bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Self‐help training for planning urban development: An innovation in on‐the‐job learning in Nigeria
Authors: Mattingly Michael 
Published: July 2007

AbstractForced to be innovative, a short course conducted in Nigeria for urban planners produced good results, although the bulk of the direction and teaching was provided by government town planners with no previous teaching experience. A crucial factor appears to have been the course structure, which was not only based upon learning while performing a project, but also required repetition of the project tasks in two cycles. The learning was enhanced because the project was a piece of work from the current programme of the planning agency which operated the course. This effect, and the utility of the conclusions of the project work, are likely to contribute significantly to the institutional development of the planning agency. There are important implications for further training of this kind in Nigeria, implying that experienced trainers are less in need, that a group capable of conducting future short courses can be built of government planning officers, and that training should be conducted within operating institutions of government.
The military and bureaucracy in Greece – 1967–1974
Authors: Danopoulos Constantine P. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis article attempts to examine and analyse the Greek military regime's (1967‐1974) relations with the country's administrative apparatus. After briefly tracing the historical and ecological dimensions of these two institutions the article analyses their relations during the 7‐year period on the basis of Eckstein and Gurr's superordinate‐subordinate theoretical framework. The relevant data, which include interviews with senior civil servants as well as military officers, indicate that due to the nature of their profession, which emphasizes discipline and strict subordination, the military as political governors create an atmosphere to which the less regimented and more give‐and‐take‐oriented bureaucracies have difficulty becoming accustomed. Military regimes and administrators do not enjoy the best of relations.
Local government and development in a regional city: The case of Iloilo City, Philippines
Authors: Rüland Juergen , Sajo Tomas A. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe development of urban hinterland centres, known as the Regional Cities Development Project (RCDP), is a key strategy applied by the Philippine government to rectify the country's grave regional imbalances. Yet RCDP has not markedly altered the distorted demographic, spatial and economic growth patterns of the Philippines. Unlike the sizeable body of literature which mainly explains failures of the ‘growth centre approach’ by economic factors emanating from the metropolis‐periphery relationship, this study places greater emphasis on politico‐administrative factors that affect regional city development. The article demonstrates that regional city development in Iloilo City–one of four Philippine secondary centres selected as RCDP sites–is impeded by an elitist, conservative local oligarchy, excessive patronage politics, severe financial constraints, limited managerial capabilities, a low degree of local autonomy, over‐politicization and the impact of an adverse economic environment. Following an in‐depth analysis of the politico‐administrative culture of Iloilo City, the authors present suggestions that in the long run may positively affect the city's developmental path.
Predictors of success in a participatory village development project in Thailand
Authors: Useem Michael , Setti Lou , Kanchanabucha Kanung 
Published: July 2007

