bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of coarse woody debris in forest aquatic habitats: Implications for management
Authors: Gurnell A. M. , Gregory K. J. , Petts G. E. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThroughout the Temperate Forest biogeographical zone, river valleys were once heavily wooded. Fallen trees had a major impact upon river systems by ponding water and storing sediments, and valley floors were characterized by extensive wetlands with networks of minor channels linking to the main channel. Concern for environmental conservation and for the rehabilitation of damaged aquatic ecosystems has led to research on the links between river channel dynamics and vegetation, and an interest in the use of dead wood for environmentally sensitive engineering approaches to river management.Accumulations of coarse woody debris (CWD) have an impact on the hydrological, hydraulic, sedimentological, morphological and biological characteristics of river channels. These impacts are very significant for the stability and biological productivity of river channels in forested catchments.As a result of the geomorphological and ecological importance of CWD in river channels in forested catchments, such debris requires careful management. In particular indiscriminate removal of CWD should be avoided.In the context of commercial forestry, a sequence of linked management options can be employed to control sediment and organic matter transport within river systems and to enhance channel stability and physical habitat diversity. These management options include selective removal of less stable debris, addition of debris to the river where the natural supply is inadequate, the maintenance of buffer strips of riparian trees which can act as a source of CWD, and the active management of woodland buffer strips to provide a wide range of physical habitat characteristics including light, temperature, flow, sediment transport and substrate conditions, thereby promoting high biological diversity within the river environment.
Ascidian communities in Southern Belize—a problem in diversity and conservation
Authors: Goodbody Ivan 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
Ecotourism has begun to impact the coral barrier reef of Belize. Pelican Cays, near the southern end of the reef, is one of the least disturbed areas and is rich in ascidian species.
Both the lack of stress and spatial competition probably contribute to the ability of normally cryptic species to live in exposed conditions. Activities associated with the growth in ecotourism are a potential threat to these unusual communities.
It is recommended that a rationale for the protection and management of this environmentally important area be developed.
Does topic metadata help with Web search?
Authors: Hawking David , Zobel Justin 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIt has been claimed that topic metadata can be used to improve the accuracy of text searches. Here, we test this claim by examining the contribution of metadata to effective searching within Web sites published by a university with a strong commitment to and substantial investment in metadata. The authors use four sets of queries, a total of 463, extracted from the university's official query logs and from the university's site map. The results are clear: The available metadata is of little value in ranking answers to those queries. A follow‐up experiment with the Web sites published in a particular government jurisdiction confirms that this conclusion is not specific to the particular university. Examination of the metadata present at the university reveals that, in addition to implementation deficiencies, there are inherent problems in trying to use subject and description metadata to enhance the searchability of Web sites. Our experiments show that link anchor text, which can be regarded as metadata created by others, is much more effective in identifying best answers to queries than other textual evidence. Furthermore, query‐independent evidence such as link counts and uniform resource locator (URL) length, unlike subject and description metadata, can substantially improve baseline performance.
Novel Unsymmetric α‐Diimine Nickel(II) Complexes: Suitable Catalysts for Copolymerization Reactions
Authors: Meinhard Dieter , Rieger Bernhard 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe established a strategy to synthesize novel unsymmetric 2,3‐diaza‐1,4‐dithiane ligands. Reaction of [Ni(acac)2] and trityl tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate in the presence of these ligands afforded the corresponding salt‐type complexes. All new compounds were characterized by means of elemental analysis and NMR spectroscopy, and the complexes additionally by mass spectroscopy. NMR spectroscopic experiments on polymers generated by the symmetric ligand/trimethylaluminum catalyst system showed that all products were nearly linear, independent of the polymerization conditions. By contrast, polymers produced by the unsymmetric ligand/trimethylaluminum catalyst system under homopolymerization conditions were branched (15–24 ‰). Additionally, copolymerization experiments with propylene and 1‐hexene afforded copolymers with a branching level of up to 50 ‰.
Cholesterol and serum albumin as risk factors for death in patients undergoing general surgery
Authors: Palma S , Cosano A , Mariscal M , Martínez-Gallego G , Medina-Cuadros M , Delgado-Rodríguez M 
Published: February 2007

Abstract

Background
Serum levels of total cholesterol, its fractions (high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol) and albumin are related to a poor outcome during hospital stay. It has been not assessed whether they are related to death in the long term after general surgery.

