bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inflammation markers and symptom activity in children with bronchial asthma. Influence of atopy and eczema
Authors: Carlsen Kai‐Håkon , Halvorsen Raghnild , Penersen Morten , Lødrup Carlsen Karin Cecilie 
Published: June 2007

Background. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) has been reported to reflect the eosinophil inflammatory activity in asthma. However, the relative impact of asthma symptoms and atopic eczema upon serum (s)‐ECP in asthmatic children has not been established.Objectives. To examine s‐ECP levels and s‐myeloperoxidase (MPO) in relation to asthma symptoms and atopic eczema in asthmatic children.Methods. S‐ECP and s‐MPO were assessed in relation to symptom activity, lung function, exercise induced bronchoconstriction and bronchial responsiveness in 101 children; median age 9 years, range 1‐16 years; with moderate to severe asthma, admitted to Voksentoppen Center.Result. S‐ECP was significantly higher in children with persistent compared to episodic or no asthma symptoms in the past four weeks, S‐ECP was also higher in children with atopic compared to non‐atopic asthma, as well as in those with active compared to past history of no history of atopic eczema. SMPO was higher in children with persistent asthma symptoms, but did not differ in relation to atopy of eczema state. Persistent asthma symptoms had the greatest impact upon s‐ECP levels, followed by atopy and active eczema.Conclusion. S‐ECP may be used in assessing symptom activity in asthmatic children, but with the realisation that active eczema and the presence of atopy may also influence levels.
Variable increases of IgG and IgM antibodies in milk of IgA deficient women
Authors: Hahn‐Zoric Mirjana , Carlsson Barbro , Björkander Janne , Mellander Lotta , Friman Vanda , Padyukov Leonid , Hanson Lars Å. 
Published: June 2007

Serum, milk and saliva from seven IgA deficient mothers were studied for the presence of IgA, IgG and IgM antibodies to Escherichia coli and polio virus antigens. Different variable patterns were obtained. One mother had very much increased IgM and IgG antibodies in milk and saliva against both antigens; the milk IgG antibodies were 11–14 times higher than the reference milk pool. Another mother showed also striking increases of both IgM and IgG antibodies in milk, as well as in saliva where the increases were much higher for the poliovirus than the E. coli antibodies. Yet another mother showed a certain increase of IgM but not of IgG antibodies in the milk. The uneven appearance of IgG and IgM antibodies in serum and secretions suggests local production. So do the differences ot antibody avidities, the variations in IgG subclass distribution of antibodies and different patterns after isoelectric focusing (IEF) /immunoblotting analysis of antibody spec‐trotypes in secretions and serum.The study illustrates the variable patterns of compensatory increases of IgG and IgM antibodies which may occur in IgA deficiency. It also shows that the milk from IgA deficient mothers can still be rich in antibodies, in spite of the lack of secretory IgA.
Eosinophil and mast cell parameters in children with stable moderate asthma
Authors: Hoekstra Maarten Otto , Grol Marjon H. , Hovenga Hessel , Bouman Katelijne , Stijnen Theo , Koëter Gerard H. , Gerritsen Jorrit , Kauffman Henk F. 
Published: June 2007

Mast cells and eosinophils are important cells that contribute to the process of inflammation in asthma either by activating other cells or by secreting products which are potentially toxic to the respiratory epithelium. The influx of these cells in the airways and the secretion of toxic products by these cells is abrogated by inhaled corticosteroids.Methods ‐ In a double blind randomised, placebo controlled, study in children with stable moderate asthma (N = 34,15 children received fluticasone propionate (FP), an inhaled corticosteroid, and 19 children used a placebo), we investigated the influence of treatment with FP 100 μg bd on various parameters of inflammation: number of eosinophils, secretory products of eosinophils i.e. ECP and EDN (in serum and urine) and a secretory product of mast cells, histamine, which is determined as the compound to which histamine is converted and excreted by the human body: NT‐methyl‐hista‐mine.Results ‐ Previously we reported that lung function increased and bronchial hyperresponsiveness decreased in the 30 children that completed the study during treatment with FP. In these children we found that none of the laboratory parameters of inflammation changed significantly during treatment with either FP or placebo. However, the decrease in urinary EDN almost reached significance (P = 0.07).Conclusions ‐ Our results indicate that the number of eosinophils, serum ECP and EDN and urinary EDN as well as urinary NT‐methyl‐histamine do not reflect asthma disease activity in children with stable moderate asthma. Our data on urinary EDN warrant further study of the use of this parameter to monitor asthma in children.
Protective immunogenicity of Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide‐tetanus protein conjugate vaccine in children who failed to respond to prior invasive H. influenzae type b disease
Authors: Berthet Franqoise , Prehn Antje , Suter Raymond , Ethevenaux Chantal , Seger Reinhard A. 
Published: June 2007

