bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge Capital and Venture Capital Investments: New Evidence from European Panel Data
Authors: Schertler Andrea
Published: January 2007

Countries with a high amount of knowledge capital are likely to have higher volumes of venture capital (VC) investments because more researchers come up with innovative business ideas that require venture capital finance. Using panel data techniques, the paper finds evidence that VC investments depend strongly on the countries’ knowledge capital measured by the number of patents, or the number of R&D researchers, or gross domestic expenditures on R&D. In addition, the paper analyzes whether government-financed knowledge capital fulfills a special role for VC investments. It finds only weak evidence that VC investments depend, with a delay of several years, on government-financed knowledge capital.
Union density and determinants of union membership in 18 EU countries: evidence from micro data, 2002/031
Authors: Schnabel Claus , Wagner Joachim
Published: January 2007

Using representative individual‐level data from the first round of the European Social Survey fielded in 2002/03, this article provides an empirical analysis of unionisation in 18 countries of the EU. We show that union density varies considerably in Europe, ranging from 84 per cent in Denmark to 11 per cent in Portugal. Estimating identical models for each country, we find that individuals’ probability of union membership is significantly affected by their personal characteristics, their attitudes and the characteristics of their workplace, whereas social factors seem to play a minor role. The presence of a union at the workplace and employees’ attitudes concerning strong unions are the two variables most strongly associated with unionisation.
The de‐collectivisation of pay setting in Britain 1990–98: incidence, determinants and impact
Authors: Charlwood Andy
Published: January 2007

What were the causes and consequences of declining collective bargaining coverage in Britain? The demise of collective bargaining did not lead to a greater use of individualised payment mechanisms, ‘high‐involvement’ practices or productivity gains. Wage inequality rose as a result of the decline. However, workplaces that abandoned bargaining created more jobs. Overall, these results raise questions about Britain’s labour market performance during the 1990s because they suggest that falling unemployment as a result of weaker trade unions came at the price of slower productivity growth and widening male wage inequality.
Explaining union membership of temporary workers in Spain: the role of local representatives and workers’ participative potential
Authors: Sánchez David Llorente
Published: January 2007

It has been widely assumed that type‐of‐contract segmentation represents a strong structural constraint on trade union growth. The analysis of a sample of the Spanish workforce shows, however, that the effect of contract type on union membership is not statistically significant once the availability and performance of local union representatives are introduced in the explanatory model. Additionally, the worker’s participative potential, as indicated by his/her social and political capital, is also found to be a major explanatory factor. These findings are placed in comparative perspective and discussed in relation to possible union revitalisation strategies.
Alphabetizing in old age
Authors: Sullivan Barbara Stevens
Published: January 2007

Abstract:  A long term, intensive analysis with a woman in old old age is reported. An attempt is made to answer the question, ‘What, in analytic work, is healing?’. The patient's previous classical Jungian work is contrasted with the author's developmental perspective. It is suggested that an enactment, representing what Neville Symington has called an analyst's act of freedom, was crucial in effecting a profound transformation in the patient's psyche.
The Missing ApoE Allele
Authors: Seripa D. , Matera M. G. , Daniele A. , Bizzarro A. , Rinaldi M. , Gravina C. , Bisceglia L. , Corbo R. M. , Panza F. , Solfrizzi V. , Fazio V. M. , Forno G. Dal , Masullo C. , Dallapiccola B. , Pilotto A.
Published: January 2007

The human apoE gene (APOE, GenBank accession AF261279) shows a common polymorphism, with the three ɛ2, ɛ3 and ɛ4 alleles resulting from the haplotypes of two C→T SNPs. However, whereas the three common T‐T, T‐C and C‐C haplotypes corresponding to the ɛ2, ɛ3 and ɛ4 alleles are well known, the last C‐T haplotype (GenBank accession AY077451), encoding a fourth apoE allele, has rarely been reported. We detected this fourth allele in a Caucasian patient with motor neuron disease (MND). According to the literature we refer to this allele as ɛ3r. Although several explanations may be proposed for its formation, the existence of this fourth allele is consistent with the evolutionary hypothesis generally accepted for the apoE alleles. The rarity and physiological role of ɛ3r remains to be explained, and requires further investigation.
Developmental course of psychopathology in youths with and without intellectual disabilities
Authors: De Ruiter Karen P. , Dekker Marielle C. , Verhulst Frank C. , Koot Hans M.
Published: January 2007

Background:  We aimed to describe similarities and differences in the developmental course of psychopathology between children with and without intellectual disabilities (ID).

Methods:  Multilevel growth curve analysis was used to analyse the developmental course of psychopathology, using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), in two longitudinal multiple‐birth‐cohort samples of 6‐ to 18‐year‐old children with ID (N = 978) and without ID (N = 2,047) using three repeated measurements across a 6‐year period.

Results:  Children with ID showed a higher level of problem behaviours across all ages compared to children without ID. A significant difference between the samples in the developmental courses was found for Aggressive Behaviour and Attention Problems, where children with ID showed a significantly larger decrease. Gender differences in the development of psychopathology were similar in both samples, except for Social Problems where males with ID showed a larger decrease in problem behaviour across time than females with ID and males and females without ID.

