bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Osteochondral Autograft Transplantation for Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Elbow in Juvenile Baseball Players
Authors: Yamamoto Yuji , Ishibashi Yasuyuki , Tsuda Eiichi , Sato Hideki , Toh Satoshi
Published: December 2005

Background

Osteochondral autografts have recently become popular to treat articular cartilage defects, and they are used for unstable osteochondritis dissecans lesions as a means of biological fixation.

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical results of osteochondral autograft transfer for osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow.

Study Design

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods

Osteochondral autograft transfer was performed on 18 baseball players (mean age, 13.6 years) with osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow. These included 9 lesions that were grade 3 (separated but in situ) and 9 lesions that were grade 4 (displaced fragment with osteochondral defect) based on magnetic resonance imaging. All patients were evaluated with a scoring system, radiographs, and magnetic resonance imaging, with the mean follow-up at 3.5 years.

Results

In patients with grade 3 lesions, the subjective score was increased, but the objective score did not change. Six of 9 patients returned to their previous sports performance levels. One quit baseball because of academic reasons, 1 changed his position, and 1 changed to softball. In patients with grade 4 lesions, both subjective and objective scores were increased significantly. All but 1 patient returned to their previous sports performance levels. In the 3 grade 4 lesions with a wide osteochondral defect, the irregularity of the articular surface remained on magnetic resonance imaging.

Conclusion

Osteochondral autograft transplantation is a useful treatment for reattachment of the lesion as well as osteochondral resurfacing of elbow osteochondritis dissecans.
Multiple Sclerosis Medical Image Analysis and Information Management
Authors: Liu Lifeng , Meier Dominik , Polgar‐Turcsanyi Mariann , Karkocha Pawel , Bakshi Rohit , Guttmann Charles R. G.
Published: December 2005

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a central tool for patient management, as well as research, in multiple sclerosis (MS). Measurements of disease burden and activity derived from MRI through quantitative image analysis techniques are increasingly being used. There are many complexities and challenges in building computerized processing pipelines to ensure efficiency, reproducibility, and quality control for MRI scans from MS patients. Such paradigms require advanced image processing and analysis technologies, as well as integrated database management systems to ensure the most utility for clinical and research purposes. This article reviews pipelines available for quantitative clinical MRI research in MS, including image segmentation, registration, time‐series analysis, performance validation, visualization techniques, and advanced medical imaging software packages. To address the complex demands of the sequential processes, the authors developed a workflow management system that uses a centralized database and distributed computing system for image processing and analysis. The implementation of their system includes a web‐form‐based Oracle ®database application for information management and event dispatching, and multiple modules for image processing and analysis. The seamless integration of processing pipelines with the database makes it more efficient for users to navigate complex, multistep analysis protocols, reduces the user's learning curve, reduces the time needed for combining and activating different computing modules, and allows for close monitoring for quality‐control purposes. The authors' system can be extended to general applications in clinical trials and to routine processing for image‐based clinical research.
Synovial expression of IL-15 in rheumatoid arthritis is not influenced by blockade of tumour necrosis factor
Authors: Ernestam Sofia , af Klint Erik , Catrina Anca Irinel , Sundberg Erik , Engström Marianne , Klareskog Lars , Ulfgren Ann-Kristin
Published: December 2005

Blockade of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is an effective treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but both non-responders and partial responders are quite frequent. This suggests that other pro-inflammatory cytokines may be of importance in the pathogenesis of RA and as possible targets for therapy. In this study we investigated the effect of TNF blockade (infliximab) on the synovial expression of IL-15 in RA in relation to different cell types and expression of other cytokines, to elucidate whether or not IL-15 is a possible target for therapy, independently of TNF blockade. Two arthroscopies with multiple biopsies were performed on nine patients with RA and knee-joint synovitis before and after three infusions of infliximab (3 mg/kg). Synovial biopsies were analysed with immunohistochemistry for expression of IL-15, TNF, IL-1α, IL-1ß and IFN-γ, and for the cell surface markers CD3, CD68 and CD163. Stained synovial biopsy sections were evaluated by computerized image analysis. IL-15 expression was detected in all synovial biopsies taken at baseline. After infliximab therapy, the expression of IL-15 was increased in four patients and reduced in five. Synovial expression of IL-15 was not correlated with any CD marker or with the presence of any other cytokine. Synovial cellularity was decreased after 8 to 10 weeks of treatment with a significant reduction of the CD68-positive synovial cells, whereas no significant change was seen in the number of CD3-positive T cells and CD163-expressing macrophages. The number of TNF-producing cells in the synovial tissue at baseline was correlated with a good response to therapy. Thus, in this study the synovial expression of IL-15 in RA was not consistently influenced by TNF blockade, being apparently independent of TNF expression in the synovium. Consequently, we propose that IL-15 should remain as a therapeutic target in RA, regardless of the response to TNF blockade.
Changes in appetite related gut hormones in intensive care unit patients: a pilot cohort study
Authors: Nematy Mohsen , O'Flynn Jacqui E , Wandrag Liesl , Brynes Audrey E , Brett Stephen J , Patterson Michael , Ghatei Mohammad A , Bloom Stephen R , Frost Gary S
Published: December 2005

