bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Price Elasticity Of Demand: A Campground Example
Authors: Beaman Jay , Hegmann Sylvanna , Duwors Richard
Published: March 2008

This study was undertaken to estimate price elasticity of demand for campgrounds within the Canadian Parks Service. However, as research proceeded, it became clearthata systematic factor was disrupting attempts to accurately estimate elasticity of demand. A critical step in the analysis was the identification of a feeder effect, which represents the interaction between a campground operating at full capacity and its associated camp grounds which are not operating at full capacity and which take the overflowfrom thefull campground. A key finding in the study was that feeder campgrounds can be drastically affected byfee increases. Aprice elasticity ofdemand model wasformulated to incorporate a measure for the feeder effect and the model was tested. Theresultsofthisstudypointtothe additional parameters and further research which would be required to provide valid models to estimate elasticity of demand.
Export Behavior Of Firms In Singapore's Travel-Agency Industry: Public Policy Implications
Authors: Wong Kwei Cheong  , Hakam A.N.
Published: March 2008

A survey of 374 firms in the travel-agency industry was conducted to determine how they can be encouraged to bring more tourists into Singapore. Export theories were used as a framework to differentiate the firms into four progressive stages and compare them with respect to management perception, problems encountered in inbound operations, export- supporting factors, and firm characteristics. The results indicated that different factors, particularly managerial ones, appeared to be important at each stage, thus enabling the development of profiles of firms in each corresponding stage. This finding has public policy implications.
Travel as Theater: A New Challenge to the Credibility of Tourism
Authors: Caproni Joanna S.
Published: March 2008

Joanna S. Caproni, Simmons Market Research Bureau, gave a presentation at the wrap-up session of the Long Beach TTRA Conference titled, "Travel as Theater. " So many people approached me about the possibility of publishing her thought-provoking remarks in the Notes and Communications section of the Journal that I agreed. Ms. Caproni provided a copy of her remarks and an edited version follows. She gives us much to think about. — The Editor
Travelogs and the Management of Unfamiliarity
Authors: Dann Graham M.S.
Published: March 2008

Whereas many other types of tourism promotional literature have been studied for their contents and effects, the same cannot be said for travelogs. In order to rectify the situation, this preliminary essay first provides a working definition of travelog. Thereafter it identifies one major quality that characterizes these travel accounts — the management of unfamiliarity. This theme soon becomes a strategy, and it is explored with examples under four sociolinguistic techniques: simile and metaphor, denigration of locals, the expatriate connection, and languaging. Suggestions for future research in this area are also briefly examined.
Evaluating Small Travel Agency Productivity
Authors: Duvall Patricia Wood , Haynes Ray M. , Truitt Lawrence J.
Published: March 2008

The travel industry is struggling to survive the erratic movement of the domestic and international economies and the effect on both business and leisure travel. While suppliers are seeking innovative pricing strategies, travel agencies often bear a critical financial impact on a day-to-day basis. This article discusses an easily applied technique for identifying and measuring the productivity components of efficiency and effectiveness in a small travel agency environment.
A Comparison Between Welcome Center Visitors and General Highway Auto Travelers
Authors: Stewart William P. , Lue Chi-Chuan , Fesenmaier Daniel R. , Anderson B. Scott
Published: March 2008

The purpose of this study is to investigate bias that may threaten the generalizability of welcome center auto visitors as a sampling frame to represent interstate highway auto travelers. The methods were designed specifically to compare auto visitors who stopped at one of two Texas welcome centers from auto visitors who did not stop at these welcome centers, referred to as "stoppers" and "nonstoppers," respectively. Results indicate significant differences between the stopper and nonstopper samples. When compared to nonstoppers, stoppers were more likely to reside in a nonadjacent state, were older, drove more miles within Texas, were associated with a longer trip planning horizon, had higher expenditures per party, and were more likely to be on a vacation/leisure trip.
Forecasting Tourism: Expenditures versus Arrivals
Authors: Sheldon Pauline J.
Published: March 2008

This article examines issues relating to the measurement and forecasting of international tourist expenditures and tourism arrivals. It shows that the two series fluctuate differently, and examines the accuracy of six different forecasting techniques (time series and econometric causal models) to forecast tourism expenditures. The results show that the accuracy of the forecasts differs depending on the country being forecast, but that the no-change model and Brown's double exponential smoothing are, overall, the two most accurate methods for forecasting international tourism expenditures.
A Comparison of Characteristics, Regional Expenditures, and Economic Impact of Visitors to Historical Sites with Other Recreational Visitors
Authors: Taylor David T. , Fletcher Robert R. , Clabaugh Trish
Published: March 2008

This article compares the trip and demographic characteristics of visitors stopping at historical sites with those of other summer visitors to a four-county study area in northcentral Wyoming. The regional economic impact of the two types of visitors is also estimated on a per-party basis.
Understanding the Fall Tourism Market
Authors: Spotts Daniel M. , Mahoney Edward M.
Published: March 2008

