bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mao and the Cultural Revolution in China: Perspectives on Mao's Last Revolution
Authors: White Lynn , Levine Steven I. , Xia Yafeng , Esherick Joseph W. , Apter David E. , MacFarquhar Roderick , Schoenhals Michael
Published: April 2008

This forum includes five commentaries focusing on a much-acclaimed book by Roderick MacFarquhar and Michael Schoenhals, Mao's Last Revolution, published by Harvard University Press. The book provides a meticulous account of the Cultural Revolution in China, from 1966 to 1976. MacFarquhar and Schoenhals assess the roles of Mao Zedong and other senior Chinese officials and discuss what was happening in all regions of China during this period of terror and upheaval. Five leading experts on Chinese politics and society discuss the book's many strengths but also raise questions about some specific interpretations and omissions. The forum includes a reply by MacFarquhar and Schoenhals to the commentaries.
Hierarchical Mixtures of Experts and the EM Algorithm
Authors: Jordan Michael I. , Jacobs Robert A.
Published: April 2008

We present a tree-structured architecture for supervised learning. The statistical model underlying the architecture is a hierarchical mixture model in which both the mixture coefficients and the mixture components are generalized linear models (GLIM's). Learning is treated as a maximum likelihood problem; in particular, we present an Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm for adjusting the parameters of the architecture. We also develop an on-line learning algorithm in which the parameters are updated incrementally. Comparative simulation results are presented in the robot dynamics domain.
Diffusion Approximations for the Constant Learning Rate Backpropagation Algorithm and Resistance to Local Minima
Authors: Finnoff William
Published: April 2008

In this paper we discuss the asymptotic properties of the most commonly used variant of the backpropagation algorithm in which network weights are trained by means of a local gradient descent on examples drawn randomly from a fixed training set, and the learning rate η of the gradient updates is held constant (simple backpropagation). Using stochastic approximation results, we show that for η → 0 this training process approaches a batch training. Further, we show that for small η one can approximate simple backpropagation by the sum of a batch training process and a gaussian diffusion, which is the unique solution to a linear stochastic differential equation. Using this approximation we indicate the reasons why simple backpropagation is less likely to get stuck in local minima than the batch training process and demonstrate this empirically on a number of examples.
Statistical Physics Algorithms That Converge
Authors: Yuille A. L. , Kosowsky J. J.
Published: April 2008

In recent years there has been significant interest in adapting techniques from statistical physics, in particular mean field theory, to provide deterministic heuristic algorithms for obtaining approximate solutions to optimization problems. Although these algorithms have been shown experimentally to be successful there has been little theoretical analysis of them. In this paper we demonstrate connections between mean field theory methods and other approaches, in particular, barrier function and interior point methods. As an explicit example, we summarize our work on the linear assignment problem. In this previous work we defined a number of algorithms, including deterministic annealing, for solving the assignment problem. We proved convergence, gave bounds on the convergence times, and showed relations to other optimization algorithms.
Alopex: A Correlation-Based Learning Algorithm for Feedforward and Recurrent Neural Networks
Authors: Unnikrishnan K. P. , Venugopal K. P.
Published: April 2008

We present a learning algorithm for neural networks, called Alopex. Instead of error gradient, Alopex uses local correlations between changes in individual weights and changes in the global error measure. The algorithm does not make any assumptions about transfer functions of individual neurons, and does not explicitly depend on the functional form of the error measure. Hence, it can be used in networks with arbitrary transfer functions and for minimizing a large class of error measures. The learning algorithm is the same for feedforward and recurrent networks. All the weights in a network are updated simultaneously, using only local computations. This allows complete parallelization of the algorithm. The algorithm is stochastic and it uses a “temperature” parameter in a manner similar to that in simulated annealing. A heuristic “annealing schedule” is presented that is effective in finding global minima of error surfaces. In this paper, we report extensive simulation studies illustrating these advantages and show that learning times are comparable to those for standard gradient descent methods. Feedforward networks trained with Alopex are used to solve the MONK's problems and symmetry problems. Recurrent networks trained with the same algorithm are used for solving temporal XOR problems. Scaling properties of the algorithm are demonstrated using encoder problems of different sizes and advantages of appropriate error measures are illustrated using a variety of problems.
Finding the Embedding Dimension and Variable Dependencies in Time Series
Authors: Pi Hong , Peterson Carsten
Published: April 2008

We present a general method, the δ-test, which establishes functional dependencies given a sequence of measurements. The approach is based on calculating conditional probabilities from vector component distances. Imposing the requirement of continuity of the underlying function, the obtained values of the conditional probabilities carry information on the embedding dimension and variable dependencies. The power of the method is illustrated on synthetic time-series with different time-lag dependencies and noise levels and on the sunspot data. The virtue of the method for preprocessing data in the context of feedforward neural networks is demonstrated. Also, its applicability for tracking residual errors in output units is stressed.
Comparison of Some Neural Network and Scattered Data Approximations: The Inverse Manipulator Kinematics Example
Authors: Gorinevsky Dimitry , Connolly Thomas H.
Published: April 2008

