bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of plant architecture on colonization and damage by leaftying caterpillars of Quercus alba
Authors: Marquis Robert J. , Lill John T. , Piccinni Anthony
Published: November 2004

Leaftying caterpillars that attack white oak, Quercus alba, use silk to tie together two leaves to form a “leaf sandwich” or leaftie within which they feed. Because leaftying caterpillars are small when they first eclose (<1 mm in length), they apparently require touching leaves in order to construct their leafties. We first show that saplings of Q. alba vary greatly in the degree to which leaves are spatially distributed throughout their canopies, i.e. percent leaves touching varies from 4% to 36% per plant. We then tested the hypothesis that this difference in plant architecture, in the form of the number of touching leaves, influences the abundance of leaftying caterpillars and the amount of damage they cause. First, surveys of all leaves on a set of non‐experimental saplings showed that trees that naturally had more touching leaves had a greater number of leafties. Second, we increased the number of touching leaves by tying together bases of leaves around branches, and compared subsequent colonization by leaftying caterpillars on these experimental branches with colonization on similar but unmanipulated control branches. Experimental manipulation increased the number of touching leaves, leaftying caterpillars, and leafties, and increased damage by this guild of insect herbivores. Together, these results suggest that architectural traits that minimize leaf‐to‐leaf contact in Q. alba may be defensive traits against leaftying caterpillars.
Oral manifestation of sporotrichosis in AIDS patients
Authors: Aarestrup FM , Guerra RO , Vieira BJ , Cunha RMC
Published: November 2004

A wide spectrum of oral lesions has been associated with human immunodeficiency viral infection (HIV), or AIDS. This report describes the case of an HIV‐infected patient who developed a case of disseminated sporotrichosis whose first clinical sign was the presence of orofacial lesions. A histopathological study of this patient's biopsy specimens taken from the oropharyngeal lesions revealed a number of rounded and/or oval free‐spore forms of Sporothrix schenkii, the identification of which was corroborated by culturing skin lesion exudate on Sabouraud's glucose agar. To the best of our knowledge to date, this is the first time a case of the oral manifestation of sporotrichosis in association with HIV infection has been described in the dental literature.
Microbial biomass and microbial biodiversity in some soils from New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Banu Nargis A. , Singh Balwant , Copeland Les
Published: November 2004

Eight surface soils (0–15 cm) including 1 Ferrosol, 2 Tenosols, 2 Kurosols, 1 Sodosol, 1 Chromosol, and 1 Kandosol were collected from mainly pasture sites in New South Wales. The soils had different physico-chemical properties and there were some differences between the sites in climatic conditions. Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) was estimated by the chloroform-fumigation extraction method, and substrate utilisation patterns determined by the Biolog method were used to assess the amount, functional diversity, substrate richness and evenness, and community structure of the microorganisms in these soils. The amount of MBC (585 µg C/g) and the microbial diversity (H´ = 3.24) were high in soils that had high clay (33%), organic C (5.96%), total N (0.45%), free iron (7.06%), moisture content (50%), and cation exchange capacitiy (133.5 mmolc/kg). These soil properties, e.g. soil moisture (r2 = 0.72), organic C (r2 = 0.58), total N (r2 = 0.63), free iron (r2 = 0.44), and EC (r2 = 0.53), were positively correlated with MBC and microbial diversity index, whereas pH and sand and silt content showed negative correlations. The climatic factors (temperature and rainfall) had no significant influence on either MBC or diversity.
Soil compaction and recovery cycle on a Southland dairy farm: implications for soil monitoring
Authors: Drewry J. J. , Paton R. J. , Monaghan R. M.
Published: November 2004

This paper quantifies soil compaction and natural recovery of soil physical properties during a 3-year trial on a dairy farm in Southland, New Zealand. The study investigated the magnitude of soil compaction over spring, and natural recovery of soil physical properties over summer and autumn. Changes in soil physical condition were measured while pastures were intermittently grazed by lactating dairy cows, and also over winter when cows were removed from pasture. Soil bulk density at 0–5 cm increased (P < 0.001) during spring by up to 0.20 Mg/m3. During spring 2000, macroporosity (volumetric % of pores >30 μm) at 0–5 cm decreased (P < 0.001) from 13.5 to 7.5%, with similar trends in spring 2002. Many of the soil physical properties showed significant recovery over summer and autumn. Bulk density decreased (P < 0.001) by 0.09 Mg/m3, from December 2001 to May 2002. Soil macroporosity also recovered markedly during summer and autumn. Macroporosity increased (P < 0.001) from 12.5% in December 2001 to 18% in May 2002. Significant changes in soil compaction and recovery were also measured at 5–10 cm depth. For many soil physical properties, recovery over winter was much less than over summer and autumn. Implications of the compaction and recovery cycle are discussed in terms of measurement protocols appropriate to routine monitoring of soil physical condition.
The effectiveness of industrial by-products to stop phosphorous loss from a Pallic soil
Authors: McDowell R. W.
Published: November 2004

