bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conventionalism as an Adequate Basis for Policy-Relevant IR Theory
Authors: Chernoff Fred
Published: February 2009

This article considers three factual observations about the history of the study of International Relations and examines how well several different metatheories of IR can account for them. The three facts are, first, that there has been persisting disagreement between supporters of contending theoretical approaches; second, that there have been occasional cases in which opposing scholars have converged on certain conclusions; and third, that the field of IR was intended by its founders to have some bearing on policy and some capacity to help change the world. The article contrasts several well-known philosophical principles on which metatheories have been based. The article concludes that all three challenges can be met by only one such metatheory, which I term `causal conventionalism', based in part on principles developed a century ago by Pierre Duhem.
Introduction
Authors: Pertierra Anna Cristina , Horst Heather A.
Published: February 2009

This special issue brings together cultural studies of media with current themes in Caribbean studies and anthropology. The papers were part of an interdisciplinary conference panel focused upon Caribbean Media Worlds. At the outset, we wanted to demonstrate that there are several specific reasons why the Caribbean makes a particularly interesting case study for examining the cultural practices, relationships, micro-political encounters and identities that surround the distribution and use of media technologies. The collection here examines media in interaction with the world of which it is part — in this case, that world is imagined as `the Caribbean'. The main goal of this introduction is to contextualize the studies by presenting key ideas within Caribbean research as a backdrop against which the conceptual and analytic frameworks which emerge in the contributors' articles can be better understood.
Congregating by cassette
Authors: Richman Karen , Rey Terry
Published: February 2009

A single communications device has transformed interactions between members of widely dispersed transnational Haitian religious communities: the audiocassette recorder. Messages, hymns and prayers taped on them crisscross the sea between Haiti and its diaspora, engaging distantly separated co-religionists in sporadically sequenced, yet effectively intimate conversations and rituals. For both Vodouist and Catholic religious congregations, tape recordings in Haitian Creole effectively circumvent scriptural French and help cement transnational ties by creating vast transnational performative spaces. This article draws on ethnographic research in Haiti and Florida to describe and theorize the important role that audiocassettes have played, in the transnational Haitian case, in cementing `assembled groups' and recreating `certain mental states of those groups' in ways that Durkheim might not have imagined when developing his epic argument about the socially cohesive function and essence of religion, an argument from which we take our theoretical orientation.
Voices from home and abroad New York City's Indo-Caribbean media
Authors: Tanikella Leela
Published: February 2009

This article examines how New York City's Indo-Caribbean media represents and constructs diasporic and transnational identities. Analyzing weekly newspapers, radio programs and websites, it argues that as media producers negotiate content and programing with their audiences they produce a varied and multiple `Indo-Caribbean voice'. Indo-Caribbean communities are linking up with home and with India in specific geographic locations in New York City and in locally produced mediated forums. In this article, these connections are mapped locally and transnationally to understand the role of other racialized communities in the development of an Indo-Caribbean presence in the public sphere. The media examined here represent Indo-Caribbean communities as they negotiate belonging in the US that is mediated through relationships with their home countries as well as the Indian migrant community from South Asia.
Open veins
Authors: Ferrándiz Francisco
Published: February 2009

Transnational processes of stigmatization and criminalization of poverty associated to neoliberal models of development unfold locally in various modalities and intensities of de-pacification of everyday life. In this framework, this article presents the case study of a well-known spirit possession devotion in Venezuela, the cult of María Lionza, where the enormous symbolic, structural and repressive pressure exerted on shantytown dwellers, particularly male youngsters, is recycled — in a sort of corporeal videoclip — in a cluster of controversial and highly spectacular ritual practices based on self-mutilation and bloodletting. Using Eduardo Galeano's celebrated dictum of the `Open Veins of Latin America', taken in this article both metaphorically and literally, these intense rituals are understood as deeply embodied roadmaps to everyday violence and stigma, in the context of barrio — shantytown — male youth cultures and re-elaborations of popular memories of slavery and legendary sagas.
`How many cases do I need?'
Authors: Small Mario Luis
Published: February 2009

Today, ethnographers and qualitative researchers in fields such as urban poverty, immigration, and social inequality face an environment in which their work will be read, cited, and assessed by demographers, quantitative sociologists, and even economists. They also face a demand for case studies of poor, minority, or immigrant groups and neighborhoods that not only generate theory but also somehow speak to empirical conditions in other cases (not observed). Many have responded by incorporating elements of quantitative methods into their designs, such as selecting respondents `at random' for small, in-depth interview projects or identifying `representative' neighborhoods for ethnographic case studies, aiming to increase generalizability. This article assesses these strategies and argues that they fall short of their objectives. Recognizing the importance of the predicament underlying the strategies — to determine how case studies can speak empirically to other cases — it presents two alternatives to current practices, and calls for greater clarity in the logic of design when producing ethnographic research in a multi-method intellectual environment.
Reconsidering retaliation
Authors: Garot Robert
Published: February 2009

