A Sustainability Disclosure Index Using Corporate Sustainability Reports

Background: There are already many indices such as Bloomberg’s environmental-and-social governance (ESG) ratings and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DSJI), which use proprietary methods to rate companies using private and publicly available information processed with proprietary methods. This paper seeks to develop a formative index for researchers and practitioners using only publicly available sustainability reports with a transparent procedure. Methods: Thirty-two indicators, obtained in an earlier study from the literature, GRI, and other sources, were adopted. The sustainability report of each of 331 companies was then scored on a discrete 0–3 scale for each indicator as regards disclosure. The index for the company then is simply a summation of the indicator scores. Tests were conducted to see if the index can be (a) used for companies with different revenues and from different sectors and (b) tested for explaining DJSI or ESG ratings. Results: The index can be used for companies with a wide range of revenues and from different sectors. Despite its simplicity, the disclosure index significantly explains the DJSI and ESG. Conclusions: A disclosure index for companies has been developed here using only their publicly available sustainability reports, unlike existing indices like the DJSI that use public and private information and proprietary methods. Researchers and financial institutions can use this index or develop their own indices by refining the methodology presented here

Consumer acceptance of novel fruits and fruit products

This report presents results of the consumer survey that was conducted in November, 2009, in four European countries – Poland, the Netherlands, Greece and Spain within WP 1.3 of ISAFRUIT Project. In the current deliverables (D1.3.5 and D1.3.8), the authors first focused on the influence of personal characteristics of the respondents, the evaluation of general fruit product characteristics, product evaluations of specific novel fresh fruits and fruit products and demographics on consumers' acceptance of fruit innovations. Furthermore, they identified cross cultural consumer segments, who each value different product characteristics. Moreover, these consumer segments differ in demographics, their willingness to accept fruit innovations and their personal characteristics. Policy recommendations for future product development of fresh fruits and fruit products and communication strategies were formulated, based on the results of the consumer survey and the identified cross cultural consumer segments