A study was conducted of the effectiveness of applying various rates (0–50 g/kg) of fly and bottom ash (<2 mm and 2–4 mm) from a coal-fired power plant, and melter (AP10B and PAP5) and basic (KOBM) slags from a steel-manufacturing plant on mitigating phosphorus (P) loss from a Pallic soil sown to pasture. Measurements were made of soil pH, Olsen P, and H2O-P (as a measure of P loss in overland flow), and soluble P and contaminants (B, As, Cd, Pb, Se) from a weekly leaching regime for 9 weeks. Results shows that H2O-P had decreased up to 40% in soils treated at the greatest rate of melter slag (50 g/kg), and increased in KOBM and fly ash treated soils. The effect on Olsen P relative to H2O-P was much less in metler slag and bottom ash treated soils than soils treated with fly ash or KOBM slag. The fly ash was considered unsuitable for the mitigation of P loss from soils due to B toxicity to plants, while KOBM is also unsuitable due to a liming effect and the increase in soluble P loss. At the rates applied, no treated soil leached toxic metals (As, Cd, Hg, or Se) above current guidelines. In contrast, the incorporation of melter slag and bottom ash is considered an effective P loss mitigation strategy.
Value of ultrasonography in acute renal failure: analysis of qualitative features in patients with nephropathia epidemica
Authors: Paakkala A. , Kallio T. , Huhtala H. , Apuli P. , Paakkala T. , Mustonen J.
Published: November 2004

Purpose: To assess the value of renal ultrasonography (US) and the frequency of qualitative pathology in patients with nephropathia epidemica (NE) and to determine whether these features are related to the clinical course of NE.

Material and Methods: Renal US was undertaken in 23 hospital-treated NE cases during the acute phase of the disease (first study). A second US study was performed 3-6 months later. Captured US images were used in the analysis.

Results: From acute to control phase the overall rating of kidney status improved in 20 patients, parenchymal swelling decreased and corticomedullary border differentiation improved in 21, echogenicity decreased in 18, and patchy pattern in parenchymal echo-texture decreased in 15. The severity of findings in US evinced some association with fluid volume overload, high blood pressure level and blood leukocyte count, and severe clinical renal insufficiency. The degree of parenchymal swelling had more statistically significant associations with clinical course than other US features.

Conclusion: Qualitative US features are as sensitive as quantitative US parameters in assessment of NE patients' clinical course and recovery, assuming that a comparative study is available. US using only qualitative features is fairly limited in evaluating NE patients' clinical situation.
Computer-aided detection of kidney tumor on abdominal computed tomography scans
Authors: Kim D.-Y. , Park J.-W.
Published: November 2004

Purpose: To implement a computer-aided detection system for kidney segmentation and kidney tumor detection on abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans.

Material and Methods: Abdominal CT images were digitized with a film digitizer, and a gray-level threshold method was used to segment the kidney. Based on texture analysis performed on sample images of kidney tumors, a portion of the kidney tumor was selected as seed region for start point of the region-growing process. The average and standard deviations were used to detect the kidney tumor. Starting at the detected seed region, the region-growing method was used to segment the kidney tumor with intensity values used as an acceptance criterion for a homogeneous test. This test was performed to merge the neighboring region as kidney tumor boundary. These methods were applied on 156 transverse images of 12 cases of kidney tumors scanned using a G.E. Hispeed CT scanner and digitized with a Lumisys LS-40 film digitizer.

Results: The computer-aided detection system resulted in a kidney tumor detection sensitivity of 85% and no false-positive findings.

Conclusion: This computer-aided detection scheme was useful for kidney tumor detection and gave the characteristics of detected kidney tumors.
Multidetector computed tomography of cervical spine fractures in ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Koivikko M. P. , Kiuru M. J. , Koskinen S. K.
Published: November 2004

Purpose: To analyze multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) cervical spine findings in trauma patients with advanced ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Material and Methods: Using PACS, 2282 cervical spine MDCT examinations requested by emergency room physicians were found during a period of 3 years. Of these patients, 18 (16 M, aged 41-87, mean 57 years) had advanced AS. Primary imaging included radiography in 12 and MRI in 11 patients.

Results: MDCT detected one facet joint subluxation and 31 fractures in 17 patients: 14 transverse fractures, 8 spinous process fractures, 2 Jefferson's fractures, 1 type I and 2 type II odontoid process fractures, and 1 each: atlanto-occipital joint fracture and C2 laminar fracture plus isolated transverse process and facet joint fractures. Radiographs detected 48% and MRI 60% of the fractures. MRI detected all transverse and odontoid fractures, demonstrating spinal cord abnormalities in 72%.

Conclusion: MDCT is superior to plain radiographs or MRI, showing significantly more injuries and yielding more information on fracture morphology. MRI is valuable, however, in evaluating the spinal cord and soft-tissue injuries. Fractures in advanced AS often show an abnormal orientation and are frequently associated with spinal cord injuries. In these patients, for any suspected cervical spine injuries, MDCT is therefore the imaging modality of choice.
Metabolic disturbances in liver 1H MR spectroscopy in HIV and HCV co-infected patients as a potential marker of hepatocyte activation
Authors: Tarasów E. , Wiercińska-Drapało A. , Jaroszewicz J. , Siergiejczyk L. , Orzechowska-Bobkiewicz A. , Prokopowicz D. , Walecki J.
Published: November 2004

Purpose: To evaluate proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) features in order to assess hepatocellular activation in chronic hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C (HIV/HCV) co-infected patients.

