bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Variants of Sensitivity Training and Encounter: Diversity or Fragmentation?
Authors: Lomranz Jacob , Lakin Martin , Schiffman Harold 
Published: March 2006

Training and encounter groups are today markedly divergent, despite a common core of values at their inception. One hundred and thirty-eight experienced group leaders' responses to a questionnaire and interaction scenarios were evaluated in terms of preferred goals, values, interventions, and demographic indicators. A combination of factor analysis and multiple discriminant analysis yielded three distinct and highly interpretable groups: those concerned with learning, remediation (therapy), or expanded experiencing. The aim of each differs-social effectiveness, personality integration, or expressiveness. Intervention strategies differ accordingly: The learning-centered (A) trainer tries to highlight group and interpersonal conflicts rather than intraor interpersonal conflicts. The remedial (B) leader's closest referent is group psychotherapy. The expanded experiencing (C) type is more diffuse in purpose, but more concrete in modeling sensory awareness and expressiveness exercises. These positions are associated with corresponding social values. The precision of the results confirms the impression of different practices, purposes, and processes in these three variants. The assumption that the helter-skelter proliferation of group practices overlies a number of ambiguities and contradictions in the aims and methods of the group movement has been refined. The three variants examined here appear to represent distinct ideological trends.
Innovative Governance Structures in Secondary Schools
Authors: Chesler Joan 
Published: March 2006

This paper focuses on student power in six high schools with innovative governance structures. Following brief descriptions of these six schools, we examine structural aspects of their governance and find that a clear and comprehensive formal mechanism is most successful when supported by an open, active network of honest and respectful informal relationships. We also suggest that student power in governance is not possible without student power over classroom and instructional processes. Various barriers to effective student participation are discussed: students' prior socialization to depend on adult authorities; their lack of political skill training; teachers' abdication of their responsibilities to teach and guide; their premature hands-off policy vis-a-vis student behavior in governance functions; and the creation by adults of school structures and processes most comfortable for adults and thus easier to dominate. Finally, we suggest that planning, training, evaluating, and sharing data are vital aspects of an ongoing school program in which students and adults participate with power.
Social Intervention in Curacao: A Case Study
Authors: Berlew David E. , LeClere William E. 
Published: March 2006

This article describes an effort to apply behavioral science technologies to facilitate the social and economic development of the Caribbean Island of Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. A period of rising tensions, culminating in a labor dispute which erupted into a night of rioting, burning, and looting, preceded the intervention. The project had two major elements: (1) motivation training, designed to encourage residents to view themselves as "origins" rather than "pawns" and enable them to set life and career goals and plan effectively to achieve them; and (2) an "outlet program," which involved the Island's leaders in creating new educational and job opportunities for individuals whose aspiration levels were raised by the motivation training. The intervention is evaluated, and several problems and issues relevant beyond the Curacao case are discussed.
Matching Problems, Precursors, and Interventions in OD: A Systemic Approach
Authors: Bowers David G. , Franklin Jerome L. , Pecorella Patricia A. 
Published: March 2006

A framework for systematic organizational development including a model for matching interventions with problem causes is developed, using concepts from social systems theory and medical science pathology. At the foundation of the framework are three basic principles of change applicable both to physical and social systems. These principles suggest that 1) interventions designed to change leadership behavior must be selected to fit properties of the system, 2) certain areas or aspects of systems are predisposed to successful change, and 3) change occurs indirectly through a series of cause/effect successions. Potential interventions are classified in accordance with a scheme identifying each intervention according to one of three basic problem causes or "precursors." The precursors include (a) level of information, (b) level of skill, and (c) aspects of situations in which behavior occurs. Systematic organizational development is presented as a process of identifying and matching problem behavior, precursors, and appropriate interventions. Implications for practitioners are presented, along with illustrations suggesting the advantages of this approach.
Planned Organizational Change: Toward Grounded Theory
Authors: Dunn William N. , Swierczek Fredric W. 
Published: March 2006

Distinctions between "logico-deductive" and "grounded" theory capture a range of critical problems facing students and practitioners of planned organizational change. The development and application of grounded theories is likely to improve the quality of findings obtained from given change efforts. Among available research strategies retrospective case analysis-together with procedures for the continuous coding and comparison of case materials -appears to have considerable potential as a method for generating grounded theories of planned change. In this paper retrospective case analysis is applied to a sample of 67 successful and unsuccessful change efforts. Results of bivariate analysis suggest that only three out of eleven leading hypotheses about the conditions of successful change efforts (viz., those involving collaborative modes of intervention, participative change-agent orientations, and strategies emphasizing high levels of participation) are weakly to moderately supported by available evidence. While findings must be approached cautiously, the further development and application of retrospective case analysis is likely to contribute to grounded theory and, thus, to the alleviation of present gaps between theory and practice.
Quality Standards for "Ready-To-Use" Training and Development Programs
Authors: Bass Bernard M. 
Published: March 2006

