bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Attitude change as a function of threat to attitudinal freedom and extent of agreement with a communicator
Authors: Wright Rex A.
Published: May 2007

Subjects who previously expressed either partial or full agreement with an attitudinal position were exposed to a low‐ or high‐threat essay advocating the position. Anonymous post‐communication measures of opinion indicated a reactance effect (negative attitude change) only for subjects who (1) read the hrgh‐threat essay, and (2) previously expressed complete agreement with the communicator. Theoretical implications are discussed.
Twenty five on: Yet another version of cognitive dissonance theory?
Authors: Joule Robert Vincent
Published: May 2007

The aim of this article is to highlight, 25 years on, the innovations of Festinger's theory of dissonance as regards its conception of cognitive functioning. Analysis of the dissonance ratio, on the basis of which Festinger evaluated the total amount of dissonance D/(D + C) gives rise to three propositions: (1) The total amount of dissonance is evaluated on the basis of a particular cognition G. (2) This cognition is neither the denominator, nor the numerator of the dissonance ratio; it is the cognitive expression of an effective conduct. (3) No presupposition is made concerning possible consonance or dissonance‐relations between cognitions C and D.

Thus reduction in dissonance is not presented as a process that always orients cognitive activity toward greater consistency, but as a rationalization of conduct which may adapt to an increase in certain inconsistencies, and even generate them.

This new insight into Festinger's theory may be thought of as a new version that is quite distinct, both from earlier revisions of the theory, and from the various theories of cognitive consistency. It is hoped, moreover, that it will provoke reflection concerning the current orientatlons of cognitivism in social psychology.
Soccer, rooms, and the quality of your life: Mood effects on judgments of satisfaction with life in general and with specific domains
Authors: Schwarz Norbert , Strack Fritz , Kommer Detlev , Wagner Dirk
Published: May 2007

Two studies on the impact of temporary moods on judgments of satisfaction with life in general and with specific life‐domains are reported. It was hypothesized that individuals simplify the complex task of evaluating their life in general by referring to their mood at the time of judgment, but evaluate specific life‐domains on the basis of domain‐specific information. In accordance with this hypothesis, both studies demonstrated strong mood effects on judgments of general life‐satisfaction but only weak and non‐significant effects on judgments of specific domain‐satisfactions. The findings are interpreted as supporting the hypothesis that affective states serve informative functions.
Donor and recipient: Social development, social interaction, and evolutionary processes
Authors: Bierhoff Hans Werner
Published: May 2007

This review examines recent books on altruism and prosocial behaviour. Psychological approaches, biological approaches, and economic approaches are covered. The list of variables known to influence prosocial behaviour includes situational determinants, motivational orientations, and personality variables. Psychological theories emphasizing norms, cost‐benefit calculations, and developmental factors have been used successfully to explain prosocial behaviour. Attention is given to models of helping and social and therapeutic treatment programmes. Genetic variables in prosocial behaviour are also reviewed.
The black sheep effect: Judgmental extremity towards ingroup members in inter‐and intra‐group situations
Authors: Marques José M. , Yzerbyt Vincent Y.
Published: May 2007

Two experiments yielded further evidence for the black sheep effect (Marques, Yzerbyt and by ens, 1988). In the first experiment, 66 subjects were presented with two good or two poor speeches, one supposedly made by an ingroup member and the other supposedly made by an outgroup member. In the second experiment, 37 subjects were presented with one good and one poor speech supposedly made either by two ingroup members or by two outgroup members. The black sheep effect was predicted and found in both experiments: subjects over‐evaluated likeable ingroup members and under‐evaluated unlikeable ingroup members as compared to equally likeable and unlikeable outgroup members. Collapsing the data of the two experiments suggests that social comparison may be performed, in purely symbolic terms, against a cognitive standard of positivity rather than an outgroup present in the judgmental situation. The emergence of the predicted effect when strongly individualized information was presented in inter‐ as well as in intra‐group situations supports the robustness of the black sheep effect.
The norm of internality in the explanation of psychological events
Authors: Beauvois J Ean‐Léon , Dubois Nicole
Published: May 2007

The norm of internality is defined as a social valorization of explanations of behaviours (attribution) and outcomes (locus of control) which emphazise the causal ro̊le of the actor. It is shown in this paper: (1) that internal explanations are linked to self‐presentation strategies; (2) that internal explanations are more often selected by middle‐class subjects; (3) that these explanations are learned by children and by adults in psycho‐socio‐educational settings. Finally, the norm of internality is assumed to be linked to social practices (evaluation practices).
A Nonparametric Test for Reward Distribution Strategies in the Minimal Group Paradigm
Authors: Edgington Eugene S. , Harrod Wendy Jean , Haller Otto , Hong Okhee Park , Sapp Stephen G.
Published: May 2007

In attempts to simplify and improve the measurement of social orientations in the minimal group paradigm, a number of alternative reward distribution procedures have been developed. (See Bornstein et al. for a review of Taifel's original procedure and other procedures.) This note concerns a nonparametric test for data collected by use of those procedures.
About the saliency of fear and greed in social dilemmas
Authors: Bruins J. Jan , Liebrand Wim B. G. , Wilke Henk A. M.
Published: May 2007

Simmons, Dawes and Orbell (1984) suggested that greed provides a more important motive for non‐cooperation in a social dilemma than fear. However, there are at least three reasons to reinvestigate the relative impact of fear and greed on cooperation in social dilemmas. First, the Simmons et al. results were not replicated in a recent study (Van Avermaet and Van Nieuwkerke, in press). Second in the two forementioned studies a step‐level public good game was employed, a game which does not meet the formal requirements of social dilemmas as they were defined by Dawes (1980). Third, in contrast to previous research, we employed a complete experimental design to investigate the effect of the saliency of the two motives.

