bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A formal description of monitors by CCS
Authors: Yuen Shoji , Sakabe Toshiki , Inagaki Yasuyoshi
Published: July 2007

This paper formalizes the operation of a monitor—one of the fundamental models for concurrent processing—in a framework which is an extension of CCS (the calculus of communication systems) proposed by Milner. The purpose of this paper is to define the mutual exclusion and synchronization control of a monitor based on formal computation mechanisms and to provide a basis for the verification of the properties of a monitor as a concurrent program.

For this purpose, a programming language which directly represents the execution mechanism of the monitor and the syntactical translation from that language to a CCS expression are defined. Through this translation, the mutual exclusion of the monitor procedure as well as synchronization control by means of the conditional variable—the essential features of the monitor—are formalized within the CCS framework. As a result, by adopting an observable equivalence relation between the semantics of CCS operational expressions of the semantics of operation of the model, we show that it is possible to demonstrate the abstraction mechanism of the model.
A neural network model of competitive learning which converges to the global equilibrium
Authors: Masuda Tadashi
Published: July 2007

With regard to competitive learning a neural network model consisting of two layers of neurons was constructed and a new energy (loss) function to ensure that the network will converge uniquely to the desired state is proposed. It was proved that when the number of cells in the hidden layer is equal to the number of the input patterns, this model does not have any local minima of the energy function other than the one that yields the global minimum and, consequently, converges to the global minimum from any initial values of the synaptic connections.

In this equilibrium the network is organized to the state where only a single hidden cell responds to its corresponding input pattern. This model is compared with the other models of competitive learning proposed up to the present. Then a model of the associative memory based on this competitive learning model is proposed. In this model of the associative memory only output patterns that are presented during the learning are recalled even in response to an input that has never been presented during the learning. This model has an extra advantage in that the input patterns are requested to be neither orthogonal nor independent of each other.
A diagnostic and observation expert system for large TCP/IP‐based internetworks
Authors: Sugawara Toshiharu
Published: July 2007

With the expanding use of the computer networks based on LAN, there is a rapid increase of fault generation. A tremendous amount of time and effort is required in the dissolution of those faults since the origins of those faults are physically distant and the data are difficult to obtain due to the distributed management. In addition, the prevention, as well as the early detection and remedy of faults, are required since a failure may affect a broad range.

The authors have constructed a diagnosis/observation expert system LODES for LAN, by constructing a knowledgebase of the experiences in dissolving the failure. LODES discovers the violation of protocol by referring to the TCP/IP‐related protocols, automatic detection of fault (or its indication) by observing packets, and points out the abnormality/missetting of network‐related information of the host.

In the diagnosis, it has the feature that the distributed cooperative problem‐solving is executed by communicating among LODES (large internetwork observation and diagnosis expert system) attached to each of the network segments. LODES is actually operated, and it is shown that the phenomena and failures which have not been detected can now be detected.
A visual control system using image processing and fuzzy inference
Authors: Kamada Hiroshi , Gotoh Toshiyuki , Yoshida Masumi
Published: July 2007

A control system for an unmanned vehicle is constructed by combining dynamic image processing and fuzzy inference. The features of this system are that an object on the road can be recognized with a high speed, and the unmanned vehicle runs according to the result of recognition.

First, the object to follow is extracted by the image processor from a tremendous amount of image data containing noises. The result is then transformed, using the improved Hough transform, into the information concerning the position and the orientation, which are needed in the steering of the vehicle.

The information is then compared to the expertise of the vehicle steering in the fuzzy controller, and the handle variables are determined. The image processor executes the pipeline processing using the analog color extractor and the logical filtering processor with the local parallel pipeline architecture. Sixty images per second can be processed in real‐time. The fuzzy inference has the fuzzy rulebase with the motion information of the vehicle as the input parameter so that the handle variables can be determined even for a moving vehicle.

By an LSI implementation of the image processor, the proposed system is realized as a small‐scale system which can be mounted on the vehicle (A4 size × 10 cm). In the unmanned control experiment using a vehicle with the proposed system, a high‐speed processing of 100 ms on the average from the image input to the handle operation is verified. The follow‐up to the series of objects within the error of 5 cm is verified, indicating the practical usefulness of the proposed system.
Search for the minimum value via the multitransition neural network
Authors: Murashima Sadayuki , Fuchida Takayasu
Published: July 2007

When a mutually connected neural network (Hopfield net) is applied to the minimization problem, the process may fall in a local minimum and not converge to the global minimum. To remedy this problem, several means have been proposed such as Boltzmann machine; however, this and other proposals take too much time.

