Corporate Environmental and Economic Performance of Japanese Manufacturing Firms: Empirical Study for Sustainable Development

This study examines the relationship 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 improved capital turnover. 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 firms' environmental behavior and sustainable development. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Microprocessor-based temperature indicator using a thermistor as the sensor

A novel microprocessor-based temperature indicator has been developed and described. This indicator provides a linear performance over a wide dynamic temperature range of 0-100°C with an accuracy of ±0-l°C. The interfacing module reduces computing time required by the microprocessor for solving the thermistor equation. Test results are given to support the theory.

A simple, wide-range, linear thermistor-based temperature indicator

A novel thermistor-based temperature indicator using an RC oscillator and an up/down counter has been developed and described. The indicator provides linear performance over a wide dynamic temperature range of 0-100°C. This indicator is free from the error due to lead resistances of the thermistor and gives a maximum error of ±0 · 1°C in the range 0-100°C. Test results are given to support the theory.

Boosting morale and improving performance in the nursing setting

AIM AND BACKGROUND: While the importance of morale is well researched in the nursing literature, strategies and interventions are not so prolific. The complexities of interpersonal relationships within the clinical domain, and the critical issues faced by nurses on a daily basis, indicate that morale, job satisfaction and motivation are essential components in improving workplace efficiency, output and communication amongst staff. Drawing on educational, organizational and psychological literature, this paper argues that the ability to inspire morale in staff is a fundamental indicator of sound leadership and managerial characteristics. EVALUATION AND KEY ISSUES: Four practical concepts that could be implemented in the clinical setting are proposed. These include: role preparation for managers, understanding internal and external motivation, fostering internal motivation in nursing staff, and the importance of attitude when investing in relationships.

Microprocessor-based temperature indicator using platinum resistance as the sensor

A novel microprocessor-based platinum resistance temperature indicator has been developed and described. This indicator provides a linear performance over a wide dynamic temperature range of - 183.0°C to +200°C with an accuracy of better than ±0.05°C. To sasily carry out the linearization of platinum thermometer through software, the modified Callendar-Van Dusen equation is used. Test results are given to support the theory.

Distribuição geográfica das unidades laboratoriais, cobertura de exames e performance da rede de laboratórios que realiza rastreamento do câncer de colo de útero, segundo municípios do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.

O câncer de colo de útero é o terceiro tipo de neoplasia mais comum em mulheres no estado do Rio de Janeiro, perdendo apenas para câncer de mama e pulmão. Não há informação disponível sobre a qualidade dos exames utilizados para prevenção do câncer do colo do útero nos municípios fluminenses. O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a distribuição geográfica das unidades laboratoriais e a cobertura de exames e a performance da rede de laboratórios de citopatologia do estado do Rio de Janeiro, segundo regiões mesopolitanas e municípios, no que diz respeito aos exames citopatológicos realizados no âmbito do SUS, considerando a qualidade, a normalização dos procedimentos e a gestão do laboratório e propor melhorias. A pesquisa usa um desenho de estudo do tipo transversal incluindo dados relativos ao funcionamento dos laboratórios que fazem exame papanicolaou no âmbito do SUS no estado do Rio de Janeiro. Trata-se de um estudo com dados secundários, já coletados para atender a ação de avaliação dos laboratórios de citopatologia no âmbito do SUS, nesse trabalho também é usada a abordagem ecológica para estimar a cobertura dos exames em relação à população-alvo do programa de rastreamento de câncer de colo de útero. A rede de laboratórios de citopatologia do estado do Rio de Janeiro não teve desempenho satisfatório. As regiões que tiveram laboratórios com melhor desempenho foram Baia da Ilha Grande e Baixada Litorânea e aquelas com laboratórios de pior desempenho foram Médio Paraíba e Noroeste. Os critérios avaliados com melhor desempenho foram da dimensão qualidade e o mais fraco desempenho foi observado para os critérios da dimensão normalização. A dimensão de gestão de laboratórios teve desempenho regular. Um relevante achado desse estudo foi a insuficiente qualidade da leitura de lâminas, inclusive procedimentos de releitura, que pode ser explicado pela suposta falta de capacitação dos profissionais em todo o processo exigido desde a identificação, fixação, e formas de encaminhamento do material até a chegada aos laboratórios. Com relação à cobertura, alguns municípios se aproximam do parâmetro (0,30) porém, embora este dado revele a capacidade da rede estadual do rio de Janeiro de ofertar exames, é preciso que ele seja analisado em conjunto com as situações de citologia anterior e tempo da citologia anterior para verificação da periodicidade da oferta e o melhor dimensionamento do alcance da população alvo assim como a abrangência da rede laboratorial de cada município. Conclusão: Os dados mostram repetição desnecessária de exames citopatológicos, o que implica custos injustificados e uma situação ainda mais deficitária de alcance das ações do que tem revelado o indicador razão. Ocorrendo principalmente em regiões com predominância de laboratórios privados. A expansão da cobertura com base na periodicidade recomendada do exame é relevante no quadro estadual encontrado e deve vir associada a iniciativas que garantam a qualidade no processo de coleta e análise do material, bem como a adequada capacitação dos profissionais para adoção de condutas recomendadas para as lesões identificadas.

