bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Industrial Action and Conflict Resolution in the New Member States
Authors: Welz Christian , Kauppinen Timo
Published: February 2005

With the historic enlargement of May 2004, the European Union faces new challenges. How the industrial relations systems of the new Member States respond to the challenges of accession, the single market and, eventually, EMU will play a crucial role in determining the ease of their assimilation within the enlarged Union. This article, based on a research and development project undertaken by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, investigates and assesses a specific aspect of their industrial relations institutions, the mechanisms of extra-judicial conflict resolution. The existence of effective and efficient collective conflict resolution procedures and institutions strengthens social dialogue and the latter, again, plays an important role in the creation or reform of the existing dispute resolution procedures. Consequently, the article concludes that successful dispute resolution is directly correlated with the nature, scope and quality of collective bargaining and social dialogue in the new Member States.
An evaluation of information provision at the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, South Africa
Authors: Lamoral Désirée
Published: February 2005

Describes the information audit conducted by the Institute of Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR), South Africa, to evaluate the effectiveness of ICFR technology transfer and information provision and to identify areas where these services could be improved. Data was collected via self-administered questionnaires and personal interviews focusing on information sources and information needs in the forestry industry. A pilot project was undertaken in order to test the questionnaire and interview schedules and resolve any problems which might arise concerning the use of these instruments. A group of regular ICFR Information Centre users, who were also all from sponsor organizations, agreed to fill in the questionnaires and be interviewed for testing purposes. As a result of the pre-test it was decided to utilize more structured responses, and to reword some of the questions in order to improve their clarity. The main findings were that IT is an integral part of the forestry industry and that information and knowledge are considered to be important resources which are extensively utilized by those in the industry. ICFR publications and the library are valued and frequently used information sources. Accessibility is an important factor affecting the utilization of information. The ICFR library needs to find innovative ways to improve the accessibility of its collection. Open-ended comments suggested that the ICFR library may have a role to play in adding value to information and helping to overcome information overload. It was recommended that the ICFR should focus on the needs of its sponsoring companies, and adopt a market-driven approach, which includes advertising the products and services which it has to offer.
Public Libraries and Reading
Authors: Goulding Anne
Published: February 2005

While there has been some concern that the focus on ICT in UK public libraries may have diverted attention away from the core business of books, there are strong indications that enormous public library interest and government finance is being channelled into the promotion of fiction. Reading promotion schemes in public libraries have been recently introduced and include initiatives by organizations such as: Opening the Book; the Reading Partnership, the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund; and the Branching Out initiative; which demonstrate the scope for the imaginative promotion of books and reading within public libraries. The proactive promotion of fiction to adult readers is a relatively new venture for many public librarians, even though promotion in the form of displays, book lists and author visits have long been common promotional tools. The promotion of library stock and planning of reader development activities require librarians to understand why people read fiction, the needs that it fulfils and the role it plays in people’s lives. While catering for the needs of readers, public libraries frequently overlook the needs of those who are unable to read. Nevertheless, there is evidence that UK public libraries are working hard to remedy this situation, with support for the development of adult basic skills and the introduction of the concept of community librarianship, with its focus on trying to make public library services more relevant to disadvantaged sections of the community. This has led to the growth of library-based literacy initiatives, such as those funded by the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund, focusing on promoting reading to children and young people and including work with families and special needs communities such as travellers and the homeless.
The knowledge workout for health
Authors: Maynard Sally
Published: February 2005

The results are reported for the Training Needs Census of NHS Library Staff, the first systematic survey of the training needs of NHS library staff. The survey was undertaken by LISU (Library and Statistics Unit) and was commissioned by the NHS Executive, together with the Regional Librarians Group (RLG). The study involved all librarians working in NHS libraries and was conducted at the end of 1999. The full text of the survey report is available at the NHS Regional Librarians Group Web site (http://www.nthames-health.tpmde.ac.uk/rlg/documents/TNA_commen-tary.doc). The UK response rate was 53 per cent (represented by 1017 replies out of an estimated potential 1902). Of the respondents, 48 per cent were in the 36-50 age group with 27 per cent over 50 years and 84 per cent were female. Most were employed by a NHS Trust (65 per cent), 17 per cent worked in a Higher Education Institution, while 40 per cent worked part time. With regard to Personal Development Plans, 73 per cent did not have a PDP at the time of the survey and 79 per cent believed they would not have a plan by April 2000. The tasks most frequently undertaken were circulation desk activities, dealing with requests for information, training library users in information skills and CD-ROM/internet/database searching. Few participants are currently involved in developing or managing web sites, intranets or know-how systems. Most respondents highlighted training needs connected to using electronic resources, with 76 per cent receiving training in internet searching but a relatively high number wanting more training in this and in related areas such as information retrieval, CD-ROM and online database searching. The survey attempted to stimulate respondents away from the tradition of ‘going on a course’ to learn by asking about preferred training methods. The most popular training style was hands-on practice (60 per cent), followed by workshop/seminar (33 per cent). The same three training methods (external local courses, work-based training and in-house off work training) were the most popular across the UK. Concludes that there are several challenges for management that emerge from this study: to stimulate the desire to be trained by developing appropriate incentives; to skill and reskill people adequately for the demands of the electronic workplace; and to nurture people’s interest in acquiring a much broader perspective of the work they do and where they do it.
The value and impact of reading imaginative literature
Authors: Usherwood Bob , Toyne Jackie
Published: February 2005

