bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economic growth and energy consumption nexus in Pakistan
Authors: Ahmed Waqas , Zaman Khalid , Taj Sadaf , Rustam Rabiah , Waseem Muhammad , Shabir Muhammad
Published: August 2013

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between electricity consumption per capita (ELEC) and real per capita income (Y), as the direction of causation of this relationship remains controversial in the existing literature. It also seeks to explore the relationship between energy consumption per capita (ENC) and real per capita income, over a 34‐year period (between 1975 and 2009).

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses Johansen cointegration technique to determine the short‐ and long‐run relationship between the variables. The authors also utilize Granger causality test to determine the causal relationship between the selected variables.

Findings

The study provides evidence of bi‐directional causality between the electricity consumption per capita and real per capita income on one hand; and energy consumption per capita and real per capita income on the other hand as the direction of causality has significant policy implications.

Research limitations/implications

This study does not include all dimensions of the energy growth, but is limited to the three variables which the authors consider to be critical to economic development, including energy consumption, electricity consumption and economic growth.

Originality/value

The study uses a sophisticated econometric technique with additional tests of forecasting framework to examine the effect of energy demand on economic growth over a period of the next ten years, i.e. 2010‐2019, in the context of Pakistan. The impulse response describes the reaction of the system as a function of independent variable that parameterizes the dynamic behavior of the system.
Finite element method based absolute pressure sensitivity optimized membrane type double cavity vacuum sealed piezoresistive sensor
Authors: Kumar Rathore Pradeep , Varshney Pratyush , Prasad Sunil , Panwar B.S.
Published: August 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to use finite element method for optimizing the membrane type double cavity vacuum sealed structure for the best achievable sensitivity in a piezoresistive absolute pressure sensor and its validation using a standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process.

Design/methodology/approach

– A double cavity vacuum sealed piezoresistive absolute pressure sensor has been simulated and optimized for its performance and an analytical model describing the behaviour of the sensor has been described. The 1×1 mm sensor chip has two membrane type 100×30×1.7 μm diaphragms consisting of composite layers of plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) of silicon nitride (Si3N4) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) each hanging over 21 μm deep rectangular cavity. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) based anisotropic etching of single crystal silicon using front side lateral etching technology is used for the fabrication of the sensor. The electrical readout circuitry uses 318 Ω boron diffused low pressure vapour chemical vapour deposition (LPCVD) of polysilicon resistors arranged in the Wheatstone half bridge configuration. The sensing structure is simulated and optimized using COMSOL Multiphysics.

Findings

– Front-side lateral etching technology has been successfully used for the fabrication of double cavity absolute pressure sensor. A good agreement with the fabricated device for the chosen location of the piezoresistors through simulation has been predicted. The measured pressure sensitivity of two tested pressure sensors is 12.63 and 12.46 mV/MPa, and simulated pressure sensitivity is found to be 12.9 mV/MPa for pressure range of 0 to 0.5 MPa. The location of the piezoresistor has also been optimized using the simulation tools for enhancing the sensor sensitivity to 62.14 mV/MPa. The pressure sensitivity is further enhanced to 92 mV/MPa by increasing the width of the diaphragm to 35 μm.

Originality/value

– The simulated and measured pressure sensitivities of the double cavity pressure sensor are in close agreement. Sevenfold enhancement in the pressure sensitivity of the optimized sensing structure has been observed. The proposed front-side lateral etching technology can be adopted for making membrane type diaphragms hanging over vacuum sealed micro-cavities for high sensitivity pressure sensing applications.
Study and analysis on a new optical detection design method for photoelectric detection target
Authors: Li Hanshan , Lei Zhiyong
Published: August 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to improve photoelectric detection target (PDT) optical detection performance and detection view, by analyzing its influence factors and putting forward a new method to design its optical detection system.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using rectangle linked photoelectric detector, with low noise and high response, to design optical detection system and gain faint projectile image information; bringing forward a deviating focusing technique to eliminate detection blind area of photoelectric detector; and designing adjustable slit diaphragm to weaken background light influence.

Findings

– The results of experimentation in shooting range show that the new PDT has improved detection sensitivity and performance.

Originality/value

– The paper presents a new design method in photoelectric detection target (PDT) optical detection system, which can provide a new method to design fire across measurement system and gain accurate projectile's coordinates data in the shooting range.
Integrated suburban neighbourhood adaptation due to climate change
Authors: Smith Ian , Williams Katie , Hopkins Diane , Joynt Jennifer , Payne Catherine , Gupta Rajat
Published: August 2013

Purpose

This paper presents new research on the potential pathways for integrated adaptation that could make England's suburbs more resilient to future climate conditions. It focuses on the role of central government, local agencies and householders in making adaptations to the built and natural environment.

Design/methodology

This paper uses evidence from three facilitated workshops run with built environment and policy professionals associated with climate change adaptation in three cities in England: Oxford, Bristol and Stockport. The workshop contributions are presented in relation to the potential role that central government, local agencies and residents could play in adapting suburbs.

