Showing papers by "Saint Mary's University published in 2002"

Supporting the e‐business readiness of small and medium‐sized enterprises: approaches and metrics

Abstract: Government initiatives are continuously being designed to create stable and supportive environments for developing new industries. Presents a conceptual model for use by governments in creating and sustaining an appropriate climate that facilitates the national adoption of e‐business. It focuses specifically on the needs of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). Also suggests six categories of e‐business readiness metrics and measures to be used for assessing how a country is performing in terms of providing a positive e‐business readiness climate. Examples of innovative initiatives are provided from Canada, The Netherlands, Norway, and Singapore. Concludes that a balance among attention to infrastructure components has not yet been achieved in these countries.

Progress in integrated assessment and modelling

Abstract: Environmental processes have been modelled for decades. However. the need for integrated assessment and modeling (IAM) has,town as the extent and severity of environmental problems in the 21st Century worsens. The scale of IAM is not restricted to the global level as in climate change models, but includes local and regional models of environmental problems. This paper discusses various definitions of IAM and identifies five different types of integration that Lire needed for the effective solution of environmental problems. The future is then depicted in the form of two brief scenarios: one optimistic and one pessimistic. The current state of IAM is then briefly reviewed. The issues of complexity and validation in IAM are recognised as more complex than in traditional disciplinary approaches. Communication is identified as a central issue both internally among team members and externally with decision-makers. stakeholders and other scientists. Finally it is concluded that the process of integrated assessment and modelling is considered as important as the product for any particular project. By learning to work together and recognise the contribution of all team members and participants, it is believed that we will have a strong scientific and social basis to address the environmental problems of the 21st Century.

The Relative Importance of Stock, Bond and Real Estate Factors in Explaining REIT Returns

Abstract: This papers offers a new approach to answering the question, "how much of a REIT's return is driven by real estate market influences, and how much by stock and bond factors?" Specifically, we develop a method that allows for the decomposition of the volatility of REIT returns into stock market, bond market, real estate market and idiosyncratic effects. Our results show that from 1978 to 1998, the REIT market has gone from being driven mostly by large cap stocks to being driven by both a small cap stock factor and a real estate factor. There is also a steady increase over time in the proportion of volatility not accounted for by any stock, bond or real estate factors. The analysis indicates that some of this this unaccounted for volatility is due to a REIT sector factor that is common to most REITs but independent of the stock, bond and real estate markets. Attempts to explain cross-sectional differences in the volatility determinants for different REITs meets with only limited success, although it seems that REITs with larger market capitalization are more like stocks.

Self‐Reported Counterproductive Behaviors and Organizational Citizenship Behaviors: Separate but Related Constructs

Abstract: The construct validity of self-reported counterproductive work behaviors (CPBs) and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) was explored by separating item content from item wording, through the confirmatory factor analysis of three scales: a CPB scale containing only negatively worded items, an OCB scale with only positively worded items, and the supervision subscale of the Job Descriptive Index (JDI) (Smith, Kendall and Hulin 1969) comprised of both negatively and positively worded items. Results (N = 475) suggest that self-report measures of CPBs and OCBs are affected by method variance, but that the presence of such an influence does not compromise the substantive interpretation of these scales. Consequently, these scales do appear to be unique constructs.

Employed Mothers and the Work-Family Interface: Does Family Structure Matter?

Abstract: Differences in the experience of work-family (W-F) issues between employed single and married mothers were investigated among women in lower level (Study 1) and higher level (Study 2) occupations. Few differences were found. For both single and married mothers in lower level occupations, higher organizational and supervisor support and greater use of formal policies were related to lower work interference with family (WIF) and higher family and job satisfaction. For women in higher level occupations, results depended upon marital status, family demands and income. Married women with lower family demands and higher incomes reported less informal support, but were more satisfied with formal W-F policies and rated them as more important. This was related to higher WIF, but lower family interference with work (FIW), and higher job and family satisfaction.