Material and Methods: Liver in vivo 1H MR spectra were obtained in 14 patients with hepatitis C virus infection (HCV), 20 HIV/HCV co-infected individuals, and 24 healthy volunteers. Resonances of lipids, glutamine/glutamate (Glx), phosphomonoesters (PME), glycogen/glucose (Glc) were assessed and metabolite ratios to total lipids (TL) were calculated.

Results: A significant increase in Glx/TL and PME/TL was observed in the HCV group as compared to healthy individuals. Patients with HIV and HCV co-infection had a further increase of all metabolite ratios. Changes in metabolite ratios were due to both the increase in particular metabolite contents and to the decrease in lipid levels. HIV/HCV-infected patients treated with highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) showed elevated PME and Glx levels and significantly decreased TL compared to patients not undergoing anti-retroviral treatment.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest clinical usefulness of liver 1H MR spectroscopy in detecting even slight disturbances in liver metabolism.
Algoriphagus antarcticus sp. nov., a novel psychrophile from microbial mats in Antarctic lakes
Authors: Van Trappen Stefanie , Vandecandelaere Ilse , Mergaert Joris , Swings Jean
Published: November 2004

A taxonomic study was performed on six strains isolated from microbial mats of lakes Reid, Fryxell and Ace in Antarctica. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that these strains belonged to the family ‘Flexibacteraceae’ and were closely related to the recently described genera Algoriphagus and Hongiella. The isolates were Gram-negative, chemoheterotrophic, aerobic, psychrophilic, orange–red-pigmented bacteria and their DNA G+C content ranged from 39·9 to 41·0 mol%. Whole-cell fatty acid profiles included mainly branched fatty acids and summed feature 3, comprising 15 : 0 iso 2OH, 16 : 1ω7c or both. On the basis of genotypic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic results, the novel strains were classified as Algoriphagus antarcticus sp. nov. The type strain is LMG 21980T (=DSM 15986T=R-10710T).
Kaistella koreensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the Chryseobacterium–Bergeyella–Riemerella branch
Authors: Kim Myung Kyum , Im Wan-Taek , Shin Yong Kook , Lim Ju Hyoung , Kim Sung-Hye , Lee Byung Chul , Park Mi-Yeoun , Lee Ki Young , Lee Sung-Taik
Published: November 2004

Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, yellow-pigmented bacteria isolated from a freshwater stream in Korea were investigated to determine their taxonomic position. Complete 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the organisms should be placed in the Chryseobacterium–Bergeyella–Riemerella branch in the family Flavobacteriaceae. Phylogenetically, the strains were most closely related to Chryseobacterium balustinum ATCC 33487T and Chryseobacterium scophthalmum LMG 13028T (94·3 and 94·1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively) and they clustered on a separate well-supported branch. The strains contained menaquinone MK-6 as the predominant respiratory quinone and showed higher G+C contents (41·7 mol%) than other species in the Chryseobacterium–Bergeyella–Riemerella branch and i-C15 : 0 as a major fatty acid (47–52 %). The phylogenetic distances from any species with validly published names and their phenotypic properties confirmed that the strains constitute a separate species in a new genus, for which the name Kaistella koreensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed (type strain Chj707T=KCTC 12107T=IAM 15050T).
Genome reduction in prokaryotic obligatory intracellular parasites of humans: a comparative analysis
Authors: Sakharkar Kishore R. , Dhar Pawan Kumar , Chow Vincent T. K.
Published: November 2004

Obligatory intracellular parasites have undergone significant genome reduction by gene loss over time in the context of their obligate associations with the host. The flux, streamlining and elimination of genes in these genomes constitute a selective and ongoing process. Comparative analyses of five completely sequenced obligatory intracellular parasite genomes reveal that these genomes display marked similarities in patterns of protein length and frequency distribution, with substantial sharing of a ‘backbone genome’. From category distribution based on the database of cluster of orthologous groups of proteins (COG), it is clear that habitat is a major factor contributing to genome reduction. It is also observed that, in all five obligatory intracellular parasites, the reduction in number of genes/proteins is greater for proteins with lengths of 200–600 amino acids. These comparative analyses highlight that gene loss is function-dependent, but is independent of protein length. These comparisons enhance our knowledge of the forces that drive the extreme specialization of the bacteria and their association with the host.
‘Candidatus Burkholderia calva’ and ‘Candidatus Burkholderia nigropunctata’ as leaf gall endosymbionts of African Psychotria
Authors: Van Oevelen Sandra , De Wachter Rupert , Vandamme Peter , Robbrecht Elmar , Prinsen Els
Published: November 2004

Phylogenetic 16S rRNA gene analysis was used to assign the bacterial leaf-nodulating endosymbionts of two tropical African Psychotria species to the genus Burkholderia. The microsymbionts of the different Psychotria hosts were recognized as distinct and novel species of Burkholderia on the basis of relatively low intersequence similarities and sufficiently large evolutionary distances when compared with each other and their closest validly named neighbours. The obligate endosymbiotic nature of the bacteria prevented their in vitro cultivation and the deposition of type strains to culture collections. Therefore, the provisional status Candidatus is assigned to the bacterial partners of Psychotria calva and Psychotria nigropunctata, with the proposal of the names ‘Candidatus Burkholderia calva’ and ‘Candidatus Burkholderia nigropunctata’, respectively.
Porphyrobacter donghaensis sp. nov., isolated from sea water of the East Sea in Korea
Authors: Yoon Jung-Hoon , Lee Mi-Hwa , Oh Tae-Kwang
Published: November 2004

