bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LAND REFORM AS SOCIAL JUSTICE: THE CASE OF SOUTH AFRICA
Authors: Boudreaux Karol
Published: March 2010

Hayek argues that when governments violate people's rights by imposing discriminatory laws it may be necessary to do something to correct the situation. He suggests limiting corrective actions in two ways: only address harms that occurred in the relatively recent past, and impose no new discrimination. As a result of a very long history of discriminatory legislation, black South Africans suffered substantial harms at the hands of past governments. Following the political transition in 1994, the new government implemented land reform policies designed, in part, to satisfy calls for social justice. This paper examines these policies in the context of Hayek's arguments.
SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS IN DISCUSSION OF MARKETS AND MORALITY
Authors: Woods Jr. Thomas E.
Published: March 2010

The market has a moral dimension; economics, the study of the marketplace, does not. Economics deals with a world of scarcity, not a Garden of Eden in which all that is necessary to get what we want is a willingness to demand it. Discussions of morality and market, if they are to be fruitful, must recognise these basic facts.
SUGGESTIONS ON REBUILDING CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING ON ECONOMICS
Authors: Luckey William R.
Published: March 2010

A question hangs over the authoritative status of what has come to be called Catholic Social Teaching. The recent publication of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church gives added point to this question. This paper sketches the elements that should inform a genuinely authoritative Catholic teaching on this subject, based on the foundational principles of Catholic moral theology. The most recent encyclical in this area, Benedict XVI's Caritas in Veritate, is analysed.
THE FUTURE OF MARKETS
Authors: Kay John
Published: March 2010

In the 2009 Wincott Lecture, the author argues that in their approach to markets, economic researchers and policy‐makers have focused too much on the role of prices as signals to guide resource allocation, at the expense of two possibly more important elements – markets as a process of discovery and markets as a mechanism for the diffusion of political and economic power. Government policies should support the market rather than particular industries, promote competition not concentration, and facilitate entry, not confer advantages on existing firms.
STATE EDUCATION IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY: DEMANDED OR IMPOSED?
Authors: McNally Kate
Published: March 2010

This article challenges the popular perception that the free market was unable to supply education to meet the needs of nineteenth‐century Britain. Provision of education in fact largely accorded with parental demand, and this level of voluntary consumption was optimal for the time. Government intervention could therefore be ineffective at best, if not actively harmful.
WHY ARE SOME PLACES RICH WHILE OTHERS ARE POOR? THE INSTITUTIONAL NECESSITY OF ECONOMIC FREEDOM
Authors: Carden Art , Hall Joshua
Published: March 2010

We survey perspectives on the economic differences between countries and argue that economic freedom is the key to prosperity. We close by outlining the policy implications. Specifically, removing obstacles to the exercise of economic freedom is an important step towards prosperity.
GLOBALISATION: PAST AND PRESENT
Authors: Das Dilip K.
Published: March 2010

This article compares and contrasts the two modern eras of globalisation, namely the one that started in the mid‐nineteenth century and ended on the eve of World War I, and the contemporary era. Although in both periods globalisation brought down national barriers and integrated economies and societies, there were distinct characteristic features of both periods. For example, the scale of global integration through trade and financial channels during the contemporary era was unmatched by the previous phase of globalisation. Furthermore, never in history had global integration involved so many countries and people, both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of the global population.
THE USE AND ABUSE OF MARKETS IN HOUSING POLICY
Authors: King Peter
Published: March 2010

This paper argues that, despite its rhetoric in support of markets, government does not understand how markets work, but is rather trying to use certain aspects of markets to control social housing. The paper looks at three areas: first, the idea of private finance and how this is used by government as a form of public policy; second, the notion of risk and whether it actually occurs in social housing; and third, the contention that government is incapable of appreciating the manner in which markets operate because it only wishes to provide safe options and so cannot countenance real choice and competition.
FAIR TRADE IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE AND UNFAIR: REJOINDER
Authors: Haight Colleen , Henderson David R.
Published: March 2010

This is a rejoinder to a criticism of Henderson (2008) by Alastair Smith. Our conclusion is that Henderson's basic case, although nicked around the edges by developments since the original was written, still stands. Moreover, we point out that Smith's criticism of Henderson's point that Fair Trade could help kill the banana actually supports Henderson's case. Finally, Smith's proposed ‘trade, not aid’ solution does not contradict Henderson (2008). Refusing to buy Fair Trade coffee and other products and, instead, buying quality coffee and other products would not reduce trade, as Smith seems to imply.
ELINOR OSTROM – NOBEL PRIZE IN ECONOMICS 2009
Authors: Aligica Paul Dragos
Published: March 2010

Elinor Ostrom's groundbreaking studies on self‐governance systems and on how people solve common‐pool resource problems have challenged the theory and practice of economic development. Two theses stand at the core of this challenge. Firstly, any single, comprehensive set of formal laws intended to govern a large expanse of territory containing diverse ecological niches is bound to fail. Secondly, improving the abilities of those directly engaged in the particulars of their local conditions to organise themselves is potentially a better strategy than attempting to implement idealised, theoretically optimal institutional arrangements. From there to tangible national‐level economic growth strategies in developing countries is a long road but Ostrom and her team have pointed the direction and opened the way.
Why it Pays to Conceal: On the Optimal Timing of Acquiring Verifiable Information
Authors: Feess Eberhard , Walzl Markus , Schieble Michael
Published: March 2010