This paper compares the application of five different methods for the approximation of the inverse kinematics of a manipulator arm from a number of joint angle/Cartesian coordinate training pairs. The first method is a standard feedforward neural network with error backpropagation learning. The next two methods are derived from an extended Kohonen Map algorithm that we combine with Shepard interpolation for the forward computation. We compare the method of Ritter et al. for the learning of the extended Kohonen Map to our own scheme based on gradient descent optimization. We also study three scattered data approximation algorithms. They include two variants of the Radial Basis Function (RBF) method: Hardy's multiquadrics and gaussian RBF. We further develop our own Local Polynomial Fit method that could be considered as a modification of McLain's method. We propose extensions to the considered scattered data approximation algorithms to make them suitable for vector-valued multivariable functions, such as the mapping of Cartesian coordinates into joint angle coordinates.
Natural body temperature and kinetics of heat-shock protein synthesis in the toad-headed agamid lizard Phrynocephalus interscapularis
Authors: Ulmasov Khayot , Zatsepina Olga , Molodtsov Vasilii , Evgen'ev Michael
Published: April 2008

We demonstrated that in the desert lizard Phrynocephalus interscapularis constitutive synthesis of both members of the hsp70 family of heat shock proteins takes place in summer. Elevation of environmental and body temperatures during the day was accompanied by a pronounced (2.0-2.5 times) increase in hsp70 synthesis. Synthesis of hsps continues during the day and drops to a basal level at night. Northern hybridization analysis demonstrated a higher content of hsp-coding RNA in the cells of P. interscapularis under normal physiological conditions in comparison with the lizard Lacerta vivipara, which inhabits regions with moderate climates.
Notes on the natural history and habitat use of Eleutherodactylus fitzingeri (Anura: Leptodactylidae)
Authors: Höbel Gerlinde
Published: April 2008

Eleutherodactylus fitzingeri were studied during the dry and rainy seasons at an Atlantic lowland rainforest in Costa Rica. The frogs had one of three dorsal colour patterns (mottled, striped, uniform) and one of two ventral colour patterns (white, yellow). Males had significantly more often a yellow venter than females. Juveniles with a white belly were significantly smaller than juveniles with a yellow belly. Males perched higher than females and juveniles. Perch height in males did not vary with the time of day, weather conditions or behaviour. Calling males used more sheltered perches than silent males, and males calling by day used more sheltered perches than males calling by night. Reproductive activity increased greatly at the onset of the rainy season. Males showed little site attachment.
Comparative surface morphology of the auditory papillae of Paramesotriton caudopunctatus (Hu, Djao & Liu, 1973), Ambystoma mexicanum (Shaw, 1789) (Amphibia: Caudata) and Bombina orientalis (Boulenger, 1890) (Amphibia: Anura)
Authors: Jagla Wolfgang , Schneider Hans
Published: April 2008

In Paramesotriton caudopunctatus, Ambystoma mexicanum and Bombina orientalis two auditory papillae are present, the amphibian and basilar papillae. The amphibian papilla of P. caudopunctatus and A. mexicanum is an oval structure comprising two cell areas of approximately equal size, with oppositely oriented bundles of cilia. In B. orientalis the sensory epithelium of the amphibian papilla is composed of an anterior region, which is comparable to the entire sensory epithelium in the Caudata, and an appreciably longer, posterior section. This posterior patch is clearly sinusoidal in shape, similar to those of evolutionary advanced anurans. There is evidently a coevolution of the auditory system and complex vocal communication.
Salt tolerance of Rana temporaria: spawning site selection and survival during embryonic development (Amphibia, Anura)
Authors: Viertel Bruno
Published: April 2008

Spawning site selection of Rana temporaria is dependent on the salinity of the water. In the nature reserve 'Salzwiesen von Münzenberg' (Germany) the frogs avoided increased conductivity values, Cl- ion concentrations and salinities and selected lower values for spawning. In the laboratory Gosner stages 20/21 to 22/23 were more sensitive to sodium than the earlier G stages 8 to 20/21 (exposition for 72 h) though they were exposed for the shorter time period of 24 h. The 'no observed effect concentration' (NOEC) between G stages 8/9 and 20/21 was 648 ppm (3350 μS, 2.2‰ salinity) for Na+ and 1872 ppm (6500 μS, 4.0‰ salinity) for K+. The NOEC between G stages 20/21 and 22/23 was 1490 ppm (7400 μS, 4.5‰ salinity) for Na+ and for K+ also 1872 ppm (6500 μS, 4.0‰ salinity). All developmental stages tolerated much higher ion concentrations and conductivity values in the laboratory than the adult frogs selected for spawning.
Predation on tadpoles by hatchlings of the freshwater turtle
Authors: Rödel Mark-Oliver
Published: April 2008