Standardized training and development programs offer consultants and training staffs an alternative to "custom-made" efforts. However, such "ready-to-use" programs vary greatly in costs and benefits. Agreement on minimum requirements would improve the quality of these programs and help prospective users to assess and select them. Seven standards are proposed: (1) preliminary review of research literature about the behavioral changes involved in the program; (2) effective identification of the dimensions of behavioral change; (3) rapid and meaningful feedback processes; (4) reliable, valid, and relevant measures of change; (5) stable outcomes according to follow-ups; (6) analyses of the relations among the dimensions of change and their relation to external data; and (7) normative results on selected populations. As examples, six programs-PROFILE, the COMMUNICA TION AUDIT, PROCESS, PROSPECTS, PROSPER, and PROFAIR are examined and assessed on the basis of these standards.
Developing a Feedback System for Work Units: A Field Experiment in Structural Change
Authors: Nadler David A. , Cammann Cortlandt , Mirvis Philip H. 
Published: March 2006

This study examines the effects of introducing an ongoing feedback system into 10 branches of a Midwestern bank. The feedback system was designed to facilitate collaborative control and problem solving in the branches and was hypothesized to raise the level of participation in the branches and increase their effectiveness. The effects of the new feedback system were evaluated by observing its use and by comparing questionnaire and archival information from the experimental branches with similar data collected from 10 branches where the feedback system was not implemented. The results of the study indicated that the new feedback system produced functional consequences in some of the work groups in the experimental branches, but not in others. It appeared that in some cases the consequences were due to an increase in participative control processes, while in others, they were due to an increase in directive management. It is concluded that the effects of different feedback system designs are probably contingent on contextual factors such as the problem-solving skills and orientations of organization members, the nature of the reward systems existing in the organization, and task and individual differences among work units.
A Change Strategy for Linking the Worlds of Academia and Practice
Authors: Johnson Knowlton W. , Frazier William D. , Riddick Major F. 
Published: March 2006

This article presents a case study of a change strategy to link academia to the world of practice. The case involved a state university and a county government and its network of criminal justice agencies. The strategy centered on developing, implementing, and evaluating an innovative linkage model; adopting and stabilizing the model in the host environment; and disseminating and diffusing knowlege about the model to other jurisdictions. The authors describe the sequence of events, which spanned six years, and highlight the use of change tactics from the following four theoretical perspectives: research development and diffusion; problem solving; social interaction; and power coercion. An analysis of the change process revealed that behavioral scientists can plan and engineer change, but that the outcomes of events are occasionally governed solely by chance. The authors suggest that social engineering and political finesse complement each other and that change agents can employ them in concert to stimulate meaningful change. The study systematically integrates rational planning and politics in linking academia and local government.
Spiderman and the Burma Raiders: Collateral Organization Theory in Action
Authors: Rubinstein David , Woodman Richard W. 
Published: March 2006

A collateral organization is designed to co-exist parallel with the formal organization on a relatively permanent basis. Proponents contend that collateral organizations prove especially valuable in supplementing the formal organization because they provide (1) a means for identifying, analyzing, and mastering ill-structured problems and (2) an arena for participation. Advocates concede, however, that the parallel arrangement offormal and collateral organizations creates a complexity that may confuse participants and cause role problems. To the contrary, this article argues that the proclaimed "advantages" of collateral organizations are problematic while their "problems" actually provide the paramount advantage. Despite claims by proponents, a collateral organization is (1) not inherently a proficient medium for solving-or even seeing-ill-structured problems, and (2) is no less prone to abuse of participation than other participatory forms. Yet collateral organizations offer the invaluable advantage of complex role sets-i.e., interaction opportunities with a large number of very different people. Complex role sets may enhance mastery of the environment for both individuals and organizations.
Attitudes Toward Genetic Engineering: The Dilemma of the Genetically Abnormal Child
Authors: Young Gay , Robinson Cherylon 
Published: March 2006

