bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low-Temperature Compressive Strength of Glass-Fiber-Reinforced
Polymer Composites
Authors: Dutta P. K.
Published: June 2008

Polymeric composites are relatively inexpensive materials of high strength, in which deformation of the matrix is used to transfer stress by means of shear traction at the fiber-matrix interface to the embedded high-strength fibers. At low temperatures, complex stresses are set up within the microstructure of the material as a result of matrix stiffening and mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients of the constituents of the composites. These stresses in turn affect the strength and deformation characteristics of the composites. This is demonstrated by compression testing of an unidirectional glass-fiber-reinforced polymer composite at room and low temperatures. The increase of compressive strength matched the analytical prediction of strength increase modeled from the consideration of increase in matrix stiffness and thermal residual stresses at low temperatures. Additional compression tests performed on a batch of low-temperature thermally cycled specimens confirmed the predictable reduction of brittleness due to suspected increase of microcrack density. The mode of failure characterized by definite pre-fracture yielding conforms more to Budiansky’s plastic microbuckling theory than to Rosen’s theory of elastic shear or extensional buckling.
Hydrodynamic Performance and Cavitation of an Open Propeller in a
Simulated Ice-Blocked Flow
Authors: Walker D. , Bose N. , Yamaguchi H.
Published: June 2008

Experiments were done on a 200-mm-dia open propeller behind a simulated ice blockage in a cavitation tunnel. The propeller performance in uniform flow and blocked flow is contrasted over a range of advance coefficients and at different cavitation numbers. Mean thrust and torque coefficients are presented. The types of cavitation, and its intermittent nature over a cycle of operation, are reported. The experiments indicate the likelihood of cavitation at full scale for blocked conditions and illustrate the effects of cavitation on mean values of thrust and torque.
Interaction of Incoming Waves With a Steady Intake-Pipe Flow
Authors: Ertekin R. C. , Liu Y. Z. , Padmanabhan B.
Published: June 2008

A linear ray theory is developed to study the interaction of water waves with a steady intake-pipe flow in deep water. The wave-current interaction model is based on the assumption that the current field is slowly varying in comparison with the wave field. With the use of the dispersion relation, an equation is derived for the wave number that also depends on the current velocity field. Imposing the condition of irrotationality of wave number, a nonlinear set of characteristic equations of oblique waves is obtained and solved numerically to determine the rays. The current field is generated by solving the 3-D potential problem of specified intake normal-velocity at the entrance of a horizontal, circular pipe of semi-infinite length, situated on the still-water level, by using the axisymmetric Rankine source method. It appears that the velocity-potential solution of the intake-pipe flow problem presented here does not exist in the literature. Finally, the local wave amplitudes are calculated through the conservation of wave-action equation to predict the focusing of wave energy.
Effect of Thread Shape on Screw Stress Concentration by Photoelastic
Measurements
Authors: Dragoni E.
Published: June 2008

The screw stress concentration for six nut-bolt connections embodying three different thread profiles and two nut shapes is measured photoelastically. Buttress (nearly zero flank angle), trapezoidal (15-deg flank angle), and triangular (30-deg flank angle) thread forms are examined in combination with standard and lip-type nuts. The effect of the thread profile on the screw stress concentration appears to be dependent upon the kind of nut considered. If the fastening incorporates a standard nut, the buttress thread is stronger than the triangular one, which, in turn, behaves better than the trapezoidal contour. The improvement is roughly a 20-percent reduction in the stress concentration factor from the trapezoidal to the buttress thread. In the case of lip nut, conversely, this tendency is somewhat reversed, with the trapezoidal thread performing slightly (but not decidedly) better than the other two shapes. Finally, averaged over all three thread forms, the lip nut exhibits a stress concentration factor which is about 50 percent lower than that of the standard nut.
Statistics of Wave Crest Lengths Based on Directional Wave
Simulations
Authors: Goda Y.
Published: June 2008

Spatial surface elevations of directional random waves have numerically been simulated for various directional spectral conditions in deep water and finite uniform depth water. Individual wave crests are defined on the simulated surface data and the statistics of crest lengths are examined. The ratio of the mean crest length to the local wavelength is found to be governed by the directional spreading parameter. The average longitudinal profiles of high wave crests are presented for three typical values of directional spreading parameters.
Hydrostatic Effects in Tubular Member Design
Authors: Karamanos S. A. , Tassoulas J. L.
Published: June 2008

This paper summarizes some important results concerning the analysis and design of tubular compliant-tower members. The tubes are subjected to a combination of structural loads and external pressure, which may cause buckling. The paper focuses on the effects of external pressure on the ultimate capacity. Analytical results are compared with experimental data and design equations. The comparison is aimed towards better understanding of pressurized tubular beam-column behavior.
Forests and Climate Change: Forcings, Feedbacks, and the Climate Benefits of Forests
Authors: Bonan Gordon B.
Published: June 2008

