bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lessons from the Eurocrisis for East Asian Monetary Relations
Authors: De Grauwe Paul 
Published: April 2012

AbstractI analyse the sources of the Eurozone crisis. The major conclusion is that the Eurozone is insufficiently embedded in a monetary union, thereby making it fragile and prone to crises. The lesson I draw for East Asia is that despite the fact that this region appears to satisfy the traditional optimal currency area (OCA) criteria to form a monetary union, the complete absence of political unification makes the prospect of a monetary union in that region of the world both unrealistic and undesirable.
Exogenous Shocks and Exchange Rate Regimes
Authors: Chia Wai‐Mun , Cheng Tianyin , Li Mengling 
Published: April 2012

AbstractUsing a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model with nominal price rigidity and imperfect competition, we examine the impact of terms‐of‐trade and foreign interest rate shocks on some key macroeconomic variables for a small open economy under different exchange rate regimes. Numerical solutions from the model are found consistent with empirical panel VAR results of 33 Asian economies for the period of 1980–2009. From both the theoretical model and empirical evidence, we find that (i) output responses to terms‐of‐trade and foreign interest rate shocks are smoother in floats, (ii) price responses to terms‐of‐trade shocks are smoother in floats than in pegs, while its responses to foreign interest shocks are more volatile in floats than in pegs, and (iii) the effects of terms‐of‐trade and foreign interest shocks are more prolonged under floats.
Intra‐industry Trade and Industry Distribution of Productivity: A Cournot–Ricardo Approach
Authors: Song E. Young , Sohn Chan‐Hyun 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThis study constructs a general equilibrium model of trade by incorporating Cournot competition in a Ricardian model of trade with a continuum of goods. In this model, the share of intra‐industry trade (IIT) in bilateral trade volume decreases as trading partners become more different in terms of the industry distribution of labour productivity. We show that this relationship is a special case of a general accounting identity: the intensity of IIT is decreasing in a specialisation index. The specialisation index is equal to the difference in the industry distribution of labour productivity in our Cournot–Ricardo model, while it is equal to the difference in factor endowments in the well‐known monopolistic competition model. As both technologies and factor endowments would play important roles in shaping specialisation patterns, we conjecture that the share of IIT is decreasing in both measures of specialisation. Using the data from Nicita and Olarreaga, we test this conjecture. Our pooled ordinary least squares (OLS) estimations strongly support this conjecture. However, in fixed‐effect panel estimations, only the industry distribution of productivity is significant in the entire sample. Subdividing the sample, we find that the difference in the industry distribution of productivity is significant in explaining North–North IIT, while the difference in factor endowments is significant in explaining North–South IIT.
THE EAST MEDITERRANEAN LATE BRONZE AGE GLASS TRADE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE PANAZTEPE FINDS
Authors: ÇINARDALI‐KARAASLAN NAZLI 
Published: April 2012

SummaryThe Late Bronze Age is a period during which intensive transactions occurred in the Mediterranean and Near East. The glass trade became a real industry, exhibiting the innovations of the period from around the region. The glass finds of the Late Bronze Age consisted of valuable gifts exchanged between the elite classes of Mesopotamia, Egypt and the Aegean.The objective of this study is to reconstruct Late Bronze Age glass trade systems in the light of archaeological data recovered from Panaztepe, located in the Izmir region of west Anatolia. The glass finds at Panaztepe are represented by examples such as necklace spacers, relief beads, and spherical and circular beads recovered from the two burial grounds. While the interior chronologies of the tombs have not been completely distinguished, it is thought that most of these finds were used during the Late Helladic III A–B periods.
CHARIOTS AND CONTEXT: NEW RADIOCARBON DATES FROM WETWANG AND THE CHRONOLOGY OF IRON AGE BURIALS AND BROOCHES IN EAST YORKSHIRE
Authors: JAY MANDY , HASELGROVE COLIN , HAMILTON DEREK , HILL J.D. , DENT JOHN 
Published: April 2012

