bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MEDIA OBSERVATIONS ON WORLD OPINION DURING THE KUWAITI CRISIS: POLITICAL COMMUNICATION AND THE EMERGING INTERNATIONAL ORDER
Authors: Rusciano Frank Louis
Published: August 2010

This paper discusses the role of political communication in defining the “post‐Cold War order” by focusing specifically upon the question of the construction of world opinion by different nations' newspapers. The first section analyzes references to world opinion during the pre‐Gulf War Kuwaiti crisis in the New York Times and the Times of India. Topics for discussion include (1) the comparative timing of references to world opinion on the crisis; (2) the comparative emphases on the moral and pragmatic components of world opinion; (3) the two newspapers' evaluations of world opinion on the crisis; and (4) the manner in which both newspapers describe the timing and extent of Iraq's isolation from the world community. The second section correlates these findings with the United Nations activity regarding Iraqi sanctions during the crisis. It is shown that once both newspapers reflected a rough consensus regarding the timing of references to world opinion and the isolation of Iraq, this consensus was reflected in the timing of documents on sanctions in the United Nations. The paper concludes by evaluating the importance of understanding different constructions of world opinion as a means of evaluating the role of political communication in the post‐Cold War order.
INCUMBENCY AND RUNOFF ELECTIONS: RACE AS A LIMITING FACTOR
Authors: Vanderleeuw James M. , Markwood Christopher L.
Published: August 2010

We examine conditions under which runoff elections are likely to occur. Based on an analysis of primary elections for New Orleans' municipal offices from 1965 through 1990, we find that incumbency significantly reduces the likelihood of a runoff. Under certain conditions race may play something of a secondary role—our findings suggest that in the New Orleans context incumbency status may enable white, more than black incumbents to avoid a runoff. Our overall conclusion, however, is that incumbency per se makes a runoff unlikely.
THE USE OF ANALYSIS BY GOVERNORS‘ BUDGET OFFICES
Authors: Grafton Carl , Permaloff Anne
Published: August 2010

Using the budgets of 47 states, the budget preparation instructions from governors' budget offices to agencies of 45 states, and telephone interviews of governors' budget office personnel of a random sample of 20 states, this article explores the degree to which analysis is used in the formulation of state governors' budgets. Applying even relaxed definitions of analysis, the authors find that the application of analytical tools has not been as widespread as some descriptions suggest. And, while microcomputers are being used, their analytical capabilities are largely ignored. Even in the minority of states where ambitious attempts at rational‐comprehensive budgeting are being made, budgetary rigidities leave little room for analysis. Governors' politically‐determined programs, not the results of analysis, dominate what little maneuvering room is left.
REDISTRICTING AND NATIONALIZATION: SOUTHERN HOUSE ELECTIONS IN THE 1990s
Authors: Beachler Donald W.
Published: August 2010

In 1994 the Republicans won a majority of the southern seats in the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time since Reconstruction. Republican success in southern House elections occurred after the 1990 redisricting in which southern states were required to concentrate minority voters in an effort to elect the maximum possible number of minority representatives. This article argues that while redistricting was a factor in Republican gains in southern House elections, the nationalization of southern House elections was also a boon to Republicans. Presidential and House elections converged as a large majority of conservative southern districts elected Republican representatives. In 1994 Republican House candidates received the same large majority of the southern white vote that the GOP's presidential candidates have won in recent elections.
EVOLVING CLIQUES: THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF WHITE HOUSE NETWORK SUBGROUPS
Authors: Link Michael W.
Published: August 2010

Network analytic techniques are used to examine the early development of interconnected subgroups (or cliques) within the advisory networks of Presidents Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter. Analysis of subgroups is important because such groups tend to be comprised of individuals who exert a tremendous influence over the policy process by controlling the information flow, shaping alternatives, and suggesting solutions to the president. Examining the effects of institutional and personalistic influences on emerging clique patterns, this study finds that both presidential management style and institutional constraints affect the number, size, strength, and membership of subgroups. Moreover, this structural analysis suggests that some of the problems experienced by these presidents can be traced to the types of groups formed at the outset of their administrations.
GENDER GAP IN THE 103rd CONGRESS
Authors: Marshall Marcia A.
Published: August 2010

The 1992 election brought a record number of women to the US Congress. The object of this research is to determine whether the increased number of women had an impact on legislative outcomes. This paper tests the idea that the women of the 103rd Congress voted differently than their male colleagues. The findings indicate that there is a gender gap in the voting behavior of male and female members of Congress, particularly on legislative issues where women have been found to be more liberal than men, such as social policy, defense, and gun control. Results also show that there is a women's voting bloc that often crosses party lines.
THE VARIABLE EFFECTS OF CHALLENGER SPENDING IN U.S. HOUSE ELECTIONS
Authors: Berch Neil
Published: August 2010

