bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
BOOMS, RECESSIONS AND FINANCIAL TURMOIL: A FRESH LOOK AT INVESTMENT DECISIONS UNDER CYCLICAL UNCERTAINTY
Authors: Chen Yu‐Fu , Funke Michael 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACTThe paper studies the interaction between cyclical uncertainty and investment in a stochastic real option framework where demand shifts stochastically between three different states, each with different rates of drift and volatility. In our setting, the shifts are governed by a three‐state Markov switching model with constant transition probabilities. The magnitude of the link between cyclical uncertainty and investment is quantified using simulations of the model. The chief implication of the model is that recessions and financial turmoil are important catalysts for waiting. In other words, our model shows that macroeconomic risk acts as an important deterrent to investments.
MANAGING MIGRATION THROUGH CONFLICTING POLICIES: AN OPTION‐THEORY PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Moretto Michele , Vergalli Sergio 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACTWe try to determine whether it is better for a government to tighten or relax limits for immigrants in order to control migration inflows. To this end, we use a real option approach to migration choice that assumes that the decision to migrate can be described as an irreversible investment decision. Our results show that promoting uncertainty over migration limit may improve the government's control on migration inflows (quotas). In particular, we show that if the government controls the information related to the immigration stock it may delay the mass entry of immigrants, maintaining the required stock in the long run and controlling the flows in the short run.
QUANTIFYING THE ROLE PLAYED BY SUNK CAPITAL COSTS IN REAL‐OPTIONS MODELS
Authors: Ghosal Vivek 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACTSunk capital costs are essential in generating hysteresis in real‐options models that examine firms' decisions under uncertainty. The standard results show that greater uncertainty, in the presence of sunk capital costs, dampens firms' economic activity across a wide range of decision variables. In empirical examination of these models, there is a considerable lack of evidence on the conditioning effects of sunk capital costs. In this paper, I first detail alternative ways to use publicly available data to construct measures of sunk capital costs. The data reveal substantial differences across industries in their magnitudes of sunk capital costs. Second, I provide some evidence that the presence of higher sunk capital costs significantly exacerbates the effects of uncertainty.
Effect of São Pedro do Sul thermal water on skin irritation
Authors: Ferreira M. O. , Costa P. C. , Bahia M. F. 
Published: May 2010

SynopsisMany mineral waters are known for centuries for treating dermatological diseases but there is little scientific evaluation of the effects of these waters in skin. A total of 17 healthy Caucasian volunteers, including men and women, were enrolled in this study. Two skin sites were marked on each volunteer forearm and irritated with sodium lauryl sulphate at 2% (w/v) kept under occlusion for 24 h with Finn chambers. Afterwards, purified water or São Pedro do Sul (SPS) thermal water were applied to the irritated skin sites, and kept under occlusion for 48 h also with Finn chambers. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was used as a measure of the skin barrier function to evaluate the potential anti‐irritant effect of the thermal water on skin. Statistically significant differences in the mean TEWL variations were observed for the skin treated with SPS thermal water and with purified water (P = 0.036). The thermal water reduced the degree to which the skin barrier was disrupted compared with purified water alone in 82.4% of the volunteers. The SPS thermal water is anti‐irritant and, therefore, can be helpful to relieve skin irritation and in cosmetic formulations to improve the tolerability of the products.
Type I pro‐collagen promoting and anti‐collagenase activities of Phyllanthus emblica extract in mouse fibroblasts
Authors: Chanvorachote P. , Pongrakhananon V. , Luanpitpong S. , Chanvorachote B. , Wannachaiyasit S. , Nimmannit U. 
Published: May 2010

