bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Distribution of HL‐A Histocompatibility Factors and Genes in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: WATERS HAROLD , KONRAD PAT , WALFORD ROY L.
Published: July 2010

A study of the incidence of HL‐A genes and factors in persons afflicted with systemic lupus erythematosus is presented, based upon family and population analysis. In persons with onset of their disease at less than 25 years of age, a significantly increased incidence of a factor detected by absorbed Thorsby‐LND serum was noted. This finding suggests that the susceptibility to developing systemic lupus erythematosus is partially influenced by the HL‐A or major histocompatibility system.
On the Heterogeneity of Linkage Estimations between LA and FOUR Loci of the HL–A System
Authors: BELVEDERE M. C. , CURTONI E. S. , DAUSSET J. , LAMM L. U. , MAYR W. , ROOD J. J. VAN , SVEJGAARD A. , PIAZZA A.
Published: July 2010

Three cases of crossing over between the LA and FOUR loci of HL–A system are presented in this note. Recombination fractions between those two loci are also calculated from familial data kindly provided by other European laboratories. It is suggested that differences found in maternal and paternal recombination frequency are due to the heterogeneity of estimates of each laboratory.
Disease Susceptibility Genes ‐ their Identification by Multiple Case Family Studies
Authors: Day N. E. , Simons M. J.
Published: July 2010

A method for analysing the results of multiple case family studies is presented. the type of inferences which can be drawn is demonstrated with data from a study on juvenile diabetes mellitus. the situations in which multiple case family studies might prove useful are discussed.
HLA Antigens in Three Common Populations in South East Asia — Chinese, Malay and Filipino
Authors: Chan S. H. , Wee G. B. , Srinivasan N. , Glen S. P. P. , Cheng P. , Vengadasalam D. , Alano F. A. , Simons M. J.
Published: July 2010

The HLA profiles of three common populations from South East Asia, Chinese and Malays from Singapore and Filipinos from the Philippines are documented.
Private specificity of H‐2Ldx molecule detected serologically by a surface antigen redistribution method (capping)
Authors: Ivanyi Dagmar , Demant Peter
Published: July 2010

The presence of H‐2·1 positive‐H‐2·63 negative molecules, H‐2Ldx, in the products of the dx region was originally detected in H‐2dx inbred strains GRS/A and LIS/A (Snoek et al. 1979).

This study confirms the existence of H‐2Ldx molecules in 2 congeneic strains with a H‐2dx haplotype on C3H (C3H·LG strain) and B10 (B10·GR strain) background. Besides anti‐H‐2·1‐like antibodies present in anti‐Ddx allo‐antiserum, monoclonal antibody d anti‐k (H100‐5/28, H‐2·m3) was shown to react with H‐2Ldx molecule. Furthermore, evidence is shown that H‐2Ldx molecule has a unique specificity, which is detected serologically in a capping experiment.
HLA antigens and complotypes in insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus
Authors: Partanen J. , Koskimies S. , Ilonen J. , Knip M.
Published: July 2010

One hundred and thirty‐six Finnish patients with insulin‐dependent (type I) diabetes mellitus were investigated for the HLA‐A, B, D and DR antigens as well as the Bf and C4 allotypes. The statistically significant increase in the frequencies of HLA‐A9, B8, B15, Dw3, Dw4, DR3, DR4, C4A0 and C4B3 was observed when compared with the healthy controls. About 79% of the patients had HLA‐DR4, and 53% had HLA‐DR3 antigens. A rare C4 allele C4B3 was found in 21% of the patients, whereas only in 2% among the controls (relative risk 16.35). The etiological fraction (EF) values indicated that HLA D/DR alleles were the best markers for IDDM, the observed EF for HLA‐DR4 in diabetes was as high as 0.70. Examination of HLA, Bf and C4 phenotypes suggested that at least two supratypes “B15 BfS C4A3B3 D(R)4” and “B8 BfS C4A0B1 D(R)3” were markers for the susceptibility to type I diabetes, one third of our patients had either of these supratypes. The protective role of DR2 and Dw2 antigens was also confirmed: no HLA‐Dw2 positive patients and only one with HLA‐DR2 was found.
Cognitive improvement in children with CKD after transplant
Authors: Icard Phil , Hooper Stephen R. , Gipson Debbie S. , Ferris Maria E.
Published: July 2010

Icard P, Hooper SR, Gipson DS, Ferris ME. Cognitive improvement in children with CKD after transplant. Pediatr Transplantation 2010: 14:887–890. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  The primary purpose of this paper was to examine the cognitive functioning of children with CKD receiving transplantation to children with CKD not receiving transplantation, and a healthy control group. The sample included six children with CKD receiving transplant, 28 children with CKD being treated conservatively, and 23 healthy controls. All participants were administered intellectual (IQ) or developmental assessments at baseline and at a one‐yr follow‐up. Results revealed that children with CKD who had received transplant showed a significant increase in their intellectual/developmental functioning post transplant compared to children with CKD not receiving transplant. Although their overall intellectual/developmental level was not fully normalized, when compared with the healthy control group, the change scores for the transplant group reflected over a 12 point increase, moving the group from the borderline range to the low average range of functioning. In this regard, pediatric transplantation appears to have a positive impact on the intellectual and developmental functioning of children with CKD.
Maximal hysteresis: a new method to set positive end‐expiratory pressure in acute lung injury?
Authors: KOEFOED‐NIELSEN J. , ANDERSEN G. , BARKLIN A. , BACH A. , LUNDE S. , TØNNESEN E. , LARSSON A.
Published: July 2010

