bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimizing human‐robot teleoperation interfaces for mobile manipulators
Authors: Will Jeffrey D. , Moore Kevin L. , Lynn Ian K. 
Published: April 2013

PurposeMobile manipulators offer great capability, but their teleoperation is often an overwhelming task for humans due to the many degrees‐of‐freedom of control available from both the mobile platform and the associated manipulator. The purpose of this paper is to address the question of how these controls should be mapped to the robotic mobile platform and its manipulator for “optimal teleoperation”, for the special case of an omnidirectional mobile platform and two joint (with wrist) planar manipulator.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the authors summarize the results of a study to optimize the teleoperation interface for a two‐link planar manipulator with a wrist that was mounted on an omni‐directional mobile platform.FindingsThe research comprised a carefully‐controlled study using 33 human subjects in seven different treatments of possible control interfaces.Research limitations/implicationsUsers performed movement and manipulation tasks, and their performance was measured on several scales.Practical implicationsBased on this study, the authors present guidelines for optimizing mobile manipulator control interfaces and motivate future research using the method of controlled multi‐user trials.Social implicationsThis research has the potential to guide the improvement of interfaces for mobile robots in military, service, and security applications.Originality/valueThe value of this research extends to optimizing remote control schemes to relieve operator fatigue and optimize interface design.
A new era of development: the changing role and responsibility of business in developing countries
Authors: Lenssen Joris‐Johann , Van Wassenhove Luk N. 
Published: April 2013

