bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blind identification of the aortic pressure waveform from multiple peripheral artery pressure waveforms
Authors: Swamy Gokul , Ling Qi , Li Tongtong , Mukkamala Ramakrishna
Published: January 2007

We have developed a new technique to estimate the clinically relevant aortic pressure waveform from multiple, less invasively measured peripheral artery pressure waveforms. The technique is based on multichannel blind system identification in which two or more measured outputs (peripheral artery pressure waveforms) of a single-input, multi-output system (arterial tree) are mathematically analyzed so as to reconstruct the common unobserved input (aortic pressure waveform) to within an arbitrary scale factor. The technique then invokes Poiseuille's law to calibrate the reconstructed waveform to absolute pressure. Consequently, in contrast to previous related efforts, the technique does not utilize a generalized transfer function or any training data and is therefore entirely patient and time specific. To demonstrate proof of concept, we have evaluated the technique with respect to four swine in which peripheral artery pressure waveforms from the femoral and radial arteries and a reference aortic pressure waveform from the descending thoracic aorta were simultaneously measured during diverse hemodynamic interventions. We report that the technique reliably estimated the entire aortic pressure waveform with an overall root mean squared error (RMSE) of 4.6 mmHg. For comparison, the average overall RMSE between the peripheral artery pressure and reference aortic pressure waveforms was 8.6 mmHg. Thus the technique reduced the RMSE by 47%. As a result, the technique also provided similar improvements in the estimation of systolic pressure, pulse pressure, and the ejection interval. With further successful testing, the technique may ultimately be employed for more precise monitoring and titration of therapy in, for example, critically ill and hypertension patients.
Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Alleviated by Oral Appliance in a Three-Year-Old Boy
Authors: Schessl Joachim , Rose Edmund , Korinthenberg Rudolf , Henschen Matthias
Published: January 2007

This clinical report describes a 3.5-year-old boy suffering from chronic daytime fatigue, accumulated snoring and dramatically appearing apnea during sleep. Oxycardiorespirography revealed a breathing pattern similar to repetitive obstructive apnea and an oxygen saturation periodically dropping to 80%. During tidal breathing, fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed aspiration of the aryepiglottic folds and the epiglottis during inspiration. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy was excluded. Due to the acknowledged side effects from various surgical approaches and nasal continuous positive airway pressure, a removable, functional Fraenkel II oral appliance was applied during sleep. Clinical assessment demonstrated resolution of the main respiratory symptoms, and oxycardiorespirography revealed a fundamental reduction in periodic obstructive apnea and desaturation. In conclusion, we consider the use of an oral functional appliance for severe obstructive sleep apnea in children to be a valuable alternative to other treatment methods.
Two Unsuccessful Clinical Trials on Endometriosis and a Few Lessons Learned
Authors: Guo Sun-Wei , Olive David L.
Published: January 2007

In 1999, a phase II clinical trial on the use of fulvestrant to treat endometriosis was launched; yet after 7 years there is still no report on its outcome. In 2005, another trial on the use of raloxifene to treat endometriosis was terminated early due to unfavorable outcome. The two apparently unsuccessful clinical trials on endometriosis have taught us a few important lessons. First, we need to understand endometriosis through more basic research. We have also been reminded that human endometriosis trials differ from animal studies; anatomy and physiology are often divergent, and outcome measures are certainly different. Ectopic endometrium can differ significantly from eutopic tissue, and this issue needs to be more thoroughly explored. We believe human cell lines will prove to be an inexpensive and valuable tool for future preliminary evaluation of medical therapies as well as discerning pathophysiologic processes of the disease. Based on our current understanding of endometriosis, some concrete benchmarks can be established for testing or screening potential compounds in vitro. Finally, estrogen receptor modulators are often tissue-, cell-, and context-specific in their actions; they should not be simplistically grouped together nor should extrapolations from one compound to another be undertaken in a cavalier manner.
The Determinants of Successful In-Hospital Rehabilitation in People Aged 90 Years and Older
Authors: Elphick Heather L. , Mankad Kshitij , Madan Suvira , Parker Chris , Liddle Barbara J.
Published: January 2007

