bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Process-specific Functional Dissociation of the Amygdala in Emotional Memory
Authors: Sergerie Karine , Lepage Martin , Armony Jorge L.
Published: July 2006

Converging evidence highlights the important role of the amygdala in the enhanced memory for emotional material. However, it is unknown whether any regional and/or hemispheric specificity exists regarding its involvement in the different memory stages, such as encoding and retrieval. We directly addressed this issue by conducting an event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging study of memory for faces with different emotional expressions, in which both encoding and recognition were scanned. We found significant amygdala activation associated with both successful encoding and retrieval of fearful faces. Critically, a direct comparison between both stages revealed that whereas the right amygdala was involved in emotional memory formation, the retrieval of those memories relied on the left amygdala. Thus, this study demonstrates a hemispheric dissociation of amygdala involvement in different stages of emotional memory in humans.
The “Mosaic Stage” in Amodal Completion as Characterized by Magnetoencephalography Responses
Authors: Plomp Gijs , Liu Lichan , van Leeuwen Cees , Ioannides Andreas A.
Published: July 2006

We investigated the process of amodal completion in a same-different experiment in which test pairs were preceded by sequences of two figures. The first of these could be congruent to a global or local completion of an occluded part in the second figure, or a mosaic interpretation of it. We recorded and analyzed the magnetoencephalogram for the second figures. Compared to control conditions, in which unrelated primes were shown, occlusion and mosaic primes reduced the peak latency and amplitude of neural activity evoked by the occlusion patterns. Compared to occlusion primes, mosaic ones reduced the latency but increased the amplitude of evoked neural activity. Processes relating to a mosaic interpretation of the occlusion pattern, therefore, can dominate in an early stage of visual processing. The results did not provide evidence for the presence of a functional “mosaic stage” in completion per se, but characterize the mosaic interpretation as a qualitatively special one that can rapidly emerge in visual processing when context favors it.
Online Adaptive Decision Trees: Pattern Classification and Function Approximation
Authors: Basak Jayanta
Published: July 2006

Recently we have shown that decision trees can be trained in the online adaptive (OADT) mode (Basak, 2004), leading to better generalization score. OADTs were bottlenecked by the fact that they are able to handle only two-class classification tasks with a given structure. In this article, we provide an architecture based on OADT, ExOADT, which can handle multiclass classification tasks and is able to perform function approximation. ExOADT is structurally similar to OADT extended with a regression layer. We also show that ExOADT is capable not only of adapting the local decision hyperplanes in the nonterminal nodes but also has the potential of smoothly changing the structure of the tree depending on the data samples. We provide the learning rules based on steepest gradient descent for the new model ExOADT. Experimentally we demonstrate the effectiveness of ExOADT in the pattern classification and function approximation tasks. Finally, we briefly discuss the relationship of ExOADT with other classification models.
Neuronal Algorithms That Detect the Temporal Order of Events
Authors: de Polavieja Gonzalo G.
Published: July 2006

One of the basic operations in sensory processing is the computation of the temporal order of excitation of sensors. Motivated by the discrepancy between models and experiments at high signal contrast, we obtain families of algorithms by solutions of a general set of equations that define temporal order detection as an input-to-output relationship. Delays and nonlinear operations are the basis of all algorithms found, but different algorithmic structures exist when the operations are multiplications, OR gates, different types of AND-NOT logical gates, or concatenated ANDNOT gates. Among others, we obtain the Hassenstein-Reichardt model, a network using a multiplicative operation that has been proposed to explain fly optomotor behavior. We also find extensions of the Barlow-Levick model (based on an AND-NOT gate with delayed inhibition and nondelayed excitation as inputs), originally proposed to explain the bipolar cell response of the rabbit retina to motion stimuli. In the extended models, there are two more steps, another AND-NOT gate, and a subtraction or two subtractions that make the model responsive only to motion. In response to low-contrast inputs, the concatenated AND-NOT gates or the AND-NOT gate followed by a subtraction in these new models act as the multiplicative operation in the Hassenstein-Reichardt model. At high contrast, the new models behave like the Hassenstein-Reichardt model except that they are independent of contrast as observed experimentally.
Analytical Integrate-and-Fire Neuron Models with Conductance-Based Dynamics for Event-Driven Simulation Strategies
Authors: Rudolph Michelle , Destexhe Alain
Published: July 2006

