bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acting on values: An ethical dead end for public servants
Authors: Langford John W.
Published: January 2008

Abstract: This article provides a critical analysis of the values approach to public‐sector ethics, particularly as it has been developed in Ottawa. The central tenet of this approach is that a framework of core values can be used directly by public servants to solve ethical dilemmas or to justify more specific rules of behaviour. The author argues that this approach is conceptually flawed on a number of levels. Its advocates seem confused about what a value is and how to identify core values. They also seem tolerant of the existence of a large number of core values that are not clearly defined. This inevitably creates a situation in which there is substantial value conflict and no way to resolve such clashes. Finally, the values approach, at least as structured in Ottawa, subdivides values into groups, making a puzzling distinction between ethical and non‐ethical values. After examining these flaws, the article explores the need to pay more attention to consequentiality approaches for enhancing ethical behaviour that resonate with the ways in which public servants intuitively approach ethical judgments.

Sommaire: Cet article fait une analyse critique de l'éthique dans le secteur public fondée sur les valeurs, plus particulièrement la façon dont cette approche a étéélaborée à Ottawa. Cette approche repose essentiellement sur le principe que les fonctionnaires peuvent se servir d'un cadre directeur de valeurs fondamentales pour résoudre des dilemmes moraux ou pour justifier des règles de comportement plus précises. L'auteur soutient que sur le plan conceptuel, cette approche comporte des lacunes à plusieurs niveaux. Ses partisans ne semblent pas trop savoir ce qu'est une valeur ni comment dégager les valeurs fondamentales. Le fait qu'un grand nombre de valeurs fondamentales ne soient pas clairement définies ne semble pas non plus les déranger. On se trouve inévitablement en face d'une situation de conflits de valeurs sans moyens de les résoudre. Enfin, cette approche fondée sur les valeurs, tout au nioins telle que structurée par Ottawa, les subdivise en groupes, faisant Line étrange distinction entre les valeurs éthiques et non‐éthiques. Apres avoir examiné ces lacunes, I'article explore la nécessité de s'intéresser davantage aux approches conséquentialistes pour valoriser le comportement éthique, qui font écho aux façons dont les fonctionnaires abordent d'instinct les jugements moraux.
The snakes and ladders of accountability: Contradictions between contracting and collaboration for Canada's voluntary sector
Authors: Phillips Susan , Levasseur Karine
Published: January 2008

Abstract: Although governing in Canada is in transition towards a model of horizontal “governance” that emphasizes collaboration with a variety of non‐governmental actors, the contracting culture and its associated accountability regime remain a legacy of “new public management.” As part of this transition, however, contracting is being used not only as a means to control performance but also as a governance tool to guide the development of more collaborative relationships between government as a whole and entire sectors. In its relationship with the voluntary sector, the Government of Canada is caught in these contradictory trends ‐ between the control of contracting and the collaboration inherent in a governance contract. This article first examines the impact on voluntary organizations of the very stringent federal rneasures over contribution agreements that were brought in as a reaction to crisis in 2000. The effects are found to be significant and overwhelmingly negative, imposing direct financial costs on voluntary organizations and stifling innovation. The authors then consider whether the implementation of the Accord Between the Government of Canada and the Voluntary Sector and its Code of Good Practice on Funding might mitigate the negative effects of these accountability measures.

Sommaire: S'il est vrai que le Canada s'oriente vers un modèle de « gouvemance horizontale « privilégiant la collaboration avec différents acteurs non‐gouvernementaux, la culture de marchés (contrats) et le régime d'imputabilité qui I'accompagne n'en demeurent pas moins un legs de la nouvelle gestion publique. Toutefois, dans le cadre de cette transition, les marchés (contrats), en plus de servir de moyen de contrôler le rendement, sont aussi un outil de gouvernance pour accroître la collaboration entre le gouvernement dam son ensemble et des secteurs tout entiers. Dam sa relation avec le secteur bénévole, le gowernement du Canada est pris dans ces tendances contradictoires ‐ entre le contrôle des marchés (contrats) et la collabordtion inhérente à un contrat de gouvernance. L'article se penche en premier sur l'incidence pour les organismes bénévoles des mesures contraignantes imposées par le gouvernement fédéral relativement aux ententes de contribution introduites pour fairc face a la crise qui a sévi en 2000. Ces impacts sont à la fois considérables et des plus négatifs, imposant des frais de financement directs aux organismes bénévoles et suffoquant l'innovation. Les auteurs cherchent ensuite a déterminer si la mise en application de l'accord passé entre le gouvernement du Canada et le secteur bénévole et son Code de boMes pratiques de financement pourraient atténuer certains effets négatifs de ces mesures d'imputabilité.
L'imaginaire éthique des répondants du réseau gouvernemental québécois en matière d‘éthique
Authors: Boisvert Yves
Published: January 2008

