bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DIALECTS OF WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT: THE INTERNATIONAL CIRCUITRY OF THE ARAB HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2005
Authors: Abu-Lughod Lila
Published: May 2009

This essay analyzes three problems with the landmark Arab Human Development Report 2005 on women as a means of reflecting on some consequences of the transnational currency of a particular “dialect” of women's rights. Given the current geopolitical context, it first asks how the report's attribution of “unique” shortcomings in the Arab world to cultural and religious factors might make it vulnerable to appropriation for dangerous arguments about “the clash of civilizations.” Second, it asks how the urban, middle-class, cosmopolitan perspective on women's lives, aspirations, and everyday conditions colors the report's analyses of education, employment, and the role of family, eliding critical aspects of political economy and ignoring alternative values. Finally, it considers how the report's reliance on the dominant secular, liberal political paradigms that this “dialect” of women's empowerment indexes—modernization, human development, and (neo)liberalism—both narrows its recommendations and limits its potential appeal, given the Islamic revival and economic problems in the Arab world.
Decadent truncation: liberated Eros in Arthur Vincent Lourié's The Blackamoor of Peter the Great
Authors: MÓRICZ KLÁRA
Published: May 2009

Russian composer Arthur Vincent Lourié (1881/2–1966) dedicated his The Blackamoor of Peter the Great (1948–1961), an opera based on Pushkin's story about the poet's African great-grandfather, to ‘Russian culture, the Russian people and Russian history.’ Neoclassical in its subject matter, reliance on conventional musical forms, and adherence to tonality, Lourié's Blackamoor is nevertheless also an exemplary symbolist opera. This article explains three symbolist aspects of the work: the sources of its libretto (Lourié's librettist Irina Graham interspersed the libretto with symbolist texts), its multi-layered cultural associations, and Lourié's decision to liberate and embody the erotic drive of the main character Ibrahim by representing it as the figure of Eros. Eradicated during the years of Stalinist terror, the culture of Silver Age Russia thus continued to find a voice in the emigrant Lourié's last opera.
Classification and diversity of sacred and American Nelumbo species: the genetic relationships of flowering lotus cultivars in Japan using SSR markers
Authors: Kubo Nakao , Hirai Masashi , Kaneko Akio , Tanaka Daizo , Kasumi Kumaji
Published: May 2009

The water lotus, genusNelumbo, contains two species, the sacred (Nelumbo nucifera) and American lotuses (Nelumbo lutea). Hundreds of flowering lotus cultivars are currently known. However, their classification is unclear. For the classification ofNelumbocultivars, in addition to 35 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers recently developed, we have developed 17 and 16 of newNelumboSSR markers from SSR-enriched genomic libraries and expressed sequence tag (EST) data, respectively. Out of these 68 SSRs, along with SSRs recently published by others, 52 showed clear polymorphisms in 98Nelumbosamples. A total of 300 alleles were observed, ranging from 2 to 11 alleles per locus, with an average of 5.77. Alleles specific for the American lotus-derived cultivars and a cluster of the American lotus-derived cultivars on a neighbour-joining tree confirmed genetic differences betweenN. luteaandN. nucifera. In addition, a possible differentiation between Chinese and Japanese cultivars was also suggested. Parentage analysis using the SSR markers confirmed four known parentages and predicted currently-unknown parentages of six cultivars. The present data have demonstrated that site-specific, co-dominant SSR markers enable more accurate classification, identification and comparison ofNelumbospecies.
Homogene Begabtenklassen am Gymnasium
Authors: Stumpf Eva , Schneider Wolfgang
Published: May 2009

Zusammenfassung. In dieser Studie wurde untersucht, in welchen Bereichen sich Schülerinnen und Schüler, die in homogenen Begabtenklassen unterrichtet werden, von regulären Gymnasiasten unterscheiden. Fokussiert wurde auf Unterschiede in der Lern- und Arbeitshaltung und der Lern- und Leistungsmotivation von Beginn der Gymnasialzeit bis Mitte der 7. Jahrgangsstufe. Beim Übertritt auf das Gymnasium wiesen die Schülerinnen und Schüler der Begabtenklassen in der Lern- und Arbeitshaltung sowie in Teilbereichen der Lern- und Leistungsmotivation eine deutlich geringere Ausprägung auf als die Schülerinnen und Schüler der Regelklassen; diese Unterschiede glichen sich in den meisten Bereichen bis Mitte der 7. Jahrgangsstufe aus. Weitere Analysen belegen, dass die beschriebenen Unterschiede nicht mit der höheren Intelligenz der Kinder aus den Begabtenklassen erklärt werden können.
Die Bedeutung des Pubertätsstatus und des Entwicklungstempos für die Geschlechtsidentität von Mädchen und Jungen in der Adoleszenz
Authors: Hartmann Petra , Trautner Hanns Martin
Published: May 2009

