bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cryopreserving human peripheral blood progenitor cells with 5‐percent rather than 10‐percent DMSO results in less apoptosis and necrosis in CD34+ cells
Authors: Abrahamsen Jenny Foss , Bakken Anne M. , Bruserud Øystein
Published: March 2003

BACKGROUND : The grade of toxicity experienced by patients when cryopreserved peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) are reinfused is related to the amount of DMSO present in the PBPC concentrate. This study was initiated to investigate whether cell viability, apoptosis, and necrosis would be altered in CD34+ cells if PBPCs were cryopreserved with 5‐percent as opposed to the conventional 10‐percent DMSO.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS : Samples of PBPCs from consecutive patients were mixed in parallel with 5‐ and 10‐percent DMSO, frozen at a controlled rate, and stored in liquid nitrogen for periods of 3 to 22 months. Two different flow cytometric methods were used to measure both the absolute count of total and viable CD34+ cells as well as the fraction of apoptotic and necrotic cells in the post‐thaw samples frozen with 5‐ and 10‐percent DMSO.

RESULTS : Both the number of total and viable CD34+ cells were higher (n = 18) or equal (n = 1) in all the samples cryopreserved with 5‐percent as opposed to 10‐percent DMSO. The percentage of viable CD34+ cells in the PBPC sample was significantly higher, and the fraction of apoptotic and necrotic CD34+ cells was significantly lower in the samples frozen with 5‐percent as compared to 10‐percent DMSO.

CONCLUSION : Cryopreserving PBPC with 5‐percent rather than 10‐percent DMSO results in improved CD34+ cell viability and possibly a higher potential for in vivo engraftment and ex vivo manipulations of HPCs.
Relationship between tick bites and the seroprevalence of Babesia microti and Anaplasma phagocytophila (previously Ehrlichia sp.) in blood donors
Authors: Leiby David A. , Chung Amy P.S. , Cable Ritchard G. , Trouern‐Trend Jonathan , McCullough Jeffrey , Homer Mary J. , Reynolds Lisa D. , Houghton Raymond L. , Lodes Michael J. , Persing David H.
Published: March 2003

BACKGROUND : Tick‐borne diseases, particularly babesiosis and ehrlichiosis, represent recently emerging infections. Despite an increased recognition of the threat tick‐borne agents pose to blood safety, our understanding of the prevalence and transmissibility of these agents in blood donors is limited.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS
:
Babesia microti
and
Anaplasma phagocytophila
(previously
Ehrlichia sp.) seroprevalence was determined in random Connecticut and Wisconsin donors, and subsequently in Connecticut donors reporting tick bites. In the interim, a postcard survey regarding tick bites during the previous 6 months was sent to 6000 random donors in six geographically distinct collection regions.

RESULTS
: In total, 3 of 999 Wisconsin donors (0.3%) and 6 of 1007 Connecticut donors (0.6%) had antibodies to
B. microti.
Of 992 donors tested for
A. phagocytophila,
5 Wisconsin donors (0.5%) and 35 Connecticut donors (3.5%) were seropositive. A total of 2482 donors (41.4%) completed the survey; 103 (4.1%) reported a tick bite. Of 848 Connecticut donors (0.4%) reporting tick bites, 3 had
B. microti
antibodies, while 8 (0.9%) had
A. phagocytophila antibodies. These rates were not significantly different from control donors.

CONCLUSION
: Blood donors seropositive for
B. microti
and
A. phagocytophila are present in Connecticut and Wisconsin. Donors readily recall previous tick bites, but self‐reported bites are not reliable indicators of serologic status. The exposure of blood donors to tick‐borne pathogens does suggest a need to better understand the transfusion transmission potential of these agents.
Human herpesvirus 8 seroprevalence and viral load in healthy adult blood donors
Authors: Hudnall S. David , Chen Tiansheng , Rady Peter , Tyring Stephen , Allison Paul
Published: March 2003

BACKGROUND : Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV‐8) is widely suspected to be a human tumor virus because it is associated with Kaposi's sarcoma and primary effusion B cell lymphoma. Report of a case of HHV‐8‐positive donor blood in the US has led to concern for the safety of donor blood from HHV‐8‐seropositive donors.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS : The findings of HHV‐8 seroprevalence and virus load from 100 randomly selected blood donors from the Houston, Texas, area are reported. Serology with serial titration was performed using a highly sensitive indirect immunofluorescence assay to lytic and latent HHV‐8 antigens. For detection of blood‐borne virus, buffy‐coat DNA was subjected to two ultrasensitive nested PCR‐dot blot assays to HHV‐8 orf26 and orf72 regions.

RESULTS
: At a screening titer of 1 in 10, nearly one‐quarter (23%; 95% CI, 15‐33) of the blood donors are HHV‐8 seropositive with a geometric mean titer of 1 in 53. Seroreactivity to lytic antigens (23%) greatly exceeded that to latent antigens (5%). There was a significant association between seropositivity and older age (p
< 0.02), white ethnicity (OR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.40‐7.95) and ABO blood group B (OR, 6.44; 95% CI, 2.46‐16.80). No association with sex or CMV seropositivity was demonstrated. No HHV‐8 viremia was detected, even though 64 percent of tested donor blood samples were EBV DNA positive.

