bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of vision impairment on functioning
Authors: Keeffe JE , Lam D , Cheung A , Dinh T , McCarty CA
Published: November 2007

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of vision loss on the activities of adults.

Methods: Focus groups were conducted that were either disease specific, such as for people with age‐related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma or those with congenital vision impairment, or according to previous involvement in rehabilitation services. Discussions were recorded and transcribed. Because many people were retired, leisure activities and personal independence were paramount.

Results/Conclusions: Younger people were concerned with gaining or continuing in employment or with educational opportunities. The age at onset of vision loss and the cause and duration of vision loss influence its impact. There appears to be a greater level of handicap in people with comorbid eye disease and related disease, such as diabetes.
A personal computer‐based method of stereo chronometry for measuring neuroretinal rim width: A pilot study
Authors: Barry Chris J , PhD Kanagasingam Yogesan , Jitskaia Ludmila , Morgan William H , House Phillip H , Eikelboom Robert H
Published: November 2007

Purpose: Quantifying neuroretinal rim width from optic disc photographs to study glaucomatous progression requires precise, reproducible measurements. We explored the use of a personal computer with three‐dimensional capabilities to enhance measurement accuracy and repeatability.

Methods: A simultaneous stereo retinal camera was used to serially photograph the optic discs of ten glaucomatous eyes with a mean interval of 18 months. The neuroretinal rims were qualitatively assessed as either stable (five) or narrowing (five). The images were measured using software written for an IBM compatible personal computer. The measurements were compared from the earliest to the most recent image and the five narrowed rims were correctly identified.

Results: This simple, low‐cost method allowed both three‐dimensional viewing and measurement of the optic disc rim from simultaneous stereo images.

Conclusions: This method is, potentially, more sensitive in identifying glaucomatous rim changes than conventional, subjective image comparison techniques.
Does Acanthamoeba protect Pseudomonas aeruginosa from the bactericidal effects of contact lens disinfecting systems?
Authors: Willcox MDP , Low R , Hon J , Harmis N
Published: November 2007

Purpose: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that Pseudomonas aeruginosa that have been internalized in Acanthamoeba are protected against the action of contact lens disinfecting solutions.

Methods: The experiments were divided into two parts. First, five commercially available disinfecting solutions, hydrogen peroxide and non‐peroxide based, were tested for their efficacy against four strains of P. aeruginosa and one strain of A. castellanii. Cells were inoculated into working concentrations of disinfecting solutions, incubated for 18h and the numbers of viable bacteria or amoeba were analysed after appropriate growth on agar plates. Second, two strains of P. aeruginosa were allowed to interact with A. castellanii for 4 h prior to addition to disinfecting solutions. The numbers of P. aeruginosa after incubation with the disinfecting solutions were measured after growth on agar plates.

Results: In general, disinfecting solutions containing hydrogen peroxide were most effective against the micro‐organisms. Solutions containing only traces of polyaminopropyl biguanide were least effective.

Conclusions: For strains of P. aeruginosa, the presence of the amoebae did not protect the bacteria against the disinfecting agents. The amoeba appeared to kill the bacteria, perhaps using them as a food source.
Quantification of retinal oxygen consumption changes from preretinal oxygen transients
Authors: Cringle SJ , Yu D‐Y , Alder VA , Su E‐N , Yu PK
Published: November 2007

Background: In the avascular retina of the guinea‐pig all the oxygen supply is from the choroid. Under these circumstances we had proposed, on theoretical grounds, that a change in retinal oxygen consumption would modulate the preretinal oxygen level.

Methods: In the present study in guinea‐pigs, the oxygen consumption of the outer retina was modulated by light‐dark exposure while preretinal oxygen tension was monitored.

Results: The results were in complete agreement with the proposed mathematical models.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that it is feasible to quantify oxygen consumption changes in a known retinal layer from measurements of preretinal oxygen tension.
Adeno‐associated virus‐mediated gene transfer into human retinal pigment epithelium cells
Authors: Lai YKY , Rakoczy P , Constable I , Rolling F
Published: November 2007

Purpose: Adeno‐associated virus (AAV) is emerging as a promising vector for gene therapy.

Method: To determine the ability of recombinant AAV (rAAV) to express and integrate exogenous DNA into human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, a rAAV‐GFP vector containing the green fluorescent protein (gfp) and neomycin resistance (neor) genes was constructed and used to transduce RPE 407A cell line.

Results: Fluorescent RPE cell clones were obtained and were confirmed to still be expressing GFP after 24 passages (3.5 months).

Conclusion: Adeno‐associated virus‐based vectors are able to efficiently transduce and stably persist in RPE cells.
Electroretinograms of albino and pigmented guinea‐pigs (Cavia porcellus)
Authors: Bui Bang V , Sinclair Andrew J , Vingrys Algis J
Published: November 2007

Purpose/Methods: The present study compares the electroretinogram responses of albino and pigmented guinea‐pigs (Cavia porcellus) with data published for the rat and mouse.

