bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Locus of Control and the Intention to Lose Weight
Authors: Buckman Saltzer Eleanor
Published: April 2007

The relative importance of personal attitudes toward losing weight and the social pressures for weight loss in determining intentions to lose weight was compared for locus of control internals and externals who valued health and/or physical appearance highly. Findings consistent with the hypothesized differential importance of these two predictors of behavior intention for individuals designated internal and external by a behavior-specific locus of control scale are presented. Theoretical and practical applications of the findings are discussed.
How Effective Are Loyalty Reward Programs in Driving Share of Wallet?
Authors: Wirtz Jochen , Mattila Anna S. , Oo Lwin May
Published: April 2007

This study, set in a credit card context, examines the impact of loyalty programs on share of wallet and explores the moderating role of attitudinal loyalty on this relationship. The authors are particularly interested in two characteristics of reward programs: their perceived attractiveness and perceived switching costs between loyalty programs. Their findings suggest that perceived switching costs are highly effective in driving share of wallet at low rather than high levels of attitudinal loyalty, and only when combined with an attractive reward program. The attractiveness of a reward program, on the other hand, has a positive impact on share of wallet regardless of the level of psychological attachment to the company. These findings are particularly important for service providers in markets characterized by undifferentiated product offerings and low perceived switching costs between service providers.
The Positive and Negative Effects of Switching Costs on Relational Outcomes
Authors: Jones Michael A. , Reynolds Kristy E. , Mothersbaugh David L. , Beatty Sharon E.
Published: April 2007

Research increasingly suggests the importance of switching costs in customer retention strategies. However, research on the downstream effects of different types of switching costs is lacking. This study seeks to address this issue by proposing and testing a framework for examining the alternative routes through which different types of switching costs (i.e., procedural, social, and lost benefits) operate in affecting relational outcomes. Consistent with our hypotheses, social switching costs, and lost benefits costs appear to bolster affective commitment, which subsequently increases positive emotions and repurchase intentions and decreases negative word of mouth. Furthermore, and again consistent with our hypotheses, procedural switching costs appear to bolster calculative commitment, which subsequently increases repurchase intentions in some instances but also increases negative emotions and negative word of mouth. Overall, this study's findings suggest that service firms should use caution when utilizing procedural switching costs as a retention strategy.
Realistic Evaluation and QCA
Authors: Befani Barbara , Ledermann Simone , Sager Fritz
Published: April 2007

This article presents an innovative evaluation design which was used to evaluate the Swiss Environmental Impact Assessment. The design is new in that it amalgamates the realistic approach to evaluation with the method of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), the two of which are conspicuously similar. They share a complex view of causality, a generative perspective, a theory-driven approach to empirical observation and a limited claim to generalization. These conceptual parallels, as derived from the literature, are described in the first section, after a short introduction to realistic evaluation and the method of QCA. The following empirical section exemplifies their joint application and tackles the problems encountered. Based on this experience, the initial theoretical parallels are then reviewed. The article concludes that, under certain conditions, realistic evaluation and QCA provide a powerful tandem to produce empirically well-grounded context-sensitive evidence on policy instruments.
Civil Society Organizations and Evaluation
Authors: Chaplowe Scott G. , Engo-Tjéga Ruth Bamela
Published: April 2007

The past two decades have seen a drastic increase in the role and expectations of civil society organizations (CSOs) in international development, placing greater demands on the evaluation of CSOs and associated programs.While there is much potential in CSOs, it is important to recognize the distinctly political and economic realities in which they operate. CSOs face formidable challenges, the foremost being dependency on donor funding and the resultant threat to CSO autonomy and performance. Does donor-required monitoring and evaluation (M&E) enhance or compromise CSO performance? Drawing upon research from the United Nations Office of the Special Coordinator of Africa and the Least Developed Countries (UN/ OSCAL) and the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (UN-OSAA), this article presents an overview of African CSOs, exploring key issues that can inform the international M&E community.
Competitive strategies for the tourism sector of a small island state: The case of North Cyprus
Authors: Altinay Mehmet , Biçak Hasan Ali
Published: April 2007

The purpose of this study is to investigate the competitiveness of the tourism sector of the Turkish Republic of Northem Cyprus (TRNC) against its main rival, the tourism sector of South Cyprus and develop strategies to upgradc competitiveness. Findings are based on the opinions of the experts and the top excutives. The survey which was carried out in three stages also identified the strengths and weaknesses of the TRNC tourism sector. The study is conduded with the strategies to be followed to keep up the strengths and cure the weaknesses of the tourism sector of the TRNC.
An Epistemic Indoor Air Quality Assessment Protocol for Air-Conditioned Offices
Authors: Hui P.S. , Wong L.T. , Mui K.W.
Published: April 2007

