bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How migrant networks facilitate trade: Evidence from Swiss exports
Authors: Vézina Pierre-Louis
Published: January 2018

This paper uses Swiss immigration data and two novel instrumental variables to test the channels through which migrants promote trade. Using the immigrant stock in France as well as Swiss visa restrictions as instruments for the immigrant stock in Switzerland, I am able to exploit the cross-sectional nature of the data and identify a causal protrade effect. I find robust evidence of a protrade effect that takes place entirely on the extensive margin, i.e. on the number of exported products rather than the value of exports. This suggests migrant networks reduce beachhead costs. I also find that migrants can act as substitute for formal institutions, but not so for goods sold on organised markets. This suggests either that differentiated products are not only search- but also trust-intensive or that migrants substitute for institutions by providing information rather than trust.
Public debt and economic growth in advanced economies: A survey
Authors: Panizza Ugo , Presbitero Andrea F.
Published: January 2018

This paper surveys the recent literature on the links between public debt and economic growth in advanced economies. We find that theoretical models yield ambiguous results. Whether high levels of public debt have a negative effect on long-run growth is thus an empirical question. While many papers have found a negative correlation between debt and growth, our reading of the empirical literature is that there is no paper that can make a strong case for a causal relationship going from debt to economic growth. We also find that the presence of thresholds and, more in general, of a non-monotone relationship between debt and growth is not robust to small changes in data coverage and empirical techniques. We conclude with a discussion of the challenges involved in measuring and defining public debt and some suggestions for future research which, in our view, should emphasize cross-country heterogeneity.
Quantifying the impact of higher capital requirements on the Swiss economy
Authors: Junge Georg , Kugler Peter
Published: January 2018

So far the discussion in Switzerland about the social costs and benefits of higher capital requirements resulting from the new Basel III Accord and the Swiss Too Big To Fail legislation has been heavily qualitative. This paper provides a quantitative view and estimates the long-run costs and benefits of substantially higher capital requirements using empirical evidence on Swiss banks to assess both benefits and costs. The analysis yields two main conclusions. The long-run economic benefits of higher capital requirements are substantial for the Swiss economy leading to a significantly lower probability of banking crises and associated expected losses. In contrast the costs of higher capital requirements as reflected in increased lending spreads and potential output reductions are literally non-existent.
From Lifetime Jobs to Churning?
Authors: Weber Sylvain , Luzzi Giovanni Ferro
Published: January 2018

Using data over 1991–2008 for Switzerland, we investigate job stability through a series of Cox proportional hazards models. Our baseline results show that employment has become less stable for older male workers, with less noticeable change for other groups. However, when destination states are considered in the model, results indicate that younger workers face more transitions towards unemployment than before, whereas older male workers’ greater instability is caused by an increase in transitions to inactivity. It thus appears that the situation of young workers has deteriorated, while the evolution of older men’s job stability is at least partly explained by the increasing number of early retirements. For women, our results are largely consistent with their increasing participation rate and attachment to the labor market.
A Simple Method for Predicting Distributions by Means of Covariates with Examples from Poverty and Health Economics
Authors: Dai Jing , Sperlich Stefan , Zucchini Walter
Published: January 2018

We present an integration based procedure for predicting the distributionfof an indicator of interest in situations where, in addition to the sample data, one has access to covariates that are available for the entire population. The proposed method, based on similar ideas that have been used in the literature on policy evaluation, provides an alternative to existing simulation and imputation methods. It is very simple to apply, flexible, requires no additional assumptions, and does not involve the inclusion of artificial random terms. It therefore yields reproducible estimates and allows for valid inference. It also provides a tool for future predictions, scenarios and ex-ante impact evaluation. We illustrate our procedure by predicting income distributions in a case with sample selection, and both current and future doctor visits. We find our approach outperforms other commonly used procedures substantially.
Rational Pension Policies
Authors: Börsch-Supan Axel
Published: January 2018

Aim of this keynote is to develop a framework how to approach the design of pension policies as rationally as possible. The first step is to realize and accommodate endogenous adjustments. The second step is to align the root causes of demographic change with corresponding reform steps which include but are not confined by pension reform. The third step is to separate the issues as best as possible to strengthen the political feasibility of reform.

The paper shows that relatively few and moderate reform steps suffice to solve the demographic problem in countries such as Germany and Switzerland. This is in striking contrast to the widespread resistance to reform. We falsify some of the myths, prejudices and misperceptions which make reforms politically so hard to put into place.
Reallocation of Capital and Labor within Firms
Authors: Mueller Holger
Published: January 2018

Understanding how internal capital and labor markets function sheds light on one of the most fundamental questions in economics: what determines the boundaries of the firm? This essay reviews the theoretical and empirical literature on internal capital markets and firm boundaries, focusing in particular on the close link between the two subjects Emphasis is placed on the question of how firms reallocate capital and labor internally across individual firm units in response to plausibly exogenous shocks The essay concludes with directions for future research.
Macroprudential Policy and Credit Supply
Authors: Peydró José-Luis
Published: January 2018