CONCLUSIONS : Despite a relatively high HHV‐8 seroprevalence in this cohort of Houston area blood donors, HHV‐8 DNA was not detected in any sample of donor whole blood using a highly sensitive PCR assay. Thus, at least in the southeast Texas region, large‐scale screening of blood donor units for HHV‐8 antibody or DNA seems unwarranted.
Absence of D– alloimmunization in AIDS patients receiving D‐mismatched RBCs
Authors: Boctor Fouad N. , Ali Nahed M. , Mohandas Kala , Uehlinger Joan
Published: March 2003

BACKGROUND
: More than 80 percent of D– patients who receive D+ blood become alloimmunized to the D antigen. Anemia occurs in most AIDS patients at some point in the disease. D– patients with AIDS may require blood transfusion and, during times of blood shortage, may receive D+ RBCs. They would be expected to become alloimmunized to the
d antigen.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS : The records of the transfusion service between January 1996 and July 2000 were reviewed for D– patients who received D+ blood. IATs were performed before the initial transfusion and subsequently when the patient required further RBC transfusion.

RESULTS : Eight D– AIDS patients who received multiple transfusions (three women and five men; age range, 31‐44 years; mean, 44 years) who received between 2 and 11 units (mean, 6.25) of D+ RBCs were identified. Antibody screens were performed at 8 to 65 weeks after transfusion. It was found that none of the eight D– AIDS patients developed anti‐D. ABO antibodies were found as expected. During the same period, it was found that six D– patients admitted with other diagnoses who received 1 to 9 units of D+ RBCs, all developed anti‐D within 7 to 19 weeks of transfusion.

CONCLUSION : Patients with AIDS may not form alloantibodies to the D antigen. This may be attributable to their immunodepressed state, particularly to the decrease in CD4+ T lymphocytes. Therefore, during blood shortages, transfusion of D+ blood to D– AIDS patients may be without any subsequent consequence.
WBC reduction reduces storage‐associated RBC adhesion to human vascular endothelial cells under conditions of continuous flow in vitro
Authors: Luk Cynthia S. , Gray‐Statchuk Leslie A. , Cepinkas Gediminas , Chin‐Yee Ian H.
Published: March 2003

BACKGROUND : The effects of storage duration, WBC reduction, and irradiation on RBC adherence to vascular endothelia are unknown and are investigated under conditions of continuous flow.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS : Thirty‐two RBC units were collected and divided into three groups, non‐WBC‐reduced (NWR), WBC‐reduced (WR), and irradiated‐WBC‐reduced. Aliquots of RBCs were removed on Days 1, 15, and 28 of storage for analysis. The RBC suspensions were then perfused at a 1.5 percent Hct in a protein‐poor medium under conditions of continuous flow over human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayers. On each slide, 25 randomly chosen sites were videorecorded over 10 minutes, and the number of RBCs adherent to the endothelial cell monolayer was counted.

RESULTS
: NWR RBCs stored for 28 days demonstrated a greater degree of adherence to endothelial cells compared to Days 1 and 15 (p < 0.03). The WR group had significantly fewer adherent RBCs than the NWR group on day 28 (p
< 0.01). Irradiation had no effect on RBC adherence.

CONCLUSION : Prolonged storage of NWR RBCs increases RBC adherence to endothelial cells in vitro. WBC reduction before storage abrogates the effect of storage duration on increased adhesion. Studies to assess whether an in vivo effect occurs are required.
Transcatheter Closure of Congenital Ventricular Septal Defects: Experience with Various Devices
Authors: ARORA RAMESH , TREHAN VIJAY , KUMAR ASHISH , KALRA G.S. , NIGAM MADHURI
Published: March 2003

Transcatheter closure of congenital ventricular septal defect (VSD) using various devices is gaining acceptance in selected cases of perimembranous and muscular defects, avoiding the inherent risks of cardiopulmonary bypass. The procedure was attempted in 137 patients having congenital defects using Rashkind Umbrella Device (RUD) in 29 patients, Amplatzer ventricular septal occluder (AVSO) in 107 patients, and Detachable Coil in one. All patients were selected using stringent criteria by detailed transthoracic echocardiography and/or transesophageal echocardiography. The location of VSD was perimembranous in 91 patients and was muscular trabecular in 46 patients. Seven patients had left ventricle (LV) to right atrium (RA) communication. Thirty‐five patients with perimembranous and two with muscular VSD had aneurysm formation. The patients were 3 to 33 years old, and the diameter of VSD ranged from 3 to 12 mm. The pulmonary to systemic flow ratio was ≥2:1 in 47 (34.3%) patients. The procedure was successful in 130 (94.8%) patients, with a success rate of 86.2% with RUD and 97.1% with AVSO. Residual shunt at 24 hours was seen in eight (32%) patients with RUD and in one patient (0.9%) with AVSO. Three (2.8%) developed transient bundle branch block, and two (1.9%) patients had complete heart block. New tricuspid stenosis and tricuspid regurgitation was observed in one patient each with AVSO. After immediate balloon dilatation, the mean pressure gradient across tricuspid valve decreased from 11 to 3 mmHg in the patient with tricuspid stenosis. On a follow‐up of 1 to 66

