Suchergebnisse

AbstractThis paper discusses contemporary developments in penal policy and practice in the light of Professor Stanley Cohen's "Punitive City" concept. It is shown that there is little evidence of a "transformation" in either ideology or practice away from custodial modes of control. Short custodial sentences have much support and, as Cohen suggested, supposed "alternatives" often do not displace custody. For the foreseeable future it is likely that non‐custodial controls will be relatively cost‐effective, rather simple and overtly punitive or reparative in aim: it is highly improbable that they will as Professor Cohen suggests, be oriented towards a "social‐work rationale" of "treatment".

Abstract
Whereas it is widely accepted that strong brands are associated with superior productmarketplace and firm financial performance, their influence on firm risk is less clear. However, recent studies from the marketing-finance interface have started to unveil the impact that marketing activities have on the firm's financial risk, above and beyond ist impact on financial returns. In this study, the association between brand equity and firm risk are investigated. The findings indicate that a firm's consumer-based brand equity (i.e., strong brands) is associated with decreased debtholder and shareholder risk and also reduces the capital costs for the company. Furthermore, brand equity is particularly relevant in protecting firms' equity holders during down-market periods. As a consequence, firms should consider brand management within the firm's risk management strategy and maintain or even increase consumer-based brand equity investments during periods of economic uncertainty.

Abstract
The dislodgeable foliar residue (DFR) is the amount of pesticide that exists on foliage after the pesticide has dried and which could dislodge to the skin or clothes of workers and is a key parameter for non-dietary risk assessments required to demonstrate safe use for pesticide registration. DFR data in the literature are described as insufficiently reliable, limited, and encompasses considerable statistical uncertainties. The purpose of this article is to describe a newly developed laboratory method for the quantification of DFR with an illustrative example. The laboratory method reflected available field DFR methodology but involved controlled application of droplets to leaves and validation of the wash-off process used to remove the residue from the leaf surface before the analytical quantification. A very high level of accuracy (99.7–102.1%) and precision (±1.5%) was achieved. Residue data generated from the illustrated application of the method showed a robust normal distribution, unlike field studies. The method is deemed to be controllable, cost-efficient, and time-saving, taking hours rather than days. This enables the generation of more data to allow extrapolation between the generated data by investigating multiple factors that may influence DFR. An improved understanding of DFR could save time, money, and resources.

ABSTRACTKnowledge‐based view (KBV) theory posits that the acquisition and use of relevant knowledge is key to understanding organizational performance. However, there is relatively little empirical evidence to support or refute several important propositions underlying KBV theory explanations of organizational performance. In particular, the extant literature has focused on individual technical and scientific components of the knowledge bases of firms in dynamic industries, and largely ignored both different levels of informational and experiential knowledge relevant to the market environment, and the increasingly important context of exporting. Our study addresses these knowledge gaps by developing a framework for export venture knowledge management and empirically examining relationships between different types of individual‐level and organizational‐level knowledge relevant to the market environment, architectural marketing capabilities, and the adaptive performance of export ventures. Using primary data collected in the United Kingdom and China, our study indicates that export ventures' organizational‐level experiential and informational knowledge, and individual‐level experiential knowledge relevant to the market environment, is positively associated with export ventures' architectural marketing capabilities, which are in turn associated with the adaptive performance of export ventures.

Abstract
Currently, the standard approach to estimate systemic exposure of workers after contact with dried pesticide residues on crops during re-entry activities relies on using the highest identified dermal absorption value for aqueous spray dilutions. However, recent dermal absorption studies with dried residues and their respective in-use dilutions have shown that this is likely to significantly overestimate their dermal penetration potential and, thus, predicted systemic exposure. The choice of appropriate dose levels for these dermal absorption studies has not been defined. Moreover, actual skin loading during re-entry tasks may differ significantly from that achieved by applying a fixed volume of an aqueous dilution, which is the standard practice in generic dermal absorption studies. To address this, we propose an approach to dose setting for dried residue studies within the current European risk assessment framework. Skin loading for studies can be calculated from the existing exposure algorithms and by taking appropriate body surface areas into account. Thus, skin loading in studies will vary depending on the exact nature and duration of the task and the region of the body exposed, reflecting actual exposure scenarios.

AbstractPersonal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used to reduce exposure when working with chemicals. For pesticides, exposure scenarios comprise mixing and loading (M&L) and application. The exposure prediction model recommended by European regulatory agencies for operator risk assessments—the Agricultural Operator Exposure Model (AOEM) – is based on 48 operator exposure studies involving over 500 professional operators from 10 European countries in typical working situations to assess exposure under realistic field conditions. We used the AOEM data to assess the efficiency of exposure reduction resulting from wearing chemical-resistant nitrile gloves and non-certified working coveralls during M&L (tank and backpack sprayer), applications using groundboom and airblast spraying, and outdoor and indoor (greenhouse) applications using handheld sprayers. All studies indicated consistent and high exposure reduction > 90% for gloves and non-certified coveralls across all investigated scenarios. Exceptions were almost exclusively observed when an operator incorrectly used the PPE. The mean exposure reduction from all operators, including those that used PPE incorrectly, was 95.0% for gloves and 96.4% for polyester/cotton working coveralls during M&L, and 91.1% for gloves and 94.9% for non-certified coveralls during all application scenarios. This analysis confirms the essential role of PPE and non-certified working coveralls in reducing operator exposure to pesticides. Outliers indicate that operators need to be properly trained and adhere to label instructions to apply pesticides according to good agricultural practices.

AbstractThree Closed Transfer Systems (CTS) were evaluated for their reduction of operator exposure to plant protection products during mixing and loading: the inverted extraction systems, easyFlow M and easyconnect, and the probe extraction system, GoatThroat®. Exposure data were generated for gloves, hands, head, inner and outer body dosimeters generated in 4 European countries for high rate (Sorbitol) and low rate (Xylitol) surrogate products used by 12 operators. Exposure values were compared with predicted data using the Agricultural Operator Exposure Model as a benchmark for open pour loading (used in the EFSA Guidance). The CTS types conformed with the ISO 21191 standard for CTS performance, and their potential to significantly reduce operator exposure was confirmed in this study. There was no statistical difference in potential (naked) or actual (one layer of clothing) operator exposure using both inverted CTS types; allowing these data to be pooled. The inverted CTS types resulted in higher mean protection (> 98% potential exposure and > 95% actual exposure) than GoatThroat® (> 80% potential exposure and > 95% actual exposure). These data can be used to derive reduction factors that could be used in the AOEM model for calculations involving mitigation e.g., 0.05 for inverted CTS since they reduced exposure by > 95% and 0.3 for probe extraction CTS types. All 3 CTS significantly reduced operator exposure to products during M&L. These and future CTS types which comply with ISO 21191 standards could be considered as mitigation devices. These findings will help to build confidence of farmers to use CTS routinely, resulting in safer pesticide handling.