In this paper we analyze financial crises and the interactions of macroprudential policy and credit. Financial crises are recurrent systemic phenomena, often triggering deep and long-lasting recessions with large reductions in aggregate welfare, output and employment Importantly for policy, systemic financial crises are typically not random events triggered by exogenous events, but they tend to occur after periods of rapid, strong credit growth. Moreover, a credit crunch tends to follow in a financial crisis with negative aggregate real effects Macroprudential policy softens the credit supply cycles, with important positive effects on the aggregate real economy in crisis times.
Econometric Analysis of Ratings — with an Application to Health and Wellbeing
Authors: Studer Raphael , Winkelmann Rainer
Published: January 2018

We propose a new non-linear regression model for rating dependent variables. The rating scale model accounts for the upper and lower bounds of ratings. Parametric and semi-parametric estimation is discussed. An application investigates the relationship between stated health satisfaction and physical and mental health scores derived from self-reports of various health impairments, using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel. We compare our new approach to modeling ratings with ordinary least squares (OLS). In one specification, OLS average effects exceed that from our rating scale model by up to 50 percent. Also, OLS in-sample mean predictions violate the upper bound of the dependent variable in a number of cases.
Immigration and Swiss House Prices
Authors: Degen Kathrin , Fischer Andreas M.
Published: January 2018

This study examines the behavior of Swiss house prices in relation to immigration flows for 85 regions from 2001 to 2006. The results show that the nexus between immigration and house prices holds even in an environment of low house price inflation and modest immigration flows. An immigration inflow equal to 1 % of an area’s population is coincident with an increase in prices for single-family homes of about 2.7 %, a result consistent with previous studies. The overall immigration effect for single-family houses captures almost two-thirds of the total price increase.
Malleable Penile Implant Is an Effective Therapeutic Option in Men With Peyronie’s Disease and Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Habous Mohamad , Tealab Alaa , Farag Mohammed , Soliman Tarek , Williamson Ben , Mahmoud Saad , Elserafy Amin , Mekawi Zenhom , Remeah Abdallah , Nassar Mohammed , Laban Osama , Abdelwahab Osama , Binsaleh Saleh , Giona Simone , Ralph David , Mulhall John
Published: January 2018

Background

The inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is typically the preferred implant for Peyronie’s disease (PD) and malleable penile prostheses (MPPs) have been discouraged.

Aims

To evaluate the effectiveness and patient satisfaction of the MPP vs IPP in patients with PD.

Methods

Men with PD and erectile dysfunction who elected for penile implant surgery constituted the study population. Preoperatively, demographic and comorbidity parameters were recorded. Curvature was measured with a goniometer at maximum rigidity after intracavernosal injection of a vasoactive agent. Postoperatively, overall satisfaction was measured at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months on 5-point Likert scale from 1 (dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied).

Results

166 men with a mean age of 59 ± 10 years were analyzed. The mean preoperative curvature in the entire cohort was 65° (range = 30–130°). 94% of patients with MPP had total resolution of their curvature at the end of the operation, whereas 8 patients (6%) had residual curvature (25–40°). In the IPP group 25 of 30 (83.3%) had a straight penis at the end of surgery, whereas 5 of 30 (16.7%) had residual curvature, with the mean magnitude being 33° in the MPP group and 30° in the IPP group. 86% of all patients had diabetes. There were no differences between the 2 implant groups in age, hemoglobin A1c, body mass index, or smoking status. The mean patient satisfaction was 4.42 ± 0.70 (range = 2–5) and there was no difference between the 2 groups. The mean follow-up period was 23.4 months (range = 6–29 months).

Conclusion

We found that the MPP is as effective as the IPP in curvature correction in patients with PD, with similar patient satisfaction for the 2 groups.
Definite intensity‐modulated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy more than 4 cycles improved survival for patients with locally‐advanced or inoperable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Hsieh He‐Yuan , Hsu Chung‐Ping , Yeh Hui‐Ling , Chuang Cheng‐Yen , Lin Jai‐Fu , Chang Chen‐Fa
Published: January 2018