Experiments with Pelomedusa subrufa, a widespread African freshwater turtle, showed that this species consumed large quantities of tadpoles. Tadpoles preyed upon, comprised between 0.05 and 21.55% of the turtle's biomass. This demonstrated that Pelomedusa subrufa was neither gape limited nor did it ignore very small prey. Tadpoles with an ovoid body shape (Hemisus marmoratus, Hyperolius nitidulus, Ptychadena maccarthyensis), which shared, under natural conditions, the pond bottom microhabitat with the turtles, were more threatened than the robust tall-finned Kassina tadpoles that lived in the middle of the water column. The translucent, slow swimming Phrynomantis microps tadpole occurred in larger ponds and preferred the upper water column in deeper parts of the pond. This species was especially at risk in ponds with reduced water levels. Turtles, in contrast to fish or dragonfly larvae, are capable of migrating to other ponds. They therefore might have a profound regional influence on tadpole communities in ephemeral savanna ponds.
Male-female spacing patterns in the lizard, Sceloporus virgatus
Authors: Abell Allison J.
Published: April 2008

The spatial distribution of Sceloporus virgatus in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona was studied during the breeding season. Male home ranges were, on average, more than four times larger than those of females. Home range overlap of both sexes was extensive, with most individuals overlapping multiple males and multiple females. Home range overlap of males with females was significantly correlated with an independently calculated estimate of male mating success. For most females (71%), one of the males overlapped a substantially larger portion of her home range than any other male. Similarly, for most females (76%) a single one of the overlapping males courted the female more often or was sighted at closer distances to the female. The remaining females did not associate primarily with a single male.
Taxonomic re-evaluation of the status of Draco cornutus Günther, 1864 (Reptilia: Agamidae)
Authors: Honda Masanao , Kobayashi Mari , Yong Hoi-Sen , Ota Hidetoshi , Hikida Tsutomu
Published: April 2008

The taxonomic status of the flying lizard, Draco curnutus Günther, 1864, recently frequently regarded as a junior synonym of D. volans Linnaeus, 1758, is reassessed. Our field observations in Borneo confirmed sympatric occurrence of two morphotypes of D. volans sensu lato, one of which showed a diagnostic character of D. cornutus. The two morphotypes also differ from each other in live coloration, allozyme pattern and mitochondrial DNA sequence. From these results, it is concluded that D. curnutus is a valid species.
Biparental care in the tadpole-feeding Amazonian treefrog Osteocephalus oophagus
Authors: Jungfer Karl-Heinz , Weygoldt Peter
Published: April 2008

The Central Amazonian treefrog Osteocephalus oophagus breeds in water-filled bromeliad or palm tree leaf axils or in treeholes. The larvae feed on eggs provided by their parents; larvae not provided with eggs die. Survival of the larvae is ensured by the fact that the pair always spawns at the same site. They return at intervals of 5 to 7 days. Pair bonding is the rule in areas with low frog densities. The first eggs develop into tadpoles and later clutches of fertilized eggs serve as food. There is no apparent communication system between larvae and mother. After metamorphosis of the larvae the pair continues to lay eggs into the same leaf axils and these eggs also develop into tadpoles. This behavior is compared to that of other frogs that feed their tadpoles on eggs. It seems to be the least advanced mode of parental care involving tadpole feeding and demonstrates one of the initial steps that has led to more complex parental care behaviors in frogs.
Two new species of anoles of the Norops crassulus group from Honduras (Reptilia: Sauria: Polychrotidae)
Authors: Köhler Gunther , McCranie James R. , Wilson Larry D.
Published: April 2008

Two new species of anoles of the Norops crassulus group are described from Honduras. Both are distinguished from all other species of the genus Norops by unique characteristics of scale morphology and meristics, limb proportions, and male dewlap coloration.
Allometry and sexual dimorphism in the lung morphology of prairie rattlesnakes, Crotalus viridis viridis
Authors: Keogh J. Scott , Wallach V.
Published: April 2008

We quantified sexual dimorphism and allometric changes in the lung morphology of 160 juvenile and adult specimens of prairie rattlesnake, Crotalus viridis viridis, from a single population. In virtually all lung components, those of males are located more posteriorly than are those of females of the same body size. Males display a longer vascular component than females but there is no sexual dimorphism in size of the avascular component. Thus, males generally have longer lungs than do females at all body sizes. With increasing body size, the lung components are found more anteriorly, relative length of the vascular lung decreases, and relative length of the avascular lung increases in both sexes. However, total lung length increases isometrically with body size. These sexual and allometric differences suggest that intraspecific variation should be taken into account when lung size characters are used in snake systematic studies.
Movement- and attack-based indices of foraging mode and ambush foraging in some gekkonid and agamine lizards from southern Africa
Authors: Cooper William E. , Whiting Martin J. , Van Wyk Johannes H. , Mouton P. le F.N.
Published: April 2008

