bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ARE SOME BANKS TOO LARGE TO FAIL? MYTH AND REALITY
Authors: KAUFMAN GEORGE G. 
Published: January 2010

At the time of the Continental Illinois National Bank insolvency, bank regulators considered some commercial banks “too large to fail” (TLTF) and were reluctant both to legally fail such banks and to impose pro rata losses on any of the uninsured creditors of these insolvent banks and their parent holding companies. This policy was introduced due to widespread fears that large bank failures would set off a domino effect bringing down other banks and possibly even the macroeconomy as it did during the 1930s. Also, because these banks are considered special in that they provide money and credit to their communities, many feared that their failure could reduce greatly the availability of these services.This paper analyzes the validity of these fears by examining both theory and the historical record. It concludes that neither theory nor history provides strong support for either fear. In addition, the paper finds that the costs of regulatory forbearance granted to insolvent banks and their creditors greatly exceed the alleged benefits. It also reviews how policy makers apply the TLTF principle in practice. The paper concludes that the policy has been modified progressively over time so that some large banks now are declared legally insolvent and all creditors of bank holding companies—and some uninsured creditors of the banks themselves—incur losses. One may reasonably expect that TLTF will be modified further as the large societal costs become more evident to the public and regulators alike.
THE HYBRID PLAN: A PROPOSAL FOR FEDERAL CREDIT REFORM
Authors: GALE WILLIAM G. 
Published: January 2010

Federal credit subsidies are one of the largest areas of government activity. However, the Unified Budget treats lending in a highly misleading manner, and federal credit management is inconsistent and deceptive. These oversights have contributed to both the rapid rise of federal lending and the financial crises facing several credit agencies during recent years. Credit reform is a vital issue both to protect the government's huge financial stake and to ensure the success of credit programs.This paper critiques previous proposals for credit reform–each suffering from major implementation problems–and suggests an alternative. The Hybrid Plan combines aspects of earlier proposals and eliminates several disadvantages of each. One could implement the Hybrid Plan under current conditions, but it also is consistent with further improvement in federal credit management.
DETERMINANTS OF BANK ACQUISITION PREMIUMS: ISSUES AND EVIDENCE
Authors: FRIEDER LARRY A. , PETTY PHILLIP N. 
Published: January 2010

The recent interstate bank merger phenomenon has received little attention in the literature. Specifically, existing studies fail to explain sufficiently the variation of premiums paid and fail to investigate adequately the bank merger wave in terms of its interstate banking context.This study employs models with substantial overall explanatory levels. The interstate banking context proves to be very significant. First, the study considers and finds significant the effective date of a state's interstate statute in relation to a deal's announcement date. This contrasts sharply with other studies. Second, the study uses and also finds significant a binary variable distinguishing intrastate deals from interstate deals. The premiums paid for interstate market entry, on average, exceeded those paid for intrastate transactions. Third, including regional binary variables reveals a pattern of variation in pricing throughout the country. The Southeast, the study's base of comparison, exhibited the highest premium level.Other significant determinants of premiums paid include profitability as measured by returns on equity, growth proxied by state deposit growth and future expected population growth, and charge‐offs to total loans as an indicator of loan quality.
THE IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT DEFICITS ON PERSONAL AND NATIONAL SAVING RATES
Authors: DARBY MICHAEL R. , GILLINGHAM ROBERT , GREENLEES JOHN S. 
Published: January 2010

