bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La nouvelle économie religieuse de l’Amérique latine
Authors: Bastian Jean-Pierre
Published: February 2006

English

Latin America is experiencing rapid religious change with growing confessional and religious diversity. Economic rationality can explain business-oriented religious strategies. They stimulate the elaboration, diffusion and consumption of new symbolic products in a context of general competition among religious actors. The result has been the decline in the Catholic monopoly and the change of religious practices and symbols. This leads us to question the religious pluralization through the new “religious market” theories. Do they offer an adequate model and what are their limits? This important question is quite absent in the sociological literature dealing with the theme of religious change in the region. It is argued that the current process of religious change can be explained by such theoretical approaches which nevertheless have to be completed by Bourdieu’s theory of social fields in order not to fall into an economic reductionism.

French

L'Amérique latine vit une rapide transformation religieuse caractérisée par la diversification des appartenances confessionnelles et une pluralisation croissante. La rationalité économique informe des stratégies religieuses entrepreneuriales qui stimulent l'élaboration, la diffusion et la consommation de nouveaux produits symboliques dans un régime de concurrence généralisée des agents et des instances religieuses. Il en résulte un déclin du monopole catholique et la transformation des pratiques et des croyances. Ceci amène à interroger la pluralisation religieuse en cours au regard des nouvelles théories du "marché religieux''. Jusqu'à quel point sont-elles porteuses d'un modèle pertinent et quelle est leur limite? Cette question importante est pour l'instant peu présente dans la littérature sociologique traitant du changement religieux dans la région. Les changements en cours peuvent s'expliquer par la théorie économique. Cette approche, nécessaire mais non suffisante, doit cependant s'articuler à la théorie bourdieusienne des champs afin de ne pas en rester à un réductionnisme économique.
Religious Bricolage in a Legal Perspective between Aporia and Inescapability
Authors: Christians Louis-Léon
Published: February 2006

English

The author attempts a short problematization of the perspectives offered by the concept of “bricolage” in the framework of religious research carried out in the juridical field.

French

L'auteur tente une brève problématisation des perspectives que laisse entrevoir le concept de bricolage dans le cadre de recherches sur le religieux dans le champ juridique.
Interpersonal Communication and Compliance
Authors: Fennis Bob M. , Das Enny , Pruyn Ad Th.H.
Published: February 2006

Two field experiments examined the impact of the Disrupt-Then-Reframe (DTR) technique on compliance. This recently identified technique consists of a subtle, odd element in a typical scripted request (the disruption) followed by a persuasive phrase (the reframing). The authors argued that its impact is generalizable across interpersonal influence situations. In addition, based on the thought-disruption hypothesis, the authors expected that disrupting the sales script not only increases the impact of the new reframing but also increases the effectiveness of other persuasive elements embedded in the influence setting. Study 1 showed that the DTR technique fostered compliance with both commercial and nonprofit sales scripts. The results of Study 2 replicated this finding and were in line with the thought-disruption hypothesis: A familiar brand embedded in a DTR context resulted in more compliance (higher purchase rates) than when paired with a regular sales script.
Adolescents’ Exposure to Sexually Explicit Material on the Internet
Authors: Peter Jochen , Valkenburg Patti M.
Published: February 2006

Drawing on a survey of 745 Dutch adolescents ages 13 to 18, the authors investigated (a) the occurrence and frequency of adolescents’ exposure to sexually explicit material on the Internet and (b) the correlates of this exposure. Seventy-one percent of the male adolescents and 40% of the female adolescents had been exposed to some kind of online sexually explicit material in the 6 months prior to the interview. Adolescents were more likely to be exposed to sexually explicit material online if they were male, were high sensation seekers, were less satisfied with their lives, were more sexually interested, used sexual content in other media more often, had a fast Internet connection, and had friends that were predominantly younger. Among male adolescents, a more advanced pubertal status was also associated with more frequent exposure to online sexually explicit material. Among female adolescents, greater sexual experience decreased exposure to online sexually explicit material.
Estimating Generalizability to a Latent Variable Common to All of a Scale's Indicators: A Comparison of Estimators for ωh
Authors: Zinbarg Richard E. , Yovel Iftah , Revelle William , McDonald Roderick P.
Published: February 2006

The extent to which a scale score generalizes to a latent variable common to all of the scale's indicators is indexed by the scale's general factor saturation. Seven techniques for estimating this parameter—omegahierarchical (ωh)—are compared in a series of simulated data sets. Primary comparisons were based on 160 artificial data sets simulating perfectly simple and symmetric structures that contained four group factors, and an additional 200 artificial data sets confirmed large standard deviations for two methods in these simulations when a general factor was absent. Major findings were replicated in a series of 40 additional artificial data sets based on the structure of a real scale widely believed to contain three group factors of unequal size and less than perfectly simple structure. The results suggest that alpha and methods based on either the first unrotated principal factor or component should be rejected as estimates of ωh.
Longitudinal Rasch Modeling in the Context of Psychotherapy Outcomes Assessment
Authors: Pastor Dena A. , Beretvas S. Natasha
Published: February 2006