Conclusions:  Results indicate that children with ID continue to show a greater risk for psychopathology compared to typically developing children, although this higher risk is less pronounced at age 18 than it is at age 6 for Aggressive Behaviour. Contrary to our expectations, the developmental course of psychopathology in children with ID was quite similar from age 6 to 18 compared to children without ID. The normative developmental trajectories of psychopathology in children with ID, presented here, can serve as a yardstick against which development of childhood psychopathology can be detected as deviant.
Children's skin conductance reactivity as a mechanism of risk in the context of parental depressive symptoms
Authors: Cummings E. Mark , El‐Sheikh Mona , Kouros Chrystyna D. , Keller Peggy S.
Published: January 2007

Background:  Children's physiological reactivity was examined as a moderator of relations between parental dysphoria and child adjustment problems, addressing gaps in the study of child characteristics as risk processes.

Method:  One hundred fifty‐seven children (86 boys, 71 girls) were assessed twice over a two‐year interval. Skin conductance level reactivity (SCLR) to inter‐adult argument and problem‐solving tasks was observed.

Results:  SCLR moderated longitudinal predictions of children's internalizing, externalizing and social adjustment problems, especially for paternal rather than maternal dysphoria. Higher SCLR predicted greater vulnerability to parental depressive symptomatology.

Conclusions:  Findings highlight that individual differences in children's physiological reactivity may relate to risk for adjustment problems in the context of parental depressive symptoms.
Pacific Islands Families Study: behavioral problems among two‐year‐old Pacific children living in New Zealand
Authors: Paterson Janis , Carter Sarnia , Gao Wanzhen , Perese Lana
Published: January 2007

Background:  The aim of this study was to determine (1) the prevalence of behavioral problems among two‐year‐old Pacific children living in New Zealand, (2) ethnic differences in behavioral problems, and (3) relationships between maternal and socio‐demographic variables and problem child behavior.

Methods:  Data were gathered from the Pacific Islands Families (PIF) Study. Mothers of a cohort of 1398 Pacific infants born in Auckland, New Zealand during 2000 were interviewed when the children were two years of age. Maternal reports (1028) of child behavior were obtained using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).

Results:  In the PIF cohort, 15.6% of children were in the clinical range with one or more deviant scores from the seven syndrome scales, and 14% were in the borderline range. The prevalence rate of internalizing problems was 17.1% in the clinical range and 8.9% in the borderline range. The prevalence rate of externalizing problems was 6.6% in the clinical range and 13.7% in the borderline range. The prevalence rate of total problems was 14.2% in the clinical range and 9.6% in the borderline range. Discipline and maternal education were significantly associated with elevated externalizing scores. Household size, maternal education, cultural orientation, and number of years living in New Zealand were significantly associated with internalizing scores. Child ethnicity was significantly associated with internalizing, externalizing and total problem behavior scores. In the clinical range, child ethnicity and gender were significantly associated with the prevalence of problem behavior.

Conclusions:  Cross‐ethnicity differences in CBCL scores were found, which illustrates the diversity in the Pacific population in New Zealand. Such findings highlight the way in which preschool behavior problems may vary within specific cultural settings and underscore the need for in‐depth research to explore these unique contexts.
Autistic traits in a population‐based ADHD twin sample
Authors: Reiersen Angela M. , Constantino John N. , Volk Heather E. , Todd Richard D.
Published: January 2007

Background:  Most diagnostic nomenclatures do not allow for the concurrent diagnosis of autism and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Clinic‐based studies suggest autistic symptoms are common in children with ADHD, but such studies are prone to referral bias. This study assesses whether children with ADHD selected from the general twin population have elevated levels of autistic traits.

Methods:  Nine hundred forty‐six twins identified by Missouri birth records were assigned to DSM‐IV ADHD diagnoses and seven population‐derived ADHD subtypes defined through latent class analysis of DSM‐IV ADHD symptoms. The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) was used as a quantitative measure of autistic traits. Linear regression was used to evaluate whether mean SRS scores differed between ADHD diagnostic groups.

Results:  Mean SRS scores for DSM‐IV predominantly inattentive subtype and combined subtype ADHD groups were significantly higher than for subjects without DSM‐IV ADHD (p < .001, both comparisons). Five of the population‐derived ADHD subtypes (talkative‐impulsive, mild and severe inattentive, mild and severe combined) had significantly higher mean SRS scores compared to the latent class subtype with few ADHD symptoms (p < .001, all comparisons). DSM‐IV combined subtype and the population‐derived severe combined subtype had the highest mean total SRS scores and the highest mean scores for each of the three autism symptom domains, with a substantial proportion of individuals scoring in the clinically significant range.

