bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Evaluation of Farm Financial Benchmarks and Loan Success/Failure: The Case of the Agricultural Credit Corporation of Saskatchewan
Authors: Knopf Edward , Schoney Richard 
Published: November 2008

The use of various financial, economic and efficiency indicators in predicting loan successes and failures is common in agricultural lending. It is well known that financial ratios work well only when based on carefully and consistently prepared financial statements and matched against carefully selected and homogenous groups. This study uses a logit analysis to select 20 variables out of a total of 59 candidates, resulting in a 93% prediction rate. While the logit model identifies a number of important relationships, most traditional financial ratios fail to explain loan success; only one financial ratio — the Current Ratio — is significant and is included in the final model. Of the number of possible explanations for the lack of predictive power of the other various ratios, asset valuation is a common measurement problem. Another perhaps more easily addressed problem is inconsistent and nonconformist definitions that plague the Canadian lending industry. Failure to consistently identify accrued interest or to disaggregate loan payments into interest and principal components renders many of the financial ratios based on current of long‐term liabilities uselessL'utilisation de divers indicateurs financiers, économiques et d'efficacité pour prédire la solvabilite des emprunteurs est courante en matière de crédit agricole. Chacun sait que les ratios financiers ne fonctionnent bien que lorsqu'Us sont basés sur les états financiers soigneusement et régulièrement preparés et confiés à des groupes homogènes choisis avec soin. L'étude a recours à une analyse logit pour extraire, parmi un total de 59, 20 variables qui ont donne un taux de prédiction de 93%. Bien que le modèle logit ait fait apparaitre un certain nombre de relations importantes, la plupart des ratios financiers traditionnels étaient impuissantsà expliquer la solvabilite édes emprunteurs. Un seul ratio, le ratio courant, s'est revile significatifet il a ete inclus dans le modele definitif Parmi les explications du peu de valeur de prediction des autres ratios, l'evaluation des actifs est reconnue comme un problème de mesure général. Un autre problème, peut‐être plus facile â corriger, est le manque de cohêrence et de conformité des définitions appliquées au secteur du crédit au Canada. Faute de pouvoir identifier de façon cohérente I'intérêt accumulé ou de pouvoir séparer les remboursements d'emprunt en intérêts et en capital, un bon nombre de ratios financiers basés sur la dette à court ou à long lerme sont sans utilité
Import Demands for Norwegian Farmed Atlantic Salmon and Wild Pacific Salmon in North America, Japan and the EC
Authors: Herrmann Mark L. , Mittelhammer Ron C. , Lin Biing‐Hwan 
Published: November 2008

Import demands for Atlantic and Pacific salmon are estimated for Japan, the European Community and North America. Cross‐price elasticities indicate that wild high‐valued Pacific salmon (chinook. coho and sockeye) and farmed Atlantic salmon are substitute goods in the marketplace. This finding implies that movements in the prices of both fanned and wild salmon can be caused by supply or demand changes in the market for either type of salmon. This result in turn has important implications for future markets and prices of fanned and wild salmon in Canada and the United StatesLa demande à l'importation pour le saunion de l'Atlantique et du Pacifique esl eslimée pour le Japon, la CEE et l'Amerique du Nord. Les valeurs d'elaslicité croisée montrenl que le saumon “sauvage” du Pacifique hautement prisé (chinook, coho et sockeve) et le saumon d'elevage de l'Atlantique peuvent se substituer l'un à l'autre sur le manhé. Cette consultation signifie quedes mouvements dans les prix des deux types de saunion peuvent étre causés par des fluctuation de l'offre et de la demande affectant l'un ou l'autre type. Cela comporte d'imponantes répercussions pour I'avenir sur le manhé el sur les prix du saumon tant sauvage que d‘élevage au Canada et aux États‐Unis
The Transactional Framework of Sharecropping: Further Implications
Authors: Chew Tek‐Ann 
Published: November 2008

