bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Between marginalisation & revitalisation? the state of trade unionism in South Africa
Authors: Webster Edward , Buhlungu Sakhela
Published: July 2004

This article provides an overview of the structure and organisation of the contemporary trade union movement in South Africa. It identifies seven broad trends in the labour market and their impact on the labour movement. It then examines the variety of initiatives by unions to tackle the problems generated by these trends. The article suggests that these initiatives are largely ad hoc and uncoordinated. It concludes that there is a need to go beyond traditional union structures to explore imaginative ways of engagement with the unemployed, the new working poor, their own members, employers, government, the new social movements and labour movements in other countries. However, it suggests that it is premature to pronounce the marginalisation of labour in post-apartheid South Africa. If well-coordinated and prioritised, the revitalisation initiatives identified in the article open up the opportunity for labour to contribute towards the emergence of a new jobcreating developmental path in South Africa.
Trade unions, social policy & class compromise in post-apartheid South Africa
Authors: Seekings Jeremy
Published: July 2004

The poor benefit greatly through redistribution through the budget in South Africa: Poor children attend public schools in large numbers and poor households benefit from a public welfare system that is exceptional in comparative terms. Trade unions have championed these apparently pro-poor policies, even though the trade union movement is not a movement of the poor in South Africa (there are very few union members in the poorest half of the population). Trade unions' record in acting as a movement for the poor is shaped by their primary objective of looking after their members' interests. In education, teachers and unions engage with the state as the employer more than as the provider of a social service. Teachers' unions were primarily responsible for securing more expenditure on poor schools in the mid-1990s, but this was the result of increased salaries. Self-interest has led teachers and their unions to oppose, block or impede some reforms that would improve the quality of schooling for poor children. In welfare reform, trade unions have championed the cause of the basic income grant, which is in the interests of the poor. A close analysis suggests that organised labour is also acting here in part out of self-interest. The socialisation of welfare costs will reduce the burden on working people and would deflect criticism of union-backed policies that, arguably, contribute to an economic growth path characterised by high wages but low employment. In previous work I argued that post-apartheid South Africa entailed a double class compromise, between capital, labour and the poor. The evidence from these areas of social policy suggests that this argument overstated the power of the poor and underestimated that of organised labour.
Hemofiltration but Not Steroids Results in Earlier Tracheal Extubation following Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Authors: Oliver William C. , Nuttall Gregory A. , Orszulak Thomas A. , Bamlet William R. , Abel Martin D. , Ereth Mark H. , Schaff Hartzell V.
Published: July 2004

Background

Activation of the inflammatory cascade is thought to account for some of the respiratory dysfunction and prolonged mechanical ventilation associated with cardiopulmonary bypass. The objective of this investigation was to identify whether perioperative steroids or hemofiltration during cardiopulmonary bypass, by their attenuation of inflammation, would reduce duration of mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery.

Methods

After Institutional Review Board approval and informed consent, 192 patients scheduled to undergo elective primary coronary artery bypass grafting or valvular replacement or repair were randomized in a double-blind prospective study into three groups. One group (Control) received saline at induction and at 6-h intervals for four doses. Another group (Hemofil) received saline and hemofiltration to obtain 27 ml/kg of hemofiltrate. The final group (Steroid) received 1 g methylprednisolone before anesthesia induction and then 4 mg of dexamethasone at 6-h intervals for four doses. All patients underwent normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass and received propofol for postoperative sedation. Separate two-sample comparisons were performed to compare each experimental group versus the control group using the Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous variables and Fisher exact test for categorical variables. In all cases, two-tailed P values </= 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

The median time until the patient reached an intermittent mandatory ventilation of 4/min (258.5 versus 385.0 min, respectively; P = 0.02) and tracheal extubation (352.0 versus 518.0 min; P = 0.03) was significantly reduced for group Hemofil but no different for Steroid compared to Control.

Conclusions

Hemofiltration and steroids are both previously reported to attenuate the inflammatory response but only hemofiltration reduced time to tracheal extubation for adults after cardiopulmonary bypass in this study.
Effects of Anesthetic Agents on Focal Adhesion Kinase (pp125FAK) Tyrosine Phosphorylation in Rat Hippocampal Slices
Authors: Dahmani Souhayl , Tesnière Antoine , Rouelle Danielle , Toutant Madeleine , Desmonts Jean-Marie , Mantz Jean
Published: July 2004

Background

Tyrosine protein kinase proteins exert a prominent control on signaling pathways and may couple rapid events, such as action potential and neurotransmitter release, to long-lasting changes in synaptic strength and survival. Whether anesthetics modulate tyrosine kinase activity remains unknown. The aim of the current study was therefore to examine the effects of intravenous and volatile anesthetics on the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (ppFAK), a functionally important nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, in the rat hippocampus.

Methods

Phosphorylation of ppFAK was examined in hippocampal slices by immunoblotting with both antiphosphotyrosine and specific anti-ppFAK antibodies. Experiments were performed in the absence (control) or presence of various concentrations of pharmacologic or anesthetic agents or both.

