One plus one equals three; proactive partnering multiplies CSR benefits

With companies now linking corporate social responsibility to their aggressive business strategies to achieve a competitive market advantage (Porter and Kramer, 2006), non profit organisations should also extract shared value from this strategic corporate social responsibility movement (Eweje and Palakshappa, 2009). Questions arise, however, as to the actual role which should be played by the non profit organisation (Muthuri, Chapple and Moon, 2009). This conceptual paper firstly provides evidence that corporate social responsibility (CSR) from the perspective of the non profit requires investigation. Secondly, by integrating two existing CSR frameworks, a new CSR framework is proposed which will redefine the role of the non profit organisation in marketing itself and proactively working with business. This collaborative approach is likely to ensure mutual CSR benefits for non profit organisations and small businesses in particular, plus the broader community in which they both operate.<br /

A guide to behavioural experiments in bipolar disorder

Behavioural experiments are an important component of cognitive-behavioural therapy. However, there exists little up-to-date guidance on how to conduct these in people with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. This paper provides recommendations on how to conduct behavioural experiments in this population. The aim is to upskill and empower clinicians to conduct behavioural experiments. The paper combines the expertise of senior clinicians working in the United Kingdom. The article starts by providing general advice on conducting behavioural experiments in people with bipolar disorder. It then offers specific examples of behavioural experiments targeting cognitions around the uncontrollability and danger of affective states, and related behavioural strategies, which have been implicated in the maintenance of bipolar mood swings. The article finishes by providing examples of behavioural experiments for non-mood related difficulties that commonly occur with bipolar experiences including perfectionistic thinking, need for approval, and intrusive memories. Behavioural experiments offer a useful therapeutic technique for instigating cognitive and behavioural change in bipolar disorder. Conducted sensitively and collaboratively, in line with people's recovery-focused goals, behavioural experiments can be used to overcome mood- and non-mood related difficulties

Symmetry-selective quasiparticle scattering and electric field tunability of the ZrSiS surface electronic structure

3D Dirac semimetals with square-net non-symmorphic symmetry, such as ternary ZrXY (X=Si, Ge; Y=S, Se, Te) compounds, have attracted significant attention owing to the presence of topological nodal lines, loops, or networks in their bulk. Orbital symmetry plays a profound role such materials as the different branches of the nodal dispersion can be distinguished by their distinct orbital symmetry eigenvalues. The presence of different eigenvalues suggests that scattering between states of different orbital symmetry may be strongly suppressed. Indeed, in ZrSiS, there has been no clear experimental evidence of quasiparticle scattering between states of different symmetry eigenvalue has been reported at small wave vector $q$. Here we show, using quasiparticle interference (QPI), that atomic step-edges in the ZrSiS surface facilitate quasiparticle scattering between states of different symmetry eigenvalues. This symmetry eigenvalue mixing quasiparticle scattering is the first to be reported for ZrSiS and contrasts quasiparticle scattering with no mixing of symmetry eigenvalues, where the latter occurs with scatterers preserving the glide mirror symmetry of the crystal lattice, e.g., native point defects in ZrSiS. Finally, we show that the electronic structure of the ZrSiS surface, including its unique floating band surface state (FBSS), can be tuned by a vertical electric field locally applied by the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), enabling control of a spin-orbit induced avoided crossing near the Fermi level by as much as 300%

Altered dietary behaviour during pregnancy impacts systemic metabolic phenotypes

Rationale: Evidence suggests consumption of a Mediterranean diet (MD) can positively impact both maternal and offspring health, potentially mediated by a beneficial effect on inflammatory pathways. We aimed to apply metabolic profiling of serum and urine samples to assess differences between women who were stratified into high and low alignment to a MD throughout pregnancy and investigate the relationship of the diet to inflammatory markers. Methods: From the ORIGINS cohort, 51 pregnant women were stratified for persistent high and low alignment to a MD, based on validated MD questionnaires. 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the urine and serum metabolite profiles of these women at 36 weeks of pregnancy. The relationship between diet, metabolite profile and inflammatory status was investigated. Results: There were clear differences in both the food choice and metabolic profiles of women who self-reported concordance to a high (HMDA) and low (LMDA) Mediterranean diet, indicating that alignment with the MD was associated with a specific metabolic phenotype during pregnancy. Reduced meat intake and higher vegetable intake in the HMDA group was supported by increased levels of urinary hippurate (p = 0.044) and lower creatine (p = 0.047) levels. Serum concentrations of the NMR spectroscopic inflammatory biomarkers GlycA (p = 0.020) and GlycB (p = 0.016) were significantly lower in the HDMA group and were negatively associated with serum acetate, histidine and isoleucine (p \u3c 0.05) suggesting a greater level of plant-based nutrients in the diet. Serum branched chain and aromatic amino acids were positively associated with the HMDA group while both urinary and serum creatine, urine creatinine and dimethylamine were positively associated with the LMDA group. Conclusion: Metabolic phenotypes of pregnant women who had a high alignment with the MD were significantly different from pregnant women who had a poor alignment with the MD. The metabolite profiles aligned with reported food intake. Differences were most significant biomarkers of systemic inflammation and selected gut-microbial metabolites. This research expands our understanding of the mechanisms driving health outcomes during the perinatal period and provides additional biomarkers for investigation in pregnant women to assess potential health risks

