bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical stretch is a highly selective regulator of gene expression in human bladder smooth muscle cells
Authors: Adam Rosalyn M. , Eaton Samuel H. , Estrada Carlos , Nimgaonkar Ashish , Shih Shu-Ching , Smith Lois E. H. , Kohane Isaac S. , Bägli Darius , Freeman Michael R.
Published: October 2004

Application of mechanical stimuli has been shown to alter gene expression in bladder smooth muscle cells (SMC). To date, only a limited number of “stretch-responsive” genes in this cell type have been reported. We employed oligonucleotide arrays to identify stretch-sensitive genes in primary culture human bladder SMC subjected to repetitive mechanical stimulation for 4 h. Differential gene expression between stretched and nonstretched cells was assessed using Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM). Expression of 20 out of 11,731 expressed genes (∼0.17%) was altered >2-fold following stretch, with 19 genes induced and one gene (FGF-9) repressed. Using real-time RT-PCR, we tested independently the responsiveness of 15 genes to stretch and to platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), another hypertrophic stimulus for bladder SMC. In response to both stimuli, expression of 13 genes increased, 1 gene (FGF-9) decreased, and 1 gene was unchanged. Six transcripts (HB-EGF, BMP-2, COX-2, LIF, PAR-2, and FGF-9) were evaluated using an ex vivo rat model of bladder distension. HB-EGF, BMP-2, COX-2, LIF, and PAR-2 increased with bladder stretch ex vivo, whereas FGF-9 decreased, consistent with expression changes observed in vitro. In silico analysis of microarray data using the FIRED algorithm identified c-jun, AP-1, ATF-2, and neurofibromin-1 (NF-1) as potential transcriptional mediators of stretch signals. Furthermore, the promoters of 9 of 13 stretch-responsive genes contained AP-1 binding sites. These observations identify stretch as a highly selective regulator of gene expression in bladder SMC. Moreover, they suggest that mechanical and growth factor signals converge on common transcriptional regulators that include members of the AP-1 family.
Layer-specific differences of gene expression in extraocular muscles identified by laser-capture microscopy
Authors: Budak Murat T. , Bogdanovich Sasha , Wiesen Martin H. J. , Lozynska Olga , Khurana Tejvir S. , Rubinstein Neal A.
Published: October 2004

In mammals, separate muscles are typically specialized as a whole to provide distinct functional roles leading to well-recognized adaptations. This is exemplified in the lower limb by the slow, fatigue-resistant soleus, which provides a postural role vs. the fast, fatiguable tibialis anterior (TA), which provides rapid movements. A unique characteristic of extraocular muscles (EOMs) is their compartmentalization into two distinct layers, the orbital layer (OL) and global layer (GL), presumably to subserve diverse functions within the same muscle. However, molecular evidence of this diversity has been limited. We used laser-capture microscopy coupled with microarray-based expression profiling to identify molecular differences between the OL and GL of rat EOMs. We found that 210 genes were differentially regulated between these layers at a twofold expression cutoff. Differences in genes related to metabolic pathways and related to structural elements of muscle and nerve formed the largest functional clusters. Layer-specific differential expression was validated at both mRNA and protein level for MYH3, MYH6, and ACTN3. The expected layer-specific differences among genes encoding vascular elements were not evident by profiling; morphometric analysis demonstrated that the differences exist, but at a magnitude below the cutoff level established by our statistical methods. Comparison of these results with previous results comparing whole EOMs and TA suggest evolutionary mechanisms may play a role in achieving functional distinctions between OL and GL.
On hypersurface quotient singularities of dimension 4
Authors: Chiang Li , Roan Shi-Shyr
Published: October 2004

We consider geometrical problems on Gorenstein hypersurface orbifolds of dimension n ≥ 4 through the theory of Hilbert scheme of group orbits. For a linear special group G acting on ℂn, we study the G‐Hilbert scheme HilbG(ℂn) and crepant resolutions of ℂn/G for G the A‐type abelian group Ar(n). For n = 4, we obtain the explicit structure of . The crepant resolutions of ℂ4/Ar(4) are constructed through their relation with , and the connections between these crepant resolutions are found by the “flop” procedure of 4‐folds. We also make some primitive discussion on HilbG(ℂn) for G the alternating group 𝔄n+1 of degree n + 1 with the standard representation on ℂn; the detailed structure of is explicitly constructed.
Multivalent functions and QK spaces
Authors: Wulan Hasi
Published: October 2004

We give a criterion for q‐valent analytic functions in the unit disk to belong to QK, a Möbius‐invariant space of functions analytic in the unit disk in the plane for a nondecreasing function K : [0, ∞) → [0, ∞), and we show by an example that our condition is sharp. As corollaries, classical results on univalent functions, the Bloch space, BMOA, and Qp spaces are obtained.
On the Fourier expansions of Jacobi forms
Authors: Skogman Howard
Published: October 2004