Background: No methods are superior when setting positive end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) in acute lung injury (ALI). In ALI, the vertical distance (hysteresis) between the inspiratory and expiratory limbs of a static pressure–volume (PV) loop mainly indicates lung recruitment. We hypothesized that PEEP set at the pressure where hysteresis is 90% of its maximum (90%MH) would give similar oxygenation, but less cardiovascular depression than PEEP set at the pressure at lower inflection point (LIP) on the inspiratory limb or at the point of maximal curvature (PMC) on the expiratory limb in ALI.

Methods: In 12 mechanically ventilated pigs, ALI was induced in a randomized fashion by lung lavage, lung lavage plus injurious ventilation, or by oleic acid. From a static PV loop obtained by an interrupted low‐flow method, the pressures at LIP [25 (25, 25) cmH2O, mean and 25, 75 percentiles], at PMC [24 (20, 24) cmH2O], and at 90% MH [19 (18, 19) cmH2O] were determined and used for the PEEP‐settings. We measured lung inflation (by computed tomography), end‐expiratory lung volume (EELV), airway pressures, compliance of the respiratory system (Crs), blood gases, cardiac output and arterial blood pressure.

Results: There were no differences between the PEEP settings in EELV or oxygenation, but the 90%MH setting gave lower end‐inspiratory pause pressure (P<0.025), higher Crs (P<0.025), less hyper‐aeration (P<0.025) and better maintained hemodynamics.

Conclusion: In this porcine lung injury model, PEEP set at 90% MH gave better lung mechanics and hemodynamics, than PEEP set at PMC or LIP.
A comparison of methods of pathogen inactivation of FFP
Authors: Rock G.
Published: July 2010

Introduction  Current methods for pathogen inactivation of plasma involve four major processes using solvent–detergent (SD), methylene blue (MB), amotosalen and riboflavin as additives. Three of these methods involve the use of visible or ultraviolet light.

Methods  A comparison of the four methods was made using publications in Medline, Pubmed, Embase and Biosis to obtain data on the logistics of use, the quality of the plasma proteins and the effectiveness of pathogen inactivation.

Results  Three of the methods, MB, amotosalen and riboflavin, are designed for use in a blood bank; the SD method is generally applied at a centralized manufacturing centre and involves large plasma pools. All methods result in a reduction in protein values with the per cent retention of FVIII activity in the range of 67–78% and fibrinogen of 65–84%. Protein S and alpha2‐antiplasmin are lower following solvent–detergent treatment. Alterations in fibrinogen structure have been reported with methylene blue.

Discussion  Three of the methods are designed for small volume use in a blood bank. All four methods have some effect on the coagulant proteins; however, the final concentrations are within regulated limits. While there is variability in the effectiveness against pathogens, direct comparison is difficult because of the methodologies used. Nonetheless, all are effective in inactivating HIV and other lipid‐enveloped pathogens. Clinical studies on the effectiveness of these products are surprisingly sparse, and no randomized clinical trials have yet been performed with amotosalen or riboflavin plasmas.
Involvement of canonical Wnt/Wingless signaling in the determination of the positional values within the leg segment of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus
Authors: Nakamura Taro , Mito Taro , Tanaka Yoshihisa , Bando Tetsuya , Ohuchi Hideyo , Noji Sumihare
Published: July 2010

The cricket Gryllus bimaculatus is a hemimetabolous insect whose nymphs posses the ability to regenerate amputated legs. Previously, we showed that Gryllus orthologues of Drosophila hedgehog (Gb’hh), wingless (Gb’wg) and decapentaplegic (Gb'dpp) are expressed during leg regeneration and play essential roles in the establishment of the proximal‐distal axis. Here, we examined their roles during intercalary regeneration: when a distally amputated tibia with disparate positional values is placed next to a proximally amputated host, intercalary growth occurs in order to regenerate the missing part. In this process, we examined expression patterns of Gb’hh and Gb’wg. We found that expressions of Gb’hh and Gb’wg were induced in a regenerate and the host proximal to the amputated region, but not in the grafted donor distal to the regenerate. This directional induction occurs even in the reversed intercalation. Because these results are consistent with a distal‐to‐proximal respecification of the regenerate, Gb’wg may be involved in the re‐establishment of the positional values in the regenerate. Furthermore, we found that no regeneration occurs when Gb’armadillo (the orthologue of beta‐catenin) was knocked down by RNA interference. These results indicate that the canonical Wnt/Wingless signaling pathway is involved in the process of leg regeneration and determination of positional information in the leg segment.
Expression pattern and role of Galectin1 during early mouse myogenesis
Authors: Shoji Hiroki , Deltour Louise , Nakamura Takanori , Tajbakhsh Shahragim , Poirier Françoise
Published: July 2010