In the present study, 128 subjects were randomly assigned to one of four conditions in a 2 (saliency of fear: high, low) × 2 (saliency of greed: high, low) factorial design. First of all it appeared that our fear and greed manipulation was successful. In addition the results indicated a significant interaction effect: cooperation was highest when both motives had a low saliency.
The argumentative nature of holding strong views: A case study
Authors: Billig Michael
Published: May 2007

Recently a number of critics of traditional approaches to the study of attitudes have stressed the need to study the ways in which people express views in natural discourse. The present study examines the rhetorical aspects of holding strong views by providing a detailed case study. It focuses on the discourse of a family discussing the British Royal Family, where one member of the family is recognized to hold strong views. A number of rhetorical complexities of the discourse are highlighted and particular attention is placed on the argumentative dimensions of holding strong views. It is suggested that strong views are held in relation to opposing views and in arguing about the issue of monarchy participants are also reflexively arguing about arguments. Examples are given to show that the holder of strong views, as opposed to the holder of weak views, does not necessarily have a greater opposition to the assumption of multisubjectivity, for the discourse of views is paradoxically marked by both assumptions of multisubjectivity and intersubjectivity. It is also shown that the holder of strong views may produce a variable discourse. The rhetorical nature of such variability is discussed and implications are drawn for the study of beliefs and for analysing the relations between thinking and arguing.
The dramaturgic perspective: Implications for the study of person perception
Authors: Babcock Mary K.
Published: May 2007

The major theoretical contributions to the study of attribution, those of Heider (1958), Kelley (1967) and Jones and Davis (1965) have worked from the assumption that person perception is analogous to object perception and scientific investigation. Goffman's dramaturgic analysis of the social self provides an alternative framework for addressing the problem of how we perceive and understand the behaviour of others. In this paper, I explore the implications of the dramaturgic perspective for the study of person perception and discuss the ways in which it diverges from the traditional approach to attribution. In addition, I present an alternative account of the Fundamental Attributional Error that arises in light of Goffman's dramaturgic analysis.
What's in a picture? The impact of face‐ism on trait attribution
Authors: Schwarz Norbert , Kurz Eva
Published: May 2007

Previous research indicated a ‘face‐ism’ bias in media depictions of men and women: me media tend to represent men with their faces, whereas women's depictions include larger parts of their bodies, rendering their faces less prominent. To explore the impact of facial prominence on impression formation, male and female subjects received either full‐body or portrait‐style photographs, made from the same negatives, of male and female stimulus persons of different likeability. Male and female subjects evaluated all stimulus persons as more competent (intelligent, assertive, ambitious, etc.) if presented with a high (portrait) rather than a low (full‐body photograph) degree of facial prominence. This main effect of facial prominence was not qualified by interaction effects with any of the other variables. PIUS, the media's face‐ism bias is likely to contribute to a perception of men as more competent than women. In addition, female but not male subjects also evaluated stimulus persons as more expressive and likeable under conditions of high facial prominence, reflecting a global positive effect of facial prominence.
Social representations and memory: The case of AIDS
Authors: Echabe Agustin Echebarria , Rovira Dario Paez
Published: May 2007

In this study evidence is given on the mechanisms subjects use to guarantee the stability of their social representations. An initial interview was held in which subjects were asked about the causes of AIDS, affected groups and modes of transmission. Their responses were found to divide into two social representations of AIDS: a conservative‐blaming representation and a liberal representation. Subjects were then given technical information about AIDS. Two weeks later, the same subjects were given a free recall test and a recognition test. The results of these tests confirmed subject's tendency to select information which is congruent with their pre‐existing representations, and to distort the recall of contradictory information in order to make it compatible with pre‐existing representations.
School attainment, self‐esteem, and identity: France and England
Authors: Robinson W. Peter , Tayler Carol A. , Piolat Michel
Published: May 2007

The Tajfel‐Turner Theory of Social Identity was used as a framework from which it was predicted that pupils of low attainment in secondary school should come to define themselves as indifferent to or opposed to the values of their schools. This hypothesis was examined in France and England, on self‐report measures covering values, aspirations, perceptions, evaluations, beliefs and motivations.

While results show numerous differences between low and high attainers common to both countries, the differences are more pronounced in England. National differences are such that the French pupils are more like high attainers.

