bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The US cap and trade initiative: current status and potential impact on business
Authors: McClain Bruce W. , Hylton Meier Heidi 
Published: April 2013

PurposeEven during these tough economic times the current administration has proposed to revive the US “Cap and Trade” initiative and to see it through to passage. Many in the public are not aware that the idea of cap and trade is not new as similar programs have been successfully used in the US and other countries to “wind down” environmentally damaging emissions. The aim of this paper is to explain cap and trade and to project what form current proposals could take.Design/methodology/approachThis paper explains cap and trade and goes on to project what form current proposals could take. It also examines the alternatives and the arguments both for and against cap and trade. Projected costs and benefits are examined, along with some examination of the actual mechanics by which the system is expected to operate.FindingsThe current US mood is that proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will be expensive and burdensome to businesses and consumers. In fact, this is what is preventing them from going forward. The consensus is now growing that in order to achieve the goals of cap and trade, proposals will have to be cost effective, expanded internationally, and include India, China and other emerging manufacturing economies. If this can be done, it appears that cap and trade will continue to be part of the landscape of US emission reductions, along with the use of alternative and other renewable energy resources.Originality/valueThe paper examines costs and benefits of cap and trade, along with some examination of the actual mechanics by which the system is expected to operate
Alliance portfolio R&D intensity and new product introduction
Authors: Caner Turanay , Tyler Beverly B. 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine whether alliance portfolio R&D intensity contributes to biopharmaceutical firms' number of new product approvals and whether alliance portfolio R&D intensity is more positively related to the number of new product approvals for pharmaceutical firms than for biotechnology firms.Design/methodology/approachThe paper employs a random effects Poisson regression model using panel data of 821 firm year observations for 146 biopharmaceutical firms operating in the USA. The robustness of results is also checked with additional analysis, provided in an appendix.FindingsThe results of this study show that the R&D intensity of firms' alliance portfolios is positively related to their new product introductions. It is also found that alliance portfolio R&D intensity has a more positive impact on the pharmaceutical segment of the industry's new product introductions than those of the biotechnology segment.Originality/valueThe authors develop and test theory about how the combined effects of two dimensions of alliance portfolio configuration (size and relationship strength) positively impact new product development. The authors propose a two dimensional alliance portfolio configuration measure, alliance portfolio R&D intensity. They combine the number of R&D alliances relative to the total number of alliances in the portfolio with the differential strength of ties associated with resource commitments required to source information from upstream and downstream alliances.
Human resource management practices in mid‐sized enterprises
Authors: McEvoy Glenn M. , Buller Paul F. 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the similarities and differences in human resource (HR) practices between large and mid‐sized organizations.Design/methodology/approachWith organization life cycle as the theoretical base, this study collects data on HR practices from a sample of mid‐sized firms in one western state and compares the results to a previously published study of HR practices in much larger firms. Mid‐sized firms are defined as having between 300 and 3,000 employees (mean=1,205); the average number of employees in the large firm sample was 30,700.FindingsWhile there are some similarities in HR practices, it appears that HR organizations in large firms are more targeted at strategic business issues and have achieved a greater degree of outsourcing and/or information technology application for the routine, file maintenance aspects of HR work. On the other hand, HR informants in mid‐sized firms are more operationally focused, appear to be more satisfied with the skills and knowledge of their significantly smaller HR staffs, and give their HR organizations higher ratings on performance along multiple dimensions.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations to the present study include the use of a single informant and a limited sample of mid‐sized firms (n=32). However, the study suggests numerous possibilities for future research, including expansion of the sample both in size and geographic scope, the collection of measures of performance for comparison with those of HR satisfaction, and fuller development of a set of expectations for HR focus dependent on the size and rate of growth of the organization.Originality/valueThe HR practices of large and small (less than 500 employees) firms have been studied in the past. This paper fills a gap in organization life cycle theory by examining HR practices in mid‐sized firms, suggesting in particular that the drive to refocus HR on strategic issues in large firms may be inappropriate in enterprises with 300 to 3,000 employees.
Determinants of utilization of antenatal care services in developing countries
Authors: Nketiah‐Amponsah Edward , Senadza Bernardin , Arthur Eric 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to estimate the key socio‐economic and demographic factors influencing the utilization of antenatal care services in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachThe paper utilizes the most recent Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS V) data. The dependent variable is the intensity of utilization (number) of antenatal care visits. Hence, the negative binomial regression is employed to investigate the socio‐economic and demographic correlates of the intensity of antenatal care utilization in Ghana.FindingsThe study finds that wealth status, age, ownership of health insurance (especially for rural women), educational attainment, birth order, religion and administrative region of residence are significant predictors of the intensity of antenatal care services utilization. In particular, the utilization rate increases in wealth status. The authors also found significant statistical relationship between residence and antenatal care utilization. This finding reinforces the differences in health facilities between the rural and urban areas of Ghana. The authors did not, however, find evidence for proxies for financial and physical access.Research limitations/implicationsThe GDHS survey lacks data on the distance to the nearest health facility where ANC is sought and a variable for the price of ANC visit. Proxies had to be used to capture these variables.Practical implicationsThe fact that ownership of health insurance in rural areas increases the number of ANC visits makes it imperative to intensify health insurance awareness and enrollment campaigns in the rural areas so as to bridge the rural‐urban gap in ANC utilization. Also, while the free maternal health care policy for expecting mothers is laudable, a minimum level of wealth is required to induce antenatal care visitations. This is because household wealth status still plays a major role even in a free maternal health regime.Originality/valueA new finding of the paper is the significant effect that ownership of health insurance has on the utilization of ANC services among rural women. While generally rural women have a lower propensity to use ANC services compared to urban women, the intensity of usage of ANC services tends to increase for rural women who own health insurance.
Barriers or corridors? The overlooked role of unpaved roads in endozoochorous seed dispersal
Authors: Suárez‐Esteban Alberto , Delibes Miguel , Fedriani José M. 
Published: April 2013

