bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In the Shadow of Democracy Promotion
Authors: Beaulieu Emily , Hyde Susan D.
Published: October 2008

International efforts to promote democracy can have unanticipated effects. International election observation is perceived to increase domestic confidence in the electoral process and reduce fraud. Conversely, election boycotts are perceived to be more likely as electoral fairness decreases. The authors document a puzzling relationship between monitored elections and opposition party boycotts: Observers are associated with an increased boycott probability. They argue that international benefits for democratic elections give electoral autocrats the incentive to invite international observers and manipulate elections to minimize international criticism. This increase in “strategic manipulation” has led to changed incentives for opposition political parties, which have the most to lose from a manipulated but internationally certified election. Consequently, international monitors increase boycott probability. The authors support this explanation with an original data set of elections, boycotts, and international observers (1990 to 2002).
Effect of Load Levels and Plastic Type on Creep Behavior of Wood Sawdust/HDPE Composites
Authors: Najafi Abdollah , Najafi Saeed Kazemi
Published: October 2008

In this study, effect of load levels and plastic type on creep behavior of wood sawdust/ HDPE (high density polyethylene) composites was investigated. The composites were manufactured using a dry blend/hot press method. In this method, powder of plastic and dried sawdust were mixed in a high speed mixer and then the mixed powder was pressed at 190°C. Wood sawdust/HDPE composite panels were made from virgin and recycled high density polyethylene (as resin) and wood sawdust at 40% by weight HDPE loadings. Nominal density and dimensions of the panels were 1 g/cm3 and 35 × 35 × 1 cm, respectively. Short term flexural creep behaviors of the panels were studied at 10, 20, 30, and 40% of maximum bending load. Results indicated that the composites containing virgin HDPE exhibited higher creep deflection and by increasing the recycled HDPE content the creep deflection decreased in all load levels. At high levels of load, the behavior of composites becomes distinctly non-linear in character. Irrecoverable creep deflections are higher at high levels and lower virgin HDPE. Creep behavior in studied WPCs followed the Findley power law.
Cultural Adequecy of the Care Dependency Scale for Older Persons in Egypt
Authors: Boggatz Thomas , Farid Tamer , Mohammedin Ahmed , Dijkstra Ate , Lohrmann Christa , Dassen Theo
Published: October 2008

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the cultural adequateness of the Arabic version of the Care Dependency Scale (CDS), an internationally used instrument to measure care needs by either self-reports or external assessment. Method: A Delphi study in two rounds about the Arabic version was performed with 37 panelists in Cairo. Acceptance of CDS items was rated on a 4-point Likert-type scale. Results: Agreement among panelists in the second round was found for 11 CDS items, but 2 items had decreased acceptance after rephrasing and 2 were rejected. Discussion: Rejected items seem to reflect a heterogeneous perception in the target population. Despite some limitations, the CDS is a promising instrument to detect care needs among older Egyptians.
Can you hear me at the back? Archaeology, communication and society
Authors: Holtorf Cornelius
Published: October 2008

Archaeologists often enjoy the role of giving the people what the people want, at least, so long as that is information about the past. But besides the ambition to enlighten people about the past, there are at least two alternative approaches concerning the way archaeology communicates with its publics in society. One considers archaeology a business and sees people as potential customers who need to be persuaded to buy the products of archaeology. Another approach advocates democratic participation of people in archaeology and wishes to accommodate people's own preferences regarding archaeological studies. The point of this article is not to choose between these different models of communication but to ensure that future debates about the relations between archaeology and society will be informed by a better understanding of some fundamentally different approaches concerning the aims and character of archaeology's communication with various public audiences. Hopefully this discussion will also benefit very specific, future projects in public archaeology and thus ultimately serve both the archaeologists and their publics.
The Challenge of Causality
Authors: Heisler William J.
Published: October 2008

The relationship between human resource systems and organizational performance is a timely topic. Because the authors use a framework of their own devising, comparison of this study with others is challenging. Also needed is a way of establishing causality between an HR system and a hotel's performance.
Using Cases to Discover Theory
Authors: Combs Jim
Published: October 2008

Theory is fundamental to how we understand the empirical world, and cases present a wonderful opportunity to both learn from and challenge current theory. The author juxtaposes the specifics of the case of the Polish-based restaurant operator with current franchising theory to offer two propositions. The first, grounded in the dominant agency theory, suggests that franchising allows a company to expand without the expense of the personnel necessary to operate international units. The other, based on an emerging symbiosis perspective, proposes that franchisor and franchisee need each other to adapt an already successful operating system for the new home market. One possible reason that the Polish franchise failed may be based on inadequate autonomy allowed the Polish franchisee.
Issues for International Franchising
Authors: Lee Kyuho
Published: October 2008