This study provides fresh evidence on the responsiveness of private consumption and, by implication, saving to government deficits. It focuses on consumption and saving from 1981 to 1989, a period during which the personal saving rate was characterized as surprisingly unresponsive to high federal budget deficits. The authors attempt to determine whether this experience is consistent with previous behavior. They also test whether this experience refutes the Ricardian Equivalence Proposition (REP), under which consumers incorporate the government's intertemporal budget constraint into their own.The analysis involves estimating two consumer expenditure functions based on two measures of current income capable not only of explaining expenditure behavior during the postwar period but also of successfully forecasting out of sample into the 1981–1989 period. Only one model is consistent with the REP, but neither model indicates that high government deficits caused the drop in the national saving rate experienced during the 1980s. Both models predict similar short‐run responses to shifts in the government deficit. The responses depend crucially on the mix of tax and expenditure changes used to achieve the deficit shift. Both consumption and saving are more responsive to changes in government expenditures on goods and services than they are to changes in taxes.
RETURNS PAID TO EARLY SOCIAL SECURITY COHORTS
Authors: DUGGAN JAMES E. , GILLINGHAM ROBERT , GREENLEES JOHN S. 
Published: January 2010

Previous research generally concludes that early participants in the Social Security system received a very good “deal”—better than later participants received, and much better than future participants are likely to get. However, researchers do not know the values of those deals and their distribution across individuals and groups largely because the necessary data have not been available. The study here uses the Social Security Administration's 1988 Continuous Work History Sample (CWHS) to calculate early participants' real internal rates of return to contributions. The study analyzes sex, race, household type, income, and birth cohorts and employs new Census Bureau mortality projects to forecast more accurately how life expectancies and benefit streams vary by race as well as by sex and birth cohort. Results contribute to an understanding of how the Social Security system redistributes income. All sample groups received high real rates of return. However, the returns varied widely by household type, income level, birth cohort, and other factors. The authors calculate that persons born from 1895 to 1922 received a total transfer of £3.5 trillion, of which £1.3 trillion remained to be paid as of 1988.
DEMOCRACY IN REFORMING COLLAPSED COMMUNIST ECONOMIES: BLESSING OR CURSE?
Authors: INTRILIGATOR MICHAEL D. 
Published: January 2010

