bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Fatigue Damage Model for (0/90) FRP Composites based on Stiffness Degradation of 0° and 90° Composite Plies
Authors: Varvani-Farahani A. , Shirazi A.
Published: June 2007

The present study develops a stiffness reduction based model to characterize fatigue damage in unidirectional 0° and 90° plies and (0°/90°) laminates of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. The proposed damage model has been developed, based on (i) cracking mechanism and damage progress in matrix (Region I), matrix-fiber interface (Region II) and fiber (Region III) and (ii) corresponding stiffness reduction of unidirectional composite laminates as the number of cycles progresses. Fatigue damage of (0/90)°composite systems was obtained by integrating damage values and occurred in composite plies of 0 and 90° under fatigue cycles.

The predicted fatigue damage results based on the proposed damage model were found to be in good agreement for both unidirectional and (0/90) FRP composites, as they were compared with experimental data for these materials, tested at various cyclic stress levels, stress ratios, and off-axis angles reported in the literature.
Competing Explanations for Bureaucratic Preferences
Authors: Whitford Andrew B.
Published: June 2007

This study defines and compares three broad theories that seek to explain bureaucratic preferences. I first argue that each of these explanations is complex — that no single measurable attribute encapsulates the entire theory. Second, I argue that these explanations are non-nested — that at least one attribute representing a given theory cannot be expressed as resulting from attributes that represent one of the other theories. Based on the theory of comparisons of non-nested models, I assess these three competing explanations with the Likelihood Dominance Criterion, an approach for assessing the total explanatory power of a given theory relative to that offered by other theories.

The comparisons take place in the context of the bureaucratic implementation of policies governing the remediation of hazardous waste at the state level in the United States. The comparisons show that bureaucratic preferences are best explained by the organizational capacity and constraints explanation rather than more proximate political and task environment theories. In total, the agency's rules, capacity, and characteristics form a better total explanation of the observed variance in bureaucratic preferences than either proximate state politics or the agency's task environment.
The Instrumental Voter Goes To the Newsagent
Authors: Larcinese Valentino
Published: June 2007

This article studies the impact of instrumental voting on information demand and mass media behaviour during electoral campaigns. If voters act instrumentally then information demand should increase with the closeness of an election. If mass media are profit-maximizing firms then information supply should be larger in electoral constituencies where the contest is expected to be closer, delivery costs are lower and customers are on average more profitable for advertisers. The impact of the size of the electorate is theoretically undetermined. These conclusions are derived within a formal model of information demand and supply, and then tested, with good results, on data from the 1997 general election in Britain.
The Potential of Cumulative Voting To Yield Fair Representation
Authors: Cooper Duane A.
Published: June 2007

We prove that cumulative voting usually enables a minority population to achieve political representation corresponding to apportionment by Webster's method, which minimizes the absolute difference of per capita representation between the minority and the remaining majority population. The minority, of arbitrary size, can generally attain its `Webster-fair' share of n seats with probability greater than 75 per cent and otherwise, with probability at most 4 n/n+1 1 the minority can attain just one seat less than its Webster-fair representation. Furthermore, for two subpopulations, the potential representation yielded by cumulative voting is identical to that obtained from apportionment by Jefferson's method, and for more than two subpopulations the potential representation by cumulative voting cannot be greater than that of Jefferson apportionment. These results confirm the potential of cumulative voting to yield representation proportional or nearly proportional to population, and the results counter claims or concerns that cumulative voting would be unfairly advantageous to minority populations.
In Defense of Exclusionary Deliberation: Communication and Voting with Private Beliefs and Values
Authors: Meirowitz Adam
Published: June 2007

We analyze strategic communication and voting when agents do not necessarily have common beliefs and values. The potential for some pairs of participants to have opposed preferences makes truthful revelation difficult to support. Nonetheless, truthful equilibria are shown to exist for some parameterizations in which non-common values are likely. Truthful equilibria exist if and only if participants of all possible preference types are optimistic that a majority of the group has their preference type. In settings in which truthful equilibria exist for all population sizes, asymptotic efficiency attains. The probability that the collective choice corresponds to that which a majority would choose with full-information approaches one as population size tends to infinity. In many settings, however, truthful equilibria exist only for small groups. In these cases, we characterize a natural partially revealing equilibrium; asymptotic efficiency fails in these equilibria. Interestingly, we find that larger groups need not outperform smaller groups as truthful equilibria are easier to support with small deliberative bodies. Thus, the design of deliberative institutions involves a trade-off between the statistical benefit of more participants and the difficulty in supporting information transmission in larger settings. For many reasonable cases, the latter effect is dominant and excluding randomly chosen participants is desirable.
Hepatic artery aneurysm rupture in a woman with primary antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Vancheri F. , Dovico R. , Croce E. , Di Falco G.
Published: June 2007

