Eco-Labelling as a Tool of CSR: Opportunities and Threats

Corporate Social Responsibility is a concept which, although it is developing for many years, it is constantly improved in both terms – theoretical and practical. In theory area are creating new definitions and new areas for action shots and in practice area are sought new instruments that could be used in pro-social activities. In this way, more and more expanding a set of tools that are available for socially responsible companies. In this article will be discuss the eco-labeling, which is an instrument belonging to the traditional set of activities in the framework of CSR. Eco-labeling is relatively poorly described issue in literature. In practical area, we can also find deficiencies. Analyzing the areas of corporate social responsibility calculated by ISO 26000, eco-labeling can be included into the area of the environment, fair operating practices and consumer issues. This shows how multi-dimensional issue is the use of eco-labeling. This fact creates the possibility of assessing this practices of different points of view - companies , consumers and the environment. The purpose of this article is to identify opportunities and risks associated with the use of ecolabelling as a tool of CSR. In this article the authors will show that the activity in the area of eco-labeling not only builds the image of a socially responsible company, but also translates to specific business benefits. In addition, the authors will attempt to assess the proportion of customers for products marked with eco-labeling. Analysis of the problem will be based on the available literature in the field of corporate social responsibility, marketing, sustainable development and environmental protection.Urszula Gołaszewska- Kaczan: [email protected] Kruk: [email protected] Śleszyńska-Świderska: [email protected] hab. Urszula Gołaszewska- Kaczan, prof. UwB – Faculty of Economics and Management, University of BialystokMarek Kruk, Ph.D. – Faculty of Economics and Management, University of BialystokAnna Śleszyńska-Świderska, M.A. – Faculty of Economics and Management, University of BialystokAllaire Y., Firsirotu M. 2000 Myślenie strategiczne, PWN, Warszawa.Atănăsoaie G. S. 2013 Eco-Label and its Role in the Development of Organic Products Mar-ket, “Economy Transdisciplinarity Cognition”, Vol. 16, Issue 1.Bostrom M., Klintman M. 2011 Eco-Standards, Product Labeling and Green Consumerism, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke.Canadian Democracy and Corporate Accountability Commission, 2001, An Overview of Issues.Carnegie A. 1933 The Gospel of Wealth, Garden City.Carroll A. B. 1982 A Three-Dimensinal Conceptual Model of Corporate Perfomance, [in:] W. R. Allen, L. K. Bragaw, Social Forces and the Manager. Readings and Cases, John Wiley& Sons, New York (et al.).Cooper T., Ludlow M., Clift T. 2012 Examining the Role of Eco-Labels in Changing the Approach to Sustainability in the Commercial Fisheries, Greener Management Interna-tional, Issue 57.Dočekalová M., Straková J. 2011 The Influence of the Eco-Labelling on Consumer Behavior in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, “Economics and Management”, 16.Electronic document, access mode: [file:///C:/Users/Enigma/Downloads/COM_2013_196_PL_ACTE_f.pdf, retrieved: 14.10. 2014].Electronic document, access mode: [http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_367_sum_en.pdf, retrived: 11.10.2014].Electronic document, access mode: [http://ecodialog.pl/sites/default/files/discovering_iso_26000PL.pdf, retrieved: 15.10.2014].Electronic document, access mode: [http://www.26k-estimation.com/html/user_ guides_iso_26000.html#user-guides, retrieved: 15.10.2014].Electronic document, access mode: [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_ autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/swd/2013/0112/COM_SWD(2013)0112_PL.pdf, retrieved; 10.10. 2014].Electronic document, access mode: [http://www.pkn.pl/iso-26000, retrieved: 15.10.2014].Electronic document, access mode: [https://www.iisd.org/business/markets/eco_label_ benefits.aspx, retrieved: 18.09.2104].Electronic document, access mode: [https://www.mos.gov.pl/g2/big/2012_11/037ac15934792054904ccafce588677c.pdf, retrieved: 16.10.2014].Gallastegui I. G. 2012 The Use of Eco-labels: A Review of the Literature, “European Environment”, No. 12.Hancock R., Korsten P., Pohle G. 2003 On Demand Business: the New AGENDA FOR Value Creation, An IBM Institute for Business Value Futures Series, [in:] P. Banaszyk, Zmienność zarządzania strategicznego przedsiębiorstwem, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego w Poznaniu, Poznań 2011.OECD 1997 Eco-Labelling: Actual Effects of Selected Programmes, Organisation For Economic Co-Operation And Development, Paris.Thogersen J. 2000 Psychological Determinants of Paying Attention to Eco-Labels in Purchase Decisions: Model Development and Multinational Validation, “Journal of Consumer Policy” 23.179-1925(77)17919

Clara Cell protein and myeloperoxidase levels in serum of subjects after exposure to fire smoke