Long-term measurement could be the best approach to determine the average pollutant concentration of an indoor environment for decisions on mitigation measures. This approach requires considerable measurement effort for accurate results and hence indoor air quality (IAQ) assessment methods that need less effort have been developed. This study proposes an epistemic approach for assessing an acceptable office IAQ against certain indoor air pollutant exposure limits. Together with the prior understanding of failure rates of IAQ determined from a number of extensive survey studies, a sample test result of pollutant levels and the uncertainties of different sampling schemes, the probability of satisfactory IAQ for an assessed air-conditioned office could be quantified. In particular, assessment of an acceptable IAQ for some air-conditioned offices in Hong Kong was demonstrated by taking CO2 as an example pollutant. Accuracy of the failure rates was improved by the application of sampling correction factors and Bayesian statistics. The probabilities of an acceptable office IAQ were evaluated against a CO2 level limit. This approach would be useful for IAQ assessment in some air-conditioned offices.
Evaluating Daylighting and Heating Designs of a Top-Glazed Atrium Space through Physical Scale Model Measurements and CFD Analyses
Authors: Song K.D.
Published: April 2007

This study was conducted to evaluate the indoor climate of an atrium space for a design-stage hospital building located in the Seoul area. The indoor climate evaluated in this study included illuminances from the direct sunlight and diffuse skylight and distributions of temperature and airvelocity within the atrium space. Direct sunlight penetration and daylight performance of the atrium were evaluated through physical scale model measurements. On the other hand, the air temperature and velocity distributions under heating conditions were evaluated by a commercial CFD code. Then, the results were compared with design criteria. This paper presents the research methodology, measurement results and design recommendations to solve the identified problems.
Discourse structure of academic talk in university office hour interactions
Authors: Limberg Holger
Published: April 2007

In line with some promising studies dealing with particular academic speech events at university level (He, 1993; Tracy, 1997), this article analyses recordings of another established form of spoken academic discourse at university outside the classroom; viz. office hour interactions between faculty and students (cf. Carpenter, 1983). Office hour appointments at two German universities were video-recorded and subsequently transcribed according to conventional transcription notations. The study draws upon two levels of analysis. First, a phasal sectioning (cf. Young, 1994) is performed to highlight different stages in the organization of office hour talk, which are decisive for a fruitful consultation and indispensable to conform to official standards in academia. Concurrently, on an interactional level, findings from conversation analysis are used to display how this form of consultation unfolds, and how participants orient towards both the respective institutional tasks as well as the discourse partner. What becomes clear from this preliminary study is that the academic significance of office hours is often underestimated. Those cases in which complex academic matters are under discussion demand careful action-taking and mutual orientation by both participants. This face-to-face encounter has multiple consequences for the academic and the social relationship between teacher and student, as well as for pedagogical practices and institutional (i.e. educational) circumstances at large.
Settlement and economy in a changing prehistoric lowland landscape: an East Yorkshire (UK) case study
Authors: Halkon Peter , Innes Jim
Published: April 2007

This article assesses the major changes in landscape and coastline, which took place in an area adjacent to the northern shore of the inner estuary of the river Humber, in East Yorkshire, UK, from the beginning of the Holocene to the Iron Age. It considers the effect of these changes on material culture as represented by artefact distributions, including flint assemblages and polished stone tools located during field survey. The conclusions presented here derive from a continuing programme of research in this study area and they are placed in the context of the wider Humber region and the North Sea Basin. This article advocates a restoration of balance with regard to geographical determinism – a new pragmatism – accepting that environmental factors have a great importance in determining the nature and location of certain activities in the past, though cannot be used to explain them all.
Contact Diaries
Authors: Fu Yang-chih
Published: April 2007

Many studies of ego-centered networks have aimed to obtain proxies for networks that help estimate their size and nature. As an alternative, the contact diary offers a comprehensive approach that records and yields archives of actual and comprehensive networks. In the long run, the actual and dynamic data from contact diaries can provide researchers with a potential baseline and delineate total or global personal networks within a specific time frame. This article explains how to use the diary approach to collect network data. After a review of studies that have adopted diaries in general and contact diaries in particular, I then discuss a recent diary study's research design in more practical terms. Finally, I appraise some advantages and limitations of the approach and explore other uses of contact diaries, such as building archives of year-long, active networks.
A Comparison of Social Network Mapping and Personal Network Visualization
Authors: McCarty Christopher , Molina José Luis , Aguilar Claudia , Rota Laura
Published: April 2007

This article presents an analysis of personal network visualization based on systematic evaluations of alter pairs compared to freestyle drawings respondents made of their personal network. In most cases, personal network visualization provided important details that are different from respondents' perceptions. Several case studies are discussed that highlight the additional data provided when using personal network visualization.
The Determinants of Legislators' Support for Judicial Reorganization
Authors: Thompson Joel A. , Roper Robert T.
Published: April 2007

