bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Convective Forcing Fluctuations in a Cloud-Resolving Model: Relevance to the Stochastic Parameterization Problem
Authors: Shutts G. J. , Palmer T. N.
Published: January 2007

Idealized cloud-resolving model (CRM) simulations spanning a large part of the tropical atmosphere are used to evaluate the extent to which deterministic convective parameterizations fail to capture the statistical fluctuations in deep-convective forcing, and to provide probability distribution functions that may be used in stochastic parameterization schemes for global weather and climate models. A coarse-graining methodology is employed to deduce an effective convective warming rate appropriate to the grid scale of a forecast model, and a convective parameterization scheme is used to bin these computed tendencies into different ranges of convective forcing strength. The dependence of the probability distribution functions for the coarse-grained temperature tendency on parameterized tendency is then examined.

An aquaplanet simulation using a climate model, configured with similar horizontal resolution to that of the coarse-grained CRM fields, was used to compare temperature tendency variation (less the effect of advection and radiation) with that deduced as an effective forcing function from the CRM. The coarse-grained temperature tendency of the CRM is found to have a substantially broader probability distribution function than the equivalent quantity in the climate model.

The CRM-based probability distribution functions of precipitation rate and convective warming are related to the statistical mechanics theory of Craig and Cohen and the “stochastic physics” scheme of Buizza et al. It is found that the standard deviation of the coarse-grained effective convective warming is an approximately linear function of its mean, thereby providing some support for the Buizza et al. scheme, used operationally by ECMWF.
Effects of Land Surface–Vegetation on the Boreal Summer Surface Climate of a GCM
Authors: Alessandri Andrea , Gualdi Silvio , Polcher Jan , Navarra Antonio
Published: January 2007

A land surface model (LSM) has been included in the ECMWF Hamburg version 4 (ECHAM4) atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM). The LSM is an early version of the Organizing Carbon and Hydrology in Dynamic Ecosystems (ORCHIDEE) and it replaces the simple land surface scheme previously included in ECHAM4. The purpose of this paper is to document how a more exhaustive consideration of the land surface–vegetation processes affects the simulated boreal summer surface climate.

To investigate the impacts on the simulated climate, different sets of Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP)-type simulations have been performed with ECHAM4 alone and with the AGCM coupled with ORCHIDEE. Furthermore, to assess the effects of the increase in horizontal resolution the coupling of ECHAM4 with the LSM has been implemented at different horizontal resolutions.

The analysis reveals that the LSM has large effects on the simulated boreal summer surface climate of the atmospheric model. Considerable impacts are found in the surface energy balance due to changes in the surface latent heat fluxes over tropical and midlatitude areas covered with vegetation. Rainfall and atmospheric circulation are substantially affected by these changes. In particular, increased precipitation is found over evergreen and summergreen vegetated areas.

Because of the socioeconomical relevance, particular attention has been devoted to the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) region. The results of this study indicate that precipitation over the Indian subcontinent is better simulated with the coupled ECHAM4–ORCHIDEE model compared to the atmospheric model alone.
ENSO Amplitude Changes due to Climate Change Projections in Different Coupled Models
Authors: Yeh Sang-Wook , Kirtman Ben P.
Published: January 2007

Four climate system models are chosen here for an analysis of ENSO amplitude changes in 4 × CO2 climate change projections. Despite the large changes in the tropical Pacific mean state, the changes in ENSO amplitude are highly model dependant. To investigate why similar mean state changes lead to very different ENSO amplitude changes, the characteristics of sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) variability simulated in two coupled general circulation models (CGCMs) are analyzed: the Meteorological Research Institute (MRI) and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) models. The skewed distribution of tropical Pacific SSTA simulated in the MRI model suggests the importance of nonlinearities in the ENSO physics, whereas the GFDL model lies in the linear regime. Consistent with these differences in ENSO regime, the GFDL model is insensitive to the mean state changes, whereas the MRI model is sensitive to the mean state changes associated with the 4 × CO2 scenario. Similarly, the low-frequency modulation of ENSO amplitude in the GFDL model is related to atmospheric stochastic forcing, but in the MRI model the amplitude modulation is insensitive to the noise forcing. These results suggest that the understanding of changes in ENSO statistics among various climate change projections is highly dependent on whether the model ENSO is in the linear or nonlinear regime.
Estimation of the Impact of Sampling Errors in the VOS Observations on Air–Sea Fluxes. Part II: Impact on Trends and Interannual Variability
Authors: Gulev Sergey , Jung Thomas , Ruprecht Eberhard
Published: January 2007