PurposeA new era for development is needed and business needs to play a significant role in this era. This paper aims to provide insights into the necessary conditions for such a new era of development and specifically the potential contribution of business and academia.Design/methodology/approachThis explorative study is based on expert interviews and the summary of the discussion of the EABIS Colloquium 2011 (“Corporate Responsibility and Developing Countries”).FindingsInnovative companies are moving from building “shareholder value” to “shared value” for all stakeholders; from “quarterly capitalism” to “long‐term capitalism”. They are also providing resources, open access systems and capital to entrepreneurs and communities to support technology and knowledge transfers. Companies that integrate future development concerns into their business model will be ideally placed to secure long‐term licences to operate, develop loyal new consumer bases, and innovate in new market segments.Research limitations/implicationsThe methodology only allows preliminary findings for now. More research (also on the ground) will be needed to identify the necessary strategies business has to adopt to play a potent role in a new era for development.Originality/valueThe paper is based on a rich set of data and combines these findings with the thinking of the EABIS Colloquium 2011. It can be the basis for future research.
Corporate philanthropy in Russia: evidence from a national awards competition
Authors: Blagov Yury , Petrova‐Savchenko Anastasia 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to examine how companies officially recognized in Russia as corporate philanthropy leaders actually introduce, implement, and evaluate philanthropic activities. Focusing on the connections between these activities and corporate strategy, the paper seeks to investigate the main trends in corporate philanthropy development over the period 2007‐2010, assuming that corporate philanthropy is an integral part of corporate social performance.Design/methodology/approachA theoretical framework is based on the recognition of “strategic” philanthropy as a part as well as the main trend in current philanthropic activities of leading companies. The analysis as such is settled on survey data collected from participants in the national “Corporate Philanthropy Leaders” award competition conducted by the Russian business newspaper Vedomosti, PwC, and the non‐profit grant‐making organization “Donors Forum” from 2008 to 2011.FindingsThe results testify to strengthening connections between corporate philanthropy and corporate strategy, enhancing the strategic nature of philanthropy as such. Here the responding companies significantly diversified the directions of their philanthropic activities, whereas the distribution of corporate philanthropy by form showed a high stability that was practically unaffected by the economic crisis of 2008‐2009. A common practice is the professionalization of managing corporate philanthropy, with a growing role for CSR departments.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses on the activities of leading Russian companies participating in the national “Corporate Philanthropy Leaders” award competition, thereby restricting the analysis of non‐participants. Moreover, the evolution of competition surveys and their methodology as well as relatively low repetition of participants also restrict the degree of generalization. Future research could be based on the findings of this study to create hypotheses to be tested on a broader sample of Russian companies.Originality/valueThe majority of studies of corporate philanthropy in Russia are still covering the necessity of corporate philanthropy for resolving societal problems and describing particular “best practice” cases rather than analyzing the relation of corporate philanthropy to the whole system of CSP and its strategic applications. This study aims to address this gap by focusing on corporate philanthropy leaders as a first step to broad nationwide research.
Corporate governance and corporate finance practices in a Kuwait Stock Exchange market listed firm: a survey to confront theory with practice
Authors: Al Mutairi Mohammad , Tian Gary , Hasan Helen , Tan Andrew 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the issue of corporate governance mechanisms by including the importance of stakeholders, primary objectives of the firm and the ownership of top financial managers of listed firms in Kuwait in the survey tool. It attempts to investigate whether theory aligns with the behaviour of financial managers in practice in an emerging market case.Design/methodology/approachA survey was developed to focus primarily on the current corporate finance practices implemented by CFOs in listed companies in Kuwait. The target respondents are listed firms in the Kuwaiti Stock Exchange (KSE). The survey includes questions on topics that are closely related to capital budgeting, capital structure, cost of capital and dividend policy. For example, the survey asks the managers how they estimate their cost of equity (CAPM or other methods) and whether the impact of the weighted average cost of equity is taken into consideration in their capital structure choices.FindingsA surprising number of firms are now widely using IRR for decision making. CAPM is also in use, whereas WACC remains the most popular method used. There is some support for the “bird‐in‐hand” dividend theory in the tax‐free environment. Firms in Kuwait do not have any particular source of capital structure choices when it comes to how best to finance their projects as is the case in the US market. Firms in Kuwait are consciously striving for maximizing profits and those managers are regarded as their most important stakeholders. This may indicate the existence of agency problems.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of this study lies in the absence of empirical investigation on how corporate finance decisions may affect firms' performance in Kuwait. Hence, empirical validation will be performed by the authors in the next stage of this research, which will form the basis for further research. Empirical validation for the impact of corporate governance on performance is needed.Practical implicationsThis research may benefit managers and decision makers in many aspects, including having an understanding of applying popular and the most suitable corporate finance and corporate governance techniques in the management of their companies. In this research, the authors have identified the gap between practice and academia.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to examine comprehensively major areas of financial policies and practices and corporate governance in an emerging market case, especially in the Middle East. Kuwait provides a unique institutional setting in its taxation system. Therefore, this study will make a contribution to the general literature in this field.
Effects of corporate governance on capital structure: empirical evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Ahmed Sheikh Nadeem , Wang Zongjun 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe aim of this empirical study is to investigate whether corporate governance attributes such as board size, outside directors, ownership concentration, managerial ownership, director remuneration, and CEO duality affect capital structure choices of Pakistani firms.Design/methodology/approachMultiple regression analysis is used to estimate the relationship between corporate governance measures and capital structure of non‐financial firms listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange, Pakistan, during 2004‐2008.FindingsThe results suggest that board size, outside directors, and ownership concentration are positively related to the total debt ratio and the long‐term debt ratio, whereas director remuneration is negatively related. Managerial ownership is negatively related to the long‐term debt ratio. CEO duality is found to be highly insignificant in all regressions. Control variables such as profitability and liquidity are negatively related to the total debt ratio and the long‐term debt ratio, whereas firm size is positively related. Asset tangibility is positively related to the long‐term debt ratio and negatively related to the total debt ratio. Although Pakistani firms have weak internal and external corporate governance mechanisms compared to firms in developed countries, the empirical findings suggest that corporate governance attributes in part explicate the financing behavior of Pakistani firms.Practical implicationsThe empirical results of this study provide support to corporate managers in establishing an optimal capital structure, and to regulatory authorities for enacting laws and developing institutional support to make corporate governance mechanisms work more effectively in the country.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the literature by illuminating the significant links between some corporate governance measures and capital structure choices of firms in Pakistan.
Corporate governance in Islamic financial institutions: the issues surrounding unrestricted investment account holders
Authors: Magalhães Rodrigo , Al‐Saad Shereen 
Published: April 2013

PurposeIt has been observed that the practices of corporate governance in Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) do not sufficiently address the rights of unrestricted investment account holders (UIAHs). Given that such account holders are generally the ones who bear the risk of the performance of the investment pool, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between corporate governance practice and the safeguarding of the interests of UIAHs as major stakeholders.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research methodology is applied to a sample of 16 managers from 12 Islamic financial institutions from Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE and Malaysia. A theoretical model built around the GC principles featured in the King report underpins the research design.FindingsThe findings reveal that the current practices implemented by IFIs in protecting the rights of UIAHs are not effective enough, in the light of standard corporate governance principles. It was also found that lack of responsibility, accountability and independence in decision making, as corporate governance principles, is contributing to the ineffectiveness of current practices in the investigated IFIs.Research limitations/implicationsThe major limitation of the research is the small size of the sample used. Hence, the work reported here must be considered as exploratory and a further study employing a larger sample is recommended as future research.Practical implicationsA number of recommendations for corporate governance practice in IFIs aimed at the unique relationship between IFIs and UIAHs are put forward.Originality/valueThe originality and the value of this paper rest on its topic which, to the best of the researchers' knowledge, has not been investigated empirically before. Hence, the authors believe it will be of value not only to academics but mostly to practitioners in IFIs.
Pre‐stem cell formation by non‐plateletRNA‐containing particle fusion
Authors: Kong Wuyi , Nuo Mu , Zhu Xiao Ping , Han Xiu Juan , Luo Lihua , Wang Xian 
Published: April 2013