Event-driven simulation strategies were proposed recently to simulate integrate-and-fire (IF) type neuronal models. These strategies can lead to computationally efficient algorithms for simulating large-scale networks of neurons; most important, such approaches are more precise than traditional clock-driven numerical integration approaches because the timing of spikes is treated exactly. The drawback of such event-driven methods is that in order to be efficient, the membrane equations must be solvable analytically, or at least provide simple analytic approximations for the state variables describing the system. This requirement prevents, in general, the use of conductance-based synaptic interactions within the framework of event-driven simulations and, thus, the investigation of network paradigms where synaptic conductances are important. We propose here a number of extensions of the classical leaky IF neuron model involving approximations of the membrane equation with conductancebased synaptic current, which lead to simple analytic expressions for the membrane state, and therefore can be used in the event-driven framework. These conductance-based IF (gIF) models are compared to commonly used models, such as the leaky IF model or biophysical models in which conductances are explicitly integrated. All models are compared with respect to various spiking response properties in the presence of synaptic activity, such as the spontaneous discharge statistics, the temporal precision in resolving synaptic inputs, and gain modulation under in vivo–like synaptic bombardment. Being based on the passive membrane equation with fixed-threshold spike generation, the proposed gIF models are situated in between leaky IF and biophysical models but are much closer to the latter with respect to their dynamic behavior and response characteristics, while still being nearly as computationally efficient as simple IF neuron models. gIF models should therefore provide a useful tool for efficient and precise simulation of large-scale neuronal networks with realistic, conductance-based synaptic interactions.
The Crystallizing Substochastic Sequential Machine Extractor: CrySSMEx
Authors: Jacobsson Henrik
Published: July 2006

This letter presents an algorithm, CrySSMEx, for extracting minimal finite state machine descriptions of dynamic systems such as recurrent neural networks. Unlike previous algorithms, CrySSMEx is parameter free and deterministic, and it efficiently generates a series of increasingly refined models. A novel finite stochastic model of dynamic systems and a novel vector quantization function have been developed to take into account the state-space dynamics of the system. The experiments show that (1) extraction from systems that can be described as regular grammars is trivial, (2) extraction from high-dimensional systems is feasible, and (3) extraction of approximative models from chaotic systems is possible. The results are promising, and an analysis of shortcomings suggests some possible further improvements. Some largely overlooked connections, of the field of rule extraction from recurrent neural networks, to other fields are also identified.
Sea Ice Concentration Analyses for the Baltic Sea and Their Impact on Numerical Weather Prediction
Authors: Drusch Matthias
Published: July 2006

Sea ice concentration plays a fundamental role in the exchange of water and energy between the ocean and the atmosphere. Global real-time datasets of sea ice concentration are based on satellite observations, which do not necessarily resolve small-scale patterns or coastal features. In this study, the global National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) 0.5° sea ice concentration dataset is compared with a regional high-resolution analysis for the Baltic Sea produced 2 times per week by the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI). In general, the NCEP dataset exhibits less spatial and temporal variability during the winter of 2003/04. Because of the coarse resolution of the NCEP dataset, ice extent is generally larger than in the SMHI analysis. Mean sea ice concentrations derived from both datasets are in reasonable agreement during the ice-growing and ice-melting periods in January and April, respectively. For February and March, during which the sea ice extent is largest, mean sea ice concentrations are lower in the NCEP dataset relative to the SMHI product. Ten-day weather forecasts based on the NCEP sea ice concentrations and the SMHI dataset have been performed, and they were compared on the local, regional, and continental scales. Turbulent surface fluxes have been analyzed based on 24-h forecasts. The differences in sea ice extent during the ice-growing period in January cause mean differences of up to 30 W m−2 for sensible heat flux and 20 W m−2 for latent heat flux in parts of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. The comparison between spatially aggregated fluxes yields differences of up to 36 and 20 W m−2 for sensible and latent heat flux, respectively. The differences in turbulent fluxes result in different planetary boundary height and structure. Even the forecast cloud cover changes by up to 40% locally.
Quantifying Aerial Concentrations of Maize Pollen in the Atmospheric Surface Layer Using Remote-Piloted Airplanes and Lagrangian Stochastic Modeling
Authors: Aylor Donald E. , Boehm Matthew T. , Shields Elson J.
Published: July 2006

The extensive adoption of genetically modified crops has led to a need to understand better the dispersal of pollen in the atmosphere because of the potential for unwanted movement of genetic traits via pollen flow in the environment. The aerial dispersal of maize pollen was studied by comparing the results of a Lagrangian stochastic (LS) model with pollen concentration measurements made over cornfields using a combination of tower-based rotorod samplers and airborne radio-controlled remote-piloted vehicles (RPVs) outfitted with remotely operated pollen samplers. The comparison between model and measurements was conducted in two steps. In the first step, the LS model was used in combination with the rotorod samplers to estimate the pollen release rate Q for each sampling period. In the second step, a modeled value for the concentration Cmodel, corresponding to each RPV measured value Cmeasure, was calculated by simulating the RPV flight path through the LS model pollen plume corresponding to the atmospheric conditions, field geometry, wind direction, and source strength. The geometric mean and geometric standard deviation of the ratio Cmodel/Cmeasure over all of the sampling periods, except those determined to be upwind of the field, were 1.42 and 4.53, respectively, and the lognormal distribution corresponding to these values was found to fit closely the PDF of Cmodel/Cmeasure. Model output was sensitive to the turbulence parameters, with a factor-of-100 difference in the average value of Cmodel over the range of values encountered during the experiment. In comparison with this large potential variability, it is concluded that the average factor of 1.4 between Cmodel and Cmeasure found here indicates that the LS model is capable of accurately predicting, on average, concentrations over a range of atmospheric conditions.
Motivating Behavioral Persistence: The Self-As-Doer Construct
Authors: Houser-Marko Linda , Sheldon Kennon M.
Published: July 2006

