bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chloroquine-Resistant Plasmodium falciparum Local Strain in Taiz Governorate, Republic of Yemen
Authors: Alkadi Hussien O. , Al-Maktari Mohamed T. , Nooman Majed A.
Published: May 2006

Background: The emergence of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to widely used antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine has made malaria control and treatment much more difficult. In Yemen, 60% of the total population live in malarious areas. The problem of chloroquine resistance in Yemen is gradually worsening since the detection of first indigenous cases of P. falciparum resistance to chloroquine in 1989. Methods: In a cross-sectional malariometric parasitic survey, 447 Yemeni children were enrolled from two selected districts (Hethran and Al-mafatch) representing Taiz Governorate. Duplicate thin and thick blood smears were prepared, stained with Giemsa stain and examined microscopically. Fifty-six students satisfied all criteria of the WHO for the assessment of P. falciparum response to chloroquine using a 7-day in vivo test. Results: Out of 447 examined slides, 83 cases (100%) were found with falciparum malaria. The overall malaria parasite rate in Taiz Governorate was 18.6%, a prevalently mesoendemic condition. The obtained results of the 7-day in vivo study revealed that out of 83 P. falciparum cases who completed the study period, 56 cases did not respond to the standard dose of chloroquine, i.e. the overall resistance rate was 16.1%. The prevalence of chloroquine resistance was higher in the Hethran district (19.4%) compared with 10.0% in the Al-mafatch district. The majority had an RI resistance level. Conclusion: Chloroquine resistance of the local strain of P. falciparum was recorded in all studied districts in Taiz Governorate. This calls for an urgent revision of the current malaria treatment policy which still considers chloroquine as the first-line drug for treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. To assess the magnitude of the problem, these districts could be the basis of future sentinel posts for continuous monitoring of chloroquine resistance in the whole country.
Review of Pharmacokinetic, Pharmacodynamic and Clinical Studies with a Modern Combination of Amoxicillin/Sulbactam
Authors: Soutric J. , Bantar C. , Caruso N. , Heguilén R. , Casellas Jr. J.M. , Casellas J.M. , Farinati A. , Jasovich A. , Arenoso H. , Rodriguez M.
Published: May 2006

Amoxicillin/sulbactam is a modern antimicrobial combination. This combination proved to be useful for the treatment of several infections caused by different microorganisms, mainly with the β-lactamase-producing species. In this review we present the most relevant pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and clinical information associated with its use.
Impact of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 on Atrioventricular Node Conduction Modification by Injected Autologous Fibroblasts in the Canine Heart
Authors: Bunch T. Jared , Mahapatra Srijoy , Bruce G. Keith , Johnson Susan B. , Miller Dylan V. , Horne Benjamin D. , Wang Xiao-Li , Lee Hon-Chi , Caplice Noel M. , Packer Douglas L.
Published: May 2006

Background—

Atrioventricular (AV) nodal ablation for management of atrial fibrillation (AF) is irreversible and requires permanent pacemaker implantation. We hypothesized that as an alternative, implantation of autologous fibroblasts in the perinodal region would focally modify AV nodal conduction and that this modulation would be enhanced by pretreatment with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), a stimulant of fibroblasts.

Methods and Results—

Skin biopsies were taken from 12 mongrel dogs, and derived fibroblasts were dissociated and grown in culture for 2 weeks. Multiple injections (0.25 mL) were made through an 8F NOGA catheter along the fast/slow AV nodal pathways as guided by an electroanatomic mapping system. Seven dogs received fibroblasts alone (1×10
6
cells/mL), 7 dogs received TGF-β1 (5 μg), 4 dogs received fibroblasts and TGF-β1 (1×10
6
cells/mL+5 μg), and 4 dogs received saline only. AV node function was assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks. Saline (80 mL) with assigned therapy (0.25 mL per injection) was injected into the peri-AV nodal region in each dog. At baseline, the AH interval (66±3 ms) and the average RR interval (331±17 ms) in pacing-induced AF were similar in each cohort. The increase in AH interval in normal sinus rhythm was longer after fibroblast (23±4 versus 5±5 ms;
P
=0.05) and fibroblast plus TGF-β1 (50±5 versus 5±5 ms;
P
<0.001) injections than with saline alone, with similar findings during high right atrium and distal coronary sinus pacing. The AH interval was not significantly increased after TGF-β1 injections. The AH interval was significantly longer after fibroblast plus TGF-β1 injections than with either therapy (TGF-β1 or fibroblasts) alone. The RR interval during AF was increased in dogs that received fibroblasts alone (110±36 versus −41±34 ms) and to a greater extent with the addition of TGF-β1 (294±108 versus −41±34 ms). No AV block was seen in any cohort at 4 weeks. Labeled fibroblasts that expressed vimentin were identified in all dogs that received cell injections at 4 weeks.

