bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre-Clinical Studies of MicroRNA-Based Therapies for Sepsis: A Scoping Review
Authors: Ektesabi Amin M. , Simone Julia , Vaswani Chirag , Tan Greaton W. , Wang Yanbo , Pavelick Jacqueline L. , Wu Xiao , Tai Janice , Gupta Sahil , Tsoporis James N. , dos Santos Claudia C.
Published: January 2024

Background: Sepsis is a severe and life-threatening condition triggered by a dysregulated response to infection, leading to organ failure and, often, death. The syndrome is expensive to treat, with survivors frequently experiencing reduced quality of life and enduring various long-term disabilities. The increasing understanding of RNA, RNA biology, and therapeutic potential offers an unprecedented opportunity to develop innovative therapy. Objective: This study is a scoping review focusing on pre-clinical studies of microRNA (miRNA)-based therapies for sepsis. Methodology: A scoping review. The search strategy identified papers published in PubMed until 15 October 2023, using the keywords (microRNA) AND (sepsis) AND (animal model). Inclusion criteria included papers that used either gain- or loss-of-function approaches, excluding papers that did not focus on microRNAs as therapy targets, did not include animal models, did not show organ failure-specific assessments, and focused on microRNAs as biomarkers. The PRISMA-ScR guideline was used in this study. Results: A total of 199 articles were identified that featured the terms “microRNA/miRNA/miR”, “Sepsis”, and “animal model”. Of these, 51 articles (25.6%) employed miRNA-based therapeutic interventions in animal models of sepsis. Of these, 15 studies extended their inquiry to include or reference human clinical data. Key microRNAs of interest and their putative mechanisms of action in sepsis are highlighted. Conclusions: The body of work examined herein predominantly addresses various dimensions of sepsis-induced organ dysfunction, supporting the emerging role of miRNAs as potential therapeutic candidates. However, nearly 5% of papers on miR-based therapy have been retracted over the past 5 years, raising important concerns regarding the quality and complexity of the biology and models for assessing therapeutic potential.
Substrate-Assisted Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Combined with Variable Selection and Extreme Learning Machine for Quantitative Determination of Fenthion in Soybean Oil
Authors: Ding Yu , Wang Yufeng , Chen Jing , Chen Wenjie , Hu Ao , Shu Yan , Zhao Meiling
Published: January 2024

The quality and safety of edible vegetable oils are closely related to human life and health, meaning it is of great significance to explore the rapid detection methods of pesticide residues in edible vegetable oils. This study explored the applicability potential of substrate-assisted laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for quantitatively determining fenthion in soybean oils. First, we explored the impact of laser energy, delay time, and average oil film thickness on the spectral signals to identify the best experimental parameters. Afterward, we quantitatively analyzed soybean oil samples using these optimized conditions and developed a full-spectrum extreme learning machine (ELM) model. The model achieved a prediction correlation coefficient (RP2) of 0.8417, a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 167.2986, and a mean absolute percentage error of prediction (MAPEP) of 26.46%. In order to enhance the prediction performance of the model, a modeling method using the Boruta algorithm combined with the ELM was proposed. The Boruta algorithm was employed to identify the feature variables that exhibit a strong correlation with the fenthion content. These selected variables were utilized as inputs for the ELM model, with the RP2, RMSEP, and MAPEP of Boruta-ELM being 0.9631, 71.4423, and 10.06%, respectively. Then, the genetic algorithm (GA) was used to optimize the parameters of the Boruta-ELM model, with the RP2, RMSEP, and MAPEP of GA-Boruta-ELM being 0.9962, 11.005, and 1.66%, respectively. The findings demonstrate that the GA-Boruta-ELM model exhibits excellent prediction capability and effectively predicts the fenthion contents in soybean oil samples. It will be valuable for the LIBS quantitative detection and analysis of pesticide residues in edible vegetable oils.
A Graphical User Interface for Calculating Exergy Destruction for Combustion Reactions
Authors: Korukҫu M. Özgün
Published: January 2024

