bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Classroom Games: Making Money
Authors: Laury Susan K , Holt Charles A
Published: June 2010

Economics is often taught at a level of abstraction that can hinder some students from gaining basic intuition. However, lecture and textbook presentations can be complemented with classroom exercises in which students make decisions and interact. The approach can increase interest in and decrease skepticism about economic theory. This feature offers short descriptions of classroom exercises for a variety of economics courses, with something of an emphasis on the more popular undergraduate courses.
Walking the Tightrope on Medicare Reform
Authors: Cutler David M
Published: June 2010

A central controversy in the debate about Medicare is whether the program spends too much money or whether instead it should be expanded to cover more. I consider the value of increased Medicare spending. I argue that on average Medicare spending is worth it: the health gains brought by medicare have been greater than their cost. At the margin, however, services are overused and have low value. Medicare reforms need to promote the high average value of care while eliminating care of low value. Many of the proposed reforms fall short of this goal.
Medicare Reform: The Larger Picture
Authors: Fuchs Victor R
Published: June 2010

The “Medicare problem” is examined as part of the larger problem of providing for the overall financial needs of the elderly. Several myths about Medicare are discussed, and sources and uses of the elderly's “full income” are estimated. The paper explores policy options to deal with technology-induced increases in health care expenditures and excessive dependence of the elderly on transfers from the young. The paper concludes that if Americans wish to continue to enjoy the benefits of medical advances, they will have to work before and after age 65 and will have to increase their rate of saving substantially.
Making the Transition to Prepaid Medicare
Authors: Saving Thomas R
Published: June 2010

The Medicare system is facing a financial crisis brought on by the combination of rapidly rising consumption of health care services by beneficiaries and financing based on generation transfers. This paper simulates a transition to prepaid Medicare where each generation puts aside funds for the health care it will demand later in life. By prepaying Medicare we increase the nation's capital stock which in the long run will allow the nation to enjoy greater consumption for both working and retired generations and we achieve immunity from generation size shocks. By transferring the baby boomers and younger generations into a prepaid system we can complete the transition in less than fifty years and achieve an ultimate contribution rate of 1.26% of taxable payroll instead of the more than 12% of taxable payroll that will be required if we remain in the status quo.
Policy Watch: The Tyranny of Budget Forecasts
Authors: Foster J.D , Miller James C
Published: June 2010

The evolving federal budget process has placed increasing demands on, and given unique powers to, the economic forecasters at OMB, Treasury, CBO, and the Joint Tax Committee of Congress. On the whole, the forecasters have been highly professional in their work, but differences in estimating techniques and, especially, constraints imposed on their analysis by elected officials have limited their credibility. Both the Administration and Congress “game” the system and even ignore the budget rules when convenient. Thus, a sophisticated budget process can help, but cannot assure, sound fiscal policy in the absence of political will to make hard decisions.
From Mill Town to Board Room: The Rise of Women's Paid Labor
Authors: Costa Dora L
Published: June 2010

The widespread participation of women in paid labor outside of the home and in the highest echelons of society would have been unheard of a century ago. This paper documents this dramatic change in women's social and economic status and argues that it was determined both by contemporaneous demand factors and by the characteristics, expectations, and social norms regarding work and family of different cohorts of women. History suggests that change in women's labor force experiences may be slow because it must await the entry of new cohorts of women (and also of men) into the labor market.
Women's Work and Economic Development
Authors: Mammen Kristin , Paxson Christina
Published: June 2010

Using a cross-country dataset and microdata from India and Thailand, we examine how women's work status changes with economic development. Several clear patterns emerge: women's labor force participation first declines and then rises with development; women move from work in family enterprises to work as paid employees; fertility declines; and gender gaps in education narrow. Women's education levels, and those of their spouses, appear to be important determinants of women's labor market activities. Broad welfare indicators, such as mortality rates and education levels, indicate that women's well-being improves on average with development, both in absolute terms and relative to men.
Data Watch: Research Data in Health Economics
Authors: Evans William N , Levy Helen , Simon Kosali I
Published: June 2010

In this paper, we discuss some important data sets that can be used by economists interested in conducting research in health economics. We describe six types of data sets: health components of data sets traditionally used by economists; longitudinal surveys of health and economic behavior; data on employer-provided insurance; cross-sectional surveys of households that focus on health; data on health care providers; and vital statistics. We summarize some of the leading surveys, discuss the availability of the data, identify how researchers have utilized these data and when possible, include a web address that contains more detailed information about each survey.
Anomalies: Risk Aversion
Authors: Rabin Matthew , Thaler Richard H
Published: June 2010