We investigated which prognostic factor could improve survival for esophageal cancer patients who received definite concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT). Eighty patients with age ≥18, Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) ≥ 60, and clinical stage T1‐4N0‐3M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled from July 2004 to December 2015. They underwent definite intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with or without simultaneous integrated boost to the primary tumor, and reception of concurrent chemotherapy ≥ 1 cycle. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS), locoregional progression‐free survival (LRPFS) and distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS). The median follow‐up duration for alive patients was 21.5 months. The rates of 2‐, 3‐ and 5‐year OS/LRPFS/DMFS were 23.8%/53.5%/49.3%, 19.1%/44.6%/49.3%, and 13.0%/44.6%/43.9%, respectively. Only the non‐clinical complete response (non‐cCR) after CCRT was an independent poor prognostic factor in OS (HR 3.101, 95% CI 1.535–6.265, p = 0.0016). Radiation dose >50.4 Gy and chemotherapy ≥4 cycles significantly predicted better LRPFS (p = 0.0361 and 0.0163, respectively). Poorly differentiated tumor and stage III disease have poor DMFS (p = 0.0336 and 0.0411, respectively), and chemotherapy ≥ 4 cycles was a better predictor (p = 0.0004). In subgroup analysis, patients who received radiation dose ≤50.4 Gy with concurrent chemotherapy ≥4 cycles had the best survival outcome with 1‐, 2‐, 3‐ and 5‐year survival rates of 73.7%, 39.4%, 31.5% and 17.5%, respectively. In conclusion, definite radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy ≥4 cycles improved the survival for patients with inoperable or locally‐advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Improving the Interpretation of Fixed Effects Regression Results
Authors: Mummolo Jonathan , Peterson Erik
Published: January 2018

Fixed effects estimators are frequently used to limit selection bias. For example, it is well known that with panel data, fixed effects models eliminate time-invariant confounding, estimating an independent variable’s effect using only within-unit variation. When researchers interpret the results of fixed effects models, they should therefore consider hypothetical changes in the independent variable (counterfactuals) that could plausibly occur within units to avoid overstating the substantive importance of the variable’s effect. In this article, we replicate several recent studies which used fixed effects estimators to show how descriptions of the substantive significance of results can be improved by precisely characterizing the variation being studied and presenting plausible counterfactuals. We provide a checklist for the interpretation of fixed effects regression results to help avoid these interpretative pitfalls.
Toxicity of MSMA, Fluometuron, and Propanil to Soybeans
Authors: Bode L.E. , McWhorter C.G.
Published: January 2018

We investigated the toxicity of MSMA (monosodium methanearsonate), fluometuron [1,1-dimethyl-3-(α,α,α-trifluoro-m-tolyl)urea], and propanil (3′,4′-dichloropropionanilide) to soybeans [Glycine max(L.) Merr. ‘Hill’]. Over-the-top treatments were applied to soybeans at four stages of growth using MSMA at 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 kg/ha, propanil at 0.2, 0.4, and 0.9 kg/ha, and fluometuron at 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 kg/ha. Each herbicide caused 10 to 30% soybean injury at the lowest rate, and 40 to 70% injury at the highest rate. Soybeans treated earliest in the growing season usually recovered from injury better than soybeans treated later in the season. Soybean yields were reduced 50 to 70% by MSMA at 0.4 kg/ha and 25 to 35% by propanil at 0.9 kg/ha. Yield losses increased with stage of soybean maturity at time of treatment. Fluometuron at 0.2 kg/ha significantly reduced yield only when applied to soybeans with 7 or 10 trifoliolates or in midbloom.
Sinking Leaf-Disk Test for Potato Variety Herbicide Tolerance
Authors: Gawronski S.W. , Callihan R.H. , Pavek J.J.
Published: January 2018

A sinking leaf-disk technique enabled detection of differences among potato (Solanum tuberosumL.) varieties in herbicide tolerance within 24 hr. Susceptibility of varieties to field application of metribuzin [4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazine-5-(4H)-one] was correlated (r = 0.76∗∗) to the number of sunken disks in a metribuzin solution in a growth chamber with continuous light at 30 klux. Varieties that were very tolerant, very susceptible, or intermediate in tolerance to field application of metribuzin were generally in these same categories when evaluated by the sinking leaf-disk technique. Speed of this response was dependent upon herbicide concentration and solution temperature, but the varietal relationships did not change. It was necessary to use leaves of nearly the same age as determined by relative size and position on the plant. Other factors influencing results included plant growth stage, soil moisture, and atmospheric temperature. Results from the sinking leaf-disk test of winter-grown greenhouse plants of the same clones were correlated (r = 0.86∗) to estimated metribuzin injury to field-grown plants. This method, with adequate modification of technique, may have potential use for studying other plant species and other relationships between plants and photosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides.
Influence of GA and SADH on Naptalam Uptake by Wheat and Soybean Seedlings
Authors: Devlin Robert M. , Karczmarczyk Stanislaw J.
Published: January 2018

The uptake of naptalam (N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid) by wheat (Triticum vulgareL. ‘Mericopa’) and soybean (Glycine max(L.) Merr. ‘York’) was enhanced when the herbicide was applied simultaneously with SADH (succinic acid-2,2-dimethylhydrazide). Both root and shoot systems of growth regulator-treated plants exhibited enhanced herbicide uptake. Naptalam uptake by wheat seedlings was also stimulated by GA (gibberellic acid), but the GA influence in this respect was less dramatic than that of SADH. The uptake of the herbicide by soybean was not influenced by GA.
Redroot Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) and Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) Interference in Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)
Authors: Vangessel Mark J. , Renner Karen A.
Published: January 2018

