bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre‐PCR Processes in the Molecular Detection of Blackleg and Soft Rot Erwiniae in Seed Potatoes
Authors: Degefu Yeshitila , Virtanen Elina , Väyrynen Tiina
Published: December 2008

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based detection of blackleg and soft rot erwiniae involves pre‐PCR processing steps which may compromise the sensitivity of detection. The aim of this study was to standardize these various steps to develop reproducible diagnostic PCR protocol for the detection of the three known soft rot erwiniae as they occur in the tuber, singly or in combination. Comparison of tuber peel and stolon end tissue as a starting material for enrichment of the bacteria indicated that tuber peel samples resulted in more representative and sensitive detection of the strains than extract from stolon end tissues. Substances of potato origin in the peel extract were found to be highly inhibitory to the PCR. Addition of the antioxidant Dethiotreitol to the samples before enrichment did not have any significant effect on detection during the 24 h period incubation of the peel extract at room temperature. Bulk washing of tubers with one rotten tuber included with the working sample caused surface contamination on 67–91% of the healthy tubers. Washing tubers individually circumvents the problem. The optimum temperature for enrichment of all the three strains was 27°C. At 37°C, Pectobacterium carotovorum failed to be detected while PCR on Pectobacterium atrosepticum and isolates of Dickeya spp. always produced amplification of the specific DNA fragments. Viability test on Nutrient Agar showed that only Dickeya isolates were viable after 48 h of incubation at 37°C suggesting that the detection of P. atrosepticum at 37°C was from dead or non‐viable cells. Post cell death detection experiment further confirmed that DNA was amplified from dead cells of all the strains at 27°C and 33°C whereas at 37°C, only DNA from dead cells of isolates of Dickeya and P. atrosepticum were amplified. There was no amplification from the dead cells of all isolates of P. carotovorum following the 48 h post death incubation at 37°C. The reason for this difference in post death longevity is not clear at this stage.
Fungicide Effectiveness during the Various Developmental Stages of Peronophythora litchii In Vitro
Authors: Wang Hancheng , Sun Haiyan , Ma Jianxia , Stammler Gerd , Zhou Mingguo
Published: December 2008

Litchi downy blight caused by Peronophythora litchii is one of the most destructive diseases suffered by litchi in China. This study has evaluated the activities of the fungicides dimethomorph (DMM), azoxystrobin (AZB), famoxadone (FMD), metalaxyl (MTL), cymoxanil (CYX) and mancozeb (MCB) on the mycelial growth, sporulation, zoospores release, and germination of sporangia as well as of cystospores of P. litchii. Dimethomorph and MTL inhibited mycelial growth more effectively than the other fungicides tested. Mycelial growth was affected less by MCB, and only weakly by AZB, FMD and CYX. Sporangia production was more strongly reduced by DMM and MTL than by AZB, FMD, CYX or MCB. Zoospore release from the sporangia was most sensitive to AZB and FMD, less sensitive to MCB and insensitive to DMM, MTL and CYX. Direct germination of sporangia of P. litchii was the most strongly inhibited by AZB and FMD, followed by DMM and MCB, whilst the sensitivity of this life stage to MTL and CYX was relatively low. Germination of encysted zoospores of P. litchii was the most sensitive to AZB and FMD, followed by DMM. Mancozeb was moderately active, while MTL and CYX did not inhibit this development stage. This is the first report on the in vitro response of the litchi pathogen, P. litchii, to fungicides. These findings can be valuable tools in setting up efficient disease management programmes to control litchi downy blight.
Aldosterone induces collagen synthesis via activation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1 and 2 in renal proximal tubules
Authors: XU GUOSHUANG , LIU AN , LIU XIAOWEI
Published: December 2008

Aim: Aldosterone plays a crucial role in renal fibrosis by inducing mesangial cell proliferation and promoting collagen synthesis in renal fibroblasts. However, renal proximal tubule involvement in aldosterone‐induced collagen synthesis has not yet been identified. The aim of this study was to examine the potential role of aldosterone in collagen expression and its possible mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)‐dependent pathway, mediated by activation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in cultured human renal proximal tubular epithelial (HKC) cells.

Methods: After HKC cells were stimulated by aldosterone with different concentrations for various time and periods, the gene expression and protein synthesis of collagen I, II, III and IV were measured by real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. ERK1/2 activation, α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), and E‐cadherin were also detected by western blot.

Results: Aldosterone can increase ERK1/2 phosphorylation of human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. Although aldosterone had no effect on collagen I and II expression, it increased expression of α‐SMA and collagen III and IV and decreased that of E‐cadherin in HKC cells after 48 h. These effects could be prevented by a ERK pathway inhibitor, U0126, or by a selective MR antagonist, spironolactone.

