bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Managing conflicting issues: a decision‐making tool for technology adoption by VSEs
Authors: Harfield Toby , Driver Phil , Beukman C.P.
Published: January 2003

Decision making is a vital part of the adoption process of new technologies by VSEs; however, to date, little has been written on this subject. This paper outlines a number of approaches to decision making currently in the literature and argues that most of them are inappropriate to VSEs. A decision‐making tool most appropriate for VSEs in a technology adoption process is suggested. Sets of conflicting issues are conceptualised as a decision‐dilemma which have the ability to impede the adoption of new technology. Thus, the tool is designed to allow owners/managers of VSEs to manage these decision‐dilemmas at any time during the process of new technology adoption.
Evaluation of the efficiency and fairness of British, French and Swedish property tax systems
Authors: Vlassenko Irena
Published: January 2003

This paper evaluates on a comparative basis three different property tax systems, British, French and Swedish. For this purpose an evaluation model, based on two criteria – namely efficiency and fairness – and on a number of sub‐criteria, is used. A comparison of the systems’ efficiency reveals that the French system is the least efficient while the Swedish system is the most efficient. A comparison of the systems’ fairness shows that, despite significant variations in the systems characteristics, all three systems can be evaluated as relatively fair.
Risk analysis in cost planning and its effect on efficiency in capital cost budgeting
Authors: Picken David H. , Mak Stephen
Published: January 2003

Builds on earlier work which reported on the experience of the Hong Kong Government in using risk analysis techniques in capital cost estimating. In 1993 the Hong Kong Government implemented a methodology for capital cost estimating using risk analysis (ERA) in its public works planning. This calculated amount replaces the pre‐1993 contingency allowance, which was merely a percentage addition on top of the base estimate of a project. Adopts a team approach to identify, classify and cost the uncertainties associated with a project. The sum of the average risk allowance for the identified risk events thus becomes the contingency. A study of the effect of ERA was carried out to compare the variability and consistency of the contingency estimates between non‐ERA and ERA projects. The preliminary results of a survey showed a highly significant difference in variation and consistency between these groups. This analysis indicates the successful use of the ERA method for public works projects to reduce unnecessary and exaggerated allowance for risk. However, the contingency allowance for ERA projects was also considered high. Adds data from the UK with descriptions of 41 private sector projects which fall into the non‐ERA category and reflect better performance in the determining of contingency allowances.
Stockyard layout planning and management for the precast concrete products industry
Authors: Dawood Nashwan , Marasini Ramesh
Published: January 2003

The concrete building products manufacturing industry supplies 2,000‐4,000 precast concrete building products to the construction industry. Owing to seasonal demand, the industry builds up stock in winter to meet the high demand in summer. As concrete products are heavy and vary in shape and size, proper stocking in terms of layout and methods of stocking of products on the yard is essential. Industrial practice suggests that stockyard space management gets less attention during strategic and budget planning as it is left to the stockyard manager. The industry experiences space congestion for both the storage and dispatch of products. During dispatch process, greater retrieval time is required, long queues of lorries (shipping vehicles) are formed and desired level of service cannot be maintained. Presents a review of stockyard operations, analysis of parameters affecting loading and dispatch process on the yard and strategies to optimise the stockyard layout. It is expected that proper layout planning will reduce the cost of delivery of products by 5‐10 per cent in the industry where profit is less than 5‐8 per cent.
Methodological issues in design‐construction integration
Authors: Faniran Olusegun O. , Love Peter E.D. , Treloar Graham , Anumba Chimay J.
Published: January 2003

A major contributory factor to poor project performance in the construction industry is known to be the lack of integration and coordination between the different disciplines involved in various stages of the procurement process. Attempts by researchers to address this problem have met with limited success, as they have focused mainly on adapting integration techniques originally developed for use in the manufacturing industry. There is therefore a need to develop a detailed understanding of the fundamental sciences that underpin the problem of integrating the procurement process across the construction project life cycle. Presents and discusses a research model for addressing major methodological issues in the analysis of design/construction relationships.
Appreciating, understanding and applying universal moral principles
Authors: Cohen Judy
Published: January 2003

Interest in business ethics has soared over the past ten to 15 years. Lacking in the literature are normative approaches that provide guidelines for managers to evaluate their behavior in order to determine whether that behavior is in fact ethical. This paper makes a contribution to normative research, by offering a graded task approach to applying certain principles based on the philosophy of ethics (referred to as universal moral principles). These principles include utilitarianism, the categorical imperative, rights, and justice. First, some arguments against the use of universal moral principles are discussed, and rebutted. Next, the principles themselves are explained. Finally, a worksheet is presented. This worksheet offers a step‐by‐step approach to applying each of the principles.
Online relationships and the consumer’s right to privacy
Authors: Franzak Frank , Pitta Dennis , Fritsche Steve
Published: January 2003