The combustion of fuels has been studied by many researchers as it is used in a wide range of engineering applications. The chemical equilibrium approach served as the foundation for the investigation of combustion reactions. This article presents a software application designed to facilitate the calculation of combustion processes by calculating the combustion of 16 fuels among the common alkanes (CnH2n+2) and alcohols (CnH2n+1OH). The Ozan Combustion Calculator (OCC) offers a user-friendly and efficient graphical user interface (GUI) that allows users to easily input data and obtain results. The program was developed using MATLAB 2021a and LaTeX software, ensuring its reliability and accuracy. To perform these calculations, the program utilizes calculations of the thermophysical properties of fuels and water obtained from tables. The program consists of five modules, each serving a specific purpose. These modules calculate various parameters, such as the Adiabatic Flame Temperature, Exergy of Combustion with Dry Air, Exergy of Combustion with Moist Air, Energy of Combustion with Dry Air, and Energy of Combustion with Moist Air. Additionally, the program can be used to investigate the impact of relative humidity on the adiabatic flame temperature and exergy destruction. The results obtained from the calculations reveal that the adiabatic flame temperature exhibits a linear decrease as the relative humidity increases. On the other hand, exergy destruction demonstrates a quadratic increase with higher relative humidity values. The program derives mathematical relationships for the adiabatic flame temperature and exergy destruction with respect to relative humidity values, with a high regression coefficient (r2=0.999). The versatility of OCC makes it suitable for various applications. It can be utilized in university settings for both undergraduate- and graduate-level courses, providing students with a practical tool for studying combustion processes. Additionally, it finds applications in industrial settings for the design and optimization of combustors, gas turbines, and burners. The user-friendly interface and accurate calculations make OCC a valuable resource in the field of combustion engineering.
Green Human Resource Management in Practice: Assessing the Impact of Readiness and Corporate Social Responsibility on Organizational Change
Authors: Zihan Wang , Makhbul Zafir Khan Mohamed , Alam Syed Shah
Published: January 2024

This study examines the adoption and institutionalization of Green Human Resource Management (Green HRM) in Malaysian SMEs, focusing on the influence of Perceived Organizational Green Readiness (POG) and Perceived External Green Readiness (PEG) on the institutionalization of Green HRM (ING). Utilizing structural equation modeling from a sample of 425 respondents for Malaysian SMEs, the research reveals that POG and PEG significantly predict the Initial adoption of Green HRM (IAG), which mediates their impact on ING. This study also identifies a moderating role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the relationship between IAG and ING. Theoretical contributions extend stakeholder theory, the E-Commerce Adoption Model, the Organizational Readiness to Change (ORC) framework, and CSR theory to the Green HRM context. The findings provide practical insights for SMEs on aligning Green HRM with organizational strategies and external factors for effective institutionalization. This research contributes to the understanding of Green HRM processes, emphasizing the importance of initial adoption and the intricate role of CSR in sustainable business practices.
2023: A Transitional Phase for Thermo?
Authors: Jacquemin Johan
Published: January 2024

Prior starting this editorial, I do want to wish all of you a Happy New Year and a great 2024 [...]
Distribution, Ecological Risk, and Source Identification of Heavy Metal(loid)s in Sediments of a Headwater of Beijiang River Affected by Mining in Southern China
Authors: Luo Fei , Zhang Fawang , Zhang Wenting , Huang Qibo , Tang Xing
Published: January 2024

In this study, the contents of eight heavy metal(loid)s (As, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Cu, Sb and Tl) in 50 sediment samples from a headwater of Beijiang River were studied to understand their pollution, ecological risk and potential sources. Evaluation indexes including sediment quality guidelines (SDGs), enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), risk assessment code (RAC) and bioavailable metal index (BMI) were used to evaluate the heavy metal(loid)s pollution and ecological risk in the sediments. Pearson’s correlation analysis and principal component analysis were used to identify the sources of heavy metal(loid)s. The results showed that the average concentration of heavy metal(loid)s obviously exceeded the background values, except Cr. Metal(loid)s speciation analysis indicated that Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn were dominated by non-residual fractions, which presented higher bioavailability. The S content in sediments could significantly influence the geochemical fractions of heavy metal(loid)s. As was expected, it had the most adverse biological effect to local aquatic organism, followed by Pb. The EF results demonstrated that As was the most enriched, while Cr showed no enrichment in the sediments. The assessment of Igeo suggested that Cd and As were the most serious threats to the river system, while Cr showed almost no contamination in the sediments. Heavy metal(loid)s in sediments in the mining- and smelting-affected area showed higher bioavailability. According to the results of the above research, the mining activities caused heavier heavy metal(loid)s pollution in the river sediment. Three potential sources of heavy metal(loid)s in sediment were distinguished based on the Pearson’s correlation analysis and PCA, of which Cd, Pb, As, Zn, Sb and Cu were mainly derived from mining activities, Cr was mainly derived from natural sources, Tl was mainly derived from smelting activities.
Intranasal Inoculation with Classical Swine Fever Virus Provided a More Consistent Experimental Disease Model Compared to Oral Inoculation
Authors: Hansen Mette Sif , Nielsen Jens , Uttenthal Åse , Jensen Gitte Øland , Lohse Louise
Published: January 2024