Speech recognition in university classrooms: liberated learning project

Abstract: The LIBERATED LEARNING PROJECT (LLP) is an applied research project studying two core questions:1) Can speech recognition (SR) technology successfully digitize lectures to display spoken words as text in university classrooms?2) Can speech recognition technology be used successfully as an alternative to traditional classroom notetaking for persons with disabilities?This paper addresses these intriguing questions and explores the underlying complex relationship between speech recognition technology, university educational environments, and disability issues.

U–Pb geochronologic constraints on the crustal evolution of the Long Range Inlier, Newfoundland

Abstract: The Long Range Mountains of Newfoundland expose the northeastern most basement inlier of the Appalachian Orogen. U–Pb results for two samples of basement gneiss reveal crustal formation ages of 1466 ± 10 Ma (Western Brook Pond charnockite) and 1530 ± 8 Ma (Cat Arm Road gneiss), indicating an affinity with Pinwarian magmatism (1510–1450 Ma) in Labrador. A third sample of basement gneiss from the Cat Arm Road dam site yielded a minimum formation age of 1631 Ma. These basement gneisses were intruded by granite plutons during two periods of Grenvillian magmatism; Group I at 1032–1022 Ma and Group II at 993–985 Ma. Group I intrusions include the 1032.0 ± 1.5 Ma Lomond River granite and the 1022.0 ± 2.0 Ma Lake Michel igneous suite; Group II intrusions include the 999 ± 4 Ma Potato Hill charnockite, 993 ± 7 Ma Horse Chops granite, 984.9 ± 1.6 Ma Cloud River granite, and may include the Apsy granite. The metamorphic history of the Long Range Inlier is complex and three discrete Proterozoic metamorphic events can...

Food insecurity of low-income lone mothers and their children in Atlantic Canada.

Abstract: Objective: To examine the occurrence and predictors of hunger and food insecurity over the past year and month among low-income mother-led households in Atlantic Canada. Method: The Cornell-Radimer Questionnaire to Estimate the Prevalence of Hunger and Food Insecurity was administered weekly for a month, with modifications, to a community sample of 141 lone mothers who took part in a larger dietary intake study. Eligible women included those living alone with at least two children under the age of 14 years in the four Atlantic Provinces and having an annual income less than or equal to Statistics Canada’s low-income cut-off.

Smallholder perceptions of agroforestry projects in Panama

Abstract: The potential effects of agroforestry systems on conservation and development have been well documented. Panama has seen a substantial rise in the number of projects with an agroforestry component in the 1990s. There has been insufficient research on the actual impacts of these projects on smallholders and of farmers' attitudes towards these systems. This study explores the perceived socioeconomic and environmental impacts of five agroforestry projects in Panama. A total of 68 smallholders were administered semi-structured interviews. In addition, 13 agroforestry experts from NGOs, government departments and research institutes were interviewed, and their responses were compared with those of the smallholders. While the projects led to an increase in the standard of living by providing wood products and fruit for domestic consumption, farm income levels generally remained unchanged. This was due primarily to limited market development, the lack of marketing organizations and poor access roads. In terms of environmental impacts, the farmers' responses suggested a slight decline in slash-and-burn agriculture, and an increase in tree planting activities. Some environmental benefits were observed by farmers, including reduced soil erosion, increased soil fertility, and improved quality and quantity of water sources. Nevertheless, slash-and-burn agriculture was still the norm for the majority of farmers. Most farmers continued to harvest wood from primary and secondary growth to meet their domestic wood requirements, rather than relying on trees planted in agroforestry projects. The main obstacles preventing increased agroforestry adoption included insufficient agroforestry extension, inappropriate project design or management (such as top-down management approaches, and the use of food incentives), smallholders' economic constraints, and larger policy issues. Recommendations are proposed to improve project design and management, and to address the economic and policy constraints.