(mean 35.2 ± 10.7)

months, the device was in position in all. None developed late conduction defect, aortic regurgitation, infective endocarditis, or hemolysis. At 9‐month follow‐up, the mean pressure gradient across the tricuspid valve was 3 mmHg in the patient with tricuspid stenosis. Complete occlusion of the shunt was achieved in 129 (99.2%) patients. One patient with RUD having persistent residual shunt underwent a second procedure with AVSO. Three out of 107 patients with AVSO had an unsuccessful procedure where the defect was perimembranous with a superior margin of defect less than 3 mm away from the aortic valve, and the specially designed perimembranous AVSO had to be retrieved because of hemodynamic compromise due to significant acute aortic regurgitation, whereas in all others, the defect was either ≥3 mm away from the aortic valve or had aneurysm formation. All seven patients with LV to RA communication showed complete abolition of the shunt. Thus, in properly selected cases of perimembranous and muscular ventricular septal defects, the transcatheter closure is safe and efficacious using appropriate devices. The success rate is higher with AVSO compared with the previously used devices, as well as more successful for the muscular defects than those that are perimembranous in location. (J Interven Cardiol 2003;16:83–91)
The Logic of Action: Indeterminacy, Emotion, and Historical Narrative
Authors: Reddy William M.
Published: March 2003

Modern social theory, by and large, has aimed at reducing the complexity of action situations to a set of manageable abstractions. But these abstractions, whether functionalist or linguistic, fail to grasp the indeterminacy of action situations.

Action proceeds by discovery and combination. The logic of action is serendipitous and combinative. From these characteristics, a number of consequences flow: The whole field of our intentions is engaged in each action situation, and cannot really be understood apart from the situation itself. In action situations we remain aware of the problems of categorization, including the dangers of infinite regress and the difficulties of specifying borders and ranges of categories. In action situations, attention is in permanent danger of being overwhelmed. We must deal with many features of action situations outside of attention; in doing so, we must entertain simultaneously numerous possibilities of action. Emotional expression is a way of talking about the kinds of possibilities we entertain. Expression and action have a rebound effect on attention. “Effort” is required to find appropriate expressions and actions, and rebound effects play a role in such effort, making it either easier or more difficult.

Recent theoretical trends have failed to capture these irreducible characteristics of action situations, and have slipped into a number of errors. Language is not rich in meanings or multivocal, except as put to use in action situations. The role of “convention” in action situations is problematic, and therefore one ought not to talk of “culture.” Contrary to the assertions of certain theorists, actors do not follow strategies, except when they decide to do so. Actors do not “communicate,” in the sense of exchanging information, except in specially arranged situations. More frequently, they intervene in the effortful management of attention of their interlocutors. Dialogue, that is, very commonly becomes a form of cooperative emotional effort.

From these considerations, it follows that the proper method for gaining social knowledge is to examine the history of action and of emotional effort, and to report findings in the form of narrative.
What Do Employees Know About Their Pension Plan?
Authors: Luchak Andrew A. , Gunderson Morley
Published: March 2003

Original survey data based on 529 respondents in a large organization are used to analyze how much employees know about various features of their occupational pension plan. While the level of understanding was quite low among all employees, it was quite high among those for whom the knowledge matters most in terms of their behavioral decision making. Our results show that rather than being optimal labor contracts that workers enter into with full knowledge at the time of employment, pension contracts are more like contingent claims contracts evolving under conditions of uncertainty and incomplete information.
Striker Replacements in the United States, Canada, and Mexico: A Review of the Law and Empirical Research A Review of the Law andEmpirical Research
Authors: Singh Parbudyal , Jain Harish C.
Published: March 2003

The debate on striker replacements is marked by considerable passion and controversy, with many unions and workers' rights advocates proposing legal prohibitions and employers and “free market” advocates generally opposing such prohibitions. In this article we go beyond the rhetoric and examine the nature and extent of striker replacement laws across North America. We also examine the research evidence on this issue and make suggestions for future research.
Unnatural Extinction: The Rise and Fall of the Independent Local Union
Authors: Jacoby Sanford M.
Published: March 2003

This article analyzes what happened to independent local unions (ILUs), also known as company unions, since 1935. After providing a statistical analysis of ILU membership since 1935, the article looks at the factors that shaped membership trends: changes in labor law, the characteristics of ILUs, worker attitudes toward ILUs, and employers' industrial relations policies. New evidence is presented that suggests that even those employers who still favored ILUs in the 1950s were orienting them away from collective bargaining and toward the “new nonunion model” of the 1960s and 1970s.
Employment Practices and Semiconductor Manufacturing Performance
Authors: Appleyard Melissa M. , Brown Clair
Published: March 2003

