bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Possible Involvement of Oxidative Stress in Salivary Gland of Patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome
Authors: Ryo Koufuchi , Yamada Hiroyuki , Nakagawa Yoichi , Tai Yoshinori , Obara Kumi , Inoue Hiroko , Mishima Kenji , Saito Ichiro
Published: February 2007

Objective: To determine the involvement of oxidative stress in the salivary gland of patients with Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). Methods: Oxidative damage to the gland was measured by 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and hexanoyl-lysine (HEL) using the SS saliva. In addition, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and mitochondrial glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (m-GOT), both general markers for cell damage, were also analyzed. Results: Increased levels of 8-OHdG and HEL were found in the saliva of SS patients, but not in that of patients with other salivary gland dysfunction or of healthy individuals. Levels of LDH and m-GOT were significantly correlated with 8-OHdG and HEL levels, respectively. Furthermore, the increased levels of 8-OHdG and HEL were also correlated in the SS saliva. Conclusion: These findings suggested the involvement of oxidative stress in glandular tissue destruction in SS. It was indicated that the detection of 8-OHdG and HEL in the saliva may become a useful tool for the diagnosis of SS.
Biological and Oncogenic Properties of p53-Deficient Salivary Gland Epithelial Cells with Particular Emphasis on Stromal-Epithelial Interactions in Tumorigenesis
Authors: Obara Kumi , Ide Fumio , Mishima Kenji , Inoue Hiroko , Yamada Hiroyuki , Hayashi Yoshio , Saito Ichiro
Published: February 2007

Objective: To understand the salivary gland pathobiology, we established an immortalized duct/basal cell line (MSE) from the submandibular glands of p53-deficient mice. Methods: A variety of culture assays and xenograft experiments were conducted. Cellular characteristics were analyzed using histological, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and molecular techniques. Results: Inoculation of a mixture of MSE and Matrigel reconstructed polarized ducts whereas cotransplantation of MSE with both Matrigel and NIH3T3 (3T3) cells developed mixed tumors of adenoma and sarcoma. A daughter adenoma line (MSA) showed some transformed phenotype in vitro, but was marginally tumorigenic in vivo. Notably, pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1) was expressed in MSA but not in MSE. As compared with MSE, MSA showed higher levels of insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR). Interestingly, 3T3 sarcoma secreted insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II), while MSA did not. Conclusion: The intrinsic tumorigenic programs of p53 null salivary epithelium are promoted by 3T3 sarcoma-derived IGF-IIin a paracrine manner through overexpression of PLAG1 and IGF-IR.
Cholesteryl Ester-Transfer Protein (CETP) Polymorphism and the Association of Acute Coronary Syndromes by Obesity Status in Greek Subjects: The CARDIO2000-GENE Study
Authors: Dedoussis George V. , Panagiotakos Demosthenes B. , Louizou Eirini , Mantoglou Ioulia , Chrysohoou Christina , Lamnisou Klea , Pitsavos Christos , Stefanadis Christodoulos
Published: February 2007

Objective: Cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) regulates plasma lipid distribution. The present study aimed to investigate whether the CETP gene (Taq1B) polymorphism predisposes to Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) depending on obesity status. Methods: We studied demographic, lifestyle and clinical information in 237 hospitalized patients (185 males) with a first event of an ACS and 237 controls matched by age and sex. CETP Taq1B genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP analysis. Results: Overall, the CETP genotype frequencies were, in patients: 14% (n = 33), 35% (n = 83) and 51% (n = 121) and in controls: 17% (n = 39), 33% (n = 78) and 50% (n = 120) for B2B2, B1B1 and B1B2 respectively (p = 0.72). A significant interaction (p for interaction <0.001) was observed between obesity status and CETP concerning the likelihood of having ACS. Therefore, we stratified our analysis by obesity status and observed that B2B2 was associated with a 0.27 times lower likelihood of having ACS among normal-weight people (OR = 0.27, p = 0.02). No significant relationships were observed among overweight or obese participants. Conclusions: These findings provide evidence of a protective effect of the B2B2 genotype of the CETP Taq1B polymorphism on the likelihood of having a first event of ACS in normal-weight persons.
Adaptive Two-Stage Analysis of Genetic Association in Case-Control Designs
Authors: Zheng Gang , Song Kijoung , Elston Robert C.
Published: February 2007

We study a two-stage analysis of genetic association for case-control studies. In the first stage, we compare Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium coefficients between cases and controls and, in the second stage, we apply the Cochran- Armitage trend test. The two analyses are statistically independent when Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium holds in the population, so all the samples are used in both stages. The significance level in the first stage is adaptively determined based on its conditional power. Given the level in the first stage, the level for the second stage analysis is determined with the overall Type I error being asymptotically controlled. For finite sample sizes, a parametric bootstrap method is used to control the overall Type I error rate. This two-stage analysis is often more powerful than the Cochran-Armitage trend test alone for a large association study. The new approach is applied to SNPs from a real study.
Evaluation of Smoking as a Risk Factor for Activated Protein C Resistance during Pregnancy
Authors: Kafkas Samet , Kalkan Üzeyir , Bolaman Zahit , Sancı Muzaffer , Yüksel Hasan , Odabaşı Ali Rıza
Published: February 2007