This article attempts to extend the concept of support into anarea that to date has received little attention—support for change in one institution by members of another. Specifi cally, we try to identify the determinants of support in the Kentucky legislature for structural reform of the state's judicial system. We suggest that legislators' expectations concerning impact of the proposed changes on both the administration of justice and local autonomy, as well as other variables like constituency opinion, urbanization, and occupation, affect legislative support for judicial reform. In testing the support model, we find that one institution's support for change in another institution is not only a function of the performance of the institution being evaluated (judiciary), but also results from certain political concerns of the evaluating institution (legislature) that have nothing to do with the merits of the actual reform.
A strategy for developing research in practice
Authors: Knight Steve , Knight Steve , Bowman Gerry , Thompson David R.
Published: April 2007

The problems of utilising research findings in practice and the need for evidence-based practice are being increasingly recognised. This paper shows how one NHS trust, in partnership with a university, has formulated and developed a strategy for developing research in nursing practice. The strategy aims to support nurses and midwives in understanding research and applying it, where appropriate, to their practice, and also to promote a culture of evidence-based care.
Randomised controlled trials in clinical practice: The continuing debate
Authors: Shuldham Caroline , Hiley Chris
Published: April 2007

The need for nurses to debate issues concerned with randomised controlled trials (RCTs) has its origins in several areas of professional concern. These include the need to design and implement research, the need for evidence- based health care and the need for nurses to contribute knowledgeably to local research ethics committees. The randomised controlled clinical trial, when conducted well, is the'gold standard' and is becoming increasingly important. Yet nurses in the UK face dilemmas in the use of the RCT. Their apparent antipathy to the RCT is explored and it is suggested that the main problems stem from lack of experience, education and understanding of this method of research. The question of the academic identity of nursing and how RCTs might fit in are also briefly discussed. Some of the practical and ethical problems are covered with a view to encapsulating nurses' discomfort with the process. The discussion is widened to cover general points concerned with the use of the RCT, particularly when a practice is perceived to do good, when patients have preference about their treatment or there is a new unproven treatment needing evaluation. Finally, suggestions are given indicating how nurses can improve the picture by becoming more informed and taking up opportunities for becoming involved in RCTs.
Issues in observing nursing students in clinical practice
Authors: Spouse Jenny
Published: April 2007

This paper investigates the use of observation in clinical practice. The study uses a longitudinal, naturalistic-phenomenological design to investigate the development of professional knowledge in clinical practice by pre-registration nursing students. In attempting to gain access to and to understand the lived experience of learning in clinical practice, interview conversations were supplemented by visits to the participants' clinical placements for periods of observation while they were undertaking care, either with their mentor or independently. Each visit was followed by a discussion about the observed activities. Using observation in phenomenological investigations has been advocated by van Manen1 as a means of triangulating interview material. This approach was also used in a recent study undertaken by Benner and associates2 to investigate the lived experiences of care provision by registered nurses. The paper will discuss some of the issues surrounding access to observation of clinical practice and the role of the observer. Two vignettes of what appeared to be unsuccessful observation visits are also examined.
Developing an agenda for promoting race equality in the nurse education curriculum
Authors: Baxter Carol
Published: April 2007

This paper gives the background to a research study which examined and evaluated current practice in relation to the promotion of race equality in the nurse education curriculum. The methodology is described, followed by reflection on the major themes generated. The study was carried out between 1991 and 1993 and had the following objectives: to identify the nature of the underlying philosophies and values which informed institutional approaches; the constraints operating on nurse teachers; the impact of the programmes on students; and the strategies needed to educate and support nurse teachers. Four main themes are discussed: the predominance of a culturalist approach to the subject of race equality; a theory/ practice dichotomy; the need for appropriate teacher preparation; the role and function of black and ethnic minority staff. The relevance of these themes for the future development of nurse education is then considered.
Evidence-based practice: A mixture of motives?
Authors: Salvage Jane
Published: April 2007

The growing importance of research and development in the NHS presents a major challenge to nurses. They are not centrally involved in influencing the R&D agenda, while nursing research, despite its recent boom, is not seen as integral to evidence-based practice.

This paper suggests that the R&D initiative, like most policy developments, mixes altruism and pragmatism. Its aims include cost containment and control of the professions, alongside its more overtly expressed commitment to improving the quality of care. Useful efforts are being made to tackle the shortcomings of nursing research. However, it is argued that nurses attempting to influence the R&D agenda need to be alert to its political nuances if they are to be effective.
An exploration of the value of specialist neurosurgical nurses
Authors: Westcott Elizabeth , Dunn Virginia
Published: April 2007