This paper proposes a neural net that permits multitransition (transition between states with two or more Hamming distances). It is shown that convergence to the global minimum can be realized escaping from the local minimum. It is shown first that the decrement of the energy when more than one element simultaneously changes can be calculated by simple addition‐subtractions of the weight factors for the inputs to the element and the coupling factors among elements. A probabilistic minimum search algorithm is presented based on the multitransition. The optimization problem for 100 elements was solved by a personal computer, and the process converged to the minimum within an hour in 398 trials of 400. The average convergence time is 10 min, and the convergence is achieved in 20 s in the fastest case. The computation time increases with the increase of elements with a much slower rate than in the case of all‐search.
Classification of fingerprint images using a neural network
Authors: Kamijo Masayoshi , Mieno Hiroshi , Kojima Koichi
Published: July 2007

Fingerprints are an effective means of identifying individuals, and several fingerprint comparison systems have already been developed. However, since it becomes difficult to recognize fingerprints with ease as the number and diversity of fingerprint patterns increases, it becomes desirable to create an efficient database for fingerprint matching with the goal of developing an automatic fingerprint classification system. Here an automatic classification system is imposed for fingerprint images in which the discrimination system is a multilayer neural network composed of five subnetworks to carry out macrofeature extraction on the fingerprint image. A total of 50 training examples, 10 per category, and 500 testing samples were presented to the network. According to the obtained results, the network achieved an 86 percent classification rate for the first candidate and a 99 percent classification rate for the first two candidates. The state of the network was analyzed after training, and the reasons for the system effectiveness and its classification error were studied.
A neural network model of the dynamics of a short‐term memory system in the temporal cortex
Authors: Morita Masahiko
Published: July 2007

The temporal area TE of the monkey contains a group of neurons which seems to act as the short‐term memory by a sustained firing, where the stored information seems to be retained by a certain kind of equilibrium of a dynamical system. The behavior of this group of neurons cannot be accounted for by the traditional dynamical system realized by the existing neural network models.

This paper discusses the short‐term memory system in the temporal area, as well as the dynamics of associative memory, and proposes the neural network model which realizes the same dynamical behavior as that of area TE. This model differs essentially from the traditional models in that the composing unit has non‐monotonic input/output characteristics and a significant property in analyzing the behavior and the mechanics of the memory circuit in the brain.
A method of digital figure decomposition based on distance feature
Authors: Okada Minoru , Yokoi Shigeki , Toriwaki Jun‐Ichiro
Published: July 2007

This paper proposes a method of decomposing a D‐figure based on the distance features of the figure. This method, called “breaking where it can be broken,” can be applied to digital figures of arbitrary dimension and is designed to produce the familiar decomposition which corresponds to the physical image when the rigid body has a weakness in its figure.

When the information available about the digital picture is black‐and‐white, the decomposition of the figure must be based only on topological properties such as 1‐pixel connectivity, construction of a good figure decomposition is difficult because of the limited information.

First, the definition of the decomposition of a D‐figure is given. Then the algorithm which realizes it in the digital space is presented. Finally, the results of experiments with the two‐dimensional (2‐D) D‐figure decomposition of artificial figures are given and the usefulness of this method is illustrated with a practical example, the analysis of a 3‐D D‐figure of a medical picture.
Edge tracing of virtual shape using input device with force feedback
Authors: Fukui Yukio , Shimojo Makoto
Published: July 2007

In manipulating shapes displayed on a screen by means of a keyboard, mouse, or tablet, the operator can only confirm his/her operation visually through the eyes. This process can easily cause eye fatigue, resulting in low work efficiency. To improve this situation, a reaction force to the operator's hands should also be used to provide feedback from the operation. We have devised an input device based on this idea. Its main feature is a two‐dimensional force sensor mounted on the head of an XY recorder connected to a graphics computer. The XY recorder head with mounted sensor can be controlled by the computer to move in the direction in which the finger force is applied. Using this input device, we have done experiments on human sensitivity to virtual shapes through following their contours when force feedback is available. As a result, we have discovered that low or shallow hollows in the shape, which are barely detectable to the eyes only, appeared as feedback signals, such as a change of direction of the reaction force and the speed. This change makes it easier for the operator to recognize the features of the virtual shape. Through this experiment, we were able to confirm the validity of the concept of using an input device with a force feedback mechanism.
A speech labeling system based on knowledge processing
Authors: Arai Kazuhiro , Oniyama Yasuhito , Nomura Yasuo , Yamashita Yoichi , Kitahashi Tadahiro , Mizoguchi Riichiro
Published: July 2007

The segmentation of continuous speech into phonemes, i.e., labeling, is one of the most important procedures in constructing the speech database. At the present stage, the labeling is executed by the inspection of the time‐series of acoustic parameters by the human expert. Because of this procedure, a large amount of time and effort are required in the construction of the speech database.