This study investigated (1) whether the characteristics of fall tourists differ from those of summer tourists, (2) whether fall color viewing is as important a tourism motivator as is commonly assumed, (3) whether different types of tourists travel during different por tions of the season, and (4) whether fall tourists can be usefully segmented based on the combinations of recreation activities in which they participated. Data were obtained from intercept surveys conducted during the summer and fall of 1984 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The study indicates that the summer and fall markets are distinct; that from a marketing perspective the fall season is really a succession of subseasons; and that the fall market is not homogeneous in character. Fall tourism marketing, to be successful, requires a deliberate, targeted, and carefully timed strategy, as opposed to the mere extension of a summer campaign.
Hotel Selection Factors as They Relate to Business Travel Situations
Authors: Mccleary Ken W. , Weaver Pamela A. , Hutchinson Joe C.
Published: March 2008

A sample of the business travel market is analyzed to determine whether the importance placed on particular hotel product attributes varies by travel situation. Multiple discriminant analysis is used to see whether certain attributes are able to correctly discriminate among five travel situations.
Forecasting Tourism: A Sine Wave Time Series Regression Approach
Authors: Chan Yiu-Man
Published: March 2008

This article studies the use of an exponentially weighted nonlinear time series model to fit the tourist arrival data. A model which comprises a linear term in time and a sine function in time is employed. Because of the seasonal fluctuation in the data, deseasonalized data are used in fitting the model. The approach suggested is applied to the tourist arrival data in Singapore and the fitted model is then used to forecast the tourist arrivals. The proposed model is compared with the naive I model, the naive II model, a simple linear regression time series model, and an ARIMA model. Comparison of the mean absolute percentage errors shows that the proposed model is the best among all these models.
Wildland-influenced Economic Impacts of Nonresident Travel on Portal Communities: The Case of Missoula, Montana
Authors: Yuan Michael S. , Christensen Neal A.
Published: March 2008

This article examined the wildland-influenced economic impacts of nonresident travel on portal communities next to wildland areas. The case community study was Missoula, Montana. The results suggest that the economic impact of wildland-related travel on portal communities is as great as or greater than nonwildland-related travel. Wildland users and nonwildland users had similar lengths of stay in Missoula and near equal daily expenditures, but wildland travelers' overall length of stay in Montana was about 2.5 times higher.
An Empirical Stud of Heavy Users of Travel Agencies
Authors: Goldsmith Ronald E. , Flynn Leisa Reinecke , Bonn Mark
Published: March 2008

Heavy users are important to marketers of many goods and services. The purpose of this study is to present a profile of the heavy user of travel agencies to demonstrate the usefulness of this approach in market segmentation and strategy development in the vaca tion travel industry. Data from 185 adult consumers show that frequent users of travel agents for vacation travel are more involved, more innovative, more knowledgeable, and more likely to be opinion leaders than less frequent users. In addition, the heavy-user segment takes more trips and gathers more information about vacation travel from television, newspapers, magazines, books, and travel shows. Implications for marketing strategy and suggestions for future research are derived from the findings.
The Performance Trade-off B etween Experience and Motivation: Its Impact on Travel Service Selling
Authors: Bartkus Kenneth R. , Hartman Cindy L. , Parent C.R. Michael
Published: March 2008

An empirical investigation of the trade-off between motivation and experience was conducted in a travel services setting. Highly experienced but less motivated travel agents performed no better than highly motivated but less experienced ones. This result suggests that recruiting decisions should be based on long-term considerations and the internal competencies of the agency. Managerial implications are provided.
The Role of Awareness and Familiarity with a Destination: The Central Florida Case
Authors: Milman Ady , Pizam Abraham
Published: March 2008

This study is based on the theoretical background of the consumer's buying process incorporating product awareness, familiarity, interest, and purchase. Using a sample of 750 U.S. households, a series of hypotheses were tested to analyze whether consumer aware ness and familiarity with Central Florida as a vacation destination had an impact on the consumer's destination image and on the interest and likelihood to visit it. The results indicate that those who were familiar with Central Florida (i.e., had previously visited it) had a more positive image of the destination and were more interested in and likely to revisit it than those who were only aware of the destination. However, contrary to our expectations, interest or likelihood to visit Central Florida was not significantly higher among those who were aware of Central Florida as a tourist destination than those who were not aware of it. For this case, it is possible to conclude that as consumers move from the awareness stage to the familiarity stage their interest and likelihood to visit increase, although the same may not be true when consumers move from the nonawareness to the awareness stage.
The Status of the Marketing Concept Among Festival Organizers
Authors: Mayfield Teri L. , Crompton John L.
Published: March 2008

