bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hormone Interactions Regulating Energy Balance During Pregnancy
Authors: Ladyman S. R. , Augustine R. A. , Grattan D. R.
Published: May 2010

Appetite and food intake are increased during pregnancy, comprising an adaptive response that facilitates energy storage in preparation for the high metabolic demands of pregnancy and subsequent lactation. To maintain the increased energy intake in the face of increased adiposity and rising leptin levels, pregnant females become resistant to the central anorectic actions of leptin. In rats, pregnancy‐induced leptin resistance is characterised by elevated neuropeptide Y and reduced pro‐opiomelanocortin expression in the arcuate nucleus, reduced leptin receptor mRNA levels and suppression of leptin‐induced phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription‐3 protein in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, as well as a loss of anorectic responses to both leptin and α‐melantocyte‐stimulating hormone. Our recent data suggest that this leptin‐resistance may also cause central insulin resistance and an altered peripheral glucose homeostasis. The specific hormone changes during pregnancy that might mediate these effects on leptin signalling are a current focus of investigation. In pseudopregnant rats, chronic i.c.v. infusion of ovine prolactin to mimic patterns of placental lactogen secretion that occur during pregnancy completely blocked the ability of leptin to suppress food intake. These data suggest that placental lactogen secretion may mediate the hormone‐induced loss of response to leptin during pregnancy. This action of prolactin/placental lactogen appears to be mediated downstream of the primary leptin‐responsive neurones in the mediobasal hypothalamus, possibly in the paraventricular nucleus. Our studies show complex hormone‐induced adaptations in the normal hypothalamic pathways regulating body weight homeostasis during pregnancy.
FeuN, a novel modulator of two‐component signalling identified in Sinorhizobium meliloti
Authors: Carlyon Rebecca E. , Ryther Joanna L. , VanYperen Ryan D. , Griffitts Joel S.
Published: May 2010

Sinorhizobium meliloti is a nitrogen‐fixing bacterial symbiont of alfalfa and related legumes. Symbiotic infection by S. meliloti requires an osmosensory two‐component system composed of the response regulator FeuP and the sensor kinase FeuQ. The FeuPQ pathway positively regulates transcription of multiple genes including ndvA, which encodes the cyclic glucan exporter. Here we show that proper regulation of this signalling pathway is essential for cell viability. Without the small 83 amino acid protein FeuN, S. meliloti cells are unable to grow, and this phenotype is dependent on the FeuPQ pathway. Using Escherichia coli as a heterologous system, we show that expression of feuP and feuQ leads to a dramatic increase in ndvA promoter activity, but that simultaneous expression of feuN abrogates this effect. Random mutagenesis of the feuPQ bicistron revealed a defined region of the FeuQ protein in and around its two predicted transmembrane domains that are required for FeuN‐dependent signalling modulation. Marker enzyme fusion experiments indicate that most of the FeuN polypeptide is localized to the periplasm. Our data support a model in which FeuN interacts directly with FeuQ to attenuate phosphorylation of FeuP, and that without this activity, hyperactive signalling through FeuPQ results in cessation of growth or death.
Presence and density of domestic mites in the microenvironment of mite‐sensitive dogs with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Farmaki Rania , Saridomichelakis Manolis N. , Leontides Leonidas , Papazahariadou Margarita G. , Gioulekas Dimitrios , Koutinas Alexander F.
Published: May 2010

This study was designed to investigate the presence and density of domestic mites (DMs) in households with atopic dogs sensitive to these mites (group A; n = 20), in households with clinically healthy, nonatopic dogs (group B; n = 20) and in households without pets (group C; n = 25). Dust samples were vacuum‐collected from the owner mattress (all groups) and dog sleeping area (groups A and B) or living room couch (group C) on four consecutive occasions, reflecting the four seasons of the year. DMs were found, at least once, in 19 of 20 (95%) group A, 13 of 20 (65%) group B and 21 of 25 (84%) group C households. DM numbers per gram of dust were 0–159 (median, 8.8), 0–302 (median, 3) and 0–1473 (median, 6.9) for group A, B and C, respectively. Dermatophagoides farinae predominated in all groups, since it was identified in 60% of group A, 40% of group B and 64% of group C households. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was found in 45%, 35% and 48% of households, in group A, B and C, respectively. No differences were found between households with (groups A and B) or without dogs (group C). When considering both sampling sites together, frequency of DM recovery was higher in group A than in group B (P = 0.044). Also, both mite frequency (P = 0.011) and density (P = 0.015) in dog sleeping area were higher in group A than in group B. In conclusion, presence and density of DMs is higher in the microenvironment of mite‐sensitive dogs with atopic dermatitis than in that of clinically healthy nonatopic dogs.
Improving a weed population model using a sequential Monte Carlo method
Authors: MAKOWSKI D , CHAUVEL B , MUNIER‐JOLAIN N
Published: May 2010

Makowski D, Chauvel B & Munier‐Jolain N (2010). Improving a weed population model using a sequential Monte Carlo method. Weed Research50, 373–382.