Conclusions—

AV nodal modification can be achieved with injected fibroblasts without the creation of AV block. The effect on AV node conduction is substantially enhanced by pretreatment of fibroblasts with TGF-β1. These data have therapeutic potential for the management of rapid ventricular rate during AF without pacemaker implantation.
Relationship of
BMPR2
Mutations to Vasoreactivity in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Elliott C. Gregory , Glissmeyer Eric W. , Havlena Gregory T. , Carlquist John , McKinney Jason T. , Rich Stuart , McGoon Michael D. , Scholand Mary Beth , Kim Miryoung , Jensen Robert L. , Schmidt Jon W. , Ward Kenneth
Published: May 2006

Background—

Vasoreactivity tests are fundamental in evaluating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Mutations of the transforming growth factor-β type II receptor gene,
BMPR2
, predispose to the development of pulmonary hypertension and may alter the response to vasodilators. Previous investigations have not examined the relationship of
BMPR2
mutations to vasoreactivity.

Methods and Results—

We identified 133 consecutive unrelated patients with either idiopathic or familial PAH. Sixty-six patients were excluded because we lacked either DNA samples (n=18) or complete data from a vasoreactivity test (n=48). The remaining 67 patients were screened for
BMPR2
DNA sequence variations, and specific variations were confirmed by gene sequencing. The vasoreactivity of patients with nonsynonymous
BMPR2
variations was compared with that of patients without nonsynonymous
BMPR2
variations. We found nonsynonymous
BMPR2
variations in 27 of 67 patients with idiopathic (n=16 of 52) or familial (n=11 of 15) PAH. Vasoreactivity was identified in 3.7% of 27 patients with nonsynonymous
BMPR2
variations and in 35% of 40 patients without nonsynonymous
BMPR2
variations (
P
=0.003). Five of the 27 nonsynonymous variations occur commonly in healthy individuals. None of the remaining 22 patients with
BMPR2
variations demonstrated vasoreactivity, and the analysis remained unchanged when we assumed that nonsynonymous
BMPR2
variations were present in all 15 patients with familial PAH.

Conclusions—

Patients with familial or idiopathic PAH and nonsynonymous
BMPR2
variations are unlikely to demonstrate vasoreactivity. Further trials are required to determine whether long-term therapy can be directed by tests for
BMPR2
variations.
Mothers and the Well-being of the State In Tang China
Authors: Chiu-Duke Josephine
Published: May 2006

This study, based on an examination of evidence from the two Tang dynastic histories with cross references to the relevant Tang anecdotes and funerary inscriptions, discusses the role of mothers in the well-being of the Tang state. The paper argues that motherhood occupied a crucial place in the two dynastic histories and demonstrates that the Tang official depiction of motherhood fitted into a basic pattern of how mothers were represented in earlier traditional Chinese portrayals of motherhood. This essay discloses that there are two possible scenarios behind the placement of the Tang official narratives of maternal acts. Both of these scenarios represent a historiographical recording of maternal actions that the male elite narrators felt were directly or indirectly involved in the preservation of the state.
Strange Encounters on the Cantonese Frontier: Region and Gender in Kuang Lu's (1604-1650) Chiya
Authors: Miles Steven
Published: May 2006

This article analyzes Chiya, a short text produced in the 1630s that describes the southwestern province of Guangxi. In assessing the motivations of the author, Kuang Lu, this article takes a number of perspectives related to region and gender. Kuang was a pioneering Cantonese travel writer who visited Guangxi under unusual circumstances. He describes in exotic and fantastical terms an area largely inhabited by indigenous peoples that was nevertheless in the process of being incorporated into a Cantonese-centered regional economy. In passages on witches and a female warrior, however, Kuang entertains readers with gender, ethnic, and regional inversions. These inversions ultimately functioned as a means of constructing an image of masculine eccentricity.
Paintings Done for Women in Ming-Qing China?
Authors: Cahill James
Published: May 2006

An eight-leaf album of scenes of women in domestic settings, painted by a seventeenth-century Suzhou artist, opens the question of whether we can identify a body of Ming-Qing paintings arguably addressed to an audience and clientele of women. These would include hanging-scroll representations of women meant for hanging in their rooms, and handscroll depictions of stories and subjects of special interest to them, combining narrative paintings with texts, for private looking and reading. These are quite separate from the more prestigious name-artist works valued within the male world of collecting and connoisseurship; the question of "genuineness" may be irrelevant to them.
The Rebellion and the Icon: Holy Revolutions in the Philippines
Authors: Bautista Julius
Published: May 2006

The subject of this paper is the politics of 'use' and 'misuse' of religious iconography during popular uprisings in the Philippines. It will discuss the ways in which religious icons, specifically the Santo Niño and Our Lady of EDSA, are co-opted for specific political and social agendas. "Rebellion" is broadly defined here as the combined action of a large group of people against what they see as the oppressive and hegemonic force that prevents the full enactment of their common interest. The concern here is to describe how mass action incorporates the imagery of divine personages so that revolutions are, simultaneously, acts of worship and rebellion. This paper asks the following question: What are the processes by which religious iconographies contextualise rebellion in the Philippines? What are the circumstances that led to a repetition of such events throughout the history of the country? And finally, under whose authority are rebellions and protests in the Philippines labelled and packaged as 'holy' and 'divine'? This paper will argue that the 'holiness' of religiously inspired mass uprisings is contingent upon specific acts of legitimisation, 'packaging' and semantic contestation.
Religion and Politics: Nationalism, Globalisation and Empire
Authors: Turner Bryan
Published: May 2006