Background/Objectives: The very elderly constitute a subgroup of elderly who may respond differently than the younger elderly to medical intervention. This possibility has not previously been investigated. Our study investigates whether successful rehabilitation of the very elderly is possible within the current processes of care and also whether factors that help predict successful rehabilitation in all age elderly are applicable to the oldest old. Methods: A retrospective case note analysis of all very elderly people (≧90 years old) treated within in-patient elderly person rehabilitation facilities at the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield. Potential predictive factors analysed: Barthel index, main presenting illness, number of co-morbid conditions, number of regular prescribed medications, abbreviated mental test score, prior formal social services input, previous hospital admission within 1 year and serum albumin (g/l). Outcome measures reflecting success of rehabilitation: duration of rehabilitation (days), discharge destination to the same (‘good outcome’) or increased (‘poor outcome’) level of social and/or nursing care, readmission to hospital within 30 days of discharge and death during rehabilitation or within 120 days of discharge. Results: Of 230 nonagenarians admitted to inpatient elderly rehabilitation 47% required no increase in social support following their admission and 76% of those admitted from their own home were able to return there. Barthel index and the number of co-morbid conditions were the most influential predictors of success, with Barthel index predicting length of stay (p < 0.001), discharge destination (p < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality (p < 0.01) and co-morbidity predicting readmission to hospital (p = 0.05), in-hospital mortality (p = 0.04) and survival (p = 0.05). On multi-variate analysis all other predictive factors analysed, except for presenting illness, were associated with at least one outcome measure (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Successful inpatient rehabilitation of the very elderly is possible. Factors that predict the success of rehabilitation of nonagenarians are similar to those associated with success in the younger elderly. The factors that most broadly predict success are Barthel index and the number of co-morbid conditions identified at admission to rehabilitation. Main presenting illness did not emerge as a predictor within this group.
Applications of a Blood-Brain Barrier Technology Platform to Predict CNS Penetration of Various Chemotherapeutic Agents. 2. Cationic Peptide Vectors for Brain Delivery
Authors: Adenot M. , Merida P. , Lahana R.
Published: January 2007

Background: SynB family peptides conjugated to several drugs have been shown to increase the brain uptake and in vivo activities of these drugs via an adsorptive-mediated transcytosis mechanism. Based on both in vivo and in vitro experimental data, a cell uptake component has been added to our computational model of blood-brain barrier. Methods: In situ brain perfusion, in vitro cell model and a computational cell uptake model have been used to discover brain-penetrating properties of SynB peptides and to screen libraries of new rationally designed peptide vectors suitable for brain drug delivery. Results and Conclusion: Starting from small peptide vectors that enhance the brain transport coefficient, the BBB platform has made it possible to design libraries of peptide vectors with enhanced transport properties.
Benign Clear Cell Adenofibroma of the Ovary
Authors: Paşaoğlu Ö. , Çiftçi E. , Tel N. , Ozalp S. , Acikalin M.F.
Published: January 2007

Most clear cell neoplasms of the ovaries are carcinomas; benign and borderline clear cell tumors are uncommon. To date, only 12 cases of benign clear cell adenofibroma have been reported in the literature. Here we report a case of benign clear cell adenofibroma of the left ovary in a 51-year-old postmenopausal woman. Histological examination revealed widely spaced simple glands embedded in a dense fibrous stroma. The glands were lined by one to two layers of cells with abundant clear cytoplasm. The nuclei were bland and uniform in size and shape. There was minimal cytologic atypia in some areas. In this article we discussed the criteria for the diagnosis of benign and borderline clear cell adenofibromas and reviewed the literature.
Molecular Characterization of 8-Methoxyfluoroquinolone Resistance in a Clinical Isolate of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Horii Toshinobu , Suzuki Yasuhiro , Takeshita Akihiro , Maekawa Masato
Published: January 2007

Background: Activity of gatifloxacin against clinical isolates of fluoroquinolone-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is more potent than that of other fluoroquinolones such as norfloxacin and levofloxacin. To date, few reports have described high-level resistance to gatifloxacin in clinical isolates of S. aureus, although in vitro studies have shown that mutations in both DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV were required for gatifloxacin resistance in S. aureus.Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined for fluoroquinolones and other antimicrobials in a methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolate that was cultured from blood of a patient with septicemia. Fluoroquinolone resistance was characterized by DNA sequencing and microbiologic assay. Results: The isolate showed high-level resistance to fluoroquinolones including an 8-methoxyfluoroquinolone, gatifloxacin (minimum inhibitory concentration 64 µg/ml). Amino acid mutations of Ser80Tyr and Glu84Lys in GrlA and Ser84Leu and Ser85Pro in GyrA were possibly related to this resistance in methicillin-resistant S. aureus HU2000-062, although efflux may play a minor role in resistance as well. Conclusion: GyrA and GrlA mutations mainly conferred to 8-methoxyfluoroquinolone resistance in this isolate.
Microvascular Decompression in Trigeminal Neuralgia with No Vascular Compression
Authors: Baechli H. , Gratzl O.
Published: January 2007

Background: Microvascular decompression (MVD) is a well-known surgical procedure with one of the best long-term results in the therapy of trigeminal neuralgia. But the exact pathophysiology of this disease has not yet been elucidated. Cases with undetectable vascular compression who are cured after MVD make this dilemma clear. Autopsy studies have also shown vascular compression in asymptomatic cases. Methods:Five of 40 cases with TN treated with MVD in our clinic had no visible vascular compression. Diagnosis was made with MRI and MRA. Results: Surprisingly all of these 5 patients were cured with MVD. Two of them needed only one operation to become pain free and 3 a second operation. Conclusion: We think that the therapeutic effect of MVD is due to minimal trauma of the nerve. It seems that MVD is a good alternative strategy with low complication rates in comparison to ablative procedures.
Development of Gene Vectors for Pinpoint Targeting to Human Hepatocytes by Cationically Modified Polymer Complexes
Authors: Chiba Naokazu , Ueda Masakazu , Shimada Toshiyuki , Jinno Hiromitsu , Watanabe Junji , Ishihara Kazuhiko , Kitajima Masaki
Published: January 2007