Galectin1, the prototype member of a family of carbohydrate binding proteins, is involved in muscle stem cell behavior and in tissue regeneration after muscle injury in adult mice. Here, we addressed the question of when this gene is first acting in the muscle lineage. We found that Galectin1 is an early marker of myogenesis as the transcripts and protein are initially confined to the somites, starting from day 9.0 of embryogenesis. We next investigated its relationship with the muscle determination factors, Myf5 and Myod. By comparing the spatio‐temporal distribution of Galectin1 transcripts in control and Myf5 null mutant embryos, we were able to establish that it acts downstream of Myf5. However, early myogenesis does not seem affected in Galectin1 null mutant embryos indicating that, unlike in the adult, Galectin1 does not play a role in muscle fate acquisition during development.
The long journey to the discovery of PARK2
Authors: Yamamura Yasuhiro
Published: July 2010

Research into familial Parkinson's disease (PD) remained at a virtual standstill in Europe and the US for several decades until a re‐challenge by Japanese neurologists regarding an autosomal recessive form of PD. In 1965, our research group at Nagoya University examined familial cases of early‐onset parkinsonism characterized by autosomal recessive inheritance, diurnal fluctuation of symptoms (alleviation after sleep), foot dystonia, good response to medication, and benign course without dementia. An inborn error of metabolism in some dopamine‐related pathway was suspected. The clinical study of four families with the disease, named as “early‐onset parkinsonism with diurnal fluctuation (EPDF)”, was published in Neurology in 1973. The pathological study of a case in 1993 revealed neuronal loss without Lewy bodies in the substantia nigra. Based on these clinical and pathological evidences, EPDF was defined as a distinct disease entity. Screening for the EPDF gene was started in 1994 in collaboration with Juntendo University. With the discovery of parkin gene in 1998, EPDF was designated as PARK2. Of our 16 families examined for gene analysis, 15 proved to be PARK2, and the remaining one, PARK6.
Complete hydatidiform mole with coexisting dichorionic diamniotic twins following testicular sperm extraction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection
Authors: Yamada Takahiro , Matsuda Takao , Kudo Masataka , Yamada Takashi , Moriwaki Masashi , Nishi Shinya , Ebina Yasuhiko , Yamada Hideto , Kato Hidenori , Ito Tomoo , Wake Norio , Sakuragi Noriaki , Minakami Hisanori
Published: July 2010

We present the first report of complete hydatidiform mole (HM) with coexisting dichorionic diamniotic twins. This pregnancy was achieved after testicular sperm extraction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for azoospermia in the woman's husband. Standard in vitro fertilization may cause multisperm fertilization and increase triploid partial HM and complete HM, which arise from dispermic fertilization. In contrast, ICSI can avoid multisperm fertilization. In our case, paternal isodisomy in the molar tissue was confirmed by microsatellite analysis suggesting that it resulted from duplication of a haploid paternal genome following monospermic fertilization of an inactivated oocyte or from monospermic fertilization of an inactivated oocyte with a diploid sperm. Although the patient was eager to continue the pregnancy, the size of the HM component increased rapidly and termination of the pregnancy was required for pre‐eclampsia‐like symptoms at 15 weeks of gestation. After the operation, chemotherapy was initiated for persistent trophoblastic disease.
A low glycaemic diet improves oral glucose tolerance but has no effect onβ‐cell function in C57BL/6J mice
Authors: Andersson U. , Rosén L. , Wierup N. , Östman E. , Björck I. , Holm C.
Published: July 2010

Aim:Clinical studies have suggested a role for dietary glycaemic index (GI) in body weight regulation and diabetes risk. Here, we investigated the long‐term metabolic effects of low and high glycaemic diets using the C57BL/6J mouse model.

Methods:Female C57BL/6J mice were fed low or high glycaemic starch in either low‐fat or medium‐fat diets for 22 weeks. Oral and intravenous glucose tolerance tests were performed to investigate the effect of the experimental diets on glucose tolerance and insulin resistance.

Results:In this study, a high glycaemic diet resulted in impaired oral glucose tolerance compared to a low glycaemic diet. This effect was more pronounced in the group fed a medium‐fat diet, suggesting that a lower dietary fat content ameliorates the negative effect of a high glycaemic diet. No effect on body weight or body fat content was observed in either a low‐fat diet or a medium‐fat diet. Static incubation of isolated islets did not show any differences in basal (3.3 mM glucose) or glucose‐stimulated (8.6 and 16.7 mM glucose) insulin secretion between mice fed a low or high glycaemic diet.

Conclusion:Together, our data suggest that the impaired glucose tolerance seen after a high glycaemic diet is not explained by alteredβ‐cell function.
The Gender Gap in Funeral Directors: Burying Women with Ready‐to‐Embalm Laws?
Authors: Cathles Alison , Harrington David E. , Krynski Kathy
Published: July 2010

Over the last few decades, the gender composition of funeral directors in the United States has changed dramatically as women have entered this traditionally male‐dominated occupation. To practise as funeral directors, women (and men) must be licensed in all but one state. The most extensive training requirements exist in the 27 states with ‘ready‐to‐embalm’ laws, which require funeral directors to be embalmers. Using a sample of 45,989 licensing records from 40 states, we find that 18.1 per cent of funeral directors were women in 2006. However, the proportion is significantly lower in states with ready‐to‐embalm laws. Our regressions imply that these laws reduce the proportion of female funeral directors by 24 per cent. More generally, we find that the number of funeral directors per capita is 17 per cent lower, on average, in states with ready‐to‐embalm laws.
Licensing Exam Difficulty and Entry Salaries in the US Market for Lawyers
Authors: Pagliero Mario
Published: July 2010

