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This chapter discusses the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) within the context of the container liner shipping industry. It looks at the current practice of CSR in this industry and outlines the framework, the reasons and the drivers for companies to adopt and implement a CSR strategy. These include, among others, the increasing commitment to fostering CSR in the private sector at EU level, the changing expectations of customers — that is shippers — with regard to social and environmental standards of their contractors and suppliers, and the improving situation with regards to guidance and tools for adopting CSR and identifying and implementing the relevant measures (e.g. ISO 26000 and the European Commission's communication on CSR). The authors take the position that in an industry, which is as strongly consolidated as container liner shipping, the adoption and implementation of effective CSR strategies by a few companies at the top can have a profound impact on the industry as a whole. The Japanese NYK Group's CSR strategy is discussed in more detail to illustrate one of the best — if by no means perfect — examples in the current market. The chapter closes with a sector-specific definition of CSR for the container shipping industry.

This chapter reviews and analyses the contemporary development of liner shipping, port development and competition. It begins with a comprehensive review on the latest developmental trends of liner shipping and business strategies, as well as their impacts on port development and competition. Then, it discusses the responses of ports, past, present and (likely) future, in addressing these new demands and challenges. A very important point from this analysis indicates that, in the past decade, port development and competition have gradually evolved from being individual, technical efficiency-oriented to become more regional, economic efficiency-oriented. At the same time, ports have also moved out of their rather passive positions and undertaken positive steps to avert the traditionally strong bargaining power of shipping lines. This illustrates that port development and competition is a continuous morphological process which can change dramatically within a rather short period of time. This chapter provides a new perspective on port development and competition and a decent platform for further research.

Although it is widely acknowledged that health care delivery systems are complex adaptive systems, there are gaps in understanding the application of systems engineering approaches to systems analysis and redesign in the health care domain. Commonly employed methods, such as statistical analysis of risk factors and outcomes, are simply not adequate to robustly characterize all system requirements and facilitate reliable design of complex care delivery systems. This is especially apparent in institutional-level systems, such as patient safety programs that must mitigate the risk of infections and other complications that can occur in virtually any setting providing direct and indirect patient care. The case example presented here illustrates the application of various system engineering methods to identify requirements and intervention candidates for a critical patient safety problem known as failure to rescue. Detailed descriptions of the analysis methods and their application are presented along with specific analysis artifacts related to the failure to rescue case study. Given the prevalence of complex systems in health care, this practical and effective approach provides an important example of how systems engineering methods can effectively address the shortcomings in current health care analysis and design, where complex systems are increasingly prevalent.

Presents an “in memoriam” tribute to Heinz von Foerster.

Outlines his work.

Introduces his inspiring contributions in the applied sciences and to the more general researches on the theoretical and practical implications of the cybernetic epistemology.

Gives insights to the importance of the work of von Foerster.

Image analysis faces data reduction problems when deriving low‐dimensional image spaces (‘perceptual maps’) from multidimensional profile data. The neurocomputing methodology of Self‐Organizing Maps may contribute to finding a radically parsimonious representation. The principles of SOM methodology are shown in a case study on the company images of nine Austrian tour operators.

A personal introduction to the Gregory Bateson memorial issue.

Outlines Bateson's work and the content of the memorial.

Connects Bateson's legacy with the work of current authors and the general problems the world faces today.

Describes the necessity to use ecological principles as presented by Bateson.

The purpose of this study is to determine the physicochemical and rheological parameters of Albizia lebbeck gum.

Physicochemical analysis was carried out using recommended methods. Gas chromatography mass spectrophotometer and Fourier transformed infra red (FTIR) analyses were carried out using their respective spectrophotometer. Scanning electron microscopy was carried out using scanning electron microscope, while rheological measurements were carried out using Ubbelohde capillary viscometer, digital Brookfield DV 1 viscometer and a rheometer.

Albizia zygia gum is an ionic gum with unique physical and chemical properties. Scanning electron micrograph revealed that the internal structure of the gum is porous with irregular molecular arrangement. Thermodynamic parameters of viscous flow indicated the existence of few inter- and intra-molecular interactions, and the attainment of transition state was linked to bond breaking. Coil overlap transition studies revealed the existence of dilute and concentrated regimes. The viscosity of the gum was also found to decrease with decrease in the charge of cation (such that Al3+ > Ca2+ > K+) and with increase in ionic strength.

The paper provided information on physicochemical and rheological characteristics/behaviour of Albizia zygia gum, of Nigerian origin. From this information, possible application of this gum in the food and pharmaceutical industries can be deduced.

The paper is original since information concerning Albizia zygia gum of Nigerian origin are not well documented as established in the work. It also adds values on the use of Albizia zygia gum, either on its own or in combination with other gums for industrial purpose.