Using the same approach as in Part I, here it is shown how sampling problems in voluntary observing ship (VOS) data affect conclusions about interannual variations and secular changes of surface heat fluxes. The largest uncertainties in linear trend estimates are found in relatively poorly sampled regions like the high-latitude North Atlantic and North Pacific as well as the Southern Ocean, where trends can locally show opposite signs when computed from the regularly sampled and undersampled data. Spatial patterns of shorter-period interannual variability, quantified through the EOF analysis, also show remarkable differences between the regularly sampled and undersampled flux datasets in the Labrador Sea and northwest Pacific. In particular, it is shown that in the Labrador Sea region, in contrast to regularly sampled NCEP–NCAR reanalysis fluxes, VOS-like sampled NCEP–NCAR reanalysis fluxes neither show significant interannual variability nor significant trends. These regions, although quite localized covering small parts of the globe, play a crucial role for the coupled atmosphere–ocean system. In the Labrador Sea, for instance, interannual and decadal-scale changes of the surface net heat fluxes are known to affect oceanic convection and, thus, the meridional overturning circulation of the Atlantic Ocean. From a discussion of current atmospheric data assimilation systems it is argued that in poorly sampled regions reanalysis products are superior to VOS-based products for studying interannual and interdecadal variations of atmosphere–ocean interaction. In well-sampled regions, on the other hand, conclusions about surface heat flux variations are relatively insensitive to the choice of the flux products used (VOS versus reanalysis data). The results are confirmed for two different datasets, that is, ECMWF 40-yr Re-Analysis (ERA-40) data and seasonal integrations with a recent version of the ECMWF model in which no actual data were assimilated.
Economic Growth in Europe
Authors: Barrell Ray
Published: January 2007

Economic growth in Europe has been disappointing in the past few years, especially when compared to the US, and in addition growth in the UK has looked more robust than that in the large continental economies. There could be many factors that contribute to these differences, and they are addressed in the articles by Crafts; Barrell, Guillemineau and Holland; Mc Morrow and Röger; and Bebee and Hunt in this Review. This introduction discusses some of the factors affecting growth, and draws some conclusions from these studies that help us understand why growth may differ between countries for sustained periods of time, and also why underlying, or trend growth rates may vary over time.
Recent European Economic Growth: Why Can't it be Like the Gloden Age?
Authors: Crafts Nicholas
Published: January 2007

This paper evaluates claims that European productivity growth has been undermined by weak competition and excessive regulation and taxation. The argument has some validity in the context of the information and communications technology (ICT) revolution which has placed a greater premium on flexibility. The UK has been well-placed to benefit from ICT but experiences a productivity gap reflecting historically-low investment combined with high employment of low-productivity workers. Rapid Irish growth has benefited greatly from low corporate taxation but the massive contribution of ICT production to productivity growth suggests it is a special case not a role model.
Destination Evaluation: The Role of Previous Travel Experience and Trip Characteristics
Authors: Weaver Pamela A. , Weber Karin , McCleary Ken W.
Published: January 2007

This study uses canonical correlation analysis to examine the relationship between two sets of variables that can be used in evaluating a travel destination. The first set is composed of five variables that are referred to as previous travel experience and trip characteristics. These five variables include two measures of previous travel experience (number of countries visited, number of countries visited for pleasure) and three trip characteristics (length of stay, number of people in the travel party, and travel mode). The second set of variables consists of four criterion variables referred to as destination evaluation variables. These variables (satisfaction, service quality, value, and likelihood to return) are used to evaluate the travel destination. Results of the study indicated that a portion of the variance in destination evaluation can be attributed to previous travel experience and trip characteristics.
The Use of Guidebooks by Japanese Overseas Tourists: A Quantitative Approach
Authors: Nishimura Sachiko , Waryszak Robert , King Brian
Published: January 2007

This study investigates the incidence of guidebook use by Japanese tourists. The research framework is based on Vogt and Fesenmaier’s model of information needs with some modifications, as reported in an earlier qualitative study undertaken by Nishimura, Waryzsak, and King. The results indicate that tourists use guidebooks for a range of purposes. A factor analysis of the 20 survey items has concluded that respondents exhibit the following needs: forward-looking needs, learning needs, enjoyment needs, guidebook enthusiast needs, and functional needs. The tourists most likely to use guidebooks were found to be female flexible package tour participants or independent travelers visiting the destination region for holiday purposes for the first time. The proposition that “type of tourist” is an influence over the decision to use a guidebook or not was supported. Overall, the less freedom exercised by the tourist over the travel itinerary, the less likelihood that a guidebook will be used.
Meanings and Consumption Characteristics of Places at a Tourism Destination
Authors: Snepenger David , Snepenger Mary , Dalbey Matt , Wessol Amanda
Published: January 2007

A tourism destination can be viewed as an amalgamation of places generating experiences. From a cultural perspective, places serve as storehouses of meanings that capture value in use and frame expectations for experiences. This article explores how community residents define a broad range of places shared with tourists at an alpine destination. The 19 places under investigation included attractions, dining and lodging establishments, retail offerings, transportation settings, and support services. The places were monitored in terms of their normative meanings using hedonic, utilitarian, novelty, and social variables. In addition, three consumption characteristics provided information on the nature of the experiences at the places. Conclusions are drawn as to the nature of each place and the array of experiences provided by the destination.
Tourists’ Perceptions of Relational Quality Service Attributes: A Cross-Cultural Study
Authors: Tsang Nelson Kee-Fu , Ap John
Published: January 2007

