bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pacific Business: Small Indigenous Business in the Pacific
Authors: Hailey John M.
Published: October 2007

John M. Hailey is a Fellow with the Pacific Island Development Development Program, East-West Centre, Hawaii, USA. Despite the problems faced by small indigenous businesses operating in the Pacific islands there is a growing optimism that indigenous enterprise can play an integral role in the balanced development of these islands. At a recent regional workshop on indigenous business development in the Pacific it was strongly argued that governments should do more to promote small indigenous enterprise. For the indigenous business sector was seen as an area of future growth and potential in which new economic opportunites could be created, new the community. The paper argues that this potential can only be achieved if Pacific islanders are willing to integrate their personal values with the regours of business practice and available business resources. The future of small indigenous business depended on Pacific entrepreneurs resoving the inherent contradictions that exist between contemporary business practice and the communal commitments that are integral to Pacific cultures and the island way of life.
Small Businesses and Exporting: A Literature Review
Authors: Miesenbock Kurt J.
Published: October 2007

Kurt J. Miesenbock is a lecturer at the University of Economics, Vienna, Austria. The present literature on international business falls into two main categories: the first covers multinational corporations, their development, organisational and marketing problems, and strategies; the second comprises the internationalisation of small and medium-sized businesses. Early publications on this issue appeared in the early 1 960s and since then the issue has gained more and more importance. However, the extensive literature based on empirical studies is full of inconsistencies and a conclusive theory of small business internationalisation is far from available. In addition to this the relevant literature is widely scattered and difficult to obtain with the result that few analysts appear to be aware of more than a proportion of what has been written. The aim of this paper is to compile, systematise and compare all those empirical studies on the export behaviour of small and medium-sized firms to provide a useful basis for further research.
Who Are the Contemporary British Petty Bourgeoisie?
Authors: Burrows Roger
Published: October 2007

ROGER BURROWS IS A LECTURER IN sociology at the University of Surrey, England. This paper uses data from the 1985 General household Survey to investigate the determnants of a contemporary petty bourgeoisie class status in the United status in the United Kingdom. The analysis is based on a logisticd regression procedure which allows for amultivariate analysis of the sort seldom found within the current small business research literature. Independent variables examiend are social class origins, highest education qualifications and gender. He finds that the group with the highest probability of being member of the petty bourgeoisie is men from employer and manager backgrounds, who have some kind of aprenticenship as their highest form of educational attainment. The Group with the lowest Probability is women from non-petty bourgeoise backgrounds who have some form of post compulsory schooling qualifications.
Vision and Relations: Elements for an Entrepreneurial Metamodel
Authors: Filion Louis Jacques
Published: October 2007

Dr LOUIS JACQUES FILION WAS UNTIL recently director of the Master's programme in Small Business at the University of Quebec at Trois Rivieres. He has recently been appointed director of training and research at the Heart of Quebec Enterpreneurship Center attached to the same university. This research is based on a smaple of 59 enterpreneurs-51 in small firms and eight in large firms from five countries. The implict systemic model of each enterpreneur was mapped using the soft systems methodology developed by Peter Checkland at the University of Lancaster in Britain. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews with the enterpreneurs themselves and,in most cases, teh people around them. The metamodel presetned tin this paper is a result of superimposing the models derived from each enterpreneur studied.

This model implies three categories of vision: emerging, central and secondary. Following presentation and explanation of each category, a visionary process is proposed, based on the study and analysis of what enterpreneur do. The main factor supporting both teh development of teh vision and visionary achievement seems to be the enterpreneur's relations systems. Although it is the man factor as far the development of the vision is concrened, theree otehr factors also contribute to the visionary process: leadership, energy and the perceptive system conditioned by each individual's own values. this latter is introduced as the concept of Weltancschauung. A visionary process presetns an interest for enterpreneurial activites as it offers as framework for reflection and actions. It also offers a way for the enterpreneurs to integrate a tam into what he is doing.
The European Scene of Small Business Research
Authors: Roessl Dietmar
Published: October 2007

Dietmar Roessl is assiatant professor of mangment at thedepartment of small business mangament, vienna universitty of economics and businesss administration, Austria. His research interstt include interfirm co-operation and metthodlgical sses this paper aims to analyse the culture and structure fo research in the field of small and medium sized enterprise, which is seen as a precondition for a more intensive study of the individual results of research is confirmed with a variety of methodlogical approaches, research designs and research mangment practice. This variety in the purpose of research,themethod anad presentation of the result makes it more difficult, oon the one hand, to aggregate numerious individuals results to consistent heuristic frames of referewnce or ttheroris and on otehr otehr hand, to communicate with thescietific communiity. As a startng point for ssystematic investigation of scieinctif actvities, the paepr deals with several aspects of the researach of sciencein a more descriptive sense. by means of empiricala data gathered in Europe on the contents.the methds andthe organsaton of research, light should be thrown on some aspects of the culture and structure of research witthin the small business scene.
The Competitive Performance of SMEs in the UK Clothing Industry
Authors: Chell Elizabeth , Haworth Jean M.
Published: October 2007