Contemporary criminology directs a great deal of attention toward the factors which may lead to crime and violence, but little attention to individuals in circumstances which fit all the necessary conditions but who abstain from criminal or violent acts. This is in marked contrast to the law and society literature, where `lumping it' (Felstiner, 1974) has long been recognized as the overwhelming default response in most disputes. This article examines this criminological gap, exploring the emotive dissonance and ambivalence experienced by young men who abstain from retaliating due to structural constraints. Each one, faced with an agonizing loss, is compelled to seek violent retaliation against the antagonist perceived responsible for the loss. Yet each is constrained by their enmeshment in the local social structure and the potential havoc that such violence might bring. Furthermore, by focusing primarily on moments of violence, criminology misses the enormous range of nonviolent moments, among both violent offenders and others. Exploring each consultant's existential gap will enrich our understanding of the criminological gap between independent and dependent variables, toward appreciating the agency and resourcefulness of young men caught in potentially violent dilemmas.
Living for the weekend
Authors: Winlow Simon , Hall Steve
Published: February 2009

Consumption and consumerism are now accepted as key contexts for the construction of youth identities in de-industrialized Britain. This article uses empirical evidence from interviews with young people to suggest that claims of `new community' are overstated, traditional forms of friendship are receding, and increasingly atomized and instrumental youth identities are now being culturally constituted and reproduced by the pressures and anxieties created by enforced adaptation to consumer capitalism. Analysis of the data opens up the possibility of a critical rather than a celebratory exploration of the wider theoretical implications of this process.
Moods behind the silences
Authors: Williksen Solrun
Published: February 2009

This article reflects on encounters that took place while doing fieldwork in Fiji. The writer thinks back on moods and acts that were, and still are, only partly understood. The writer has in earlier works discussed how Fijian people adhere to strict rules for body comportment and social intercourse, not least in their elaborate ceremonies that seem to continue unabated even in the urban areas. These rules are related to the status hierarchy of the chiefly system where communal values of kinship and social obligations reign supreme. Togetherness and a constant adjustment to others' expectations are the norms. A person seems hardly ever to be alone or free from obligations or duties to perform in one way or the other. This article, however, is a more personal account of people who became friends of the writer during fieldwork and yet in certain aspects, as the writer thinks back, remain riddles.
Collaborative testing
Authors: Kapitanoff Susan H.
Published: February 2009

Research has demonstrated that collaborative testing, working on tests in groups, leads to improved test scores but the mechanism by which this occurs has not been specified. Three factors were proposed as mediators: cognitive processes, interpersonal interactions and reduced test-anxiety. Thirty-three students completed a multiple-choice exam individually and in two-person collaborative groups. Test anxiety was reduced but was not directly related to increased exam scores. Improved exam scores were directly related to three cognitive processes: remembering information better, an increased ability to think about the information being tested and having good discussions. Both direct and indirect paths between cognitive variables and enhanced test outcomes were found. Good interpersonal interactions were independently related to satisfaction with the collaborative process.
Lactose Maldigestion Revisited: Diagnosis, Prevalence in Ethnic Minorities, and Dietary Recommendations to Overcome It
Authors: Gaskin Dykibra J. , Ilich Jasminka Z.
Published: February 2009

Currently, an estimated 25% of Americans and 75% of individuals worldwide seem to suffer from lactose maldigestion. The authors' objective was to evaluate current prevalence of lactose maldigestion/intolerance in populations of various ethnic groups, examine the severity of symptoms, and recommend ways in alleviating them. In the United States, 25% of people who are lactose maldigesters are ethnic minorities. Earlier estimates report that ∽50% of Hispanic, almost 100% of Asian, and ∽80% of African Americans suffer from lactose maldigestion. There is evidence linking lactose maldigestion as a factor contributing to low calcium intake, leading to subsequent osteoporotic fractures. Although bone mineral density is higher in African and Hispanic American men and women compared to white and Asian Americans, osteoporosis is still a concern in those populations. Recent studies suggest that current estimates of lactose maldigestion may be grossly overestimated. Clinical trials show that even those individuals who do maldigest lactose could overcome adverse symptoms by a few simple dietary strategies. In addition, new research points to possible manipulation of colonic microflora toward alleviating symptoms.
Microstructure and high temperature tensile properties of wide gap brazed cobalt based superalloy X-40
Authors: Henhoeffer T. , Huang X. , Yand S. , Au P. , Nagy D.
Published: February 2009