The severity of disease resulting from classical swine fever virus (CSFV) infection is determined by several factors, including virus strain and host factors. The different outcomes of experimental studies in pigs with the same strain of CSFV emphasize the need to elucidate the influence of individual factors within experimental protocols. In this study, we investigated the outcome of disease after oral and intranasal inoculation with a moderately virulent CSFV strain in young pigs. To compare the two routes of inoculation, various infection parameters were examined during a period of two weeks. While all intranasally inoculated pigs (n = 5) were directly infected, this was only the case for two out of five pigs after oral inoculation. In addition, the intranasally inoculated pigs developed a more pronounced clinical disease and pathological lesions, as well as markedly more change in hematological and immunological parameters than the orally inoculated pigs. The wide variation among the orally inoculated pigs implied that statistical evaluation was markedly impaired, leaving this route of application less suitable for comparative studies on classical swine fever. Furthermore, our study provides additional details about the immunomodulatory effects of CSFV on the kinetics of CRP, TNF-α, and leukocyte sub-populations in pigs after infection with the CSFV strain Paderborn.
Findings of an orthodontic and osteopathic diagnostic of individuals with an asymmetric narrowing of maxilla
Authors: Vasilyeva M. B. , Perevezentsev G. S. , Kosyreva T. F.
Published: January 2024

Relevance. Postural disorders and their connection to dentofacial abnormalities represent a prominent subject in modern medicine, establishing a new diagnostic standard within the emerging fields of orthodontic and osteopathic diagnostic techniques.

Objective. Establish a correlation between asymmetric narrowing of maxilla and postural disorders in children and teens aged 6 to 15 years. Substantiate the necessity for a combined approach involving both orthodontic and osteopathic diagnostics in this age group, aiming to develop a comprehensive treatment algorithm.

Materials and methods. Orthodontists and an osteopathic physician conducted diagnostic procedures for 320 subjects. Verification methods included standardized questionnaires for orthodontics and osteopathy, digital photography, radiological analysis using cone beam computer tomography (CBCT) of the head, electromyography (EMG), and computer-aided optical postural topography with the DIERS formetric 4D motion system.

Results. Among the 320 subjects examined, the study revealed that 65% presented with an asymmetric narrowing of maxilla. Digital photography illustrated deviations from the norm in the total width of the maxilla for all subjects, a critical factor influencing proper tongue posture, swallowing, and breathing patterns. Facial asymmetry and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) were prevalent among the majority of patients, with a reported mandibular deviation observed in 100% of cases. Based on CBCT data, the transverse dimension of the asymmetrically narrow maxilla, relative to the mid-sagittal axis, was found to be reduced, along with a concomitant displacement of the greater wings of the sphenoid bone. The measured electric activity of masticatory and temporal muscles supported the diagnosis of asymmetric muscular dysfunction. Additionally, irregularities in the sphenobasilar synchondrosis (SBS) were identified. Moreover, patients with asymmetric maxillary narrowing exhibited static and dynamic imbalance in the body, along with disorders of body posture and foot profile. These observations were made through visual assessment, manual testing, and the DIERS formetric 4D motion optical posture topography system.

Conclusion. Asymmetric maxillary narrowing strongly correlated with posture disorders, static and dynamic imbalances in the body, and dysfunctions in primary activities such as chewing, swallowing, breathing, and gait patterns. To achieve a predictable outcome without complications, it is recommended to pursue both orthodontic and osteopathic treatments for cases involving an asymmetric narrowing of maxilla.
Recrutement et sélection par concours dans l’Administration française
Authors: Sadran Pierre
Published: January 2024

Recruitment and selection through competitive examination in the french administration

The recruitment by competitive examination forms a specific pattern which develops original characteristics within the administrative System, unique to the social group of civil servants. Officially, the System aims to satisfy two objectives : the selection of the bests and the democratization of the civil service. Any investigation of the sociological reality shows that one ought to moderate these two ambitions, since they are reduced by a certain lack of productivity of the administrative bodies and by the persistance or the unexpected development of certain inequalities. Thus, the author thinks that one should consider recruitment through competitive examination as a meritocratic mode of legitimation as well as a ritual of integration.
Le fonds de développement économique et social et les investissements des entreprises publiques
Authors: Hau Emmanuel
Published: January 2024

Social & economic development fund (SEDF) & investments of public companies

In respect of public companies, the SEDF is both a credit bank contributing part of the necessary funds and a control device for investments and for their financing. Yet the SEDF concerns now only a limited number of public companies, i.e. those which remain closest to the State because of their monopoly, their important functions, their eminent public service obligations or their receipts being fixed by public rates. They are mainly concerned with transportation and energy. As an investment fund, the SEDF cannot start subsidizing national companies, but has to enable them to achieve more easily their most ambitious capital investments without upsetting the financial market. In addition, the SEDF is also preeminently a control device of investment programmes of public companies and their financing. To this efiect, the SEDF is an important instrument in the interministerial fund allocation process by deciding on the contents and methods of financing of investment programmes of national enterprise, while endeavouring ever more openly to have a close look at their yield capacity. Thus the conclusions of the Plan’s vertical committees (in particular the Committee on Energy) affect SEDF’s decisions, bridging over the gap between the thinking and the decision-making process.
Développement, administration territoriale et participation de la population. L’exemple du Sénégal (1960 à 1977)
Authors: Cournot Claude
Published: January 2024

Development, territorial administration and people’s participation — The Senegalese case (1966-1977). The Senegalese example is quite remarkable, yet it has no model value. Its remarkable nature results from the fact that for the last eighteen years the rules of the country have consistently looked for formulae and Systems which are meant both to bring innovation and to stay within the ambit of African traditions.