J. Cosmet. Sci.,
60, 395–403 (July/August 2009)SynopsisAs part of an ongoing search for the novel pharmacological activities of Phyllanthus emblica, the present study has shown its type I collagen promoting and anti‐collagenase effects on primary mouse fibroblast cells. At a concentration of 0.1 mg ml‐1, emblica extract significantly increased the type I pro‐collagen level up to 1.65‐fold, and 6.78‐fold greater than that of an untreated control, determined by immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis, respectively. Emblica extract caused an approximately 7.75‐fold greater type I pro‐collagen induction compared to the known herbal collagen enhancer asiaticoside at the same treatment concentration (0.1 mg ml­1). Moreover, emblica extract inhibited collagenase activity in a dose‐dependent manner. Maximal inhibition was observed (78.67 ± 3.51%) at a concentration of 1 mg ml­1. In summary, emblica extract has a promising pharmacological effect that benefits collagen synthesis and protects against its degradation and could be used as a natural anti‐aging ingredient.
The effect of N‐acetyl‐glucosamine on stratum corneum desquamation and water content in human skin
Authors: Mammone T. , Gan D. , Fthenakis C. , Marenus K. 
Published: May 2010

J. Cosmet. Sci.,
60, 423–428 (July/August 2009)SynopsisAlpha‐hydroxy acids have been used topically to treat skin for both dermatological and cosmetic problems for many years. Though there are many known benefits of the use of α‐hydroxy acids on skin, there have been recent reports that topical treatments with α‐hydroxy acids increase skin damage resulting from UVB. Additionally, high concentrations of α‐hydroxy acids by themselves have also been found to cause skin irritation. In order to find alternatives to α‐hydroxy acids, we investigated a variety of amino sugar compounds that were previously reported to inhibit the reaggregation of dissociated corneocytes by modulating cellular adhesion. In vivo, we observed that topical treatments with a formulation containing N‐acetyl‐glucosamine (NAG) led to an increase in skin moisturization, a decrease in skin flakiness, and the normalization of stratum corneum exfoliation. In vitro, we observed an upregulation of differentiation markers, keratin 10 and involucrin, in keratinocytes treated with NAG. CD44 is a lectin cell adhesion molecule that is also expressed in keratinocytes. Amino sugars such as NAG may competitively bind to CD44, modulating keratinocyte cellular adhesion. We hypothesize that these amino sugars modulate keratinocyte cellular adhesion and differentiation, leading to the normalization of stratum corneum exfoliation. We propose the use of amino sugars such as NAG as alternative compounds to replace the use of α‐hydroxy acids in skin care.
A novel method to study the skin‐lightening effect of topical materials
Authors: Muizzuddin N. , Marenus K. D. , Mammone T. , Maes D. H. 
Published: May 2010

J. Cosmet. Sci.,
60, 501–508 (September/October 2009)SynopsisSkin without significant dyschromia is an aesthetic requirement for people worldwide. There are several in vitro methods to determine the whitening potential of actives; however, the in vivo testing of skin whiteners is a long and expensive process. We have designed a rapid clinical method to screen potential skin whiteners using a UV‐induced skin tan as a model. Small areas of identical suntan are repeatably induced on the skin, and treatment of these sites allows rapid screening of several skin whiteners within the course of a month. The method provides reproducible results and valuable information about the potential skin‐lightening activity of topical preparations.
Enzymatic approach to analyze the effects of mercaptans on hair
Authors: Yamauchi C. , Mochizuki A. , Takayama K. , Suzuki S. , Sakaino A. , Okazaki W. 
Published: May 2010

J. Cosmet. Sci.,
60, 527–535 (September/October 2009)SynopsisDifferent mercaptans were used to prepare reduced hair and permed hair samples. The reduced hair showed much higher protease degradation than the permed hair; also, the protease degradability of permed hair increased with repetitive treatments. The degradability of reduced hair was closely related to its cystine content, and that of permed hair was nearly unaffected by its cystine content. The degradability of both the reduced and permed hair was related to the reduction power of each mercaptan used on the hair and increased in the following order: CYS‐treated hair < CA‐treated hair < TG‐treated hair.
Bargaining Power and Negotiation Tactics: The Negotiations on the EU's Financial Perspective, 2007–13
Authors: DÜR ANDREAS , MATEO GEMMA 
Published: May 2010