This article analyzes the factors contributing to superior manufacturing performance in the semiconductor industry. Through an analysis of firm‐level data from the United States, Asia, and Europe, we explore the relationship between firm performance along quality and quantity dimensions and three components of the employment system: skill development, employee participation in problem solving, and employee collaboration. We find that manufacturing success is related to the introduction of new production technology and the involvement of all occupations in problem solving under the leadership of engineers, who play a key (and growing) role in this high‐tech industry. We find that the operators and technicians play a smaller role in creating high‐performing semiconductor factories than has been found in studies of more traditional factories, such as automobiles and steel.
Pensions and Training
Authors: Dorsey Stuart , Macpherson David A.
Published: March 2003

Economic analysis of private pensions commonly assumes that incentives for long tenure and early retirement enhance workforce productivity. An implication of the productivity theory of pensions is that workers who receive job training are more likely to be covered. We test this prediction with data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). We find a strong positive relationship between pensions and training, even after controlling for income and other worker and firm characteristics.
The Personality Characteristics of Methodist Ministers: Feminine Men and Masculine Women?
Authors: Robbins Mandy , Francis Leslie J. , John M.Haley  , Kay Dr.William K.
Published: March 2003

A detailed questionnaire was mailed to every Methodist minister engaged in circuit ministry in Great Britain. Each of the 1,339 respondents completed the Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQR‐S). The male ministers recorded lower psychoticism scores than the male population norms. The female ministers recorded lower neuroticism scores than the female population norms. These findings support the view that ministry may appeal particularly to men who value and display the tender‐minded personality characteristics associated with femininity and to women who value and display the stable personality characteristics associated with masculinity. Implications of these findings for ministry are discussed.
Relationships Among Giving, Church Attendance, and Religious Belief: The Case of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
Authors: Lunn John , Klay Robin , Douglass Andrea
Published: March 2003

Using data from a survey of members and elders of the Presbyterian Church (USA), we estimate relationships among religious contributions, church attendance, and theological belief. Survey respondents indicated whether they were theologically conservative or liberal, and we hypothesized that the level and the composition of giving would be affected by theological belief. We found that conservative Presbyterians gave more in total, and gave more to the local church and to non‐Presbyterian religious organizations than did more liberal Presbyterians, while more liberal Presbyterians gave more to secular charities than did conservative Presbyterians.
Asset Efficiency and Reallocation Decisions of Bankrupt Firms
Authors: MAKSIMOVIC VOJISLAV , PHILLIPS GORDON
Published: March 2003

This paper investigates whether Chapter 11 bankruptcy provides a mechanism by which insolvent firms are efficiently reorganized and the assets of unproductive firms are effectively redeployed. We argue that incentives to reorganize depend on the level of demand and industry conditions. Using plant‐level data, we find that Chapter 11 status is much less important than industry conditions in explaining the productivity, asset sales, and closure conditions of Chapter 11 bankrupt firms. This suggests that firms that elect to enter into Chapter 11 incur few real economic costs.
Differences in Trading Behavior across NYSE Specialist Firms
Authors: Corwin Shane A.
Published: March 2003

Using a sample of NYSE‐listed equities from 1992, this study examines whether market maker performance differs across specialist firms. We find that spreads and depth differ across specialist firms, but the competitiveness of NYSE quotes relative to other exchanges does not appear to be affected by these differences. Differences are also evident in measures of transitory volatility and in the frequency and duration of order‐imbalance trading halts. The results suggest that specialists have a significant effect on execution costs, liquidity, and noise in security prices and that these effects are not completely eliminated by competition or the NYSE's monitoring mechanisms.
A Specialist's Quoted Depth and the Limit Order Book
Authors: Kavajecz Kenneth A.
Published: March 2003

By partitioning quoted depth into the specialist's contribution and the limit order book's contribution, the paper investigates whether specialists manage quoted depth to reduce adverse selection risk. The results show that both specialists and limit order traders reduce depth around information events, thereby reducing their exposure to adverse selection costs. Moreover, specialists' quotes may reflect only the limit order book on the side (or sides) of the market where they believe there is a chance of informed trading. Changes in quoted depth are consistent with specialists managing their inventory as well as having knowledge of the stock's future value.
Merging Markets
Authors: Arnold Tom , Hersch Philip , Mulherin J. Harold , Netter Jeffry
Published: March 2003

We study the causes and effects of the competition for order flow by U.S. regional stock exchanges. We trace the origins of competition for order flow to a change in the role of regional exchanges from being venues for listing local securities to being more direct competitors for the order flow of NYSE listings. We study the way regionals competed for order flow, concentrating on a series of stock‐exchange mergers that occurred in the midst of this transition of the regional exchanges. The merging exchanges attracted market share and experienced narrower bid‐ask spreads.
Stock Splits, Tick Size, and Sponsorship
Authors: Schultz Paul
Published: March 2003