DR. ELIZABETH CHELL IS Professor of management at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, and was director, Small Business Research Centre, Salford University, England, when this paper was written. Dr. Jean Haworth was senior lecturer in the Department of Business and Management Studies, Salford university. This paper seeks to examine the strategic positioning of 25 small- to medium-sized clothing manuacturers within a 50-mile radius of Salford, in north-west England. The empirical investigation was supported by a research grant from the UK Economic and Social Research Council and began in 1987. By January 1989, each firm had been assessed in terms of its competitive environment, demand for product, financial position and strategy adopted. Two years later the firms were examined in respect of any chage in strategy, in employment, and in their perceived 'health'. The paper presents a framework for assessing the competitive position and strategic behaviour of the SME in a declining industry; the relationship between these factors and the consequent 'health' of the firm.
Successful Consulting with Small and Medium-Sized vs. Large Clients: Meeting the Needs of the Client?
Authors: Rynning Majo
Published: October 2007

Major Rynning is with the department of business administration of Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland, Consultancy and prerequisties for successful consulting ahve generally been dicussed in terms of case studies or recommendation inductively developed by senior couosultants. in the empirical research dealing with typical small business prolem wether the firms ahve received assistance, what kind and with what results, seen from the client's perspective has also freuently been one part of the study. But ther have been few systematic studies directly addressing the conditions for a successful consulting covering the views of both client and consultant. Both the accumulated empiricals research and the systematic discussion of teh differnt modes of consulting and their suitability for differnet types of situation produce. some generalisation which can be tested. furtehrmore, transaction cost theory ideas of reasonable control mechanisam aare likely to emerge in a particular consultant-client relationship. This study was carried out to flow up generationsation from such research and special attention was paid to the consulatant-client relationship as a process uncovering th different stages from teh perspectives of both client and consultant.
Managing the Employment Relationship in the Smaller Firm: Possibilities for Human Resource Management
Authors: Marlow Sue , Patton Dean
Published: October 2007

Sue Marlow and Dean Patton are with Leicester Business School, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK. The authors would like to thank Adam Strange of Warwick Business School for his assistance in preparation of this paper.
Entrepreneurship and Professional Management: A Fatal Distinction
Authors: Watson Tony J.
Published: October 2007

TONY WATSON IS PROFESSOR OF Organisational and Managerial Behaviour at the Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, England. The arguments developed in the present paper began to emerge as the author considered the implications for smaller businesses of the significant problems found in the processes of 'professional management' encountered in the large organisation he studied for the book In Search of Management (Routledge, 1994). The paper argues that the key issue for large and small firms alike is the nature and quality of its management. The form that this issue takes may vary with the size of firm but to direct attention away from the question of the appropriate mix of the entrepreneurial and the administrative aspects for any given size of enterprise towards matters of identifying evolutionary stages of growth is to embark on an unfortunate diversion. And, more seriously, to analyse growth processes in terms of a movement from entrepreneurship to professional management is to use a potentially fatal distinction. A small firm lacking management may die, as might a large one lacking entrepreneurship.
The Role of Information in the Internationalisation of SMEs: A Typological Approach
Authors: Cafferata Roberto , Mensi Riccardo
Published: October 2007

ROBERTO CAFFERATA IS PROFESSOR OF general management at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy, and Riccardo Mensi is a management consultant and visiting professor at the University of Urbino, Italy. In this paper the authors aim at defining the basic principles underlying the relationship between the strategies of internationalisation of small and medium-sized firms and the demand for information/communication services (I/C services). The study is based on an assumption of a high degree of differentiation of strategic choices and structural models available to small and medium enterprises for the internationalisation of their activities. The need for I/C services depends on a set of conditions which vary according to the present vocational attitudes and the past experiences of the small entrepreneur. The authors build up a taxonomy of small and medium enterprises which need either traditional or advanced information services to operate abroad. This taxonomy is being tested through a survey based on questionnaires sent directly to Italian small entrepreneurs. The taxonomy could eventually be of help in the identification of appropriate links between demand and supply, as well as be useful for the implementation of bettei- focused public policies, where needed.
Targeting Established SMEs: Does Their Age Matter?
Authors: Smallbone David , North David
Published: October 2007

