bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pseudo-Anosov homeomorphisms with quadratic expansion
Authors: Franks J. , Rykken E.
Published: November 2002

We show that if

f
:
M
→
M

f: M \rightarrow M

is a pseudo-Anosov homeomorphism on an orientable surface with oriented unstable manifolds and a quadratic expanding factor, then there is a hyperbolic toral automorphism on

T

2

\mathbb {T}^2

and a map

h
:
M
→

T

2

h: M \rightarrow \mathbb {T}^2

such that

h
h

is a semi-conjugacy and

(
M
,
h
)

(M, h)

is a branched covering space of

T

2

\mathbb {T}^2

. We also give another characterization of pseudo-Anosov homeomorphisms with quadratic expansion in terms of the kinds of Euclidean foliations they admit which are compatible with the affine structure associated to

f
f

.
Topological sequence entropy for maps of the interval
Authors: Hric Roman
Published: November 2002

A result by Franzová and Smítal shows that a continuous map of the interval into itself is chaotic if and only if its topological sequence entropy relative to a suitable increasing sequence of nonnegative integers is positive. In the present paper we prove that for any increasing sequence of nonnegative integers there exists a chaotic continuous map with zero topological sequence entropy relative to this sequence.
Generalized power symmetric stochastic matrices
Authors: Bapat R. , Jain S. , Prasad K.
Published: November 2002

We characterize stochastic matrices

A
A

which satisfy the equation

(

A
p

)
T

=

A
m

(A^p) ^T = A^m

where

p
>
m

p > m

are positive integers.
Internet use in schools: an investigation into the experiences, abilities and attitudes of teachers and pupils in junior schools
Authors: Irvine Helen , Williams Peter
Published: November 2002

The Government’s pledge to connect every school in Britain to the Internet by 2002 raises many questions. The impact of the Internet in schools is studied from the perspective of teachers, who are responsible for equipping children with Internet skills. It focuses on the experiences of junior schoolteachers, responsible for the children’s development in all subjects. Teachers’ views were sought through questionnaires and interviews. The results suggest that most are very positive towards the Internet. Almost all felt that it would be a useful tool in education, with over two‐thirds hailing its use as an essential skill. However, a number of problems were highlighted, such as inadequate training, limited facilities and lack of government support. Concern was also expressed over the dominance of the Internet when other information resources, such as books and CD ROMs, may be more appropriate.
Elements of helicopter supermanoeuvrability at low flight velocities
Authors: Szumański Kazimierz , Bereżański Jerzy , Szumański Andrzej
Published: November 2002

The results of preliminary tests concerning estimation and widening of helicopter limiting manoeuvre abilities are presented. Research space applies to super‐ and hipermanoeuvrability problems that are especially important for helicopters, because of better manoeuvrability influence on higher safety level and effectiveness in special applications. In airplane engineering, these types of tests are advanced and aerodynamic system improvements are introduced as well as thrust vector control. There are also new manoeuvres recognized for advanced manoevrability airplanes: Cobra, Kulbit, Hook, Bell, Herbst manoeuvre. Although helicopter is “originally” thrust controlled, systematic researches on this field are still not conducted. The paper deals with the problem of helicopter flight mechanics at low flight speeds. The purpose of performed analysis is to achieve possibility of helicopter angular position control within wide range of angular displacements. This is performed by linear and centrifugal acceleration control. Rotor thrust vector control makes those accelerations appear.
How to improve repatriation management
Authors: Paik Yongsun , Segaud Barbara , Malinowski Christy
Published: November 2002

Despite the growing recognition of its impact on successful expatriate management, repatriation continues to be a source of frustration to many human resources managers and the expatriates themselves. This study is designed to investigate underlying reasons for the failure of repatriation by comparing and contrasting the views of human resource managers and those of expatriates. Based on in‐depth interviews and mail surveys conducted in the USA, Scandinavia and the UK, this study concludes that discrepancy between the two parties in terms of motivations and expectations adversely influences the outcome of repatriation, often resulting in high attrition rates upon reentry to the home country. The paper also discusses similarities and differences between the US and Scandinavian respondents.
Politics, society and financial sector reform in Bangladesh
Authors: Chowdhury Anis
Published: November 2002

Examines the financial sector reform experience of Bangladesh. Finds that, while there have been some improvements in competition and efficiency, loan defaults still remain a significant problem. Also finds urban bias in loan allocation and shift of resources away from the rural sector. The main obstruction in the area of loan recovery is political interference. Provides a principal‐agent explanation of politicians’ behavior. Concludes that effective implementation of an optimal policy mix depends on complex political and institutional factors. Agues that without moral norms donor agency‐engineered formal institutional reforms become meaningless. Emphasizes the role of civil society organizations in creating and maintaining ethical social behavior, when state agents themselves are involved in fraudulent activities. In the absence of generalized morality and in a society where transactions are still guided predominantly by relationships, perhaps market‐oriented policy reform may increase transactions cost.
Performance measurement in the public sector: strategies to cope with the risks of performance measurement
Authors: de Bruijn Hans
Published: November 2002

