bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative Economic Development in China and Japan
Authors: WEEDE ERICH 
Published: October 2004

Three hundred years ago per capita incomes in China and Japan were about equal and fairly close to the global mean. At the end of the twentieth century Japanese per capita incomes are about as high as Western incomes and about seven times as high as Chinese incomes. How could this happen? Manchu China and Tokugawa Japan did not establish equally safe property rights for merchants and producers as the West did. But political fragmentation and feudalism within Japan provided something like checks and balances against arbitrary government which China lacked. Moreover, a similar lack of respect for merchants in both countries had more favourable consequences for early commercialisation in Japan than in China.Japan's revolution from above led to a much earlier and faster restoration of orderly government than China's protracted decay of imperial rule first and its revolution from below thereafter. Whereas the Japanese revolution from above implied the preservation of human and social capital, the Chinese revolution from below led to a massive destruction of both. Moreover, Japanese nationalism was oriented toward the conquest of foreign markets and economic supremacy earlier than Chinese nationalism. This provided another Japanese advantage over China.Japan began its process of catch-up with the West about hundred years earlier than China. In both countries high savings and investment as well as human capital formation contributed to growth. China was held back first by political instability and later by diluted property rights and distorted incentives. In the last quarter century, however, China has re-established incentives, opened up its economy, and established some substitute for private property rights. It has done well enough to have already overtaken the Japanese economy in size. The size gap between the two economies is likely to widen quickly, whereas the still huge gap in per capita incomes will narrow only very slowly.
The social security reform process in Italy: where do we stand?
Authors: BRUGIAVINI AGAR , GALASSO VINCENZO 
Published: October 2004

A reform process is underway in Italy. Achieving financial sustainability of the social security system has been the first objective characterizing the reforms of 1990s, but these have also introduced rules which aim at a more actuarially fair system. Indeed the social security system prevailing in Italy, financed on a PAYG basis, was, at the end of the 1980s, clearly unsustainable and also extremely unfair to some group of workers, enacting a form of perverse redistribution which is typical of ‘final salary’ defined benefit systems. It was also a system characterized by strong incentives to retire early.In this paper we briefly describe the different regimes of the Italian pension system in its recent history and focus on some aspects of the reform process taking place during the 1990s. Since economists and policy makers are still struggling to assess the results and the long-term effects of these reforms we provide both a survey of this debate and some fresh evidence on the evaluation of the policy changes. We carry out this analysis with a particular emphasis on two aspects which are relevant in the debate. On the one hand we stress the role of economic incentives and the overall fiscal implications of changing the systems as well as these incentives. On the other hand we emphasize the intergenerational considerations and the political implications of the ageing process of the Italian population. From our description it emerges that the overall design of the Italian reform is probably a good one, and yet some more steps need to be taken to speed up some of the positive effects of the reform process that, due the adverse demographic trends affecting PAYG systems as well as the political arena, could easily evaporate.
STABLE TWISTED TRACE FORMULA: ELLIPTIC TERMS
Authors: Labesse J.-P. 
Published: October 2004

This paper deals with the stabilization of the contribution of elliptic elements to the geometric side of the general twisted trace formula. We extend the results of Langlands, Kottwitz and Shelstad to all elliptic elements for the general twisted trace formula.AMS 2000 Mathematics subject classification: Primary 11F72; 11R39; 11R34
ON THE SPECTRAL DECOMPOSITION OF AFFINE HECKE ALGEBRAS
Authors: Opdam Eric M. 
Published: October 2004

