bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Growth promotion of quorum‐quenching bacteria in the rhizosphere of Solanum tuberosum
Authors: Cirou Amélie , Diallo Stéphanie , Kurt Caroline , Latour Xavier , Faure Denis 
Published: May 2007

SummaryAmong 17 molecules structurally related to N‐acylhomoserine lactone (NAHL), gamma‐caprolactone (GCL), 6‐caprolactone (6CL) and 4‐heptanolide (HTN) were found to stimulate the degradation of NAHL by bacterial communities recovered from bulk and rhizospheric soils. In the 6CL‐, GCL‐ and HTN‐treated bacterial consortia, the NAHL‐degrading bacteria were more abundant than in control (mannitol‐treated) consortia. Moreover, the GCL‐ and HTN‐consortia showed a biocontrol activity against Pectobacterium atrosepticum in soft rot assays with tubers of Solanum tuberosum. When GCL was applied to hydroponic cultures of S. tuberosum, a significant increase of the ratio of NAHL‐degrading bacteria among total cultivable bacteria was observed in several independent experiments. Most of these bacteria, the growth of which was stimulated by GCL amendment, were also able to use GCL as a sole carbon source. They belong to the Rhodococcus and Delftia genera. DGGE analysis revealed that GCL treatments affected the structure of bacterial communities. This work highlights the possibility to manage the NAHL‐degrading bacteria in a complex environment such as rhizosphere.
In situ detection of novel Acidobacteria in microbial mats from a chemolithoautotrophically based cave ecosystem (Lower Kane Cave, WY, USA)
Authors: Meisinger Daniela B. , Zimmermann Johannes , Ludwig Wolfgang , Schleifer Karl‐Heinz , Wanner Gerhard , Schmid Michael , Bennett Philip C. , Engel Annette S. , Lee Natuschka M. 
Published: May 2007

SummaryLower Kane Cave, Wyoming (USA), has hydrogen sulfide‐bearing springs that discharge into the cave passage. The springs and cave stream harbour white filamentous microbial mats dominated by Epsilonproteobacteria. Recently, novel 16S rRNA gene sequences from the phylum Acidobacteria, subgroup 7, were found in these cave mats. Although Acidobacteria are ubiquitously distributed in many terrestrial and marine habitats, little is known about their ecophysiology. To investigate this group in Lower Kane Cave in more detail, a full‐cycle rRNA approach was applied based on 16S and 23S rRNA gene clone libraries and the application of novel probes for fluorescence in situ hybridization. The 16S and 23S rRNA gene clone libraries yielded seven and six novel acidobacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) respectively. The majority of the OTUs were affiliated with subgroups 7 and 8. One OTU was affiliated with subgroup 6, and one OTU could not be assigned to any of the present acidobacterial subgroups. Fluorescence in situ hybridization distinguished two morphologically distinct, rod‐shaped cells of the acidobacterial subgroups 7 and 8. Although the ecophysiology of Acidobacteria from Lower Kane Cave will not be fully resolved until cultures are obtained, acidobacterial cells were always associated with the potentially chemolithoautotrophic epsilon‐ or gammaproteobacterial filaments, suggesting perhaps a lifestyle based on heterotrophy or chemoorganotrophy.
Community dynamics and heterogeneities in mixed bacterial communities subjected to nutrient periodicities
Authors: Konopka Allan , Carrero‐Colon Militza , Nakatsu Cindy H. 
Published: May 2007

SummarySixteen replicate microcosms were inoculated with a mixed assemblage of heterotrophic bacteria and provided with discrete pulses of protein as carbon and energy source. The dynamics of community structure were monitored by 16S rRNA gene polymerase chain reaction denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE). The results were consistent with a strong role for biological interactions in maintaining diversity. Replicate microcosms developed different microbial communities. For systems exposed to nutrient pulses every 7 days, the number of DGGE bands averaged 13 ± 4 (mean ± SD) and the Dice similarity coefficient between pairs ranged from 0.08 to 0.67. In each of 16 systems provided protein once each day, there were dynamic changes over the first 30 days but community composition was stable over the next 20 days. However, most systems differed from each other; two‐thirds of the pairwise comparisons had similarity coefficients in the range of 0.35–0.63. These 16 systems contained 10 ± 2 phylotypes (mean ± SD) and in aggregate 34 phylotypes were found in the 16 systems. Most phylotypes were found in < 25% of the systems, and there were not strong networks of association among phylotypes.
COST DISINFLATION AND EXPORT EXPANSION
Authors: KURIHARA KENNETH K. 
Published: May 2007