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is associated with arterial and venous thrombosis. However, a small number of patients present with visceral aneurysms. Although such aneurysms are rare, their presence in patients who are usually treated with lifelong anticoagulation raises important therapeutic problems, in view of the risk of aneurysm rupture and acute abdominal hemorrhage. We report the case of a young woman with APS who presented with abdominal bleeding due to ruptured common hepatic artery aneurysm. She was successfully treated by proximal ligation. The features of such aneurysms are discussed. Lupus (2007) 16, 355—357.
Antiphospholipid syndrome in Latin American patients: clinical and immunologic characteristics and comparison with European patients
Authors: García-Carrasco M. , Galarza C. , Gómez-Ponce M. , Cervera R. , Rojas-Rodríguez J. , Espinosa G. , Bucciarelli S. , Gómez-Puerta J.A. , Bové A. , Escárcega R.O. , Font J.
Published: June 2007

The objective of this study was to analyse the prevalence and characteristics of the main clinical and immunological manifestations at the onset and during the evolution of the disease in a cohort of patients from Latin America (mainly of mestizo origin) and to compare the Latin American with the European patients. Clinical and serological characteristics of 100 APS patients from Mexico and Ecuador were collected in a protocol form that was identical to that used to study the `Euro-Phospholipid' cohort. The cohort consisted of 93 female patients (93.0%) and seven (7.0%) male patients. There were 91 mestizos (91.0%), seven whites (7.0%) and two Amerindians (2.0%). The most common manifestations were livedo reticularis (40.0%), migraine (35.0%), inferior extremity deep vein thrombosis (32.0%), thrombocytopenia (28.0%) and hemolytic anemia (20.0%). Several clinical manifestations were more prevalent in Latin American than in European patients and they included mainly neurological (migraine, transient global amnesia, acute ischemic encephalopathy, amaurosis fugax) and cutaneous ( livedo reticularis, skin ulcerations, superficial cutaneous necrosis, multiple subungual splinter hemorrhages) manifestations as well as hemolytic anemia. The APS has a wide variety of clinical and immunological manifestations at the onset and during the evolution of the disease and the ethnic origin in addition to environmental and socioeconomic factors can modify the disease expression. Lupus (2007) 16, 366—373.
Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia secondary to lupus nephritis: an important differential diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: Hunt B.J. , Tueger S. , Pattison J. , Cavenagh J. , D'Cruz D.P.
Published: June 2007

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been described as a cause of microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia (MAHA), however there is little literature to support this assertion. We report on three patients presenting with SLE and MAHA with a clinical picture indistinguishable from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), who had underlying lupus nephritis. They all had significant proteinuria and normal Von Willebrand Factor cleaving protease (vWF-CP) levels. Their MAHA fitted better for haemolytic syndrome (HUS) and their cerebral signs were explained either by malignant hypertension or cerebral lupus. Their MAHA only improved when the appropriate treatment for lupus nephritis was given.

We propose that the previously described association between SLE and MAHA, in actuality relates to the underlying presence of lupus nephritis causing haemolytic uraemic syndrome, not TTP. Significant proteinuria was present in all cases of MAHA due to lupus nephritis, so may be a useful discriminatory sign. Furthermore the demonstration of a normal vWF-CP assay aided in the distinction between TTP and MAHA due to lupus nephritis. All our patients responded to mycophenolate mofetil suggesting this may be useful in other cases of lupus nephritis causing HUS. Lupus (2007) 16, 358—362.
Emergence of panniculitis and haemophagocytic syndrome in a patient with chronic systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Deji N. , Sugimoto T. , Fujimoto T. , Aoyama M. , Takeda N. , Sakaguchi M. , Uzu T. , Kashiwagi A.
Published: June 2007

Panniculitis rarely occurs in the course of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). When it occurs, it is thought to be mainly lupus erythematosus panniculitis (LEP). Here we describe a 32-year old Japanese woman with chronic SLE, who simultaneously presented facial lymphocytic lobular panniculitis and pancytopenia due to haemophagocytic syndrome. She showed several auto-antibodies against trilineage haematopoetic cells, an anti-cardiolipin antibody, and no evidence of viral infection, indicating that her haemophagocytic syndrome might be autoimmune-associated haemophagocytic syndrome. The panniculitis and haemophagocytic syndrome presented simultaneously, and these manifestations were dramatically improved with corticosteroid therapy; therefore, the lymphocytic lobular panniculitis could be linked to autoimmune-associated haemophagocytic syndrome in this case. Lupus (2007) 16, 363—365.
Current causes of death in systemic lupus erythematosus in Europe, 2000—2004: relation to disease activity and damage accrual
Authors: Nossent J. , Cikes N. , Kiss E. , Marchesoni A. , Nassonova V. , Mosca M. , Olesinska M. , Pokorny G. , Rozman B. , Schneider M. , Vlachoyiannopoulos P.G. , Swaak A.
Published: June 2007