Results: We found that albino guinea‐pigs gave significantly larger amplitudes and faster implicit times for a‐wave and peak‐to‐peak responses than did pigmented animals. In contrast, pigmented and albino rats and mice do not show such differences between strains.

Conclusion: We suggest that the guinea‐pig may be a better model of the retinal response in human albinism as their response characteristics are consistent with those published for humans.
External argon laser choroidotomy for subretinal fluid drainage
Authors: Challa Jagannadh K , Hunyor Alexander BL , Playfair T Justin , Gregory‐Roberts John , Lee Lawrence R
Published: November 2007

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of external argon laser choroidotomy for drainage of subretinal fluid (SRF) during scleral buckling procedures for the repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments.

Methods: Fifty eyes of 50 consecutive patients presenting to a hospital‐based retinal outpatient clinic with rhegmatogenous detachments underwent choroidotomy with argon endolaser for SRF drainage. The laser parameters used were 0.5 s duration and 0.8 W power. The primary outcome measures were successful drainage of SRF and incidence of complications. The drainage was considered successful if it was sufficient to complete the planned scleral buckling procedure. The extent of subretinal haemorrhage was graded.

Results: The mean age of patients was 55 years (range 16–80 years). Successful drainage of SRF was obtained in 47 eyes (94%). The complications observed at the drainage site included subretinal haemorrhage of less than I disc diameter in six eyes (12%) and retinal perforation in one eye (2%).

Conclusion: External argon laser choroidotomy appears to be an effective method of draining SRF in rhegmatogenous retinal detachments.
Visual outcome and progression of retinopathy after cataract surgery in diabetic patients
Authors: Chiu DW , Meusemann RA , Kaufman DV , Hall AJ , Daniell MD
Published: November 2007

Purpose: Diabetes mellitus is a major cause of visual impairment in developed countries through retinopathy and is frequently complicated by cataract formation. The present study examines the visual outcome of cataract surgery in diabetic patients.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed over a 26 month period in a general hospital eye clinic. Eighty‐five consecutive diabetic patients who underwent cataract surgery were categorized according to their type of diabetes, duration and treatment, operative technique, pre‐operative visual acuity (VA) and degree of retinopathy. Visual acuity and retinopathy status were recorded at a minimum of 4 months postoperatively. Factors affecting visual outcome and progression of retinopathy were then examined.

Results: Of the 107 eyes of the 85 consecutive cases, 55 were without retinopathy (NR), 21 had background retinopathy (BDR), six had background retinopathy with macular oedema (BDR/MO), four had proliferative retinopathy and 12 cases had inadequate fundal view. In the NR and BDR groups, 90 and 81% of patients, respectively, had improved VA compared with 33% of patients with BDR/MO. Retinopathy progressed in 50% of BDR/MO patients compared with progression in 9 and 19% of NR and BDR patients, respectively.

Conclusion: The present study illustrates the poor visual outcome in patients with severe, untreated retinopathy, particularly maculopathy, following cataract surgery. Larger prospective studies are needed to better define risk groups and pre‐operative treatment strategies.
Orbital osteoma in Gardner's syndrome
Authors: McNab Alan A.
Published: November 2007

Purpose: To report the association of an orbital osteoma with Gardner's syndrome (familial polyposis coli leading to carcinoma, multiple osteomas and skin and soft tissue tumours).

Method: A review of patient records.

Results: A 29‐year‐old male with known Gardner's syndrome presented with long‐standing right proptosis due to an osteoma of the medial wall and roof of the orbit. He had previously had prophylactic colectomy and one other osteoma of the skull excised.

Conclusion: Although orbital osteoma in the setting of Gardner's syndrome is rare, it should be recognized as an association because of the importance of the intestinal polyposis, which leads to carcinoma if untreated.
Pyogenic granuloma of the cornea
Authors: Papadopoulos Maria , Snibson Grant R. , McKelvie Penelope A.
Published: November 2007

Background: Ocular pyogenic granulomata are uncommon and are often associated with a chalazion or previous ocular and adnexal surgery. The avascular nature of the cornea may explain the rarity of pyogenic granulomata at this site. We report on a case of corneal pyogenic granuloma following previous corneal surgery.

Methods: Ophthalmologists who had treated the patient previously were contacted and earlier clinical notes and histopathological examinations were reviewed. The clinical course following excision of the pyogenic granuloma is described, as are the histopathological findings.

Results: Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of pyogenic granuloma. Excision was followed by a clinical recurrence at a different site with spontaneous resolution.

