bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determinants and performance index of foreign direct investment in China's agriculture
Authors: Lv Licai , Wen Simei , Xiong Qiquan 
Published: January 2010

PurposeSince attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to agriculture is now an important policy concern for the Chinese Government, it is necessary to develop benchmarks of the inward FDI performance. The purpose of this paper is to explore the determinants of FDI and evaluate the inward FDI performance in China's agriculture.Design/methodology/approachA multi‐variable regression model is conducted to examine the determinants of FDI in China's agriculture over the period from 1985 to 2006. In order to evaluate the inward FDI performance, the inward FDI performance index is developed at industrial level.FindingsThe results indicate that agricultural market size has a significant positive effect but agricultural import has a negative effect on FDI inflow to China's agriculture. The effect of agricultural export is positive but not statistically significant. It is stated that the orientation of FDI policy during China's agricultural opening process is still not clear, and the decrease of the share of fiscal expenditure is apparently not conducive to attract more FDI in China's agriculture. In addition, the performance index shows the inward FDI performance in China's agriculture is improving but not satisfactory compared to its market size.Originality/valueThe inward FDI performance index is tentatively used to evaluate the performance of FDI inflow to China's agriculture. The results of this paper have significant policy implications for the government to determine where to head in using FDI in China's agriculture in the future.
Agricultural land tax and farm‐level land‐use changes and output supply response
Authors: Olubode‐Awosola Femi 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute to land redistribution policy which is presently not only one of the most defining political and development issues, but also perhaps the most difficult in South Africa.Design/methodology/approachThe paper develops a programming model for farm‐level land‐use changes and output supply response to estimate the effects of agricultural land tax in South Africa. The modeling approach is based on baseline statistics from a descriptive analysis.FindingsThe results indicate that changes in land use and output supply response are marginal. The highest effects are observed on irrigated areas of sunflower seed (0.23 percent) and wheat (0.17 percent). This results to declines in supply of 0.07 percent for sunflower seeds; 0.06 percent for wheat; 0.04 percent for soya beans; 0.03 percent for each of white maize and sorghum; and 0.02 percent for yellow maize production. Therefore, levying a land tax may discourage investment on irrigation facilities and consequently irrigated farming.Originality/valueThe programming modeling approach captures the significant differences in the farm characteristics and the overarching profit‐maximizing behaviour of farmers, which an econometric approach may not easily capture.
Welfare change of China's cotton supply chain under the shock of financial crisis
Authors: Xiao Shuangxi 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe financial crisis, which broke in the USA has impacted greatly on the world economy, especially on China's cotton supply chain. It is necessary to understand the welfare change of the cotton chain under this shock of financial crisis in order for relevant policy decisions to be made. The purpose of this paper is to measure the welfare change of all the consumers, producers, circulation and farmers in the cotton supply chain under the shock of financial crisis.Design/methodology/approachThere is no existing mature method to calculate the welfare change of a special supply chain, such as the cotton supply chain. The method most used in such situations is the equilibrium displacement model, created by Muth, and developed by Gardner.FindingsThe financial crisis has had important impacts on China cotton industry. Farmers' losses are bigger than people estimate. Circulation link's loss is a little lower than cotton farmers'. Producers' loss is far lower than circulation and cotton farmers. Consumers' loss is the biggest loss in the whole cotton supply chain: however, some of these are foreign consumers – especially foreign wholesalers and retailers.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to study the quantitative welfare change of China's cotton supply chain under the shock of financial crisis, providing useful information for government and company decision making.
