bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Color and Selected Properties of PbO─BiO1.5─GaO1.5 Glasses
Authors: Huang Wen‐Hai , Ray Chandra S. , Day Delbert E.
Published: March 2005

The density; molar volume; thermal expansion coefficient; dissolution rate in water, HC1, and NaOH; glass transition and crystallization temperatures; and the absorption edge in the ultraviolet‐visible and infrared were measured for PbO─BiO1.5─GaO1.5 glasses. The range of compositions investigated was xPbO (100 −(x + y))BiO1.5. yGaO1.5 for x between 20 and 60 cat% and y of 20, 25, 30, and 35 cat%. The glass‐forming tendency increased with increased GaO1.5 and decreased with increased PbO or BiO1.5. The compositional dependence of these properties was consistent with the weight, size, charge, and bond strength of the cations. The Ga3 + ions in these glasses are believed to act primarily as network‐forming cations, whereas the majority of the Bi3+ and Pb2+ ions behave as network‐modifying cations. It is suggested that a small friction of the lead ions are present as Pb4+. Depending upon melting conditions, these glasses ranged in color from brown to yellow. Various attempts, including containerless melting, were made to obtain colorless glasses, but no conditions were found which totally eliminated the color. The least color (pale yellow) was obtained when the glasses were melted in an air or nitrogen atmosphere in an alumina or gold crucible.
Prediction of Fracture and Detection of Fatigue in Ceramic Composites from Electrical Resistivity Measurements
Authors: Ishida Atsumu , Miyayama Masaru , Yanagida Hiroaki
Published: March 2005

Fracture prediction and fatigue detection techniques in ceramic composites were examined. Composites with an electric conduction path were fabricated with ceramics having different electrical resistivity, using calcium fluoride powder as the insulating matrix and silicon carbide whiskers as the conducting additive. When a bending load was applied to the test piece, the electrical resistivity of the composites increased up to fracture. When the test pieces were repeatedly loaded below the fracture limit, there was a gradual increase of electrical resistivity before fracture. These phenomena suggested the possibility of predicting fracture and detecting fatigue in ceramic composites. The movement of whiskers disconnecting the conduction path and leading to an increase in electrical resistivity was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy observation.
MPC‐1−CD49e− immature myeloma cells include CD45+ subpopulations that can proliferate in response to IL‐6 in human myelomas
Authors: FUJII Ryuichi , ISHIKAWA Hideaki , MAHMOUD Maged , ASAOKU Hideki , KAWANO Michio
Published: March 2005

Using three‐colour phenotypic analysis, we detected five subpopulations of myeloma cells (CD38++) in the bone marrow mononuclear cells of human myeloma patients: MPC‐1−CD45−CD49e−, MPC‐1−CD45+CD49e−, MPC‐1+CD45−CD49e−, MPC‐1+CD45+CD49e− and MPC‐1+CD45+CD49e+. Most of the myeloma cells did not express CD45 but a few MPC‐1− immature myeloma cells and some MPC‐1+ myeloma cells expressed CD45 and CD45RO but not CD45RA, whereas all of normal early plasma cells in the peripheral blood, lymph node plasma cells and bone marrow plasma cells expressed CD45 and CD45RA, CD45RB but not CD45RO. In order to clarify the biological character of these myeloma subpopulations, we examined the expression of Ki‐67 antigen. Proliferating myeloma cells (Ki‐67+) were found in the MPC‐1− fractions and the MPC‐1−CD45+ fractions rather than MPC‐1−CD45− fractions. Next, in order to further clarify the biological difference of two immature subpopulations (MPC‐1−CD45−CD49e− and MPC‐1− CD45+CD49e−), determined cell viability and phenotypic change after culturing with interleukin 6 (IL‐6) in vitro. In the presence of IL‐6, MPC‐1−CD45+ cells kept their viability more than MPC‐1−CD45− cells and some MPC‐1−CD45− cells could be converted to MPC‐1−CD45+ cells. In conclusion, these data suggest that human myeloma cells are phenotypically subdivided into five subpopulations, and among these subpopulations MPC‐1−CD45+CD49e− but not MPC‐1−CD45−CD49e− immature cells contain proliferating cells in response to IL‐6, and IL‐6 can also induce expression of CD45 on MPC‐1−CD45− subpopulation of immature myeloma cells.
Tandem duplication of the FLT3 gene is found in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia as well as acute myeloid leukaemia but not in myelodysplastic syndrome or juvenile chronic myelogenous leukaemia in children
Authors: Xu F. , Taki T. , Yang H. W. , Hanada R. , Hongo T. , Ohnishi H. , Kobayashi M. , Bessho F. , Yanagisawa M. , Hayashi Y.
Published: March 2005