Conclusions: Pyogenic granulomata of the cornea are rare. However, the present case illustrates the importance of considering benign inflammatory causes in the differential diagnosis of a corneal mass lesion so as to avoid unnecessarily aggressive intervention. To our knowledge, spontaneous resolution of a corneal pyogenic granuloma has not been previously described.
Benefits of parental care: Do juvenile lizards obtain better‐quality habitat by remaining with their parents?
Authors: LANGKILDE TRACY , O'CONNOR DAVID , SHINE RICHARD
Published: November 2007

Abstract  Evolutionary theory suggests that parental care is favoured by natural selection when the benefits to offspring fitness outweigh the costs of parental expenditure. The nature of such benefits may differ among species, however, especially in species reflecting independent evolutionary origins of parental care. Black rock skinks (Egernia saxatilis, Scincidae) of south‐eastern Australia are viviparous rock‐dwelling lizards with prolonged parent–offspring association; adult pairs vigorously defend their home range – and, when present, their offspring – against conspecifics. We addressed the hypothesis that, by remaining within their parents' (vigorously defended) home range, juveniles thereby obtain access to better‐quality habitats. Measurements of biologically significant variables (crevice size, sun exposure, vegetation cover) revealed little difference between shelter‐rocks used by solitary (‘orphan’) juveniles and those within family groups containing adults. Indeed, the only consistent differences involved larger (and therefore, less predator‐proof) crevices for juveniles within family groups than for solitary conspecifics. Our data thus falsify the hypothesis that parental care evolves because of benefits associated with habitat quality; instead, it appears that parental protection of juveniles against infanticidal conspecifics may be the most plausible benefit to parent–offspring association in this system.
Photosynthetic performance, DNA damage and repair in gametes of the endemic Antarctic brown alga Ascoseira mirabilis exposed to ultraviolet radiation
Authors: ROLEDA MICHAEL Y. , ZACHER KATHARINA , WULFF ANGELA , HANELT DIETER , WIENCKE CHRISTIAN
Published: November 2007

Abstract  Stress physiology on the reproductive cells of Antarctic macroalgae remained unstudied. Ascoseira mirabilis is endemic to the Antarctic region, an isolated ecosystem exposed to extreme environmental conditions. Moreover, stratospheric ozone depletion leads to increasing ultraviolet radiation (280–400 nm) at the earth's surface, thus it is necessary to investigate the capacity of reproductive cells to cope with different UV irradiances. This study is aimed to investigate the impact of exposure to different spectral irradiance on the photosynthetic performance, DNA damage and gamete morphology of the A. mirabilis. Gametangia, gametes and zygotes of the upper sublittoral brown alga A. mirabilis were exposed to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR = P; 400–700 nm), P + UV‐A radiation (UV‐A, 320–400 nm) and P + UV‐A + UV‐B radiation (UV‐B, 280–320 nm). Rapid photosynthesis versus irradiance curves of freshly released propagules were measured. Photosynthetic efficiencies and DNA damage (in terms of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers) were determined after 1, 2, 4 and 8 h exposure as well as after 2 days of recovery in dim white light. Saturation irradiance (Ik) in freshly released propagules was 52 μmol photons m−2 s−1. Exposure for 1 h under 22 μmol photons m−2 s−1 of PAR significantly reduced the optimum quantum yield (Fv/Fm), suggesting that propagules are low light adapted. Furthermore, UVR significantly contributed to the photoinhibition of photosynthesis. Increasing dose as a function of exposure time additionally exacerbated the effects of different light treatments. The amount of DNA damage increased with the UV‐B dose but an efficient repair mechanism was observed in gametes pre‐exposed to a dose lower than 5.8 × 103 J m−2 of UV‐B. The results of this study demonstrate the negative impact of UV‐B radiation. However, gametes of A. mirabilis are capable of photosynthetic recovery and DNA repair when the stress factor is removed. This capacity was observed to be dependent on the fitness of the parental sporophyte.
Developmental emergence of transient and persistent hippocampal events and oscillations and their association with infant seizure susceptibility
Authors: Mohns Ethan J. , Karlsson Karl Æ. , Blumberg Mark S.
Published: October 2007

During the second postnatal week in rats, the hippocampus exhibits a transient period of hyperexcitability. To systematically assess the relationship between the onset and end of this period and spontaneous hippocampal activity, we used silicon depth electrodes in unanaesthetized head‐fixed rats from postnatal day (P)2 to P18. At all ages, hippocampal sharp waves (SPWs) were prominent in the EEG. Beginning at P6, however, marked changes in SPWs and associated oscillations were detected. SPW‐related ‘gamma tails’ (60–100 Hz) and ‘ripples’ (140–200 Hz) were first observed at P6 and P7, respectively, and both oscillations persisted up to P18. Transiently, between P6 and P11, SPW duration decreased and the occurrence of SPW doublets increased. In addition, between P8 and P11, a subset of rats exhibited ‘spontaneous potentiated SPWs’ characterized by double polarity reversals, enhanced likelihood of gamma tails, and population spikes. Having identified a suite of transient hippocampal features consistent with a window of increased excitability, we next assessed whether electrographic seizure activity would be most easily induced during this period. To do this, kainic acid (KA; 200 ng/infusion) was infused into the hippocampus contralateral to the recording probe. KA did not induce seizure activity until P7 and reached peak effectiveness at P9. Thereafter, sensitivity to KA declined. All together, these findings provide in vivo neurophysiological support for the notion of a developmental window of heightened seizure susceptibility during the second postnatal week, and also suggest that spontaneous nonpathological hippocampal activity can be used to mark the onset and end of this period.
Firms as Realizations of Entrepreneurial Visions
Authors: Witt Ulrich
Published: November 2007

