bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Business environmental performance measurement
Authors: James Peter
Published: February 2007

Organisations face increasing demands to measure their environmental performance. This is necessary in order to achieve sustainable development to reassure financial stakeholders that their investments are not at risk, to satisfy the demands of regulators and other non‐financial stakeholders and to provide information for customers and employees. Measures can be grouped into ten generic categories ‐ impact, risk, emissions /waste, input, resource, efficiency, customer, financial, normalised and aggregate. At least six different approaches to using measures can be identified ‐ production, auditing, ecological, accounting, economic and quality. Although there has been some limited cross‐fertilisation, in most cases they have developed in isolation from each other and have had different drivers, measurement focii and metrics. In order to achieve the comparison, integration and business relevance which is routine in financial performance measurement, a seventh approach ‐ that of strategic environment‐related performance measurement ‐ is both needed and beginning to develop. The long term challenge is to stretch measurement systems to include the sustainability of business activities (through impact measures) and the competitive advantage they are creating (through customer and financial measures). A ‘balanced scorecard’ of measures is essential too, as is clear identification of the customers of the measures. The comparison which is facilitated by standardised measurement is also a powerful spur to continuous improvement of environmental performance.
Can transnational aluminium producers be ecologically sustainable? A case study of Jamaica's bauxite/alumina industry
Authors: Ruud Audun
Published: February 2007

The purpose of this paper is to discuss whether the transnational aluminium corporations currently involved in Jamaica's bauxite/alumina industry are promoting an ecologically sustainable industrial development (ESID). ESID is defined as those patterns of industrialisation that enhance economic and social benefits for present and future generations without impairing basic ecological processes. This discussion will be pursued by comparing actual industrial performance against three proposed conditions that this pattern of industrialisation must satisfy if it is to be deemed ecologically sustainable: (1) It must minimise the degradation of the environment, (2) it must make the most efficient use of man‐made and natural capital and (3) it must promote equity. These criteria are applied to two major environmental problems related to bauxite mining and storage of hazardous bauxite waste; rehabilitation of mined out bauxite fields and storage of hazardous bauxite residue.

My findings indicate that the current activities of Jamaican bauxite/alumina production to a certain extent can be characterised as ecologically sound, insofar as the biosphere is not severely degraded. This is due to several measures initiated both to prevent environmental degradation as well as enhancing a more efficient use of production inputs. To be deemed ecologically sustainable, however, the industrial activity must also in accordance with the proposed criteria, promote equity. Regardless of extensive corporate initiatives beyond regulatory compliance, a significant share of Jamaica's potentially productive lands remains destroyed and/or occupied. Thus, 1 question whether the present pattern of Jamaican bauxite/alumina production can be characterised as ecologically sustainable.
Corporate environmental marketing: An environmental marketing action model
Authors: Suchard Hazel T. , Suchard Jo‐Ann C.
Published: February 2007

A model of environmental marketing action and success is proposed, which includes a range of variables and examines the relationship between them. Environmental success is partly determined by the level of Environmental Marketing Action which varies between level 0 and level 8 and which directly determines the extent of environmental marketing success. Perceptions of environmental consciousness, the subjective norm and net total risk determine the level of environmental marketing action. Beliefs with regard to stakeholders and events and the motivation to comply with these beliefs combine to form the subjective norm.
Environmental strategies in the paint and coatings industry
Authors: Meredith Sandra , Wolters Teun
Published: February 2007

In general, a proactive strategy entails an anticipatory approach to problems. It is also associated with taking the initiative and doing more than is strictly needed. The nature of proactivity that businesses may display with respect to the environment is considered and also its meaning in terms of strategic behaviour and technological development. A conceptual framework is developed that differentiates between types of proactive strategies. This framework is based on a study of the paint and coatings industry in Great Britain and the Netherlands and is applicable to both countries. Even though the big international paint companies play a decisive role in the development and introduction of cleaner technologies, it is argued that the small‐ and medium‐sized paint companies deserve special attention. Not only is proactive behaviour by the big companies important, but also proactive strategies by the small‐ and medium‐sized companies, even if they are limited in scope, because the latter determine at national and local levels the pace and nature of the transformation that has to take place to produce a sustainable economy. This process is crucial to ecological modernization if it is intended not only to get rid of old‐fashioned ways, but also to create new opportunities for economic upgrading and rejuvenation.
Development and results of research on environmental management in Germany
Authors: Conrad Jobst
Published: February 2007