Findings

Central government, local agencies and householders form an interconnected network of agents responsible for adaptive action in suburbs. Professional and institutional stakeholders expect central government to take a lead and ensure planning policies and building regulations support effective adaptation. However, those local authorities and agencies that are expected to offer leadership locally do not have the resources to make adaptation happen on the ground. Overall, the stakeholders in this research believe that effective adaptation in suburbs may only happen once householders and government have experienced worsening climatic conditions. This could be a very costly stance in the long term.

Originality/value

This paper provides empirical evidence on how stakeholders engaged in suburban adaptation are making changes now, and on how they envisage change in the future. It reveals clearly the challenges involved in integrating mitigation and adaptation actions and highlight the complexities around implementation on the ground.
Langerhans cell histiocytosis: A retrospective analysis in a Korean tertiary hospital from 2003 to 2012
Authors: Kwon Soon Hyo , Choi Jae Woo , Kim Hyo Jin , Youn Sang Woong
Published: August 2013

Epidemiological study of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) has been limited due to its rarity and multisystemic involvement. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological features of LCH via the clinical data warehouse (CDW). Clinical data of 30 LCH patients from the all departments of a tertiary referral hospital between 2003 and 2012 were analyzed retrospectively by searching the CDW. The male‐to‐female ratio was 2.8:1. The age of onset ranged 7 days to 57 years with a median of 13 years. Of the patients, 36.7% presented initial symptoms before the age of 10 years. The involved organs at diagnosis were: bone (66.7%), skin (16.7%), lungs (13.3%) and lymph node (3.3%). For all of the 30 cases, there were 31 disease sites because of a single case of multisystemic disease involving both skin and bone. Of the 96.7% of patients with single‐system disease, 69.0% had bony involvement. This study elucidated the clinical features of LCH from all the departments of a tertiary hospital via the CDW, which suggests a potential role of the CDW as a new epidemiological approach for rare diseases.
2D common‐offset traveltime based diffraction enhancement and imaging
Authors: Asgedom Endrias G. , Gelius Leiv ‐J. , Tygel Martin
Published: August 2013

The diffracted energy in a seismic recording contains key information about small‐scale inhomogeneities or discontinuities of the subsurface. Diffractions can therefore lead to high‐resolution imaging of subsurface structures associated with hydrocarbon traps. However, seismic diffracted signals are often much weaker than specular reflections and consequently require enhancement before they can be utilized. In this paper diffractions are enhanced relative to reflections based on two traveltime techniques, namely the modified common‐reflection‐surface approach, which uses the common‐reflection‐surface technique with some modification to tailor it for diffractions and the replacement‐media approach derived here for the purpose of a simplified parametrization of diffraction traveltimes. Both approaches are implemented in the common‐offset domain with the use of a finite‐offset central ray unlike the zero‐ or small‐offset diffraction enhancement techniques that use a zero‐offset central ray. The validity of the two moveout expressions is tested using velocity data taken from a smooth isotropic Marmousi model. A feasibility test was also carried out with respect to the new replacement‐media traveltime approximation addressing the various effects of signal‐to‐noise ratio, depth and lateral displacement of the diffractor location. Finally, diffraction enhancement and imaging was performed on 2D seismic data from the Jequitinhonha basin offshore Brazil. Diffractions were significantly enhanced and a high‐resolution image of the discontinuities of the subsurface was obtained.
Joint inversion of seismic traveltimes and magnetotelluric data with a directed structural constraint
Authors: Molodtsov Dmitry M. , Troyan Vladimir N. , Roslov Yuri V. , Zerilli Andrea
Published: August 2013

We introduce a new structural constraint for joint inversion with an application to regional scale seismic traveltimes and magnetotelluric data. We call the constraint ‘directed’ as it takes into account a priori information on the sign of cross‐correlation between the gradients of reconstructed parameters. With special treatment of singularities, arising from vanishing gradients and linearization, this constraint demonstrates some properties of an edge‐preserving stabilizer – it provides blocky models with coincident discontinuities. We develop an algorithm for 2D pixel‐based joint inversion, including the proposed structural constraint as a penalty term of the objective function; additional stabilizing terms are total variation of seismic slowness and Levenberg–Marquardt damping. The resulting regularized Gauss–Newton scheme is numerically stable and demonstrates relatively fast convergence both in data misfits and in the structural similarity measure. This is shown by a numerical study of the algorithm on a simplified regional model of the Earth's crust. The considered model has a blocky structure with a positive correlation between P‐wave velocity and electrical resistivity; it represents a faulted basement overlain by sediments embedding an allochthonous salt dome. The developed joint inversion improves both velocity and resistivity reconstruction relative to separate inversions. In comparison with the cross‐gradients constraint the considered structural constraint firstly fixes the sign of correlation between the gradients of the parameters, thus reducing uncertainty in the model recovery and secondly due to its stabilizing properties it limits the amount of additional regularization, which results in sharper reconstructed models.
‘We had to do what we thought was right at the time’: retrospective discourse on the 2009 H1N1 pandemic in the UK
Authors: Davis Mark , Flowers Paul , Stephenson Niamh
Published: August 2013

