New Tools For Management Research Articles

Machine Learning Classification Algorithms for Predicting Karenia brevis Blooms on the West Florida Shelf

Harmful algal blooms (HABs), events that kill fish, impact human health in multiple ways, and contaminate water supplies, have increased in frequency, magnitude, and impacts in numerous marine and freshwaters around the world. Blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis have resulted in thousands of tons of dead fish, deaths to many other marine organisms, numerous respiratory-related hospitalizations, and tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in economic damage along the West Florida coast in recent years. Four types of machine learning algorithms, Support Vector Machine (SVM), Relevance Vector Machine (RVM), Naïve Bayes classifier (NB), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN), were developed and compared in their ability to predict these blooms. Comparing the 21 year monitoring dataset of K. brevis abundance, RVM and NB were found to have better skills in bloom prediction than the other two approaches. The importance of upwelling-favorable northerly winds in increasing K. brevis probability, and of onshore westerly winds in preventing blooms from dispersing offshore, were quantified using RVM, and all models were used to explore the importance of large river flows and the nutrients they supply in regulating blooms. These models provide new tools for management of these devastating algal blooms.

Resource Scarcity and Sustainability—The Shapes Have Shifted but the Stakes Keep Rising

The objective is to provide an interpretive reading of the literature in resource scarcity and sustainability theory from the nineteenth century to the present time, focusing on shifts that have occurred in problem definition, conceptual framing, research tools applied, findings, and their implications. My reading shows, as one would expect, that the discourse has become more technical and the analysis more sophisticated; special cases have been incorporated into the mainstream of theory; and, where relevant, dynamic formulations have largely supplanted static analysis. However, that is barely scratching the surface. Here, I focus on more fundamental shifts. Exhaustible and renewable resource analyses were incorporated into the mainstream theory of financial and capital markets. Parallels between the resources and environmental spheres were discovered: market failure concepts, fundamental to environmental policy, found applications in the resources sector (e.g., fisheries), and renewable resource management concepts and approaches (e.g., waste assimilation capacity) were adopted in environmental policy. To motivate sustainability theory and assessment, there has been a foundational problem shift from restraining human greed to dealing with risk viewed as chance of harm, and a newfound willingness to look beyond stochastic risk to uncertainty, ambiguity, and gross ignorance. Newtonian dynamics, which seeks a stable equilibrium following a shock, gave way to a new dynamics of complexity that valued resilience in the face of shocks, warned of potential for regime shifts, and focused on the possibility of systemic collapse and recovery, perhaps incomplete. New concepts of sustainability (a safe minimum standard of conservation, the precautionary principle, and planetary boundaries) emerged, along with hybrid approaches such as WS-plus which treats weak sustainability (WS) as the default but may impose strong sustainability restrictions on a few essential but threatened resources. The strong sustainability objective has evolved from maintaining baseline flows of resource services to safety defined as minimizing the chance of irreversible collapse. New tools for management and policy (sustainability indicators and downscaled planetary boundaries) have proliferated, and still struggle to keep up with the emerging understanding of complex systems.

Mapping the status of the North American beaver invasion in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago.

Quantifying the presence and environmental impact of invasive species is the starting point for research on management and nature conservation. North American beavers (Castor canadensis) were introduced to Argentina from Canada in 1946, and the species has been identified as a major agent of environmental change in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the Anthropocene. We studied the invasion status (distribution and density) of beavers through analyses of the dam densities in the Tierra del Fuego landscapes. We identified beaver dams with a GIS using visual interpretation of high-resolution aerial imagery from Microsoft Bing, Google Earth and HERE and related them to natural environmental gradients. These factors comprised geographic (vegetation zones and distance to streams), climatic (temperature, precipitation, evapotranspiration and net primary productivity) and topographic (elevation and slope) data. The datasets (dams and factors) were combined, and the data from the different zonation classes were subsequently compared using ANOVAs and Tukey’s mean comparison tests. Deviations from the mean density (x mean density—x total mean density) were calculated to visualize the deviations for the studied factors. The datasets were also evaluated using principal component analyses (PCA). Our results showed a total of 206,203 beaver dams (100,951 in Argentina and 105,252 in Chile) in the study area (73,000 km2). The main island of Tierra del Fuego presented a greater degree of invasion (73.6% of the total study area) than the rest of the archipelago, especially in areas covered by mixed-evergreen and deciduous forests. The studied geographic, climatic and topographic factors showed positive trends (higher beaver preference) with beaver spread, which were all significant (p <0.05) when compared across the landscape. Although beavers are flexible in their habitat use, our empirical records showed that they had marked preferences and were positively influenced by the most productive forests. Here, we describe a scientific panorama that identified the drivers of species invasion based on satellite data and the available ecological datasets. The identification of such drivers could be useful for developing new tools for management and/or control strategies of the beavers in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago.