This paper aims to outline three main dimensions of environmental management research in Germany as an exemplary case of the growing importance and development of ecologically oriented management in Western societies in general: (1) to describe the development and the main features of this research; (2) to summarize the results obtained so far (1992–1993); and (3) to assess both its development and results from the point of view of its broader social context. This should allow the reader to draw his/her own conclusions on the position and perspective of environmental management (research) in his/her own country. In this paper, environmental management refers to environmentally oriented management of and in (business) organizations in general, and not just to specific substantive environmental practices.
Supporting decision‐making for recycling‐based investments
Authors: Noci Giuliano
Published: February 2007

The increasing demand for environmentally friendly products and the introduction of tougher environmental laws have encouraged firms to consider the adoption of recycling issues as one of the most effective solutions for reducing their impact on the environment. Unfortunately, many companies delegate decision‐making on recycling issues at an operational level. This attitude presents some problems as it could lead companies to neglect many effects resulting from the adoption of recycling‐based investments. The objective of this paper is to suggest a conceptual model aimed at supporting managers in the integration of recycling issues into the overall process of strategy formation; in particular, the designed approach is divided into two main phases: the identification of the main recycling‐based programmes and the definition of a framework, based on both physical and accounting measures, aimed at assessing the effectiveness of different recycling initiatives according to the main priorities of the decision‐maker.
Not paying for our past: Government, business and the debate on contaminated land in the UK
Authors: Maltby Josephine
Published: February 2007

It is difficult to overemphasize the extent to which battles over the availability of information played a fundamental role in environmental controversy (Hays, 1987: 537).

Since the 1990 Environmental Protection Act, there has been controversy in the UK about the extent to which businesses should be required to identify and clean up contaminated land. This paper examines the controversy in the context of wider debates about the function of corporate social reporting.
Western support for cleaner production in central and eastern European industry
Authors: Rodhe Håkan , Strahl Joseph
Published: February 2007

This paper advocates a greater emphasis on preventive environmental measures when supporting CEE industry. Experience from projects carried out so far show that cleaner production deserves a high priority. The implementation of good housekeeping measures, at no or low cost, have brought about reductions of pollution and resource use in the order of 15–25%, thereby also improving production efficiency. Despite the cost effectiveness and other apparent advantages of a cleaner production strategy the Western actors are slow to grasp this opportunity. CEE industry, on the other hand, has unrealistic hopes for direct financial support for new technology and are less interested in gradual improvements of their process efficiency by a combination of technical and managerial measures. The introduction of preventive environmental strategies at an early stage of the reconstruction of CEE industry could be seen as a competitive advantage in the long run.
From greening to sustaining: Transformational challenges for the firm – a case study of pollution abatement from tanneries in Kasur, Pakistan
Authors: Khan Jawed Ali
Published: February 2007

This case study of tanneries in Kasur presents an account of industrial transformation of an agrarian society in a developing country, Pakistan, with its effects, efforts to rehabilitate and the difficulties faced in abatement of pollution. The research attempts to respond to the question of the social and economic cost of achieving pollution abatement in Kasur and develop a viable model. The research methods adopted include reviews of secondary data, personal interview and sample survey of tanneries in the study area. The results reveal how people have grappled with the problem of pollution abatement from the tanneries in Kasur and in creating decisive awareness at the local, national and international levels. The transformation of the city from a commercial centre to a semi‐industrial tanning centre has led to a loss of 30% cultivable area due to contamination. It is reported that crop yield has dropped by 50% over the past 10 years. The total loss of agricultural income is estimated to be $450 thousand US per annum. The environmental impact of tanneries is highly pronounced in the urban areas around the leather tanning industrial units.

Strong protest by the affected population has to some extent forced industrialists to rehabilitate the environment. NGO and the Government are also contributing to this effort. The case study of Kasur presents an example of the community's efforts to mobilize its local, financial and political resources to overcome the environmental hazards, with the associated problems and dilemmas.
A policy proposal for natural resource management in the rainforest of Madre de Dios, Peru: The concession system and land tenure reform
Authors: Shoobridge Diego
Published: February 2007

Madre de Dios in south‐eastern Peru, like other tropical regions, faces important threats that are resulting in a loss of forest resources. The predominant types of land tenure in the rural zones of Madre de Dios are mining, agricultural and forestry concessions of land given by each Ministry to the settlers. Concessionaires fail to act as owners, because concession contracts do not guarantee secure property rights. Short‐term non‐sustainable land uses are favored over sustained management practices. The way in which people use the natural resources depends upon the allocation of rights over those resources. Considering communal property as a policy proposal: a system of land tenure which does not facilitate legal titling of the lands occupied by settlers and loggers will continue to hinder the possibility of developing sustainable long‐term management strategies. In this article, the main proposal for a policy reform is that the land tenure system of concessions currently employed by the Peruvian government must be replaced with the assignment of legal communal land titles to the settlers' communities (not to isolated individuals) who are currently occupying forest lands in the region. The communal land titles would create an incentive for privately motivated group management of the forests, which could help reverse some of the wasteful and indiscriminate uses of land currently government‐owned.
Crisis and opportunity: The political economy of the stora mill closure controversy in Nova Scotia
Authors: Clancy Peter , Sandberg L. Anders
Published: February 2007

