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Critical Issues (critical + issues)
Selected AbstractsZero to Three: Critical Issues for the Juvenile and Family CourtJUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT JOURNAL, Issue 2 2004JULIE COHEN ABSTRACT Infants are the fastest growing population in foster care. Without intervention they are at great risk of poor developmental outcomes. Juvenile and family courts have a unique opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of the babies in their care. This article outlines six critical issues that impact the development of very young children in the child welfare system and recommends strategies that juvenile and family courts can use to address the needs of this most vulnerable population. [source] The Textual Criticism of Middle English Manuscript Traditions: A Survey of Critical Issues in the Interpretation of Textual DataLITERATURE COMPASS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 6 2009Gavin Cole This essay is intended to survey two broad issues which determine the use of textual data. The first is the underlying orientation towards the use of textual data and how this relates to critical evaluations of agency, authority and materiality. This essay surveys two broad orientations: (i) an essentially retrospective genetic orientation and, (ii) an orientation which focuses on the phenomenon of change. Both approaches are dependent on the ability to distinguish original readings from scribal readings, identify genetic relationships and account for acts of horizontal transmission. With this in mind, the second issue with which this essay is concerned is the importance of critical interpretation in the categorisation of textual data. This essay argues that textual criticism is a practical demonstration of the difficulties of interpretation and that no textual data ,has any real evidential value until it has been interpreted' (Patterson 90). [source] Comparative Youth Justice: Critical Issues by J. Muncie and B. Goldson (Eds.)THE HOWARD JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, Issue 4 2007PATRICIA GRAY First page of article [source] Some Critical Issues for Muslim-Christian Relations and Challenges for Christian Vocation and Witness1THE MUSLIM WORLD, Issue 4 2009Charles Amjad-Ali First page of article [source] Is dyslexia necessarily associated with negative feelings of self-worth?DYSLEXIA, Issue 3 2008A review, implications for future research Abstract This paper will provide an overview of research in the past 20 years into the relationship between dyslexia and various aspects of self-perception, including self-concept, self-esteem, self-efficacy and locus of control. Problems are identified relating to the measurement of some of the most widely used constructs, as is the need for more precise identification of key variables relating to them. Critical issues concerning the assumptions that can be drawn from largely correlational data are highlighted also. The conclusion is drawn that an alternative approach to research in this area is required to enhance our understanding of how those suffering from learning disabilities of a dyslexic nature develop a positive or negative sense of identity. Suggestions are made as to how this can be achieved by drawing upon attribution theory and other aspects of social psychology. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Critical issues in the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in methadone maintenance patientsADDICTION, Issue 6 2008David M. Novick ABSTRACT Aims Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a common chronic complication of injection drug use. Methadone maintenance programs contain large numbers of patients infected with HCV. This paper reviews HCV infection with emphasis on the medical care of HCV-infected, or HCV and human immunodeficiency virus co-infected, patients on methadone or buprenorphine maintenance. Methods Literature searches using PubMed, PsycINFO and SocINDEX were used to identify papers from 1990,present on antiviral therapy for HCV in methadone maintenance patients and on liver transplantation in methadone maintenance patients. Results Injection drug use is the most significant risk factor for HCV infection in most western countries. The prevalence of HCV antibody is high in injection drug users (53,96%) and in patients enrolled in methadone maintenance programs (67,96%). Studies of antiviral therapy for HCV in methadone maintenance patients show rates of sustained virological response (SVR), defined as negative HCV-RNA 24 weeks after the end of treatment, of 28,94%. In studies with contrast groups, no significant differences in SVR between methadone and contrast groups were found. Excellent completion rates of antiviral therapy (72,100%) were found in five of six studies. There are many barriers to methadone maintenance patients' receiving antiviral therapy, and research on overcoming barriers is discussed. Liver transplantation has been successful in methadone maintenance patients but has not been utilized widely. Conclusion High quality medical care for all aspects of HCV infection can be provided to methadone maintenance patients. The literature supports the effectiveness of such services, but the reality is that most