A traditional explanation for stock splits is that they increase the number of small shareholders who own the stock. A possible reason for the increase is that the minimum bid‐ask spread is wider after a split and brokers have more incentive to promote a stock. I document a large number of small buy orders following Nasdaq and NYSE/AMEX splits during 1993 to 1994. I also find strong evidence that trading costs increase, and weak evidence that costs of market making decline following splits. This is consistent with splits acting as an incentive to brokers to promote stocks.
Some Evidence on the Uniqueness of Initial Public Debt Offerings
Authors: Datta Sudip , Iskandar‐Datta Mai , Patel Ajay
Published: March 2003

Debt initial public offerings (IPOs) represent a major shift in a firm's financing policy by both extending debt maturity and altering the public‐private debt mix. In contrast to findings for seasoned debt offerings, we document a significantly negative stock price response to debt IPO announcements. This result is consistent with debt maturity and debt ownership structure theories. The equity wealth effect is negatively related to the offer's maturity, and positively related to the degree of bank monitoring. We find that firms with less information asymmetry and firms with higher growth opportunities experience a less adverse stock price response.
Arbitrage and the Expectations Hypothesis
Authors: Longstaff Francis A.
Published: March 2003

This paper shows that all traditional forms of the expectations hypothesis can be consistent with the absence of arbitrage if markets are incomplete. A key implication is that the validity of the expectations hypothesis is purely an empirical issue; the expectations hypothesis cannot be ruled out on a priori theoretical grounds.
Income Disparity, Time Allocation, and Social Welfare in a System of Cities
Authors: Abdel‐Rahman Hesham M.
Published: March 2003

The objective of this paper is to examine the formation of specialized cities with multiple types of households in a decentralized system of cities. This is done in a two‐sector spatial general‐equilibrium model of a closed economy consisting of two groups of labor forces: a continuum of unskilled labor used to produce a food product, and a continuum of skilled labor used in the production of a high‐tech product. Cities are formed in this model as a result of investment in public infrastructure. This investment leads to a reduction in commuting cost and consequently to an increase in the time that households can utilize for work and leisure. The paper characterizes the equilibrium solution for a purely specialized system of cities and presents some comparative static results. Moreover, the paper presents an explanation for the variation in city sizes as a result of differences in households' value of time. Finally, the paper analyzes the determinants of income disparity between the two different types of cities and its impacts on social welfare.
Alternative Nested Logit Model Structures and the Special Case of Partial Degeneracy
Authors: Hunt Gary L.
Published: March 2003

Partially degenerate nested logit (NL) models have broad applicability in regional science. However, the literature on them is relatively sparse and confusion exists on some aspects of identification and related matters. This paper addresses a number of conceptual and econometric aspects of partially degenerate NL models. These include identification, scaling, invariance, and consistency with the utility‐maximizing postulate that underlies discrete choiceanalysis. This is accomplished within the larger, encompassing framework of nondegenerate NL models of which the partially degenerate model is a special case.
Estimating the Marginal Willingness to Pay for Commuting
Authors: Van Ommeren Jos , Van Den Berg Gerard J. , Gorter Cees
Published: March 2003

With informational frictions on the labor market, hedonic wage regressions provide biased estimates of the willingness to pay for job attributes. We show that a recent theoretical result, which states that the variation in job durations provides a basis for obtaining good estimates, can be generalized to a wide class of search models. We apply this result by estimating the marginal willingness of employed workers to pay for commuting, using Dutch longitudinal data. The average willingness to pay for one hour commuting is estimated to equal almost half of the hourly wage rate.
A Mindful Approach to Mental Retardation
Authors: Reiss Steven
Published: March 2003

Langer's (1989) concept of mindfulness is analyzed in terms of Reiss's (in press a) 16 desires and then is applied to mental retardation. Mindfulness is motivated by desires for high curiosity, low order, and high independence. High curiosity is satisfied when we mindfully focus attention on individuality, as opposed to when we mindlessly use diagnostic labels to tell us who people are. A desire for low order is satisfied when we apply diagnostic IQ cutoff scores flexibly. A desire for high independence is satisfied when we reject conventional stereotypes. Examples of mindful thinking include the American Association on Mental Retardation's 9th definition of mental retardation, Zigler's approach to personality research, and the recongition of possible co‐occurrence of mental illness and mental retardation.
Bisexuality: A Contemporary Paradox for Women
Authors: Rodríguez Rust Paula C.
Published: March 2003

The cultural construction of ‘lesbian’ and ‘heterosexual’ women in late‐nineteenth‐century European cultures created both the possibility of conceiving the “bisexual” woman and the belief that bisexuality cannot exist. Social scientists have suggested several alternatives to dichotomous constructions of sexuality to facilitate the conceptualization of, and therefore empirical research on, bisexuality. This article reviews these alternatives and summarizes the current state of researchon bisexuality, including research on ‘situational homosexuality’ (behavioral bisexuality), recent national probability studies on sexual behaviors and identities in the United States, the meanings of bisexual self‐identities among women, masculinist biases in methods of assessing and theorizing sexual self‐identities, and prejudice against bisexuals. The article concludes with suggestions for future social scientific research on bisexuality.
Psychology of Promoting Environmentalism: Promoting Environmentalism
Authors: Zelezny Lynnette C. , Schultz P. Wesley
Published: March 2003

