bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Production Effects of the European Union's Single Farm Payment
Authors: Rude James 
Published: November 2008

Since 1992, reform of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy has involved several rounds that have gradually changed the method of support from market‐based intervention purchases to direct producer payments. The Single Farm Payment (SFP) was introduced most recently and is claimed to be decoupled from production decisions. This study examines whether or not the SFP induces extra production. The study finds that the SFP provided less production incentives and is less trade distorting than the prior system of compensatory payments. Lessons from the EU policy reform for agricultural policy reform in Canada are also considered.Depuis 1992, la réforme de la Politique agricole commune (PAC) de l'UE a fait l'objet de plusieurs négociations qui ont peu à peu changé les formes de soutien, du système d'achat à l'intervention fondé sur le marché aux paiements directs versés aux producteurs. Le régime de paiement unique (RPU) a été mis en place plus récemment, et l'on prétend qu'il est indépendant des décisions de production. Dans la présente étude, nous avons examiné le RPU afin de savoir s'il stimulait ou non la production supplémentaire. Selon notre étude, le RPU offre moins d'incitatifs de production et entraîne moins de distorsion commerciale que le régime de paiements compensatoires antérieur. Nous avons aussi examiné les leçons qui pourraient être tirées de la réforme de la politique agricole de l'UE et appliquées à une réforme de la politique agricole au Canada.
Contemporary Farm Income Support Policy in Canada: The Case of Prairie Agriculture since 1996
Authors: Wipf Kevin G. 
Published: November 2008

This paper investigates the degree of provincialism, autonomous policy formulation and program implementation, in farm income support in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta after 1995. It finds that of the three prairie provinces only Alberta undertook autonomous program creation. Correspondingly, Alberta bargained for provincial discretion in federal–provincial negotiations, while Manitoba and Saskatchewan insisted that the federal government is to assume primary responsibility for farm income support. The direction that each province took in regards to program implementation and in federal–provincial negotiations stemmed to a considerable extent from the policy‐making structures the provinces created in order to engage their farm communities in policy development. In Alberta additional factors were the strong influence of rural representatives in its government and its rich public purse. In Manitoba and Saskatchewan the comparatively small government budgets and the governments' desire not to run large budget deficits were other relevant factors. Le présent article examine le degré de provincialisme, l'élaboration de politiques et la mise en place de programmes autonomes ainsi que le soutien du revenu agricole au Manitoba, en Saskatchewan et en Alberta depuis 1995. Nos résultats ont indiqué que, des trois provinces des Prairies, seule l'Alberta a procédéà la création de programmes autonomes. L'Alberta a demandé un pouvoir discrétionnaire dans les négociations fédérales‐provinciales, tandis que le Manitoba et la Saskatchewan ont insisté pour que le gouvernement fédéral assume la responsabilité principale du soutien du revenu agricole. L'orientation des provinces concernant la mise en place de programmes et les négociations fédérales‐provinciales provenait, en très grande partie, des structures d'élaboration des politiques qu'elles ont mises en place en vue de favoriser la participation de leurs collectivités agricoles au processus d'élaboration des politiques. En Alberta, la forte influence des représentants des collectivités rurales au sein du gouvernement et l'importance des fonds publics ont constitué d'autres facteurs. Au Manitoba et en Saskatchewan, des budgets gouvernementaux restreints et le souhait de ne pas enregistrer de déficits budgétaires importants ont constitué d'autres facteurs pertinents.
