bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human resource information systems (HRIS) and technology trust
Authors: Lippert Susan K. , Michael Swiercz Paul
Published: August 2005

Scholars in many disciplines have considered the antecedents and consequences of various forms of trust. This paper generates 11 propositions exploring the relationship between Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) and the trust an individual places in the inanimate technology (technology trust) and models the effect of those relationships on HRIS implementation success. Specifically, organizational, technological, and user factors are considered and modeled to generate a set of testable propositions that can subsequently be investigated in various organizational settings. Eleven propositions are offered suggesting that organizational trust, pooled interdependence, organizational community, organizational culture, technology adoption, technology utility, technology usability, socialization, sensitivity to privacy, and predisposition to trust influence an individual’s level of trust in the HRIS technology (technology trust) and ultimately the success of an HRIS implementation process. A summary of the relationships between the key constructs in the model and recommendations for future research are provided.
A reference model for designing effective reputation information systems
Authors: Rein Gail L.
Published: August 2005

Reputation is a socially constructed, distributed knowledge phenomenon that creates powerful incentives for good behavior. The idea of using an information system to make reputation explicit and measurable is promising and not new. Well-known examples include Amazon’s seller ranking system and eBay’s feedback forum. The thesis of this article is that future reputation information systems can be more effective and useful than existing systems if their designs are informed by multi-disciplinary research on reputation. The contribution of this article is a reference model, or meta-specification, that describes the essential functionality and behavior that embedded information systems need to provide to be effective and useful mechanisms for making reputation explicit and measurable. The reference model specified in the industry-standard Unified Modeling Language (UML) is based on a multi-disciplinary understanding of reputation. The model addresses systems that focus on personal reputation. Extensions for organizational reputation are discussed along with other challenges for future research.
Re-integrating the Bradford rioters: Lessons for NOMS and the future of resettlement
Authors: Cocker Sarah
Published: August 2005

This article presents findings from an evaluation of the work undertaken by an inter-agency group to resettle individuals imprisoned as a result of their involvement in the 2001 Bradford riots.1 It outlines the steps taken by the group towards developing a seamless approach to the case management of offenders from prison into the community. The discussion is intended to identify the lessons that can be learned from this approach, and to inform general resettlement practice.
Some thoughts on recent research on pathfinder programmes in the Probation Service
Authors: Merrington Simon , Stanley Steve
Published: August 2005

In this article the authors consider the results of the largest study of programme effectiveness yet published, arguing that it is still disappointingly inconclusive, partly because of the results themselves, and partly because of concerns about methodology.
Politics, School Philosophy, and Language Policy: The Case of Crystal City Schools
Authors: Trujillo Armando
Published: August 2005

Language policy development connects a school district's educational philosophy and the day-to-day practice of educators. An educational philosophy elaborates the aims a school district has for its students; language policy, on the other hand, engages day-to-day practice because it is concerned with how students are going to achieve the aims through language. Moreover, administrators and teachers, in their educational practice, participate in an ongoing process of language planning, a process linked to power and social justice issues. This article maps out the relationship between cultural nationalist ideology and language policy development in the Crystal City Independent School District. Using qualitative data and teacher narratives, it analyzes how language planning unfolds at the level of the school site and the effects this has on teachers and instruction. The analysis supports the conclusion that the school district as an institution has limitations in promoting cultural and linguistic maintenance in its student population.
Bilingual Education Within the Context of English-Only Policies: Three Districts' Responses to Question 2 in Massachusetts
Authors: de Jong Ester J. , Gort Mileidis , Cobb Casey D.
Published: August 2005

This article describes three medium-sized districts'responses to the successful passage of an English-only ballot initiative in Massachusetts. Through interviews with bilingual directors and document analysis the study found that programmatic changes as a result of the new law were primarily limited to elementary-level transitional bilingual education programs. Key leaders'detailed knowledge of the law and commitment to bilingual education, and the local context, influenced how the state-mandated policy was translated into practice.
Electroforming of copper by the periodic reversal process
Authors: Ram Sankar P. , Khattak B. Q. , Jain A. K. , Kaul R. , Ganesh P. , Nath A. K. , Tiwari P. , Amban A. , Pagare A.
Published: August 2005

Electroforming is one of the lining methods commonly used for depositing copper on accelerator components. In direct current (dc) processes, organic additives are used to obtain a smooth surface. However, additives reduce the purity of the deposit and cannot be applied to accelerator components. The periodic reversal (PR) process produces superior levelling and structural uniformity in the deposits made without additives. The objective of the present work was to study the effect of process parameters (without additives) on the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of the electroformed copper. Electroforming with PR eliminated passive interfaces in the deposit, which otherwise developed with dc. Current density during PR was found to have a great influence on the texture of the deposit. Electroformed copper made by PR with a current density of 2 A dm−2 exhibited significantly lower ductility and higher yield stress than that of annealed oxygen-free high conductivity copper (OFHC); this is attributed to its strong (111) texture. The PR process could be continued for long periods and produced negligible roughness.
Steam oxidation resistance of thermal sprayed coatings for USC boiler applications
Authors: Sundararajan T. , Haruyama H. , Kuroda S. , Abe F.
Published: August 2005