Field measurements and weed population model predictions have been proposed as the basis for recommendations on the need for chemical or mechanical treatment, but both approaches have some limitations. This study shows how a Sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) method can be used to combine weed count measurements and model predictions, to derive a better estimate of weed population characteristics. SMC was applied to a dynamic model simulating weed densities, seed production and seedbank densities for Alopecurus myosuroides (blackgrass). The benefit resulting from SMC was quantified for several types of weed count data, using experiments carried out in seven plots during 6 years. Compared with the initial model predictions, SMC reduced the root mean squared error (RMSE) by 33.5–81.5%. Compared with the weed densities derived from the weed counts alone, SMC reduced the RMSE by 1.2–10%. SMC should be preferred to the single use of model or of weed count data, because it can improve weed density predictions and because the probability distributions computed by SMC can be used to analyse the uncertainty about the state of the system.
Optimal weed management in crop rotations: incorporating economics is crucial
Authors: VAN DEN BERG F , GILLIGAN C A , GERDESSEN J C , GREGOIRE L A H , VAN DEN BOSCH F
Published: May 2010

Van
Den Berg F, Gilligan CA, Gerdessen JC, Gregoire LAH & VanDen Bosch F (2010). Optimal weed management in crop rotations: incorporating economics is crucial. Weed Research50, 413–424.

Although the effects of crop rotation sequence and length on weed population dynamics have been studied, it is not clear whether or not the best strategy, from a weed population dynamics point of view, is also the economic optimal strategy. It is also not clear which biological and economic parameters are most important in determining this optimal strategy. We use a density‐dependent periodic matrix model, integrated with an economic model, to study the effect of rotation length and weed control on the average annual net profit (ANP). The system of the weed Persicaria maculosa in carrots (crop A) and spring wheat (crop B) is used as an example case study. The bio‐economic model shows that income is roughly constant with rotation length, apart from the shortest rotation sequence. These results are in agreement with a previous model study, which was restricted to biological dynamics. However, where the purely biological model suggests that weeding effort should be focussed on spring wheat years in the rotation, our bio‐economic model shows that this is not a viable economic strategy. In fact, the mean ANP over a rotation is mainly determined by the ANP in carrot years (where the gross margin is high) and depends on the balance between the increase in seed population density in carrot years and its decrease in wheat years, in combination with weeding costs. The model can easily be extended to incorporate other damaging organisms, making the model broadly suitable for analysing a range of weed management strategies from an economic perspective.
Tradeoff Between Travel Speed and Olfactory Food Detection in Ring‐Tailed Coatis (Nasua nasua)
Authors: Hirsch Ben T.
Published: May 2010

The distance at which an animal can detect food has important ramifications for foraging behavior. Although some studies have investigated the factors which affect visual food detection, very little is known about what influences olfactory food detection abilities in wild animals. The food discovery behavior of ring‐tailed coatis (Nasua nasua) was studied using experimental fruit plots. Coatis primarily used olfaction to detect these new food sources, and visual food discovery appeared plausible in only five of 148 trials. Coatis detected the fruit from longer distances when traveling compared with when foraging for invertebrates in the leaf litter. Travel speed had a negative effect on discovery distance. Coatis traveling slowly detected the fruit plots from further away, which demonstrated a tradeoff between speed and food detection. If this tradeoff is biologically important, slower groups should have visited more fruit trees per day, so data taken during full‐day coati group follows were analyzed to determine whether this pattern occurred. Slower moving groups visited more fruit trees than faster groups once confounding factors such as daily travel distance, group identity, group spread, and year were controlled for. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that coatis exhibit a speed‐accuracy tradeoff for olfactory food detection. This tradeoff appears to be an important factor influencing the movement ecology of animal groups.
Genetic Diversity and Pathogenicity Analysis of Sphaceloma ampelinum Causing Grape Anthracnose in Thailand
Authors: Poolsawat Oythip , Tharapreuksapong Akkawat , Wongkaew Sopone , Reisch Bruce , Tantasawat Piyada
Published: May 2010

Anthracnose is one of the major diseases affecting grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars in Thailand. Isolates of Sphaceloma ampelinum, the anamorph stage of Elsinoe ampelina, were collected from various regions of Thailand. Nineteen single‐conidial isolates were evaluated for differences in conidial morphology, DNA patterns and pathogenicity. These isolates could not be unambiguously distinguished based on conidial morphology; however, they were genetically differentiated using random amplified polymorphic DNA markers. Cluster analysis by the unweighted paired grouped mean arithmetic average classified these isolates into four groups. Pathogenicity analysis using nine grape genotypes and five S. ampelinum isolates showed that ‘Wilcox321’ and ‘Illinois547‐1 were highly resistant to all isolates, suggesting their usefulness as resistant sources in future breeding programmes.
Marker of T‐cell activation is elevated in refractory Kawasaki disease
Authors: Suzuki Hiroyuki , Suenaga Tomohiro , Takeuchi Takashi , Shibuta Shoichi , Yoshikawa Norishige
Published: May 2010

Background:  The aim of this study was to investigate whether T‐cell activation is involved in the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD) resistant to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment.