Economists ubiquitously employ a simple and elegant explanation for risk aversion: It derives from the concavity of the utility-of-wealth function within the expected-utility framework. We show that this explanation is not plausible in most applications, since anything more than economically negligible risk aversion over moderate stakes requires a utility-of-wealth function that is so concave that it predicts absurdly severe risk aversion over very large stakes. We present examples of how the expected-utility framework has misled economists, and why we believe a better explanation for risk aversion must incorporate loss aversion and mental accounting.
Business-to-Business Electronic Commerce
Authors: Lucking-Reiley David , Spulber Daniel F
Published: June 2010

Just as the industrial revolution mechanized the manufacturing functions of firms, the information revolution is automating their merchant functions. Four types of potential productivity gains are expected from business-to-business (B2B) electronic commerce: cost efficiencies from automation of transactions, potential advantages of new market intermediaries, consolidation of demand and supply through organized exchanges, and changes in the extent of vertical integration of firms. The article examines the characteristics of B2B online intermediaries, including categories of goods traded, market mechanisms employed, and ownership arrangements, and considers the market structure of B2B e-commerce.
Tobacco At the Crossroads: The Past and Future of Smoking Regulation in the United States
Authors: Gruber Jonathan
Published: June 2010

The past five years have seen a dramatic turn of events against the tobacco industry, raising the question of the appropriate future path for smoking policy in the U.S. This paper discusses the theory and evidence on regulation of smoking. I begin by reviewing the background on this industry. I then turn to a discussion of the motivations for regulating smoking, both external and internal to the smoker. I review the evidence on the effects of existing regulations. And I conclude with a discussion of future policy directions.
History Lessons: The Early Development of Intellectual Property Institutions in the United States
Authors: Khan B. Zorina , Sokoloff Kenneth L
Published: June 2010

The U.S. was a pioneer in establishing the world's first modern intellectual property system. That system was distinguished by the provision of broad access to, and strict enforcement of, property rights in new inventions, coupled with the requirement of public disclosure, and it was effective at stimulating the growth of a market for technology and technical change more generally. Far from being static, fundamental modifications were introduced over time in response to changing circumstances. That such adjustments so often proved to be constructive owes partly to a private market being a central feature of the system, and partly to the democratic structure of U.S. institutions.
The Hyperbolic Consumption Model: Calibration, Simulation, and Empirical Evaluation
Authors: Angeletos George-Marios , Laibson David , Repetto Andrea , Tobacman Jeremy , Weinberg Stephen
Published: June 2010

Laboratory and field studies of time preference find that discount rates are much greater in the short run than in the long run. Hyperbolic discount functions capture this property. This paper presents simulations of the savings and asset allocation choices of households with hyperbolic preferences. The behavior of the hyperbolic households is compared to the behavior of exponential households. The hyperbolic households borrow much more frequently in the revolving credit market. The hyperbolic households exhibit greater consumption income comovement and experience a greater drop in consumption around retirement. The hyperbolic simulations match observed consumption and balance sheet data much better than the exponential simulations.
The WTO as a Mechanism for Securing Market Access Property Rights: Implications for Global Labor and Environmental Issues
Authors: Bagwell Kyle , Staiger Robert W
Published: June 2010

Can the World Trade Organization (WTO) contribute to the attainment of sound labor and environmental policies? An answer requires an understanding of WTO rules. We argue that the purpose of WTO rules is to create a negotiating forum where governments can exchange secure market access commitments. From this perspective, we argue that supporters of sound trade, labor and environmental policies can benefit from a well-functioning WTO, because facilitating trade liberalization and preventing race-to-the-bottom/regulatory-chill problems go hand in hand, and each is accomplished by maintaining secure property rights over negotiated market access commitments.
Vector Autoregressions
Authors: Stock James H , Watson Mark W
Published: June 2010

This paper critically reviews the use of vector autoregressions (VARs) for four tasks: data description, forecasting, structural inference, and policy analysis. The paper begins with a review of VAR analysis, highlighting the differences between reduced-form VARs, recursive VARs and structural VARs. A three variable VAR that includes the unemployment rate, price inflation and the short term interest rate is used to show how VAR methods are used for the four tasks. The paper concludes that VARs have proven to be powerful and reliable tools for data description and forecasting, but have been less useful for structural inference and policy analysis.
The Bootstrap and Multiple Imputations: Harnessing Increased Computing Power for Improved Statistical Tests
Authors: Brownstone David , Valletta Robert
Published: June 2010

The bootstrap and multiple imputations are two techniques that can enhance the accuracy of estimated confidence bands and critical values. Although they are computationally intensive, relying on repeated sampling from empirical data sets and associated estimates, modern computing power enables their application in a wide and growing number of econometric settings. We provide an intuitive overview of how to apply these techniques, referring to existing theoretical literature and various applied examples to illustrate both their possibilities and their pitfalls.
Quantile Regression
Authors: Koenker Roger , Hallock Kevin F
Published: June 2010

