bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Livelihoods and Forestry Program, Myagdi contribution to poverty reduction
Authors: Acharya KP , Acharya S
Published: October 2007

Nepal is promoting community-based forest management approach known as Community Forestry (CF) as a promising option to reduce environmental degradation and to fulfill the demands of basic forestry products of rural people. There are emerging concerns that whether community forestry can be used effectively to generate income and employment to help improve the livelihoods of the poor.

The paper is based on furniture and agricultural implements production enterprises from Parbat and Myagdi districts of western mid hills of Nepal. The furniture enterprise has earned USD 10,000 and the agricultural implement enterprise has earned USD 2000 during the past two years. The paper presents the process and approaches, production and market characteristics, present status and future prospects, role of development agencies and service providers, socio-economic impacts, lesson learned and policy implications from these case studies. The paper discusses that forest management should not be considered in isolation but should be linked with existing livelihoods opportunities and farming systems promoting the use of local materials and focused to provide employment to poor and vulnerable group.

Key words: community forestry, enterprises, wood, poverty, Nepal

Banko Janakari: A journal of forestry information for Nepal Vol.17(1) 2007 pp.3-10
Good governance in natural resource management: a case study from Dolpa district, Nepal
Authors: Kunwar Ripu M , Parajuli Rudriksha Rai
Published: October 2007

Present paper analyses good governance practices of community based organizations of Dolpa district in management of natural resources. Adequate participation, fund mobilization for livelihood diversification and transparent & accountable financial transactions were efficient proponents. However, participatory monitoring, post formation supports and incentives for income generation and entrepreneurship were imperative for sustainable natural resource management and livelihoods which are possible through clarifying resources, roles, responsibilities, rules and rights among stakeholders.

Key words: Good governance, natural resource management, participation, livelihood, Dolpa

Banko Janakari: A journal of forestry information for Nepal Vol.17(1) 2007 pp.17-24
Effects of grazing on plant species diversity and above ground biomass in a Trans- Himalayan Rangeland
Authors: Pokharel Anita , Chhetri Madhu , Upadhyaya Chiranjibi P
Published: October 2007

Limited information is available on the species composition, above ground biomass and its relations to grazing in a trans-Himalayan rangeland. Its assessment is essential for long term conservation and management. In the present study, we compared species composition, phenology, diversity index and biomass between controlled (without grazing) and open (free grazing) plots to assess the effects of grazing in the selected experimental sites of Upper Mustang during July and November 2005. Species encountered were classified as high, medium, low and non palatable and in three life form categories-grasses, shrubs and forbs. The experimental sites are dominated by forbs (80%) followed by grasses (15%) and shrubs (5%). Disturbance caused by grazing affects the phenological characteristics of the plant community. Result also reveals that species diversity, maximum possible diversity, evenness and species richness was higher in the grazed plots during July and November. A comparison of the aboveground biomass in July showed that mean percentage biomass of high, medium and low palatable species is higher in ungrazed plots. In November, the percentage biomass of only medium palatable species was higher in ungrazed plots and rest of the category is higher in grazed plots. Significant difference in July, a peak growing seasons for most of the plant species in the region reveals that the pasture has impact of livestock grazing.

Keywords: Biomass, diversity, grazing effect, rangeland, species

Banko Janakari: A journal of forestry information for Nepal Vol.17(1) 2007 pp.25-31
A brief appraisal of existing main environmental issues in Nepal and potential intervention to solve the perceived problems
Authors: Jha Shree Gopal
Published: October 2007

In Nepal, various developmental activities have created a number of environmental problems such as loss of forest, forest degradation, soil erosion, air pollution, water pollution and unmanaged solid-waste. It is imperative that environmental consideration and its management in development planning play a crucial role in enabling and sustaining poverty reduction. To overcome environmental problems, the Government, NGOs, & INGOs have successfully applied and stressed for potential intervention through policy and legislative measures and various economic instruments. This paper highlights briefly the present main environmental issues in Nepal, and stresses the potential intervention through various measures to mitigate the perceived environmental problems.

Key Words: Environment, pollution, measures, forest, degradation, soil, instrument

Banko Janakari: A journal of forestry information for Nepal Vol.17(1) 2007 pp.39-45
Larger forests into fewer hands: how equitable is Community forestry in Nepal?
Authors: Sharma Anuja Raj
Published: October 2007

This paper assesses the much talked equity aspect in community forestry. There is an increasing concern regarding the hand over of community forests without any threshold for per household forest area. Using Gini coefficient as a measure of inequality, this paper concludes that there is high inequality in the hand over of community forests to the beneficiary households.