Canadian Agricultural Programs and Paradigms:The Influence of International Trade Agreements and Domestic Factors
Authors: Skogstad Grace 
Published: November 2008

Tracing developments over the past two decades with respect to Canadian farm income support, orderly grain marketing, and supply management, this article argues that Canadian agricultural policy has undergone programmatic, but not paradigmatic policy change. International trade agreements, alongside domestic factors like budgetary pressures, have helped to promote programmatic change. However, paradigmatic change in the form of a rejection of the core ideas and instruments of the post Second World War state assistance paradigm has not yet occurred. The article discusses the conditions for paradigmatic change and argues that the state assistance paradigm is likely to prevail until influential decision makers becoming convinced of its failure and judge an alternate paradigm to be politically and economically viable. Un examen des changements survenus sur le plan du soutien du revenu agricole au cours des vingt dernières années, notamment la commercialisation des grains et la gestion de l'offre, indique que la politique agricole canadienne a subi des changements programmatiques et non paradigmatiques. Les accords de commerce internationaux, combinés à des facteurs intérieurs tels que les pressions budgétaires, ont contribuéà la promotion de changements programmatiques. Cependant, le changement paradigmatique sous la forme du rejet des idées et des instruments de base d'aide de l'État après la Seconde Guerre mondiale ne s'est pas encore produit. Le présent article traite des conditions préalables au changement paradigmatique et soutient que le paradigme de l'aide de l'État continuera probablement d'exister jusqu'à ce que des décideurs influents soient convaincus de son échec et estiment qu'un paradigme de rechange pourrait être politiquement et économiquement viable.
The Emergence of Agricultural Marketing Boards Revisited: A Case Study in Canada
Authors: Royer Annie 
Published: November 2008

Canadian milk marketing boards are agricultural institutions tightly linked to the administration of dairy programs and supply management. Using insights from the New Institutional Economics (NIE) literature this paper investigates the factors influencing the emergence of these self‐regulated, “hybrid” institutions that are managed by producers but necessitate governmental intervention to be operational. Our analysis focuses on the case of the Québec milk marketing board. It shows that the Québec milk board ensured transactional security among trading partners, where neither pure private ordering contract enforcement institutions, nor pure public ordering institutions would have succeeded to do so. The empirical case of the Québec milk board thus suggests that marketing boards in Canada may have historically assumed a broader function than merely increasing producers' rents. Au Canada, les offices de mise en marché du lait sont des institutions agricoles étroitement liées à l'administration de programmes laitiers et à la gestion de l'offre. À l'aide de la documentation sur la nouvelle économie institutionnelle, le présent article examine les facteurs qui influencent l'émergence de ces institutions hybrides et autoréglementées, qui sont administrées par les producteurs mais nécessitent l'intervention gouvernementale pour être opérationnelles. Notre analyse s'est penchée sur le cas de l'office de commercialisation du lait du Québec. Notre analyse a montré que l'office de commercialisation du Québec assurait une sécurité transactionnelle entre les partenaires commerciaux, ce qu'aucune institution privée ou publique n'aurait réussi à faire. Le cas empirique de l'office de commercialisation du lait du Québec autorise à penser que les offices de mise en marché au Canada ont peut‐être assumé une fonction plus large que celle d'avoir accru la rente économique des producteurs.
Welfare Implications of EU Enlargement under the CAP
Authors: Schmitz Troy G. , Giese Christopher R. , Shultz II Clifford J. 
Published: November 2008

The qualitative impacts of European Union (EU) enlargement on intervention prices, variable import levies, and export restitution payments for cereal under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are analyzed using a partial equilibrium framework for EU cereal crops. The welfare implications are developed for both a net exporter and net importer. Consumer surplus, producer surplus, government revenue, and total welfare are compared and contrasted for the EU and the new entrant, both before and after enlargement. Dans le présent article, les répercussions qualitatives de l'élargissement de l'UE sur les prix d'intervention, les prélèvements variables à l'importation et les paiements de restitution à l'exportation des céréales dans le cadre de la Politique agricole commune (PAC) sont analysés à l'aide d'un modèle d'équilibre partiel pour les cultures céréalières de l'UE. Les répercussions sur le bien–être sont élaborées dans le cas d'un exportateur net et d'un importateur net. Le surplus des consommateurs, le surplus des producteurs, les recettes publiques et le bien–être total sont comparés pour l'UE et le nouveau venu, et ce, avant et après l'élargissement de l'UE.