The present study illustrates an extension of Kamata's (2001) restricted form of the hierarchical generalized linear model that provides a multilevel longitudinal Rasch measurement model appropriate for use with polytomous responses. This extension can be used to assess average and interindividual change in the latent trait of interest, concurrently with an assessment of the invariance of item locations over time. Responses of 1,353 college students to three subscales (namely, measures of depression/ anxiety, stress, and well-being) of the Outcome Questionnaire were used for demonstration purposes. Interpretation of the results is provided, and the benefits of using a multilevel item response theory model with longitudinal data are discussed.
A Note on Correlations Corrected for Unreliability and Range Restriction
Authors: Raju Nambury S. , Lezotte Daniel V. , Fearing Benjamin K. , Oshima T. C.
Published: February 2006

This note describes a procedure for estimating the range restriction component used in correcting correlations for unreliability and range restriction when an estimate of the reliability of a predictor is not readily available for the unrestricted sample. This procedure is illustrated with a few examples.
The National Assembly for Wales and broadcasting policy, 1999-2003
Authors: Andrews Leighton
Published: February 2006

Since 1999, there have been devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales, as a result of the referendums that followed Labour’s election victory in 1997. Though communications policies remain the responsibility of central government, the link with cultural policies means that media issues are emerging at the devolved level. In Wales, an explicit role for the National Assembly is emerging in broadcasting issues. This is demonstrated by Assembly debates and questions, the evidence that Assembly committees have sought from broadcasters, the background papers produced by officials and the policies adopted by the Cabinet of the National Assembly. The Assembly is becoming a forum for the in-depth discussion of a distinct Welsh media agenda, including network issues, content, language, representation and accountability. This article looks at how the National Assembly provided a vehicle for the exploration of Welsh views on UK communications legislation over the period 1999-2003.
Bourdieu, the media and cultural production
Authors: Hesmondhalgh David
Published: February 2006

This article evaluates Bourdieu’s analysis of cultural production in terms of its effectiveness for understanding contemporary media production. I begin by outlining the main features of Bourdieu’s work on cultural production, with an emphasis on the potential advantages of his historical account over other, competing work. In particular, I stress the importance of his historical account of ‘autonomy’ and of the emphasis on the interconnectedness of the field of cultural production with other social fields. I then draw attention to two major problems in the work of Bourdieu and others who have adopted his ‘field theory’ for the media: first, that he offered only occasional and fragmented analyses of ‘large-scale’, ‘heteronomous’ (to use his terms) commercial media production, in spite of its enormous social and cultural importance in the contemporary world; second, that Bourdieu and his key associates provide only a very limited account of the relationships between cultural production and cultural consumption. In this latter context, I briefly discuss recent debates in cultural studies about cultural intermediaries. I refer to examples from recent media production to provide evidence for my arguments. The article argues that, as practised so far, Bourdieu’s field theory is only of limited value in analysing media production. However I close by discussing the potential fruitfulness of research based on a dialogue between, on the one hand, field theory’s analysis of cultural production and, on the other, Anglo-American media and cultural studies work on media production.
Enforcing performance: new approaches to govern public service broadcasting
Authors: Coppens Tomas , Saeys Frieda
Published: February 2006

The latest buzzword in the world of public service broadcasting is ‘performance’. Following national and international pressures on public broadcasters’ system of public funding, PSB is being urged to ‘perform’, to provide value for money, to meet targets or suffer the consequences. To this end, a new governance system has been or is being implemented in several European countries containing all or some of the following elements: public-service contracts, performance criteria and performance analyses. This new policy approach touches upon issues such as the independence, the accountability and the distinctiveness of public service broadcasting and creates clear opportunities and threats for the future of PSB.
‘The worst tax form you’ve ever seen’? Probation officers’ views about OASys
Authors: Mair George , Burke Lol , Taylor Stuart
Published: February 2006

Classification with regard to their risk/needs has become an increasingly significant aspect of work with offenders generally. In England and Wales, the Offender Assessment System (OASys) used by the National Probation Service has a key role to play in effective practice. OASys is the latest in a series of such assessment tools, but despite considerable care taken over its development, users’ views about its efficacy have not been explored. This article reports the results of the first national survey of Probation Officers’ views about OASys. While a variety of concerns are noted - especially the time-consuming nature of completing an OASys assessment - and such concerns need to be addressed, on the whole, users are not opposed to OASys.
Black and Asian probationers: Implications of the Home Office study
Authors: Calverley Adam , Cole Bankole , Kaur Gurpreet , Lewis Sam , Raynor Peter , Sadeghi Soheila , Smith David , Vanstone Maurice , Wardak Ali
Published: February 2006