Methods:  Serum samples were obtained from 27 patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for KD. These 27 patients were divided into three groups according to their responses to IVIG: Group A, nine patients who showed no response to either initial IVIG or additional IVIG; Group B, six patients who did not respond to initial IVIG but did respond to additional IVIG; Group C, 12 patients who responded to initial IVIG. Serum samples were obtained before and after initial IVIG. Using a commercial chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay, we examined the serum levels of two cytokines related to T‐cell activation and the severity of inflammation: soluble interleukin‐2 receptor and interleukin‐6.

Results:  There were no significant differences in the serum levels of the two cytokines before initial IVIG among the three groups, but significant intergroup differences were evident after initial IVIG in the serum levels of soluble interleukin‐2 receptor (P < 0.01, Group A > C) and interleukin‐6 (P < 0.01, Group A > B > C).

Conclusions:  Our results show that marker of T‐cell activation is elevated most markedly in KD patients resistant to both initial and additional IVIG, and suggest that T cells may be activated in refractory KD.
Variance in the transaminase levels over the body mass index spectrum in 10‐ and 13‐year‐olds
Authors: Okuda Masayuki , Kunitsugu Ichiro , Yoshitake Norikazu , Hinoda Yuji , Suehiro Yutaka , Okuda Yumi , Hobara Tatsuya
Published: May 2010

Background:  Transaminase levels increase with body mass index (BMI) and also with an extreme drop in the BMI, as in the case of patients with anorexia nervosa. We examined these levels over the BMI spectrum in Japanese 10‐ and 13‐year‐olds.

Methods:  Fifth‐ and eighth‐grade students (n= 3747) from all schools in Shunan City, Japan, between 2006 and 2008 were included in the study. BMI z‐score and serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma‐glutamyltransferase (GGT) were measured.

Results:  The ALT and GGT levels increased with z‐BMI values in the boys and 10‐year‐old girls (P≤ 0.001). In the 13‐year‐old girls, only the ALT levels increased with the z‐BMI values (P= 0.018). Similarly, the proportion of subjects with elevated ALT and GGT levels increased with the z‐BMI values (ptrend < 0.05). The AST levels were negatively associated with BMI in the girls (P < 0.001). Among the boys, these levels were elevated at the highest z‐BMI values and slightly elevated at lower values, but not significantly. These associations did not change after adjustments for confounders. Generalized additive model analyses revealed that transaminase had non‐linear relationships with z‐BMI, except for the AST levels in the girls.

Conclusion:  The elevated ALT and GGT levels were associated with high BMI in both sexes. In the same study population, however, AST increased in the girls with low BMI and in the boys with high BMI.
Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Self‐Identified Stage of Recovery for people with long term mental illness
Authors: Chiba Rie , Kawakami Norito , Miyamoto Yuki , Andresen Retta
Published: May 2010

The Self‐Identified Stage of Recovery (SISR) is a two‐part scale assessing both the stage of recovery (SISR‐A) and the component processes of recovery (SISR‐B) for people with mental illness. This study aimed to develop a Japanese version of the SISR and to examine its reliability and validity. The Japanese versions of the SISR‐A and SISR‐B were developed through focus group cognitive interviews and the translation–back translation procedure. A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey was conducted of 223 participants who had long term mental illness, were aged 20 years or older, and currently living in communities and inpatient ward settings; 59.2% were males and the average age was 47.6 years. The questionnaire also included the 24‐item Recovery Assessment Scale, Herth Hope Index, Empowerment Scale, and Resilience Scale. Cronbach's alpha coefficient, intraclass correlation coefficient, and weighted kappas were generally fair to high, and the SISR‐A and SISR‐B scores were positively correlated with other relevant scales. This study supported the reliability and validity of the Japanese versions of the SISR‐A and SISR‐B among people with long term mental illness in Japan.
Mental health nursing from a solution focused perspective
Authors: Wand Timothy
Published: May 2010

Solution focused therapy (SFT) is a relatively new and increasingly popular model of brief intervention in mental health care. The central assertion of SFT is that the individual's problem or difficulty (and its cause) need not determine the direction in which the discussion proceeds. Instead the role of the SFT practitioner is to identify what the individual wants to be different and then to explore and elaborate on that difference. This paper outlines the principles of SFT and highlights the compatibility of this approach with the core values of nursing practice. Specific strategies and techniques used in SFT are detailed with clinical examples to illustrate the application of SFT to mental health nursing practice. A summary of current research outcomes and future prospects for SFT in clinical practice and education is also presented.
From numbers to understanding: The impact of demographic factors on seclusion rates
Authors: Happell Brenda , Koehn Stefan
Published: May 2010

