bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Reduced Contrast on the Perception and Control of Speed When Driving
Authors: Owens D Alfred , Wood Joanne , Carberry Trent
Published: October 2010

Misperception of speed under low-contrast conditions has been identified as a possible contributor to motor vehicle crashes in fog. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of reduced contrast on drivers' perception and control of speed while driving under real-world conditions. Fourteen participants drove around a 2.85 km closed road course under three visual conditions: clear view and with two levels of reduced contrast created by diffusing filters on the windscreen and side windows. Three dependent measures were obtained, without view of the speedometer, on separate laps around the road course: verbal estimates of speed; adjustment of speed to instructed levels (25 to 70 km h−1); and estimation of minimum stopping distance. The results showed that drivers traveled more slowly under low-contrast conditions. Reduced contrast had little or no effect on either verbal judgments of speed or estimates of minimum stopping distance. Speed adjustments were significantly slower under low-contrast than clear conditions, indicating that, contrary to studies of object motion, drivers perceived themselves to be traveling faster under conditions of reduced contrast. Under real-world driving conditions, drivers' ability to perceive and control their speed was not adversely affected by large variations in the contrast of their surroundings. These findings suggest that perceptions of self-motion and object motion involve neural processes that are differentially affected by variations in stimulus contrast as encountered in fog.
Acquisition of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria: Incidence and Risk Factors within a Long-Term Care Population
Authors: O'Fallon Erin , Kandell Ruth , Schreiber Robert , D'Agata Erika M. C.
Published: October 2010

Background and Objective.

An improved understanding of the transmission dynamics of multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria and the mechanism of acquisition in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) could aid in the development of prevention strategies specific to LTCFs. We thus investigated the incidence of acquisition of these pathogens among an LTCF population.

Design.

Prospective cohort study.

Setting.

Three separate wards at a 600-bed LTCF in metropolitan Boston, Massachusetts, during the period October 31, 2006, through October 22, 2007.

Participants.

One hundred seventy-two LTCF residents.

Methods.

A series of rectal samples were cultured to determine acquisition of MDR gram-negative bacteria, defined as absence of MDR gram-negative bacterial colonization at baseline and de novo recovery of MDR gram-negative bacteria from a follow-up culture. Molecular typing was performed to identify genetically linked strains. A nested matched case-control study was performed to identify risk factors associated with acquisition.

Results.

Among 135 residents for whom at least 1 follow-up culture was performed, 52 (39%) acquired at least 1 MDR gram-negative organism during the study period. Thirty-two residents (62%) had not been colonized at baseline and had acquired at least 1 MDR gram-negative species at follow-up culture, and 20 residents (38%) were colonized at baseline and had acquired at least I MDR gram-negative species at follow-up culture. The most common coresistance pattern was resistance to extended-spectrum penicillins, ciprofloxacin, and gentamicin (57 isolates [42.5%]). Genetically related strains of MDR gram-negative bacteria were identified among multiple residents and between roommates. On conditional logistic regression analysis, antibiotic exposure during the study period was significantly associated with acquisition of MDR gram-negative bacteria (odds ratio, 5.6 [95% confidence interval, 1.1-28.7];P= .04).

Conclusions.

Acquisition of MDR gram-negative bacteria occurred frequently through resident-to-resident transmission. Existing infection control interventions need to be reevaluated.
Chembench: a cheminformatics workbench
Authors: Walker Theo , Grulke Christopher M. , Pozefsky Diane , Tropsha Alexander
Published: October 2010

Motivation: Advances in the field of cheminformatics have been hindered by a lack of freely available tools. We have created Chembench, a publicly available cheminformatics portal for analyzing experimental chemical structure–activity data. Chembench provides a broad range of tools for data visualization and embeds a rigorous workflow for creating and validating predictive Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship models and using them for virtual screening of chemical libraries to prioritize the compound selection for drug discovery and/or chemical safety assessment.

Availability: Freely accessible at: http://chembench.mml.unc.edu

Contact:  alex_tropsha@unc.edu
Interrogating local population structure for fine mapping in genome-wide association studies
Authors: Qin Huaizhen , Morris Nathan , Kang Sun J. , Li Mingyao , Tayo Bamidele , Lyon Helen , Hirschhorn Joel , Cooper Richard S. , Zhu Xiaofeng
Published: October 2010

Motivation: Adjustment for population structure is necessary to avoid bias in genetic association studies of susceptibility variants for complex diseases. Population structure may differ from one genomic region to another due to the variability of individual ancestry associated with migration, random genetic drift or natural selection. Current association methods for correcting population stratification usually involve adjustment of global ancestry between study subjects.