SUMMARYThis note is an attempt to offer a quantitatively significant answer to the question: How effective is cost disinflation likely to be in restoring a deficit country's balance of payments equilibrium? This question is occasioned by such recent structural changes in the world economy as to intensify cost‐price competition in international markets. In seeking the needed answer, the author has set up a system of equations to describe the relevant domestic and foreign variables affecting a trading nation's balance of payments–on plausible assumptions. The analysis made on the basis of that system leads to the following conclusions:1. If a nation is not a marginal supplier of internationally tradeable goods, the price‐elasticity of world demand for that nation's exports is likely to be so far below unity (trend value) as to worsen its balance of payments in consequence of a disinflation‐induced fall in its export price, given the constant exchange rates and the constant level of effective world demand.2. If a nation's exports consist largely of capital goods and manufactures, the income‐elasticity of world demand for that nation's exports is likely to exceed unity so as to aggravate its balance of payments difficulties during a period of falling effective world demand possibly set off by some other nation's disinflationary drive, cet. par.3. If a nation's cost disinflation increases its innovational investment (designed to increase general productivity), its induced imports are likely to increase via the foreign‐trade multiplier and so to offset any beneficial effect that a disinflationinduced fall in the export price might have on its trade balance.4. In sum, the analysis would make it theoretically unsound and practically unwise for any trading nation to place unilaterally excessive reliance on the price mechanism in general and disinflation in particular for balance of payments equilibrium–especially in this day and age of universal wage‐price rigidities, income sensibilities and exchange‐rate flexibilities.
Output, Inflation and the Terms of Trade in a Small Open Economy
Authors: Lars Calmfors  
Published: May 2007

SUMMARYThe possibilities of deviating from the natural rate of output in an open economy are analyzed. It is shown that output can be pegged for some time above the natural rate even under perfect foresight in such an economy. But this results in continuously improving terms‐of‐trade. In an open economy these terms‐of‐trade changes ‐ rather than rational expectations per se ‐ are the main constraint on employment policies. The natural‐rate hypothesis implies a trade‐off between the level of output and the rate of change of the trade balance. This trade‐off can be avoided temporarely only by letting government expenditure crowd out private expenditure.
A Note on Lindahl's Theory of Distribution
Authors: Guglielmo Chiodi  , Kumaraswamy Velupillai  
Published: May 2007

SUMMARYIt has become customary to dichotomize research results in functional income distribution in terms of neo‐classical vs. neo‐Keynesian theories with appropriate footnotes referring to fringe theories and distinguished predecessors. In this note the latter set is enlarged! Erik Lindahl's masterly contribution to this subject is presented in a generalized version of a Kaldor‐Pasinetti model. In Penning Politikens Medel (1930) Lindahl poses the question of how savings will be adjusted to equilibrium with a higher level of investment which, in turn, has been caused by a lowering of the rate of interest. The equilibrium level is attained, in a characteristically Kaldor‐Pasinetti way, by a redistribution of incomes.
Freiwilligengruppen als Problem der ökonomischen Klubtheorie
Authors: Badelt Christoph 
Published: May 2007

ZUSAMMENFASSUNGDieser Beitrag befasst sich mit der Bereitstellung von Gütern und Dienstleistungen durch ≪Freiwilligengruppen≫, die als ≪Klubs≫ im Sinne der Public Choice‐Theorie aufgefasst werden. Es wird eine theoretische Erklärung vorgeschlagen, warum Individuen eine Freiwilligengruppe gründen und sich nicht für eine institutionelie Alternative, zum Beispiel ein gewinnorientiertes Unternehmen, entscheiden. Haupterklärungsgründe für diese Wahl sind der Nutzen, den Mitglieder von Freiwilligengruppen infolge ihrer Wahlentscheidung zusätzlich zu jenem aus dem Konsum des Klubguts ziehen, Transaktionskostengesichtspunkte, Vertrauensaspekte im Zusammenhang mit asymmetrischer Information und qualitative Unterschiede, die mit der institutionellen Form der Erbringung einer Leistung verbunden sind. Für manche Formen von Freiwilligengruppen werden altruistische Präferenzen in die Erkläng miteinbezogen.
The Effects of European Competition Policy on Pricing and Profit Margins
Authors: Feinberg Robert M. 
Published: May 2007