abstract In the debate on why firms exist, the question of who chooses between firms and markets and on what basis is rarely addressed. This paper argues that the choice is a core element of the entrepreneurial pursuit of visions or conceptions of business opportunities. To successfully organize resources into the envisioned businesses – be it via firms or markets – resource owners must be coordinated on the entrepreneur's conception of the business and be motivated to perform properly. To solve the dual problem, the organizational form of the firm offers the entrepreneur unique advantages not feasible under the organizational form of markets.
The strength of networks: the local NGO response to the tsunami in India
Authors: Kilby Patrick
Published: November 2007

This paper examines the role played by a network of 12 local non‐governmental organisations (NGOs)—the East Coast Development Forum (ECDF)—in the response to the Indian Ocean tsunami (‘Asian tsunami’) of 26 December 2004, which devastated the east coast of India. It examines how the ECDF sought to meet the needs of affected people through a direct relief programme, a rehabilitation programme focused on the restoration of livelihoods, and through advocacy to press for changes to government programmes to make them inclusive and to ensure that they satisfy the priority needs of the people most affected. The paper concludes that it was the trust and capacity built up through past network activities of the fisher, dalit, and tribal communities that enabled the ECDF to launch an effective response to the tsunami. A lesson to emerge is that the use of similar existing networks could be employed in other disaster responses around the world.
Prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults
Authors: Park H. S. , Park C. Y. , Oh S. W. , Yoo H. J.
Published: November 2007

We studied the prevalence and trend of obesity and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults aged at least 20 years using Korean National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey data from 1998 and 2001. The prevalence of body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg m−2 among Korean adults in 2001 was 32.9% in men and 27.4% in women, and the number of Korean men with BMI ≥ 25 kg m−2 has increased markedly since 1998. A significant positive association between obesity and socioeconomic status was found in Korean men, whereas a significant negative association was identified in Korean women. The prevalence rates of waist circumference (WC) ≥ 90 cm in men and WC ≥ 85 cm in women were 23.4% and 23.1% in 2001 respectively. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Korean adults was 15–30% according to various criteria of metabolic syndrome. Future studies are needed to determine the changes in prevalence of obesity and contributing factors for obesity in Koreans.
Global production networks, the developmental state and the articulation of Asia Pacific economies in the commercial aircraft industry
Authors: Bowen John T.
Published: November 2007

Abstract:  Asia Pacific economies – particularly Japan, South Korea, China and Singapore – play a large and growing role in the commercial aircraft industry, despite the fact that the region has no major independent plane‐maker. Instead, Asia has secured a significant position in the increasingly elaborate global production networks of Boeing and Airbus. The wider Asian significance in those networks has been fostered not only by the region's deep capital and human resource assets but also by the catalytic actions of developmental states in the region. Moreover, decades of rapid air traffic growth have made Asia a crucial market for Boeing and Airbus. In response, the American and European giants have been compelled to outsource more of their business to Asia in order to win sales and to design new airliners tailored to the needs of Asian customers. Together, the increased importance of Asia in both the design and the manufacture of commercial aircraft point to a future in which Asia will capture an ever‐larger share of the value created in one of the world's most technologically sophisticated and strategically significant industries.
Top Management Teams, Business Models, and Performance of Biotechnology Ventures: An Upper Echelon Perspective*
Authors: Patzelt Holger , Zu Knyphausen‐Aufseß Dodo , Nikol Petra
Published: November 2007

In this paper we introduce a new contingency variable that moderates the effect of top management team composition on organizational performance – the organization's business model. Arguing from an upper echelon perspective and drawing on data from 99 German biotechnology ventures, we show that founder‐based firm‐specific experience of management team members can have either a positive or a negative effect on performance, depending on whether the venture pursues a platform or a therapeutics business model, respectively. Our results also show that managers' experience collected in the pharmaceutical industry has a positive effect on performance, and that this effect is more positive for therapeutics than for platform ventures. We discuss the implications of these findings for the literature on upper echelons and entrepreneurial founding teams.
Point‐Based Rendering of Non‐Manifold Surfaces
Authors: Balsys Ron J. , Suffern K. G. , Jones Huw
Published: October 2007

