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To investigate environmentally friendly alternatives for sludge disposal, three proportions of secondary sludge (SS) from two pulping processes (Kraft and TMP) were incorporated in the formulation of particleboard manufacturing. A 3² factorial design was used where the factors were Urea-formaldehyde (UF) content (5%, 7%, and 9% dry weight of resin per dry weight of particles) and secondary sludge percentage (75%, 100%, and 125% dry weight of SS per dry weight of resin). For each pulping process, 27 panels with SS and 3 control panels (without SS for each resin content) were made for a total of 63 panels. All panels were tested for thickness swell, linear expansion, internal bond strength (IB), flexural modulus of elasticity (MOE) and flexural modulus of rupture (MOR). Results indicated that particleboards made with SS from both pulping processes met the ANSI standards for linear expansion, IB, MOE and MOR. However, none of the tested panels met the standard for thickness swell and adding SS to the formulation affected negatively this property. It was concluded that SS from TMP and Kraft mills can be used to manufacture particleboard panels. However, its' percentage along with other additives' content should be optimized.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of different amounts of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) introduced during the resin synthesis on the properties of bark‐phenol‐formaldehyde (BPF) adhesives aims at achieving a balance between storage life and other properties of BPF adhesives.

Based on the best synthetic technologies for the production of BPF adhesives obtained in a previous study, a new synthetic technology is developed for the production of BPF adhesives that involve a three‐step addition of NaOH using different amounts of NaOH in the third charge. Gel permeation chromatography is used to evaluate properties of the phenol‐formaldehyde (PF) and BPF adhesives.

The amount of NaOH in the third charge has an important influence on many BPF adhesive properties. The paper determines that the synthetic technology involving three‐step NaOH additions with only water introduced in the third charge of NaOH produces a BPF adhesive with the longest storage life and best bonding strength.

BPF adhesives are very complex systems with many unknown variables.

The improved storage life of the BPF adhesive prepared with the new synthetic technology is comparable to that of a commercial PF adhesive, which indicates that this new technology shows greater potential for commercial applications.

A new synthetic technology is developed to produce a BPF adhesive that is more comparable to commercial PF adhesives than other BPF adhesives in terms of storage life and other resin properties.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of an eco‐friendly tannin‐phenol formaldehyde resin (PFT) applicable in the wood composite industry.

The bark of oak (Quercus castaneifolia) contains a large amount of condensed tannin. Condensed tannin, with a large amount of Catechol groups was considered for reducing the formaldehyde emission level on the adhesive system. Physical characteristics of synthesized PFT resin were evaluated.

For optimal extraction, three solvents were used in the extraction process. The results showed that a mixture of water‐methanol (1:1 v/v) as extracting solvent is the best solvent and yields about 14 per cent tannin based on dry weight of bark. For producing tannin phenol formaldehyde adhesive, 10 per cent, 20 per cent and 30 per cent (based on PF dry weight) of PF, substituted with natural extracted tannin. For evaluating PFT performance effects of percentage amount of substitution tannin content on the gel time, viscosity, pH, and density of adhesives were evaluated. Based on emission test (JIS A 1460‐2001) formaldehyde emission of PFT 10 per cent, 20 per cent and 30 per cent were 1.13, 1.12 and 0.4 mg/100 g, which is very low compared with tannin‐free PF.

Tannin‐PF adhesive compared to PF adhesive had lower PH, higher viscosity and shorter gel time.

The method developed provides a simple and excellent renewable resource “tannin” which can be used or partially substituted in phenol formaldehyde adhesive.

Results showed that replacing PF for tannin reduces modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) slightly but has significant effects on IB, water absorption and thickness swelling.

The aim of this paper is to discuss and conceptually support the statement that a critical and holistic approach to branding requires interplay of the methods and methodologies of different disciplines and the so-called decompositional approach.

The study is based on the thorough secondary research based on content analysis of the studied literature dealing with the methodological approach to brand management and branding, especially the comparison of brand management categorization and development of approaches from the customer centrality and strategic priority to the adaptive and relational paradigms.

The major outcome of this research is the confirmation of the fact that changes of paradigmatic approaches to research are rooted in economic and social changes. The predominance of relational, community, cultural approaches stem from the growth of customers' value and a new role of customers in the economic and social sphere.

The topic of branding in management in tourism destinations is still emerging, especially understanding of transition of paradigms and approaches to the research of branding in tourism.

Important is the explanation of differences between the approaches to branding and especially the fact that some of the approaches (relational, community and cultural approach) are based on systems-thinking and contribute to the competitive advantage creation.