This article presents the results of a study examining cultural differences between Asian and Western tourists’ perceptions of relational quality service provided by guest-contact employees. It was hypothesized that Asian tourists (high power distance cultures) will give significantly lower ratings for relational quality when compared to their Western counterparts (low power distance cultures). Based on a study of international tourists visiting Hong Kong, it was found that Asian tourists gave significantly lower ratings for all the relational quality service attributes compared to their Western counterparts. In a logistic regression analysis using respondents’ favorable or unfavorable service experiences as the dichotomous dependent variable, quality of interpersonal relationships was a key factor in determining the Asian customers’ service-encounter evaluation, while Western customers placed emphasis on goal completion, efficiency, and time savings. The implications of the results on cultural training for tourism and hospitality industry employees are also discussed.
Discretionary Expenditure and Tourism Consumption: Insights from a Choice Experiment
Authors: Crouch Geoffrey I. , Oppewal Harmen , Huybers Twan , Dolnicar Sara , Louviere Jordan J. , Devinney Timothy
Published: January 2007

Consumers’ decisions to spend money on tourism occur in the context of the other potential uses of their resources and corresponding values or utilities. Although many studies have examined the demand for travel and tourism, there is no known study that reveals how individuals and households make trade-offs when allocating their spending among various potential categories of discretionary expenditure. This study assesses these trade-offs empirically through the conduct of a choice experiment on a random sample of Australian consumers. The results provide insight into how each category of discretionary expenditure is valued and how spending in each category competes for a share of the discretionary expenditure “pie.” We discuss the results with an emphasis on the implications for tourism.
Self-Regulation and Sexual Restraint: Dispositionally and Temporarily Poor Self-Regulatory Abilities Contribute to Failures at Restraining Sexual Behavior
Authors: Gailliot Matthew T. , Baumeister Roy F.
Published: January 2007

Nonsexual deficiencies in self-control may contribute to inappropriate or objectionable sexual behaviors, as shown by survey questionnaires, autobiographical narratives, and experimental manipulations. People with low overall trait self-control and/or whose self-control strength had been depleted by recent, nonsexual acts were less likely than other people to stifle inappropriate sexual thoughts and to resist the temptation to engage in sexual activities with someone other than their primary relationship partner. They also engaged in more extensive sexual activity in the laboratory with their dating partner and they reported more undercontrolled or impulsive sexual behavior generally. Furthermore, there was some evidence that the effects of diminished self-control were strongest among those with the strongest sexual desires (men and sexually unrestricted individuals) and among couples with less sexual experience.
Personalized and Generalized Comparisons: Causes and Consequences of Variations in the Focus of Social Comparisons
Authors: Locke Kenneth D.
Published: January 2007

When people compare with another person they can focus on how they compare either with just that target (a personalized comparison) or with others more generally (a generalized comparison). Four studies (two event-contingent diary studies, one study of comparisons during a triathlon, and one controlled experiment) showed that personalized comparisons were more likely when the target’s attribute was distinctive or there was an interaction or a close or emotional relationship with the target. Perhaps because these conditions that increase interest in the target as a distinct individual were less common during the triathlon than in everyday life, personalized comparisons were relatively uncommon during the triathlon but relatively common in everyday life. Across studies, generalized comparisons magnified the impact of upward comparisons on overall feelings (but not on interpersonal feelings about the self-target relationship), presumably because generalizing broadens the implications of comparisons, whereas personalizing restricts their relevance to the self-target relationship.
Does Self-Affirmation, Cognitive Processing, or Discovery of Meaning Explain Cancer-Related Health Benefits of Expressive Writing?
Authors: Creswell J. David , Lam Suman , Stanton Annette L. , Taylor Shelley E. , Bower Julienne E. , Sherman David K.
Published: January 2007

Although expressive writing has positive effects on health, little is known about the underlying psychological mechanisms for these effects. The present study assessed self-affirmation, cognitive processing, and discovery of meaning as potential mediators of the effects of expressive writing on physical health in early-stage breast cancer survivors. A content analysis of the essays showed that self-affirmation writing was associated with fewer physical symptoms at a 3-month follow-up assessment, with self-affirmation writing fully mediating the effects of the emotional expression and benefit-finding writing conditions on reduced physical symptoms. Cognitive processing and discovery of meaning writing were not associated with any physical health outcomes. Consistent with evidence showing that self-affirmation plays an important role in buffering stress, the present study provides the first evidence for self-affirmation as a viable mechanism underlying the health benefits of expressive writing.
Separating Ability From Need: Clarifying the Dimensional Structure of the Need for Closure Scale
Authors: Roets Arne , Van Hiel Alain
Published: January 2007