In the climate of evidence-based healthcare and with concerns for cost containment, questions arise regarding the value of nurses trained and experienced in a health specialty such as neurosurgery. A comparative survey was undertaken to explore the differences between nurses who had specialised in neurosurgery, and nurses working in medical and surgical specialties. Using Calkin's model of advanced practice (1984) as a conceptual framework for this study, the term specialist was taken to be a nurse in neurosurgery who had completed the neuroscience nursing course, ENB 148, and had a minimum of two years' experience in the specialty. Such nurses work at grade F or higher. The experienced nurses in the study in both the specialty and medical and surgical settings had two years' experience and worked at grade D or E. The medical and surgical nurses were qualified and had less than two years' experience. The differences in the knowledge and skills of 75 nurses working in a variety of practice settings were examined using a case study vignette developed by the researcher for the study. The case study tested nursing care in all phases of a patient's hospital experience, including admission, pre-surgery, post-surgery and discharge preparation. The findings showed that nurses who had specialised in neurosurgery scored significantly higher in all aspects of practice knowledge. Patients undergoing neurosurgery are safer if they have nurses who are experienced, skilled and knowledgeable to care for them.
Induction and role of regulatory CD4+CD25+ T cells in tolerance to the transgene product following hepatic in vivo gene transfer
Authors: Cao Ou , Dobrzynski Eric , Wang Lixin , Nayak Sushrusha , Mingle Bethany , Terhorst Cox , Herzog Roland W.
Published: April 2007

Gene replacement therapy is complicated by the risk of an immune response against the therapeutic transgene product, which in part is determined by the route of vector administration. Our previous studies demonstrated induction of immune tolerance to coagulation factor IX (FIX) by hepatic adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene transfer. Using a regulatory T-cell (Treg)–deficient model (Rag-2−/− mice transgenic for ovalbumin-specific T-cell receptor DO11.10), we provide first definitive evidence for induction of transgene product-specific CD4+CD25+ Tregs by in vivo gene transfer. Hepatic gene transfer–induced Tregs express FoxP3, GITR, and CTLA4, and suppress CD4+CD25− T cells. Tregs are detected as early as 2 weeks after gene transfer, and increase in frequency in thymus and secondary lymphoid organs during the following 2 months. Similarly, adoptive lymphocyte transfers from mice tolerized to human FIX by hepatic AAV gene transfer indicate induction of CD4+CD25+GITR+ that suppresses antibody formation to FIX. Moreover, in vivo depletion of CD4+CD25+ Tregs leads to antibody formation to the FIX transgene product after hepatic gene transfer, which strongly suggests that these regulatory cells are required for tolerance induction. Our study reveals a crucial role of CD4+CD25+ Tregs in preventing immune responses to the transgene product in gene transfer.
DFT Study on the Mechanisms of C4H2 + CN Reaction
Authors: Tang Yizhen , Sun Hao , Pan Yaru , Wang Rongshun
Published: April 2007

A detailed theoretical survey on the potential energy surface for the CN + C4H2 reaction is carried out at the QCISD(T)/6-311+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level. The geometries, vibrational frequencies, and energies of all stationary points involved in the reaction are calculated at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level. The results suggest that there are two different mechanisms and six pathways in the title reaction. Six products are yielded, and P3: H + HC5N is the dominant product from the view of energy.
The First Resonance Hybrid of Silyl–Carbene and Pyridyl–Silylene Complexes: Formation by Aryl C–H Bond Activation of DMAP [4-(Dimethylamino)pyridine] on a Silylene Complex
Authors: Begum Rockshana , Komuro Takashi , Tobita Hiromi
Published: April 2007

Treatment of a tungsten bis(silyl) complex Cp*W{κ3(Si,Si,O)-xantsil}(CO)(H) [xantsil = (9,9-dimethylxanthene-4,5-diyl)bis(dimethylsilyl)] with 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) causes ortho-metallation in a DMAP-stabilized silylene complex that is generated from the bis(silyl) complex through silicon-to-tungsten 1,2-methyl migration and methane elimination. Resulting W–Si–N–C four-membered metallacycle Cp*W[κ3(Si,Si,C)-(SiMe2){SiMe(NC5H3NMe2)}(C15H12O)](CO)(H) can be regarded as the resonance hybrid of silyl–carbene and pyridyl–silylene complexes.
Controlled Fabrication of Decahedral Gold Nanostructures by a Thermal Approach
Authors: Zhou Min , Chen Shenhao , Sun Haiqing , Liu Xiuyu
Published: April 2007

Multiple-twinned gold nanostructures with decahedral shape have been prepared in aqueous solution by a one-step thermal process method. The decahedra of nano-gold can be obtained by heating aqueous PVP/HAuCl4 solution. In this process, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) acted as both reducing agent and shape-controlling surfactant. By control of the reaction condition, decahedral, icosahedral, and plate-like gold nanostructures have been obtained.
Active Control of Low Frequency Buzz-Saw Tones; Theory and Experiment
Authors: Joseph Phillip , Wilkinson Matthew
Published: April 2007

