Generating Global Brand Equity through Corporate Social Responsibility to Key Stakeholders

In this paper we argue that socially responsible policies have positive short-term and long-term impact on equity of global brands. We find that corporate social responsibility towards all stakeholders, whether primary (customers, shareholders, employees and suppliers) or secondary (community), have positive effects on brand equity value, where the secondary stakeholders are even more important than primary stakeholders. In addition, policies aimed at satisfying community interests act as a mechanism to reinforce trust that gives further credibility to social responsible polices with other stakeholders. The result is a decrease in conflicts among stakeholders and greater stakeholder willingness to provide intangible resources that enhance brand equity. We provide support of our theoretical contentions using a panel data composed of 57 global brands, originating from 10 countries (USA, Japan, South Korea, France, the UK, Italy, Germany, Finland, Switzerland and the Netherlands) for the period 2002 to 2007. We use detailed information on brand equity obtained from Interbrand and on corporate social responsibility provided by the Sustainalytics Global Profile (SGB) database, as compiled by Sustainalytics.

Brightness variations in totally-eclipsing binary GSC4589-2999

We present multi-colour CCD photometry of GSC4589-2999 obtained in 2008 and 2009. The observations indicate that the system is an active Algol binary. Based on the new data, the mean brightness of the system is decreasing through the years 2007-2009. The light curves obtained in 2008-2009 are modelled using the Wilson-Devinney code. We also discussed the light and colour variations of the system at different orbital phases. Evidence suggests that these brightness and colour variations are due to the rotation of unevenly distributed starspots on two components of the system.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figures, 3 table

Efecto del eugenol en la vida util de una salsa de chile jalapeño (Capsicum annum) y papaya (Carica papaya)

This work aimed to measure the effect of eugenol on the shelf life of a hot sauce from jalapeño pepper (Capsicum annuum) and papaya (Carica papaya). Cloves were tested as test material, using different forms of eugenol extraction as essential oil. Its use as a preservative in a sauce was evaluated by means of accelerated methods for 30 days at a temperature of 280 C ± 20 C and was compared with sodium benzoate (control) according to the Codex Alimentarius regulations (250 mg / kg). The results determined that eugenol had an inhibitory effect on the change in hot sauce, prolonged its shelf life, indicating its potential application in the food industry, making it a natural preservation alternative, the use of which will help to decrease the toxicological risks provided by synthetic preservatives.Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo medir el efecto del eugenol sobre la vida útil de una salsa picante a partir de chile jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) y papaya (Carica papaya). Se utilizó clavo de olor como material de prueba, empleando diferentes formas de extracción del eugenol como aceite esencial. Se evaluó su uso como preservante en una salsa, mediante métodos acelerados durante 30 días a temperatura de 280 C ± 20 C y se comparó con el benzoato de sodio (testigo) según normativa del Codex Alimentarius (250 mg/kg). Los resultados determinaron que el eugenol presentó efecto inhibitorio del deterioro de la salsa picante prolongado su vida útil, lo que indica su potencial aplicación en la industria alimentaria, convirtiéndolo en una alternativa de conservación natural, cuyo uso ayudaría en la disminución de riesgos toxicológicos aportados por conservantes sintéticos

Kinin b(1) receptor in adipocytes regulates glucose tolerance and predisposition to obesity

BACKGROUND: Kinins participate in the pathophysiology of obesity and type 2 diabetes by mechanisms which are not fully understood. Kinin B(1) receptor knockout mice (B(1) (-/-)) are leaner and exhibit improved insulin sensitivity. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we show that kinin B(1) receptors in adipocytes play a role in controlling whole body insulin action and glucose homeostasis. Adipocytes isolated from mouse white adipose tissue (WAT) constitutively express kinin B(1) receptors. In these cells, treatment with the B(1) receptor agonist des-Arg(9)-bradykinin improved insulin signaling, GLUT4 translocation, and glucose uptake. Adipocytes from B(1) (-/-) mice showed reduced GLUT4 expression and impaired glucose uptake at both basal and insulin-stimulated states. To investigate the consequences of these phenomena to whole body metabolism, we generated mice where the expression of the kinin B(1) receptor was limited to cells of the adipose tissue (aP2-B(1)/B(1) (-/-)). Similarly to B(1) (-/-) mice, aP2-B(1)/B(1) (-/-) mice were leaner than wild type controls. However, exclusive expression of the kinin B(1) receptor in adipose tissue completely rescued the improved systemic insulin sensitivity phenotype of B(1) (-/-) mice. Adipose tissue gene expression analysis also revealed that genes involved in insulin signaling were significantly affected by the presence of the kinin B(1) receptor in adipose tissue. In agreement, GLUT4 expression and glucose uptake were increased in fat tissue of aP2-B(1)/B(1) (-/-) when compared to B(1) (-/-) mice. When subjected to high fat diet, aP2-B(1)/B(1) (-/-) mice gained more weight than B(1) (-/-) littermates, becoming as obese as the wild types. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Thus, kinin B(1) receptor participates in the modulation of insulin action in adipocytes, contributing to systemic insulin sensitivity and predisposition to obesity