This article presents the main findings of a survey of Black, Asian and mixed heritage men supervised by the probation service in 2001-2003. It discusses the long-standing concern that minority ethnic groups may be subject to discriminatory treatment in the criminal justice system, and examines the probation service’s response to this concern. In the presentation and discussion of the findings, comparisons are made where possible with predominantly white probation samples. These suggest that minority ethnic offenders in the sample had received the same community sentences as white offenders with higher levels of criminogenic need. The possible meanings of this finding are explored, along with the implications of respondents’ views of what constitutes helpful probation practice.
The development of the Sex Offender Psychometric Scoring System (SOPSSys) for use in the Probation Service
Authors: Mandeville-Norden Rebecca , Beech Anthony , Middleton David
Published: February 2006

Within the probation service for England and Wales, a number of psychometric assessments are typically administered to offenders who attend structured group-based interventions. These assessments help to measure the offenders’ progress in treatment. The assessments that are used with the sex offender treatment programmes can also help to determine the offenders’ level of treatment need, and consequently the length of treatment that would be appropriate. The time taken to manually score these assessments is therefore significant, and consequently highly resource intensive. The current article describes a computer-based scoring system that has been developed to make this process quicker and more efficient. The processes and considerations involved in designing the system are discussed, as are the benefits and the implications of using it.
Big Brother and Reality TV in Europe
Authors: Frau-Meigs Divina
Published: February 2006

This article examines the cross-border circulation of reality programming among European countries, taking Big Brotheras a case in point. It tests the specificity of the media factor in the process of acculturation, by considering the whole communication process, from production to reception, in a comparative manner. It deals with the dichotomy induced by contact between imported elements and traditional domestic core values and with the strategies related to adoption or adaptation. The media appear to apply three filters: the first filter, in production, makes a matrix of Anglo-American origin acceptable by editing out angst; the second filter, in broadcasting, acts as a transfer ‘airlock’, aimed at making people accept the commercial audiovisual system; the third filter, in reception, shows a variety of strategies as co-present publics vie about the values that are being transmitted by reality programming. Assessing these acculturation filters brings the author to develop the notion of ‘situated’ acculturation as it may reflect better the fundamental stakes at work in such cultural transfers –dissymmetric power relations –without precluding the possible strategies of resistance to hegemony that they entail and the cultural bypasses they produce.
How Many Choices Are Good? Measurement of the Effects of Course Choice on Perceptions of a Marketing Option
Authors: Ackerman David S. , Gross Barbara L.
Published: February 2006

This study examines the effects of amount of choice given students in selecting courses to complete a marketing minor, referred to as a marketing option. It examines how differing levels of choice can affect perceptions of, and feelings about, a marketing option. The course choice process is also explored. The impact of choice on students’ desire for the option depended on the level of interest in the courses available. Perceived value of the marketing option to employers and for student's future careers was greatest when there was some choice, but not too much. Tests for emotional reactions supported the findings in that they also indicated that choice can be associated with diminishing returns, especially when the choices are not particularly interesting. The results of this study suggest that students do want choice, but within limits, and they do appear to place value on guidance and direction.
An Exploratory Study of Cross-Functional Education in the Undergraduate Marketing Curriculum
Authors: Crittenden Victoria L. , Wilson Elizabeth J.
Published: February 2006

In response to calls from both business practitioners and educators, this research explores the extent to which undergraduate marketing education is delivered with a cross-functional perspective. Given that marketing is often recognized as a boundary-spanning role within companies, marketing department chairs were asked to report on cross-functional teaching and learning activities within their departments and schools. While it appears that cross-functional teaching and learning does take place in the marketing classroom, it does not appear to be widespread among marketing departments within undergraduate business programs in the United States, and what is done tends to be accomplished within traditional pedagogical formats. These exploratory results point to several considerations for the implementation of crossfunctional teaching and learning initiatives, as well as provide provocative material for stimulating marketing faculty discussions on the topic.
Karns's Learning Styles and Learning Effectiveness: A Rejoinder
Authors: Morrison Mark , Sweeney Arthur , Heffernan Troy
Published: February 2006

Debate over the link between student learning styles and effective teaching has a long tradition, made more interesting by Karns's recent article “Learning Style Differences in the Perceived Effectiveness of Learning Activities.” Fundamentally he asserts, in critiquing Morrison et al. (2003), that marketing educators should not adopt “a high investment strategy” in tailoring curriculum to student learning styles segments but merely “provide a range of learning experiences that tap multiple learning modalities.” This study contends that in developing his research question, Karns has misunderstood the perspective of Morrison et al. about how to adapt teaching styles to influence learning outcomes. In addition, this study reviews Karns's methodology, noting weaknesses in the measurement of learning styles, sampling, and data analysis that the authors expect has influenced his findings and conclusions. Finally, the authors introduce additional data that support their findings rather than his, thus further stimulating this debate.
Injury Risk in Professional Basketball Players
Authors: Deitch John R. , Starkey Chad , Walters Sheri L. , Moseley J. Bruce
Published: February 2006

Background

Gender-based differences in injury rates have been reported in scholastic and collegiate basketball. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare injury rates in women's and men's professional basketball.