Introduction

The nutritional status of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) appears to decline not only during their stay in the ICU but also after discharge from the ICU. Recent evidence suggests that gut released peptides, such as ghrelin and peptide YY (PYY) regulate the initiation and termination of meals and could play a role in the altered eating behaviour of sick patients. The aim of this study was to assess the patterns of ghrelin and PYY levels during the stay of ICU patients in hospital.

Methods

Sixteen ICU patients (60 ± 4.7 years, body mass index (BMI) 28.1 ± 1.7 kg/m2 (mean ± standard error of the mean)) underwent fasting blood sample collections on days 1, 3, 5, 14, 21 and 28 of their stay at Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospitals. Changes in appetite and biochemical and anthropometric markers of nutritional status were recorded. A comparison was made to a group of 36 healthy volunteers matched for age and BMI (54.3 ± 2.9 years, p = 0.3; BMI 25.8 ± 0.8 kg/m2p = 0.2).

Results

Compared to healthy subjects, ICU patients exhibited a significantly lower level of ghrelin (day one 297.8 ± 76.3 versus 827.2 ± 78.7 pmol/l, p < 0.001) during their stay in the ICU. This tended to rise to the normal level during the last three weeks of hospital stay. Conversely, ICU patients showed a significantly higher level of PYY (day one 31.5 ± 9.6 versus 11.3 ± 1.0 pmol/l, p < 0.05) throughout their stay in the ICU and on the ward, with a downward trend to the normal level during the last three weeks of stay.

Conclusions

Results from our study show high levels of PYY and low levels of ghrelin in ICU patients compared to healthy controls. There appears to be a relationship between the level of these gut hormones and nutritional intake.
Profiles of social communicative competence in middle school children with Asperger syndrome: Two case studies
Authors: Bellon-Harn Monica L , Harn William E
Published: December 2005

Among characteristics of children diagnosed with Asperger syndrome (AS) are difficulties in social communication. This study describes the social communicative competence of two middle school children with AS participating in conversations in three different situational contexts. The conversations were transcribed and submitted to three kinds of analysis: 1) analysis of the distribution of the conversational load, 2) Damico's (1985) Clinical Discourse Analysis (CDA), and 3) analysis of interchange types and illocutionary force. Whereas some similarities were observed, the children presented with distinct profiles of social communicative competence. Clinical implications are presented for each child.
Training others in the art of therapy for speech sound disorders: an interactional approach
Authors: Gardner Hilary
Published: December 2005

This paper describes the pilot of an interactional training programme designed for speech and language therapists to use with school support assistants, students and parents to enhance their implementation of therapy for children with speech sound difficulties. Collaborative therapy sessions in a school setting were videoed to encourage reflection on the participants' inter-action using guided observation. Selected aspects of adult/child interaction were subjected to detailed conversation analysis and this showed that training resulted in positive changes in the therapy interactions including evidence of improved response outcomes for the children. The paper focuses on sequences where adult responses give the child further information about a prior attempt (‘try’) at a word as well as those that direct the child towards self-correction.
Performance of children with different types of communication impairment on the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF)
Authors: Lloyd Helen , Paintin Kath , Botting Nicola
Published: December 2005

Three groups of children with communication disorders were assessed using the CELF (Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals). The results were used to compare the language skills of children with specific language impairment (SLI), autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and a middle group who shared some characteristics of both SLI and ASD (Shared group). The children were aged between 5 years 10 months and 10 years 7 months. Each child was assessed on either the CELF UK 3 or the CELF Preschool, depending on their age and ability. The overall language profiles were compared and differences were found between the three groups. A more detailed analysis of the individual subtests was made, which showed that all three groups had the least difficulty with 'Listening to Paragraphs' (which involves abstracting and remembering information from two short texts). It also showed that all three groups had difficulty with 'Recalling Sentences' (which involves repeating sentences of increasing length and complexity). This paper discusses the value of using a more comprehensive range of linguistic assessments when considering the similarities and differences between groups of children within this population, it also considers the educational and clinical implications and makes suggestions for future research.
Shared storybook reading with a student who uses alternative and augmentative communication: A description of scaffolding practices
Authors: Liboiron Nicole , Soto Gloria
Published: December 2005