Reports results of a study, undertaken at the University of Sheffield and funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB), which addressed the question of what motivates adults to invest time in reading as a means of assessing the value and impact of public library book reading. The methodology for the full AHRB project involved an extensive literature review, focus groups and a preliminary questionnaire survey issued to all UK public library authorities to assess the current level of activity in relation to fiction and fiction promotion. In addition, stock management and selection policies were evaluated and used to inform interviews with library stock managers and those responsible for reading promotion. The paper focuses on that part of the study where participants were asked to talk about their reading. Individual readers were interviewed and focus groups were undertaken to examine people’s reading experience. The focus groups were selected to reflect the variables in the population and included non-users as well as users of the public library service. The results confirmed that reading imaginative literature is regarded as a special activity which serves to satisfy a wide variety of needs. The data dispel the myth of the stereotypical image of a reader as someone who is introverted and reluctant or unable to participate fully in society. There is convincing evidence that through reading a person’s life can be transformed. Also, for those who regard themselves as readers, reading is not only deemed a special activity but a crucial one. Their accounts reveal that the reading identity is not fixed but changes according to time and personal development.
Putting Research into Practice
Authors: Goulding Anne , Matthews Graham
Published: February 2005

The best way to ensure the results of library and information science (LIS) research has been debated for many years with difficulties arising even as to what should be included as ‘research’. Since the LIS profession is vocational in nature, it is only natural that much of the research undertaken is to improve practice and develop innovative service delivery methods for the benefit of users, while the more speculative (‘blue skies’) research tends to take second place. As there is a focus on the more practical side of LIS research, it tends to be thought that the results of research carried out by academics in library and information studies departments has little impact on practice, and this may be due to poor channels of communication in disseminating those research results. Since the LIS profession is one that focuses on people, it is only reasonable to find that research projects tend to be aimed at solving the day-to-day and more long-term strategic issues and problems facing LIS professionals and their work. Similarly, the fact that researchers are able to see the actual impact that their research can have on the development of policies, programmes and services is very rewarding for academics and is one of the main drivers for such research. This close proximity of research and practice is conducive to academics being able to use their research experience to enliven their teaching. One of the main drivers of LIS research is the widespread tendency for it to be conducted on a co-operative partnership basis, and this fact alone makes the research process one that enriches the organizations in which the research is undertaken.
Digitization and preservation in public libraries and archives
Authors: Astle Peter J. , Muir Adrienne
Published: February 2005

This article examines the relationship between access and preservation in digitization projects conducted by public libraries and archives in the UK. The main issues discussed are the impact of selection on access, the preservation of original material and digital objects, and the financial issues surrounding digitization projects. The article does not deal with the technical aspects of digitization. A questionnaire survey was conducted of 20 UK public libraries and archives to determine their experiences related to the above issues. It was found that few digitization projects realized their full potential in terms of preserving original material, and so little has been done to ensure the preservation of the digitized material. Although access is significantly increased, the range of material that has been digitized is very narrow and is driven largely by copyright restrictions rather than user demand. The survey also highlighted the disparity between funding for access to a very small portion of library holdings through digitization, and the funding of traditional preservation for the remainder of collections.
Information literacy of teachers and pupils in secondary schools
Authors: Merchant Lucy , Hepworth Mark
Published: February 2005

