bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ictogenesis and Epileptogenesis in EL Mice
Authors: Murashima Yoshiya L. , Yoshii Mitsunobu , Suzuki Jiro 
Published: March 2003

Summary:  Purpose: In EL mice, ictogenesis is established at age ∼10 weeks, whereas epileptogenesis is induced through an experience of repetitive seizures during development. An “abnormal neural plasticity” has been suggested to be involved in these pathologic processes. It also is known that two isoforms of nitric oxide (NO) synthetase (nNOS and eNOS) are essential for the long‐term potentiation (LTP), a plastic response of neurons. It appears, therefore, that these NO synthetases might play a major role in the establishment of abnormal neural plasticity. The purpose of the present study was to investigate ictogenesis and epileptogenesis by observing alterations of NO synthetases as well as immediate early gene (IEG) expressions and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) distributions in the brain during development and with respect to seizure history.Methods: IEG (c‐fos and zif) expression in EL mice were analyzed by in situ hybridization with 35S. Distribution of GABA concentrations and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activities in the parietal cortex of EL mice was quantitatively determined using ultramicroenzymatic chemistry (Lowry, 1978). Three isoforms of NOS were assayed by immunoblotting analysis for hippocampal tissues of EL mice and their control animals, DDY mice. DNA fragmentation was detected with the TUNEL method.Results: In EL mouse brains, IEG expression was related to the seizure history, seizure threshold, and age. Even in the interictal period, the animals expressed IEG continuously when their seizure thresholds were very low. Among various IEG expression sites in the brain, hippocampal CA1 was the most remarkable. These IEG expression sites were almost identical to the brain regions of EL mice where GABA concentrations and GAD activities were altered. Unexpectedly, the eNOS content of EL was very small, although eNOS appears to be responsible for NO that mediates an increase in local cerebral blood flow during focal seizures. nNOS, iNOS, and to a lesser extent, eNOS were essential to establish both ictogenicity and epileptogenicity. DNA fragmentation was observed in the hippocampus of EL mice in the interictal period.Conclusions: Continuous IEG expression and abnormal GABAergic function are involved in the epileptogenesis of EL mice. Transiently expressed IEG, on the other hand, is associated with the ictogenesis. It is conceivable that an excess amount of iNOS (and subsequent increase in harmful antimicrobial NO) and a lesser amount of eNOS (and subsequent decrease in NO or endothelium‐derived relaxing factor, EDRF) may work together to contribute to a focus complex and ictogenesis. Drugs that suppress iNOS and/or potentiate eNOS may be promising candidates for a new type of antiepileptic agent.
Focus Diagnosis of Epilepsy Using Near‐Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Watanabe Eiju , Nagahori Yukihiro , Mayanagi Yoshiaki 
Published: March 2003

Summary:  Purpose: We sought to establish a noninvasive method for focus diagnosis of epilepsy.Methods: We examined the use of multichannel near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). It is known as a noninvasive method of functional brain mapping. We monitored cerebral blood volume change with NIRS during long‐term EEG monitoring of epilepsy in 32 cases with intractable epilepsies to diagnose the epileptogenic focus.Results: In 96% of cases, NIRS showed significant hyperperfusion in the side of seizure foci, whereas ictal SPECT showed hyperperfusion in 69% of cases.Conclusions: Ictal NIRS is a reliable method to evaluate the focus side in epilepsy, especially when it is coupled with ictal SPECT.
Severe Pancytopenia after Leflunomide in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Auer J. , Hinterreiter M. , Allinger S. , Kirchgatterer A. , Knoflach P. 
Published: March 2003