Summary

Ubiquitous linear developments, such as dirt tracks and firebreaks, termed ‘soft’ linear developments (SLD), represent weaker landscape modifications than paved roads and highways but still could strongly affect populations and communities. Many animals avoid SLD, but some terrestrial mammals seem to select them for faecal marking. Faeces often contain many viable seeds; therefore, SLD may receive a substantial amount and diversity of seeds, which could have important overlooked consequences for plant recruitment.

To evaluate the potential role of SLD as seed attractors, we surveyed transects along SLD verges and along the adjacent scrubland in three patches of Mediterranean scrubland. On each transect, we collected ungulate, carnivore and rabbit faeces during two fruiting seasons (2009 and 2010). We quantified all seeds from fleshy‐fruit shrubs within faeces and compared their abundance and diversity at SLD verges vs. adjacent scrubland.

The frequency of defecation along SLD varied greatly among dispersers, but ungulates avoided SLD for defecation, and carnivores and rabbits positively selected them. Seed prevalence was higher in faeces of carnivores, and seed damage low compared with faeces of rabbits and especially ungulates.

The role of SLD as seed attractors was species‐dependent. We found from 2·7 to 124 times more viable seeds of carnivore‐ and rabbit‐dispersed plants along SLD than in the scrubland, while ungulate‐dispersed plants were more abundant in the scrubland. Of 13 mammal‐dispersed shrubs, 4 species were exclusively found along SLD verges, two were found only in the scrubland, and seven were found in both habitats.