In 1993, the Swedish multinational Stora Kopparberg announced that its pulp and paper complex at Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, was under review. The firm, which has operated on the site for more than 30 years, raised the possibility that the entire complex could be closed as a result of this review. The decision on the future of the plant has since been postponed, though not before precipitating a prolonged debate on appropriate public responses. The case is complicated by the ‘orphan’ character of the Nova Scotia subsidiary, operating on a small scale and at the periphery of a burgeoning business complex centred increasingly in Europe. Overall it raises important questions about the role of state policy interventions, at both the national and provincial levels in Canada, in shaping the firm's operating environment. The paper situates the Stora subsidiary in a local, national and international context, reviewing a range of factors which shape its strategic commitment to Nova Scotia. It also explores the political initiatives which have been mounted since 1993 to secure a renewed corporate commitment. By tracing the evolution of the Nova Scotia mill, and situating it within Stora's international business strategy, both the closure question and the political prospects for renewal can be more sharply understood.
Multivariate analysis in reaction mechanism studies
Authors: Leeson Frederick , Lundstedt Torbjörn , Lejon Tore
Published: February 2007

It has been demonstrated that it is possible, by applying statistical methods to a relatively simple factorial design, to resolve complex multi‐products systems in an efficient manner. Such a design is shown to permit selection of worthwhile synthetic candidates as well as determining, with the minimum use of resources, which products are not optimisable in the synthetic system concerned. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Logistic mixture model versus Arrhenius for kinetic study of material degradation by dynamic thermogravimetric analysis
Authors: Naya Salvador , Cao Ricardo , de Ullibarri Ignacio López , Artiaga Ramón , Barbadillo Fernando , García Ana
Published: February 2007

In this work, an alternative method to the Arrhenius equation for thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is presented. It is based in performing a logistic regression of the raw TGA data. This model assumes that more than one physical process may be involved in each mass loss step and that each physical process may extend along all the experiment. The logistic mixture obtained explains the complete TGA trace, including as many mass loss steps as the experiment has. The typical asymptotic tendency of the mass loss steps is perfectly reproduced by the model. A discussion of the model from the statistical point of view is presented as well as a comparison with other classical models. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Natural duality in minimal constrained self modeling curve resolution
Authors: Rajkó Róbert
Published: February 2007

Self modeling curve resolution (SMCR) was introduced by Lawton and Sylvestre (LS) [Technometrics 1971; 13: 617–633] to decompose raw spectroscopic data of two component systems into product of two physically interpretable profile matrices provided that both concentrations and absorbances are non‐negative, accepting both as minimal constraints. Later Borgen et al. in 1985–86 [Anal. Chim. Acta 1985; 174: 1–26; Microchim. Acta 1986; 11: 63–73] generalized LS method for three‐component systems with the same minimal constraints. The concepts of Borgen were rather difficult to understand and to implement, that is why several chemometricians turned to developing approximation methods. Very recently, Rajkó and István [J. Chemom. 2005; 19: 448–463] have revisited Borgen's method and they have given clearer interpretation and used computational geometry tools to find inner and outer polygons. In the meantime Henry [Chemom. Intell. Lab. Syst. 2005; 77: 59–63] has introduced the duality relationship, but he has described it only for multivariate receptor modeling of compositional data of airborne pollution. Generalization of his duality principle will be given in this paper for universally using it in SMCR which is based on singular value decomposition (SVD) or principal component analysis (PCA). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of Electron Donors on the Radical Polymerization of Vinyl Acetate Mediated by [Co(acac)2]: Degenerative Transfer versus Reversible Homolytic Cleavage of an Organocobalt(III) Complex
Authors: Maria Sébastien , Kaneyoshi Hiromu , Matyjaszewski Krzysztof , Poli Rinaldo
Published: February 2007

