pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Genetic influences on prefrontal activation during a verbal fluency task in children: A twin study using near-infrared spectroscopy

Objective: The genetic and environmental influences on prefrontal function in childhood are underinvestigated due to the difficulty of measuring prefrontal function in young subjects, for which near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a suitable functional neuroimaging technique that facilitates the easy and noninvasive measurement of blood oxygenation in the superficial cerebral cortices.Method: Using a two‐channel NIRS arrangement, we measured changes in bilateral prefrontal blood oxygenation during a category version of the verbal fluency task (VFT) in 27 monozygotic twin pairs and 12 same‐sex dizygotic twin pairs ages 5–17 years. We also assessed the participant's full‐scale intelligence quotient (FIQ) and retrieved parental socioeconomic status (SES). Classical structured equation modeling was used to estimate the heritability.Results: The heritability of VFT‐related brain activation was estimated to be 44% and 37% in the right and left prefrontal regions, respectively. We also identified a significant genetic contribution (74%) to FIQ, but did not to VFT task performance. Parental SES was not correlated with FIQ, task performance, or task‐related prefrontal activation.Conclusions: This finding provides further evidence that variance in prefrontal function has a genetic component since childhood and highlights brain function, as measured by NIRS, as a promising candidate for endophenotyping neurodevelopmental disorders
Cooperation without awareness: A multiperson generalization of the minimal social situation

This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Coleman, A.A.; Colman, A.M.; Thomas, R.M., ‘Cooperation without awareness: A multiperson generalization of the minimal social situation’ in Behavioral Science, 1990, 35 (2), pp. 115-121, which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bs.3830350204/abstract.The minimal social situation, which arises in living systems and subsystems at the level of the group, is a two-person game of incomplete information in which the players are ignorant of their interdependence. The win-stay, lose-change principle, based on the law of effect, explains how they nonetheless learn to cooperate when the game is repeated many times. In this paper the minimal social situation is generalized to groups arbitrary size with the original two-person game representing a special case. Some theorems are derived from the assumption that the players follow the win-stay, lose-change principle, and the circumstances that result in joint cooperation are formally characterized. Whether or not an iterated multiperson minimal social situation results joint cooperation under the win-stay, lose-change principle is shown to depend on the configuration of initial choices and the number of times that the group size is evenly divisible by two. Finally, some implications for experimental research are outlined.Submitted versio
Social enterprise resilience in sub-Saharan Africa

This paper examines resilience in development-oriented social enterprises in sub-Saharan Africa drawing upon in-depth case study research. It explores the nature of the strategic challenges faced by social enterprises in sub-Saharan African contexts and which necessitate organisational resilience. Key resources and capabilities possessed by resilient social enterprises are identified. Finally, strategies adopted by resilient social enterprises are explored. This research not only contributes to literature on resilience in social enterprises but also works on wider organisational resilience, particularly in complex and unpredictable environments. Furthermore, it contributes to hitherto limited work on social enterprises in sub-Saharan Africa. Finally, this paper has implications for practicing managers in social enterprises who are looking to build organisational resilience
Convergence in Environmental Reporting: Assessing the Carbon Disclosure Project

Preprint; final version published as: Matisoff, D. C., Noonan, D. S., & O’Brien, J. J. (2013). Convergence in Environmental Reporting: Assessing the Carbon Disclosure Project. Business Strategy and the Environment, 22(5), 285–305. doi:10.1002/bse.1741We perform content analysis on Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) responses from 2003 to 2010, focusing on the extent to which firms account for indirect emissions and have exhibited convergence in carbon reporting. We also examine standardization in reporting and the variation of reporting behavior across industry and country. We find that the CDP has produced a mixed record of improved transparency. In some areas, such as Scope 2 emissions, the CDP has demonstrated an increase in transparency in later years. However, the transparency and quality of direct emissions and Scope 3 emissions have not improved over time. Japanese and European Union firms have increased transparency, while American firms have decreased transparency. Energy-intensive industries have either increased transparency or remained the same, while less energy-intensive industries have become less transparent. We demonstrate some evidence of a learning effect among firms after participating in the CDP survey
Corporate environmental and economic performances of Japanese manufacturing firms: Empirical study for sustainable development

