bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative analysis of collision-free path-planning methods for multi-manipulator systems
Authors: Fraile J. C. , Perez-Turiel J. , Gonzalez-Sanchez J. L. , Baeyens E. , Perez R. 
Published: July 2006

Motion planning for manipulators with many degrees of freedom is a complex task. The research in this area has been mostly restricted to static environments. This paper presents a comparative analysis of three reactive on-line path-planning methods for manipulators: the elastic-strip, strategy-based and potential field methods. Both the elastic-strip method [O. Brock and O. Khatib, “Elastic strips: A framework for integrated planning and execution,” Int. Symp. Exp. Robot. 245–254 (1999)] and the potential field method [O. Khatib, “Real-time obstacle avoidance for manipulators and mobile robots,” Int. J. Robot. Res.5(1), 90–98 (1986)] have been adapted by the authors to the problem at hand related to our multi-manipulator system (MMS) (three manipulators with five degrees of freedom each). Strategy-based method is an original contribution by the authors [M. Mediavilla, J. L. González, J. C. Fraile and J. R. Perán, “Reactive approach to on-line path planning for robot manipulators in dynamic environments,” Robotica20, 375–384 (2002); M. Mediavilla, J. C. Fraile, T. González and I. J. Galindo, “Selection of strategies for collision-free motion in multi-manipulator systems,” J. Intell. Robot Syst38, 85–104 (2003)].The three methods facilitate on-line path planning for our MMS in dynamic environments with collision avoidance, where the three manipulators may move at the same time in their common workspace. We have defined some ‘basic motion problems’ for the MMS, and a series of simulations has been running that will tell us how effective each path-planning method is. The simulations have been performed and the obtained results have been analysed by using a software program developed by the authors.The paper also presents experimental results obtained applying the path-planning methods to our MMS, that perform pick-and-place tasks sharing common working areas.
WAR OR PEACE?: A DYNAMICAL ANALYSIS OF ANARCHY
Authors: VANDERSCHRAAF PETER 
Published: July 2006

I propose a dynamical analysis of interaction in anarchy, and argue that this kind of dynamical analysis is a more promising route to predicting the outcome of anarchy than the more traditional a priori analyses of anarchy in the literature. I criticize previous a priori analyses of anarchy on the grounds that these analyses assume that the individuals in anarchy share a unique set of preferences over the possible outcomes of war, peace, exploiting others and suffering exploitation. Following Hobbes' classic analysis of anarchy, I maintain that typically in anarchy some moderate individuals will most desire mutual cooperation while other dominators will most desire to exploit others' cooperation. I argue that once one allows for different types of individuals in anarchy, any a priori analysis of anarchy requires unrealistic assumptions regarding the agents' common knowledge of their situation. However, this move also suggests a dynamical analysis of anarchy, one that assumes no common knowledge. In the Variable Anticipation threshold model developed here, individuals modify their behavior as they learn from repeated interactions. I present specific instances of this model where the individuals in anarchy converge to different equilibria corresponding to either peace or war, depending on the initial conditions. I show that individuals are liable to converge to Hobbes' war of all against all even if only a small percentage of are dominators. The presence of only a few “nasty” individuals gradually drives all, including those inclined to be “nicer”, to imitate the “nasty” conduct of these few. This dynamic analysis suggests that the Hobbesian war in anarchy is indeed inevitable in most realistic circumstances.You have the same propension, that I have, in favor of what is contiguous above what is remote. You are, therefore, naturally carry'd to commit acts of injustice as well as I. Your example both pushes me forward in this way by imitation, and also affords me a new reason for any breach of equity, by showing me, that I shou'd be the cully of my integrity, if I alone shou'd impose on myself a severe restraint amidst the licentiousness of others. (David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature)
Address of Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Authors:   In Our Name and On Our Behalf
Published: July 2006