DAVID SMALLBONE IS THE HEAD OF THE Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research and David North is Reader in Local Economy at Middlesex University, United Kingdom. This paper is concerned with established small and medium-sized enterprises. It considers the question of whether a firm's age should be a key criterion in any future targeting of business support. Using evidence from a recent study of the survival and growth of a panel of manufacturing SMEs in the UK in the 1980s, two main arguments for focusing support on younger firms are considered: first, that their prospects for employment generation are better than that of older firms, and second, that they may need particular help in order to evolve successfully into more mature businesses. The empirical evidence presented shows that while younger firms may have a higher propensity to generate jobs than older SMEs, this is to some extent offset by their lower survival chances. Since some mature firms also demonstrate a potential to generate jobs, the authors conclude that it would be a mistake to target policy support exclusively on younger firms. It is growth potential not age per se that matters from the point of view of an SME's employment generating potential so that policy should seek to encourage and support growing firms at different stages of their development. However, within the context of such a policy, one particular target group for policy support are those young firms which are growing strongly but which have weaknesses which may threaten their longer-term development (such as a shortage of development finance). Nevertheless, while some young growing firms may need particular kinds of support this should be offered within the context of policies designed to encourage and support growing businesses at different stages of development.
Buyer Dominated Relationships in a Supply Chain-A Case Study of Four Small-Sized Suppliers
Authors: Holmlund Maria , Kock Soren
Published: October 2007

Maria Holmund Is a researcher at the swedish school of economics and buisness administration, Helsigfors, Finland, and Soren Kock is an associate professor at the swedish school of Economics and Business administration, Vasa, Finland, Partnership, Co-operation, and stretegic alliance are among treds that have emerged during the 1990s as outcomes of changes in the economic environment. Supply chain managment, thedynamics and interaction in the relationship between buyers and supplier have received increased attention. The relationship between buyer and suppliers, however, have often been categorised as balanced as the studied compaqnies have been more or less equal in size. In this study we have chosen to analyse supply relationship between a dominating buyer and four small supplier. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the buyer-supplier relationship in order to evaluate their stregth. The focus ha mainly been on the technical planning, knowledge, social and legal economica bonds that have emered over time.in the studies relationship these bonds, when present, have been found in a range from rather weak to strong. Moreover we belive resources needed by the buyer are pre-requisite for maintaining long-term relationslhip. the studied relationship can be regarged as stable and long-lasting as the yongest originated in 1983 and the oldest in 1971. the relationship were established more or less in the same years that small suppliers were founded.
The Role of Small Businesses in the Economic Transformation of Eastern Europe: Real But Relatively Unimportant?
Authors: Scase Richard
Published: October 2007

RICHARD SCASE IS PROFESSOR OF Organisational Behaviour at the niversity of Kent at Canterbury, England. His research interests incorporate entrepreneurship and small business growth. He is currently analysing processes of organisational transformation in the emerging market economies of Central Europe. This paper discusses the role of small businesses in these economies. It argues for a distinction between proprietorship and entrepreneurship and suggests that there is little evidence of rational, growthoriented small business start-up in these countries. Instead, the paper claims that the small business sector consists of those who are motivated to carve out 'niches' of personal autonomy within uncertain economic conditions. It identifies those who constitute the key groupings of the emerging small business sector and argues that though representing real economic change, they are relatively unimportant in the economic transformation of Eastern Europe.
Rural Information in Kenya
Authors: Durrani Shiraz
Published: October 2007

The dissemination of information in Kenya relies too much on the printed word, which is not accessible to the rural population. Neither the press, nor libraries, nor broadcasting services really satisfy the information needs of rural people. An informal information system, combining the oral tradition and the print medium, began to flourish during the anti-colonial struggle. It demonstrates the importance of providing relevant information for the entire population, of organizing the system on a democratic basis and of regarding communication as a two-way process, using whatever media are most appropriate. Food kiosks act as informal centres for the exchange of information and could be developed into 'information kiosks' staffed by professional information workers.
Forestry Researchers as Information Users in Nigeria
Authors: Adedigba Yakub A.
Published: October 2007

In a questionnaire survey undertaken to study the information gathering habits of forestry research scientists in Nigeria, the results indicate that (1) most forestry research scientists in Nigeria consult two or more information sources, (2) they rely heavily on the literature as their major source of scientific information, (3) accessibility, convenience, reliability, ease of use and language are key factors in determining their choice of information source, and (4) the libraries of the organizations in which they work constitute their major source of scientific information.