Conclusions:  This study provides population‐based evidence for clinically significant elevations of autistic traits in children meeting diagnostic criteria for ADHD. These results have implications for the design and interpretation of studies of both disorders.
Incentive‐related modulation of cognitive control in healthy, anxious, and depressed adolescents: development and psychopathology related differences
Authors: Hardin Michael G. , Schroth Elizabeth , Pine Daniel S. , Ernst Monique
Published: January 2007

Background:  Developmental changes in cognitive and affective processes contribute to adolescent risk‐taking behavior, emotional intensification, and psychopathology. The current study examined adolescent development of cognitive control processes and their modulation by incentive, in health and psychopathology. Predictions include 1) better cognitive control in adults than adolescents, and in healthy adolescents than anxious and depressed adolescents, and 2) a stronger influence of incentives in adolescents than adults, and in healthy adolescents than their depressed and anxious counterparts.

Methods:  Antisaccadic eye movement parameters, which provide a measure of cognitive control, were collected during a reward antisaccade task that included parameterized incentive levels. Participants were 20 healthy adults, 30 healthy adolescents, 16 adolescents with an anxiety disorder, and 11 adolescents with major depression. Performance accuracy and saccade latency were analyzed to test both developmental and psychopathology hypotheses.

Results:  Development and psychopathology group differences in cognitive control were found. Specifically, adults performed better than healthy adolescents, and healthy adolescents than anxious and depressed adolescents. Incentive improved accuracy for all groups; however, incremental increases were not sufficiently large to further modulate performance. Incentives also affected saccade latencies, pushing healthy adolescent latencies to adult levels, while being less effective in adolescents with depression or anxiety. This latter effect was partially mediated by anxiety symptom severity.

Conclusions:  Current findings evidence the modulation of cognitive control processes by incentives. While seen in both healthy adults and healthy adolescents, this modulatory effect was stronger in youth. While anxious and depressed adolescents exhibited improved cognitive control under incentives, this effect was smaller than that in healthy adolescents. These findings suggest differential incentive and/or cognitive control processing in anxiety and depression, and across development. Differences could result from disorder specific, or combined developmental and pathological mechanisms.
Substrates and inhibitors display different sensitivity to expression level of the dopamine transporter in heterologously expressing cells
Authors: Chen Nianhang , Reith Maarten E. A.
Published: January 2007

The use of heterologous expression systems for studying dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) function has provided important information corroborating and complementing in situ obtained knowledge. Preliminary experiments with human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) heterologously expressing varying amounts of DAT suggested fluctuations in the potency of cocaine in inhibiting DA uptake and led to the present systematic assessment of the impact of the density of DAT on its function. Transiently expressing intact HEK293 cells, transfected with increasing amounts of DAT cDNA, displayed increasing levels of surface DAT, binding of the cocaine analog [3H]2β‐carbomethoxy‐3β‐(4‐fluorophenyl)tropane ([3H]CFT), and uptake of [3H]DA, [3H]N‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium ([3H]MPP+), [3H]norepinephrine, and [3H]serotonin. However, the amount of DAT cDNA and the DAT expression level required to produce 50% of maximal activity was threefold higher for CFT binding than for DA uptake. Increased DAT expression was accompanied by weakened potency in inhibiting [3H]DA uptake for cocaine, CFT, benztropine, and its analog JHW025, GBR 12909 and mazindol; their potency in inhibiting [3H]CFT binding was unaffected. Inhibition of uptake by the substrates DA, m‐tyramine, d‐amphetamine, or MPP+ was also unaffected. Increasing DAT in stably expressing HEK293 cells by stimulation of gene expression with sodium butyrate also decreased the uptake inhibitory potency of a number of the above blockers without affecting the interaction between substrates and DAT. The present results prompt discussion of models explaining how factors regulating DAT expression at the plasma membrane can regulate DAT function and pharmacology.
Novelty stress induces phospho‐acetylation of histone H3 in rat dentate gyrus granule neurons through coincident signalling via the N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor and the glucocorticoid receptor: relevance for c‐fos induction
Authors: Chandramohan Yalini , Droste Susanne K. , Reul Johannes M. H. M.
Published: January 2007

The hippocampus plays an important role in novelty detection, stress‐related adaptation and learning and memory. However, it is unknown whether the response to novelty in the hippocampus involves induction of chromatin remodelling events known to be associated with transcriptional regulation. Here, we examined whether exposure to a novel environment, a mild psychological stressor, would affect the number of phospho‐acetylated histone H3‐positive [P(Ser10)‐Ac(Lys14)‐H3+] neurons in the rat hippocampus. We show that: (i) the stressful situation induced a marked increase in the number of P(Ser10)‐Ac(Lys14)‐H3+ neurons, specifically in the dentate gyrus; (ii) the stress‐induced rise in P(Ser10)‐Ac(Lys14)‐H3+ neurons occurred in the dentate gyrus throughout the rostro‐caudal axis of the hippocampus, but they were exclusively located in the middle and superficial aspects of the granular cell layer of the upper blade of the dentate gyrus; (iii) antagonism of NMDA or glucocorticoid receptors, but not antagonism of mineralocorticoid receptors or inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis, attenuated the stress‐induced response; (iv) combined blockade of NMDA and glucocorticoid receptors ablated the stress‐induced histone modification response; (v) moreover, this combined blockade also abolished the induction of the P(Ser10)‐Ac(Lys14)‐H3‐associated gene product c‐fos after stress; (vi) administration of corticosterone to unstressed rats did not affect histone H3 phospho‐acetylation. Thus, novelty stress induces chromatin remodelling and c‐fos induction in mature dentate neurons through concurrent signalling via the NMDA receptor and the glucocorticoid receptor.
Costs of large communal clutches for male and female Greater RheasRhea americana
Authors: FERNÁNDEZ GUSTAVO J. , REBOREDA JUAN C.
Published: January 2007