Two lizard foraging modes, ambush and active foraging, are usually quantified by the variables MPM (movements per minute) and PTM (proportion of time spent moving), but both variables may be affected by behaviors other than foraging. We introduce PAM, the proportion of attacks on prey discovered while lizards are moving (in relation to total attacks). PAM focuses exclusively on foraging behavior. Preliminary data reveal a very high, significant rank correlation between PAM and PTM, and a fairly high, but nonsignificant correlation between PAM and MPM. Collection of PAM data can be very time-consuming. In the absence of PAM, PTM appears to be a superior index of foraging activity to MPM, but all three indices provide valuable information on different aspects of foraging. We additionally present data for four agamine and five gekkonid species from southern Africa. The first quantitative data for agamines (all for Agama) agree with previous qualitative assessments that members of several agamine genera are ambush foragers. All the gekkonids, including three species of Rhotropus and one each of Pachydactylus and Phyllodactylus, are ambush foragers, like most geckos studied to date.
An Analysis of Sexual Isolation in the Domestic Fowl: Ii. the Basis of Homogamy in Females
Authors: Lill Alan
Published: April 2008

(I) An experimental analysis of the mechanisms underlying homogamy in the domestic hen was made, because of the role of this trait in effecting potential sexual isolation between breeds and strains of chicken. (2) The principal stimuli and sensory modalities involved in breed and strain 'identification' were analysed by means of modification and comparative techniques. (3) It was demonstrated that the entire dimorphic plumage colour pattern of the Brown Leghorn cock is an important stimulus in 'identification' by females of that breed. However, females also discriminate between identically-coloured strains, implicating the involvement of other cues in the identification process. (4) Breed and strain specificity in male body size, courtship vocalisations, and non-vocal courtship patterns may have some isolating value, but is not of paramount importance in breed and strain 'identification' by hens. Specificity in other behavioural aspects of the phenotype (e.g. posture, deportment, activity level) was not examined, but should not be overlooked. (5) Homogamy appears to have a partly genetic basis in the Brown Leghorn hen, but specific (i.e. own-strain, heterosexual) prior experience is a necessary pre-requisite to the significant expression of the tendency under present conditions. (6) Heterosexual experience with strange-breed males enhanced sexual responsiveness to such and own-strain males; own-strain, heterosexual experience probably additionally enhanced stimulus specificity. (7) Wliilst no evidence suggesting that any brief, sharply-delineated, sensitive period for homogamy-enhancing experience existed in present material was forthcoming, it was demonstrated (a) that heterosexual experience prior to eleven weeks of age was not sufficient per se to effect a significant expression of homogamy subsequently and (b) that own-strain, heterosexual experience acquired after sexual maturity was efficacious as an enhancer of homogamy. (8) Differences in levels of solicitation behaviour and degree of homogamy exhibited between female groups deprived of own-strain, heterosexual experience for varying lengths of the juvenile phase are tentatively explained in terms of physical maturation and the ontogeny of social and sexual behaviour.
Breeding Behaviour of the Swallow-Tailed Gull in the Galapagos
Authors: Nelson J.B.
Published: April 2008

The calls and displays of the swallow-tailed gull (Creagrus furcatus) are described and fitted into the pattern of larid displays; some ecological aspects of reproductive behaviour are briefly described. 1. The striking vocabulary includes a scream, snore, rattle and whistle. There is a 'long call' apparently homologous with the generalised gull long call and a special call associated with downward choking. 2. Swallow-tailed gulls breed in relatively small groups, the reproductive activities of the population of any island being highly unsynchronised, though those of the group significantly more so. The 'local' synchronisation is probably socially facilitated. 3. Fighting is rare, but includes a twisting movement reminiscent of the kittiwake's (Rissa tridactyla) cliff-adapted method. 4. Threat gaping is shown. 5. The oblique postures may be separated into (a) the retracted oblique (probably not equivalent to the generalised forward oblique of some other gulls) (b) a low oblique (probably homologous with the generalised oblique of other gulls). 6. A downward jerking movement may be a form of long calling and swallow-tails show a backward head jerk in closequarter territorial encounters. 7. An aggressive upright may be distinguished from an anxiety upright. 8. Upward choking (as in the kittiwake, but not in other gulls) and downward choking occur; both forms are hostile displays on the nest site. 9. The butterfly flight is probably strictly an intra-pair display and is associated with snore-scream calls. It may be related to the soar-and-swoop of the black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus), which is probably ritualised pursuit flight. 10. In the swallow-tail foot-looking is commonly associated with agonistic behaviour. 11. Courtship feeding of female by male is a regular part of pre-laying pair behaviour as in other larids. 12. Pre-copulatory behaviour is accompanied by head tossing. 13. Nest building is accompanied by long bouts of nest site calling. The nest is architecturally functionless. 14. The single egg (incubation period 35 days and incubation stint about 24 hrs) produces a highly cryptic chick. 15. Egg shells are not systematically removed. 16. The chick may accompany its parents some distance from the site in the first 48 hours after hatching. 17. Squids form a large part of its diet. The position of the swallow-tailed gull with respect to other larids is tabularised and discussed.
Development of Model for Grain Growth in UO 2 Fuel
Authors: Antropov D.S. , Veshchunov M.S.
Published: April 2008

