bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
RNA interference strategy for crop protection against insect pests.
Authors: Sneha Yogindran Sneha Yogindran , Rajam M. V. 
Published: May 2015

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) has significantly accelerated functional genomic research on insects. Since its discovery, numerous reports have reported efforts to apply RNAi approaches to insect species lacking characterized genomes. The technique also has substantial potential for use in the control of insect pests that cause severe loss of crop yield and quality. Several approaches have been exploited to control these pests, including the application of different agrochemicals and the development of resistant crops by breeding and transgenic approaches. However, there are certain limitations with these strategies, and therefore novel alternative strategies are required for the development of stress-tolerant plants. RNAi strategies have proven to be such a novel and potential alternative for disease and pest control. This technique essentially involves the production of hairpin double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in transgenic plants that targets pest genes that are essential for their growth and development. This chapter provides an insight into the practical aspects of this gene silencing methodology for the development of tools for pest management.
Growth
Authors: Bénassy Jean-Pascal 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis chapter commences with the so-called exogenous growth models. It describes the most classic model of the domain, the Solow-Swan model, which explains principally increases in national production by factor accumulation. Also, it presents the short-run equilibrium and the dynamics of Slow-Swan model, and sets forth the exogenous technical progress. The chapter then examines the problem of convergence across different economies, and illustrates a model having two accumulated factors: physical capital and human capital.
Output, Inflation, and Stabilization
Authors: Bénassy Jean-Pascal 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis chapter describes a number of historical models, particularly the most traditional Keynesian models, such as the Keynesian cross, the IS-LM model, and the AD-AS model. These models are primarily static and based on temporary price and wage rigidities. The chapter then examines the Phillips curve, which describes the evolution of wages in response to unemployment. It discusses how the interaction of the Phillips curve and the evolution of expectations determines the joint dynamics of inflation and unemployment. It also illustrates the eminent debate on stabilization in the Keynesian mode.
Rational Expectations
Authors: Bénassy Jean-Pascal 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis chapter first defines rational expectations, which is an extension to stochastic environments of the idea of perfect foresight. It characterizes the original Muth (1961) model, which exhibits how a number of results on the proliferation of shocks and stability are evaluated. Also, it discusses the efficacy of government policy and reveals that the prominent result attained under the notion of perfect foresight carries through in a stochastic environment. Further, it examines a very famous macroeconomic model, the Cagan (1956) model, which was initially designed to see whether price dynamics could degenerate into hyperinflation. The dynamics of the model are compared under two different expectations schemes: adaptive expectations and rational expectations. The chapter then investigates the set of solutions to a stochastic dynamic equation.
Intertemporal Equilibria with Optimizing Agents
Authors: Bénassy Jean-Pascal 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis chapter analyzes different deterministic models with boundless horizons where all decisions are taken by maximizing agents. It first presents a benchmark model, Ramsay model, with exogenous incomes. This model, with a single infinitely lived consumer, has a single dynamic equilibrium and good efficiency properties. The chapter then introduces the overlapping generations (OLG) model, where households are pictured as a sequence of overlapping families, each with its own utility function and budget constraint. Also, it describes a different version of the OLG model, wherein money serves as a store of value between one period and the next. Finally, the chapter sets forth a synthetic model of the Ramsey-OLG model, which combines the long-lived households of the Ramsey model and the OLG structure.
Overlapping Generations
Authors: Bénassy Jean-Pascal 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis chapter presents a discrete time model, the overlapping generations (OLG) model. It starts by presenting the most classic OLG model, wherein each family lives over two periods and overlaps only with the previous family (when young) and the next one (when old). It defines the market equilibrium of this economy, and also reveals that a few equilibria can be Pareto dominated. Additionally, it evaluates the important issue of pensions. The chapter then discusses the two classic pension systems: the fully funded system and the pay-as-you-go system. Lastly, it investigates the dynamics of the economy when agents can accumulate capital and government debt.
Endogenous Growth
Authors: Bénassy Jean-Pascal 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis chapter examines the models of endogenous growth, in which the rate of growth is sensitive to the rate of factor accumulation, and technical progress is an economic activity that results from rational decisions by households and firms. It evaluates the simplest model of endogenous growth with maximizing consumers. This model is called the AK model. It also studies a seminal model called the Romer model, in which technical progress occurs through returns to diversification among horizontally differentiated products. In addition, it analyzes a different model, wherein the main mechanism is that the productivity of each production process can be improved via research. The chapter then assesses the issue of the scale effects.
Nominal Rigidities and Fluctuations
Authors: Bénassy Jean-Pascal 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis chapter defines the use of the Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) models with perfect or imperfect competitions. It states that the solution to fluctuations brought by demand shocks is to introduce different models for nominal price and wage rigidities to the system. It indicates that several formalizations of rigidities have responded well to nominal shocks. This chapter also includes sample problems regarding the Taylor model, inflation persistence, Calvo and Calvo-Fischer: Comparative Dynamics, and DSGE model with sticky wages.
