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Being Part (being + part)
Selected AbstractsThe integration of corporate governance in corporate social responsibility disclosuresCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2010Ans Kolk Abstract In recent years, not only has attention to corporate governance increased but also the notion has broadened considerably, and started to cover some aspects traditionally seen as being part of corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR, corporate governance and their interlink seem particularly relevant for multinational enterprises (MNEs), which, due to their activities in multiple contexts around the world and concomitant visibility, generally face higher demands to be transparent and disclose information about such issues. Insights into whether and in which cases disclosures on the two topics actually merge has been very limited, however. This paper analyses to what extent corporate governance has become integrated in MNEs' disclosure practices on CSR. Based on an analysis of CSR reporting of Fortune Global 250 companies, findings show that more than half of them have a separate corporate governance section in their CSR report and/or explicitly link corporate governance and CSR issues. We also found that MNEs that disclose information on a wider variety of social and environmental issues and frame CSR with a focus on internal issues are more inclined to integrate corporate governance into their CSR reporting. This integration seems to be a global phenomenon that cuts across countries and sectors. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Experiencing the Production of SoundsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY, Issue 2 2001Matthew Nudds It is often supposed that our experience of sounds is as of things distinct from the material world of sight and touch: reflecting on the character of our auditory experience might seem to confirm that. This paper describes the features of our auditory experience that can lead one to think of sounds in this way. It then describes a way we can experience sounds as being part of the material world. Since this is a kind of experience that essentially involves more than one sense, the paper ends by drawing some conclusions about how we should think about the senses. [source] Transcriptional profiling of Francisella tularensis infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells: a predictive tool for tularemiaFEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Chrysanthi Paranavitana Abstract In this study, we analyzed temporal gene expression patterns in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) infected with the Francisella tularensis live vaccine strain from 1 to 24 h utilizing a whole human Affymetrix® gene chip. We found that a considerable number of induced genes had similar expression patterns and functions as reported previously for gene expression profiling in patients with ulceroglandular tularemia. Among the six uniquely regulated genes reported for tularemia patients as being part of the alarm signal gene cluster, five, namely caspase 1, PSME2, TAP-1, GBP1, and GCH1, were induced in vitro. We also detected four out of the seven potential biomarkers reported in tularemia patients, namely TNFAIP6 at 4 h and STAT1, TNFSF10, and SECTM1 at 16 and 24 h. These observations underscore the value of using microarray expression profiling as an in vitro tool to identify potential biomarkers for human infection and disease. Our results indicate the potential involvement of several host pathways/processes in Francisella infection, notably those involved in calcium, zinc ion binding, PPAR signaling, and lipid metabolism, which further refines the current knowledge of F. tularensis infection and its effects on the human host. Ultimately, this study provides support for utilizing in vitro microarray gene expression profiling in human PBMCs to identify biomarkers of infection and predict in vivo immune responses to infectious agents. [source] Berliner Geowissenschaftlerinnen an der Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität von 1906 bis 1945, eine FallstudieFOSSIL RECORD-MITTEILUNGEN AUS DEM MUSEUM FUER NATURKUNDE, Issue 1 2003Barbara A. R. Mohr Abstract In dieser Untersuchung werden beispielhaft die Lebenswege und Karrieren von Berliner Geowissenschaftlerinnen im Zeitraum von 1906 bis 1945 nachgezeichnet und analysiert. Ähnlich wie an anderen deutschen bzw. westlichen Universitäten, aber im Gegensatz zu Russland, begann die Tätigkeit von Frauen in den Geowissenschaften spät, und das Fach wurde auch relativ selten gewählt, hauptsächlich wegen der zu geringen Berufschancen. Aber die besondere Situation in Berlin mit mehreren sich ergänzenden Institutionen und dem daraus resultierenden breiten Spektrum an geowissenschaftlichen Disziplinen, sowie ausgezeichneten Professoren, ließ dennoch Raum für eine Ausbildung in diesem Bereich und erlaubte, wenn auch in bescheidenem Maße, eine gewisse Karrieremöglichkeit. Während der hier untersuchten 40 Jahre haben weniger als 20 Frauen in den Geowissenschaften und benachbarten Gebieten promoviert. Mehrere dieser Frauen blieben in dem von ihnen gewählten Fach weiterhin aktiv und wurden erfolgreich. Zwei Frauen gelang eine akademische Karriere , eine als Universitätsprofessorin, die auch Schülerinnen hatte. Andere arbeiteten an staatlichen Institutionen, wie z. B. dem Geologischen Landesamt. Wenige Frauen blieben nach ihrer Verheiratung beruflich aktiv, wenn auch nicht offiziell angestellt, sondern als Ehefrauen. Andere arbeiteten als "Ersatz" für die im Kriege stehenden Männer. Einige waren aus persönlichen und politischen Gründen, insbesondere während der NS-Zeit, gezwungen, die Geowissenschaften zu verlassen, konnten aber teilweise auf anderen Gebieten erfolgreich arbeiten. This paper documents the lives and careers of women geoscientists at the Berlin Friedrich-Wilhelms-University from 1906 through 1945. Traditionally, in Germany, women had difficulties to be accepted in geosciences (except for geography/geology teachers), because of strong links between geology and mining, a field dominated clearly by men. In western European countries, as well as in the U.S.A. and Australia, the situation was similar in that women started late and in small numbers to study