Zusammenfassung:Leflunomide ist eine neue Substanz für die antirheumatische Basistherapie (disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug; DMARD). Bislang wurde unter Leflunomidetherapie keine Knochenmarkstoxizität und Panzytopenie mitgeteilt. Wir berichten über eine 62jährige Frau mit einer 14 Jahre bestehenden rheumatoiden Arthritis, die unter einer Behandlung mit Leflunomide eine schwere Knochenmarkstoxizität und Panzytopenie entwickelte.
Host location by adult and larval codling moth and the potential for its disruption by the application of kairomones
Authors: Hughes William O. H. , Gailey Darren , Knapp Jenny J. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractMany fruit boring insect pests are difficult to control because of the short time span during which the damaging stage can be targeted before it becomes protected by the host fruit. We investigated the host location behaviour of the codling moth Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Totricidae) to its apple host (Malus domestica Mill.) in the laboratory, with a view to the potential for extending the susceptible time span by disrupting the host location behaviour of the insects. We found that apple extract arrested neonate larvae. It also both attracted adult female moths and stimulated oviposition. α‐farnesene did not result in these effects to the same degree, suggesting that other components of apple odour are also important in the host location behaviour of this insect. By presenting a source of apple extract alongside an apple host, we examined whether the location of the apple host by larval and adult moths could be disrupted. We found that the application of apple extract could significantly increase the time taken for neonate larvae to locate an apple source. The source of apple extract also competed with the apple host, resulting in fewer eggs being oviposited near the apples. The results suggest that it may be possible to disrupt the host location behaviour of both the neonate larval and adult stage by the application of host kairomones.
Influenza‐Schutzimpfung und Dermatosen – Koinzidenz oder kausale Assoziation?
Authors: Hehn Jennifer , Hartmann Klaus , Bröcker Eva‐Bettina , Goebeler Matthias 
Published: March 2003

ZusammenfassungInfluenzainfektionen gehen auch heute noch mit einer beträchtlichen Morbidität und nicht zu unterschätzenden Mortalität einher. Es werden daher in vielen Ländern der Welt Schutzimpfungen für Risikogruppen empfohlen. Immer wieder allerdings werden im klinischen Alltag neu oder wieder aufgetretene Erkrankungen der Haut mit einer vorangegangenen Grippeschutzimpfung in Verbindung gebracht. In der vorliegenden Arbeit geben wir einen systematischen Literaturüberblick zu dieser Thematik und stellen Daten des Paul‐Ehrlich‐Instituts vor, das in Deutschland Impfnebenwirkungen erfaßt. Neben Lokalreaktionen an der Injektionsstelle, überwiegend urtikariellen Exanthemen und anaphylaktischen Reaktionen auf Komponenten des Grippeimpfstoffs, wurden Fälle von Vaskulitiden dokumentiert, die mit Wahrscheinlichkeit auf eine vorangegangene Impfung zurückzuführen waren. Für weitere Hauterkrankungen konnte ein wahrscheinlicher oder sicherer Zusammenhang nicht überzeugend aufgezeigt werden. Das sehr geringe Risiko dermatologischer Komplikationen rechtfertigt nicht den Verzicht auf eine indikationsgerecht eingesetzte Grippeschutzimpfung.
Infrastructure, specialization, and economic growth
Authors: Bougheas Spiros , Demetriades Panicos O. , Mamuneas Theofanis P. 
Published: March 2003

We introduce infrastructure as a cost‐reducing technology in Romer's (1987) model of endogenous growth. We show that infrastructure can promote specialization and long‐run growth, even though its eﬀect on the latter is non‐monotonic, reﬂecting its resource costs. We provide evidence using data from the U.S. Census of Manufactures that suggests that the degree of specialization is positively correlated with core infrastructure, as predicted by the model. We also provide evidence from cross‐country regressions, using physical measures of infrastructure provision, that shows a robust non‐monotonic relationship between infrastructure and growth. JEL Classification: 041,050Les auteurs introduisent l'infrastructure en tant que technologie réduisant les coûts dans un modèle de croissance endogène à la Romer (1987). On montre que l'infrastructure peut promouvoir la spécialisation et la croissance en longue péride, même si ses effets sur la croissance ne sont pas monotones et reflètent ses coûts en ressource. On montre, en utilisant les données du recensement des manufactures des Etats Unis, que le degré de spécialisation est relié positivement à l'infrastructure de base, comme le suggère le modèle. On montre aussi à l'aide de régressions transversales, utilisant des mesures physiques de l'infrastructure, qu'il existe une relation non monotone mais robuste entre infrastructure et croissance.
Social assistance and labour supply
Authors: Christofides Louis N. 
Published: March 2003