A study was undertaken to examine the information literacy of teachers and pupils in two UK single-sex selective state grammar schools, one providing education for girls and the other for boys. Qualitative research techniques were chosen to enable attitudes and ethnographic data to be captured. The research methods used included: observation of 10 teachers and 40 pupils in the classroom, complemented by observation of pupils’ behaviour in the school library and computing facilities; individual interviews with members of the teaching staff in both schools; and group interviews with pupils from different year groups. The majority of the teachers were found to be information literate, although this was more the result of personal interest in information and the role it can play in their teaching than because of any attempts made by the schools or their training to encourage information literacy. Pupils were found to be adept at using a variety of sources to locate information, but the cognitive skills required to achieve this tended to be underdeveloped and received little attention within the schools studied. The most significant finding was that, although the teachers interviewed were information literate, their skills with and attitudes towards information were not being transferred to their pupils.
The management of library development funds in the Nigerian University System
Authors: Enyia Chris O.
Published: February 2005

The aims and activities of the Nigerian Library Development Fund (LDF), established to ensure adequate funding for Nigerian university libraries, are described in the context of the organization of higher education in Nigeria as a whole. The study explores the position of university libraries within institutions and discusses the implications of the LDF for Nigerian university libraries. Particular attention is paid to the problems experienced by the LDF due to: non-conformity with specified criteria on the utilization of the fund such as very large balances of unused funds with only a fraction of the fund accounted for as expenditure returns; over-subscription for books and periodicals resulting in large deficits caused by spending over and above the available funds; the spreading of funds over several quarters with a larger proportion of the funds used in paying salaries of library staff thereby ignoring the purchase of books, periodicals and other office consumables; and problems associated with the exchange rate between the local currency and stronger international currencies in the purchase of foreign books, periodicals and library equipment. It is concluded that the National Universities Commission (NUC) should stipulate checks and sanctions for universities that fail repeatedly to utilize LDF resources rationally and according to set guidelines. These sanctions should include withholding subsequent allocations as punishment for the poor utilization of the earlier released funds.
Dyslexia
Authors: Rutledge Hazel
Published: February 2005

Since libraries have considerable experience in catering for users with a wide range of disabilities, it is only natural to expect that they can find ways of coping with users suffering from dyslexia. This would fit well with the public libraries’ mission: to facilitate access to information and resources in a variety of media and should therefore place them at the forefront of assisting people with the disability of dyslexia. A PhD research project: Public library provision of resources for dyslexic individuals’; was undertaken at the Department of Information Science, Loughborough University, from December 1992 to 2000. The main focus of the investigation was primary research to establish what libraries are doing to ensure effective resource provision for dyslexic individuals. An extensive literature review is followed by the results of a questionnaire survey of 114 library authorities in England and Wales (75 per cent response rate) to determine the extent to which public libraries are providing for dyslexic users. Although the very high response rate indicated considerable interest in the subject of dyslexia resource provision, the survey data revealed that the level of activity in support of people with dyslexia was very modest, with only 16.7 per cent of the authorities claiming to have policy statements on special needs in general and even fewer (7 per cent) claiming that their policies directly covered dyslexia. A study of the policy documents revealed that many of the policies only covered dyslexia by inference and in no case was dyslexia specifically mentioned. Reluctance to use the term was almost universal amongst library authorities and, with a few notable exceptions, little was being done to address the needs of dyslexic users. The study concluded that: public libraries are not organizing and promoting resources for dyslexic individuals in a way that helps them to overcome the obstacles limiting library use; information about dyslexia is commonly held in public libraries, but few library authorities are doing much to address specifically the wider resource needs of dyslexic individuals; some library authorities are doing more than others; and the library profession and major bodies dealing with dyslexia are not providing proactive leadership in the area of resource provision for people with dyslexia. Some of the ways in which public libraries can work to remedy this situation are presented.
In the public eye
Authors: Black Alistair , Crann Melvyn
Published: February 2005

Reports results of a study which aimed to apply the technique used to gather data for the Mass Observation Archive (MOA) to the study of user behaviour in the public library. The study was designed to provide an open access public commentary on the public library and reveal what the public library does well, what it does badly and what it means to both its users and non-users. The research also sought to demonstrate the validity of the mass observation (MO) method and its possible adaptation by library authorities for use at the local level. The data for the study was obtained from the written testimony of 231 contributions (64 men and 167 women) gathered from volunteers in response to the request for observations on public libraries and was gathered by the ‘autobiographical diary’ method, as employed by the MOA. The project was conceived in purely academic terms as a study of an ‘everyday’ social institution, the results of which could prove to be of interest in their own right and which could be said to reinforce the proposition that investigating the sociology of libraries tells us as much about society as it does about libraries. The discourse analysis which was applied to the data was used to reveal specific aspects of library use, including: general impressions; cuts in services; social exclusion; commercialization; use of computers; public place/private space issues; library staff; and buildings, design and ambience. The project was judged to be a success and it is concluded that the MO approach to studying library use is a practical and useful one. Although there are methodological deficiencies inherent in the MO method (subjectivity of views, temptation to embellish observations, unrepresentative nature of the volunteer panel), these can be allowed for in the final data evaluation.
Library loyalties in limbo
Authors: Johansson Marie
Published: February 2005