The breeding system of the Greater RheaRhea americanais almost unique among birds as it combines harem polygyny and sequential polyandry, with communal egg‐laying and uniparental male care. In this species, large communal clutches (more than 30 eggs) are rare and have a lower hatching success than smaller clutches. Here we analyse the proximate causes of hatching failures and the costs of large communal clutches (and therefore the costs of extensive polygyny) for males and females. We evaluated if length of the nesting period, egg viability, egg losses during incubation and male parental activity at the nest were affected by clutch size. We also evaluated if chicks hatched from large clutches have a lower survival during the first 2 months after hatching. Large clutches had longer nesting period and lower hatching success, mainly as a result of bacterial contamination of the eggs and increased hatching asynchrony. In addition, large clutches tended to lose more eggs as a result of accidental breakage or predation. Male activity at the nest and chick survival were not related to clutch size. Low hatching success, nest predation risk and energetic costs associated with large clutches penalize females that join large harems and males that accept additional eggs into the nest.
Impacts of a volcanic eruption on the forest bird community of Montserrat, Lesser Antilles
Authors: DALSGAARD B. , HILTON G. M. , GRAY G. A. L. , AYMER L. , BOATSWAIN J. , DALEY J. , FENTON C. , MARTIN J. , MARTIN L. , MURRAIN P. , ARENDT W. J. , GIBBONS D. W. , OLESEN J. M.
Published: January 2007

Volcanic eruptions are an important and natural source of catastrophic disturbance to ecological communities. However, opportunities to study them are relatively rare. Here we report on the effects of the eruption of the Soufrière Hills volcano on the forest bird community of the Lesser Antillean island of Montserrat. The island's species‐poor avifauna includes 11 restricted‐range species, including the Critically Endangered endemic Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi. Analysis of monitoring data from 1997 to 2005 indicates that counts of most species were substantially lower following major ashfalls. However, this effect was short‐lived, with rapid population recovery in subsequent years. Furthermore, levels of seasonal rainfall appear to have been at least as important in determining population trends as ashfall. Overall, most species were at least as abundant at the end of the study as at the start, and no forest bird species have been extirpated from Montserrat. We discuss potential ecological drivers of ashfall impacts on populations: there is some evidence that terrestrial foragers were most severely affected.
Unusual sex roles in a highly promiscuous parrot: the Greater Vasa ParrotCaracopsis vasa
Authors: EKSTROM J. M. M. , BURKE T. , RANDRIANAINA L. , BIRKHEAD T. R.
Published: January 2007

We describe the unusual mating system of the Greater Vasa ParrotCaracopsis vasa. The dull black plumage of males and females is similar but females are significantly larger than males. Females are promiscuous and copulated with at least five different males. Copulations were either short (1–3 s) or very long (mean 35.9 min), and long copulations involved a copulatory tie facilitated by the male's enlarged cloacal protrusion. Multilocus DNA fingerprinting of 17 broods showed that all were of mixed paternity, and that some broods had three fathers. Males never visited nests directly, but during the incubation and chick‐rearing periods females came off the nest and were fed regurgitated fruit by multiple males. Four had band‐sharing coefficients that suggested they were unrelated. Males copulated with and provided food for several widely separated females simultaneously. During the chick‐rearing period females defended a territory around the nest from conspecific females, developed conspicuous orange skin on the head (through feather loss), and uttered loud, complex vocalizations that we refer to as ‘song’ from prominent perches near the nest. Males showed none of these traits. Females with high song rates attracted more males and as a result received more food than other females. Play‐back experiments in which female song rates were either increased or decreased, attracted more or fewer males respectively. We propose that female song, conspicuous head colour and territoriality have all evolved as a result of competition between females for the food provided by males. The selective pressures favouring this highly unusual breeding system in the Greater Vasa Parrot are unclear but some sort of ecological constraint, such as food availability, may be important.
Colony size and nest density predict the likelihood of parasitism in the colonial Southern Red BishopEuplectes orix– Diderick CuckooChrysococcyx capriussystem
Authors: BROWN MARK , LAWES MICHAEL J.
Published: January 2007