abstractA polyribosylribitol phosphate (po1ysaccharide)‐tetanus protein conjugate vaccine (PRP‐T) against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was evaluated for protective immunogenicity in 25 previously PRP‐unim‐munized children who had failed to develop protective PRP antibody levels (< 1 μg/ml) after prior invasive Hib disease at median age 10 months. Children under 21 months of age at time of PRP‐T immunization received one, two or three doses. Serum was obtained for total PRP antibody, complement mediated bactericidal activity and specific IgG1 and IgG2 PRP antibodies before (n = 25), 1 to 2 months (n = 24) and > 5 months (n = 13) after completed vaccination. One to 2 months after immunization, all but one patient developed > 1 μg/ml of antibody (geometric mean level 50.7 μg/ ml). The non‐responder developed protective antibody levels when tested at 6 months after vaccination. Twenty out of 22 sera had detectable complement mediated bactericidal activity (median dilution titer 1:24), 1‐2 months after vaccination. Three patients failed to demonstrate PRP antibodies in the IgG1 or IgG2 subclasses, although two of them had protective (> lμg/ml) total antibody levels. The second post immunization sera showed persistence of the total PRP antibody levels (geometric mean level 38.2 μg/ml) as well as of the bactericidal activity (median dilution titer 1:32). Conclusion: PRP‐T conjugate vaccine is able to elicit a protective immune response in children who have low or unmeasurable PRP antibody levels after a systemic Hib infection.
BOOK REVIEWS
Authors: EDDOWES MURIEL , FRENCH H. J. , GREEN DAVID , ROUNCEFIELD MARY 
Published: June 2007

Books Reviewed in this Article:Quantitative Approaches in Business Studies.Tackling Biology Projects.Investigating Statistics: A beginner's guide.Quantitative Analysis.Geographical Data Sources presentation and analysis.A Concise Course in A Level Statistics.Urban Data Sources and Methods In Geography.
Book REVIEWS
Authors: BUXTON RICHARD , ROYLE GWEN , PERKS PAT , O'HANLON SUE , GODJNO JUAN D , GREEN DAVID 
Published: June 2007

Books Reviewed in this Article:Teaching Large Classes in Higher Education.Third World Guide 91/92.PM649 Supporting Primary Mathematics, The Open University.Exploring Statistics with Minitab.Ability, Partial information, Guessing: Statistical Modelling applied to Multiple‐choice Tests.Mathematical Statistics.The Crest of the Peacock.
Teaching Statistics to Physiotherapy Students
Authors: Garven Frances , Reed Margaret 
Published: June 2007