Many public, professional organizations have introduced performance measurement systems in the belief that they will lead to a transparent organization, offering incentives for performance and able to account for its performance. These systems produce a large number of perverse effects, however. The article presents five successive strategies aimed at preventing these effects where possible: tolerating competing product definitions; banning a monopoly on interpreting production figures; limiting the functions of and forums for performance measurement; strategically limiting the products that can be subjected to performance measurement; and using a process perspective of performance in addition to a product perspective.
Meeting the challenge of change in tertiary level environmental education in South Africa
Authors: Dewar Neil , Shippey Karen
Published: November 2002

At present, an historical conjuncture of separate and essential unrelated developments concerning environmental management are occurring in South Africa. These include the issues of standards assurance, certification of environmental practitioners and the development of curricula for a professional science degree at a tertiary level. All these are occurring in the context of a rapidly expanding job market into which graduates with widely varying educational standards and practical competence are entering. This paper reports on a survey of professionals in environmental impact assessment and environmental management in South Africa which elicited opinions on the quality and appropriateness of professional training. It seeks to inform debate concerning these topics and to highlight limitations in the structure and content of contemporary education. It is argued that there is little standardization across curricula and that the core competencies as recognized by professionals are frequently being neglected.
Ethical dimension of Russian and American entrepreneurs
Authors: Hirsrich Robert D. , Gratchev Mikhail V.
Published: November 2002

Given today’s hypercompetitive global economy, it is important to understand the ethical attitudes and standards of entrepreneurs in the US as well as in the other parts of the world. This study of ethical attitudes and standards is grounded in theory and previous research. One hundred and sixty‐five entrepreneurs from the US and 159 entrepreneurs from Russia were surveyed using a measuring instrument containing binary response questions, scenarios and comprehensive demographic information. The study confirmed our expectations and indicated that entrepreneurs in the US and Russia are different with respect to their ethical codes and attitudes.
Identifying the skill requirements of the workforce in SMEs: findings from a European Social Fund project
Authors: Keogh William , Stewart Victoria
Published: November 2002

As market trends evolve and core business activities shift into new territories, there is a need for companies to facilitate a corresponding change in the skills base of the workforce. This paper reports the findings of a European Social Fund (ESF) Objective 4 project, which was carried out throughout 1998/1999. Fourteen innovative, technology‐based small and medium‐sized enterprises were interviewed with the aim of investigating the processes currently in place to aid in the establishment of a skilled workforce, and the extent to which future skill requirements were identified. The research methodology involved a series of semi‐structured interviews with owner‐managers, managing directors and other staff within the sample companies. The first interview, involving 20 companies, allowed general company information to be collected and interviewees were questioned about business planning and those factors considered to be of strategic importance. The second interview, involving 14 of the original 20 companies, investigated human resource issues in depth. Respondents provided information about staff recruitment, retention and training and the extent to which these issues were integrated into strategic plans. The study used Investors in People (IiP) guidelines to identify potential models of best practice and therefore to aid in the production of the research questionnaire. It was found that the majority of respondent companies did not use a sophisticated approach to identify current and future staffing needs. Recruitment and staff development were addressed as and when required, thereby catering for immediate operational needs. Only three of the 14 companies had formal training plans in place, which integrated human resource plans with long‐term strategic business plans. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 23rd Institute for Small Business Affairs Policy and Research Conference, November 1999, Leeds, UK.
Towards inter‐organisational empowerment? employee participation in the development of a network of small enterprises
Authors: Tell Joakim
Published: November 2002

In this paper, a unique development in a network of small enterprises is presented and discussed. This is the creation of a network of employees that, in the first phase, had a function in parallel with the network of their managers, and which, over time, has led to tighter integration, by means of incorporating more employees in development work. The importance of trust and dialogue will be highlighted as well as the significance of both explicit and tacit knowledge. Finally, attention will be drawn to this network structure as a form of inter‐organisational empowerment of employees. This is an extended and modified version of a conference paper that was written by Marieke Hoekstra, Max Lundberg and Joakim Tell for the 5th Annual International Conference on Post‐compulsory Education and Training, Queensland, Australia, 26‐28th November, 1997.
Marketing in supported employment enterprises – Part 1: case studies
Authors: Simpson Mike , Taylor Nick , Padmore Joanne
Published: November 2002