SUMMARYThis paper analyzes the effects of EEC and West German policy towards horizontal agreements and restrictive practices on the performance of the West German manufacturing sector. Three empirical studies are reported: (1) a time‐series study of price indexes for 10 products from the mid‐1950's to the present; (2) a cross‐section study (for 1979 data) of 106 industries; and (3) an analysis of changes in company profit margins over time. The results suggest some short‐run response to antitrust cases, but no long‐lasting ‘deterrent’ effect. There is some evidence of a ‘regime effect’ occurring after 1957, i. e., a general price decline in West German industry due to changes in the competitive environment which started in that year.
‘Left’ and ‘Right’ in ‘Federal Europe’
Authors: ROTHSCHILD KURT W. 
Published: May 2007

SUMMARYThe article tries to find out whether the political composition of government in twelve Western European countries had any effect on real growth, unemployment and inflation. The method chosen is to combine year after year the countries in ‘Left’, ‘Right’ and (left and right) coalition groups and then to compare the group results over the period 1960‐1984. In the period of high growth and full employment political composition plays a minor part. After 1970 the picture changes: the left group (left and left coalition governments) exhibits consistently higher growth and lower unemployment rates than the right group. With regard to inflation the picture is less clear. There is an indication that coalitions have generally fared better than either ‘pure’ left or ‘pure’ right governments.
Zur politischen Ökonomie der Protektion in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Authors: WAGNER JOACHIM 
Published: May 2007

ZUSAMMENFASSUNGDer Beitrag untersucht die Bedeutung von Ansätzen der Neuen Politischen Ökonomie für die Erklärung der Protektion in Industrien der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Nach einer Darstellung der theoretischen Grundüberlegungen folgt ein kurzer Überblick über empirische Untersuchungen zu Bestimmungsgründen der Protektion in der Bundesrepublik. In einer ökonometrischen Untersuchung werden dann Modelle geschätzt und getestet, die als endogene Variable das Niveau der Gesamtprotektion einer Branche und als exogene Variablen eine Reihe von Grössen, die in Modellen der Neuen Politischen Ökonomie für relevant erachtet werden, enthalten. Wichtige Ergebnisse sind: Ein mit den theoretischen Überlegungen übereinstimmendes und statistisch signifikantes Vorzeichen ergab sich für den Konzentrationsgrad (positiv), den Wertschöpfungsanteil am Output (negativ) und den Importdruck aus Entwicklungsländern (positiv). Entgegen einer früheren Untersuchung für die Bundesrepublik ist jedoch die Richtung des Einflusses der Anzahl der Firmen und der Beschäftigten statistisch nicht gesichert und umgekehrt wie in den theoretischen Modellen abgeleitet.
Lohndynamik und Arbeitslosigkeit
Authors: WEBER CARLO JAEGER und ARND 
Published: May 2007

ZUSAMMENFASSUNGDie verbreitete Ratlosigkeit gegenüber der Aufgabe, im OECD‐Raum wieder Vollbe‐schäftigung herzustellen, weist auf grundlegende Probleme der verwendeten Theorien hin. Immerhin lassen sich einige Fakten zum historischen Zusammenhang von Lohndynamik und Arbeitslosigkeit rekonstruieren. Dazu wird die Entwicklung in den USA mit derjenigen in der BRD verglichen. Vor diesem Hintergrund scheint die konsequente Koppelung einer Professionalisierung der Erwerbsarbeit mit einer Flexibilisierung des Arbeitsmarkts ‐ speziell im europaischen Rahmen ‐ neue Möglichkeiten zu eröffnen.SUMMARYThe difficulties involved in the task of reestablishing full employment in the OECD area point to fundamental problems in the theories applied. Nevertheless, some facts can be reconstructed in connection with the historical relationship between wage dynamics and unemployment. This is illustrated by a comparison between develop‐merits in the United States and in the Federal Republic of Germany. Seen against this backdrop, the consistent combination of greater professionalism in occupational activities with increased flexibility on the labour market ‐ especially in Western Europe ‐ appears to open up fresh opportunities.RÉSUMÉLe désarroi de plus en plus répandu quant à la manière de restaurer le plein emploi dans les pays de l'OCDE révèle la présence de problèmes fondamentaux dans les theories appliquées. Néanmoins, il est possible de reconstituer quelques faits liés au rapport historique entre la dynamique des salaires et le ch&#x006f;̧mage, et de les illustrer à l'aide d'une comparaison entre l'évolution suivie aux USA et celle suivie en RFA. Sur cette toile de fond, le couplage systématique d'une professionnalisation du travail rémunéré et d'une flexibilisation du marché de l'emploi ‐ surtout en Europe occidental ‐ semble ouvrir des possibilityés nouvelles.
The Pricing of LDC Debt in the Secondary Market: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Perasso Giancarlo 
Published: May 2007

