bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of smoking status and MADRS retardation factor on response to low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression
Authors: Poulet E. , Galvao F. , Haffen E. , Szekely D. , Brault C. , Haesebaert F. , Brunelin J.
Published: September 2016

Background

Despite growing evidence supporting the clinical interest of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in treatment-resistant depression (TRD), little is known regarding the effects of clinical and sociodemographic factors on the clinical outcome in patients.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated the effects of clinical (using the 3-factor model of the Montgomery-Åsberg depression rating scale [MADRS] encompassing dysphoria, retardation and vegetative symptoms) and sociodemographic characteristics of participants on clinical outcome in a sample of 54 TRD patients receiving low frequency rTMS (1 Hz, 360 pulses) applied over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex combined with sham venlafaxine.

Results

Responders (n= 29) displayed lower retardation baseline scores (13.6 ± 2.9) than non-responders (15.6 ± 2.9;n= 25;P= 0.02). We also observed a significant difference between the numbers of ex-smokers in responders and non-responders groups; all ex-smokers (n= 8) were responders to rTMS (P= 0.005).

Conclusion

Low MADRS retardation factor and ex-smoker status is highly prevalent in responders to low frequency rTMS. Further studies are needed to investigate the predictive value of these factors.
Assessing Global Citizenship Attitudes with Q Methodology
Authors: Sklarwitz Sherri
Published: September 2016

This paper discusses the process of designing a quantitative measure of student beliefs and attitudes about social responsibility, global competence, and global civic engagement. First, it includes an overview of the development of a global citizenship Q-sort, the tool used in Q methodology, for assessment. Second, it involves an explanation of the validation process of the Q-sort in three phases to include feedback from scholars in the field, high school teachers, and high school students. Finally, it discusses implications that using this tool can have for researchers analyzing global citizenship coursework and for teachers implementing this coursework.
Sediments in the Gakkel Ridge rift zone (Arctic Ocean): structure and history
Authors: Rekant P.V. , Gusev E.A.
Published: September 2016

The available seismic and magnetic data show the Gakkel Ridge rift zone consisting of the Atlantic and Siberian segments divided by a tectonic suture at 70° E. The two segments have had different histories recorded in their sedimentary cover. Apart from the difference in its morphology, the Siberian segment differs from the Atlantic one in the existence of a series of deposition centers, which might represent a vast Paleogenic basin that formed prior to the Gakkel Ridge. The simple model of North Atlantic spreading fails to explain the long and complex history of the Gakkel Ridge rift and the existence of the depocenters. The particular structure of this zone might have resulted from the growth of rift mountains by accretion of magmatic material during the Paleogene, without significant sea floor spreading.
Mnemonic strategy training of the elderly at risk for dementia enhances integration of information processing via cross‐frequency coupling
Authors: Dimitriadis Stavros I. , Tarnanas Ioannis , Wiederhold Mark , Wiederhold Brenda , Tsolaki Magda , Fleisch Elgar
Published: September 2016

Introduction

We sought to identify whether intensive 10‐week mobile health mnemonic strategy training (MST) could shift the resting‐state brain network more toward cortical‐level integration, which has recently been proven to reflect the reorganization of the brain networks compensating the cognitive decline.

Methods

One hundred fifty‐eight patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were selected and participated in 10‐week training lasting 90 min/d of memory training. They benefited from an initial and a follow‐up neuropsychological evaluation and resting‐state electroencephalography (EEG).

Results

At follow‐up, MST revealed an extensive significant training effect that changed the network with an increase of synchronization between parietotemporal and frontal areas; frontalθ‐parietalα2 causal strengthening as part of top‐down inhibitory control; enhancement of sensorimotor connections in β band; and a general increase of cortical‐level integration. More precisely, MST induced gain as an increase of the global cost efficiency (GCE) of the whole cortical network and a neuropsychological performance improvement, which was correlated with it (r = 0.32, P = .0001). The present study unfolded intervention changes based on EEG source activity via novel neuroinformatic tools for revealing intrinsic coupling modes in both amplitude‐phase representations and in the mixed spectrospatiotemporal domain.

Discussion

Further work should identify whether the GCE enhancement of the functional cortical brain networks is a compensation mechanism to the brain network dysfunction or a more permanent neuroplasticity effect.
APPROXIMATING THE DENSITY OF THE TIME TO RUIN VIA FOURIER-COSINE SERIES EXPANSION
Authors: Zhang Zhimin
Published: September 2016

In this paper, the density of the time to ruin is studied in the context of the classical compound Poisson risk model. Both one-dimensional and two-dimensional Fourier-cosine series expansions are used to approximate the density of the time to ruin, and the approximation errors are also obtained. Some numerical examples are also presented to show that the proposed method is very efficient.
Comparison of naproxen with cyclobenzaprine, oxycodone-acetaminophen, and placebo for the treatment of acute low back pain
Authors: Gottlieb Michael , Njie Abdoulie
Published: September 2016

Clinical Question

Does the addition of cyclobenzaprine or oxycodone with acetaminophen to naproxen result in improved functional outcomes at one week when compared to placebo in patients with acute low back pain?

