bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sequential Triangle Strip Generator Based on Hopfield Networks
Authors: Šíma Jiří , Lněnička Radim
Published: September 2008

The important task of generating the minimum number of sequential triangle strips (tristrips) for a given triangulated surface model is motivated by applications in computer graphics. This hard combinatorial optimization problem is reduced to the minimum energy problem in Hopfield nets by a linear-size construction. In particular, the classes of equivalent optimal stripifications are mapped one to one to the minimum energy states reached by a Hopfield network during sequential computation starting at the zero initial state. Thus, the underlying Hopfield network powered by simulated annealing (i.e., Boltzmann machine), which is implemented in the program HTGEN, can be used for computing the semioptimal stripifications. Practical experiments confirm that one can obtain much better results using HTGEN than by a leading conventional stripification program FTSG (a reference stripification method not based on neural nets), although the running time of simulated annealing grows rapidly near the global optimum. Nevertheless, HTGEN exhibits empirical linear time complexity when the parameters of simulated annealing (i.e., the initial temperature and the stopping criterion) are fixed and thus provides the semioptimal offline solutions, even for huge models of hundreds of thousands of triangles, within a reasonable time.
The Demise of Adam in the Qisas al-Anbiyā: The Symbolic Politics of Death and Re-Burial in the Islamic "Stories of the Prophets"
Authors: Lybarger Loren
Published: September 2008

This paper explores how death and burial narratives — particularly those associated with Adam, the paradigmatic first human being, in the Islamic religious literature known as qisas al-anbiyā ("stories of the [Biblical] prophets") — relate to the discursive processes through which religious communities articulate lines of inclusion and exclusion in the formation of their collective identities. In conversation with Katherine Verdery (The Political Lives of Dead Bodies), who examines reburials of political figures in Eastern Europe following the 1989 collapse of the Soviet Union, this paper argues that Islamic narratives regarding the death and burial of biblical figures like Adam serve to re-appropriate, re-situate, and re-define boundaries of identity and difference both among Muslims (e.g.male/public vs. female/private; Sunni vs. Shi'a; ālim (scholar) vs. populist preacher) and between Muslims and non-Muslim monotheists, Jews and Christians, principally. Grounding the discussion, empirically, are a series of close analyses of various renditions of the story of Adam's demise as found in a range of mostly Sunni qisas al-anbiyā materials. From these analyses, the paper offers an expanded understanding of how religious communities, specifically, develop multiple and competing claims in an effort to "monopolize the practices associated with death" (Verdery).
Three new species of free-living nematodes from inter-tidal sediments in southern New Zealand
Authors: Leduc Daniel , Wharton David A.
Published: September 2008

Three new species are described from sheltered intertidal sediments of
Papanui Inlet, southern New Zealand. Microlaimus falciferus n. sp. is
characterised by a cuticle with two lateral alae, the presence of pores
between the cephalic setae, a strongly sclerotised and non-compartmentalised
mouth cavity and scythe-shaped spicules with two sub-lateral pre-cloacal
setae. This is the first species of the family Microlaimidae described as
having lateral differentiation of the cuticle. Microlaimus falciferus n. sp.
can also be differentiated from other Microlaimus species by the presence of
two types of porids, i.e., pores and short hollow setae, as all other
species of the genus possess only one type of porid (when present). Aponema
subtile n. sp. is characterised by its slender form, relatively long tail,
presence of longitudinal bars and lateral grooves on the cuticle and groups
of short setae in the pre- and post-cloacal regions. It is similar to A.
torosum in the structure of the male sexual organs but differs from the
latter in the following ways: higher a values (30-40 vs 17-27); longer tail
(5.4-7.8 vs 4-5 anal body diam. long) and a weakly sclerotised pharyngeal
bulb that is never angular in appearance. Sabatieria annulata n. sp. is most
similar to the cosmopolitan species S. punctata, the main difference being
the absence of punctations in S. annulata n. sp. Sabatieria annulata n. sp.
also has shorter spicules (34-36 vs 41-54 μm) and shorter gubernacular
apophyses (14-16 vs 20-24 μm) than S. punctata.
Synonymy of Afenestrata with Heterodera supported by phylogenetics with molecular and morphological characterisation of H. koreana comb. n. and H. orientalis comb. n. (Tylenchida: Heteroderidae)
Authors: Mundo-Ocampo Manuel , Troccoli Alberto , Subbotin Sergei A. , Del Cid Julio , Baldwin James G. , Inserra Renato N.
Published: September 2008