Current therapeutic and diagnostic resources have turned systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) into a chronic disease by reducing mortality rates. The exact contribution of disease activity and disease related damage to mortality is not well studied. The aim of this study was to describe the current causes of death (COD) in a multinational European cohort of patients with SLE in relation to quantified measures of disease activity and damage. Prospective five-year observational study of case fatalities in SLE patients at 12 European centres was performed. Demographics, disease manifestations, interventions and quantified disease activity (by ECLAM and SLEDAI) and damage (by SLICC-DI) at the time of death were related to the various COD. Ninety-one case fatalities (89% females) occurred after median disease duration of 10.2 years (range 0.2—40) corresponding to a annual case fatality of one for each of the participating cohorts. Cumulative mortality correlated linearly with disease duration with nearly 10% of fatalities occurring in the first year and 40% after more than 10 years of disease. Death occurred during SLE remission in one third of cases. In the remaining cases a mixture of disease activity (median ECLAM 5.5, median SLEDAI 15) and accrued damage (median SLICC-DI 5.0) with opposing relationships to disease duration contributed to death. Infections and cardiovascular events were the most frequent COD in both early and late fatalities with no gender differences for type of COD, disease activity, damage or comorbidity. In Europe, case fatalities have become uncommon events in dedicated SLE cohorts. The bimodal mortality curve has flattened out and deaths now occur evenly throughout the disease course with infectious and cardiovascular complications as the main direct COD in both early and late fatalities. Accrued damage supplants disease activity over time as the main SLE specific contributor to death over time. Lupus (2007) 16, 309—317.
Health-related quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus after medium to long-term follow-up of hip arthroplasty
Authors: Ito H. , Matsuno T. , Hirayama T. , Tanino H. , Minami A.
Published: June 2007

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with hip arthroplasty after medium to long-term follow-up has not been reported. We conducted a retrospective study for SLE patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONF). Forty-seven consecutive arthroplasties were performed in 36 patients. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Medical Outcome Survey Short Form 36 (SF-36) and Harris hip score were evaluated. Two patients died before the four-year follow-up and two patients were lost to follow-up. The remaining 43 hips in 32 patients with an average age at surgery of 35 years and an average follow-up of 12.0 years (range 4.0—25.0) were assessed. Bipolar hemiarthroplasty was performed for 18 hips in 12 patients, and total hip arthroplasty (THA) was performed for 25 hips in 20 patients. The mean WOMAC scores for pain and function at the recent followup were 90.8 ± 8.5points and 79.0 ± 18.3 points. Patients with THA had significantly high scores in SF-36 physical functioning ( P < 0.05) and bodily pain ( P < 0.03) compared to those with bipolar hemiarthroplasty. Although improvement could not reach the level of general population, the hip arthroplasty contributed to support HRQOL of SLE patients. Lupus (2007) 16, 1—6.
Anti-prolactin autoantibodies in pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus: maternal and fetal outcome
Authors: Leaños-Miranda A. , Cárdenas-Mondragón G. , Ulloa-Aguirre A. , Isordia-Salas I. , Parra A. , Ramírez-Peredo J.
Published: June 2007

The aim of this study was to determine in pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) the frequency of anti-prolactin autoantibodies and to compare the outcome of pregnancy in SLE women with and without anti-prolactin autoantibodies. Ninety-nine consecutive SLE pregnant women and 151 healthy pregnant women were studied prospectively. Patients with or without anti-prolactin autoantibodies were identified by gel filtration chromatography and affinity chromatography for IgG. Serum total and free prolactin (PRL) levels and molecular heterogeneity of PRL at each trimester of pregnancy were determined. The frequency of anti-PRL autoantibodies in SLE pregnant women was 13.1%. Serum total PRL levels were significantly higher in women with anti-PRL autoantibodies compared with SLE women without anti-PRL autoantibodies and in healthy pregnant women; and serum free PRL levels were lower in the third trimester in women with anti-PRL autoantibodies than in healthy pregnant women. In contrast, serum total and free PRL levels were significantly lower in the second and third trimester in SLE pregnant women without anti-PRL autoantibodies compared with healthy pregnant women. All adverse outcomes of pregnancy studied were more frequent in SLE women without anti-PRL autoantibodies than anti-PRL autoantibody-positive SLE women. Moreover, both maternal and fetal main complications were significantly higher in SLE women without anti-PRL autoantibodies than anti-PRL autoantibody-positive SLE women ( P ≤0.03). We conclude that the frequency of anti-PRL autoantibodies in lupus pregnancy was 13.1%. SLE pregnant women with anti-PRL autoantibodies had fewer adverse outcomes of pregnancy. The presence of anti-PRL autoantibodies could be of potential use as a prognostic marker for outcomes of pregnancy in SLE. Lupus (2007) 16, 342—349.
Anti-NMDA receptor autoantibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and their first-degree relatives
Authors: Steup-Beekman GM , Steens Sca , van Buchem MA , Huizinga Twj
Published: June 2007

