scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question

Showing papers by "University of Georgia published in 1995"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper provides a high-level overview of the current workflow management methodologies and software products and discusses how distributed object management and customized transaction management can support further advances in the commercial state of the art in this area.
Abstract: Today's business enterprises must deal with global competition, reduce the cost of doing business, and rapidly develop new services and products. To address these requirements enterprises must constantly reconsider and optimize the way they do business and change their information systems and applications to support evolving business processes. Workflow technology facilitates these by providing methodologies and software to support (i) business process modeling to capture business processes as workflow specifications, (ii) business process reengineering to optimize specified processes, and (iii) workflow automation to generate workflow implementations from workflow specifications. This paper provides a high-level overview of the current workflow management methodologies and software products. In addition, we discuss the infrastructure technologies that can address the limitations of current commercial workflow technology and extend the scope and mission of workflow management systems to support increased workflow automation in complex real-world environments involving heterogeneous, autonomous, and distributed information systems. In particular, we discuss how distributed object management and customized transaction management can support further advances in the commercial state of the art in this area.

1,687 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The main insights and predictions of transaction cost economics (TCE) are becoming increasingly accepted, in particular, the importance of govering transactions as mentioned in this paper, however, the empirical support for these claims is much less known.
Abstract: This article summarizes and assesses the growing body of empirical research in transaction cost economics (TCE). Originally an explanation for the scale and scope of the firm, TCE is now used to study a variety of economic relationships, ranging from vertical and lateral integration to transfer pricing, corporate finance, marketing, the organization of work, long-term commercial contracting, franchising, regulation, the multinational corporation, company towns, and many other contractual relationships. The main insights and predictions of TCE-in particular, the importance of govering transactions-are becoming increasingly accepted. The empirical support for these claims, however, is much less known. We believe the empirical literature, on the whole, is remarkably consistent with the predictions of TCE-more so than is typically the case in economics. After presenting an overview of the theory and a discussion of some theoretical and methodological preliminaries, we summarize the major findings and discuss their implications, particularly the potential applications to public policy. In an appendix we provide a more comprehensive list of articles, arranged by type of study, as a reference aid for researchers.

1,047 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper examined the relation between discretionary accruals and bonus plan bounds for a sample of 102 firms for the 1980-1990 period, and found that when earnings before discretionary payments fall below the lower bound, managers select income-increasing discretionary payments and vice versa.

667 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
29 Sep 1995-Science
TL;DR: The baculovirus anti-apoptotic protein p35 inhibited the proteolytic activity of human interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme (ICE) and three of its homologs in enzymatic assays as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The baculovirus antiapoptotic protein p35 inhibited the proteolytic activity of human interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme (ICE) and three of its homologs in enzymatic assays. Coexpression of p35 prevented the autoproteolytic activation of ICE from its precursor form and blocked ICE-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of enzymatic activity correlated with the cleavage of p35 and the formation of a stable ICE-p35 complex. The ability of p35 to block apoptosis in different pathways and in distantly related organisms suggests a central and conserved role for ICE-like proteases in the induction of apoptosis.

631 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Recent analyses have found that hybrids are not uniformly unfit, but rather are genotypic classes that possess lower, equivalent or higher levels of fitness relative to their parental taxa.
Abstract: The process of natural hybridization may produce genotypes that establish new evolutionary lineages. However, many authors have concluded that natural hybridization is of little evolutionary importance because hybrids, in general, are unfit relative to their progenitors. Deciding between these alternative conclusions requires that fitness be measured for hybrid classes and parental species. Recent analyses have found that hybrids are not uniformly unfit, but rather are genotypic classes that possess lower, equivalent or higher levels of fitness relative to their parental taxa.

605 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is argued that because the authors can only assess sustainability after the fact, it is a prediction problem more than a definition problem and in order for evolutionary adaptation to occur, there must be an ordered, hierarchical relationship between the expected life spans of systems and their space and time scales.

538 citations


Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 1995
TL;DR: A perusal of the self-esteem literature will reveal an abundance of research that focuses on the differences between low and high selfesteem individuals with respect to their perceptions of and reactions to positive and negative events.
Abstract: A perusal of the self-esteem literature will reveal an abundance of research that focuses on the differences between low and high self-esteem individuals with respect to their perceptions of and reactions to positive and negative events. Questions that have received considerable attention over the years include these: Do high self-esteem persons self-enhance in response to positive events and self-protect in response to threatening events more than do low self-esteem persons? Are there self-esteem differences in the tendency to seek out positive vs. negative self-relevant information or to embrace positive or negative self-aspects? Such questions are important and deserving of the attention that they have received. Unfortunately, however, the emphasis on them has left some gaps in our understanding of self-esteem processes. It is hoped that the diversity of issues addressed in this volume will foster an expansion of the types of questions focused on by people who are interested in self-esteem. Though time will tell how successful this endeavor has been, my experience editing this book has convinced me more than ever that such expansion is both necessary and viable.