Introduction. Fire smoke inhalation is a well-recognized aetiological factor of airway injuries. The objective of this study was evaluation of Clara cell protein (CC16) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) concentrations in serum of patients after exposure to uncontrolled fire smoke. Methods. The study group consisted of 40 consecutive patients admitted to the Toxicology Unit after exposure to fire smoke. CC16 and MPO concentrations in their serum samples was measured on the day of admission to hospital and rechecked at the 2nd day and on the day of discharge. Patients also underwent routine toxicological diagnostic procedures applied in case of exposures, such as carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) levels and blood lactate and urinary thiocyanate concentrations. The same diagnostic tests were performed in the control group consisting of 10 healthy subjects not exposed to fire smoke. Results. The average concentration of CC16 in the serum of subjects exposed to toxic factors was significantly higher at the day of admission in comparison with the respective values recorded on the 2nd day and on the day of discharge. The mean level of CC16 in the serum of the exposed group was also significantly higher than that in the control group. Tests for MPO concentrations in the serum did not reveal any significant changes in patients exposed to fire smoke. Conclusions. As indicated, acute exposure to smoke induces injury at the alveolar level, which results in a transient increase of CC16 in serum of exposed subjects.Wstęp. Narażenie na dymy pożarowe jest udokumentowaną przyczyną toksycznego uszkodzenia układu oddechowego. Celem badania była ocena stężeń bialka Clara i mieloperoksydazy w surowicy osób narażonych na dymy pożarowe.Metody. Grupę badaną stanowiło 40 osób narażonych na dymy pożarowe, które zostały przyjęte na oddział toksykologii. Stężenia białka Clara i mieloperoksydazy oznaczono w dniu przyjęcia do szpitala oraz ponownie w drugim i ostatnim dniu hospitalizacji. U pacjentów wykonano także badania toksykologiczne zlecane przy tego typu narażeniu: stężenie karboksyhemoglobiny i stężenie mleczanów we krwi oraz stężenie rodanków w moczu. Podobny panel badań zlecono u 10 zdrowych osób (grupa kontrolna) nienarażonych na dymy pożarowe. Wyniki. Stężenie białka Clara było istotnie statystycznie wyższe w surowicy pacjentów narażonych na dymy pożarowe w dniu ich przyjęcia do szpitala w porównaniu z wartością tego parametru ocenianego w drugim i ostatnim dniu hospitalizacji. Stężenie białka Clara było również istotnie wyższe w surowicy osób narażonych w porównaniu z grupą kontrolną. Nie obserwowano istotnych zmian steżenia MPO w surowicy osób eksponowanych na dymy pożarowe. Wnioski. Narażenie na dymy pożarowe może prowadzić do uszkodzenia pęcherzyków płucnych, a tym samym do wzrostu w surowicy osób narażonych stężenia białka Clara uwalnianego przez te komórki

Composition and function of the C1b/C1f region in the ciliary central apparatus

Motile cilia are ultrastructurally complex cell organelles with the ability to actively move. The highly conserved central apparatus of motile 9 × 2 + 2 cilia is composed of two microtubules and several large microtubule-bound projections, including the C1b/C1f supercomplex. The composition and function of C1b/C1f subunits has only recently started to emerge. We show that in the model ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, C1b/C1f contains several evolutionarily conserved proteins: Spef2A, Cfap69, Cfap246/LRGUK, Adgb/androglobin, and a ciliate-specific protein Tt170/TTHERM_00205170. Deletion of genes encoding either Spef2A or Cfap69 led to a loss of the entire C1b projection and resulted in an abnormal vortex motion of cilia. Loss of either Cfap246 or Adgb caused only minor alterations in ciliary motility. Comparative analyses of wild-type and C1b-deficient mutant ciliomes revealed that the levels of subunits forming the adjacent C2b projection but not C1d projection are greatly reduced, indicating that C1b stabilizes C2b. Moreover, the levels of several IFT and BBS proteins, HSP70, and enzymes that catalyze the final steps of the glycolytic pathway: enolase ENO1 and pyruvate kinase PYK1, are also reduced in the C1b-less mutants

Knowledge of contraception among high school and university students in West Pomerania voivodeship

Adolescents and young adults are the most vulnerable group of unplanned pregnancy, which may result in early motherhood or often unsafe, illegal abortion. The teenager birth rate in Poland (total number of live births per 1000) is one of the highest in European Union and the West Pomerania voivodeship has the highest teenager birth rate in Poland. Low level of contraceptive use, choosing low efficacy methods and errors resulting from inadequate knowledge are considered the main reasons of unplanned pregnancies. In this study we aimed to assess the knowledge of high school and academic students of the West Pomeranian vivodeship about contraception. We recruited 500 students who were asked to fill in an anonymous questionnaire checking knowledge, beliefs and experiences regarding the use of contraception. 277 of the participants were using contraceptive methods. Our results showed that the knowledge about pregnancy prevention is insufficient and young people choose methods that are ineffective. The feeling of shame and the need to visit a doctor and undergo a gynecological examination to get a prescription are thought to be the main limitation in accessibility to contraceptive methods in the studied group. Since most of the respondents indicate the internet as the main source of their knowledge, it seems reasonable to create a professional website addressed to teenagers and young adults, introducing the subject of contraception

High efficacy and safety of VTD as an induction protocol in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma eligible for high dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation : a report of the Polish Myeloma Study Group