We developed a vector that might enable gene therapy of metabolic liver disease or hepatoma. Here we demonstrate the use of cationically modified biocompatible phospholipid polymer conjugated with hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigen for the specific transfer of genes into human hepatocytes. Poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)- co-N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA)-co- p-nitrophenylcarbonyloxyethyl methacrylate(NPMA))(polyMDN) was prepared as a frame of vector. The specific expression of sFlt-1 or GFP by polyMDN conjugated with HBs containing plasmid (plasmid/polyMDN-HBs), polyMDN containing plasmid (plasmid/polyMDN), plasmid only and PBS were assessed in tumor cells (HepG2 or WiDr) in vitro and in vivo. The histological findings, organ weight changes, and degree of liver dysfunction were examined in the mice administered by several reagents. The sFlt-1 and GFP expression was observed only in the HepG2 cells transfected with sFlt-1 or GFP/polyMDN-HBs. None of the side effects mentioned above was observed. In conclusion, these results suggest that polyMDN-HBs is a human hepatocyte-specific gene delivery vector that might not have serious side effects.
Decreased Lung Injury after Surfactant in Piglets Treated with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or Synchronized Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation
Authors: Nold Joan L. , Meyers Pat A. , Worwa Cathy T. , Goertz Ronald H. , Huseby Krysta , Schauer Galen , Mammel Mark C.
Published: January 2007

Background: Treatment with surfactant (S) decreases lung injury in paralyzed, mechanically ventilated animals. The use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) as an alternative to mechanical ventilation may further improve acute pulmonary outcomes. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of surfactant (+S, –S) and synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) on lung morphology and inflammatory markers in 24 spontaneously breathing piglets treated with CPAP or SIMV after saline lavage-induced lung injury. Methods: After induction of lung injury, animals were randomized to CPAP–S, CPAP+S or SIMV+S and treated for 4 h. Physiologic parameters were continuously monitored. After treatment, animals were euthanized and lungs fixed. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples were collected for neutrophil count and H2O2. Results: No physiologic differences were noted. BAL fluid from CPAP–S animals contained more neutrophils and more neutrophil H2O2 than fluid from the SIMV+S or CPAP+S groups (p < 0.05 or greater). Pathologic injury scores were higher in dependent lung regions from CPAP groups (p < 0.05). Injury pattern scores showed greater dependent alveolar inflammation in all (p < 0.02), with more dependent atelectasis in the CPAP groups (p < 0.01). Morphometrics showed less total open alveolar air space in nondependent regions of the SIMV+S group compared to CPAP groups (p < 0.001). Dependent regions showed less total open alveolar air space compared to nondependent regions in the CPAP groups (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Animals treated with surfactant prior to CPAP or SIMV had less acute lung injury. SIMV+S animals had less open air space in nondependent regions. This suggests, during early ventilatory support, surfactant administration may modulate pulmonary inflammation. CPAP alone without surfactant may not provide optimal pulmonary protection. The addition of mechanical breaths may alter and add to injury.
Increased In-Stent Stenosis in ApoE Knockout Mice
Authors: Ali Ziad A. , Alp Nicholas J. , Lupton Henry , Arnold Nadine , Bannister Thomas , Hu Yanhua , Mussa Shafi , Wheatcroft Mark , Greaves David R. , Gunn Julian , Channon Keith M.
Published: January 2007

Objective—

We aimed to develop and validate a model of angioplasty and stenting in mice that would allow investigation of the response to stent injury using genetically modified mouse strains.

Methods and Results—

Aortic segments from either C57BL/6 wild-type or atherosclerotic ApoE-KO mice underwent balloon angioplasty alone or balloon angioplasty and stenting with a 1.25×2.5 mm stainless steel stent. Vessels were carotid-interposition grafted into genetically identical littermate recipients and harvested at 1, 7, 14, or 28 days. In wild-type mice, stenting generated an inflammatory vascular injury response between days 1 to 7, leading to the development of neointimal hyperplasia by day 14, which further increased in area by day 28 leading to the development of in-stent stenosis. Uninjured vessels and vessels injured by balloon angioplasty alone developed minimal neointimal hyperplasia. In stented ApoE-KO mice, neointimal area at 28 days was 30% greater compared with wild-type mice.

Conclusions—

By reproducing important features of human stenting in atherosclerotic mice, we provide the potential to investigate molecular pathways and evaluate novel therapeutic targets for stent injury and restenosis.
Efficacy and Safety of Anticoagulant Treatment in Acute Cardioembolic Stroke
Authors: Paciaroni Maurizio , Agnelli Giancarlo , Micheli Sara , Caso Valeria
Published: January 2007

Background and Purpose—

The role of anticoagulant treatment for acute cardioembolic stroke is uncertain. We performed an updated meta-analysis of all randomized trials to obtain the best estimates of the efficacy and safety of anticoagulants for the initial treatment of acute cardioembolic stroke.