The financial pressures experienced by Swedish libraries in purchasing resources are linked to the fact that most of these libraries cannot afford to buy all recent books and must therefore make severe choices in areas where it is not easy to decide on priorities. In Sweden, Bibliotekstjänst (BTJ) is the library service organization that is almost the sole provider of library materials and its dominance is almost total. For many decades, BTJ ran its operation without causing public controversy and was simply looked upon as an uncomplicated service to facilitate librarians’ professional duties. This situation changed drastically as the debate about public library provision, among the public and the profession, gathered strength. The criticisms that were put forward in the debate are described in order to show the complexity of the problems associated with the BTJ system and which, to varying degrees, affect libraries and their practices. The criticisms put forward over the years have almost invariably been aimed at three targets: the readers, the reviews and Sambindningen/BTJ. Sambindningen is roughly translated as Cobinding, a constructed and ambiguous term alluding to both the binding of book volumes and its connecting role between the publisher, the library and the reader. The debate shows that complications exist, for instance, within BTJ and the ownership of the company: a structure which has led to conflicts of interest and a vague delegation of responsibility. It is concluded that problems have been identified associated with the Swedish centralized model for giving support to purchasing routines for libraries. Such problems are also likely to appear in other national contexts using a similar model. The main difficulty is connected to organizational complexities that are difficult to avoid completely when the public service system of the library is confronted with a mediator institution that is linked to the commercial publishing business.
Book Review: S.C. Bradford and documentation
Authors: Meadows Jack
Published: February 2005

Reviews the work carried out and the legacy left by S. C. Bradford in the field of documentation, in the context of the debate throughout the first half of the twentieth century regarding the nature of documentation and its relationship with librarianship. The emergence of the field of special librarianship is attributed both to his ideas and the publication of his seminal book Documentation in 1948, the year of his death. The main themes of Bradford’s work, summarized as a series of essays in ‘Documentation’, were: the need for a UK national central library for science and technology; classification; and abstracting services. The influence of his ideas on the future of library and information science, particularly those which resulted from his work for the Library of the Science Museum, London, are discussed. Bradford’s advocacy of the UDC (Universal Decimal Classification) for the retrieval of patent information tend to be dismissed but may be shown to have led him to a study of abstracting services and the publication patterns governing disciplines. This led to his formulation of what is now known as Bradford’s law of scattering, Bradford’s main claim to fame. Discussion of Bradford’s hypothesis has proliferated greatly in the years since Documentation was published, in particular the way in which Bradford described his law in two ways: verbally; and graphically. The subsequent work that has been undertaken to rationalize Bradford’s two formulations has yielded considerable insights into the functioning of publications and the flow of information involved in disciplines. Further work has been undertaken extensively in the past 50 years to study the relationship between Bradford’s law and other statistical relationships of interest to information scientists; notably Zipf’s law. The fact that Bradford’s law continues to be used in its traditional role of analyzing periodical article scatter has meant that Documentation continues to be cited.
Learning/Becoming/Organizing
Authors: Clegg Stewart R. , Kornberger Martin , Rhodes Carl
Published: February 2005

In this paper we rethink and reframe organizational learning in terms of organizational becoming. We see these concepts as two mutually implicating ways of exploring and simultaneously constituting the phenomena of organization. Bearing in mind that the understanding of organization is simultaneously a question of the organization of understanding, we reflect on the complex interrelation between thinking and organizing. In order to connect the processes of learning and becoming, we consider the concept of organization as space in between order and chaos. We propose a perspective that sees learning not as something that is done to organizations, or as something that an organization does; rather, learning and organizing are seen as mutually constitutive and unstable, yet pragmatic, constructs that might enable a dynamic appreciation of organizational life. Further, we argue that the becoming that is in organizing implies a permanent non-rational movement such that organization can never be rationally defined.
The Paradox of Sensemaking in Organizational Analysis
Authors: Allard-Poesi Florence
Published: February 2005