Enhancement of the magnetic anisotropy of nanometer-sized Co clusters: influence of the surface and of the inter-particle interactions

We study the magnetic properties of spherical Co clusters with diameters between 0.8 nm and 5.4 nm (25 to 7500$ atoms) prepared by sequential sputtering of Co and Al2O3. The particle size distribution has been determined from the equilibrium susceptibility and magnetization data and it is compared to previous structural characterizations. The distribution of activation energies was independently obtained from a scaling plot of the ac susceptibility. Combining these two distributions we have accurately determined the effective anisotropy constant Keff. We find that Keff is enhanced with respect to the bulk value and that it is dominated by a strong anisotropy induced at the surface of the clusters. Interactions between the magnetic moments of adjacent layers are shown to increase the effective activation energy barrier for the reversal of the magnetic moments. Finally, this reversal is shown to proceed classically down to the lowest temperature investigated (1.8 K).Comment: 13 figures submitted to Phys. Rev.

Neutrino damping rate at finite temperature and density

A first principle derivation is given of the neutrino damping rate in real-time thermal field theory. Starting from the discontinuity of the neutrino self energy at the two loop level, the damping rate can be expressed as integrals over space phase of amplitudes squared, weighted with statistical factors that account for the possibility of particle absorption or emission from the medium. Specific results for a background composed of neutrinos, leptons, protons and neutrons are given. Additionally, for the real part of the dispersion relation we discuss the relation between the results obtained from the thermal field theory, and those obtained by the thermal average of the forward scattering amplitude.Comment: LaTex Document, 19 pages, 3 figure

Atomic X-ray Spectroscopy of Accreting Black Holes

Current astrophysical research suggests that the most persistently luminous objects in the Universe are powered by the flow of matter through accretion disks onto black holes. Accretion disk systems are observed to emit copious radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, each energy band providing access to rather distinct regimes of physical conditions and geometric scale. X-ray emission probes the innermost regions of the accretion disk, where relativistic effects prevail. While this has been known for decades, it also has been acknowledged that inferring physical conditions in the relativistic regime from the behavior of the X-ray continuum is problematic and not satisfactorily constraining. With the discovery in the 1990s of iron X-ray lines bearing signatures of relativistic distortion came the hope that such emission would more firmly constrain models of disk accretion near black holes, as well as provide observational criteria by which to test general relativity in the strong field limit. Here we provide an introduction to this phenomenon. While the presentation is intended to be primarily tutorial in nature, we aim also to acquaint the reader with trends in current research. To achieve these ends, we present the basic applications of general relativity that pertain to X-ray spectroscopic observations of black hole accretion disk systems, focusing on the Schwarzschild and Kerr solutions to the Einstein field equations. To this we add treatments of the fundamental concepts associated with the theoretical and modeling aspects of accretion disks, as well as relevant topics from observational and theoretical X-ray spectroscopy.Comment: 63 pages, 21 figures, Einstein Centennial Review Article, Canadian Journal of Physics, in pres

Professionalism, Golf Coaching and a Master of Science Degree: A commentary

As a point of reference I congratulate Simon Jenkins on tackling the issue of professionalism in coaching. As he points out coaching is not a profession, but this does not mean that coaching would not benefit from going through a professionalization process. As things stand I find that the stimulus article unpacks some critically important issues of professionalism, broadly within the context of golf coaching. However, I am not sure enough is made of understanding what professional (golf) coaching actually is nor how the development of a professional golf coach can be facilitated by a Master of Science Degree (M.Sc.). I will focus my commentary on these two issues