Do steering committees and boards constitute good project governance?

One could argue that good project governance positively influences productivity, and that this shapes the economy in a sustainable way. However, there is a prevailing perception in the corporate and government environment that steering committees and boards in some way constitutes good project governance. This perception appears to be based in part upon the presumption that the corporate sector always performs better than government; the corporate sector assures good corporate governance through boards; Ergo everyone else, including government, would perform better if they did the same. The paper argues that this presumption is indefensible as there is no scientific or rational basis to support it. Moreover, the concept of governance as steering committees and boards can diffuse responsibility and accountability in the hierarchical structures of government departments and large organisations that initiate their own projects and this can lead to project delay, confusion and uncertainty. The paper reviews the literature on governance and project steering committees and concludes that establishing project advisory rather than steering committees removes the potential for organisational power play and provides an effective consultation mechanism that facilitates 'best for project' outcomes

The impact of Arctic sea ice on the Arctic energy budget and on the climate of the Northern mid-latitudes

The atmospheric general circulation model EC-EARTH-IFS has been applied to investigate the influence of both a reduced and a removed Arctic sea ice cover on the Arctic energy budget and on the climate of the Northern mid-latitudes. Three 40-year simulations driven by original and modified ERA-40 sea surface temperatures and sea ice concentrations have been performed at T255L62 resolution, corresponding to 79 km horizontal resolution. Simulated changes between sensitivity and reference experiments are most pronounced over the Arctic itself where the reduced or removed sea ice leads to strongly increased upward heat and longwave radiation fluxes and precipitation in winter. In summer, the most pronounced change is the stronger absorption of shortwave radiation which is enhanced by optically thinner clouds. Averaged over the year and over the area north of 70° N, the negative energy imbalance at the top of the atmosphere decreases by about 10 W/m2 in both sensitivity experiments. The energy transport across 70° N is reduced. Changes are not restricted to the Arctic. Less extreme cold events and less precipitation are simulated in sub-Arctic and Northern mid-latitude regions in winter

Graphical programming and the use of simulation for space-based manipulators

Robotic manipulators are difficult to program even without the special requirements of a zero-gravity environment. While attention should be paid to investigating the usefulness of industrial application programming methods to space manipulators, new methods with potential application to both environments need to be invented. These methods should allow various levels of autonomy and human-in-the-loop interaction and simple, rapid switching among them. For all methods simulation must be integrated to provide reliability and safety. Graphical programming of manipulators is a candidate for an effective robot programming method despite current limitations in input devices and displays. A research project in task-level robot programming has built an innovative interface to a state-of-the-art commercial simulation and robot programming platform. The prototype demonstrates simple augmented methods for graphical programming and simulation which may be of particular interest to those concerned with Space Station applications; its development has also raised important issues for the development of more sophisticated robot programming tools. Both aspects of the project are discussed

Epac and the high affinity rolipram binding conformer of PDE4 modulate neurite outgrowth and myelination using an in vitro spinal cord injury model

<b>Background and Purpose</b><p></p> cAMP and pharmacological inhibition of PDE4, which degrades it, are promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). Using our previously described in vitro SCI model, we studied the mechanisms by which cAMP modulators promote neurite outgrowth and myelination using enantiomers of the PDE4-specific inhibitor rolipram and other modulators of downstream signalling effectors.<p></p> <b>Experimental Approach</b><p></p> Rat mixed neural cell myelinating cultures were cut with a scalpel and treated with enantiomers of the PDE4-specific inhibitor rolipram, Epac agonists and PKA antagonists. Neurite outgrowth, density and myelination were assessed by immunocytochemistry and cytokine levels analysed by qPCR.<p></p> <b>Key Results</b><p></p> Inhibition of the high-affinity rolipram-binding state (HARBS), rather than the low-affinity rolipram binding state (LARBS) PDE4 conformer promoted neurite outgrowth and myelination. These effects were mediated through the activation of Epac and not through PKA. Expression of the chemokine CXCL10, known to inhibit myelination, was markedly elevated in astrocytes after Rho inhibition and this was blocked by inhibition of Rho kinase or PDE4.<p></p> <b>Conclusions and Implications</b><p></p> PDE4 inhibitors targeted at the HARBS conformer or Epac agonists may provide promising novel targets for the treatment of SCI. Our study demonstrates the differential mechanisms of action of these compounds, as well as the benefit of a combined pharmacological approach and highlighting potential promising targets for the treatment of SCI. These findings need to be confirmed in vivo