Taking Weick’s theory of sensemaking as illustrative of a socioconstructionist conception of sensemaking and learning in organization studies, I examine the methodological approaches used in this research. This analysis reveals that, although departing from the structuro-functionalist perspective of conventional cognitive theory, sensemaking research nonetheless aims to establish objective knowledge of these subjective processes. In so doing, it is faced with the interpretive paradox implied in seeking an ‘objective science of subjectivity’. Fully acknowledging that studying sensemaking is an active and subjective sensemaking process in itself implies that we re-engage in sensemaking processes. The postmodern route, on the one hand, invites us, through deconstruction, to engage against our sensemaking as a way of uncovering both the constitutive and the undecidable character of sensemaking activities. The pragmatist (or participative) route, on the other hand, suggests that, through participative action research, we fully engage in sensemaking with organization members and recognize the socially constructed aspect of all sensemaking activities. Though not without difficulties, these proposals encourage us to make sense differently of sensemaking processes in organizations.
Ontology in Organization and Management Studies: A Critical Realist Perspective
Authors: Fleetwood Steve
Published: February 2005

Organization studies has recently been captured by a cultural, linguistic, poststructural or postmodern turn, the impetus for which has come from the ontological turn from a (naive) realist ontology to a socially constructed ontology. Much of the current ontological discussion is, however, characterized by ambiguity, which makes it difficult to get to the bottom of ontological claims and, of course, to locate the source of any ontological errors. This paper uses a critical realist perspective to highlight the ambiguity and error encouraged by postmodernism’s commitment to a socially constructed ontology. Critical realism’s ontology is offered as a more fruitful alternative. Labour process theory, specifically agency and structure, is used to demonstrate (i) that critical realism is not damaged by many common postmodern criticisms of agency and structure, and (ii) that, once interpreted through the prism of critical realism, there is no need to abandon this powerful analytical device.
The Politics of Translation: How State-Level Political Relations Affect the Cross-National Travel of Management Ideas
Authors: Frenkel Michal
Published: February 2005

The paper brings together insights from the neo-institutional approach and that of ‘translation’ to analyse the politics of management glocalization. Based on the cases of the translation of two management models—Scientific Management (SM) and Human Relations (HR) in Israel—the paper argues that the state-level institutional power structures that participated in the importing of the SM and HR models as an answer to their political needs also took part in the negotiations and struggles that formed their social meanings, the way in which they changed during the move from one context to another, the way in which they are justified in the new social context, and the fundamental social assumptions that become institutionalized as part of the process of the models’ institutionalization.
National Parties in the European Parliament
Authors: Whitaker Richard
Published: February 2005

The European Parliament’s increased legislative role in recent years means that its actions are now more likely to have an impact on national parties’ policy choices and, indirectly, on their electoral fortunes. This article examines the extent to which national party delegations deal with this by ensuring representativeness among their committee contingents. Using a technique borrowed from Cox and McCubbins (1993), the article compares the voting behaviour of committee contingents with their national party delegations on the basis of roll-call votes. The analysis shows that, for the most part, national parties ensure higher levels of representativeness on committees that have legislative power. The results support the assertion that, as the European Parliament’s actions matter more, national parties have become more concerned with their MEPs’ activities.
Economic and Political Basis of Attitudes towards the EU in Central and East European Countries in the 1990s
Authors: Christin Thomas
Published: February 2005

This article aims to explain attitudes towards the European Union in Central and East European countries. I propose a model that combines economic and political variables at two levels of explanation: the individual and the national. Using a cross-sectional time series data set compiled from Central and Eastern Eurobarometer surveys, I demonstrate that individual attitudes towards domestic economic and political reforms are good predictors of citizens’ attitudes towards the European Union in Central and East European countries. Macro dimensions, such as economic and political performance, have an impact on attitudes towards the EU, particularly in candidate countries. Finally, a multiplicative model with interaction effects between the individual level and the macro level suggests that attitudes have a stronger impact if the domestic conditions are good. If the country is in bad shape, the attitudes are less relevant.
Projecting EU Referendums
Authors: de Vreese Claes H. , Boomgaarden Hajo G.
Published: February 2005

This study tests competing hypotheses about public support for European integration and projects referendum voting behaviour. It emphasizes anti-immigration sentiments as a key variable for understanding reluctance about integration. Drawing on survey data, it is shown that anti-immigration sentiments, economic considerations and the evaluation of domestic governments are the strongest predictors of both attitudinal support for integration and individuals’ propensity to vote ‘yes’ in a referendum on the enlargement of the European Union (EU).
Mirror, mirror
Authors: Sayyid S.
Published: February 2005