Maybe public administration's major defect is to cling to traditional structures and attitudes, however this is not the case with Senegal which gives also an example through its capacity to build up a System on the basis of collective effort within the framework of a liberal regime. But it has no model value, since a model has no value. Senegal has practically no problems of division or ethnic rivalry which upset so many African countries. It is precisely this feature which has made the achievement of decentralized structures possible without jeopardizing the country’s unity.

When looking at the future of Senegalese rural communities, one in fact is led to take them as the basis, both in a political and architectural sense of the term, for the whole of developmental policy ; they are, indeed, the prime factor of democratic and liberal construction, and yet they are also the closest to the socio-cultural tradition of Senegal and the "négritude" so dear to Léopold Senghor.
Le périmètre des sciences administratives. Remarques sur la fonction « Recherche » dans les organisations
Authors: Legendre Pierre
Published: January 2024

Remarks on the “research” function in organizations. Administrative science appears as the dogmatic reproduction of the denunciation of bureaucracy. Never would there be any science worthy of its name in the case of French centralism, were not the so much claimed objectivity and candidness of researchers subjected to an effort of analysis. Seeing that sociological studies are nowadays so heavily integrated into the bureaucratic apparatus, one is roaming about in a maze. But hopefully, researchers will soon realize the usefulness of departitioning research. The mythical party of industrial institutions establishes a status of communication. That is why studies on the key problem, i.e. the dogmatic issue, are inevitable.
La coopération agricole en France
Authors: Hirschfeld André
Published: January 2024

La cooperación agrícola en Francia

Después de recordar los principios del movimiento cooperativo y de définir el estatuto legal de las cooperativas agrícolas, estudia el autor, uno trás otro, el funcionamiento de una cooperativa agricola, la relación entre la coopérativa y el Estado y los requisitos para la creación de una cooperativa.

Después de indicar las razones del cambio en las motivaciones de adhesión de los agricultores a une cooperativa, tiene por esencial ahora el autor el desarrollo del espiritu cooperativo entre los adhérentes. Los objetivos del movimiento cooperador francés visan pués ante todo una revitalización del compromiso cooperador y una confirmaciôn del principio de solidaridad entre los ramos de la cooperaciôn y todas empresas cooperativas.
Panorama de la Fonction publique française depuis 1945
Authors: Long Marceau
Published: January 2024

The french civil service since 1945 -Overview

The French Civil Service reflects to a large extent a complex social reality engaged in a permanent evolutionary process. The author shows, on the basis of rather legalistic principles, the French System has managed to overcome the inherent rigidity of structures and mentality and to adjust to the big changes that have occurred over the past thirty years. Despite the difficulties entailed by these changes, the French Civil Service has evidenced its resilience, while upkeeping the tradition of basic principles.
Le recours à la déconcentration au ministère de l’Éducation
Authors: Durand-Prinborgne Claude
Published: January 2024

Steps for deconcentration within the ministry of education

Following an analysis of deconcentration within the Ministry of Education from 1962 to 1979, characterized by a rather empirical approach, the author discusses recent measures taken in 1979, which indicate greater streamlining efforts, the general trend being to arrive at a clearer distribution of work within the Ministry between the central services and peripherals.
Autonomie et participation : bilan de la loi d’orientation
Authors: Vedel Georges
Published: January 2024

Autonomía - Participación : resultados de la Ley de Orientación hasta ahora.

La Ley de Orientación de la enseñanza superior del 12 de noviembre de 1.968 constituye una solución política a un problema político : había, por una parte, de proporcionar la puesta en marcha de la Universidad y a este efecto de acordar cierto número de facilidades a las minoridades activas que, sin ello, arriesgaban de perpetuar el desorden ; por otra parte, había de lograr al nivel parlamentario la mayoría la más larga posible. Los resultados de esta reforma en el acto centrada sobre temas de primer plano, poniendo a un lado los problemas fundamentales, constan en este triple efecto : primero, no han solucionado los verdaderos problemas, segundo, los objetivos propuestos no han sido logrados y tercero, los efectos positivos producidos no han dejado de sorprender a todos los interesados.
Le processus de réforme municipale dans le cadre de la croissance de l’État québécois
Authors: Divay Gérard , Léveillée Jacques
Published: January 2024

The process of municipal reform within the framework of the development of the state in Quebec.

