bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Do counter‐cyclical payments in the 2002 US Farm Act create incentives to produce?⋆
Authors: Antón Jesús , Mouël Chantal Le 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAnalytical results in the literature suggest that counter‐cyclical payments create risk‐related incentives to produce even if they are ‘decoupled’ under certainty [Hennessy, D. A., 1998. The production effects of agricultural income support polices under uncertainty. Am. J. Agric. Econ. 80, 46–57]. This paper develops a framework to assess the risk‐related incentives to produce created by commodity programmes like the loan deficiency payments (LDPs) and the counter‐cyclical payments (CCPs) in the 2002 US Farm Act. Because CCPs are paid based on fixed production quantities they have a weaker risk‐reducing impact than LDPs. The latter have a direct impact through the variance of the producer price distributions, while the impact of CCPs is due only to the covariance between the CCP and the producer price distributions. The methodology developed by [Chavas, J.‐P., Holt, M. T., 1990. Acreage decisions under risk: the case of corn and soybeans. Am. J. Agric. Econ. 72 (3), 529–538] is applied to calculate the appropriate variance‐covariance matrix of the truncated producer price distributions under the 2002 Farm Act. Risk premia are computed showing that the risk‐related incentives created by CCPs are significant and do not disappear for levels of production above the base production on which CCPs are paid.
Measuring productivity growth when technological change is biased–a new index and an application to UK agriculture
Authors: Bailey Alastair , Irz Xavier , Balcombe Kelvin 
Published: August 2007

AbstractProductivity growth is conventionally measured by indices representing discreet approximations of the Divisia TEP index under the assumption that technological change is Hicks‐neutral. When this assumption is violated, these indices are no longer meaningful because they conflate the effects of factor accumulation and technological change. We propose a way of adjusting the conventional TFP index that solves this problem. The method adopts a latent variable approach to the measurement of technical change biases that provides a simple means of correcting product and factor shares in the standard Tornqvist‐Theil TFP index. An application to UK agriculture over the period 1953–2000 demonstrates that technical progress is strongly biased. The implications of that bias for productivity measurement are shown to be very large, with the conventional TFP index severely underestimating productivity growth. The result is explained primarily by the fact that technological change has favoured the rapidly accumulating factors against labour, the factor leaving the sector.
International diffusion of gains from biotechnology and the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy
Authors: van Meijl Hans , van Tongeren Frank 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThis paper analyses the impact of adopting or rejecting genetically modified (GM) crops in the European Union, taking into account the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In this paper the productivity impact of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) differs across crops, taking factor biased technology change into account. The transfer of knowledge across countries is modelled as a process of endogenous knowledge spill‐overs. Analysis with a multi‐region applied general equilibrium model shows that the CAP protects farm income and production despite non‐adoption of the more productive GM crops in the EU. The EU will forgo substantial benefits in terms of economic welfare if it bans GM imports.
An experimental approach to valuing new differentiated products
Authors: Maynard Leigh J. , Hartell Jason G. , Meyer A. Lee , Hao Jianqiang 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAn experimental store was created to evaluate initial demand for locally produced and guaranteed tender steak products as a more realistic alternative to contingent valuation (CV) and dichotomous‐choice experimental methods. Strengths of the approach are incentive compatibility, a realistic consumption set, and a familiar choice environment. Consumers selected among USDA Choice, premium quality, lean, guaranteed tender and locaily produced strip steaks. A double‐hurdle count data model indicated initial willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) for locally produced steak comparable to prior CV results, but demand was highly elastic. Demand for premium quality steak crowded out demand for the guaranteed tender product, contrasting with prior dichotomous‐choice experimental results.
Economic analysis of the impact of adopting herd health control programs on smallholder dairy farms in Central Thailand
Authors: Hall David C. , Ehui Simeon K. , Shapiro Barry I. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe economic impact of adopting herd health programs for mastitis and reproduction by small‐scale dairy producers of Central Thailand was assessed using a policy analysis matrix (PAM). Following a reduction in the incidence of bovine disease on adopter farms, an increase in private net profits is observed. More importantly the social costs of supporting dairy farmers is reduced; the PAM effective protection coefficient was reduced by 35% for mastitis program adopters and by 44% for reproductive program adopters, indicating improved social efficiency of dairy policy. Other indicators of efficiency and policy implications are discussed.
Lifetime prevalence of suicide ideation, plan, and attempt in metropolitan China
Authors: Lee S. , Fung S. C. , Tsang A. , Liu Z. R. , Huang Y. Q. , He Y. L. , Zhang M. Y. , Shen Y. C. , Nock M. K. , Kessler R. C. 
Published: August 2007