The relationship between religion and politics can be examined under three rather different historical circumstances: nation-states, the global system, and empire. Although these three socio-political contexts may overlap in time and space, they are examined here in their specific historical settings. These three contexts are explored in a broadly historical or evolutionary framework, and my conceptual model is explicitly based on the famous essay by Robert Bellah (1964) on 'religious evolution', which traced the development of religion towards its individualistic, pluralistic and denominational features in a secular age. The point of this framework is heuristic, namely to help us to think more clearly about the contemporary period.
From Local Practice to Transnational Network — Saints, Shrines and Sufis among Tamil Muslims in Singapore
Authors: Tschacher Torsten
Published: May 2006

Practices of saint-veneration among Muslims are often perceived as thoroughly localized traditions, which cannot be transplanted to other localities. For this reason, much of the scholarship on the diasporic Muslim communities has assumed that practices of saint-veneration would decline in the Diaspora. Yet, most of this scholarship focused on the relatively young Muslim communities in Western countries. This paper aims to assess this theory by investigating saint-veneration among Tamil Muslims in Singapore, who have been a part of Singaporean Muslim society since the early nineteenth century. It will argue that, contrary to current theories, saint-veneration among Tamil Muslims did not decline among the Singaporean Tamil Diaspora. Rather, Tamil Muslims participated in creating a landscape of shrines in the city by inking their practices with those of other Muslim communities, while at the same time maintaining attachments to saints and shrines back in India.
The Rift Within An Imagined Community: Understanding Nationalism(s) in Bangladesh
Authors: Khan Mahmud Hasan , Hossain Ishtiaq
Published: May 2006

The continuing debate in Bangladesh over the national identity of its people — whether one is a Bangali or Bangladeshi — is a post-1975 phenomenon. One of the main themes of the independence war (1971) was 'Bangali nationalism'. However, it was replaced with 'Bangladeshi nationalism' by a military government following a bloody military coup in 1975. This major change in the label of the national identity of the people of Bangladesh requires explanation. A sharp distinction in the nature of politics in Bangladesh between the pre- and post-1975 era offers an explanation of the politics of identity in Bangladesh. This study shows that the manifestations of these political identities have been represented discursively, according to the political ideologies adopted by the successive regimes in Bangladesh. This paper studies the material representations of national identity, specifically the discursive construction of national identity in Bangladesh. It investigates also whether national identity discourse is a creation of the political rhetoric during different eras or it is "over-determined" in Althusserian terms. In other words, this paper questions the ontological basis of national identity in Bangladesh.
Faiths and Films: Countering the Crisis of Thai Buddhism from Below
Authors: Kitiarsa Pattana
Published: May 2006

This article addresses multiple issues of how the ongoing debates of 'Thai Buddhism in crisis' (wikrit phutthasatsana) are perceived and discussed in popular films. Purposefully selecting three film stories, namely, Fun, Bar, Karaoke (1997), Mekhong Full Moon Party (2002), and Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003), as case studies, the author argues that the contemporary state of Thai Buddhism is narrated and interpreted in remarkably different tones. There is virtually no moral crisis concerning Thai Buddhism reflected in the films, but a firm faith in Buddhist teachings and principles is presented, with some critical concerns of its religious agencies and performances in Thailand's post-1997 economic crisis context. In the turbulent decade of the 1990s and the new millennium, the Thai people have strongly expressed a desire for religious sanctuary. Faith in Buddhism is still strong and powerful, but its form and content are always plural and multi-dimensional. Everyday life religion, not the official or canonical Buddhism, has continuously posted itself as a prominent frame of reference for ordinary people to re-assess and re-define the problems of modernity in the midst of emerging threats of global capitalist challenges.
'Passio Caritatis' according to Origen In Ezechielem Homiliae VI in the light of DT 1,31
Authors: Eyzaguirre Samuel Fernandez
Published: May 2006

The idea of divine impassibility, which was firmly established in philosophical traditions, was also sustained by early Christian thinkers. Biblical references to God's passions were regarded as anthropomorphic expressions, which had to be interpreted in a metaphorical sense.Origen adheres to this type of interpretation, but in his sermons on Ezekiel he deals explicitly with God's caritatis passio, so that he appears to bring about un undeniable contradiction between divine impassibility and divine passibility. Origen solves this problem by arguing that the 'passion of charity' or 'philanthropy' must belong to the pre-existent Logos. In fact, it is the very reason for incarnation.
Perceived Deterrence in Crime and War
Authors: Pattnayak Satya R.
Published: May 2006

One can integrate the perceptual properties of deterrence as they are currently understood in the research on crime and conventional war. Some perceptual properties of crime deterrence, such as ‘self-serving biases’ and ‘impulsive behaviors’ can be applied to explain conventional war deterrence. Further a number of variables, such as ‘internal politics,’ ‘external pressure,’ ‘fundamentalism,’ and ‘new world view’ may explain much more of the variance in perception than the variables frequently used in conventional war research. Further research on integrating the major properties of deterrence in both crime and war is suggested.
American Exceptionalism
Authors: Acharya Sukanta
Published: May 2006

Neo-conservatism is the name of a robust strain in American intellectual life and American politics, a strain with a very rich history. But although some of its leading figures over the years have pronounced the end of neo-conservatism usually on grounds of its merger with (or perhaps take over by) the conservative mainstream, the term remains very much alive. This is especially true when it is used to describe a certain group of people who have sought to influence American public policy, most notably foreign policy in the post-Cold War era, and who, in the administration of George W. Bush, obtained that influence.