Methods—

Using electronic and manual searches of the literature, we identified randomized trials comparing anticoagulants (unfractionated heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin or heparinoids), started within 48 hours, with other treatments (aspirin or placebo) in patients with acute ischemic cardioembolic stroke. Two reviewers independently selected studies and extracted data on study design, quality, and clinical outcomes, including death or disability, all strokes, recurrent ischemic stroke, and cerebral symptomatic bleeding. Odds ratios for individual outcomes were calculated for each trial and data from all the trials were pooled using the Mantel-Haenszel method.

Results—

Seven trials, involving 4624 patients with acute cardioembolic stroke, met the criteria for inclusion. Compared with other treatments, anticoagulants were associated with a nonsignificant reduction in recurrent ischemic stroke within 7 to 14 days (3.0% versus 4.9%, odds ratio 0.68, 95% CI: 0.44 to 1.06,
P
=0.09, number needed to treat=53), a significant increase in symptomatic intracranial bleeding (2.5% versus 0.7%, odds ratio 2.89; 95% CI: 1.19 to 7.01,
P
=0.02, number needed to harm=55), and a similar rate of death or disability at final follow up (73.5% versus 73.8%, odds ratio 1.01; 95% CI: 0.82 to 1.24,
P
=0.9).

Conclusions—

Our findings indicate that in patients with acute cardioembolic stroke, early anticoagulation is associated with a nonsignificant reduction in recurrence of ischemic stroke, no substantial reduction in death and disability, and an increased intracranial bleeding.
Evolvable Self-Reproducing Cells in a Two-Dimensional Artificial Chemistry
Authors: Hutton Tim J.
Published: January 2007

We present a novel unit of evolution: a self-reproducing cell in a two-dimensional artificial chemistry. The cells have a strip of genetic material that is used to produce enzymes, each catalyzing a specific reaction that may affect the survival of the cell. The enzymes are kept inside the cell by a loop of membrane, thus ensuring that only the cell that produced them gets their benefit. A set of reaction rules, each simple and local, allows the cells to copy their genetic information and physically divide. The evolutionary possibilities of the cells are explored, and it is suggested that the system provides a useful framework for testing hypotheses about self-driven evolution.
Reducing the Variability of Neural Responses: A Computational Theory of Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity
Authors: Bohte Sander M. , Mozer Michael C.
Published: January 2007

Experimental studies have observed synaptic potentiation when a presynaptic neuron fires shortly before a postsynaptic neuron and synaptic depression when the presynaptic neuron fires shortly after. The dependence of synaptic modulation on the precise timing of the two action potentials is known as spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP). We derive STDP from a simple computational principle: synapses adapt so as to minimize the postsynaptic neuron's response variability to a given presynaptic input, causing the neuron's output to become more reliable in the face of noise.

Using an objective function that minimizes response variability and the biophysically realistic spike-response model of Gerstner (2001), we simulate neurophysiological experiments and obtain the characteristic STDP curve along with other phenomena, including the reduction in synaptic plasticity as synaptic efficacy increases. We compare our account to other efforts to derive STDP from computational principles and argue that our account provides the most comprehensive coverage of the phenomena. Thus, reliability of neural response in the face of noise may be a key goal of unsupervised cortical adaptation.
Written in Flames: Self-Immolation in Sixth-Century Sichuan
Authors: Benn James
Published: January 2007

This article discusses the religious career and self-immolation (which involved public acts of burning the fingers and body) of the sixth-century monk, Sengyai. The author discusses the sources for a study of his life, and translates the extant biographical materials. He demonstrates that self-immolation was a practice open to multiple interpretations, and that Sengyai?s act was understood as one of cosmic significance in a religious milieu in which recent political events such as the fall of the Liang dynasty were interpreted as signs of the decline of the dharma. Cet article s'intéresse à la carrière religieuse d'un moine du vie siècle, Sengyai, et à ses actes publics d'auto-immolation, tels que la crémation, d'abord, de ses doigts, et ensuite de son corps tout entier. L'auteur examine les sources permettant d'étudier sa vie et propose une traduction des matériaux existants. Il montre que la pratique de l'auto-immolation s'offrait à de multiples interprétations, et que les actions de Sengyai étaient conçues comme revêtant une signification cosmique au sein d'un milieu où des événements politiques tels que la chute de la dynastie des Liang étaient vécus comme des signes du déclin du dharma.
An Examination of Terman's Gifted Children From the Theory of Identity
Authors: Zuo Li , Cramond Bonnie
Published: January 2007