patients do not receive them. [source] Integrated Multifunctional Nanosystems for Medical Diagnosis and TreatmentADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 21 2009*Article first published online: 9 OCT 200, Donglu Shi Abstract This article provides an overview on the development of integrated multifunctional nanosystems for medical diagnosis and treatment. In particular, a novel system is developed specifically for achieving simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Critical issues are addressed on the architecture and assembly of nanocomponents based on medical requirements: targeted in vivo imaging, controlled drug release, localized hyperthermia, and toxicity. Nanotube-based carriers are summarized with surface functionalized properties. Other types of nanocarriers are also included such as super paramagnetic composite nanospheres and biodegradable hydroxylapatite nanoparticles. In addition, polymeric-based nanosystems are introduced with several novel features: they can be bio-dissolved due to environmental pH and temperature fluctuations. The nanocarriers are surface tailored with key functionalities: surface antibodies for cell targeting, anti-cancer drug loading, and magnetic nanoparticles for both hyperthermia and MRI. Future requirements, aims, and trends in the development of multifunctional nanosystems, particularly with intelligent functionalities for fundamental studies, are also provided. [source] Confronting climate change: Critical issues for New ZealandNEW ZEALAND GEOGRAPHER, Issue 3 2007Nicolas J. Cullen No abstract is available for this article. [source] Outsourcing Regulation: Analyzing Nongovernmental Systems of Labor Standards and MonitoringPOLICY STUDIES JOURNAL, Issue 1 2003Dara O'Rourke A range of new nongovernmental systems for advancing labor standards and enforcement have emerged over the last 5 years. This article comparatively assesses these multistakeholder systems of codes of conduct and monitoring, discusses their underlying models of regulation, and proposes a set of criteria for evaluating their effectiveness, including their legitimacy, rigor, accountability, and complementarity. Critical issues are raised about the transparency of existing initiatives, independence of monitors, convergence of standards, and dynamics among nongovernmental regulation, unions, and state enforcement. The article concludes by arguing that with increased transparency, improved technical capacities, and new mechanisms of accountability to workers and consumers, nongovernmental monitoring could complement existing state regulatory systems. [source] THE IMPULSE OF PHILANTHROPYCULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 4 2009ERICA BORNSTEIN ABSTRACT In practices of philanthropy and charity, the impulse to give to immediate others in distress is often tempered by its regulation. Although much of what is written on charity and philanthropy focuses on the effects of the gift, I suggest more attention be paid to the impulse of philanthropy. To coerce the impulse to give into rational accountability is to obliterate its freedom; to render giving into pure impulse is to reinforce social inequality. The only solution is to allow both to exist, and to create structures to encourage them. This essay examines the power of the spontaneous and fleeting impulse to give and its regulation through an analysis of contemporary practices of philanthropy and their relation to sacred conceptions of d,n (donation) in New Delhi. When scriptural ideas of disinterested giving intersect with contemporary notions of social responsibility, new philanthropic practices are formed. On the basis of ethnographic research with philanthropists who built temples, started NGOs, and managed social welfare programs, as well as families who gave d,n daily out of their homes, this essay documents how both NGO and government efforts to regulate one of the most meritorious forms of d,n, gupt d,n (or, anonymous d,n) expresses critical issues in philanthropy between the urge to give in response to immediate suffering and the social obligation to find a worthy recipient for the gift. [source] Inclusive Achievement Testing for Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Test Takers: Essential Considerations for Test Developers and Decision MakersEDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT: ISSUES AND PRACTICE, Issue 1 2009Shelley B. Fairbairn Substantial growth in the numbers of English language learners (ELLs) in the United States and Canada in recent years has significantly affected the educational systems of both countries. This article focuses on critical issues and concerns related to the assessment of ELLs in U.S. and Canadian schools and emphasizes assessment approaches for test developers and decision makers that will facilitate increased equity, meaningfulness, and accuracy in assessment and accountability efforts. It begins by examining the crucial issue of defining ELLs as a group. Next, it examines the impact of testing originating from the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) in the U.S. and government-mandated standards-driven testing in Canada by briefly describing each country's respective legislated testing requirements and outlining their consequences at several