Ethicists and scientists have grappled with issues of genetic engineering for years, yet the position of the lay public on this topic remains largely unexplored. This study examines the attitudes of potential consumers — i.e., women of childbearing age — toward seven medical procedures for genetic engineering. We define genetic engineering as the use of medical procedures to terminate the life or prevent the birth of a genetically abnormal child. This article considers the following procedures: passive euthanasia, amniocentesis, abortion, genetic screening, sterilization, artificial insemination with donor sperm, and in vitro fertilization with a donor egg. The only two procedures that a majority of the women surveyed find acceptable are genetic screening and amniocentesis. Many women, however, apparently do not know enough about genetic engineering procedures to make informed decisions about their use. By far the most important predictor of attitudes toward genetic engineering procedures is frequency of participation in religious observances; the more frequent the participation, the more negative the attitudes. This suggests that decisions about genetic engineering are now and will continue to be based on both ideology and information. Thus, any campaign designed to raise the level of public understanding about genetic science and technology should confront the moral issues inherent in this field and in its application to human beings.
Strengthening accountability for urban services
Authors: Cavill S , Sohail M 
Published: March 2006

This article explores participatory governance in the context of participatory mechanisms of accountability for urban services. In the past few years, accountability has become a buzzword internationally and, as is the case with many such terms, there is confusion as to what exactly is meant. The people and organizations promoting accountability view it as critical to solving problems with urban services in an increasingly fragmented context of service provision. This article seeks to explore the growing interest in accountability and to assess the potential of participatory governance in improving the provision of urban services. Other objectives are to: • consider contemporary innovations in the way urban services are delivered – the context of accountability; • define accountability using the existing literature and present current models for accountability; • discuss how the concept of participatory governance can be operationalized in the context of urban services; • present initial findings from case studies undertaken in South Africa, Bangladesh, South Korea and the UK; these case studies are used to illustrate different functions of accountability; and • examine the potential of accountability arrangements demonstrated in these case studies to improve the quality of local services and the responsiveness of service providers.
Associations between xerostomia and health status indicators in the elderly
Authors: Matear David W , Locker D , Stephens M , Lawrence H P 
Published: March 2006

Aims: This study investigated the associations between xerostomia (dry mouth) (low, moderate and high) with other categorical variables (e.g. demographic and health status indicators). This paper aims to report on the severity of xerostomia in the elderly population and investigate the relationship with other aspects of perceived health. Method: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 225 elderly people from a large multilevel geriatric care centre. The centre consists of three levels of care: an apartment building in which residents live more or less independently, a home for the aged, and a chronic care hospital. Participants in the study were recruited when they attended the dental care facility. Data were collected by means of a personal interview conducted either at the dental care facility or the participant’s residence. Results: The mean age was 83 years. Most were females (72%) and almost all (99%) reported one or more chronic medical conditions; 88% had physical disabilities. Xerostomia was recorded on a seven-point scale. Scores were categorised as low, medium or high and the proportions were 49.3%, 30.3% and 20.4% respectively. Bivariate analysis showed no association between dry mouth and sex, age, general health change or life satisfaction. However, when the high xerostomia group was separated out and odds ratios calculated they were 2.3 to 4.9 times more likely to experience a negative impact on health than the low group. Xerostomia did not have a significant impact on chewing capacity, morale or stress, although it contributed to the variability of the oral health-related quality of life measures. It was the only variable with a significant effect (OR 2.55) for the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 and displayed a higher odds ratio (2.76) for the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index. Selfreported xerostomia in the elderly population can be categorised into a severity scale. Those suffering most from xerostomia are more likely to experience a negative impact on general health. Conclusion: The key finding in this study is that xerostomia has a significant and negative impact on the quality of life of elderly individuals, though oral function may be less affected.
Identification of glycosylated marker proteins of epithelial polarity in MDCK cells by homology driven proteomics
Authors: Füllekrug Joachim , Shevchenko Anna , Shevchenko Andrej , Simons Kai 
Published: March 2006

Abstract

Background
MDCK cells derived from canine kidney are an important experimental model system for investigating epithelial polarity in mammalian cells. Monoclonal antibodies against apical gp114 and basolateral p58 have served as important tools in these studies. However, the molecular identity of these membrane glycoproteins has not been known.

Results
We have identified the sialoglycoprotein gp114 as a dog homologue of the carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM) family. Gp114 was enriched from tissue culture cells by subcellular fractionation and immunoaffinity chromatography. The identification was based on tandem mass spectrometry and homology based proteomics. In addition, the p58 basolateral marker glycoprotein was found to be the β subunit of Na+K+-ATPase.