geology. This was, however, in contrast to Russia and later the Soviet Union where women were relatively early accepted even as university teachers. The data for this paper were gathered from Berlin University institutions, such as the historical archive and the library of the Palaeontological Institute, and in addition personal contacts were used. Women who had studied either geography, geology/palaeontology, geophysics, mineralogy or botany/palaeobotany are subject of this study. Only those are considered who had strong affiliations to geosciences proper, in all 17 women. During the first half of the 20th century the Berlin Friedrich-Wilhelms-University, founded in 1810, was one of the most important institutions concerning higher education in Germany, especially for women. The official opening of this university for women students was in 1908, somewhat later than at other German universities. Once admitted, however, the number of dissertations completed by women was relatively high, and, 30% of all habilitations (advanced degree which allows teaching at universities) in Germany and 50% of all habilitations in the natural sciences were accomplished at Berlin between 1918/19 to 1932. The geosciences were, together with medicine, chemistry, physics, botany and zoology, very strong scientifical and in teaching. Geoscientists of international reputation worked at large institutions, affiliated or being part of the University, such as the Prussian (later German) Geological Survey, the Institute of Geology and Palaeontology at the Museum of Natural History or the Institute and Museum of Oceanography, and were the advisers and reviewers of women Diploma and PhD students. [source] FLORENTINE CIVIC HUMANISM AND THE EMERGENCE OF MODERN IDEOLOGYHISTORY AND THEORY, Issue 3 2007HANAN YORAN ABSTRACT This article revisits the question of the modernity of the Renaissance by examining the political language of Florentine civic humanism and by critically analyzing the debate over Hans Baron's interpretation of the movement. It engages two debates that are usually conducted separately: one concerning the originality of civic humanism in comparison to medieval thought, and the other concerning the political and social function of the civic humanists' political republicanism in fifteenth-century Florence. The article's main contention is that humanist political discourse rejected the perception of social and political reality as being part of, or reflecting, a metaphysical and divine order or things, and thus undermined the traditional justifications for political hierarchies and power relations. This created the conditions of possibility for the distinctively modern aspiration for a social and political order based on liberty and equality. It also resulted in the birth of a distinctively modern form of ideology, one that legitimizes the social order by disguising its inequalities and structures of domination. Humanism, like modern political thought generally, thus simultaneously constructs and reflects the dialectic of emancipation and domination so central to modernity itself. [source] Environmental isotopic and hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater systems in Daying and Qicun geothermal fields, Xinzhou Basin, Shanxi, ChinaHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 22 2010Dongmei Han Abstract The conceptual hydrogeological model of the low to medium temperature Daying and Qicun geothermal fields has been proposed, based on hydrochemical characteristics and isotopic compositions. The two geothermal fields are located in the Xinzhou basin of Shanxi, China and exhibit similarities in their broad-scale flow patterns. Geothermal water is derived from the regional groundwater flow system of the basin and is characterized by Cl·SO4 -Na type. Thermal water is hydrochemically distinct from cold groundwater having higher total dissolved solids (TDS) (>0·8 g/l) and Sr contents, but relatively low Ca, Mg and HCO3 contents. Most shallow groundwater belongs to local flow systems which are subject to evaporation and mixing with irrigation returns. The groundwater residence times estimated by tritium and 14C activities indicate that deep non-thermal groundwater (130,160 m) in the Daying region range from modern (post-1950s) in the piedmont area to more than 9·4 ka BP (Before Present) in the downriver area and imply that this water belong to an intermediate flow system. Thermal water in the two geothermal fields contains no detectable active 14C, indicating long residence times (>50 ka), consistent with this water being part of a large regional flow system. The mean recharge elevation estimated by using the obtained relationship Altitude (m) = , 23·8 × ,2H (, ) , 121·3, is 1980 and 1880 m for the Daying and Qicun geothermal fields, respectively. The annual infiltration rates in the Daying and Qicun geothermal fields can be estimated to be 9029 × 103 and 4107 × 103 m3/a, respectively. The variable 86Sr/87Sr values in the thermal and non-thermal groundwater in the two fields reflect different lithologies encountered along the flow path(s) and possibly different extents of water-rock interaction. Based on the analysis of groundwater flow systems in the two geothermal fields, hydrogeochemical inverse modelling was performed to indicate the possible water-rock interaction processes that occur under different scenarios. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Managing independent prescribing: the influence of primary care trusts on community nurse prescribingINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 3 2004Mr. Jason Hall Clinical teaching fellow Background Community nurses have been prescribing in the United Kingdom from the Nurse Prescribers' Formulary (NPF) since 1994. Most prescribing for the items included in the NPF is still carried out by general practitioners, although the proportion attributed to nurses is increasing. Objective To describe the methods that primary care trusts (PCTs) have used to influence the prescribing practices of community nurses and to explore the views of nurse prescribers regarding these methods. Method Semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 22 community nurse prescribers and five PCT prescribing leads. The transcripts were analysed using the framework method. Key findings PCTs used