The molecular structure of bis(acetylacetonate)cobalt(II) ([Co(acac)2]) in solution and in the presence of the electron donors (ED) pyridine (py), NEt3, and vinyl acetate (VOAc) was investigated using 1H NMR spectroscopy in C6D6. The extent of formation of ligand adducts, [Co(acac)2(ED)x], varies in the order py>NEt3>VOAc (no interaction). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations on a model system agree with CoED bond strengths decreasing in the same order. The effect of electron donors on the [Co(acac)2]‐mediated radical polymerization of VOAc was examined at 30 °C by the addition of excess py or NEt3 to the complex in the molar ratio [VOAc]0/[Co]0/[V‐70]0/[py or NEt3]0=500:1:1:30 (V‐70=2,2′‐azobis(4‐methoxy‐2,4‐dimethylvaleronitrile)). As previously reported by R. Jerome et al., the polymerization showed long induction periods in the absence of ED. However, a controlled polymerization without an induction period took place in the presence of ED, though the level of control was poorer. The effective polymerization rate decreased in the order py>NEt3. A similar behavior was found when these electron donors were added to an ongoing [Co(acac)2]‐mediated radical polymerization of VOAc. On the basis of the NMR and DFT studies, it is proposed that the polymerization is controlled by the reversible homolytic cleavage of an organocobalt(III) dormant species in the presence of ED. Conversely, the faster polymerization after the induction period in the absence of ED is due to a degenerative transfer process with the radicals produced by the continuous decomposition of the excess initiator. Complementary experiments provide additional results in agreement with this interpretation.
Comparative study between two laser scanning cytometers and epifluorescence microscopy for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in water
Authors: Montemayor Michel , Galofré Belén , Ribas Ferrán , Lucena Francisco
Published: February 2007

Background:

Cryptosporidium detection in water and environmental samples has increased during the last years, largely due to an increase in the number of reported waterborne outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis and the implementation of new regulations about Cryptosporidium monitoring in water supplies. The aim of this study was to validate and compare the capacity of two laser scanning cytometers commercially available (LSC® and ChemScanRDI®), against manual microscopic enumeration of Cryptosporidium oocysts in surface water and reference material samples.

Methods:

Reference material and surface water samples were analysed by two laser scanning cytometers methodologies and by manual epifluorescence microscopy. Two mAbs from commercial suppliers were used to evaluate background reduction.

Results:

Highly significant correlations were obtain between both cytometers (R2 = 0.99) and with manual microscopy (R2 = 0.98), showing that oocysts counts made by cytometers were equivalent to those obtained with conventional methods. We observed a variability in oocysts counts when different antibodies where used with laser scanning cytometers and manual microscopy.

Conclusions:

This study showed the efficacy of the laser scanning technology (LSC® and ChemScanRDI®), as an automated and a more standardized alternative to manual epifluorescence microscopy examination, for Cryptosporidium detection in water samples. High quality antibodies are needed for automated enumeration as well as for manual microscope observations. © 2007 International Society for Analytical Cytology
Quantum dots as alternatives to organic fluorophores for Cryptosporidium detection using conventional flow cytometry and specific monoclonal antibodies: Lessons learned
Authors: Ferrari B. C. , Bergquist P. L.
Published: February 2007

Background:

Significant developments in biological applications are occurring through the incorporation of Quantum Dots (QDs) as biological labels. The demonstration of QDs unique optical properties may have important implications for the study of environmental samples, where microorganisms of interest need to be isolated away from the background debris.

Methods:

Flow cytometric analysis was used to determine the fluorescence intensity of oocysts after mAb staining by QDs or organic fluorophore conjugates. In addition, the level of non‐specific binding to detrital particles within a control water concentrate was estimated using the optimal staining concentration determined for each mAb analyzed.

Results:

Under 488 nm excitation, oocysts stained with QD‐conjugates exhibited significantly lower fluorescence intensity than organic conjugates. Moreover, the level of non‐specific binding by QD‐conjugates to detrital particles present in the water concentrate was significantly higher that of the organic conjugates.

Conclusions:

While QDs are noted for their superior spectral characteristics, they have been shown here to be unsuitable for conventional flow cytometric detection of Cryptosporidium. Therefore, we conclude that in their current form, QD's are severely limited for fluorescent detection of pathogens in environmental applications. © 2007 International Society for Analytical Cytology
Dermal condensation formation in the chick embryo: Requirement for integrin engagement and subsequent stabilization by a possible Notch/integrin interaction
Authors: Michon Frederic , Charveron Marie , Dhouailly Danielle
Published: February 2007

During embryonic development, feathers appear first as primordia consisting of an epidermal placode associated with a dermal condensation. When 7‐day chick embryo dorsal skin fragments showing three rows of feather primordia are cultured, they undergo a complete reorganization, which involves the down‐regulation of morphogenetic genes and dispersal of dermal fibroblasts, leading to the disappearance of primordia. This loss of organisation is followed by de novo differentiation events. We have used this model to study potential factors involved in the formation of dermal condensations. Activation of Integrins by extracellular Manganese or intracellular Calcium prevents the initial disappearance of the dermal condensations. New primordia formation occurs even after inhibition of the Notch pathway albeit with some fusion between primordia. In conclusion, dermal fibroblast migration requires β1‐Integrin whereas the stability of dermal condensations could depend on Notch/Integrin interaction. Developmental Dynamics 236:755–768, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Developmental expression of FOG‐1/CPEB protein and its control in the Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodite germ line
Authors: Lamont Liana B. , Kimble Judith
Published: February 2007