Wide gap brazing (WGB) of X-40 cobalt based superalloy was conducted in this study using BNi-9 braze alloy with X-40 and IN738 additive alloys. A groove was machined into X-40 bars with a nominal width of 6·35 mm before filler application. Following brazing at 1200°C for 15 min, the microstructure of the as brazed joints was examined using SEM, EDS and nanoindentation technique. Both WGB joints with X-40 and IN783 additive alloys contained primary matrix phase in addition to a number of boron containing phases which assumed either eutectic or discrete forms. Nanoindention testing revealed that these boron containing phases exhibited hardness values several times higher than the base alloy and matrix phase contributing to the embrittlement of the braze joint. Porosity was also observed in both types of WGB braze joints, the degree of which was greatest in the braze joints with IN738 additive alloy. Tensile testing at 950°C showed that the yield strength of both WGB joints was higher than that of the baseline specimens while the ultimate tensile strength of the WGB joints was lower than that of the baseline X-40. The ductility of the WGB joints was significantly inferior to that of the baseline X-40, particularly for WGB with IN 738 additive alloy.
Post-deposition treatment behaviour of zinc oxide thin films in hydrogen peroxide solution
Authors: Arora A. , George P. J. , Dwivedi V. K. , Gupta V.
Published: February 2009

Zinc oxide thin films with c axis orientation were grown on Si (100) by radio frequency magnetron sputtering in mixture of argon and oxygen environment using Zn target. These films are treated in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) solution at room temperature for one hour and two hours. During this study it has been found that post-deposition treatment of ZnO films improves the film quality. Structural, electrical and optical properties have been compared before and after H2O2 treatment by X-ray diffraction analysis, ac conductivity, band gap and refractive index. The full width at half maximum decreases after post-deposition process, which improves the crystal quality. The relief in stress has been observed but films are not fully stress free. The film after treatment becomes highly insulating having resistivity of the order of 1014 Ω cm−1 and can be used for piezoelectric applications. The increase in the band gap and refractive index, near to bulk value, has been observed after post-deposition treatment indicating the increase in grain size and crystal quality.
Recombinant human activated protein C inhibits integrin-mediated neutrophil migration
Authors: Elphick Gwendolyn F. , Sarangi Pranita P. , Hyun Young-Min , Hollenbaugh Joseph A. , Ayala Alfred , Biffl Walter L. , Chung Hung-Li , Rezaie Alireza R. , McGrath James L. , Topham David J. , Reichner Jonathan S. , Kim Minsoo
Published: February 2009

Integrin-mediated cell migration is central to many biologic and pathologic processes. During inflammation, tissue injury results from excessive infiltration and sequestration of activated leukocytes. Recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) has been shown to protect patients with severe sepsis, although the mechanism underlying this protective effect remains unclear. Here, we show that rhAPC directly binds to β1 and β3 integrins and inhibits neutrophil migration, both in vitro and in vivo. We found that human APC possesses an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence, which is critical for the inhibition. Mutation of this sequence abolished both integrin binding and inhibition of neutrophil migration. In addition, treatment of septic mice with a RGD peptide recapitulated the beneficial effects of rhAPC on survival. Thus, we conclude that leukocyte integrins are novel cellular receptors for rhAPC and the interaction decreases neutrophil recruitment into tissues, providing a potential mechanism by which rhAPC may protect against sepsis.
Randomised Phase I/II trial assessing the safety and efficacy of radiolabelled anti-carcinoembryonic antigen I131KAb201 antibodies given intra-arterially or intravenously in patients with unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Sultana Asma , Shore Susannah , Raraty Michael GT , Vinjamuri Sobhan , Evans Jonathan E , Smith Catrin Tudur , Lane Steven , Chauhan Seema , Bosonnet Lorraine , Garvey Conall , Sutton Robert , Neoptolemos John P , Ghaneh Paula
Published: February 2009

Background

Advanced pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis, and the current standard of care (gemcitabine based chemotherapy) provides a small survival advantage. However the drawback is the accompanying systemic toxicity, which targeted treatments may overcome. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of KAb201, an anti-carcinoembryonic antigen monoclonal antibody, labelled with I131 in pancreatic cancer (ISRCTN 16857581).

Methods

Patients with histological/cytological proven inoperable adenocarcinoma of the head of pancreas were randomised to receive KAb 201 via either the intra-arterial or intravenous delivery route. The dose limiting toxicities within each group were determined. Patients were assessed for safety and efficacy and followed up until death.

Results

Between February 2003 and July 2005, 25 patients were enrolled. Nineteen patients were randomised, 9 to the intravenous and 10 to the intra-arterial arms. In the intra-arterial arm, dose limiting toxicity was seen in 2/6 (33%) patients at 50 mCi whereas in the intravenous arm, dose limiting toxicity was noted in 1/6 patients at 50 mCi, but did not occur at 75 mCi (0/3).

The overall response rate was 6% (1/18). Median overall survival was 5.2 months (95% confidence interval = 3.3 to 9 months), with no significant difference between the intravenous and intra-arterial arms (log rank test p = 0.79). One patient was still alive at the time of this analysis.