This issue of the Journal of Social Issues focuses on the psychology, sociology, and public policy of global environmental issues. The goals of the issue are (1) to describe the current state of the environment and environmentalism, (2) to present new theories and research on environmentalattitudes and behaviors, and (3) to explore obstacles and ethical considerations in promoting proenvironmental action. The following brief introduction places this issue within a context of preceding JSI issues, provides a framework for the articles, and highlights several recurring themes that occur throughout the issue.
How Can You Pull Yourself up by Your Bootstraps, if You Don’t Have Boots? Work‐Appropriate Clothing for Poor Women
Authors: Turner‐Bowker Diane M.
Published: March 2003

Clothing plays a role in impression formation and may affect poor women’s ability to obtain a good job. Style of dress affects perceptions of, expectations for, and responses to job applicants. Clothing worn by a job applicant is a sign of status, power, and ability and may determine success on the interview and/or on the job. Most poor women lack the financial resources necessary to enhance their outward appearance as an impression management technique. A number of programs have been designed to help poor women obtain job‐appropriate clothing, but these programs are limited in scope. This study reports on a convenience sample of women (N =10) from a state program that provides clothing to women entering the job market. Comprehensive services that take into account the multiple challenges faced by poor women entering the workforce have yet to be developed. Recommendations for corporate and individual action are provided.
Syllable Simplification Strategies: A Stylistic Perspective
Authors: Lin Yuh‐Huey
Published: March 2003

This study suggests another perspective in viewing the effect of style on English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ errors. It is generally assumed that greater accuracy is obtained by second language (L2) learners as style becomes more formal (Tarone, 1983). Although this “formal equals accurate” axiom correctly predicted L2 learners’ production of singleton consonants (e.g., Dickerson & Dickerson, 1977; R. Schmidt, 1987), however, it did not hold true for their pronunciation of more complex structures such as consonant clusters (Major, 1994; Weinberger, 1987). I hypothesize that for consonant clusters, what varies in accordance with style is the learners’ choice of syllable simplification strategies rather than their error rates. The production of English onset consonant clusters by 20 Chinese adult EFL learners in four types of tasks confirmed this prediction: The use of epenthesis increased as the style of the task became more formal, and the percentage of deletions and replacements became higher in less formal tasks.
Students' Approaches to Vocabulary Learning and Their Relationship to Success
Authors: Kojic‐Sabo Izabella , Lightbown Patsy M.
Published: March 2003

Students’ approaches to vocabulary learning were surveyed in two distinct learning environments: one where English was studied as a second language (ESL), and another where it was a foreign language (EFL). A questionnaire, adapted from Sanaoui's (1992) work, was administered to 47 ESL and 43 EFL students. They were asked to indicate, among other things, the amount of time they usually spent on vocabulary learning, the extent to which they engaged in independent language study, the type of vocabulary learning activities they did on a regular basis, the frequency and elaborateness of their note‐taking and reviewing efforts, and the frequency and elaborateness with which they used dictionaries. Whereas students in the two settings exhibited significant differences in the use of some of the strategies, other parts of their strategic behaviour were strikingly similar. Cluster analysis, a technique used for finding relatively homogeneous subgroups in a population, identified 8 different profiles of student approaches to lexical learning. Some clusters exhibited a remarkably “flat” profile in that they used either all or none of the strategies. The majority of learners, however, fell into the more saw‐toothed profile clusters, exhibiting clear preferences for certain types of strategic behaviour. Analyses were also conducted to determine a possible relationship between strategy use and achievement level. Students’ performance on two tests, a Yes/No test assessing knowledge of academic vocabulary and a cloze test assessing overall English proficiency, were compared for the clusters. More frequent and elaborate strategy use was associated with higher levels of achievement, whereas lack of self‐reported effort on the students' part was linked to poor performance. Results also suggested thattimeand learnerindependencewere the two measures most closely related to success in vocabulary learning and higher overall English proficiency.
Shaping the Discourse of a Practice: The Role of Linguistics and Psychology in Language Teaching and Learning
Authors: Byrnes Heidi
Published: March 2003

This article treats the Modern Language Journal (MLJ) as a site for observing how a particular community, foreign language teachers, over an 85‐year period shaped its practices discursively, gradually developing a particular kind of professional identity. Instead of treating the current situation as the result of a straight‐line sequence of rational choices, this article points to various dynamics external and internal to the field whose influence was by no means preordained nor even necessarily beneficial. Focusing on the relationship between language teaching and disciplinary inquiry in linguistics and psychology, it identifies (a) a period in which the Journal and its readership circumscribed their interest in teaching modern, as opposed to classical languages; (b) a period in which both linguistics and psychology offered important insights, with linguistics, ultimately, dominating practice; (c) the rise of psycholinguistic models that, alongside existing understandings, led to enormously varied beliefs and approaches; and (d) a time for renegotiating our professional identity in light of a multiplicity of voices, interests, and models of research and practice. It concludes that the advantages of professionalization through disciplinary inquiry and the power it conveys to certain voices need to be balanced against the gains made possible with a kind of professional multilingualism.
Metric Exploitation of still Video Imagery
Authors: Fraser C. S. , Shortis M. R.
Published: March 2003