Article Chosen

Friedman B, Dym A, Davitt, M, et al. Naproxen with cyclobenzaprine, oxycodone/acetaminophen, or placebo for treating acute low back pain: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2015:20;314(15):1572-80.

Study Objective

The primary objective of this study was to compare functional outcomes at one week and three months after emergency department (ED) presentation for acute low back pain among patients prescribed naproxen plus one of the following: (1) oxycodone/acetaminophen; (2) cyclobenzaprine; or (3) placebo.
Sets of large values of correlation functions for polynomial cubic configurations
Authors: BERGELSON V. , LEIBMAN A.
Published: September 2016

We prove that for any set$E\subseteq \mathbb{Z}$with upper Banach density$d^{\ast }(E)>0$, the set ‘of cubic configurations’ in$E$is large in the following sense: for any$k\in \mathbb{N}$and any$\unicode[STIX]{x1D700}>0$, the set$$\begin{eqnarray}\displaystyle \biggl\{(n_{1},\ldots ,n_{k})\in \mathbb{Z}^{k}:d^{\ast }\biggl(\mathop{\bigcap }_{e_{1},\ldots ,e_{k}\in \{0,1\}}(E-(e_{1}n_{1}+\cdots +e_{k}n_{k}))\biggr)>d^{\ast }(E)^{2^{k}}-\unicode[STIX]{x1D700}\biggr\} & & \displaystyle \nonumber\end{eqnarray}$$is an$\text{AVIP}_{0}^{\ast }$-set. We then generalize this result to the case of ‘polynomial cubic configurations’$e_{1}p_{1}(n)+\cdots +e_{k}p_{k}(n)$, where the polynomials$p_{i}:\mathbb{Z}^{d}\longrightarrow \mathbb{Z}$are assumed to be sufficiently algebraically independent.
KŐNIG’S LINE COLORING AND VIZING’S THEOREMS FOR GRAPHINGS
Authors: CSÓKA ENDRE , LIPPNER GÁBOR , PIKHURKO OLEG
Published: September 2016

The classical theorem of Vizing states that every graph of maximum degree $d$ admits an edge coloring with at most $d+1$ colors. Furthermore, as it was earlier shown by Kőnig, $d$ colors suffice if the graph is bipartite. We investigate the existence of measurable edge colorings for graphings (or measure-preserving graphs). A graphing is an analytic generalization of a bounded-degree graph that appears in various areas, such as sparse graph limits, orbit equivalence and measurable group theory. We show that every graphing of maximum degree $d$ admits a measurable edge coloring with $d+O(\sqrt{d})$ colors; furthermore, if the graphing has no odd cycles, then $d+1$ colors suffice. In fact, if a certain conjecture about finite graphs that strengthens Vizing’s theorem is true, then our method will show that $d+1$ colors are always enough.
Elastic-plated gravity currents with a temperature-dependent viscosity
Authors: Thorey Clement , Michaut Chloé
Published: September 2016

We develop a set of equations to explore the behaviour of cooling elastic-plated gravity currents for constant influx conditions. In particular, we introduce a temperature-dependent viscosity to couple the flow thermal structure with the velocity field. We show that this coupling results in important deviations from the isoviscous case. In particular, the bending and gravity asymptotic regimes, characteristic of the isoviscous case, both split into three different thermal phases: a first ‘hot’ isoviscous phase, a second phase where the spreading rate drastically decreases and the flow thickens and a third ‘cold’ isoviscous phase. The viscosity that controls the spreading rate differs in both asymptotic regimes; it is the average viscosity of a small peeling region at the current tip in the bending regime and the average flow viscosity in the gravity regime. In both regimes, we characterize the evolution of the thermal anomaly and determine the time scale of the phase changes in terms of the Péclet number and of the viscosity contrast. Finally, we show that the evolution with bending and gravity can result in six different evolution scenarios depending on the combination of dimensionless numbers considered. We provide a phase diagram which summarizes them as a function of the flow Péclet number and viscosity contrast.
Spectra of energy transport in turbulent channel flows for moderate Reynolds numbers
Authors: Mizuno Yoshinori
Published: September 2016

To reveal the scale dependence of the transport of turbulent kinetic energy in a channel flow, the constituents of a spectral energy budget equation are evaluated using direct numerical simulations. At each height in the buffer and overlap layers, the upward turbulent transport provides energy to the fluctuations at small scales, but removes it from those at large scales. Energy removed from the large scales in the overlap layer is carried upward to the centre of the channel and also downward to the vicinity of the wall. The downward energy fluxes at the large scales result in the well-known anomaly of turbulence intensity and the constituents of the budget equation near the wall. In the overlap layer the cospectrum of the spatial turbulent transport is scaled well by the mixing length. It shows that the structure of fluctuations involved in turbulent transport is self-similar in this layer, supporting the classical assumption. The cospectra of pressure–strain correlations are also evaluated. They are not scaled by the wall unit near the wall, but no symptom of the influence of large-scale structures is observed in the cospectra, at least for the present range of Reynolds numbers. Above the buffer layer the cospectra of the pressure–strain correlations are almost isotropic, and their relevant length scale is given by the mixing length in the overlap layer. The pressure–strain correlations are therefore rather local quantities.
A New Pipe Routing Approach for Aero-Engines by Octree Modeling and Modified Max-Min Ant System Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Qu Y.-F. , Jiang D. , Zhang X.-L.
Published: September 2016