In greenhouse replacement series experiments, ‘Atlantic’ and ‘Russet Burbank’ potatoes and barnyardgrass were more competitive than redroot pigweed as measured by relative competitive ability. In additive design field studies, four redroot pigweed or barnyardgrass per meter of row did not reduce Atlantic tuber yield when planted between the row following hilling (6 to 7 weeks after planting). However, as few as one barnyardgrass or redroot pigweed per meter of row reduced marketable tuber yield 19 to 33% when seeded in the row at the time of potato planting. Redroot pigweed reduced tuber yield more than barnyardgrass did in 1 yr of research. The correlation coefficients were similar for both weed density and weed biomass regressed on tuber yield. Aboveground potato biomass was not consistent in predicting total tuber yield. Furthermore, variability in aboveground potato biomass was not due to increasing weed weight or density. Neither specific gravity nor tuber quality was altered by the presence of any density of either weed species.
Effects of Day and Night Temperature on Vegetative Growth of Texas Panicum (Panicum texanum)
Authors: Patterson David T.
Published: January 2018

Texas panicum was grown in controlled-environment chambers in 16 day/night temperature regimes ranging from 19/11 to 34/26 C. After 33 days, maximum plant height, leaf area, and dry weight occurred at 34/26 C. The greatest number of tillers and leaves occurred at 34/16 C. Partitioning of plant biomass into stems increased with increasing night temperature, while partitioning into leaves tended to decrease. Partitioning of biomass into roots decreased with increasing night temperature at day temperatures of 19 or 24 C but not at 34 C. Plant dry matter production (DMP) was highly correlated with both leaf area duration (LAD) and net assimilation rate (NAR) during the first 2 weeks of growth. During the subsequent 3 weeks, DMP was highly correlated with LAD but not with NAR. The low-temperature threshold for growth of Texas panicum was approximately 11 C. Texas panicum attained 25% of its maximum growth at an average daily temperature of 21 C, 50% at 24 C, and 75% at 26 C. Texas panicum is unlikely to become a highly competitive weed outside the southern and southwestern United States.
Use of the Arcsine and Square Root Transformations for Subjectively Determined Percentage Data
Authors: Ahrens William H. , Cox Darrell J. , Budhwar Girish
Published: January 2018

The arcsine and square root transformations were tested on 82 weed control data sets and 62 winter wheat winter survival data sets to determine effects on normality of the error terms, homogeneity of variance, and additivity of the model. Transformations appeared to correct deficiencies in these three parameters in the majority of data sets, but had adverse effects in certain other data sets. Performing the recommended transformation in conjunction with omitting treatments having identical replicate observations provided a high percentage of correction of non-normality, heterogeneity of variance, and nonadditivity. The arcsine transformation, not generally recommended for data sets having values from 0 to 20% or 80 to 100%, was as effective in correcting non-normality, heterogeneity of variance, and nonadditivity in these data sets as was the recommended square root transformation. A majority of data sets showed differences between transformed and nontransformed data in mean separations determined using LSD (0.05), although most of these differences were minor and had little effect on interpretation of results.
Effect of Field Violet (Viola arvensis) Growth Stage on Uptake, Translocation, and Metabolism of Terbacil
Authors: Doohan Douglas J. , Monaco Thomas J. , Sheets Thomas J.
Published: January 2018

Uptake, translocation, and metabolism of14C-terbacil was investigated in 12-leaf (tolerant) and 3-leaf (susceptible) field violet plants. Field violets with 12 leaves absorbed less14C-terbacil g−1of fresh weight from solution culture than did plants with three leaves. Plants with three leaves translocated twice as much radioactivity to foliage than did plants with 12 leaves. Most14C in roots (77%) and foliage (57%) of field violet plants with 12 leaves was in polar metabolites. Metabolism studies indicated that most14C (79%) in foliage extracts from field violet plants with three leaves was14C-terbacil. Polar metabolites were not detected in roots of field violet plants with three leaves.
The Wounding Response of Dormant Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) Seeds
Authors: Leather Gerald R. , Sung Shi-Jean , Hale Maynard G.
Published: January 2018

Induction of germination in dormant barnyardgrass seeds by wounding was investigated. Previous research indicated that a volatile compound was emitted during imbibition of wounded caryopses. When wounded caryopses were submerged in agar, total germination and speed of germination were stimulated, and the stimulation was dependent upon the concentration of agar. A twofold increase in germination occurred in 1% agar versus water, and a fivefold increase with caryopses placed in 5% agar. When wounded caryopses were imbibed, there was a fourfold increase in respiration over that of intact caryopses after 1 h. This increased rate of respiration of wounded caryopses continued for 7 h, while there was a gradual increase in respiration of intact caryopses. Carbon dioxide induced intact dormant caryopses to germinate but was not effective in stimulating germination of the seed (spikelet). High levels of abscisic acid found in the hulls of dormant seeds may have prevented the action of carbon dioxide. These results suggest that increased respiration resulting from wounding provides elevated levels of carbon dioxide in the microenvironment of the seed, thus stimulating germination. Removal of the hulls is necessary for germination even in high levels of carbon dioxide.
Insects, Nematodes, and Pathogens Associated by Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) in Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) Pastures
Authors: Nichols Robert L. , Cardina John , Lynch Robert L. , Minton Norman A. , Wells Homer D.
Published: January 2018