From such a viewpoint, the authors have developed an automatic speech labeling system aiming at the automatic labeling. In the proposed system, a correspondence is established between the phoneme symbol sequence and the characteristic changes in the time‐course of the acoustic parameters, and the rough position of the phonemes are determined. Then the boundaries between the phonemes are adjusted by the detailed observation of the change of acoustic parameters near the phoneme boundaries. Finally, the change of the acoustic parameters in each phoneme interval is examined to verify the match of the label. The system is evaluated by experiment.

Eight sentences uttered by seven adult males, who participated in the development of rules, are used for evaluation; 6.7 percent of the phoneme boundaries are rejected. For the remaining phoneme boundaries, 99.1 percent of the boundaries are set within 30 ms of the position decided previously by the human expert. For 10 sentences uttered by four adult males, who did not participate in the rule development, the foregoing scores turned out to be 8.9 and 95.5 percent, respectively. Those results indicate the usefulness of the proposed system.
Segmentation of blood cell image captured by single CCD color TV camera
Authors: Hashizume Akihide , Motoike Jun , Suzuki Ryuichi , Yabe Ryohei
Published: July 2007

This paper discusses the classification of blood cell images. The image input method using the single CCD color TV camera and the special color compensation filter, as well as the method of region segmentation for the blood cell images, are described. The following elaborations are made in the image input stage to separate the red blood cell and the white blood cell images in a stable way using optical means.

(1) The bluish green light near 450 ∼ 500 nm is cut off from the white light.

(2) The accompanying light imbalance between the blue light and the green/red light is compensated by the special color compensation filter.

In the (region) segmentation of the blood cell images, a logical operation is developed in which the region of the red blood cell is extracted based on the binary images obtained by the threshold processing of the subtracted image. Using those methods, 59 blood cell images are processed and a satisfactory segmentation result is obtained.
ASL program written in abstract sequential machine style and its compiler
Authors: Ooashi Masahiro , Taniguchi Kenichi , Sugiyama Yuji
Published: July 2007

The algebraic method as a formal approach in the design and development of the program has earned attention. The authors, in order to examine its usefulness, have defined the algebraic language ASL and constructed the ASL program developing system. But many problems concerning the compiler remain to be solved. The algebraic language ASL contains an abstract sequential machine style of description, and there exists a large number of problems that can be described in a natural way by this style. This paper proposes a method of constructing the compiler for the abstract sequential machine style program in the ASL program development system as well as of improving the execution efficiency of the object code. The usefulness of those methods are examined.
Software reliability measurement and assessment methods during operation phase and their comparisons
Authors: Yamada Shigeru , Osaki Shunji , Tanio Yoshikazu
Published: July 2007

This paper attempts to relate the testing phase, which is the final stage of the software development and the operation phase after the release. It discusses the occurrence of the software failure due to the errors latent in the software. The event of detecting the software error in the testing phase is described by the software reliability growth model based on a nonhomogeneous Poisson process.

As to the assessment of the software reliability in the operation phase, i.e., the operational reliability, three assessment techniques are discussed. They are the method to introduce the environment factor considering the number of errors remaining at the end of the testing, the method based on the hazard rate, and the method based on the cumulative failure rate. Finally, the result of the analysis of the software reliability data is presented. Numerical examples of the assessment methods for the operational reliability are discussed and the results are compared.
Disturbance suppression on two joints controller using FES with antagonist muscle stiffness control
Authors: Kubo Kimito , Itakura Naoaki , Iguchi Yasuhiko , Minamitani Haruyuki , Fujita Kinya
Published: July 2007

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) has been studied intensively in recent years. In FES, the muscle or nerve of the tetraplegic patient with damage in the central nervous system is stimulated electrically to contract the muscle, aiming at the restoration of the lost function. When the closed‐loop control is employed in FES to control the two joints of the knee and the ankle simultaneously, the inertia arising from the movement of the upper (knee) joint, operates as an external disturbance to the lower (ankle) joint, and deteriorates its transient response. As a result, it is required to construct a control system with a high suppression ability for the external disturbance.

It is noted in this study that the stiffness of the human joint, i.e., the difficulty to move (mechanical impedance), is one of the factors which determines the motion of the joint, and the external disturbance affects the motion less if the difficulty to move is enhanced.

Further, it is noted that the mechanical impedance of the joint is increased when the tension of the antagonist muscle is increased. Then a method is devised in which the mechanical impedance of the joint is adjusted by controlling the tension of the antagonist muscle in parallel to the control of the joint angle by the agonist muscle.

