bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Impairment and Its Structural Correlates in the Parkinsonian Subtype of Multiple System Atrophy
Authors: Kim Ji Sun , Yang Jin-ju , Lee Dong-Kyun , Lee Jong-min , Youn Jinyoung , Cho Jin Whan
Published: July 2015

Background/Aims: Previous studies indicate that patients with the parkinsonian subtype of multiple system atrophy (MSA-P) experience cognitive impairment. This study aimed to identify the existence of cognitive impairments and the different topographic patterns of morphological changes in MSA-P by means of imaging analysis, and also whether these morphological changes could be associated with cognitive dysfunctions in MSA-P. Methods: We recruited 15 nondemented probable MSA-P patients and 32 normal controls (NC) for neuropsychological testing and MRI. We analyzed morphological changes using cortical thickness analysis, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and cerebellar volumetry. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation of each cognitive score with the mean thickness of significant cortical-thinning clusters, mean gray-matter density of VBM clusters and cerebellar volume. Results: The scores on the Digit Span Test, the Seoul Verbal Learning Test (immediate and delayed), the phonemic Controlled Oral Word Association Test and the Stroop color test were significantly lower in the MSA-P group than in the NC group. We found two clusters exhibiting significant cortical thinning in the right paracentral lobule and parahippocampal gyrus. VBM analysis revealed significant gray-matter atrophy in the MSA-P group in the bilateral basal ganglia, cerebellum and temporal and frontal cortical areas. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that cognitive dysfunction correlated significantly with thinning in the neocortex, cerebellum and striatum. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that cortical and cerebellar atrophy and striatal degeneration are associated with cognitive impairment in patients with MSA-P.
Disentanglement of Discordant Monochorionic-Monoamniotic Twins in a Triplet Pregnancy: An Innovative Approach Utilizing Fetoscopic Laser Coagulation with Micro-Laparoscopic Scissor Dissection
Authors: Kunzier Nadia B. , Allaf Baraa , Chavez Martin R. , Abenanti-Richmond Diana , Vintzileos Anthony M.
Published: July 2015

Triplet gestations are associated with high perinatal morbidity. Dichorionic-diamniotic triplet pregnancies with growth discordance, polyhydramnios and structural anomalies carry a significantly increased risk of fetal morbidity and mortality from the baseline risks of high-order multiple pregnancies. Intrauterine fetal death of one fetus of a monochorionic pregnancy may cause neurological injury to the surviving fetus. We present a case where an innovative technique was created combining use of the fetoscopic laser and miniature laparoscopic instruments to selectively reduce and disentangle the umbilical cord of the acranial growth-restricted fetus from the structurally normal fetus's umbilical cord in a dichorionic-diamniotic triplet pregnancy.
Hyperthyroidism in 276 Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes from Germany and Austria
Authors: Dost Axel , Rohrer Tilman R. , Fröhlich-Reiterer Elke , Bollow Esther , Karges Beate , Böckmann Andreas , Hamann Johannes , Holl Reinhard W. ,   for the DPV Initiative and the German Competence Network Diabetes Mellitus
Published: July 2015

Background/Aims: Little is known about the incidence and clinical consequences of hyperthyroidism in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Methods: We analyzed the DPV database (Diabetes Prospective Follow-Up Registry) to investigate the rate of hyperthyroidism in pediatric T1DM patients, its impact on metabolic control, and potential associations with organ-specific autoantibodies. Results: Hyperthyroidism was found in 276/60,456 patients (0.46%) and was associated with younger age, shorter diabetes duration, female sex, and reduced body mass index. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hypoglycemia were more frequent in T1DM with comorbid hyperthyroidism, while long-term metabolic control (HbA1c) was similar in both groups. Absolute blood pressure and arterial hypertension rate were elevated in the hyperthyroid patients. Rates of microalbuminuria and diabetic retinopathy were not different. Thyroid-specific antibodies (thyroid peroxidase, thyroglobulin, thyroid receptor) were associated with hyperthyroidism. Thyroid volume and rates of cysts and nodules were higher, and echogenicity was decreased. Conclusion: Prevalence of hyperthyroidism is low in diabetic children with T1DM but increased compared to children <18 years without diabetes. Hyperthyroidism is primarily associated with acute diabetes complications (DKA and hypoglycemia) and affects blood pressure regulation. Long-term metabolic control or insulin requirement were not different.
Intracardiac Myxoma, Cerebral Aneurysms and Elevated Interleukin-6
Authors: Ezerioha Nnadozie , Feng Wuwei
Published: July 2015