This study examines the relationships between environmental performance and economic performance in Japanese manufacturing firms. The environmental performance indicators include CO2 emissions and the aggregate toxic risk associated with chemical emissions relative to sales. Return on assets (ROA) is used as an indicator of economic performance. We demonstrate that there is a significant, inverted U-shaped relationship between ROA and environmental performance calculated by aggregated toxic risk. We also find that the environmental performance increases ROA through both returns on sales and capital turnover improvement. However, we observe a significant, positive relationship between financial performance and environmental performance based on CO2 emissions. These findings may provide evidence for the consequences of environmental firm behavior and sustainable development.
Environmental Management in the Transport and Logistics Sector: Findings from a Qualitative Study

There is an increasing importance of sustainability in the development of companies' business strategies. Due to its impact on the environment, this is particularly essential for companies of the transport and logistics sector. The paper explores several factors that influence the environmental behaviour of transport and logistics companies in Austria. It discusses the importance of the economic impact on environmental management decision in detail and analyses the sector's specific characteristics in terms of environmental behaviour. A case-based approach involving multiple field studies with face-to-face expert interviews and secondary data analysis was used to evaluate environmental performance and specific practices. Due to various factors like a lack of end-user contact and high levels of competition, the transport and logistics sector does not show much environmentally friendly behaviour. We can confirm that the economic factor is crucial for companies' decisions on the implementation of environmental practices. Using selected cases, we will demonstrate how environmental measures contribute to overall business performance. Furthermore, suggestions are given as to how the government can further support transport and logistics companies in this regard. Because there is little evidence of tangible environmental practices in the sector of transport and logistics and their impact on the business performance, this study is both exploratory and explanatory in its nature. (authors' abstract
The Effects of Negative Incidents in Sustainability Reporting on Investors' Judgments-an Experimental Study of Third-party Versus Self-disclosure in the Realm of Sustainable Development

Contains fulltext :
                  160305.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)
                
                  Contains fulltext :
                  160305pre.pdf (preprint version ) (Open Access)This study examines how the disclosure of negative sustainability-related incidents affects the investment-related judgments of decision-makers. Participants in a sequential 2?×?2 between-subjects experiment first received a company's financial information before viewing additional sustainability information (by the company and by a non-governmental organization (NGO); with and without negative disclosure). Results indicate that self-reporting of negative incidents does not affect decision-makers’ stock price estimates and investment decisions compared with judgments based on financial information only. However, third-party disclosure of these incidents by a NGO has a negative affect on these investment-related judgments. Furthermore, the magnitude of the NGO reporting effect depends on whether the company itself simultaneously reports these incidents. Thus, disclosing negative incidents in sustainability reporting could lose some of its apparent stigma. Instead of avoiding negative reporting altogether, managers might use it as a risk mitigation tool in their reporting strategy. The results also emphasize the power of the often-mentioned ‘watchdog’ function of NGOs acting as stakeholder advocates
Enhancing corporate environmental performance through reporting and roadmaps

Managing the carbon footprint of companies and addressing their respective decarbonization plans is a challenging endeavour. The aim of this study is to help companies better understand the issues around decarbonization and environmental performance by suggesting a holistic management process on which they could embark. This process comprises two crucial steps, which are (a) sustainability reporting and (b) low-carbon roadmaps. These steps are covered and further developed based on a detailed study of the UK food retail sector. This sector is relevant due to its economic and environmental importance, but most importantly it has a significant record of available environmental reports in the public domain and a large potential to influence consumers, policy makers and multiple supply chains. Sustainability reporting is assessed by analysing environmental KPIs disclosed in corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports, and then these are compared against industry standards. This analysis highlights a general lack of consistency and transparency in CSR reporting of UK food retailers. Consequently, a low-carbon roadmap based on relevant KPIs and on the ‘backcasting’ framework is presented as a case study in order to showcase how a hypothetical UK food retailer can employ a low-carbon roadmap. The case study demonstrates that ambitious environmental targets are achievable if robust corporate action plans are followed. Furthermore, the case study indicates that capital might be misallocated in favour of highly visible environmental stores and on-site energy generation technologies, whilst more could be done by applying energy efficiency measures that have the potential to deliver substantial carbon savings
Waste Livelihoods Amongst the Poor - Through the Lens of Bricolage

