bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Selected Additives on Surface Energy of Fibers and Meltblown Nonwovens
Authors: Zhang Dong , Sun Christine , Xiao Jihua
Published: May 2006

In this article a small amount (4%) of a series of polymer additives were blended with polypropylene (Exxon 3746G) and polyester (Eastman 14965) polymers and the mixtures were processed. The effect of these additives on the surface energy of the polymers was characterized by the contact angle measured on single fibers and by surface energy on nonwoven webs. The results indicate that fibers modified by silicone-containing polymer additives showed the greatest increase in hydro-phylicity. Meltblown webs of PP and PET with selected additive also shared the same potential increase of hydrophilicity.
Observations of Soiling of Nylon 66 Carpet Fibers
Authors: Petrick Lauren M. , Hild Debra N. , Obendorf S. Kay
Published: May 2006

Soiling of nylon 66 carpets was studied to investigate the effect of spin finishes with and without fluorocarbons finishes; and, in addition, the use of a secondary extraction process was examined to determine the effect of removing residual spin finish oils. Two types of residential carpet of intimate blend trilobal fibers with two modification ratios were evaluated: one had fluorcarbons in the spin finish with an additional topical mill-applied fluorocarbon. The second carpet had no fluorocarbons in the spin finish, but had a topical mill-applied fluorocarbon finish so that both carpets had a target of 250 to 300 ppm fluorine. Acetone extraction was used to remove the spin finishes from the carpets. Both carpets with and without extraction were soiled with particulate soil in the laboratory. Visual ratings and color difference measurements indicated more soiling on the carpets that had been extracted. Fluorine analysis showed that fluorcarbons were removed from both carpet types with the acetone extraction. Electron microscopy indicated the deposition of soil in the V-groove of the filaments with the higher modification ratio. Furthermore, fiber surfaces near the face of the carpet exhibited higher levels of soil than surfaces located near the carpet backing.
Predicting Seam Appearance Quality
Authors: Pavlinić Daniela Zavec , Geršak Jelka , Demšar Janez , Bratko Ivan
Published: May 2006

The appearance of a garment is affected by the quality of the fabrics used in its manufacture, as well as a number of factors determined by the technology of the garment manufacturing process. Since fabric quality, as the most important element of garment appearance, is determined by its mechanical properties, it is obvious that these properties directly impact fabric processing properties. It can be seen through various forms of fabric behavior under the loads that occur in sewing. Investigations of the correlations of the stress and fabric behavior are aimed at constructing a system to predict fabric behavior in garment manufacturing processes, as well as to predict the appearance of the garment to be manufactured. The investigation presented here deals with the impact of fabric mechanical properties on the quality of seam appearance, as defined by seam puckering and work-piece flotation. Machine learning methods included in the Orange software package were used to establish the importance of mechanical properties with respect to fabric behavior.
A Price is a Social Thing: Towards a Material Sociology of Arbitrage
Authors: Beunza Daniel , Hardie Iain , MacKenzie Donald
Published: May 2006

Arbitrage is a form of trading crucial both to the modern theory of finance and to market practice, yet it has seldom been the focus of study outside of economics. This article draws upon four initially separate ethnographic and interview-based studies to sketch a ‘material sociology’ of arbitrage. (The article follows financial market usage in viewing ‘arbitrage’ as trading that exploits discrepancies in relative prices, trading which is seldom the entirely riskless arbitrage posited by finance theory.) Prices are physical entities, and the extent and speed of the mobility of these entities are crucial to arbitrage. Traders' bodies sometimes need to be trained to conduct arbitrage, and the relative placement of different bodies can be crucial. Arbitrage generally involves a theory of the similarity of different assets, and material representations of relative value are often required in order to check the theory's plausibility. Arbitrageurs need to convince themselves and others such as investment-bank managers — and sometimes traders working for different organizations — of the correctness of the theory. Among the reasons this is necessary is that an arbitrage position often incurs losses before it becomes profitable, and those who provide arbitrageurs with capital have to be persuaded that those losses are indeed temporary. Patterns of trust and information exchange among known others are thus consequential, and arbitrage also has wider social aspects, manifest for example in deliberately constructed barriers to the short sales often required for arbitrage. Sometimes, too, arbitrage impinges on informal norms of proper conduct in markets.
“Walking on my page”: intimacy and insight in Len Howard's cottage of birds
Authors: Crist Eileen
Published: May 2006

English

In this article, I investigate naturalist and musicologist Len Howard's form of knowledge of bird life. Examining her presentations closely, I show that her methodology of intimate cohabitation with and observation of her subjects resulted in a unique documentary: a deeply personal and highly privileged understanding of wild birds. I approach Howard's focus on bird individuality through Martin Buber's lens of the reciprocity of I-and-Thou. I argue that intimacy with the birds of her garden yielded insights into their mindful world, delivering knowledge which pejorative characterizations of “anecdotal” and “anthropomorphic” fail to appreciate. I conclude by examining Howard's work in the context of the behavioral science of her day and by posing the question of whether her contribution is or is not science.