With the astounding growth of the Internet, the potential threats to consumer privacy have grown exponentially. Much of the threat lies hidden beneath the view of the average consumer. Information technology makes collecting potentially sensitive information automatic and unseen. Indeed, it is the job of marketers to collect salient information to ensure refining products and services to foster consumer satisfaction. The paper explores the issues surrounding the protection of consumer privacy and delineates a means by which the interests of both consumers and the organizations that serve them can be enhanced while protecting consumer privacy.
Influence of sodium sulphite on corrosion inhibition by the sodium gluconate –Zn2+ system
Authors: Amalraj A. John , Sundaravadivelu M. , Pascal Regis A. Peter , Rajendran S.
Published: January 2003

The inhibition efficiency of sodium gluconate (SG) in controlling corrosion of carbon steel immersed in the environment containing 60 ppm Cl– has been evaluated in the presence and absence of Zn2+ by weight loss method. SG and Zn2+ show a synergistic effect. The protective film has been analysed by FTIR and fluorescence spectra. The protective film consists of Fe2+‐gluconate complex and Zn(OH)2. The film is found to be UV‐fluorescent. The IE of the SG‐Zn2+ system increases in the presence of Na2SO4; but decreases in the presence of Na2SO3 and also in the presence of N‐cetyl‐N,N,N‐trimethyl ammonium bromide. This study reveals that the transporting phenomenon plays a larger role than the scavenging of dissolved oxygen.
Organisational resistance strategies to unwanted accounting and finance changes
Authors: Broadbent Jane , Jacobs Kerry , Laughlin Richard
Published: January 2003

This paper explores the resistance strategies of organisations to unwanted changes. It is concerned with the way satellite organisations are created to provide a counter force to environmental disturbances such as changes introduced in the context of what has come to be called New Public Management. Its particular focus is with the attempt to develop and institutionalize external, “public” forms of resistance rather than undertake more internal, “private” forms. The specific empirical focus is general medical practice in the UK, where commissioning groups were formed as an alternative to GP fundholding. To help analyse this empirical detail we draw insights from Habermas’s model of society, organisational change theory and institutional theory. In the process the paper not only amplifies the empirical reactions of GP practices in the UK but also uses this empirical detail to develop the nature of this theoretical base by adding new dimensions concerning organisational resistance.
Workgroup productivity: the implications of African‐Americans’ racial stereotypes for cooperative job designs
Authors: Bass Kenneth , Tomkiewicz Joseph , Adeyemi‐Bello Tope , Vaicys Cheryl
Published: January 2003

The effectiveness of work groups can be strongly affected by their “cohesiveness”. This study examined stereotypes held by African‐American college students regarding African‐American, Euro‐American, and Hispanic persons. The 92‐items in Schein’s Descriptive Questionnaire were rated by subjects (graduating African‐American undergraduate business students) as either positive (e.g. intelligent, persistent, ambitious, etc.) or negative (e.g. uncertain, passive, nervous, etc.). A total of 55 items were characterized as positive while 11 were considered negative. African‐American students perceived African‐Americans in general in a favorable light when compared to Euro‐Americans and Hispanic persons. The potential effects of such perceptions on African‐Americans’ integration into business organizations and mixed working groups are discussed.
The role of the personnel/HR function in multinational companies
Authors: Kelly James
Published: January 2003

The 1990s literature portrays the corporate personnel/HR function as in decline due to the decentralisation and delayering of large organisations. As a result personnel’s presence on boards of directors and participation in the formation of corporate business and HR strategies cannot survive. This paper challenges this view arguing that strategies do not originate at main board of director level but at the CEO executive group level in most cases. Research has shown the personnel/HR function’s involvement at this level to be higher than on main boards. Other recent evidence has accorded personnel a higher strategic role in MNCs, especially regarding the staffing and development of an international cadre of managers. This evidence however supports the view that personnel’s corporate presence declined from the mid 1980s to the mid 1990s before picking up, whereas the paper’s argument favours a steady growth thesis from the early 1970s. Additionally the dominant perspective contains an overly top down view of strategy formation whereas this paper argues for a counter‐balancing bottom up influence on strategy formation.
Union avoidance and foreign direct investment in the USA
Authors: Cooke William N.
Published: January 2003

The USA is not only the largest foreign direct investor country in the world, it is also host to the largest inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the world. Although recent analyses have shown that multinational companies have invested less in countries with higher levels of union membership and contract coverage, more centralized negotiation structures and more restrictive workplace regulations, no similar analysis has been made of the influence of these factors on FDI in the USA. Also lacking in the literature is any analysis of the extent to which foreign‐owned affiliates have engaged in union avoidance in the USA as part of their investment and human resource management/labor relations strategies. This study first focuses on the estimated effects of the relatively low union penetration and decentralized negotiation structure of the USA on FDI in the USA. Second, the precipitous decline in union coverage of foreign subsidiaries in the USA over the last two decades is analyzed. The results of both inquiries strongly support the proposition that foreign multinationals have given substantial weight to union avoidance preferences as part of their FDI strategies.
Multinational enterprises, employment relations and ethics
Authors: Donaldson John
Published: January 2003