AbstractIn July 2001, a few years after my first encounter with the intersection of criminal law and international law at the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and for Rwanda (ICTR), I asked the following question at a lecture at Melbourne University:While the political will to pursue war criminals was first lacking, is there, as some seem to fear, a danger that it will become relentless? If so, what effect will that have on the integrity of the complex aspirations and methodologies of criminal law as an instrument of social control in a democracy?After 11 September of the same year, the question acquired added acuity as I assumed that it would be not just war criminals but also international terrorists that the criminal law framework, domestic and international, would now be pursuing. I obviously was gravely mistaken in my concerns. The pursuit of terrorist suspects seems to have little to do with criminal or international law as we know it. Hence the real questions: What is it then about? Under what legal framework, if any, does it purport to operate and who is accountable to whom?
‘Caveat Investor’? The Relevance of the Conduct of the Investor Under the Fair and Equitable Treatment Standard
Authors: Muchlinski Peter 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe role that investor conduct plays in applying the fair and equitable treatment standard is relatively unexplored. On the basis of conceptual analysis, and emerging international judicial and arbitral case law, this article suggests that investor conduct is an important consideration. Investor duties are being accepted in relation to the avoidance of unconscionable conduct, the reasonable assessment of investment risk in the host country, and a duty to operate an investment reasonably. These requirements may be said to lead to a new limit upon the fair and equitable treatment standard encapsulated in the phrase ‘Caveat Investor’.
The Concept Of Employment Contract In European Union Private Law
Authors: Cavalier Georges , Upex Robert 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis article provides a thorough analysis of the employment contract in comparative European private law and Community law. It argues that a common concept of employment contract should prevail in European private law. In that respect, the autonomous and broad interpretation which has been given to the term ‘worker’ in Community law could be a basis for adoption of an autonomous concept of the employment contract in European private law.
Tick prevalence and species diversity on Aldabran giant tortoises (Dipsochelys dussumieri) in relation to host range and host size in a restored ecosystem, Kenya
Authors: Okanga Sharon , Rebelo Camille 
Published: July 2006

AbstractTick species density and diversity on Aldabran tortoises was investigated in relation to the habitat range and size of each tortoise. Identification of tick infestation patterns forms an important aspect of effective tick control. Ten Aldabran tortoises were de‐ticked and monitored over the course of 2 months. Tick species found were Amblyomma sparsum, Amblyomma nuttalli, Amblyomma hebraeum and Boophilus decoloratus, with the most prevalent species found being A. sparsum. Tick loads varied considerably from 20 to 214 ticks per tortoise, with most ticks collected from the head/neck region. Tortoises ranging outside Haller Park had higher tick loads (70–214) compared with tortoises ranging within Haller Park (20–99). Tick load was not correlated with tortoise size. Results indicate that tick loads are related to the habitat range of the tortoises and may indirectly also be related to food preference and host food availability. Implications of the findings and appropriate tick control measures are discussed.
Asylum nursing as a career in the United Kingdom, 1890–1910
Authors: Brimblecombe Neil 
Published: July 2006

Background. Nursing staff in lunatic asylums provided the day‐to‐day care and containment of patients and were the direct occupational ancestors of today's mental health nurses.Aim. This study explores (1) How was asylum nursing seen by asylum nurses themselves and by others, particularly other healthcare workers? (2) What were the demographic characteristics of those who became asylum nurses and what were their patterns of employment?Methods. Information regarding contemporary views of asylum nursing were gathered through searching a range of contemporary journals and other publications. Statistical information regarding patterns of employment was gathered from asylum records and census data.Findings. During the period from 1890 to 1910 the image of asylum nursing was poor. Allegations of brutality continued to effect its image, despite claims by asylum nurses and medical superintendents that such generalizations were unfair and that asylum nursing was at least as valuable as any other from of nursing. The middle class leadership of voluntary hospital general nursing was particularly critical. At the Three Counties Asylum in Southern England, the majority of asylum nurses came from unskilled or semi‐skilled backgrounds. 43% were recruited locally; 43% of nursing staff left after less than a year, and less than a quarter remained after 3 years. Even those individuals thought to be suitable by prior experience, such as ex‐servicemen, often did not stay long. Dismissals were common, especially amongst male staff (22%). The discipline was hard, hours long and the work often unpleasant.Conclusions. For asylum nurses conditions were poor, the work difficult and their public image negative. The reality was that people from working class backgrounds entered asylum nursing at a relatively young age, often travelling some distance to do so, and then many only stayed for short periods. However, some women were able to take advantage of the possibilities offered by asylum work to develop a career for themselves in the absence of other opportunities.
Meta‐synthesis of presence in nursing
Authors: Finfgeld‐Connett Deborah 
Published: July 2006

