Note 15 - Income Taxes (Details) - Reconciliations of the Expected Federal Income Tax at the Statutory Rate With the Provisions For Income Taxes (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2013	May 31, 2013	Feb. 28, 2013	Nov. 30, 2012	Aug. 31, 2012	May 31, 2012	Feb. 29, 2012	Nov. 30, 2011	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Reconciliations of the Expected Federal Income Tax at the Statutory Rate With the Provisions For Income Taxes [Abstract]
Tax computed at statutory rates									$ 1,910,000	$ 1,570,000
State income tax, net of federal benefit									15,000	(17,000)
Tax effect on equity in (income) loss of international joint ventures									(1,781,000)	(1,616,000)
Tax effect on dividends received from joint ventures									1,732,000	1,363,000
Tax effect of foreign operations									807,000	556,000
Foreign tax credit									(2,524,000)	(1,729,000)
Research and development credit									(364,000)	(330,000)
Valuation allowance									1,635,000	1,177,000
Tax-exempt income									(230,000)
Non-controlling interest in partnership income									(425,000)
Other									89,000	67,000
	$ 332,000	$ 158,000	$ 240,000	$ 134,000	$ (32,000)	$ 814,000	$ 100,000	$ 106,000	$ 864,000	$ 1,041,000