This paper extends the work on challenger spending in congressional elections to allow for the possibility that such spending has varying effects, depending upon circumstances. Using data from the 1988 and 1990 U.S. House elections, it begins with a baseline model for the incumbent's margin. Pairs of dummy variables and interaction terms were then added to test several hypotheses. The results provide some evidence to suggest that challenger spending is less effective if the challenger faced a toughprimary. Contrary to previous work, an advantage was found for repeat challengers. Also contrary to previous work, the results do not suggest that high‐quality challengers spend their money more efficiently than do other challengers.
CONTESTATION AND TURNOUT IN MULTI‐MEMBER AND SINGLE‐MEMBER DISTRICTS
Authors: Bullock Charles S. , Gaddie Ronald Keith
Published: August 2010

Multi‐member districts have rapidly disappeared from U.S. state legislatures. Two possible consequences of the change from multi‐member districts (MMD) to single‐member districts (SMD) are the reduction in the number of competitive races, and diminished voter turnout. This paper examines the impact of changing from multi‐member districts to single member districts on candidate emergence and voter participation in Florida and South Carolina. In Florida, but not South Carolina, contestation was generally more extensive in MMDs than SMDs. Counties which had higher percentages of contested legislative seats, particularly during the MMD period, had higher levels of overall turnout than did counties in which a smaller proportion of seats was contested. With the adoption of SMDs, legislative contestation is less related to voter turnout, confirming the hypothesis that electoral structures which afford voters multiple opportunities to choose candidates also encourage participation.
COMMITTEES AND THE BUDGET PROCESS: HOW REPRESENTATIVE ARE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGETING COMMITTEES?
Authors: Fisher Patrick
Published: August 2010

Congressional committees that concern themselves with budgetary matters have the potential to be extremely powerful in the making of American public policy. Given this, my work is an attempt to determine if the Appropriations, Ways and Means/Finance, and Budget Committees are representative of the House and Senate as a whole. If these budgeting committees are a biased subset of Congress, this unrepresentativeness could be an important determining factor in deciding the winners and losers in budget decisions. My analysis, however, shows that these committees are indeed representative of the entire Congress. Those members of Congress who serve on budgeting committees differ little from those who serve on other congressional committees.
THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING IMAGE: FROM COLD WAR TO GLOBALIST PRESIDENCY
Authors: Barger Harold M.
Published: August 2010

The modern American presidency was significantly strengthened because of the need for strong global leadership during World War II and the Cold War. The role of “leader of the free world” became a key element in shaping the public image of an all‐powerful presidency. In the post‐Cold War era, however, presidents exercise power in an increasingly complex environment that is far less conducive to confirming the high status the office previously was accorded in the public mind. This essay considers how popular images of presidential power largely shaped by the Cold War have become outmoded and irrelevant not only because of the end of an era, but also as a consequence of global economic change and emerging information‐knowledge technologies. The paper discusses the implications of these changes for presidential leadership.
Drivers and Free Riders: Collective and Private Rationalities in an Ecomovement
Authors: Kowalewski David
Published: August 2010

Why do citizens with a common interest in providing a public good fail to act on that interest? Private‐rationality theory maintains that individuals are most concerned with private goods and will tend to ride free on the efforts of a few activists. Other theorists contend that citizens are public‐interested and therefore a collective rationality can override individualistic concerns. Empirical research, however, has yet to compare the two theories in a single design. This paper examines the two perspectives with data from a protest movement against a nuclear waste facility. The findings offer little support for private‐rationality theory. Few opponents of the facility rode free, and variables for private rationality failed to predict participation. Instead, participation was extensive and variables for collective rationality were significantly related. Solidarity, political alienation, ideology, and political interest had a positive effect on protest. The study validates recent scholarly attempts to de‐economize and re‐socialize political analysis.
IMAGES OF BUREAUCRACY IN FINE ART: SALVADOR DALPS “AVERAGE BUREAUCRAT” AND GEORGE TOOKER'S “GOVERNMENT BUREAU”
Authors: Wheat Edward M.
Published: August 2010

Charles Goodsell and other scholars have drawn attention to the fact that images of bureaucracy in American popular and literary culture are uniformly negative, that there is a “metaphysical pathos” concerning the ineffectiveness and inefficiency of bureaucracy that results in very negative public opinion about public administrative agencies and government and politics in general. Attempts to explain this cultural bias have focused on the hyper‐individualism of the creative personality and, more recently, on the idea that literary artists, journalists, many academic social scientists, and politicians are motivated by the requirements of their various careers to portray bureaucracy in a negative way. But this explanation does not really come to grips with the persistent and ubiquitous negativity found in the portrayals of bureaucrats and bureaucracies by artists in all genres at all levels of culture. In this research I have extended the reach of the examination of the arts and public administration to include two examples of 20th century fine art with explicitly bureaucratic subjects. A careful examination of these works suggests that something more profound than career enhancement may be at the base of the “artistic” vision of bureaucratic themes.
WOMEN AND REPRESENTATION AT MAJOR PARTY CONVENTIONS, 1972–1992
Authors: Shafie David M.
Published: August 2010