Why do some people persist in goal pursuit, even in the face of boredom or setbacks, whereas others quickly give up their goals? In this research, the authors introduce a new motivational construct, the “self-as-doer,” to explore this question. Studies 1 and 2 found longitudinal evidence that those who more strongly endorse doer statements regarding their goals (i.e., exerciser, dieter, runner) show greater behavioral persistence and attainment regarding such goals, even controlling for other relevant constructs such as expectancy, self-concordance, commitment, and neuroticism. Study 3 used priming to make the self-as-doer momentarily accessible, finding an interaction such that those who read The Little Engine That Could (vs. Curious George) and wrote an essay applying the story's message to themselves (vs. others) showed the greatest persistence in physically demanding tasks. Implications for sustained motivation of all kinds are discussed.
Openness to Attitude Change as a Function of Temporal Perspective
Authors: DeWall C. Nathan , Visser Penny S. , Levitan Lindsey Clark
Published: July 2006

Three studies investigated the impact of temporal perspective on people's dominant social goals and explored the implications of these goals for openness to attitude change. Participants who perceived time as limited expressed social preferences in accordance with emotion-regulation goals (Study 1), were more prone to modify their attitude to bring it into line with the attitude of an anticipated social partner (Study 2), and were more likely to go along with peer consensus opinion on a campus issue (Study 3) than were participants who perceived time as expansive. These studies demonstrate that perception of time plays a vital role in motivating social goals within the persuasion context.
Long Ago It Was Meant to Be: The Interplay Between Time, Construal, and Fate Beliefs
Authors: Burrus Jeremy , Roese Neal J.
Published: July 2006

Fate means that an event was meant to be, that is, predetermined by prior unseen forces. Most people believe in fate, which seems at odds with similarly pervasive beliefs that alternative past actions would have brought about different circumstances (i.e., counterfactual beliefs). Two experiments revealed that construal level accounts for the relative plausibility of fate versus counterfactual explanations. Construal was manipulated in Experiment 1, such that goal pursuits framed in abstract (“why?”) as opposed to concrete (“how?”) terms heightened fate but not counterfactual attributions. Extending this finding, Experiment 2 showed that fate judgments were higher for temporally distant than recent past events, an effect mediated by construal perceptions. Neither counterfactual nor luck judgments varied with temporal distance. These findings help to explain how individuals explain complicated yet meaningful life events while extending the reach of Trope and Liberman's (2003) construal-level theory.
Trait Aggressiveness and Situational Provocation: A Test of the Traits as Situational Sensitivities (TASS) Model
Authors: Marshall Margaret A. , Brown Jonathon D.
Published: July 2006

In this article, the authors propose and test an interactionist model of personality functioning. The model maintains that many traits function in a threshold-like manner, such that less situational strength is needed to evoke a trait-relevant response in people who are high on the trait than in those who are low on the trait. Because of these different sensitivities, people who are high on a trait are more reactive to moderate provocation than are those who are low on a trait, but the opposite is true when strong provocation is compared to moderate provocation. Three studies are reported showing how the model can be used to understand the nature of aggression.
Personality Plasticity After Age 30
Authors: Terracciano Antonio , Costa Paul T. , McCrae Robert R.
Published: July 2006

Rank-order consistency of personality traits increases from childhood to age 30. After that, different summaries of the literature predict a plateau at age 30, or at age 50, or a curvilinear peak in consistency at age 50. These predictions were evaluated at group and individual levels using longitudinal data from the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey and the Revised NEO Personality Inventory for periods of up to 42 years. Consistency declined toward a nonzero asymptote with increasing time interval. Although some scales showed increasing stability after age 30, the rank-order consistencies of the major dimensions and most facets of the Five-Factor Model were unrelated to age. Ipsative stability, assessed with the California Adult Q-Set, also was unrelated to age. These data strengthen claims of predominant personality stability after age 30.
Interpersonal and Noninterpersonal Interactions, Interpersonal Motives, and the Effect of Frustrated Motives
Authors: Shechtman Nicole , Horowitz Leonard M.
Published: July 2006