The accompanying case study highlights some of the debatable issues surrounding international restaurant franchise development. Some of these issues, such as customization versus standardization and the relationship between a franchisor and an international franchisee, are critical in the development of international restaurant franchises.
Technological behaviour of some Tunisian clays prepared by dry ceramic processing
Authors: Jeridi K. , Hachani M. , Hajjaji W. , Moussi B. , Medhioub M. , López-Galindo A. , Kooli F. , Zargouni F. , Labrincha J. , Jamoussi F.
Published: October 2008

Lower Cretaceous (AJO and AJR) and Oligocene clays (AS) from northern Tunisia were analysed to evaluate their possible use in the production of earthenware tiles by dry processing and fast double-firing. The Cretaceous clays are carbonate-rich (AJO = 20%, AJR = 12%) while the Oligocene ones are carbonate-free. This led to noticeable differences in firing behaviour (shrinkage, sintering rate and loss on ignition) and consequently in functional properties (water absorption, mechanical strength, porosity). The AJO firing shrinkage is very small, which makes this clay suitable for rapid firing. The clays are illite-kaolinite-rich but the AS sample is mostly smectitic (44%) and so is used (10 wt.% maximum) only to adjust the consistency of the powder during pressing. The average agglomerate size ranges from 100 to 350 μm and the distribution is suitable for easy pressing of powders without any special need for further adjustments. Characterization of fired products confirms the high potential of these clays since all properties fall within the ceramic International Standards (ISO). For both technical and economic reasons dry processing is recommended for production of earthenware tiles, in particular for countries in sunnier climates, where solar energy can be exploited for clay drying.
Thermal history of Triassic sandstones from the Vosges Mountains-Rhine Graben rifting area, NE France, based on K-Ar illite dating
Authors: Clauer N. , Liewig N. , Ledesert B. , Zwingmann H.
Published: October 2008

The thermal history of the Buntsandstein (Lower Triassic) sedimentary rocks that crop out in the Vosges Mountains, or are deeply buried in the Rhine Graben, was evaluated on the basis of a combined mineralogical, morphological, oxygen isotope and K-Ar-dating study of illite separates from five locations over a limited 120 km2area. The results indicate a complex pre-rift evolution characterized by the following features: (1) in the northern Vosges, no record of diagenetic illite formation could be detected; (2) in the nearby Saverne rifting fracture-field, tectonic activity favoured the formation of faults in the crystalline basement ~210 Ma ago. This induced fluid migrations into the porous sandstone cover with illite precipitation occurring either repetitively over a period of ~25 Ma or as two separate events, the latter at ~185 Ma, affecting rocks to the east in the deeper part of the post-Eocene Upper Rhine Graben system; this latter stage of tectonic activity and fluid migration continued until 160 Ma, unless overprinted by another tectonic pulse at that time; (3) afterwards, the main tectonic activity moved to the Soultz-sous-Forêts area where two episodes could be identified at ~95 and 70 Ma by dating mineral crystallization; the latter illite age was also detected in more deeply buried Buntsandstein lithologies of the rift basin, west of Strasbourg, reflecting diverse crystallization under different physical and/or chemical conditions; (4) further illitization which at present is poorly constrained may have restarted ~55 My ago in the same deep part of the rift graben.

The youngest detected illitization age is clearly older than the main Miocene rifting episode of the Rhine Graben, suggesting that no illite crystallization occurred in the Buntsandstein sandstones during this tectonic event. This is explained by the fact that these rocks, as well as most of the underlying crystalline basement, were already sealed by fluid migration and mineralization during late Mesozoic rifting, and were therefore almost impermeable to the circulation of Tertiary fluids. The overall evolution of the region between the Vosges Mountains and the central Rhine Graben appears to be more complex than that of equivalent rock lithologies elsewhere in Western Europe. Several episodes identified here have been detected in other regions, but no single location exists which was affected by all events.
Variation of mineralogy during the beneficiation of Capim kaolin from Pará, Brazil
Authors: Mussel W. N. , Murad E. , Criscuolo P. S. R. , Pinheiro P. G. , Fabris J. D.
Published: October 2008

Kaolin mined from the Ipixuna deposit of Pará Pigmentos S.A. in the Capim river area of northern Brazil has been studied at various stages of beneficiation to determine the behaviour of Fe- and Ti-bearing minerals which can reduce the brightness of the product. X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy showed the principal pigmenting minerals to be hematite and goethite, with chemical analyses showing a distinct decrease of both the total Fe and Ti contents in the course of processing. The Ti contents were primarily reduced due to the removal of anatase during particle size fractionation and dithionite reduction. While the Fe content of the final product is structurally bound in kaolinite, Raman spectroscopy indicates the remnant Ti to be bound both structurally in kaolinite and in remnant anatase.
Elucidating the crystal-chemistry of Jbel Rhassoul stevensite (Morocco) by advanced analytical techniques
Authors: Rhouta B. , Kaddami H. , Elbarqy J. , Amjoud M. , Daoudi L. , Maury F. , Senocq F. , Maazouz A. , Gerard J.- F.
Published: October 2008