The article examines the relationship between political forms and cultural identity. It sets out to explore the way in which notions of ‘democracy’ and despotism are associated with distinct cultural formations. The identity of a political regime is less a matter of its political practices and procedures and more a function of the extent to which it can be considered ‘western’ or ‘oriental’. Given this intimate relationship between democracy and western identity, the paper examines some of the conceptual difficulties with the articulation of Islam and democracy in the context of the contemporary Islamicate world.
Kinship, ethnicity and religion in post-Communist societies
Authors: Yemelianova Galina M.
Published: February 2005

Among the consequences of perestroika and the subsequent breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 has been the rise of ethnic nationalism. In the non-Russian parts of the former USSR this process has been accompanied by the reactivation of clan and other primordial social networks which under Soviet Communism had been in abeyance. This article, based on extensive field research material, examines political and social transformation in post-Communist Kabardino-Balkariya, a Russian Muslim autonomy in the North Caucasus. In particular, it analyses the nature of the nation-building policies of the ruling regime, and its relationship with the clan system. It is also concerned with Islamic revival and Islamic radicalism in the region and their correlation with the Islam-related republican and wider federal policies. The article reveals some grey areas in the current academic debate on ethnicity and nationalism and injects more conceptual syncretism into the study of post-Communist societies.
Children’s accounts of Wales as racialized and inclusive
Authors: Scourfield Jonathan , Davies Andrew
Published: February 2005

The article is a discussion of the aspects of children’s accounts of Welshness that are either racialized or inclusive. The empirical basis is a qualitative research project on children’s national and local identities in Wales, conducted with 8-11 year olds in six primary schools across the country, with schools selected to provide diversity of region, language, social class and ethnicity. This article focuses on the aspects of the children’s talk that highlight ‘race’ and the position of minority ethnic children within Wales. There is discussion of Welshness as racialized, children’s views on being white and on being a minority, and evidence of inclusivity amongst children. We found aspects of the children’s talk that pose a barrier to the development of an inclusive Welsh citizenship and also aspects that support it. There is consideration of children’s agency in the construction of nationhood and the limited repertoires they can draw on for this process.
Freedom with forgiveness
Authors: Fleurbaey Marc
Published: February 2005

This article defends the principle of giving a fresh start to individuals who come to consider that they have mismanaged their share of resources at an earlier stage of their life. The first part challenges the ethical intuition that it would be unfair to tax the steadfast frugal in order to help the regretful spendthrift and argues that the possibility of changing one’s mind is an important freedom. The second part examines the disincentives induced by fresh-start policies. It shows that even when individuals can strategically misrepresent their preferences, there remains a significant difference between unforgiving and forgiving policies. It shows that the optimal policy does not only redistribute funds, but also puts protective constraints on early individual decisions (for example, compulsory saving through social security taxes).
Equality and human rights
Authors: Buchanan Allen
Published: February 2005

There is a puzzling disconnect between recent philosophical literature on equality and the modern theory and practice of human rights. This disconnect is puzzling because the modern human rights movement is arguably the most salient and powerful manifestation of the commitment to equality in our time. One likely source of this disconnect is the tendency of contributors to the philosophical literature on equality to focus on justice within the state, considered in isolation. This article begins the task of connection. Section II outlines a philosophical conception of human rights, the Modest Objectivist View, according to which the list of human rights is grounded in descriptive and normative egalitarian assumptions about what is required to help ensure that every individual has the opportunity for a minimally good or decent human life. Next, I explore the resources of the Modest Objectivist View for rationally reconstructing the conventional conception of human rights. Section III examines challenges to the Modest Objectivist View’s egalitarian assumptions. Section IV explores the question of whether the minimal egalitarianism of the Modest Objectivist View is compatible with the more robust egalitarianisms advanced in recent philosophical literature. I conclude that the minimalist egalitarianism of human rights is compatible with more robust egalitarian principles, once we understand the distinctive function of human rights as standards of transnational justice.
Thermal Buckling of Rectangular Laminated Plates with a Hole
Authors: Avci Ahmet , Kaya Sami , Daghan Behcet
Published: February 2005

Thermal buckling analysis of symmetric and antisymmetric laminated composite plates with clamped and simply supported edges, and containing a hole is presented in this paper. The first-order shear deformation theory in conjunction with the variational energy method is employed in mathematical formulation. The eight-node Lagrangian finite element technique is used to find thermal buckling temperatures of isotropic, glass-epoxy and boron-epoxy laminates. The effects of hole size, angle of ply orientation, lay-up sequences, and boundary conditions on thermal buckling temperatures are investigated. The result is shown in graphical forms for various boundary conditions.
The Molecular Biology Toolkit (MBT): a modular platform for developing molecular visualization applications
Authors: Moreland John L , Gramada Apostol , Buzko Oleksandr V , Zhang Qing , Bourne Philip E
Published: February 2005

Background

The large amount of data that are currently produced in the biological sciences can no longer be explored and visualized efficiently with traditional, specialized software. Instead, new capabilities are needed that offer flexibility, rapid application development and deployment as standalone applications or available through the Web.