We examined mRNA expression and internal tandem duplication of the Fms‐like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene in haematological malignancies by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and genomic PCR followed by sequencing. By RT‐PCR, expression of FLT3 was detected in 45/74 (61%) leukaemia cell lines and the frequency of expression of FLT3 was significantly higher in undifferentiated type (B‐precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia; ALL) than in differentiated type cell lines (B‐ALL) (P = 0.0076). Using the genomic PCR method, 194 fresh samples including 87 acute myeloid leukaemias, 60 ALLs, 32 myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) and 15 juvenile chronic myelogenous leukaemias (JCMLs) were examined. Tandem duplication was found in 12 (13.8%) AMLs and two (3.3%) ALLs. Sequence analyses of the 14 samples with the duplication revealed that eight showed a simple tandem duplication and six a tandem duplication with insertion. Most of these tandem duplications occurred within exon 11, and two duplications occurred from exon 11 to intron 11 and exon 12. No tandem duplications of FLT3 gene were detected in MDS or JCML. The frequency of tandem duplication of FLT3 gene in childhood AML was lower than that in adult AML so far reported. All of the 12 AML patients with the duplication died within 47 months after diagnosis, whereas two ALL patients with the duplication have survived 44 and 72 months, respectively. These two ALL patients expressed both lymphoid and myeloid antigens and were considered to have biphenotypic leukaemia. These results suggest that tandem duplication is involved in ALL in addition to AML, but not in childhood MDS or JCML, and that childhood AML patients with the tandem duplication have a poor prognosis.
Implication of expression of GDNF/Ret signalling components in differentiation of bone marrow haemopoietic cells
Authors: Nakayama Seiko , Iida Ken‐ichi , Tsuzuki Toyonori , Iwashita Toshihide , Murakami Hideki , Asai Naoya , Iwata Yosuke , Ichihara Masatoshi , Ito Shinji , Kawai Kumi , Asai Masami , Kurokawa Kei , Takahashi Masahide
Published: March 2005

Glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and neurturin (NTN) mediate their actions through a unique multicomponent receptor system composed of Ret receptor tyrosine kinase and glycosyl‐phosphatidylinositol‐linked cell surface proteins (designated GFRα‐1 and GFRα‐2). In the present study, expression of these signalling components in the process of differentiation of haemopoietic cells was investigated. Ret was expressed at variable levels in normal and malignant cells of the myelomonocyte lineage. Immunohistochemical analysis of human and mouse tissues revealed that Ret expression was increased in intermediate mature myeloid cells such as promyelocytes and myelocytes and decreased in mature granulocytes and monocytes. Consistent with this observation, when THP‐1 monocytic and HL‐60 promyelocytic leukaemia cells expressing Ret were differentiated toward macrophages or granulocytes by treatment of 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA) or all‐trans retinoic acid (RA), Ret expression strikingly decreased during differentiation. Expression of GDNF, NTN, GFRα‐1 and GFRα‐2 was undetectable in THP‐1 and HL‐60 cells as well as in bone marrow haemopoietic cells. In contrast, bone marrow stromal cells appeared to express GDNF, GFRα‐1 and GFRα‐2 but not Ret. These findings suggested that the interaction between stromal cells and Ret‐expressing haemopoietic cells in the bone marrow microenvironment may play a role in the differentiation of myelomonocyte‐lineage cells through activation of the GDNF/Ret signalling pathway.
Recombinant human granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor plus erythropoietin for the treatment of cytopenias in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Stasi Roberto , Pagano Adalberto , Terzoli Edmondo , Amadori Sergio
Published: March 2005

In vitro studies have indicated that granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) synergizes with erythropoietin (EPO) for the production of erythroid precursors in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). We performed a clinical trial to evaluate whether the combination of these growth factors was effective in relieving the cytopenias associated with MDS. 31 anaemic patients with low and intermediate‐risk primary MDS were enrolled in a 12‐week study. Therapy was initiated with GM‐CSF at 1 μg/kg/d.s.c., and then adjusted to either normalize or double the absolute neutrophil count. EPO was given subcutaneously on alternate days starting from day 2. The EPO dose was initiated at 150 U/kg and increased to 300 U/kg if after 6 weeks there was no or suboptimal erythroid response. 26 patients completed the study treatment. All evaluable cases had a neutrophil response. Clinically significant erythroid responses with increases of haemoglobin levels of at least 1 g/dl and/or reduction of transfusion needs were seen in 9/26 (34.6%), five patients improving their response after dose escalation of EPO. Treatment had no apparent effect on mean platelet counts, a single case displaying a trilineage response. An elevated bone marrow erythroid infiltration and low concentrations of circulating tumour necrosis factor‐α were the only predictors of haemoglobin response both in univariate and in multivariate analysis.

We conclude that the combination GM‐CSF + EPO can abrogate neutropenia and substantially relieve transfusion requirements in a large proportion of patients with low and intermediate risk MDS. However, in vivo synergy between these growth factors for the production of erythroid precursors is not supported by our data.
The prevalence of the cysteine1584 variant of von Willebrand factor is increased in type 1 von Willebrand disease: co‐segregation with increased susceptibility to ADAMTS13 proteolysis but not clinical phenotype
Authors: Bowen Derrick J. , Collins Peter W. , Lester Will , Cumming Anthony M. , Keeney Steven , Grundy Pamela , Enayat Saad M. , Bolton‐Maggs Paula H. B. , Keeling David M. , Khair Kate , Campbell Tait R. , Wilde Jonathon T. , John Pasi K. , Hill Frank G. H. ,   on behalf of UK Haemophilia Centre Doctors’ Organization
Published: March 2005

