| 1. |
- George, T. S., et al.
(författare)
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Organic phosphorus in the terrestrial environment : a perspective on the state of the art and future priorities
- 2018
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Ingår i: Plant and Soil. - : Springer Netherlands. - 0032-079X .- 1573-5036. ; 427:1-2, s. 191-208
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The dynamics of phosphorus (P) in the environment is important for regulating nutrient cycles in natural and managed ecosystems and an integral part in assessing biological resilience against environmental change. Organic P (P-o) compounds play key roles in biological and ecosystems function in the terrestrial environment being critical to cell function, growth and reproduction.Scope: We asked a group of experts to consider the global issues associated with P-o in the terrestrial environment, methodological strengths and weaknesses, benefits to be gained from understanding the P-o cycle, and to set priorities for P-o research.Conclusions: We identified seven key opportunities for P-o research including: the need for integrated, quality controlled and functionally based methodologies; assessment of stoichiometry with other elements in organic matter; understanding the dynamics of P-o in natural and managed systems; the role of microorganisms in controlling P-o cycles; the implications of nanoparticles in the environment and the need for better modelling and communication of the research. Each priority is discussed and a statement of intent for the P-o research community is made that highlights there are key contributions to be made toward understanding biogeochemical cycles, dynamics and function of natural ecosystems and the management of agricultural systems.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Gaboardi, M, et al.
(författare)
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Goals and Principles of Providers Working with People Experiencing Homelessness: A Comparison Between Housing First and Traditional Staircase Services in Eight European Countries
- 2019
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Ingår i: International journal of environmental research and public health. - : MDPI AG. - 1660-4601. ; 16:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The implementation and adaptation of the Housing First (HF) model represented profound changes the structure and delivery, goals, and principles of homeless services. These features of homeless services directly influence providers, their work performance and the clients’ outcomes. The present research, conducted in eight European countries, investigated how social providers working in HF or TS (Traditional Staircase) describe and conceptualize the goals and the principles of their services. Data were collected through 29 focus group discussions involving 121 providers. The results showed that HF and TS had similar and different goals for their clients in the following areas: support, social integration, satisfaction of needs, housing, and well-being. HF providers emphasized clients’ autonomy and ability to determine their personal goals, with housing being considered a start on the path of recovery, while TS were more focused on individual clients’ basic needs with respect to food, health and finding temporary accommodations. HF providers privileged the person-centered approach and housing as a right, while TS providers were more focused on helping everyone. Implications of the results are discussed as suggestions both for practice and for research.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Taylor, O, et al.
(författare)
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Lifetime, 5-year and past-year prevalence of homelessness in Europe: a cross-national survey in eight European nations
- 2019
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Ingår i: BMJ open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 9:11, s. e033237-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To examine the lifetime, 5-year and past-year prevalence of homelessness among European citizens in eight European nations.DesignA nationally representative telephone survey using trained bilingual interviewers and computer-assisted telephone interview software.SettingThe study was conducted in France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.ParticipantsEuropean adult citizens, selected from opt-in panels from March to December 2017. Total desired sample size was 5600, with 700 per country. Expected response rates of approximately 30% led to initial sample sizes of 2500 per country.Main outcome measuresHistory of homelessness was assessed for lifetime, past 5 years and past year. Sociodemographic data were collected to assess correlates of homelessness prevalence using generalised linear models for clustered and weighted samples.ResultsResponse rates ranged from 30.4% to 33.5% (n=5631). Homelessness prevalence was 4.96% for lifetime (95% CI 4.39% to 5.59%), 1.92% in the past 5 years (95% CI 1.57% to 2.33%) and 0.71% for the past year (95% CI 0.51% to 0.98%) and varied significantly between countries (pairwise comparison difference test, p<0.0001). Time spent homeless ranged between less than a week (21%) and more than a year (18%), with high contrasts between countries (p<0.0001). Male gender, age 45–54, lower secondary education, single status, unemployment and an urban environment were all independently strongly associated with lifetime homelessness (all OR >1.5).ConclusionsThe prevalence of homelessness among the surveyed nations is significantly higher than might be expected from point-in-time and homeless service use statistics. There was substantial variation in estimated prevalence across the eight nations. Coupled with the well-established health impacts of homelessness, medical professionals need to be aware of the increased health risks of those with experience of homelessness. These findings support policies aiming to improve health services for people exposed to homelessness.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
- Gerdtsson, Axel, et al.