Plasma sprayed coatings of 50Ni–50Cr as undercoat coupled with an Al topcoat were investigated with the aim of filling the pores in the Ni–Cr coating with the Al topcoat at high temperatures. For comparison purposes, a thick 50Ni–50Cr coating (∼450 μm) with sealant according to BS 5493 was also applied. The results showed that both the two layer coating of Ni−Cr+Al and the thick coating with the sealant had excellent resistance against steam oxidation at 650°C for up to 3000 h of testing. It is interesting to note that the two layer coating showed a similar performance, despite the lower coating thickness compared to the thick coating. Both Ni and Cr diffused into the Al coating structure. Diffusion of Al into the Ni–Cr system (coating) was slower than that into the Fe–Cr system (substrate).
Surface engineering for thermal control of spacecraft
Authors: Sharma A. K.
Published: August 2005

Surface engineering plays an important role in aerospace and allied applications. Finishing for space applications, however, requires higher standards and better control than those used for ground applications, because an on-orbit spacecraft is not approachable for repair and space conditions are severe. Mass reduction is an important criterion in spacecraft design, because the cost of spacecraft launch is enormous. Passive thermal control techniques are generally adopted for the thermal control of spacecraft. The passive system does not involve any relative movement of its parts and does not require external power for operation. This eliminates the possibility of its failure. The passive thermal control system utilises the optical properties of its components. In the absence of atmosphere, heat transfer in space is limited to radiation. In the present article, surface finishing of spacecraft materials for thermal control applications is discussed.
VEGF-A and FGF-2 synergistically promote neoangiogenesis through enhancement of endogenous PDGF-B–PDGFRβ signaling
Authors: Kano Mitsunobu R. , Morishita Yasuyuki , Iwata Caname , Iwasaka Shigeru , Watabe Tetsuro , Ouchi Yasuyoshi , Miyazono Kohei , Miyazawa Keiji
Published: August 2005

Combined stimulation with VEGF-A, FGF-2, or PDGF-BB has emerged as a potent strategy for therapeutic angiogenesis, although the mechanisms underlying the synergism of these factors are not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of synergism between VEGF-A and FGF-2 by using Matrigel plug assay in vivo and embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2)-positive cells in vitro. Experiments in vitro revealed that, in addition to having direct mitogenic effects, these molecules enhance intercellular PDGF-B signaling in a cell-type specific manner: VEGF-A enhances endothelial PDGF-B expression, whereas FGF-2 enhances mural PDGF receptor β (PDGFRβ) expression. Co-stimulation with VEGF-A and FGF-2 caused significant mural cell recruitment in vitro and formation of functional neovasculature in vivo, compared with single-agent stimulation. These effects were abrogated not only by anti-PDGFRβ neutralizing antibody, but also by exogenous PDGF-BB, which could overwhelm the endogenous PDGF-BB distribution. These findings indicated the importance of preservation of the periendothelial PDGF-BB gradient. Thus, we demonstrated that the directional enhancement of endogenous PDGF-B–PDGFRβ signaling is indispensable for the synergistic effect of VEGF-A and FGF-2 on neoangiogenesis in adults. The findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the effects of co-stimulation by growth factors, which could lead to rational design of therapeutic angiogenic strategies.
African Studies in China in the Twentieth Century: A Historiographical Survey
Authors: Anshan Li
Published: August 2005

This article surveys African studies in China during the twentieth century. It is divided into five parts: “Sensing Africa” (1900–1949), “Supporting Africa” (1949–65), “Understanding Africa” (1966–76), and “Studying Africa” (1977–2000). From a Chinese perspective, the author tells how, when, and why Chinese scholars have conducted their research on Africa according to paradigms that evolved during the last century. In conclusion, the author points out the achievements as well as the problems in African studies in China today.
Citizens and Foreigners: Democratization and the Politics of Exclusion in Africa
Authors: Whitaker Beth Elise
Published: August 2005

In the ongoing context of political liberalization, many African leaders have adopted the rhetoric of democracy while at the same time devising ways to limit political competition. This article focuses on one such strategy: the effort to disqualify or discredit political opponents based on challenges to their citizenship. In recent years, several African leaders have initiated court cases and produced evidence to question the right of opposition candidates and other critics to participate in the political process. By examining specific examples in Côte d'Ivoire, Zambia, and elsewhere, the article explores the implications of this strategy. While citizenship rights are clearly important in any democracy, their explicit manipulation for the ruling party's political purposes is a risky approach that threatens to slow or even reverse the process of democratization. In the end, a tactic initially designed to exclude specific individuals from the political process has the potential of fueling broader xenophobic sentiments and legitimizing exclusionary nation-building strategies. At best, the resulting widening of social cleavages reduces the likelihood of democratic consolidation. At worst, it plants the seeds for future political conflict and possibly even war.
Parental divorce and subsequent disadvantage: A cross-cohort comparison
Authors: Sigle-Rushton Wendy , Hobcraft John , Kiernan Kathleen
Published: August 2005