Two Gram-negative, motile, non-spore-forming, bacteriochlorophyll a-containing slightly halophilic strains, SW-132T and SW-158, were isolated from sea water of the East Sea in Korea, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The two isolates were characterized chemotaxonomically as having Q-10 as the predominant respiratory lipoquinone and major amounts of unsaturated fatty acids C18 : 1
ω7c and C17 : 1
ω6c. The DNA G+C contents of the two strains were in the range 66·8–65·9 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains SW-132T and SW-158 were 99·9 % (1 nt difference) similar and their mean level of DNA–DNA relatedness was 86 %. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strains SW-132T and SW-158 are phylogenetically closely related to Porphyrobacter species and Erythromicrobium ramosum. Similarities between the 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains SW-132T and SW-158 and the type strains of Porphyrobacter species and E. ramosum ranged from 97·8 to 99·0 %. DNA–DNA relatedness data indicated that strains SW-132T and SW-158 are members of a genomic species that is separate from the four Porphyrobacter species. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic data and genetic distinctiveness, strains SW-132T (=KCTC 12229T=DSM 16220T) and SW-158 (=KCTC 12230) are classified as a novel Porphyrobacter species, for which the name Porphyrobacter donghaensis sp. nov. is proposed.
LEF1-mediated regulation of Delta-like1 links Wnt and Notch signaling in somitogenesis
Authors: Galceran Juan , Sustmann Claudio , Hsu Shu-Chi , Folberth Stephanie , Grosschedl Rudolf
Published: November 2004

Wnt signaling, which is mediated by LEF1/TCF transcription factors, has been placed upstream of the Notch pathway in vertebrate somitogenesis. Here, we examine the molecular basis for this presumed hierarchy and show that a targeted mutation of Lef1, which abrogates LEF1 function and impairs the activity of coexpressed TCF factors, affects the patterning of somites and the expression of components of the Notch pathway. LEF1 was found to bind multiple sites in the Dll1 promoter in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, mutations of LEF1-binding sites in the Dll1 promoter impair expression of a Dll1–LacZ transgene in the presomitic mesoderm. Finally, the induced expression of LEF1–β-catenin activates the expression of endogenous Dll1 in fibroblastic cells. Thus, Wnt signaling can affect the Notch pathway by a LEF1-mediated regulation of Dll1.
Living with or without cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases
Authors: Sherr Charles J. , Roberts James M.
Published: November 2004

Entry into, progression through, and exit from the G1 phase of the mammalian cell cycle in response to extracellular mitogenic cues are presumed to be governed by cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) regulated by the D-type and E-type cyclins. Studies performed over more than a decade have supported the view that these holoenzymes are important, if not required, for these processes. However, recent experiments in which the genes encoding all three D-type cyclins, the two E-type cyclins, cyclin D-dependent Cdk4 and Cdk6, or cyclin E-dependent Cdk2 have been disrupted in the mouse germ line have revealed that much of fetal development occurs normally in their absence. Thus, none of these genes is strictly essential for cell cycle progression. To what extent is the prevailing dogma incorrect, and how can the recent findings be reconciled with past work?
Notch3 is required for arterial identity and maturation of vascular smooth muscle cells
Authors: Domenga Valérie , Fardoux Peggy , Lacombe Pierre , Monet Marie , Maciazek Jacqueline , Krebs Luke T. , Klonjkowski Bernard , Berrou Eliane , Mericskay Matthias , Li Zhen , Tournier-Lasserve Elisabeth , Gridley Thomas , Joutel Anne
Published: November 2004

Formation of a fully functional artery proceeds through a multistep process. Here we show that Notch3 is required to generate functional arteries in mice by regulating arterial differentiation and maturation of vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMC). In adult Notch3–/– mice distal arteries exhibit structural defects and arterial myogenic responses are defective. The postnatal maturation stage of vSMC is deficient in Notch3–/– mice. We further show that Notch3 is required for arterial specification of vSMC but not of endothelial cells. Our data reveal Notch3 to be the first cell-autonomous regulator of arterial differentiation and maturation of vSMC.
MLJ Reviews
Authors: Liskin‐Gasparro Judith E.
Published: November 2004

Books reviewed in this article:

Andrews, Larry. Linguistics for L2 Teachers.

Ballman, Terry L., Judith E. Liskin– Gasparro, & Paul B. Mandell. The Communicative Classroom.

Batchelor, R. E., & M. H. Offord. Using French: A Guide to Contemporary Usage.

Bräuer, Gerd. (Ed.). Pedagogy of Language Learning in Higher Education. Vistas: Introducción a la lengua española.

Breen, Michael P. (Ed.). Learner Contributions to Language Learning: New Directions in Research.

Brown, James D. Using Surveys in Language Learning.

Brumfit, Christopher. Individual Freedom in Language Teaching: Helping Learners to Develop a Dialect of Their Own.