Policy
Authors: Bénassy Jean-Pascal 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis chapter studies the issues of optimal government policy. It presents the “public finance” approach to policy and examines the approach’s central purpose to minimize distortions associated with the financing of public spending. It looks at basic issues in policy design regarding government, objectives, instruments, and information. It focuses on two classic examples of monetary policy, the Friedman rule and tax smoothing. It also delves deeper into the foundations of the public finance approach and examines the issue of Ramsey taxation.
Stabilization Policies
Authors: Bénassy Jean-Pascal 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis chapter tackles the problem of the stabilization policies of governments that emerge as responses to shocks on the economy. It describes the current trend of using microfounded models for policy analysis. It provides two examples of optimal policies with microfounded models: optimal seigniorage under uncertainty and the non-Walrasian “policy effectiveness” of Thomas Sargent and Neil Wallace. It looks into how government policy design avoids fiscal and monetary policies that create indeterminacies and therefore instability, and concentrates on monetary interest rate rules. It also highlights the Pigou effect and how the effect determines simple rules guaranteeing global determinacy.
Dynamic Consistency and Credibility
Authors: Bénassy Jean-Pascal 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis chapter analyzes the issues of time consistency and credibility in fiscal and monetary policy making. It briefly describes the article by Finn Kydland and Edward Prescott which introduced the dynamic consistency problem. It provides a simple characterization of the dynamic consistency problem and then uses capital taxation as an example to demonstrate the issue of the dynamic consistency problem. It also studies how the problem of dynamic consistency can interfere with the design of monetary policy regarding inflationary bias, and provides possible solutions to these problems.
Political Economy
Authors: Bénassy Jean-Pascal 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis chapter relates macroeconomics to the political economy. It describes Kenneth Arrow’s “impossibility theorem” regarding voter preferences during elections and explains the theorem’s notion that there is no aggregation procedure which always satisfies a number of natural conditions. It describes the “median voter” model where aggregation is possible, and applies the model to the political economy subject of voting on redistribution. It investigates how adding a random element affects preferences. It also explains how political instability, with regard to the changing of majority, leads to budget deficits.
Macedonian Silver Plate in Perspective
Authors: Zimi Eleni 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis chapter outlines the production and circulation of silver plate in Macedonia before the Roman conquest during the Macedonian Wars. It includes a comprehensive account of all silver vessels from Macedonia, and those from elsewhere attributed to Macedonian workshops. It examines the silver plate’s origin, evolution, and iconography of figural decoration, and analyses them to detect links between the subject and political or religious issues of the time. Also, the chapter compares the Macedonian silver plate with a wide range of other artefacts, such as pots, bronze and glass vessels, and jewellery of the region and from elsewhere in order to define what is peculiarly Macedonian.
Forms
Authors: Zimi Eleni 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis chapter studies each of the twenty-six distinct forms of Macedonian silver plate. It analyses each of their variants and looks into their specific function; investigates the location of their excavation whether it was discovered in Macedonia or in other regions; and gives an insight into the time period of when the artefact was used. In addition, it considers the fragments of silver vessels that are impossible to reconstruct due to destruction or other means.
Inscriptions
Authors: Zimi Eleni 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis chapter examines the inscriptions on Macedonian silver vessels. It describes the location of the inscription on various silver vessels and indicates their weight and value. It studies the meaning of names or isolated letters and symbols engraved on silver vessels excavated, mostly from the Great Tumulus at Vergina and the cist-graves at Derveni. It also discusses the issues of ‘metrology’ or measurement regarding the silver vessels.
Technique
Authors: Zimi Eleni 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis chapter focuses on the technology of Macedonian silver plate production and aims to present the various methods used in both their manufacture and decoration. It also looks into the important themes needed for understanding the craft and their functions. It examines the steps used in the fabrication of silver vessels through describing the silver-shaping skills, decoration techniques, and gilding methods. It considers the observations done by Manolis Andronikos in discussing these steps.
HTT-DB: Horizontally transferred transposable elements database
Authors: Dotto Bruno Reis , Carvalho Evelise Leis , Silva Alexandre Freitas , Duarte Silva Luiz Fernando , Pinto Paulo Marcos , Ortiz Mauro Freitas , Wallau Gabriel Luz 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Motivation: Horizontal transfer of transposable (HTT) elements among eukaryotes was discovered in the mid-1980s. As then, &gt;300 new cases have been described. New findings about HTT are revealing the evolutionary impact of this phenomenon on host genomes. In order to provide an up to date, interactive and expandable database for such events, we developed the HTT-DB database.
Results: HTT-DB allows easy access to most of HTT cases reported along with rich information about each case. Moreover, it allows the user to generate tables and graphs based on searches using Transposable elements and/or host species classification and export them in several formats.
Availability and implementation: This database is freely available on the web at http://lpa.saogabriel.unipampa.edu.br:8080/httdatabase. HTT-DB was developed based on Java and MySQL with all major browsers supported. Tools and software packages used are free for personal or non-profit projects.
Contact: bdotto82@gmail.com or gabriel.wallau@gmail.com
The Effect of Growing Rod Treatment on Hemoglobin and Hematocrit Levels in Early-onset Scoliosis
Authors: Barrett Kody K. , Lee Christopher , Myung Karen , Johnston Charles , Shah Suken A. , Akbarnia Behrooz A. , Skaggs David L. 
Published: May 2015

