bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Speak up! Enhancing risk performance with enterprise risk management, leadership style and employee voice
Authors: Sax Johanna , Torp Simon S. 
Published: August 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to test the effect of psychological safety and participative leadership style on risk performance as well as its interaction with enterprise risk management (ERM) processes to evaluate if a decentralisation in the form of a safe environment and participative leadership style enhances or crowds out the effect of a centralised-ERM process.Design/methodology/approach– Based on a survey among top-500 Danish companies, the paper tests in SEM the relationships between ERM, participative leadership style and psychological safety on risk performanceFindings– The paper finds that not only do both ERM and participative leadership style enhance risk performance but a positive interaction effect is also found. In addition, the findings suggest that a safe environment precede participative leadership style indicating this as a prerequisite for management to introduce participative leadership style. These findings underpin that an effective risk management system should include both a holistic, formalised ERM system and organisational initiatives that enhance a strategic responsiveness through employee involvement.Originality/value– The current study provides new empirical insights about the effect of a formal ERM process on risk performance as well as cultural factors for ERM success. As something new to the risk management literature, it draws on leadership and employee voice theory and investigates participative leadership style and psychological safety for employee voice as contextual influences on the effect of a formal ERM process on risk performance.
Permaculture approach: linking ecological sustainability to businesses strategies
Authors: Akhtar Faiza , Lodhi Suleman Aziz , Shah Khan Safdar 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to discuss the concept of ecological sustainability is attracting attention of global business community as neoclassical approach continues to fail in delivery. There is now an emerging need to explore new approaches towards balancing ecological and economic returns. The paper extends the philosophy of Permaculture into business domain and explores its compatibility to be integrated with strategic management perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach
– The study primarily conducts a review of Permaculture and Strategic Management domains and uncovers the compatibility between the two domains while arguing that the integration of Permaculture philosophy in business strategy would achieve sustainability.

Findings
– Permaculture philosophy is compatible with Strategic Management process for developing business strategies. It can incorporate ecological and social aspects for developing integrated strategy process for sustainability in organizations.

Research limitations/implications
– Focusing on financial and non-financial value addition contributed by organizations towards community would lead to long-term sustainability of the organization and the community which supports it.

Originality/value
– The study extends the emerging philosophy of Permaculture into the established domain of Strategic Management. Arguing that simultaneous equilibrium of capacities, resources and demands of stakeholders must be maintained for sustained economic success in business world.
Sustainable development of urban slum areas in northwestern Spain
Authors: Gago-Cortés Carmen , Novo-Corti Isabel 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– The persistence of shanty towns in cities is a major public issue due to the situation of poverty and abandonment of its inhabitants. Despite public authorities are concerned about this serious issue, they often fail to address suitably the problem due to their short-term goals. The purpose of this paper is to assess the public policies and green economy projects to improve the quality of life of people living in shanty towns in northwest Spain from the point of view of sustainable development and the interaction between social, economic and environmental areas.

Design/methodology/approach
– A systemic causal diagram is proposed for the empirical analysis. It has been contrasted through the study of the various actions undertaken in some shanty towns in Spain. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to complement this analysis.

Findings
– As a result, the study shows that the actions should not only be limited to providing access to adequate housing, but should also require more extensive cross-cutting projects. In this, green economy policies are shown as a good choice for improving the quality of life and development of the population.

Originality/value
– The study highlights the potential of green economic policies to mitigate environmental problems in slum areas and to support the social and economic development of its inhabitants. This paper provides some lines of action to improve the efficiency of public policies implemented in these cases. Thus, benefits in multiple areas such as social, environmental and urban could be generated.
ISO 14001 in a corporate sustainability context: a multiple case study approach
Authors: Maletic Matjaž , Podpečan Manja , Maletic Damjan 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mechanisms through which ISO 14001 can contribute to the corporate sustainability. In this regard, the paper examines the underlying theoretical concepts and discusses the ISO 14001 in the context of the corporate sustainability. Additionally, the paper discusses the benefits of ISO 14001 from the perspective of the triple bottom line.

Design/methodology/approach
– The paper uses a multiple case study approach focusing on four ISO 14001-certified Slovenian organizations and two non-ISO 14001-certified organizations. The data collection methods included semi-structured questionnaire and interviews with managers in all studied organizations.

Findings
– It is suggested that the motives could be perceived as explanatory variables of the benefits realized from ISO 14001 certification. Further, the findings of this study indicate that environmental management system should be seen in a wider perspective that includes elements such as quality and social responsibility. Moreover, the results also lead us to the suggestion that there could be a reciprocal causal mechanism linking the environmental performance and economic performance.

