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CSR perceptions and practices in small hotels in urban cities
No full textPurpose: This study aims to examine the perception and practices related to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) implemented in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), focussing on small hotels in London. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative research design comprising detailed semi-structured interviews was employed with 12 small hotel owner-managers in central London and its outskirts. The study adopts a social constructionist approach to explore CSR perspectives and practices, along with a social capital framework to investigate how CSR is perceived at the individual level and consequently manifested into CSR practices. Findings: The findings indicate that a small hotel’s implementation of CSR is influenced by long-term versus short-term considerations, as well as socio-economic and socio-political conditions. Individual-level factors, like hoteliers’ CSR conceptualisation and personal and business values, affect CSR adoption in small hotels. Lastly, institutional-level factors, such as ineffective institutional participation and the hotelier’s cultural background against the cosmopolitan context of a big city, have contributed to a muted response to socially responsible issues. Research limitations/implications: This study was conducted with a limited sample of 12 participants from small hotels in London and its outskirts, which may limit the generalisability of the findings. Future research could enhance these findings by involving a larger and more diverse group of participants from various urban areas, potentially employing a quantitative research approach for broader applicability. This study’s insights can guide policymakers in educating small business owners on CSR benefits and implementation. It also proposes how governments could encourage sustainable practices among small hotels seeking to enhance their reputation. Moreover, these findings enable small businesses to develop their stakeholder strategies for greater CSR initiatives. Originality/value: This study integrates social capital theory into investigating CSR in small hotels in London, broadening the literature on CSR perception and integration, particularly in SMEs and the hospitality sector.</p
Mitigating the impact of harmful algal blooms on aquaculture: Abagold: a case study:Preprint
Get PDFSeafood, especially from the ocean, is now seen as a greener and more sustainable source of protein causing an increase in its demand. This has also led to people making choices towards seafood as a replacement of carbon intensive protein sources. As a result, the demand for seafood is growing, and the Aquaculture industry is required to increase their produce while keeping the produce safe and sustainable. There are many challenges faced by the aquaculture industry in meeting these increased demands. One such challenge is the presence of harmful algal blooms (HAB) in the ocean which can have a major impact on aquatic life. In this paper we look at the impact of this challenge on aquaculture and the mitigating strategies. We will focus on Abagold Limited, a land-based marine aquaculture business that specializes in large scale production of abalone (Haliotis midae) based in Hermanus, South Africa. HABs are considered a threat to commercial scale abalone farming along the South-African coastline and requires continuous monitoring. The most recent HAB was in February-April 2019, the area experienced a severe red-tide event with blooms of predominantly Lingulodinium polyedrum. We present some of the mitigation strategies employing digital technologies for future proofing the industry.<br/
Diagnostic and prognostic value of calf circumference for sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults
Get PDFBackground: An age-dependent normative values of calf circumference (CC) has been recently proposed as an accessible proxy for muscle mass. However, its usefulness to estimate sarcopenia has not been assessed. The objectives of the present study were to determine if the substitution of the classical way to assess muscle mass by these values have enough diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value among older adults living in the community. Methods: Data from the Toledo Study of Healthy Ageing (TSHA) were used. CC was measured using an anthropometric tape. We used two age-groups CC cut-off points: the TSHA CC median and the one proposed in the Longevity Check-up 7+ (Lookup 7+) project. Sarcopenia was defined based on the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2), the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), and FNIH criteria standardized for our population (sFNIH). Frailty (according to the Frailty Phenotype and the Frailty Trait Scale-5) and disability (Katz index) were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Mortality and first hospitalization were also recorded. Logistic (incident frailty and worsening disability) and Cox (mortality and hospitalization) regressions were performed. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed through Kappa index, AUCs, positive and negative predictive values. Predictive ability was assessed through AUCs and integrated AUCs (IAUCs). Results: 1531 participants (74.8 ± 5.8 years; 45.6% men) were included in the analysis. Prevalence rates of sarcopenia were 22.7% (sFNIH), 15.0% (FNIH), and 13.9% (EWGSOP2). Using TSHA-based cut-points of CC, the prevalence of sarcopenia was 16.8% (sFNIH), 11.0% (FNIH), and 11.5% (EWGSOP2). According to LC7+-based CC cut-off points, sarcopenia prevalence was 17.6% (sFNIH), 11.9% (FNIH), and 12.4% (EWGSOP2). CC cut-off points showed low-to-moderate agreement (Kappa Index values between 0.49 and 0.69) with appendicular lean mass for the evaluation of sarcopenia. Sarcopenia identified by Lookup 7+ and TSHA CC cut-off points was associated with the adverse events examined, with similar AUCs and IAUCs than original sarcopenia definitions, and were lost after adjustment by baseline frailty, except when the original EWGSOP2 definition was used. Conclusions: Using normalized values of CC as a criteria of muscle mass shows moderate agreement with classical criteria for diagnosing sarcopenia and offer similar predictive value in community-dwelling older adults.</p
Dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids is associated with blood glucose and diabetes in community-dwelling older adults