510 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a model relating social learning to social dynamics among members of a group is presented, and three key hypotheses of the model are (1) behavioural coordination in time and/or space supports the process of social learning; (2) different kinds of coordination differentially support acquisition of different types of information; and (3) the various forms of behavioural coordination will be differentially affected by social dynamics.

503 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Long terminal repeat retrotransposons and a second class of elements the authors have called miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) have recently been found to be associated with the genes of diverse plants where some contribute regulatory sequences.

Journal ArticleDOI
A F Norman1, R Regnery1, Perry H. Jameson1, Craig E. Greene1, D C Krause1 
TL;DR: The observed genetic variability suggests that gltA sequences can provide a useful means for studying moderate divergence among related bacteria, and current studies are aimed at optimization of PCR conditions for specificity and sensitivity of amplification of Bartonella sequences from clinical isolates.
Abstract: The citrate synthase gene (gltA) of Bartonella henselae was cloned and sequenced to compare genetic divergence among alpha and gamma branches of the class Proteobacteria and to develop enhanced genotypic reagents for B. henselae identification. B. henselae gltA is 1,293 nucleotides in length and 63 to 66% homologous with corresponding gene sequences of Rickettsia prowazekii, Escherichia coli, and Coxiella burnetii. The observed genetic variability suggests that gltA sequences can provide a useful means for studying moderate divergence among related bacteria. Oligonucleotides specific for B. henselae gltA were evaluated for the ability to prime PCR amplification within the alpha and gamma branches of the proteobacteria. Under the conditions used, only B. henselae, Bartonella quintana, and R. prowazekii template DNAs yielded amplification products (approximately 380 bp). DNAs from 28 Bartonella-like isolates of feline origin were amplified by B. henselae primers and analyzed for restriction fragment length polymorphism. The resulting patterns for all 28 isolates were similar or identical to that of the recognized B. henselae strain. Current studies are aimed at optimization of PCR conditions for specificity and sensitivity of amplification of Bartonella sequences from clinical isolates.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that management sells assets when doing so provides the cheapest funds to pursue its objectives rather than for operating efficiency reasons alone, and they find that the typical firm in their sample performs poorly before the sale and that the average stock-price reaction to asset sales is positive only when the proceeds are paid out.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors demonstrate that, in the presence of non-constant returns to scale, the Malmquist productivity index does not accurately measure productivity change and that the bias is systematic and depends on the magnitude of scale economies.

Book ChapterDOI
TL;DR: Much is still unknown regarding the interactions of earthworm of different ecological categories on the diversity and function of microfloral and faunal communities, and much more interdisciplinary research is needed to assess the potential role of earthworms in regulating the diversity ofmicroflora and fauna in soil systems.
Abstract: Much of the work regarding earthworm effects on other organisms has focused on the functional significance of microbial-earthworm interactions, and little is known on the effects of earthworms on microfloral and faunal diversity. Earthworms can affect soil microflora and fauna populations directly and indirectly by three main mechanisms: (1) comminution, burrowing and casting; (2) grazing; (3) dispersal. These activities change the soil's physico-chemical and biological status and may cause drastic shifts in the density, diversity, structure and activity of microbial and faunal communities within the drilosphere. Certain organisms and species may be enhanced, reduced or not be affected at all depending on their ability to adapt to the particular conditions of different earthworm drilospheres. A large host of factors (including CaCO3, enzymes, mucus and antimicrobial substances) influence the ability of preferentially or randomly ingested organisms to survive (or not) passage through the earthworm gut, and their resultant capacity to recover and proliferate (or not) in earthworm casts. Small organisms, particularly microflora and microfauna, with limited ability to move within the soil, may benefit from the (comparatively) long ranging movements of earthworms. Microflora and smaller fauna appear to be particularly sensitive to earthworm activities, and priming effects enhancing nutrient release, particularly in casts, are common. Larger fauna such as microarthropods, enchytraeids and Isopods may be enhanced under some conditions (e.g., in earthworm middens), but in other cases earthworm activity may lead to a decrease in their populations due to competition for food (microbes and organic materials), and spatial and temporal changes in food abundance. Nevertheless, considering the presently available data, the beneficial interactions of earthworms and microflora and fauna appear to far outweigh the potential negative effects. However, much is still unknown regarding the interactions of earthworms of different ecological categories on the diversity and function of microfloral and faunal communities, and much more interdisciplinary research is needed to assess the potential role of earthworms in regulating the diversity of microflora and fauna in soil systems and the potentially beneficial or harmful effects this regulation may have on ecosystem function and plant growth in different ecosystems.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors study the macroeconomic performance of 19 OECD countries over the period 1970-1990 and find that performance rankings do change, and that the relative performance of the European countries declines, when the environmental disamenities are added to the service list.

