"Why Don't Consumers Care about CSR?" - A Qualitative Study Exploring the Role of CSR in Consumption Decisions. Empirical Paper

There is an unresolved paradox concerning the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in consumer behavior. On the one hand, consumers demand more and more CSR information from corporations. On the other hand, research indicates a considerable gap between consumers' apparent interest in CSR and the limited role of CSR in purchase behavior. This paper attempts to shed light on this paradox by drawing on qualitative data from in-depth interviews. The findings show that the evaluation of CSR initiatives is a complex and hierarchically-structured process, where consumers distinguish between core, central, and peripheral factors. This paper describes these factors in detail and explains the complexity of consumers' assessment of CSR. These insights then serve as a basis for discussing the theoretical and managerial implications of the research findings. To this end, the paper contributes to a better understanding of the role of CSR in consumption decisions

Phase diagram of neutral quark matter at moderate densities

We discuss the phase diagram of moderately dense, locally neutral three-flavor quark matter using the framework of an effective model of quantum chromodynamics with a local interaction. The phase diagrams in the plane of temperature and quark chemical potential as well as in the plane of temperature and lepton-number chemical potential are discussed.Comment: 32 pages, 11 figures; contribution to the proceedings of the INT workshop "Pairing in fermionic systems", Seattle, September 19-23, 200

The phase diagram of neutral quark matter: The effect of neutrino trapping

We study the effect of neutrino trapping on the phase diagram of dense, locally neutral three-flavor quark matter within the framework of a Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model. In the analysis, dynamically generated quark masses are taken into account self-consistently. The phase diagrams in the plane of temperature and quark chemical potential, as well as in the plane of temperature and lepton-number chemical potential are presented. We show that neutrino trapping favors two-flavor color superconductivity and disfavors the color-flavor-locked phase at intermediate densities of matter. At the same time, the location of the critical line separating the two-flavor color-superconducting phase and the normal phase of quark matter is little affected by the presence of neutrinos. The implications of these results for the evolution of protoneutron stars are briefly discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, references added; version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Therapie chronischer Wunden mit wassergefiltertem Infrarot A (wIRA)