From a political standpoint, post‐communists systems include both democratic and non‐democratic nations. From an economic standpoint, they include both collapsing and expanding economies. All four logical possibilities exist for post‐communist political and economic systems. The Czech Republic is an example of a democratic political system and an expanding economic system. Russia is an example of a democratic political system and a collapsing economic system. China is an example of a non‐democratic political system and an expanding economic system. North Korea is an example of a non‐democratic political system and a collapsing economic system. The fact that all four logical possibilities exist suggests that democracy is neither necessary nor sufficient for good economic performance. However, democracy is certainly a value in itself that requires certain basic institutions, including free and fair elections, the orderly transfer of power to those elected, the rule of law and the separation of powers, and the protection of individual freedoms and basic liberties, including those of speech, press, religion, assembly, property, and economic opportunity.Economic policies, rather than the form of government, determine the results for an economy. Russia and China, the two largest socialist economies, followed very different economic policies and experienced radically different outcomes. The failure of “shock therapy” economic policies for transition to a market economy in Russia is related to its use of the Washington Consensus SLP package of stabilization, liberalization, and privatization, as recommended by the World Bank and the IMF. The success of Deng's economic policies for transition to a market economy in China is related to its rejection of the SLP in favor of the ICG approach of institutions, competition, and government. Other interesting cases are those of the Czech Republic and North Korea.Those nations in which both political and economic reforms have been simultaneously successful, such as the Czech Republic, are generally small, homogeneous European nations with a historic work ethic, with a relatively short period of socialism, and with support from neighboring advanced industrialized nations. There is great difficulty in simultaneously establishing both democracy and a market economy without a very special set of circumstances. Thus, it is necessary to determine a sequence for political and economic reform. Ultimately, however, the ideal of both democracy and a market economy may be attained even in nations without special circumstances and external assistance, with Russia eventually turning its economy around and with China eventually reforming politically into a democratic nation.
The contributions of topoclimate and land cover to species distributions and abundance: fine‐resolution tests for a mountain butterfly fauna
Authors: Illán Javier Gutiérrez , Gutiérrez David , Wilson Robert J. 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTAim  Models relating species distributions to climate or habitat are widely used to predict the effects of global change on biodiversity. Most such approaches assume that climate governs coarse‐scale species ranges, whereas habitat limits fine‐scale distributions. We tested the influence of topoclimate and land cover on butterfly distributions and abundance in a mountain range, where climate may vary as markedly at a fine scale as land cover.Location  Sierra de Guadarrama (Spain, southern Europe)Methods  We sampled the butterfly fauna of 180 locations (89 in 2004, 91 in 2005) in a 10,800 km2 region, and derived generalized linear models (GLMs) for species occurrence and abundance based on topoclimatic (elevation and insolation) or habitat (land cover, geology and hydrology) variables sampled at 100‐m resolution using GIS. Models for each year were tested against independent data from the alternate year, using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) (distribution) or Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rs) (abundance).Results  In independent model tests, 74% of occurrence models achieved AUCs of > 0.7, and 85% of abundance models were significantly related to observed abundance. Topoclimatic models outperformed models based purely on land cover in 72% of occurrence models and 66% of abundance models. Including both types of variables often explained most variation in model calibration, but did not significantly improve model cross‐validation relative to topoclimatic models. Hierarchical partitioning analysis confirmed the overriding effect of topoclimatic factors on species distributions, with the exception of several species for which the importance of land cover was confirmed.Main conclusions  Topoclimatic factors may dominate fine‐resolution species distributions in mountain ranges where climate conditions vary markedly over short distances and large areas of natural habitat remain. Climate change is likely to be a key driver of species distributions in such systems and could have important effects on biodiversity. However, continued habitat protection may be vital to facilitate range shifts in response to climate change.
Climatic control of dispersal–ecological specialization trade‐offs: a metacommunity process at the heart of the latitudinal diversity gradient?
Authors: Jocque Merlijn , Field Richard , Brendonck Luc , De Meester Luc 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTWe outline the potentially important role of dispersal in linking diversity patterns at different spatial and temporal scales, and the resulting potential to link hypotheses explaining macroscale patterns of diversity. We do this by proposing a possible mechanism linking climate to diversity patterns: we argue that climate, via effects of continuity of habitat availability in space and time, mediates a dispersal–ecological specialization trade‐off at the metacommunity level that leads to latitudinal trends in dispersal ability, ecological specialization, range sizes, speciation and species richness, ultimately driving the latitudinal diversity gradient. This trade‐off constitutes a possible mechanism for the strong macroscale correlation between climate and species richness that is consistent with recent ideas about niche conservatism and gradient lengths, as well as other leading hypotheses. We present an overview of predictions derived from our ideas. Of these, some have already been tested and supported and others are still open to debate or need testing. Together they provide a unique set of predictions that allows falsification.
Variability in the Inter‐group Attitudes of White Children: What We Can Learn from Their Ethnic Identity Labels
Authors: Brown Christia Spears , Spatzier Agnieszka , Tobin Mollie 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThe current study examined the ethnic identity of White (N = 120), Latino (N = 87), and African‐American (N = 65) children and early adolescents (aged = 9–14 years), with an emphasis on whether the specific ethnic label White children used to describe themselves might reflect differences in their inter‐group attitudes and whether those differences mirror group differences between White children and children in ethnic minority groups. Results indicated that White children who identified with a minority label (i.e., White biracial, hyphenated American, ethnic/cultural/religious label) had more positive ethnic identities, were more aware of discrimination, and were less likely to show biases in their perceived similarity to in‐group and out‐group peers than youth who identified as White or American. In many instances, White children who identified with a minority label did not differ from ethnic minority youth. In addition, although all participants were more positive about their ethnic in‐group than out‐groups, children who identified their ethnicity as American were less positive about out‐groups relative to other children. Taken together, the findings indicate that children's self‐chosen ethnic identity is as important as their ascribed ethnic or racial identity in predicting their inter‐group attitudes.
Tendon and ligament fibrillar crimps give rise to left‐handed helices of collagen fibrils in both planar and helical crimps
Authors: Franchi Marco , Ottani Vittoria , Stagni Rita , Ruggeri Alessandro 
Published: January 2010