An instrument designed to operationalize adoption of the marketing concept was completed by a sample of 291 festival organizers. It consisted of 27 items derived from a literature review and focus group interviews. Factor analyses and a series of decision rules were used to develop a final instrument of 17 items that comprised three dimensions: visitor orientation, pre-experience assessment, and postexperience evaluation. Respondents per ceived most festival organizers to be visitor-oriented, fewer to engage in postexperience evaluation, and still fewer to undertake pre-experience assessment. The level of sophistication at which the marketing concept was implemented by festivals appeared to reflect the level of available resources.
The Cruise Ship Vessel Sanitation Program
Authors: Marti Bruce E.
Published: March 2008

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the cruise ship vessel sanitation program. It discusses the relevance of the program as well as its purposes and goals. Via a priori expectations, the research tests whether physical and routing characteristics of cruise ships influence their vessel sanitation scores. It concludes that corporate and on-board ship management philosophies and practices, rather than cruise ship characteristics, are the major determinants of vessel sanitation scores.
A Model of Travel Itineraries
Authors: Oppermann Martin
Published: March 2008

A model of travel itineraries is proposed with two single- and five multidestination itineraries. The validity of these itineraries is tested by analyzing travel patterns of 1,000 international tourists to Malaysia. The study indicates that the advanced travel itineraries are relevant and comprehensive. Further, it suggests that international travel patterns are much more complex than is usually assumed.
The Predictive Validity of Alternative Approaches to Evaluating Quality of a Festival
Authors: Crompton John L. , Love Lisa L.
Published: March 2008

Alternative conceptualizations of the quality and satisfaction constructs are presented from both the leisure/tourism and the marketing literatures, and differences between them are noted. The predictive validity of seven alternative operationalizations of quality that were suggested by the literature were measured by evaluating them against an overall measure of quality in the context of a festival. Results showed that the most valid measures of quality were the performance-based operationalizations; the least valid were the disconfirmation-based operationalizations; and the inclusion of importance weights did not improve predictive validity of the measures. There was no significant difference between first-time and frequent visitors to the festival on any of the seven alternative operationalizations. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Highlights of the 26th Annual TTRA Conference Acapulco, Mexico, June 10-14
Authors: Dipersio Cindy , Hayden Gin , Goeldner C.R. , Cordova Chris
Published: March 2008

The following paragraphs briefly summarize the 26th annual conference of the Travel and Tourism Research Association held in Acapulco, Mexico. Conference registrants and members of TTRA will automatically receive a copy of the conference proceedings when they are published. Other readers who wish to receive copies may order them from Francine Butler, TTRA, 10200 West 44th Avenue, Suite 304, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033; 303/940-6557. The cost is $75.
An Analysis of Ethical Work Climate and Leadership Relationship in Lodging Operations
Authors: Upchurch Randall S. , Ruhland Sheila K.
Published: March 2008

The focus of this research was on measuring the interrelationship of types of ethical decision making (i.e., Egoism, Benevolence, and Principle) and the leadership style of general managers in the lodging industry. In addition, the level of analysis on which ethical decisions are based were reported by lodging managers. In agreement with Victor and Cullen (1987, 1988), ethical work climates are multidimensional and multidetermined. The results of this study indicated that (1) Benevolence is the primary dimension of ethical climate present in the lodging organization as perceived by lodging managers, (2) the local level of analysis (e.g., immediate workplace norms and values) is the primary determinant of ethical decisions in the organization, and (3) the primary leadership style is the high-task and high-relationship orientation.
Importance of Secondary I m p act of Foreign Tourism Receipts on the South Korean Economy
Authors: Lee Choong-Ki , Kwon Kyung-Sang
Published: March 2008

This study examined the secondary impact as compared to the primary impact of foreign tourist receipts on the South Korean economy for output, personal income, employment, value added, indirect tax, and import, using an input-output model. This study also analyzed the performance of the tourism industry as compared to other export-oriented industries in terms of multipliers and substitution effect.
Casinos and Urban Redevelopment in Australia
Authors: Michael Hall C. , Hamon Christopher
Published: March 2008

Casinos are now being integrated with other large-scale urban tourism developments as part of a broader movement by Australian governments to attract investment, create employment, and re-image their cities. It is argued that such measures have substantial implications for urban governance, public participation, and urban redevelopment.
Lessons from the Atlantic City Casino Experience
Authors: Braunlich Carl G.
Published: March 2008

This article reviews the operating statistics of the Atlantic City casino hotel industry from its inception in 1978 through 1994. The objectives of the Casino Control Act are compared with industry results, and economic and social impacts are examined. In less than two decades, $5 billion in investment has been attracted to the city. This investment has created, through the construction of 12 casino hotels and the renovation of the historic boardwalk along the ocean, a regional casino resort destination that cannot be easily duplicated. The revenues generated by the casino hotel industry have funded regulatory agencies, social services for the elderly and disabled, and redevelopment projects in Atlantic City. This article chronicles the revitalization of the economy of the city, as well as the disappointments that have occurred, such as the slow pace of urban redevelopment, visitation patterns that primarily reflect short day-trips, casino gambling's dominance of the economic activity of the city, and the prevalence of compulsive gambling.
North American Ecotourists: Market Profile and Trip Characteristics
Authors: Wight Pamela A.
Published: March 2008