The contribution of multinational enterprises to wealth creation is evident, but there is much discussion on whether the consequent power is, or ought to be, used responsibly for social and economic ends. In employment relations, although international standards have long been established, current issues include the use of child labour, safety, differential pay, hiring policies and conditions, especially towards locals. This paper attempts to identify the ethical, as opposed to prudential or legal, dimensions of the issues, especially as illustrated in case studies, and to estimate the prospects for agreed improvement. The paper suggests that technical management skills, ethical awareness and the propagation of international standards together are not enough to reduce the contentiousness of the various practices. Inclusion of consumers (the ultimate paymasters) tends to be rudimentary. Discussions of other relevant persons in the “stakeholder” debate have yielded little practical application. Economic and business pluralism could be helpful.
Experience‐earnings profiles, education and gender
Authors: Brown Sarah , Sessions John G.
Published: January 2003

Investigates the shape of experience‐earnings profiles across gender. Given that self‐employment offers both an alternative to unemployment and potentially flexible – and thereby attractive to female labour market participants – working arrangements, estimates separate profiles for employees and self‐employees. The male results support Lazear and Moore’s agency‐driven explanation for the shape of experience‐earnings profiles with self‐employment being characterized by a relatively flat profile. The estimated female employee profile is flatter than its male counterpart, a finding which lends support to the human capital explanation for gender‐specific earnings profiles, whereby females tend to withdraw from the labour market and so reduce their incentive to invest in human capital. In the case of female self‐employees, educational attainment rather than labour market experience appears to be the significant determinant of earnings.
Are long‐term bond yields excessively volatile?
Authors: Zhu Zhen
Published: January 2003

There is a debate on the excess volatility of long‐term bond yields. It is found that whether long‐term bond yields are excessively volatile or excessively smooth depends critically on the knowledge of the long‐run properties of the short‐term interest rate process. Uses a span of 200 years of data on interest rates and finds that the short rates from the USA and the UK are characterized by stationarity after the tests for unit root have accounted for structural breaks. Volatility tests reveal for the whole and sub‐sample periods that the long rates are excessively smooth.
Logistics and supply chain education
Authors: Lancioni Richard , Forman Howard , Smith Michael F.
Published: January 2003

With student, scholarly, and especially corporate interest in the study of logistics dramatically increasing, it is important for institutions of higher learning to act as quickly as possible to help meet this demand. In doing so, these institutions run into many roadblocks and challenges. This paper explores these and offers suggestions to minimize their effects.
Women and men in senior management – a “different needs” hypothesis
Authors: O’Connor Victoria J.
Published: January 2003

Whilst agreeing wholeheartedly that a “glass ceiling” exists and restricts entry of women into senior management positions, this article postulates that this factor only partly explains why there are fewer women in senior level management positions than there are men. Suggests that some women are less interested than men in reaching senior management ranks. It is proposed that differences in the proportion of women and men who wish to be senior managers may be explained by differences in the way they choose to have their needs met. Postulates that the need for affiliation, achievement, power and self‐actualisation in men and women are, in general, met in different ways. One implication of the “different needs” hypothesis is that it is equality of opportunity rather than numerical equality for which we should be striving.
Moral reasoning capacity of management students and practitioners
Authors: Wimalasiri Jayantha S.
Published: January 2003

The data were collected from a sample of 266 subjects comprising management students and practitioners in Sydney, Australia. The cognitive moral development stages of the subjects were examined using the defining issue test. Consistent with prior research, age, education, religious affiliation and religious commitment were found to have influenced moral judgement of the respondents. Vocation, gender and the firm ownership did not seem to influence the moral judgement levels. Students and practitioners demonstrated the same level of sensitivity to ethical dilemmas. A comparison of the data with similar findings in the USA revealed a marked difference between the Australian and the US subjects. Implication of the findings and directions for future research are discussed in the paper.
Process integration for competitive success
Authors: Fawcett Stanley E. , Bixby Cooper M.
Published: January 2003

Managers at leading companies recognize that the key to competitive success is to meet the real needs of customers better than the competition. These companies have adopted well‐crafted strategies that have driven a revolution of restructuring and reengineering. The objective of these initiatives has been to develop “core competencies” that will lead to higher levels of customer satisfaction. Fundamental to competency development is the notion of process integration. When focused on delivering value to customers, process integration is considered by many analysts to hold the key to future competitive success. This paper discusses the findings of a large‐scale empirical study, highlighting the barriers and bridges to more effective process integration.
Brand trust in the context of consumer loyalty
Authors: Delgado‐Ballester Elena , Luis Munuera‐Alemán José
Published: January 2003