Reference intervals for canine hematologic analytes using Siemens ADVIA 120

Η γενική εξέταση του αίματος (ΓΕΑ) θεωρείται μείζονος σημασίας για την εκτίμηση του επιπέδου υγείας των ζώων συντροφιάς. Ωστόσο, για την ορθή ερμηνεία των εργαστηριακών αποτελεσμάτων απαιτούνται ακριβείς τιμές αναφοράς. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, ο πρωταρχικός στόχος της παρούσας εργασίας ήταν η εξαγωγή τιμών αναφοράς για τις παραμέτρους της ΓΕΑ στον σκύλο, με τη βοήθεια του Advia 120, ενός, ευρέως χρησιμοποιούμενου στην κτηνιατρική, αυτόματου αιματολογικού αναλυτή. Δευτερευόντως, διερευνήσαμε εάν απαιτείται διαχωρισμός των τιμών αναφοράς της ΓΕΑ με βάση το φύλο των σκύλων, καθώς και αν το μέγεθος της φυλής μπορεί να επηρεάσει τις τιμές αναφοράς της ΓΕΑ. Τα ζώα επιλέχθηκαν από το ιατρικό αρχείο της πανεπιστημιακής κλινικής ζώων συντροφιάς του Τμήματος Κτηνιατρικής του Α.Π.Θ. Τον παραπάνω πληθυσμό αποτελούσαν 284 αρσενικοί και θηλυκοί σκύλοι διαφόρων φυλών. Το σύνολο των σκύλων ταξινομήθηκε σε 3 ομάδες με βάση το μέγεθος της φυλής (μικρού, μεσαίου, μεγάλου). Οι τιμές αναφοράς υπολογίστηκαν μη παραμετρικά, χρησιμοποιώντας τα αποτελέσματα της ΓΕΑ των σκύλων που πληρούσαν τα κριτήρια ένταξης στη μελέτη. Προκειμένου να αποφασιστεί εάν απαιτείται ο διαχωρισμός των τιμών αναφοράς της ΓΕΑ με βάση το φύλο, εφαρμόστηκαν τόσο στατιστικά όσο και μη στατιστικά κριτήρια. Ανάλογα με την κατανομή των δεδομένων πραγματοποιήθηκε σύγκριση μέσων ή διαμέσων, με σκοπό να ελεγχθεί η πιθανή επίδραση του μεγέθους της φυλής στις τιμές της ΓΕΑ. Εννέα ζώα αποκλείστηκαν από τη μελέτη, λόγω της ύπαρξης φανερώς ακραίων τιμών στη ΓΕΑ. Σε γενικές γραμμές, οι τιμές αναφοράς που υπολογίστηκαν στην παρούσα εργασία είναι παρόμοιες με αυτές που αναφέρονται στη διεθνή βιβλιογραφία. Επιπλέον, με βάση την εφαρμογή των στατιστικών κριτηρίων, υποδεικνύεται ότι για κάποιες παραμέτρους της ΓΕΑ απαιτούνται διαφορετικές τιμές αναφοράς για τα δύο φύλα. Παρόλα αυτά, από κλινικοεργαστηριακής απόψεως, ο διαχωρισμός των τιμών αναφοράς αμφισβητείται και πιθανώς δεν είναι αναγκαίος. Επίδραση του μεγέθους της φυλής παρατηρήθηκε στις τιμές αναφοράς της ΓΕΑ. Οι τιμές αναφοράς που παρουσιάζονται στην παρούσα εργασία μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν ως οδηγός για την ερμηνεία των αποτελεσμάτων της ΓΕΑ στους σκύλους και να «υιοθετηθούν» από κτηνιατρικά εργαστήρια που χρησιμοποιούν τον αιματολογικό αναλυτή Advia 120. Τέλος, με βάση τα αποτελέσματά μας, το μέγεθος της φυλής θα πρέπει, πιθανώς, να λαμβάνεται υπ’ όψιν κατά την ερμηνεία των αποτελεσμάτων της ΓΕΑ.Hematologic investigation is essential for the evaluation of health status of companion animals. Appropriate and accurate reference intervals (RIs) are required for the interpretation of laboratory results. Thus, the primary aim of the present study was to establish canine complete blood count (CBC) RIs using Advia 120, a widely used in veterinary medicine automated hematology analyzer. Additional objectives were to evaluate sex as a partitioning factor of RIs and to investigate the effect that breed size has on CBC RIs. Reference individuals were selected by indirect sampling method from the medical records of a veterinary teaching hospital. The reference population comprised 284 adult dogs of both sexes and various breeds. The reference individuals were allocated into 3 groups based on breed size (small-sized, medium-sized and large-sized breeds). Complete blood count results from the dogs that met the inclusion criteria were used for the nonparametric calculation of RIs. Statistical and nonstatistical criteria were employed in order to decide whether sex-specific RIs are needed. Depending on the data distributions, mean or median comparisons were used to determine the effect of breed size and lifestyle on CBC results. Nine outliers were detected based on CBC results. The estimated RIs were generally comparable to those previously reported in the literature. Sex-dependent partitioning of RIs was indicated by the statistical criteria for a few analytes. From a clinicopathologic point of view though, sex-dependent partitioning of RIs is questioned and seems not to be required. Breed size appears to have an effect on CBC RIs. The RIs determined in the present study can be used as a guide for the interpretation of CBC results in dogs and can potentially be adopted by veterinary laboratories using Advia 120. Finally, based on the results of this study, breed size should probably be considered when interpreting CBC results

Optimising feedback for early career professionals: a scoping review and new framework

Context Meta‐analyses have shown that feedback can be a powerful intervention to increase learning and performance but there is significant variability in impact. New trials are adding little to the question of whether feedback interventions are effective, so the focus now is how to optimise the effect. Early career professionals (ECPs) in busy work environments are a particularly important target group. This literature review aimed to synthesise information to support the optimal design of feedback interventions for ECPs. Methods We undertook a scoping literature review, using search terms such as ‘feedback’ and ‘effectiveness’ in MEDLINE, MEDLINE‐In‐Process, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Education Research Complete, Education Resources Information Center, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Social Sciences Citation Index and Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, to identify empirical studies describing feedback interventions in busy workplaces published in English since 1990. We applied inclusion criteria to identify studies for the mapping stage and extracted key data to inform the next stage. We then selected a subset of papers for the framework development stage, which were subjected to a thematic synthesis by three authors, leading to a new feedback framework and a modified version of feedback intervention theory specifically for ECPs. Results A total of 80 studies were included in the mapping stage, with roughly equal studies from hospital settings and school classrooms, and 17 papers were included in the framework development stage. The feedback framework comprised three main categories (audit, feedback and goal setting) and 22 subcategories. The review highlighted the limited empirical research focusing solely on feedback for ECPs, which was surprising given the particular nuances in feedback for ECPs identified through this study. Conclusions We offer the feedback framework to optimise the design of future feedback interventions for early career professionals and encourage future feedback research to move away from generic models and tailor work to specific target audiences