The objective of this study is to investigate the presence of autoantibodies cross-reacting with the NR2 subunit of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor in plasma samples of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in their healthy first-degree relatives and in healthy unrelated individuals and to determine whether these autoantibodies are specific for lupus patients in general or for the subgroup of SLE patients with neuropsychiatric (NP) manifestations. Plasma samples were collected from 51 lupus patients (19 with and 32 without NP manifestations), 161 first-degree relatives and 55 healthy unrelated controls. Antibodies to a linear peptide of the NR2 subunit of the NMDA receptor were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A significant difference in mean antibody reactivity between SLE patients and healthy unrelated controls ( P < 0.01) and between firstdegree relatives and healthy unrelated controls ( P < 0.001) was found. No difference was found between lupus patients and their first-degree relatives or between lupus patients with and without NP symptoms. In this study, anti-NMDA receptor autoantibodies show more specificity for lupus patients (but not for selected patients with NP symptoms) and their first-degree relatives than for healthy controls, indicating a familial basis to mount an immune response to this peptide. Lupus (2007) 16, 329—334.
Sophorae radix reduces autoimmune response in NZB/w F1 systemic lupus erythematosus mouse model
Authors: Ko E. , Lee Y. , Park N. , Cho C. , Yim Y.-N. , Kim J. , Kim Y.S. , Kim D. , Shin M.-K. , Hong M.-C. , Bae H.
Published: June 2007

The immunosuppressive effects of Sophorae radix (SR) make this plant an attractive agent for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The effect of SR on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the New Zealand Black/White F1 (NZB/w F1) mouse model system was investigated. Three-month-old NZB/w F1 mice were separated into two groups: one treated with SR (1% SR solution by oral administration, daily for 15 weeks) and one with water as a control. Experimental parameters include proteinuria, anti-dsDNA antibody titers, T-cell response and renal histopathological analysis. Results in the SR-treated group showed a significant reduction in proteinuria and anti-dsDNA antibodies either in serum or in glomerular capillaries, along with significant recovery from renal glomerular damage. The lymphocyte population was significantly increased in the SR-treated mice compared with the control group. In the T helper (Th)1/Th2 cytokine secretion profile, interferon-γ in splenocyte culture was significantly reduced in the SR-treated mice, while interleukin-4 secretion was not altered. These results strongly suggest SR therapy corrects the deviated Th1/Th2 balance, thereby alleviating SLE-like symptoms in the NZB/w F1 mice. Therefore, SR may be useful in the clinical treatment of SLE. Lupus (2007) 16, 335—341.
Sensitivity analysis after multiple imputation under missing at random: a weighting approach
Authors: Carpenter James R. , Kenward Michael G. , White Ian R.
Published: June 2007

Multiple imputation (MI) is now well established as a flexible, general, method for the analysis of data sets with missing values. Most implementations assume the missing data are `missing at random' (MAR), that is, given the observed data, the reason for the missing data does not depend on the unseen data. However, although this is a helpful and simplifying working assumption, it is unlikely to be true in practice. Assessing the sensitivity of the analysis to the MAR assumption is therefore important. However, there is very limited MI software for this. Further, analysis of a data set with missing values that are not missing at random (NMAR) is complicated by the need to extend the MAR imputation model to include a model for the reason for dropout. Here, we propose a simple alternative. We first impute under MAR and obtain parameter estimates for each imputed data set. The overall NMAR parameter estimate is a weighted average of these parameter estimates, where the weights depend on the assumed degree of departure from MAR. In some settings, this approach gives results that closely agree with joint modelling as the number of imputations increases. In others, it provides ball-park estimates of the results of full NMAR modelling, indicating the extent to which it is necessary and providing a check on its results. We illustrate our approach with a small simulation study, and the analysis of data from a trial of interventions to improve the quality of peer review.
Citizen engagement processes as information systems: the role of knowledge and the concept of translation quality
Authors: Horlick-Jones Tom , Rowe Gene , Walls John
Published: June 2007

