bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing fishery footprints and the trade-offs between landings value, habitat sensitivity, and fishing impacts to inform marine spatial planning and an ecosystem approach
Authors: Jennings S. , Lee J. , Hiddink J. G.
Published: April 2012

Jennings, S., Lee, J., and Hiddink, J. G. 2012. Assessing fishery footprints and the trade-offs between landings value, habitat sensitivity, and fishing impacts to inform marine spatial planning and an ecosystem approach. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 1053–1063. European and national policy commitments require further integration of fisheries and environmental management. We measured fishery footprints and assessed trade-offs between landings value, habitat sensitivity, and beam trawling impacts in UK territorial waters in the southern and central North Sea where marine spatial planning is underway and a network of Marine Protected Areas has been proposed. For fleets (UK and non-UK) and years (2006–2010) considered, total trawled area included extensive ‘margins’ that always accounted for a smaller proportion of total fishing effort and value (proportions investigated were ≤10, 20, or 30%) than their proportional contribution to total habitat sensitivity and trawling impact. Interannual and fleet-related differences in the distribution and intensity of trawling activity, driven by location choice and fisheries regulations, had more influence on overall trawling impacts than the exclusion of beam trawlers from a proposed network of Marine Protected Areas. If reducing habitat impacts is adopted as an objective of fisheries or environmental management, then the direct management of fishing footprints, e.g. by defining fishing grounds that exclude existing margins, can disproportionately reduce trawling impacts per unit effort or value.
Documentation of an Extended Latent Infection Period by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the Soybean Rust Pathogen
Authors: Ward N. A. , Schneider R. W. , Robertson C. L.
Published: April 2012

Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the soybean rust pathogen, overwinters on kudzu in the southern United States. However, even with severely affected kudzu adjacent to soybean fields, disease symptoms do not occur on soybeans until plants are in mid-reproductive stages of growth during mid to late summer. These observations suggested that soybeans are exposed to airborne inoculum of the pathogen long before symptoms occur, and we hypothesized that these plants may be latently infected. This hypothesis was confirmed by using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) to detect the rust pathogen in soybean leaves 18 to 60 days before symptoms were observed. Additionally, DNA of P. pachyrhizi increased only slightly until one week before symptoms developed. Results from this study documented that soybeans can become infected by the rust pathogen during early stages of plant growth, but symptoms often develop during the mid-reproductive stages. This extended latent infection period may be an optimum time for fungicide applications.

Accepted for publication 12 December 2011. Published 21 March 2012.
Evaluation of Soybean Genotypes for Resistance to Three Seed-borne Diseases
Authors: Mengistu Alemu , Arelli P. A. , Bellaloui Nacer , Bond J. P. , Shannon G. J. , Wrather A. J. , Rupe J. C. , Chen P. , Little C. R. , Canaday C. H. , Newman M. A. , Pantalone V. R.
Published: April 2012

Seed-borne diseases of soybeans caused by Phomopsis longicolla (Phomopsis seed decay), Cercospora kukuchii (purple seed stain), and M. phaseolina (charcoal rot) are economically important diseases that affect seed quality. Commercial cultivars marketed as resistant to all three diseases are not available. Reactions of 27 maturity group (MG) III, 30 early MG IV, 33 late MG IV, and 53 MG V genotypes were evaluated for resistance to these pathogens during the 2006 to 2008 growing season in the same field that had been in no-till production, not irrigated, and naturally and artificially infested. There was great variation in seed infection among genotypes and years, indicating the value of screening genotypes over multiple years. Some genotypes were resistant to these pathogens in one, two, or in all three years. Genotypes, DP 3478 (early MG IV), and RO1-769F (MG V) were resistant and DG4460 was moderately resistant to P. longicolla infection across three years. Genotypes AG3705 and FFR3990 (MG III) and DC20300, DC7816, Stoddard, and Ozark (MG V), were resistant to C. kukuchii infection during all three years. Ten genotypes in MG III, eight in early MG IV, seven in late MG IV, and 14 in MG V had no seed infection by M. phaseolina in all three years. These results indicate that seed infection comparison to these pathogens among genotypes should be made over several years, or false conclusions about resistance to any of the three pathogens may be made when disease is assessed for limited period of time. The genotypes identified as having resistance to each or combinations of the seed-borne diseases across the three years could be useful as a source for resistance in improving soybean seed quality.