Sommaire: Existe‐t‐il des dispositifs en éthique gouvernementale qui ne relèvent pas de la logique propre à la déontologie, comme c'est la tendance chez les pays membres de I'ocde? Dans le cadre d'une recherche financée par le secrétariat du Conseil du Trésor du gouvernement du Québec, il nous a été possible d'explorer un dispositif appelé« Réseau des répondants en éthique ». À I'analyse des réponses obtenues lors d'une enquête de type terrain, nous avons constaté qu'il y avait concordance entre la définition que les répondants donnaient de l'éthique (conception très majoritairement auto‐régulationniste) et la perception qu'ils avaient du rôle qu'ils devaient jouer. Nous avons aussi fait la démonstration qu'il y a une rupture dans l'imaginaire éthique des répondants par rapport à la tendance hétéro‐régulationniste. Une des causes de ce changement de mentalité proviendrait du fait que les consultants en éthique du Québec ont adopté un modèle de réflexion éthique faisant bien la distinction entre l'éthique et la déontologie.

Abstract: Countries of the oecd have established “codes of conduct” for public servants. Do these codes have a determining effect on how ethics are applied? Our research project, funded by the Secretariat du Conseil du Tresor of the Government of Quebec, allowed us to explore what is called the Réseau des répondants en éthique, a network of ethics consultants. When we analysed field survey responses, we found a parallel between the ways the network respondents defined ethics (a primarily self‐regulated conception) and how they perceived the roles they were expected to play. We also found that there is a disjunction between the respondents' perception of ethics and the trend of regulation‐by‐others. One of the causes of this change in mentality would appear to be that Quebec's ethics consultants have adopted an ethical reflection model that distinguishes between ethics and codes of conduct.
Canadian federalism and the challenge of North American integration
Authors: Hale Geoffrey E.
Published: January 2008

Abstract: Canada's growing economic integration within North America has not resulted in parallel trends towards greater political integration or in the general harmonization of policies and regulations, as was hoped by some observers and feared by others. This article explains the incremental adaptation of Canadian federalism to market‐driven economic integration and assesses the factors that contribute to and constrain federal leadership and guidance of these processes. It outlines formal and informal processes for managing and reconciling overlapping jurisdictions ‐described as “complementary federalism” ‐ that balance the pursuit of policy coherence and pressures for policy harmonization with the recognition and accommodation of regional interests. The author examines the development and limits of complementary federalism in three major policy fields ‐ trade policy, taxation and the regulation of financial services and capital markets ‐ affected by trends towards North American economic integration.

Sommaire: L'intégration politique et I'harmonisation générale des politiques et des règlements n'ont pas suivi la même courbe ascendante que celle de l'intégration économique du Canada au sein de l'Amérique du Nord, selon I'espoir de certains observateurs et la crainte de certains autres. Cet article explique I'adaptation graduelle du fééeralisme canadien à I'intégration economique axée sur les forces du marché et se penche sur les facteurs contribuant ou freinant le leadership fédéral et son orientation de ces processus. Il expose les processus officiels et officieux permettant de gérer et de concilier les compétences qui se chevauchent ‐ décrits comme une forme de fédéralisme complémentaire ‐ afin d'équilibrer la recherche de cohérence en matiére de politiques, et les pressions exercées pour les harmoniser tout en reconnaissant et en ménageant les intérêts régionaux. L'article examine le déeloppement et les limites du fédéralisme complémentaire dans trois grands domaines de politiques ‐ la politique commerciale, la politique fiscale et la réglementation des services et des marchés financiers ‐ ces domaines étant affectés par les tendances vers une intégration économique nord‐américaine.
Local government: Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose
Authors: Siegel David
Published: January 2008

Canadian Municipal Government. By Kenneth Grant Crawford. Toronto: University of Toronto Press
Cabinet secrecy
Authors: D'Ombrain Nicholas
Published: January 2008

Abstract: Cabinet secrecy is a cornerstone of the constitution of the Westminster system of government and is safeguarded by convention, common law and statute law in leading Westminster regimes. Secrecy of cabinet proceedings is very much part of the efficient constitution, but the protections afforded by convention and law are neither well understood nor particularly popular. This article examines the convention and how it differs from the common law and statute law treatments of cabinet secrecy. It considers the essential requirements for cabinet secrecy: collective decision‐making; the protection of the views and opinions of ministers; and several related problems of the constitution, including the role of the cabinet as the informal executive, the use of the cabinet as an administrative coordinating mechanism, and ‐unique to Canada ‐ the use of statute law to remove the courts from their traditional role of determining the balance between individual rights and those of the state. Cabinet secrecy is essential to a system of government where responsible ministers collectively decide the government's policy, but in order to play a proper role in our affairs the convention on secrecy needs to be constitutionally validated by the articulation of its purpose and scope.