Zusammenfassung. Ausgehend von der Gender-Intensification Hypothesis (GIH) von Hill und Lynch (1983) wurde in der vorliegenden Arbeit untersucht, inwieweit die Geschlechtsidentität von Adoleszenten mit ihrem Pubertätsstatus und ihrem Entwicklungstempo variiert. 186 Mädchen und 85 Jungen zwischen 8 und 17 Jahren beantworteten in einer Internet-Studie Fragen zu ihrer Pubertätsentwicklung (Pubertal Development Scale; Petersen, Crockett, Richards & Boxer, 1988 ) sowie zu ihrer Geschlechtstypikalität, der Zufriedenheit mit dem eigenen Geschlecht, dem gefühlten sozialen Anpassungsdruck und ihrem Intergroup-bias (Skalen von Hartmann, 2006 ). Jungen stuften sich im Vergleich zu Mädchen signifikant geschlechtstypischer und zufriedener mit ihrem Geschlecht ein und empfanden einen stärkeren Anpassungsdruck, während Mädchen sich durch einen stärkeren Intergroup-bias auszeichneten. Während die Mädchen allgemein wenig Druck angaben, fühlten sich die Jungen insbesondere von den Gleichaltrigen und sich selbst zu geschlechtsrollenkonformem Verhalten gedrängt und weniger von den Eltern. Die von der GIH postulierte positive Korrelation zwischen Anpassungsdruck und Geschlechtstypikalität fand sich nicht. Bei beiden Geschlechtern war der Einfluss des Pubertätsstatus und des Entwicklungstempos auf die verschiedenen Komponenten der Geschlechtsidentität eher gering, wobei das objektive und das subjektive Entwicklungstempo für Mädchen und Jungen von unterschiedlicher Bedeutung zu sein scheint.
An event of stratospheric air intrusion and its associated secondary surface cyclogenesis over the South Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Iwabe Clara Miho Narukawa , da Rocha Rosmeri Porfírio
Published: May 2009

This work presents an analysis of a lowermost stratospheric air intrusion event over the coast of Brazil, which may have been responsible for a secondary surface cyclogenesis over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. The surface cyclone initiated at 0600 UTC 17 April 1999 in a cold air mass in the rear of a cold front after a primary cyclone developed over the same region. The analysis of the secondary cyclone revealed the presence of lowermost stratospheric air intrusion characterized by anomalous potential vorticity (PV), dry air, and high concentration of ozone in atmospheric column. The system developed on the eastern side of an upper level core of PV anomaly, which induced a cyclonic wind circulation at lower levels and favored the onset of the secondary cyclone. In midlevels (500 hPa), the cutoff low development contributed to reduce the propagation speed of the wave pattern. This feature seemed to (1) allow the low‐level cold/dry air to heat/moisten associated with sensible and latent fluxes transferred from the ocean to the atmosphere, which intensified a baroclinic zone parallel to the coast, and (2) contribute to the long duration of the system. The present analysis indicates that this secondary cyclone development could be the result of the coupling between the PV anomaly in the upper levels and low‐level air‐sea interaction.
Dystrophin and utrophin have distinct effects on the structural dynamics of actin
Authors: Prochniewicz Ewa , Henderson Davin , Ervasti James M. , Thomas David D.
Published: May 2009

We have used time-resolved spectroscopy to investigate the structural dynamics of actin interaction with dystrophin and utrophin in relationship to the pathology of muscular dystrophy. Dystrophin and utrophin bind actin in vitro with similar affinities, but the molecular contacts of these two proteins with actin are different. It has been hypothesized that the presence of two low-affinity actin-binding sites in dystrophin allows more elastic response of the actin–dystrophin–sarcolemma linkage to muscle stretches, compared with utrophin, which binds via one contiguous actin-binding domain. We have directly tested this hypothesis by determining the effects of dystrophin and utrophin on the microsecond rotational dynamics of a phosphorescent dye attached to C374 on actin, as detected by transient phosphorescence anisotropy (TPA). Binding of dystrophin or utrophin to actin resulted in significant changes in the TPA decay, increasing the final anisotropy (restricting the rotational amplitude) and decreasing the rotational correlation times (increasing the rotational rates and the torsional flexibility). This paradoxical combination of effects on actin dynamics (decreased amplitude but increased rate) has not been observed for other actin-binding proteins. Thus, when dystrophin or utrophin binds, actin becomes less like cast iron (strong but brittle) and more like steel (stronger and more resilient). At low levels of saturation, the binding of dystrophin and utrophin has similar effects, but at higher levels, utrophin caused much greater restrictions in amplitude and increases in rate. The effects of dystrophin and utrophin on actin dynamics provide molecular insight into the pathology of muscular dystrophy.
MR1 antigen presentation to mucosal-associated invariant T cells was highly conserved in evolution
Authors: Huang Shouxiong , Martin Emmanuel , Kim Sojung , Yu Lawrence , Soudais Claire , Fremont Daved H. , Lantz Olivier , Hansen Ted H.
Published: May 2009