Conclusion: The results suggest that aldosterone plays a pivotal role in tubulointerstitial fibrosis by promoting tubular epithelial–mesenchymal transition and collagen synthesis in proximal tubular cells. The process is MR‐dependent, and mediated by ERK1/2 mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway.
Review article: Use of renal registry data for research, health‐care planning and quality improvement: What can we learn from registry data in the Asia–Pacific region?
Authors: LIM TECK‐ONN , GOH ADRIAN , LIM YAM‐NGO , MORAD ZAKI
Published: December 2008

SUMMARY:  We review renal registry data from the Asia–Pacific region with an emphasis on their uses in health care and in dialysis care in particular. The review aims to demonstrate the information value of registry data. While renal registry provides a useful data resource for epidemiological research, there are severe methodological limitations in its application for analytical or therapeutic research. However, it is the use of renal registry data for public health and health‐care management purposes that registry really comes into its own, and it is primarily for these that governments have invested in national patient and disease registries. We apply data from several renal registries in the Asia–Pacific region to illustrate its wide application for planning dialysis services, for evaluating dialysis practices and health outcomes, with a view to improving the quality of dialysis care. In the course of preparing the review, we have found that the quality and accessibility of renal registry data were highly variable across the region. Given the value of renal registry, every country in the Asia–Pacific region should establish one or should ensure that their current registries are better resourced and developed. Greater data sharing and collaboration among registries in the region could help advance the nephrology to serve our patients better.
Comparison of the Mayo Clinic Quadratic Equation with the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation and radionuclide glomerular filtration rate in a clinical setting
Authors: SALEEM MOHAMED , FLORKOWSKI CHRISTOPHER M , GEORGE PETER M
Published: December 2008

Background:  Recent guidelines recommend automatic reporting of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation with every request for plasma creatinine. The Mayo Clinic Quadratic Equation (MCQE) has been put forwards as a potentially more accurate alternative. We therefore evaluated its accuracy compared with radionuclide GFR in a clinical setting.

Method:  Data were collected on 601 patients aged 16–85 years who had undergone radionuclide GFR, and eGFR was calculated using MCQE and MDRD. Calculations of bias, correlation coefficients and percentage estimates within 30% and 50% of radionuclide GFR were used in comparisons.

Results:  The MCQE had a significant positive bias in the overall population but no significant bias in individuals with normal renal function defined as measured GFR > 90 mL/min per 1.73 m2. There was no significant difference in the performance of MCQE and MDRD eGFR in patients with measured GFR > 90 mL/min per 1.73 m2. However, in the overall group and in subjects with radionuclide GFR < 90 mL/min per 1.73 m2, the accuracy of MDRD eGFR with respect to the proportion of patients within 30% and 50% of radionuclide GFR was better than MCQE.

Conclusion:  MCQE compared moderately well with radionuclide GFR, although its overall bias and accuracy were inferior when compared with the MDRD equation in a clinical setting.
Function of dynamically stimulated endothelium and renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system in normotensive subjects with a family history of hypertension
Authors: USALAN CELALETTIN , BUYUKHATIPOGLU HAKAN , TIRYAKI OZLEM , SAHIN AYSE
Published: December 2008

Aim:  Genetic influences on the acute stimulation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) and on endothelial activation were studied by examining healthy blood donors with and without hypertensive parents.

Methods:  Healthy blood donors were assigned to two groups, according to the presence or absence of a parental history of hypertension. Plasma levels of renin, nitric oxide (NO) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI‐1) were studied before and after acute alterations in renal perfusion induced by phlebotomy, and the two groups compared. During phlebotomy, 400–500 mL of blood was extracted from each subject, with that volume varying relative to each subject's body surface area (m2).

Results:  No statistically significant inter‐group differences were observed between the baseline mean levels of plasma renin, NO or PAI‐1. After phlebotomy, significant increases were detected in mean plasma renin activity (PRA) and NO levels and in PAI‐1 activity (P < 0.001). However, the increases in mean PRA (P < 0.05) level and PAI‐1 activity (P < 0.05) were more pronounced in those with hypertensive parents than those without; conversely, the increase in NO levels was more pronounced in the latter group. No statistically or clinically significant difference was found between the mean body mass indices of these two groups. Only two subjects were overweight, and none were obese; the remainder had weights that were normal. We found no significant correlation between body mass index and either NO or PAI‐1 level.

Conclusion:  Post‐phlebotomy, PRA and PAI‐1 responses were more dramatic, but the NO response less in normotensive subjects having a parental history of hypertension, suggesting that these changes may represent familial, possibly genetic influences before overt hypertension occurs.
FYN is overexpressed in human prostate cancer
Authors: Posadas Edwin M. , Al‐Ahmadie Hikmat , Robinson Victoria L. , Jagadeeswaran Ramasamy , Otto Kristen , Kasza Kristen E. , Tretiakov Maria , Siddiqui Javed , Pienta Kenneth J. , Stadler Walter M. , Rinker‐Schaeffer Carrie , Salgia Ravi
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that FYN, a member of the SRC family of kinases (SFKs), is up‐regulated in prostate cancer, as FYN is functionally distinct from other SFKs, and interacts with FAK and paxillin (PXN), regulators of cell morphology and motility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Through data‐mining in Oncomine (http://www.oncomine.org), cell‐line profiling with immunoblotting, quantitative reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and immunohistochemical analysis, we described FYN expression in prostate cancer. The analysis included 32 cases of prostate cancer, nine of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and 19 normal prostates. Samples were scored for the percentage of stained glands and intensity of staining (from 0 to 3). Each sample was assigned a composite score generated by multiplying percentage and intensity.

