Determinants of Web-based CSR Disclosure in the Food Industry

Purpose –Web-based CSR disclosure provides a variety of advantages for firms. Determining factors for web-based CSR disclosure have been analyzed in several papers. However, only limited research has been conducted on both, the food industry and small and midsized enterprises. This paper is one contribution to fill this gap as we investigate web-based CSR communication of food processors including SME.Design/methodology/approach – We analyzed corporate communication on the websites of 71 food producers from North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany using dictionary-based content analysis. Based on an ordered logit model the relationship between CSR communication and size, profitability, indebtedness and closeness to market was estimated. Economic data were obtained from the commercial database DAFNE.Findings – Our results reveal that larger firms provide relatively more CSR information than smaller firms. There was no significant relationship between CSR disclosure and profitability or indebtedness of a company and an ambiguous relationship with regard to the determinant ‘closeness to market’. Regarding the different areas of communication we found that social compared to environmental aspects were underrepresented.Practical implications – Social aspects of CSR could be used for differentiation in the market. Furthermore, as smaller firms provide relatively less information on CSR it might be worthwhile to analyze the central impediments for CSR communication for those companies.Originality/Value – This paper contributes to the ongoing discussion about firms’ CSR communication. From a convenience sample of 71 food processing firms, including SME, it provides insight regarding the determinants for CSR disclosure on firms’ websites. With the focus on the food industry and the inclusion of SME we contribute with our study to two under-researched areas

Determinants of Web-based CSR Disclosure in the Food Industry

Purpose –Web-based CSR disclosure bears a variety of advantages for firms. Determining factors for web-based CSR disclosure have been analyzed in several papers. However, only limited research has been conducted on both, the food industry and small and midsized enterprises. This paper is one contribution to fill this gap as we investigate web-based CSR communication of food processors including SME.Design/methodology/approach – We analyzed corporate communication on the websites of N=71 food producers from North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany using dictionary-based content analysis. Based on an ordered logit model the relationship between CSR communication and size, profitability, indebtedness and closeness to market was estimated. Economic data were obtained from the commercial database Dafne.Findings – Our results reveal that larger firms provide relatively more CSR information than smaller firms. There was no significant relationship between CSR disclosure and profitability or indebtedness of a company and ambiguous ones with regard to the determinant ‘closeness to market’. Regarding the different areas of communication we found that social compared to environmental aspects were underrepresented.Practical implications – Social aspects of CSR could be used for differentiation at the market. Furthermore as smaller firms provide relatively fewer information on CSR it might be worthwhile to analyze central impediments for CSR communication for those companies.Originality/Value – This paper contributes to the ongoing discussion about firms’ CSR communication. It provides for a convenience sample of 71 food processing firms’, including SME, insight regarding the determinants for CSR disclosure on firms’ websites. With the focus on the food industry and the inclusion of SMEs we contribute with our study to two under-researched areas

Parent organizations’ experiences of the pandemic response in maternity care in thirteen Europeancountries

We surveyed changes to maternity care services in the first 17 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 13 different European countries, from the perspective of national maternity service (parent) organizations advocating for a human rights approach to maternity services. A qualitative study was conducted in November 2020. An open-question survey was sent to national maternity service (parent) organizations and members of COST Action 18211 in Europe, asking about COVID-19 measures in maternity services (antenatally, intrapartum, postnatally, and overall satisfaction). From the open answers, 16 core issues were extracted. Between February and August 2021, semi-structured interviews with the national representatives of 14 parent member organizations in Europe were conducted, collecting details on overall national situations and changes due to COVID-19 measures. The reported experiences of parent organizations from 13 European countries show wide variations in epidemiological containment measures during the first 17 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Practices differed between facilities, resulting in emotional disquiet and confusion for parent-patients. Most countries maintained antenatal and postnatal care but restricted psychosocial support (antenatal and birth companions, visitors). Organizations from nine countries reported that women had to wear masks during labor, and all but two countries saw separations of mothers and babies. Most parent organizations described a need for more reliable information for new parents. During the pandemic, non-evidence-based practices were (re-) established in many settings, depriving women and families of many factors which evidence has shown to be essential for a positive birthing experience. Based on the findings, we consider the challenges in maternity services and propose a strategy for future crises.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Investigation of the catalytic mechanism of RNase P: the role of divalent metal ions and functional groups important for catalysis