1-(5-Chloro-2,4-dihydroxy­phen­yl)-2-(4-ethoxy­phen­yl)ethanone

The structure of the title compound, C16H15ClO4, contains aryl rings which are inclined by 75.6 (1)° to each other. It displays intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding between the 2-hydr­oxy and carbonyl groups, forming a six-membered ring. Furthermore, the 4-hydr­oxy group, acting as a hydrogen-bond donor, is bound to the O atom of the 2-hydr­oxy group of another mol­ecule

Activity or Connectivity? Evaluating neurofeedback training in Huntington's disease

Non-invasive methods, such as neurofeedback training (NFT), could support cognitive symptom management in Huntington’s disease (HD) by targeting brain regions whose function is impaired. The aim of our single-blind, sham-controlled study was to collect rigorous evidence regarding the feasibility of NFT in HD by examining two different methods, activity and connectivity real-time fMRI NFT. Thirty-two HD gene-carriers completed 16 runs of NFT training, using an optimized real-time fMRI protocol. Participants were randomized into four groups, two treatment groups, one receiving neurofeedback derived from the activity of the Supplementary Motor Area (SMA), and another receiving neurofeedback based on the correlation of SMA and left striatum activity (connectivity NFT), and two sham control groups, matched to each of the treatment groups. We examined differences between the groups during NFT training sessions and after training at follow-up sessions. Transfer of training was measured by measuring the participants’ ability to upregulate NFT target levels without feedback (near transfer), as well as by examining change in objective, a-priori defined, behavioural measures of cognitive and psychomotor function (far transfer) before and at 2 months after training. We found that the treatment group had significantly higher NFT target levels during the training sessions compared to the control group. However, we did not find robust evidence of better transfer in the treatment group compared to controls, or a difference between the two NFT methods. We also did not find evidence in support of a relationship between change in cognitive and psychomotor function and NFT learning success. We conclude that although there is evidence that NFT can be used to guide participants to regulate the activity and connectivity of specific regions in the brain, evidence regarding transfer of learning and clinical benefit was not robust. Although the intervention is non-invasive, given the costs and absence of reliable evidence of clinical benefit, we cannot recommend real-time fMRI NFT as a potential intervention in HD

Activity or connectivity? A randomized controlled feasibility study evaluating neurofeedback training in Huntington's disease

Non-invasive methods, such as neurofeedback training, could support cognitive symptom management in Huntington’s disease by targeting brain regions whose function is impaired. The aim of our single-blind, sham-controlled study was to collect rigorous evidence regarding the feasibility of neurofeedback training in Huntington’s disease by examining two different methods, activity and connectivity real-time functional MRI neurofeedback training. Thirty-two Huntington’s disease gene-carriers completed 16 runs of neurofeedback training, using an optimized real-time functional MRI protocol. Participants were randomized into four groups, two treatment groups, one receiving neurofeedback derived from the activity of the supplementary motor area, and another receiving neurofeedback based on the correlation of supplementary motor area and left striatum activity (connectivity neurofeedback training), and two sham control groups, matched to each of the treatment groups. We examined differences between the groups during neurofeedback training sessions and after training at follow-up sessions. Transfer of training was measured by measuring the participants’ ability to upregulate neurofeedback training target levels without feedback (near transfer), as well as by examining change in objective, a priori defined, behavioural measures of cognitive and psychomotor function (far transfer) before and at 2 months after training. We found that the treatment group had significantly higher neurofeedback training target levels during the training sessions compared to the control group. However, we did not find robust evidence of better transfer in the treatment group compared to controls, or a difference between the two neurofeedback training methods. We also did not find evidence in support of a relationship between change in cognitive and psychomotor function and learning success. We conclude that although there is evidence that neurofeedback training can be used to guide participants to regulate the activity and connectivity of specific regions in the brain, evidence regarding transfer of learning and clinical benefit was not robust

Interventions to improve antimicrobial prescribing of doctors in training (IMPACT): a realist review