The world's forests influence climate through physical, chemical, and biological processes that affect planetary energetics, the hydrologic cycle, and atmospheric composition. These complex and nonlinear forest-atmosphere interactions can dampen or amplify anthropogenic climate change. Tropical, temperate, and boreal reforestation and afforestation attenuate global warming through carbon sequestration. Biogeophysical feedbacks can enhance or diminish this negative climate forcing. Tropical forests mitigate warming through evaporative cooling, but the low albedo of boreal forests is a positive climate forcing. The evaporative effect of temperate forests is unclear. The net climate forcing from these and other processes is not known. Forests are under tremendous pressure from global change. Interdisciplinary science that integrates knowledge of the many interacting climate services of forests with the impacts of global change is necessary to identify and understand as yet unexplored feedbacks in the Earth system and the potential of forests to mitigate climate change.
Forests of the Past: A Window to Future Changes
Authors: Petit Rémy J. , Hu Feng Sheng , Dick Christopher W.
Published: June 2008

The study of past forest change provides a necessary historical context for evaluating the outcome of human-induced climate change and biological invasions. Retrospective analyses based on fossil and genetic data greatly advance our understanding of tree colonization, adaptation, and extinction in response to past climatic change. For instance, these analyses reveal cryptic refugia near or north of continental ice sheets, leading to reevaluation of postglacial tree migration rates. Species extinctions appear to have occurred primarily during periods of high climatic variability. Transoceanic dispersal and colonization in the tropics were widespread at geological time scales, inconsistent with the idea that tropical forests are particularly resistant to biological invasions.
Managing Forests for Climate Change Mitigation
Authors: Canadell Josep G. , Raupach Michael R.
Published: June 2008

Forests currently absorb billions of tons of CO
2
globally every year, an economic subsidy worth hundreds of billions of dollars if an equivalent sink had to be created in other ways. Concerns about the permanency of forest carbon stocks, difficulties in quantifying stock changes, and the threat of environmental and socioeconomic impacts of large-scale reforestation programs have limited the uptake of forestry activities in climate policies. With political will and the involvement of tropical regions, forests can contribute to climate change protection through carbon sequestration as well as offering economic, environmental, and sociocultural benefits. A key opportunity in tropical regions is the reduction of carbon emissions from deforestation and degradation.
VelB/VeA/LaeA Complex Coordinates Light Signal with Fungal Development and Secondary Metabolism
Authors: Bayram Özgür , Krappmann Sven , Ni Min , Bok Jin Woo , Helmstaedt Kerstin , Valerius Oliver , Braus-Stromeyer Susanna , Kwon Nak-Jung , Keller Nancy P. , Yu Jae-Hyuk , Braus Gerhard H.
Published: June 2008

Differentiation and secondary metabolism are correlated processes in fungi that respond to light. In
Aspergillus nidulans
, light inhibits sexual reproduction as well as secondary metabolism. We identified the heterotrimeric
velvet
complex VelB/VeA/LaeA connecting light-responding developmental regulation and control of secondary metabolism. VeA, which is primarily expressed in the dark, physically interacts with VelB, which is expressed during sexual development. VeA bridges VelB to the nuclear master regulator of secondary metabolism, LaeA. Deletion of either
velB
or
veA
results in defects in both sexual fruiting-body formation and the production of secondary metabolites.
CHAOS SYNTHESIS BY MEANS OF EVOLUTIONARY ALGORITHMS
Authors: ZELINKA IVAN , CHEN GUANRONG , CELIKOVSKY SERGEJ
Published: June 2008

This paper introduces the notion of chaos synthesis by means of evolutionary algorithms and develops a new method for chaotic systems synthesis. This method is similar to genetic programming and grammatical evolution and is being applied along with three evolutionary algorithms: differential evolution, self-organizing migration and genetic algorithm. The aim of this investigation is to synthesize new and "simple" chaotic systems based on some elements contained in a prechosen existing chaotic system and a properly defined cost function. The investigation consists of eleven case studies: the aforementioned three evolutionary algorithms in eleven versions. For all algorithms, 100 simulations of chaos synthesis were repeated and then averaged to guarantee the reliability and robustness of the proposed method. The most significant results were carefully selected, visualized and commented in this report.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CELLULAR NEURAL NETWORKS AND PATTERN GENERATION PROBLEMS
Authors: BAN JUNG-CHAO , LIN SONG-SUN , LIN YIN-HENG
Published: June 2008

This work investigates three-dimensional pattern generation problems and their applications to three-dimensional Cellular Neural Networks (3DCNN). An ordering matrix for the set of all local patterns is established to derive a recursive formula for the ordering matrix of a larger finite lattice. For a given admissible set of local patterns, the transition matrix is defined and the recursive formula of high order transition matrix is presented. Then, the spatial entropy is obtained by computing the maximum eigenvalues of a sequence of transition matrices. The connecting operators are used to verify the positivity of the spatial entropy, which is important in determining the complexity of the set of admissible global patterns. The results are useful in studying a set of global stationary solutions in various Lattice Dynamical Systems and Cellular Neural Networks.
ROBUST $\mathcal{H}_{\infty}$ CONTROL FOR MASTER-SLAVE SYNCHRONIZATION OF LUR'E SYSTEMS WITH TIME-DELAY FEEDBACK CONTROL
Authors: SOUZA FERNANDO O. , PALHARES REINALDO M. , MENDES EDUARDO M. A. M. , TÔRRES LEONARDO A. B.
Published: June 2008

