Reconceptualizing CSR in the media industry as relational accountability

In this paper, we reconceptualize CSR in the media industries by combining empirical data with theoretical perspectives emerging from the communication studies and business ethics literature. We develop a new conception of what corporate responsibility in media organizations may mean in real terms by bringing Bardoel and d’Haenens’ (European Journal of Communication 19 165–194 2004) discussion of the different dimensions of media accountability into conversation with the empirical results from three international focus group studies, conducted in France, the USA and South Africa. To enable a critical perspective on our findings, we perform a philosophical analysis of its implications for professional, public, market, and political accountability in the media, drawing on the insights of Paul Virilio. We come to the conclusion that though some serious challenges to media accountability exist, the battle for responsible media industries is not lost. In fact, the speed characterizing the contemporary media environment may hold some promise for fostering the kind of relational accountability that could underpin a new understanding of CSR in the media

TRAINING CENTRE FOR ENERGY TRADING

Reforme energetskog sektora i nove poslovne mogućnosti nametnule su potrebu stjecanja i prenošenja znanja i vještina svim sudionicima koji preuzimaju nove uloge i odgovornosti u energetskom sektoru. Stoga su Fakultet elektrotehnike i računarstva Sveučilišta u Zagrebu (FER), Hrvatska elektroprivreda d.d. (HEP d.d.) i norveška tvrtka Technor Energy AS pokrenule projekt uspostave Trening centra za trgovanje energijom (Training Centre for Energy Trading TCET). U članku je predstavljen rezultat ove suradnje – pisani materijali koji služe kao podloga za učenje i simulator tržišta koji omogućava različitim tržišnim sudionicima, iz raznih zemalja i s različitim tržišnim interesima, da kroz igru iskušaju tržišno natjecanje. Ovo je prvi trening centar takve vrste u Europi, a projekt njegove uspostave financiralo je Ministarstvo vanjskih poslova Kraljevine Norveške i HEP d.d.The current reforms in the energy sector and the resulting new business opportunities have imposed a need for knowledge and skills to be acquired by or imparted to all those who will assume new roles and responsibilities in the energy sector. To this end the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computering of the University of Zagreb (FER), Hrvatska elektroprivreda d.d. – The Croatian Electricity Company (HEP d.d.) and the Norwegian company Technor Energy AS launched a project to establish the Training Centre for Energy Trading (TCET). This article presents the results of this co-operation – printed materials to serve as teaching aid and a market simulator to help various market participants from different countries and with different market interests to try their hand at market competition by playing games. This is the first training centre project of this kind in Europe, co-financed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway and HEP d.d

Body Burdens of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers among Urban Anglers

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been widely used in the United States and worldwide as flame retardants. Recent PBDE production figures show that worldwide use has increased. To determine whether fish consumption is a source of PBDE exposure for humans, a cross-sectional epidemiologic study of New York and New Jersey urban anglers was conducted during the summers of 2001–2003. Frequency of local fish consumption was assessed by questionnaire, and blood samples for PBDE analysis were collected from 94 anglers fishing from piers on the lower Hudson River and Newark Bay. We analyzed PBDEs by gas chromatography–isotope dilution–high-resolution mass spectrometry. The congeners found in anglers’ serum at the highest concentrations were, by International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry numbers, BDE-47, BDE-153, and BDE-99. Anglers reporting consumption of local fish had higher, but nonstatistically significantly different, concentrations of PBDEs than did anglers who did not eat local fish. For some congeners (BDE-100 and BDE-153), we observed moderate dose–response relationships between serum PBDE levels and frequency of reported fish intake. These findings suggest that consumption of locally caught fish is not a major route of human exposure for this study population

Structural changes to primary visual cortex in the congenital absence of cone input in achromatopsia

Autosomal recessive Achromatopsia (ACHM) is a rare inherited disorder associated with dysfunctional cone photoreceptors resulting in a congenital absence of cone input to visual cortex. This might lead to distinct changes in cortical architecture with a negative impact on the success of gene augmentation therapies. To investigate the status of the visual cortex in these patients, we performed a multi-centre study focusing on the cortical structure of regions that normally receive predominantly cone input. Using high-resolution T1-weighted MRI scans and surface-based morphometry, we compared cortical thickness, surface area and grey matter volume in foveal, parafoveal and paracentral representations of primary visual cortex in 15 individuals with ACHM and 42 normally sighted, healthy controls (HC). In ACHM, surface area was reduced in all tested representations, while thickening of the cortex was found highly localized to the most central representation. These results were comparable to more widespread changes in brain structure reported in congenitally blind individuals, suggesting similar developmental processes, i.e., irrespective of the underlying cause and extent of vision loss. The cortical differences we report here could limit the success of treatment of ACHM in adulthood. Interventions earlier in life when cortical structure is not different from normal would likely offer better visual outcomes for those with ACHM