We use the relationship between Jacobi forms and vector‐valued modular forms to study the Fourier expansions of Jacobi forms of indexes p, p2, and pq for distinct odd primes p, q. Specifically, we show that for such indexes, a Jacobi form is uniquely determined by one of the associated components of the vector‐valued modular form. However, in the case of indexes of the form pq or p2, there are restrictions on which of the components will uniquely determine the form. Moreover, for indexes of the form p, this note gives an explicit reconstruction of the entire Jacobi form from a single associated vector‐valued modular form component. That is, we show how to start with a single associated vector component and use specific matrices from Sl2(ℤ) to find the other components and hence the entire Jacobi form. These results are used to discuss the possible modular forms of half‐integral weight associated to the Jacobi form for different subgroups.
7-Ketocholesterol Induces Protein Ubiquitination, Myelin Figure Formation, and Light Chain 3 Processing in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Martinet Wim , De Bie Martine , Schrijvers Dorien M. , De Meyer Guido R.Y. , Herman Arnold G. , Kockx Mark M.
Published: October 2004

Objective—

Oxysterols such as 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC) are important mediators of cell death in atherosclerosis. Therefore, in vitro studies of human smooth muscle cell (SMC) death in response to 7-KC were undertaken to investigate the potential mechanisms.

Methods and Results—

Human aortic SMCs treated with 7-KC showed enhanced immunoreactivity for the oxidative stress marker 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal and upregulated several stress genes (70-kDa heat shock protein 1, heme oxygenase 1, and growth arrest and DNA damage–inducible protein 153) at the mRNA but not at the protein level. 7-KC–treated SMCs rapidly underwent cell death as determined by neutral red, counting of adherent cells, and depolarization of the mitochondrial inner membrane. Cell death was associated with upregulation of ubiquitin mRNA and ubiquitination of cellular proteins. Inhibition of the proteasome by lactacystin potentiated considerably the toxicity of 7-KC. Transmission electron microscopy revealed formation of myelin figures, extensive vacuolization, and depletion of organelles. Formation of autophagosomes was suggested by labeling cells with LysoTracker and monitoring processing of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3). Analogous to our in vitro studies, human atherosclerotic plaques showed signs of ubiquitination in SMCs.

Conclusions—

7-KC activates the ubiquitin–proteasome system and induces a complex mode of cell death associated with myelin figure formation and processing of LC3 evocating autophagic processes.
Insulin Resistance Is Independently Associated With Postprandial Alterations of Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Annuzzi Giovanni , De Natale Claudia , Iovine Ciro , Patti Lidia , Di Marino Lucrezia , Coppola Silvana , Del Prato Stefano , Riccardi Gabriele , Rivellese Angela A.
Published: October 2004

Objective—

To evaluate the role of insulin resistance in development of postprandial dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetic patients in an experimental setting in which these patients were compared with nondiabetic subjects at similar glucose and insulin blood levels.

Methods and Results—

Eight type 2 diabetic patients in optimal blood glucose control and 7 control subjects (aged 50.0±2.6 and 48.1±1.3 years; body mass index 28.3±1.2 and 25.6±1.1 kg/m
2
; fasting plasma triglycerides 1.12±0.13 and 0.87±0.08 mmol/L, respectively; mean±SEM; NS) consumed a mixed meal during an 8-hour hyperinsulinemic glycemic clamp. Mean blood glucose during clamp was ≈7.8 mmol/L, and plasma insulin during the preprandial steady state was ≈480 pmol/L in both groups, that differed for insulin sensitivity (M/I value lower in diabetic subjects [1.65±0.30 and 3.42±0.60;
P
<0.05]). Subjects with diabetes had higher postprandial levels of lipids and apolipoprotein B (apoB) in large very low-density lipoprotein (incremental area for triglycerides 1814±421 versus 549±153 μmol/L×6 hours;
P
<0.05; cholesterol 694±167 versus 226±41 μmol/L×6 hours;
P
<0.05; apoB-48 6.3±1.0 versus 2.6±0.7 mg/L×6 hours;
P
<0.05; apoB-100 56.5±14.9 versus 26.2±11.0 mg/L×6 hours; NS). Basal lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity before and after meal was higher in diabetic subjects, whereas postheparin LPL activity 6 hours after the meal was similar.

Conclusions—

Insulin resistance is also associated with postprandial lipoprotein abnormalities in type 2 diabetes after acute correction for hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia.
Promotion of Leukocyte Adhesion by a Novel Interaction Between Vitronectin and the β2Integrin Mac-1 (αMβ2, CD11b/CD18)
Authors: Kanse Sandip M. , Matz Rachel L. , Preissner Klaus T. , Peter Karlheinz
Published: October 2004

Objective—The leukocyte integrin Mac-1 (αMβ2, CD11b/CD18) binds a number of ligands and counter-receptors and thereby is a major determinant in regulation of leukocyte adhesion and extravasation. Vitronectin (VN) is an adhesion-promoting factor that is abundantly present as matrix molecule in vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. Until now, only an indirect interaction between Mac-1 and VN via the urokinase receptor (urokinase plasminogen activator receptor) was known. We now propose that Mac-1 and VN can directly interact with each other.

