Konjunkturbarometer. Eine Trendanalyse des Schweizer NPO-Sektors

Wie der Markt unterliegt auch der Dritte Sektor konjunkturellen Schwankungen. Diese verlaufen jedoch nicht linear zur gesamtwirtschaftlichen Konjunktur. Verschiedene Einkommensquellen und nicht-monetäre Ressourcen beeinflussen neben dem BIP die Kapazitäten von NPO. Ein entsprechendes Konjunkturbarometer für NPO existiert allerdings nicht. Um dennoch Entwicklungstendenzen zu erfassen, wurde im Rahmen einer Studie eine Umfrage zu aktuellen und zukünftigen Herausforderungen von 77 Schweizer NPO aus verschiedenen Aktivitätsbereichen und Organisationsgrössen durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass hinsichtlich eines knappen Spendenvolumens und der Kürzung öffentlicher Gelder die finanzielle Stabilität die grösste Herausforderung für NPO darstellt. Weiter ist die Rekrutierung von qualifizierten Mitarbeitenden besonders für grosse Organisationen ein zunehmendes Problem. Die Autoren argumentieren folglich, dass die Bedürfnisse verschiedener Stakeholder stärker wahrgenommen werden müssen, damit NPO in einem gesättigten Ressourcenmarkt bestehen können. Ein innovatives Angebot an Dienstleistungen, Transparenz, Wirkungsmessung und Kommunikation spielen dabei eine essenzielle Rolle. NPO-Führungskräfte bedienen sich dabei zunehmend bekannter Ansätze aus dem Forprofit-Management. Insgesamt blickt das befragte NPO-Führungspersonal trotz aller Herausforderungen optimistisch in die Zukunft des Dritten Sektors

Ecdysteroids: A novel class of anabolic agents?

Increasing numbers of dietary supplements with ecdysteroids are marketed as “natural anabolic agents”. Results of recent studies suggested that their anabolic effect is mediated by estrogen receptor (ER) binding. Within this study the anabolic potency of ecdysterone was compared to well characterized anabolic substances. Effects on the fiber sizes of the soleus muscle in rats as well the diameter of C2C12 derived myotubes were used as biological readouts. Ecdysterone exhibited a strong hypertrophic effect on the fiber size of rat soleus muscle that was found even stronger compared to the test compounds metandienone (dianabol), estradienedione (trenbolox), and SARM S 1, all administered in the same dose (5 mg/kg body weight, for 21 days). In C2C12 myotubes ecdysterone (1 µM) induced a significant increase of the diameter comparable to dihydrotestosterone (1 µM) and IGF 1 (1.3 nM). Molecular docking experiments supported the ERβ mediated action of ecdysterone. To clarify its status in sports, ecdysterone should be considered to be included in the class “S1.2 Other Anabolic Agents” of the list of prohibited substances of the World Anti-Doping Agency

Nonprofit Management Researchers’ Reconceptualization of Comprehensive INGO Accountability: Toward an Institutional Logics Approach

International nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) face greater accountability demands from various stakeholders, and from their beneficiaries in particular. This has initiated an academic discourse on a more comprehensive approach to INGO accountability to maintain their legitimacy. This article addresses two research questions: What is the current understanding of accountability of INGOs? And what are theoretical venues to strengthen future research on comprehensive INGO accountability? It does so by offering a systematic literature review of the current academic discourse on INGO accountability, and advances four propositions on what comprehensive INGO accountability entails. The review further highlights that INGO accountability is dynamic and complex. The article therefore suggests a theoretical foundation that accounts for these aspects to support researchers interested in further developing comprehensive INGO accountability. It demonstrates how an institutional logics approach allows conceptualizing INGO accountability relationships to a wider set of stakeholders, including to beneficiaries. It further allows advancing an effectiveness-oriented conceptualization

A novel class of anabolic agents?

Increasing numbers of dietary supplements with ecdysteroids are marketed as “natural anabolic agents”. Results of recent studies suggested that their anabolic effect is mediated by estrogen receptor (ER) binding. Within this study the anabolic potency of ecdysterone was compared to well characterized anabolic substances. Effects on the fiber sizes of the soleus muscle in rats as well the diameter of C2C12 derived myotubes were used as biological readouts. Ecdysterone exhibited a strong hypertrophic effect on the fiber size of rat soleus muscle that was found even stronger compared to the test compounds metandienone (dianabol), estradienedione (trenbolox), and SARM S 1, all administered in the same dose (5 mg/kg body weight, for 21 days). In C2C12 myotubes ecdysterone (1 µM) induced a significant increase of the diameter comparable to dihydrotestosterone (1 µM) and IGF 1 (1.3 nM). Molecular docking experiments supported the ERβ mediated action of ecdysterone. To clarify its status in sports, ecdysterone should be considered to be included in the class “S1.2 Other Anabolic Agents” of the list of prohibited substances of the World Anti-Doping Agency