The composition of Rhassoul clay is controversial regarding the nature of the pure-mineral clay fraction which is claimed to be stevensite rather than saponite. In this study, the raw and mineral fractions were characterized using various techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR). The isolated fine clay mineral fraction contained a larger amount of Al (>1 wt.%) than that reported for other stevensite occurrences. The27Al MAS NMR technique confirmed that the mineral is stevensite in which the Al is equally split between the tetrahedral and octahedral coordination sites. The29Si NMR spectrum showed a single unresolved resonance indicating little or no short-range ordering of silicon. The chemical composition of the stevensite from Jbel Rhassoul was determined to be ((Na0.25K0.20)(Mg5.04Al0.37Fe0.20☐0.21)5.61(Si7.76Al0.24)8O20(OH)4). This formula differs from previous compositions described from this locality and shows it to be an Al-bearing lacustrine clay mineral.
Sedimentation characteristics of two commercial bentonites in aqueous suspensions
Authors: Akther S. , Hwang J. , Lee H.
Published: October 2008

The sedimentation characteristics of two commercial bentonites, Tixoton (organically treated) and Montigel-F (untreated), were investigated using a 3% w/v clay suspension at different concentrations (1, 3.5 and 10%) of NaCl and pH values (2, 7 and 12). Settling rates, floc diameters and sediment volumes were derived from changes in light transmittance using a Turbiscan Ma 2000 instrument.

Both bentonite suspensions were unstable (flocculated) in NaCl solutions. The settling rate increased with increasing concentration of NaCl and was directly related to floc diameter. The sediment volume reduced with increasing NaCl concentrations, a result of greater double layer compression caused by increased ionic strength. At comparable salt concentrations, the organically-treated bentonite (Tixoton) settled at a much slower rate and had a greater sedimentation volume. The suspensions of both organically-treated and untreated bentonites were stable (dispersed) above pH 7 and unstable in acidic conditions. The settling rate for Tixoton under acid conditions was much smaller than that for the Montigel-F. Differences in sedimentation characteristics between the two bentonite samples are probably due to the presence of an anionic polymer (carboxymethyl cellulose: CMC) in Tixoton.

The viscosity of the bentonite suspensions was also studied. The viscosity of the clay suspension is closely related to clay dispersivity in solution. The CMC was highly effective in increasing the viscosity of the bentonite suspensions, but only under neutral and alkaline conditions.
Genesis of kaolinite from Albian sedimentary deposits of the Iberian Range (NE Spain): analysis by XRD, SEM and TEM
Authors: Bauluz B. , Mayayo M. J. , Yuste A. , González López J. M.
Published: October 2008

The kaolinite from Albian sedimentary deposits (Escucha and Utrillas Formations) of the Iberian Range (Spain) have been investigated. This research has shown the presence of different types of kaolinites (detrital and diagenetic) along with micaceous phases in these deposits. Detrital kaolinites show anhedral morphology, low crystallinity and a degree of ordering as well as the presence of interstratified smectite layers. They constitute the matrix of the claystones and siltstones and were probably formed as a consequence of intense weathering processes in the source area during the warm period of the early Cretaceous. Diagenetic kaolinites have been recognized in the sandstones and siltstones, with kaolinite growing between ‘expanded’ mica flakes and vermiform and euhedral kaolinite forming the matrix. They have euhedral morphologies, high crystallinity and a high degree of ordering. They grewin situas a response to incipient diagenesis by K-feldspar dissolution and/or organic acid-rich fluids derived from the maturation of organic matter in shales.
Distinguishing opaline silica from cristobalite in bentonites: a practical procedure and perspective based on NaOH dissolution
Authors: Hillier S. , Lumsdon D. G.
Published: October 2008

Respirable forms of crystalline silica including the mineral cristobalite are known carcinogens and the subject of increasing regulation and codes of good practice. Some bentonites may contain cristobalite, but more commonly they contain opal-CT, or opal-C, which can be confused with cristobalite. In the light of increasing regulation there is a clear need for simple and reliable methods that can distinguish cristobalite from the opals in bentonites and other clay materials. Here we propose the use of a simple NaOH method that is easily applied to bulk samples of bentonites. The method consists of boiling the clay in 0.5 M NaOH for 10 min and measuring the weight of undissolved solid. The method is shown to be accurate for both the identification and quantification of opal in bentonites since these phases are soluble when thus treated. It is also a straightforward method to distinguish the opals from cristobalite as the latter is essentially insoluble. Adoption by industry of a simple operationally-defined method such as this would be preferable to ad hoc reliance on direct instrumental methods alone such as X-ray powder diffraction, as the latter almost always require a large element of judgement and experience on the part of the analyst, although direct methods do need to be used in a supporting role.
Fe3+ intercalation/deposition on vermiculites and interaction with pyrrole: a Mössbauer spectroscopic investigation
Authors: Ramírez-Valle V. , Lerf A. , Wagner F. E. , Poyato J. , Pérez-Rodríguez J. L.
Published: October 2008