Objective: The effect of smoking on the activated protein C (APC) ratio in normal gestation was systematically investigated. The frequency of acquired APC resistance (APCR) in the smoking and non-smoking subjects with normal follow-up of pregnancy and the outcome observed in these two groups were documented. Study Design: A total of 180 normal pregnant women (non-smokers 138, smokers 42) in different trimesters of gestation admitted to the hospital were enrolled into a cross-sectional study. APC ratio, factor V, factor VIII, protein S and protein C were quantitated. Factor V Leiden mutation analyses were performed by real-time PCR. Results: This cross-sectional study tries to detail the effect of smoking on APCR together with the changes in some components of the protein C/protein S system which may contribute to alterations in the APC ratio in normal gestation. A decreased APC ratio observed in pregnancy was statistically significant in the smokers (p = 0.03). When the trimesters were taken into consideration, APC ratios were significantly lower in the third trimester in the smokers compared with the non-smokers in the same trimesters (p = 0.001). The difference in the APC ratio between the groups in early pregnancy was not significant. Conclusion: These studies have demonstrated that the modified test abolishes the pregnancy-related effect on the APCRs in normal pregnant non-smoking women presumably by normalization of coagulation factors (except factor V). Our result for the non-smoking group is consistent with data provided in previous studies. However, we noted a very significant decrease in the APC ratio in smoking pregnant women in the third trimester, most likely secondary to decreased factor V levels.
Gentamicin Decreases Guanylyl Cyclase Activity in Rat Glomerulus
Authors: Bae Eun Hui , Oh Yoon Wha , Park Jeong Woo , Ma Seong Kwon , Choi Ki Chul , Lee JongUn , Kim Suhn Hee , Kim Soo Wan
Published: February 2007

Background: Effects of gentamicin (GM) on the local natriuretic peptide (NP) and nitric oxide (NO) systems in the kidney were investigated. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (180–200 g) were intramuscularly injected with GM (100 mg/kg/day) for 5 days. The expression of NO synthase (NOS) isoforms was determined by Western blot analysis, and that of NPs by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The activity of guanylyl cyclase was also determined by the amount of guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) generated in responses to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Results: GM treatment resulted in renal failure in association with increases in urinary flow and the fractional excretion of sodium. Accordingly, the expression of inducible NOS was increased in the cortex, while that of endothelial NOS remained unchanged. The urinary excretion of NO metabolites was increased. The expression of ANP, brain natriuretic peptide and C-type natriuretic peptide mRNA was increased in the kidney. The cGMP production provoked by either ANP or SNP was decreased in the glomerulus, but not in the papilla. Conclusion: GM-induced nephropathy may be causally related with decreased guanylyl cyclase activities in the glomerulus.
Development of in vitro Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria Exposed to Residue Level Exposures of Antimicrobial Drugs, Pesticides and Veterinary Drugs
Authors: Kleiner David K. , Katz Stanley E. , Ward Paula-Marie L.
Published: February 2007

Ten ppb or less of antibacterial drugs, pesticides and veterinary drugs could increase antibacterial resistance in bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was the indicator of resistance and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 9144 the indicator organism. Seventeen compounds used in human, veterinary medicine, crop production, and found in the environment, were studied singly, and as combinations. Single compounds decreased MIC values in 5.3% of possibilities; showed no changes in 74.4% of values; increased values in 21.8%; 16.5% of MICs increased 4- to 8-fold; 4.7% of changes were >8-fold. For two-compound mixtures 5.1% of MICs showed no changes; 34.3% increased 4–8 times; 60.6% increased >8-fold. For six-compound combinations: 5.9% of MICs showed no changes; 15.6% increased 4- to 8-fold; 78.5% increased >8-fold.
Valvular Strands and Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Wolf Robert Christian , Spiess Jochen , Vasic Nenad , Huber Roman
Published: February 2007

We report the case of a previously healthy 47-year-old woman suffering an acute embolic stroke in the left middle cerebral artery distribution. A filiform structure along the line of the aortic valve was first identified by transesophageal echocardiography, leading to the diagnosis of a valvular strand. These masses are thought to represent giant Lambl’s excrescences, although differential diagnoses include several benign cardiac tumors, e.g. papillary fibroelastoma. Valvular strands have previously been associated with embolic events including stroke, although exact pathogenetic mechanisms and further patient management have not yet been fully established. This case report additionally provides a short overview of the currently existing literature. As a conclusion, standard recommendations for patient management and treatment cannot be derived from currently available evidence.
Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability Correlates with Medial Temporal Lobe Atrophy but Not with Amyloid-β Protein Transport across the Blood-Brain Barrier in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Matsumoto Yasuko , Yanase Daisuke , Noguchi-Shinohara Moeko , Ono Kenjiro , Yoshita Mitsuhiro , Yamada Masahito
Published: February 2007