A new circumplex model of interpersonal interaction emphasizes the motives that drive interpersonal behaviors and the negative affect (such as anger) that occurs when a strongly activated motive is frustrated. This study examined the model experimentally by varying conditions designed to activate and frustrate interpersonal motives. One hundred twenty-nine students engaged in text-based discussions using a computer. Three factors were varied: (a) activation of interpersonal motives— participants believed the interaction was interpersonal (with a human) or noninterpersonal (with a computer); (b) individual differences in motive activation—assertive and nonassertive participants were compared (strong vs. weak motive to influence others); and (c) level of frustration of activated motives—the “partner's” messages contained dominating or nondominating language. Participants who believed their interaction was interpersonal produced more interpersonal behaviors of various types. Assertive participants who interacted with a dominating and apparently human partner produced a disproportionate amount of hostility, indicating anger ascribed to frustrated motives.
A cross-cultural study of behavioral inhibition in toddlers: East–West–North–South
Authors: Rubin Kenneth H. , Hemphill Sheryl A. , Chen Xinyin , Hastings Paul , Sanson Ann , Coco Alida Lo , Zappulla Carla , Chung Ock-Boon , Park Sung-Yun , Doh Hyun Sim , Chen Huichang , Sun Ling , Yoon Chong-Hee , Cui Liyin
Published: July 2006

The prevalence of behavioral inhibition in toddlers was examined in five cultures. Participants in this study included 110 Australian, 108 Canadian, 151 Chinese, 104 Italian, and 113 South Korean toddlers and their mothers who were observed during a structured observational laboratory session. Matched procedures were used in each country, with children encountering an unfamiliar stranger with a truck and a robot. Indicators of inhibition included the length of time toddlers delayed before approaching the stranger and the duration of contact with their mother while the stranger was in the room. Results were generally consistent with expectations and showed differences between eastern and western cultures; Italian and Australian toddlers were less inhibited than toddlers from the other countries, whereas Chinese and South Korean toddlers were more inhibited. The implications of these findings are discussed and a research agenda for further exploration of inhibition is outlined.
Children's aggressive and prosocial behavior in relation to war exposure: Testing the role of perceived parenting and child's gender
Authors: Keresteš Gordana
Published: July 2006

The aim of the study was to investigate long-term effects of exposure to war on children's aggressive and prosocial behavior, and to examine the potential moderating roles of perceived parenting and child's gender, by employing a multi-informant research design. Data were collected on a sample of school-age children from Croatia and their homeroom teachers several years after the war in Croatia had ended. The results have shown that being exposed to stressful war events could have negative long-term effects on aggressive and prosocial behavior, for both boys and girls. However, such a negative effect was not found for all of the employed measures of child's behavior, especially for peer ratings. Generally, positive parenting was not able to protect children from negative effects observed, especially when aggression was concerned. However, for teacher-rated prosocial behavior protective role of parenting was found. Among the children who perceived parenting behaviors of their parents more positively, the amount of war exposure was not related to teacher-rated prosocial behavior, while for those who perceived their parents less favourably, a greater amount of war experiences was connected with lower teacher-rated prosocial behavior. Theoretical as well as practical implications of the results were discussed, emphasizing the need of the communities to protect children from both exposure to war violence and negative effects of such exposure.
Children's attitudes to war and peace: When a peace agreement means war
Authors: McLernon Frances , Cairns Ed
Published: July 2006

Previous research into children's concepts of peace, war and strategies to attain peace suggests that peace and war are developmentally constructed concepts. In order to examine the impact of the immediate sociocultural context, 343 adolescents in Northern Ireland in 2002 were questioned about their concepts of war and peace, and their strategies to attain peace. Comparison with a similar study of adolescents' attitudes carried out in 1994 showed that adolescents' understanding had stabilized since the paramilitary ceasefires of 1994 to a developmental level comparable with that of similarly aged participants from peaceful societies. Unexpectedly, however, most adolescents in 2002 denied that Northern Ireland was “at peace”. Gender and religious denominational differences were also explored.
Sensorimotor synchronization across the life span
Authors: Drewing Knut , Aschersleben Gisa , Li Shu-Chen
Published: July 2006

The present study investigates the contribution of general processing resources as well as other more specific factors to the life-span development of sensorimotor synchronization and its component processes. Within a synchronization tapping paradigm, a group of 286 participants, 6 to 88 years of age, were asked to synchronize finger taps with sequences of auditory signals. The auditory signals were given either isochronously with short or long interstimulus intervals in a regular condition or in a more demanding condition with alternating short and long intervals. The results provided the first direct life-span evidence showing that performance in these tasks improves substantially during childhood until about late teens, and thereon remains at least relatively stable until old age. This pattern of life-span age gradient holds for measures of different component processes of sensorimotor synchronization, such as basic timekeeping and error correction processes. The findings are not in line with simple general factor accounts of development. They rather suggest a more complex interaction between general resources and other specific factors in the life-span development of different components of sensorimotor synchronization.
Embodying Contradictions
Authors: Hanis-Martin Jennifer L.
Published: July 2006

