Bank Loan Officers' Perceptions of Business Owners: The Role of Gender

There is a widely held belief that banks may be discriminating against female business owners. This study was designed to explore the perceptions held by bank loan officers of male and female business owners, using Bourdieu's theory of practice and Kelly's personal construct methodology. The research literature might lead to an expectation that the characteristics of the business owners would be relatively homogenous but that men and women business owners would be construed differently (for example women might be seen to lack drive). However, the results demonstrate heterogeneity in the constructs held by bank loan officers, and a particular concern with the character of the business owner. Significant gender differences were observed in only 20 of the 325 constructs elicited from 35 bank loan officers. Female bank loan officers were as likely as male bank loan officers to draw gender distinctions between business owners. Detailed multivariate analyses confirmed no evidence of systematic gender differences in the constructs held by bank loan officers of business owners.     

农民工的社会网络结构分析

采用2005年深圳外来农村流动人口的调查数据,利用指数随机图模型(p * 模型),分析了农民工的社会网络(包括社会支持网和社会讨论网)结构.分析结果显示,农民工社会网络关系稀疏.尤其是社会讨论网;无论在聚敛性还是扩张性方面,农民工社会网络的核心一边缘的局部结构均较明显,且有小团体现象产生;社会支持和社会讨论关系都更可能受到中间人的控制或约束.属性变量对社会支持网的影响较多.而对社会讨论网的影响较少.指数随机图模型为基于社会网络来认识农民工的社会化过程提供了新的方法.     

Citizens with learning disabilities and the right to vote

This paper asks, in the context of recent legislative changes, what can be done to support more citizens in England and Wales with learning disabilities to vote in national elections? This issue is addressed through (i) a review of recent disability access campaigns that have reported discrimination against, and the under‐representation of, adults with disabilities in UK elections; (ii) a review of recent research undertaken in the USA into the assessment of competence to vote and research undertaken in England that conclusively documents the under‐representation of voters with learning disabilities in the 2005 general election. It is proposed that a ‘functional approach’ to developing an individual's capacity to vote could help to fulfil Article 29 of the United Nations' Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities that gives all people the same political rights.     

A model for the spread and control of citrus tristeza virus disease

Citrus Tristeza Virus (CTV) causes a most destructive citrus disease in many parts of the world. The strategy for controlling the disease in Israel is based on the eradication of virus-infected trees, detected by an immunological method. A model for the spread and control of CTV is described. The disease spread depends on an infection rate parameter and on a detection coefficient. Both parameters vary with time. Simulation of the model under different conditions assists us to make decisions regarding the control of CTV disease.     

Exploring the current and future role of market towns in servicing their hinterlands: a case study of Alnwick in the North East of England

Faced with the problems of access, distance and low population density, the provision of quality services to rural areas is inherently difficult. Although the role of market towns in alleviating problems in the provision of rural services has been given little consideration within the academic literature, they are currently being targeted by UK government policy. Using a case of the hinterland of Alnwick, a market town in the North East of England, this paper explores the current and future role of market towns in servicing their hinterlands. The results suggest a mutual dependence between market town services and hinterland residents and that the continuation of this relationship depends on market towns taking advantage of demographic trends in rural areas. Faced with changing demographics and the wider use of the Internet, potential is identified for ‘clawing-back’ trade from larger urban areas and creating an enhanced role for market towns. Extending the sense of belonging beyond the boundaries of the town itself will also be important in increasing patronage of town services.     

价值形而上学语境中的高等教育

人类目前为止拥有四种大学:教会大学、市民大学、研究型大学和企业型大学。这四种大学体现了四种不同的世界观。从总体上看,这四种大学都不曾在整体上提升过这个世界的价值,而这一点正是以怀特海哲学为基础的建设性后现代大学的宗旨所在     

Determinants of presidential position taking in Congress, 1949–1995

In this paper we seek to explain the activity presidential position taking on roll call votes in the House. Position taking may help presidents pursue their policy agendas, but time and available resources constrain their ability to take positions. Even though position taking is a discretionary presidential action, it occurs in the legislative arena and, thus, presidents must consider elements in both institutions as well as outside conditions when making this decision. Accordingly, we posit a multiple perspectives approach to explain the number of presidential positions on votes in the House. Our multivariate two-stage least squares regression reveals that variables from all three environments (executive, legislative and exogenous) within our multiple perspectives approach are necessary to adequately explain presidential position taking overall and when divided according to domestic and foreign policy positions.