It is recommended that collection development programmes should be established for the libraries in the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, the Federal Department of Forestry and the Department of Forestry Resources Management of the University of Ibadan. The use of informal sources of information should be encouraged and obstacles to this end identified and removed.
Development Through Information Networks in the Asia-Pacific Region
Authors: Amarasuriya Nimala R.
Published: October 2007

There is, at present, in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, an increasing need for access to scientific and technical information to attain national development goals. Problems arising in the provision of information are outlined. The establishment of cooperative activities for resource-sharing has become essential for optimal use of existing resources and for information exchange. The concept of networking is briefly described. Unesco established a Regional Network for the Exchange of Information and Experience in Science and Technology in Asia and the Pacific (ASTINFO) under its second Medium-Term Plan. The main objectives and programme areas of ASTINFO are outlined. The ASTINFO infrastructure within a Member County and its institutional framework are described. The activities of ASTINFO include the creation of specialized sub-networks in selected subject areas and strengthening of existing national and regional networks. Certain problem areas in operating ASTINFO programmes and future needs are discussed. The establishment of regional networks for information exchange and bibliographical control has to be given the highest priority if future developmental activities are not to be seriously hampered.
Archives and National Development in the Third World
Authors: Kamba Angeline S.
Published: October 2007

A vast amount of archives were created in the course of the political and constitutional upheavals which culminated in the independence of Zimbabwe in 1980. The National Archives of Zimbabwe Act of 1986 gives the Archives the opportunity to play an important part in national development, including education, the preservation of the country's cultural heritage and providing information for planning and decision-making. The value of colonial archives is notable in this respect.
KIDLINK : a challenging and safe place for children across the world
Authors: Burleigh Mike , Weeg Patti
Published: October 2007

Describes the activities of KIDLINK, an international organization supported by professionals in education and computer networking which aims to establish communication between children across the world using Internet and other electronic mail and electronic conferencing networks. There are now some 2,600 children participating, from thirty-one countries. The main objective of KIDLINK is to involve as many 10 to 15 year old children as possible in a global dialogue on questions of current concern. To ensure that it is as representative as possible of the world's children, constant efforts are made to improve links with schools and education departments in developing countries.
ELDIS: mapping information on development and the environment
Authors: Ferguson Peter
Published: October 2007

A new approach to identifying and locating information sources on development studies through a meta-information system is being developed at the British Library for Development Studies.
Source Separation of Plastic Wastes Yields and Qualities From a Pilot Study in Norway
Authors: Bekkevold Sigrun
Published: October 2007

Source separation experiments in some selected commercial and industrial establishments showed that the individual establishment participating in the sortering, had a yearly generation of polyethylene (PEL) foil waste of 0.4-2.8 t, corresponding to 7-168 kg/employee each year. There were no problems of separating PEL foil from other waste components. Difficulties consisted in removing attached contaminants (labels and tape) and there was a general positive attitude by employees concerning participation in a permanent source separation process and even in improving the sorting procedure.

The regenerated plastics showed satisfactory properties for applications in refuse sack production, but the degree of contamination of the input material was generally higher than acceptable for an extrusion process. Extensive plastic recycling based on source separation of consumer waste would require mechanical wet refining/sorting before regeneration to prevent frequent clogging of extruder filters. However, refining might be omitted for wastes from a few careful selected establishments. Based on the present price situation for PEL, mechanical baling of plastic wastes before transportation is necessary.
Heavy Metals in Domestic Refuse and Their Distribution in Incinerator Residues
Authors: Reimann Dieter O.
Published: October 2007

The principal heavy metal loads to municipal solid waste incinerators are determined from analyses of bottom ash, fly ash and gaseous effluents. Upper values in g per Mg refuse are: Cl, 8000; F, 200; S, 5000; Zn, 2000; Pb, 1200; Cu, 600; Cr, 250; Ni, 80; Cd, 15; Hg, 5; As, 4. More than half of the Cl, Cd, Hg and As pass into the flue gas and are either captured in the fly ash or emitted in the stack gas.
Residential Recycling Programs: Environmental, Economic and Disposal Factors
Authors: Everett J.W.
Published: October 2007

The type of recycling program initiated by state or local government is related to (a) the environmental awareness of the population and the subsequent reflection of that awareness in government, (b) the state's municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal situation, and (c) the market conditions for recycled materials. Two hypotheses are studied: (1) voluntary participation recycling programs are initiated when environmental awareness is the driving force and market conditions are good and (2) mandatory participation recycling programs result when the driving force is MSW disposal difficulties.