Although many studies have examined the link between parental divorce and subsequent wellbeing, some theories of the effects of divorce suggest that the negative associations should have declined over time. However, few studies have examined the extent to which the associations have remained stable over time. Using data from two British cohorts, we analyzed both shorter- and longer-term outcomes of children who experienced parental divorce and the extent to which the associations have changed over time. Estimating similar models for both cohorts, we found little evidence of any change in the size of the relationship as divorce became more commonplace.
Wives who outearn their husbands: A transitory or persistent phenomenon for couples?
Authors: Winkler Anne E. , McBride Timothy D. , Andrews Courtney
Published: August 2005

In what percentage of married couples do wives outearn their husbands, and, moreover, how persistent are these patterns? This study systematically examined variation in point-in-time estimates across alternative measures of earnings, definitions of types of couples, and data sources and gauged the persistence of these patterns for a period of three calendar years using data from the 2000 Current Population Survey and the 1996–2000 Survey of Income and Program Participation. Among the findings are that in 19% to 30% of all married couples, wives have higher earnings than their husbands. In 60% of such couples, this arrangement persists over the three-year period; for the rest, this arrangement is transitory.
Does Loading Time Affect Implant Survival? A Meta‐Analysis of 1,266 Implants
Authors: Ioannidou Effie , Doufexi Aikaterini
Published: August 2005

Background: Considerable controversy exists as to whether immediate or early implant loading is associated with a higher failure rate compared to conventional loading. Numerous trials conducted have yielded inconsistent results, partly due to low statistical power. Thus, we sought to determine whether combining results from all published trials would provide a better estimate of the impact of implant loading time on survival.

Methods: We carried out a meta‐analysis of all previously published prospective trials comparing conventional with early or immediate implant loading. The outcome of interest was implant failure rate. The Q statistics test was used to assess the presence of heterogeneity. We identified relevant studies through a search of the MEDLINE database and the Cochrane Registry of Controlled Trials.

Results: We found 13 prospective trials (1,266 implants) in which early or immediate implant loading was compared to conventional loading. Overall there was no difference in implant failure rate between loading techniques (odds ratio [OR] 0.91; 95% CI: 0.41 to 2.03; P = 0.41). Implant failure occurred slightly, although not statistically significant, less often with early implant loading (OR 0.52; 95% CI: 0.22 to 1.24; P = 0.07). Immediate implant loading was associated with slightly, although not statistically significant, worse outcomes (OR 1.26; 95% CI: 0.38 to 4.13; P = 0.35). Pooling of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) con‐ firmed these results.

Conclusions: In a meta‐analysis of 13 prospective trials, early implant loading was not associated with worse outcomes compared to conventional loading. Further evaluations in adequately powered large prospective trials are needed to confirm these findings. J Periodontol 2005;76:1252‐1258.
Cyclosporin‐Induced Gingival Overgrowth: A Clinical–Epidemiological Evaluation of 121 Italian Renal Transplant Recipients
Authors: Vescovi Paolo , Meleti Marco , Manfredi Maddalena , Merigo Elisabetta , Pedrazzi Giuseppe
Published: August 2005

Background: Although other immunosuppressive agents have been recently introduced (e.g., tacrolimus), it has been calculated that in the next decade about 1 million people will still be taking cyclosporin (CsA). The association between gingival overgrowth (GO) and the use of CsA is still not clear. In the present study we evaluated the prevalence and the degree of GO in a group of Italian renal transplant patients and the possible relationship between gingival lesions and demographic, oral, systemic, and pharmacological variables.

Methods: One hundred twenty‐one renal transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy with CsA were evaluated in this study. Patients were classified in two groups. In the first (screening group), we included all those patients referred by the Parma University Renal Transplant Center for a general oral checkup, with no specific indications for GO. The second group (non‐screening group) included all those patients who specifically had been referred to the Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine Unit because of GO. We considered the following variables: gender, daily CsA dose, duration of immunosuppressive treatment, CsA plasma concentration, concomitant use of another immunosuppressive agent (azathioprine), use of other GO inducers (calcium channel blockers, anti‐epileptic drugs), oral hygiene scores, and other drugs taken at the time of oral examination.

Results: Fisher's exact test and chi square test demonstrated that in the screening group, duration of immunosuppressive treatment and oral hygiene scores were associated both with the prevalence and the high GO scores (P 1 DIT <0.0001; P 2 DIT = 0.0023; P 1 hyg = 0.0084; P 2 hyg = 0.0068). In the screening group, concomitant use of CsA and azathioprine is related to a low development degree of GO (P = 0.0088). In the non‐screening group, we found a significant association between poor oral hygiene and high degree of GO (P = 0.0349).

Conclusion: In addition to a probable genetic predisposition, duration of immunosuppressive treatment and oral hygiene status are the most important variables related to development and degree of GO during the use of CsA in this study. J Periodontol 2005;76: 1259‐1264.
Inhibition of Growth of Human Gingival Fibroblasts by Chimeric DNA‐RNA Hammerhead Ribozyme Targeting Transforming Growth Factor‐β1
Authors: Yusa Junko , Fukuda Noboru , Sato Soh , Matsmoto Koichi , Mugishima Hideo , Kamoi Kyuichi
Published: August 2005

Background: Transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 is involved in the pathogenesis of both drug‐induced gingival overgrowth and hereditary gingival fibromatosis. Ribozymes enzymatically cleave target mRNAs and are expected to be utilized as the basis of novel nucleic acid‐based therapies. We designed a chimeric DNA‐RNA ribozyme targeting TGF‐β1 mRNA and examined its effect on growth of gingival fibroblasts in culture.