Guidance for the Conduct and Reporting of Clinical Trials of Breast Milk Substitutes

Question What is the best way to ensure the validity of clinical trials of breast milk substitutes while protecting trial participants? Findings Through a Delphi consensus project, guidance was developed to address issues specific to trials of breast milk substitutes assessing growth and tolerance, as well as trials of breast milk substitutes with other objectives. This consensus guidance summarizes best practice for the design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of trials of breast milk substitutes. Meaning Use of this guidance, in conjunction with existing clinical trial regulations, should enhance the quality and validity of trials of breast milk substitutes, protect trial participants, and support the evidence base for infant nutrition recommendations. This consensus guidance summarizes best practice for the design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of trials of breast milk substitutes. Importance Breast milk substitutes (BMS) are important nutritional products evaluated in clinical trials. Concerns have been raised about the risk of bias in BMS trials, the reliability of claims that arise from such trials, and the potential for BMS trials to undermine breastfeeding in trial participants. Existing clinical trial guidance does not fully address issues specific to BMS trials. Objectives To establish new methodological criteria to guide the design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of BMS trials and to support clinical trialists designing and undertaking BMS trials, editors and peer reviewers assessing trial reports for publication, and regulators evaluating the safety, nutritional adequacy, and efficacy of BMS products. Design, Setting, and Participants A modified Delphi method was conducted, involving 3 rounds of anonymous questionnaires and a face-to-face consensus meeting between January 1 and October 24, 2018. Participants were 23 experts in BMS trials, BMS regulation, trial methods, breastfeeding support, infant feeding research, and medical publishing, and were affiliated with institutions across Europe, North America, and Australasia. Guidance development was supported by an industry consultation, analysis of methodological issues in a sample of published BMS trials, and consultations with BMS trial participants and a research ethics committee. Results An initial 73 criteria, derived from the literature, were sent to the experts. The final consensus guidance contains 54 essential criteria and 4 recommended criteria. An 18-point checklist summarizes the criteria that are specific to BMS trials. Key themes emphasized in the guidance are research integrity and transparency of reporting, supporting breastfeeding in trial participants, accurate description of trial interventions, and use of valid and meaningful outcome measures. Conclusions and Relevance Implementation of this guidance should enhance the quality and validity of BMS trials, protect BMS trial participants, and better inform the infant nutrition community about BMS products.Peer reviewe

Investigation of a new bis(carboxylate)triazole-based anchoring ligand for dye-sensitised solar cell chromophore complexes

A novel anchoring ligand for dye-sensitised solar cell chromophoric complexes, 1-(2,2’-bipyrid-4-yl)-1,2,3-triazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid (dctzbpy), is described. The new dye complexes [Ru(bpy)2(dctzbpy)][PF6]2 (AS16), [Ir(ppy)2(dctzbpy)][PF6] (AS17) and [Re(dctzbpy)(CO)3Cl] (AS18) were prepared in a two stage procedure with intermediate isolation of their diester analogues, AS16-Et2, AS17-Et2 and AS18-Et2 respectively. Electrochemical analysis of AS16-Et2, AS17-Et2 and AS18-Et2 reveal reduction potentials in the range -1.50 to -1.59 V (vs Fc+/Fc) which is cathodically shifted with respect to that of the model complex [Ru(bpy)2(dcbH2)]2+ (1) (Ered = -1.34 V, dcbH2 = 2,2’-bipyridyl-4,4’dicarboxylic acid). This therefore demonstrates that the LUMO of the complex is correctly positioned for favourable electron transfer into the TiO2 conduction band upon photoexcitation. The higher energy LUMOs for AS16 to AS18 and a larger HOMO-LUMO gap result in blue-shifted absorption spectra and hence reduced light harvesting efficiency relative to their dcbH2 analogues. Preliminary tests on TiO2 n-type and NiO p-type DSSCs have been carried out. In the cases of the Ir(III) and Re(I) based dyes AS17 and AS18 these show inferior performance to their dcbH2 analogues. However, the Ru(II) dye AS16 (η = 0.61 %) exhibits significantly greater efficiency than 1 (η = 0.1 %). In a p-type cell AS16 shows the highest photovoltaic efficiency (η = 0.028 %), almost three times that of cells incorporating the benchmark dye coumarin C343