Background:
This study examines preoperative hemoglobin (Hgb) and hematocrit (Hct) levels in a group of early-onset scoliosis (EOS) patients and the effect of distraction-based growing rods (GRs) on these levels. Children with EOS are at risk for respiratory insufficiency and chronic hypoxemia. Increased Hgb and Hct levels have been identified as surrogate markers for chronic hypoxemia. A study of patients who underwent VEPTR surgery showed a significant decrease in Hgb levels following surgery.

Methods:
Data were retrospectively collected on 66 EOS patients without confounding respiratory issues or oxygen dependence who were treated with GRs at 5 institutions. Average age at initial surgery was 5.5 years. Patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years (average 3.7 y). Preoperative and postoperative Hgb and Hct levels were converted to Z-scores based on age-adjusted mean blood indices and were compared using a paired t test.

Results:
The prevalence of elevated Hgb and Hct levels (Z-score >2) preoperatively was 15% (10/66) and 19% (12/64), respectively. The average Hgb Z-score decreased from 0.20 to −0.31 (P=0.005) 6 to 24 months following surgery and the Hct Z-score decreased from 0.31 to −0.28 (P=0.002) 6 to 24 months following surgery.

Conclusions:
Following distraction-based GR treatment of children with EOS there was a significant decrease in both their Hgb and Hct. This is a physiological marker of decreased hypoxemia and improved pulmonary function.

