bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vertical Distribution of Scab in Large Pecan Trees
Authors: Bock Clive H. , Cottrell Ted E. , Hotchkiss Mike W. , Wood Bruce W.
Published: January 2013

Pecan scab (Fusicladium effusum) is a destructive disease of pecan in the southeastern United States. This study was conducted to investigate the vertical distribution of scab in tall pecan trees (14 to 16 m tall) in three experiments in 2010 and 2011. Although 2010 had average rainfall, a factor that drives scab epidemics, 2011 was a very dry year with a consequently low scab severity. A total of eight trees were included in each experiment, four were nontreated controls, and four were sprayed using a ground-based air-blast sprayer. Trees were assessed for foliar and fruit scab at 0-5.0, 5.0+-7.5, 7.5+-10.0, 10.0+-12.5, and 12.5+-15.0 m. Mixed model analysis showed main effects of height, fungicide treatment, and height*treatment interactions in all three experiments, although on foliage the effects were less consistent (P value = 0.003-0.8), perhaps due to delayed fungicide applications early in the season. However, fruit of nontreated trees had more severe scab low in the canopy compared to fungicide-treated trees, with a consistent height*treatment interaction (P value = <0.0001-0.04). Most often the severity of scab in the upper canopy was similar in trees on fungicide-treated and nontreated trees, suggesting that fungicide had less impact at heights ≥10.0 m compared to <10.0 m in the canopy. There was a consistent reduction in scab severity on foliage and on immature fruit in August due to fungicide treatment at heights ≤10.0 m. Above 10.0 m, the effect was inconsistent, but late in the season (October), the fungicide-treated trees showed lower scab severity throughout the canopy. A metallic tracer study using cerium (Ce) showed an exponential relationship between quantities of Ce recovered and sample height in the canopy, with the quantity of Ce at ≥10 m being statistically equal to background levels. The relationship between scab severity on fruit and sample height in the canopy of nontreated trees was most often described by a negative linear function, but there was no discernible relationship on fungicide-treated trees, as the severity of scab in the lower canopy was most often similar to that in the upper canopy. Gradients in fungicide coverage and scab severity have ramifications for scab management options and potentially for the development of fungicide resistance in F. effusum.
Strain Differences in Cortical Electroencephalogram Associated with Isoflurane-induced Loss of Consciousness
Authors: McCallum J. Bruce , Pillay Siveshigan , Vizuete Jeannette A. , Mouradian Gary , Hudetz Anthony G. , Stekiel Thomas A.
Published: January 2013

Introduction:

Previously observed increased sensitivity to noxious stimulation in the Dahl salt-sensitive rat strain (SS/JrHsdMcwi, abbreviated as SS) compared to Brown Norway rats (BN/NhsdMcwi abbreviated as BN) is mediated by genes on a single chromosome. The current study used behavioral and electrocortical data to determine if differences also exist between SS and BN rats in loss of consciousness.

Methods:

Behavioral responses, including loss of righting, (a putative index of consciousness) and concurrent electroencephalogram recordings, in 12 SS and BN rats were measured during isoflurane at inhaled concentrations of 0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2%.

Results:

In SS compared to BN rats, the mean ± SEM EC50 for righting was significantly less (0.65 ± 0.01% vs. 0.74 ± 0.02% inhaled isoflurane) and delta fraction in parietal electroencephalogram was enhanced 50–100% at all isoflurane levels during emergence. The frequency decay constant of an exponential fit of the parietal electroencephalogram spectrum graphed as a function of isoflurane level was three times less steep (mean ± SEM slope −57 ± 13 vs. −191 ± 38) and lower at each level of isoflurane in SS versus BN rats (i.e., shifted toward low frequency activity). Electroencephalogram differences between strains were larger during emergence than induction.

Conclusions:

Sensitivity is higher in SS compared to BN rats leading to unconsciousness at lower levels of isoflurane. This supports using additional strains in this animal model to study the genetic basis for differences in anesthetic action on mechanisms of consciousness. Moreover, induction and emergence appear to involve distinct pathways.
Psychosocial Issues in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Mackner Laura M. , Greenley Rachel Neff , Szigethy Eva , Herzer Michele , Deer Kate , Hommel Kevin A.
Published: January 2013

Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can affect many areas of psychosocial functioning, and comprehensive medical care includes consideration of psychosocial issues as well as disease factors. The purpose of this clinical report is to review research on psychosocial functioning in pediatric IBD and to provide recommendations for care providers in the areas of psychopathology, health‐related quality of life, and social, family, and school functioning. Youth with IBD are at increased risk for difficulty in all areas reviewed, and many psychosocial factors are associated with disease activity, which highlights the importance of monitoring psychosocial functioning as part of clinical care. Several interventions have empirical support or show promise for addressing psychosocial difficulty, and recommendations for monitoring and treating these issues are provided.
On the dynamic nature of azimuthal thermoacoustic modes in annular gas turbine combustion chambers
Authors: Noiray Nicolas , Schuermans Bruno
Published: January 2013

This paper deals with the dynamics of standing and rotating azimuthal thermoacoustic modes in annular combustion chambers. Simultaneous acoustic measurements have been made at multiple circumferential positions in an annular gas turbine combustion chamber. A detailed statistical analysis of the spatial Fourier amplitudes extracted from these data reveals that the acoustic modes are continuously switching between standing, clockwise and counter-clockwise travelling waves. A theoretical framework from which the modal dynamics can be explained is proposed and supported by real gas turbine data. The stochastic differential equations that govern these systems have been derived and used as a basis for system identification of the measured engine data. The model describes the probabilities of the two azimuthal wave components as a function of the random source intensity, the asymmetry in the system and the strength of the thermoacoustic interaction. The solution of the simplified system is in good agreement with experimental observations on a gas turbine combustion chamber.
A Bernoulli equation for potential flow of incompressible materials with an inherent material characteristic length
Authors: Rubin M. B.
Published: January 2013

A general simple continua can be enhanced by constitutive equations which depend on the acceleration and velocity gradients to model the effects of a material characteristic length. This paper shows that for irrotational flows of a class of incompressible materials this model yields a Bernoulli equation. Consequently, for this class of materials and flows, it is possible to satisfy the balance of linear momentum exactly, including the effect of a material characteristic length which introduces size dependence of solutions. An example of a rigid circular cylinder moving through an inviscid fluid is considered to demonstrate dependence of the motion on the size of the cylinder.
2-(2-Hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)-1-methylcyclopropan-1-ol
Authors: Mao Hui , Tu Ya-Wei , Li Shi-Kun , Wang Xiao-Juan , Wang Peng-Peng
Published: January 2013

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C12H16O2, contains two independent molecules in which the dihedral angles between the benzene and cyclopropane rings are 75.9 (3) and 76.3 (3)°. In the crystal, the molecules are connected by O—H...O hydrogen bonds into a three dimensional supramolecular structure.
Corrosion inhibition of mild steel by P,P′‐Bis (triphenylphosphonio) methyl benzophenone dibromide in HCl solution
Authors: Nahlé Ayssar , Al‐Khayat Maysoon , Abu‐Abdoun Ideisan , Abdel‐Rahman Ibrahim
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study electrochemically and by weight loss experiments the effect of P,P′‐Bis (triphenylphosphonio) methyl benzophenone dibromide (TPPMB) on the corrosion inhibition of mild steel in 1.0M HCl solution, which will serve researchers in the field of corrosion.

Design/methodology/approach

Weight loss measurements were carried out on mild steel specimens in 1.0M HCl and in 1.0M HCl containing various concentrations (2×10−8M and 2×10−5M) of the laboratory synthesized TPPMB at temperatures ranging from 303 to 343 K.

Findings

TPPMB was found to be a highly efficient inhibitor for mild steel in 1.0M HCl solution, reaching about 98% at the concentration of 2×10−5M at 303 K, a concentration and temperature considered to be very moderate. The percentage of inhibition in the presence of this inhibitor was decreased with temperature which indicates that physical adsorption was the predominant inhibition mechanism because the quantity of adsorbed inhibitor decreases with increasing temperature.

Practical implications

This inhibitor could have application in industries, where hydrochloric acid solutions at elevated temperatures are used to remove scale and salts from steel surfaces, such as acid cleaning of tankage and pipeline, and may render dismantling unnecessary.

Originality/value

This paper is intended to be added to the family of phosphonium salt corrosion inhibitors which are highly efficient and can be employed in the area of corrosion prevention and control.
Evaluation of cathodic protection behavior of waterborne inorganic zinc‐rich silicates containing various contents of MIO pigments
Authors: Naser Kakaei Mohammad , Danaee Iman , Zaarei Davood
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to study the corrosion protection behavior of water‐borne inorganic zinc‐rich coatings based on potassium silicate/nanosilica developed with various zinc and micaceous iron oxide (MIO) contents during cathodic protection stage.