Hypothesis

Female professional basketball players are injured at a higher rate than are men.

Study Design

Cohort study (prevalence); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods

Women's National Basketball Association and National Basketball Association injury data were retrospectively reviewed for 6 full seasons. The frequency of all injuries and the rate of game-related injuries were calculated.

Results

Complete player profiles were obtained on 702 National Basketball Association athletes and 443 Women's National Basketball Association athletes who competed in their respective leagues during the data collection period. Total game exposures totaled 70 420 (National Basketball Association) and 22 980 (Women's National Basketball Association). Women's National Basketball Association athletes had a higher overall game-related injury rate (24.9 per 1000 athlete exposures; 95% confidence interval, 22.9-26.9; P < .05) when compared with National Basketball Association athletes (19.3 per 1000 athlete exposures; 95% confidence interval, 18.3-20.4) and sustained a higher rate of lower extremity injuries (14.6 per 1000 athlete exposures; 95% confidence interval, 13.1-16.2; P < .05) than seen in the National Basketball Association (11.6 per 1000 athlete exposures; 95% confidence interval, 10.8-12.4). The lower extremity was the most commonly injured body area (65%), and lateral ankle sprain (13.7%) was the most common diagnosis in both leagues. The incidence of game-related knee injury was higher in Women's National Basketball Association players. The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injury in the National Basketball Association (n = 22, 0.8%) and Women's National Basketball Association (n = 14, 0.9%) accounted for 0.8% of the 4446 injuries reported.

Conclusion

The lower extremity is the most frequently injured body area in both leagues, and Women's National Basketball Association athletes are more susceptible than are National Basketball Association athletes. There were, however, few statistical differences in the actual injuries occurring between the 2 leagues.
The Significance of Peroneus Tertius Muscle in Ankle Injuries
Authors: Witvrouw Erik , Vanden Borre Kathleen , Willems Tine Marieke , Huysmans Joris , Broos Ellen , De Clercq Dirk
Published: February 2006

Background

The peroneus tertius is absent in 5% to 17% of the human white population. The function of the peroneus tertius is eversion and dorsiflexion of the foot. These 2 strength parameters have been identified as important parameters in the development of ankle ligament injuries.

Hypothesis

Subjects without the peroneus tertius are at higher risk for ankle ligament injuries.

Study Design

Cohort study (Prevalence); Level of evidence, 1.

Methods

One hundred physical education students were palpated for the presence of peroneus tertius before the start of their education; they were also isokinetically measured for eversion and dorsiflexion strength. All ankle injuries were registered during 2 years, and exposure to sport was recorded.

Results

The peroneus tertius was absent in 37 of the 200 subjects (18.5%). In the group with peroneus tertius (n = 163), 21 ankle sprains (12.9%) were observed during the 2-year follow-up. In the group without peroneus tertius (n = 37), 7 ankle sprains (18.9%) were noted. Statistical analysis (Cox regression) showed no significant difference between both groups in the incidence of ankle sprains (P = .335). Comparisons between the group of subjects with peroneus tertius and the group without peroneus tertius concerning the concentric and eccentric isokinetic eversion and the concentric dorsiflexion strength did not attain significance at any tested velocity (P > .05).

Conclusion

This study shows that subjects without peroneus tertius are not at higher risk for an ankle ligament injury. In addition, subjects without peroneus tertius do not exhibit decreased eversion or dorsiflexion strength.

Clinical Relevance

This study is the first to clarify the exact contribution of the peroneus tertius within the muscular system around the ankle. As a result, the clinical importance of the peroneus tertius concerning prevention and treatment of ankle ligament injuries is low.
Incidence, Risk, and Prevention of Hamstring Muscle Injuries in Professional Rugby Union
Authors: Brooks John H. M. , Fuller Colin W. , Kemp Simon P. T. , Reddin Dave B.
Published: February 2006

Background

The incidence of hamstring muscle injuries in professional rugby union is high, but evidence-based information on risk factors and injury-prevention strategies in this sport is limited.

Purpose

To define the incidence, severity, and risk factors associated with hamstring muscle injuries in professional rugby union and to determine whether the use of hamstring strengthening and stretching exercises reduces the incidence and severity of these injuries.

Study Design

Cohort study (prevention); Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

Team clinicians reported all hamstring muscle injuries on a weekly basis and provided details of the location, diagnosis, severity, and mechanism of each injury; loss of time from training and match play was used as the definition of an injury. Players’ match and training exposures were recorded on a weekly basis.