SUMMARYSix years after the explosion of the LDCs’ debt crisis, little has been achieved in trying to solve this problem. So far the international financial community and the indebted LDCs have managed to ‘muddle through’ by means of debt reschedulings, debt forgiveness, IMF‐sponsored adjustment programs, and the invention of new financial instruments. Among the latter, prominent relevance has been recently gained by debt‐equity swaps. This paper deals with what debt‐equity swaps are, how they work, the main participants in the market where debt‐equity swaps are carried out, and how the price for LDC debt is determined in this market. Our findings are that the price is indeed determined by market forces (and not by psychological factors, as it is often implied in the press), thus creating a new set of policy options to pursue the use of debt‐equity swaps for reducing the LDCs’ external debt. Despite some drawbacks of this device, that are highlighted in the paper, our main conclusion is that debt‐equity swaps may represent a useful tool for “buying time” while waiting for both the LDCs and the developed countries to undertake policies aimed at the easing of the foreign debt burden in the LDCs.
Collective Risk Decisions in the Presence of Many Risks1
Authors: Elliott Steven R. , McKee Michael 
Published: May 2007

SUMMARYThis paper reports the results of laboratory investigations of individual and group decision making regarding willingness to pay to reduce risks when more than one risk is present. It is found that group decision making environments improve the overall decisions when the consequence of the decision is common to all members of the group. When the consequences are individual, group decisions are less likely to improve upon individual decisions. The latter effect appears to be due to the unwillingness of individuals to engage in communication when they are not bound by a group decision. The conclusion is that both discussion and common outcomes are necessary for group decisions to be superior to individual decisions.ZUSAMMENFASSUNGDiese Studie enthält die Ergebnisse einer experimentellen Untersuchung des Entscheidungs‐prozesses von Gruppen und Individuen über die Zahlungsbereitschaft, Risiken zu reduzieren, wenn mehrere Risiken gleichzeitig auftreten. Dabei wird festgestellt, dass Gruppenentscheidungen Einzelentscheidungen überlegen sind, wenn die Konsequenzen der Entscheidung für alle Mitglieder der Gruppe identisch sind. Wenn die Konsequenzen der Entscheidung nur einzelne betreffen, verrin‐gert sich die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass Gruppenentscheidungen besser als Einzelentscheidungen sind. Dies lässt sich vermudich auf die mangelnde Bereitschaft einzelner zurückführen, am Kommunikationsprozess teilzunehmen, wenn sie selbst nicht von der Gruppenentscheidung betroffen sind. Wir kommen zu dem Ergebnis, dass sowohl eine gemeinsame Diskussion als auch ein gemeinsames Ergebnis vorhanden sein miissen, damit Gruppenentscheidungen individuellen Ent‐scheidungen überlegen sind.RÉSUMÉCet article présente les résultats ďanalyses de laboratoire consacrées au r&#x006f;&#x030c;le joué par la décision collective ou individuelle dans la détermination du prix susceptible ďětre payé pour réduire ľexposition aux risques quand ceux‐ci sont nombreux. Les résultats montrent que le cadre de décision collective améliore les décisions prises globalement lorsque leurs conséquences sont partagées par tous les membres du groupe. En outre, dans le cas des conséquences individuelles, les décisions collectives ne semblent pas affecter les décisions prises individuellement. Ce dernier résultat parai&#x030c;tt ětre du au refus des individus ďéchanger ľinformation surtout lorsqu'ils ne sont pas contraints par la décision collective. Ľétude conclue que la communication ainsi que les conséquences communes sont nécessaires pour que les décisions collectives soient préférables aux décisions individuelles.
The Economics of Cohabitation
Authors: Ressler Rand W. , Waters Melissa S. 
Published: May 2007