Methods: Chimeric DNA‐RNA hammerhead ribozyme with sequence complementary to the loop structure of human TGF‐β1 mRNA was used. We evaluated transfer of the chimeric ribozyme by hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)‐envelope into cultured human gingival fibroblasts in vitro and rat gingival tissues in vivo. We then examined effects of the chimeric ribozyme to TGF‐β1 on proliferation and DNA synthesis in human gingival fibroblasts. We also examined effects of the chimeric ribozyme to TGF‐β1 on expression of TGF‐β1, type IV collagens, and fibronectin mRNAs and expression of TGF‐β1 protein in human gingival fibroblasts.

Results: Chimeric ribozyme was sufficiently distributed into human fibroblasts in vitro and rat gingivae in vivo. Chimeric ribozyme to TGF‐β1 significantly inhibited expression of TGF‐β1, type IV collagen, and fibronectin mRNAs and TGF‐β1 protein in human gingival fibroblasts. Mismatch ribozyme had no effect on expression of these molecules. Chimeric ribozyme to TGF‐β1 also significantly inhibited proliferation and DNA synthesis in gingival fibroblasts.

Conclusion: Chimeric DNA‐RNA ribozyme targeting TGF‐β1 may be a useful gene therapy agent for treatment of gingival hyperplasia. J Periodontol 2005;76:1265‐1274.
Differential Induction of Human Beta‐Defensin Expression by Periodontal Commensals and Pathogens in Periodontal Pocket Epithelial Cells
Authors: Vankeerberghen Anne , Nuytten Hilde , Dierickx Kurt , Quirynen Marc , Cassiman Jean‐Jacques , Cuppens Harry
Published: August 2005

Background: To investigate the possible role of beta‐defensins in gingival health and periodontal disease, we examined the effect of several stimuli on the expression of interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), human β‐defensin‐1, ‐2, ‐3, and ‐4 (hBD) in primary human diseased gingival epithelial (HGE) cell cultures from periodontitis patients by quantitative TaqMan reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR).

Methods: Several strains of the periodontopathogens Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were added to the cells, as well as the oral commensal bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum and Escherichia coli. The induction by the proinflammatory stimuli phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) was also tested.

Results: In addition to the published observations (PMA induces hBD‐2 and ‐4; TNF‐α induces hBD‐2 and ‐3), it was found that PMA can upregulate hBD‐1 and hBD‐3, whereas TNF‐α can induce hBD‐4. The commensal bacteria were significant inducers of hBD‐2, hBD‐3, and IL‐8. The pathogen P. gingivalis induced hBD‐1 and hBD‐3 at different time points than the commensals, but no induction of IL‐8 and hBD‐2 could be observed. These data fit with the chemokine paralysis theory. A correlation was found between the pathogenicity of different serotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans and the induction profiles of defensins and IL‐8.

Conclusion: The results suggest that a correlation can be found in diseased oral epithelium between the defensin profiles that are induced and the pathogenicity of the oral bacterial strains. J Periodontol 2005;76:1293‐1303.
The Influence of Surgical Treatment of Periodontal Disease on Selected Lymphocyte Subpopulations Important for Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses
Authors: Górska Renata , Laskus‐Perendyk Agnieszka , Gregorek Hanna , Kowalski Jan
Published: August 2005

Background: Periodontal disease is a complex pathological process involving a wide spectrum of immunological reactions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of surgical periodontal treatments on peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations.

Methods: The study was performed in 40 generally healthy individuals diagnosed with generalized chronic periodontitis and a control group of 36 persons without periodontitis. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations were examined in both groups. Periodontal treatment was performed, using four different surgical procedures, in the study group. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations were re‐evaluated again after 6 months.

Results: Periodontal treatment resulted in a significant improvement of all measured clinical parameters, regardless of the surgical procedure. When evaluated in the study group as a whole, percentages of all but CD8+ T lymphocyte subpopulations were significantly different from the control group at baseline. Values in both groups after treatment were similar. Correlation analysis suggests a connection between the presence of CD25+ cells and selected clinical parameters of periodontal disease (probing depth and clinical attachment loss).

Conclusions: Statistically significant differences in the percentages of selected lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood of patients and healthy controls were found. The results suggest a correlation between selected clinical periodontal parameters and percentage of activated cells expressing the interleukin (IL)‐2 receptor. Periodontal treatment resulted in significant improvement in the measured clinical and immunological parameters. It seems that the type of surgical treatment has little effect on the normalization of quantitative disturbances of the examined peripheral blood lymphocytes. J Periodontol 2005; 76:1304‐1310.
A 2‐Year Follow‐Up of Root Coverage Using Subpedicle Acellular Dermal Matrix Allografts and Subepithelial Connective Tissue Autografts
Authors: Hirsch A. , Goldstein M. , Goultschin J. , Boyan B.D. , Schwartz Z.
Published: August 2005

Background: Coverage of roots exposed by gingival recession is one of the main objectives of periodontal reconstructive surgery. A large variety of mucogingival grafting procedures are available. However, the long‐term effectiveness of this procedure is still not clear. This study compared the effectiveness of subpedicle acellular dermal matrix allografts with subepithelial connective tissue autografts in achieving root coverage 2 years postoperatively.