RESULTS

Data‐mining showed an eight times greater FYN expression in prostate cancer than in normal tissue; this was specific to FYN and not present for other SFKs. Expression of FYN in prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, 22Rv1, PC3, DuPro) was detected using quantitative RT‐PCR and immunoblotting. Expression of FYN and its signalling partners FAK and PXN was detected in human tissue. Comparing normal with cancer samples, there was a 2.1‐fold increase in median composite score for FYN (P < 0.001) 1.7‐fold increase in FAK (P < 0.001), and a doubling in PXN (P < 0.05). There was a 1.7‐fold increase in FYN (P < 0.05) and a 1.6‐fold increase in FAK (P < 0.01) in cancer compared with PIN.

CONCLUSIONS

These studies support the hypothesis that FYN and its related signalling partners are up‐regulated in prostate cancer, and support further investigation into the role of the FYN as a therapeutic target.
Prostate‐specific antigen changes and prostate cancer in hypogonadal men treated with testosterone replacement therapy
Authors: Coward Robert M. , Simhan Jay , Carson III Culley C.
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVES

To retrospectively review hypogonadal men receiving testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), and evaluate the changes in prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels over an extended period, and thus evaluate the occurrence of prostate cancer, as a primary concern in treating late‐onset hypogonadism (LOH) is the potential increased risk of prostate cancer; we also recorded the cardiovascular effects of TRT.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 81 hypogonadal men (mean age 56.8 years) were followed for a mean (range) of 33.8 (6–144) months after starting TRT. All men had a normal baseline PSA level before TRT and had routine laboratory investigations, including measurements of body mass index (BMI), haematocrit, lipid profile, and liver function tests (LFTs). Testosterone and PSA levels were assessed every 6–12 months. Patients with a biopsy‐confirmed or recent history of prostatitis before treatment were excluded. TRT was discontinued in men who developed prostate cancer.

RESULTS

Before and 36 months after treatment the total testosterone levels were 241.1 and 379.8 ng/dL (P < 0.05), respectively. Four men (4.9%) developed prostate cancer at a mean (range) of 32.5 (22–41) months after starting TRT. In men without prostate cancer (95.1%), PSA levels did not increase significantly at 1‐year intervals for 5 years. There was no statistical difference in PSA level change from baseline to 36 months when patients without prostate cancer were stratified into groups according to age (≤50, 55–65 and ≥70 years). In men with prostate cancer there was an increase in mean PSA level from baseline to 18 months of 1.8 ng/mL, and to 36 months of 3.2 ng/mL (P < 0.05). Total cholesterol improved from 203.8 to 166.6 mg/dL (P < 0.05) after 36 months of TRT; the BMI, haematocrit and LFTs did not change significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

LOH is an increasingly prevalent disease characterized by a symptomatically low testosterone level, and TRT is effective in normalizing serum testosterone levels, providing a beneficial cardiovascular effect, and improving sexual function and overall quality of life. PSA levels remain stable after normalization of testosterone for ≥5 years, prostate cancer can be effectively diagnosed and treated in men taking TRT, and the incidence of prostate cancer among men with LOH on TRT is no greater than that in the general population.
Does a history of previous surgery or radiation to the prostate affect outcomes of robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy?
Authors: Martin Aaron D. , Desai Premal J. , Nunez Rafael N. , Martin George L. , Andrews Paul E. , Ferrigni Robert G. , Swanson Scott K. , Pacelli Anna , Castle Erik P.
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate retrospectively whether or not previous treatment to the prostate alters the perioperative outcomes from robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) after the initial ‘learning curve’, as there are conflicting data on outcomes of RP in patients with previous treatment to the prostate.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients who had RARP between March 2005 and August 2007, and analysed demographic, perioperative variables and pathological data. In all, 510 patient charts were reviewed, identifying 24 patients with a history of previous treatment to the prostate including transurethral resection or incision of the prostate, transurethral microwave therapy, transurethral needle ablation, photoselective vaporization, simple prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, and open bladder neck reconstruction (group 1) and 486 with no previous treatment (group 2).