The move by the two major parties to balance their national conventions by gender was based partially upon the assumption that women delegates would best represent women's opinions. However, a cross‐sectional analysis of mass and elite opinion in the Democratic party reveals that on most issues, there is greater proximity between the views of male leaders and female followers, than between female leaders and female followers. Notable exceptions include issues of Sexual Harassment, Urban Unrest, Inflation, and the Environment. Longitudinally, the data suggest women serving as delegates from 1972 to 1992 were consistently more liberal than their male counterparts, and considerably more liberal than party followers of both sexes. In contrast, female Republican delegates held views closer to their party's rank‐and‐file than did male Republican delegates who were more conservative. The gender gap in political views among the leaders of both parties is not as pronounced among party followers.
STATE CORPORATE TAXATION AND BUSINESS POWER: A POOLED ANALYSIS
Authors: Ewoh Andrew I. E. , Elliott Euel W.
Published: August 2010

This article investigates whether businesses in concentrated or regulated industries are more likely to exert influence in the area of tax policy. Simultaneous equation models are developed that describe the behavior of firms in their effort to achieve policy outcomes beneficial to their common interests. These models are estimated using pooled time series cross‐sectional data. The results show that firms in concentrated industries are likely to seek political influence if they are affected by direct or exclusive government regulation. The study also reveals that industrial concentration leads to greater corporate income. Examination of the political partisanship thesis provides support for the view that firms' tax rates vary depending upon the partisan coloration of state government.
COMPLEXITY, PATRONAGE, AND THE DENSITY OF INTEREST GROUPS IN THE AMERICAN STATES
Authors: Morris Barbara
Published: August 2010

This paper provides a system level analysis of interest group density. It contains two primary sections. The first develops a supply side theory of the American state interest group system. The second uses state level data across three time periods to test several hypotheses generated by the theory. The theory of interest group density is based on a four‐cell typology of government and economic capacity, which focuses on how external and political environments determine the number of interest groups within states. The theory is unique because it emphasizes the role of resources and patrons in the micro level dynamic of interest group formation. This factor has been largely overlooked in the literature on state interest groups.
PARTY ROLL CALL VOTING ON MEDICARE 1980–1996
Authors: Neuby Barbara L.
Published: August 2010

Party roll call votes on Medicare from 1980 to 1996 show that the Democrats were more likely to allocate a new or expand upon an existing benefit, restore money to the Medicare program, lower provider reimbursements and change program rules to cut costs. Republicans were more likely to reduce general revenue funding to the Medicare program and to increase beneficiaries' costs. Though both parties claimed to act to save the Medicare program from insolvency, their roll call voting indicates that congressional action has been primarily in the form of inconsistent and incremental tinkering at the margins of Medicare policy.
LAMENTING THE LOSS OF A WOMAN‐CENTERED POLITY: MERCY WARREN'S CRITIQUE OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
Authors: Schloesser Pauline
Published: August 2010

Mercy Otis Warren was the only known female anti‐federalist writer of the founding era in American politics; and, according to Herbert Storing, she was the most philosophically sophisticated of all the anti‐federalist writers. While much work has been done to highlight her anti‐federalism, her theory of gender remains to be uncovered. In this article I argue that Warren's vision of woman citizenship was that of the married republican mother, which she believed would be threatened by the Constitution. I argue that Warren opposed the Federalist Constitution because it destroyed the preconditions for a female‐centered polity that she imagined republicanism ideally to be. Warren's feminist critique of the Constitution was not mentioned directly in her anti‐federalist pamphlet. This is not surprising because, according to contemporary moral standards, women were not supposed to engage in political discussions, much less those that appeared to show self‐interest. Part of her philosophical sophistication was necessary, I argue, to hide her concern for gender relations. By focusing on the foundational level of federalism as a degradation of virtue and male citizenship, Warren was able to criticize Federalism without mentioning its degradation of female citizenship. Yet in her private correspondence it is clear she believed that the political contributions of women would be severely limited by Federalist politics.
IDEOLOGY AND JUDICIAL DEFERENCE IN THE D.C. CIRCUIT
Authors: Banks Christopher P.
Published: August 2010