This article provides evidence of a correlation between licensing exam difficulty and salaries in a regulated profession. Exam difficulty is positively correlated with salaries across states and over time, both at the aggregate and individual state levels. The magnitude of this correlation is substantial: a 1 per cent increase in exam difficulty implies a 1.7 per cent increase in median entry‐level salaries. Exam difficulty does not significantly affect the inter‐quartile difference in salaries.
Offshoring Professional Services: Institutions and Professional Control
Authors: Yu Kyoung‐Hee , Levy Frank
Published: July 2010

We examine the reasons why one might expect it to be more difficult to offshore professional work than manufacturing work in a globalized world. We then provide data on the variations in a specific case — the offshoring of diagnostic radiology from the USA, UK and Singapore. We show that existing theories on the ‘offshorability’ of jobs have not captured how national institutions and occupational regulations continue to define professional work. We then review the question of supply from India's perspective and report that both macro‐institutional and organizational contexts make it complicated for Indian doctors to supply much of this service.
ON MULTI‐CLASS COST‐SENSITIVE LEARNING
Authors: Zhou Zhi‐Hua , Liu Xu‐Ying
Published: July 2010

Rescaling is possibly the most popular approach to cost‐sensitive learning. This approach works by rebalancing the classes according to their costs, and it can be realized in different ways, for example, re‐weighting or resampling the training examples in proportion to their costs, moving the decision boundaries of classifiers faraway from high‐cost classes in proportion to costs, etc. This approach is very effective in dealing with two‐class problems, yet some studies showed that it is often not so helpful on multi‐class problems. In this article, we try to explore why the rescaling approach is often helpless on multi‐class problems. Our analysis discloses that the rescaling approach works well when the costs are consistent, while directly applying it to multi‐class problems with inconsistent costs may not be a good choice. Based on this recognition, we advocate that before applying the rescaling approach, the consistency of the costs must be examined at first. If the costs are consistent, the rescaling approach can be conducted directly; otherwise it is better to apply rescaling after decomposing the multi‐class problem into a series of two‐class problems. An empirical study involving 20 multi‐class data sets and seven types of cost‐sensitive learners validates our proposal. Moreover, we show that the proposal is also helpful for class‐imbalance learning.
MINING USER GOALS FOR INDOOR LOCATION‐BASED SERVICES WITH LOW ENERGY AND HIGH QoS
Authors: Chen Yiqiang , Qi Juan , Sun Zhuo , Ning Qiong
Published: July 2010

Location‐based services (LBSs) play a very important role in pervasive computing environment, and QoS (quality of service) is one of the key evaluations for LBS. To maintain high QoS, the traditional approaches rely on accurate and continuous localization. However, the energy consumption of the mobile device under this situation is often too high for practical applications. Thus, it seems that the energy consumption and QoS become two conflicting factors in LBS systems. In this article, a new adaptive goal‐aware computing framework (Adaware) is proposed to solve this contradiction. We show that the QoS of LBS can be evaluated by recognizing user goals. We design new algorithms to mine user goals from discontinuous location data to reduce the energy consumption while keeping a high QoS at the same time. More specifically, Adaware employs an accelerometer to implement motion‐based localization, which greatly reduces the unnecessary energy consumption on Wi‐Fi scanning compared to the original continuous localization methods. Then based on the estimated discontiguous critical point traces which have been postprocessed by our proposed Localization Confident Coefficient filter method, a novel N‐gram goal inference algorithm is used to predict the accurate goal. The experimental results in real‐world wireless network environments validate the effectiveness of our framework. We can get 80% QoS under 70% location estimation accuracy within 10 meters and 30% energy saving compared to continuous Wi‐Fi scanning.
UNION WAGE DIFFERENTIALS IN AN ERA OF DECLINING UNIONIZATION†
Authors: Stewart Mark B.
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the change in union wage differentials in Britain between 1984 and 1990, a period of considerable legislative change and marked decline in unionization. Small falls in union differentials are found for manual workers, together with a sharp decline in the premium associated with, and incidence of, the pre‐entry closed shop. The decline in the average differentials is found to be largely due to the inability of unions to establish differentials in new establishments. No link is found between the differential and the probability of closure and no evidence of decline in raw differentials in a matched panel.
TRADE UNIONS AND THE DISPERSION OF EARNINGS IN BRITISH ESTABLISHMENTS, 1980–90†
Authors: Gosling Amanda , Machin Stephen
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