The molecular pathogenesis of type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD) is uncertain in most patients. We examined 30 type 1 VWD families in the UK Haemophilia Centre Doctors’ Organization study. Heterozygosity for Y/C1584 was present in eight of 30 (27%) families and 19 of 76 (25%) individuals with type 1 VWD recruited into the study. Eighteen (95%) of these 19 individuals were blood group O. C1584 did not co‐segregate with VWD in four families, and co‐segregated in one family; the results were equivocal in three families. In all families increased susceptibility of von Willebrand factor (VWF) to a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) 13 proteolysis co‐segregated with C1584 in affected and unaffected individuals. These data show that C1584, associated with blood group O, is prevalent among patients with type 1 VWD but not necessarily causative of disease and should not be used in isolation to diagnose VWD. Increased susceptibility of C1584 VWF to ADAMTS13 proteolysis may be physiologically significant and increase an individual's risk of bleeding and presenting with VWD.
Oestrogen Requires the Insulin‐like Growth Factor‐I Receptor for Stimulation of Prolactin Synthesis via Mitogen‐Activated Protein Kinase
Authors: Arroba A. I. , Frago L. M. , Argente J. , Chowen J. A.
Published: March 2005

Sex steroids and growth factors interact at the intracellular level in a variety of tissues to control numerous physiological functions. Oestrogen is known to stimulate prolactin synthesis and secretion, but the effect of insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐I is less clear. We used GH3 cells, a somatolactotroph cell line, to study the interaction of 17β‐oestradiol (E2) and IGF‐I on prolactin protein levels and the intracellular mechanisms involved. Cell cultures were treated with E2 (10 nM) and/or IGF‐I (10 ng/ml) for 8 h. The real‐time reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction, Western blot and enzyme‐immunoassay were used to determine changes in prolactin mRNA and protein levels. At this time‐point, there were no significant changes in cell number, prolactin mRNA expression, or the amount of secreted prolactin. However, E2 increased intracellular prolactin concentrations. IGF‐I alone had no effect, but blocked the stimulatory effect of E2. MAPK (ERK1/2) activation, as determined by Western blot analysis, increased with both E2 and IGF‐I, but not with the combination of these factors. The MAPK inhibitor PD98059 blocked the ability of E2 to increase intracellular prolactin concentrations. Similarly, the IGF‐I receptor antagonist, JB1, blocked the effect of E2 on prolactin synthesis and MAPK activation, as did the oestrogen receptor antagonist ICI182 780. These results suggest that, to stimulate prolactin synthesis, E2 activates the MAPK cascade and that this requires the presence of both oestrogen and IGF‐I receptors.
Mycosis fungoides – a retrospective study of 40 cases in Hong Kong
Authors: Lap‐shing Ku , Kuen‐kong Lo
Published: March 2005

Background  Mycosis fungoides is rare in Hong Kong and oriental data on the disease are lacking.

Methods  This is a multiclinic, 13‐year, retrospective study to determine the clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment, and disease outcomes of 40 patients with mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome seen in the Social Hygiene Service, Hong Kong.

Results  There were 27 males and 13 females with a mean age at diagnosis of 56.4 years. Based on figures in the Social Hygiene Service alone, the incidence in Hong Kong was estimated to be 0.044 per 100,000. Eighty‐five per cent of patients presented with skin‐limited disease, and pruritus was absent in 40% of patients. A mean of 1.48 biopsies was needed to establish the diagnosis, and only 58% of the mycosis fungoides skin biopsies were reported to be histologically diagnostic of the disease. Atypical lymphocytes, epidermotropism, interface changes, and Pautrier's microabscesses were the four most frequently encountered features that attained statistical significance. Sixty‐nine per cent of patients were treated with psoralen–UVA as their initial therapy, and the complete response and relapse rates were 78.3% and 66.6%, respectively. Disease progression to more advanced stages was only seen in 15% of patients. The 5‐year survival rates for the whole group and for stage IA and IB patients were 88.8% and 100%, respectively.

Conclusion  Mycosis fungoides is rare amongst Hong Kong Chinese and the majority present with skin‐limited nonprogressive disease.
Management Research as a Design Science: Articulating the Research Products of Mode 2 Knowledge Production in Management
Authors: Van Aken Joan Ernst
Published: March 2005

The relevance problem of academic management research in organization and management is an old and thorny one. Recent discussions on this issue have resulted in proposals to use more Mode 2 knowledge production in our field. These discussions focused mainly on the process of research itself and less on the products produced by this process. Here the focus is on the so‐called field‐tested and grounded technological rule as a possible product of Mode 2 research with the potential to improve the relevance of academic research in management. Technological rules can be seen as solution‐oriented knowledge. Such knowledge may be called Management Theory, while more description‐oriented knowledge may be called Organization Theory. In this article the nature of technological rules in management is discussed, as well as their development, their use in actual management practice and the potential for cross‐fertilization between Management Theory and Organization Theory.
Fitting Regional Income Distributions in the European Union*
Authors: Pittau Maria Grazia
Published: March 2005