AbstractWe argue that in intergovernmental negotiations in the European Union, large Member States, countries with a good alternative to negotiated agreement and governments facing domestic constraints are more likely to resort to a hard bargaining strategy than less powerful Member States. We test this prediction with data from a survey with high‐level officials from all EU Member States for the case of the negotiations concerning the EU Financial Perspective 2007–13. The evidence provides support for our argument and casts doubt on studies that suggest either that there are no differences in bargaining strategies across EU member countries or that the main differences exist between old and new EU Member States.
The Maastricht Inflation Criterion: What is the Effect of European Union Enlargement?
Authors: LEWIS JOHN , STAEHR KARSTEN 
Published: May 2010

AbstractAccording to the Maastricht Treaty, a country seeking to join the European Monetary Union cannot have an inflation rate in excess of 1.5 per cent plus the average inflation rates in the three ‘best performing’ EU countries. This inflation reference value is a non‐increasing function of the number of EU members. A counterfactual analysis of historical data shows that the effect of enlarging the EU from 15 to 27 countries was sizeable in 2002–04 and again from 2007. Monte Carlo simulations suggest that the enlargement of the EU from 15 to 27 members reduces the inflation reference value by 0.15–0.2 percentage points on average, but there is a considerable probability of a larger reduction at any given moment of time. The treatment of countries with negative inflation rates in the calculation of the reference value has a major impact on the results.
Large‐scale human effects on an arid African raptor community
Authors: Anadón J. D. , Sánchez‐Zapata J. A. , Carrete M. , Donázar J. A. , Hiraldo F. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractIn the current scenario of biodiversity crisis there is a growing need for identifying causes of changes in biodiversity at large scales. Here we assess factors driving raptor community structure in the Sahel, a region suffering a wide range of environmental degradation and a vital area for European migrant birds. Using road surveys, we estimated the effects of population size, human settlement patterns (e.g. urban vs. nomadic) and land use on the raptor community, taking into account the major natural role played by productivity. Total raptor richness values were similar to those described for other steppe regions of the world, with one super‐abundant migrant species, the black kite Milvus migrans; however, richness of resident raptors was strikingly lower than expected, with most large body‐size African species (both eagles and vultures) absent. Raptor richness was strongly correlated with human activities in a scale‐dependent fashion. At a 25 km resolution, raptor richness was driven by habitat and productivity, with a positive response to crops. At a smaller scale, human population was positively related with wintering species richness but negatively with richness of resident ones, perhaps as a consequence of non‐agricultural activities such as direct harvesting and different forms of habitat degradation (e.g. overgrazing or firewood collection). Subsistence economies in systems with low natural environmental heterogeneity and with a human population over carrying capacity, such as the Sahel, may lead to exhausted biological systems even in the absence of intensive agricultural or urban land‐use changes, as shown by the deeply impoverished sedentary raptor community. Our results suggest that, because habitat and productivity seem to play a relevant role in driving species richness, climate change may have a major effect on the raptor community of the Sahel.
The ethical and policy implications of profiling ‘vulnerable’ customers
Authors: Harrison Paul , Gray Charles 
Published: May 2010

AbstractIn the shadow of the global financial crisis, the issue of the marketing of credit has become an increasing concern in the past 12 months. Outstanding personal debt in the UK currently stands at £1479 billion and is rising by £1 million every 10.6 min. In Australia, there is currently $44.6 billion worth of outstanding credit card debt, and in the US, $2596 billion was owed on credit cards in 2008. At present, the banking sector utilizes sophisticated research methods to profile consumers, including those who might be considered financially vulnerable. However, the policy frameworks in most industrialized countries do not account for this form of target marketing when considering how to protect vulnerable groups. This paper is an initial attempt to examine the different methods by which profiling is conducted and the policy implications of this sophisticated form of segmentation and targeting. We argue that current consumer policies are inadequate in protecting vulnerable consumers from these marketing techniques, and recent recommendations from the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States, and the Australian Law Reform Commission to allow banks and lenders to ‘pre‐screen’ potential customers will exacerbate personal debt levels, rather than reducing them.
Complementary roles of prenatal sonography and magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis of fetal renal anomalies
Authors: ABDELAZIM Ibrahim A. , ABDELRAZAK Khaled M. , RAMY Ahmed R.M. , MOUNIB Ahmed M. 
Published: May 2010