Keywords: Gini coefficient, inequality, community forests, household

Banko Janakari: A journal of forestry information for Nepal Vol.17(1) 2007 pp.46-48
Application of Analytic Hierarchy Process to Select Project Scope for Videologging and Pavement Condition Data Collection
Authors: Larson Charles D. , Forman Ernest H.
Published: October 2007

The Virginia Department of Transportation uses a vendor that deploys specialized equipment to gather and assemble information about the condition of pavements for use in making budget estimates and resource allocation decisions. This work is commonly known as highway videologging and delivers a sequence of forward-facing, right-of-way video images. These images provide a driver's-eye view of the roadway and may be useful for other applications in the agency. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and Expert Choice decision support software were used to structure decision making and derive the most preferred project scope (best amount of mileage) for videologging and pavement condition data collection. The transportation department used this multicriteria decision-making method for a real-world decision-making problem. In a large organization experiencing rapid change and information overload, AHP provides a process to ( a) decompose a complex problem with many objectives and alternatives, ( b) show sensitivity analysis to test the robustness of alternative solutions, ( c) facilitate communication and consensus building; and ( d) document the decision process. The results of this model have been used to justify the agency's budget for data collection in 2007 and beyond.
Effects of Comprehensive Quality Assurance/Quality Control Plan on Pavement Management
Authors: Shekharan Raja , Frith Douglas , Chowdhury Tanveer , Larson Charles , Morian Dennis
Published: October 2007

Highway agencies have intuitively known for years about the need for high-quality data in their pavement management systems. Until now, however, it has been difficult to arrive at the value of good data. In Virginia, pavement condition data for a large network of roads have been obtained from digital continuous videos and interpreted by using a semiautomated software process. A detailed quality assurance process has been developed and applied to achieve the desired high-quality data. The project includes quality assurance that has been carried out since the inception of the project, including the application of necessary adjustments in the data collection process, to ensure that quality data conforming to predefined standards are obtained. Further, during production the data are continually monitored with the goal of attaining high-quality data. When the volume of data is large as in the present case, continual application of a quality assurance process is vital not only to prevent major changes at any stage but also to provide data that are usable as they are available. The effects of a complete and comprehensive quality monitoring plan, including quality control, quality assurance, and an independent validation and verification, on pavement management data and the resulting budgetary estimates are quantified. Pre- and postindependent validation and verification results were analyzed to determine the effects of a comprehensive quality monitoring plan on pavement distress data collection.
Fuzzy Logic Pavement Maintenance and Rehabilitation Triggering Approach for Probabilistic Life-Cycle Cost Analysis
Authors: Chen Chen , Flintsch Gerardo W.
Published: October 2007

Life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) is an important tool in transportation asset management. Transportation agencies have used both deterministic and probabilistic LCCA approaches. Probabilistic approaches allow decision makers to evaluate the risk of an investment by using uncertain input variables, assumptions, or estimates. The incorporation of fuzzy logic–based models into the risk analysis process is explored to enhance further the traditional probabilistic LCCA method. It proposes a fuzzy logic approach for determining the timing of pavement maintenance, rehabilitation, and reconstruction (MR&R) treatments in a probabilistic LCCA model for selecting pavement MR&R strategies. Instead of using predefined service life for initial construction and future rehabilitations, the proposed approach uses performance curves and fuzzy logic triggering models to determine the most effective timing of MR&R activities. The new approach is compared with the deterministic and traditional probabilistic approaches in a simple case study. The case study demonstrates that the fuzzy logic–based risk analysis model for LCCA can effectively produce results that are at least comparable to those of the benchmark methods while effectively considering some of the uncertainty inherent to the process.
Effect of Transient Dynamic Loading on Flexible Pavements
Authors: Yoo Pyeong Jun , Al-Qadi Imad L.
Published: October 2007

The effect of transient dynamic loading on flexible pavements was estimated. Transient dynamic loads within a tire-to-pavement contact area are characterized by continuously increasing or decreasing local dynamic contact stresses, depending on vehicle speed. A transient dynamic load model was successfully incorporated into a three-dimensional finite element model. Dynamic flexible pavement responses to one pass of a heavy vehicular load through a dual-tire assembly were calculated. Results of this study indicate that the flexible pavement response at different pavement temperatures varies depending on whether the analysis was quasi-static or dynamic, where the mass inertia and damping forces by the transient local dynamic loads are considered in the equation of motion. Results also show that the time-dependent history of the calculated pavement responses in the dynamic analysis is more comparable to measurements in the field. The transverse and longitudinal tensile strains at the bottom of the hot-mix asphalt and the compressive stress at the top of the subgrade are underestimated when the mass inertia and damping forces exerted by the transient local dynamic load are ignored.
Modeling Highway Infrastructure Maintenance Schedules with Budget Constraints
Authors: Maji Avijit , Jha Manoj K.
Published: October 2007