The specification of a germ cell as sperm or oocyte and determination of cell number remain unsolved questions in developmental biology. This paper examines Caenorhabditis elegans FOG‐1, a CPEB‐related RNA‐binding protein that controls the sperm fate. We find that abundant FOG‐1 protein is observed transiently in germ cells just prior to their expression of an early sperm‐differentiation marker. As the germline tissue elongates, abundant FOG‐1 appears more and more distally as sperm become specified, but disappears when the germ line switches to oogenesis. This dynamic pattern is controlled by both globally acting and germline‐specific sex‐determining regulators. Importantly, the extent of FOG‐1 expression corresponds roughly to sperm number in wild‐type and mutants, altering sperm number. By contrast, three other key regulators of the sperm/oocyte decision do not similarly correspond to sperm number. We suggest that FOG‐1 is precisely modulated in both time and space to specify sperm fate and control sperm number. Developmental Dynamics 236:871–879, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genistein prevents thyroid hormone‐dependent tail regression of Rana catesbeiana tadpoles by targetting protein kinase C and thyroid hormone receptor α
Authors: Ji L. , Domanski D. , Skirrow R.C. , Helbing C.C.
Published: February 2007

Thyroid hormone (TH)‐regulated gene expression is mainly mediated by TH binding to nuclear thyroid hormone receptors (TRs). Despite extensive studies in mammalian cell lines that show that phosphorylation signaling pathways are important in TH action, little is known about their roles on TH signaling in vivo during development. Anuran metamorphosis is a postembryonic process that is absolutely dependent upon TH and tadpole tail resorption can be precociously induced by exogenous administration of 3,5,3′‐triiodothyronine (T3). We demonstrate that genistein (a major isoflavone in soy products and tyrosine kinase inhibitor) and the PKC inhibitor (H7) prevent T3‐induced regression of the Rana catesbeiana tadpole tail. T3‐induced protein kinase C tyrosine phosphorylation and kinase activity are inhibited by genistein while T3‐induced up‐regulation of TRβ mRNA, but not TRα mRNA, is significantly attenuated, most likely through inhibition of T3‐dependent phosphorylation of the TRα protein. This phosphorylation may be modulated through PKC. These data demonstrate that T3 signaling in the context of normal cells in vivo includes phosphorylation as an important factor in establishing T3‐dependent tail regression during development. Developmental Dynamics 236:777–790, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Environmental indices for France, Italy and the UK
Authors: Hope Chris , Parker Jonathan
Published: February 2007

To improve the information available to the public, it is important to bring environmental reports and statistics to life. Environmental indices can do this, just as indices of prices, unemployment and output do for the economy. Previous environmental indices for public information are reviewed and new environmental indices developed for France, Italy and the UK.
The missing dimension in EU environmental technology policy
Authors: Murphy Joseph , Gouldson Andrew
Published: February 2007

The European Union (EU) White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment assigns a central role to the development of environmental technology. The motives for such a position are both environmental and economic. To promote innovation and the development and diffusion of new environmental technologies, various EU policy statements have proposed the integration of aspects of technology and environmental policies. It is suggested here that although policy integration may be a necessary prerequisite for the enlargement of the environmental technology sector, as long as environmental and technology policies fail to address the intangible issues of internal corporate culture, both the scale and the composition of the response to policy are likely to be limited.
Reviewing the interim review
Authors: Turner Sharon , O'Shea John
Published: February 2007

In late 1994, with 18 months experience of implementing “Towards Sustainability”, the European Commission sought to review its progress in making the transition to sustainable development. Progress, however, has been both slow and uncertain. Sharon Turner and John O'Shea examine the approach taken in the Commission's Interim Review and suggest that there has been an unwillingness to openly and critically address the causes and degree of lack of progress at Community level.
Free trade and the environment in Central Europe
Authors: Bochniarz Zbigniew , Toft David
Published: February 2007

The state of the environment and the need for sustainable development strategies in Central Europe are discussed, with particular attention paid to the part that trade liberalization can play in this process. The Central European countries need more than an environmental policy similar to that in the West; new tools backed by solid institutional reforms are essential to building towards sustainable development. This policy should be characterized by at least two aspects:

It should be based on a wider coalition of internal and external actors and

It must reflect the historical processes taking place in the region, particularly democratization, restructuring, privatization and internationalization.