Methods and Results—In an in vitro system with purified components, Mac-1 specifically bound the multimeric matrix form of VN but not the monomeric plasma form. Using various competitors, the interaction domains in Mac-1 and VN were localized. Mac-1–expressing but not untransfected Chinese hamster ovary cells adhered strongly on VN. Introduction of a GFFKR deletion in the αMsubunit of Mac-1, which increases the constitutive activation of the integrin, led to increased adhesion on VN. Peripheral human blood neutrophils adhered and migrated on multimeric VN in a Mac-1–dependent manner.

Conclusions—These results show that there is a specific integrin-affinity–regulated interaction between Mac-1 and the matrix form but not the plasma form of VN that may significantly participate in leukocyte adhesion and extravasation.
Induction of the Paraoxonase-1 Gene Expression by Resveratrol
Authors: Gouédard Cédric , Barouki Robert , Morel Yannick
Published: October 2004

Objective—

The human paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is a high-density lipoprotein-associated enzyme, mainly secreted by the liver, that displays protective properties toward cardiovascular disease and organophosphate intoxication. Resveratrol is a polyphenolic phytoalexin found in grapes and wine and is thought to display cardioprotective effects. It is able to interact with transcriptional modulators such as the estrogen receptor α (ERα). We investigated the effect of resveratrol on the PON-1 gene expression.

Methods and Results—

PON-1 activity assays, Northern blot, and transfection experiments showed that resveratrol increased the PON-1 gene expression in human hepatocyte primary cultures and in the HuH7 hepatoma cell line involving a transcriptional mechanism. The resveratrol effect was not ERα-dependent and was surprisingly mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and an unconventional AhR responsive element in the PON-1 gene promoter. This agonist effect of resveratrol was specific for this DNA motif and was not observed on classical AhR responsive elements.

Conclusions—

These observations suggest that the PON-1 gene induction may be involved in the cardioprotective properties of resveratrol. They also highlight a ligand-dependent differential modulation of AhR-sensitive genes.
Inhibition of Endogenous Leptin Protects Mice From Arterial and Venous Thrombosis
Authors: Konstantinides Stavros , Schäfer Katrin , Neels Jaap G. , Dellas Claudia , Loskutoff David J.
Published: October 2004

Objective—Human obesity is associated with an increased risk for arterial and venous thrombosis and with elevated levels of leptin in the blood. Leptin administration promotes arterial thrombosis in mice, and leptin-deficient ob/ob mice have an attenuated thrombotic response to injury. Thus, endogenous leptin may regulate arterial and venous thrombosis in vivo. Experiments were performed to test this hypothesis.

Methods and Results—A leptin-neutralizing antibody was administered intravenously into wild-type mice 15 minutes before carotid artery injury with ferric chloride. The antibody-treated mice demonstrated prolonged times to thrombotic occlusion and formed unstable, embolizing thrombi. Thus, inhibiting leptin converted the thrombotic phenotype of wild-type mice into one that closely resembled that of ob/ob mice. The effect of leptin inhibition on venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism was also investigated. Injection of a mixture of collagen and epinephrine into the jugular vein induced fatal pulmonary embolism in >90% of the control wild-type mice but in <40% of their antibody-treated counterparts. Histological analysis revealed that the antibody significantly reduced the number of occlusive thrombi in the pulmonary vessels.

Conclusions—Inhibition of circulating leptin protects against arterial and venous thrombosis in mice and possibly in hyperleptinemic obese individuals.
Differential Expression Patterns of Proinflammatory and Antiinflammatory Mediators During Atherogenesis in Mice
Authors: Veillard Niels R. , Steffens Sabine , Burger Fabienne , Pelli Graziano , Mach François
Published: October 2004

Objective—

Recent advances support the current view of atherosclerosis as an inflammatory process that initiates and promotes lesion development to the point of acute thrombotic complications and clinical events. ApoE-deficient mice are a valuable model for studying the involvement of inflammatory mediators during atherogenesis. In this study, we investigated the correlation between atherosclerotic plaque development and expression of important pro- and antiinflammatory mediators during progression of atherosclerosis in ApoE−/− mice.

Methods and Results—

Expression of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and chemokine receptors within aortic lesions increased during atherogenesis, as detected by real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. In parallel, the number of inflammatory cells within lesions increased together with serum cholesterol and body weight. Interestingly, the majority of inflammatory mediators investigated reached their maximum expression values at 10 weeks of diet, followed by continuous decrease of their expression levels, whereas atherosclerotic plaque size further increased. We show that the expression pattern of these different inflammatory mediators mainly correlates with the amount of inflammatory cells present within the atherosclerotic lesions.

Conclusion—

Atherosclerosis might result from an imbalance between pro- and antiinflammatory mediators in response to endothelial injury induced by cholesterol-rich diet. These data provide important information on the expression kinetics of inflammatory mediators and point out the possible role of antiinflammatory cells during atherogenesis.
Interaction of Monocytes With Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Regulates Monocyte Survival and Differentiation Through Distinct Pathways
Authors: Cai Qiangjun , Lanting Linda , Natarajan Rama
Published: October 2004

Objective—Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) may regulate monocyte functions within atherosclerotic lesions. We investigated the impact of VSMC/monocyte interactions on monocyte apoptosis and scavenger receptor CD36 expression, key events related to monocyte survival and differentiation.