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the groups in body mass index, clinical stage, grade or prostate volume, but the patients in group 1 were older (70 vs 65 years, P = 0.001). Outcome analysis comparing groups 1 and 2 showed an estimated blood loss of 155 vs 137 mL, length of hospital stay of 2.2 vs 1.5 days, operative duration of 200 vs 186 min and catheter time of 12 vs 8 days, respectively; only the last was statistically significant (P = 0.03). There was an 8.3% and 6.8% complication rate in groups 1 and 2, respectively, and the respective overall positive margin rate was 20.8% and 22.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

A history of previous treatment of the prostate does not appear to compromise the perioperative outcomes of RARP.
The results of concurrent chemo‐radiotherapy for recurrence after treatment with bacillus Calmette‐Guérin for non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer: is immediate cystectomy always necessary?
Authors: Wo Jennifer Y. , Shipley William U. , Dahl Douglas M. , Coen John J. , Heney Niall M. , Kaufman Donald S. , Zietman Anthony L.
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVES

To report our original experience in patients in whom bacille Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) therapy has failed for T1 bladder cancer with subsequent progression to T2 disease treated with chemo‐radiotherapy, as the management of recurrent high‐grade T1 bladder cancer after failed BCG therapy is challenging, and radical cystectomy is the standard treatment because there are no well established second‐line bladder‐preserving therapies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 1988 to 2002, 18 patients with T2 recurrence after failure of BCG therapy for T1 bladder cancer were treated with chemo‐radiotherapy at the authors’ institution. Patients received a visibly complete transurethral resection of the bladder tumour (TURBT) and concurrent chemo‐radiotherapy with a mid‐treatment evaluation after 40 Gy. Patients with less than a complete response had a prompt cystectomy; the others completed radiotherapy to 64–65 Gy. The primary treatment outcome was freedom from cystectomy due to recurrence not treatable by conservative measures; secondary outcomes included disease‐specific (DSS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

With a median follow‐up of 7.0 years, only one patient had persistent tumour at re‐staging TURBT and had an immediate cystectomy. Of the remaining 17 patients, 10 (59%) were free of any bladder recurrence. The actuarial 7‐year DSS and OS were 70% and 58%, respectively. At 7 years, 54% of patients were alive with intact bladders and free of invasive recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study we specifically evaluated patients with apparently small muscle‐invasive recurrences after BCG treatment for T1 bladder cancer. Selective bladder preservation with chemo‐radiotherapy is possible, with low morbidity and a high chance of long‐term bladder control. If successful in treating T2 recurrences after BCG therapy, it now seems timely to critically evaluate chemo‐radiotherapy as an alternative to immediate cystectomy in the management of patients with T1 recurrences after BCG.
OFFSHORING, MULTINATIONALS AND LABOUR MARKET: A REVIEW OF THE EMPIRICAL LITERATURE
Authors: Crinò Rosario
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis paper reviews the empirical literature on the effects of offshoring and foreign activities of multinational enterprises on developed countries' labour markets. Results suggest that material offshoring worsens wage inequality between skilled and unskilled workers; it also seems to make employment more volatile, by raising the elasticity of labour demand and the risk of job losses. Service offshoring exerts at most small negative effects on total employment, and changes the composition of the workforce in favour of high‐skilled white‐collar employees. Multinationals tend to substitute domestic and foreign labour in response to changes in relative wages across countries; substitutability is weak, however, and mainly driven by horizontal, market‐seeking foreign direct investments.
PRODUCTIVITY IN PUBLIC SERVICES
Authors: Simpson Helen
Published: December 2008

Abstract This paper discusses issues arising in the measurement of productivity in public services. Compared to measuring productivity in the private sector difficulties arise because the output of public services is often unpriced and because some public services are consumed collectively. A key problem is measuring the full range of outputs and quality improvements delivered by public sector organizations that are valued by society. Without comprehensive measures of output, productivity statistics may be misleading. I outline methods used in the measurement of both private and public sector productivity and discuss the measurement of public sector productivity in practice. Finally I discuss studies that examine factors underlying productivity differences and productivity growth in public and private sector organizations. Public sector reforms and the use of pilot schemes in public sector organizations present opportunities for research to identify causal effects on productivity.
The effectiveness of family therapy and systemic interventions for child‐focused problems
Authors: Carr Alan
Published: December 2008

This review updates a similar paper published in the Journal of Family Therapy in 2001. It presents evidence from meta‐analyses, systematic literature reviews and controlled trials for the effectiveness of systemic interventions for families of children and adolescents with various difficulties. In this context, systemic interventions include both family therapy and other family‐based approaches such as parent training. The evidence supports the effectiveness of systemic interventions either alone or as part of multimodal programmes for sleep, feeding and attachment problems in infancy; child abuse and neglect; conduct problems (including childhood behavioural difficulties, ADHD, delinquency and drug abuse); emotional problems (including anxiety, depression, grief, bipolar disorder and suicidality); eating disorders (including anorexia, bulimia and obesity); and somatic problems (including enuresis, encopresis, recurrent abdominal pain, and poorly controlled asthma and diabetes).
The effectiveness of family therapy and systemic interventions for adult‐focused problems
Authors: Carr Alan
Published: December 2008