Chavez, Monika. Gender in the Language Classroom.

Colombi, María Cecilia, Jill L. Pellettieri, & María Isabel Rodríguez. Palabra abierta.

Coveney, Aidan. The Sounds of Contemporary French: Articulation and Diversity.

Dörnyei, Zoltàn. Teaching and Researching Motivation.

Gass, Susan, M., & Larry Selinker. Second Language Acquisition: An Introductory Course.

Heilenman, L. Kathy, Isabelle Kaplan, & Claude Toussaint Tournier. Voilá! An Introduction to French.

Heilenman, L. Kathy, Isabelle Kaplan, & Claude Toussaint Tournier. Cahier d'activités écrites.

Heilenman, L. Kathy, Isabelle Kaplan, & Claude Toussaint Tournier. Cahier d'activités orales.

Ibrahim, Zeinab, Nagwa Kassabgy, & Sabiha Aydelott. (Eds.) Diversity in Language: Contrastive Studies in English and Arabic Theoretical and Applied Linguistics.

Jarvis, Ana C., Raquel Lebredo, & Francisco Mena–ayllón. Basic Spanish Grammar.

Jarvis, Ana C., Raquel Lebredo, & Francisco Mena–ayllón. Getting Along in Spanish.

Jarvis, Ana C., Raquel Lebredo, & Francisco Mena–ayllón. Spanish for Law Enforcement.

Jarvis, Ana C., Raquel Lebredo, & Francisco Mena–ayllón. Spanish for Business and Finance.

Jarvis, Ana C., Raquel Lebredo, & Francisco Mena–ayllón. Spanish for Medical Personnel.

Jarvis, Ana C., Raquel Lebredo, & Francisco Mena–ayllón. Spanish for Social Services.

Jarvis, Ana C., Raquel Lebredo, & Francisco Mena–ayllón. Spanish for Teachers.

Johnson, Keith. An Introduction to Foreign Language Learning and Teaching.

Kecskes, Istvan, & Tünde Papp. Foreign Language and Mother Tongue.

Khalil, Esam N. Grounding in English and Arabic News Discourse.

Mar–Molinero, Clare. The Politics of Language in the Spanish‐Speaking World: From Colonisation to Globalisation.

Mey, Jacob L. Pragmatics: An Introduction.

Mujica, Bárbara. Hispanomundo: Latinoamérica.

Nicol, Janet L. (Ed.) One Mind, Two Languages: Bilingual Language Processing.

Penny, Ralph. Variation and Change in Spanish.

Rifkin, Benjamin. (Ed.). Mentoring Foreign Language Teaching Assistants, Lecturers, and Adjunct Faculty.

Sharpley, G. D. A. Essential Latin. The Language and Life of Ancient Rome.

Siskin, H. Jay, & Cheryl Krueger. Entretiens: Cours de conversation. 2nd ed.

Tufts, Clare, & Jarausch, Hannelore. Cahier d'exercices et de laboratoire. 3rd ed.

Tufts, Clare, & Jarausch, Hannelore. Sur le vif. 3rd ed.

Tufts, Clare, & Jarausch, Hannelore. Audio CDs to accompany Sur le vif. 3rd ed.
Utility Models for Goal‐Directed, Decision‐Theoretic Planners
Authors: Haddawy Peter , Hanks Steve
Published: November 2004

AI planning agents are goal‐directed: success is measured in terms of whether an input goal is satisfied. The goal gives structure to the planning problem, and planning representations and algorithms have been designed to exploit that structure. Strict goal satisfaction may be an unacceptably restrictive measure of good behavior, however.

A general decision‐theoretic agent, on the other hand, has no explicit goals: success is measured in terms of an arbitrary preference model or utility function defined over plan outcomes. Although it is a very general and powerful model of problem solving, decision‐theoretic choice lacks structure, which can make it difficult to develop effective plan‐generation algorithms.

This paper establishes a middle ground between the two models. We extend the traditional AI goal model in several directions: allowing goals with temporal extent, expressing preferences over partial satisfaction of goals, and balancing goal satisfaction against the cost of the resources consumed in service of the goals. In doing so we provide a utility model for a goal‐directed agent.

An important quality of the proposed model is its tractability. We claim that our model, like classical goal models, makes problem structure explicit. This structure can then be exploited by a problem‐solving algorithm. We support this claim by reporting on two implemented planning systems that adopt and exploit our model.
On the Correctness and Reasonableness of Cox's Theorem for Finite Domains
Authors: Snow Paul
Published: November 2004

Halpern has recently claimed a counterexample to Cox's Theorem, a well‐known existence result for subjective probability distributions, but stated that the counterexample can be defeated by a specific assumption. Cox made this assumption, and so escapes the counterexample. Although Halpern questioned whether the assumption is reasonable for finite sets of sentences, it supports features that distinguish Cox's work from other, more restrictive motivations of probabilism. Paris has recently offered a new proof of Cox's Theorem whose correctness is satisfactory to Halpern, one that depends on a premise consistent with Cox's later work. As with any deductive argument, denial of a premise licenses denial of the conclusion, but Cox's conclusion does follow from premises plainly acceptable to him.
The working and living space of the ‘floating population’ in China
Authors: Shen Jianfa , Huang Yefang
Published: November 2004

