Legitimacy on a Budget:

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), while primarily targeting large firms, it exerts significant indirect pressure on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as its influence trickles down through value chains and investors, even though these smaller entities are not legally bound to comply. This cascading demand for sustainability data has made sustainability disclosures a crucial “hygiene factor” for maintaining legitimacy. However, SMEs face considerable challenges due to inherent financial and human resource constraints. This multiple case study, employing a qualitative and inductive approach, investigates how Swedish SMEs experience and respond to these CSRD-related pressures. Drawing on legitimacy theory, institutional isomorphism, and a dialectic perspective, the study explores how these pressures shape SMEs’ internal sustainability disclosure strategies. The empirical data were collected through semi-structured interviews with SME representatives and relevant stakeholders who influence their sustainability reporting practices. The data were analyzed thematically. The empirical findings indicate that Swedish SMEs experience substantial pressures. Resource constraints and regulatory uncertainty lead to institutional contradictions and personal burdens for individuals within these firms. Consequently, SMEs adopt hybrid legitimacy strategies, often focusing on pragmatic, minimum viable compliance through simplified tools and templates to signal conformity at a low cost. The study concludes that despite resource limitations and uncertainty, SMEs are compelled to engage in sustainability reporting due to indirect CSRD pressures, utilizing hybrid strategies, and their collective praxis contributes to reshaping institutional norms and the broader regulatory landscape. Theoretically, the study highlights how emotional burden interacts with institutional dynamics. Practically, it identifies the need for simplified supportive reporting tools to reduce the burden on resource-constrained SMEs

Competencies of nurse practitioners in family practices: A scoping review

Aims and objective To explore the existing literature related to nurse practitioner (NP) competencies in family practices and to examine the evidence and develop a list of competencies. Background The integration of NPs into the healthcare system is at different stages of progress around the world. Therefore, an overview and clarification of competencies are important to ensure successful implementation of new roles in existing healthcare systems. However, detailed knowledge is lacking about the competencies of NPs in adult care in family practices. Design and methods We conducted a scoping review in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. We considered studies published in English, German or French from 1965 to the present. Databases searched included MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science and PsycINFO. Sources of grey literature that were searched included ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, OpenGrey and websites of national NP organisations. Two reviewers retrieved full-text studies and extracted data independently. We described the competencies using Hamric's model of advanced practice nursing. Results We included 23 publications. Competencies in direct clinical practice were described most often particularly pertaining to nursing or medical tasks. Indirect care activities were frequently mentioned. Less information was found regarding competencies in leadership, ethical decision-making and evidence-based practice. We found elementary and extended competencies required to perform the role in family practices. Depending on the country, the role was either emerging or already well-established. Conclusions and relevance to clinical practice This review provides insight into current knowledge about competencies of NP in family practices. The identified competencies can be used to develop job descriptions or to conceptualise professional development programmes in countries where such roles are just recently emerging. A list of competencies will promote a common understanding of the NP role and to help clarify interprofessional collaboration in clinical practice

From spawner habitat selection to stock-recruitment: Implications for assessment

The relationship between the spawning stock size and subsequent number of recruits is a central concept in fisheries ecology. The influence of habitat selection of spawning individuals on the stock-recruitment relationship is poorly known. Here we explore how each of four different spawner behaviors might influence the stock-recruitment relationship and estimates of its parameters in the two most commonly used stock-recruitment functions (Beverton-Holt and Ricker). Using simulated stock-recruitment data generated by four different spawner behaviors applied to multiple discrete habitats, we show that when spawners were distributed proportionally to local carrying capacities, there was small or no bias in estimated recruitment and stock-recruitment parameters. For an ideal free distribution of spawners, larger bias in the estimates of recruitment and stock-recruitment parameters was obtained, whereas a random and a stepwise spawner behavior introduced the largest bias. Using stock-recruitment data corresponding to a "realistic " range of population densities and adding measurement error (20%-60%) to the simulated stock-recruitment data generated larger variation in the estimation bias than what was introduced by the spawner behavior. Thus, for exploited stocks at low population density and where spawning stock size and recruitment cannot be observed perfectly, partial observation of the possible spawner abundance range and measurement error might be of higher concern for management

