bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficient IV Estimation in Nonstationary Regression
Authors: Kitamura Yuichi , Phillips Peter C.B. 
Published: March 2009

A limit theory for instrumental variables (IV) estimation that allows for possibly nonstationary processes was developed in Kitamura and Phillips (1992, Fully Modified IV, GIVE, and GMM Estimation with Possibly Non-stationary Regressors and Instruments, mimeo, Yale University). This theory covers a case that is important for practitioners, where the nonstationarity of the regressors may not be of full rank, and shows that the fully modified (FM) regression procedure of Phillips and Hansen (1990) is still applicable. FM. versions of the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator and the generalized instrumental variables estimator (GIVE) were also developed, and these estimators (FM-GMM and FM-GIVE) were designed specifically to take advantage of potential stationarity in the regressors (or unknown linear combinations of them). These estimators were shown to deliver efficiency gains over FM-IV in the estimation of the stationary components of a model.This paper provides an overview of the FM-IV, FM-GMM, and FM-GIVE procedures and investigates the small sample properties of these estimation procedures by simulations. We compare the following five estimation methods: ordinary least squares, crude (conventional) IV, FM-IV, FM-GMM, and FM-GIVE. Our findings are as follows, (i) In terms of overall performance in both stationary and nonstationary cases, FM-IV is more concentrated and better centered than OLS and crude IV, though it has a higher root mean square error than crude IV due to occasional outliers, (ii) Among FM-IV, FM-GMM, and FM-GIVE, (a) when applied to the stationary coefficients, FM-GIVE generally outperforms FM-IV and FM-GMM by a wide margin, whereas the difference between the latter two is quite small when the AR roots of the stationary processes are rather large; and (b) when applied to the nonstationary coefficients, the three estimators are numerically very close. The performance of the FM-GIVE estimator is generally very encouraging.
Optional elements and variant structures in the productions of bei2 ‘to give’ dative constructions in Cantonese-speaking adults and three-year-old children
Authors: WONG ANITA M.-Y. , CHOW DORCAS C.-C. , MCBRIDE-CHENG CATHERINE , STOKES STEPHANIE F. 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTTo express object transfer, Cantonese-speakers use a ‘ditransitive’ ([V–R–T] or [V–T–R] where V=Verb, T=Theme, R=Recipient), or a more complex prepositional/serial-verb (P/SV) construction. Clausal elements in Cantonese datives can be optional (resulting in ‘full’ versus ‘non-full’ forms) or appear in variant orders (full non-canonical and full canonical). We report on usage of dative constructions with the word bei2 ‘to give’ in 86 parents and 53 three-year-old children during conversations. The parents used more P/SV than ditransitive bei2-datives, and vice versa for the children. Both groups showed a similar usage pattern of optional elements and variant structures in their ditransitive and P/SV bei2-datives. The roles of multiple construction types, optional elements and variant structures in children's learning of bei2-dative constructions are described.
Taiwan's International Status Today
Authors: Weng Byron S. J. 
Published: March 2009

In the past three decades Taiwan has gained in terms of its economy but has substantially waned in terms of its international status.Economically, Taiwan has performed so impressively that it has become one of the newly industrialized countries (NICs) that are the envy of many developing nations. Its sustained high growth rate over a fairl, long period commands respect from economists all over the world. In 1983 the GNP of the country approached US$50 billion and its per capita income reached US$2, 444. It is one of the world's top 15 trading nation" and has enjoyed a favourable balance of payments for many years. The 1983 exports and imports were valued at US$25, 117 million and 20, 285 million, respectively.
Press Communiqué on the National People's Congress
Authors: Document  
Published: March 2009

The Second National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China held its third session in Peking between March 27 and April 16. Before this, a preparatory meeting was held on March 22.At the beginning, the session heard a report on the work of the Government made by Chou En-lai, Premier of the State Council.Premier Chou En-lai's report fell into two parts. The first dealt with the international situation and China's foreign policy, and the second part discussed the domestic situation and the tasks of the Chinese people.
The “Next Generation” of Chinese Communist Leaders
Authors: Klein Donald W. 
Published: March 2009