The existing literature of brand loyalty has been essentially focused on the roles of perceived quality, brand reputation and especially satisfaction, due to the fact that they summarise consumers’ knowledge and experiences, guiding their subsequent actions. In this context, the shifting emphasis to relational marketing has devoted a lot of effort to analyse how other constructs such as trust predict future intention. The fact that there are conceptual connections of trust to the notion of satisfaction and loyalty, and thatthis effort is especially lacking in the brand‐consumer relationship, moves the authors to focus on analysing the relationships existing among these concepts. Research methodology consisted of regressions and multivariable analysis with a sample of 173 buyers. The results obtained suggest the key role of brand trust as a variable that generates customers’ commitment, especially in situations of high involvement, in which its effect is stronger in comparison to overall satisfaction.
A motivational process model of product involvement and consumer risk perception
Authors: Dholakia Utpal M.
Published: January 2003

Within consumer psychology, both product involvement and perceived risk are viewed tobe motivational constructs, influencing subsequent consumer behaviors such as information search and dissemination, as well as extensiveness of the decision‐making process. While these constructs are closely related, extant research reveals considerable ambiguity regarding the psychological mechanisms by which components of these two constructs influence one another. This article presents a conceptual motivational process model, explicating the processes by which involvement and consumer risk perceptions are caused, and influence one another, as well as subsequent behavioral responses of consumers. An empirical study, carried out to test the motivational process model and the hypothesized causal relationships finds overall support. Implications of this research for marketers and consumer psychologists are discussed and suggestions for future research are provided.
Linking sponsorship and cause related marketing
Authors: Polonsky Michael Jay , Speed Richard
Published: January 2003

Sponsorship activities have become a mainstream component of the marketing mix. As such, there are attempts to make these activities more effective by leveraging them using advertising, sales promotions, or in an increasing number of cases, through cause related marketing (CRM). This paper explores the relationship between sponsorship and CRM and identifies the potential opportunities that arise from leveraging sponsorships using CRM. The paper also examines the limitations of CRM as a leveraging strategy, puts forward a typology for categorising CRM and identifies some future research issues related to CRM‐leveraging of sponsorship.
The education and training of entrepreneurs in Asia
Authors: Paul Dana Leo
Published: January 2003

Entrepreneurship creates wealth and reduces unemployment. Entrepreneurs contribute to industrialisation as well as to economic growth; they improve living standards and tax revenues from their enterprises contribute to a nation’s treasury. Not surprisingly, then, governments have been spending considerable sums trying to create entrepreneurs. The question remains, however, Can entrepreneurship really be taught? To provide a response of any value, one must address the definition of entrepreneurship. As evident from the literature, there is no universally‐accepted definition of entrepreneurs or of entrepreneurship. If entrepreneurship is equated with the causing of economic disequilibrium – as per the Schumpeterian literature – then one can argue that entrepreneurs tend to be born, rather than made. In contrast, if relying on the definition provided by the Austrian School of Economics, it is possible to train entrepreneurs to identify opportunities and act thereon. Thus, while it can be argued that it is difficult to teach Schumpeterian entrepreneurship, efforts to teach Kirznerian entrepreneurship appear to have achieved some levels of success. However, to be truly successful, training programmes must be relevant to the host environment. It would be a fallacy to assume that a programme that has been functional in one environment will necessarily have the same effect elsewhere. A great danger lies in attempting to trans‐locate training programmes. This article provides a survey of education and training of entrepreneurs in different contexts across Asia.
Integrating information literacy using problem‐based learning
Authors: Smith Macklin Alexius
Published: January 2003

Teaching information literacy skills is increasingly difficult as the number of students entering the university demonstrate an extraordinary confidence using technology. Students and subject area faculty often do not grasp the subtle difference between being technology proficient and being information literate. Some faculty are even beginning to dismiss library instruction by saying “my students already know how to use the Internet”. This paper introduces a new method for teaching essential information literacy skills, combined with problem solving techniques, to develop, promote, and assess critical and analytical thinking of students further (and faculty) using information technologies today.
Aggregate impact analysis of active labour market policy
Authors: de Koning Jaap
Published: January 2003

The paper discusses the various models that can be used to analyse the aggregate impact of active labour market policy (ALMP) on labour market outcomes. The aggregate approach to policy evaluation is important. Contrary to evaluations based on micro data, it takes substitution, displacement and other indirect effects into account. The most promising framework for analysing the aggregate impact of ALMP is offered by a flow model approach of the labour market. However, other approaches such as VAR models are also treated in the paper. After discussing the theoretical models the paper gives a review of the empirical literature, in which these models are used to measure the aggregate impact of ALMP. On the basis of the results we are bound to conclude that ALMP makes a big difference to the level of unemployment. There is some evidence that disadvantaged groups benefit more from this type of policy than other groups. The fact that the impact is small on average may hide considerable variation between regions and sites. Future research should concentrate on attempting to relate this variation to differences in implementation. Then we might be able to identify the factors that are decisive for the success or failure of programmes which could then be used to improve ALMP.
From standard to non‐standard employment
Authors: Allan Cameron , Brosnan Peter , Horwitz Frank , Walsh Pat
Published: January 2003