Conclusion

Dose limiting toxicity for KAb201 with I131 by the intra-arterial route was 50 mCi, while dose limiting toxicity was not reached in the intravenous arm.
Silica-based cationic bilayers as immunoadjuvants
Authors: Lincopan Nilton , Santana Mariana RA , Faquim-Mauro Eliana , da Costa Maria Helena B , Carmona-Ribeiro Ana M
Published: February 2009

Background

Silica particles cationized by dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) bilayer were previously described. This work shows the efficiency of these particulates for antigen adsorption and presentation to the immune system and proves the concept that silica-based cationic bilayers exhibit better performance than alum regarding colloid stability and cellular immune responses for vaccine design.

Results

Firstly, the silica/DODAB assembly was characterized at 1 mM NaCl, pH 6.3 or 5 mM Tris.HCl, pH 7.4 and 0.1 mg/ml silica over a range of DODAB concentrations (0.001–1 mM) by means of dynamic light scattering for particle sizing and zeta-potential analysis. 0.05 mM DODAB is enough to produce cationic bilayer-covered particles with good colloid stability. Secondly, conditions for maximal adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) or a recombinant, heat-shock protein from Mycobacterium leprae (18 kDa-hsp) onto DODAB-covered or onto bare silica were determined. At maximal antigen adsorption, cellular immune responses in vivo from delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions determined by foot-pad swelling tests (DTH) and cytokines analysis evidenced the superior performance of the silica/DODAB adjuvant as compared to alum or antigens alone whereas humoral response from IgG in serum was equal to the one elicited by alum as adjuvant.

Conclusion

Cationized silica is a biocompatible, inexpensive, easily prepared and possibly general immunoadjuvant for antigen presentation which displays higher colloid stability than alum, better performance regarding cellular immune responses and employs very low, micromolar doses of cationic and toxic synthetic lipid.
The centrosome protein NEDD1 as a potential pharmacological target to induce cell cycle arrest
Authors: Tillement Vanessa , Haren Laurence , Roullet Nicolas , Etievant Chantal , Merdes Andreas
Published: February 2009

Background

NEDD1 is a protein that binds to the gamma-tubulin ring complex, a multiprotein complex at the centrosome and at the mitotic spindle that mediates the nucleation of microtubules.

Results

We show that NEDD1 is expressed at comparable levels in a variety of tumor-derived cell lines and untransformed cells. We demonstrate that silencing of NEDD1 expression by treatment with siRNA has differential effects on cells, depending on their status of p53 expression: p53-positive cells arrest in G1, whereas p53-negative cells arrest in mitosis with predominantly aberrant monopolar spindles. However, both p53-positive and -negative cells arrest in mitosis if treated with low doses of siRNA against NEDD1 combined with low doses of the inhibitor BI2536 against the mitotic kinase Plk1. Simultaneous reduction of NEDD1 levels and inhibition of Plk1 act in a synergistic manner, by potentiating the anti-mitotic activity of each treatment.

Conclusion

We propose that NEDD1 may be a promising target for controlling cell proliferation, in particular if targeted in combination with Plk1 inhibitors.
Accumulation and dissemination of prion protein in experimental sheep scrapie in the natural host
Authors: Ryder Stephen J , Dexter Glenda E , Heasman Lindsay , Warner Richard , Moore S Jo
Published: February 2009

Background

In order to study the sites of uptake and mechanisms of dissemination of scrapie prions in the natural host under controlled conditions, lambs aged 14 days and homozygous for the VRQ allele of the PrP gene were infected by the oral route. Infection occurred in all lambs with a remarkably short and highly consistent incubation period of approximately 6 months. Challenge of lambs at approximately eight months of age resulted in disease in all animals, but with more variable incubation periods averaging significantly longer than those challenged at 14 days.

This model provides an excellent system in which to study the disease in the natural host by virtue of the relatively short incubation period and close resemblance to natural infection.

Results

Multiple sites of prion uptake were identified, of which the most important was the Peyer's patch of the distal ileum.

Neuroinvasion was detected initially in the enteric nervous system prior to infection of the central nervous system. At end stage disease prion accumulation was widespread throughout the entire neuraxis, but vacuolar pathology was absent in most animals that developed disease at 6–7 months of age.

Conclusion

Initial spread of detectable PrP was consistent with drainage in afferent lymph to dependent lymph nodes. Subsequent accumulation of prions in lymphoid tissue not associated with the gut is consistent with haematogenous spread. In addition to macrophages and follicular dendritic cells, prion containing cells consistent with afferent lymph dendritic cells were identified and are suggested as a likely vehicle for carriage of prions from initial site of uptake to the lymphoreticular system, and as potential carriers of prion protein in blood. It is apparent that spongiform change, the characteristic lesion of scrapie and other prion diseases, is not responsible for the clinical signs in sheep, but may develop in an age dependent manner.
Real time noninvasive assessment of external trunk geometry during surgical correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Duong Luc , Mac-Thiong Jean-Marc , Labelle Hubert
Published: February 2009

Background

The correction of trunk deformity is crucial in scoliosis surgery, especially for the patient's self-image. However, direct visualization of external scoliotic trunk deformity during surgical correction is difficult due to the covering draping sheets.