The authors analyse the process of reform of municipal administration, relating it to the context of growth in Quebec. They show in particular that Act 125, passed in December 1975, providing for the generalisation of regional county municipalities, would seem to be the logical consequence of the process and change through which Quebec society has gone in the last 20 years.
L’administration des grandes villes en France
Authors: Debbasch Charles , Pontier Jean-Marie
Published: January 2024

Administration of large towns in France.

The problems facing large municipalities are becoming ever more preoccupying. The traditional approaches applied to the specific circumstances of large towns have proved unsatisfactory, owing to a series of factors : inadequate structures even though a special status is given to large towns ; persistent recourse to private law resources for service management ; insufficient competencies in municipal staff ; insufficient finance. Various reforms, some of which have been implemented, exist in blue-print. The problem is that these reforms apply both to large towns and the rest of ‘communes’, since they have the same status. And although these reforms take into account aspects of large towns, they nevertheless tend to concern mainly medium-size and small municipalities.
Les paradoxes du management public
Authors: Laufer Romain , Burlaud Alain
Published: January 2024

Paradojas en la gestión pública.

Al terminarse la primera etapa de la historia de la gestión pública se puede preguntar si se trata de algo pasajero ya que se denombran numerosas paradojas en la situación de la gestión pública en Francia, al empezar por el desarrollo del sector público sin paralelo en cuanto gestión pública, además de las paradojas inherentes a la misma definición de la gestión pública, estas paradojas concretizán-dose por ejemplo en el caso de las nacionalizaciones.
Le parti conservateur et les collectivités locales en Grande-Bretagne en 1984-85 : l’accentuation de la crise
Authors: Wright Vincent
Published: January 2024

Las relaciones entre niveles central y local han conseguido un punto crítico durante los dos últimos años. La política del gobierno conservador se caracteriza por el rigor presupuestario y por una voluntad de reducir la esfera pública. Los entes locales, al contrario, constituyen uno de los pilares principales del Estado-Providencia. La presión del centro se ha manifestado con numerosas leyes tendiendo a que los entes locales sean menos gastosos, más eficaces, más responsables, menos poderosos. Se critica mucho tal política que llega al parado ja de una recentralización.
L’action administrative et les objectifs sanitaires
Authors: Girard Jean-François
Published: January 2024

Government Initiative and public health objectives.

Being the health of a population and its study, public health has an ongoing need for epidemiology, economies, social sciences and, ethics. Government activity in public health extends beyond lawmaking and regulation. However, said activity is uncoordinated and lacks a System of priorities. Above ail, public health ought to enjoy greater attention in public debate. To remedy the lack of true policy and insufficient government typical to public health, the author recommends starting by rigorously taking stock of the nation’s health and drawing up a list of objectives and priorities based on coherent policy, thereby making debate irrelevant on preventive vs. acute care and giving way to economic and technical evaluations. This rather negative observation ought not to be a discouragement, but a challenge. The role of government should be all the more stimulating as it is unconventional.
Les enjeux économiques : Sortir du sous-développement
Authors: Lacan Jean-François
Published: January 2024

Jean-François Lacan, Economic Aspects of Overcoming Underdeveloped Broadcasting.

After 30 years of State broadcasting monopoly and its ensuing distortions (tight budget ceilings, falling new domestic productions), France should overcome her ‘underdevelopment’ by creating new networks, markets and enterprises. However, successive shakeouts in the industry have not solved the chronic problem of the decline of domestic production. Increasing recourse to the logic of private enterprise has yielded inconclusive results : cabling delays and slow market growth despite 6 nationwide channels. Inspiration from abroad would help, especially from the UK and USA.
La communication audiovisuelle dans le Tiers-monde
Authors: Hasbi Aziz , Abderahim Mohamed
Published: January 2024

Third World Broadcasting.

The Third World ‘hopped on the bandwagon’ of the technological revolution that was passing it by, unevenly matched to compete by market standards. Leaders initially saw broadcasting as an instrument of national unity that would operate in favour of economic development, but this attitude has been abandoned now that major economic and political interests have entered the field. Public debate is therefore important on the new order of international communications and on the role of UNESCO and other international bodies. The development of broadcasting is beset with many problems: insufficient equipment, poorly-defined structures and statutes, financing difficulties and technological dependence. Where lies the potential for international cooperation ? The author considers new bilateral agreements and UNESCO as the prime elements of progress.
Les entreprises et la maladministration
Authors: Dehondt Paul
Published: January 2024

Business and Misadministration.

