Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility (CSER) Reporting Practices in a Developing Country: Evidence from Bangladesh

This study explores CSER reporting phenomenon in Bangladesh. Constructivist ontology and interpretivist epistemology research methodology was used. Findings from this engagement-based study reveal the underpinning assumptions of CSER regarding enablers and barriers, stakeholders’ expectations and suggested strategies. Findings and the social system-based theories resonate well with the literature providing theoretical and practical contributions to the body of knowledge. This study provides valuable insights for scholars, policy makers, managers and organisations

Improving Aspen/SP Computer Model of Great Plains Coal Gasifiers

The Great Plains Gasification Plant located in Beulah, North Dakota, operated by the Dakota Gasification Company (DGC) is the only commercial production plant in the United States making synthetic natural gas (SNG) from coal. DGC operates 14 Lurgi gasifiers to produce 158 million ft3/day of SNG from 17,000 tons of North Dakota lignite coal. As the first step in constructing a model of the entire plant to control its operation and optimize the economic performance, an ASPEN/SP computer model (called RGAS) of a Lurgi gasifier was developed with the combined effort of several researchers. RGAS will predict the impact of changes in inputs on production rates and efficiency. The model parameters (i.e., kinetic constants, heat transfer coefficient to the reactor wall, heat capacity of the volatiles, etc.) were previously optimized in different stages to obtain the best possible model predictions. Unfortunately, the model did not predict the output variables within desirable accuracy, necessitating further improvements to the RGAS model. In this study some model improvements were made or tried. The FORTRAN routine, which models the combustion and gasification zones in the gasifier, requires an iterative approach for solution. The efficiency of the FORTRAN code has been enhanced by changing the convergence scheme, which reduced the simulation time by 75%. In addition, a Hooke-Jeeves pattern search algorithm has been included in the RGAS subroutine URE09, so that any optimization of parameters can be done automatically. This made optimization easy and efficient. Contrary to the actual volatile evolution, RGAS assumes devolatilization to be a linear, temperature dependent evolution of volatile matter. However, limited data on North Dakota lignite and available literature information indicate that the temperature dependence of volatile evolution is non-linear. A non-linear devolatilization model was tried, but it did not result in any significant improvements in the RGAS predictions so, the simple linear model was retained. An optimized value of 1.7 for the activity of carbon was included in the definition of the equilibrium constants of the reversible reactions (previously it was assumed to be unity), which improved the flow predictions significantly. This can be justified by the fact that amorphous carbon from lignite coal has higher free energies than graphite. This research project has been very successful. After the improvements were incorporated into the RGAS model, it predicted nine of the ten responses studied (the exception being reactor steam utilization) within the accuracy of the data. The RGAS model is now complete, in terms of giving good predictions for the coal (lignite) used during the study period. However, kinetic parameters vary with coal composition since several of the reactions are catalyzed by the metals present in the coal. The addition of metal composition catalytic effects would allow predictions to take into account changing coal composition. This is recommended as the next step in making the RGAS model even more valuable as an optimization and control tool for the DGC plant in Beulah, North Dakota

Impact of the Global Economic Crisis on the Employment and Labour Market of Bangladesh A Preliminary Assessment

ILOs initiative to assess the impact of the financial crisis on employment and labour market of South Asian economies and develop alternative policy responses to mitigate the adverse social effects of the crisis on the world of work, especially the vulnerable groups, is timely and addresses a key emerging concern. The Bangladesh country study is part of this South Asia wide study, and the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has been entrusted with carrying out this part of the regional study. The study will be carried out in two phases : a rapid assessment study to be followed by a more indepth study of the impact of recession on the labour market of Bangladesh which will focus on required policy responses.Bangladesh, Global Economic Crisis, Employement, Labour Market

Business Competitiveness Environment In Bangladesh (2005): Domestic Perceptions And Global Comparison

Business Competitiveness Environment, Business, Competitiveness Environment, Bangladesh

Business Competitiveness Environment In Bangladesh (2005) - Domestic Perceptions And Global Comparison

Although it is true that a liberal trade and investment policy is essential for attracting higher level of private investment, it is not a sufficient factor. Many developing countries (DCs) and least developed countries (LDCs) which have opened up their economies to a large extent and have in general put in place market friendly policies, but did not succeed in their bid to have significant foreign investment flow. The reason why broad macroeconomic policies, even when these appear to be liberal, do not get translated into favourable micro decisions by entrepreneurs is something that needs to be closely looked into. Policymakers in DCs and LDCs do not give as much attention to these missing links as they generally tend to give to putting the macro-framework right. Major objectives of this paper are to assess the competitiveness environment in Bangladesh by identifying the key bottlenecks and impediments which constrain proper functioning of the business sector, and also to come up with a set of policy recommendations to help policymakers and stakeholders prioritise the areas for improving economic governance in the country through focused initiative. The paper also attempts to situate Bangladesh in terms of growth and business competitiveness performance in the context of other countries, globally, for the year 2005 as compared to 2004.Bangladesh, Business Competetiveness