French

Dans cet article l'auteur analyse les formes de connaissance de la vie animale de la naturaliste et musicologue Len Howard. En examinant de très près son travail, l'auteur montre que sa méthodologie de cohabitation intime et d'observation de ses sujets a résulté en une documentation unique: une compréhension profondément personnelle et hautement privilégiée des oiseaux sauvages. L'auteur approche le point de vue de Howard par le biais de la lecture de Martin Buber de la réciprocité du Je-et- Tu. L'auteur montre que son intimité avec les oiseaux de son jardin révèle des aspects de leur monde "intelligent" et une connaissance que les qualificatifs d'"anecdotique" et "anthropomorphique" échouent à apprécier. L'auteur conclut en examinant le travail de Howard dans le contexte de la science du comportement de son époque et en posant la question de savoir si sa contribution est, ou non, de la science.
Diversity of items of low nutritional value ingested by chimpanzees from Kanyawara, Kibale National Park, Uganda: an example of the etho-ethnology of chimpanzees
Authors: Krief Sabrina , Wrangham Richard W. , Lestel Dominique
Published: May 2006

English

For more than 30 years, field studies have shown that chimpanzees ingest items of low nutritional value such as rough leaves, bitter stems and clay, apparently thereby protecting themselves against parasites and modulating their health. The authors describe the diversity and the biological activities of items of low nutritional value used by Kanyawara chimpanzees in Uganda, according to scientific observations enriched by the viewpoints of local field assistants and a traditional healer. Their perception of chimpanzees' behaviour and the overlap with human medicinal uses led the authors to explore chimpanzee behaviour in a comparative cultural perspective. In spite of the rarity of such observations on wild individuals, study of self-medicative practices offers the opportunity to suggest an epistemology of the chimpanzee so as to better understand the acquisition and transmission of behaviours linked to diseases.

French

Depuis une trentaine d'années, des études de terrain ont montré que les chimpanzés ingèrent régulièrement des matériels de faible valeur nutritive comme des feuilles rugueuses, des tiges amères ou encore des argiles qui peuvent influer sur leur santé. Les données scientifiques décrites ici soulignent la diversité et les activités biologiques des items non-nutritifs utilisés par les chimpanzés de Kanyawara en Ouganda et s'enrichissent des témoignages des assistants et du médecin traditionnel local. Leur perception de ces comportements et les recouvrements avec les usages ethnomédicinaux permettent d'explorer le comportement des chimpanzés dans une perspective de comparaison culturelle. Cette étude est aussi l'occasion de souligner l'intérêt - malgré la difficulté inhérente à des observations rares portant sur des individus sauvages - d'une épistémologie du chimpanzé qui doit permettre de mieux appréhender l'acquisition et la transmission des comportements en lien avec la maladie.
Electromagnetic Shielding Effectiveness of the Twill Copper Woven Fabrics
Authors: Cheng K. B. , Cheng T. W. , Nadaraj R. N. , Dev V. R. Giri , Neelakandan R.
Published: May 2006

Twill copper fabrics (3/1) were produced using a single cylinder handloom jacquard weaving machine. The effect of varying weft density, warp density, wire diameter, and lay-up angle on electromagnetic shielding effectiveness was studied. The electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EMSE) of various copper woven fabrics was obtained using a coaxial transmission line holder in the frequency range of 144–3000 MHz. With an increase in the number of conductive fabric layers, warp density, and weft density, an increase in shielding effectiveness is observed. With an increase in wire diameter, a decrease in shielding effectiveness has been observed.
3D FEA of Interfacial Stress in Tensile of Rubber-modified Polypropylene
Authors: Liang Ji-Zhao , Wang Li
Published: May 2006

The interfacial stress and its distribution affect directly the mechanical properties of polymeric blends and composites. Polymers are usually modified with rubber to improve their toughness. The three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis (FEA) of the interfacial stress distribution between the particulate and the matrix during tensile of a rubber-modified polypropylene (PP) blend is made by means of an ANSYS software in this article, and the results are compared with those of the two-dimensional (2D) FEA simulation published earlier. The results show that the shear effect subjected in the pole zone of the rubber particle is maximal, the equator zone of the rubber particle is strongly pressed and pulled, and the tensile stress reaches the maximum. Comparatively, the stress distribution of 3D FEA is more gentle than that of 2D FEA.
Friction and Wear Characteristics of Carbon-epoxy and Glass-epoxy Woven Roving Fiber Composites
Authors: Suresha B. , Chandramohan G. , Samapthkumaran P. , Seetharamu S. , Vynatheya S.
Published: May 2006