Cross‐sectional distribution of per capita (log) GDP across the European Union regions from 1977 to 1996 is analysed. Kernel density estimates reveal a multimodal structure of the distribution during the 1970s and early 1980s, and a tendency towards unimodality since the mid‐1980s. The distribution is further analysed by a mixture of normal densities. A two well‐separated component mixture fits the distributions in the 1970s and early 1980s. These two clusters tend to converge, supporting the idea of a process of catching up. In the mid‐1990s, a small group of very rich regions is generated by a separated component.
GLOBALIZATION AND SOCIAL SPENDING
Authors: De Grauwe Paul , Polan Magdalena
Published: March 2005

Abstract.  We provide evidence indicating that countries with well developed social security systems do not necessarily face a trade‐off between social spending and competitiveness. On average, countries that spend a lot on social needs score well in the competitiveness league. We investigate the importance of a reverse causality from competitiveness to social spending, and find that this is weak. We also present some possible explanations for our empirical finding. Finally, we interpret our findings in the framework of a theoretical model in which risk affects the size of the social sector and social spending affects the production function of the private sector.
There and back again: the impact of adult HIV prevalence on national life expectancies
Authors: McGuire AL , Barer JM , Montaner JSG , Hogg RS
Published: March 2005

Worldwide we have seen dramatic increases in HIV prevalence and decreases in life expectancy over the last decade. The aim of this study was to determine the association between HIV prevalence and life expectancy. A strong negative association between adult HIV prevalence and life expectancy was observed for 137 countries. Because high adult HIV prevalence poses the greatest threat to countries with limited health resources, our study supports increased efforts to provide antiretrovirals in these countries.
Comparison of gastrointestinal tolerability and patient preference for treatment with the 625 mg and 250 mg nelfinavir tablet formulations
Authors: Johnson M , Nieto‐Cisneros L , Horban A , Arasteh K , Gonzalez‐Garcia J , Artigas JG , Clotet B , Danise A , Landman R , Proll S , Snowden W , Foreman R , Smith P
Published: March 2005

Objectives

To compare gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability and patient preference for the new 625 mg formulation of nelfinavir (NFV) and the marketed 250 mg tablets (Viracept®) in HIV‐1‐infected patients.

Methods

Virologically controlled patients (n=126) treated with a nelfinavir (NFV) 250 mg‐containing regimen for ≥8 weeks completed a stool diary for 14 days to assess baseline bowel function. After switching to the NFV 625 mg formulation [1250 mg twice a day (bid)] for 28 days, patients continued their stool diaries and at study completion answered a questionnaire regarding formulation preferences.

Results

The incidence and mean weekly duration of GI upset over a 2‐week period were lower with NFV 625 mg than with NFV 250 mg (79.8% vs. 84.9% of patients and 2.1 vs. 3.0 days, respectively). Fewer patients experienced moderate or severe diarrhoea with NFV 625 mg (6.5% vs. 11.1%), and the incidence of investigator‐assessed diarrhoea also decreased with NFV 625 mg. Importantly, there was a significant improvement overall in the incidence of diarrhoea (any grade) when patients switched to NFV 625 mg [38 of 124 (31%) improving, 69 of 124 (56%) stable and 17 of 124 (14%) worsening on NFV 625 mg; P<0.01]. At study completion, most patients expressed a preference to continue treatment with NFV 625 mg [112 of 122 (91.8%); P<0.0001], with only one patient (0.8%) preferring to resume treatment with NFV 250 mg. The new formulation was well tolerated with no new safety concerns.

Conclusions

The new NFV 625 mg formulation is better tolerated and preferred by patients switching from NFV 250 mg tablets. By reducing the daily pill count and improving GI tolerability, the NFV 625 mg formulation may enhance patient adherence to NFV‐containing antiretroviral regimens and thus potentially improve virological outcomes.
The prevalence and risk of immune restoration disease in HIV‐infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Jevtović DJ , Salemović D , Ranin J , Pešić I , Žerjav S , Djurković‐Djaković O
Published: March 2005

Background

It is becoming increasingly clear that, during successful highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), a proportion of treated patients develop opportunistic infections (OIs), referred to in this setting as immune restoration disease (IRD). We examined the risk of developing IRD in HAART‐treated HIV‐infected patients.

Methods

A retrospective study of a cohort including all 389 patients treated with HAART between 1 January 1998 and 31 May 2004 in our HIV unit was performed to evaluate the occurrence of and risk factors for IRD during HAART. Baseline and follow‐up values of CD4 T‐cell counts and plasma viral loads (pVLs) were compared to assess the success of HAART.

Results

During successful HAART (significant increase in CD4 T‐cell counts and decrease in pVL), at least one IRD episode occurred in 65 patients (16.7%). The median time to IRD was 4.6 months (range 2–12 months). IRDs included dermatomal herpes zoster (26 patients), pulmonary tuberculosis (four patients), tuberculous exudative pericarditis (two patients), tuberculous lymphadenitis (two patients), cerebral toxoplasmosis (one patient), progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy (PML) (one patient), inflamed molluscum (one patient), inflamed Candidaalbicans angular cheilitis (three patients), genital herpes simplex (two patients), tinea corporis (two patients), cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis (two patients), CMV vitritis (one patient) and hepatitis B (three patients) or C (fifteen patients). A baseline CD4 T‐cell count below 100 cells/μL was shown to be the single predictor [odds ratio (OR) 2.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9–6.4] of IRD, while a CD4 T‐cell count increase to >400 cells/μL, but not undetectable pVL, was a negative predictor of IRD (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.8).