This paper examines two social enterprises and 25+ informal economy micro‐entrepreneurs in Kenya who utilize waste materials to generate income, considered through the conceptual lens of bricolage. Waste materials can all be considered as sources of free or discounted materials that in resource‐constrained and poor communities might be leveraged to generate income in the absence of employment. This paper explores three key themes that emerge from the research findings, namely the various strategic dimensions of the cases, the networks and social capital they leverage and how these livelihood models relate to various dimensions of bricolage such as improvisation, making do and the process of ‘fiddling’ or recombining resources. The findings also suggest that differing waste livelihoods have different rates of return, or profitability, and differing input requirements of capital, skills and knowledge. The paper also stresses the role of boundary spanning organizations such as NGOs and hybrid/social enterprises
A Personal Construct Psychology based investigation into a Product Service System for renting pushchairs to consumers

This is the peer-reviewed version of the following article: Maurizio Catulli and Nick Reed, ???A Personal Construct Psychology Based Investigation Into a Product Service System for Renting Pushchairs to Consumers???, Business Strategy and the Environment, Vol. 26(5): 656-671, February 2017, which has been published in final form at DOI: 10.1002/bse.1944. Under embargo. Embargo end date: 1 February 2019. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.This paper explores how consumers construe a Product Service System (PSS) for the supply of pushchairs. A PSS is a system of products, services, networks of actors and supporting infrastructure designed to be more sustainable than traditional business models. PSS face an implementation challenge in consumer markets and this case based research explores some reasons for this. The study applies Personal Construct Psychology (in particular, Repertory Grid Technique) which has not previously been used in relation to researching PSS. Results suggest that PSS might be difficult to implement in relation to pushchairs. Renting pre-used equipment may meet resistance because of a perceived risk that acquisition by this means might endanger infants. Participants in the study construed buying new products from specialist infant product shops as being the best way of acquiring them. Accordingly PSS providers may, for instance, have to implement certified quality assurance processes in order to reassure consumers
Sustainable development, sustainability leadership and firm valuation: differences across Europe

Artigo em revista científicaSustainable development is nowadays a high priority for firms all over the world. Consequently, numerous firms have increased their social responsibility initiatives, reinforcing the credibility and trust of their stakeholders. However, prior research about the relevance of sustainability leadership for the European investment community is scarce. In this context, the aim of this study is to examine whether sustainability leadership – proxied by membership of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index Europe – is value relevant for investors on the 10 major European stock markets over the 2001–2013 period. Our overall results reveal that there exist significant differences across markets. These findings are relevant especially for investors, but also for the
managers of listed firms, market regulators and policymakers. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environmentinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Determinants of environmental management systems standards implementation: evidence from Greek industry

This paper employs logistic regression analysis to test a model that predicts the implementation or not of Environmental Management Systems Standards (EMSS) by considering various factors as explanatory variables. The dependent variable is a dichotomous as either implementing or not EMSS by industrial firms. From past experience we identify 15 major variables contributing to implementation of EMSS. A sample of 259 respondents (84 implementing and 175 not) is used to estimate the parameters of the logistic regression model employing maximum likelihood. The results show an overall significant model with 4 of the 15 variables significant. The significance of management perception of environmental issues on their decision to implement EMSS was confirmed with regards to their perception on win-win possibilities. Pressure on companies to improve their environmental performance does not result in higher uptake of the standards. Company’s image and size are important factors in its decision to implement EMSS.
Time Horizons of Environmental Versus Non-Environmental Costs: Evidence from US Tort Lawsuits

The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bse.494One explanation for a positive correlation between environmental and financial performance
at the firm level is a bias in firms’ investment evaluation processes caused
by systematic differences between environmental and other investment opportunities.
One of these systematic differences, often hypothesized but still unverified, is
that environmental costs occur farther in the future than other costs. We empirically
test this hypothesis, and find statistically significant support for it. In our data set the
mean time lag for environmental costs was more than ten years, compared with five
years for the control set costs. Such a difference could induce managers to accept
too much environmental liability if they evaluate investments using discounted cash
flow methods with a discount rate based on the firm-wide cost of capital.US Department of Energy Integrated Manufacturing Predoctoral FellowshipUS Department of Energy Integrated Manufacturing Predoctoral Fellowshi
The Processes of Defining Corporate Responsibility: A Study of Swedish Garment Retailers' Responsibility