Highway infrastructure elements, such as signs, guardrails, structures, and pavements, deteriorate over time because of weather, accidents, daily wear and tear, and other factors. To keep them functional and operational, the elements require periodic maintenance. In the absence of an optimization model that can optimally allocate the annual maintenance budget for needed maintenance, it is often difficult to secure adequate funding for such activities. A mathematical model is developed; it evaluates the condition of elements, considers a budget constraint, and suggests the optimal maintenance schedule over a specified period of time. A genetic algorithm has been used to solve the model. The model considers a parabolic function over time to represent deterioration of the elements as well as rehabilitation expenses. The extent of rehabilitation at a given time is considered as dependent on the present condition and amount of deterioration. Also, threshold values for level of deterioration are considered as a check for the minimum condition before rehabilitation is warranted. With inputs such as deterioration levels, rehabilitation costs, threshold deterioration levels, and annual budget, the model can give the optimum maintenance schedule of the elements over a specified time period as an output. The approach is illustrated through a numerical example.
Performance Measures for Enhanced Bridge Management
Authors: Patidar Vandana , Labi Samuel , Sinha Kumares C. , Thompson Paul D. , Shirolé Arun , Hyman William
Published: October 2007

The establishment of clear performance measures can help agencies to assess the extent to which a bridge program, project, or policy has succeeded or is expected to succeed in achieving intended goals and objectives. Chosen properly, a set of performance measures can adequately describe the full consequences of competing bridge actions and thereby help identify the most desirable. Typical bridge management goals and performance measures considered by bridge decision makers are identified. The research summarizes the best practices in quantifying a number of performance measures related to these goals. There is discussion of desirable properties not only of individual performance measures but also of any set of performance measures intended for any particular bridge evaluation problem.
Processes and Techniques for Rapid Bridge Replacement after Extreme Events
Authors: Bai Yong , Kim Seong Hoon
Published: October 2007

Highway bridges, as critical components of the nation's transportation network, have received increased attention after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and subsequent potential threats to U.S. transportation systems. To respond to the potential threats on highway bridges, a pooled-fund research project was conducted to identify rapid bridge replacement processes and techniques after extreme events. These events include manufactured and natural disasters such as earthquakes, explosions, fires, floods, and hurricanes. To achieve the research objectives, the research team studied three cases of previous bridge replacements following extreme events. These cases are the I-40 Webbers Falls Bridge in Oklahoma, the I-95 Chester Creek Bridge in Pennsylvania, and the I-87 New York State Thruway Bridge in Yonkers, New York. By studying these cases, the research team first sought to identify and expand on lessons learned. Lessons learned from these cases benefit government agencies such as state departments of transportation, which are responsible for development of the enhanced emergency response plans for highway bridges, and the engineering and construction communities, which are responsible for design and reconstruction of the damaged bridges. Next, the research team determined the processes and techniques that were used in the rapid bridge replacements and outlined needed improvements so that the research community could investigate new technologies to advance current practices.
Pareto Analysis for Multicriteria Optimization of Bridge Preservation Decisions
Authors: Morcous George
Published: October 2007

A new approach is presented for solving infrastructure maintenance optimization problems involving multiple, conflicting, and incommensurable criteria. Pareto analysis is adapted from the theory of social welfare economics to identify the solutions that mutually achieve the best compromise among competing criteria. The proposed approach is applied to the domain of bridge maintenance management to assist decision makers in optimizing bridge preservation decisions. Two criteria are considered in this study: the minimization of life-cycle costs and the maximization of bridge network condition. Feasibility and capability of the proposed approach are demonstrated by using an application example of concrete bridge decks. The uncertainty in deck deterioration is considered by using stochastic Markov chain models developed from the condition data of concrete bridge decks in Nebraska. Further research is needed to expand the application of the proposed approach to other infrastructure facilities, and to consider other decision criteria, such as network reliability, functionality, and user cost.
Electrochemical Chloride Extraction Method to Control and Mitigate Corrosion in Rebar Embedded in Concrete
Authors: Kim Jungyong , Lee Hosin , Edwards Rosanne , Jacobsen Steve K.
Published: October 2007

This study determines the effectiveness of the electrochemical chloride extraction (ECE) method on a bridge deck with a high concentration of chloride. ECE was applied on a pedestrian bridge in Iowa to control and mitigate corrosion that occurred in the embedded reinforcing steel. First, chloride content was measured from the existing bridge deck; it ranged from 1.64 lbs/cy to 24.58 lbs/cy. ECE was applied to remove chloride from the bridge deck for 8 weeks. Afterward, chloride content was significantly reduced to 0.32 lb/cy and to 4.96 lb/cy. To simulate corrosion in the bridge deck, 2 reinforced slabs and 12 reinforced beams were prepared, cracked, and saturated with salt solution for 4 months, followed by ECE application. Initially, half-cell potentials were measured from test specimens; they all were below −200 mV; this indicated a 5% probability of corrosion. At introduction of 3% salt solution, the potential increased and remained at −500 mV for 4 months; this indicated 95% of corrosion. To remove chloride from test specimens, ECE was applied for 1.5 months. Afterward, average chloride content from the surface to 2 in. below the surface of test specimens with salt solution was significantly reduced from 10.68 lbs/cy to 4.12 lbs/cy, and half-cell potential decreased to below −200 mV. From limited laboratory test specimens, it can be concluded that the ECE method can effectively reduce corrosion activity by removing a significant amount of chloride.
Laboratory Evaluation of Color Polymer Concrete Pavement with Synthetic Resin Binder for Exclusive Bus Lanes
Authors: Lee H. , Kim Y.
Published: October 2007