Trade-offs among spatio-temporal management actions for a mixed-stock fishery revealed by Bayesian decision analysis

Management and conservation of populations that are harvested simultaneously present a unique set of challenges. Failure to account for differences in productivity and spatio-temporal abundance patterns can lead to over-exploitation of depleted populations and/or loss of potential yield from healthy ones. Mixed-stock fisheries (where a stock may comprise one or more populations of reared or wild origin) harvest multiple stocks, often in unknown proportions, and lack of tools for estimation of stock-specific harvest rates can hamper status evaluations and attainment of management goals. We present a method for evaluating stock-specific impacts of alternative harvest strategies, using coastal trap net fisheries for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Baltic Sea as a case study. Our results demonstrate a large variation among stocks in coastal mixed fishery harvest rates, as well as large differences in harvest rates relative to stock-specific maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and recovery levels. Bayesian decision analysis showed that spatio-temporal management actions, such as delayed fishery opening and closed areas may be effective in improving probabilities of meeting management objectives for Baltic salmon. However, stocks did not respond uniformly to different management actions, highlighting the potential for trade-offs in reaching stock-specific targets that must be considered by managers

Use and application of geographical restrictions in systematic reviews with the aim of including studies about Germany : an update of a methodological review

Background: In systematic reviews (SRs), geographical limitations in literature searches can aid in focussing research efforts. A methodological review published in 2016 examined the approaches SR authors use to identify studies about Germany, analysing 36 SRs. Objective: The aim of this study was to update the original review. Methods: We conducted a literature search on PubMed for SRs synthesising evidence from studies about Germany published between 22 January 2016 and 7 June 2022. Two reviewers independently performed study selection and data extraction. We evaluated the application of search syntax for restricting studies to those about Germany using the peer review of electronic search strategies criteria. The updated findings were reported and summarised alongside those of the original review. Results: Thirty-two additional SRs were newly included (total = 68). Geographic restrictions were applied in 57 SRs, representing 72% in the original review and increasing to 97% in the newly included SRs. Moreover, there was an increased use of truncations and field tags. Conclusion: Although geographical restriction methods are increasingly utilised, additional tools are necessary to enhance the robustness of search strategies. The development of a dedicated geographical search filter would facilitate the identification of studies about Germany

Structural characteristics of specialised living units for people with dementia: a cross-sectional study in German nursing homes

BACKGROUND: Living units (LU) specialised for people with dementia are an important feature of nursing homes. Little is known about their structural characteristics, and an international definition is lacking. This study explored characteristics of the environment and staff from defined LU types to identify differences between them. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study comparing five types of LUs. LUs were defined based on their living concept (segregated and integrated), size (small and large scale), and funding (extra funded and not extra funded). Differences were identified using descriptive statistics, Chi-Square resp. Kruskal-Wallis-Test and post-hoc analysis with Bonferroni corrections. RESULTS: In total, 103 LUs from 51 nursing homes participated: 63 integrated and 40 segregated LUs; 48 integrated and 31 segregated LUs were large. Sixteen large segregated LUs were extra funded. Regarding the environment, a distinctive feature of small LUs was a higher percentage of single rooms. Small integrated LUs provided and served meals more in a homelike manner than other LUs. LUs did not differ in their interior and access for the residents to use outdoor areas. Regarding the staff, small LUs provided more staff, but they were not exclusively assigned to the LUs. Large segregated LUs with additional funding provided more registered nurses and nurses with a special qualification per resident than the other large LUs. CONCLUSION: Nursing homes implemented different features in their specialised LUs. Because single room availability, homelike provision of meals, staff quantity, quality and continuity may influence residents’ outcomes, it is necessary to investigate whether differences are apparent in future evaluation studies of specialised LUs for people with dementia

Who is that nurse?:Transferring knowledge requires clarity about professional titles