Cerebral aneurysms are well known to be associated with cardiac myxomas. The mechanism of cerebral aneurysm formation remains to be elucidated. Embolization of tumor particles in the vessel wall has been proposed as the likely mechanism for aneurysm formation. Recent reports suggest interleukin-6 (IL-6) may play a role as well. We describe a patient who presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to ruptured right middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm and unruptured left MCA aneurysm. Subsequently, the patient was found to have an atrial myxoma and persistently elevated serum IL-6 levels. Transcranial Doppler monitoring showed multiple emboli in the right MCA vascular territory on day 1 after surgery but no recurrent embolization during the next 2 weeks on repeated tests. Elevated IL-6 levels were noted both on day 1 and on day 30. Our findings provide evidence that IL-6 elevation and not tumor embolization is likely the culprit for aneurysm formation in some patients with atrial myxoma.
Pollen diversity in Brazilian species of Monnina (Polygalaceae)
Authors: Leite Wellerson Picanço , Aguiar-Dias Ana Cristina Andrade , Fierro-Freire Alina , Mendonça Cláudia Barbieri Ferreira , Gonçalves-Esteves Vania
Published: July 2015

Monnina is subordinated to the Polygalaceae family, which consists of 19 genera and approximately 1300 species widely distributed throughout the continents. The current study aims to characterize pollen grains in the genera to provide the basis for their taxonomy. Thus, 13 species were analyzed: subg. Monninopsis (M. insignis and M. malmeana), subg. Pterocayra (M. cardiocarpa, M. cuneata, M. dictyocarpa, M. exalata, M. goiana, M. itapoanensis, M. oblongifolia, M. resedoides, M. richardiana, M. stenophylla, M. tristaniana). The shape of the species widely varied: M. insignis and M. malmeana showed prolate pollen grains; M. cardiocarpa, M. resedoides and M. richardiana showed subprolate pollen grains; and M. itapoanensis, M. stenophylla, and M. tristaniana showed oblate spheroidal and prolate spheroidal pollen grains in most of the species. According to data obtained in the current study, it can be concluded that it is possible to differentiate the species based on pollen attributes. Another important feature in the characterization of the species was the number of apertures, which varied from 10 to19 colporate ones.
Description of three new species of Moenkhausia (Teleostei, Characiformes, Characidae) with the definition of the Moenkhausia jamesi species complex
Authors: PETROLLI MARINA G. , BENINE RICARDO C.
Published: July 2015

From the examination of extensive comparative material currently identified as M. jamesi we verified that there are, at least, three new species under this name. These, along with M. jamesi and M. justae, form what we herein called the M. jamesi species complex, by sharing the following group of characters: a short maxilla, with its distal margin not exceeding anterior third of the second infraorbital; first through third teeth of the inner row of premaxilla and first and second dentary teeth with cusps arranged in a pronounced arch, humeral spot positioned between the fourth and seventh scales of the lateral line and extending up to four scale rows above the lateral line and one scale row below the lateral line, and a vertically oval to round spot at the base of the caudal fin rays. Moenkhausia ischyognatha sp. n., from Rio Xingu basin, differs from the other species of the complex by its lower head depth. Moenkhausia alesis sp. n., from the river system Tocantins-Araguaia, differs from M. jamesi, M. ischyognatha, and M. sthenosthoma by the number of scale rows above the lateral line. Moenkhausia sthenosthoma sp. n., from the Rio Madeira basin, differs from M. jamesi by the number of scale rows between the lateral line and the midventral scale series. Moenkhausia justae can be diagnosed from the other species of the complex by having a tri to pentacuspidate tooth on the maxilla.
Molecular phylogenetic position of endangered Wilfredomys within Sigmodontinae (Cricetidae) based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences and comments on Wiedomyini
Authors: MACHADO LEONARDO FERREIRA , PASSAIA MILENA HENRIQUE , RODRIGUES FERNANDO PACHECO , PETERS FELIPE BORTOLOTTO , SPONCHIADO JONAS , VALIATI VICTOR HUGO , CHRISTOFF ALEXANDRE UARTH
Published: July 2015

Wilfredomys, a monotypic genus of endangered sigmodontine rats, was historically related to the tribe Thomasomyini or considered “incertae sedis”. Given no molecular data is available for Wilfredomys, the phylogenetic position of this taxon is uncertain in relation to modern, molecular hypotheses of sigmodontine relationships. We investigate the phylogeny of Wilfredomys to provide a hypothesis of its position within Sigmodontinae based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences. Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses recovered Wilfredomys oenax as sister to Wiedomys pyrrhorhinos, and Wie. cerradensis fell out sister to this clade. At the genus level, Phaenomys is sister to Wilfredomys + Wiedomys, forming a novel and well-supported sigmodontine clade. Our results suggest that tribe Wiedomyini should encompass Wilfredomys in addition to Wiedomys and Cholomys, thus the hypothesis that Wiedomys is paraphyletic should be investigated further. Another plausible classification scheme consistent with our results would be to expand Wiedomyini to encompass the clade composed of Phaenomys + Wilfredomys + Wiedomys. Last, our recovery of an “Atlantic clade” composed of lineages restricted to eastern South America supports the idea that this region has likely played an important role in sigmodontine diversification.
Re-evaluation of Tellervotrema katadara (Kuramochi, 2001) Kuramochi, 2009 (Opecoelidae: Plagioporinae) and supplementary morphological data for T. beringi (Mamaev, 1965) Gibson & Bray, 1982 with new host and locality
Authors: BLEND CHARLES K. , KURAMOCHI TOSHIAKI , DRONEN NORMAN O.
Published: July 2015