In the summer of 2005, exclusive bus lanes were constructed in the median of busy streets in Seoul, South Korea, as color polymer concrete pavements with a transparent synthetic resin binder and a red pigment. However, early distresses, such as shoving, potholes, stripping, and rutting have occurred from these color polymer concrete pavements. Potential causes for early distresses from color polymer concrete pavements were investigated: inadequate quality of color polymer concrete, inadequate quality control during construction, and insufficient subgrade support. Historically, polymer concrete mixtures have been designed and evaluated by using predominantly hydraulic cement concrete technology because polymer concretes are used in concrete structures. This paper adopted asphalt mix technology to evaluate polymer concrete for use in a roadway overlay. Laboratory evaluation was performed on color polymer concretes by conducting the following tests: Marshall stability test, indirect tensile strength test, and modified Lottman moisture sensitivity test. These test results of color polymer concrete mixes were significantly more positive than those of typical asphalt mixes, and the mixes met the minimum requirements. On the basis of test results, it can be concluded that the color polymer concrete with a synthetic resin is stronger and less susceptible to moisture than are typical asphalt mixtures.
Impact of Nonresponse and Weighting in Swedish Travel Survey
Authors: Forsman Åsa , Gustafsson Susanne , Vadeby Anna
Published: October 2007

Results from travel surveys, together with traffic monitoring programs, serve as a basis for policy decisions and evaluations. Correct interpretation of the survey results is therefore of vital importance, and the impact of different sources of error needs to be investigated. This paper presents a study of nonresponse errors in a Swedish travel survey. Survey methodologists have addressed the problem of nonresponse for a long time, and several methods have been developed to reduce possible bias. Particularly common are different weighting methods based on auxiliary information. However, the performance of these techniques is based on how well the chosen auxiliary variables can explain the response behavior. The aims of the present study were to (a) investigate whether the mobility of nonrespondents differs from the mobility of respondents and (b) determine whether weighting reduces possible nonresponse bias. A weighting technique called calibration was used. The travel survey was based on a mail questionnaire, and the response rate was about 53%. Nonrespondents were contacted by telephone and asked a selected number of questions from the original questionnaire. Results show that mobility did differ between respondents and nonrespondents for some of the travel modes. The effect of calibration was generally small and inconsistent; the bias was reduced in some cases and increased in others. Nevertheless, calibration is recommended if procedures for calculating the weights are readily available.
Use of Iterative Proportional Fitting Algorithm for Combining Traffic Count Data with Missing Dimensions
Authors: Evers Ludger , Santapaola Diego
Published: October 2007

This paper proposes a modified version of the iterative proportional fitting (IPF) algorithm that can be used to combine contingency tables with missing dimensions. In many situations data from more than one survey could be used to answer a certain question of interest. Although using only one of the data sets is the simplest approach, it is uneconomical because information contained in the other data sets is not used. When combining data from different sources, one often faces the problem that the data have not been collected in exactly the same way, so certain information is available only in some data sets. Dominici proposed a hierarchical Bayesian model for combining contingency tables with missing dimensions. Although this is an elegant theory, it has a number of shortcomings, the most important one being that it has a high time and memory complexity. In other words, this method is too slow to be useful for traffic count data in which the number of cells easily exceeds several thousands. The IPF algorithm proposed here consists of iterations whose time complexity is linear only in the number of cells, so it can easily be applied to huge contingency tables such as those obtained from traffic surveys.
Internet-Based Mapping Prototype for Integration with an Electronic Freight Theft Management System
Authors: Ramachandran Balaji , Klodzinski Jack
Published: October 2007

The annual cost of freight theft in the United States is estimated to range between $15 billion and $30 billion. This statistic supports the importance of working toward increased prevention of freight theft and recovery. Current programs and technologies to help reduce freight theft include asset tracking using the Global Positioning System and radio frequency identification, as well as electronic manifests, which have been used to combat freight theft. Despite this progress, theft continues to be a significant cost to the freight industry. Important advancements have been made in technologies that could provide more support for law enforcement to assist in apprehending criminals. A new Internet-based mapping prototype that adds spatial analytical capabilities to the Electronic Freight Theft Management System, freight theft software developed by researchers at the Center for Advanced Transportation Systems Simulation at the University of Central Florida. This prototype integrates several technologies including the geographic information system (GIS), Map Server, and the Internet. It is capable of providing location information on individual thefts, a clustered view of related thefts, and an aggregated view of thefts at the county level. The web interface provides a mechanism for end users to perform spatial and aspatial queries on the database. The theft location and other relevant GIS data sets such as demographics, crime data, and street networks help in deciphering spatial patterns and trends of freight thefts. The mapping prototype is an effective spatial tool that can provide timely, reliable, and critical information to law enforcement officers for controlling and ultimately reducing freight theft.
Evaluating the Highway Capacity Manual's Adjustment Factor for Annual Weekday to Annual Average Daily Traffic
Authors: Lewis Martin , Albright David
Published: October 2007