Colonial nesters are potentially susceptible to brood parasitism because they present an aggregated source of accessible nests to brood parasites. However, colonial breeding may confer fitness advantages on potential host species that outweigh the costs of parasitism, particularly if colonies are large or dense enough for corporate vigilance to deter parasitism. In addition, some studies have suggested that the spatial habitat structure near host populations is a critical determinant of parasitism rate, with cuckoos targeting those colonies close to cover. We examined the determinants of the likelihood of parasitism by Diderick CuckoosChrysococcyx capriuson their main southern African host, the colonially breeding Southern Red BishopEuplectes orix, from 24 colonies and 1141 nests over two seasons. The likelihood of parasitism by Diderick Cuckoos decreased significantly with increasing colony size and nest density, but not with distance to cover from a colony, providing no support for the spatial habitat structure hypothesis. We suggest that proximate constraints, such as visibility in the semi‐closed nest, limit the ability of the host to recognize the Cuckoo egg, giving rise to low rates of rejection of Cuckoo eggs. However, the Cuckoo cannot exploit this apparent weakness when the host breeding population is in large colonies that are protected by corporate vigilance. Consequently, the Diderick Cuckoo – Southern Red Bishop system may represent an evolutionary equilibrium in host and parasite defences.
Lesbian Teachers Walking the Line between Inclusion and Exposure
Authors: McKenzie‐Bassant Claudette
Published: January 2007

In this article it is argued that the effects of an education system that normalises and perpetuates heterosexuality as natural, by positioning lesbian and gay teachers as the ‘natural others’, reduces attempts at equitable visibility through inclusive practice to marginalised silence. Manifestations of the pressure on lesbian and gay teachers to provide evidence of heterosexual credentials as forms of currency for social inclusion are explored through anecdote and artwork. The question of ‘coming out’ as a necessary part of inclusive pedagogy is challenged as the sole means through which heterosexist hegemony may be unsettled as attempts are made to achieve broader inclusiveness in formal institutions of learning.
Out There? Looking for Lesbians in British Art — Some Preliminary Observations
Authors: Walker Diane
Published: January 2007

The article seeks to explore some of the difficulties that may be experienced within higher art education both by the student of art who is lesbian and by researchers focusing on the subject of lesbians and art. For those interested in this area of study there may be particular obstacles which are not present for heterosexual students and which act as a barrier to exclude more readily available information and images. The potential importance and relevance of these exclusions for the lesbian student of art are examined in relation to the political and social oppression which lesbians have experienced, the effects of which can be seen in both historical and contemporary lesbian images and artwork. The article also examines possible issues around ‘coming‐out’ and homophobia for lesbian students and researchers within education generally, the prevalence of assumptions of heterosexuality, and the importance of awareness of these issues for educators of gay students. The conclusion drawn is that there is diversity inherent within any grouping but a more inclusive art education policy would inform the culture of all.
Media Literacy Art Education: Deconstructing Lesbian and Gay Stereotypes in the Media
Authors: Chung Sheng Kuan
Published: January 2007

Popular media such as films, television programmes/commercials and magazines have become the dominant source through which children learn about others and their world, develop attitudes and beliefs as manifested in media expressions, and formulate their sense of identity. Popular media have enormous influence on children who are constantly immersing themselves in value‐laden media images that perpetuate over‐generalised representations of cultural groups, in particular, lesbian and gay stereotypes. By critically examining media images in the art room, media literacy art education offers art teachers and their students an opportunity to nurture their aesthetic sensibilities, social awareness and the media literacy necessary to resist and challenge prejudiced, dehumanised or unjust social practices. This article explores issues of lesbian and gay stereotypes in the media, and proposes using media images as a pedagogical device to help students deconstruct them.
How Big is Your Neighbourhood? Spatial Implications of Market Participation Among Filipino Smallholders
Authors: Holloway Garth , Lapar Ma. Lucila A.
Published: January 2007

We present a procedure for estimating two quantities defining the spatial externality in discrete‐choice commonly referred to as ‘the neighbourhood effect’. One quantity, the propensity for neighbours to make the same decision, reflects traditional preoccupations; the other quantity, the magnitude of the neighbourhood itself, is novel. Because both quantities have fundamental bearing on the magnitude of the spatial externality, it is desirable to have a robust algorithm for their estimation. Using recent advances in Bayesian estimation and model comparison, we devise such an algorithm and illustrate its application to a sample of northern‐Filipino smallholders. We determine that a significant, positive, neighbourhood effect exists; that, among the 12 geographical units comprising the sample, the neighbourhood spans a three‐unit radius; and that policy prescriptions are significantly altered when calculations account for the spatial externality.
An Investigation into Factors Affecting the Occupational Choices of Nominated Farm Heirs in Ireland
Authors: Hennessy Thia C. , Rehman Tahir
Published: January 2007

The resilience of family farming is an important feature of the structure of the farming industry in many countries, due largely to the ‘smooth’ succession of farms from one generation to the next. The stability of this structure is now threatened by the widening gap between the income expected from farming when compared with non‐farming occupations in an economy like Ireland, operating at almost full employment. Nominated farm heirs are increasingly unlikely to choose full‐time farming as their preferred occupation. To identify the factors that affect this occupational choice, a multinomial logit model is developed and applied to Irish data to examine the farm, economic and personal characteristics that influence a nominated heir's decision to enter farming as opposed to some non‐farming occupation. The results show a significant negative relationship between higher education and the choice of full‐time farming as an occupation. The interdependence between education and occupational choices is further explored using a bivariate probit model. The main findings are: the occupational choice and the decision to continue with higher education are made jointly; the nominated heirs on more profitable farms are less likely to pursue tertiary education and therefore more likely to enter full‐time farming. The model developed is sufficiently general for studying the phenomenon of succession on farms.
Consumers’ Appreciation of Regional Certification Labels: A Pan‐European Study
Authors: Van Ittersum Koert , Meulenberg Matthew T. G. , Van Trijp Hans C. M. , Candel Math J. J. M.
Published: January 2007