Sommaire:

Le secret ministériel est une pierre d'angle de la constitution de Westminster, protégé par la convention constitutionnelle, la common law et la législation dans les principaux pays du système de Westminster. Le secret ministériel fait intimement partie de la constitution efficace, mais les protections procurées par la convention et la Loi ne sont ni bien comprises N particulièrement bien vues. Cet article examine la convention et comment elle se démarque de la façon dont la common law et le droit législatif interprètent le secret ministériel. Il examine les conditions essenticlles du secret ministériel: la prise de décision collective et la protection des points de vue et opinions des ministres. II examine également plusieurs problèmes connexes de la constitution, y compris le rôle du cabinet comme le pouvoir exécutif officieux; le cabinet comme un mécanisme de coordination administrative et ‐ propre au Canada
Searching for accountability in a government without boundaries
Authors: Savoie Donald J.
Published: January 2008

Abstract: Establishing organizational boundaries to define responsibilities within government, along with clear lines of hierarchy, has shaped our machinery of government. Boundaries have been essential for defining distinct and specific roles for politicians and public servants. However, boundaries are creating a new world that opens up government to outsiders and increasingly calls for shared policy and administrative space within government. The policy‐making process within government is now much more horizontal, porous and complex, while decision‐making has become consultative. Boundaries have been affected by several factors, including the arrival of e‐government, the increasingly complex and interconnected nature of public policy issues, the rise of interest groups, and new organizational sites. The implications for political actors and public servants, for citizens and the concept of accountability, are far‐reaching.

Sommaire: L'établissement de frontières organisationnelles pour définir les respon‐sabilités au sein du gouvernement, ainsi que les lignes hiérarchiques transparentes ont façonné notre appareil gouvernemental. Cela a été déterminant pour établir un espace distinct et prévoir des rôes particuliers pour les politiques et les fonctionnaires. Cependant, les frontières sont en train de céder la place à un nouveau monde qui ouvre le gouvernement aux agents extérieurs et exige de plus en plus le partage d'un espace politique et administratif au sein du gouvemcment. Le processus d'élaboration de politiques au sein du gouvernement est maintenant beaucoup plus horizontal, perméable et complexe tandis que la prise de décisions est devenue consultative. Les frontières ont été attaquées sur plusieurs fronts, entre autres par l'arrivée du gouvernement électronique, la nature de plus en plus complexe et interconnectée des questions de politique publique, la montée des groupes d'intérêt et des nouveaux sites organisationnels. Les implications pour les acteurs politiques et les fonctionnaires, pour les citoyens et le concept de reddition de comptes sont lour‐des de conséquences.
Michel Crozier et L'analyse stratégique du phénomène bureaucratique
Authors: Lemieux Vincent
Published: January 2008

Nous proposons d'appeler système bureaucratique d'organisation tout système d'organisation dans lequel le circuit erreurs‐informations‐corrections fonctionne mat et où il ne peut y avoir, de ce fait, correction et réadaptation rapide des programmes d'action, en fonction des erreurs commises.

Le phéornène bureaucratique. Essai sur les tendances bureaucratiq ues des systèmes d'organisation modernes et sur leurs relations en France avec le système social et culturel. Par mictjel crozier. Poris: Éditions du Seuil, 1963. Pp. 413.
Book Notes Résumés de livres
Authors: Graham Andrew , Lyness Lynda
Published: January 2008

Eugene Bardach, Getting Agencies to Work Together: The Practice and Theory of Managerial Craftsmanship. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 1998. Pp. xi, 338, bibliographical references, index.
Active conscience or administrative vanguard?: The Commissioner of Official Languages as an agent of change
Authors: MacMillan C. Michael
Published: January 2008

Abstract: The Commissioner of Official Languages as an officer of Parliament is a unique institution that incorporates multiple roles. Its ombudsman component is enhanced by extensive powers of independent action, which make it an important instrument for holding governmental institutions accountable. Developments in federal language policy since 1980 have given far greater importance to its policy advocacy role, which has been vigorously exercised in legal interventions. Its role as linguistic auditor general is perhaps overstated and may more accurately be described as an enhancement of the ombudsman role. Its significant policy advocacy role poses issues regarding the significance of federalism in regard to language matters. Increasingly the commission conducts its activities at the intersection point of constitutional jurisdictions and must navigate around them. In addressing this ongoing challenge, the Commissioner of Official Languages operates in the vanguard of public officials on the national unity front.