LGB+ and heterosexual-identified people produce similar analogies to intersex but have different opinions about its medicalisation

Qualitative researchers have long observed that rationales for medical interventions on intersex characteristics, or variable sex characteristics (VSC), invoke heteronormative ideals. Such medical interventions are controversial and described as infringing human rights. Recent survey research has confirmed that support for medical intervention, and opposition to its legal limitation on human rights grounds is predicted by (1) identifying as heterosexual and (2) endorsing gender binary beliefs. We replicated both findings here among 59 LGB+ and 61 heterosexual participants. Opinions about medical interventions on intersex characteristics were additionally predicted by belief in heterosexual complementarity among all participants, and by strength of heterosexual identification among heterosexual-identified participants. Participants read excerpts from three published interviews with a medical professional, a parent of a child with intersex characteristics, and an adult with intersex characteristics and generated analogies to these experiences. Participants who generated more diverse analogies endorsed the gender binary and medical interventions less, and supported legal limitations more. The results are discussed in relation to the formation and distribution of public attitudes to the controversial medicalisation of intersex characteristics

Do neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation and low social cohesion predict coronary calcification?: the CARDIA study

Growing evidence suggests that neighborhood characteristics may influence the risk of coronary heart disease. No studies have yet explored associations of neighborhood attributes with subclinical atherosclerosis in younger adult populations. Using data on 2,974 adults (1,699 women, 1,275 men) aged 32-50 years in 2000 from the Coronary Artery Disease Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study and 2000 US Census block-group-level data, the authors estimated multivariable-adjusted associations of neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation and perceived neighborhood cohesion with odds of coronary artery calcification (CAC) 5 years later. Among women, the quartiles of highest neighborhood deprivation and lowest cohesion were associated with higher odds of CAC after adjustment for individual-level demographic and socioeconomic factors (for deprivation, odds ratio = 2.49, 95% confidence interval: 1.22, 5.08 (P for trend = 0.03); for cohesion, odds ratio = 1.87, 95% confidence interval: 1.10, 3.16 (P for trend = 0.02)). Associations changed only slightly after adjustment for behavioral, psychosocial, and biologic factors. Among men, neither neighborhood deprivation nor cohesion was related to CAC. However, among men in deprived neighborhoods, low cohesion predicted higher CAC odds (for interaction between neighborhood deprivation and cohesion, P = 0.03). This study provides evidence on associations of neighborhood deprivation and cohesion with CAC in younger, asymptomatic adults. Neighborhood attributes may contribute to subclinical atherosclerosis.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78332/1/KimDiezRoux2010_AJE.pd

A phase I study of nolatrexed dihydrochloride in children with advanced cancer. A United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group Investigation

A phase I study of nolatrexed, administered as a continuous 5 day intravenous infusion every 28 days, has been undertaken for children with advanced malignancy. 16 patients were treated at 3 dose levels; 420, 640 and 768 mg/m2 24 h−1. 8 patients were evaluable for toxicity. In the 6 patients treated at 768 mg/m2 24 h−1, dose-limiting oral mucositis and myelosuppression were observed. Plasma nolatrexed concentrations and systemic exposure, measured in 14 patients, were dose related, with mean AUC values of 36 mg−1 ml−1 min−1, 50 mg ml−1 min−1 and 80 mg ml−1 min−1at the 3 dose levels studied. Whereas no toxicity was encountered if the nolatrexed AUC was <45 mg ml−1 min−1, Grade 3 or 4 toxicity was observed with AUC values of >60 mg ml−1 min−1. Elevated plasma deoxyuridine levels, measured as a surrogate marker of thymidylate synthase inhibition, were seen at all of the dose levels studied. One patient with a spinal primitive neuroectodermal tumour had stable disease for 11 cycles of therapy, and in two patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia a short-lived 50% reduction in peripheral lymphoblast counts was observed. Nolatrexed can be safely administered to children with cancer, and there is evidence of therapeutic activity as well as antiproliferative toxicity. Phase II studies of nolatrexed in children at the maximum tolerated dose of 640 mg/m2 24 h−1are warranted. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co