Several nonclassical major histocompatibilty antigens (class Ib molecules) have emerged as key players in the early immune response to pathogens or stress. Class Ib molecules activate subsets of T cells that mount effector responses before the adaptive immune system, and thus are called innate T cells. MR1 is a novel class Ib molecule with properties highly suggestive of its regulation of mucosal immunity. TheMr1gene is evolutionarily conserved, is non-Mhclinked, and controls the development of mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. MAIT cells preferentially reside in the gut, and their development is dependent on commensal microbiota. Although these properties suggest that MAIT cells function as innate T cells in the mucosa, this has been difficult to test, due to the (i) paucity of MAIT cells that display MR1-specific activation in vitro and (ii) lack of knowledge of whether or not MR1 presents antigen. Here we show that both mouse and human MAIT cells display a high level of cross-reactivity on mammalian MR1 orthologs, but with differences consistent with limited ligand discrimination. Furthermore, acid eluates from recombinant or cellular MR1 proteins enhance MAIT cell activation in an MR1-specific and cross-species manner. Our findings demonstrate that the presentation pathway of MR1 to MAIT cells is highly evolutionarily conserved.
The transcriptome of human CD34+hematopoietic stem-progenitor cells
Authors: Kim Yeong C. , Wu Qingfa , Chen Jun , Xuan Zhenyu , Jung Yong-Chul , Zhang Michael Q. , Rowley Janet D. , Wang San Ming
Published: May 2009

Studying gene expression at different hematopoietic stages provides insights for understanding the genetic basis of hematopoiesis. We analyzed gene expression in human CD34+hematopoietic cells that represent the stem-progenitor population (CD34+cells). We collected >459,000 transcript signatures from CD34+cells, including the de novo-generated 3′ ESTs and the existing sequences of full-length cDNAs, ESTs, and serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) tags, and performed an extensive annotation on this large set of CD34+transcript sequences. We determined the genes expressed in CD34+cells, verified the known genes and identified the new genes of different functional categories involved in hematopoiesis, dissected the alternative gene expression including alternative transcription initiation, splicing, and adenylation, identified the antisense and noncoding transcripts, determined the CD34+cell-specific gene expression signature, and developed the CD34+cell-transcription map in the human genome. Our study provides a current view on gene expression in human CD34+cells and reveals that early hematopoiesis is an orchestrated process with the involvement of over half of the human genes distributed in various functions. The data generated from our study provide a comprehensive and uniform resource for studying hematopoiesis and stem cell biology.
Hysteroscopic female sterilization with Essure® in an outpatient setting
Authors: ANDERSSON SONIA , ERIKSSON SOFIE , MINTS MIRIAM
Published: May 2009

The aim of this study is to evaluate the short and long‐term results of hysteroscopic sterilization in an outpatient setting. Sixty‐one women underwent hysteroscopic sterilization. At follow‐up, all of the women were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning possible pregnancy, bleeding patterns, side‐effects, or need for further therapy after sterilization. Technical feasibility, complications, patient satisfaction, and tubal occlusion based on X‐ray or ultrasound were measured. Fifty‐eight (95%) women were sterilized according to this method. Successful bilateral device placement was achieved in 52 women (85%) during the first attempt and in six (9.8%) during the second. A total of 50 (81.9%) women submitted completed outcome questionnaires. The mean follow‐up period was 23 (range 7–67) months. No pregnancies were reported. All questionnaire respondents expressed overall satisfaction with the procedure. To conclude, Essure® sterilization is a safe effective method for female sterilization that is feasible in the outpatient setting.
Self‐Stabilising Quadrupedal Running by Mechanical Design
Authors: Chatzakos Panagiotis , Papadopoulos Evangelos
Published: May 2009

Dynamic stability allows running animals to maintain preferred speed during locomotion over rough terrain. It appears that rapid disturbance rejection is an emergent property of the mechanical system. In running robots, simple motor control seems to be effective in the negotiation of rough terrain when used in concert with a mechanical system that stabilises passively. Spring‐like legs are a means for providing self‐stabilising characteristics against external perturbations. In this paper, we show that a quadruped robot could be able to perform self‐stable running behaviour in significantly broader ranges of forward speed and pitch rate with a suitable mechanical design, which is not limited to choosing legs spring stiffness only. The results presented here are derived by studying the stability of the passive dynamics of a quadruped robot running in the sagittal plane in a dimensionless context and might explain the success of simple, open loop running controllers on existing experimental quadruped robots. These can be summarised in (a) the self‐stabilised behaviour of a quadruped robot for a particular gait is greatly related to the magnitude of its dimensionless body inertia, (b) the values of hip separation, normalised to rest leg length, and leg relative stiffness of a quadruped robot affect the stability of its motion and should be in inverse proportion to its dimensionless body inertia, and (c) the self‐stable regime of quadruped running robots is enlarged at relatively high forward speeds. We anticipate the proposed guidelines to assist in the design of new, and modifications of existing, quadruped robots. As an example, specific design changes for the Scout II quadruped robot that might improve its performance are proposed.
Measurements, modelling and electron cyclotron heating modification of Alfvén eigenmode activity in DIII-D
Authors: Van Zeeland M.A. , Heidbrink W.W. , Nazikian R. , Austin M.E. , Cheng C.Z. , Chu M.S. , Gorelenkov N.N. , Holcomb C.T. , Hyatt A.W. , Kramer G.J. , Lohr J. , McKee G.R. , Petty C.C. , Prater R. , Solomon W.M. , Spong D.A.
Published: May 2009