Sommaire: Le poste de Commissaire aux langues officielles en tant que haut fonctionnaire du Parlement est une institution unique qui intègre de multiples rôles. Son rôle de médiateur comporte de vastes pouvoirs d'action indépendante, qui en font un instrument important en ce qui concerne l'imputabilité des institutions gouverne‐mentales. Les nouveautés dans la politique linguistique fédérate depuis 1980 ont accordé une importance beaucoup plus grande à son rôle de défenseur de politiques vigoureusement exercé dans certaines interventions judiciaires. Son rôle de Vérificateur général linguistique est peut‐être exagéré et pourrait être plus correctement décrit comme un rôle amélioré de protecteur du citoyen. Son rôle considerable de défenseur de politiques pose des problèmes concernant l'importance du fédéralisme face aux questions linguistiques. La Commission exerce de plus en plus ses activités au point d'intersection de juridictions constitutionnelles et doit en tenir compte. Face à ces défis permanents, le Commissaire aux langues officielles agit à l'avant‐garde des agents publics sur le front de l'unité nationale.
A cancer control strategy and deliberative federalism: Modernizing health care and democratizing intergovernmental relations
Authors: Prince Michael J.
Published: January 2008

Abstract: This article describes the nature of, and the need for, a national strategy on cancer control. It then considers the implications of such a strategy for the working models of Canadian federalism. The ideas, structure, and process of developing the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control involves a new model for the conduct of intergovernmental and inter‐sectoral relations, an approach we can call deliberative federalism. In this model, interest groups, professional associations, and other social actors are part of the modern state alongside cabinet parliamentary government and federalism. As a multiple partnership arrangement, the Strategy is a platform for communication between governments, non‐governmental agencies, health professionals, and cancer survivors and families. Adopting a strategy for cancer control is thus an opportunity to modernize the management of chronic diseases and to further democratize the conduct of intergovernmental relations.

Sommaire: Le présent article décrit la nature et le besoin d'une stratégie nationale pour la lutte contre le cancer. Il examine ensuite les implications d'une telle stratégie pour les modèles de travail du fédéralisme canadien. Les idées, la structure et le processus concernant l'élaboration de la Stratégie canadienne de lutte contre le cancer impliquent un nouveau modèle pour les relations intergouvernementales et intersectorielles, une approche que nous pouvons nommer fédéralisme délibératif. Dans ce modèle, les groupes d'intérêts, les associations professionnelles et autres acteurs sociaux font partie de l'État moderne, aux côtés du gouvernement parlementaire et du fédéralisme. En tant que contrat de partenariat multiple, la Stratégie est une plate‐forme pour la communication entre les gouvernements, les organismes non gouvernementaux, les professíonnels de la santé et les survivants du cancer et leurs familles. L'adoption d'une stratégie de lutte contre le cancer est donc une occasion de moderniser la gestion des maladies chroniques et de démocratiser davantage les relations intergouvernementales.
Health reform and privatization in Alberta
Authors: Church John , Smith Neale
Published: January 2008

Abstract: In 2000 the Government of Alberta passed legislation to regulate the activities of private health clinics in the provision of insured health services through contracts with regional health authorities. In seven years the interaction of ideas, interests, institutions, and external events forced the Government of Alberta to move from a non‐regulatory policy stance to a policy of stringent regulation. The legislation struck a balance among competing values relating to public and private sector roles, increased access and choice, regulation of the growth of public expenditures, and quality assurance.

Sommaire: En l'an 2000, le gouvernement de l'Alberta a adopté une loi visant à réglementer les activités des cliniques de sante privées en matière de prestation de services de santé assurés par l'intermédiaire de contrats avec les offices régionaux de la santé. En sept ans, l'interaction d'idées, d'intérêts, d'institutions et d'événements externes a forcé le gouvernement de l'Alberta à passer d'une position de politique non exécutoire à une politique de réglementation rigoureuse. La loi établit un équilibre entre les valeurs opposées que représentent le rôle important du secteur privé, un accès et un choix accrus, la réglementation de la croissance des dépenses publiques et le contrôle de la qualité.
Reinvigorating publicly funded medicare in Ontario: new public policy and public administration techniques
Authors: Fenn W. Michael
Published: January 2008

Abstract: In the increasingly complex and “horizontal” environment of Canadian governmental decision‐making, the ability of governments to advance a major new policy initiative can be compromised or impeded by the often cumbersome systems evolved to ensure both due diligence and a comprehensive approach. In Ontario, the urgent and multi‐faceted health care reform agenda has been implemented using a new set of policy‐development and program‐implementation techniques. This paper summarizes those reforms. In doing so, it outlines the degree to which the reform agenda has been implemented using techniques and processes that have been grafted onto or even short circuited existing decision‐making systems. The paper also draws conclusions about the potential utility of the Ontario experience both for health care reform and for developing new mechanisms to implement challenging, time‐limited reform agendas within parliamentary systems of government with politically neutral civil services.