The trematode genus Tellervotrema Gibson & Bray, 1982 was erected for Podocotyle-like species that parasitize archybenthal macrourid fishes (also known as grenadiers or rattails) and that possess no vitelline follicles dorsal to the ceca but do have a symmetrical pair of isolated groups of vitelline follicles in the posterior forebody. Tellervotrema katadara (Kuramochi, 2001) Kuramochi, 2009 is resurrected as a valid species based on an examination and re-description of holotype and paratype specimens collected from the intestine of the bathygadine macrourid Gadomus colletti Jordan & Gilbert from 518–582 m depth in Tosa Bay, off the Pacific coast of southern Japan. Tellervotrema beringi (Mamaev, 1965) Gibson & Bray, 1982 is re-described from specimens originally identified as T. katadara, collected from the intestine of the longfin grenadier, Coryphaenoides longifilis Günther, and found at 1,196 m depth off the Pacific coast of the Tōhoku region, northern Honshu, Japan. New host and locality records for T. beringi are presented along with a brief listing of museums housing type and voucher specimens of the three species now recognized in Tellervotrema. A comprehensive listing is given of all parasites reported from the two macrourid species relevant to this study and a key is presented for members of Tellervotrema. Finally, we hypothesize that the life cycles for T. beringi and T. katadara in the deep waters of the North Pacific Ocean off Japan most likely include a gastropod as a first intermediate host, one or more of a variety of invertebrates (amphipods, decapods, mysids) and/or finfish as second intermediate hosts, and the grenadiers, C. longifilis and G. colletti, as definitive hosts, respectively.
Four new species of Astenus (Eurysunius) Dejean, 1833 from Western Anatolia, Turkey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Paederinae)
Authors: ANLAŞ SİNAN
Published: July 2015

Four new species of Astenus (Eurysunius) Dejean (Staphylinidae: Paederinae) are described from Western Anatolia, Turkey, and illustrated: Astenus gusarovi sp. n. (Çökelez Mountain, Denizli province), A. orgeli sp. n. (İmambaba Tepesi, Aydın province and Bozdağlar, İzmir province), A. kumlutasi sp. n. (Akdağlar, Kütahya province and Murat Mountain, Uşak province) and A. honazicus sp. n. (Honaz Mountain, Denizli province). Additional records and updated distributions are provided for A. occiduus Assing, A. sultanicus Assing, and A. sandiklicus Anlaş. Distributions of Eurysunius species in Western Turkey are mapped.
Anelastic and Compressible Simulation of Moist Dynamics at Planetary Scales
Authors: Kurowski Marcin J. , Grabowski Wojciech W. , Smolarkiewicz Piotr K.
Published: July 2015

Moist anelastic and compressible numerical solutions to the planetary baroclinic instability and climate benchmarks are compared. The solutions are obtained by applying a consistent numerical framework for discrete integrations of the various nonhydrostatic flow equations. Moist extension of the baroclinic instability benchmark is formulated as an analog of the dry case. Flow patterns, surface vertical vorticity and pressure, total kinetic energy, power spectra, and total amount of condensed water are analyzed. The climate benchmark extends the baroclinic instability study by addressing long-term statistics of an idealized planetary equilibrium and associated meridional transports. Short-term deterministic anelastic and compressible solutions differ significantly. In particular, anelastic baroclinic eddies propagate faster and develop slower owing to, respectively, modified dispersion relation and abbreviated baroclinic vorticity production. These eddies also carry less kinetic energy, and the onset of their rapid growth occurs later than for the compressible solutions. The observed differences between the two solutions are sensitive to initial conditions as they diminish for large-amplitude excitations of the instability. In particular, on the climatic time scales, the anelastic and compressible solutions evince similar zonally averaged flow patterns with the matching meridional transports of entropy, momentum, and moisture.
Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) to Evaluate the Potential Impact of an Optical Autocovariance Wind Lidar (OAWL) on Numerical Weather Prediction
Authors: Atlas Robert , Hoffman Ross N. , Ma Zaizhong , Emmitt G. David , Wood Sidney A. , Greco Steven , Tucker Sara , Bucci Lisa , Annane Bachir , Hardesty R. Michael , Murillo Shirley
Published: July 2015

The potential impact of Doppler wind lidar (DWL) observations from a proposed optical autocovariance wind lidar (OAWL) instrument is quantified in observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs). The OAWL design would provide profiles of useful wind vectors along a ground track to the left of the International Space Station (ISS), which is in a 51.6° inclination low-Earth orbit (LEO). These observations are simulated realistically, accounting for cloud and aerosol distributions inferred from the OSSE nature runs (NRs), and measurement and sampling error sources. The impact of the simulated observations is determined in both global and regional OSSE frameworks. The global OSSE uses the ECMWF T511 NR and the NCEP operational Global Data Assimilation System at T382 resolution. The regional OSSE uses an embedded hurricane NR and the NCEP operational HWRF data assimilation system with outer and inner domains of 9- and 3-km resolution, respectively.