In this paper, the transactional framework of sharecropping, recently published, is used to explore various controversies in cropsharing. Conventional sharecropping theories have resulted in a plethora of propositions, making the empirical verification of them confusing. It is difficult to tell which proposition holds for the real world and which holds under perfectly competitive conditions. The transactional framework proposed provides a simple, prosaic underpinning for some of these arguments. Consistent explanations for the main cropsharing issues are possible, using the transactional frameworkDans cet article, le nouveau cadre transactionnel pour le métayage est utilisé pour scruter les con‐troverses qui entourent cette pratique. Les théories classiques ont suscité une pléthore de propositions, dont la vérification empirique est devenue très déroutante. Il est difficile de déterminer quelle proposition vaut dans les conditions réelles et quelle vaut dans des conditions de parfaite concurrence. Le nouveau cadre transactionnel apporte une base simple, accessible, pour l'explication de certains de ces arguments. Des explications cohérentes des grandes questions touchant le métayage sont possibles en recourant au cadre transactionnel
A Continental Barley Market: Where Are the Gains?
Authors: Gray Richard , Ulrich Alvin , Schmitz Andrew 
Published: November 2008

Under a continental barley marketing system, the Canadian Wheat Board would no longer be the only exporter of barley to the United States. Even though the volume of malting barley exports to the United States would increase, the historic price premium in both Canada and the United States would drop sufficiently to lower total revenue to malting barley producers. The United States' Export Enhancement Program allows the Canadian Wheat Board to sell feed barley at premium prices in some markets, including the United States. Under some conditions the continental barley market would adversely affect optimal trade flows and reduce revenue for feed barley producers. The potential to offset these losses in revenue by reducing grain‐handling charges or by growing higher‐yielding feed varieties appears to be very limited.Dans un système de marché continental de l'brge, la Commission canadienne du blé ne serait plus le seul exportateur d'orge vers les Etats‐Unis. Même si Ie volume des exportations d'orge de malterie augmentait, la prime dont a longtemps bénéficié cette catégorie d'orge, tant au Canada qu'aux Etats‐Unis, tomberait suffisamment pour abaisser les recettes totales des producteurs. Par ailleurs, le Programme américain de stimulation des exportations (EEP) autorise actuellement la CCB à vendre son orge fourragère à prime sur certains marchés, dont les Etats‐his. Dans certaines circonstances, le marché continental de l'orge aurait un effet négatif sur les courants d'échange et réduirait les recettes des producteurs de ce type d'orge. Les possibilités de compenser ces pertes de revenu parune compression des frais de manutention et de stockage ou par la mise en service de variétés fourragères à rendement plus élevé paraissent très restreintes.
The Political Economv of Svstematic Government Intervention in Agriculture
Authors: Sarker Rakhal , Meilke Karl , Hoy Michael 
Published: November 2008

There is a systematic pattern of government policy intervention in agriculture by developed and developing countries. This paper attempts to provide a political economy explanation of these policy interventions. A simple political economy model with two interest groups is developed following Becker and Gardner. This framework brings interest group competition formally into the political preference fitnction. In this model, interest groups' competitive lobbying expenditures cause changes in policies by changing the relative political weights. An empirical political economy model is specified and estimated for wheat using data for 12 developed and 13 developing countries from 1958 to 1987. The results suggest that the labor productivity ratio, agriculture's international terms of trade and the share of food in disposable income are the most important factors influencing the systematic subsidization of wheat producers in developed countries, while the factor endowment ratio, agriculture's international terms of trade and the share of imports financed by agricultural exports are the most important factors contributing to the systematic exploitation of wheat producers in developing countries. The results also suggest that the incentive mechanism in agricultural price policy changes gradually.Il existe un profil systématique des interventions de l'État en agriculture chez les pays industrialisés et chez les pays en développement. L'objet de l'article est de dégager une explication d'économie politique pour ces interventions. Lln modèle simple d'économie politique comportant deux groupes d'intérêt est construit selon la méthode de Becker et Gardner. Le modèle intègre la concurrence des groupes d'intérêt dans lafonction préférence des politiques. Dans ce modèle, les dépenses de lobbying des groupes d'intérêt concurrentiels peuvent provoquer des changements dans les politiques en modifiant le poids politique actuel. Un modèle empirique d'économie politique est construit et évalué pour le bléà partir de données portant sur 12 pays industrialistés et sur 13 pays en développement, de 1958 à 1987. Les résultats laissent voir que le ratio productivité‐travail, les conditions du commerce agricole internutional et la part de l'alimentation dans le revenu disponible sont les facteurs qui influent le plus sur le subventionnement systematique des producteurs de blé dans les pays industrialisés. En revanche, dans les pays en développement, le ratio dotation en facteurs (terre agricole par ouvrier agricole), les conditions du commerce international en agriculture et la part des importations financée par les exportations agricoles sont celles qui contribuent le plus à l'expoitation systématique des producteurs de blé. Les résultats font voir aussi que les mécanisrnes d'incitation attachés aux politiques d'établissement des prix agricoles changent graduellement.
Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: Is the addition of subcutaneous interferon‐α‐2b beneficial?
Authors: Takaki‐Hamabe Satoe , Yamasaki Takahiro , Saeki Issei , Harima Yohei , Okita Kohsuke , Terai Shuji , Sakaida Isao 
Published: November 2008