Estimating confidence intervals for technical efficiency of rainfed rice farming system in Nigeria
Authors: Ogundari K. , Amos T.T. , Ojo S.O. 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the technical efficiency (TE) of the rainfed rice farming system in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachSpecial attention is directed to the construction of confidence interval (CI) for individual efficiency estimates using stochastic frontier production model.FindingsThe results show that the coefficient of the regression monotonically and significantly increased output level, while returns‐to‐scale (RTS) of 0.943 suggest decreasing RTS in the study. An average point estimate of TE of 0.669 is obtained from the analysis. CI show that the TE intervals are quite wide, as the assumption that farms originally identified to be on the frontier, or very close to the frontier, by the point estimate may be below the frontier. Age and years of schooling of the farmers are efficiency‐increasing policy variables found in the study.Originality/valueContrary to the previous efficiency studies, the present study demonstrates that economic inferences drawn on the basis of CI seem plausible to provide much more fruitful and insightful information about the TE of farms in the country, rather than the point estimation alone.
Expression and regulation mechanisms of Sonic Hedgehog in breast cancer
Authors: Cui Wei , Wang Li‐Hui , Wen Yuan‐Yuan , Song Min , Li Bai‐Lin , Chen Xiao‐Ling , Xu Man , An Su‐Xiang , Zhao Jing , Lu Yi‐Yan , Mi Xiao‐Yi , Wang En‐Hua 
Published: January 2010

Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) plays an essential role in vertebrate organogenesis as well as the development of some cancers, including breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to characterize more precisely its role in breast carcinogenesis and elucidate its regulation mechanisms. The expression of Shh was investigated in 97 breast carcinomas and 22 paired non‐tumorous tissues (distant from the primary tumor) by immunohistochemistry and in four breast cell lines by Western blotting. We also analyzed the methylation status of the Shh gene with methylation‐specific PCR and assessed whether nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) and Gli1 were expressed in breast tissues by immunohistochemistry. Our results showed that Shh protein expression in breast carcinomas was significant higher than that in normal breast tissues (P < 0.01). The up‐regulation of Shh in breast carcinomas was correlated significantly with early clinical stage (P < 0.05). In addition, we found a substantial increase in Shh expression at both the mRNA and protein levels in several human breast carcinoma cell lines. The expression level of nuclear Gli1 was positively associated with the expression level of Shh in breast tissues (P < 0.001). Promoter region hypomethylation (43/61, 70.5%) was frequently observed in breast carcinomas and significantly associated with Shh up‐regulation (P < 0.05). The DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5‐azacytidine (5‐Aza) reduced the methylation of Shh promoter and increased the expression of Shh protein in MDA‐MB‐435 and MCF‐10A cells. Furthermore, most of the breast carcinoma cases with Shh up‐regulation had increased expression of NF‐κB (35/49, 71.4%; P < 0.001). Taken together, these observations suggest that Shh overexpression is a critical event in breast carcinogenesis, and Shh promoter hypomethylation and NF‐κB up‐regulation are responsible for the up‐regulation of Shh.(Cancer Sci 2010; 101: 927–933)
Multiple T cell epitope peptides suppress allergic responses in an egg allergy mouse model by the elicitation of forkhead box transcription factor 3‐ and transforming growth factor‐β‐associated mechanisms
Authors: Yang M. , Yang C. , Mine Y. 
Published: January 2010

SummaryBackground
Peptide‐based immunotherapy (PIT) represents an attractive approach for targeted interventions in immunological disorders, but has not been widely explored in the context of food allergy.Objective
In this study, we built on the information obtained from the recent identification of three immunodominant T cell epitopes of hen ovalbumin (OVA), a major egg allergen, to assess the therapeutic potential of PIT for food allergy, using the BALB/c mouse model.Methods
Groups of mice were sensitized to OVA by repeated oral gavages, and subsequently administered with single or multiple synthetic peptides containing OVA T cell epitopes. Following the peptide administration period, all mice were orally challenged with high doses of OVA to elicit active anaphylaxis. Serum, spleen, and intestinal tissues were collected for the determination of immunoglobulin levels, cytokine secretions, and intestinal gene expression.Results
Significantly lower anaphylactic scores were exhibited by mice that received multiple epitope‐containing peptides, accompanied by lower serum histamine and OVA‐specific IgE levels, compared with placebo‐treated mice. Mechanistically, the quantification of cytokine secretions in splenocyte cultures revealed a T helper type 1‐biased response (IFN‐γ) in all peptide‐treated mice to the detriment of a T helper type 2‐response (IL‐4). Interestingly, a similar cytokine expression profile was determined in intestinal tissues, accompanied by a pronounced mRNA expression of regulatory molecules TGF‐β and forkhead box transcription factor 3 (FOXP3). These data suggest the activation of local repressive mechanisms mediated by subsets of regulatory T cells.Conclusion
We demonstrated the therapeutic potential of PIT in a mouse model of food allergy model and provided evidence that mechanistic pathways entailing regulatory molecules TGF‐β and FOXP3, stand as promising trails for the further understanding of peptide‐based strategies for food allergy. Cite this as: M. Yang, C. Yang and Y. Mine, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 668–678.