Results

Clinically relevant concentrations of thiopental, propofol, etomidate, isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane induced a concentration-related increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. In contrast, ketamine (up to 100 microm) and the nonimmobilizer F6 (1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclobutane, 25 microm) did not significantly affect ppFAK phosphorylation. The anesthetic-induced increase in ppFAK phosphorylation was blocked by GF 109203X, RO 318220, and chelerythrin (100 microm), three structurally distinct inhibitors of protein kinase C and U 73122 (50 microm), an inhibitor of phospholipase C. The propofol- and isoflurane-induced increase in ppFAK phosphorylation was reversible and showed nonadditivity of effects with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (an activator of protein kinase C, 0.1 microm). In contrast, ketamine (up to 100 microm), MK801 (10 microm, an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist), bicuculline (10 microm, a gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor antagonist), and dantrolene (30 microm, an inhibitor of the ryanodine receptor) were ineffective in blocking anesthetic-induced activation of tyrosine phosphorylation.

Conclusion

Except for ketamine, anesthetic agents markedly increase tyrosine phosphorylation of ppFAK in the rat hippocampus, most likely via the phospholipase C-protein kinase C pathway, whereas the nonimmobilizer F6 does not. These results suggest that ppFAK represents a target for anesthetic action in the brain.
Direct Cardiac Effects of Coronary Site-directed Thiopental and Its Enantiomers
Authors: Mather Laurence E. , Duke Colin C. , Ladd Leigh A. , Copeland Susan E. , Gallagher Gabrielle , Chang Dennis H.T.
Published: July 2004

Background

Previous evidence from laboratory animal studies indicates that R-thiopental has a greater margin of safety than either the more potent S-thiopental or the clinically used rac-thiopental. Although thiopental can cause cardiovascular depression from direct myocardial effects as well as indirect central nervous system and peripheral effects, no studies have yet determined whether its myocardial effects are enantioselective. A lesser direct effect would provide further evidence supporting R-thiopental as a preferred single enantiomer replacement for rac-thiopental.

Methods

The direct myocardial effects of the thiopental enantiomers were compared to those of rac-thiopental and propofol, using a crossover design with small incremental doses infused over 3 min, on separate days, into the left coronary arteries of conscious sheep. Hemodynamic and electrocardiographic measurements were acquired, and serial blood samples were collected during the studies for drug analyses.

Results

All three forms of thiopental and propofol produced significant hemodynamic effects consisting of dose-related and rapid-onset decreases in left ventricular dP/dtmax and stroke volume, and increases in left coronary blood flow and heart rate. Cardiac output, mean arterial blood pressure, and central venous pressure remained unaltered. The effects did not differ significantly among rac-thiopental, enantiopure R- or S-thiopental, or propofol. Arterial blood drug concentrations were consistently less than those associated with systemic effects.

Conclusions

Although previous evidence indicates that R-thiopental could make a suitable single-enantiomer replacement for rac-thiopental, the current study did not find a significant difference in direct cardiac effects among the thiopental enantiomers, racemate, or propofol.
Relative Amnesic Potency of Five Inhalational Anesthetics Follows the Meyer-Overton Rule
Authors: Alkire Michael T. , Gorski Lukasz A.
Published: July 2004

Background

Doses of volatile anesthetics around 0.3 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) inhibit learning. However, threshold amnesic doses and relative potencies between agents are not well established. The authors determined amnesic potency in rats for four common volatiles and nitrous oxide.

Methods

After institutional review board approval, adult Sprague-Dawley rats received inhibitory avoidance training during exposure to either air or various subanesthetic doses of desflurane, sevoflurane, isoflurane, halothane, or nitrous oxide (4-21 rats/dose). Animals were trained to remain in a starting "safe" compartment for 100 consecutive seconds by administering a foot shock (0.3 mA) each time they entered an adjacent "shock" compartment. Memory was assessed at 24 h. Anesthetic effects on pain thresholds were separately determined.

Results

Learning: Only relatively higher doses of sevoflurane, halothane, and desflurane increased the number of shocks required for task acquisition. Memory: Significantly decreased retention performance (P < 0.05) was found at relatively low inspired concentrations of 0.2% isoflurane, 0.3% sevoflurane and halothane, 0.44% desflurane, and 20% nitrous oxide. Amnesic potency was nitrous oxide >/= desflurane > sevoflurane >/= isoflurane > halothane, (rank-ordered ED50 values as %MAC). Amnesic potency correlated with oil:gas partition coefficients (r = -0.956, P < 0.007). Halothane, only at 0.08%, enhanced retention (P < 0.01). All agents were analgesic at higher doses.

Conclusions

Amnesic potency differs between agents; nitrous oxide is most potent and halothane is least potent relative to MAC. The amnesic threshold ranges from 0.06 to 0.3 MAC. The correlation between potency and oil:gas partition coefficients suggests a fundamental role for hydrophobicity in mediating amnesia, similar to its association with MAC. Some agents (e.g., halothane) may enhance aversive memory retention at doses typically encountered during emergence.
Epidural Neostigmine Combined with Sufentanil Provides Balanced and Selective Analgesia in Early Labor
Authors: Roelants Fabienne , Lavand’homme Patricia M.
Published: July 2004

Background

This study evaluated the efficacy of an epidural single dose of neostigmine combined with sufentanil to provide selective and balanced analgesia at the beginning of labor.