Quantile regression, as introduced by Koenker and Bassett (1978), may be viewed as an extension of classical least squares estimation of conditional mean models to the estimation of an ensemble of models for several conditional quantile functions. The central special case is the median regression estimator which minimizes a sum of absolute errors. Other conditional quantile functions are estimated by minimizing an asymmetrically weighted sum of absolute errors. Quantile regression methods are illustrated with applications to models for CEO pay, food expenditure, and infant birthweight.
Semiparametric Censored Regression Models
Authors: Chay Kenneth Y , Powell James L
Published: June 2010

When data are censored, ordinary least squares regression can provide biased coefficient estimates. Maximum likelihood approaches to this problem are valid only if the error distribution is correctly specified, which can be problematic in practice. We review several semiparametric estimators for the censored regression model that do not require parameterization of the error distribution. These estimators are used to examine changes in black-white earnings inequality during the 1960s based on censored tax records. The results show that there was significant earnings convergence among black and white men in the American South after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Binary Response Models: Logits, Probits and Semiparametrics
Authors: Horowitz Joel L , Savin N.E
Published: June 2010

A binary-response model is a mean-regression model in which the dependent variable takes only the values zero and one. This paper describes and illustrates the estimation of logit and probit binary-response models. The linear probability model is also discussed. Reasons for not using this model in applied research are explained and illustrated with data. Semiparametric and nonparametric models are also described. In contrast to logit and probit models, semi- and nonparametric models avoid the restrictive and unrealistic assumption that the analyst knows the functional form of the relation between the dependent variable and the explanatory variables.
Whispering gallery modes and other cavity modes for perfect backscattering and blazing
Authors: Popov E. , Maystre D. , Tayeb G.
Published: June 2010

We demonstrate the possibility to obtain perfect blazing both in Littrow and off-Littrow mountings using diffractive systems consisting of a plane metallic substrate and dielectric structures that can support cavity modes. The resonances are located at a relatively large distance between the metal and the dielectric structure, a condition that prevents the resonance increase of absorption. The high efficiency can be obtained in transverse electric or transverse magnetic polarization and at high incident angles. When cylindrical rods with circular cross-sections are used, the so-called whispering gallery modes can be used to provide the resonances, necessary for the blazing.
Primary Cilia Are Decreased in Breast Cancer: Analysis of a Collection of Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines and Tissues
Authors: Yuan Kun , Frolova Natalya , Xie Yi , Wang Dezhi , Cook Leah , Kwon Yeon-Jin , Steg Adam D. , Serra Rosa , Frost Andra R.
Published: June 2010

Primary cilia (PC) are solitary, sensory organelles that are critical for several signaling pathways. PC were detected by immunofluorescence of cultured cells and breast tissues. After growth for 7 days in vitro, PC were detected in ∼70% of breast fibroblasts and in 7–19% of epithelial cells derived from benign breast (184A1 and MCF10A). In 11 breast cancer cell lines, PC were present at a low frequency in four (from 0.3% to 4% of cells), but were absent in the remainder. The cancer cell lines with PC were all of the basal B subtype, which is analogous to the clinical triple-negative breast cancer subtype. Furthermore, the frequency of PC decreased with increasing degree of transformation/progression in the MCF10 and MDA-MB-435/LCC6 isogenic models of cancer progression. In histologically normal breast tissues, PC were frequent in fibroblasts and myoepithelial cells and less common in luminal epithelial cells. Of 26 breast cancers examined, rare PC were identified in cancer epithelial cells of only one cancer, which was of the triple-negative subtype. These data indicate a decrease or loss of PC in breast cancer and an association of PC with the basal B subtype. This manuscript contains online supplemental material at http://www.jhc.org . Please visit this article online to view these materials.
Optimization of alkaline cellulase production by the marine-derived fungus Chaetomium sp. using agricultural and industrial wastes as substrates
Authors: Ravindran Chinnarjan , Naveenan Thangiah , Varatharajan Govindaswamy R.
Published: June 2010

Alkaline cellulases were screened from 54 fungal isolates obtained from mangrove leaves and mangrove wood litters as endophytes and wood litter fungi, respectively. Only three fungal isolates tested positive for alkaline cellulases under plate assay, among which Chaetomium sp. (NIOCC 36) was found to grow in a wide range of pH (between 4 and 12). This alkaline tolerant fungus was further tested for production of alkaline cellulases (β-endoglucanase, β-exoglucanase, β-glucosidase) using agricultural and industrial wastes as substrates in submerged fermentation (SMF) and solid state fermentation (SSF) processes. Cotton seed under SSF conditions had maximum enzyme production at high alkaline pH. Cellulase enzymes produced under alkaline cotton seed SSF conditions at 50°C had higher stability and activity than under non-alkaline conditions (range tested: pH 5, 7, 12). The agricultural and industrial wastes used as carbon sources were economical for commercial production of cellulose. The high specific activity, and stability of cellulases under neutral to alkaline pH and high temperature will be of use in various industrial and biotechnological applications.
Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of aqueous and organic extracts fromDictyopteris membranacea
Authors: Aoun Zouhaier Ben , Said Rafik Ben , Farhat Farhat
Published: June 2010