The reduction and, where possible, elimination of seclusion has been recognized as a national safety priority for mental health services in Australia, with significant attention devoted to strategies to achieve this goal. The aim of this study was to compare specific demographic characteristics between consumers who have been secluded to those who have not. Patient data (n = 3244) collected by 11 mental health services across Australia for six months over a 12 month period were analysed using demographic statistics. A comparison was undertaken between those who were secluded one or more times (n = 271) and those who were not secluded (n = 2973). Differences were measured with the use of independent samples t‐tests and chi‐square statistics. Age, gender, diagnosis, indigenous status and Health of the National Outcomes Scores (HoNOS) were found to be significant factors in relation to seclusion. Men, younger people, and indigenous people were found to be more likely to be secluded. In addition, consumers who scored higher on the behaviour,impairment and social subscales of HoNOS were more likely to be secluded. Comparative analysis of demographic characteristics of secluded and non‐secluded patients can provide vital information for consideration when planning and evaluating seclusion reduction strategies.
An analysis of thermal gradient impact in thermal–mechanical fatigue testing
Authors: MAUREL V. , KOSTER A. , RÉMY L.
Published: May 2010

Thermal–mechanical fatigue (TMF) testing is a good method to decrease the number of isothermal tests for non‐isothermal behaviour laws identification. Based on experimental results of the TMF Standard European Working Group, this study aims to investigate the impact of thermal gradients on mechanical heterogeneity within the gage length specimen. The quality of the TMF test is examined by an energy criterion related to error bounds for nonlinear behaviour. A sensitivity analysis is then made for a given behaviour law identified on a TMF test to answer to the above question. Moreover the geometric instability phenomenon, already noticed by Sheffler and Coffin, is modelled herein.
Scale matters: the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales
Authors: Gabriel Doreen , Sait Steven M. , Hodgson Jenny A. , Schmutz Ulrich , Kunin William E. , Benton Tim G.
Published: May 2010

Ecology Letters(2010) 13: 858–869

There is increasing recognition that ecosystems and their services need to be managed in the face of environmental change. However, there is little consensus as to the optimum scale for management. This is particularly acute in the agricultural environment given the level of public investment in agri‐environment schemes (AES). Using a novel multiscale hierarchical sampling design, we assess the effect of land use at multiple spatial scales (from location‐within‐field to regions) on farmland biodiversity. We show that on‐farm biodiversity components depend on farming practices (organic vs. conventional) at farm and landscape scales, but this strongly interacts with fine‐ and coarse‐scale variables. Different taxa respond to agricultural practice at different spatial scales and often at multiple spatial scales. Hence, AES need to target multiple spatial scales to maximize effectiveness. Novel policy levers may be needed to encourage multiple land managers within a landscape to adopt schemes that create landscape‐level benefits.
Initial management of low‐risk localized prostate cancer in the UK: analysis of the British Association of Urological Surgeons Cancer Registry
Authors: McVey Gerard P. , McPhail Sean , Fowler Sarah , McIntosh Gregor , Gillatt David , Parker Chris C.
Published: May 2010

Study Type – Therapy (outcomes research) Level of Evidence 2c

OBJECTIVE

To assess the patterns of care for low‐risk localized prostate cancer. Management of this condition is highly controversial, with a range of treatment options, but there are no published UK data.

METHODS

Data from the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) Cancer Registry were linked to the UK Association of Cancer registries postcode directory. The demographic and clinical characteristics, and the initial management of men diagnosed with low‐risk localized prostate cancer in the UK between 2000 and 2006 were analysed.

RESULTS

In all, 43 322 cases of localized prostate cancer were recorded in the BAUS Registry between 2000 and 2006, of which 8861 (20%) met the criteria for low‐risk disease. The proportion classified as low risk ranged from 16% in 2000 to 21% in 2006. The proportion of men with low‐risk disease opting for ‘watchful waiting’ increased from 0% to 39% over the same period. Treatment choice was associated with socio‐economic status. For example, radical prostatectomy was chosen by 34% of patients in the most affluent quintile, compared with 19% in the most deprived quintile (P= 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The management of low‐risk localized prostate cancer in the UK has changed markedly in recent years, and contrasts with that in the USA. The association observed between socio‐economic status and choice of treatment deserves further study.
The Progressive Unionist Party of Northern Ireland: A Left-Wing Voice in an Ethnically Divided Society
Authors: Edwards Aaron
Published: May 2010

The Progressive Unionist party (PUP) was formed in the late 1970s and is one of the smallest political parties in Northern Ireland, both in terms of its membership size and its share of the vote, which translates into only a tiny number of elected representatives. Yet, supporters and critics alike have marked it out as one of the most distinctive voices in Northern Irish politics—in the main because of its democratic socialist ideology and its class-based character. This article examines the PUP's political programme, its membership and support base, its role in the peace process and its relationship with illegal loyalist terrorist organisations. It does so by drawing on current debates in the political science literature about ethnic parties in divided societies. Moreover, it focuses on the often neglected relationship between ethnicity and class in the PUP in order to explain how the party understands and contributes towards the peace process and democratic stability in Northern Ireland.
Hung Parliaments and the Challenges for Westminster and Whitehall: How to Make Minority and Multiparty Governance Work (with Commentaries by Turnbull, Beith, Evans and Crick)
Authors: PAUN AKASH , HAZELL ROBERT , TURNBULL ANDREW , BEITH ALAN , EVANS PAUL , CRICK MICHAEL
Published: May 2010