A critical labour market issue in all developed economies is the growth of non‐standard forms of labour such as temporary, part‐time, casual work, fixed term contracts, sub‐contracting, homeworking, agency labour and so on. This paper provides survey evidence of employers’ past, present and intended usage of non‐standard forms of labour in three countries: Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Our results indicate that non‐standard forms of employment do represent an important feature of the contemporary workplace, to varying degrees, in these three countries. However, our findings also show that standard, full‐time, permanent employment still remains the dominant form of employment in all three countries.
Creating accessible Web sites: an introduction
Authors: Lilly Erica B.
Published: January 2003

The Internet and World Wide Web (Web) provide instant access to vast quantities of information. Unfortunately, many people with visual, hearing, mobility, or learning disabilities are unable to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the Web. This is because badly designed and/or inaccessible Web sites prevent them from fully experiencing the graphical and aural benefits of the medium. This paper introduces concepts of accessible Web design and describes how Web designers can build sites accessible to everyone with little added effort. It also provides a brief legal and economic rationale as to why it is important to do so. Principles of universal design and the guidelines developed by the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Accessibility Initiative are described. An appendix of selected resources is also included.
Is an alignment between business and information technology the appropriate paradigm to manage IT in today’s organisations?
Authors: Smaczny Tomasz
Published: January 2003

For many years practitioners and academics have tried to answer the question of how to strategically align the objectives of information technology (IT) and business and their delivery. A strategic alignment model (SAM) has been developed and improved over the years. This model was originally developed in the 1980s when the business environment was more stable. However, owing to major market changes SAM no longer provides companies with the much‐needed answers. The alignment concept is about a sequential development of strategies and a sequential operationalisation. Unfortunately, now that reliance on IT has increased to the level where a lack of IT agility and responsiveness can create a competitive disadvantage, the sequential model is too slow. This article promotes a notion of fusion. Today’s chief information officers are increasingly becoming company strategists who help their chief executive officer colleagues to steer companies. Business and IT strategies have to be developed simultaneously and implemented simultaneously. The conclusions of this article are based on practitioner views and experiences.
Marx, economics and consumer response
Authors: Walle Alf
Published: January 2003

Due to the political rivalries of the past, Karl Marx has usually been viewed as a partisan figure. With the demise of the Eastern block, however, it becomes possible to view Marxist thought in more objective and non‐partisan ways. Marx was a pioneering economic determinist. Since his death in 1883, furthermore, others have refined his views and the techniques with which economic determinism can be analyzed. As a result, Marx and the economic determinism he pioneered cannot be legitimately ignored by business thinkers.
Strategic planning‐effectiveness‐environment linkage: a case study
Authors: McLarney Carolan
Published: January 2003

The literature on strategic planning has examined the process of planning in some detail, but most of it has ignored the external environment in its discussion. In the studies that have looked at the linkage between the environment and the strategic planning process, the strategic planning process has been treated like a black box. The literature does not delve into the box and examine the linkage between the environment and the characteristics (components and context) of the strategic planning process, but rather it has only looked at a simple relationship between the environment and this entity called the strategic planning process. It is this omission that is addressed in this study. This paper suggests that there is a need to open the black box and examine the relationship between the characteristics of the strategic planning process and the external environment of the organisation.
The new economy, new opportunities and new structures
Authors: Walters David , Buchanan June
Published: January 2003

The increase in intangible asset ownership and the importance of capabilities as “assets” has brought a new perspective to the conventional balance sheet and to the valuation of the assets, the business and shareholder value. The rise and demise of the “dot.coms” emphasise the need to reconsider the approach to corporate and shareholder valuation models. It is suggested that the virtual organisation offers the flexibility that organisation design will require if full advantage is to be taken of the emerging opportunities. However, successful virtual organisations require some planning and dedicated management if the success is to be sustained.
Just‐in‐time: the reincarnation of past theory and practice
Authors: Svensson Göran
Published: January 2003

Many widespread managerial concepts are expressed as abbreviations of two or three letters. In addition, they have often been introduced and treated as new‐to‐the‐world by both scholars and practitioners. For example, just‐In‐time (JIT) is a managerial concept that has been heavily promoted in the world‐wide automotive industry. Its underlying principles have been implemented by most car manufacturers or car assemblers for many decades. JIT, as a phenomenon, has been named differently at different times during the last century. Therefore, the newness of JIT and its underlying principles is questioned in the article. The article describes parts of the historic evolution of JIT during the twentieth century in literature. It is concluded that JIT is just a reincarnation of past theory and practice.
Developing the Chinese Social Science Citation Index
Authors: Xin‐ning Su , Xin‐ming Han , Xin‐ning Han
Published: January 2003