Objective:  This is the first community‐based epidemiological study examining the prevalence of suicidal behaviors, their transitional pathways, and their relationship with mental disorders in metropolitan China.Method:  Suicidal behaviors, including ideation, plans, and attempts were assessed by face‐to‐face household interviews among 5201 respondents in Beijing and Shanghai in 2001–2002. Lifetime prevalence and risk factors were examined using multivariate discrete‐time survival models.Results:  The lifetime prevalence estimates of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts were 3.1%, 0.9%, and 1.0% respectively. Among suicide ideators, the conditional probability of ever making a plan and an attempt was 29.5% and 32.3% respectively. Progression from ideation to plan and attempt was the highest during the first year after onset. Suicide attempt was predicted by young adulthood, being unmarried, recent onset of ideation and plan, and the presence of mental disorders, especially mood disorder.Conclusion:  Suicidal behaviors in metropolitan China exhibit a low prevalence and an epidemiological profile resembling that found in Western countries.
MMP‐13 and TIMP‐1 determinations in progressive chronic periodontitis
Authors: Hernández Marcela , Martínez Benjamín , Tejerina José María , Valenzuela María Antonieta , Gamonal Jorge 
Published: August 2007

AbstractMatrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐13 is a collagenase involved in extracellular matrix degradation either by its direct degradative effects or by processing bioactive substrates. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of MMP‐13 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)‐1 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and gingival biopsies obtained from active and inactive sites during chronic periodontitis progression.Materials and Methods: This was a longitudinal study in which chronic periodontitis patients with moderate to severe disease were included and followed until they developed progression determined by the tolerance method. GCF samples were obtained from periodontitis, active, inactive and healthy sites and additional gingival biopsies were taken from active and inactive sites. MMP‐13 and TIMP‐1 determinations were carried out by immunodot blots and immunowestern blots.Results: In progressive periodontitis, MMP‐13 and TIMP‐1 remained unchanged between active and inactive sites, but as the TIMP‐1 relative levels increased together with MMP‐13 elevation in inactive samples, an inverse correlation was observed in active sites. Besides, MMP‐13 was undetectable in healthy controls.Conclusion: Chronic periodontitis is characterized by increased MMP‐13 expression. During disease progression, active sites tended to decrease TIMP‐1 levels in association with MMP‐13 elevation.
Proliferation of HSP47‐positive skin fibroblasts in dermatofibroma
Authors: Kuroda Kei , Tajima Shingo 
Published: August 2007

Background:  The cell origin of dermatofibroma (DF) has not been clarified satisfactorily. This study was undertaken to assess the distribution of fibroblasts and the relationship between fibroblasts and other constituent cells in DF by 47‐kDa heat‐shock protein (HSP47), a cell marker for skin fibroblast.Methods:  Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the expression of HSP47 and other cell markers in histological variants of DF.Results:  Almost all spindle‐shaped cells showed strong immunoreactivity for HSP47 in DF. In the fibrocollagenous type, a common type of DF, HSP47‐positive fibroblasts were the major constituent cells. In the cellular and atypical types, many constituent cells were positive for HSP47. Huge cells with bizarre nuclei, which are distinctive of the atypical type, showed immunoreactivity for HSP47, not for CD68 or factor XIIIa (FXIIIa). In the histiocytic and angiomatous types, CD68‐positive histiocytes were the major constituent cells, but many scattered spindle cells were positive for HSP47. FXIIIa‐positive dermal dendritic cells were increased, irrespective of DF variants, whereas the cell number varied from case to case.Conclusions:  Skin fibroblast is one of the major constituent cells in DF, and DF may be composed chiefly of two types of cell lineages, fibroblasts and bone marrow‐derived monocyte/macrophages (dermal dendritic cells and/or histiocytes).
Where Does The God Delusion Come from?
Authors: Lash Nicholas 
Published: August 2007