Aero-engines usually contain a lot of pipes and cables which have an important influence on product performance and reliability. In this paper, a new pipe routing approach for aero-engines is proposed. First, an adaptive octree modeling method is presented according to the characteristics of the layout space. After considering three types of engineering constraints, the total length of pipelines, the total number of bends and the natural frequency of pipelines are modeled as the optimal objective. Then, a Modified Max-Min Ant System optimization algorithm (MMMAS), which uses layered node selection and dynamic update mechanism, is proposed for pipe routing. For branch pipelines, ant colony searches in groups and parallel to improve the solution quality and speed up the convergence greatly. Finally, numerical comparisons with other current approaches in literatures demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed approach. And a case study of pipe routing for aero-engines is conducted to validate this approach.
China's Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions: A Contextual Distance Perspective
Authors: Li Jiatao , Wan Guoguang
Published: September 2016

Outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) by Chinese firms has received considerable research attention recently (Li, Cui, & Lu, 2014; Lu, Liu, Wright, & Filatotchev, 2014; Xia, Ma, Lu, & Yiu, 2014). In particular, a number of studies have focused on cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) involving Chinese firms (Li, Li, & Wang, 2016; Li & Xie, 2013; Xie & Li, 2016; Zhang, Zhou, & Ebbers, 2011). Following Child and Marinova's (2014) suggestion that both the home and host country institutional contexts play important roles in determining M&A activity, Buckley and his colleagues have examined how China's ‘Go Global’ policy influences the location choices in Chinese acquisitions and also how host country political risks affect such activities (Buckley et al., 2016). They looked into national political and legal conditions (see also Meyer, Estrin, Bhaumik, & Peng, 2009), and also examined a large dataset on China's cross-border M&As. Much of the previous work in this area has focused on greenfield investments (Duanmu, 2012; Kang & Jiang, 2012), so the work of Buckley et al. (2016) has broken new ground.
Soyamilk fermented with riboflavin-producingLactobacillus plantarumCRL 2130 reverts and prevents ariboflavinosis in murine models
Authors: Juarez del Valle M. , Laiño J. E. , de Moreno de LeBlanc A. , Savoy de Giori G. , LeBlanc J. G.
Published: September 2016

It has been previously shown thatLactobacillus plantarumCRL 2130 is able to produce riboflavin in soyamilk. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of this riboflavin-bio-enriched soyamilk to revert and/or prevent the nutritional deficiency of riboflavin using different animal models. When used to supplement the diets of previously depleted animals, it was shown that the growth, riboflavin status and morphology of the small intestines reverted to normal parameters and were similar to animals supplemented with commercial riboflavin. In the prevention model, the same tendency was observed, where animals that received soyamilk fermented withL. plantarumCRL 2130 did not show signs of riboflavin deficiency. This new bio-fortified soya-based product could be used as part of normal diets to provide a more natural alternative to mandatory fortification with riboflavin for the prevention of its deficiency.
Von Neumann Algebras and Extensions of Inverse Semigroups
Authors: Donsig Allan P. , Fuller Adam H. , Pitts David R.
Published: September 2016

In the 1970s, Feldman and Moore classified separably acting von Neumann algebras containing Cartan maximal abelian self-adjoint subalgebras (MASAs) using measured equivalence relations and 2-cocycles on such equivalence relations. In this paper we give a new classification in terms of extensions of inverse semigroups. Our approach is more algebraic in character and less point-based than that of Feldman and Moore. As an application, we give a restatement of the spectral theorem for bimodules in terms of subsets of inverse semigroups. We also show how our viewpoint leads naturally to a description of maximal subdiagonal algebras.
‘BUILDING IN THE DEEP’: NOTES ON A METAPHOR FOR MENTAL ACITIVITY AND THE METAPHORICAL CONCEPT OF MIND IN EARLY GREEK EPIC
Authors: Horn Fabian
Published: September 2016

The verb βυσσο-δομεύω (Sc. 30 = Hes. Frg. 195.37 M.–W.), separated by Glenn Most in his translation as ‘planning in the depth’, appears to be composed of a noun βυσσός (‘depth’) and a verbal root *δέμ- (‘[to] construct’), thus literally meaning ‘(to) build in the deep’. There is no instance in our extant texts where this compound verb is employed literally in reference to an act of construction, and to the best of our knowledge it is exclusively used metaphorically in early epic diction to describe a mental process (see also Hom.Od. 4.676; 8.273; 9.316; 17.66, 465, 491; 20.184).
THE DECLINE OF PTOLEMAIC ELEPHANT HUNTING: AN ANALYSIS OF THE CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS
Authors: Cobb Matthew
Published: September 2016