Results are interpreted as being more consistent with low attaining pupils being victims of boredom rather than failure, with the French school culture providing greater insulation against such reactions.
Towards a theory of collective phenomena: Consensus and attitude changes in groups
Authors: Galam Serge , Moscovici Serge
Published: May 2007

This study presents the outline of a model for collective phenomena. A symmetry‐breaking model combines a number of well‐established social psychology hypotheses with recent concepts of statistical physics. Specifically we start out from the regularities obtained in studies on the polarization of attitudes and decisions. From a strictly logical point of view, it is immediately clear that aggregation effects must be analysed separately from group effects as such. The conceptual analysis of the assumed mechanisms reveals that when we deal with phenomena that have until now been designated as polarization phenomena, we are faced not with a single phenomenon, as was believed hitherto, but with a whole class of phenomena. For this reason it would be appropriate to deal with them differentially both from an empirical and from a theoretical point of view. It is possible to show, moreover, that in principle polarization is a direct function of interaction and, beyond a critical threshold an inverse function of the differentiation between group members. A certain number of verifiable conjectures are presented on the basis of physio‐mathematical‐psychological considerations. It is to be hoped that these theoretical outlines will make it possible to give a new lease on life to a field of research that has established solid facts, but that became trapped in a dead‐end road, for lack of a sufficiently broad analysis.
The robustness of communication of emotion via facial expression: Emotion recognition from photographs with deteriorated pictorial quality
Authors: Wallbott Harald G.
Published: May 2007

This study

The studies reported here were conducted within the TELEMED project which is funded by the European Community within the RACE program.

examines whether the recognition of emotion from facial expressions is impaired by deterioration of spatial resolution, contrast resolution, and picture size. Eighty judges rated 65 stimuli under 11 conditions: Undistorted, reduced spatial resolution (three steps), reduced contrast resolution (three steps), reduced picture size (three steps), and a very ‘hard’ condition combining the severest spatial and contrast resolution. Variation in picture quality was achieved by using a digital video recorder. Recognition rate and intensity ratings were not significantly affected by variations in contrast resolution or picture size. The only significant reduction of recognition rate and intensity ratings resulted from reduction in spatial resolution, but only with the largest deterioration in such resolution. Results are discussed with respect to the fundamental importance of facial expressions in interaction and communication, and with respect to applications, such as tele‐conferencing systems.
Behavioural conversion in a compliance paradigm: A replication and a refinement
Authors: Joule Robert Vincent , Fointiat Valerie , Pasquier Claude , Mugny Gabriel
Published: May 2007

While a compliance strategy induced almost all subjects to agree to forego first a lunch and then a dinner and the following breakfast, simply observing an accomplice break his commitment to forego lunch was enough to produce a significant reduction in subjects' commitment to forego two meals, even though the effect was not immediate. This pattern of influence, similar to a ‘behavioural conversion’, appeared if the accomplice had first agreed to the initial request and only later refused to continue, but not if he refused to make the commitment at the outset.
Perception of epistemic authority and attribution for its choice as a function of knowledge area and age
Authors: Bar‐Tal Daniel , Raviv Amiram , Raviv Alona , Brosh Marianne E.
Published: May 2007

Three age groups of children and adolescents (9–10, 13–14, and 17–18 years old) were asked to indicate sources of information which serve as their epistemic authority in nine knowledge areas and to attribute reasons for their choices. In general, the results showed that children and adolescents differentiate among sources and select their epistemic authorities according to knowledge areas. It was found that while the perception of parents as epistemic authorities decreases with age, the perception of self increases considerably and becomes an important epistemic authority. In spite of the decrease in the perception of parents as epistemic authorities, they continue to be a significant source of knowledge. In addition, the perception of friends as epistemic authority increases relatively in social knowledge areas. With regard to causal explanation, it was found that children and adolescents use various reasons to explain their selection of epistemic authority. They differentiated among their reasons on the basis of the selected source. Knowledge‐denotating source expertise was used as the most important reason. The selection of oneself was mainly attributed to familiarity, and helpfulness was used to explain the selection of mother, friend and father as epistemic authorities. Friend was also selected because of similarity. Age differences with regard to use of reasons reflected changes in source selection. This line of research sheds light on the interpersonal nature of knowledge acquisition.
Context‐dependent variation in social stereotyping 1: The effects of intergroup relations as mediated by social change and frame of reference
Authors: Haslam S. Alexander , Turner John C. , Oakes Penelope J. , McGarty Craig , Hayes Brett K.
Published: May 2007

During the 1990‐1991 Persian Gulf conflict an experiment was conducted with Australian university students (N = 200) to investigate whether the social stereotyping of Americans varied with social contextual manipulations related to the hostilities. The study, conducted in two phases at the start and end of the conflict, examined how the assignment of standard stereotypical traits to Americans was affected (a) by the large‐scale social change constituted by the war and (b) by variation in the frame of reference provided by relevant comparison groups. The elicited stereotypes were sensitive to both of these contextual variables, demonstrating significant variation and fluidity. Overall, stereotypes of Americans were relatively negative. They were significantly more negative (a) at the end of the war than at the beginning in the restricted frame (when Australia and Britain were comparison groups) and (b) in the first phase of the conflict when the frame was extended to include Iraq as a comparison group. The findings were in line with expectations derived from self‐categorization theory (Turner, 1985) that the social categorization of self and other into ingroup and outgroup is inherently variable, comparative and context‐dependent. They question the long‐held view of stereotypes as fixed, rigid and resistant to change.
Adorable woman, expert man: Changing gender images of women and men in management
Authors: Kirchler Erich
Published: May 2007

In the past, leadership was perceived to be the special province of males and still females tend not to occupy top management positions. Traditional social stereotypes hold that a leader needs to have typical masculine characteristics: he needs to be competitive, aggressive, tough and successful. Due to important changes in the conception of the societal female and male gender role during the last decades it can be assumed that the classical sex role stereotypes have at least become less polarized.