AbstractCollagen fibres in tendons and ligaments run straight but in some regions they show crimps which disappear or appear more flattened during the initial elongation of tissues. Each crimp is formed of collagen fibrils showing knots or fibrillar crimps at the crimp top angle. The present study analyzes by polarized light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy the 3D morphology of fibrillar crimp in tendons and ligaments of rat demonstrating that each fibril in the fibrillar region always twists leftwards changing the plane of running and sharply bends modifying the course on a new plane. The morphology of fibrillar crimp in stretched tendons fulfills the mechanical role of the fibrillar crimp acting as a particular knot/biological hinge in absorbing tension forces during fibril strengthening and recoiling collagen fibres when stretching is removed. The left‐handed path of fibrils in the fibrillar crimp region gives rise to left‐handed fibril helices observed both in isolated fibrils and sections of different tendons and ligaments (flexor digitorum profundus muscle tendon, Achilles tendon, tail tendon, patellar ligament and medial collateral ligament of the knee). The left‐handed path of fibrils represents a new final suprafibrillar level of the alternating handedness which was previously described only from the molecular to the microfibrillar level. When the width of the twisting angle in the fibrillar crimp is nearly 180° the fibrils appear as left‐handed flattened helices forming crimped collagen fibres previously described as planar crimps. When fibrils twist with different subsequent rotational angles (< 180°) they always assume a left‐helical course but, running in many different nonplanar planes, they form wider helical crimped fibres.
A 2‐year observational study to determine the efficacy of a novel single incision sling procedure (MinitapeTM) for female stress urinary incontinence
Authors: North CE , Hilton P , Ali‐Ross NS , Smith ARB 
Published: January 2010