Neutral beam injection into reversed magnetic shear DIII-D plasmas produces a variety of Alfvénic activity including toroidicity and ellipticity induced Alfvén eigenmodes (TAE/EAE, respectively) and reversed shear Alfvén eigenmodes (RSAE) as well as their spatial coupling. These modes are studied during the discharge current ramp phase when incomplete current penetration results in a high central safety factor and strong drive due to multiple higher order resonances. It is found that ideal MHD modelling of eigenmode spectral evolution, coupling and structure are in excellent agreement with experimental measurements. It is also found that higher radial envelope harmonic RSAEs are clearly observed and agree with modelling. Some discrepancies with modelling such as that due to up/down eigenmode asymmetries are also pointed out. Concomitant with the Alfvénic activity, fast ion (FIDA) spectroscopy shows large reductions in the central fast ion profile, the degree of which depends on the Alfvén eigenmode amplitude. Interestingly, localized electron cyclotron heating (ECH) near the mode location stabilizes RSAE activity and results in significantly improved fast ion confinement relative to discharges with ECH deposition on axis. In these discharges, RSAE activity is suppressed when ECH is deposited near the radius of the shear reversal point and enhanced with deposition near the axis. The sensitivity of this effect to deposition power and current drive phasing as well as ECH modulation are presented.
Clock synchronization by remote detection of correlated photon pairs
Authors: Ho Caleb , Lamas-Linares Antía , Kurtsiefer Christian
Published: May 2009

In this study, we present an algorithm to detect the time and frequency differences of independent clocks based on observation of time-correlated photon pairs. This enables remote coincidence identification in entanglement-based quantum key distribution schemes without dedicated coincidence hardware, pulsed sources with a timing structure or very stable reference clocks. We discuss the method for typical operating conditions and show that the requirement for reference clock accuracy can be relaxed by about five orders of magnitude in comparison with previous schemes.
Dense wavelength multiplexing of 1550 nm QKD with strong classical channels in reconfigurable networking environments
Authors: Peters N A , Toliver P , Chapuran T E , Runser R J , McNown S R , Peterson C G , Rosenberg D , Dallmann N , Hughes R J , McCabe K P , Nordholt J E , Tyagi K T
Published: May 2009

To move beyond dedicated links and networks, quantum communications signals must be integrated into networks carrying classical optical channels at power levels many orders of magnitude higher than the quantum signals themselves. We demonstrate the transmission of a 1550 nm quantum channel with up to two simultaneous 200 GHz spaced classical telecom channels, using reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer (ROADM) technology for multiplexing and routing quantum and classical signals. The quantum channel is used to perform quantum key distribution (QKD) in the presence of noise generated as a by-product of the co-propagation of classical channels. We demonstrate that the dominant noise mechanism can arise from either four-wave mixing or spontaneous Raman scattering, depending on the optical path characteristics as well as the classical channel parameters. We quantify these impairments and discuss mitigation strategies.
Germination of Wheat: A Functional Proteomics Analysis of the Embryo
Authors: Mak Yunxian , Willows Robert D. , Roberts Thomas H. , Wrigley Colin W. , Sharp Peter J. , Copeland Les
Published: May 2009

Germination in the soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Rosella was followed for three days after imbibition by proteomic analysis of the germ tissue. Two‐dimensional electrophoresis was performed in triplicate for proteins extracted from embryos dissected from mature grain and from grains germinated for 1, 2, and 3 days. For this period, 63 proteins (in 86 spots) in the germ were identified as decreasing in abundance, 35 proteins (in 60 spots) as increasing in abundance, and 28 proteins (in 39 spots) as exhibiting no significant abundance change. Proteins with significant abundance changes are discussed in relation to physiology; these include proteases, amylases and amylase inhibitors, enzymes in lipid metabolism, proteins related to water stress, cell wall hydrolases, oxalate oxidase, and H+‐ATPases. Functions associated with proteins synthesized during the germination period are inconsistent with the embryo of mature grain being fully primed for germination.
The difficulty of avoiding false positives in genome scans for natural selection
Authors: Mallick Swapan , Gnerre Sante , Muller Paul , Reich David
Published: May 2009