Supported employment enterprises (SEEs) are commercial enterprises that provide meaningful, gainful employment, training and development opportunities for people with a disability. Hence, SEEs are run specifically to provide employment. SEEs, with the exception of Remploy, represent a unique sector of SMEs owned and run by local authorities and charities. The Supported Employment Procurement and Consultancy Service (SEPACS) provides SEEs with per capita funding for disabled employees, capital grants for premises and equipment, grants for marketing research, business advice and performance monitoring. SEPACS is part of the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE). This paper presents some case studies of SEEs in the Yorkshire area. The work explains the complex dificulties facing these organisations and illustrates the different approaches used to cope with these situations. Many SEEs are under threat of closure or radical change in their function as employers of disabled people. This work investigates these issues through selected illustrative case studies. The general weakness of marketing strategies and plans in these organisations is highlighted and related to the impact of SEPACS and local authority policies and practices. This work establishes the important role that marketing strategies and plans could have in ensuring the future survival and growth of these companies.
Practices of successful small and medium‐sized exporters: the use of market information
Authors: Bradshaw Robert , Burridge Mark
Published: November 2002

This paper investigates the international market research activities of 96 successful small and medium‐sized exporters. The research focuses upon the types of information considered most important for decision making and the various sources that these enterprises use to obtain the information. The empirical work suggests successful firms put much greater emphasis on the information required for long‐term strategic planning rather than the day to day operations of the business. The vast majority of the firms used internal sources for this information. Strong statistical evidence is presented to suggest that the firms under investigation actively use the information they collect for decision making, rather than simply paying lip service to the concept of market research. This work makes an important contribution to the literature, because it represents one of very few empirical studies which provide support for the widely held belief that collection and subsequent use of market information is an important feature of successful exporters’ behaviour.
Strategic complexity and success – small firms’ strategies in a mature market
Authors: Hewitt‐Dundas Nola
Published: November 2002

This paper develops a typology of strategic options for small firms in the furniture industry and examines the extent to which firms are re‐engineering their strategies in response to profit performance. Empirical analysis is based on data from 39 firms with between 10 and 100 employees in the Irish furniture industry. Three main results emerge from the analysis. First, firms in the Irish furniture industry predominantly adopt “simple” business development strategies. Secondly, in terms of profit performance, we find no evidence that simple strategies unambiguously outperform more complex approaches. Instead, the success of both simple and complex business strategies is directly related to the strength of firms’ resource base. Finally, systematic differences were found in firms’ ability or willingness to re‐engineer their strategies in the light of their profit performance.
Database‐backed library websites: a case study of the use of PHP and MySQL at the University of Nottingham
Authors: Gardner Mike , Pinfield Stephen
Published: November 2002

This paper discusses the advantages of database‐backed websites and describes the model for a library website implemented at the University of Nottingham using open source software, PHP and MySQL. As websites continue to grow in size and complexity it becomes increasingly important to introduce automation to help manage them. It is suggested that a database‐backed website offers many advantages over one built from static HTML pages. These include a consistency of style and content, the ability to present different views of the same data, devolved editing and enhanced security. The University of Nottingham Library Services website is described and issues surrounding its design, technological implementation and management are explored.
Developments in networked moving images for UK higher education
Authors: Atkinson Jeremy
Published: November 2002

The paper provides an overview of recent developments in the provision of networked moving image and sound resources for UK higher and further education, initiated by JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee). The outcomes of the Imagination/Universities Network Pilot Project based at the universities of Glamorgan and Glasgow are outlined, and details are given of the work of JISC’s Moving Pictures and Sound Working Group, including the setting up of two national services (a Managing Agent and an Advisory Service) for moving picture and sound resources. Information is also given on four major new projects in this area funded as part of JISC’s programme to develop the DNER (Distributed National Electronic Resource) for learning and teaching, and the technical opportunities and challenges presented by networked moving picture and sound development are discussed.
Cross‐sectoral collaboration in the choice and implementation of a library management system: the experience of the University of Edinburgh and the National Library of Scotland
Authors: Cannell Sheila , Guy Fred
Published: November 2002

This paper discusses cross‐sectoral collaboration in procuring and implementing a new library management system. After a historical review of collaboration in this area in the UK and other countries, it focuses on the joint purchase of the Voyager system (supplied by Endeavor Information Systems Inc.) by Edinburgh University and the National Library of Scotland. The differing missions and automation histories of the two institutions are discussed, followed by a practical summary of the procurement and implementation processes. The theoretical and practical advantages and disadvantages of this form of collaborative approach between academic and government organisations are described.
Digitisation projects at Durham University Library – an overview
Authors: Pan Rosalind , Higgins Richard
Published: November 2002