Aqueous and organic extracts fromDictyopteris membranaceacollected from the Tunisian Mediterranean coast were studied for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-microbial activities. All extracts had high anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema assays in Wistar rats, and their effects are comparable to acetylsalicylate lysine (300 mg kg-1, applied intraperitoneally) used as a reference drug.Dictyopteris membranaceaextracts had inhibition percentages in the third hour of the assay of 65% at a dose of 100 mg kg-1, 51% at a dose of 50 mg kg-1, and 49% at a dose of 100 mg kg-1in aqueous, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts, respectively. Chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging with IC50values (0.089±0.01 and 0.11±0.02 mg ml-1, respectively) equivalent to the activity of a powerful antioxidant standard, Trolox (IC50=0.09±0.02 mg ml-1). These extracts (chloroform and ethyl acetate) had reducing activity, and the total phenol contents were: 84.96 and 60.96 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram dried sample, respectively. Organic extracts had moderate antimicrobial activity (using the disc diffusion method) against three bacteria:Staphylococcus aureus,Staphylococcus epidermidisandMicrococcus luteus, and four species of a fungal genus:Candida albicans,C. krusei,C. dubliniensisandC. kefyrat 10 mg per disc, whereas the aqueous extract exhibited significant antibacterial activity against onlyStaphylococcus aureusandListeria monocytogenes.
Antioxidant activity of seagrasses and seaweeds
Authors: Athiperumalsami Thirumalai , Rajeswari V. Devi , Poorna S. Hastha , Kumar Venkataraman , Jesudass L. Louis
Published: June 2010

Five species of seagrasses and six species of seaweeds in 11 genera were collected from the Gulf of Mannar, on the southeastern coast of India and were screened for antioxidant activity by in vitro methods. Methanolic and water extracts of the seagrass Halophila ovalis had the highest antioxidant activity, with IC50 values 78.95±1.15 and 85.40±3.40 μg ml-1 (means±SE), respectively, using the NO radical scavenging method. With the H2O2 scavenging method, both methanolic and water extracts of many of the seagrasses and seaweeds had higher antioxidant activity, with the IC50 values lower than that of the standard tocopherol. Except for vitamin B3, the rest of the antioxidant-potent phytoconstituents estimated in these marine organisms were found to be strongly positively correlated with the antioxidant activity.
Improvement of therapeutic safety through standardized plasma calibration of blood glucose test systems at the point-of-care1 / Statement of the POCT Working Group of the German Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (DGKL)
Authors: Koschinsky For the POCT Working Group: Theodor , Junker Ralf , Luppa Peter B. , Schlebusch Harald
Published: June 2010

Blood glucose measurements are performed mainly at the point-of-care in out-patient settings and in hospitals as well as for patient self-monitoring mainly by small hand-held devices. Generally, capillary or venous blood is used as a sample but results are variably reported, depending on the different calibration procedures of the test strips by the manufacturers, as either whole blood or as plasma glucose, accounting for a difference of ca. 11%. This can result in therapeutic misjudgments. To avoid the risk of confusion of whole blood and plasma results, in 2005 the IFCC has proposed to report all results only as glucose concentration in plasma, irrespective of sample type or measurement technique. This recommendation should be followed in Germany as soon as possible.
Food Use Inert Ingredient Proposed Data Set
Authors: Yowell James
Published: June 2010

A discussion of the proposed data for establishing a tolerance or exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for inert ingredients used in pesticide formulations.
The Expressive Effect of the Athenian Prostitution Laws
Authors: Lanni Adriaan
Published: June 2010

This article argues that attention to the expressive function of law suggests that the Athenian laws prohibiting former prostitutes from active political participation may have had a much broader practical impact than previously thought. By changing the social meaning of homosexual pederasty, these laws influenced norms regarding purely private conduct and reached beyond the limited number of politically active citizens likely to be prosecuted under the law. Some appear to have become more careful about courting in public while others adopted a conception of chaste pederasty that would not run afoul of the law. The prostitution laws may also have provoked resistance among a particular subset of elites, the apragmones, contributing to this group's deliberate disengagement from public affairs.
Vascular endothelial growth factor-A isoform and (co)receptor expression are differentially regulated by 17β-oestradiol in the ovariectomised mouse uterus
Authors: Walter Lisa M , Rogers Peter A W , Girling Jane E
Published: June 2010