Horsenettle is a deep-rooted perennial weed that cannot be easily controlled by mechanical means or by a single chemical application. A study was conducted at two sites for two consecutive years to identify biological factors that might limit its growth. Insects, nematodes, and plant pathogens were collected from horsenettle growing in bermudagrass pastures. The insects most commonly found included the Colorado potato beetle and the eggplant flea beetle. An unidentified lepidopteron, familyGelechiidae, was found at very low frequency as pupae in hollow leaf chambers constructed at the apices of flowering meristems. Infested apices bore no fruit. Seven genera of nematodes were found in the soil at both sites, but only very low numbers of lesion nematodes were recovered from horsenettle roots, and these had caused little damage. Root rot was observed under wet soil conditions on plants damaged by trampling. A downy mildew was prevalent at both sites in both years in October.
Emergence, Growth, and Reproduction of Horse Purslane (Trianthema portulacastrum) as Influenced by Environmental Conditions
Authors: Balyan R. S. , Bhan V. M.
Published: January 2018

The effect of environmental conditions on horse purslane (Trianthema portulacastrum L. # TRTPO) emergence, growth, and reproduction was studied by sowing seeds on June 10, June 30, July 20, August 10, and August 30, 1984. The first three seeding dates resulted in significantly higher seedling emergence than the August 30 date. Leaf number, leaf area, dry matter, and number of branches per plant at the peak growth stages of this weed were significantly higher for the July 20 sowing than for the other sowing dates, followed closely by the June 30 sowing. Similarly, number of nodes per plant, seeds per plant, and seed weight per plant were also significantly higher for the July 20 sowing, followed closely by the June 30 sowing. Phenological behavior of the plants indicate that: a) maximum seedling emergence takes place during June and July, b) rapid and vigorous growth occurs during July and August (rainy season) when conditions for growth are optimum, and c) production of flowers and seeds starts 20 to 30 days after sowing.
Germination, Host Preference, and Phenolic Content of Witchweed (Striga hermonthica) Seed Populations
Authors: Bebawi Faiz F. , Awad Adil E. , Khalid Sami A.
Published: January 2018

Phenolic content, germination percentage, and host preference were compared among 11 seed populations of witchweed (Striga hermonthica(Del.) Benth. # STRHE). Significant differences in germination percentage occurred among the seed populations after preconditioning by their exposure to different durations of warm-moist conditions. Greatest percentage of seed germinated after 8 days of preconditioning. Preconditioning for more than 16 days reduced percentage germination. The host specificity range of witchweed seed populations that parasitized pearl millet [Pennisetum americanum(L.) K. Schum] was broader than were those seed populations that attacked sorghum [Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench.]. Results of thin-layer chromatography indicated large variations in phenolic content among the witchweed seed populations.
Interference Between Apple (Malus domestica) Seedlings and Four Ground Cover Species Under Greenhouse Conditions
Authors: Shribbs John M. , Skroch Walter A. , Monaco Thomas J.
Published: January 2018

Seedlings from golden delicious apples (Malus domesticaBorkh. ‘Smoothee’) were grown in the greenhouse with orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerataL. # DACGL), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensisL. # POAPR), red sorrel (Rumex acetosellaL. # RUMAA), and Korean lespedeza (Lespedeza stipulaceaL. # LESSL) at four densities and four fertility levels. Orchardgrass and red sorrel inhibited tree growth more than Kentucky bluegrass on a per plant basis. Korean lespedeza inhibition of apple growth was associated with the amount of root nodulation on the Korean lespedeza. Apple shoot dry weight over all fertility levels, ground cover species, and densities was predicted by a regression model based on increase with fertility and decrease with ground cover dry weight. These results indicate that the competitiveness between equal number of ground cover species is due to differences in biomass production. Addition of nitrogen to the system increased nitrogen levels in apples but did not completely overcome apple growth inhibition.
Effect of Planting Date on Parasitism of Broadbean (Vicia faba) by Crenate Broomrape (Orobanche crenata)
Authors: Mesa-García J. , García-Torres L.
Published: January 2018

Field experiments were conducted to study the phenology and growth of broadbean (Vicia fabaL. ‘Alameda’) and crenate broomrape (Orobanche crenataForsk. # ORACR) in relation to planting date. The establishment of crenate broomrape on broadbean planted between mid-December and mid-January coincided with the flower initiation on the crop. Establishment occurred during the vegetative phase, several weeks before flowering from a mid-November and mid-October planting. In general, no consistent relationships were observed between growth of the host and attachment or subsequent growth stage of the parasite. The maximum number of crenate broomrape plants successfully attached to the host as well as the duration of the underground stage of crenate broomrape decreased as broadbean planting was delayed. Broadbean dry weight decreased as infection rate increased. This effect was more intense in early than late plantings.
A Golden Age for a Changing Nation: Polish National Identity and the Histories of the Wilanów Residence of King Jan III Sobieski
Authors: Arciszewska Barbara
Published: January 2018

