bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Penetration into rice tissues by brown planthopper and fine structure of the salivary sheaths
Authors: Wang Yanchang , Tang Ming , Hao Peiying , Yang Zhifan , Zhu Lili , He Guangcun
Published: November 2008

The fine structure of the salivary sheaths in plant tissues can provide important information on homopteran probing and ingestion behaviors. Salivary sheaths secreted by the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Homoptera: Delphacidae), and their tissue pathway were investigated using light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. About half of the salivary flanges on the surface of the food substrate were connected with internal salivary sheaths. Only 43% of the salivary sheaths showed side branches. Many sculpture‐like protuberances and small cavities had been formed on the outer surface of the salivary sheath, but the sheath lumen circumferences were sealed. Brown planthoppers showed a preference for probing and leaving salivary sheaths in the susceptible rice variety TN1 rather than in the resistant variety B5 during the first 2 days of the experiments. The salivary sheaths in rice tissues reached the inner tissue layer of the leaf sheaths and stems, but were mostly observed to end in the first and second layer of the leaf sheaths. Brown planthoppers also preferred to probe into the thick segment of the outer leaf sheath. After ingestion by the insect, the cytoplasm in both phloem and companion cells degraded and the main organelles were lost. Numerous small vesicles were found in most of the phloem cells, but cell walls remained intact. Large numbers of symbiont‐like structures were observed inside the salivary sheath lumen. These results indicated that BPH has complicated feeding behaviors, which warrants further investigation.
The serotonin transporter 5‐HTTPR polymorphism is associated with current and lifetime depression in persons with chronic psychotic disorders
Authors: Contreras J. , Hare L. , Camarena B. , Glahn D. , Dassori A. , Medina R. , Contreras S. , Ramirez M. , Armas R. , Munoz R. , Mendoza R. , Raventos H. , Ontiveros A. , Nicolini H. , Palmer R. , Escamilla M.
Published: November 2008

Objective:  Variation in the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) promoter region has been shown to influence depression in persons who have been exposed to a number of stressful life events.

Method:  We evaluated whether genetic variation in 5‐HTTLPR, influences current depression, lifetime history of depression and quantitative measures of depression in persons with chronic psychotic disorders. This is an association study of a genetic variant with quantitative and categorical definitions of depression conducted in the southwest US, Mexico and Costa Rica. We analyzed 260 subjects with a history of psychosis, from a sample of 129 families.

Results:  We found that persons carrying at least one short allele had a statistically significant increased lifetime risk for depressive syndromes (P < 0.02, odds ratio 2.18, 95% CI 1.10–4.20).

Conclusion:  The ‘ss’ or ‘sl’ genotype at the 5‐HTTLPR promoter polymorphic locus increases the risk of psychotic individuals to develop major depression during the course of their illness.
Practical tool for landscape planning? An empirical investigation of network based models of habitat fragmentation
Authors: Andersson Erik , Bodin Örjan
Published: November 2008

This study presents a graph‐theoretical modelling approach using daily movements and habitat demands of different target bird species in an urban context to assess: 1) habitable land cover types, 2) threshold distances between patches of habitat, 3) the required minimum accessible habitat areas and 4) the effects of barriers and stepping stones. The modelling approach is tested using empirical data from field surveys in the urban area of Stockholm, Sweden.

The results show that groups of small habitat patches can house the same species as larger contiguous patches as long as they are perceived as functionally connected by the inhabitant organisms. Furthermore, we found that binary habitat/non‐habitat representations of the landscape could roughly explain the variation in species occurrence, as long as habitat was properly defined. However, the explanatory power of the landscape models increased when features of matrix heterogeneity such as stepping stones and barriers were accounted for.

Synthesis and application: in a world where forest ecosystems are becoming increasingly fragmented there is an urgent need to find comprehensive and scientifically relevant methods for managing and planning ecosystems. This study shows that: 1) groups of well placed small habitat patches can, together, be sufficient to attract birds in intensively developed areas, 2) the presented modelling approach can help identify such groups of patches, 3) matrix heterogeneity should preferably be accounted for, and 4) proper assessments of habitable land cover types are important. Finally, we argue that the modelling approach applied here may substantially improve landscape management and planning at scales ranging from whole landscapes down to neighbourhoods.
Long‐term change to fish assemblages and the flow regime in a southeastern U.S. river system after extensive aquatic ecosystem fragmentation
Authors: Taylor Christopher M. , Millican Daniel S. , Roberts Matt E. , Slack William T.
Published: November 2008