An affine Hecke algebra $\mathcal{H}$ contains a large abelian subalgebra $\mathcal{A}$ spanned by the Bernstein–Zelevinski–Lusztig basis elements $\theta_x$, where $x$ runs over (an extension of) the root lattice. The centre $\mathcal{Z}$ of $\mathcal{H}$ is the subalgebra of Weyl group invariant elements in $\mathcal{A}$. The natural trace (‘evaluation at the identity’) of the affine Hecke algebra can be written as integral of a certain rational $n$-form (with values in the linear dual of $\mathcal{H}$) over a cycle in the algebraic torus $T=\textrm{Spec}(\mathcal{A})$. This cycle is homologous to a union of ‘local cycles’. We show that this gives rise to a decomposition of the trace as an integral of positive local traces against an explicit probability measure on the spectrum $W_0\setminus T$ of $\mathcal{Z}$. From this result we derive the Plancherel formula of the affine Hecke algebra.AMS 2000 Mathematics subject classification: Primary 20C08; 22D25; 22E35; 43A32
The European Way. History, Form and Substance
Authors: Eijsbouts W.T. 
Published: October 2004

Between 11 March and 29 October 2004, between Madrid and Rome, the European Constitution has turned from an uncertain possibility into a certain (albeit not full) reality. The day of the Madrid train bombs killing 190 and wounding 1500 is as inseparable from the history of the Constitution as the date of its signature, 29 October. Those events of 11 March (and the ensuing government blunders) moved the Spanish people to end the reign of Aznar's Popular Party. This in turn unblocked the Constitution talks that had got gripped, among other things, due to Spanish intransigence in December.In several ways the particular sequence or succession of events from 11 March to 29 October can also be seen as symbolic for this particular European Constitution. Let us select three angles: an historic, a formal and a substantive one.
Human Rights: The Best is Yet to Come
Authors: Lawson Rick 
Published: October 2004

Now that the EU Constitution has been adopted, one might be inclined to think that the debate on the position of human rights in the legal order of the European Union has come to an end. For more than 25 years academics and politicians have discussed the desirability of EC/EU accession to the European Convention of Human Rights and have argued for or against a separate bill of fundamental rights. That is all over now: Article I-7 of the Constitution provides for Union accession to the European Convention, whereas part II incorporates the Charter of Fundamental Rights.It would seem, therefore, that a solid framework for the protection of human rights in the EU legal order has been put in place. The rest will be a matter of implementation: taking fundamental rights into account when drafting and executing European legislation; invoking these rights before the Court of Justice; lodging complaints with the European Court of Human Rights when the EU institutions, despite everything, failed to secure these rights. All very important, albeit that some may find the daily application of human rights not as sexy as the large constitutional questions of the past.So is this the ‘end of history’ for human rights? Quite the opposite. The best is yet to come!
Institutional Structure: A Delicate Balance
Authors: Craig Paul 
Published: October 2004

The inter-institutional balance of power within the EU is central to the new constitutional order. It is not therefore surprising that this topic, which is dealt with in Title IV of Part 1 of the Constitution, was contentious. This was evident in the process employed at the Convention. The Convention's general three-stage methodology of listening, examination, and proposal was not applied to the deliberations about institutions. There was no Working Group. The Convention discussions about institutions only began formally in January 2003. The Praesidium submitted its proposals to the Convention in April 2003. Full discussion of the draft articles concerned with institutions only occurred in the plenary session on 15-16 May 2003. There was no second reading in plenary about these articles. The Praesidium opted instead for consultations with the four constituent groups, governments, MEPs, National MPs, and the Commission, which took place on 4 June 2003. Formal text of the revised articles on the institutions only became available on 10 June, a mere three days before the concluding session on 13 June.This short piece cannot deal in detail with the many issues concerning the institutional provisions of the Constitutional Treaty. It is designed to be a brief guide to the relevant issues
Psychosocial Factors Associated with Quality of Life Among Individuals Attending Genetic Counseling for Hereditary Cancer
Authors: Carlsson Anniken Hamang , Bjorvatn Cathrine , Engebretsen Lars Fredrik , Berglund Gunilla , Natvig Gerd Karin 
Published: October 2004