Obituaries concerning deceased male and female managers, published in the years 1974, 1980 and 1986 in four daily newspapers were content analysed. Terms used to describe the managers were classified into 53 categories and included in a correspondence analysis. The results show that images of male and female managers were dissimilar in 1974 and 1980 and were still different in 1986. Male managers were perceived as intelligent, knowledgeable, experienced, outstanding instructors, unselfish opinion‐leaders with an enviable entrepreneurial spirit. Women, on the other hand, were described as adorable, likeable superiors in 1974 and 1980. Some years later, in 1986, they became fighting managers: their surviving colleagues described them as courageous, highly committed workers who, nevertheless are still lacking in knowledge and expertise.
Construct asymmetry and the range of relevance of personal anticipations
Authors: Adams‐Webber Jack
Published: May 2007

This paper analyses the logical structure of personal construct systems in terms of relations of partial entailment between constructs and the relative frequencies of positive and negative judgments concerning both self and others. It is argued that conditional hypotheses (‘anticipations’) which incorporate the positive poles of constructs (e.g. happy) as antecedent terms will have wider ranges of relevance, on average, if self is assigned to the positive poles of those constructs. Conversely, hypotheses with antecedents based on the negative poles of constructs (e.g. sad) will tend to have wider ranges of relevance when self is assigned to their negative poles. Some theoretical implications of these relationships for the adaptability of personal construct systems are elaborated.
Religiosity and adolescents' premarital sexual attitudes and behaviour: An empirical study of conceptual issues
Authors: Sheeran Paschal , Abrams Dominic , Abraham Charles , Spears Russell
Published: May 2007

A review of the literature concerning the relationship between religiosity and premarital sexual attitudes and behaviour revealed inconsistencies in research findings and problems with methodology and operationalizations of variables. A postal questionnaire to 527 16‐ to 18‐year‐olds examined the associations between six models of religiosity (religious upbringing, denominational affiliation, ritual/behavioural, self‐attitude/self‐schema and salience of religious identity) and personal sexual standards, attitudes towards sexually active others, virginal status, anticipation of sexual intercourse and frequency of both coitus and non‐coital sexual experiences over the previous year. A negative relationship between religiosity and a number of sexual attitudes and behaviours was observed, though non‐significant relationships in the case of sexual experiences without intercourse suggested the maintenance of a technical virginity to accord with religious precepts. There was also some evidence that Catholic adolescents were more likely to be sexually active than non‐Catholics when current religiosity was controlled for. The results lent strongest support to models which implicated self‐conception either in terms of self‐attitudes/self‐schemas or the salience of religious identity. Implications of the study and suggestions for future research are outlined.
Processing load and memory for stereotype‐based information
Authors: Macrae C. Neil , Hewstone Miles , Griffiths Riana J.
Published: May 2007

The present research considered the effects of stereotypes on judgmental and memorial processes. In particular, we investigated the heuristic utility of stereotype application in difficult or demanding information‐processing contexts. Our results supported the prediction that stereotypical effects on memory are contingent upon the characteristics of the task environment. Whereas perceivers displayed preferential recall for stereotype‐inconsistent information under low processing loads, this switched to a preference for consistent information as task demands increased. Likewise, target‐based judgments were most stereotypic under high processing loads. Judgment‐recall correlations supported the contention that, under high‐loads, these inferences are related to the relative memorability of stereotypic information. We consider these findings in the wider context of stereotype‐based effects on social cognition.
Soft tissue reactions to bioactive glass 13‐93 combined with chitosan
Authors: Asikainen A.J. , Hagström J. , Sorsa T. , Noponen J. , Kellomäki M. , Juuti H. , Lindqvist C. , Hietanen J. , Suuronen R.
Published: May 2007