Aim. This paper reports a meta‐synthesis of the concept of presence.Background. Presence is a complex concept that is vague and poorly defined. It is often confused with other concepts such as caring, empathy, therapeutic use of self, support and nurturance. Adding to this confusion is the fact that presence has been fragmented into numerous types, used indiscriminately and combined with other concepts such as caring.Method. The nursing literature was searched using thecinahl, Dissertation Abstracts and Missouri Bibliographic Information User System databases and the keywords presence, concept analysis, qualitative studies, grounded theory, phenomenology and ethnography. The reference lists of the sources were also scrutinized. Four linguistic concept analyses and 14 qualitative studies of presence were identified and a meta‐analysis was conducting using these.Findings. Presence is an interpersonal process that is characterized by sensitivity, holism, intimacy, vulnerability and adaptation to unique circumstances. It consists of a process in which patients demonstrate a need for and openness to presence. In turn, nurses must be willing to enact presence and practice within an environment that is conducive to it. Nurses must also possess personal and professional maturity and base their practice on moral principles of commitment and respect for individual differences. The process results in enhanced mental well‐being for nurses and patients and improved physical well‐being for patients. In keeping with the nature of a process, the consequences of presence go on to influence its future enactment.Conclusion. Advanced concept analysis methods should be used to further explicate presence and differentiate it from other nursing constructs. Until this is done, scholars are cautioned against parsing the term and combining it with vaguely defined nursing concepts such as caring. Researchers are urged to consider how presence can be preserved using tele‐health technology and in time‐sensitive healthcare settings.
Development of the combined assessment of residential environments (CARE) profiles
Authors: Faulkner Mark , Davies Sue , Nolan Mike , Brown‐Wilson Christine 
Published: July 2006

Aim.  This paper reports the development and initial testing of the combined assessment of residential environments (CARE) profiles, which identify the frequency of positive events over a specified time based on the perceptions of residents, relatives and staff in care home settings.Background.  Despite the well‐known benefits of positive events for subjective well‐being, little is known about the nature of positive events experienced by residents, relatives and staff in care homes. There is also a dearth of tools capable of systematically evaluating how frequently these events occur in this context.Methods.  The CARE profiles were developed and tested between February 2004 and June 2005 with a combined sample of 372 residents, relatives and staff drawn from 11 care homes. An Event Frequency Approach was adopted to create three questionnaires (residents, relatives and staff), each containing 30 consensually valid positive events. The thematic content of these events was balanced for each questionnaire using the Senses Framework as a theoretical model. Once completed, the CARE profiles were tested in four care homes.Results.  Test data from the CARE profiles were used to produce a bar chart showing median frequencies of positive events experienced by residents, relatives and staff during the timeframe in question (e.g. 1 month). These profiles were shown to be internally consistent, with alpha scores ranging from 0·70 to 0·89 for residents, 0·91 to 0·94 for relatives and 0·78 to 0·92 for staff.Conclusion.  We envisage that feedback from the CARE profiles will both reinforce good care home practice and identify areas for change based on the experiences of all major stakeholders. However, further development of the profiles is needed if the experiences of cognitively impaired residents are to be included in the assessment process.
Odour‐mediated long‐range avoidance of interspecific competition by a solitary endoparasitoid: a time‐saving foraging strategy
Authors: TAMÒ CRISTINA , ROELFSTRA LISE‐LORE , GUILLAUME SUZANNE , TURLINGS TED C. J. 
Published: July 2006

