bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Access to Finance by Small and Medium Enterprises: a Cross‐Country Analysis with A New Data Set
Authors: Ardic Oya Pinar , Mylenko Nataliya , Saltane Valentina 
Published: October 2012

AbstractAccess to finance has always been a challenge for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), but the need to address this issue became more pronounced after the global financial crisis, as SMEs are perceived as engines of growth and job creation. However, lack of consistent indicators for SME finance at the country level restricts cross‐country analyses. The present paper introduces a supply‐side data set to fill this gap, and provides the first set of analyses with this new data set. Global SME lending volume is predicted as $US10tn, 70% of which is in high‐income OECD countries. On average, SME loans constitute 13 and 3% of GDP in developed and developing countries, respectively.
Informal Payments in Developing Countries' Public Health Sectors
Authors: Liu Ting , Sun Monic 
Published: October 2012

AbstractIn many developing countries, public patients offer payments to their doctors outside the official payment channels. We argue that the fundamental reason for these informal payments is that formal prices cannot fully differentiate patients' various needs. We compare patient welfare and social efficiency when informal payments are allowed with the scenario when they are banned. Patient heterogeneity plays a central role in the comparison. Contrary to conventional wisdom, allowing informal payments always improves social efficiency when patients do not face income constraints. Moreover, allowing informal payments improves patient welfare if patients' willingness to pay differs significantly.
Home Bias in US Beer Consumption
Authors: Lopez Rigoberto A. , Matschke Xenia 
Published: October 2012

AbstractWe apply the Berry, Levinsohn and Pakes market equilibrium model to data from 30 brands of beer sold in 12 US cities over 20 quarters (1988–1992) to estimate consumers' preference for beer characteristics as well as for their cultural regions of origin. Consumer heterogeneity is accounted for with respect to age and income. Overall, our data is comprised of 7200 beer brand observations and 13 920 hypothetical consumer observations. Empirical results indicate that there is, indeed, home bias with respect to foreign beers, although it varies with consumer age and income.
Effects of Public Job Training Programmes on the Employment Outcome of Displaced Workers: Results of a Matching Analysis, a Fixed Effects Model and an Instrumental Variable Approach Using Korean Data
Authors: Choi Hyung‐Jai , Kim Jooseop 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThis study employs the matching method, the fixed effects model and the instrumental variable (IV) approach to estimate the employment effect of training programmes on displaced workers in Korea. The results of the matching and logit analyses suggest a positive training effect on employment. However, the fixed effects model showed a substantial reduction in the estimated training effect and the IV approach showed no training effect. This provides clear evidence of positive selection into training. The results of the IV approach suggest that training favoured male and educated workers, whereas female, less educated and older workers were disadvantaged by training programmes.
How do Heterogeneous Beliefs Influence Asset Volatility?
Authors: Ho Hwai‐Chung , Lin Chien‐Chih 
Published: October 2012

AbstractWe investigate the influence of heterogeneous beliefs on asset volatility when agents' degrees of confidence differ. With a continuous‐time model subsuming agent's heterogeneous beliefs in the expected increase in dividends, a stock price formula is derived. Based on this formula, the stock volatility is computed via Monte Carlo simulation. The results show that the influence of belief heterogeneity in expectation on volatility depends on the confident agents' level of optimism. Empirical results are also provided.
Must Theorising about Adaptive Preferences Deny Women's Agency?
Authors: Khader Serene J. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractCritics argue that adaptive preference (AP) theorists misrepresent oppressed people's reasons for perpetuating their oppression. According to critics, AP theorists assume that people who adapt their preferences to unjust conditions lack the psychic capacities that would allow them to develop their own normative perspectives and/or form appropriate values. The misrepresentation is morally problematic, because it promotes unjustified paternalism and perpetuates colonial stereotypes of third‐world women. I argue that we can imagine a conception of AP that is consistent with acknowledging agency in people who perpetuate their oppression. I offer a weak perfectionist conception of AP that is consistent with recognising agentic capacities in the oppressed. On my conception, APs are preferences incompatible with an agent's basic wellbeing that formed under unjust conditions — and that an agent would reverse upon exposure to better conditions. My conception encourages respectful treatment of the oppressed without requiring us to abandon the feminist political goals the notion of AP is meant to serve. It helps us identify real‐world preferences that are problematically adapted to oppressive conditions and offers an account of why they seem not to be women's ‘true preferences’.
Commentary: Self‐harm in adolescents: the best predictor of death by suicide? – reflections on Hawton et al. (2012)
Authors: Ougrin Dennis 
Published: October 2012