Design/methodology/approach

The formulated coatings were applied on carbon steel panels and were subjected to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and free corrosion potential measurements for characterization of corrosion protection behavior. Also atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical microscopy were used to investigate the surface topography of coatings.

Findings

All of the coatings preserved the cathodic protection ability throughout 75 days of exposure to 3.5% NaCl solution. Supporting results of electrochemical tests and microscopic observations revealed that replacement of zinc by MIO particles reduced both the rate of reactivity and the duration of cathodic protection of inorganic zinc‐rich coatings. It was observed that the coatings demonstrated a reactivation step after a dry‐wet cycle implying that cyclic immersion can change the overall duration of cathodic protection stage.

Originality/value

The paper describes formulation and investigation of corrosion protection behavior of an environmentally friendly zero‐VOC coating as well as providing an insight into EIS of zinc‐rich coatings.
Value co‐creation: theoretical approaches and practical implications
Authors: Saarijärvi Hannu , Kannan P.K. , Kuusela Hannu
Published: January 2013

Purpose

Existing research suggests a multitude of approaches to value co‐creation that bring with them a range of different ideas on what constitutes the concept. The purpose of this paper is to identify the sources of the differing approaches, and so reduce the complexity of the concept and develop a business‐oriented analytical framework for assessing the opportunities presented by value co‐creation.

Design/methodology/approach

Through exploration of the different theoretical approaches to value co‐creation the sources of friction are identified. Addressing the conceptual complexity provides a sound basis for the development of a business‐oriented analytical framework.

Findings

The multifaceted nature of value co‐creation arises owing to the differing approaches to what determines the value, the co‐, and the creation elements of the concept. The study concludes that both scholars and practitioners should focus more on identifying and understanding what kind of value is co‐created for whom, using what resources, and through what mechanism.

Practical implications

A business‐oriented analytical framework is developed that helps practitioners to assess and approach the opportunities presented by value co‐creation.

Originality/value

The paper introduces an analytical and fresh perspective on value co‐creation. It helps to clarify the nuances in the nature of the concept and contributes to an enhanced understanding of it.
Co‐innovation through multiple social identity processes
Authors: Jacobs Hannelize
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between “social identities” and “innovation as a collective act”, specifically how multiple social identity processes construct, reconstruct and revise organisational identity, and create positive commitment and motivation for collaborative innovation (co‐innovation).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopted an inductive theory building from cases (particularly, theory building from a singular case) methodology. As the purpose of the research is to develop theory and not to test it, theoretical sampling was used. The particular case was specifically chosen because the business – a successful co‐operative for over 30 years – enables the investigation of organisational identity construction and development on different levels including intra‐ and inter‐organisational interactions.

Findings

While still leaving scope for the readers to make interpretations and conclusions from the case themselves, the study suggests some general conclusions drawn from the interrelationship of key concepts in the case, and from the subsequent model of evolving multiple social identity processes for co‐innovation that emerged. These conclusions may not only broaden “the social identity approach to organisations” and “organisational innovation”, but also link their underlying theories.

Research limitations/implications

The case explains the phenomena in a particular social system, namely a co‐operative business with a common purpose. The co‐operative model can be associated with organisations with poor democratic governance and accountability. The ultimate success of the case depended on the ability of the organisation and its members to construct and maintain a common organisational identity of innovation and to innovate collectively.

Originality/value

This paper extends “the social identity approach to organisations” and “organisational innovation” by developing a model, inductively sourced from a “real‐life” case, for explaining the construction, reconstruction or revision of social identities that result from the reciprocal relationship between co‐innovating organisations. The proposed model suggests an evolutionary (rather than a revolutionary) framework for the presentation of co‐innovation as a product of social identity construction.
Advertising dislikeability in Asia
Authors: Fam Kim-Shyan , S. Waller David , Cyril de Run Ernest , He Jian
Published: January 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to determine what can cause dislike of an advertisement's message in Asia. Television commercials were looked at specifically to provide an insight into the construct of advertising dislikeability and how it affects purchase intention and purchase frequency.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study utilizes the attention/salience hypothesis. A total of 931 people were questioned in five Asian cities (Hong Kong, Shanghai, Jakarta, Bangkok and Mumbai) using telephone interviews.

Findings

– The results revealed 931 dislike attributes that were reduced to seven: style, meaningless, character, exaggeration, irresponsive, violent and hard-sell. There also appears to be a close relationship between the disliking of advertisements and purchase intention and purchase frequency.