The aim of this study was to evaluate rabbit soft tissue reactions to bioactive glass 13‐93 mesh by using a histological and immunohistochemical analysis. Bioactive glass (13‐93) mesh fixed with 3 wt % chitosan was implanted into the dorsal subcutaneous space of New Zealand White rabbits (n = 18) for six, 12, and 24 weeks, respectively. After 6 weeks the bioactive glass remnants were surrounded by foreign‐body granuloma with eosinophilic granulocytes. After 12 and 24 weeks the implanted material was mainly absorbed, but, if any particles still remained the foreign‐body reaction was notably milder. Yet, a mild chronic inflammatory infiltrate was present. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) ‐2, ‐3, ‐13 and tissue inhibitory protein (TIMP‐1 and ‐2) expressions were studied by immunohistochemistry. MMP‐3, ‐13, TIMP‐1, and ‐2 positivity were detected throughout the follow‐up period. MMP‐2 positivity was only occasionally seen in the 24 week samples, which is constitutively expressed but is not related to inductive MMP‐3 and ‐13 cascade. The presence of eosinophilic granulocytes in some of the samples raises the possibility of an allergic reaction to the materials. MMP‐3 and ‐13 are suggested to participate in the host reaction to either bioactive glass or chitosan. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007
Highly accurate biomolecular electrostatics in continuum dielectric environments
Authors: Zhou Y. C. , Feig Michael , Wei G. W.
Published: May 2007

Implicit solvent models based on the Poisson‐Boltzmann (PB) equation are frequently used to describe the interactions of a biomolecule with its dielectric continuum environment. A novel, highly accurate Poisson‐Boltzmann solver is developed based on the matched interface and boundary (MIB) method, which rigorously enforces the continuity conditions of both the electrostatic potential and its flux at the molecular surface. The MIB based PB solver attains much better convergence rates as a function of mesh size compared to conventional finite difference and finite element based PB solvers. Consequently, highly accurate electrostatic potentials and solvation energies are obtained at coarse mesh sizes. In the context of biomolecular electrostatic calculations it is demonstrated that the MIB method generates substantially more accurate solutions of the PB equation than other established methods, thus providing a new level of reference values for such models. Initial results also indicate that the MIB method can significantly improve the quality of electrostatic surface potentials of biomolecules that are frequently used in the study of biomolecular interactions based on experimental structures. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2008
In vivo MRI of submillisecond T2 species with two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional radial sequences and applications to the measurement of cortical bone water
Authors: Techawiboonwong Aranee , Song Hee Kwon , Wehrli Felix W.
Published: May 2007

Water in dense collagenous tissues such as tendons and ligaments, as well as water in cortical bone that occupies the spaces of the lacuno‐canicular system or is tightly bound to collagen, is not ordinarily detectable by MRI. Water proton T2 in these structures is generally less than 1 ms. Recent advances in instrumentation in conjunction with non‐Cartesian imaging strategies now allow center of k‐space to be scanned 100 µs or less after excitation. We examined the performance of two radial pulse sequences, a 2D sequence with half‐pulse excitation and a new 3D hybrid sequence with variable‐echo Cartesian encoding in the third dimension, on a whole‐body 3 T scanner. Both pulse sequences used long‐T2 soft‐tissue suppression pulses. The half‐pulse slice profiles observed experimentally agreed well with those computed on the basis of a numerical solution of Bloch equations. The techniques yielded a signal‐to‐noise ratio of the order of 25 in 9 min scan time at a nominal voxel size of 0.58 × 0.58 × 8 mm3 and 50–90 µs ‘echo time’ in the cortex of the tibial mid‐shaft. With the use of an external reference, the water volume fraction of cortical bone in four subjects (mean ± SD age 32.25 ± 5.3 years) was found to be 22.5 ± 2.7%, in good agreement with literature values. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
General revenue sharing: Impact on local decision making
Authors: Franz Wolfgang W.
Published: May 2007

There is substantial evidence that general revenue sharing has not lived up to its expectations. Citizens have not been greatly involved in local decision making. A very small proportion of general revenue sharing funds was spent on social service programs.
Denver's charter changes: The work of scholars and practitioners
Authors: Heiss F. William , McKenna Jacqueline
Published: May 2007

Denver recently used an innovative method to revise its charter—university scholars and researchers, through the Denver Urban Observatory, joined city policy makers in a unique, successful approach to winning citizen approval of five charter amendments, the first comprehensive review of the charter since 1948.
Regional transportation needs: A chance to experiment
Authors: Hetland James L.
Published: May 2007

Recently there has been a major change in attitude and understanding of the factors directly affecting transportation service, though not in the conditions necessary to provide an adequate regional system. There now is a chance to change patterns for public transit, to involve private sector employers, and to do some performance oriented cost‐benefit experimenting.
An integrative force: Arlington's committee of 100
Authors: Stowe Mary E.
Published: May 2007

Every month since 1954, the Committee of 100, an influential organization of businessmen, civic leaders and government officials representing all the principal points of view in urban‐suburban Arlington County, has been proving that there can be a constructive approach to controversial issues. And it does it without taking stands, introducing motions or seeking votes.
Montana local government review: In the home stretch
Authors: McKinsey Lauren S. , Lopach James J.
Published: May 2007

The local government review process mandated for all local units of government is two years old. Nineteen communities have voted; most others will do so in November. Some are keeping the existing setups, others are changing drastically. The real value is the activation of the citizens to concerns of local government.
Iowa campaign finance: How the statute operates
Authors: Ross Russell M.
Published: May 2007

The Iowa campaign disclosure‐income tax checkoff law became effective in August 1973. The law created a commission which works closely with the state commissioner of elections. The commission has concentrated on its responsibility to see that all political committees file reports and make them available to the media.
Netherlands debates end of appointed executive system
Authors: Morlan Robert L.
Published: May 2007