Altered dietary behaviour during pregnancy impacts systemic metabolic phenotypes

RationaleEvidence suggests consumption of a Mediterranean diet (MD) can positively impact both maternal and offspring health, potentially mediated by a beneficial effect on inflammatory pathways. We aimed to apply metabolic profiling of serum and urine samples to assess differences between women who were stratified into high and low alignment to a MD throughout pregnancy and investigate the relationship of the diet to inflammatory markers.MethodsFrom the ORIGINS cohort, 51 pregnant women were stratified for persistent high and low alignment to a MD, based on validated MD questionnaires. 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the urine and serum metabolite profiles of these women at 36 weeks of pregnancy. The relationship between diet, metabolite profile and inflammatory status was investigated.ResultsThere were clear differences in both the food choice and metabolic profiles of women who self-reported concordance to a high (HMDA) and low (LMDA) Mediterranean diet, indicating that alignment with the MD was associated with a specific metabolic phenotype during pregnancy. Reduced meat intake and higher vegetable intake in the HMDA group was supported by increased levels of urinary hippurate (p = 0.044) and lower creatine (p = 0.047) levels. Serum concentrations of the NMR spectroscopic inflammatory biomarkers GlycA (p = 0.020) and GlycB (p = 0.016) were significantly lower in the HDMA group and were negatively associated with serum acetate, histidine and isoleucine (p &lt; 0.05) suggesting a greater level of plant-based nutrients in the diet. Serum branched chain and aromatic amino acids were positively associated with the HMDA group while both urinary and serum creatine, urine creatinine and dimethylamine were positively associated with the LMDA group.ConclusionMetabolic phenotypes of pregnant women who had a high alignment with the MD were significantly different from pregnant women who had a poor alignment with the MD. The metabolite profiles aligned with reported food intake. Differences were most significant biomarkers of systemic inflammation and selected gut-microbial metabolites. This research expands our understanding of the mechanisms driving health outcomes during the perinatal period and provides additional biomarkers for investigation in pregnant women to assess potential health risks

The development of a web- and a print-based decision aid for prostate cancer screening

Background Whether early detection and treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) will reduce disease-related mortality remains uncertain. As a result, tools are needed to facilitate informed decision making. While there have been several decision aids (DAs) developed and tested, very few have included an exercise to help men clarify their values and preferences about PCa screening. Further, only one DA has utilized an interactive web-based format, which allows for an expansion and customization of the material. We describe the development of two DAs, a booklet and an interactive website, each with a values clarification component and designed for use in diverse settings. Methods We conducted two feasibility studies to assess men\u27s (45-70 years) Internet access and their willingness to use a web- vs. a print-based tool. The booklet was adapted from two previous versions evaluated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and the website was created to closely match the content of the revised booklet. Usability testing was conducted to obtain feedback regarding draft versions of the materials. The tools were also reviewed by a plain language expert and the interdisciplinary research team. Feedback on the content and presentation led to iterative modifications of the tools. Results The feasibility studies confirmed that the Internet was a viable medium, as the majority of men used a computer, had access to the Internet, and Internet use increased over time. Feedback from the usability testing on the length, presentation, and content of the materials was incorporated into the final versions of the booklet and website. Both the feasibility studies and the usability testing highlighted the need to address men\u27s informed decision making regarding screening. Conclusions Informed decision making for PCa screening is crucial at present and may be important for some time, particularly if a definitive recommendation either for or against screening does not emerge from ongoing prostate cancer screening trials. We have detailed our efforts at developing print- and web-based DAs to assist men in determining how to best meet their PCa screening preferences. Following completion of our ongoing RCT designed to test these materials, our goal will be to develop a dissemination project for the more effective tool

Energy Resolution Performance of the CMS Electromagnetic Calorimeter

The energy resolution performance of the CMS lead tungstate crystal electromagnetic calorimeter is presented. Measurements were made with an electron beam using a fully equipped supermodule of the calorimeter barrel. Results are given both for electrons incident on the centre of crystals and for electrons distributed uniformly over the calorimeter surface. The electron energy is reconstructed in matrices of 3 times 3 or 5 times 5 crystals centred on the crystal containing the maximum energy. Corrections for variations in the shower containment are applied in the case of uniform incidence. The resolution measured is consistent with the design goals