Sommaire: Dans le contexte de plus en plus complexe et “horizontal” de la prise de décisions gouvernementale au Canada, l'aptitude des gouvernements à promouvoir une nouvelle initiative politique majeure peut être compromise ou entravée par la lourdeur des systèmes élaborés pour assurer une diligence raisonnable et une approche exhaustive. En Ontario, le programme de réforme des soins de santé, urgent et polyvalent, a été mis en œuvre grâce à un nouvel ensemble de techniques d‘élaboration de politiques et de mise en œuvre de programmes. Le présent article résume ces réformes. Ce faisant, il souligne comment le programme de réforme a été mis en œuvre grâce à des techniques et processus qui ont été greffés, ou qui ont même court‐circuité les systèmes de prise de décisions existants. L'article tire aussi des conclusions sur l'utilité possible de l'expérience de l'Ontario en ce qui concerne la réforme des soins de santé mais aussi la mise au point de nouveaux mécanismes pour exécuter des programmes de réforme difficiles, à délai déterminé, au sein de systèmes parlementaires de gouvernement avec des fonctions civiles politiquement neutres.
L'expérience québécoise en matière de réforme administrative: la loi sur l'administration publique
Authors: Côté Louis
Published: January 2008

Sommaire: Cet article porte sur l'expérience concrète de réforme administrative conduite dans la fonction publique québécoise depuis le printemps 2000. Afin de comprendre les raisons qui expliquent l'entrée relativement tardive et plutôt modeste du Québec dans la nouvelle vague de réformes administratives, nous presentons dans une première section l'arrière‐plan historique de la réforme québécoise. Puis, prenant appui sur les résultats empiriques de deux recherches réalisées l'une en 2003 et l'autre en 2005, les trois sections suivantes examinent la façon dont la réforme québécoise a répondu aux principaux enjeux touchant les aspects conceptuel et stratégique d'une réforme. Nous traitons d'abord les enjeux suivants concernant la conception d'ensemble de la réforme: la prise en compte des spécificités de la gestion publique, l'application d'une approche différenciée en fonction des paramètres structuraux et le respect de la dynamique du système administratif national. Sont ensuite abordés les enjeux ayant trait à la mise en œuvre de la réforme: l'engagement des acteurs, les modes d'intervention des organismes centraux et les ressources allouées. On examine enfin quelques enjeux reliés aux deux axes majeurs retenus par la réforme: le service aux citoyens et aux entreprises et la gestion par résultats.

Abstract: This article looks at the concrete experience of the administrative reforms that have been conducted in the Quebec public service since spring 2000. In order to understand the reasons why Quebec was relatively late in joining the new wave of administrative reform, and rather modest in its participation when it did so, the first section of the article documents its historical background. The next three sections examine the way in which the Quebec reform has addressed the key issues related to the conceptual and strategic aspects of the reform process, based on the empirical results of two research studies, conducted in 2003 and 2005. Examined first are issues concerning the overall vision of reform: the taking into account of the specifics of public management, the application of a differentiated approach based on structural parameters, and the respect for the dynamics of the national administrative system. The article then looks at issues relating to reform implementation: the engagement of the players, the modes of intervention of the central agencies, and the resources allocated. Finally, the article examines some of the issues in connection with the two major themes targeted by the reform: services to citizens and businesses, and management by results.
Entry barriers and evolution of banking systems: Lessons from the 1980s Canadian western bank failures
Authors: Darroch James L. , McMillan Charles J.
Published: January 2008

Abstract: As federal policy‐makers revise and update the Bank Act, any change should be seen in the context of public policy towards financial institutions in Canada. Rather than being condemned to repeat history, both policy‐makers and potential bank entrepreneurs would be well advised to re‐examine the Report of the Inquiry into the Collapse of the ccb and Northland Bank (August 1986), chaired by the Honourable Willard Z. Estey. Public policy for financial institutions faces the challenge of reconciling competing interests. Since 1867, Canada has experienced a nationally controlled banking system that is highly stable (i.e., few bankruptcies) and that has enabled in‐flows of capital needed for national economic development. The Canadian Commercial Bank failure raised a fundamental challenge to the government's policy agenda. When asked what the government's position should be, the three officials recommended the rescue package. All three participants from the political side advised against it. Future policy must learn the lessons from this important and atypical moment in Canadian financial history.

Sommaire: Alors que les decisionnaires federaux revoient et mettent à jour la Loi sur les banques, toute modification devrait être envisagée dans le contexte de la politique gouvernementale visant les institutions financières au Canada. Plutôt que d'être condamnés à répéter les mêmes erreurs, les décisionnaires et les banquiers potentiels feraient bien mieux de réexaminer le Rapport de la commission d'enquête sur la faillite de la Banque commerciale du Canada et la Norbanque (août 1986), présidée par l'honorable Willard Z. Estey. La politique gouvernementale concernant les institutions financières a la tâche difficile de réconcilier des intérêts opposés. Depuis 1867, le Canada connaît un système bancaire contrôléà l'échelle nationale qui est très stable, ayant enregistré peu de faillites, et qui a permis des rentrées de fonds nécessaires au développement économique national. La faillite de la BCC a lancé un défi fonda mental au programme de politique gouvernementale. Lorsqu'on leur a demandé quelle devrait être la position du gouvernement, les trois responsables ont recommandé le programme de renflouement. Les trois participants du secteur politique ont conseillé le contraire. Les futurs décisionnaires doivent tirer des leçons de cet évènement important et exceptionnel dans l'histoire financière canadienne.
Personality traits of municipal politicians and staff
Authors: Ashton Michael , Kushner Joseph , Siegel David
Published: January 2008

Abstract: Conflict between elected officials and civil servants is not an uncommon occurrence at the city level and it may at times paralyze the organization. The purpose of this article is to determine whether certain basic personality traits among municipal politicians and public servants could explain why the two groups have differing perspectives and why they may at times have difficulty working together. While they can be a source of considerable tension, these differing traits can also be seen as complementary, in which case they might enhance the organization's performance.