New Jersey and Oregon, two of the states, with statewide mandatory and voluntary recycling programs respectively, are studied with respect to the events leading to the enactment of their recycling programs. The hypotheses are supported by the events in each state. Hypothesis 2 is further supported by data from 48 states comparing information on each state's MSW disposal situation with the local and statewide recycling programs reported in a survey. The percentages of mandatory recycling programs increase with increasing MSW disposal difficulty. A measure of environmental awareness must be developed before hypothesis one can be studied with cross-sectional data.
Application of Surface Geophysics for Location of Buried Hazardous Wastes
Authors: Siegrist Robert L. , Hargett David L.
Published: October 2007

Surface geophysical techniques represent powerful tools for investigations involving the delineation of buried hazardous wastes. When properly conceived and implemented, substantial benefits can be realized. This was clearly the case during an investigation to assess an 8 hectare (20 acres) manufacturing plant site for the presence of buried waste materials. Electromagnetic (EM) conductivity and magnetometry data were collected along continuous profiles and within rectangular systematic grids. The results of this work dispelled concern over several areas rumored to contained buried wastes, but indicated the potential presence of buried materials at three areas. The EM quadrature-phase conductivity data proved to be most definitive as conductivity anomalies were distinct and readily apparent. In an area suspected to contain an abandoned seepage pit, the measured EM conductivities exceeded 25 milli mhos/meter (mmho m-1), more than twice as high as background levels (sandy loam soil/till profile). In two areas suspected of containing buried metal drums, EM conductivity values approached 70 mmho m-1. In all three areas, the buried waste boundaries as predicted by the geophysical anomalies matched very well with the boundaries actually encountered during waste exhumation and clean up.
Reduction of Oil in Sludges From Light Petroleum Separators
Authors: Gallenkemper Bernhard , Voß Udo
Published: October 2007

A flotation treatment for reducing the oil content of sludges accumulated in light petroleum separators and grit traps is described. Hydrocarbon content of the sludge can be reduced to less than 3% of the dry solids by air flotation assisted by appropriate surfactants. There is a corresponding reduction in Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). Air escaping from the flotation cells is scrubbed in a bio-filter and water is purified by activated sludge or a further flotation method. Recovered oil can be further dewatered to produce a useful fuel.
Terrestrial Physical and Chemical Processes for Liquid Waste Treatment
Authors: McCarty Perry L.
Published: October 2007

Experiences gained from full-scale evaluation of advanced treatment processes used for reclaiming wastewaters should help in the evaluation of potential treatment systems for treatment and reuse of water in space. Water Factory 21 is a 0.66 m 3 s-1 (15 million gallons per day) water reclamation plant in California that has been in operation since 1976. The plant receives biologically treated wastewater. Lime treatment is effective for removal of heavy metals. Volatile organic constitutes are efficiently removed by air stripping. Non-volatile organic constituents are removed by activated carbon adsorption and reverse osmosis (RO). RO is a highly effective polishing step, and removes most of the remaining materials including inorganic salts, heavy metals, and organics. RO removed 85% of the total organic carbon, down to about 1 mg 1-1, which is lower than in many treated drinking waters. The series of treatment processes used insured virus and pathogen removal, with lime treatment and chlorination together proving highly effective. Sufficient data has been collected to provide statistically reliable confidence limits to be set on the performance of each unit process.
Private Sector Participation in Municipal Solid Waste Service: Experiences in Latin America
Authors: Bartone Carl R. , Leite Luiz , Triche Thelma , Schertenleib Roland
Published: October 2007

Preliminary case studies have been carried out on private sector provision of municipal solid waste services in four large Latin American cities (Buenos Aires, Caracas, Santiago, and São Paulo). A parallel study of a metropolitan solid waste company in Rio de Janeiro provided a comparison. These experiences substantiate that private service provision can be successful in terms of cost containment and quality of service as long as the conditions for contestable markets are met. In the four cases studied, private collection firms have exclusive right to service specific areas of the city and contracts are awarded by competitive bidding. These and other studies in the region suggest that local authorities should establish operational and environmental regulations and standards to guide private contractors, and have the capacity to oversee these activities. Supervision and payment should be based on specific performance measures. More attention needs to be given to cost recovery, financial stability and improved disposal practices. There appears to be substantial scope for expanded private sector involvement in the region.
Institutional and Management Approaches To Solid Waste Disposal in Large Metropolitan Areas
Authors: Bartone Carl R.
Published: October 2007

There are significant advantages to a consolidated institutional approach to the management of municipal solid waste transfer and disposal in large metropolitan areas. Both operational and environmental benefits can be achieved. On the other hand, it is argued that collection services do not necessarily benefit from centralization, since there are only limited economies of scale. Furthermore, there is abundant evidence that the private sector can provide conventional collection services more efficiently than the public sector. This paper examines a model of decentralized collection and centralized transfer and disposal that is in place at Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.A. and which is being applied in Monterrey, Mexico. The partial application of this model in the Federal District of Mexico City is also examined. Lessons are drawn for the application of such a model to metropolitan areas in other developing countries.
Buried Pesticide Waste Hazard To Poland
Authors: Uijtewaal Alphons A. C.
Published: October 2007