The Chinese Social Citation Index (CSSCI) covers over 500 scholarly Chinese journals in the humanities and social sciences. CSSCI provides an efficient tool for people to obtain information about Chinese social science research. Its CD‐ROM disks have been manufactured and a Web site has been set up for people to search for information about it. In this article the authors introduce the goals, significance and functions of CSSCI and a detailed explanation of the data structure and the direction of data flow is provided.
E‐books: the University of Texas experience, part 2
Authors: Dillon Dennis
Published: January 2003

This article follows‐up on an earlier Library Hi Tech article on the e‐book program at the University of Texas. It notes changes in usage that have occurred with the addition of e‐book catalog records in the library online catalog, and changes in selection patterns as librarians have gained more experience with the e‐book. It also surveys the current digital information environment, notes the increasing commodification of information, details the e‐book efforts of the Association of American Publishers and examines potential future e‐book directions.
Use of electronic monographs in the humanities and social sciences
Authors: Hughes Carol Ann , Buchanan Nancy L.
Published: January 2003

This article provides preliminary information about patterns of access and use of a collection of 35,000 electronic scholarly monographs in the humanities and social sciences provided by a commercial online library collection, QuestiaSM. Search logs and page view logs were analyzed as to the characteristics of the search queries and browsing within titles. Major findings include patterns of simple search queries and significant access to a surprising breadth of titles.
A new formulation of Adomian method
Authors: Abbaoui K. , Pujol M.J. , Cherruault Y. , Himoun N. , Grimalt P.
Published: January 2003

A new approach of the decomposition method (Adomian) in which the Adomian scheme is obtained in a more natural way than in the classical presentation, is given. A new condition for obtaining convergence of the decomposition series is also included.
Chemistry of belief
Authors: Adamatzky Andrew
Published: January 2003

An artificial chemistry approach is adopted to explore new ways of investigating a global dynamic of a collective belief. Five derivatives of belief are considered– knowledge, misbelief, delusion, ignorance, and doubt – to be reactants of an abstract chemical solution. The reactants interact one with another by certain laws obtained though unconventional interpretation of a belief update. Several types of reaction systems are studied in computational experiments with the doxastic solutions. A global dynamic of doxastic chemical solutions is also interpreted from a common‐sense point of view.
Virtual bodies and virtual spaces
Authors: Bishop J.M.
Published: January 2003

In the Transcendental Aesthetic part of the Critique of Pure Reason, Immanuel Kant stated the a priori necessity of the singularity of space that, “we can represent to ourselves only one space; and if we speak of diverse spaces, we mean thereby only parts of one and the same space … these parts cannot precede the one all‐embracing space … they can be thought only as in it”. If correct, Kant places a tight bound around the universe we consciously inhabit. Established arguments against Kant’s claims are reviewed and criticised based on the notion of dream spaces, before outlining the novel hypothesis that the widespread use of cyberspace and large scale multi‐user virtual realities illustrate public spaces beyond physical reality, and as such provide an empirical refutation of the a priori necessity of the singularity of space.
Pain Pathways and Parabrachial Circuits in the Rat
Authors: Gauriau Caroline , Bernard Jean‐François
Published: February 2003

This review presents a schematic attempt to classify the major pain pathways, based on the results of recent studies in our laboratory, with a special emphasis on the parabrachial system. Our view is based on results from experiments in the rat, using very small iontophoretic injections of anterograde tracers. As illustrated in this report, we have found a very dramatic difference between ascending projections originating from deep laminae compared with those arising from lamina I of the dorsal horn. We propose three main pain systems and discuss their functional‐anatomical relationships. The first system is centred on the projection from deep laminae to three caudal reticular areas – the lateral reticular nucleus (LRN), the subnucleus reticularis dorsalis (SRD) and the gigantocellular lateral paragigantocellular reticular nuclei (NGc) – and the parabrachial internal lateral subnucleus (PBil). The second system is centred on the projection from lamina I to the ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL), the ventral posteromedial (VPM), the posterior nuclear group (Po) and triangular posterior nucleus (PoT) of the thalamus. The third system is centred on the projection from lamina I to the lateral parabrachial area. We also present the four main projections from the latter area to the extended amygdala, the hypothalamus, the periaqueductal grey matter (PAG), and the ventrolateral medulla (VLM), and their involvement in emotional and autonomic (homeostatic) aspects of pain.
Molecular Assays for Detection of Human Metapneumovirus
Authors: Mackay Ian M. , Jacob Kevin C. , Woolhouse Daniel , Waller Katharine , Syrmis Melanie W. , Whiley David M. , Siebert David J. , Nissen Michael , Sloots Theo P.
Published: January 2003