An important direction in recent thinking about public understanding of science and technology is embodied in the international trend within many democratic countries towards the promotion of citizen engagement. These developments entail the participation and deliberative involvement by lay publics in planning, decision-making and policy-making situations. In this paper we argue that citizen engagement exercises can usefully be understood as information systems. This characterization leads us to propose that the effectiveness by which such exercises utilize sources of knowledge—what we term their translation quality—should be adopted as a new criterion for their evaluation. We illustrate the applicability of this proposal by analyzing the GM Nation? public debate, a government-sponsored citizen engagement exercise that took place in Britain in 2002—3.
Moving engagement “upstream”? Nanotechnologies and the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering's inquiry
Authors: Rogers-Hayden Tee , Pidgeon Nick
Published: June 2007

In response to the impetus that is gathering in the UK for upstream public engagement, we analyze the impacts of the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering report of 2004 on Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies: Opportunities and Uncertainties. The paper presents an analysis of 24 interviews with stakeholders to the nanotechnology debate. It uses these to discuss the inquiry process and the recommendations contained within the report, as well as to explore and critique the notion of “upstream.” We find broad support for the inquiry, which was positioned by many stakeholders itself as upstream, primarily because of its broad framing and wide stakeholder involvement. A number of both explicit and implicit upstream elements are also contained within its recommendations. However, the interviews also suggest that the notion of upstream engagement is a contested concept with a range of associated dilemmas and tensions. In drawing out some of the promise and perils of moving public debate upstream, the paper concludes that there is a risk of merely replacing the perceived deficit in public understanding of science with a perceived deficit in public engagement with science.
Exploring lay uncertainty about an environmental health risk
Authors: Powell Maria , Dunwoody Sharon , Griffin Robert , Neuwirth Kurt
Published: June 2007

How do laypeople perceive uncertainties about environmental health risks? How do risk-related cognitions and emotions influence these uncertainties, and what roles do sociodemographic and contextual factors, risk judgments, and information exposures play? This study explores these questions using secondary analyses of survey data. Results suggest that uncertainty reflects individual-level emotions and cognitions, but may also be shaped by a variety of social and contextual factors. Emotions (worry and anger) are strongly associated with perceived uncertainty, and perceived lack of knowledge and perceived likelihood of becoming ill are weakly associated with it. Several demographic variables, information exposures, and risk judgment variables affect perceived uncertainty indirectly, primarily through perceived knowledge and emotions. These findings raise a variety of questions about the complex and dynamic interactions among risk contexts, socioeconomic factors, communication processes, perceived knowledge, emotions, and perceived uncertainties about risks.
Deliberative mapping: a novel analytic-deliberative methodology to support contested science-policy decisions
Authors: Burgess Jacquelin , Stirling Andy , Clark Judy , Davies Gail , Eames Malcolm , Staley Kristina , Williamson Suzanne
Published: June 2007

This paper discusses the methodological development of Deliberative Mapping (DM), a participatory, multi-criteria, option appraisal process that combines a novel approach to the use of quantitative decision analysis techniques with some significant innovations in the field of participatory deliberation. DM is a symmetrical process, engaging “specialists” and “citizens” in the same appraisal process, providing for consistency of framing, mutual inter-linkage and interrogation, and substantial opportunities for face-to-face discussion. Through a detailed case study of organ transplantation options, the paper discusses the steps in DM. The analysis shows that DM is able to elicit and document consensual judgments as well as divergent views by integrating analytic and deliberative components in a transparent, auditable process that creates many opportunities for personal learning, and provides a robust decision-support tool for contested science-policy issues.
Consulting citizens: technologies of elicitation and the mobility of publics
Authors: Lezaun Javier , Soneryd Linda
Published: June 2007

The new centrality of “the public” to the governance of science and technology has been accompanied by a widespread use of public consultation mechanisms designed to elicit from citizens relevant opinions on technoscientific matters. This paper explores the configuration of legitimate constituencies in two such exercises: the UK “ GM Nation?” public debate on food biotechnology, and a Swedish “Transparency Forum” on the risks of mobile telephones. We consider the apparently paradoxical combination in these two examples of a tendency to produce static images of the public with a high valuation of mobility—of citizens and their opinions—as the key outcome of deliberation. We discuss the organizers' careful delineation of a distinction between “stakeholders” and the “general public,” and their aversion to any sort of “eventfulness” in public deliberations. Finally, we introduce the classical notion of the “idiot”—the individual who minds exclusively his or her own private affairs— and argue for the need to develop a new vocabulary to evaluate the politics of “listening to the public.”
Introduction: Social Innovation and Governance in European Cities
Authors: Moulaert Frank , Martinelli Flavia , González Sara , Swyngedouw Erik
Published: June 2007