We are concerned with producing high‐quality images of parametric and implicit surfaces, in particular those with non‐manifold features. We present a point‐based technique for rendering implicit surfaces that uses octree spatial subdivision with a natural interval exclusion test that guarantees that no parts of the surface are missed. This allows us to render non‐manifold implicit surfaces at speeds comparable to parametric surfaces. We also derive criteria that guarantee complete pixel coverage of the surface. The point‐based method allows for hidden surface elimination using a z‐buffer, and shadow casting using a shadow buffer. We illustrate the technique with a number of surfaces, and discuss its advantages and disadvantages.
Civic Orientations: Does Associational Type Matter?
Authors: Maloney William A. , van Deth Jan W. , Ro#x03B2;teutscher Sigrid
Published: November 2007

A widespread consensus has emerged that a revival of patterns of civic engagement and citizenship will compensate for the assumed deficiencies of modern democracies. Voluntary associations are widely perceived as pivotal facilitators and mediators of social and political participation and as making a significant ( direct and indirect) contribution to civic and democratic well-being. Associations are valorised as social capital manufacturers and for their all-round societal and democratic contribution. However, different types of association are likely to ‘produce’ very different levels of social capital. Given much of the contemporary focus on the (alleged) associational impact on members, there is a paucity of research that actually links citizens' orientations to the specific types of association they are involved in. This article seeks to make a contribution to that research gap by connecting the organisational context to membership, activism and volunteering. Unique data from a comparative study of associational life in Aberdeen (UK) and Mannheim (Germany) are presented. This study includes extensive mapping of all voluntary associations in these two cities, and interviews with selected members. In spite of the common expectation among social capitalists that groups concerned with social matters, small groups and groups with high levels of involvement will show higher levels of confidence and engagement, the data presented in this article did not uncover any systematic substantial difference (in either city).
Mobilisation or Marginalisation? Neighbourhood Effects on Muslim Electoral Registration in Britain in 2001
Authors: Fieldhouse Edward , Cutts David
Published: November 2007

Competing theories of political participation predict varying levels of engagement among minority groups according to the composition of the locality. For example, some previous research has shown that electoral turnout among minority groups tends to be higher in areas where those groups are concentrated. However, there has been little or no similar evidence pertaining to electoral registration. Using data from the 2001 general election in England and Wales we find that Muslim registration levels are higher in predominantly Muslim areas, giving credence to the argument that minority electors are mobilised through social connectedness and community networks, rather than marginalised through deprivation and segregation.
Does Diversity Erode Social Cohesion? Social Capital and Race in British Neighbourhoods
Authors: Letki Natalia
Published: November 2007

The debate on causes and consequences of social capital has recently been complemented by an investigation into factors that erode it. Various scholars concluded that diversity, and racial heterogeneity in particular, is damaging for the sense of community, interpersonal trust and formal and informal interactions. However, most of this research does not adequately account for the negative effect of a community's low socio-economic status on neighbourhood interactions and attitudes. This article is to date the first empirical examination of the impact of racial context on various dimensions of social capital in British neighbourhoods. Findings show that low neighbourhood status is the key element undermining all dimensions of social capital, while the eroding effect of racial diversity is limited.
Political Coercion and the Scope of Distributive Justice
Authors: Pevnick Ryan
Published: November 2007

A prominent position in the global justice literature holds that claims of distributive justice are only ‘activated’ by the densely coercive institutional apparatus of states. I dispute this view in three ways. First, I argue that coercion is either justified by its results and rationale or it cannot be justified at all; as a result, coercive institutions do not demand an independent justification via distributive justice. Second, I contend that because the shape of coercive institutions is the result of political choices that have distributive implications, one cannot make normative judgements without asking why coercive institutions have the shape that they do. Third, even accepting (for the sake of argument) the claim that coercive institutions must be justified by a special focus on distributive justice among those subject to them, I argue that the resulting position does not justify restricting distributive justice to state borders. If (any of) these arguments are correct, it is a mistake to think that a concern with the coercive nature of political institutions legitimates restricting claims of distributive justice to compatriots.
Properties of Bayes Factors Based on Test Statistics
Authors: JOHNSON VALEN E.
Published: October 2007

Abstract. This article examines the consistency, interpretation and application of Bayes factors constructed from standard test statistics. Primary conclusions are that Bayes factors based on multinomial and normal test statistics are consistent for suitable choices of the hyperparameters used to specify alternative hypotheses, and that such constructions can be extended to obtain consistent Bayes factors based on likelihood ratio statistics. A connection between Bayes factors based on likelihood ratio statistics and the Bayesian information criterion is exposed, as is a connection between Bayes factors based onFstatistics and parametric Bayes factors based on normal‐inverse gamma models. Similarly, Bayes factors based on chi‐squared statistics for multinomial data are shown to provide accurate approximations to Bayes factors based on multinomial/Dirichlet models. An illustration of how the simple form of these Bayes factors can be exploited to generate easily interpretable summaries of the experimental ‘weight of evidence’ is provided.
Regional variability in relationships between climate and dengue/DHF in Indonesia
Authors: Arcari Paula , Tapper Nigel , Pfueller Sharron
Published: November 2007