The return of a hung parliament at the 2010 general election is a serious possibility. But due to Westminster's limited recent experience of parliaments under ‘no overall control’ there is little institutional memory in Whitehall or Westminster, and even less public understanding, of what the implications would be. This article sets out to analyse the principal challenges that would be faced by government, opposition, parliament and the media in the event of a hung parliament. Drawing on experience from Canada, New Zealand and Scotland, we discuss the difficulties that may arise during the immediate government formation process and in the course of making minority or multiparty governance work on an ongoing basis. We conclude that a hung parliament need not undermine political stability or effective governance, but that all actors would need to adapt their behaviour and should therefore prepare carefully for this eventuality.
The Obama Administration and United States Trade Policy
Authors: ASHBEE EDWARD , WADDAN ALEX
Published: May 2010

For all the focus on economic issues in the wake of the crisis of 2008 the Obama administration has remained ambiguous about a central component of economic policy. As both candidate and President, Obama has sent mixed messages about trade policy. This ambiguity reflects wider uncertainty within the Democratic Party about global trading relationships and this paper explores and assesses the reasons for this uncertainty. A large part of the answer lies in the disparate sources of support for the Democrats. That is, the party has courted support from interest groups and core groups of voters that have widely divergent views about the value of trade liberalisation.
The Space of International Political Economy: On Scale and its Limits
Authors: Charnock Greig
Published: May 2010

This article introduces the contribution made by scholars writing on the ‘new political economy of scale’. It explains how this approach shares with neo-Gramscian approaches a concern with challenging the problematic assumptions of much international political economy theorising. Moreover, if the achievement of scholars such as Robert Cox has been to show how social forces shape and reshape world orders over time, then the new political economy of scale also reveals how social forces do not simply operate within and across national state space, but also politicise space itself. The final part of the article reviews two sets of criticisms of the approach and concludes that, while it has been significant in challenging IPE scholars to reflect upon their spatial assumptions, its status as a critical alternative may well be compromised by its own foundational tenets.
Critical Discourse Analysis in Political Studies: An Illustrative Analysis of the ‘Empowerment’ Agenda
Authors: Farrelly Michael
Published: May 2010

In the first sections of this article I give a simple and general account of critical discourse analysis (CDA) and how it might contribute to the theoretical and methodological repertoire of political studies through its discourse-dialectical theory of how discourse figures as an aspect of social practices without reducing those practices to discourse. In the final section I give a short illustrative example of how a CDA approach to detailed textual analysis might also be applied to specific texts (or groups of texts) in the political arena: in the example I take the press release in which the national UK government heralded its recent ‘empowerment’ White Paper, ‘Communities in Control’.
Political Parties and Web 2.0: The Liberal Democrat Perspective
Authors: Lilleker Darren G. , Pack Mark , Jackson Nigel
Published: May 2010

Political parties have been criticised for their limited use of interactivity via their Internet presences, largely it is suggested because they seek to control their online messages. This article will consider interactivity from the perspective of a political party, the Liberal Democrats, using their Freedom Bill online campaign as a case study. We suggest that the Liberal Democrats use ‘weak interactivity’ because of internal policymaking concerns, and their belief that as a political party they are promoting their ideas, not co-creating a new product. Thus we suggest interaction should be closer to a formal consultation than a face-to-face dialogue.
OPTIONS, INACTION, AND UNCERTAINTY
Authors: Bertola Giuseppe
Published: May 2010

I outline and discuss economic insights afforded by the elegant and powerful continuous‐time techniques that economists discovered some 20 years ago. I do so in the context of a simple action‐timing problem that does not exploit those techniques, in order to illustrate how the role of uncertainty in shaping the optimality of adoption depends on substantive modeling details. I then outline the clearer implications popular and tractable continuous‐time continuous processes, noting that they may fail to represent key features of some real‐life business investment problems, but provide a suitable toolkit for treatment not only of financial phenomena but also of real option problems, such as those encountered in dynamic consumption problems, where small and unpredictable random changes are realistic.
MARKET ACCESS THROUGH BOUND TARIFFS
Authors: Sala Davide , Schröder Philipp J. H. , Yalcin Erdal
Published: May 2010