Sommaire: Les conflits entre les responsables élus et les fonctionnaires ne sont pas quelque chose de rare à l'échelle des villes et ils peuvent parfois paralyser l'organisme. L'objet du présent article est de déterminer si certains traits de personnalité chez les responsables politiques municipaux et les fonctionnaires pourraient expliquer pourquoi les deux groupes ont des perspectives différentes et pourquoi ils peuvent parfois avoir des difficultés à collaborer. Alors qu'ils peuvent être une source de tension considérable, ces différents traits de personnalité peuvent aussi être considérés comme complémentaires et, dans ce cas, ils pourraient renforcer la performance de l'organisme.
Elaboration of Conductive Thermal Storage Composites Made of Phase Change Materials and Graphite for Solar Plant
Authors: Pincemin S. , Py X. , Olives R. , Christ M. , Oettinger O.
Published: January 2008

New thermal storage composites made of graphite and PCM (NaNO3∕KNO3 eutectic) have been developed for solar thermal power plants using direct solar steam generation. Those materials, obtained using different elaboration routes (compounding, infiltration, cold compression) and graphite types, are presented with their respective properties (enhanced thermal conductivities, thermal storage capacities, stability) and compared together. Both the laboratory and industrial scales and grades are considered and compared. The infiltration route has been found to be inefficient before the two other ones. Compound composites present isotropic properties and thermal conductivity intensification in the medium range (a factor of 10 for 7wt% in graphite). Cold compressed composites present highly anisotropic properties and strong intensification in thermal conductivity (a factor of 31 at 200°C for 20wt% in graphite). Their melting and solidification temperatures as well as their intrinsic storage capacity are close to the pure salt ones.
Latent Heat Storage for Solar Steam Systems
Authors: Steinmann Wolf-Dieter , Tamme Rainer
Published: January 2008

Solar thermal systems, including direct steam generation in the absorbers, require isothermal energy storage systems. One option to fulfil this requirement is the application of phase change materials (PCMs) to absorb or release energy. The implementation of cost-effective storage systems demands the compensation of the low thermal heat conductivity that is characteristic for the candidate materials for PCM. Solar steam generation for power plants requires latent heat storage systems for a saturation temperature range between 200°C and 320°C. This paper describes the basic concepts investigated and first results of research activities aiming at the demonstration of a storage system using steam provided by parabolic trough collectors.
Practical Considerations in Designing Large Scale “Beam Down” Optical Systems
Authors: Segal Akiba , Epstein Michael
Published: January 2008

The “beam down” optics or “solar tower reflector” has been successfully used recently for testing in different projects at the Weizmann Institute of Science. There are currently sufficient data on this technology to evaluate its upscaling for commercial uses. The sizing of a tower reflector (TR) is directly linked to the layout of the heliostat field and the geometry of the ground secondary concentrator (compound parabolic concentrator (CPC)). It depends on its position relative to the aim point of the field, amount of spillage around it, and the allowable solar flux striking the TR. Its position influences the size of the image at the entrance plane of the ground CPC and the spillage around the CPC aperture. The spillage around the CPC is also directly related to the exit diameter of the CPC (equal to the entrance opening of the solar reactor, matching the CPC exit) and therefore linked to the input energy concentration, thermal losses, and working temperature in the reactor. Restrictions on the size of the exit of the CPC can influence the entire design of the optical system. This paper provides the correlations between the main design parameters and their sensitivity analysis. These correlations are based on edge-ray methodology, which provides a quick and sufficiently accurate means for preliminary evaluating large-scale beam down solar plants without the need for detailed design of the heliostat field and considering their errors. The size of the TR and the geometry of the CPC are correlated to the size of the reflective area of the heliostats field (and the power output). Thermal modeling of the TR has been performed, showing the maximum energy flux allowed on the reflector to avoid overheating, using natural cooling to the surrounding air. The current mirrors of the TR are limited to working temperatures of 120–130°C to achieve reasonable lifetime. This parameter must be considered when determining the TR position. A key issue discussed in this paper is the amount of spillage around the CPC entrance. To reduce the spillage losses, one needs to increase the size of the exit aperture (although there are practical limitations to this, e.g., due to the size of the reactor’s window). This, however, reduces the concentration and increases the thermal losses from the reactor and requires optimization work.
Three-Dimensional Analysis of a Concentrated Solar Flux
Authors: Riveros-Rosas David , Sánchez-González Marcelino , Estrada Claudio A.
Published: January 2008