One needs to explore the future of neo-conservatism—specifically, the ways in which it has evolved according to its own premises in the direction of current and future politics dedicated to the preservation and extension of liberal order, need to be properly understood. To get to neo-conservatism's liberal legacy, however, it is necessary to begin with liberalism's origins in the nature of politics itself.
Issues of Coherence in World Trading System
Authors: Agarwal Manmohan
Published: May 2006

An important aspect of international economic governance relates to the demand for coherence among international economic organizations. While there is coherence in the philosophy of the three main international economic organizations as they champion market processes, there is no coherence in short-run economic management or in fostering growth. A framework for growth would be particularly important for developing countries. That developing countries could prevent agreements which were against their interest for a long time, except during the Uruguay Round, was compounded by the fact that those countries could not help further their growth. The Uruguay Round agreements broke away from previous negotiations and included liberalization of trade in agriculture and textiles, sectors of interest to developing countries. The agreements also covered services and trade related intellectual property rights, and ex-tended to issues earlier considered domestic matters such as trade related investment measures. Rules regarding contingent protection and dispute settlement were made more transparent and conclusive. However, exports from developing countries continue to face substantial tariff and non-tariff non-border barriers in markets of the developed countries. The question of forming coalitions to help them achieve their objectives is fraught with many problems. Neither bloc style negotiating where all the developing countries act as a block or issue based coalitions of a mix of developed and developing countries have served their interest. As a result developing countries are still unable to get results that would help them achieve their goal of rapid growth.
Ballistic Penetration of Compressively Loaded Composite Plates
Authors: Wiedenman N. , Dharan C. K. H.
Published: May 2006

The effects of ballistic penetration on woven E-glass fiber-reinforced epoxy laminates subjected simultaneously to in-plane compressive loading were investigated. A portable hydraulic press and fixture was designed to apply compressive preloads during ballistic penetration. A civilian version of the US Army ’s M4 carbine was used for the ballistic tests where penetration velocities were well above the ballistic limit for 5.56 mm projectiles. Compression-only data were initially obtained to characterize the various modes of damage. Samples without simultaneous compressive preload were subjected to ballistic penetration alone and then compressively loaded to failure. Finally, samples that had previously undergone ballistic testing at varying levels of compressive preloads were loaded in compression to determine the residual compressive failure strength. For simultaneous loading, samples were subjected to a specified compressive preload while a projectile was fired through the center of the sample. This study finds that the effect of simultaneous preload and ballistic penetration results in a greater extent of damage propagation than for ballistic penetration alone, increasing the possibility of initiating buckling failure of the loaded plate. The equivalent ballistic limit velocity for a given laminate and thickness is also likely to be reduced with increasing preload in composite laminates.
Effect of Environmental Exposure on the Mechanical and Bonding Properties of Hybrid FRP Reinforcing Bars for Concrete Structures
Authors: Won Jong-Pil , Park Chan-Gi
Published: May 2006

Hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) rebar has emerged as one of the most promising and affordable solutions to the brittle failure problems of ordinary FRP rebar in concrete structures. Hybrid FRP rebar stress-strain curves are linearly elastic, and contain a definite yield point followed by plastic deformation.

In this study, the long-term durability performance of hybrid FRP rebar is evaluated. The mechanical properties and durability of one type of carbon FRP rebar, one type of glass FRP rebar, and two types of hybrid FRP rebars are investigated. The rebar specimens are exposed to twelve different environments, including an alkaline solution, an acid solution, a salt solution, deionized water, and repeated freezing and thawing. Short-beam, tensile, and bond tests are used to analyze the mechanical properties and durability of the rebar. The experimental results confirm the desirable resistance of hybrid FRP rebar to aggressive environments.
Micromechanical Analysis of Composite Laminates at Cryogenic Temperatures
Authors: Choi Sukjoo , Sankar Bhavani V.
Published: May 2006