Practical implications
– ISO 14001 can be an effective tool for pursuing sustainable development; however, organizations should move a step beyond ISO 14001’s environmental focus and recognize a multidimensional perspective by simultaneously addressing environmental, quality and social responsibility issues.

Originality/value
– The paper contributes to the corporate sustainability literature by investigating the mechanisms through which organizations can shift to more sustainable patterns using the ISO 14001.
The influence of urea on composition, microstructure and electrochemical properties of nitrogen-enriched carbon based on polyvinylpyrrolidone/melamine formaldehyde resin
Authors: Li Qiang , Du Jiahuan , Zhang Xugang , Qin Chuanli , Jin Zheng , Bai Xuduo 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to develop porous nitrogen-enriched carbon (NC-U) with high nitrogen concentration and high specific capacitance (Cpe) as the electrode material for supercapacitors.

Design/methodology/approach
– NC-U was obtained by carbonization of polyvinylpyrrolidone/melamine formaldehyde resin (PVP/MF) with different contents of urea. In comparison, NC-K was also prepared by the KOH activation method. A series of asymmetric supercapacitors with NC as a negative electrode was assembled. The composition, microstructure and electrochemical properties of NC and their supercapacitors were studied.

Findings
– The results show that NC-U shows irregular particles with a porous honeycomb structure. High Cpe was obtained for urea-treated NC-U because of the improvement of nitrogen, conductivity and specific surface area (S

BET
). NC-U50 with 13.15 per cent at nitrogen has the highest Cpe of 148.53 F/g because of the highest concentration of N-6 and N-5. NC-K with higher S

BET
has lower Cpe than NC-U50 because of its lower nitrogen concentration. When the specific power of the supercapacitor with NC-U50 as a negative electrode is 1,565.56 W/kg, its specific energy is still 4.35 Wh/kg. There is only 5.9 per cent decay in Cpe over 1,000 cycles.

Research limitations/implications
– NC-U is a suitable electrode material for supercapacitors, which can be used in the field of electric vehicles to solve the problems of energy shortage and environmental pollutions.

Originality/value
– Porous NC-U based on PVP/MF/urea composites with high nitrogen concentration and Cpe is novel, and it owns good electrochemical properties.
Verrucous lesions arising in lymphedema and diabetic neuropathy: Elephantiasis nostras verrucosa or verrucous skin lesions on the feet of patients with diabetic neuropathy?
Authors: Hotta Eri , Asai Jun , Okuzawa Yasutaro , Hanada Keiji , Nomiyama Tomoko , Takenaka Hideya , Katoh Norito 
Published: August 2015

AbstractVerrucous skin lesions on the feet in diabetic neuropathy (VSLDN) develop in areas with sensory loss in diabetic patients. Although various types of chronic stimulation, such as pressure or friction, are considered an important factor in the development of such lesions, the precise pathogenesis of VSLDN remains obscure, and there is currently no established treatment for this disease. Here, we present a case of VSLDN on the dorsum of the right foot. However, because lymphedema was also observed at the same site, this lesion could also be diagnosed as elephantiasis nostras verrucosa arising in diabetic neuropathy. The lesion was successfully treated with a combination of elastic stocking and mixed killed bacterial suspension and hydrocortisone ointment, which suggested that VSLDN might have been exacerbated by the pre‐existing lymphedema. Because various types of chronic stimulation can trigger VSLDN, treatment plans should be devised on a case‐by‐case basis. Therefore, it is important to investigate the presence of factors that can induce or exacerbate chronic inflammatory stimulation, such as lymphedema in our case, in each patient with VSLDN.
Individual‐level trait diversity concepts and indices to comprehensively describe community change in multidimensional trait space
Authors: Fontana Simone , Petchey Owen L. , Pomati Francesco 
Published: August 2015

Summary

Global environmental change can influence ecosystem processes directly or through changes in the trait composition of natural communities. Traits are individual‐level features of organisms, and theory predicts that diversity in traits should relate to ecosystem processes. Validated indices that account for both intra‐ and interspecific trait variation in multidimensional trait space are lacking. In this article, we highlight how an individual‐level perspective requires new concepts for trait diversity (TD) and we validate a set of measures suitable to study trait richness, evenness and divergence at the individual scale.

First, we tested a selection of multivariate indices for trait richness, evenness and divergence from the literature (FRic, FEve, FDis and the Rao coefficient) using simulated and real individual‐level data. We compared the observed changes in the tested indices with those predicted from their expected/required behaviour (i.e. increase or decrease under specific manipulation of community trait structure) and found unsatisfactory results only for FRic and FEve, whereas FDis and the Rao coefficient showed the expected changes.