After the death of Alexander the Great in 323, his successors (diadochi) engaged in a series of internecine struggles to take control of the territory he had conquered. One of the most capable of these, Ptolemy, the son of Lagus (later to become Ptolemy I Soter), took control of Egypt, initially as satrap (323–306) and subsequently as king (306–283/282). Over several decades Ptolemy was able to seize Coele-Syria and parts of Asia Minor, and achieved leadership of the League of Islanders in the Aegean. The battles between the successors were fought with sizable infantry and cavalry forces. However, one of the most notable and highly valued components of these military forces were battle elephants.
Roman History
Authors: Grig Lucy
Published: September 2016

Ancient history often seems to lag behind other areas of history when it comes to adopting new methodological and theoretical approaches. This crop of books, however, does offer contributions in two notable and significant areas of current scholarship: first in the area of memory studies, and second representing what we might call the ‘cognitive turn’. In addition there is a robust defence of a structuralist-informed approach to Greco-Roman religion, as well, of course, as books representing the more traditional areas of ancient history such as epigraphy and biography.
Association between Giardia and arthritis or joint pain in a large health insurance cohort: could it be reactive arthritis?
Authors: PAINTER J. E. , COLLIER S. A. , GARGANO J. W.
Published: September 2016

This study aimed to assess the association between giardiasis and subsequent development of arthritis or joint pain using a retrospective cohort of individuals from a large administrative claims database in the United States. Using 2006–2010 data from MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters, we conducted a retrospective cohort study in people with an ICD-9-CM code for giardiasis (n = 3301) and persons without giardiasis (n = 14 612) individually matched on age, sex, and enrolment length. We used conditional logistic regression to model the association between giardiasis and arthritis or joint pain documented in the 6 months following initial giardiasis diagnosis or index date for matched controls. After adjusting for healthcare utilization rate, giardiasis was associated with a 51% increase in claims for arthritis or joint pain (odds ratio 1·51, 95% confidence interval 1·26–1·80). In age- and sex-stratified adjusted analyses, the association remained significant across all subgroups (age 0–19 years, age 20–64 years, males, and females). Findings from this study lend epidemiological support for the association between giardiasis and subsequent development of arthritis. Reactive arthritis might occur more frequently than has been reported in the literature. Further research is necessary to determine the mechanisms by which giardiasis could lead to arthritis.
Deep Brain Stimulation, Continuity over Time, and the True Self
Authors: NYHOLM SVEN , O’NEILL ELIZABETH
Published: September 2016

One of the topics that often comes up in ethical discussions of deep brain stimulation (DBS) is the question of what impact DBS has, or might have, on the patient’s self. This is often understood as a question of whether DBS poses a threat to personal identity, which is typically understood as having to do with psychological and/or narrative continuity over time. In this article, we argue that the discussion of whether DBS is a threat to continuity over time is too narrow. There are other questions concerning DBS and the self that are overlooked in discussions exclusively focusing on psychological and/or narrative continuity. For example, it is also important to investigate whether DBS might sometimes have a positive (e.g., a rehabilitating) effect on the patient’s self. To widen the discussion of DBS, so as to make it encompass a broader range of considerations that bear on DBS’s impact on the self, we identify six features of the commonly used concept of a person’s “true self.” We apply these six features to the relation between DBS and the self. And we end with a brief discussion of the role DBS might play in treating otherwise treatment-refractory anorexia nervosa. This further highlights the importance of discussing both continuity over time and the notion of the true self.
Naturalizing Responsibility
Authors: ZULLO SILVIA
Published: September 2016

In the contemporary debate on the use of the neurosciences in ethics and law, numerous arguments have been bandied about among scientists and philosophers looking to uphold or reject the reliability and validity of scientific findings obtained by brain imaging technologies. Among the most vexing questions is,Can we trust that technology?One point of disagreement is whether brain scans offer a window through which to observe the functioning of the mind, in such a way as to enable lawyers, judges, physicians, and lawmakers to detect anomalies in brain function that may account for criminal unconscious behavior. Those who stand behind brain imaging believe that this can indeed be achieved, whereas those in opposition stress that brain scans are highly open to interpretation and that the data they provide is insufficient to establish causal connections. The question essentially comes down to whether technology can reliably be used to determine the intentions of the individual, thus establishing mens rea, for example, and hence responsibility. This article focuses on the latter notion and explores whether we can rely on the neurosciences to shed light on a complex form of moral and legal reasoning, as well as the role of the neurosciences in reawakening a philosophical and legal interest in trying to set responsibility on an empirical basis.
Commentary: Unexpected Benefits that Challenge the Orthodoxy of DBS Outcomes
Authors: Ford Paul
Published: September 2016

