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| 2. |
- Rundlöf, Maj, et al.
(författare)
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Does conservation on farmland contribute to halting the biodiversity decline?
- 2011
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Ingår i: Trends in ecology & evolution. - : Elsevier BV. - 0169-5347 .- 1872-8383. ; 26, s. 474-481
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Biodiversity continues to decline, despite the implementation of international conservation conventions and measures. To counteract biodiversity loss, it is pivotal to know how conservation actions affect biodiversity trends. Focussing on European farmland species, we review what is known about the impact of conservation initiatives on biodiversity. We argue that the effects of conservation are a function of conservation-induced ecological contrast, agricultural land-use intensity and landscape context. We find that, to date, only a few studies have linked local conservation effects to national biodiversity trends. It is therefore unknown how the extensive European agri-environmental budget for conservation on farmland contributes to the policy objectives to halt biodiversity decline. Based on this review, we identify new research directions addressing this important knowledge gap.
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| 3. |
- van den Bosch, Matilda, et al.
(författare)
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Nature-assisted therapy: Systematic review of controlled and observational studies
- 2011
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - : SAGE Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 39, s. 371-388
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Nature's potentially positive effect on human health may serve as an important public health intervention. While several scientific studies have been performed on the subject, no systematic review of existing evidence has until date been established. Methods: This article is a systematic evaluation of available scientific evidence for nature-assisted therapy (NAT). With the design of a systematic review relevant data sources were scrutinised to retrieve studies meeting predefined inclusion criteria. The methodological quality of studies and abstracted data were assessed for intervention studies on NAT for a defined disease. The final inclusion of a study was decided by the authors together. Results: The included studies were heterogeneous for participant characteristics, intervention type, and methodological quality. Three meta-analyses, six studies of high evidence grade (four reporting significant improvement), and 29 studies of low to moderate evidence grade (26 reporting health improvements) were included. For the studies with high evidence grade, the results were generally positive, though somewhat ambiguous. Among the studies of moderate to low evidence grade, health improvements were reported in 26 cases out of 29. Conclusions: This review gives at hand that a rather small but reliable evidence base supports the effectiveness and appropriateness of NAT as a relevant resource for public health. Significant improvements were found for varied outcomes in diverse diagnoses, spanning from obesity to schizophrenia. Recommendations for specific areas of future research of the subject are provided.
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| 4. |
- Andersén, Jim, 1976-
(författare)
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Strategic resources and firm performance
- 2011
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Ingår i: Management Decision. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 0025-1747 .- 1758-6070. ; 49:1, s. 87-98
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Numerous studies have set out to examine the relationship between strategic resources and firm performance. The traditional VRIO attributes have been the point of departure in most resource-based studies. This paper sets out to argue that the relationship between resources and performance is more complex. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to illustrate the complex relationship between a strategic resource and firm performance by providing an overview of different factors that can influence this relationship.Design/methodology/approach: Relevant literature is reviewed and discussed.Findings: It was found that five criteria must be fulfilled for resources to generate superior performance. These are identified and discussed. These criteria fit with existing resources, management capability, marketing capability, firm appropriation of rent, and non-competitive disadvantages.Research limitations/implications: By using the criteria identified, resource-based theory can become less tautological. Also, the criteria highlight the importance of resource utilization and appropriation of resource-based rents.Practical implications: The paper could contribute to an increased awareness among practitioners of the importance of focusing on factors which are additional to the VRIO-attributes when analyzing potential strategic resources. The criteria provide an easy-to-access framework for strategic analysis.Originality/value: Whereas some specific aspects of the relationship between the possession of resources and firm performance have been reviewed in some RBT contributions, few studies have addressed the issue using a more holistic approach. Thus, this paper affords a broader approach on the relationship between strategic resources and firm performance.
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| 5. |
- Mola-Yudego, Blas
(författare)
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Chinese university students' knowledge and attitudes regarding forest bio-energy
- 2011
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Ingår i: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. - : Elsevier BV. - 1364-0321. ; 15, s. 3649-3657
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present study examines Chinese university students' attitudes and knowledge regarding energy, specifically towards forest bio-energy in their country. The study was based on opinions of students from Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University (NWAFU) in China and it was conducted using a questionnaire completed by 441 students. The students' attitudes are seen as highly relevant because they are considered as both potential consumers and possible experts in the field of bio-energy. Their activities influence how the future energy markets will likely develop. The results revealed various interesting facets of the students' views regarding energy usage. Of particular interest is the students' positive attitude towards renewable energy in general, but slightly less positive towards forest bio-energy. However, the respondents expected to receive more information and knowledge about renewable energy and forest bio-energy. Moreover, it can be concluded that the dissemination of knowledge through different sources (e.g. teaching in school, information available on the Internet and other media channels) is an increasingly important aspect regarding energy issues. The results of this study can provide information of the perceptions of young educated people on energy policy issues and thus serve political decision-making processes for the future options concerning the development of forest bio-energy in China. Finally, the outcome of this study indicates that further environmental and energy education in China is urgently needed. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 6. |
- Dolles, Harald, 1961, et al.