The utilization of pesticides during the last 30 years in Poland has left some hundreds of thousands of tonnes of highly toxic waste, creating an alarming situation for nature and man. This pesticide waste, which has been buried under less than ideal conditions throughout the entire country, is leaching out of many of its containers and is endangering the groundwater and general environment. The extent and the impact of this contamination is unknown. As a result of a shortage of finances and general national and international indifference, a suitable method of cleaning up this waste has not yet been found.
Drug Therapy in Neonatal Sepsis
Authors: Phillips Susan , Kaplan Glenn
Published: October 2007

Despite the remarkable technological advances in neonatal intensive care, bacterial infections continue to be a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The clinical manifestations of sepsis are frequently subtle and nonspecific. Progression of the disease is rapid and mortality continues to be high. Antimicrobial therapy must be instituted as soon as possible after symptomatic and high risk infants are identified. Empiric broad spectrum antibiotic therapy is initiated to cover the most likely pathogens that are etiologic in neonatal sepsis. Pathogen specific therapy is guided by the isolation and identification of the infecting organism and its susceptibility patterns. The clinical status of the infant must be closely monitored, and basic supportive care provided to optimize the infants chance of survival. The emergence of drug resistance and adverse drug reaction profiles may further dictale which antimicrobial regimen is the safest and most effective. Unconventional therapies should be reserved for the most critically ill infants after conventional treatment has failed. Controlled trials of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment modalities for neonatal sepsis are needed to optimize the management of these infants.
An Overview of Home Health Care Programs
Authors: O'Neil Kate , LaBelle Leslie , Bing Caryn M.
Published: October 2007

Home-care services have expanded greatly over the past several decades. Many pharmacy practitioners have little or no exposure to the vast majority of home-care programs. This article provides an overview of home health care services, traces the evolution of these programs and the public policy that has directed that change, and outlines the regulation governing the home-care industry. A synopsis of traditional and nontraditional home-care services precedes a brief review of other specialty services. A summary of the impact of quality management programs and some future trends for home care are presented.
The Eu Internal Market Programme and the Spatial Development of Producer Services in Great Britain
Authors: Daniels Peter
Published: October 2007

Until recently national markets for services have been sheltered from competition. The EU internal market programme provides an opportunity to reduce service market fragmentation and make European services as a whole more competitive in world markets. Successful implementation of the pro gramme may be accompanied by some relocation of producer services within the Union. A recent study suggests that this would not raise undue concern among the member states, In this paper it is suggested that there is a potential conflict between evidence for a wider dispersal of producer services within the British space economy (and the benefits that it rep resents for the process of regional economic restruc turing) and any centralization tendencies in relation to a European-wide market. This will reassert the hegemony of London and the South East which will ensure that Britain capitalizes upon the EU internal market programme but at the expense of a continuing improvement in the range and quality of producer services in the provincial cities and regions.
The Political Context of Real Estate Development
Authors: Strom Elizabeth
Published: October 2007

Real estate supply and demand appear to be largely market forces, but in fact they are shaped by public policies on the local and national level. Berlin is an example of a city whose central city property market has been heavily influenced by policies growing out of the extraordinary circumstances attending German reunification. Both the local state and the federal government have taken steps that have either inten tionally or inadvertently impacted the demand for and supply of property; often the various arms of the state have acted at cross-purposes in pursuing their goals.

Demand for commercial real estate has been pushed by the new interest in Berlin accompanying the decision to make it the capital of united Germany. Federal subsidies designed to encourage investment in the former East Germany have further fuelled demand. The supply of central property has been shaped by the political and legal issues surrounding privatization of the state-owned holdings in the city's eastern half, and the unclear policy goals of the vari ous arms of local and national state responsible for land disposition.
Long Distance Related Stressors and Coping Behaviors in Parents of Children with Cancer
Authors: Aitken Tamara J. , Hathaway Gay
Published: October 2007

This descriptive comparative study addresses long distance related stress and coping behaviors of 53 parents of children with cancer. The purpose of the study was to determine the differences in the stress and coping behaviors of parents living 100 miles from the tertiary treatment center compared with those who live less than 100 miles from the center. The theoretical framework used was Lazarus' theory on stress and coping. The study participants were from several Pediatric Oncology Group member institutions. The parents completed Hymovich's Parent Perception Inventory and a demographic data sheet. Parametric (one-tailed t-test) and nonparametric (Mann-Whitney and chi-squared tests) were included in the statistical analysis. The results showed significant differences in demographic data, concerns, beliefs/feelings, and coping. Implications for the pediatric oncology treatment team include specific interventions that will improve the quality of care for the children/parents who live a long distance from the tertiary treatment center.
The Needs of Parents of Pediatric Oncology Patients During the Palliative Care Phase
Authors: James Linda , Johnson Barbara
Published: October 2007