This paper deals with the problems of stability analysis and control synthesis with [Formula: see text] performance for the master-slave synchronization of Lur'e systems using a time-delay feedback control. The proposed approach consists in obtaining a new improved [Formula: see text] robust stability criteria as well as a control law based on linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) via discretized Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional combined with an alternative strategy based on the introduction of slack variables to allow the decoupling of the system matrices from the Lyapunov matrices. Using the problem of synchronizing coupled Chua's circuits, two examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
BOUNDS FOR THE SET CONTAINING ALL COMPACT INVARIANT SETS OF THE LINEARLY COUPLED LASER SYSTEM
Authors: STARKOV KONSTANTIN E. , STARKOV KONSTANTIN K.
Published: June 2008

In this paper we study the localization problem of all compact invariant sets of the five-dimensional coupled laser system by applying the first-order extremum conditions. Our main results consist in finding a number of localization sets formed by frusta, a circular cylinder, two parabolic cylinders and some other quadratic surfaces. Parameters of these localization sets are computed explicitly.
BIFURCATION ANALYSIS OF ITERATIVE IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION METHOD FOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
Authors: YOSHINAGA TETSUYA , IMAKURA YOSHIHIRO , FUJIMOTO KEN'ICHI , UETA TETSUSHI
Published: June 2008

Of the iterative image reconstruction algorithms for computed tomography (CT), the power multiplicative algebraic reconstruction technique (PMART) is known to have good properties for speeding convergence and maximizing entropy. We analyze here bifurcations of fixed and periodic points that correspond to reconstructed images observed using PMART with an image made of multiple pixels and we investigate an extended PMART, which is a dynamical class for accelerating convergence. The convergence process for the state in the neighborhood of the true reconstructed image can be reduced to the property of a fixed point observed in the dynamical system. To investigate the speed of convergence, we present a computational method of obtaining parameter sets in which the given real or absolute values of the characteristic multiplier are equal. The advantage of the extended PMART is verified by comparing it with the standard multiplicative algebraic reconstruction technique (MART) using numerical experiments.
ON THE LEAST QUADRATIC NON-RESIDUE
Authors: LAU YUK-KAM , WU JIE
Published: June 2008

We prove that for almost all real primitive characters χd of modulus |d|, the least positive integer nχd at which χd takes a value not equal to 0 and 1 satisfies nχd ≪ log |d|, and give a quite precise estimate on the size of the exceptional set.
GENERALIZED mth ORDER JACOBI THETA FUNCTIONS AND THE MACDONALD IDENTITIES
Authors: TOH PEE CHOON
Published: June 2008

We describe an mth order generalization of Jacobi's theta functions and use these functions to construct classes of theta function identities in multiple variables. These identities are equivalent to the Macdonald identities for the seven infinite families of irreducible affine root systems. They are also equivalent to some elliptic determinant evaluations proven recently by Rosengren and Schlosser.
Domains of WNK1 kinase in the regulation of ROMK1
Authors: Wang Hao-Ran , Liu Zhen , Huang Chou-Long
Published: June 2008

WNK1 kinase belongs to a family of serine-threonine protein kinases with an atypical placement of the catalytic lysine. Increased expression of WNK1 causes hypertension and hyperkalemia in humans. WNK1 inhibits renal potassium channel ROMK1 by enhancing its endocytosis, likely contributing to hyperkalemia in affected patients. The domains of WNK1 involved in inhibition of ROMK1 have not been completely elucidated. Here, we reported that an NH2-terminal proline-rich domain (N-PRD; amino acids 1-119) is necessary and sufficient for WNK1 inhibition of ROMK1. A region (named “NL” for N-linker; amino acids 120-220) located between N-PRD and the kinase domain of WNK1 (amino acids 220-491) antagonized the inhibition of ROMK1 caused by N-PRD. The WNK1 kinase domain reversed the antagonism of NL on N-PRD. Mutagenesis studies revealed that charge-charge interactions between two conserved catalytic residues (Lys-233 and Asp-368) within the kinase domain (not the kinase activity) are critical for kinase domain to reverse the antagonism of NL domain. The WNK1 autoinhibitory domain (AID; amino acids 491-555) also affected ROMK, presumably by modulating the kinase domain conformation. Mutations of two conserved phenylalanine abolished the ability of AID to modulate ROMK1. Finally, the first coiled-coil domain (CC1; amino acids 555-640) of WNK1 alleviated the effect of AID domain toward kinase domain. Thus, multiple intra- and/or intermolecular interactions of WNK1 domains are at play for regulation of ROMK1 by WNK1.
Outpatient and Home Chemotherapy with Novel Local Control Strategies in Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor
Authors: Aguilera Dolly , Hayes-Jordan Andrea , Anderson Peter , Woo Shiao , Pearson Margaret , Green Holly
Published: June 2008

Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor (DSRCT) has a very poor prognosis. This report illustrates novel chemotherapy and local control interventions in a 5-year old patient. The patient was treated in the outpatient setting, achieved remission, with excellent quality of life. The patient presented with massive ascites and >1000 abdominal tumors. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy included vincristine , ifosfamide , dexrazoxane/doxorubicin , and etoposide . Continuous hyperthermic peritoneal perfusion (CHPP) with cisplatin was given after extensive cytoreductive surgery. This was followed by irinotecan + temozolomide monthly 2, then abdominal radiation 30 Gy with simultaneous temozolomide . A total of 12 cycles of irinotecan and temozolamide were given. Except for initial chemotherapy, subsequent courses were in the outpatient setting. Focal retroperitoneal relapse at 18 months was treated with IMRT with bevacizumab (5 mg/kg) and 2 perihepatic metastases with radio frequency ablation/cryoablation followed by chronic outpatient maintenance chemotherapy (valproic acid, cyclophosphamide, and rapamycin). Almost 2 years from diagnosis, the patient maintained an excellent quality of life. This is a novel approach to the treatment of children with massive abdomino-pelvic DSRCT.
Prolonged Classical NF‐κB Activation Prevents Autophagy upon E. coli Stimulation In Vitro: A Potential Resolving Mechanism of Inflammation
Authors: Schlottmann Silke , Buback Franziska , Stahl Bettina , Meierhenrich Rainer , Walther Paul , Georgieff Michael , Senftleben Uwe
Published: June 2008

Activation of NF‐κB is known to prevent apoptosis but may also act as proapoptotic factor in order to eliminate inflammatory cells.
Here, we show that classical NF‐κB activation in RAW 264.7 and bone marrow‐derived macrophages upon short E. coli coculture is necessary to promote cell death at late time points.
At 48 hours subsequent to short‐term, E. coli challenge increased survival of NF‐κB‐suppressed macrophages was associated with pattern of autophagy whereas macrophages with normal NF‐κB signalling die. Cell death of normal macrophages was indicated by preceding downregulation of autophagy associated genes atg5 and beclin1.
Restimulation of macrophages with LPS at 48 hours after E. coli treatment results in augmented proinflammatory cytokine production in NF‐κB‐suppressed macrophages compared to control cells.
We thus demonstrate that classical NF‐κB activation inhibits autophagy and promotes delayed programmed cell death.
This mechanism is likely to prevent the recovery of inflammatory cells and thus contributes to the resolution of inflammation.
Third‐Body Perturbation in the Case of Elliptic Orbits for the Disturbing Body
Authors: Domingos R. C. , de Moraes R. Vilhena , De Almeida Prado A. F. Bertachini
Published: June 2008

This work presents a semi‐analytical and numerical study of the perturbation caused
in a spacecraft by a third‐body using a double averaged analytical model with the disturbing
function expanded in Legendre polynomials up to the second order. The important reason
for this procedure is to eliminate terms due to the short periodic motion of the spacecraft
and to show smooth curves for the evolution of the mean orbital elements for a long‐time
period. The aim of this study is to calculate the effect of lunar perturbations on the orbits of
spacecrafts that are traveling around the Earth. An analysis of the stability of near‐circular
orbits is made, and a study to know under which conditions this orbit remains near circular
completes this analysis. A study of the equatorial orbits is also performed.
Real‐Time Monitoring of Apoptosis by Caspase‐3‐Like Protease Induced FRET Reduction Triggered by Amyloid Aggregation
Authors: Paulsson Johan F. , Schultz Sebastian W. , Köhler Martin , Leibiger Ingo , Berggren Per-Olof , Westermark Gunilla T.
Published: June 2008

Amyloid formation is cytotoxic and can activate the caspase cascade. Here, we monitor caspase‐3‐like activity as reduction of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) using the contstruct pFRET2‐DEVD containing enhanced cyan fluorescent protin (EYFP) linked by the caspase‐3 specific cleavage site residues DEVD. Beta‐TC‐6 cells were transfected, and the fluoorescence was measured at 440 nm excitation and 535 nm (EYFP) and 480 nm (ECFP) emission wavelength. Cells were incubated with recombinant pro lset Amyloid Polypeptide (rec prolAPP) or the processing metabolites of prolAPP; the N‐terminal flanking peptide withIAPP (recN+IAPP); IAPP with the C‐terminal flanking peptied (recIAPP+C) and lslet Amyloid Polypeptide (recIAPP) . Peptides were added in solubilized from (50 μM) or as performed amyloid‐like fibrils, or as a combination of these. FRET was measured and incubation with a mixture of solubilized peptide and performed fibrils resulted in loss of FRET and apoptosis was determined to occure in cells incubated with recproIAPP (49%), recN+IAPP (46%), recIAPP (72%) and recIAPP+C (59%). These results show that proIAPP and the processing intermediates reside the same cell toxic capacity as IAPP, and they can all have a central role in the reduction of beta‐cell number in type 2 diabetes.
Imports to Smyrna between 1794 and 1802: New Statistics from the Ottoman Sources
Authors: Küçükkalay Mesud
Published: June 2008