SummaryThis paper presents 21 new radiocarbon dates for Iron Age burials excavated at Wetwang Slack, East Yorkshire, including three chariot burials. The dates are analysed using a Bayesian approach, along with previous dates from the cemetery and from other chariot burials in the region. The model suggests that regular burial at Wetwang spanned the third and earlier second centuries cal BC, a shorter period than once thought, whilst the chariot burials all belong to a short‐lived horizon centred on 200 cal BC. The dating of brooch types present in the burials is also reassessed. Our results imply that brooches of La Tène D form appeared in Britain in the later second century cal BC, in line with Continental evidence, but reinforcing the void in the later Iron Age sequence revealed in a recent study of decorated metalwork. Both this apparent gap and the end of the classic East Yorkshire mortuary tradition may well be manifestations of the more general changes that swept across Europe at this period, ushering in the new forms of political organization and social practices that define the Late Iron Age.
Dopaminochrome induces caspase‐independent apoptosis in the mesencephalic cell line, MN9D
Authors: Linsenbardt Andrew J. , Breckenridge Julie M. , Wilken Gerald H. , Macarthur Heather 
Published: April 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 175–184.AbstractParkinson’s disease is characterized by a deficiency in motor cortex modulation due to degeneration of pigmented dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra projecting to the striatum. These neurons are particularly susceptible to oxidative stress, perhaps because of their dopaminergic nature. Like all catecholamines, dopamine is easily oxidized, first to a quinone intermediate and then to dopaminochrome (DAC), a 5‐dihydroxyindole tautomer, that is cytotoxic in an oxidative stress‐dependent manner. Here we show, using the murine mesencephalic cell line MN9D, that DAC causes cell death by apoptosis, illustrated by membrane blebbing, Annexin V, and propidium iodide labeling within 3 h. In addition, DAC causes oxidative damage to DNA within 3 h, and positive terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling fluorescence by 24 h. DAC, however, does not induce caspase 3 activation and its cytotoxic actions are not prevented by the pan‐caspase inhibitor, Z‐VAD‐fmk. DAC‐induced cytotoxicity is limited by the PARP1 inhibitor, 5‐aminoisoquinolinone, supporting a role for apoptosis‐inducing factor (AIF) in the apoptotic process. Indeed, AIF is detected in the nuclear fraction of MN9D cells 3 h after DAC exposure. Taken together these results demonstrate that DAC induces cytotoxicity in MN9D cells in a caspase‐independent apoptotic manner, likely triggered by oxidative damage to DNA, and involving the translocation of AIF from the mitochondria to the nucleus.
Improving influenza vaccination coverage in pregnancy in Melbourne 2010–2011
Authors: McCarthy Elizabeth A. , Pollock Wendy Elizabeth , Nolan Terry , Hay Sarah , McDonald Susan 
Published: April 2012

