bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
VIDEO CONSULTATION: A NEW WAY TO IMPROVE INTER‐HOSPITAL NEUROSURGICAL PATIENT CARE
Authors: Wong H.T. , Poon W.S. , Leung C. , Lam M.K. , Lam F.L. , Chan James , Kwok Samuel , Wai Sara , Ng Stephanie
Published: August 2010

With the benefit of continuous development of networking technology, the current inter‐hospital patients care can also be improved. The aim of this study was to examine the role of video consultation against conventional modes of telemedicine technologies in managing inter‐hospital referral of neurosurgical patients, especially in terms of diagnostic accuracy, impact of early management and long‐term outcome.

Data were collected prospectively from a district hospital (UCH) and a tertiary neurosurgical center (PWH). Totally 282 patients requiring neurosurgical consultation as decided by the doctors in the district hospital were stratified into three groups: head injury (A), stroke (B) and others (C). They were further randomized to three modes of consultation [Telephone consultation (I), teleradiology plus telephone consultation (II), and video consultation (III)] within each group.

There are total 72 patients in group A (22.5%), 140 patients in group B (49.6) and 70 patients in group C (24.9). After randomization, patient numbers in mode I, II and III are 98, 98 and 86 respectively. The failure rate of carry out the consultation were low in mode I (1%) and II (3%), but high in mode III (61.6%). The average time from referral to decision make are 25.8 min, 43.2 min and 57 min in mode I, II and III respectively. The mean time need for receiving consultation image are slightly longer in mode III then mode II (54.6 min vs 52.8 min), but the time need to make up decision is much shorten (10.2 min vs 21 min). The diagnostic accuracy and the outcome in one and six month are also analyzed. Comparison of early management benefit of video consultation against conventional telephone consultation is made.

The time need for CT image transfer and high failure rate of carry out video consultation still remain the major problems on data interpretation. Early CT scanning and consultation are emphasized. On site research assistant to carry out the randomization and arranging video consultation will improve future study.
DO WE STILL NEED TO PERFORM BURR HOLE FOR EXTERNAL VENTRICULOSTOMY? TWIST DRILL CRANIOSTOMY AS A SPEEDY AND SAFE APPROACH
Authors: Pang K.H. , Aung T.H. , Po Y.C. , Zhu X.L. , Wong W.K.
Published: August 2010

Twist drill craniostomy for external ventriculostomy or intracranial pressure monitoring using a 3.2 mm twist drill trephine has been introduced to our department since 1997. The procedure is simple and easy to perform. It is minimally invasive, safe and also quick in relieving raised intracranial pressure in patients with dire emergency situation. Compared with the traditional burr hole technique, it is quicker. In addition, it requires only a small stab incision and will not affect planning of scalp flap in subsequent craniotomy. We have compared the result of twist drill with that of standard burr hole technique in a retrospective study of 177 cases of external ventriculostomy. We find that twist drill craniostomy is a good alternative method to achieve rapid relief of raised intracranial pressure and it is worthwhile to recommend it to frontline neurosurgeons. Details of the technique, its advantages and shortcomings will be discussed.
TRACHEOSTOMY IN CRITICALLY ILL NEUROSURGICAL PATIENTS
Authors: Goh Keith Y.C. , Teoh Wendy , Chan Chumpon
Published: August 2010

Objective: To determine the value of early tracheostomy in ventilated neurosurgical patients.

Methods:

Retrospective review of intubated patients in the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit who underwent elective open tracheostomies for prolonged ventilation.

Results:

Thirty patients over a 2‐year period were analyzed. There were 19 males and 11 females, mean age 53.9 ± 18.1 years (range 14–89), and mean Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on admission, 7.1 ± 3.8 (range 3–15). The underlying disease etiology was cerebrovascular disease in 53% of patients, head trauma in 33% and tumor or infection in 13%. Tracheostomy was performed after a mean period of 8.5 ± 3.5 days (range 2–18), with patients requiring ventilation for a mean duration of 13.5 ± 6.3 days (range 3–31). Complications were minimal; 1 wound infection (3.3%) and 4 tube obstructions (13.3%). Patients who underwent elective early tracheostomy (Group I = within 7 days) had poorer GCS on admission (6.3 ± 2.9 vs 7.7 ± 4.3 in Group II, P = 0.271). Tracheostomy was performed after a mean of 5.3 ± 1.7 days in Group I vs 10.6 ± 2.7 days in Group II. Group I patients had faster recovery from nosocomial pneumonia (12.3 ± 6.2 vs 17.9 ± 12.5 days, P = 0.168), shorter duration of ventilation (9.8 ± 5.9 vs 16.0 ± 5.4 days, P = 0.007), and reduced incidence of multibacterial tracheobronchial colonization (42%vs 72%, P = 0.098). The most prevalent organisms were Acinetobacter baumanii (43.3%), Pseudomonas (40%), Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) (33%), Klebsiella (30%) and Staphylococcus Aureus (26.7%).