AbstractWhile Richard Dawkins' polemic against religion scores easy points against Christian fundamentalisms, he supposes his target to be much vaster: “I am not attacking any particular version of God or gods. I am attacking God, all gods”. Given The God Delusion's lack of extended argument, historical ignorance and unfamiliarity with the literature, the praise it has received from some distinguished scientists is troubling.This essay seeks, first, to examine some of the book's chief weaknesses – its ignorance of the grammar of “God” and of “belief in God”; the crudeness of its account of how texts are best read; its lack of interest in ethics – and, second, to address the question of what it is about the climate of the times that enables so ill‐informed and badly argued a tirade to be widely welcomed by many apparently well‐educated people.The latter issue is addressed, first, by considering the illusion, unique to the English‐speaking world, that there is some single set of procedures which uniquely qualify as “scientific” and give privileged access to truth; second, by examining historical shifts in the senses of “religion”; thirdly, by locating Dawkins' presuppositions concerning both “science” and “religion”, his paradoxical belief in progress, and the reception which the book has received, in relation to tensions in our culture signalled, fifty years ago, by C. P. Snow.
Questions About the Perception of “Christian Truth”: On the Affective Effects of Sin
Authors: Smith James K.A. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThis article engages David Bentley Hart's critique of coercive “demonstration” in apologetics in favor of Gospel proclamation in the mode of “persuasion.” More specifically, I evaluate Hart's articulation of persuasion as a discourse that is primarily aesthetic and traffics primarily in beauty. After expressing an appreciation for Hart's critique of the traditional apologetics of demonstration, I suggest that Hart's own proposal still has elements of an “apologetic”—a kind of natural “aesthetic” theology, but a natural theology nonetheless. I conclude by extrapolating the Reformed critique of natural theology (based on the “noetic effects of sin”) to include a critique of Hart's aesthetic quasi‐natural theology by providing an account of the “affective” effects of sin.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotype of MD‐1 gene associated with high serum IgE phenotype with mite‐sensitive allergy in Taiwanese children
Authors: Wang J. Y. , Lin C. G. J. , Hsiao Y. H. , Liou Y. H. , Wu L. S. H. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryMD‐1 (myeloid differentiation 1; also known as Ly86, lymphocyte antigen 86), interacting with RP105, plays an important role in Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) signalling pathway. It has been suggested to be involved in the pathological mechanism of inflammation and atopic diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of MD‐1 promoter and coding region and mite‐sensitive allergy in Taiwanese children. We conducted a case‐control study on 237 controls and 281 allergic patients sensitive to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) and Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) by genotyping 35 SNPs in MD‐1 gene region. In the promoter region we identified three SNPs, rs1334710, rs4959389, and rs977785 that are associated with mite‐sensitive allergy in Taiwanese children. The P‐values ranged from 0.0150 to 0.009. The haplotypes including promoter region were also associated with mite‐sensitive allergy. Our results suggested that MD‐1 could be a susceptible gene for mite‐sensitive allergy in Taiwanese children.
Detection of SiO emission from a massive dense cold core
Authors: Lo N. , Cunningham M. , Bains I. , Burton M. G. , Garay G. 
Published: August 2007