Methods and Results—Serum deprivation significantly increased THP-1 and human peripheral blood monocyte apoptosis. However, this was significantly reversed by physical binding to human VSMCs (HVSMCs). On binding to HVSMCs, antiapoptotic kinase Akt and its downstream targets were phosphorylated, and Bcl-2 expression was enhanced. Binding-mediated suppression of apoptosis and Akt phosphorylation were attenuated by a phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor and also by an antibody to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. CD36 expression was also significantly increased in THP-1 cells and in human peripheral blood monocytes after binding to HVSMCs, and this was mediated by both direct contact and soluble factors. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation was increased in THP-1 cells after HVSMC coculture. Furthermore, an ERK1/2 inhibitor blocked monocyte CD36 upregulation. Contact-dependent CD36 induction and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in monocytes were inhibited by blocking vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 on HVSMC, whereas soluble factor–induced CD36 expression was attenuated by a monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 neutralizing antibody.

Conclusions—These data provide evidence of novel VSMC-dependent local regulation mechanisms for monocyte survival and differentiation in atherosclerosis.
Quantification and 3D Reconstruction of Atherosclerotic Plaque Components in Apolipoprotein E Knockout Mice Using Ex Vivo High-Resolution MRI
Authors: McAteer Martina A. , Schneider Jürgen E. , Clarke Kieran , Neubauer Stefan , Channon Keith M. , Choudhury Robin P.
Published: October 2004

Objective—

To investigate the ability of high-resolution MRI to determine composition and microanatomy of atherosclerosis in mouse aortic root and brachiocephalic artery.

Methods and Results—

Aortic root and brachiocephalic arteries of apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE−/−) mice fed Western diet for 10, 20, or 30 weeks were imaged ex vivo (11.7 T; 3D multiecho sequence; resolution 47×47×62.5 μm). Using semiautomated histogram-based methods, MRI accurately quantified lipid-rich/necrotic areas in the aortic root (
r
2
=0.84;
P
<0.001) and brachiocephalic artery (
r
2
=0.90;
P
<0.001) compared with histology. Similarly, cell-rich caps in aortic roots, quantified by MRI and histology, correlated closely (
r
2
=0.74;
P
<0.001). Reconstruction of segmented brachiocephalic arteries in 3D provided unique insights into plaque microanatomy and enabled volumetric quantification of plaque and lipid-rich/necrotic core. Between 10 and 30 weeks, 3D measurement identified an 11.6-fold increase in plaque volume (versus 4.1-fold for 2D) and a 21.3-fold increase in plaque lipid-rich/necrotic core volume (versus 6.4-fold for 2D), indicating superior power of 3D quantification.

Conclusions—

Ex-vivo high-resolution 3D MRI accurately quantified lipid-rich/necrotic core and cell-rich cap areas in atherosclerotic lesions in apoE−/− mice. Reconstruction and volumetric quantification of segmented brachiocephalic arteries demonstrated greater sensitivity in detecting changes in plaque size and lipid composition over time than 2D analysis.
Differential Effects of Vasodilatory Prostaglandins on Focal Adhesions, Cytoskeletal Architecture, and Migration in Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Bulin C. , Albrecht U. , Bode J.G. , Weber A.-A. , Schrör K. , Levkau B. , Fischer J.W.
Published: October 2004

Objective—

Cyclooxygenases 1 and 2 are expressed in atherosclerotic arteries, and local generation of prostacyclin and prostaglandin E
2
(PGE
2
) occurs. However, the role of cyclooxygenases and individual prostaglandins during plaque progression is currently uncertain. The present study characterizes the effect of vasodilatory prostaglandins on morphology, focal adhesion (FA) function, and migration in human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs).

Methods and Results—

The stable prostacyclin analog iloprost transiently induced: (1) disassembly of FA and stress fibers, (2) partial retraction and rounding of SMCs, (3) hypophosphorylation of FA kinase (FAK) and paxillin, and (4) inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor-BB–induced migration. Inhibition of FAK phosphorylation and morphological changes were mimicked by forskolin, inhibited by H89, and prevented by the protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor vanadate and by calpeptin. PGE
2
was by far less efficient with respect to all parameters investigated. This difference correlated with the respective cAMP induction in response to iloprost and PGE
2
.

