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Purpose
This paper aims to examine a case to illustrate the linguistic perception of corporate responsibility disclosures.


Design/methodology/approach
In this study, a content analysis framework based on fuzzy linguistic variables is proposed to measure the level of sustainable and responsible practices perceived by the stakeholders. A case is examined to illustrate the linguistic perception of corporate responsibility disclosures.


Findings
The results demonstrated a significant difference between Perception of Disclosure, using linguistic variables and most common sustainability indicators, and a Boolean analysis based on sustainability reporting indicators. The approach helps companies in developing a more robust stakeholder management program and to better respond to stakeholders' demands.


Research limitations/implications
Future studies can evaluate corporate responsibility and sustainability performance using linguistic variables.


Practical implications
The approach helps companies to better respond to stakeholders' demands.


Social implications
The approach helps companies in developing a more robust stakeholder management program and to better respond to stakeholders' demands.


Originality/value
Most of the studies on corporate responsibility disclosure analysis have focused on a binary response to the level of disclosure of a certain economic, social, environmental or governance issue; however, how a disclosed item is being perceived by the user has not been taken into consideration.

ABSTRACTElectronic Medical Records (EMR) studies have broadly tested EMR use and outcomes, producing mixed and inconclusive results. This study carefully considers the healthcare delivery context and examines relevant mediating variables. We consider key characteristics of: (i) interdependence in healthcare delivery processes, (ii) physician autonomy, and (iii) the trend of hospital employment of physicians, and draw on theoretical perspectives in coordination, shared values, and agency to explain how the use of EMR can improve physicians' performance. In order to examine the effects of physician employment on work practices in the hospital, we collected 583 data points from 302 hospitals in 47 states in the USA to test two models: one for employed and another for nonemployed physicians. Results show that information sharing and shared values among healthcare delivery professionals fully mediate the relationship between EMR use and physicians' performance. Next, physician employment determines which mediating variable constitutes the pathway from EMR use to physicians' performance. Finally, we highlight the impact of shared values between the hospital and physicians in enhancing information sharing and physicians' performance, extending studies of these behaviors among network partners in industrial settings. Overall, our study shows that EMR use should be complemented by processual (information sharing), social (shared values), and structural (physician employment) mechanisms to yield positive effects on physicians' performance.

Abstract
Polyprenols (PPs) have been identified in almost all living organisms. The richest source of PPs is the needles of conifer trees. Endogenously, PPs, similarly to cholesterol, are synthesised in human and animal cells via the mevalonate pathway. Previous studies have demonstrated the anti-oxidant properties of PPs. To our knowledge, no studies have been published on the influence of PPs on muscle strength. We hypothesised that administration of PPs could prevent changes in muscle functioning caused by statins (weakness, etc.). In the present study, atorvastatin (80 mg/kg) was used as a model compound. PPs at doses 1, 10 and 20 mg/kg were administered. Both drugs were given per os for 16 days. The influence of atorvastatin, PPs and their combination on behaviour, muscle strength, plasma cholesterol and creatine kinase activity was assessed in female Wistar rats. Our data demonstrated that atorvastatin considerably impaired muscle strength, whereas PPs protected that effect. Neither PPs, nor atorvastatin influenced plasma cholesterol levels, whereas PPs at dose 20 mg/kg elevated creatine kinase activity by about 25%. PPs at the tested doses did not alter behaviour, indicating safety of central nervous system functions. The obtained data suggest usefulness of PPs as a complement in statin therapy to reduce muscle-related side effects.

In marketing theory, the shift from the paradigm of value creation to value 'cocreation' calls for a deeper grasp of the interactions between producers and customers. Marketing studies have widely focused on the value cocreation concept, but so far, the mechanism through which consumers can be involved in the process of value cocreation through product development had found little space in marketing studies. In this theoretical paper, we aim to fill this gap and pave the way towards a better understanding of the mechanisms of value cocreation for product development through second‐order cybernetics. We conceive the market arena as a physical or virtual place where communications of value propositions produce eigenforms driving the eigenbehaviours of producers and customers towards shared meaningful objects. Based on these assumptions, we offer a framework based on the viable systems model and the law of requisite variety to shed light on processes of interaction between producers and consumers in the market arena. The proposed framework can be an effective tool for the managers involved in product design and marketing to contribute to a firm's policies by supplying a clearer picture of the systemic relations involved in the value cocreation for product innovation and product development. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Surveys provide a critical source of data for scholars, yet declining response rates are threatening the quality of data being collected. This threat is particularly acute among organizational studies that use key informants—the mean response rate for published studies is 34 percent. This article describes several response enhancing strategies and explains how they were implemented in a national study of organizations that achieved a 94 percent response rate. Data from this study are used to examine the relationship between survey response patterns and nonresponse bias by conducting nonresponse analyses on several important individual and organizational characteristics. The analyses indicate that nonresponse bias is associated with the mean/proportion and variance of these variables and their correlations with relevant organizational outcomes. After identifying the variables most susceptible to nonresponse bias, a final analysis calculates the minimum response rate those variables needed to ensure that they do not contain significant nonresponse bias. Heuristic versions of these analyses can be used by survey researchers during data collection (and by scholars retrospectively) to assess the representativeness of respondents and the degree of nonresponse bias variables contain. This study has implications for survey researchers, scholars who analyze survey data, and those who review their research.