This introductory article does three things. First, it compares neo-liberal and social innovation discourses about urban socio-economic change, including associated policies and key agencies. Second, it seeks to improve the analytical framework of urban development by combining `spatialized' Regulation Theory with elements from Cultural Political Economy and from Urban Regime Theory.Third, with the help of case-studies, the article illustrates how social innovation is a potentially powerful concept, capable of anchoring urban change movements more firmly into the local social and political fabric. The case-studies, some of which are included in this special issue, analyse examples of social innovation in a number of European urban contexts, within the framework of the FP5 SINGOCOM research project.
Radical Innovation in the Era of Liberal Governance
Authors: Novy Andreas , Hammer Elisabeth
Published: June 2007

This article exploits the potential and limits of participation as a means to overcome authoritarian structures. The main argument is that social innovation at the grassroots level can only become radical if it helps overcome authoritarianism which is a general characteristic of capitalist societies and has a specific form in Austria and Vienna. The two projects chosen for in-depth analysis are initiatives of bottom-up participation: Local Agenda 21 and Local Area Management. Both are deeply interwoven with current processes of transformation in Europe, oscillating between path dependency — surrendering to one more episode of controlled modernization — and radical change — the diffusion of a political culture of democracy and participation. The initiatives analysed focus on a common political domain: broadening public participation by offering better access to the local state and the public sphere. Both projects put in train broad discussions of how to organize social change and mobilization. They are Janus-faced as there were struggles between democratic tendencies, which seek to acknowledge a wide range of stakeholders in policy making, and techno-corporate tendencies. Both projects are `schools of participation', as they increased know-how and social competence and raised consciousness. But only by questioning liberal governance and the straitjacket of its naturalization of the market society can citizens regain control of urban development and jointly shape the destiny of the city.
Degree of Modularity in Engineering Systems and Products with Technical and Business Constraints
Authors: Hölttä-Otto Katja , de Weck Olivier
Published: June 2007

There is consensus that modularity has many benefits from cost savings due to increased commonality to enabling a higher variety of products. Full modularity is, however, not always achievable. How engineering systems and products whose design is heavily influenced by technical constraints, such as weight or size limitations, tend to exhibit rather integral architectures is shown in this study. For this, two metrics are defined on the basis of a binary design structure matrix (DSM) representation of a system or product. The non-zero fraction (NZF) captures the sparsity of the interrelationships between components between zero and one, while the singular value modularity index (SMI) captures the degree of internal coupling, also between zero and one. These metrics are first developed using idealized canonical architectures and are then applied to two different product pairs that are functionally equivalent, but different in terms of technical constraints. Empirical evidence is presented that the lightweight variant of the same product tends to be more integral, presumably to achieve higher mass efficiency. These observations are strengthened by comparing the results to another, previously published, modularity metric as well as by comparing sparsity and modularity of a set of 15 products against a control population of randomly generated architectures of equivalent size and density. The results suggest that, indeed, some products are inherently less modular than others due to technological factors. The main advantage of SMI is that it enables analysis of the degree of modularity of any architecture independent of subjective module choices.
Modularity and Commonality Research: Past Developments and Future Opportunities
Authors: Fixson Sebastian K.
Published: June 2007

Research on modularity and commonality has grown substantially over the past 15 years. Searching 36 journals over more than the past 35 years, over 160 references are identified in the engineering and management literature that focus on modularity or commonality in the product and process development context. Each of the references is analyzed along the dimensions subject, effect, and research method. The subjects of these studies have been products, processes, organizations, and even innovations, although the set of references shows a strong preference towards products. Similarly, a broad range of effects has been studied, albeit with the topic cost dominating all other effects. A variety of research methods has been applied to the study of modularity and commonality but the distribution of research methods differs substantially for modularity and commonality research. Despite the wealth of existing research, there are still significant opportunities for future research. In particular, studies that incorporate modularity and commonality's multiple effects on various players along the supply chain, that combine multiple research methods, and that follow systems over time appear very promising.
Supporting `Design for Re-use' with Modular Design
Authors: Meehan J.S. , Duffy A.H.B. , Whitfield R.I.
Published: June 2007

Engineering design reuse refers to the utilization of any knowledge gained from the design activity to support future design. As such, engineering design reuse approaches are concerned with the support, exploration, and enhancement of design knowledge prior, during, and after a design activity. Modular design is a product structuring principle whereby products are developed with distinct modules for rapid product development, efficient upgrades, and possible reuse (of the physical modules). The benefits of modular design center on a greater capacity for structuring component parts to better manage the relation between market requirements and the designed product. This study explores the capabilities of modular design principles to provide improved support for the engineering design reuse concept. The correlations between modular design and `reuse' are highlighted, with the aim of identifying its potential to aid the little-supported process of design for reuse. In fulfilment of this objective the authors not only identify the requirements of design for reuse, but also propose how modular design principles can be extended to support design for reuse.
Architectural Valuation using the Design Structure Matrix and Real Options Theory
Authors: Sharman David M. , Yassine Ali A.
Published: June 2007