Chronology of Devonian to early Carboniferous rifting and igneous activity in southern Magdalen Basin based on U–Pb (zircon) dating

Abstract: Fifteen U–Pb (zircon) radiometric age determinations have been made on igneous rocks of Middle Devonian to Early Carboniferous age from the southern margin of the Magdalen basin in Cape Breton Island and northern mainland Nova Scotia. Volcanic rocks interbed with early rift-basin sedimentary rocks with some palynological biostratigraphy; dated intrusive rocks cut these sedimentary units. Our biostratigraphically constrained ages are in close agreement with the current Devonian time scale. Combined with previously published data, the age determinations show that igneous activity occurred in four pulses: Middle Devonian (390–385 Ma), early Late Devonian (375–370 Ma), latest Devonian to early Tournaisian (365–354 Ma), and late Tournaisian to early Visean (ca. 339 Ma). Middle Devonian (385–389 Ma) volcanic rocks are confined to the Guysborough Group. The Fisset Brook Formation (basalt and minor rhyolite) in the type area and elsewhere in Cape Breton Island and northern mainland Nova Scotia is Late Devonian (c...

Rough set clustering for Web mining

Abstract: Similar to traditional data mining, three important Web mining operations include clustering, association, and sequential analysis. Typical clustering operations in Web mining involve finding natural groupings of Web resources or Web users. Researchers have pointed out some important differences between clustering in conventional applications and clustering in Web mining. For example, the clusters and associations in Web mining do not necessarily have crisp boundaries. Moreover, due to a variety of reasons inherent in Web browsing and Web logging, the likelihood of bad or incomplete data is higher. As a result, researchers have studied the possibility of using fuzzy sets in Web mining clustering applications. The paper describes how rough set theory can also be used to develop clustering schemes for Web mining. The unsupervised classification described in the paper uses properties of rough sets along with genetic algorithms to represent clusters as interval sets. The paper also describes the design of an experiment including data collection and the clustering process. The experiment is used to create interval set representations of groups of Web visitors.

The distance scale for classical cepheid variables

Abstract: New radii, derived from a modified version of the Baade-Wesselink (BW) method that is tied to published KHG narrowband spectrophotometry, are presented for 13 bright Cepheids. The data yield a best-fitting period-radius relation given by log R/R⊙ = 1.071(±0.025) + 0.747(±0.028) log P0. In combination with other high-quality radius estimates recently published by Laney & Stobie, the new data yield a period-radius relation described by log R/R⊙ = 1.064(±0.0006) + 0.750(±0.006) log P0, which simplifies to R ∝ P3/4. The relationship is used to test the scale of Cepheid luminosities inferred from cluster zero-age main-sequence (ZAMS) fitting, for which we present an updated list of calibrating Cepheids located in stellar groups. The cluster ZAMS-fitting distance scale tied to a Pleiades distance modulus of 5.56 is found to agree closely with the distance scale defined by Hipparcos parallaxes of cluster Cepheids and also yields Cepheid luminosities that are a good match to those inferred from the period-radius relation. The mean difference between absolute visual magnitudes based on cluster ZAMS fitting, MVC, and those inferred for 23 cluster Cepheids from radius and effective temperature estimates, MVBW, in the sense of C - BW is +0.019 ± 0.029 s.e. There is no evidence to indicate the need for a major revision to the Cepheid cluster distance scale. The absolute magnitude differences are examined using available [Fe/H] data for the cluster Cepheid sample to test the metallicity dependence of the period-luminosity relation. Large scatter and a small range of metallicities hinder a reliable estimate of the exact relationship, although the data are fairly consistent with predictions from stellar evolutionary models. The derived dependence is ΔMV(C - BW) = +0.06(±0.03) - 0.43(±0.54)[ Fe/H].

Nuclear transparency from quasielastic A(e,e′p) reactions up to Q2 = 8.1 (GeV/c)2

Abstract: The quasielastic (e,e$^\prime$p) reaction was studied on targets of deuterium, carbon, and iron up to a value of momentum transfer $Q^2$ of 8.1 (GeV/c)$^2$. A nuclear transparency was determined by comparing the data to calculations in the Plane-Wave Impulse Approximation. The dependence of the nuclear transparency on $Q^2$ and the mass number $A$ was investigated in a search for the onset of the Color Transparency phenomenon. We find no evidence for the onset of Color Transparency within our range of $Q^2$. A fit to the world's nuclear transparency data reflects the energy dependence of the free proton-nucleon cross section.