The paper aims to highlight the fact how global social and economic forces and changing cycles (Kondratiev) have influenced the empirical research and the implementation of ideas on economic interventions and social problems topics. This fact embraced major themes in a society and has influenced research on innovation and branding. It might be compelling to discuss the changes in paradigms and explain why social responsibility and other core themes resonate and influence the managerial practices in tourism and the paradigms in research of tourism dealing with brand management.

This study concerns the attendance motivations for cultural services based on the audience’s level of knowledge. The purpose of this paper is to define the role played by general knowledge (e.g. cultural education) and specific knowledge (e.g. communication around a cultural product) in the attendance motivation trajectory of a cultural service.

The study uses in-depth interviews with 20 visitors to two public theatres, one in Belgium and one in France.

The results identify a tripartite motivation in the decision to attend a performance, corresponding to four visitor segments defined according to their level of general and specific knowledge.

The recommendations arising from the study are that potential audience members be targeted according to their particular profile and that their cultural tastes be developed by raising their level of general knowledge, an element that goes beyond the suggested motivation trajectory.

This paper aims to analyze the extent to which social capital (SC) spurs innovation in firms located within tourism clusters. Specifically, the study focuses on the mediating role of ambidextrous knowledge strategy (AKS) on the relationship between SC and innovation.

A structural model is used on a sample of 215 firms of the hospitality and tourism industry located in World Heritage Cities of Spain. Data analysis is carried out using partial least squares.

The combination of bonding and bridging capital yields higher innovation performance through AKS.

This analysis does not take into account the full set of confounding factors that influence innovation. The factors captured by this study significantly explain heterogeneity in the intensity of innovation among the studied firms.

The main recommendation is that firms located in cultural tourism clusters (CTCs) do not restrict the focus on either local or outside relations only but pursue a strategy based on the combination of internal and external relations. This will enable ambidextrous knowledge strategies and better innovation performance.

There are numerous studies on the relation between some dimensions of SC, some knowledge strategies and some types of innovation. The value added of the present study is the articulation of complementarities among these dimensions. In particular, this study integrates bonding and bridging dimensions of SC, exploration and exploitation of knowledge and incremental and radical innovation. In addition, the paper provides an empirical identification of World Heritage Cities of Spain as CTCs.

The purpose of this paper is to report a further step in the authors' research and suggest a new – 4th order cybernetics, applying it to the issue of a sustainable future, that must unavoidably result from the current socio‐economic crisis surfacing in 2008 as the top of an iceberg, or humankind of the current civilization has poor chances to survive. One‐sided solutions do not prove to work; they make us think of systems and cybernetics.

Qualitative research with application to real‐life cases.

While cybernetics is about steering, i.e. influencing, cybernetics of the 1st and 2nd order might be insufficient for solving the problem, and cybernetics of the 3rd order might serve us better, but not enough either. The authors' thesis reads: they might better be put in a new synergy with the (Universal) Dialectical Systems Theory and Cybernetics of Conceptual Systems to make a new kind of systems theory/cybernetics called cybernetics of the 4th order. It should help human beings to attain the requisite holism of the human approach and the requisite wholeness of outcomes of human action.

A more holistic concept of cybernetics is suggested.

Control of ecological problems of today might be made easier.

This is the first publication about the concept of the 4th order cybernetics, especially with application to issues of sustainability.

Lobbying of politicians by business and other organisations has spread across the Atlantic and is now working strongly in Brussels. With the recent expansion of the European Union (EU) to 25 member states, the number of lobbyists in Brussels will soon equal those in Washington. The expansion of lobbying has mirrored the increase of the powers of central governments. Key components of effective lobbying are universal: intelligence, strategy and implementation. Implementation of lobbying strategies can now be as intensely developed as marketing or advertising campaigns. Lobbying has developed beyond the pursuit of individual and defined objectives to the development of corporate reputations. Attitude research in the sector suggests that lobbyists have become an intrinsic part of the political process. The debate over the influence of lobbyists on policy continues on both sides of the Atlantic.

The purpose of this paper is to engage a contentious World Bank publication beyond its controversy. In particular, it assesses mechanisms that facilitate elite capture of foreign aid and potential strategies of accountability.

This paper adopts desk research methodology, relying primarily upon journal papers, books and internet sources related to international development and corruption.

This paper isolates three factors that contribute to elite capture of foreign aid: the codified secrecy of offshore tax havens, customary clientelism and decentralised aid. Regarding accountability measures, it advocates decreasing livelihood dependence on local elites and encouraging meaningful involvement by civil society.

This paper de-sensationalises the controversial World Bank working paper, providing a contextualised reading that at the time of publication does not yet exist.