Objectives:  This study was designed to assess the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in refining the diagnosis of prenatally suspected fetal renal abnormalities following screening ultrasound.Patients and methods:  Twenty pregnant women, with suspected fetal renal abnormality detected during screening ultrasound and more than 14 weeks’ gestation, were included in this observational prospective study at Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital from March 2004 to March 2005 after informed consent and after approval of the study protocol by the institute ethics committee.Results:  The MRI could diagnose correctly 10 cases of hydronephrosis, one case of polycystic kidney disease (PCKD), one case of RA, two normal case and two cases of intra‐abdominal masses (IA Mass) (16 of 18 cases). The prenatal ultrasound could diagnose correctly eight cases of hydronephrosis, one case of PCKD, one case of renal agenesis, one case of multicystic kidney disease and one case of IA Mass (12 of 18 cases). The prenatal ultrasound and MRI gave different diagnoses in eight cases and gave the same diagnosis in 12 cases. The MRI could diagnose the aetiology of congenital renal cysts in 10 of the 20 studied cases (50%).Conclusion:  Magnetic resonance imaging can be used as a complementary tool in the assessment of sonographically suspected fetal renal anomalies.
Isin vitrofertilisation more effective than stimulated intrauterine insemination as a first‐line therapy for subfertility? A cohort analysis
Authors: CHAMBERS Georgina M. , SULLIVAN Elizabeth A. , SHANAHAN Marian , HO Maria T. , PRIESTER Katelyn , CHAPMAN Michael G. 
Published: May 2010

Objective: To compare a strategy of two cycles of intrauterine insemination with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (IUI/COH) vs onein vitrofertilisation (IVF) treatment programme (one fresh plus associated frozen embryo cycles) in couples presenting with unexplained, mild male or mild female subfertility.Methods: A retrospective cohort design was used and analysed according to intention‐to‐treat principles. A total of 272 couples underwent an intended course of two cycles of IUI/COH and 176 couples underwent one IVF treatment programme.Results: The cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) per couple for the IUI/COH group was 27.6% compared to 39.2% for the IVF group (P = 0.01). The mean time to pregnancy was 69 days in the IUI/COH group compared to 44 days in the IVF group (P = 0.02). The IVF programme was costlier, with an incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio for an additional live birth in the range of $39 637–$46 325. The multiple delivery rate was 13.3% in the IUI/COH group compared to 10.1% in the IVF group (P = 0.55). One set of triplets and one set of quadruplets followed IUI/COH treatment.Conclusions: One IVF treatment programme was more effective, but costlier than an intended course of two cycles of IUI/COH. With consistently higher success rates, shorter times to pregnancy and a trend to less higher order multiple pregnancies, this study supports the view that IVF is now potentially safer and more clinically effective than IUI/COH as a first‐line therapy for subfertility.
Adequacy Indices for Dialysis in Acute Renal Failure: Kinetic Modeling
Authors: Debowska Malgorzata , Lindholm Bengt , Waniewski Jacek 
Published: May 2010