This article examines the published opinions of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit—a key judicial forum for deciding administrative law appeals—to test the hypothesis that ideology is a principal element for understanding judicial control over federal agencies between 1970 and 1995. Prior studies focus on U.S. Supreme Court rulings imply, but do not directly test, the proposition that judicial deference to agencies is the product of an interactive relationship between key political variables. Using a non‐additive, “integrated” model of judicial behavior, the study confirms that judicial deference is an interactive ideological decision where the court's decision to defer is conditioned upon an interaction between the panel's composition and agency policy. Ideology, though, is not the sole explanation for court behavior since other non‐ideological variables contribute to deference as well. The D.C. Circuit is constrained, and defers less, by the “hard look” doctrine and landmark U.S. Supreme Court precedent. Even so, it defers more to agency rulemaking, making the type of agency proceeding at issue an important variable. Overall, these findings illustrate that circuit courts are significant sources of regulatory policy change and that they use ideology, along with other factors, to control the policy initiative of bureaucracies.
A Test of Downs' “Blackmail Parties” Thesis: The New York Conservatives and Liberals, 1956–1980
Authors: Maranto Robert , van Raemdonck Dirk C.
Published: August 2010

Anthony Downs hypothesizes that, in a two‐party system, parties will converge, taking centrist ideological positions to maximize electoral success. Ideologically extreme party activists can counter convergence by forming “blackmail parties” to force major parties away from the center by competing for extreme voters. New York state has a modified two‐party system, with the Liberal Party and, since 1962, the Conservative Party competing with Democrats and Republicans. The effectiveness of blackmail parties is tested through comparison of New York major party ideologies before and after 1962 with major party positionings in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Party ideology is measured through group associational measures of the voting records of members of the U.S. House of Representatives between 1956 and 1980. These measures indicate that the blackmail parties have not had the predicted impact, nor have minor party candidacies influenced the voting records of House members representing relatively contested districts and thus particularly subject to blackmail. Among U.S. House members, the preconditions for minor party blackmail are seldom found and primary contests combat convergence more effectively than does minor party activity.
Negativity and Failed Expectations: do Representatives' Reputations Really Matter?
Authors: Hadjiharalambous Chris S.
Published: August 2010

Scholars of political behavior have demonstrated in several works that negative and positive bits of information are not weighed the same when individuals go into the voting booth. One shortcoming of this research is the lack of a satisfying explanation for this phenomenon. This study draws on the concept of “responsiveness” in an attempt to fill that gap. Using NES data for the five most recent off‐year elections, findings suggest that voters use the negative heuristic primarily in cases where the actions of their representatives have failed to meet their expectations in terms of different types of responsiveness. This explanation receives additional support from the observation that negativity does not seem to play a role with regard to challenger evaluations where there are no unfulfilled expectations.
Issue Salience, News Coverage, and Attention Cycles of Environmental Problems
Authors: Bacot Hunter , Fitzgerald Michael R.
Published: August 2010

Applying Downs' theoretical perspective and analytical approach, the “issue‐attention cycles” of “second generation” environmental problems are evaluated using network news coverage and public opinion on environmental problems from 1975 to 1990. Previous research is improved upon and extended by using actual network news coverage of second generation environmental issues (toxic, hazardous, nuclear, and solid waste management, contamination, and accidents) to track these problems through all five stages of Downs' construct of the issue‐attention cycle (his analysis ventured through only two stages completely). Findings show that Downs' conceptualization of the issue‐attention cycle, although useful, is problematic. The cyclical nature of the proposed model is evident based on network news coverage. The pattern observed for public opinion, however, is not exactly cyclical; there is evidence of a relationship between network news information and public opinion, which corroborates past research and further refines our understanding of the interaction of media, public opinion, and public policy.
The Triumph of Rhetoric Over Policy: Gubernatorial Politics in the American South, 1967–1972
Authors: May Vaughn
Published: August 2010

Despite the wealth of research on the office of governor since the 1960s, studies of the rhetorical/symbolic power of the office are not commonplace. As a result, an incomplete picture of the office emerges, a problem magnified in the South, a region with an exceptionally rich oral tradition. Southern gubernatorial performance from 1967–1972 concerning the issue of school integration provides an excellent opportunity to examine an era where gubernatorial rhetorical opportunities assume center‐stage in explaining governor‐constituent relations. An examination of four southern governors reveals that executives in this period fulfilled their integration campaign pledges not in a literal policymaking sense, but through the political rhetoric, alliances, and general racial tone adopted by their administrations. This finding highlights the importance of gubernatorial symbolism and suggests that gubernatorial power is not rooted solely in the institution, but in the cultural and political environment as well.
Media Coverage of Presidential Primaries: The Economics of Being Early
Authors: Walz Jeffrey S.
Published: August 2010

