bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The UAB Proteomics Database
Authors: Hill Aubrey , Kim Helen
Published: November 2003

Summary: The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Proteomics Database (UPD) (http://www.uab.edu/proteinmenu) was created to provide a repository for the storage and linkage of two-dimensional (2D) gel images and the associated information obtained through mass spectrometry analysis of the proteins excised from the 2D gels in a manner similar to the SWISS-2DPAGE database and the Stanford Microarray Database. This was accomplished through the development of a web interface, a relational database, image maps and hyperlinks stored in the database. In addition to the internally generated data, UPD provides links to the National Center for Biotechnology Information via accession number hyperlinks. UPD currently contains information on 44 individual proteins derived from four experiments conducted by four UAB faculty members. Images of the gels from which each of these proteins was isolated are accessed by hyperlinks embedded in the database.

Availability: The UAB Proteomics Database can be accessed at http://www.uab.edu/proteinmenu
Markovian negentropies in bioinformatics. 1. A picture of footprints after the interaction of the HIV-1 Ψ-RNA packaging region with drugs
Authors: Díaz Humberto González , Ramos de Armas Ronal , Molina Reinaldo
Published: November 2003

Motivation: Many experts worldwide have highlighted the potential of RNA molecules as drug targets for the chemotherapeutic treatment of a range of diseases. In particular, the molecular pockets of RNA in the HIV-1 packaging region have been postulated as promising sites for antiviral action. The discovery of simpler methods to accurately represent drug–RNA interactions could therefore become an interesting and rapid way to generate models that are complementary to docking-based systems.

Results: The entropies of a vibrational Markov chain have been introduced here as physically meaningful descriptors for the local drug–nucleic acid complexes. A study of the interaction of the antibiotic Paromomycin with the packaging region of the RNA present in type-1 HIV has been carried out as an illustrative example of this approach. A linear discriminant function gave rise to excellent discrimination among 80.13% of interacting/non-interacting sites. More specifically, the model classified 36/45 nucleotides (80.0%) that interacted with paromomycin and, in addition, 85/106 (80.2%) footprinted (non-interacting) sites from the RNA viral sequence were recognized. The model showed a high Matthews’ regression coefficient (C = 0.64). The Jackknife method was also used to assess the stability and predictability of the model by leaving out adenines, C, G, or U. Matthews’ coefficients and overall accuracies for these approaches were between 0.55 and 0.68 and 75.8 and 82.7, respectively. On the other hand, a linear regression model predicted the local binding affinity constants between a specific nucleotide and the aforementioned antibiotic (R2 = 0.83,Q2 = 0.825). These kinds of models may play an important role either in the discovery of new anti-HIV compounds or in the elucidation of their mode of action.

Availability: On request from the corresponding author (humbertogd@cbq.uclv.edu.cu or humbertogd@navegalia.com)
Inhomogeneous molecular density: reference packing densities and distribution of cavities within proteins
Authors: Rother Kristian , Preissner Robert , Goede Andrean , Frömmel Cornelius
Published: November 2003

Motivation: There is no consensus in the literature about how the deepest portions of protein structures are packed. Using an improved Voronoi procedure, we calculate reference packing densities for different regions in the protein interior. Furthermore, we want to clarify where cavities are located.

Results: Sets of reference packing densities are provided for regions in proteins that differ in their distance to the surface and to internal cavities, supplementing previous data. Packing in the protein interior is tight but generally inhomogeneous. There are about 4.4 cavities per 100 amino acids in protein structures, they occur in all regions, most frequently in a depth of 2.5–3.6 Å underneath the Connolly surface. However, the deepest protein regions have a lower mean packing density than circumjacent regions, because more contacts to cavities occur in the core.

Availability/Supplementary information: Calculation software and detailed packing data are available on request.
RankViaContact: ranking and visualization of amino acid contacts
Authors: Shen Bairong , Vihinen Mauno
Published: November 2003

Summary: RankViaContact is a web service for calculation of residue–residue contact energies in proteins based on a coarse-grained model, and for visualization of interactions. The service provides information about ranked contact energies of residues, coordination numbers and the relative solvent accessibility of selected residues, as well as sequence and structure information. The program can be used to design stabilizing mutations, to analyze residue–residue contacts and to study the consequences of mutations.

Availability:  http://bioinf.uta.fi/Rank.htm
A new sequence distance measure for phylogenetic tree construction
Authors: Otu Hasan H. , Sayood Khalid
Published: November 2003

Motivation: Most existing approaches for phylogenetic inference use multiple alignment of sequences and assume some sort of an evolutionary model. The multiple alignment strategy does not work for all types of data, e.g. whole genome phylogeny, and the evolutionary models may not always be correct. We propose a new sequence distance measure based on the relative information between the sequences using Lempel–Ziv complexity. The distance matrix thus obtained can be used to construct phylogenetic trees.