The relationship between unions and earnings dispersion is examined using establishment‐level data from the 1980, 1984 and 1990 Workplace Industrial Relations Surveys. Initially the cross‐sectional relationship is examined using the 1990 data. The earnings dispersion of skilled and semiskilled workers is seen to be lower across unionized establishments than across non‐union establishments; secondly, within‐establishment earnings dispersion is lower in plants which recognize trade unions for collective bargaining purposes than in those that do not. All three surveys are then utilized to ascertain to what extent the decline in unionization in Britain has contributed to the rise in earnings inequality of semi‐skilled workers. There was a sizeable and important widening of the gap in the dispersion of earnings across union and non‐union plants between 1980 and 1990. For semi‐skilled earnings, the decline in the share of plants with recognized unions can account for 11‐17 percent of the rise in earnings inequality over this time period. The importance of falling union activity (as measured by union recognition) seemed to accelerate through the 1980s. Between 1980 and 1984 the relatively small falls in aggregate recognition explain less than 10 percent of the inequality increase, whereas between 1984 and 1990 about one‐quarter of the increase can be accounted for by the fall in unionization. The majority of the rise in earnings inequality is, however, due to a large increase in earnings dispersion across non‐union establishments.
GALTONIAN REGRESSION ACROSS COUNTRIES AND THE CONVERGENCE OF PRODUCTIVITY†
Authors: Hart Peter E.
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTS

A Galton model, in logarithmic form is used to explain the convergence of countries' productivities over time, including β and σ convergence. The ‘regression fallacy’ does not arise. When comparing growths and levels of productivity, countries should be classified by their initial levels of productivity, preferably after logarithmic transformation. Errors in the data may justify using an error‐in‐variables model, or the geometric mean of the original and reverse regressions, but this is not certain.
MALE OCCUPATIONAL MOBILITY IN BRITAIN*
Authors: Harper Barry
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTS

This paper examines the role of pay, human capital and mismatch in the decision to quit an occupation. Particular emphasis is given to human capital accumulation where occupations provide a fixed amount of training opportunities. An occupational quits equation is estimated using micro data from the National Training Survey, 1974. Education, training, pay and lifecycle effects are found to have a significant impact on the quit decision. The determinants of intra‐firm promotion and inter‐firm occupational mobility are also examined.
PRACTITIONERS CORNER: Lag Order and Critical Values of a Modified Dickey‐Fuller Test
Authors: Cheung Yin‐Wong , Lai Kon S.
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTS

This study examines some finite‐sample properties of a new modified Dickey‐Fuller test, called the DF‐GLS test, which has been shown to be more powerful than standard unit‐root tests. The study shows the lag order can significantly affect the critical values of the test. This points to the importance of correcting for the lag order effect in implementing the DF‐GLS test. Approximate lag‐adjusted finite‐sample critical values for the DF‐GLS test are provided, which can be straightforwardly computed from response surface equations.
EVALUATING THE IMPACTS OF HUMAN CAPITAL STOCKS AND ACCUMULATION ON ECONOMIC GROWTH: SOME NEW EVIDENCE†
Authors: Gemmell Norman
Published: July 2010

Various hypotheses have been put forward in recent years concerning the contribution of human capital to economic growth. This paper argues that school enrolment rates — by far the most commonly used human capital measure in growth regressions attempting to test these hypotheses — conflate human capital stock and accumulation effects and lead to misinterpretations of the role of labour force growth. An alternative educationrelated human capital measure is constructed which is capable of distinguishing between stocks and flows. Applying this measure to samples of developed and less developed countries during the 1960–85 period suggests not only that there are important growth effects associated both with ‘initial’ stocks of, and subsequent growth in, human capital, but also that this new measure out‐performs the simple school enrolment rates used in previous analyses.
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND THE RURAL‐URBAN DIVIDE IN CHINA
Authors: Knight John , Shi Li
Published: July 2010

A national household income survey and census data are used to examine the determinants of educational attainment in China. Rural and urban areas are analysed separately, and contrasted, owing to the sharp economic and institutional divide between them. The roles of income, age, gender, ethnicity, region and family background are explored. An attempt is made to distinguish between demand‐ and supply‐constraints. The opportunity and other costs of rural schooling, and the reasons for leaving school, are examined. Income levels and incentives are important in explaining rural dropping out, and parental education is a powerful influence on enrolment and achievement. The considerable inequality of educational opportunity in China requires corrective policies.
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL FORCES IN SECTORAL WAGE FORMATION: EVIDENCE FROM THE NETHERLANDS
Authors: Graafland Johan J. , Lever Marcel H. C.
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relative importance of internal (sector‐specific) and external (labour market) forces in sectoral wage formation in the Netherlands (1967–90). The results show that wages are largely determined by external forces, although internal forces are significant as well. The impact of the number of insiders, which plays a role in unemployment persistance, is not significant. Separate estimation results show that the impact of internal forces and of unemployment is weaker in the industrial sectors than in the service sectors. This casts doubt on the presumption that insider power increases the impact of internal forces on wage formation.
EARNINGS, INDEPENDENCE OR UNEMPLOYMENT: WHY BECOME SELF‐EMPLOYED?
Authors: Taylor Mark P.
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

This paper attempts to estimate the role played by three key variables (namely expected earnings, the desire for independence and the ability to find paid employment) on the paid employee/self‐employment decision using a simple three stage utility maximization model. The empirical results suggest that individuals are attracted to self‐employment because of higher expected earnings relative to paid employment and by the freedom from managerial constraints that it offers. Evidence is also produced supporting the prosperity pull argument for self‐employment. Marital status, parents employment status, housing equity and occupational status clearly emerge as significant determinants of labour market choice.
ARE THE OUTPUT EFFECTS OF MONETARY POLICY ASYMMETRIC? EVIDENCE FROM A SAMPLE OF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
Authors: Karras Georgios
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