Abstract
We report the detection of the SiO (J= 2−1) transition from the massive cold dense core G333.125−0.562. The core remains undetected at wavelengths shorter than 70 μm and has compact 1.2-mm dust continuum. The SiO emission is localized to the core. The observations are part of a continuing multi-molecular line survey of the giant molecular cloud G333. Other detected molecules in the core include 13CO, C18O, CS, HCO+, HCN, HNC, CH3OH, N2H+, SO, HC3N, NH3, and some of their isotopes. In addition, from NH3 (1,1) and (2,2) inversion lines, we obtain a temperature of 13 K. From fitting to the spectral energy distribution we obtain a colour temperature of 18 K and a gas mass of 2 × 103M⊙. We have also detected a 22-GHz water maser in the core, together with methanol maser emission, suggesting that the core will host massive star formation. We hypothesize that the SiO emission arises from shocks associated with an outflow in the cold core.
The origin of the Arches stellar cluster mass function
Authors: Dib Sami , Kim Jongsoo , Shadmehri Mohsen 
Published: August 2007

Abstract
We investigate the time-evolution of the mass distribution of pre-stellar cores (PSCs) and their transition to the initial stellar mass function (IMF) in the central parts of a molecular cloud (MC) under the assumption that the coalescence of cores is important. Our aim is to explain the observed shallow IMF in dense stellar clusters such as the Arches cluster. The initial distributions of PSCs at various distances from the MC centre are those of gravitationally unstable cores resulting from the gravo-turbulent fragmentation of the MC. As time evolves, there is a competition between the rates of coalescence and collapse of the PSCs. Whenever the local rate of collapse is larger than the rate of coalescence in a given mass bin, cores are collapsed into stars. With appropriate parameters, we find that the coalescence–collapse model reproduces very well all the observed characteristics of the Arches stellar cluster IMF: namely, the slopes at high- and low-mass ends and the peculiar bump observed at ∼ 5–6M⊙. Our results suggest that today's IMF of the Arches cluster is very similar to the primordial one and is little affected by the mass segregation due to dynamical effects.
A model of event‐generated dependence in older adults
Authors: Patusky Kathleen L. 
Published: August 2007

Aims and objectives.  The proposed model of event‐generated dependence characterizes dependence in older adults as an emergent phenomenon that may arise from interaction between the older adult with compromised health and the social environment, resulting in altered reciprocity.Background.  Pejorative characterizations of dependence in older adults influence nursing care negatively. Concept analyses recommend the recognition that dependence is interactive in nature, not an inherent trait of the individual, and that dependence involves changes in interpersonal reciprocity.Conclusions.  The model provides a testable causal path between dependence and psychological outcomes.Relevance to clinical practice.  The event generated dependence model can sensitize nurses to an alternative view of dependence. It is important for nurses to recognize their role in determining the social environment of care, attend to the promotion of reciprocity with older adults as care is provided, and incorporate changes in their attitudes toward inequitable reciprocity.
A comparative review of the Katz ADL and the Barthel Index in assessing the activities of daily living of older people
Authors: Hartigan Irene 
Published: August 2007

Assessment of a patient’s functional ability to perform activities of daily living is an essential part of nursing. Measuring the functional ability of older adults is a potent predictor of a patient’s morbidity and hospital outcome. The information generated from assessment scales is only constructive if the information generated is clinically useful and scientifically reliable. The Katz activities of daily living and the Barthel Index are two of the oldest competing indices for assessing activities of daily living. The Katz activities of daily living and the Barthel Index evaluate a patient’s function in terms of level of independence or dependence when performing certain activities required for daily living. This paper will compare their significance and usefulness to nursing practice of the older adult. As information is gathered and interpreted to complete these assessment scales, the relative merits in specific situations of these two oldest competing indices need to be considered to ensure their appropriateness and sensitivity. Often, with the use of assessment scales for activities of daily living, the results often tend to be subjective and lack a systematic approach. Subjective assessment of patients makes it difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments, leading to bias and the misinterpretation of data. This may be critical in the care of older adults, where presenting problems are often complex and multi‐dimensional. As assessment of functional ability has become more important to nursing practice, this paper will investigate the Katz activities of daily living and the Barthel Index for reliability and explore the variations that exist between the two indices. Although research on assessment scales has been ongoing since the work of Katz et al. (1963) there remains conceptual issues as to what constitutes activities of daily living and defining terminology associated with the measurement.
Role of the ejaculatory bulb in biosynthesis of the male pheromone cis‐vaccenyl acetate in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: GUIRAUDIE‐CAPRAZ Gaëlle , PHO Dang Ba , JALLON Jean‐Marc 
Published: August 2007