This paper discusses some theoretical and experimental issues related to the active control of buzz-saw tones radiated from an aircraft engine inlet at takeoff. Buzz-saw tones occur when the rotor tip speed becomes supersonic. It arises due to the formation of shocks at the blade tips, which then propagate non-linearly along the engine duct. Buzz-saw noise comprises a series of tones harmonically related to the shaft rotation frequency (Engine Orders). Moreover, it has been shown that the noise at each Engine Order comprises just one single spinning mode. Whilst there has been considerable work aimed at assessing the feasibility of active control for reducing the tones due to rotor – stator interaction, buzz-saw noise has been overlooked. This is surprising given the low frequencies at which Buzz-Saw noise occurs, and its simple modal content, which both suggest that buzz-saw noise is particularly suited to active control. This paper describes various control strategies for reducing buzz-saw noise. The paper concludes with the results of a laboratory experiment aimed at demonstrated experimentally the effectiveness with which a single spinning mode, characteristic of an EO = 3 buzz-saw tone, can be controlled. Reductions in excess of 14dB are reported at some frequencies.
".. . the binding altered not only my feet but my whole character": Footbinding and First-World Feminism in Chinese American Literature
Authors: Cassel Susie Lan
Published: April 2007

Footbinding and First-World Feminism in Chinese American Literature This article traces the trope of footbinding in Chinese American literature and argues that it primarily appears framed within a first-world feminist perspective that largely condemns it as oppressive, exotic, patriarchal, and/or sexualized. While not condoning this cruel and inhumane practice, this article suggests that a first-world critique of footbinding does an injustice to Chinese women by making them appear to be homogenous and monolithic objects who, through powerlessness and oppression, perpetrated this custom on themselves for a thousand years. The author calls for an activist Asian American literature that gives a better understanding of why reasonable women would have capitulated to such maiming, one that thoroughly illustrates the complex relations of dignity and power symbolized by such a practice. Interdisciplinary cultural studies approach used, including literary criticism, post-colonial theory, psychoanalysis, and historical analysis.
Replenishing the Ranks: Raising Critical Consciousness Among Asian Americans
Authors: Osajima Keith
Published: April 2007

Based on interviews with 30 Asian Americans, this article examines the process by which respondents developed a pan-Asian American critical consciousness and commitment to social action. Key factors that contribute to the development of a critical consciousness include: exposure to "meaningful" information which helps respondents situate their lives in larger social contexts; the presence of social support to help break isolation and encourage the exploration of new ideas; and involvement in organizations and political action. The article's goal is to assist activists and educators who seek to "replenish the ranks" by bringing new generations into the Asian American movement.
Green Neoliberal Space: The Mesoamerican Biological Corridor
Authors: Finley-Brook Mary
Published: April 2007

With claims of authoritative environmental knowledge, transnational development agencies are spatially redefining a "sustainable" and "eco-efficient" Central America. In the mid-1990s, the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC) emerged from transnational cooperation on security, trade, and environmental protection. Despite the large size and scope of the MBC, there has been little research on its transnational structure or how it intersects with the Central American Free Trade Agreement and the Puebla-Panama Plan. In this paper I examine national corridors. Nicaraguan portions of the MBC, especially the extensive Atlantic Biological Corridor (ABC), receive the most attention. The MBC has been touted as participatory, but Nicaraguan findings suggest a limited role in decision-making on the part of local governments and impacted populations. Proposed development projects in corridors would more often stimulate resource marketing and future donor lending rather than strengthening biodiversity protection. There is sporadic protection of biodiversity hotspots, but projects are riddled with tensions. As imagined, the MBC may contribute to the intensification of uneven development.   Con la políticas del conocimiento ambiental autoritario, las agencias trasnacionales del desarrollo están redefiniendo una Centroamérica "sostenible" y "eco-eficiente." En el medio de la última década, el Corredor Biológico Mesoamericano (CBM) surgió de la cooperación trasnacional de la seguridad, del comercio y de la protección ambiental. Aunque el CBM es una escala grande con cobertura de amplio alcance, ha sido poca la investigación sobre los actores involucrados, la estructura internacional, o la manera en que se interseca con el Tratado de Libre Comercio Centroamericano y el Plan Puebla- Panamá. En este trabajo yo examino los corredores nacionales, especialmente los de Nicaragua. El CBM ha sido publicitado como un proyecto participativo, pero mis conclusiones sugieren un papel limitado en la toma de decisiones por parte de los gobiernos locales y los pueblos impactados en Nicaragua. Los proyectos de desarrollo propuestos dentro de los corredores estimularían el mercadeo de los recursos naturales y los futuros préstamos ajenos más que fortalecer la protección de la biodiversidad. Aunque hay protección esporádica de los "hotspots" de la biodiversidad, dentro de los proyectos existen muchas tensiones. Como lo imaginaron, el CBM podría contribuir a la intensificación del desarrollo desnivelado.
El derecho a la ciudad y la cuestión del espacio público: Experiencias en la ciudad de Bahía Blanca
Authors: Formiga Nidia
Published: April 2007