Synthesis and applications. By promoting mammal‐mediated seed dispersal, soft linear developments (SLD) may act as seed corridors. Given the extremely high density of SLD world‐wide, SLD hold a significant overlooked role for management and plant conservation actions. Dispersers selecting SLD can promote roadside restoration, potentially saving financial resources. These feasible benefits must be weighed up against potential spread of alien or undesirable plant species, but we demonstrate the SLD represent a valuable management tool.
ERPs reveal atypical processing of subject versus object Wh‐questions in children with specific language impairment
Authors: Epstein Baila , Hestvik Arild , Shafer Valerie L. , Schwartz Richard G. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackgroundChildren with specific language impairment (SLI) show particular difficulty comprehending and producing object (Who did the bear follow?) relative to subject (Who followed the tiger?) wh‐questions.AimsTo determine if school‐age children with SLI, relative to children with typical development (TD), show a more distinct unevenness, or asymmetry, in the comprehension of these questions. In addition, this study examined whether the sustained left‐anterior negativity (LAN) in event‐related potentials (ERP) could be used as a marker for atypical processing of these questions in children with SLI. The LAN effect signals the greater working memory processes for maintaining in memory the dislocated object in object wh‐questions and reflects working memory capacity in adults. It was predicted that the amplitude of the LAN would be greater in children with SLI, reflecting the characteristic low working memory capacity in this population. The concomitance of these behavioural and electrophysiological effects would suggest that the subject–object asymmetry in SLI should be investigated in relation to poor working memory skills.Methods & ProceduresGroups including 13 children with SLI, 17 same‐age TD children and 18 normal adults completed an auditory sentence comprehension task requiring button responses while continuous electroencephalography (EEG) was collected. Accuracy for subject and object questions was calculated. The mean amplitude values of the ERP data for the wh‐questions were examined to identify differential processing of subject and object questions.Outcomes & ResultsTD children demonstrated asymmetrical comprehension of subject and object wh‐questions, whereas children with SLI comprehended both question types poorly and adults did not show subject–object asymmetry. ERP waveforms spanning the wh‐dependency revealed a large and widespread sustained anterior positivity for object relative to subject questions in the TD group, indicating differential processing of these questions. This effect was attenuated and non‐significant in the SLI group. The adults’ grand average waveforms showed the expected LAN effect, which was opposite in polarity relative to the children, although it only approached significance.Conclusions & ImplicationsThe finding of less differential processing of subject and object wh‐questions in SLI relative to TD children suggests inefficient maintenance of sentential information in working memory for object questions in SLI. Whereas behavioural methods did not identify subject–object asymmetry in SLI, the more fine‐grained method of ERPs elucidated this effect. Further analysis of working memory as the basis for the subject–object asymmetry in SLI is critical for identifying appropriate intervention targets for this population.
Mycobacterium aviumsubspeciesparatuberculosisis widely distributed inBritish soils and waters: implications for animal and human health
Authors: Rhodes Glenn , Henrys Peter , Thomson Bruce C. , Pickup Roger W. 
Published: April 2013

SummaryIn the first comprehensive geographical survey of distribution inGreatBritain,Mycobacterium aviumssp.paratuberculosis(MAP) was detected in 115 of 1092 (10.5%) soil cores, in the range of 5 × 102to 3 × 106MAPcell equivalents (CE) g−1wet weight soil with the majority of the positivePCRreactions (n = 75; 65%) occurring around the limit of detection (500–5000CEg−1wet weight soil). The distribution ofMAPsignificantly increased fromNorth toSouth and was significantly correlated with increasing cattle numbers over the same longitudinal axis. SimilarlyMAPoccurrence significantly increased towards easterly latitudes although none of the parameters measured were associated. Comparisons of land use indicated thatMAPwas widely distributed in both farming and non‐farming areas. Soil core samples taken from the riversWyre andDouglas catchments (Lancashire,UK) and riverTywi (SouthWales) were negative forMAP. However, river monitoring showed a consistent presence ofMAPsthroughout those catchments over a 6‐month period. We concluded thatMAPis widely distributed within and outside the confines of the farming environment; its geographical distribution is wider than originally anticipated and; monitoring rivers describes theMAPstatus of catchment better than individual soil samples.
Specific binding of aluminium and iron ions to a cation‐selective cell wall channel ofMicrothrix parvicella
Authors: Knaf Tobias , Schade Margit , Lemmer Hilde , Benz Roland 
Published: April 2013

SummaryHeavy metal salts containing aluminium or iron are used in wastewater treatment to control excessive growth of theGram‐positive bacteriumMicrothrix parvicella, frequently observed in wastewater plants suffering from bulking, foaming and scum.Microthrix parvicellabelongs to the classActinobacteriabut not to mycolata, although its taxonomic position in this class is not identified. Investigations using the microspheres adhesion to cells method (MAC) suggested thatM. parvicellais as strongly hydrophobic as the mycolic acid containing actinomycetes. The cell wall ofM. parvicellawas investigated for the presence of water‐filled channels using the lipid bilayer assay. An ion‐permeable channel calledMppAwith a conductance of 600 pS in 1 MKClwas identified in cell wall extracts and purified to homogeneity. The cation‐selective channel showed no voltage‐dependent closure at higher voltages. Interestingly,MPPAcould be blocked by heavy metal ions. Binding of polyvalent cations such as iron and aluminium was studied in titration experiments and revealed stability constants for their binding toMppAup to 700 M−1. The cell wall channel ofM. parvicellacontains a binding site for polyvalent cations which may play a crucial role for the effect of heavy metals salts onM. parvicella‐dominated activated sludge.
Resistance to essential oils affects survival of Salmonella enterica serovars in growing and harvested basil
Authors: Kisluk Guy , Kalily Emmanuel , Yaron Sima 
Published: April 2013