Phylogenetic analysis of five gene fragments: ITS-rRNA, D2 and D3 of 28S
rRNA, 18S rRNA, Hsp90 and actin, of Heterodera species and two
representative Afenestrata species, A. koreana and A. orientalis, form a
clade with H. cynodontis, H. bifenestra and an unidentified Heterodera sp.
infecting grasses. Based on these results and the consideration that the key
diagnostic characters of Afenestrata are convergent and do not define a
clade, synonymisation of Afenestrata with Heterodera is proposed. The
following new combinations are made: H. africana comb. n., H. axonopi comb.
n., H. koreana comb. n., and H. orientalis comb. n. Furthermore, H. (=
Afenestrata) sacchari is renamed as H. saccharophila nom. nov. to avoid
homonymy. All these species, together with H. bamboosi, are regarded as
members of a paraphyletic ‘Afenestrata group’ within Heterodera. Whilst
recognised as artificial, the Afenestrata group is nevertheless an aid to
discussion about these similar species. Morphological and molecular
characterisation of populations of H. koreana comb. n. from Florida and H.
orientalis comb. n. from Florida and Guatemala verify the identification of
these populations as valid representatives for molecular studies of the
species. Light and SEM observations also provide new detail and a broader
understanding of the morphological range of both species. These include a
longer stylet for females of H. koreana comb. n. and H. orientalis comb. n.
than reported in the original descriptions. In addition, previously
unreported tuberculate ridges are noted on the surface of vulval lips of H.
orientalis comb. n. The lip region of second-stage juveniles of H. koreana
comb. n. and H. orientalis comb. n. both include fused adjacent submedian
lips that also fuse with the labial disc and the second lip annulus. The
ITS-rRNA gene sequences of H. orientalis comb. n. populations from Florida
and Guatemala were similar to those from the Russian type locality.
Diagnostic PCR-RFLP of ITS-rRNA profiles with six enzymes for H. orientalis
comb. n. and H. koreana comb. n. are given. A key for the morphological
identification of species of the Afenestrata group is provided.
Laboratory screening for virulent entomopathogenic nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema yirgalemense) and fungi (Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana) and assessment of possible synergistic effects of combined use against grubs of the barley chafer Coptognathus curtipennis
Authors: Anbesse Samuel A. , Adge Bekele J. , Gebru Wondirad M.
Published: September 2008

The barley chafer grub, Coptognathus curtipennis, is an important field pest
of barley, wheat and linseed seedlings at Tikur Inchini district of theWest
Shewa zone of Ethiopia in Ormoia regional state. Two entomopathogenic
nematodes (EPN; Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema yirgalemense,
strains ANEPN21, ANEPN22, respectively) and three entomopathogenic fungal
isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (MM, EE and PPRC66) were compared
separately at different rates of concentration for their effect against C.
curtipennis in laboratory bioassays. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and M.
anisopliae isolate MM were found to be the most pathogenic to C. curtipennis
at 1000 infective juveniles (IJ)/grub and 108 conidia (g soil)–1
concentration, causing 88.7% and 88.6% mortality, respectively, after 3-4
weeks exposure. These two most effective entomopathogens were further tested
against the same insect in simultaneous and sequential combination with each
other. Insect larvae were exposed to optimal concentration of H.
bacteriophora and M. anisopliae isolate MM, which caused 50% larval
mortality, i.e., 380 IJ/grub and 1.7 × 107 conidia (g soil)–1, respectively,
as observed in the first experiments. The combined application increased
larval mortality in an additive and synergistic manner. To achieve a strong
synergistic effect, larva had to be exposed to M. anisopliae isolate MM 3
weeks before the addition of nematodes. The result of the whole experiment
suggests that the damage caused by barley chafer grub can be controlled or
managed by applying EPN and/or fungi. Furthermore, the combined use of M.
anisopliae with nematodes may offer an integrated approach to increase the
efficacy of EPN for C. curtipennis control and perhaps other insect
pests.
Identification and isozyme characterisation of Meloidogyne spp. infecting horticultural and agronomic crops, and weed plants in Florida
Authors: Brito Janete A. , Kaur Ramandeep , Cetintas Ramazan , Stanley Jason D. , Mendes Maria L. , McAvoy Eugene J. , Powers Thomas O. , Dickson Donald W.
Published: September 2008

A total of 327 root samples collected from horticultural and agronomic crops,
and weeds associated with these crops in Florida crop production regions,
were examined. Isozyme phenotypes, esterase (EST) and malate dehydrogenase
(MDH) phenotypes were used to characterise and identify the species of
Meloidogyne present in these samples. At least 26 females from each sample
were examined using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Sixteen major bands
of EST activity were found, corresponding to 12 phenotypes. A
species-specific EST phenotype was consistently associated with each of the
Meloidogyne spp. identified: Meloidogyne arenaria, M. floridensis, M.
graminicola, M. hapla, M. incognita, M. javanica, M. mayaguensis and M.
partityla. Two unique EST phenotypes, which have not been described, were
found associated with three unidentified nematode populations. Five bands of
MDH activity and four phenotypes were also found among the populations.
During this study, new host records were determined for M. floridensis and
M. mayaguensis, two recently reported Meloidogyne spp. in Florida. Plant
species found as new hosts of M. floridensis were Cucumis sativus, Phaseolus
sp., Solanum melongena and one weed species, Emilia sonchifolia, and the M.
incognita-resistant peach rootstock ‘Flordaguard’. New hosts for M.
mayaguensis were Carica papaya, Capsicum annuum var. Longum, and six weed
plants, including Eclipta prostrata, Fatoua villosa, Panicum sp., Poinsettia
cyathophora, Solanum americanum and also one unidentified weed species
belonging to the family Acanthaceae. To our knowledge, Florida is the only
geographic area of North America where M. floridensis and M. mayaguensis
have been detected.
Bionomics of the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema weiseri (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae)
Authors: Bazman Ipek , Ozer Nurdan , Hazir Selcuk
Published: September 2008