Accepted for publication 20 December 2012. Published 21 March 2012.
Higher-order awareness, misrepresentation and function
Authors: Rosenthal David
Published: April 2012

Conscious mental states are states we are in some way aware of. I compare higher-order theories of consciousness, which explain consciousness by appeal to such higher-order awareness (HOA), and first-order theories, which do not, and I argue that higher-order theories have substantial explanatory advantages. The higher-order nature of our awareness of our conscious states suggests an analogy with the metacognition that figures in the regulation of psychological processes and behaviour. I argue that, although both consciousness and metacognition involve higher-order psychological states, they have little more in common. One thing they do share is the possibility of misrepresentation; just as metacognitive processing can misrepresent one's cognitive states and abilities, so the HOA in virtue of which one's mental states are conscious can, and sometimes does, misdescribe those states. A striking difference between the two, however, has to do with utility for psychological processing. Metacognition has considerable benefit for psychological processing; in contrast, it is unlikely that there is much, if any, utility to mental states' being conscious over and above the utility those states have when they are not conscious.
A detection theoretic explanation of blindsight suggests a link between conscious perception and metacognition
Authors: Ko Yoshiaki , Lau Hakwan
Published: April 2012

Blindsight refers to the rare ability of V1-damaged patients to perform visual tasks such as forced-choice discrimination, even though these patients claim not to consciously see the relevant stimuli. This striking phenomenon can be described in the formal terms of signal detection theory. (i) Blindsight patients use an unusually conservative criterion to detect targets. (ii) In discrimination tasks, their confidence ratings are low and (iii) such confidence ratings poorly predict task accuracy on a trial-by-trial basis. (iv) Their detection capacity (d′) is lower than expected based on their performance in forced-choice tasks. We propose a unifying explanation that accounts for these features: that blindsight is due to a failure to represent and update the statistical information regarding the internal visual neural response, i.e. a failure in metacognition. We provide computational simulation data to demonstrate that this model can qualitatively account for the detection theoretic features of blindsight. Because such metacognitive mechanisms are likely to depend on the prefrontal cortex, this suggests that although blindsight is typically due to damage to the primary visual cortex, distal influence to the prefrontal cortex by such damage may be critical. Recent brain imaging evidence supports this view.
What failure in collective decision-making tells us about metacognition
Authors: Bahrami Bahador , Olsen Karsten , Bang Dan , Roepstorff Andreas , Rees Geraint , Frith Chris
Published: April 2012

Condorcet (1785) proposed that a majority vote drawn from individual, independent and fallible (but not totally uninformed) opinions provides near-perfect accuracy if the number of voters is adequately large. Research in social psychology has since then repeatedly demonstrated that collectives can and do fail more often than expected by Condorcet. Since human collective decisions often follow from exchange of opinions, these failures provide an exquisite opportunity to understand human communication ofmetacognitive confidence. This question can be addressed by recasting collective decision-making as an information-integration problem similar to multisensory (cross-modal) perception. Previous research in systems neuroscience shows that one brain can integrate information from multiple senses nearly optimally. Inverting the question, we ask: under what conditions can two brains integrate information about one sensory modality optimally? We review recent work that has taken this approach and report discoveries about the quantitative limits of collective perceptual decision-making, and the role of the mode of communication and feedback in collective decision-making. We propose that shared metacognitive confidence conveys the strength of an individual's opinion and its reliability inseparably. We further suggest that a functional role of shared metacognition is to provide substitute signals in situations where outcome is necessary for learning but unavailable or impossible to establish.
Kinds of access: different methods for report reveal different kinds of metacognitive access
Authors: Overgaard Morten , Sandberg Kristian
Published: April 2012

In experimental investigations of consciousness, participants are asked to reflect upon their own experiences by issuing reports about them in different ways. For this reason, a participant needs some access to the content of her own conscious experience in order to report. In such experiments, the reports typically consist of some variety of ratings of confidence or direct descriptions of one's own experiences. Whereas different methods of reporting are typically used interchangeably, recent experiments indicate that different results are obtained with different kinds of reporting. We argue that there is not only a theoretical, but also an empirical difference between different methods of reporting. We hypothesize that differences in the sensitivity of different scales may reveal that different types of access are used to issue direct reports about experiences and metacognitive reports about the classification process.
Judgements of agency in schizophrenia: an impairment in autonoetic metacognition
Authors: Metcalfe Janet , Van Snellenberg Jared X. , DeRosse Pamela , Balsam Peter , Malhotra Anil K.
Published: April 2012