After generations of acceptance, the Dutch system of appointed executive municipal government (the mayor is appointed by the Crown) is being challenged, with much support for elective positions. This controversy is only part of a broader governmental “reform” movement, but strikes at a central feature of the nation's politics.
Baltimore downtown revived through private/public cooperation
Authors: Kennedy R. Evan
Published: May 2007

Born in the 1950s out of a realization by a few individuals that something was going badly wrong, a reconstruction effort has been taking place in downtown Baltimore—the city everybody tried to avoid if possible. And, thanks to the Beltway, it was possible. Its success is in large measure due to the local government support it received every step of the way.
Ethics and financial disclosure: What makes a strong law?
Authors: Johnson Graham E.
Published: May 2007

A good deal is now being heard about the conduct of public officials. Much of the concern has found its way into law. A strong law should be one that works and is effective and fair, should be able to be administered, should be understood, accepted and respected by all sides and should be vigorously enforced but tempered with reason.
Choosing the candidates: Time for reform
Authors: May Stephen
Published: May 2007

This year's experience has demonstrated more clearly than ever before the crucial need to change the lengthy, costly, wearying, irrational and fragmented method by which we select the nominees for the highest office in the land, and the haphazard, even dangerously casual processes by which their running mates are chosen. Such change is always the subject of talk following an election. This time more than talk is needed.
Disruption of URA7 and GAL6 improves the ethanol tolerance and fermentation capacity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Yazawa Hisashi , Iwahashi Hitoshi , Uemura Hiroshi
Published: May 2007

Screening of the homozygous diploid yeast deletion pool of 4741 non‐essential genes identified two null mutants (Δura7 and Δgal6) that grew faster than the wild‐type strain in medium containing 8% v/v ethanol. The survival rate of the gal6 disruptant in 10% ethanol was higher than that of the wild‐type strain. On the other hand, the glucose consumption rate of the ura7 disruptant was better than that of the wild‐type strain in buffer containing ethanol. Both disruptants were more resistant to zymolyase, a yeast lytic enzyme containing mainly β‐1,3‐glucanase, indicating that the integrity of the cell wall became more resistance to ethanol stress. The gal6 disruptant was also more resistant to Calcofluor white, but the ura7 disruptant was more sensitive to Calcofluor white than the wild‐type strain. Furthermore, the mutant strains had a higher content of oleic acid (C18 : 1) in the presence of ethanol compared to the wild‐type strain, suggesting that the disruptants cope with ethanol stress not only by modifying the cell wall integrity but also the membrane fluidity. When the cells were grown in medium containing 5% ethanol at 15 °C, the gal6 and ura7 disruptants showed 40% and 14% increases in the glucose consumption rate, respectively. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Die dünne Kreisringplatte mit großer Ausbiegung
Authors: Federhofer Karl
Published: May 2007

Um die Zulässigkeit der Anwendung der Ringmembrantheorie bei der Berechnung von dünnen Ringplatten mit großer Ausbiegung beurteilen zu können, ist die Kenntnis des Verhaltens solcher Ringplatten bei Berücksichtigung ihrer Biegungssteifigkeit notwendig. Es werden für den Fall der nur am Innenrande belasteten Ringplatte die Grundgleichungen (zwei nichtlineare Differentialgleichungen 2. Ordnung) aufgestellt und sodann genähert integriert. Die numerische Auswertung ergibt beträchtliche Unterschiede in der Formänderung und in den Spannungen, wenn anstatt der genauen Theorie die einfachere Ringmembrantheorie benützt wird.
Knickung einer axial gedrückten, um ihren Mittelpunkt rotierenden Speiche
Authors: Olsson R. Gran
Published: May 2007

Im Rahmen einer größeren Untersuchung ergab sich folgendes Teilproblem: Eine in einen starren Kreisring unter Vorspannung eingebaute Speiche rotiert mit dem Kreisring um den gemeinsamen Mittelpunkt, wobei die Speichenachse mit einem Durchmesser des Kreisringes zusammenfällt. Durch die als konstant angenommene Winkelgeschwindigkeit wird die Speiche infolge der Zentrifugalkraft entlastet, indem diese in einem um seinen Mittelpunkt rotierenden, freien Stab bekanntlich Zugkräfte erzeugt. Es ist die größte mit der Stabilität der Speiche verträgliche Druckkraft zu ermitteln.
Lösungen der klassischen Wellengleichung für bewegte Quellen
Authors: Küssner H. G.
Published: May 2007

Die Methoden und Ergebnisse der Elektrodynamik werden für die Lösung der akustischen Wellengleichung nutzbar gemacht. Es werden Lösungen für geradlinig, kreislinig und schraubenlinig bewegte Quellen berechnet, die als Kernfunktionen in den Integralgleichungen der Tragflächentheorie und der Propellertheorie erscheinen. Auch die Entstehung des Propellerschalles hängt von diesen Lösungen ab und wird näherungsweise behandelt.
Impuls‐ und Wärmeaustausch in freier Turbulenz
Authors: Reichardt H.
Published: May 2007