Aim:  We previously reported the benefits of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) using cisplatin (CDDP), 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) [low‐dose FP], and leucovorin/isovorin for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we investigated the efficacy of combination therapy with HAIC and subcutaneous interferon (IFN)‐ α‐2b in patients with advanced HCC.Methods:  Of the 48 patients, 31 received low‐dose FP with leucovorin/isovorin (HAIC group) and 17 received combination therapy comprising low‐dose FP with isovorin and subcutaneous IFN‐α‐2b (combination group). Prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses of the patient and the disease characteristics.Results:  There were no significant differences in the response rate (patients with complete or partial response/all patients; P = 0.736) and survival (P = 0.399) between both groups. Univariate analysis revealed that IFN therapy was not a significant prognostic factor. Multivariate analysis showed 3 variables, namely, Child–Pugh score (P = 0.010), α‐fetoprotein level (P = 0.0047), and additional therapy (P = 0.002), to be significant prognostic factors.Conclusions:  We considered that combination therapy with HAIC and subcutaneous interferon (IFN)‐α‐2b was not beneficial for advanced HCC.
Thermodynamics and Density of Binding of a Panel of Antibodies to High-Molecular-Weight Capsular Polysaccharides
Authors: Harris Shannon L. , Fernsten Philip 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTThe interaction between antipolysaccharide (anti-PS) antibodies and their antigens was investigated by the use of isothermal titration calorimetry to determine the thermodynamic binding constant (K), the change in the enthalpy of binding (ΔH), and the binding density (N) to high-molecular-weight PSs. From these values, the change in the entropy of binding (ΔS) was calculated. The thermodynamic parameters of binding to high-molecular-weight capsular PSs are reported for two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) with different specificities for meningococcal serogroup C PS, five MAbs specific for different pneumococcal serotypes, and the Fab fragments of two antipneumococcal MAbs. TheKvalues were in the range of 106to 107M−1, and these values were 1 to 2 orders of magnitude greater than the previously reportedKvalues derived from antibody-oligosaccharide interactions. The ΔHassociated with binding was favorable for each MAb and Fab fragment. The ΔSassociated with binding was also generally favorable for both the MAbs and the Fab fragments, with the exception of the anti-serotype 14 MAb and its Fab fragment.Nprovides information regarding how densely MAbs or Fabs can bind along PS chains and, as expressed in terms of monosaccharides, was very similar for the seven MAbs, with an average of 12 monosaccharides per bound MAb. The value ofNfor each Fab was smaller, with five or seven monosaccharides per bound Fab. These results suggest that steric interactions between antibody molecules are a major influence on the values ofNof high-affinity MAbs to capsular PSs.
Peptide-Based Antibody Detection for Tuberculosis Diagnosis
Authors: Shen Guomiao , Behera Digambar , Bhalla Manpreet , Nadas Arthur , Laal Suman 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. Despite significant limitations, microscopy remains the cornerstone of the global TB control strategy. As the TB epidemic escalates, new diagnostic methods that are accurate and also economical and simple to manufacture and deploy are urgently needed. Although several promising antigens have been identified and evaluated in recent years, the reproducible production of high-quality recombinant mycobacterial proteins with minimal batch-to-batch variation is difficult, laborious, and expensive. To determine the feasibility of devising a synthetic peptide-based diagnostic test for TB, we have delineated the immunodominant epitopes of three candidate antigens, Ag85B, BfrB, and TrxC, that were previously identified to be immunogenic in TB patients. The results demonstrate that combinations of carefully selected synthetic peptides derived from highly immunogenic proteins can be the basis for devising an immunodiagnostic test for TB.
Evaluation of the Rapid BioStar Optical Immunoassay for Detection of
Chlamydia trachomatis
in Adolescent Women
Authors: Bandea Claudiu I. , Koumans Emilia H. , Sawyer Mary K. , Dover Jason , O'Connor Angelica , Papp John R. , Unger Elizabeth R. , Braxton Jim , Black Carolyn M. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