Conclusion—

Inhibition of FAK phosphorylation and FA function is a new target of vasodilatory prostaglandins, which might be causally involved in the antimigratory effects of prostaglandins. Importantly, prostacyclin analogs and PGE
2
differ dramatically with respect to dephosphorylation of FAK and inhibition of migration, which might be of relevance for their respective functions in atherosclerosis.
Modeling and Testing the Fracture Process of Impregnated Carbon-fiber Roving Specimens During Bending: Part I – Fiber Bundle Model
Authors: Vas László M. , Rácz Zsolt
Published: October 2004

A summarizing description of a statistical modeling method partly based on earlier publications is given to predict the total loading and breaking process of fiber bundles generated by tensile tests. This method uses some types of idealized fiber bundles, the so-called fiber bundle cells (basic types: E, EH, ES, and ET) to model the structure of real fibrous structures. Using one of these bundle cells or a composite bundle made of some bundle cells connected in parallel, the expected value and standard deviation of the whole damage process of this bundle can be calculated up to the breakage of the last intact fiber during a mechanical test. As a new application the fracture process of unidirectional composite beam is modeled during the 3P bending test considering the beam is built up of elementary embedded-fiber layers considered as E-type fiber bundle cells in the first step. Formulae for calculating the expected value and standard deviation processes of the bent specimen are elaborated assuming that the fiber breakages determined the failure of layers.
Modeling and Testing the Fracture Process of Impregnated Carbon-fiber Roving Specimens During Bending: Part II – Experimental Studies
Authors: Vas Lászlá M. , Rácz Zsolt , Nagy Péter
Published: October 2004

Unidirectional carbon fiber–epoxy composite specimens were produced and three-point bending tests were carried out at spans of 10 and 80 mm. During the tests images were taken using a CCD camera system and the type of damage was studied. The fracture process of unidirectional composite beams were modeled during the 3P bending test considering the beam built up of elementary embedded-fiber layers considered as E-type fiber bundle cells using the formulae developed in the first part of this paper. The fracture processes obtained by measurements were compared to the modeled expected value processes completed with deviation field or confidence interval.
Process and Performance Evaluation of the Vacuum-Assisted Process
Authors: Li W. , Krehl J. , Gillespie J. W. , Heider D. , Endrulat M. , Hochrein K. , Dunham M. G. , Dubois C. J.
Published: October 2004

Vacuum-Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) is widely used for large-scale composite manufacturing of civil and defense applications. Here, the infusion process reduces part costs due to a decrease in labor, material, and equipment expenses compared to other composite manufacturing techniques. However, in order to replace conventional manufacturing methods for aerospace-quality parts such as autoclave processing, the VARTM process repeatability and part quality must be improved. The Vacuum-Assisted Process (VAP) (Filsinger, J., Lorenz, T., Stadler, F. and Utecht, S. (2001). Method and Device for Producing Fiber-reinforced Components Using an Injection Method, German Patent WO 01/68353 A1.) developed and patented by EADS Deutschland uses a gas-permeable membrane to allow for uniform vacuum distribution and continuing degassing of the infused resin.W.L. Gore & Assoc. GmbH has developed a suitable membrane in co-operation with EADS. The membrane is placed over the fabric layers, sealed to the tool, and connected to the vent to allow uniform vacuum on the fabric surface. The VAP results in a more robust VARTM process that minimizes the potential for dry spot formation as well as lower void content and improved dimensional tolerances. This research quantifies the performance improvements and compares them to the Seemann Composite Resin Infusion Process (Seemann, William (1991). Plastic Transfer Molding Apparatus for the Production of Fiber Reinforced Plastic Structures, U.S. Patent, 5,052,906) (SCRIMP), the most common variation of the VARTM process.
Time and Temperature Dependence of the Viscoelastic Properties of PEEK/IM7
Authors: Melo José Daniel D. , Radford Donald W.
Published: October 2004

Understanding viscoelastic properties of composite materials is essential for the design and analysis of many advanced structures. However, experimental viscoelastic characterization of anisotropic materials can be complicated because of the number of independent parameters to be evaluated. Recently, an approach leading to the 3-D viscoelastic characterization of transversely isotropic materials using a reduced number of measured parameters has been developed. The model reduces the number of independent parameters to describe the viscoelastic behavior of transversely isotropic materials, which greatly simplifies the experimental procedures. Based on this recently developed model, the present article evaluates time and temperature effects on the viscoelastic properties of a fiber reinforced lamina. The experimental investigation is conducted on sub-scale specimens loaded in flexure, using Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) equipment. Ultimately, the approach presented in this work will allow the construction of master curves for the independent viscoelastic parameters that characterize a transversely isotropic material. Therefore, the experimental technique presented in this work provides a means for the study of viscoelastic properties of fiber reinforced composites, and constitutes a valuable contribution to the understanding of time and temperature dependence of these mechanical properties.
The USA and Global Environmental Policy: Domestic Constraints on Effective Leadership
Authors: Sussman Glen
Published: October 2004

During the past three decades, global environmental policy has increased in salience in international politics. What role has the USA, a principal actor in global affairs, played in multilateral efforts to promote environmental protection? What factors might account for US actions regarding progress or problems related to global environmental policy? In order to answer these questions, I examine the role of three principal actors in the US political system, namely, the American president, the Congress, and domestic organized interests. This discussion is followed by three case studies (the Montreal Protocol, the Convention on Global Climate Change, and the Convention on Biodiversity) that show the role of these political actors in shaping US global environmental policy. When the USA provides leadership, it bolsters multilateral efforts to address global environmental problems. When it fails to offer leadership, it weakens that effort. Either way, domestic political factors (rather than interstate relations) play a central role in shaping US global environmental policy.
“Waiting for Godot”: Regime Change Without Democratization in the Middle East
Authors: Albrecht Holger , Schlumberger Oliver
Published: October 2004