(författare)
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Managing Sport: Governance and Performance: Best Papers from the “Sport as Business”-Track at the EURAM Annual Meeting in Rome 2010”, special issue Sport Business and Management: An International Journal
- 2011
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Ingår i: Sport, Business and Management. - 2042-678X. ; 1:3, s. 214-218
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The papers accepted for the “Sport as a Business”-SIG Track at EURAM in Rome (2010) were divided into four major groups: governance, football, individual/teams and branding/sponsorship., Five of the best papers out of those groups, were included in the present SBM volume. The first two articles are on governance: Leigh Robinson and Brian Minikin give a general picture on strategic capacity in one type of sport organization the Olympic organization and Mathieu Winand with three colleagues- Benoît Rihoux, David Qualizza and Thierry Zintz- elaborates on the ten key determinants leading to high performance in sport organizations in one country. After these two governance featured contributions the third article is on football. Benoit Senaux analyses the increasing commercialization in France and the shifts in its institutional logics. Winfried Ruigkrok and his two colleagues, Peder Greve and Martin Engeler shed light on the individual aspect i.e. all 736 players in the World Cup 2006, the project teams and team performance. The fifth article, representing the fourth of our four groups, is on sponsoring and the German Bundesliga. Christoph Breuer and Christopher Rumpf report from an examination of the stimuli on consumers’ memorization of sponsoring brands in a TV context.
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| 7. |
- Elofsson, Katarina
(författare)
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The Costs of Meeting the Environmental Objectives for the Baltic Sea: A Review of the Literature
- 2010
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Ingår i: AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 39, s. 49-58
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The environmental targets of the recently agreed Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) targets are likely associated with a considerable cost, which motivates a search for low-cost policies. The following review shows there is a substantial literature on cost-efficient nutrient reduction strategies, including suggestions regarding low-cost abatement, but actual policies at international and national scale tend to be considerably more expensive due to lack of instruments that ensure a cost-efficient allocation of abatement across countries and sectors. Economic research on the costs of reducing hazardous substances and oil spill damages in the Baltic Sea is not available, but lessons from the international literature suggest that resources could be used more efficiently if appropriate analysis is undertaken. Common to these pollution problems is the need to ensure that all countries in the region are provided with positive incentives to implement international agreements.
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| 8. |
- Ericsson, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
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E&MJ's annual survey of global mining investment
- 2011
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Ingår i: Engineering and mining journal. - 0095-8948. ; 212:1, s. 28-32
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- EM&J's annual survey of global mining investment in the year 2010 is presented. During 2010, 105 new mining investment projects with total announced costs of $60 billion were registered in Raw Materials Data Metals Mines/Projects database. The RMD Metals database includes approximately 1,800 projects, mostly in the conceptual stage, for which no investment figure has been announced. In 2010, six new silver projects were announced with a total investment of more than $4 billion, while political interest in rare earths also resulted in four new projects outside China with a total investment of more than $3 billion. Australia became the leading country for mining investors, of the 20 largest projects in Australia, 11 are for iron ore and all require investment of more than $1 billion.
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| 9. |
- Ericsson, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
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E&MJ's annual survey of global mining investment
- 2010
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Ingår i: Engineering and mining journal. - 0095-8948. ; 211:1, s. 24-28
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- E & MJ has conducted an annual survey of global mining investment and reported that less than 100 new mining investments projects, with a total projected cost of just $32 billion, were added to RMG's project database in 2009. The report states that strong demand for metals and high prices for gold, copper and iron ore will lead to significant project investment toward the end of 2010. It reveals that total funding in the global mining industry's project pipeline, according to RMG's database, was $465 billion at the end of 2009. The investment value of projects under construction increased in 2009 to $50 billion, compared with $37 billion in 2008. The report states that among the new projects listed by RMG during 2009, gold accounts for more than 28% of the value of all new projects, uranium accounts for 5% and nickel represents 3% of the total investment for new projects.
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| 10. |
- Soultanaeva, Albina, 1980-
(författare)
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Financial intermediation and economic growth : evidence from the Baltic countries
- 2010
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Ingår i: Umeå economic studies. - Umeå : Department of Economics, Umeå University. - 0348-1018. ; :817
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Forskningsöversikt (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The hypothesis that financial development promotes economic growth is largely supported by empirical studies. This hypothesis is tested for the three Baltic countries using a time series approach that allows for interactions between the three countries. We find that economic growth is a positive function of financial development, proxied by banking credit available to private sector, in the long run. The results also show that there are long run interactions between the three Baltic countries.
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