Based on Gurian and Wolfe's model, and a content analysis of the 1984, 1988, and 1992 nomination contests, this study explores the relationship between the sequence of Democratic presidential primary dates and media campaign coverage of particular state and regional economic issues. The findings of the regression analysis suggest that by conducting contests early in the campaign and in isolation, populous states with one central economic issue may attract more media campaign coverage to the issue. By joining a regional primary that is early in the calendar, states may boost national media campaign coverage of economic issues important to their region. In short, this analysis enhances our understanding of how and why the presidential selection system bestows state influence unequally.
PARTISAN COMPETITIVENESS IN POST‐1990 U.S. HOUSE DISTRICTS
Authors: Swain John W. , Borelli Stephen A. , Reed Brian C.
Published: August 2010

This research looks at redistricting in terms of the partisan competitiveness of U.S. House election districts by creating a measure of partisan competitiveness based on the 1988 presidential election results for the two major parties. Nationwide, regional, and state means of district partisan competitiveness are computed for pre‐ and post‐1990 congressional districts, and changes in those means are analyzed. This method holds constant all other factors besides redistricting. Post‐1990 districts are less competitive between the two major parties than pre‐1990 districts, despite predictions to the contrary. A regression model, predicting states' change in mean district partisan competitiveness, shows that states required to preclear their election districts under the Voting Rights Act and states gaining from reapportionment decline in mean district partisan competitiveness to a statistically significant degree. Surprisingly, one‐party control of redistricting is associated with increased competitiveness to a statistically significant degree.
CHANGING GENDER RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT IN YEMEN: EDUCATION, FAMILY, HEALTH AND FERTILITY, CULTURAL EXPRESSION
Authors: Riphenbur Carol J.
Published: August 2010

This study undertakes an innovative approach to confound the public‐private paradigm prevalent which predominates in the literature on women and community in the developing world. It utilizes the concept of life options as formulated by Janet Z. Giele—which serves as the dependent variables in the analysis. Women's roles and status—as measured by these life options—are seen as structurally determined by state ideology (regime orientations and juridical system), level and type of economic development, and class location. The hypothesis to be tested is that, in an underdeveloped nation such as Yemen with a conservative, shah'a‐based personal status law and a minuscule middle class, the status of women will be low on the dimensions of the life options examined—education, family, health and fertility, and cultural expression. The conclusion confirms what the development literature would lead the researcher to expect: a convergence of conservative cultural norms embodied in state policy, low economic development, and a diminutive middle class containing few women accounts for little improvement in women's status on the designated indicator in Yemen in recent years.
Semantic Externalism and Psychological Externalism
Authors: Wikforss Åsa
Published: August 2010

Externalism is widely endorsed within contemporary philosophy of mind and language. Despite this, it is far from clear how the externalist thesis should be construed and, indeed, why we should accept it. In this entry I distinguish and examine three central types of externalism: what I call foundational externalism, externalist semantics, and psychological externalism. I suggest that the most plausible version of externalism is not in fact a very radical thesis and does not have any terribly interesting implications for philosophy of mind, whereas the more radical and interesting versions of externalism are quite difficult to support.
Belief, Providence and Eschatology: Some Philosophical Problems in Islamic Theism
Authors: Aijaz Imran
Published: August 2010

Traditional Islamic theism gives us a certain picture of the world, in which the concepts of belief, providence and eschatology are involved. According to the traditional picture, belief in God is a universal phenomenon. This is because God has providentially arranged the world in such a manner that the signs of God are everywhere and which lead to knowledge of His existence. And, because the world is ‘providentially unambiguous’, those who do not have faith in God are culpable for their lack of it, and therefore deserve eternal punishment in hell. In this paper, I argue that this traditional picture is simply false, or at the very least seriously contestable. I also explore the implications of my argument for those who might be interested in assessing the viability of some form of (Islamic) ‘revisionary theism’, in which the concepts of belief, providence and eschatology feature.
Jacques Rancière: Literature and Equality
Authors: May Todd
Published: August 2010

Jacques Ranciere has become known for his writings both on politics and aesthetics. What ties them together is that they both concern the concept of equality. However, they address this concept in different ways. In this article, I address the concept of equality as it appears both in his political and aesthetic writings, with a focus on the latter.
EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS OF LIGAMENTO‐MUSCULAR PROTECTIVE REFLEXES: II. A study in cat using the medial collateral ligament of the knee joint
Authors: ANDERSSON SVEN , STENER BERTIL
Published: August 2010

Andersson, S. and B. Stener. Experimental evaluation of the hypothesis of ligamento‐muscular protective reflexes. II. A study in cat using the medial collateral ligament of the knee joint.Acta physiol. scand.1959.48.Suppl. 166. 27—49.—A method has been developed for effecting a large increase in the ligament's tension, without appreciably damaging its innervation during the preparatory dissection (STENER 1959). The effect of the intense afferent impulse flow, induced by this method, on motoneurones supplying muscles capable of opposing an increase in tension in the ligament was studied by myography, electromyography and monosynaptic testing. With none of these methods was it possible to detect any reflex motor effects ascribable to receptors in the ligament. On the other hand, strong reflex motor responses were obtained by gentle mechanical stimulation of extra‐ligamentary receptors within the ventromedial region of the joint (skin removed).
Role of interleukin‐6 signalling in glucose and lipid metabolism
Authors: Glund S. , Krook A.
Published: August 2010