The death of a child is considered one of the greatest stresses a parent can experience. It has been suggested that death from childhood malignancies is more stressful for parents than death due to other chronic diseases. The purpose of this qualitative study is to identify parents' perceptions of their needs while their child was dying of cancer. Twelve parents of eight children, who died of various types of cancer 1 to 3 years ago, were interviewed by the primary investigator. These children died either in hospital or at home. Interviews were tape recorded, transcribed and analyzed by the investigators. Three needs were identified: (1) The need to have the child recognized as special while retaining as much normality within the child's and family's lives as possible; (2) The need for caring and connectedness with health care professionals; and (3) The need to retain responsibility of parenting their dying child. Findings suggest that parental needs are similar regardless of where the death occurred. Implications for nursing practice and areas for further research were identified.
Fatigue in Children and Adolescents With Cancer
Authors: Hockenberry-Eaton Marilyn , Hinds Pamela S. , Alcoser Patricia , O'Neill Jill Brace , Euell Kerri , Howard Vanessa , Gattuso Jami , Taylor Jennifer
Published: October 2007

Fatigue is a common symptom found in the adult oncology literature. However, little is known about its occurrence, causes, conceptual and operational definitions, and effective interventions in children and adolescents with cancer. The purpose of this study was to define and describe fatigue experienced by children and adolescents receiving treatment for cancer. A focus group approach was used to reveal the contextual understanding of fatigue through discussions. Eleven focus groups were convened during a 2-month period at two major children's cancer centers. Twenty-nine children participated in the focus groups: 14 were 7 to 12 years of age and 15 were 13 to 16 years of age. Focus groups were held separately for each age group, lasted from 30 to 45 minutes, and were audiotaped. The audiotapes were transcribed verbatim, and Ethnograph software was used to number the data to sort and code the information. Researchers at both study sites coded the data independently within the context of the unit of analyses, which, in this study, were the study questions. Codes and descriptions were developed for the definitions of fatigue, causes of fatigue, and what helps. Eight codes emerged from the children groups and 12 from the adolescent groups to define fatigue. Six codes were developed from the children groups and 12 from the adolescent groups to describe causes of fatigue. Three codes from the children groups and eight from the adolescent groups described what helps. This study is the first to evaluate fatigue as a symptom in children and adolescents with cancer. Findings from this study will provide the foundation for developing a conceptual model for cancer-related fatigue in children and adolescents.
Health Education Manpower in the United States
Authors: Simonds Scott K.
Published: October 2007

Problems in collection of uniform data on health education manpower on a continuing basis are discussed. Sources of data on current health education manpower projections for future needs are reviewed. Possible directions for improving manpower planning in this field are cited
The Masculine State in Crisis
Authors: Conway Daniel
Published: October 2007

External and internal forces threatened the apartheid state in the 1980s. The refusal to perform compulsory military service by individual white men and the increasing number of white South Africans who criticized the role of the military and apartheid governance had the potential to destabilize the gendered binaries on which white social order and Nationalist rule rested. The state constituted itself as a heterosexual, masculine entity in crisis and deployed a number of gendered discourses in an effort to isolate and negate objectors to military service. The state articulated a nationalist discourse that defined the white community in virile, masculine, and heroic terms. Conversely, “feminine” weakness, cowardice, and compromise were scorned. Objectors, as “strangers” in the public realm, were most vulnerable to homophobic stigmatization from the state and its supporters.
Conception of AIDS and its Prevention Among Students in a Nigerian University
Authors: Odebiyi A.I.
Published: October 2007

This study examines AIDS awareness, knowledge of transmission and prevention among students, who not only belong to the sexually active age bracket, but who are the future leaders of the nation. The student population was stratified into those in the health and non-health disciplines and an accidental sampling technique was used to obtain the respondents from the 2 strata. 60 students were interviewed from each stratum. A majority of the medical students, 58.3% as against 48.3% of the non-medical students, perceived AIDS as a dreadful disease that is sexually transmitted. Next among the non-medical students were those who felt that AIDS was God's punishment for man's sexual excesses (20.0%), while only 3.3% of the medical students gave that response. Of importance in the study is that none of the students attributed AIDS to mystical forces, an issue which could be linked to their educational exposure. Some students associated the disease with affluence, an issue that had been documented by other researchers. Another point worthy of note in the study is the fact that even though 89% and 61.2% of the medical and non-medical students, respectively, believed that AIDS can be prevented by the use of condoms, most of them were not favourably disposed towards the use of condoms. This study thus reveals an area that needs attention, ie that apart from emphasising the level of awareness, there should be a focus on how to effect behavioural change among a knowledgeable population
A Direct Functional Measure to Help Ascertain Optimal Level of Residential Care
Authors: Weiner Myron F. , Davis Barbara , Martin-Cook Kristin , Hynan Linda S. , Saine Kathleen C. , Munro Cullum C.
Published: October 2007