The design and performance of a real-time self excited vocoder

This paper is concerned with a generic class of predictive speech coders that includes the newly proposed Self Excited Vocoder (SEV) and the well known Code-Excited Linear Predictive Coder (CELPC). All members of this class form an excitation sequence for a linear predictive model filter using the same general model for the excitation signal. The general excitation model is based on a block coding technique where each sequence is drawn from an ensemble of sequences. This paper reports on two developments related to this general model. The first development is a new type of excitation ensemble that can in general be populated by many different types of sequences. The second development is a means of populating this new type of ensemble based on a vector quantizer design procedure using a new distortion measure

The Administration of the Burgh of Glasgow, 1574-1586

This thesis is concerned primarily with the activities of the local civil administration in the burgh of Glasgow between 1574 and 1586. The choice of these years is determined by the nature of the surviving records of the burgh as it is not until the extant minutes of the court and council begin in January 1574 that a detailed study of that administration becomes possible. For twelve years these records maintain an unbroken run and there is the added bonus that they include ten sets of common good accounts. After 1586 there are several gaps in the minutes, while the next set of accounts to survive are those of 1605-1606. All this is not to say that this work adheres rigidly to the topic of administration or to the period 1574-86. Political, social and economic questions are addressed and information is drawn from both the earlier and later periods of Glasgow's development. Equally, while the emphasis is upon the work of the magistrates and council of the burgh, the role of the crown as ultimate superior, of the archbishops of Glasgow as immediate superiors, of the regality officials, the university and the kirk session are discussed so as to present as clear a picture as possible of the administration of late sixteenth century Glasgow in all its aspects. In order to place the main period in context the opening chapter discusses the general development of the burgh from its foundation in the late twelfth century up until the 1570s, special attention being paid to the early evolution of the administration and to the impact of the Reformation. The remaining chapters deal in detail with the civil administration of the burgh of Glasgow during the late sixteenth century, with particular reference to the period 1574-86, in an attempt to assess how that administration was organised, the scope of its activities and its effectiveness in the face of a variety of political, social and economic pressures. The civil local authority functioned on three interrelated levels: the judicial, the legislative and the executive. The burgh court represented the first of these and was central to the administration, having probably been in existence since the inception of the burgh. Through it the national law of the land was dispensed as also those bye-laws or statutes promulgated by the burgh's legislature, the council. Both court and council were served by a variety of executive officials the most senior of whom were the provost, the bailies, the clerk, the treasurer and the master of work. Councillors and officials alike were drawn from the burgess class which possibly represented at most about a quarter of the town's population and, as influence was dependent on wealth, these men tended to be merchants. The administration of Glasgow (in common with that of other burghs) was thus a merchant-dominated oligarchy and close analysis of the elections and appointments effected during the 1570s and 1580s shows that this privileged and influential circle was itself dominated by an inner group of men who were seldom out of office. Yet the range of activities undertaken by the civil administration shows that however oligarchic it was in composition it was not neglectful of its duty to manage the burgh efficiently for the common good not just of the burgesses but of the community as a whole. Such evidence as there is with respect to conditions in the burgh suggests that during the years which followed the cessation of the civil war, Glasgow's markets flourished, its population grew and the built-up area of the town expanded. Inevitably this placed several strains on the magistracy and council, as evidenced by the plethora of minor officials who were authorised to act under delegated powers in a variety of fields of government. Examination of the council's legislation shows a preoccupation with protecting the burgh's economic resources (its markets and its lands) but also a considerable interest in public health. Elsewhere the minutes and other documentation reveal that the civil authorities were concerned that adequate provision should be made for education, while the common good accounts record an earnest desire to improve the overall amenity of the burgh through an extensive programme of public works. If an awareness of the need for social welfare was lacking this was only in keeping with the views which were then prevalent, though it must be conceded that the magistracy and council did not go as far in this sphere as they could have done, choosing instead to leave poor relief administration to the kirk session and preferring to avoid the introduction of a compulsory poor rate for fear of alienating the burgess community. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.)

Understanding and strengthening informal seed markets

Informal markets receive little attention from governments and researchers, despite their centrality to farmers' seed security. This paper documents the importance of informal markets for supplying seed and restocking critical plant genetic resources in normal and stress periods. It analyses farmers' rationales for using such markets and their strategic actions in selecting out seed from grain. Conceptual aids for differentiating among market goods - grain, 'implicit seed' and seed - are presented, including tracing of agro-ecological seed sources, traders' seed management behaviour and seed/grain price patterns. Ethiopian case material gives rare insight into how different scales of traders manage the seed/grain divide. Better understanding of informal markets is an important precursor to strengthening them as such markets have unrealized potential to deliver more and higher quality seed, and a greater range of modern and local varieties. Support for informal seed markets could usefully feature in rural livelihood and social protection programmes, but this will require basic shifts in interventions and further refinements in market analysis