As we continue to probe the boundaries of architectural history and to seek new approaches to the complex legacy of the past, we have to reassess the body of knowledge produced thus far, exposing its often-hidden agendas in order to be aware of our own engagement with today’s ideologies. The architectural history of Central Europe, although usually marginalized, serves as a particularly instructive field in which to study the mutability of ideological positions and their impact on interpretation. Scholarship on the Wilanów Palace near Warsaw (c. 1677–96) (Figs 1 and 2) offers some of the most interesting examples of architectural history’s appropriations, oversights and extraordinary intellectual constructions devised solely in order to claim a relationship with the glorious past, or to sever ties with certain aspects of it, depending upon the contemporary ideological agendas. This material demonstrates how a single building has been used over the years to express diverse concepts of national identity, either by subjecting that building to certain physical modifications, or by making it serve as a point of departure for narratives that emphasize different characteristics of precisely the same physical fabric. The vocabulary of classical architecture employed in Wilanów was particularly well suited to such cultural practices. Classicism – the paradigmatic architectural language, positioned at the nexus of the indigenous and the foreign – has traditionally been associated with discourses of national identity. It was a universal idiom of authority, easily reflecting diverse (or even conflicting) social agendas, its visual vocabulary lending itself to a succession of new meanings, in line with shifting expectations and ideological priorities. In Wilanów the classical and the universal were continually redefined in an attempt to express in visual form the national and the particular.
Refabricating the Imperial Image on the Isle of Dogs: Modernist Design, British State Exhibitions and Colonial Policy 1924–1951
Authors: Liscombe Rhodri Windsor
Published: January 2018

Historical analysis of the 1951 Festival of Britain has tended to overlook its ideological genealogy, and also to give less consideration to the Exhibition of Architecture, Town Planning and Building Research at Lansbury in Poplar on the Isle of Dogs than to the architecture and displays at the South Bank site (Figs 1 and 2). That genealogy reflects an intersection between the formulation of colonial policy and the adaptation of Modern Movement theory and practice during the final phase of British imperialism. Consequently the purpose of this paper is to recover various aspects of this intersection, during the nearly three decades from the British Empire Exhibition of 1924. Focusing on design practice in the Empire, especially the national exhibition buildings erected at those major international expositions that led up to and culminated in the Festival of Britain, it also examines the wider representation of architectural and colonial development in professional media and public propaganda.
Volunteer association perceptions of municipal policy strategies to promote co-production of healthy ageing services
Authors: SCHEELE CHRISTIAN ELLING , VRANGBÆK KARSTEN , KRIEGBAUM MARGIT
Published: January 2018

Civic society voluntary associations promote healthy ageing by increasing older adults’ social and physical activity levels and through the co-production of services aimed at other senior citizens. Local governments are increasingly interested in collaborating with such associations as a policy response to an expanding ageing population. Co-production requires a flexible, network-based governance approach, which has not been examined from the voluntary associations’ point of view. This study explores how voluntary associations perceive the relevance and usefulness of public policies aimed at promoting co-production of services for ageing citizens. The study is based on quantitative data collected through a survey sent to 1,060 voluntary associations (N = 571) in three Danish municipalities. We also studied municipalities’ policies relevant to co-production of services aimed at senior citizens. We found that all of these policies included the explicit ambition of network governance of co-production of services targeted to address healthy ageing issues. However, our study indicates that the voluntary associations perceive the actual network governance to be somewhat fragmented and the corresponding scope of co-production was limited, which indicates the failure of municipalities to implement policy goals. Accordingly, municipal co-production in this area could probably benefit from the use of relevant key performance indicators that can enable political-administrative monitoring in order to secure deeper implementation and political accountability that promotes healthy ageing at the local level.
Non-kin ties as a source of support amongst older adults ‘left behind’ in Poland: a quantitative study on the role of geographic distance
Authors: CONKOVA NINA , KING RUSSELL
Published: January 2018

In the transition to democracy and a market economy, the Central and Eastern European countries experienced rapid and fundamental changes. Large-scale emigration flows and pronounced reductions in previously universal welfare systems increased the phenomenon of ‘left behind’ older adults. We examine this phenomenon in the case of Poland, a rather family-oriented society which in recent years sent most emigrants to Western Europe in absolute terms. Employing a support system framework and representative survey data, we enquire into older adults’ support patterns. Our results suggest that older adults in Poland rely predominantly on family support, although this varies greatly across living arrangements. We also find a positive association between distance separating parents and their closest child, and support from at least one non-kin. Yet, our findings reveal differences between practical and emotional support, with the latter being more likely to be provided by non-kin, but with distance mattering to a lesser degree. Parents with very distant child(ren) are few and differ only from parents with very proximate child(ren), a finding prompting the question as to what is the difference between being ‘left behind’ by international and by internal migration. We conclude that the phenomenon of ‘left behind’ in Poland, at least in terms of support, is less a matter of children's migration and more an issue of household and regional context.
The Use of Electrometric Titration to Improve the Routine Prediction of Silage Intake by Lambs and Dairy Cows
Authors: Offer N.W. , Dewhurst R.J. , Thomas C.
Published: January 2018