Employing Erikson's identity theory within Marcia's operational framework, the association between identity formation and adult achievement was examined in a subset of gifted individuals from Termnan's longitudinal study. Terman's most successful A group and the least successful C group were compared with respect to their identity formation. Significant relationships were found between identity formation and occupational success at the data points under study. The successful As were found to be mostly Identity Achievers, whereas the unsuccessful Cs were miore likely Identity Diffusers. The explanation power of Erikson's identity theory for varied achievement in adulthood calls for attention to identity research in gifted education.
Bullying Among the Gifted: The Subjective Experience
Authors: Peterson Jean Sunde , Ray Karen E.
Published: January 2007

One portion of a national study of bullying, which surveyed gifted 8th graders regarding bullying during their school years ( N = 432), used structured interviews ( N = 57) to explore the lived experience of being bullied or being a bully. Qualitative analysis of interview data found that even just one incident was highly distressing for some. Also important are the findings that many victims suffered in silence, struggled to understand bullying, assumed responsibility for stopping it themselves, despaired when it continues, and thought violent thoughts. Intelligence appeared to have helped most of those interviewed to make sense of bullying, including those who had intentionally halted their own bullying. Many subjects believed that not being known contributed to being bullied. Helping students to make social connections and adjustments, especially during the early middle school years, may be crucial to their well-being and to their feeling safe in school.
Insights From SMPY's Greatest Former Child Prodigies: Drs. Terence (“Terry”) Tao and Lenhard (“Lenny”) Ng Reflect on Their Talent Development
Authors: Muratori Michelle C. , Stanley Julian C. , Ng Lenhard , Ng Jack , Gross Miraca U. M. , Tao Terence , Tao Billy
Published: January 2007

If the academic needs of the most profoundly gifted students can be met through the use of existing educational practices, specialists in gifted education can assume that the educational needs of less able, but still academically talented, students can also be met by using some combination of these strategies as well. This paper illustrates the feasibility and effectiveness of utilizing an individualized educational approach with gifted students by highlighting the unique educational paths taken by two of the very ablest math prodigies identified by Dr. Julian Stanley through the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY) since its founding in 1971. Interviews with Dr. Terence (“Terry”) Tao and Dr. Lenhard (“Lenny”) Ng, now both highly successful mathematicians, are presented in their entirety, demonstrating that even among the very ablest, strategies can be tailored effectively to the characteristics of each student through a combination of creative planning and the cooperation of parents, educators, and mentors.
Ethnic Identity, Academic Achievement, and Global Self-Concept in Four Groups of Academically Talented Adolescents
Authors: Worrell Frank C.
Published: January 2007

In this study, academically talented African American ( n = 28), Asian American ( n = 171), Hispanic ( n = 28), and White ( n = 92) middle and high school students are compared on ethnic identity (EI) and other group orientation (OGO) attitudes as measured by the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure. The contributions of these variables to self-esteem and academic achievement are also examined. Results indicate the ethnic minority groups had significantly higher EI scores than their White counterparts but do not differ on OGO. EI predicts self-esteem for the Hispanic students, and OGO predicts self-esteem for the African American students, but neither variable predicts self-esteem for the other two groups. EI and OGO are negative and positive predictors of school achievement, respectively, but only for African American students, and neither variable predicts achievement in a summer program for academically talented youth. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Relationships Between Caregiver Stress and Self-Care Behaviors in Response to Symptoms
Authors: Lu Yueh-Feng Yvonne , Wykle May
Published: January 2007

The specific aims of this study were to (a) identify relationships among care-giving stress, caregivers’ functional ability, and number of self-care behavior responses to physical and psychological symptoms in caregivers of persons with dementia and (b) examine the mediating function of functional ability in the relationship between caregiving stress and self-care behavior response to symptoms. A correlational, cross-sectional design was used, and a survey was mailed to 99 caregivers. The survey questionnaire contained items about demographics, caregiving stress, functional ability, and self-care behavior. The results indicate that caregivers who reported higher levels of caregiving stress had poorer self-rated health, poorer physical function, more symptoms, high levels of depressed mood, and more self-care behaviors. Caregiving stress was indirectly related to self-care behavior response to symptoms through functional ability, which suggests a need for developing early interventions to enhance the functional ability and self-care behaviors in response to some caregivers’ symptoms.
Representative Decision Making on the Federal Bench: Clinton's District Court Appointees
Authors: Segal Jennifer A.
Published: January 2007

President Clinton, like Carter before him, has made a concerted effort to appoint women and minorities to the federal bench in an effort to make the courts appear representative of American society. The question remains, does this symbolic representation translate into substantive or policy representation on the bench? This analysis is based on data colected about pairs of Clinton's district court appointees who are similar in a number of respects but different in their race or gender. The rulings by these pairs, made in cases involving a number of issues expected to preent racial and gender differences, were compared to determine whether Clinton's nontraditional district court judges provided substantive as well as symbolic representation. The results indicate that these judges do not provide policy representation to their respective groups, nor do they appear particularly liberal or activist, as many of Clinton's political oppnents have alleged.
Reconciling Context and Contact Effects on Racial Attitudes
Authors: Stein Robert M. , Post Stephanie Shirley , Rinden Allison L.
Published: January 2007