The validity of the Need for Closure Scale (NFCS) has recently been debated in the research literature. In the present study, it is argued that the traditional Decisiveness scale primarily taps ability content instead of the hypothesized motivational need; therefore, new items that explicitly probe the need for quick and unambiguous answers were developed. It was shown that these need items form a reliable scale (Study 1); were predictive of the seizing process over and beyond ability, whereas the old Decisiveness scale was not (Study 2); and were sensitive to experimentally manipulated levels of task motivation (Study 3). Finally, a reassembled NFCS with the new items replacing the traditional Decisiveness items showed superior fit as a unidimensional model. In the Discussion, it is argued that the specific position of Decisiveness is due to its particular operationalization, not to its theoretical status.
Self-Structure and Self-Esteem Stability: The Hidden Vulnerability of Compartmentalization
Authors: Zeigler-Hill Virgil , Showers Carolin J.
Published: January 2007

The present studies examined the association between self-concept structure and stability of self-esteem. In two daily diary studies, evaluative integration (organizing positively and negatively valenced self-beliefs into the same self-aspects) was associated with more stable self-esteem than evaluative compartmentalization (organizing positively and negatively valenced self-beliefs into separate self-aspects) among individuals with generally high self-esteem. Moreover, analyses of self-esteem reactivity confirmed that the sensitivity of state self-esteem to daily events was greater for compartmentalized individuals than for individuals with relatively integrative self-concept structures. Compartmentalization also was associated with greater sensitivity to experiences of social rejection in the laboratory, consistent with the view that integration affords greater stability of self-evaluations. These results suggest that some of the benefits believed to be associated with compartmentalization (such as high self-esteem) may have hidden costs that have not previously been considered.
Increasing Self-Regulatory Strength Can Reduce the Depleting Effect of Suppressing Stereotypes
Authors: Gailliot Matthew T. , Plant E. Ashby , Butz David A. , Baumeister Roy F.
Published: January 2007

Three longitudinal studies and one correlational study tested the hypothesis that increasing self-regulatory strength by regular self-regulatory exercise would reduce the intrapsychic costs of suppressing stereotypes. Participants tried to resist using stereotypes while describing or talking to a stimulus person. Participants whose habitual motivation to suppress stereotypes was low exhibited impaired Stroop and anagram performance after the suppression task, presumably because of self-regulatory depletion (i.e., a reduction of self-regulatory strength following prior use). Two weeks of self-regulation exercises (such as using one’s nondominant hand or refraining from cursing) eliminated this effect. These findings indicate that self-regulatory exercise can improve resistance to self-regulatory depletion and, consequently, people can suppress stereotypes without suffering subsequent decrements in task performance.
Innocent Until Proven Innocent
Authors: Leonard David J.
Published: January 2007

As the national media descended on Durham, North Carolina, in wake of public accusations of rape against three Duke Lacrosse student athletes, much of the discourse remained mired in its own shock and awe. Ignoring, if not erasing, histories of sexual violence involving White men and Black women while focusing on the problems plaguing college athletics, the media, and the numerous online defenders of the players used this instance to rearticulate tropes of White power, imagining the case as yet another assault on White masculinity. Beyond examining these deployed fictions and the denials of the possibility of guilt, given the player’s Whiteness, sport of choice, educational institution, and class status, this article explores the ways in which their student athlete identities were seen as either meaningless or evidence of innocence, especially in juxtaposition to the discursive articulation of the criminalized Black male student athlete.
“You Know, We Are All Indian”
Authors: Staurowsky Ellen J.
Published: January 2007

In August 2005, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) ignited a firestorm of controversy when it announced a policy that would require colleges and universities with Native American mascots and imagery to refrain from displaying those during NCAA-sponsored events. The policy further stated that institutions with this imagery would be ineligible to host NCAA championships starting in 2006. This article examines what the controversy reveals about White people, power, and privilege. Consideration is given to the complications associated with who gets to claim being “Indian” and the racial trappings contained within the continuum of sustainable racism emerging in the scheme of NCAA policy exemptions. The article ends with a reflection on the role racialized Native American mascots play in perpetuating a culture whose level of tolerance for slights directed toward Native Americans cannot be reconciled with the central mission of higher education.
Is Nonsmoking Dangerous to the Health of Restaurants? The Effect of California’s Indoor Smoking Ban on Restaurant Revenues
Authors: Stolzenberg Lisa , D’Alessio Stewart J.
Published: January 2007