The longitudinal, 1988–89 LMAS makes it possible to study the interaction between social assistance and labour supply while allowing for substantial time dependence. Tobit equations for hours worked on and off social assistance, which allow for endogenous selection of social assistance status, are estimated by using FIML. Small, but statistically significant, effects for a social assistance benefit variable are obtained, particularly for females. A claw‐back variable is not consistently useful. The wage rate has a consistently negative coefficient in the selection equations and is important in the Tobit equations. In this paper an attempt is made to reconcile results found in earlier literature. JEL Classification: I38, J22 Aide sociale et offre de travail. L'étude longitudinale de l'Enquête de 1988‐89 sur la population active rend possible l'étude de l'interaction entre l'aide sociale et l'offre de travail tout en permettant la prise en compte de l'effet d'inertie hérité du passé. On calibre des équations Tobit pour les heures travaillées séparément pour les personnes qui reçoivent et ne reçoivent pas d'aide sociale et une équation probit qui permet une sélection endogène du statut d'assisté social en utilisant la méthode du maximum de vraisemblance avec pleine information. On obtient des impacts faibles mais statistiquement significatifs des prestations d'aide sociale sur l'offre de travail pour les femmes. Une variable qui tente de capturer les effets de recouvrement fiscal des prestations n'est pas uniformément utile comme source d'explication. Le taux de salaire a un coefficient négatif de manière générale dans les équations de sélection et est important dans les équations Tobit. Le mémoire tente de réconcilier ces résultats avec ceux que contiennent les études antérieures.
Cohort patterns in Canadian earnings: assessing the role of skill premia in inequality trends
Authors: Beaudry Paul , Green David A. 
Published: March 2003

In this paper we document the pattern of change in age‐earnings profiles across cohorts and evaluate its implications. Using synthetic cohorts from the survey of Consumer Finances over the period 1971 to 1993, wwe show that the age‐earnings profiles of Canadian men have been deteriorating for more recentcohorts in comparison with older cohorts. We find this pattern for both high school and university educated workers. In no case do we find evidence that the return to gaining experience has been increasing over time, nor do we find increased within‐cohort dispersion of earnings. We view these findings as conflicting with the hypothesis that increased skill premia largely explain the observed increase in dispersion of male weekly earnings. JEL Classification: J31, O33Ce mémoire documente le pattern de changements dans les relations âges‐gains d'une cohorte à l'autre, et en analyse les implications. Utilisant des cohortes synthétiques pour la période 1971–93, on montre que les profils âges‐gains des hommes au Canada se sont détériorés dans les cohortes les plus récentes. On ne trouve pas de résultats qui montreraient que le rendement sur l'expérience accumulée s'est accru dans le temps ou qu'il y a dispersion accrue des gains à l'intérieur des cohortes. Les auteurs suggèrent que ces résultats contredisent l'hypothèse que des primes accrues pour les habiletés expliqueraient l'accroissement qu'on a observé dans la dispersion des gains des hommes au Canada.
National borders and international trade: evidence from the European Union
Authors: Nitsch Volker 
Published: March 2003

In this paper the impact of national borders on international trade within the European Union is considered. Using a gravity model, I find that, averaged over all EU countries, intranational trade is about ten times as high as international trade with an EU partner country of similar size and distance. This relatively strong home bias suggests that even within the European Union national borders still have a decisive impact on trade patterns. JEL Classification: F02, F14, F15, O52Ce mémoire examine l'impact des frontières nationales sur le commerce international à l'intérieur de l'Union européenne. On montre que, en moyenne pour tous les pays de l'Union européenne, le commerce intranational est à peu près dix fois plus important que le commerce international avec un pays partenaire de l'Union européenne de même taille et à même distance. Ce degré relativement important de préférence nationale suggère que, même dans le cadre de l'Union européenne, les frontières nationales ont encore un impact déterminant sur les patterns de commerce.
The Montreal Gazette call loan rate, 1871–1907
Authors: Furlong Kieran 
Published: March 2003