Methods: One hundred one (101) patients were treated with dermal matrix allografts (mean age, 28.4 ± 0.7 years; mean recession, 4.2 mm) and 65 patients treated with connective tissue graft (mean age, 30.1 ± 1.4 years; mean recession, 4.9 mm). All patients underwent full periodontal evaluation and presurgical preparation, including oral hygiene instruction and scaling and root planing. The exposed roots were thoroughly planed and covered by a graft without any further root treatment or conditioning. There were no differences in the average age, time of follow‐up, or gender between the two groups. Patients were evaluated periodically between 1 and 2 years. Residual recession and defect coverage were assessed.

Results: Mean residual root recession after root coverage with acellular dermal matrix allograft was 0.2 ± 0.04 mm, with defect coverage of 95.9% ± 0.9%. Frequency of defect coverage was 82.2%. Root coverage was 98.8% ± 0.2%, resulting in a frequency of root coverage of 100%. Gain in keratinized gingiva was 2.2 ± 0.04 mm and attachment gain was 4.5 ± 0.1 mm per patient. Connective tissue autografts resulted in mean residual root recession of 0.1 ± 0.04 mm, with percent defect coverage of 97.8% ± 0.6% and frequency of defect coverage of 95.4%. Root coverage was 99.1% ± 0.2%, and frequency of root coverage was 100%. Gain in keratinized gingiva was 3.0 ± 0.1 mm and attachment gain was 5.3 ± 0.2 mm per patient. No significant differences in final recession and root coverage between the two treatment methods were found. However, autografts resulted in significant increases in defect coverage, keratinized gingival gain, attachment gain, and residual probing depth. The clinical results were stable for the 2‐year follow‐up period.

Conclusions: These results indicate that coverage of root by subpedicle acellular dermal matrix allografts or subepithelial connective tissue autografts is a very predictable procedure which is stable for 2 years postoperatively. However, subepithelial connective tissue autografts resulted in significant increases in defect coverage, keratinized gingival gain, attachment gain, and residual probing depth. J Periodontol 2005;76:1323‐1328.
Periodontitis and Three Health‐Enhancing Behaviors: Maintaining Normal Weight, Engaging in Recommended Level of Exercise, and Consuming a High‐Quality Diet
Authors: Al‐Zahrani Mohammad S. , Borawski Elaine A. , Bissada Nabil F.
Published: August 2005

Background: Maintaining normal weight, engaging in the recommended level of exercise, and eating healthy food are known to improve general health. The impact of these behaviors on periodontal health is not well documented. This study is aimed at examining whether the increased number of these behaviors is associated with a decrease in the prevalence of periodontitis in a United States population.

Methods: This study utilized data on 12,110 individuals who participated in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between the number of health‐enhancing behaviors and periodontitis prevalence. Healthenhancing behaviors included maintaining normal weight (body mass index [BMI], 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2), engaging in the recommended level of exercises (≥5 episodes of moderate or ≥3 episodes of vigorous‐intensity physical activity per week), and having a high‐quality diet (healthy eating index >80).

Results: After controlling for age, gender, race\ethnicity, cigarette smoking, other tobacco products, education, diabetes, poverty index, census region, acculturation, vitamin use, time since the last dental visit, dental calculus, and gingival bleeding, a 1‐unit increase in the number of the three health‐enhancing behaviors was associated with a 16% reduction in the prevalence of periodontitis (odds ratio [OR] = 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.77 to 0.93). Individuals who maintained normal weight, engaged in the recommended level of exercise, and had a high‐quality diet were 40% less likely to have periodontitis compared to individuals who maintained none of these health‐enhancing behaviors.

Conclusion: An increased number of health‐enhancing behaviors is associated with a lower periodontitis prevalence. J Periodontol 2005;76:1362‐1366.
Effect of Er:YAG Laser on Diseased Root Surfaces: An In Vivo Study
Authors: Crespi Roberto , Barone Antonio , Covani Ugo
Published: August 2005

Background: The aim of the present study was to observe in vivo the effects of two different power settings of an Er:YAG laser on pockets of periodontally involved root surfaces using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Methods: Thirty‐two teeth with severe periodontal disease scheduled for extraction were divided into three groups: group A was irradiated with an energy of 140 mJ, 10 Hz; group B with 160 mJ 10 Hz; group C was used as controls. Morphological changes on the treated root surfaces were evaluated using SEM observations to assess laser‐induced ultrastructural changes.

Results: All surfaces treated in both groups showed a homogeneous and smooth root surface morphology. The surface alterations were very similar with both energy values used.

