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License plate recognition (LPR) algorithms in images or videos are generally composed of the following three processing steps: 1) extraction of a license plate region; 2) segmentation of the plate characters; and 3) recognition of each character. This task is quite challenging due to the diversity of plate formats and the nonuniform outdoor illumination conditions during image acquisition. Therefore, most approaches work only under restricted conditions such as fixed illumination, limited vehicle speed, designated routes, and stationary backgrounds. Numerous techniques have been developed for LPR in still images or video sequences, and the purpose of this paper is to categorize and assess them. Issues such as processing time, computational power, and recognition rate are also addressed, when available. Finally, this paper offers to researchers a link to a public image database to define a common reference point for LPR algorithmic assessment.

Professional team sports organizations (PTSOs) are highly influential in our society. They can both positively and negatively shape the public discourse around responsible norms of behavior. The purpose of this article is to describe and critically review the literature on PTSOs’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) to develop a comprehensive understanding of current and future research directions in the field. Our analysis reviewed articles on CSR within PTSOs and identified publication year; geographical dispersion; journal type; sports contexts; social issues investigated; research approaches and methods; and how CSR was conceptualized, defined, and theoretically supported. The findings indicate that CSR within PTSOs has primarily been investigated in community programs, using qualitative research methods and pragmatically conceptualizing CSR on the basis of return on investments to the organization in European and North American contexts. Our discussion provides a critical review of the literature before outlining avenues for future research and practice.

Research question/purpose-Instagram has become an increasingly popular tool for sport organisations to share visual content. This study aims to examine how professional team sport organisations use Instagram for branding purposes and to explore the given meaning of Instagram followers' reactions to the organisations' Instagram activity. Research methods-The study was conducted in two phases. First, we analysed 2017 Instagram photos of two football teams from the English Premier League. Photos were categorised on product-and non-product-related brand attributes. Employing a quantitative content analysis technique, statistical analysis involved intra-case and inter-case relationships between brand attributes and Instagram's key fan engagement features (Comment and Like). Second, we analysed 2100 Instagram comments from a qualitative perspective in order to gain further insight into the fans' meanings associated with such posts. Results and findings-The findings offer significant insights to sport marketers in their efforts to increase fan engagement through social media. For both of the examined football teams, product-related attributes were used significantly more often than non-product-related attributes and encouraged greater engagement from online followers. Against these brand attributes, fans' interaction through one of the Instagram's key engagement features is expressed through 'aspiring'-, 'belonging'-, 'criticising'-and 'loving'-based comments. Implications-The study shows that Instagram facilitates co-branding, while giving fans a more active role in the branding process through comments. We recommend a culture change whereby teams become more market-focused and communications-driven by employing a greater understanding of the semiotics of images and fan comments through the use of social media.

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Purpose -Under growing public scrutiny of their behaviour, the vast majority of multinational enterprises have been undertaking significant investments through corporate social responsibility in order to close legitimacy gaps. The purpose of this paper is to provide a descriptive account of the nature and scope of MNEs' CSR programmes that have sport at their core. More specifically, the present study addresses the following questions: (1) How do FTSE-100 firms utilise sport as part of their CSR agendas? (2) How do different industries have different approaches to CSR through sport? and (3) Can the types of CSR through sport be classified?Design/methodology/approach -Centred on legitimacy theory and exploratory in nature, the study employed a content analysis method, and examined three types of document from each of the FTSE100 firms, namely, annual reports, annual reviews and CSR reports over the ten-year period from 2003 to 2012. In total, 1,473 documents were content analysed, thereby offering a sound representation of CSR disclosure of the FTSE100. 2 of reliable conclusions problematic. Particularly, the lack of an explicit focus on longitudinality is a typical limitation, meaning that no conclusions can be made regarding the trend. The study outlined in this paper offers the most comprehensive longitudinal study of CSR through sport to date, and thus contributes to the increasing volume of literature that examines the application of CSR in relation to the sport sector.

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