Program Evaluation Criteria Applied to Pay Equity in Ontario

The Ontario experience with respect to pay equity is evaluated based0501nly on a set of program evaluation citeria. Such criteria are informative in their own right, but they also provide a systematic way of categorizing the issues that are involved in evaluating pay equity in general, with the Ontario experience providing a useful illustration of the evaluation principles. The program evaluation criteria are first outlined, with an application to pay equity in general and the Ontario experience in particular. Illustrations from some case studies are used to highlight some of the program evaluation issues. The paper concludes with a summary and concluding observations especially on lessons that can be learned from the Ontario experience. L'expérience ontarienne en équité salariale est évaluée à partir d'un ensemble de critères appartenant au domaine de l'évaluation du programme. Ces critères sont informatifs et permettent d'organiser de façon systématique la réflexion sur l'équité salariale en se servant de l'expérience vécue en Ontario comme toile de fond. Les critères d'évaluation sont d'abord présentés, puis appliqués à l'expérience ontarienne. Des illustrations provenant d'études de cas que nous avons réalisées viennent mettre en évidence certains points chauds de notre analyse. Le texte conclut par un résumé et quelques observations sur les leçons que nous pouvons tirer de l'expérience ontarienne.Program evaluation, pay equity, comparable worth, Évaluation de programmes, équité salariale

Commentary: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α9 and α10 subunits are expressed in the brain of mice

Fil: Morley, Barbara J.. Boys Town National Research Hospita; Estados UnidosFil: Whiteaker, Paul. Barrow Neurological Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Elgoyhen, Ana Belen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; Argentin

Effect Of An Extract Of Superior Ovarian Nerve On Steroidogenesis By Porcine Theca Cells In Vitro

Ovarian steroidogenesis may be controlled not only by pituitary gonadotropins, but also by ovarian nerves. Nerves reach the ovary via the plexus nerve and the superior ovarian nerve (SON), and innervate the theca cells of all follicles. Thecal androgen biosynthesis is primarily controlled by luteinizing hormone (LH); however, the presence of nerves close to these cells has raised the question of whether nerves can modulate their androgen biosynthesis. The purpose of this study was to develop a porcine theca cell culture system, and to use it to investigate the effects of putative ovarian neurotransmitters and ovarian nerve factors on thecal steroidogenesis. Theca cells from prepubertal gilts cultured under serum-free conditions responded to LH with increased cyclic AMP and androstenedione accumulation. Catecholamines, acting via {dollar}\beta{dollar}-adrenergic receptors, caused a generalized inhibition of thecal steroidogenesis at a site distal to the generation of cyclic AMP. The direct effects of ovarian nerve factors on thecal steroidogenesis were studied by adding extracts of rat SON to cultured theca cells. Addition of SON extract inhibited androstenedione accumulation. The inhibitory activity of the SON extract was unaffected by chymotrypsin treatment or boiling, but was removed by charcoal treatment. The extract contained immunoreactive estradiol which, in common with the inhibitory activity, was extractable with organic solvents and eluted in the same fractions on Sephadex LH-20 columns. Estradiol, catecholestrogens and the SON extract inhibited the 17{dollar}\alpha{dollar}-hydroxylase:C{dollar}\sb{lcub}17-20{rcub}{dollar} lyase enzyme complex. The results suggest that the SON contains a factor which inhibits thecal androstenedione production and a factor which cross reacts with an estradiol antibody. It is not known if these factors are the same or distinct compounds. Therefore, the nervous system may have the potential to modulate follicular steroid biosynthesis via a direct innervation of the ovaries. Ovarian nerves may play important roles in the regulation of follicular development, since thecal androgens are substrates for estradiol biosynthesis and are involved in follicular atresia

Evaluation of a programme of transferable skills development within the PhD: views of late stage students

Recent years have seen an increasing emphasis placed upon the development of transferable skills within PhD degree programmes. This paper reports on steps taken to evaluate a programme of transferable skills development at a research intensive university in the UK, focussing on the views of late stage PhD students in the science, engineering and medical disciplines. It shows that most students report a positive impact from having taken part in transferable skills initiatives and that they have a positive attitude towards them. Participants report an enduring positive impact on their behaviour and consider that the training meets their perceived needs as they progress as researchers. However, amongst the population as a whole, there were differences in views. For example, it was found that females, overseas students and those mainly motivated to do the PhD by career-related reasons attach the greatest importance to such opportunities to develop transferable skills

Performance Modelling, and Adaptive Control for Linked Sequential Systems

This thesis investigates the dynamics of linked sequential systems of machines in industrial laundries. Two aspects are considered: firstly the control of such systems and in particular the decision making point when a batch to be processed can be sent to one of many identical machines, and secondly the modelling of the whole system of linked machines. The decision making point in the control of these systems is frequently implemented in a sub-optimal manner, or a manner which becomes sub-optimal as conditions change. An adaptive system is preferable and an Evolutionary Artificial Neural Network approach (EANN) is proposed. The EANN is tested on simulations of real laundry systems and shown to be effective. Then it is applied to two abstract game playing problems in order to better understand its limitations. Limitations are found to include the fact that if learning does not appear to take place, it is not possible to determine if this is a failure of the Evolutionary approach or the Artificial Neural Network parameters. The dynamics and performance of Linked Sequential Systems in Industrial Laundries are not well understood or covered by theory in the literature. The theory of the performance of these systems is outlined, and an Agent Based Model (ABM) simulation presented. The ABM simulation is explained and then the simulation is compared to a real world system in an existing laundry. The performance of the existing system is measured and compared to the prediction of the ABM simulation. The ABM simulation is shown to offer a better understanding of the system than the previous static calculation. Finally the ABM is used in a design exercise to show how it could be used to specify a system more accurately than the static calculation at design stage

An Analysis of Virtual Team Characteristics: A Model for Virtual Project Managers

An integrated model, created to guide project managers, is outlined for the implementation and management of virtual teams. This model is developed by means of an exploratory literature review and an empirical investigation of virtual team utilization in a multinational medical device manufacturer, which examines several factors critical to their success. A TOWS matrix is used to structure the results of the analysis and to identify future virtual team strategies for the organization. The study demonstrates that a structured approach is essential to ensure that the benefits resulting from virtual teamwork are maximized

Effects of Vitamin E and Aspirin on Disease in Cattle

Author Institution (Bray): Department of Human Nutrition and Food Management, The Ohio State University; Author Institution (Wittum): Department of Veterinary Preventative Medicine, The Ohio State Universit

Calcium-mediated mechanisms of ischemic injury and protection

Our understanding of calcium's role in cerebral ischemia continues to evolve from the initial recognition that it may be harmful to the ischemic cell. A multitude of experiments have supported the hypothesis that excessive influx of calcium into the cell under ischemic conditions is a major mechanism of cell injury and death. Pharmacological intervention to restore cellular calcium homeostasis is protective in many models of cell anoxia. Principle routes of calcium entry are the voltage-sensitive (VSCC) and N-methyl-D-aspartate linked receptor operated (ROCC) calcium channels. Regional variations in channel densities have been described and it is now known that these classes of channels are located in different regions of the neurons. Activation of both channel types has been identified in in vivo models of cerebral ischemia. Although the ROCC is predominant in number, the VSCC appears to activate at higher cerebral blood flow values suggesting that it is an earlier conduit for calcium than the glutamate-driven ROCC. Intracellular calcium is well recognized as a second messenger system and there is increasing appreciation that it induces immediate early genes (IEG). Since IEGs function as transcriptional regulating factors, the differential expression of specific target genes may be of importance for determining death or survival of the ischemic tissue