The Fe3+ uptake from aqueous and methanol solutions of FeCl3·6H2O in two vermiculites from Santa Olalla and Ojén (Spain) and in a montmorillonite from Wyoming has been investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy at room temperature and 4.2 K. The samples were further characterized by X-ray diffraction. The low temperature Mössbauer spectra reveal the deposition of akaganeite and perhaps some ferrihydrite on the external surface of the clay minerals. The room temperature spectra exhibit two Fe3+ quadrupole doublets in addition to the Fe2+ components of the structural iron in the sheet silicates. On treatment in ⩾0.04 M Fe3+ solutions the Fe3+ quadrupole splittings of 0.90 mm/s and 0.55 mm/s can be assigned to the mineral akaganeite; at smaller Fe3+ concentrations one of these doublets has a quadrupole splitting similar to that of the Fe3+ in the original vermiculites, the other one a quadrupole splitting of 0.6–0.7 mm/s, which can be considered as a hint for an uptake of Fe dimers in the interlayer space irrespective of the solvent used for iron deposition. Preliminary results show that the adsorption of pyrrole in all of our Fe3+-containing samples, regardless of the preparation in aqueous or methanol solution, results in the formation of polypyrrole and a concomitant reduction of some of the Fe3+. An uptake of pyrrole into the interlayer space has been observed only in the Fe3+-containing Wyoming montmorillonite and in the Ojén vermiculite treated with the methanol solution of iron chloride.
Prevalence of HCV and HIV infections in 2005-Earthquake-affected areas of Pakistan
Authors: Khan Saeed , Rai Mohammad A , Khan Adnan , Farooqui Amber , Kazmi Shahana U , Ali Syed H
Published: October 2008

Background

On October 8, 2005, an earthquake of magnitude 7.6 hit the Northern parts of Pakistan. In the post-earthquake scenario, overcrowding, improper sewage disposal, contamination of food and drinking water, hasty surgical procedures, and unscreened blood transfusions to earthquake victims most likely promotes the spread of infections already prevalent in the area.

Objective

The objective of the study reported here was to determine the prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency and Hepatitis C viruses (respectively, HIV and HCV) in the earthquake-affected communities of Pakistan. The samples were analyzed 2 months and then again 11 months after the earthquake to estimate the burden of HIV and HCV in these areas, and to determine any rise in the prevalence of these viral infections as a result of the earthquake.

Methods

Blood samples were initially collected during December, 2005 to March 2006, from 245 inhabitants of the earthquake-affected areas. These samples were screened for HCV and HIV, using immunochromatography and Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA).

Results

Out of 245 samples tested, 8 (3.26%) were found positive for HCV, and 0 (0.0%) for HIV, indicating the existence of HCV infection in the earthquake-stricken areas. The same methods were used to analyze the samples collected in the second round of screening in the same area, in September, 2006 – 11 months after the earthquake. This time 290 blood samples were collected, out of which 16 (5.51%) samples were positive for HCV, and 0 for HIV.

Conclusion

A slightly higher prevalence of HCV was recorded 11 months after the earthquake; this increase, however, was not statistically significant. None of the study participants was found HIV-infected.
Hepatocyte growth factor enhances death receptor-induced apoptosis by up-regulating DR5
Authors: Li Yang , Fan Xing , Goodwin C Rory , Laterra John , Xia Shuli
Published: November 2008

Background

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor c-MET are commonly expressed in malignant gliomas and embryonic neuroectodermal tumors including medulloblastoma and appear to play an important role in the growth and dissemination of these malignancies. Dependent on cell context and the involvement of specific downstream effectors, both pro- and anti-apoptotic effects of HGF have been reported.

Methods

Human medulloblastoma cells were treated with HGF for 24–72 hours followed by death receptor ligand TRAIL (Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) for 24 hours. Cell death was measured by MTT and Annexin-V/PI flow cytometric analysis. Changes in expression levels of targets of interest were measured by Northern blot analysis, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, Western blot analysis as well as immunoprecipitation.

Results

In this study, we show that HGF promotes medulloblastoma cell death induced by TRAIL. TRAIL alone triggered apoptosis in DAOY cells and death was enhanced by pre-treating the cells with HGF for 24–72 h prior to the addition of TRAIL. HGF (100 ng/ml) enhanced TRAIL (10 ng/ml) induced cell death by 36% (P < 0.001). No cell death was associated with HGF alone. Treating cells with PHA-665752, a specific c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, significantly abrogated the enhancement of TRAIL-induced cell death by HGF, indicating that its death promoting effect requires activation of its canonical receptor tyrosine kinase. Cell death induced by TRAIL+HGF was predominately apoptotic involving both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways as evidenced by the increased activation of caspase-3, 8, 9. Promotion of apoptosis by HGF occurred via the increased expression of the death receptor DR5 and enhanced formation of death-inducing signal complexes (DISC).