The upper Tombigbee River in northeastern Mississippi now exists as a fragment, confluencing with and fed by an extensively modified aquatic landscape now called the Tennessee‐Tombigbee Waterway (TTW). We examined the changes to fish assemblages and flow regime after waterway construction based on contemporary comparisons to historical fish collections and discharge data. The river's flow regime has changed markedly since TTW construction. Analysis of discharge data from two stations for 15 years, pre‐ and post‐waterway, indicated significant differences in flow regime including increased minimum and base flows, lower spring and higher late summer‐autumn flows, and lower high flow durations, post‐TTW. These changes corresponded to significantly reduced regional and local species richness, and strong shifts in fish assemblage structure across a 20 yr time span. Post‐waterway fish assemblages were related strongly to measured environmental variables characterizing local habitats. Several lentic‐adapted species increased their abundances in lower reaches of the river, including a recent invader to the TTW system, the Mississippi silverside Menidia audens. Fragmentation of river ecosystems via disruption to hydrologic regimes is a major threat to aquatic biodiversity worldwide. Because the flow regime of this fragmented river is in part controlled by waterway operations via five minimum flow control structures, adaptive conservation and management efforts could be implemented in order to maintain and potentially restore the natural flow regime and the ecological integrity of the system.
Development of an International Collaborative Dental Hygiene Programme between Japan and Canada
Authors: Saito A , Sato Y , Nakamura A , Nozawa H , Haneta M , Matsumoto S , Cathcart G
Published: November 2008

Abstract:  This paper reports the development of an international dental hygiene educational programme between Japan and Canada, and the evaluation of its outcomes. In 2004, a unique collaborative programme with Canadian dental hygiene schools was introduced as part of a 3‐year dental hygiene curriculum. This international programme mainly consists of three parts: a spring (full Japanese faculty and student exchange to Canada), fall (select Japanese faculty and student exchange to Canada for focused professional development) and summer (select Canadian student exchange to Japan) component. The spring component provides an opportunity for all Japanese students to visit the Canadian dental hygiene schools at the end of their second year. Students and faculty members share information about their programmes and culture through instructional presentations, chair‐side hands‐on clinical simulations, and table clinic presentations. For the fall component, selected Japanese students and faculty re‐visit the Canadian school for more extensive learning and exchange with Canadian students. Workshops are held for faculty on educational and research topics. For the summer component, selected second year Canadian students visit Japan. The Japanese students’ basic knowledge of Canada and Canadian dental hygiene showed statistically significant improvement (P < 0.001) as assessed by pre‐ and post‐tests. Other programme evaluations including faculty and students’ surveys have so far identified positive outcomes in learning and research. The programme has offered opportunities for faculty professional development and joint research projects. In conclusion, the findings reported here demonstrate that incorporation of the international collaborative programme can be a significant addition to dental hygiene education.
The efficacy of woodsticks on plaque and gingival inflammation: a systematic review
Authors: Hoenderdos NL , Slot DE , Paraskevas S , Van der Weijden GA
Published: November 2008

Abstract:  Objective:  To review the literature on whether a hand‐held triangular woodstick, as compared with no adjunct or other interdental cleaning device in addition to daily toothbrushing, can improve clinical parameters of gingival inflammation.

Material and Methods:  MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched through February 2008 to identify appropriate studies. Plaque and gingivitis were selected as outcome variables.

Results:  Independent screening of the titles and abstracts of 181 MEDLINE and 65 CENTRAL papers yielded seven publications with eight clinical experiments that met the eligibility criteria. The improvement in gingival health, as observed in seven studies, represents a significant incremental benefit realized by the use of triangular woodsticks. None of the studies that scored plaque demonstrated any significant advantage to the use of woodsticks, as opposed to alternative methods, in gingivitis patients.

Conclusion:  Evidence from controlled trials, most of which were also randomized, shows that woodsticks do not have an additional effect on visible interdental plaque or gingival index, but do, however, provide an improvement in interdental gingival inflammation by reducing the bleeding tendency.
Buddhi Bangara Project on oral health promotion: a 3‐ to 5‐year collaborative programme combining support, education and research in Nepal
Authors: Knevel RJM , Neupane S , Shressta B , De Mey L
Published: November 2008

Abstract:  Objective:  The overall purpose of the Buddhi Bangara Project (BBP) is to investigate if oral health promotion (OHP) will be a realistic way to improve the oral hygiene and dental awareness of Nepalese schoolchildren aged 5–12 years. This study is the first aspect of the overall project. Dental hygiene students from Kantipur School of Dentistry, Kathmandu and the Dental Hygiene Programme at the INHOLLAND University in Amsterdam were actively involved in this assessment phase as well as the implementation phase which included oral health education activities. This descriptive study is the first phase of a larger longitudinal study directed towards improving the oral health of children in Nepal.