AbstractParticipatory development strategies are known to mobilize rural resources, but their effectiveness depends on local conditions. This article evaluates the potential importance of three facilitating factors: competing opportunities, development experience, and local leadership. The impact of these factors on project outcome is examined through study of a rural development project undertaken from 1982 to 1985 in southern Thailand. The project used participatory techniques to build self‐guided problem‐solving groups in 21 poor villages. The village groups launched income‐generating, health, education and related efforts that attracted the participation of large numbers of village residents. Comparison of the village project experiences confirms that: participatory strategies are more effective in villages that (1) are relatively isolated from competing urban opportunities (villagers are more prepared to invest their own resources in the community); (2) have prior experience with development efforts and community endeavours (villagers are more open to learning new approaches); (3) hold greater confidence in traditional village leaders and local government agents. When local leadership is not held in great confidence, participatory strategies are found to encourage the emergence of new leadership that can successfully guide project efforts.
Designing training for development administration: Lessons from India's experience
Authors: Sanwal Mukul 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper is based on a programme being carried out by the Government of India to provide regular in‐service training for administrators. The experience shows that an effective training design is to be based on the requirements of the development paradigm, to improve interaction between government agencies and the public and between agencies themselves. There is need for caution in transposing prescriptions from management, since the nature of the problems, environment and work, all differ. It is also not sufficient to say that the training should improve knowledge, skills and attitudes. There is a need to be more specific in these interventions–how much of each input is needed; for whom and with what objectives; in what manner and by whom; how frequently? The paper argues that the training content for all levels of administrators should concentrate on organizational rather than functional needs. The paper concludes with an outline of a training policy framework for administrative management, and observes that effective demand must be created for such training. The Indian example provides a possible model for developing countries designing training for public administrators.
Developing the British Virgin Islands: The first Crown colony
Authors: Kersell John E. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIn an analysis of the administration of government in the British Virgin Islands the Deputy Governor's use of team or collective management techniques stands out as an important factor in the success of the Islands in coping with problems of small scale and of sparse resources. This method of reaching general decisions may be rooted in the country's African heritage, which was little touched by the brief attempt of English planters to develop a colony in the Islands. In any event, this heritage may be reinforceable as a bulwark against Americanization.
The rise and fall of the national ‘decentralized agencies’ in Colombia
Authors: Collins Charles David 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe public sector in Latin America has been characterized by the proliferation of national semi‐autonomous bodies known as ‘decentralized agencies’. This article focuses on such agencies in Colombia from the 1960s onwards. Attention will be paid to their institutional proliferation and how this affected local government, particularly in the fields of water and sanitation. Such changes in state organization have not been problem free. The growth of ‘decentralized agencies’ has been associated with problems of inefficiency, administrative confusion and problems of social and political unrest. Indeed, such contradictions have resulted in the issue of decentralization being placed on the political agenda and the development of innovative and administrative reforms that could breathe new life into local government.
Institutional innovation, development and environmental management: An ‘administrative trap’ revisited. Part II
Authors: Baker Randall 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe first part of this article [vol 9, no. 1] examined the ways in which the structure and division of responsibilities within public administrations often rendered them unable to perceive or cope with broad problems of environmental decline. In the developing world this is compounded by the contradictions between pressures for economic survival versus the long‐term considerations for sustainability and conservation in the policy arena. In this second part the author reviews and evaluates further areas of administrative innovation in this area and considers the climate for policy and institutional change 25 years after the Stockholm Conference. In conclusion, basic principles guiding policy formulation, methodology and administrative organization are presented to allow administrations to gain some ground in the worsening environmental balance sheet.
Bureaucracy, organization culture and development
Authors: Franks Tom 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe first part of the paper discusses the concept of organizational culture and highlights its value as an aid to understanding the way organizations work. Using four basic models of organization culture (power, role, task and person) the paper then goes on to describe a questionnaire survey of cultures in development organizations. The questionnaire required two sets of responses: firstly an indication of preferred organization culture and secondly the respondents' perception of the way their organization actually works. Whilst the vast majority of respondents prefer task‐orientated cultures, most actually perceive themselves to be operating in a role culture (bureaucracy), whilst a large minority perceives a power (political) culture. These results demonstrate an inherent tension in many people's working lives. They also indicate the necessity of taking into account the political environment of work when designing training courses; few organizations appear to operate in the rational way upon which many development techniques and practices are posited. In the final part of the paper there is discussion of the need to make a modification to the basic cultural models in order to make them particularly relevant to developing countries.
Evaluation's serendipity: A new approach in evaluating training impact
Authors: Gunesekera Romesh 
Published: July 2007

AbstractEvaluating training impact is most productive when carried out by means of in‐country interviews. But such interviewing can be distorted by ‘evaluation hospitality’, and therefore needs to develop a flexible comprehensive ‘evaluation habit’. It has not been sufficiently recognized that evaluating impact not only helps develop a training course, but also has a therapeutic value for ex‐trainees and is an effective form of follow‐up. The evaluation process itself can intensify and increase the extent of training impact and therefore should be an integral part of any training package.
The development of small‐scale irrigation in sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Carter Richard C. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe performance of irrigation schemes in sub‐Saharan Africa has generally been discouraging. This has been particularly true of large‐scale formal smallholder developments. Recently attention has been turning increasingly to small‐scale farmer‐managed irrigation, generally utilizing simple, low‐cost methods of water control. While not yet very prominent in Government planning and policy statements, small‐scale irrigation has been espoused enthusiastically by farmers, non‐governmental organizations and some international agencies. In this approach to rural development external agencies act as catalysts of change, technical advisors, channels for capital funding and intermediaries between farmer groups and other organizations. Although generally limited in physical size and sophistication of technology, small‐scale irrigation nevertheless experiences the complexities inherent in the management of land and water, and of social, political and economic change. Research and development needs are wide‐ranging, and attention to them is likely to be fruitful in terms of increasingly effective rural development strategies.
The relevance of privatization to developing economies
Authors: Heald David 
Published: July 2007