AbstractThe aim of this multicenter study was to explore associations between psychosocial factors (general self‐efficacy, perceived availability of social support, cancer‐related distress) and health‐related quality of life, among individuals at risk for hereditary cancer. One‐hundred and twenty one participants with a family history of breast‐cancer or colorectal cancer answered a questionnaire 2–4 weeks prior to genetic counseling. The two dimensions of the health‐related quality of life measure, mental and physical health were both used as outcome variables. Multiple regression (linear) analyses revealed that increasing degrees of cancer‐related distress was related to decreasing degrees of mental health whereas increasing degrees of self‐efficacy and social support were related to increasing degrees of this outcome variable. Self‐efficacy, self‐esteem support and tangible aid seemed to moderate the relationship between cancer‐related distress and mental health. These results suggest that self‐efficacy and certain resources of social support buffer the negative association between cancer‐related distress and mental health, and might be suitable for interventional efforts. Implications for genetic counseling practice are discussed.
Food, youth and the Mediterranean diet in Spain. Development of KIDMED, Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in children and adolescents
Authors: Serra-Majem Lluís , Ribas Lourdes , Ngo Joy , Ortega Rosa M , García Alicia , Pérez-Rodrigo Carmen , Aranceta Javier 
Published: October 2004

AbstractObjective:To evaluate dietary habits in Spanish children and adolescents based on a Mediterranean Diet Quality Index tool, which considers certain principles sustaining and challenging traditional healthy Mediterranean dietary patterns.Design:Observational population-based cross-sectional study. A 16-item Mediterranean Diet Quality Index was included in data gathered for the EnKid study (in which two 24-hour recalls, a quantitative 169-item food-frequency questionnaire and a general questionnaire about socio-economic, demographic and lifestyle items were administered).Setting:Spain.Subjects:In total, 3850 children and youths aged 2–24 years residing in Spain.Results:Of the sample, 4.2% showed very low KIDMED index results, 49.4% had intermediate values and 46.4% had high index results. Important geographical differences were seen, with subjects from the Northeast showing the most favourable outcomes (52% with elevated scores vs. 37.5% of those from the North). Lower percentages of high diet quality were observed in low socio-economic groups, compared with middle and upper income cohorts (42.8%, 47.6% and 54.9%, respectively). Large cities had more positive results and only slight variations were seen for gender and age.Conclusions:The KIDMED index, the first to evaluate the adequacy of Mediterranean dietary patterns in children and youth, confirms that this collective is undergoing important changes, which makes them a priority target for nutrition interventions. Results challenge certain commonly perceived notions tied to income level, population size and diet quality.
Mediterranean Adequacy Index of Italian diets
Authors: Alberti-Fidanza Adalberta , Fidanza Flaminio 
Published: October 2004

AbstractObjective:To assess, particularly in longitudinal studies, how close or far the food intakes of population groups are from a reference dietary pattern.Design:Computation of an index, called the Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI), by dividing the sum of the percentage of total energy from typical Mediterranean food groups by the sum of the percentage of total energy from non-typical Mediterranean food groups. The reference Italian–Mediterranean diet utilised was that of subjects from Nicotera in 1960.Setting:Different areas in Italy.Subjects:Men aged 45–65 years at the start of the study from rural areas of Italy in the Seven Countries Study followed for 26 years (Crevalcore and Montegiorgio), elderly men and women from Perugia followed for 11 years, men and women from Pollica (Salerno) followed for 32 years, and families from Rofrano (Salerno) followed for 41 years.Results:The median value of MAI among 40–59-year-old men from Nicotera in 1960 was 7.2; in Crevalcore it was 2.9 in 1965 and 2.2 in 1991; and in Montegiorgio, 5.6 in 1965 and 3.9 in 1991. In Pollica, the values in men ranged from 5.6 to 6.3 in 1967 and from 2.4 to 4.5 in 1999; for women, the corresponding ranges were 4.2–7.2 and 2.7–4.1. In elderly men of Perugia, median MAI value was 4.9 in 1976 and 3.2 in 1987; for women, the corresponding values were 3.1 and 2.6.Conclusions:The diet of these Italian population groups has changed over the last four decades, progressively abandoning the nutritional characteristics of the reference Italian–Mediterranean diet. The MAI proposed is simple to compute; it has satisfactory discriminating power particularly for longitudinal dietary data with only a few limitations.
Ageing and the Mediterranean diet: a review of the role of dietary fats
Authors: Battino Maurizio , Ferreiro Maria Soledad 
Published: October 2004

