bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Chromokinesin, KLP3A, Drives Mitotic Spindle Pole Separation during Prometaphase and Anaphase and Facilitates Chromatid Motility
Authors: Kwon Mijung , Morales-Mulia Sandra , Brust-Mascher Ingrid , Rogers Gregory C. , Sharp David J. , Scholey Jonathan M.
Published: October 2003

Mitosis requires the concerted activities of multiple microtubule (MT)-based motor proteins. Here we examined the contribution of the chromokinesin, KLP3A, to mitotic spindle morphogenesis and chromosome movements in Drosophila embryos and cultured S2 cells. By immunofluorescence, KLP3A associates with nonfibrous punctae that concentrate in nuclei and display MT-dependent associations with spindles. These punctae concentrate in indistinct domains associated with chromosomes and central spindles and form distinct bands associated with telophase midbodies. The functional disruption of KLP3A by antibodies or dominant negative proteins in embryos, or by RNA interference (RNAi) in S2 cells, does not block mitosis but produces defects in mitotic spindles. Time-lapse confocal observations of mitosis in living embryos reveal that KLP3A inhibition disrupts the organization of interpolar (ip) MTs and produces short spindles. Kinetic analysis suggests that KLP3A contributes to spindle pole separation during the prometaphase-to-metaphase transition (when it antagonizes Ncd) and anaphase B, to normal rates of chromatid motility during anaphase A, and to the proper spacing of daughter nuclei during telophase. We propose that KLP3A acts on MTs associated with chromosome arms and the central spindle to organize ipMT bundles, to drive spindle pole separation and to facilitate chromatid motility.
Slx1-Slx4 Are Subunits of a Structure-specific Endonuclease That Maintains Ribosomal DNA in Fission Yeast
Authors: Coulon Stéphane , Gaillard Pierre-Henri L. , Chahwan Charly , McDonald William Hayes , Yates John R. , Russell Paul
Published: October 2003

In most eukaryotes, genes encoding ribosomal RNAs (rDNA) are clustered in long tandem head-to-tail repeats. Studies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae have indicated that rDNA copy number is maintained through recombination events associated with site-specific blockage of replication forks (RFs). Here, we describe two Schizosaccharomyces pombe proteins, homologs of S. cerevisiae Slx1 and Slx4, as subunits of a novel type of endonuclease that maintains rDNA copy number. The Slx1-Slx4–dependent endonuclease introduces single-strand cuts in duplex DNA on the 3′ side of junctions with single-strand DNA. Deletion of Slx1 or Rqh1 RecQ-like DNA helicase provokes rDNA contraction, whereas simultaneous elimination of Slx1-Slx4 endonuclease and Rqh1 is lethal. Slx1 associates with chromatin at two foci characteristic of the two rDNA repeat loci in S. pombe. We propose a model in which the Slx1–Slx4 complex is involved in the control of the expansion and contraction of the rDNA loci by initiating recombination events at stalled RFs.
The Meaning of a Word
Authors: Austin J. L. , Urmson J. O. , Warnock G. J.
Published: October 2003

‘The Meaning of a Word’ is a polemic against the view that philosophy can be done by way of pinning down the meaning of words used in philosophising. Its argument is threefold: the first part argues that ‘the meaning of a word’ is, in general, if not always, a dangerous nonsensephrase, in the sense that there is no simple and handy appendage of a word called ‘the meaning of (the word) “x”’. The second part applies this conclusion to problems that rely on the assumption that phrases like ‘the meaning of a word’ or ‘part of the meaning of the word’ are not completely undefined (e.g. the question of whether a statement such as ‘x is y’ is analytic or synthetic), proposing that we are using a working-model for philosophical problems which fails to fit the facts that we really wish to talk about. The third part addresses the problem of universals, which, according to Austin, boils down to the question of why we call different things, say two chairs in your living room, by the same name, that is, ‘chair’. Austin examines the phrase ‘having the same meaning’ in order to reveal the different reasons we have for calling different things by the same name.
Unfair to Facts
Authors: Austin J. L. , Urmson J. O. , Warnock G. J.
Published: October 2003

‘Unfair to Facts’ is a follow-up on Ch. 5, addressing objections Peter Strawson raised against Austin’s view of truth as a description of the conditions that must be satisfied if we are to say of a statement that it is true. Austin addresses the objection that his description of these conditions is due to a misunderstanding about the use of ‘fact’, arguing, against Strawson, that facts are not pseudo-entities and that the notion of ‘fitting the facts’ is not a useless notion.
Performative Utterances
Authors: Austin J. L. , Urmson J. O. , Warnock G. J.
Published: October 2003