AbstractPolicy design is important for both public enterprise reform and privatization. The obstacles to privatization and the incentives to carry out ‘inappropriate’ privatization are considered. Discussions of privatization as divestiture need to be integrated into a wider policy framework. Privatization also needs to be considered in relation to specific sectors, and not as a blanket panacea. Policy reform should be built on a proper analysis of the weaknesses of the public enterprise sector. Real commitment to public enterprise reform has been lacking in many developing countries. Three dilemmas experienced in the privatization programmes of developed economies are considered for their relevance to developing countries: budgetary stress, competition versus denationalization, and ‘people's capitalism’. The distinctive characteristics of developing economies are considered including the availability of policy instruments, social costs, and the ability to negotiate with multinationals. Two matters in particular require urgent attention: the sponsoring arrangements for public enterprises; and arrangements concerning subsidiaries. The relevance of privatization lies in the promotion of competition and divestiture of enterprises in industrial sectors which can be made competitive, not in the invitation of large‐scale privatizations which raise complex monopoly and regulatory problems.
Challenges of maintaining a management development programme
Authors: Thomason Jane A. , Newbrander William C. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe long term success of PNG's experiment with decentralization of health functions depends on the continued improvements in management at the operational levels of the health system. In 1986 the Department of Health initiated a management support programme for the intermediate level of the health system, which combined distance learning modules with periodic on‐the‐job consultation with provincial health managers. The initial results of this process have been encouraging. The primary challenge ahead, if this process is to succeed on a long term basis, is developing a means of institutionalizing the approach, identifying local resources to support the process, and developing the leadership that is necessary to it. This paper addresses the issues of maintaining and improving the management development programme.
Rheology of highly filled natural CaCO3 composites. I. Effects of solid loading and particle size distribution on capillary rheometry
Authors: Kaully T. , Siegmann A. , Shacham D. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe rheology of poly(di‐methyl siloxane) suspensions containing various loadings of natural CaCO3 particles, of several particle size distributions, was studied using capillary rheometry. Highly loaded suspensions were investigated, emphasizing the unique behavior of high filler loaded compositions. Mild shear thinning was observed for most suspensions, whereas shear thickening was observed for suspensions containing nearly maximal possible solid loadings. The dominancy of particle size distribution was demonstrated by studying the relative suspensions viscosity as function of shear rate. It was further illustrated by the influence of the filler specific surface area on the flow properties. A seemingly slight changes in the particles‐specific surface area caused significant changes in the viscosity of maximal solid loaded unimodal suspensions. Fair agreement with the Chong and Krieger and Dougherty models was found for unimodal suspensions, while the combined Farris–Chong model showed an improved fit for the bimodal suspensions. Evidence for wall slip was demonstrated, using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometry, as a clear difference in the extrudate outer and bulk compositions; although no influence on the flow data was observed. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:512–523, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers
Silicone rubber/graphite nanosheet electrically conducting nanocomposite with a low percolation threshold
Authors: Chen Ling , Lu Liang , Wu Dajun , Chen Guohua 
Published: July 2007

AbstractA novel electrically conductive nanocomposite was successfully fabricated by dispersing homogeneously conductive graphite nanosheets (GN) in an insulating silicone rubber (SR) matrix. GN were prepared by powdering expanded graphite with sonication in aqueous alcoholic solution. The particular geometry of GN 30–80 nm in thickness with high aspect ratio contributes to the advantage of forming the conducting network, so that the percolation threshold of SR/GN nanocomposite is about 0.009, much lower than that of composites with conventional graphite. The SR/GN nanocomposite presents a remarkable piezoresistive behavior under much low pressure, related to the low elastic modulus of the composite. The elastic modulus of the nanocomposite with various GN content and at the different speed of compression was discussed. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:493–498, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers
Flame retardancy and toughening of high impact polystyrene
Authors: Cui Wenguang , Guo Fen , Chen Jianfeng 
Published: July 2007