Decrease of blood dendritic cells and increase of tissue-infiltrating dendritic cells are involved in the induction of Sjögren's syndrome but not in the maintenance
Authors: Ozaki Y , Ito T , Son Y , Amuro H , Shimamoto K , Sugimoto H , Katashiba Y , Ogata M , Miyamoto R , Murakami N , Amakawa R , Fukuhara S 
Published: January 2010

SummaryWe have demonstrated previously that, in primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), immature myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) are decreased in blood and mature myeloid DCs are accumulated in salivary glands, suggesting recruitment of the myeloid DCs from blood to salivary glands. To verify whether this finding is universal in patients of not only primary SS but also secondary SS, in this study we analysed the blood DCs of secondary SS patients. We examined 24 secondary SS and 29 primary SS patients. A direct correlation between the decreased number of myeloid DCs and the duration of Sicca syndrome in primary and secondary SS was observed; namely, the reduction of myeloid DCs in blood was restored spontaneously with duration time of Sicca syndrome. We also examined the immunohistochemical staining of salivary glands of SS patients with monoclonal antibodies against fascin, CD11c and human leucocyte antigen DR (HLA-DR). Fascin+ or CD11c+/HLA-DR+ mononuclear cells were present in the salivary glands of secondary SS patients, as in primary SS. However, fascin+ mononuclear cells were barely detected in the salivary glands of a chronic phase of SS patients. We also found a negative correlation between the frequency of blood myeloid DCs and salivary gland-infiltrating DCs in secondary SS patients, as well as primary SS. Our results suggest that the reduction of blood myeloid DCs and preferential trafficking of myeloid DCs into salivary glands is a common event in the early stage of SS. Myeloid DCs may play essential roles in the pathogenesis of Sicca syndrome of SS by initiating T helper cell immune responses.
Multiple stressors in coupled river–floodplain ecosystems
Authors: TOCKNER KLEMENT , PUSCH MARTIN , BORCHARDT DIETRICH , LORANG MARK S. 
Published: January 2010

Summary1. Riverine floodplains are highly complex, dynamic and diverse ecosystems. At the same time they are among the world’s most threatened ecosystems because of the pervasiveness of dams, levees and other factors such as rapid spreading of non‐native species. Hence, floodplains are ideal systems to study ecological impacts of multiple stressors at the local, regional and catchment scale.2. Concepts such as the subsidy‐stress hypothesis and the stress‐induced community tolerance concept have been formulated to study the effect of stressors on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, as well as on their functional linkages.3. Riverine floodplains are pulsed ecosystems with distinct flow, sediment, resource and thermal pulses – thereby creating distinct ‘windows of ecological opportunity’. Human modifications that truncate or amplify theses pulses will have cascading effects on river–floodplain interactions by shifting the thresholds of connectivity, resilience or resistance – causing drastic regime shifts.4. Most aquatic insects and pond‐breeding amphibians have complex life cycles with aquatic and terrestrial stages. They are exposed to different stressors in their aquatic and terrestrial realm. Because most life history functions of aquatic insects are restricted to a short terrestrial period, we need to fully integrate the ‘airscape’ into the future management of river–floodplain ecosystems.5. Riverine floodplains integrate and accumulate multiple stressors at the catchment level, as reflected by distinct catchment fingerprints. Based on the European Catchment Data Base we provide spatially explicit information on multiple stressors; a key prerequisite for setting priorities in conservation and management planning.6. Thematic implications: the management of stressed river and floodplain ecosystems is a major challenge for the near future and water managers worldwide. Management approaches need to be adaptive and embedded within a catchment‐wide concept to cope with upcoming pressures originating from global change.