The central portion of chronic wounds is often hypoxic and relatively hypothermic, representing a deficient energy supply of the tissue, which impedes wound healing or even makes it impossible. Water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) is a special form of heat radiation with a high tissue penetration and a low thermal load to the skin surface. wIRA produces a therapeutically usable field of heat and increases temperature, oxygen partial pressure and perfusion of the tissue. These three factors are decisive for a sufficient tissue supply with energy and oxygen and consequently as well for wound healing, especially in chronic wounds, and infection defense. wIRA acts both by thermal and thermic as well as by non-thermal and non-thermic effects. wIRA can advance wound healing or improve an impaired wound healing process and can especially enable wound healing in non-healing chronic wounds. wIRA can considerably alleviate the pain and diminish wound exudation and inflammation and can show positive immunomodulatory effects. In a prospective, randomized, controlled study of 40 patients with chronic venous stasis ulcers of the lower legs irradiation with wIRA and visible light (VIS) accelerated the wound healing process (on average 18 vs. 42 days until complete wound closure, residual ulcer area after 42 days 0.4 cm² vs. 2.8 cm²) and led to a reduction of the required dose of pain medication in comparison to the control group of patients treated with the same standard care (wound cleansing, wound dressing with antibacterial gauze, and compression garment therapy) without the concomitant irradiation. Another prospective study of 10 patients with non-healing chronic venous stasis ulcers of the lower legs included extensive thermographic investigation. Therapy with wIRA(+VIS) resulted in a complete or almost complete wound healing in 7 patients and a marked reduction of the ulcer size in another 2 of the 10 patients, a clear reduction of pain and required dose of pain medication, and a normalization of the thermographic image. In a current prospective, randomized, controlled, blinded study patients with non-healing chronic venous stasis ulcers of the lower legs are treated with compression garment therapy, wound cleansing, wound dressings and 30 minutes irradiation five times per week over 9 weeks. A preliminary analysis of the first 23 patients of this study has shown in the group with wIRA(+VIS) compared to a control group with VIS an advanced wound healing, an improved granulation and in the later phase of treatment a decrease of the bacterial burden. Some case reports have demonstrated that wIRA can also be used for mixed arterial-venous ulcers or arterial ulcers, if irradiation intensity is chosen appropriately low and if irradiation is monitored carefully. wIRA can be used concerning decubital ulcers both in a preventive and in a therapeutic indication. wIRA can improve the resorption of topically applied substances also on wounds. An irradiation with VIS and wIRA presumably acts with endogenous protoporphyrin IX (or protoporphyrin IX of bacteria) virtually similar as a mild photodynamic therapy (endogenous PDT-like effect). This could lead to improved cell regeneration and wound healing and to antibacterial effects. In conclusion, these results indicate that wIRA generally should be considered for the treatment of chronic wounds.Das Zentrum von chronischen Wunden ist oft hypoxisch und relativ hypotherm. Dies entspricht einer defizitären Energiebereitstellung im Gewebe, die die Wundheilung behindert oder unmöglich macht. Wassergefiltertes Infrarot A (wIRA) ist eine spezielle Form der Wärmestrahlung mit hohem Eindringvermögen in das Gewebe bei geringer thermischer Oberflächenbelastung. wIRA erzeugt ein therapeutisch nutzbares Wärmefeld und steigert Temperatur, Sauerstoffpartialdruck sowie die Durchblutung im Gewebe. Diese drei Faktoren sind entscheidend für eine ausreichende Versorgung des Gewebes mit Energie und Sauerstoff und deshalb auch für die Wundheilung, speziell bei chronischen Wunden, und die Infektionsabwehr. wIRA wirkt sowohl über thermische und temperaturabhängige als auch über nicht-thermische und temperaturunabhängige Effekte. wIRA kann die Wundheilung beschleunigen oder einen stagnierenden Wundheilungsprozess verbessern und insbesondere bei nicht-heilenden chronischen Wunden eine Wundheilung ermöglichen. wIRA vermag Schmerzen deutlich zu mindern und die Wundsekretion sowie Entzündung zu reduzieren sowie positive immunmodulierende Effekte zu zeigen. In einer prospektiven, randomisierten, kontrollierten Studie mit 40 Patienten mit chronischen venösen Unterschenkelulzera führte eine Bestrahlung mit wIRA und sichtbarem Licht (VIS) zu einer schnelleren Wundheilung (im Durchschnitt 18 vs. 42 Tage bis zum kompletten Wundschluss, Restulkusfläche nach 42 Tagen 0,4 cm² vs. 2,8 cm²) und einem geringeren Schmerzmittelverbrauch gegenüber einer in gleicher Form (Wundsäuberung, antibakterielle Wundauflagen und Kompressionstherapie) therapierten, aber nicht bestrahlten Kontrollgruppe. Eine weitere prospektive Studie mit 10 Patienten mit aufwändiger thermographischer Verlaufskontrolle ergab unter Therapie mit wIRA(+VIS) eine vollständige oder fast vollständige Abheilung therapierefraktärer chronischer Unterschenkelulzera bei 7 sowie eine deutliche Ulkusverkleinerung bei 2 weiteren der 10 Patienten, eine ausgeprägte Minderung der Schmerzen und des Schmerzmittelverbrauchs und eine Normalisierung des thermographischen Bildes. In einer laufenden prospektiven, randomisierten, kontrollierten, verblindeten Studie werden Patienten mit nicht-heilenden chronischen venösen Unterschenkelulzera mit Kompressionstherapie, Wundsäuberung und nicht-adhäsiven Wundauflagen sowie 30 Minuten Bestrahlung fünfmal pro Woche über 9 Wochen behandelt. Eine vorläufige Auswertung der ersten 23 Patienten zeigte, dass die Gruppe mit wIRA(+VIS) verglichen mit einer Kontrollgruppe mit VIS eine schnellere Wundheilung, eine bessere Granulation und in der späteren Phase der Behandlung eine Abnahme der bakteriellen Last der Wunden aufwies. Einige Fallberichte haben gezeigt, dass wIRA selbst bei gemischt arteriell-venösen Ulzera oder arteriellen Ulzera eingesetzt werden kann, wenn die Bestrahlungsstärke angemessen niedrig gewählt und die Bestrahlung sorgfältig überwacht wird. wIRA kann bei Dekubitalulzera sowohl präventiv als auch therapeutisch eingesetzt werden. wIRA kann die Resorption topisch applizierter Substanzen auch auf Wunden verbessern. Eine Bestrahlung mit VIS und wIRA wirkt vermutlich in Verbindung mit endogenem Protoporphyrin IX (oder Protoporphyrin IX von Bakterien) quasi ähnlich wie eine milde photodynamische Therapie (endogener PDT-ähnlicher Effekt). Dies kann die Zellregeneration und Wundheilung fördern und antibakteriell wirken. Zusammengefasst zeigen die Ergebnisse, dass wIRA generell für die Behandlung chronischer Wunden erwogen werden sollte