AbstractConsumers are becoming increasingly aware of the relationship between food and health. Concerns have been raised about dietary fats and their relative nutritional advantages or disadvantages. In investigations of the associations between health and fat intake, special emphasis has been placed on the benefits of virgin olive oil for counteracting certain neurodegenerative diseases and ageing. With respect to ageing, accumulating evidence indicates that an improvement in quality of life can be reached by modulation of the extrinsic factors that influence many ageing processes. Of the modifiable factors, nutrition appears to be one of the strongest elements known to influence the rate of ageing as well as the incidence of age-associated diseases such as atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative pathologies.This paper reviews the theory of ageing and the role of fatty acids in the mechanisms affecting its evolution. It also confirms that virgin olive oil, an essential component of the Mediterranean diet, provides large amounts of stable and not easily oxidisable fatty acids as well as remarkable quantities of powerful antioxidant molecules.
Mediterranean diet and cognitive decline
Authors: Panza F , Solfrizzi V , Colacicco AM , D'Introno A , Capurso C , Torres F , Del Parigi A , Capurso S , Capurso A 
Published: October 2004

AbstractObjective:To investigate the possible role of diet in age-related cognitive decline (ARCD) and cognitive impairment of both degenerative (Alzheimer's disease, AD) and vascular (vascular dementia, VaD) origin.Design:Literature review.Results:In an elderly population of southern Italy with a typical Mediterranean diet, high energy intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) appeared to be associated with a high level of protection against ARCD. In addition, dietary fat and energy in the elderly seem to be risk factors, while fish consumption and cereals are found to reduce the prevalence of AD in European and North American countries. Finally, the relative risk of dementia (AD and VaD) was lower in the subjects of a French cohort who drank three or four glasses of red wine each day compared with total abstainers.Conclusion:Essential components of the Mediterranean diet – MUFA, cereals and wine – seem to be protective against cognitive decline. As such, dietary antioxidants and supplements, specific macronutrients of the Mediterranean diet, oestrogens and anti-inflammatory drugs may act synergistically with other protective factors, opening up new therapeutic interventions for cognitive decline.
Nutrition education and Mediterranean diet: exploring the teaching process of a school-based nutrition and media education project in Cretan primary schools
Authors: Kafatos Irene , Peponaras Antonis , Linardakis Manolis , Kafatos Anthony 
Published: October 2004

AbstractBackground:During the past few decades there has been a gradual abandoning of the traditional Mediterranean diet by the population of Crete and especially among the younger generations. Since this is related to the rapidly increasing morbidity and mortality rates from chronic diseases, the need for educating young people on the principles of good nutrition becomes increasingly important. It is also acknowledged that the epidemiological field needs to focus on studying the implementation process, since this will allow for a deeper understanding of the outcomes.Objectives:The aims of the present study were to explore the process of implementing an innovation in Cretan primary schools and to identify best teaching practices and principles.Design:In three state primary schools on the island of Crete, 107 children took part in a 30-h nutrition and media education programme. Classroom observations were used to define attitudes towards the programme and teaching methods. Besides baseline and post evaluation, the pupils were also interviewed about 11 months after the end of the programme.Implementation:During observation of the teaching process, emerging issues were the teacher's motivation and interest in the course, his/her preparation before each class, teaching ability and communication skills, the respect and discipline he/she kept and the innovative teaching methods used. In some cases researcher intervention in the classroom could not be avoided.Findings and conclusions:Overall, individual teacher willingness and teaching skills were mainly responsible for the quality of teaching, the variety of educational methods used in classrooms and pupils' interest in the course. Changes in pupils' knowledge and recall of the course were related to teacher enthusiasm but also to researcher intervention. Exploring the teaching and learning process allowed a deeper understanding of the data. It is concluded that attempts to introduce the principles of a Mediterranean diet to children through nutrition education require innovative, enthusiastic and highly motivated teachers.
Globalisation and income growth promote the Mediterranean diet
Authors: Regmi Anita , Ballenger Nicole , Putnam Judy 
Published: October 2004