The Bernalillo County Public Works Division, New Mexico, developed a methodology to understand and assess traffic monitoring data. The methodology was applied to a national default value used to adjust traffic field measurements. This paper describes research on improving the traffic monitoring process and product. The proposed methodology identifies seven steps to understanding traffic data. The steps can be implemented by an individual analyst, but are recommended for discussion by all stakeholders in the traffic monitoring process including field personnel, office personnel who summarize and report the data, and data users. The methodology was applied to a national default value presented in the 2000 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) that has been widely implemented, including by Bernalillo County. The factor adjusts traffic summary statistics to represent annual average daily traffic. The factor is used by local governments to adjust short-term traffic counts taken during the workweek so that the summary statistic can be used in a variety of applications including accident exposure rates. Accident exposure rates, for example, are based on traffic for all days, not the workweek. The result of the application of the methodology is that the national default value was found to be inappropriate. Modification to the HCM is recommended. Research to improve further the traffic monitoring process will develop, train, and exercise a team approach to understanding traffic data. Research to further improve the traffic monitoring product will be to identify local data collection sites and compare national, state, and local adjustment factors.
Using Dual-Loop Event Data to Enhance Truck Data Accuracy
Authors: Cheevarunothai Patikhom , Wang Yinhai , Nihan Nancy L.
Published: October 2007

The economic vitality of Washington State depends on continuing and even increasing strong foreign trade levels. Improving the mobility of freight traffic on Washington's streets and highways is an important factor in achieving this goal. The Washington State Department of Transportation (Washington State DOT) has devoted significant time and resources to investigating ways to improve freight mobility on its freeway networks. The primary type of sensor used by the department to collect truck volume and speed data on Washington State freeways is a dual-loop detection system. However, recent studies of the Washington DOT classification system found that the quality of dual-loop truck data being collected was questionable because of four main problems: (a) split of loop signals for multiunit trucks, (b) cross talk between adjacent loops, (c) constrained sensitivity adjustments of discrete levels at loop amplifiers, and (d) unsuitable thresholds of on-time differences between the two single loops of a dual-loop detector. This paper presents an algorithm for minimizing the effects of these four problems. The algorithm uses traffic information extracted from loop event data and the characteristics of vehicle length distribution to identify and correct erroneous loop event data for better truck data extraction. The proposed algorithm does not require hardware installations or adjustments to address the four problems affecting the quality of truck data obtained from dual-loop detectors. Therefore, it provides a cost-effective solution for obtaining much more accurate truck data from this commonly available detection system.
Video-Based Vehicle Detection and Classification System for Real-Time Traffic Data Collection Using Uncalibrated Video Cameras
Authors: Zhang Guohui , Avery Ryan P. , Wang Yinhai
Published: October 2007

Length-based vehicle classification data are important inputs for traffic operation, pavement design, and transportation planning. However, such data are not directly measurable by single-loop detectors, the most widely deployed type of traffic sensor in the existing roadway infrastructure. In this study a video-based vehicle detection and classification (VVDC) system was developed for truck data collection using wide-ranging available surveillance cameras. Several computer vision-based algorithms were developed or applied to extract background image from a video sequence, detect presence of vehicles, identify and remove shadows, and calculate pixel-based vehicle lengths for classification. Care was taken to handle robustly negative effects resulting from vehicle occlusions in the horizontal direction and slight camera vibrations. The pixel-represented lengths were exploited to distinguish long vehicles from short vehicles; hence the need for complicated camera calibration can be eliminated. These algorithms were implemented in the prototype VVDC system using Microsoft Visual C#. As a plug-and-play system, the VVDC system is capable of processing both digitized image streams and live video signals in real time. The system was tested at three test locations under different traffic and environmental conditions. The accuracy for vehicle detection was above 97%, and the total truck count error was lower than 9% for all three tests. This indicates that the video image processing method developed for vehicle detection and classification in this study is indeed a viable alternative for truck data collection.
New Methodology for Customizing Quality Assessment Techniques for Traffic Data Archives
Authors: Smith Brian L. , Venkatanarayana Ramkumar
Published: October 2007