Conclusion:

Early tracheostomy in selected neurosurgical patients with poor GCS scores was associated with reduced incidence of tracheobronchial colonization by multiple pathogens, improvement in chest infections, and rapid weaning from ventilatory support.
AUDIT OF FROZEN SECTIONS ON BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD LESIONS IN TUEN MUN HOSPITAL 1992–1999
Authors: Loo K.T.
Published: August 2010

The accuracy of intraoperative frozen section reporting is an important factor influencing the speed and efficacy of neurosurgical operations. This study evaluates the performance of the Department of Clinical Pathology, Tuen Mun Hospital, in the reporting of this type of specimens for all operations on lesions of the brain and spinal cord in Tuen Mun Hospital during the eight‐year period from January 1992 till December 1999.

A total of 328 intraoperative pathological samples of disorders of brain and spinal cord could be retrieved from records in the study period, of which 25 (7.6%) were non‐neoplastic. In 50 cases (15.2%) differing diagnoses were given on frozen and permanent sections. In 6 cases (1.8%) the specimens were considered inadequate for diagnosis (too little, crushed or charred material). In 5 cases (1.5%) frozen section diagnosis was deferred to permanent section. In 15 cases (4.6%) a single diagnosis could not be reached at the time of frozen section and a number of differential diagnoses were offered, the most frequent of which was glioma versus gliosis.

This study has identified the entities in which a misdiagnosis is most likely to be made, due either to inherent ease of confusion with morphologic mimickers or to unfamiliarity of the pathologist with the histomorphology. Being aware of major problem areas where diagnostic errors are most prone to occur, the pathologist can appropriately focus his attention and training emphasis, in the continuous effort to improve his diagnostic skill. Achievement of this improvement, combined with proper specimen handling, preparation of optimal frozen sections by technical staff, and close communication with the neurosurgeon, a correct or efficacious diagnosis can be made for more intraoperative situations.
ROBOTIC NEUROSURGERY—QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE
Authors: Tse T.S. , Cheung F.C.
Published: August 2010

Introduction: Since August 2000, a robotic microscope‐based frameless image‐guided system, SGC (Surgiscope, Elekta) became available in the Department of Neurosurgery, QEH. We reviewed the early cases performed with SGC, and presented our experience with these cases.

Materials and methods: All cases performed with SGC from August to October 2000 were reviewed. Case notes, operation records, outpatient records, imaging, and interviews with surgeons constituted as source of information.

Results, discussion and conclusions:

A total of 21 cases were performed with SGC guidance from August to October 2000. There were 12 males and 9 females, ages ranged from 17 to 80 years old with a mean of 43. 12 supra‐tentorial, 3 infra‐tentorial craniotomies/craniectomies, 5 transsphenoidal surgeries and 1 endoscopic biopsy were performed for 17 brain tumors, 2 AVMs, 1 temporal lobe epilepsy and 1 cysticercosis. There was no operative mortality nor complication related to the use of SGC.

The most striking difference of SGC from other non‐robotic image‐guidance systems was its ability to actively position the microscope to assume any pre‐planned trajectory, effectively guiding the surgeon towards his target, whether it is visible (to eyes) or not. We felt SGC would be most useful for relatively small, invisible, deeply seated lesions with surrounding vital structures that need to be avoided. Examples included low‐grade glioma, deep AVM and cavernoma, epileptic foci, skull base tumor and re‐operative pituitary adenoma.

Keys to fully utilize SGC’s potential included firstly, familiarization of the handling of the SGC microscope; secondly, realization that the SGC LED panel placement and patient positioning is critical for the successful execution of the pre‐planned trajectory and approach; and finally, careful pre‐operative planning on the workstation.
HETEROGENEOUS RESPONSES OF ENDOTHELIA AND FOOT PROCESS OF ASTROCYTES AT DAMAGED BLOOD‐BRAIN BARRIER (BBB) IN CORTICAL CONTUSION IN RATS
Authors: Ke Changshu , Poon Wai S. , Ng Ho Keung , Chan Y.
Published: August 2010

To assess changes of aquaporin‐4 (AQP4) and dissect out responses of endothelia and foot process of astrocytes in severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) rat model. 32 rats were randomly divided into different groups. Immunohistochemistry was conducted using: 1) anti‐endogenous IgG, 2) anti‐Endothelial Barrier Antigen (EBA), 3) anti‐Aquaporin 4 (AQP4). The negatively stained areas of EBA and AQP4 on two adjacent serial sections from the same contusion were also quantified by image analysis (CAS 200, Beckton‐Dickinson).

Results showed: 1) Damages of BBB indirectly detected by endogeneous IgG were mostly concentrated in contusions (started from 1 hour till 11 day) but not significantly changed in contalateral cortex and brain stem being diffusely injured. 2) Loss of AQP4 expression was also prominent in contusion at 1 day (5/6) and re‐expression started from 3 day (2/5) and afterwards. However, loss of EBA in contusion peaked at 4 hours and 1 day (5/6), re‐expression started from 1 day (4/6) and later. 3) AQP4 (–) area within contusion was significantly larger than EBA (–) area, compared between two adjacent serial sections from the same contusion [1.68 ± 0.46 mm2 (AQP4‐negative) versus 0.47 ± 0.12 mm2 (EBA‐negative) (mean ± S.E.M., P = 0.01, paired t‐test)].