We investigated judgements of agency in participants with schizophrenia and healthy controls. Participants engaged in a computer game in which they attempted to touch downward falling Xs and avoid touching Os. On some trials, participants were objectively in perfect control. On other trials, they were objectively not in complete control because the movement of the cursor on the screen was distorted with respect to the position of the mouse by random noise (turbulence), or it was lagged by 250 or 500 ms. Participants made metacognitive judgements of agency as well as judgements of performance. Control participants' judgements of agency were affected by the turbulence and lag variables—indicating that they knew they were objectively not in control in those conditions, and they were also influenced by their assessments of performance. The patients also used their assessments of performance but neither turbulence nor lag affected their judgements of agency. This indicated an impairment in agency monitoring. The patients, unlike the healthy controls, used only publically available external cues about performance in making judgements of ‘agency’ and did not rely on any additional access to internal self-relevant cues that were diagnostic in indicating whether or not they were, in fact, in control.
Self‐reported nutritional knowledge and the acceptance of health‐related food benefit claims
Authors: Baglione Stephen L. , Tucci Louis A. , Stanton John L.
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine whether reported nutritional knowledge and the acceptance of benefit claims for a fresh produce item is related to changes in preference in order to provide food marketers insight and guidance into giving consumers more information to change beliefs and preferences, using health‐benefit claims to position their brands as offering ingredients, e.g. Lycopene which may prevent serious illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample was drawn from an internet panel maintained by Markettools, Inc, a respected market research company in the USA. A total of 594 respondents were surveyed. Besides demographic questions, respondents were asked about their knowledge of nine nutrients. Basic nutrient knowledge was estimated through a one‐sample t‐test tested against a value of two on a 1‐4 scale. Respondents evaluated eight benefit statements regarding the health benefits of mushrooms. After reading each statement, respondents indicated their likelihood of purchasing fresh mushrooms and were asked about the believability, favorability, and uniqueness of each statement.

Findings

The results indicate that health‐related food benefit claims are better accepted by female respondents who claim to be nutritionally knowledgeable and who are older. Three hypotheses related to nutritional knowledge and beliefs showed that knowledge and beliefs have an effect but the effect varied by nutrient and nutrient cluster. In particular, knowledge of esoteric nutrients such as Pantothenic Acid was associated with acceptance of health‐related claims.

Practical implications

Food marketers are spending millions of dollars/pounds/euros on informing people of the nutrient content and health benefits of their foods. However, this money can be better spent if one first understands the existing levels of nutritional knowledge and the specific nutrients that motivate change in preference or buying intention.

Originality/value

This paper builds on the existing body of knowledge using additional statistical techniques to cluster nutrients and to provide a demonstration on a fresh produce food group not currently investigated in the literature. It suggests that food marketers need to gather more information on their consumers to target their health and nutrition message to the proper (more receptive) audience.
Good practice in secondary school careers programs
Authors: Broadbent Robyn , Cacciattolo Marcelle , Papadopoulos Theo
Published: April 2012

Purpose

Career programmes within secondary school curriculum can impact on a young person's sense of direction and meaning in life. The purpose of this paper is to report on an evaluation that was conducted in 2009 of the careers programmes in one secondary college in the western suburbs of Melbourne.

Design/methodology/approach

The research team utilised a multi‐method approach collecting 273 surveys and undertaking both focus groups and interviews, ensuring the voices of young people were at the centre of the work.

Findings

Innovative careers and transition programmes create opportunities for young people to plan for their future. Similarly the absence of established careers programmes can compound the disadvantage that some students experience. The findings evidence how important it is for schools to support inclusive classrooms that enable young people to make informed decisions about their career pathways.

Research limitations/implications

The research findings were used to form a model of good practice and highlight the transformational impact of career and transition programmes for young people. The current research explores student knowledge, confidence, attitudes and perceptions while they are still at school. A longitudinal study, tracking these same young people as they progress to tertiary education and/or employment, would enable more definitive evidence on actual transitions and the actual outcomes experienced by young people.

Originality/value

This paper is of value to the education sector as it looks to respond to the need to develop a more seamless approach to young people making successful transitions to further education and/or employment.
Students’ perception of industrial internship programme
Authors: Renganathan Sumathi , Ambri Bin Abdul Karim Zainal , Su Li Chong
Published: April 2012

Purpose

An important aspect of an academic curriculum in higher learning institutions for technical disciplines is the industrial internship programme for students. The purpose of this paper is to investigate students’ perception of the effectiveness of an industrial internship programme offered by a private technological university in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilising a case study approach, the data for this study were collected though a survey questionnaire. The questionnaire gauged students’ perception of their eight‐month internship programme.

Findings

The students rated the industrial internship programme favorably. Generally, students viewed the learning through practical experience during the internship positively. In addition, factors related to the organisers’ operational and administrative efforts and the role played by the host company were also identified as important in determining the success of the industrial internship programme.