As women have continued to redefine themselves in a changing world, many barriers to their entry into sport have been lowered, and women's sports have flourished. This article is an ethnographic case study of a women's professional basketball team, the Midtown Wave. Analyses of this team reveal patterns of domination in a venture that might be viewed at first as a feminist success story, with the potential to challenge dominant norms. This research adds to current literature on women in sports, emphasizing the confluence of gender, race, and social class in women's basketball. It shows the difficulties of capturing social worlds in static social categories and provides a fuller picture of how these categories are lived as dynamic layers of identity within local contexts. A focus on ground-level social processes illuminates difficulties of attaining social change within the growing world of women's sports.
Managing and Monitoring Equality and Diversity in UK Sport
Authors: Spracklen Karl , Hylton Kevin , Long Jonathan
Published: July 2006

Despite greater attention to racial equality in sport in recent years, the progress of national sports organizations toward creating equality of outcomes has been limited in the United Kingdom. The collaboration of the national sports agencies, equity organizations and national sports organizations (including national governing bodies of sport) has focused on Equality Standards. The authors revisit an earlier impact study of the Racial Equality Standard in sport and supplement it with another round of interview material to assess changing strategies to manage diversity in British sport. In particular, it tracks the impact on organizational commitment to diversity through the period of the establishment of the Racial Equality Standard and its replacement by an Equality Standard that deals with other diversity issues alongside race and ethnicity. As a result, the authors question whether the new, generic Equality Standard is capable of addressing racial diversity and promoting equality of outcomes.
Sports Knowledge is Power
Authors: Davis Nickolas W. , Duncan Margaret Carlisle
Published: July 2006

As of August 2003, 15.2 million American adults participated in fantasy sports. Fantasy sport allows online participants to assume the roles of owners, managers, and coaches of professional teams, building franchises and experiencing every phase of the process (i.e., drafting athletes, trading players, signing free agents, submitting lineups). Despite its great popularity, there is a paucity of research investigating fantasy sports. Taking a pro-feminist approach, the current study examines the appeals and experiences of participants and the audience to whom fantasy sport leagues are directed. Using personal observations, textual analysis, and focus group responses of three male fantasy leaguers, the current study indicates that fantasy sports reinforce hegemonic ideologies in sport spectatorship, emphasizing authority, sports knowledge, competition, male-bonding, and traditional gender roles.
The Living Conditions of U.S.-Born Children of Mexican Immigrants in Unmarried Families
Authors: Padilla Yolanda C. , Radey Melissa Dalton , Hummer Robert A. , Kim Eunjeong
Published: July 2006

Recent research has brought attention to the hardship faced by children of immigrants in the United States, particularly in the Mexican-origin population. In this study, the authors are concerned with the extent to which U.S.-born children of Mexican immigrants who live in unmarried families may face exceptional risks. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, the authors find that young children of Mexican immigrants in unmarried families face significant disadvantages on a variety of levels compared with children of U.S.-born mothers. Mexican immigrant mothers have significantly lower levels of education and employment and much higher rates of poverty, as well as less access to social services. Although characterized by low rates of low birth weight and more positive maternal health behaviors, their poor socioeconomic and social service profile suggests that even when healthy at the starting gate, they may potentially face poor outcomes during childhood and beyond.
Race, Ethnicity, and Self-Rated Health Status in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey
Authors: Borrell Luisa N. , Crawford Natalie D.
Published: July 2006

This study examines the association between race and self-rated health status among Hispanic and non-Hispanic adults in the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey ( N = 241,038). Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of self-rated health as fair/poor for Hispanic Blacks, Hispanic Whites, and non-Hispanic Blacks as compared with non-Hispanic Whites. This study found that, first, Hispanic Blacks were more likely to rate their health as fair/poor than Hispanic and non-Hispanic Whites, and second, there was no difference between Hispanic and non-Hispanic Blacks. Specifically, when compared with non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanic Blacks and Whites were more likely to report their health as fair/poor. However, this association was stronger for Hispanic Blacks. More careful examination of race among Hispanics is imperative to unmask important health variations.
Latino Students in North Carolina
Authors: Valencia Elvia Y. , Johnson Valerie
Published: July 2006

This study describes results from an investigation of Latino students attending a Hispanic Education Summit (HES) in North Carolina. Findings from data gleaned from 275 middle and high school students' perceptions are presented. Self-report data assessed level of acculturation, as well as students' perceptions with regard to a variety of issues, including school programs, barriers to participation in programs, problems in the school environment, and academic aspirations. Results revealed that students reported few perceived barriers to school and aspirations. However, there was a significant relationship between acculturation level and the frequency with which students reported selected barriers and future life goals. Gender differences were found with regard to acculturation level, perception of barriers, and academic aspirations. Directions for further research are discussed.
A Quantitative Analysis ofAtaque de Nerviosin Puerto Rico
Authors: Febo San Miguel Vivian E. , Guarnaccia Peter J. , Shrout Patrick E. , Lewis-Fernández Roberto , Canino Glorisa J. , Ramírez Rafael R.
Published: July 2006