IntroductionDespite significant progress in improving access to antiretroviral therapy over the past decade, substantial numbers of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in all regions continue to experience severe illness and require hospitalization. We undertook a global review assessing the proportion of hospitalizations and in‐hospital deaths because of tuberculosis (TB) in PLHIV.MethodsSeven databases were searched to identify studies reporting causes of hospitalizations among PLHIV from 1 January 2007 to 31 January 2015 irrespective of age, geographical region or language. The proportion of hospitalizations and in‐hospital mortality attributable to TB was estimated using random effects meta‐analysis.ResultsFrom an initial screen of 9049 records, 66 studies were identified, providing data on 35,845 adults and 2792 children across 42 countries. Overall, 17.7% (95% CI 16.0 to 20.2%) of all adult hospitalizations were because of TB, making it the leading cause of hospitalization overall; the proportion of adult hospitalizations because of TB exceeded 10% in all regions except the European region. Of all paediatric hospitalizations, 10.8% (95% CI 7.6 to 13.9%) were because of TB. There was insufficient data among children for analysis by region. In‐hospital mortality attributable to TB was 24.9% (95% CI 19.0 to 30.8%) among adults and 30.1% (95% CI 11.2 to 48.9%) among children.DiscussionTB remains a leading cause of hospitalization and in‐hospital death among adults and children living with HIV worldwide.

The economic crisis that started in 2008 has negatively affected European nations to different degrees. The sudden rise in demonstrations particularly in those countries most hard hit by the crisis suggests that grievance theories, dismissed in favour of resource-based models since the 1970s, might have a role to play in explaining protest behaviour. While most previous studies have tested these theories at the individual or contextual levels, it is likely that mechanisms at both levels are interrelated. To fill this lacuna, this article examines the ways in which individual-level grievances interact with macro-level factors to impact on protest behaviour. In particular, it examines whether the impact of individual subjective feelings of deprivation is conditional on contextual macroeconomic and policy factors. It is found that while individual-level relative deprivation has a direct effect on the propensity to have protested in the last year, this effect is greater under certain macroeconomic and political conditions. Both significant results for the cross-level interactions are interpreted in terms of their role for opening up political opportunities for protest among those who feel they have been most deprived in the current crisis. These findings suggest that the interaction of the contextual and individual levels should continue to be explored in future studies in order to further clarify the mechanisms underlying protest behaviour.

Este artículo pretende describir y analizar brevemente algunos aspectos vinculados a la experiencia realizada por las cátedras «Práctica en Comunicación Comunitaria e Institucional» y «Comunicación Popular y Alternativa», en las que intentamos delinear la orientación en Comunicación Comunitaria y Alternativa de la carrera de Ciencias de la Comunicación de la Universidad Nacional de Salta. Asimismo, nos interesa compartir algunas preguntas que nos planteamos como docentes durante el proceso de aprendizaje de los estudiantes y de los equipos de cátedra. Proceso que plantea la intencionalidad de tejer puentes y puntos de encuentro entre la Universidad Pública y las organizaciones sociales. ; The basic aim of this essay is to describ and analyze relevant dimensions involved in the accademic experiences of Communitybased Studies and Communication for Social Change Theory and Practice Modules. These modules delineate the Participatory community-based and Communication for Social Change Studies field into the Degree in Communication at the Universidad Nacional de Salta (Argentina). We also propose to share some of our teaching practices concerns and questions. Our teaching-and- learning experience is not one that privileges the «dissemination» of scholarly knowledge; rather, it is to foster partnership of grassroot actors, Public- Universitiy academics and political agents. ; Facultad de Periodismo y Comunicación Social

