bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of long-range weather forecasts to agricultural decision problems in Europe
Authors: CALANCA P. , BOLIUS D. , WEIGEL A. P. , LINIGER M. A. 
Published: October 2010

SUMMARYAgriculture can benefit substantially from long-range weather forecasts, for the month or the season, which can help to optimize farming operations and deal more effectively with the adverse impacts of climate variability, including extreme weather events. In the context of climate change, long-range weather forecasts also represent key elements for the development of adaptation strategies. In spite of an undeniable potential, long-range forecasts issued for instance by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) have yet to find widespread application in European agriculture. To address partially the question of why this is the case, the performance of the ECMWF monthly ensemble forecasting system was examined. It was noted that predictability is currently limited to about 3 weeks for temperature and 2 weeks for precipitation and solar radiation. This may appear deceptive at first sight, but it was noticed that precipitation forecasts over a month are, overall, at least as valuable as information obtained from observed climatology. Encouraged by this finding, the possibility of using monthly forecasts to predict soil water availability was tested. In an operational context, this could serve as a basis for scheduling irrigation. Positive skills were found for lead times of up to 1 month. It was concluded that more systematic investigations of the possibilities offered by long-range forecasts should be undertaken in the future. However, this will require additional efforts to increase the quality of the forecasts, design appropriate application tools and promote the dissemination of the outcome within the agriculture community.
Pandemic A(H1N1) 2009 influenza: review of the Southern Hemisphere experience
Authors: FALAGAS M. E. , KOLETSI P. K. , BASKOUTA E. , RAFAILIDIS P. I. , DIMOPOULOS G. , KARAGEORGOPOULOS D. E. 
Published: October 2010

SUMMARYWe sought to systematically review the published literature describing the epidemiological aspects of the first wave of pandemic A(H1N1) 2009 influenza in the Southern Hemisphere. Fifteen studies were included in this review, originating from South America, Australia or New Zealand, and Africa. Across the different studies, 16·8–45·3% of the laboratory-confirmed cases were admitted to hospital, and 7·5–26·0% of these cases were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). The fatality rate was 0·5–1·5% for laboratory-confirmed cases in 6/8 studies reporting specific relevant data, and 14·3–22·2% for cases admitted to ICUs in 5/7 studies, respectively. In 4/5 studies the majority of laboratory-confirmed cases were observed in young and middle-aged adults, the percentage of older adults increased the higher the level of healthcare the cases received (e.g. laboratory confirmation, hospitalization or ICU admission) or for fatal cases. Many of the cases had no prior comorbidity, including conditions identified as risk factors for seasonal influenza. Pregnant women represented 7·4–9·1% and 7·1–9·1% of unselected laboratory-confirmed cases and of those admitted to ICUs, respectively. Obesity and morbid obesity were more commonly reported as the level of healthcare increased.
Syllable- and Rhythm-Based Approaches in the Treatment of Apraxia of Speech
Authors: Ziegler Wolfram , Aichert Ingrid , Staiger Anja 
Published: October 2010

This paper presents new treatment approaches for patients with apraxia of speech (AOS), which are based on current theoretical work relating to the pathomechanism of AOS. Particularly, we focus on the question of which speech units and structural properties are involved in the error mechanism of speakers with apraxia. Based on a psycholinguistic model of spoken language production (Levelt, Roelofs, & Meyer, 1999), we review data from single-word production experiments and from analyses of spontaneous speech demonstrating an impact on (a) the degree of “over-learnedness” of syllables (syllable frequency), (b) the internal structure of syllables (syllable complexity), and (c) supra-syllabic, metrical aspects of utterances (word stress) on error production in AOS.
In the second section, we present two experimental learning studies and a treatment study that take these results into consideration. The first learning experiment suggests that syllables are more natural units than segments in the treatment of patients with severe AOS. Based on the results of the second learning study, we recommend a treatment approach which uses formally related training syllables in the reacquisition of complex target syllables. Finally, results of a treatment study using a metrical pacing technique led to the assumption that fluency and segmental accuracy could be enhanced by external rhythmic cues.
Conditions of Practice and Feedback in Treatment for Apraxia of Speech
Authors: Maas Edwin 
Published: October 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to review a number of conditions of practice and feedback (sometimes referred to as principles of motor learning) in relation to treatment for apraxia of speech (AOS).
Methods: A narrative review of pertinent literature is provided.
Conclusions: Although there has been little systematic study of these conditions in treatment for AOS, the emerging evidence is consistent with the idea that conditions of practice and feedback have similar effects in treatment for AOS as those seen in the motor learning literature.
Acquisition of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria: Incidence and Risk Factors within a Long-Term Care Population
Authors: O'Fallon Erin , Kandell Ruth , Schreiber Robert , D'Agata Erika M. C. 
Published: October 2010