Methods

An optoelectronic camera system with 10 passive markers is used to track the trunk geometry of 5 scoliotic patients during corrective surgery. The position of 10 anatomical landmarks and 5 trunk indices computed from the position of the passive markers are compared during and after instrumentation of the spine.

Results

Internal validation of the accuracy of tracking was evaluated at 0.41 +/- 0.05 mm RMS. Intra operative tracking during surgical maneuvers shows improvement of the shoulder balance during and after correction of the spine. Improvement of the overall patient balance is observed. At last, a minor increase of the spinal length can be noticed.

Conclusion

Tracking of the external geometry of the trunk during surgical correction is useful to monitor changes occurring under the sterile draping sheets. Moreover, this technique can used be used to reach the optimal configuration on the operating frame before proceeding to surgery. The current tracking technique was able to detect significant changes in trunk geometry caused by posterior instrumentation of the spine despite significant correction of the spinal curvature. It could therefore become relevant for computer-assisted guidance of surgical maneuvers when performing posterior instrumentation of the scoliotic spine, provide important insights during positioning of patients.
Fatal outcome after insufficient spine fixation for pyogenic thoracic spondylodiscitis: an imperative for 360° fusion of the infected spine
Authors: Flierl Michael A , Beauchamp Kathryn M , Bolles Gene E , Moore Ernest E , Stahel Philip F
Published: February 2009

Background

Pyogenic spondylodiscitis represents a potentially life-threatening condition. Due to the low incidence, evidence-based surgical recommendations in the literature are equivocal, and the treatment modalities remain controversial.

Case presentation

A 59 year-old patient presented with a history of thoracic spondylodiscitis resistant to antibiotic treatment for 6 weeks, progressive severe back pain, and a new onset of bilateral lower extremity weakness. Clinically, the patient showed a deteriorating spastic paraparesis of her lower extremities. An emergent MRI revealed a kyphotic wedge compression fracture at T7/T8 with significant spinal cord compression, paravertebral and epidural abscess, and signs of myelopathy. The patient underwent surgical debridement with stabilization of the anterior column from T6–T9 using an expandable titanium cage, autologous bone graft, and an anterolateral locking plate. The patient recovered well under adjunctive antibiotic treatment. She presented again to the emergency department 6 months later, secondary to a repeat fall, with acute paraplegia of the lower extremities and radiographic evidence of failure of fixation of the anterior T-spine. She underwent antero-posterior revision fixation with hardware removal, correction of kyphotic malunion, evacuation of a recurrent epidural abscess, decompression of the spinal canal, and 360° fusion from T2–T11. Despite the successful salvage procedure, the patient deteriorated in the postoperative phase, when she developed multiple complications including pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, bacterial meningitis, abdominal compartment syndrome, followed by septic shock with multiple organ failure and a lethal outcome within two weeks after revision surgery.

Conclusion

This catastrophic example of a lethal outcome secondary to failure of anterior column fixation for pyogenic thoracic spondylodiscitis underlines the notion that surgical strategies for the infected spine must be aimed at achieving absolute stability by a 360° fusion. This aggressive – albeit controversial – concept allows for an adequate infection control by adjunctive antibiotics and reduces the imminent risk of a secondary loss of fixation due to compromises in initial fixation techniques.
Characterization of Functionally Typical and Atypical Types of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Hirshfeld-Cytron Jennifer , Barnes Randall B. , Ehrmann David A. , Caruso Anthony , Mortensen Monica M. , Rosenfield Robert L.
Published: February 2009

Context: The typical polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) phenotype includes 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) hyperresponsiveness to GnRH agonist (GnRHag) testing. Functionally atypical PCOS lacks this feature.

Objective: The hypothesis was tested that the typical PCOS ovarian dysfunction results from intrinsically increased sensitivity to LH/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) due to a flaw in FSH action.

Participants/Design/Interventions/Main Outcome Measures: After phenotyping a cohort of 60 women, steroid and inhibin-B responses to gonadotropins were evaluated in representative typical (n = 7) and atypical (n = 5) PCOS and healthy controls (n = 8). Submaximal hCG testing before and after an FSH test dose was performed in random order before and after prolonged ovarian suppression by depot GnRHag.

Setting: The study was performed at a Clinical Research Center.

Results: Of our PCOS cohort, 68% were the typical type. Typical PCOS had 17OHP hyperresponsiveness and, unlike controls, significant androgen and estradiol responses to hCG. FSH increased inhibin-B and did not inhibit free testosterone or enhance estradiol responsiveness to hCG, all unlike controls. After ovarian suppression, 17OHP, androstenedione, and inhibin-B responsiveness to gonadotropin testing persisted. Atypical PCOS had significantly higher body mass index but lower ovarian volume and plasma free testosterone than typical PCOS. Steroid responses to hCG were insignificant and similar to controls. FSH suppressed free testosterone but stimulated inhibin-B. The estradiol level after combined hCG-FSH was subnormal. Free testosterone was less GnRHag suppressible than in typical PCOS.