European Enlargement and Agro‐Food Trade
Authors: Bojnec Štefan , Fertő Imre 
Published: November 2008

This paper investigates the level, composition, and differences in the dynamics of revealed comparative advantage and trade specialization patterns of the 12 new member states (NMS‐12) as part of the enlarged European Union 27 countries (EU‐27). The NMS‐12 are classified into four country groups: the Baltic States, the CEFTA‐5, and the Mediterranean and the Balkan regions. The empirical analysis employs a regression framework, a duration analysis, Markov transition probability matrices, and mobility indices. Trade increases with the EU enlargement and so does revealed comparative advantage in agro‐food products. There are catching‐up difficulties, as indicated by revealed comparative advantage, in higher added‐value processed products. Le présent article examine le degré, la composition et les différences de la dynamique des avantages comparatifs révélés ainsi que les caractéristiques de la spécialisation du commerce des douze nouveaux pays membres (NPM‐12) de l'Union européenne élargie (UE–27). Les 12 nouveaux pays membres sont divisés en quatre groupes: les États baltiques, les cinq pays membres de l'ALECE, la région de la Méditerranée et la région des Balkans. L'analyse empirique utilise un modèle de régression, une analyse de durée, des matrices de probabilités des transitions (Markov) et des indices de mobilité. Les échanges augmentent avec l'élargissement de l'UE tout comme les avantages comparatifs révélés des produits agroalimentaires. On observe des difficultés de rattrapage, comme l'indique l'avantage comparatif révélé, dans le cas des produits transformés à forte valeur ajoutée.
Physical Activity and Healthy Eating in the After‐School Environment
Authors: Coleman Karen J. , Geller Karly S. , Rosenkranz Richard R. , Dzewaltowski David A. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND:  No research to date has extensively described moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and healthful eating (HE) opportunities in the after‐school environment. The current study described the quality of the after‐school environment for its impact on children’s MVPA and HE.METHODS:  An alliance of 7 elementary schools and Boys and Girls Clubs who worked with the Cooperative Extension Service in Lawrence, KS, was selected to participate in a larger intervention study. After‐school settings were observed for information regarding session type, session context, leader behavior, physical activity, and snack quality using validated instruments such as the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time. Data presented are baseline measures for all sites.RESULTS:  Participating children (n = 144) were primarily non‐Hispanic white (60%) and in fourth grade (69%). After‐school sites offered 4 different sessions per day (active recreation, academic time, nonactive recreation, and enrichment activities). Children were provided with a daily snack. On 36% of the days observed, this snack included fruit, fruit juice, or vegetables. There was significantly more time spent in MVPA during free play sessions (69%) compared to organized adult‐led sessions (51%). There was also significantly more discouragement of physical activity during organized adult‐led sessions (29%) as compared to the free play sessions (6%).CONCLUSIONS:  The quality of after‐school programs can be improved by providing fruits and vegetables as snacks; offering more free play activities; training the after‐school staff in simple, structured games for use in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings; and training after‐school staff to promote and model MVPA and HE in and out of the after‐school setting.
Blood volume, blood pressure and total body sodium: internal signalling and output control
Authors: Bie P. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractTotal body sodium and arterial blood pressure (ABP) are mutually dependent variables regulated by complex control systems. This review addresses the role of ABP in the normal control of sodium excretion (NaEx), and the physiological control of renin secretion. NaEx is a pivotal determinant of ABP, and under experimental conditions, ABP is a powerful, independent controller of NaEx. Blood volume is a function of dietary salt intake; however, ABP is not, at least not in steady states. A transient increase in ABP after a step‐up in sodium intake could provide a causal relationship between ABP and the regulation of NaEx via a hypothetical integrative control system. However, recent data show that subtle sodium loading (simulating salty meals) causes robust natriuresis without changes in ABP. Changes in ABP are not necessary for natriuresis. Normal sodium excretion is not regulated by pressure. Plasma renin is log‐linearly related to salt intake, and normally, decreases in renin secretion are a precondition of natriuresis after increases in total body sodium. Renin secretion is controlled by renal ABP, renal nerve activity and the tubular chloride concentrations at the macula densa (MD). Renal nerve activity is related to blood volume, also at constant ABP, and elevates renin secretion by means of β1‐adrenoceptors. Recent results indicate that renal denervation reduces ABP and renin activity, and that sodium loading may decrease renin without changes in ABP, glomerular filtration rate or β1‐mediated nerve activity. The latter indicates an essential role of the MD mechanism and/or a fourth mediator of the physiological control of renin secretion.