By increasing the mechanical impedance of the joint using this method, a system can be constructed which suppresses the effect of the external disturbance from the motion of the other joint. The proposed system is applied to the control of the ankle joint, and it is shown that the effect of the knee joint movement is suppressed.
Analysis of neural network energy functions using standard forms
Authors: Izumida Masanori , Murakami Kenji , Aibara Tsunehiro
Published: July 2007

In this paper, we discuss a method for analyzing the energy function of a Hopfield‐type neural network. In order to analyze the energy function which solves the given minimization problem, or simply, the problem, we define the standard form of the energy function. In general, a multidimensional energy function is complex, and it is difficult to investigate the energy functions arising in practice; but when placed in the standard form, it is possible to compare and contrast the forms of the energy functions themselves. Since an orthonormal transformation will not change the form of an energy function, we can stipulate that the standard form represents identically energy functions which have the same form. Further, according to the theory associated with standard forms, it is possible to partition a general energy function according to the eigenvalues of the connection weight matrix; and if we analyze each energy function, we can investigate the properties of the actual energy function. Using this method, we analyze the energy function given by Hopfield for the “travelling salesman problem” and study how the minimization problem is realized in the energy function. Also, we study the mutual effects of a linear combination of energy functions and discuss the results.
Construction of neural networks to select harmonious color combinations
Authors: Hirano Kunihiko , Miyamichi Juichi
Published: July 2007

Humans have a sense of color which, when a color is presented, can determine another color that is harmonious to the presented color (called harmonious color combination). This paper considers the two‐color combination problem, which is to decide whether or not the two given colors are harmonious. The three‐layered neural network with the error backpropagation learning is used to realize on a computer the color combination aesthetics of an individual trained in color harmonization.

The performance of the realized system is examined. The result obtained by the constructed system is the correct recognition rate of 97 percent for the learned data and approximately 70 percent for the unlearned data. The correct recognition rate for the unlearned data agrees almost with the rate of coincidence when the same subject selected the harmonious color twice. It is observed also that the color selection histogram pattern of the neural network is very similar to that of the subject. It is possible to identify the original subject from the tendency of the color selection tendency of the neural network. Thus, it is verified that the model is constructed reflecting well the color selection aesthetics of the subject.
Incremental recovery of 3‐D rigid and nonrigid structure from image sequences: An approach based on smoothness of motion
Authors: Morikawa Hiroyuki , Harashima Hiroshi
Published: July 2007

If an object is a rigid body, it is possible to estimate its three‐dimensional structure and motion mathematically from motion information. However, the assumption that objects are rigid bodies includes a disadvantage that it is not stable against noise and that the circumstance of application is restricted.

When considering application to natural images or modeling of vision, a general‐purpose method for estimating three‐dimensional structure and motion which allows discrepancy from rigid bodies is desired. Thus, in this paper, an algorithm is presented for estimating three‐dimensional structure and motion incrementally from a long image sequence using the condition for “smoothness of motion” instead of the rigid body assumption. That is, as a constraint, a physical property is used whereby an object generally performs a smooth motion due to inertia and elasticity. Formulating this condition, i.e., smoothness of motion as a stabilizing function for regularization, the three‐dimensional information is estimated incrementally so that it is suitable to an input image and motion is smooth. By considering smoothness of motion, three‐dimensional information of each frame can be stored incrementally, and thus a flexible algorithm that is robust and also applies to the motion of a nonrigid body is obtained. Furthermore, by presenting the results when applying this method to the motion of rigid and nonrigid bodies, the robustness of this method against noise and flexibility is shown which also applies to nonrigid bodies.
A speedy voxel‐tracing method for cutting solid display of 3‐D images
Authors: Tayama Norio , Shimizu Noriaki , Chiba Norishige , Otawara Isao
Published: July 2007

This paper describes a high‐speed image‐generation method which arbitrarily cuts out a three‐dimensional (3‐D) digital object (3‐D image) in a 3‐D frame memory and three‐dimensionally displays its internal shape realistically. The idea of ray‐tracing is applied to a 3‐D memory space so that a high‐speed ray‐tracing is carried out in it by using a 3‐D digital differential analyzer (DDA) called the reversible step type. To obtain cross points of a ray (straight line) and an object in a 3‐D frame memory, an algorithm indicating address orders of all the voxels through which the ray passes is shown. A viewpoint of obtaining a realistic 3‐D representation with a smooth surface from an irregular digital surface, calculation method of normal vector is important. A new factor, “existential density,” which can be obtained by a simple calculation around the surface of the digital object, is introduced; and a method to obtain a normal vector from this factor using the distribution of density gradient also is described. Since this calculation requires 3 × 3 × 3 operators, addition/ subtraction of integers and shift operations, the operation is high speed and suitable for hardware. The proposed algorithm is confirmed by a computer simulation which produces 3‐D images with smooth shading.
Recognition of material types and interreflection using color images
Authors: Hashimoto Tadashi , Kato Hirokazu , Sato Kosuke , Inokuchi Seiji , Moriwaki Kosuke
Published: July 2007