Practical implications

– Findings indicate a strong relationship of the dislikeability variables with culture and religion in the five Asian cities and this must be taken seriously by advertisers. International advertisers need to pay attention to the local values and tradition and use the advertising communication message appropriately.

Social implications

– Advertisers must be acutely aware of the social norms in designing their advertisements and the findings here can be a guide for public and/or industry policy towards advertising.

Originality/value

– The paper has produced a new construct of advertising dislikeability and details how it affects purchase intention and purchase frequency. This construct can be further tested in other nations and situations, in order to develop an understanding of dislike towards advertising.
Parents' perception of teen's influence on family purchase decisions
Authors: S. Shergill Gurvinder , Sekhon Harjit , Zhao Min
Published: January 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the cultural assimilation influence on family purchase decision making of Chinese immigrant families in New Zealand, and in Chinese families living in China.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data were collected from 200 respondents. In total, 100 families have been chosen from each of these countries. The data were collected by the snowball sampling method across 11 different products and four decision-making stages.

Findings

– The results of this research show that cultural assimilation does have an influence on parental perceptions of teen's influence on family decision making. Chinese immigrants' teenage children in New Zealand were perceived as having more influence within the family than their peers in Chinese families living in China.

Research limitations/implications

– The research used a sample size of only 100 respondents from each country. Furthermore, it used snowball sampling and mid-income group families only.

Practical implications

– These findings help marketers to gain a better understanding of the influence of cultural assimilation, and use specific marketing communication and promotion strategies.

Originality/value

– The paper empirically demonstrates that Chinese parents living in China and Chinese immigrant parents living in New Zealand perceive their children's involvement in family purchase decision differently. Chinese immigrant parents perceive that their children are becoming assimilated with New Zealand culture. This is the first ever study done on Chinese Immigrant families living in New Zealand and Chinese families living in China by collecting and using the cross-culture data from New Zealand and China.
Addressing the business‐sustainability nexus in postgraduate education
Authors: Stubbs Wendy
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a pedagogical approach for designing a coursework curriculum that aims to meet the growing need for skilled professionals that have competencies in both business and sustainability, and that understand the nexus between the two.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a pedagogical approach discussed in the education for sustainability literature to analyse the CESM program. The pedagogical approach focuses on developing students' knowledge, skills and attitudes (behaviours) in sustainability.

Findings

The Knowledge‐Skills‐Attitudes (KSA) framework is a suitable pedagogical approach to guide the design of sustainability management education programs that prepare students for systemic organizational change. A KSA approach to designing sustainability management education curricula can also address the criticisms of current business management curricula by other scholars.

Originality/value

The discussion of the MCESM program in this article provides guidance to faculty on one approach to creating sustainability‐centric business curricula and may provide a catalyst for sharing learning experiences in integrating sustainability into existing business curricula. It may also provide some ideas for developing new programs that address the business and sustainability nexus.
Rethinking the Talloires Declaration
Authors: Adlong William
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to critique constructively and complement the Talloires Declaration with a focus on social and cultural elements that shape action. These elements are important to achieving the needed response to the environmental issues that the Talloires Declaration highlights. While the Talloires Declaration has been significant and successful in a number of ways, it does not make clearly visible the social conditioning that – beyond information and knowledge about issues – has such a determining influence on action and environmental literacy.

Design/methodology/approach

In this article the action and change the Talloires Declaration seeks to achieve is considered against a backdrop of selected social theory and education for sustainability literature. This literature provides insights on the social change that is part of bringing about environmental improvement.

Findings

Patterns of thinking and acting that determine whether action on the environment is taken, an important aspect of environmental literacy, are on the whole determined intersubjectively and reside in perspectives and orientations that are largely tacit. Guidance to university staff to achieve the aims of the Talloires Declaration should keep in focus the need for transformation of social and cultural conditioning and entrenched, unquestioned perspectives and ways of being that strongly influence student and staff action. Staff committed to sustainability will want to consider modes through which such transformation can be fostered.

Originality/value

For those concerned with the Talloires Declaration, this article offers considerations important in orienting universities' responses to urgent environmental issues. Few articles have proposed that this foundational document for university commitments to sustainability needs to be rethought with the benefit of passing time and in view of a wider, and largely subsequent, literature.
Seeking richer descriptions of learners' sustainability attributes and learning needs
Authors: Mann S. , Harraway J. , Broughton‐Ansin F. , Deaker L. , Shephard K.
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to respond to calls for higher education institutions to address sustainability within the curriculum. Institutions that aim to graduate citizens with prescribed attributes relevant to sustainability may need to develop teaching and learning support‐programmes appropriate to the varied nature of students' worldviews.