Background/Aims: Alterations in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) may play an important role in the pathogenesis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We investigated BBB disturbance and its influence on the equilibrium of amyloid-β protein (Aβ) between plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in AD patients. Methods: We analyzed albumin ratio as a marker of the BBB permeability and correlated it with the severity of dementia, brain atrophy on MRI, apolipoprotein E isoform, CSF levels of total tau, CSF and plasma levels of Aβ 1–40 (Aβ40) and 1–42 (Aβ42), and CSF/plasma ratios of Aβ40 and Aβ42 in 42 AD patients. Results: The albumin ratio was positively correlated with the severity of medial temporal lobe atrophy but not with the other parameters including CSF/plasma ratios of Aβ40 or Aβ42. Conclusion: Our results suggest that progression of medial temporal lobe atrophy is associated with increased BBB permeability and that the transport of Aβ across the BBB is not influenced by the BBB alteration in AD.
Amyloid β1–40 Quantification in CSF: Comparison between Chromatographic and Immunochemical Methods
Authors: Simonsen A.H. , Hansson S.F. , Ruetschi U. , McGuire J. , Podust V.N. , Davies H.A. , Mehta P. , Waldemar G. , Zetterberg H. , Andreasen N. , Wallin A. , Blennow K.
Published: February 2007

Background/Aims: Amyloid β (Aβ) is the principal component of senile plaques, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Evidence is accumulating that soluble aggregates (oligomers) of Aβ are important in the pathogenesis of AD. Methods: We compared three different methods for quantification of the 40 amino acid form of Aβ (Aβ40) in CSF, two based on antibodies [ELISA and surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (SELDI-TOF) with antibody-coated arrays] and one based on direct binding of proteins to a protein array [SELDI-TOF and immobilized metal affinity [copper] (IMAC30)]. Results: CSF Aβ40 concentration was only found to be significantly elevated in AD (127% of control levels; p = 0.0095) using SELDI-TOF with IMAC30 arrays. Conclusions: These data suggest that the measured Aβ level in CSF may differ depending on whether antibody-based methods are used or not, possibly caused by epitope masking due to Aβ oligomerization or to binding of Aβ to carrier proteins.
Relative Eye Size in Elasmobranchs
Authors: Lisney Thomas J. , Collin Shaun P.
Published: February 2007

Variation in relative eye size was investigated in a sample of 46 species of elasmobranch, 32 species of sharks and 14 species of batoids (skates and rays). To get a measure of eye size relative to body size, eye axial diameter was scaled with body mass using least-squares linear regression, using both raw species data, where species are treated as independent data points, and phylogenetically independent contrasts. Residual values calculated for each species, using the regression equations describing these scaling relationships, were then used as a measure of relative eye size. Relative and absolute eye size varies considerably in elasmobranchs, although sharks have significantly relatively larger eyes than batoids. The sharks with the relatively largest eyes are oceanic species; either pelagic sharks that move between the epipelagic (0–200 m) and ‘upper’ mesopelagic (200–600 m) zones, or benthic and benthopelagic species that live in the mesopelagic (200–1,000 m) and, to a lesser extent, bathypelagic (1,000–4,000 m) zones. The elasmobranchs with the relatively smallest eyes tend to be coastal, often benthic, batoids and sharks. Active benthopelagic and pelagic species, which prey on active, mobile prey also have relatively larger eyes than more sluggish, benthic elasmobranchs that feed on more sedentary prey such as benthic invertebrates. A significant positive correlation was found between absolute eye size and relative eye size, but some very large sharks, such as Carcharodon carcharias have absolutely large eyes, but have relatively small eyes in relation to body mass.
Functional Amaurosis: Diagnostic Value of Electronystagmography
Authors: Toglia Joseph U.
Published: February 2007

Hysterical and malingered blindness may be distinguished from organic ocular and cortical blindness by a variety of clinical and electrophysiological tests. This report discusses the limitations of these tests and emphasizes the objective superiority of a new test which utilizes the electronystagmographic technique. This test is based on the principle that visual input blocks nystagmus induced by vestibular stimulations: the presence of nystagmus suppression will indicate that blindness is either hysterical or malingered.
Changes in Regional Cerebral Blood Flow and Oxygen Metabolism Following Ventrolateral Thalamotomy in Parkinson Syndrome as Revealed by Positron Emission Tomography
Authors: Katayama Y. , Tsubokawa T. , Tsukiyama T. , Hirayama T.
Published: February 2007

A case with unilateral symptoms of Parkinson syndrome is presented in which interesting changes in the topographic patterns of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (CMRO2) were observed by positron emission tomography. This case was associated with severe tremor at rest exclusively in the left extremities. The parietal CBF and CMR02 for the affected hemisphere were apparently lower than those for the nonaffected hemisphere preoperatively. After thalamotomy involving the right nucleus ventralis lateralis, including the ventralis intermedius, concomitant with complete disappearance of the tremor, the parietal CBF and CMR02 for the affected side increased and even exceeded those for the nonaffected side.
Long-Term Follow-Up Study of Rostral Mesencephalic Reticulotomy for Pain Relief – Report of 34 Cases
Authors: Amano K. , Kawamura H. , Tanikawa T. , Kawabatake H. , Notani M. , Iseki H. , Shiwaku T. , Nagao T. , Iwata Y. , Taira T. , Umezawa Y. , Simizu T. , Kitamura K.
Published: February 2007