This review updates a similar paper published in this Journal in 2000. It presents evidence from meta‐analyses, systematic literature reviews and controlled trials for the effectiveness of couples and family therapy for adults with various relationship and mental health problems. The evidence supports the effectiveness of systemic interventions, either alone or as part of multimodal programmes, for relationship distress, psychosexual problems, domestic violence, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, alcohol abuse, schizophrenia and adjustment to chronic physical illness.
Looking again at the team dimension in systemic psychotherapy: is attending to group process a critical context for practice?
Authors: Clarke Grania , Rowan Alan
Published: December 2008

Team work and group supervision are essential features of the systemic model, yet there is surprisingly little literature on the impact of group process on both group supervision and team‐based therapy. Beginning with two vignettes which evoke some aspects of group process and are based on the personal experiences of the authors, this paper will review the literature on working in teams from within a systemic perspective.1Early models of teams and group processes within the literature will be criticized for their over‐reliance on technique; more recent models for their over‐reliance on collaboration. It will be argued that some systemic approaches to understanding teams can lead to group process issues becoming marginalized and covert, and therefore inevitably more difficult to address. However, viewing supervision groups as ‘social constructions’ is seen as a position offering more possibilities and, it will be argued, opens a pathway to embracing ideas from within psychoanalytic thinking on group process. Here ideas on group functioning, including the theories of, for example, Foulkes and Bion will be briefly reviewed and their implications for helping both supervisors and teams conceptualize group process discussed.
Obesity in the Iranian population
Authors: Rashidy‐Pour A. , Malek M. , Eskandarian R. , Ghorbani R.
Published: December 2008

There is an obesity epidemic worldwide, which has been increasing in recent years. An epidemiologic cross‐sectional study was conducted among 3799 persons who were 30–70 years old in Semnan Province, Iran. Multistage cluster sampling was performed, and subjects were selected from urban and rural populations. Body weight, height and waist circumference (WC) were measured, and body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. Overweight and obesity were defined as 25 ≤ BMI < 30 and ≥30 respectively in men with WHR ≥ 0.9 or WC ≥ 102 cm, and women with WHR ≥ 0.8 or WC ≥ 88 cm were considered centrally obesite. Prevalence of obesity and overweight was 26.3% and 40.6% respectively. Prevalence of obesity was more among women (39.5%) than men (14.5%) with central obesity prevalence using WHR and WC cut‐points of 72.2% and 26.6% respectively. There was a significant association between obesity and age, gender, residential area and educational level (P < 0.01). In conclusion, prevalence of obesity and overweight among 30–70 years old, especially among women, was higher than expected. A comprehensive educational programme on obesity risk factors and obesity‐related diseases is necessary.
Obesity as an independent risk factor for elective and emergency caesarean delivery in nulliparous women – systematic review and meta‐analysis of cohort studies
Authors: Poobalan A. S. , Aucott L. S. , Gurung T. , Smith W. C. S. , Bhattacharya S.
Published: December 2008

The objective of the study was to investigate the association between increasing maternal body mass index (BMI) and elective/emergency caesarean delivery rates. Systematic review and meta‐analysis of published cohort studies were used. The bibliographic databases, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, were searched systematically, with no language restrictions, from 1996 to May 2007. MeSH terms and key words for ‘pregnancy’, ‘obesity’, ‘overweight,’‘body mass index’ and ‘caesarean section’ were combined with the Cochrane Collaboration strategy for identifying primary studies. Finally, 11 papers were considered eligible for inclusion in the review. Although all the papers were cohort studies, only three were prospective in nature. Compared with women with normal BMI (20–25 kg m−2), the crude pooled odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for caesarean section in overweight (BMI 25–30 kg m−2), obese (BMI 30–35 kg m−2) and morbidly obese (BMI > 35 kg m−2) women were 1.53 (1.48, 1.58), 2.26 (2.04, 2.51) and 3.38 (2.49, 4.57) respectively. The pooled odds of having an emergency caesarean section were 1.64 (95% confidence intervals 1.55, 1.73) in overweight and 2.23 (2.07, 2.42) in obese women. Caesarean delivery risk is increased by 50% in overweight women and is more than double for obese women compared with women with normal BMI.
Double trouble: the importance of accounting for and defining water entitlements consistent with hydrological realities*
Authors: Young Michael D. , McColl Jim C.
Published: December 2008

When entitlements to access water in fully allocated river and aquifers are specified in a manner that is inconsistent with the ways that water arrives, flows across and flows through land, inefficient investment and water use is the result. Using Australia's Murray Darling Basin as an example, this paper attempts to reveal the adverse economic and water management consequences of entitlement and water sharing regime misspecification in regimes that allow water trading. Markets trade water products as specified. When entitlements and the water sharing system are not designed in a way that has hydrological integrity, the market trades the water management regime into trouble. Options for specification of entitlement and allocation regimes in ways that have hydrological integrity are presented. It is reasoned, that if entitlement and allocation regime are set up in ways that have hydrological integrity, the result should be a regime that can autonomously adjust to climatic shifts, changes in prices and changes in technology without compromising environmental objectives.
Conflicting uses of marine resources: can ITQs promote an efficient solution?*
Authors: Arnason Ragnar
Published: December 2008