We consider optimal contracts when a principal has two sources to detect bad projects. The first one is an information technology without agency costs (ITP), whereas the second one is the expertise of an agent subject to moral hazard, adverse selection and limited liability (ITA). First, we show that the principal does not necessarily benefit from access to additional information and thereby may prefer to ignore it. Second, we discuss different timings of information release, i.e., a disclosure contract offered to the agent after the principal announced the result of ITP, and a concealment contract where the agent exerts effort before ITP is checked. We find that concealment is superior whenever the quality of ITP is sufficiently low. Then, ITP is almost worthless under a disclosure contract, while it can still be exploited to reduce the agent’s information rent under concealment. If the quality of ITPimproves, disclosure can be superior as it allows to adjust the agent’s effort to the updated expected quality of the project. However, even for a highly informative ITP, concealment can be superior as it mitigates the adverse selection problem.
Epidemiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Isfahan, Iran
Authors: Sajjadi M. , Etemadifar M. , Nemati A. , Ghazavi H. , Basiri K. , Khoundabi B. , Mousavi S. A. , Kabiri P. , Maghzi A. H.
Published: March 2010

Background:  Few studies are carried out on the epidemiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Middle East with no reports from Iran.

Objective:  To determine the epidemiological and clinical features of ALS amongst the Iranian population living in Isfahan, Iran.

Methods:  Medical records of all hospitals with a neurology department and outpatient neurology clinics in Isfahan province from 2002 to 2006 were reviewed, and all patients with the diagnosis of ALS according to El Escorial diagnostic criteria were extracted and related demographic and clinical data were gathered and analyzed.

Results:  We found 98 new patients (66 men and 32 women) with definite, probable, or possible ALS. The average annual incidence was 0.42/100 000, with the highest incidence rate amongst those aged 70–74. On 21 March 2006, the crude prevalence was 1.57/100 000. Median survival from onset was 48 months (95% confidence interval 34–61) and survival rates for 1, 3,and 5 years after the onset were 94%, 66%, and 32%, respectively.

Conclusions:  The incidence and prevalence of ALS in the Iranian population seems to be lower compared to other populations and the survival of patients was longer than previously reported.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (2008) and the Tenacity of the Sexual Family Form1
Authors: McCandless Julie , Sheldon Sally
Published: March 2010

The new parenthood provisions set out in Part 2 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 have been attacked as dangerous and radical, offering a ‘lego‐kit model of family life’ and a ‘magical mystery tour’ in how legal fatherhood is to be determined. In this paper, we explain what is innovative about these new provisions but also explore what they owe to deep‐rooted traditional assumptions about the family. Relying both on published documentation relating to this reform process and a small number of key actor interviews, we trace the imprint of what Fineman has described as the ‘sexual family’ model on the provisions. We conclude that the way that parenthood is framed within the legislation relies on a number of important normative assumptions which received very little scrutiny in this process. We also highlight a number of tensions within this framing which, we suggest, may create future problems for judicial determination.
The Parliamentary Standards Act 2009: A Constitutional Dangerous Dogs Measure?
Authors: Parpworth Neil
Published: March 2010

The scandal which broke over MPs' abuses of the allowances system during the course of the last parliamentary session shows little sign of abating. As a result of an audit undertaken by Sir Thomas Legg, some MPs have been required to repay sums which were successfully claimed up to five years ago. Although this development has been welcomed by the public, it has been condemned by some in Parliament as being retrospective and unfair. In this article, the discussion focuses on the key provisions of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 which was enacted in order to tackle the issues raised by the expenses scandal. It considers their import and how they are likely to apply in practice. Since the Act is a further example of ‘fast‐track’ legislation, there was no opportunity for pre‐legislative scrutiny. This may help to explain why the Act differs in several important respects from the Bill which was originally introduced. It is highly likely that the 2009 Act will be the subject of post‐legislative scrutiny, especially since it contains a renewal provision.
Disobedience to Law – Debbie Purdy's Case
Authors: Nobles Richard , Schiff David
Published: March 2010

This case note examines the implications of the House of Lords decision to order the DPP to issue offence specific guidelines allowing those contemplating assisting terminally ill persons to commit suicide to know the risk they face of prosecution under section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961. On the assumption that these guidelines will be law, and binding upon the DPP as well as the CPS, does this represent a change in the law, or a situation in which it may be unlawful to enforce the law, or even generate a legal right of disobedience to law?
Globalisation in Foreign Language Teaching: Establishing Transatlantic Links in Higher Education
Authors: Cañado María Luisa Pérez
Published: March 2010

This article makes an explicit comparison between the reconfiguration of tertiary language education in Europe, the USA and Canada. It argues that, despite certain minor differences between continents, the same trends are operative across the Atlantic. It then examines each of them, illustrating how similar forces are at work in shaping higher education language teaching, how analogous policy frameworks are being employed to channel them and how parallel challenges and responses can be detected transatlantically. The conclusion is that unifying efforts and connecting initiatives has highly beneficial effects for advancing the application of higher education language policy worldwide.
‘The Indivisible Whole of God's Reality’: On the Agency of Jesus in Bonhoeffer's Ethics
Authors: HOLMES CHRISTOPHER
Published: March 2010