Therefore, we propose two novel concepts and related indices for individual‐level trait richness (TOP = trait onion peeling) and evenness (TED = trait even distribution). TOP represents the sum of all successive convex hull areas touching all individuals (points) within a multidimensional trait distribution. TED is a measure of how evenly distributed are individuals within the multidimensional trait space. It is calculated comparing the probability distributions of pairwise distances between individuals and between points of a perfectly even reference distribution. We tested TOP and TED on the same simulated and real data as above, and results indicated appropriate behaviour for TOP (trait richness) and TED (trait evenness).

By validating TD indices in an individual‐level context, this study contributes to the expansion of functional ecology towards individual‐level dynamics. Future comprehensive investigations of individual trait differences in natural communities may improve our understanding of the pathways by which environmental changes affect ecosystem functioning through biodiversity change.
Encountering extreme weather during migration: individual strategies and their consequences
Authors: Gill Jennifer A. 
Published: August 2015

Migratory birds can encounter extreme weather when they arrive on their breeding grounds in spring. These recently‐arrived Icelandic black‐tailed godwits encounter snow quite frequently in spring, but how does the same species cope with extreme weather in breeding grounds further south, where cold weather is much less common? Photo credit: Tómas G. Gunnarsson.imageMigratory birds can encounter extreme weather when they arrive on their breeding grounds in spring. These recently‐arrived Icelandic black‐tailed godwits encounter snow quite frequently in spring, but how does the same species cope with extreme weather in breeding grounds further south, where cold weather is much less common? Photo credit: Tómas G. Gunnarsson.

In Focus: Senner, N.R., Verhoeven, M.A., Abad‐Gómez, J.M., Gutiérrez, J.S., Hooijmeijer, J.C.E.W., Kentie, R., Masero, J.A., Tibbitts, T.L. & Piersma, T. (2015) . Journal of Animal Ecology, 84, 1164–1176.
The way that animal populations respond to changing weather conditions is a major focus of current research, fuelled by the need to predict the future consequences of climatic changes. Severe weather events can provide valuable opportunities to uncover the mechanisms through which the weather influences population demography but opportunities to track individual responses to such events are rare. Senner et al. () report on an exceptional opportunity to address this issue, when their detailed studies of a migratory shorebird population were interrupted by an extreme weather event that coincided with spring migration, a key period in the annual cycle of migratory species. Through tracking of individuals across the migratory range, Senner et al. () show that, while individual schedules were severely disrupted by the harsh weather, with many individuals undertaking reverse migrations and experiencing delayed breeding, breeding success was unaffected. This study highlights the complexities involved in predicting the ecological consequences of extreme weather events and the key role of behavioural flexibility in mitigating the costs to individuals.
Metagenomic and metaproteomic analyses of Accumulibacter phosphatis‐enriched floccular and granular biofilm
Authors: Barr Jeremy J. , Dutilh Bas E. , Skennerton Connor T. , Fukushima Toshikazu , Hastie Marcus L. , Gorman Jeffrey J. , Tyson Gene W. , Bond Philip L. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryBiofilms are ubiquitous in nature, forming diverse adherent microbial communities that perform a plethora of functions. Here we operated two laboratory‐scale sequencing batch reactors enriched with Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis (Accumulibacter) performing enhanced biological phosphorus removal. Reactors formed two distinct biofilms, one floccular biofilm, consisting of small, loose, microbial aggregates, and one granular biofilm, forming larger, dense, spherical aggregates. Using metagenomic and metaproteomic methods, we investigated the proteomic differences between these two biofilm communities, identifying a total of 2022 unique proteins. To understand biofilm differences, we compared protein abundances that were statistically enriched in both biofilm states. Floccular biofilms were enriched with pathogenic secretion systems suggesting a highly competitive microbial community. Comparatively, granular biofilms revealed a high‐stress environment with evidence of nutrient starvation, phage predation pressure, and increased extracellular polymeric substance and cell lysis. Granular biofilms were enriched in outer membrane transport proteins to scavenge the extracellular milieu for amino acids and other metabolites, likely released through cell lysis, to supplement metabolic pathways. This study provides the first detailed proteomic comparison between Accumulibacter‐enriched floccular and granular biofilm communities, proposes a conceptual model for the granule biofilm, and offers novel insights into granule biofilm formation and stability.
The risk of ureteric injury associated with hysterectomy: a 10‐year retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kiran A , Hilton P , Cromwell DA 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveTo evaluate the rates of ureteric injury among women undergoing hysterectomy.DesignRetrospective cohort.SettingEnglish National Health Service hospitals.PopulationWomen undergoing hysterectomy in 2001–2010.MethodsUnadjusted rates of ureteric injury, within 1 year of hysterectomy, calculated by indication and type of procedure. Multivariable logistic regression used to assess the risk of ureteric injury with year of surgery.Main outcome measuresUreteric injury within a year of the hysterectomy.ResultsIn 2001–2010, 377 073 women underwent hysterectomy, of whom 1792 (0.5%) experienced a ureteric injury. In both benign and malignant groups the rate of injury was higher in 2006–2010 than 2001–2005. After 2006, ureteric injuries were most common for abdominal radical hysterectomy for uterine cancer (10.7%; 95% CI 7.3–15.1%). The proportion of women having a ureteric injury was similar for ovarian and cervical cancer (1.9–4.0% depending on type of procedure). For benign conditions, the rate of injury tended to be lower, typically <1%. Women with endometriosis had the highest risk among this group (1.7% following total abdominal hysterectomy; 95% CI 1.4–2.0%).ConclusionThe risk of ureteric injury within 1 year of hysterectomy varied by type of hysterectomy for benign and malignant conditions. The rates of injury have increased between 2001 and 2010.Tweetable abstractTen‐year study shows ureteric injury rates have increased.
Exploring the Impacts of Ordinary Laboratory Alterations During Forensic DNA Processing on Peak Height Variation, Thresholds, and Probability of Dropout,
Authors: Rowan Kayleigh E. , Wellner Genevieve A. , Grgicak Catherine M. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractImpacts of validation design on DNA signal were explored, and the level of variation introduced by injection, capillary changes, amplification, and kit lot was surveyed by examining a set of replicate samples ranging in mass from 0.25 to 0.008 ng. The variations in peak height, heterozygous balance, dropout probabilities, and baseline noise were compared using common statistical techniques. Data indicate that amplification is the source of the majority of the variation observed in the peak heights, followed by capillary lots. The use of different amplification kit lots did not introduce variability into the peak heights, heterozygous balance, dropout, or baseline. Thus, if data from case samples run over a significant time period are not available during validation, the validation must be designed to, at a minimum, include the amplification of multiple samples of varying quantity, with known genotype, amplified and run over an extended period of time using multiple pipettes and capillaries.
A New Global Climate Agreement: Implications for Agriculture?
Authors: Blandford David , Hassapoyannes Katharina 
Published: August 2015