levels. Finally, the authors identify key points that test developers and decision makers in both contexts should consider in testing this ever-increasing group of students. [source] State-of-the-art methodologies in alcohol-related health services researchADDICTION, Issue 11s3 2000Harold I. Perl Many of the failures to replicate clinical findings of treatment efficacy in more realistic field and community settings can be attributed to inappropriate research designs and other methodological shortcomings. In order to increase research designers' awareness of existing methodologies that may be better suited to answer the critical questions inherent in health services research on alcohol-related issues, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) convened an expert conference with three specific goals: (1) to identify the critical issues involved in alcohol services research; (2) to develop a primer that explicated each key area; and (3) to compile the resulting primers into an accessible resource for researchers, policy makers and consumers. The 9 papers in this special supplement are the product of that conference and are organized broadly around three phases of the research process: study design and implementation, data collection and use, and the analysis and interpretation of data. A final summary paper discusses the issues and offers a synthesis of key themes as well as some direction for the future. [source] White pines, Ribes, and blister rust: integration and actionFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 3-4 2010R. S. Hunt Summary The preceding articles in this series review the history, biology and management of white pine blister rust in North America, Europe and eastern Asia. In this integration, we connect and discuss seven recurring themes important for understanding and managing epidemics of Cronartium ribicola in the white pines (five-needle pines in subgenus Strobus). Information and action priorities for research and management of the pathogen, telial and aecial hosts, and their interactions are listed in a detailed Appendix. Syntheses focused on genetics, plant disease, invasive species or forest management have provided alternative but knowledgeable lessons on the white pine blister rust pathosystem. Two critical issues for the conservation of white pines are to sustain ecosystems affected by blister rust and to maintain genetic diversity for adaptive traits such as disease resistance. Forest genetics includes tree improvement and molecular techniques for research; their application can increase rust resistance by artificial and natural selection. Silviculture augments genetics with methods to deploy and enhance resistance as well as to regenerate and tend white pine stands. Although cultivated or wild Ribes might serve as inoculum sources, silviculture and horticulture can reduce the risk of serious impacts from blister rust using genetics for breeding and epidemiology for hazard assessment and disease control. Climate change threatens to cause major alterations in temperature and precipitation regimes, resulting in maladapted conifers succumbing to various diseases and insect outbreaks. In contrast, many white pine species have broad ecological ranges and are tolerant of harsh environments,traits that permit successful establishment and growth over wide geographic and altitudinal zones. Given appropriate management, white pines could thrive as valuable commercial and ecologically important keystone species. In an uncertain environment, adaptive management provides a learning and participatory approach for sustaining resilient ecosystems. [source] Area-to-Point Prediction Under Boundary ConditionsGEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS, Issue 4 2008E. -H. This article proposes a geostatistical solution for area-to-point spatial prediction (downscaling) taking into account boundary effects. Such effects are often poorly considered in downscaling, even though they often have significant impact on the results. The geostatistical approach proposed in this article considers two types of boundary conditions (BC), that is, a Dirichlet-type condition and a Neumann-type condition, while satisfying several critical issues in downscaling: the coherence of predictions, the explicit consideration of support differences, and the assessment of uncertainty regarding the point predictions. An updating algorithm is used to reduce the computational cost of area-to-point prediction under a given BC. In a case study, area-to-point prediction under a Dirichlet-type BC and a Neumann-type BC is illustrated using simulated data, and the resulting predictions and error variances are compared with those obtained without considering such conditions. [source] Development of Cu and Zn Isotope MC-ICP-MS Measurements: Application to Suspended Particulate Matter and Sediments from the Scheldt EstuaryGEOSTANDARDS & GEOANALYTICAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2008Jérôme C.J. Petit isotopes de Cu et Zn; interférences spectrales et non spectrales; fractionnement de masse instrumental; MC-ICP-MS; sédiments The present study evaluates several critical issues related to precision and accuracy of Cu and Zn isotopic measurements with application to estuarine particulate