It can be concluded that AQP4 (–) in the focal contusion is associated with damaged BBB. The combined immunostaining of EBA and IgG can define the dynamic process of BBB damage. Heterogeneous responses of perivascular foot process of astrocyte and endothelia are evoked when exposed to the same direct mechanical injury loading in contusion. The peri‐vascular foot process of astrocyte is more vulnerable.
IS TRANSCRANIAL DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHY (TCD) GOOD ENOUGH IN DETERMINING CO2 REACTIVITY AND PRESSURE AUTOREGULATION IN HEAD‐INJURED PATIENTS
Authors: Ng S.C.P. , Poon W.S. , Chan M.T.V. , Lam J.M.K. , Lam W.W.M.
Published: August 2010

Objectives: Blood flow velocity (BFV) measurement by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) has been shown to give accurate indication of changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF). Cerebral haemodynamic status [cerebral vasoreactivity (CVR) to carbon dioxide (CO2) and pressure autoregulatory response (PAR)] as determined by TCD was compared with that of stable xenon‐enhanced cerebral blood flow (XeCBF), generally regarded as gold standard in CBF measurement.

Blood flow velocities (BFV) in both middle cerebral arteries were measured continuously by TCD. XeCBF measurement was performed after (1) moderate hyperventilation, (2) normocapnia and (3) normocapnia with induced increase in blood pressure (BP). Preserved CVR was defined as more than 1% change in XeCBF and BFV per mm Hg end‐tidal CO2 and intact PAR was defined as within 1% change in XeCBF and BFV per mmHg BP change.

Results: Fourteen sedated and ventilated head‐injured patients (median G.C.S. score : 6.5, mean age: 44.2 ± 16.9 years) underwent 32 pairs of CVR and PAR tests. BFV and XeCBF were 74.4 ± 26.8 cm/s and 53.6 ± 22.6 mL/100 g/min (r = 0.49, P < 0.0005) respectively. In CVR test, correlation coefficient (r) of changes in BFV versus changes in XeCBF was 0.34 (P = 0.006). Sensitivity and specificity of detecting preserved and impaired CVR were 70.5% and 50.0%. In PAR test, changes in BFV correlated significantly with changes in XeCBF (r = 0.73, P < 0.0005). Sensitivity and specificity of detecting intact and loss of PAR were 73.0% and 59.3%.

Conclusions: This study suggests BFV measurement using TCD is reliable to assess cerebral haemodynamic status. In ventilated head‐injured patients, correlation in pressure autoregulation was stronger in comparison with cerebral vasoreactivity.
HÆmatemesis and Melaena: Surgical Management1
Authors: Bambach C. P. , Coupland G. A. E. , Cumberland V. H.
Published: August 2010

A prospective study of the surgical management of 100 consecutive patients with benign, non‐variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding is presented. The manner of presentation, precipitating factors, investigations and associated medical problems are discussed. Chronic duodenal ulceration was the most common cause of hemorrhage. Vagotomy and drainage with oversaving or excision of the bleeding ulcer was the surgical procedure performed in 71 of the patients in the series. The incidence of recurrent bleeding was 7%; no patient in this category required further operation. The mortality rate was 6%, and there were no deaths recorded in the patients who underwent vagotomy and drainage. The reasons for the relatively low surgical mortality are discussed.
The First 15 Years' Experience with Vagotomy and Drainage for Duodenal Ulcer at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney1
Authors: Brooke‐Cowden G. L.
Published: August 2010

The first 15 years' experience with vagotomy and drainage for duodenal ulcer at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, is summarized in a retrospective study. Proved ulcer recurrence in 16% of patients, a mortality rate of 2–6%, and a postoperative complication rate of 32% suggest that vagotomy and drainage as the procedure of choice in all patients with chronic and complicated duodenal ulcer sjiould be reconsidered. The delay in recognition of ulcer recurrence and the increase in the number of patients with longer follow‐up show disturbing similarities to the recurrence of ulcer after gastroenterostomy alone.
Postbulbar Duodenal Ulcer
Authors: Ritchie James D.
Published: August 2010

Postbulbar duodenal ulceration is not common, but when present is difficult to diagnose and treat. Between January 1965 and September 1971, 1,080 patients with duodenal ulcers were treated surgically at St James Hospital. Forty‐one ulcers were found at operation to lie distal to the duodenal bulb. Pain was the most common indication for surgery. In six patients it was clinically indistinguishable from biliary pain, giving rise to diagnostic difficulty. Twelve patients (29%) presented with hæmorrhage, a percentage similar to the 25% of bulbar ulcers presenting with this complication over the period of this study. This is contrary to the finding in most other series, that postbulbar ulceration is more frequently complicated by hemorrhage than is bulbar ulceration. Perforation and stenosis are uncommon complications. Postbulbar ulceration is easily overlooked in conventional barium studies. Only one‐third of the patients subjected to barium meal X‐ray examination had their ulcers identified in the first study. In a further third the presence of an ulcer was suspected, and the remainder required multiple investigations for undiagnosed symptoms before the condition was demonstrated. Duodenoscopy was not performed in a sufficient number of patients for its value to be assessed, but other reports indicate that it should be a valuable manæuvre. The technical difficulties and potential hazards of Pólya gastrectomy are discussed and special reference is made to the surgical management of bleeding postbulbar ulcers.
Multiple Hyperplastic Inflammatory Polyps Complicating Quiescent Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Hamilton S. G. L. , Shilkin K. B. , Ammon R. K. , Sheiner H. J.
Published: August 2010