Several studies have found evidence for more positive selection on the chimpanzee lineage compared with the human lineage since the two species split. A potential concern, however, is that these findings may simply reflect artifacts of the data: inaccuracies in the underlying chimpanzee genome sequence, which is of lower quality than human. To test this hypothesis, we generated de novo genome assemblies of chimpanzee and macaque and aligned them with human. We also implemented a novel bioinformatic procedure for producing alignments of closely related species that uses synteny information to remove misassembled and misaligned regions, and sequence quality scores to remove nucleotides that are less reliable. We applied this procedure to re-examine 59 genes recently identified as candidates for positive selection in chimpanzees. The great majority of these signals disappear after application of our new bioinformatic procedure. We also carried out laboratory-based resequencing of 10 of the regions in multiple chimpanzees and humans, and found that our alignments were correct wherever there was a conflict with the published results. These findings throw into question previous findings that there has been more positive selection in chimpanzees than in humans since the two species diverged. Our study also highlights the challenges of searching the extreme tails of distributions for signals of natural selection. Inaccuracies in the genome sequence at even a tiny fraction of genes can produce false-positive signals, which make it difficult to identify loci that have genuinely been targets of selection.
On the origin of prokaryotic species
Authors: Doolittle W. Ford , Zhaxybayeva Olga
Published: May 2009

The notion that all prokaryotes belong to genomically and phenomically cohesive clusters that we might legitimately call “species” is a contentious one. At issue are (1) whether such clusters actually exist; (2) what species definition might most reliably identify them, if they do; and (3) what species concept—by which is meant a genetic and ecological theory of speciation—might best explain species existence and rationalize a species definition, if we could agree on one. We review existing theories and some relevant data. We conclude that microbiologists now understand in some detail the various genetic, population, and ecological processes that effect the evolution of prokaryotes. There will be on occasion circumstances under which these, working together, will form groups of related organisms sufficiently like each other that we might all agree to call them “species,” but there is no reason that this must always be so. Thus, there is no principled way in which questions about prokaryotic species, such as how many there are, how large their populations are, or how globally they are distributed, can be answered. These questions can, however, be reformulated so that metagenomic methods and thinking will meaningfully address the biological patterns and processes whose understanding is our ultimate target.
Hemolymph Extraction from Various Developmental Stages of the African Butterfly Bicyclus anynana
Authors: Brakefield Paul M. , Beldade Patrícia , Zwaan Bas J.
Published: May 2009

INTRODUCTION

This protocol describes procedures for the extraction of hemolymph from larvae, pupae, and adults of the African butterfly Bicyclus anynana. The hemolymph can subsequently be used for various purposes; the method for processing the hemolymph depends on the question under investigation.
Comet Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (Comet-FISH): Detection of DNA Damage: Figure 1.
Authors: Schlörmann Wiebke , Glei Michael
Published: May 2009

INTRODUCTION

The Comet-FISH technique is a useful tool for detection of overall and region-specific DNA damage and repair in individual cells. It combines two well-established methods, the Comet assay (single-cell gel electrophoresis) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The Comet assay serves as the basis of Comet-FISH and is a relatively simple and fast method that allows separation of fragmented from nonfragmented DNA and quantification of DNA damage and repair. FISH enables detection of specifically labeled DNA sequences of interest, including whole chromosomes. The combined technique of Comet-FISH is a modification of the Comet assay that inserts a hybridization step after unwinding and electrophoresis and permits the labeling of specific gene sequences or telomeres. Comet-FISH has been applied for detection of site-specific breaks in DNA regions that are relevant for development of various diseases, and has also been used to study the distribution of DNA damage and repair in the complete genome. Moreover, DNA sequence modifications can be detected in individual cells using Comet-FISH. Whereas results from the Comet assay alone reflect only the level of overall DNA damage, the addition of the FISH technique allows the assignment of the probed sequences to the damaged or undamaged part of the comet (tail or head, respectively).
Metabolic Footprinting for the Study of Microbial Biodiversity
Authors: Pope Georgina A. , MacKenzie Donald A. , Defernez Marianne , Roberts Ian N.
Published: May 2009

INTRODUCTION

Mass spectrometric analysis of the metabolome (the complete set of small-molecule metabolites such as metabolic intermediates, hormones, and other signaling molecules, and secondary metabolites to be found within a biological sample, such as a single organism) has become a key component of modern systems biology. Within this broad definition, a number of technical refinements have enabled high-throughput profiling to be performed of the exometabolome (the metabolites that a cell or system excretes under controlled conditions). This technique has become known as metabolic footprinting and was first developed for analysis of yeast single- gene deletion mutants. More recently, it has proved valuable in metabolic profiling and comparative analysis of brewing and medically important yeast biodiversity. Direct injection mass spectrometry (DIMS) enables the direct injection or infusion of a sample, typically into an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer (ESI-MS). This article describes a detailed DIMS methodology in which samples of spent media from yeast cultures are introduced into an ESI-MS by direct injection into a flowing solvent (flow injection). DIMS resolves complex mixtures into components differing in ion mass using electrospray ionization, which avoids the need for derivatization and time-consuming chromatographic separation that is found with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The method is rapid and discriminatory. Populations of extremely closely related yeast strains can be identified and assigned to clusters of comparable phenotypes, even when standard genetic fingerprinting techniques fail to discriminate among such variants.
Elastic constants of fibre-textured thin films determined by X-ray diffraction
Authors: Martinschitz K. J. , Daniel R. , Mitterer C. , Keckes J.
Published: May 2009