Austin attacks the view that language is referential, based on the simplistic division of utterances into the ‘descriptive’ and ‘evaluative’, using his notion of performative utterances. Such utterances, in the appropriate circumstances, are neither descriptive nor evaluative, but count as actions, i.e., create the situation rather than describing or reporting on it. In saying ‘I promise to go’ one is making a promise, not stating that one is making it. A performative promise is not, and does not involve, the statement that one is promising. It is an act of a distinctive sort, the very sort (promising) named by the performative verb. And, according to Austin, making explicit what one is doing is not describing what one is doing or stating that one is doing it.
ELAV inhibits 3′-end processing to promote neural splicing of ewg pre-mRNA
Authors: Soller Matthias , White Kalpana
Published: October 2003

The embryonic lethal abnormal visual system (ELAV) is a gene-specific regulator of alternative pre-mRNA processing in neurons of Drosophila. Here we define a functional in vivo binding site for ELAV in neurons through the development of a reporter gene system in transgenic animals in combination with in vitro binding assays. ELAV binds to erect wing (ewg) RNA 3′ of a polyadenylation site in the terminal intron 6. At this polyadenylation site, ELAV inhibits 3′-end processing in vitro in a dose-dependent and sequence-specific manner, and ELAV binding is necessary in vivo to promote splicing of ewg intron 6. Further, the AAUAAA poly(A) complex recognition sequence, together with ELAV, is required to regulate neural 3′ splice site choice in vivo. In addition, the use of segmentally labeled RNA substrates in UV cross-linking assays suggest that ELAV does not inhibit or redirect binding of cleavage factor dCstF64 at the regulated polyadenylation site on ewg RNA. These data indicate that binding of 3′-end processing factors, together with ELAV, can regulate alternative splicing.
Recognition and repair of the cyclobutane thymine dimer, a major cause of skin cancers, by the human excision nuclease
Authors: Reardon Joyce T. , Sancar Aziz
Published: October 2003

The cyclobutane thymine dimer is the major DNA lesion induced in human skin by sunlight and is a primary cause of skin cancer, the most prevalent form of cancer in the Northern Hemisphere. In humans, the only known cellular repair mechanism for eliminating the dimer from DNA is nucleotide excision repair. Yet the mechanism by which the dimer is recognized and removed by this repair system is not known. Here we demonstrate that the six-factor human excision nuclease recognizes and removes the dimer at a rate consistent with the in vivo rate of removal of this lesion, even though none of the six factors alone is capable of efficiently discriminating the dimer from undamaged DNA. We propose a recognition mechanism by which the low-specificity recognition factors, RPA, XPA, and XPC, act in a cooperative manner to locate the lesion and, aided by the kinetic proofreading provided by TFIIH, form a high-specificity complex at the damage site that initiates removal of thymine dimers at a physiologically relevant rate and specificity.
Alternativetrans-splicing of constant and variable exons of aDrosophilaaxon guidance gene,lola
Authors: Horiuchi Takayuki , Giniger Edward , Aigaki Toshiro
Published: October 2003

longitudinals lacking(lola) is a complexDrosophilagene encoding at least 20 protein isoforms,each bearing the same N-terminal constant region linked to a different C-terminal variable region. Different isoforms specify different aspects of axon growth and guidance. We show here thatlolamRNAs are generated by alternativetrans-splicing of exons sequentially encoded by the same DNA strand. Chromosomal pairing facilitates interallelictrans-splicing,allowing complementation between mutations in the constant and those in the variable exons. We demonstrate that at least one variable exon is transcribed from its own promoter,andtrans-spliced to the constant exons transcribed separately.
Information‐saturated yet ignorant: information mediation as social empowerment in the knowledge economy
Authors: Wallis Jake
Published: October 2003

In today’s information society, the information citizen must face a variety of challenges in order to make the most of their role in the knowledge economy. The role of information as knowledge capital means that there is a danger of inappropriate commercialisation of information, which can militate against the optimal social use of this resource. Similarly, low levels of information literacy can exclude the individual from full membership of the information society. Information professionals are in a prime position to address these problems, since the information mediator can both act against inappropriate commercialisation of information and offset the social disadvantages of information illiteracy. If the information professional does not rise to the challenge of leadership within the new information order, society become “information‐saturated and simultaneously ignorant”.
The American public library during the Great Depression
Authors: Seavey Charles A.
Published: October 2003

This paper investigates the broad outline of the growth of the public library in the USA during the Great Depression. Despite economic hard times public libraries were founded in 48 of the 50 states and territories. Nine states contributed the greatest portion of that growth. Geographic variation in library growth is discussed. The role of two federal agencies is briefly described and their influence in public library expansion largely discounted. Brief case studies of two libraries founded during the Great Depression are presented. The conclusion is that the US public library was a social institution important to local communities that provided funding, long before the advent of state or federal funding.
Gender factor in crop farmers’ access to agricultural information in rural areas of Delta State, Nigeria
Authors: Adomi Esharenana E. , Ogbomo Monday O. , Inoni O.E.
Published: October 2003