Results: We suggest interrogating local population structure for fine mapping to more accurately locate true casual genes by better adjusting the confounding effect due to local ancestry. By extensive simulations on genome-wide datasets, we show that adjusting global ancestry may lead to false positives when local population structure is an important confounding factor. In contrast, adjusting local ancestry can effectively prevent false positives due to local population structure and thus can improve fine mapping for disease gene localization. We applied the local and global adjustments to the analysis of datasets from three genome-wide association studies, including European Americans, African Americans and Nigerians. Both European Americans and African Americans demonstrate greater variability in local ancestry than Nigerians. Adjusting local ancestry successfully eliminated the known spurious association between SNPs in the LCT gene and height due to the population structure existed in European Americans.

Contact:  xiaofeng.zhu@case.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Network-based comparison of temporal gene expression patterns
Authors: Huang Wei , Cao Xiaoyi , Zhong Sheng
Published: October 2010

Motivation: In the pursuits of mechanistic understanding of cell differentiation, it is often necessary to compare multiple differentiation processes triggered by different external stimuli and internal perturbations. Available methods for comparing temporal gene expression patterns are limited to a gene-by-gene approach, which ignores co-expression information and thus is sensitive to measurement noise.

Methods: We present a method for co-expression network based comparison of temporal expression patterns (NACEP). NACEP compares the temporal patterns of a gene between two experimental conditions, taking into consideration all of the possible co-expression modules that this gene may participate in. The NACEP program is available at http://biocomp.bioen.uiuc.edu/nacep.

Results: We applied NACEP to analyze retinoid acid (RA)-induced differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells. The analysis suggests that RA may facilitate neural differentiation by inducing the shh and insulin receptor pathways. NACEP was also applied to compare the temporal responses of seven RNA inhibition (RNAi) experiments. As proof of concept, we demonstrate that the difference in the temporal responses to RNAi treatments can be used to derive interaction relationships of transcription factors (TFs), and therefore infer regulatory modules within a transcription network. In particular, the analysis suggested a novel regulatory relationship between two pluripotency regulators, Esrrb and Tbx3, which was supported by in vivo binding of Esrrb to the promoter of Tbx3.

Availability: The NACEP program and the supplementary documents are available at http://biocomp.bioen.uiuc.edu/nacep.

Contact:  szhong@illinois.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Ottowia pentelensis sp. nov., a floc-forming betaproteobacterium isolated from an activated sludge system treating coke plant effluent
Authors: Felföldi Tamás , Kéki Zsuzsa , Sipos Rita , Márialigeti Károly , Tindall Brian J. , Schumann Peter , Tóth Erika M.
Published: October 2010

A Gram-negative-staining, short-rod-shaped, floc-forming bacterium, designated strain RB3-7T, was isolated from a laboratory-scale activated sludge system treating coke plant effluent. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence demonstrated that the novel isolate was distantly related (≤95.8 % similarity) toOttowia thiooxydansK11Twithin the familyComamonadaceae. Strain RB3-7Twas catalase- and oxidase-positive and non-motile. The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 0, cyclo C17 : 0, C18 : 1ω7cand C16 : 1ω7c, and the major respiratory quinone was Q-8. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain RB3-7Twas 68.5 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular data, strain RB3-7Tis considered to represent a novel species of the genusOttowia, for which the nameOttowia pentelensissp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RB3-7T( = DSM 21699T = NCAIM B 02336T).
Roseicitreum antarcticum gen. nov., sp. nov., an aerobic bacteriochlorophyll a-containing alphaproteobacterium isolated from Antarctic sandy intertidal sediment
Authors: Yu Yong , Yan Shu-Lin , Li Hui-Rong , Zhang Xiao-Hua
Published: October 2010

A novel Gram-negative, non-motile bacterium, designated strain ZS2-28T, was isolated from sandy intertidal sediment samples collected from the coastal regions of the Chinese Antarctic Zhongshan Station on the Larsemann Hills, Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica. Strain ZS2-28T was obligately heterotrophic, strictly aerobic, psychrotolerant (growth occurred at 0–33 °C) and moderately halophilic (optimal growth in 7–8 % NaCl). A single major peak at 872–874 nm in the infrared absorption spectrum indicated the presence of bacteriochlorophyll a. Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate accumulation and slime production were also detected. The predominant cellular fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c, with C10 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo, C19 : 0ω8c cyclo and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) present in smaller amounts. The respiratory quinone was Q-10. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and an unidentified aminolipid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 63.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain ZS2-28T formed a distinct evolutionary lineage within the clade containing members of the genera Roseibaca, Roseinatronobacter and Rhodobaca of the class Alphaproteobacteria. On the basis of its phylogenetic position, as well as its phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain ZS2-28T represents a novel species of a novel genus, for which the name Roseicitreum antarcticum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZS2-28T ( = CGMCC 1.8894T  = LMG 24863T).
Genetic diversity of European phytoplasmas of the 16SrV taxonomic group and proposal of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma rubi’
Authors: Malembic-Maher Sylvie , Salar Pascal , Filippin Luisa , Carle Patricia , Angelini Elisa , Foissac Xavier
Published: October 2010