The business community defines misadministration as a plethora of sometimes useless and often redundant red tape which they have to fill out, and as a growing body of legislation and regulations covering their particular fields. Furthermore, the administration is unable to simplify formalities or improve tax procedures and business information services. The current structure of tax investigation is under fire, especially criteria to select taxpayers for investigation and ‘productivity’ quotas for tax inspectors. The situation would improve if chartered public accounts were to certify company books.
Les régularisations de la population clandestine dans les démocraties industrielles : un bilan comparatif
Authors: Miller Mark J.
Published: January 2024

Legalization of Irregular Status Populations in Industrial Democracies : a Comparative Balance Sheet.

The United States, Spain and Italy recently joined France in offering legal status to qualified illegal residents. Legalization programs are components of broader efforts to reform immigration policies which seek above ail to reduce illegal immigration to industrial democracies.

The US legalization policy which is the major focus of the article, actually involved several distinct programs, the most important of which were one open to ail aliens who lived in the US since 1982 and one for agricultural workers. The US programs differed in significant ways from those in Europe. In particular, the major US program did not include a provision for immediate, derived legalization for family members who did not qualify for legalization. The five year gap between the date of eligibility for legalization, January 1, 1982 and the start of the program, May 4, 1987, also was unusual.

Results of the Spanish, Italian and US programs fell short of official expectations. Illegally resident populations are resistant to legalization, but the need for such programs in the future is likely to be recurrent.
Le nouveau fédéralisme et l’évolution du pouvoir local aux États-Unis
Authors: Rouban Luc
Published: January 2024

The effects of New Federalism on Local Government in the USA.

New Federalism was high on President Reagan’s list of priorities. This vast project was to restructure relations between Federal and State governments in order to return to the institutional balance the Founding Fathers had intended. Despite a difficult start, New Federalism did have significant impact on State and local governments. It catalyzed the creation of a new form of local political life that operates in favour of State government to the detriment of local authority. Athough the institutional model has been generally adopted, New Federalism has in fact turned ‘grass roots’ politics upside down.
L’application des directives communautaires par les administrations nationales (étude comparative)
Authors: Siedentopf Heinrich , Hauschild Christoph
Published: January 2024

Application of EEC Directives by Member Governments.

This article describes a systematic comparative study of how EEC legislation has been applied by member governments, and shows that the considerable inconsistencies of application resuit from the same obstacles and bureaucratie resistance facing national legislation. The study begins by mapping government administrative areas of responsibility and stresses the need for adequate administrative resources to implement EEC law. It then distinguishes between pragmatic and legislative government administrations, and between private interest groups whose relationships with governments are based on either conflict or consensus.
La Communauté et les collectivités locales
Authors: Biancarelli Jacques
Published: January 2024

Local Authorities and the EEC.

Local authorities have become fully subject to EEC law. This article explains their new obligations, including tendering procedure, hiring policy and economie intervention, as well as new legal and Financial rights. It further examines the complexity of EEC/local authority relations, since EEC law ambivalently provides for interventionist means to attain non-interventionist ends, and covers the resulting conflicts arising in certain member countries between national govemment and local authorities over respective areas of responsibility : to date ail have been settled in favor of central government. It also shows how local authorities have become a key issue in shaping the European Community since both the EEC and member governments seem reluctant to facing up to powerful, independent authorities by 1993.
Le contrôle général des armées
Authors: Blandin Henri , Bernard François
Published: January 2024

Office of the Inspector General.

Directly subordinated to the Ministry of Defense, the Inspector General (IG) differs markedly from other monitoring and inspection bodies. This is due to history, geographically distributed duties and services and a dualistic tradition of civilian and military control. IG duties have kept pace with the military establishment : deterrence strategy led the IG to obtain thorough insight into preparedness and to enforce strict cost control. The radical changes to military thinking resulting from advanced technology caused the IG to ensure coherent coordination of procurement policy.
Du bon usage du statut des fonctionnaires pour une gestion moderne des services publics
Authors: Brunhes Bernard
Published: January 2024

Towards a Better Use of Civil Service Regulations in the Modem Management of Public Services.

Faced with changing administrative structures, and with new information and communication networks that are transforming the role of gouvernment officials, the different brands of conservatism are bent on making the civil service régulations into a convenient scapegoat for blocking much-needed change. Bureaucratic practices are in reality stronger than the civil service regulations. It is perfectly possible to define objectives, to risk the allocation of greater responsability and autonomy to civil servants, and to rally around the aims of public service within the framework of the existing civil service regulations. Ail that is needed is imagination together with a strong attachment to the spécifie values of public service.
Fonctionnaires : des personnels dépersonnalisés
Authors: Pisier Évelyne
Published: January 2024

Civil Servants : Depersonalized Personnel.