Originality/value

Industrial internship programmes in respective universities vary according to various needs. By sharing the findings in this case study, other institutions with similar or different industrial internship programmes can benefit from the information discussed in this paper.
Individual entrepreneurial orientation: development of a measurement instrument
Authors: Langkamp Bolton Dawn , Lane Michelle D.
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a measurement instrument for individual entrepreneurial orientation to be used to measure the entrepreneurial orientation of students and other individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

A measure of Individual Entrepreneurial Orientation (IEO) was generated, validated, and then tested on 1,100 university students. The items for the scale were based on the definitions of the five entrepreneurial orientation dimensions presented by Lumpkin and Dess. Final analysis of the IEO items using exploratory factor analysis resulted in reliable and valid measures for three of the dimensions.

Findings

The scale development process for IEO resulted in three distinct factors that demonstrated reliability and validity: innovativeness, risk‐taking, and proactiveness, which statistically correlated with measures of entrepreneurial intention.

Research limitations/implications

The study comprised students at one university in the central southern USA and should be extended to other regions of the country and world, as well as to non‐students, for greater generalisability.

Practical implications

An individual‐level entrepreneurial orientation measurement instrument can be used to assist in entrepreneurship education and in student team and project assignments. It has value as a factor of influence in determining educational training for various decisions such as career choices and business endeavours. IEO also could be used by venture capitalists who are considering supporting business proposals and by individuals who want to assess the strength of their orientation towards entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the measurement of entrepreneurial orientation of individuals and can be used to help with student education and business training.
Understanding the link between work life balance practices and organisational outcomes in SMEs
Authors: Cegarra‐Leiva David , Sánchez‐Vidal M. Eugenia , Gabriel Cegarra‐Navarro Juan
Published: April 2012

Purpose

This study aims to explore the impact of the availability of work life balance (WLB) practices on organisational outcomes in small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) mediated by the existence of a culture that supports WLB.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study was performed with a sample of 229 SMEs representing the metal industry sector of Southeast Spain.

Findings

The findings show that a WLB supportive culture mediates the effect of the availability of WLB practices on organisational performance.

Research limitations/implications

Among the limitations of this study the authors highlight the transverse nature of the research and the data collection based on self‐reports.

Practical implications

Companies interested in increasing organisational outcomes should introduce WLB practices. Moreover, practitioners should enhance an organisational culture positive towards employees' balance, communicating their support towards WLB initiatives.

Social implications

The availability of WLB initiatives in the organisations generates not only positive outcomes for employees (e.g. reduction of inter‐role conflict, higher satisfaction, etc.), but also increases the organisational results for employers.

Originality/value

This research focuses on SMEs and the results have implications for practitioners and academics.
Antecedents of relationship learning in supplier partnerships from the perspective of an industrial customer: the direct effects model
Authors: Kohtamäki Marko , Bourlakis Michael
Published: April 2012

Purpose

This study aims to examine the antecedents of relationship learning in partnerships and develop a research model that explains relationship learning through three complementary constructs: relational practices, social capital and suppliers' relationship‐specific investments.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines data drawn from interviews regarding 195 customer‐supplier relationships from the metal and electronics industries. In terms of methodology, the study employs structural equation modelling.

Findings

The findings indicate that relational practices, social capital and supplier's relationship‐specific investments explain relationship learning to a great extent.

Research limitations/implications

The present study has some limitations, such as the use of cross‐sectional data and a limited sample size. More empirical research is needed on the antecedents and mechanisms of relationship learning as well as the interactions among antecedents.

Practical implications

The results suggest that companies must be able to facilitate the development of relational practices, social capital and suppliers' relationship‐specific investments, as these constructs explain relationship learning largely.

Originality/value

The prior literature lacks empirical evidence on the antecedents of relationship learning, particularly in the context of partnerships. The present study demonstrates a significant impact of three antecedent constructs on relationship learning.
Process evaluation of an elementary school health learning intervention in Finland
Authors: Sormunen Marjorita , Saaranen Terhi , Tossavainen Kerttu , Turunen Hannele
Published: April 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to present the process evaluation for a two‐year (2008‐2010) participatory action research project focusing on home‐school partnership in health learning, undertaken within the Schools for Health in Europe (SHE) in Eastern Finland.

Design/methodology/approach

Two intervention schools and two control schools (grade 5 pupils, parents, and selected school personnel) participated in a study. Process evaluation data were collected from intervention schools after 10 months of participation, by interviewing two classroom teachers and three families. In addition, program documents and relevant statistics were collected from schools during the intervention.