Objectives: To contribute to understandings about acceptability and risks entailed in video-based research on healthcare communication. To generate recommendations for non-covert video-based research on healthcare communication − with a focus on maximising its acceptability to participants, and managing and reducing its risks.Methods: A literature review and synthesis of (a) empirical research on participant acceptability and risks of video recording; (b) regulations of professional and governmental bodies; (c) reviews and commentaries; (d) guidance and recommendations. These were gathered across several academic and professional fields (including medical, educational, and social scientific).Results: 36 publications were included in the review and synthesis (7 regulatory documents, 7 empirical, 4 reviews/commentaries, 18 guidance/recommendations). In the context of research aiming in some way to improve healthcare communication: •Most people regard video-based research as acceptable and worthwhile, whilst also carrying risks. •Concerns that recording could be detrimental to healthcare delivery are not confirmed by existing evidence. •Numerous procedures to enhance acceptability and feasibility have been documented, and our recommendations collate these.Conclusion and practice implications: The recommendations are designed to support deliberations and decisions about individual studies and to support ethical scrutiny of proposed research studies. Whilst preliminary, it is nevertheless the most comprehensive and detailed currently available.

Background: Legislation preventing smoking in public places was introduced in England in July 2007. Since then, smoke-free policies have been extended to the majority of hospitals including those providing cancer therapies. Whilst studies have been conducted on the impact and effectiveness of hospital smoke-free policy in the UK and other countries, there have not been any studies with a focus on cancer care providers. Cancer patients are a priority group for smoking cessation and support and this study aimed to examine implementation of the National Institute Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance (PH48) in acute cancer care trusts in the UK. Methods: Participants were recruited from UK radiotherapy and chemotherapy departments (total 80 sites, 65 organisations) and asked to complete a 15 min online questionnaire exploring the implementation of NICE guidance at their hospital site. Results: Considerable variability in implementation of the NICE guidance was observed. A total of 79.1% trusts were smoke-free in theory; however, only 18.6% were described as smoke-free in practice. Areas of improvement were identified in information and support for patients and staff including in Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) provision, staff training and clarity on e-cigarette policies. Conclusions: While some trusts have effective smoke-free policies and provide valuable cessation support services for patients, improvements are required to ensure that all sites fully adopt the NICE guidance.

Selten zuvor haben Konzepte und Technologien überall auf der Welt so schnell und weitreichend Anwendung gefunden wie digitale Geschäftsmodelle und Smartphones in den letzten Jahren. Die digitale Transformation stellt die Politik vor große Herausforderungen. Für eine fundierte Entscheidungsfindung fehlen derzeit aber noch belastbare Studien. Diese Machbarkeitsstudie benennt und erläutert Datensätze und Forschungsmethoden zur Beantwortung der gestellten Forschungsfragen. Dabei wird auch auf Risiken und Kosten der vorgeschlagenen Forschungsmethoden eingegangen. Die Verfasser der Machbarkeitsstudie schlagen einen Methodenmix vor, der sowohl quantitative und qualitative Befragungen, als auch die Auswertung umfassender Datenbanken beinhaltet. Es wird vorgeschlagen die Erforschung des Status quo und insbesondere der Entstehungsdynamik digitaler Geschäftsmodelle anhand einer Kombination aus Handelsregisterdaten, d.h. alle Kapitalgesellschaften als Grundgesamtheit, und Datensätzen zu Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Initial Public Offerings (IPO) und Venture-Capital (VC) Finanzierungsrunden durchzuführen. Für börsennotierte Firmen soll der Erfolg digitaler Geschäftsmodelle mit Hilfe von Daten großer Finanzdatenanbietern wie Thomson Reuters oder Bloomberg gemessen werden. Die Bedeutung des Endnutzerzugangs soll mit Hilfe der Firmenbewertungen von Unternehmen mit Services, die eine hohe Nutzerzahl aufweisen, quantifiziert werden. Zukunftsszenarien sollen basierend auf aktuellen Firmengründungen, VC-Finanzierungsrunden, Akquisitionen, Patentanmeldungen sowie Experteninterviews bzw. einer Delphi Studie entwickelt werden. Fallstudieninterviews in allen relevanten Basissektoren sollen Veränderungen in den Wertschöpfungsnetzwerken der Unternehmen aufzeigen. Eine Umfrage unter Führungskräften mit IT-Verantwortung soll die Nutzung aktueller Technologien wie Big Data und Cloud Computing aufzeigen und die Erfolgswirkung der digitalen Transformation untersuchen. Die Machbarkeitsstudie ist wie folgt organisiert: Kapitel 1 erläutert die Relevanz der Arbeit, Kapitel 2 und 3 enthalten wichtige Begriffsdefinitionen und geben einen umfassenden Überblick über die relevante Literatur, um aufzuzeigen, welche Forschungsfragen sich bereits mit Hilfe der bestehenden Literatur beantworten lassen. Kapitel 4 erklärt das Forschungsdesign, das zur Beantwortung der Forschungsfragen entwickelt wurde. Dabei zeigt Tabelle 8 relevante Sekundärdatensätze. Abschnitt 4.5 beschreibt in kompakter Form (Tabelle 12 - Tabelle 14) welche Forschungsfragen mit welchem Forschungsdesign beantwortet werden sollen und welches Risiko mit den jeweiligen Ansätzen verbunden ist. Kapitel 5 enthält die Kostenschätzung für die Durchführung der einzelnen Arbeitspakete.