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New Perspectives on Blowing Snow Transport, Sublimation, and Layer Thermodynamic Structure over Antarctica

Blowing snow over Antarctica is a widespread and frequent event. Satellite remote sensing using lidar has shown that blowing snow occurs over 70% of the time over large areas of Antarctica in winter. The transport and sublimation of blowing snow are important terms in the ice sheet mass balance equation and the latter is also an important part of the hydrological cycle. Until now the only way to estimate the magnitude of these processes was through model parameterization. We present a technique that uses direct satellite observations of blowing snow and model (MERRA-2) temperature and humidity fields to compute both transport and sublimation of blowing snow over Antarctica for the period 2006 to 2016. The results show a larger annual continent-wide integrated sublimation than current published estimates and a significant transport of snow from continent to ocean. The talk will also include the lidar backscatter structure of blowing snow layers that often reach heights of 200 to 300 m as well as the first dropsonde measurements of temperature, moisture and wind through blowing snow layers

Svenska laxbestånd i Östersjön

De vilda laxbestånden i Bottniska viken har generellt uppvisat en positiv utveckling sedan slutet av 1990-talet, och flera älvbestånd uppnår idag det MSY-baserade förvaltningsmålet. Laxens överlevnad i havet har dock försämrats under de senaste 2-3 åren. Bakomliggande orsaker till nedgången är oklara, men forskning pågår för att öka kunskapen om faktorer som påverkar laxens överlevnad i havet. Om den låga överlevnaden i havet fortsätter under en längre period förväntas detta resultera i kraftigt försämrad tillgång på lax vilket kommer påverka fiskemöjligheterna i både havet och älvarna.Laxbestånden i södra Östersjön har sedan slutet av 1990-talet inte uppvisat samma positiva utvecklingstrend som laxen i Bottniska viken, och flera av de sydliga bestånden bedöms fortfarande ha låg status.Fisket efter lax har förändrats under de senaste årtiondena, från att ha varit ett utpräglat blandbeståndsfiske i havet och längs kusterna, till att ske framförallt längs kusterna i Bottniska viken och i älvarna. Ett stort inslag av blandbeståndsfiske finns dock fortfarande i form av yrkes- och fritidsfiske längs Sveriges och Finlands kuster, samt som fritidsfiske i södra Östersjön. Exploateringsgraden (andel av den fiskbara resursen som fiskas upp) under 2022 beräknades till mellan 1 och 3 % i södra Östersjön, medan exploateringsgraden längs Sveriges och Finlands kuster samma år varierade mellan bestånd med ett genomsnitt på 12 %. Mer osäkra skattningar av exploateringsgraden i älvfisket indikerar att odlade bestånd genomgående exploateras relativt hårt (medelvärde på 16 % under 2022) medan exploateringsgraden av vild lax är betydligt lägre men varierar kraftigt mellan älvar (0-15 % med medelvärde på 3 % under 2022).En nationell indelning av laxbestånden i förvaltningskategorier, baserad på status och förväntad framtida utveckling (samt eventuell annan information), bedöms kunna underlätta anpassningen av fiskeregler till beståndssituationen. I detta underlag presenteras ett uppdaterat förslag på hur ett sådant system kan utformas. Den uppdaterade modellen för indelning av bestånden i förvaltningskategorier har breddats till att omfatta även åtgärdsbehov i sötvatten utöver fiskeregleringar, exempelvis behov av habitatrestaureringar eller förbättrade möjligheter för fiskvandring.Det är önskvärt att utvecklingen av en beståndsanpassad fiskeförvaltning fortsätter för att i högre grad kunna styra fisket mot odlad lax och starkare vildlaxbestånd i syfte att förbättra möjligheterna till återhämtning för svagare vilda bestånd. Sådana möjligheter bedöms finnas på nationell svensk nivå, även om detta kan kräva kompletterande data och analyser. Det finns även behov av att implementera ekosystemansatsen i fiskeförvaltningen i stort, för att i högre omfattning än hittills kunna ta hänsyn till artinteraktioner och fiskets påverkan på ekosystemen