In addition to the grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasmas, other members of taxonomic group 16SrV phytoplasmas infect grapevines, alders and species of the genera Clematis and Rubus in Europe. In order to investigate which phytoplasmas constitute discrete, species-level taxa, several strains were analysed by comparing their 16S rRNA gene sequences and a set of five housekeeping genes. Whereas 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values were >97.5 %, the proposed threshold to distinguish two ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’ taxa, phylogenetic analysis of the combined sequences of the tuf, rplV-rpsC, rplF-rplR, map and uvrB-degV genetic loci showed that two discrete phylogenetic clusters could be clearly distinguished. The first cluster grouped flavescence dorée (FD) phytoplasmas, alder yellows (AldY) phytoplasmas, Clematis (CL) phytoplasmas and the Palatinate grapevine yellows (PGY) phytoplasmas. The second cluster comprised Rubus stunt (RS) phytoplasmas. In addition to the specificity of the insect vector, the Rubus stunt phytoplasma contained specific sequences in the 16S rRNA gene. Hence, the Rubus stunt phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene was sufficiently differentiated to represent a novel putative taxon: ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma rubi’.
Arcobacter defluvii sp. nov., isolated from sewage samples
Authors: Collado Luis , Levican Arturo , Perez Jessica , Figueras Maria José
Published: October 2010

A study employing a polyphasic taxonomic approach was undertaken to clarify the position of 12 isolates recovered from sewage samples. These isolates were recognized as a potential novel species because a new and specific pattern was produced with the 16S rRNA-RFLP Arcobacter identification method. The sequences of the 16S rRNA gene not only supported the classification of these novel strains as members of the genus Arcobacter, but also showed that they formed a separate phylogenetic line. Strain SW28-11T, chosen as the representative of these strains, showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 95.6 % with the closest related species Arcobacter nitrofigilis. The phylogenetic position of the novel strains was further confirmed by analysis of the housekeeping genes hsp60, rpoB and, for the first time, gyrB. The latter proved to be an excellent additional gene for establishing the phylogeny of this genus. These data, together with phenotypic characterization, revealed that this group of isolates represent a novel species of the genus Arcobacter. The name Arcobacter defluvii sp. nov., is proposed, with the type strain SW28-11T ( = CECT 7697T = LMG 25694T).
Flindersiella endophytica gen. nov., sp. nov., an endophytic actinobacterium isolated from the root of Grey Box, an endemic eucalyptus tree
Authors: Kaewkla Onuma , Franco Christopher M. M.
Published: October 2010

A novel endophytic actinobacterium, designated strain EUM 378T, was isolated from the surface-sterilized root tissue ofEucalyptus microcarpa, a eucalyptus tree known as Grey Box. Phylogenetic evaluation based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, including alignment with taxon-specific 16S rRNA gene signature nucleotides, placed this isolate as a member of the familyNocardioidaceae. Strain EUM 378Tshowed >5.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence divergence from other members of this family and was related most closely toActinopolymorpha albaYIM 48868T(94.2 %) andActinopolymorpha singaporensisIM 7744T(94.4 %). This Gram-positive, aerobic actinobacterium has well-developed substrate mycelia that fragment into small rods. Chemotaxonomic data revealed that the cell wall containsll-diaminopimelic acid, ribose, glucose and rhamnose. MK-10(H6) is the predominant menaquinone. Chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic evidence confirmed that strain EUM 378Trepresents a novel species of a new genus, for which the nameFlindersiella endophyticagen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is EUM 378T( = DSM 45355T = ACM 5289T).
Chryseobacterium piperi sp. nov., isolated from a freshwater creek
Authors: Strahan Brittane L. , Failor Kevin C. , Batties Allison M. , Hayes Patrick S. , Cicconi Kellie M. , Mason Christopher T. , Newman Jeffrey D.
Published: October 2010