Get PDFObjectives: The present study was conducted to examine the cross-sectional associations between the dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and cardiometabolic risk factors in a large sample of Italian community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Longevity Check-up 8+ (Lookup 8+) is an ongoing project that started in June 2015. The project is conducted in unconventional settings (e.g., exhibitions, malls, and health promotion campaigns) across Italy with the aim of fostering the adoption of healthy lifestyles in the general population. For the present study, participants were eligible if they were 65+ years and provided written informed consent. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and blood glucose and cholesterol levels were assessed. A 12-item food frequency questionary was used to estimate the dietary intake of PUFAs, which included omega-3 (α-linolenic acid [ALA], eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA], and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) and omega-6 fatty acids. Results: Data of 4461 older adults (♀56%, mean age: 72.9 years, mean body mass index [BMI]: 26.1 kg/m2, blood glucose: 109 mg/dL, total blood cholesterol: 198.5 mg/dL, ALA: 8.8%, EPA: 16.0%, and DHA: 26.1%) were cross-sectionally analyzed. Multilinear regression results indicated that a high consumption of EPA, DHA, and DHA+EPA was negatively and significantly associated with glucose levels. Furthermore, binary regression analysis indicated that the dietary intake of ALA and omega-6 PUFAs was inversely and significantly associated with the prevalence of diabetes. In contrast, BMI values were positively associated with ALA and omega-6 PUFAs, and negatively with the consumption of EPA and DHA+EPA. Conclusions: Findings of the present study indicate that the dietary intake of PUFAs was cross-sectionally, inversely, and significantly associated with blood glucose levels and the prevalence of diabetes in a large sample of Italian community-dwelling older adults.</p
Correction to:Mapping trust relationships in organ donation and transplantation: a conceptual model (BMC Medical Ethics, (2023), 24, 1, (93), 10.1186/s12910-023-00965-2)
Get PDFCorrection to: BMC Medical Ethics (2023) 24:1 Following publication of the original article [1], there are few text that has been changed in the acknowledgement section. So, the section should read from “The authors thank Maite Cruz Piqueras, Anja Marie Bornø Jensen, Eva Martín Nieto, Jorge Ruiz Ruiz and Silke Schicktanz for their contribution. MVML also thanks the philosophy doctoral students of the University of Granada for their contribution. This research has been conducted as part of the following projects: “Research in Ethics of Organ Donation and Transplantation” (INEDyTO) [MINECO FFI201 88913-P]; “Epistemological and bioethical analysis of the criteria for determining death” (ABCDm) MICINN: PID2020-119717GA-I00]; “Moral science and institutional design lab” (MSIDLab) [PID2020-119791RAI00].” to “The authors thank Maite Cruz Piqueras, Anja Marie Bornø Jensen, Eva Martín Nieto, Jorge Ruiz Ruiz and Silke Schicktanz for their contribution. MVML also thanks the philosophy doctoral students of the University of Granada for their contribution. This research has been conducted as part of projects: INEDyTO 2 (PID2020-118729RB-I00), ABCDm (PID2020-119717GA-I00), and MSIDLab (PID2020-119791RAI00) funded by MCIN/AEI 10.13039/501100011033.” Also, there is change in the funding section. So, the text will read from “Research in Ethics of Organ Donation and Transplantation” (INEDyTO) [MINECO FFI201 88913-P]. Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature.” to “Research in Ethics of Organ Donation and Transplantation” (INEDyTO) [MINECO FFI201 88913-P]. Grant PID2020-118729RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI 10.13039/501100011033. Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature.” The original article has been corrected.</p
Correction to:Mapping trust relationships in organ donation and transplantation: a conceptual model (BMC Medical Ethics, (2023), 24, 1, (93), 10.1186/s12910-023-00965-2)
Get PDFCorrection to: BMC Medical Ethics (2023) 24:1 Following publication of the original article [1], there are few text that has been changed in the acknowledgement section. So, the section should read from “The authors thank Maite Cruz Piqueras, Anja Marie Bornø Jensen, Eva Martín Nieto, Jorge Ruiz Ruiz and Silke Schicktanz for their contribution. MVML also thanks the philosophy doctoral students of the University of Granada for their contribution. This research has been conducted as part of the following projects: “Research in Ethics of Organ Donation and Transplantation” (INEDyTO) [MINECO FFI201 88913-P]; “Epistemological and bioethical analysis of the criteria for determining death” (ABCDm) MICINN: PID2020-119717GA-I00]; “Moral science and institutional design lab” (MSIDLab) [PID2020-119791RAI00].” to “The authors thank Maite Cruz Piqueras, Anja Marie Bornø Jensen, Eva Martín Nieto, Jorge Ruiz Ruiz and Silke Schicktanz for their contribution. MVML also thanks the philosophy doctoral students of the University of Granada for their contribution. This research has been conducted as part of projects: INEDyTO 2 (PID2020-118729RB-I00), ABCDm (PID2020-119717GA-I00), and MSIDLab (PID2020-119791RAI00) funded by MCIN/AEI 10.13039/501100011033.” Also, there is change in the funding section. So, the text will read from “Research in Ethics of Organ Donation and Transplantation” (INEDyTO) [MINECO FFI201 88913-P]. Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature.” to “Research in Ethics of Organ Donation and Transplantation” (INEDyTO) [MINECO FFI201 88913-P]. Grant PID2020-118729RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI 10.13039/501100011033. Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature.” The original article has been corrected.</p
Practice supervision
No full textThis second chapter starts with the key requirements for the welcoming of students and apprentices as newcomers to the practice environment from the perspective of promoting a sense of belongingness. A distinction is made between the needs of practice and workplace learners in the context of apprenticeship and for supervision to be characterised by a facilitative approach. The development of professional identity through practice learning is explored to ensure that supervisors can support a range of learners to explore their values and beliefs as part of a process of authentic professional learning.</p
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