Aus den Bewegungsgleichungen folgen Beziehungen über den Zusammenhang zwischen dem Austausch des Impulses und der Wärme in freier Turbulenz. Dieser Zusammenhang wird an den Beispielen des ebenen Nachlaufes und des ebenen Freistrahles auf Grund von Experimenten im einzelnen untersucht.
Profile mit vorgegebener Druckverteilung
Authors: Riegels F.
Published: May 2007

Die Aufgabe, für bestimmte Flügelprofile die Druckverteilung zu berechnen, ist seit Bestehen der modernen Aerodynamik von vielen Autoren behandelt worden. Man könnte sie die erste Aufgabe der Profiltheorie nennen. Die zweite Aufgabe dieser Theorie, diejenige Profilform zu bestimmen, die eine vorgeschriebene Druckverteilung besitzt, ist demgegenüber bisher etwas vernachlässigt worden. Hier soll daher versucht werden, die bekannten Ansätze zur Lösung dieser Aufgabe auf der Grundlage der konformen Abbildung) durch eine Theorie erster Ordnung zu ergänzen, wobei sowohl die Form der Skelettlinie als auch die Dickenverteilung bestimmt werden soll.
Bemerkungen zur Prandtlschen Affintransformation für Strömungen mit Unterschallgeschwindigkeit
Authors: Sauer R.
Published: May 2007

Die von der ungestörten Parallelströmung nur wenig abweichenden Unterschallströmungen kompressibler Gase lassen sich, wie L. Prandtl in der Aerodynamikvorlesung 1922 erstmals mitgeteilt hat, durch eine Affintransformation auf Strömungen nichtkompressibler Gase zurückführen, falls man die Abweichungen von der ungestörten Grundströmung nur in der ersten Größenordnung berücksichtigt. Man gelangt durch dieses die Rechnung erheblich vereinfachende Verfahren zu den praktisch wichtigen und in weiten Grenzen mit der Erfahrung gut übereinstimmenden “Prandtlschen Regeln” über den Kompressibilitätseinfluß auf die Druckverteilung an hinreichend schlanken und spitzen Profilen und Drehkörpern bei Anströmung unter kleinem Anstellwinkel.

Im folgenden werden die Prandtlschen Regeln unter der Voraussetzung, daß die Strömung durch eine kontinuierliche Belegung der x‐Achse mit geeigneten Singularitäten (Quellen, Senken, Doppelquellen und Wirbel) dargestellt werden kann, unmittelbar verifiziert.
Die Strömung aus einer Wirbelquelle zwischen ebenen Wänden mit Berücksichtigung der Wandreibung
Authors: Vogelpohl Georg
Published: May 2007

Es wird die Grenzschichtbildung in Flüssigkeiten mit kleiner Reibung bei rotationssymmetrischer Strömung aus einer Wirbelquelle zwischen ebenen Wänden behandelt. Für die nur geringfügig vereinfachten Navier‐Stokesschen Gleichungen in Zylinderkoordinaten ergibt sich ein exaktes Integral mit der Weierstraßschen α‐Funktion, die je nach der Reynoldsschen Zahl die Zwischenstufen von der rechteckigen bis zur parabolischen Geschwindigkeitsverteilung liefert.
Über die turbulente Strömung im Rohr und längs einer Platte
Authors: Wieghardt K.
Published: May 2007

Bei der rechnerischen Übertragung der turbulenten Strömung in einem Rohr auf die längs einer ebenen Platte ergeben sich gewisse Abweichungen, die durch den verschiedenen Turbulenzzustand in Rohrmitte und am Rand der Plattenreibungsschicht erklärt werden.
A CSP model of Eiffel’s SCOOP
Authors: Brooke Phillip J. , Paige Richard F. , Jacob Jeremy L.
Published: May 2007

The current informal semantics of the simple concurrent object-oriented programming (SCOOP) mechanism for Eiffel is described. We construct and discuss a model using the process algebra CSP. This model gives a more formal semantics for SCOOP than existed previously.

We implement the model mechanically via a new tool called CSPsim. We examine two semantic variations of SCOOP: when and how far to pass locks, and when to wait for child calls to complete. We provide evidence that waiting for child calls to complete both unnecessarily reduces parallelism without any increase in safety and increases deadlocks involving callbacks.

Through the creation and analysis of the model, we identify a number of ambiguities relating to reservations and the underlying run-time system and propose means to resolve them.
A Latent Transition Model With Logistic Regression
Authors: Chung Hwan , Walls Theodore A. , Park Yousung
Published: May 2007

Latent transition models increasingly include covariates that predict prevalence of latent classes at a given time or transition rates among classes over time. In many situations, the covariate of interest may be latent. This paper describes an approach for handling both manifest and latent covariates in a latent transition model. A Bayesian approach via Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) is employed in order to achieve more robust estimates. A case example illustrating the model is provided using data on academic beliefs and achievement in a low-income sample of adolescents in the United States.
Brief report: British adolescents’ views about the rights of asylum‐seeking children
Authors: Ruck Martin D. , Tenenbaum Harriet R. , Sines Jennie
Published: May 2007