As part of an undergraduate microbiology course, a yellow–orange pigmented, Gram-staining negative, rod-shaped, non-motile bacterial strain, designated CTMT, was isolated from a creek in North-central Pennsylvania during the winter of 2006. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strain showed ~97 % similarity to that ofChryseobacterium soldanellicolaPSD1-4TandChryseobacterium soliJS6-6T, while the protein-codinggyrBgene sequence of strain CTMTshowed <87 % similarity to those of its two closest relatives. Using a polyphasic approach, strain CTMTwas characterized and compared to these and other closely related species of the genusChryseobacterium. Strain CTMTwas similar to other strains of the genusChryseobacteriumin that it contained MK-6 as its major respiratory quinone, produced flexirubin-type pigments, oxidase and catalase, hydrolysed DNA, gelatin and aesculin and contained the fatty acids iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 1ω9c, iso-C17 : 03-OH and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c, C16 : 1ω7cand/or iso-C15 : 02-OH). Based on the results of this study, strain CTMTrepresents a novel species of the genusChryseobacterium, for which the nameChryseobacterium piperisp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CTMT( = ATCC BAA-1782T = CCUG 57707T = JCM 15960T = DSM 22249T = KCTC 23267T).
Nonomuraea rhizophila sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from rhizosphere soil
Authors: Zhao Guo-Zhen , Li Jie , Huang Hai-Yu , Zhu Wen-Yong , Xu Li-Hua , Li Wen-Jun
Published: October 2010

A novel actinomycete, designated strain YIM 67092T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of the perennial vineTripterygium wilfordiiHook. f. collected from Yunnan province, South-west China. The strain formed well differentiated aerial and substrate mycelia and grew in the presence of up to 7 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene showed that strain YIM 67092Tbelonged to the genusNonomuraea, with highest sequence similarity toNonomuraea roseaGW 12687T(99.0 %). Sequence similarities between strain YIM 67092Tand other species of the genusNonomuraearanged from 97.8 % (Nonomuraea dietziaeDSM 44320T) to 93.8 % (Nonomuraea kuesteriGW 14-1925T). Key morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics of strain YIM 67092Twere congruent with the description of the genusNonomuraea. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 69.3 mol%. Based on comparative analysis of physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic data, including low DNA–DNA hybridization results, strain YIM 67092Trepresents a novel species of the genusNonomuraea, for which the nameNonomuraea rhizophilasp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 67092T( = CCTCC AA 209044T = DSM 45382T).
The central amygdala projection to the substantia nigra reflects prediction error information in appetitive conditioning
Authors: Lee Hongjoo J. , Gallagher Michela , Holland Peter C.
Published: October 2010

The central amygdala nucleus (CeA) plays a critical role in cognitive processes beyond fear conditioning. For example, intact CeA function is essential for enhancing attention to conditioned stimuli (CSs). Furthermore, this enhanced attention depends on the CeA's connections to the nigrostriatal system. In the current study, we examined the role of the CeA's connections to two midbrain dopamine regions, the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA), in processing CS information when predictions of reward or nonreward were confirmed or disconfirmed. Initially, two different retrograde tracers were injected into the SNc and the VTA of rats, to label CeA cells. Different groups of rats then received a visual CS either paired or unpaired with food. Finally, Fos induction was assessed after a test session in which rats were exposed to the visual CS alone or paired with food. Colabeling of Fos and the retrograde tracer(s) showed that CeA neurons projecting to the SNc, but not to the VTA, were engaged in processing CS information when the training and testing conditions differed. These results suggest that the CeA–nigral pathway represents prediction error information during appetitive conditioning.
Fatty acid compositions of Turbo coronatus Gmelin 1791
Authors: Mahmood Freije Afnan , Nedham Awadh Maysoon
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the fatty acid composition of the edible snail Turbo coronatus from the Bahrain sea.

Design/methodology/approach

Total lipid content was extracted and methyl esters of fatty acids (FAMEs) were prepared and analyzed by gas chromatography.

Findings

Gas‐liquid chromatography shows that saturated fatty acids (SFA) are the major forms of fatty acids, followed by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). The most abundant PUFA are linolenic acid (18:3n‐3), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA 20:5n‐3), linoleic acid (18:2n‐6), and arachidonic acid (ARA 20:4n‐6), the MUFA 16:1 (n‐7), and the SFA 16:0, 14:0, 18:0 and 20:0. The sum of EPA and DHA is 8.04 per cent. The n‐3/n‐6 fatty acids ratio approximately (2:1) is within the range of marine molluscs. The principle differences in the fatty acid composition of Turbo coronatus than most marine molluscs is their low DHA (0.23±0.01 per cent), low PUFA (40.92 per cent), and high SFA contents (49.25 per cent). The principle differences in the fatty acid composition of Turbo coronatus from most marine molluscs is their low DHA (0.23±0.01 per cent), low PUFA (40.92 per cent), and high SFA contents (49.25 per cent).