Successful regional products, such as Florida oranges, Idaho potatoes and Parma ham, often have to compete against products passing themselves off as the authentic product using the exact same name. This unfair competition misleads consumers, discourages small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) from marketing products based on their region of origin, and may end up hurting rural economies. To protect consumers, and support SMEs and rural economies, many countries around the world have introduced regulations enabling SMEs to legally protect the names of their regional products. The success of these regulations largely depends on consumers’ appreciation of regional certification labels that inform consumers that the name of the regional product is protected and that it denotes the authentic product. To gain an understanding about consumers’ appreciation of regional certification labels, this paper investigates consumers’ image of these labels and proposes a model that relates this image to consumers’ willingness to buy and pay for protected regional products. The model is tested based on Regulation No. 2081/92 that was introduced by the EEC allowing European SMEs to protect their regional products and market their products with a protected‐designation‐of‐origin (PDO) label. Structural equation modelling results suggest that consumers’ image of regional certification labels consists of a quality warranty dimension and an economic support dimension, which positively relate to consumers’ willingness to buy and pay for the protected regional product. Protecting regional products and marketing them with regional certification labels may be beneficial for SMEs producing and marketing regional products. Policy and managerial implications are discussed.
A Pinch or a Pint? Evidence of Pesticide Overuse in Bangladesh
Authors: Dasgupta Susmita , Meisner Craig , Huq Mainul
Published: January 2007

In a recent survey of 820 rice, potato, bean, eggplant, cabbage, sugarcane and mango farmers in Bangladesh, over 47% of farmers were found to be overusing pesticides. With only 4% of farmers formally trained in pesticide use or handling, and over 87% openly admitting to using little or no protective measures while applying pesticides, overuse is potentially a great threat to farmer health as well as the environment. Pesticide overuse was initially modelled using a three‐equation, trivariate probit framework with health effects and misperception of pesticide risk as endogenous dummy variables. Significance tests revealed that health and misperception were not endogenous to overuse, suggesting a bivariate probit model for health effects and misperception and a separate probit model for overuse. Health effects were found to be a function of the amount of pesticides used in production, nutritional status and income, while misperception of pesticide risk was determined by health impairments from pesticides and the toxicity of chemicals used. Pesticide overuse was significantly explained by variation in misperception, income, farm ownership, the toxicity of chemicals used, crop composition and geographical location. These results highlight the necessity for policymakers to design effective and targeted outreach programmes which deal specifically with pesticide risk, safe handling and averting behaviour. Ideally, the approach would be participatory in nature to address key informational gaps, as well as increasing: farmers’ awareness. The results also point to specific crops and locations experiencing a higher prevalence of overuse. Focusing efforts on these crops and geographical areas may have the most measurable effects on pesticide overuse.
Evaluating the Productivity Performance of Agricultural Enterprises in Ireland using a Multiple Output Distance Function Approach
Authors: Newman Carol , Matthews Alan
Published: January 2007

This paper uses a distance function approach to measure and decompose productivity growth of Irish agriculture between 1984 and 2000 for four principal farming systems. The technology used by each system is found to be sufficiently different as to warrant a system‐by‐system approach. The overall rate of productivity growth in Irish agriculture is found to be just over 1% for this period, but there are significant differences between systems. Sheep systems had the highest rate of productivity growth followed by dairy and tillage. Productivity in cattle farms fell during this period although there is evidence that this trend has been reversed in more recent years.
Multiple metasomatism in Sulu ultrahigh‐P garnet peridotite constrained by petrological and geochemical investigations
Authors: ZHANG R. Y. , LI T. , RUMBLE D. , YUI T‐F , LI L. , YANG J. S. , PAN Y , LIOU J. G.
Published: January 2007