In computervision it is expected that the capability of recognizing an object is increased significantly by additional information of material types to conventional geometrical information such as the position, shape, and posture of the object. To materialize this idea, this paper proposes a simple color‐reflection model which classifies colored opaque objects seen under white light according to their gloss into three categories: “metallic;” “matte nonmetallic;” and “glossy nonmetallic.” This model is based on the dichromatic reflection model proposed by Shafer but with an extended capability to include metallic objects. The model can recognize not only apparent material but can also detect interreflection of the object. The effectiveness of the method was confirmed successfully by applying it to actual scenes containing metallic and nonmetallic objects.
Recognition of letters in lateral printed strings using a three‐layered BP model with feedback connections
Authors: Imai Katsuji , Gouhara Kazutoshi , Uchikawa Yoshiki
Published: July 2007

Although there is a simple and fast method to separate and classify letters in lateral printed strings by regarding a valley of the projection of the original image as a gap of letters, this method cannot be applied to cases where adjacent letters are connected or large clutter is involved [1].

This paper proposes a method which separates and recognizes each letter even in such cases as described in the foregoing, using a three‐layered BP model with feedback connections. The recognition experiments using the proposed method were carried out with lateral strings of five printed letters (capital A to E) binarized through a CCD camera. The results show that the method is superior to conventional methods when applied to a letter string recognition system used in the process of factory automation.
Evaluation of a deductive database system for CAD applications
Authors: Takagi Toshihisa , Suzuki Takahiko , Goto Susumu , Ushijima Kazuo
Published: July 2007

In the deductive database, a large number of query processing techniques has been proposed for the efficient processing of a large amount of data. Several deductive databases actually were proposed based on those techniques. There are only few cases among those, however, where such a system is applied to the practical problem. Consequently, it is not clear to what type of actual problems the deductive database can be applied.

In the CAD system, the “indirect” and “conditional” connection relations among components must be specified to utilize the design diagram more efficiently. It is proposed that the techniques of the deductive database can effectively be applied to such a problem to determine efficiently the connection relations. A prototype system was constructed to demonstrate the idea. The prototype is applied to a practical problem and the performance is evaluated. It is shown that the deductive database can effectively be applied to the forementioned problem.

In the course of this experiment, several observations are made concerning the realization of the query processing method in the deductive database. This paper outlines the constructed prototype system and discusses the result of evaluation. The range of application for the deductive database as well as the practical usefulness are discussed.
A high‐speed recovery method for use in distributed computer systems
Authors: Maya Yuzuru , Kinoshita Toshiyuki , Yoshino Isao , Tokunaga Yoshinori , Takemura Satoshi
Published: July 2007

A system is proposed for high‐speed switching from the on‐line unit to the back‐up unit in hot‐standby systems for high reliability. In a hot‐standby system it is necessary to transfer periodically the memory contents of the on‐line unit as checkpoint data to the memory of the back‐up unit so that the back‐up unit can take over in case of a system fault. The proposed method guarantees that there is no file update between consecutive checkpoints by transferring checkpoint data whenever a file is updated. Because of that, the journal for file recovery is not necessary, thus making the downtime short. The downtime and overhead of this method are compared quantitatively with those of the conventional method. The results show that in this proposed method the overhead is within the allowable range, the downtime is about 2 s, and the system downtime cannot be recognized by users.
IDATEN: A reconfigurable video‐rate color image processing system
Authors: Naoi Satoshi , Komeichi Masatoshi , Ohta Yoshiyuki , Ozaki Tohru , Sasaki Shigeru , Gotoh Toshiyuki , Yoshida Masumi
Published: July 2007

This paper discusses the system “IDATEN,” which can process color dynamic images at the video rate. The pipeline architecture, which has previously been presented, has a high potential for high‐speed image processing. However, a problem in this architecture is the lack of flexibility since processors are connected in cascade.

To cope with this problem, the authors have devised a “reconfigurable pipeline,” where high‐speed processors can be connected by a network in a flexible way. This flexible architecture utilizes a control mechanism to synchronize the image processing to the start of the frame, a color dynamic image processor, and hardware which sends control instructions simultaneously to the RGB processors.

A basic software system also is developed which provides convenient control of IDATEN while maintaining the hardware functions. The software allows the user to specify the connections among the processors, set the parameters of the processors, and read or update the image memory and the result of operation of the feature variables at a high speed. The high speed and flexibility of IDATEN is verified by experiment.
Hot spots in prion protein for pathogenic conversion
Authors: Kuwata Kazuo , Nishida Noriyuki , Matsumoto Tomoharu , Kamatari Yuji O. , Hosokawa-Muto Junji , Kodama Kota , Nakamura Hironori K. , Kimura Kiminori , Kawasaki Makoto , Takakura Yuka , Shirabe Susumu , Takata Jiro , Kataoka Yasufumi , Katamine Shigeru
Published: July 2007