Research limitations/implications

The Turbo coronatus samples were collected from Shaikh Ebrahim Island; however, further studies regarding the fatty acid composition of Turbo coronatus from other locations are required.

Practical implications

The results suggest that Turbo coronatus feeds on bacteria‐enriched detritic matter as well as phytoplankton and algae. The low concentration of PUFA in relation to SFA in Turbo coronatus can be attributed to warm water, high salinity, and food availability.

Originality/value

The paper provides valuable information about the fatty acid contents in Turbo coronatus, and its feeding habits, and nutritional values.
The value for service industry firms of environmental initiatives
Authors: Hume Susan R. , Gallagher Liam
Published: October 2010

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of taking environmental initiatives on the returns for service companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors gathered data for firms that are recognized for their leadership in environmental responsibility using a well‐known social responsibility ranking list. These data were used to compare with those that were ranked high on the index with those that were ranked lower, using Jensen's alpha and Sharpe ratio performance measures relative to a benchmark.

Findings

The upper‐ and lower‐ranked socially responsible firms had significantly higher risk adjusted returns and superior performance than the benchmark. Additionally, there is evidence that firms ranked in the lower group are better valued overall.

Research limitations/implications

A higher return for socially responsible firms suggests that public investors value environmentally‐friendly firms more highly today. Future research could build on this study by examining additional performance measures including four‐factor models and conditional variance.

Practical implications

The study suggests that a service company's commitment to environmental initiatives and the recognition of its commitment is an important signal today for the investor.

Originality/value

While prior research has considered manufacturing companies, this is the first study to examine the impact of a commitment to environmental initiatives for service industry firms. The findings of the empirical examination support the benefits of green initiatives to a significant component of the US economy.
Revisiting leadership development: the participant perspective
Authors: Hotho Sabine , Dowling Martin
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address limitations of prevailing approaches to leadership development programmes and make suggestions as to how these might be overcome. These limitations are an outcome of the dominant rational functional approach to leadership development programmes. Based on empirical research, and underpinned by organisational theory, the paper suggests a shift towards a socio‐constructivist perspective on design and implementation of leadership development programmes. The explorative study proposes that context and participant differences need to be recognised as factors impacting on the effectiveness of leadership development initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a review of relevant literature and qualitative data collected using the case study method. The study presented is explorative.

Findings

The paper finds that participant interaction with leadership development programmes varies depending on individual and/or contextual factors. Current design logic neither recognises nor utilises such situatedness as programmes develop their linear and unidirectional logic. Designers of programmes underestimate the extent to which programme participants create a context‐specific understanding of leadership learning as they interact with the programme. Their personal and organisational context shapes this interaction. A socio‐constructivist perspective can provide theoretical foundation for the argument that leadership development programmes can become more effective if context‐specific dimensions are recognised as shaping and constraining factors impacting on programme participants.

Originality/value

The paper argues that it is time to move away from offering leadership development programmes which emphasise input over interaction. The paper encourages commissioners and designers of leadership programmes to recognise that an overly didactic approach may limit the effectiveness of such programmes.
CSR and the strait‐jacket of economic rationality
Authors: Brooks Simon B.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue that the corporate social responsibility (CSR) discourse has taken a wrong turn in its historical development, which risks a restriction of our thinking.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper has two main sections followed by a concluding discussion. First, the way in which even proponents of CSR have allowed a search for a link between engagement in CSR and firm performance to become a predominant strand of the debate is explored. Second, the way that economic rationality has developed through the sociology of economic behaviour is examined to provide a novel lens through which to view CSR.

Findings

It is contended that arguments for CSR based in morality and ethics have been at least partially foreclosed by the CSR academy's response to pronouncements on the topic made by Milton Friedman in 1970. It is argued that, in responding to his arguments largely in the terms dictated by those arguments, the critical potential of CSR is diminished.

Research limitations/implications

The paper suggests alternative intellectual resources that might help to re‐balance this debate, drawing on what might broadly be called the sociology of economic behaviour. The paper concludes by calling for a re‐moralised CSR, reminding one that economic activity is embedded in social relations.

Originality/value

Attempts to critique CSR through lenses afforded by sociology are comparatively rare. This paper shows how the true nature of predominant preoccupations in the mainly business‐related debates on CSR can be more openly seen as being economically rational when examined using theoretical frames and language from sociology.
“It ain't wot you do, it's the way that you do it”
Authors: Morgan Colin W. , Burchell Jon
Published: October 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to understand the views of employees in a UK company on an employee vounteering (ESV) scheme. It further seeks to advance theory in this area by integrating organisational identity (OI) and organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB). The paper moves forward the scholarly work on ESV by interviewing employees who do and do not volunteer within ESV schemes.