A new methodology is presented that allows the rapid determination of elastic constants of cubic fibre-textured thin films by X-ray diffraction. The theoretical concept is developed and tested on calculated examples of Cu and CrN films. The mechanical elastic constants are extrapolated from X-ray elastic constants by taking into consideration crystal and macroscopic elastic anisotropy. The derived algorithm enables the determination of a reflection and the corresponding value of the X-ray anisotropic factor Γ for which the X-ray elastic constants are equal to their mechanical counterparts in the case of fibre-textured cubic polycrystalline aggregates. The approach is independent of the crystal elastic anisotropy and depends on the fibre-texture type, the texture sharpness, the number of randomly oriented crystallites and the supposed grain-interaction model. In the experimental part, out-of-plane Young's moduli of 111 and 311 fibre-textured Cu and CrN thin films deposited on monocrystalline Si(100) substrates are determined. The moduli are extrapolated from thin-film experimental X-ray elastic constants that are determined by a combination of X-ray diffraction substrate curvature and sin2ψ methods. For the calculation, the film macroscopic elastic anisotropy (texture) is considered. The advantage of the new technique lies in the fact that experimental moduli are determined nondestructively, using a static diffraction experiment, and represent volume-averaged quantities.
On the correlations between the polyhedron eccentricity parameters and the bond-valence sums for the cations with one lone electron pair. Addendum
Authors: Sidey Vasyl
Published: May 2009

Systematic variations of the bond-valence sums calculated from the poorly determined bond-valence parameters [Sidey (2008), Acta Cryst. B64, 515–518] have been illustrated using a simple graphical scheme.
Clamping modelling: state‐of‐the‐art and future trends
Authors: Leopold Jürgen , Hong Lu
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the relationship between automated assembly and mass production environments such as the manufacture of cars, airplanes and white goods and methods of modelling and simulation. Even in this environment high‐level automated assembly is restricted to the original equipment manufacturers where production volumes are high and flexibility and the ability to quickly reconfigure systems are not major drivers. It proposes modelling of the fixing/assembly process and outlining why and how new methods are important throughout the manufacturing process. The paper aims to expand the domain of co operation of different research institutes, universities and companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper focuses on typically, fixture design, which involves the identification of clamp, locator, and support points, and the selection of corresponding fixture elements for their respective functions. In addition, the automation of fixture design activities in manufacturing is an important research area, which aims to achieve the integration of design and manufacturing. The most commonly used methods are pointed out.

Findings

The paper summarizes the main modelling and simulation methods applied to new fixing and assembly processes.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen research approach, the paper is more general.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for the development of a powerful new fixing method applied in the automotive and aerospace industry, which is important for stability and easy change in a rough manufacturing environment.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need to study how new fixing methods can improve motorcar and aerospace manufacturing.
Vision‐based pipeline girth‐welding robot and image processing of weld seam
Authors: Yue Hong , Li Kai , Zhao Haiwen , Zhang Yi
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce structured light image processing technology into pipeline welding automation projects, and develop a vision‐based pipeline girth‐welding robot. The welding torch can accurately track the weld and complete the omni‐orientation welding automatically.

Design/methodology/approach

Weld image processing adopts the base theory including Laplacian of Gaussian filter, neighbourhood mean filter, largest variance threshold segmentation and morphologic, etc. obtains good effect of weld recognition.

Findings

The paper uses a vision sensor to achieve the weld character's recognition and extraction, directly control the robot tracking weld to complete automation welding. Compared with the existing pipeline welding devices, it does not need the lay orbit or plot tracking mark, which can shorten the assistant time to improve the productivity.

Practical implications

The research findings can satisfy the need of whole‐directional automation welding for large diameter transportation pipe's circular abutting weld. It fits for the automation welding for the long‐distance transportation pipe of petroleum, natural gas, and water.

Originality/value

Aiming at the character recognition and extract of V‐type weld, the method combining the neighbourhood mean filter algorithm with the largest variance threshold segmentation is proposed to obtain the quick weld image processing speed.
A few good women
Authors: Post Corinne , DiTomaso Nancy , Lowe Sarah R. , Farris George F. , Cordero Rene
Published: May 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate alternative theories about how perceived innovativeness and perceived relational skills interact with gender to explain evaluations by managers of scientists and engineers' promotability into management.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross‐sectional design is used. The sample (n=2,278) is drawn from 24 large US corporations. Separate surveys are administered in each corporation to scientists and engineers and to managers evaluating them.

Findings

Managers rate men and women equally promotable. Furthermore, women whom managers perceived to be especially innovative receive higher evaluations of promotability than similarly accomplished men. And, among those perceived to have low relational skills, women and men are evaluated similarly.

Research limitations/implications

More research is needed to evaluate how ambivalent stereotypes and pressures from organizations to suppress categorical thinking might combine to affect evaluation and selection processes in diverse work settings.

Practical implications

Companies should be concerned about the potential tendency for managers to reward a few individuals when they exceed stereotypical expectations. Employees should be aware of and actively manage the impressions that managers have of them with regard to innovativeness and relational skills.