“When will Middle Eastern countries democratize?” is the normative question that guided the literature on regime change in the Arab world during the 1990s. Since significant political changes but no systemic transitions have occurred, this question needs reformulation: what accounts for the persistence of Arab authoritarianism? Escaping thus from the teleological tunnel permits the identification of two major developments. The first is an oscillation between controlled political liberalizations and deliberalizations, and the second consists of five areas of change within regimes: legitimation, elites, institution building, co-optation, and regimes’ reactions to external influences. The second trend is particularly crucial for understanding the durability of authoritarianism in the Arab world. Our findings clarify differences, but also provide bases for comparison between the Arab world and those developing regions where political transition did occur.
Applications of Mainstreaming in Australia and Northern Ireland
Authors: Donaghy Tahnya Barnett
Published: October 2004

Mainstreaming is a concept which describes the consideration of gender and other equity group impacts at every stage of the policy process. While the concept is endorsed and supported by a range of supranational bodies, international organizations, and national governments, very little is known about its applied impact. This article contributes to the mainstreaming literature by exploring two applied mainstreaming case studies. Through the measurement of political will, resource allocation, and methods of enforcement, Australia and Northern Ireland’s mainstreaming strategies are analyzed, with conclusions drawn regarding their application processes and the impacts these have delivered.
The Hungarian Voter: Left–Right Dimension as a Clue to Policy Preferences
Authors: Todosijević Bojan
Published: October 2004

The left–right (L–R) ideological dimension has been regarded as a useful cognitive device for orientation in the political realm. Thanks to its absorptive nature it is able to represent a party’s stands on various issues simultaneously. This article specifies a number of conditions that its use ought to satisfy in order to function as a “rational” clue for parties’ positions on issues. The perceived position of parties on the L–R dimension should correspond to the parties’ actual issue positions, and the public should be aware of which policies are represented by particular positions on the L–R dimension. The present article addresses this problem, and provides an empirical test on the basis of survey data on political preferences of a random sample of Hungarian voters ( N = 1453) and of members of the Hungarian national Parliament. The evidence generally supports the plausibility of the examined model, and shows that members of the Hungarian public are reasonably successful in matching their and their representatives’ issue preferences via the familiar left–right ideological code.
Europe in Search of Legitimacy: Strategies of Legitimation Assessed
Authors: Eriksen Erik Oddvar , Fossum John Erik
Published: October 2004

In this article, we assess three explicit strategies (based on three logics of political integration) as possible solutions to the European Union’s legitimacy problems. The first strategy amounts to a scaling down of the ambitions of the polity-makers in the European Union (EU). The second strategy emphasizes the need to deepen the collective self-understanding of Europeans. These two modes of legitimation figure strongly in the debate on aspects of the EU, but both have become problematic. The third strategy concentrates on the need to readjust and heighten the ambitions of the polity-makers so as to make the EU into a federal multicultural union founded on basic rights and democratic decision-making procedures. Taking stock of the ongoing constitution-making process, the authors ask how robust such an alternative is and how salient it is, as opposed to the other two strategies.
Monsters and victims: Male felons’ accounts of intimate partner violence
Authors: Wood Julia T.
Published: October 2004

Previous research on men who commit intimate partner violence has addressed two questions: (1) how can researchers and clinicians classify men’s accounts of intimate partner violence?, and (2) do men who engage in intimate partner violence subscribe to particular codes of manhood? The present study linked these two questions by asking how men account for their own intimate partner violence and how their accounts draw upon understandings of manhood. Grounded theory analysis of interviews with 22 incarcerated men identified three categories of themes in participants’ accounts of intimate partner violence: justifications (‘she disrespected me as a man;’ ‘a man has a right to control his woman;’ ‘she provoked me;’ ‘she took it’); dissociations (‘I am not the abusive type;’ ‘my violence was limited, and abusers don’t limit their abuse’); and remorse (‘I regret I abused her’). Divergence among these representations of violent men’s reasons for violence and previous typologies reflects this study’s focus on insiders’ views of behavior. Also, the themes that emerged from participants were informed by conflicting, although not wholly independent, codes of manhood that circulate in U. S. cultural life. Attention to violent men’s sense-making strategies and contradictory narratives of manhood suggests opportunities for intervention and rehabilitation.
The function of holiday greetings in maintaining relationships
Authors: Dindia Kathryn , Timmerman Lindsay , Langan Emily , Sahlstein Erin M. , Quandt Jill
Published: October 2004