Prion proteins are key molecules in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), but the precise mechanism of the conversion from the cellular form (PrP
C
) to the scrapie form (PrP
Sc
) is still unknown. Here we discovered a chemical chaperone to stabilize the PrP
C
conformation and identified the hot spots to stop the pathogenic conversion. We conducted
in silico
screening to find compounds that fitted into a “pocket” created by residues undergoing the conformational rearrangements between the native and the sparsely populated high-energy states (PrP*) and that directly bind to those residues. Forty-four selected compounds were tested in a TSE-infected cell culture model, among which one, 2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-
N
-[4-[4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-acetylamino)-benzyl]-phenyl]-acetamide, termed GN8, efficiently reduced PrP
Sc
. Subsequently, administration of GN8 was found to prolong the survival of TSE-infected mice. Heteronuclear NMR and computer simulation showed that the specific binding sites are the A-S2 loop (N159) and the region from helix B (V189, T192, and K194) to B-C loop (E196), indicating that the intercalation of these distant regions (hot spots) hampers the pathogenic conversion process. Dynamics-based drug discovery strategy, demonstrated here focusing on the hot spots of PrP
C
, will open the way to the development of novel anti-prion drugs.
The State and Khomeini's Islamic Order
Authors: Arjomand Said Amir
Published: July 2007

The Iraqi invasion of southwestern Iran on September 22, 1980, appears to have halted, though not reversed, one of the most intriguing experiments in modern history: Khomeini's attempt to create a Shi'ite theocracy in which the state is totally subordinated to the clergy and its powers are drastically circumscribed. What follows is an analysis of the theoretical foundations of this attempt, and of the way it has been carried out in practice.

In the chapter of Economy and Society devoted to the analysis of the church-state problem, Weber states:

Whenever hierocratic charisma is stronger than political authority it seeks to degrade it, if it does not appropriate it outright. Since political power claims a competing charisma of its own, it may be made to appear as the work of Satan.

The precondition for the strength of hierocratic charisma is its autonomy, an autonomy which the world religions of salvation grant in principle but which does not always find adequate institutional translation.
Factionalism and Iranian Politics: The Post-Khomeini Experience
Authors: Siavoshi Sussan
Published: July 2007

The elections to the fourth session of the Iranian parliament (Majlis) were generally considered as the beginning of the end of factional politics in Iran. The typical journalistic analysis of Iranian politics, emphasizing the existence of two “moderate” and “radical” factions on the Iranian political scene, concluded that the “moderate” forces, led by President Hashemi Rafsanjani, had inflicted a decisive blow on the “radical” faction and neutralized the Majlis (which had been controlled by the radicals in its third session) as an impediment to the president's plan for reconstruction of the economy. Soon after the convening of the Fourth Majlis, however, the legislature challenged the authority of the Rafsanjani government either by initiating legislative bills to limit the authority of the president or by shelving the bills introduced by the government.
Sufis and Sultans in post-Mongol Iran
Authors: Potter Lawrence G.
Published: July 2007

One of the least-studied eras of Iranian history is that between the invasion of Changiz Khan (Genghis Khan) in the early 13th century and the establishment of the Safavid Empire early in the 16th. This was a time of unprecedented political upheaval when much of the Iranian world became subject to rule by Mongols and Turks. The period between the collapse of the (Mongol) Il-Khan dynasty in 1335, however, and the consolidation of the empire of Timur (Tamerlane) in the 1380s was an age of regionalism par excellence and one of cultural florescence. The most important of the minor dynasties that flourished at this time were the Muzaffarids in Fars, Iraq-i ‘Ajam and Kirman (1314-93), the Jalayirids in Iraq, Kurdistan and Azarbaijan (1336-1432), and, in Khurasan, the Karts at Herat (1245-1389) and the Sarbidars at Sabzavar (1336-81).
Latvian Nationalist Intellectuals and the Crisis of Democracy in the Inter-war Period
Authors: Zake Ieva
Published: July 2007

The development of new states in Central and Eastern Europe during the inter-war period was an enthusiastic attempt to build free and democratic societies, which unfortunately was soon followed by a sense of disappointment among both the public and political elites. This eventually led to the replacement of the young democracies with authoritarian regimes in Estonia, Lithuania, Poland and other countries. I explore this growth of anti-democratic tendencies through the case of Latvian democracy and its opponents in the 1920s and early 1930s. I particularly focus on the role of the nationalist intelligentsia as the author of anti-democratic and pro-authoritarian political ideas.
The community programme revisited
Authors: Gray Anne
Published: July 2007

This paper examines the lessons for the New Deal era of some older strands in UK and European labour market measures; the Community Programme of the 1980s and the experience of “entreprises d'insertion in France, Spain and the Netherlands. It considers whether the institutional infrastructure of the New Deal is appropriate for the realisation of "intermediate labour markets”. This raises some further questions; whether ILMs are about creating employment or merely redistributing it, and whether it would be preferable to use the “benefit transfer principle” to produce social wealth without regard for commercial viability.
THE FORTIFICATION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WITH THIAMIN — AN UPDATE
Authors: Price John
Published: July 2007

