at least a high school education (90%). Their average age was 45 years. Approximately 19% of the sample reported being disabled.

Measurement:We analyzed 4 years of data from the population‐based Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Results:While individuals with disabilities were more likely to report ever having smoked than nondisabled respondents, current smoking behaviors were more similar in the 2 groups, and the difference was not statistically significant when demographic factors were included in the model. Smoking behavior decreased somewhat for nondisabled persons between 2001 and 2005, but remained fairly constant for those with disabilities. However, those with disabilities were more likely than those without disabilities to have attempted to quit smoking in all years.

Conclusions:Findings underscore the importance of smoking cessation programs tailored to people with disabilities. The role of the public health nurse in addressing smoking cessation at the individual, system, and community level is discussed.
“Public Health Investigation”: Focus Group Study of a Regional Infectious Disease Exercise
Authors: Ablah Elizabeth , Nickels Debbie , Hodle Amanda , Wolfe Deborah J.
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT
Background: Local health departments and public health nurses are crucial in surveillance and response during public health emergencies. Simulated exercises are useful to train personnel and test emergency preparedness plans, but these exercises can be inconvenient or unrealistic. To address these drawbacks, “Public Health Investigation” (PHI), a multicounty, electronic infectious disease exercise, was created.

Methods: After the 4‐week PHI exercise, 6 separate focus groups and 1 regional focus group were conducted with participating health departments to explore perceptions of whether the format was useful, how to improve future exercises, and how well exercise objectives were met.

Results: Counties reported improvements in all exercise objectives, especially surge capacity and coordination between counties. Small health departments requested state assistance with risk communication. Existing protocols and procedures were reported as helpful. Suggested improvements to the exercise format included a shorter, 3‐week exercise, interviews with mock patients, pertinent scene information provided with scene questions, instruction on technology used, and clarifications to the “Rules of the Game.”

Conclusions: Participants indicated that the format of the PHI exercise was successful in addressing exercise objectives. Increased regional collaboration may be the greatest strength of an exercise of this format.
Syntactic Categorization in French‐Learning Infants
Authors: Shi Rushen , Melançon Andréane
Published: September 2010

Recent work showed that infants recognize and store function words starting from the age of 6–8 months. Using a visual fixation procedure, the present study tested whether French‐learning 14‐month‐olds have the knowledge of syntactic categories of determiners and pronouns, respectively, and whether they can use these function words for categorizing novel words to nouns and verbs. The prosodic characteristics of novel words stimuli for noun versus verb uses were balanced. The only distinguishing cue was the preceding determiners versus subject pronouns, the former being the most common for nouns and the latter the most common for verbs, i.e., Det + Noun, Pron + Verb. We expected that noun categorization may be easier than verb categorization because the co‐occurrence of determiners with nouns is more consistent than that of subject pronouns with verbs in French. The results showed that infants grouped the individual determiners as one common class, and that they appeared to use the determiners to categorize novel words into nouns. However, we found no evidence of verb categorization. Unlike determiners, pronouns were not perceived as a common syntactic class.
Real Wage Rigidities and the New Keynesian Model
Authors: BLANCHARD OLIVIER , GALÍ JORDI
Published: September 2010

Most central banks perceive a trade‐off between stabilizing inflation and stabilizing the gap between output and desired output. However, the standard new Keynesian framework implies no such trade‐off. In that framework, stabilizing inflation is equivalent to stabilizing the welfare‐relevant output gap. In this paper, we argue that this property of the new Keynesian framework, which we call the divine coincidence, is due to a special feature of the model: the absence of nontrivial real imperfections. We focus on one such real imperfection, namely, real wage rigidities. When the baseline new Keynesian model is extended to allow for real wage rigidities, the divine coincidence disappears, and central banks indeed face a trade‐off between stabilizing inflation and stabilizing the welfare‐relevant output gap. We show that not only does the extended model have more realistic normative implications, but it also has appealing positive properties. In particular, it provides a natural interpretation for the dynamic inflation–unemployment relation found in the data.
Benefits from U.S. Monetary Policy Experimentation in the Days of Samuelson and Solow and Lucas
Authors: COGLEY TIMOTHY , COLACITO RICCARDO , SARGENT THOMAS J.
Published: September 2010

A policy maker knows two models. One implies an exploitable inflation‐unemployment trade‐off, the other does not. The policy maker's prior probability over the two models is part of his state vector. Bayes' law converts the prior probability into a posterior probability and gives the policy maker an incentive to experiment. For models calibrated to U.S. data through the early 1960s, we compare the outcomes from two Bellman equations. The first tells the policy maker to “experiment and learn.” The second tells him to “learn but don't experiment.” In this way, we isolate a component of government policy that is due to experimentation and estimate the benefits from intentional experimentation. We interpret the Bellman equation that learns but does not intentionally experiment as an “anticipated utility” model and study how well its outcomes approximate those from the “experiment and learn” Bellman equation. The approximation is good. For our calibrations, the benefits from purposeful experimentation are small because random shocks are big enough to provide ample unintentional experimentation.
Modeling Inflation Dynamics: A Critical Review of Recent Research
Authors: RUDD JEREMY , WHELAN KARL
Published: September 2010

In recent years, a broad academic consensus has arisen that favors using rational expectations sticky‐price models to capture inflation dynamics. We review the principal conclusions of this literature concerning: (1) the ability of these models to fit the data; (2) the importance of rational forward‐looking expectations in price setting; and (3) the appropriate measure of inflationary pressures. We argue that existing models fail to provide a useful empirical description of the inflation process.