The purpose of this study was to examine the function of holiday greetings in maintaining relationships. Participants were asked to submit a holiday greeting they had received, their perception of why the holiday greeting was sent, whether the holiday greeting functioned to maintain the relationship, and whether and why they had sent a holiday greeting in return. The most frequent reason for sending holiday greetings was ‘because we have a relationship’ (the third most frequent reason was ‘because we have a special relationship’). The second most frequent reason for sending and receiving holiday greetings was to maintain the relation-ship (to keep in touch, to maintain contact, etc.). However, when asked whether holiday greetings function to maintain relationships, the results indicated that people do not perceive holiday greetings as functioning to maintain relationships. The degree to which holiday greeting cards were perceived as functioning to maintain relationships was affected by whether the relationship was intimate or noninti-mate, by the type of relationship (friendship, romantic relationship, kinship vs. colleague/co-worker), by the amount of time since the individuals had seen each other, and by whether the holiday greeting was personalized (contained a handwritten note or letter) or nonpersonalized. The degree to which holiday greeting cards were perceived as functioning to maintain relationships was not affected by whether the holiday greeting included a form letter that ‘caught up’ the recipient on the events of the past year. From the results, we speculated that holiday greeting cards are hygienic factors; their presence does not positively affect relational maintenance, but their absence may have a negative effect on relational maintenance.
Intimacy, commitment, and adaptation: Sexual relationships within long-term marriages
Authors: Hinchliff Sharron , Gott Merryn
Published: October 2004

While exploring the prioritization of sexual health as a quality-of-life issue for a sample of 69 participants (aged 31–92 years) living in the U.K., interesting findings emerged regarding sexual activity in the context of long-term marriage. This article takes these findings as its focus and discusses the importance and meaning of sexual relationships for 28 participants, aged 50–86 years, who have been married for a minimum of 20 years (mean length of marriage 43 years). Data were collected using in-depth interviews, and a thematic analysis was applied to identify key themes. The findings indicate that sexual activity remained an important component of long-term marriage despite the existence of factors that interfered with or prevented sex from taking place. Participants adapted to these barriers and reported little upheaval from them, which was attributed to the mutually supportive context created by long-term marriage. The views expressed by the participants are discussed in relation to future research and implications for practice.
Relation of shyness with aspects of online relationship involvement
Authors: Ward Christopher C. , Tracey Terence J. G.
Published: October 2004

Relationships that individuals develop using an online medium constitute a relatively new way of forming personal attachments with others. Researchers have only recently begun to explore online relationship involvement and the personality characteristics that may draw individuals to use this medium for relationship development. Although certain aspects have been proposed, including loneliness and social anxiety, to date only a few studies have explored these issues. The primary focus of this study involved examining the relation of participants’ shyness with identical aspects of online and face-to-face relational involvement. University students were surveyed, with 146 reporting involvement in at least one online relationship. Results indicated that correlations of shyness with aspects of involvement in online relationships were greater than those with involvement in face-to-face relationships. However, shyness was not significantly related to aspects of online relationship involvement. Other findings included the comparability of surveys measuring both face-to-face and online relational involvement and the relationship of participants’ sex with aspects of involvement in online relationships.
Exploring intergenerational transmission of attachment style in young female adults and their mothers
Authors: Obegi Joseph H. , Morrison Thomas L. , Shaver Phillip R.
Published: October 2004

We examined intergenerational transmission of attachment organization in the context of adult romantic relationships. Similarities and differences in adult attachment style between young female adults and their parents were investigated. Results generally supported the hypothesis that mothers’ adult attachment organization, but not fathers’, is related to daughters’ adult attachment organization. This relationship was detected at both categorical and dimensional levels. The Avoidance dimension of the Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire, which reflects the degree of discomfort with physical and emotional closeness in romantic relationships, was the strongest predictor of daughters’ attachment organization. Mothers’ Avoidance predicted daughters’ Avoidance. Mothers high in Avoidance were also more likely to be divorced, separated, or unmarried.
Attachment security and parental sensitivity during infancy: Associations with friendship quality and false-belief understanding at age 4
Authors: McElwain Nancy L. , Volling Brenda L.
Published: October 2004

The current study investigated how attachment security and parental sensitivity during infancy were related to children’s understanding of false belief and friendship quality during the preschool period ( N = 30). At age 1, parent–infant attachment was assessed in the Strange Situation, and a 3-point security score based on the attachment subcategories was utilized. Also, at this time point, parental sensitivity was observed during two semi-structured interactive sessions. At age 4, child–friend interaction was observed during two laboratory play sessions, and understanding of false belief was assessed during child interviews. Correlational analyses revealed that greater maternal sensitivity during infancy was related to more positive and less negative child–friend interaction at age 4. Although neither mother–infant nor father–infant attachment security made a unique contribution to friendship quality, a significant interaction indicated that mother–infant attachment security was related to friendship quality, but only when father–infant attachment security was high. Moreover, children who experienced greater attachment security and greater parental sensitivity at age 1 were more likely to pass false belief tasks at age 4. Finally, children’s false-belief understanding partially mediated the association between a composite of family–infant relationship quality and friendship quality during the preschool period.
The conceptualization and assessment of health-related social control
Authors: Lewis Megan A. , Butterfield Rita M. , Darbes Lynae A. , Johnston-Brooks Catharine
Published: October 2004