In conversation with Karl Barth, this article explores Bonhoeffer's account in his Ethics of the character of the agency exercised by Jesus Christ in the world today in relation to the principal task of theological ethics: namely, the engendering of the most humane form of existence possible within the mandates of work, family, government and church. The article argues that the theological work undertaken by the command of God ensures that these mandates remain christologically determined spheres in which concrete obedience is enacted, and thus the places in which the reality that Jesus Christ is achieves social and historical form.
A flexible response: person‐centred support and social inclusion for people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour
Authors: Carnaby Steven , Roberts Bron , Lang Janet , Nielsen Prue
Published: March 2010

Accessible summary

Everyone has the right to be in their community, and some people need extra help to make sure this happens.

Services should be based on what people like to do with the support they need to do things safely.

Staff working in services should all work together whatever their role is, to make sure all people with learning disabilities get what they need.

Social inclusion and citizenship form the key objective of Valuing People Now (2009), but achieving this meaningfully with people whose behaviour can challenge services remains elusive for many services. This article describes the philosophy, development, operationalisation and evaluation of a person‐centred day opportunities and supported lifestyle service which is successfully placing service users at the heart of their local community. Its innovation lies in embedding clinical input directly in the support model, creating interdependent partnership working across agencies and developing frontline staff to become highly skilled practitioners.
Multisensory integration of vision and touch in nonspatial feature discrimination tasks
Authors: WADA YUICHI
Published: March 2010

Multisensory integration of nonspatial features between vision and touch was investigated by examining the effects of redundant signals of visual and tactile inputs. In the present experiments, visual letter stimuli and/or tactile letter stimuli were presented, which participants were asked to identify as quickly as possible. The results of Experiment 1 demonstrated faster reaction times for bimodal stimuli than for unimodal stimuli (the redundant signals effect (RSE)). The RSE was due to coactivation of figural representations from the visual and tactile modalities. This coactivation did not occur for a simple stimulus detection task (Experiment 2) or for bimodal stimuli with the same semantic information but different physical stimulus features (Experiment 3). The findings suggest that the integration process might occur at a relatively early stage of object‐identification prior to the decision level.
Information processing bias against emotional facial expressions in social anxiety
Authors: KIM SO‐YEON , OH KYUNG JA
Published: March 2010

The present study examined whether information processing bias against emotional facial expressions is present among individuals with social anxiety. College students with high (high social anxiety group; n = 26) and low social anxiety (low social anxiety group; n = 26) performed three different types of working memory tasks: (a) ordering positive and negative facial expressions according to the intensity of emotion; (b) ordering pictures of faces according to age; and (c) ordering geometric shapes according to size. The high social anxiety group performed significantly more poorly than the low social anxiety group on the facial expression task, but not on the other two tasks with the nonemotional stimuli. These results suggest that high social anxiety interferes with processing of emotionally charged facial expressions.
Limited Distribution of a Cardiomyopathy‐Associated Variant in India
Authors: Simonson Tatum S. , Zhang Yuhua , Huff Chad D. , Xing Jinchuan , Watkins W. Scott , Witherspoon David J. , Woodward Scott R. , Jorde Lynn B.
Published: March 2010

Heart failure is a leading cause of death of people in South Asia, and cardiomyopathy is a major cause of heart failure. Myosin binding protein C (MYBPC3) is expressed in the heart muscle, where it regulates the cardiac response to adrenergic stimulation and is important for the structural integrity of the sarcomere. Mutations in the MYBPC3 gene are associated with hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathies. A 25‐base‐pair deletion in intron 32 causes skipping of the downstream exon and is associated with familial cardiomyopathy. To date, this deletion is found primarily in India and South Asia, although it is also found at low frequency in Southeast Asia. In order to better characterise the distribution of this variant, we determined its frequency in 447 individuals from 19 populations, including 10 populations from India and neighbouring populations from Pakistan and Nepal. The deletion frequency is over 8% in some of our Indian samples, and it is not present in any of the populations we sampled outside of India. The differences in the deletion frequencies among populations in India are consistent with patterns of variation previously reported and with patterns we observed among Indian populations based on high‐density SNP chip data. Our results indicate that the MYBPC3 deletion is primarily found among Indian populations and that its distribution is consistent with genome‐wide patterns of variation in India.
GJB2 Mutations in Mongolia: Complex Alleles, Low Frequency, and Reduced Fitness of the Deaf
Authors: Tekin Mustafa , Xia Xia‐Juan , Erdenetungalag Radnaabazar , Cengiz Filiz Basak , White Thomas W. , Radnaabazar Janchiv , Dangaasuren Begzsuren , Tastan Hakki , Nance Walter E. , Pandya Arti
Published: March 2010