This study describes some important bio-ecological properties of Steinernema
weiseri, a recently isolated entomopathogenic nematode species in Turkey.
The effects of temperature on the infectivity and development of S. weiseri
were determined at 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C. The greatest and the
fastest mortality of Galleria mellonella larvae was observed at 20 and 25°C
(ca 2 days) and the slowest at 5°C in 11.5 days. The emergence time of the
new generation of infective juveniles (IJ) from the host cadaver was
shortest at 20 and 25°C (ca 9 days) and the longest at 8°C (ca 40 days). No
progeny were observed at 5 and 30°C. At the tested temperatures, the lowest
number of new generation IJ was obtained at 8 and 10°C and the highest at 15
and 20°C. The life cycle, determined at 23-24°C under laboratory conditions
using G. mellonella as a host, took 9 days to complete. Our study suggests
that the Turkish isolate of S. weiseri is adapted to cold temperatures.
Steinernema weiseri has a wide host range and infects and develops well in
larvae of Agrotis sp., Ceratitis capitata, Cydia splendana, Synanthedon
vespiformis and Hoplocampa flava, but it infects and develops poorly in
Polyphylla fullo. Larval stages of C. cossus were divided into four groups
based on the diameter of their head capsules. Steinernema weiseri developed
well in larval stages in Group 1 (the smallest head capsule) and Group 2 of
Cossus cossus but, interestingly, very low infection and nematode
development occurred in the Group 3 and Group 4 larval stage of C. cossus.
No nematode infection was observed in Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa either.
The Dual Strategy of Rabbinic Purity Legislation
Authors: Noam Vered
Published: September 2008

An examination of Tannaic sources uncovers a dual strategy regarding the bounds of non-priestly purity. On the one hand, it was common during the period of the Second Temple and thereafter to exercise extreme caution in keeping impurity away even from the profane. On the other hand, however, the sages acted overtly to maintain a clear distinction between the theoretical-biblical concept of ritual impurity, which was steadily limited to the sacred, and the much more stringent customs they lived by. The article argues that, contrary to what has been accepted in the literature, there never existed any disagreement on this issue in the rabbinic world.
The Decision of the ICSID Ad Hoc Committee in CMS v. Argentina Regarding the Conditions of Application of an Umbrella Clause: SGS v. Philippines Revisited
Authors: Borg Guillaume , Honlet Jean-Christophe
Published: September 2008

In CMS v. Argentina, an ICSID ad hoc Committee partially annulled the first ICSID award on the merits dealing with the 2000–2002 Argentine crisis, for failure to state reasons regarding the conditions of application of an umbrella clause. This question was somewhat overshadowed in prior cases by the question of the clause's effect. The key finding of the Committee is that an umbrella clause does not change the content, proper law of, and parties to, the obligations of the State, the breach of which may trigger the umbrella clause. The decision of the CMS ad hoc Committee has sparked debate as to whether the Committee was entitled, within the limited framework of its annulment powers, to suggest such an interpretation of the conditions of application of umbrella clauses. The focus of this article is different and twofold. Because the CMS ad hoc Committee did suggest such an interpretation, the article first traces its roots to the decision on jurisdiction in SGS v. Philippines. It then evaluates the consequences that would appear to follow from the Committee's findings at three levels. 1) May all types of State obligations trigger an umbrella clause? 2) May an umbrella clause apply to obligations undertaken by a State towards a subsidiary of an investor, as opposed to the investor itself? 3) May it apply to obligations undertaken towards investments or investors by state-owned or state controlled entities having their own legal personality distinct from the State?
Stiffness of Aligned Wood Fiber Composites: Effect of Microstructure and Phase Properties
Authors: Marklund Erik , Varna Janis , Neagu R. Cristian , Gamstedt E. Kristofer
Published: September 2008

The effect of wood fiber anisotropy and their geometrical features on wood fiber composite stiffness is analyzed. An analytical model for an N-phase composite with orthotropic properties of constituents is developed and used. This model is a straightforward generalization of Hashin's concentric cylinder assembly model and Christensen's generalized self-consistent approach. It was found that most macro-properties are governed by only one property of the cell wall which is very important in attempts to back-calculate the fiber properties. The role of lumen (whether it filled by resin or not) has a very large effect on the composite shear properties. It is shown that several of the unknown anisotropic constants characterizing wood fiber are not affecting the stiffness significantly and rough assumptions regarding their value would suffice. The errors introduced by application of the Hashin's model and neglecting the orthotropic nature of the material behavior in cylindrical axes are evaluated. The effect of geometrical deviations from circular cross-section, representing, for example, collapsed fibers, is analyzed using the finite element method (FEM) and the observed trends are discussed.
Indirect Synthesis of ABS/Clay Nanocomposites, Comparison and Thermal Properties
Authors: Pourabbas Behzad , Azimi Hamidreza
Published: September 2008