A large floating population is moving around in China. This is a challenging demographic, social and economic issue for the country. But the knowledge about this particular population group remains incomplete and fragmentary. This paper uses a recent set of statistical data covering a registered temporary population of 37 million to assess the status of the floating population in China. It is found that the majority of the registered floating population is employed or self–employed in one way or another. But the housing conditions of the rural migrants are generally poor. Institutional and market forces are playing an important role in shaping the working and living space of China.
A Bayesian Compartmental Model for the Evaluation of 1,3-Butadiene Metabolism
Authors: Mezzetti Maura , Ibrahim Joseph G. , Bois Frédéric Y. , Ryan Louise M. , Ngo Long , Smith Thomas J.
Published: November 2004

We propose a Bayesian model for physiologically based pharmacokinetics of 1,3-butadiene (BD). BD is classified as a suspected human carcinogen and exposure to it is common, especially through cigarette smoke as well as in urban settings. The main aim of the methodology and analysis that are presented here is to quantify variability in the rates of BD metabolism by human subjects. A three-compartmental model is described, together with informative prior distributions for the population parameters, all of which represent real physiological variables. The model is described in detail along with the meanings and interpretations of the associated parameters. A four-compartment model is also given for comparison. Markov chain Monte Carlo methods are described for fitting the model proposed. The model is fitted to toxicokinetic data obtained from 133 healthy subjects (males and females) from the four major racial groups in the USA, with ages ranging from 19 to 62 years. Subjects were exposed to 2 parts per million of BD for 20 min through a face mask by using a computer-controlled exposure and respiratory monitoring system. Stratification by ethnic group results in major changes in the physiological parameters. Sex and age were also tested but not found to have a significant effect.
A Hierarchical Modelling Approach to Combining Environmental Data at Different Scales
Authors: Hirst David , Storvik Geir , Syversveen Anne Randi
Published: November 2004

Long-transported air pollution in Europe is monitored by a combination of a highly complex mathematical model and a limited number of measurement stations. The model predicts deposition on a 150 km × 150 km square grid covering the whole of the continent. These predictions can be regarded as spatial averages, with some spatially correlated model error. The measurement stations give a limited number of point estimates, regarded as error free. We combine these two sources of data by assuming that both are observations of an underlying true process. This true deposition is made up of a smooth deterministic trend, due to gradual changes in emissions over space and time, and two stochastic components. One is non-stationary and correlated over long distances; the other describes variation within a grid square. Our approach is through hierarchical modelling with predictions and measurements being independent conditioned on the underlying non-stationary true deposition. We assume Gaussian processes and calculate maximum likelihood estimates through numerical optimization. We find that the variation within a grid square is by far the largest component of the variation in the true deposition. We assume that the mathematical model produces estimates of the mean over an area that is approximately equal to a grid square, and we find that it has an error that is similar to the long-range stochastic component of the true deposition, in addition to a large bias.
Endogenous Fertility, Endogenous Growth and Public Pension System: Should We Switch from a Pay‐As‐You‐Go to a Fully Funded System?
Authors: Yoon Yeopil , Talmain Gabriel
Published: November 2004

In this paper we study the implications of state pension plan reform on fertility and on growth. We extend the Grossman and Yanagawa endogenous growth framework by incorporating altruism, making fertility endogenous. We investigate the effect on long‐run growth of a switch from a pay‐as‐you‐go (PAYG) pension system to a fully funded system. We show that a PAYG pension system is associated with a lower fertility rate than a fully funded system. This lower fertility in turn increases the rate of growth. Hence, switching from a PAYG system to a fully funded system may be harmful, especially for developing countries in which limited resources are heavily stressed by high fertility rates. In addition, we propose a hypothetical pension system, the saving subsidy programme (SSP), which would yield a higher growth rate than the PAYG system. The SSP consists of a minimum benefit level for each retired and of a subsidy to private savings.
The economics of the Nigerian liquefied natural gas project
Authors: Eghre‐Oghene M. , Omole O.
Published: November 2004

Consideration for the environment is one of the major reasons for the ongoing global shift to gas as an energy source. Natural gas is a clean‐burning fuel and poses less problems for the environment, when compared with current commercial sources of energy. This shift is gradually evolving a growing world demand for natural gas to be supplied either as pipeline gas or liquefied natural gas (LNG). Nigeria, with its relatively huge gas resources, is poised to supply a substantial part of this growing world demand with its LNG, which is expected to come on‐stream by the final quarter of 1999.