Summary

In studies on optimal foraging strategies, long‐range decisions in the pursuit of resource are rarely considered. This is also the case for sympatric parasitoids, which may be confronted with the decision to accept or reject host larvae that are already parasitized by a competing species. They can be expected to reject already parasitized hosts if it is likely that they will lose the resulting intrinsic competition. However, examples of such interspecific host discrimination are rare.
We propose that parasitoids that are not egg‐limited should reject inferior hosts only if it saves them time, and that this will be achieved mainly when the parasitoids are able to detect competitors from a distance. We tested this hypothesis using the sympatric parasitoids Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) and Campoletis sonorensis (Cameron).
C. sonorensis was found to be the superior intrinsic competitor but, upon contact with a host larva, both wasps readily accepted hosts that had already been parasitized by the other species. However, in an olfactometer experiment, C. marginiventris females were found to strongly avoid the odour of their superior competitor.
These results are in accordance with a time optimization scenario, whereby the inferior competitor accepts competition if it costs only an egg, but avoids competition if it may save time that can be allocated to the search for more profitable hosts.
Models on host discrimination strategies in parasitoids had not yet considered discrimination from a distance. Long‐range foraging decisions can also be expected for other organisms that have to choose between resources of varying suitability and profitability.
Spatial variation in resistance and virulence in the host–pathogen system Salix triandra–Melampsora amygdalinae
Authors: NIEMI LENA , WENNSTRÖM ANDERS , HJÄLTÉN JOAKIM , WALDMANN PATRIK , ERICSON LARS 
Published: July 2006

Summary

Host–pathogen interactions in isolated populations may result in the adaptation of pathogens to local hosts. However, results of earlier studies of local adaptation in plant–pathogen systems have been contradictory and it has been suggested that specific, species characteristics, for example distribution, dispersal and the degree of pathogen dependence on the host, are important for the outcome of host–pathogen interactions. In addition, the scale of the study may influence whether or not local adaptation is found.
We argue that local adaptation of the pathogen to the host can be expected in a system where: (i) the pathogen is host‐specific with a short generation time compared with the host; (ii) populations are isolated, allowing localized evolution to occur; and (iii) the study is performed on a geographical scale exceeding the maximum dispersal range of the interacting species.
To test these predictions we examined the within‐ and among‐population variation in resistance and virulence of the plant–pathogen system Salix triandra–Melampsora amygdalinae. The pathogen occurs throughout the whole distribution range of the host, and the area of interest consists of highly isolated, small natural populations.
Resistance and virulence differed both within and between populations and all clones showed a unique resistance pattern. We conclude that M. amygdalinae is locally adapted to the host S. triandra as all pathogen populations have a higher probability of infecting sympatric than allopatric hosts. Furthermore, high resistance in the host population was accompanied by a high virulence in the pathogen population, suggesting that high resistance levels in a host population may select for more virulent pathogen populations, or vice versa.
The nature of host–pathogen interactions differs among systems, and the dynamics of the interaction between S. triandra and M. amygdalinae is governed by characteristics that have resulted in the evolution of local adaptation.
Thus, when studying local adaptation of pathogens to their hosts it is important to consider the biology, as well as the scale of dispersal and spatial distribution of both host and pathogen.
Plant species and functional group effects on abiotic and microbial soil properties and plant–soil feedback responses in two grasslands
Authors: BEZEMER T. MARTIJN , LAWSON CLARE S. , HEDLUND KATARINA , EDWARDS ANDREW R. , BROOK ALEX J. , IGUAL JOSÉ M. , MORTIMER SIMON R. , VAN DER PUTTEN WIM H. 
Published: July 2006