Derangements in whole body glucose and lipid metabolism, accompanied by insulin resistance, are key features of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. A role for inflammation as a causative factor is an emerging concept in the field of metabolic disease. Research has centred on identifying important inflammatory markers, and tumour necrosis factor‐α has been highlighted as a key mediator of insulin resistance, as well as interleukin‐6 (IL‐6). A parallel ongoing endeavour is the unravelling of molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of physical exercise on whole body glucose and lipid metabolism. Release of IL‐6 from the contracting skeletal muscle has been proposed to be one of the molecular signals promoting the beneficial exercise‐induced effects. These two opposing views of IL‐6 underscore that the role of IL‐6 in whole body physiology is incompletely resolved. This review aims at summarizing the current data on mechanisms by which IL‐6 may impact on glucose and lipid metabolism.
The protein kinases ERK1/2 and their roles in pancreatic beta cells
Authors: Lawrence M. , Shao C. , Duan L. , McGlynn K. , Cobb M. H.
Published: August 2010

Extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) activities are modulated in a manner that reflects the secretory demand on β cells to integrate long‐ and short‐term nutrient sensing information. Our studies have focused on the mechanisms of ERK1/2 activation in β cells and on the actions of ERK1/2 that regulate β cell function. Insulin and growth factors regulate ERK1/2 in β cells in a largely calcium‐independent manner. Nutrients and anticipatory hormones, in contrast, activate ERK1/2 in a calcium‐dependent manner in these cells. We are exploring the key intermediates in these distinct activation pathways and find that calcineurin is essential for the nutrient pathway but is not essential for the growth factor pathway. Using reporter assays, heterologous reconstitution, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, Northern analysis, Q‐PCR and chromatin immunoprecipitation, we have examined several genes that are regulated by ERK1/2, primarily the insulin gene and the apoptotic factor C/EBP‐homologous protein (CHOP)‐10 (GADD153/DDIT‐3), a bZIP protein. ERK1/2‐sensitive transcriptional regulators common to these two genes are C/EBP‐β and MafA. The insulin promoter is both positively and negatively regulated by glucose and other nutrients. Exposure to glucose for minutes to hours causes an increase in the rate of insulin gene transcription. In contrast, exposure to elevated glucose for 48 h or more results in inhibition of the insulin gene promoter. Both of these processes depend on ERK1/2 activity. Expression of CHOP is induced by stresses including nutrient deprivation and endoplasmic reticulum stress. CHOP gene expression, especially that regulated by nutrients, is also ERK1/2‐dependent in β cells, These studies support the hypothesis that the genes regulated by ERK1/2 and the mechanisms employed are key to maintaining normal β cell function.
The mass action hypothesis: formation of Glut4 storage vesicles, a tissue‐specific, regulated exocytic compartment
Authors: Pilch P. F.
Published: August 2010

Insulin stimulates glucose uptake into the target tissues of fat and muscle by recruiting or translocating Glut4 glucose transport proteins to their functional location at the cell surface. In the basal state, Glut4 is sequestered intracellularly in several vesicular compartments, one of which has come to be known as Glut4 storage vesicles (GSVs). The GSVs represent a tissue‐specific compartment that is an ultimate target of the insulin signalling cascade. Glut4 translocation has been extensively studied because of its intrinsic scientific importance to cell biology as well as its relevance to the pathology of type 2 diabetes mellitus. I review herein the ontogeny of GSVs and their composition as it relates to a tissue‐specific, hormone‐sensitive exocytic compartment and propose a mechanism for their formation.
Histogenesis and morphofunctional characteristics of chromaffin cells
Authors: Díaz‐Flores L. , Gutiérrez R. , Varela H. , Valladares F. , Alvarez‐Argüelles H. , Borges R.
Published: August 2010

This article reviews the current status of research about the histogenesis and morphofunctional characteristics of chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla. First, this study reports the selective migration, transcription and activation factors, and the morphological events of the chromaffin cell precursors during adrenal medulla development. Subsequently, the morphofunctional characteristics of adrenergic and non‐adrenergic cells are considered, with particular reference to the characteristics of chromaffin granules and their biological steps, including their formation, traffic (storage, targeting and docking), exocytosis in the strict sense and recapture. Moreover, the relationship of chromaffin cells with other tissue components of the adrenal medulla is also revised, comprising the ganglion cells, sustentacular cells, nerves and connective‐vascular tissue.
Compensatory endocytosis in chromaffin cells
Authors: Barg S. , Machado J. D.
Published: August 2010