En este artículo se propone la reflexión sobre la problemática del espacio público en las ciudades latinoamericanas, desde la perspectiva geográfica. En primer lugar se hace una revisión del concepto de espacio público y su significación en la estructuración del espacio urbano. Se toman como referencia estudios realizados sobre el tema en varios países de América Latina, con el objetivo de analizar las perspectivas aplicadas al estudio del espacio público, así como la situación y los rasgos principales en su conformación actual. Como estudio de caso, se aborda el análisis del espacio público en Bahía Blanca, ciudad intermedia localizada en el sudoeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. This article reflects on the problematic of public space in Latin American cities, from a geographic perspective. First, a review of public space and it significance in the structuration of urban space is presented, based on a variety of Latin American case studies, in order to examine what has already been studied in relation to public space, as well as an examination of general patterns at the present time. Second, as a case study, an analysis of public space in the city of Bahía Blanca, a medium-sized city located in the southwest of Buenos Aires Province, is presented.
Fire Ecology and Conservation in the High Tropical Andes: Observations from Northern Ecuador
Authors: Keating Philip L
Published: April 2007

The upper montane zone of the Ecuadorian Andes includes a diverse mixture of forest, páramo (tropical alpine vegetation), and agricultural lands. These areas have been occupied by humans for at least 7,000 years, and it is likely that repeated anthropogenic disturbances, especially fires, have altered the vegetation frequently. More than twelve major protected areas have been established in the highland region, but greater knowledge of disturbance ecology must be acquired before appropriate environmental management schemes can be implemented. This article reviews recent findings concerning the fire ecology of páramo communities within the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve and on Cerro Imbabura, an adjacent peak in northern Ecuador. After summarizing the environmental history of the region, the relationships among contemporary fire regimes, conservation practice and various attitudes toward páramo are discussed. Utilizing field observations from both protected and unprotected páramos, I demonstrate that fires are most likely not reducing species diversity, and that fire suppression is not an effective management policy. The "pristine myth" that provides a basis for some conservation efforts is evaluated, and recommendations for more effective conservation policies are made.  La zona de la alta montaña de los Andes ecuatorianos incluye una mezcla diversa de bosques, páramos (vegetación alpina tropical) y tierras agrícolas. Estas áreas han sido ocupadas por el hombre durante por lo menos 7,000 años y, es probable, que disturbios antropogénicos repetidos -especialmente incendios- hayan cambiado la vegetación muchas veces. Más de doce áreas mayores protegidas han sido establecidas en la región alta, pero un conocimiento mayor de la ecología de los disturbios debe ser adquirido antes de que un sistema de manejo ambiental apropiado pueda ser implementado. Este artículo revisará los hallazgos recientes alrededor de la ecología de disturbios de las comunidades del páramo de la Reserva Ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas y del Cerro Imbabura, un pico adyacente, en el norte de Ecuador. Después de describir la historia ambiental, serán discutidas las relaciones entre las prácticas de conservación y las varias actitudes hacia el páramo. Utilizando observaciones basadas en el trabajo de campo, serán comparados los impactos de incendios en los páramos protegidos y no-protegidos. Demuestro que es muy probable que los incendios no reduzcan la diversidad de especies y que la supresión de incendios no es muy efectiva como política de manejo. El "mito de pristinismo," que provee una base para algunos esfuerzos de conservación, será evaluado y se ofrecen recomendaciones para unas políticas de conservación más efectivas.
Identifying and Assessing Tropical Montane Forests on the Eastern Flank of the Ecuadorian Andes
Authors: Keese James , Mastin Thomas , Yun David
Published: April 2007

The forests of the mountain tropics comprise one of the most unique and bio-diverse of all vegetation regions, but they are also among the most threatened. Threats include colonization, road building, habitat fragmentation, logging, livestock pasturing, and agriculture. However, large areas of tropical montane forest on the eastern flank of the Andes Mountains of Ecuador remain intact, at least for now. This research uses Landsat 7 ETM+ satellite data and field study to identify land covers and land uses between Sangay and Podocarpus National Parks in Ecuador and to identify a potential conservation corridor between the two parks. The analysis reveals that eighty-eight percent of the study area remains in forest or highland tundra (páramo). However, there are three significant breaks in connectivity, and the adjacent areas of the upland valleys and Amazon Basin colonization zone are largely cleared, suggesting that deforestation pressures will intensify in the future. The results of this study demonstrate the benefits and drawbacks of moderate resolution satellite data for identifying, mapping, and monitoring land cover in less developed countries. GIS is also used to analyze relationships between roads, slope, and deforestation. Potential actions by government, NGOs, and local communities are suggested.  Los boques de la sierra tropical incluyen una de las más singulares y bio-diversas de todas las regiones de vegetación, pero éstas también se encuentran dentro del grupo más amenazado. Las amenazas incluyen la colonización, construcción de caminos, fragmentación del hábitat, deforestación, pastoreo de ganadería, y agricultura. Sin embargo, hasta ahora por lo menos, todavía existen grandes áreas de bosque de montaña al lado este de los Andes ecuatorianos. Este estudio utiliza datos del satélite Landsat 7 ETM+ e investigaciones de campo para identificar la cobertura y uso de la tierra entre los parques nacionales Sangay y Podocarpus de Ecuador, también para identificar un posible corredor de conservación entre los dos parques. El análisis demuestra que el ochenta y ocho por ciento de la zona de estudio se mantiene como bosque o páramo. Sin embargo, existen tres grandes rupturas en la conectividad y en las zonas de colonización de los valles altos y de la cuenca amazónica donde no quedan bosques. Este patrón representa el efecto a futuro de lo que pudiera pasar con la continuación de la deforestación. Los resultados resaltan los beneficios y dificultades del uso de datos de satélites de resolución moderada para identificar, mapear y monitorear la cobertura de la tierra en países menos-desarrollados. SIG también puede ser muy útil para analizar las relaciones entre caminos, la topografía y la deforestación. El estudio ofrece sugerencias de posibles acciones gubernamentales, de las ONGs y de las comunidades locales.
The Forests Are Bleeding: How Land Use Change Is Creating a New Fire Regime in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Authors: Messina Joseph P , Cochrane Mark A
Published: April 2007