Level of Evidence:
Level III—therapeutic study.
Outcomes of Primary Trabeculectomy With Mitomycin-C in Glaucoma Secondary to Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome
Authors: Chandran Premanand , Rao Harsha L. , Mandal Anil K. , Choudhari Nikhil S. , Garudadri Chandra S. , Senthil Sirisha 
Published: May 2015

Purpose:
To report the outcomes of primary trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C (MMC) in eyes with glaucoma secondary to iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome.

Methods:
We included 16 eyes of 15 subjects with ICE syndrome who underwent primary trabeculectomy with MMC between 1991 and 2013. Surgical success was defined as complete when the intraocular pressure (IOP) was ≥5 and ≤21 mm Hg with no additional antiglaucoma medication (AGM) or surgery and as qualified if IOP was controlled with AGM.

Results:
The median age (interquartile range) of subjects at the time of trabeculectomy was 41 years (37, 44 y) and the median follow-up period was 23 months (7, 79 mo). Postoperatively, the median IOP significantly reduced from 36 (26, 43) to 14 mm Hg (12, 17 mm Hg) (P<0.001) and median number of AGMs reduced from 3 (2, 4) to 0 (0, 0) (P<0.001). The percentage of complete success was 75% at 6 months, 64% at 12 months, 57% at 36 months, and 33% at 60 months. The percentage of qualified success was 94% at 6 months, 82% at 12 months, 71% at 36 months, and 60% at 60 months. Five eyes failed during the follow-up period. The mean (±SD) number of glaucoma surgeries per eye was 1.3±0.5. Eight eyes developed corneal edema at a median follow-up of 78.5 months and 4 eyes underwent keratoplasty.

Conclusions:
Primary trabeculectomy with MMC offers moderate surgical success in patients with ICE syndrome. Maintaining long-term IOP control and corneal clarity in these eyes is a big challenge.
Research and evaluation of T91 superheater material for high temperature corrosion in biomass power plants
Authors: Zhang Hongliang , Zhang Fang , Su Wei , Jiang Ya , Li Yuchun 
Published: May 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper was to evaluate corrosion resistance of superheater T91 material based on high temperature corrosion experiments with a condensate environment.

Design/methodology/approach
– The contributions of water temperature, chloride concentration and corrosion time were considered and analyzed for modeling corrosion kinetics. The corrosion tendency also was predicted, and the results were compared with higher temperature exposures of T91 tube material installed in a biomass power plant.

Findings
– High temperature exposure tests showed that the corrosion rates of T91 material would increase with temperature; there was a very evident corrosion acceleration point in 110°C. It was concluded that dimensional homogeneity analysis can serve as a viable evaluation method for T91 superheater material.

Originality/value
– Dimensional homogeneity analysis was used as evaluation method for anti-corrosion performance of T91 superheater material.
The corrosion mechanism of 1Cr18Ni9Ti alloy used for an underwater craft component
Authors: Peng Zhiling , Zhao Heming 
Published: May 2015

Purpose
– An engine component made from 1Cr18Ni9Ti alloy to be used underwater was the subject of the present research investigation.

Design/methodology/approach
– A stereomicroscope, a metallurgical microscope, a microhardness tester and an electron energy dispersion spectroscope were used to observe cross-sections of the alloy’s microstructure at different locations, as well as its overall corrosion behavior.

Findings
– The corrosion of the 1Cr18Ni9Ti alloy, attributed to welding, cold processing and plastic deformation processes, was investigated together with an analysis of the chemical composition of the corrosion products and microsclerometry of the cross-sections. It was revealed that defects such as shrinkage cavities and porosity, often were observed to occur in the welding fusion zone. During cold processing treatments, work hardening was induced in the surface layer. Corrosion products consisted of oxides, chlorides and sulfides, with oxides as the dominant component. The high chromium content of d-ferrite had resulted in chromium depletion in nearby phase boundaries, which had led to oxidation and corrosion at these boundaries. As the electrode potential of d-ferrite is different to that of austenite, it is possible for a galvanic couple to develop between the two phases, leading to differential rates of corrosion attack.