A finite element analysis-based micromechanics method is developed to investigate development of microcracks in a graphite/epoxy composite liquid hydrogen tank at cryogenic temperatures. The unit cell of the composite is modeled using finite elements. Periodic boundary conditions are applied to the boundaries of the unit cell. The temperature-dependent properties including the coefficient of thermal expansion of the matrix material are taken into account in the analysis. The thermoelastic constants of the composite are calculated as a function of temperature. The stresses in the fiber and matrix phases and along the fiber-matrix interface are calculated. When the laminated composite structure is subjected to combined thermal and mechanical loads, the macrostrains are computed from the global analysis. Then, the macrostrains and temperatures are applied to the unit cell model to evaluate microstresses, which are used to predict the formation of microcracks in the matrix. The method is applied to a composite liquid hydrogen storage system. It is found that the stresses in the matrix phase could be large enough to cause microcracks in the composite.
Characterization of Rheology, Electrokinetic Properties, and Surface Micromorphology of DTABr-MMT and CPBr-MMT Organoclays
Authors: İşçi S. , Ece Ö. I. , Güngör N.
Published: May 2006

In this study, the characterization of sodium-activated montmorillonite (NaMMT) dispersions (2 wt%) are examined in detail using rheological parameters, such as viscosity, yield value, apparent and plastic viscosity, and electrokinetic parameters, such as mobility and zeta potentials. Besides, the influence of solid content on viscosity is also evaluated. Dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTABr) and cetylpyridinium bromide (CPBr) cationic surfactants are added to the NaMMT dispersions in different concentrations in the range of 10 3-5 10 2 mol/L. The rheological and electrokinetic properties, and the morphology of the organoclays (DTABr-NaMMT and CPBr-NaMMT) prepared with surfactants are compared in detail. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques are used to characterize the morphology of NaMMT before and after intercalation of DTABr and CPBr surfactants. The intercalation of the surfactants in NaMMT dispersion has been studied by X-ray diffraction to examine whether the interlayer spacing swells or not. The basal spacings have been changed with the alkyl chain length of the surfactants. The morphology of bentonite dispersions is analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.
Recrystallization Kinetics of Cold-rolled Squeeze-cast Al/SiC/15w Composites
Authors: Zhang W. L. , Wang J. X. , Yang F. , Sun Z. Q. , Gu M. Y.
Published: May 2006

Al-SiCw composites can be readily shaped with conventional secondary metalworking techniques. During such forming operations, Al-SiCw composites may experience appreciable amounts of cold work, which may both influence their further forming operations and degrade some mechanical properties. Therefore, after forming operations it may be necessary to anneal the composites. Mostly, recrystallization annealing is used to achieve this purpose. The purpose of this study is to give useful information on thermomechanical processing of Al-SiCw composites by investigating their recrystallization kinetics. Al/SiC/15w composites are fabricated through a squeeze casting route followed by a hot extrusion at an extrusion ratio of 18: 1, and cold-rolled to 30, 50, and 70% of the original thickness, respectively. Then as-cold-rolled Al/SiC/15w composites are heated either continuously or isothermally to make the composites recrystallize. To investigate the kinetics of the cold-rolled composites during heating, differential thermal analysis (DTA) and hardness testing are carried out. It is found that the recrystallization kinetics of Al/SiC/15w composites is strongly dependent on deformation degree. When the reduction in thickness is less than 50%, with the increase in reduction in thickness, a faster kinetics of recovery and recrystallization occur. When the reduction in thickness is more than 50%, however, with the increase in reduction in thickness, only a faster kinetics of recovery occurs and the kinetics of recrystallization is nearly not influenced. Whiskers play a role in promoting the kinetics of recrystallization by particle-stimulated nucleation (PSN). While solute atoms make the kinetics of recrystallization largely delayed, precipitates only slightly slow down the recrystallization kinetics. At 280°C, between 100 and 200 s, extended recovery reaction and recrystallization nucleation are dominant. After 200 s, however, the growth of recrystallized grains becomes a dominant softening mechanism. As a result of the recrystallization taking place before aging, aging kinetics of the cold-rolled solution-treated 6061Al-SiCw composite is delayed.
Australian Industrial Relations in 2005 - The WorkChoices Revolution
Authors: Hall Richard
Published: May 2006

Industrial relations in Australia in 2005 were dominated by the introduction of the WorkChoices reforms, the most fundamental recasting of the industrial relations system in over 100 years. This analysis examines the rhetoric and reality of the reforms and identifies and summarizes the main features of the changes. It is argued that the implications of the reforms will include an expanded low wage sector, a contraction in collective bargaining and the greater use by employers of individual contracts. The reforms represent a ‘corporatisation’ of industrial relations (McCallum, 2006), commit Australia to a low road labour market development path and signal a new level of politicization of industrial relations. The rhetorical strategies employed by the principal author of the reforms, Prime Minister John Howard, reveal a distinctive construction of the emergent Australian worker - the ‘enterprise worker’ - that is central to Howard’s vision of the future.
The Australian Labour Market in 2005
Authors: O’Brien Martin , Denniss Richard , Burgess John
Published: May 2006

2005 represented another good year in terms of labour market performance. In this context it is difficult to justify WorkChoices on the basis that it will improve economic performance. This article undertakes an analysis of the justification for and the likely impact of WorkChoices on the labour market.
Wages and Wage Determination in 2005
Authors: Watts Martin J. , Mitchell William
Published: May 2006