Conclusion

Taken together, these and previous findings indicate that HGF:c-Met pathway either promotes or inhibits medulloblastoma cell death via pathway and context specific mechanisms.
Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilms subjected to phage phiIBB-PF7A
Authors: Sillankorva Sanna , Neubauer Peter , Azeredo Joana
Published: October 2008

Background

Pseudomonas fluorescensis an important food spoilage organism, usually found in the form of biofilms. Bacterial biofilms are inherently resistant to a variety of antimicrobial agents, therefore alternative methods to biofilm control, such as bacteriophages (phages) have been suggested. Phage behavior on biofilms is still poorly investigated and needs further understanding. Here we describe the application of phage ϕIBB-PF7, a newly isolated phage, to controlP. fluorescensbiofilms. The biofilms were formed under static or dynamic conditions and with or without renewal of medium.

Results

Conditions for biofilm formation influenced the feature of the biofilm and the morphology ofP. fluorescens. Biomass removal due to phage activity varied between 63 and 91% depending on the biofilm age and the conditions under which the biofilm had been formed and phages applied. Removal of the biofilm by phage treatment was faster in younger biofilms, but the same number of surviving cells was detected in all tested biofilms, after only 4 h of treatment, even in older biofilms. Under static conditions, a 3 log higher number of phage progeny remained either inside the biofilm matrix or attached to the substratum surface than under dynamic conditions, pointing to the importance of experimental conditions for the efficacy of phage entrapment into the biofilm.

Conclusion

Phage ϕIBB-PF7A is highly efficient in removingP. fluorescensbiofilms within a short time interval. The conditions of biofilm formation and applied during phage infection are critical for the efficacy of the sanitation process. The integration of phages into the biofilm matrix and their entrapment to the surface may be further beneficial factors when phage treatment is considered alone or in addition to chemical biocides in industrial environments whereP. fluorescenscauses serious spoilage.
Severe maternal morbidity (near miss) as a sentinel event of maternal death. An attempt to use routine data for surveillance
Authors: Sousa Maria H , Cecatti Jose G , Hardy Ellen E , Serruya Suzanne J
Published: October 2008

Background

To identify all the records within the Brazilian Hospital Information System (HIS) that contained information suggestive of severe maternal morbidity (near miss); to describe the diagnoses and procedures used; to identify variables associated with maternal death.

Methods

A descriptive population study with data from the HIS and Mortality Information System (MIS) files of records of women during pregnancy, delivery and in the postpartum period in all the capital cities of the Brazilian states in 2002. Initially, records of women between 10 and 49 years of age were selected; next, those records with at least one criterion suggestive of near miss were selected. For the linkage of HIS with MIS and HIS with itself, a blocking strategy consisting of three independent steps was established. In the data analysis, near miss ratios were calculated with corresponding 95% confidence interval and the diagnoses and procedures were described; a multiple logistic regression model was adjusted. Primary and secondary diagnoses and the requested and performed procedures during hospitalization were the main outcome measures.

Results

The overall maternal near miss ratio was 44.3/1,000 live births. Among the records indicating near miss, 154 maternal deaths were identified. The criteria of severity most frequently found were infection, preeclampsia and hemorrhage. Logistic regression analysis resulted in 12 variables, including four significant interactions.

Conclusion

Although some limitations, the perspective of routinely using this information system for surveillance of near miss and implementing measures to avoid maternal death is promising.
Job stress among community health workers: a multi-method study from Pakistan
Authors: Haq Zaeem , Iqbal Zafar , Rahman Atif
Published: October 2008

Background

In low income countries, the task of providing primary health care is often the responsibility of community health workers. In Pakistan, community workers called Lady Health Workers (LHW) deliver basic health care at the doorstep in the rural areas and urban slums. Evaluations show that it is a successful programme but point out inconsistencies in the quality of service provided. In order achieve this, it would be important to obtain the workers' viewpoint on their job-description, the problems they face and the levels of stress they encounter.

Methods

We conducted a multi-method study to investigate the aforementioned issues. All LHWs from one typical rural sub-district in Rawalpindi were surveyed. Focus group discussions with a sub-set of these workers were also conducted.

Results

About a quarter of the LHWs were found to have significant occupational stress. Factors associated with stress included having low socio-economic status and having to travel long distances for work. Inconsistent medical supplies, inadequate stipends, lack of career structure and not being equipped to communicate effectively with families were the main factors for job dissatisfaction among these workers.

Recommendations

Improvement in remuneration, better administration of supplies and a structured career path should be ensured for better performance of community health workers. In addition, communication skills learning should be an essential part of their training programme.
Rapid telomere motions in live human cells analyzed by highly time-resolved microscopy
Authors: Wang Xueying , Kam Zvi , Carlton Peter M , Xu Lifeng , Sedat John W , Blackburn Elizabeth H
Published: October 2008

Background

Telomeres cap chromosome ends and protect the genome. We studied individual telomeres in live human cancer cells. In capturing telomere motions using quantitative imaging to acquire complete high-resolution three-dimensional datasets every second for 200 seconds, telomere dynamics were systematically analyzed.

