COLLECTIVE LEARNING BY ARTISANAL SUBCONTRACTORS IN A PHILIPPINE FURNITURE CLUSTER

This paper stresses the importance of subcontractors for the circulation of knowledge in industrial clusters. In studies on collective learning processes in clusters it often remains unclear who is involved and in which area a local knowledge base is built up. This study contributes to filling this gap by unravelling the learning process and focusing on how learning takes place at the level of artisanal subcontractors. Empirical evidence from two sub-sectors in the furniture cluster in Pampanga (the Philippines) is used to identify learning processes among subcontractors, indicating how knowledge is transferred along the value chain and diffused among them. The paper demonstrates that knowledge hardly trickles down from exporters, but that subcontractors are a major source of feedback to them. However, despite possessing the key strategic product knowledge, the subcontractors' absence of knowledge in other areas (i.e. technical, managerial and market knowledge) weakens their bargaining position in this cluster. Copyright (c) 2005 by the Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG.

Assessment of the bone quality of black male athletes using calcaneal ultrasound: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lifestyle, genetics and environmental factors are established determinants of bone density. We aimed to describe the bone characteristics of competitive top-ranked Nigerian male athletes using calcaneal ultrasound and to assess whether intensive training promotes higher bone density in an environment with reportedly low calcium intake; to compare the bone characteristics of footballers with runners and other sportsmen; and to assess the correlation of stiffness index (SI) with activity level, since energy expenditure correlates with length of training and by extension, magnitude of skeletal loading.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We recruited 102 male athletes: these included football (n = 68), running (n = 15), handball (n = 7), taekwando (n = 6), cycling (n = 2), judo (1), badminton (1) and high jump (1). Anthropometric data were first recorded on a structured form and energy expenditure was indirectly estimated with a validated questionnaire. Bone density was assessed using the Lunar Achilles+ calcaneal ultrasonometer.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean age of athletes was 25 ± 6 years. The means of BMI and energy expenditure were 21.9 ± 2.0 kg/m²and 35.0 ± 13.7 kcal/kg/day, respectively. Footballers were younger (p < 0.001) and heavier (p < 0.001) than runners. Football was a significant determinant of BUA independent of age, BMI and energy expenditure (p = 0.001). Football was also a significant determinant of SOS independent of age, height, weight and BMI (p < 0.001). The mean SI was 127 ± 16 and the median T-score was 0.82 (-1.88, 3.35). The mean SI of footballers (130 ± 15), runners (130 ± 12) and other sportsmen (115 ± 18) differed significantly (p = 0.001). Multivariate analyses revealed that football (p < 0.001) and running (p < 0.001) were significant determinants of SI independent of age and BMI. Footballers when compared with other sportsmen had a higher mean SI independent of age and BMI (p < 0.001). Age was not correlated with SI. The median T-score of footballers, 0.94 (-1.0, 3.35) was higher than that of other sportsmen.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Repetitive skeletal loading at the heel has the potential to improve bone density in black male athletes. The magnitude of increase may be higher in medium impact sports such as soccer and running compared with low or non-impact sports such as judo or taekwando, and is independent of age and BMI. However, future longitudinal data will be required to support our observations.</p