Exocytosis occurs via fusion of secretory granules with the cell membrane, whereupon the granule content is at least partially released and the granule membrane is temporarily added to the plasma membrane. Exocytosis is balanced by compensatory endocytosis to achieve net equilibrium of the cell surface area and to recycle and redistribute components of the exocytosis machinery. The underlying molecular mechanisms remain a matter of debate. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent progress in the understanding of compensatory endocytosis, with the focus on chromaffin cells as a useful model for studying mechanisms of regulated secretion.
Women's Experiences of Hindu Traditions: A State of the Field Review
Authors: Gunn Janet
Published: August 2010

Static models of Hindu women as marginalized and muted subjects have in recent years been enlivened by a body of work that investigates the ways in which women both subtly and overtly resist, contest, and re‐imagine these roles. This article presents a thematic survey of this field of study, drawing from a selection of recent ethnographic work that has contributed to our deepened understanding of the manifold ways – both positive and negative – that Hindu women experience their tradition. It serves as a beginner's guide to the literature tracing the multiplicity of meaningful engagements with Hindu belief and practice that mark the rhythms of women's daily lives, and points to new areas for research.
The Semantics of Comparatives and Other Degree Constructions
Authors: Schwarzschild Roger
Published: August 2010

(1)
It is much more important than you think it is.

(1) is an example of an adjectival comparative. In it, the adjective important is flanked by more and a comparative clause headed by than. This article is a survey of recent ideas about the interpretation of comparatives, including (i) the underlying semantics based on the idea of a threshold; (ii) the interpretation of comparative clauses that include quantifiers (brighter than on many other days); (iii) remarks on differentials such as much in (1) above: what they do in the comparative and what they do elsewhere in the language; (iv) the relationship between comparatives and other Degree constructions (e.g. as important, too important); and (v) the types of phrases in which comparatives are found (adjective: tighter versus noun: more water). Given the nature and purpose of this essay, I have tried not to presuppose background in formal semantics and I have departed from standard practice in journal articles by, as much as possible, not interrupting the flow with footnotes and references. There are two appendices. The first provides more analytical detail and there I do rely on formal techniques of natural language semantics. The second covers the sources for the ideas surveyed here.
Reference viruses for seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccine preparation
Authors: Wood John M. , Robertson James S.
Published: August 2010

The production of seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines depends on the timely availability of suitable reference viruses. Seasonal vaccines are traditionally produced from high‐growth reassortant viruses, which have been derived empirically using well‐established techniques. However, it is not possible to use such approaches in deriving vaccine reference viruses from highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses and alternative techniques such as reverse genetics must be employed.
Antivirals for the treatment and prevention of epidemic and pandemic influenza
Authors: Oxford John S.
Published: August 2010

Influenza is a highly contagious and debilitating disease that imposes an excess burden of complications and mortality. Antiviral therapy is the primary intervention for treatment and post‐exposure prophylaxis (PEP) of influenza. Amantadine and rimantadine are members of the M2 class of antiviral agents and are moderately effective in influenza management. However, their utility is compromised by high levels of resistance, tolerability concerns and a lack of efficacy against influenza B. An alternative class of agents, the neuraminidase inhibitors (NIs), represent the most advanced form of antiviral therapy available, and act by specifically inhibiting the neuraminidase enzymes that are present on all influenza subtypes. Two NIs, oseltamivir and zanamivir, are currently available for clinical use. Oseltamivir, the most widely used NI, is administered orally as a prodrug (oseltamivir carboxylate) and systemically distributed to all potential infection sites. Zanamivir, a second NI, is administered by inhalation via a disk inhaler and deposited primarily in the respiratory tract. When administered within 48 hours of symptom onset, both agents significantly reduce illness duration and symptom severity, and decrease the rate of influenza‐associated complications. With oseltamivir, greater benefits are detected with earlier treatment initiation (<12 hours). In PEP, both NIs effectively protect the close contacts of index cases from symptomatic influenza. Oseltamivir and zanamivir are generally well tolerated and associated with a low level of resistance. Emerging evidence supports the activity of both NIs against the H5N1avian influenza infection, which is a pandemic candidate. However, the WHO currently recommends the use of oseltamivir for the management of suspected cases, given the systemic nature of the H5N1 challenge. Ongoing studies are exploring the effectiveness of oseltamivir, zanamivir and other NIs for pandemic management.
Production of a novel influenza vaccine using insect cells: protection against drifted strains
Authors: Cox Manon M. J. , Karl Anderson D.
Published: August 2010