Methods

After informed consent, 125 healthy parturients were randomly allocated to receive, after a test dose, a single injection of either epidural sufentanil 20 micrograms (minimal analgesic dose) or 10 micrograms or a combination of sufentanil 10 micrograms with neostigmine 250, 500, or 750 micrograms in a total volume of 12 ml. Pain scores were recorded at regular intervals to determine onset and duration of analgesia. Maternal and fetal vital parameters as well as side effects were closely monitored.

Results

Parturients did not differ concerning demographic data. Epidural neostigmine 500 micrograms with sufentanil 10 micrograms produced effective analgesia (visual analog scale <30 mm within 10 min in 72% parturients and within 15 min in 85% parturients; average duration of 119 min, confidence interval 96-142 min) that was as effective as epidural sufentanil 20 micrograms. Epidural combination with neostigmine 250 micrograms was ineffective, whereas 750 micrograms did not produce higher effect than 500 micrograms. No motor block was recorded. Maternal and fetal vital parameters remained stable during labor.

Conclusions

Epidural combination of neostigmine 500 micrograms (e.g., 6-7 micrograms/kg) with sufentanil 10 micrograms provides similar duration of analgesia as epidural sufentanil 20 micrograms and allows effective and selective analgesia devoid of side effects in the first stage of labor.
Factors Affecting the Spread and Duration of Epidural Anesthesia with Ropivacaine
Authors: Higuchi Hideyuki , Adachi Yushi , Kazama Tomiei
Published: July 2004

Background

Epidural anesthesia has an unpredictable extent and duration. Differences in the surface area of the lumbosacral dura, epidural fat volume, and epidural venous plexus velocity might explain the variability in the extent and duration of epidural anesthesia with ropivacaine.

Methods

Twenty-six healthy patients, aged 18-45 y, undergoing peripheral orthopedic surgery were enrolled. Dural surface area and posterior epidural fat volume were calculated from low thoracic, lumbar, and sacral axial magnetic resonance images obtained at 8-mm increments. Epidural venous plexus velocity at the L3-L4 disk level was derived from phase-contrast magnetic resonance images. The patients received 100 mg ropivacaine (1.0%) epidurally. The spread and duration of sensory anesthesia was assessed by pinprick, and that of motor block was assessed using a modified Bromage scale. Statistical correlation coefficients (rho) between magnetic resonance imaging and epidural anesthesia measurements were assessed by Spearman rank correlation. Stepwise multiple linear regression models were used to select important predictors of measures of epidural anesthesia.

Results

Dural surface area correlated with peak sensory block level (rho= -0.73, P = 0.0003) and onset time of caudal and cephalad block (rho = 0.62, P = 0.002; rho = -0.63, P = 0.002). Fat volume correlated with the regression to L5-S3 (rho = -0.44.44 to -0.54, P = 0.029 to 0.007). Epidural venous plexus velocity was significantly correlated with the regression to L3 (rho = -0.42, P = 0.038) and L4 (rho = -0.48, P = 0.017). Multiple regression analysis revealed that dural surface area was a significant predictive variable for the peak sensory block level (R = 0.61, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

These findings indicate that dural surface area influences the spread of epidural anesthesia with ropivacaine and posterior fat volume influences the duration of epidural anesthesia in healthy patients within a narrow age range. Epidural venous plexus velocity might also influence the duration of epidural anesthesia with ropivacaine.
Early but No Long-term Benefit of Regional Compared with General Anesthesia for Ambulatory Hand Surgery
Authors: McCartney Colin J. L. , Brull Richard , Chan Vincent W. S. , Katz Joel , Abbas Sherif , Graham Brent , Nova Hugo , Rawson Regan , Anastakis Dimitri J. , von Schroeder Herbert
Published: July 2004

Background

The purpose of this study was to determine whether either regional anesthesia (RA) or general anesthesia (GA) provided the best analgesia with the fewest adverse effects up to 2 weeks after ambulatory hand surgery.

Methods

Patients undergoing ambulatory hand surgery were randomly assigned to RA (axillary brachial plexus block; n = 50) or GA (n = 50). Before surgery, all patients rated their hand pain (visual analog scale) and pain-related disability (Pain-Disability Index). After surgery, eligibility for bypassing the postanesthesia care unit ("fast track") was determined, and pain, adverse effects, and home-readiness scores were measured. On postoperative days 1, 7, and 14, patients documented their pain, opioid consumption, adverse effects, Pain-Disability Index, and satisfaction.

Results

More RA patients were fast-track eligible (P < 0.001), whereas duration of stay in the postanesthesia care unit was shorter in the RA group (P < 0.001). Time to first analgesic request was longer in the RA group (P < 0.001), and opioid consumption was reduced before discharge (P < 0.001). In the RA group, the pain ratings measured at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after surgery were lower (P < 0.001), and patients spent less time in the hospital after surgery (P < 0.001). More GA patients experienced nausea/vomiting during recovery in the hospital (P < 0.05). However, on postoperative days 1, 7, and 14, there were no differences in pain, opioid consumption, adverse effects, Pain-Disability Index, or satisfaction.