SummaryThe number of outbreaks of food‐borne illness associated with consumption of fresh products has increased. A recent and noteworthy outbreak occurred in 2007. Basil contaminated with Salmonella enterica serovar Senftenberg was the source of this outbreak. Since basil produces high levels of antibacterial compounds the aim of this study was to investigate if the emerging outbreak reflects ecological changes that occurred as a result of development of resistance to ingredients of the basil oil. We irrigated basil plants with contaminated water containing two Salmonella serovars, Typhimurium and Senftenberg, and showed that Salmonella can survive on the basil plants for at least 100 days. S. Senftenberg counts in the phyllosphere were significantly higher than S. Typhimurium, moreover, S. Senftenberg was able to grow on stored harvested basil leaves. Susceptibility experiments demonstrated that S. Senftenberg is more resistant to basil oil and to its antimicrobial constituents: linalool, estragole and eugenol. This may indicate that S. Senftenberg had adapted to the basil environment by developing resistance to the basil oil. The emergence of resistant pathogens has a significant potential to change the ecology, and opens the way for pathogens to survive in new niches in the environment such as basil and other plants.
Fame and future of faecal transplantations – developing next‐generation therapies with synthetic microbiomes
Authors: de Vos Willem M. 
Published: April 2013

SummaryWhile practised for over thousand years, there is presently a renaissance in the interest of using of faecal transplantations to modify the intestinal microbiota of patients. This clinical practice consists of delivering large amounts of bowel microbes in various forms into the intestinal tract of the recipient that usually has been cleared previously. The major reason for the popularity of faecal transplantations is their effectiveness in treating a variety of diseases. Hence, there is a need to develop this procedure to the next level. While there are various developments to select, standardize and store the donor microbiota, it is more challenging to understand the intestinal microbial communities and develop ways to deliver these via robust biotechnological processes. The various approaches that have been followed to do so are discussed in this contribution that is also addressing the concept of the minimal microbiome as well as the production of the synthetic communities that can be instrumental in new therapeutic avenues to modify the intestinal microbiota.
Cash crop choice and income dynamics in rural areas: evidence for post‐crisis Indonesia
Authors: Klasen Stephan , Priebe Jan , Rudolf Robert 
Published: April 2013

AbstractIn this article we investigate the factors affecting levels and growth of incomes in rural Indonesia following the crisis of 1997–1998. In particular, we investigate the relative roles of nonfarm incomes and productivity improvements achieved via changes in crops versus improvements on the same crops on income dynamics. Framing the article in the context of an optimal labor allocation model, relying on unique household panel data from Central Sulawesi, and using advanced panel econometric methods, we find that local innovations related to the adoption and intensification of new cash crop varieties, more specifically the shift from coffee to cocoa production, can explain a substantial part of the observed post‐crisis developments. Causal estimates of the effect of growing cocoa suggest that households were on average able to achieve about 14% higher income levels during the post‐crisis period compared to the planting of other crops, most notably coffee. Also, our results demonstrate the importance of engagement in nonfarm activities for household income growth. Comparative analyses using a nationally representative survey suggest that similar processes are at play in other parts of Indonesia.
The value of genetic information to livestock buyers: a combined revealed, stated preference approach
Authors: Vestal Mallory K. , Lusk Jayson L. , DeVuyst Eric A. , Kropp J. Robert 
Published: April 2013

AbstractDNA profile information has begun appearing in purebred bull auction catalogs; however, the value of this information is as of yet unknown. This study uses data from actual bull sales at a test station and combines it with stated‐preference survey data to determine the value of the DNA profile information. Consistent with previous research, we find that expected progeny differences (EPDs), test performance, and ultrasound information significantly influence bull‐buyers’ willingness‐to‐pay. The newer DNA profile information, however, was unrelated to buyers’ preferences. Methodologically, we find statistically significant differences (but highly correlated willingness‐to‐pay values) across the stated and revealed preference data sources.
Random Weighting Estimation of Confidence Intervals for Quantiles
Authors: Gao Shesheng , Zhong Yongmin , Gu Chengfan 
Published: April 2013

SummaryThis paper presents a new random weighting method for confidence interval estimation for the sample ‐quantile. A theory is established to extend ordinary random weighting estimation from a non‐smoothed function to a smoothed function, such as a kernel function. Based on this theory, a confidence interval is derived using the concept of backward critical points. The resultant confidence interval has the same length as that derived by ordinary random weighting estimation, but is distribution‐free, and thus it is much more suitable for practical applications. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed random weighting method has higher accuracy than the Bootstrap method for confidence interval estimation.