This paper examines the allocation problem arising from conflicting demands for marine resource use by (i) commercial fishers, (ii) recreational fishers, and (iii) conservationists. It is shown that decentralised trading of individual transferable quotas (ITQs) is capable of an efficient allocation of resource use between the first two parties. In contrast, it is found that the standard ITQ system is not capable of performing the same ideal co‐ordination between the conflicting interests of extractive users, that is, all fishers, and the non‐extractive ones, that is, conservationists. The reason is that quota trades between individual fishers and conservationists are inevitably accompanied by (positive) externalities on both other fishers and conservationists. As a result, decentralised quota trades between these parties cannot be efficient. The fundamental economic observation is that quotas for conservation and for extraction constitute two different goods. It follows that a socially optimal market allocation of these two goods requires two prices instead of the single quota price in the standard ITQ system. Thus, to achieve efficiency, the ITQ system has to be extended to incorporate both types of goods. It is shown in the paper that if fishers and conservationists can organise themselves into groups, trades of conservation quotas between the two groups can in principle lead to fully efficient allocation. An interesting implication of this modified ITQ system is that the need for a fisheries authority to set the total allowable catch (TACs) disappears.
The tragedy of the commons: property rights and markets as solutions to resource and environmental problems
Authors: Libecap Gary D.
Published: December 2008

In one way or another, all environmental and natural resource problems associated with overexploitation or under provision of public goods, arise from incompletely defined and enforced property rights. As a result private decision makers do not consider or internalize social benefits and costs in their production or investment actions. The gap between private and social net returns results in externalities – harmful effects on third parties: overfishing, excessive air pollution, unwarranted extraction or diversion of ground or surface water, extreme depletion of oil and gas reservoirs. These situations are all examples of the ‘The Tragedy of the Commons’. In this paper, I consider options for mitigating the losses of open access: common or group property regimes, government tax and regulation policy, more formal private property rights. I briefly summarize the problems and advantages of each option and describe why there has been move toward rights‐based instruments in recent years: ITQ (individual transferable quotas), tradable emission permits, and private water rights. Introductions to the papers in the special issue follow.
Property rights and western United States water markets*
Authors: Donohew Zachary
Published: December 2008

This paper addresses water scarcity issues in the American West and examines the allocation of water through the appropriative rights system and the extent markets are used to reallocate water from low‐ to high‐valued uses. The unique physical properties of water make it difficult to bound and measure, which makes defining property rights difficult. Markets are also impeded by disputes over third‐party effects due to the interdependencies of water users and complex institutional arrangements that dilute decision‐making authority. Analysis of water trading in the western United States indicates that the rate of permanent transfers is increasing over time and urban users are paying higher prices relative to agricultural users.
Arguments for Naturalisation
Authors: Seglow Jonathan
Published: December 2008

This article investigates what moral principles should inform states' decisions to grant resident migrants the rights of full citizenship. Some work on this question has focused on the beliefs and attitudes it is thought desirable for migrants to have. This article takes a different approach. Beginning from the assumption that a high rate of naturalisation is desirable, the article investigates four arguments in its favour. The contribution argument says that residents merit citizenship by virtue of their productive contribution to their new society. The coercion argument says it is wrong to impose on resident migrants laws they had no say in making. The membership argument says that migrants merit citizenship because they are already members of society. The respect argument says that long-term alienage is a failure of respect. I argue that the respect account escapes the difficulties of the other arguments, and best matches our intuitions about naturalisation. Further, the respect which states and citizens owe migrants, if manifest in the right political climate, is likely to lead to migrants respecting their new society too, and hence having the right kinds of attitude towards it.
Extremist Outbidding in Ethnic Party Systems is Not Inevitable: Tribune Parties in Northern Ireland
Authors: Mitchell Paul , Evans Geoffrey , O'Leary Brendan
Published: December 2008

The ethnic outbidding thesis predicts centrifugal polarisation in ethnically divided party systems. We argue instead that the incentives of power-sharing institutions can encourage the development of electoral strategies based on ‘ethnic tribune appeals’ in which parties combine robust ethnic identity representation with increased pragmatism over resource allocation. We test these arguments in Northern Ireland and show that though evidence of direct vote switching from moderate parties to ostensibly ‘extreme’ parties is prima facie consistent with the outbidding thesis, attitudinal convergence between the nationalist and unionist communities on the main political issues is not. The recent electoral success of the DUP and Sinn Féin can instead be explained by these parties' ‘ethnic tribune’ appeals. Many voters simultaneously endorse peace, prosperity and (increasingly) power sharing but also want the strongest voice to protect their ethnonational interests. Identity voting for ethnic tribune parties implies a degree of resolve in advocating ethnic group interests, but does not entail the increased polarisation implied by outbidding models. Like their voters, ethnic tribune parties can be simultaneously pragmatic (with regard to resources) and intransigent (with regard to identity), so that despite appearances to the contrary, the power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland incentivise centripetal dynamics that inhibit outbidding.
Alasdair MacIntyre: Social Practices, Marxism and Ethical Anti-Capitalism
Authors: Blackledge Paul
Published: December 2008