The structure and evolution of the Lagoon Nebula. I. Submillimeter continuum and CO line mapping

Abstract: We present submillimeter- and millimeter-wave maps tracing the molecular gas and dust around the edge of the H ii region M8. The molecular material is clumped into cores on the scale of the beam (about 0.1 pc) whose temperatures can be estimated from CO observations. The masses of the clumps, estimated from their continuum fluxes, are consistent with a power-law mass function with index � 1:7 � 0:6, which agrees with determinations for other molecular clouds at similar resolutions, using molecular lines as tracers. The submillimeter clumps are sited at the interface between the H ii region and the background molecular cloud, where they are exposed to the ultraviolet flux of OB stars. The physical parameters of the clumps are compared to published models of molecular clouds undergoing photoevaporation, suggesting that the pressure of the ionized gas exceeds the internal pressure of the clumps and, therefore, that a shock front will be driven into the clumps. The clumps themselves currently appear to be gravitationally unbound, but the compression may be sufficient to induce collapse. Subject headings: H ii regions — ISM: individual (M8) — ISM: structure — stars: formation — submillimeter

Examining Type A behavior pattern to explain the relationship between job stressors and psychosocial outcomes.

Abstract: Despite cautions against using a global measure of Type A behavior pattern (TABP), few studies have examined the TABP components of Achievement Striving (AS) and Impatience/Irritability (II). The authors examined these 2 components to assess whether they moderated the relationships between job stressors and psychosocial outcomes. Results based on 106 employees from a large Canadian organization supported the independence of the 2 TABP components. After controlling for the job stressors (i.e., overload, ambiguity, intrarole conflict, and lack of job control), II and AS accounted for additional variance in job satisfaction, perceived stress, and life satisfaction, although these components were uniquely related to different outcomes. Finally, AS and II moderated several of the stressor-psychosocial outcome relationships.

Enhancement of the Cubic Cell Soil Thermal Conductivity Model

Abstract: An analysis of measured soil thermal conductivity (λ) data for temperatures (T) varying from 5 to 90°C, was conducted with respect to four soil moisture content domains, i.e. residual, transitory meniscus, micro/macro porous capillary, superfluous. It was shown that each domain has a specific behaviour of λ vs soil moisture content (θ). For example, λ varies insignificantly with θ and T at very low moisture contents (residual moisture domain). In the transitory meniscus and micro/macro porous capillary domains, the relation λ (θ) shows in general a nonlinear behaviour, which is difficult to model, particularly at high T. A sensitivity analysis applied to the Gori (1983) model for dry soil showed better predictions when the model was restricted to the use of the first term only (dependent on soil porosity and thermal conductivity of air). Two linear λ approximations have been tested, across the second domain (from a critical θ to the permanent wilting point) and across the second and third domains (from a critical θ to field capacity). The enhanced model has been tested against soil λ data measured at moderate and high T. The numerical results show considerably improved predictions in the first three soil moisture domains. The first linear λ interpolation shows better agreement with experimental data for T up to 65°C, while the second interpolation was much more beneficial at higher T. The original Gori model gives generally the best predictions in the superfluous domain. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Prediction of Recreational Travel Using Genetically Designed Regression and Time-Delay Neural Network Models

Abstract: Selection of appropriate input variables is a crucial step in developing the statistical or neural network model for short-term traffic prediction. Recently, genetic algorithms have provided some success in input variable selection. Extensive experimentation with recreational traffic volume projections from Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, is reported. Genetic algorithms (GAs) were used to select a set of historical traffic volumes that had higher correlation to the next hourly traffic volume. Universal models developed using GAs were accurate within 10%, on average. Separation of time series for individual hours revealed a linear trend in traffic volumes. Genetically designed regression submodels for individual hours had average prediction errors of less than 1% for the training sets. Even the 95th-percentile errors for the test sets were between 2% and 8%. Many highway agencies expect to deploy an advanced traveler information system (ATIS) for all highway categories. On the basis of such accurate predictions of traffic conditions from an ATIS, recreational drivers will be able to reschedule their travel time as well as routes. Such rescheduling will alleviate stress caused by traffic congestion during recreational travel.