Design/methodology/approach

A purpose sample of 31 (n = 31) interviewees was drawn from all levels of the studied organisation. The method follows a qualitative approach using NVIVO as the analysis tool. The interview was triangulated using a focus group.

Findings

Employees have a range of emotions and responses to a company operating an ESV scheme. The study is particularly interesting in that it studies employees of a gambling organisation that bring in further rich employee views on the scheme. Much of the sparse literature on ESV does not pick up on UK‐based organisations and this study is therefore revealing.

Research limitations/implications

Managers of corporate responsibility (CR) in organisations should be concerned with how they implement their CR programmes – especially with respect to how they establish and communicate ESV programmes. Academics will find value in viewing ESV through a conjunction of OCB and OI theories. The research could be replicated in other large UK organisations with similiar ESV programmes to test whether the experiences of employees are widespread in other organisations.

Practical implications

The paper tacitly questions the impact of ESV programmes on the employee stakeholder group and suggests that, unless ESV programmes are well run and well communicated – and given a good budget, employees may in fact view the programme negatively. It demonstrates that CR is not simply a “nice to have” that can be simply bolted on.

Social implications

Organisations, especially those in the third sector that work with corporates, need to understand the role of ESV schemes in their partner companies and consider the views of employees and the strategic logic of the companies before embarking on working together.

Originality/value

This is an original piece of work in a relatively under‐researched area. This is the first study to consider volunteers and non‐volunteers in an ESV scheme in a UK‐based company – the added dimension of interest and value is that the studied organisation was a gambling business.
The sequential patterning of tactics
Authors: den Hond Frank , de Bakker Frank G.A. , de Haan Patricia
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Activist groups apply a range of tactics in order to improve labour conditions in the global sports and apparel industry. The accumulation of these tactics leads to the build‐up of pressure on firms within this industry (brands, retailers) to change their policies and activities on labour issues in their supply chains. The purpose of this paper is to explore how activist groups instigate change within an industry.

Design/methodology/approach

By re‐examining a series of previously published accounts, eight conflict situations in the global sports and apparel industry, involving Nike, Reebok and Adidas, were analysed.

Findings

The paper demonstrates how an industry‐level approach is helpful in understanding how the sequential patterning of tactical choices evokes change in an industry. Studying activist groups’ tactics from this approach provides a richer understanding.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the growing literature on activists’ influence strategies in conflicts with firms and speaks to current attempts at bringing together social movement and organization theories.
Welfare mix, CSR and social citizenship
Authors: Moreno Luis
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on those “meeting points” and “encountering places” where the action of individuals, families, corporations, NGOs and public policies can optimize the advancement of social citizenship within the European context.

Design/methodology/approach

An analysis of the worlds of welfare capitalism is contrasted with a corporate social responsibility (CSR) typology of policy governance. It serves the purpose of highlighting not only institutional arrangements and operational welfare rationales, but also value‐systems and cultural tenets shaping commonalities and diversities in public policy governance in the European Union.

Findings

Considerations are made on the impacts that both the global order and the “new social risks” (NSR) have for the promotion of CSR and the advancement of social citizenship. The case of the reconciliation of work and family life illustrates how CSR might induce a greater role for businesses in welfare development.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is needed to establish the linkages between the welfare regime approach and the models of public policy supports for CSR.

Originality/value

The paper is original in its theoretical linking of welfare mix, CSR and social citizenship with regard to the improvement of citizens’ living conditions.
CSR and the “undeserving”: a role for the state, civil society and business?
Authors: Parkes Carole , Scully Judy , Anson Susan
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the conceptual lens of corporate social responsibility (CSR), business and civil society can be used to explore “less popular causes” (in this case, a community‐based public sector empirical study of initiatives with offenders) and, in particular, respond to the question used by Walzer “In which society can lives be best led?”

Design/methodology/approach

This is a formative and summative evaluation study of a National Offender Management “community payback” offender scheme based in the UK using a mixed method, predominantly qualitative approach that integrates theory and practice.

Findings

The paper finds that citizenship actions of front‐line public sector employees, working in partnership with other agencies in the community, embody the essence of Walzer's notion of CSR and civil society by going beyond the call of duty to provide additional training and moral support for the community offenders.