The question of who will succeed Mao Tse-tung is a fascinating and important question. The related question of the composite group of leaders which will emerge in about a decade is, if less fascinating, of at least equal importance, particularly given the increasing complexities of an industrialising society on the China mainland.Are we actually nearing a period when the present hierarchy will begin to fade away? Seemingly we are, as a quick flashback to 1949 will illustrate. When the Chinese Communists came to power thirteen years ago, they were rightfully considered a young group of leaders. Their triumphant general in the field, Lin Piao, was just over forty, Chou En-lai just over fifty, and Mao himself in his mid-fifties. Among his international peers, Mao was fifteen years younger than Stalin, eleven younger than Attlee, and almost ten younger than Truman. To emphasise their youth hi another way, only two men among the forty-four elected as full Central Committee (CQ members hi 1945 died a natural death from that time until 1960.
The Rectification Campaign at Peking University: May—June 1957
Authors: Goldman René 
Published: March 2009

In a previous article I outlined briefly the development of the situation on the campus of Peking University (Pei-Ta) before, during and after the momentous events of the spring of 1957, the period of the “rectification campaign.”The sequence of events in the past four years permits us to view the rectification campaign as a dividing date in the history of Communist China. The rectification campaign was the culminating point of a period that had seen the post-revolutionary reorganisation of the country, the assertion by the Communist Party of total control over the political, economic and ideological life of the nation and, following a campaign of liquidation of counter-revolutionary elements in the summer of 1955, a sudden “thaw.”
Local Government and Administration in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam since 1954 (Part 2)
Authors: Ginsburgs George 
Published: March 2009

Despite the noticeable progress registered since 1954 in the reorganisation of a civilian administrative structure in North Vietnam, after three years much still remained to be done. In particular, while the régime had, from the very start, repeatedly pledged itself to hold popular elections at the earliest possible opportunity to all organs of government, these promises had never been kept, probably out of a desire not to upset the delicate political balance between North and South engineered by the Geneva agreements and to give the South a convenient pretext for repudiating them. But, when the deadline set at Geneva for a referendum in both halves of the divided land on the question of re-unification had expired and it became apparent to Hanoi that it could no longer hope to gain control of South Vietnam at the polls, the last reason for postponing unilateral action in the North vanished. By 1957, official sources in the D.R.V. were openly acknowledging that the situation with regard to elections had indeed become anomalous and even admitting thatthe state apparatus had not yet become sufficiently strong; in many places organs of people's power had not been re-elected for a long time. In some areas people's Councils have almost not been functioning at all or have functioned only formally. Some administrative committees were being appointed by higher organs, whereas they had to be elected by people's Councils.
Intellectuals, Writers and Artists
Authors: Phong Nhu 
Published: March 2009

Of all intellectuals, the most highly respected and appreciated by Vietnamese society are the doctors. Indeed, it is hardly surprising that they should enjoy the esteem of a society the great majority of whose members are uneducated, impoverished, and beset by chronic disease and sickness. However, the reasons are twofold; medical degrees are academically superior to all others, and medicine, of all the professions, is the most useful on the purely practical plane. The doctors themselves are accorded the honorific title of “Thay,” and the medical profession is popularly referred to by the descriptive phrase “savers of people and helpers of life.” This is why, on the thirtieth anniversary of the Indo-Chinese Communist Party and the fifteenth anniversary of the Government of the Democratic Republic of (North) Vietnam, the “Doctor of Doctors,” Ho Dac Di, who is Chairman of the North Vietnamese Medical Association as well as Director of the University and Specialist Colleges, was invited to make a speech. Here is what Dr. Ho Dac Di said on that occasion:The future of the intellectuals is a glorious one, because their activities bind them closely to the proletarian masses who are the masters of the world, the masters of their own country, the masters of their history, and masters of themselves…. On this, the thirtieth anniversary of the foundation of the Party, all those classes who work with their brains, and the scientists in particular, sincerely own their debt of gratitude to the Party and proclaim their complete confidence in the enlightened leadership of the Party, as well as in the glorious future of the fatherland. They give their firm promise that they, together with the other classes of the people, will protect the great achievements of the revolution.
Agricultural Planning and Pricing in the Post-Mao Period
Authors: Sicular Terry 
Published: March 2009