SummaryShortage of teaching time for the statistics element of the BSc Physiotherapy course at the Queen's College, Glasgow, and its unfavourable reception by students, led to the development of a newly‐structured course based on the students' use of a self‐study workbook and a test to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach for the teaching of correlation and regression.
Micro‐Flexibility and Macro‐Rigidity: Some Notes on Expectations and the Dynamics of Aggregate Supply
Authors: Bruno Sergio 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT:The high macro supply elasticity experienced by industrialised countries during the second post‐war boom is not explainable as the aggregate effect of current variations of companies’output in response to current variations of demand. A firm cannot adapt rapidly its output to higher demand unless it has decided fairly in advance to expand its productive capacity. Macro elasticity depends thus on the existence of ex ante excess capacity, built on the basis of expectations.The post‐war boom is thus explained in terms of a virtuous sequence expectations‐decisions‐events. This approach helps in understanding the inversion of the expansionary phase to one of stag‐flation, the failure of Keynesian policies and the subsequent industrial restructuring which gave rise to the present employment squeeze.Flexibility is something which depends on the relationships between individual expectations and decisions and their systemic results; the presently pursued micro‐flexibility is at high risk of producing increasing macro‐rigidity.
Labour Policy in the Federal Republic of Germany: Challenges and Concepts
Authors: Kühl Jürgen 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT: This paper describes how German labour policy, both employment policy and active labour market policies, has developed between 1974 and 1987. Government intervention for full employment in a welfare state, a cooperative system of industrial relations, an active labour market policy, and a comparatively efficient system of vocational and adult education did not prevent the loss of full employment in 1974. But persistent labour market slack until today has not fundamentally changed the climate of relative political and social calm.The basic concepts, programmes and specific measures of labour policies pursued in the FRG are surveyed with special reference to their costs and effects on employment and the structure of unemployment. The challenges to labour policy stem from three complete business cycles around a slightly falling trend in employment and the bad prospectives of the German labour market until the year 2000. Four major measures of labour market policy now reduce registered unemployment by about 400,000 in the mid 1980s. Total costs of unemployment amounting to 57 billion DM per year offer financial alternatives to create jobs and to reduce working hours.Finally, actual proposals under discussion in Germany are examined in order to combat unemployment in a determined commitment to full employment immediately.
When Decentralized Trade Unions are Better for their Members than Centralized Ones
Authors: Soubeyran Antoine 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT: The aim of this paper is to localize situations where decentralized trade unions are better for their members than centralized ones. This phenomenon does not appear inside the internal game between oligopolistic firms and between firms and trade unions. It appears only when we introduce feed‐back effects from an external game between these oligopolistic firms and a foreign public supplier, in a foreign country where these firms export and sell the goods they produce.The proof of theorems 1. 2, 3 and 4, and of Corollary 4, can be found in the mathematical appendix, available on request from the author. Write to Professor Antoine Soubeyran, Clos Saint Louis, Chemin des Lauves, Aix en Provence, 13100 France.
Union Power and (Un)Employment
Authors: Fehr Ernst 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIs the monopoly face of unions, i.e. their ability to enforce wages above what non‐unionised firms would pay, harmful to employment and output? It is shown that a positive answer to this question is far less compelling than commonly held views based on a negatively sloped labour demand curve suggest. First, the labour demand curve may be irrelevant for the employment decision of unionised firms. Second, even if the labour demand curve is relevant, selfish union workers are likely to accept a system of wage discrimination which does away with discrepancies between the marginal product and the reservation wage. And third, the labour demand curve may have a positive slope.
Trade Union Action and Collective Bargaining in Europe: Trends and Problems
Authors: Baglioni Guido 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThis paper deals with the transformations that have taken place in European countries over the last ten years— the decade of the 80s— in union action and collective bargaining.For the latter in particular the trend towards greater convergence, or to maintain the traditional differences found between the industrial relations systems of one country and another, emerges clearly.The conclusions, moreover, underline the persistence (and the rise during the past years) of safeguards and negotiational contractual mediation, the greater (at least as compared to the previous decade) adhesion of bargaining action to the economic situation, and the determining influence that the various national economies have had on this action, with a rising importance played by the industrial relations of the major firms.
For a New Incomes Policy: New Possibilities and Objectives
Authors: Brunetta Renato , Tronti Leonello 
Published: June 2007

Abstract. Moving off from the lessons of the Italian incomes policy experience of the 1980s, this paper presents a new framework to interpret the performance of incomes policy (LP) agreements and institutions, and propose new strategies for the 1990s. IP is viewed as a cooperative outcome that evolves from a non‐cooperative long‐term game between several players (workers, unions, firms, government, parliament, etc.), along the lines of the model drawn up by Brunetta and Carraro (1988).The paper is divided into three sections. The first summarizes the history of IP in Italy, starting from the phase of the predetermination of disinflation (1983‐84). We firstly outline some of the fundamental features of recent Italian development (the “Italian model”), noting how new IP measures could be taken to create an adequate response to the new European and international deadlines. The difficulties and uncertainties that presently exist at both national and international level make the introduction of IP in new, cooperative and evolutive terms, necessary.The second section examines the various topics and new objectives of a “strategic” IP resumption, particularly relevant to the concerted action on the cost of labour, presently being discussed. The topics we consider are: the link between wage reform and IP; the recent concerted agreements reached on fiscal drag (26.1.89) and on the cost of labour (25.1 and 6.7.90); the importance of the role of productivity gain‐sharing; programmed inflation and price control; indexation of gross wages and safeguarding the net wage; increase of the tax base; profit‐sharing.The third and final section presents a few observations which further investigate the distribution of productivity gains between sectors and uses: how it is articulated amongst the various bargaining levels (central, sectoral or enterprise). Redistribution amongst sectors is dealt with in terms of “protected” and “unprotected” areas of the economy, showing the need of a concerted regulation at the central level. Sharing between factors and allocations presents a very different case, and is dealt with at sectoral and firm level.
The New International Migrations and the Changes in the Labour Market
Authors: Pugliese Enrico 
Published: June 2007

Abstract. The article intends to point out some of the main changes that are taking place in the structure of the labour market in Europe and the role played by the recent waves of immigration from Third World countries.The main features of these new migratory flows are that they involve a much larger number of states, both as sending and as receiving countries. Secondly the majority of the migrants workers tend to hold secondary labour market jobs or to work in the informal sector. These two aspects make today's international migrations very different from the intraeuropean migratory waves that concerned a much lower number of countries and were directed towards industrial areas.
A Social Welfare Theory of Trade Unions
Authors: Budd John W. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThere have been recent advances in the understanding of trade unions by modeling union objectives as maximizing a neoclassical utility function. While this literature is most relevant for autonomous and homogeneous local unions, there are also numerous large, heterogeneous trade unions in many countries. This paper illustrates that social choice theory presents a more realistic framework for explicitly modeling the aggregation of potentially diverse preferences within trade unions.
Part‐Time Work in the EEC Countries: Evolution during the 1980s
Authors: Meulders Danièle , Plasman Robert 
Published: June 2007