Summary

Plant species differ in their capacity to influence soil organic matter, soil nutrient availability and the composition of soil microbial communities. Their influences on soil properties result in net positive or negative feedback effects, which influence plant performance and plant community composition.
For two grassland systems, one on a sandy soil in the Netherlands and one on a chalk soil in the United Kingdom, we investigated how individual plant species grown in monocultures changed abiotic and biotic soil conditions. Then, we determined feedback effects of these soils to plants of the same or different species. Feedback effects were analysed at the level of plant species and plant taxonomic groups (grasses vs. forbs).
In the sandy soils, plant species differed in their effects on soil chemical properties, in particular potassium levels, but PLFA (phospholipid fatty acid) signatures of the soil microbial community did not differ between plant species. The effects of soil chemical properties were even greater when grasses and forbs were compared, especially because potassium levels were lower in grass monocultures.
In the chalk soil, there were no effects of plant species on soil chemical properties, but PLFA profiles differed significantly between soils from different monocultures. PLFA profiles differed between species, rather than between grasses and forbs.
In the feedback experiment, all plant species in sandy soils grew less vigorously in soils conditioned by grasses than in soils conditioned by forbs. These effects correlated significantly with soil chemical properties. None of the seven plant species showed significant differences between performance in soil conditioned by the same vs. other plant species.
In the chalk soil, Sanguisorba minor and in particular Briza media performed best in soil collected from conspecifics, while Bromus erectus performed best in soil from heterospecifics. There was no distinctive pattern between soils collected from forb and grass monocultures, and plant performance could not be related to soil chemical properties or PLFA signatures.
Our study shows that mechanisms of plant–soil feedback can depend on plant species, plant taxonomic (or functional) groups and site‐specific differences in abiotic and biotic soil properties. Understanding how plant species can influence their rhizosphere, and how other plant species respond to these changes, will greatly enhance our understanding of the functioning and stability of ecosystems.
Intact forests provide only weak resistance to a shade‐tolerant invasive Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.)
Authors: MARTIN PATRICK H. , MARKS PETER L. 
Published: July 2006

Summary

Intact, closed canopied forests appear highly resistant to exotic plant invasions, but there are few experimental studies of this observation. To test this issue and explore the conditions that foster resistance, we experimentally added Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.) seeds to intact forests for 3 years and monitored emergence, survivorship and height growth for 5 years.
Seed additions (250 seeds−1 m2) were replicated in situ in combinations of light (deep shade vs. small gaps), soil fertility (NO3 and pH), and variation in soil moisture as influenced by topography (hill slopes vs. flat areas at slope bases) in five eastern deciduous forests in central New York and southern Connecticut. We then parameterized a model with this data to project long‐term rates of sapling recruitment.
Seedlings had high survival and low growth rates in the deep shade, suggesting that this species readily forms a seedling bank in intact forests. By age 5, annual survivorship reached 93% in deep shade and 98% in small gaps. Median seedling heights were ≤ 10 cm in all treatments after 5 years, though the largest seedlings were markedly taller in gaps. Mean year 5 densities of all experimental seedlings (ages 3–5 years) were 14 seedlings−1 m2 (± 2.4 SE) in the shade and 19 seedlings−1 m2 (± 3.5 SE) in small gaps.
While seedlings colonized in all conditions, resistance to invasion varied markedly; resistance was highest in deeply shaded, acidic conditions (pH < 4.5). Small gaps initially promoted invasion, but by age 4 shade survivorship rates were equivalent to gaps. Higher soil pH (especially > 6) also significantly increased survivorship, particularly in deep shade. Shading's main effect was to suppress height growth. Overall, the model predicted impressive sapling recruitment; even in deeply shaded, acidic conditions, approximately 1% of seeds emerge and survive to become saplings.
Intact forests only weakly resisted A. platanoides colonization, but strongly suppressed its rate of invasion. As such, the frequency of disturbance, though ultimately unnecessary for A. platanoides invasions, will strongly influence its near‐term invasiveness. Dispersal limitation and slow stand dynamics appear to be the primary constraints on its current distribution.