A patient with well‐controlled and currently asymptomatic ulcerative colitis had n unusually large polypoid lesions in his colon demonstrated by barium enema X‐ray examination and colonoscopy. Previous histological descriptions of inflammatory polyps did not adequately describe their morphology, and the term “hyperplastic inflammatory polyp” is suggested.
The Kock Continent Ileostomy: A Preliminary Report
Authors: Failes David
Published: August 2010

A review is presented of seven patients who have undergone a continent type of ileostomy, as described by Professor Kock. There has been no mortality. Two of the early patients had considerable difficulty with the functioning of the valve and required re‐operation. No patient in the series now wears an external appliance. Six of the seven are fully continent; the seventh reports occasional leakage, but is satisfied with the operation. The operation is considered to be still under trial, but is regarded as having great potential and likely to be much more widely practised in the future.
Closure of Colostomy
Authors: Barnett J. E. , Endrey‐Waldfr P. , Pheils Murray T.
Published: August 2010

A retrospective review of no patients who had their colostomies closed during the period from 1963 to 1973 has been undertaken. Their average age was 64 years. Diverticular disease and colorectal cancer had been the most frequent indications for the colostomy. Wound infection occurred in 36‐4% and facal fistula in 7m3%. These complications occurred less frequently in patients who had antibiotic bowel preparation. The overall mortality rate was 4.5%. Measures to reduce the morbidity and mortality are discussed.
Carcinoid Tumours of the Biliary Tract
Authors: Bergdahl Leif
Published: August 2010

Data on 13 patients, including two not previously reported, with carcinoid tumours of the biliary tract are reported. In ten of them the primary tumour was located in the gallbladder and in three in the biliary duct. No specific symptoms were recorded, and the carcinoid syndrome has not been reported in carcinoid tumours of the biliary tract. In five patients the tumour was first found at autopsy. Metastases were found in three patients at operation or autopsy. Cholecystography can show either a functioning or a non‐functioning gallbladder. Some patients had concretions in the gallbladder. The prognosis appears to be good, and one of the patients reported survived so years with metastases.
The Use of a Posterior‐Based Tongue Flap for the Closure of a Pharyngocutaneous Fistula
Authors: Robertson M. S.
Published: August 2010

The closure of a pharyngocutaneous fistula by the use of a posteriorly based tongue flap is described. The use of such a flap for this purpose has not been previously recorded in the literature.
Intravenous Hyperalimentation in the Management of the Critically III Patient, with Special Reference to Abdominal Fistulae
Authors: Weisz G. M. , Barzilai A. , Assa J. , Toledano H.
Published: August 2010

The present paper describes the technique of intravenous hyperalimentation applied to a group of 100 surgical patients. A specially prepared diet supplying a high amount of calories, using hypertonic glucose and supplying nitrogen, using polypeptides or aminoacid solutions, was infused into the superior vena cava. The inhibition of digestive secretions, during the period of hyperalimentation, was used in the management of 10 patients with intestinal and pancreatic fistula;. The general conclusion reached after wide clinical experience was that by supplying energy and nitrogen to a patient in a severe caiabolic state, a significant and sometimes dramatic capacity could be developed which allowed him to overcome difficult conditions and even initiated a reversal of the metabolic balance in the direction of anabolism. The regimen should be adopted in the preoperative preparation of debilitated patients; in hypcrcatabolic states (post‐trauma, post‐surgery or burns); in gastrointestinal, granulomatous or infectious diseases; in acute pancreatitis; in digestive fistula; in oncological conditions, and so on. The metabolic and infective complications can be progressively decreased and eventually prevented by proper handling and strict metabolic monitoring. The use of this hyperalimentation was extremely encouraging, and on many occasions we had the impression that it was life saving.
Needle Biopsy of Bone: A Simplified Technique
Authors: Sengupta S. , Leong A. S. Y.
Published: August 2010

By means of a slight modification of a commonly available needle, adequate amounts of bone for histopathology examination have been obtained from deep‐seated bones, including vertebral bodies. Forty‐one correct diagnoses were made in 51 consecutive cases in which the technique was used.
Aneurysmal Bone Cysts
Authors: Cham P. R. , Reddy C. R. R. M.
Published: August 2010

Ten cases of aneurysmal bone cysts in various parts of the body are presented. Their features are analysed and the relevant literature is reviewed.
The Management of Vertebral Artery Insufficiency in Cervical Spondylosis: A Modified Technique
Authors: Dan Noel G.
Published: August 2010

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency may on rare occasions be caused by cervical spondylitic spurs. These can be cured by a minor procedure, and a plea is made for avoidance of fusion in such patients.
THE ECONOMICS OF MOVIES: A LITERATURE SURVEY
Authors: McKenzie Jordi
Published: August 2010

Abstract The film industry provides a myriad of interesting problems for economic contemplation. From the initial concept of an idea through production, distribution and finally exhibition there are many aspects to the film project and the film industry that present new and interesting puzzles worthy of investigation. Add to this the high level of data availability, and it is little wonder that an increasing number of researchers are being attracted to this industry. To date, however, there are no comprehensive surveys on the contribution of economists to this literature. This paper attempts to fill this void and unify what is known about the industry. It also identifies and discusses potential areas for new research.
Asset mapping and Whanau action research: ‘New’ subjects negotiating the politics of knowledge in Te Rarawa
Authors: Underhill‐Sem Yvonne , Lewis Nick
Published: August 2010