We screened the GJB2 gene for mutations in 534 (108 multiplex and 426 simplex) probands with non‐syndromic sensorineural deafness, who were ascertained through the only residential school for the deaf in Mongolia, and in 217 hearing controls. Twenty different alleles, including four novel changes, were identified. Biallelic GJB2 mutations were found in 4.5% of the deaf probands (8.3% in multiplex, 3.5% in simplex). The most common mutations were c.IVS1 + 1G > A (c.‐3201G > A) and c.235delC with allele frequencies of 3.5% and 1.5%, respectively. The c.IVS1 + 1G > A mutation appears to have diverse origins based on associated multiple haplotypes. The p.V27I and p.E114G variants were frequently detected in both deaf probands and hearing controls. The p.E114G variant was always in cis with the p.V27I variant. Although in vitro experiments using Xenopus oocytes have suggested that p.[V27I;E114G] disturbs the gap junction function of Cx26, the equal distribution of this complex allele in both deaf probands and hearing controls makes it a less likely cause of profound congenital deafness. We found a lower frequency of assortative mating (37.5%) and decreased genetic fitness (62%) of the deaf in Mongolia as compared to the western populations, which provides an explanation for lower frequency of GJB2 deafness in Mongolia.
Heritability of Obesity‐related Phenotypes and Association with Adiponectin Gene Polymorphisms in the Chinese National Twin Registry
Authors: Lee Juan , Chen Li , Snieder Harold , Chen Da F. , Lee Li M. , Liu Gai F. , Wu Ting , Tang Xun , Zhan Si Y. , Cao Wei H. , Lv Jun , Gao Wen J. , Hu Yong H.
Published: March 2010

The purpose of this study was to estimate the heritability of obesity‐related phenotypes and investigate the association of adiponectin gene polymorphisms +45T>G and +276G>T with these measures in Chinese twins. 1260 twin pairs were recruited from two cities through the Chinese National Twin Registry System from 2001 to 2005. Two SNPs at the adiponectin locus (+45T>G and +276G>T) were genotyped. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to estimate heritability and the best‐fitting variance component model. The regular association among all twins was analysed with generalised estimating equations (GEE). Sib‐transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT) within dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs discordant for their genotype was performed using SEM. Additive genetic, common and unique environmental (ACE) model‐based heritability of body mass index (BMI) was 61%, while additive genetic and unique environmental (AE)‐model‐based heritability of waist circumference (WC) and waist‐hip ratio (WHR) were 75% and 61%, respectively. There was no association of adiponectin gene +45T>G and +276G>T genotypes with obesity‐related phenotypes in all twins or discordant DZ twins. Our twins data did not support that there was an association between adiponectin gene polymorphisms +45T>G and +276G>T and the obesity‐related phenotypes. Further studies are required to better understand the role of adiponectin gene polymorphisms in obesity.
Common Susceptibility Variants Examined for Association with Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Rampersaud Evadnie , Kinnamon Daniel D. , Hamilton Kara , Khuri Sawsan , Hershberger Ray E. , Martin Eden R.
Published: March 2010

Rare mutations in more than 20 genes have been suggested to cause dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), but explain only a small percentage of cases, mainly in familial forms. We hypothesised that more common variants may also play a role in increasing genetic susceptibility to DCM, similar to that observed in other common complex disorders.

To test this hypothesis, we performed case‐control analyses on all DNA polymorphic variation identified in a resequencing study of six candidate DCM genes (CSRP3, LDB3, MYH7, SCN5A, TCAP, and TNNT2) conducted in 289 unrelated white probands with DCM of unknown cause and 188 unrelated white controls. In univariate analyses, we identified associated common variants at LDB3 site 10779, LDB3 site 57877, MYH7 sites 16384 and 17404, and TCAP sites 140 and 1735. Multivariate analyses to examine the joint effects of multiple gene variants confirmed univariate results for MYH7 and TCAP and identified a block of nine variants in MYH7 that was strongly associated with DCM.

Common variants in genes known to be causative of DCM may play a role in genetic susceptibility to DCM. Our results suggest that examination of common genetic variants may be warranted in future studies of DCM and other Mendelian‐like disorders.
Neo‐Liberal Transformation of Turkish Agriculture
Authors: AYDIN ZÜLKÜF
Published: March 2010

This paper analyses the relationship between the internationalization of agriculture under the hegemony of transnational corporations and the transformation of Turkish agriculture by specifically looking at the implementation of neo‐liberal policies in rural areas. It contends that neo‐liberalism in Turkish agriculture since the 1980s represents the abandonment of the nationalist project that underlined state policies in industry and agriculture between 1930 and the late 1970s. Neo‐liberal policies implemented since 1980 have consolidated the stronghold of transnational agribusiness companies in Turkish agriculture. In cooperation with the World Bank, the EU and the WTO, the Turkish state has been preparing the necessary conditions for transnational agribusiness firms to control Turkish agriculture. Since 1999, the Turkish state has introduced fundamental institutional changes to ensure the smooth internationalization of Turkish agriculture, which has inevitably led to the impoverishment of the rural masses and to the abandonment of agriculture by small‐ and medium‐sized households.
‘Amsterdam is Standing on Norway’ Part II: The Global North Atlantic in the Ecological Revolution of the Long Seventeenth Century
Authors: MOORE JASON W.
Published: March 2010