formularies and guidelines, education and training, individual prescriber feedback and directives to varying degrees to influence nurse prescribing. Some nurse prescribers considered formularies and guidelines to be restrictive. There were few instances of feedback or training being given to prescribers following their initial training as a prescriber, despite a majority wishing to receive both of these. Directives were used to restrict prescribing in a limited number of specific areas. Conclusion Influencing nurse prescribing did not appear to be a priority for PCTs despite this being part of the National Health Service's clinical governance agenda. PCTs will need to engage with nurse prescribers to determine ways to influence prescribing that are in the best interests of patients, nurses, doctors and the Trust. [source] ,The geriatric hospital felt like a backwater': aspects of older people's nursing in Britain, 1955,1980JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 19 2009Jane Brooks Aims and objectives., The aim of this article is to examine the experiences of ward-level nurses who cared for older people in general hospitals between 1955,1980. Background., There is very little published on the history of older adult nursing and no recent material from the United Kingdom. There are, however, the works of Cecily Hunter in Australia and Erica Roberts in Canada. It is the intention of this study to contribute to this important area of research. Design., This is an oral history project in which 20 nurses who had worked on older adults ward between 1955,1980 were interviewed. Methods., All the interviews were taped, transcribed and data-themed. Ethical clearance for the project was obtained from the University Ethics Committee and all participants were anonymised. Results., Many of the nurses found the experience very difficult, though there were exceptions. Several participants had worked on older adults ward during their training and then had never wanted to return. Most described a paucity of resources and longevity of staff on the wards. Conclusions., Using the sociological theory of Erving Goffman, this article introduces a novel method of understanding nursing history, although his ideas have been used in medical history. The value of his theories for this study is in the identification of nurses as being part of the same system as the patients themselves. Implications for contemporary policy, research and/or practice., For nurses to care effectively for their patients, nurses themselves must be valued. Subordination and regimentation tend to dehumanise the carers which, in turn, dehumanises the cared for. [source] URBAN CLUSTERS AS GROWTH FOCI,JOURNAL OF REGIONAL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2009Boris A. Portnov ABSTRACT Urban clusters are geographic concentrations of urban places, some of which may include major cities. Unlike agglomerations, whose geographic boundaries are clearly delineated, urban clusters have "variable" boundaries, with each urban settlement being part of its "own" cluster of populated places, located within its commuting range. As our study indicates, the effect of clustering on urban growth is not uniform: it appears to be positive in low density clusters, and negative in densely populated ones. In particular, outside densely populated areas, towns surrounded by other localities tend to evince higher rates of population growth than their "lone" counterparts. [source] Trans -splicing of organelle introns , a detour to continuous RNAsBIOESSAYS, Issue 9 2009Stephanie Glanz Abstract In eukaryotes, RNA trans -splicing is an important RNA-processing form for the end-to-end ligation of primary transcripts that are derived from separately transcribed exons. So far, three different categories of RNA trans -splicing have been found in organisms as diverse as algae to man. Here, we review one of these categories: the trans -splicing of discontinuous group II introns, which occurs in chloroplasts and mitochondria of lower eukaryotes and plants. Trans -spliced exons can be predicted from DNA sequences derived from a large number of sequenced organelle genomes. Further molecular genetic analysis of mutants has unravelled proteins, some of which being part of high-molecular-weight complexes that promote the splicing process. Based on data derived from the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a model is provided which defines the composition of an organelle spliceosome. This will have a general relevance for understanding the function of RNA-processing machineries in eukaryotic organelles. [source] The subdural space of the spine: A lymphatic sink?CLINICAL ANATOMY, Issue 7 2010Myodil's last message Abstract Following the radiological study of a large number of myelograms, starting over 50 years ago when the only clinical contrast medium available to show the contents of the spinal canal was an iodized oil, the author has collected a number of examples where the oil was inadvertently injected into the subdural area, rather than the intended subarachnoid space. By taking follow-up films at various intervals following the inadvertent injection, it has been possible to study the extent to which the subdural space could become visualized from a lumbar injection, the contrast medium sometimes passing to the top of the cervical region and the lower part of the sacrum. Also, the contrast passed outward along the peri-neural lymphatic sheaths or spaces of the issuing spinal nerves, where it might remain for months, and under the influence of gravity it could extend for a considerable way. It also passed into abdominal and thoracic lymph vessels and nodes. Considering the morphology, predictability, and ease with which the demonstrated subdural space fills, the author concludes that the subdural region is a true and functionally significant "space," and an important conduit or functional part of the body's lymphatic system. He also considers that it has implications for the spread or dissemination of various organisms, substances or pathological conditions, as well as being part of the normal conduit for reabsorption of CSF with implications for hydrocephalus, and with potential for misplacement of spinal anaesthetic agents. Clin. Anat. 23:829,839, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||||||||