The angiogenic effects of 17β-oestradiol (E2) in the mouse endometrium are mediated by vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGFA). We analysed the temporal and spatial changes in VEGFA isoform and (co)receptor expression in ovariectomised mouse uteri following E2treatment. VEGFA isoform and receptor mRNA were quantified in whole uterine tissue collected 2, 6, 12 and 24 h after E2or vehicle treatment. Laser capture microdissection was used to investigate mRNA expression in epithelial, stromal and myometrial tissues separately. Endothelial cell proliferation, VEGFA and VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR2) protein were visualised using immunohistochemistry. Endometrial endothelial cell proliferation was only observed 24 h after E2treatment. In whole uterine tissue, totalVegfa,Vegfa164andVegfa120mRNA expression increased 2 h post E2treatment, and then decreased by 24 h.Vegfa188expression was lower in E2-treated animals at all time points relative to control animals.Vegfr2and neuropilin-1 (Nrp1) mRNA expression did not change following E2treatment;Nrp2expression decreased by 24 h. When uterine compartments were considered separately at 24 h post E2or vehicle, stromalVegfa120,Vegfa188andVegfr2mRNA expression and myometrialVegfa120andVegfa188mRNA expression were reduced in E2-treated mice relative to controls, whereas epithelialVegfa188mRNA expression increased. The highest VEGFA immunoexpression was observed in luminal epithelium; expression increased at 24 h relative to other time points. No changes were noted in VEGFR2 immunoexpression among treatment groups. We have provided the first evidence that VEGFA isoform and receptor mRNA expression are differentially regulated by E2in different uterine cell compartments.
Long-Term Prognosis for Childhood Constipation: Clinical Outcomes in Adulthood
Authors: Bongers Marloes E. J. , van Wijk Michiel P. , Reitsma Johannes B. , Benninga Marc A.
Published: June 2010

OBJECTIVES:

This study examines long-term prognoses for children with constipation in adulthood and identifies prognostic factors associated with clinical outcomes.

METHODS:

In a Dutch tertiary hospital, children (5–18 years of age) who were diagnosed as having functional constipation were eligible for inclusion. After a 6-week treatment protocol, prospective follow-up evaluations were conducted at 6 and 12 months and annually thereafter. Good clinical outcomes were defined as ≥3 bowel movements per week for ≥4 weeks, with ≤2 fecal incontinence episodes per month, irrespective of laxative use.

RESULTS:

A total of 401 children (260 boys; median age: 8 years [interquartile range: 6–9 years]) were included, with a median follow-up period of 11 years (interquartile range: 9–13 years). The dropout rate during follow-up was 15%. Good clinical outcomes were achieved by 80% of patients at 16 years of age. Thereafter, this proportion remained constant at 75%. Poor clinical outcomes at adult age were associated with: older age at onset (odds ratio [OR]: 1.15 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.30]; P = .04), longer delay between onset and first visit to our outpatient clinic (OR: 1.24 [95% CI: 1.10–1.40]; P = .001), and lower defecation frequency at study entry (OR: 0.92 [95% CI: 0.84–1.00]; P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS:

One-fourth of children with functional constipation continued to experience symptoms at adult age. Certain risk factors for poor clinical outcomes in adulthood were identified. Referral to a specialized clinic should be considered at an early stage for children who are unresponsive to first-line treatment.
Impact of Extreme Prematurity on Family Functioning and Maternal Health 20 Years Later
Authors: Saigal Saroj , Pinelli Janet , Streiner David L. , Boyle Michael , Stoskopf Barbara
Published: June 2010

OBJECTIVE:

The goal was to examine the impact of illness on families and the long-term effects on the health of parents of young adults (YAs) who were born with extremely low birth weight (ELBW), compared with normal birth weight (NBW) control subjects.

METHODS:

A longitudinal cohort study was performed. Participants were mothers of eligible ELBW and NBW YAs. Information was obtained with well-validated questionnaires.

RESULTS:

At young adulthood, 130 (81%) of 161 ELBW group and 126 (89%) of 141 NBW group mothers participated. There were no significant differences in scores between groups with respect to marital disharmony, family dysfunction, maternal mood, state anxiety, social support, depression, and maternal physical and mental health. The finding of no differences was unchanged when 27 YAs with neurosensory impairment (NSI) were excluded, except for family dysfunction scores, which were paradoxically lower for families with YAs with NSI. Although the impact scores revealed that significantly more parents of ELBW YAs were negatively affected with respect to their jobs and educational or training opportunities, mothers of ELBW YAs reported that the experience of caring for their child brought their family closer together and that relatives and friends were more helpful and understanding, compared with mothers of NBW YAs. Significantly more mothers of ELBW YAs with NSI, compared with those without NSI, felt better about themselves for having managed their child's health.