Te Runanga o Te Rarawa is the tribal council representing the interests of the marae (tribal commons) and hapu (a subtribal kin group) that make up the iwi (a Maori tribe) of Te Rarawa in the far north of Aotearoa/New Zealand. In April 2005, officials approached us to help them secure a valuable funding stream tagged to marshalling resources for material development in the area. They sought curriculum vitae and assistance in reframing the funding specifications. Intrigued, armed with a conceptual toolkit drawn from Gibson‐Graham's ideas of post‐development and asset‐based community mapping, and confident that we could add value, we agreed to help. This paper examines the complex politics of our involvement and our changing positioning as researcher subjects. We argue that negotiating a politics of knowledge for projects of this nature requires engagement in complex representational politics of place and divisive identity politics that rage around it. There are no easy protocols for outside researchers, but with appropriate humility and sensitivity to these politics, we can rely on, and should stand up for, the value of our work, which lies in commitments to excellence in scholarship. We cannot and should not seek to control these politics, which will chew us up and spit us out – humanely and with good grace or otherwise. However, good academic work will recognise and adapt to them. In our particular case, we argue that our work had significant value; and in this paper, we trace the production of this value.
Female transnational migration, religion and subjectivity: The case of Indonesian domestic workers
Authors: Williams Catharina P.
Published: August 2010

Drawing on an analysis of in‐depth interviews with returned migrant women from East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, this paper considers the links between migration, religious beliefs and subjectivity. Low‐skilled migrant women, including domestic workers, have often been represented as marginalised. This paper argues that in the context of migration, women constantly move through trajectories of power using religion as a spiritual resource. Against the commonly patriarchal characteristics of their religion and community, the women employ cognitive strategies to face challenges in migration. In each stage of their transnational migration, the women's experiences reveal the multitude of ways in which they continue to invest in their beliefs through everyday practices, rituals and networking. These experiences highlight the women's strategies in accessing different forms of power. This study demonstrates the significance of focusing on these women's experiences, including their everyday religious practices and their shifting sense of self, as a way of broadening the conceptual basis of our understanding of female migration.
Development prospects in Eastern Indonesia: Learning from Oelua's diverse economy
Authors: Carnegie Michelle
Published: August 2010

This paper explores the effects of different representations of informal economies in Third World settings. Both the neoclassical and political economy approaches have represented the informal economy as a transient entity, and the non‐capitalist practices it comprises as being remnant economic forms, or as already capitalist. Mainstream development discourse (that reflects the neoliberal paradigm) continues to ignore the value and potential of non‐capitalist practices and to represent them as inconsequential to development outcomes. Meanwhile contemporary livelihood studies across the social sciences have documented the continuing vibrancy of different and hybrid economic forms in the Asia Pacific. In this paper, I use a diverse‐economies approach to explore the complexities of the village economy of Oelua in Rote, in the so‐called lagging region of Eastern Indonesia. Drawing on anti‐essentialist Marxist theory in economic geography, I describe the multiple, locally specific and coexisting practices that comprise Oelua's diverse economy, which include distributions of surplus labour to promote social and economic well‐being. I argue that recognising informal village economies as an important development resource could begin a process of building diverse development trajectories in Eastern Indonesia, complementing mainstream development proposals to attract foreign direct investment, shore up development assistance and source out‐migration.
Role of TFP in China's Growth*
Authors: Islam Nazrul , Dai Erbiao , Sakamoto Hiroshi
Published: August 2010

This paper uses the dual approach to growth accounting to examine the role of total factor productivity (TFP) in recent Chinese growth. Most previous growth accounting studies on China have followed the primal approach, which depends heavily on the national income accounts. Unfortunately, despite efforts to rectify them, Chinese national income accounts data continue to have problems that affect primal approach growth accounting results. The dual approach, in contrast, allows independent price information to play a role. Recent research has focused on the following two questions: (i) How significant has TFP's role been in post‐reform Chinese growth? (ii) Has TFP growth rate slowed down in more recent years? This paper finds that: (i) the TFP growth rate for mainland China computed using the dual approach also proves high; and (ii) there has been some slowdown in TFP growth rate in recent years.
Does Trade, Technology, or Education Expel Traditional Sectors? Some Evidence from the Collapse of the Silk Sector in South Korea*
Authors: Rakotoarisoa Manitra A. , Kim Sung‐soo
Published: August 2010

Rapid economic growth and development often drives out traditional activities. We determine how increased trade, technology, and access to education in South Korea led to the collapse of its silk sector. Results show that although the imports of silk yarn and fabric reduced domestic silk output and prices, trade liberalization was not the sole contributor to the collapse. Inelastic labor demand for unskilled workers, skill‐biased technology, and especially increased access to education all led to a sharp rise in the relative wage of unskilled workers, and the ensuing rise in production costs contributed to the silk sector's collapse.
Influence of ADB Bond Issues and US Bonds on Asian Government Bonds*
Authors: Inoguchi Masahiro
Published: August 2010