‘Amsterdam is standing on Norway’– this was a popular saying in the Dutch Republic of the seventeenth century. There was more than one inflection to the phrase. Amsterdam was, in the first instance, built atop a subterranean forest of Norwegian origin. But southern Norway was also a vital resource zone, subordinated to Amsterdam‐based capital. This paper follows the movement of strategic commodity frontiers within early modern Europe from the standpoint of capitalism as world‐ecology, joining in dialectical unity the production of capital and the production of nature. Our geographical focus is trained upon the emergence of the Global North Atlantic, that zone providing the strategic raw materials and food supplies indispensable to the consolidation of capitalism – timber, naval stores, metals, cereals, fish and whales. I argue for a broader geographical perspective on these movements, one capable of revealing the dialectical interplay of frontiers on all sides of the Atlantic. From its command posts in Amsterdam, Dutch capital deployed American silver in the creation of successive frontiers within Europe, transforming Scandinavian and Baltic regions. The frontier character of these transformations was decisive, premised on drawing readily exploitable supplies of land and labour power into the orbit of capital. We see in northern Europe precisely what we see in the Americas – a pattern of commodity‐centred environmental transformation, and thence relative ecological exhaustion, from which the only escape was renewed global conquest and ever‐wider cycles of combined and uneven development.
New slavery, old binaries: human trafficking and the borders of ‘freedom’
Authors: DAVIDSON JULIA O'CONNELL
Published: March 2010

This article explores dominant discourse on ‘trafficking as modern slavery’ in relation to the many legal and social fetters that have historically been and are today imposed upon individuals who are socially imagined as ‘free’. It argues that discourse on ‘trafficking as modern slavery’ revitalizes the liberal understandings of freedom and restriction that have historically allowed vigorous moral condemnation of slavery to coexist with the continued imposition of extensive, forcible restrictions on individuals deemed to be ‘free’. In place of efforts to build political alliances between different groups of migrants, as well as between migrants and non‐migrants, who share a common interest in transforming existing social and political relations, ‘trafficking as modern slavery’ discourse inspires and legitimates efforts to divide a small number of ‘deserving victims’ from the masses that remain ‘undeserving’ of rights and freedoms.
Refugees and transnationalism on the Thai–Burmese border
Authors: BREES INGE
Published: March 2010

The past decade has seen the rapid development of transnationalism research, but transnationalism from below in situations of mass refugee influx has received little attention. However, the case study of Burmese refugees in Thailand clearly demonstrates that those refugees can maintain economic, social, cultural and political links with co‐nationals in all the domains of the refugee diaspora, even if their capabilities are in principle strained. It is argued here that the legal status of the person or diaspora organization concerned, as well as the country of origin and the host country have a larger influence on the type of transnationalism than the label ‘migrant’ or ‘refugee’. The concept of transnationalism should thus be conceived in a more encompassing sense, both geographically, thematically and including all emigrants regardless of their original motivations for migration. The article is based on fieldwork, including over 150 interviews with Burmese refugees and political activists.
Perceptions of policy choice in contemporary democracies
Authors: HELLWIG TIMOTHY , MIKULSKA ANNA , GEZGOR BURCU
Published: March 2010

Though the concept of choice is essential to democracy, little is known about how citizens make sense of the diversity of policies offered by political elites. Research has found that institutional arrangements such as low electoral thresholds and multiple party competitors are associated with greater policy choice. Other work emphasises non‐institutional factors. No research, however, examines what the voters think. In this article these alternative explanations are assessed in terms of whether citizens believe parties to provide choice over policy. Evidence from 25 democracies reveals that electoral and party systems have no direct effect. Choice perceptions are instead affected by non‐policy factors: social heterogeneity and individual political dispositions. This result contrasts with analyses showing a strong connection between electoral rules and the diversity of messages communicated by parties during campaigns. The article also shows how choice perceptions matter for political behaviour. Overall, study findings imply that the promise of institutions for fostering representation is weaker than previously assumed.
Age‐based self‐interest, intergenerational solidarity and the welfare state: A comparative analysis of older people's attitudes towards public childcare in 12 OECD countries
Authors: GOERRES ACHIM , TEPE MARKUS
Published: March 2010

When faced with the necessity of reforming welfare states in ageing societies, politicians tend to demand more solidarity between generations because they assume that reforms require sacrifices from older people. Political economy models, however, do not investigate such a mechanism of intergenerational solidarity, suggesting that only age‐based self‐interest motivates welfare preferences. Against this backdrop, this article asks: Does the experience of intergenerational solidarity within the family matter for older people's attitudes towards public childcare – a policy area of no personal interest to them? The statistical analysis of a sample with individuals aged 55+ from twelve OECD countries indicates that: intergenerational solidarity matters; its effect on policy preferences is context‐dependent; and influential contexts must – according to the evidence from twelve countries – be sought in all societal spheres, including the political (family spending by the state), the economic (female labour market integration) and the cultural (public opinion towards working mothers). Overall, the findings imply that policy makers need to deal with a far more complex picture of preference formation toward the welfare state than popular stereotypes of ‘greedy geezers’ suggest.
Selective α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists worsen disease in experimental colitis
Authors: Snoek Susanne A , Verstege Marleen I , van der Zanden Esmerij P , Deeks Nigel , Bulmer David C , Skynner Michael , Lee Kevin , te Velde Anje A , Boeckxstaens Guy E , de Jonge Wouter J
Published: March 2010

Background and purpose:  In various models vagus nerve activation has been shown to ameliorate intestinal inflammation, via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) expressed on immune cells. As the α7 nAChR has been put forward to mediate this effect, we studied the effect of nicotine and two selective α7 nAChR agonists (AR‐R17779, (‐)‐spiro[1‐azabicyclo[2.2.2] octane‐3,5′‐oxazolidin‐2′‐one and GSK1345038A) on disease severity in two mouse models of experimental colitis.