ABS nanocomposites were prepared in this study by using an indirect method. The method involved the preparation of SAN nanocomposites and subsequent addition of gABS as the second constituent of ABS. For this purpose, in the first step, SAN/clay nanocomposites were prepared containing different loading levels of montmorillonite (MMT). In the next step, gABS was added to the latter nanocomposites in appropriate weight fraction during a melt mixing method. The dispersion situation of the clay layers were determined by using XRD and TEM analysis. The thermal properties of indirectly prepared ABS nanocomposites were compared to that of SAN, SAN nanocomposites, and directly prepared ABS nanocomposites (directly from commercial grade of ABS) in order to verify the effect of gABS. Thermal methods including TGA, DTA and kinetic analysis using dynamic TGA were in order to analysis and comparison of the thermal properties. The results showed that the addition of gABS to the already prepared SAN/MMT nanocomposites leads to lower compatibility between SAN and gABS in the final product, as confirmed by SEM and TEM micrographs. However, higher thermal properties were obtained for indirect method. Dynamic kinetic analyses showed that the addition of gABS and clay changes the kinetic parameters of the thermal degradation reactions.
A Constitutive Model for Progressive Compressive Failure of Composites
Authors: Mcgregor Carla , Zobeiry Navid , Vaziri Reza , Poursartip Anoush
Published: September 2008

A continuum damage mechanics model previously developed to model the tensile response of composites has been further enhanced to simulate their nonlinear constitutive behavior under compressive loading. The refinements were based on the behavior of an analog model, which was constructed to represent the complete force—displacement response of a representative volume element of the material. The updated constitutive model accounts for mechanisms considered to be characteristic of compressive damage growth in laminated composites, such as matrix cracking, fiber kinking, and delamination. The constitutive model was implemented in the commercial explicit finite element code, LS-DYNA, and is used here to predict the quasi-static compressive response of open-hole laminates as well as the dynamic axial crushing of braided composite tubes. It is shown that the model adequately captures: (1) the damage growth and local strain fields in open-hole specimens, and (2) the failure characteristics and energy absorption of braided composite tubes. This investigation demonstrated that the new model is capable of predicting the experimentally observed compressive response in these two rather different applications, and that it potentially offers an effective means of simulating the nonlinear damaging behavior of composite materials under a variety of loading conditions.
Microstructure and Mechanical Characteristics of AZ31B/Al2O3 Nanocomposite with Addition of Ca
Authors: Nguyen Q.B. , Gupta M.
Published: September 2008

The present study addresses the development of a AZ31B—Al2O 3 nanocomposite. AZ31B—Al2O3 nannocomposite is known to exhibit excellent ductility matching with that of pure aluminum but with limited strength levels. Addition of Ca is shown in this study to lead to a simultaneous improvement in 0.2%YS, UTS and hardness while the ductility was compromised. The ductility, however, stayed ~30% higher than the ductility of monolithic AZ31B. The results suggest that this alloy-composite has significant potential in diverse engineering applications when compared to AZ31B or AZ31B—Al2O3 nanocomposites.
Compression Response of 2D Braided Textile Composites: Single Cell and Multiple Cell Micromechanics Based Strength Predictions
Authors: Shunjun Song  , Waas Anthony M. , Shahwan Khaled W. , Faruque Omar , Xinran Xiao
Published: September 2008

This article is concerned with the development of a finite element (FE) based micromechanics model for the prediction of compressive strength and post-peak compression response of 2D triaxial braided carbon fiber polymer matrix composites (2DTBC). This micromechanics based study was carried out on a series of single and multiple representative unit cell (RUC) 3-D FE models. The uniaxial compressive response, including unstable equilibrium paths, was studied using an arc-length method in conjunction with the ABAQUS commercial FE code. In the reported study, explicit account of the braid microstructure (geometry and packing) and the measured inelastic properties of the matrix (the in-situ properties) are accounted for via the use of the FE method. This enables accounting for the different length scales that are present in a 2DTBC. The computational model provides a means to assess the compressive response of 2DTBC and its dependence on various microstructural parameters. The model provides a means to compute the compression strength allowable for a 2DTBC structure. In particular, the dependence of compressive strength on the axial fiber tow properties and axial tow geometrical imperfections is discussed and shown to be significant in capturing the mechanism of damage development. Results are presented for 1, 4, 9, and 16 RUC representations of the 2DTBC, enabling to examine the dependence of compressive strength (or lack thereof) on the size of the region that is modeled. The predicted results are found to compare favorably against experiment.
The Intrinsic Permeability of Packed SiC Particles with Monomodal and Bimodal Size Distributions
Authors: Piñero E. , Molina J.M. , Narciso J. , García-Cordovilla C. , Louis E.
Published: September 2008