Methods:  The first phase involves the assessment of children in several schools, one of which acts as a control group. It is directed toward the baseline data collected prior to the implementation of the OHP initiatives. Qualitative data on knowledge about oral health was collected through observations and a questionnaire. The World Health Organization community index of treatment needs was used to assess the clinical status of the participants.

Results:  The data show that knowledge about preventing oral diseases is high, but awareness about the benefits of fluoride is low. It also suggests that the oral health of the examined children is affecting their quality of life in several different ways. The social status of participants appears to influence their dietary intake as well as their choice of professionals to visit when experiencing pain.

Conclusion:  It appears that children in Nepal have oral health problems and oral health does appear to influence their quality of life. The impact of the OHP activities have yet to be determined.
Response of Chinese Wampee Axes and Maize Embryos to Dehydration at Different Rates
Authors: Huang Hui , Song Song‐Quan , Wu Xian‐Jin
Published: November 2008

Survival of wampee (

Clausena lansium

Skeels) axes and maize (Zea mays L.) embryos decreased with rapid and slow dehydration. Damage of wampee axes by rapid dehydration was much less than by slow dehydration, and that was contrary to maize embryos. The malondialdehyde contents of wampee axes and maize embryos rapidly increased with dehydration, those of wampee axes were lower during rapid dehydration than during slow dehydration, and those of maize embryos were higher during rapid dehydration than during slow dehydration. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) of wampee axes markedly increased during the early phase of dehydration, and then rapidly decreased, and those of rapidly dehydrated axes were higher than those of slow dehydrated axes when they were dehydrated to low water contents. Activities of SOD and APX of maize embryos notable decreased with dehydration. There were higher SOD activities and lower APX activities of slowly dehydrated maize embryos compared with rapidly dehydrated maize embryos. CAT activities of maize embryos markedly increased during the early phase of dehydration, and then decreased, and those of slowly dehydrated embryos were higher than those of rapidly dehydrated embryos during the late phase of dehydration.
A Simple, Low‐Cost Method to Monitor Duration of Ground Water Pumping
Authors: Massuel S. , Perrin J. , Wajid M. , Mascre C. , Dewandel B.
Published: November 2008

Monitoring ground water withdrawals for agriculture is a difficult task, while agricultural development leads frequently to overexploitation of the aquifers. To fix the problem, sustainable management is required based on the knowledge of water uses. This paper introduces a simple and inexpensive direct method to determine the duration of pumping of a well by measuring the temperature of its water outlet pipe. A pumping phase is characterized by a steady temperature value close to ground water temperature. The method involves recording the temperature of the outlet pipe and identifying the different stages of pumping. It is based on the use of the low‐cost and small‐size Thermochron iButton temperature logger and can be applied to any well, provided that a water outlet pipe is accessible. The temperature time series are analyzed to determine the duration of pumping through manual and automatic posttreatments. The method was tested and applied in South India for irrigation wells using electricity‐powered pumps. The duration of pumping obtained by the iButton method is fully consistent with the duration of power supply (1.5% difference).
THE SOUTHERN AGRARIANS, PROGRESS, AND THE TRAGIC VOICE
Authors: Duncan Christopher M.
Published: November 2008

In this argument the Agrarian role in the American political drama is not necessarily the specific one implied by the dichotomy: “Agrarian versus Industrial” (Twelve Southerners [1930] 1977, xxxviii), or the policist pronouncement“… that the culture of the soil is the best… and that therefore it should have the economic preference and enlist the maximum number of workers”(xlvii). Instead, this is an attempt to place them in a role similar to that played by Sophocles' Antigone—and Sophocles himself—juxtaposing them to the North's Creon. I argue that the Southern Agrarian “voice,” when heard properly, makes, possible the tragic sense, adjured by America's unequivocal attachment to modernity's gospel of progress. By positioning the Agrarians in such a way the goal is to point out a way of thinking about the political world, to create a sensibility that is only possible when their voice or another like it is heard properly and with its own timbre. If the project is successful, then two aims will be realized. First, the place and role of the Southern Agrarians in the history of American political thought will be made clearer. And secondly, the history of American political thought will have been employed in part as a kind of theoretical advocacy in the service of American political theory.
CONGRESSIONAL PARTISANSHIP, BIPARTISANSHIP AND PUBLIC OPINION: AN EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS
Authors: Morris Jonathan , Witting Marie
Published: November 2008

There has been extensive research concerning Congress and how partisan attachments and attitudes affect views toward it. In addition, a burgeoning area of research has developed concerning how media influences a person's attitudes and beliefs. In our study we test three hypotheses: viewing partisan House rhetoric will increase partisanship, negative attitudes toward Congress, and negative attitudes toward the federal government as a whole. We test these hypotheses with an experimental design in which we manipulate the independent variable at two levels: viewing partisan speeches and viewing bipartisan speeches. We find that direct exposure to congressional partisan rhetoric leads to lower levels of support and increased partisan polarization. Surprisingly, we also find that exposure to bipartisan floor rhetoric, while decreasing party polarization fails to generate increased levels of support for Congress or the government as whole.
WHAT IS STILL CRITICAL IN THE WORK OF JÜRGEN HABERMAS?
Authors: Koch Andrew M.
Published: November 2008