The inter-group contact hypothesis states that intera ctions between individuals belonging to different groups will influence the attitudes and behavior between members of these different groups. The two dominant measures of inter-group contact are context (i.e., size of a minority group within a specified geographic area) and individual behavior (i.e., personal contact between members of the majority and minority groups). The contextual and behavioral measures of contact produce divergent finings. The contextual contact literature finds that whites residing in areas with high concentrations of minority populations have significantly more negative attitudes toward minorities and minority-based public policies than whites residing in areas with low concentrations of minority poplations. The behavioral contact literature finds that inter-group contacing among majority and minority populations significantly reduces preudicial attitudes and opinions about minorities and minority-based policies. In this article we examine both contextual and behavioral meaures of the contact hypothesis as they influence white attitudes toward immigrant populations (i.e., Hispanics) and white policy positions toward immigration policies. We offer and test an explanation for the lierature's divergent findings.
Partisanship and Pre-Floor Behavior: The Equal Rights and School Prayer Amendments
Authors: Martin Andrew D. , Wolbrecht Christina
Published: January 2007

We examine the effect of issue preferences and partisanship on prefloor behavior by explaining cosponsorship and discharge petition activity over two proposed constitutional amendments, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in 1970 and the School Prayer Amendment (SPA) in 1971. Previous research has largely focused on the ability of the majority party leadership in the post-Reform House to employ party as a solution to the collective action problem inherent to policy making. We extend the conception of the role of party, arguing that non-leadership issue entrepreneurs are also capable of utilizing party to bring about collective policy outcomes even during the less party-centered pre-Reform era. Our results show that when entrepreneurs have access to institutional resources, both issue preferences and partisanship explain discharge petition activity; when they do not, discharge petition behavior is almost exclusively preference-based with inconsistent party effects. This research thus highlights the conditions under which party can be employed to build legislative coalitions.
Defense Contracting and Domnestic Politics
Authors: Derouen Karl , Heo U K
Published: January 2007

Scholars have investigated the relationship between defense spending and domestic political constraints. Because of a two-year time lag, however, it is difficult to make a theoretical link between the aggregate defense budget and domestic politics. We focus on defense contract awards because of their rapid turn-around. We advance the referendum model to account for variations in the timing of defense contracts within administrations. The referendum model posits that government policies are reflective of approval ratings and that the President uses defense contracts to counter sagging approval and/or a weak economy This is a subtle but important alternative to political business cycle (PBC) models which constrain political manipulation of the defense budget to the electoral cycle. An empirical model is tested using pooled time-series analysis which allows us to assess variation within administrations. The analysis reveals that presidential approval, war, presidential reelection, and unemployment are determinants of defense contracting.
Where You Live and What You Watch: The Impact of Racial Proximity and Local Television News on Attitudes about Race and Crime
Authors: Gilliam Franklin D. , Valentino Nicholas A. , Beckmann Matthew N.
Published: January 2007

In this article, we investigate the interaction of exposure to stereotype reinforcing local crime news and neighborhood racial context on atti- tudes about race and crime. To date, there has been little research inves- tigating whether neighborhood context mitigates or exacerbates the impact of exposure to racially stereotypic crime news. Based on theories of schema formation and change, we predict that residential proximity should condition more complex, multidimensional views of blacks, such that whites from those areas would be less negatively influenced by black criminal stereotypes on the news. We collected information about the neighborhood racial context for each respondent in an experiment. We then exposed respondents either to racially stereotypic or non-stereotypic crime stories on local news programs. Results support our central hypothesis. When exposed to racial stereotypes in the news, white respondents living in white homogeneous neighborhoods endorsed more punitive policies to address crime, expressed more negative stereotypic evaluations of blacks, and felt more distant from blacks as a group. Whites from heterogeneous neighborhoods were either unaffected or moved in the opposite direction, endorsing less punitive crime policies, less negative stereotypes, and feeling closer to blacks as a group as a result of exposure to the stereotypic coverage.
The Effects of Independent Expenditures in Senate Elections
Authors: Engstrom Richard N. , Kenny Christopher
Published: January 2007

Independent expenditures are designed to influence the preferences and behavior of the electorate. Like candidate expenditures, the money is generally spent trying to persuade voters to act a certain way on election day. Because of the continuous nature of the spending, the sophisticated techniques of influence it buys, and the absence of accountability, there is good reason to believe these expenditures are important determinants of the vote. Expenditures for the incumbent and against the challenger should help the incumbent, and expenditures for the challenger and against the incumbent should help the challenger. Using individual-level survey data, we develop a model of Senate vote choice that considers these independent expenditures as both exogenous and endogenous to the process. We then estimate this model in the 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1996 elections. We find that independent expenditures can significantly affect vote choice, especially when modeled as endogenous to the process. These effects depend, however, on the electoral context, the type of independent spending, and the type of candidate. In general, our results seem roughly to conform to the conventionally accepted account of the 20-year history of independent expenditures in U.S. elections.
Acclimation and Attitudes: “Newcomer” Justices and Precedent Conformance on the Supreme Court
Authors: Hurwitz Mark S. , Stefko Oseph V.
Published: January 2007