The present retrospective analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of the VTD (bortezomib, thalidomide, dexamethasone) regimen in 205 newly‑diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma (MM) eligible for high dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDT/ASCT) in routine clinical practice. With a median of 6 cycles (range, 1‑8), at least partial response was achieved in 94.6% and at least very good partial response (VGPR) was achieved in 67.8% of patients. Peripheral neuropathy (PN) grade 2‑4 was observed in 28.7% of patients. In 72% of patients undergoing stem cell mobilization one apheresis allowed the number of stem cells sufficient for transplantation to be obtained. Following HDT/ASCT the sCR rate increased from 4.9 to 14.4% and CR from 27.8 to 35.6%. The results demonstrated that VTD as an induction regimen was highly efficient in transplant eligible patients with MM with increased at least VGPR rate following prolonged treatment (≥6 cycles). Therapy exhibited no negative impact on stem cell collection, neutrophils and platelets engraftment following ASCT. Therapy was generally well tolerated and PN was the most common reason of dose reduction or treatment discontinuation

Praktyka kliniczna oceny minimalnej choroby resztkowej u chorych na szpiczaka plazmocytowego w Polsce: badanie ankietowe Polskiego Konsorcjum Szpiczakowego

Studies exploring the significance of minimal residual disease (MRD) in plasma cell myeloma (PCM) have proven its prognostic value, regardless of the type of administered treatment. In order to assess the current practice for evaluating MRD in Poland, we conducted a survey on the methods for assessing MRD and on the MRD testing time points at Polish hematological centres. Seven out of 15 institutions surveyed use of the flow cytometry (FC) method for MRD assessment. The FC-MRD assessment is performed uniformly only in those patients achieving complete remission(CR). However, the specific indications and assessment time points differed at the tested centres including: testing MRD only after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT), after auto-HSCT and consolidation, after completion of first line chemotherapy or after obtaining CR in any line of treatment. The study also showed considerable heterogeneity in the FC-MRD methodology, which affects test sensitivity (from 10–3 to 10–5). None of the surveyed centres uses molecular techniques for MRD assessment. In 8 of the 15 institutions, patients are monitored by imaging techniques. Our survey may thus be useful for developing guidelines and standardization of MRD assessment in PCM in Poland.W badaniach nad znaczeniem minimalnej choroby resztkowej (MRD) w szpiczaku plazmocytowym (PCM) dowiedziono, że status MRD ma wartość prognostyczną niezależnie od zastosowanego leczenia. W celu poznania zasad monitorowania MRD u chorych na PCM w polskich ośrodkach hematologicznych przeprowadzono badanie ankietowe. W ankiecie zadano pytania dotyczące stosowanych metod wykrywania MRD oraz punktów czasowych, w których badania są wykonywane. W 7 z 15 ośrodków objętych badaniem ankietowym oznaczenia MRD w PCM wykonuje się w aspiratach szpiku kostnego metodą cytometrii przepływowej (FC). We wszystkich ośrodkach oznaczenia FC-MRD są wykonywane jedynie u chorych w całkowitej remisji (CR), jednak w różnych punktach czasowych — tylko po autologicznym przeszczepieniu krwiotwórczych komórek macierzystych (allo-HSCT), po allo-HSCT i konsolidacji, po zakończeniu leczenia pierwszej linii lub, w przypadku uzyskania CR, po dowolnej linii leczenia. Stwierdzono ponadto znaczne różnice w sposobie wykonywania badania FC-MRD wpływające na osiąganą czułość detekcji MRD (od 10–3 do 10–5). W żadnym z ankietowanych ośrodków nie ocenia się MRD w szpiku kostnym technikami molekularnymi. Monitorowanie choroby resztkowej metodami obrazowymi stosuje personel 8 z 15 ośrodków. Wyniki przeprowadzonej ankiety mogą posłużyć wypracowaniu wspólnych wytycznych i standaryzacji oceny MRD w PCM w Polsce

Sytuacja dochodowa gospodarstw domowych w krajach UE w warunkach pokryzysowych

Zmiany w dochodach gospodarstw domowych są zróżnicowane przestrzennie i związane są z sytuacją gospodarczą w danym kraju. Celem artykułu jest analiza sytuacji dochodowej gospodarstw domowych w krajach UE po zakończeniu kryzysu gospodarczego. W tym kontekście podjęto próbę odpowiedzi na pytania: 1. Jak i w jakim stopniu zmiany dochodu gospodarstw domowych związane są z sytuacją gospodarczą kraju? 2. W których krajach UE zaszły największe zmiany w dochodach gospodarstw domowych, a w których najmniejsze w efekcie kryzysu gospodarczego? 3. Jaki charakter mają zmiany (trwałe czy przejściowe) w dochodach gospodarstw domowych, które nastąpiły w efekcie kryzysu gospodarczego? Jakie skutki charakter tych zmian wywołał w zachowaniach konsumpcyjnych gospodarstw domowych? Aby osiągnąć cel artykułu, zastosowano następujące metody badacze: studia literaturowe, analizę statystyczną, analizę korelacji i analizę skupień. Głównym źródłem danych była baza EUROSTAT