SummaryAlthough agriculture is a relatively emissions‐intensive sector in many countries, it is unlikely to be centre stage in upcoming negotiations on a climate change agreement to be held in Paris in December 2015. Nevertheless, the agricultural sector is a major user of energy. It is therefore likely to be affected by higher costs in upstream and downstream industries resulting from domestic policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). National differences in emissions reduction commitments and their implementation may result in different implicit prices for carbon across countries. For a relatively high emitting sector like agriculture, smaller adjustments in output would be needed to satisfy a GHG reduction requirement, but adjustment may be more costly if anticipated increases in global food demand are to be met. This could have distributional implications between developed and developing nations due to changes in food prices and the composition of demand. If measures taken to reduce emissions in other sectors are successful, the increasing proportion of total emissions generated by agriculture could become a focus of attention. Agriculture is likely to become more prominent in the climate change debate and will have to play a much greater role in future global climate change policies.
Greenhouse Gas Abatement in Norwegian Agriculture: Costs or Benefits?
Authors: Blandford David , Gaasland Ivar , Vårdal Erling 
Published: August 2015

SummaryAgriculture, which currently accounts for 0.3 per cent of Norway's gross domestic product, is estimated to generate roughly 13 per cent of the country's emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Norway has proposed a reduction of 40 per cent in its total emissions in the run up to the international climate change conference in Paris in December 2015. High levels of protection mean that Norway is a closed economy as far as agriculture is concerned. Agriculture is also highly subsidised. We estimate a marginal abatement cost curve for agriculture. Since producers, consumers and taxpayers would all be affected if emissions reductions are imposed on agriculture, we calculate abatement costs in terms of national economic welfare. We find that a cut of around 30 per cent in emissions from agriculture can be achieved, without undermining the stated policy objective of ensuring a minimum supply of domestically‐produced calories, by taking drained peatland out of production and restoring it to wetland. Progressing beyond a 30 per cent reduction requires a more fundamental restructuring of production away from emissions‐intensive ruminants and towards less emissions‐intensive crop and livestock products. Emissions reductions of over 60 per cent can be achieved with no reductions in national economic welfare, due to reductions in agricultural subsidies.