Do newly appointed justices experience acclimation effects upon their ascent to the Supreme Court? We contend that acclimation is a process, as justices’ conformation to the doctrine of stare decisis is partly a function of tenure length. We find that precedent conformance is inversely related to tenure, with newcomers following legal precedents at rates significantly greater than more tenured colleagues; however, justices slowly but surely surrender to relatively unfettered judicial power at the Supreme Court, as attitudes increasingly dominate decisionmaking. While votes adhering to precedent are more prevalent for newcomers, all justices are overwhelmingly influenced by their own ideologies, confirming the inability of the legal model to influence or explain this aspect of judicial behavior. Our results also indicate that the proclivity of prior research to specify an express period of acclimation may be flawed. Instead, acclimation is a dynamic process, ever evolving over justices’ entire duration of service.
Legislative Representation in a Single-Member versus Multiple-Member District System: The Arizona State Legislature
Authors: Richardson Lilliard E. , Russell Brian E. , Cooper Christopher A.
Published: January 2007

Most research on legislative decisionmaking has focused on legislatures with single-member district systems, but much less is known about legislatures with multiple-member district systems. This study compares a multiple-member legislative chamber, the Arizona House of Representatives, to a single-member system, the Arizona Senate. First, we examine the ideological preferences across the two chambers, and we find that the House system produces more ideological extremism than the Senate. Second, we test a model of legislative decisionmaking that employs constituency variables, legislator attributes and ideology. We find that constituency characteristics are significant in the Senate, but in the House ideology dominates. The combination of ideological extremism and its greater importance in decisionmaking in the House suggests powerful effects of the multiple-member district system.
The Politics of Presidential Agendas
Authors: Eshbaugh-Soha Matthew
Published: January 2007

Past research holds that if presidents are to increase their success in Congress, they must set the policy agenda in their favor. But what determines the propensity of presidents to propose or support different policies? Because presidents influence the agenda-setting stage of the policy process, presidents develop their yearly domestic policy agendas in anticipation of each policy’s success or failure in Congress. After all, presidents want to emphasize their strengths to achieve their goal of policy enactment in Congress. From this assumption, I devise a typology of long-term and important presidential policies, and argue that political limitations and fiscal constraints influence the president’s yearly domestic policy agenda. I show that presidents offer different types of policies as part of their yearly domestic agendas given Congressional makeup and the federal budget deficit.
Politics and Judicial Assertiveness in Emerging Democracies: High Court Behavior in Malawi and Zambia
Authors: Vondoepp Peter
Published: January 2007

Focused on High Court behavior in Malawi and Zambia, this article examines the factors affecting judicial assertiveness vis a vis other power-holders in the state. Drawing from strategic understandings of judicial decisionmaking, the analysis focuses on whether and how political factors shape judicial behavior. The findings lend support for those who have emphasized such factors, in particular by indicating that judicial assertiveness is somewhat dependent on larger political conditions. The findings also suggest that the strategic view can be refined. For one, scholars should more directly consider how political factors interact with judicial preferences to shape decisionmaking. Further, scholars should appreciate how political conditions may encourage judges to embrace positions of political neutrality.
Election Cycles and the Economic Voter
Authors: Carey Sean , Lebo Matthew J.
Published: January 2007

Many studies have sought to clarify how voters' opinions of the economy predict evaluations of leaders and parties. Following Kramer's (1983) work on the problems of studying individual-level data, many authors have employed aggregate data in dynamic analyses to estimate rival models and choose favored variables. A restriction with such analyses is that they are unable to look closely at different periods within the overall study and thus may miss the importance of contextual factors. Our study complements existing aggregate-level inferences by analyzing repeated cross-sections of opinion polls in Britain over several years. We estimate the effects of subjective economic variables on vote intention in monthly public opinion surveys and examine how the parameters vary across individuals and over time. We suggest that the choices of whether voters are forward-looking, backward-looking, egocentric or sociotropic are overly restrictive. We find that the sociotropic dimension dominates the egocentric dimension in evaluations of the government and that the relative importance of prospective and retrospective evaluations vary in predictable patterns over the election cycle.
Interest Group Success in the Courts: Amicus Participation in the Supreme Court
Authors: Songer Donald R. , Sheehan Reginald S.
Published: January 2007

Over the past two decades there has been a rapid increase in the number of amicus curiae briefs filed in the Supreme Court. Some cases studied suggest that these briefs may have a substantial effect on the Supreme Court's decisions, but no systematic studies have examined the efficacy of such briefs. The present study utilizes a precision matching strategy to determine if litigants supported by amici have a greater chance of success in the Supreme Court than comparable litigants in matched pairs who have no amicus support. The analysis uncovers no evidence that support from amici substantially increases the chance of success of the supported litigants.
Sex and the Political Contributor: The Gender Gap among Contributors to Presidential Candidates in 1988
Authors: Wilcox Clyde , Brown Clifford W. , Powell Lynda W.
Published: January 2007