The intrinsic permeability k of preforms of packed α-SiC particles having monomodal and bimodal particle size distributions has been evaluated by pressureless infiltration of a wetting organic fluid at room temperature. The study was carried out using SiC particles of average diameters in the range 4.88—168 μm and bimodal mixtures of particles with diameters of 16.9 and 168 μm. The experimental results for monomodal preforms can be fitted by Hazen's law, k / D(10)m, D(10) being the particle size for which 10% of particles are finer, with an exponent m = 1.76 not far from that proposed by Hazen (m = 2). Data for bimodal mixtures cannot be, however, described by Hazen's law due to the large changes in volume fraction that are promoted by varying the relative amount of the two particles. Instead, data for both monomodal and bimodal preforms can be satisfactorily fitted by Kozeny—Carman equation that incorporates particle volume fraction as one of the parameters.
A Study of Water Absorption and Mechanical Properties of Glass Fiber/Polyester Composite Pipes — Effects of Specimen Geometry and Preparation
Authors: Czél G. , Czigány T.
Published: September 2008

Ring-shaped glass fiber/polyester composite specimens cut from composite pipes with various lengths and cut edge quality were immersed into deionized water, and their water absorption was noted regularly by registering their mass gain. Monotonic ring compression tests were performed to monitor the stiffness properties during the water absorption process. Effect of specimen length and cut edge sealing with the matrix material of the pipe on the water absorption process was analyzed. Water absorption curves were fitted to the experimental data with very high correlation coefficients. Specimen types with cut edge sealing were found to absorb significantly less water than the other types, and the absorbed water showed a nonlinear monotonic decreasing tendency with specimen length. Mechanical properties were found to be only slightly affected by moisture probably because of the small amount of absorbed water.
Presentation of the Political Self
Authors: Johansson Marjut
Published: September 2008

This study focuses on the presentation of political self in electoral media dialogue. The situated event of a presidential election forces the politician to construct an identity of president-to-be and therefore to create a persuasive relationship with the public hoping to have the perlocutionary effect of voting. The notion of commitment is defined from the intersubjective perspective as the accountability of the words and actions towards the co-participant. It manifests itself in the discursive positioning of the speaker in subjectifying expressions of commitment. The data analyzed are from a TV debate held in France in 2007 when two presidential candidates, Ségolène Royal and Nicholas Sarkozy, were elected for the second round. In her talk, Royal constructs a presentation of political self as an expert in social and political matters, whereas Sarkozy focuses mostly on his personal qualities that demonstrate he will be a reliable future president.
The Hot Seat
Authors: Aggarwal Praveen , Rochford Linda , Vaidyanathan Rajiv
Published: September 2008

The chair of the marketing department serves a critical role in balancing the needs of the university with those of the faculty. Because most department chairs are drawn from the faculty in their departments, the administrative role they take on conflicts with their desire to maintain their academic roles as teacher and researcher. Although there is evidence that the chair role is perceived differently across disciplines, there has been limited examination of this role in marketing. This study profiles marketing departments and chairs in Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business—accredited schools in the United States and examines how the chairs view their position in the broader context of the department and faculty they serve. The authors propose and empirically test a number of hypotheses pertaining to factors contributing to the stress experienced by marketing department chairs. Results show that marketing department chairs treat their “faculty developer” role as the most important responsibility. A major driver of stress is not the lack of preparation for taking on administrative responsibilities but rather the time demands of the chair position.
A Comparative Study of Effectiveness of Smoke Alarms in Two Types of Buildings
Authors: Yaping He  , Nelson David
Published: September 2008

Fire or smoke alarms are crucial components in building fire safety systems. The effectiveness of fire alarms is investigated in this article. A relationship between effectiveness, efficacy, and reliability is formulated. A comparative study of the effectiveness of fire alarms in two types of occupancies is conducted using the published laboratory and field study results. The current study revealed the difference between the effectiveness of the fire alarm systems in dwelling and commercial stores.
An Experimental Study of Upward Flame Spread and Interactions Over Multiple Solid Fuels
Authors: Shih Hsin-Yi , Wu Hong-Chih
Published: September 2008

Upward flame spread and flame interactions over multiple solid fuels are experimentally studied, and the effects of flame interactions on the flame spreading rates are analyzed. Flame spreading characteristics and spreading rates are measured and compared for six different geometric arrangements of thin solids at different solid width and separation distance between solids. The flame spread rate increases as the separation distance between the parallel solids decreases because of the flow channeling effect and radiation interactions, which reaches the maximum at an intermediate separation distance and then decreases as the separation distance becomes smaller due to the flow resistance and limited thermal expansion. To compare the six types of solid geometry studied, the highest flame spread rate is enclosure type of solids, followed by ⊓-shaped solids, four parallel solids, two parallel solids, L-shaped solids, and single solid.
Effect of Pasteurization on the Bactericidal Capacity of Human Milk
Authors: Silvestre D. , Ruiz P. , Martínez-Costa C. , Plaza A. , López M.C.
Published: September 2008