Background and Objective.An improved understanding of the transmission dynamics of multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria and the mechanism of acquisition in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) could aid in the development of prevention strategies specific to LTCFs. We thus investigated the incidence of acquisition of these pathogens among an LTCF population.Design.Prospective cohort study.Setting.Three separate wards at a 600-bed LTCF in metropolitan Boston, Massachusetts, during the period October 31, 2006, through October 22, 2007.Participants.One hundred seventy-two LTCF residents.Methods.A series of rectal samples were cultured to determine acquisition of MDR gram-negative bacteria, defined as absence of MDR gram-negative bacterial colonization at baseline and de novo recovery of MDR gram-negative bacteria from a follow-up culture. Molecular typing was performed to identify genetically linked strains. A nested matched case-control study was performed to identify risk factors associated with acquisition.Results.Among 135 residents for whom at least 1 follow-up culture was performed, 52 (39%) acquired at least 1 MDR gram-negative organism during the study period. Thirty-two residents (62%) had not been colonized at baseline and had acquired at least 1 MDR gram-negative species at follow-up culture, and 20 residents (38%) were colonized at baseline and had acquired at least I MDR gram-negative species at follow-up culture. The most common coresistance pattern was resistance to extended-spectrum penicillins, ciprofloxacin, and gentamicin (57 isolates [42.5%]). Genetically related strains of MDR gram-negative bacteria were identified among multiple residents and between roommates. On conditional logistic regression analysis, antibiotic exposure during the study period was significantly associated with acquisition of MDR gram-negative bacteria (odds ratio, 5.6 [95% confidence interval, 1.1-28.7];P= .04).Conclusions.Acquisition of MDR gram-negative bacteria occurred frequently through resident-to-resident transmission. Existing infection control interventions need to be reevaluated.
Chembench: a cheminformatics workbench
Authors: Walker Theo , Grulke Christopher M. , Pozefsky Diane , Tropsha Alexander 
Published: October 2010

Abstract
Motivation: Advances in the field of cheminformatics have been hindered by a lack of freely available tools. We have created Chembench, a publicly available cheminformatics portal for analyzing experimental chemical structure–activity data. Chembench provides a broad range of tools for data visualization and embeds a rigorous workflow for creating and validating predictive Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship models and using them for virtual screening of chemical libraries to prioritize the compound selection for drug discovery and/or chemical safety assessment.
Availability: Freely accessible at: http://chembench.mml.unc.edu
Contact: alex_tropsha@unc.edu
Interrogating local population structure for fine mapping in genome-wide association studies
Authors: Qin Huaizhen , Morris Nathan , Kang Sun J. , Li Mingyao , Tayo Bamidele , Lyon Helen , Hirschhorn Joel , Cooper Richard S. , Zhu Xiaofeng 
Published: October 2010

Abstract
Motivation: Adjustment for population structure is necessary to avoid bias in genetic association studies of susceptibility variants for complex diseases. Population structure may differ from one genomic region to another due to the variability of individual ancestry associated with migration, random genetic drift or natural selection. Current association methods for correcting population stratification usually involve adjustment of global ancestry between study subjects.
Results: We suggest interrogating local population structure for fine mapping to more accurately locate true casual genes by better adjusting the confounding effect due to local ancestry. By extensive simulations on genome-wide datasets, we show that adjusting global ancestry may lead to false positives when local population structure is an important confounding factor. In contrast, adjusting local ancestry can effectively prevent false positives due to local population structure and thus can improve fine mapping for disease gene localization. We applied the local and global adjustments to the analysis of datasets from three genome-wide association studies, including European Americans, African Americans and Nigerians. Both European Americans and African Americans demonstrate greater variability in local ancestry than Nigerians. Adjusting local ancestry successfully eliminated the known spurious association between SNPs in the LCT gene and height due to the population structure existed in European Americans.
Contact: xiaofeng.zhu@case.edu
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Network-based comparison of temporal gene expression patterns
Authors: Huang Wei , Cao Xiaoyi , Zhong Sheng 
Published: October 2010