This study is based on the foreign customs registers of the port of Smyrna in the Ottoman Archives of Istanbul. In this paper 115 ports, 112 ships, 2859 pieces of goods, and 1273 merchants have been investigated for the period 1794-1802. This information indicates that the transformation of the Ottoman Foreign trade at the turn of the eighteenth century was linked to the following economic trends of the second half of the eighteenth and the first half of the nineteenth centuries: the emergence of the European supremacy in naval transportation, a change in the terms of trade that was disadvantageous for the Ottomans, and a shift in the trade partners of the Ottoman Empire. Cette contribution exploite les données des registres de la douane ottomane du port de Smyrne, consignant les importations étrangères, conservés aux archives d'Istanbul. L'étude porte sur les cargaisons de 112 navires en provenance de 115 ports, 2859 pièces de marchandises et 1273 marchands dans les années 1794-1802. Les données témoignent que la transformation du commerce ottoman étranger en fin du XVIIIème siècle est liée aux tendances économiques de la seconde moitié du XVIIIème et de la première moitié du XIXème siècles. Elles reflètent la domination européenne dans le domaine du transport maritime, la modification des conditions commerciales au détriment des Ottomans et un changement des partenaires commerciaux de l'Empire.
The Thematic Unity of Psalm cxliv in Light of Mesopotamian Royal Ideology
Authors: Holtz Shalom
Published: June 2008

Psalm cxliv, which according to many scholars is a "royal psalm," begins with a prayer for assistance in battle (verses 1-11) followed by a description of prosperity (verses 12-15). The combination of these two parts parallels several examples from Mesopotamian royal literature in which the king is depicted both as a heroic warrior and as a provider of prosperity. In light of the Mesopotamian parallels, Psalm cxliv is an expression of a similar Israelite royal ideology.
Historical and Geographical Notes on the "Lowland Districts" of Judah in Joshua xv 33-47
Authors: Tappy Ron
Published: June 2008

The somewhat peculiar order of the three districts of the Judaean Shephelah presented in Josh. xv 33-44 and the appearance of three major Philistine cities (Ekron, Ashdod, and Gaza; vv. 45-47) following these districts raise both literary and historical questions relating to this text. Though commentators generally agree that the inclusion of the Philistine cities represents a secondary addition to an older document detailing the patrimony of Judah, a question remains as to what historical circumstance ultimately prompted the insertion. Keys to credible explanations for both the districts' order and the secondary insertion lie in the third campaign of Sennacherib in 701 B.C.E., which targeted major portions of Philistia and the Judaean Shephelah. The ordering of districts in the biblical list seems to follow Sennacherib's line of march through the region; and the addition of these specific Philistine cities grew out of Assyria's evolving relationship with them during the reign of Sargon II and especially during the third campaign of Sennacherib, when a political realignment of unnamed towns occurred in the borderlands between the coastal plain and the Shephelah.
Contrasts and Comparisons: Three Practices of Forensic Investigation
Authors: M'charek Amade
Published: June 2008

Forensic DNA practice is about identification and thus about making individuality. Yet in order for this to be possible an individual has to be placed in a population, a precondition which has caused problems for the forensic community. For given the lack of a standard biological definition, what is a population? Meanwhile forensic DNA has come of age, bypassing the problem of population, irrespective of the definition applied, through scale and the availability of technology. This article examines three practices of profiling: 1) "conventional" DNA profiling, 2) inferring visible traits from DNA, 3) and inferring visible traits from surveillance recordings. Their juxtaposing can be read in two ways: as a linear story of the ever-growing role of forensic DNA in criminal investigation or as topological story of different versions of the same practice of DNA profiling.
A Dance Between the Reduction and Reflexivity: Explicating the "Phenomenological Psychological Attitude"
Authors: Finlay Linda
Published: June 2008

This article explores the nature of "the phenomenological attitude," which is understood as the process of retaining a wonder and openness to the world while reflexively restraining pre-understandings, as it applies to psychological research. A brief history identifies key philosphical ideas outlining Husserl's formulation of the reductions and subsequent existential-hermeneutic elaborations, and how these have been applied in empirical psychological research. Then three concrete descriptions of engaging the phenomenological attitude are offered, highlighting the way the epoché of the natural sciences, the psychological phenomenological reduction and the eidetic reduction can be applied during research interviews. Reflections on the impact and value of the researcher's stance show that these reductions can be intertwined with reflexivity and that, in this process, something of a dance occurs—a tango in which the researcher twists and glides through a series of improvised steps. In a context of tension and contradictory motions, the researcher slides between striving for reductive focus and reflexive self-awareness; between bracketing pre-understandings and exploiting them as a source of insight. Caught up in the dance, researchers must wage a continuous, iterative struggle to become aware of, and then manage, pre-understandings and habitualities that inevitably linger. Persistance will reward the researcher with special, if fleeting, moments of disclosure in which the phenomenon reveals something of itself in a fresh way.
Conceptualizing Health and Illness
Authors: Kouba Petr
Published: June 2008