The use of human milk in milk banks requires thermal processing to eliminate microbiological hazards. An evaluation is made of the stability of overall human milk bactericidal capacity following 2 modalities of thermal pasteurization: 63°C/30 minutes and 75°C/15 seconds. Ten milk samples (mature milk) were analyzed. In each sample, the effect of both thermal treatments on bactericidal capacity against Escherichia coli was evaluated in relation to the capacity of fresh milk (control). All the samples analyzed possessed bactericidal capacity. Human milk pasteurization induced a significant loss of this capacity that was more pronounced after high-temperature treatment than after low-temperature processing. Untreated milk, low-pasteurized milk, and high-pasteurized milk yielded a reduction in E. coli growth of 70.10%, 52.27%, and 36.39%, respectively. In conclusion, human milk possesses antimicrobial activity that is lost in part as a result of thermal processing. Such bactericidal capacity is, moreover, better preserved by low-temperature, long-time pasteurization. J Hum Lact. 24(4):371-376.
Breastfeeding Practices in Duzce, Turkey
Authors: Yesildal Nuray , Aytar Gulsen , Kocabay Kenan , Senih Mayda Atilla , Cetin Dagli Sinemis , Bahcebasi Talat
Published: September 2008

Exclusive breastfeeding among infants less than or equal to 6 months old and continued breastfeeding (20-23 months) are high-priority indicators of infant health. We aimed to assess breastfeeding practices, using standardized breastfeeding indicators, and to determine the causes of early discontinuation of breastfeeding (≤ 6 months) in children aged 0 to 24 months in Duzce, Turkey. In this cross-sectional study, the study group consisted of 158 children, and questionnaires were completed by face-to-face interviews with the mothers. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding (≤ 6 months) was 22.4%. The rate of continued breastfeeding (20-23 months) was 10.0%. The 2 primary causes of early discontinuation of breastfeeding were inadequate milk supply (38.1%) and baby not latching on (14.3%). Half of the individuals who recommended infant formula to mothers with infants less than or equal to 6 months old were physicians. J Hum Lact. 24(4):393-400.
Inclusion of Fathers in an Intervention to Promote Breastfeeding: Impact on Breastfeeding Rates
Authors: Rosane Odeh Susin Lulie , Regina Justo Giugliani Elsa
Published: September 2008

This controlled clinical trial, conducted in southern Brazil, assessed the impact of paternal inclusion in a breastfeeding education program carried out in a maternity hospital. Rates of breastfeeding in the first 6 months of babies' lives were measured in 586 families: 201 in the control group, 192 in the group with only mothers exposed to the intervention, and 193 in the group with mothers and fathers exposed to the intervention. Paternal inclusion significantly increased the rates of exclusive breastfeeding but not the rates of any breastfeeding. Intervention with fathers with less than 8 years of schooling resulted in a decrease in the rate of breastfeeding when compared with the intervention with mothers only. The likelihood of success might have been greater if the cultural and behavioral complexities associated with this practice had received more attention. J Hum Lact. 24(4):386-392.
What Was New About the Cluster Theory?
Authors: Motoyama Yasuyuki
Published: September 2008

Michael Porter's cluster theory became popular at both the academic and policy levels as well as received a series of critiques. This article provides a synthetic view of those critiques. In addition, it reveals two new fundamental limitations of the theory. First, the descriptive and static nature of the theory limits the ability to replicate a successful cluster in practice. In other words, the current theory is more focused on describing how a cluster is organized today rather than how a cluster emerged. Incorporating historical process can strengthen the practical application. Second, the interconnectedness of a cluster is hard to measure empirically, and moreover, the theory does not explain how exactly the public sector can strengthen this aspect. A dialogue with networking theories can potentially improve the application.
Arguments-Based Collective Choice
Authors: Patty John W.
Published: September 2008

This article presents a model of collective choice when group decisions must be justified by arguments from first principles. Individuals may have preferences over both the actions chosen and the arguments used to justify them. Defining a notion of stability in the arguments made and actions supported within a group, I characterize the set of actions that can be justified as well as the arguments that will be used to justify these actions. Of particular interest in the article is the fact that each individual's preferences over different arguments are endogenously determined by the collection of actions justified by the arguments.
Outcomes of Collective Decisions With Externalities Predicted
Authors: Dijkstra Jacob , Van Assen Marcel A.L.M. , Stokman Frans N.
Published: September 2008

In collective decision making bilateral deals can increase or decrease the likelihood of finding compromises, depending on whether such deals have externalities. Positive externalities mean third actors profit from bilateral deals, whereas negative externalities mean bilateral deals hurt third actors. We develop the first model of collective decision making that takes externalities into account. The model computes the expected outcomes of the issues to be decided and construes four coalitions of actors on each pair of issues. Then it searches for a set of alternative expected outcomes, such that no coalition can further increase the payoffs of one of its members, either (i) without decreasing the payoffs of one of its members, or (ii) without decreasing the payoffs of any actor. The Generalized Nash Bargaining Solution is used to pick a single outcome. The model is tested on data from decisions in the European Union.
Still Converging? a Downsian Party System Without Polls
Authors: Clough Emily
Published: September 2008

