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Selected AbstractsTime and Work,Life Balance: The Roles of ,Temporal Customization' and ,Life Temporality'GENDER, WORK & ORGANISATION, Issue 5 2008Emma Roberts This article poses a challenge to the orthodox binary, conceptualization of work,life balance only made possible by relying on the widespread ,clock time' worldview, which understands employment practices in terms of the basic time = money equation. In particular, it is the balance metaphor which relies on a quantification of both work and life in order to make sense and can therefore be seen to be based on an understanding of time as a measurable and value-able unit. This article seeks to begin the exercise of examining the concept of work,life balance through a broader concept of the temporal dimension than simply limited quantitative notions. Two temporal themes are reported from a study which identified employees who had customized their working pattern to suit the various and multi-dimensional facets of their lifestyles and thereby successfully improved their work,life balance. Participants in this study demonstrated that an improved work,life balance is more about a mind-set that refuses to be dominated by a work temporality and is determined to create ,me time' rather than e.g. simply choosing a four day week or a part-time job. It is argued that the notion of work,life balance is more usefully conceptualized within a broader notion of ,livingscapes' which contain both elements of work and life and that as researchers, our challenge must be to reflect the complexity of this weave within our analyses of individuals' work,life balance. [source] Reading and Writing the Stasi File: on the Uses and Abuses of The File as (auto)biographyGERMAN LIFE AND LETTERS, Issue 4 2003Alison Lewis The opening of the Stasi files in 1992, made possible by the Stasi Documents Legislation, was an important symbolic act of reconciliation between victims and perpetrators. For victims, reading their file provided a means of re-appropriating stolen aspects of their lives and rewriting their life histories. This article argues that the Stasi file itself can be viewed as a form of hostile biography, authored by an oppressive state apparatus, that constituted in GDR times an all-powerful written ,technology of power'. The analogy of secret police files to literary genres enables us to pose a number of questions about the current uses to which the files are being put by victims and perpetrators. Are victims and perpetrators making similar use of their Stasi file in the writing of their autobiographies? What happens when the secret police file is removed from its original bureaucratic context and ,regime of truth' and starts to circulate as literary artefact in new contexts, for instance, as part of victims' and perpetrators' autobiographies? How is the value of the Stasi file now being judged? Is the file being used principally in the services of truth and reconciliation, as originally intended in the legislation, or does it now circulate in ,regimes of value' that place a higher premium on accounts of perpetrators, as can be witnessed in the publication of the fictitious ,autobiography' of the notorious secret police informer, Sascha Anderson? [source] The Chilean Agrarian Transformation: Agrarian Reform and Capitalist ,Partial' Counter-Agrarian Reform, 1964,1980JOURNAL OF AGRARIAN CHANGE, Issue 1 2007Free-Market Neoliberalism, Part 1: Reformism, Socialism This article, which is published in two parts, is an empirical analysis of the Chilean agrarian reform (1964,1973) and ,partial' counter-agrarian reform (1974,1980). Its aim is to explain and interpret their logic and the changes they brought to Chile's agrarian property regime in particular and Chilean life in general. Chile's agrarian reform was successful in expropriating (under the Frei and Allende administrations, 1964,1973) the great estates of the hacienda landed property system. The capitalist ,partial' counter-reform then redistributed them (under the military, 1974,1980). CORA, the country's agency for agrarian reform, expropriated and subsequently redistributed 5809 estates of almost 10 million hectares, or 59 per cent of Chile's agricultural farmland. A large amount of the expropriated land (41 per cent) benefited 54,000 peasant households with small-sized family farms and house-sites. The rest of the farmland benefited efficient and competitive commercial farmers and agro-business and consolidated medium-sized farms. Of central concern is the role of the agrarian reform and subsequent ,partial' counter-reform processes in fostering the transformation of the erstwhile agrarian structure of the hacienda system toward agrarian capitalism. The redistribution of the agricultural land previously expropriated made possible the formation of an agro-industrial bourgeoisie, small commercial farmers, an open land market and a dynamic agricultural sector. While, however, under military rule, a selected few benefited with family farms and became independent agricultural producers, a large majority of reformed and non-reformed campesinos were torn from the land to become non-propertied proletarians in a rapidly modernizing but highly exclusionary agricultural sector. [source] Cover Picture: Bidentate Ligands by Self-Assembly through Hydrogen Bonding: A General Room Temperature/Ambient Pressure Regioselective Hydroformylation of Terminal Alkenes (Adv. Synth.ADVANCED SYNTHESIS & CATALYSIS (PREVIOUSLY: JOURNAL FUER PRAKTISCHE CHEMIE), Issue 11-13 2005Catal. Abstract The cover