Polymer materials when reinforced with high modulus fibers yield higher strength, higher stiffness, better toughness, and good dimensional stability. Fiber reinforcements are effective in reducing wear in adhesive situations in addition to increasing the strength and stiffness. The adhesive conditions are generally encountered in automotive and aerospace applications. In such applications, the types of reinforcement material used are important from the point of improved performance under different tribo situations. In this particular investigation, carbon-epoxy (C-E) composite is compared with that of glass-epoxy (G-E) composites for tribological properties using a pin-on-disc set up. The tests are conducted by subjecting C-E samples sliding against a hard steel disc (62 HRC) under different sliding and loading conditions. This article highlights the friction and wear behavior of these composites run for a constant sliding distance, where in the C-E composites show lower friction and lower slide wear loss compared to G-E composites irrespective of the load or speed employed. Some of the wear data are supported by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images.
Predictors of Networking Intensity and Network Quality Among White-Collar Job Seekers
Authors: Lambert Tracy A. , Eby Lillian T. , Reeves Melissa P.
Published: May 2006

Networking has been identified as an important predictor of both reemployment and career success. This research examines the extent to which several sociodemographic variables (gender, race, and age) and one personality variable (proactive personality) predict the intensity with which individuals engage in networking and the perceived quality of their networks. Consistent with our expectations, age demonstrates a curvilinear relationship with network diversity, and proactive personality is positively related to networking intensity. No effects are found for gender or race. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Personality Characteristics as Predictors of Personal Indecisiveness
Authors: Bacanli Feride
Published: May 2006

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the construct validities of two subtypes of personal indecisiveness (exploratory indecisiveness and impetuous indecisiveness) by examining their relationships to certain personality characteristics (locus of control, self-esteem, and irrational beliefs). The sample consists of 399 Turkish freshman university students (194 male and 205 female) from Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. The results indicate that low self-esteem is a strong predictor of exploratory indecisiveness. External locus of control and high level of irrational beliefs are also positively predictive of exploratory indecisiveness. External locus of control is a strong predictor of impetuous indecisiveness. However, self-esteem and irrational beliefs are not significant predictors of impetuous indecisiveness. The implications of these findings for career counselors and for future research are discussed.
Factors Predictive of the Range of Occupations Considered by African American Juniors and Seniors in High School
Authors: Lease Suzanne H.
Published: May 2006

This study assesses factors predictive of the range of possible occupations considered by 166 African American high school students. There are no differences in the number of African American representative occupations (those in which 13.5% or more employees were African American) considered compared to nonrepresentative occupations (those with less than 5% African American employees). The results support the hypothesized relations among occupational self-efficacies, interests, and considered occupations. Perceived career barriers decrease the importance of occupational self-efficacy in predicting number of considered occupations. Racial identity is not related to the number of considered occupations.
Career Competencies for the Modern Career
Authors: Kuijpers M. A. C. T. , Scheerens J.
Published: May 2006

Career development gains new meaning in the context of employability demands in a knowledge economy. In this context, increased mobility, a dynamic work environment, and an increased level of career support from employers are seen as characteristics of a modern career. All of these characteristics put emphasis on individual and self-management in career development. This article presents the results of an empirical study that addressed the general question as to which competencies employees need to possess to realize career self-management. In a survey of 1,579 employees (51% response) in 16 Dutch companies, 6 career factors and competencies of career self-management prove to be relevant for career development: career development ability, reflection on capacities, reflection on motives, work exploration, career control, and networking. Among the explanatory variables that are considered, mobility perspective and career support at work and private life appear to be associated most strongly (statistical significance at .01) with career competencies.
Scale Development and Construct Clarification of Servant Leadership
Authors: Barbuto John E. , Wheeler Daniel W.
Published: May 2006

This article presents an integrated construct of servant leadership derived from a review of the literature. Subscale items were developed to measure 11 potential dimensions of servant leadership: calling, listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, growth, and community building. Data from 80 leaders and 388 raters were used to test the internal consistency, confirm factor structure, and assess convergent, divergent, and predictive validity. Results produced five servant leadership factors—altruistic calling, emotional healing, persuasive mapping, wisdom, and organizational stewardship—with significant relations to transformational leadership, leader-member exchange, extra effort, satisfaction, and organizational effectiveness. Strong factor structures and good performance in all validity criteria indicate that the instrument offers value for future research.
Vibration Analysis of a Cracked Rotor Surrounded by Viscous Liquid
Authors: Behera R. K. , Parhi D. R. K. , Sahu S. K.
Published: May 2006

Crack detection in, and vibration characteristics of, a shaft with two open cracks rotating in a fluid medium are studied in this paper. The influence coefficient method is used to find the fundamental frequency of the cracked shaft. The frequency contours with respect to crack depths and locations are used to identify cracks. The effect of fluid on the cracked rotor is analyzed with the help of Navier-Stokes equations. The dynamic response of the rotating cracked shaft is compared with that of an uncracked one, and it is found that, when the cracked rotor rotates in a viscous fluid, there is change in the critical speeds and amplitudes of vibration.
A Discrete Optimal Control Method for a Flexible Cantilever Beam with Time Delay
Authors: Cai Guo-Ping , Yang Simon X.
Published: May 2006