In order to improve the durability of receivers used in solar concentrating systems, it is necessary to minimize thermal stress during their operation. A possible way to do that is to design receivers in which the radiative flux density is homogeneous at the surface. For this reason, a detailed 3D study has been carried out for the distribution of concentrated solar radiation in the focal zone of a parabolic concentrator. A computer program has been developed to obtain isosurfaces of solar irradiance and achieve a homogeneous radiation flux on the receiver surface. The algorithm of the program proposes a methodology to obtain flux isosurfaces for a great variety of optical configurations. The effect of the optical errors on the mirror surface has been studied, as well as the effect of the shape of the mirror, e.g., round, square, or faceted. The numerical calculations were made using the convolution ray tracing technique.
The ability to listen with independent ears
Authors: Gallun Frederick J. , Mason Christine R. , Kidd Gerald
Published: January 2008

In three experiments, listeners identified speech processed into narrow bands and presented to the right (“target”) ear. The ability of listeners to ignore (or even use) conflicting contralateral stimulation was examined by presenting various maskers to the target ear (“ipsilateral”) and nontarget ear (“contralateral”). Theoretically, an absence of contralateral interference would imply selectively attending to only the target ear; the presence of interference from the contralateral stimulus would imply that listeners were unable to treat the stimuli at the two ears independently; and improved performance in the presence of informative contralateral stimulation would imply that listeners can process the signals at both ears and keep them separate rather than combining them. Experiments showed evidence of the ability to selectively process (or respond to) only the target ear in some, but not all, conditions. No evidence was found for improved performance due to contralateral stimulation. The pattern of interference found across experiments supports an interaction of stimulus-based factors (auditory grouping) and task-based factors (demand for processing resources) and suggests that listeners may not always be able to listen to the “better” ear even when it would be beneficial to do so.
Flat-response sound source technique for using the two-microphone method in an impedance tube
Authors: Jing Xiaodong , Sun Xiaofeng
Published: January 2008

In this letter, to improve the acoustic impedance measurement in a tube using the two-microphone method, a sound source technique is developed that is capable of generating incident sound waves of uniform intensity over the entire frequency range of interest. The basic principle is to use a digitally synthesized compensation input signal to achieve a flat response of the sound source provided by one or more loudspeakers. The present sound source technique has been demonstrated to be very effective and easily implemented with the current impedance tube testing systems.
Performance prediction of passive time reversal communications
Authors: Song H. C. , Hodgkiss W. S. , Kim Sea-Moon
Published: January 2008

A recent paper [M. Stojanovic J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 117, 1173–1185 (2005)] presented theoretical performance bounds of time reversal communications. In this letter, the performance of time reversal communications is evaluated using at-sea experimental data and compared to the theory for two different approaches; (1) time reversal alone and (2) time reversal combined with channel equalization. It is found that approach (1) shows a good agreement between theory and data. On the other hand, approach (2) indicates that the data is about 3–5dB below the theory which assumes perfect knowledge of the channel, an infinite number of taps to remove the intersymbol interference, and no need for phase tracking. Taking these into consideration, the theoretical performance can provide a useful upper bound for predicting performance of time reversal communications.
Onset, growth, and recovery of in-air temporary threshold shift in a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus)
Authors: Kastak David , Reichmuth Colleen , Holt Marla M. , Mulsow Jason , Southall Brandon L. , Schusterman Ronald J.
Published: January 2008

A California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) was tested in a behavioral procedure to assess noise-induced temporary threshold shift (TTS) in air. Octave band fatiguing noise was varied in both duration (1.5–50min) and level (94–133dB re 20μPa) to generate a variety of equal sound exposure level conditions. Hearing thresholds were measured at the center frequency of the noise (2500Hz) before, immediately after, and 24h following exposure. Threshold shifts generated from 192 exposures ranged up to 30dB. Estimates of TTS onset [159dB re (20μPa)2s] and growth (2.5dB of TTS per dB of noise increase) were determined using an exponential function. Recovery for threshold shifts greater than 20dB followed an 8.8dB per log(min) linear function. Repeated testing indicated possible permanent threshold shift at the test frequency, but a later audiogram revealed no shift at this frequency or higher. Sea lions appear to be equally susceptible to noise in air and in water, provided that the noise exposure levels are referenced to absolute sound detection thresholds in both media. These data provide a framework within which to consider effects arising from more intense and/or sustained exposures.
A spread spectrum technique for the study of outdoor noise propagation
Authors: Waddington David C. , Angus Jamie A. S.
Published: January 2008