CONCLUSION:

It seems that, by young adulthood, there is a minimally negative long-term impact of having an ELBW child in the family, regardless of the presence of NSI.
Effects of Parental Military Deployment on Pediatric Outpatient and Well-Child Visit Rates
Authors: Eide Matilda , Gorman Gregory , Hisle-Gorman Elizabeth
Published: June 2010

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this study was to determine whether parental deployment affected the rates at which children of military parents accessed health care within the military health system.

METHODS:

We linked outpatient health care claims data for military service members' children <2 years of age from fiscal year 2007 to the parental deployment history during the same period. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for all visits and well-child visits were determined according to parental deployment status.

RESULTS:

A total of 169 986 children were identified, with 1 772 703 outpatient visits. Of those children, 32% had a parent deployed during the study period. Well-child visits constituted 27% of all outpatient visits. The unadjusted visit rates for all visits and well-child visits were 10.4 and 2.8 visits per year, respectively. Children of single parents had decreased rates of outpatient visits (IRR: 0.84 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80–0.89]; P < .001) and well-child visits (IRR: 0.88 [95% CI: 0.84–0.93]; P < .001) during deployment. Children of married parents, however, had increased rates of both outpatient visits (IRR: 1.08 [95% CI: 1.03–1.09]; P < .001) and well-child visits (IRR: 1.08 [95% CI: 1.07–1.09]; P < .001) during deployment. There was interaction between parental marital status and deployment, which was most significant among parents <24 years of age and consistently decreased with increasing parental age.

CONCLUSIONS:

Children of young, single, military parents are seen less frequently for acute and well-child care when their parent is deployed, whereas children of married parents are seen more frequently in the military health system.
Modelos avaliativos e reforma sanitária Brasileira: enfoque qualitativo-participativo
Authors: Bosi Maria Lúcia Magalhães , Mercado-Martinez Francisco Javier
Published: June 2010

Ao longo dos últimos anos, registra-se um crescente interesse por propostas avaliativas não tradicionais e mais abrangentes nos movimentos de reforma sanitária em curso na América Latina. Este estudo teve por objetivo analisar potencialidades do enfoque avaliativo qualitativo-participativo ante o desafio de fortalecer as reformas sanitárias na região, particularmente aquelas que se configuram progressistas, como o caso brasileiro. Há necessidade de se avaliarem as reformas sanitárias rigorosa e permanentemente, sobretudo a incongruência do emprego de modelos normativos para avaliar sistemas de saúde baseados nos princípios de universalização, integralidade, humanização e gestão democrática. Além da demanda por estratégias e instrumentos de avaliação, a reforma sanitária brasileira requer a adoção de propostas e práticas avaliativas fundamentadas em outros paradigmas distintos daquele ainda hegemônico no âmbito da avaliação em saúde. Advoga-se pela utilização de modelos emergentes de avaliação, tais como os de corte qualitativo-participativo.
Measuring and monitoring soil organic carbon stocks in agricultural lands for climate mitigation
Authors: Conant Richard T , Ogle Stephen M , Paul Eldor A , Paustian Keith
Published: June 2010

Policies that encourage greenhouse‐gas emitters to mitigate emissions through terrestrial carbon (C) offsets – C sequestration in soils or biomass – will promote practices that reduce erosion and build soil fertility, while fostering adaptation to climate change, agricultural development, and rehabilitation of degraded soils. However, none of these benefits will be possible until changes in C stocks can be documented accurately and cost‐effectively. This is particularly challenging when dealing with changes in soil organic C (SOC) stocks. Precise methods for measuring C in soil samples are well established, but spatial variability in the factors that determine SOC stocks makes it difficult to document change. Widespread interest in the benefits of SOC sequestration has brought this issue to the fore in the development of US and international climate policy. Here, we review the challenges to documenting changes in SOC stocks, how policy decisions influence offset documentation requirements, and the benefits and drawbacks of different sampling strategies and extrapolation methods.
Biophysical considerations in forestry for climate protection
Authors: Anderson Ray G , Canadell Josep G , Randerson James T , Jackson Robert B , Hungate Bruce A , Baldocchi Dennis D , Ban-Weiss George A , Bonan Gordon B , Caldeira Ken , Cao Long , Diffenbaugh Noah S , Gurney Kevin R , Kueppers Lara M , Law Beverly E , Luyssaert Sebastiaan , O'Halloran Thomas L
Published: June 2010

Forestry – including afforestation (the planting of trees on land where they have not recently existed), reforestation, avoided deforestation, and forest management – can lead to increased sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide and has therefore been proposed as a strategy to mitigate climate change. However, forestry also influences land‐surface properties, including albedo (the fraction of incident sunlight reflected back to space), surface roughness, and evapotranspiration, all of which affect the amount and forms of energy transfer to the atmosphere. In some circumstances, these biophysical feedbacks can result in local climate warming, thereby counteracting the effects of carbon sequestration on global mean temperature and reducing or eliminating the net value of climate‐change mitigation projects. Here, we review published and emerging research that suggests ways in which forestry projects can counteract the consequences associated with biophysical interactions, and highlight knowledge gaps in managing forests for climate protection. We also outline several ways in which biophysical effects can be incorporated into frameworks that use the maintenance of forests as a climate protection strategy.
A domain-specific language for defining static structure of database applications
Authors: Dejanovic Igor , Milosavljevic Gordana , Perisic Branko , Tumbas Maja
Published: June 2010