A long-term follow-up study of rostral mesencephalic reticulotomy (RMR) for pain relief is presented. 34 patients (24 males and 10 females) were operated. Ages ranged from 18 to 65 years. The follow-up period was 1–70 months. The overall effectiveness of RMR showed good relief of pain in 23 patients (67%). The study of effectiveness of RMR according to type of pain showed good relief of pain in 5 out of 6 patients (83%) with nondenervation pain, whereas satisfactory pain relief was obtained in 18 out of 28 patients (64%) with denervation pain.
Responses of Raphe-Spinal Neurons to Stimulation of the Pontine Parabrachial Region Producing Behavioral Nociceptive Suppression in the Cat
Authors: Katayama Y. , Tsubokawa T. , Maejima S. , Yamamoto T.
Published: February 2007

Cholinergic stimulation of the pontine parabrachial region (PBR) produces behavioral nociceptive suppression in the awake cat. This report shows that electrical stimulation of both PBR sites (verified to be associated with behavioral nociceptive suppression on cholinergic stimulation) and the periaqueductal gray (PAG) excites raphe-spinal neurons which have been implicated in descending nociceptive suppression. Although several Unes of evidence have strongly indicated that pathways from the PBR and PAG for nociceptive suppression are anatomically as well as neurochemically distinct, the results of the present study appear to suggest that certain components of the pathways from the PBR may be synergie in function with those from the PAG with regard to the activity of raphe-spinal neurons.
A Simple in vitro Method to Study the Trigeminal Ganglion
Authors: van Loveren H.R. , Haas H.L. , Greene R.W. , Siegfried J.
Published: February 2007

This report describes a simple in vitro method to harvest and study the electrophysiological properties of the trigeminal ganglion of the rat. In suction electrode recordings from the proximal nerve end, two distinct peaks are identified in the compound action potential evoked by electrical stimulation of the distal nerve. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), added to the perfusion fluid, caused a positive shift in the DC potential (depolarization) and a partially selective decrease in the amplitude of the slowconduction peak. Reversible antagonism of the GABA effect by picrotoxin and bicuculline suggests that both responses are receptor mediated. There was no response to carbamazepine or L-baclofen, suggesting that ganglionic polarization does not play a major role in the action of these drugs in trigeminal neuralgia.
Long Loop Reflexes: Concepts and Consequences
Authors: Noth Johannes
Published: February 2007

New experimental results on long latency reflexes in human limb muscles were presented by neurophysiologists and clinicians with great experience in this field. The scope of presentations reached from the pattern of long latency reflexes in leg muscles during stance and the modifications in various motor disorders to the firing behavior of single motor units during torque perturbations of the elbow and to the role of habituation in long latency reflexes. Finally, the effect of stereoencephalotomy on long latency reflexes in normals and patients with parkinsonian tremor was reviewed.
Motor Functions of the Basal Ganglia
Authors: Wiesendanger Mario
Published: February 2007

This session dealt with the structure and function of the basal ganglia and their role in motor control. The key issues discussed in the first four presentations concerned the pathophysiology of movement performance in parkinsonian patients and in animal models of this disease. Three papers were presented on neurochemically specified subsystems of the basal ganglia. Therapeutic aspects (stereoencephalotomy and chronic electrical stimulation of neural tissue) were discussed in the last two papers. A brief account is given on the highlights of each of these reports.
Computerized Tomography-Guided Stereotactic Dentatotomy
Authors: Weigel K. , Mundinger F.
Published: February 2007

The CT stereotactic technique of dentatotomy is described and illustrated with two examples. With this combined technique, ventriculography or pneumencephalography is no longer needed to determine the target point. In addition, due to the direct representation of anatomic structures in the CT, abnormal positions of the dentate nucleus may be taken into consideration in the determination of the target point and approach for the coagulation probe.
The Conceptual Construction of Altruism
Authors: Peacock Mark S.
Published: February 2007

I offer an appreciation and critique of Ernst Fehr’s altruism research in experimental economics that challenges the “selfishness axiom” as an account of human behavior. I describe examples of Fehr’s experiments and their results and consider his conceptual terminology, particularly his “biological” definition of altruism and its counterintuitive implications. I also look at Fehr’s experiments from a methodological perspective and examine his explanations of subjects’ behavior. In closing, I look at Fehr’s neuroscientific work in experimental economics and question his adherence to a subjective expected utility interpretation of subjects’ behavior.
Scientific Change as Political Action
Authors: Risjord Mark
Published: February 2007

A theory is value-neutral when no constitutive values are part of its content. Nonneutral theories seem to lack objectivity because it is not clear how the constitutive values could be empirically confirmed. This article analyzes Franz Boas’s famous arguments against nineteenth-century evolutionary anthropology and racial theory. While he recognized that talk of “higher civilizations” encoded a constitutive, political value with consequences for slavery and colonialism, he argued against it on empirical and methodological grounds. Boas’s arguments thus provide a model of how, under the right conditions, scientific inquiry can provide empirically objective grounds for political critique.
Explaining Normativity
Authors: Turner Stephen P.
Published: February 2007