Methods
This prospective cohort study included 2848 general surgical patients with a median follow-up of 6 years after discharge from hospital. Sampling for biochemical measurements was done at the time of admission. The outcome investigated was all-cause mortality and multivariable Cox regression was used for statistical analysis.

Results
Three hundred and seventy-eight patients (13·3 per cent) died during follow-up. Serum albumin (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 2·2 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 1·5 to 3·4) for lowest versus highest quintile), total cholesterol (HR 1·6 (95 per cent c.i. 1·1 to 2·3) for lowest versus highest quintile) and HDL-C (HR 1·6 (95 per cent c.i. 1·1 to 2·4) for lowest versus highest quintile) showed a significant inverse relationship with all-cause mortality in both crude and multivariable analyses. Serum albumin and HDL-C were associated with death for up to 2 years after surgery, whereas total cholesterol had the strongest association more than 2 years after discharge.

Conclusion
Low levels of serum albumin, total cholesterol and HDL-C are associated with death after discharge from hospital in patients having general surgery.
Corporate self‐greenewal: Strategic responses to environmentalism
Authors: Shrivastava Paul , Scott Howard I. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe rise of environmentalism in the past decade has become a major transforming force in pollutive and hazard prone industries. Corporate environmental responsiveness is not simply a peripheral and one of the many ‘social’ or ‘ethical’ issues facing business. It is becoming a central concern for competitiveness, productivity, and profitability. It is creating strategic transformation of companies in a diverse range of industries such as, Autos, Chemicals, Oil, Fast Foods, Power Generation, Pharmaceuticals, etc.The process of environmentally directed self‐renewal, called ‘greenewal’ here, affects all aspects of companies. It implies changes in products, production systems, waste management practices and internal systems. It seeks to make companies simultaneously more competitive and environmentally responsible. This paper describes the pressures of and responses to environmentalism in a selected set of industries. It examines the processes of greenewal that companies are undergoing. It identifies implications for strategic greening of firms.
Issues in the implementation of proactive environmental strategies
Authors: Rothenberg Sandra , Maxwell James , Marcus Dr Alfred 
Published: February 2007

AbstractManagement consultants, environmental groups, and industry trade associations have all recently offered guidelines for companies to improve environmental performance.1 The guidelines suggest ways that companies can implement strategic change to move beyond compliance with regulation, assume responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products, and gain public credibility. Much of the advice offered can be useful to managers who are responding to rapidly changing environmental pressures.Nevertheless, implementation of some of the general guidelines could impose undue costs or introduce untoward organisational consequences for certain companies. While mentioned as an issue in the management literature, companies need more systematic advice on how best to tailor these broad guidelines for environmental strategic change to the specific needs and capabilities of their companies. In addition, as many companies are comprised of diverse business units that are sometimes linked together only through financial controls, managers must adapt environmental management programs to unique ‘substructures’ within the firm. These substructures can differ dramatically in their environmental performance and their management capabilities.Elsewhere we have offered a framework for analysing environmental strategies and management programs.2 In this paper, we identify some of the implementation issues that confront companies when they introduce environmental strategic change. We argue that environmental strategies are most effectively implemented when they are consistent with the organisational characteristics and operating context of the company involved.We use Volvo's experience with environmental strategic change to highlight many of the difficulties that companies may encounter when altering their approach to environmental performance. The case illustrates how a company can modify its own strategy and management programs for more effective change. It is an interesting case to study because of the proactive and comprehensive nature of Volvo's environmental strategy and management programs.
The importance of fit between individual values and organisational culture in the greening of industry
Authors: Hoffman Andrew J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIndividual and societal values with respect to environmental protection have been shown to have grown significantly in the past decade and can be expected to continue to grow. As a result, companies that do not materially adopt environmental values into their corporate value systems will find their culture to be incongruent with the personal values of their employees. Under such circumstances, these employees will face the choice of three sub‐optimal options: (1) dissatisfied compliance with the corporate values; (2) resolution to change the corporate values; or (3) resignation from the organization. Those companies that are able to achieve a congruent fit between individual and organizational values will benefit from higher worker satisfaction, longer tenure and greater loyalty.