This article examines whether there is a correlation between the government bond markets of Asian countries and those of the USA, and whether the efforts of international organizations to improve bond markets have had any effect in East Asia. Because the sizes of the government bond markets are larger than those of the corporate bond markets in East Asia, the present paper uses the daily data of government bonds to examine two questions: whether government bond yields in Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand correlate with US government bond yields, and whether bonds in these Asian countries are influenced by ADB bond issues. The present study analyzes these issues by demonstrating the fluctuations in bond yields and carrying out an estimation using the exponential generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model. The results substantiate that there is indeed a correlation between Asian and US bond markets, and that ADB bond issuance in local markets can contribute to the development of Asian bond markets.
Measuring Green Productivity Growth for China's Manufacturing Sectors: 1991–2000*
Authors: Cao Jing
Published: August 2010

Over the past two decades, China has sustained rapid economic growth of 8–10 percent, part of which is attributed to the positive total factor productivity (TFP) growth. However, this extraordinary economic performance has been accompanied by severe environmental pollution and associated health damage. The conventional TFP method is biased in interpreting the progress of technology change because it does not consider non‐marketable residues, such as environmental pollution, and, hence, efficiency improvements in terms of pollution abatement technology and environmentally friendly management are ignored. This bias might direct our attention to less efficient use of environmental friendly abatement technologies or send wrong signals to policy‐makers. To address this issue, the present paper applies a modified welfare‐based green TFP approach, treating environmental damage as non‐desirable (negative) residual output. Therefore, environmental efficiency is taken into account to accurately interpret technological progress from a social welfare point of view. Based on a national time‐series input–output table, historical capital and labor input data for China and sectoral level air pollution emission data from 1991 to 2000, the empirical results suggest that with increasingly stringent environmental regulations, many pollution intensive sectors, such as electricity, primary metal and chemical industries, improved their environmental efficiency in the late 1990s. However, because of the weak environmental regulations in construction and transportation, and in sectors primarily composed of small private or township and village industrial enterprises, firms within these industries contributed to increasing environmental degradation.
Opening up, Market Reform, and Convergence Clubs in China*
Authors: Hao Rui
Published: August 2010

This paper evaluates the relationship between initial government policies and the emergence of convergence clubs in post‐reform China. We test the structural stability of a global convergence equation using China's provincial data over the period 1985–2000. We find that the provinces cluster around two basins of attraction defined by initial opening‐up. Domestic market reform exerts a positive and significant influence on provincial economic growth but has no threshold effect. The two convergence clubs exhibit strikingly different growth behaviors, suggesting that the roles of some growth‐promoting factors, such as human capital and infrastructure, depend on whether an openness threshold is passed.
Effects of gender similarity on relationships between person–group value fit and work attitudes
Authors: Kim Min Soo , Kim Sun Young , Shin Yuhyung
Published: August 2010

The present study assessed the effect of gender similarity as a potential moderator of the relationships between person–group (P–G) value fit and work attitudes. Specifically, we predicted that the effect of P–G value fit (in terms of social integration values) on individual attitudes would be stronger for individuals who had a similar gender than those of a different gender. Based on data obtained from 197 employees in South Korea, we found that when the focal individual had high gender similarity with his or her group, the relationships between P–G value fit and job satisfaction and between P–G value fit and turnover intentions were more prominent. Furthermore, these moderating effects were significant for men, but not for women.
Marital satisfaction of Chinese under stress: Moderating effects of personal control and social support
Authors: Chi Peilian , Tsang Sandra K. M. , Chan Kin San , Xiang Xiaoping , Yip Paul S. F. , Cheung Yee Tak , Zhang Xiulan
Published: August 2010

Stressful life events, personal control, and social support were examined relative to marital satisfaction among 1749 participants in seven Chinese cities. Stressful life events were categorized as life crises and life transitions. Life crises, rather than transitions, negatively predicted the marital satisfaction of Chinese. The moderating effects of personal control were found among women, but not men, and occurred only in the relationship between marital satisfaction and life crises, not life transitions. Social support buffers the negative effects of life crises on marital satisfaction. The results extend family stress‐coping theory in specifying two coping resources for Chinese marriages under stress.
Perfectionism and eating disturbances in Korean immigrants: Moderating effects of acculturation and ethnic identity
Authors: Chan Carina K. Y. , Ku Youngeun , Owens Richard Glynn
Published: August 2010

Korean society highly values personal appearance. Given the established links between perfectionism and eating disorders in Western countries, the present project investigated such links and the extent to which these were moderated by the acculturation patterns of the participants. Korean immigrants to New Zealand (N = 123) completed measures of perfectionism, ethnic identity, eating disorders, and social desirability. Positive and negative perfectionism were associated with eating‐disorder symptoms. For males, but not females, negative perfectionism was more strongly associated with increased body satisfaction only among those who identified strongly as Korean.
Effects of work‐related norm violations and general beliefs about the world on feelings of shame and guilt: A comparison between Turkey and the Netherlands
Authors: Ersoy Nevra Cem , Born Marise P.h. , Derous Eva , van der Molen Henk T.
Published: August 2010