Findings

Teachers' opinions on the development process varied from more concrete expectations (School A teacher) to overall satisfaction to implementation (School B teacher). Parents believed that their children would benefit from the project later in life. The context and differences of the school environments were likely to affect the development process at the school level.

Research limitations/implications

This paper demonstrates a process evaluation in two schools and, therefore, limits the generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

The process evaluation was an essential part of this intervention study and may provide a useful structure and an example for process evaluation for future school‐based health intervention studies.

Originality/value

This study highlights the importance of planning the process evaluation structure before the start of the intervention, brings out the relevance of systematically assessing the process while it is ongoing, and illustrates process evaluation in an action research project.
Lean production as promoter of thinkers to achieve companies' agility
Authors: Alves Anabela C. , Dinis‐Carvalho José , Sousa Rui M.
Published: April 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the lean production paradigm as promoter of workers' creativity and thinking potential, and recognize this human potential as a fundamental asset for companies' growth and success, being a major factor to face the disturbing and unpredictable needs of current markets, providing companies with the necessary agility. The authors believe these thinkers are the base for an agile company and learning organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The objectives were achieved through a deep literature review, starting with the Toyota production system (TPS) origins. Some industrial lean case studies were also explored to show that the adoption of a lean culture promotes a pro‐active attitude and behavior that are so important for companies nowadays.

Findings

This paper explores the association between lean production and the promotion of thinkers. For a long period, and even nowadays, it is common to consider the worker as just another production factor that the companies explore to obtain the maximum utilization. This was a result from the distorted knowledge of the Taylor principles and the Ford assembly line model, seeing the worker as a gear in the “big machine”. Lean production was seen, for many years and by many authors, as an extension of this Taylorist/Fordist model but this paper highlights lean production as a work organization model where the worker assumes a position of thinker, continuously looking for improvement and continuously looking for wastes. By reducing wastes, the company will be prepared to accommodate changes and will attain agility.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is mainly based on literature review and on some industrial case studies of lean implementations (recent or just a few years ago); a deep research is necessary on the cause‐effect relation between lean production adoption and promotion of thinkers.

Practical implications

Helping companies to recognize the importance of workers as thinkers will have relevant impacts through the reduction of waste and costs, improving quality and increase productivity and revenue. Also, for workers, this recognition means respect, self‐esteem and confidence, and, essentially, more satisfaction with work.

Social implications

With lean production and agility, better products will quickly reach society, contributing thus to clients' satisfaction. Also, lean companies' CEO and workers looking for wastes will lead to a reduction of energy consumption, raw materials needs and gas emissions (reducing pollution of air, land and water), producing only what is needed. Being satisfied with their work they will be happier contributing to the raising of the country's happiness.

Originality/value

The authors are not aware of similar research. The paper is meant for those who are interested in improving their companies' operations and workers' relationships.
The UK public sector Ombudsmen – 20 years of exposing poor practice in integrated care
Authors: Mitchell Ed
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the practical implications for integrated care of the UK public sector Ombudsmen's maladministration findings over recent years.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a review of reported UK public sector Ombudsmen decisions.

Findings

Through their published findings of maladministration, the UK public sector Ombudsmen have made an important contribution to the promotion of good practice in integrated care.

Originality/value

This paper identifies themes relevant to integrated care within Ombudsmen decisions in recent years.
Twenty years of health and social care joint working
Authors: Hudson Bob
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on 20 years of joint working between health and social care in England, to take stock of the lessons learned and to consider future scenarios.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper consists of secondary research, drawing upon two decades of published work by the author and other analysts.

Findings

Despite some pockets of innovative practice, the findings are disappointing for the progress of integrated care. It is suggested that the main reason for this is that the concept has never been used consistently and that underpinning policies have been insufficiently strong to ensure policy success.

Originality/value

This anniversary issue offers an unusual opportunity to reflect back on 20 years of policy and practice in a significant field of study, and to draw out some implications for future directions.
What progress did “Caring for People” instigate and achieve?
Authors: Greig Rob
Published: April 2012

Purpose

This article seeks to review the impact on social care services of the 1989 White Paper “Caring for People”. It pays particular attention to the introduction of commissioning and care management, and seeks to draw lessons from this for the implementation of current day national policy.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is a review of progress and draws upon experience and written evidence over the period from a number of sources.

Findings

The paper concludes that the implementation of the policy varied substantially from the original policy intent and that commissioning and care management as currently practiced are neither designed as intended nor delivering the outcomes envisaged by “Caring for People”. It draws on parallels with the current policy agenda and poses questions about whether a similar lack of fidelity to original policy objectives will lead to policies such as Putting People First not delivering on their stated goals.