Alasdair MacIntyre's concept of social practice sits at the core of his account of the virtue-fostering forms of resistance to capitalism, liberalism and the modern (un)democratic state. However, while this concept was articulated, in part, as a response to perceived weaknesses with Marx's analysis of working-class revolutionary praxis, and although MacIntyre has criticised Marx for the paucity of his theorisation of such practice, he has himself only gestured towards concrete instances of his alternative. This essay engages with one of these examples: MacIntyre's suggestion that Welsh mining communities in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries should be numbered among those modern communities within which the virtues have flourished. I explore some of the ramifications of this example for MacIntyre's broader ethical theory through the lens of a discussion of the continuities and breaks between his youthful Marxism and his more mature thought. I suggest that this example problematises his concept of practice in a way that implies a space for reconciliation between his mature thought and his earlier Marxism.
Did governance fail universal banks? Moral hazard, risk taking, and banking crises in interwar Italy1
Authors: BATTILOSSI STEFANO
Published: December 2008

In interwar Italy, at least six major episodes of banking crises required the intervention of monetary authorities to bail out, restructure, or liquidate distressed intermediaries. The five large universal banks rescued in the systemic crisis of 1930–1 jointly accounted for one‐third of the total assets of the banking system. What made Italian leading banks so prone to crises? This article suggests that their fragility was ultimately caused by governance failures, both public and private, that enhanced excess risk‐taking. Empirical evidence is consistent with theoretical insights according to which the potential for moral hazard and conflict of interest, endemic in universal banking, can be magnified when banks enter into long‐run relationships with firms and base their growth strategy on the pursuance of monopolistic rents. Interwar Italy emerges as a case in which an insider system devoid of the disciplinary devices provided by sound governance institutions created perverse incentives and weakened the resilience of the banking system to adverse macroeconomic shocks.
Villeinage in England: a regional case study, c.1250–c.13491
Authors: BAILEY MARK
Published: December 2008

Between 1200 and 1349, villeinage was not prominent in Suffolk, and, even in those places where it was locally significant, many of its exactions were lightly enforced. The gap between the theory and practice of villeinage was maintained by custom, although this article emphasizes both the importance of regional custom and its mutability. The relative insignificance of villeinage here has two main implications: first, villeinage cannot have caused any crisis of agrarian productivity before the Black Death; and second, its subsequent dissolution cannot have been the prime mover behind the transformation of the landholding structure and the emergence of agrarian capitalism.
Cities, market integration, and going to sea: stunting and the standard of living in early nineteenth‐century England and Wales1
Authors: HUMPHRIES JANE , LEUNIG TIM
Published: December 2008

A new source, 1840s Admiralty seamen's tickets, is used to explore three anthropometric issues. First, did being born in a city, with its associated disamenities, lead to stunting? Second, did being born near a city, whose markets sucked away foodstuffs, lead to stunting? Third, did child labour lead to stunting? We find that only those born in very large cities suffered a level of stunting that contemporaries could have observed. Being born near a city, which gave parents opportunities to trade away family calories, and perhaps increased exposure to disease, did not cause stunting. Britain was a well‐integrated market; all families, whatever their locations, had options to trade and faced similar disease environments. Finally, although adults who had gone to sea young were shorter than those who did not enlist until fully grown, going to sea did not stunt. Instead, plentiful food at sea attracted stunted adolescents, who reversed most of their stunting as a result. But child labour at sea was different from other forms of children's work because wages were largely hypothecated to the child as food and shelter onboard. In contrast, where wages were paid to the child or his parents in cash, they became submerged in the household economy and their benefits were shared with other family members.
Hazardous drinking is associated with an elevated aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index in an urban HIV‐infected clinical cohort
Authors: Chaudhry AA , Sulkowski MS , Chander G , Moore RD
Published: December 2008

Objectives

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between alcohol consumption and liver fibrosis as assessed by aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) in HIV‐infected adults and to explore the relative contributions of alcohol and hepatitis C virus (HCV) to APRI among HIV/HCV‐coinfected adults.

Methods

We performed a cross‐sectional analysis of data from an observational clinical cohort. Alcohol consumption was categorized according to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism guidelines. We defined significant liver disease as APRI>1.5, and used multinomial logistic regression to identify correlates of increased APRI.

Results

Among 1358 participants, 10.4% reported hazardous drinking. It was found that 11.6% had APRI>1.5, indicating liver fibrosis. Hazardous drinking was associated with increased APRI [adjusted relative risk ratio (RRR) 2.30; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26–4.17]. Other factors associated with increased APRI were male gender, viral hepatitis, and HIV transmission category of injecting drug use. Among coinfected individuals, 18.3% had APRI>1.5, and hazardous drinking was not associated with APRI. Among non‐HCV‐infected individuals, 5.3% had APRI>1.5 and hazardous drinking was associated with increased APRI (adjusted RRR 3.72; 95% CI 1.40–9.87).