The state of California passed the Smoke-Free Workplace Act on January 1, 1995. This legislation effectively banned indoor smoking in all public and private workplaces including restaurants. Many restaurant owners, especially owners of restaurants that served alcohol, opposed the ban for fear that their businesses would be affected adversely because of the loss of patrons who smoked. Using an interrupted times-series autoregressive integrative moving average study design, the authors assess the effect of California’s indoor smoking ban on revenue rates for all restaurants, for non-alcohol-serving restaurants, and for alcohol-serving restaurants. Results showed that revenues for alcohol-serving restaurants dropped by about 4% immediately following the establishment of the indoor smoking ban. However, this reduction was temporary because revenues for alcohol-serving restaurants quickly returned to normal levels. Findings also revealed that the indoor smoking ban had little observable impact on the revenue rate for restaurants overall and for nonalcohol-serving restaurants.
The Devil Is in the Details
Authors: Gandhi Allison Gruner , Murphy-Graham Erin , Petrosino Anthony , Chrismer Sara Schwartz , Weiss Carol H.
Published: January 2007

In an effort to promote evidence-based practice, government officials, researchers, and program developers have developed lists of model programs in the prevention field. This article reviews the evidence used by seven best-practice lists to select five model prevention programs. The authors’ examination of this research raises questions about the process used to identify and publicize programs as successful. They found limited evidence showing substantial impact on drug use behavior at posttest, with very few studies showing substantial impact at longer follow-ups. The authors advocate additional long-term follow-up studies and conclude by suggesting changes in the procedures for developing best-practice lists.
Challenging the Courtesy Bias Interpretation of Favorable Clients’ Perceptions of Family Planning Delivery
Authors: León Federico R. , Lundgren Rebecka , Huapaya Ana , Sinai Irit , Jennings Victoria
Published: January 2007

Favorable client perceptions of provider’s interpersonal behavior in contraceptive delivery, documented in clinic exit questionnaires, appear to contradict results from qualitative evaluations and are attributed to clients’ courtesy bias. In this study, trained simulated clients requested services from Ministry of Health providers in three countries. Providers excelled in courteousness/respect in Peru and Rwanda; in India, providers were less courteous and respectful when the simulated clients chose the pill. Privacy and two-way communication were less prevalent in all three countries. The findings challenge the courtesy bias interpretation. Global results from qualitative studies may have expressed the views of the minority of clients who are not treated well by providers.
Venous Thromboembolism in Trauma: An Update for the Intensive Care Unit Practitioner
Authors: Rogers Frederick , Rebuck Jill A. , Sing Ronald F.
Published: January 2007

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in trauma patients is a capricious problem that continues to plague trauma surgeons and critical care physicians alike. Pharmacologic preventions of VTE with anticoagulants are often contraindicated in the trauma patient because of risk of bleeding diathesis. Mechanical prophylaxis in the form of venous compression boots often cannot be placed because of external fixators, swelling, and so forth. Providing effective VTE prophylaxis, while at the same time providing definitive care for the trauma patient, can be a nightmare. This review will first discuss the incidence and prevalence of VTE, as well as investigate the condition's diagnosis and treatment. Solutions to frequently encountered clinical dilemmas in managing VTE in trauma patients are considered in the form of frequently asked questions. Diagnostic techniques such as magnetic resonance venography, D-dimer, and various computed tomography methods are evaluated. Recent literature on preventive pharmacologic therapies is explored. The authors also consider whether vena cava filters prevent pulmonary embolism in trauma patients.
Life-Threatening Hyperglycemia and Acidosis Related to Olanzapine: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Varma Mritunjay Kumar , Connolly Karen , Fulton Barbara
Published: January 2007

The authors report a case with life-threatening hyperglycemia and acidosis in a patient with no previous diabetic history following treatment with olanzapine. A 35-year-old woman with a history of bipolar affective disorder treated with olanzapine presented with severe diabetic ketoacidosis. She had no prior history of diabetes or risk factors for diabetes. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) on admission blood sample suggested that long-term glycemic control had been poor. The authors postulate that treatment with olanzapine precipitated hyperglycemia, an elevated creatine kinase level, and a high amylase level. A concurrent urinary tract infection precipitated an episode of sepsis, which combined to precipitate life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis. During her stay in the intensive treatment unit and subsequently in the medical ward, her blood glucose concentration was intensively monitored. She remains on insulin therapy, and her antipsychotic medication was changed to risperidone. Newer atypical antipsychotic drugs such as olanzapine have been introduced with the benefit of fewer extrapyramidal side effects. A number of these have reported metabolic side effects of uncertain etiology such as diabetic ketoacidosis and elevated creatine kinase. The authors believe that the diabetic ketoacidosis occurred in this patient, who had no previous history of diabetes mellitus. Blood glucose should be monitored in patients taking olanzapine, especially in those patients with risk factors for diabetes mellitus.
Potty Parity in Perspective: Gender and Family Issues in Planning and Designing Public Restrooms
Authors: Anthony Kathryn H. , Dufresne Meghan
Published: January 2007