Environmental potential analysis of co-processing waste in cement kilns

Технологiя спiльного спалення вiдходiв у цементних печах зарекомендувала себе надiйним, ефективним та зручним методом утилiзацiї вiдходiв (побутових та промислових). Проте країни по всьому свiту зiштовхуються з наступними ключовими бар'єрами на шляху до впровадження технологiї сумiсної переробки вiдходiв у цементних печах: нечiтке законодавство, вiдсутнiсть фiнансової пiдтримки, сприйняття громадськiстю, тощо. Цi бар'єри можуть бути частково усунутi за допомогою заходiв, запропонованих у цьому дослiдженнi.The technology of waste co-processing in cement kilns has proven to be a reliable, efficient and convenient method of waste disposal (domestic and industrial). However, countries around the world face the following key barriers to the implementation of the technology of waste co-processing in cement kilns: fuzzy legislation, lack of financial support, public acceptance, etc. These barriers can be partially eliminated by the measures proposed in this study. In addition, waste sorting and processing are often not carried out systematically. National and international cement companies operate modern cement kilns which could substitute a part of their fossil fuel and raw material with suitable waste streams to be co-processed. Co-processing non-recyclable waste is often a valid option to close loops towards circular economy. This technology is widely used in different European countries, but with different environmental impacts. Therefore, it is important to investigate the environmental potential of this technology, which is variable for different waste morphology conditions

Іmplementation of co-processing of waste in cement kilns for Ukraine. Waste management issues

У посібнику розглядаються теоретичні та практичні положення щодо оцінки та здійснення спільної переробки відходів у цементних печах. Надано конкретні розрахунки впливу на довкілля спільної переробки відходів. Звертається увага на законодавство, найкращі доступні технології, питання фінансової та енергоефективної діяльності.The manual discusses the theoretical and practical provisions for the assessment and implementation of co-processing of waste in cement kilns. Specific calculations of the environmental effect of the co-processing of waste are provided. Attention is paid to the legislative, best available technologies, financial and energy efficiency issues. The material is intended for students of higher educational institutions, graduate students and engineers engaged in the development, design and audit of electromechanical systems of energy-intensive industries, specializing in 141 Electricity, electrical engineering and electromechanics, 144 Heat power engineering, 101 Ecology and others.В руководстве обсуждаются теоретические и практические положения по оценке и реализации совместной переработки отходов в цементных печах. Приведены конкретные расчеты воздействия совместной переработки отходов на окружающую среду. Внимание уделяется законодательным вопросам, вопросам наилучших доступных технологий, финансов и энергоэффективности. Материал предназначен для студентов высших учебных заведений, аспирантов и инженеров, занимающихся разработкой, проектированием и аудитом электромеханических систем энергоемких производств по специальностям 141 Электроэнергетика, электротехника и электромеханика, 144 Теплоэнергетика, 101 Экология и другие

Assessing the Impact of Nonprofit Organizations on Multi-Actor Global Governance Initiatives: The Case of the UN Global Compact

This study empirically assesses the impact of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) on multi-actor global governance initiatives. Multi-actor global governance initiatives have emerged to strengthen joint action among different societal actors to tackle transnational social and environmental issues. While such initiatives have received a great deal of academic attention, previous research has primarily focused on businesses' perspectives. In light of the important role of NPOs within such initiatives, critically addressing NPOs' role by assessing their impact on the effectiveness of such initiatives is crucial. This article builds on the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)-the largest multi-actor global governance initiative in the world-and offers a panel analysis on a unique dataset including 820 NPOs from 68 different countries. The findings suggest that NPOs have indeed strengthened the UNGC over time, yet their engagement explains only a small fraction of differences in UNGC activity across countries. This study contributes to the emerging research on nonprofits' social responsibility by fostering the actorhood thesis, which places higher responsibility for the impact and requirements for accountability on NPOs. Furthermore, the study supports discussions about the increasing political role of NPOs by providing the first empirical evidence for their political leadership and impact in multi-actor global governance initiatives

Reconceptualizing the Accountability of INGOs: From Neo-institutional Economic Theory to an Institutional Logics Approach

International nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) face greater accountability demands from various stakeholders, and from their beneficiaries in particular. This has initiated an academic discourse on a more comprehensive approach to INGO accountability. However, the theoretical foundation to adequately conceptualize a comprehensive approach remains weak. This article takes the first step in establishing a theoretical foundation for researchers interested in further developing comprehensive INGO accountability. It does so by offering a systematic overview of the current academic discourse on INGO accountability. It then advances nine propositions on the implications of different theoretical approaches for the conceptualization of INGO accountability. In particular, it suggests that neo-institutional economic theories lead to a donor-focused and efficiency-oriented, and therefore narrow, conceptualization of INGO accountability. An institutional logics approach, on the other hand, allows conceptualizing INGO accountability relationships to a wider set of stakeholders, including to beneficiaries. It further allows developing an effectiveness-oriented conceptualization