A recombinant trivalent hemagglutinin (HA) vaccine produced in cell culture using the baculovirus expression system provides an attractive alternative to the current egg‐based influenza vaccine (Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine [TIV]) manufacturing process. The HA genes from the annual World Health Organization‐recommended strains are cloned, expressed, and purified using a general purification process. Here, we provide an overview of the expression technology used to make the annual adjustment of the vaccine and the clinical studies completed to date with recombinant HA. The highly purified protein vaccine, administered at three times higher antigen content than TIV, results in stronger immunogenicity, a long‐lasting immune response and provides cross‐protection against drift variant influenza viruses. Furthermore, the vaccine does not contain egg proteins, adjuvants, preservatives, endotoxins, or antibiotics and can therefore be used in a broader population.
Public Policy and the Effects of Media Violence on Children
Authors: Gentile Douglas A. , Saleem Muniba , Anderson Craig A.
Published: August 2010

Policymakers and the public have been concerned about the effects of media violence on children for decades. Scientific psychological research can be an important source of information for policy, as the goal of science is to separate facts from opinions. This article reviews children's exposure to media violence, describes theories that explain the effects media violence could have, summarizes the research on the effects of media violence exposure, and describes several moderators that can enhance or mitigate those effects. These scientific findings provide useful information for public policy, yet there are many barriers to their use, including misunderstandings of how causality is determined in scientific and public health circles and how large the effects are. Finally, the implications for public policy are discussed, including what has and has not worked in the United States, what other countries and the international community are doing, and where opportunities for new approaches for effective policies may exist.
Performance evaluation and relevance of the CellaVisionTM DM96 system in routine analysis and in patients with malignant hematological diseases
Authors: CORNET E. , PEROL J.‐P. , TROUSSARD X.
Published: August 2010

The CellaVision™ DM96 is an automated image analysis system dedicated to locating and preclassifying the various types of white blood cells in peripheral blood smears. The system also partially characterizes of the red blood cell morphology and is able to perform platelet counts. We routinely analyzed the blood samples from 440 patients with quantitative and/or qualitative abnormalities detected by the XE‐2100 Sysmex™. Only 2.6% of cells are not identified by DM96™. After classification of the unidentified cells very good correlation coefficients are observed between DM96™ and manual microscopy for most hematological parameters and accuracy is judged excellent up to 98%. For most common parameters, false positive and false negative ratios are also very good. Whatever the pathology and the number of blasts on smear, all patients were positive for blast detection on DM96™. The system is a useful tool for assisting in the diagnosis and classification of most acute or chronic leukemia. Automatic cell location and preclassification, along with unique cell views on the computer screen, could reduce the time spent performing differentials and make real‐time collaboration between colleagues a natural part of the classification process. The workstation also provides an ergonomically correct and relaxed working environment. We suggest its use in routine analysis; the system could be very helpful for the accurate morphological diagnosis of samples from patients with malignant hematological disease.
Edades de jubilación de la seguridad social en 23 países de la OCDE: 1949‐2035
Authors: Turner John
Published: August 2010

El presente artículo analiza la edad de jubilación o de jubilación anticipada en la seguridad social en 23 países de la OCDE a lo largo de los años 1949‐2035. Las políticas para los años futuros son las de la legislación en vigor, algunas de las cuales no serán plenamente efectivas hasta 2035. El estudio documenta un modelo de edades de jubilación decrecientes que se invirtieron en los años noventa, cuando muchos países retrasaron la edad de jubilación a partir del comienzo de esa década, aunque, por lo general, con fechas efectivas futuras. La política en materia de edad de jubilación brinda una nueva percepción en cuestiones más amplias de la política social, como si las políticas socials de todos los países hubiesen convergido con el correr del tiempo. El documento también analiza el patrón del tiempo en una dinámica hacia la igualdad de género en los programas sociales.
Comment: On the consequences of sexual selection for fisheries‐induced evolution
Authors: Urbach Davnah , Cotton Samuel
Published: August 2010

It is becoming increasingly recognized that fishing (and other forms of nonrandom harvesting) can have profound evolutionary consequences for life history traits. A recent and welcome publication provided the first description of how sexual selection might influence the outcome of fisheries‐induced evolution (FIE). One of the main conclusions was that if sexual selection generates a positive relationship between body size and reproductive success, increased fishing pressure on large individuals causes stronger selection for smaller body size. Here, we re‐evaluate the sexual selection interpretation of the relationship between body size and reproductive success, and suggest it may in fact be representative of a more general case of pure natural selection. The consequences of sexual selection on FIE are likely to be complicated and dynamic, and we provide additional perspectives to these new and exciting results. Selection differentials and trait variance are considered, with density‐dependent and genetic effects on the strength and the direction of sexual selection given particular attention. We hope that our additional views on the role of sexual selection in FIE will encourage more theoretical and empirical work into this important application of evolutionary biology.
Global public finance
Authors: Atkinson Tony
Published: August 2010

Abstract. The economics curriculum needs a new subject: global public finance. This will take a global perspective on public finance issues, and will incorporate the insights of many existing branches of economics.