Inaccurate prediction of silage intake is a major source of error in ration calculation. Improvement in accuracy depends on the introduction of new routine methods to characterise better the silage fermentation. Electrometric titration has the potential to fill this role as it measures the main fermentation end-products in silage, residual sugar and gives absolute data on buffering characteristics (Offer et al., 1993).

Results are presented for years 1 and 2 of a 3 year study of the use of electrometric titration of silage juice to improve the prediction of silage true DM (TDM) intake (SDMI). Fifty seven silages have been made using a variety of grass and grass-clover mixtures and a wide range of cutting dates (between 25 May and 29 September) and ensilage methods. The following additives were used : none, formic acid (2.5 l/tonne), formic acid (>5 l/tonne), Lactobacillus inoculant, molasses (16 l/tonne), molasses + inoculant. A range of wilting times (0 to 48 hr) was used and in some cases grass was left uncovered in a heap (up to 72 hr) before ensiling.
Selection for components of efficient lean growth in Landrace pigs
Authors: Curran M.K. , Cameron N.D.
Published: January 2018

To study responses to divergent selection for lean growth rate (LGA), lean food conversion ratio (LFC) and daily food intake (DFI), an experiment was started in 1984 at Edinburgh and Wye. This paper measured the selection pressure applied, the responses in the selection criteria and estimated the genetic and phenotypic relationships between the selection criteria with ad-libitum feeding of Landrace pigs after four generations of selection.

The LGA (LFC) selection objective was to obtain equal correlated responses in growth rate (food conversion ratio) and carcass lean content, measured in phenotypic s.d. The LGA, LFC and DFI selection criteria had phenotypic s.d. of 32, 29 and 270 units and results are presented in s.d. units.

Boars and gilts were purchased from eight British nucleus herds and boars from national artificial insemination centres in 1982. Homozygous or heterozygous halothane positive pigs were not included in the experiment. The base population consisted of 20 sires and 89 dams. Within each of the three selection groups, there were high and low selection lines with a control line, each consisting of 10 boars and 20 gilts, with a generation interval of one year. There were two control lines, one for LGA and one for LFC and DFI, as selection groups were arrowed continuously. The total number of pigs tested per line and average inbreeding coefficient at generation 4, within selection group are given below.
Effect of selection for growth, FCR and lean % on feed intake corves in pigs
Authors: van der Steen H.A.M. , Knap P.W.
Published: January 2018

Available technology allows pig breeding companies to automate feed intake recording during performance test. This provides data on ‘average daily feed intake’ as recorded with more traditional manual systems. It also results in feed intake curves, i.e. the relationship between ‘days on test’ and ‘daily feed intake’. This information can be used in different ways. The feed intake curve may be described using sophisticated linear or non-linear models; these may describe the feed intake curve accurately, but model parameters cannot be used easily in genetic/economic evaluation in the context of a breeding programme. A simple method to describe feed intake curves is used in this paper, allowing for easy interpretation of the results. The objective is to study the impact of existing selection procedures on the feed intake curve and the utilisation of variation in its shape in pig breeding.

Performance test data of 1331 boars of a Large White based line, collected from November 1990 to March 1993 were analysed. Boars are tested over a 12 week period, starting at approximately 30 kg. Feed intake data are recorded with the Hunday FIRE system.
Comparative Peformance of Two Primiparous Continental Genotypes in a Hill Suckler Herd (ii) Metabolic Profiles
Authors: Christensen K.A. , Rowlinson P. , Keatinge R.
Published: January 2018

There is little published data on the detailed performance of continental genotypes as suckler cows in a hill environment. The work presented investigates levels of blood metabolites and hormones in autumn calving heifers during the post-partum period. Reproductive performance of the herd is detailed in an accompanying paper (Keatinge et al 1994).
Factors Associated With Dystocia Following Embryo Transfer to Heifers
Authors: Duncan Pullar  , Anthony E. Wrathall
Published: January 2018

Recent developments in cattle breeding technology have made the mass production of in vitro fertilised (IVF) embryos a realistic possibility. One use of this technology will be the production of “designer calves” for beef, from dairy and suckler cows. The IVF embryos used for this purpose are likely to have the genetic potential for high growth rates which may result in higher birth weights. If used incorrectly, this development in embryo transfer (ET) technology may increase the incidence of dystocia and therefore reduce the welfare of both cows and calves. A better understanding of the factors involved in dystocia would enable management action to be taken before ET and during pregnancy which would minimise dystocia and maximise welfare of both cow and calf.
The effects of effective rumen degraded dietary protein and digestible undegraded protein on rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in wether sheep given high levels of molasses
Authors: Yan T. , Roberts D. J. , Offer N. W.
Published: January 2018