Time delay inevitably exists in active control systems. It may cause unsynchronized control forces that can not only degrade the performance of the control systems, but also induce instability of the dynamic systems. In this paper, an active vibration controller (with time delay) for a flexible cantilever beam is studied and a method for treating the time delay is proposed. The dynamic equation of the controlled mode with time delay is first presented using the independent modal space control, and is then discretized and transformed into a standard discrete form with no explicit time delay by augmenting the state variables. The continuous performance index is also transformed into a discrete form. Then, a discrete optimal control algorithm is designed based on the augmented state system. Since time delay effect is incorporated in the mathematical model of the dynamic system throughout the control design and no approximations and assumptions are made in the control algorithm derivation, system stability is guaranteed. Furthermore, the extraction of modal coordinate from actual physical measurements and the conversion to actual control force from modal one are presented. The feasibility and efficiency of the proposed control algorithm are demonstrated by numerical simulation studies, which indicate that the vibration of the beam may be suppressed significantly using the proposed control algorithm. Instability may occur if the time delay is neglected in control design.
Short-term Dynamic Instability of a System with Randomly Varying Damping
Authors: Dimentberg M. F. , Naess A.
Published: May 2006

A single-degree-of-freedom system with temporal random variations of its total apparent damping is considered. It is demonstrated that the dynamic response of the system exhibits spontaneous transient outbreaks, which are induced by brief periods when the damping coefficient becomes negative. The analysis is based on a parabolic approximation for the random temporal variations of the damping coefficient during these excursions into the domain of dynamic instability, together with the asymptotic Krylov-Bogoliubov method of averaging over the response period. It results in an explicit relation for the response amplitude in terms of the peak value of the damping coefficient during the corresponding downcrossing of the zero level. In this way the reliability analysis for the system as based on a solution to the first-passage problem for the response or on evaluating the probability density (pdf) of the response peaks is reduced to the corresponding problems for the damping coefficient the accuracy of the derived expression for the above pdf is verified by direct Monte-Carlo simulation of the basic equation. Furthermore, the above analytical solution is used also to derive a simple identification procedure for the system from its measured (on-line) response. Specifically, the mean value of the damping coefficient can be estimated, as can its standard deviation and the mean frequency of its temporal variations.
Ring Microgyroscope Modeling and Performance Evaluation
Authors: Esmaeili Mehdi , Durali Mohammad , Jalili Nader
Published: May 2006

This paper discusses the effects of substrate motions on the performance of microgyroscopes modeled as ring structures. Using the Extended Hamiltonian Principle, the equations of motion of a ring micro-gyroscope are derived, and the natural frequency equation and response characteristics are extracted in closed form for the case where the substrate undergoes normal rotation. The Galerkin approximation is then used to arrive at the ordinary differential equations of motion for the ring. In these equations, the effects of angular, centripetal and Coriolis accelerations are all apparent. The response of the system to different inputs is studied and the system sensitivity to variation in input parameters is examined. Finally, the sources of error in the measurement of input rotational rate are recognized. The study demonstrates the importance of errors caused by cross axis inputs on the gyroscope output measurements.
The Role of Nutrition Intervention in Wound Healing
Authors: Stefanski Julie L. , Smith Kimberley J.
Published: May 2006

This article reviews the role of nutrition in the healing of skin breakdown. The components of a nutritional assessment, which include social history, dietary intake, anthropometrics, and serum laboratory values, are discussed with abnormal values highlighted. The three phases of wound healing and a general overview of key nutrients needed at each stage for proper wound healing are stressed.
Literally Improving Patient Outcomes
Authors: Prasauskas Ruta , Spoo Lori
Published: May 2006

According to the National Adult Literacy Survey, an astounding 90 million Americans struggle with low health literacy. Low healthy literacy is defined as “the ability to read, understand and use health information to make appropriate healthcare decisions and follow instructions for treatment.” Patients with low literacy are more likely to be hospitalized, to be in poorer health, and to wait until the later stages of their illness to seek medical attention. Inadequate health literacy is especially prevalent in adults older than 60 and affects nearly 66% of this group. This article contains tips for the home health professional on how he or she can improve the health literacy of his or her patients, which can save lives.
Foreign News and Foreign Trade
Authors: Pietiläinen Jukka
Published: May 2006

This article presents the results of a search for relationships between news and trade in 33 countries on the basis of data from the 1995 international news flow study. The results prove that the links between trade and news are high in the majority of the countries studied, but there are some important exceptions, like the countries with a unilateral trade flow and a culturally oriented news service (Kuwait), large countries (the US, Russia) and many developing countries. The correlation between news and trade is highest in small industrial countries that are dependent on foreign trade and in which the structure of foreign news differs from the universal structure of foreign news. The comparison of the historical change in news flows in a given country with its international trade indicates that the change in the geographic distribution of foreign trade has an impact on the change in news flows.
Coefficients of agreement for fixed observers
Authors: Haber Michael , Barnhart Huiman X
Published: May 2006

