'Protecting' the National Artistic Patrimony; An Economics Perspective

This paper analyses the rationale for restricting the international trade in art, namely protection of the national artistic patrimony. The meaning of national patrimony is analysed and rationales for state ownership and interventions in the art market analysed in light of the non-private benefits that this category of art produces. Distributional concerns in the international movement of art are considered along with the 'endowment effect' that can arise when dealing with potential transactions of patrimony art. Finally the paper provides a taxonomy of restrictions used to prevent art objects leaving a nation namely export restrictions, import regulations, and tax policies and incentives.

Export Restrictions, Tax Incentives and the National Artistic Patrimony

This paper analyses the main forms of government intervention used in the UK to protect the national artistic patrimony. It examines the two most common policy measures used in the art market: export regulation and tax incentives and reports their use over an 8 year period from 1990 to 1998. It also reviews the UK's collective obligations to patrimony internationally and specifically as a member of the European Union.

Psychosocial interventions and opioid detoxification for drug misuse: summary of NICE guidance

Drug misuse is an increasing problem that not only impairs the physical and mental health of people who misuse drugs but also negatively affects their families and wider society (for example, in its association with crime). Recently expanded drug services in the United Kingdom involve general practitioners to a considerable degree, who care for at least a third of opioid misusers in treatment. Many clinicians remain pessimistic, however, about the possible benefits of any treatment and how to engage drug users in treatment.1 This article summarises two new NICE guidelines that identify the most effective, safe detoxification regimens for primary and secondary care, the most cost effective psychosocial interventions, and effective ways to promote patient engagement

Quality of Agricultural Produce: Consumer Preferences and Perceptions

The purpose of this research was to gain a greater insight into the characteristics and beliefs consumers draw upon while selecting the produce they purchase. Health and environmental risk perceptions of many agricultural inputs and products were also collected as well as demographic information. Nineteen produce characteristics were ranked by consumers. Locally grown produce and the country of origin were among the least important characteristics while freshness, taste/flavor, cleanliness, health value and absence of pesticides were among the most important characteristics. The survey also showed that most consumers made use of nutritional information and labeling while shopping for food and those who did, felt it aided them in making better purchase decisions. Consumers exhibited a clear preference for low-input methods of agricultural production which minimize the use of pesticides. They believed that there were health benefits to organic produce and that they would purchase more organic produce if it were more readily available. Respondents also indicated that they believed pesticides in general, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides all had significant health and environmental risks. Consumers believed on average that the use of pesticides positively contributes to the cosmetic appearance, quality, and supply of produce. Conversely, they believed that a reduction in pesticide usage would increase both the healthfulness and prices of produce. The results show where consensus and discord exist among consumers beliefs. Issues which have been the result of media campaigns and advertising such as oils used in cooking, tobacco products and alcoholic beverages show a greater degree of consensus than issues which are not often in the public spotlight. There were also areas in which consumers believed that there were inadequacies in the current produce market. Participants did not believe government food safeguards were sufficient to 2 protect public health nor did they believe the experts know enough about the long term effects of pesticide residues. The goal of this research was to provide food marketing agents with a better understanding of consumer purchase behavior, preferences and beliefs. The results are especially encouraging to those developing marketing endeavors for low input produce such as organic and IPM produce.Consumer/Household Economics,

Growth, body composition and metabolism at neonatal and adolescent life stages in low birth weight offspring

Non peer reviewedPublisher PD

Dimer-dimer stacking interactions are important for nucleic acid binding by the archaeal chromatin protein Alba

Archaea use a variety of small basic proteins to package their DNA. One of the most widespread and highly conserved is the Alba (Sso10b) protein. Alba interacts with both DNA and RNA in vitro, and we show in the present study that it binds more tightly to dsDNA (double-stranded DNA) than to either ssDNA (single-stranded DNA) or RNA. The Alba protein is dimeric in solution, and forms distinct ordered complexes with DNA that have been visualized by electron microscopy studies; these studies suggest that, on binding dsDNA, the protein forms extended helical protein fibres. An end-to-end association of consecutive Alba dimers is suggested by the presence of a dimer-dimer interface in crystal structures of Alba from several species, and by the strong conservation of the interface residues, centred on Are and Phe(60). In the present study we map perturbation of the polypeptide backbone of Alba upon binding to DNA and RNA by NMR, and demonstrate the central role of Phe(60) in forming the dimer dimer interface. Site-directed spin labelling and pulsed ESR are used to confirm that an end-to-end, dimer dimer interaction forms in the presence of dsDNA.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Influence of birth weight, sex, age and adiposity on central leptin and insulin sensitivity in young growing sheep, as indicated by changes in voluntary food intake

Non peer reviewedPublisher PD