In this reply, I raise some questions about the account of “normativity” given by Joseph Rouse. I discuss the historical form of disputes over normativity in such thinkers as Kelsen and show that the standard issue with these accounts is over the question of whether there is anything added to the normal stream of explanation by the problem of normativity. I suggest that Rouse’s attempt to avoid the issues that arise with substantive explanatory theories of practices of the kind criticized in The Social Theory of Practices leads to a result that is uninformative, and the strategy raises the question of whether there is anything there to explain and thus whether there is any necessity to appeal to the kind of anomalous explanations the normativist offers.
What Collapse, Exactly?
Authors: Agassi Joseph
Published: February 2007

Hilary Putnam makes two related points in his recent collection of essays: (1) Values can be rational, and their inescapable intrusion into every kind of discourse is welcome. (2) Ignoring or suppressing this fact is common yet irrational. This is of course true; yet the intrusion in question can be trivial, and it can be problematic. Putnam ignores this here. The book is pleasant to read; it is infused with friendly and appreciative personal anecdotes and observations. It is almost entirely critical and almost always in a friendly way. Yet it is often unclear. In almost every discussion here, the author announces one item and discusses another almost identical with it but one much easier to discuss.
Unwrinkling the Carpet of Meaning
Authors: Jarvie A. Max
Published: February 2007

This article is a critical review of Stephen Schiffer’s monograph The Things We Mean. The text discusses some novel contributions made by Schiffer to the philosophy of meaning, in particular, Schiffer’s proposal for the reification of certain abstract entities and the application of his argument to the philosophical problem of vagueness in natural language. Special attention is paid both to Schiffer’s ingenious use of the notion of conservative extension, here employed as a criterion for distinguishing legitimate from illegitimate reifications and to Schiffer’s notion of vague partial belief and its relation to standard partial belief. Schiffer’s particular understanding of vagueness and its relation to the sorites paradox is also considered, with some remarks made concerning the relationship between these related philosophical problems and human perception.
Responsiveness in Urban Service Delivery
Authors: Sharp Elaine B.
Published: February 2007

This article explores current conceptualizations of responsiveness, and argues that, while several levels of responsiveness (e.g., access, policy) are identified in the literature, the responsiveness concept is treatedfrom the perspective of a "consumer" model. Consequently, attention is directed toward satisfying citizen preferences, and the professional administrator's role in molding preferences and responding to "needs" as well as "preferences" is neglected. Excerptsfrom in-depth interviews ofpolice administrators are used to illustrate problems with the consumer approach to responsiveness in policy service delivery, and to suggest an alternative conceptualization that synthesizes the "preference satisfaction" approach with a "professional judgment of needs" approach.
Interaction of the Voluntary and Governmental Sectors
Authors: Rich Richard C.
Published: February 2007

Fiscal strain and the demandfor more responsive service delivery have combined to create an interest in new ways of involving citizens in municipal service delivery systems and of increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of public service delivery. I suggest in this article that a clear understanding of the relationship between the governmental and voluntary sectors of our society offers a means of accomplishing both ends. I explore the logic of the processes by which public services are coproduced by the actions of public employees and citizen consumers in order to discover ways in which government structures and policies can facilitate or inhibit voluntary, collective effort at community betterment, and ways in which voluntary efforts can impact the needfor and cost of government services.
Goals and Means
Authors: Comfort Louise K.
Published: February 2007

This article explores the dynamic interaction between goals and means in public policy. In particular, it identifies the inability of most public programs to develop workable adjustments between goals and means as a major source offailure in public policy. The tension between goals and means is seen as an integral, potentially constructive aspect of the policy process which, however, needs to be anticipated and incorporated into this process. Specification is defined as a mechanism for creating a viable fit between goals and means. Its role within the policy process is examined briefly in two case studies in the implementation of educational policy. Observations drawnfrom this comparison of the uses of specification in practice are used to present a model of specification as it operates within the effective policy process.
Questioning and Organizing Attention
Authors: Forester John
Published: February 2007

To understand what planning and administrative analysts do, and what they can yet do, we need a theory of planning and public administration that combines vision with practice, a theory neither solely utopian nor opportunistic. Jurgen Habermas's "critical communications theory of society" allows us to locate the planning analyst's questioning and shaping of attention, thus organizing and designing, within a political, institutional world of systematically but unnecessarily distorted (and so possibly alterable) communications. A critical theory of administration andplanning argues that the planning analysts' organizing of attention can and ought ethically to work to foster true political discourse, dialogue, and the possibilities of genuinely democratic politics.
Rela Tionships between Governing Boards and Professional Staff
Authors: Sabatier Paul , Mazmanian Daniel
Published: February 2007