For a few weeks in 2009 it was not certain whether the world faced a lethal influenza pandemic. As it turned out, the H1N1 pandemic was less severe than anticipated, though the infection did affect groups not usually susceptible to influenza. The deep uncertainties of this pandemic moment were associated with immense practical, scientific and political challenges for public health agencies around the world. We examine these challenges by drawing on the sociology of uncertainty to analyse the accounts given by UK public health practitioners who managed local responses to the pandemic. We discuss the retrospective and mitigating discourse; ‘we had to do what we thought was right at the time’, used by interviewees to explain their experience of articulating plans for a severe pandemic influenza with one that turned out to be mild. We explore the importance of influenza's history and imagined future for pandemic management and, relatedly, how pandemic response and control plans disrupted the normal ways in which public health exercises its authority. We conclude by suggesting that difficulties in the management of pandemic influenza lie in its particular articulation of precautions, that is, securing a safe future against that which cannot be predicted.
Pelvic organ prolapse after subtotal and total hysterectomy: a long‐term follow‐up of an open randomised controlled multicentre study
Authors: Persson P , Brynhildsen J , Kjølhede P ,   Hysterectomy Multicentre Study Group in South‐East Sweden
Published: August 2013

Objective

To analyse the development of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) after subtotal (SH) and total hysterectomy (TH) in the long‐term, and to assess patient‐reported symptoms regarding pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD).

Design

Long‐term follow‐up study of a randomised controlled multicentre study.

Setting

Seven hospitals and one private clinic in the south‐east of Sweden.

Population

Of the 184 women who were eligible from the original trial, 151 (82%) responded to a postal questionnaire and 128 (70%) were clinically examined.

Methods

Postal questionnaire using the short‐form version of the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI‐20) and clinical examination using the POP‐Q system. Multivariate analyses were used.

Main outcome measures

POP‐Q measurements and symptoms of PFD.

Results

Follow‐up time was a median of 11.3 years. Less than 3% had stage‐3 prolapse. No significant difference was found in the presence of stage‐2 or higher stage prolapse between the two hysterectomy groups (39% in SH versus 37% in TH; OR 1.28, 95% CI 0.59–2.80). Nor was there any significant difference in the quality‐of‐life measurement between the SH and TH groups [summary score PFDI‐20: median 93 (range 60–201) versus 87 (range 60–186); Fisher's protected least significant difference post hoc test, P = 0.78 ). None of the symptoms of PFD revealed statistically significant differences between the hysterectomy groups.

Conclusions

This long‐term follow‐up study of PFD showed basically no significant differences in subjective or objective measurements of POP, or in specific pelvic floor quality‐of‐life aspects after SH and TH. However, because of the low statistical power the results are inconclusive. Larger trials, and probably also a longer follow‐up period, are necessary.
Developing positive school–home relationships through structured conversations with parents of learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Authors: Lendrum Ann , Barlow Alexandra , Humphrey Neil
Published: August 2013

Parents play a crucial role in their children's education, and their active involvement can lead to better outcomes. However, evidence suggests that parental engagement and confidence among perhaps the most vulnerable group of learners – those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) – may be lower than for those without difficulties. We report on research exploring a model for developing positive home–school relationships, known as ‘structured conversations with parents’, which was implemented as part of a comprehensive intervention to improve outcomes for learners with SEND (the Achievement for All pilot). Our research design utilised both quantitative and qualitative elements, including school‐level surveys, parent questionnaires, interviews with key personnel and stakeholders, and case studies of pupils/parents in participating schools across 10 local authorities in England. Our analyses suggest that the structured conversations with parents were successful in achieving their intended outcomes, albeit with important caveats in relation to issues of individual differences, implementation fidelity/adherence and sustainability.
Genomics of Compositae crops: reference transcriptome assemblies and evidence of hybridization with wild relatives
Authors: Hodgins Kathryn A. , Lai Zhao , Oliveira Luiz O. , Still David W. , Scascitelli Moira , Barker Michael S. , Kane Nolan C. , Dempewolf Hannes , Kozik Alex , Kesseli Richard V. , Burke John M. , Michelmore Richard W. , Rieseberg Loren H.
Published: August 2013