The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is the cornerstone of the European Union's climate policy and covers just under half of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions. More than ten years since the EU ETS was first introduced, there continues to be substantial research interest regarding its functioning and the behavior of participating companies. DIW Berlin conducted three econometric studies based on microdata at company and/or installation level. The findings suggest that, overall, there are only minor distortions in the behavior of companies regulated by the EU ETS. However, the studies also show that small companies exhibit distinctive behavior which could result in inefficiencies. For instance, during Trading Phase I, small companies participated less actively in trading allowances than companies with a higher turnover. Moreover, the emissions produced by small power plants depend, to a certain extent, on the allocation rules. Small companies also often fail to take full advantage of the cost reduction potential of international offset credits: for a total of 22 percent of all companies (predominantly small emitters), an average of 31,000 euros in cost reduction potential remained unused. The barriers causing this loss may be interpreted as fixed transaction costs. For further ex-post analyses, the timely provision of user-friendly emissions trading data at the installation level would be very beneficial.

This article explores one challenge facing critical discourse studies (CDS) in today's mediatised world: the ontological and epistemological assumptions which prompt studies to analyse the construction of social orders (such as right-wing, racist or neoliberal orders) rather than the fissures and dislocations of these social orders. The former foregrounds stability, and the latter foregrounds instability. In this article, I first sketch postfoundational thinking, arguing that this thinking brings breakdown, disruption and instability to the centre of attention. Although postfoundational thought is most prominently associated with a particular set of thinkers (Nancy, Lefort, Laclau and Rancière), I also include approaches often omitted from current discussions (Lather, Haraway, Malabou and Sedgwick). Second, I consider three central concepts in CDS from a postfoundational perspective: critique, rationality and validity. Critique is conceptualised as a generative criticality which addresses unequal power relations through (fine-grained) analysis of hope-giving, reparative discourse which is oriented to well-being. Rationality is positioned as mobile, contingent, political and positioned, rather than universal and non-subjective. Validity is separated from understandings of objectivity and bias and associated instead with surprise and transgressive validities. Finally, two brief examples illustrate how postfoundational approaches to discourse have engaged with reframing social movements and democracy and rethinking what counts as the economy. ; peerReviewed

Community archives have developed in response to gaps in the documentary record and the real and perceived limitations of state-funded archives. These communities, whether defined by location, shared identity, or common interests, recognize the vital role of records in building collective memory and the importance of having access to their history. Informed by postmodern and postcolonial intellectual concerns, archivists have explored such themes and taken a greater interest in community archives as models of archiving that offer new opportunities and tools for capturing diversity and multiple perspectives on the past. This thesis traces the history of archival thought in relation to community by examining the dichotomy between community and mainstream archives. It explores the breakdown of the dichotomy, as exemplified in recent models of independent community archives and participatory archives. Case studies of the Boissevain Community Archives and Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre test the hypothesis that archivists stand to benefit from a historical perspective on community archives, one that takes into account the ongoing production of community and the role of archives, archivists, and community members in that production. Throughout, this thesis reaffirms the value of historical analysis in archival studies, arguing that it enriches understandings of the provenance of records created, maintained, and preserved by community. ; October 2016

This paper reads Larry Beinhart's novel The Librarian (2004) and its nonfiction companion Fog Facts (2005) as a double attempt at writing that is politically invested in representing reality but that nevertheless is openly aware of the postmodern crisis of representation. In this sense, I read both books as indicative of a broad cultural search for forms of writing that engage their readers' reality without simply attempting to return to a less complicated moment before postmodernism. The paper situates both books within crucial textual contexts: a broad 'epistemic panic' about the facts and reality at the time, a surge of political nonfiction published in response to George W. Bush's Presidency, and a longer tradition of political fiction. Tracing how the novel struggles with its nonfiction aspects and how the nonfiction book relies on fiction to make its point, I then look at how the two books evoke political affect to have a realist appeal of sorts despite their insistence on the precarious nature of all realist representation. Reading both books as distinctly popular, mass-market products and thus bringing together the debate around post-postmodernism from literary studies with an interest in reading pleasures informed by popular culture studies, I argue that the two books constitute decidedly popular attempts at a new, meta-aware yet politically engaged textuality.