This paper examines whether the effects of monetary policy on output in Europe are asymmetric. Data from the 1953–90 period are used to identify money‐supply shocks and their effects on output for a panel of 18 European countries. Many different specifications and estimation methods strongly support asymmetry: negative money‐supply shocks are shown to have a statistically significant effect on output, whereas the effect of positive shocks is statistically insignificant. A similar asymmetry governs the output effects of interest rate changes. The sources of these asymmetries are traced to similar behavior for consumption and investment. These findings imply that positive money‐supply shocks may be an ineffective anti‐recession policy, and more generally, that the monetary component of the optimal stabilization policy should be less activist than generally thought.
ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO MODELLING ZERO EXPENDITURE: AN APPLICATION TO SPANISH DEMAND FOR TOBACCO*
Authors: García Jaume , Labeaga José M.
Published: July 2010

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to emphasise the importance of double‐hurdle models in the estimation of tobacco demand equations. Using data from the Spanish Family Expenditure Survey (EPF), Tobit, P‐Tobit and first hurdle dominance models are shown to be restrictive. This dataset also confirms the existence of separate individual decisions on participation and consumption. We propose to estimate a dependent version of a double‐hurdle model, although independence is not restrictive once additional powers of total expenditure are included in the specification of the second hurdle. Several misspecification tests are also conducted among the different models.
VAR, ERROR CORRECTION AND PRETEST FORECASTS AT LONG HORIZONS
Authors: Stock James H.
Published: July 2010

This paper focuses on the construction of forecasts over long horizons where a typical long‐horizon forecast might span four years using 20 to 40 years’ data. It is argued that the presence of persistence in the form of unit or near‐unit autoregressive roots poses substantial difficulties for long‐horizon interval and point forecasting. These difficulties may not be overcome even by efficient pre‐testing or model‐selection procedures and might, in general, lead to point forecasts with large asymptotic root mean squared errors and undesirably wide prediction intervals.
TESTING PARAMETER CONSTANCY AND SUPER EXOGENEITY IN ECONOMETRIC EQUATIONS
Authors: Jansen Eilev S. , Teräsvirta Timo
Published: July 2010

The paper is concerned with testing super exogeneity in a single equation that can either be linear or partially nonlinear. A joint test for testing both weak exogeneity and a form of invariance, which together amount to a form of super exogeneity, is presented and its properties discussed. The considerations also include testing parameter constancy and modelling parameter nonconstancy by an example in which testing super exogeneity in a consumption function for Norway, based on a previously published model is considered. The results are compared with the previous conclusions and found not to disagree with them.
How Stable is the Forecasting Performance of the Yield Curve for Output Growth?*
Authors: Giacomini Raffaella , Rossi Barbara
Published: July 2010

We provide an extensive evaluation of the predictive performance of the US yield curve for US gross domestic product growth by using new tests for forecast breakdown, in addition to a variety of in‐sample and out‐of‐sample evaluation procedures. Empirical research over the past decades has uncovered a strong predictive relationship between the yield curve and output growth, whose stability has recently been questioned. We document the existence of a forecast breakdown during the Burns–Miller and Volker monetary policy regimes, whereas during the early part of the Greenspan era the yield curve emerged as a more reliable model to predict future economic activity.
A study on the association with hepatitis B and hepatitis C in 1557 patients with lichen planus
Authors: Birkenfeld S , Dreiher J , Weitzman D , Cohen AD
Published: July 2010

Background  Previous reports have demonstrated contradicting results on the association between lichen planus and hepatitis.

Objectives  The aim of this study was to investigate the association between lichen planus and viral hepatitis.

Methods  Patients with lichen planus were compared with controls regarding the prevalence of viral hepatitis in a case‐control study using logistic multivariate regression models. The study was performed utilizing the medical database of Clalit Health Services.

Results  The study included 1557 lichen planus patients over the age of 20 years and 3115 age‐ and gender‐matched controls. The prevalence of hepatitis C in patients with lichen planus was higher than that in the control group (1.9%, 0.4% respectively, P < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis, lichen planus was associated with hepatitis C (OR 4.19, 95% CI 2.21; 7.93). The prevalence of hepatitis B in patients with lichen planus was similar to that in the control group (0.9%, 0.5% respectively, P = 0.12). A multivariate analysis revealed that lichen planus was not associated with hepatitis B (OR 1.69, 95% CI 0.82; 3.47).

Conclusion  Lichen planus is associated with hepatitis C but not with hepatitis B. Physicians who care for patients with lichen planus should consider screening patients with lichen planus for hepatitis C.
The clinical features of late onset acne compared with early onset acne in women
Authors: Choi CW , Lee DH , Kim HS , Kim BY , Park KC , Youn SW
Published: July 2010

Background  Little is known about the clinical characteristics of acne based on the age of onset.

Objectives  The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients according to the age of onset of acne and evaluate whether the findings were related to regional differences in the density of Propionibacterium acnes or the levels of sebum secretion.