Results

We describe a new software toolkit – the Molecular Biology Toolkit (MBT; http://mbt.sdsc.edu) – that enables fast development of applications for protein analysis and visualization. The toolkit is written in Java, thus offering platform-independence and Internet delivery capabilities. Several applications of the toolkit are introduced to illustrate the functionality that can be achieved.

Conclusions

The MBT provides a well-organized assortment of core classes that provide a uniform data model for the description of biological structures and automate most common tasks associated with the development of applications in the molecular sciences (data loading, derivation of typical structural information, visualization of sequence and standard structural entities).
The evolution of the Sin1 gene product, a little known protein implicated in stress responses and type I interferon signaling in vertebrates
Authors: Wang Shu-Zong , Roberts R Michael
Published: February 2005

Background

In yeast, birds and mammals, the SAPK-interacting protein 1 (Sin1) gene product has been implicated as a component of the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) signal transduction pathway. Recently, Sin1 has also been shown to interact with the carboxyl terminal end of the cytoplasmic domain of the ovine type I interferon receptor subunit 2 (IFNAR2). However, the function of Sin1 remains unknown. Since SAPK pathways are ancient and the IFN system is confined to vertebrates, the organization of the Sin1 gene and the sequences of the Sin1 protein have been compared across a wide taxonomic range of species.

Results

Sin1 is represented, apparently as a single gene, in all metazoan species and fungi but is not detectable in protozoa, prokaryotes, or plants. Sin1 is highly conserved in vertebrates (79–99% identity at amino acid level), which possess an interferon system, suggesting that it has been subjected to powerful evolutionary constraint that has limited its diversification.

Sin1 possesses at least two unique sequences in its IFNAR2-interacting region that are not represented in insects and other invertebrates. Sequence alignment between vertebrates and insects revealed five Sin1 strongly conserved domains (SCDs I-V), but an analysis of any of these domains failed to identify known functional protein motifs. SCD III, which is approximately 129 amino acids in length, is particularly highly conserved and is present in all the species examined, suggesting a conserved function from fungi to mammals. The coding region of the vertebrate Sin1 gene encompasses 11 exon and 10 introns, while in C. elegans the gene consists of 10 exons and 9 introns organized distinctly from those of vertebrates. In yeast and insects, Sin1 is intronless.

Conclusions

The study reveals the phylogeny of a little studied gene which has recently been implicated in two important signal transduction pathways, one ancient (stress response), one relatively new (interferon signaling).
Specialized microbial databases for inductive exploration of microbial genome sequences
Authors: Fang Gang , Ho Christine , Qiu Yaowu , Cubas Virginie , Yu Zhou , Cabau Cédric , Cheung Frankie , Moszer Ivan , Danchin Antoine
Published: February 2005

Background

The enormous amount of genome sequence data asks for user-oriented databases to manage sequences and annotations. Queries must include search tools permitting function identification through exploration of related objects.

Methods

The GenoList package for collecting and mining microbial genome databases has been rewritten using MySQL as the database management system. Functions that were not available in MySQL, such as nested subquery, have been implemented.

Results

Inductive reasoning in the study of genomes starts from "islands of knowledge", centered around genes with some known background. With this concept of "neighborhood" in mind, a modified version of the GenoList structure has been used for organizing sequence data from prokaryotic genomes of particular interest in China. GenoChore http://bioinfo.hku.hk/genochore.html, a set of 17 specialized end-user-oriented microbial databases (including one instance of Microsporidia, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, a member of Eukarya) has been made publicly available. These databases allow the user to browse genome sequence and annotation data using standard queries. In addition they provide a weekly update of searches against the world-wide protein sequences data libraries, allowing one to monitor annotation updates on genes of interest. Finally, they allow users to search for patterns in DNA or protein sequences, taking into account a clustering of genes into formal operons, as well as providing extra facilities to query sequences using predefined sequence patterns.

