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This paper employs the concept of smart power to construct an analytical framework for assessing wartime alliance management. It makes two arguments. First, wartime sources of soft power differ from those obtaining during peacetime. Second, the coerciveness with which an alliance leader wields hard power towards actual or prospective allies should vary inversely with the amount of soft power it possesses. The smart power framework illuminates three types of alliance management failure. The paper’s key contentions are illustrated with examples furnished from the record of US alliance leadership since World War II.

Neorealist and liberal theories advance discrepant explanations for variations in wartime alliance cohesion. Neorealism claims that variations in cohesion are attributable to shifting international...

An in situ localization method for Peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd) that is highly sensitive, has low background signal, has a short specimen processing time and is simple and inexpensive compared to other similar methods, is described. The method is based on SYBR Green reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of pepsin, DNase I pre-treated and FAA-fixed peach leaf sections. The leaves used were derived from healthy and PLMVd infected peach plants, including a plant infected by a Peach Calico variant of the viroid. All steps of the assay, except for the signal detection, were carried out in liquid phase in 0·2 mL PCR tubes instead of on microscope slides, as usually used. Epifluorescence microscopy to detect PLMVd or rbcL (the positive control gene) amplified products revealed a bright signal in the leaf part corresponding to the palisade parenchyma, with sub-cellular localization of the signals in the chloroplasts, the organelles where PLMVd is known to replicate and accumulate. Although the method proved to be effective for the green peach PLMVd infected tissues, a yellow-green background fluorescent signal, sometimes more intense due to overexposure, was observed, presumably due to chlorophyll auto-fluorescence. In contrast, no auto-fluorescence signal was observed in the calico infected albino tissues. This is the first report of using liquid phase in situ RT-PCR for the cellular localization of a plant pathogen.

Yield, susceptibility to Botrytis and levels of antioxidants are important traits of fresh edible flowers. These parameters were determined for 12 garden rose cultivars selected as edible flowers: ‘Mount Shasta’, ‘San Francisco’, ‘Brandy’, ‘Maxim’, ‘Sweet Surrender’, ‘Amadeus’, ‘Eterna’, ‘Trier 2000’, ‘English sachet’, ‘Golden Celebration’, ‘Pat Austin’ and ‘Katharina Zeimet’. Yield of most cultivars ranged between 80 and 300 flowers/plant (for 64 weeks), which is higher than that produced by cultivars suitable for cut flowers. The yield makes the selected garden cultivars suitable for commercial growth as edible flowers. A range of sensitivity to Botrytis has been recorded among the cultivars. The cultivars ‘Golden Celebration’ and ‘Katharina Zeimet’ exhibited the highest sensitivity, while the cultivars ‘English Sachet’, ‘Eterna’, ‘San Francisco’ and ‘Maxim’ exhibited the lowest sensitivity to Botrytis infection. The levels of hydrophillic antioxidants of all cultivars were higher than the hydrophobic antioxidants levels. The cultivar ‘San Francisco’ contained the highest hydrophilic antioxidants and the highest anthocyanine levels. No correlation between antioxidants levels and resistance to Botrytis has been observed. Based on our results we suggest that since the cultivars ‘Golden Celebration’ and ‘Katarina Ziemet’ are highly sensitive to Botrytis infection, they are not suitable to be developed as edible fresh flowers. All other cultivars have a potential to be developed as fresh edible flowers with high antioxidant capacity, however some of the cultivars will require postharvest pretreatments to reduce Botrytis infection.

Ripsman and Levy’s argument merits attention for at least two related reasons. The arst is the renewal of interest in appeasement within the international relations and security studies aelds. Piqued by the repeated use (or misuse) of the appeasement analogy by the administration of George W. Bush, several scholars have recently turned their attention to the international politics of the 1930s to assess what lessons should be drawn from the events of the period for today’s decisionmakers. 2 More speciacally, they question whether appeasement is sometimes justiaed or is always misguided. The second reason is that many of these scholars embrace what might be called a “rational

Subjective outcome assessment instruments may be used to determine whether changes occur as a result of a particular treatment intervention. Since 1991, 11 outcome assessment instruments either specific to or validated for use with cervical spine pathologies have been developed and their psychometric properties critically assessed. Though a systematic review of this subject was published in 2002, it included an analysis of only 5 measures available at that time.To present a description of each of the 11 measures and briefly compare their psychometric properties, reliability, validity, and responsiveness to change.Computer-based searches of MEDLINE and CINAHL were performed to capture all data relevant to the eleven outcome assessment tools currently available.Data regarding descriptions, reliability and validity of 11 outcome measures were found and collated.The choice of which outcome measurement to use becomes a matter of preference based on the particular patient population each clinician treats, the ease of use for the patient and ease of scoring for the clinician, and the domains that are most relevant to a particular patient.