Design/methodology/approach

The research described here used the NEP (Revised New Ecological Paradigm) and statistical cluster‐analysis to explore if individuals within cohorts of students could reasonably be clustered into subgroups with identified sustainability attributes relevant to the design of learner‐support programmes.

Findings

All seven programme cohorts in one institution's annual intake clustered into three subgroups with identifiable attributes.

Practical implications

The results are discussed in relation to how post‐compulsory education institutions can define the sustainability characteristics of their students and to the pedagogic literature that addresses diversity in student groups.

Originality/value

The approach may help higher education institutions better understand the needs of individual students within large groups and to develop appropriate support programmes for students with similar attributes and needs.
Implementation of web‐based construction project management system in China projects by Hong Kong developers
Authors: Wong Andy K.D. , Zhang Rong
Published: January 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the challenges of Hong Kong and overseas developers in project management when undertaking real estate projects in China, and then focuses on how to mitigate and solve the problems. The proposed solution is about a concept of using the IT tool “web‐based construction project management system” (WPMS) to help assuring projects success in China. The study reported in this paper focuses on how to implement WPMS to manage construction projects in China considering the overall situation, limitations and Chinese culture.

Design/methodology/approach

Case studies and interviews were adopted to identify the main reasons why experienced Hong Kong developers have apparently been outperformed by the capital‐deprived local developers in China. SWOT was applied to analyse project failure factors. Afterwards, 49 web‐based construction project management software systems were reviewed to identify their features, their client expectations, the technology propagation modes, and the most emphasized functions in the construction stage. An in‐depth case study was adopted to test the hypothesis that web‐based construction project system could help Hong Kong developers to properly manage their projects in China.

Findings

Cooperation and coordination difficulties among participants caused by long geographical project distance and remote management control were identified to be the main causes of project failure. Web‐based construction project management system was proved to be efficient and effective in cross region project coordination and monitoring. Since property development business is a continuing and non‐one‐off activity, the investment of a tailor made WPMS is really good value for money. Concerning the low readiness of business partners in China, an encouraging pattern with more self‐incentives should be considered for achieving a win‐win‐win situation as an essential tactic as proposed in this paper.

Research limitations/implications

How to evaluate the benefit of using WPMS in quantitative method remains a challenge. Future research could compare the project with WPMS and without WPMS.

Practical implications

The case study of the application of a tailor‐made web‐based project management system (named ICPMS) by one of the major developers in Hong Kong has demonstrated that the headquarters in Hong Kong is able to get timely first hand project information, facilitating timely decisions and ensuring project success. Thus, the adoption of WPMS is a worthwhile investment for overseas developers undertaking real estate development projects in China.

Originality/value

This paper puts forward the concept of overseas developers using WPMS to help assure project success in China. Chinese culture and other limitation factors were considered for the first time in WPMS implementation in the construction industry. How to make the implementation of WPMS to successfully overcome such barriers is illustrated based on this empirical study.
Challenges of coordination between climate and technology policies
Authors: Budde Björn
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The issue of climate change raises new requirements for the way our societies work. Even though climate policy is regarded as being crucial on the way to a low carbon society, the coordination of technology and climate policy proves difficult. The purpose of this paper is to look closer into the challenges and experiences related to the coordination between climate and technology policy in order to draw lessons for the future integration of both policy fields.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper a case study approach is applied to the policy coordination efforts in two countries: Denmark and the UK. From a theoretical point the study is informed by the literature on the dimensions of policy learning and the findings of innovation and transition studies.

Findings

The case studies provide important lessons how important flexibility and continues policy learning and its institutionalization will be on the way towards a low carbon society. However, it becomes clear that the price of this flexibility is the risk of “symbolic action”, respectively, postponing emission reduction measures.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are drawn from two countries, however it remains not fully clear in how far the instruments and approaches from countries like Denmark and the UK can be applied in a similar way in other countries.

Originality/value

The paper provides an important discussion of contradictions between climate and technology policy from the perspective of the literature in innovation studies and policy learning.
Factors affecting the selection of data storage approach in radio frequency identification applications
Authors: Guven Gursans , Ergen Esin
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to present an overview of the state of the art of the RFID technology in terms of data storage approaches in construction cases, and to identify the factors that require different approaches to data storage (e.g. on tags or on a remote database) in RFID applications in the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature survey was conducted and the contexts of 37 construction industry cases were investigated to determine the factors that affect the decision of data storage approach and the types of information groups that were stored in each case. Additionally, 79 cases were reviewed from other industries to provide insights.