AbstractObjective:To examine global food demand patterns and how changing diets may stimulate demand for and trade of Mediterranean diet products.Design:Literature review. Trends in global and US food consumption patterns are examined and trade data are reviewed to evaluate the impact of changing diets on trade of Mediterranean diet products. Market access issues are also addressed briefly to highlight the role of policy in the trade of Mediterranean diet products.Results:Diets are shifting towards higher-value products such as meats, fruits and vegetables, and a wider array of packaged food products. Trade in these products has also grown in the past two decades, with several non-traditional importers and exporters becoming increasingly active in the global market.Conclusions:Income-driven demands for quality and variety are likely to increase the demand for Mediterranean diet products globally. While the middle-income countries appear to be the best growth prospects, the USA remains a potential growth market if these products can meet the growing consumer demand for variety, quality and convenience. Although consumer trends globally indicate growth in demand for Mediterranean diet products, the additional demand may not be reflected by a corresponding growth in trade. Trade in Mediterranean diet products continues to be hampered by higher than average trade barriers and high transportation costs for perishables.
A Monte Carlo simulation to validate the EAR cut-point method for assessing the prevalence of nutrient inadequacy at the population level
Authors: de Lauzon B , Volatier JL , Martin A 
Published: October 2004

AbstractObjective:The aim of this study was to validate the EAR cut-point method for assessing the prevalence of nutrient inadequacy at the population level.Design and subjects:Different methods for estimating the prevalence of inadequate intake were compared: the cut-off point method, with cut-off points at the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), 0.66 RDA, 0.50 RDA and the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR); the probability approach; and a Monte Carlo simulation. In total, 591 men and 674 women, aged 20–55 years, were included in the analyses.Results:The prevalence of inadequate intake as estimated by the EAR cut-point method was similar to the prevalence of inadequacy estimated by both probabilistic methods. The cut-point method with RDA, 0.66 RDA and 0.50 RDA as cut-off limits induced an over- or an underestimation of the real prevalence of inadequacy.Conclusions:Probabilistic methods consider both the intake variability and the requirement variability, and, as a result, their estimation should be closer to the real prevalence of inadequacy. The use of the EAR cut-point method yields a good estimation of the prevalence of inadequate intake, comparable to the probability approach, and limits over- and underestimation of the prevalence induced by other cut-off points.
Dietary intake and body mass index in HIV-positive and HIV-negative drug abusers of Hispanic ethnicity
Authors: Forrester Janet E , Tucker Katherine L , Gorbach Sherwood L 
Published: October 2004

AbstractObjective:Malnutrition in drug abusers has been attributed to poor diet. However, previous studies are conflicting. Many studies have not considered possible concurrent HIV disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between drug abuse and dietary intake in Hispanic Americans with and without HIV infection.Design:Dietary intake was measured using 3-day food records and 24-hour dietary recalls in three groups: HIV-positive drug abusers, HIV-negative drug abusers and HIV-positive persons who do not use drugs (‘non-drug abusers’).Setting:The baseline data from a prospective cohort study of the role of drug abuse in HIV/AIDS weight loss and malnutrition conducted in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.Subjects:The first 284 participants to enrol in the study.Results:HIV-positive drug abusers had a body mass index (BMI) that was significantly lower than that of HIV-positive non-drug abusers. Reported energy, fat and fibre intakes did not differ between groups. All groups had median reported intakes of vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, selenium and zinc that were in excess of the dietary reference values (DRI). Intakes of α-tocopherol were below the DRI, but did not differ from intakes of the general US population. However, increasing levels of drug abuse were associated with lower reported intakes of vitamin B6, vitamin B12, selenium and zinc.Conclusions:Overall, this study does not support the notion that dietary intake can explain the lower BMI of HIV-positive drug abusers. Further studies examining non-dietary determinants of nutritional status in drug abusers are warranted.