Multiple stressors in freshwater ecosystems
Authors: ORMEROD S. J. , DOBSON M. , HILDREW A. G. , TOWNSEND C. R. 
Published: January 2010

Summary1. The fundamental importance of freshwater resources, the rapid extinction rate among freshwater species and the pronounced sensitivity of freshwater ecosystems to climate change together signal a pre‐eminent need for renewed scientific focus and greater resources. Against this background, the Freshwater Biological Association in 2008 launched a new series of ‘summit’ Conferences in Aquatic Biology intended to develop and showcase the application of ecological science to major issues in freshwater management.2. This collection of studies arose from the first summit entitled ‘Multiple Stressors in Freshwater Ecosystems’. Although freshwater science and management are replete with mutiple‐stressor problems, few studies have been designed explicitly to untangle their effects.3. The individual case studies that follow reveal the wide array of freshwaters affected by multiple stressors, the spatial and temporal scales involved, the species and ecosystem processes affected, the complex interactions between ecology and socioeconomics that engender such effects, the approaches advocated to address the problems and the challenges of restoring affected systems. The studies also illustrate the extent to which new challenges are emerging (e.g. through climate change), but also they develop a vision of how freshwaters might be managed sustainably to offset multiple stressors in future.4. More generically, these case studies illustrate (i) how freshwaters might be at particular risk of multiple‐stressor effects because of conflicts in water use, and because the hydrological cycle vectors stressor effects so effectively and so extensively; (ii) that dramatic, nonlinear, ‘ecological surprises’ sometimes emerge as multiple‐stressor effects develop and (iii) that good ecology and good ecologists add considerable value to other freshwater disciplines in understanding multiple stressors and managing their effects.
Inventory and phylogenomic distribution of meiotic genes in Nasonia vitripennis and among diverse arthropods
Authors: Schurko A. M. , Mazur D. J. , Logsdon Jr J. M. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThe parasitoid jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis reproduces by haplodiploidy (arrhenotokous parthenogenesis). In diploid females, meiosis occurs during oogenesis, but in haploid males spermatogenesis is ameiotic and involves a single equational division. Here we describe the phylogenomic distribution of meiotic genes in N. vitripennis and in 10 additional arthropods. Homologues for 39 meiosis‐related genes (including seven meiosis‐specific genes) were identified in N. vitripennis. The meiotic genes missing from N. vitripennis are also sporadically absent in other arthropods, suggesting that certain meiotic genes are dispensable for meiosis. Among an additional set of 15 genes thought to be specific for male meiosis in Drosophila, two genes (bol and crl) were identified in N. vitripennis and Apis mellifera (both for which canonical meiosis is absent in males) and in other arthropods. The distribution of meiotic genes across arthropods and the impact of gene duplications and reproductive modes on meiotic gene evolution are discussed.
Maintenance of multiple lineages of R1 and R2 retrotransposable elements in the ribosomal RNA gene loci of Nasonia
Authors: Stage D. E. , Eickbush T. H. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractSequencing reads from the Nasonia genome project were used to study the ribosomal RNA gene loci and the retrotransposons R1 and R2 that insert specifically into the 28S genes. Five highly divergent R1 and five highly divergent R2 families were identified in the three sequenced species, as well as a non‐autonomous element that appears to use the retrotransposition machinery of R1. A duplication of the R1 target site within the spacer region of the rDNA units was also found to be extensively utilized by R1 elements. We document numerous instances where the R1 and R2 families appropriated parts of the retrotransposition machinery of other lineages and speculate that this enables rapid adaptation and the maintenance of multiple R1 and R2 families.