The global OSSE results show improved analyses and forecasts of tropical winds and extratropical geopotential heights. The tropical wind RMSEs are significantly reduced in the analyses and in short-term forecasts. The tropical wind improvement decays as the forecasts lengthen. The regional OSSEs are limited but show some improvements in hurricane track and intensity forecasts.
The Nature of Litigation Surrounding Five Screening Devices
Authors: Terpstra David E. , Kethley R. Bryan , Foley Richard T. , Limpaphayom Wanthanee Tam
Published: July 2015

This paper reviews the extent of use, reliability, validity, and potential problems of five selection screening devices — reference checks, background investigations, medical exams, drug tests, and polygraph tests. Additionally, federal court cases involving the five devices from 1978 to the present were identified and content analyzed. Data is reported on: 1) the relative frequency of legal challenges associated with the five screening devices, 2) the outcomes of the legal challenges, 3) the types of charges (e. g., race, sex, age, national origin, or handicap) involved in the cases, and 4) the job types and organization types associated with the legal challenges. The results of the study suggest that the use of background investigations and reference checks may be legally risky. Also, protective service positions and city government organizations seem to be relatively more prone to litigation.
The Introduction of New Appraisals Systems in the Public Services of the Commonwealth Caribbean
Authors: Bissessar Ann Marie
Published: July 2015

This article examines the challenges and problems that emerge during the introduction of a system that attempts to link performance to pay in the public services of three countries, namely Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Jamaica. It briefly discusses the merits of introducing pay B related performance appraisal systems and argues that while such systems may attain success in the more developed countries, in ex-colonial societies, implementation will be constrained by other factors. The article proposes that the more critical constraints are the rigidity of the structures under which the services operate and the cultures of the institutions themselves. In addition the imperatives of structural adjustment would also be a critical constraint to the successful implementation of a new appraisal system. The article, however, concedes that the special circumstances of Jamaica allowed a greater measure of success; yet in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago it clearly failed.
Limitations in “Realistic Recruiting” and Subsequent Socialization Efforts: The Case of Riddick Bowe and the United States Marine Corps
Authors: Baker H. Eugene , Jennings Kenneth M.
Published: July 2015

There can be no doubt that matching the needs of the organization to the expectations of new employees is a critical factor influencing the quality and effectiveness of the long-term employment relationship. Riddick Bowe's failed entry into an organization that has prided itself on its ability to communicate expectations, and the nature of the socialization process that the recruit will encounter, demonstrates what can happen when an organization varies from a successful recruitment/selection process. This paper begins by summarizing some of the important facets of organizational recruitment/selection and subsequent socialization tactics. Bowe's early departure from recruit training is detailed, identifying specific errors made by the Marine Corps relating to their established approach to realistic recruiting and socialization. Finally, implications for action by other organizations are discussed in the form of lessons to be learned.
Using Job Performance as a Component of Civil Service Examinations
Authors: Southworth Dixon
Published: July 2015

There has been a long-standing complaint about civil service test results. Too often, highly regarded candidates do not score well enough to be reached for appointment, and poorly regarded candidates do score well, and block the appointments of the best candidates. Efforts have been made in recent years to expand selection beyond the “rule of three” and to provide for more flexible lateral movement. These efforts, however, do not address the underlying need for fixing the product.
The Quest for the Qualified Job Surfer: It's Time the Public Sector Catches the Wave
Authors: Cober Richard T. , Brown Douglas J. , Blumental Alana J. , Doverspike Dennis , Levy Paul
Published: July 2015

Organizational use of Internet recruiting has dramatically increased in the last five years. However, there has been little research to guide the development of organizational employment Web pages. This paper first outlines the reasons why public sector organizations should consider focusing more energy on developing their own employment Web sites to supplement other recruiting activities. We then present a model of job surfer behavior that organizations should consider when designing their Web site and making decisions about how to promote it. Based on this model, we make several suggestions for practice.
Managing Our Future: The Generation X Factor
Authors: O'Bannon Gary
Published: July 2015