Results

The incidence of hamstring muscle injuries was 0.27 per 1000 player training hours and 5.6 per 1000 player match hours. Injuries, on average, resulted in 17 days of lost time, with recurrent injuries (23%) significantly more severe (25 days lost) than new injuries (14 days lost). Second-row forwards sustained the fewest (2.4 injuries/1000 player hours) and the least severe (7 days lost) match injuries. Running activities accounted for 68% of hamstring muscle injuries, but injuries resulting from kicking were the most severe (36 days lost). Players undertaking Nordic hamstring exercises in addition to conventional stretching and strengthening exercises had lower incidences and severities of injury during training and competition.

Conclusion

The Nordic hamstring strengthening exercise may reduce the incidence and severity of hamstring muscle injuries sustained during training and competition.
Opening Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy
Authors: Noyes Frank R. , Mayfield William , Barber-Westin Sue D. , Albright Jay C. , Heckmann Timothy P.
Published: February 2006

Background

High tibial osteotomy has been associated with significant complications, including delayed union or nonunion, loss of correction, arthrofibrosis, and patella infera.

Hypotheses

A technique for opening wedge osteotomy that incorporates an autogenous iliac crest bone graft will prevent delayed union or nonunion, allow early rehabilitation and weightbearing, and prevent knee arthrofibrosis and patella infera. Secondly, the authors’ methods for calculating the desired correction of valgus alignment prevent undesired alterations in tibial slope.

Study Design

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods

A total of 55 consecutive patients who underwent high tibial osteotomy were observed at a mean of 20 months postoperatively. Preoperative and postoperative measurements of radiographs were conducted by independent examiners for bony union, tibial slope, and patellar height. The osteotomy opening size ranged from 5 to 17.5 mm; 35 knees (64%) had openings [.lessequal]10 mm, and 20 knees (36%) had openings >11 mm.

Results

The osteotomy united in all patients. Three patients had a delay in union, which resolved by 6 to 8 months postoperatively. A loss of fixation occurred in 1 patient, who admitted to full weightbearing immediately after surgery; the osteotomy required revision. The iliac crest graft site healed without complications, and there were no infections, loss of knee motion, nerve or arterial injuries, alterations in tibial slope, or cases of patellar infera postoperatively. Full weightbearing was achieved at a mean of 8 weeks (range, 4-11 weeks) postoperatively.

Conclusions

The operative technique including use of an autologous iliac crest bone graft in addition to a progressive rehabilitation program successfully prevented nonunion, change in tibial slope, and knee arthrofibrosis in this study.
On the Prediction of Effective Material Properties of Cellular Hexagonal Honeycomb Core
Authors: Goswami Sanjib
Published: February 2006

Analytical expressions for the effective elastic properties of cellular hexagonal honeycomb core have been presented in this study. The elemental beam theory has been adopted for each component inside the ‘unit-cell’ to arrive at the different expressions for effective properties utilizing the strain energy concept. The length of the diagonal struts, vertical struts, and included angle, as well as the thickness of the struts have been kept as variable, so various forms of hexagonal honeycomb cellular structures can be investigated in this approach. Other conventional finite element approaches and numerical homogenization methods are rather time consuming to predict effective properties. Moreover, a change in basic cell configuration (i.e., depth) requires a complete new meshing and analysis. In comparison, the analytical approach presented here is simple and computes the effective properties in a fraction of the time that is required for FE analysis with a minimum change in the input file. The proper implementation of this method embedded in large quasi-static or impact dynamic simulations (where part of the structure could be modeled with detailed finite element mesh for cellular core that may initiate damage, and rest could be modeled with a single solid layer of equivalent material properties) would give high computational advantage, which is essential in large-scale aerospace modeling and simulation environment.
Zinc Hydroxystannate- or Zinc Stannate-coated Calcium Carbonate as Flame Retardant for Semirigid Poly(vinyl chloride)
Authors: Xu J. Z. , Jiao Y. H. , Qu H. Q. , Tian C. M. , Cai N.
Published: February 2006

The flame retardant and smoke suppressant properties of semirigid PVC treated with CaCO3, zinc hydroxystannate, zinc stannate, zinc hydroxystannate-coated calcium carbonate, and zinc stannate-coated calcium carbonate have been studied through the limiting oxygen index, anaerobic char yield, and smoke density rating (SDR) methods. The thermal degradation in air of the treated semirigid PVC is studied by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) from ambient temperature to 1073 K. The morphologies of the additives and the unaerobic char formation are studied through SEM. The mechanical property is also studied. The results show that the semirigid PVC treated with zinc hydroxystannate-coated calcium carbonate or zinc stannate-coated calcium carbonate has a higher limiting oxygen index and anaerobic char yield, lower SDR and starting decomposition temperature, a more compact structure of char formation and reduced tensile strength and elongation, and improved impact strength than the semirigid PVC without flame retardant.
An Empirical Equation to Predict the Growth Coefficient of Burning Rate of Wood Cribs in a Linear Growth Model
Authors: Hu L. H. , Li Y. Z. , Wang H. B. , Huo R.
Published: February 2006