Findings

The literature review showed that, many cases in the construction industry preferred storing additional data on RFID tags such as identification, technical and historical information. The factors affecting the selection of data storage approach in RFID applications were identified: application environment, cost efficiency, multiple number of parties, need for monitoring up‐to‐date progress data, collecting environmental conditions, in situ (on‐board) data storage, industry‐related specifications, and reading range requirement.

Practical implications

The high proportion of cases which stored data on tags demonstrate that there is a need for tags/storage media that are specially designed for the construction industry because most tags currently have either minimum or limited memories.

Originality/value

The analysis of the investigated cases and the factors that were identified to be affecting the data storage approach decision making can assist construction practitioners and owners in selecting an appropriate data storage approach for their projects.
Complex dynamic systems – new management paradigm: fashion or necessity?
Authors: Skurvydas Albertas , Kundrotas Virginijus , Valantinienė Irena , Valančienė Dovilė
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The main purpose of this article is to survey and analyze the paradigm of complex dynamic systems (CDSs) and the possibility of applying them in the management of social systems, because the CDS perspective is taking its maiden steps in this field, whereas it already has widespread support in physics, biology, and even philosophy.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic and logical analysis of the CDS paradigm, the differences between physical, biological, social, and humanitarian systems, and the changes in the philosophy of systems are described in the paper.

Findings

This paper and the published studies reported are the first to show that the CDS paradigm is undoubtedly not a fashion but a necessity, if we are to manage social systems more efficiently.

Originality/value

This paper is a first attempt to analyze CDSs and the possibility of applying them in the management of social systems.
Corporate social responsibility terminologies in small businesses: insights from Malaysia
Authors: Nejati Mehran , Amran Azlan
Published: January 2013

Purpose

Since understanding the corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of small businesses in any country requires investigating the terminologies used by their small businesses for such social practices, the aim of this paper is to gain an understanding of the common terminologies used by SME owners/manager/directors in a developing country, namely Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a quantitative study which used a sample of 100 small businesses is its survey. Most of the investigated SMEs were based in Northern states of Malaysia.

Findings

This study showed that the most common terminology for CSR among investigated Malaysia SMEs was “responsible business practice” followed by “corporate social responsibility”, “social/ societal engagement” and “environmental involvement”.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitations of this research are associated with its sample size and geographical distribution of samples. Findings of the study warn researchers to be cautious in selecting the appropriate CSR term for different contexts, specifically in SMEs' context.

Practical implications

Findings of this study enable authorities and managers of large companies to use the appropriate term in their future communications with SMEs with regard to CSR.

Originality/value

Being among the first of its kind to tackle this issue in SME contexts in the developing countries, this paper can provide new insights for both researchers and practitioners and change their outlook on CSR in small businesses.
Policing public housing: New York and British cities
Authors: Flint John
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare approaches to policing and addressing offending and anti‐social behaviour in public housing in New York City and UK cities and to discuss whether the different rationales and techniques deployed may be effective in reducing recidivism.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on qualitative research undertaken in New York City in 2008 and a series of studies (comprising qualitative and quantitative methods) conducted in the UK for national government departments, local authorities and registered social landlords. The research included analysis of documents and statistics, interviews with policy makers, practitioners, tenants and offenders.

Findings

The research established that, in addition to some similarities in approaches, there were significant differences in the policing of public housing and the role of housing in reducing recidivism between New York and UK cities. These included the stronger identification of housing as an element in influencing offending in the UK, key roles for social landlords and housing‐based techniques of governance aimed at intervening in offending households.

Practical implications

The research suggests the need to retain a focus on housing circumstances as a key determinant of both offending behaviour and as a mechanism for reducing recidivism.

Social implications

The research indicates that reducing recidivism within public housing populations requires the provision of intensive interventions and support services.

Originality/value

The paper provides an original international comparative analysis of public housing‐based approaches to addressing offending and recidivism.
Applying the violent extremist risk assessment (VERA) to a sample of terrorist case studies
Authors: Beardsley Nicola L. , Beech Anthony R.
Published: January 2013

Purpose

This paper seeks to evaluate the usefulness of the violent extremist risk assessment (VERA) by assessing how easily the criteria can be applied to case studies of five terrorists, and to determine whether it is more applicable to terrorists who work alone or as part of a group.