This study reports descriptive findings regarding the scaffolding strategies used by an experienced practitioner during a shared book reading session with a student who uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Specific scaffolding strategies are described and, in addition, the level of semantic complexity targeted by the practitioner during the session was examined. The majority of scaffolding strategies targeted higher levels of semantic complexity such as metalanguage, inference and interpretation. Results of this work may contribute to the design of storybook reading as a context for narrative language intervention for children who use AAC.
I would like to play but I don't know how: a case study of pretend play in autism
Authors: Hess Lucille
Published: December 2005

Children with autism have poor pretend play abilities, which greatly affects their social skill development. This intervention technique, using an adult partner, describes how a guided story and role-playformat enhanced abilities ofpretence and the understanding of social roles in a ten-year-old, verbal boy with autism. By having an everyday event story read and discussed, retelling the story and then acting out the event, the child used repetition of story routines and expected social exchanges to augment his pretend play. Growth in play behaviour was noted in the reduction of non-role-play utterances, increases in appropriate use of and response to questions, use of spontaneous, appropriate social exchanges and increases in the use of pretence. Using familiar play situations with adult guidance may be one way to provide scaffolding for verbal children with autism to learn roles for play and to practise social skills.
Autonomous Component Health Management with Failed Component Detection, Identification, and Avoidance
Authors: Davis R N , Polites M E , Trevino L C
Published: December 2005

This article describes a novel scheme for autonomous component health management (ACHM) with failed actuator detection and identification and failed sensor detection, identification, and avoidance. This new scheme has features that are very superior to those with triple redundant sensing and voting, yet requires fewer sensors; it can be applied to any system with redundant sensing. Relevant background to the ACHM scheme is provided in this article. Simulation results for its application to a single-axis spacecraft attitude control system with a third-order plant and dual-redundant measurements of the system states are presented. The ACHM scheme fulfills key functions needed by an integrated vehicle health monitoring (IVHM) system. It is autonomous; is adaptive; works in real time; provides optimal state estimation; identifies failed components; avoids failed components; reconfigures for multiple failures, reconfigures for intermittent failures; works for hard-over, soft, and zero-output failures; and works for both open- and closed-loop systems. The ACHM scheme combines a prefilter that generates preliminary estimates of the system states, detects and identifies failed sensors and actuators, and avoids failed sensors in generating preliminary estimates of the system states with a fixed-gain Kalman filter that provides model-based state estimates, which are utilized in the failure detection logic, and generates optimal estimates for the system states. The simulation results show that ACHM can successfully detect, identify, and avoid sensor failures that are single or multiple; persistent and intermittent; and hard-over, soft, and zero-output types. It is now ready to be tested on a computer model of an actual system.
Pulse Width Modulating Low Power Magnetic Torquers for Precise Spacecraft Attitude Stabilization
Authors: Polites M , Quarles C , Kaderbek D
Published: December 2005

This article describes a spacecraft attitude stabilization system that uses a set of 12 low power magnetic torquers. The low power magnetic torquer consists of a hard magnetic material rod inside a solenoid. Discharging a capacitor through the solenoid winding generates a current pulse that changes the magnetic dipole moment of the rod when required. The interaction of this magnetic dipole moment with the Earth's magnetic field creates a torque on the rod that is used to stabilize the attitude of a spacecraft in low Earth orbit to a local vertical orientation. Pulse width modulating the low power magnetic torquers is shown to improve significantly the precision with which the spacecraft can be aligned with the local vertical. This system is compared by means of computer simulation to a similar one that uses conventional electromagnet torquers and is shown to use about two orders of magnitude less power and energy.
Optimization of High Angle-of-Attack Approach to Landing Trajectories
Authors: Visser H G
Published: December 2005

The use of thrust vectoring technologies for performing extremely short takeoff and landing (ESTOL) operations was recently successfully demonstrated in a series of flight experiments involving an X-31 aircraft.

The study presented herein builds on these ESTOL developments. More specifically, the main goal of the present study is to shape high angle-of-attack approach trajectories in such a way that starting at a given altitude and speed, the down-range distance to the runway threshold is minimized. In other words, the steepest approach possible is explored.