Despite extensive research on corporate responsibility, little research exists on how the
inter-organisational processes of defining corporate responsibility develop. In this paper,
we present a framework based on Actor-Network Theory (ANT) for analysing these
processes. The developed framework is illustrated in a study of the redefinition of
Swedish garment retailers’ responsibilities for workers’ rights at suppliers’ factories
between 1996 and 2004. We show that definition processes can be characterised as
battles for the right to interpretation, and that traditionally non-dominant actors can, at
least temporarily, win these battles and dictate the development of the processes for
defining corporate responsibility. We also show that definition processes can take an
exclusionary form prohibiting certain actors from participating
Exploring the dilemma of local sourcing versus international development - The case of the flower industry

This paper examines the debate surrounding local versus international sourcing of retail products, particularly food and flowers, in light of the emerging carbon imperative. It begins by examining the Fairtrade market and then examines 'food miles' and carbon impact. The complexity of sourcing decisions when considering both international development issues and the emerging carbon agenda is considered using the case of the cut flower industry. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Consumer driven corporate environmentalism: fact or fiction?

Over the last three decades, environmental concerns have moved from being a fringe issue to becoming a major socio-economic issue. While the role of factors such as regulatory and societal pressures, in driving organizations to be environmentally responsive, is now well
understood, the role of consumers remains debated. It is however, important to understand the role that consumers play because they can be the crucial pull factor for organizations.
This paper re-examines the role of consumers in driving business organizations to be environmentally responsive. Our findings lead us to conclude that, despite the hype surrounding green consumerism, it has not yet matured to the stage where it can influence organizations into being environmentally responsive
Where are they now? tracking the longitudinal evolution of environmental businesses from the 1990s

In 1991 Steven Bennett published one of the first major publications on the concept of ecopreneurship, business opportunities resulting from the emerging environmental agenda of the late 1980s and early 1990s (Ecopreneuring: the Complete Guide to Small Business Opportunities From the Environmental Revolution. Wiley: New York). Since then a body of literature has developed that explores the idea of the intersection of entrepreneurship with environmentally and socially responsible behaviour. Many of the business cases presented by Bennett represent early adopters of green products, services and emerging eco-markets. Given the current emphasis on the transformation of business practices towards a more sustainable paradigm it is timely to review these 94 early ecopreneurial examples and consider their status two decades on from the original publication. This paper explores the definitions of environmental and social enterprise, and considers the longitudinal survival of these companies and the emerging trends in consolidation and failure of the sampled companies. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Making sense of ecopreneurs' decisions to sell up

This article examines the phenomenon of values-based firms being sold to larger mainstream firms. Its focus is on the sensemaking rationale offered by a New Zealand ecopreneur who sold an organic beverage company after 20 years at the helm. The company case study is presented through two enterprise development narratives based on alternative sensemaking modes. Key values-related challenges arising in ecopreneurial business are identified, including (1) adhering to the founder's values, (2) growing the business sustainably, (3) deciding whether and when to expand ownership to cope with undercapitalization, (4) deciding who to bring in as new owners to ensure values alignment, (5) determining how and when the founder might leave and (6) ensuring the attractiveness of the sustainability values so that they might be retained. Other factors implicated in the sale of values-based firms are also postulated. It is argued that, although ecopreneurs might be accused of selling out their principles by selling up, there is some evidence that eco-brands are being maintained and that growth prospects could be improved after acquisition. Serial ecopreneurship may even extend social benefits
Developmental trends in different types of spontaneous false memories: Implications for the legal field

An emerging area of memory research is showing that a certain type of false memory called spontaneous false memories follows a developmental trajectory that is the opposite of what is commonly assumed in false memory research. That is, spontaneous false memories are more likely to occur in adults than in children. The present study focused on developmental trends of different types of spontaneous false memories. Specifically, in the current study, 6-8-year-olds, 10-12-year-olds, and adults were presented with two methods to induce spontaneous false memories. That is, participants were presented with semantically-related words lists that are commonly used to evoke spontaneous false memories (i.e, Deese/Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm). Furthermore, they were presented with a video in which related details were not shown but were presented during a recognition task. Our results showed that children were more likely to form false memories than adults in the video false memory paradigm whereas DRM false memories were more evident in adults than in children. Furthermore, we found that on a general level, DRM false memories were positively related to video spontaneous false memories. We explain that stimuli that contain obvious themes attenuate or even reverse developmental trends in spontaneous false memories