Three studies examined the conceptualization and assessment of health-related social control in marriage. Using a sample of 100 couples, Study 1 tested the idea that social control is best thought of as the exercise of power and control in close relationships. Results did not support this conceptualization or assessment of health-related social control in marriage. Based on these results, Study 2 collected qualitative data from husbands and wives via focus groups to explore the use of social control tactics that couples use to change health behavior. Results indicated that many tactics reported by spouses are not contained in the social influence literature, and that the exercise of social control in marriage may best be characterized of as an interdependent communally oriented process between spouses. Using another sample of 109 married couples, Study 3 tested the reliability and validity of a measure developed from the qualitative data. Results indicated the new measure of health-related social control tactics evidenced better reliability and validity than the measure used in Study 1.
Relating at a distance: Negotiating being together and being apart in long-distance relationships
Authors: Sahlstein Erin M.
Published: October 2004

Partners in various relational types transition between being together and apart, but these transitions are far from seamless in long-distance relationships (LDRs). In this study, a relational dialectics framework was used to examine long-distance romantic relationships (LDRRs) and explore the contradiction(s) experienced by LDRR partners as they negotiate between togetherness and separation. Twenty heterosexual couples participated in audio-taped ‘couple interviews’ in which they answered a series of questions about the mutual influence of togetherness and separation in their relationships. Results showed that across all 20 couples the interaction states of being together and being apart mutually enable and constrain one another in many ways. Implications for the study of long-distance relating using a relational dialectics approach are presented.
Theory of Mind
Authors: Leudar Ivan , Costall Alan , Francis Dave
Published: October 2004

The ‘Theory of Mind’ approach has been associated with probably the fastest-growing body of empirical research in psychology over the last 25 years, and has given rise to a range of different theoretical positions and elaborations within those positions. The basic idea is that understanding other people involves bridging a gulf between observed ‘behaviour’ and hidden mental states by means of a theory. The articles in this Special Issue subject ‘Theory of Mind’ to sustained critical scrutiny, and also present alternative accounts of how we make sense of—and make sense to—other people. They trace the historical sources of ‘Theory of Mind’, criticize its fundamental assumptions and favoured methods, and examine its applications to child development and the explanation of schizophrenia and autism.
ToM
Authors: Sharrock Wes , Coulter Jeff
Published: October 2004

The Theory of Mind (ToM) is deeply dependent upon an array of (uncritically adopted but contestable) assumptions from contemporary philosophy of mind. We argue that some of these assumptions carry key and tacit but implausible conceptions of the nature and role of language in the ‘acquisition’ of ToM and seek to show that without these misconceptions ToM itself becomes superfluous.
On the Persistence of the ‘Problem of Other Minds’ in Psychology
Authors: Leudar Ivan , Costall Alan
Published: October 2004

In this paper we discuss the historical origins and conceptual debts of the Theory of Mind framework (ToM). We investigate its affinities to Chomsky’s psychology, and Paul Grice’s work on meaning. We find that the ToM framework is resourced by the ideas found in Chomsky and Grice, adding very little new to them, and suffering from the same problems of dualism. ToM inherits the traditional dualistic problem of other minds, tries to solve it, and ends up profoundly intellectualizing social interactions.
Where is the ‘Theory’ in Theory of Mind?
Authors: Costall Alan , Leudar Ivan
Published: October 2004

Why did ‘Theory of Mind’ take off when it did, and what, if anything, holds this very diverse approach together? The focus of research within developmental psychology since the 1960s had been the examination of Piaget’s claims about cognitive development. The agenda had quickly become to demonstrate, primarily through experiments, that young children could (contrary to Piaget’s claims) succeed on various ‘cognitive’ tasks given the right context. Yet, by the 1980s, the research had still neither undermined Piagetian theory, nor opened up any radical alternative. Theory of Mind was conveniently to hand to provide another ‘grand’ theory to subject to experimental test, and in many ways business continued as usual. However, ‘context’ came to be regarded as no longer an important issue for research but a contaminant, and the experiments became stipulative rather than exploratory. In the attempt to eliminate context in order to test children’s real understanding of other people, the experiments themselves have come to constitute the largely implicit ‘theory’ behind Theory of Mind. The experiments presuppose that making sense of other people is essentially about making indirect inferences from the apparent (observable behaviour) to the real (hidden mental structures). It is this experimental paradigm of signification—of an indirect or ‘round-about’ relation between observations and the object of study—that ultimately holds the Theory of Mind approach together.
Participants Don’t Need Theories
Authors: Reddy Vasudevi , Morris Paul
Published: October 2004

The theory-theory is not supported by evidence in the everyday actions of infants and toddlers whose lives a Theory of Mind is meant radically to transform. This paper reviews some of these challenges to the theory-theory, particularly from communication and deception. We argue that the theory’s disconnection from action is both inevitable and paradoxical. The mind–behaviour dualism upon which it is premised requires a conceptual route to knowing minds and disallows a real test of the theory through the study of action. Taking engagement seriously avoids these problems and requires that both lay people and psychologists be participants rather than observers in order to know, and indeed to create, minds.