This paper examines two critical aspects of the relationship between part-time policy boards andfull-time professional staff: (1) the views of each group toward the proper role of staff and (2) the respective influence of commissioners and staff. The results from a study offour land-use regulatory agencies suggest that the amount of congruence between the two groups on substantive policy issues is the dominant factor affecting their relationship and that commissioners are quite able to establish the general policy orientation of their institutions.
A Systematic Comparison Between Classical Optimal Scaling and the Two-Parameter IRT Model
Authors: Warrens Matthijs J. , de Gruijter Dato N. M. , Heiser Willem J.
Published: February 2007

In this article, the relationship between two alternative methods for the analysis of multivariate categorical data is systematically explored. It is shown that the person score of the first dimension of classical optimal scaling correlates strongly with the latent variable for the two-parameter item response theory (IRT) model. Next, under the assumption that the latent variable has a standard normal distribution, it is derived how the IRT item parameters are related to the optimal category weights.
A Multidimensional Item Response Modeling Approach for Improving Subscale Proficiency Estimation and Classification
Authors: Yao Lihua , Boughton Keith A.
Published: February 2007

Several approaches to reporting subscale scores can be found in the literature. This research explores a multidimensional compensatory dichotomous and polytomous item response theory modeling approach for subscale score proficiency estimation, leading toward a more diagnostic solution. It also develops and explores the recovery of a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) estimation approach to multidimensional item and ability parameter estimation, as well as subscale proficiency and classification rates. The simulation study presented here used real data-derived parameters from a large-scale statewide assessment with subscale score information under varying conditions of sample size and correlations between subscales (.0, .1, .3, .5, .7, .9). It was found that to report accurate diagnostic information at the subscale level, the subscales need to be highly correlated, or a multidimensional approach should be implemented. MCMC methodology is still a nascent methodology in psychometrics; however, with the growing body of research, its future looks promising.
Threats to the ocean: on the role of ecosystem approaches to fisheries
Authors: Christensen Villy , Aiken Karl A. , Villanueva Maria C.
Published: February 2007

English

It is becoming increasingly clear that humans impact marine ecosystems and their biodiversity to a very considerate degree, and evidence of the scale of impact is growing. An enabling factor for this has been a change in focus from local-level studies to increased emphasis on meta-analysis of global or regional-level analysis of fisheries' impact. Results include the facts that the world's total fish catches have been decreasing over the last decade or more; that larger, predatory fishes (table fish) are becoming increasingly scarcer; and that we are appropriating the ocean shelves' primary productivity to the same level as we are for terrestrial ecosystems. Ecosystems are being eroded in countries throughout the world, and though one might get the impression from the IUCN Red List that it is mainly a developed-country problem, it is alarming that the impact of severe overfishing may be on an even larger scale for developing countries. We describe aspects of the risks overfishing poses to marine ecosystems, and point out how ecosystem approaches to fisheries can be used to evaluate the potential impact of alternative fishing policy scenarios.

French

Il devient de plus en plus clair que les activités humaines altèrent les écosystèmes marins et leur biodiversité à un degré considérable, et les preures de l'échelle des impacts anthropiques s'accumulent. Un des facteurs déterminants de cette prise de conscience réside dans le changement d'échelle des études de l'impact des pêches qui sont passées d'un niveau local à un niveau global ou régional au travers d'études de type méta-analyse. Les résultats obtenus les plus évocateurs incluent le fait que la totalité des captures mondiales de poissons a diminué pendant la dernière décennie ou plus; que les grands prédateurs (l'essentiel des poissons "de table") deviennent de plus en plus rares; et que nous nous approprions la productivité primaire des plateaux continentaux au même titre que nous nous sommes appropriés celle des écosystèmes terrestres. Les écosystèmes sont érodés dans les pays du monde entier, et bien que la liste rouge de l'IUCN laisse penser que c'est principalement le problème des pays développés, il est alarmant de constater que l'impact de la surpêche excessive pourrait être une échelle bien plus grande encore pour les pays en voie de développement. Nous décrivons certains aspects des risques que pose la surpêche pour les écosystèmes marins, et mettons en exergue comment l'approche écosystémique des pêches peut être employée pour évaluer l'impact potentiel de scénarios alternatifs de règlementation des pêches.
Modelling sustainability: from applied to involved modeling
Authors: Laloë Francis
Published: February 2007

English

Models are used as tools for studying sustainable development. They are a priori neutral, but this neutrality can be upset if the analysis of observations done to answer questions in reference to a given a priori definition of sustainability leads to the identification of sustainability contexts that do not correspond to the initial definition. The practice of actors may for example involve substitution between elements of a natural capital, which may not be in agreement with a strong definition of sustainability. Therefore we may have to consider the need for transition from a prescriptive to a descriptive approach. The context of modelling depends on the object we want to be preserved (what we observe). If this object is a resource-exploitation system, the perception of sustainability comes from observation of the system. The observation process may have been initiated by a mono-disciplinary question, but, sustainability being dependent on an object which must be described, no unique definition can be proposed. The definition and perception of sustainability are themselves processes to which modelling sciences may have to contribute.