The malaise in the public sector reflects a real identity crisis among civil servants. Until recently, the civil service regulations established identity. They were seen as inseparable from the public service, and as guaranteeing at one and the same time the protection of public servants and the effectiveness of the civil service. The current debate on the State’s effectiveness seriously criticizes the “general and impersonal” status of civil servants which is prescribed by the civil service regulations and the concept of the “depersonalization”. The civil servant finds his identity being called into question, especially in three highly sensitive areas : access to the civil service, procedures for exercising the right to strike, and wages policy. In the last analysis, it appears that only an “overhaul of the public service” will allow civil servants to recover their identity and give the aims of “personalization” and differentiation any real chance of success.
Apprécier la contribution des hommes à l’efficacité de l’organisation : un enjeu pour le secteur public
Authors: Le Boulaire Martine
Published: January 2024

Appraising the Contribution of Staff to Organizational Effectiveness : a Vital Issue for the Public Sector.

The rapid changes with which the public sector must cope should lead it to ask to what extent it is able to match the objectives of modernization with proper management methods. One such method, the periodic staff report, has corne under strong fire from both the interested parties themselves and the people in charge of human resources management, who see it as a factor impeding much-needed change in the thinking and practices of governmental organizations. The introduction of a staff appraisal scheme, and therefore of a method for evaluating the real contribution of officiais to the effectiveness of the public service appears to be, in the circumstances, an issue of strategie importance.
La politique française, des symboles aux faits
Authors: Kessler Marie-Christine
Published: January 2024

French policy : from symbols to facts

«French administrative co-operation» consists mainly of exports. In the developing countries it touches every aspect of administrative activity : training, public administration and institutional reform. It has two contradictory traits : a fairly strong politico-administrative will accompanied by relatively well-defined projects on the one hand ; and a certain cumbersomeness resulting from overlapping sources of finance and, above all, from increasing diversification and the multiplicity of often ill-matched supply and demand operations, on the other. The future of this co-operation appears to be rather finely balanced, coming as it does within the scope of foreign policy which is as much a question of symbols as of facts.
La communication, le droit, le citoyen
Authors: Latournerie Dominique
Published: January 2024

Communication, the Law and the Citizen.

The Law in France has endured some serious discredit : first of all because of the mediocrity of the legal rules and the increasing number of laws, decrees and other legal texts ; secondly because of the evolution of society in general. There is a profound separation between the Law and the information that is given. Now is the time to grant the citizen the right to be informed on the state of the Law. It is imperative to instruct the different administrations on how to communicate and important to explain to citizens the extent scope of their rights ; it is also necessary to hear the demands of the citizen who are not only users of the Law but are also at the origin of the Law.
L’enseignement de la gestion à l’ENA de Paris
Authors: Billon Alain
Published: January 2024

Management Education at ENA Alain Billon

The principle of specialization which governed training courses at ENA until 1958 has gradually given way to the “all-rounder” System, which is now the dominant model at the school. This has been accompanied by greater importance being given to management education, whose very content has changed : it is no longer merely concerned with improving the ability of future senior civil servants to take part in discussions with the business world ; rather it seeks to give them additional tools with which to manage the System of administration. The present course therefore relies on case studies, and consists of several “units” of varying duration (accounting and financial analysis, management control, organization, human resources management, strategic management).
La protection de l’environnement en Afrique francophone : le cas des forêts
Authors: Amoussa Hounkpatin Océni
Published: January 2024

Environmental Protection and International Co-operation : the Example of the Tropical Forest Action Plan

The Tropical Forest Action Plan is a coordinated approach to solving the current crisis hitting tropical forests. This mechanism is designed on the one hand to help tropical countries plan their forestry development and on the other to bring ail the development partners together. 68 tropical countries have so far joined the scheme, which is backed by the vast majority of bilateral and multilateral aid agencies whose support strengthens coordination between the countries.
Un grand projet international : le tunnel sous la Manche
Authors: Marcou Gérard
Published: January 2024

A Huge International Project : the Channel Tunnel

The construction of the Channel tunnel features an interesting innovation : the resorting to a developer and private financing. For a project involving public infrastructure, this is quite an innovation. The management of the project itself implies bringing together decision-makers linked by agreements. The key position of Eurotunnel among them has been consolidated as the work progressed. The States themselves participate by means of the «concession» — resembling an international contract — and are required to be particularly vigilant even though the project depends, economically speaking, on the banks. In spite of problems raised by costs going beyond the original budget, the outlook for the near future appears relatively optimistic as to the meeting of deadlines and concerning traffic forecasts.
Les démarches de projet : une méthode efficace mais exigeante pour la réforme administrative
Authors: Bargas Didier
Published: January 2024

The Process of Planning a Project : a Demanding Method for Administrative Reform

We are now witnessing a new discovery of the process toward producing an administrative reform project. Ministerial plans for modernisation, projects in favor of delegating wider authority to State representatives in local areas, «service project» and responsibility centers are many ways designed to better match immediate action with future prospects, individual interest and the organisational constraints, basic innovation and strategic planification. So that these steps involved in producing a project may contribute towards an in-depth change in traditional administration, close coopération is needed between a strong political willingness to renovate on the part of government leaders and a wide autonomy in management, and a wider participation at the lower levels in the administration.
Quelle stratégie pour les entreprises publiques en Inde ?
Authors: Basu Prahalad
Published: January 2024

What Strategy for Public Enterprises in India ?