Although the Compositae harbours only two major food crops, sunflower and lettuce, many other species in this family are utilized by humans and have experienced various levels of domestication. Here, we have used next‐generation sequencing technology to develop 15 reference transcriptome assemblies for Compositae crops or their wild relatives. These data allow us to gain insight into the evolutionary and genomic consequences of plant domestication. Specifically, we performed Illumina sequencing of Cichorium endivia, Cichorium intybus, Echinacea angustifolia, Iva annua, Helianthus tuberosus, Dahlia hybrida, Leontodon taraxacoides and Glebionis segetum, as well 454 sequencing of Guizotia scabra, Stevia rebaudiana, Parthenium argentatum and Smallanthus sonchifolius. Illumina reads were assembled using Trinity, and 454 reads were assembled using MIRA and CAP3. We evaluated the coverage of the transcriptomes using BLASTX analysis of a set of ultra‐conserved orthologs (UCOs) and recovered most of these genes (88–98%). We found a correlation between contig length and read length for the 454 assemblies, and greater contig lengths for the 454 compared with the Illumina assemblies. This suggests that longer reads can aid in the assembly of more complete transcripts. Finally, we compared the divergence of orthologs at synonymous sites (Ks) between Compositae crops and their wild relatives and found greater divergence when the progenitors were self‐incompatible. We also found greater divergence between pairs of taxa that had some evidence of postzygotic isolation. For several more distantly related congeners, such as chicory and endive, we identified a signature of introgression in the distribution of Ks values.
‘Reduced malignancy as a mechanism for longevity in mice with adenylyl cyclase type 5 disruption’
Authors: De Lorenzo Mariana S. , Chen Wen , Baljinnyam Erdene , Carlini María J. , La Perle Krista , Bishop Sanford P. , Wagner Thomas E. , Rabson Arnold B. , Vatner Dorothy E. , Puricelli Lydia I. , Vatner Stephen F.
Published: August 2013

Disruption of adenylyl cyclase type 5 (AC5) knockout (KO) is a novel model for longevity. Because malignancy is a major cause of death and reduced lifespan in mice, the goal of this investigation was to examine the role of AC5KO in protecting against cancer. There have been numerous discoveries in genetically engineered mice over the past several decades, but few have been translated to the bedside. One major reason is that it is difficult to alter a gene in patients, but rather a pharmacological approach is more appropriate. The current investigation employs a parallel construction to examine the extent to which inhibiting AC5, either in a genetic knockout (KO) or by a specific pharmacological inhibitor protects against cancer. This study is unique, not only because a combined genetic and pharmacological approach is rare, but also there are no prior studies on the extent to which AC5 affects cancer. We found that AC5KO delayed age‐related tumor incidence significantly, as well as protecting against mammary tumor development in AC5KO × MMTV‐HER‐2 neu mice, and B16F10 melanoma tumor growth, which can explain why AC5KO is a model of longevity. In addition, a Food and Drug Administration approved antiviral agent, adenine 9‐β‐D‐arabinofuranoside (Vidarabine or AraAde), which specifically inhibits AC5, reduces LP07 lung and B16F10 melanoma tumor growth in syngeneic mice. Thus, inhibition of AC5 is a previously unreported mechanism for prevention of cancers associated with aging and that can be targeted by an available pharmacologic inhibitor, with potential consequent extension of lifespan.
Association between baseline serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels and response to electroconvulsive therapy
Authors: Minelli A. , Maffioletti E. , Bortolomasi M. , Conca A. , Zanardini R. , Rillosi L. , Abate M. , Giacopuzzi M. , Maina G. , Gennarelli M. , Bocchio‐Chiavetto L.
Published: August 2013

Objective

Several studies have shown that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is implicated in different neuronal processes involved in major depressive disorder (MDD) and in the mechanisms of action of antidepressants.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether VEGF serum levels before treatment might be associated with the antidepressant response.

Method

Two groups of patients were enrolled. One was composed of 50 MDD patients receiving an antidepressant drug treatment. Illness severity was measured before the treatment (T0) and after 12 weeks (T1). The second group was composed of 67 treatment‐resistant depressed (TRD) patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Illness severity was assessed before the treatment (T0) and 1 month after the end of ECT (T1). Blood samples for VEGF measurements were collected for both groups at the baseline (T0).

Results

A significant correlation was observed between baseline VEGF serum levels and the percentage reduction in depressive symptomatology after ECT (P = 0.003). In particular, VEGF levels at baseline were significantly lower in patients showing no response to ECT at follow‐up (P = 0.008). No correlation between T0 VEGF concentrations and drug treatment outcome was found.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that VEGF plays a role in the mechanism of response to ECT.
Treatment retention among patients randomized to buprenorphine/naloxone compared to methadone in a multi‐site trial
Authors: Hser Yih‐Ing , Saxon Andrew J. , Huang David , Hasson Al , Thomas Christie , Hillhouse Maureen , Jacobs Petra , Teruya Cheryl , McLaughlin Paul , Wiest Katharina , Cohen Allan , Ling Walter
Published: August 2013

Aims

To examine patient and medication characteristics associated with retention and continued illicit opioid use in methadone (MET) versus buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP) treatment for opioid dependence.

Design, settings and participants

This secondary analysis included 1267 opioid‐dependent individuals participating in nine opioid treatment programs between 2006 and 2009 and randomized to receive open‐labelBUPorMETfor 24 weeks.