A new recently proposed mechanism of the lenticular grain face bubble migration which controls the bubble mobility and determines the drag force exerted on the grain boundary, is further developed in application to the peripheral (edge and corner) intergranular bubbles. It is shown that contribution of the peripheral bubbles to the retarding effect can be significant, especially under irradiation conditions with high fission rates in UO2 fuel. In addition, simultaneous consideration of intergranular bubbles and pores evolution allows further improvement of the model predictions for grain growth under irradiation conditions. The improved model was implemented in the integral code MFPR, which is designed for modelling of fission product release from irradiated UO2 fuel, and validated against various tests under irradiation and annealing conditions with various types (dense and porous) fuel pellets.
A Graphical Method of Damage Detection and Quantification for Structures
Authors: Sivasubramanian K. , Umesha P.K.
Published: April 2008

Damages occur in all structures due to several reasons. Research in the area of damage detection has been of interest to the researchers for several years. Damage detection methods help in early detection and hence early repair and rehabilitation of structures. In this paper, a graphical method has been implemented to detect and quantify the damage. Further, in this work, the method has been generalised to solve the damage detection in all beam structures, independent of variations in geometric or material characteristics of the structural system. The frequencies are non‐dimensioned as frequency ratios and are used in the studies. Detailed studies have been performed to arrive at the generalised method. The abilities of the method have been highlighted using the numerical simulation results.
Along-Valley Structure of Daytime Thermally Driven Flows in the Wipp Valley
Authors: Rucker Magdalena , Banta Robert M. , Steyn Douw G.
Published: April 2008

High-resolution Doppler lidar observations obtained during the Mesoscale Alpine Program (MAP) 1999 field campaign are used to investigate the along-valley structure of daytime valley flows in the Wipp Valley, Austria. The observations show that under varying ambient conditions the valley flow increases in speed through a narrow section of the valley. Furthermore, the along-valley volume flux diverges along the valley segment under investigation, which suggests that the observed along-valley acceleration of the valley flow cannot be explained by the horizontal constriction of the valley sidewalls. It is hypothesized that the along-valley acceleration of the flow is caused by an intravalley change in the horizontal pressure gradient induced by differential heating rates of the valley atmosphere.
Climatology of Hail in China: 1961–2005
Authors: Zhang Chunxi , Zhang Qinghong , Wang Yuqing
Published: April 2008

A previous hail climatology of China was based upon observations during 1951–60. An effort has been made in this study to update this hail climatology in China with the use of a much longer record of observations from 1961 to 2005. This is made possible with the release of a new, comprehensive collection of hail observational data in May 2006 by the National Meteorological Information Center of China. The focus herein is to document the mean annual geographical distribution of hail frequency and seasonal and diurnal variations of hail occurrence. The results show that hail occurs most frequently in the high mountainous areas and northern plains. As a result, hail frequency is generally higher in northern China than in southern China. The hail frequency is highest over the central Tibetan Plateau. Hail seasons start in late spring and end in early autumn in northern and western China; they start mainly in spring in southern and southwestern China. On the diurnal time scale, hail events occur mainly between 1500 and 2000 local time in most of China except in Guizhou and Hubei Provinces (central western China), where hail events often occur during nighttime.
Impact of the Reduced Drag Coefficient on Ocean Wave Modeling under Hurricane Conditions
Authors: Moon Il-Ju , Ginis Isaac , Hara Tetsu
Published: April 2008

Effects of new drag coefficient (Cd) parameterizations on WAVEWATCH III (WW3) model surface wave simulations are investigated. The new parameterizations are based on a coupled wind–wave model (CWW) and a wave tank experiment, and yields reduced Cd at high wind speeds. Numerical experiments for uniform winds and Hurricane Katrina (2005) indicate that the original Cd parameterization used in WW3 overestimates drag at high wind speeds compared to recent observational, theoretical, and numerical modeling results. Comparisons with buoy measurements during Hurricane Katrina demonstrate that WW3 simulations with the new Cd parameterizations yield more accurate significant wave heights compared to simulations with the original Cd parameterization, provided that accurate high-resolution wind forcing fields are used.
Seasonal Forecasts of Canadian Winter Precipitation by Postprocessing GCM Integrations
Authors: Lin Hai , Brunet Gilbert , Derome Jacques
Published: April 2008

In the second phase of the Canadian Historical Forecasting Project (HFP2), four global atmospheric general circulation models (GCMs) were used to perform seasonal forecasts over the period of 1969–2003. Little predictive skill was found from the uncalibrated GCM ensemble seasonal predictions for the Canadian winter precipitation. This study is an effort to improve the precipitation forecasts through a postprocessing approach.