Originality/value

This paper calls attention to the role of ambivalence and legitimacy theories that predict that women will receive higher evaluations when they exceed stereotypical expectations of innovativeness and that when women do not meet stereotypical expectations of relational skills, managers will temper their harshness in evaluating them. In developing this analysis, it seeks to contribute to the understanding of evaluation processes by considering the context in which evaluations take place.
Gender as a moderator of reciprocal consumer behavior
Authors: Kolyesnikova Natalia , Dodd Tim H. , Wilcox James B.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how purchasing behavior is approached as a customer‐perceived need to reciprocate for services received. The study seeks to examine involvement, knowledge, and identity as predictors of reciprocal consumer behavior. Two components of reciprocity – gratitude and obligation – are expected to mediate the relationships. The effect is expected to be different for men and women.

Design/methodology/approach

Wine was chosen as a product category to test the relationships in the models. Data collection was conducted via distribution of surveys to tasting room visitors at six wineries. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The impact of knowledge, identity, and involvement were important findings from the research. The differences between males and females with regard to their feelings of gratitude and obligation and the impact on purchasing are pronounced. Obligation to make a purchase had a stronger effect on the purchasing behavior of women. In contrast, gratitude (feeling appreciation and thankfulness to personnel) was a stronger reason for men to make a purchase.

Practical implications

Knowledge about different ways in which men and women reciprocate could be useful for researchers and practitioners. Free samples provided to potential buyers, tours of industrial factories where products are also sold, and a variety of service situations are all possible contexts where gratitude and obligation may occur. Purchases are likely to be the result at least in part because of these feelings.

Originality/value

The major contribution of this research is to highlight the role of gender in reciprocity research and to demonstrate the application of this effect in consumer behavior.
Indian Education for All: a change of heart and mind
Authors: Magone Mike , Elser Tammy
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the current status of, and provide guidance for future direction in, the implementation of Indian Education for All, a multicultural education initiative, into Montana's statewide education system.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports on and analyzes the historical foundation, current status, and practical implications of Montana's Indian Education for All initiative. The abbreviated case study utilizes a combination of focus group and individual qualitative interviews of educational leaders representing the Montana state education agency, Montana K‐12 school administration, and the Montana University and Tribal College systems.

Findings

Montana educational leaders have made dramatic progress implementing Indian education into Montana's K‐12 schools and university systems. The process is complex on many levels; including political, cultural, organizational, emotional, and financial issues. Many challenges remain before statewide systemic change occurs.

Practical implications

The study's findings have implications for world cultures and educational systems regarding the creation, organization, and implementation of a multiculturally literate and responsive education system.

Originality/value

The article provides original data regarding the varying degrees of challenge and success experienced by educational leaders in their implementation of multicultural education, with special emphasis on indigenous populations.
Communicating CSR via pharmaceutical company web sites
Authors: Sones Morgan , Grantham Susan , Vieira Edward T.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discover what corporate social responsibility (CSR) message themes are being communicated in selective pharmaceutical companies' mission and core values statements and their relevance to internal and external audiences.

Design/methodology/approach

A content analysis of five pharmaceutical companies mission and value statement web pages are analyzed. A panel developed a list of key words that are then analyzed and assigned to a level of Lerbinger's pyramid of CSR schema in order to determine if the web site is primarily communicating with internal or external stakeholders.

Findings

Keywords communicating the organizations' mission focus on activities that support societal issues relevant to external stakeholders. Keywords communicating the organizations' values support minimizing social costs including employee safety and therefore are of more interest and importance to internal stakeholders. The analysis indicates that the content provided by these five pharmaceutical companies use message frames within specific sections of the web site to communicate with both internal and external stakeholders.

Originality/value

There has been much emphasis on the need for, and benefit of communicating an organization's CSR strategies to stakeholders. This paper evaluates what CSR initiatives are being communicated on pharmaceutical companies' web sites. The results show a strong propensity to communicate with both external and internal stakeholders indicating that some organizations are messaging to both groups.
CSR communication in small and medium‐sized enterprises
Authors: Ellerup Nielsen Anne , Thomsen Christa
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how corporate social responsibility (CSR) appears and is communicated in small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on theory and research on CSR communication in general and in SMEs and a qualitative case study of the attitudes and beliefs of Danish SME managers regarding CSR and CSR communication.

Findings

The case study demonstrates that CSR is primarily considered to be an ethical and moral issue which is isolated from strategic communication including public relations and reputation management. Rather than being a strategic instrument, CSR seems to be rooted in practice and regulated by the personal values and beliefs of managers. It is argued that in principle, SMEs like the ones in the case study which are based on employee commitment and the use of indirect word‐of‐mouth communication with internal and local stakeholders have a fruitful platform for adopting strategic CSR communication. The problem is how they should communicate CSR to their external stakeholders.

Practical implications

This paper provides insights into the social and societal commitment of SMEs and ways in which SMEs can respond to the challenges of communicating CSR more explicitly to external stakeholders.