Measurements

The analyses included measures of patient characteristics at baseline (demographics; use of alcohol, cigarettes and illicit drugs; self‐rated mental and physical health), medication dose and urine drug screens during treatment, and treatment completion and days in treatment during the 24‐week trial.

Findings

The treatment completion rate was 74% forMETversus 46% forBUP(P < 0.01); the rate amongMETparticipants increased to 80% when the maximumMETdose reached or exceeded 60 mg/day. WithBUP, the completion rate increased linearly with higher doses, reaching 60% with doses of 30–32 mg/day. Of those remaining in treatment, positive opioid urine results were significantly lower [odds ratio (OR) = 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.52–0.76,P < 0.01] amongBUPrelative toMETparticipants during the first 9 weeks of treatment. Higher medication dose was related to lower opiate use, more so amongBUPpatients. A Cox proportional hazards model revealed factors associated with dropout: (i)BUP[versusMET, hazard ratio (HR) = 1.61,CI = 1.20–2.15], (ii) lower medication dose (<16 mg forBUP, <60 mg forMET;HR = 3.09,CI = 2.19–4.37), (iii) the interaction of dose and treatment condition (those with higherBUPdose were 1.04 times more likely to drop out than those with lowerMETdose, and (iv) being younger, Hispanic and using heroin or other substances during treatment.

Conclusions

Provision of methadone appears to be associated with better retention in treatment for opioid dependence than buprenorphine, as does use of provision of higher doses of both medications. Provision of buprenorphine is associated with lower continued use of illicit opioids.
The effect of pressure on high‐ and low‐working‐memory students: An elaboration of the choking under pressure hypothesis
Authors: Wang Zuowei , Shah Priti
Published: August 2013

Sample

Fifty‐three third and fourth graders from China participated in this study.

Method

Participants' working memory (WM) was assessed by the Automated Operation Span task. Then, they solved mental addition problems of different types under low‐ and high‐pressure conditions. Performance was analysed as a function of pressure condition, working memory capacity, and problem type.

Results

On ‘no carry’ mental addition problems, there was no difference between the two groups of children regardless the presence of pressure. For problems with carries, low WM (LWM) children performed worse on all tasks compared with high WM (HWM) children in the no‐pressure condition, but pressure influenced the LWM and HWM differently depending on the nature of the carrying task. On ‘hidden carry’ mental addition trials (for which guessing strategies were minimally effective), LWM performance was much lower than HWM performance under pressure. By contrast, performance was similar between LWM and HWM groups under pressure on the ‘normal carry’ trials that allowed for non‐resource‐intensive heuristic strategies.

Conclusion

Whether high‐ or low‐working‐memory elementary‐school‐aged children were more or less affected by pressure was dependent on task‐difficulty and the types of strategies that could be used to solve the problems.
Crucial roles of Nox2‐derived oxidative stress in deteriorating the function of insulin receptors and endothelium in dietary obesity of middle‐aged mice
Authors: Du Junjie , Fan Lampson M , Mai Anna , Li Jian‐Mei
Published: August 2013

Background and Purpose

Systemic oxidative stress associated with dietary calorie overload plays an important role in the deterioration of vascular function in middle‐aged patients suffering from obesity and insulin resistance. However, effective therapy is still lacking.

Experimental Approach

In this study, we used a mouse model of middle‐aged obesity to investigate the therapeutic potential of pharmaceutical inhibition (apocynin, 5 mM supplied in the drinking water) or knockout of Nox2, an enzyme generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), in high‐fat diet (HFD)–induced obesity, oxidative stress, insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction. Littermates of C57BL/6J wild‐type (WT) and Nox2 knockout (KO) mice (7 months old) were fed with a HFD (45% kcal fat) or normal chow diet (NCD, 12% kcal fat) for 16 weeks and used at 11 months of age.

Key Results

Compared to NCD WT mice, HFD WT mice developed obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and hypertension. Aortic vessels from these mice showed significantly increased Nox2 expression and ROS production, accompanied by significantly increased ERK1/2 activation, reduced insulin receptor expression, decreased Akt and eNOS phosphorylation and impaired endothelium‐dependent vessel relaxation to acetylcholine. All these HFD‐induced abnormalities (except the hyperinsulinaemia) were absent in apocynin‐treated WT or Nox2 KO mice given the same HFD.