Results: The proposed approach does not require sequence alignment and is totally automatic. The algorithm has successfully constructed consistent phylogenies for real and simulated data sets.

Availability: Available on request from the authors.
Systematic prediction of new ferroelectrics in space groups P31 and P32
Authors: Abrahams S. C.
Published: October 2003

Release 2002/2 of the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database (FIZ Karlsruhe, Germany, and Institute Laue–Langevin, Grenoble, France) contains 62 entries in space group P31 and ten entries in space group P32 for 49 different materials including eight families with two or more isostructural members. The structural criteria for ferroelectricity are satisfied for 16 new structure types at a confidence level that depends on the reliability of each determination. LaBGeO5, a mineral with stillwellite structure, was previously reported as ferroelectric and forms an additional family with seven other members or related structures that satisfy the criteria. Ten structures reported in space group P31 or P32 are dubious or incorrect, with atomic coordinates that satisfy supergroup symmetry. One material is probably pyroelectric but is unlikely to become ferroelectric, and three others are either incompletely solved or incompletely refined. Among the predicted new ferroelectrics are Cu2BaGeS4, Fe3(Fe,Si)O4(OH)5, Se4S5, K2HCr2AsO10, IV-RbNO3, Rb2Sc(NO3)5, Na3ReO5, Nd14(GeO4)2(BO3)6O8, CsHgCl3, Ba2Cu2AlF11, KYF4, SrS2O6·4H2O, Cu3PbTeO6(OH)2, ReH(CO)4, Ni2(NH3)9Mo(CN)8·2H2O and the 6T polytype of Ca1.89Ta1.80Sm0.16Ti0.10O7, in addition to β-LaBSiO5, PbBAsO5 and BaBAsO5 in the stillwellite family.
Structures of Na0.74WO3
Authors: Darlington C. N. W. , Hriljac J. A. , Knight K. S.
Published: October 2003

The structures of the four phases exhibited by Na0.74WO3, sodium tungstate, with a change in temperature have been refined from powder diffraction patterns obtained on the high-resolution powder diffractometer (HRPD), ISIS, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, England. At temperatures above 430 K, the stable phase has the ideal perovskite structure, with space group Pm\bar 3m (No. 221). Below that temperature, the octahedra are tilted about pseudocubic 〈100〉 directions; the tilts are produced by the condensation of the normal modes of vibration of the octahedra in the high-temperature cubic phase. Using Glazer's notation, the tilt system undergoes the following sequence:a^+a^+a^+ \buildrel {\rm 293\, K} \over \longrightarrow a^+a^+a^0 \buildrel {\rm 343\, K} \over \longrightarrow a^0a^0a^+ \buildrel {\rm 430\, K} \over \longrightarrow a^0a^0a^0 .The structural refinements presented here confirm the sequence of the transitions first proposed by Clarke [(1977). Phys. Rev. Lett.
39, 1550–1553]. This is the first time that a structure determination of a perovskite with the tilt system a
+
a
+
a
0 has been reported in the literature. In addition, we evaluate the weights, or importance, of the condensed modes in each low-temperature phase.
Design and development of product support and maintenance concepts for industrial systems
Authors: Markeset Tore , Kumar Uday
Published: October 2003

Product design and service delivery both affect service performance, and therefore a product support strategy must be defined during design stage, in terms of these two dimensions, to ensure the delivery of “promised product performance” to customers. Furthermore, product support strategy should not only be focused around product, or its operating characteristics, but also on assisting customers with services that enhance product use and add additional value to their business processes. This paper examines various issues such as reliability, availability, maintainability, and supportability (RAMS), etc., which directly or indirectly affect product support, maintenance needs and related costs on the basis of a case study conducted in a manufacturing company. The main purpose of the study was to analyse the critical issues related to the product support and service delivery strategy as being practised by the company, and to suggest means for improvements. On the basis of the case study, the paper presents an approach for design and development of product support and maintenance concepts for industrial systems in a multinational environment. The paper emphasizes that the strategy for product support should not be centred only on “product”, but should also take into account important issues such as the service delivery capability of the manufacturers, service suppliers, the capability of users' maintenance organization, etc.
Integration of RAMS and risk analysis in product design and development work processes
Authors: Markeset Tore , Kumar Uday
Published: October 2003