Public restrooms are among the few remaining sex-segregated spaces in the American landscape, tangible relics of gender discrimination. This article describes how public restrooms have historically discriminated by class, race, physical ability, sexual orientation, as well as gender. It examines how public restrooms pose special health and safety problems for women, men, children, elderly, persons with disabilities, and caregivers. It chronicles potty parity legislation, examining impacts of and backlash from recent laws. It presents new developments signaling a growing international movement and a quiet restroom revolution: the newly formed World Toilet Organization, American Restroom Association, increased family and unisex restrooms, and technological inventions such as automatic self-cleaning public toilets. It proposes innovative solutions about how twenty-first-century public restrooms can make cities more livable; offers roles for planners, designers, and civic officials, and suggests new research directions. Sources include an extensive literature review of relevant legal research, scholarly publications, and media coverage.
Democracy in the Post-Communist World: Unfinished Business
Authors: Coricelli Fabrizio
Published: January 2007

While in Central-Eastern Europe and in the Baltics democracy and market reform have been consolidated, culminating in entry to the European Union, in the states of the former Soviet Union democracy and economic reforms are still lagging, and in some cases we observe reversals in both political and economic reforms. The article identifies the risk of a “trap” of partial reforms, both political and economic. Incentives for further reforms are weak for policy makers, and at the same time opposition to reforms by citizens increases. Lack of competition and concentration of economic power lead to opposition by wealthy people, while the lack of social safety nets leads to opposition by those adversely affected by reforms. An external anchor (e.g., entry or candidacy to entry in the European Union) seems to be crucial; lacking such an anchor, the process is much harder.
From Elections to Democracy in Central Europe: Public Participation and the Role of Civil Society
Authors: Rose-Ackerman Susan
Published: January 2007

The new European Union member states in Eastern Europe do not have fully consolidated democracies. True, popularly elected legislatures are responsible for lawmaking, and citizens can challenge the case-by-case implementation of the law. But most statutes are not self-implementing. Before they can be put into effect, governments need to issue general regulations and guidelines that add specificity to the statutory scheme. At present, this type of government policy making often is not democratically accountable. Procedures inside government lack transparency and accountability, and organized civil society groups that are engaged in advocacy and oversight are few in number and often weakly institutionalized. The Central European experience has lessons for countries further to the east that are poorer and less democratic. Here, full-fledged public participation in the government rule making may not be feasible, but other aspects of the transition to democracy in Central Europe may provide relevant models—for instance, external pressure, government oversight institutions, and grassroots democracy.
The Quality of Democracy after Joining the European Union
Authors: Zielonka Jan
Published: January 2007

Joining the European Union (EU) has changed the nature of democracy in the new member states. The EU's membership has complicated the structure of democratic decision making by making it more multilayered and multicentered. EU membership has enhanced the powers of nonmajoritarian institutions such as the European Commission, the European Court of Justice, and various regulatory agencies. National parliaments tend to be less powerful democratic players after a country joins the European Union—and even before, as the EU accession process has shown. EU membership has also broadened the democratic public space. As a consequence, democratic decision making within the European Union has to accommodate a more diversified set of interests and cultural orientations. Providing citizens with greater access to the European decision-making process seems to be most urgent in the new member states from Central and Eastern Europe, whose citizens feel particularly detached from this process. The article tries to suggest some ways of achieving this.
The Politics of Charter Schools
Authors: Vergari Sandra
Published: January 2007

Charter schools, and other market-based reforms such as school vouchers and the student tutoring provision of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, are steeped in politics largely because they challenge the legitimacy of traditional power and funding arrangements in public education. The charter school reform is a significant public-private hybrid on the education landscape. Two advocacy coalitions engaged in charter school politics advance opposing perspectives on market-based education policy. This article begins with a framework for examining privatization in education and charter school politics. Following this, several key subjects of charter school politics are examined: financing and state caps on the number of charter schools permitted, parental choice, teachers unions and education management companies, and research on charter schools. Despite heated battles over student achievement data, the future of charter school politics is likely to be shaped more by the respective values and mobilization power of the two advocacy coalitions than by data on student performance.
The Politics of Privatization Practice
Authors: Rhim Lauren Morando
Published: January 2007

Efforts to infuse market forces into public education are based on the supposition that these forces can improve student outcomes. This assumption does not consider the politics of implementation. This article examines state-initiated school privatization and reveals factors that influence translation of theory to practice. The cases depict what instigated privatization and procedures utilized to select providers, negotiate contracts, and manage relationships with management organizations. The cases demonstrate that compromises negotiated in the interest of expedient implementation can undermine the potential of the market and increase bureaucracy, thereby raising questions about the validity of the assumption that market forces can improve public schools.
Bringing the Private Into the Public
Authors: Bulkley Katrina E.
Published: January 2007