Ranking binder creep performance using the arrb elastometer

This paper discusses a laboratory study used to characterize bituminous binders based on their dynamic creep resistance. Laboratory testing using four different loading regimes on asphalt mixes with six different bituminous binders was undertaken. Creep cycles to 2% accumulated strain were used to define the creep resistance of the asphalt mixes with the various binders. Underlying viscosities of the bitumens were derived using the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) Elastometer. Marshall stability was measured on the specimens that were prepared using gyratory compaction. Regression plots were prepared that link creep resistance, underlying viscosity, and Marshall stability. It was found that the ARRB Elastometer is able to measure underlying viscosity, which is a reasonable predictor of dynamic creep resistance. Marshall stability was also shown to be a good indicator of dynamic creep resistance. Therefore, simpler tests such as Marshall stability and Elastometer can be used to rank bituminous materials for asphalt mix design purposes in the laboratory. © 2010 ASCE.

Effect of dietary linolenic acid/linoleic acid ratio on growth performance, hepatic fatty acid profiles and intermediary metabolism of juvenile yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary linolenic acid (LNA)linoleic acid (LA) ratio on growth performance, hepatic fatty acid profile and intermediary metabolism of juvenile yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco. Six isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated to contain incremental levels of LNA from 0 to 5% at the expense of corn oil (rich in LA), resulting in six dietary treatments with LNA to LA ratios ranging from 0.35 to 14.64. The experiment continued for 7 weeks. Best growth and feed intake were obtained in the fish fed the diets containing the LNA/LA ratios of 1.17 and 2.12 (P<0.05). In contrast, feed conversion ratio was the lowest for fish fed the diets containing the LNA/LA ratios of 1.17 and 2.12 (P<0.05). Dietary LNA to LA ratios significantly influenced viscerosomatic index and hepatosomatic index (P<0.05), but not condition factor (P>0.05). Body composition was also significantly influenced by dietary LNA to LA ratios (P<0.05). Generally, liver FA compositions reflected dietary FA profiles. Declining LA and increasing LNA contents in liver were observed with the increasing dietary LNA/LA ratios (P<0.05). Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) increased with the increasing LNA to LA ratios, suggesting that yellow catfish could elongate and desaturate C18 polyunsaturated fatty acids into highly unsaturated fatty acids. As a consequence, the n-6 fatty acids (FA) declined, and total n-3 FA and n-3/n-6 ratios increased with the dietary ratios of LNA/LA (P<0.05). Dietary LNA to LA ratios significantly influenced several enzymatic activities involved in liver intermediary metabolism (P<0.05), such as lipoprotein lipase, hepatic lipase, pyruvate kinase, succinate dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase, suggesting that dietary LNA/LA ratios had significant effects on nutrient metabolism in the liver. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of the effects of dietary LNA to LA ratios on the enzymatic activities of liver in fish, which provides information on diet quality and utilization, and can also be used as an indicator of the nutritional status of this fish. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Serum cholesterol levels within the high normal range are associated with better cognitive performance among Chinese elderly

© 2016, Serdi and Springer-Verlag France.Objectives: The association between cognitive function and cholesterol levels is poorly understood and inconsistent results exist among the elderly. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association of cholesterol level with cognitive performance among Chinese elderly. Design: A cross-sectional study was implemented in 2012 and data were analyzed using generalized additive models, linear regression models and logistic regression models. Setting: Community-based setting in eight longevity areas in China. Subjects: A total of 2000 elderly aged 65 years and over (mean 85.8±12.0 years) participated in this study. Measurements: Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration were determined and cognitive impairment was defined as Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score≤23. Results: There was a significant positive linear association between TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C and MMSE score in linear regression models. Each 1 mmol/L increase in TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C corresponded to a decreased risk of cognitive impairment in logistic regression models. Compared with the lowest tertile, the highest tertile of TC, LDL-C and HDL-C had a lower risk of cognitive impairment. The adjusted odds ratios and 95% CI were 0.73(0.62–0.84) for TC, 0.81(0.70–0.94) for LDL-C and 0.81(0.70–0.94) for HDL-C. There was no gender difference in the protective effects of high TC and LDL-C levels on cognitive impairment. However, for high HDL-C levels the effect was only observed in women. High TC, LDL-C and HDL-C levels were associated with lower risk of cognitive impairment in the oldest old (aged 80 and older), but not in the younger elderly (aged 65 to 79 years). Conclusions: These findings suggest that cholesterol levels within the high normal range are associated with better cognitive performance in Chinese elderly, specifically in the oldest old. With further validation, low cholesterol may serve a clinical indicator of risk for cognitive impairment in the elderly.