A series of bench scale experiments are carried out to study the growth characteristics of cubic wood cribs burning. A comparison among linear fitting, power-law fitting, and exponential fitting shows that linear growth model seems to be the best to describe the growth of wood crib fires. An empirical linear model is also achieved to predict the linear growing burning speeds of wood cribs with different stick spacing conditions based on the experimental data obtained.
Thermal Residual Stresses in Simply Supported Thermoplastic Laminated Plates under a Parabolic Temperature Distribution
Authors: Ondurucu Ayse , Topcu Muzaffer
Published: February 2006

In the present study, a thermal elastic-plastic stress analysis is carried out on simply supported symmetric cross-ply [0/90]2 and angle-ply [30/30]2, [45/45]2, and [60/60]2 thermoplastic laminated plates. The temperature changes parabolically along the thickness of the plates. It is T0 and T0 at the upper and lower surfaces, respectively. The composite material is assumed to be linear strain hardening. An analytical solution is performed for satisfying the thermal elastic-plastic stress-strain relationship and boundary conditions for small plastic deformations. The Tsai-Hill theory is used as a yield criterion. The elastic-plastic solution is carried out for small plastic deformations. The residual stress distributions along the thickness of the plates are obtained.
Poly(vinyl chloride) and Poly(e-caprolactone) Blends for Medical Use
Authors: Rusu Mihai , Ursu Mihaela , Rusu Daniela
Published: February 2006

This study examines the possibility of replacing partially or totally the di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP - low molecular plasticizer) from the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) compositions intended for medical devices, with poly("-caprolactone) (PCL - biodegradable, biocompatible, and macromolecular plasticizer). Nine different plasticized PVC (PVC-P) compositions are analyzed from the viewpoint of thermal and mechanical properties, plasticizer loss, and extraction behavior in different medical media. After comparing the experimental results with the data from the literature, corresponding to traditional PVC-P, it can be concluded that the PCL and even PCL-DEHP mixture behave as better plasticizers for PVC, providing a lower extraction risk and similar or even improved thermal and mechanical properties.
Sixth-order Fitted Closures for Short-fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites
Authors: Jack D. A. , Smith D. E.
Published: February 2006

Orientation tensors are widely used in short-fiber reinforced injection molding simulations of polymer composite products. In these computations, the evolution of an orientation tensor is given as a function of higher-order tensors, necessitating the use of a closure approximation. Current fourth-order fitted closures enable accurate and efficient computation of second-order tensor evolutions, but have been shown to be limited in their ability to accurately represent the fiber orientation distribution function. This article presents two sixth-order fitted closures that may be used to improve the accuracy of fiber orientation distribution function reconstructions. These new closures are written in terms of the second-order orientation tensor where it is assumed that the orthogonal planes of material symmetry of the sixth-order tensor are defined by the principal directions of the second-order tensor. Sixth-order tensor components are fit to either eigenvalues or invariants of the second-order tensor over numerous flow conditions and interaction coefficients. Example calculations illustrate that the new closures are capable of surpassing accuracy limits experienced when using any fourth-order closure.
Design and Development of a Long Fiber Thermoplastic Bus Seat
Authors: Bartus S. D. , Vaidya U. K. , Ulven C. A.
Published: February 2006

Long fiber thermoplastics (LFTs) are increasingly being used in automotive applications for front-ends, bumper beams, dashboards, and under body shields. They have a significant potential for mass-transit applications in buses, trucks, and railroad vehicles. The LFTs are processed with a thermoplastic matrix such as polypropylene (PP) or polyamide (PAI) reinforced with long glass (or carbon, aramid, etc.) fibers, with starting fiber lengths >12 mm, through a pultrusion processing method. The LFT components are typically produced using extrusion-compression molding. In the present work, a bus seat was chosen as a candidate component to assess the viability of LFT technology to reduce weight and cost, without compromising performance over presently used designs. A conservative estimate of 43% weight reduction and 18% cost reduction per seat was predicted over presently implemented seat designs that contain a circumferential steel frame. Cadpress-Thermoplastic (EXPRESS) compression molding software for LFTs was utilized for the process modeling. Flow simulation during the compression molding of E-glass/PP LFT was conducted. Finite element stress analysis was conducted to verify mechanical properties developed as a result of fiber orientation and distribution after flow simulation. This article covers the design, process modeling, component verification, and manufacturing studies conducted for the LFT bus seat.
Alternative and parallel career paths for women: the case of trade union participation
Authors: Kirton Gill
Published: February 2006