The authors present a quantitative analysis and assessment of the symptoms of ataque de nervios. A sample of 121 individuals living in Puerto Rico provided qualitative and structured data on ataques de nervios and psychiatric correlates. A total of 77 participants reported having an ataque de nervios during their lifetimes. Their reports of symptoms associated with the ataque-episode were analyzed using factor analysis. Two dimensions emerged from the analysis, representing respectively internalizing and externalizing experiences. Results sustained the heterogeneity of ataque de nervios with a marked anxiety component. The authors discuss results in the context of classification and understanding of ataques de nervios and a model for studying cultural variance among cultural syndromes.
E-Government Web Site Accessibility in Australia and China
Authors: Shi Yuquan
Published: July 2006

This article examined the accessibility of provincial government web sites in China and state-level web sites in Australia in December 2004 and again in September 2005. This research found that there were serious accessibility problems on Chinese e-government web sites in the first audition, and the situation was even worse in the second audition. This demonstrates that no efforts have been made to build accessible e-government web sites in China. As for the Australian e-government web sites, although they generally did well in terms of accessibility, some small errors found in the first audition were not eliminated in the second audition. It thus suggests that more efforts are still needed for Australian government web sites. Through the comparisons between China and Australia, some valuable lessons can be learned, especially for the development of accessible Chinese e-government web sites for people with disabilities.
Michel Foucault in the Social Study of ICTs
Authors: Willcocks Leslie P.
Published: July 2006

Despite the considerable cross-disciplinary influence of Foucault’s work, he is, the article argues, unjustly neglected in the study of information and communication technologies (ICTs), especially in the information systems (IS) field. The article argues for the abiding relevance of Foucault’s oeuvre. His thinking on techne and technology is reviewed, and a critique of his relative neglect in the IS discipline is provided. The article then critically evaluates and illustrates how he can and has been used in the study of ICTs in IS, organization, management, and surveillance studies, and, more recently, by those studying network society, technobodies, and cyberspace. The article concludes by pointing to the potential for utilizing Foucault in deconstructing the growing interest in ICT-supported knowledge management and related systems and understanding control in liquid modernity.
The Consumer as Foucauldian “Object of Knowledge”
Authors: Humphreys Ashlee
Published: July 2006

This article adapts and extends Michel Foucault’s theorization of technologies of power, originally formulated with regard to the paradigm of the prisoner, to the paradigm of the consumer. Using examples of marketing practices and Internet technologies employed by Amazon.com, the author explores how sight-based technologies of power—individuation and surveillance—shape consumer agency and, employing the Panopticon metaphor, theorizes the link between surveillance and consumer spectacle. In addition to analyzing these techniques, the author indicates the formation of consumer resistance to them. The analysis of sight-based technologies of power is opposed to phenomenological analyses and analyses of discourse in the service of (a) providing an alternative hermeneutical viewpoint from which to view the consumer, (b) positioning marketing practitioners in our theories of consumer behavior, and, most importantly, (c) exploring how the consumer subject is constructed through technologies of surveillance and individuation.
Being Professional
Authors: D’Cruz Premilla , Noronha Ernesto
Published: July 2006

The relationship between technocratic and socioideological control in organizations is contested among scholars. In an attempt to understand this complex interlinkage, the present study examined organizational control processes in inbound and outbound call centers in Bangalore, India. Relying on qualitative interviews and thematic analysis, the study demonstrated how organizations invoke the concept of professionalism in their employees. Organizational efforts in this direction result not only in employee compliance but also internalization of professionalism such that agents’ sense of self changes to embrace employer-defined professionalism. Socioideological control thus sets the stage for the acceptance and effectiveness of technocratic control. Rather than viewing organizational identities and organizational cultures as additional or separate extensions of the substantive, structural, material dimensions of control, the findings of the study highlight that socioideological and technocratic forms of control build on and feed each other. Nonetheless, the managerial notion of control espoused through the appeal to professional identity continues to be contested.
Leading Conflict? Linkages Between Leader Behaviors and Group Conflict
Authors: Kotlyar Igor , Karakowsky Leonard
Published: July 2006

This article is intended to contribute to the creation of a theoretical framework for more fully assessing the nature of the relationship between leadership styles and group conflict. The authors report the results of a laboratory study conducted to assess the connection between leadership behaviors and the levels of cognitive and affective conflict generated in decision-making groups. The findings support the assertion that differences in leadership behaviors can trigger different levels of cognitive and affective conflict among group members. Behaviors reflective of the transformational style of leadership demonstrated the greatest capacity to motivate group members to constructively debate ideas. However, in contrast to transactional and external leader behaviors, transformational leadership behaviors also showed a greater capacity for igniting affective conflict among group members.
The Effects of Recent Employment Changes and Premium Increases on Adults' Insurance Coverage
Authors: Hadley Jack
Published: July 2006