Conclusions: Typical PCOS is characterized by intrinsic ovarian hypersensitivity to hCG to which excessive paracrine FSH signaling via inhibin-B may contribute. Atypical PCOS is due to a unique type of ovarian dysfunction that is relatively gonadotropin hyposensitive.
PROGRESS AND POLITICS IN THE INTERSEX RIGHTS MOVEMENT
Authors: Dreger Alice D. , Herndon April M.
Published: February 2009

Since 1990, when Suzanne Kessler published her foundational feminist critique of the modern-day medical treatment of children with intersex, much has changed in intersex politics, practice, and theory. This essay traces some key points of progress and considers in particular the relationship of academic feminism and intersex advocacy; proof of and reasons for success in intersex medical advocacy; and intersex identity politics, especially with regard to the nature-nurture debate and terminology (intersex versus hermaphroditism versus disorders of sex development). The authors are university-based academic feminists who have worked intensively as volunteers and as paid directors at the Intersex Society of North America, the longest-running and best-known intersex advocacy and policy organization. In this work, they draw on the published literature as well as their own activist and academic experiences. They argue that, in the last fifteen years, much progress has been made in terms of improving the medical and social attitudes toward people with intersex, but that significant work remains to be done to ensure that children born with sex anomalies will be treated in a way that privileges their long-term well-being over societal norms. They also argue that, while feminist scholars have been critically important in developing the theoretical underpinnings of the intersex rights movement and sometimes in carrying out the day-to-day political work of that movement, there have been intellectual and political problems with some feminists' approaches to intersex.
INTERSEX PRACTICE, THEORY, AND ACTIVISM
Authors: Creighton Sarah M. , Greenberg Julie A. , Roen Katrina , Volcano Del LaGrace
Published: February 2009

The present article seeks to bring together ideas from legal, medical, social science, artistic, and activist perspectives, through dialogue among the four authors. Sarah Creighton is a gynecologist working with women who have atypical genital development or intersex conditions. Julie Greenberg is a professor of law whose work on gender and sexual identity has been influential both within the United States and internationally. Del LaGrace Volcano is a visual artist whose work engages with gender variance. Katrina Roen is an academic who approaches her research on both transgender and intersex from a social science perspective, informed by queer and feminist theorizing. Although the prior work of the four authors clearly indicates a shared commitment to change the situation of intersex people, the mechanisms for such changes are far from clear. Any changes will, however, surely be facilitated by ongoing communication and collaboration across the various perspectives and disciplines represented here.
QUANTUM SEX: INTERSEX AND THE MOLECULAR DECONSTRUCTION OF SEX
Authors: Rosario Vernon A.
Published: February 2009

The intersex movement in the past two decades has challenged social, medical, and academic conceptions of sex and gender. In the same period, genetic studies of sex determination, largely derived from research on intersex conditions, has revolutionized long-standing theories of sex determination. This current molecular genetics research is upending ancient sexist prejudices in biology. It also elucidates the dizzying complexity of biological sex that is well beyond simplistic sex binarism and involves multiple interactions between genes and environment.
WHAT CAN QUEER THEORY DO FOR INTERSEX?
Authors: Morland Iain
Published: February 2009

In this essay I explore how queer theory might account for postsurgical intersex bodies of diminished genital tactility. In other words, I evaluate whether a critique of surgery's effects is possible from a queer theoretical perspective on the body. I contend that for this purpose queer theory must do more than focus on bodily sensations such as pleasure, shame, and touching. The essay makes four key claims: first, that the desensitized postsurgical body cannot be accounted for by a queer discourse in which sexual pleasure is a form of hedonistic activism; second, that a queer discourse of shame enables a degree of critical engagement with the surgical creation of atypically sensate bodies; third, that pleasure and shame are both queer sensations, and queer theory's assumption of a sensorial basis to cultural critique, which is exemplified by the queer touch, flounders when confronted with the desensitized intersex body; fourth, that if queer theory is figured as a kind of reaching—but not necessarily touching—then it can be of greater use in accounting for the problematic yet ambivalent effects of intersex surgery.
THE SOMATECHNICS OF INTERSEXUALITY
Authors: Sullivan Nikki
Published: February 2009

We live in a world in which “the body” is conceived as a malleable substance in a state of potential transition and, moreover, the vast majority of bodies are experienced as “wrong”: they have too few (or too many) limbs or digits; they (or parts of them) are the wrong size, the wrong age, the wrong color; they are “sexually ambiguous”; they bear the wrong ethnic markers; they inhibit particular identities and/or aspirations; they simply do not seem “right.” Surgery, then, becomes a way to put things right, to restore order. While the writing to date on modificatory surgeries is immensely varied, the vast majority is subtended by a conception of medical practices and procedures as technologies separate from the bodies they seek to modify. In this model, the body is a fleshly substrate that simply is prior to its enhancement or mutilation by the technologies that transform its original state. This article deploys the term somatechnics to think through the varied and complex ways in which bodily-being is always already shaped by technés—from, for example, the surgeon's knife to the discourses that justify and contest the use of such instruments. I argue, then, that the conceptions of, debates around, and questions about specific modificatory practices are themselves technologies that shape corporeality at the most profound level. In doing so I aim to make a critical intervention into, and open up new spaces for reflection in, existing debates about the somatechnics of intersexuality.
A novel function for the atypical small G protein Rab-like 5 in the assembly of the trypanosome flagellum
Authors: Adhiambo Christine , Blisnick Thierry , Toutirais Géraldine , Delannoy Emmanuelle , Bastin Philippe
Published: February 2009