The approach-to-landing problem is formulated as an optimal control problem and solved numerically, using a rigid-body model of a thrust-vectored version of an F-16 fighter aircraft. The employed numerical method, collocation with non-linear programming, proves well suited for solving this problem.
Water Fraction Measurement in Marine Fuel Emulsions
Authors: Smith G H , Owens E H , Reading I
Published: December 2005

The proposal, from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), to limit further the emissions from marine diesel engines came into effect in May 2005. This has considerable consequence for the management and operation of ship diesel plant. One method that has been shown to limit the emissions of NOx is the addition of quantities of water as an emulsion into the heavy fuel oil (HFO) before it is injected into the burners. This reduces the peak combustion temperature, improves atomization of the diesel fuel, and can reduce emissions by as much as 30 per cent. A key component for an efficient and cost-effective system is a method to monitor the water content to an accuracy sufficient to allow the mix to be adjusted to meet the needs of the varying engine loads.

This paper briefly presents the environmental, legislative, and technical background. The principle aim is, however, to describe the experimental work examining the application of an in-line optical sensor. Laboratory tests on HFO, having a room temperature viscosity of 180 cSt, were undertaken at two nominal temperatures, 80 and 130°. These tests provide empirical evidence that an in-line optical monitor could determine water fraction within the emulsion to the accuracy requirement (better than 3 per cent) and over the operational water content range (15-33 per cent water to oil). A hypothesis is presented to explain the changes in the optical scattering characteristics of the oil/water emulsion with water content.

Additional results are presented that demonstrate the use of two commercial viscometers to quantify the oil/water fraction. It was concluded that the measurement of emulsion viscosity can be related to water fraction but that the current instruments do not have the required resolution and have serious limitations due to their temperature sensitivity.

A key requirement for further work is that the scattering properties of the emulsion be investigated in greater detail. In particular a test must be undertaken at temperatures in the region of 170°. Also, the instrument must be developed to cope with the wide variety of diesel fuels that a ship may take on at bunkering facilities around the world.
Effect of Fluorine Substituent on the Chitinase-catalyzed Polymerization of Sugar Oxazoline Derivatives
Authors: Makino Akira , Sakamoto Junji , Ohmae Masashi , Kobayashi Shiro
Published: December 2005

6-Deoxy-6-fluoro sugar oxazoline derivatives were synthesized and evaluated their polymerizabilities with the catalysis of chitinase. The polymerizability of an N-acetyl-6-deoxy-6-fluoroglucosamine oxazoline was lower than that of non-fluorinated N-acetylglucosamine oxazoline, only providing the ring-opened hydrolyzate. The disaccharide oxazoline derivative of N,N′-diacetyl-6′-deoxy-6′-fluorochitobiose exhibited lower polymerizability with the enzyme compared to that of the non-fluorinated N,N′-diacetylchitobiose oxazoline, providing the corresponding fluorinated chitin derivative in good yields within 4 h. These results suggest that the fluorine atom-incorporation reduced the reactivity of the oxazolines.
Retrospectives: Eugenics and Economics in the Progressive Era
Authors: Leonard Thomas C
Published: December 2005

During the Progressive Era, eugenic approaches to social and economic reform were popular, respectable and widespread. This essay documents the influence of eugenic ideas upon American economic reform, especially in the areas of immigration and labor reform, and tries to illuminate something of its causes and consequences.
Individual Irrationality and Aggregate Outcomes
Authors: Fehr Ernst , Tyran Jean-Robert
Published: December 2005

In their personal lives, many economists recognize that they are surrounded by individuals who are less than fully rational. In their professional lives, however, economists often use models that examine the interactions of fully rational agents. To reduce the cognitive dissonance of this situation, many economists believe that interactions in markets will correct or offset individually anomalous behaviors—although the reasons for this belief are often not clearly spelled out. This paper presents evidence indicating that “strategic complementarity” and “strategic substitutability” are important determinants of aggregate outcomes. Under strategic complementarity, a small amount of individual irrationality may lead to large deviations from the aggregate predictions of rational models; under strategic substitutability, a minority of rational agents may suffice to generate aggregate outcomes consistent with the predictions of rational models. Thus, the presence of strategic substitutability or complementarity seems to be a key condition in determining when a population that is heterogeneous with regard to rationality reaches either a “rational” or an “irrational” outcome.
The American Mortgage in Historical and International Context
Authors: Green Richard K , Wachter Susan M
Published: December 2005