Originality/value

Attention is paid to the rather complicated balance between CSR communication as window‐dressing and CSR communication as a strategic instrument.
Leadership conversations: the impact on patient environments
Authors: Macdonald Rachel , Price Ilfryn , Askham Phil
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The aim of this study is to examine 15 NHS acute trusts in England that achieved high scores at all their hospitals in the first four national Patient Environment audits. No common external explanations were discernible. This paper seeks to examine whether the facilities managers responsible for the Patient Environment displayed a consistent leadership style.

Design/methodology/approach

Overall, six of the 15 trusts gave permission for the research to take place and a series of unstructured interviews and observations were arranged with 22 facilities managers in these trusts. Responses were transcribed and categorised through multiple iteration.

Findings

The research found common leadership and managerial behaviours, many of which could be identified from other literature. The research also identified managers deliberately devoting energy and time to creating networks of conversations. This creation of networks through managing conversation is behaviour less evident in mainstream leadership literature or in the current Department of Health and NHS leadership models.

Practical implications

The findings of this study offer managers (particularly those in FM and managers across NHS) a unique insight into the potential impact of leaders giving an opportunity to re‐model thinking on management and leadership and the related managerial development opportunities. It provides the leverage to move facilities management from the role of a commodity or support service, to a position as a true enabler of business.

Originality/value

Original research is presented in a previosuly under‐examined area. The paper illuminates how facilities management within trusts achieving high Patient Environment Action Team (PEAT) scores is led.
Prehospital airway management on rescue helicopters in the United Kingdom
Authors: Schmid M. , Mang H. , Ey K. , Schüttler J.
Published: May 2009

Adequate equipment is one prerequisite for advanced, out of hospital, airway management. There are no data on current availability of airway equipment on UK rescue helicopters. An internet search revealed all UK rescue helicopters, and a questionnaire was sent to the bases asking for available airway management items. We identified 27 helicopter bases and 26 (96%) sent the questionnaire back. Twenty‐four bases (92%) had at least one supraglottic airway device; 16 (62%) helicopters had material for establishing a surgical airway (e.g. a cricothyroidotomy set); 88% of the helicopters had CO2 detection; 25 (96%) helicopters carried automatic ventilators; among these, four (15%) had sophisticated ventilators and seven (27%) helicopters carried special face masks suitable for non‐invasive ventilation. We found a wide variation in the advanced airway management equipment that was carried routinely on air ambulances. Current guidelines for airway management are not met by all UK air ambulances.
The formulation and introduction of a ‘can't intubate, can't ventilate’ algorithm into clinical practice
Authors: Heard A. M. B. , Green R. J. , Eakins P.
Published: May 2009

Both the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Difficult Airway Society of the United Kingdom have published guidelines for the management of unanticipated difficult intubation. Both algorithms end with the ‘can't intubate, can't ventilate’ scenario. This eventuality is rare within elective anaesthetic practice with an estimated incidence of 0.01–2 in 10 000 cases, making the maintenance of skills and knowledge difficult. Over the last four years, the Department of Anaesthetics at the Royal Perth Hospital have developed a didactic airway training programme to ensure staff are appropriately trained to manage difficult and emergency airways. This article discusses our training programme, the evaluation of emergency airway techniques and subsequent development of a ‘can't intubate, can't ventilate’ algorithm.
Challenges and recovery actions for the widespread, threatened Grey‐headed Flying‐fox: A review from a New South Wales policy perspective
Authors: McClelland Kylie
Published: May 2009

Summary  The challenges of managing and conserving threatened species that have a widespread distribution operate at several levels and recovery of these species is a complex process. This paper provides an overview of how science is informing the management and conservation of the Grey‐headed Flying‐fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) in New South Wales. It outlines a series of research projects and activities the Department of Environment and Climate Change (New South Wales) has led or been involved in since the Grey‐headed Flying‐fox was listed as threatened in New South Wales in May 2001. This includes investigation of the species’ distribution and abundance; its roosting and foraging habitat requirements; assessment of horticultural damage and the mitigation techniques used; public attitudes towards the species; and development of policies and plans to guide the species’ conservation and management. Conservation gains for threatened species can be achieved through a sustained, focused programme of management, coordinated by dedicated individuals and informed by the available science. Scientists, policy‐makers and the general community must continue to strive together for the recovery of widespread, threatened species.
Separatrix Map Analysis for Fractal Scatterings in Weak Interactions of Solitary Waves
Authors: Zhu Yi , Haberman Richard , Yang Jianke
Published: May 2009

Previous studies have shown that fractal scatterings in weak interactions of solitary waves in the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equations are described by a universal second‐order separatrix map. In this paper, this separatrix map is analyzed in detail, and hence a complete characterization of fractal scatterings in these weak interactions is obtained. In particular, scaling laws of these fractals are derived analytically for different initial conditions, and these laws are confirmed by direct numerical simulations. In addition, an analytical criterion for the occurrence of fractal scatterings is given explicitly.