SummaryWe found a group of non‐plateletRNA‐containing particles (NPRCP) in human umbilical cord blood. To understand the origin, characterization and differentiation ofNPRCP, we examined cord blood‐isolatedNPRCPin vitro.TheNPRCPrange in size from < 1 to 5 μm, have a thin bilayer membrane and various morphological features, contain shortRNAand microRNAand express octamer‐binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), sex‐determining region Y 2 (SOX2) andDEADbox polypeptide 4 (DDX4). On coculture with nucleated cells from umbilical cord blood,NPRCPfuse to small, active, non‐nucleated cells called ‘particle fusion‐derived non‐nucleated cells’ (PFDNC). ThePFDNCare approximately 8 μm in diameter and are characterized by their twisting movement in culture plates. They can easily move into and out of nucleated cells and finally differentiate into mesenchymal‐like cells. In addition, the larger non‐nucleated cellular structures that are derived from the aggregation and fusion of multipleNPRCPcan further differentiate into large stem cells that also releaseOCT4‐ andSOX2‐positive non‐nucleated small cells.Our data provide strong evidence thatNPRCPcan fuse intoPFDNC, which further differentiate into mesenchymal‐like cells. MultipleNPRCPalso fuse into other types of large stem cells. We believe that stem cells are derived fromNPRCPfusion. There is considerable potential for the use ofNPRCPin clinical therapy.
Seed longevity and fire: post‐germination responses of Rumex acetosella L. in northwest Patagonian grasslands (Argentina)
Authors: Franzese Jorgelina , Ghermandi Luciana 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe cosmopolitan herb Rumex acetosella forms persistent soil seed banks and increases in cover after fire. We investigated how the interaction between seed age and fire affects seedling growth by exposing different‐aged seeds to heat, smoke, charcoal, and ash treatments. We measured growth of germinated seedlings that were transplanted and allowed to grow for 65 days in a greenhouse. Seedlings from seeds >8 years old did not reach an appropriate radicle length for transplantation. Seedling growth decreased with increasing temperature of the heat treatment. As seed age increased, growth decreased with smoke and charcoal, and increased with ash treatment. Height was negatively correlated with seed age. Our results suggest that fire and seed age could affect demographic responses of R. acetosella seedling populations. Post‐fire recruitment could be partially favored by the positive effect of nutrient input from ash on seedling growth. High fire intensities, however, would be detrimental to seedling vigor.
Dioecy derived from distyly and pollination in Psychotria rubra (Rubiaceae) occurring in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan
Authors: Watanabe Kenta , Shimizu Akira , Sugawara Takashi 
Published: April 2013

AbstractFloral morphology and breeding system were examined in natural populations of Psychotria rubra (Rubiaceae) occurring in the Ryukyu Islands in southwest Japan. This species is morphologically dimorphic with long‐ and short‐styled morphs; however, these morphs are functionally dioecious. All long‐styled morphs set fruits, but their short anthers completely lack pollen grains; thus, they function as pistillate flowers. Alternately, short‐styled morphs usually have fertile pollen and never set fruit, whether after open or obligate pollinations; thus, they function as staminate flowers. However, some short‐styled morphs in Mounts Katsuu‐dake and Oppa‐dake populations have no fertile pollens. No fruit was obtained from bagging experiments, indicating that P. rubra requires pollinators for its reproduction. In our pollinator observations, flies and short‐tongued wasps were the main visitors of the flowers of P. rubra. Thus, these insects are probably effective pollinators for P. rubra in the Ryukyu Islands. Considering the morphological features, the dioecy found in P. rubra is probably derived from distyly; however, no sufficient evidence is available showing that dioecy has evolved “directly” from distyly.
Preference Mapping of Frozen and Fresh Raspberries
Authors: Villamor R. R. , Daniels C. H. , Moore P. P. , Ross C. F. 
Published: April 2013