Focuses on crop farmers’ access to agricultural information in rural areas of Delta State, Nigeria. Data were gathered by questionnaire from ten villages. Farmers of both genders experienced obstacles to information use, although findings revealed that there were also differences between male and female crop farmers with respect to their information needs and sources of agricultural information. Female crop farmers experienced greater problems in accessing agricultural information. However, the major information problems suffered by farmers are not gender‐specific problems. Concludes with recommendations to enhance all crop farmers’ access to agricultural information.
Building up or breaking down barriers? The role of the public library in adult basic skills education
Authors: Train Briony
Published: October 2003

This paper considers the capacity of the public library service to support adult basic skills education. Research and policy documents pertaining to this subject in the fields of librarianship and education are presented, from which issues are identified that can prevent the public library from being effective in its basic skills provision. The Vital Link project (2001‐2002) is introduced as an example of a recent initiative that attempted to create a sustainable link between adult literacy and public libraries. Findings of a key aspect of the qualitative evaluation of The Vital Link are presented, with a focus on recommended changes to the public library service. The paper concludes that although barriers preventing effective service delivery are complex, the key to removing them may be more straightforward.
Defining fundamental disequilibrium: Keynes's unheeded contribution
Authors: Cesarano Filippo
Published: October 2003

The Bretton Woods agreements set up the post‐war monetary order on the basis of fixed exchange rates and autonomous national economic policy. Changes in parity were allowed in the case of fundamental disequilibrium, but this concept was not defined, promoting a lengthy but sterile debate. This paper, after reviewing the main features of the discussion, analyzes Keynes's overlooked contribution, which helps to clarify the issue at stake.
Monetary dynamics, exchange rates and parameter instability: an empirical investigation
Authors: Arize A.C. , Malindretos J. , Christoffersen S.
Published: October 2003

This paper examines the existence and stability of both the long‐ and short‐run demand for narrow and broad money balances. The data for Singapore are used as a case study. The quarterly period examined is 1973:2‐1999:3 (105 observations). The study reveals the existence of a systematic long‐run relationship among real money balances, real income, interest rate and exchange rate. Results from testing the hypothesis of a unitary price elasticity confirm that only the broad money aggregate could be used as intermediate target of monetary policy. Using a formal test of parameter constancy designed specifically for cointegrating vectors, it is shown that nonstationarity and time invariance in the demand for money can be resolved by the inclusion of the exchange rate.
Money demand, financial liberalization and currency substitution in Turkey
Authors: Civcir Irfan
Published: October 2003

This paper investigates the empirical relationship between money, real income, interest rates, inflation and expected exchange rate, and examines the constancy of this relationship, especially in the light of financial reform, deregulation of financial markets and financial crises in Turkey. The estimation results show that expected exchange rate is statistically significant in the money demand function, indicating existence of currency substitution in Turkey. The dynamics of money demand is important, the inflation and income effects are much smaller in the short‐run than long‐run. The results also reveal that the demand for money in Turkey is stable, despite the economic reforms and financial crises.
Manufacturing and competitiveness: the case of Greece
Authors: Pitelis Christos , Antonakis Nicholas
Published: October 2003

Despite long‐standing debates on deindustrialisation and the importance of manufacturing, as well as tests of the deindustrialisation hypothesis, little empirical work exists on the impact of manufacturing on competitiveness, where manufacturing is the independent variable. To address this first presents a conceptual framework that links manufacturing to competitiveness and deindustrialisation and tests it for a case of serious apparent deindustrialisation and “relative decline”, that of Greece, in the context of a novel “simultaneous equation model” that tests both for deindustrialisation and “manufacturing matters”. Finds that the change in manufacturing shares have a positive and significant impact on competitiveness measured by per capita income, confirming that “manufacturing matters”.
Reflections on an anniversary: Friedman's Capitalism and Freedom
Authors: Rothschild Kurt
Published: October 2003

Discusses Milton Friedman's Capitalism and Freedom, on the fortieth anniversary of its publication.
Analytical algorithm of inductive field for realising a smart eddy current NDT system
Authors: Jiang Qimi , Chen Chun‐Hsien , Pheng Khoo Li
Published: October 2003