The pre‐pilot hole (PP1) of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project (CCSD) recovered drill core samples from a 118 m‐thick section of peridotites located at Zhimafang in the southern Sulu UHP terrane, China. The peridotites consist of phlogopite‐bearing garnet lherzolite, harzburgite, wehrlite and dunite. Some peridotite layers contain magnesite and Ti‐clinohumite, and are characterized by LREE and LILE enrichment and HFSE depletion. Phlogopite (Phl) occurs in the peridotite matrix and is LILE‐enriched with low Zr/Hf ratios (0.19–0.60). Phlogopite shows a mantle signature in H and O isotopes (δ18O: +5.4‰ to +5.9‰, and δD: −76‰ to −91‰). Ti‐clinohumite (Ti‐Chu) is Nb and Ta‐enriched and has higher Ti and HREE concentrations than phlogopite. Magnesite (Mgs) occurs as megacrysts, as a matrix phase, and as veins (±Phl ± Ti‐Chu), and contains low REEtotal contents (<0.3 ppm) with a flat REE pattern. The δ18O values (+5.5‰ to +8.0‰) of magnesite are in the range of primary carbonatite, but the δ13C values (−2.4‰ to −3.4‰) are slightly more positive than those of the mantle and of primary carbonatite. Petrochemical data indicate that the Zhimafang peridotite was subjected to three episodes of metasomatism, listed in succession from oldest to youngest: (1) crystallization of phlogopite in the mantle caused by infiltration of K‐rich hydrous fluid/melt; (2) formation of Mgs and Mgs ± Phl ± Ti‐Chu veins possibly caused by infiltration of mantle‐derived carbonatitic melt with a hydrous silicate component; and (3) replacement of magnesite, garnet and diopside by dolomite and secondary hydrous phases caused by a crust‐related, CO2‐bearing, aqueous fluid. Stable isotopic compositions of phlogopite and magnesite indicate metasomatic agents for events (1) and (2) are from an enriched mantle. Multiple metasomatism imposed on mantle peridotite of variable composition led to significant compositional heterogeneity at all scales within the Zhimafang peridotite.
ASDIN Original Investigations: Inflow Reduction by Distalization of Anastomosis Treats Efficiently High‐Inflow High‐Cardiac Output Vascular Access for Hemodialysis
Authors: Chemla Eric S. , Morsy Mohamed , Anderson Liz , Whitemore Andrea
Published: January 2007

The arteriovenous fistula used for vascular access for hemodialysis may contribute to development of congestive heart failure. Theses patients can present with frequent episodes of congestive hear failure. Traditional management of high‐inflow, a high‐cardiac‐output fistula generally involves either closure or banding. Although high‐output state can be controlled, the lifeline of the patient is lost. We describe a series of 17 hemodialysis patients (10 men and 7 women) in whom a novel inflow reduction method was employed. All patients had symptoms of heart failure (15 brachiocephalic fistulas and two brachioaxillary bypass grafts) and a fistula inflow rate above 1600 ml/min. The inflow reduction procedure included ligation of the brachial anastomosis and reconstruction of the fistula by using an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore‐Tex Intering) vascular graft in a bypass from the radial artery. The mean (± SD) time between fistula creation and the inflow reduction procedure was 30 ± 17 months. The mean access inflow rate decreased significantly after the inflow reduction procedure, from 3135 ± 692 to 1025 ± 551 ml/min (p =0.0001). The mean cardiac output rate decreased from 8 ± 3.1 to 5.6 ± 1.7 l/min (p = 0.001) with resolution of symptoms. During the follow‐up period thrombosis or stenosis developed in seven patients, three of whom underwent surgical revision. Thirteen of the seventeen accesses (77%) subjected to the inflow reduction procedure remained patent. Access loss was due to failed fistuloplasty or thrombosis. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that inflow reduction obtained by distalization of the anastomosis of the access fistula is feasible and safe for managing high‐inflow, high‐cardiac‐output fistulas. Longer and larger studies of the inflow reduction procedure and its benefits are needed.
Treatment of Refractory Central Vein Stenosis in Hemodialysis Patients with Stents
Authors: Maya Ivan D. , Saddekni Souheil , Allon Michael
Published: January 2007

Central venous stenosis is a frequent complication in hemodialysis patients, which can manifest clinically with ipsilateral upper extremity edema. When symptomatic, it is usually treated by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. When angioplasty is unsuccessful, stent deployment is a therapeutic option. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the primary and secondary patency of refractory central vein stenosis after treatment with a stent. Using a prospective vascular access database we retrospectively identified 23 patients presenting with unilateral upper extremity edema and a significant (> 50%) central vein stenosis, who underwent stent placement due to refractory stenosis following angioplasty. The primary (unassisted) central vein patency was determined from the initial intervention to the next angioplasty for recurrent central vein stenosis, and the secondary (assisted) patency from the initial intervention to permanent central vein occlusion. An immediate technical success was achieved in all patients after the stent deployment. However, the median primary central vein patency was only 138 days, with a 19% patency at 1 year. Recurrence of ipsilateral edema was always due to in‐stent restenosis. The median secondary central vein patency was 1036 days, with a 64% patency at 1 year. In patients with symptomatic central vein stenosis that is refractory to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, stent deployment provides short‐term relief of the stenosis and ipsilateral upper extremity edema. However, long‐term symptomatic relief can be achieved with multiple subsequent interventions in many patients.
Dialysis Rounds: Cinacalcet‐Induced Hungry Bone Syndrome
Authors: Lazar Eric S. , Stankus Nicole
Published: January 2007

Cinacalcet is a type II calcimimetic approved for treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with end‐stage renal disease. It is generally well tolerated with the most common side effects being nausea and vomiting. Symptomatic hypocalcemia is rare, and persistent hypocalcemia has not been reported to date. We present a case of a 66‐year‐old woman on chronic outpatient hemodialysis who was initiated on cinacalcet when her intact parathyroid hormone was 1091 pg/mL (normal 15–75 pg/dL). Two weeks later she developed diffuse muscle twitching. The patient required a 72‐hour hospitalization and treatment with a continuous intravenous calcium infusion for symptomatic hypocalcemia. The intact parathyroid hormone level at this time was 176 pg/mL. This case is the first report of cinacalcet‐induced prolonged and symptomatic hypocalcemia, closely resembling the hungry bone syndrome described in some patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism following surgical parathyroidectomy.
Fellows' Forum: Withdrawal from Dialysis in End‐Stage Renal Disease: Medical, Social, and Psychological Issues
Authors: Hackett Amy S. , Watnick Suzanne G.
Published: January 2007

