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Recognizing the inherent limitations of a single level dyadic approach to stakeholders, this research uses a multi-level social networks perspective to examine value creation in wellness stakeholder networks. This study argues that stakeholder interactions at multiple levels of the network create value for the network and contribute to the marketization of wellness. At the macro level, network relationships create value through embeddedness, which shapes the structural boundaries of employee wellness programs. At the meso level, the stakeholders are relationally embedded in their networks and they create social and market congruence. At the micro level, the relationship among embedded actors contribute to the creation of cultural norms and institutionalization of employee wellness programs. The findings add to our understanding of value creation in stakeholder networks by going beyond dyads to focus on multi-level relationships and embedded actors. This article contributes to research by showing how embeddedness of the stakeholders in multi-layered networks and ties between these actors create value in wellness stakeholder networks. The findings provide insights into the marketization process of wellness as an important aspect of the contemporary marketplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a syndrome of chronic hyperglycemia due to relative insulin deficiency or resistance. The risk of complications of diabetes has been observed to increase as a function of the duration of hyperglycemia. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the effect of duration of DM on hearing thresholds among type 2 diabetics. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted between October 2015 and May 2016 in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto among type 2 diabetic patients attending the Endocrine Clinic of the hospital. Patients had their blood sugar and hearing thresholds measured. Results: A total of 170 type 2 diabetics were recruited into the study, out of which 98 (57.6%) were females and 72 (42.4%) were males. The mean age was 46.49 ± 10.02 years. One hundred and twenty-two (71.8%) had elevated hearing thresholds. The mean duration of diabetes among participants was 7.81 ± 5.34 years, with durations ranging from <1 year to 30 years. The mean pure tone average increased with increase in duration of diabetes (P < 0.001). Simple linear regression showed that increase in duration of diabetes was positively related with hearing threshold (P < 0.0001). For every year increase in duration of type 2 DM, a 1.036 dB HL increase in pure tone average is to be expected. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a relationship between duration of diabetes and hearing threshold. It has shown that as the duration of hyperglycemia increased, the hearing threshold among participants also increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the effect of market concentration and product differentiation on the observed outcomes of competition among oligopolists. The empirical framework is designed to examine whether competition is less intense in markets with equal levels of concentration but more differentiation among the products offered. A two-stage estimation procedure is proposed to address the endogeneity problem inherent in comparing outcomes across different market structures. I estimate the competitive effects using data from a cross section of oligopoly motel markets located along U.S. interstate highways. The results indicate that firms benefit substantially by offering differentiated products. The presence of any market competitor drives down prices, but the effect is much smaller when the competitor is a different product type. Differentiation is optimal product choice behavior because the resulting competition among firms is less tough when their products are differentiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies adversarial legalism in the United States government. Causes and consequences; Different modes of policymaking and dispute resolution; Government projects on environmental protection and land use; Difference between administrative finality and administrative fragmentation.

Presents an analysis of the effects of technology and resource depletion on crude oil finding costs. Portion of substantial cost reduction attributable to technical progress; Magnitude of the countervailing effect of depletion; Effect of prospect highgrading on the costs; Highlights of oil exploration and development in the United States.

Asserts that waste is an unavoidable by-product of resource-conversion processes in the economic system and materials are recycled as part of a resource program supporting sustainable development in efforts to manage waste. What the practice of sustainable marketing requires; Information on a typology of reverse channel networks for recyclable materials; Lobbying efforts to support the passage of a recycling bill.

Waste is an unavoidable by-product of resource-conversion processes in our economic system. Materials recycling as part of a resource recovery program supporting sustainable development is proposed to help manage this waste. A typology of reverse channel networks for recyclable materials is presented, and public policy initiatives that affect the development of these channels are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]