This article is the first in a two-part series that presents the results of comprehensive, practical, primary research on ecotourism markets. The assessment provides information on markets, trip characteristics, motivation, product preferences, and overall demand. This part focuses on market and trip characteristics, including party size, spending, preferred season, and trip length.
Integrating Constraints and Benefits to Identify Responsive Target Markets for Museum Attractions
Authors: Tian Shu , Crompton John L. , Witt Peter A.
Published: March 2008

The three research questions addressed by this study were (1) What were the major constraints that inhibited museum-goers from visiting museum attractions in Galveston, Texas? (2) What benefits did museum-goers seek from their visits? and (3) Can these constraints and benefits be meaningfully interpreted to identify target groups that are likely to be either more or less responsive to marketing efforts directed at them? A systematic sample of 1,083 museum-goers responded to an instrument containing six constraint domains and five benefit domains. Their domain scores were used to group respondents into five constraint clusters and four benefit clusters. The benefit and constraint clusters were cross-tabulated to form a 20-cell matrix. Interpretation of the matrix led to the selection of four target markets likely to yield the greatest return on marketing effort.
Strategic Segmentation: An Empirical Analysis of Tourist Expenditure in Turkey
Authors: Mudambi Ram , Baum Tom
Published: March 2008

This article presents a methodology to aid strategic planners in analyzing segment attractiveness. The methodology involves using country of origin as the primary segmenting variable and a number of demographic and behavioral characteristics as secondary segmenting variables. The methodology is quite flexible and quantitatively robust. The methodology is illustrated through an application to country-of-origin-based tourist expenditure in Turkey, and target segments for promotional strategies are identified.
Highlights of the 28th Annual TTRA Conference Norfolk/Virginia Beach, June 15-18
Authors: Dipersio Cindy , Hayden Gin , Goeldner C.R. , Frechti Douglas
Published: March 2008

The following paragraphs briefly summarize the 28th annual conference of the Travel and Tourism Research Association held in Norfolk, Virginia. Conference registrants will automatically receive a copy of the conference proceedings when they are published. Other TTRA members who want copies may request them from Host Communications at the address below. Other readers who wish to receive copies may order them from Lisa Carey, Host Communications, 546 East Main Street, Lexington, KY 40596-3071; 606/226-4344. The cost is $150 for nonmembers.
Indicators and Standards of Quality for Ski Resort Management
Authors: Ormiston David , Gilbert Alphonse , Manning Robert E.
Published: March 2008

Indicators and standards of quality have received in creasing attention in the field of parks and outdoor recreation. This study applied indicators and standards of quality to ski resort management. Based on a survey of skiers at four Vermont ski resorts, data are presented on standards of quality for 14 potential indicator variables. Study data were analyzed by level of skier ability and cluster analysis to help identify alternative skier markets based on standards of quality. Management and research implications of this study approach are discussed.
Evaluative Images and Tourism: The Use of Personal Constructs to Describe the Structure of Destination Images
Authors: Walmsley D.J. , Young M.
Published: March 2008

Prior research at the regional scale suggests that two components underlie people's evaluations of tourist destina tions: arousing-sleepy and pleasant-unpleasant. A study was undertaken to see if these dimensions also apply at the international and local levels. Although their relevance at the local level appeared to be masked by individuals' personal experiences and knowledge, their applicability at the international scale supports the existence of an underlying general schema in environmental evaluation.
A Content Analysis for Postpurchase Evaluation Using Customer Comment Logbooks
Authors: Shea Linda , Roberts Chris
Published: March 2008

This article presents a content analysis of guest comment logbooks recorded over a 15-month period. The procedure is illustrated using a case study of a resort hotel located in the Caribbean. The data were classified by resort attributes, purpose of the visit, resort activities and features, and overall evaluative statements. The categorization results yielded some interesting and useful information that can be translated into marketing and managerial guidelines in such areas as segmentation, positioning, relationship building, development of promotional and sales materials, human resources, organizational culture, and operational practices.
Issues in Tourism Curricula
Authors: Gunn Clare A.
Published: March 2008

With the great growth of tourism worldwide, educational and training programs have expanded to some extent, but there are many voids in curricula that do not meet the needs of the comprehensive scope of tourism. This research note describes these voids and provides insight into the design of curricula for tourism in the future.
Estimating Tourism Expenditures for Open-Access Amateur Sports Tournaments
Authors: Kaylen Michael S. , Washington Andrew , Osburn Donald D.
Published: March 2008