This paper aimed at investigating the effects of work‐related norm violations (i.e., violations of interpersonal and work regulation norms) and individuals' general beliefs about the world (i.e., social axioms: reward for application, social cynicism) on feelings of shame and guilt in Turkey and in the Netherlands. An experimental study involving 103 Turkish and 111 Dutch participants showed that work norm violations elicited feelings of guilt and shame differently in Turkey and the Netherlands. Specifically, interpersonal norm violation in Turkey elicited feelings of shame and guilt more strongly than did violation of a work regulation norm, whereas no differential effects were found in the Netherlands. As expected, violation of a work regulation norm elicited feelings of shame and guilt more strongly in the Netherlands than in Turkey, whereas violation of an interpersonal norm elicited feelings of shame and guilt more strongly in Turkey than in the Netherlands. The findings provide further evidence for the moderating effects of social axioms: in both countries, participants high in social cynicism felt less ashamed when they violated a work regulation norm than did those low in social cynicism. Our findings are relevant for understanding the underlying mechanisms of norm violations at work, thereby offering a new avenue for investigating cultural differences in the workplace. The latter may be of particular relevance in times of globalization and diversity in the workplace.
People's Republic of China and its Neighbours: evidence on regional trade and investment effects
Authors: Roland‐Holst David , Weiss John
Published: August 2010

The very rapid economic growth of the People's Republic of China (PRC), its dramatic success in world export markets and its heavy receipts of foreign direct investment (FDI) have generated much thought and debate in policy and business circles in different parts of the world. This paper surveys evidence from research by ADB Institute staff and Visiting Fellows conducted over the last two years that sheds light on these issues. The paper examines differences in trade structure between the PRC and its trading partners, finding that the PRC's current structure is closest to that of Korea and Taipei, China in 1990. It also considers changes in market share and finds that the PRC exports are eroding the market share of its regional neighbours in the USA and Japan, particularly in products in which trading partners are most specialised. There is no evidence of FDI diversion from elsewhere in the region to PRC. The trade diversion effects in the US and Japan are offset however by strong trade creation as the rapid growth in PRC leads to a substantial rise in its imports.

The paper surveys the projections of models that demonstrate the gains in greater trade and income for the region from closer trade links with the PRC. The broad conclusion that emerges is that whilst there may be risks to individual sectors in all countries concerned, the pattern of regional trade and investment that is emerging is mutually beneficial, provided enterprises and governments representing the PRC's regional partners respond effectively to the adjustments required.
Would Emergency Safeguard Measures Work for Services?
Authors: Clogstoun Roy , Trewin Ray , Bosworth Malcolm
Published: August 2010

Discussions in the WTO on Emergency Safeguards Measures (ESMs) for services are now stalemated. While possibly justified on political economy grounds if they resulted in WTO members making more liberal commitments, their main supporters (ASEAN minus Singapore) have not amply demonstrated their desirability or technical feasibility (legal and economic means). The GATS already has sufficient in‐built flexibility, and several forms of de facto safeguard provisions and other measures exist. The economic case for ESMs is weak, and the efficiency costs from capture by protectionists and lost investment from restricting established foreign investors could be potentially large. The proposed ASEAN model essentially replicates the goods’ ESM, and has a number of deficiencies, such as having no national interest or economic test. The paper suggests a number of ways that the ASEAN model could be improved if the case for ESM on services was accepted. It also examines, as an alternative to an ESM, the possibility of members introducing a waiver to temporarily withdraw services commitments should an emergency situation arise.
Aid and Growth in the Pacific Islands
Authors: Pavlov Vlad , Sugden Craig
Published: August 2010

The literature on the aid–growth relationship has recently been reinvigorated through the application of growth equations that seek to explain growth as a function of institutions, policies and aid. This approach has generally led to the conclusion that aid has contributed to growth, albeit with decreasing returns. Some studies have found that there is only a positive relationship between aid and growth when there is a favourable policy environment—a finding that has been used to provide a reason for the reallocation of aid to better‐performing countries and an increased emphasis by donors on aid conditionality. It is unclear whether these conclusions apply to the Pacific island countries given their unusual features: notably, small populations, remote locations and a high level of aid. This paper draws on the recent literature in examining the aid–growth relationship in seven Pacific island countries. A positive relationship between aid and growth is identified, although it is subject to decreasing returns. The study is unable to provide an adequate explanation for the role of institutions and policy in growth in the countries studied, or determine whether aid only contributes to growth when favourable policy environments are in place.
A Survey of Exchange Rate Pass‐Through in Asia
Authors: Ghosh Amit , Rajan Ramkishen S.
Published: August 2010

Exchange rate pass‐through (ERPT) refers to the transmission of exchange‐rate changes into import (export) prices of goods in the destination‐market currency as well as into aggregate domestic prices. This paper examines the analytical and empirical literature on ERPT with particular reference to Asia. It is generally believed that Asian economies are potentially susceptible to ERPT into domestic inflation since they are highly trade‐dependent. Particular attention is paid to production sharing—a key characteristic of Asian trade—and its implications for ERPT.
A NOTE ON ASYMPTOTIC POSTERIOR NORMALITY FOR STOCHASTIC PROCESSES
Authors: ADEKOLA O.A.
Published: August 2010

In a recent paper, Sweeting & Adekola (1987) presented a fairly general set of conditions for asymptotic posterior normality which covers a wide class of problems. In this paper we present an example of an explosive autoregressive model where our condition A4 does not hold.
COMBINING TWO UNBIASED ESTIMATORS OF A COMMON MEAN OF TWO NORMAL POPULATIONS
Authors: NANAYAKKARA NUWAN , CRESSIE NOEL
Published: August 2010