Experimental approach:  Colitis was induced by administration of 1.5% dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) in drinking water or 2 mg 2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) intrarectally. Nicotine (0.25 and 2.50 µmol·kg−1), AR‐R17779 (0.6–30 µmol·kg−1) or GSK1345038A (6–120 µmol·kg−1) was administered daily by i.p. injection. After 7 (DSS) or 5 (TNBS) days clinical parameters and colonic inflammation were scored.

Key results:  Nicotine and both α7 nAChR agonists reduced the activation of NF‐κB and pro‐inflammatory cytokines in whole blood and macrophage cultures. In DSS colitis, nicotine treatment reduced colonic cytokine production, but failed to reduce disease parameters. Reciprocally, treatment with AR‐R17779 or GSK1345038A worsened disease and led to increased colonic pro‐inflammatory cytokine levels in DSS colitis. The highest doses of GSK1345038A (120 µmol·kg−1) and AR‐R17779 (30 µmol·kg−1) ameliorated clinical parameters, without affecting colonic inflammation. Neither agonist ameliorated TNBS‐induced colitis.

Conclusions and implications:  Although nicotine reduced cytokine responses in vitro, both selective α7 nAChR agonists worsened the effects of DSS‐induced colitis or were ineffective in those of TNBS‐induced colitis. Our data indicate the need for caution in evaluating α7 nAChR as a drug target in colitis.
Biochemical and molecular analysis of carboxylesterase‐mediated hydrolysis of cocaine and heroin
Authors: Hatfield MJ , Tsurkan L , Hyatt JL , Yu X , Edwards CC , Hicks LD , Wadkins RM , Potter PM
Published: March 2010

Background and purpose: Carboxylesterases (CEs) metabolize a wide range of xenobiotic substrates including heroin, cocaine, meperidine and the anticancer agent CPT‐11. In this study, we have purified to homogeneity human liver and intestinal CEs and compared their ability with hydrolyse heroin, cocaine and CPT‐11.

Experimental approach: The hydrolysis of heroin and cocaine by recombinant human CEs was evaluated and the kinetic parameters determined. In addition, microsomal samples prepared from these tissues were subjected to chromatographic separation, and substrate hydrolysis and amounts of different CEs were determined.

Key results: In contrast to previous reports, cocaine was not hydrolysed by the human liver CE, hCE1 (CES1), either as highly active recombinant protein or as CEs isolated from human liver or intestinal extracts. These results correlated well with computer‐assisted molecular modelling studies that suggested that hydrolysis of cocaine by hCE1 (CES1), would be unlikely to occur. However, cocaine, heroin and CPT‐11 were all substrates for the intestinal CE, hiCE (CES2), as determined using both the recombinant protein and the tissue fractions. Again, these data were in agreement with the modelling results.

Conclusions and implications: These results indicate that the human liver CE is unlikely to play a role in the metabolism of cocaine and that hydrolysis of this substrate by this class of enzymes is via the human intestinal protein hiCE (CES2). In addition, because no enzyme inhibition is observed at high cocaine concentrations, potentially this route of hydrolysis is important in individuals who overdose on this agent.
Ouabain attenuates cardiotoxicity induced by other cardiac steroids
Authors: Nesher M , Shpolansky U , Viola N , Dvela M , Buzaglo N , Ben‐Ami H Cohen , Rosen H , Lichtstein D
Published: March 2010

Background and purpose: All cardiac steroids have a similar structure, bind to and inhibit the ubiquitous transmembrane protein Na+, K+‐ATPase and increase the force of contraction of heart muscle. However, there are diverse biological responses to different cardiac steroids both at the cellular and at the molecular level. Moreover, we have recently shown that ouabain inhibits digoxin‐ and bufalin‐induced changes in membrane traffic. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that ouabain also has an inhibitory effect on cardiotoxicity induced by other cardiac steroids.

Experimental approach: The hypothesis was tested in isolated heart muscle preparations and in anin vivomodel of cardiotoxicity in guinea pigs.

Key results: Ouabain at a low dose attenuated the toxicity induced by bufalin and digoxin in heart muscle preparations. In addition, ouabain at the low dose (91 ng·kg−1·h−1), but not at a higher dose (182 ng·kg−1·h−1), delayed the development of digoxin‐induced (500 µg·kg−1·h−1) cardiotoxicity in anaesthetized guinea pigs, as manifested by delayed arrhythmia and terminal ventricular fibrillation, as well as a reduced heart rate. In addition, as observed with ouabain, the phosphoinositide 3‐kinase inhibitor wortmannin (100 µg·kg−1·h−1) delayed the digoxin‐induced arrhythmia in anaesthetized guinea pigs.