This paper provides a brief overview of some of the digitisation projects currently or recently undertaken at Durham University Library. The projects cover the range of the collection and include: digitising past examination papers, an electronic reserve pilot project, digitising photographs and digitisation of pre‐Ordnance Survey maps and topographical prints. The funding, technical base, standards used, progress and deliverables from the projects are described. A number of broader issues which have arisen are described.
Digital Dilemmas: electronic challenges for the scientific journal publisher
Authors: Mabe Michael A
Published: November 2002

Excited by what has now become possible, paricipants in the creation of the new digital library often overlook fundamental (often implicit) aspects of the paper paradigm that still need to be maintained in the digital universe. In the realm of scholarly and sxientific communication, ths issues of first publication, version control, referencing version control, referncing, stable and immutable archives, as well as strategic issues blurring the distinctions between the information players all have to be reconsidered. These matters are reviewed with an indication of what has and has yet to be achieved
The shifting terminologies of information.
Authors: Bawden David
Published: November 2002

At the heart of any discussion of the information sciences, at least when this discussion is held in the English language, lies the problem of the variant, and shifting, set of concepts and meanings of the terms ‘library’ and ‘information’. The term ‘information’, in particular, has a variety of meanings in different contexts and communities of discourse, providing an excellent example of Wittgenstein‘s language game. This implies that any terminology built around this central concept is in danger of being constructed on ’shifting sands’. This article outlines, for the English language only, some of these diverse meanings of information, and their consequences for the terminology of the information sciences. It focuses on the variant relationships between information and related concepts, particularly data and knowledge. It also includes an account of the view information taken in the hard and soft methodologies of system science, as well as the new discipline of ‘information physics’. From this, some remarks may be made on the changing meanings of the complex terms such as ‘information technology’ and ‘information literacy’, as well as those complex terms involving ‘management’, information management, knowledge management, document management etc. A similar, though shorter, treatment will de given to terminology around the ‘library’ concept, particularly in view of the change toward viewing a library as an organised virtual information space, rather than physical environment.
Learning area network: information dissemination and online discussion in an education environment: the Capabil‐IT‐y project
Authors: Williams Peter
Published: November 2002

The development of undergraduate key skills programmes has been a major concern for some years now, recently given added impetus by the Dearing report. This paper discusses the development, implementation and evaluation of web based key skills materials at the University of North London. Take up of these was positively correlated with academic success, although misuse of online discussion fora was evident. Lecturers and students differed markedly in their perception and evaluation of the system. Many of the advantages trumpeted by academics were dismissed by students, who felt that material posted online gave them extera work; represented an abrogation of lecturers’ teaching duties and shifted printing costs from the institution to the student. Network and other access problems caused further disenchantment. The paper concludes that moree attention needs to be paid both to user needs and attitudes, and to the resource implications of running such a system.
What chance serious debate in the modern media?
Authors: Cole Peter
Published: November 2002

A content analysis of the coverage of European Union stories in British daily newspapers. Three months of newspapers were scanned an a daily basis and their pro and anti stance monitored. Includes an analysis of websites. The results show that for both hardcopy newspapers and their online equivalents the anti‐European press is passionate in its beliefs, whereas the pro‐European press largely solid but unexciting in theirs. Concludes with the view that in political and newspaper speak Europe is just not a ‘heart’ issue.
Political parties on the Net ‐ 4 years closer to cyber‐utopia?
Authors: Herman Eti
Published: November 2002

This paper examines the websites of 11 political parties in the run up to the general election of 7th June 2001, to determine whether parties have got to grips with the Internet as a medium for information delivery and campaigning. The websites of all the parties were analysed; and their content, design, interactivity, multimedia features and currency evaluated. Overall, the parties appeared to have developed a more professional and corporate attitude to web design since 1997, and certainly made efforts to keep their web pages up to date. However, the parties tended to conform to a rather sterile design lacking in multimedia features, and mounted only predictable content. Only a few parties had made any special effort to draw users to their websites. Similarly, although interactive features were present, few of these allowed more than a token input into party policy.
Restructuring the university library: a North American perspective
Authors: Moran Barbara B.
Published: November 2002

As a result of rapid environmental changes, organisations of all types are rethinking their organisational structures in an attempt to provide greater effectiveness and efficiency. A few years ago business process re‐engineering (BPR) was considered the most promising way to restructure an organisation, but has become less popular as shortcomings associated with the process have become evident. Today, greater emphasis is being placed upon modifying the actual organisational structure. Most restructured organisations have moved away from rigid hierarchies to flatter, more flexible structures. Many of the same forces (including increased automation, changing information needs and expectations of users, reduced budgets and the need for staff to have more autonomy over their own work) that have precipitated the reshaping of other organisations have also affected academic libraries. This paper describes some of the factors leading to changes in the organisational structures of academic libraries and provides an overview of trends, excluding convergence, discernible in North America. The paper includes suggestions for steps to be taken to facilitate successful reorganisations, and comments on possible future developments that might radically alter the organisational structures of academic libraries.
Economic aspects of a national electronic reserve service
Authors: Halliday Leah , Oppenheim Charles
Published: November 2002