Trade liberalization, however, has not come without consequences. Although Western countries reap the benefits of liberalized access to Central Europe, the Central Europe countries do not enjoy full entry to Western markets yet.
Environmental information in policy design and enforcement: Water protection policy in Wallonia, Belgium
Authors: Gallez Caroline , Paras Sylvie
Published: February 2007

The formulation and implementation of legal or economic instruments in environmental policy is characterized by an enormous need for information. Although governments are able to collect data relating to the quality of ecological resources or the extent of environmental degradation, a significant amount of data must also be provided by the firms whose activities have an impact on the environment. However, the amount of data that is supplied spontaneously by companies is often limited. In Belgium, as in many other European countries, firms are nonetheless legally obliged to reveal some aspects of their environmental situation when they request licenses or are subject to environmental taxes. The information provided is likely to be valuable in the formulation of environmental policy as long as the data are readily available and reliable. The role of information provision is analysed in relation to the water protection policies of the Walloon Region, Belgium.
Challenges for environmental policy: Learning from front‐runners
Authors: Holm Jesper , Stauning Inger
Published: February 2007

Through case study analysis of best practice in environmental management, the prerequisites for innovation in the research, development and diffusion of clean technology and in the application of environmental management systems is highlighted. The implications of the case studies are drawn out, not only for the strategies of the companies themselves, but also for the networks of trading partners, competitors, economic development agencies and regulators that surround them. It is suggested that front‐runners in environmental management are often involved in co‐forming future standards. On the basis of the case study findings, recommendations for policy at a number of levels are put forward.
Enforcement of European union environmental legislation
Authors: Syngellakis Anna
Published: February 2007

Enforcement of European Union (EU) environmental legislation is pursued by the Commission and to some extent by citizens and environmental groups within an underdeveloped legal and institutional framework. However, Europeans actively support the protection of the environment, as recent protest events have demonstrated. The EU should redress its environmental deficit and provide its citizens with an effective environmental order in a participatory democratic system. This is a challenge the EU should meet in the interests of people, the environment and further European integration.
Participation in the EU eco‐management and audit scheme: An analysis of small‐and medium‐sized enterprises in Italy
Authors: Biondi Vittorio , Frey Marco
Published: February 2007

The EU Eco‐Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) reflects the increasing emphasis that is being given to voluntary environmental regulation. Although this approach is generally welcomed as a complement to command and control regulation, concerns remain about the level of voluntary participation. The findings are presented of a pilot study in Italy which sought to examine the prospects for EMAS in small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises in the chemical industry.
Northern Ireland's green economy: An examination of environmentally based employment opportunities
Authors: Eastwood David , Eaton Martin , Monds Fabian , Stark Tom
Published: February 2007

Environmentally based economic development and employment opportunities in Northern Ireland are identified and predicted over the medium term to the year 2000. The results show that in 1993 about 1.9% of the total Northern Ireland workforce (11 500 workers) was employed within a ‘green production sector’. Using an innovative economic modelling technique it is suggested that there are significant employment generation opportunities available and a total of up to 15 000 new jobs could be created in Northern Ireland's green economy by the turn of the century. Moreover, and on the basis of these findings, four recommendations are offered which could help maximize the employment potentials afforded by environmental activity.
European union air protection legislation: And is the Czech Republic ready?
Authors: Cole Janet
Published: February 2007

The possible expansion of the European Union (EU) is still high on the political agenda, with many of the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe seeking to gain membership. One such country is the Czech Republic. Full membership for the Czech Republic would require an alignment of domestic policies with those of the EU. This paper focuses on the policy area of the environment, paying particular attention to air protection. The way in which the Czech Republic is preparing to meet existing EU air protection requirements is explored in the light of possible membership. As all five EU Environmental Action Programmes have advocated the use of incentive‐based legislation in the future, the readiness, willingness and capability of the Czech Republic to accept legislation based on the use of economic instruments is investigated.
Strengthening EU environmental policy implementation by fine tuning
Authors: Van Muijen Marie‐Louise
Published: February 2007

One of the assumed strengths of the European Union (EU) is its legislative character. Although this has aided the development of environmental policy in the past, the EU has broadened its mix of instruments fundamentally since the Fifth Environmental Action Programme to include market‐based instruments, horizontal supporting instruments and financial support mechanisms alongside more traditional legislative instruments. The central thesis of this paper is that the use and effectiveness of these newly introduced instruments are primarily determined by and contingent on national factors. This means that the relationship between the characteristics of the instruments and the specific institutional context of the EU Member States influences the implementation of environmental aims. It is argued that the EU should anticipate this by facilitating the use of several instruments in changing combinations depending on, firstly, the nature of the environmental policy problem to be solved and, secondly, the policy styles of the Member States involved in that particular issue. The EU policy‐making process should therefore not only opt for specifying the ends to be achieved and laid down in directives but, through negotiation with the implementing agencies, also specify the best ways of reaching those ends. In that way the discrepancy between the formal compliance and the actual implementation of EU directives could be overcome.
Learning the hard way: The EC and the eco‐label
Authors: Mitchell Duncan
Published: February 2007