We investigate the gender gap in policy preferences among political contributors. We find a bivariate gap in both parties, with Democratic women being more liberal than Democratic men, and Republican women more conservative than Republican men. This reverse gender gap among Republican contributors is explained by the greater appeal of Pat Robertson to women. After controls for religious variables, Republican women contributors are found to be more liberal than their male counterparts.
Gender Differences in Campaign Messages: The Political Advertisements of Men and Women Candidates for U.S. Senate
Authors: Kahn Kim Fridkin
Published: January 2007

In order to see whether men and women emphasize different messages in their campaigns, I examine the televised political advertisements of 38 candidates for the U.S. Senate between 1984 and 1986. In addition, I look at patterns of campaign coverage to determine whether the press distinguish between male and female candidates. Since a candidate's message will be most persuasive if that message is echoed by the press, gender differences in press treatment can have electoral consequences. The results of this study show that male and female senatorial candidates adopt campaign strategies that are similar on certain dimensions and strikingly different on others. Male and female candidates both prefer to focus on policy matters in their candidate-oriented appeals, although they rarely take specific stands on issues. Yet there are important gender differences in the advertisements of male and female candidates and these differences correspond to the candidates' stereotypical strengths. Men tend to concentrate on economic issues, while women are much more likely to discuss social issues such as education and health policy. These differences (and others), although evident in their own campaign communications, are not represented in media coverage of the candidates' campaigns.
Changing Support for Civil Rights: House and Senate Voting, 1963-1988
Authors: Nye Mary Alice
Published: January 2007

Cohort analysis allows systematic analysis of change in civil rights voting in terms of age, period, and cohort effects. Cohort analysis requires measurements of longitudinal, corss-sectional, and time-lag differences among members of Congress. While offering support for the generational replacement hypothesis, this research suggests that period effects, events in the congressional environment, are important to our understanding of change in civil rights over time.
Coalitional Prospects in a Multi-Racial Society: African- American Attitudes Toward Other Minority Groups
Authors: Jackson Byran O. , Gerber Elisabeth R. , Cain Bruce E.
Published: January 2007

This paper analyzes the coalitional perceptions of African-Americans after incorporation in their city's dominant political condition. Our research ad dresses two main questions. First, how do African-Americans view their coalition prospects with other major racial and ethnic minority groups? Here we focus on the perceptions of African-Americans in one city, Los Angeles, toward Latinos and Asian-Americans, and compare their attitudes with those of blacks in other cities. Second, how do these coalitional perceptions fit into a fuller model of political attitudes? This analysis provides us with evidence of generational differences in coalitional perceptions and supports the hypothesis of coalitional entropy.
Explaining Congressional Attempts to Reverse Supreme Court Decisions
Authors: Ignagni Joseph , Meernik James
Published: January 2007

This research examines what factors are likely to cause the Congress to attempt to reverse Supreme Court decisions that hold federal laws unconstitutional during the Warren, Burger, and early years of the Rehnquist courts. First, we outline a general theory of congressional motivation to reverse Supreme Court decisions that looks to both electoral considerations and the need to safeguard congressional power as the primary motivating factors. Using a data set consisting of 65 Court decisions that reversed all or part of some federal statute(s), we test our hypotheses using a probit model to predict when the Congress will take counteraction. We find that the electoral considerations of public opinion and interest group pressure are likely to lead to a congressional response, while the institutional considerations of court unanimity and the age of the legislation struck down are also important. The congress, however, is most likely not to take any decision reversal action.
Looking Out My Back Door: The Neighborhood Context and Perceptions of Relative Deprivation
Authors: Canache Damarys
Published: January 2007

Students of political violence have often suggested that socioeconomic con ditions play a significant role in explaining the individual-level predisposi tion toward violence. Relative deprivation theories propose that a person's socioeconomic situation is related to political violence, but only if the individual's situation is seen relative to other individuals and groups in society Unfortunately, most tests of this premise have been inconclusive. To a large extent, the problem centers on the lack of appropriate data; relative deprivation theories posit a relationship between the individual and the context, requiring that we merge individual-level and collective- level data. This study examines individuals' socioeconomic positions within the context of their neighborhoods. Two contextual effects are identified. First, consistent with theories of relative deprivation, support for violence is partly determined by the relationship between individual-level and neigh borhood-level economic conditions. For instance, poor persons who re side in relatively well-off neighborhoods are highly supportive of violence. Second, the level of socioeconomic heterogeneity within a neighborhood moderates a person's perceptions of deprivation, and consequently this person's support for political violence. These findings suggest that percep tions of deprivation originate through a complex process centering on so cioeconomic information from individuals' social contexts.