Economic historians have assumed that the call loan market in Canada was insignificant before 1900. In this paper I present a monthly series for the call loan rate recorded daily by the Montreal Gazette between 1871 and 1907, which corresponds closely with the known post‐1900 rate in 1900–07. Evidence from monthly bank returns further indicates that the magnitude of the domestic call loan market rivalled that of Canadian call loans in New York prior to 1907. The Montreal Gazette call loan series bears little relation to call loan series for New York and London, partly because the Montreal market was less centralized and less liquid. Le taux sur prêts à vue du Montreal Gazette 1871–1907. Les historiens économiques ont présumé que le marché des prêts à vue était insignifiant au Canada avant 1900. Ce mémoire présente une série mensuelle des taux sur les prêts à vue publiée quotidiennement par la Montreal Gazette entre 1871 et 1907. Ce taux suit de près les données publiées par ailleurs après 1900, et ce pour toute la période de chevauchement des deux séries. Les renseignements recueillis dans les rapports mensuels des banques montrent que la taille de ce marché canadien se compare avec ce qui se passait à New York avant 1907. La série publiée par la Montreal Gazette n'a que peu de rapport avec celles de New York et Londres en partie parce que le marché de Montréal était moins centralisé et moins liquide.
The markup and inflation: evidence in OECD countries
Authors: Neiss Katharine S. 
Published: March 2003

In this paper we evaluate the dynamic inconsistency argument put forth by Kydland and Prescott (1977) and Barro and Gordon (1983) as an explanation for differences in the average inflation experience across OECD countries. The focus is on the empirical evidence relating the overall degree of competition among firms, as measured by the markup of price over marginal cost, and inflation over the 1973–88 period. The prediction is that higher markups raise the monetary authority's incentive to increase output, leading to higher equilibrium rates of inflation. We find that the markup does well in explaining cross‐country differences in average inflation. JEL Classification: E31, E58, D43 L'écart du prix par rapport au coût marginal et l'inflation: résultats pour les pays de l'OCDE. Ce mémoire examine l'argument mis de l'avant par Kydland et Prescott (1977) et Barro et Gordon (1983) pour expliquer les différences dans le taux moyen d'inflation entre les pays de l'OCDE. On porte une attention spéciale aux résultats empiriques qui relient le degré général de concurrence entre les entreprises, mesuré par l'écart du prix par rapport au coût marginal, et le niveau d'inflation entre 1973 et 1988. La prédiction est que des écarts prix/coût marginal plus élevés augmentent l'incitation des autorités monétaires à accroître le niveau de production, ce qui entraîne des taux d'inflation d'équilibre plus élevés. Il s'avère que l'écart du prix par rapport au coût marginal tend à expliquer bien les différences dans le niveau moyen d'inflation entre pays.
Import quotas, tied aid, capital accumulation, and welfare
Authors: Chao Chi‐Chur , Yu Eden S. H. 
Published: March 2003

Aid conditional on the purchase of an imported capital good increases the supply of, and demand for, the good. Examining the effects of tied aid on capital accumulation, the current account, and welfare, we find that two resultant conflicting forces render the price of the capital good indeterminate. If the demand pressure is larger than the supply response, the capital stock increases at the expense of the current account and welfare improves. Alternatively, if the demand pressure is less than the supply response, capital is reduced. This may be detrimental to welfare. JEL Classification: F35, F11 Contingentement à l'importation, aide liée, accumulation et bien‐être. Une aide conditionnelle accordée pour l'achat d'un bien importé accroît l'offre et la demande de ce bien. En examinant les effets d'une aide liée de ce type sur l'accumulation du capital, le compte courant et le niveau de bien‐être, les auteurs montrent que deux forces contradictoires rendent le prix du bien capital indéterminé. Si la pression sur la demande est plus grande que la réponse du côté de l'offfre, le stock de capital s'accroît au détriment du compte courant, et le niveau de bien‐être s'accroît. D'autre part, si la pression en provenance de la demande est moindre que la réponse du côté de l'offre, le stock de capital est réduit. Cela peut entraîner une réduction du niveau de bien‐être.
How long to eat a cake of unknown size? Optimal time horizon under uncertainty
Authors: Kumar Ramesh C. 
Published: March 2003