Agreement between fixed observers or methods that produce readings on a continuous scale is usually evaluated via one of several intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). This article presents and discusses a few related issues that have not been raised before. ICCs are usually presented in the context of a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) model. We argue that the ANOVA model makes inadequate assumptions, such as the homogeneity of the error variances and of the pairwise correlation coefficients between observers. We then present the concept of observer relational agreement which has been used in the social sciences to derive the common ICCs without making the restrictive ANOVA assumptions. This concept did not receive much attention in the biomedical literature. When observer agreement is defined in terms of the difference of the readings of different observers on the same subject (absolute agreement), the corresponding relational agreement coefficient coincides with the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), which is also an ICC. The CCC, which has gained popularity over the past 15 years, compares the mean squared difference between readings of observers on the same subject with the expected value of this quantity under the assumption of ‘chance agreement’, which is defined as independence between observers. We argue that the assumption of independence is unrealistic in this context and present a new coefficient that is not based on the concept of chance agreement.
Can one assess whether missing data are missing at random in medical studies?
Authors: Potthoff Richard F , Tudor Gail E , Pieper Karen S , Hasselblad Vic
Published: May 2006

For handling missing data, newer methods such as those based on multiple imputation are generally more accurate than older ones and entail weaker assumptions. Yet most do assume that data are missing at random (MAR). The issue of assessing whether the MAR assumption holds to begin with has been largely ignored. In fact, no way to directly test MAR is available. We propose an alternate assumption, MAR+, that can be tested. MAR+ always implies MAR, so inability to reject MAR+ bodes well for MAR. In contrast, MAR implies MAR+ not universally, but under certain conditions that are often plausible; thus, rejection of MAR+ can raise suspicions about MAR. Our approach is applicable mainly to studies that are not longitudinal. We present five illustrative medical examples, in most of which it turns out that MAR+ fails. There are limits to the ability of sophisticated statistical methods to correct for missing data. Efforts to try to prevent missing data in the first place should therefore receive more attention in medical studies than they have heretofore attracted. If MAR+ is found to fail for a study whose data have already been gathered, extra caution may need to be exercised in the interpretation of the results.
‘Empire-Enlarging Genius’: Scottish Imperial Yeomanry Volunteers in the Boer War
Authors: McFarland E. W.
Published: May 2006

The article examines Scotland’s engagement with the Boer War, through the medium of Imperial Yeomanry detachments raised locally between 1900 and 1902. Drawing partly on data from surviving attestation forms, a picture is built up of the recruitment profiles, enlistment motivations, and war experiences of these ‘soldier-citizens’. This volunteering phenomenon is placed in the context of the Scottish military tradition and popular empire loyalty. Geographically and socially inclusive, the ‘Scottish Yeomanry’ represented a distinctive presence within the larger UK corps. Its war service captured the popular imagination and helped reconnect public opinion with Scotland’s role in the broader imperial project.
Britain and the Flying Bomb: The Research Programme between the Two World Wars
Authors: Farquharson John
Published: May 2006

The article evaluates British work on unmanned aircraft and guided missiles in the interwar years. It emphasizes radio control from the ground or from a parent plane in the air. Britain’s relative failure in this field compared to Germany reflected a lack of financial support combined with consistent overestimating of conventional bombing’s accuracy on the part of both RAF officers and civilian scientists.
The Indian Army on the Western Front, 1914-1915: A Portrait of Collaboration
Authors: Jack George Morton
Published: May 2006

During the First World War the Indian Army sent five expeditionary forces abroad, A to Europe, B and C to East Africa, D to Iraq, and E to Egypt. This article investigates force A, also known as the Indian Corps, which in September 1914 joined the BEF in France. Drawing on both neglected and previously unpublished evidence, it challenges long-established beliefs about the Indian troops who fought on the Western Front and offers a new interpretation of their role.
Capicua regulates follicle cell fate in theDrosophilaovary through repression ofmirror
Authors: Atkey Matthew R. , Lachance Jean-FranÇois Boisclair , Walczak Monica , Rebello Tahilia , Nilson Laura A.
Published: May 2006

The dorsoventral axis of the Drosophila egg is established by dorsally localized activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (Egfr)in the ovarian follicular epithelium. Subsequent positive- and negative-feedback regulation generates two dorsolateral follicle cell primordia that will produce the eggshell appendages. A dorsal midline domain of low Egfr activity between the appendage primordia defines their dorsal boundary, but little is known about the mechanisms that establish their ventral limit. We demonstrate that the transcriptional repressor Capicua is required cell autonomously in ventral and lateral follicle cells to repress dorsal fates, and functions in this process through the repression of mirror. Interestingly, ectopic expression of mirror in the absence of capicua is observed only in the anterior half of the epithelium. We propose that Capicua regulates the pattern of follicle cell fates along the dorsoventral axis by blocking the induction of appendage determinants, such as mirror, by anterior positional cues.
Programmed cell death mechanisms of identifiable peptidergic neurons inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Choi Youn-Jeong , Lee Gyunghee , Park Jae H.
Published: May 2006