This paper examines the economics of Nigeria's LNG project. Nigeria is currently concentrating on the United States of America (USA) and Western European markets, because its LNG can be sold at competitive prices there. The study covers the demand and supply scenario in the world LNG trade. The activities of buyers and sellers in the world LNG trade are examined, with a view to identifying new markets for Nigeria's LNG. A payout time for the project is estimated and strategies for breaking into new markets are suggested. Finally, useful recommendations are made to ensure the sustainability of the LNG project.
Extraordinary Satisfactions: Lesbian Visibility in Seventeenth–Century Pornography in England
Authors: Toulalan Sarah
Published: November 2004

This article analyses seventeenth–century pornographic literature and popular ballads to explore alternative representations, and hence interpretations, of female same–sex desire than those presented by either early modern legal, medical and religious discourse in which the image of the tribade predominates, or the homoerotic prose and poetry of female writers. It argues that early modern culture was not limited to interpreting sexual acts between women as the result of either a physical abnormality (clitoral hypertrophy) or the desire to live as a man, and thence to take on his sexual as well as social role.
Women and War in Comparative Perspective
Authors: Gullace Nicoletta F.
Published: November 2004

Books reviewed in this article:

Harriet Hyman Alonso, The Women's Peace Union and the Outlawry of War 1921–1942

Joy Damousi, The Labour of Loss: Mourning: Memory and Wartime Bereavement in Australia

Belinda J. Davis, Home Fires Burning: Food, Politics, and Everyday Life in World War I Berlin

Jean Gallagher, The World Wars Through the Female Gaze

Susan R. Grayzel, Women's Identities at War: Gender, Motherhood, and Politics in Britain and France During the First World War
One Size Must Fit All: National Divergences in a Monetary Union
Authors: Gros Daniel , Hefeker Carsten
Published: November 2004

Should a common central bank in a heterogeneous monetary union base its decisions on EU-wide averages of economic variables or on national welfare losses? A central bank that minimizes the sum of national welfare losses reacts less to common shocks. Under certain parameter constellations this leads to higher average union-wide expected welfare and it might thus be preferable that decision-making is dominated by national representatives. Countries with a transmission mechanism far from the average benefit from an orientation on national welfare losses. For countries with a transmission mechanism close to the average, welfare can be lower in this case.
European Integration and Manufactures Import Demand: An Empirical Investigation of Ten European Countries
Authors: Barrell Ray , Willem te Velde Dirk
Published: November 2004

This paper studies import demand in ten European countries over the period 1970±95, and our objective is to investigate whether the process of European integration has affected imports. We provide evidence for parametric change in traditional import demand equations, suggesting that important variables or structural factors are missing from the long-run equations. We present equations based on new trade theory, where effects of technology and foreign direct investment are present. Once we include these there is little evidence that the creation of the Single Market has directly increased aggregated imports in European countries.
The American Indian in German Novels Up To The 1850s
Authors: Kriegleder Wynfrid
Published: November 2004

A close look at a number of early German novels about the USA (e.g. Sophie von La Roche, Erscheinungen am See Oneida, 1798: Henriette Frölich, Virginia oder Die Kolonie von Kentucky, 1820; Charles Sealsfield, Der Legitime und die Repunlikaner, 1833; Jogann Christoph Biernatzki, Der braune Knabe, 1839) reveals that they hardly ever portray Indians as noble savages in an enviable state of nature ‐ the image prevailing in many late nineteenth‐century novels (e.g. by Karl May) that tend to sympathise with the Indians’ lot and even suggest a peculiar affinity between them and the Germans. On the contrary, the earlier novels wholeheartedly embrace the notion that the bast continent of Northern America is there to be civilised ‐ which is to say: Europeanised. The Indians are considered as representatives of a lower social and cultural order that will either voluntarily join the new, European order of things or else disappear.
How Issue Size, Risk, and Complexity are Influencing External Financing Costs: German IPOs Analyzed from an Economies of Scale Perspective
Authors: Kaserer Christoph , Kraft Marcus
Published: November 2004

This paper is focused on the cost of raising capital in Germany. A cross‐sectional analysis of flotation cost data for 117 IPOs over the years 1993–1998 is presented. We find average flotation costs to be 7.77 percent of gross proceeds, while underwriting fees average 5.01 percent. Our results extend the literature in two important directions. First, contrary to the conventional economies of scale view we find marginal spreads to be rather constant in gross proceeds and to be higher for more risky and more complex offerings. Fixed costs amount to 5 to 9 percent of underwriting fees. Second, by applying a principal component analysis we find issue size, an issuer risk factor, and an offering method complexity factor to have an economicaly meaningful impact on underwriting fees.
The Nature of Corporate Income Tax Under a Full Imputation Tax Regime: A Test of Functional Fixation
Authors: Yu Hung‐Chao , Chi Wu‐Chun , Hsu Chun‐Yuan
Published: November 2004

This paper tests two competing hypotheses describing investors’ behavior: the efficient market hypothesis and the functional fixation hypothesis. In particular, this study examines how Taiwan's stock market interprets the nature of corporate income tax after the 1998 Tax Reform, which switches from the classical tax system to the integrated tax system. This Tax Reform changes the nature of corporate income tax from a pure operating expense to an individual shareholder's tax credit, but current GAAP still treats it as an operating expense in the income statement. The empirical results show that Taiwan's stock market perceives the change in nature of corporate income tax and responds accordingly.
Voluntary Disclosure of Management Earnings Forecasts in IPO Prospectuses
Authors: Jog Vijay , McConomy Bruce J.
Published: November 2004