In 2005 money wages continued to grow at a moderate rate within Reserve Bank limits with no evidence of generalized wage pressures arising from skill shortages. In June the Australian Industrial Relations Commission raised the Federal Minimum Wage by $17 as part of the Safety Net Adjustment. The second half of the year was dominated by speculation about the consequences for wage determination of the implementation of the WorkChoices bill which was passed by both Houses of Parliament in December.
Industrial Legislation in 2005
Authors: Riley Joellen , Sarina Troy
Published: May 2006

The federal government’s WorkChoices reforms - finally passed by both houses of Parliament in December 2005 - dominated legislative development in the industrial relations field in 2005. This report digests the main features of the extensive changes wrought by this legislation, including the ‘hostile takeover’ of the State systems, the establishment of a new wage-fixing body, changes to workplace bargaining, more draconian controls on industrial action, and the changes to unfair dismissal protection. A constitutional challenge to this legislation has been lodged by several State governments. The outcome of this challenge will not be known for some time.
Major Tribunal Decisions in 2005
Authors: Catanzariti Joseph , Byrnes Michael
Published: May 2006

Despite the prospect of the new WorkChoices reforms, several important decisions handed down in 2005 will have a significant impact on particular areas of Australian labour law. The most important decisions included the findings of the Family Test Case and rulings about the meaning of reinstatement, the liability of managers for occupational health and safety breaches and the relief that can be granted in workplace bullying cases.
Employer Matters in 2005
Authors: Mackinnon Bruce Hearn
Published: May 2006

By any reckoning, the year 2005 will long be remembered as a watershed year for Australian industrial relations. While there were the usual types of industrial disputes, on-going enterprise bargaining and another round of arguments over the Australian Industrial Relations Commission’s (AIRC’s) annual safety-net review, the year was dominated by the looming re-writing of Australia’s industrial relations regulatory regime, made possible by the Government’s surprise majority in the Senate, granted to them in late 2004. Viewed as a looming dark cloud by some or a shining light by others, most of 2005 was spent in anxious anticipation of the Howard government’s impending ‘WorkChoices’ legislation. Employer groups spent much of the year lobbying the Howard government for the types of reforms long cherished, but only dreamed of by employers, for arguably 100 years. A once in a lifetime opportunity had presented itself and employer groups were determined to take full advantage of the situation, by ensuring that the government did not lose its nerve. Perhaps more importantly, however, in addition to lobbying the government, major employer organizations devoted significant resources to building the case for industrial relations reform and attempting to sell that message to the electorate. By year’s end, employers had succeeded in the first objective, but had seemingly failed in the second.
Recent Industrial Relations Developments in the United Kingdom: Continuity and Change under New Labour 1997-2005
Authors: Nash David
Published: May 2006

This article reviews the achievements of the first two terms of the New Labour government in the UK over the period 1997-2005. It analyses the legislative programme in the areas of individual and collective employment regulation and the promotion of partnership. The article argues that whilst there have been developments in the areas of extending employee protections and granting unions a statutory recognition procedure, much of the legislative framework of the previous Conservative administrations has remained unchanged. The achievements of the Labour government are placed in an international context and the relative merits of the ‘Europeanization’ and ‘Americanization’ theses are explored. The article concludes with the assessment that far from marking a radical break with the past, Labour’s Industrial Relations programme lacks consistency and coherence.
Recent Industrial Relations Developments in China and Viet Nam: The Transformation of Industrial Relations in East Asian Transition Economies
Authors: Lee Chang-Hee
Published: May 2006

Industrial relations in China and Viet Nam are on the way to divergence. The official industrial relations actors in China have attempted ‘institutional cloning’ of key elements of modern industrial relations such as tripartite consultation and collective bargaining within the political limit imposed by the Party-state. This attempt of preemptive corporatism has so far failed to address the rising tide of various forms of labour disputes while yielding some positive results of gradual strengthening of official trade unions at the workplace. Industrial relations in Viet Nam are characterized by more vibrant associational dynamism at national and provincial levels, which is obvious in the co-existence of cooperation and competition between and within the industrial relations actors. Workers in Viet Nam display greater degree of spontaneous solidarity in the form of well coordinated ‘wildcat strikes’, which are accommodated by the government and the official trade unions at higher level.
Performance of Selected Clothing Systems under Subzero Conditions: Determination of Performance by a Human-Clothing-Environment Simulator
Authors: Kim Eunae , Yoo S. J. , Shim H.
Published: May 2006

It is necessary to measure the performance of outdoor/protective clothing materials in terms of comfort properties under dynamic enduse conditions. A vertical type human-clothing-environment simulator was used to evaluate the thermal comfort performance of layered textile materials under dynamic conditions. Fabric layers of PET knit/fleece and PET knit/micro-porous membrane (MPM), which simulate clothing systems, were compared at a transient state from 25 to -10°C. PVC film was used to compare the effects of permeability. Relative humidity and vapor pressure data confirmed condensation on the fabric layers of the clothing systems during the transient period of temperature decrease. At the subzero condition, fabrics with low air permeability kept the water molecules on their inner surface, which deteriorates the permeability of the membranes. The vapor pressure of the air layer next to the environment was maintained at a relatively high level, which will reduce the driving force for moisture transport from sweating skin to the environment.
Crosslinking of Cotton Cellulose in the Presence of Alpha-aminoacids Part III: Pore Structures
Authors: Wang Chang , Chen Jui-Chin , Yao Wei-Hua , Chen Cheng-Chi
Published: May 2006