Traffic sensors are being deployed widely across the nation, and their data are increasingly being archived for use in multiple applications. However, before the data can be used, it is important to ask whether they can be trusted. That question may be addressed through two basic and important value-added services of a traffic data archive. First, data screening checks the feasibility (i.e., are the data reasonable?) and usability of the data already collected. In the second phase, the health of the detection system is continuously monitored to support proactive maintenance of the sensor infrastructure. This research effort focused on developing a methodology to tailor these functions for specific archives. The paper presents the methodology as well as examples of its application in the regional integrated transportation information system of the Washington, D.C., area.
Bloomsbury Masculinity and its Victorian Antecedents
Authors: Caine Barbara
Published: October 2007

This article questions the extent to which the form of masculine subjectivity often associated with the men of Bloomsbury was distinctive and represented some kind of sharp break with that of an older generation. Their expectations of persistent gender advantage, and their continuing calls upon the services of mothers, sisters and female friends, suggest that a rejection of “Victorian” masculinity did not, in and of itself, disrupt the privileges that stemmed from manhood.
Out of the Closet and into the Gym: Gay Men and Body Image in Melbourne, Australia
Authors: Duncan Duane
Published: October 2007

Psychological and health science research has identified a disparate experience of body image dissatisfaction among gay men (particularly in relation to heterosexual men), and have theorised that this reflects an emphasis placed on physical appearance in gay male settings. However, these studies largely fail to reflect upon the centrality of the body in securing a visible gay identity, or upon discourses of the nature, appearance and expression of gay identity in a historical and social context. Similarly, sociologically informed work has tended to emphasise gay men's paradoxical relationship—dependant upon and desirous of—heterosexual masculinity as the foundation for this emphasis. Drawing on a concept of “reflective embodiment,” interviews with four gay men are conducted to demonstrate how each negotiates an athletic, muscular body ideal with reference to understandings of masculinity, pride, and gay sexuality as a way of complicating these theorizations and injecting a discussion of subjectivity into this issue.
Boys in Crisis? Australian Adolescent Males beyond the Rhetoric
Authors: Singleton Andrew
Published: October 2007

The prevailing public discourse about Australian adolescent males is largely pessimistic, couched in the language of the “crisis in masculinity.” Using data from a nationally representative telephone survey, the Spirit of Generation Y survey (SGY), this paper investigates whether adolescent boys' subjective opinions of their lives accord with this public representation. Contrary to the public discourse about male youth, these data suggest that the large majority of young men claim to be satisfied with their lives, claim to have meaning and purpose, and enjoy a sense of belonging, and on these items, differ little from adolescent females. The data presented here strongly suggests that the crisis narrative is an unreliable descriptor that does not accord with the subjective understandings the majority of adolescent boys appear to have about themselves.
The New Politics of Prejudice: Comparative Perspectives on Extreme Right Parties in European Democracies
Authors: Rensmann Lars
Published: October 2007

Piero Ignazi, Extreme Right Parties in Western Europe (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003)

Cas Mudde, The Ideology of the Extreme Right (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2003)

Martin Schain, Aristide Zolberg, and Patrick Hossay, eds., Shadows over Europe: The Development and Impact of the Extreme Right in Western Europe (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002)
The Western Connection: Western Support for the East German Opposition
Authors: Cooper Belinda
Published: October 2007

Without help from the west, the small East German opposition,

such as it was, never would have achieved as much as it did. The

money, moral support, media attention, and protection provided by

western supporters may have made as much of a difference to the

opposition as West German financial support made to the East German

state. Yet this help was often resented and rarely acknowledged

by eastern activists. Between 1988 and 1990, I worked with

Arche, an environmental network created in 1988 by East German

dissidents. During that time, the assistance provided by West Germans,

émigré East Germans, and foreigners met with a level of distrust

that cannot entirely be blamed on secret police intrigue.

Outsiders who tried to help faced a barrage of allegations and criticism

of their work and motives. Dissidents who elected to remain in

East Germany distrusted those who emigrated, and vice versa,

reflecting an unfortunate tendency, even among dissidents, to internalize

elements of East German propaganda. Yet neither the help

and support the East German opposition received from outside nor

the mentalities that stood in its way have been much discussed. This

essay offers a description and analysis of the relationship between

the opposition and its outside supporters, based largely on one person’s

first-hand experience.
Rauch ohne Feuer: Why Germany Lags in Tobacco Control
Authors: Cooper Alice H. , Kurzer Paulette
Published: October 2007

The puzzle explored in this article is why Germany, in spite of its

superb record in environmental policy and health care, has systematically

thwarted measures to reduce smoking rates. At this point,

thousands of large-scale epidemiological findings demonstrate a relationship

between smoking and disease. Moreover, unlike alcohol,

there is no safe amount of smoking. Cigarettes kill, and smoking is

the single largest source of preventable death in advanced industrialized

states. By various estimates, tobacco kills 500,000 Europeans

per year, including 120,000 Germans. Globally, in the years 2025 to

2030, smoking will kill 7 million people in the developing world and

3 million in the industrialized world. No other consumer product is

as dangerous as tobacco, which kills more people than AIDS, legal

and illegal drugs, road accidents, murder, and suicide combined.
The Return of Memory: New Discussions about German Suffering in World War II
Authors: Langenbacher Eric
Published: October 2007