AbstractMany aspects of the management of renal replacement therapy in acute renal failure (ARF), including the appropriate assessment of dialysis adequacy, remain unresolved, because ARF patients often are not in a metabolic steady state. The aim of this study was to evaluate a system of adequacy indices for dialysis in ARF patients using urea and creatinine kinetic modeling. Kinetic modeling was performed for two different fictitious patients (A and B) with characteristics described by the average parameters for two patient groups and for two blood purification treatments: sustained low efficiency daily dialysis (SLEDD) in Patient A and continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) in Patient B, based on data from a clinical report. Urea and creatinine generation rates were estimated according to the clinical data on the solute concentrations in blood. Then, using estimated generation rates, two hypothetical treatments were simulated, CVVH in Patient A and SLEDD in Patient B. KT/V, fractional solute removal (FSR) and equivalent renal clearance (EKR) were calculated according to the definitions developed for metabolically unstable patients. CVVH appeared as being more effective than SLEDD because KT/V, FSR, and EKR were higher for CVVH than SLEDD in Patients A and B. Creatinine KT/V, FSR, and EKR were lower and well correlated to the respective indices for urea. Urea and creatinine generation rates were overestimated more than twice in Patient A and by 30–40% in Patient B if calculated assuming the metabolically stable state than if estimated by kinetic modeling. Adequacy indices and solute generation rates for ARF patients should be estimated using the definition for unsteady metabolic state. EKR and FSR were higher for urea and creatinine with CVVH than with SLEDD, because of higher K·T and minimized compartmental effects for CVVH.
Estimation of Phosphene Spatial Variability for Visual Prosthesis Applications
Authors: Obeid Iyad , Veraart Claude , Delbeke Jean 
Published: May 2010

AbstractVisual prostheses are the focus of intensive research efforts to restore some measure of useful vision to blind or near‐blind patients. The development of such technology is being guided to an extent by tools that simulate prosthesis behavior for healthy sighted subjects in order to assess system requirements and configurations. These simulators, however, typically assume purely deterministic phosphene properties and thus do not apply any variability to phosphene size, intensity, or location. We address this issue by presenting data on phosphene variability measured in a blind human subject fitted with an optic nerve prosthesis. In order to correct for normal limitations in human‐pointing accuracy, the experimental conditions were repeated with sighted subjects. We conclude that identical optic nerve stimulations can result in phosphenes whose perceived locations vary by up to 5° of deviation angle and 10° of position angle. The consistency of phosphenes presented in the peripheral field of view can vary by an additional 3°.
Genes Associated With Alcohol Abuse and Tobacco Smoking in the Human Nucleus Accumbens and Ventral Tegmental Area
Authors: Flatscher‐Bader Traute , Harrison Erin , Matsumoto Izuru , Wilce Peter A. 
Published: May 2010

Background: The incidence of alcohol and tobacco co‐abuse is as high as 80%. The molecular mechanism underlying this comorbidity is virtually unknown, but interactions between these drugs have important implications for the development of and recovery from drug dependence.Methods: We investigated the effects of chronic tobacco and alcohol abuse and the interaction of the 2 behaviors on global gene expression in the human nucleus accumbens using cDNA microarrays and 20 alcoholic and control cases, with and without smoking comorbidity. Changes in gene expression were established by factorial ANOVA. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering was utilized to probe the strength of the data sets. Applying real‐time PCR differential expression of candidate genes was confirmed in the nucleus accumbens and explored further in a second core region of the mesolimbic system, the ventral tegmental area.Results: Subjecting the data sets derived from microarray gene expression screening to unsupervised hierarchical clustering tied the cases into distinct groups. When considering all alcohol‐responsive genes, alcoholics were separated from nonalcoholics with the exception of 1 control case. All smokers were distinguished from nonsmokers based on similarity in expression of smoking‐sensitive genes. In the nucleus accumbens, alcohol‐responsive genes were associated with transcription, lipid metabolism, and signaling. Smoking‐sensitive genes were predominantly assigned to functional groups concerned with RNA processing and the endoplasmic reticulum. Both drugs influenced the expression of genes involved in matrix remodeling, proliferation, and cell morphogenesis. Additionally, a gene set encoding proteins involved in the canonical pathway “regulation of the actin cytoskeleton” was induced in response to alcohol and tobacco co‐abuse and included. Alcohol abuse elevated the expression of candidate genes in this pathway in the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area, while smoking comorbidity blunted this induction in the ventral tegmental area.Conclusions: The region‐specific modulation of alcohol‐sensitive gene expression by smoking may have important consequences for alcohol‐induced aberrations within the mesolimbic dopaminergic system.