The atypical small G protein Rab-like 5 has been shown to traffic in sensory cilia of Caenorhabditis elegans, where it participates in signalling processes but not in cilia construction. In this report, we demonstrate that RABL5 colocalises with intraflagellar transport (IFT) proteins at the basal body and in the flagellum matrix of the protist Trypanosoma brucei. RABL5 fused to GFP exhibits anterograde movement in the flagellum of live trypanosomes, suggesting it could be associated with IFT. Accordingly, RABL5 accumulates in the short flagella of the retrograde IFT140RNAi mutant and is restricted to the basal body region in the IFT88RNAi anterograde mutant, a behaviour that is identical to other IFT proteins. Strikingly, RNAi silencing reveals an essential role for RABL5 in trypanosome flagellum construction. RNAi knock-down produces a phenotype similar to inactivation of retrograde IFT with formation of short flagella that are filled with a high amount of IFT proteins. These data reveal for the first time a functional difference for a conserved flagellar matrix protein between two different ciliated species and raise questions related to cilia diversity.
Determinants of aquaporin-4 assembly in orthogonal arrays revealed by live-cell single-molecule fluorescence imaging
Authors: Crane Jonathan M. , Verkman Alan S.
Published: February 2009

We investigated the molecular determinants of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) assembly in orthogonal arrays of particles (OAPs) by visualizing fluorescently labeled AQP4 mutants in cell membranes using quantum-dot single-particle tracking and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. The full-length `long' (M1) form of AQP4 diffused freely in membranes and did not form OAPs, whereas the `short' (M23) form of AQP4 formed OAPs and was nearly immobile. Analysis of AQP4 deletion mutants revealed progressive disruption of OAPs by the addition of three to seven residues at the AQP4-M23 N-terminus, with polyalanines as effective as native AQP4 fragments. OAPs disappeared upon downstream deletions of AQP4-M23, which, from analysis of point mutants, involves N-terminus interactions of residues Val24, Ala25 and Phe26. OAP formation was also prevented by introducing proline residues at sites just downstream from the hydrophobic N-terminus of AQP4-M23. AQP1, an AQP4 homolog that does not form OAPs, was induced to form OAPs upon replacement of its N-terminal domain with that of AQP4-M23. Our results indicate that OAP formation by AQP4-M23 is stabilized by hydrophobic intermolecular interactions involving N-terminus residues, and that absence of OAPs in AQP4-M1 results from non-selective blocking of this interaction by seven residues just upstream from Met23.
Sensitivity to Constitutive Modeling in Fiber-Based Discretization of Reinforced Concrete Members for Performance-Based Seismic Evaluation
Authors: Heo YeongAe , Kunnath Sashi K.
Published: February 2009

Accurate constitutive models of the constituent materials in a reinforced concrete (RC) section, namely, unconfined concrete, confined concrete and reinforcing steel are necessary in fiber-based discretization of RC components for use in nonlinear analysis of RC structures. This paper examines the sensitivity to different constitutive models in predicting the inelastic seismic behavior of RC frame structures. In particular, the importance of incorporating confinement effects in modeling concrete behavior and including degrading effects in modeling the behavior of reinforcing steel bars so as to predict the monotonic, cyclic and seismic response of RC columns and frames is investigated. At the component level, it is shown that the inelastic response is controlled predominantly by the behavior of reinforcing steel. At the system level, the response of non-ductile structures is less sensitive to confined concrete models while the modeling of reinforcing steel is shown to influence the inelastic response of both non-ductile and ductile structures.
Influence of Bolted-Joint Slippage on the Response of Transmission Towers Subjected to Frost-Heave
Authors: Ahmed K.I.E. , Rajapakse R.K.N.D. , Gadala M.S.
Published: February 2009