Bayan Obo Controversy: Carbonatites versus Iron Oxide‐Cu‐Au‐(REE‐U)
Authors: Wu Chengyu 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe Bayan Obo Fe‐REE‐Nb deposit is the world’s largest rare earth element (REE) resource and its genesis has been the subject of much debate for many years. The most popular are the carbonatite‐related and hydrothermal Fe oxide‐Cu‐Au‐(REE‐U) genetic models. Comparisons of geologic setting, lithology, mineral assemblages, metal associations, geochemistry (particularly REE and light REE/heavy REE ratios), fluid chemistry and isotopics indicate that the Bayan Obo deposit shares features of both types, which are classified differently; that is, the carbonatites model is host‐rock based, while the Fe oxide‐Cu‐Au‐(REE‐U) model is essentially mineral assemblage and metal association based. A speculative classification scheme is tentatively put forward to link the two models, but many questions remain for further studies.
REE Abundance and REE Minerals in Granitic Rocks in the Nanling Range, Jiangxi Province, Southern China, and Generation of the REE‐rich Weathered Crust Deposits
Authors: Ishihara Shunso , Hua Renmin , Hoshino Mihoko , Murakami Hiroyasu 
Published: November 2008

AbstractStudies of Mesozoic granites associated with rare earth element (REE)‐rich weathered crust deposits in southernmost Jiangxi Province indicate that they have high‐K to shoshonite compositions and belong to ilmenite‐series I‐type granites. Of the studied rocks at 59–292 ppm of bulk REE content, the highest are seen in the biotite granites of Dingnan (358, 429 ppm) and mafic biotite granite of the Wuliting Granite (344 ppm) near the Dajishan tungsten mine, both areas where weathered‐crust REE deposits occur. REE‐bearing accessory minerals in these granites are mainly zircon, apatite and allanite, and REE‐fluorocarbonates are common. REE enrichment occurs in the rims of apatite crystals, and in fluorocarbonates that occur along grain boundaries of and cracks in major silicate minerals, and in fluorocarbonates that replaced altered biotite. It is therefore thought that a major part of the REE content of these granites was concentrated during deuteric activity, rather than during magmatic crystallization. The crack‐filling REE‐fluorocarbonates could subsequently have been easily leached out and deposited in weathered crust developed during a long period of exposure.
Rare Earth Magnets: Conservation of Energy and the Environment
Authors: Minowa Takehisa 
Published: November 2008

AbstractRare earth sintered magnets (Nd magnet) have been used in many applications such as computer and industrial equipment, automobile manufacturing and many others. They are highly efficient and reduce energy consumption because of their superior magnetic properties. The element dysprosium (Dy) contained in the Nd magnet is important and indispensable. It improves the stability of the Nd magnet by enhancing the coercive force of its magnetic properties at high temperature. Dy is not so abundant. The rapid growth of the Nd magnet may result in Dy shortage. Exploration for new deposits of Dy is desired.