WTO negotiations deal predominantly with bound – besides applied – tariff rates. But, how can reductions in tariffs ceilings, i.e. tariff rates that no exporter may ever actually be confronted with, generate market access? The answer to this question relates to the effects of tariff bindings on the risk that exporters face in destination markets. The present paper formalizes the underlying interaction of risk, fixed export costs and firms' market entry decisions based on techniques known from the real options literature; doing so we highlight the important role of bound tariffs at the extensive margin of trade. We find that bound tariffs are more effective with higher risk destination markets, that a large binding overhang may still command substantial market access, and that reductions in bound tariffs generate effective market access even when bound rates are above current and long‐term applied rates.
DYNAMIC INVESTMENT IN EXTRACTION CAPACITY OF EXHAUSTIBLE RESOURCES
Authors: Ghoddusi Hamed
Published: May 2010

This paper studies a resource extraction problem with capacity constraints, expansion options and stochastic demand process. The producer has to decide on the optimal rate of extraction and the optimal time to build further capacity simultaneously. Using numerical methods to solve the problem, it is shown that previous results which suggest that extraction capacity should be built at the beginning, are not necessarily true under uncertainty. I derive equations for the optimal time to build extra capacity. The results of this paper can contribute to better understanding of long‐run energy and commodity supply.
EFNS guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of primary dystonias
Authors: Albanese A. , Asmus F. , Bhatia K. P. , Elia A. E. , Elibol B. , Filippini G. , Gasser T. , Krauss J. K. , Nardocci N. , Newton A. , Valls‐Solé J.
Published: May 2010

Objectives:  To provide a revised version of earlier guidelines published in 2006.

Background:  Primary dystonias are chronic and often disabling conditions with a widespread spectrum mainly in young people.

Diagnosis:  Primary dystonias are classified as pure dystonia, dystonia plus or paroxysmal dystonia syndromes. Assessment should be performed using a validated rating scale for dystonia. Genetic testing may be performed after establishing the clinical diagnosis. DYT1 testing is recommended for patients with primary dystonia with limb onset before age 30, and in those with an affected relative with early‐onset dystonia. DYT6 testing is recommended in early‐onset or familial cases with cranio‐cervical dystonia or after exclusion of DYT1. Individuals with early‐onset myoclonus should be tested for mutations in the DYT11 gene. If direct sequencing of the DYT11 gene is negative, additional gene dosage is required to improve the proportion of mutations detected. A levodopa trial is warranted in every patient with early‐onset primary dystonia without an alternative diagnosis. In patients with idiopathic dystonia, neurophysiological tests can help with describing the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the disorder.

Treatment:  Botulinum toxin (BoNT) type A is the first‐line treatment for primary cranial (excluding oromandibular) or cervical dystonia; it is also effective on writing dystonia. BoNT/B is not inferior to BoNT/A in cervical dystonia. Pallidal deep brain stimulation (DBS) is considered a good option, particularly for primary generalized or cervical dystonia, after medication or BoNT have failed. DBS is less effective in secondary dystonia. This treatment requires a specialized expertise and a multidisciplinary team.
Significance of hair‐dye base‐induced sensory irritation
Authors: Fujita F. , Azuma T. , Tajiri M. , Okamoto H. , Sano M. , Tominaga M.
Published: May 2010

Synopsis

Oxidation hair‐dyes, which are the principal hair‐dyes, sometimes induce painful sensory irritation of the scalp caused by the combination of highly reactive substances, such as hydrogen peroxide and alkali agents. Although many cases of severe facial and scalp dermatitis have been reported following the use of hair‐dyes, sensory irritation caused by contact of the hair‐dye with the skin has not been reported clearly. In this study, we used a self‐assessment questionnaire to measure the sensory irritation in various regions of the body caused by two model hair‐dye bases that contained different amounts of alkali agents without dyes. Moreover, the occipital region was found as an alternative region of the scalp to test for sensory irritation of the hair‐dye bases. We used this region to evaluate the relationship of sensitivity with skin properties, such as trans‐epidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum water content, sebum amount, surface temperature, current perception threshold (CPT), catalase activities in tape‐stripped skin and sensory irritation score with the model hair‐dye bases. The hair‐dye sensitive group showed higher TEWL, a lower sebum amount, a lower surface temperature and higher catalase activity than the insensitive group, and was similar to that of damaged skin. These results suggest that sensory irritation caused by hair‐dye could occur easily on the damaged dry scalp, as that caused by skin cosmetics reported previously.
Microencapsulation of rosmarinic acid using polycaprolactone and various surfactants
Authors: Kim H.‐J. , Kim T.‐H. , Kang K.‐C. , Pyo H.‐B. , Jeong H.‐H.
Published: May 2010

Synopsis

Rosmarinic acid (RA) has a number of interesting biological activities, e.g. anti‐viral, anti‐bacterial, anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant. The antioxidant activity of RA is stronger than that of vitamin E. Despite its strong antioxidant activity, it was limited to use in cosmetics because of the low water solubility, discolouration and chemical instability. The purpose of this study was to prepare RA‐loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) microspheres using emulsion solvent evaporation method and characterize them with different surfactants used in the formation process. Finally, long‐term stability of RA was evaluated in the cosmetic formulation. As a result, PCL microspheres were found to be spherical in shape, with zwitterionic surfactant‐PCL particles being the smallest size distribution and highest entrapment efficiency of RA. Emulsions containing RA‐loaded PCL microspheres showed a better long‐term stability of the RA compared with those containing only RA. These results suggest that RA may be stably and efficiently encapsulated into polycaprolactone microspheres.
Colorimetric investigation of the reaction between p‐phenylendiamine and meta‐substituted derivatives of benzene on a model support
Authors: Scalzo M. , Strati M. , Casadei M. A. , Cerreto F. , Cesa S.
Published: May 2010