This study uses national survey data from 1997, 1999, and 2002 to estimate a statistical model of the relationships between employment loss, insurance costs, and insurance coverage of nonelderly adults. Simulations based on the model suggest that the large increase in private insurance premiums (about 33 percent in constant dollars) was responsible for 3.1 of the 3.4 percentage-point drop in private insurance coverage between 2000 and 2003. Employment loss has a substantial impact on the coverage of people who lose employment, but its impact on aggregate coverage is relatively small. Expanded public coverage absorbed only about one quarter of the loss of private coverage. Controlling insurance (and medical) cost inflation is critical to expanding insurance coverage, even after the employment rate recovers.
Patient-Reported Underuse of Prescription Medications: A Comparison of Nine Surveys
Authors: Kirking Duane M. , Lee James A. , Ellis Jeffrey J. , Briesacher Becky , Mckercher Patrick L.
Published: July 2006

Nine national surveys documenting patient underuse of prescription medications were examined to describe the variation and trends in that underuse and identify possible reasons for the substantially different rates that were reported. Underuse includes unfilled prescriptions, delayed therapy, reduced frequency, and lowered dosage. Rates of cost-related patient underuse in the studies ranged from 1.6 to 22 percent. Insurance coverage, level of wealth, age, and health status were the sociodemographic variables most strongly related to underuse. Seven additional factors in the design and administration of the surveys were identified as providing plausible explanations for the variance across surveys. The most conspicuous variation was between three government-sponsored periodic surveys and six generally one-time assessments, with the latter yielding higher rates and greater variance in underuse. Understanding the factors contributing to the variation in reported rates of underuse of medications is an important prerequisite for the design of effective prescription-drug benefit programs.
Reducing Repeat Victimization Among High-Risk Victims of Domestic Violence
Authors: Robinson Amanda L.
Published: July 2006

The goal of Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) is to provide a forum for sharing information and taking actions to reduce harm to high-risk domestic violence victims. Interviews with participants and victims, observations, and police data reveal how the MARACs work in practice and also what they can accomplish. Results showed MARACs to be invaluable: Agencies assisted victims more efficiently, primarily through enhanced information sharing. MARACs improve victims' safety because both police and victim data revealed that 6 in 10 victims had not been revictimized. These positive results demonstrate the benefits of a coordinated community response.
History of Domestic Violence and Physical Health in Midlife
Authors: Loxton Deborah , Schofield Margot , Hussain Rafat , Mishra Gita
Published: July 2006

The association between domestic violence and physical health in middle-aged Australian women is investigated via a cross-sectional survey of 14,100 women (45 to 50 years old) who responded to the first Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health survey. After adjustment for demographic and health behavior characteristics and menopause status in multivariate analyses, various physical conditions (allergies or breathing problems, pain or fatigue, bowel problems, vaginal discharge, eyesight and hearing problems, low iron, asthma, bronchitis or emphysema, cervical cancer) were associated with domestic violence. The results highlight the link between health and domestic violence in middle-aged women and underscore the need for health professionals to take a full social history from women presenting with physical symptoms.
The Development of Collaboration of Response to Hurricane Katrina in the Dallas Area
Authors: Robinson Scott E. , Berrett Britt , Stone Kelley
Published: July 2006

Hurricane Katrina placed tremendous stress on America's emergency response systems. No single agency possessed the capacity required to address the needs of those affected by the hurricane. One element seen lacking in the immediate response to the hurricane was a well-coordinated effort taking advantage of the outpouring of support from distant jurisdictions and organizations. This article looks at some of the theories of how collaborative relationships like these sought in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina emerge in disaster situations and what factors influence the development of stable emergency response collaborative partnerships. Two case studies in the disaster response in the Dallas/Fort Worth area serve to illustrate the importance of communication and interaction in the development of disaster response networks. The article concludes with thoughts about what questions remain from the case studies and potentially fruitful avenues for research on collaboration and disaster response.
Infrastructure Interdependency and the Creation of a Normal Disaster
Authors: Leavitt William M. , Kiefer John J.
Published: July 2006

This article examines the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the infrastructure of the City of New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina set in motion a devastating series of failures in the critical infrastructure of the City of New Orleans and the surrounding region. The authors argue that Katrina can be viewed as a “normal” disaster, involving the complex interaction of interdependent infrastructures resulting in the unanticipated failure of multiple infrastructure systems. Key characteristics of infrastructure interdependencies are explored in relation to the case of Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. Understanding the nature of normal disasters and the tight coupling of infrastructure systems provides infrastructure managers with important lessons. These lessons involve the need for risk and vulnerability assessment; coordination, cooperation, and communication; and the need for flexible response to disasters.
Hurricane Katrina
Authors: Hassett Wendy L. , Handley Donna M.
Published: July 2006