This study outlines a methodology for the valuation of the architecture of an integrated product or system through an appropriate level of modularization to maximize the societal value created. This method is developed through the application of the design structure matrix (DSM) and real options theory. The DSM method is utilized to develop an improved visibility estimate for non-hierarchic system architectures. A method is also proposed to account for different module sizes and system module level testing costs. Finally, a normalization procedure is proposed that allows comparing alternative modular arrangements of the same underlying system elements. The proposed method serves as the basis of an improved approach for architecture optimization. The proposed method is illustrated using a reference example of an industrial gas turbine.
Design Process Modularization: Concept and Algorithm
Authors: Seol Hyeonju , Kim Chulhyun , Lee Changyong , Park Yongtae
Published: June 2007

The product design process is a complex set of integrated efforts, including generating ideas, developing concepts, modifying details, and evaluating proper solutions. The difficulties in designing complex products stem not only from their engineering complexity but also from the managerial complexity. First and foremost, what should be done to deal with the complexity problems is to capture all the constituent design activities and identify inter-dependency among respective activities. Further, once process modeling is done, it is required to structure the design process for better understanding of the process. This study presents a new approach to structuring the design process on the basis of modular synthesis. To do this, the concept of a module is newly proposed in the view point of a process. A module is defined as a group of activities which are divided by split or merge points in a process flow. The design structure matrix (DSM) is used to structure the process because it has a lot of advantages in process modeling and analysis. Two algorithms are developed: the restricted topological sorting (RTS) algorithm for ordering activities and the module finding (MF) algorithm for detecting modules in a process. Both of the algorithms are based on the DSM. Structuring the process in terms of a module, which is called as process modularization, allows a process manager to manage and analyze the process effectively. The overall process and detailed procedures of the suggested approach are presented and an illustrative example is addressed to show the practical operation of the approach.
The Application of Attachment Theory and Family Systems Theory to the Phenomena of Parentification
Authors: Hooper Lisa M.
Published: June 2007

Attachment theory and family systems theory, taken together, are proffered as a potential framework to understand the adverse effects of parentification. Attachment theory helps clarify the process of parentification as it involves the relationship between child and parent and/or caregiver. Family systems theory gives clarity to the context (i.e., the family system) in which parentification takes place. Internal working models are discussed as the mechanism through which meaning making about the parentification process happens and thereby informs the opportunity for positive and negative outcomes in adulthood. The proposed framework allows for a potentially broader view of this ubiquitous phenomenon parentification.
Testing the Effectiveness of Bowen's Concept of Differentiation in Predicting Psychological Distress in Individuals Age 62 Years or Older
Authors: Kim-Appel Dohee , Appel Jonathan , Newman Isadore , Parr Patricia
Published: June 2007

This study examines the relationship between Bowen's concept of differentiation of self and psychological symptom status in individuals age 62 years and older. Specifically, this study examines through regression methods whether the self-reported differentiation dimensions of Emotional Reactivity, “I” Position, Emotional Cutoff, and Fusion with Others (FO) accurately predicted the level of psychological symptom status as measured by a brief symptom check-list. The major hypotheses of this study were found to be supportive of Bowen's theory of differentiation, even across the stages of later life (with the exception of the FO dimension). These findings have meaningful implications for the assessment and treatment of older individuals.
Therapeutic Alliance: A Review of Sampling Strategies Reported in Marital and Family Therapy Studies
Authors: Mahaffey Barbara A. , Granello Paul F.
Published: June 2007

Therapeutic alliance is considered important for successful counseling. Alliances between a therapist and couples or family members become complicated because of multiple interactions. This literature review examines sample size, participant assignment, and generalizability in 19 marital and family therapy studies on therapeutic alliance published 1989 through 2003. Eleven studies had inadequate sample sizes. Most of the assignment strategies include convenience and purposive samples conducted with YAVIS (young, adult, verbal, intelligent, stable) populations. Studies lacked diversity in participant demographics and treatment sources. None of the studies factor how therapist experience and therapeutic setting affect therapeutic alliances. These studies do support therapeutic alliance as an integral part of marital and family counseling, theory, and assessment.
Cross-National Couples in the Mainland United States
Authors: Seto Atsuko , Cavallaro Marion
Published: June 2007

Cross-national marriage is often included in discussions of differences in race, ethnicity, and culture, but its group identity and concerns specific to cross-national couples appear to be unclear. This article explores several aspects that are pertinent to understanding cross-national couples in the mainland United States. Counseling considerations including counselor cultural competency are also discussed. The need for more research and clinical attention to investigate the breadth and complexity of cross-national marriage is addressed.
Who's a Naughty Boy Then? Accountability, Family Therapy, and the “Naughty” Child
Authors: O'Reilly Michelle
Published: June 2007