BackgroundSeasonal influenza vaccination during pregnancy is effective in preventing serious maternal and infant respiratory illness, but published Australian audits are sparse concerning practice.AimsGuided by information gained from new mothers about obstacles to influenza vaccination in July 2010, an educational program for maternity staff and pregnant women was developed with the aim of improving vaccine uptake in 2011.MethodsOne hundred and ninety‐nine new mothers in July 2010 and 240 new mothers in July 2011 on postnatal wards of a tertiary obstetric hospital were interviewed about whether influenza vaccine had been offered or given and about reasons why women chose for or against vaccination during pregnancy.ResultsInfluenza vaccination increased from 30% in 2010 to 40% in 2011 (P = 0.03). Fewer women cited safety concerns for themselves or their babies after the 2011 educational campaign. Comments from 90 women in 2011 give grounds for speculation that the vaccination rate could have been as high as 78% if influenza vaccination had been integrated as part of hospital‐based antenatal care.ConclusionsInfluenza vaccine coverage during pregnancy is increasing but obstacles persist, especially absent or inconsistent advice from healthcare workers and lack of ready access during routine antenatal care.
Pilot Studies to Identify the Optimum Duration of Concomitant Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy in Thailand
Authors: Kongchayanun Chutima , Vilaichone Ratha‐korn , Pornthisarn Bubpha , Amornsawadwattana Surachai , Mahachai Varocha 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Eradication rate for Helicobacter pylori infection with standard triple therapy has globally declined including in Thailand, and new regimens are required that provide reliable high eradication rates. The study was designed to determine whether concomitant therapy administered for either 5 or 10 days would produce a ≥ 95% (grade A) treatment success in H. pylori infected Thai subjects with nonulcer dyspepsia.Methods:  Two prospective, but separate, pilot single‐center studies were carried out during September 2009–December 2010 at Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand. H. pylori infected subjects were randomized into the two pilot studies; either 5‐day or 10‐day concomitant therapy. Thai concomitant therapy consisted of rabeprazole (20 mg) twice daily, amoxicillin 1 g twice daily, metronidazole 400 mg three times a day, and clarithromycin MR 1 g once daily. H. pylori status was assessed by 13C‐urea breath test 4 weeks after completion of the treatment. Successful treatment was defined as achieving a grade A result (≥95%) and failure by <90% cured.Results:  A total of 110 subjects were randomized (55 to the 5‐day treatment trial and 55 to the 10‐day regimen). Baseline subject demographic and clinical characteristics were similar in both studies. All subjects completed their assigned therapies. The 10‐day concomitant treatment trial was successful in 53 of the 55 subjects (96.4%; 95% CI 87.4–99.5%). The 5‐day concomitant pilot was judged to be a failure as only 49 of 55 subjects (89.1%; 95% CI = 77.7–95.8%) were cured. The frequency of adverse events was low and similar in the two studies.Conclusion:  The 10‐day concomitant regimen provided excellent treatment success (eradication rate >95%) and was well tolerated. Ten‐day concomitant therapy is likely to become useful first‐line H. pylori eradication in Thailand.
Developmental origin of a major difference in sensory patterning between zebrafish and bluefin tuna
Authors: Ghysen Alain , Dambly‐Chaudière Christine , Coves Denis , de la Gandara Fernando , Ortega Aurelio 
Published: April 2012

SUMMARYThe posterior lateral line system (PLL) of teleost fish comprises a number of mechanosensory organs arranged in defined patterns on the body surface. Embryonic patterns are largely conserved among teleosts, yet adult patterns are highly diverse. Although changes in pattern modify the perceptual abilities of the system, their developmental origin remains unknown. Here we compare the processes that underlie the formation of the juvenile PLL pattern in Thunnus thynnus, the bluefin tuna, to the processes that were elucidated in Danio rerio, the zebrafish. In both cases, the embryonic PLL comprises five neuromasts regularly spaced along the horizontal myoseptum, but the juvenile PLL comprises four roughly parallel anteroposterior lines in zebrafish, whereas it is a simple dorsally arched line in tuna fish. We examined whether this difference involves evolutionary novelties, and show that the same mechanisms mediate the transition from embryonic to juvenile patterns in both species. We conclude that the marked difference in juveniles depends on a single change (dorsal vs. ventral migration of neuromasts) in the first days of larval life.
Characterization of sFRP2‐like in amphioxus: insights into the evolutionary conservation of Wnt antagonizing function
Authors: Kong Weihua , Yang Yongjie , Zhang Tianxiao , Shi De‐Li , Zhang Yanjun 
Published: April 2012