The case of Ms. L. provides a wonderful opportunity to highlight the underlying value commitments that often deeply influence decisionmaking in medicine and more specifically in innovative neurosurgical procedures. In order to give a fair opinion on how Dr. Impf, as clinician and researcher, should act, a much richer and thicker understanding of the actual perspectives of the stakeholders would be necessary. Because this is not available, I highlight three important elements: the terms under which the deep brain stimulation (DBS) is implanted, the proper goals of a healthcare team, and the fallacy of a “natural” or immutable self. These elements are brought together in this case by a set of unexpected effects on the patient that were not intended and that are judged and categorized differently by various stakeholders within the case. In the end, I hope that there was full transparency and agreement about obligations, responsibilities, and outcomes prior to the implantation of the DBS between the physician and patient. Further, it is important to remember that just because a result is serendipitous does not mean that it should be discounted as a proper benefit. Finally, each person authors variations on their own self that are molded by environment and social networks. If Ms. L. continues to demonstrate an ability to author a desired self, the DBS is no more inappropriate a tool than many other artifacts that are used regularly by others to mold themselves.
The Medicalization of Love
Authors: EARP BRIAN D. , SANDBERG ANDERS , SAVULESCU JULIAN
Published: September 2016

In 2015, we published an article entitled “The Medicalization of Love,” in which we argued that both good and bad consequences could be expected to follow from love’s medicalization, depending on how the process unfolded. A flurry of commentaries followed; here we offer some preliminary thoughts in reply to the more substantial of the criticisms that were raised. We focus in particular on the nature of love itself as well as the role it plays (or should play) in our lives; we also touch on a number of practical issues concerning the likely effects of any plausible “real-life” love drugs and conclude with a call for careful regulation.
How should we diagnose and differentiate hearts with double-outlet right ventricle?
Authors: Bharucha Tara , Hlavacek Anthony M. , Spicer Diane E. , Theocharis Paraskevi , Anderson Robert H.
Published: September 2016

Many, if not most, of the controversies regarding the description of the congenitally malformed heart have been resolved over the turn of the 20th century. A group of lesions that remains contentious is the situation in which both arterial trunks, in their greater part, are supported by the morphologically right ventricle. It was considered, for many years, that presence of bilateral infundibulums, or conuses, was a necessity for such a diagnosis. It has now been appreciated that this suggestion founders on many counts. In the first instance, such bilateral infundibulums are to be found in patients with other ventriculo-arterial connections, including the otherwise normal heart. In the second instance, it is clear that such an approach abrogates the important principle now known as the morphological method. This states that entities should be defined in terms of their intrinsic morphology and not on the basis of other variable features. It is now also clear that, when assessed simply on the basis of the ventricular origin of the arterial trunks, a significant number of patients fulfil the criteria for so-called “200%” origin of the trunks from the right ventricle when there is fibrous continuity between the leaflets of the atrioventricular and arterial valves. In this review, we show how attention to the morphology of the channel between the ventricles now provides the key to accurately diagnose the ventriculo-arterial connection in patients with suspected double-outlet right ventricle.

This is because, when both arterial trunks arise exclusively or predominantly from the morphologically right ventricle, the outlet septum, of necessity, is itself a right ventricular structure. The channel between the ventricles, therefore, is roofed by the inner heart curvature, whether that structure is fibrous or muscular. Our observations then confirm that it is the attachment of the outlet septum, which itself can be muscular or fibrous, which determines the commitment of the interventricular communication to the subarterial outlets. The interventricular communication itself, when directly committed to the ventricular outlets, opens between the limbs of the septomarginal trabeculation or septal band. The defect is subaortic when the outlet septum is attached to the cranial limb of the trabeculation, subpulmonary when attached to the caudal limb, and doubly committed when attached to the inner heart curvature in the roof of the defect. Non-committed defects are no longer positioned within the limbs of the septomarginal trabeculation. Although readily demonstrable by a skilled echocardiographer, we show how these anatomical features are more easily demonstrated with added accuracy when using CT data sets.
Importance of anatomical dominance in the evaluation of coronary dilatation in Kawasaki disease
Authors: Dionne Audrey , Hanna Baher , Trinh Tan Frédérick , Desjardins Laurent , Lapierre Chantale , Déry Julie , Fournier Anne , Dahdah Nagib
Published: September 2016

Introduction

In Kawasaki disease, although coronary dilatation is attributed to vasculitis, the effect of myocardial inflammation is underestimated. Coronary dilatations are determined by Z-scores, which do not take into account dominance. The aim of the present study was to describe the impact of coronary dominance on dilatation in Kawasaki disease.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of coronary dilatations according to angiography categorisation of dominance.

Results

Of 28 patients (2.6 [0.2–10.1] years), right dominance was present in 15 patients and left in 13. Early dilatation was present in all patients, of whom 11 were ipsilateral to the dominant segment and 17 contralateral. Ipsilateral dilatations were present at diagnosis (9/11 versus 6/17, p=0.02) compared with contralateral dilatations, which developed 2 weeks after diagnosis (9/11 versus 16/17, p=0.29). Coronary artery Z-scores of patients with contralateral dilatation increased at 2 weeks, before returning to baseline values (2.0±2.2 at diagnosis, 4.1±1.8 at 2 weeks, 1.8±1.2 at 3–6 months, p=0.001), compared with patients with ipsilateral dilatation in whom Z-scores were maximal at diagnosis and remained stable (3.0±0.9, 2.7±1.1 and 2.6±1.5, respectively, p=0.13). Dominant coronary artery Z-scores were higher compared with non-dominant segments at diagnosis (3.0±0.9 versus 1.0±0.8, p<0.001) and at late follow-up (2.6±1.5 versus 0.4±1.4, p=0.002) in patients with ipsilateral dilatation.