Originality/value

The paper contributes towards an understanding of how CSR and civil society debates can inform wider aspects of public policy and business through its application to areas of society that are perceived to be “challenging” and “undeserving”.
Marginal intra‐industry trade and adjustment costs in the first phase of transition
Authors: Fertő Imre , Attila Soós Károly
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to investigate some dynamic aspects of the smooth adjustment hypothesis (SAH) associated with intra‐industry trade (IIT). The structure of trade expansion in Hungary and Poland over the period 1990‐1998 and its implications for labour market adjustment is examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies an econometric approach and considers three‐digit International Standard Industry Classification classified data. The paper uses a model developed by recent empirical literature, both in static and dynamic forms and tests whether the results are sensitive for the choice of length of period and marginal intra‐industry indices.

Findings

The econometric analysis suggests that changes in domestic consumption and productivity have significant influence on employment changes. Significant and negative relationships were found between trade openness and employment changes. The calculations provide some evidence to support SAH, especially for Poland. However, the effects of IIT on employment changes are small especially to additional hypotheses. The estimations show that partial trade liberalisation in Hungary and Poland has led to lower adjustment costs.

Originality/value

The paper is one of the first to focus on labour market adjustment costs in transition countries. Its results also reveal that the estimations on the impacts of trade liberalisations should be interpreted only with care due to sensitivity on the length of time period and applied econometric techniques.
Obesity and motor vehicle deaths in the USA: a state‐level analysis
Authors: Simmons Walter O. , Zlatoper Thomas J.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the linkage between obesity and motor vehicle deaths.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper specifies a model that explains highway fatalities, which accounts for obesity in its set of potential determinants. State‐level data are utilized in this paper. The values for all variables are for the year 2005. They correspond to 46 of the contiguous states for all measures. The model is estimated by multiple regressions.

Findings

The paper finds that the motor vehicle death rate (fatalities per million vehicle miles) has a statistically significant positive relationship with the percentage of the population that is obese. The death rate also has significant positive associations with the percentage of elderly male drivers, per capita alcohol consumption, and temperature; and it has significant negative relationships with per capita income, the percentage of elderly female drivers, seat belt use, and precipitation.

Practical implications

The estimates of this paper have various policy implications. For example, the findings pertaining to occupant body weight imply that efforts leading to a decline in the prevalence of obesity will also lower the highway death risk. Results suggest that obesity increases this death risk by contributing to more accidents. If so, measures that reduce obesity‐related unsafe driving behaviors (e.g. increased chance of falling asleep while driving) could save lives.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the research on the relationship between highway safety and obesity. The paper's unique contributions include estimating the linkage between obesity and motor vehicle deaths by regression analysis on US state‐level data for 2005 within a model that controls for economic conditions and other considerations such as driver and passenger characteristics, locational factors, government regulations, and weather conditions.
Banking development, human capital and economic growth in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA)
Authors: Hakeem I. Mobolaji
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relevance of three economic growth theories in Sub‐Saharan Africa economies.

Design/methodology/approach

This empirical paper employs a panel data framework, using fixed effect, random effects and maximum likelihood estimation techniques. It further conducts some sensitivity analyses.

Findings

The paper finds that both the stock of human capital (HC) and the physical capital are important for growth in the region, the paper does not find strong impact of financial development (FD) in the region, perhaps due to long period of financial repression or financial underdevelopment in the region. It however finds strong complementarity features in interaction of both finance and HC on growth.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis in the paper is confined to banking development indicators, due to inadequate data for capital market indicators as well as underdevelopment of the stock market in the region.

Practical implications

The policy regime since the mid‐1980 s (Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, era) is to reduce government investment and involvement in economic activities; this paper however suggests that this measure has to be carefully considered especially with due concern for the trade off between short‐run adjustment programmes and long‐run stabilisation policies. The paper advocates for more efficient and effective investment in HC and FD in the region.

Originality/value

It is believed that this is the first time such a study has been carried out, testing the relevance of three growth theories and further testing an interaction of two different theories in a growth model.
Automated assembly innovations at the 2009 Assembly Expo
Authors: Bloss Richard
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to review automated assembly technology at the Assembly Technology Expo.

Design/methodology/approach

Assembly Expo is the feature show, which is combined with five other manufacturing, shows in Chicago at the same venue. In‐depth interviews with exhibitors of automated systems, system integrators as well as suppliers of related components motion elements, laser markers were conducted.

Findings

Automated assembly cells continue to be more flexible, modular, as well as better suited for smaller lot orders and include more real time inspection capabilities.

Practical implications

Users who investigated automated assembly solutions in the past and found they did not meet applications requirements may find it is time to revisit automation.