Conclusions

Despite significant reduction in pain before discharge from the hospital after ambulatory hand surgery, single-shot axillary brachial plexus block does not reduce pain at home on postoperative day 1 or up to 14 days after surgery when compared with GA. However, RA does provide other significant early benefits, including reduction in nausea and faster discharge from the hospital.
Detection of Neuropathic Pain in a Rat Model of Peripheral Nerve Injury
Authors: Hogan Quinn , Sapunar Damir , Modric-Jednacak Ksenija , McCallum J Bruce
Published: July 2004

Background

Behavioral criteria that confirm neuropathic pain in animal injury models are undefined. Therefore, the authors sought clinically relevant measures that distinguish pain behavior of rats with peripheral nerve injury from those with sham injury.

Methods

The authors examined mechanical and thermal sensory sensitivity, comparing responses at baseline to responses after spinal nerve ligation (SNL group), sham nerve injury (sham group), or skin incision alone (control group).

Results

Substantial variance was evident in all sensory tests at baseline. After surgery, tests using brush, cold, or heat stimulation showed minimal distinctions between surgical groups. Postsurgical thresholds for flexion withdrawal from mechanical stimulation with von Frey fibers were decreased bilaterally in SNL and sham groups. In contrast, the probability of a complex hyperalgesia-type response with prolonged elevation, shaking, or licking of the paw was selectively increased on the ipsilateral side in the SNL group. Nonetheless, the effect of SNL on behavior was inconsistent, regardless of the sensory test. The behavioral measure that best distinguishes between SNL and sham groups and thereby best identifies animals with successful SNL-induced neuropathic pain is increased ipsilateral postsurgical probability of a hyperalgesia-type response to noxious mechanical stimulation. Using receiver operating characteristics analysis, mechanical hyperalgesia identifies a local SNL effect in approximately 60% of animals when specificity is required to be 90% or higher.

Conclusions

Simple withdrawal from von Frey tactile stimulation, although frequently used, is not a valid measure of peripheral nerve injury pain in rats, whereas a complex hyperalgesic-type response is a specific neuropathy-induced behavior.
Clonidine Prolongation of Lidocaine Analgesia after Sciatic Nerve Block in Rats Is Mediated via the Hyperpolarization-activated Cation Current, Not by α-Adrenoreceptors
Authors: Kroin Jeffrey S. , Buvanendran Asokumar , Beck Daniel R. , Topic Julie E. , Watts Daniel E. , Tuman Kenneth J.
Published: July 2004

Background

Although clonidine is commonly combined with local anesthetics to extend duration of peripheral nerve block, the mechanism by which clonidine potentiates local anesthetic action in vivo is unclear.

Methods

Male Sprague-Dawley rats received percutaneous injections of 1% lidocaine with/without clonidine or epinephrine into the sciatic notch and duration of sensory blockade was quantified by inhibition of pinprick foot withdrawal. The antagonists prazosin or yohimbine were injected before lidocaine with clonidine or epinephrine to determine the role of alpha-adrenergic receptors. The role of the hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih) was evaluated by injecting the current blocker ZD 7288 as well as the current enhancers forskolin and 8-Br-cAMP before lidocaine alone or with 15 micrograms/ml clonidine.

Results

Mean duration of sensory block for lidocaine alone was 69 +/- 2 min. Sensory block duration increased monotonically with increasing doses of added clonidine or epinephrine. Preinjection of prazosin but not yohimbine prevented the increase in block duration seen with epinephrine. Neither alpha-adrenergic antagonist attenuated the extended duration of block with clonidine. ZD 7288 extended sensory blockade equivalent to the prolongation observed with clonidine. There was no additive effect when ZD 7288 and clonidine were combined, and a decreased duration of nerve block when either forskolin or 8-Br-cAMP preceded injection of lidocaine with clonidine.

Conclusions

The findings indicate that prolongation of duration of in vivo lidocaine nerve blockade by clonidine is not mediated by an alpha-adrenergic mechanism but likely involves the Ih current.
Adopters of new food products in India
Authors: Ling Shu‐Shian , Jung Choo Ho , Thorndike Pysarchik Dawn
Published: July 2004

The purposes of this research were to compare the attitudes about new food purchases between innovators/early adopters and non‐innovators, and to determine the food purchase characteristics of innovators/early adopters and non‐innovators. Data were collected in ten locations in India between November 1999 and February 2000. Including income as a covariate, MANCOVA was performed to determine how innovators/early adopters and non‐innovators differed in their attitudes about new food purchases. The findings revealed some important characteristics of food innovators/early adopters: they tend to be opinion leaders, seek variety in food types and brands, and are more responsive to sales promotions and advertisements. Food prices are relatively important to both consumer groups. Marketing implications for food businesses are discussed.
Market segmentation based on level of acculturation
Authors: Palumbo Frederick A. , Teich Ira
Published: July 2004