We evaluated the performance of the BioStar Chlamydia OIA (optical immunoassay) in adolescent females (
n
= 261) from an inner city population. With a reference standard of two different nucleic acid amplification tests, the sensitivity and specificity of the BioStar Chlamydia OIA were 59.4 and 98.4%, respectively. Due to its relatively low sensitivity, the BioStar Chlamydia OIA should only be used in conjunction with more sensitive laboratory tests unless laboratory tests are unavailable or timely return for treatment is unlikely.
Effect of ThinPrep Preparation on
Human papillomavirus
Detection and Genotyping in Rectal Samples by PCR
Authors: Tabrizi Sepehr N. , Stevens Matthew P. , van Leeuwen Marina T. , Vajdic Claire M. , Botes Leon P. , Medley Gabriele , Hillman Richard , Grulich Andrew , Garland Suzanne M. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT
Specimen-to-specimen carryover during ThinPrep slide preparation was evaluated by comparing human papillomavirus genotypes detected prior and subsequent to the ThinPrep processing of 121 PreservCyt samples. Overall, 52 samples generated concordant genotypes and 38 had additional and 21 had fewer genotypes postprocessing. PreservCyt samples should be aliquoted for PCR testing prior to ThinPrep processing.
Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Differentiation and Rapid Detection of
Taenia
Species
Authors: Nkouawa Agathe , Sako Yasuhito , Nakao Minoru , Nakaya Kazuhiro , Ito Akira 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

Rapid detection and differentiation of
Taenia
species are required for the control and prevention of taeniasis and cysticercosis in areas where these diseases are endemic. Because of the lower sensitivity and specificity of the conventional diagnosis based on microscopical examination, molecular tools are more reliable for differential diagnosis of these diseases. In this study, we developed and evaluated a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for differential diagnosis of infections with
Taenia
species with cathepsin L-like cysteine peptidase (clp) and cytochrome
c
oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) genes. LAMP with primer sets to the cox1 gene could differentiate between three species, and LAMP with primer sets to the clp gene could differentiate
Taenia solium
from
Taenia saginata
/
Taenia asiatica
. Restriction enzyme digestion of the LAMP products from primer set Tsag-clp allowed the differentiation of
Taenia saginata
from
Taenia asiatica
. We demonstrated the high specificity of LAMP by testing known parasite DNA samples extracted from proglottids (
n
= 100) and cysticerci (
n
= 68). LAMP could detect one copy of the target gene or five eggs of
T. asiatica
and
T. saginata
per gram of feces, showing sensitivity similar to that of PCR methods. Furthermore, LAMP could detect parasite DNA in all taeniid egg-positive fecal samples (
n
= 6). Due to the rapid, simple, specific, and sensitive detection of
Taenia
species, the LAMP assays are valuable tools which might be easily applicable for the control and prevention of taeniasis and cysticercosis in countries where these diseases are endemic.
High Prevalence of Human Parvovirus B19 DNA in Myocardial Autopsy Samples from Subjects without Myocarditis or Dilative Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Schenk Thomas , Enders Martin , Pollak Stefan , Hahn Ralph , Huzly Daniela 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT
Human parvovirus B19 has been linked to a variety of cardiac diseases, as well as to erythema infectiosum, acute arthropathy, and fetal hydrops. A causal association between viral infection and cardiac disease was frequently postulated following the detection of B19 DNA by PCR in endomyocardial biopsy specimens. Since the lifelong persistence of B19 DNA in bone marrow, skin, synovia, tonsils, and liver was previously reported, the aim of our study was to investigate the possibility of asymptomatic B19 DNA persistence in heart tissue. Myocardial autopsy and postmortem blood samples were prospectively collected from 69 bodies sent to the Department of Forensic Medicine, Freiburg University Medical Center, for inquests. All study subjects were screened for B19-specific antibodies using a commercial enzyme immunoassay. Tissue samples were analyzed by real-time PCR for the presence of viral DNA. Since the presence of B19 genotype 2, known to have been circulating before 1960, would prove long-lasting persistence, the presence of the B19 genotype was retrospectively determined in seven of the study subjects by melting temperature analysis and sequencing of the PCR product. B19 DNA was found in myocardial samples from 46 of 48 seropositive and in none of 21 seronegative individuals. B19 genotype 1 was found in three patients born between 1950 and 1969. Genotype 2 was found in four patients born between 1927 and 1957. Our findings suggest lifelong persistence of B19 DNA in heart tissue. Thus, the detection of B19 DNA in myocardial biopsy specimens alone is not sufficient to postulate a relationship between B19 infection and cardiac disease.
Campylobacter
Immunity and Coinfection following a Large Outbreak in a Farming Community
Authors: Forbes K. J. , Gormley F. J. , Dallas J. F. , Labovitiadi O. , MacRae M. , Owen R. J. , Richardson J. , Strachan N. J. C. , Cowden J. M. , Ogden I. D. , McGuigan C. C. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