The recent description of the respiratory pathogen human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has highlighted a deficiency in current diagnostic techniques for viral agents associated with acute lower respiratory tract infections. We describe two novel approaches to the detection of viral RNA by use of reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). The PCR products were identified after capture onto a solid-phase medium by hybridization with a sequence-specific, biotinylated oligonucleotide probe. The assay was applied to the screening of 329 nasopharyngeal aspirates sampled from patients suffering from respiratory tract disease. These samples were negative for other common microbial causes of respiratory tract disease. We were able to detect hMPV sequences in 32 (9.7%) samples collected from Australian patients during 2001. To further reduce result turnaround times we designed a fluorogenic TaqMan oligoprobe and combined it with the existing primers for use on the LightCycler platform. The real-time RT-PCR proved to be highly reproducible and detected hMPV in an additional 6 out of 62 samples (9.6%) tested during the comparison of the two diagnostic approaches. We found the real-time RT-PCR to be the test of choice for future investigation of samples for hMPV due to its speed, reproducibility, specificity, and sensitivity.
Identification of Catalase-Negative, Non-Beta-Hemolytic, Gram-Positive Cocci Isolated from Milk Samples
Authors: Fortin Madeleine , Messier Serge , Paré Julie , Higgins Robert
Published: January 2003

This study was undertaken in an effort to improve the identification scheme of catalase-negative, non-beta-hemolytic, gram-positive cocci isolated from milk samples obtained from cows. First, the sensitivity and specificity of the identification procedure currently in use in our laboratory were compared to the results obtained with API 20 STREP strips which were set as the gold standard. Second, a number of other identification tests, which could contribute to increase the sensitivity and specificity of the identification procedure of these microorganisms, were evaluated and selected. The data have shown that there is a necessity to review the identification procedure. Some modifications are suggested to laboratories doing milk sample analyses. A standardized procedure, using the CAMP test, esculin and sodium hippurate hydrolysis, the presence of the enzymes pyrolidonyl arylaminase and leucine aminopeptidase, and acid production from 1% inulin and raffinose broth, would not only improve the results of the identification process of gram-positive cocci isolated from milk samples but also ensure greater uniformity of the epidemiological data.
Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Provisional Serotype
Shigella flexneri
1c and Clonal Relationships with 1a and 1b Strains Isolated in Bangladesh
Authors: Talukder Kaisar A. , Islam Zhahirul , Aminul Islam M. , Dutta Dilip K. , Safa Ashrafus , Ansaruzzaman M. , Faruque A. S. G. , Shahed Shamima N. , Nair G. B. , Sack David A.
Published: January 2003

The serotypes of 144 strains of
Shigella flexneri
serotype 1 (serotypes 1a, 1b, and 1c) isolated from patients attending the Dhaka treatment center of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, between 1997 and 2001 were serologically confirmed by using commercially available antisera and a panel of monoclonal antibodies specific for
S. flexneri
group and type factor antigen (MASF). Among serotype 1 isolates, the prevalence of provisional serotype
S. flexneri
1c increased from 0 to 56% from 1978 to 2001 in Bangladesh. Detailed biochemical studies revealed that none of the strains of serotype 1 produced indole, while all the strains fermented mannose, mannitol, and trehalose. Twenty percent of the serotype 1c and all the serotype 1a strains fermented maltose and 53% of the serotype 1c strains and 60% of the serotype 1a strains fermented arabinose, whereas all serotype 1b strains were negative for fermentation of these sugars. Only 18% of serotype 1b strains were resistant to nalidixic acid, and most of the serotype 1c and 1b strains were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. All the strains of serotypes 1a and 1b and about 88% of the serotype 1c strains were found to be invasive by the Sereny test, had a 140-MDa plasmid, and had Congo red absorption ability. Plasmid profile analysis showed that 26% of the strains of serotype 1 contained identical patterns. Most of the serotype 1c strains (72%) had the 1.6-MDa plasmid, which was not found in either serotype 1a or 1b strains. A self-transmissible middle-range plasmid (35 to 80 MDa) was found in some strains carrying the multiple-antibiotic-resistance gene. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis yielded three types (types A, B, and C) with numerous subtypes among the serotype 1c strains, whereas serotypes 1b and 1a yielded only one type for each serotype, and those types were related to the types for serotype 1c strains. Ribotyping analysis yielded three patterns for serotype 1c strains and one pattern each for serotype 1a and 1b strains which were similar to the patterns for the serotype 1c strains. Overall analysis of the results concluded that subserotype 1c is closely related to serotypes 1a and 1b. Furthermore, the high rate of prevalence of serotype 1c necessitates the commercial production of antibody against this subserotype to allow the determination of the actual burden of shigellosis caused by provisional serotype 1c.
Development and Evaluation of a PCR-Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Diagnosis of Human Brucellosis
Authors: Morata Pilar , Queipo-Ortuño María I. , Reguera Jose M. , García-Ordoñez Miguel A. , Cárdenas Ana , Colmenero Juan D.
Published: January 2003