The preceding article by Hawton and colleagues reporting on a prospective study of adolescents presenting with self‐harm to Accident and Emergency departments (A&E) is one of the largest epidemiological studies to examine the long‐term outcomes of selfharm in children and adolescents. After a median of 6 years nearly 30% re‐presented to A&E with self‐harm and 1% died, half of those due to likely suicide and the rest mainly due to accidents. It may be that many accidental deaths were also suicides judging from the method of death. In comparison to adults presenting with self‐harm, the absolute risk of suicide was lower despite a high self‐harm repetition rate. Self‐injury by cutting was a strong independent predictor of suicide as was previous psychiatric treatment and previous self‐harm. Finally the eventual method of suicide was different from that used at either the first or the last episode of selfharm. This is at odds with the data generated by adult literature which consistently shows that those with the most violent methods of selfharm, e.g. attempted hanging or shooting, tend to also die using these methods.In summary the field of adolescent self‐harm is of immense importance and requires urgent research to develop our ability to predict those likely to die of suicide, and to offer effective treatment to those at risk. The article by Hawton and colleagues is an important step in our understanding of the risk factors of suicide in those adolescents who present with self‐harm and in highlighting the overlapping nature of self‐injury and self‐poisoning in relation to suicide.
Baseline investigations of folate status in Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal West Australians prior to the introduction of mandatory fortification
Authors: Maxwell Susannah J. , Brameld Kate J. , Bower Caroline , D'Antoine Heather , Hickling Siobhan , Marley Julia , O'Leary Peter 
Published: October 2012

ObjectiveIn September 2009, Australia implemented mandatory folic acid fortification of wheat flour for bread‐making to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects. Our study aimed to establish baseline folate status data in Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal Western Australians.MethodsPatients who presented at a health service or collection centre for blood tests were invited to participate. One hundred and ninety‐one Aboriginals and 159 non‐Aboriginals were recruited between April 2008 and September 2009. Participants completed a five‐minute questionnaire and had blood taken for red blood cell (RBC) folate and serum vitamin B12. Data were analysed using SPSS (version 17.0.2, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).ResultsTen per cent (95% confidence intervals (CI): 5, 19) of the Aboriginal women participants and 26% (95% CI: 16, 40) of men had RBC folate concentrations below 250 ng/mL, the cut‐off associated with folate deficiency. None of the non‐Aboriginal women (95% CI: 0, 4) and 4% of the non‐Aboriginal men (95% CI: 2, 12) had RBC folate concentrations below 250 ng/mL. All participants were vitamin B12 replete. None of the 96 Aboriginal and 8% of non‐Aboriginal women aged 16–44 reported consumption of supplements with a daily intake of >400 μg folic acid during the previous week.Conclusions and implicationsThis study established a baseline of RBC folate, folate consumption and supplement use in Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal groups. We identified 10% of Aboriginal women and none of non‐Aboriginal women participants with low folate concentrations. The higher prevalence of folate deficiency in Aboriginal participants suggests they are more likely to benefit from a universal program of folate fortification.
Multicentre study ‘rehabilitation of occupational skin diseases –optimization and quality assurance of inpatient management (ROQ)’–results from 12‐month follow‐up
Authors: Weisshaar Elke , Skudlik Christoph , Scheidt Reginald , Matterne Uwe , Wulfhorst Britta , Schönfeld Michael , Elsner Peter , Diepgen Thomas L. , John Swen M. ,   for the ROQ Study Group
Published: October 2012