Conclusion: Er:YAG laser irradiation performed with two different power settings of root surfaces in vivo showed at the SEM observation a complete absence of debris and smooth root surfaces. J Periodontol 2005;76:1386‐1390.
Estrogen and Extracellular Matrix Influence Human Gingival Fibroblast Proliferation and Protein Production
Authors: Mariotti Angelo J.
Published: August 2005

Background: A paucity of information exists concerning how estrogen affects cellular function in the gingiva of women. In this study, the behavior of human gingival fibroblasts was examined in the presence of a potent estrogen, estradiol.

Methods: Quiescent, premenopausal gingival fibroblasts were incubated in the presence and absence of estradiol (1 nM) and/or raloxifene (100 nM). Cell number was determined and cell cycle analyzed using a flow cytometer. Collagen and non‐collagen production in cell cultures grown on various extracellular matrices were determined using a radioactive microassay which measures collagenase‐digestible and collagenase‐resistant radiolabeled proteins. To ascertain if the gingiva contained specific estrogen‐sensitive cell populations, a fluorescence‐activated cell sorter was used to detect, sort, and enrich fibroblast populations responsive to estrogen.

Results: Cellular proliferation and the number of cells entering the S‐phase of the cell cycle were significantly increased in mass cultures of fibroblasts stimulated by estradiol. Raloxifene did not antagonize the action of estradiol on cell proliferation. In regard to protein production, estradiol significantly reduced collagen production on plastic and collagen IV matrices; whereas non‐collagen protein production on plastic and collagen I matrices was significantly reduced. Cell sorting of mass fibroblast populations revealed that, on average, 45% of the cells from the resident population selectively accumulated the estrogen probe. These sorted and estrogen‐sensitive enriched cell populations proliferated in the presence of 1 nM estradiol, whereas the sorted, estrogen‐deficient enriched fibroblast populations did not proliferate when incubated with 1 nM estradiol.

Conclusions: These data indicate that estradiol can induce cellular proliferation while depressing protein production in cultures of human, premenopausal gingival fibroblasts. This cellular proliferation appears to be the result of a specific population of cells within the parent culture that responds to physiologic concentrations of estradiol. J Periodontol 2005;76:1391‐1397.
The Use of Surrogate Variables to Reflect Long‐Term Tooth Survivability
Authors: Greenstein Gary
Published: August 2005

Clinical parameters used to monitor periodontal patients are usually measures of the disease process. They are considered surrogate variables because changes in their status are interpreted to have an impact on the ultimate goal of periodontal therapy, which is tooth retention. However, their ability to reflect tooth survivability has been questioned because there is a lack of long‐term data to validate that stable or improved surrogates result in reduced tooth loss. Therefore, to clarify the utility of employing surrogates to reflect long‐term tooth retention, a number of issues related to their use are discussed in this commentary: phraseology, benefits and shortcomings, biologic credibility, and their previous successful utilization in monitoring the effects of therapy. This commentary supports the reasonableness of using surrogates to monitor periodontal status and suggests that a combination of surrogates that represent “periodontal clinical health” should be considered a true endpoint of periodontal therapy, since this outcome provides a condition conducive to tooth retention. J Periodontol 2005;76:1398‐1402.
Inflammatory Process of CD8+CD28− T Cells in Induced Sputum From Asthmatic Patients
Authors: Hamzaoui Agnes , Chaouch Nawel , Graïri Hedia , Ammar Jamel , Hamzaoui Kamel
Published: August 2005

Previously unreported CD8+CD28− and CD8+CD28+ T‐cell subsets occur in healthy individuals and expand in patients suffering from autoimmune disease. Here we studied, for the first time, the expression of
CD8+CD28+, CD8+CD28−, and CD8+CD56+ subpopulations in induced sputum from asthmatics. Using sputum
samples, purified CD8+ T cells were stained for surface antigen CD28, CD56, FITC‐conjugated anti‐perforin, and anti‐IFN‐γ. Cytotoxic activity was evaluated in a chromium releasing test. Induced sputum CD8+CD28− T cells were found to be more expanded and expressed low levels of IFN‐γ in severe asthmatics than mild asthma and age‐matched healthy controls. The predominance of CD8+CD28− T cells can be in part explained by the expansion of CD8+CD56+. CD8+CD28− T cells from severe asthmatics produced high intracytoplasmic perforin and exerted a potent cytotoxic activity. Considering their phenotyping and functional
properties, the CD8+CD28− T‐cell subset may constitute an intermediate phenotype in the process of
CD8+ T‐cell differentiation of effector‐type cells in severe asthmatics. Functional studies showed that CD8+CD28− T cells had cytotoxic function.
Domestic Exposure to Fungi and Total Serum IgE Levels in Asthmatic Children
Authors: Su Huey-Jen Jenny , Wu Pei-Chih , Lei Huan-Yao , Wang Jiu-Yao
Published: August 2005