This article is focused on the notions of health and illness, as they appear in the context of philosophical reflections on finitude and contingency of human existence. Criticizing Heidegger's approach to health and illness which is based on the Aristotelian concept of privation, the author tries to find an alternative to the privative concept of illness with the help of Schelling's treatise on human freedom which explicates Evil not as a privation of Good, but as a sort of illness that has its own phenomenal positivity. Even Schelling's philosophical investigation of the nature of Evil, however, doesn't seem to provide a solid ground for a non-privative and non-normative approach to pathological phenomena. Only when Schelling's treatise on human freedom is de-contextualized and radicalized in a way suggested, for instance, by Deleuze in his Difference and Repetition, does it seem possible to elucidate pathological, and especially psychopathological phenomena, as they show themselves from themselves, and not from the perspective given by the normative ideal of health.
Using the Mistakes of al Qaeda's Franchises to Undermine Its Strategies
Authors: Fishman Brian
Published: June 2008

Since the invasion of Iraq, al Qaeda has used “franchises” to expand its global reach. Al Qaeda offered these franchises very little, except its name, reputation, and ideology. Because of al Qaeda's minimal investment, destroying the franchise groups will accomplish very little against the mother organization. Instead, the United States should use al Qaeda's franchises as a vehicle to attack al Qaeda's name, reputation, and ideas. Al Qaeda's franchises are more prone to strategic mistakes than their namesake; those errors should be used as the cornerstone of a narrative to highlight al Qaeda's ideological failings. Al Qaeda in Iraq has been particularly mistake-prone. Three mistakes in particular offer opportunities to undermine al Qaeda's ideology: attacks against Muslim civilians, the declaration of the Islamic State of Iraq, and infighting with other Iraqi insurgent groups.
Pakistan and Terror: The Eye of the Storm
Authors: Riedel Bruce
Published: June 2008

Pakistan almost uniquely is both a major victim of terrorism and a major sponsor of terrorism. It has been the scene of horrific acts of terrorist violence, including the murder of Benazir Bhutto, and it has been one of the most prolific state sponsors of terror aimed at advancing its national security interests. Over the course of the past three decades, Pakistan's army has built a complex network of relationships with numerous jihadist terror groups, including the Taliban, and with terrorists like Osama bin Laden. Fear of India is the driving force behind the army's pursuit of these relationships. For the next American president, there is no issue or country more critical to get right, which means developing a policy that will move Pakistan away from being a hothouse of terror. Engaging Kashmir should be part of that new approach.
The Incisive Fight: Recommendations for Improving Counterterrorism Intelligence
Authors: Rosenbach Eric
Published: June 2008

The intelligence community has evolved significantly since the failures of 9/11 and the inaccurate assessments on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. Congressional action has resulted in multiple far-reaching reforms and tectonic organizational shifts. On the strategic level, however, counterterrorism intelligence policy has been muddled during the past eight years. The Bush administration, for example, called on the intelligence community to “bolster the growth of democracy.” The next president should cast aside political ideology and build on reform efforts to empower top-notch leaders. Strong new leaders in the intelligence community must energize the National Counterterrorism Center and provide the president with comprehensive and policy-relevant intelligence analysis. The United States cannot eliminate the global terrorist threat alone—the next president must boost cooperation with liaison security services. Finally, the intelligence community must bolster its operational capacity to find and detain terrorists around the world.
Briefing for the New President: The Terrorist Threat in Indonesia and Southeast Asia
Authors: Jones Sidney
Published: June 2008

Counterterrorism capacity in Southeast Asia is improving, reducing the likelihood of a major attack on Western targets in the near term. However, jihadi ideology has taken root in Indonesia, and while the region's largest terrorist organization, Jemaah Islamiyah, appears to be more interested in rebuilding than mounting operations, its members still constitute an important recruitment pool for other groups. Most Indonesian jihadis appear to be more focused on local than foreign targets, but that focus can aid recruitment and facilitate alliances with other organizations. While the Iraq insurgency has not attracted Southeast Asian participation, the resurgence of the Taliban on the Afghan-Pakistan border could. The United States, under the next president, could help develop better information sharing between South and Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia may not be the “second front” that many feared after the first Bali bombs, but the terrorism threat in the region has not gone away.
A Strategy for Fighting International Islamist Terrorists
Authors: Sageman Marc
Published: June 2008

The U.S. strategy for combating international Islamist terrorists must be based on an understanding of the terrorists' behavior and the process of radicalization to violence. This process includes four dimensions: a sense of moral outrage, interpreted in a specific way, which resonates with one's personal experiences, and is channeled through group dynamics, both face-to-face and online. The threat has evolved over the past decade. The process of radicalization continues in a hostile physical environment, but it is enabled by the Internet, resulting in a disconnected, decentralized social structure. The threat of this “leaderless jihad” is self-limiting because of its confining structure and the lack of appeal of its utopian ideal. It will probably fade away for internal reasons, if not sustained by overly aggressive tactics construed as a “war on Islam.” The appropriate strategy against this threat is to contain and neutralize the radicalization process along its four dimensions.
Restoring Moral Authority: Ending Torture, Secret Detention, and the Prison at Guantanamo Bay
Authors: Malinowski Tom
Published: June 2008