The influence of rural transportation systems on regional economic development and commercialization of agriculture in some selected areas of Comilla District, Bangladesh

The economic progress of a country like Bangladesh cannot be considered without giving top priority to the improvement of rural life. Among the economic and social factors contributing towards development, the role of rural transportation systems is a significant one. This study investigates the contributions that appropriate rural transportation systems have on the developmental process in the Comilla district. A case study of two selected regions was undertaken. These are the regions of Kotwali with a relatively better transport system and the Burichong region regarded as control. A contrasting picture of the two regions' agricultural development was revealed by the analysis. To investigate the possible causes of such a picture, the efficiency and cost structure of the different modern and traditional modes of transport such as truck, tractor, cycle rickshaw, bullock cart, country boat and human modes (shoulder or head 1oad) were discussed using statistical and econometric techniques. utilizing the available information on the rice trade of transportation pattern, cost of production and prices in the two regions, the economic benefits of rural roads were assessed by estimating the producer surplus. Examples of social benefits were enumerated. The effects of distance covered and volume hauled on transport cost for the different modes was examined using a quadratic transport cost function. Finally, the most economic rice transport task, i.e., the least-cost combination of modes and routes subject to given assumptions relati.ng to production and consumption centres was attempted. This was based on the results arrived at using a network analysis approach

Achieving maternal and child health gains in Afghanistan: a Countdown to 2015 country case study

Background After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, Afghanistan experienced a tumultuous period of democracy overshadowed by confl ict, widespread insurgency, and an infl ow of development assistance. Although there have been several cross-sectional assessments of health gains over the last decade, there has been no systematic analysis of progress and factors infl uencing maternal and child health in Afghanistan. Methods We undertook a comprehensive, systematic assessment of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health in Afghanistan over the last decade. Given the paucity of high-quality data before 2001, we relied mainly on 11 nationally representative surveys conducted between 2003 and 2013. We estimated national and subnational time trends for key reproductive, maternal, and child health indicators, and used linear regression methods to determine predictors of change in health-care service use. All analyses were weighted for sampling and design eff ects. Additional information was collated and analysed about health system performance from third party surveys and about human resources from the Afghan Ministry of Public Health. Findings Between 2003 and 2015, Afghanistan experienced a 29% decline in mortality of children younger than 5 years. Although defi nite reductions in maternal mortality remain uncertain, concurrent improvements in essential maternal health interventions suggest parallel survival gains in mothers. In a little over a decade (2003–13 inclusive), coverage of several maternal care interventions increased—eg, for antenatal care (16% to 53%), skilled birth attendance (14% to 46%), and births in a health facility (13% to 39%). Childhood vaccination coverage rates for the basic vaccines from the Expanded Programme of Immunisation (eg, BCG, measles, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, and three doses of polio) doubled over this period (about 40% to about 80%). Between 2005 and 2013, the number of deployed facility and community-based health-care professionals also increased, including for nurses (738 to 5766), midwives (211 to 3333), general physicians (403 to 5990), and community health workers (2682 to 28 837). Multivariable analysis of factors contributing to overall changes in skilled birth attendance and facility births suggests independent contributions of maternal literacy, deployment of community midwives, and proximity to a facility. Interpretation Despite confl ict and poverty, Afghanistan has made reasonable progress in its reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health indicators over the last decade based on contributions of factors within and outside the health sector. However, equitable access to health care remains a challenge and present delivery models have high transactional costs, aff ecting sustainability. To maintain and further accelerate health and development gains, future strategies in Afghanistan will need to focus on investments in improving social determinants of health and targeted cost-eff ective interventions to address major causes of maternal and newborn mortality

Single-cell analysis reveals differences among iNKT cells colonizing peripheral organs and identifies Klf2 as a key gene for iNKT emigration

Invariant natural killer T cell (iNKT) subsets are differentially distributed in various immune organs. However, it remains unclear whether iNKT cells exhibit phenotypical and functional differences in different peripheral organs and how thymic iNKT cells emigrate to peripheral organs. Here, we used single-cell RNA-seq to map iNKT cells from peripheral organs. iNKT1 cells from liver, spleen, and lymph node appear to have distinct phenotypic profiles and functional capabilities. However, iNKT17 transcriptomes were comparable across peripheral organs. In addition, by integrating data with a thymic iNKT cell study, we uncovered a transient population of recent thymic emigrants, a cluster of peripheral iNKT cells with high expression of transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 2 (Klf2). Deletion of Klf2 led to a severe impairment of iNKT differentiation and migration. Our study revealed that iNKT subsets are uniquely distributed in peripheral organs with some inter-local tissue variation, especially for iNKT1 cell, and identified Klf2 as a rheostat for iNKT cell migration and differentiation