Journal ArticleDOI
17 Nov 1995-Science
TL;DR: The crystal structure of the aldehyde oxido-reductase (Mop) from the sulfate reducing anaerobic Gram-negative bacterium Desulfovibrio gigas has been determined at 2.25 Å resolution by multiple isomorphous replacement and refined.
Abstract: The crystal structure of the aldehyde oxido-reductase (Mop) from the sulfate reducing anaerobic Gram-negative bacterium Desulfovibrio gigas has been determined at 2.25 A resolution by multiple isomorphous replacement and refined. The protein, a homodimer of 907 amino acid residues subunits, is a member of the xanthine oxidase family. The protein contains a molybdopterin cofactor (Mo-co) and two different [2Fe-2S] centers. It is folded into four domains of which the first two bind the iron sulfur centers and the last two are involved in Mo-co binding. Mo-co is a molybdenum molybdopterin cytosine dinucleotide. Molybdopterin forms a tricyclic system with the pterin bicycle annealed to a pyran ring. The molybdopterin dinucleotide is deeply buried in the protein. The cis-dithiolene group of the pyran ring binds the molybdenum, which is coordinated by three more (oxygen) ligands.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper discusses the desirable properties of units invariance and translation invariance, and notes which DEA models satisfy one or the other of these properties, and introduces two new DEA models.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The cell-wall polysaccharides of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves have been isolated, purified, and characterized, and these cell walls are remarkable in that they are particularly rich in phosphate buffer-soluble poly Saccharides.
Abstract: The cell-wall polysaccharides of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves have been isolated, purified, and characterized. The primary cell walls of all higher plants that have been studied contain cellulose, the three pectic polysaccharides homogalacturonan, rhamnogalacturonan I and rhamnogalacturonan II, the two hemicelluloses xyloglucan and glucuronoarabinoxylan, and structural glycoproteins. The cell walls of Arabidopsis leaves contain each of these components and no others that we could detect, and these cell walls are remarkable in that they are particularly rich in phosphate buffer-soluble polysaccharides (34% of the wall). The pectic polysaccharides of the purified cell walls consist of rhamnogalacturonan I (11%), rhamnogalacturonon II (8%), and homogalacturonan (23%). Xyloglucan (XG) accounts for 20% of the wall, and the oligosaccharide fragments generated from XG by endoglucanase consist of the typical subunits of other higher plant XGs. Glucuronoarabinoxylan (4%), cellulose (14%) and protein (14%) account for the remainder of the wall. Except for the phosphate buffer-soluble pectic polysaccharides, the polysaccharides of Arabidopsis leaf cell walls occur in proportions similar to those of other plants. The structure of the Arabidopsis cell-wall polysaccharides are typical of those of many other plants.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A special demographic significance is suggested for the perspectives that have been provided by another genetic systemmitochondrial (mt) DNA, such as within-population heterozygosity, between-population gene flow, and the genetic distinctiveness of taxonomic units.
Abstract: Molecular markers increasingly are employed to estimate population genetic parameters of relevance to conservation biology, such as within-population heterozygosity, between-population gene flow, and the genetic distinctiveness of taxonomic units. One complication in interpreting empirical results is that alternative markers sometimes yield different outcomes, presumably due to sampling errors associated with the small fraction of the genome represented in any assay, and to the possibility that the genes monitored were influenced by different evolutionary forces (such as selection versus neutral drift). Sometimes a special significance is claimed for particular classes of genetic markers. A recent example was the provocative suggestion by Hughes (1991) that captive breeding programs should be designed with an explicit focus on maintaining allelic diversity in genes of the major histocompatibility complex, a stance that stimulated much controversy and discussion (Gilpin & Wills 1991; Miller & Hedrick 1991; Vrijenhoek & Leberg 1991). In this spirit of provocative thought, I wish to suggest a special demographic significance for the perspectives that have been provided by another genetic systemmitochondrial (mt) DNA (see also Moritz 1994).