From Guantanamo Bay to Abu Ghraib, the history of the United States's handling of combatants in the Global War on Terrorism is filled with episodes that have diminished its reputation and influence in the world. Most military and intelligence professionals now agree that presenting a more positive vision of American values is critical to success over terrorist organizations like al Qaeda. Developing a coherent and effective human rights policy raises important questions: about the efficacy and legality of torture and extraordinary rendition, the use of military instead of civilian courts to prosecute suspected terrorists, and whether some prisoners can be held indefinitely without charge or trial. Considering both morality and strategy, the next president should issue an executive order that categorically forbids torture, end the use of secret detention, close the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, and seek to release or transfer to home countries detainees who cannot be prosecuted by the United States.
“Homegrown” Terrorists: Theory and Cases in the War on Terror's Newest Front
Authors: Kohlmann Evan F.
Published: June 2008

The realities of a globalized society now allow international terrorist organizations like al Qaeda to dramatically expand their potential reach by courting sympathizers in dark corners around the world and teaching them how they can best serve al Qaeda's interests—without necessarily visiting an actual military training camp or even speaking directly with al Qaeda. In fact, despite their somewhat haphazard outward appearance, homegrown terrorist cells often possess a remarkable shared connection through reliance on particular al Qaeda training manuals, audio and video recordings, and even Internet chat forums. While these young men (and, increasingly, women) may have no formal contact with any terrorist organization, they can become virtual partners of al Qaeda by carefully studying its online knowledge base and executing terrorist attacks against its enemies. Recent law enforcement investigations have uncovered a surprisingly sophisticated network of budding terrorist “entrepreneurs” lurking in a host of major cities across Europe and North America.
From Profiles to Pathways and Roots to Routes: Perspectives from Psychology on Radicalization into Terrorism
Authors: Horgan John
Published: June 2008

Attempts to profile terrorists have failed resoundingly, leaving behind a poor (and unfair) impression of the potential for a sound psychological contribution to understanding the terrorist. However, recent work in the area has delivered promising and exciting starting points for a conceptual development in understanding the psychological process across all levels of terrorist involvement. Involvement in terrorism is a complex psychosocial process that comprises at least three seemingly distinct phases: becoming involved, being involved—synonymous with engaging in unambiguous terrorist activity—and disengaging (which may or may not result in subsequent de-radicalization). A critical implication of these distinctions is the recognition that each of them may contain unique, or phase-specific, implications for counterterrorism. An argument is made for greater consideration of the disengagement phase with a clearer role for psychological research to inform and enhance practical counterterrorism operations.
Al Qaeda, the Organization: A Five-Year Forecast
Authors: Bergen Peter
Published: June 2008

Al Qaeda today is a resilient organization, as evidenced by the London attacks of 2005, its resurgence in Pakistan, the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, and its influence on the war in Iraq. While al Qaeda is not strong enough to launch an attack inside the United States in the next five years, it will continue to train militants for successful attacks in Europe. Al Qaeda's leadership is likely to remain in place for years, and it is unlikely to lose its safe haven on the Afghan-Pakistan border in the near term, although it has suffered real reverses in Iraq. Al Qaeda and its affiliated groups will, in the long term, implode because of their unrestrained violence against fellow Muslims and lack of a real plan for governance, both of which make it difficult for them to transform into a genuine, political mass movement.
Countering Terrorist Finance: A Work, Mostly in Progress
Authors: Winer Jonathan M.
Published: June 2008

Prior to the September 11, 2001, attacks, the United States and the international community had undertaken only limited measures to address terrorist finance. Seven years later, despite vast efforts and stronger counterterrorist finance regimes, major gaps in regulation and enforcement remain. Funds still reach terrorist groups through state sponsors, charities, and criminal activities. In Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, and beyond, terrorist financing remains a huge problem. The next administration must do seven things to address terrorist finance: first, implement country-specific strategies to ensure global cooperation, particularly with state sponsors; second, undermine terrorist-affiliated charities by replacing the social services they provide; third, make U.S. law enforcement a truly global entity; fourth, regulate all domestic financial sectors; fifth, address smuggling of bulk currency and high-value commodities; sixth, reinvigorate the UN's support for counterterrorist finance regimes; and finally, improve U.S. domestic enforcement and communication with the American public and the world.
The Resurgent and Persistent Threat of al Qaeda
Authors: Sawyer Reid , Foster Michael
Published: June 2008

While the “Global War on Terror” has succeeded in constricting al Qaeda's ability to operate, it has not eliminated the threat. Al Qaeda is stronger and more resilient than at any time since 2001 due to its ability to adapt, innovate, and reconfigure its resources in response to a hostile counterterrorism environment. This article presents a new framework for considering the war against al Qaeda. Policy makers must recognize that the current conflict is not a single conflict, but rather three conflicts: a war of action, a war of networks, and a war of ideas. Viewing al Qaeda in this manner will facilitate the integration of counterterrorism policy and strategy from the tactical to the strategic level. Furthermore, the failure to understand why al Qaeda has survived and prospered precludes the development and deployment of a cogent counterterrorism strategy. Finally, the authors present a set of policy recommendations structured around this framework.
The Roles of Independent Self-Construal and Concerns for Face on Advising Rape Victims to Report to Police in Japanese and U.S. College Students
Authors: Yamawaki Niwako
Published: June 2008