Type 2 Diabetes in a Time of Change—A Tide of Good News

Type 2 diabetes has been definitively characterized as one of the most physiologically complex and heterogeneous metabolic known diseases. The extraordinary depth of knowledge that has been achieved regarding the pathophysiology has helped to stimulate an explosive array of therapeutic regimens and monitoring tools for improving outcomes in this disease. Indeed, the clinical narrative about ‘control’ of diabetes has shifted markedly in the last two years, away from a focus on glucose-mediated vascular complications to defining diabetes control as cardiovascular risk reduction and end organ protection. The new tools for management coupled with new pathophysiologic insights have brought a tide of good news for the millions of people living with type 2 diabetes.

FTS3 / WebFTS – A Powerful File Transfer Service for Scientific Communities

Abstract FTS3, the service responsible for globally distributing the majority of the LHC data across the WLCG infrastructure, is now available to everybody. Already integrated into LHC experiment frameworks, a new web interface now makes the FTS3's transfer technology directly available to end users. In this article we describe this intuitive new interface, “WebFTS”, which allows users to easily schedule and manage large data transfers right from the browser, profiting from a service which has been proven at the scale of petabytes per month. We will shed light on new development activities to extend FTS3 transfers capabilities outside Grid boundaries with support of non-Grid endpoints like Dropbox and S3. We also describe the latest changes integrated into the transfer engine itself, such as new data management operations like deletions and staging files from archive, all of which may be accessed through our standards-compliant REST API. For the Service Managers, we explain such features as the service's horizontal scalability, advanced monitoring and its “zero configuration” approach to deployment made possible by specialised transfer optimisation logic. For the Data Managers, we will present new tools for management of FTS3 transfer parameters like limits for bandwidth and max active file transfers per endpoint and VO, user and endpoint banning and powerful command line tools. We finish by describing our effort to extend WebFTS's captivating graphical interface with support of Federated Identity technologies, thus demonstrating the use of grid resources without the burden of certificate management. In this manner we show how FTS3 can cover the needs of wide range of parties from casual users to high-load services. The evolution of FTS3 is addressing technical and performance requirements and challenges for LHC Run 2, moreover, its simplicity, generic design, web portal and REST interface makes it an ideal file transfer scheduler both inside and outside of HEP community.

Relationship between management information systems and corporate performance

The literature review on the success of management information systems (IS) provides empirical evidence that mere investment in IS and New Management Tools (NMTs) does not guarantee better business results. Aiming to contribute to the knowledge of the factors explaining the success of IS implementation, this paper classifies them through cluster analysis, with a sample of Spanish companies according to the valuation given by their finance directors (CFOs) to the quality of such systems and their use for strategic purposes. This classification helps to answer three questions: do companies that better rate their IS improve their performance? How do IS quality and strategy affect results? Is there a positive relationship between the use of NMTs and improvement in performance?Through the non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis test and a partial least squares (PLS) model results are yielded that support the first question and show the positive effect of the IS quality and strategy on improving corporate profitability. Logistic regression showed an interaction between the use of NMTs and the IS strategic approach with positive effects on improving profitability.The results of this study have significant implications for companies, suggesting that investment in new IS and NMTs must be coupled with a clear sense of strategy.

Técnicas moleculares para la detección de cianobacterias en los embalses Riogrande II y La Fe, Colombia