The ribonucleoprotein enzyme ribonuclease (RNase) P is an endonuclease that generates the mature 5' -ends of tRNA. Bacterial RNase P is composed of a large RNA subunit (P RNA) and a small protein (P protein). Studies with P RNA from E. coli and B. subtilis have implied a specific role for two or more metal ions in substrate binding and cleavage chemistry. In this study it is demonstrated, for the first time, catalysis by E. coli P RNA with zinc as the sole divalent metal ion cofactor. Although proficient in catalysis, zinc destabilises E•S complex formation. In contrast, strontium inhibits catalysis, but promotes high substrate affinity. Stimulating and inhibitory effects of strontium could be rationalised by a model involving two strontium ions (or two classes), both improving substrate affinity in a cooperative manner, but one of the two inhibiting substrate conversion in a noncompetitive mode with respect to substrate. Further analyses suggest that the inhibition mode of strontium is noncompetitive with respect to zinc. The 2'-OH group at the scissile phosphodiester (nt –1 of ptRNA) contributes to positioning of a catalytic metal ion and may donate a H-bond to the 3'-O leaving group. NMR analyses have indicated that the ribose at nt –1 predominantly populates the C2'-endo conformation. Since the energy barrier for interconversion of C2'- and C3'-endo puckering is expected to be low, it is unknown which conformation is adopted during P RNA catalysis. To address this issue, we analysed cleavage of a ptRNA carrying an locked nucleic acid (LNA) substitution at nt –1, LNA being the only well known substituent that locks the ribose in a C3'-endo puckering. A 2'-methoxy substitution at this position was analysed in parallel, since it is chemically closely related to LNA. Other variants with 2'-fluoro or 2'-deoxy substitution at nt –1 were included in this study. An LNA substitution at nt –1 dramatically reduced (more that a 2'-deoxy) cleavage at the canonical site (-1/+1), while the effects on ground state binding were marginal. A 2'-methoxy substitution completely abolished cleavage at the canonical site. Also, both substituents suppressed cleavage at the site -1/-2. Instead, aberrant cleavage at the site +1/+2 was observed. Since the cleavage at the canonical site of the substrate with LNA at nt –1 had a higher magnesium requirement compared to cleavage at the +1/+2 site, it is likely that the methylene group of LNA inhibit cleavage at the canonical site by sterical interference with a catalytic magnesium ion. The fact that LNA at nt –1 still permitted residual cleavage at the canonical site indicates that the transition state can be reached in the presence of a locked C3'-endo conformation at nt –1. We further tested LNA at nt +1. Here, LNA had only a marginal effect on cleavage chemistry, but significantly reduced ptRNA binding affinity. The binding defect could be overcome at high metal ion concentrations. Again, comparison with a 2'-methoxy and 2'-deoxy modification indicated sterical hindrance by the methylen or methyl group. Hill analysis of metal ion dependence of ptRNA binding revealed a higher metal ion cooperativity for the LNA variant compared to the unmodified one, indicating that the methylene group sterically interferes, directly or indirectly, with metal ion binding to at least one site crucial for E•S complex formation. Functional groups within the P RNA and/or ptRNA are essential for substrate binding and cleavage and they can be mapped by modification interference studies: nucleotide analogue interference mapping (NAIM) and suppression (NAIS). For this purpose, an RNA chimera consisting of E. coli P RNA and the tRNA 5'-half was constructed. A functional substrate was reconstituted by annealing the tRNA 5'-half with its 3'-half resulting in a cis-cleaving RNA complex. A partially modified RNA pool (RNA chimera) was then synthesised by in vitro transcription. After separation of functional (cis-cleaving) and non-functional molecules, positions within the 3' -half of the P RNA where modifications interfered with processing (cis-cleavage reaction) could be identified. These positions are overlapping to some extent with those found in a previous study, where interference with E. coli P RNA - tRNA binding was analysed. These results are to be expected because functional groups in P RNA important for substrate binding are likewise important for substrate turnover, since binding is a prerequisite for cleavage. A strong interference effect at G 350 was detected only with the cis – cleavage assay. G 350 may represent a position essential for the catalytic step, as evidence was provided that it contributes to the binding of catalytically important magnesium near the active site of P RNA

Sensory Augmentation for the Blind

Common navigational aids used by blind travelers during large-scale navigation divert attention away from important cues of the immediate environment (i.e., approaching vehicles). Sensory augmentation devices, relying on principles similar to those at work in sensory substitution, can potentially bypass the bottleneck of attention through sub-cognitive implementation of a set of rules coupling motor actions with sensory stimulation. We provide a late blind subject with a vibrotactile belt that continually signals the direction of magnetic north. The subject completed a set of behavioral tests before and after an extended training period. The tests were complemented by questionnaires and interviews. This newly supplied information improved performance on different time scales. In a pointing task we demonstrate an instant improvement of performance based on the signal provided by the device. Furthermore, the signal was helpful in relevant daily tasks, often complicated for the blind, such as keeping a direction over longer distances or taking shortcuts in familiar environments. A homing task with an additional attentional load demonstrated a significant improvement after training. The subject found the directional information highly expedient for the adjustment of his inner maps of familiar environments and describes an increase in his feeling of security when exploring unfamiliar environments with the belt. The results give evidence for a firm integration of the newly supplied signals into the behavior of this late blind subject with better navigational performance and more courageous behavior in unfamiliar environments. Most importantly, the complementary information provided by the belt lead to a positive emotional impact with enhanced feeling of security. The present experimental approach demonstrates the positive potential of sensory augmentation devices for the help of handicapped people