Conclusion

Progression of coronary dilatation after diagnosis may be a sign of dilatation secondary to vasculitis, as opposed to regression of Z-scores in ipsilateral dilatations, probably related to physiological vasodilatation in response to carditis. This needs to be validated in larger studies against vasculitic and myocardial inflammatory markers.
A Systematic Review of Health Outcomes Among Disaster and Humanitarian Responders
Authors: Garbern Stephanie C. , Ebbeling Laura G. , Bartels Susan A.
Published: September 2016

Introduction

Disaster and humanitarian responders are at-risk of experiencing a wide range of physical and psychological health conditions, from minor injuries to chronic mental health problems and fatalities. This article reviews the current literature on the major health outcomes of responders to various disasters and conflicts in order to better inform individuals of the risks and to inform deploying agencies of the health care needs of responders.

Methods

In March 2014, an EMBASE search was conducted using pre-defined search criteria. Two reviewers screened the resultant 2,849 abstracts and the 66 full-length manuscripts which are included in the review.

Results

The majority of research on health outcomes of responders focused on mental health (57 of 66 articles). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression were the most studied diagnoses with prevalence of PTSD ranging from 0%-34% and depression from 21%-53%. Physical health outcomes were much less well-studied and included a wide range of environmental, infectious, and traumatic conditions such as heat stroke, insect bites, dermatologic, gastrointestinal, and respiratory diseases, as well as burns, fractures, falls, and other traumatic injuries.

Conclusions

The prevalence of mental health disorders in responders may vary more and be higher than previously suggested. Overall health outcomes of responders are likely poorly monitored and under-reported. Improved surveillance systems and risk mitigation strategies should be employed in all disaster and conflict responses to better protect individual responders.

GarbernSC,EbbelingLG,BartelsSA.A systematic review of health outcomes among disaster and humanitarian responders.Prehosp Disaster Med.2016;31(6):635–642.
Improving the Relevance of Research on Price Forecasting and Marketing Strategies
Authors: Brorsen B. Wade , Irwin Scott H.
Published: September 2016

Agricultural economists' research on price forecasting and marketing strategies has been used little by those in the real world. We argue that fresh approaches to research are needed. First, we argue that we need to adopt a new theoretical paradigm, noisy rational expectations. This paradigm suggests that gains from using price forecasting models with public data or from using a marketing strategy are not impossible, but any gains are likely to be small. We need to conduct falsification tests; to perform confirmation and replication; to adjust research to reflect structural changes, such as increased contracting; and always to conduct statistical tests. We also provide a modest agenda for changing our research and extension programs.
Short-Run and Long-Run Efficiencies of New York Dairy Farms
Authors: Tauer Loren W.
Published: September 2016

Short-run and long-run technical and allocative efficiencies were computed for 395 New York dairy farms using data envelopment or nonparametric procedures on 1990 Dairy Farm Business Summary data. The farms were, on average, more allocatively efficient in the short run than in the long run, but were more technically efficient in the long run than in the short run. Stanchion barns were as efficient as milking parlors, and milking more than two times per day did not increase efficiency.
Modeling Advertising Carryover in Fluid Milk: Comparison of Alternative Lag Specifications
Authors: Venkateswaran Meenakshi , Kinnucan Henry W. , Chang Hui-Shung
Published: September 2016

The performance of restricted estimators such as Almon and Shiller in modeling advertising carryover is tested and compared to the unrestricted OLS estimator, using 1971–1988 monthly New York City fluid milk market data. Results indicate that in the absence of autocorrelation and multicollinearity among the lagged advertising variables, the unrestricted OLS estimator is still the preferred estimator, based on Mean Square Error and Root Mean Square Percent Error criteria. In this case, the Almon and Shiller estimators perform equally well, although next only to the OLS estimator. In the presence of autocorrelation or multicollinearity however, the restricted estimators may outperform the OLS estimator, in a MSE sense, with the flexible Shiller estimator (which subsumes the Almon) being more desirable.
Supply Response and Impact of Government-Supported Crops on the Texas Vegetable Industry
Authors: Ornelas Fermin , Shumway C. Richard
Published: September 2016

Supply functions, elasticity estimates, and nonjointness test results consistently indicated that few commodities compete economically in the production of six major Texas vegetables (cabbage, cantaloupes, carrots, onions, potatoes, and watermelons). Significant bias effects caused by government-supported commodities, fixed inputs, and technological change were observed and measured. Nonnested test results for the hypothesis of sequential decision making by vegetable producers were inconclusive, but they gave greater likelihood support to sequential than to contemporaneous decision making.
Agricultural Land Use Choice: A Discrete Choice Approach
Authors: Claassen Roger , Tegene Abebayehu
Published: September 2016