Conclusions

To avoid IRD in advanced patients, HAART should be initiated before the CD4 T‐cell count falls below 100 cells/μL.
Stress and coping in primary caregivers of children with a disability: a qualitative study using the Lazarus and Folkman Process Model of Coping
Authors: Kelso Tara , French Davina , Fernandez Miguel
Published: March 2005

Twenty‐six primary caregivers of children with a disability took part in focus groups or interviews to discuss their perceptions of stress and the coping process. Research was framed within the Process Model of Stress and Coping (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Findings provided a snapshot of the common stresses encountered by caregivers and indicate the need to consider individual experiences when determining the impact of stressful events. Eight common stressors were identified, as well as novel constructions of stressful experiences. Results suggested that a range of coping resources and strategies were employed. The study also indicated that the majority of participants adapted well to the requirements of raising a child with a disability. The current study indicates the value of using qualitative methods, particularly with unique populations, to inform policy and service provision.
THE CREATION OF A MICRODATA FILE FOR ESTIMATING THE SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME*
Authors: Budd Edward C.
Published: March 2005

This paper describes the methods used by the Office of Business Economics, U.S. Department of Commerce, in creating a microdata file for use in estimating the size distribution of income. It explains the techniques of statistical matching involved in merging microdata files from various sources to correct and supplement income estimates in the original field survey (The Current Population Survey) and to incorporate additional information that can be used to estimate items and types of income not contained in the original file.
IMPACT OF TAX, TRANSFER, AND EXPENDITURE POLICIES OF GOVERNMENT ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONAL INCOME IN CANADA
Authors: Dodge David A.
Published: March 2005

This is a study of the first order incidence of government taxation and expenditure policies on the incomes of families and unattached individuals in Canada in 1970. The specific purposes of the study are twofold. The first is to estimate for calendar year 1970 the first order incidence of governments’actual tax, transfer, and expenditure policies on spending units. The second objective is to simulate the changes in this incidence that would have occurred in 1970 if the new federal personal income tax, unemployment insurance, old age sccurity and family allowance programs had been in operation during that year. The methodology is similar to that used by W. Irwin Gillespie in his pioneering 1964 study for the Royal Commission on Taxation.

It is concluded that the 1970 incidence of the combined tax and transfer programs of all levels of government is broadly redistributive, with net incidence of federal government programs being considerably more redistributive than that of provincial and local governments. In general, the public sector provides large net benefits to families and individuals with incomes of less than $4,000, declining net benefits to families earning from $4,000 to $11,000 and levies small but increasing levels of net tax on families and individuals with incomes in excess of $11,000. This general conclusion is relatively insensitive to the precise assumptions made about the shifting of taxes and the distribution of expenditures on pure public goods. From simulation experiments, recent reforms of the federal income tax, unemployment insurance, old age security and family allowance systems were estimated to increase the amount of redistribution from the rich to the poor.
THE SUBSTITUTION OF SELF‐SERVICE ACTIVITIES FOR MARKETED SERVICES
Authors: Skolka Jiri V.
Published: March 2005

This paper is divided into two parts. In the first part the consequences of permanent differences in the rates of productivity growth between economic activities are dealt with. Special attention is given to the substitution of self‐service activities for marketed services. The former are tentatively defined as activities carried out outside the market having the following principal inputs: consumer's time, industrial products (mainly durables), and energy. The emergence of self‐service activities challenges the conventional division of man's time into work for market and leisure, which should be replaced by a more detailed breakdown. Consumers’preference for self‐service results mainly from high taxation, high real wages and equality in the distribution of personal income. Because of the growth of self‐service activities in industrialized countries a non‐negligible part of the population's productive effort will be difficult to record, since it will neither appear on the market nor have market value. The need to record self‐service activities would be most strongly felt in statistics on private consumption, but would also have consequences in the measurement of the nation's welfare. One should make a distinction between consumption of marketed services and their self‐service substitutes in order to provide information on the complementarity of the energy, time and material inputs into various self‐service activities and on the substitutability between them and marketed services. This could perhaps be done with the help of extended commodity‐private expenditure matrices. The recording as well as the valuation of non‐market working time would probably cause great difficulties. Self‐service activities are also becoming sufficiently important to warrant their inclusion in the debate on the measurement of the nation's productive effort and of the nation's welfare. But any recording of self‐service activities would be a controversial measure since it would require recourse to imputations on a large scale.
ESTIMATES OF CAPITAL STOCK BY INDUSTRIES IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
Authors: LÜTZEL HEINRICH
Published: March 2005