Conclusion
Gp114 has been characterized previously regarding glycosylation dependent trafficking and lipid raft association. The identification as a member of the canine CEACAM family will enable synergy between the fields of epithelial cell biology and other research areas. Our approach exemplifies how membrane proteins can be identified from species with unsequenced genomes by homology based proteomics. This approach is applicable to any model system.
Improved variance estimation of classification performance via reduction of bias caused by small sample size
Authors: Wickenberg-Bolin Ulrika , Göransson Hanna , Fryknäs Mårten , Gustafsson Mats G , Isaksson Anders 
Published: March 2006

Abstract

Background
Supervised learning for classification of cancer employs a set of design examples to learn how to discriminate between tumors. In practice it is crucial to confirm that the classifier is robust with good generalization performance to new examples, or at least that it performs better than random guessing. A suggested alternative is to obtain a confidence interval of the error rate using repeated design and test sets selected from available examples. However, it is known that even in the ideal situation of repeated designs and tests with completely novel samples in each cycle, a small test set size leads to a large bias in the estimate of the true variance between design sets. Therefore different methods for small sample performance estimation such as a recently proposed procedure called Repeated Random Sampling (RSS) is also expected to result in heavily biased estimates, which in turn translates into biased confidence intervals. Here we explore such biases and develop a refined algorithm called Repeated Independent Design and Test (RIDT).

Results
Our simulations reveal that repeated designs and tests based on resampling in a fixed bag of samples yield a biased variance estimate. We also demonstrate that it is possible to obtain an improved variance estimate by means of a procedure that explicitly models how this bias depends on the number of samples used for testing. For the special case of repeated designs and tests using new samples for each design and test, we present an exact analytical expression for how the expected value of the bias decreases with the size of the test set.

Conclusion
We show that via modeling and subsequent reduction of the small sample bias, it is possible to obtain an improved estimate of the variance of classifier performance between design sets. However, the uncertainty of the variance estimate is large in the simulations performed indicating that the method in its present form cannot be directly applied to small data sets.
Network-level analysis of metabolic regulation in the human red blood cell using random sampling and singular value decomposition
Authors: Barrett Christian L , Price Nathan D , Palsson Bernhard O 
Published: March 2006

Abstract

Background
Extreme pathways (ExPas) have been shown to be valuable for studying the functions and capabilities of metabolic networks through characterization of the null space of the stoichiometric matrix (S). Singular value decomposition (SVD) of the ExPa matrix P has previously been used to characterize the metabolic regulatory problem in the human red blood cell (hRBC) from a network perspective. The calculation of ExPas is NP-hard, and for genome-scale networks the computation of ExPas has proven to be infeasible. Therefore an alternative approach is needed to reveal regulatory properties of steady state solution spaces of genome-scale stoichiometric matrices.

Results
We show that the SVD of a matrix (W) formed of random samples from the steady-state solution space of the hRBC metabolic network gives similar insights into the regulatory properties of the network as was obtained with SVD of P. This new approach has two main advantages. First, it works with a direct representation of the shape of the metabolic solution space without the confounding factor of a non-uniform distribution of the extreme pathways and second, the SVD procedure can be applied to a very large number of samples, such as will be produced from genome-scale networks.

Conclusion
These results show that we are now in a position to study the network aspects of the regulatory problem in genome-scale metabolic networks through the use of random sampling.

Contact: palsson@ucsd.edu
Identification of rat lung – prominent genes by a parallel DNA microarray hybridization
Authors: Chen Zhongming , Chen Jiwang , Weng Tingting , Jin Nili , Liu Lin 
Published: March 2006

Abstract

Background
The comparison of organ transcriptomes is an important strategy for understanding gene functions. In the present study, we attempted to identify lung-prominent genes by comparing the normal transcriptomes of rat lung, heart, kidney, liver, spleen, and brain. To increase the efficiency and reproducibility, we first developed a novel parallel hybridization system, in which 6 samples could be hybridized onto a single slide at the same time.

Results
We identified the genes prominently expressed in the lung (147) or co-expressed in lung-heart (23), lung-liver (37), lung-spleen (203), and lung-kidney (98). The known functions of the lung-prominent genes mainly fell into 5 categories: ligand binding, signal transducer, cell communication, development, and metabolism. Real-time PCR confirmed 13 lung-prominent genes, including 5 genes that have not been investigated in the lung, vitamin D-dependent calcium binding protein (Calb3), mitogen activated protein kinase 13 (Mapk13), solute carrier family 29 transporters, member 1 (Slc29a1), corticotropin releasing hormone receptor (Crhr1), and lipocalin 2 (Lcn2).

Conclusion
The lung-prominent genes identified in this study may provide an important clue for further investigation of pulmonary functions.