Price and Theodoros1 supported Centrewall and Criqui's assertion2 that there might be merit in fortifying alcoholic beverages with thiamin. This measure was designed to prevent the development of Wernicke's encephalopathy, a condition strongly associated with acute thiamin deficiency in alcoholics. It was found that in the critical period prior to the development of Wernicke's encephalopathy, alcoholics virtually stop eating. Price and Theodoros were hampered by the incompleteness of data, a problem which bedevils research into the Wernicke‐Korsakoff syndrome because of the short‐term memory impairment which is a cardinal feature of this condition. In one‐half of the cases reliable information could be obtained and it was established that in half of them beer was part or all that was consumed during the critical period. On this basis, and after an examination of the problems of such a proposal, a trial of the fortification of beer as a preventive measure was recommended.

Whether this might work in practice in reducing the substantial problem of the Wernicke‐Korsakoff syndrome in Australia, will require a baseline study of incidence, followed by a pilot study. No such studies have yet been carried out. The present update presents additional data relating to several aspects of the fortification proposal which have accrued over the last three years.
GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINANTS OF SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ALCOHOL‐INDUCED LIVER DISEASE
Authors: Saunders J.B.
Published: July 2007

Although there is an overall relationship between cumulative alcohol intake and the severity of alcohol‐related liver damage, there is considerable variation in individual susceptibility to the hepatotoxic effects of alcohol. In this review I shall discuss what factors appear to influence susceptibility.

Women develop liver disease after a shorter period of excessive drinking and at a lower alcohol intake than men. This is partly related to differences in body size and composition between the sexes which result in women having preportionately higher blood alcohol levels than men after a standard drink; this probably explains why women are more susceptible to a variety of alcohol‐related problems. Other genetic determinants of susceptibility have until recently proved elusive, but certain HLA types, such as HLA‐B8, have been shown to increase the risk of chronic liver damage by up to 50%. No genetic variations in the enzymes responsible for alcohol metabolism have been definitely associated with predisposition to liver damage. The more severe lesions — alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis — are more common in regular daily drinkers compared with intermittent or ‘qbinge’ drinkers and in moderately dependent patients compared with those who have severe alcohol‐withdrawal symptoms. No exogenous agents such as hepatitis viruses of chemicals have yet been shown to contribute to the development of any of the morphological abnormalities of alcoholic liver disease.

At the present time there is insufficient information for us to be able to tailor our advice about drinking to the individual patient. We recommend that men should on no account drink more than 80 g alcohol per day and that women should keep below half this amount. People whose intakes approach these amounts should have two alcohol‐free days every week. In the future it may be possible to screen specifically for markers of susceptibility to liver damage in populations known to be at risk of alcohol problems.
THE ADDICTIVE PERSONALITY: A MYTH
Authors: POLS R.G.
Published: July 2007

The history of the development of the concept is outlined.

Recent prospective data is inconsistent with retrospective and cross‐sectional studies and leads to the conclusion that the addictive personality is a myth.

The lessons from the concept include: a better understanding of reasons for drinking; the notion of unmet dependency needs and the importance of social support.

The management of dependency is discussed.
SHOULD WE EVALUATE ALCOHOL TREATMENT PROGRAMMES IN AUSTRALIA, AND IF SO, HOW?
Authors: SMITH D.I.
Published: July 2007

The various alcohol treatment evaluation studies which have been conducted in Australia are briefly reviewed. Next it is asserted that we should only evaluate programmes in Australia if the content of the programme is different to that of the many overseas programmes evaluated and if there is reason to believe that the Australian programme is having a beneficial effect. Seven methodological issues whiich are encountered during evaluation studies are then considered, together with the industrial relations aspect of such research.
The Alcohol and Drug Dependency Scene in Australia Today
Authors: Kleinig O. E.
Published: July 2007

Abstract: The lack of national policies to combat alcohol and other drug abuse is stressed and general requirements for such policies are outlined along with strategies for their achievement. Greater coordination is called for.
Future Directions
Authors: Andrews G.
Published: July 2007

Abstract: The problems of apathy and divisiveness in the Australian health care system are outlined. A plea is made to alcohol and drug professionals to join the mainstream of health care and to positively accept the challenge of working together.
Changing Perspectives on Alcohol and Drug Problems
Authors: Saunders John B.
Published: July 2007

Abstract: An outline is presented of the extent of the drug and alcohol problem in Australia today and the relative contribution of legal and illicit drugs is discussed. The impact of these problems on clinical practice is highlighted and the importance of detection and benefit of intervention emphasised. The different perspectives with which health professionals approach these problems are presented in an historical overview, and modern concepts of drug (and alcohol) “dependence” and related “disabilities” are described.
Assessing Deaths from Alcoholic Liver Disease
Authors: Drew L.R.H.
Published: July 2007