Geochemistry, Petrography and Spectroscopy of Organic Matter of Clay‐Associated Kerogen of Ypresian Series: Gafsa‐Metlaoui Phosphatic Basin, Tunisia
Authors: Felhi Mongi , Tlili Ali , Montacer Mabrouk 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis work presents geochemical characterization of isolated kerogen out of clay fraction using petrography studies, infrared absorption and solid state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, with N‐alkane distributions of saturated hydrocarbon. Mineralogical study of clay mineral associations was carried out using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), on Ypresian phosphatic series from Gafsa‐Metlaoui basin, Tunisia. The XRD data indicate that smectite, palygorskite and sepiolite are the prevalent clay minerals in the selected samples. In this clay mineral association, the N‐alkane (m/z = 57) distribution indicates that the marine organic matter is plankton and bacterial in origin. The kerogens observed on transmitted light microscopy, however, appear to be totally amorphous organic matter, without any appearance of biological form. The orange gel‐like amorphous organic matter with distinct edges and homogenous texture is consistent with a high degree of aliphaticity. This material has relatively intense CH2 and CH3 infrared bands in 13C NMR peaks. This aliphatic character is related to bacterial origin. Brown amorphous organic matter with diffuse edges has a lower aliphatic character than the previous kerogen, deduced from relatively low CH2 and CH3 infrared and 13C NMR band intensities.
Pseudohyperkalaemia is a common finding in myeloproliferative disorders that may lead to inappropriate management of patients
Authors: ONG Y. L. , DEORE R. , EL‐AGNAF M. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryPseudohyperkalaemia in conditions with increased platelet counts is caused by an in vitro rise of the serum potassium concentration during whole blood coagulation and the lysis of the platelets and other cellular components, in the presence of normal renal function and normal plasma potassium levels. The association between pseudohyperkalaemia and aetiology of thrombocytosis was studied in a 6‐year retrospective audit on 90 patients with thrombocytosis referred to the Haematology Department in Ulster Hospital Dundonald, a large district general hospital. Over two‐thirds of this study population had myeloproliferative disorders, and the most common diagnosis was primary thrombocythaemia (41%, n = 37). Reactive thrombocytosis was observed in approximately one‐third of the cases (32%, n = 29). Pseudohyperkalaemia with apparent potassium level above the upper limit of the normal range (reference range K 3.5–5.1 mmol/l) was observed in the majority of patients with thrombocytosis from any aetiology (60%, n = 54). The likelihood of finding pseudohyperkalaemia was highest among patients with primary thrombocythaemia (75.7%, n = 28/37) and polythaemia rubra vera (75%, n = 12/16), followed by myelofibrosis (50%, 4/8) and reactive thrombocytosis (34.5%, n = 10/29). A highly significant positive correlation was observed between the platelet counts and the serum potassium level (Spearman’s correlation coefficient, R = 0.998, P = 0.01). Awareness of pseudohyperkalemia in disease conditions with increased platelet counts will lead to the withholding of potentially harmful treatment.
Gazprom's export strategies under the institutional constraint of the Russian gas market
Authors: Locatelli Catherine 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe strategy of the Russian gas company Gazprom is today at the centre of the debate surrounding the security of the European gas supply. The European gas market liberalisation is changing the industrial and commercial (that is to say, contractual) strategies of Gazprom in order to deal with the institutional changes in its main export market. In this context, to secure its market shares Gazprom try to acquire a presence downstream, which will give it access to final consumers. However, exports to Europe are affected by conditions in the Russian domestic market, not only in terms of supply and demand, but also in terms of prices. Russia's internal market can hardly be viewed as a genuine market where supply and demand are regulated by price fluctuations.
US access to the global LNG market
Authors: Urban Julie A. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis paper discusses US participation in the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market. Although recent US production of natural gas is up, Canadian production is decreasing and LNG imports by the United States have been on the rise. The current US portfolio of LNG importers is described and the future prospects for each of the current importers are discussed. Changing conditions in the global marketplace have resulted in higher prices and more recent declines in US importation of LNG. With temporary increases in US domestic supply and transportation costs rising, the United States will find it increasingly difficult to compete with other global consumers of LNG. Overcapacity of regasification and high prices are pushing the industry into increased integration. Under these conditions, it seems unlikely that consumers of LNG will experience price declines. In addition, because of global reserve distribution, increased reliance on LNG may jeopardise even further US energy security.