The U.S. mortgage before the 1930s would be nearly unrecognizable today: it featured variable interest rates, high down payments and short maturities. The authors compare the form of U.S. home mortgages today with those in other countries. The U.S. mortgage provides many more options to borrowers than are commonly provided elsewhere: American homebuyers can choose whether to pay a fixed or floating rate of interest; they can lock in their interest rate in between the time they apply for the mortgage and the time they purchase their house; they can choose the time at which the mortgage rate resets; they can choose the term and the amortization period; they can prepay freely; and they can generally borrow against home equity freely. They can also obtain home mortgages at attractive terms with very low down payments. The authors discuss the nature of the U.S. government intervention in home mortgage markets that has led to the specific choices available to American homebuyers. They believe that the unique characteristics of the U.S. mortgage provide substantial benefits for American homeowners and the overall stability of the economy.
Recommendations for Further Reading
Authors: Taylor Timothy
Published: December 2005

This section will list readings that may be especially useful to teachers of undergraduate economics, as well as other articles that are of broader cultural interest. In general, the articles chosen will be expository or integrative and not focus on original research. If you write or read an appropriate article, please send a copy of the article (and possibly a few sentences describing it) to Timothy Taylor, c/o Journal of Economic Perspectives, Macalester College, 1600 Grand Ave., Saint Paul, Minnesota 55105.
The Original Management Incentive Schemes
Authors: Holden Richard T
Published: December 2005

During the 1990s, the structure of pay for top corporate executives shifted markedly as the use of stock options greatly expanded. By the early 2000s, as the dot-com boom ended and the Nasdaq stock index melted down, these modern executive incentive schemes were being sharply questioned on many grounds—for encouraging excessive risk-taking and a short-run orientation, for being an overly costly and inefficient method of providing incentives, and even for tempting managers of firms like Enron, WorldCom and Tyco to commit fraud in order to ensure a high stock price at the time of exercise. This article examines executive incentive schemes developed by Du Pont and General Motors in the 1920s —the original incentive schemes linking executive compensation to stock prices. The author argues that these plans were well-designed to pre-empt and address many of the criticisms of modern-day executive stock option plans.
Comments
Authors: Goulder Lawrence H , Parry Ian W.H , Williams Roberton C
Published: December 2005

To be considered for publication in the Comments section, letters should be relatively short—generally fewer than 1,000 words—and should be sent to the journal offices at the address appearing inside the front cover. The editors will choose which letters will be published. All published letters will be subject to editing for style and length.
The Degradation of Reported Corporate Profits
Authors: Desai Mihir A
Published: December 2005

Recent corporate scandals have highlighted abuses by firms overstating profits to capital markets. In a related but less noticed vein, the reporting of profits to tax authorities has come under increased scrutiny with heightened concerns over the spread of tax avoidance activities. How could firms simultaneously be inflating profits reported to the capital markets and understating profits reported to tax authorities? The practical answer is that American firms keep two sets of financial statements: a financial statement that reports “book profits” to the capital markets and a separate financial statement that reports “tax profits” to the government. These two profit reports can bear little resemblance to each other and follow distinct rules. This paper argues that the latitude afforded managers by the dual nature of corporate profit reporting has contributed to the simultaneous degradation of profit reporting to capital markets and tax authorities. The distinction between book and tax profits allows managers the ability to mischaracterize tax savings to capital markets and to mischaracterize profits to tax authorities. Examination of three high-profile cases of managerial misreporting of profits and tax avoidance—at Enron, Tyco and Xerox—reveals how the drive to improve reported book profits fosters tax avoidance and how the drive to limit taxes gives rise to the manipulation of accounting profits and managerial malfeasance.
Accounting for Stock Options
Authors: Bulow Jeremy , Shoven John B
Published: December 2005

As public companies begin their new fiscal years, they are implementing a new and controversial Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB, 2004) proposal for expensing stock options. Applied to 2003 and 2004, this rule would have slashed reported earnings of the Standard & Poor's 500 by 8.6 and 7.4 percent; the effect in the bubble years would have been more than twice as large. We describe the history of how these options have been expensed for financial statement purposes. We assess the new FASB approach and find that it is deeply flawed. The main purpose of the paper is to describe an alternative options expense valuation method, the Bulow-Shoven approach, that addresses these problems. Our approach is simpler than the new FASB methodology, less prone to earnings manipulation and more consistent with the way the rest of compensation is treated in financial statements.
Intelligence Failures: An Organizational Economics Perspective
Authors: Garicano Luis , Posner Richard A
Published: December 2005

Two recent failures of the U.S. intelligence system have led to the creation of high-level investigative commissions. The failure to prevent the terrorist attacks of 9/11 prompted the creation of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (2004), or 9/11 Commission.The mistaken belief that Saddam Hussein had retained weapons of mass destruction prompted the creation of the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction (2005), or the WMD Commission. In this paper, we use insights from organizational economics to analyze the principal organizational issues these commissions have raised in the ongoing discussion about how to prevent intelligence failures.
Cognitive Reflection and Decision Making
Authors: Frederick Shane
Published: December 2005