AbstractIn Drosophila melanogaster, the male ejaculatory bulb is the site of synthesis of a male‐specific pheromone, cis‐vaccenyl acetate, which functions as both an attractant and an anti‐aphrodisiac. This long monounsaturated acetate is structurally similar to a number of shorter gland‐synthesized moth pheromones. The cell monolayer that forms the Drosophila male ejaculatory bulb wall is responsible for the production and secretion of cis‐vaccenyl acetate into the seminal fluid. When dissected bulbs were incubated with sodium [14‐C]‐acetate (or deuterated acetate), a labeled acetate ester was synthesized. The labeled acetate ester co‐migrated with cis‐vaccenyl acetate in thin layer chromatography. Incubation of the abdomens of males from which the ejaculatory bulbs had been removed, or the abdomens of females, with radiolabeled acetate did not yield any acetate ester, but did yield other lipid products, including hydrocarbons. When the isolated labeled acetate ester was hydrolyzed, no radioactive vaccenol was formed. This strongly suggests that the acetyl group is incorporated via a transacetylation reaction, but that the vaccenyl moiety is not synthetized in the blub. The transacetylation enzyme activity was localized in the microsomal subfraction of the bulb homogenate, and its affinity for vaccenol was not very different from that reported for monounsaturated alcohol substrates in moths.
Bipolar disorder in children and adolescents: obstacles to early diagnosis and future directions
Authors: Cahill Catherine M. , Green Melissa J. , Jairam Rajeev , Malhi Gin S. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAim:  This article reviews research centred around juvenile bipolar disorder with particular reference to diagnostic difficulties. Putative deficits are scrutinized with respect to trait likelihood and the roles of neuropsychology and neuroimaging in enhancing our understanding of juvenile bipolar disorder are discussed.Methods:  Search terms including childhood, adolescent, youth and juvenile combined with the terms ‘bipolar disorder’, mania, depression and hypomania were used to identify relevant studies in MEDLINE and PsychLit.Results:  Over recent years research into this relatively new disorder has increased phenomenally. Key issues within the field include diagnostic specificity, the heritability of the disorder, the impact of comorbidity and the implications of neuropsychological and neuroimaging findings.Conclusion:  Despite concerning controversies in literature the diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents as compared with adults, promising future research directions include better neurological characterization of the disorder through the application of findings from clinical populations, neuropsychological and neuroimaging research.
Childhood negative experiences and subclinical psychosis in adolescence: a longitudinal general population study
Authors: De Loore Ellen , Drukker Marjan , Gunther Nicole , Feron Frans , Deboutte Dirk , Sabbe Bernard , Mengelers Ron , Van Os Jim , Myin‐Germeys Inez 
Published: August 2007

AbstractBackground:  Accumulating evidence suggests that experiences of trauma and victimization during childhood are associated with an increased risk to develop clinical and subclinical psychosis in adulthood. A recent cross‐sectional study showed a significant association between trauma and psychotic experiences in adolescents. The current study aimed to extend these findings by investigating the longitudinal effects of negative life experiences on the risk for subclinical psychotic symptoms 2 years later in an adolescent general community sample.Methods:  Data were derived from the standard health screenings of the Youth Health Care Divisions of the Public Health Services, in the South of the Netherlands. A total of 1129 adolescents filled out a self‐report questionnaire at age 13/14 years and 2 years later (15/16 years), assessing psychotic experiences, as well as experiences of being bullied, sexual trauma, and negative life events.Results:  Logistic regression analyses revealed that sexual trauma increased the risk for psychotic symptoms 2 years later. Life events contributed to the risk for psychosis over time and psychosis in turn gave rise to new life events. No significant association with bullying was found after controlling for confounders.Conclusion:  The results provide further evidence for an association between childhood environment and psychosis in the crucial developmental period of early adolescence. Early and later psychological stress, if severe, may impact on the risk for psychosis in adolescence through mechanisms of person–environment interaction and correlation.