In lentic water bodies as reservoirs occur eutrophication processes, originated mainly from human activities (i.e. agriculture, animal exploitation). This influx of nutrients in aquatic ecosystems could promote blooms of potentially toxic cyanobacteria. The purpose of this work is to detect the presence of cyanobacteria strains in water samples, using molecular techniques to help in preventive management of reservoirs dedicated to water purification. We used two molecular techniques to detect genes implied with the synthesis of hepatotoxic microcystins from potentially toxic cyanobacteria strains, and to evaluate the molecular diversity of cyanobacteria in water samples from two high-mountain reservoirs used for purification of drinking water for the metropolitan area of Medellin, Colombia. Between 2010-2011 collections of 12 water samples were taken and DNA extraction together with PCR and DGGE analyses where carried out. We amplified 22 sequences between 250-300bp of the genes mcyA and mcyE, and these sequences were related with several strains and cyanobacteria genera accessions from NCBI-GenBank databases. Moreover, sequence amplifications of the 16S small ribosomal RNA subunit - 16S rRNA- between 400-800bp were also performed in order to use them for the DGGE technique. The amplification products of DGGE were set in polyacrilamide gel with posterior denaturing electrophoresis, and the scanned images of the gel bands were analysed with the software GelCompar II. For Riogrande II and La Fe reservoirs we found 35 and 30 different DGGE bands, respectively, as a measurement of molecular diversity in these artificial ecosystems. Here, we demonstrated the utility of two molecular techniques for the detection of genes associated with toxicity and molecular diversity of cyanobacteria in reservoirs destined for drinking water in urban centers. We recommend strongly following with periodically molecular biology studies in these ecosystems combined with limnological and ecological data, as new tools for management of plants of water purification and for the prevention of potentially public health concerns.

Ecosystem services in changing landscapes: An introduction

The concept of ecosystem services from landscapes is rapidly gaining momentum as a language to communicate values and benefits to scientists and lay alike. Landscape ecology has an enormous contribution to make to this field, and one could argue, uniquely so. Tools developed or adapted for landscape ecology are being increasingly used to assist with the quantification, modelling, mapping, and valuing of ecosystem services. Several of these tools and methods encased therein are described among the eleven papers presented in this special issue, and their application has the potential to facilitate the management and promotion of services within ecosystems. Papers are associated with each of the four key categories of services that ecosystems provide to humans: supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural. The papers represent work conducted in eleven different countries, especially from South America. Each carries a unique approach to address a particular question pertaining to a particular set of ecosystem services. These studies are designed to inform and improve the economic, environmental and social values of the ecosystem services. This knowledge should help to develop new management alternatives for sustaining and planning ecosystems and the services they provide at different scales in space and time. We believe that these papers will create interest and inform management of some potential methods to evaluate ecosystem services at the landscape level with an integrative approach, offering new tools for management and conservation.

Fostering the passion while applying caution

Many of articles and book reviews in this issue relate to the nuts and bolts of conservation management of ecosystems in Australia and New Zealand. Topics range from developing or examining new tools for management to learning from natural processes. Behind the practical and scientific effort, however, runs a rich seam of motivation to conserve ecosystems. This allows individual researchers and managers to go that extra mile to conceive and develop successful projects and then communicate their results to others. This issue's EMR interview with ecologist Per Christensen is a good illustration of the importance of motivation. From his years in Kenya as a child, Per developed a curiosity for animals and was exposed to the process of trapping and relocating animals from Africa to zoos all around the world. When he moved to Western Australia in the late 1960s, those interests and skills helped him initiate some of the first faunal reintroductions in his new home country, returning some declining small native mammal species back into their previously known habitats. In Australia at that time, proposing and managing faunal reintroductions would have required a high degree of motivation as there were few precedents; although bird reintroductions were already underway in New Zealand. Indeed, real commitment and passion turned out to be needed by the teams to ensure persistence through the numerous lessons that are part and parcel of any innovation. The degree of success of the programs and others that followed has been encouraging – with the passion tempered only by the degree of caution necessary to achieve success and avoid harm. More complicated in both philosophic and practical terms is ‘assisted migration’, the subject of Stephen Harris and colleagues’ comment piece in this issue. As readers will know, this is the proposed practice (raised in the context of climate change) of moving highly climate-sensitive animals beyond their historic ranges in the hope that some extinctions can be avoided. Partly in response to vigorous debate on the topic among many ecologists over the last few years, the IUCN have developed a set of guidelines for ‘conservation translocations’ that aim to balance the passion to save species from extinction with the caution needed to avoid this causing further damage to other species and communities (IUCN SSC 2012). In their comment piece on the topic in this issue of EMR, Harris and colleagues add to the growing body of guidelines, proposing a number of factors relating to translocation receiving sites that would need to be considered if and when this potentially risky practice of assisted migration is being planned in Australia. Far more familiar territory is the practice of landscape restoration in cleared agricultural areas of Australia and New Zealand – an example of which is provided in this issue's feature article by David Lindenmayer, Emmo Willink and colleagues on the results of monitoring revegetation outcomes in the South West Slopes of New South Wales, Australia. Despite its familiarity to many, this practice is still somewhat experimental, with monitoring an important mechanism for not only measuring success to date and identifying how best to reinstate habitat, but also for contributing to our understanding of habitats per se. What some might take for granted as an assured process of improving habitats, driven by a passion to actively compensate for environmental damage, is viewed by others as an important landscape ecology experiment, with data now starting to trickle in. Reviewing data from 30 years of revegetation, this issue's article provides evidence that creating larger, more structurally diverse patches configured strategically among smaller ones is achieving improved habitat function compared the more simplistic ‘tree planting’ approach of the earlier era where woodlots were narrow and structurally simple. This shows that the passion to heal our landscape has become better directed over the decades and augers well for a future where much larger strides are going to be needed if we are to improve the function of ecosystems in agricultural areas.