The main purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the measurement problems in connection with the perpetual inventory method applied for estimates of capital stock. In the Federal Republic of Germany, highly aggregated capital stock data by business sector are compiled by the Federal Statistical Office within its national accounts calculations, while more detailed capital stock estimates by industrial sectors are published by the German Institute of Economic Research (DIW) in Berlin. Because of various gaps in the statistical sources, the accuracy of the capital stock calculations is not yet entirely satisfactory. Aside from the problem of establishing long time series for gross fixed capital formation in constant prices for all sectors, it is difficult to obtain reliable data on the inter‐sectoral transactions in secondhand capital goods. In addition, there are problems of determining price indices and service life distributions of the fixed assets in the various parts of the economy. This paper shows a way to arrive at a reasonably close approximation to the latter problem.
DISENTANGLING THE ANNUITY FROM THE REDISTRIBUTIVE ASPECTS OF SOCIAL SECURITY IN THE UNITED STATES*
Authors: Burkhauser Richard V. , Warlick Jennifer L.
Published: March 2005

In the United States, the life‐cycle relationship between initial Social Security contributions and subsequent benefits causes the effect of Social Security on income distribution to be overestimated in a single‐period analytical framework. By separating the annuity from the redistributive aspects of Social Security we provide a life‐cycle framework for measuring its net effect on redistribution. To this point in its history, we find all income classes have received positive net life‐cycle income transfers and, in an absolute sense, upper‐income groups have done at least as well as lower‐income groups. This suggests a reason for the near‐universal support of Social Security by past generations, as well as the controversy which now surrounds it. As it becomes apparent to younger cohorts of taxpayers that many of them will be net losers, it is inevitable that Social Security will be subject to the same controversy as other welfare programs which attempt to redistribute income.
THE CONCEPTUAL BASIS OF MEASURES OF HOUSEHOLD WELFARE AND THEIR IMPLIED SURVEY DATA REQUIREMENTS*
Authors: Grootaert Christiaan
Published: March 2005

This paper outlines a conceptual basis for the measurement and analysis of levels of welfare. It reflects the thinking that has been ongoing in the World Bank's Living Standards Measurement Study. Three alternative approaches to the measurement of welfare for the purpose of ranking households are surveyed, and the data requirements and analytical techniques for each highlighted. Various issues are discussed regarding the causal analysis of welfare levels and the changes in them. It is argued that the consideration of several dynamic aspects of welfare is significant for the identification of the poor and the potentially poor and for more accurate measurement of levels of living between socioeconomic groups.
ON THE ACCURACY OF INDEX NUMBERS
Authors: Hansen Bent , Lucas Edward F.
Published: March 2005

Index number accuracy is affected by formula specification and sampling error. The authors argue that an index formula should be “ideal” and “exact” (with reference to the range of economically plausible aggregator functions) to be economically justified. These indices are invariant in the homothetic case, as well as in certain non‐homothetic scenarios. Empirically, based on foreign trade data for Egypt from 1885‐1961, the set of economically justified indices are virtually identical, supporting the theoretical argument that “instrumental error” or “formula variance” should be a negligible factor contributing to index number error. In a discussion of sampling error, on the other hand, the authors criticize earlier work and propose an upper and lower bound. Using the same data, these limits imply that sampling error may be a serious problem for many indices.
THE SIZE OF HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTION: METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS AND ESTIMATES FOR THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY IN THE PERIOD 1964 TO 19801
Authors: Schettkat Ronald
Published: March 2005

Household production as well as other informal economic activities have received scant attention in economic science. In the last decade the view has been taken that there has been a big shift from formal to informal production. In order to examine this trend this article presents estimates for the size of household production for the Federal Republic of Germany which are based on time‐budget data collected from 1964 to 1980. To show the sensitivity of the results two different estimating methods the Opportunity Cost Method and the Market Cost Method, are used. Since productivity growth took place not only in the formal economy but also in household production, estimates will be presented which take productivity growth explicitly into account. The article concludes with a comparison of estimates for other countries.
REAL PRODUCT AND PRICE COMPARISONS BETWEEN LATIN AMERICA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD
Authors: Salazar‐Carrillo Jorge , Alonso Irma Tirado
Published: March 2005

The purpose of this article is to add 12 Latin American countries to the Phase III of the United National International Comparisons Project (ICP). The data for Latin America was obtained through ECIEL. It has been demonstrated that the exchange rates do not usually reflect the relative purchasing power of currencies. When low‐income countries are compared to higher income countries the exchange rate conversion tends to understate the relative income of the lower income countries. This is true for the total GDP and even more so for the GDP components. In per capita terms it is found that for low income countries their income is more than twice as great as is indicated by the exchange rate conversion.
A SPECIFICATION SEPARATING FAMILY SIZE AND INDIVIDUAL AGE EFFECTS ON SUBJECTIVE EQUIVALENCE SCALES: A NOTE
Authors: Klein Thomas
Published: March 2005

This paper analyses the Kapteyn and Van Praag method of estimating equivalence scales with respect to the way family size and age composition are incorporated into the scales according to rank and age of each family member. It becomes evident that the Kapteyn/Van Praag procedure fails to distinguish between household size and individual age effects with the result that personal weights can not be used for recomposition of household types other than wife and husband families, nor can they be interpreted as showing real age dependence of personal income equivalence. For these reasons another specification of the general approach, separating both effects, is outlined. This specification distinguishes between several consumption classes within each household. Within each class, economies of scale are attached to similar individuals while differences in individual need are obtained by comparing individuals with the same rank in the different classes.
HOMEMAKER PENSIONS AND LIFETIME REDISTRIBUTION
Authors: Wolfson Michael C.
Published: March 2005