Economic aspects of a national electronic reserve service (NERS) were explored using Ithink Analyst, a modelling software package. A model was developed and simulations were used to monitor the effect of variations in the values of key model elements. The model was based on developments within the UK HE community and primarily on Higher Education ON demand (HERON), a national service which is part‐funded by the UK HE funding councils. The two principal activities of HERON are rights clearance and digitisation but the service is also building a repository of digitised texts which are stored for future use to avoid duplication of effort. Model elements were manipulated to compare the cost per student of providing reserve materials using this service with the cost per student of a traditional print service. The level of overlap in materials required by different universities using the service was varied as was the copyright fee paid to rights holders for use of their texts. The results suggest that this service is extremely expensive for a library when compared with an equivalent print service. Furthermore, if the service operated within the library budget for reserve materials, the income generated for publishers would be a fraction of that generated from selling print copies to libraries at the current rate. The authors conclude that as a whole this service is inefficient. Specific elements of the service, e.g. the copyright clearance function, may be efficient in a different context.
Library and librarian image as motivators and demotivators influencing academic staff use of university libraries
Authors: Mills John , Bannister Marion
Published: November 2002

This paper commences with a discussion of the findings of research carried out for a PhD into motivators and demotivators linked to information‐seeking behaviour. Library and librarian image was discovered to be both a motivator and a demotivator in the choice of whether or not to use the library or certain information sources. The paper then moves into discussions of our attempts to develop a practical instrument suitable for the evaluation of library and librarian image formation.
Assessing the quality of library and information services for United Kingdom health professionals and students: a comparison of the National Health Service and higher education approaches and the way forward
Authors: Hewlett John , Walton Graham
Published: November 2002

The paper examines the processes of evaluating the quality of two library and information services for health professionals in the UK: higher education (HE) health library and information services and those of the National Health Service (NHS). Both are principally serving the same user group – clinicians at various stages in their professional lives. Health professionals need access to services from libraries in both sectors for their initial pre‐qualification course. The concept of life‐long learning has strengthened the need for clinicians to be able to locate relevant information when and where they need it. This need for dual access is continued after becoming qualified when they undertake continuing professional development, complete research, deliver evidence‐based care and help patients with their information needs. Despite NHS and HE health libraries serving the same user group there are many differences between libraries in the two sectors. The level of difference is discussed, demonstrating that the quality processes are often diametrically opposed.
Electronic records management in Malaysia: the need for an organisational and legal framework
Authors: Johare Rusnah
Published: November 2002

Information technology has led to rapid and dynamic changes in the way government and business operate. The introduction of computers helps government administration in achieving efficiency and adding value to the conduct of government business transaction. The Malaysian Government has taken a pragmatic approach to the advancement of information technology by establishing a mega Electronic Government (EG) project in the form of a Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) amidst the legacy systems. This paper seeks to demonstrate the nature of the EG initiatives and the legacy systems and discusses how the National Archives of Malaysia responded to the mounting pressure to address records management problems associated with the legacy systems and the EG.
The story of the Australian recordkeeping competency standards
Authors: Picot Anne
Published: November 2002

In July 2001 a comprehensive training package for business services successfully jumped its first hurdle on the way to endorsement when the Australian National Training Authority passed it onto the National Quality Training Council for quality checking. The Business Services Training Package includes a revised set of recordkeeping competency units based on the 1997 Records and Archives Competency Standards. The revised standards have been packaged into recommended qualifications which embrace both specialist recordkeeping qualifications and general business services qualifications. The training package may be used to construct training programs through a range of levels, from schoolleavers entering the workforce to do office work, through to professional development programs for experienced recordkeeping professionals. The process of re‐organising the 1997 competency standards into training packages has been a subject of controversy in the industry. This article provides an account of the original project to develop records management and archives competency standards and the subsequent revision project in the context of major changes in the tertiary education sector in Australia.
Developing a pattern language for fashion innovation management
Authors: Le Pechoux Beatrice , Little Trevor J. , Honeycutt Thomas L.
Published: November 2002

