Multiple Audiences and Reputation Building in International Conflicts

Reputational theory of conflict behavior dates back to Schilling's seminal work on bargaining and continues to find both its advocates and critics to date. The authors do not take sides in this debate about the relevance of reputation for bargaining behavior but rather take a modified approach to reputations for resolve and probe some aspects that were largely underexplored in past research. The authors develop the argument that, if facing multiple strategic rivals and having failed in past disputes, a state has an incentive to invest in its reputation for resolute behavior by initiating and escalating conflicts. Their focus is then on both general and immediate deterrence, and while it was standard to tie reputation to a deterrer's past, the authors direct the attention to the challenger's reputation as a potential motivator for its conflictual behavior. This new focus is validated, and the related expectations supported, in the findings from their empirical analysis of strategic rivalries from 1816 to 1999.reputation; past behavior; international audiences; rivalries; militarized disputes; conflict

Histological Evaluation of Direct Pulp Capping with Novel Nanostructural Materials Based on Active Silicate Cements and Biodentine (R) on Pulp Tissue

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Biodentine (R) and two new nanostructured materials based on active silicate cements on exposed tooth pulp of Vietnamese pigs. The study comprised 40 teeth in two Vietnamese pigs (24 months old). After class V cavity preparation, the pulp on each tooth was exposed using a small round bur. The following materials were applied on pulp exposures: Biodentine (R) (10 teeth), ALBO MPCA-I (10 teeth), and ALBO MPCA-II (10 teeth). In the control group, exposed pulp was covered with ProRoot MTA (R) (10 teeth). After the observation period of 28 days, the animals were sacrificed and the teeth prepared for histological analysis. Light microscope was used for the analysis of dentin bridge formation, tissue reorganization and inflammation, and the presence of bacteria in the pulp. In the group of Biodentine (R), a complete dentin bridge was noted in 3 cases, while incomplete dentin bridge in the form of dental islets was detected in 4 cases. Nanostructured material ALBO-MPCA I provided complete dentin bridge formation in 5 teeth, in 3 teeth the formed dentin bridge was incomplete. ALBO MPCA-II showed complete closure of the pulp opening by dentin bridge in 4 samples, while in the same number of teeth it was incomplete. In the control group, 4 teeth showed a complete dentin bridge, whereas in 6 teeth it was incomplete. Histological analysis indicated favourable therapeutic effects of Biodentine (R) and the two materials ALBO-MPCA I and ALBO-MPCA II after teeth pulp capping in Vietnamese pigs. Pulp reaction was similar to that caused by ProRoot MTA (R)