Source Credibility in Environmental Reporting of Two Different Media Landscapes

This research attempts to understand environmental communication taking place in countries with different political, socio-cultural contexts and organizational media levels. In this regard, the research's focuses on Pakistani and British print media systems, which have different organizational systems and contexts. Therefore, it is worth analyzing whether these organizational differences affect the way their news content in relation to the environment is being produced, with emphasis on the credibility of sources. A quantitative content analysis of two Pakistani and two British newspapers was conducted from the previous one decade through January 2007 to December 2016 by using a sample of 5315 environmental news stories published in four publications concerning from each country such as Dawn and Nation from Pakistan, whereas Telegraph and Guardian have chosen from the UK. The Significance of this quantitative study is based on the theoretical approach of agenda-setting and media source credibility. Assuredly, environmental reporting of Pakistani and British print media diverges in the context of source preferences in agenda-setting and media source credibility capacity. Subsequently, dominantly quoted news sources of environmental issues in Pakistani and British print media depict the environmental agenda of each country.

Organizational Differences among Universities in Three Socioeconomic Contexts: Finland, Spain and Ecuador. Relational Coordination Approach

The knowledge of local culture is essential to establish competitive strategies in higher education. The objective of this research was to identify the organizational differences among three universities with different international contexts and satisfaction level. An approach was made regarding Relational Coordination (RC) attributes: accurate, frequent and problem-solving communication, shared knowledge, mutual respect and shared goals, by discriminant analysis method. A random sample of 300 students, 100 belonging to each university, was surveyed on the 23 RC variables in 2017–2018. First, the RC variables were evaluated by general linear model (GLM). The three universities—Arcada University of Applied Science (ARCADA) in Finland, University of Cordoba (UCO) in Spain and Agricultural Polytechnic of Manabi “MFL” (ESPAM) in Ecuador—and the two levels of student satisfaction—Low and High—were used as fixed factors. Second, a discriminant model was built with RC variables. A higher level of RC practices concerning to accurate, frequent and problem-solving communication achieved higher levels of satisfaction, regardless of the universities’ socioeconomic context. RC differentiation among three universities showed that shared goals with lecturers and administrative officers and problem-solving communication among classmates were the variables with the highest discriminant power. Two clusters were obtained, where UCO was the most differentiated university. In conclusion, organizational practices made a difference among the three universities. Discriminant analysis can be adapted and extended to different universities to improve quality.

From centralized DRG costing to decentralized TDABC-assessing the feasibility of hospital cost accounting for decision-making in Denmark

Background The objective is to examine hospital cost accounts to understand the foundation upon which healthcare decisions are based. More specifically, the aim is to add insights to accounting practices and their applicability towards a newly establish value-based agenda with a focus on patient-level cost data. Methods We apply a cost accounting framework developed to position and understand hospital cost practices in relation to government requirements. Allocated cost account data from 2015 from all Danish hospitals were collected and analyzed. These cost accounts lay the foundation for diagnosis related group (DRG) rate setting. We further compare the data’s limitations and potential in a value-based healthcare (VBHC) agenda with the aim of implementing time-driven activity based costing (TDABC). Results We find exceedingly aggregated department-level data that are not tied to patient information. We investigate these data and find large data skewness in the current system, mainly due to structural variances within hospitals. We further demonstrate the current costs data’s lack of suitability for VBHC but with suggestions of how cost data can become applicable for such an approach, which will increase cost data transparency and, thus, provide a better foundation for both local and national decision-making. Conclusions The findings raise concerns about the cost accounts’ ability to provide valid information in healthcare decision-making due to a lack of transparency and obvious variances that distort budgets and production-value estimates. The standardization of costs stemming from hospitals with large organizational differences has significant implications on the fairness of resource allocation and decision-making at large. Thus, for hospitals to become more cost efficient, a substantially more detailed clinically bottom-led cost account system is essential to provide better information for prioritization in health.