In recent years companies have realized the importance of targeting their products and advertising efforts toward minority and ethnic groups. Globally, regional cultures have become more pronounced as waves of new immigration have begun to change the landscape for marketers. This paper examines the growing impact of immigrants in Europe and offers an American example of how to penetrate these emerging market segments. Of all the ethnic groups in the USA, Hispanic‐Americans are the fastest growing segment and the largest ethnic minority group. In Europe new immigrant groups are beginning to impact the economic, social and political scene. One area in which more research is needed is the effect of ethnic target marketing on both acculturated and un‐acculturated minorities. Today, it is essential that marketers divide their markets by country of origin and by level of acculturation.
Engaging in complaint behaviour
Authors: Phau Ian , Puspita Sari Riana
Published: July 2004

This paper investigates the various factors affecting consumer complaint behaviour in Indonesia. The main objective is to determine the various demographic variables and to profile complainers and non‐complainers with regard to psychographic variables, attitudes towards businesses in general, product attributes and attribution of blame. It provides a comprehensive comparison with the other studies in the literature which were mainly conducted in Northern America and Europe. The research suggests that complainers in Indonesia had a higher level of income and education. Complainers tended to exhibit greater self‐confidence and individualistic characters. They were more willing to take risk and had a positive attitude toward complaining. Consumers were more likely to complain when the unsatisfactory product was expensive, and used frequently and over a long time. In addition, complainers were more inclined to make a complaint when they blamed sellers and manufacturers for their bad purchase experiences. It was also noted that both complainers and non‐complainers possessed poor attitudes towards businesses in general. Managerial implications are discussed.
Consumer responses to environmental advertising in China
Authors: Chan Ricky Y.K.
Published: July 2004

This study examines how consumers in China perceive and respond to company‐sponsored environmental advertising claims. Based on a survey of 914 Chinese respondents in Beijing and Guangzhou, the study has derived some important findings. First, it confirms the casual observation that environmental advertising has already been widely used in the country. Second, it indicates that Chinese consumers, in general, rate print environmental advertisements more favorably than broadcast ones. This is probably due to the pragmatic orientation of Chinese consumers, who consistently seek concrete and substantiated product information from advertisements to guide their shopping. Regression analyses on the collected data further reveal that “perceived credibility of the claim”, “relevance of the advertised product to daily lives”, “education level” and “media type” are all significant factors that would positively affect green purchase intention of Chinese consumers. In addition to providing researchers with further understanding of Chinese consumers' attitudinal and conative responses toward environmental advertising, these findings provide advertisers with useful insights into fine‐tuning their environmental advertising strategies in China.
Assessing the francophone West Africa market
Authors: Akamavi Raphaël K. , McKevitt Andrew , Boateng Agyenim
Published: July 2004

Very little is known about the business environment in the countries of l'Afrique Occidentale Française (or francophone), the French‐speaking countries of West Africa, here referred to as francophone West Africa (FWA). Yet chief executive officers and corporate managers are under increasing pressures to assess the business environment before entering any such overseas markets. Therefore, the aim of paper is to scan the macro‐environmental forces operating in the FWA market. An audit of these external factors produces an “ETOP” framework, describing the current external threats and opportunities for would‐be entrants, and identifying practical implications for international marketing planners. The FWA countries are classic case of an emerging market, about which more deserves to be known, especially by non‐francophone decision makers in multinational corporations.
Collaborative public administration
Authors: Vigoda‐Gadot Eran
Published: July 2004

Public administration is incrementally moving on a reform track that leads from responsiveness to collaboration. Attempts to enrich the discussion on the current state of new managerialism in public administration and to explain why and how it makes progress towards higher levels of cooperation and collaboration with various social players such as the private sector, the third sector, and citizens. Argues that in the end this is a socially desirable trend with meaningful benefits that reach far beyond the important idea of responsiveness. The idea of “collaborative” administration thus challenges “responsive” public administration. Maintains that the collaborative model, whether bureaucracy‐driven, citizen‐driven, or private‐sector‐driven, is realistic and beneficial even if it cannot be fully applied. Goes on to describe two major experiences from the Israeli arena. Finally, summarizes the theoretical and practical experiences that can be learned from these ventures and elaborates on the future of collaboration in modern public administration.
Corporate social responsibility and structural change in financial services
Authors: Sallyanne Decker O.
Published: July 2004

This paper argues that when corporate social responsibility (CSR) is conceptualised pragmatically as a response by businesses to society's concerns it acts as an element of structural change with implications for the strategies of firms and ultimately for industry structure. Furthermore, industry specific aspects of CSR are important and governmental influences and financial regulation provide an added dimension to the impact of CSR on the financial services industry. As an element of structural change, CSR acts as an environmental discontinuity and forces firms to realign their positions within their operating environment. A structural change paradigm is developed to examine trends which are emerging within retail banking as a result of CSR. In the UK retail banking sector, the impact of CSR is increasingly manifest in the efforts to create a competitive advantage out of CSR strategies, the growing prominence of mutual financial institutions in government policy and collaborative efforts between a range of financial institutions.
Loan loss provisioning system in Bangladesh banking
Authors: Podder Jyotirmoy , Al Mamun Ashraf
Published: July 2004