Results

The motility of individual telomeres within the same cancer cell nucleus was widely heterogeneous. One class of internal heterochromatic regions of chromosomes analyzed moved more uniformly and showed less motion and heterogeneity than telomeres. The single telomere analyses in cancer cells revealed that shorter telomeres showed more motion, and the more rapid telomere motions were energy dependent. Experimentally increasing bulk telomere length dampened telomere motion. In contrast, telomere uncapping, but not a DNA damaging agent, methyl methanesulfonate, significantly increased telomere motion.

Conclusion

New methods for seconds-scale, four-dimensional, live cell microscopic imaging and data analysis, allowing systematic tracking of individual telomeres in live cells, have defined a previously undescribed form of telomere behavior in human cells, in which the degree of telomere motion was dependent upon telomere length and functionality.
Lateral Stiffness of Masonry Infilled Reinforced Concrete (RC) Frames with Central Opening
Authors: Mondal Goutam , Jain Sudhir K.
Published: October 2008

Window and door openings are inevitable parts of infill walls for functional reasons. Currently, publications like FEMA-273 and ATC-40 contain provisions for the calculation of stiffness of solid infilled frames mainly by modeling infill as a “diagonal strut.” However, such provisions are not provided for infilled frames with openings. The present study proposes a reduction factor for effective width of diagonal strut over that of the solid reinforced concrete (RC) infilled frame to calculate its initial lateral stiffness when a central window opening is present. The study is based on initial lateral stiffness which is taken at 10% of the lateral strength of the infilled frames.
Dynamic Parameter Identification for Irregular Buildings considering Soil-Structure Interaction Effects
Authors: Lin Chi-Chang , Wang Jer-Fu , Tsai Cheng-Hsing
Published: October 2008

The employment of system identification (SID) techniques to evaluate building dynamic parameters based on vibration measurements is a crucial topic and has been used for structural health monitoring and damage assessment after extreme events such as earthquakes. This study presents an input/output (I/O) selection concept to extract the dynamic parameters of an irregular building superstructure considering both torsional coupling (TC) and soil–structure interaction (SSI) effects. This concept was validated by implementing an SID technique, named System Realization using Information Matrix (SRIM), based on the numerically simulated floor and foundation responses. This approach was also applied to assess the change of dynamic properties of the superstructure of two instrumented buildings using measurements recorded before and after the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan earthquake. It is shown that the decrease in value of the modal frequencies will be overestimated if the SSI effects are neglected.
Analysis and Demonstrative Application of a Base Isolation/Supplemental Damping Technology
Authors: Sorace Stefano , Terenzi Gloria
Published: October 2008

As a concluding step of several studies on a special base isolation/supplemental damping system, where pressurized fluid viscous spring-dampers are coupled to steel-Teflon sliders, the system was applied for the first time to a demonstrative strategic building in Italy. A final experimental campaign was developed to assess the interference of the dissipative actions of the two component devices. The campaign confirmed the linear additive combination implicitly assumed in relevant numerical models. The design and performance evaluation analyses performed on the building showed that maximum base displacements were only just below 45 mm, for the basic design earthquake level. As a result, very simple joints for all the facilities were used. For the same earthquake level, reduction factors of 2.48 and 2.12 on the superstructure response accelerations were obtained for the two main directions in plan as compared to peak ground acceleration. Low base displacement values, and a totally elastic superstructure response also emerged for the maximum earthquake level considered, as well as for the most demanding Italian historical near-fault ground motions introduced as inputs in the final verification analyses. The cost of the building structure resulted to be around 10% lower than the cost of a fixed-base traditional design, as well as of a base isolated structure incorporating high damping rubber bearings.
Phase I Dose Escalation and Pharmacokinetic Study of BI 2536, a Novel Polo-Like Kinase 1 Inhibitor, in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors
Authors: Mross Klaus , Frost Annette , Steinbild Simone , Hedbom Susanne , Rentschler Jochen , Kaiser Rolf , Rouyrre Nicolas , Trommeshauser Dirk , Hoesl Cornelia E. , Munzert Gerd
Published: October 2008

Purpose

BI 2536 is a novel, potent, and highly specific inhibitor of polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), which has an essential role in the regulation of mitotic progression. The aim of this trial was to identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of BI 2536 and to determine the safety, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity in patients who had advanced solid tumors.

Patients and Methods

This phase I trial followed an open label, toxicity-guided, dose-titration design. Single doses of BI 2536 (25 to 250 mg) were administered as a 1-hour intravenous infusion; patients who experienced clinical benefit were eligible for additional treatment courses. Safety and pharmacokinetics were investigated. Tumor response was evaluated according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Group guidelines.