A discrete choice model and site-specific data are used to analyze land use choices between crop production and pasture in the Corn Belt. The results show that conversion probabilities depend on relative returns, land quality, and government policy. In general it is found that landowners are less inclined to remove land from crop production than to convert land to crop production.
Premiums/Discounts and Predictive Ability of the Shrimp Futures Market
Authors: Martínez-Garmendia Josué , Anderson James L.
Published: September 2016

Seafood futures contracts are a novelty in the derivative markets, having shrimp as their only exponent. Unfortunately, shrimp futures contracts have suffered a disappointing start. The analyses focus on testing whether premiums/discounts for non-par deliverable shrimp size categories can eliminate cash price differentials, and whether the shrimp futures market can predict cash prices without bias. Results indicate ineffective premiums/discounts and predictive bias. These results and the momentous changes taking place in the seafood industry are contrasted to discuss the viability of seafood futures contracts.
Factors Influencing Support for Rural Land Use Control: A Comment
Authors: Deaton B. James , Norris Patricia E.
Published: September 2016

Land ownership characteristics such as the quantity of land owned, quality of land parcels, and location of land describe important dimensions of landed wealth. Landed wealth is expected to be an important factor influencing support for rural land use control. This factor was not discussed in the April (1999) article by McLeod, Woirhaye, and Menkhaus (1999).

We suggest that this factor contributes to understanding variation in support for rural land use control.
Modeling Unobserved Heterogeneity in New York Dairy Farms: One-Stage versus Two-Stage Models
Authors: Alvarez Antonio , del Corral Julio , Tauer Loren W.
Published: September 2016

Agricultural production estimates have often differentiated and estimated different technologies within a sample of farms. The common approach is to use observable farm characteristics to split the sample into groups and subsequently estimate different functions for each group. Alternatively, unique technologies can be determined by econometric procedures such as latent class models. This paper compares the results of a latent class model with the use of a priori information to split the sample using dairy farm data. Latent class separation appears to be a superior method of separating heterogeneous technologies and suggests that technology differences are multifaceted.
Consumers’ Willingness to Purchase Locally Produced Agricultural Products: An Analysis of an Indiana Survey
Authors: Jekanowski Mark D. , Williams Daniel R. , Schiek William A.
Published: September 2016

Using a survey of over 320 consumers from across the state of Indiana, we estimate an ordered probit model to determine the demographic and attitudinal factors which are most important in predicting the likelihood of consumers to purchase products that are produced within the state. Our results indicate that the willingness to purchase locally produced agricultural products increases with time of residency in the state, and we find a greater tendency for female consumers to purchase such products. We also find that quality perceptions play a critical role in these food purchase decisions. We underscore the importance of maintaining minimum quality standards to maximize the effectiveness of state level agricultural promotion programs.
Issues in the Administration of Tariff-Rate Import Quotas in the Agreement on Agriculture in the WTO: An Introduction
Authors: de Gorter Harry , Sheldon Ian M.
Published: September 2016

The Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture (URAA) put in place a set of rules that may, in the future, have significant effects on the conditions for market access for agricultural products. Bound tariffs replaced non-tariff barriers in most cases, and rules facing exporters are now more transparent. In addition, minimum access commitments were made through the use of import quotas, with a lower tariff for imports within the quota. Although agriculture is now integrated into the multilateral trading system, most commentators agree that the URAA did little actually to liberalize agricultural trade. Bound out-of-quota tariffs remain very high while quotas have resulted in the institutionalization of rents for specific countries and firms or state trading enterprises, thereby potentially increasing resistance by these stakeholders to any trade liberalization initiatives.
Property Tax Distortions and Participation in Federal Easement Programs: An Exploratory Analysis of the Wetlands Reserve Program
Authors: Poe Gregory L.
Published: September 2016

Higher propety taxes and uncertainty about post-easement tax levels may create a disincentive for landowners to participate in federal easement programs such as the Wetlands Reserve Program, and thus may distort participation levels in a manner inconsistent with the environmental benefits associated with individual parcels. Support for this hypothesis is provided in an exploratory analysis of state level participation in the Wetlands Reserve Program. If such distortions prove to be policy relevant, then either they should be accounted for in the bid acceptance process of future federal easement programs, or individual states and localities should correct property tax differentials and post-easement tax uncertainty.
Willingness to Pay for a Potential Insurance Policy: Case Study of Trout Aquaculture
Authors: Shaik Saleem , Coble Keith H. , Hudson Darren , Miller James C. , Hanson Terrill R. , Sempier Stephen H.
Published: September 2016

Using trout producer survey data and the contingent valuation method, we estimate willingness to pay for a potential insurance policy. The survey was conducted in 2005 across the United States; 268 producers completed the survey instrument, resulting in a response rate of 81 percent. Design of the contingent valuation method takes into account two coverage levels and four premium rates. Using standard willingness-to-pay techniques, we assess the premium rate that producers with varying practices and regions are willing to pay for two different coverage levels of insurance. In general, trout producers appear willing to pay premium rates of 2 to 11 percent for these coverage levels.
Capitalization of Open Spaces into Housing Values and the Residential Property Tax Revenue Impacts of Agricultural Easement Programs
Authors: Geoghegan Jacqueline , Lynch Lori , Bucholtz Shawn
Published: September 2016