The molecular basis of programmed cell death (PCD) of neurons during early metamorphic development of the central nervous system (CNS) in Drosophila melanogaster are largely unknown, in part owing to the lack of appropriate model systems. Here, we provide evidence showing that a group of neurons (vCrz) that express neuropeptide Corazonin (Crz)gene in the ventral nerve cord of the larval CNS undergo programmed death within 6 hours of the onset of metamorphosis. The death was prevented by targeted expression of caspase inhibitor p35, suggesting that these larval neurons are eliminated via a caspase-dependent pathway. Genetic and transgenic disruptions of ecdysone signal transduction involving ecdysone receptor-B (EcR-B) isoforms suppressed vCrz death, whereas transgenic re-introduction of either EcR-B1 or EcR-B2 isoform into the EcR-B-null mutant resumed normal death. Expression of reaperin vCrz neurons and suppression of vCrz-cell death in a reaper-null mutant suggest that reaper functions are required for the death,while no apparent role was found for hid or grim as a death promoter. Our data further suggest that diap1 does not play a role as a central regulator of the PCD of vCrz neurons. Significant delay of vCrz-cell death was observed in mutants that lack dronc or darkfunctions, indicating that formation of an apoptosome is necessary, but not sufficient, for timely execution of the death. These results suggest that activated ecdysone signaling determines precise developmental timing of the neuronal degeneration during early metamorphosis, and that subsequent reaper-mediated caspase activation occurs through a novel DIAP1-independent pathway.
Activation of nicotinic receptors uncouples a developmental timer from the molting timer inC. elegans
Authors: Ruaud Anne-Françoise , Bessereau Jean-Louis
Published: May 2006

C. elegans develops through four larval stages (L1 to L4)separated by molts. The identity of larval stages is mostly determined by stage-specific expression of heterochronic genes, which constitute an intrinsic genetic timer. However, extrinsic cues such as food availability or population density also modulate the developmental timing of C. elegans by mechanisms that remain largely unknown. To investigate a potential role of the nervous system in the temporal regulation of C. elegans development, we pharmacologically manipulated nicotinic neurotransmission, which represents a prominent signaling component in C. elegans nervous system. Exposure to the nicotinic agonist DMPP during post-embryonic development is lethal at the L2/L3 molt. Specifically, it delays cell divisions and differentiation during the L2 stage but does not affect the timing of the molt cycle, hence causing exposure of a defective L3 cuticle to the environment after the L2/L3 molt. Forcing development through a previously uncharacterized L2 diapause resynchronizes these events and suppresses DMPP-induced lethality. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs)containing the UNC-63 subunit are required, probably in neurons, to trigger the action of DMPP. Using a forward genetic screen, we further demonstrated that the nuclear hormone receptor (NHR) DAF-12 is necessary to implement the developmental effects of DMPP. Therefore, a novel neuroendocrine pathway involving nAChRs and the NHR DAF-12 can control the speed of stage-specific developmental events in C. elegans. Activation of DMPP-sensitive nAChRs during the second larval stage uncouples a molting timer and a developmental timer, thus causing a heterochronic phenotype that is lethal at the subsequent molt.
The effect of a negative mood priming challenge on dysfunctional attitudes, explanatory style, and explanatory flexibility
Authors: Fresco David M. , Heimberg Richard G. , Abramowitz Adrienne , Bertram Tara L.
Published: May 2006

Ninety‐seven undergraduates, 48 of whom had a history of self‐reported major depression, completed measures of mood and cognitive style (e.g. explanatory style, explanatory flexibility, dysfunctional attitudes) prior to and directly after a negative mood priming challenge that consisted of listening to sad music and thinking about an upsetting past event. Eighteen of the previously depressed participants endorsed baseline levels of depression, explanatory style for negative events, and dysfunctional attitudes higher than levels reported by never depressed participants or euthymic participants with a history of depression. All three groups (never depressed participants, dysphoric participants with a history of depression, euthymic participants with a history of depression) demonstrated increases in dysphoria and dysfunctional attitudes in response to the negative mood priming challenge. Dysphoric participants with a history of depression, but not the other two groups, evidenced modest increases in explanatory style following the negative mood priming challenge. Finally, euthymic participants with a history of depression, but not the other two groups, evidenced drops in explanatory flexibility. Findings from the present study suggest that the cognitive theories of depression may benefit from examining both cognitive content and cognitive flexibility when assessing risk for depression.
Dimensions of variation on the CORE‐OM
Authors: Lyne K. Jake , Barrett Paul , Evans Chris , Barkham Michael
Published: May 2006

Background. The Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation‐Outcome Measure (CORE‐OM) is a self‐report measure comprising 28 items tapping three domains; subjective well‐being, psychological problems and functioning. In addition to the potential theoretical value of the domains for operationalizing the phase model of psychotherapy, when consulted, managers and clinicians considered the distinction between problems and functioning important for assessing case‐mix and clinical outcomes. A further domain comprising six items was included to indicate possible risk. Subsequent analysis has suggested an alternative structure for CORE‐OM with factors for risk and positively and negatively worded items (Evans et al., 2002).