Research effort to integrate an analysis module of inductive field into an eddy current NDT system to realise a hybrid technique, which is capable of automatically analysing the inductive field so as to set up the optimum parameters for the system, has not been well addressed. This paper describes the work that leads to the realization of such a hybrid technique. First, two finite element models are described. Next, an analytical algorithm based on these models is proposed. By integrating the algorithm into an eddy current NDT system, a smart hybrid technique can be realized. This is beneficial in setting up relevant parameters such as the working frequencies and the detection distance. Thus, the test precision can be improved. Taking a cylindrical inductive sensor as an example, some calculation results are provided to illustrate the analysis of the inductive field produced in an eddy current NDT system.
Numerical simulation of three‐dimensional steady‐state rolling by the reproducing kernel particle method
Authors: Xiong S. , Rodrigues J.M.C. , Martins P.A.F.
Published: October 2003

This paper presents a numerical approach for analysing three‐dimensional steady‐state rolling by means of the reproducing kernel particle method (RKPM). The approach is based on the flow formulation for slightly compressible materials and a detailed description of RKPM and its numerical implementation is presented with the objective of providing the necessary background. Special emphasis is placed on the construction of shape functions and their derivatives, enforcement of the essential boundary conditions and treatment of frictional effects along the contact interface between the workpiece and the roll. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is discussed by comparing the theoretical predictions with the finite element calculations and experimental data found in the literature.
A new volumetric and shear locking‐free 3D enhanced strain element
Authors: Alves de Sousa R.J. , Natal Jorge R.M. , Fontes Valente R.A. , César de Sá J.M.A.
Published: October 2003

This paper focuses on the development of a new class of eight‐node solid finite elements, suitable for the treatment of volumetric and transverse shear locking problems. Doing so, the proposed elements can be used efficiently for 3D and thin shell applications. The starting point of the work relies on the analysis of the subspace of incompressible deformations associated with the standard (displacement‐based) fully integrated and reduced integrated hexahedral elements. Prediction capabilities for both formulations are defined related to nearly‐incompressible problems and an enhanced strain approach is developed to improve the performance of the earlier formulation in this case. With the insight into volumetric locking gained and benefiting from a recently proposed enhanced transverse shear strain procedure for shell applications, a new element conjugating both the capabilities of efficient solid and shell formulations is obtained. Numerical results attest the robustness and efficiency of the proposed approach, when compared to solid and shell elements well‐established in the literature.
Fitting the person to the organisation: examining the personality‐job performance relationship from a new perspective
Authors: Nikolaou Ioannis
Published: October 2003

The current study represents an attempt to explore personality dispositions and personality process in a P‐O fit context. A total of 227 employees completed self‐report measures of personality and job satisfaction and their supervisors assessed their citizenship behaviours, generic work competencies and overall job performance. The theoretical approach of the cognitive‐affective personality system was adopted in exploring the research questions and discussing the findings, which reinforced the significance of a confirmatory, theory‐based approach in personality testing. The results supported the existence of relationships between personality and job satisfaction but not between personality and the performance‐related variables, although agreeableness and openness to experience were related to performance for occupations involving interpersonal interaction.
The significance of seniority for women managers’ interpretations of organizational restructuring
Authors: Simpson Ruth , Holley Debbie , Woods Adrian
Published: October 2003

This paper examines the impact of restructuring within the transport and logistics sector on women managers working at senior and less senior (middle/junior management) levels of the organization. The majority of women experienced increased performance pressures and heavier workloads as well as an increase in working hours. At the same time, there were pressures to work at home (i.e. weekends and evenings) and reduced opportunities to work from home (i.e. during normal office hours). Management level emerged as an important factor in how these changes were interpreted. Senior managers perceived more positive outcomes in terms of increased motivation and loyalty. Despite a longer working week, they were less likely to report low morale as an outcome from long hours. In fact, irrespective of management level, women working shorter hours were more likely to report low morale as an outcome. Results are discussed in relation to literature on restructuring and careers, in terms of perceptual framing and in relation to different levels of investment in the organization.
Risk: a neglected component of strategy formulation
Authors: Noy Eli , Ellis Shmuel
Published: October 2003

The hypothesis that managers believe risk to be a major component of strategy formulation, with a corresponding effect on the strategic decision‐making process, was subjected to empirical examination. A total of 93 top executives of Israel's largest industrial companies, representing various business sectors, responded to the research questionnaire. Although the data supported the major research hypothesis, they also showed that managers are not inclined to use risk‐assessment models. In‐depth interviews with 21 participants supported the findings and suggested possible explanations. Recommendations regarding the formation of risk strategy and the incorporation of risk assessment models to strategic decisions are suggested.
An empirical assessment: reconstructed model for five universal forms of work commitment
Authors: Freund Anat , Carmeli Abraham
Published: October 2003