Results

The MTD was defined at 200 mg in a total of 40 patients entered; reversible neutropenia constituted the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and the most frequent adverse event at the MTD (grade 3 to 4; 56%). Nausea (52%), fatigue (52%), and anorexia (44%) also were common and were mostly of mild to moderate intensity (Common Terminology Criteria of Adverse Events ≤ grade 2). One patient experienced a transient partial response. At doses equal to or greater than the MTD, 23% of patients experienced disease stabilization for 3 or more months. Dose-proportional increases in the maximum plasma concentration and total exposure were observed. BI 2536 showed a high total clearance and high distribution into tissue.

Conclusion

The MTD of BI 2536 when administered as a single-dose, 1-hour infusion was 200 mg; BI 2536 was well tolerated and showed a favorable pharmacokinetic profile. Antitumor activity of BI 2536 was observed.
Cancer Treatment–Induced Bone Loss in Breast and Prostate Cancer
Authors: Saad Fred , Adachi Jonathan D. , Brown Jacques P. , Canning Leah A. , Gelmon Karen A. , Josse Robert G. , Pritchard Kathleen I.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

Bone loss resulting from the treatment of breast and prostate cancer is an emerging problem. Bisphosphonates have a potential role in the prevention of this cancer treatment–induced bone loss (CTIBL).

Methods

Studies evaluating the incidence and prevalence of CTIBL in early breast and prostate cancer patients and trials evaluating the preventative role of bisphosphonates were identified by a search of the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases through the end of March 2008. Reference lists from retrieved articles were cross referenced, and further information was obtained from relevant scientific meetings.

Results

Several therapies commonly used in the treatment of women and men with breast and prostate cancers, in particular the aromatase inhibitors (AIs) for breast cancer and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer, are associated with significant bone loss and with an increase in fracture risk. The use of bisphosphonates seems to attenuate the bone loss, although the long-term impact remains unclear because of insufficient follow-up.

Conclusion

Adjuvant endocrine therapy with an AI or androgen deprivation can be considered a risk factor for the development of osteopenia, osteoporosis, and bone fracture, which can be mitigated by appropriate bisphosphonate therapy. Clear identification of risk factors for osteoporosis in individual patients should aid treatment decisions about whether to use bisphosphonates when starting or switching to an AI or ADT. Patients need to be educated about this risk and other measures to avoid this complication, including lifestyle modifications that may benefit their general and bone health.
Management of complex chronic disease: facing the challenges in the Canadian health-care system
Authors: Tsasis Peter , Bains Jatinder
Published: October 2008

This paper discusses the challenges that those living with complex chronic disease present to the Canadian health-care system. The literature suggests home care and the management of complex chronic disease can together ease many of the present and future pressures facing the health-care system in dealing with this new health-care phenomenon. A review of current literature and dialogue with key informants reveals that the current level of investment and the present policy environment are not sustainable to support the health-care system. In this paper, changes to policy and resource allocation to the home care sector are suggested to help manage complex chronic disease and thus improve the effectiveness of the Canadian health-care system. A case is made for a reorganization and increased commitment to the home care sector for a more efficient and patient-centred health-care delivery system.
Exploring the relationships between trait emotional intelligence and objective socio‐emotional outcomes in childhood
Authors: Mavroveli Stella , Petrides K. V. , Sangareau Yolanda , Furnham Adrian
Published: October 2008

Background Trait emotional intelligence (trait EI or trait emotional self‐efficacy) is a constellation of emotion‐related self‐perceptions and dispositions located at the lower levels of personality hierarchies. This paper examines the validity of this construct, as operationalized by the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire‐Child Form (TEIQue‐CF), in primary schoolchildren.

Aims The main aim was to examine the construct validity of trait EI in middle and late childhood by exploring its relationships with cognitive ability, emotion perception, and social behaviour.

Sample The sample comprised 140 children aged between 8 and 12 years (M = 9.26 years, SD = 1.00 year; 63 girls) from two English state primary schools.

Method Pupils completed the TEIQue‐CF, the standard progressive matrices (SPM), the guess who peer assessment, the social skills training (SST) test, and the assessment of children's emotion skills (ACES) during formal class periods. The procedure took approximately two hours with a short break between assessments.

Results Trait EI scores were positively related both to peer‐rated prosocial behaviour and to overall peer competence. They also predicted emotion perception accuracy beyond overall peer competence. As hypothesized in trait EI theory, the construct was unrelated to IQ (Raven's matrices) and academic performance.