The feeding of molasses influences the rumen fermentation by changing the balance of microbes in the rumen and their metabolism. One of the consequences is a decrease in efficiency of utilisation of dietary protein when high molasses levels are fed. The dietary protein requirements of ruminants may therefore be higher for diets containing high molasses levels. A previous experiment with dairy cows has shown positive responses in feed intake and milk production to increases in both effective rumen degraded dietary protein (ERDP) and digestible undegraded protein (DUP) in diets containing 310 g/kg DM of molaferm 20 (a mixture of 800 g cane molasses with 200 g condensed molasses solubles per kg, supplied by United Molasses) (Yan and Roberts, 1993). The current experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effects of dietary ERDP and DUP levels on rumen fermentation, hay DM degradability and microbial growth in the rumen of wether sheep.
Effect of Lysine/DE Ratio on Growth Performance and Nitrogen Deposition of Hybrid Boars, Gilts and Castrates
Authors: Van Lunen T.A. , Cole D.J.A.
Published: January 2018

With the development of pig genotypes having high N deposition rates, previously accepted nutrient requirement recommendations must be re-examined. Requirements for protein (assuming lysine represents ‘ideal’ protein) for conventional growing pigs have been in the range of .60 to .74 g lysine/MJ DE (Batterham, 1994) while recent work with hybrid boars has shown a positive growth and N deposition response to ratios of the order of 1.0 (Rao and McCracken, 1991). It is generally accepted that sex has an effect on N deposition rate (Campbell et al., 1990) and therefore possibly on nutrient requirements. There is little information available on the effect of sex on growth and N deposition rate of modern genotypes. This experiment was conducted to estimate the N deposition rate of highly selected boars, gilts and castrates from 25 to 90 kg liveweight when fed diets containing ratios from 0.4 to 1.4 g lysine/MJ DE.
Level of Skin Damage in Sows When Mixed in Groups in Early Pregnancy
Authors: Burfoot A. , Kay R.M. , Simmins P.H.
Published: January 2018

Most UK pig farmers will be turning to housing sows in groups due to the regulations which will phase out stall and tether systems by 1st January 1999. The formation of either small stable groups or large, dynamic groups by mixing unfamiliar sows, will result in aggression between sows. One consequence of aggression is the level of damage to the skin which, if severe, may compromise the welfare of the sow. Information is needed on the effect of different methods of mixing and managing sows in groups on the level of skin damage and, hence, the welfare of the sow. In addition, aggression between sows in early pregnancy may have deleterious effects on reproductive performance. In particular, Simmins (1993) showed that sows housed in stable groups throughout the implantation period of pregnancy had larger, heavier litters than sows housed in dynamic groups. However, no information was available on the level of aggression between sows on each treatment. The object of the present experiment was to determine the level of skin damage, as an indicator of aggression between sows, that occurs when sows are mixed in small stable groups, before or after mating, or large dynamic groups after mating.
Heritability Estimates for Juvenile Body weight by Least Squares and DFREML in a Commercial Broiler Breeder Dam Population
Authors: Morris A.J. , Pollott G.E.
Published: January 2018

To date commercial broiler breeders have focused primarily on increasing early growth rate in selection programmes aimed at improving overall production efficiency. In commercial programmes, early growth rate is simplified to a single body weight measure taken at a fixed age during the growth phase approaching common slaughter weights. Most recent selection studies report heritabilities from experimental populations that are at best, synthesised from crossing modern broiler material from several different sources (Leenstra et al, 1986; Wang et al, 1991). Therefore, such populations are likely to exhibit greater heterozygosity than many commercial lines which have undergone many generations of intense selection in closed populations. This paper reports heritabilities estimated using both least squares and derivative-free maximum likelihood techniques for data from a commercial breeder dam line which has remained closed since its inception in 1975.
Effects of forage:Concentrate ratio in the diet and restricted dry matter intake on the performance and carcass composition of steers
Authors: Steen R.W.J.
Published: January 2018

The efficient production of lean beef suitable for current consumer demand necessitates effective rationing of beef cattle. Feeding standards for beef cattle given by ARC (1980) predict that a reduction in energy intake produces a large reduction in performance with little effect on the energy or fat contents of the gain. However previous studies have shown that diets containing a high proportion of grass silage may sustain lower levels of performance and result in a greater proportion of fat in the gain in both calves and finishing cattle, than when similar quantities of energy and protein are given in the form of high-concentrate diets. The effects of a change in energy intake on performance and carcass composition of beef cattle are therefore likely to depend on whether this change is achieved by restricting the quantity of food given or changing the forage: concentrate ratio of a diet given ad libitum.The present experiment was carried out to examine the effects of forage:concentrate ratio in the diet and ad libitum versus restricted dry matter intake on the performance, carcass composition and efficiency of lean meat production by steers.