This study examined the relationships between five work commitments: Protestant work ethic, career commitment, job involvement, continuance commitment and affective commitment. Based on Morrow's concept of five universal forms of commitment, their inter‐relationships were tested in regard to a population of lawyers either employed by, or partners in law firms. The results presented a reconstructed model. The following findings were unique to this reconstructed model: job involvement and career commitment appeared as mediating variables, although, unlike previous models, job involvement was found to be directly related to affective commitment. Furthermore, career commitment was shown to be directly related only to continuous commitment and not to affective commitment. The significance of these findings is discussed in regards to the studied population as well as to further investigations.
Eustress, distress, and interpretation in occupational stress
Authors: Le Fevre Mark , Matheny Jonathan , Kolt Gregory S.
Published: October 2003

We examine the concepts of stress, distress, and eustress and develop three tenets that are used to relate these concepts to three major theories or models of occupational stress. Selye's concept of eustress or “good stress” appears to be largely ignored in the literature, while the Yerkes Dodson Law is illustrated as a model for management practice. We suggest that the meaning assigned to the word stress has shifted from Selye's original formulation, and that this shift, in conjunction with the use of the Yerkes Dodson Law leads to inappropriate management of stress in organizations. We conclude that the concept that some stress is good and enhances performance should be rejected in favour of more useful and accurate concepts.
The relationships of age and length of service with job satisfaction: an examination of hotel employees in Thailand
Authors: Jalal Sarker Shah , Crossman Alf , Chinmeteepituck Parkpoom
Published: October 2003

Earlier studies suggest age is positively associated with job satisfaction, while others use length of service, or tenure, as a predictor of job satisfaction levels. This article examines whether age and tenure are individual determinants of satisfaction, or whether there is an interaction between the two. The results indicate that employee age is not significantly associated with overall job satisfaction level, but that tenure is. There is also significant relationship between tenure and facets of satisfaction (job, pay and fringe benefits), but the effect of tenure on satisfaction is significantly modified by age.
Auditing for the environment
Authors: Watson Michael , MacKay Joyce
Published: October 2003

This article traces the evolution of corporate social responsibility (CSR) from the 1960s to the present. The authors show how public and political concerns for the environment raised the profile of CSR but how corporations’ control over their environmental disclosure and the lack of an agreed international reporting system for accounts can lead to what they describe as a “greenwashing” effect.
Eco‐auditing and environmental liability: an international perspective
Authors: Emery Anthony R.T. , Watson Michael
Published: October 2003

Environmental law is relatively new, but legislation is developing rapidly. More prosecutions for environmental offences are taking place annually. Much of the legislation is based on the “command and control” approach. This approach has been criticised and market based alternatives advocated. Market failure suggests that an absolute trust in markets is misplaced. Alternative solutions to the regulatory problem have been sought in self‐disclosure. Self‐disclosure is the policy approach of the EPA and is contingent upon an environmental audit. Although this is a regulatory approach there are both legal and economic benefits accruing to firms from environmental auditing and self‐disclosure. But with the benefits come risks. The risk element has led the US legal profession to seek “evidentiary privilege”, but the EPA has rejected this.
Environmental management system auditing within Australasian companies
Authors: Zutshi Ambika , Sohal Amrik
Published: October 2003

This paper focuses on various aspects of internal and external audits carried out to obtain and maintain ISO 14001 (the International Standard for the Environment released in September 1996) certification. The paper is based on the findings of a questionnaire survey mailed to ISO 14001 certified companies and examined the importance of auditing, its drivers and person(s) responsible for reviewing of the audit results. A response rate of almost 50 per cent was achieved. The findings show that the main reasons for conducting environmental audits go beyond merely satisfying the mandatory requirements of the standard. The responsibility for reviewing of the results and making changes in environmental management programs/plans rests primarily with the top management of the company. Furthermore, the involvement of suppliers in environmental audits needs to be nurtured and developed so that both parties can benefit from the ISO 14001 certification.
Measuring sustainable development using process models
Authors: Isaksson Raine , Garvare Rickard
Published: October 2003

This conceptual paper presents a process model combining TQM values and indicators of sustainable development (SD). The intention is to find synergies in applying a process view on different systems for SD measurements. A global process is introduced and global sustainability is related to critical elements of production, resources and population growth. Indicators of organisational performance are classified into drivers, input, enablers, output and outcome. SD is described with the three dimensions of economy, environment and ethics, representing a modified version of the triple bottom line. Existing measurement systems for SD are categorised according to the proposed organisational process model and positioned within the 3E dimensions. The use of indicators for SD in different organisations, including small and medium‐sized enterprises, is discussed.
A fuzzy neural network for assessing the risk of fraudulent financial reporting
Authors: Lin Jerry W. , Hwang Mark I. , Becker Jack D.
Published: October 2003