Methods. This study compares models for the interpersonal factor structure in data from the CORE‐OM in 2,140 patients receiving psychological therapy in the UK.

Results. A multi‐method, multi‐trait, nested factors solution accounted optimally for the CORE‐OM item covariance, with a first‐order general factor latent and residualized first‐order factors of subjective well‐being, psychological problems, functioning and risk and with positively and negatively worded methods factors. The general factor was labelled psychological distress. Scale quality for CORE‐OM, using a scoring method in which non‐risk items are treated as a single scale and risk items as a second scale is satisfactory.

Implications. The CORE‐OM has a complex factor structure and may be best scored as 2 scales for risk and psychological distress. The distinct measurement of psychological problems and functioning is problematic, partly because many patients receiving out‐patient psychological therapies and counselling services function relatively well in comparison with patients receiving general psychiatric services. In addition, a clear distinction between self‐report scales for these variables is overshadowed by their common variance with a general factor for psychological distress. An alternative strategy for operationalizing this distinction is proposed.
Understanding of basic financial concepts among adults with mild learning disabilities
Authors: Suto W. M. I. , Clare I. C. H. , Holland A. J. , Watson P. C.
Published: May 2006

Objective. In the context of recent legal and social policy developments, which encourage clinicians to support vulnerable adults in making their own financial decisions, we explored understanding of basic financial concepts among adults with mild learning disabilities.

Method. Using the literature about typically developing children, five measures entailing identification and ordering tasks were devised and were used to examine understanding of quantity, numbers and money among 30 men and women using specialist clinical services (mean FSIQ = 61.80; SD=10.59).

Results. The concept of quantity was easier to understand than those of numbers and money, and task difficulties increased with the magnitudes involved. The different types of conceptual understanding were closely related.

Conclusions. These measures may be useful for analysing difficulties in, and informing interventions to maximize, independent financial decision making.
Dependent personality traits and information processing: Assessing the interpretation of ambiguous information using the Thematic Apperception Test
Authors: Weertman Anoek , Arntz Arnoud , Schouten Erik , Dreessen Laura
Published: May 2006

Objectives This study was designed to investigate interpretation bias in people with dependent personality traits.

Method Eight Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) cards were administered to participants (N=56) who scored high or low on DSM‐III‐R dependent personality pathology. Two independent judges rated the TAT stories using a rating list based on the cognitive model of the dependent and paranoid personality disorder.

Results Controlling for self‐esteem, the dependent interpretation bias appeared to be specific for dependent personality pathology. SEM analysis supported a mediation model in which beliefs mediate the relationship between DSM‐III‐R traits and interpretation bias.

Conclusions The findings in this study support the hypothesis that people with dependent traits are characterized by a schema‐related interpretation bias and that this bias is mediated by dependent beliefs.
Bridging the Culture Chasm: Ensuring that Consumers are Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise
Authors: Briley Donnel A. , Aaker Jennifer L.
Published: May 2006

This article pulls together streams of culture-related research found in information-processing and behavioral decision theory literature, and it complements them with a focus on motivations and goals. The authors propose a framework that suggests that (1) the treatment of culture is useful when it incorporates subcultures, including those defined by nationality, ethnicity, religious affiliation, and neighborhood or local surroundings; (2) goals are determined by both cultural background and situational forces; and (3) through its impact on goals, culture influences the inputs used to make a decision, the types of options preferred, and the timing of decisions. The authors highlight the implications of the framework for two policy domains: health and finances. They suggest that consumers’ goal orientations can provide a useful segmentation dimension, and they carve out specific tendencies that appear to vary across cultural contexts (e.g., satisficing, goal shifting, reactivity). A deeper consideration of consumer goals and the role of culture in individual decision making can inform policies aimed at improving the quality of consumers’ decisions and, ultimately, consumer welfare.
Multivariate modeling of MDF panel properties in relation to wood fiber characteristics
Authors: Li Shi Jun , Zhang S.Y. , Riedl Bernard
Published: May 2006