This article compares convergence of political parties when voters are voting strategically and when they are voting sincerely under low-information conditions. In order to examine this problem, I create a computational model of a party system, where parties are uncertain about the distribution of the electorate. In one condition of the model, voters vote sincerely; in another, voters vote strategically. It is found that when voters vote strategically parties are less likely to converge than when voters vote sincerely.
Social Stability and Catastrophe Risk: Lessons From the Stag Hunt
Authors: Powers Michael R. , Zhan Shen
Published: September 2008

Had the destruction and suffering visited upon New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina been the result of a terrorist attack, it would have been very successful — not because of the number of innocent lives lost or amount of property destroyed, but rather because of the breakdown of the social order. What better possible outcome could a terrorist envision than planting seeds of doubt regarding the willingness and ability of individuals and government to fulfill their respective roles in the `social contract'? In this article, we employ a class of symmetric, ordinal 2 × 2 games — including the frequently studied Prisoner's Dilemma, Chicken, and Stag Hunt — to model the stability of the social contract in the face of catastrophic changes in social relations. In two alternative analyses, we find that the Stag Hunt provides a relatively stable and efficient normative model for society. These results offer useful insights into the pre- and post-event management of catastrophe risks, especially large-scale terrorist attacks designed to disrupt the social order.
Proportional Representation, Gini Coefficients, and the Principle of Transfers
Authors: Van Puyenbroeck Tom
Published: September 2008

While various authors have appealed to Dalton's Principle of Transfers, the Lorenz curve, and the Gini Coefficient to assess disproportionality in proportional representation systems, some additional clarifications are warranted with regard to these concepts and their proper application to the disproportionality issue. This article shows that the three concepts keep their full power and internal consistency if one considers the proportional representation problem as one of maximizing equality of seat/vote ratios among individual voters. Inconsistencies arise if parties are taken as the relevant unit of account. If one insists on comparing parties, then the appropriate concern is rather with their `deviation from proportionality'. To assess that concept, measures of seat mobility are better suited than genuine inequality measures.
Imagining Democracy, Building Unsustainable Institutions: The UN Peacekeeping Operation in Haiti
Authors: Zanotti Laura
Published: September 2008

This article employs theoretical tools devised by Michel Foucault to explore the political rationale, technologies of government, and unintended consequences of UN efforts at statebuilding and democratization in the context of the peacekeeping operation in Haiti. It aims to offer an empirically oriented contribution to the study of the modalities of international intervention in the post-Cold War period and the effects of transplanting institutional models. The article shows that the UN's political imaginary can be traced back to the texts that guided the reform of punishment institutions in Classical Europe. The United Nations saw its effort at statebuilding as centered upon making local institutions disciplined, visible, and centralized. The failure of the UN to achieve its stated goals is appraised in the contingent modalities of the encounter between an ethnocentric political imaginary that takes for granted that modalities of government can be transplanted with benign effects and local conditions of extreme poverty. The article concludes that, while purporting to build an independent, democratic, and well-functioning state, unreflectively imported political models foster disorder and dependence. They also reinforce the instruments of control and conditionality in the hands of international actors, thus fostering the carceralization of international spaces.
Eligibility Determination Using a Curriculum-Based Assessment
Authors: Bricker Diane , Clifford Jantina , Yovanoff Paul , Pretti-Frontczak Kristie , Waddell Misti , Allen David , Hoselton Rob
Published: September 2008

This study examined the accuracy of a curriculum-based assessment for use during the eligibility process for Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) services. The study extended a previous investigation in which performance scores of children without disabilities on the Assessment, Evaluation, and Programming System (AEPS) were used to set cutoff scores at 6-month age intervals. These cutoff scores were then tested for service eligibility classification accuracy. The present study specifies and examines cutoff scores at more specific age intervals and performance domains. Present study findings largely replicated results of the original study. The AEPS cutoff scores were found to accurately classify most eligible children but did overidentify some ineligible children. The data from these two studies suggest that, to the extent allowed by state criteria, early intervention/early childhood special education personnel may be able to use the AEPS test as a valid assessment tool while qualifying children for IDEA services.
The Contested Relation between Democracy and Religion
Authors: Ungureanu Camil
Published: September 2008

In recent years, various European and UN documents have been advancing the idea of `open, transparent and regular' dialogue between religion and democracy. Is this the naïve (or, at worst, hypocritical) rhetoric of the `Good European'? This article will discuss this issue starting from the debate between Habermas and Rawls on the role of religion in the public sphere. My approach presupposes a passage from deliberation to democratic rhetoric, the correlative abandonment of some of the tenets of Habermas's secularism, as well as a greater concern with the question of the power asymmetries underpinning discursive exchanges.
Revolution, Representation and the Foundations of Modern Democracy
Authors: Hobson Christopher
Published: September 2008