Two kinds of alpha-amino acids were used to combine with dimethylol-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) as crosslinking agents. It was found that the values of equilibrium dye absorption, dyeing rate constant and the structural diffusion resistance constant for various combinations of crosslinking agents were in the rank of DMDHEU-glutamic acid > DMDHEU-aspartic acid > DMDHEU alone at the same dyeing temperature. The activation energies of dyeing for the three crosslinked fabrics were ranked as follows: DMDHEU > DMDHEU-aspartic acid > DMDHEU-glutamic acid. The patterns of fiber cross-section obtained by scanning electron microscopy showed that the degree of the swelling of the DMDHEU crosslinked fiber was somewhat lower than that of DMDHEU-alpha-amino acid crosslinked fibers. From this it was concluded that the fabrics crosslinked with the DMDHEU-alpha-amino acid combinations had a larger pore structure.
Study of Dyeing Behavior of Polyester Fibers with Disperse Dyes
Authors: Dhouib Soufien , Lallam Abdelaziz , Sakli Faouzi
Published: May 2006

Sorption isotherms of disperse dyes from water with small and big molecules on various polyester fibers were obtained at 130, 115, and 105°C. Isotherms were plotted using a large range of initial dye concentration. A remarkable deviation from Nernst behavior was observed for all plotted isotherms. Langmuir fitting was tested and appeared to be in good agreement with experimental curves. Distribution of disperse dyes between polyester substrate and water and the saturation solubility of these dyes in polyester fibers was compared by considering the crystallinity and surface area of the fibers.
Kynurenine Located within Keratin Proteins Isolated from Photoyellowed Wool Fabric
Authors: Bringans Scott D. , Dyer Jolon M. , Plowman Jeffrey E. , Bryson Warren G.
Published: May 2006

This paper describes the identification of the yellow chromophore-containing residue kynurenine within photoyellowed wool. Photoyellowed Merino wool fabric was tryptically digested and the resultant peptides were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Peaks with absorbance at 400 nm were collected and analyzed by tandem quadrupole time-of-flight mass spec-trometry. Kynurenine was identified as a yellow chromophore in two peptide sequences characteristic of Type 1 intermediate filament and high glycine-tyrosine wool proteins. To our knowledge this is the first conclusive evidence confirming the identity of photoyellowed products and their location within the primary structure of wool proteins. A number of non-yellow modifications were identified in the course of this study and taken together with the identification of kynurenine modifications, these results support the current mechanistic theory of the radical oxidative process occurring during photoyellowing.
The Hairiness of Worsted Wool and Cashmere Yarns and the Impact of Fiber Curvature on Hairiness
Authors: Wang Xungai , Chang Lingli , McGregor Bruce
Published: May 2006

In this study, a range of carefully selected wool and cashmere yarns as well as their blends were used to examine the effects of fiber curvature and blend ratio on yarn hairiness. The results indicate that yarns spun from wool fibers with a higher curvature have lower yarn hairiness than yarns spun from similar wool of a lower curvature. For blend yarns made from wool and cashmere of similar diameter, yarn hairiness increases with the increase in the cashmere content in the yarn. This is probably due to the presence of increased proportion of the shorter cashmere fibers in the surface regions of the yarn, leading to increased yarn hairiness. A modified hairiness composition model is used to explain these results and the likely origin of leading and trailing hairs. This model highlights the importance of yarn surface composition on yarn hairiness.
Morphological Characterization of Individual Fiber of Agave americana L.
Authors: Chaabouni Yassine , Drean Jean-Yves , Msahli Slah , Sakli Faouzi
Published: May 2006

The fine structure of Agave americana L. fiber was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The individual fibers have a helical structure whose axis can be considered as parallel to the main axis of the bundles of ultimate fibers. Individual fibers are extracted from the technical one with the help of a 3.8% NaOH alkali solution at 130°C. SEM analysis of an individual fiber, using image analysis software, shows that the shape of an individual fiber can be likened to a ribbon with a main transverse dimension around 3.1 μm which can be considered as very small in comparison with other individual natural fibers. The SEM analysis has also shown the fiber to have a helical structure composed of square-shape spirals which were also examined. In this study, an attempt is made to explain some of the physical and mechanical properties of the bundles of ultimate fibers, such as its high strain (49%) and its low density (1.36), through the morphological characterization of individual Agave fibers.
Regressional Estimation of Ring Cotton Yarn Properties from HVI Fiber Properties
Authors: Üreyen Mustafa E. , Kadoglu Hüseyin
Published: May 2006