The phase diagram of neutral quark matter: Self-consistent treatment of quark masses

We study the phase diagram of dense, locally neutral three-flavor quark matter within the framework of the Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model. In the analysis, dynamically generated quark masses are taken into account self-consistently. The phase diagram in the plane of temperature and quark chemical potential is presented. The results for two qualitatively different regimes, intermediate and strong diquark coupling strength, are presented. It is shown that the role of gapless phases diminishes with increasing diquark coupling strength.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures. Two new figures added as in the published versio

The transcription factor Leu3 shows differential binding behavior in response to changing leucine availability

The main transcriptional regulator of leucine biosynthesis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the transcription factor Leu3. It has previously been reported that Leu3 always binds to its target genes, but requires activation to induce their expression. In a recent large-scale study of high-resolution transcription factor binding site identification, we showed that Leu3 has divergent binding sites in different cultivation conditions, thereby questioning the results of earlier studies. Here, we present a follow-up study using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) to investigate the influence of leucine supplementation on Leu3 binding activity and strength. With this new data set we are able to show that Leu3 exhibits changes in binding activity in response to changing levels of leucine availability

Profiling of Cytosolic and Peroxisomal Acetyl-CoA Metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

As a key intracellular metabolite, acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) plays a major role in various metabolic pathways that link anabolism and catabolism. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, acetyl-CoA involving metabolism is compartmentalized, and may vary with the nutrient supply of a cell. Membranes separating intracellular compartments are impermeable to acetyl-CoA and no direct transport between the compartments occurs. Thus, without carnitine supply the glyoxylate shunt is the sole possible route for transferring acetyl-CoA from the cytosol or the peroxisomes into the mitochondria. Here, we investigate the physiological profiling of different deletion mutants of ACS1, ACS2, CIT2 and MLS1 individually or in combination under alternative carbon sources, and study how various mutations alter carbon distribution. Based on our results a detailed model of carbon distribution about cytosolic and peroxisomal acetyl-CoA metabolism in yeast is suggested. This will be useful to further develop yeast as a cell factory for the biosynthesis of acetyl-CoA-derived products

Inferential evaluations of sustainability attributes: Exploring how consumers imply product information

Consumers are often confronted with incomplete product information. In such instances, they can eliminate the product from further consideration due to higher associated uncertainty or ask for more information. Alternatively, they can apply subjective theories about covariation to infer the value of missing attributes. This paper investigates the latter option in the context of sustainability and provides an in-depth exploration of consumers' inference formations. Drawing from rich qualitative data, it offers a conceptualization of the underlying relationships consumers use to infer product sustainability based on other product attributes. The study further assesses whether these findings can be captured in a quantifiable way. To this end, inferred sustainability is conceptualized as a formative second-order construct, thereby depicting the influence of inference-triggering product attributes. (authors' abstract

Fermion loop simulation of the lattice Gross-Neveu model

We present a numerical simulation of the Gross-Neveu model on the lattice using a new representation in terms of fermion loops. In the loop representation all signs due to Pauli statistics are eliminated completely and the partition function is a sum over closed loops with only positive weights. We demonstrate that the new formulation allows to simulate volumes which are two orders of magnitude larger than those accessible with standard methods