Towards a Model of Corporate and Social Stakeholder Engagement: Analyzing the Relations Between a French Mutual Bank and Its Members

International audienceThe aim of this article is to develop a new classification of stakeholders based on the concept of corporate and social engagement. Engagement is analyzed as an organizational learning process between the managers of an organization and its stakeholders. It is a necessary condition to improve the organization's impact on its economic, social, and natural environment. Applied to the membership of a French mutual bank in order to identify the members' varying levels of engagement, this new mapping technique may help managers to adapt their practices to the degree of engagement of each identified group of members, and to modify their financial products and communications to foster engagement among as many of these groups as possible

Is Cortisol Excretion Independent of Menstrual Cycle Day? A Longitudinal Evaluation of First Morning Urinary Specimens

Background Cortisol is frequently used as a marker of physiologic stress levels. Using cortisol for that purpose, however, requires a thorough understanding of its normal longitudinal variability. The current understanding of longitudinal variability of basal cortisol secretion in women is very limited. It is often assumed, for example, that basal cortisol profiles do not vary across the menstrual cycle. This is a critical assumption: if cortisol were to follow a time dependent pattern during the menstrual cycle, then ignoring this cyclic variation could lead to erroneous imputation of physiologic stress. Yet, the assumption that basal cortisol levels are stable across the menstrual cycle rests on partial and contradictory evidence. Here we conduct a thorough test of that assumption using data collected for up to a year from 25 women living in rural Guatemala. Methodology We apply a linear mixed model to describe longitudinal first morning urinary cortisol profiles, accounting for differences in both mean and standard deviation of cortisol among women. To that aim we evaluate the fit of two alternative models. The first model assumes that cortisol does not vary with menstrual cycle day. The second assumes that cortisol mean varies across the menstrual cycle. Menstrual cycles are aligned on ovulation day (day 0). Follicular days are assigned negative numbers and luteal days positive numbers. When we compared Models 1 and 2 restricting our analysis to days between −14 (follicular) and day 14 (luteal) then day of the menstrual cycle did not emerge as a predictor of urinary cortisol levels (p-value >0.05). Yet, when we extended our analyses beyond that central 28-day-period then day of the menstrual cycle become a statistically significant predictor of cortisol levels. Significance The observed trend suggests that studies including cycling women should account for day dependent variation in cortisol in cycles with long follicular and luteal phases

CSR and related terms in SME owner-managers' mental models in six European countries: national context matters

As a contribution to the emerging field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) cognition, this article reports on the findings of an exploratory study that compares SME owner–managers’ mental models with regard to CSR and related concepts across six European countries (Belgium, Italy, Norway, France, UK, Spain). Utilising Repertory Grid Technique, we found that the SME owner–managers’ mental models show a few commonalities as well as a number of differences across the different country samples. We interpret those differences by linking individual cognition to macro-environmental variables, such as language, national traditions and dissemination mechanisms. The results of our exploratory study show that nationality matters but that classifications of countries as found in the comparative capitalism literature do not exactly mirror national differences in CSR cognition and that these classifications need further differentiation. The findings from our study raise questions on the universality of cognition of academic management concepts and warn that promotion of responsible business practice should not rely on the use of unmediated US American management terminology

Erosive cola-based drinks affect the bonding to enamel surface: an in vitro study

Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of in vitro erosion provoked by different cola-based drinks (Coke types), associated or not with toothbrushing, to bonding to enamel. Material and methods: Forty-six bovine enamel specimens were prepared and randomly assigned into seven groups (N=8): C- Control (neither eroded nor abraded), ERO-RC: 3x/1-minute immersion in Regular Coke (RC), ERO-LC: 3x/1-minute immersion in Light Coke (LC), ERO-ZC: 3x/1-minute immersion in Zero Coke (ZC) and three other eroded groups, subsequently abraded for 1-minute toothbrushing (EROAB-RC, EROAB-LC and EROAB-ZC, respectively). After challenges, they were stored overnight in artificial saliva for a total of 24 hours and restored with Adper Single Bond 2/Filtek Z350. Buildup coronal surfaces were cut in 1 mm2 -specimens and subjected to a microtensile test. Data were statistically analyzed by two-way ANOVA/Bonferroni tests (α=0.05). Failure modes were assessed by optical microscopy (X40). The Interface of the restorations were observed using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM). Results: All tested cola-based drinks significantly reduced the bond strength, which was also observed in the analyses of interfaces. Toothbrushing did not have any impact on the bond strength. CLSM showed that except for Zero Coke, all eroded specimens resulted in irregular hybrid layer formation. Conclusions: All cola-based drinks reduced the bond strength. Different patterns of hybrid layers were obtained revealing their impact, except for ZC