Asymmetric information and mechanisms for its resolution in the initial public offering (IPO) process are subjects of extensive research and debate. In this paper, we investigate the impact of one such mechanism, namely voluntary disclosure of management earnings forecasts by issuers of IPOs, as a means of reducing asymmetric information as well as ex ante uncertainty. Our focus is on the relative importance of this voluntary disclosure mechanism on both IPO underpricing and post‐issue return performance. Our results indicate that management earnings forecasts provide important and incremental information compared to other means of reducing asymmetric information, and these disclosures appear to improve the environment of IPO issuance. For example, our underpricing results show that firms that choose to provide forecasts leave ‘less money on the table’ with a lower degree of underpricing. In terms of post‐issue performance, firms whose forecasts turn out to be optimistic are penalized significantly relative to other forecasters and non‐forecasters.
Plant Relocation: When is it a Viable Threat?
Authors: Edwards Ron
Published: November 2004

This paper uses research from the field of international business to investigate when a multinational corporation’s threat to leave a country is likely to have substance. Some multinationals have broad flexibility to relocate. Others do not. Customer expectations, transportation costs and organisational factors may limit their flexibility. The challenge for trade unions in high wage countries like Australia is to be able to assess these factors and judge whether threats to ‘move to Asia’ are viable. Often they are not.
Cross‐readings of the anti‐globalisation movement in Turkey and beyond. Political culture in the making
Authors: Baykan Barιş Gençer , Lelandais Gülçin Erdi
Published: November 2004

Since the Seattle demonstrations of 1999, a wave of protest has emerged worldwide against the effects of neo‐liberalism. First labelled “anti‐globalisation” then “alternative globalisation”, the movement has found that its principles are increasingly echoed by other resistance groups, international and local alike. The birth of the alternative globalisation movement in Turkey is one such example. In this essay, we will explore the national political culture of Turkish social movements in relation to Turkish alternative globalisation, and how this national culture relates to the global political culture hostile to neo‐liberalism that was generated at the World Social Forum. We will examine the interaction between distinct political cultures that experiment a more or less global vision of social and political struggle. Using Turkey as a model, we will analyse the connections between initiatives put forth by the local, national and world social forums. By studying the history of Turkish protest groups within the alternative globalisation nebula and by charting the participation of these groups in social forums, we will also examine the intricate relationships between these resistance groups and the mutual effects of such relationships: the subsequent transfer of knowledge and organisational models as well as specific repertoires of activity bound to their various political cultures.
Approaches to social change in Social Forums: snapshots of recompositions in progress
Authors: Rioufol Véronique
Published: November 2004

This study proposes to examine the recomposition of the practices and notions of social change that are currently used in the World Social Forum (WSF). The alternative globalisation movement is united around the idea of shifting from current societies to “another possible world”. How does the movement envision and implement this shift? Today, the approaches to social change that coexist and interact within the Forums are being completely recomposed, both conceptually and practically. To analyse these evolutions, this paper will study a French group made up of actors implicated in the organisation of the 2003 European Social Forum. The goal of the group is to establish a collective space for self‐assessment of the alternative globalisation movement. Since the group lacks an overall vision or political project, it experiences the present as a space that it must completely occupy in order to shape and stimulate the recompositions in progress. It seeks to recompose political goals and an overall vision, using as its starting point the host of practices and analyses found in the Forums. In this approach, by establishing consistency between the form and content of social change and between the different levels and domains of action, localised changes are able to connect, circulate, and “become part of a system”.
The mind beyond our immediate awareness: Freudian, Jungian, and cognitive models of the unconscious
Authors: Ekstrom Soren R.
Published: November 2004

Abstract:  Several branches of cognitive science now focus on the nature of the unconscious. This paper explores some of the findings and models from this research. By introducing formulations based on non‐clinical data, the cognitive scientists—in neural linguistics, computational modelling, and neuroscience—may depart from the older psychoanalytic formulations. An understanding of unconscious neural processes is nevertheless emerging showing how synapses are modified by experience and how learning, conscious and unconscious, is due to this important aspect of brain plasticity. Freud and Jung's formulations about the unconscious psyche, representing the main tenets of depth psychology, are also based on a conception of the mind as extending beyond immediate awareness. However, their models are more hypothetical in that their data, almost exclusively, come from treatments of psychotherapy patients and their verbal accounts. So how do these two conceptions of the unconscious match, where do they differ? And how does the neural understanding in the present research support theories and practices of analytic treatments?
Persistent marriage regimes in changing times
Authors: Fussell Elizabeth , Palloni Alberto
Published: November 2004

Marriage among women in Latin America occurs early in life and is nearly universal in spite of the social and economic changes and instability in the region. We use demographic measures to illustrate the precociousness, persistence, and universality of marriage during the past 50 years. We argue that marriage is central to social life because families serve as an important cultural institution for countering the vicissitudes of the economy. Women's roles within families and households are key, as has been illustrated by the growth of literature on household survival strategies during the 1980s and 1990s, when the region experienced widespread economic crisis and restructuring.
Dependence within families and the division of labor: Comparing Sweden and the United States
Authors: Evertsson Marie , Nermo Magnus
Published: November 2004

This article assesses the relative explanatory value of the resource‐bargaining perspective and the doing‐gender approach for the division of housework in the United States and Sweden from the mid‐1970s to 2000. The data used are the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) and the Swedish Level of Living Survey. Overall results show that housework was truly gendered work in both countries during the entire period. Even so, the results indicate that, unlike Swedish women, U.S. women seem to increase their time spent in housework when their husbands are to some extent economically dependent on them, as if to neutralize the presumed gender deviance on the part of their spouses.