We measured the number of airborne, viable fungi and house dust
mite (HDM) allergen levels in the homes of a group of asthmatic children. Blood samples were drawn and the amounts of total and specific serum IgE were determined. The association between the number of fungal colonies, dust mite allergen exposure, and
specific and total IgE was evaluated. The number of viable airborne fungi was high (20 543 CFU/m 3) in those investigated houses. Der p1 concentrations on child′s mattress exceeding 2 μg/g were found in 78.6% of the houses. A quantitative dose‐response relationship was demonstrated between the exposure to viable, airborne molds and the amount of total IgE (r = 0.4399 and P = .0249) and the level was further increased in children with coexposure to viable fungi and
HDM.
Serum Proinflammatory Mediators at Different Periods of Therapy inPatients With Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Kuku Irfan , Bayraktar Mehmet Refik , Kaya Emin , Erkurt Mehmet Ali , Bayraktar Nihayet , Cıkım Kerim , Aydogdu Ismet
Published: August 2005

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant disease characterized by the
clonal proliferation of plasma cells within the bone marrow. Several cytokines have been demonstrated to be involved in the control of growth, progression, and dissemination of MM. We determined serum levels of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), soluble interleukin‐2 receptor (sIL‐2R), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), and C‐reactive protein (CRP) in 14 newly diagnosed MM patients. The median age of the patients was 63.4 ± 10.8 years and all of the patients were stage III (classified according to the Durie‐Salmon classification). The same parameters were measured in 15 healthy controls. In addition, we also examined the effects of vincristine‐adriamycin‐dexamethasone (VAD) therapy on the same parameters and mediators as well as the relationship among the parameters in the same patient groups. The serum concentrations of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, sIL‐2R, IL‐6, IL‐8, and CRP (18.6 ± 3.7 pg/mL, 10.1 ± 2.8 pg/mL, 730 ± 220 U/mL, 11.4 ± 3.3 pg/mL, 23.9 ± 8.3 pg/mL, and 49.9 ± 19.5 mg/dL, resp) were significantly higher in newly diagnosed MM patients than in healthy controls (P < .0001). All of the parameters were found to be significantly reduced after chemotherapy. In conclusion, we found that after the VAD therapy, the level of these cytokines which are thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of MM was significantly suppressed. This is the first study demonstrating strong impact of VAD treatment on circulating mediators of sIL‐2R and IL‐8 levels parameters.
Proinflammatory Cytokines and Leptin Are Increased in Serum of Prepubertal Obese Children
Authors: Aygun A. Denizmen , Gungor Serdal , Ustundag Bilal , Gurgoze Metin K. , Sen Yasar
Published: August 2005

It has not yet been shown in prepubertal children how cytokines, leptin, and body mass, as well as parameters of obesity are interrelated. The aim of this study was to explore the relation between circulating levels of some cytokines with leptin and body mass index. A case control study was carried out in obese children of both sexes. An obese group was carried out with 63 school prepubertal children and a control group comprised the same number of nonobese children paired by age and by sex. Mean serum
leptin concentration was significantly higher in the obese children at 19.9 ± 7.4 ng/mL, than the control group (7.9 ± 5.1 ng/mL). Serum IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α levels were also significantly higher in the obese group than controls (33.0 ± 8.9, 45.2 ± 11.8, and 9.2 ± 2.3 pg/mL, versus 3.6 ± 1.0, 13.1 ± 3.9, and 3.9 ± 1.0 pg/mL, resp). In controversy, serum IL‐2 level was diminished in the obese group as 0.4 ± 0.1 versus 0.9 ± 0.1 U/L. Obesity may be a low‐grade systemic inflammatory disease. Obese prepubertal children have elevated serum levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α which are known as markers of inflammation.
Homicide in Los Angeles, 1827–2002
Authors: Monkkonen Eric H.
Published: August 2005

An analysis of nearly two centuries of homicide data that stretch back to the Mexican period for the city and county of Los Angeles reveal a long history of violence in the region, one in which the homicide rate has consistently been higher than that of other major cities. Such factors as national culture, regional differences, demographics, economics, and political structure help to account for the persistence of this pattern. Does this traditional tolerance for violence and homicide in Los Angeles signify a local articulation of what is deemed normal, and could long-term efforts be devised to counter it?
Social Capital Formation in Australian Rural Communities: The Role of the Stock and Station Agent
Authors: Ville Simon
Published: August 2005

Data from the Australian stock and station agent industry can be used to examine several unresolved issues concerning how to characterize and measure social capital. The evidence reveals two distinct types of social capital—one long-term and innate to a community and the other more volatile, subject to individual decisions. The two types are causally linked, the inherent strain providing propitious conditions for particular kinds of investment. Social-capital investment is measured through the proxy of goodwill as revealed in takeover analyses.
The Swedenborgian Search for African Purity
Authors: Rotberg Robert I.
Published: August 2005

Emanuel Swedenborg, an engineer and mystic of the Enlightenment, prophesied that mankind's spiritual perfection was to be found deep in the heart of Africa. That idea unleashed a flurry of scientific and geographical inquiry among his disciples and other Swedes that has long been neglected. In addition to stimulating an era of romantic colonization in Africa, some of the activity and enthusiasm of the Swedenborgians contributed significantly to the abolitionist agitation that eventually ended the slave trade.
Performing Patterns: Numinous Relations in Shang and Zhou China
Authors: McCurley Dallas
Published: August 2005