Land use and cover of the Northeastern Ecuadorian Amazon has changed significantly over the last 40 years. These well-documented changes are slowly modifying the physical environment of the region from one dominated by the classic humid tropics to one more reminiscent of the eastern Amazon basin with cyclical moisture and temperature gradients, consequent emergent fire regimes and persistent deforestation. This paper discusses the causes of local land use and cover change, the remote sensing and sampling methods employed that led to the discovery of burned areas, and presents a physical climatology of diffusion and convection to explain the presence of burned areas in the traditionally fire immune humid tropical Ecuadorian Amazon.  En los últimos 40 años la cobertura de la tierra en el noreste del Amazonas ecuatoriano ha cambiado significativamente. Estos ampliamente documentados cambios están modificando lentamente el ambiente físico de la región  transformándolo de tropical húmedo clásico a un ambiente más parecido al de la cuenca oriental del Amazonas, con cambios  cíclicos de humedad y temperatura acompañados de regimenes de incendios emergentes y deforestación persistentes. El presente artículo analiza: (i) las causas de cambio en la cobertura y uso de la tierra, y (ii) los métodos de muestreo y de teledetección utilizados en el proceso de descubrimiento de áreas quemadas. También presenta una climatología física de difusión y convección como posible explicación a la presencia de áreas quemadas en regiones como el Amazonas ecuatoriano, una region que tradicionalmente ha sido considerada como tropical húmeda e inmune a incendios.
Splitting the Country: The Case of the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua
Authors: Sánchez Luis
Published: April 2007

Nicaragua is not only the largest country in Central America but also the least developed. As a nation, the Nicaraguans are a heterogeneous people. The ethnic mosaic that forms Nicaraguan society is visible in terms of the spatial organization of the country. The Pacific coast is occupied primarily by the dominant groups of mestizos and Whites, while the Atlantic coast is populated principally by Blacks and indigenous groups. The presence of significant levels of dissatisfaction within the population of the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua represents a regional problem involving matters of territorial integration and national security. The current patterns of pervasive core-periphery relations in Nicaragua are driving conditions conducive to the rise and resurgence of separatist feelings among the population in the two Autonomous Regions of the Atlantic coast.   Nicaragua no solo es el país más grande de América Central, pero también el menos desarrollado. Como nación, los nicaragüenses son un pueblo heterogéneo. El mosaico étnico que forma la sociedad nicaragüense es visible en términos de la organización espacial del país. La costa pacífica esta ocupada primordialmente por mestizos y blancos, mientras que la costa atlántica esta habitada principalmente por negros y grupos indígenas. Sin embargo, la existencia de niveles significativos de insatisfacción entre la población de la costa atlántica de Nicaragua representa un problema regional con implicaciones en temas de integración territorial y seguridad nacional. Actualmente, los patrones de las relaciones centro-periferia en Nicaragua están creando condiciones propicias para el surgimiento y resurgimiento de sentimientos separatistas entre los pobladores de las dos Regiones Autónomas de la costa atlántica nicaragüense.
The International Relations Office, 1956-1972
Authors: Dalton Margaret Stieg
Published: April 2007

The second International Relations Office of the American Library Association was established in 1956 with a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. Its directors advised the association, foundations, United States government, and individual librarians who were involved in programs of technical assistance and other international activities. The office closed in 1972 when its final Agency for International Development (AID) contract was terminated. This article discusses its establishment, its directors, its activities, and its demise.
The Discourse of Loss in Song Dynasty Private and Imperial Book Collecting
Authors: De Weerdt Hilde Godelieve Dominique
Published: April 2007