The potential impact of the backgrounds of Generation Xers and BabyBoomers was reviewed to determine whether key factors and defining moments in their histories may explain the communication disconnect in our nation's workplace. Of special concern, the review sought to analyze the backgrounds of Generation Xers and BabyBoomers to find out how these perspectives influence workplace attitudes and perceptions. It is contemplated that, if these issues can be discussed openly, a more positive work relationship can be cultivated. Additionally, the techniques that could be used by Boomer supervisors to communicate effectively with Xers were reviewed. The results show that, despite a lot of name-calling and blaming, the American workforce and ethic remain strong, and Xers are, slowly but surely, altering the work environment in a manner that may ultimately benefit the family unit and reaffirm America's strong individualistic spirit. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the unique backgrounds of Xers and Boomers and develop a methodology for resolving workplace conflicts between the two generations.
Human Resources Management Perspective at the Turn of the Century
Authors: Lipiec Jacek
Published: July 2015

The future of human resources management and the role of HR managers are presented in this paper. The paper presents the results of nine large reports that have been undertaken around the world. The market, demographic, social, and management changes taking place are addressed. Taking into account these trends, a precise role of HR managers in the future is outlined.
A New Approach to Dispute Resolution in the South African Public Service
Authors: Sing Danny
Published: July 2015

The South African Public Service is a unique personnel corps comprising approximately 70 percent of total public sector employment. Its responsibility to ensure that the South African public is provided with high-quality goods and services, is a constitutional obligation. A professional, stable and reliable Public Service is indispensable for the realization of the state's democratic, economic and social goals. Like other employment sectors, the Public Service now enjoys constitutionally entrenched labor relations rights through the enactment of national legislation, namely the Labor Relations Act, 1995. Apart from other innovations and strategic ideas, the act establishes a new dispensation for dispute resolution in the form of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, the Labor Court and the Labor Appeal Court.
Criminal Background Checks for Prospective and Current Employees: Current Practices among Municipal Agencies
Authors: Connerley Mary L. , Arvey Richard D. , Bernardy Charles J.
Published: July 2015

The purpose of this paper is to discuss background checks and to describe local government agencies' use of criminal background checks. Although interest in protecting one's organization or public agency from negligent hiring lawsuits is growing, little is known about what government agencies are doing related to criminal background checks on new hires and current employees. We provide data indicating that conducting background checks is relatively commonplace among municipalities, depending on the type of job involved.
The Five Biggest HRM Lies
Authors: Sikula Andrew
Published: July 2015

Many myths have been perpetuated In the field of personnel administration during the 20th century. These misconceptions were really never true in the 1900s, and they are especially misleading and Inaccurate now, as we enter the 21st century. The five misconceptions to be discussed in this article include:

Human resources are our most important assets. Experience and superior qualifications will help you get a Job. Good individual job performance will result in accelerated pay increases. Loyalty, commitment, and seniority are rewarded within organizations. Technology and automation will reduce the need for human effort.
Outsourcing and Political Power: Bureaucrats, Consultants, Vendors and Public Information Technology
Authors: Peled Alon
Published: July 2015

The rapidly growing governmental IT outsourcing trend raises different questions: Who, inside bureaucracy, governs computer systems after outsourcing? Which actors gain or lose political clout when the government begins to aggressively outsource its IT operations? How does IT outsourcing change the relationships among bureaucrats, consultants, and vendors? The article highlights the increasingly important and behind-the-scenes role the consultant plays as an intermediary between the MIS bureaucrat and technological vendors. IT consultants exert an enormous amount of political power because they are the “glue” binding together all the actors involved in producing and maintaining public information technology. Regrettably, this new consultant-centered environment is responsible for the degradation of the organizational and technological skills of MIS bureaucrats and also impairs the feedback information flow between bureaucrats and vendors regarding the status of public computer projects. Therefore, the article suggests that the unchecked power of IT consultants hinders the ability of bureaucrats to be accountable for the systems they manage.
End of an Era: The 11th Amendment and Public Personnel Administration
Authors: Allred Stephen
Published: July 2015

This article reviews three recent decisions of the United States Supreme Court in which employees of state governments have been barred from suing their employers for alleged violations of federal employment statutes. It offers a brief review of the role of the 11th Amendment and an examination of the Court's recent rulings in employment and non-employment cases. Finally, some observations on the significance of the new direction in which the Court is heading are offered.
Employee Perceptions of Leadership and Performance Management in the Botswana Public Service
Authors: Hope Kempe Ronald
Published: July 2015

Public servants in Botswana play an important role as partners in the management of the public sector and national affairs. During the past three decades, the country has acquired a reputation for sound development management and good governance. That reputation has been derived primarily from the behavior and performance of the country's public servants, who have been motivated to fulfill their duties honestly and effectively. In recent years, however, a culture of indifference and outright laziness has crept into the public service, leading to serious bottlenecks in service delivery. This article discusses and analyzes employee perceptions of leadership and performance management in the Botswana public service.
The International Civil Service: Historical Development and Potential for the 21st Century
Authors: Udom Udoh Elijah
Published: July 2015