This study investigated differences in Japanese and U.S. college students' tendencies to advise a rape victim—whom they would consider to be their own sister—to seek help from police. It was found that U.S. participants tended to advise the victim to report the rape to the police more often than did Japanese participants. This difference was mediated by independent self-construal and moderated by concern for the victim's face. This study replicated, in a cross-cultural setting, others' findings that participants were less likely to advise victims to report a rape when the victim and offender were acquainted.
“That's Not Fair”
Authors: Carson Alison S. , Banuazizi Ali
Published: June 2008

Distributive justice pertains to choices that individuals make in allocating resources to themselves and others. The present study, based on data obtained from Filipino and American fifth graders, investigated the similarities and differences in resource distribution in the context of two hypothetical scenarios. The scenarios made salient the norms of merit and need. It was found that although both the Filipino and U.S. children generally preferred to divide the resource equally, they offered quite different explanations for their choices. U.S. children focused on the equal performance of the characters in the scenarios, whereas the Filipino children tended to be more concerned with the interpersonal and emotional consequences of an unequal distribution. Furthermore, U.S. children favored merit-based distributions as their second choice, whereas Filipino children showed a preference for need-based distributions in their second choices. Whereas concern for harmony in interpersonal relationships guided equality- and need-based distributions in the Philippines, an emphasis on performance guided equality- and merit-based distributions in the United States. The findings were examined also in terms of the cultural orientations of individualism and collectivism in the United States and the Philippines, respectively.
Pediatric Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
Authors: McOmber Mark A. , Shulman Robert J.
Published: June 2008

Functional gastrointestinal disorders continue to be a prevalent set of conditions faced by the healthcare team and have a significant emotional and economic impact. In this review, the authors highlight some of the common functional disorders seen in pediatric patients (functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain) as well as one of the more intriguing (cyclic vomiting). The most recent Pediatric Rome Working Group has modified the definitions of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Current studies have used these categorizations to understand better the epidemiology, etiology, and treatment options for these disorders. As more data are available, children and their families will be offered a better understanding of the conditions and more effective treatments to overcome them. The importance of making an accurate diagnosis of a functional gastrointestinal disorder cannot be overemphasized.
Buried Bumper Syndrome: Cut and Leave It Alone!
Authors: Kejariwal Deepak , Aravinthan A. , Bromley Dawn , Miao Y.
Published: June 2008

Buried bumper syndrome (BBS) occurs due to the overgrowth of gastric mucosa over the inner bumper of a gastrostomy tube. Various therapeutic approaches have been described for the management of BBS. However, no standardized clinical protocol deals with this complication. The authors describe their experience of dealing with BBS. Case notes of the patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) between February 2002 and December 2007 at their institute were reviewed retrospectively, and cases of BBS were analyzed. During this 71‐month period, 356 PEG procedures were preformed. Seven patients with BBS were identified from the case note review (incidence of 1.97%). Attempts at endoscopic removal of the buried bumper were made but unfortunately failed. In view of the patients' associated comorbidity, the buried bumpers in these patients were left in situ, and a new PEG was inserted adjacent to the first site in 6 individuals. In 1 patient, a jejunal extension tube was inserted through the original PEG tube for feeding. No complications from the buried bumper arose in these patients during a median follow‐up of 18 months (range, 1‐46 months). Some patients being fed by a PEG tube are in poor general health and have significant comorbidities. They are therefore poor candidates for surgical or endoscopic removal of a buried bumper. In such patients, leaving the internal bumper in situ should be considered as a relatively safe treatment option.
Is There a Role for Bowel Rest in Nutrition Management of Crohn's Disease?
Authors: Wiese Dawn M. , Rivera Rene , Seidner Douglas L.
Published: June 2008

In 1988, Greenberg and colleagues published a large randomized controlled trial to address whether bowel rest could lead to improved disease activity in patients with active Crohn's disease. The results of this study provide substantial evidence that bowel rest is not necessary to achieve remission in patients with active Crohn's disease receiving nutrition support. Before this study, great controversy existed about the use of nutrition support and bowel rest in the treatment of active Crohn's disease because of a limited number of conflicting studies providing evidence for and against its application. The results of the publication by Greenberg et al are fundamental because they helped to settle this important argument. Furthermore, this pivotal paper changed the clinical guidelines for the use of nutrition support in the management of active Crohn's disease. Since the publication of this pivotal article, many developments in the field of nutrition and in the treatment of Crohn's disease have helped validate and further its results. Subsequent studies and debate center on the use of enteral nutrition as primary treatment in patients with active Crohn's disease. Data regarding the efficacy, composition, and overall role of adult enteral nutrition in the management of Crohn's disease are presented. This article revisits the Greenberg paper and discusses some of these innovations in nutrition.