This paper introduces a three-item “Cognitive Reflection Test” (CRT) as a simple measure of one type of cognitive ability—the ability or disposition to reflect on a question and resist reporting the first response that comes to mind. The author will show that CRT scores are predictive of the types of choices that feature prominently in tests of decision-making theories, like expected utility theory and prospect theory. Indeed, the relation is sometimes so strong that the preferences themselves effectively function as expressions of cognitive ability—an empirical fact begging for a theoretical explanation. The author examines the relation between CRT scores and two important decision-making characteristics: time preference and risk preference. The CRT scores are then compared with other measures of cognitive ability or cognitive “style.” The CRT scores exhibit considerable difference between men and women and the article explores how this relates to sex differences in time and risk preferences. The final section addresses the interpretation of correlations between cognitive abilities and decision-making characteristics.
Oil for What?—Illicit Iraqi Oil Contracts and the U.N. Security Council
Authors: Heaton Paul
Published: December 2005

The Oil-For-Food program was established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 986 in 1995 as a means of providing humanitarian relief to Iraq, which had been under U.N. economic sanctions since the Persian Gulf War in 1991. After the invasion of Iraq, considerable evidence emerged suggesting that Saddam Hussein was able to subvert the Oil-For-Food program to obtain hard currency as well as items on the United Nation's prohibited transfer list. In this paper, I use recently available data to examine how the Iraqi government used illicit contracts for underpriced oil to reward supporters. Although it may never be possible to prove conclusively that the Iraqi government used oil contracts as a mechanism to trade bribes for votes in the U.N. Security Council, I demonstrate that nations with seats on the Security Council received a greater number and a greater value of these contracts and that receipt of the contracts was positively associated with pro-Iraqi votes. I also find that Iraq was more likely to give contracts to countries on the Council that had exhibited prior support for the Iraqi regime.
The Vulcanization of the Human Brain: A Neural Perspective on Interactions Between Cognition and Emotion
Authors: Cohen Jonathan D
Published: December 2005

Emotions may explain inconsistencies in human behavior and forms of behavior that some have deemed irrational, though such behavior may seem more sensible after a discussion of the functions that emotions serve—or may have once served in our evolutionary past. People do have the capacity to override emotional responses. This capacity relies in large measure on the most recently evolved parts of our brains that support forms of behavior that are more recognizably rational. Neuroscientists are beginning to make headway in identifying the neural mechanisms involved in both emotional responses and higher cognitive processes. Among the most recent and exciting developments in neuroscience has been the introduction of methods for imaging the function of the intact human brain. This effort offers the promise of a deeper understanding of how and why emotions impact decision making, how this may contribute to behavior that appears to deviate from optimality, and how and when we are able to overcome such emotional responses.
Assessing High House Prices: Bubbles, Fundamentals and Misperceptions
Authors: Himmelberg Charles , Mayer Christopher , Sinai Todd
Published: December 2005

How does one tell when rapid growth in house prices is caused by fundamental factors of supply and demand and when it is an unsustainable bubble? In this paper, we explain how to assess the state of house prices—both whether there is a bubble and what underlying factors support housing demand—in a way that is grounded in economic theory. In doing so, we correct four common fallacies about the costliness of the housing market. For a number of reasons, conventional metrics for assessing pricing in the housing market such as price-to-rent ratios or price-to-income ratios generally fail to reflect accurately the state of housing costs. To the eyes of analysts employing such measures, housing markets can appear “exuberant” even when houses are in fact reasonably priced. We construct a measure for evaluating the cost of home owning that is standard for economists—the imputed annual rental cost of owning a home, a variant of the user cost of housing—and apply it to 25 years of history across a wide variety of housing markets. This calculation enables us to estimate the time pattern of housing costs within a market. As of the end of 2004, our analysis reveals little evidence of a housing bubble.
A Natural Experiment in Monetary Policy Covering Three Episodes of Growth and Decline in the Economy and the Stock Market
Authors: Friedman Milton
Published: December 2005

The third of three episodes in a major natural experiment in monetary policy that started more than 80 years ago is just now coming to an end. The experiment consists in observing the effect on the economy and the stock market of the monetary policies followed during and after three very similar periods of rapid economic growth in response to rapid technological change: the booms of the 1920s in the United States, the 1980s in Japan and the 1990s in the United States. In this experiment, the quantity of money is the counterpart of the experimenter's input. The performance of the economy and the level of the stock market are the counterpart of the experimenter's output. The results of this natural experiment are clear, at least for major ups and downs: what happens to the quantity of money has a determinative effect on what happens to national income and to stock prices. The results strongly support Anna Schwartz's and my 1963 conjecture about the role of monetary policy in the Great Contraction. They also support the view that monetary policy deserves much credit for the mildness of the recession that followed the collapse of the U.S. boom in late 2000.
Effect of Interstitial Velocity on the Adsorption of Bacteria onto Soil
Authors: Abu-Ashour Jamal , Abu-Zreig Majed
Published: December 2005