In this paper we present DOMMLite - an extensible domain specific language (DSL) for static structure definition of data base oriented applications. The model-driven engineering (MDE) approach, an emerging software development paradigm, has been used. The language structure is defined by the means of a meta model supplemented by validation rules based on Check language and extensions based on Extend language, which are parts of the openArchitectureWare framework [1]. The meta model has been defined along with the textual syntax, which enables creation, update and persistence of DOMMLite models using a common text editor. DSL execution semantics has been defined by the specification and implementation of the source code generator for a target platform with an already defined execution semantics. In order to enable model editing, a textual Eclipse editor has also been developed. DSL, defined in this way, has the capability of generating complete source code for GUI forms with CRUDS (Create-Read-Update-Delete-Search) and navigation operations [2,3,4,5].
Reasoning with linguistic preferences using NPN logic
Authors: Devedzic Goran , Milosevic Danijela , Ivanovic Lozica , Adamovic Dragan , Manic Miodrag
Published: June 2010

Negative-positive-neutral logic provides an alternative framework for fuzzy cognitive maps development and decision analysis. This paper reviews basic notion of NPN logic and NPN relations and proposes adaptive approach to causality weights assessment. It employs linguistic models of causality weights activated by measurement-based fuzzy cognitive maps? concepts values. These models allow for quasi-dynamical adaptation to the change of concepts values, providing deeper understanding of possible side effects. Since in the real-world environments almost every decision has its consequences, presenting very valuable portion of information upon which we also make our decisions, the knowledge about the side effects enables more reliable decision analysis and directs actions of decision maker.
Concept of the exception handling system for manufacturing business processes
Authors: Misic Dragan , Domazet Dragan , Trajanovic Miroslav , Manic Miodrag , Zdravkovic Milan
Published: June 2010

Business processes managed by information systems rarely operate according to the pre defined scenario. Exceptions to the pre defined workflows occur frequently. This especially applies to the production processes, which are very complex and require a constant human involvement. Workflow management systems should be capable of responding adequately to the exceptions caused by the process environment. Moreover, the response should be automatic, if possible, i.e. the workflow should automatically adapt to the new situation, or otherwise, the system administrator should be informed, so that he could take appropriate actions. This paper presents workflow management system MD, which is capable of offering a satisfying solution to the detected exceptions.
Supply chain performance measurement system based on scorecards and web portals
Authors: Stefanovic Nenad , Stefanovic Dusan
Published: June 2010

Successful supply chain management becomes essential for the ultimate success of corporations. Companies today seek an effective performance measurement (PM) system to maximize the bottom line. Unfortunately, performance measurement in the supply-chain field has not kept pace with today?s world of interdependent business relationships. What companies need is a new PM system that unifies different business elements, concepts, technologies and tools. In this paper, the architecture of such a pervasive PM system is introduced. The main system elements such as process model, metrics and data warehouse are described. Finally, a specialized PM web portal which enables proactive performance monitoring and fosters the improvement and optimization is presented.
A grammar-based model for the semantic web
Authors: Jung Hyosook , Park Seongbin
Published: June 2010

The Semantic Web is an extension of the Web where information is represented in a machine processable way. In this paper, we present a two-level model for the Semantic Web from the perspective of formal language theory. The model consists of two grammars where the first level grammar is for creating ontologies and the second level grammar is for creating ontological instances. Based on the model, we implemented a system by which one can easily construct a small-scale Semantic Web environment.
Towards the methodology for development of fuzzy relational database applications
Authors: Skrbic Srdjan , Rackovic Milos , Takaci Aleksandar
Published: June 2010

In this paper we examine the possibilities to extend the relational data model with the mechanisms that can handle imprecise, uncertain and inconsistent attribute values using fuzzy logic and fuzzy sets. We present a fuzzy relational data model which we use for fuzzy knowledge representation in relational databases that guarantees the model in 3rd normal form. We also describe the CASE tool for the fuzzy database model development which is apparently the first implementation of such a CASE tool. In this sense, this paper presents a leap forward towards the specification of a methodology for fuzzy relational database applications development.
Emergent properties for data distribution in a cognitive MAS
Authors: Olaru Andrei , Gratie Cristian , Florea Magda
Published: June 2010