Substantial policy and political changes have resulted from a 2001 state takeover of the Philadelphia School District and the subsequent hiring of Paul Vallas as the district’s new CEO. Using the lens of urban regime analysis, which emphasizes the importance of public and private actors in forming a governing coalition, this article analyzes the Philadelphia education regime and the policies it has promoted. The author determines that although decision making is highly centralized under this governing coalition, the role of private actors helps to define the regime as a “contracting regime,” in which public-private interaction shapes the political and policy context.
Perspectives on the Privatization of Public Schooling in England and Wales
Authors: Fitz John , Hafid Thaker
Published: January 2007

Introduced in the United Kingdom under neo-liberal Conservative administrations, the privatization of public education has been a major theme of the present Labour government’s education policy framework since 1997.Moreover, it has introduced policies that have facilitated the takeover by commercial and notfor-profit enterprises of state education. In this study, the authors examine the neo-liberal political and ideological origins of privatization and the forms it has taken under Conservative and Labour governments. They draw on documentary and interview data to explore Labour’s attachment to a policy direction that seems contradictory to its previous history and traditional values.
The Future of Vouchers
Authors: Harris Douglas N. , Herrington Carolyn D. , Albee Amy
Published: January 2007

This study considers why Florida has been the most aggressive state in adopting school vouchers. Vouchers are consistent with Florida’s tradition of aggressive educational accountability policies, arising from the state’s moderate social conservatism, openness to privatization, and state demographic characteristics. Even with this fertile political soil, vouchers probably would not have been adopted without the efforts of Governor Jeb Bush. The programs also rest on a shaky legal foundation because of the state’s Blaine Amendment and constitutional provisions for “public” and “uniform” schools. The authors conclude that state-level voucher programs in Florida and other states are on uncertain political and legal ground.
Irreconcilable Differences? Education Vouchers and the Suburban Response
Authors: d’Entremont Chad , Huerta Luis A.
Published: January 2007

This article discusses the limited use of education vouchers in an era of unprecedented growth in school choice. It is divided into two parts: first, a description of the policy, political, and legal barriers that may limit the expansion of large-scale voucher programs is presented. Discussion then shifts to the efforts of voucher advocates to build support among historically marginalized populations frustrated with the performance of public schools and open to limited forms of private school choice. The authors consider the consequences of these strategies and suggest that the very voucher programs that appeal to disadvantaged families may prove most offensive to middleclass and suburban voters who vigorously object to policies that undermine local authority and redistribute local resources. Specifically, vouchers have the potential to erase municipal boundaries, dissolve neighborhood ties, lower housing prices, and upset student enrollments.
Elder Mistreatment: Risk, Vulnerability, and Early Mortality
Authors: Baker Margaret W.
Published: January 2007

Elder mistreatment (EM) is a widespread and serious problem. Elders who are mistreated face negative consequences, including higher mortality risk when compared to nonmistreated peers. Factors such as childhood physical abuse or neglect, depression, and dependence on others for activity of daily living assistance make elders vulnerable to mistreatment. Geriatric syndromes, such as frailty, may also contribute to EM vulnerability, whereas chronic stress may be a mediator in early mortality. Research is needed to understand the role that geriatric syndromes and chronic stress play in EM mortality risk. In the meantime, psychiatric/mental health nurses can provide leadership for and contribute to primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention efforts.
Sexual Abuse of Vulnerable Adults in Care Facilities: Clinical Findings and a Research Initiative
Authors: Ramsey-Klawsnik Holly , Teaster Pamela B. , Mendiondo Marta S. , Abner Erin L. , Cecil Kara A. , Tooms Mary R.
Published: January 2007

This article explores the issue of sexual abuse of vulnerable younger and older adults living in long-term care facilities. Clinical findings regarding the sexual abuse of adults who are elderly or have disabilities are presented, and practice implications for psychiatric nurses are discussed. A review of relevant existing literature and previous research is provided. A research study presently under way is then described. This is the first national study of sexual abuse in long-term care. This study seeks to fill current knowledge gaps and inform the practice of nursing and other professionals who are responsible for the care of vulnerable adults.
Abuse in Later Life: Power and Control Dynamics and a Victim-Centered Response
Authors: Spangler Deb , Brandl Bonnie
Published: January 2007

Too often, older, women are abused, neglected, and exploited. In cases where the older victim and perpetrator have an ongoing relationship, power and control dynamics like those used against younger battered women are often present. In these cases, a victim-centered response and some strategies used with younger victims of domestic violence may be most effective in promoting safety and ensuring support and services. To assist mental health professionals and psychiatric nurses, this article focuses on three main topics: the dynamics of abuse in later life, a victim-centered response, and working collaboratively with other disciplines to offer a comprehensive response to these complex cases.
The Clinical Presentation of Elder Neglect: What We Know and What We Can Do
Authors: Strasser Sheryl M. , Fulmer Terry
Published: January 2007