This article presents a methodology to estimate tourism expenditures associated with open-access events. The methodology relies primarily on participant-supplied information, so it is best used for events for which it can be assumed that most tourist spectators are closely associated with participants. An application of the methodology to the 1995 Show-Me State Games lends support to the hypothesis that this is an appropriate assumption for amateur sports events.
The Strategic Planning Process in National Tourism Organizations
Authors: Soteriou Evi C. , Roberts Chris
Published: March 2008

The comprehensiveness of the strategic planningprocess in national tourism organizations (NTOs) is determined by an internal capability for strategic planning and dimensions of the external environment that reinforce or undermine the em ployment of this process. A model is presented, and a flexible design of NTO strategic planning systems is recommended.
Customer Satisfaction in the Australian Timeshare Industry
Authors: Lawton Laura J. , Weaver David , Faulkner Bill
Published: March 2008

This study used a survey instrument to ascertain cus tomer satisfaction levels among nearly 2,000 Australian timeshare unit owners. While owners exhibited relatively high overall satisfaction, these levels have declined from the levels recorded in previous surveys and do not translate into an equally high propensity to purchase again or to recom mend timesharing to others. These patterns, along with variations in reactions among different age groups, continu ing concerns about sales techniques, and varying satisfac tion levels with internal and external attributes of units, high light management issues confronting the sector.
The Effect of Market Access on Destination Choice
Authors: Mckercher Bob
Published: March 2008

Market access refers to the competitive advantage or dis advantage that competing destinations may have in relation to target markets. The theory suggests that those destinations that enjoy greater market access, as measured in terms of lower travel time, effort, or financial costs, should be more attractive to consumers. This study examined the effect of market access on the visitor mix at a series of destinations along the Princes Highway in southeast Australia. The re sults of the study contradict the theory and suggest that desti nations with ostensibly poorer market access do not neces sarily have an inherent competitive disadvantage when compared to destinations with stronger market access. Im portantly, market access affects the visitor mix at each desti nation. Furthermore, as market access from key markets de clines, substitute markets become relatively more important.
Destination Threshold Potential and the Law of Repeat Visitation
Authors: Oppermann Martin
Published: March 2008

This article addresses the issue of how repeat visitation ratios can be used as a management tool in determining a destination's position on the destination life-cycle curve. Following a review of the literature on repeat visitation, it presents the concepts of destination threshold potential (TP) and cumulative travel experience (CTE). It then relates how the number of first-time and repeat visitors is inextricably linked to the CTE and TP, as well as to the tourist arrivals in any given year. From those elaborations, several axioms on the law of repeat visitation are developed that provide desti nation and product managers with the necessary measuring tools to determine their destinations' current position.
Gaming Customer Satisfaction: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Mayer Karl J. , Johnson Lesley , Hu Clark , Chen Sean
Published: March 2008

With competition in the gaming industry intensifying, customer satisfaction may hold the key to the long-term fi nancial success of a casino. The primary goal of this explora tory study was to develop and test a model for gaming cus tomer satisfaction. The model is based on four constructs: Experiential Affect/Atmosphere, Chance of Winning, Cus tomer Service, and Process. A regression analysis using three of the four constructs as independent variables explained 57% of the variance in slot machine customer satisfaction. There is a need for further research to identify the additional variables that affect gaming customer satisfaction.
Hybrid Design of Electric Power Generation Systems Including Renewable Sources of Energy
Authors: Wang Lingfeng , Singh Chanan
Published: March 2008

With the stricter environmental regulations and diminishing fossil-fuel reserves, there is now higher emphasis on exploiting various renewable sources of energy. These alternative sources of energy are usually environmentally friendly and emit no pollutants. However, the capital investments for those renewable sources of energy are normally high, and there are also maintenance cost differences to be considered. Furthermore, due to the intermittency of some of these power sources, reliability issues should be addressed when integrating different power sources. In this article, as an example, the design of hybrid generating systems comprising wind turbine generators, photovoltaic panels, and storage batteries is discussed based on multidisciplinary optimization. In this multisource generation system design, three design objectives are considered, that is, system cost, reliability, and pollutant emissions.
Wide Social Participation in Prioritizing Patients on Waiting Lists for Joint Replacement: A Conjoint Analysis
Authors: Sampietro-Colom L. , Espallargues M. , Rodríguez E. , Comas M. , Alonso J. , Castells X. , Pinto J.L.
Published: March 2008