Book ChapterDOI
TL;DR: This work describes some of the numerous and complex interactions among organisms in soils and their contributions to biogeochemical cycling and their importance to ecosystem function.
Abstract: The significance of biodiversity to biogeochemical cycling is viewed most directly through the specific biogeochemical transformations that organisms perform. Although functional diversity in soils can be great, it is exceeded to a high degree by the richness of soil species. It is generally inferred from this richness that soil systems have a high level of functional redundancy. As such, indices of species richness probably contribute little to understanding the functioning of soil ecosystems. Another approach stresses the value of identifying “keystone” organisms, that is those that play an exceptionally important role in determining the structure and function of ecosystems. Both views tend to ignore the importance of biodiversity in maintaining the numerous and complex interactions among organisms in soils and their contributions to biogeochemical cycling. We describe some of those interactions and their importance to ecosystem function.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The findings of the moderated regression analysis indicate that cooperative arrangements are most beneficial to those new ventures whose management teams possess the most experience.
Abstract: This paper reports the results of a study of new ventures which examine the relationships between performance and the experience of a new venture's management team, its choice of competitive strategy, and its use of various cooperative arrangements. The findings of the moderated regression analysis indicate that cooperative arrangements are most beneficial to those new ventures whose management teams possess the most experience.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: One or more of the replication-related lefs or the process of plasmid replication appears to induce cellular apoptosis, and the predicted sequence of lef-7 suggests that it is a homolog of herpesvirus single-stranded DNA-binding protein (UL29).
Abstract: A set of 18 plasmid subclones of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus genome supports expression from a late viral promoter in transient expression assays (J. W. Todd, A. L. Passarelli, and L. K. Miller, J. Virol. 69:968-974, 1995). Using this set of plasmids, we have assigned a role for each of the 18 genes required for optimal late gene expression with respect to its involvement at the levels of transcription, translation, and/or DNA replication. RNase protection analyses demonstrated that all of the known late expression factor genes (lefs) affected the steady-state level of reporter gene RNA. Thus, none of the lefs appeared to be specifically involved in translation. A subset of the lefs supported plasmid replication; ie-1, lef-1, lef-2, lef-3, p143, and p35 were essential for plasmid replication, while ie-n, lef-7, and dnapol had stimulatory effects. The predicted sequence of lef-7 suggests that it is a homolog of herpesvirus single-stranded DNA-binding protein (UL29). The role of p35 in plasmid replication appears to be suppression of apoptosis, because p35 could be functionally replaced in the replication assay by either Cp-iap or Op-iap, two heterologous baculovirus genes which suppress apoptosis by a mechanism which appears to differ from that of p35. Thus, one or more of the replication-related lefs or the process of plasmid replication appears to induce cellular apoptosis. Our results indicate that the remaining lefs, lefs 4 through 11, p47, and 39K (pp31), function either at the level of transcription or at that of mRNA stabilization.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Draw-A-Scientist Test (DAST) as discussed by the authors was developed to assess student images of scientists, but most instruments require children to respond in writing, since not all children can respond appropriately to written instruments.
Abstract: Several instruments have been developed to assess student images of scientists, but most require children to respond in writing. Since not all children can respond appropriately to written instruments. Chambers (1983) developed the Draw-A-Scientist Test (DAST) in which children's drawings are rated according to particular characteristics present or absent in the drawings, allowing researchers to determine the images of scientists children hold. In order to improve the objectivity and interrater reliability of this means of assessment, the authors built upon Chambers' study to develop a checklist useful in assessing DAST drawings. This checklist provides drawing raters with stereotypic components identified in previous research as well as some additional ones, making the identification and recording of such components more efficient and more readily quantifiable for data analysis. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and field test of this checklist.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the dilemma of green consumers with negative impressions of the advertising industry from a variety of perspectives and concluded that many green consumers have negative attitudes about business.
Abstract: As ecological concerns evolve and diffuse throughout society, advertisers are interested in developing green (i.e., environmental) messages and are interested in targeting green customer segments. Unfortunately for advertisers, many green consumers have negative attitudes about business, and they often have negative impressions of the advertising industry. Here, this dilemma is examined from a variety of perspectives.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compare tidal salt marshes, tidal freshwater marshes and seasonally flooded fresh-water wetlands as examples of pulsed ecosystems, and suggest that if pulsing is general, then what is sustainable in ecosystems, is a repeating oscillation that is often poised on the edge of chaos.
