How Companies Restrain Means–Ends Decoupling: A Comparative Case Study of CSR Implementation

We use the concept of means–ends decoupling to examine why companies continue to be major contributors to environmental and social problems despite committing increasingly to corporate social responsibility (CSR). Specifically, we ask: How do companies restrain (versus fail to restrain) means–ends decoupling? We answer this question through a comparative case study of four multinational companies with different levels of means–ends decoupling. Based on interviews and secondary data, we inductively identify two distinct approaches to CSR implementation: experimental vs. consistency-oriented CSR implementation. Experimental CSR implementation means that companies (1) produce CSR knowledge about what is happening in specific CSR contexts and use this knowledge to (2) adapt CSR practices to local circumstances – an interplay that restrains means–ends decoupling. Consistency-oriented CSR implementation lacks this interplay between knowledge production and practice adaptation, which fosters means–ends decoupling. Our model of experimental versus consistency-oriented CSR implementation advances two streams of research. First, we advance research on means–ends decoupling by highlighting the importance of experimentation for restraining means–ends decoupling. Second, we advance research on the impact of CSR activities by questioning the widespread assumption that consistency should be at the heart of CSR implementation

Atributos químicos do solo e rendimento de culturas no sistema plantio direto em Rondônia.

O trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar os atributos químicos do solo e o rendimento de culturas em sistemas de sucessão no sistema plantio direto em Rondônia. O trabalho foi realizado em Porto Velho-RO, em experimento implantado em 2008, em Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo distrófico típico, de textura argilosa, em área com pastagem, que apresentava sinais de degradação da fertilidade do solo. O experimento apresenta cinco sucessões de cultura: arroz/milheto/milho/soja, arroz/sorgo/milho/milho, soja/sorgo/milho/soja, arroz/sorgo/soja/milho e soja/sorgo/soja/soja e a testemunha com braquiária. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e parcelas de 800m2 (20x40m). Foram avaliados os atributos químicos, nas camadas de 0-5; 5-10, 10-15, 15-20 e 20-25cm, e o rendimento das culturas de milho e soja. O sistema plantio direto com sucessões de culturas propiciou, de maneira geral, a melhoria da fertilidade do solo, em relação ao tratamento testemunha com pastagem cultivada ao longo dos anos. As diferenças nos atributos químicos do solo decorrentes dos sistemas de sucessões de culturas não foram suficientes para afetar a produtividade das culturas

Comparing the Ligand Behavior of N-Heterocyclic Phosphenium and Nitrosyl Units in Iron and Chromium Complexes

N-Heterocyclic phosphenium (NHP) and nitro-sonium (NO+) ligands are often viewed as isolobal analogues that share the capability to switch between different charge states and thus display redox "noninnocent" behavior. We report here on mixed complexes [(NHP)M(CO)(n)(NO)] (M = Fe, Cr; n = 2, 3), which permit evaluating the donor/acceptor properties of both types of ligands and their interplay in a single complex. The crystalline target compounds were obtained from reactions of N-heterocyclic phosphenium triflates with PPN[Fe(CO)(3)(NO)] or PPN[Cr(CO)(4)-(NO)], respectively, and fully characterized (PPN = nitride-bistriphenylphosphonium cation). The structural and spectroscopic (IR, UV-vis) data support the presence of carbene-analogue NHP ligands with an overall positive charge state and pi-acceptor character. Even if the structural features of the M-NO unit were in all but one product blurred by crystallographic CO/NO disorder, spectroscopic studies and the structural data of the remaining compound suggest that the NO units exhibit nitroxide (NO-) character. This assignment was validated by computational studies, which reveal also that the electronic structure of iron NHP/ NO complexes is closely akin to that of the Hieber anion, [Fe(CO)(3)(NO)](-). The electrophilic character of the NHP units is further reflected in the chemical behavior of the mixed complexes. Cyclic voltammetry and IR-SEC studies revealed that complex [(NHP)Fe(CO)(2) (NO)] (4) undergoes chemically reversible one-electron reduction. Computational studies indicate that the NHP unit in the resulting product carries significant radical character, and the reduction may thus be classified as predominantly ligand-centered. Reaction of 4 with sodium azide proceeded likewise under nucleophilic attack at phosphorus and decomplexation, while super hydride and methyl lithium reacted with all chromium and iron complexes via transfer of a hydride or methyl anion to the NHP unit to afford anionic phosphine complexes. Some of these species were isolated after cation exchange or trapped with electrophiles (H+, SnPh3(+)) to afford neutral complexes representing the products of a formal hydrogenation or hydrostannylation of the original M=P double bond.Peer reviewe

Avaliação do PH, K, Ca + Mg de áreas com cafeeiro na Zona da Mata de Rondônia.

Nutrientes como cálcio, potássio e magnésio são necessários para o desenvolvimento e produtividade da maioria das culturas. O Objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os níveis de K+, Ca++, Mg++ e pH em áreas de cultivo de café Conilon e Arábica nos solos da Zona da Mata de Rondônia. A base utilizada foram laudos de análises de solos concernentes a amostragens realizadas por produtores rurais com auxílio de extensionistas nos municípios de Rolim de Moura, Nova Brazilandia, Alta Floresta, Novo Horizonte, Alto Alegre, Cacoal, compreendendo os anos de 2008/2009. Nesses municípios foram escolhidas áreas com cafeeiro (Robusta e/ou Arábica) pela importância econômica que essa cultura representa para a agricultura familiar no Estado. A quantidade de amostras analisadas não foi comum a todos os municípios (Tabela 6), sendo utilizadas aquelas que foram submetidas a análise pelo produtor. Nesse sentido, a pesquisa apresenta uma caracterização dessas áreas com relação aos parâmetros químicos pH, K, Ca e Mg.Os valores médios de pH para cada município foram obtidos através da média aritmética das concentrações hidrogeniônicas, sendo utilizada em seguida a equação pH = -log[H+] para determinação do pH médio.Os demais parâmetros tiveram seus valores médios obtidos através de média aritmética. Conclui-se que Das 85 áreas analisadas apenas 12 apresentaram valores de pH igual ou superior a 6,0; As áreas nos município de Alto Alegre seguido de Alta Floresta apresentaram solos com melhores condições de fertilidade; 76% das áreas precisam de adubação de reposição de potássio para melhoria da qualidade da lavoura cafeeira

Nocturnal bee pollinators are attracted to guarana flowers by their scents.

Floral scent is an important component of the trait repertoire of flowering plants, which is used to attract and manipulate pollinators. Despite advances during the last decades about the chemicals released by flowers, there is still a large gap in our understanding of chemical communication between flowering plants and their pollinators. We analyzed floral scents of guarana (Paullinia cupana, Sapindaceae), an economically important plant of the Amazon, using chemical analytical approaches, and determined the attractiveness of the scent to its nocturnal bee pollinators using behavioral assays in the field. Pollen loads of attracted bees were also analyzed. Inflorescences of guarana emit strong scents, both during day and at night, with some semi-quantitative differences between day- and night-time scents