picture shows a typical industrial reaction, hydroformylation of terminal alkenes, made possible in a test tube with ambient pressure and room temperature with high regioselectivities. For more details, see the Communication by Wolfgang Seiche, Alexander Schuschkowski, and Bernhard Breit on pages 1488,1494. [source] Renewed focus on the developing human neocortexJOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 4 2010Gavin Clowry Abstract Many specifically human psychiatric and neurological conditions have developmental origins. Rodent models are extremely valuable for the investigation of brain development, but cannot provide insight into aspects that are specifically human. The human brain, and particularly the cerebral cortex, has some unique genetic, molecular, cellular and anatomical features, and these need to be further explored. Cortical expansion in human is not just quantitative; there are some novel types of neurons and cytoarchitectonic areas identified by their gene expression, connectivity and functions that do not exist in rodents. Recent research into human brain development has revealed more elaborated neurogenetic compartments, radial and tangential migration, transient cell layers in the subplate, and a greater diversity of early-generated neurons, including predecessor neurons. Recently there has been a renaissance of the study of human brain development because of these unique differences, made possible by the availability of new techniques. This review gives a flavour of the recent studies stemming from this renewed focus on the developing human brain. [source] Soluble Fas (FasB) regulates luteal cell apoptosis during luteolysis in murine ovariesMOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2003Kohji Komatsu Abstract During luteolysis, luteal cell apoptosis is induced by the Fas ligand (FasL)/Fas system. In murine luteal bodies, we demonstrated the expression of mRNA of soluble form of Fas (FasB), which binds to FasL and prevents apoptosis induction. By in situ hybridization, strong expression of FasB mRNA was observed in normal luteal bodies, in which no apoptotic cells were detected, but negative/trace expression in regressing luteal bodies, in which many apoptotic cells were observed. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that Fas and TNF-, were localized in both normal and regressing luteal bodies, but IFN-, was localized only in regressing luteal bodies. Apoptosis was induced in primary cultured luteal cells, when they were pretreated with TNF-, and IFN-, and then incubated with TNF-,, IFN-,, and mouse recombinant FasL (rFasL). However, no apoptosis was detected in the cells, when they were treated with rFasL alone, TNF-, alone, IFN-, alone, TNF-, and rFasL, IFN-, and rFasL, or TNF-, and IFN-,. Fas mRNA expression in cultured luteal cells was up-regulated by the treatment of TNF-,, IFN-,, or TNF-, and IFN-,. The expression of FasB mRNA was down-regulated, when the cells were treated with TNF-, and IFN-,, but its expression was not changed by the treatment of TNF-, alone or IFN-, alone. We conclude that FasB inhibits the apoptosis induction in luteal cells of normal luteal bodies, and that decreased FasB production induced by TNF-, and IFN-, made possible the apoptosis induction in the luteal cells of regressing luteal bodies. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 65: 345,352, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The endocrine control of phase transition: some new aspectsPHYSIOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2003Michael Breuer Abstract. The present article summarizes some recent findings relating to the underlying mechanism of phase transition in locusts, from the nonswarming solitarious phase to the swarming gregarious phase. These phases differ in many traits, such as colouration, morphometrics and behaviour. The most comprehensive theory at present to explain the switch from the nonswarming to the swarming form is that the locusts are brought together by the heterogeneity of the environment. They gather at preferential structures and food plants and physical contact then stimulates individuals to gregarize. Phase change can also be transferred across generations by maternal pheromones. The endocrine regulation of phase polymorphism is still not fully understood. The role of ecdysteroids has been studied, so far with no final conclusion. It is remarkable that the prothoracic glands persist longer in isolated-reared adults, which implies that these glands continue to play a role, although they no longer release important amounts of ecdysteroids. Juvenile Hormone, without any doubt, induces certain solitarious characteristics, such as green colouration, but is not the primary causal factor. A real breakthrough was the discovery of [His7]-corazonin, made possible by using a novel assay system, the Okinawa albino mutant of Locusta migratoria, which was known to be deficient in this hormone. This peptide, which is produced in the brain and is most likely released via the corpora cardiaca, promotes the gregarious black pigmentation. It also plays a role in morphometrical phase change as well as in behavioural alterations. Corazonin is apparently quite an important peptide not only in locusts, but also in insects in general. [source] Critical Remembrance and Eschatological Hope in Edward Schillebeeckx's Theology of Suffering for OthersTHE HEYTHROP JOURNAL, Issue 1 2003Elizabeth K. TillarArticle first published online: 9 OCT 200 Biblical prototypes of suffering for others , the eschatological prophet and messianic high