J. Cosmet. Sci.,
60, 429–436 (July/August 2009)

Synopsis

The aim of this work was the employment of colorimetric techniques in the analysis of the color formed, on a proteic substrate, by the reaction between p‐phenylendiamine and some meta‐substituted benzene derivatives in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and in media at different pH values. In particular we investigated the chromatic variations that take place on the substrate in dependence on different reaction conditions. The obtained results show that for each couple of reagents the colorimetric data, namely the reflectance of the formed color, change considerably with the pH of the reaction medium and demonstrate how this parameter can be considered a good descriptor of the composition of the formed pigment.
Infantile haemangiomas: a challenge in paediatric dermatology
Authors: Schwartz RA , Sidor MI , Musumeci ML , Lin RL , Micali G
Published: May 2010

Infantile haemangiomas, common benign vascular tumours of childhood, are characterized by rapid growth during the first year of life and a slow regression that is usually completed at 7–10 years of age. These tumours are composed of endothelial cells with high mitotic rates and stromal components such as fibroblasts, mast cells and pericytes. Haemangiomas become a challenge when they are part of a syndrome, are located in certain areas of the body or when complications develop. The above‐mentioned factors also influence the treatment modality used. However, although there remain many uncertainties regarding management, the β‐adrenergic receptor blocker propranolol is a promising new candidate for first‐line systemic therapy. It produces such a dramatic and rapid response that the appearance of an infantile haemangioma should impart expeditious consideration of the risks and benefits of its use.
The EU as a Global Actor: Grand Strategy for a Global Grand Bargain?
Authors: HOWORTH JOLYON
Published: May 2010

Like it or not, the European Union, in the wake of Lisbon, has become an international actor. It now faces two major external challenges. The first is to develop a strategic vision for a potentially tumultuous emerging multi‐polar world. The European Council's December 2008 ‘Report on the Implementation of the European Security Strategy’ recognized that, over the last five years, the threats facing the EU had become ‘increasingly complex’, that ‘we must be ready to shape events [by] becoming more strategic in our thinking’. The second challenge is to help nudge the other major actors towards a multilateral global grand bargain. Such a bargain will be the necessary outcome of the transition from a US‐dominated post‐1945 liberal world order, towards a new 21st‐century order accommodating the rising powers and sensitive to the needs of the global south. Without such a comprehensive and co‐operative bargain, the emerging multi‐polar world will be rife with tensions and highly conflict‐prone.
From Policy to Polity: Can the EU's Special Relations with its ‘Neighbourhood’ be Decentred?
Authors: BECHEV DIMITAR , NICOLAÏDIS KALYPSO
Published: May 2010

The article investigates the institutional and policy choices regarding the EU's relations with the countries and regions covered by the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). It juxtaposes the notion of special relationship inaugurated by the Lisbon Treaty to three models for organizing relations with proximate countries: pre‐accession, the European Economic Area (EEA) and association. The convergence‐access paradigm is found to be the basic pillar of the EU approach. The article brings in a series of dilemmas concerning the design and the implementation of the ENP as well as perceptions from selected partner countries. As a potential way to manage tensions and dilemmas inherent in the EU strategy, the article proposes an altogether novel dimension: decentred integration geared towards polity‐building that could partially delink convergence and access. The last section maps out four scenarios for the future directions of the ENP that cover the whole continuum from piecemeal enhancement of the policy to the creation of a European Partnership Area underpinned by a new tier of institutions.
Patterns of Welfare State Indicators in the EU: Is there Convergence?
Authors: CAMINADA KOEN , GOUDSWAARD KEES , VAN VLIET OLAF
Published: May 2010

Convergence of social protection objectives and policies in Member States is an explicit objective of the EU. Earlier research has shown that there has indeed been a tendency of convergence of social protection levels over the last decades. However, comparative studies frequently use indicators which may not be representative as measures of the welfare state. In this article we have done several convergence tests with the most recent data, using a variety of indicators of social protection: social expenditures, both at the macro and at the programme level, replacement rates of unemployment and social assistance benefits and poverty indicators. Together, these indicators provide a broader picture of the evolution of social protection. Our results are less clear cut than earlier findings. We still find convergence of social expenditure in EU countries over a longer period. However, this trend seems to have stagnated in recent years. The evidence is mixed for the other indicators. Replacement rates of unemployment benefits converged to a higher level, but social assistance benefits did not. Poverty rates and poverty gaps have converged since the mid‐1980s, but the levels of both indicators have developed in the opposite direction.
Labour Market Policies and Outcomes in the Enlarged EU
Authors: BRUNO RANDOLPH L. , ROVELLI RICCARDO
Published: May 2010