In order to overcome some of the limitations of conventional microbiological techniques in the diagnosis of human brucellosis, a simple PCR-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA) was developed. After amplification of a 223-bp sequence of a gene that codes for the synthesis of an immunogenetic membrane protein specific for the
Brucella
genus (BCSP31), the digoxigenin-labeled amplified product was hybridized with a biotinylated capture probe which was complementary to the inner part of the amplicon. The hybrid was captured on streptavidin-coated microtiter plates and detected by using an antidigoxigenin Fab-peroxidase conjugate. The detection limit of the PCR-ELISA in a background of 3.5 μg of human genomic DNA was 10 fg (two bacterial cells). The PCR-ELISA showed an analytical sensitivity higher than that of ethidium bromide staining and equal to that obtained by conventional PCR followed by dot blot hybridization. In 59 peripheral blood samples from 57 consecutive patients with active brucellosis and 113 control samples, the PCR-ELISA was found to be 94.9% sensitive and 96.5% specific, whereas the sensitivity of the blood culture was only 70.1%. Since the assay can be performed in 1 day, is very reproducible, is easily standardized, and avoids the risk of infection in laboratory workers, this PCR-ELISA seems to be a practical and reliable tool for the diagnosis of human brucellosis.
Simultaneous Detection, Subgrouping, and Quantitation of Respiratory Syncytial Virus A and B by Real-Time PCR
Authors: Hu Aizhong , Colella Melissa , Tam John S. , Rappaport Ruth , Cheng Sheau-Mei
Published: January 2003

Timely diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is critical for appropriate treatment of lower respiratory infection in young children. To facilitate diagnosis, we developed a rapid, specific, and sensitive TaqMan PCR method for detection of RSV A and RSV B. Two sets of primer-probe pairs were selected from the nucleotide sequences encoding the nucleocapsid protein—one targeting RSV A and the other targeting RSV B. The specificity of the TaqMan reverse transcription-PCR assay was evaluated by testing each primer-probe pair against various viruses derived from laboratory virus stocks, as well as clinical respiratory specimens. Fluorescent signals were observed only in the presence of RSV A and/or RSV B. The sensitivity of our quantitative PCR assay was determined on the basis of PFU and virus particle counts. The resulting assay sensitivity was found to be 0.023 PFU, or two copies of viral RNA, for RSV A and 0.018 PFU, or nine copies of viral RNA, for RSV B. This quantitative TaqMan PCR assay was utilized to diagnose 175 nasopharyngeal aspirates obtained from children in Hong Kong with respiratory symptoms during the winter of 2000 and 2001. Among these specimens, TaqMan PCR detected 36 RSV-positive samples, 10 of which were identified as RSV A and 26 of which were identified as RSV B, whereas culture confirmation identified 21 RSV-positive specimens and immunofluorescence identified 32 RSV-positive specimens, all of which were among those identified by PCR. The results confirmed the accuracy of our TaqMan PCR assay and demonstrated its improved sensitivity versus classical methods.
Detection, Isolation, and Molecular Subtyping of
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 and
Campylobacter jejuni
Associated with a Large Waterborne Outbreak
Authors: Bopp Dianna J. , Sauders Brian D. , Waring Alfred L. , Ackelsberg Joel , Dumas Nellie , Braun-Howland Ellen , Dziewulski David , Wallace Barbara J. , Kelly Molly , Halse Tanya , Musser Kimberlee Aruda , Smith Perry F. , Morse Dale L. , Limberger Ronald J.
Published: January 2003

The largest reported outbreak of waterborne
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 in the United States occurred in upstate New York following a county fair in August 1999. Culture methods were used to isolate
E. coli
O157:H7 from specimens from 128 of 775 patients with suspected infections.
Campylobacter jejuni
was also isolated from stools of 44 persons who developed diarrheal illness after attending this fair. There was one case of a confirmed coinfection with
E. coli
O157:H7 and
C. jejuni
. Molecular detection of
stx
1
and
stx
2
Shiga toxin genes, immunomagnetic separation (IMS), and selective culture enrichment were utilized to detect and isolate
E. coli
O157:H7 from an unchlorinated well and its distribution points, a dry well, and a nearby septic tank. PCR for
stx
1
and
stx
2
was shown to provide a useful screen for toxin-producing
E. coli
O157:H7, and IMS subculture improved recovery. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to compare patient and environmental
E. coli
O157:H7 isolates. Among patient isolates, 117 of 128 (91.5%) were type 1 or 1a (three or fewer bands different). Among the water distribution system isolates, 13 of 19 (68%) were type 1 or 1a. Additionally, PFGE of
C. jejuni
isolates revealed that 29 of 35 (83%) had indistinguishable PFGE patterns. The PFGE results implicated the water distribution system as the main source of the
E. coli
O157:H7 outbreak. This investigation demonstrates the potential for outbreaks involving more than one pathogen and the importance of analyzing isolates from multiple patients and environmental samples to develop a better understanding of bacterial transmission during an outbreak.