AbstractFlame retardant high impact polystyrene (HIPS) was prepared by melt blending HIPS, nano‐modified aluminum trihydrate (nano‐CG‐ATH), red phosphorus masterbatch (RPM), and modified polyphenylene oxide (MPPO). Styrene‐butadiene‐styrene (SBS) was used as a toughener in this research. The effects of nano‐CG‐ATH, RPM, MPPO, and SBS on properties of HIPS composites were studied by combustion test, mechanical tests, and thermogravimetric analysis. The morphologies of fracture surfaces and char layers were characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The HIPS/nano‐CG‐ATH/RPM/MPPO (60/6/9/25) composite and its combustion residues at various temperatures were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra analysis. The results showed that the UL‐94 rating of the HIPS/nano‐CG‐ATH/RPM/MPPO (60/6/9/25) composite reached V‐0 and its char layer after flame test was integrated, but its impact strength was low. Addition of SBS improved its impact property and did not influence its thermal and flame retardant properties but lowered its tensile strength and flexural modulus to some extent. The FTIR spectra confirmed that the POC group was present in the charred substance. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:551–559, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers
National surveillance of herbal dietary supplement exposures: the poison control center experience
Authors: Gryzlak Brian M. , Wallace Robert B. , Zimmerman M. Bridget , Nisly Nicole L. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this report is to characterize reports to poison control centers (PCCs) involving two widely used herbal dietary supplements (HDSs), Echinacea, and St. John's wort (SJW).MethodsWe purchased data from the American Association of Poison Control Center's (AAPCC) toxic exposure surveillance system (TESS®) on reports made to PCCs in 2001 involving Echinacea or SJW. Analyses were limited to those cases in which Echinacea or SJW were the only associated products, and in which these HDSs were deemed primary to observed adverse effects. Descriptive statistics were generated for selected demographic and exposure‐related variables.ResultsDuring 2001, PCCs were contacted regarding 406 exposures involving Echinacea and 356 exposures involving SJW. Most of the reported exposures for both HDSs occurred among children 5 years and younger, and the majority of exposures were coded as unintentional. For both HDSs, exposures among patients ≥20 years old were more likely to be associated with adverse effects. Intentional exposures accounted for 21% of SJW cases and 3% of Echinacea cases, with 13% of SJW exposures reported as ‘suspected suicidal’.ConclusionsTESS® represents a potentially important means of assessing and characterizing HDS‐related adverse effects. Detailed studies validating the clinical events and outcomes of a sample of exposures reported to TESS® might offer substantial insights into adverse events (AEs) that could be systematically studied with other, established pharmacoepidemiological study designs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polymerization of β‐pinene with Schiff‐base nickel complexes catalyst: Synthesis of relatively high molecular weight poly(β‐pinene) at high temperature with high productivity
Authors: Yu Peng , Li An‐Long , Liang Hui , Lu Jiang 
Published: July 2007

AbstractA series of easily accessible and stable Schiff‐base nickel complexes (complex 1–4) in conjunction with methylaluminoxane (MAO) were employed for the synthesis of relatively high molecular weight β‐pinene polymers at high temperature with high productivity. The ligand structure of the complex had a substantial effect on the polymerization in terms of the productivity and the molecular weight. With complex 4 in the presence of MAO, high molecular weight polymers of β‐pinene (Mn ∼ 10,900) were obtained at 40 °C with an extremely high productivity up to 1.25 × 107 g polyβ‐pinene/mol of Ni. 1H NMR analyses showed that the obtained β‐pinene polymer was structurally identical to that formed by conventional cationic Lewis acid initiators. The polymerization was presumably initiated by the nickel cation formed by the reaction of the schiff‐base nickel complex and MAO, while the propagation proceeded in a manner typical for a conventional carbocationic polymerization process. Direct evidence for the carbocationic polymerization was offered by the fact that quenching of the polymerization with methanol at a low monomer conversion resulted in incorporation of a methoxyl end group into the polymer chain. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3739–3746, 2007
Synthesis and characterization of polyimide‐polysiloxane segmented copolymers for fuel cell applications
Authors: Zou Lijun , Anthamatten Mitchell 
Published: July 2007

AbstractSulfonated polyimides exhibit high strength, good film‐forming ability, chemical resistance, and, in their hydrated state, relatively high proton conductivity. Here we report the one‐pot synthesis of sulfonated polyimide‐polysiloxane segmented copolymers through the reaction of a dianhydride with a mixture of three diamines: a nonionic aromatic diamine (4,4′‐oxydianiline), a sulfonated diamine (4,4′‐diamino‐2,2′‐biphenyldisulfonic acid), and a telechelic diamino polysiloxane. Copolymer compositions were evaluated using 1H NMR and size‐exclusion chromatography. The presence of ion‐containing diamines in the reaction mixture inhibited stoichiometric incorporation of hydrophobic siloxane segments. Siloxane segments were found to lower the thermal stability of the polyimide host. Copolymers with and without siloxane segments were cast into free‐standing films. Equilibrium water sorption studies of cast films show that, for the compositions studied here, the presence of siloxane segments does not interfere with water swelling, suggesting that a microphase‐segregated morphology may exist. TEM and SAXS analyses show evidence of phase‐segregation in sulfonated polyimides and reveal that siloxane segments strongly affect ionic clustering. However, proton conductivity only changes slightly when polysiloxane segments are incorporated. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3747–3758, 2007