French

Des modèles sont utilisés comme outils dans le contexte des études sur le développement durable. Ils sont a priori neutres, mais cette neutralité peut être mise à mal si des analyses d'observations réalisées pour répondre à des questions posées en référence à une définition donnée de durabilité conduisent à identifier des contextes de durabilité qui ne correspondent pas nécessairement à la définition initialement adoptée. La pratique d'acteurs peut ainsi par exemple reposer sur des substitutions entre éléments d'un capital naturel, ce qui peut ne pas correspondre à une définition très forte de la durabilité. Dans ces conditions on peut discuter du passage d'une approche prescriptive à une approche descriptive. La question du choix d'un contexte de modélisation dépend de l'objet que l'on veut préserver (ce que l'on observe). S'il s'agit d'un système d'exploitation d'une ressource, la perception de la durabilité découle de l'observation du système. Le processus d'observation a pu être initié selon une définition a priori associée à un questionnement souvent "mono-disciplinaire", mais la durabilité étant inféodée à un objet qu'il faut représenter, on ne peut en proposer une définition unique. La définition et la perception de la durabilité sont des processus auxquels les sciences de modélisation peuvent être amenées à contribuer
Assessing the social costs of capture fisheries: an exploratory study
Authors: Bavinck Maarten , Monnereau Iris
Published: February 2007

English

Theorists and modellers have made significant progress in defining ecological and economic parameters for measuring the “costs” of fisheries. Social dimensions have not, however, received equal attention. This article enquires into the nature of social costs and how they might be assessed in a cross-cultural perspective. The proposed approach has three underpinnings: (1) social concerns, as manifested in international declarations; (2) human interests as defined by ethics; and (3) the hierarchy of needs, as distinguished by the social psychologist Maslow. Together, these sources suggest three dimensions for the measurement of social costs and benefits, relating to basic needs or wellbeing, social justice and self-realization. One current method for investigating social costs along these lines is the job satisfaction survey. The article concludes with an assessment of the job satisfaction studies that have been done in fisheries.

French

Théoriciens et modélisateurs ont fait des progrès signifiants en définissant les paramètres écologiques et économiques afin de mesurer les "coûts" des pêcheries. Il reste qu'en tout état de cause la dimension sociale n'a pas reçu la même attention. Cette contribution pose la question de la nature des coûts sociaux et celle de la manière dont ils peuvent être établis dans le cadre d'une perspective transculturelle. L'approche proposée repose sur trois piliers: (1) les préoccupations sociales telles qu'elles s'expriment dans les déclarations internationales; (2) les intérêts humains tels que les définit l'éthique; et (3) la hiérarchie des besoins tels qu'ils sont distingués par le psychologue social Maslow. Ensemble, ces sources d'information suggèrent trois dimensions pour la mesure des coûts sociaux et bénéfices rapportés aux besoins fondamentaux que sont le bien-être, la justice sociale et la réalisation de soi. La méthode actuelle pour rendre compte des coûts sociaux dans ce cadre de travail est l'enquête sur la satisfaction au travail. Cette contribution se conclut avec un inventaire des études de satisfaction au travail telles qu'elles ont été conduites dans les pêches.
Loss of bio-diversity: representation and valuation processes of fishing communities
Authors: Sall Aliou
Published: February 2007

English

Based mainly on Serge Collet's work — in particular for the theoretical approach — and on his own field research, the author tries to contribute to a better understanding of the human–sea nexus within small-scale fishing communities still characterized by a specific social halieutical morphology. This article, produced in the framework of ECOST, challenges scientists — in particular those biologists and economists for whom the linkage between fishing communities and the sea is narrowly reduced to market relations. This error is maintained by the huge capacity of small-scale fishermen to profit from international markets in a context of globalization. The author tries to highlight the deep cultural endowment of a “marine culture” in the context of globalization, on the one hand, and the fact that marine resources are part of a broader marine entity whose wealth depends on the will of subnatural powers, on the other. Finally, the author explains how the combination of “cultural beliefs” with the lack of trust in scientific research has led to eco-fatalism, questioning at the same time the validity of certain marine resources conservation tools such as Marine Protected Areas.

French

S'appuyant sur les travaux de Serge Collet — plus particulièrement pour l'approche théorique — et ses propres travaux de terrain, l'auteur essaie de contribuer à une meilleure compréhension de la connexion entre l'humain et la mer au sein de certaines communautés de pêcheurs traditionnels, encore partie intégrante d'une morphologie halieutique sociale spécifique. Cet article, produit dans le cadre du projet ECOST, lance un défi aux scientifiques — en particulier aux biologistes et économistes qui réduisent cette connexion à des rapports marchands. Cette vision, qui ne résiste pas à l'analyse des faits, est entretenue par la grande capacité des pêcheurs artisanaux à intégrer les marchés internationaux dans un contexte de globalisation. Après avoir mis en relief la profondeur de l'enracinement d'une culture spécifique qu'on peut qualifier de "culture marine", en dépit de cette ouverture au marché international, l'auteur remet en cause l'attitude consistant à isoler les ressources marines d'une "entité marine" plus globale. Pour ces dernières, l'état de santé de cet environnement spécifique et celui des ressources qu'il recèle, dépendent du "bon vouloir" de forces sous-naturelles. Cette représentation propre de l'entité marine, associée au manque de confiance à l'égard de la recherche scientifique, mène au "fatalisme écologique", remettant en même temps en cause le bien-fondé de certaines mesures et outils de conservation tels que les Aires marines protégées.
Hafnium-containing Nanocomposites
Authors: Pomogailo Anatolii D. , Dzhardimalieva Gulzhian I. , Rozenberg Alexander S. , Kestelman Vladimir N.
Published: February 2007