Local Ecological Knowledge Exchange of Steelhead

Local ecological knowledge (LEK) has been researched in the past to examine how it can aid and support scientific ecological knowledge (SEK). SEK is often seen as the preferred and superior type of knowledge when dealing with environmental changes. However, both of these types of knowledge are not segregated within individuals but are dependent on age, experience with the fishery, experience with a scientific organization, and/or perception of changes in the environment based on lived experiences. Interactions between LEK and SEK users is valuable to the conservation that is needed to protect these fish species and is dependent on how well these groups are sharing their knowledge and communicating with one another. For this study, I have examined the exchange of knowledge on steelhead trout within Idaho between anglers, Idaho Fish & Game, and the Office of Species Conservation. If these three groups are sharing SEK and LEK effectively, despite generational and organizational differences, then the variation between groups should be low. In addition to the exchange of knowledge, I have looked at communication, the meaning behind each group’s knowledge, and how age and experience play a factor into their perception of change. Of those that responded to the questionnaire, there were 26 angler respondents, 21 Idaho Fish & Game respondents, and 6 Office of Species Conservation respondents. Statistical tests indicated that there was a significant difference in LEK scores between groups, and there was low communication between the Office of Species Conservation and anglers. There was a significant difference in where these groups reported that most of the mortality for steelhead occurred, and age and experience did not have an impact on LEK scores. These results indicate that there is variation between groups’ LEK which could be due to variations in LEK between groups. How groups define local can cause variation between groups’ LEK.

THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN DEVELOPING NATURAL AND CULTURAL TOURISM IN SUKABUMI DISTRICT

Tourism activities are human activities driven by curiosity and enjoying tourist attractions and tourist attractions without knowing administrative boundaries. Therefore, the concept of integrated regional development can overcome and assist organizational differences between districts into a unity of regional planning and development with tourism activities in Sukabumi Regency. In this research, the method used is a qualitative descriptive approach. Sources of data in this study come from primary data and secondary data. The data collection technique used is field research, such as observation, interviews, and library research. The analysis used by the pen is descriptive-qualitative. The research results on tourism's role in developing tourism potential in the Sukabumi Regency are dominant as a facilitator compared to other parts. This role as a facilitator can be seen mainly in the provision of object infrastructure, which is still largely borne by the Tourism Office. Facilities for distributing stimulant fund assistance for people who want to develop a tourism object, promote tourism objects, and facilities provided to third parties such as investors and tourism entrepreneurs to develop their tourism businesses in Sukabumi Regency.

The A-Group and 4th Millennium BCE Nubia

This chapter discusses the 4th millennium bce in Nubia, which was characterized by a further advance in the process of socio-economic complexity already underway during the previous Neolithic phase, undoubtedly enhanced by interaction with Predynastic Egypt. This ultimately produced the emergence of the A-Group, an indigenous complex polity that appeared at the end of the millennium and reached its climax about the time of the Egyptian unification, ca. 3100 bce. The A-Group was characterized by a fluid economic pattern that included more than one subsistence activity, with herding retaining a distinctive social value within the society; and by organizational differences resulting from mobile and flexible politics, which gave rise to a regional polity based on trade and control over its logistics, social networking and alliance building, and a distinct form of distributed authority.

Unplanned hospital transfers from nursing homes: who is involved in the transfer decision? Results from the HOMERN study

Background Emergency department visits and hospital admissions are common among nursing home residents (NHRs) and seem to be higher in Germany than in other countries. Yet, research on characteristics of transfers and involved persons in the transfer decision is scarce. Aims The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of hospital transfers from nursing homes (NHs) focused on contacts to physicians, family members and legal guardians prior to a transfer. Methods We conducted a multi-center study in 14 NHs in the regions Bremen and Lower Saxony (Northwestern Germany) between March 2018 and July 2019. Hospital transfers were documented for 12 months by nursing staff using a standardized questionnaire. Data were derived from care records and perspectives of nursing staff and were analyzed descriptively. Results Among 802 included NHRs, n = 535 unplanned hospital transfers occurred of which 63.1% resulted in an admission. Main reasons were deterioration of health status (e.g. fever, infections, dyspnea and exsiccosis) (35.1%) and falls/accidents/injuries (33.5%). Within 48 h prior to transfer, contact to at least one general practitioner (GP)/specialist/out-of-hour-care physician was 46.2% and varied between the NHs (range: 32.3–83.3%). GPs were involved in only 34.8% of transfer decisions. Relatives and legal guardians were more often informed about transfer (62.3% and 66.8%) than involved in the decision (21.8% and 15.1%). Discussion Contacts to physicians and involvement of the GP were low prior to unplanned transfers. The ranges between the NHs may be explained by organizational differences. Conclusion Improvements in communication between nursing staff, physicians and others are required to reduce potentially avoidable transfers.