Since 1970, the worldwide distribution, frequency and intensity of epidemics of dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) have increased dramatically. In Indonesia, as elsewhere, the geographic distribution and behaviour of the two main vectors –Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus– and the consequent transmission dynamics of the disease are strongly influenced by climate. Monthly incidence data were examined in relation to monthly data for temperature, rainfall, rainfall anomalies, humidity and the Southern Oscillation Index for 1992–2001. Focusing on eight provinces, significant Pearson correlations were observed between dengue/DHF incidence and at least one climate variable (r = ±0.2 to ±0.43; P < 0.05). Multiple regression analyses showed that 12.9–24.5 per cent of variance in incidence was explained by two or three climate variables in each province (P < 0.1–0.01). Rainfall appears to be the principal climatic agent affecting the geographic distribution and temporal pattern of incidence while temperature appears to play a critical role in outbreak intensity. Wide regional and temporal variations in the strength and nature of the observed associations led to the identification of three groups of provinces where increases in dengue/DHF incidence were variously associated with increased rainfall, decreased rainfall and/or high susceptibility to climate variability. Although climatic factors play an important role in explaining the timing and intensity of dengue/DHF outbreaks, a wide range of other factors specific to local environments also appear to be involved – information that may assist in the prediction and mitigation of regional dengue/DHF outbreaks.
Adaptation, innovation and domestic food production in Jamaica: Some examples of survival strategies of small‐scale farmers
Authors: Beckford Clinton , Barker David , Bailey Steve
Published: November 2007

Small‐scale farmers' experimental innovations have not generally been considered for on‐farm research trials as those in the traditional sector have been perceived as recipients, rather than originators, of technical knowledge and sustainable and viable practices. Yet there is abundant evidence throughout the tropics that small‐scale farmers are adaptive and experimental problem solvers, and experts at devising innovative survival strategies. While literature on the topic is rich with accounts from Africa, Asia and Latin America, there is a general dearth of examples from the Caribbean. This paper highlights some examples of farm‐ and village‐level problem solving and survival practices among small‐scale domestic food producers in the challenging agroecological environment of Jamaica.
That Which Makes the Sensation of Blue a Mental Fact: Moore on Phenomenal Relationism
Authors: Hellie Benj
Published: November 2007

A gift of a dollar for each article in the philosophy of perception and consciousness published since 1990 making reference, explicitly or implicitly, to Moore's discussion in the second half of Moore 19031 of an alleged ‘transparency’ and ‘diaphanousness’ pertaining to some aspect of perceptual experience would very likely cover the tab of a mid‐priced dinner for two.2 Moore's poetically expressed observations have captured the imagination of contemporary philosophers of perception and consciousness, and have served as the basis of much fruitful discussion in those areas.

Still, despite all the attention these observations have received, the contemporary literature lacks a close reading of the second half of Moore's paper, without which it is impossible to understand Moore's observations in the context in which they were originally expressed. It is understandable that such a close reading is lacking: the second half of Moore's paper has been rightly described by one of his most sympathetic and dedicated interpreters as ‘extremely dense and opaque’ (Klemke 2000: 55).3 But despite the evident difficulties of the task, I aim here, with some trepidation, to provide the missing close reading.

The main points of my interpretation will be these. The centerpiece of the anti‐idealist manoeuvrings of the second half of the paper is a phenomenological argument for what I will call a relational view of perceptual phenomenal character, on which, roughly, ‘that which makes the sensation of blue a mental fact’ is a relation of conscious awareness, a view close to the opposite of the most characteristic contemporary view going under the transparency rubric.4 The discussion of transparency and diaphanousness is a sidelight, its principal purpose to shore up the main line of argumentation against criticism; in those passages all Moore argues is that the relation of conscious awareness is not transparent, while acknowledging that it can seem to be.

My discussion will proceed as follows. In section 1, I will discuss some theses and elucidate some notions from the philosophy of perception and consciousness which will be central to my interpretation; having done so, I will be in a position to explain how an accurate understanding of Moore may contribute to theoretical advances in the philosophy of perception and consciousness. The next two sections contain the exegetical heart of the paper: section 2 provides an analysis of Moore's case for the relational view; section 3 attempts to explain the place of the relational view in the overall refutation of idealism. Section 4 critically discusses a pair of competing interpretations. Section 5 wraps things up, drawing concluding morals as to the campaigns on behalf of which Moore should and should not be enlisted.
The Validity of Assessment Centres for the Prediction of Supervisory Performance Ratings: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Hermelin Eran , Lievens Filip , Robertson Ivan T.
Published: October 2007