This study examines the impact of making too much provision to write off bad loans by analyzing the consequences on tax and owners' equity. This study also examines that making too much provision has no relation to recovery of bad loans and so questions the rationality of making provision from current profit to write off loans in future. Provision can be kept on the current asset portion, that is, on interest receivable, and bad loans can be written off instantly from equity since it is a capital loss. Since making provision has no impact on collection of bad loans so as to improve the loan loss situation, loans becoming bad should be minimized at the least possible level, which will result in lower loan loss provision, which, in turn will increase the amount of tax payable as well as increase shareholders' wealth.
Organizations and environmental crime
Authors: Emery Anthony , Watson Michael
Published: July 2004

Examines the emergence of environmental legislation and the response of organizations. Most legal academics have attempted to explain these responses in the context of rational choice theory, using an economic framework such as the rational polluter model. Argues that whilst the rational polluter model offers a partial explanation of organizations’ behaviour in response to environmental legislation, it does not explain why the majority of organizations are law abiding. Examines work on legitimacy theory, and by drawing on that work and placing it in the context of case law, suggests that it offers a better explanatory framework.
Law, economics and the environment
Authors: Watson Michael , Emery Anthony R.T.
Published: July 2004

Environmental management systems (EMS) first appeared in North America in the 1970s and are now widely used by commercial companies and other organisations in all parts of the developed world. Although various systems exist, the most important are ISO 14001 and the European Union's EMAS. This paper examines these systems, outlines their respective strengths and weaknesses, and discusses their varying popularity in different countries.
An econometric analysis of some major manufacturing industries
Authors: Hossain Zakir , Ishaq Bhatti M. , Ali Zulficar
Published: July 2004

Recently, Bhatti and Khan considered various functional forms to see their suitability in terms of efficiency and competency in assessing production process based on agricultural data. This paper reviews some models recently used in the literature and selects the most suitable one for measuring the production process of 21 major manufacturing industries in Bangladesh. In particular, the paper estimates and tests the coefficients of the production inputs for each of the selected manufacturing industries using Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics annual data over the period 1982‐1983 through 1991‐1992.
The accounting and taxation relationship in Spanish listed firms
Authors: Gallego Isabel
Published: July 2004

The relationship between accounting and fiscal rules has long been controversial. Financial statements conform to accounting principles and methods regardless of tax rules. This independence generates important permanent and temporary differences between accounting and taxable income. The paper analyses the behaviour of listed Spanish firms in this accounting‐taxation relationship 1996‐1998, the extent of introduction of the inter‐period income tax allocation method, and the number and types of permanent and temporary differences reported. Most firms adopt the income tax allocation method, and report the differences, although they do not always specify which transactions provoked them. Among the long list of operations that generate differences, the most frequent are income tax expense, welfare schemes, provision for pensions, monetary correction, accelerated depreciation, or exemption for reinvestment. Although the number and kind of differences vary through time, the variation is not statistically significant. This is the first study analysing such differences for a European Union state.
Halamine polymers: 2. Preparation of new triazine‐diones biocidal polymers by grafting polymerisation
Authors: El‐Masry A.M. , Moustafa H.Y. , Ahmed A.I. , Shaaban A.F.
Published: July 2004

New N‐halamine polymeric compounds were prepared by reacting cyanuric acid and polyacrylonitrile. Grafting of acrylonitrile monomer onto cotton linters was carried out and the product was reacted with cyanuric acid and finally was chlorinated. Cyanoethylation of polyvinyl alcohol was performed using acrylonitrile monomer to give polyvinylcyanoethyl ether, which, in turn, was reacted with cyanuric acid. The biological activity of the various chlorinated compounds obtained was examined against Gram (+) and Gram (−) bacteria using columns and dishes methods. A high disinfecting power of the chlorinated compounds obtained was observed. Thus, the bacteria was deactivated after the first cycle without contact with the product. All of the compounds prepared were insoluble in water and most of inorganic solvents. These compounds were also found to be very stable and did not decompose to give any toxic compounds. Thus, the chlorinated compounds prepared had no harmful effects on humans.
Reactions to unethical consumer behavior across six countries
Authors: Babakus Emin , Bettina Cornwell T. , Mitchell Vince , Schlegelmilch Bodo
Published: July 2004

Examining individual tolerance for unethical consumer behavior provides a key insight to how people behave as consumers worldwide. In this study, consumer reactions to 11 unethical consumer behavior scenarios are investigated using sample data from Austria, Brunei, France, Hong Kong, the UK, and the USA. Nationality is found to be a significant predictor of how consumers view various questionable behaviors. Gender is not a significant predictor, while age and religious affiliation are found to be significant predictors of consumer ethical perceptions. The study identifies distinct consumer clusters based on their perceptions of consumer unethical behavior. Implications of the findings are discussed and future research directions are provided.
College tuition and perceptions of private university quality
Authors: Li‐Ping Tang Thomas , Shin‐Hsiung Tang David , Shin‐Yi Tang Cindy
Published: July 2004