Background Interventions to improve the antimicrobial prescribing practices of doctors have been implemented widely to curtail the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance, but have been met with varying levels of success. Objectives This study aimed to generate an in-depth understanding of how antimicrobial prescribing interventions ‘work’ (or do not work) for doctors in training by taking into account the wider context in which prescribing decisions are enacted. Design The review followed a realist approach to evidence synthesis, which uses an interpretive, theory-driven analysis of qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods data from relevant studies. Setting Primary and secondary care. Participants Not applicable. Interventions Studies related to antimicrobial prescribing for doctors in training. Main outcome measures Not applicable. Data sources EMBASE (via Ovid), MEDLINE (via Ovid), MEDLINE In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations (via Ovid), PsycINFO (via Ovid), Web of Science core collection limited to Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Conference Proceedings Citation Index – Science (CPCI-S) (via Thomson Reuters), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) database (all via The Cochrane Library), Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA) (via ProQuest), Google Scholar (Google Inc., Mountain View, CA, USA) and expert recommendations. Review methods Clearly bounded searches of electronic databases were supplemented by citation tracking and grey literature. Following quality standards for realist reviews, the retrieved articles were systematically screened and iteratively analysed to develop theoretically driven explanations. A programme theory was produced with input from a stakeholder group consisting of practitioners and patient representatives. Results A total of 131 articles were included. The overarching programme theory developed from the analysis of these articles explains how and why doctors in training decide to passively comply with or actively follow (1) seniors’ prescribing habits, (2) the way seniors take into account prescribing aids and seek the views of other health professionals and (3) the way seniors negotiate patient expectations. The programme theory also explains what drives willingness or reluctance to ask questions about antimicrobial prescribing or to challenge the decisions made by seniors. The review outlines how these outcomes result from complex inter-relationships between the contexts of practice doctors in training are embedded in (hierarchical relationships, powerful prescribing norms, unclear roles and responsibilities, implicit expectations about knowledge levels and application in practice) and the mechanisms triggered in these contexts (fear of criticism and individual responsibility, reputation management, position in the clinical team and appearing competent). Drawing on these findings, we set out explicit recommendations for optimal tailoring, design and implementation of antimicrobial prescribing interventions targeted at doctors in training. Limitations Most articles included in the review discussed hospital-based, rather than primary, care. In cases when few data were available to fully capture all the nuances between context, mechanisms and outcomes, we have been explicit about the strength of our arguments. Conclusions This review contributes to our understanding of how antimicrobial prescribing interventions for doctors in training can be better embedded in the hierarchical and interprofessional dynamics of different health-care settings. Future work More work is required to understand how interprofessional support for doctors in training can contribute to appropriate prescribing in the context of hierarchical dynamics

Timing of selective basal ganglia white matter loss in premanifest Huntington’s disease

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the timeframe prior to symptom onset when cortico-basal ganglia white matter (white matter) loss begins in premanifest Huntington's disease (preHD), and which striatal and thalamic sub-region white matter tracts are most vulnerable. METHODS: We performed fixel-based analysis, which allows resolution of crossing white matter fibres at the voxel level, on diffusion tractography derived white matter tracts of striatal and thalamic sub-regions in two independent cohorts; TrackON-HD, which included 72 preHD (approx. 11 years before disease onset) and 85 controls imaged at three time points over two years; and the HD young adult study (HD-YAS), which included 54 preHD (approx. 25 years before disease onset) and 53 controls, imaged at one time point. Group differences in fibre density and cross section (FDC) were investigated. RESULTS: We found no significant group differences in cortico-basal ganglia sub-region FDC in preHD gene carriers 25 years before onset. In gene carriers 11 years before onset, there were reductions in striatal (limbic and caudal motor) and thalamic (premotor, motor and sensory) FDC at baseline, with no significant change over 2 years. Caudal motor-striatal, pre-motor-thalamic, and primary motor-thalamic FDC at baseline, showed significant correlations with the Unified Huntington's disease rating scale (UHDRS) total motor score (TMS). Limbic cortico-striatal FDC and apathy were also significantly correlated. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that limbic and motor white matter tracts to the striatum and thalamus are most susceptible to early degeneration in HD but that approximately 25 years from onset, these tracts appear preserved. These findings may have importance in determining the optimum time to initiate future disease modifying therapies in HD