The reliability of ABS figures for deaths from alcoholic liver disease was tested by investigating all deaths from chronic liver disease in the A.C.T. in the years 1979 to 1983. Significant under reporting of the role of alcohol was discovered. However, any simple function of the number of deaths from chronic liver disease and cirrhosis is also unreliable. Allowance must be made for changes in age structure of the population. A formula to estimate deaths from alcoholic liver disease is proposed.
Brain Dysfunction in Social Drinkers
Authors: Fox Geoffrey A. , Jackson Martin , Waugh Mara , Tuck Roger R.
Published: July 2007

Abstract: Thirty‐four social drinkers who had referred themselves to the Regional Brain Damage Unit for assessment of the effects of drinking alcohol were compared with 42 volunteer control subjects of equivalent age but with low alcohol intake, using two ‘learning’ tests ‐ the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and the Austin Button Maze. The Maze Test gave no evidence of disorder, but the two groups were significantly different on the RAVLT. No abnormalities in standard cognitive tests were apparent. These results suggest that a deficit in learning ability may be an early feature of the brain dysfunction associated with excessive alcohol consumption.
The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test: A Follow‐Up Study in Alcoholics With and Without Neurological Disease
Authors: Jackson M. , Fox G.A. , Waugh M. , Tuck R.R.
Published: July 2007

Abstract: The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) was used to detect abnormalities of memory and learning in 41 heavy drinkers (median daily consumption, 170g). Results were compared with those obtained in 13 age‐matched control subjects (median daily alcohol consumption, 30g). Recall of the 15‐word list of the RAVLT was significantly decreased in all 5 trials in the heavy drinkers. Those without clinical signs of alcohol‐related neurological illness had significantly better scores than those with signs, but performed significantly worse than the control subjects. Patients with Korsakoff's psychosis obtained very low scores on the RAVLT. Those without Korsakoff's psychosis had significantly lower scores than the controls. The patients were re‐tested after a mean interval of 10 months during which 23 were abstinent and 18 continued to drink. Scores obtained in the RAVLT did not change significantly in either group.

We conclude that memory and learning may be impaired in heavy drinkers before clinical signs of neurological disease are evident, and that there is a spectrum of memory loss, one extreme of which is Korsakoff's psychosis. Impaired learning and memory do not improve after abstinence for 10 months.
The Detection of Alcohol Problems in a Country Hospital: Observations and Comments
Authors: Spencer J.
Published: July 2007

Abstract: An alcohol screening service in Geraldton Regional Hospital is described. The CAGE questionnaire was distributed to all patients entering the hospital during the first half of 1986. Ten per cent scored 2 or more, indicating a high probability of alcohol related disorder. Sixty‐two patients requested some form of intervention, although many of the at‐risk patients failed to do so. It is proposed that a more direct personal intervention be introduced.
Early Detection of Alcohol and Drug Problems — Why?
Authors: Skinner Harvey A.
Published: July 2007

Abstract: The early detection of alcohol and drug problems has emerged as a major emphasis in the 1980s in many countries throughout the world. The World Health Organization collaborative project involving some 11 nations is a concrete illustration of this new perspective. This paper addresses three basic questions regarding early intervention. First, why should we do it? The following reasons are considered: most “excessive” drinkers do not seek treatment for their alcohol problems, socially stable individuals at early stages of drinking problems have better prognosis, health professionals in primary care settings are in an excellent position to identify problem drinkers, and brief interventions by health professionals can be effective in reducing alcohol abuse. Second, why are we not doing it? A primary reason is widespread pessimism among health professionals about being able to intervene effectively. In addition, there is confusion regarding appropriate roles about who is responsible for confronting alcohol/ drug problems, uncertainty about the proper target population (problem drinkers versus alcoholics), and lack of appropriate treatment programs, philosophies and practical training. Third, how can it be done effectively? A basic strategy on early intervention must be adopted by health professionals. Also, practical techniques and training for early intervention need to be made widely available. Finally, one must convince key people to implement such programs. Despite the growing enthusiasm and expectations regarding early intervention, certain caveats are raised regarding the uncritical adoption of such programs.
Alcohol and drug use in orthopaedic inpatients
Authors: Chalmers Elizabeth , Blignault Ilse , Hornby Beverley H.
Published: July 2007

Abstract: A series of 109 adult orthopaedic inpatients was interviewed about alcohol and other drug use and alcohol‐related problems in general in the week preceding admission to hospital. The most frequently used drugs were alcohol (reported by 75%), tobacco (53%), analgesics (28%) and cannabis (15%). Alcohol was used hazardously by 28% of patients. More patients scored as problem drinkers on the Trauma Scale (52%) than the Brief MAST (7%). The detection of alcohol‐related problems at an early stage is important. It is suggested that trauma victims in hospital be routinely screened for this.