Design/methodology/approach

Case studies of five terrorists were constructed through online research. Evidence of each factor outlined in the VERA was rated and a total score for each category was calculated.

Findings

The majority of factors were easy to apply and were equally applicable to individuals within the sample regardless of whether they worked alone or as part of a group. The results tend to support theory and research about characteristics of violent extremists. This suggests that the factors are relevant and, therefore, that the VERA is a useful risk assessment guide.

Research limitations/implications

As the research is based on case studies, the findings may not generalise beyond the sample selected. In addition, some sources used to construct the case studies may be less reliable. Future research should include larger, more varied and more recent samples.

Practical implications

If future research confirms the present findings, the VERA may help to identify terrorists at risk of committing future offences. The factors may be incorporated into intervention strategies to prevent such offences.

Originality/value

Currently, the VERA is mainly for consultation purposes. This study applies it to real individuals, as it could be of great use in the risk assessment of terrorists.
“Freeing” free education in Sri Lanka
Authors: Gamlath Sharmila
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The research aims to describe Sri Lanka's education system, discuss reforms that have been implemented within the school, university and vocational education sectors in the recent past and suggest potentially fruitful reforms whilst identifying the various constraints which can affect their implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive approach is employed, with extensive review of related literature and the use of relevant secondary data where appropriate.

Findings

The research shows the need for considerable reform of Sri Lanka's education system, especially with regard to improving the quality of state education and encouraging greater private sector participation.

Research limitations/implications

The research shows the deficiencies Sri Lanka's education system suffers from and suggests means to overcome them. However, the political and social pressures may present obstacles upon the implementation of such courses of action.

Social implications

The recommendations offered by the research could make a contribution towards transforming the education system in Sri Lanka into one which can produce empowered individuals who can find employment within the emerging sectors of the economy and thereby improve overall living standards in the country.

Originality/value

The paper makes a novel contribution by encompassing school, tertiary and vocational education in Sri Lanka. It shows the numerous problems that could arise in a context where a universal system of free education from the primary to the tertiary level exists vis‐à‐vis a flourishing private sector, and would be of value to education policy‐planners in Sri Lanka and other countries with both state and private sector provision of education.
Nonlinear projection methods for visualizing Barcode data and application on two data sets
Authors: Olteanu Madalina , Nicolas Violaine , Schaeffer Brigitte , Denys Christiane , Missoup Alain‐Didier , Kennis Jan , Larédo Catherine
Published: January 2013

Developing tools for visualizing DNA sequences is an important issue in the Barcoding context. Visualizing Barcode data can be put in a purely statistical context, unsupervised learning. Clustering methods combined with projection methods have two closely linked objectives, visualizing and finding structure in the data. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) and Self‐organizing maps (SOM) are unsupervised statistical tools for data visualization. Both algorithms map data onto a lower dimensional manifold: MDS looks for a projection that best preserves pairwise distances while SOM preserves the topology of the data. Both algorithms were initially developed for Euclidean data and the conditions necessary to their good implementation were not satisfied for Barcode data. We developed a workflow consisting in four steps: collapse data into distinct sequences; compute a dissimilarity matrix; run a modified version of SOM for dissimilarity matrices to structure the data and reduce dimensionality; project the results using MDS. This methodology was applied to Astraptes fulgerator and Hylomyscus, an African rodent with debated taxonomy. We obtained very good results for both data sets. The results were robust against unbalanced species. All the species in Astraptes were well displayed in very distinct groups in the various visualizations, except for LOHAMP and FABOV that were mixed up. For Hylomyscus, our findings were consistent with known species, confirmed the existence of four unnamed taxa and suggested the existence of potentially new species.
Prospects for scaling‐up supervised injection facilities in Canada: the role of evidence in legal and political decision‐making
Authors: Hyshka Elaine , Bubela Tania , Wild T. Cameron
Published: January 2013

Background

North America's first supervised injection facility—Insite—opened in Vancouver in 2003 under a special federal legal exemption. Insite has faced significant political and legal opposition, which culminated in a recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling that ordered the federal Minister of Health to extend the facility's exemption and cited evidence that the facility is life‐preserving and does not increase public disorder. Officials in several other cities have initiated or accelerated preparations for new facilities due to speculation that the ruling provides sufficient legal basis to expand supervised injection in Canada. However, a comprehensive assessment of the barriers and facilitators to supervised injection facility scale‐up is lacking.