This article investigates the discourse of loss during the period between the pillaging of the Song Dynasty imperial libraries and the dispersal of private collections in north China in the late 1120s and the rebuilding of the Imperial Library and private collections through the 1140s. It contrasts the different strategies taken by the court and private collectors in managing loss, in developing acquisitions, and in remembering war and peace through collecting.
"The books were just the props": Public Libraries and Contested Space in the Cape Flats Townships in the 1980s
Authors: Dick Archie L
Published: April 2007

This article examines the relationship between public libraries and social change in South Africa during the 1980s. It focuses on libraries in selected townships on the Cape Flats. It concludes that debates about the public library's success or failure as an instrument of social change cannot overlook the idea of contested space in which the live discussion, debate, and circulation of ideas precludes and includes the use of books and libraries.
The Paris Commune of 1871 and the Bibliothèque Nationale
Authors: Greenberg Gerald S
Published: April 2007

During the Paris Commune of 1871, communards assumed responsibility for administration of the Bibliothèque Nationale. On April 1 the Commune appointed Citizen Jules Vincent the library's supervisor. Three weeks later, the Commune dismissed Vincent when it discovered that he had embezzled 10,000 francs that had been allocated to meet library expenses. Vincent's behavior had immense consequences for the Commune. This article will examine how Versailles attempted to portray Vincent's action as symbolic of communard deceit; how it became virtually impossible for the Commune to regain the trust of library managers and employees; and how Elie Reclus, a widely respected humanitarian and academic, was faced with the challenging task of managing the library and protecting its collection during the final five weeks of the Commune's existence.
"People were literally starving for any kind of reading": The Theresienstadt Ghetto Central Library, 1942-1945
Authors: Intrator Miriam
Published: April 2007

Jews crowded into the ghettos and concentration camps of World War II were desperate for any avenue of resistance or escape, not only physically but also mentally. In the ghetto concentration camp Theresienstadt, the prisoner-run Ghetto Central Library, complete with bookmobile system, reading room, and branch libraries, served as a reminder that minds and imaginations remained active and free, even amidst devastating persecution. With the inclusion of Jewish book collections confiscated by the Nazis, it grew to 100,000 volumes. Brought to the Jewish Museum of Prague Library after liberation, the books are still being returned, whenever possible, to original owners.
From Refuge to Risk: Public Libraries and Children in World War I
Authors: Kimball Melanie A
Published: April 2007

During World War I public libraries in the United States functioned in multiple ways as civic spaces. This was particularly true of libraries in large, urban centers with diverse ethnic populations, many from countries involved in the conflict. For children, the library was a refuge that provided story hours, reading material, and space dedicated to their needs. Just before the end of the war, the influenza pandemic broke out and children were not allowed in the library building. In a few short months, the library went from being a refuge to being a health risk for children.
"Children who read good books usually behave better, and have good manners": The Founding of the Notre Dame de Grace Library for Boys and Girls, Montreal, 1943
Authors: Lyons Chris
Published: April 2007

The founding of the Notre Dame de Grace Library for Boys and Girls in Montreal in 1943 provides a unique and interesting case study in Canadian library development. It was founded and operated by an umbrella group of local community organizations, using money raised locally, initially to combat a perceived rise in juvenile delinquency during the Second World War. The arguments made in favor of the library by the general public and the organizers were widely reported in the local press. The documentary record provides a rare account of the beliefs held about the efficacy of reading and libraries to shape children, a neglected aspect of children's library development in Canadian historiography.
Unannounced and Unexpected: The Desegregation of Houston Public Library in the Early 1950s
Authors: Malone Cheryl Knott
Published: April 2007

Houston Public Library operated as a racially segregated system until 1953, when it quietly changed its policy to one of token integration. Occurring some seven years before the Houston Independent School District began to desegregate, the public library's policy change depended on a few key individuals. Drawing on the library's records of discussions and events, this article traces the history of a major shift in philosophy and practice at a large urban public library in the U.S. South.
L'Heure Joyeuse: Educational and Social Reform in Post-World War I Brussels
Authors: Mitts-Smith Debra
Published: April 2007

The day after the Armistice of 1918 was signed ending World War I,the Book Committee on Children's Libraries was established by a group of American women. The committee's relief efforts focused on the establishment of children's libraries in order to help with the "educational reconstruction" of Belgium and France. This article focuses on the first of these children's libraries, L'Heure Joyeuse Brand Whitlock, and the ways in which it became a site of educational and social reform.
Cultural Policy in a Time of War: The American Response to Endangered Books in World War II
Authors: Peiss Kathy, Lee
Published: April 2007

For the first time in U.S. history, the protection of books and other cultural resources became an official war aim during World War II. Examining the broad historical process by which this policy was formed and executed, this article focuses on three key factors: the new role of intellectual and cultural elites, who forged close ties with the state; the expansion of intelligence gathering and its unintended consequences for the preservation of cultural material; and the extraordinary actions of individual librarians, curators, and ordinary soldiers on the ground, who improvised solutions to the problems of preservation and restoration.