There has been considerable public debate in Canada on the merits of proposals to extend coverage under the public earnings‐related pension system (the Canada and Quebec Pension Plans or C/QPP) to homemakers. This paper presents an analysis of one such proposal put forward by a Parliamentary Committee in 1983. The analysis considers both the likely costs and the redistributional impact of this homemaker pension proposal, based on a Monte Carlo lifecycle microsimulation model. The main results are first that the proposal tends to be mildly redistributive from higher to lower lifetime income groups. Secondly, the proposal is of not as much benefit to women as might be expected‐it is almost equal in value to men and women. This later conclusion is the result of the fact that the homemaker pension provision was part of a package tl at also included splitting of pension credits accrued during marriage.
INCOME DISTRIBUTION AND REDISTRIBUTION: A MICRODATA ANALYSIS FOR SEVEN COUNTRIES
Authors: O'Higgins Mchel , Schmaus Guenther , Stephenson Geofrey
Published: March 2005

This paper reports the detailed results of a comparison of the distribution and redistribution of income in seven countries using the Luxembourg Income Study (LIS) database. Use of LIS facilitates comparisons of inequality in respect to similarly‐defined variables, permits methodological alternatives to be used, and allows the countries to be compared on aspects of income ranking and policy equity in ways not otherwise possible.

The results indicate a pattern of inequality in which Sweden is the most equal, followed by Norway, the U.K. and Canada, while among the less equal countries Israel is generally more equal than Germany‐or the USA., whose relative inequality depends on the measure chosen. Use of the LIS database also allows a more detailed explanation of these results, noting, for example, the role of cash benefits in increasing equality in Sweden and the U.K., and in aiding the bottom quintile in Germany; and the important part played by self‐employment income in contributing to the high top quintile shares in Germany and Israel, and in rendering the Norwegian distribution less equal than that of its Scandinavian neighbour.

The wealth of the database, however, means that methodological issues need to be treated both more explicitly and more carefully than is possible with more restrictive data. To interpret the data also requires a considerable degree of knowledge about the institutional features of tax and social provisions in each country, so that an income microdatabase could usefully be completed by one focused on the details of such provisions.
GROSS AND NET CAPITAL, AND THE FORM OF THE SURVIVAL FUNCTION: THEORY AND SOME NORWEGIAN EVIDENCE
Authors: Biørn Erik , Holmøy Erling , Olsen øYstein
Published: March 2005

In this paper we discuss the empirical measurement of capital stocks derived from data on gross investment. Two capital concepts are involved: gross capital‐representing the capital's capacity dimension‐and net capital–representing its wealth dimension. A brief summary of their components is presented.

The data base consists of long series of Norwegian national accounts data for gross investment at a disaggregated level of sector classification and for 1–3 capital categories within each sector. Survival functions, representing the process of retirement and decline in efficiency of capital units over time, with different curvature (concave, convex) and non‐zero interest rates for the discounting of future capital service flows are considered. The effects of these parameters on the calculated gross and net capital stocks in the years 1956–82 as well as on the implied replacement and depreciation rates and rates of return are discussed.
COMPARISONS OF PURCHASING POWER, REAL OUTPUT AND LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY IN MANUFACTURING IN JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND THE U.S.A., 1975–85
Authors: Szirmai Adam , Pilat Dirk
Published: March 2005

This study presents binary comparisons of real output and labour productivity in manufacturing in Japan, South Korea and the U.S.A. in 1975, made according to an “industry of origin approach.” The 1975 benchmark comparisons have been updated to 1985. Value added per hour worked in Japanese manufacturing increased from 54 percent of the U.S. level in 1975 to 76 percent in 1985. In certain important branches such as electrical machinery, metal products and machinery and transport equipment, productivity leadership shifted to Japan. In South Korea, labour productivity in manufacturing increased rapidly from 1975 to 1985, both in absolute terms and relative to the U.S.A. Nevertheless, in 1985 value added per hour worked was only 14 percent of the U.S. level.
TRENDS IN POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES, 1967–84
Authors: Blackburn McKinley L.
Published: March 2005

The sensitivity of movements in poverty to the method used in measuring poverty is examined. The use of various poverty indices, and of various ways of setting the poverty lines, does not affect the conclusion that poverty followed a U‐shaped pattern from 1967 to 1984. A model for a family's income/needs ratio is estimated and used to explore the factors that might lie behind this pattern. The results suggest that changes over time in the location of the income distribution are most relevant to the corresponding changes in poverty. Changes in the structure of families, and in labor supply within families, have also been relevant to recent movements in poverty.
CAN A PERPETUAL INVENTORY CAPITAL STOCK BE USED FOR PRODUCTION FUNCTION PARAMETER ESTIMATION?
Authors: Miller Edward
Published: March 2005

Due to lack of data on capital disappearance, we simply do not know the covariance of the capital stock with factor inputs and prices well enough to estimate production function parameters. Since replacement rates are rational economic decisions, the errors in a perpetual inventory capital stock vary systematically with the business cycle and such economic variables as rates of technical progress and interest rates. This introduces systematic errors into calculated parameters of production functions and rates of technical progress.
ASPECTS OF POVERTY IN GREECE
Authors: Tsakloglou Panos
Published: March 2005