Background. Occupational skin disease (OSD) is common, and imposes a considerable personal and public burden. To tackle OSD, the German stepwise procedure of handling OSD was set up. It contains an interdisciplinary, integrated inpatient rehabilitation measure [tertiary individual prevention (TIP)] [dermatological treatment and diagnostic procedures, and patient education (health and psychological)]. The primary aims of the TIP are reduction of the severity of OSD, reduction in the use of corticosteroids, facilitation of return to work, decreased absence from work, and enhanced quality of life (QoL). It was positively evaluated for a period of 4 weeks after return to work.Objectives. To investigate whether the observed short‐term effects remain significant and meaningful over a period of 12 months after discharge from the TIP.Methods. A prospective design was used to compare clinical and patient‐reported outcome data between admission to a 3‐week inpatient TIP and 12 months after discharge (12‐month follow‐up).Results. Of 1788 individuals admitted to the TIP, data from 1617 individuals were available for analysis. We observed a significant reduction in the severity of OSD, the use of topical corticosteroids, and days of absence from work because of OSD. QoL was significantly improved, and 87.4% were able to return to work and remain in the workforce.Conclusions. A randomized controlled trial would have been desirable, but was not possible, for legal and other reasons. However, the long‐term 12‐month follow‐up shows that the TIP is associated with sustained improvements in terms of ability to work, QoL, and prognosis, and reductions in days of absence from work because of skin conditions and topical corticosteroid application. These results indicate that the TIP provided a reduction in the personal and public burden of OSD.
The structural basis of αβ T‐lineage immune recognition: TCR docking topologies, mechanotransduction, and co‐receptor function
Authors: Wang Jia‐huai , Reinherz Ellis L. 
Published: October 2012

SummarySelf versus non‐self discrimination is at the core of T‐lymphocyte recognition. To this end, αβ T‐cell receptors (TCRs) ligate ‘foreign’ peptides bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or class II molecules (pMHC) arrayed on the surface of antigen‐presenting cells (APCs). Since the discovery of TCRs approximately 30 years ago, considerable structural and functional data have detailed the molecular basis of their extraordinary ligand specificity and sensitivity in mediating adaptive T‐cell immunity. This review focuses on the structural biology of the Fab‐like TCRαβ clonotypic heterodimer and its unique features in conjunction with those of the associated CD3εγ and CD3εδ heterodimeric molecules, which, along with CD3ζζ homodimer, comprise the TCR complex in a stoichiometry of 1:1:1:1. The basis of optimized TCRαβ docking geometry on the pMHC linked to TCR mechanotransduction and required for T‐cell signaling as well as CD4 and CD8 co‐receptor function is detailed. A model of the TCR ectodomain complex including its connecting peptides suggests how force generated during T‐cell immune surveillance and at the immunological synapse results in dynamic TCR quaternary change involving its heterodimeric components. Potential insights from the structural biology relevant to immunity and immunosuppression are revealed.
Pentraxins and Fc receptors
Authors: Lu Jinghua , Marjon Kristopher D. , Mold Carolyn , Du Clos Terry W. , Sun Peter D. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryPentraxins are innate pattern recognition molecules whose major function is to bind microbial pathogens or cellular debris during infection and inflammation and, by doing so, contribute to the clearance of necrotic cells as well as pathogens through complement activations. Fc receptors are the cellular mediators of antibody functions. Although conceptually separated, both pentraxins and antibodies are important factors in controlling acute and chronic inflammation and infections. In recent years, increasing experimental evidence suggests a direct link between the innate pentraxins and humoral Fc receptors. Specifically, both human and mouse pentraxins recognize major forms of Fc receptors in solution and on cell surfaces with affinities similar to antibodies binding to their low affinity Fc receptors. Like immune complex, pentraxin aggregation and opsonization of pathogen result in Fc receptor and macrophage activation. The recently published crystal structure of human serum amyloid P (SAP) in complex with FcγRIIA further illustrated similarities to antibody recognition. These recent findings implicate a much broader role than complement activation for pentraxins in immunity. This review summarizes the structural and functional work that bridge the innate pentraxins and the adaptive Fc receptor functions. In many ways, pentraxins can be regarded as innate antibodies.
The GM–CSF/IL‐3/IL‐5 cytokine receptor family: from ligand recognition to initiation of signaling
Authors: Broughton Sophie E. , Dhagat Urmi , Hercus Timothy R. , Nero Tracy L. , Grimbaldeston Michele A. , Bonder Claudine S. , Lopez Angel F. , Parker Michael W. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryGranulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM–CSF), interleukin‐3 (IL‐3), and IL‐5 are members of a discrete family of cytokines that regulates the growth, differentiation, migration and effector function activities of many hematopoietic cells and immunocytes. These cytokines are involved in normal responses to infectious agents, bridging innate and adaptive immunity. However, in certain cases, the overexpression of these cytokines or their receptors can lead to excessive or aberrant initiation of signaling resulting in pathological conditions, with chronic inflammatory diseases and myeloid leukemias the most notable examples. Recent crystal structures of the GM–CSF receptor ternary complex and the IL‐5 binary complex have revealed new paradigms of cytokine receptor activation. Together with a wealth of associated structure–function studies, they have significantly enhanced our understanding of how these receptors recognize cytokines and initiate signals across cell membranes. Importantly, these structures provide opportunities for structure‐based approaches for the discovery of novel and disease‐specific therapeutics. In addition, recent biochemical evidence has suggested that the GM–CSF/IL‐3/IL‐5 receptor family is capable of interacting productively with other membrane proteins at the cell surface. Such interactions may afford additional or unique biological activities and might be harnessed for selective modulation of the function of these receptors in disease.
Sensing of microbial molecular patterns by Toll‐like receptors
Authors: Song Dong Hyun , Lee Jie‐Oh 
Published: October 2012