Using a unique spatial database, a hedonic model is developed to estimate the value to nearby residents of open space purchased through agricultural preservation programs in three Maryland counties. After correcting for endogeneity and spatial autocorrelation, the estimated coefficients are used to calculate the potential changes in housing values for a given change in neighborhood open space following an agricultural easement purchase. Then, using the current residential property tax for each parcel, the expected increase in county tax revenue is computed and this revenue is compared to the cost of preserving the lands.
Tradeoff between Economies of Size in Treatment and Diseconomies of Distribution for Rural Water Systems
Authors: Boisvert Richard N. , Schmit Todd M.
Published: September 2016

This paper outlines a method to determine the tradeoff between economies of size in water treatment and diseconomies of distribution. Cost equations are estimated for several treatment technologies and distribution extensions. Empirical results are used to identify optimal system size where average total costs are minimized. Regardless of treatment, most costs are due to distribution. As water systems expand service territories, only in the most densely populated areas would remaining economies of size in treatment outweigh the diseconomies in distribution.
Advertising and U. S. Nonalcoholic Beverage Demand
Authors: Zheng Yuqing , Kaiser Harry M.
Published: September 2016

As a first effort at modeling nonalcoholic beverage demand in a systemwide framework that includes bottled water, this article examines the impact of advertising on the demand for nonalcoholic beverages in the United States. We employed an AIDS (almost ideal demand system) model of five jointly estimated equations that included advertising expenditures as explanatory variables to evaluate annual U. S. consumption of nonalcoholic beverages for 1974 through 2005. Results suggest that advertising increases demand for fluid milk, soft drinks, and coffee and tea, but not for juice or bottled water. Advertising spillover effects occur in over 50 percent of the cases considered, and such effects can be substantial, particularly for advertising of soft drinks, and coffee and tea. We find that a large increase in the retail price of fluid milk, an increasing trend towards dining out, and positive spillover effects from soft-drink advertising made significant contributions to bottled water's success in recent years.
Do Production Contracts Raise Farm Productivity? An Instrumental Variables Approach
Authors: Key Nigel , McBride William D.
Published: September 2016

Estimating how the use of production contracts affects farm productivity is difficult when unobservable factors are correlated with both the decision to contract and productivity. To account for potential selection bias, this study uses the local availability of production contracts as an instrument for whether a farm uses a contract in order to estimate the impact of contract use on total factor productivity. Results indicate that use of a production contract is associated with a large increase in productivity for feeder-to-finish hog farms in the United States. The instrumental variable method makes it credible to assert that the observed association is a causal relationship rather than simply a correlation.
Economic Impacts of the U. S. Soybean Aphid Infestation: A Multi-Regional Competitive Dynamic Analysis
Authors: Kim C. S. , Schaible Glenn , Garrett Lynn , Lubowski Ruben , Lee Donna
Published: September 2016

We estimated the economic benefits resulting from controlling soybean aphid infestation by using a multi-regional competitive dynamic equilibrium model. Results indicate that the reduction of soybean production resulting from a soybean aphid infestation is largely absorbed by reducing soybean exports, due to the higher price elasticity of export demand compared to domestic demand. Producer benefits resulting from controlling soybean aphids would increase by between $949 million and $1.623 billion in ten years under various scenarios. Results also suggest that it is economically more efficient to control soybean aphids when the rate of intrinsic growth is relatively lower, the supply price elasticity of soybean acreage is relatively more elastic, and insecticide treatment costs per acre are lower. However, if the discovery of the gene Rag-1 (TF04048) leads to new cultivars that withstand the soybean aphid, our estimates will overestimate the actual damages. Even so, our analysis demonstrates that it is critical to control soybean aphids early in their infestation cycle to avoid a rapid increase in damages.
Illicit Agricultural Trade
Authors: Ferrier Peyton
Published: September 2016

Agricultural and wildlife trade is subject to sudden, disruptive import restrictions arising from concerns over sanitary and phytosanitary safety and the conservation of natural resources. These restrictions can create significant international price differences that encourage the smuggling of goods across borders. This article presents an equilibrium model of smuggling where the supply and demand for smuggled goods depend on interregional price disparities in the presence of a trade ban. In this model, smuggling is more prevalent when demand and supply among trade partners is more inelastic or when there are fewer total trade partners at the time a trade ban is enacted. Applications are presented for regionalization, destruction of goods in government eradication programs, price support, stockpiling, and the development of substitutes. Regionalization may increase smuggling under certain production and consumption patterns.
Evaluating Labor Productivity in Food Retailing
Authors: Park Timothy A.
Published: September 2016

Competition from new store formats including supercenters, warehouse clubs, and mass merchandisers has emerged as a major threat to traditional grocery chains. A primary objective of this paper is to understand how the store-level performance is related to the workforce composition of full-time and part-time employees chosen by the food retailer along with benefits and incentives provided to employees. The elasticity of complementarity for food retailers measures how changes in store size affect use of full-time and part-time employees. Larger store size increases the marginal value of labor, and firm hiring decisions shift to expanded use of part-time employees.