Conclusions and implications: The present study demonstrates the inhibitory effect, probably through signal transduction pathways, of ouabain on digoxin‐ and bufalin‐induced cardiotoxicity in guinea pigs. Further understanding of this phenomenon could be beneficial for increasing the therapeutic window for cardiac steroids in the treatment of chronic heart failure.
Current status and new developments in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis with biological agents
Authors: Weger Wolfgang
Published: March 2010

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting 1–3% of the general population. Among psoriatic patients, 5–40% are affected by psoriatic arthritis. Due to the chronic nature of the disease, patients suffer from substantial psychological and financial burdens, thus adding to a significantly impaired quality of life. Traditional systemic therapies for psoriasis, such as methotrexate, cyclosporin A, retinoids or PUVA therapy, have a potential for long‐term toxicity and may not always provide sufficient improvement of the disease. The development of novel therapies targeting key steps in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis now provide new and efficient treatment options. Biological therapies for the treatment of psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis are defined by their mode of action and can be classified into three categories: the T‐cell modulating agents (alefacept and efalizumab), the inhibitors of tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNFα blockers, e.g. adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab and infliximab) and the inhibitors of interleukin (IL) 12 and IL‐23 (e.g. ustekinumab and briakinumab). This article provides a brief overview of the currently approved biological agents in the European Union and of some newer agents, such as briakinumab, certolizumab and golimumab.
Signal transduction by protease‐activated receptors
Authors: Soh Unice JK , Dores Michael R , Chen Buxin , Trejo JoAnn
Published: March 2010

The family of G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitutes the largest class of signalling receptors in the human genome, controlling vast physiological responses and are the target of many drugs. After activation, GPCRs are rapidly desensitized by phosphorylation and β‐arrestin binding. Most classic GPCRs are internalized through a clathrin, dynamin and β‐arrestin‐dependent pathway and then recycled back to the cell surface or sorted to lysosomes for degradation. Given the vast number and diversity of GPCRs, different mechanisms are likely to exist to precisely regulate the magnitude, duration and spatial aspects of receptor signalling. The G protein‐coupled protease‐activated receptors (PARs) provide elegant examples of GPCRs that are regulated by distinct desensitization and endocytic sorting mechanisms, processes that are critically important for the spatial and temporal fidelity of PAR signalling. PARs are irreversibly activated through proteolytic cleavage and transmit cellular responses to extracellular proteases. Activated PAR1 internalizes through a clathrin‐ and dynamin‐dependent pathway independent of β‐arrestins. Interestingly, PAR1 is basally ubiquitinated and deubiquitinated after activation and traffics from endosomes to lysosomes independent of ubiquitination. In contrast, β‐arrestins mediate activated PAR2 internalization and function as scaffolds that promote signalling from endocytic vesicles. Moreover, activated PAR2 is modified with ubiquitin, which facilitates lysosomal degradation. Activated PARs also adopt distinct active conformations that signal to diverse effectors and are likely regulated by different mechanisms. Thus, the identification of the molecular machinery important for PAR signal regulation will enable the development of new strategies to manipulate receptor signalling and will provide novel targets for the development of drugs.
Assessing the Forecasting Performance of a Generic Bio‐Economic Farm Model Calibrated With Two Different PMP Variants
Authors: Kanellopoulos Argyris , Berentsen Paul , Heckelei Thomas , Van Ittersum Martin , Lansink Alfons Oude
Published: March 2010

Using linear programming in bio‐economic farm modelling often results in overspecialised model solutions. The positive mathematical programming (PMP) approach guarantees exact calibration to base year data but the forecasting capacity of the model is affected by necessary but arbitrary assumptions imposed during calibration. In this article, a new PMP variant is presented which is based on less arbitrary assumptions that, from a theoretical point of view, are closer to the actual decision making of the farmer. The PMP variant is evaluated according to the predictions of the bio‐economic farm model, developed within the framework for integrated assessment of agricultural systems in Europe (SEAMLESS). The forecasting capacity of the model calibrated with the standard PMP approach and the alternative PMP variant, respectively, is tested in ex‐post experiments for the arable farm types of Flevoland (the Netherlands) and Midi‐Pyrenees (France). The results of the ex‐post experiments, in which we try to simulate farm responses in 2003 using a model calibrated to 1999 data, show that the alternative PMP variant improves the forecasting capacity of the model in all tested cases.
14th International Headache Congress: Basic Science Highlights
Authors: Schwedt Todd J. , Goadsby Peter J.
Published: March 2010

During the 14th International Headache Congress the results of several innovative studies that contribute to our understanding of headache pathophysiology and treatment were presented. Here we summarize work expected to contribute substantially to understanding headache mechanisms, while an accompanying manuscript summarizes presentations regarding the treatment of headache. This manuscript highlights research on mechanisms of photophobia and phonophobia, pharmacologic inhibition of cortical spreading depression, a proposed mechanism by which oxygen effectively treats cluster headache, identification of functional and structural aberrations in people with hypnic headache, and research on functional imaging markers of a migraine attack.
Chronic Headache and Hemiparkinsonism Due to a Sylvian Fissure Dermoid Cyst
Authors: Akhaddar Ali , Mandour Cherkaoui , Belhachmi Adil , Boucetta Mohammed
Published: March 2010