Conclusions and Implications

In conclusion, Nox2‐derived ROS played a key role in damaging insulin receptor and endothelial function in dietary obesity after middle‐age. Targeting Nox2 could represent a valuable therapeutic strategy in the metabolic syndrome.
Imports and TFP at the firm level: the role of absorptive capacity
Authors: Augier Patricia , Cadot Olivier , Dovis Marion
Published: August 2013

This paper estimates the effect of the decision to import intermediate goods and capital equipment on Total Factor Productivity (TFP) at the firm level on a panel of Spanish firms (1991–2002). We use two alternative approaches. In the first, we estimate TFP and apply a diff‐in‐diff estimator with a control group constructed by propensity‐score matching. In the second, direct method, we estimate TFP with imported inputs as a state variable in one stage. Both approaches show that the effect of a firm's decision to source intermediates and capital equipment abroad on its TFP depends critically on its capacity to absorb technology, measured by the proportion of skilled labour.
Industrial actions in schools: strikes and student achievement
Authors: Baker Michael
Published: August 2013

Many jurisdictions ban teacher strikes on the assumption that they negatively affect student achievement, but there is surprisingly little research on this question. The majority of existing studies make cross‐section comparisons of the achievement of students who do or do not experience a strike. They conclude that strikes do not have an impact. I present new estimates of this impact of strikes using an empirical strategy that controls for fixed student characteristics at the school cohort level, and a sample of industrial actions by teachers in the province of Ontario. The results indicate that teacher strikes in grades 5 or 6 have a negative, statistically significant impact on test score growth between grade 3 and grade 6. The largest impact is on math scores: 29% of the standard deviation of test scores across school/grade cohorts.
Renewable resource management with environmental prediction: the importance of structural specification
Authors: Kennedy Chris J. , Barbier Edward B.
Published: August 2013

Environmental variability can substantially influence renewable resource growth, and as the ability to forecast environmental conditions improves, opportunities for adaptive management emerge. Using a stochastic stock‐recruitment model, Costello, et al. show the optimal management response to a prediction of favourable growth conditions is to reduce current harvests. We find this result may be reversed when environmental variability and stock are substitutes in growth, a possibility that has been ignored by resource economists. As an example, we analyze the South Carolina white shrimp fishery, finding the optimal response to a prediction of favourable overwinter conditions is to increase fall harvests.
Optimal monetary policy: distribution efficiency versus production efficiency
Authors: Xiang Haitao
Published: August 2013

This paper investigates the trade‐off between distribution effect and production effect of monetary policy when there exist unobservable idiosyncratic liquidity shocks. In the absence of risk‐sharing arrangements such as a credit market, monetary policy serves to provide ex post insurance to smooth consumption. Specifically, issuing interest‐bearing bonds restores credit transactions on money through bond‐money exchanges. Such a policy has a positive distribution effect, but the resulting inflation hampers production efficiency. It is demonstrated that the trade‐off between distribution efficiency gain and production efficiency loss would result in net welfare enhancement if consumers are relative‐risk‐averse enough.
Corporate social responsibility, stock prices, and tax policy
Authors: Barnea Amir , Heinkel Robert , Kraus Alan
Published: August 2013

We model a market in which some investors get utility from owning
shares of firms that engage in corporate social responsibility (CSR). In equilibrium, investors' CSR considerations influence portfolio choices, stock prices, and CSR spending. We study tax policy designed to maximize total giving (individual and corporate) net of government tax breaks and find that its effectiveness is non‐monotonic in the proportion of altruistic investors: with few or many altruistic investors, it has little impact on giving, but, at intermediate levels, effective tax policy intuitively relates the corporate tax rebate rate on giving and the cap on allowable tax savings.
Inequality, growth, and environmental quality trade‐offs in a model with human capital accumulation
Authors: Aloi Marta , Tournemaine Frederic
Published: August 2013

This paper develops a simple endogenous growth model where pollution exposure and vulnerability are unequally spread across the population, and growth and distribution are endogenous. In this set‐up, we investigate whether trade‐offs between growth, distributional, and environmental concerns may emerge. We show that a tighter environmental policy reduces income inequality and can improve both growth and total welfare. Immediate welfare losses, though, do occur, and are larger for countries that start at low levels of environmental quality (e.g. developing countries).
Wakefulness (Not Sleep) Promotes Generalization of Word Learning in 2.5‐Year‐Old Children
Authors: Werchan Denise M. , Gómez Rebecca L.
Published: August 2013

Sleep enhances generalization in adults, but this has not been examined in toddlers. This study examined the impact of napping versus wakefulness on the generalization of word learning in toddlers when the contextual background changes during learning. Thirty 2.5‐year‐old children (M = 32.94, SE = 0.46) learned labels for novel categories of objects, presented on different contextual backgrounds, and were tested on their ability to generalize the labels to new exemplars after a 4‐hr delay with or without a nap. The results demonstrated that only children who did not nap were able to generalize learning. These findings have critical implications for the functions of sleep versus wakefulness in generalization, implicating a role for forgetting during wakefulness in generalization.
Atomistic Visualization of Mesoscopic Whole‐Cell Simulations Using Ray‐Casted Instancing
Authors: Falk Martin , Krone Michael , Ertl Thomas
Published: August 2013