The development of still video CCD cameras with digital image storage has made feasible the concept of offline, single sensor vision metrology. This paper reports on practical evaluations of such a system for dimensional inspection of aircraft tooling and for structural monitoring for large scale engineering. A further application of still video technology for low altitude aerial mapping is also reported. In each case a Kodak DCS200 camera has been employed for the photography in order to take advantage of the relatively high sensor resolution and adequate on‐board image storage capacity. Aspects of the measurement operations, which yielded object space accuracies to 1:80 000 in the industrial measurement projects, are discussed and the results analysed.
Calibration of the Wild P32 Camera Using the Camera‐On‐Theodolite Method
Authors: Huang Y. D.
Published: March 2003

The calibration of phototheodolites such as the Wild P32/T2 combination sometimes involves determining not only the camera interior orientation parameters but also the camera‐to‐theodolite parameters. The latter become particularly important when the theodolite set orientation parameters are to be used as observations, especially as known quantities for data reduction in subsequent photogrammetric applications. This paper presents experiments to determine these parameters for a Wild P32 camera using a new camera‐on‐theodolite method, with details of results achieved.
Principal Point Behaviour and Calibration Parameter Models for Kodak DCS Cameras
Authors: Shortis M. R. , Robson S. , Beyer H. A.
Published: March 2003

Digital still cameras have been widely adopted for close range photogrammetry and machine vision applications. Due to the advantages of onboard storage of digital images, portability and rapid data processing, digital still cameras are rapidly becoming standard equipment for measurement tasks such as industrial metrology and heritage recording. As for any metric application, the accuracy of the derived object data is dependent, amongst many other factors, on the accuracy of the camera calibration. For the vast majority of photogrammetric applications, use of the simple case of a block invariant calibration model comprising the primary physical parameters, including the principal point position, is sufficient. However, cameras designed for photojournalism and domestic use, such as the Kodak DCS420 and 460 cameras, are well known for their calibration instability because the design is based on a 35 mm SLR camera body. In particular, previous research has shown that the principal point location is prone to movement during normal handling of the camera, due to the mounting mechanism of the CCD array. This paper reports on an investigation of the physical behaviour of the principal point location and compares different calibration parameter models for the Kodak DCS420 and DCS460 digital still cameras.
Accuracy Assessment of Digital Elevation Models Generated Using the Erdas Imagine Orthomax Digital Photogrammetric System
Authors: Gooch M. J. , Chandler J. H. , Stojic M.
Published: March 2003

The users of many digital photogrammetric systems are allowed a degree of control over the automated digital elevation model (DEM) generation software with a set of strategy parameters. These parameters control the search and quality control characteristics of the algorithm; hence the wrong choice of parameters can have a significant detrimental effect on the accuracy of the DEM. This paper describes the strategy parameters used in the Erdas Imagine OrthoMAX digital photogrammetric system and a set of tests used to define the optimum set of parameters for a project. The algorithm employs an area correlator and a hierarchical approach in the matching process. The results show that a 35 per cent increase in accuracy can be achieved through the process of parameter optimization. They also demonstrate that changes to the strategy parameters have a similar effect on the results for all areas of a set of imagery used in the test, which is of particular note because the imagery contains a diverse range of landcover types. The paper additionally provides a description of a system currently being developed which will automatically prescribe the correct set of parameters for a project.
The Use of Close Range Photogrammetry for Studying Ice Accretion on Aerofoil Sections
Authors: Collier P. , Dixon L. , Fontana D. , Payne D. , Pearson A.W.
Published: March 2003

This paper describes the use of photogrammetry to measure and quantify ice accretion on an aerofoil section. A series of stereoscopic photographs was taken during the ice accretion on the section in an icing tunnel. From measurements made on these photographs with a Kern (Leica) DSR 14 analytical photogrammetric plotter, a series of three dimensional models of the ice surfaces was constructed. The results of the project are discussed and possible improvements in the methodology are suggested.
The Phoenix Algorithm for Three Dimensional Data Capture
Authors: Taylor G. , Fairbairn D. J. , Parsley S.
Published: March 2003

The graphical representation and interactive manipulation of accurate three dimensional (3D) models of reality is rapidly becoming an inescapable necessity for many applications of geographical information systems (GIS). There are many problems and difficulties that must be overcome in order to facilitate such 3D models. Can accurate measurements, at sufficient resolution and using affordable resources, be obtained? Will application software usefully process, in all aspects, models of the real world, held in full 3D? Can a topology of containment, adjacency and contiguity in 3D be integrated into the conventional procedural and recording functionality of two dimensional (2D) GIS and still provide workable spatial analysis tools? A 3D GIS applied to an urban environment should maintain a model that would typically consist of solid representations of individual buildings, roads and utilities, providing both external and internal detail, all assigned to a suitable digital terrain model (DTM).