Most industrial customers are looking for products that meet the functional performance needs and have predictable life cycle cost (LCC). Due to design problems and poor product support, these systems are not able to meet the customers' requirements. Major causes of customer dissatisfaction are often traced back to unexpected failures, leading to unexpected costs. However, with proper consideration of reliability, availability, maintainability and supportability (RAMS) in the design, manufacturing, and installation phases, the number of failures can be reduced and their consequences minimized. Based on a case study in a manufacturing company, an approach for integration of RAMS and risk analysis in design, development and manufacturing is presented. The importance of LCC analysis, use of feedback information, and integration of various information sources to facilitate easy RAMS implementation, in combination with risk analysis in the design phase, is discussed. An approach is suggested for integration of RAMS in the Stage Gate model for project and work process management, coordination and control, to reduce risk. A training program, developed and implemented during the study to create awareness and to improve learning and understanding of RAMS' aspects of existing and future products and processes, is also presented.
An analysis of economics of investing in IT in the maintenance department
Authors: Mjema E.A.M. , Mweta A.M.
Published: October 2003

The main objective of this study was to analyse the economics of introducing IT in the maintenance department. The economics in this case was determined by conducting a quantitative analysis on the reduction of operational costs, on increase in productivity and on quality improvement. A comparison was made to analyse company performance in the maintenance before and after the introduction of IT in the maintenance department. The analysis shows that there were reductions of operational and inventory holding costs. Likewise, it was shown that there was also improvement in product quality and productivity.
Personality Over Time: Methodological Approaches to the Study of Short‐Term and Long‐Term Development and Change
Authors: Biesanz Jeremy C. , West Stephen G. , Kwok Oi‐Man
Published: November 2003

Abstract Although theories of personality emphasize the integrative, enduring, and dynamic nature of personality, the current modal research design in personality ignores the dimension of time. We consider a variety of recent methods of longitudinal data analysis to examine both short‐term and long‐term development and change in personality, including mean‐level analyses both across and within individuals across time, variance structures across time, and cycles and dynamic models across time. These different longitudinal analyses can address classic as well as new questions in the study of personality and its development. We discuss the linkages among different longitudinal analyses, measurement issues in temporal data, the spacing of assessments, and the levels of generalization and potential insights afforded by different longitudinal analyses.
Childhood Personality Foreshadows Adult Personality and Life Outcomes Two Decades Later
Authors: Shiner Rebecca L. , Masten Ann S. , Roberts Jennifer M.
Published: November 2003

Abstract In a normative sample of 205 children ages 8–12, tracked into adulthood, we examined the predictive links between four childhood personality traits—Mastery Motivation, Academic Conscientiousness, Surgency, and Agreeableness—and adult personality and adaptation 20 years later. Personality demonstrated modest to moderate continuity over those two decades and showed significant predictive validity for success in adult life, including academic attainment, work competence, rule‐abiding versus antisocial conduct, and romantic and friend relationships. Results indicated that personality shows coherent patterns over time in terms of both stability and linkages to adaptive behavior. Explicating the processes underlying such patterns is the next frontier for a truly developmental science of personality.
Solicitudes in American English
Authors: Burt Susan Meredith
Published: November 2003

Using a corpus of about 300 ethnographically collected tokens, this article discusses the form and function of the speech act ‘solicitude’, the act of speaking aloud a wish for something good for the addressee, in American English. Non‐conventionalized solicitudes are extremely formulaic, making overwhelming use of imperative form, although without clear directive force. The single most common formula is the (you) have a+ Adj + NP formula, as in (You) Have a good day. Analysis of the adjectives and noun phrases used in this formula shows that solicitudes tend to convey only temporary good wishes to the addressee. Such strongly formulaic solicitudes, however, are more likely to be given by speakers who are socially distant from the addressee, while socially closer speakers seem to make use of less frequently used formulae to create more individualized utterances.
Academic criticism in Spanish medical discourse: a cross‐generic approach
Authors: Salager‐Meyer Françoise , Ariza María Ángeles Alcaraz
Published: November 2003

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the frequency of academic criticism (AC) varies in the four most frequent written genres of medical Spanish discourse – editorials (ED), review articles (RV), research papers (RP) and case reports (CR) – and whether the frequency has changed over time. The corpus consisted of 76 medical articles published between 1930 and 1999, divided into Block A (1930–1969) and Block B (1970–1999). The results show that: the frequency of AC is significantly greater in ED than in the remaining genres for both blocks, followed by RV, RP and CR; the frequency of AC is significantly higher in Block B than in Block A; and AC has increased over time in all the genres except CR. It is argued that the overall increase in AC frequency can be accounted for by the growth in the number of scientific publications over the last decades, by the scientists’ need to publish, and by the paradigmatic shift from science being assertive to becoming skeptical and probabilistic, based on claim refutability, i.e. on criticism. Cross‐generic differences are explained in terms of the communicative function of each genre and of the rank/status power relations that exist between the social role assumed by the authors of the different genres and their audience.
A functional approach to evaluating content knowledge and language development in ESL students’ science classification texts
Authors: Huang Jingzi , Morgan Glenn
Published: November 2003