Conclusions

Hazardous drinking is an important modifiable risk factor for liver fibrosis, particularly among non‐HCV‐infected patients. Clinicians and researchers must address alcohol use as the burden of liver disease increases among HIV‐positive individuals.
Effect of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors on CD4 T‐cell recovery in HIV‐1‐infected individuals receiving long‐term fully suppressive combination antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Byakwaga H , Zhou J , Petoumenos K , Law MG , Boyd MA , Emery S , Cooper DA , Mallon PW
Published: December 2008

Objective

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) on CD4 recovery in HIV‐1‐infected individuals receiving long‐term suppressive combination antiretroviral therapy (cART).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was carried out. The mean time‐weighted CD4 change from baseline was determined at weeks 48, 96 and 144: its associations with exposure to NRTIs were assessed using linear regression.

Results

One hundred and five patients were included. Their median baseline CD4 count was 225 (interquartile range 91–362) cells/μL. A trend of greater CD4 change from baseline was observed for individuals who at baseline had CD4 counts >200 cells/μL (138 vs. 113, 176 vs. 134 and 204 vs. 173 cells/μL), or were ≤40 years old (136 vs. 118, 182 vs. 150, 208 vs. 174) at weeks 48, 96 and 144, respectively; however, all P‐values were >0.05. Lower CD4 increases were observed in patients exposed to didanosine (ddI) or a combination of ddI and stavudine, although the difference was not statistically significant. For patients that commenced cART with CD4 count ≤200 cells/μL, a trend towards a CD4 count response <250 cells/μL at weeks 48, 96 and 144 was observed in patients receiving zidovudine.

Conclusion

Exposure to different NRTIs in initial cART was not significantly associated with variable rises in CD4 cell count. However, these findings need to be confirmed in larger studies.
Diagnostic accuracy of cardiac metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy in Parkinson disease
Authors: Sawada H. , Oeda T. , Yamamoto K. , Kitagawa N. , Mizuta E. , Hosokawa R. , Ohba M. , Nishio R. , Yamakawa K. , Takeuchi H. , Shimohama S. , Takahashi R. , Kawamura T.
Published: December 2008

Background and purpose:  To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of cardiac 123I‐metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigram for detection of Parkinson disease.

Methods:  A cross‐sectional study with index test of MIBG scintigram and reference standard of U.K. Parkinson’s Disease Brain Bank Criteria was performed in 403 patients. Ratio of cardiac‐to‐mediastinum MIBG accumulation was determined at 20 min (early H/M) and 4 h (late H/M). Area under the receiver‐operator characteristic (ROC) curve, sensitivity and specificity in detecting Parkinson disease were analyzed. Accuracy was analyzed in a subgroup of patients with disease duration of 3 years or less.

Results:  Area under the ROC curve was 0.89 using either early or late H/M as a diagnostic marker (95% CI 0.85–0.92 for early H/M and 0.86–0.93 for late H/M). Sensitivity and specificity were 81.3% (76.1–85.8%) and 85.0% (77.7–90.6%) for early H/M and 84.3% (79.3–88.4%) and 89.5% (83.01–94.1%) for late H/M. In the subgroup with duration of 3 years or less, the ROC curve area, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.86 (0.79–0.92), 76.0% (64.8–85.1%), and 83.9% (71.7–92.4%) for early H/M and 0.85 (0.78–0.92), 73.3% (61.9–82.9%), and 87.5% (75.9–94.8%) for late H/M.

Conclusion:  Although diagnostic accuracy of cardiac MIBG scintigram is high, it is limited because of insufficient sensitivity in patients with short duration.
Parkinson’s disease and nursing home placement: the economic impact of the need for care
Authors: Vossius C. , Nilsen O. B. , Larsen J. P.
Published: December 2008

Background and Purpose:  To examine the relative risk (RR) for living in nursing homes for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) compared with the general population and to ascertain society’s costs related to nursing home placement for this patient group.

Methods:  We evaluated the frequency of admission to nursing homes in a cross‐sectional study and during a 12‐year follow‐up study of 108 patients with PD and 864 controls who were matched for age and sex. The RR for living in a nursing home was calculated at baseline and during follow‐up. On the basis of 2007 prices, we estimated the costs per person year of survival for patients with PD and controls.

Results:  The RR for living in a nursing home at baseline was 5.0 for patients with PD and 4.8 during follow‐up. Patients with PD caused 4.8 times higher costs for nursing home placement with euro 18 875 versus euro 3978 per individual and year. The annual costs for institutional care of patients with PD in Norway were euro 132 million.

Conclusion:  Patients with PD have a substantially higher risk for living in nursing homes than the general population. This causes high costs to society. Therapeutic interventions to prevent or delay nursing home admissions are therefore important.