This research employs institutional characteristics and market‐related factors to predict undergraduate students' tuition at 190 private colleges and universities in the USA. Results showed that the strongest correlations among variables for college tuition were reputation ranking and SAT scores. Results of a hierarchical multiple regression revealed that the type of institution, academic reputation ranking, the annual expenditures, geographic region, the existence of professional schools, the size of the faculty and the undergraduate student body, and university presidents' pay and benefits are all significant predictors of college tuition. After controlling all other variables, the unique contribution made by reputation ranking is still a significant predictor of college tuition. Research institutions charged their students more than liberal arts colleges, which, in turn, charged more than doctoral granting I institutions. Implications for parents and students, private colleges and universities, human resource management, and the Matthew effect are discussed.
Thermal strain analysis of IC packages using various Moiré methods
Authors: Zhong Z.W.
Published: July 2004

This paper reports on thermal strain analysis of integrated circuit (IC) packages using the optical, atomic force microscope (AFM), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) Moiré methods. The advantages and disadvantages of a full field optical Moiré, a micro‐optical Moiré, AFM Moiré, and SEM Moiré methods are compared. The full field Moiré interferometry is used to investigate the deformations and strains induced by thermal loading in various packages at the macrolevel. The micro Moiré interferometry is used to study the strains in the small solder joints. An optical Moiré interferometer with a mini thermal‐cycling chamber can be used for real time measurements of thermal deformations and strains of IC packages under thermal testing. Furthermore, the novel methods, AFM Moiré and SEM Moiré, can be also utilized to measure thermally induced deformations and strains of IC packages conveniently using the equipment that is commonly and primarily used for many other applications.
Thermal investigations of microelectronic chip with non‐uniform power distribution: temperature prediction and thermal placement design optimization
Authors: Joo Goh Teck , Seetharamu K.N. , Quadir G.A. , Zainal Z.A. , Jeevan Ganeshamoorthy K.
Published: July 2004

This paper presents the thermal analyses carried out to predict the temperature distribution of the silicon chip with non‐uniform power dissipation patterns and to determine the optimal locations of power generating sources in silicon chip design layout that leads to the desired junction temperature, Tj. Key thermal parameters investigated are the heat source placement distance, level of heat dissipation, and magnitude of convection heat transfer coefficient. Finite element method (FEM) is used to investigate the effect of the key parameters. From the FEM results, a multiple linear regression model employing the least‐square method is developed that relates all three parameters into a single correlation which would predict the maximum junction temperature, Tj,max.
Investigation of the fabrication parameters of thick film titanium oxide‐PVC pH electrodes using experimental designs
Authors: Gac A. , Atkinson J.K. , Zhang Z. , Sexton C.J. , Lewis S.M. , Please C.P. , Sion Russell
Published: July 2004

This paper describes a study into the development of an optimum fabrication process for the batch production of thick film titanium oxide‐PVC pH electrodes. Multi‐factorial experimental plans are used to explore the effect of fabrication parameters on the average sensitivity of sensors and their batch variability. Analysis of the results indicates that a number of the factors have a small effect on the sensitivity. Factors of particular importance are identified and TiO2 in a PVC binder is examined in detail. The optimal values for these fabrication values are identified and examined. Mechanisms for the experimentally observed sub‐Nernstian responses and immersion‐time variations in sensor behaviour are discussed.
Experimentally biased model structure of the Hsc70/auxilin complex: Substrate transfer and interdomain structural change
Authors: Gruschus James M. , Greene Lois E. , Eisenberg Evan , Ferretti James A.
Published: July 2004

A model structure of the Hsc70/auxilin complex has been constructed to gain insight into interprotein substrate transfer and ATP hydrolysis induced conformational changes in the multidomain Hsc70 structure. The Hsc70/auxilin system, which is a member of the Hsp70/Hsp40 chaperone system family, uncoats clathrin‐coated vesicles in an ATP hydrolysis‐driven process. Incorporating previous results from NMR and mutant binding studies, the auxilin J‐domain was docked into the Hsc70 ATPase domain lower cleft using rigid backbone/flexible side chain molecular dynamics, and the Hsc70 substrate binding domain was docked by a similar procedure. For comparison, J‐domain and substrate binding domain docking sites were obtained by the rigid‐body docking programs DOT and ZDOCK, filtered and ranked by the program ClusPro, and relaxed using the same rigid backbone/flexible side chain dynamics. The substrate binding domain sites were assessed in terms of conserved surface complementarity and feasibility in the context of substrate transfer, both for auxilin and another Hsp40 protein, Hsc20. This assessment favors placement of the substrate binding domain near D152 on the ATPase domain surface adjacent to the J‐domain invariant HPD segment, with the Hsc70 interdomain linker in the lower cleft. Examining Hsc70 interdomain energetics, we propose that long‐range electrostatic interactions, perhaps due to a difference in the pKa values of bound ATP and ADP, could play a major role in the structural change induced by ATP hydrolysis. Interdomain electrostatic interactions also appear to play a role in stimulation of ATPase activity due to J‐domain binding and substrate binding by Hsc70.
Kinetic traps in the folding/unfolding of procaspase‐1 CARD domain
Authors: Chen Yun‐Ru , Clark A. Clay
Published: July 2004