Jörg Friedrich, Der Brand: Deutschland im Bombenkreig 1940-1945 (Munich: Propyläen Verlag, 2002)

Günther Grass, Crabwalk (Orlando: Harcourt, 2002)

W. G. Sebald, On the Natural History of Destruction (New York: Random House, 2003)
Changing Memory Regimes in Contemporary Germany?
Authors: Langenbacher Eric
Published: October 2007

Are collective memories currently changing in the land where the

“past won’t go away?” Long dominated by memory of the Holocaust

and other Nazi-era crimes, Germany recently witnessed the emergence

of another memory based on the same period of history, but

emphasizing German suffering. Most commentators stress the novelty

and catharsis of these discussions of supposedly long-repressed

and unworked-through collective traumas and offer predominantly

psychoanalytic explanations regarding why these memories only

now have surfaced. However, thanks to “presentist” myopia, ideological

blinders, and the theoretical/political effects of Holocaust

memory, much of this discourse is misplaced because these Germancentered

memories are emphatically not new. A reexamination of

the evolution of dominant memories over the postwar period in the

Federal Republic of Germany is necessary in order to understand

and contextualize more fully these current debates and the changes

in dominant memories that may be occurring—tasks this article takes

up by utilizing the memory regime framework.
A Last Minute Success of the Red-Green Coalition
Authors: Roth Dieter
Published: October 2007

The 2002 election was a close race. The Social Democrats turned out

to be 6,027 votes ahead of the Christian Democrats. The red-green

government was returned to power only because of the so-called

overhang mandates1 for the SPD (three in the new Länder, one in

Hamburg) and the good result of the Greens, especially in the old

Länder. To put it differently, 1.2 percent (577,567 votes) was the winning

gap between the government and the opposition. Four seats

above the majority is a rather narrow margin but does not inevitably

entail a weak government. The CDU/CSU-led government in 1994

had a similar starting position, for example, and it endured in power.
Foreign and European Policy Issues in the 2002 Bundestag Elections
Authors: Chandler William M.
Published: October 2007

Is it always the economy, or do external issues sometimes matter,

too? Consistent with the Clinton campaign slogan of 1992, political

scientists generally predict that domestic economic issues are primary

in determining election winners. This proposition, with its several

variants, rests on many years of survey data and analysis that

have consistently indicated that international conditions and foreign

policy rarely, if ever, rate highly in public concerns and therefore

seldom affect election outcomes.
It Used to Be the Economy: Issues and Party Support in the 2002 Election
Authors: Rohrschneider Robert , Fuchs Dieter
Published: October 2007

Most explanations for the red-green victory in the 2002 election

refer to two issues that emerged in the final months of the campaign:

the Iraq crisis and the flood in eastern Germany. The surprise

announcement by President Bush to dramatically increase pressure

on Iraq, including a possible invasion, put this issue squarely into the

center of the election campaign. This issue emerged at the onset of

the hot campaign phase, taking parties and candidates by surprise.

Chancellor Schröder quickly and emphatically ruled out the participation

of German troops under any circumstances. His policy may

have attracted a considerable number of voters who favored a more

conciliatory stance towards Iraq. For instance, eastern Germans,

many of whom still remember the anti-American stances of the

socialist government, may have felt comfortable with an uncompromising

antiwar stance and thus supported the SPD in the end,

despite this party’s failure to deliver on its economic promises. And

voters who sympathize with the peace movement in postwar western

Germany may have become mobilized in support of the Green

party. In turn, the largest flood in 500 years may have also provided

Chancellor Schröder with an opportunity to shore up his support

among eastern voters. By all accounts, he met the leadership expectations

of voters by quickly promising financial aid to reconstruct

those eastern regions devastated by the flood.
Cloth on her Head, Constitution in Hand: Germany’s Headscarf Debates and the Cultural Politics of Difference
Authors: Weber Beverly
Published: October 2007

As the current debates about the headscarf in Germany and France

demonstrate, “Islamic” veils and headscarves garner attention for

minority women in Europe to an unparalleled degree.2 For centuries,

Islamic veils and headscarves have served as powerful symbols in

Orientalist discourse, functioning as markers of the Oriental woman’s

supposed eroticism as well as convenient tropes for philosophers.3

Recent kidnappers’ demands in Iraq that France lift its headscarf ban

demonstrate the complex appropriations of Muslim women for fundamentalist

discourses as well.
The Carriers of Diversity within the Police Forces: A “Weberian” Approach to Diversity in Germany
Authors: Thériault Barbara
Published: October 2007