The Fifth Environmental Action Programme places great emphasis on the wider adoption of market mechanisms and the application of shared responsibility in environmental policy. The Eco‐label scheme appears to embody these principles and as a consequence has received considerable political support. However, the Eco‐label is now in disarray. Its evolution is traced and it is suggested that despite high levels of commitment to the Eco‐label, policymakers have been unable to address the seemingly intractable issues associated with its practical introduction.
Managing the environment in tourism regions: The case of the Canary Islands
Authors: Leon Carmelo , Gonzalez Matias
Published: February 2007

The relationships between environmental and economic systems in the Canary Islands have been conditioned by a development process based on the expansion of tourism. This paper focuses on the principal environmental problems resulting from the development process and how the local authorities are dealing with these problems. Environmental policy has been concentrated on managing land and water resources through direct regulation. Regulatory policy measures have not produced the expected results because their application has been uneven and incomplete. An attempt to introduce a systematic approach to environmental policy is the Environmental Action Plan 1995–2000. Although this plan has important advantages over the previous approach, it may fail because of the absence of a reliable system of quality indicators tpat would allow the objectives to be defined more precisely. A necessary condition for a sustainable development process would involve a substantial reduction in the dependency on exploiting natural resources to generate economic growth.
Drainage basin characteristics, their selection, derivation and analysis for a flood study of the British isles
Authors: Newson Malcolm D.
Published: February 2007

A large data bank of morphometric, cover and climatic data for over a thousand drainage basins of all sizes in the British Isles was set up by the N.E.R.C. Flood Study. The paper describes the selection of these ‘independent’ variables, their degree of correlation, their portrayal of regional variability in the British Isles and their success as predictors of flood variables. The internal adjustment of drainage basins is confirmed, as is the basic physical division of Britain.
The Green Treasure of the Pharaonic Physicians
Authors: Seifert Karlheinz
Published: February 2007

In ancient Egypt, medicinal plants played an important role in the treatment of illnesses. Present‐day laboratory investigations of the pharmacological properties of these plants are very enlightening – and not just for chemists
Mycorrhizal Fungi and the Cloud Forest
Authors: Kottke Ingrid , Nebel Martin
Published: February 2007

High biodiversity in the Andean Cloud Forest ecosystem is supported by the network of symbiotic fungi in the soil
Knowledge Transfer through Human Capital Mobility
Authors: Kleiner Matthias
Published: February 2007

The existing opportunities for exchanging research findings between university research labs and commercial R&D are in need of a boost
The Best Route to Obtaining New Knowledge
Authors: Bromme Rainer , Stahl Elmar
Published: February 2007

Learning online: How can students be helped practically in producing hypertext documents for web pages? Psychological studies reveal how to improve learning by using new media effectively
Beside the Cradle of Humanity
Authors: Schrenk Friedemann , Müller Stephanie
Published: February 2007

The roots of humanity are to be found in Africa. Fossils point the way to the forebears of modern man and his history – as shown by new excavations in Malawi
Injectable nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite paste for bone substitution: In vivo analysis of biocompatibility and vascularization
Authors: Laschke Matthias W. , Witt Kristina , Pohlemann Tim , Menger Michael D.
Published: February 2007

The nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite paste Ostim® represents a fully degradable synthetic bone substitute for the filling of bone defects. Herein, we investigated in vivo the inflammatory and angiogenic host tissue response to this biomaterial after implantation. For this purpose, Ostim was implanted into the dorsal skinfold chambers of Syrian golden hamsters. The hydroxyapatite ceramic Cerabone® and isogeneic transplanted cancellous bone served as controls. Angiogenesis, microhemodynamics, microvascular permeability, and leukocyte–endothelial cell interaction of the host tissue were analyzed over 2 weeks using intravital fluorescence microscopy. Ostim exhibited good biocompatibility comparable to that of Cerabone and cancellous bone, as indicated by a lack of venular leukocyte activation after implantation. Cancellous bone induced a more pronounced angiogenic response and an increased microvessel density when compared with the synthetic bone substitutes. In contrast to Cerabone, however, Ostim showed a guided neovascularization directed toward areas of degradation. Histology confirmed the ingrowth of proliferating vascularized tissue into the hydroxyapatite paste at sites of degradation, while the hydroxyapatite ceramic was not pierced by new microvessels. Thus, Ostim represents an injectable synthetic bone substitute, which may optimize the conditions for the formation of new bone at sites of bone defects by supporting a guided vascularization during biodegradation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 2007
Quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical simulations of the Tl(III) ion in water
Authors: Vchirawongkwin Viwat , Hofer Thomas S. , Randolf Bernhard R. , Rode Bernd M.
Published: February 2007