Methods

This policy case study reviews a corpus of jurisprudence, legislation, scientific research and media texts to: describe the role of evidence in legal and political decision‐making around Insite; analyze the implications of the Insite decision for new facilities; and discuss alternative avenues for supervised injection facility expansion.

Results

The Insite decision does not simplify the path towards new supervised injection facilities, but nor does it does pose an insurmountable hurdle. Whether new facilities will be established depends largely upon how the Minister of Health interprets the ruling, the proponents' ability to demonstrate need and support from municipal and provincial governments and community members. Formally defining supervised injection as within nurses' scope of practice could further efforts to establish new facilities.

Conclusion

Additional court action may be required to establish a stable legal and policy basis for supervised injection facilities in Canada.
Visceral fat accumulation and metabolic syndrome in children: the impact of Trp64Arg polymorphism of the beta3‐adrenergic receptor gene
Authors: Oguri Kazuo , Tachi Toshiki , Matsuoka Toshio
Published: January 2013

Aim

To investigate the association between Trp64Arg polymorphism of the beta3‐adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) gene and total fat mass, abdominal fat distribution, other metabolic derangements and metabolic syndrome (MS) in Japanese children.

Methods

Molecular screening of the ADRB3 gene polymorphism (Trp64Trp, Trp64Arg and Arg64Arg) was carried out in 132 children aged 6–12 years: 73 were obese (45 boys) and 59 were not obese (27 boys). Visceral fat (VF) and subcutaneous fat (SF) area were measured using magnetic resonance imaging, blood pressure, lipid and glucose profiles.

Results

The frequencies of Arg carriers (Trp64Arg or Arg64Arg) were significantly higher in obese children with MS, compared to obese children without MS and nonobese children. In obese children, Arg carriers had significantly higher VF area, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride than Arg noncarriers (Trp64Trp). However, there were no differences in total fat mass and SF area between the two groups. In nonobese children, none of these parameters differed significantly between Arg carriers and noncarriers.

Conclusion

Trp64Arg polymorphism of the ADRB3 gene may affect VF accumulation and be associated with MS, a cluster of conditions involving aggravated lipid metabolism and higher blood pressure, in Japanese children.
Is impulsivity a common trait in bipolar and unipolar disorders?
Authors: Henna Elaine , Hatch John P , Nicoletti Mark , Swann Alan C , Zunta‐Soares Giovana , Soares Jair C
Published: January 2013

Henna E, Hatch JP, Nicoletti M, Swann AC, Zunta‐Soares G, Soares JC. Is impulsivity a common trait in bipolar and unipolar disorders?  Bipolar Disord 2013: 00: 000–000. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Objectives:  Impulsivity is increased in bipolar and unipolar disorders during episodes and is associated with substance abuse disorders and suicide risk. Impulsivity between episodes predisposes to relapses and poor therapeutic compliance. However, there is little information about impulsivity during euthymia in mood disorders. We sought to investigate trait impulsivity in euthymic bipolar and unipolar disorder patients, comparing them to healthy individuals and unaffected relatives of bipolar disorder patients.

Methods:  Impulsivity was evaluated by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS‐11A) in 54 bipolar disorder patients, 25 unipolar disorder patients, 136 healthy volunteers, and 14 unaffected relatives. The BIS‐11A mean scores for all four groups were compared through the Games–Howell test for all possible pairwise combinations. Additionally, we compared impulsivity in bipolar and unipolar disorder patients with and without a history of suicide attempt and substance abuse disorder.

Results:  Bipolar and unipolar disorder patients scored significantly higher than the healthy controls and unaffected relatives on all measures of the BIS‐11A except for attentional impulsivity. On the attentional impulsivity measures there were no differences among the unaffected relatives and the bipolar and unipolar disorder groups, but all three of these groups scored higher than the healthy participant group. There was no difference in impulsivity between bipolar and unipolar disorder subjects with and without suicide attempt. However, impulsivity was higher among bipolar and unipolar disorder subjects with past substance use disorder compared to patients without such a history.

Conclusions:  Questionnaire‐measured impulsivity appears to be relatively independent of mood state in bipolar and unipolar disorder patients; it remains elevated in euthymia and is higher in individuals with past substance abuse. Elevated attentional and lower non‐planning impulsivity in unaffected relatives of bipolar disorder patients distinguished them from healthy participants, suggesting that increased attentional impulsivity may predispose to development of affective disorders, while reduced attentional impulsivity may be protective.