We have examined the folding and unfolding of the caspase recruitment domain of procaspase‐1 (CP1‐CARD), a member of the α‐helical Greek key protein family. The equilibrium folding/unfolding of CP1‐CARD is described by a two‐state mechanism, and the results show CP1‐CARD is marginally stable with a ΔG of 1.1 ± 0.2 kcal/mole and an m‐value of 0.65 ± 0.06 kcal/mole/M (10 mM Tris‐HCl at pH 8.0, 1 mM DTT, 25°C). Consistent with the equilibrium folding data, CP1‐CARD is a monomer in solution when examined by size exclusion chromatography. Single‐mixing stopped‐flow refolding and unfolding studies show that CP1‐CARD folds and unfolds rapidly, with no detectable slow phases, and the reactions appear to reach equilibrium within 10 msec. However, double jump kinetic experiments demonstrate the presence of an unfolded‐like intermediate during unfolding. The intermediate converts to the fully unfolded conformation with a half‐time of 10 sec. Interrupted refolding studies demonstrate the presence of one or more nativelike intermediates during refolding, which convert to the native conformation with a half‐time of about 60 sec. Overall, the data show that both unfolding and refolding processes are slow, and the pathways contain kinetically trapped species.
A classification of disulfide patterns and its relationship to protein structure and function
Authors: Gupta Abhas , Van Vlijmen Herman W.T. , Singh Juswinder
Published: July 2004

We report a detailed classification of disulfide patterns to further understand the role of disulfides in protein structure and function. The classification is applied to a unique searchable database of disulfide patterns derived from the SwissProt and Pfam databases. The disulfide database contains seven times the number of publicly available disulfide annotations. Each disulfide pattern in the database captures the topology and cysteine spacing of a protein domain. We have clustered the domains by their disulfide patterns and visualized the results using a novel representation termed the “classification wheel.” The classification is applied to 40,620 protein domains with 2–10 disulfides. The effectiveness of the classification is evaluated by determining the extent to which proteins of similar structure and function are grouped together through comparison with the SCOP and Pfam databases, respectively. In general, proteins with similar disulfide patterns have similar structure and function, even in cases of low sequence similarity, and we illustrate this with specific examples. Using a measure of disulfide topology complexity, we find that there is a predominance of less complex topologies. We also explored the importance of loss or addition of disulfides to protein structure and function by linking classification wheels through disulfide subpattern comparisons. This classification, when coupled with our disulfide database, will serve as a useful resource for searching and comparing disulfide patterns, and understanding their role in protein structure, folding, and stability. Proteins in the disulfide clusters that do not contain structural information are prime candidates for structural genomics initiatives, because they may correspond to novel structures.
Determination of enzyme mechanisms by molecular dynamics: Studies on quinoproteins, methanol dehydrogenase, and soluble glucose dehydrogenase
Authors: Reddy Swarnalatha Y. , Bruice Thomas C.
Published: July 2004

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been carried out to study the enzymatic mechanisms of quinoproteins, methanol dehydrogenase (MDH), and soluble glucose dehydrogenase (sGDH). The mechanisms of reduction of the orthoquinone cofactor (PQQ) of MDH and sGDH involve concerted base‐catalyzed proton abstraction from the hydroxyl moiety of methanol or from the 1‐hydroxyl of glucose, and hydride equivalent transfer from the substrate to the quinone carbonyl carbon C5 of PQQ. The products of methanol and glucose oxidation are formaldehyde and glucolactone, respectively. The immediate product of PQQ reduction, PQQH− [−HC5(O−) −C4( = O) −] and PQQH [−HC5(OH) −C4( = O) −] converts to the hydroquinone PQQH2 [−C5(OH) = C4(OH) −]. The main focus is on MD structures of MDH • PQQ • methanol, MDH • PQQH−, MDH • PQQH, sGDH • PQQ • glucose, sGDH • PQQH− (glucolactone, and sGDH • PQQH. The reaction PQQ → PQQH− occurs with Glu 171–CO2− and His 144–Im as the base species in MDH and sGDH, respectively. The general‐base‐catalyzed hydroxyl proton abstraction from substrate concerted with hydride transfer to the C5 of PQQ is assisted by hydrogen‐bonding to the C5 = O by Wat1 and Arg 324 in MDH and by Wat89 and Arg 228 in sGDH. Asp 297–COOH would act as a proton donor for the reaction PQQH− → PQQH, if formed by transfer of the proton from Glu 171–COOH to Asp 297–CO2− in MDH. For PQQH → PQQH2, migration of H5 to the C4 oxygen may be assisted by a weak base like water (either by crystal water Wat97 or bulk solvent, hydrogen‐bonded to Glu 171–CO2− in MDH and by Wat89 in sGDH).