Inclusion of Turbulence in Solar Modeling

Abstract: The general consensus is that in order to reproduce the observed solar p-mode oscillation frequencies, turbulence should be included in solar models. However, until now there has not been any well-tested efficient method to incorporate turbulence into solar modeling. We present here two methods to include turbulence in solar modeling within the framework of the mixing length theory, using the turbulent velocity obtained from numerical simulations of the highly superadiabatic layer (SAL) of the Sun at three stages of its evolution. The first approach is to include the turbulent pressure alone, and the second is to include both the turbulent pressure and the turbulent kinetic energy. The latter is achieved by introducing two variables: the turbulent kinetic energy per unit mass and the effective ratio of specific heats owing to the turbulent perturbation. These are treated as additions to the standard thermodynamic coordinates (e.g., pressure and temperature). We investigate the effects of both treatments of turbulence on the structure variables, the adiabatic sound speed, the structure of the highly superadiabatic layer, and the p-mode frequencies. We find that the second method reproduces the SAL structure obtained in three-dimensional simulations and produces a p-mode frequency correction an order of magnitude better than the first method.

Inter-particle contact heat transfer in soil systems at moderate temperatures

Abstract: An inter-particle contact heat transfer model for evaluating soil thermal conductivity is analysed with respect to soils, representing different textural classes, exposed to moderate temperatures ranging from 15 to 30°C. This model is a combination of a self-consistent approximation model, enhanced with an inter-particle contact heat transfer correction coefficient. For dry and saturated soils, this coefficient is defined as a ratio of a soil harmonic mean thermal conductivity of solid and fluid (air or water) phases, to the average thermal conductivity of soil solid grains. For unsaturated soils, we assume a linear interpolation of the correction coefficient between absolutely dry and saturated states, with a Kersten function (Ke) as a proportional factor. The strongest impact of the correction coefficient (maximum reduction of heat transfer) is observed for coarse soils below a critical value of saturation degree (Sr-cr–corresponds to Ke≅0) followed by medium and fine soils. For Sr>Srcr, the reduction of heat transfer gradually diminishes as Sr approaches 1 (i.e. saturated state). Soil texture, soil specific surface area, porosity and mineralogical composition (particularly quartz content) are important factors influencing the heat transfer correction coefficient. Their influence appears to be more substantial at the lower half of the wetness range (Sr<0.5). Simulation results from the new enhanced model closely follow experimental data.

Successfully increasing technological control through minimizing workplace resistance: understanding the willingness to telework

Abstract: Technological change has permitted organizations to design jobs in different ways and control work performed in remote locations. This article examines how telework can be used to provide benefits to organizations and their members. In it I present the findings of a study of a large Canadian financial services organization preparing to introduce telework into its sales and customer service operations. These findings highlight the role of expectancy in forming attitudes toward telework, most importantly: the extent to which face‐to‐face communication prevents important social needs from being satisfied and prevents workers from developing a sense of belonging and commitment to the organization; and the belief that telework will bring improved performance results by creating a work environment with fewer distractions and new, more objective performance measures based on output. This exploration of individuals’ willingness to telework is apt because it points to potential sources of resistance to the implementation of new technologies of production and control in the workplace.

Conflict of Interest in Commercial Bank Security Underwritings: Canadian Evidence

Abstract: The recent repeal of the Glass–Steagall Act in the US has cleared the way for commercial banks to enter the securities underwriting business. Many of the concerns that resulted in the original passage of the Glass–Steagall Act, however, still exist. One of these is the possible conflict of interest a universal bank faces. This paper provides evidence on this issue from the experience of Canada following its removal of restrictions on chartered bank ownership of investment dealers. Both ex ante bond yield comparisons between commercial and investment bank underwritten issues and equity price reactions to bond issue announcements provide no evidence of a conflict of interest.