While financial reporting fraud has become more prevalent and costly in recent years, fraud detection has been badly lagging. Several recent studies have examined the feasibility of various computer techniques in business and industrial applications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of an integrated fuzzy neural network (FNN) for fraud detection. The FNN developed in this research outperformed most statistical models and artificial neural networks (ANN) reported in prior studies. Its performance also compared favorably with a baseline Logit model, especially in the prediction of fraud cases.
Enron, Arthur Andersen and the Catholic Church: are these symptoms of a more chronic problem?
Authors: Doost Roger K.
Published: October 2003

Humanity is facing some serious and troubling questions that need to be addressed and reflected on by concerned politicians, thinkers, and general public alike most urgently if we are to survive as a species. Terrorism is on the rise in an unprecedented fashion. Unimaginable crimes have been committed by church leaders. Some Muslim clerics have contributed to unprecedented fanaticism of the masses of their followers. Huge corporations such as Enron have overstated their income by millions and even billions of dollars in order to obtain easy bonuses for a few executives at the expense of their employees, their stockholders, and the general public. Politicians have abused the trust of the voters by accepting huge contributions from corrupt corporations. Humanity is in urgent need of finding solutions to some chronic and unsettling problems more than ever before.
Environmental information in annual reports: a survey of Swedish accountants
Authors: Nyquist Siv
Published: October 2003

This paper presents an investigation of how the new demands for auditing environmental information in the administrative reports are perceived by Swedish accountants. Responses from 123 surveyed authorized public accountants show that they have a positive attitude towards environmental information. The accountants demand additional training and they believe that the amount of environmental information companies present is going to increase in the future, or at least not decrease. The survey results are analyzed from the basis of two perspectives: large auditing firms have better resources to educate, guide and train their employees than small auditing firms; and accountants with experiences in auditing environmental information have more training and a different attitude towards environmental information compared to accountants with no experiences. Whether or not accountants have received any special training differs significantly between accountants with experience from auditing environmental information, and those with none.
Diversity in entrepreneurship: ethnic and female roles in urban economic life
Authors: Baycan Levent Tüzin , Masurel Enno , Nijkamp Peter
Published: October 2003

The aim of this paper is to investigate the phenomenon of ethnic female entrepreneurship in urban economic life. The focus of the research is on the attitudes and behaviour of Turkish female entrepreneurs in Amsterdam. The main question we pose is: Are ethnic female entrepreneurs special ethnic entrepreneurs or special female entrepreneurs? This paper provides an answer to this question on the basis of field surveys. The results of the case study research on Turkish female entrepreneurs in Amsterdam show that the “ethnic female profile” is a “special female profile” and that Turkish female entrepreneurs are “special female entrepreneurs”, particularly in terms of their personal and business characteristics, and their driving forces and motivations. They appear to combine their ethnic opportunities with their personal characteristics (and other opportunities) in the urban market, and to perform successfully. This is also due to the fact that they have become service providers for not only their own ethnic groups, but also for other groups in the city.
Collective bargaining in public services
Authors: Nomden Koen , Farnham David , Onnee‐Abbruciati Marie‐Laure
Published: October 2003

This article shows that regulation of the employment relationship in European public services has tended to give more importance to collective bargaining than to unilateral employer regulation. Although collective bargaining is a general trend, it is not the same in every country. This article concentrates on collective bargaining levels and the outcomes of collective bargaining in selected European states. A major explanatory factor of the extent of collective bargaining is the nature of the civil service system. Reformed “non‐career” systems tend to adopt collective bargaining institutions, resulting in binding collective agreements between employers and unions, while classical “career” systems do not.
Organisational change and staff participation and involvement in Britain's public services
Authors: Farnham David , Horton Sylvia , White Geoff
Published: October 2003

Britain's public sector has undergone a series of radical structural and managerial changes over the past 20 years. These changes are associated with public‐sector reform and innovations in public management. They have impacted significantly on the ways in which public employees are recruited, selected, rewarded, assessed, trained and managed. This article outlines the impact of these changes on staff participation and involvement practices in the civil service, National Health Service (NHS) and local government, and highlights some of the major trends.
Staff participation in the Belgian public sector reform
Authors: Parys Myriam
Published: October 2003

The Belgian federal administration has been undergoing a major reform programme since 1999, known as the Copernicus reform. In 2000 a survey was launched by the Minister of Civil Service and Modernisation of the Public Services to assess and measure civil servants’ attitudes towards the reform and to stuimulate employee commitment. This article analyses the survey responses using the participation model of de Leede and Looise. Concludes that the amount of influence civil servants exerted through their participation and involvement in the survey appears to be small. Furthermore, there are criticisms levelled at the ways that the results of the survey have been used.
The “service project” experience in the French civil service
Authors: Jeannot Gilles
Published: October 2003