Classical molecular dynamics (MD) and combined quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) MD simulations have been performed to investigate the structural and dynamical properties of the Tl(III) ion in water. A six‐coordinate hydration structure with a maximum probability of the TlO distance at 2.21 Å was observed, which is in good agreement with X‐ray data. The librational and vibrational spectra of water molecules in the first hydration shell are blue‐shifted compared with those of pure liquid water, and the TlO stretching force constant was evaluated as 148 Nm−1. Both structural and dynamical properties show a distortion of the first solvation shell structure. The second shell ligands' mean residence time was determined as 12.8 ps. The Tl(III) ion can be classified as “structure forming” ion; the calculated hydration energy of −986 ± 9 kcal mol agrees well with the experimental value of −986 kcal mol. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2007
2D‐RNA‐coupling numbers: A new computational chemistry approach to link secondary structure topology with biological function
Authors: González‐díaz Humberto , Agüero‐chapin Guillermín , Varona Javier , Molina Reinaldo , Delogu Giovanna , Santana Lourdes , Uriarte Eugenio , Podda Gianni
Published: February 2007

Methods for prediction of proteins, DNA, or RNA function and mapping it onto sequence often rely on bioinformatics alignment approach instead of chemical structure. Consequently, it is interesting to develop computational chemistry approaches based on molecular descriptors. In this sense, many researchers used sequence‐coupling numbers and our group extended them to 2D proteins representations. However, no coupling numbers have been reported for 2D‐RNA topology graphs, which are highly branched and contain useful information. Here, we use a computational chemistry scheme: (a) transforming sequences into RNA secondary structures, (b) defining and calculating new 2D‐RNA‐coupling numbers, (c) seek a structure‐function model, and (d) map biological function onto the folded RNA. We studied as example 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidases known as ACO, which control fruit ripening having importance for biotechnology industry. First, we calculated τk(2D‐RNA) values to a set of 90‐folded RNAs, including 28 transcripts of ACO and control sequences. Afterwards, we compared the classification performance of 10 different classifiers implemented in the software WEKA. In particular, the logistic equation ACO = 23.8 · τ1(2D‐RNA) + 41.4 predicts ACOs with 98.9%, 98.0%, and 97.8% of accuracy in training, leave‐one‐out and 10‐fold cross‐validation, respectively. Afterwards, with this equation we predict ACO function to a sequence isolated in this work from Coffea arabica (GenBank accession DQ218452). The τ1(2D‐RNA) also favorably compare with other descriptors. This equation allows us to map the codification of ACO activity on different mRNA topology features. The present computational‐chemistry approach is general and could be extended to connect RNA secondary structure topology to other functions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2007
A comparative study of molecular dynamics in Cartesian and in internal coordinates: Dynamical instability in the latter caused by nonlinearity of the equations of motion
Authors: Lee Sang‐Ho , Palmo Kim , Krimm Samuel
Published: February 2007

The stability of a general molecular dynamics (MD) integration scheme is examined for simulations in generalized (internal plus external) coordinates (GCs). An analytic expression is derived for the local error in energy during each integration time step. This shows that the explicit dependence of the mass‐matrix on GCs, which makes the system's Lagrange equations of motion nonlinear, causes MD simulations in GCs to be less stable than those in Cartesian coordinates (CCs). In terms of CCs, the corresponding mass‐matrix depends only on atomic masses and thus atomistic motion is subject to the linear Newton equations, which makes the system more stable. Also investigated are two MD methods in GCs that utilize nonzero elements of the vibrational spectroscopic B‐matrices. One updates positions and velocities in GCs that are iteratively adjusted so as to conform to the velocity Verlet equivalent in GCs. The other updates positions in GCs and velocities in CCs that are adjusted to satisfy the internal constraints of the new constrained WIGGLE MD scheme. The proposed methods are applied to an isolated n‐octane molecule and their performances are compared with those of several CCMD schemes. The simulation results are found to be consistent with the analytic stability analysis. Finally, a method is presented for computing nonzero elements of B‐matrices for external rotations without imposing the Casimir–Eckart conditions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.J Comput Chem 2007