The author explores the concept of the “naughty” child through a language-based approach to examine how it is employed in a family therapy context. Using discursive psychology, 22 hours of family therapy are investigated to examine how children with behavioral/ conduct problems are constructed within this institutional setting. The members of the interaction construct either the child or the behavior as naughty as a way to manage accountability and provide an assessment of the child. It is concluded that the concept manages accountability for the parents and the children. Discussions of implications for labeling and therapy are considered.
The Invention of Fatherhood: The Therapeutic Effects of Writing a Father's Biography
Authors: van Nijnatten Carolus
Published: June 2007

To write a biography of one's father is to engage in an internal dialogue in front of an audience. A successful biographical project may lead to a major step in the identity development of men, one that can lead to forgiveness and to a healing of the son's wounds. Dialogical processes play a crucial role, resulting in changed positions of the son in relation to the father, enabling the son gradually to separate from the father and sometimes to love him in a different way. In this article the therapeutic effects of writing a “father's biography” are investigated on the basis of some 40 such paternal biographies taken from different times and cultures.
The Experience and Influence of Infertility: Considerations for Couple Counselors
Authors: Peterson Brennan D. , Gold Lisa , Feingold Tal
Published: June 2007

Infertility, or the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to live birth after a year or more of regular sexual relations, affects one in six couples of childbearing age. There is substantial empirical evidence that infertility is related to depression, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, and identity difficulties in both men and women. Given the prevalence of infertility and increases in the number of individuals and couples who seek infertility counseling, it has become imperative that couple counselors understand the distinct and robust set of challenges faced by this population. This article provides a broad background on the state of infertility and elucidates some of the physical, social, and emotional responses to this experience. Gender issues, social norms, and cultural traditions are discussed when examining male and female emotional responses to infertility. In addition, this article presents a framework for appropriate assessment and diagnostic considerations related to the infertility experience.
Filial Therapy: A Process for Developing Strong Parent-Child Relationships
Authors: Garza Yvonne , Watts Richard E. , Kinsworthy Sarah
Published: June 2007

According to the most recent U.S. Surgeon General's report on mental health, it is crucial for family counselors to use parents and families as partners in delivery of mental health services for children. Filial therapy, a unique, evidenced-based approach, may be useful for fulfilling the aforementioned mandate because filial therapy teaches parents to be the primary therapeutic agent of change in the lives of their children. This article overviews the basic principles and procedures of filial therapy training and provides a case study illustrating this strategy for building strong parent-child relationships.
African Immigrant Families in the United States: Surviving the Sociocultural Tide
Authors: Obiakor Festus E. , Afoláyan Michael O.
Published: June 2007

There exists a significant yet unique level and magnitude of problems that immigrants of African descent have to grapple with in their efforts to settle down into their new American lives. This fact makes the continuity of the natal culture very difficult. However, in spite of their many problems, African immigrants never lose touch with their African homes altogether. As it stands, many African immigrants see education as the key toward achieving their American dream. Thus, in raising their children and in surviving the cultural shocks, they still manage to succeed. In this article, the authors discuss how and why they survive the sociocultural tide and what counselors and service providers can do to help them.
African American Family Structure: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Vereen Linwood G.
Published: June 2007

Research on African American families is reviewed to address the past use of a deficit model on research and intervention, family structure, and a typology of family functioning. Considerations for family counselors working with African American families are addressed. Implications for practice and further research are explored to address the issue of working with African American families from a deficit perspective.
A Dozen Commitment Considerations for Couples
Authors: Manning Kirk Amy , Eckstein Daniel , Serres Sheryl A. , Helms Sallie G.
Published: June 2007

Commitment is one of the most frequently cited descriptors of relationships. However, commitment can mean different things to different people. A common problem for many couples is in the assumption that one's own personal meaning of commitment is the same as one's partner. This article provides an opportunity for couples to interview each other, to learn more specifically just what is in personal “data banks” regarding commitment in their relationships. Although the authors acknowledge that relationship commitment is not static or never changing, they have devised the Couples Commitment Interview to help couples learn more about their conceptions of commitment. The authors also discuss representative research relative to commitment.
Illness Perceptions and Receptivity to Counseling: Implications for Individual and Couples Therapy
Authors: Sperry Len
Published: June 2007

Clients' illness perceptions, particularly their beliefs about the cause, consequences, control, and curability of their condition, appear to be directly related to their receptivity to counseling and other health care interventions. This article defines illness perception and describes the importance of assessing these perceptions and then focusing treatment accordingly. Implications and applications for clinical practice are discussed. A case study and session transcription illustrate these points.