This article investigates the use of a functional approach to discourse analysis – knowledge structure analysis, which focuses on meaning, form, and function simultaneously – to evaluate both writing development and content learning. The study examined written texts in science, produced by 35 ESL students in Canada in grades 8 to 10 with limited to intermediate English language proficiency, in which they constructed scientific classifications. By examining and comparing two pieces of writing produced by the same students on the same topic at different learning stages, the study reveals the progress they made in integrating language and content at the discourse level. It also raises new questions about the integration of language and content teaching in all subject areas.
Information Systems, Operational Research and Business Reengineering
Authors: Galliers R.D.
Published: November 2003

There has been much concern expressed during recent times to ensure that information technology (IT) considerations are firmly aligned with business imperatives. For example, two of the top ranked information systems management issues during the 1980s were concerned with the problems incurred in aligning the Information Systems function with that of the organisation as a whole, and in linking information systems and business strategies.

Conversely, recent research and practice has provided us with a vision of IT‐induced business process redesign, the opportunity for inter‐organisational systems and even the redefinition and refocusing of business products and services.

The reality for many organisations remains that IT investment is seen as a necessary evil at best, with many questioning whether it represents value for money. There have also been somewhat negative reactions to the topic of business process redesign itself: is it old wine in a new bottle? And is it all too risky a business to suggest that radical change rather than incremental change is what is required?

This paper reviews these issues and argues for a refocussing of our attention on (i) information and business systems, and (ii) implementation issues and organisational change, as opposed to the more common practice of concentrating on information technology per se. It takes an organisational, soft operational research perspective on the subject of business reengineering, and provides some outline guidelines for the process of managing the change that is often both necessary and potentially desirable with the introduction and utilisation of new IT. It raises the question whether the lessons from the application of the softer operational research approaches over the past 20 years or so could be used to provide a more informed intervention, given the complexity of the task... and answers that question in the affirmative!
Generalized Global Monotonicity of Generalized Derivatives
Authors: Komlósi Sándor
Published: November 2003

The gradient and the several kinds of its generalizations provide a very efficient tool in characterizing important properties of functions. Convexity and generalized convexity, which are central properties in many branches of Operational Research, can also be characterized by special properties (monotonicity and generalized monotonicity) of the gradient map in the smooth case (Karamardian and Schiable, 1990. JOTA, Vol. 66, pp. 37–46) and by that of the Dini derivatives in the nonsmooth case (Komlosi, 1991. Working paper, Janus Pannonius University; 1992a. Nonsmooth Optimization: Methods and Applications; Proceedings of the IVth International Workshop on Generalized Conuexity, in press; Luc, 1991. Subgradients of quasiconvex functions). It is shown in this paper how quasiconvexity, pseudoconvexity and (strict) pseudoconvexity of lower semicontinuous functions can be characterized via quasimonotonicity and (strict) pseudomcnotonicity of different types of generalized derivatives, including the Dini, Dini‐Hadamard, Clarke and Rockafellar derivatives.
An AND/OR‐graph Approach to the Container Loading Problem
Authors: Morabito Reinaldo , Arenalest Marcos
Published: November 2003

The container loading problem consists of packing boxes of various sizes into available containers in such a way as to optimize an objective function. In this paper we deal with the special case where there is just one available container and the objective is to maximize the total volume (or the total utility value, supposing that each box has a utility value) of the loaded boxes. We firstly present three heuristic solution methods for the unconstrained problem. Two of them solve the original three‐dimensional problem by layers and by stacks reducing it into several problems with lower dimensions. The third one consists of representing possible loading patterns as complete paths in an AND/OR‐graph. Bounds and heuristics are proposed in order to reduce the solution space. A proper heuristic is also given to treat the constrained problem by using the AND/OR‐graph approach. Moreover, computational results are presented by solving a number of examples.
Algorithmic and Computational Aspects of Composite Concave Programming
Authors: Sniedovich Moshe
Published: November 2003

In this paper we discuss the algorithmic and computational aspects of the parametric nonlinear optimization method c‐programming. Our objective in looking at the method from this vantage point is twofold. First, to explain more clearly where c‐programming sits in optimization theory. Second, to throw more light on the details of the collaboration that it forges with other optimization methods. The first objective is accomplished through an analysis of c‐programming'ys genealogy. The latter is achieved by an examination of the basic structure of c‐programming algorithms, and by reporting on extensive numerical experiments conducted with c‐programming algorithms in collaboration with linear programming and dynamic programming techniques. These experiments very convincingly show that c‐programming has the ability to significantly expand the scope of linear programming, dynamic programming, and possibly other optimization methods.
District magnitude, electoral formula, and the number of parties
Authors: BENOIT KENNETH
Published: November 2003