This article argues that a broader, horizontal and multiple concept of career helps us to understand women’s union participation. Women frequently commit to and actively balance more than one significant life activity - each of which can be conceptualized as a career - in the public and private spheres. These careers inter-relate and overlap, sometimes complementing each other, sometimes conflicting; thus commitment to, progression in, or setbacks for one mode of career cannot be understood without appreciation of the others. The study shows that within a context of gendered employment barriers and constraints, a trade union career can often constitute an alternative or parallel career for women, to which some women commit the energy and resources many people reserve for their paid work careers. The article also explores the private meanings attached to careers, revealing union careers as a subjective and moral project.
Taking age out of the workplace: putting older workers back in?
Authors: Roberts Ian
Published: February 2006

This article suggests that much recent work that relates age to working life is mis-cast in looking at specific age groups in isolation. Rather than addressing the problem of younger or older workers, this article suggests that we need to develop a framework which can more centrally accommodate the inter-generational structures of the social reproduction of the collective worker. Focusing upon current Government concerns to develop an active old age, the article argues that such a strategy is likely to be misconceived unless it can address the changing nature of work within the ‘new capitalism’. It is argued that older structures involving the reproduction of a moral order of intergenerational relationships, which could accommodate age as a legitimate difference, are being threatened by strategies which attempt to maximize the efficiency of individual human resources without regard for such difference. In this context the attempt to take age out of the work-place while simultaneously attempting to put older workers back in is likely to be problematic.
The contemporary British workplace: a safer and healthier place?
Authors: Robinson Andrew M. , Smallman Clive
Published: February 2006

Using a nationally representative survey of British workplaces, this article seeks to extend current perspectives on OHS (occupational health and safety) by examining the impact of a range of current work and employment practices, and work-force characteristics on the incidence of workplace accidents and, uniquely, ill health. Our findings indicate that the British Government faces major challenges in terms of its plans for OHS. Ill health, in particular, is poorly served by existing OHS management techniques, while injury and illness seem to be associated with many more ‘determinants’ in the world of work than has previously been proven.
‘The longest day’: ‘flexible’ contracts, performance-related pay and risk shifting in the UK direct selling sector
Authors: Bone John
Published: February 2006

This article provides an account of the experience of highly casualized forms of work within the UK Direct Selling industry (double glazing, fitted kitchens etc.). The employment relationship in this industry has long been associated with no fixed hours of work, predominantly commission only earnings and ‘fictitious’ self-employment.As such, the experience of industry workers offers an insight into the potential consequences of deregulated employment over the longer term, providing evidence of the power imbalances, economic uncertainty, work/life imbalance and the impediments to non-work based relationships this entails. The article is based on an ethnographic study and focuses on the issues of ‘high’ and ‘low’ road flexibility, and the implications for the wider labour market of the extension of flexible employment practices.
Square pegs in round holes? leave periods and role displacement in UK-based seafaring families
Authors: Thomas Michelle , Bailey Nicholas
Published: February 2006

This article reports findings of an exploratory study examining the impact of intermittent partner absence on couple relationships and family life. Drawing on data collected through in-depth interviews with seafarers and their partners, it considers the period when the seafarer is home on leave to examine the salience of the ‘breadwinner’ role to contemporary masculine identity and explore and contrast the experiences of seafarers at home on leave to that of unemployed men. The article concludes that during the seafarers’ leave periods, the experience of sea-faring families has many parallels with that of unemployed men and their families. While seafarers do not lose their ‘breadwinner’ role, they experience considerable problems associated with loss of role during their leave period, and frequently experience a sense of ‘role displacement’ where they feel redundant, unnecessary and essentially ‘outsiders’ in relation to their families.
Historical representations of aboriginal people in the Canadian news media
Authors: Harding Robert
Published: February 2006

Understanding historical news discourse on aboriginal issues is a first step towards situating aboriginal policy matters within a contemporary socio-political context. Using methods of critical discourse analysis, selected newspaper coverage of four ‘flashpoints’ in the history of aboriginal-non-aboriginal relations in Canada is examined. In addition to drawing contrasts between mid-19th and late-20th-century representations of aboriginal people in the media, some of the broader features of news discourse about aboriginal issues are elucidated, including the news frames employed, and the way meaning is structured through the use of equations, oppositions, headlines, lead paragraphs, sources and other techniques. A significant finding of this study is the degree to which news discourse about aboriginal people has remained constant over the last century and half. In the 1990s, these issues were framed, much as they were in colonial times, in ways that protect dominant interests and signify aboriginal people as a threat.
Presupposition in news discourse
Authors: Bekalu Mesfin Awoke
Published: February 2006