The current meta‐analysis of the selection validity of assessment centres aims to update an earlier meta‐analysis of assessment centre validity. To this end, we retrieved 26 studies and 27 validity coefficients (N=5850) relating the Overall Assessment Rating (OAR) to supervisory performance ratings. The current study obtained a corrected correlation of .28 between the OAR and supervisory job performance ratings (95% confidence interval .24≤ρ≤.32). It is further suggested that this validity estimate is likely to be conservative given that assessment centre validities tend to be affected by indirect range restriction.
Independence of sampling of motion parallax and binocular disparity in discrimination of depth1
Authors: YAKUSHIJIN REIKO
Published: November 2007

Abstract:  The sampling strategy of the visual system in binocular disparity and motion parallax to discriminate depth was investigated. Human observers were asked to discriminate between the depths of two surfaces defined by both cues. Gaussian noise was added to the depths represented by each cue, and the correlation in noise was manipulated. Human performance was compared with two types of likelihood models. The first was based on independent sampling, in which data from the two cues were gathered from independent sets of points in the display. The second was based on paired sampling, in which data from these cues were gathered from the same set of points. The former model yielded a better fit with human performance. This suggests that the visual system is more likely to adopt independent sampling.
Glutamine as a precursor for transmitter glutamate, aspartate and GABA in the cerebellum: a role for phosphate‐activated glutaminase
Authors: Holten Aleksander Talgøy , Gundersen Vidar
Published: November 2007

Phosphate‐activated glutaminase is present at high levels in the cerebellar mossy fiber terminals. The role of this enzyme for the production of glutamate from glutamine in the parallel‐fiber terminals is unclear. In order to address this, we used light miroscopic immunoperoxidase and electron microscopic immunogold methods to study the localization of glutamate in rat cerbellar slices incubated with physiological K+ (3 mmol/L) and depolarizing K+ (40 mmol/L) concentrations, and during depolarizing conditions with the addition of glutamine and the glutaminase inhibitor 6‐diazo‐5‐oxo‐l‐norleucine. During K+‐induced depolarization glutamate labeling was redistributed from parallel‐fiber terminals to glial cells. The nerve terminal content of glutamate was sustained when the slices were supplied with glutamine, which also reduced the accumulation of glutamate in glia. In spite of glutamine supplementation, the depolarized slices treated with 6‐diazo‐5‐oxo‐l‐norleucine showed depletion of glutamate from parallel‐fiber terminals and accumulation in glial cells. We conclude that cerebellar parallel‐fiber terminals contain a glutaminase activity enabling them to synthesize glutamate from glutamine. Our results confirm that this is also true for the mossy fiber terminals. In addition, we show that, like for glutamate, the levels of aspartate in parallel‐fiber terminals and GABA in Golgi fiber terminals can be maintained during depolarization if glutamine is present. This process is dependent on the activity of a glutaminase, as it can be inhibited by 6‐diazo‐5‐oxo‐l‐norleucine, suggesting that the glutaminase reaction is important for glutamine to act as a precursor also for aspartate and GABA. The low levels of the kidney type of glutaminase that previously has been shown to be present in the parallel and Golgi fiber terminals could be sufficient to produce the transmitter amino acids. Alternatively, the amino acids could be produced from the liver type of glutaminase, which is not yet localized on the cellular level, or from an unknown glutminase.
Priorities, policies and (time)scales: the delivery of emissions reductions in the UK transport sector
Authors: Anable Jillian , Shaw Jon
Published: November 2007

The transport sector is consistently responsible for around 30 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions in developed countries and is one of few sectors where emissions continue to increase as a result of apparently insatiable demand for road and air travel. This paper examines how the formulation of transport policy fits into the exposition of UK climate policy, focusing on three principal areas of tension: policy priority (congestion and carbon reduction); strategies to reduce emissions (technological and behavioural solutions) and timescale (short‐ and long‐term vision). We suggest that in overcoming such tensions government ministers will need to devolve significant policy formulation and implementation powers to an appropriate scale of governance – in this case the city‐region – to fashion a ‘convergence space’ capable of promoting meaningful action with regard to transport's climate impact.
A Marketing Approach to Commodity Futures Exchanges: A Case Study of the Dutch Hog Industry
Authors: Meulenberg Matthew T. G. , Pennings Joost M. E.
Published: November 2007

This paper proposes a marketing strategic approach to commodity futures exchanges to optimise the (hedging) services offered. First, the environment of commodity futures exchanges is examined. Second, the threats and opportunities of commodity futures exchanges are analysed. Our analysis demonstrates that market orientation is an important element in the market strategies of commodity futures exchanges. Our market strategic framework is applied to the Dutch hog futures market. It is concluded that market penetration is an appropriate strategy. Consequently, to identify the variables that distinguish between farmers who initiate futures positions and farmers who do not, we conducted a discriminant analysis on data gathered from 418 Dutch hog farmers. The discriminant analysis shows that latent variables, such as farmers' perceived performance, farmers' reference price and farmers' market orientation, are important discriminating variables. Furthermore, farmers' cash market behaviour (in terms of the frequency of selling in the spot market) is an important discriminating variable as well. The usefulness of these results as input for a penetration policy is demonstrated.
Broad‐based Agricultural Development versus Food Self‐sufficiency: A General Equilibrium Analysis in India
Authors: Sen Sabyasachi , Russell Noel , Ozanne Adam
Published: November 2007