AbstractMotivation: In the pursuits of mechanistic understanding of cell differentiation, it is often necessary to compare multiple differentiation processes triggered by different external stimuli and internal perturbations. Available methods for comparing temporal gene expression patterns are limited to a gene-by-gene approach, which ignores co-expression information and thus is sensitive to measurement noise.Methods: We present a method for co-expression network based comparison of temporal expression patterns (NACEP). NACEP compares the temporal patterns of a gene between two experimental conditions, taking into consideration all of the possible co-expression modules that this gene may participate in. The NACEP program is available at http://biocomp.bioen.uiuc.edu/nacep.Results: We applied NACEP to analyze retinoid acid (RA)-induced differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells. The analysis suggests that RA may facilitate neural differentiation by inducing the shh and insulin receptor pathways. NACEP was also applied to compare the temporal responses of seven RNA inhibition (RNAi) experiments. As proof of concept, we demonstrate that the difference in the temporal responses to RNAi treatments can be used to derive interaction relationships of transcription factors (TFs), and therefore infer regulatory modules within a transcription network. In particular, the analysis suggested a novel regulatory relationship between two pluripotency regulators, Esrrb and Tbx3, which was supported by in vivo binding of Esrrb to the promoter of Tbx3.Availability: The NACEP program and the supplementary documents are available at http://biocomp.bioen.uiuc.edu/nacep.Contact: szhong@illinois.eduSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Fatty acid compositions of Turbo coronatus Gmelin 1791
Authors: Mahmood Freije Afnan , Nedham Awadh Maysoon 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine the fatty acid composition of the edible snail Turbo coronatus from the Bahrain sea.Design/methodology/approachTotal lipid content was extracted and methyl esters of fatty acids (FAMEs) were prepared and analyzed by gas chromatography.FindingsGas‐liquid chromatography shows that saturated fatty acids (SFA) are the major forms of fatty acids, followed by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). The most abundant PUFA are linolenic acid (18:3n‐3), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA 20:5n‐3), linoleic acid (18:2n‐6), and arachidonic acid (ARA 20:4n‐6), the MUFA 16:1 (n‐7), and the SFA 16:0, 14:0, 18:0 and 20:0. The sum of EPA and DHA is 8.04 per cent. The n‐3/n‐6 fatty acids ratio approximately (2:1) is within the range of marine molluscs. The principle differences in the fatty acid composition of Turbo coronatus than most marine molluscs is their low DHA (0.23±0.01 per cent), low PUFA (40.92 per cent), and high SFA contents (49.25 per cent). The principle differences in the fatty acid composition of Turbo coronatus from most marine molluscs is their low DHA (0.23±0.01 per cent), low PUFA (40.92 per cent), and high SFA contents (49.25 per cent).Research limitations/implicationsThe Turbo coronatus samples were collected from Shaikh Ebrahim Island; however, further studies regarding the fatty acid composition of Turbo coronatus from other locations are required.Practical implicationsThe results suggest that Turbo coronatus feeds on bacteria‐enriched detritic matter as well as phytoplankton and algae. The low concentration of PUFA in relation to SFA in Turbo coronatus can be attributed to warm water, high salinity, and food availability.Originality/valueThe paper provides valuable information about the fatty acid contents in Turbo coronatus, and its feeding habits, and nutritional values.
The value for service industry firms of environmental initiatives
Authors: Hume Susan R. , Gallagher Liam 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThis study aims to examine the impact of taking environmental initiatives on the returns for service companies.Design/methodology/approachThe authors gathered data for firms that are recognized for their leadership in environmental responsibility using a well‐known social responsibility ranking list. These data were used to compare with those that were ranked high on the index with those that were ranked lower, using Jensen's alpha and Sharpe ratio performance measures relative to a benchmark.FindingsThe upper‐ and lower‐ranked socially responsible firms had significantly higher risk adjusted returns and superior performance than the benchmark. Additionally, there is evidence that firms ranked in the lower group are better valued overall.Research limitations/implicationsA higher return for socially responsible firms suggests that public investors value environmentally‐friendly firms more highly today. Future research could build on this study by examining additional performance measures including four‐factor models and conditional variance.Practical implicationsThe study suggests that a service company's commitment to environmental initiatives and the recognition of its commitment is an important signal today for the investor.Originality/valueWhile prior research has considered manufacturing companies, this is the first study to examine the impact of a commitment to environmental initiatives for service industry firms. The findings of the empirical examination support the benefits of green initiatives to a significant component of the US economy.
Revisiting leadership development: the participant perspective
Authors: Hotho Sabine , Dowling Martin 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to address limitations of prevailing approaches to leadership development programmes and make suggestions as to how these might be overcome. These limitations are an outcome of the dominant rational functional approach to leadership development programmes. Based on empirical research, and underpinned by organisational theory, the paper suggests a shift towards a socio‐constructivist perspective on design and implementation of leadership development programmes. The explorative study proposes that context and participant differences need to be recognised as factors impacting on the effectiveness of leadership development initiatives.