Practical implications

This paper is of relevance to policy developers and service managers in considering how to design and implement delivery of national policy.

Originality/value

The paper highlights how concepts such as commissioning and care management as currently practiced have lost their focus and purpose and should encourage reflective practice and renewed rigour around policy implementation of current social care priorities.
Wind characteristics and energy potentials at Wainiyaku Taveuni, Fiji
Authors: Kumar Ajal , Nair Krishnam
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to analyze the wind regime at Wainiyaku, Taveuni in Fiji, estimate Annual Energy Production (AEP) using a 275 kW Vergnet wind, and determine its economic viability.

Design/methodology/approach

The only grid supply is in the northeast (suburban area) of the island. The main source is diesel generators, which are operated only certain hours per day. The study around Wainiyaku state was essential to determine an alternative continuous source of energy. The wind assessment on the island was based on the data provided by the Department of Energy (Fiji) and WAsP was used to reliably estimate the wind power potential on the island.

Findings

The report suggested that Wainiyaku Taveuni is a good site for wind power generation based on mean wind speed at 30 m agl. The software predicted a resource grid for mean wind speed and power density around Wainiyaku. An economic analysis for a prospective wind power generation using Vergnet 275 kW showed a reasonable promise.

Research limitations/implications

The conclusion justifies that a longer period (3y) data are necessary for better accuracy. However, one‐year data are sufficient to predict annual energy production with reasonable certainty.

Originality/value

The paper provides an alternative solution for a continuous supply of electricity for a remote island. It shows the economics of utilizing wind power generator to provide unobstructed supply of electricity. It further explores the saving in foreign exchange for a small Island economy. The analysis of wind regime suggests that an independent power producer may consider investing in a wind farm at Wainiyaku.
CFTC and SEC whistleblower bounties: largely similar but important differences remain
Authors: Davison Douglas J. , White Thomas W. , Bernstein Gail C. , Dube Michael R. , June Arian M.
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to point out similarities and differences between the CFTC's and the SEC's final whistleblower incentive and protection rules, both recently adopted as mandated by the Dodd‐Frank Act.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explains the purpose of the rules, a dissenting CFTC vote concerning internal reporting, and a few notable differences between the CFTC's and the SEC's rules, and recommends compliance measures that companies should take.

Findings

Given the incentives that both agencies' programs give to whistleblowers to report violations directly to the regulators, a company subject to either program would be well advised to enhance its culture of compliance, bolster its internal reporting processes, and encourage employees to utilize internal reporting mechanisms.

Originality/value

The paper provides expert guidance from experienced financial services lawyers.
The board: a change agent?
Authors: Kolltveit Bjorn , Hennestad Bjørn , Grønhaug Kjell
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into why shareholders often claim dissatisfaction with the results delivered by their boards. A central reason is that boards fail to get their critical decisions effectively implemented. The paper also focuses on whether boards apply essentials developed in the change management discipline.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on a study of board documents to capture what boards actually do. The documents were compiled from two Norwegian companies during the 1993‐2005 period. A content analysis was the analytic tool.

Findings

The research indicates that boards apply rational and deterministic approaches to implement critical decisions. It also reveals that boards tend to overlook essentials from the change management discipline. The paper identifies the potential for improved board effectiveness in implementing critical decisions.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of this research is that several observations may threaten the generalizability of the findings. However, the limitations may provide opportunities for further research.

Practical implications

Boards should motivate the chief executive officer and top management to apply a change management perspective in implementing critical decisions. To do so, board members must understand the critical decisions and ask appropriate questions.

Originality/value

The main value of this paper pertains to the contribution regarding why shareholders claim dissatisfaction with board‐delivered results.
The 2008 auction rate securities market collapse and US nonprofit health systems
Authors: Stewart Louis J. , Smith Pamela C.
Published: April 2012

Purpose

This paper examines the 2008 collapse of the US tax‐exempt auction rate securities (ARS) market, from the perspective of not‐for‐profit auction rate debt issuers.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a multiple case study methodology to examine the financial and operating impact of ARS auction failures on three US nonprofit hospitals and health systems. The analysis is based solely on information drawn from publicly‐available documents.

Findings

The three case study subjects issued more than $ 411 million in ARS. These securities were issued with bond insurance and fixed payer interest rate derivatives. The 2008 global financial crisis resulted in millions of dollars in drastically increased interest costs, costly debt refunding, and derivative‐related collateral postings. It was also found that the ability of an individual ARS issuer to respond effectively to these capital market‐related shocks is related to three key factors – profitability, liquidity and perceived credit quality.