SummaryToll‐like receptors (TLRs) sense structural patterns in microbial molecules and initiate immune defense mechanisms. The structures of many extracellular and intracellular domains of TLRs have been studied in the last 10 years. These structures reveal the extraordinary diversity of TLR‐ligand interactions. Some TLRs use internal hydrophobic pockets to bind bacterial ligands and others use solvent‐exposed surfaces to bind hydrophilic ligands. The structures suggest a common activation mechanism for TLRs: ligand binding to extracellular domains induces dimerization of the intracellular domains and so activates intracellular signaling pathways. Recently, the structure of the death domain complex of one of the signaling adapters, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), has been determined. This structure shows how aggregation of signaling adapters recruits downstream kinases. However, we are still far from a complete understanding of TLR activation. We need to study the structures of TLR7–10 in complex with their ligands. We also need to determine the structures of TLR‐adapter aggregates to understand activation mechanisms and the specificity of the signaling pathways. Ultimately, we will have to study the structures of the complete TLR signaling complexes containing full‐length receptors, ligands, signaling, and bridging adapters, and some of the downstream kinases to understand how TLRs sense microbial infections and activate immune responses against them.
What to Eat: Evidence for Selective Autophagy in PlantsF
Authors: Floyd Brice E. , Morriss Stephanie C. , MacIntosh Gustavo C. , Bassham Diane C. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractAutophagy is a macromolecular degradation pathway by which cells recycle their contents as a developmental process, housekeeping mechanism, and response to environmental stress. In plants, autophagy involves the sequestration of cargo to be degraded, transport to the cell vacuole in a double‐membrane bound autophagosome, and subsequent degradation by lytic enzymes. Autophagy has generally been considered to be a non‐selective mechanism of degradation. However, studies in yeast and animals have found numerous examples of selective autophagy, with cargo including proteins, protein aggregates, and organelles. Recent work has also provided evidence for several types of selective autophagy in plants. The degradation of protein aggregates was the first selective autophagy described in plants, and, more recently, a hybrid protein of the mammalian selective autophagy adaptors p62 and NBR1, which interacts with the autophagy machinery and may function in autophagy of protein aggregates, was described in plants. Other intracellular components have been suggested to be selectively targeted by autophagy in plants, but the current evidence is limited. Here, we discuss recent findings regarding the selective targeting of cell components by autophagy in plants.
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[ Diane C. Bassham (Corresponding author)]
Successful Treatment of Three Cases of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis With Granulocyte and Monocyte Adsorption Apheresis
Authors: Suzuki Akiko , Haruna Kunitaka , Mizuno Yuki , Kuwae Yoshiyuki , Ono Yuka , Okumura Kazuko , Negi Osamu , Kon Yasuko , Takeuchi Kaori , Takamori Kenji , Ikeda Shigaku , Suga Yasushi 
Published: October 2012