An outbreak of campylobacteriosis affected approximately one-half of 165 people attending an annual farmers' dance in Montrose, Scotland, in November 2005. Epidemiological investigations, including a cohort study (
n
= 164), identified chicken liver paté as the most likely vehicle of infection. Paté preparation involved deliberate undercooking of chicken livers by flash-frying, followed by mechanical homogenization. Typing of 32
Campylobacter
strains (isolated from submitted stools) by multilocus sequence typing identified four distinct clades of
Campylobacter jejuni
. There was good agreement when isolates were typed by Penner serotyping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and
flaA
short variable region sequencing but poorer agreement with phage and antibiotic susceptibility testing. At least three attendees were coinfected with two
Campylobacter
strains each. The outbreak was probably due to several livers contributing
Campylobacter
strains that survived undercooking and were dispersed throughout the paté. The study highlights improper culinary procedures as a potential human health risk and provides a striking counterexample to the “dominant outbreak strain” view of point source outbreaks of food-borne infections. It also demonstrates that previous exposure to biologically plausible sources of
Campylobacter
may confer protection against subsequent infection.
Results from the ARTEMIS DISK Global Antifungal Surveillance Study, 1997 to 2007: 10.5-Year Analysis of Susceptibilities of Noncandidal Yeast Species to Fluconazole and Voriconazole Determined by CLSI Standardized Disk Diffusion Testing
Authors: Pfaller M. A. , Diekema D. J. , Gibbs D. L. , Newell V. A. , Bijie H. , Dzierzanowska D. , Klimko N. N. , Letscher-Bru V. , Lisalova M. , Muehlethaler K. , Rennison C. , Zaidi M. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

Fluconazole in vitro susceptibility test results determined by the CLSI M44-A disk diffusion method for 11,240 isolates of noncandidal yeasts were collected from 134 study sites in 40 countries from June 1997 through December 2007. Data were collected for 8,717 yeast isolates tested with voriconazole from 2001 through 2007. A total of 22 different species/organism groups were isolated, of which
Cryptococcus neoformans
was the most common (31.2% of all isolates). Overall,
Cryptococcus
(32.9%),
Saccharomyces
(11.7%),
Trichosporon
(10.6%), and
Rhodotorula
(4.1%) were the most commonly identified genera. The overall percentages of isolates in each category (susceptible, susceptible dose dependent, and resistant) were 78.0%, 9.5%, and 12.5% and 92.7%, 2.3%, and 5.0% for fluconazole and voriconazole, respectively. Less than 30% of fluconazole-resistant isolates of
Cryptococcus
spp.,
Cryptococcus albidus
,
Cryptococcus laurentii
,
Trichosporon beigelii/Trichosporon cutaneum
,
Rhodotorula
spp.,
Rhodotorula rubra/Rhodotorula mucilaginosa
, and
Rhodotorula glutinis
remained susceptible to voriconazole. Emerging resistance to fluconazole was documented among isolates of
C. neoformans
from the Asia-Pacific, Africa/Middle East, and Latin American regions but not among isolates from Europe or North America. This survey documents the continuing broad spectrum of activity of voriconazole against opportunistic yeast pathogens but identifies several of the less common species with decreased azole susceptibility. These organisms may pose a future threat to optimal antifungal therapy and emphasize the importance of prompt and accurate species identification.