This paper will present a strategic reading of Habermas's project since the publishing of his “Legitimation Crisis.” We examine his consensus theory of truth, the assumption of mutually acceptable outcomes in political discourse, and the role of law in bringing about social solidarity. We argue that Habermas has made several questionable assumptions while constructing this project that leave him open to criticism. We suggest that in his desire to preserve the Enlightenment, Habermas has ignored the power dimension of political life, leading him in a very “uncritical” direction.
Presidential Power Unbound: A Comparative Look at Presidential Pardon Power
Authors: Baumgartner Jody C. , Morris Mark H.
Published: November 2008

Though few scholars compare presidencies, a recent collection by John Carey and Matthew Shugart (1998) compares the use of the presidential executive decree power in several countries. In a similar vein, we examine the oft‐neglected power of the presidential pardon in the United States and Russia. The power of presidents to grant pardons is typically unlimited, which fact alone makes it worthwhile to understand. Like Carey and Shugart, we look at the institutional factors involved in the potential and actual use of the pardon power in our attempt to explicate the foundations of and the constraints on presidential pardons, as well as any trends which may be evident in its use. The comparison highlights the difficulties in precisely defining “pardon,” as well as illustrating the fact that this seemingly minor power in a newer democracy can be used as a powerful political tool.
Minority Representation and Majority‐Minority Districts after Shaw v. Reno: Legal Challenges, Empirical Evidence and Alternative Approaches
Authors: Smith Michael A.
Published: November 2008

One of the most vexing problems of American federalism is the process by which representatives get elected from the respective states. This paper discusses the muddled precedent on gerrymandering established by the U.S. Supreme Court in Shaw v. Reno and upheld in subsequent cases. After conditionally upholding gerrymandering for political purposes in Davis v. Bandemer, the Court now rejects racial gerrymandering if the resulting districts have a particularly contorted appearance on a map. These rulings lack a clear definition of representation, though the Court has hinted that it may be necessary to move beyond the stark procedural view of one‐person, one‐vote. Although the concept of substantive representation may seem difficult to apply at first, it may be operationalized by considering the chances that a voter or coalition has of influencing an election. Given the obvious preferences of legislators and parties for “safe seats,” along with this vague Court precedent, voters may be tempted to refer districting controversies to nonpartisan or bipartisan commissions.
PARTISANSHIP AND THE PURSE: THE MONEY COMMITTEES AND PROCEDURES IN THE POST‐REFORM CONGRESS
Authors: Marshall Bryan W. , Prins Brandon C. , Rohde David W.
Published: November 2008

We analyze floor decision making on taxing and spending legislation during the 96th, 100th, and 104th Congresses in order to assess how electoral forces, fiscal pressures, and institutional change have affected the role of the money committees. Examination of decision making on legislation from these committees provides insight into how different committees and different institutions responded to this volatile post‐reform environment. We find that partisanship on floor decision making increased considerably over time across committee legislation in both chambers. Still, partisan conflict tended to be greater on taxing legislation than on appropriating legislation. This reflects the differential impact of partisanship across the different types of policies under the jurisdiction of the money committees. By the 104th, patterns of differences were particularly pronounced across committees, rather than across chambers, suggesting the common exogenous forces at work affecting both institutions similarly. In addition, we find that members adapted procedural devices in both chambers for partisan purposes in order to limit amending activity on legislation from the money committees. Together, these changes reflect both the dramatically altered decision making process and the increasing tendency toward a party‐dominated role for the money committees.
Presidential Leadership Models and Domestic Policy Making in the Clinton Administration
Authors: Hastedt Glenn P. , Eksterowicz Anthony J.
Published: November 2008

Presidential leadership models are frequently employed to study foreign policy decision making. Evidence suggests that both the foreign and domestic policy realms are becoming more similar, so these leadership models potentially are applicable to both. This study examines presidential leadership models developed by James MacGregor Burns through an examination of domestic policy making in the Clinton Administration. We suggest that Clinton tried to operate largely, although not entirely, within the confines of the party leadership model; however, his ability to sustain such efforts was limited. This examination concludes that the presidential leadership model potentially best suited for times of divided government is the congressional/executive collaborative model.
Racial Redistricting and Ideological Polarization in Southern U.S. House Delegations
Authors: Wink Kenneth A. , Hayes Allison L.
Published: November 2008