Canadian winter precipitation is significantly influenced by two of the most important atmospheric large-scale patterns: the Pacific–North American pattern (PNA) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). The time variations of these two patterns were found to be significantly correlated with those of the leading singular value decomposition (SVD) modes that relate the ensemble mean forecast 500-mb geopotential height over the Northern Hemisphere and the tropical Pacific SST in the previous month (November). A statistical approach to correct the ensemble forecasts was formulated based on the regression of the model’s leading forced SVD patterns and the observed seasonal mean precipitation. The performance of the corrected forecasts was assessed by comparing its cross-validated skill with that of the original GCM ensemble mean forecasts. The results show that the corrected forecasts predict the Canadian winter precipitation with statistically significant skill over the southern prairies and a large area of Québec–Ontario.
What is to be Done?
Authors: Burawoy Michael
Published: April 2008

This article asks three questions. How does the sociologist understand the common sense of subaltern groups, whether subjugated on the basis of gender, class, race, ethnicity or nationality? What could be the political practice of the sociologist with regard to such groups? Finally, through what form of public discourse can sociology articulate the interests of subaltern groups? These broad questions have general answers, even if their specifics are shaped by national and local contexts. The argument is organized into eight theses relating to third-wave marketization, the special role of sociology, the rationale for public sociology, traditional vs organic public sociology, common sense in nature's commodification, political practice on a global scale, the public discourse of human rights and the end of the ivory tower.
Globalization, Degradation and the Dynamics of Humiliation
Authors: Smith Dennis
Published: April 2008

Our analysis of how sociologists should respond to social degradation should take into account the way humiliation drives those who have suffered degradation to anger and action on their own account. Cycles of fear, revenge and victimization are liable to result from the moments of defeat, relegation and exclusion brought by humiliation processes. Globalization has produced these conditions not simply through the logic of the market but also through the residual strength of the imperial impulse and the increasing pervasiveness of the anomic cosmopolitan condition. Sociologists should bring their knowledge of the dynamics of humiliation into their creative exchanges with those experiencing social degradation.
Some Considerations after Reading Michael Burawoy's Article: `What is to be Done? Theses on the Degradation of Social Existence in a Globalizing World'
Authors: Wieviorka Michel
Published: April 2008

We are returning to the question: should researchers participate in public life and, if so, how? This question does not refer solely to the utility of the social sciences and their possibly emancipatory role but also raises the issue of how sociological knowledge is produced, tested and demonstrated. We need to consider the status of this knowledge and the conditions under which we may speak of `science'. How researchers in social sciences conceive of their relationship with the public and the actors is linked with the way in which we validate our assertions as science. We cannot separate our conceptions of our relation to the public sphere and the theoretical and methodological conceptions of research that provide the basis of our scientific ability to provide rigorous proofs.
Rejoinder: For a Subaltern Global Sociology?
Authors: Burawoy Michael
Published: April 2008

The nine articles in the dialogue divide into two groups: an abstract universalism constituted from above (Burawoy, Martinelli, Wievorka, Smith) vs concrete practices knitted together from below (Shen Yuan, Zdravomyslova, Habib, Baviskar and Braga et al.). In fact, a global sociology has to be constructed from below and the question is whether this is possible. This raises three questions. First, is there a common project that might broadly unite sociologists? Second, is there a community of discourse that would allow us to communicate our different practices? Third, if we do have a common language how can we handle the inequalities within and across nations, regions and the globe? In fact, there is a convergence on the challenges posed by third-wave marketization, otherwise known as neoliberalism. Furthermore, sociologists all recognize different types of engagement: professional, critical, policy and public. We must forge a subaltern universality from the connections among particular sociologies.
Global Warming and Sociology
Authors: Lever-Tracy Constance
Published: April 2008

Escalating climate change, partly induced by human activity, has made its way into public awareness, yet most sociologists, outside the specialism of environmental sociology, have had surprisingly little to say about the possible future social trajectories it may portend. Wary of accepting the truth claims of natural science, but aware of our own inability to judge the validity of their claims, we have generally preferred to look the other way, although these developments can affect the very core of our discipline's concerns. We need a cooperative multidisciplinarity of social and natural scientists working together.
Discussion of `Global Warming and Sociology'
Authors: Leahy Terry
Published: April 2008