SUMMARYWnt signaling plays a key role in embryonic patterning and morphogenetic movements. The secreted Frizzled‐related proteins (sFRPs) antagonize Wnt signaling, but their roles in development are poorly understood. To determine whether function of sFRPs is conserved between amphioxus and vertebrates, we characterized sFRP2‐like function in the amphioxus, Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense (B. belcheri). As in other species of Branchiostome, in B. belcheri, expression of sFRP2‐like is restricted to the mesendoderm during gastrulation and to the anterior mesoderm and endoderm during neurulation. Functional analyses in frog (Xenopus laevis) indicate that amphioxus sFRP2‐like potently inhibits both canonical and non‐canonical Wnts. Thus, sFRP‐2 probably functions in amphioxus embryos to inhibit Wnt signaling anteriorly. Moreover, dorsal overexpression of amphioxus sFRP2‐like in Xenopus embryos, like inhibition of Wnt11, blocks gastrulation movements. This implies that sFRP2‐like may also modulate Wnt signaling during gastrulation movements in amphioxus.
Empowering sibship analyses with reference pedigrees
Authors: Wenk Robert E. , Shao Alison 
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND: In sibship analysis, the usual comparison of an alleged (test) sibling's short tandem repeat (STR) types with those of a reference sibling may prove inconclusive. Increasing the number of examined STR loci may not change sibship probabilities very much. We increased the number of verified reference siblings to resolve problematic cases of alleged sibship.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: (A) Ten paternity cases were chosen in which there were three highly probable children of each alleged father. Pairs of the alleged father's children were analyzed for full sibship. The test sib with the lowest likelihood of sibship was reanalyzed by a comparison with two reference siblings combined. (B) Five problematic sibship cases are presented to demonstrate how two‐person reference pedigrees can improve diagnosis over tests using one reference person.RESULTS: (A) Two‐person pedigrees exponentially increased sibship probabilities of true siblings above those produced by one reference person. (B) In problem cases, reference pedigrees provided data that: 1) statistically verified some alleged sibships in which analyses using one reference person yielded inconclusive results, 2) allowed exclusion of some alleged sibships, or 3) suggested alternate blood relationships to the alleged one.CONCLUSIONS: Use of reference pedigrees often resolves sibship questions left unsettled by tests using reference individuals. Adding reference relatives is a far more powerful analytical strategy than adding test loci. Whenever possible, verified blood relatives should be incorporated into a reference pedigree to retest an alleged sibling whose initial results were unclear.
Cost‐effectiveness of prion filtration of red blood cells to reduce the risk of transfusion‐transmitted variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease in the Republic of Ireland
Authors: Teljeur Conor , Flattery Martin , Harrington Patricia , O'Neill Michelle , Moran Patrick S. , Murphy Linda , Ryan Máirín 
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND: Variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease (vCJD) is a rare, progressive fatal noninflammatory neurodegenerative disease. Ireland has the second highest rate of vCJD in the world with an ongoing risk of vCJD transmission through blood transfusion. Prion‐removing filters have been developed to reduce the risk of vCJD transmission. This study aimed to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of implementing a policy of prion filtration of red blood cells (RBCs) in the Republic of Ireland.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A cost‐effectiveness model was developed to simulate the likelihood of RBC recipients developing clinical vCJD as a result of being transfused with infected RBCs. Model variables were collected from published literature and expert opinion. Costs were estimated based on the processing changes required to implement prion filtration.RESULTS: In the absence of prion filtration, it is estimated that two individuals will develop clinical vCJD arising from RBC transfusions over a 10‐year time horizon. The discounted life‐years lost will be 18.5 years. With prion filtration, there will be no deaths or life‐years lost. The discounted cost of universal prion filtration is €68.2 million over 10 years with a corresponding incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio of €3.7 million per life‐year gained. In 25.3% of simulations there were no deaths from vCJD infection through infected blood transfusions, irrespective of prion filtration.CONCLUSION: Prion filtration is considered not cost‐effective by traditional measures. Although numerous non–cost‐effective blood safety strategies have been implemented in the past, consideration should be given to the most efficient use of finite resources in transfusion medicine.
West Nile virus infection in blood donors in the New York City area during the 2010 seasonal epidemic
Authors: Francis Richard O. , Strauss Donna , Williams Joan Dunn , Whaley Shavonne , Shaz Beth H. 
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND: A uniform threshold strategy for converting from minipool (MP)‐nucleic acid testing (NAT) to individual donation (ID)‐NAT screening for acute West Nile virus (WNV) infection among blood donors is lacking. We report on WNV screening at the New York Blood Center during the 2010 seasonal WNV epidemic, the most severe epidemic in that state since the original outbreak in 1999.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Between July 1 and October 31, 2010, blood donations were screened by MP‐NAT or ID‐NAT and the presence of anti‐WNV immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG was evaluated among NAT‐positive donations.RESULTS: Twenty presumed viremic donations were identified for a frequency of 0.0129% (1 in 7752 donations). Nine donations that could have been missed by MP‐NAT were identified. Two of these donations were both IgM and IgG negative, one of which would have been missed if more than one positive donation was required for initiating ID‐NAT. Retrospective ID‐NAT revealed two positive donations. The majority of the NAT‐positive donations in New York (16/19) were from donors who lived in counties that had the highest incidence of human WNV cases in the state.CONCLUSION: Our data details the identification of WNV NAT‐positive blood donations during a severe seasonal epidemic in the New York area. By initiating ID‐NAT after one positive donation, using retrospective testing, and triggering ID‐NAT regionally, we were able to prevent the release of presumably infectious donations. The detection of NAT‐positive donations with retrospective testing, however, may indicate the need for changes in our trigger criteria.
Mortgage Delivery to the Secondary Market when Interest Rates are Falling
Authors: Heuson Andrea J. , Su Tie 
Published: April 2012