The main aim of the present study was to predict the most important yarn quality characteristics derived from cotton fiber properties that were measured by means of an HVI system. With this aim 15 different cotton blends were selected from different spinning mills in Turkey. The cotton fibers were processed in the short staple spinning line at Ege University Textile and Apparel Research-Application Center and were spun into ring yarns (20s, 25s, 30s and 35s). Each count was spun at three different coefficients of twist (αe 3.8, αe 4.2 and αe 4.6). Linear multiple regression methods were used for the estimation of yarn quality characteristics. Yarn count, twist and roving properties all had considerable effects on the yarn properties and therefore these parameters were also selected as predictors. After the goodness of fit statistics very large R2 (coefficient of multiple determination) and adjusted R2 values were observed. Furthermore, analysis of variance tables showed that our equations were significant at the α = 0.01 significance level.
The Influence of Stabilization under Various Conditions and Subsequent Treatment of Polyester Fabric on the Quantity and Composition of Extracted Oligomers
Authors: Recelj Petra , Gorenšek Marija , Žigon Majda
Published: May 2006

The study examined the effect of stabilization under various conditions (temperature, time and tension) and the treatment of polyester fabric in buffered solution (pH 12) prior to high-temperature dyeing, on the migration of oligomers. The content of oligomers in the treated polyester fabric was determined by extraction in petroleum ether and dichloromethane. The extract was analyzed using gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Based on the results it was established that oligomer migration was affected by temperature, time, and the stabilization tension. The greatest reduction in the content of oligomers was in polyester fabric that was stabilized in a restricted state at higher temperatures and longer times (220°C, 600 seconds). The oligomer content decreased even further if the polyester fabric was alkaline pre-treated. The GPC chromatograms showed that all oligomeric extracts consisted mainly of cyclic trimers, whereas the presence and proportion of other cyclic oligomers varied with treatment conditions.
Fiber Length Distribution in Cotton Processing: Dominant Features and Interaction Effects
Authors: Krifa Mourad
Published: May 2006

This study investigated the unique shape of cotton fiber length distribution and explored its main features. One prominent feature revealed by the examination of a multitude of distributions measured on a wide range of cotton samples was the modality of the distribution pattern. Based on the experimental data, significant interactions were identified and highlighted between the distribution modality (quantitatively described as a measure of departure from unimodality), some fundamental properties of cotton fiber including maturity and strength, and the extent/aggressiveness of the mechanical processes undergone by the cottons.
Bioscouring of Cotton Fiber with Polygalacturonase Induced in Sclerotium rolfsii using Cellulose and Glucose-pectin
Authors: del Valle Luis J. , Oños Marta , Garriga Pere , Calafell Margarita , Schnitzhofer Wolfgang , Guebitz Georg M.
Published: May 2006

Textile industrial scouring processes are currently based on the use of chemical reagents that cause an important environmental impact. For some years, several research groups have focused on obtaining enzymes that can carry out the scouring task in an effective way, allowing at the same time a decrease of the industrial costs of water and energy associated with the process. As part of this effort, bioscouring of cotton using enzymes produced in Sclerotium rolfsii has been successfully carried out in the present study. Enzyme production was induced by glucose, glucose-pectin or cellulose, and in all cases the enzyme activity corresponded to polygalacturonase activity. The weight loss after bioscouring was more efficient with enzymes induced by pectin because these have a specific activity for removing pectin content from the cotton fiber. The effectiveness of the enzymatic scouring was equivalent or better than that achieved by the conventional alkaline process.
Effects of Moisture Absorption of Clothing on Pitching Speed of Amateur Baseball Players in Hot Environmental Conditions
Authors: Park Shin-Jung , Tokura Hiromi , Sobajima Mitsuo
Published: May 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the hygroscopic properties of clothing material on pitching speed and some physiological responses in amateur baseball players. The experiments were performed on four male players of a regular high school baseball team and comprised two clothing types with different moisture absorption properties, namely, cotton (Type C) and polyester and polypropylene (Type P). One test session was conducted with seven innings, with a 5-minute rest time between each inning. During each inning the test subject pitched 20 balls with a 20-second interval between each pitch. From the results, in the hot environments, the trained baseball players tended to pitch balls with higher speed and less deviation of speed when wearing Type C clothing, especially in the second session. Type C clothing with a higher moisture regain compared to Type P clothing may have diminished accumulated thermal induced fatigue in the subjects.
Preparation of Temperature-Sensitive Polyurethanes for Smart Textiles
Authors: Ding X. M. , Hu J. L. , Tao X. M. , Hu C. P.
Published: May 2006

A series of segmented polyurethane (PU) were prepared using five different polyols and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as mixing soft segment, 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, hydrophilic segment poly (ethylene glycol) 200 (PEG 200) and chain extender 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) as triblock hard segment. The micro-structure of the PUs was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray, and polarizing microscopy. Tensile property was measured, and the water vapor transport property of the PU membranes as a function of temperature was tested accordingly. It was found that the PUs with crystalline soft segments were temperature-sensitive; that is, crystal melting of soft segment results in the significant increase in water vapor permeability of the PU membranes. Proper molecule design can set switch temperature ranges in water vapor permeability of the membranes from 10 to 40°C including body temperature. Such properties can contribute to the development of smart textiles.