Intersectoral linkages are analysed using a CGE model based on a SAM constructed from Indian national accounts data for 1988–89. The model includes the rural non‐farm sector, public sector production and aspects of public policy. Evidence supports the arguments of Chakravarty (1987) and Ahluwalia (1986) regarding the importance of broad‐based agricultural development as opposed to increased production in the food sector alone aimed at achieving food self‐sufficiency.
Price Variability and Industrial Concentration in U.S. Food Industries
Authors: Gopinath Munisamy , Pick Daniel , Worth Thomas
Published: November 2007

This paper focuses on the sources of intra‐industry price variability in US food industries during a period of increasing concentration, while accounting for the impact of variations in prices of primary agricultural products. Results suggest that intra‐industry price variability in food industries increases with their respective mean rate of inflation and product heterogeneity. However, industrial concentration lowers the sensitivity of relative prices to changes in the mean rate of inflation. Hence, static welfare losses to consumers from increasing concentration in food industries, a subject of recent and intensive investigation, can partly be offset by gains such as reduced price variability.
Spatial Effects within the Agricultural Land Market in Northern Ireland
Authors: Patton Myles , McErlean Seamus
Published: November 2007

The importance of dealing properly with spatial effects, such as spatial autocorrelation, in cross‐sectional econometric estimation has become more widely recognised in recent years. Spatial autocorrelation is similar in many ways to serial correlation, but while the latter is ordered on a one‐dimensional time axis, the former is ordered in two dimensions. The multi‐directional nature of spatial dependence means that specialised techniques are needed for diagnostic testing and estimation purposes. This paper uses these specialised diagnostics to test for spatial effects within a hedonic pricing study of the agricultural land market. The tests indicate that spatial autocorrelation (in the form of spatial lag dependence) and spatially distinct sub‐markets (or spatial heterogeneity) are present. Ignoring these effects in the estimation process is likely to lead to biased parameter estimates. Consequently, we re‐specify the hedonic model to allow for these spatial effects. The presence of spatial lag dependence suggests that there is circularity of price setting within the agricultural land market. This means that agricultural land prices are not solely determined by the inherent characteristics of the land, but tend to reflect also the average local price per acre.
The Determinants of Employment in Foreign Firms in the UK Food Manufacturing Sector: A Note
Authors: Morgan C. W. , Wakelin Katharine
Published: November 2007

This paper seeks to evaluate the factors that have given rise to the large presence of foreign firms in the UK food and drink manufacturing sector. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in food and drink manufacturing is very high – the second highest for any manufacturing sector in the UK economy. An empirical model is tested on 48 5‐digit sectors in the food industry and we find that brands, skills and a low propensity to export positively affect employment in EU‐owned firms. Alternatively, employment in non‐EU owned firms is affected by propensity to export factors and by the effective tariff rate.
Estimating Farm Productivity Differentials using Panel Data: The Hausman‐Taylor Approach
Authors: Gardebroek Cornelis , Lansink Alfons Oude
Published: November 2007

This paper investigates the relation between unobserved farm productivity and other production factors in a system of netput equations for specialised pig breeding farms in the Netherlands. In order to estimate the system, a Hausman‐Taylor panel data estimator is developed for a system of equations with unbalanced panel data. Tests on the correlation between model variables and farm‐effects are performed, yielding an insight into the sources of differences in total factor productivity and its components (e.g. managerial ability and scale economies). Results indicate that specialised pig breeding farms that are characterised by high total factor productivity have more buildings and machinery than farms with low total factor productivity.
Cross Entropy Estimation of the Almost Ideal Demand System for Greek Consumption
Authors: Balcombe K. , Rapsomanikis G. , Klonaris S.
Published: November 2007

Cross entropy is used to estimate the Almost Ideal Demand System for consumption in Greece. The entropy estimates are found to improve upon the SUR estimates. It is recommended that practitioners consider employing entropy based procedures in systems where the data set is small, where there are a large number of parameters, or where the data are deficient.
Input Disposability and Efficiency in Dutch Arable Farming
Authors: Zhengfei Guan , Lansink Alfons Oude
Published: November 2007

This paper develops a test for disposability of individual inputs based on non‐radial efficiency measures. Furthermore, the paper analyses the impact of congestion on overall technical efficiency for individual inputs. The application uses panel data from Dutch cash crop farms over the period 1989–1992. A significant difference between the efficiency measures under different assumptions on input disposability is detected by a t‐test, indicating that all inputs are weakly disposable. Analysis of the composition of overall technical efficiency reveals that weak disposability constitutes the largest component of inefficiency. Moreover, congested farms on average have a less effective management and operate on a larger, though less efficient, production scale.