Environmental management in Devon and Cornwall's small and medium sized enterprise sector
Authors: Hutchinson Andrew , Chaston Ian 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis paper suggests that environmental impacts can be reduced in the SME sector through more detailed, less generic model developments for each industrial sector based on best practices and not on strategic management systems. It also suggests simplification of environmental support organisations and advocates the development of the concept of Energy Performance Contracting to Environmental Performance Contracting. There are undoubtedly many ways in which SMEs can improve their environmental performance but it is questionable that within the present economic system environmental sustainability will ever be achieved. Increased environmental regulation would certainly level the playing field but would not change the fundamental attitudes towards the environment as a generator of maximum wealth for the sole purpose of short term consumption. Self regulation is certainly the ultimate goal, where individuals and businesses recognise and respect the environment on more of an holistic level and where other individual utilities are gained from work aside from financial gain. The argument is that this radical (used here in its true sense to mean from the root) change of economic priorities could be achieved through a fair trading system run on a bioregional level. However at the moment self regulation within the present economic system seems ineffective as the environment is simply not a priority for SMEs. Small scale environmental improvements may occur but results from this research suggest that commitment to the environment on a practical rather than theoretical level needs to exist for substantial change to take place. This commitment is unlikely to increase substantially within an economic system that does not attach higher value to the environment. The attainment of environmental sustainability would require a fresh analysis of the economic system and our own individual consciousness.
Regulating the environment: Changing from constraint to gentle coercion
Authors: Georg Susse 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis article examines the changes in regulatory practices which have taken place in Denmark over the last twenty years. Danish environmental policy has been subject to several rounds of regulatory reform, aimed at streamlining existing regulation and making it more effective. Several new policy instruments have in this process been added to the regulatory repertoire, increasing the flexibility of the regulatory system. The strategic approach to the development and implementation of environmental policy, adopted by the Danish government, marks a change of regulatory regime, i.e. a change in the way environmental problems are perceived and in the choice of instruments to remedy these problems. The article argues that this is the result of the regulatory learning processes, and that the emerging regulatory regime, based on cooperation, represents a different way of harnessing the market forces than traditionally advocated. The article concludes that this regulatory regime opens up for a more systemic approach to preventing pollution.
The limits and possibilities in designing the environmentally sustainable firm
Authors: Östlund Susanne 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIn the mid‐1980s national and international pressures re‐emerged on organisations to take responsibility for the environmental externalities created by industrial activities. With the Brundtland Report (1987) strong support for the principle of sustainable development in the protection of the natural environment emerged. This instigated organisations to engage in the development of environmental policies, incorporation of environmental strategies in product development, assessment of environmental impact of products and production activities, and increased green advertising.In spite of promising industrial environmental activities, a recent Swedish study (Arnfalk and Thidell, 1992) shows that the dominant force for environmental efforts remains legislation ‐ or threats thereof ‐ rather than integration of environmental criteria in designing and developing product‐ and production systems. To understand the limited response to environmental challenges we explored the sources of inertia in relation to environmental change activities in industrial networks (i) theoretically through a review of inter‐organisational literature on industrial networks and change, and institutional approaches to organisation; and (ii) empirically through some insights from three case studies of the mobilisation and coordination activities in industrial networks involved in substituting the use of Chlorofluorocarbons, CFCs, in refrigerators, and in the production processes of flexible foam and circuit boards.The theoretical review suggests that organisations are embedded in dependency relationships with other organisations that will restrict the material resources and social relations any given actor has to its relevant environment and, hence, influence possible actions and outcomes of environmental change. Product, production, and administrative systems are highly coordinated and adapted to each other which places considerable limitations on the willingness and ability of network actors and systems, to change.The empirical studies show interdependencies and inertia in the technological as well as the relational systems. Evidence of the internalising of environmental problems into individual or network behaviour was not found. Instead, when forced to change, actors cooperated to find solutions within established relationships that did not alter existing products and production systems. On the firm and network levels of observation the pattern of response that emerged during the change processes was the diffusion of solutions, not by strategic design, but through overlapping and interlocked network relations, i.e., through processes of institutionalisation. Our study suggests that the re‐orientation processes towards environmental sustainability in a firm can best be understood in the context of structures and processes on the network rather than on the organisational level.