Association between retinal vascular measures and brain white matter lesions in schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have examined retinal vascular abnormalities in schizophrenia as retinal vascular imaging is a non-invasive proxy to cerebral microvasculature. However, relation between retinal vascular abnormalities and brain structure is not well examined in schizophrenia. Hence in this study, for the first time, we examined the relationship between retinal vascular measures and brain white matter lesions in schizophrenia. We examined brain white matter lesions as they are considered a predictive marker for future adverse cerebrovascular event. METHODS: We acquired retinal vascular images of both eyes using a non-mydriatic camera and calculated retinal vascular diameter, tortuosity, trajectory and fractal dimension using validated methods. All patients underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging of bran and we computed white matter hypo-intensities using Freesurfer software. We performed a linear regression analysis to examine the relationship between white matter hypo-intensities and retinal vascular measures controlling for age, sex, fasting blood sugar, creatinine, whole-brain volume, and antipsychotic dose. RESULTS: The regression model was significant in Schizophrenia patients (R=0.983;R2 =0.966;-F=10.849;p = 0.008) but not in healthy volunteers (R=0.828;R2 =0.686;F=0.182; p = 0.963). Among the retinal vascular measures, arterial tortuosity (β = 0.963;p-0.002), tortuosity (β = -1.002;p = 0.001) and fractal dimension (β = -0.688;p = 0.014) were significant predictors of white matter lesions. DISCUSSION: The current study's findings support the conclusion that retinal vascular fractal dimension and tortuosity are associated with changes in cerebral white matter and may be considered proxy markers for cerebral microvasculature in schizophrenia. Considering the relationship between white matter lesions and stroke, these observations could have important clinical implications to screen schizophrenia patients for risk of adverse cerebrovascular event

Association between retinal vascular measures and brain white matter lesions in schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have examined retinal vascular abnormalities in schizophrenia as retinal vascular imaging is a non-invasive proxy to cerebral microvasculature. However, relation between retinal vascular abnormalities and brain structure is not well examined in schizophrenia. Hence in this study, for the first time, we examined the relationship between retinal vascular measures and brain white matter lesions in schizophrenia. We examined brain white matter lesions as they are considered a predictive marker for future adverse cerebrovascular event. METHODS: We acquired retinal vascular images of both eyes using a non-mydriatic camera and calculated retinal vascular diameter, tortuosity, trajectory and fractal dimension using validated methods. All patients underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging of bran and we computed white matter hypo-intensities using Freesurfer software. We performed a linear regression analysis to examine the relationship between white matter hypo-intensities and retinal vascular measures controlling for age, sex, fasting blood sugar, creatinine, whole-brain volume, and antipsychotic dose. RESULTS: The regression model was significant in Schizophrenia patients (R=0.983;R2 =0.966;-F=10.849;p = 0.008) but not in healthy volunteers (R=0.828;R2 =0.686;F=0.182; p = 0.963). Among the retinal vascular measures, arterial tortuosity (β = 0.963;p-0.002), tortuosity (β = -1.002;p = 0.001) and fractal dimension (β = -0.688;p = 0.014) were significant predictors of white matter lesions. DISCUSSION: The current study's findings support the conclusion that retinal vascular fractal dimension and tortuosity are associated with changes in cerebral white matter and may be considered proxy markers for cerebral microvasculature in schizophrenia. Considering the relationship between white matter lesions and stroke, these observations could have important clinical implications to screen schizophrenia patients for risk of adverse cerebrovascular event