Abstract. Duverger's propositions concerning the psychological and mechanical consequences of electoral rules have previously been examined mainly through the lens of district magnitude, comparing the properties of single–member district plurality elections with those of multimember proportional representation elections. The empirical consequences of multimember plurality (MMP) rules, on the other hand, have received scant attention. Theory suggests that the effect of district magnitude on the number and concentration of parties will differ with regard to whether the allocation rules are plurality–based or proportional. I test this theory by drawing on a uniquely large–sample dataset where district magnitude and electoral formula vary but the basic universe of political parties is held constant, applying regression analysis to data from several thousand Hungarian local bodies elected in 1994 consisting of municipal councils, county councils, and mayors. The results indicate that omitting the variable of electoral formula has the potential to cause significant bias in estimates of Duvergerian consequences of district magnitude. In addition, the analysis of multi–member plurality elections from the local election dataset reveals counter–intuitively that candidate and party entry may increase with district magnitude under MMP, suggesting important directions for future investigation of MMP rules.
Alternative models of issue voting: The case of the 1991 and 1995 elections in Belgium
Authors: MADDENS BART , HAJNAL ISTVAN
Published: November 2003

Abstract. Previous research has indicated that the success of the directional model of issue voting depends on levels of political sophistication and how party position is measured. Using 1991 and 1995 Belgian Election Surveys, the predictive power of proximity and directional measures are compared controlling for both variables. It is shown that when one uses overall mean placements, instead of mean placements by level of political sophistication, the proximity effect declines most among the highly sophisticated voters. The article also compares the performance of the proximity and directional measures across party systems. Contrary to theoretical expectations, party–system differences between Flanders and Wallonia do not affect the explanatory power of either of these measures. It is only in the cases of the liberal, socialist and extreme right parties that the directional measure is clearly superior. A closer analysis of this result indicates that the relative success of the directional measure is due to the limited number of issues from which those parties draw support.
Routes to party choice: Ideology, economic evaluations and voting at the 1997 British General Election
Authors: PATTIE C.J. , JOHNSTON R.J.
Published: November 2003

Abstract. Most conventional accounts of voting behaviour fit single models to the entire electorate, implicitly assuming that all voters respond to the same sets of influences, and do so in similar ways. However, a growing body of research suggests that this approach may be misleading, and that distinct groups of voters approach politics, and the electoral decision, from different perspectives. The paper takes a disaggregated look at voting in the 1997 British General Election, dividing voters into different groups according to their formal educational qualifications. Results suggest that different groups of voters respond to different stimuli, depending on their education, and on the party they are voting for.
From Voucher Auditing to Junkyard Dogs: The Evolution of Federal Inspectors General
Authors: Adair John J. , Simmons Rex
Published: November 2003

Accountability in American government reaches as far back as the Continental Congress and General Washington's army. This tradition of accountability is carried on today by inspector general offices set up in almost every major department of the federal government. Through their audits and investigations, the inspectors general voice concerns over government internal controls, economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. Since 1981 they claim savings from their work totaling $92 billion.

“Some officials handle large sums of public money; it is therefore necessary to have other officials to receive and examine the accounts. These inspectors must administer no funds themselves. Different cities call them examiners, auditors, scrutineers and public advocates.” These are the words of Aristotle in 325 B.C. Today, the United States government has its inspectors general to examine, audit, scrutinize, and advocate.
The Rise of Competitive Federalism
Authors: Shannon John , Edwin Kee James
Published: November 2003

This article challenges the prevailing view of increasing political and fiscal centralization in the federal government. Since 1978, the authors argue, the nation has entered a new era of “Competitive Federalism” with federal, state and local governments locked in a competitive struggle for taxpayer resources and support. The new era has emerged largely because of the loss of the tremendous fiscal advantage held by the federal government during its centralization period, 1929 to 1978. Although “deregulated” and free to move into any area of domestic policy, the federal government is constrained by necessary budget pressures and a “reformed” income tax structure. Competitive Federalism has emerged as a new balancing force between Washington, D.C. and the fifty state‐local governments and will govern the federal system for the foreseeable future.
Municipal Default Patterns: An Historical Study
Authors: Cohen Natalie R.
Published: November 2003

The incidence of municipal default is closely related to the business cycles in this country. During national depressions nearly all sectors and regions experience defaults, although not with equal severity. Regional borrowing behavior during the boom years preceding depression determines which regions will be most severely affected by national depression. The history of state and local borrowing is briefly surveyed with attention to four major periods of economic expansion and the national depressions that followed. Regional development cycles are then reviewed with a focus on several cases: special district defaults both at the turn of the century and today; Detroit at the beginning of the automobile industry; and Florida in the 1920s. New York City and Cleveland are analyzed in the context of urban crises. Revenue bond defaults, including toll roads and the Washington Public Power and Supply System (WPPSS) are analyzed for special recurring patterns.
Budgeting in Kenya: Practice and Prescription
Authors: Peterson Stephen B.
Published: November 2003