We document and compare labour market institutions, policies and outcomes in the EU Member States, for the period between 1999 and 2006. Higher employment rates are in general positively associated with measures of policy generosity, especially with the use of active labour market policies (ALMP), and negatively with institutions and policies which induce rigidity in the labour market. We also find evidence that the relation between ALMP and employment levels is non‐monotonic and that it is conditional on the informal institutions prevailing in different countries.
The Role of Working Groups of Commissioners in Co‐ordinating Policy Implementation: The Case of Trans‐European Networks (TENs)
Authors: STEPHENSON PAUL J.
Published: May 2010

Analysis of the Commission's role in policy implementation has focused largely on the administrative rather than political level. Yet little attention has been paid to the importance of high‐level Commission actors, such as Commissioners and Director‐Generals at this stage. This article analyses the role of a working group (WG) of Commissioners in monitoring and co‐ordinating the implementation of trans‐European networks (TENs) in transport. It argues that formally institutionalized structures for intra‐College co‐operation provide important arenas for creativity, entrepreneurship and consensus‐building. Ultimately, the consistent and sustained political involvement of Commissioners improves the Commission's administrative co‐ordination and may, ultimately, help secure better policy implementation.
Making Sense of Theatre in the Third Reich
Authors: Strobl* Gerwin
Published: May 2010

In the crowded field of studies on Nazi Germany the role of theatre in the Third Reich continues to be a neglected subject. The reluctance to engage with the topic is particularly true among historians and is in striking contrast to the attention devoted in recent years to other branches of the arts. Yet theatre actually received lavish funding from the Nazi regime. Indeed at no time in the history of the German stage was the provision so opulent, and the Nazi leadership went to considerable lengths to maintain the theatre sector even in wartime. The neglect of the theatre therefore constitutes more of a reflection on the priorities of the historical profession than those of the Nazi regime. This article attempts to redress the balance and to explore possible reasons for the limited treatment of the subject in the existing literature.
Beyond ‘Good’ and ‘Evil’: Breaking Down Binary Oppositions in Holocaust Representations of ‘Privileged’ Jews
Authors: Brown Adam
Published: May 2010

In 1986, Auschwitz survivor Primo Levi’s paradigmatic essay entitled ‘The Grey Zone’ highlighted the complex and sensitive issue of so‐called ‘privileged’ Jews, an issue that remains at the margins of popular and academic discourse on the Holocaust. ‘Privileged’ Jews include those prisoners in the Nazi concentration camps and ghettos who held positions that gave them access to material and other benefits whilst compelling them to act in ways that have been judged both self‐serving and harmful to fellow inmates. The unprecedented ethical dilemmas that confronted ‘privileged’ Jews may be viewed as exemplifying the ‘limit’ events or experiences that were characteristic of the Holocaust, situating them at the threshold of representation, understanding and judgement. Levi’s essay singles out history and film as particularly predisposed to a simplifying trend he identifies – the ‘Manichean tendency which shuns half‐tints and complexities,’ and resorts to the black‐and‐white binary opposition(s) of ‘friend’ and ‘enemy,’‘good’ and ‘evil.’ In the case of ‘privileged’ Jews in particular, such binary oppositions would appear to be inadequate. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates the fields of history, philosophy and literature, this paper analyses representations of ‘privileged’ Jews, particularly those prisoners of theSonderkommandoswho were forced to work in the crematoria. The paper demonstrates how easily the boundary Levi maps out for moral judgement can be crossed. It is shown that while Levi suggests judgement should be suspended when confronted with the experiences of victimsin extremis, moral evaluations of ‘privileged’ Jews permeate discussions and representations of the Holocaust. When confronted with such emotionally and morally freighted issues, judgement may itself be seen as a ‘limit of representation.’
The Dragon Has Not Just Arrived: The Historical Study of Africa’s Relations with China
Authors: Achberger Jessica
Published: May 2010

The world today is fascinated with the rising power of China. Whether out of fear, concern, or simply curiosity, people want to understand China’s role in global society. Scholars in particular have begun to delve into answering the question, ‘What is/should be China’s role in the world?’ This question has proven to have a special importance for Africa owing to China’s interests on the continent. No one can deny China’s contemporary presence in Africa. New economic ventures abound in oil, minerals, timber, and factories, not to mention Chinese consumer goods flooding African markets, creating tension and global unease, particularly in the West. Too often, however, Africa’s history of interactions with China is ignored in current coverage when in fact African nations have more than half a century of interactions with the People’s Republic of China. The period under major consideration for the purposes of better understanding contemporary relations between African nations and China is the period following the Communist Revolution and particularly that post‐dating the declaration of independence in each African nation. Therefore, this essay presents a discussion of the historiography of Africa’s relations with China with a special emphasis on the Cold War era, establishing the necessity of this scholarly undertaking.