By-products of World War I and II were the creation of the League of Nations (1919) and subsequently the United Nations (1945). The primary objective of both these global organizations (past, present and future) has been to make the world a better place for humanity. Principally, this has meant working with member states to prevent wars and to carry out humanitarian activities wherever they are needed. Right from the time of the League of Nations, carrying out global mandate of this nature necessitated the creation of international civil service (ICS) to be composed of competent men and women, to assist the world public service to achieve it global mandate. This article argues that ICS is an indispensable instrument of the orderly government of mankind, and must be preserved. The importance of ICS has never been so crucial than today when the world socio-political landscape is more turbulent than in the 1940s when both the ICS and the United Nations were created. The article begins by tracing the history of the ICS from 1919 to the present. It examines the principles of ICS enunciated by the Council of the League of Nations In 1920 and enshrined in the U.N. Charter 25 years later. Here again, the sanctity of the ICS, argued in this article, depends upon upholding these principles by all players in the international system.
Public Safety Assessment Centers: A Steward's Perspective
Authors: Caldwell Cam , Gruys Melissa L. , Thornton George C.
Published: July 2015

Public safety assessment centers are primarily conducted for promotional examinations. The duties owed to the stakeholders served by public safety assessment centers have been generally outlined in the newly revised Guidelines and Ethical Considerations for Assessment Center Operations. This paper provides a useful matrix that identifies seven ethical duties owed to each of seven stakeholders and a major purpose of this paper is to explicitly articulate and explain the extent of these duties and their importance as part of the Assessment Center Administrator's duty related role. The authors present this matrix as a framework for helping assessment center administrators and other key public sector professionals as they consider the broad array of obligations owed in properly conducting an assessment center selection or promotional process. False short-term economies may result by shortcutting these explicit and implied ethical duties. The matrix provides a simple but helpful perspective for evaluating the degree to which public safety assessment centers meet duties owed, and allows human resource professionals and other decision makers to identify the associated costs and benefits.
Clear Logic and Fuzzy Guidance: A Policy Capturing Study of Merit Raise Decisions
Authors: Barclay Lizabeth A. , York Kenneth M.
Published: July 2015

Policy capturing was used to determine cue weights when a merit raise committee implemented an imprecise directive. Evaluations by three raters of 36 faculty were regressed on actual raises. The committee was consistent in their evaluations, but the policy was similar to that obtained by counting activities in faculty annual reports. This study has implications for organizations that motivate employees through merit pay decisions in ways that are inconsistent with their mission and business objectives.
Participant Input into Rater Selection: Potential Effects on the Quality and Acceptance of Ratings in the Context of 360-Degree Feedback
Authors: Becton J. Bret , Schraeder Mike
Published: July 2015

This article explores implications and potential benefits of giving individuals an opportunity to have input into the selection of raters involved in giving them 360-degree feedback. First, allowing participants some degree of input, but not total input into the selection of raters, may result in better perceptions of fairness, rater credibility and usefulness of the feedback. In addition, increased participation in the selection of raters could translate into the development of more challenging goals and higher levels of job performance. From a quantitative perspective, this could also produce more variance in the ratings.
ROI in the Public Sector: Myths and Realities
Authors: Phillips Patti P. , Phillips Jack J.
Published: July 2015

Interest in return on investment (ROI) by public sector organizations continues to grow among federal, state and local agencies. Still, myths regarding the use of ROI in government abound, which prevents many agencies from developing a comprehensive approach to evaluating human resources, training, and performance improvement initiatives. The key is distinguishing what is myth versus what is reality. This article addresses some of those myths and realities.
How Much Better are You? Impairments, Mitigating Measures and the Determination of Disability
Authors: Massengill Douglas
Published: July 2015

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that an individual is disabled when that person has a physical or mental impairment that places a significant limitation on one or more major life activities. Within “interpretative guidelines,” both the EEOC and Department of Justice had indicated that the evaluation of the effects of an impairment should be made without regard to any mitigating measures the person might be utilizing. In June 1999, the United States Supreme Court ( Sutton v. United Air Lines) affirmed a decision by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Tenth Circuit (discounting the guidelines of the above-mentioned agencies) had ruled that an impairment must be evaluated with regard to any “mitigating measures” used to lessen its impact on major life activities. This paper examines subsequent court decisions and the effect Sutton has demonstrated.
Human Resource Management in American Counties, 2002
Authors: Selden Sally Coleman
Published: July 2015