Properties of medium density fiberboard (MDF) panels in relation to wood and fiber characteristics were investigated. Laboratory MDF panels were manufactured from raw fiber materials from black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP.], three hybrid poplar clones (Populus spp.), two exotic larch (Larix gmelinii and Larix sibirica), and a mix of spruce, pine, and fir wood chips. The panels were evaluated for modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bond (IB), linear expansion (LE), thickness swelling (TS), and water absorption (WA). These properties were analyzed as response variables. As predictor variables, various wood and fiber characteristics were measured, including wood density, pH, base buffering capacity and fiber coarseness. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to develop functional relationships between panel properties (response variables) and wood fiber characteristics (predictor variables). Ten dummy variables were created and incorporated into the analysis to examine the effects of wood species or type on MDF panel properties. MOR was negatively related to arithmetic fine percentage. MOE was negatively affected by the percentage of small particles (>200 mesh) and wood pH. IB strength was negatively related to arithmetic fine percentage and fiber pH, but positively related to the percentage of small particles (>200 mesh). Wood density affected LE. TS was negatively affected by arithmetic mean fiber length. Arithmetic mean fiber width had a negative effect on panel WA. The presence of dummy variables in the models for MOE, IB and LE indicates that wood fiber characteristics other than those measured in this study significantly affected these panel properties. The study indicates that the refining process can play a significant role in manipulating MDF panel properties.
Integratively Assessing Risk and Protective Factors for Adolescent Suicide
Authors: Gutierrez Peter M.
Published: May 2006

This article briefly reviews key issues in adolescent suicide risk assessment and proposes that assessing risk and protective factors in combination has the best probability of informing the field's understanding of this complex problem. Several newer measures are described along with summaries of their psychometric properties. A recommended protocol utilizing 4 developmentally appropriate, valid, and reliable self‐report measures is suggested as a parsimonious way of gathering information on the range of risk and protective factors. Finally, a novel approach of employing short‐term longitudinal studies to test models of adolescent suicide attempts is described along with a rationale for not focusing research efforts on completed suicide. Implications of this approach for prevention efforts conclude the article.
Evidenciação de vírus patogênicos humanos em filés de peixe
Authors: Schmid Ary Walter , Stewien Klaus E. , Candeias J. A. N.
Published: May 2006

Foi desenvolvido método para a evidenciação de vírus em filés de peixe. Amostras de 50 gramas foram submetidas à agitação mecânica durante 5 min em 200 ml de água bidestilada esterilizada, em pH 7,3-7,5. As substâncias em suspensão foram removidas mediante uma filtração de clarificação. A suspensão clarificada foi em seguida submetida à ultrafiltração através de membrana de alginato de sódio, sendo esta posteriormente dissolvida em 2 ml de citrato de sódio a 3,8%. A suspensão obtida foi, a seguir, centrifugada a 10.000 rpm durante 20 min, a 4°C, adicionando-se ao sobrenadante penicilina, estreptomicina e anfotericina B. O isolamento de vírus foi feito em culturas primárias de células de rim de macaco rhesus, células HeLa e por inoculação em camundongos recém-nascidos. A identificação sorológica levou aos seguintes resultados: de 51 filés de peixe foram isoladas duas estirpes de poliovírus tipo 1, duas de poliovírus tipo 3 e uma de coxsackievírus B4, o que corresponde a uma percentagem de positividade de 9,8%*. A identificação intratípica das quatro estirpes de poliovírus isoladas revelou ser uma delas semelhante e as demais diferentes das estirpes vacinais.
Schistosomiasis: predisposing cause for the formation of hepatic abscesses? Case report
Authors: Lima Vasco Carvalho Pedroso de , Maluf Fernando Cotait
Published: May 2006

An adult patient with chronic schistosomiasis from an endemic area, complained about a seven day fever, along with jaundice and lumbar backache on the right side. Image exams showed multiple pyogenic liver abscesses. All the classic etiologies were discarded through clinical, radiological and laboratorial criteria. Schistosomiasis can cause pylephlebitis as a complication, along with immunesuppression, granulomatous reaction with central lobular liver necrosis and a greater risk of infection. The authors suggest that schistosomiasis in its chronic form may be the predisposing cause of multiple pyogenic liver abscesses, especially in endemic areas.
Efeito de sistemas de uso e manejo nas propriedades físico-hídricas de um argissolo amarelo de tabuleiro costeiro
Authors: Silva Apolino José Nogueira da , Cabeda Mário Sérgio Vaz , Lima José Fernando Wanderley Fernandes
Published: May 2006

Os diferentes sistemas de manejo com cana-de-açúcar em solos de tabuleiros costeiros podem causar alterações na estrutura original do solo. Os efeitos de diferentes sistemas de manejo com cana-de-açúcar nas propriedades físico-hídricas de um Argissolo Amarelo coeso foram estudados em quatro áreas selecionadas na usina Triunfo, no Estado de Alagoas. Os tratamentos consistiram de uma área não irrigada, uma área irrigada, uma com aplicação de vinhaça e uma sob floresta nativa como condição original. As amostras foram retiradas das profundidades de 0-0,2, 0,2-0,4 e 0,4-0,8 m, para determinar as alterações na densidade do solo, distribuição de diâmetro dos poros, curvas de retenção de água no solo e condutividade hidráulica saturada. O maior grau de dispersão de argila nos solos cultivados com cana-de-açúcar promoveu maior acúmulo desta partícula nas camadas subsuperficiais do solo. Os sistemas de manejo com cana-de-açúcar aumentaram a compactação do solo, com conseqüente redução da macroporosidade e condutividade hidráulica saturada, e aumento da retenção de água disponível do solo.