Shamanic and court ritual performance in Shang and Zhou China regulated political and cosmic orders by means of performances that structured the performer-audience relations, moving audiences toward some desired response as a strategy tied to the relation between the cosmos and humans.
The Space Specific Theatre: Skewed Visions' The City Itself
Authors: Jakovljevic Branislav
Published: August 2005

The performances in these Critical Acts de-privilege the visual aspect of the performer-audience relationship, instead focusing on the materiality of the encounter. In The City Itself, the performance group Skewed Visions departs from site-specific performance to engage in an examination of the physical and metaphysical properties of various locales; and in The Courtesan Tales, Nicole Blackman tells erotic tales to a bound audience-of-one, challenging
Sacred Theatres: Shakers, Spiritualists, Theatricality, and the Indian in the 1830s and 1840s
Authors: Bennett Bridget
Published: August 2005

In the 1830s and 1840s, the manifestations of spirits in Shaker meetings share a number of features, such as ethnic impersonations by whites of Indian spirits, with the emergence of a form of spiritualism that continues into the present. The overlap of the performance codes for these apparitional figures offers a means to construct one part of the popular belief system of 19th-century Shakers and also sheds light on their radical theology and its relationship to racial and gender rights.
Staging Meaning: Performance in the Modern Museum
Authors: Casey Valerie
Published: August 2005

This year's Student Essay Contest winner theorizes the disruptive role of performance in museums, and considers museums as elaborate stagings with experiential, relational, and performative dimensions.
Ignorance and Opinion in Stoic Epistemology
Authors: Meinwald Constance
Published: August 2005

This paper argues for a view that maximizes in the Stoics' epistemology the starkness and clarity characteristic of other parts of their philosophy. I reconsider our evidence concerning doxa (opinion/belief): should we really take the Stoics to de fine it as assent to the incognitive, so that it does not include the assent of ordinary people to their kataleptic impressions, and is thus actually inferior to agnoia (ignorance)? I argue against this, and for the simple view that in Stoicism assent is either, in the case of the fool, doxa = agnoia, or alternatively, in that of the sage, epistêmê (knowledge). This view, together with reflection on the appropriate sense of "between" in the relevant reports of SE and Cicero, yields a sympathetic reading of an otherwise problematic challenge Sextus reports Arcesilaus as having prepared for the Stoic claim that katalêpsis, which is the criterion of truth, is between knowledge and opinion; on my view each side is proceeding in a philosophically legitimate way.
Internationalizing SME Nontraditional Exporters and Their Internet Use Idiosyncrasies
Authors: Abor Joshua , Hinson Robert
Published: August 2005

This study focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of Ghanaian nontraditional exporters (NTEs) in the handicrafts, agricultural, and semiprocessed/processed NTE sectors. Specifically, the study focuses on the relationship between Internet utilization and (1) age of the NTE, (2) export performance, and (3) type of export organization in internationalizing NTEs. The age of an exporting firm had a significant effect on its Internet use. Export volumes and the type of company ownership had no significant influence on Internet use among exporting firms. Analysis of age of the firm and Internet use indicated that firms that have been in existence for a long time adopt the Internet slower.
Human Rights Conditionality and Aid Allocation: Case Study of Japanese Foreign Aid Policy
Authors: Furuoka Fumitaka
Published: August 2005

This paper examines a new trend in Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy that emerged at the end of the Cold War. In 1992, the Japanese government adopted the "Official Development Assistance Charter," which obliged Japan to use its foreign aid to promote human rights, democracy, and freedom. Since the beginning of the 1990s, there have been cases when Japan imposed "human rights conditionalities" by increasing the amount of foreign aid to the recipient countries with good human rights records and reducing economic assistance to the countries with poor human rights practices. However, there remain doubts whether Japan is truly committed to use its aid power as leverage to ensure that democracy and human rights are respected by the governments of its aid recipients. This paper uses panel data analysis to examine whether the condition of human rights in aid-recipient countries has become one of the factors that influence Japan's ODA allocation. The findings reveal the lack of evidence to prove that the human rights condition in aid-recipient countries has influenced the allocation of Japanese aid.
History of Marriage Contracts in Egypt
Authors: Sonbol Amira El-Azhary
Published: August 2005

While religious guidance may be central in choosing a spouse or expectations from marriage, until the nineteenth century, it was the contractual nature of marriage that defined the actual union entered into by husband and wife and according to which they lived together. Most importantly, marriage contracts could and often did include specific conditions agreed upon by the parties to the contract. The modern period will witness a shift toward privileging the religious side of marriage at the cost of the contractual and women's agency would experience a serious shift due to modern personal status laws.
Culture, Apology, and International Negotiation: The Case of the Sino-U.S. "Spy Plane" Crisis
Authors: Wang Zheng , Avruch Kevin
Published: August 2005

This article traces the course of the Sino-U.S. negotiation in April 2001, to resolve the crisis following the collision of a U.S. surveillance aircraft with a Chinese fighter jet off of China's coast and the subsequent unauthorized emergency landing of the U.S. plane at a Chinese airfield on Hainan Island. The negotiation focused on the Chinese demand for a full apology from the United States and the U.S. resistance to this demand. The article examines the role that culture, particularly linguistic differences, played in the course of the negotiation and its eventual resolution.