Objective. The aim was to develop a priority scoring system for patients on waiting lists for joint replacement based on a wide social participation, and to analyze the differences among participants. Methods. Conjoint analysis. Focus groups in combination with a nominal technique were employed to identify the priority criteria (N= 36). A rank-ordered logit model was then applied for scoring estimations. Participants (N= 860) represented: consultants, allied-health professionals, patients and their relatives, and the general population of Catalonia. Results. Clinical and social criteria were selected, and their relative importance (over 100 points) was: pain (33), difficulty in doing activities of daily living (21), disease severity (18), limitations on ability to work (10), having someone to look after the patient (9), being a caregiver (6), and recovery probability (4). Estimated criteria coefficients had the expected positive sign and all were statistically significant (P < 0.001). There were differences between groups; pain was rated higher by patients/relatives, and difficulty in doing activities was rated lower by patients/relatives and the general public. Most interaction terms for these criteria and groups were significant (P < 0.001). Consultants and allied-health professionals had the most similar prioritization pattern (r= 0.97). Conclusion. Both clinical and social criteria are considered for prioritization of joint replacement surgery from a wide social perspective. The preference among professional and social groups varies and this might impact the result of patient prioritization. A wide social participation for obtaining adequate prioritizing systems for patients on waiting lists is desirable.
Can existing theories of health care reform explain the Greek case (1983—2001)?
Authors: Nikolentzos Athanasios , Mays Nicholas
Published: March 2008

Greece has enacted three major health care reforms since the National Health System (NHS) was established in 1983. These reforms were designed to improve the system's ability to realize its founding principles of equity and efficiency in the delivery and financing of health services. This article presents an early report of ongoing doctoral research that aims to examine the relative influence of medical professional organizations versus other interests on these reforms. The article outlines three theoretical frameworks for understanding the health care system and the role of the medical profession within it in order to establish which best explains the nature and extent of health care reform. These frameworks are: sociological theories of professions; historical institutionalism; and structural interest theory.
Vibration Characteristics of a Rotor System in Contact with a Backup Bearing: Cases with Various Failure Patterns of the Active Magnetic Bearing
Authors: Ishida Yukio , Inoue Tsuyoshi
Published: March 2008

When electric power for an active magnetic bearing (AMB) is shut down during operation, the backup bearing plays an important role in stopping the rotor system safely. Recently, a flexible high-speed rotor supported by an AMB, operating above the first and second critical speeds, has been investigated. In this context, the vibration characteristics of the flexible high-speed rotor when interacting with the backup bearing system become important. In this article, the mathematical models for the contact and friction forces which exist during contact between the rotor and the backup bearing are considered, the rotation of the inner ring of the backup bearing is modelled, and the vibration characteristics of the rotor system are studied. By comparing the results of numerical simulations and experiments, the validity of the mathematical model of the backup bearing is confirmed. Moreover, the vibration characteristics of the rotor systems when various types of failures occur in the AMB are clarified both theoretically and experimentally.
Deep plays
Authors: Sallaz Jeffrey J.
Published: March 2008

Clifford Geertz famously argued that careful ethnographic study of a society's games of chance can generate insight into that society's history, structure and culture. Adopting and extending the technique of the `ethnographic revisit', the author compares his own ethnographic data on the organization of casino card games in contemporary South Africa to Geertz's study of the Balinese cockfight. Three differences are delineated regarding the position of gambling as an institutionalized practice within the larger social matrix; the organization of the individual games; and the subjectivities produced through participation in the contests. These differences, it is argued, derive from divergent trajectories of post-colonial `governmentality' in Indonesia and South Africa. The Indonesian state continued a colonial-era ban on gambling. As a result, cockfighting remained embedded in local village life as a vehicle for expressing both traditional status honor and resistance to central authority. In contrast, the South African state reversed colonial prohibition by sanctioning corporate casinos. Social and political dimensions of gambling are here subsumed within an economic framework of action and understanding.
The state of confusion
Authors: Ordóñez J. Thomas
Published: March 2008

This article explores the problematic assumptions at play in the asylum applications of Central American asylum seekers in northern California. I address the disjuncture between the legal parameters under which asylum is granted and the perceptions and knowledge about the process of all those involved. For `undocumented' immigrants, claiming asylum establishes a formal relationship to the state, in which they must learn to reformulate their identity and memory to fit the legal definition of refugee. Poverty, marginality, lack of education, and fear, however, make the situation difficult to grasp. Uncertainty and confusion increase during the asylum interview, where officer's interpretations of the situation lead to essentialized notions of ethnicity, poverty, and violence. Ultimately, positive outcomes depend on applicants' ability to learn to navigate the process and access the categories established in a political economy of suffering. The power relations inherent in the application reflect the greater social framework of exclusion within which `undocumented' subjects are positioned. Thus, for many, the asylum application ensures further misunderstandings and marginality, even if the claim is granted.
Pecking orders
Authors: Wilson Jacqueline Z.
Published: March 2008