AbstractGeneralized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare form of psoriasis characterized by the presence of variable numbers of sterile pustules appearing in erythematous and scaly lesions, which are associated with moderate to severe constitutional symptoms. It can be life‐threatening especially in the elderly; therefore, medical care must be performed in rapid succession of treatment especially in refractory cases. We have performed granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis (GCAP) on three GPP cases associated with several systemic and laboratory findings. As a result, the edema, erythema and numbers of sterile pustules on the skin lesions were reduced dramatically in all three patients after the first sessions of GCAP therapy. The sizes of the psoriatic lesions were reduced in all three patients following a weekly GCAP treatment for 5 consecutive weeks. Psoriasis area and severity index on discharge had improved in all three patients. No serious adverse effects were observed for up to at least 8 months after treatment. We therefore considered GCAP as one effective alternative to currently existing therapies, especially for recalcitrant cases of GPP.
Production of Interleukin‐10 by Combining a Granulocyte and Monocyte Adsorption Carrier With Ulinastatin
Authors: Nishise Shoichi , Sato Takeshi , Sasaki Yu , Nagino Ko , Iwano Daisuke , Yaoita Takao , Yoshizawa Kazuya , Nishise Yuko , Takeda Hiroaki 
Published: October 2012

AbstractInterleukin (IL)‐10 is an anti‐inflammatory cytokine mainly produced by monocytes and is essential for the induction of anti‐inflammatory intestinal macrophages with macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (M‐CSF). Thus, IL‐10‐ and M‐CSF‐rich conditions in colonic tissues seem to contribute to the improvement of pathological conditions in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). We have already reported that ulinastatin, a serine protease inhibitor, increases M‐CSF production during granulocyte/monocyte (GM) adsorption to cellulose acetate (CA) beads (carriers for Adacolumn therapy). However, the effects of ulinastatin on IL‐10 production have not been clarified. The aim of the present study was to clarify the effects of ulinastatin on IL‐10 production during GM adsorption by in vitro experiments. Peripheral blood was divided into four groups: (Control) no ulinastatin added, no contact with CA beads; (1) no ulinastatin added, contact with CA beads; (2) ulinastatin added, no contact with CA beads; and (3) ulinastatin added, contact with CA beads. After incubation, IL‐10 in the plasma was measured. Compared with the level in the Control group, plasma IL‐10 was significantly higher only in group 3, in which ulinastatin was added in the presence of CA beads, but did not increase in the absence of CA beads. These results suggest that ulinastatin synergistically increases IL‐10 production with monocyte adsorption stimuli. By increasing not only M‐CSF but also IL‐10, a combination of ulinastatin and Adacolumn therapy may improve clinical efficacy for the treatment of IBD in terms of the induction of anti‐inflammatory intestinal macrophages.
Australian Geographers and Geographical Information Science
Authors: LEES BRIAN 
Published: October 2012

AbstractGeographical Information Science (GIScience) has become an important sub‐discipline for North American geographers but in Australia few geographers are engaged in this ‘research in GIS’ area. Australian geographers seem more concerned with ‘research using GIS’ which has become absorbed into the geographical tradition of thinking and communicating with diagrams, images, and maps. The breakdown of disciplinary boundaries in Australia makes it difficult to be sure, but most of those engaged in GIScience in Australia seem to identify with disciplines other than geography.