This paper follows a previous paper which was published in Volume 5 Number 3 describing how a pattern language focusing on the initial creative phase of the apparel design process can be useful for innovation management. The patterns define the links between marketing and design knowledge, activities, constraints and resources throughout the process to optimise its efficiency, effectiveness, and the market success of its end‐products. Developing the pattern language involved identifying marketing and design components that are crucial in the initial creative phase of apparel design, and setting them into a model indicating their links to each other and to each of the process stages. The model developed provides a generic framework, or archetype, of apparel design creativity, which is presented in its pattern format in this paper. A total of 14 other patterns were developed around this archetype to grasp its dynamics by defining the links that support and articulate its structure, stages and components. The initial working model of the pattern language was distributed to six design experts for input. Their feedback was analysed, synthesised and integrated into a refined and validated version of the pattern language.
Measuring perceived service quality of fashion stores: a test‐retest reliability investigation
Authors: Leung Chun‐sun , Kin‐man To Chester
Published: November 2002

Using a test‐retest methodology, an established measurement scale for consumer‐perceived service quality in fashion retailing was further evaluated in terms of reliability. Results indicate that the scale possesses, relative to another popular nonindustry‐specific scale, high internal consistency reliability. However, in terms of temporal reliability, the scale is relatively inferior. Suggestions are also made for further study, as to why the scale is unstable.
hetL
Overexpression Stimulates Heterocyst Formation in
Anabaena
sp. Strain PCC 7120
Authors: Liu Duan , Golden James W.
Published: November 2002

The cyanobacterium
Anabaena
sp. strain PCC 7120 forms single heterocysts about every 10 to 15 vegetative cells along filaments. PatS is thought to be a peptide intercellular signal made by developing heterocysts that prevents neighboring cells from differentiating. Overexpression of the
patS
gene suppresses heterocyst formation. The
hetL
gene (all3740) was isolated in a genetic screen to identify genes involved in PatS signaling. Extracopy
hetL
allowed heterocyst formation in a
patS
overexpression strain.
hetL
overexpression from a heterologous promoter in wild-type
Anabaena
PCC 7120 induced multiple-contiguous heterocysts (Mch) in nitrate-containing medium. The predicted HetL protein is composed almost entirely of pentapeptide repeats with a consensus of A(D/N)L*X, where * is a polar amino acid. Thirty
Anabaena
PCC 7120 genes contain this repeat motif. A synthetic pentapeptide corresponding to the last 5 amino acids of PatS, which suppresses heterocyst formation in the wild type, did not suppress heterocyst formation in a
hetL
overexpression strain, indicating that HetL overexpression is affecting heterocyst regulation downstream of PatS production. The transcription regulator NtcA is required for the initiation of heterocyst formation.
hetL
overexpression allowed the initiation of heterocyst development in an
ntcA
-null mutant, but differentiation was incomplete.
hetR
and
hetC
mutations that block heterocyst development are epistatic to
hetL
overexpression. A
hetL
-null mutant showed normal heterocyst development and diazotrophic growth, which could indicate that it is not normally involved in regulating development, that it normally plays a nonessential accessory role, or perhaps that its loss is compensated by cross talk or redundancy with other pentapeptide repeat proteins.
Lignin degrading system of white-rot fungi and its exploitation for dye decolorization
Authors: Shah Vishal , Nerud Frantisek
Published: November 2002

With global attention and research now focused on looking for the abatement of pollution, white-rot fungi is one of the hopes of the future. The lignin-degrading ability of these fungi have been the focus of attention for many years and have been exploited for a wide array of human benefits. This review highlights the various enzymes produced by white-rot fungi for lignin degradation, namely laccases, peroxidases, aryl alcohol oxidase, glyoxal oxidase, and pyranose oxidase. Also discussed are the various radicals and low molecular weight compounds that are being produced by white-rot fungi and its role in lignin degradation. A brief summary on the developments in research of decolorization of dyes using white-rot fungi has been made.Key words: lignin degradation, white-rot fungi, laccase, peroxidase, radicals, dye decolorization.
EDITORIAL
Authors: PAL NIKHIL R. , PAL SRIMANTA
Published: November 2002

Irrespective of the way computational intelligence (CI) is defined, its components should have the following characteristics: considerable potential in solving real world problems, ability to learn from experience, capability of self-organizing, and ability of adapting in response to dynamically changing conditions and constraints. To summarize, it should display aspects of intelligent behavior as observed in humans.