Since representation and democracy were reconciled and combined, there has been constant tension and debate over whether representation enables, limits or prevents democracy. If one leaves aside questions over principles and turns to history, the democratic credentials of representation immediately become much clearer. Until democracy was reformulated to mean a representative system of government, it was dismissed as an antiquarian form of rule, inappropriate, if not impossible, for modern states. This article seeks to demonstrate the `democratic-ness' of representation through historical argument. This focus leads to the revisions and challenges to `democracy' that occurred during the French Revolution, where crucial developments can be seen in the bringing together of the two previously antithetical concepts of democracy and representation. It is argued that this is when the conceptual and theoretical framework for modern democracy starts to be built in earnest. This is shown through a close reading of two key revisions in how democracy is understood in relation to representative rule, provided by a pair of political actors at the very heart of the Revolution: Thomas Paine and Maximilen Robespierre. What makes these two protagonists so important is that they offer bold and particularly modern revaluations of democracy, which simultaneously challenge both the `evaluative' and the `descriptive' sides of the concept. In so doing, Paine and Robespierre conceive of democracy as including representation and, at the same time, paint democracy as something positive and valuable. The reflections and innovations of democracy found in these two central and polarizing figures are exemplary in the unique combination of reconfiguring of democracy and representation — a pairing that may now seem very normal, but in the 18th century was nothing short of oxymoronic.
Honour, Face and Reputation in Political Theory
Authors: Olsthoorn Peter
Published: September 2008

Until fairly recently it was not uncommon for political theorists to hold the view that people cannot be expected to act in accordance with the public interest without some incentive. Authors such as Marcus Tullius Cicero, John Locke, David Hume and Adam Smith, for instance, held that people often act in accordance with the public interest, but more from a concern for their honour and reputation than from a concern for the greater good. Today, most authors take a more demanding view, maintaining that people are to be just solely from a love for justice, not from a fear of losing face. In this article today's prevailing view, which sees honour as something obsolete and archaic and not as a legitimate motive, is contrasted with the older view that honour is important for both knowing what moral is and acting on it. Subsequently, it is argued that the ethics of honour, especially in the form it took in the works of Hume and Smith, can still be of value, exactly because it is less demanding.
Lamb Wave Propagation in Varying Isothermal Environments
Authors: Andrews Jennifer P. , Palazotto Anthony N. , DeSimio Martin P. , Olson Steven E.
Published: September 2008

Military and commercial aerospace organizations are exploring structural health monitoring (SHM) systems to reduce maintenance costs and to verify the integrity of structural components exposed to harsh conditions. This technical note considers the use of Lamb waves to monitor plate and shell components of aerospace structures. For fielded applications, SHM systems will need to operate across a variety of environmental conditions, including large temperature ranges. Therefore, it is critical to understand the effects of temperature on Lamb wave propagation. The focus of this study is the effect of temperature on Lamb wave propagation in a constant-thickness metallic plate under isothermal conditions. Experimental measurements and analytical predictions are made over temperatures ranging from -18°C to 107°C. Results indicate that only small and predictable changes in the wave propagation behavior occur over the temperature range investigated. This is significant because it may allow SHM systems to be designed for aircraft systems operating within this range without the need for complex compensation techniques.
do child care centers benefit poor children after school entry?
Authors: Bassok Daphna , French Desiree , Fuller Bruce , Lynn Kagan Sharon
Published: September 2008

Attendance in preschool centers can yield short-term benefits for children from poor or middle-class families. Yet debate persists in Europe and the United States over whether centers yield gains of sufficient magnitude to sustain children's cognitive or social advantages as they move through primary school. We report on child care and home environments of 229 children in the US who were 2½ years of age (on average) at entry to the study. Among children attending a center at 2½ or 4½ years of age, cognitive proficiencies were significantly higher at 7½ years of age, compared with children in home-based care, after taking into account prior proficiency levels, maternal attributes, and other covariates. No relationship between center attendance and social development, positive or negative, was detected at 7½. A priori selection factors modestly helped to explain the likelihood that mothers enrolled their child in a center. But associations between center exposure and higher cognitive proficiency at age 7½ remained after controlling for selection factors and testing for omitted variables bias.
family stress in Dutch families with motor impaired toddlers
Authors: Tibosch Marijke
Published: September 2008

The study investigated the relationship between family stress and child characteristics in families with motor impaired toddlers. Families of 20 children between 2½ and 5 years old with motor impairments, who visit a therapeutic toddler class in a rehabilitation centre, participated. The study was carried out in the Netherlands. Family stress was investigated through the Nijmegen Questionnaire for the pedagogical situation (NVOS) (a Dutch family stress inventory) and child characteristics were obtained from the KinderRAP. Factors which appear to have a significant correlation with subjective family stress are: the level of adaptive functioning of the child, problem behaviour of the child, the level of communication of the child, age of the child and whether or not an etiological diagnosis had been established. Complementary research on a larger scale is needed to increase knowledge of the risk factors associated with family stress to contribute to the support of children with motor impairments and their families.