This study consists of an analysis of representation from southern states to determine if the creation of majority‐minority districts resulted in more ideologically polarized southern U.S. House delegations. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis of Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) scores indicate that the standard deviation of ADA scores are larger in the eight states that engaged in racial redistricting. The influx of conservative Republicans and African‐American Democrats in 1992 created the more polarized patterns. Polarization was still present after the 1996 elections, although the redistricting effect was muted as other southern states picked up Republican representatives after both the 1994 election and Louisiana's substantial modification of one of its black majority districts prior to the 1996 election. Racial redistricting would seem to make centrist coalition building more difficult, but in some states it also weakens the increasingly conservative voting patterns experienced by most of the South in the 1990s.
State Obligation, Sovereignty, and Theories of International Law
Authors: Pufong Marc G.
Published: November 2008

Much of what constitutes the business of international relations is undertaken by states in response to their perceived self‐interest, and the commitments of states create duties and obligations. This paper assesses critical values that permeate substantive understanding of state duties and obligations. It explores how states traditionally gain community standing and how their choices bind them to existing community norms, even though some are often contested. Assuming a state to be a bona‐fide and recognized member of the international community, its self‐interested activities, praise‐worthy or controversial, create obligation, i.e., a moral and legal duty recognized and actionable by law. In practice, what actually constitutes obligation may not be the same in all situations, or be fulfilled similarly by the same parties, or confer the same rights. It is difficult to establish a uniform reference with which to grapple with state obligation across all situations. This difficulty, however, does not enlighten debates on state responsibilities with regard to the binding force of international law where human rights abuses and other moral/legal violations are concerned. The argument is presented that since community membership, statehood, and state capacity provide the prima‐facie basis for state obligation, attempts by rogue states to raise and frame secondary issues of sovereignty and autonomy in order to fence‐out noncompliance are invalid States, therefore, are obligated and duty bound by community norms despite subsequent defenses that are raised in an effort to expunge transgressions.
Who Hates Hillary? Public Opinion Toward the First Lady, 1992–1996
Authors: Prysby Charles , Scavo Carmine
Published: November 2008

This study uses data from the American National Election Studies to investigate the determinants of attitudes toward Hillary Clinton, to examine the sources of the shifts in opinion toward her between 1992–1996, and to analyze the basis of extremely negative attitudes toward the former First Lady. The result of this analysis indicate that feelings toward Hillary Clinton were influenced by two sets of variables, one reflecting partisan and ideological orientations and the other reflecting social and cultural values. Moreover, feelings toward Hillary Clinton in 1996 were more strongly related to these variables than were feelings toward Barbara Bush at a comparable point in her stay in the White House. Also, a number of the variables had a greater impact on feelings toward Hillary Clinton in 1996 than in 1992. Finally, it appears that there are multiple sources for strongly negative attitudes toward the former First Lady.
Afrocentric Perspectives on Political Participation and Leadership in Louisiana Prior to 1965
Authors: Albritton Robert B. , Amedee George L.
Published: November 2008

This study suggests an “Afrocentric” perspective for analyzing African American political behavior and applies the concept to data from Louisiana elections prior to 1965. The analysis indicates that use of individual characteristics of voters neglects contextual factors determining voter support for African American candidates. Voter registration and participation turn out to be largely a function of discrimination consistent with the “social threat” hypothesis.
Looking for “Threats” in all the Wrong Places: A Critique of the Current Use of Race as a Contextual Effect in Political Science
Authors: McClerking Harwood K.
Published: November 2008

This paper examines race and contextual effects, especially as applied to the study of racial politics. Contextual analysis has proven to be an extremely useful technique in political science. Yet there are instances in which it may be misapplied. I argue that some of the findings in the extant literature fail to specify properly the mechanisms by which contextual effects operate, and that such a failure leads to incomplete the orizing about racial politics. I make two basic arguments. The first is that the major theoretical element, group conflict, is under‐examined as long as we think of conflict between groups only in terms of mass public attitudes. I suggest, instead, that we pay more attention to elite strategies. The second argument is that group theories seem less generalizable as long as we concentrate on Whites as the only relevant political actors. In summary, I contend that politics are not given priority in contextual models of race. Moving beyond some of the current, more standard applications will allow us to demonstrate empirically a richer picture of how race shapes the political options of certain groups in America, especially Blacks and other minority groups.
White Racial Attitudes and Implicit Racial Appeals: An Experimental Study of ‘Race Coding’ in Political Discourse
Authors: Slocum Fred
Published: November 2008