Improving budgeting in developing countries is difficult‐due to their limited and uncertain resources and the politicized process of resource allocation. This article outlines a three‐stage model of budgeting for line ministries that would promote the discipline and adaptiveness needed to cope with these severe conditions. Our model of budgeting has three stages: analyzing, fitting, and implementing. The practice of budgeting in Kenya is reviewed with this budget model and prescriptions developed. Two theses are presented. First, the fitting stage (reducing budgets to ceilings) is overemphasized and the analyzing and implementing stages are neglected. Second, the budget process lacks mechanisms for promoting analysis. Budget discipline and adaptiveness can be improved with three reforms: first, a budget calendar that clearly defines and provides adequate time for the three stages of budgeting; second, workplan‐based budgeting that integrates financial data and promotes rapid fitting of ceilings while maintaining balanced expenditure; and third, cost‐center budgeting that links recurrent and development budgets based on complement.
The Tax That Failed: The VAT in Niger
Authors: Barlow Robin , Snyder Wayne
Published: November 2003

The value‐added tax (VAT) requires considerable sophistication on the part of both the taxpayers and the tax authorities in order to function effectively; not all countries meet this criteria. After Niger implemented the VAT in 1986, instead of realizing an increase in tax revenue it witnessed a decline, creating a major budget crisis. This article discusses why the VAT was an inappropriate choice for Niger, analyzes the reasons for the decline in tax revenue, and proposes alternative policies consistent with the administrative capacity of the Niger government and the existing socioeconomic environment.
The Impact of State Rainy Day Funds in Easing State Fiscal Crises During the 1990–1991 Recession
Authors: Sobel Russell S. , Holcombe Randall G.
Published: November 2003

This article examines the degree to which rainy day funds eased the fiscal stress experienced by states during the 1990–1991 recession. In the first section, a state fiscal policy of neutrality over the business cycle is used as a benchmark for evaluating the use of budget stabilization funds. The next section looks at data from the last three recessions to see how recessions have affected the taxes and expenditures of states. A measure of degree of fiscal stress experienced by each state during the 1990–1991 recession is then calculated. These results are used to empirically investigate the impact of explicit state rainy day funds in easing state fiscal stress. Next, the article examines whether states that had rainy day funds in 1989 were more likely to have less fiscal stress, and whether the specific deposit and withdrawal provisions of these funds made a difference.
School Finance Reform's Impact on New Jersey's State Spending Priorities
Authors: Peters Robert A.
Published: November 2003

The combination of school finance reform, voter opposition to higher taxes, and rising costs forced the state of New Jersey to reorient its spending priorities. This article presents an analysis of budgetary data for the period FY 1990 to FY 1996, which clearly indicates that: 1) state resources were shifted from direct state services to state aid; 2) even though the 1991 sales and income tax hikes were revoked, the state's tax structure was more progressive in 1996 than in 1990; 3) Governor Florio's attempts to level down per pupil expenditures by reducing payments to wealthy school districts were largely stymied; 4) the proportion of state resources allocated to public education was lower in FY 1996 than the year preceding school finance reform; 5) because of education's reduced budget share, efforts to level up per pupil expenditures were severely circumscribed; and 6) state aid was diverted from homestead rebates to municipal aid.
Budget Appraisal—The Next Step in the Quest for Better Budgeting?
Authors: Lehan Edward Anthony
Published: November 2003

Noting that budgeting now represents the most important instrument of governance, transcending the traditional role of legislation, and also noting that recognition of this development stimulated a search for better methods, which is still underway, the author explores the possibility of using periodic, criteria‐based appraisals to encourage governments to adopt exemplary practices. Surfacing after World War II, dissatisfaction with budgetary practice led to continuing experimentation with alternative formats and procedures. Although the alternative approaches reflect different standards, they also share similarities, which can provide a foundation for the construction of an exemplary model of public budgeting, embracing critical dimensions of the budgetary process. Further noting the constructive impact of auditing standards on accounting practices and financial reports, the author suggests that the post‐audit model may be applicable to budgeting. Experimenting with this model is advanced as a likely next step in the search for better budgeting methodologies.
When is Growth Not Growth? The Curious Case of Mental Health Budgeting in New York
Authors: Fossett James W. , Ebdon Carol A. , Brier Norman
Published: November 2003

This article argues that the adverse impact of Medicaid on state budgets alleged in various public debates has been overstated, in some measure because of the inaccurate and misleading manner in which Medicaid expenditures are appropriated in state budgeting systems. Data on Medicaid and mental health spending in the state of New York is used for analysis. The first section provides a Medicaid spending and budgeting background. The second section discusses Medicaid and mental health in New York. The third section describes actual budgeted spending for mental health in New York, and the final section provides a discussion and concluding comments.
A Case Study in U.S. Government Financial Management in Cross‐Disciplinary Teams
Authors: Weber Cameron M.
Published: November 2003