In view of these, we assume that the major ingredients of a computational intelligence system are artificial neural networks, fuzzy sets, rough sets, and evolutionary computation. Some other components that may be parts of computational intelligence (CI) systems are artificial life and immuno computing. It is a synergistic combination of all these components.
OPTIMAL PROOFS OF DETERMINACY II
Authors: NEEMAN ITAY
Published: November 2002

We present a general lemma which allows proving determinacy from Woodin cardinals. The lemma can be used in many different settings. As a particular application we prove the determinacy of sets in [Formula: see text], n ≥ 1. The assumption we use to prove [Formula: see text] determinacy is optimal in the base theory of [Formula: see text] determinacy.
Reply to Volker Berghahn
Authors: Anderson Margaret Lavinia
Published: November 2002

I am grateful to Volker Berghahn for the chance to clarify our differences as well as for the characteristic civility of his critique. In what follows, I will 1) take issue with his view of German historiography; 2) rebut his charge that the recent scholarship has left us with a “fragmented,” ultimately undecipherable picture of the Kaiserreich; and 3) explain why I think my own argument in Practicing Democracy, which he agrees takes seriously the oppressive features of German society, is more persuasive than his picture of “deterioration to the point of impasse and ungovernability.”
Effect of a platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist, SR 27417A, on PAF-induced gas exchange abnormalities in mild asthma
Authors: Gomez FP , Roca J , Barbera JA , Chung KF , Peinado VI , Rodriguez-Roisin R
Published: November 2002

Inhaled platelet-activating factor (PAF), both in normals and in asthmatic patients, provokes transient systemic effects, neutropenia, bronchoconstriction and arterial oxygenation abnormalities similar to those shown in spontaneous exacerbations of asthma. To investigate the efficacy of a new PAF-receptor antagonist, SR 27417A, on all these changes after PAF challenge, 12 nonsmoking patients (four females and eight males) (mean+/-SEM) age 24+/-1 yrs with mild asthma (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 93+/-3% predicted) were studied in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over fashion 2 weeks apart. PAF aerosol challenge (18 microg) was carried out 3 h after oral administration of either SR 27417A (20 mg) or placebo. Respiratory system resistance (Rrs) and arterial blood gases and neutrophil cell counts were measured at baseline, before compound/placebo administration, and at 5, 15 and 45 min after PAF. Compared to vehicle, SR 27417A brought about moderate attenuation of PAF-induced neutropenia at 5 min (by 140%; p<0.025), and rebound neutrophilia at 15 and 45 min (p<0.025), increases of Rrs (by 90-65%) (p<0.01) and of alveolar-arterial pressure difference for oxygen (PA-a,O2) at 5 min (by 68%) and 15 min (by 63%), and decreases of arterial oxygen tension (Pa,O2) at 5 min (by 57%; p<0.025, each). Furthermore, systemic effects and platelet aggregation tests (p<0.001) were abolished after the administration of the compound. We conclude that SR 27417A is effective in inhibiting systemic, cellular and pulmonary effects after platelet-activating factor challenge in patients with mild bronchial asthma.
Persistence of sputum eosinophilia in children with controlled asthma when compared with healthy children
Authors: Cai Y , Carty K , Henry RL , Gibson PG
Published: November 2002

We aimed to describe induced sputum cell counts in healthy nonasthmatic children, and to compare these to children with controlled and uncontrolled asthma. Following clinical assessment and spirometry, ultrasonically nebulized hypertonic saline was used to induce sputum from children with asthma (n=50) and without asthma (n=72). Sputum was dispersed and cell counts performed to yield total and differential cell counts. Specific stains were used for eosinophil and mast cell counts. All of the children with asthma were receiving inhaled and/or oral corticosteroids. Current asthma control was assessed in terms of symptoms and lung function. Children were classified as controlled on inhaled corticosteroids (no current symptoms, normal lung function n=15), current symptomatic asthma (n=16) and asthma exacerbation (n=11). It was found that eosinophils comprised a median 0.3% (interquartile range (IQR): 0, 1.05) of cells in sputum from healthy children. Sputum eosinophils (4.3% (IQR: 15, 14.1) p=0.0005) and epithelial cells (14% (IQR: 6, 19.4) p=0.0005) were significantly higher in children with asthma than in nonasthmatic children. Children whose asthma was controlled, as well as those with symptoms, had more sputum eosinophils and epithelial cells than the nonasthmatics. Mast cells were found in the sputum of only four of the 42 children with asthma. This study demonstrates that eosinophilic airway inflammation and epithelial damage can occur in children with asthma. Airway inflammation persists even in those children who are receiving inhaled corticosteroids, have normal lung function and good symptomatic control of their disease.
Haemodynamics in children during rest and exercise: methods and normal values
Authors: Rosenthal M , Bush A
Published: November 2002