This paper describes field measurements to assess innovative correlation techniques for the study of meteorological and topographical effects on sound propagation. To take advantage of the properties of coded signals in a time-varying system, the correlation signal is produced by the modulation of a code sequence onto an acoustic carrier. An established method of increasing signal-to-noise ratio is to use correlation techniques with maximum length sequences. However, this standard method is restricted in its use outdoors because of the time-variant nature of the atmosphere. On the other hand, the correlation properties of a directly carrier-modulated code sequence modulation signal may be exploited in a time-varying environment. An experiment is described in which the correlation properties of the spread spectrum signal are demonstrated and are used to calculate accurate times of flight that compare well with sonic anemometer measurements of speed of sound. The results illustrate that an acoustical spread spectrum system can provide significantly improved ways of measuring sound propagation outdoors.
Optimal adaptive focusing through heterogeneous media with the minimally invasive inverse filter
Authors: Vignon François , de Rosny Julien , Aubry Jean-François , Fink Mathias
Published: January 2008

The inverse filter is a technique used to adaptively focus waves through heterogeneous media. It is based on the inversion of the Green’s functions matrix between the M transducers of a focusing array and N control points in the focal area. The inverse filter minimizes the pressure deposited around the focal point. However it is highly invasive, requiring the presence of N transducers or hydrophones in the focal area at the control points’ locations to measure the Green’s functions. This paper presents a way of reaching the inverse filter’s focusing quality with a minimally invasive setup: only one transducer (at the desired focal location) is needed. This minimally invasive inverse filter takes advantage of the fact all the information about the propagation medium can be retrieved from the signals backscattered by the medium towards the focusing array, if the propagation medium is lossless. A numerical simulation is performed to test this minimally invasive inverse filter through a scattering, lossless medium. The focusing quality equals the conventional, highly invasive inverse filter’s. The average spatial and temporal contrast is increased by up to 10dB compared to the time reversal focusing.
Learning English vowels with different first-language vowel systems: Perception of formant targets, formant movement, and duration
Authors: Iverson Paul , Evans Bronwen G.
Published: January 2008

This study examined whether individuals with a wide range of first-language vowel systems (Spanish, French, German, and Norwegian) differ fundamentally in the cues that they use when they learn the English vowel system (e.g., formant movement and duration). All subjects: (1) identified natural English vowels in quiet; (2) identified English vowels in noise that had been signal processed to flatten formant movement or equate duration; (3) perceptually mapped best exemplars for first- and second-language synthetic vowels in a five-dimensional vowel space that included formant movement and duration; and (4) rated how natural English vowels assimilated into their L1 vowel categories. The results demonstrated that individuals with larger and more complex first-language vowel systems (German and Norwegian) were more accurate at recognizing English vowels than were individuals with smaller first-language systems (Spanish and French). However, there were no fundamental differences in what these individuals learned. That is, all groups used formant movement and duration to recognize English vowels, and learned new aspects of the English vowel system rather than simply assimilating vowels into existing first-language categories. The results suggest that there is a surprising degree of uniformity in the ways that individuals with different language backgrounds perceive second language vowels.
Auditory steady-state responses to chirp stimuli based on cochlear traveling wave delay
Authors: Elberling Claus , Don Manuel , Cebulla Mario , Stürzebecher Ekkehard
Published: January 2008

This study investigates the use of chirp stimuli to compensate for the cochlear traveling wave delay. The temporal dispersion in the cochlea is given by the traveling time, which in this study is estimated from latency-frequency functions obtained from (1) a cochlear model, (2) tone-burst auditory brain stem response (ABR) latencies, (3) and narrow-band ABR latencies. These latency-frequency functions are assumed to reflect the group delay of a linear system that modifies the phase spectrum of the applied stimulus. On the basis of this assumption, three chirps are constructed and evaluated in 49 normal-hearing subjects. The auditory steady-state responses to these chirps and to a click stimulus are compared at two levels of stimulation (30 and 50dBnHL) and a rate of 90∕s. The chirps give shorter detection time and higher signal-to-noise ratio than the click. The shorter detection time obtained by the chirps is equivalent to an increase in stimulus level of 20dB or more. The results indicate that a chirp is a more efficient stimulus than a click for the recording of early auditory evoked responses in normal-hearing adults using transient sounds at a high rate of stimulation.
Perception of music performance on historical and modern commercial recordings
Authors: Timmers Renee
Published: January 2008

Performing styles as well as recording styles have changed considerably within the 20th century. To what extent do the age of a recording, the unfamiliarity with performing style, and the quality of a reproduction of a recording systematically influence how we perceive performances on record? Four exploratory experiments were run to formulate an answer to this question. Each experiment examined a different aspect of the perception of performance, including judgments of quality, perceived emotion, and dynamics. Fragments from Die junge Nonne sung by famous singers from the start, middle, and second half of the 20th century were presented in a noisy and clean version to musically trained participants. The results show independence of perception of emotional activity from recording date, strong dependence of perceived quality and emotional impact on recording date, and only limited effects of reproduction quality. Standards have clearly changed, which influence judgments of quality and age. Additionally, changes restrict the communication between early recorded performers and modern listeners to some extent as shown by systematically smaller variations in communicated dynamics and emotional valence for older recordings.