Conclusions Trait EI is successfully operationalized through the TEIQue‐CF and has important and multifaceted implications for the socialization of primary schoolchildren.
A Critical Examination of Honor Cultures and Herding Societies in Africa
Authors: Moritz Mark
Published: October 2008

African pastoralists have historically used aggression strategically to restock after major losses. On the basis of anthropological studies of African pastoral societies, cultural psychologists have linked the psychological roots of pastoral aggression to the cultural complex of honor. This article is a critical examination of this link. It argues, first, that honor cultures are likely to be found among peasant pastoralists, but not among tribal pastoralists. It also argues that honor psychology and the pastoral personality are two analytically distinct psychological profiles, each of which is acquired through participation in different routines.
Rape in the Courts of Gusiiland, Kenya, 1940s–1960s
Authors: Shadle Brett L.
Published: October 2008

This article examines the history of rape prosecutions in the African courts of Gusiiland, Kenya, from the 1940s through the first years of independence. Drawing on transcripts from African courts, it demonstrates that Gusii court elders were quite sympathetic to women who lodged rape claims. Elders handed down stiff punishments to rapists, were willing to entertain a wide definition of “indecent assault,” and did not require the extensive evidence of rape so commonly demanded by judges in Western courts (and in British courts in Kenya). Perhaps most surprisingly, men who admitted to having had sex but claimed it had been consensual were forced to prove their claims. This article advances both the historical study of rape in Africa and suggests that we reassess—or at least reserve judgment—on the nature of sexual violence in the non—West.
Individualism, Community, and Cooperatives in the Development Thinking of the Union Soudanaise-RDA, 1946–1960
Authors: van Beusekom Monica M.
Published: October 2008

In the late 1940s and 1950s, nationalists and colonial officials in French Soudan (Mali) shared a language of development centered on the concepts of tradition, modernity, community, and individualism. This shared language permitted collaboration but also masked important differences in nationalist and colonial analyses of social change and the direction of rural development. Particular areas of contention were social evolutionary models of change, the likelihood of rising individualism, and the potential of communitarian development. The patterns of interaction in this debate reveal that intellectual exchanges between and among officials and nationalists were multidirectional and characterized not by borrowing but by exchange, adaptation, and reformulation.
Reading the Diary of Akinpelu Obisesan in Colonial Africa
Authors: Adeboye Olufunke
Published: October 2008

This article considers the private diary not just as a historical source or literary text, but mainly as a symbolic cultural creation with sociological and psychological dimensions. The multiple identities of Akinpelu Obisesan, a member of the colonial intelligentsia in Ibadan, are analyzed, giving us insight into the transformations in Yoruba masculinity in the colonial period and his own attempts at self-invention. The article also emphasizes the overlap between the personal and the general: between the private and the public domains and how the diarist straddles, and is in turn affected by, sociocultural currents reverberating from these two sites.
Polygyny and Christian Marriage in Africa: The Case of Benin
Authors: Falen Douglas J.
Published: October 2008

Since the arrival of European missionaries in Africa, there has been charged debate over people's marriage choices. This article outlines the major elements in the academic, theological, and popular discourses on marriage in Africa, focusing on two topics: the conceptual divide between monogamous Christian marriage and African polygyny, and the claim that women automatically prefer monogamy. By comparing the assumptions in the literature with ethnographic data from the Republic of Benin, this article demonstrates that marital choices cannot necessarily be predicted by a person's gender and rarely are characterized by a definitive conceptual divide. Instead, personal motives related to economics, prestige, and competition for power are the main factors in marriage choices.
Wage Labor, Precarious Employment, and Social Inclusion in the Making of South Africa's Postapartheid Transition
Authors: Barchiesi Franco
Published: October 2008

During South Africa's first decade of democracy, policies of social inclusion and social citizenship have emphasized productive employment and the work ethic in a context of fiscal discipline and public spending thrift. The government's institutional discourse contrasts, however, with a social reality in which most black workers have confronted growing economic precariousness and the inability of waged occupations to provide stable livelihoods above poverty levels. The article discusses workers' responses to these conditions with case studies of private and public employment. It finds that official rhetoric about the centrality of productive employment does not reflect the diversity of practices and discourses with which workers address the crisis facing wage labor.
Determinants of Productivity Across Countries: An Exploratory Analysis
Authors: Islam Nazrul
Published: October 2008

Following Solow's (2001) recent advice, this paper takes productivity as the left-hand-side variable and offers a cross-country analysis of its determinants. The analysis follows the two-stage methodology, the first of which is devoted to obtaining productivity estimates, and the second stage is devoted to analyzing these estimates. The paper classifies productivity determinants into four types, namely 'economic factors,' 'institutions,' 'social base,' and 'physical base.' The empirical productivity model developed in this paper allows space for productivity determinants of all these different types and hence may prove more helpful from policy point of view than do mono-causal models of productivity. The empirical relationships explored and established in this paper should also prove helpful in further development of a theory of total factor productivity (TFP).
Mother's and Children's Employment in Turkey
Authors: Dayıoğlu Meltem
Published: October 2008

The paper attempts to identify the link between children's employment and that of their mothers in Turkey's labor market. Statistical evidence indicates that a disproportionately larger number of employed women are in households where there is at least one working child. Considering that this may not be a random occurrence the study treats mother's employment to be endogenous to the employment decision of children. Indeed, the study establishes that mother's employment decision and that of children cannot be thought independently of each other. The unobservables that increase the likelihood of women's employment also increase the employment probability of children, in particularly of female children. The findings of the paper question the current policy initiatives geared toward decreasing child labor and recommends that poverty alleviation programs be carefully designed taking into account the link between mother's and children's employment.