(Headache 2010;50:479‐480)
Ethanol Enhances the Interaction of Breast Cancer Cells Over‐Expressing ErbB2 With Fibronectin
Authors: Xu Mei , Bower Kimberly A. , Chen Gang , Shi Xianglin , Dong Zheng , Ke Zunji , Luo Jia
Published: March 2010

Background:  Ethanol is a tumor promoter and may enhance the metastasis of breast cancer. However, the underlying cellular/molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Amplification of ErbB2 or HER2, a receptor tyrosine kinase of the ErbB family, is found in 20 to 30% of patients with breast cancer. We have previously demonstrated that the effect of ethanol on the migration/invasion of breast cancer cells positively correlated with the expression levels of ErbB2. Adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important initial step for cancer cell invasion and metastasis. In this study, we investigated the effects of ethanol on the adhesion of MCF7 breast cancer cells over‐expressing ErbB2 (MCF7ErbB2) to human plasma fibronectin.

Methods:  To test the hypothesis that ethanol may enhance the attachment of human breast cancer cells to fibronectin, an important component of the ECM, we evaluated the effect of ethanol on the expression of focal adhesions, cell attachment, and ErbB2 signaling in cultured MCF7ErbB2 cells.

Results:  Exposure to ethanol drastically enhanced the adhesion of MCFErbB2 cells to fibronectin and increased the expression of focal adhesions. Ethanol induced phosphorylation of ErbB2 at Tyr1248, FAK at Tyr861, and cSrc at Try216. Ethanol promoted the interaction among ErbB2, FAK, and cSrc, and the formation of a focal complex. AG825, a selective ErbB2 inhibitor, attenuated the ethanol‐induced phosphorylation of ErbB2 and its association with FAK. Furthermore, AG825 blocked ethanol‐promoted cell/fibronectin adhesion as well as the expression of focal adhesions.

Conclusions:  Our results suggest that ethanol enhances the adhesion of breast cancer cells to fibronectin in an ErbB2‐dependent manner, and the FAK pathway plays an important role in ethanol‐induced formation of a focal complex.
Influence of Dissolved Oxygen Concentration on the Pharmacokinetics of Alcohol in Humans
Authors: Baek In‐hwan , Lee Byung‐yo , Kwon Kwang‐il
Published: March 2010

Background:  Ethanol oxidation by the microsomal ethanol oxidizing system requires oxygen for alcohol metabolism, and a higher oxygen uptake increases the rate of ethanol oxidation. We investigated the effect of dissolved oxygen on the pharmacokinetics of alcohol in healthy humans (n = 49). The concentrations of dissolved oxygen were 8, 20, and 25 ppm in alcoholic drinks of 240 and 360 ml (19.5% v/v).

Methods:  Blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) were determined by converting breath alcohol concentrations. Breath samples were collected every 30 min when the BAC was higher than 0.015%, 20 min at BAC ≤0.015%, 10 min at BAC ≤0.010%, and 5 min at BAC ≤0.006%.

Results:  The high dissolved oxygen groups (20, 25 ppm) descended to 0.000% and 0.050% BAC faster than the normal dissolved oxygen groups (8 ppm; p < 0.05). In analyzing pharmacokinetic parameters, AUCinf and Kel of the high oxygen groups were lower than in the normal oxygen group, while Cmax and Tmax were not significantly affected. In a Monte Carlo simulation, the lognormal distribution of mean values of AUCinf and t1/2 was expected to be reduced in the high oxygen group compared to the normal oxygen group.

Conclusions:  In conclusion, elevated dissolved oxygen concentrations in alcoholic drinks accelerate the metabolism and elimination of alcohol. Thus, enhanced dissolved oxygen concentrations in alcohol may have a role to play in reducing alcohol‐related side effects and accidents.
MAOA Alters the Effects of Heavy Drinking and Childhood Physical Abuse on Risk for Severe Impulsive Acts of Violence Among Alcoholic Violent Offenders
Authors: Tikkanen Roope , Ducci Francesca , Goldman David , Holi Matti , Lindberg Nina , Tiihonen Jari , Virkkunen Matti
Published: March 2010

Background:  A polymorphism in the promoter region of the monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA) has been shown to alter the effect of persistent drinking and childhood maltreatment on the risk for violent and antisocial behaviors. These findings indicate that MAOA could contribute to inter‐individual differences in stress resiliency.

Methods:  Recidivism in severe violent crimes was assessed after 8 years of nonincarcerated follow‐up in a male sample of 174 impulsive Finnish alcoholic violent offenders, the majority of whom exhibited antisocial (ASPD) or borderline personality disorder (BPD) or both. We examined whether MAOA genotype alters the effects of heavy drinking and childhood physical abuse (CPA) on the risk for committing impulsive recidivistic violent crimes.

Results:  Logistic regression analyses showed that both heavy drinking and CPA were significant independent predictors of recidivism in violent behavior (OR 5.2, p = 0.004 and OR 5.3, p = 0.003) among offenders having the high MAOA activity genotype (MAOA‐H), but these predictors showed no effect among offenders carrying the low MAOA activity genotype (MAOA‐L).

Conclusion:  Carriers of the MAOA‐H allele have a high risk to commit severe recidivistic impulsive violent crimes after exposure to heavy drinking and CPA.