Examination Under Anesthesia for Management of Impalpable Undescended Testis: A Traditional Technique Revisited

Many new tools for management of impalpable testes have emerged during the last few years, yet, not many studies have compared them to the traditional ways of managing this problem. This work aims to reiterate the importance of the physical examination under general anesthesia prior to the surgical procedure in order to decide the best surgical approach for patients with impalpable undescended testis, especially in developing countries where expensive investigations are at premium. The study included boys who were treated consecutively and recorded prospectively from 2000 to 2010. Examination under anesthesia (EUA) was performed during the study period. Those in whom the testes were palpable underwent the standard orchiopexy procedure. In those boys where EUA failed to detect the testes, laparoscopy or extended inguinal exploration was carried out, and the testes were treated accordingly. On initial clinical evaluation at the outpatient clinic, 545 boys were recorded to have impalpable testes. Undescended testis was unilateral in 529 boys and bilateral in 16 boys. However, on examination under anesthesia only 189 (34.7 %) were impalpable. Among boys in whom the testes were palpable after EUA, 38 had small-size testes, 18 had normal size, and the remaining 300 boys had a sac or cord-like structure. Meticulous EUA facilitates the accurate diagnosis and planning of the surgical approach to patients with an impalpable testis and should remain part of the surgeon's skill set. It is an inexpensive initial evaluation tool that may help in saving hospital resources, especially in developing countries.

Higher baseline tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-a and early postoperative interleukin [IL]-10 level are associated with postoperative sepsis in cardiac surgery: A preliminary study

Event Abstract Back to Event Higher baseline tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α and early postoperative interleukin [IL]-10 level are associated with postoperative sepsis in cardiac surgery: A preliminary study Ben Azaiz Mouna1*, Arbi Riheb1, Romthani Chiheb1, Ghothban Walid1, Haddad Soumaia1, Iabben Iheb1, Kdous Chama1, Shnik Slim1, Ferjani Mustapha1 and Ghazouani Ezzedine1 1 Military hospital tunis, Tunisia Background and aim: Sepsis after cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a serious complication. Cytokines are the main and first actors in sepsis(1), therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate pro-inflammatory (IL1, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokin in patients undergoing a CPB as a precocious markers. Methods: Patients undergoing a CPB were enrolled in a prospective clinical study. They were divided in two groups as Septic and non septic patients. The levels of TNFα,IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were measured at four different periods (T1: induction, T2: 5 minutes after the end of CBP , T3: 4h after the end of CBP : and T4: 24h post CBP). The CRP was measured at day 1, 3, 6 and 9 after surgery. Results: Nineteen patients were studied. Six patients presented a postoperative sepsis. Only TNF-α at T1 [266.5 UI/ml (9.93; 480) vs. 7.75 UI/ml (6.66; 11.35) in septic vs. non septic patients respectively; p= 0.041] and IL-10 at T3 [6.35 UI/ml (5.37; 6.89) vs. 5 UI/ml (5; 5.01) in septic vs. non septic patients respectively; p= 0.022] were found to be associated with postoperative sepsis.Quantitative variables are expressed as median (Interquartile range). There was no significant difference among CRP measurements. Conclusion: Monitoring of cytokines, mainly TNFα and IL-10, are more reliable markers then CRP in this procedure. Therefore, these cytokines might be a new tools for management of sepsis during CPB.However the sample size in this preliminary study was too small to allow any definitive conclusion. References - Adib-Conquy, M and Cavaillon, J-M. Host inflammatory and anti-inflammatory response during sepsis. Pathologie Biologie. 60 (2012), 306–313. Keywords: Sepsis, Inflammation, Cytokines, cardiopulmonarybypass, interleukin10, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Conference: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Milan, Italy, 22 Aug - 27 Aug, 2013. Presentation Type: Abstract Topic: Innate immunity Citation: Mouna B, Riheb A, Chiheb R, Walid G, Soumaia H, Iheb I, Chama K, Slim S, Mustapha F and Ezzedine G (2013). Higher baseline tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α and early postoperative interleukin [IL]-10 level are associated with postoperative sepsis in cardiac surgery: A preliminary study . Front. Immunol. Conference Abstract: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fimmu.2013.02.01163 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 15 Jul 2013; Published Online: 22 Aug 2013. * Correspondence: Dr. Ben Azaiz Mouna, Military hospital tunis, tunis, Tunisia, drmouna1@yahoo.fr Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Ben Azaiz Mouna Arbi Riheb Romthani Chiheb Ghothban Walid Haddad Soumaia Iabben Iheb Kdous Chama Shnik Slim Ferjani Mustapha Ghazouani Ezzedine Google Ben Azaiz Mouna Arbi Riheb Romthani Chiheb Ghothban Walid Haddad Soumaia Iabben Iheb Kdous Chama Shnik Slim Ferjani Mustapha Ghazouani Ezzedine Google Scholar Ben Azaiz Mouna Arbi Riheb Romthani Chiheb Ghothban Walid Haddad Soumaia Iabben Iheb Kdous Chama Shnik Slim Ferjani Mustapha Ghazouani Ezzedine PubMed Ben Azaiz Mouna Arbi Riheb Romthani Chiheb Ghothban Walid Haddad Soumaia Iabben Iheb Kdous Chama Shnik Slim Ferjani Mustapha Ghazouani Ezzedine Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Agroforestry landscapes and global change: landscape ecology tools for management and conservation