AbstractA borrower whose loan is committed to the securitization process has the ability and incentive to switch lenders if market rates drop during the loan origination period, which creates significant exposure for primary lenders. A simple secondary market contract innovation we call a mortgage rate drop guarantee (MRDG) could shift this risk to the securitizers who represent portfolio investors. Our simulation results indicate this shifting would have improved the risk/return distribution faced by originators without damaging the risk/return position of securitizers during our 1977–2010 sample period. Assuming conservative loan lives and origination periods, and competitive lending markets, the risk reduction features of MRDGs could also have generated significant interest savings for borrowers.
The Corporate Governance Premium, Returns, and Mutual Funds
Authors: Chou Julia , Hardin III William G. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractMutual funds with a preference for strong corporate governance (CG) have performance similar to mutual funds with a preference for weak CG. We find a direct relation between overall mutual fund CG preference and the corporate governance premium (CGP). Furthermore, the investment preferences of mutual funds forecast the change in the CGP. We provide evidence that the investment activities of institutional investors can affect stock performance, and that shifts by institutional investors in CG preference impact the appearance of the CGP.
The Influence of a Credit Rating Change on Corporate Cash Holdings and Their Marginal Value
Authors: Khieu Hinh D. , Pyles Mark K. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe examine the influence of credit rating changes on corporate excess cash holdings. We find that downgraded firms increase excess cash holdings by approximately 3% of total noncash assets, compared to a matched sample of firms without a rating change. We largely observe no significant cash policy change following upgrades. While our findings support existing studies on the value of precautionary cash hoarding in the face of increased financial constraint, we find hoarding is value‐decreasing for shareholders. The marginal value of excess cash declines by at least 40% for downgraded firms and much more so when firms have histories of excess cash hoarding.
Agency Costs and the Short‐Run Stock Price Response to Capital Expenditures
Authors: Kim Sungsoo , Pilotte Eugene , Yang Joon Sun 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe estimate the short‐run stock price response to unanticipated capital expenditures. We use association study methodology to avoid the self‐selection bias in event studies and to facilitate construction of a large sample of firm‐years likely to exhibit agency problems. We find that the average price response to routine capital expenditures is negative, and that commonly used agency cost measures explain fully the negative response. Subsample results support the conclusion that the market is skeptical of cash flow financed spending by low‐q firms and even capital spending by high‐q firms when the firm is large and q is only marginally high.
Stock Market Development and the Decline of the Portion of Dividend Payers throughout the World
Authors: Twu Mia 
Published: April 2012

AbstractI contend that stock market development has substantially contributed to the decline of dividend payers worldwide. Using data from 31 countries, my research shows that stock market development makes firms in countries with a relatively high dependence on stock market financing less likely to pay dividends, to pay less, and more likely to omit. These results also are robust to the sample selection, the time‐varying firm characteristics, and the differences in legal systems, capital market scales, and country‐level information disclosure.