Human resource management (HRM) in public organizations is changing as there are numerous policy, procedural and structural reforms underway. Human resource management studies have focused primarily at the state and federal levels, with relatively fewer comprehensive views of county governments. This article looks at human resource management roles, structures and practices from the perspective of county government using data from the Government Performance Project. The article describes approaches to reforms, the role and structures of the central HRM department, and the range of HRM practices related to selection, training, classification and compensation. The study finds that while different innovations and reforms have been adopted, county governments continue to function somewhat traditionally, leaving many opportunities for additional reforms to improve county governance.
New Challenges for South African Development and Training — Linkages to Empirical Research
Authors: Jinabhai Dinesh C.
Published: July 2015

With the introduction in South Africa of the Skills Development Act (1998) and the Skills Development Levies Act (1999) respectively, employer organizations are obliged to set aside a portion of their annual payroll for the internal training and development of their workforce. The function of the statutory National Skills Authority (NSA) is to implement the skills development strategy, monitor its performance and report the progress made by the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs). In the South African context, training and development has only recently received attention as a means of addressing critical personnel development initiatives. The focus is now shifting towards fast tracking skills development, which is being integrated into the overall business plan of organizations. Strategies need to be initiated to harness knowledge workers as competitive resources for the new global economy and for world-class competitiveness. This article accentuates the importance of the skills development strategy and offers a systems approach to skills development for organizations. It also highlights some empirical research and its linkages to the emerging challenges of the skills development strategy in South Africa. The article concludes with implications for skills development and training and maps the way for future research.
An Analysis of the Employment of Persons with Disabilities in the Korean Government: A Comparative Study with the American Federal Government
Authors: Kim Pan Suk
Published: July 2015

The purpose of this article is to compare employment practices regarding persons with disabilities in the Korean government with practices in the American federal government in order to discover practical reform measures for promoting the employment of persons with disabilities in Korea. The employment of persons with disabilities is affected by each society's perspective on disability. In recent years, the Korean government promoted the employment of persons with disabilities, but data shows that very slow change and various barriers against the employment of persons with disabilities still remain salient. In order to make a more realistic impact on the employment of persons with disabilities, a paradigm shift in disability policy must take place in the Korean government.
A Revolution in Public Personnel Administration: The Growth of Web-Based Recruitment and Selection Processes in the Federal Service
Authors: Llorens Jared J. , Kellough J. Edward
Published: July 2015

As the movement toward greater decentralization of the federal recruitment and examination process gained momentum, new innovations emerged involving the use of Internet-based technologies which hold the promise of combining the advantages of centralization and coordination with the improved efficiency and timeliness that has been sought through decentralization. One of the largest efforts to leverage these new capabilities is the federal government's Recruitment One-Stop project organized by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Recruitment One-Stop can briefly be described as an attempt to both centralize many of the government's myriad recruitment processes and leverage current technologies available to advertise, recruit and fill positions throughout the government. This article provides an analysis of the federal government's efforts to implement automated recruitment processes and discusses the implications of implementing the Recruitment One-Stop project in a decentralized personnel environment.
Synthesizing Minimum Qualifications Using an Occupational Area Job Analysis Questionnaire
Authors: Wooten William , Prien Erich P.
Published: July 2015

Determining minimum qualifications is largely an impressionistic process loosely related to training and education ratings of individuals. In determining and publishing minimum qualifications, the hiring official essentially delegates the authority for individual assessment of competency to external agencies. Minimum qualifications are, at best, a surrogate estimate of an individual's potential to perform the target job duties based on inferred knowledge, skills and abilities and competencies required for effective performance. Also, this requires the additional inferential leap backward in time to the individual's experience. Validation research on minimum qualifications has been limited, and, in application, the procedure is supported by a very impressionistic and global judgment process. The project described employs a systematic procedure linking the knowledge, skills and abilities and the competency content for an occupational area to the typical education, training and experience activities judged as required to achieve functional competence. Minimum qualifications for any single target position can then be synthetically derived from the database.
Mentoring—A Relationship Based on Trust: Qualitative Research
Authors: Erdem Ferda , Aytemur Janset Özen
Published: July 2015

The study reported in this article aimed to explore the trust protégés felt for their mentors and the effects different dimensions of relationships that can influence this trust in mentoring relationships within academic organizations. The questions defined for this research regarded which dimensions of professional relationships actually do influence protégés' trust, which of those underlying dimensions make trust stronger, and the results the trust protégés felt for their mentor produced in terms of the function of mentoring. The interview form used to answer these questions consisted of two parts. The first part included general questions on the characteristics of mentors and protégés and the functions of mentoring. The second part included 24 questions designed specifically to identify the underlying elements of trust in mentoring relationships. The dimensions specifically were competence, consistency, communication, interest taken in the protégé, fairness, and sharing of control. Thirty-two protégés agreed to take part in the structured interviews, and the total time spent on interviews was 35 hours. The study revealed that among the elements necessary for the building of trust in one's professional mentor, sharing of control and fair behavior were dimension of the mentoring relationship that protégés had positive perceptions and experiences of. Another important finding in terms of positive and negative perceptions was that protégés identify their positive perceptions more with the personal efforts of their mentor. Negative perceptions were seen to be related to factors such as faculty and university culture, legal matters and regulations, law and regulations creating rigid university procedures, and mentors' and protégés' personal characteristics.
Revitalizing Human Resources Management in State Government: Moving from Transactional to Transformational HR Professionals in the State of Michigan
Authors: Mothersell William M. , Moore Michael L. , Ford J. Kevin , Farrell Jim
Published: July 2015