Strength and permeation properties as an indicator of durability of concrete

Durability of concrete is a great concern to all designers, owners and users of reinforced concrete structures. As a result, more restrictive regulations are being introduced in various Codes of Practice dealing with the design of these structures. Attempts are being made by various researchers to develop performance based specification. For this to be successful standard non destructive tests are required which will be used to assess the durability of concretes. In parallel with this approach, a research team in Queen’s University Belfast, U. K., investigated the effect of different mix parameters on workability, strength and various permeation properties. Furthermore, durability parameters such as freeze-thaw salt scaling resistance and carbonation depth were also investigated. The research was part funded by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR). This paper reports of the findings from this study. The results from this investigation showed that some of the non destructive tests used were reasonably well correlated with carbonation and freeze-thaw salt scaling resistance of CEM I concrete. If the mix parameters such as aggregate-cement ratio or water-cement ratio are known, better correlation can be obtained. Further investigation is required varying other mix parameters including various aggregates, admixtures and air entrainments before the result can be used for developing mix design methods for durable concretes. Also long term site tests are required to validate the results obtained from the accelerated laboratory tests used to study the carbonation resistance and freeze-thaw salt scaling resistance.

A study of new photocatalyst indicator inks

This article reports the behaviour of three photocatalyst indicator inks, based on the redox dyes: methylene blue (NIB), resorufin (Rf) and 2,6-dichloroindophenol (DCIP), and assess their performance in comparison to the pioneering resazurin (Rz)-based ink for the rapid assessment of the activity of very thin, photocatalyst films, such as Activ (TM) self-cleaning glass. From a commercial 'demonstrator of photocatalysis' perspective, all three redox dyes appear more attractive compared to Rz since all generate colourless products in the ink formulation when photoreduced on Activ (TM) under anaerobic conditions, whereas, the reduced product from Rz, the redox dye resorufin, Rf. is pink in colour. However, the ink based on Rf is far too slow to effect the rapid measurement of photocatalytic activity even in the absence of oxygen, and in the presence of oxygen the latter inhibits the overall kinetics of photoreduction by re-oxidising the reduced product, dihydroresorufin, HRf, back to Rf. Similarly, despite the attractive rapid rate of photobleaching for NIB under anaerobic conditions, compared to the other redox dyes, the reduced product of the MB-based ink. leuco-MB, is so oxygen-sensitive that the ink cannot be photoreduced under aerobic conditions, thus rendering the ink unsuitable for use in the field. The DCIP-based ink is slightly less easy to photoreduce under both anaerobic and ambient atmospheric conditions compared to the Rz-based ink. However. in addition to its more attractive colour change, the DCIP-based ink is unaffected by the ambient level of oxygen present (%O-2) and the relative humidity (%RH), whereas, for the Rz-based ink, both parameters effect the photoreduction kinetics. By incorporating the DCIP ink into a felt-tipped pen, the ink is suitable for use in the laboratory and field to perform not only a qualitative test, but also to allow a semi-quantitative analysis of photocatalytic activity by eye. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Effect of Seat Location in Lecture Theatres on Academic Performance

The purpose of this research study was to investigate and identify possible patterns relating to academic performance on the effects of university students self-selecting where to sit in a lecture theatre.
The key research questions are:
1. Does seating position affect student performance?
2. Do the most academically able and engaged students regularly sit at the front of lecture theatres?
Academic achievement
Preliminary results suggest significant assessment score differences between those that sit at the front and those that sit further the back. Of those that received a grade of 75%+ (Grade A) 6.67% regularly sat at the back. With the same group 46.67% regularly sat at the front. Of the group that scored less than 50% (Grade D) 0% of students regularly sat at the front. 12.50% regularly sat in the middle zones with 37.50% sitting at the back. It was also observed that the remaining numbers did not consistently sit in the same zone.

Temporal movement
There is little evidence of movement between seating zones of the Grade A group throughout the 24 week period. However there was considerable movement with the Grade D group. Although still under analysis there appears be a pattern of students in this group graduating towards the back seating positions over the course of the programme.

Engagement
The frequency of completed entries on PinPoint was also used as an indicator of engagement. With the Grade A group 75% of them regularly completed an entry whereas in the Grade D group this drops to less than 50%.
Further analysis on the attitudinal factors in relational to seating position and performance are ongoing, but preliminary results suggest that those students that scored highly in attitude tended to sit at the front and middle sections.
It would indeed appear that the more highly engaged and academically capable students voluntarily sit at the front for most lectures. Interestingly as the course progresses those who had lesser engagement and below average midterm results tend to began to sit progressively toward the back. If this is a repeatable pattern then a linear regression analysis of the seating positions and midterm results could help predict students in danger of failing.

Marginal Activity Access Cost (MAAC): a new indicator for sustainable Land Use/Transport (LUT) planning

The paper presents the ‘Marginal Activity Access Cost’, an accessibility indicator providing estimation in monetary terms of the impacts on mobility and on the environment of locating a single new activity in a specific zone of the urban area. In the first part of this paper, the new indicator is presented and compared to other accessibility indicators proposed in literature. In the second part, the MAAC is validated through an application to the urban area of Rome. The paper concludes with brief remarks on using the proposed accessibility indicator as index of performance for sustainable spatial planning.

Environmental indicator frameworks to design and assess environmental monitoring programs

Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, vol. 22, n.1, March 2004, p. 47–62

Environmental performance policy indicators for the public sector: The case of the defence sector

Journal of Environmental Management, nº 82 p. 410–432