This paper is concerned with the determination of the optimal time horizon for the cake–eating problem under uncertainty. It is shown that if the uncertain exhaustible resource stock is a discrete random variable admitting at most a finite number of values, the optimal planning horizon is infinite (finite) according as the marginal utility of extraction–cum–consumption is infinite (a finite positive value) as the latter approaches zero, thereby extending the scope of the similar result under perfect certainty. Other results show that uncertainty will generally lengthen the planning horizon, implying a more conservative extraction policy under uncertainty, and that the extraction policy aimed at extracting an amount equal to the expected value of the uncertain resource stock takes longer than the expected value of the optimal planning horizon. JEL Classification: D81 and Q31 Combien de temps pour manger un gâteau de taille inconnue? L’horizon temporel optimal en régime d’incertitude. Ce mémoire s’attaque à la détermination de l’horizon temporel optimal dans le cas du problème du gâteau–à–manger en régime d’incertitude. On montre que si le stock incertain de la ressource épuisable est une variable aléatoire discontinue qui ne peut prendre qu’un nombre fini de valeurs, l’horizon temporel est infini (fini) selon que l’utilité marginale de l’extraction–cum–consommation est infinie (prend une value finie positive) quand celle–ci approche zéro, et ce faisant élargit la portée d’un résultat similaire obtenu en régime de certitude parfaite. D’autres résultats montrent que l’incertitude accroît généralement l’horizon temporel, ce qui suggère qu’une politique d’extraction plus conservatrice va prévaloir en régime d’incertitude, et que la politique d’extraction visant à extraire une quantitéégale à la valeur anticipée d’un stock de ressource incertain prend plus de temps que la valeur anticipée de l’horizon temporel optimal.
Combining Rough Sets and Bayes' Rule
Authors: Pawlak Zdzisław 
Published: March 2003

In rough set theory with every decision rule two conditional probabilities, called certainty and coverage factors, are associated. These two factors are closely related with the lower and the upper approximation of a set, basic notions of rough set theory. It is shown that these two factors satisfy the Bayes' rule.The Bayes' rule in our case simply shows some relationship in the data, without referring to prior and posterior probabilities intrinsically associated with Bayesian inference. This relationship can be used to “invert” decision rules, i.e., to find reasons (explanation) for decisions thus providing inductive as well as deductive inference in our scheme.
The European Commission: The Limits of Centralization and the Perils of Parliamentarization
Authors: Majone Giandomenico 
Published: March 2003

The idea of an inevitable process of centralization in the European Community (EC)/European Union (EU) is a myth. Also, the metaphor of “creeping competences,” with its suggestion of a surreptitious but continuous growth of the powers of the Commission, can be misleading. It is true that the functional scope of EC/EU competences has steadily increased, but the nature of new competences has changed dramatically, as may be seen from the evolution of the methods of harmonization.The original emphasis on total harmonization, which gives the Community exclusive competence over a given policy area, has been largely replaced by more flexible but less “communitarian” methods such as optional and minimum harmonization, reference to nonbinding technical standards, and mutual recognition. Finally, the treaties of Maastricht and Amsterdam explicitly excluded harmonization for most new competences.Thus, the expansion of the jurisdiction of the EC/EU has not automatically increased the powers of the Commission, but has actually weakened them in several respects. In addition, the progressive parliamentarization of the Commission risks compromising its credibility as an independent regulator, without necessarily enhancing its democratic legitimacy.Since the member states continue to oppose any centralization of regulatory powers, even in areas essential to the functioning of the internal market, the task of implementing Community policies should be entrusted to networks of independent national and European regulators, roughly modeled on the European System of Central Banks. The Commission would coordinate and monitor the activities of these networks in order to ensure the coherence of EC regulatory policies. More generally, it should bring its distinctive competence more clearly into focus by concentrating on the core business of ensuring the development and proper functioning of the single European market. This is a more modest role than that of the kernel of a future government of Europe, but it is essential to the credibility of the integration process and does not overstrain the limited financial and legitimacy resources available to the Commission.