Following the example of the private sector, the public sector in the United States has been undergoing process‐reengineering, most notable in the Federal Government with the National Performance Review (NPR). The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) asked its overseas missions for volunteer participation as Country Experimental Laboratories (CELs) during USAID's NPR efforts. USAID/ Senegal, in French West Africa, became a CEL in the spring of 1994. The reengineering, occurring over a two‐year period, created multi‐disciplinary teams centered around Strategic Objectives (SOs). This article describes the experience and lessons learned from developing and implementing financial management policies and procedures to support the SO Teams, while concurrently ensuring that accountability requirements were met. The article uses the case study format, delineating the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats faced by the Mission Controller, the trade‐offs between the decentralization of program management and accountability, and the organizational relationships established to reengineer the financial management processes at USAID/Senegal.
The Evolution of Federal Spending Controls: A Brief Overview
Authors: Davis Edward
Published: November 2003

This article reviews spending controls in the federal government over the past two decades. During this period, federal spending has grown significantly, despite budgetary controls. The article discusses various Impoundment Control acts throughout this time period with a focus on the Gramm‐Rudman‐Hollings Act of 1985 and the budget reforms of the 1990s. The article also gives an overview of whether current spending and deficit control procedures are inadequate and, if so, what stronger measures may be adopted.
Congressional Budget Reform: Impact on the Appropriations Committees
Authors: Thurber James A.
Published: November 2003

The congressional budget process has undergone several major reforms in the last twenty years: the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and 1987 (Gramm‐Rudman‐Hollings I and II) and the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990 (BEA) that have had a direct impact on the Appropriations Committees and the appropriations process. This article evaluates that impact on the decision‐making capacity and power of the Appropriations Committees.
Biennial Budgeting in the Federal Government
Authors: Fisher Louis
Published: November 2003

This article examines the possible outcomes of changing from the current annual budget review to biennial budgeting. It looks at the experience of various states and its application to the federal level. It explores all of the supposed benefits, including less time spent on budgeting issues, more accurate budget projections, reduction of congressional workload and increased congressional oversight and, for the president's point of view, increased power of the executive branch. Concluding on a cautious note, the article offers some plausible applications of biennial budgeting to the national budget.
The Shifting Roles of State Budget Offices in the Midwest: Gosling Revisited
Authors: Thurmaier Kurt , Gosling James J.
Published: November 2003

Almost a decade ago a study of three midwestern states revealed a variety of budget office orientations, ranging from a control to a policy emphasis, including a state in transition from one to the other. This article revisits these states to examine their current orientations and whether different office orientations influence the role of budget analysts in the budgetary process. The results suggest that another stage should be added to Schick's 1966 framework to account for the evolution of some state budget offices to a policy orientation.
Cellular interactions in the rat somatosensory thalamocortical system during normal and epileptic 5–9 Hz oscillations
Authors: Pinault Didier
Published: November 2003

In Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg (GAERS), generalized spike‐and‐wave (SW) discharges (5–9 SW s−1) develop during quiet immobile wakefulness from a natural, medium‐voltage, 5–9 Hz rhythm. This study examines the spatio‐temporal dynamics of cellular interactions in the somatosensory thalamocortical system underlying the generation of normal and epileptic 5–9 Hz oscillations. Paired single‐unit and multi‐unit recordings between the principal elements of this circuit and intracellular recordings of thalamic, relay and reticular, neurones were conducted in neuroleptanalgesied GAERS and control, non‐epileptic, rats. The identity of the recorded neurones was established following juxtacellular or intracellular marking. At least six major findings have emerged from this study. (1) In GAERS, generalized spike‐and‐wave discharges were correlated with synchronous rhythmic firings in related thalamic relay and reticular neurones. (2) Usually, corticothalamic discharges phase‐led related relay and reticular firings. (3) A depolarizing wave emerging from a barrage of EPSPs was the cause of both relay and reticular discharges. (4) In some relay cells, which had a relatively high membrane input resistance, the depolarizing wave had the shape of a ramp, which could trigger a low‐threshold Ca2+ spike. (5) In reticular cells, the EPSP barrage could further trigger voltage‐dependent depolarizations. (6) The epilepsy‐related thalamic, relay and reticular, intracellular activities were similar to the normal‐related thalamic activities. Overall, these findings strongly suggest that, during absence seizures, corticothalamic neurones play a primary role in the synchronized excitation of thalamic relay and reticular neurones. The present study further suggests that absence‐related spike‐and‐wave discharges correspond to hypersynchronous wake‐related physiological oscillations.
Identification and Characterization of a pSLA2 Plasmid Locus Required for Linear DNA Replication and Circular Plasmid Stable Inheritance in
Streptomyces lividans
Authors: Qin Zhongjun , Shen Meijuan , Cohen Stanley N.
Published: November 2003