The adsorption of bacteria onto soil is affected by the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil and water, the size and morphology of the bacterial cells, and the water-flow characteristics in the soil. The present study focuses on the latter factor by investigating the effect of the interstitial velocity on the adsorption of bacteria onto soil. Columns of 10 cm diameter and 130 cm height, respectively, were packed with a sandy soil. The columns were saturated with water containing nalidixic acid-resistant Escherichia coli as a bio-tracer at three different pH levels. The columns were maintained at 20°C for 24 h before connecting the column outlet to its inlet by a pump in a closed loop. Water containing the biotracer was re-circulated through the column for another 24 h at three different interstitial velocities.

Water samples were taken from a sampling tap connected to the pump at 4-h intervals. These samples were analyzed to determine the biotracer concentration. The results show that more biotracer cells were retained in the soil at the lower interstitial velocity. The higher interstitial velocity resulted in higher shear forces which caused more desorption of the biotracer cells from the surfaces of the soil particles. Bacterial adsorption was higher at the acidic pH value. The survival of the biotracer cells in soil solution was also tested at three different pH levels. The results show that no decline in the biotracer concentration occurred during the test period.
Progress in Fundamental Research into Supercritical Adsorption and its Impact on Clean Energy Technology
Authors: Zhou Li
Published: December 2005

Progress in the fundamental research of supercritical adsorption and its impact to the research of clean energy technology are presented. The monomolecular coverage mechanism and an isotherm model were assigned for supercritical adsorption, on the basis of which it was possible to explain the experimental isotherms of supercritical gases in a satisfactory manner. Clarification of the adsorption mechanism of supercritical gases helped to (a) identify what materials to study in a search for better carriers of gaseous fuels and (b) indicate the best route to take in a search for an improved technology for the separation or purification of this kind of fuel.
Space Structures for Low-stress Environments
Authors: Benjamin Bezaleel S.
Published: December 2005

This paper examines the criteria for the architectural design of space structures in low-stress environments, where stress-carrying ability is no longer a relevant consideration in the design of the space structure. In such environments, ergonomics and minimum surface criteria can lead to the most efficient design of the space structure. Based on these two criteria, the paper then considers the architectural design of a space tunnel and an interchange station. In direction-controlled artificial gravity environments, the nesting of ergonomic shapes, for minimum surface area, can lead to even more cost-effective design. 3–D computer graphics are used to display the results of this research.
Folding Sleeves — Variations on a Theme of the Earthworm
Authors: Hachem Caroline , Hanaor Ariel
Published: December 2005

The earthworm is a pressurised fluid tube whose peristaltic locomotion is facilitated by distinct structural features. The envelope of the earthworm incorporates two primary morphological and structural systems: A skeletal system, formed by a helical network of collagen fibres, and a continuous system composed of a stretchable membrane. The two systems closely interact under internal fluid pressure to produce the peristaltic locomotion.

The paper presents applications of foldable sleeves or tubes, simulating the morphological and kinematical aspects of the earthworm locomotion, focusing on the combination of skeletal and compatible stressed-skin systems to produce a functional envelope. Several skeletal and stressed-skin structural systems and their combinations are presented, making extensive use of physical models. These systems are characterised by helical morphological features, which preserve the main kinematical characteristics of earthworm locomotion.
Dynamic Performance of the Roof of Hagia Sophia considering Cracking
Authors: Şahin Meltem , Mungan Ihsan
Published: December 2005

Cracks have major effects on both static and dynamic behaviour of masonry structures. Cracking starts at the weakest region and propagates through the whole structure as load is increased. Hence, investigation of the crack propagation gives an idea about the possible collapse mechanisms of any masonry structure. A worldwide known 1500 years old masonry building is Hagia Sophia with its unique structural system of its roof and size, covering a column free 2000 sqm. large space. Hagia Sophia will stands and resists earthquakes, although it has a lot of cracks.