priest , are correlated in the present article with Edward Schillebeeckx's examination of two vital concepts to provide the basis for a critical praxis: anamnesis, or the critical remembrance of history, and eschatological hope. The dialectical opposites of anamnesis and hope, which Schillebeeckx deems crucial for solidarity with suffering and its alleviation, are embodied by the prototypical scriptural figures. Indeed, critical remembrance and hope are intrinsic to the images of Jesus as the ,suffering righteous one' and the eschatological messianic high priest in Schillebeeckx's theology of suffering for others. Both the images and the critical concepts prove essential in his historical reconstruction of the eschatological communities, religious figures, and symbols in Hebrews and 1 Peter, among other New Testament documents. Schillebeeckx's discernment of hope as an eschatological concept is predicated on the transformation of the history of suffering into a constructive and critical force. He understands Jesus' preaching about the coming kingdom of God as a message of hope that emerges from Jesus' consciousness of the contrast between the history of suffering and his experience of God as Abba. Schillebeeckx's exegesis of biblical passages , taken from the Beatitudes, narratives of Jesus' forgiveness of sins, and stories of his table fellowship , lays the foundation for the development of hope as the antidote to suffering and as a presentiment of eschatological salvation. He proposes that the transformation of failure and suffering into a critical and constructive force is Jesus' eschatological legacy to the world and a model for the suffering servants of any age. Moreover, Schillebeeckx's dialectical understanding of remembered history and hope attests to his deep engagement with the Frankfurt School of social critical theory. In his later work (published during the 1970s and 1980s), such critical ideas serve to cultivate an eschatological sensibility and an ethical praxis, made possible by grace mediated through voluntary suffering. [source] Platform biochemicals for a biorenewable chemical industryTHE PLANT JOURNAL, Issue 4 2008Basil J. Nikolau Summary The chemical industry is currently reliant on a historically inexpensive, petroleum-based carbon feedstock that generates a small collection of platform chemicals from which highly efficient chemical conversions lead to the manufacture of a large variety of chemical products. Recently, a number of factors have coalesced to provide the impetus to explore alternative renewable sources of carbon. Here we discuss the potential impact on the chemical industry of shifting from non-renewable carbon sources to renewable carbon sources. This change to the manufacture of chemicals from biological carbon sources will provide an opportunity for the biological research community to contribute fundamental knowledge concerning carbon metabolism and its regulation. We discuss whether fundamental biological research into metabolic processes at a holistic level, made possible by completed genome sequences and integrated with detailed structural understanding of biocatalysts, can change the chemical industry from being dependent on fossil-carbon feedstocks to using biorenewable feedstocks. We illustrate this potential by discussing the prospect of building a platform technology based upon a concept of combinatorial biosynthesis, which would explore the enzymological flexibilities of polyketide biosynthesis. [source] Computational Building Performance Modelling and EcodesignARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, Issue 5 2009Khee Poh Lam Abstract Khee Poh Lam and Ken Yeang call for architects to play a more proactive role in building performance modelling. They look at how this is all made possible with the emergence of accessible, cost-effective web-based systems for practices and the way that this can further be enhanced by integrated performance-based design approaches. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Prostanoid receptor antagonists: development strategies and therapeutic applicationsBRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 1 2009RL Jones Identification of the primary products of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)/prostaglandin synthase(s), which occurred between 1958 and 1976, was followed by a classification system for prostanoid receptors (DP, EP1, EP2 ,) based mainly on the pharmacological actions of natural and synthetic agonists and a few antagonists. The design of potent selective antagonists was rapid for certain prostanoid receptors (EP1, TP), slow for others (FP, IP) and has yet to be achieved in certain cases (EP2). While some antagonists are structurally related to the natural agonist, most recent compounds are ,non-prostanoid' (often acyl-sulphonamides) and have emerged from high-throughput screening of compound libraries, made possible by the development of (functional) assays involving single recombinant prostanoid receptors. Selective antagonists have been crucial to defining the roles of PGD2 (acting on DP1 and DP2 receptors) and PGE2 (on EP1 and EP4 receptors) in various inflammatory conditions; there are clear opportunities for therapeutic intervention. The vast endeavour on TP (thromboxane) antagonists is considered in relation to their limited pharmaceutical success in the cardiovascular area. Correspondingly, the clinical utility of IP (prostacyclin) antagonists is assessed in relation to the cloud hanging over the long-term safety of selective COX-2 inhibitors. Aspirin apart, COX