SUMMARYUnion formation behavior has undergone vast changes over the past 25 years in virtually all Western countries. Key components of the change have been the increase in cohabitational unions and the decline in the marriage rate. Although this has important implications for both household and market production activities, no previous economic studies have focused explicitly on cohabitation. This paper develops an economic model of cohabitational demand based on the standard theory of consumer choice. Regression analysis of United States’ data aggregated at the state level provides support for this economic model. Specifically, it suggests that the increased labor force participation of women has generated a higher level of demand for the greater flexibility offered by cohabitational unions relative to formal marriage.ZUSAMMENFASSUNGIn den letzten fünfundzwanzig Jahren hat sich die Partnerschaftgründung in praktisch alien wesdichen Ländern grundlegend verändert. Wesentliche Bestandteile dieser Veränderung sind die zunehmende Anzahl von eheähnlichen Partnerschaften und die Abnahme der Heiratsrate. Obwohl dies grosse Auswirkungen auf die Haushalts‐ wie auch auf die Erwerbstätigkeit hat, wurden bisherige Studien auf das Zusammenleben in eheähnlichen Gemeinschaften nicht ökonomisch untersucht. Die vorliegende Arbeit entwickelt ein ökonomisches Modell der Nachfrage nach diesen eheähnlichen Gemeinschaften, basierend auf der gängigen Theorie der Konsumentenwahl. Eine Regressionsanalyse für die Vereinigten Staaten stützt dieses ökonomische Modell ab. Die Unter‐suchung deutet darauf hin, dass die steigende Erwerbsquote der Frauen mit einem höheren Wunsch nach Flexibilität verbunden ist. Eheähnliche Partnerschaften sind flexibler als die traditionelle Ehe.RÉSUMÉLa façon dans laquelle les unions sont formées entre les hommes et les femmes a subi des changements énormes pendant les dernières 25 années dans la plupart des pays occidentaux. Les raisons principales pour ces changements sont ľaugmentation des unions cohabitationales et la chute du taux de mariage. Pourtant il y a des implications importantes pour les activités de production en vente aussi bien que domestiques, aucune étude économique n'a jamais mis au point le concept de la cohabitation. Cette thèse développe un modèle économique de la demande cohabitationale fondé sur la théorie du choix des consommateurs. Une analyse de regression des données américaines au niveau ďétat soutient ce modèle économique. Specifiquement, il suggère que ľaugmentation de la participation des femmes au milieu de travail a généré une plus grande demande pour la flexibilityé offerte par des unions cohabitationales rélatif au mariage formel.
A COMPARISON OF THE PREDICTIVE POWER OF SUBTRACTIVE AND MULTIPLICATIVE MODELS OF JOB SATISFACTION AND PERFORMANCE
Authors: Norton S. D. , Marco N. Di 
Published: May 2007

AbstractSubtractive and multiplicative contingency models were compared by multiple regression, in six samples, to each other and to non‐contingency models. Contingency models had less predictive power. Independent variables were Life Style and Organizational Structure measures. Dependent variables were the Job Descriptive Index, other job attitude measures, and performance measures.
KNOWING AND PRACTICING: TEACHING BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES AT THE ISRAEL DEFENCE FORCES COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE
Authors: Lipshitz Raanan 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper describes the design, implementation, and accompanying conceptual developments of a course in the behavioural sciences at the Israel Defence Forces Command and General Staff College. The objective of the course is to improve the effectiveness of the student as a problem‐solver, decision‐maker and crisis‐manager. The two basic assumptions underlying the course are: (1) That the latter objective can be achieved by helping the student put into practice certain ideas, models and methods from the areas of descriptive epistemology, problem‐solving, decision‐making under uncertainty, and decision‐making under stress; (2) That the likelihood of utilizing acquired knowledge is directly related to its concreteness and relevance. On the basis of the latter assumption, the methodology of experiential learning was adapted for teaching conceptual material.Results of final examinations indicate that the instructional method of the course is comparable to traditional methods for the purpose of teaching conceptual knowledge. It is still too early to judge its effectiveness vis à vis the more ambitious goals of the course. The experience gained in implementation revealed two problematical issues which must be resolved if these goals are to be achieved. The first issue concerns the over‐all coherence of the course, the other, the emotional reactions of resistance and defensiveness which characterized the learning process.In an attempt to resolve these issues, a new conceptual framework was developed, which embeds the subjects of problem‐solving and decision‐making within descriptive (or lay) epistemology. The framework is centred around the concept of reality images, defined as the way in which an individual perceives his external situation and internal condition, and the meanings which he selects or attributes to them. It is argued that the effectiveness of problem‐solving, decision‐making and crisis‐management are a function of the reality image construction process. Furthermore, normative models of problem‐solving and decision‐making will be utilized most effectively if they are conceived as tools for the construction of reality images. Finally, it is suggested that the most important aids for constructing reality images of high fidelity are exercising reflection and inquiry.The paper concludes with a discussion of several basic questions, raised by the course, which are relevant to the applicability of recent developments in cognitive psychology.