Although their results are satisfactory from a financial point of view, one has the impression that Public Enterprises are not playing the role they should be playing in the economic development of the country. Indeed, the economic performance of Public Enterprises has been rather inconclusive mainly because they combine both public and private interests, and because of the incomplete nature of the solutions tried and tested so far. The recovery of these enterprises will require a redefining of objectives and evaluation standards. Such recovery also hinges on efforts towards modernisation, restructuring, and technological development.
Belgique. La fonction publique et l’évolution de l’État
Authors: Delpérée Francis
Published: January 2024

Belgium.

The Civil Service and the Evolution of the State

The shift in status from a single State to a federal State has resulted in the transfer of authority over certain areas and the creation of Community and Regional Civil Service administrations. In addition, unlike other countries, the weakening power of the Government has not been offset by a reinforcement of the role of the administration, even though the Civil Service is rather politicized. Though the Civil Service cannot be characterized by the existence of various "grands corps” or of a special professional training program, it suffers from compartmentalization and there is practically no mobility.
L’Institut national de la consommation
Authors: Reis Marie-Hélène dos
Published: January 2024

The National Consumer Institute.

The NCI was set up in 1967 and has been marked by a certain ambiguity that is reinforced by its financial autonomy and role in the overall management of consumerism. Its tasks are highly varied : it is an institute for comparative surveys as well as an information centre responsible for several publications. The strengthening of the consumer movement today enables it to focus on playing a technical role, which involves sharing responsibilities with other organizations and the government, and respecting each organization’s autonomy.
Un point de vue d’ingénieur sur la gestion des organisations
Authors: Riveline Claude
Published: January 2024

An Engineer’s Point of View on Organization Management.

To manage means to evaluate the past and decide for the future. An economic agent bases choices on a small number of criteria, preferably statistical. He organizes them logically because he feels himself to be judged ; he is judged according to the technical nature of his work. The economic actor works within a four-fold framework : materials, persons, institutions and the sacred. Crises resuit from discrepancies which appear between these levels and are manifested by confrontations between three logically incompatible agents : manufacturers, salespersons, and financiers. These imbalances have increased because the work is evolving more and more rapidly.
Les tentatives de modernisation de l’administration en Pologne
Authors: Letowski Janusz
Published: January 2024

Reforms and Attempts at Modernization in the Polish Public Service.

Tentative reforms adapting the Polish administration to changes in the political and economie System have been more or less successful. If there has been considerable success in the area of Government-citizenry relations, decentralization (which only affects the local authorities) faces financial problems and difflculties in recruiting competent persons to administrative posts. Modernization of the public service (limited essentially to adopting new reglementation, the creation of new bodies, streamlining staff, and training efforts) is running up against material as well as conceptual and methodological difflculties.
La Documentation française. Identité, image et communication
Authors: Jenger Jean
Published: January 2024

Identity and Image of a Public Enterprise : La Documentation française

The image of La Documentation française, complex and with extremely diversified objectives, is particularly difficult to control. Several efforts are currently underway to comprehend it better : by bringing together the public service and functions of an industrial and commercial nature ; by modernizing its context and work tools ; in decompartmentalizing and remotivating its services ; by providing it with useful instruments for external relations and internal communication.
Les exigences de service public dans la communication d’une entreprise publique
Authors: Merlay Michel , Veyret Gilbert , Weil Gentiane
Published: January 2024

Public Service Requirements in Public Enterprise Communication A Round Table Discussion

The heads of communication of three large public enterprises exchange their views on the importance of internal communication within public enterprises, internal and outside communication on the values of the public service and adaptation to user needs, the necessity for reconciling the need for transparency and the imperatives of competition, and, more generally, the need to express the combination of public ethics and managerial efficiency specific to public enterprise.
Économie, administration et politique : les trois dimensions de la modernisation
Authors: Benaissa Hamdan
Published: January 2024

Economy, Administration and Politics : The Three Dimensions of Modernization. The notion of State modernization (in the developing countries in particular) has evolved in three stages over the last forty years. Efforts made by international organizations to modernize public administration in developing countries have not been any more successful than the economic modernization measures contained in structural adjustment programs. As a result, international organizations are stressing the need to move on to a third phase : political modernization.