AbstractWhereas part‐time working remains the exponent par excellence of the flexibility of female employment, its relative growth seems to have come to a standstill in both Denmark and the United Kingdom as far as women are concerned, and for men it is now becoming more a matter of young people offsetting studies and work. In France, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Ireland and Germany, the increase in female employment between 1983 and 1989 is largely attributable to the growth of part‐time employment. The difference with respect to the countries of the South of Europe is striking since the proportion of part‐time working there is low, and has not increased significantly since 1983. Its concentration in already very close sectors, its non‐optional nature, insecurity and awkward working hours make part‐time employment of very little personal value for employees.
Part‐Time Employment and the Utilisation of Labour Resources
Authors: Delsen Lei 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe populations of industrialised countries, particularly in Europe, are ageing. Due to this demographic development social expenditure will increase, while the labour force will be growing only slowly or declining. These developments will have major economic implications. The number of people employed, the productivity per worker and the trend in their real earnings will be important factors constituting the base for levying taxes and premiums for financing social expenditure in the future. In this paper it is argued that the promotion of part‐time employment contributes to a better utilisation of the labour supply potential in a country, to the broadening of the base for financial social security expenditure and at the same time reduces the number of benefits drawn. Some policy recommendations to promote part‐time employment are also presented.
Co‐determination and Personnel Turnover: The German Experience
Authors: Frick Bernd 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT: It has often been argued, that within the German system of co‐determination the works council has an unparalleled participative role, which goes well beyond any voice function of trade unions in the Anglo Saxon tradition. Nevertheless, there is surprisingly little empirical evidence, whether and to what extent works councils influence employers’dismissal and employees’quit decisions.Analyzing a representative sample of private sector firms that have to obey the Dismissal Protection Act of 1969 and the Works Constitution Act of 1972, the paper finds that firms with a works council have an annual dismissal rate which is 1.6 percentage points lower than the one experienced by firms wthout a plant‐level interest representation. At the same time, firms with a works council have a quit rate which is 1.5 percentage points lower than the one in firms without such interest representation. Union density, on the other hand, has no statistically significant influence on either the dismissal or the quit rate. Apparently, it is the works councils that in both cases act as a collective “voice institution”, serving as a direct channel of communication between workers and management.Although it is difficult to reach a safe conclusion about the net economic impact of works councils on the employment behavior of firms, the findings lend some support to the following assumption: since hiring and training costs are usually higher than firing costs, firms on average benefit from the presence of a works council with regard to their user costs of labor: the “savings” due to avoided voluntary quits apparently more than compensate for the additional spendings for severance payments and the costs of co‐determination.
In Vivo EPR Estimation of Bilateral Hippocampal Antioxidant Ability of Rats with Epileptogenesis Induced by Amygdalar FeCl3 Microinjection
Authors: Ueda Yuto , Yokoyama Hidekatsu , Nakajima Akira , Takaki Mayuko , Nagatomo Keiko , Doi Taku , Willmore L. James 
Published: June 2007

Summary:  Purpose: To measure the neural antioxidant function in the hippocampus of rats with epileptogenesis induced by microinjection of FeCl3 into the amygdala using the decay rate of the nitroxide radical as estimated by L‐band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Materials and Methods: Region‐selected intensity determination (RSID) was used for the estimation of the nitroxide decay ratio. It is possible to estimate the in vivo hippocampal antioxidant ability using the half‐life of the EPR signal of the blood–brain barrier‐permeable nitroxide radical. Rats were microinjected with aqueous FeCl3 into the right amygdaloid body. Recording from chronically implanted depth electrodes showed the development of spike discharges with recurrent seizures arising from amygdalar regions with propagation into both hippocampi. Rats with unilateral aqueous FeCl3 lesions were injected systemically with the nitroxide radical and then had EPR for RSID estimation at 5, 15, and 30 days after the iron salt injection. Results: The in vivo antioxidant ability of the dorsal hippocampus was significantly decreased bilaterally in animals with FeCl3‐induced seizures when compared to the control. Conclusion: Neural antioxidant function in the hippocampi of rats with chronic seizures induced by amygdalar FeCl3was decreased early and both ipsilaterally and bilaterally.