The article examines male and female inmate graffiti in a decommissioned Australian jail, a holding facility attached to the former Melbourne Magistrates Court. While male graffitists were preoccupied chiefly with personal identity, power and vengeance, the women used graffiti to build networks and alliances in order to cope with life inside. Their social structure, as expressed in the graffiti, is unusual in that, unlike the men, virtually all female inmates expected to be sent to one prison upon conviction; they thus treated the jail as a staging-ground for their arrival and continued survival in the main prison. Further aspects of the general condition of female inmates in the late 20th-century prison system are discussed. The article begins with observations on the political implications of attempting such research, and consequent tendencies for vulnerable historical voices to be silenced through regimes of de facto censorship.
Psychological Climate and Work Attitudes
Authors: O'Neill Bonnie S. , Arendt Lucy A.
Published: March 2008

In this field study, the authors explore how choosing one context over another influences both research results and implications. Using both quantitative and qualitative data, the authors examine context from both an organizational and a business-unit perspective by studying relationships between five psychological climate variables and outcomes of job satisfaction, affective commitment, and intent to leave. Results show different contextual influences between the organization and two business units, suggesting that different bundles of psychological climate variables yield similar outcomes depending on the context studied. These results bolster the contention that researchers need to identify the right context in field research.
The recruitment of South Asian people into the nursing profession: a knowledge review
Authors: Darr Aliya , Atkin Karl , Johnson Mark , Archibong Uduak
Published: March 2008

Abstract

This paper presents a knowledge review, undertaken to identify potential barriers affecting the recruitment of British South Asian people into the nursing profession. The review identified eleven studies, which explored attitudes and levels of knowledge towards nursing within the British South Asian population. Many of these studies, although providing useful insights, have methodological limitations. Studies highlighted perceptions among the South Asian population of nursing as a low status and stressful occupation with unsociable working hours and low pay. Nursing members of the opposite sex was not acceptable to some individuals on religious grounds. Others, however, had no problem with this. The review highlights both similarities and differences in attitudes towards nursing amongst the British South Asian population and the majority white population. Factors such as the lack of exposure to positive role models and limited opportunities to gain an insight into the work of nurses suggest that South Asian people might be less likely to consider nursing as a career than their white counterparts. To gain a better understanding of views held towards nursing within this population however, more comparative studies are needed to take an account of diversity in terms of social class, gender, ethnicity and religion.
“I didn’t tell them. Well, they never ask”. Lay understandings of hypertension and their impact on chronic disease management: implications for nursing practice in primary care
Authors: Higginbottom Gina
Published: March 2008

Abstract

In the United Kingdom, as in other developed nations, there has been an increased research focus on ethnicity and the mediation of ethnicity on health and illness experience. This paper examines how lay understandings may affect chronic disease management and the steps primary care nurses may take to optimize care delivery for patients/families, using the example of hypertension in the African-Caribbean community. A focused ethnographic approach was adopted for this study. Data were first collected using focus group interviews (2), semi-structured interviews (21), and vignette interviews (5). Data were analyzed with the assistance of Atlas/ti qualitative analysis software using the principles developed by Roper and Shapira. Findings are presented using Kleinman’s seminal work as a theoretical framework: a) the aetiology or cause of the condition, b) the timing and mode of onset, c) the patho-physiological processes involved, d) the natural history and severity of the illness, e) the appropriate treatment for the condition. The paper concludes that it is incumbent upon primary health care nurses to recognize and take account of the lay explanations of health illness that patients/families hold. Failure to do so may compromise effective care-giving.
Culture, health, and inequalities: new paradigms, new practice imperatives
Authors: Lynam M Judith , Loock Christine , Scott Lorine , Khan Koushambhi Basu
Published: March 2008

Abstract

This paper builds upon insights from a programme of research on culture and health that is informed by critical theoretical perspectives. The evidence generated through this research programme is drawn upon to critically examine the assumptions about the prevailing understandings of the links between culture, health, and health inequalities and to illustrate the need for new paradigms of practice. Using the case of children at risk because of their social, cultural, and material circumstances, the tenets of an alternative model of health care practice, the RICH-ER (Responsive, Intersectoral-Interdisciplinary, Child Health – Education and Research) model was introduced and studied.
Towards multi-sensory research: acoustic space, racialisation and whiteness
Authors: Gunaratnam Yasmin
Published: March 2008

Abstract

This paper makes a case for multi-sensory research. By engaging with questions of ethnicity, culture, space and sound, the discussion will show how taken-for-granted, everyday practices can be part of the ways in which whiteness is produced within health care spaces, affecting how different bodies are able to move through and occupy space. The paper addresses questions of ethics and responsibility in multi-cultural contexts, suggesting how a multi-sensory orientation can uncover often hidden relationships of power that can help us to better understand and attend to the demands that ethnic and cultural difference can make upon caring relationships and multi-cultural hospitality.
Sequence and organization of coelacanth neurohypophysial hormone genes: Evolutionary history of the vertebrate neurohypophysial hormone gene locus
Authors: Gwee Pai-Chung , Amemiya Chris T , Brenner Sydney , Venkatesh Byrappa
Published: March 2008