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a number of cities along Mississippi's Gulf Coast were forced to rebuild their communities. This article examines the disaster response efforts of these cities, led by the State of Mississippi. To address both short- and long-term recovery efforts, Mississippi leaders focused on coordinating with a renewed vision for gaming and tourism that economically supports the economy of south Mississippi. This strategy employed by Mississippi provides a useful framework that points out the importance of public leadership and vision, public input, infrastructure and economic recovery, and an intergovernmental regional recovery plan. As a result of the coordinated response, Mississippi communities have created an articulated vision for the future of their respective communities.
The Mangle of Play
Authors: Steinkuehler Constance
Published: July 2006

In this essay, I discuss the ways in which, in the context of Lineage, the game that’s actually played by participants is not the game that designers originally had in mind, but rather one that is the outcome of an interactively stabilized (Pickering, 1995) “mangle of practice” of designers, players, in-game currency farmers, and broader social norms.
Color Doppler Imaging of the Scrotum
Authors: Owen Cindy A. , Winter Thomas
Published: July 2006

Sonographic evaluation of the scrotum provides an accurate method to evaluate normal anatomy and diagnose scrotal pathology. The anatomy, venous and arterial supply as well as the sonographic evaluation are described herein. This review also describes pathologies that may be encountered during sonographic evaluation.
The Peritoneum
Authors: Ricker Diana
Published: July 2006

A number of primary cancers have been implicated to originate from molecular sources within the mesothelial and germinal epithelial cell tissue layers of the serous lining of the peritoneum. The epithelial cell tissues that make up the peritoneum contain a rich vascular network. Through this vascular network, carcinomatosis dissemination and lymphangiogenesis can easily introduce infiltrates that activate tumor implantation within the peritoneal cavity and often concurrently invade primary organs of the body. Tumors encountered by sonographic imaging produce discrete hypoechoic nodules, irregular masses, and hypoechoic rind-like thickening of the peritoneum. In a substantial number of abdominal or pelvic malignancies, surgical treatment failure is isolated to the resection site or within peritoneal surfaces. This suggests that elimination of peritoneal surface spread at the time of surgical resection may have a substantial impact on the survival of these cancer patients.
Expression of T-lineage-affiliated transcripts and TCR rearrangements in acute promyelocytic leukemia: implications for the cellular target of t(15;17)
Authors: Chapiro Elise , Delabesse Eric , Asnafi Vahid , Millien Corinne , Davi Frederic , Nugent Elizabeth , Beldjord Kheira , Haferlach Torsten , Grimwade David , Macintyre Elizabeth A.
Published: July 2006

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is the most differentiated form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and has generally been considered to result from transformation of a committed myeloid progenitor. Paradoxically, APL has long been known to express the T-cell lymphoid marker, CD2. We searched for other parameters indicative of T-cell lymphoid specification in a cohort of 36 APL cases, revealing a frequent but asynchronous T-cell lymphoid program most marked in the hypogranular variant (M3v) subtype, with expression of PTCRA, sterile TCRA, and TCRG transcripts and TCRG rearrangement in association with sporadic cytoplasmic expression of CD3 or TdT proteins. Gene-expression profiling identified differentially expressed transcription factors that have been implicated in lymphopoiesis. These data carry implications for the hematopoietic progenitor targeted by the PML-RARA oncoprotein in APL and are suggestive of a different cellular origin for classic hypergranular (M3) and variant forms of the disease. They are also consistent with the existence and subsequent transformation of progenitor populations with lymphoid/myeloid potential.
CD45RA on human CD8 T cells is sensitive to the time elapsed since the last antigenic stimulation
Authors: Carrasco Javier , Godelaine Danièle , Van Pel Aline , Boon Thierry , van der Bruggen Pierre
Published: July 2006

The expression of CD45RA on CCR7– human CD8+ memory T cells is widely considered to be a marker of terminal differentiation. We studied the time course of CD45RA and CCR7 expression on human antitumoral cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones and blood CD8+ T cells after antigenic stimulation. Our results indicate that CD45RA+CCR7– CD8+ T cells are resting memory cells that, upon antigenic stimulation and during the next 10 days, proliferate, lose CD45RA, and transiently acquire CCR7. In the absence of further antigenic stimulation, they progressively re-express CD45RA and become CD45RA+CCR7–. We conclude that the expression of CD45RA on these cells is indicative of the time elapsed since the last antigenic stimulation rather than the incapacity to proliferate or particularly high lytic potential. This concept leads to a reinterpretation of the significance of the presence of CD45RA+ CD8+ memory cells in patients affected by viral infections or by cancer.