materials. Calibration of reference materials (such as the IRMM 3702 Zn) against the JMC Zn and NIST Cu reference materials were performed in wet and/or dry plasma modes (Aridus I and DSN-100) on a Nu Plasma MC-ICP-MS. Different mass bias correction methods were compared. More than 100 analyses of certified reference materials suggested that the sample-calibrator bracketing correction and the empirical external normalisation methods provide the most reliable corrections, with long term external precisions of 0.06 and 0.07, (2SD), respectively. Investigation of the effect of variable analyte to spike concentration ratios on Zn and Cu isotopic determinations indicated that the accuracy of Cu measurements in dry plasma is very sensitive to the relative Cu and Zn concentrations, with deviations of ,65Cu from ,0.4, (Cu/Zn = 4) to +0.4, (Cu/Zn = 0.2). A quantitative assessment (with instrumental mass bias corrections) of spectral and non-spectral interferences (Ti, Cr, Co, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na) was performed. Titanium and Cr were the most severe interfering constituents, contributing to inaccuracies of ,5.1, and +0.60, on ,68/64Zn, respectively (for 500 ,g l,1 Cu and Zn standard solutions spiked with 1000 ,g l,1 of Ti or Cr). Preliminary isotopic results were obtained on contrasting sediment matrices from the Scheldt estuary. Significant isotopic fractionation of zinc (from 0.21, to 1.13, for ,66Zn) and copper (from ,0.38, to 0.23, for ,65Cu), suggest a control by physical mixing of continental and marine water masses, characterized by distinct Cu and Zn isotopic signatures. These results provide a stepping-stone to further evaluate the use of Cu and Zn isotopes as biogeochemical tracers in estuarine environments. L'étude présentée ici porte sur l'évaluation critique d'un certain nombre de paramètres contrôlant la précision et la justesse des mesures des isotopes de Cu et Zn, dans le cadre d'une application à du matériel particulaire estuarien. Une calibration de matériaux de référence (tels que le Zn IRMM 3702) par rapport aux matériaux de référence JMC Zn et NIST Cu a été effectuée avec des plasmas humides et secs (avec Aridus I et DSN-100) sur un MC-ICP-MS Nu. Différentes méthodes de correction de biais de masse ont été comparées. Plus de 100 analyses de matériaux de référence certifiés ont montré que la correction par l'intercalation d'un calibrateur entre chaque échantillon et la calibration externe empirique fournissaient les corrections les plus fiables, avec des précisions externes sur le long terme de 0.06 et 0.07, (2SD) respectivement. Les effets de la variation des rapports de concentrations entre analyte et spike sur les mesures des rapports isotopiques de Cu et Zn ont montré que la justesse des mesures pour Cu en plasma sec est très tributaire des concentrations relatives de Cu et Zn, avec des déviations de ,65Cu allant de ,0.4, (Cu/Zn = 4) à+0.4, (Cu/Zn = 0.2). Une estimation quantitative des interférences spectrales et non spectrales (Ti, Cr, Co, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na) a été faite. Ti et Cr se sont révélés être les constituants interférents les plus importants pouvant entraîner des erreurs de ,5.1, et +0.60, sur ,68/64Zn respectivement (pour des solutions standards à 500 ,g l,1 de Cu et Zn dopées avec 1000 ,g l,1 de Ti ou Cr). Des données isotopiques préliminaires ont été obtenues sur des matrices sédimentaires très différentes provenant de l'estuaire de Scheldt. Les fractionnements significatifs du zinc (de 0.21,à 1.13, pour ,66Zn) et du cuivre (de ,0.38,à 0.23, pour ,65Cu) suggèrent un contrôle par un processus physique de mélange entre des masses d'eaux continentales et marines ayant des signatures isotopiques de Cu et Zn distinctes. Ces résultats constituent un tremplin vers une utilisation future des isotopes de Cu et Zn comme traceurs biogéochimiques des environnements estuariens. [source] Companies rehearse a very different future: Connecting leadership capability and strategy execution through simulationGLOBAL BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE, Issue 5 2009Ron Carucci How can an organization's leaders best learn the behaviors and competencies required in a very different future? "Rehearsing the future" simulations immerse leaders in a fictitious business context strategically similar to their company's desired future to solve critical issues as a leadership team. The author differentiates future rehearsal simulation from computer simulation; describes when, where, and why these simulations are effective; and details the process for building a simulation that integrates multiple leadership development tools. Two actual cases, a global technology corporation seeking a horizontally integrated platform of products and services and a biotech company determined to shorten its product development timelines, illustrate the benefits of simulation technology for leaders and the business. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Costs and determinants of privately financed home-based health care in Ontario, CanadaHEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 2 2008Denise N. Guerriere PhD Abstract The Canadian context in which home-based healthcare services are delivered is characterised by limited resources and escalating healthcare costs. As a result, a financing shift has occurred, whereby care recipients receive a mixture of publicly and privately financed home-based services. Although ensuring that care recipients receive efficient and equitable care is crucial, a limited understanding of the economic outcomes and determinants of privately financed services exists. The purposes of this study were (i) to determine costs incurred by families and the healthcare system; (ii) to assess the determinants of privately financed home-based care; and (iii) to identify whether public and private expenditures are complements or substitutes. Two hundred and fifty-eight short-term clients (< 90 days of service utilisation) and 256 continuing care clients (> 90 days of utilisation) were recruited from six regions across the province of Ontario, Canada, from November 2003 to August 2004. Participants were interviewed by telephone once a week for 4 weeks and asked to provide information about time and monetary costs of care, activities of daily living (ADL), and chronic conditions. The mean total cost of care for a 4-week period was $7670.67 (in 2004 Canadian dollars), with the overwhelming majority of these costs (75%) associated with private expenditures. Higher age, ADL impairment, being female, and a having four or more chronic conditions predicted higher private expenditures. While private and public expenditures were complementary, private expenditures were somewhat inelastic to changes in public expenditures. A 10% increase in public expenditures was associated with a 6% increase in private expenditures. A greater appreciation of the financing of home-based care is necessary for practitioners, health managers and policy decision-makers to ensure that critical issues such as inequalities in access to care and financial burden on care recipients and families are addressed. [source] Water problems and hydrological research in the Yellow River and the Huai and Hai River basins of ChinaHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 12 2004Changming Liu Abstract This paper deals with hydrological research in regard to the water resources crisis in the vulnerable areas found in the northern part of China. This area includes three main river basins, namely the basins of the Yellow (Huang) River, the Hai River and the Huai River. Several water problems are becoming very severe. Among them, two are the most critical: the Yellow River has been drained dry in the main course of its lower reaches and along its major tributaries, and the groundwater table has rapidly declined in the floodplains of the three rivers' downstream areas. To counter the problems, particularly the critical issues mentioned above, hydrological research, which serves as the basis of water development and management, has been carried out in the last two decades. This paper addresses three basic scientific problems in North China, namely: (a) water consumption and the capacity for saving water; (b) the changes in hydrological processes and water resources caused by natural change and human activities; and (c) the ability to supply water resources and water safety in terms of both quantity and quality within a changing environment. However, opportunities and challenges for ameliorating the problems exist, and new ideas and methodology to solve the problems have been proposed, such as the interface process study on the interactions in the soil,root interface, the plant,atmosphere interface, the soil,atmosphere interface, and the interface of soil water and groundwater. In order to manage water resources in a sustainable manner, the study of water resources' renewal ability as affected by natural change and human activity is addressed from the viewpoint of both water quantity and quality, and their integration. To reduce the vulnerability of water resources in regional water management, a paradigm of sustainable water resources utilization is also proposed, using water,heat balance, water,salt balance, water,sediment balance, and water supply,demand balance. This approach may help reveal the basic problems and point to possible approaches to solving the water problems in North China in the 21st century. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Environmentally-friendly Aspects and Innovative Lightweight Traction System Technologies of the Shinkansen High-speed EMUsIEEJ TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, Issue 2 2008Yoshiyasu Hagiwara Member Abstract In 1964, the Tokaido Shinkansen marked the start of the world's first commercial service high-speed railway that operates at over 200 km/h. Since then, the Tokaido Shinkansen has demonstrated successful business and technological advancement. With the speeding-up of the Shinkansen, environmental matters such as noise and vibration have become critical issues. Measures taken to counter noise and vibration,such as weight reduction and aerodynamics,also effect global environmental measures to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emission. With the introduction of the Series 300, there was a system change of applying an AC drive system, and the lightweight body realized performance improvement over the earlier Series 0. The high-speed EMUs have readily taken advantage of technological