Background

The mammalian neurohypophysial hormones, vasopressin and oxytocin are involved in osmoregulation and uterine smooth muscle contraction respectively. All jawed vertebrates contain at least one homolog each of vasopressin and oxytocin whereas jawless vertebrates contain a single neurohypophysial hormone called vasotocin. The vasopressin homolog in non-mammalian vertebrates is vasotocin; and the oxytocin homolog is mesotocin in non-eutherian tetrapods, mesotocin and [Phe2]mesotocin in lungfishes, and isotocin in ray-finned fishes. The genes encoding vasopressin and oxytocin genes are closely linked in the human and rodent genomes in a tail-to-tail orientation. In contrast, their pufferfish homologs (vasotocin and isotocin) are located on the same strand of DNA with isotocin gene located upstream of vasotocin gene separated by five genes, suggesting that this locus has experienced rearrangements in either mammalian or ray-finned fish lineage, or in both lineages. The coelacanths occupy a unique phylogenetic position close to the divergence of the mammalian and ray-finned fish lineages.

Results

We have sequenced a coelacanth (Latimeria menadoensis) BAC clone encompassing the neurohypophysial hormone genes and investigated the evolutionary history of the vertebrate neurohypophysial hormone gene locus within a comparative genomics framework. The coelacanth contains vasotocin and mesotocin genes like non-mammalian tetrapods. The coelacanth genes are present on the same strand of DNA with no intervening genes, with the vasotocin gene located upstream of the mesotocin gene. Nucleotide sequences of the second exons of the two genes are under purifying selection implying a regulatory function. We have also analyzed the neurohypophysial hormone gene locus in the genomes of opossum, chicken and Xenopus tropicalis. The opossum contains two tandem copies of vasopressin and mesotocin genes. The vasotocin and mesotocin genes in chicken and Xenopus, and the vasopressin and mesotocin genes in opossum are linked tail-to-head similar to their orthologs in coelacanth and unlike their homologs in human and rodents.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that the neurohypophysial hormone gene locus has experienced independent rearrangements in both placental mammals and teleost fishes. The coelacanth genome appears to be more stable than mammalian and teleost fish genomes. As such, it serves as a valuable outgroup for studying the evolution of mammalian and teleost fish genomes.
Influence of continental history on the ecological specialization and macroevolutionary processes in the mammalian assemblage of South America: Differences between small and large mammals
Authors: Bofarull Ana Moreno , Royo Antón Arias , Fernández Manuel Hernández , Ortiz-Jaureguizar Edgardo , Morales Jorge
Published: March 2008

Background

This paper tests Vrba's resource-use hypothesis, which predicts that generalist species have lower specialization and extinction rates than specialists, using the 879 species of South American mammals. We tested several predictions about this hypothesis using the biomic specialization index (BSI) for each species, which is based on its geographical range within different climate-zones. The four predictions tested are: (1) there is a high frequency of species restricted to a single biome, which henceforth are referred to as stenobiomic species, (2) certain clades are more stenobiomic than others, (3) there is a higher proportion of biomic specialists in biomes that underwent through major expansion-contraction alternation due to the glacial-interglacial cycles, (4) certain combinations of inhabited biomes occur more frequently among species than do others.

Results

Our results are consistent with these predictions. (1) We found that 42 % of the species inhabit only one biome. (2) There are more generalists among species of Carnivora than in clades of herbivores. However, Artiodactyla, shows a distribution along the specialization gradient different from the one expected. (3) Biomic specialists are predominant in tropical rainforest and desert biomes. Nevertheless, we found some differences between small and large mammals in relation to these results. Stenobiomic species of micromammalian clades are more abundant in most biomes than expected by chance, while in the case of macromammalian clades stenobiomic species are more frequent than expected in tropical rainforest, tropical deciduous woodland and desert biomes only. (4) The most frequent combinations of inhabited biomes among the South American mammals are those with few biomes, i.e., the ones that suffered a higher rate of vicariance due to climatic cycles.

Conclusion

Our results agree with the resource-use hypothesis and, therefore, with a major role of the past climatic changes as drivers of mammalian evolution. Nevertheless, deviations from the expectations indicate the importance of differences in reproductive traits and paleobiogeographic history for the macroevolutionary processes involved. In the case of South American mammals, the Pliocene Great American Biotic Interchange strongly influences the ecological characteristics of this assemblage. Furthermore, the Andes have acted as a fertile ground for speciation in environments prone to vicariance. Finally, the micromammals appear as more prone to biomic specialization than larger species. These factors are responsible for some of the differences found between South America and Africa in the studied pattern. For example, the extensive South American mountain ranges favour a higher number of combinations of inhabited biomes in comparison with Africa.