Within the genetically variable population of Dianthus barbatus’’Dagan’’, we identified genetic lines with flowers possessing ethylene insensitivite-related phenotypes. The phenotypes are: Caf + , with a fresh-looking corolla attached to a mature ovary; Inr – , with flowers whose petals do not inroll during flower senescence; and Rfi + , whose flower petals inroll, but recover from inrolling. The frequencies of Caf + , Inr - and Rfi + were 33%, 25% and 75% in the population inspected, respectively. These relatively high frequencies were probably due to continuous selection over the years for flowers with open and long-lasting corollas. By examining the distribution of the genetic lines which express two of these phenotypes, we determined that Caf + , Inr – and Rfi + are independent traits. However, these traits might be associated with male sterility. Exposure of a random sample of the population to exogenous ethylene, followed by examination of the resulting inrolling and wilting, revealed five different ethylene response groups. In one group ethylene enhanced both inrolling and wilting, and most genetic lines within this group exhibited a Caf – phenotype. In two other groups ethylene enhanced either the inrolling or the wilting, and both of the Caf + and Caf – phenotypes were included. Two other groups were completely non-responsive to ethylene, but in one of them the flower life span was twice as long as in the other, and all the genetic lines exhibited the Caf + phenotype. We concluded that the Caf + phenotype is most-likely related to ethylene insensitivity and that the inrolling and wilting are controlled by ethylene, probably via different pathways.

We examined a blind, actuarial analysis of the Rorschach data of the Nuremberg war criminals (NWC) using Exner's (1974) Comprehensive System in an attempt to prove the convergence of the NWC construct along dimensions of psychological (personality) functioning and to prove its discriminability from other appropriate psychiatric and nonpsychiatric comparison groups. The weaknesses of previous research methodologies are examined and discussed vis-à-vis the historical and theoretical developments of the concepts of authoritarianism, dogmatism, obedience to authority, and the development of the Rorschach Inkblot Technique.

Unanswered Threats: Political Constraints on the Balance of Power. By Randall L. Schweller. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2006. 200p. $29.95. In this insightful and elegantly written book, Randall Schweller examines the phenomenon of underbalancing, which he defines as situations in which “threatened countries have failed to recognize a clear and present danger, or, more typically, have simply not reacted to it or, more typically still, have responded in paltry and imprudent ways” (p. 1). The study is motivated by the failure of many states throughout history to act in accordance with the cardinal prediction of structural realist theory that states will tend to balance against rising powers that threaten their survival, through the acquisition of arms and/or allies. Schweller argues that domestic political factors account for this discrepancy, enhancing or diminishing the ability and/or willingness of states to mobilize their national resources in response to systemic dangers.

Objective: To investigate the interexaminer reliability of the prone extended relative leg-length check as described by Activator Methods, Inc. Subjects: Thirty-four subjects were selected from a pool of 52 consecutive patients visiting a private chiropractic office. Methods: Exclusion criteria included congenital or acquired conditions known to affect lower extremity length and inability to lie prone for a 10-minute period. Two experienced chiropractors who specialize in Activator Methods and are “advanced-proficiency rated” by Activator Methods, Inc, assessed each patient in random order for leg length inequality. Findings were recorded as left short leg, equal leg length, or right short leg. Results: The data for 34 subjects were organized in a 3 × 3 contingency table. Total agreement was 85%. A simple, unweighted kappa value yielded κ = 0.66. A disproprortionately greater number of right short leg findings than left short leg findings were observed by both examiners. In only 2 instances were equal leg lengths observed, and both were detected by the same examiner. Because examiners found only 2 of 34 subjects with equal leg lengths, several secondary analyses involving data reductions were conducted. The resulting kappa values were similar to the 3 × 3 analysis. Conclusion: There was good reproducibility between 2 examiners by using the Activator Method to detect leg length inequality in the prone extended position. This study does not address the validity or clinical significance of the measurement method. Future studies should include larger numbers, a wider variety of subjects, and a diversity of examiners. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1999; 22:565–9)

Endothelial cells, because of their unique localization, are constantly exposed to fluid mechanical forces derived by the flowing blood. These forces, and more specifically shear stresses; affect endothelial structure and function, both in vivo and in vitro, and are implicated as contributing factors in the development of cardiovascular diseases. We have demonstrated earlier that the shear stress selectively induces the transcription of several endothelial genes, and have defined a shear stress response element (SSRE) in the promoter of platelet-derived-growth-factor B (PDGF-B), that is shared by additional endothelial shear stress responsive genes. Here we further characterize this SSRE and the nuclear factors that bind to it, and imply the possible role of the endothelium cytoskeleton in transducing shear stress, leading to the expression of PDGF-B/SSRE constructs in transfected endothelial cells exposed to shear stress. We also present, yet a new shear stress response element in the Platelet Derived Growth Factor A promoter, that contains a binding site to the transcription factors egr1/sp1. These results further demonstrate the complexity of gene regulation by hemodynamic forces, and support the important part that these forces have in the physiology and pathophysiology of the vessel wall.

Endothelial injury caused by viruses usually involves viral replication or transformation. We report a novel mechanism of endothelial damage by a toxic viral protein. We have isolated a new retrovirus from hemangiosarcomas which appeared among layer hens. The isolated avian hemangiosarcoma virus (AHV) is capable of inducing hemangiomas in hens in-vivo and causes a cytopathic effect (CPE) and loss of thromboresistance in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). These effects do not require viral replication and can be induced by purified AHV envelope glycoprotein (gp85). AHV causes CPE in BAEC through a typical programmed cell death (apoptosis). Quiescent G0/G1-BAEC are much more sensitive to AHV induced apoptosis than actively dividing cells. These experiments demonstrate the capacity of viral proteins to affect the integrity and functionality of vascular endothelial cells.