Streptomyces
linear plasmids and linear chromosomes can replicate also in a circular form when their telomeres are deleted. The 17-kb linear plasmid pSLA2 has been a useful model in studies of such replicons. Here we report that the minimal origin initiating replication of pSLA2-derived plasmids as circular molecules cannot propagate these plasmids in a linear mode unless they also contain a novel plasmid-encoded locus, here named
rlrA
(required for linear replication). In contrast with the need for
rlrA
to accomplish replication of telomere-containing linear plasmids, expression of
rlrA
, which encodes two LuxR family regulatory domains, interferes with the establishment of pSLA2 in circular form in
Streptomyces lividans
transformants. The additional presence of an adjacent divergently transcribed locus,
rorA
(rlrA override), which strongly resembles the
kor
(kil override) transcription control genes identified previously on
Streptomyces
plasmids, reversed the detrimental effects of
rlrA
on plasmid establishment and additionally stabilized circular plasmid inheritance by spores during the
S. lividans
life cycle. While the effects of the
rlrA/rorA
locus of pSLA2 were seen also on linear plasmids derived from the unrelated SLP2 replicon, they did not extend to plasmids whose replication was initiated at a cloned chromosomal origin. Our results establish the existence of, and provide the initial description of, a novel plasmid-borne regulatory system that differentially affects the propagation of linear and circular plasmids in
Streptomyces
.
Temperature Sensing by the
dsrA
Promoter
Authors: Repoila F. , Gottesman S.
Published: November 2003

Synthesis of the small regulatory RNA DsrA is under temperature control. The minimal
dsrA
promoter of 36 bp contains sufficient information to ensure such regulation. In vivo, we have analyzed the critical elements responsible for the temperature control of
dsrA
by using a collection of chimeric promoters combining various elements of the
dsrA
promoter and the
lacUV5
promoter, which does not respond to temperature. Our results favor an RNA polymerase-DNA interaction model instead of a
trans
-acting factor for temperature regulation. While all of the elements of the
dsrA
promoter contribute to temperature-sensitive expression, the sequence of the −10 box and the spacer region are the essential elements for the thermal response of the
dsrA
promoter. The proper context for these promoter elements, including at least one of the flanking elements, the −35 region or the start site region, is also required. Point mutations demonstrate that the sequence of the −10 box imposes constraints on the length and the sequence of the spacer and/or its AT richness, even at low temperature. These results show a complex interdependence of different regions in the promoter for temperature regulation.
Slr2013 Is a Novel Protein Regulating Functional Assembly of Photosystem II in
Synechocystis
sp. Strain PCC 6803
Authors: Kufryk Galyna I. , Vermaas Wim F. J.
Published: November 2003

The
Synechocystis
sp. strain PCC 6803, which has a T192H mutation in the D2 protein of photosystem II, is an obligate photoheterotroph due to the lack of assembled photosystem II complexes. A secondary mutant, Rg2, has been selected that retains the T192H mutation but is able to grow photoautotrophically. Restoration of photoautotrophic growth in this mutant was caused by early termination at position 294 in the Slr2013 protein. The T192H mutant with truncated Slr2013 forms fully functional photosystem II reaction centers that differ from wild-type reaction centers only by a 30% higher rate of charge recombination between the primary electron acceptor, Q
A
−
, and the donor side and by a reduced stability of the oxidized form of the redox-active Tyr residue, Y
D
, in the D2 protein. This suggests that the T192H mutation itself did not directly affect electron transfer components, but rather affected protein folding and/or stable assembly of photosystem II, and that Slr2013 is involved in the folding of the D2 protein and the assembly of photosystem II. Besides participation in photosystem II assembly, Slr2013 plays a critical role in the cell, because the corresponding gene cannot be deleted completely under conditions in which photosystem II is dispensable. Truncation of Slr2013 by itself does not affect photosynthetic activity of
Synechocystis
sp. strain PCC 6803. Slr2013 is annotated in CyanoBase as a hypothetical protein and shares a DUF58 family signature with other hypothetical proteins of unknown function. Genes for close homologues of Slr2013 are found in other cyanobacteria (
Nostoc punctiforme
,
Anabaena
sp. strain PCC 7120, and
Thermosynechococcus elongatus
BP-1), and apparent orthologs of this protein are found in
Eubacteria
and
Archaea
, but not in eukaryotes. We suggest that Slr2013 regulates functional assembly of photosystem II and has at least one other important function in the cell.