During the past decade China's leaders have called repeatedly for reductions in administrative interventions in the economy, for greater reliance on economic “levers,” for decentralization of economic decision-making, and for an increased role of markets. Although the need for liberalization is fairly widely accepted, debate over how far and how fast to proceed has continued. One view initially proposed by Chen Yun sees China moving towards a system where a “planned economy is primary, and markets are supplementary” (jihua jingji wei zhu, shichang tiaojie wei bu). Others advocate moving beyond Chen Yun's vision to a system where, in fact if not in name, allocation takes place primarily through markets. Li Peng's government work report to the first session of the Seventh National People's Congress suggests that the current consensus leans towards the latter, more progressive view:The focus of reform of the planning system is to transform the function of state planning organs, gradually reduce mandatory planning and expand guidance planning, … use economic instruments, and gradually establish a new economic mechanism where “the state regulates markets, and markets guide enterprises” (guojia tiaojie shichang, shichang yindao qiye).
A Preliminary Model of Particularistic Ties in Chinese political Alliances:Kan-ch'ingandKuan-hsiin a Rural Taiwanese Township
Authors: Jacobs J. Bruce 
Published: March 2009

When one becomes an official, the entire family prospers … they host banquets and send presents (ch'ing-k'o sung-li). … One can see no organization. Personal acquaintances (ssu-jen) are employed, factions are active, and there are feudal relationships (kuan-hsi) …Why were the big and small “fleets” [of Lin Piao's anti-party group] openly able to carry out the schemes of forming cliques, engaging in factionalism, and carrying out conspiracies by such acts as hosting banquets (ch'ing-k'o), sending gifts (sung-li), offering official positions and making promises?In addition to providing himself with extravagant pleasures, Wang Hungwen used the illegally obtained money and goods to host banquets (ch'ing-k'o), and send presents (sung-li) in order to recruit corrupt cadres and conduct anti-party factional activities. So many filthy political exchanges are just so happily arranged in an atmosphere of wine and women. Eat, Eat, Drink, Drink had already become a gauge by which Wang Hung-wen and his “little brothers” measured political relationships (kuan-hsi).
GiardiaandCryptosporidiuminfections in sheep and goats: a review of the potential for transmission to humans via environmental contamination
Authors: ROBERTSON L. J. 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThe public health significance of giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis in sheep is currently unclear. Some research suggests that they are probably not an important zoonotic reservoir, whilst other research indicates this potential exists, and some outbreaks have also been associated with infections in sheep. Actions to limit water supply contamination by sheep have sometimes been severe, occasionally creating problems between farming and public health communities. Here our knowledge on these parasites in both sheep and goats is reviewed; although direct evidence of transmission to humans via water supply contamination is limited, the data accrued indicate that this is a real possibility. As cryptosporidiosis in sheep is generally more prevalent than giardiasis, and species/genotypes ofCryptosporidiuminfections in sheep are likely to be infectious to humans, this parasite may be considered the greater threat. Nevertheless, geographical variation in prevalence and genotypic distribution is extensive and as measures to limit sheep grazing can have a highly negative impact, it is important that cases are judged individually. If water contamination from a particular population of sheep/goats is suspected, then suitable investigations should be instigated, investigating both prevalence and species/genotype, before precautionary measures are imposed.
Dexamethasone decreases neuronal nitric oxide release in mesenteric arteries from hypertensive rats through decreased protein kinase C activation
Authors: Aras-López Rosa , Xavier Fabiano E. , Ferrer Mercedes , Balfagón Gloria 
Published: March 2009