This article illustrates how the State of Michigan transformed human resources in state government by developing HR leaders for the future. A transformational plan was developed in March 2000 to enhance the effectiveness of HR programs and services, foster a consultative approach to delivering HR programs and services, develop human resources as a strategic business partner and change agent with agency management, and create the capacity to incorporate HR best practices into state HR systems. This article also provides the HR vision for change, the training design to transform HR into a business partner and change agent, and the methodology and data that support this transformational plan. An innovative multiyear project-based learning design, featuring teams from state agencies, used workshop content to leverage system change across state departments. Finally, this article documents the change projects designed and implemented by agency teams, reports participants' reactions, communicates skill-set and mindset enhancements, and presents ideas for future diffusion.
The Impact of Work Redesign and Psychological Empowerment on Organizational Commitment in a Changing Environment: An Example from Taiwan's State-Owned Enterprises
Authors: Chen Huei-Fang , Chen Yi-Ching
Published: July 2015

In a changing environment, employee commitment to any organization is easily disrupted. The major purpose of this research was to establish a framework to explain how to use work redesign and psychological empowerment to strengthen employee commitment to an organization that is undergoing change. A questionnaire-based survey of 213 employees at three of Taiwan's state-owned enterprises undergoing privatization or reorganization was conducted. Tests of hypotheses supported the significant influence work redesign had on the employees' commitment to their organizations. Psychological empowerment played an intermediating role between work redesign and organizational commitment. The results also show that perceptions of work redesign by employees who have an external locus of control had a more significant positive impact on their organizational commitment. The academy and management contribution and implications of these findings are explained, and some suggestions for future research are offered.
The Human Resource Competency Studies and the IPMA-HR Competency Training and Certification Program in China
Authors: Sun Li , Shi Kan
Published: July 2015

Human resource development and competency studies in China are at an early stage, which researchers in both China and the United States acknowledge. The human resource competency training and the scientific research on validating the competency standards that are or will be established by companies in China will advance basic skills of Chinese professionals in these areas and allow them to keep up with the rapid development of HR professionals in the global environment.
Talent Management in the Era of the Aging Workforce: The Critical Role of Knowledge Transfer
Authors: Calo Thomas J.
Published: July 2015

Organizations have been confronting many of the demographic changes occurring in the workforce, such as increasing racial and ethnic diversity along with greater numbers of women workers. The workforce is also rapidly aging, though his demographic shift is only beginning to be addressed by many organizations as a strategic and competitive challenge. As the baby boom generation transitions into retirement, organizations must plan for the replacement of this large and knowledgeable cohort of workers. This article addresses the particular risks and challenges that organizations face in ensuring the transfer of the valuable knowledge that older workers possess before they retire.
Challenges Facing Senior Public Servants in a Plural Society
Authors: Bissessar Ann Marie
Published: July 2015

This article examines some of the challenges facing senior public officers in a plural society such as Trinidad and Tobago. Published studies and data collected for this article suggest that in divided societies, it is not unusual for the public sector to be dominated by the group that maintains political control. In the case of Trinidad and Tobago, for example, while the Indo-Trinidadian group constituted 40.3% of the population during the period considered, members of this ethnic group held very few senior positions in the bureaucracy. This article discusses the factors that led to ethnic imbalances in the civil service of Trinidad and Tobago. Much of the article is devoted to advancing explanations for the imbalance. The article also presents an examination of the challenges that emerged with the introduction of New Public Management within the country's government, suggesting that the major challenges that may emerge in divided societies will be introducing mechanisms that will bring about changes in attitudes and behaviors among public sector employees. The article concludes with the recommendation that government leaders may need to implement mechanisms to establish trust in order to see changes to public management succeed.
Evaluating HR Management Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining IT Professionals in the U.S. Federal Government
Authors: Mastracci Sharon H.
Published: July 2015

Public personnel management research and practices increasingly focus on creative human resource management (HRM) strategies for recruiting individuals with information technology (IT) expertise and retaining employees with institutional knowledge, particularly in light of impending retirements. Some agencies face unique workforce demographic challenges, while others face shifts in missions or technologies. For these reasons, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management relaxed some regulations to allow federal agencies to meet their staffing needs. This article presents an evaluation of the effectiveness of creative HRM strategies during the late 1990s, when federal agencies sought to hire and keep IT professionals to do Year 2000 conversions.