Cracking of a structure strongly depends on the form and the rigidity of its elements. For this reason, in this paper, two alternative structural models of Hagia Sophia are investigated from dynamic point of view considering the crack propagation. The original model represents the structure as built, whereas a fictitious second one is obtained by modifying the east and west arches of the first. In the second model, the size of the weak east and west arches is increased to be equal to that of the strong north and south arches. Results of the analyses are given in terms of diagrams for the principal stress distributions. It turns out that the model with strong arches in both directions provides a higher resistance to earthquake, even after cracking.
Finn-Power Italia Develops and Implements a Method to Cope with High Product Variety and Frequent Modifications
Authors: Danese Pamela , Romano Pietro
Published: December 2005

Finn-Power Italia produces automated machines for sheet metal bending, which it sells in more than 60,000 configurations, obtained by combining several options. Furthermore, designers often modify the product. Bending machines can produce very different products, from baking ovens to panels for ventilation systems for cruise ships. We developed and implemented a method of using planning bills and product modularity to deal with high product variety and frequent modifications. Planning bills are an artificial grouping of components used to simplify forecasting and material planning. The method develops (1) decision-support models that simultaneously translate sales specifications for new or changed options into product documentation, and engineering changes into saleable options; and (2) planning bills that need not be fully revised as products change.
The Turkish Army Uses Simulation to Model and Optimize Its Fuel-Supply System
Authors: Sabuncuoglu Ihsan , Hatip Ahmet
Published: December 2005

Moving military troops, which is critical to tactical success, depends on providing large quantities of fuel. We used simulation to model and analyze the Turkish army’s fuel-supply system that consists of sea-going tankers, tank fields, pipelines, and depots. We measured performance of the existing and proposed systems under various scenarios. We developed a simulation optimization model based on a genetic algorithm (GA) to optimize system performance. Based on the results of extensive simulation experiments, we proposed a number of changes. We recommended that the army should open the existing fuel-supply system and that it establish commercial use in peacetime to obtain additional operating revenue. New trigger levels (or fuel-replenishment policies) for wartime allow the fuel-supply system to survive much longer even in the most severe war conditions. These specific recommendations are being considered by the top army officials to obtain benefits worth millions of dollars.
Selected Topics in Column Generation
Authors: Lübbecke Marco E. , Desrosiers Jacques
Published: December 2005

Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition and column generation, devised for linear programs, is a success story in large-scale integer programming. We outline and relate the approaches, and survey mainly recent contributions, not yet found in textbooks. We emphasize the growing understanding of the dual point of view, which has brought considerable progress to the column generation theory and practice. It stimulated careful initializations, sophisticated solution techniques for the restricted master problem and subproblem, as well as better overall performance. Thus, the dual perspective is an ever recurring concept in our “selected topics.”
Comparing institutional designs for neighbourhood renewal: neighbourhood management in Britain and the régies de quartier in France
Authors: Clark David , Southern Rebekah
Published: December 2005

English

This article provides a comparative perspective on urban regeneration strategies through an analysis of two distinct institutional designs for revitalising deprived urban neighbourhoods: neighbourhood management in Britain and the ‘régies de quartier’ model in France. The article draws on case studies of the Thornhill New Deal for Communities neighbourhood in Southampton and the Régie Bocca Services in Cannes to evaluate the context, philosophy and practice of partnership working and community empowerment associated with each institutional design. The article concludes by identifying some possible lessons for UK policy makers of the French experience with régies de quartier.
Work First as a European model? Evidence from Germany and the Netherlands
Authors: Bruttel Oliver , Sol Els
Published: December 2005

English

Work First has emerged as the dominant active labour market policy strategy in Anglo-Saxon countries. In this article, we analyse recent labour market policy developments in Germany and the Netherlands. On the basis of general policy developments and four specific indicators (active labour market budgets, unemployment benefit systems, the definition of suitable work and the use of sanctions), we find supporting evidence for the hypothesis that Work First is gaining popularity in both Germany and the Netherlands. In Germany we find Work First at an early stage in terms of rules, and in the Netherlands we identify numerous experiments that are already under way in practice with respect to Work First variants.
Giving urban policy its ‘medical’: assessing the place of health in area-based regeneration
Authors: Atkinson Rowland , Thomson Hilary , Kearns Ade , Petticrew Mark
Published: December 2005

English

How does regeneration affect health and how have successive urban policy evaluations sought to measure such impacts? This article draws on a systematic review of nationallevel evaluation documentation relating to government-funded, area-based regeneration initiatives in the UK since 1980. The review examined whether health impacts had been intended and, if so, how they had been measured. The process and difficulties of conducting the review raise significant questions about policy formulation and evaluation. Is evidence-based policy possible where evaluations are not stored centrally? In short, a model policy development as ‘enlightened’ or incremental is hard to sustain where a lack of systematic storage of data means that researchers, policy makers and practitioners may struggle to produce clear answers to important policy questions.