Slippage of bolted joints is an important factor in the behavior of transmission towers. Field inspections of towers located in the northern regions of Canada show substantial frost-heave induced displacements. The conventional structural analysis software solutions for tower leg axial forces, based on idealized joint behavior under field-observed frost-heave induced displacements, are excessively large, implying tower failure in some cases. However, field inspections show structurally stable towers, and design engineers often consider joint slippage as the main reason for this discrepancy. In this paper, the experimental slippage behavior of transmission-tower bolted joints investigated by Ungkurupanian (2000) is incorporated into a non-linear joint finite element and applied to study the behavior of transmission towers under working loads by using the finite element method. The analysis shows that tower-leg joint slippage has a significant influence on tower behavior by either reducing the load carrying capacity or significantly increasing the deflections under working loads. On the other hand, joint slippage has a positive effect on towers subjected to frost-heave induced displacements, as the resulting member axial forces are much lower than those corresponding to rigid joints.
Wind Tunnel Model Tests of Large Billboards
Authors: Warnitchai Pennung , Sinthuwong Suksit , Poemsantitham Kobchai
Published: February 2009

Two series of wind tunnel tests on 1: 200 scale models of large billboard structures were carried out in turbulent boundary layer flow. The tested configurations in the first series are single-panel rectangular billboards with width to depth ratio varying from 1 to 3 and depth to height ratio varying from ⅓ to ⅔, and in second series are two-panel billboards with the angle between two panels (ϕ) varying from 0° to 30°. The high-frequency force balance technique was employed. The test results show that the mean drag force coefficient CD of single-panel billboards attains its maximum value of about 1.3 to 1.5 when the wind attack angle θ lies between −45° and +45°. The maximum value of mean forces on two-panel billboards is slightly higher than that of the corresponding single-panel billboard. Wind-induced torsion about the vertical axis of single-panel billboards increases as θ increases, and attains its maximum value at θ of about ±45°. The maximum torsion can be estimated by multiplying the maximum drag force with the peak horizontal eccentricity of about 15% of the billboard width. For two-panel billboards, the eccentricity increases as ϕ increases, and reaches 24% at ϕ = 30°. The aerodynamic admittance function for all billboard configurations agrees reasonably well with the well-known Vickery's admittance formula.
Elemental Methods for Integrated Architectures: Experimentation with Design Processes for Cable Net Structures
Authors: Ahlquist Sean , Fleischmann Moritz
Published: February 2009

Tension active systems are compelling architectural structures having an intimate connection between structural performance and the arrangement of material. The direct flow of structural forces through the material makes these systems attractive and unique from an aesthetic point of view, but they are a challenge to develop from a design and an engineering perspective. Traditional methods for solving such structural systems rely on both analog modeling techniques and the use of highly advanced engineering software. The complexity and laborious nature of both processes presents a challenge for iterating through design variations. To experiment with the spacemaking capabilities of tension active systems, it is necessary to design methods that can actively couple the digital simulation with the analog methods for building the physical structure. What we propose is a designer-authored process that digitally simulates the behaviors of tension active systems using simple geometric components related to material and structural performance, activated and varied through elemental techniques of scripting. The logics for manufacturing and assembly are to be embedded in the digital generation of form. The intention is to transform what is a highly engineered system into an architectural system where investigation is as much about the determination of space and environment as it is about the arrangement of structure and material.
Shape Exploration in Design: Formalising and Supporting a Transformational Process
Authors: Lim Sungwoo , Prats Miquel , Jowers Iestyn , Chase Scott , Garner Steve , McKay Alison
Published: February 2009

The process of sketching can support the sort of transformational thinking that is seen as essential for the interpretation and reinterpretation of ideas in innovative design. Such transformational thinking, however, is not yet well supported by computer-aided design systems. In this paper, outcomes of experimental investigations into the mechanics of sketching are described, in particular those employed by practicing architects and industrial designers as they responded to a series of conceptual design tasks. Analyses of the experimental data suggest that the interactions of designers with their sketches can be formalised according to a finite number of generalised shape rules. A set of shape rules, formalising the reinterpretation and transformations of shapes, e.g. through deformation or restructuring, is presented. These rules are suggestive of the manipulations that need to be afforded in computational tools intended to support designers in design exploration. Accordingly, the results of the experimental investigations informed the development of a prototype shape synthesis system, and a discussion is presented in which the future requirements of such systems are explored.
Reinterpreting Rasmi Domes with Geometric Constraints: A Case of Goal-Seeking in Parametric Systems
Authors: Maleki Maryam M. , Woodbury Robert F.
Published: February 2009

Geometry has long been a generator of architecture. In traditional Persian architecture, Rasmi domes project a drawing onto a predefined 3D geometry. In fact, the word ‘rasmi’ and the verb for drawing in Persian have the same linguistic root. Projection is readily done in manual drawings or conventional CAD programs. From a constraint perspective, the dome is constrained by the drawing and the 3D geometry. If the latter constraint is replaced by invariance of distance on the original drawing, a class of domes results, but members of this class cannot be computed conventionally. Class members are developable from a planar layout of triangles, which is, in turn, generated by a simple drawing rule. This yields a parametric structure of four parameters. Three determine the initial planar diagram. One determines configuration. Further, domes in the class are mechanisms: they are not fully specified by the constraints and parameters. We develop the geometric constraints representing the location of the defining points of a dome and present a goal-seeking algorithm to solve the constraints within a propagation-based parametric modeling system.