Cultural diversity has been one the most pressing challenges to present-

day Germany. Issues of diversity and, its corollary from the perspective

of the recipient society, the practice of toleration—as opposed

to the personal attitude of tolerance—are being paradigmatically

debated around the fate of Muslims. Although not new, Muslims

presence and public claims, such as the claim for legal recognition of

Islam and religious instruction in public schools, have undoubtedly

raised the issue of diversity anew. Some recent events, such as the

“Ludin case,” a German teacher of Afghan descent who fought the

federal state of Baden-Wurttemberg to wear a hijab in class, is a telling

example (see Beverly Weber’s article examining the case in this issue

of German Politics and Society). Similarly to the debate raging over

headscarves in France, this case seems to point to the “Muslim” as an

important figure of the stranger, understood as symbol of group

mediation, of the group’s inner and outer boundaries.1 But, unlike the

headscarf affair in France, where pupils are at the center stage of the

debate, the case of teachers in Germany bears witness to a different

type of stranger as outlined by Simmel in terms of spatial and symbolic

position within the group. Indeed, he/she is a stranger “from

within.”2 As such, Muslim growing and enduring presence in Germany

showcases practical problems encountered with the “management

of diversity” within some state institutions. Looking at the assessment of these dilemmas not only points to conflicting normative

models of social organization, but also puts in the hot seat those

who, to paraphrase Dubet, carry out le travail sur autrui (“work on the

other”), professionals activities, which aim at explicitly transforming

the “stranger.”
Cover Picture: Preparation and Application of Novel Microspheres Possessing Autofluorescent Properties (Adv. Funct. Mater. 16/2007)
Authors: Wei W. , Wang L.‐Y. , Yuan L. , Wei Q. , Yang X.‐D. , Su Z.‐G. , Ma G.‐H.
Published: October 2007

On p. 3153, Guang‐Hui Ma and co‐workers report on the development of autofluorescent chitosan microspheres with tunable color based on different crosslinking reagents and further chemical modification. The fluorescent intensity can also be controlled by the particle size and crosslinking degree. The autofluorescent microspheres may be useful in fluorescence assays as bright, inexpensive, and stable probes for qualitative and quantitative studies of biological interactions and drug delivery.

Fluorescent microspheres are widely used as biological tracers. In this study, uniformly sized chitosan microspheres crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (CG microspheres) and formaldehyde (CF microspheres) are successfully prepared by the Shirasu Porous Glass (SPG) membrane emulsification technique. Selectively reduced CG microspheres (SRCG microspheres) are obtained by NaBH4 reduction. These chitosan microspheres are found to exhibit fluorescent properties without conjugation to any fluorescent agent. The fluorescence color varies with different crosslinkers and can be modulated by further chemical reduction, whereas the fluorescence intensity can be controlled by tuning the particle size and degree of crosslinking. The autofluorescence of the microspheres is applied to study the phagocytosis of HepG2 cells using the microspheres as novel tracers. Quantitative and qualitative evaluations show that these chitosan microspheres serve as bright, inert, durable, and extremely photostable tracers.
Inside Front Cover: Thermally Responsive Biomineralization on Biodegradable Substrates (Adv. Funct. Mater. 16/2007)
Authors: Shi J. , Alves N. M. , Mano J. F.
Published: October 2007

Biomineralization offers an elegant example of how nature can design complex, hierarchical, and structurally/morphologically controllable materials. João Mano and co‐workers of the University of Minho, Portugal report on p. 3312 that modifying the surface of bioactive substrates, together with the effect of temperature, triggers the formation of apatite upon immersion in simulated body fluid. This “smart” biomineralization concept could be combined with patterning methodologies by controlling the microstructure of the surface. Such a concept could be extended in the biomimetic production of other minerals, being triggered by other kind of stimuli (e.g., pH or ionic strength), in substrates with more complex geometries.

Biomineralization offers an elegant example of how nature can design complex, hierarchical, and structurally/morphologically controllable materials. In this work, the surface of bioactive substrates prepared from poly(L‐lactic acid) and reinforced with Bioglass are modified by the graft polymerization of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide), (PNIPAAm) after plasma activation. It is found that such treatment, together with temperature, could trigger the formation of apatite on the biodegradable substrate upon immersion in simulated body fluid above the PNIPAAm lower critical solution temperature (LCST); in contrast, no apatite is formed at room temperature. A control experiment on a material that is not subjected to surface treatment does not show any evidence of mineral deposition at the two analyzed temperatures. This “smart” biomineralization concept is combined with patterning methodologies to control the microstructure of the surface onto which PNIPAAm is grafted. In this case, the apatite is formed at 37 °C in the modified regions. We suggest that this concept could be extended in the biomimetic production of other minerals, where it would be triggered by another kind of stimulus (e.g., pH or ionic strength) in substrates with more complex geometries.