innovation such as those achieved in electronics technology. In particular, an innovative AC drive system comprising a power converter with a GTO thyristor and asynchronous motors realized a high-performance and lightweight traction system for high-speed EMUs in the 1990s. Furthermore, recent innovations in electronics technology, such as low switching loss power devices and high-power permanent magnets, have improved the AC drive systems of the high-speed EMUs of the 21st century. This article starts out by introducing environmentally friendliness of the Shinkansen trains in terms of low energy consumption by means of traction system change, and then proceeds to describe the recent technological innovations that have given birth to lightweight traction systems, such as the Permanent Magnet Synchronous traction Motor (PMSM) and power converters with train-draft-cooling systems. The article concludes by summing up the environmentally friendly aspects of the Tokaido Shinkansen. Copyright © 2008 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source] Prolonging microbial shelf life of foods through the use of natural compounds and non-thermal approaches , a reviewINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Maria Rosaria Corbo Summary This paper proposes a review of some alternative approaches for food stabilisation and shelf life prolonging (based on the use of natural compounds and/or non-thermal techniques). After a brief description of food structure implication on the way of using the alternative approaches, two paragraphs summarise the topics of natural molecules (essential oils, lysozyme, lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase system, fatty acids, chitosan) and non-thermal approaches (high hydrostatic and homogenisation pressures, pulsed electric fields, high power ultrasound and irradiation). Finally, the last sections deal with the use of combined hurdles (along with the proposal of three possible modes of action of a multi-target preservation), the mathematical approaches for shelf life evaluating and some critical issues to be addressed in the future for a real scaling up of the proposed techniques. [source] Measuring the Dose of Nursing InterventionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 4 2007David Reed PhD PURPOSE.,To increase awareness of the many issues involved in measuring the dose of nursing intervention in nursing interventions effectiveness research. METHODS.,Identify critical issues in measurement of the dose of nursing intervention and discuss decisions regarding dosage measurement made in a study of the effectiveness of nursing interventions. FINDINGS.,A single method can be applied to resolve two critical issues in intervention dosage measurement. CONCLUSIONS.,Those conducting nursing interventions effectiveness research must think explicitly about how intervention dosage will be measured and reported so that dosage can be replicated in research and practice. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.,,Measuring and reporting the dose of nursing intervention in research is essential to the development of an evidence base adequate to support practice. [source] Rural and agri-tourism as a tool for reorganising rural areas in old and new member states,,,a comparison study of Ireland and PolandINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, Issue 2 2005Cecilia Hegarty Abstract Both assessment of the physical, economic and social impacts of enlargement and monitoring the implementation of policy directives are vital to future European Union operation. This paper investigates tourism development within relatively underdeveloped regions within Ireland and Poland, and it suggests implications for tourism operations. Comparison is made between product and service offerings in both regions. Strong similarities exist between the profiles of operators, operator motivations differ, and business diversification depends on regional resources and dependency on tourism markets. The level of diversification ultimately determines rural tourism development. The value of using Ireland as a reference model for Polish development and critical issues for tourism advisors and policy makers are discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Managing heritage attractions: marketing challenges at sensitive historical sitesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, Issue 6 2002Nathan K. Austin Abstract Historical sites now feature strongly as sites of visitation. However, such sites are often connected with historical events, which are sensitive to visitors and thus highly contentious when utilised in the development of tourism. The paper, from the perspective of the visitor, examines some of the critical issues that generally determine the nature of visitation at sensitive historical sites. The issues identified are the visitor's emotional state at the site, prior expectations of the site and what is to be learnt and perception of site presentation and interpretation. They also include the primary visitor objective to learn about the site, the ease with which access to the site can be obtained and the existence of social experiences between relevant visitor groups that may be extended to the site. The issues identified place significant challenges on how marketers communicate with potential visitors and other stakeholders of the site and require the marketing function to take cognisance of the different emotional states of visitors. Similarly, the nature of the packaging of the site, the channels of visitor access to be encouraged and how pricing is to be used as a marketing tool in a way that it is appropriate for the different groups of visitors to the site, all present unique marketing challenges. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Measuring change in work behavior by means of multisource feedbackINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2006Froukje Jellema Evaluating the effects of interventions is among the most critical issues faced by the field of human resource development today. This study addresses the potential of multisource feedback for training evaluation. The central research question is whether or not it is possible to measure change in work behavior, as a result of training, with multisource feedback in a reliable and valid way. A procedure for training evaluation was developed and three quasi-experimental studies were carried out. The psychometric properties of the multisource feedback instruments used are discussed as well as the training effects that were found. Our conclusion is that in most cases coworkers do not perceive positive changes in the work behavior of training participants. Whenever a training effect is observed, this is observed by the ratee's peers, rather than by the ratee's superiors or subordinates. Overall, the results do not support multisource feedback as an efficient method for training evaluation. However, this does not mean that multisource feedback cannot be used in a training context at all. Two alternative applications are presented. [source] Perspective: Assessing the Clinical Utility of Serum CTX in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis and Its Use in Predicting Risk of Osteonecrosis of the Jaw,JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2009Sanford Baim Abstract Bone turnover markers (BTMs) have become increasingly important in the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO). In bisphosphonate-treated women with PMO, BTMs can provide early indications of treatment efficacy, are predictors of BMD response and fracture risk reduction, and are potentially useful for monitoring patient compliance. The bone resorption marker serum C-telopeptide cross-link of type 1 collagen (sCTX) has shown high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of increased bone resorption. Recently, sCTX has been singled out as a potential indicator of risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) in patients receiving oral bisphosphonates who require oral surgery. However, whether BTMs are capable of predicting ONJ risk and whether sCTX is usable for this purpose are controversial questions. This article presents an overview of the current literature regarding critical issues affecting the clinical utility of BTMs (including variability and reference ranges) and the current applications of BTMs in PMO management, with a focus on sCTX. Last, the appropriateness of using sCTX to predict ONJ risk in women receiving oral bisphosphonates for PMO is evaluated. [source] Using Soft Systems Methodology for Performance Improvement and Organisational Change in the English National Health ServiceJOURNAL OF CONTINGENCIES AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2004Brian Jacobs The Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) advocated by Checkland and Scholes (1990) has considerable potential. It can provide policy makers, professionals, and managers in complex health organisations with a valuable addition to management approaches leading to practical improvements through innovative organisational change. With reference to the English National Health Service (NHS), this author argues that SSM can enable managers and others to address problem situations holistically, identify critical issues, and reach an accommodation of different viewpoints as a basis for improvement. The SSM approach can usefully compliment strategic frameworks, such as the Balanced Scorecard, in achieving clarity of thinking about performance and change issues'. [source] Gender role differences in reactions to unemployment: Exploring psychological mobility and boundaryless careersJOURNAL OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR, Issue 5 2010Monica L. Forret Abstract Using Sullivan and Arthur's (Sullivan & Arthur, 2006) refinement of the boundaryless career concept, this study examines whether there are gender role differences in psychological mobility (i.e., the career actor's capacity to envision a variety of career options) in response to the same physical transition of unemployment. We surveyed 1095 individuals across numerous organizations and industries, and analyzed our data by generational cohort in light of evolving societal attitudes toward child rearing and breadwinning responsibilities. We found that for both Gen Xers and Baby Boomers, men with children were more likely to perceive unemployment as a defeat than women with children; and women with children were more likely to perceive unemployment as an opportunity than men with children. Despite the many historical, economic, social, and cultural changes in the environment over the past decades, traditional gender roles remain pervasive in response to unemployment. Based on the study's empirical findings, we suggest critical issues for the future study of gender role differences and psychological mobility. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Last Glacial Maximum in the North Sea Basin: micromorphological evidence of extensive glaciation,JOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE, Issue 2 2006S. J. Carr Abstract Despite a long history of investigation, critical issues regarding the last glacial cycle in northwest Europe remain unresolved. One of these refers to the extent, timing and dynamics of Late Devensian/Weichselian glaciation of the North Sea Basin, and whether the British and Scandinavian ice sheets were confluent at any time during this period. This has been the result of the lack of the detailed sedimentological data required to reconstruct processes and environment of sediments recovered through coring. This study presents the results of seismic, sedimentological and micromorphological evidence used to reconstruct the depositional processes of regionally extensive seismic units across the North Sea Basin. Thin section micromorphology is used here to provide an effective means of discriminating between subglacial and glacimarine sediments from cored samples and deriving process-based interpretations from sediment cores. On the basis of micromorphology, critical formations from the basin have been reinterpreted, with consequent stratigraphic implications. Within the current stratigraphic understanding of the North Sea Basin, a complex reconstruction is suggested, with a minimum of three major glacial episodes inferred. On at least two occasions during the Weichselian/Devensian, the British and Scandinavian ice sheets were confluent in the central North Sea. Whilst micromorphology can provide much greater confidence in the interpretation of Late Quaternary offshore stratigraphic sequences, it is noted that a much better geochronology is required to resolve key stratigraphic issues between the onshore and offshore stratigraphic records. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Pension Valuation Under Uncertainties: Implementation of a Stochastic and Dynamic Monitoring SystemJOURNAL OF RISK AND INSURANCE, Issue 2 2002Shih-Chieh Chang Financial soundness and funding stability are two critical issues in pension fund management. First, we construct a generalized stochastic model to monitor the solvency risk and cash flow dynamics of the defined benefit pension plan. A semi-Markov process proposed by Dominicis et al. (1991) and Janssen and Manca (1997) is employed in structuring the transition pattern of the plan's population, and the economic-based factors are generated through plausible stochastic processes. Modifications according to classification and movements of the plan member and the plan's turnover pattern are also employed to improve its practical usefulness. Then the actuarial valuations, cash flow analyses, and workforce projection are performed and investigated. Second, we explicitly formulate the plan dynamics and implement the proposed mechanism into a risk management framework for pension management. By employing the stochastic and dynamic approach, the cost factors can be monitored throughout the valuation process. Third, we outline the procedure of implementing the proposed methodology into a monitoring system. Finally, the Taiwan Public Employees Retirement System is simplified to illustrate techniques in achieving risk management goals. [source] Strategic Alliance Success FactorsJOURNAL OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2000Judith M. Whipple SUMMARY There is recognition that competition is shifting from a "firm versus firm perspective" to a "supply chain versus supply chain perspective." In response to this shift, firms seeking competitive advantage are participating in cooperative supply chain arrangements, such as strategic alliances, which combine their individual strengths and unique resources. Buyer-supplier sourcing relationships are a primary focus of alliance improvement efforts. While interest in such arrangements remains strong, it is well accepted that creating, developing, and maintaining a successful alliance is a very daunting task. This research addresses several critical issues regarding that challenge. First, what factors contribute most to long-term alliance success? Second, what conditions define the presence of those success factors? Third, do buyers and suppliers in an alliance agree on those success factors and defining conditions? The research results demonstrate a remarkably consistent perspective among alliance partners regarding key success factors, despite the acknowledgment that the resultant success is based on a relatively even, but not equal, exchange of benefits and resources. Additionally, within an alliance's intended "win-win" foundation, suppliers must recognize their innate dependence on customers. Finally, significant opportunities for improvement exist with respect to alliance goal clarification, communication, and performance evaluation. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||