Originality/value
– Methods are proposed to improve corrosion resistance by improving the quality of the surface overlaying processes and by adopting special surface treatment techniques.
Devil continues to wear “counterfeit” Prada: a tale of two cities
Authors: Teah Min , Phau Ian , Huang Yu-an 
Published: May 2015

Purpose– This paper aims to examine the influence of social and personality factors on attitudes towards counterfeiting of luxury brands and purchase intention between China Chinese and Taiwan Chinese consumers.Design/methodology/approach– Data collection was conducted using a mall intercept approach in downtown Shanghai and Taipei. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and back-translated from English to Chinese and distributed. Structural equation modelling in LISREL was used to analyze the data.Findings– It was found that collectivism has a positive relationship with attitudes towards counterfeiting of luxury brands for the China Chinese but not for the Taiwan Chinese. Personal gratification was found to have a negative relationship with attitudes towards counterfeiting of luxury brands for the Taiwan Chinese consumers. Integrity and status consumption were found to have a positive relationship with attitudes towards counterfeiting of luxury brands for both the China Chinese and Taiwan Chinese consumers.Research limitations/implications– The findings are limited to comparison between China Chinese from Shanghai and Taiwan Chinese from Taipei; therefore, the results may not be generalizable across all Chinese consumers or international consumers. In addition, only luxury brands were examined in this paper. Future studies would need to address other contexts or specific product categories.Practical implications– This paper presents findings from two Chinese cities. The consumers may be from the same region; however, it is found from the study that they pose different attitudes and purchase intentions towards counterfeits of luxury brands. Therefore, the insights from this paper provide a deeper understanding into the differences between Chinese consumers and implications for practitioners, academics and policy makers.Originality/value– Majority of the cross-national studies are often compared between the so-called Western or Eastern countries. This paper examined counterfeiting from China (which is deemed as one of the largest manufacturers of counterfeits) and Taiwan (which was one of the largest counterfeiters decades ago). This provides insights into the development and differences between regional consumers and their attitudes towards counterfeits of luxury brands.
School Staff Autonomy and Educational Performance: Within‐School‐Type Evidence
Authors: Verschelde Marijn , Hindriks Jean , Rayp Glenn , Schoors Koen 
Published: May 2015

AbstractIn this paper, we show the effect of school staff autonomy on educational performance. The value‐added compared to the existing body of literature is that we employ variation in autonomy within the same country and within the same school type in order to reduce the omitted variable problem. To fully capture the informational advantage of local actors, we define autonomy as the operational empowerment of the school's direction and teachers. The Flemish secondary school system in Belgium is analysed because it displays unique within‐school‐type variation in school staff autonomy. This variation originates from autonomously operating school governing bodies that can group multiple schools and are free to delegate responsibilities to the school staff. This variation is likely exogenous because it is mainly driven by approximately random variation in characteristics and composition of the school boards. Combining detailed school‐level and pupil‐level data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2006 study with a semi‐parametric hierarchical model, we find a strong positive effect of school staff autonomy on educational performance. The result is shown to be robust to problems of reverse causality and simultaneity.
Political Knowledge and Attitudes towards Centralisation in Europe
Authors: Cerniglia Floriana , Pagani Laura 
Published: May 2015

AbstractWe analyse the impact of political knowledge on the attitudes of European citizens towards the possible distribution of competences between the European Union (EU) and the Member States. Our hypothesis is that citizens who are more informed about the EU will support the centralisation of competences in some policy areas according to the lines predicted by the fiscal federalism literature. We test our hypothesis using micro data from the Eurobarometer survey, taking into account the endogeneity of political knowledge. We find that more knowledgeable citizens are more willing to favour centralisation to the EU in areas where public intervention by individual Member States causes externalities, where economies of scale in the provision of public goods are important and where redistributive and stabilisation functions have to be pursued.