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a review of relevant literature and qualitative data collected using the case study method. The study presented is explorative.FindingsThe paper finds that participant interaction with leadership development programmes varies depending on individual and/or contextual factors. Current design logic neither recognises nor utilises such situatedness as programmes develop their linear and unidirectional logic. Designers of programmes underestimate the extent to which programme participants create a context‐specific understanding of leadership learning as they interact with the programme. Their personal and organisational context shapes this interaction. A socio‐constructivist perspective can provide theoretical foundation for the argument that leadership development programmes can become more effective if context‐specific dimensions are recognised as shaping and constraining factors impacting on programme participants.Originality/valueThe paper argues that it is time to move away from offering leadership development programmes which emphasise input over interaction. The paper encourages commissioners and designers of leadership programmes to recognise that an overly didactic approach may limit the effectiveness of such programmes.
CSR and the strait‐jacket of economic rationality
Authors: Brooks Simon B. 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to argue that the corporate social responsibility (CSR) discourse has taken a wrong turn in its historical development, which risks a restriction of our thinking.Design/methodology/approachThe paper has two main sections followed by a concluding discussion. First, the way in which even proponents of CSR have allowed a search for a link between engagement in CSR and firm performance to become a predominant strand of the debate is explored. Second, the way that economic rationality has developed through the sociology of economic behaviour is examined to provide a novel lens through which to view CSR.FindingsIt is contended that arguments for CSR based in morality and ethics have been at least partially foreclosed by the CSR academy's response to pronouncements on the topic made by Milton Friedman in 1970. It is argued that, in responding to his arguments largely in the terms dictated by those arguments, the critical potential of CSR is diminished.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper suggests alternative intellectual resources that might help to re‐balance this debate, drawing on what might broadly be called the sociology of economic behaviour. The paper concludes by calling for a re‐moralised CSR, reminding one that economic activity is embedded in social relations.Originality/valueAttempts to critique CSR through lenses afforded by sociology are comparatively rare. This paper shows how the true nature of predominant preoccupations in the mainly business‐related debates on CSR can be more openly seen as being economically rational when examined using theoretical frames and language from sociology.
“It ain't wot you do, it's the way that you do it”
Authors: Morgan Colin W. , Burchell Jon 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThis paper seeks to understand the views of employees in a UK company on an employee vounteering (ESV) scheme. It further seeks to advance theory in this area by integrating organisational identity (OI) and organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB). The paper moves forward the scholarly work on ESV by interviewing employees who do and do not volunteer within ESV schemes.Design/methodology/approachA purpose sample of 31 (n = 31) interviewees was drawn from all levels of the studied organisation. The method follows a qualitative approach using NVIVO as the analysis tool. The interview was triangulated using a focus group.FindingsEmployees have a range of emotions and responses to a company operating an ESV scheme. The study is particularly interesting in that it studies employees of a gambling organisation that bring in further rich employee views on the scheme. Much of the sparse literature on ESV does not pick up on UK‐based organisations and this study is therefore revealing.Research limitations/implicationsManagers of corporate responsibility (CR) in organisations should be concerned with how they implement their CR programmes – especially with respect to how they establish and communicate ESV programmes. Academics will find value in viewing ESV through a conjunction of OCB and OI theories. The research could be replicated in other large UK organisations with similiar ESV programmes to test whether the experiences of employees are widespread in other organisations.Practical implicationsThe paper tacitly questions the impact of ESV programmes on the employee stakeholder group and suggests that, unless ESV programmes are well run and well communicated – and given a good budget, employees may in fact view the programme negatively. It demonstrates that CR is not simply a “nice to have” that can be simply bolted on.Social implicationsOrganisations, especially those in the third sector that work with corporates, need to understand the role of ESV schemes in their partner companies and consider the views of employees and the strategic logic of the companies before embarking on working together.Originality/valueThis is an original piece of work in a relatively under‐researched area. This is the first study to consider volunteers and non‐volunteers in an ESV scheme in a UK‐based company – the added dimension of interest and value is that the studied organisation was a gambling business.
The sequential patterning of tactics
Authors: den Hond Frank , de Bakker Frank G.A. , de Haan Patricia 
Published: October 2010

PurposeActivist groups apply a range of tactics in order to improve labour conditions in the global sports and apparel industry. The accumulation of these tactics leads to the build‐up of pressure on firms within this industry (brands, retailers) to change their policies and activities on labour issues in their supply chains. The purpose of this paper is to explore how activist groups instigate change within an industry.Design/methodology/approachBy re‐examining a series of previously published accounts, eight conflict situations in the global sports and apparel industry, involving Nike, Reebok and Adidas, were analysed.FindingsThe paper demonstrates how an industry‐level approach is helpful in understanding how the sequential patterning of tactical choices evokes change in an industry. Studying activist groups’ tactics from this approach provides a richer understanding.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the growing literature on activists’ influence strategies in conflicts with firms and speaks to current attempts at bringing together social movement and organization theories.