Elder neglect (EN), one of the most prevalent forms of elder mistreatment, has clear mental health implications that may play a crucial role in the detection and intervention of EN. Increased awareness of the clinical and psychological manifestations of EN, as well as understanding recommended assessment and interventional strategies, may help psychiatric nurses who may be on the frontline of EN identification prevent the escalation of neglect into more severe cases of elder abuse.
Modulation of DNA binding properties of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein epsilon by heterodimer formation and interactions with NFkappaB pathway
Authors: Chumakov Alexey M. , Silla Agnes , Williamson Elizabeth A. , Koeffler H. Phillip
Published: January 2007

C/EBP epsilon is a transcription factor involved in myeloid cell differentiation. Along with C/EBP-α, -β, -γ, -δ, and -ζ, C/EBP-ϵ belongs to the family of CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins that are implicated in control of growth and differentiation of several cell lineages in inflammation and stress response. We have previously shown that C/EBP-ϵ preferentially binds DNA as a heterodimer with other C/EBP family members such as C/EBP-δ, CHOP (C/EBP-ζ), and the b-zip family protein ATF4. In this study, we define the consensus binding sites for C/EBP-ϵ dimers and C/EBP-ϵ–ATF4 heterodimers. We show that the activated NFkappaB pathway promotes interaction of the C/EBP-ϵ subunit with its cognate DNA binding site via interaction with RelA. RelA-C/EBP interaction is enhanced by phosphorylation of threonine at amino acid 75 and results in increased DNA binding compared with the wild-type nonphosphorylated C/EBP both in vitro and in vivo. We suggest that interaction of the activated NFkappaB pathway and C/EBP-ϵ may be important in selective activation of a subset of C/EBP-ϵ–responsive genes.
Inhibitory effect of tumor cell–derived lactic acid on human T cells
Authors: Fischer Karin , Hoffmann Petra , Voelkl Simon , Meidenbauer Norbert , Ammer Julia , Edinger Matthias , Gottfried Eva , Schwarz Sabine , Rothe Gregor , Hoves Sabine , Renner Kathrin , Timischl Birgit , Mackensen Andreas , Kunz-Schughart Leoni , Andreesen Reinhard , Krause Stefan W. , Kreutz Marina
Published: January 2007

A characteristic feature of tumors is high production of lactic acid due to enhanced glycolysis. Here, we show a positive correlation between lactate serum levels and tumor burden in cancer patients and examine the influence of lactic acid on immune functions in vitro. Lactic acid suppressed the proliferation and cytokine production of human cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) up to 95% and led to a 50% decrease in cytotoxic activity. A 24-hour recovery period in lactic acid–free medium restored CTL function. CTLs infiltrating lactic acid–producing multicellular tumor spheroids showed a reduced cytokine production. Pretreatment of tumor spheroids with an inhibitor of lactic acid production prevented this effect. Activated T cells themselves use glycolysis and rely on the efficient secretion of lactic acid, as its intracellular accumulation disturbs their metabolism. Export by monocarboxylate transporter-1 (MCT-1) depends on a gradient between cytoplasmic and extracellular lactic acid concentrations and consequently, blockade of MCT-1 resulted in impaired CTL function. We conclude that high lactic acid concentrations in the tumor environment block lactic acid export in T cells, thereby disturbing their metabolism and function. These findings suggest that targeting this metabolic pathway in tumors is a promising strategy to enhance tumor immunogenicity.
Liver X receptors regulate dendritic cell phenotype and function through blocked induction of the actin-bundling protein fascin
Authors: Geyeregger René , Zeyda Maximilian , Bauer Wolfgang , Kriehuber Ernst , Säemann Marcus D. , Zlabinger Gerhard J. , Maurer Dieter , Stulnig Thomas M.
Published: January 2007

Liver X receptors (LXRs) are nuclear receptors regulating lipid and cholesterol metabolism. Recent data revealed a cross talk between LXR and Toll-like receptor signaling in macrophages, indicating a role in immunity. Here, we show that LXRα is expressed in human myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) and induced during differentiation of monocyte-derived DCs, whereas LXRβ is expressed constitutively at a very low level. LXR activation by 2 different LXR agonists strongly interfered with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)–induced but not with CD40L-induced DC maturation by altering DC morphology and suppressing interleukin-12—but enhancing interleukin-10—secretion. LXR activation in DCs largely blocked their T-cell stimulatory ability despite essentially unaltered expression of various antigen-presenting and costimulatory molecules. Immunologic synapse formation was significantly inhibited by LXR activation along with a complete block in LPS- but not CD40L-induced expression of the actin-bundling protein fascin. Notably, overexpression of fascin in LXR agonist–treated DCs restored immunologic synapse formation and restored their ability to activate T cells. In conclusion, our data reveal LXR as a potent modulator of DC maturation and function mediated in part by blocking the expression of fascin. Due to the central position of DCs in immunity, LXRα could be a potential novel target for immunomodulation.