Molecular visualization is an important tool for analysing the results of biochemical simulations. With modern GPU ray casting approaches, it is only possible to render several million of atoms interactively unless advanced acceleration methods are employed. Whole‐cell simulations consist of at least several billion atoms even for simplified cell models. However, many instances of only a few different proteins occur in the intracellular environment, which can be exploited to fit the data into the graphics memory. For each protein species, one model is stored and rendered once per instance. The proposed method exploits recent algorithmic advances for particle rendering and the repetitive nature of intracellular proteins to visualize dynamic results from mesoscopic simulations of cellular transport processes. We present two out‐of‐core optimizations for the interactive visualization of data sets composed of billions of atoms as well as details on the data preparation and the employed rendering techniques. Furthermore, we apply advanced shading methods to improve the image quality including methods to enhance depth and shape perception besides non‐photorealistic rendering methods. We also show that the method can be used to render scenes that are composed of triangulated instances, not only implicit surfaces.
Systematic review of self‐expanding stents in the management of benign colorectal obstruction
Authors: Currie A. , Christmas C. , Aldean H. , Mobasheri M. , Bloom I. T. M.
Published: August 2013

Aim

Colorectal obstruction due to benign disease is likely to become more prevalent. Self‐expanding stents have been shown to be effective in reducing morbidity and allowing one‐stage resection or improved palliation in colorectal cancer. This review assessed the use of self‐expanding stents in benign colorectal obstruction.

Method

A systematic review was performed using PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library. Keywords included: ‘benign disease’ ‘colorectal obstruction’, ‘stent’, ‘endoprosthesis’ and ‘prosthesis’ Original articles from all relevant listings were sourced. These were hand searched for further articles of relevance. The main outcome measures assessed were technical and clinical success, perforation, reobstruction and stoma avoidance in the bridge to surgery population.

Results

The search strategy identified 130 articles; the 21 included studies yielded a pooled analysis of 122 patients. Diverticulitis was the predominant aetiology (66/122, 54%). Technical success was achieved in 115/122 (94%) and clinical success in 108/120 (87%) patients. Overall, the perforation rate was 12% (15/122) and the reobstruction rate was 14% (17/122). A stoma was avoided in 48% (23/48) of bridge to surgery patients. Perforation and stoma avoidance in the bridge to surgery group were worse with an aetiology of diverticulitis.

Conclusion

Complication rates in stenting for benign colorectal obstruction are higher than for malignant obstruction. On the basis of limited published evidence, stenting cannot be recommended for benign colorectal obstruction.
The safety and efficacy of acute graft‐versus‐host disease prophylaxis with a higher target blood concentration of cyclosporine around 500 ng/mL
Authors: Machishima Tomohito , Kako Shinichi , Wada Hidenori , Yamasaki Ryoko , Ishihara Yuko , Kawamura Koji , Sakamoto Kana , Sato Miki , Ashizawa Masahiro , Terasako Kiriko , Kimura Shun‐ichi , Kikuchi Misato , Nakasone Hideki , Kanda Junya , Yamazaki Rie , Nishida Junji , Kanda Yoshinobu
Published: August 2013

Cyclosporine (CsA) is the most widely used immunosuppressive agent for the prevention of acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD). In a previous report, the incidence of acute GVHD was decreased by increasing the target blood concentration of CsA during a continuous infusion from 300 to 500 ng/mL without excessive toxicities. To confirm these results, we retrospectively analyzed 69 patients who received a continuous infusion of CsA at a higher target CsA level between 450 and 550 ng/mL (CsA500 group) and compared the clinical outcome with 29 patients who received CsA with a lower target concentration between 250 and 350 ng/mL (CsA300 group). The target concentration was determined based on the status of background diseases. Multivariate analysis revealed that the incidence of grade III‐IV acute GVHD was significantly lower in the CsA500 group, although the incidence of grade II‐IV acute GVHD was not different. Toxicities were equivalently observed between the two groups. Concomitant administration of voriconazole or itraconazole and higher hematocrit were identified as independent significant factors for higher concentration/dose ratio of CsA. The average dose of CsA to maintain CsA level around 500 ng/mL was higher compared with the previous study (3.4 mg/kg vs. 2.7 mg/kg at three wk), probably due to the difference in measuring method of CsA concentration. We conclude that continuous infusion of CsA with a target level between 450 and 550 ng/mL is a feasible and effective GVHD prophylaxis, but caution should be paid for the difference in measuring method.
The Inquiry of Care
Authors: Nelsen Peter
Published: August 2013

While discussions of the moral dimensions of the caring relation and their implications for teaching and learning are well developed within the literature, there has not been much analysis of the place of inquiry within our understanding of caring and the education inspired by it. Previous discussions offer important insight into what care‐inspired education might entail, but they do not address how inquiry itself may be enhanced by an ethic of care. After arguing that we should consider reason to be more central to the caring relation than has been previously recognized, Peter Nelsen seeks to ameliorate the apparent rift between reason and the affective dimensions of caring through what John Dewey described as the body‐mind. According to this view, reason and affect are inseparable aspects of the process of inquiry; they are both always present in our caring encounters. Nelsen then explores the educational implications of envisioning the caring relation as body‐mind grounded inquiry.
Female Bechstein's Bats Share Foraging Sites with Maternal Kin but do not Forage Together with them – Results from a Long‐Term Study
Authors: Melber Markus , Fleischmann Daniela , Kerth Gerald
Published: August 2013