Research limitations/implications

The reliance on a case study methodology may limit the authors' ability to generalize the findings to the hundreds of other US non‐profit ARS issuers.

Practical implications

Nonprofit financial executives must learn to adequately assess their organization's risk exposures if innovative long‐term capital financing instruments are to be used in the future. These potential costs, as well as any ineffectively hedged interest cost exposure, must be considered and weighed against any potential interest cost saving associated with any future debt financing arrangements.

Originality/value

The paper measures the financial and operating impact of the highly publicized 2008 ARS market collapse on non‐profit ARS issuers.
Re‐defining corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Nigeria's post‐amnesty oil industry
Authors: Temitope Ako Rhuks
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to highlight the opportunity that exists within the ambience of peace in the Niger Delta precipitated by the amnesty deal; particularly for the oil‐multinationals that operate there, to re‐invent the delivery of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to maintain peaceful relations with their hosts and therefore optimize their business potentials.

Design/methodology/approach

The method is purely a review of extant literatures and deductive arguments that will give insights to how conflict situations arising from denial of rights can be resolved through the CSR and stakeholder's perspective.

Findings

The paper concludes that the oil‐multinationals operating in the Niger Delta region ought to take advantage of the ambience of relative peace which has been created by the amnesty initiative to re‐invent their relationship with their host‐communities.

Practical implications

The oil‐multinationals must seize the opportunity of a peaceful operating environment precipitated by the amnesty deal to engage with their host‐communities more objectively. This move will contribute to a healthy relationship between both parties and contribute to sustainable peace, which is a requisite to the sustainable exploitation of oil resources in the region, sustainable development of the resource, region and country.

Originality/value

The paper draws upon the hypotheses in extant literature that argue that there is a link between the local expectations of oil‐multinationals CSR, its actual delivery and violent conflicts in the Niger Delta region. It however moves the discourse forward by highlighting the window of opportunity that the federal government's amnesty initiative has opened to reassess CSR thinking, strategies and implementation.
The human rights of artisanal miners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Mària SJ Josep F. , Taka Miho
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how corporate social responsibility (CSR) in mining companies can contribute to the promotion of artisanal miners' human rights (HR) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Design/methodology/approach

First, the paper designs a framework for a public policy on artisans, then it incorporates the possible contribution of companies to this policy drawing from the existent CSR literature. This framework is applied to relationships between mining companies and artisans in Katanga, a low‐conflict Province of the DRC. Finally, CSR guidelines for the promotion of artisans' HR are formulated. The theoretical framework articulates a public policy approach – which includes different actors – and a CSR approach – which develops the specific role of one such actor: the company – in the promotion of artisanal miners' HR. Data used in the empirical part are qualitative and include primary data gathered from visits to different mining companies operating in the Province and an interview with a local specialist in artisanal miners.

Findings

The first finding is that artisanal miners are a heterogeneous group, with multiple HR problems. Therefore, a public policy and a CSR policy to promote their HR are equally complex issues. However, local practices in the specific context of Katanga suggest two suitable CSR strategies for promoting artisans' HR: supporting new sustainable economic activities where artisans have been displaced by a company; and promoting the formalization of artisanal activity where companies are the artisans' clients.

Research limitations/implications

This paper does not include interviews with mining company managers in Katanga in order to design very specific actions in each one of these CSR strategies. The research does not include field work in high‐conflict areas.

Practical implications

The heterogeneity and dynamism of artisanal miners' problems and the weakness of the Congolese State lead to a basic recommendation for responsible mining companies in low‐conflict areas: the implementation of dialogues with local communities and local governments in order to cover the needs of artisanal miners and discover innovation opportunities for the companies.

Originality/value

Although there is abundant literature on artisanal miners, the connection of artisanal miners and CSR has scarcely been developed. As far as the author knows, the illustration of this connection for the DRC has not been addressed. Additionally, the design of public policies for artisanal miners – part of the informal economy – and the contribution of companies to such policies can help address problems arising from other informal activities in Africa.
The patient's voice in neuro‐surgery: psycho‐socio‐economic benefits of a patient‐designed versus standard service following treatment for a subarachnoid haemorrhage
Authors: Pritchard Colin , Cox Malcolm , Foulkes Lesley , Lindsay Kenneth
Published: April 2012

Purpose

Successive governments have called for greater “empowerment” of the patient, reflected in the chief medical officer's call for more patient‐related outcome measures (PROM). This paper aims to bring together three‐linked studies.