Conclusion

This growing set of specialized microbial databases organize data created by the first Chinese bacterial genome programs (ThermaList, Thermoanaerobacter tencongensis, LeptoList, with two different genomes of Leptospira interrogans and SepiList, Staphylococcus epidermidis) associated to related organisms for comparison.
Effects of the search technique on the measurement of the change in quality of randomized controlled trials over time in the field of brain injury
Authors: Borsody Mark K , Yamada Chisa
Published: February 2005

Background

To determine if the search technique that is used to sample randomized controlled trial (RCT) manuscripts from a field of medical science can influence the measurement of the change in quality over time in that field.

Methods

RCT manuscripts in the field of brain injury were identified using two readily-available search techniques: (1) a PubMed MEDLINE search, and (2) the Cochrane Injuries Group (CIG) trials registry. Seven criteria of quality were assessed in each manuscript and related to the year-of-publication of the RCT manuscripts by regression analysis.

Results

No change in the frequency of reporting of any individual quality criterion was found in the sample of RCT manuscripts identified by the PubMed MEDLINE search. In the RCT manuscripts of the CIG trials registry, three of the seven criteria showed significant or near-significant increases over time.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that measuring the change in quality over time of a sample of RCT manuscripts from the field of brain injury can be greatly affected by the search technique. This poorly recognized factor may make measurements of the change in RCT quality over time within a given field of medical science unreliable.
Mental health first aid responses of the public: results from an Australian national survey
Authors: Jorm Anthony F , Blewitt Kelly A , Griffiths Kathleen M , Kitchener Betty A , Parslow Ruth A
Published: February 2005

Background

The prevalence of mental disorders is so high that members of the public will commonly have contact with someone affected. How they respond to that person (the mental health first aid response) may affect outcomes. However, there is no information on what members of the public might do in such circumstances.

Methods

In a national survey of 3998 Australian adults, respondents were presented with one of four case vignettes and asked what they would do if that person was someone they had known for a long time and cared about. There were four types of vignette: depression, depression with suicidal thoughts, early schizophrenia, and chronic schizophrenia. Verbatim responses to the open-ended question were coded into categories.

Results

The most common responses to all vignettes were to encourage professional help-seeking and to listen to and support the person. However, a significant minority did not give these responses. Much less common responses were to assess the problem or risk of harm, to give or seek information, to encourage self-help, or to support the family. Few respondents mentioned contacting a professional on the person's behalf or accompanying them to a professional. First aid responses were generally more appropriate in women, those with less stigmatizing attitudes, and those who correctly identified the disorder in the vignette.

Conclusions

There is room for improving the range of mental health first aid responses in the community. Lack of knowledge of mental disorders and stigmatizing attitudes are important barriers to effective first aid.
Treatment outcome of new culture positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Norway
Authors: Farah Mohamed Guled , Tverdal Aage , Steen Tore W , Heldal Einar , Brantsaeter Arne B , Bjune Gunnar
Published: February 2005

Background

The key elements in tuberculosis (TB) control are to cure the individual patient, interrupt transmission of TB to others and prevent the tubercle bacilli from becoming drug resistant. Incomplete treatment may result in excretion of bacteria that may also acquire drug resistance and cause increased morbidity and mortality. Treatment outcome results serves as a tool to control the quality of TB treatment provided by the health care system. The aims of this study were to evaluate the treatment outcome for new cases of culture positive pulmonary TB registered in Norway during the period 1996–2002 and to identify factors associated with non-successful treatment.

Methods

This was a register-based cohort study. Treatment outcome was assessed according to sex, birthplace, age group, isoniazid (INH) susceptibility, mode of detection and treatment periods (1996–1997, 1998–1999 and 2000–2002). Logistic regression was also used to estimate the odds ratio for treatment success vs. non-success with 95% confidence interval (CI), taking the above variables into account.

Results

Among the 655 patients included, the total treatment success rate was 83% (95% CI 80%–86%). The success rates for those born in Norway and abroad were 79% (95% CI 74%–84%) and 86% (95% CI 83%–89%) respectively. There was no difference in success rates by sex and treatment periods. Twenty-two patients (3%) defaulted treatment, 58 (9%) died and 26 (4%) transferred out. The default rate was higher among foreign-born and male patients, whereas almost all who died were born in Norway. The majority of the transferred out group left the country, but seven were expelled from the country. In the multivariate analysis, only high age and initial INH resistance remained as significant risk factors for non-successful treatment.

Conclusion

Although the TB treatment success rate in Norway has increased compared to previous studies and although it has reached a reasonable target for treatment outcome in low-incidence countries, the total success rate for 1996–2002 was still slightly below the WHO target of success rate of 85%. Early diagnosis of TB in elderly patients to reduce the death rate, abstaining from expulsion of patients on treatment and further measures to prevent default could improve the success rate further.