Politicians have on occasion employed ‘racial code’ to make disguised appeals to Whites stereotypes about Black Americans. This paper examines the extent to which social group names that appear in political discourse, such as ‘people on welfare,’ are mentally connected with Blacks. Computer‐administered surveys, as used here, allow the researcher to employ two unobtrusive methods—response time measures and experimental manipulation of stimulus sequence—both invisible to research participants. This paper tests three hypotheses; in general, the findings support the first two. First, as predicted, response times to ‘people on welfare’ and ‘poor people,’ but not ‘civil rights protesters,’ are faster among participants already primed by having previously responded to ‘Blacks’. Second, also as predicted, correlations between responses to ‘Blacks’ and to race‐related stimuli are higher among primed than unprimed participants. Question order has little impact on participants' actual response to race‐related groups. These results extend and replicate other findings, indicating that certain words and symbols in American politics are racially coded and thus invoke negative imagery of Blacks. Furthermore, these findings show the utility of novel survey methods in tapping dimensions of the survey response that have received little scholarly attention to date. These methods include response‐time data, variation of question ordering, and computer‐administered surveys.
The 2001 Los Angeles Mayoral Election: Implications for Deracialization and Biracial Coalition Theories
Authors: Wright Sharon D. , Middleton Richard
Published: November 2008

In this study, we analyze the voting behavior of Whites, African Americans, and Latinos during the 2001 Los Angeles mayoral race within the context of deracialization and biracial coalition theories. We examine two questions: Why did the majority of African American voters reject a liberal, multiracial coalition for a Latino candidate in favor of a coalition of conservative Whites and Asian Americans in support of a White candidate? What implications does this campaign have for deracialized campaigns, for multiracial coalitions, and generally for the role of race in American elections? We find that effective deracialized campaigns do not always result in victories. In June 2001, James Hahn ran a successful campaign by capitalizing upon the divisions among two groups, African Americans and Latinos, which traditionally have joined coalitions in support of liberal candidates.
Black Conservative/White Conservative: Prospects for Electoral Convergence
Authors: Pride Richard A.
Published: November 2008

The recent rise of a prosperous Black middle class on the one hand and the continued salience of religious conservatism among many Black citizens on the other means that significant percentages of African Americans share both interests and values with White conservatives who vote Republican. In this study, using a decade's worth of survey data from Nashville, Tennessee, African Americans are found to have given only about ten percent of their votes to Republican candidates for president and governor. Those African Americans who did vote Republican were moved to do so by political values: they believed that individuals, not the government, should be responsible for solving social problems. Neither upper‐middle‐class standing nor religious conservatism, both prominent features of Southern Republicanism, moved Blacks to vote Republican.
Campaigning Against Government in the Old Dominion: State Taxation, State Power, and the Virginia 1997 Gubernatorial Election
Authors: Farnsworth Stephen J.
Published: November 2008

James S. Gilmore III (R) credited his election in 1997 as governor of Virginia to his attacks upon the size and taxation authority of state government, a twist on recent Republican attacks upon the size and taxation authority of the national government. Gilmore's plan to eliminate the personal property tax for nearly all cars and trucks was also seen as the key to his victory by independent analysts and by Virginia legislators. This quantitative analysis finds, however, that Gilmore's support was primarily the result of partisan orientations, evaluations of his character, the performance of the incumbent Republican gubernatorial administration, and background measures like the respondent's education and age. Variables that measured an individual's interest in smaller state government, his or her knowledge of which candidate proposed the car tax cut, and the importance he or she placed on tax issues did not achieve statistical significance.
State Charter School Adoptions: A Probit Regression Model
Authors: Satterthwaite Shad
Published: November 2008

This paper assesses the factors that spur states to adopt charter school legislation. Using a probit regression model, this study considers political, economic, and education related variables and their effect on policy. In this model, little support is found for political explanations. Moreover, this study casts doubt on conventional wisdom, which contends that the purpose of reform is to improve education. The model suggests that a state's economic variables are the best predictors for charter school adoption.
Promoting Civic Activism: Student Leadership in Service‐Learning
Authors: Morgan William , Streb Matthew
Published: November 2008

Service‐learning is an approach to experiential education where students apply knowledge and skills that they learn in the classroom by providing needed service to the larger community in which they live. One goal of service‐learning programs is to develop citizens who are engaged and involved in the political process. This paper examines the effects that service‐learning programs have on students' political participation. The data we use come from the Civic Education and Political Participation Survey gathered by the Indiana Department of Education. This pre/post survey includes students from the 5th through the 12th grades from five states. The survey allows us to examine the change in political participation for students involved in service‐learning programs. Using a political socialization perspective on participation and education theory that draws from Dewey, Piaget and Kolb, we use an expansive definition of political participation that includes much more that the simple act of voting. Specifically, we examine whether students, through their involvement in service learning, (1) engage in political communication, (2) will participate in acts of civic support, (3) will contact public officials, and (4) will vote. We find that service‐learning does appear to make students more likely to participate in the future. The effects of service‐learning are even greater when students had leadership in the project.
Death Penalty Exemptions for Juveniles: An Event History Analysis of State Policy Adoption
Authors: Traut Carol Ann , Emmert Craig F.
Published: November 2008