Lever-Tracy has hit the nail on the head when she points to the reluctance of sociologists to consider the social implications of global warming. Meanwhile the discussion of these issues in other disciplines grows apace. Ecological modernizers see the environmental crisis as a stimulus to capitalist societies, providing new opportunities for growth from re-tooling. Yet, sections of the environmentalist movement envisage necessary social change as much more profound. A key to this debate is the likely costs of re-tooling. This technological and financial question is a prerequisite for understanding the social implications. If the costs of re-tooling are huge, as can be argued, some drastic social changes are quite likely.
Gestures accompanying speech in specifically language-impaired children and their timing with speech
Authors: Blake Joanna , Myszczyszyn Debbie , Jokel Ariela , Bebiroglu Neda
Published: April 2008

The repertoire and timing of gestures accompanying speech were compared in children with specific language impairment (SLI), aged 5—10 years, in typically developing peers (CA), individually matched on age and nonverbal IQ, and in younger language-matched (LM) children. They were videotaped in two tasks, recounting a cartoon and describing their classroom. Three types of gestures were coded — iconics, deictics and beats — and the synchrony of these gestures with speech was examined in terms of number of words encompassed, grammatical speech category at gesture onset, and relationship of iconic gestures to the concept expressed in speech. All groups used more deictic gestures in the classroom description task. SLI children differed from the comparison children only in their use of iconic gestures. They produced somewhat more of these, used them more often to replace words, and began them more often on a noun phrase object. Otherwise, language proficiency, at least as measured by standardized tests, did not appear to impact the gestural system. The fact that, for all groups, most iconic and deictic gestures began on the noun phrase subject indicates a close synchrony between gesture and speech onset.
Learning to talk and gesture about motion in French
Authors: Gullberg Marianne , Hendriks Henriëtte , Hickmann Maya
Published: April 2008

This study explores how French adults and children aged four and six years talk and gesture about voluntary motion, examining (1) how they encode path and manner in speech, (2) how they encode this information in accompanying gestures; and (3) whether gestures are co-expressive with speech or express other information. When path and manner are equally relevant, children's and adults' speech and gestures both focus on path, rather than on manner. Moreover, gestures are predominantly co-expressive with speech at all ages. However, when they are non-redundant, adults tend to gesture about path while talking about manner, whereas children gesture about both path and manner while talking about path. The discussion highlights implications for our understanding of speakers' representations and their development.
Learning words by hand: Gesture's role in predicting vocabulary development
Authors: Rowe Meredith L. , Özçalışkan Şeyda , Goldin-Meadow Susan
Published: April 2008

Children vary widely in how quickly their vocabularies grow. Can looking at early gesture use in children and parents help us predict this variability? We videotaped 53 English-speaking parent-child dyads in their homes during their daily activities for 90-minutes every four months between child age 14 and 34 months. At 42 months, children were given the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT). We found that child gesture use at 14 months was a significant predictor of vocabulary size at 42 months, above and beyond the effects of parent and child word use at 14 months. Parent gesture use at 14 months was not directly related to vocabulary development, but did relate to child gesture use at 14 months which, in turn, predicted child vocabulary. These relations hold even when background factors such as socio-economic status are controlled. The findings underscore the importance of examining early gesture when predicting child vocabulary development.
Introduction to Special Issue: Gestures and communicative development
Authors: Guidetti Michèle , Nicoladis Elena
Published: April 2008

What does hand movement have to do with language and communicative development? This Introduction proposes that language acquisition researchers have at least four reasons to be interested in gesture and communicative development. First, children begin to gesture before talking. Second, children continue to gesture even after they start to talk, and through to adulthood. Third, recent theoretical perspectives on language acquisition have advanced a functional approach to communicative development in which usage is crucial in language acquisition. Fourth, the argument that spoken language evolved from gestures raises intriguing questions about the relationship between phylogenesis and ontogenesis. We outline different developmental trajectories for different kinds of gestures, developmental changes in the relationship between speech and gestures, and the developmental analysis of gesture functions. The six new empirical studies reported in this Special Issue are summarized.
Pressure transient identification of depleted appliance trap seals: a pressure pulse technique
Authors: Kelly DA , Swaffield JA , Jack LB , Campbell DP , Gormley M
Published: April 2008

The appliance trap seal plays a vital role in safeguarding occupied space from ingress of foul sewer gases driven by the barrage of pressure transients generated within the system during normal appliance discharge. The health risks related to depleted trap seals can be severe. In 2003, the rapid spread of the SARS virus at the Amoy Gardens housing complex in Hong Kong was attributed to depleted bathroom floor-drain traps.

This paper presents a technique whereby depleted trap seals can be located remotely by monitoring the system response to an applied single pressure pulse. A Method of Characteristic based numerical model allows the system pressure response to be predicted while laboratory and site test results are shown to validate this proposed technique.