The insect chemoreceptor superfamily of the parasitoid jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis
Authors: Robertson H. M. , Gadau J. , Wanner K. W. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractChemoreception is important for locating food, mates and other resources in many insects, including the parasitoid jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis. In the insect chemoreceptor superfamily, Nasonia has 58 gustatory receptor (Gr) genes, of which 11 are pseudogenes, leaving 47 apparently intact proteins encoded. No carbon dioxide receptors, two candidate sugar receptors, a DmGr43a orthologue, and several additional Gr lineages were identified, including significant gene subfamily expansions related to the 10 Grs found in the honey bee Apis mellifera. Nasonia has a total of 301 odorant receptor (Or) genes, of which 76 are pseudogenes, leaving 225 apparently intact Ors. Phylogenetic comparison with the 174 honey bee Ors reveals differential gene subfamily expansion in each hymenopteran lineage, along with a few losses from each species. The only simple orthologous relationship is the expected single DmOr83b orthologue. The large number of Nasonia Ors is the result of several major subfamily expansions, including one of 55 genes. Nasonia does not have the elaborate social chemical communication of honey bees, nor the diversity of floral odours honey bees detect, however, Nasonia wasps might need to detect a diversity of odours to find potential mates and hosts or avoid harmful substances in its environment.
Teaching genetics with multimedia results in better acquisition of knowledge and improvement in comprehension
Authors: Starbek P. , Starčič Erjavec M. , Peklaj C. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThe main goal of this study was to explore whether the use of multimedia in genetics instruction contributes more to students' knowledge and comprehension than other instructional modes. We were also concerned with the influence of different instructional modes on the retention of knowledge and comprehension. In a quasi‐experimental design, four comparable groups of 3rd and 4th grade high school students were taught the process of protein synthesis: group 1 was taught in the traditional lecture format (n = 112 students), group 2 only by reading text (n = 124 students), group 3 through multimedia that integrated two short computer animations (n = 115 students) and group 4 by text supplemented with illustrations (n = 117 students). All students received one pre‐test in order to estimate their prior knowledge, and two post‐tests in order to assess knowledge and comprehension immediately after learning and again after 5 weeks. Results showed that students comprising groups 3 and 4 acquired better knowledge and improved comprehension skills than the other two groups. Similar results were observed for retention of acquired knowledge and improved comprehension. These findings lead to the conclusion that better learning outcomes can be obtained by the use of animations or at least illustrations when learning genetics.
Photo‐ and bio‐physical characterization of novel violet and near‐infrared lipophilic fluorophores for neuronal tracing
Authors: TONNIGES J. , HANSEN M. , DUNCAN J. , BASSETT M.J. , FRITZSCH B. , GRAY B.D. , EASWARAN A. , NICHOLS M.G. 
Published: January 2010

SummaryLipophilic fluorescent dyes have been used to trace neuronal connections because of their ability to diffuse laterally within nerve cell membranes. Given the hundreds to thousands of connections that a typical neuron makes with its neighbours, a diffusion‐matched set of spectrally distinct dyes is desirable. To extend a set of these dyes to obtain six independent labels, we have characterized the properties of novel violet and near‐infrared candidates. By combining two‐photon and confocal microscopy all of these candidates can be imaged using a single Titanium Sapphire laser. Here we present measurements of the two‐photon action cross‐sections and diffusion properties of the dyes, using either the relative diffusion distance or fluorescence recovery after photobleaching techniques, and demonstrate six‐colour neuronal tracing within the spinal cord and brain tissue.