Methods  A total of 89 women were recruited. The acne lesions were assessed by counting the lesions using standard digital photographs. Digital fluorescent photography for the evaluation of the density of P. acnes were taken and quantitative measurements of facial sebum secretion were performed.

Results  In women with acne, the age of onset was negatively correlated with the number of comedones and the proportion of comedones. By comparing the number of comedones and the proportion of comedones, onset of acne after 21 years of age was defined as late onset acne. In the patients with late onset acne, the number of comedones, the total number of acne lesions and the proportions of comedones were significantly less than in the patients with early onset acne. However, there were no significant differences in the fluorescence density of P. acnes or the level of sebum secretion between the two groups.

Conclusions  The results of this study, using objective evaluation tools, suggest that late onset acne has different clinical characteristics. Other possible factors might explain the clinical differences in late onset acne.
Impact of bowel obstruction at the time of initial presentation in women with ovarian cancer
Authors: Rauh‐Hain JA , del Carmen M , Horowitz NS , Alarcon IA , Ko E , Goodman AK , Olawaiye AB
Published: July 2010

Objective  To determine whether the presence of bowel obstruction at the time of initial presentation has any prognostic significance in these women.

Design  Retrospective cohort study.

Setting  Dedicated gynaecological oncology service of a large tertiary institution.

Population  Women who had a bowel obstruction as part of their initial presentation of ovarian cancer were identified between 1995 and 2007. Each woman was matched with four control women (with disease but no obstruction).

Methods  Women with disease were compared with controls to determine the impact, if any, of bowel obstruction at presentation. Several prognostic variables including bowel obstruction were also evaluated in a Cox proportional hazard model.

Main outcome measures  Progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Results  Forty‐eight women with disease and 192 controls were identified during the study period. The median follow‐up period was 19 months among women with disease versus 20 months in controls. No differences were seen in demographics and clinical characteristics of the women. Optimal cytoreduction rate was similar between the two groups (75% versus 78%, P = 0.7). Patients with bowel obstruction had a shorter PFS and OS compared with controls [19 months versus 21 months (P = 0.01) and 22 versus 35 months (P = 0.008)], respectively. Bowel obstruction at presentation was an independent prognostic variable with a hazard ratio of 1.5 (P = 0.009). Other prognostic variables were age, stage and extent of surgical cytoreduction.

Conclusions  Bowel obstruction at the time of initial presentation is an adverse prognostic factor in women with ovarian cancer.
Effect of Information Availability on Assessment and Designation of Species at Risk
Authors: LUKEY JAMES R. , CRAWFORD STEPHEN S. , GILLIS DANIEL
Published: July 2010

Abstract:  Information required to evaluate the extent to which species are at risk of extinction is usually limited and characterized as highly uncertain. In this context, we define information availability as the presence or absence of information used to determine the value of an ecological variable. We examined which of three hypothetical approaches best matched how levels of risk are assigned to species: (1) precautionary approach in which analysts designate levels of risk regardless of the amount of information available, (2) worst‐case approach in which analysts assign the maximum level of risk possible from the criteria, and (3) insurance approach in which analysts assign poorly known species to a high‐risk category when little information is available. We used the quantitative assessment criteria of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as a case study. We created a binary (0/1) matrix of all 2.4192 × 107 logical combinations of available information for the 14 ecological variables included in the quantitative criteria. We processed each combination of information availability represented in the matrix with a computer algorithm designed to emulate COSEWIC decision‐making rules. Low information availability was associated with a relatively high frequency of not being able to assign a candidate taxon to a risk category, which does not follow the precautionary principle. Information availability and the level of risk assigned to species were directly related, which is associated with the worst‐case approach, and counter to the insurance approach. Our results suggest that information availability can have a major effect on the level of risk assigned to a species. We recommend a conscious determination of whether such effects are desired, and we recommend the development of methods to explicitly characterize and incorporate information availability and other sources of uncertainty in decision‐making processes.
Relationship of donor HLA antibody strength to the development of transfusion‐related acute lung injury
Authors: Hashimoto Shiho , Nakajima Fumiaki , Kamada Hiromi , Kawamura Kumiko , Satake Masahiro , Tadokoro Kenji , Okazaki Hitoshi
Published: July 2010

BACKGROUND: Antibodies against the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) in donors' blood are implicated in the development of transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI). Screening of female donors for HLA antibodies has been introduced to prevent TRALI; however, the relationship of HLA antibody strength in the transfused components to the development of TRALI has not been evaluated in detail.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Donors involved in 1038 cases of nonhemolytic transfusion reactions (NHTRs) including 283 cases of TRALI were screened for HLA antibodies by the fluorescence beads method. HLA antibody specificity and strength were analyzed in detail. The usefulness of enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for screening HLA antibodies was also evaluated.