The greening of the EC agrochemical market: Regulation and competition
Authors: Nadaï Alain 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis paper analyses the process of harmonisation of national pesticides regulations in the EC. One of the outcomes of this process was, in 1991, the adoption of an EC regulation which includes new environmental requirements for pesticides to be sold on the EC market.This regulatory process shows an example of trade‐off between competition policy and environmental policy. After having described the competition in the agrochemical sector, the paper examines this trade‐off in two ways. Firstly, the behaviour of industrial interest groups throughout the process and their influence in the devising of the regulation is considered. Secondly, the impact of competitive issues on the implementation of part of the 1991 regulation (i.e. the re‐registration of old pesticides commercialised in the EC) is analysed.This case study confirms some general results of the regulatory capture theory but it also points out some limits of these theories: firms seemed to be much more sensitive to negative pay‐offs than to positive ones when deciding to become involved in this regulatory process.A second insight brought up by this case study concerns the link between competition policy and environmental policy and its influence on the efficiency of the latter. Environment‐competition trade‐off in the agrochemical sector confronts the regulator, when it adopts environmental policy, with two risks: a risk of changing the structure of the industry (from a differentiated and innovative one to a commodity one) if the regulator does not provide sufficient pay‐offs for environmental R&D costs, or a risk of allowing part of the industry to increase monopoly rents. Both risks would affect environmental efficiency, either by reducing the innovation in the sector or by over‐protecting ‘greener’ pesticides from competition on price.
From market failure to organisational failure
Authors: Gabel H. Landis , Sinclair‐Désgagné Bernard 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIn this paper, we argue that environmental economists who have dedicated their attention to problems of market and regulatory failure have been remiss in ignoring the potential for failure in the one institution that actually manages environmental resources ‐ the business firm. Traditionally the firm has been modelled as a unitary, rational, optimising persona ficta. There is, however, abundant empirical and theoretical evidence to suggest that the business firm is an imperfect institution in that there are systematic deviations between the environmental objectives of the firm's leaders (principals) and the actions of the firm's employees (agents) which determine environmental performance.In the paper, we draw parallels between the causes of market failure and public policy tools to correct them on one hand and the causes of organisational failure and the management tools suited to their remedy on the other. Although much of the paper is concerned with the interrelationship between public policy that promotes sustainability and business policy to fashion a sustainable enterprise, our work is relevant irrespective of the reason why a firm's principal may want to improve environmental performance. No matter what the reason, the principal must concern him‐ or herself with operationalising objectives in management systems. It is consistent with the precautionary principle to assume that employees will do what the firm measures and rewards, not what its principal says is important.We build a verbal model, based on the language of principal‐agent theory, to analyse how different management instruments might be employed to improve the firm's environmental performance. The model is one of three decision makers in a vertical hierarchy. Each of the first two has various instruments at its disposal to influence the behaviour of the agents subordinate to it. In the end, the goal is to ensure consistency between social, economic, and personal objectives.The specific management tools we analyse, with reference to the formal modelling which has appeared in the literature, include the compensation system, quantification and monitoring of non‐financial objectives, internal pricing, horizontal task restructuring, centralisation vs. decentralisation of decision making, and corporate sanctions of agents for negligence.We conclude the paper by reiterating that the corporate policy statements to the effect that the firm should respect the environment are insufficient to ensure that result. In addition, firms' principals must operationalise that goal in the systems of measurement and control which govern the behaviour of those who really matter ‐ the employees.
A case study of ethical/green/environmental funds, corporate governance and stakeholder management
Authors: Schoenenberger Nicolas 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis paper investigates how far green, ethical and/or environmental funds are deployed to represent the interests of the individual investors and to what extent the business community is encouraged to adopt ‘greener’ behaviour. Data were collected through a questionnaire and developed in the form of a case study. Twenty green ethical and environmental funds were surveyed in the UK. The main findings are that fund managers claim that their funds are invested on behalf of the investors. They see their fund promoting the ethical/environmental values of the investors. Fund managers further think that they have an influence on companies they invest in and believe in encouraging companies to become better corporate citizens. There is, however, little evidence of funds' action on companies. While green/ethical funds, and more generally the financial community, are potentially powerful instruments of change, they are, however, still very much governed by conventional financial tools and criteria.