A brieF direct measure oF daily living skills might help place cognitively impaired elders in suitable living environments. In this study, the Test oF Everyday Functional Abilities (TEFA) as a possible adjunctive measure was investigated. The authors recruited 77 cognitively impaired persons in independent living (IL; N = 26), assisted living (AL; N = 25), and dementia special care (SC; N = 26) units. Participants in IL and AL were administered the TEFA and other instruments at baseline and every 6 months over 18 months and when transFerred to a higher level oF care. Special care subjects were administered the same instruments only at baseline. The TEFA clearly separated IL, AL, and SC residents ( P < .0001). A TEFA score >50 suggests adequate Functional competence For IL; a score From 30 to 40 adequate Functional competence For AL; and a score oF <30 probable need For an SC unit in the absence oF a capable spouse.
Prognostic factors in childhood anaplastic large cell lymphoma: results of a large European intergroup study
Authors: Le Deley Marie-Cécile , Reiter Alfred , Williams Denise , Delsol Georges , Oschlies Ilske , McCarthy Keith , Zimmermann Martin , Brugières Laurence
Published: October 2007

To study prognostic factors of progression/relapse, data concerning 225 children enrolled between 1987 and 1997 in Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster, Société Française d'Oncologie Pédiatrique and United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group prospective studies for the treatment of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) were merged. Median follow-up was 9.3 years. Five-year overall survival and event-free survival of the whole population was 81% (95% confidence interval, 76%-86%) and 69% (63%-74%), respectively. B symptoms, mediastinal involvement, skin lesions, visceral involvement, St Jude stage 3-4, Ann Arbor stage 3-4, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase increased the risk of progression/relapse in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, 3 factors remained significant: mediastinal involvement (relative risk [RR] = 2.1 [1.2-3.5]), visceral involvement defined as lung, liver, or spleen involvement (RR = 2.1 [1.3-3.6]), and skin lesions (RR = 1.9 [1.1-3.2]). Five-year progression-free survival (PFS) of the 81 patients with none of these risk factors was 89% [82%-96%], contrasting with a 5-year PFS of 61% [53%-69%] in the 144 patients with at least 1 risk factor (RR = 4.4 [2.2-8.9; P < .001). In conclusion, 3 factors associated with an increased risk of failure in childhood ALCL have been defined: mediastinal involvement, visceral involvement, and skin lesions.
Comparison of T-Spot.TB and tuberculin skin test among silicotic patients
Authors: Leung C. C. , Yam W. C. , Yew W. W. , Ho P. L. , Tam C. M. , Law W. S. , Wong M. Y. , Leung M. , Tsui D.
Published: October 2007

In the present study, T-Spot.TB and the tuberculin skin test (TST) were compared in the screening of latent tuberculosis infection among silicotic patients.

A conditional probability model was used to compare the potential clinical utilities of T-Spot.TB and TST performed on 134 silicotic subjects from December 1, 2004 to January 31, 2007. Data from a historical cohort were also reanalysed for further comparison.

Agreement with T-Spot.TB was best using a TST cut-off of 10 mm. Age ≥65 yrs independently predicted a tuberculin reaction <10 mm (odds ratio = 3), but not a negative T-Spot.TB response. Lower measures of agreement were observed among current smokers and those aged ≥65 yrs. Tuberculin reaction size was well correlated with both early secretary antigenic target 6 and culture filtrate protein 10 spot counts, except among current smokers. Within the current estimates of sensitivity (88–95%) and specificity (86–99%) for T-Spot.TB, the positive likelihood ratio for T-Spot.TB test would be substantially higher (6.29–95.0versus1.65–1.94) and negative likelihood ratio substantially lower (0.05–0.14versus0.32–0.41) than the corresponding ratios for the tuberculin test. A low tuberculosis risk differential was similarly observed between tuberculin-negative and untreated tuberculin-positive subjects in the historical cohort.

T-Spot.TB is likely to perform better than tuberculin test in the screening of latent tuberculosis infection among silicotic subjects.