Poverty in Greece is measured and decomposed using the primary consumption expenditure data of two Greek Household Expenditure Surveys (1974, 1981/82). Poverty is found to be associated with particular characteristics of the household or the household head. These characteristics are residence in rural areas, large household size, low educational level and old age of the household head. Poverty is also very high among members of households headed by farmers and retired persons. Both absolute and relative poverty declined substantially between 1974 and 1982. Changes in the structure of the population had a positive effect on poverty alleviation.
A NEW INDEX TO VALUE IN‐KIND BENEFITS
Authors: Wolfe Barbara , Moffitt Robert
Published: March 2005

In this paper we present a new approach to valuing in‐kind benefits and a new index for that valuation. This approach is both individual (or family) specific and assigns a value to benefits for all those eligible for them, whether or not the benefits are actually used. The value is based on observed characteristics of the individual (and family) and location‐specific factors likely to influence the value. The index is created for individuals and can be aggregated to obtain a family‐specific value. An example of health insurance is used to demonstrate the approach. It is found that the value that single women with children place on health insurance depends on their own health status, the health status of their children, and their poverty status, among other factors.
A NEW FUNCTIONAL FORM FOR ESTIMATING LORENZ CURVES
Authors: Ortega P. , Martín G. , Fernández A. , Ladoux M. , García A.
Published: March 2005

There are several functional forms for estimating Lorenz curves from grouped data. Based on studies of the Spanish distribution of income, we propose a new functional form which provides very good fits. Our specification contains the Pareto Lorenz curve as a particular case, and allows one to compute easily, with the provided formulae, the Gini, Kakwani, and Chakravarty Inequality Indexes.
RELATIVE INCOME DETERMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES: A SOCIAL ACCOUNTING PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Roland‐Holst David W. , Sancho Ferran
Published: March 2005

The disaggregated nature of a Social Accounting Matrix makes it a suitable tool for studying the income generation process and its distributional effects. Using the linear structure of a SAM, a model for distributional analysis is developed. The proposed approach emphasizes the functional determinants of relative incomes and the underlying structural features of income distribution and redistribution.
NEW BUDGET STANDARD POVERTY LINES FOR MALAYSIA
Authors: Perumal Muniappan
Published: March 2005

In this paper, shortcomings of the official poverty line are examined. A new set of budget standard poverty lines were derived for various years between 1959 and 1981, by first estimating the food budget for Malaysian households. Then, an allowance for non‐food items was obtained on the basis of the estimated food budget, and the relationship between the proportion of income allocated on food and non‐food items, together yielding the poverty line. The results suggest that the official and other estimates of the poverty line income were generally higher, and thus have overestimated the extent of poverty in Malaysia.
REVISED REAL CANADIAN GNP ESTIMATES AND CANADIAN ECONOMIC GROWTH, 1870–1926
Authors: Altman Morris
Published: March 2005

Revised Canadian real GNP estimates for the 1870–1926 period, based on the nominal GNP estimates constructed by M. C. Urquhart and on a variety of sector‐specific price indexes, are presented below. The construction of this revised real GNP series allows for the creation of real output estimates for the major sectors of the Canadian economy as well as for a new implicit price index series. These revised estimates cast new light on our present understanding of Canadian economic growth and reinforce the view that the Canadian wheat boom probably played an important and positive role in the process of Canadian economic development.
ESCAPING POVERTY THROUGH WORK: THE PROBLEM OF LOW EARNINGS CAPACITY IN THE UNITED STATES, 1973–88
Authors: Haveman Robert , Buron Lawrence
Published: March 2005

This paper documents the changes in earnings capacity poverty that occurred between 1973 and 1088. Families are “Earnings Capacity Poor” if they are unable to generate enough income to lift them out of poverty, even if all working‐age adults in the family work full‐time, year‐round. Data from the March 1974 and March 1989 Current Population Surveys indicate that earnings capacity poverty increased more rapidly than official poverty. Much of this increase can be attributed to the rise in earnings capacity poverty among whites, intact families, and family heads with more than a high school diploma. Most alarming, the percentage of children in earnings capacity poor families is considerably higher than it is among persons over eighteen; in 1988, nearly 15 percent of children under six lived in families that could not have escaped poverty even if the adults in their family were working and earning at their full capacity levels.
RANKING INCOME DISTRIBUTIONS WHEN NEEDS DIFFER
Authors: Jenkins Stephen P. , Lambert Peter J.
Published: March 2005

We derive criteria for ranking income distributions where households differ in equity‐relevant non‐income characteristics (‘needs’). using methods which do not require cardinal specifications of equivalence scales. We consider comparisons for situations where the distributions of needs differ (eg. Cross nationally or intertemporally), building on the results of Atkinson and Bourguignon (1987) and Atkinson (1992). The modifications required when the individual rather than the household is the income‐receiving unit are also discussed. We illustrate the methods with an analysis of changes in social welfare and poverty in the U.K. between 1981 and 1986.