Monocyte-dependent co-stimulation of cytokine induction in human γδ T cells by TLR8 RNA ligands

Human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells recognize pyrophosphates produced by microbes and transformed cells and play a role in anti-infective immunity and tumor surveillance. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are pattern recognition receptors in innate immune cells which sense microbial structures including nucleic acids. Given that γδ T cells are in clinical development for application in cellular cancer immunotherapy and TLR ligands have potent adjuvant activity, we investigated the co-stimulatory role of selected TLR ligands in γδ T-cell activation. Here we have used recently described RNA ligands for TLR7 and TLR8 together with Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell specific pyrophosphate antigens to analyze the rapid cytokine induction in Vδ2 T cells as well as the accessory cell requirements. While TLR8- as well as TLR7/8-specific RNA did not induce IFN-γ in Vδ2 T cells on their own, they provided strong co-stimulation for Vδ2 T cells within peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of additional T-cell receptor activation. In contrast, TLR7 ligands were ineffective. Purified γδ T cells did not directly respond to TLR8 co-stimulation but required the presence of monocytes. Further experiments revealed a critical role of IL-1β and IL-18, and to a slightly lesser extent of IL-12p70, in the co-stimulation of Vδ2 T cells by TLR8 and TLR7/8 RNA ligands. Results of intracellular cytokine expression were validated by ELISA analysis of cytokines in cell culture supernatants. The cell context-dependent adjuvant activity of TLR8 and TLR7/8 RNA ligands described here might be important for the future optimization of γδ T-cell based cancer immunotherapy

Strain engineering for GeSn/SiGeSn multiple quantum well laser structures

Optically pumped GeSn laser have been realized, thus alloying of group IV elements germanium (Ge) and tin (Sn) has a large potential to be a solution for Si-photonics, since a direct bandgap for Sn incorporations above ~9 at.% is obtained [1]. The value of the bandgap can further be controlled by adding Si into the mix, which can be exploited for the formation of heterostructures for carrier confinement [2]. However, a sufficiently large difference in energy ΔE between the indirect L-valley and the direct Г-valley is required to achieve room temperature lasing. Recently lasing was reported at 180K in GeSn alloys with Sn concentrations as high as 22,3% [3]. Alternatively ΔE can be increased by adding tensile strain to the GeSn layers. Here we will discuss that an appropriate combination of Sn concentration and strain will be advantageous to tailor gain and temperature stability of the structures. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Impact of the COVID ‐19 pandemic on patients with hidradenitis suppurativa

The COVID-19 pandemic caused collateral damage to patients with acute and chronic conditions. In this mono-centre cross-sectional study, we sought to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). In June 2020, we sent an anonymous survey to 109 patients, who were diagnosed with HS in our outpatient clinic from May 2018 to April 2020. Fifty patients (45.9%) completed and returned the survey. Forty-five participants (90.0%) denied any cancellation of hospitalisation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitalisation was postponed in 8% of cases and cancelled in 2%. Compared to prior to the pandemic, fewer patients consulted their primary physician for changing wound dressings and more changed the dressings themselves or were assisted by their family members. 13% of patients avoided doctor visits due to fear of COVID-19 and 26.1% minimised doctor visits. The Dermatology Life Quality Index showed a moderate to very severe impact on patients' Quality of Life (mean score = 10.06). Only one patient used telemedicine. Due to limited access to primary care and fear of COVID-19, the pandemic had a detectable impact on the hospital management of patients with HS in our facility. Telemedicine still plays a negligible role in primary wound care

Precise redox-sensitive cleavage sites for improved bioactivity of siRNA lipopolyplexes

Lipo-oligomers have been proven as potent siRNA carriers based on stable electrostatic and hydrophobic complex formation and endosomal membrane destabilization. Although high stability of siRNA polyplexes is desirable in the extracellular space and cellular uptake, intracellular disassembly is important for the cytosolic release of siRNA and RNA-induced silencing complex formation. To improve the release, bioreducible sequence-defined lipo-oligomers were synthesized by solid-phase assisted synthesis using the disulfide building block Fmoc-succinoyl-cystamine for precise positioning of a disulfide unit between a lipophilic diacyl (bis-myristyl, bis-stearyl or bis-cholestanyl) domain and an ionizable oligocationic siRNA binding unit. Reducible siRNA polyplexes show higher gene silencing efficacy and lower cytotoxicity than their stable analogs, consistent with glutathione-triggered siRNA release and reduced lytic activity