Abstract The purpose of the study was to identify key sensory attributes that influence consumer liking for frozen and fresh red raspberries using preference mapping. Sensory profiling of different raspberry cultivars and selections from the Washington State Univ. and Oregon State Univ. breeding programs was carried out using a trained panel (frozen, n = 12 and fresh, n = 10). In addition, a subset of frozen and fresh raspberries of each cultivar was assessed by consumers for sensory acceptability (n = 105 and n = 100, respectively). Based on overall hedonic ratings, cluster analysis identified 3 clusters of frozen raspberry consumers from day 1 (41% “nondistinguishers,” 34% “likers,” and 25% “nonlikers”) and day 2 (41% “group 1 likers,” 26% “nonlikers,” and 34% and 33% group 2 likers”). For fresh raspberry consumers, 2 clusters were detected from day 1 (54% “likers” and 46% nondistinguishers”) and day 2 (54% “group 1 likers” and 46% “group 2 likers”). Preference mapping was applied on the descriptive sensory and acceptability of clustered consumer data. Partial least squares regression results showed that liking of frozen raspberries was driven by high raspberry flavor, firmness, and sweetness. Conversely, disliking of frozen raspberries was related to high sour and aftertaste intensity. In the case of fresh raspberries, high color uniformity, raspberry aroma, raspberry flavor, floral aroma, green flavor, bitter, astringency, and aftertaste increased the acceptability, whereas high color intensity and green aroma were associated with negative drivers of liking. The information obtained in this study can be a useful guide for breeders in the selection of characteristics for growing superior quality raspberries.
Identification and Efficient Estimation of the Natural Direct Effect among the Untreated
Authors: Lendle Samuel D. , Subbaraman Meenakshi S. , van der Laan Mark J. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractSummaryThe natural direct effect (NDE), or the effect of an exposure on an outcome if an intermediate variable was set to the level it would have been in the absence of the exposure, is often of interest to investigators. In general, the statistical parameter associated with the NDE is difficult to estimate in the non‐parametric model, particularly when the intermediate variable is continuous or high dimensional. In this article, we introduce a new causal parameter called the natural direct effect among the untreated, discus identifiability assumptions, propose a sensitivity analysis for some of the assumptions, and show that this new parameter is equivalent to the NDE in a randomized controlled trial. We also present a targeted minimum loss estimator (TMLE), a locally efficient, double robust substitution estimator for the statistical parameter associated with this causal parameter. The TMLE can be applied to problems with continuous and high dimensional intermediate variables, and can be used to estimate the NDE in a randomized controlled trial with such data. Additionally, we define and discuss the estimation of three related causal parameters: the natural direct effect among the treated, the indirect effect among the untreated and the indirect effect among the treated.
Quantitative evaluation of oral function in acute and recovery phase of idiopathic facial palsy; a preliminary controlled study
Authors: Kato Y. , Kamo H. , Kobayashi A. , Abe S. , Okada‐Ogawa A. , Noma N. , Kukimoto N. , Omori H. , Nakazato H. , Kishi H. , Ikeda M. , Imamura Y. 
Published: April 2013

ObjectivesPatients with peripheral facial palsy frequently complain of fluid leakage and food retention during meals. We investigated oral function during eating in adults with peripheral facial palsy.DesignA prospective two‐phase controlled observational study.SettingData were collected at the ENT clinic in Nihon University Itabashi Hospital (patients) and Nihon University Dental Hospital (controls) between September 2009 and August 2011 and analysed at the Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences in Nihon University School of Dentistry.ParticipantsFourteen patients with acute idiopathic facial palsy and 14 controls completed Study 1. Sixteen patients with acute idiopathic facial palsy and 16 controls completed Study 2.Main outcome measuresIn Study 1, oral vestibular cleansing capability was assessed by measuring the amount of rice remaining in the oral vestibule after mastication. In Study 2, masticatory efficiency was evaluated by measuring glucose eluted from gummy jelly during chewing. These oral functions were observed at the first visit and final visit (after patients with facial palsy had recovered).ResultsOral vestibular cleansing capability at the first visit was significantly decreased by facial palsy (P < 0.001 versus healthy volunteers and P < 0.001 versus contralateral side) but recovered as facial muscular function improved (P = 0.034). There was a significant correlation between improvement in paralysis and decreased food retention (r = −0.528, P = 0.010). At the first visit, masticatory efficiency on the affected side was significantly lower than that of controls (P = 0.002) but had mostly recovered after resolution of facial palsy (P = 0.033).ConclusionsOral functions were decreased by peripheral facial palsy. Oral vestibular cleansing capability was more significantly associated than masticatory efficiency with facial muscle function. Our data suggest that peripheral facial palsy impairs eating and worsens oral hygiene, which may result in oral disease.