Please cite this paper as: North C, Hilton P, Ali‐Ross N, Smith A. A 2‐year observational study to determine the efficacy of a novel single incision sling procedure (Minitape™) for female stress urinary incontinence. BJOG 2010;117:356–360.Objective  Assessment of the 2 year outcome of the Minitape™ procedure.Design  A prospective observational study of women undergoing the Minitape™ procedure for urodynamic stress incontinence.Setting  Two tertiary referral urogynaecology units in the north of England.Population  Sixty women between November 2002 and March 2006.Methods  Women attended a research clinic where they completed a standardised 1 hour pad test and were examined. Women were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.Main outcome measures  Success was determined by a negative 1 hour pad test (gain of <1 g) and no desire for further treatment for stress urinary incontinence.Results  All procedures were completed with local anaesthesia, with no additional sedation in 82% of cases. Intra‐operative and immediate postoperative complications were rare. Twelve women (20%) experienced mesh complications, half of which were considered to be serious adverse events requiring exit from the study. At 2 years following Minitape™ insertion, six women (10%) were defined as cured.Conclusions  Although feasible to perform, this procedure is associated with a substantially lower cure rate than that published previously for other procedures. Cure rates decline over the 2 year follow‐up period, especially during the first 6 months.
Involvement of ERK2 in traumatic spinal cord injury
Authors: Yu Chen‐Guang , Yezierski Robert P. , Joshi Aashish , Raza Kashif , Li Yanzhang , Geddes James W. 
Published: January 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 10.1111/j.1471‐4159.2010.06579.xAbstractActivation of extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) are implicated in the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the specific functions of individual ERK isoforms in neurodegeneration are largely unknown. We investigated the hypothesis that ERK2 activation may contribute to pathological and functional deficits following SCI and that ERK2 knockdown using RNA interference may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for SCI. Lentiviral ERK2 shRNA and siRNA were utilized to knockdown ERK2 expression in the spinal cord following SCI. Pre‐injury intrathecal administration of ERK2 siRNA significantly reduced excitotoxic injury‐induced activation of ERK2 (p < 0.001) and caspase 3 (p < 0.01) in spinal cord. Intraspinal administration of lentiviral ERK2 shRNA significantly reduced ERK2 expression in the spinal cord (p < 0.05), but did not alter ERK1 expression. Administration of the lentiviral ERK2 shRNA vector 1 week prior to severe spinal cord contusion injury resulted in a significant improvement in locomotor function (p < 0.05), total tissue sparing (p < 0.05), white matter sparing (p < 0.05), and gray matter sparing (p < 0.05) 6 weeks following severe contusive SCI. Our results suggest that ERK2 signaling is a novel target associated with the deleterious consequences of spinal injury.
EphA4 is localized in clathrin‐coated and synaptic vesicles in adult mouse brain
Authors: Bouvier David , Tremblay Marie‐Ève , Riad Mustapha , Corera Amadou T. , Gingras Diane , Horn Katherine E. , Fotouhi Maryam , Girard Martine , Murai Keith K. , Kennedy Timothy E. , McPherson Peter S. , Pasquale Elena B. , Fon Edward A. , Doucet Guy 
Published: January 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 10.1111/j.1471‐4159.2010.06582.xAbstractEphA4, a receptor tyrosine kinase, is expressed in various pre‐, post‐ and peri‐synaptic organelles and implicated in the regulation of morphological and physiological properties of synapses. It regulates synaptic plasticity by acting as a binding partner for glial ephrin‐A3 and possibly other pre‐ or post‐synaptic ephrins. Now, its trafficking mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we examine the association of EphA4 with transport, clathrin‐coated and synaptic vesicles using cell fractionation, vesicle immunoisolation and electron microscopy. EphA4 was found in highly purified fractions of clathrin‐coated or synaptic vesicles. It was also detected in vesicles immuno‐isolated with antibodies anti‐synaptophysin, anti‐vesicular glutamate transporter or anti‐vesicular GABA transporter; demonstrating its presence in synaptic vesicles. However, it was not detected in immuno‐isolated piccolo–bassoon transport vesicles. In vivo and in dissociated cultures, EphA4 was localized by immunoelectron microscopy in vesicular glutamate transporter 1‐positive terminals of hippocampal neurons. Remarkably, the cell surface immunofluorescence of EphA4 increased markedly in cultured hippocampal neurons following KCl depolarization. These observations indicate that EphA4 is present in subsets of synaptic vesicles, can be externalized during depolarization, and internalized within clathrin‐coated vesicles. This trafficking itinerary may serve to regulate the levels of EphA4 in the synaptic plasma membrane and thereby modulate signaling events that contribute to synaptic plasticity.
Employed Family Physician Satisfaction and Commitment to Their Practice, Work Group, and Health Care Organization
Authors: Karsh Ben‐Tzion , Beasley John W. , Brown Roger L. 
Published: January 2010

Objective. Test a model of family physician job satisfaction and commitment.Data Sources/Study Setting. Data were collected from 1,482 family physicians in a Midwest state during 2000–2001. The sampling frame came from the membership listing of the state's family physician association, and the analyzed dataset included family physicians employed by large multispecialty group practices.Study Design and Data Collection. A cross‐sectional survey was used to collect data about physician working conditions, job satisfaction, commitment, and demographic variables.Principal Findings. The response rate was 47 percent. Different variables predicted the different measures of satisfaction and commitment. Satisfaction with one's health care organization (HCO) was most strongly predicted by the degree to which physicians perceived that management valued and recognized them and by the extent to which physicians perceived the organization's goals to be compatible with their own. Satisfaction with one's workgroup was most strongly predicted by the social relationship with members of the workgroup; satisfaction with one's practice was most strongly predicted by relationships with patients. Commitment to one's workgroup was predicted by relationships with one's workgroup. Commitment to one's HCO was predicted by relationships with management of the HCO.Conclusions. Social relationships are stronger predictors of employed family physician satisfaction and commitment than staff support, job control, income, or time pressure.