Forest ecosystems are impacted by multiple uses under the influence of global drivers, and where landscape ecology tools may substantially facilitate the management and conservation of the agroforestry ecosystems. The use of landscape ecology tools was described in the eight papers of the present special issue, including changes in forested landscapes due to agricultural and forestry activities, landscape changes due to recent intensification of agriculture, and the impacts of agroforestry as compared to natural forest ecosystems. Landscape ecology can improve the economic, environmental and social values of agroforestry, and this knowledge should help to develop new management alternatives for agroforestry. We believe that these papers will inform management at the landscape level, especially in agroforestry landscapes, offering new tools for management and conservation.

Internet-based remote supervision of industrial processes using self-organizing maps

In upcoming years, the strategies for maintenance, traceability, management and operation of productive processes will demand the use of novel information and communication technologies. Supervisory systems in these new scenarios will have to be able to integrate large volumes of information and knowledge coming both from local and remote points of large processes. These systems will therefore require new tools for management and integration of information and knowledge. In this work, the authors present an internet-based remote supervision system of industrial processes that incorporates powerful data and knowledge visualization tools based on self-organizing maps (SOM). This architecture adds an intermediate layer (database) to the well-known client and server layers, that isolates the client part from the industrial process, allowing to incorporate the required data management and neural network processing tasks. Remote users have access to advanced information visualization tools based on SOM, including both static visualizations, such as component planes or distance maps, and dynamical ones, such as residuals and state trajectory, allowing the interpretation of knowledge extracted by the SOM as well as the analysis and detection of possible abnormal conditions. This architecture has been validated through the supervision of an industrial pilot plant.

New Tools for Management of Phosphine Resistance

Phosphine is the primary fumigant used to protect the majority of the world' s grain and a variety of other stored commodities from insect pests. Phosphine is playing an increasingly important role in the protection of commodities for two primary reasons. Firstly, use of the alternative fumigant, methyl bromide, has been sharply curtailed and is tightly regulated due to its role in ozone depletion, and secondly, consumers are becoming increasingly intolerant of contact pesticides. Niche alternatives to phosphine exist, but they suffer from a range of factors that limit their use, including: 1) Limited commercial adoption due to expense or slow mode of action; 2) Poor efficacy due to low toxicity, rapid sorption, limited volatility or high density; 3) Public health concerns due to toxicity to handlers or nearby residents, as well as risk of explosion; 4) Poor consumer acceptance due to toxic residues or smell. These same factors limit the prospects of quickly identifying and deploying a new fumigant. Given that resistance toward phosphine is increasing among insect pests, improved monitoring and management of resistance is a priority. Knowledge of the mode of action of phosphine as well as the mechanisms of resistance may also greatly reduce the effort and expense of identifying synergists or novel replacement compounds.