This study analyses five news articles extracted from three Ethiopian newspapers published in the English language in order to examine the type of knowledge journalists presuppose in news discourse and, in Relevance Theoretic terms, the amount of processing effort that readers are required to invest in accessing and/or activating what has been presupposed. The article also aims to reveal the existence of possible ideological reasons behind journalists’ use of ‘fair’ or ‘unfair’ presuppositions in their texts. This analysis indicates that some news article writers unfairly presuppose different types of knowledge in news discourses and add an aura of mystification to certain issues which, in turn, might be for political/ideological reasons. It is thus argued that in producing news articles containing unfair presuppositions, journalists obscure certain issues and put their readers in a situation where they have to invest excessive processing efforts to achieve the required cognitive effect of the articles.
Cross-cultural pragmatic differences in US and Chinese press conferences: the case of the North Korea nuclear crisis
Authors: Jiang Xiangying
Published: February 2006

This study investigated request and refusal strategies in the question-response sequences of interactions in routine press conferences held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the US Department of State on the topic of the North Korea nuclear crisis during a period of 5 months. All utterances by journalists were identified as requests, and instances of spokes-persons’ non-compliance with requests were considered to be refusals. Findings demonstrated that: (1) request for specific information was the most frequently adopted strategy in both US and Chinese press conferences, but more clarification and confirmation questions were used in the US data and more questions for comments were found in the Chinese data; (2) in the case of refusals, direct refusals and reasons for refusal were frequent in the US data while avoidance and insufficient answers were prevalent in the Chinese data. The cross-cultural differences in the strategies of requests and refusals are discussed briefly in relation to different ideological and cultural assumptions.
Violence Risk and Race in a Sample of Youth in Juvenile Detention
Authors: Chapman John F. , Desai Rani A. , Falzer Paul R. , Borum Randy
Published: February 2006

Overrepresentation of minorities and their disproportionate confinement in the U.S. justice system are pernicious, unyielding problems. The authors used the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth to examine risk and protective factors of 757 juveniles admitted to detention centers. A chi-square analysis revealed that significantly more African American youth were rated low risk for violence compared to White counterparts. African American and Hispanic youth initiated violent behavior earlier and frequently lived in violent, disorganized neighborhoods. However, they had more prosocial involvement, stronger attachments and bonds, and more resilient personality traits. Ideas for targeted release and intervention with minority youth are described.
Exploring the self-concepts of persons with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Li Eria Ping-Ying , Tam Alan Sing-Fai , Man David Wai-Kwong
Published: February 2006

This study explores the self-concepts of Hong Kong Chinese with intellectual disabilities. Face-to-face and individual interviews were conducted in Cantonese, using the Chinese version of the Adult Source of Self-Esteem Inventory (ASSEI) together with three open-ended questions to explore the participants’ self-conceptions in different life domains. An opportunity sample of 135 young adults with intellectual disabilities was interviewed. The findings showed that the family self, the social self and achievement in school and work were the self-concept attributes most important to the participants. The participants of this study had a higher total self-concept than that of a comparison group of people without disabilities when the participants used the in-group social comparison to maintain positive self-perception. The importance of partnership with family, self-concept enhancement strategies and quality employment service are discussed in order to facilitate people with intellectual disabilities to develop more positive self-concepts and thus achieve better community integration.
Clarifying the role of Stat5 in lymphoid development and Abelson-induced transformation
Authors: Hoelbl Andrea , Kovacic Boris , Kerenyi Marc A. , Simma Olivia , Warsch Wolfgang , Cui Yongzhi , Beug Hartmut , Hennighausen Lothar , Moriggl Richard , Sexl Veronika
Published: February 2006

The Stat5 transcription factors Stat5a and Stat5b have been implicated in lymphoid development and transformation. Most studies have employed Stat5a/b-deficient mice where gene targeting disrupted the first protein-coding exon, resulting in the expression of N-terminally truncated forms of Stat5a/b (Stat5a/bΔN/ΔN mice). We have now reanalyzed lymphoid development in Stat5a/bnull/null mice having a complete deletion of the Stat5a/b gene locus. The few surviving Stat5a/bnull/null mice lacked CD8+ T lymphocytes. A massive reduction of CD8+ T cells was also found in Stat5a/bfl/fllck-cre transgenic animals. While γδ T-cell receptor–positive (γδTCR+) cells were expressed at normal levels in Stat5a/bΔN/ΔN mice, they were completely absent in Stat5a/bnull/null animals. Moreover, B-cell maturation was abrogated at the pre–pro-B-cell stage in Stat5a/bnull/null mice, whereas Stat5a/bΔN/ΔN B-lymphoid cells developed to the early pro-B-cell stage. In vitro assays using fetal liver-cell cultures confirmed this observation. Most strikingly, Stat5a/bnull/null cells were resistant to transformation and leukemia development induced by Abelson oncogenes, whereas Stat5a/bΔN/ΔN-derived cells readily transformed. These findings show distinct lymphoid defects for Stat5a/bΔN/ΔN and Stat5a/bnull/null mice and define a novel functional role for the N-termini of Stat5a/b in B-lymphoid transformation.