inhibitors broadly suppress all prostanoid pathways, while high selectivity has been a major goal in receptor antagonist development; more targeted therapy may require an intermediate position with defined antagonist selectivity profiles. This review is intended to provide overviews of each antagonist class (including prostamide antagonists), covering major development strategies and current and potential clinical usage. [source] Silence as Gesture: Rethinking the Nature of Communicative SilencesCOMMUNICATION THEORY, Issue 4 2008Kris Acheson Silence and speech are often defined in relation to each other. In much scholarship, the two are perceived as polar opposites; speech enjoys primacy in this dichotomy, with silence negatively perceived as a lack of speech. As a consequence of this binary thinking, scholars remain unable to study the full range of the meanings and uses of silence in human interactions or even to fully recognize its communicative power. Merleau-Ponty described language as a gesture, made possible by the fact that we are bodies in a physical world. Language does not envelop or clothe thought; ideas materialize as embodied language, whether spoken or written. If silence is, as I argue here, as like speech as it is different, perhaps silence, too, can be a gesture. Rather than simply a background for expressed thought, if we considered silence to be embodied, to be a mating of the phenomenal and existential bodies, how might that affect current misconceptions of silence and subsequent limitations on the study of communicative silences? Résumé Le silence comme geste : Repenser la nature des silences communicationnels Le silence et la parole sont souvent définis en relation l'un avec l'autre. Dans une grande partie de la recherche, les deux phénomènes sont perçus comme étant des pôles opposés. La parole jouit de la primauté dans cette dichotomie, le silence étant perçu négativement comme une absence de parole. Conséquence de cette pensée binaire, les chercheurs demeurent incapables d'étudier toute la complexité des significations et des usages du silence dans les interactions humaines, ni même d'en reconnaître complètement le pouvoir communicationnel. Merleau-Ponty décrivait le langage comme un geste, rendu possible par le fait que nous sommes des corps dans un monde physique. Le langage n'enveloppe ni ne vêt la pensée; les idées se matérialisent comme un langage incarné, qu'il soit parlé ou écrit. Si, tel que je le soumets ici, le silence est aussi semblable à la parole qu'il n'en est différent, peut-être alors le silence peut-il être, lui aussi, un geste. Plutôt qu'un simple arrière-plan pour l'expression de la pensée, si nous considérions le silence comme étant incarné, comme étant un accouplement des corps phénoménaux et existentiels, quelles conséquences cela pourrait-il avoir sur les idées fausses que l'on se fait actuellement du silence et sur les limites subséquentes à l'étude des silences communicationnels? Abstract Stille als Geste. Neue Überlegungen zum Wesen kommunikativer Stille Stille und Rede werden oft in Abhängigkeit voneinander definiert und häufig als Gegensätze wahrgenommen, wobei Rede in dieser Dichotomie Vorrang genießt, während Stille eher negativ als das Fehlen von Rede wahrgenommen wird. Als eine Konsequenz dieses binären Denkens, bleibt es Wissenschaftlern unmöglich, das volle Ausmaß von Bedeutungen und Verwendungen von Stille in menschlicher Interaktion zu untersuchen und deren kommunikative Macht zu verstehen. Merleau-Ponty beschrieb Sprache als eine Geste möglich gemacht durch die Tatsache, dass wir Körper in einer physischen Welt sind. Sprache verhüllt oder bekleidet Gedanken nicht, Ideen materialisieren sich als Sprache, gesprochen oder geschrieben. Wenn Stille, und so argumentiere ich hier, vergleichbar aber auch verschieden von Sprache ist, kann man Stille möglicherweise auch als Geste verstehen. Verständen wir Stille als verkörpert, anstatt einfach nur als einen Hintergrund für ausgedrückte Gedanken, als eine Verbindung zwischen phänomenalen und existentiellen Körpern, wie kann dies dann die aktuelle Misskonzeptualisierungen von Stille beeinflussen und daraus folgend Einschränkungen bei der Untersuchung von kommunikativer Stille aufzeigen? Resumen El Silencio como un Gesto: Repensando la Naturaleza de los Silencios Comunicativos El silencio y el habla son a menudo definidos en relación de uno con otro. En muchos estudios, los 2 son percibidos como polarmente opuestos; el habla disfruta de la primacía en esta dicotomía, mientras que el silencio es percibido negativamente como la falta del habla. Como una consecuencia de este pensamiento binario, los estudiosos permanecen inhabilitados para estudiar el rango completo de los significados y usos del silencio en las interacciones humanas, y para reconocer su poder comunicativo. Merleau-Ponty describió el lenguaje como un gesto, hecho posible por el hecho de que somos cuerpos en un mundo físico. El lenguaje no desarrolla ó viste ese pensamiento; las ideas se materializan como personificados en el lenguaje ya sea hablado ó escrito. Si el silencio es, como yo expongo aquí, como el habla así como es diferente del habla, tal vez el silencio pueda ser un gesto también. En vez de ser simplemente un antecedente del pensamiento expresado, si consideramos al silencio como un ser personificado, como una pareja de los cuerpos fenomenales y existentes, cómo podría eso afectar las concepciones corrientes equivocadas sobre el silencio y sus limitaciones subsecuentes para el estudio de los silencios comunicativos? ZhaiYao Yo yak [source] |