Reform of the French civil service, embarked on in 1989, was designed to involve state employees and officials in the process by appealing to their sense of duty and commitment, rather than adopting a top‐down approach and imposing control over them. “Service projects” provided for active participation of state officials in the definition of aims and objectives and organisation of their services. Several thousand individual services were involved. The evidence suggests that, in practice, participation concerned mainly the conditions of work organisation and often failed to involve all levels of the hierarchy. The reforms did not involve the trade unions, although they were consulted. As in the case of quality circles, which the reforms resembled, participation by all agents was not maintained after the first project. The use of “strategic projects” are still under way but the dimension of staff participation has progressively disappeared. The conclusion is that “service projects” are a failed experiment in staff participation and involvement.
Emergence of contradictory injunctions in Swiss NPM projects
Authors: Emery Yves , Giauque David
Published: October 2003

This article examines staff participation and involvement in Swiss public organisations that are undergoing major administrative change. Officially, the new public management reforms have the following objectives: more organisational autonomy; increased organisational flexibility and adaptability; more responsiveness; and greater productive capacity. All these objectives are intended to be attained, in part, by increasing staff participation and involvement. After evaluating some of the new public management projects the paper identifies a number of obstacles which are preventing the achievement of government objectives. The paper concludes that the reforms are producing contradictory expectations that may be undermining the achievement of the government reforms.
Accounting and the construction of the standard house
Authors: Jeacle Ingrid
Published: October 2003

Georgian architecture dominates much of the urban vista of the British Isles and is also evident in many former British colonies. A product of the eighteenth century, it is an architectural style richly embedded in its social and political context. The defining feature of a Georgian building: a perfectly proportioned, standardized and symmetrical façade echoes the balance inherent in Pacioli’s double entry treatise. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of accounting in the construction and widespread adoption of the standard Georgian house. It finds that eighteenth century builders’ price books (“estimators”), disseminating detailed materials and labour costing information on all components of house construction, inherently acted as norms or standards of cost behaviour. Essentially, it is argued, they constituted a form of human accountability which, located within a broader network of diverse actors, culminated in the diffusion of Georgian Classicism.
Methods for performing human reliability and error analysis in health care
Authors: Dhillon B.S.
Published: October 2003

This paper presents nine different methods and approaches useful for performing human reliability and error analysis in health care. These methods are failure modes and effect analysis (FMEA), root cause analysis (RCA), fault tree analysis (FTA), cause and effect diagram (CAED), hazard operability study (HAZOP), probability tree method, error cause removal program (ECRP), man‐machine systems analysis (MMSA), and the Markov method. The applications of many methods are demonstrated through nine solved examples.
GA‐driven part e‐manufacturing scheduling via an online e‐service platform
Authors: Zhang Yingfeng , Jiang Pingyu , Zhou Guanghui
Published: October 2003

This paper is mainly concerned with studying the e‐manufacturing scheduling issue based on the bills of materials (BOM) flows of products. On the basis of e‐manufacturing philosophy, a genetic algorithm (GA)‐based scheduling model for physical e‐manufacturing cells is put forward. By means of building the mapping relationship and dynamic task association among physical e‐manufacturing cells, logic e‐manufacturing cells, e‐manufacturing systems and e‐manufacturing environment, high‐level scheduling issues can be transformed as an inductive procedure concerning the scheduling results to corresponding physical e‐manufacturing cells. As verification, finally, a case study is given to demonstrate the method mentioned above.
Developing the methods of modeling heterogeneous components
Authors: Chen Ke‐Zhang , Feng Xin‐An
Published: October 2003

In order to represent, analyze, optimize, and manufacture a component made of multi‐heterogeneous materials for high‐tech applications, a computer model of the heterogeneous component needs to be built first. Heterogeneous materials include composite, functionally graded materials, and heterogeneous materials with a periodic microstructure. Current modeling techniques focus only on capturing the geometric information and cannot satisfy the requirements from modeling the components made of multi‐heterogeneous materials. This paper develops a modeling method, which can be implemented by employing the functions of current CAD graphic software and can obtain the model including both the material information (about its microstructures and constituent composition) and the geometry information without the problems arising from too many data.
Agent‐based architecture for manufacturing system control
Authors: Fan C.K. , Wong T.N.
Published: October 2003

A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is a complex manufacturing system and it demands a robust control software for its scheduling, planning and control functions. This paper describes the development of an agent‐based infrastructure for the control of a cellular FMS. The FMS in this project is a flexible assembly cell (FAC), comprising two assembly robots and a conveyor system. The aim is to establish a multi‐agent control system with good expandability and to be able to cope with dynamic changes in the FAC. The proposed agent‐based FAC control system comprises a collection of agents implemented in a distributed control network. The approach of the agent design is based on the object‐oriented modelling technique. According to the proposed control architecture, a standard agent template has been designed for the establishment of individual agents in the agent‐based system.
Machining feature extraction for casting parts
Authors: Wang B.F. , Zhang Y.F. , Fuh J.Y.H.
Published: October 2003