In many social animals, group members exchange information about where to feed. Thereby, they may gain direct benefits, for example, if social hunting enhances individual foraging success. Alternatively, individuals may receive indirect fitness benefits by preferentially sharing information about suitable feeding sites with kin. Indeed, in some species, a positive correlation between the degree of relatedness among individuals and the overlap among their foraging areas was found. However, sharing foraging sites with kin can also have costs if it increases food competition, which is not compensated by direct benefits. The goal of this study was to investigate whether sharing of individual foraging areas in female Bechstein's bats is best explained by kin selection or by direct benefits through social foraging. To assess their individual foraging behaviour, we analysed radio‐tracking data of 22 members of one maternity colony, including nine mother–daughter pairs, seven pairs of less closely related individuals and six pairs of unrelated bats. We examined the bats' fidelity to specific foraging areas during several years and quantified the influence of kinship on the overlap among individual foraging areas. By measuring how close to each other the bats foraged, we assessed whether individuals with overlapping areas are likely to forage together. Our study confirms previous findings that Bechstein's bats show high fidelity to foraging areas across years. Moreover, we found that relatives share foraging areas significantly more often compared with unrelated colony members. Finally, our data reveal for the first time that most colony members that share foraging areas are unlikely to forage together. This suggests that female Bechstein's bats gain no direct benefits from sharing foraging areas with members of the same maternal lineage. Our findings also have implications for conservation as habitat loss within a colony's home range might expose entire matrilines to high risks.
Effects of drought and pluvial periods on fish and zooplankton communities in prairie lakes: systematic and asystematic responses
Authors: Starks Elizabeth , Cooper Ryan , Leavitt Peter R. , Wissel Björn
Published: August 2013

The anticipated impacts of climate change on aquatic biota are difficult to evaluate because of potentially contrasting effects of temperature and hydrology on lake ecosystems, particularly those closed‐basin lakes within semiarid regions. To address this shortfall, we quantified decade‐scale changes in chemical and biological properties of 20 endorheic lakes in central North America in response to a pronounced transition from a drought to a pluvial period during the early 21st century. Lakes exhibited marked temporal changes in chemical characteristics and formed two discrete clusters corresponding to periods of substantially different effective moisture (as Palmer Drought Severity Index, PDSI). Discriminant function analysis (DFA) explained 90% of variability in fish assemblage composition and showed that fish communities were predicted best by environmental conditions during the arid interval (PDSI <−2). DFA also predicted that lakes could support more fish species during pluvial periods, but their occurrences may be limited by periodic stress due to recurrent droughts and physical barriers to colonization. Zooplankton taxonomic assemblages in fishless lakes were resilient to short‐term changes in meteorological conditions, and did not vary between drought and deluge periods. Conversely, zooplankton taxa in fish‐populated lakes decreased substantially in biomass during the wet interval, likely due to increased zooplanktivory by fish. The powerful effects of such climatic variability on hydrology and the strong subsequent links to water chemistry and biota indicate that future changes in global climate could result in significant restructuring of aquatic communities. Together these findings suggest that semiarid lakes undergoing temporary climate shifts provide a useful model system for anticipating the effects of global climate change on lake food webs.
Carbon and nitrogen dynamics in bioenergy ecosystems: 2. Potential greenhouse gas emissions and global warming intensity in the conterminous United States
Authors: Qin Zhangcai , Zhuang Qianlai , Zhu Xudong
Published: August 2013

This study estimated the potential emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) from bioenergy ecosystems with a biogeochemical model AgTEM, assuming maize (Zea mays L.), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), and Miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus) will be grown on the current maize‐producing areas in the conterminous United States. We found that the maize ecosystem acts as a mild net carbon source while cellulosic ecosystems (i.e., switchgrass and Miscanthus) act as mild sinks. Nitrogen fertilizer use is an important factor affecting biomass production and N2O emissions, especially in the maize ecosystem. To maintain high biomass productivity, the maize ecosystem emits much more GHG, including CO2 and N2O, than switchgrass and Miscanthus ecosystems, when high‐rate nitrogen fertilizers are applied. For maize, the global warming potential (GWP) amounts to 1–2 Mg CO2eq ha−1 yr−1, with a dominant contribution of over 90% from N2O emissions. Cellulosic crops contribute to the GWP of less than 0.3 Mg CO2eq ha−1 yr−1. Among all three bioenergy crops, Miscanthus is the most biofuel productive and the least GHG intensive at a given cropland. Regional model simulations suggested that substituting Miscanthus for maize to produce biofuel could potentially save land and reduce GHG emissions.