Ornamental crops are high-cash crops, grown under greenhouse conditions in semi-arid regions in Israel where a reduction in the native population of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is expected due to routine soil disinfection. The application of AMF inoculum to the soil has been shown to be effective at improving plant growth and enhancing plant resilience to abiotic and biotic stresses. One of our aims is to introduce mycorrhizal application to ornamental crops, and a test case is presented here for two cultivars of lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum), one of the major ornamental crops grown in Israel. Several different methods of AMF application and their effects on growth, yield and vase life were examined in lisianthus grown in two different semi-arid locations in southern Israel. AMF enhanced lisianthus growth and yield, especially when introduced to the growth medium during seeding and to the pit hole during planting. Significantly enhanced growth and yield parameters included flowering stem length (58 ± 0.7 and 65.1 ± 0.7 cm for control and AMF treated, respectively) and number of flowering stems per square meter (73 ± 9 and 106 ± 6 for control and AMF treated, respectively); positive but non-significant effects were recorded on stem weight, number of flowers per stem and vase life of cut flowers. Yield enhancement was recorded under both low and regular phosphorus conditions. Although not significant, higher resilience against two pathogenic fungi was also recorded following AMF inoculation (23 ± 13 and 41 ± 10 surviving plants for control and AMF treated, respectively). Hence, AMF is suggested to be a useful growth amendment for promotion of lisianthus commercial production, and may potentially be applied to additional ornamental crops.

Vascular endothelial cells are a target for blood-borne pathogens which may affect their integrity and thromboresistant properties. Here, we report that cultured bovine and human endothelial cells lose their thromboresistance following interaction with the avian hemangioma-inducing retrovirus. We show that the envelope (env) gene product, glycoprotein 85, is responsible for this effect, which appears soon after infection without viral replication or cell transformation. Induction of thrombogenicity is associated with a reduction in prostacyclin release and increased expression of tissue factor. These observations may explain the occurrence of thrombosis frequently observed in association with the hemangiosarcomas induced by avian hemangioma-inducing retrovirus. These unique endothelial cell-virus interactions may also be a model for the pathogenesis of various vascular diseases.

The morphological features of a spontaneous, multifocal vascular neoplasm of chickens are described. Histologically, the tumor was characterized by areas consisting of freely anastomosing vascular channels with prominent papillary appearance and lined by bland-looking endothelial cells, which alternate with areas resembling cavernous hemangioma. Occasionally solid areas composed of plump, pleomorphic cells were also present. Although there was no clear evidence for metastatic spread, some tumors were obviously invasive. Electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry confirmed the endothelial nature of neoplastic cells, demonstrating in particular pinocytic vesicles, well developed junctional complexes, fragmented basal lamina, occasional Weibel-Palade bodies, and patchy factor VIII-related antigen immunoreactivity. The overall appearance of the tumor was that of a cavernous hemangioma with prominent papillary endothelial hyperplasia. Previously we have shown that the tumor was induced by a newly isolated strain of avian hemangioma retrovirus and in this study we demonstrated typical type C retrovirus particles in the tumor by electron microscopy. It is suggested that this retrovirus-induced avian tumor may serve as a useful model for the study of transformed endothelia and other vascular tumorigenesis.

This note deals with an experience in teaching one course in Principles of Economics at South Central Community College in New Haven, Connecticut. An attempt to radicalize the pedagogy and the content, utilizing Friere's techiques, was resisted by the students, all working class people. The conclusions drawn are: (1) working class stu dents face a contradiction that is not part of the experience of bourgeois students — altering approaches and conditions (even in courses) carry real risks; and (2) praxis and pedagogy must be differentiated along class lines of both the students and instructor.

The endless debates about economic development, ends and means, often reach nightmare proportions for economists engaged in the art of manpower planning. One argument addresses itself to the question of whether or not education should be regarded, and treated in a policy sense, as an investment in human beings; economists support this approach, while educators tend to abhor it. Economists are also often attacked by non-educators for opposing the distribution of education to the maximum number of people as a welfare good.

We isolated a field strain of avian hemangioma retrovirus (AHV) which induces a cytopathic effect (CPE) on cultured avian and mammalian cells shortly after infection. The kinetics of cell killing were dependent on the multiplicity of infection. The CPE on avian and mammalian cells was independent of virus replication, because UV-irradiated virus led to cell death as well. Biochemical and genetic experiments indicated that AHV env gene products were responsible for the CPE. Partially purified AHV envelope glycoproteins (gp85), but not those of the Rous sarcoma virus Prague C strain, induced a CPE. Rous-associated virus type 1, in which the env region was replaced by the AHV gp85 region, induced a CPE on avian and mammalian cultured cells. Therefore, we suggest that CPE is induced by AHV via interaction between viral gp85 and the cell membrane. This mode of CPE is unique among avian sarcoma-leukemia viruses.