Originality/value

The paper shows that automated system builders and system integrators are providing more suitable solutions that can better address application needs in a more cost‐effective manner than ever before.
A robotic welding system using image processing techniques and a CAD model to provide information to a multi‐intelligent decision module
Authors: Sanders David A. , Lambert Gareth , Graham‐Jones Jasper , Tewkesbury Giles E. , Onuh Spencer , Ndzi David , Ross Carl
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to propose a system that uses a combination of techniques to suggest weld requirements for ships parts. These suggestions are evaluated, decisions are made and then weld parameters are sent to a program generator.

Design/methodology/approach

A pattern recognition system recognizes shipbuilding parts using shape contour information. Fourier‐descriptors provide information and neural networks make decisions about shapes.

Findings

The system has distinguished between various parts and programs have been generated so that the methods have proved to be valid approaches.

Practical implications

The new system used a rudimentary curvature metric that measured Euclidean distance between two points in a window but the improved accuracy and ease of implementation can benefit other applications concerning curve approximation, node tracing, and image processing, but especially in identifying images of manufactured parts with distinct corners.

Originality/value

A new proposed system has been presented that uses image processing techniques in combination with a computer‐aided design model to provide information to a multi‐intelligent decision module. This module will use different criteria to determine a best weld path. Once the weld path has been determined then the program generator and post‐processor can be used to send a compatible program to the robot controller. The progress so far is described.
A desktop virtual reality‐based integrated system for complex product maintainability design and verification
Authors: Gaoliang Peng , Yu Haiquin , Xinhua Liu , Yang Jiang , He Xu
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Maintainability is the ability of a product system to be maintained and is a design characteristic. The paper aims to provide an integrated system for complex product maintainability design and verification. It includes processes and tools that can be effectively used to plan, quantify and cost maintenance.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrated platform for maintainability design and verification is designed. A case‐based reasoning method of maintainability design and Extensible Markup Language‐based representation of maintenance procedure information are presented.

Findings

The paper finds that the proposed system is an efficient tool for complex product maintainability design and verification.

Practical implications

Early and effective planning and implementation of a maintainability program can significantly improve the reliability and availability of product system.

Originality/value

A desktop virtual reality application for product maintainability design and verification is presented.
Pipe‐assembly approach for aero‐engines by modified particle swarm optimization
Authors: Liu Qiang , Wang Chengen
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to present a modified particle swarm optimization (MPSO) approach for automatic generation of near‐optimal pipe routes in constrained aero‐engine 3D rotational space.

Design/methodology/approach

Pipe assembly for aero‐engine is formulated as searching for the optimal pipe paths meeting certain objectives in a constrained 3D rotational space. The routing space is first modelled by grid discretization in the cylindrical coordinate system, and then is simplified into several 2D planes by mapping development. The objective function is formulated to minimize the pipe lengths and the number of pipe turns, to place pipes next to the inner jacket as close as possible, and also to make pipe trajectories closely follow around obstacle contours while avoiding collisions. Then, an MPSO approach, which adopts a discrete operator and a fixed‐length encoding mechanism, is developed to seek optimal solutions to the objective function. The convergence of MPSO is theoretically proved. Finally, numerical computations of pipe‐routing examples are conducted by using Matrix Laboratory and Unigraphics NX 4.0 system, which demonstrates effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method.

Findings

Results show that MPSO can quickly find the optimal pipe routes meeting certain engineering constraints, and also manifests better computation convergences.

Practical implications

The application of the MPSO approach in pipe routing for aero‐engines is demonstrated. MPSO is a general modified particle swarm optimization version that it is not restricted to the pipe‐routing problems, and the routing approach can also be applied in similar path‐planning problems such as robot path‐planning and very large‐scale integration design.

Originality/value

The paper develops a new formulation for aero‐engine pipe‐routing problems, and presents an MPSO approach to find the optimal pipe paths.
An approach to find task sequence for re‐balancing of assembly lines
Authors: Ağpak Kürşad
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Cycle time fluctuations in assembly lines are one of the important reasons of re‐balancing. As a result of re‐balancing of assembly lines, it will be necessary to change task sequences or equipment locations. The purpose of this paper is to find the task sequence which enables assembly line balancing (ALB) with minimum number of stations (NS) for different cycle times such that tasks and equipment or fixture locations remain unchanged.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper a heuristic which consist of two stages is proposed to find a common task sequence for different cycle times in assembly lines.

Findings

It is shown that optimal NS for different cycle times can be achieved with a fixed task sequence.

Research limitations/implications

The approach is limited to a single model case. Model variety together with cycle time variety can be investigated in further studies.

Practical implications

Assembly lines which require less time and cost for re‐balancing can be easily designed by the proposed approach.

Originality/value

ALB problem is handled with a new viewpoint. Also, it is observed that the proposed approach serves as a bridge between assembly line design and balancing. In this regard, it is thought to have an important place in the ALB literature.