Neuronal NO plays a functional role in many vascular tissues, including MAs (mesenteric arteries). Glucocorticoids alter NO release from endothelium and the CNS (central nervous system), but no results from peripheral innervation have been reported. In the present study we investigated the effects of dexamethasone on EFS (electrical field stimulation)-induced NO release in MAs from WKY (Wistar–Kyoto) rats and SHRs (spontaneously hypertensive rats) and the role of PKC (protein kinase C) in this response. In endothelium-denuded MAs, L-NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) increased the contractile response to EFS only in segments from SHRs. EFS-induced contraction was reduced by 1 μmol/l dexamethasone in segments from SHRs, but not WKY rats, and this effect was abolished in the presence of dexamethasone. EFS induced a tetrodotoxin-resistant NO release in WKY rat MAs, which remained unchanged by 1 μmol/l dexamethasone. In SHR MAs, dexamethasone decreased basal and EFS-induced neuronal NO release, and this decrease was prevented by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone. Dexamethasone did not affect nNOS [neuronal NOS (NO synthase)] expression in either strain. In SHR MAs, incubation with calphostin C (a non-selective PKC inhibitor), Gö6983 (a classic PKC δ and ζ inhibitor), LY379196 (a PKCβ inhibitor) or PKCζ-PI (PKCζ pseudosubstrate inhibitor) decreased both basal and EFS-induced neuronal NO release. Additionally, PKC activity was reduced by dexamethasone. The PKC inhibitor-induced reduction in NO release was unaffected by dexamethasone. In conclusion, results obtained in the present study indicate that PKC activity positively modulates the neuronal NO release in MAs from SHRs. They also reveal that by PKC inhibition, through activation of glucocorticoid receptors, dexamethasone reduces neuronal NO release in these arteries.
Therapeutic potential of proapoptotic molecule Noxa in the selective elimination of tumor cells
Authors: Suzuki Saori , Nakasato Makoto , Shibue Tsukasa , Koshima Isao , Taniguchi Tadatsugu 
Published: March 2009

The selective elimination of tumor cells by inducing apoptosis is one of the most important issues in cancer therapy. In this context, artificial expression of the p53 tumor‐suppressor gene has been an attractive approach and numerous studies have shown its efficacy in combination with other therapies such as radiation or chemotherapy. One of the critical issues for current cancer gene therapy is how to induce apoptosis in cancer cells without affecting normal cells. In the present study, we examined the potential of Noxa, a BH3‐only protein with proapoptotic activity that functions downstream of the p53‐mediated apoptotic pathway, to selectively induce apoptosis in tumor cells. We found that upon infection of a recombinant adenovirus contrived to express the Noxa gene, apoptosis was induced in vitro in several human breast cancer cell lines, but not in normal mammary epithelial cell lines. Furthermore, intratumoral injection of the Noxa‐expressing adenovirus resulted in marked shrinkage of the transplanted tumor derived from breast cancer cells without any notable adverse effect on the surrounding normal tissue. In contrast, the expression of Puma, another BH3‐only protein that also functions downstream of the p53 pathway, induced apoptosis in both cancer and normal cells. Thus, our results suggest a mechanism wherein Noxa, but not Puma, selectively induces apoptosis in human tumor cells. These data provide a new prospect for cancer therapy by the Noxa‐mediated selective elimination of malignant cells. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 759–769)
The oral iron chelator deferasirox represses signaling through the mTOR in myeloid leukemia cells by enhancing expression of REDD1
Authors: Ohyashiki Junko H. , Kobayashi Chiaki , Hamamura Ryoko , Okabe Seiichi , Tauchi Tetsuzo , Ohyashiki Kazuma 
Published: March 2009