Dialysis withdrawal is common, accounting for over 20% of patient deaths. It is the third leading cause of death among patients receiving dialysis, after cardiovascular disease and infectious complications. Here we present a case of a patient with significant comorbid disease who ultimately elected to withdraw from dialysis. The medical, social and psychological issues encountered by caregivers are reviewed. Additionally we discuss the available data on factors affecting the decision to withdraw, current practice guidelines, and efforts to educate nephrology fellows on end‐of‐life issues.
Cortical Activation Mapping of Epileptiform Activity Derived from Interictal ECoG Spikes
Authors: Lai Yuan , Van Drongelen Wim , Hecox Kurt , Frim David , Kohrman Michael , He Bin
Published: January 2007

Summary:  Purpose: To develop and evaluate a new cortical activation mapping (CAM) method to obtain the neuronal activation sequences from the cortical potential distributions.

Methods: Interictal electrocorticogram (ECoG) recordings were analyzed for eight pediatric epilepsy patients to find the cortical activation maps, which were compared with the patients' seizure‐onset zones identified from ictal ECoG recordings. Various relations between the local activation time and cortical potential were assumed. The most effective relation was determined by accessing their capability to predict the seizure‐onset zone. Computer simulations using a moving dipole source model were also conducted to test the present approach in imaging the propagated cortical activity.

Results: In both clinical data analysis and computer simulations, the maximal amplitude proved to be the most effective criterion with which to determine the local cortical activation time. The present method successfully predicted the seizure‐onset zone in seven of eight patients by the CAM analysis of ECoG‐recorded interictal spikes (IISs). For patients with multiple seizure foci, each focus can be revealed by analyzing IISs with different spatial patterns.

Conclusions: The time difference between spike peaks of the interictal events in the leading channel and other channels can be effectively defined as the local cortical activation time. The cortical activation mapping method based on this time latency can be used to predict the seizure‐onset zones, suggesting that the present CAM method is useful to assist the presurgical evaluation for the epilepsy patients.
Upregulation of Brain Expression of P‐Glycoprotein in MRP2‐deficient TR‐ Rats Resembles Seizure‐induced Up‐regulation of This Drug Efflux Transporter in Normal Rats
Authors: Hoffmann Katrin , Löscher Wolfgang
Published: January 2007

Summary:  Purpose: The multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2) is a drug efflux transporter that is expressed predominantly at the apical domain of hepatocytes but seems also to be expressed at the apical membrane of brain capillary endothelial cells that form the blood–brain barrier (BBB). MRP2 is absent in the transport‐deficient (TR−) Wistar rat mutant, so that this rat strain was very helpful in defining substrates of MRP2 by comparing tissue concentrations or functional activities of compounds in MRP2‐deficient rats with those in transport‐competent Wistar rats. By using this strategy to study the involvement of MRP2 in brain access of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), we recently reported that phenytoin is a substrate for MRP2 in the BBB. However, one drawback of such studies in genetically deficient rats is the fact that compensatory changes with upregulation of other transporters can occur. This prompted us to study the brain expression of P‐glycoprotein (Pgp), a major drug efflux transporter in many tissues, including the BBB, in TR− rats compared with nonmutant (wild‐type) Wistar rats.

Methods: The expression of MRP2 and Pgp in brain and liver sections of TR− rats and normal Wistar rats was determined with immunohistochemistry, by using a novel, highly selective monoclonal MRP2 antibody and the monoclonal Pgp antibody C219, respectively.

Results: Immunofluorescence staining with the MRP2 antibody was found to label a high number of microvessels throughout the brain in normal Wistar rats, whereas such labeling was absent in TR− rats. TR− rats exhibited a significant up‐regulation of Pgp in brain capillary endothelial cells compared with wild‐type controls. No such obvious upregulation of Pgp was observed in liver sections. A comparable overexpression of Pgp in the BBB was obtained after pilocarpine‐induced seizures in wild‐type Wistar rats. Experiments with systemic administration of the Pgp substrate phenobarbital and the selective Pgp inhibitor tariquidar in TR− rats substantiated that Pgp is functional and compensates for the lack of MRP2 in the BBB.

Conclusions: The data on TR− rats indicate that Pgp plays an important role in the compensation of MRP2 deficiency in the BBB. Because such a compensatory mechanism most likely occurs to reduce injury to the brain from cytotoxic compounds, the present data substantiate the concept that MRP2 performs a protective role in the BBB. Furthermore, our data suggest that TR− rats are an interesting tool to study consequences of overexpression of Pgp in the BBB on access of drugs in the brain, without the need of inducing seizures or other Pgp‐enhancing events for this purpose.