We develop a model to explain state adoption of death penalty exemptions for juveniles under age 18. Employing event history analysis, we find that internal factors are the primary determinants of juvenile exemptions. More specifically, we find that citizen ideology and death penalty support, as measured by the number on death row, provide explanatory power. Regional and temporal variables, on the other hand, appear to have little impact on state adoption of death penalty exemptions for those under age 18.
The Politics of Judicial Elections: The Influence of Campaign Contributions on the Voting Patterns of Texas Supreme Court Justices, 1994–1997
Authors: McCall Madhavi
Published: November 2008

As preparations for the 2004 elections begin, many candidates for judicial positions will start the process of advertising their candidacy, raising money and in general, running a political campaign to obtain a legal position. Legal scholars question whether or not campaign contributions corrupt the judicial process by forcing justices to consider the preferences of campaign contributors during the decision‐making process. It is an important question, and as such I examine the influence of campaign contributions on judicial decisions. Specifically, I examine decisions made by the Texas Civil Supreme Court between January 1994 and June 1997 in cases dealing with two business litigants and determine if there is a systematic relationship between those decisions and the interests of campaign contributors, controlling for factors such as judicial ideology, type of case, and decision timing. Using logit regression, I find empirical evidence suggesting that the justices are influenced by the preferences of campaign contributors. Moreover, I am able to establish a loose causal link between contributions and decisions that indicates that decisions follow dollars.
Beyond Search Engines: Enhancing Active Learning Using the Internet
Authors: Hamann Kerstin , Wilson Bruce M.
Published: November 2008

Many college instructors use the Internet primarily as an information resource as part of their class instruction. However, the Internet is a teaching tool with the capacity to enhance students' critical thinking skills and active learning. We argue that the Internet provides instructors with many opportunities to increase active student participation, enhance their collaboration and written communication skills, and sharpen their critical thinking and reflection skills. Therefore, the Internet should be included in college teaching beyond looking up information and familiarizing students with Web sites relevant to their course of study. We illustrate the utility of the Internet through five examples of online exercises assigned in different political science classes, from freshman introductory courses to an upper‐division Scope and Methods course. We present research that demonstrates the potential for improved learner outcomes by using online assignments as an instructional tool. Finally, the article acknowledges some of the more pressing problems and caveats of teaching with technology.
Freshmen Elections in the 1990s: What of GOP's Future in the House?
Authors: Ahuja Sunil
Published: November 2008

In this paper, House elections of the past decade are examined with a focus on the freshmen. While others have studied the role of realignment and candidate factors in overall House elections during this period, no study to date has provided an analysis of freshmen elections. The resultant findings clearly indicate that the districts represented by the freshmen are more polarized now than in the past and that the campaign finance advantage has undoubtedly shifted to the GOP. This twin benefit, representing the two schools of thought for the GOP takeover outlined in this paper, has worked well for the Republicans in the past decade. However, despite these two critical advantages, the GOP has performed rather poorly in each election after 1994. These findings, while not giving a striking advantage to the GOP nor comfort to the Democrats, suggest that we may be in a period of back and forth, at least for the foreseeable future, in partisan control of the House until voters become certain about handing one party substantial control or generating a new majority party after some time. Until then, the prevailing partisan parity is likely to lead to unpleasant politics.
Does Participation in Undergraduate Research Affect Political Science Students?
Authors: Ishiyama John , Breuning Marijke
Published: November 2008

Despite great interest in the impact of undergraduate research on student development in the literature on higher education, there has not been much work done on the relationship between participation in undergraduate research and the development of political science students. This paper assesses the relationship between student participation in collaborative research projects with faculty and both student learning—operationalized in terms of scores on the Major Field Aptitude Test (MFAT) in political science, and the likelihood of entrance into professional or graduate school. We find that participation in collaborative research with faculty, in general, is associated with improved student learning in political science and a greater likelihood that students will proceed on to graduate/professional school.
Mark Green and the Collapse of the Urban Democratic Coalition
Authors: Kraus Jeffrey
Published: November 2008

This article examines the 2001 New York City Mayoral Election. The September 11, 2001 terrorist attack had a major impact on the outcome of the election, making it possible for Michael Bloomberg, the lifelong Democrat turned Republican, to defeat Mark Green. The major candidates and the events surrounding the campaign are discussed. Green's defeat indicates that the alliance between white liberals, Latinos, and African Americans has begun to collapse, endangering the Democratic Party's dominance of urban America. The essay also suggests that labor unions, also a key to Democratic electoral hopes, are losing their political influence.
The Fight for Political Representation: The Use of the Voting Rights Act and the Federal Court System by Black Plaintiffs in Henrico County, Virginia
Authors: Shields Thomas
Published: November 2008