An approach to extract machining features for casting parts is presented. It is capable of recognizing interacting machining features. There are five phases in the recognition process: Boolean difference of the final part model and the raw part; identification of machining faces (M‐faces) from the final part model and the raw part model; decomposition of the removed simple volumes into delta simple volumes based on M‐faces; gluing the delta simple volumes into sets of feasible simple volumes based on M‐faces; testing. This strategy is process‐oriented and feature‐independent. It recognizes all features that can be produced by common machining operations in a uniform way and produces alternative sets of machining features.
Sustainable tourism development in Canada: practical challenges
Authors: Jayawardena Chandana
Published: October 2003

The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management of Ryerson University, Toronto hosted the 2002 World‐wide Hospitality and Tourism Trends (WHATT) Roundtable discussion of Canada. The discussion focused mainly on the practical challenges and the role of educational institutions in sustainable tourism development in Canada. In addition to two joint chairs and the leading discussant, seven industry practitioners and seven academics from the hospitality and tourism sector discussed the definitions of “sustainable tourism development” and debated the key development issues in Canadian tourism and related research needs. The meeting agreed that there was a lack of applied research on Canadian tourism. The meeting therefore identified a few achievable action points and this article ends by reporting on nine related outcomes within a year after the first WHATT roundtable in Canada.
Insurance and disaster management: the Indian context
Authors: Atmanand
Published: October 2003

Key elements of disaster management are prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and relief, rehabilitation. The various stakeholders in the process of disaster mitigation are policy makers, decision makers, administration, professionals, professional institutions, R&D institutions, financial institutions, insurance sector, community, NGOs and the common man. Insurance has played a very important role. The advanced countries have developed the insurance system and made it effective and mandatory – as a result the loss of lives and property is comparatively less. In India, most of the losses suffered in natural disasters are not insured, for reasons such as lack of purchasing power, lack of interest in insurance, theory of karma attitude and ignorance of availability of such covers. Quite large numbers of agencies provide the insurance cover and foreign insurance companies have already ventured in such areas. This implies that the commercial and private sector can also play an essential role in disaster mitigation. The present study attempts to fill the gap in studies on the role of the insurance sector in disaster management.
Technological disaster’s criteria and models
Authors: Shaluf Ibrahim M. , Ahmadun Fakharul‐razi , Mustapha Sa’ari
Published: October 2003

Disasters are classified as natural and man‐made disasters. Man‐made disaster, which occurs at the major hazard installation, is a technological disaster. For an incident to be classified as technological disaster criteria are required to be met. Several criteria have been proposed by researchers and agencies defining the disasters in terms of casualties, economic loss and environmental impact. Few models have been drawn describing the sequence of development of the technological disaster. This paper reviews in detail the proposed criteria, which define the disaster. The paper also summarizes the models which describe the disaster stages. Finally the paper summarizes a proposed model of the technological disaster precondition phase for major accidents.
Paradoxes of power: the separation of knowledge and authority in international disaster relief work
Authors: Suparamaniam Nalini , Dekker Sidney
Published: October 2003

One of the most obvious problems for those involved with disaster relief work is coordination with other teams in the field, with headquarters, with the mother organization in the home country and having to deal with unanticipated situations. The central dilemma appears to be this: disaster relief workers either have the knowledge to know what to do or the authority to do it. Seldom, however, are the local knowledge of what to do and the authority to do it located in the same person. This mismatch creates instability which generates pressure for change. Such change occurs through what we describe as “renegotiations of authority” – where people or teams who are not officially in charge take authority to act, because they know what to do and how urgent it is to do it. This paper presents the concept of renegotiations of authority through cycles of breaking down qualitative data obtained from disaster workers from multiple organizations and countries.
Psychotrauma in Moluccan refugees in Indonesia
Authors: Waas Joost , van der Kwaak Anke , Bloem Maurice
Published: October 2003

This study examines the mental health initiatives in two locations of Loluccan internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and investigates whether those fit the local needs. The locations of IDPs are described based on observations, in‐depth interviews and dicussions with refugees and relief workers. Results showed that the Moluccan IDPs suffered from almost all short‐term mental health symptoms indicated in literature. Long‐term consequences, such as aggression, behavioural changes and family problems have been recognised among IDPs in both areas, but these could be a result of the local IDP situation rather than signs of traumatisation. Women are more at risk of developing mental health problems owing to their specific roles. Children are more at risk, because parents seem reluctant to explain the events to them. Some recommendations for services that target the social aspects of suffering and healing are presented.