Abstract: While the steady state is often seen as the final result of development in nature, a more realistic concept may be that nature pulses regularly to make a pulsing steady stata—a new paradigm gaining acceptance in ecology and many other fields. In this paper we compare tidal salt marshes, tidal freshwater marshes, and seasonally flooded fresh-water wetlands as examples of pulsed ecosystems. Despite marked differences in species composition, biodiversity, and community structure, these wetland types are functionally similar because of the common denominator of water flow pulses. Often a period of high production alternates with a period of rapid consumption in these fluctuating water-level systems, a biotic pulsing to which many life histories, such as that of the wood stork, are adapted. Pulsing of medium frequency and amplitude often provides an energy subsidy for the community thus enhancing its productivity. The energy of large-scale pulses such as storms are usually dissipated in natural ecosystems with little harm to the biotic network; however, when seawalls, dikes, or stabilized sand dunes are constructed to confront these strong pulses, the whole ecosystem (and associated human structures) may be severly damaged when the barriers fail because too much of the storm energy is concentrated on them. The relationship between biologically mediated internal pulsing, such as plant-herbivore or predator-prey cycles, and physical external pulsing is discussed not only in wetlands but in other ecosystem types as well. An intriguing hypothesis is that ecosystem performance and species survival are enhanced when external and internal pulses are coupled. We suggest that if pulsing is general, then what is sustainable in ecosystems, is a repeating oscillation that is often poised on the edge of chaos.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Investigation of the types of instructional strategies offered in mainstream classes found that the teachers with less positive attitudes used effective mainstream instructional strategies less frequently, and ANOVAs comparing teachers with positive attitudes toward mainstreaming and teachers with more positive attitudes indicated this.
Abstract: To investigate the types of instructional strategies offered in mainstream classes, we asked 127 mainstream teachers in Grades 1 through 8 to complete a self-evaluation concerning instructional strategies used in their general education classes. Also, each teacher completed questionnaires concerning their attitudes toward their own efficacy and toward mainstreaming. ANOVAs comparing teachers with positive attitudes toward mainstreaming and teachers with less positive attitudes indicated that the teachers with less positive attitudes used effective mainstream instructional strategies less frequently. Implications of these results in terms of recent educational initiatives resulting in increased inclusion programs are discussed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used simple computational algorithms based on fundamental chemical structure theory to estimate ionization pKas of organic molecules strictly from molecular structure, where molecular structures are broken at each essential single bond into functional units with intrinsic properties.
Abstract: Ionization pKas for a large set of molecules were calculated using reactivity models developed in the computer program SPARC. SPARC uses relatively simple computational algorithms based on fundamental chemical structure theory to estimate ionization pKas of organic molecules strictly from molecular structure. Molecular structures are broken at each essential single bond into functional units with intrinsic properties. Reaction centers (acid or base) are identified and the impact of appended molecular structure on ionization pKa is quantified by perturbation theory. Resonance, electrostatic, solvation and H-bonding models have been developed and tested on 4338 pKas for 3685 compounds. The RMS deviation for the acids and the amino reaction center was 0.36 pKa units whereas that for the in-ring N and = N reaction centers was 0.41. Microscopic ionization constants, zwitterionic constants, isoelectric points, and molecular speciation as a function of pH can be calculated using the SPARC models.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that patterns of diversification within and among clades that have evolved floral nectar spurs strongly support the hypothesis that floral n dessert spurs represent a key innovation.
Abstract: High levels of species diversity in taxonomic groups have often been explained by a key innovation. However, the difficulty in establishing a causal role between a proposed key innovation and increased species diversity, as well as in substantiating that diversity patterns are different from null models has led to major criticisms of key innovation hypotheses. Here we show that patterns of diversification within and among clades that have evolved floral nectar spurs strongly support the hypothesis that floral nectar spurs represent a key innovation. Both reproductive success and reproductive isolation can be influenced by simple changes in nectar spur morphology and the acquisition of nectar spurs in a wide array of plant groups is highly correlated with increased species diversity.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The greedy algorithm is the first to come within a constant factor of the optimum; it guarantees a solution that uses no more than twice the minimum number of reversals, and the lower and upper bounds of the branch- and-bound algorithm are a novel application of maximum-weight matchings, shortest paths, and linear programming.
Abstract: Motivated by the problem in computational biology of reconstructing the series of chromosome inversions by which one organism evolved from another, we consider the problem of computing the shortest series of reversals that transform one permutation to another. The permutations describe the order of genes on corresponding chromosomes, and areversal takes an arbitrary substring of elements, and reverses their order.