Measuring haemodynamic performance in children is either invasive, and thus unacceptable, or noninvasive when the measured variable is often remote from the true variable. Measuring only maximum performance variables relies too heavily on motivation, especially in disease groups. We describe a method for the measurement of haemodynamic performance using respiratory mass spectrometry during rest, exercise and recovery therefrom. One hundred and six healthy children (55 male, 51 female) aged 8-16.9 yrs underwent an identical exercise protocol. Following studies at rest, they initially bicycled at 25 W x m(-2), increasing every 3 min by 15 W x m(-2) until exhaustion, after which measurements were made during recovery. Effective pulmonary blood flow, stroke volume, oxygen consumption, arteriovenous oxygen difference and functional residual capacity (FRC) together with estimates of pulmonary capillary blood volume and transit time were assessed at every exercise stage using inert gas rebreathing techniques. Haemodynamic performance is highly dependent on surface area, age, gender and pubertal stage. Many parameters, for example transfer factor, demonstrate pubertal stage-dependent differences at identical workloads even after correction for size. Females have a lower capillary blood volume at rest compared to age and size-matched males, but it is equalized during exercise. FRC unexpectedly rose with exercise, and peak exercise was associated with a falling stroke volume in 91% (95% CI 84-96%) of children, a possible demonstration of Starling's law of the heart. Oxygen pulse (oxygen consumption/cardiac frequency) is a very poor marker for pulmonary blood flow. Normal values are provided for all haemodynamic parameters for rest and every exercise stage for all subgroups of children. This should allow accurate comparison of normal and disease groups in future.
Effects of pulmonary and intercostal denervation on the response of breathing frequency to varying inspiratory flow
Authors: Mitrouska I , Bshouty Z , Younes M , Georgopoulos D
Published: November 2002

In mechanically ventilated awake and sleeping humans, it has been shown that increasing inspiratory flow rate (V'I) exerted a reflex excitatory effect on respiratory output. Mechanoreceptors located in intercostal muscles or within the lung have been suggested as possible pathways that may mediate the excitatory effect of V'I. To test this, five patients with bilateral lung transplantation (LTP) and eight quadriplegics with spinal cord transection at the level of C6-C7 (QP) were studied. Patients were connected to a volume cycle ventilator in the assist volume-control mode and V'I was randomly changed. V'I pattern was square and all breaths were patient-triggered. V'I values of 30, 60 and 90 L x min(-1) were studied. Each level of V'I was sustained for 15 breaths. Airway pressures, end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), airflows and volumes were measured breath by breath. Thirty seven trials in LTP and sixty in QP, where V'I was randomly changed between 30 and 90 L x min(-1), were analysed. In both groups of patients, minute ventilation increased and total breath duration decreased significantly as V'I increased. These changes were complete in the first breath after V'I transition, without evidence of adaptation of the response. The magnitude of the response did not differ between the two groups of patients and was comparable to that observed previously in conscious normal subjects. We conclude that the excitatory effect of inspiratory flow rate on breathing frequency persists in patients who have pulmonary or intercostal denervation. These results do not favour receptors located within the lung (below the resection lines) or in the intercostal muscles to mediate the response of breathing frequency to flow rate.
Reproducibility of twitch mouth pressure, sniff nasal inspiratory pressure, and maximal inspiratory pressure
Authors: Maillard JO , Burdet L , van Melle G , Fitting JW
Published: November 2002

Twitch mouth pressure (Pmo,tw) during magnetic phrenic nerve stimulation and sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) were recently proposed as alternative noninvasive methods for assessing inspiratory muscle strength. This study aimed to compare their reproducibility with maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) in normal subjects. Ten healthy subjects were studied at functional residual capacity in semirecumbent position. Cervical magnetic phrenic nerve stimulation was performed during gentle expiration against an occlusion incorporating a small leak. Constancy of stimulation was controlled by recording diaphragmatic electromyogram. Within and between-session reproducibility of pressure were studied for Pmo,tw, SNIP, and MIP. The subjects were studied during a session of 10 manoeuvres repeated after 1 day and 1 month. The mean values were 16 cmH2O for Pmo,tw, 118 cmH2O for SNIP, and 115 cmH2O for MIP. For the three tests, the within subject variation was small in relation to between-subject variation, with the intraclass correlation coefficient ranging 0.79-0.90 for Pmo,tw, 0.85-0.92 for SNIP, and 0.88-0.92 for MIP. At 1 day interval, the coefficient of repeatability (2 SD of differences) was 3.6 cmH2O for Pmo,tw, 32 cmH2O for SNIP and 28 cmH2O for MIP. At 1 month interval, the coefficient of repeatability was 5.8 cmH2O for Pmo,tw, 23 cmH2O for SNIP and 21 cmH2O for MIP. We conclude that the within session reproducibility of the new tests twitch mouth pressure and sniff nasal inspiratory pressure is sufficient to be clinically useful. For sniff nasal inspiratory pressure, the between session reproducibility established after 1 day was maintained after 1 month. For twitch mouth pressure, the between session reproducibility declined slightly after 1 month. These characteristics should be considered when using these methods to follow an individual patient over time.