Hafnium-containing nanocomposites are prepared using polymermediated synthesis and controlled thermolysis. The new types of Hf-containing monomers and polymers were synthesized. The composition and structure of the synthesized hafnium-containing precursors and thermolysis products are determined by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, optical and scanning electron microscopies, and x-ray diffraction. Thermodynamic analysis is used to assess the equilibrium composition of the Hf–C–H–O system and establish the conditions under which HfC and HfO2 are formed.
Melt Blended Polystyrene/Layered Silicate Nanocomposites: Effect of Clay Modification on the Mechanical, Thermal, Morphological and Viscoelastic Behavior
Authors: Mohanty Smita , Nayak Sanjay K.
Published: February 2007

Polystyrene (PS)/layered silicate nanocomposites are prepared by the melt blending technique. Na-MMT is modified with stearyltrimethyl ammonium chloride to evaluate the effect of clay modification on the performance of the nanocomposites. A comparative account with the nanocomposites prepared using commercial clay cloisite 20A (C20A) has been presented. The effect of addition of untreated and treated clays on the morphological, thermal, mechanical, and dynamic mechanical properties of PS matrix has been studied. The dispersion characteristics of the clays and the formation of tactoids within the matrix polymer is investigated through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies confirm an increase in the clay gallery spacing in the treated clay nanocomposites. Thermal measurements employing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) are carried out to evaluate the effect of addition of nanoclays on the Tg and thermal stability of PS matrix. C20A-PS nanocomposites exhibit optimum performance at 3% clay loading. Mechanical tests reveal an increase of tensile, flexural, and impact strengths to the tune of 83, 55, and 74%, respectively. Further, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) shows a substantial increase in the storage modulus of PS in the treated nanocomposites.
Processing and Mechanical Properties of Natural Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Starch Biocomposites
Authors: Torres F. G. , Arroyo O. H. , Gomez C.
Published: February 2007

Natural fiber reinforced starch polymers are processed by compression molding. Potato, sweet potato, and corn starch are used as matrices. Three types of natural fibers, namely sisal, jute, and cabuya, are used in concentrations varying from 2.5 to 12.5% w/w in the composites. Different plasticizers are used for the starch polymers, such as water and glycerol. Mechanical properties are assessed by tensile and impact tests. In both cases, improved mechanical properties are obtained at increasing fiber contents. Tensile strength appears to be markedly improved with the addition of 10% by weight of sisal fibers, while the best results for impact strength are obtained for cabuya fibers.
Mechanical, Thermal, and Flow Properties of HDPE–Mica Composites
Authors: Liang Ji-Zhao , Yang Quan-Quan
Published: February 2007

A high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is compounded with surfacetreated mica in a twin-screw extruder, with filler weight fractions (øf) of 5, 10, and 15%. The tensile, flexural, impact, heat distortion temperature and melt flow properties of the composites are measured to identify the effect of mica loading on these properties. The results show that the tensile yield strength and tensile fracture strength increase nonlinearly, while the flexural strength and flexural modulus increase linearly with an addition of øf. When øf is <5%, the tensile fracture elongation of the composites increases and then reduces, while the impact strength drops down quickly, and then decreases slightly with increasing øf. The melt volume flow rate (MVR) of the composites decreases linearly with increasing øf. The heat distortion temperature of the composites increases considerably when øf is <10%, and then decreases gently.
Whatever Happened to Social Dialogue? From Partnership to Managerialism in the EU Employment Agenda
Authors: Gold Michael , Cressey Peter , Léonard Evelyne
Published: February 2007

There has been a major bifurcation in the level and form of social dialogue between employers and unions within the EU. The intersectoral and sectoral social dialogue launched by the Val Duchesse process in 1985 now runs in parallel with domestic forms that are merely reacting to agendas established by the Commission and the Council. This article, based on interviews with employer, union and government representatives across six EU member states, argues that the European Employment Strategy is converting social dialogue into a managerialist process by decentralizing it to national level and co-opting the social partners into taking responsibility for meeting employment targets over which they have had no influence.
Varieties of Capitalism in Spain: Business and the Politics of Coordination
Authors: Royo Sebastián
Published: February 2007

This article explores the evolving interests of Spanish capital and the structural and political constraints within which employers define and defend their interests. It shows that institutional change is a political matter; it is therefore possible to develop coordination capacities in the absence of many defining features of ‘coordinated market economies’. The central argument is that successful coordination depends not only on the organization of the social actors but also on their interests and strategies.