RESULT: Among 21 cases of TRALI, four cases of possible TRALI, and five cases of other NHTRs, the sum of mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of donors' HLA antibodies to patients' cognate antigen(s) was determined in 18, four, and three cases, respectively. The sum of MFI in TRALI cases was significantly higher than that in other NHTR cases (p < 0.05). When HLA antibody–positive samples were reevaluated by ELISA, the ELISA optical density ratio was significantly higher in donors' samples associated with TRALI than in those associated with other NHTRs (p < 0.01)

CONCLUSIONS: A correlation between the HLA antibody strength and development of TRALI was indicated. The antibody strength measured by ELISA could be used as the basis for the screening of HLA antibodies in place of the fluorescence beads method. This study provided clues to the establishment of a cutoff value for HLA antibody screening in an evidence‐based manner for the prevention of TRALI.
Characterization of Jk(a+weak): a new blood group phenotype associated with an altered JK*01 allele
Authors: Wester Elisabet S. , Storry Jill R. , Olsson Martin L.
Published: July 2010

BACKGROUND: The clinically important Kidd (JK) blood group system is considered to be relatively uncomplicated, both serologically and genetically. The JK*01 and JK*02 alleles give rise to Jka and Jkb antigens, respectively, and silenced alleles result in Jk(a−b−). Other inherited variants analogous to Fyx and weak D phenotypes have not been characterized for JK, although recent abstracts indicate their presence.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Six index samples from individuals whose RBCs reacted variably or weakly with different sources of anti‐Jka and 300 controls of the four known JK phenotypes were investigated by standard serology, flow cytometry, Western blotting, and the urea hemolysis test. Molecular analysis, including allele‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, and transcript analysis by real‐time PCR, was performed.

RESULTS: All Jk(a+wb−) and Jk(a+wb+) index samples were homo‐ or heterozygous for an altered JK*01 allele carrying 130G>A (Glu44Lys) and the JK*02‐associated silent SNPs 588G and Intron 9 –46g. Blood donor screening indicated an allele frequency of 0.042. Titration and flow cytometry with anti‐Jka gave lower values in index samples compared to controls, as did anti‐Jk3 titers. Donors with 130A also showed significantly decreased Jka density by flow cytometry versus 130G. Western blotting with anti‐UT‐B demonstrated weaker reactivity with Jk(a+w) membranes while JK mRNA levels could not discriminate index samples from controls. The urea hemolysis test was only moderately affected in two Jk(a+wb−) samples.

CONCLUSIONS: A new phenotype with weakened Jka expression on RBCs is associated with a JK*01‐like allele, which may constitute a risk for hemolytic transfusion reactions if antigen‐positive units are missed by routine serology.
Risk for perioperative myocardial infarction and mortality in patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty: the role of anemia
Authors: Mantilla Carlos B. , Wass C. Thomas , Goodrich Karissa A. , Johanns Cassie J. , Kool Michelle L. , Zhu Xun , Corredor Jose A. , Warner David O. , Joyner Michael J. , Berry Daniel J. , Schroeder Darrell R. , Sprung Juraj
Published: July 2010

BACKGROUND: Anemia is common in patients undergoing surgery. This study was designed to determine whether preoperative anemia represents an independent risk factor for 30‐day mortality and nonfatal myocardial infarction (death/MI) in patients undergoing major orthopedic arthroplasty surgery.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Between January 1987 and December 2006 at the Mayo Clinic, 391 orthopedic patients experienced death/MI within 30 days of the index surgery. For each patient included in the event cohort (case), one control patient (1:1 ratio) was identified matched according to sex, age, type of joint operation (hip vs. knee vs. bilateral knee), primary operation versus revision, emergent versus elective, and date of surgery. Association of preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) with death/MI was assessed by multiple linear regression including preoperative Hb and all other characteristics and comorbid conditions found to have some evidence (p < 0.10) of univariate association with death/MI.

RESULTS: After adjusting for other perioperative risk factors, anemia (Hb < 12.0 g/dL for females and <13.0 g/dL for males) was not a significant independent risk factor for death/MI (odds ratio [OR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54‐1.20; p = 0.286), nor was Hb when treated as a continuous variable (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.81‐1.19 per 1.0 g/dL decrease below 13.0 g/dL; p = 0.868). Cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or pulmonary disease and history of recent malignancy were found to be the most important risk factors for death/MI.

CONCLUSION: Existing comorbidities, rather than preoperative anemia, were independently associated with major morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing major orthopedic arthroplasty.
Anaphylactic shock to fresh‐frozen plasma inactivated with methylene blue
Authors: Nubret Karine , Delhoume Martine , Orsel Isabelle , Laudy Jean Sainte , Sellami Mohamed , Nathan Nathalie
Published: July 2010

BACKGROUND: Methylene blue allergy is a well‐known entity associated with food or lymph node location. Inactivation of viruses by methylene blue in fresh‐frozen plasma (FFP‐MB) has been recently introduced in France after many years of use in other parts of Europe.

CASE REPORT: We describe here two anaphylactic shock reactions occurring during FFP‐MB infusion in patients after cardiac surgery. The follow‐up was favorable using epinephrine infusion in one patient and extracorporeal circulatory assistance in the other.

RESULTS: The allergy was suspected based on the following arguments: chronology of the event, absence of other allergen infused to patients, and an associated symptom (generalized rash). Methylene blue allergy was documented by prick tests and/or intradermal reactions with methylene blue and patent blue. Additional allergic tests with basophil activation tests confirm the role of the dye in the anaphylactic reaction.

CONCLUSION: These two cases questioned the safety of FFP‐MB.