Practical application: Appliance trap seal depletion poses a serious health risk by providing a route for cross-contamination and infection spread. Implementing a routine and regular maintenance regime would help to ensure that the water level within the trap seal remains above the critical level. However, current methods rely on visual inspections which are highly impractical in large complex buildings. A technique allowing the status of all connected trap seals to be quickly determined would be an invaluable tool for facility managers by improving operational efficiency and by indicating persistent failures, thus, highlighting areas requiring modification to ensure performance compliance.
The Effect of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency and Reconstruction on the Patellofemoral Joint
Authors: Van de Velde Samuel K. , Gill Thomas J. , DeFrate Louis E. , Papannagari Ramprasad , Li Guoan
Published: April 2008

Background

Little is known about the effect of anterior cruciate ligament deficiency and reconstruction on the patellofemoral joint.

Hypothesis

Anterior cruciate ligament deficiency changes the patellofemoral joint biomechanics. Reconstruction of the ligament does not restore the altered patellofemoral joint function.

Study Design

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods

Eight patients with an acute anterior cruciate ligament injury in 1 knee and the contralateral side intact were included in the study. Magnetic resonance and dual-orthogonal fluoroscopic imaging techniques were used to compare the patellofemoral joint function during a single-leg lunge between the intact, the anterior cruciate ligament–injured, and the anterior cruciate ligament–reconstructed knee. Data on the patellar tendon apparent elongation and orientation, patellar tracking and patellofemoral cartilage contact location were collected preoperatively and at 6 months after reconstruction.

Results

Anterior cruciate ligament deficiency caused a significant apparent elongation and change in orientation of the patellar tendon. It decreased the flexion and increased the valgus rotation and tilt of the patella. Anterior cruciate ligament injury caused a proximal and lateral shift in patellofemoral cartilage contact location. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction reduced the abnormal apparent elongation but not the orientation of the patellar tendon, and it restored the patellar flexion and proximal shift in contact. The abnormal patellar rotation, tilt, and lateral shift in cartilage contact persisted after reconstruction.

Conclusion

The altered function of the patellar tendon in anterior cruciate ligament deficiency resulted in an altered patellar tracking and patellofemoral cartilage contact. Persistent changes in patellofemoral joint function after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction imply that reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament does not restore the normal function of the patellofemoral joint.

Clinical Relevance

The abnormal kinematics of the patellofemoral joint might predispose the patellofemoral cartilage to degenerative changes associated with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency, even if the ligament is reconstructed in a way that restores anteroposterior knee laxity.
Linking Transition Services to Student Outcomes for Students with Moderate/ Severe Mental Retardation
Authors: Brown Pat
Published: April 2008

The study sought to determine the impact of the transition mandate on student outcomes for students with moderate/severe mental retardation. Using a telephone follow-up protocol, I conducted interviews with the parents or guardians of all 1990 and 1995 graduates with moderate/severe mental retardation from three school districts in Washington State who chose to participate in this study. This study documented the postschool status of these two groups at one year and at six years out of school in several areas: employment; enrollment in postsecondary school or training; engagement in employment, education or both; and independent living. Interviews also were conducted with the families, teachers, and administrators of three 1990 graduates and three 1995 graduates of these school districts in order to document the link between the high school program and postschool student outcomes and the impact of the transition mandate on the high school program.

The survey data revealed similar outcomes for the graduates at one and six years out of school. Interviews with students, families, teachers, and administrators and a review of student records indicated that the high school programs have become more community-based, employment oriented, and age-appropriate with an increased emphasis on establishing linkages with adult service providers. These interviews also suggest several barriers to local implementation of the transition mandate, including the cost of providing community experiences and models of special education that may not support transition.
Characteristics and Effects of Integrated Academic and Occupational Curricula for Students with Disabilities: A Literature Review
Authors: Eisenman Laura T.
Published: April 2008

Current legislation and education reforms suggest that all students would benefit from participation in curricula that integrate academic and occupational learning. Evidence of the effectiveness of integrating academic and occupational curricula for students with disabilities is examined through a review of research. Best practice reviews, case studies, and program evaluations offer only indirect evidence of effects for students with disabilities. Some evaluations suggest that programs incorporating integrated curricula increased academic achievement and persistence. Methodological and conceptual issues must be addressed in future research to promote a better understanding of benefits for students with disabilities.
IDEA Transition Policy Compliance and Best Practice: Perceptions of Transition Stakeholders
Authors: Mcmahan Rachel , Baer Robert
Published: April 2008

This study used the Survey on Transition Policy Compliance and Best Practices to measure transition policy compliance and best practices at local education agencies (LEAs) and identify predictors of transition policy compliance and best practice. The study participants consisted of 186 persons involved in transition planning, including parents and guardians, educators, and adult service professionals. Respondents reported that their schools were generally complying with the transition requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) with the exception of the requirement to reconvene the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team if transition services could not be provided as planned. The strongest predictor of policy compliance and best practice in LEAs was the existence of a school-based interagency transition team. In addition, transition training proved to be a weaker predictor of best practice. The findings support the need for interagency team forming activities as part of transition training.