Emergence is a key element in the research of multi-agent systems. Emergent properties provide higher level features to a system formed of simpler individuals. So far, emergence has been studied mostly through systems formed of reactive agents - that are easier to design and implement. As computational power increases and even small devices become more capable, cognitive agents become a promising solution for more complex problems. This paper presents a multi-agent system that uses cognitive agents and that is designed to manifest emergent properties: a data storage system that assures distribution and replication of data as emergent properties, without the need for these features to be controlled in a centralized way.
Interruption in Women's Conversations: The Effects of Context in Ethnic Majority and Minority Group Interactions
Authors: Leman Patrick , Ikoko Theresa
Published: June 2010

Interruption in Women's Conversations: The Effects of Context in Ethnic Majority and Minority Group Interactions

The present study explored how the conversation dynamics of women from ethnic majority and minority groups varied in different conversational contexts. Sixty undergraduate students (mean age 19.5 years) engaged in unstructured, introductory talk in pairs and then discussed how they should rank a list of possible improvements to a university campus. Minority group women used more positive interruptions in both settings, and in introductory talk there was less positive interruption in cross ethnic than same ethnic pairs. Majority group women used a similar pattern of interruptions in introductory and task discussion. However, in task discussion, minority group women used less positive and more negative interruptions when talking with another minority group woman, and more positive and fewer negative interruptions when talking with a majority group woman. These findings suggest that minority group women modify their interaction styles depending on the type of conversation and the ethnicity of their partner.
The petrologic evolution and pre-eruptive conditions of the rhyolitic Kos Plateau Tuff (Aegean arc)
Authors: Bachmann Olivier
Published: June 2010

The Kos Plateau Tuff is a large (>60 km3) and young (160 k.y.) calc-alkaline, high-SiO2 rhyolitic ignimbrite from the active Kos-Nisyros volcanic center in the Aegean arc (Greece). Combined textural, petrological and geochemical information suggest that (1) the system evolved dominantly by crystal fractionation from (mostly unerupted) more mafic parents, (2) the magma chamber grew over ≥ 250 000 years at shallow depth (∼1.5-2.5 kb) and was stored as a H2O-rich crystalline mush close to its solidus (∼670-750°C), (3) the eruption occurred after a reheating event triggered by the intrusion of hydrous mafic magma at the base of the rhyolitic mush. Rare banded pumices indicate that the mafic magma only mingled with a trivial portion of resident crystal-rich rhyolite; most of the mush was remobilized following partial melting of quartz and feldspars induced by advection of heat and volatiles from the underplated, hotter mafic influx.
The Competitiveness of Poland on the Environmental Products and Services Market
Authors: Wysokińska Zofia
Published: June 2010

The aim of the paper is to present main aspects related to the characteristics of the market of environmental goods and services as one of the most potentially fast developing markets in the world economy (among such markets with similar size as, the pharmaceuticals and information technology markets). The paper will also examine some effects of environmental measures on market access within the multilateral liberalization process. This is a very positive phenomenon in this age of ever increasing attention paid to the implementation of principles of sustainable development as well as decreased barriers for improving access to developing markets in the case of both economically highly developed countries and in developing countries. The elimination of trade barriers in foreign trade for goods and services also increases the efficiency of the world economic system by enabling countries to specialize in those sectors in which they possess economic advantages, which includes those sectors in which they possess favorable natural environmental conditions. The analysis of these goods and services is related also to some regulations of the Committee for Trade and Environment of the WTO with special reference to conclusions of the Fourth and Fifth Ministerial Conferences in Doha and Cancun. Poland has relatively small, but still growing position in the analyzed market. As a member of the European Union, Poland should side with an acceleration in negotiations relating to the quick opening up of environmental services markets within the framework of the Doha Round.
Modelling and Forecasting the Volatility of Thin Emerging Stock Markets: the Case of Bulgaria
Authors: Patev Plamen , Kanaryan Nigokhos , Lyroudi Katerina
Published: June 2010

Modern Portfolio Theory associates the stock market risk with the volatility of return. Volatility is measured by the variance of the returns’ distribution. However, the investment community does not accept this measure, since it weights equally deviations of the average returns, whereas most investors determine the risk on the basis of small or negative returns. In the last few years the measure Value at Risk (VaR) has been established and adopted widely by practitioners. The issue of modelling and forecasting thin emerging stock markets’ risk is still open. The subject of this present paper is the risk of the Bulgarian stock market. The aim of this research is to give the investment community a model for assessing and forecasting the Bulgarian stock market risk. The result of this research shows that the SOFIX index has basic characteristics that are observed in most of the emerging stock markets, namely: high risk, significant autocorrelation, non-normality and volatility clustering. Three models have been applied to assess and estimate the Bulgarian stock market risk: RiskMetrics, EWMA with t-distributed innovations and EWMA with GED distributed innovations. The results revealed that the EWMA with t-distributed innovations and the EWMA with GED distributed innovations evaluate the risk of the Bulgarian stock market adequately.