Consider estimating the common mean μ of two normal populations. Let () and () be the means and variances of two independent samples obtained from these populations. We give sufficient conditions for the choices of α1 and α2 in the unbiased estimator
EXPONENTIAL DISPERSION MODELS AND THE GAUSS‐NEWTON ALGORITHM
Authors: Smyth Gordon K.
Published: August 2010

It is known that the Fisher scoring iteration for generalized linear models has the same form as the Gauss‐Newton algorithm for normal regression. This note shows that exponential dispersion models are the most general families to preserve this form for the scoring iteration. Therefore exponential dispersion models are the most general extension of generalized linear models for which the analogy with normal regression is preserved. The multinomial distribution is used as an example.
SPECTRAL REPRESENTATION AND ERGODICITY OF ASYMPTOTICALLY STATIONARY PROCESSES
Authors: Anh V.V. , Lunney K.E.
Published: August 2010

A second order process with mean zero and covariance is asymptotically stationary if lim ds exists for every; this limit then defines the covariance function of the process. The paper establishes the spectral representation for the covariance function and a mean ergodic theorem for the process. When stationarity is assumed, the results reduce to the well‐known corresponding theorems for stationary processes.
ASYMPTOTIC POSTERIOR NORMALITY FOR STOCHASTIC PROCESSES: A NON‐ERGODIC EXAMPLE
Authors: Adekola O.A.
Published: August 2010

Sweeting & Adekola (1987) presented a fairly general set of conditions, covering a wide class of problems, that establish asymptotic posterior normality for stochastic processes. In this paper, this theory is illustrated via a non‐ergodic example, namely, the class of non‐homogeneous birth processes.
JAMES‐STEIN RULE ESTIMATORS IN LINEAR REGRESSION MODELS WITH MULTIVARIATE‐t DISTRIBUTED ERROR
Authors: Singh Radhey S.
Published: August 2010

This paper considers estimation of β in the regression model y =Xβ+μ, where the error components in μ have the jointly multivariate Student‐t distribution. A family of James‐Stein type estimators (characterised by nonstochastic scalars) is presented. Sufficient conditions involving only X are given, under which these estimators are better (with respect to the risk under a general quadratic loss function) than the usual minimum variance unbiased estimator (MVUE) of β. Approximate expressions for the bias, the risk, the mean square error matrix and the variance‐covariance matrix for the estimators in this family are obtained. A necessary and sufficient condition for the dominance of this family over MVUE is also given.
THE USE OF A CLASS OF FOLDOVER DESIGNS AS SEARCH DESIGNS
Authors: Diamond Neil T.
Published: August 2010

It is shown that members of a class of two‐level nonorthogonal resolution IV designs withnfactors are strongly resolvable search designs whenk, the maximum number of two‐factor interactions thought possible, equals one; weakly resolvable whenk =2 except when the number of factors is 6; and may not be weakly resolvable whenk≥ 3.
SOME SIMPLE APPROXIMATIONS FOR THE DOUBLY NONCENTRAL z DISTRIBUTION
Authors: SENGUPTA SUKALYAN
Published: August 2010

We give two simple approximations for evaluating the cumulative probabilities of the doubly noncentral z distribution. These can easily be used for evaluating the cumulative probabilities of the doubly noncentral F distribution as well. We compare our results with those obtained by Tiku (1965) using series expansion. An industrial situation where a quality characteristic of interest follows the doubly noncentral z distribution is also cited. However, in this case the exact probabilities could be calculated using results on the ratio of two normal variables.
SELECTING “DEMONSTRABLY BEST” OR “DEMONSTRABLY WORST” EXPONENTIAL POPULATIONS
Authors: Bofinger Eve
Published: August 2010

Consider k independent observations Yi (i= 1,., k) from two‐parameter exponential populations i with location parameters μ and the same scale parameter If the μi are ranked as consider population as the “worst” population and IIp(k) as the “best” population (with some tagging so that p{) and p(k) are well defined in the case of equalities). If the Yi are ranked as we consider the procedure, “Select provided YR(k) Yr(k) is sufficiently large so that is demonstrably better than the other populations.” A similar procedure is studied for selecting the “demonstrably worst” population.
A MULTIVARIATE NORMAL MODEL FOR PEDIGREE AND LONGITUDINAL DATA AND THE SOFTWARE ‘FISHER’
Authors: Hopper John L. , Mathews John D.
Published: August 2010

In 1918 R.A. Fisher published an interpretation of covariation between relatives in terms of Mendelian inheritance, which has allowed inference on genetic and environmental components of variation from plant, animal and human pedigree data. Fisher had introduced maximum likelihood six years earlier. His 1918 paper abo contained the basics of linear regression and decomposition of variance. These concepts have now been united to allow flexible modelling of the mean and covariance structure of non‐independent data on continuous traits, using maximum likelihood under a multivariate normal assumption. FISHER is a software package, designed for pedigree analysis and easily adapted for repeated measures and longitudinal data analysis. A range of applications illustrate FISHER as a useful statistical tool. Issues related to assumptions, tests‐of‐fit, and robustness of inference are discussed.