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Industrial robots are increasingly used by many manufacturing firms. The number of robot manufacturers has also increased, with many of these firms now offering a wide range of robots. A potential user is thus faced with many options in both performance and cost. Proposes a decision model for the robot selection problem using both a robustified Mahalanobis distance analysis, i.e. a multivariate distance measure, and principal‐components analysis. Unlike most other models for robot selection, this model takes into consideration the fact that a robot′s performance, as specified by the manufacturer, is often unobtainable in reality. The robots selected by the proposed model become candidates for factory testing to verify manufacturers′ specifications. Tests the proposed model on a real data set and presents an example.

The purpose of this paper is to present the initial relationship between the Classification Research Group (CRG) and the Center for Documentation and Communication Research (CDCR) and how this relationship changed between 1952 and 1970. The theory of normative behavior and its concepts of worldviews, social norms, social types, and information behavior are used to characterize the relationship between the small worlds of the two groups with the intent of understanding the gap between early classification research and information retrieval (IR) research.

This is a mixed method analysis of two groups as evidenced in published artifacts by and about their work. A thorough review of historical literature about the groups as well as their own published works was employed and an author co-citation analysis was used to characterize the conceptual similarities and differences of the two groups of researchers.

The CRG focused on fundamental principles to aid classification and retrieval of information. The CDCR were more inclined to develop practical methods of retrieval without benefit of good theoretical foundations. The CRG began it work under the contention that the general classification schemes at the time were inadequate for the developing IR mechanisms. The CDCR rejected the classification schemes of the times and focused on developing punch card mechanisms and processes that were generously funded by both government and corporate funding.

This paper provides a unique historical analysis of two groups of influential researchers in the field of library and information science.

Escalating fuel costs, increased costs in materials handling equipment, labour costs in every sector rising — all these constitute a unique and especially pressing problem to the company with a major distribution function. Management consultants specialising in distribution are finding their services are in unusual demand. Interestingly enough, the abnormal conditions are prompting companies to look at their overall distribution situation, rather than merely tinkering with nuts and bolts. RDM interviewed three consultancy organisations — Modern Materials Management, R & M (Management Consultants), and Harold Whitehead & Partners, in order to identify common problems and examine solutions offered.

Annual increases in the number of parenting referrals made to a learning disability team over a ten‐year period led to this audit. The increase in the number of these referrals highlights a growing need for services to support parents with learning disabilities, to ensure that children remain in the family home wherever possible. Previous research has identified several factors that may reduce a learning‐disabled parent's ability to parent his or her children effectively, including social and familial issues. This audit aimed to examine the relationship between parents' demographics and children's outcomes, specifically whether children were removed from the family home. Information was gathered from the files of both the learning disability team and social services, and involved all parenting referrals made to this team between 1994 and 2003. The findings of this audit suggest that the earlier services can become involved with parents, the better the outcomes for their children will be. If services do not become involved early on, the children are more likely to have developmental problems, and once child protection proceedings have begun there is a very high likelihood that children will be removed from the family home.

The paper aims to examine Martha Nussbaum's latest theorising about the capabilities approach in relation to the “causal weight” and “texture” of the anarchical condition of the international system.

The paper provides a detailed reading of Nussbaum's creating capabilities with regard to its explicit and implicit assumptions about international relations.

While the paper endorses the aims of the capabilities approach, it draws attention to the limitations of Nussbaum's engagement with the international level of world politics, including relevant international relations (IR) theory. The paper argues that a more explicit engagement with IR theory in general and the so‐called English School in particular would strengthen one of the shortcomings of Nussbaum's counter‐theory to dominant ideas in development economics.

The Human Development and Capability Association is committed to generating ideas to challenge dominant approaches to human development. As such, the sense of direction pointed to in the paper – identifying international relations as the priority area for research and reform – is a contribution to planning the next stage of its activities.

The paper focuses on the international level of world politics, and as such offers insights into what Nussbaum herself admits is an “undertheorized” dimension of the capabilities approach.

This article aims to provide a response to the papers in this issue.

The methodology employed is philosophical.

In her response, Nussbaum thanks the authors for their contributions and addresses their most salient arguments.

Nussbaum in this article responds to the papers in this issue of IJSE and addresses the authors' most salient arguments.

This paper identifies five types of insolvency in English football: clubs that have failed to cope with relegation; failed to pay monies due to the UK government; seen 'soft debts' become 'hard debts'; lost the ownership of their stadium; or have been 'repeat offenders'. As the second of a three-phase research project, the paper concludes with an indication of the final phase research and implications of the findings so far for other professional sports.

The Symposium on Systems for Information Retrieval was held in Cleveland, Ohio, from 15 to 17 April, 1957 under the sponsorship of the School of Library Science, Western Reserve University, and the Council on Documentation Research.