Design/methodology/approach

First study: in 1999, the neurosurgical patient was seen as “expert” to identify PROM outcomes, based upon a patient and carer‐designed self‐administered postal questionnaire in a regional two‐year retrospective survey of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) patients with a 77 per cent response rate, designated treatment‐as‐usual (TAU) cohort (n=142).Second study: in the same region, following the implementing of the specialist neuro‐vascular nurse (SNVN), the SNVN recommendation was evaluated in a two‐year prospective study (n=184) that provided family‐specific psychosocial support and a continuity of care linking hospital and community; the response rate was 87 per cent. Third study: A re‐analysis of the national SAH study (n=2,380), by projecting the TAU and SNVN results onto clinically matched patients within the National cohort to estimate the potential “savings” if all 34 neurosurgical units had an SNVN type service.

Findings

First study: respondents identified many psychosocial and fiscal problems but recommended a SNVN to reduce these difficulties. Second study: the TAU and SNVN patient's were a close clinical match and using the TAU as a control group, it was found that there were major psychosocial and fiscal benefits for SNVN patients and carers, who more speedily re‐established their lives.Third study: it was estimated that this would have produced major financial benefits, e.g. 4,165 fewer bed occupancy days, saving £2.5million; reduced time‐off work for patients and carers, saving £8.1million; and, after deducting cost of a national SNVN service, a combined saving for the service and families of an estimated £9.83 million p.a. Thus, addressing PROM outcomes, through an integrated psychosocial service in neurosurgery was cost‐effective, benefited families, the service, and the wider economy and should be a factor when considering pressurised departmental budgets.

Originality/value

Overall, what the two regional studies and the re‐analysis of the national study showed was that there are benefits from treating the “patient as expert” and taking on board their agendas. There is a need for a more integrated approach to treatment and care that is of value to the service, patients, families and the wider economy.
Mechanisms of resistance to cephalosporin and emergence of O25b‐ST131 clone harboring CTX‐M‐27 β‐lactamase in extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli from dogs and cats in Japan
Authors: Harada Kazuki , Nakai Yuka , Kataoka Yasushi
Published: April 2012

Thirty‐three cefazolin‐resistant extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli strains from companion animals were screened for blaCMY‐1, blaCMY‐2, blaSHV, blaTEM, and blaCTX‐M genes. Extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase‐producing strains were further characterized by O serotyping and multilocus sequence typing. It was found that 20 and 17 isolates harbored TEM‐1 and CMY‐2 β‐lactamases, respectively, and 13 isolates harbored both β‐lactamases. One isolate harbored DHA‐1 β‐lactamase. Eleven isolates were found to possess CTX‐M β‐lactamases (CTX‐M‐27 [n= 6], CTX‐M‐14 [n= 3], CTX‐M‐15 [n= 1], and CTX‐M‐55 [n= 1]). Of 11 CTX‐M‐positive strains, four strains were O25b‐ST131 clones harboring CTX‐M‐27, and the remaining seven strains belonged to O6‐ST127, ONT‐ST354, O159‐ST539, O1‐ST648, O8‐ST1642, O25b‐ST2042, and ONT‐ST2178.
Monolignol biosynthesis is associated with resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Camelina sativa
Authors: EYNCK CHRISTINA , SÉGUIN‐SWARTZ GINETTE , CLARKE WAYNE E. , PARKIN ISOBEL A. P.
Published: April 2012

The ascomycete Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a necrotrophic plant pathogen with an extremely broad host range. It causes stem rot in Camelina sativa, a crucifer with great potential as an alternative oilseed crop. Lignification is a common phenomenon in the expression of resistance against necrotrophs, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this defence response are poorly understood. We present histochemical, gene expression and biochemical data investigating the role of monolignols in the resistance of C. sativa to S. sclerotiorum. Comparative studies with resistant and susceptible lines of C. sativa revealed substantial differences in constitutive transcript levels and gene regulation patterns for members of the gene family encoding cinnamoyl‐CoA reductase (CCR), the first enzyme specifically committed to the synthesis of lignin monomers. These differences were associated with anatomical and metabolic factors. While the induction of CsCCR2 expression after inoculation with S. sclerotiorum was associated with the deposition of lignin mainly derived from guaiacyl monomers, high constitutive levels of CsCCR4 paralleled a high syringyl lignin content in healthy stems of resistant plants. The results provide evidence that plant cell wall strengthening plays a role in the resistance of C. sativa to S. sclerotiorum, and that both constitutive and inducible defence mechanisms contribute to reduced symptom development in resistant germplasm. This study provides the first characterization of quantitative resistance in C. sativa to S. sclerotiorum.