The particular 3D application considered here addresses the need for accurate reconstruction of historical urban buildings. The creation, manipulation and exploration of such models is often referred to as “virtual heritage”. Much of this paper describes an effective methodology, called the Phoenix algorithm, requiring only a single image of an urban object, for the construction of 3D models of buildings at high resolution. The development of this algorithm is discussed and the results obtained from it are compared with those obtained using traditional 3D capture techniques. An outline of further potential GIS applications is presented.
Effects of Jpeg Compression on the Accuracy of Digital Terrain Models Automatically Derived from Digital Aerial Images
Authors: Lam Kent W. , Li Zhilin , Yuan Xiuxiao
Published: March 2003

It is well recognised that data volume represents a huge overhead for softcopy photogrammetry. For example, a file size of 100 Mbytes will be generated from a black and white aerial photograph if digitised with a resolution of 20μm. Large data volumes not only create storage problems but also affect the speed of image processing. As a consequence, data compression of image data is a matter of great significance. This paper describes an investigation into the effects of image compression on the accuracy of digital terrain models (DTMs) extracted from the compressed images. The JPEG system implemented in the Z/I Imaging ImageStation digital photogrammetric workstation (DPW) was used in the study. A systematic test has been carried out on the effect of different levels of JPEG compression (with Q‐factors from 1 to 100) on the resulting DTM, which is automatically generated by the DPW using Match‐T software. An analysis of the results from the two sites tested shows that image compression tends to cause more significant degradation when the image texture is richer, but that recommendations on Q‐factors for use with the ImageStation appear to err on the side of caution. This analysis leads to some tentative conclusions and recommendations both for future investigation and for photogrammetric practice.
Street‐Level Leadership
Authors: Rutkowski Conrad P.
Published: March 2003

Book reviewed:

Janet Coble Vinzant and Lane Crothers, Street‐Level Leadership: Discretion and Legitimacy in Front‐Line Public Service.
Can Bureaucracy Be Beautiful?
Authors: Frederickson H. George
Published: March 2003

Public administration has long been understood to be both a science and an art. In its artful aspects, public administration can also, in fact, be beautiful. At their very best, public organizations and processes have forms, designs, experiences, and languages which are beautiful and compelling. It is this beauty and its potential which draws us to public work. And, there is very great beauty in ideas of high and noble purpose and in the organizations and processes we build to achieve those ideas.
Tax Evasion from a Policy Perspective: The Case of the Motor Fuels Tax
Authors: Denison Dwight V. , Eger III Robert J.
Published: March 2003

In recent years, many state legislatures have proposed, considered, and adopted legislation intended to thwart fuel tax evasion. Despite the recent political activity of state legislatures to increase fuel tax compliance, there is relatively little research examining the evasion of excise taxes in general or the motor‐fuel tax in particular. This article examines the issues of fuel tax evasion from a policy perspective. We discuss the vulnerability of the fuel tax to evasion and examine how state legislatures in the southern region have responded to the tax evasion issue. We focus the examination on four major initiatives implemented at the federal level in four broad policy areas: tax administration, penalties and punishments, liability, and visibility and enforcement. These findings provide important insight for developing new strategies to enhance compliance to the fuel tax in particular and excise taxes in general. Furthermore, we discuss how issues of fuel tax compliance can be extended to other compliance issues such as Medicare fraud.
Influencing Policy at the Top of the Federal Bureaucracy: A Comparison of Career and Political Senior Executives
Authors: Dolan Julie
Published: March 2003

Although we commonly assume that bureaucrats influence the policies which govern public behavior, we know very little about the individuals who occupy executive positions in the federal bureaucracy. Following the creation of the Senior Executive Service (SES) in 1978, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) published guidelines detailing the skills and responsibilities required among both career and noncareer members of the SES. Although scholars have focused much attention on relations between these two groups within the federal bureaucracy, their day‐to‐day responsibilities remain understudied. This study reports results of a survey that was administered to 1,000 members of the Senior Executive Service to determine whether career and noncareer members of the SES have significantly different job responsibilities. Although both groups perform a variety of activities which provide them with numerous avenues to affect government policy, the research findings indicate that noncareer executives are more engaged in carrying out political liaison tasks and that career executives have slightly greater personnel responsibilities.
When Parsimony Subdues Distinctiveness: Simplified Public Perceptions of Politicians’ Personality
Authors: Caprara Gian Vittorio , Barbaranelli Claudio , Zimbardo Philip G.
Published: March 2003

Voters develop uniquely simplified perceptions of political candidates’ personalities during election campaigns. In an earlier study, voters described their own personalities, and also those of celebrities, using the same five factors typical of the Big Five model of personality. In contrast, the appraisal of political candidates’ personalities by voters in both Italy and the United States was reduced to only a few factors. The present research extends that exploration of the relationship between personality and politics to the public’s perception of politicians’ personalities across a wider variety of politicians and across a long time span after an election campaign. Two studies conducted in Italy, with more than 3,000 voters, replicated the earlier results: The factors of Energy and Agreeableness are primary anchors for evaluating politicians’ personalities both during campaigns and for several years thereafter. Also uncovered were congruences between the ways that voters tend to present themselves (self‐schemata) and the schemata they use to evaluate candidates representing their political preference.