To evaluate the effect of deferasirox in human myeloid leukemia cells, and to identify the moleclular pathways responsible for antiproliferative effects on leukemia cells during chelation therapy, we performed gene expression profiling to focus on the pathway involved in the anticancer effect of deferasirox. The inhibitory concentration (IC50) of deferasirox was 17–50 µM in three human myeloid cell lines (K562, U937, and HL60), while those in fresh leukemia cells obtained from four patients it varied from 88 to 172 µM. Gene expression profiling using Affymerix GeneChips (U133 Plus 2.0) revealed up‐regulation of cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A) encoding p21CIP, genes regulating interferon (i.e. IFIT1). Pathways related to iron metabolism and hypoxia such as growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF‐15) and Regulated in development and DNA damage response (REDD1) were also prominent. Based on the results obtained from gene expression profiling, we particularly focused on the REDD1/mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway in deferasirox‐treated K562 cells, and found an enhanced expression of REDD1 and its down‐stream protein, tuberin (TSC2). Notably, S6 ribosomal protein as well as phosphorylated S6, which is known to be a target of mTOR, was significantly repressed in deferasirox‐treated K562 cells, and REDD1 small interfering RNA restored phosphorylation of S6. Although iron chelation may affect multiple signaling pathways related to cell survival, our data support the conclusion that REDD1 functions up‐stream of tuberin to down‐regulate the mTOR pathway in response to deferasirox. Deferasirox might not only have benefit for iron chelation but also may be an antiproliferative agent in some myeloid leukemias, especially patients who need both iron chelation and reduction of leukemia cells. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 970–977)
Using the extended quarter degree grid cell system to unify mapping and sharing of biodiversity data
Authors: Larsen R. , Holmern T. , Prager S. D. , Maliti H. , Røskaft E. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractInformation on the distribution of animal populations is essential for conservation planning and management. Unfortunately, shared coordinate‐level data may have the potential to compromise sensitive species and generalized data are often shared instead to facilitate knowledge discovery and communication regarding species distributions. Sharing of generalized data is, unfortunately, often ad hoc and lacks scalable conventions that permit consistent sharing at larger scales and varying resolutions. One common convention in African applications is the Quarter Degree Grid Cells (QDGC) system. However, the current standard does not support unique references across the Equator and Prime Meridian. We present a method for extending QDGC nomenclature to support unique references at a continental scale for Africa. The extended QDGC provides an instrument for sharing generalized biodiversity data where laws, regulations or other formal considerations prevent or prohibit distribution of coordinate‐level information. We recommend how the extended QDGC may be used as a standard, scalable solution for exchange of biodiversity information through development of tools for the conversion and presentation of multi‐scale data at a variety of resolutions. In doing so, the extended QDGC represents an important alternative to existing approaches for generalized mapping and can help planners and researchers address conservation issues more efficiently.
Breeding biology of ostriches (Struthio camelus) in the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania
Authors: Magige Flora J. , Stokke Bård G. , Sortland Ragna , Røskaft Eivin 
Published: March 2009

AbstractOstrich breeding behaviour in the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania was investigated for differences in laying dates between low altitude western area (WA) and high altitude eastern area (EA) populations. Ostriches in WA laid eggs significantly earlier than in EA. The differences could be attributed to topography and rainfall pattern. Reliable rains in lower altitudes ensure availability of food that in turn influences the whole process of the reproductive cycle. Clutches were contributed by several females with a nest having up to 38 eggs. We also compared the frequency of observation of predators, ostriches, nests, ‘singletons’ (single eggs laid randomly) and broods between the two areas. There was no significant difference between WA and EA in 1) ostrich/nest ratio, indicating similar breeding densities; 2) ostrich/predator and predator/nest ratios, indicating that predation pressure was equally high; 3) nest/singleton and predator/singleton ratios, indicating that loss of nests did not vary between areas. However, there were significantly more predators, nests and ostriches compared to broods in EA than in WA, indicating a significantly lower reproductive success in EA. Using metapopulation terminology, ostriches in EA could be regarded as a ‘sink’ population and those in WA as a ‘source’ population, but investigations over longer time‐periods are needed to further resolve if this is the case.