The present study examined 60 (30 early‐to‐middle adolescents and 30 late adolescents) British adolescents’ understanding of the rights of asylum‐seeker children. Participants completed semi‐structured interviews designed to assess judgments and evaluations of hypothetical asylum‐seeker children's nurturance and self‐determination rights in conflict with the practices of authority. Findings indicated that participants were more likely to endorse asylum‐seeker children's nurturance rights over their self‐determination rights. Reasoning about both types of rights was multifaceted and focused on moral, social–conventional and psychological considerations. In addition, significant differences were found between males and females with regard to both endorsement and reasoning. The limitations of the study are discussed and future research is considered.
Intervention of geminiviral replication in yeast by ribozyme mediated downregulation of its Rep protein
Authors: Chilakamarthi Ushasri , Mukherjee Sunil K. , Deb J.K.
Published: May 2007

Geminiviruses pose serious threat to many economically important crops such as mungbean, tomato, cotton, etc. To devise a specific antiviral strategy at the viral DNA replication level, a hammerhead ribozyme was directed against the mRNA of the replication initiator protein (Rep). Rep is the most important viral protein for the DNA replication of the Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV), a member of the Geminiviridae family. The ribozyme showed ∼33% cleavage activity on synthetic rep transcript within 1 h under in vitro conditions, whereas the mutant ribozyme, designed to lack the catalytic activity but target the same site, showed no cleavage. The in vivo efficiency of ribozyme was evaluated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as it can act as a surrogate host for replication of the MYMIV‐DNA and lacks RNAi machinery. In the presence of the ribozyme, growth of the yeast cells that are dependent on geminiviral replication was inhibited by 30% and cellular generation time was increased by 2 h. The RT‐PCR analysis showed a maximum of about 50% reduction in the rep mRNA level in presence of the ribozyme compared to its noncatalytic mutant control. About 65% decrease in geminiviral DNA replication was observed due to the downregulation of replication initiator protein by the ribozyme. These results raise the possibility of engineering resistance to geminiviruses employing the ribozyme approach.
Nutritional manipulation of the fatty acid composition of sheep meat: a review
Authors: SINCLAIR L. A.
Published: May 2007

Sheep meat is characterized as being high in saturated fatty acids and low in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), attributes that are regarded as being disadvantageous within the human diet. Despite fresh forage being a particularly rich source of 18:3n−3 and vegetable oils being high in 18:2n−6 and 18:3n−3, the process of biohydrogenation in the rumen generally results in proportionally less than 0·1 of these essential dietary fatty acids (FA) reaching the small intestine. Increases in muscle content of 18:3n−3 of 1–2-fold have been achieved by supplementation with oil, or oilseeds, whilst increases of 1–3-fold have been obtained from grazing grass compared with concentrates, but in general the polyunsaturated to saturated FA ratio (P:S) in sheep meat has remained low at approximately 0·2–0·3. Substantial improvements in the P:S ratio of up to 0·57 and increases in muscle and adipose tissue levels of 18:3n−3 of up to 4 g/100 g FA can be obtained, but rely on protecting dietary PUFA from biohydrogenation. Additionally, increasing tissue supply of 18:3n−3 will result in only a small improvement in muscle concentration of the nutritionally beneficial 20:5n−3 and 22:6n−3, with meaningful increases relying on a dietary supply of these very-long-chain PUFA. An alternative strategy to improve the human health attributes of sheep meat is to decrease tissue levels of 18:0 by increasing the activity of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), although the response is often relatively small. Despite the apparent negative impact of ruminal metabolism on muscle FA content, the process of biohydrogenation is often incomplete and several of the intermediaries can have positive effects on human health. Within these intermediaries, future increases in tissue content ofcis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may be obtained by increasing tissue supply directly, although a greater response may be obtained by maximizing tissue supply oftrans-11 18:1 and elevating the action of SCD. Production of a FA profile in sheep meat that is higher in PUFA, particularly the advantageous very-long-chain PUFA, and with flavour and eating characteristics that meet specific market preferences, is a suitable area for research.
Zoobenthos associated with the invasive red alga Womersleyella setacea (Rhodomelacea) in the northern Aegean Sea
Authors: Antoniadou Chryssanthi , Chintiroglou Chariton
Published: May 2007

The spatial and temporal structure of the zoobenthos associated with the invasive red alga Womersleyella
setacea was studied in the northern Aegean Sea, Greece. Five replicate quadrats (20×20 cm) were collected,
seasonally from July 1997 to August 1998, by SCUBA diving at four sites and two depth levels (15 and 30 m)
in the Chalkidiki peninsula. We collected 23,090 specimens representing 278 animal species. Multivariate
analysis showed mainly spatial differences in community structure, while the temporal ones were
minimal. The ordination of sites showed a clear zonation pattern according to the different algal forms
that cover the rocky substrate, with inclination the only environmental factor involved. The epifauna associated
with the invasive alga was differently structured compared with three native seaweeds, showing
increased species richness and abundance. The filamentous alga W. setacea was dominant in all seasons
and depth levels, creating a stable habitat that contributed to the loss of seasonality in zoobenthic
community structure.