Web Service Business Context

This paper investigates the normative perspective of the Web service business context. The business context includes modeling of the business entities and their relationships, while its normative perspective deals with responsibilities, rights and obligations of both Web service providers and users. The existing literature and practice confirm the gap between the available Web service infrastructure and current understanding of the Web service business context - especially its normative perspective. The paper uses the Web service solution lifecycle to investigate formal modeling of terms and conditions, creation of the normative context for individual Web services as well as composition of Web services and creation and management of the resulting combined normative context. The main objective of this research is to facilitate better understanding of this phenomenon and ultimately initiate development of the new tools for management of the normative aspect both by the service providers and their customers.

Lipid-based antifungal agents: current status.

Immunocompromised patients are well known to be predisposed to developing invasive fungal infections. These infections are usually difficult to diagnose and more importantly, the resulting mortality rate is high. The limited number of antifungal agents available and their high rate of toxicity are the major factors complicating the issue. However, the development of lipid-based formulations of existing antifungal agents has opened a new era in antifungal therapy. The best examples are the lipid-based amphotericin B preparations, amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC; Abelcet), amphotericin B colloidal dispersion (ABCD; Amphotec or Amphocil), and liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome). These formulations have shown that antifungal activity is maintained while toxicity is reduced. This progress is followed by the incorporation of nystatin into liposomes. Liposomal nystatin formulation is under development and studies of it have provided encouraging data. Finally, lipid-based formulations of hamycin, miconazole, and ketoconazole have been developed but remain experimental. Advances in technology of liposomes and other lipid formulations have provided promising new tools for management of fungal infections.

Following Sustainable Development in Relation to the North–South Dialogue: Ecosystem Health and Sustainability Indicators

The necessity for policy makers to follow the processes in relation to sustainability demands new tools for management, a major aspect of which is integrated attention to economic and sociocultural influences together with environmental issues. North and South have specific positions and responsibilities with regard to sustainable development, and management tools—such as indicators—should reflect them. Because the North–South dialogue is changing, different approaches to deal with the relationships are needed (e.g., introduction of reciprocity, equity, and participation), while at the same time doing justice to the individual social, economic, and cultural characteristics of a country. Ecosystem health can be defined by requirements such as resilience, vigor, organization, and relations, which may be used for totally different systems as well. Because integration is a crucial aspect of the new tools, it is argued that integrating conceptual tools such as the environment–economy–society triangle, the PSIR-causality chain, and the Daly triangle in addition to other described integration tools is fundamental for decision makers. Crucial issues when dealing with indicators for sustainable development are integration and balance, attention to users, use of system characteristics, and understanding southern perspectives in this context.

Assessing the Civil Service Reform Act's Impact on Senior Manager Work Priorities

A primary purpose of the creation of the Senior Executive Service was to give greater emphasis to improving the management of the federal government. This is abundantly clear from the record. On signing the Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA), President Carter said, Our aim is to build new system of excellence and accountability. The bill, he said, goes to the heart of what the American people are asking for, . . government and civil service that work.' Also, the House report on the bill stated: Perhaps more than any other provision of this bill, the Senior Executive Service can provide the framework to meet the Government's management needs.2 The CSRA states that a Senior Executive Service should be established . . . to provide more effective management of agencies and their functions, and the more expeditious administration of the public business.3 In the definition of purpose for the Senior Executive Service (SES) are number of statements directly related to the goal of improved management.4 What can be said of the accomplishment of this goal? Unfortunately, very little. Evaluations of the SES have been largely administrative reviews or opinion surveys. Administrative assessments indicate that, on balance, the new SES personnel procedures have been put in place and are working. The new system has provided important new tools for management of agency executive resources. Evidence of the wholesale politicization of the career service, which some SES critics had predicted, is slight.' These are not insignificant accomplishments. The reports of the attitudinal evaluations, however, provide significantly different perspective. A socially created reality has emerged which indicates that, while the intended goal of more responsive senior bureaucracy is becoming reality, there is no perception of related, significant improvement in the productivity and management of the federal government. Additionally, the data from the attitudinal evaluations indicate growing belief that the SES is becoming increasingly politicized.6 While improved productivity was primary reason for the creation of the SES, neither administrative nor attitudinal evaluations provide hard evidence on results. No evaluations have been made which directly measure productivity changes. Indeed, it appears unlikely that an evaluation of the contribution of the SES to improved government management can be accomplished based on