There has been an abundance of written work on the historic fight for black political equality in southern urban areas. However, almost no scholarly work exists on the fight for black political equality in the rapidly expanding southern suburbs. This article analyzes the rise of the black population and its fight for political representation on the local governing board in Henrico County, a large suburb of Richmond, Virginia. The article details the increase in the black population in Henrico County from 1950 to 2000 and provides a descriptive analysis how black plaintiffs used the Voting Rights Act in a redistricting suit against the county in 1988. Many arguments made by the defendants and the plaintiffs are similar to the fierce civil right battles, that occurred during the Massive Resistance era in the 1950s and 1960s in Virginia. However, what is unique about this case is that it occurred in the late‐1980s and early‐1990s in an expanding suburb.
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Dispute Between the CDC and the NRA on Firearm Violence as a Public Health Problem
Authors: Cagle M. Christine , Martinez J. Michael
Published: November 2008

This article presents a case study of the political controversy in 1995 and 1996 between the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Rifle Association (NRA) over whether the CDC should conduct policy research on firearm‐related violence as a public health issue. In 1996, largely as a result of the NRA's lobbying efforts, Congress curtailed the CDC's authority in addressing firearm violence as a public health problem by redirecting funding toward research on traumatic brain injuries. In essence, the CDC was relegated to the domain of compiling and reporting statistical nationwide data on firearm injuries and deaths. For its part, the NRA demonstrated its power and effectiveness as a single‐issue interest group in mobilizing its resources to battle the CDC in the public arena. This study focuses on the strategies and tactics that the NRA used and explores reasons why the knowledge‐driven model employed by the CDC did not allow the agency to expand its domain consensus.
Making the World More Relevant for Students: Role Playing Exercises for the Classroom
Authors: Balleck Barry J. , Van Tassell Darin H.
Published: November 2008

As our world grows more complex and difficult to understand, perhaps we benefit best by looking at it through different lenses and at different angles. Since “accidents” of our birth and upbringing leave us predisposed to adopt only one perspective and to be certain that we have the best view, it is even more important that we consciously identify and separately consider a variety of viewpoints. As everyone knows reading a concept in a book or even viewing someone else demonstrating it is quite different than actively participating in the conduct of such a concept. This essay is a collection of our own classroom simulations developed for the purpose of furthering this educational endeavor.
Florida Congressional Elections, 1952–2002: A Reversal of Party Fortunes
Authors: Giles Barbara
Published: November 2008

Eighteen Republican representatives from Florida in the U.S. House contribute significantly to the GOP majority of 229 in the 108th Congress. Analysis of U.S. House elections in Florida from 1952 — 2002 reflects a reversal of party fortunes from an exclusively Democratic eight‐member delegation in 1952 to the current 25‐member delegation that is overwhelmingly Republican. Against the backdrop of election outcomes for Florida congressional seats during the past 50 years, this study examines the numbers of Democratic and Republican nominees, the number of contested and uncontested elections, the number of incumbent and nonincumbent races, and the significance of reapportionment elections in bringing about change in party fortunes. The 2002 election is also compared with trends established in preceding elections as is its impact on national electoral outcomes.
Lincoln's Theocentric Turn
Authors: Duncan Christopher
Published: November 2008

In this essay I argue that Abraham Lincoln turned to a theocentric discourse to conceptualize the American Civil War. I attempt to address why he used a theocentric approach to the conceptualization of political problems and what the relationship is between that theocentric approach and his political principles, inspired policy outcomes, and the subsequent nature of American political culture and politics. It is my argument that Lincoln used a theocentric approach to enlarge and enhance his political ideals. As a result of this move, the relationship between the secular and the sacred has been dangerously distorted and liberalism itself, as presented by Lincoln, has been inappropriately sanctified.
Boosting Latino and Black Political Participation: The Impact of Associational and Religious Resources
Authors: McMiller Darryl L.
Published: November 2008

This study has two objectives: to determine which variables increase Latino and black political participation in the post‐civil rights era and also to determine if the factors that boost one group's participation will boost the other's. These results show that although a variety of variables may similarly enhance black and Latino political participation, the most consistent factor is exposure to mobilization in voluntary organizations. However, not just any organization will do. Membership in a voluntary organization the basic orientation of which is directed at changing the status quo, as opposed to groups that bring people together simply to enjoy each other's presence, is what is most needed to help blacks and Latinos become active in the political system.