(författare)
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Validation of a prediction model for post-chemotherapy fibrosis in nonseminoma patients
- 2023
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Ingår i: Bju International. - 1464-4096 .- 1464-410X. ; 132:3, s. 329-336
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective To validate Vergouwe's prediction model using the Swedish and Norwegian Testicular Cancer Group (SWENOTECA) RETROP database and to define its clinical utility. Materials and methods Vergouwe's prediction model for benign histopathology in post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PCRPLND) uses the following variables: presence of teratoma in orchiectomy specimen; pre-chemotherapy level of alphafetoprotein; b-Human chorionic gonadotropin and lactate dehydrogenase; and lymph node size pre- and postchemotherapy. Our validation cohort consisted of patients included in RETROP, a prospective population-based database of patients in Sweden and Norway with metastatic nonseminoma, who underwent PC-RPLND in the period 2007-2014. Discrimination and calibration analyses were used to validate Vergouwe's prediction model results. Calibration plots were created and a Hosmer-Lemeshow test was calculated. Clinical utility, expressed as opt-out net benefit (NBopt-out), was analysed using decision curve analysis. Results Overall, 284 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 130 (46%) had benign histology after PC-RPLND. Discrimination analysis showed good reproducibility, with an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.82 (95% confidence interval 0.77-0.87) compared to Vergouwe's prediction model (AUC between 0.77 and 0.84). Calibration was acceptable with no recalibration. Using a prediction threshold of 70% for benign histopathology, NBopt-out was 0.098. Using the model and this threshold, 61 patients would have been spared surgery. However, only 51 of 61 were correctly classified as benign. Conclusions The model was externally validated with good reproducibility. In a clinical setting, the model may identify patients with a high chance of benign histopathology, thereby sparing patients of surgery. However, meticulous follow-up is required.
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| 12. |
- Al-mutawkkil, A., et al.
(författare)
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Development of telecommunication and broadcasting infrastructure indices at the global level
- 2009
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Ingår i: Telecommunications Policy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0308-5961 .- 1879-3258. ; 33:3-4, s. 176-199
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The importance of information and communication technology (ICT) in economic development has been increasing rapidly along with the Internet and mobile telecommunication networks. ICT development is becoming a main growth factor of many countries. As they realize the importance of the ICT industry, developing nations work to catch up with established economies. Therefore, many nations are formulating an ICT-enhanced policy. This paper introduces a number of telecommunication and broadcasting sub-indices, which include the fixed telephone network, the Internet, and mobile networks, which are aggregated into a composite Telecommunication Index (TI). The indices are computed using principal component analysis and human development type index methods. The country rankings, by different ICT-related indices, help identify the strengths and weaknesses of infrastructure development such that each country can foster economic growth. The performance of TI is compared with several other indices, such as the digital access, human development, and ArCo technology indices. The type of indices affects the country ratings. Results suggest that the parametric index approach may be preferred over those methods in which the subjective weighted summation of normalized variables used (non-parametric indices). Crown Copyright © 2009.
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| 13. |
- Almas, A, et al.
(författare)
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Acuity level of care as a predictor of case fatality and prolonged hospital stay in patients with COVID-19: a hospital-based observational follow-up study from Pakistan
- 2021
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Ingår i: BMJ open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 11:5, s. e045414-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To determine if there is an association between acuity level of care (ALC), case fatality and length of stay in patients admitted to hospital due to COVID-19.DesignA hospital-based observational follow-up study.SettingInternal Medicine Service of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan, from 26 February 2020 to 30 June 2020.ParticipantsAdult patients with confirmed COVID-19, aged ≥18 years.MethodsALC was categorised into low, intermediate and high level and patients were triaged using the standard emergency severity illness score. All patients were followed until the end of hospital admission for the outcome of case fatality and length of stay.ResultsA total of 822 patients with COVID-19 were admitted during the study period and 699 met inclusion criteria. The mean age was 54.5 years and 67% were males; 50.4% were triaged to low, 42.5% to intermediate and 7.2% to high acuity care. The overall case-fatality rate was 11.6%, with the highest (52%) in high acuity level followed by 16.2% in intermediate and 2% in low acuity care. Acuity level was associated with case fatality, with an HR (95% CI) of 5.0 (2.0 to 12.1) for high versus low acuity care and an HR of 2.7 (1.2, 6.4) for intermediate versus low acuity care, after adjusting for age, sex and common comorbidities including diabetes, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease and chronic lung disease. Similarly, acuity level was also associated with length of hospital stay.ConclusionHigh and intermediate acuity level is associated with higher case fatality rate and prolonged length of hospital stay in patients admitted with COVID-19. In resource-limited settings where the provision of high acuity care is limited, the intermediate care acuity could serve as a useful strategy to treat relatively less critical patients with COVID-19.
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| 14. |
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| 15. |
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Bhandari, A. K., et al.
(författare)
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Labour use and its adjustment in Indian manufacturing Industries
- 2005
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Ingår i: Global Economic Review. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1226-508X .- 1744-3873. ; 34:3, s. 261-290
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study provides an empirical investigation of the adjustment process of labour in Indian manufacturing industries, which evolved through structural transformation in the era of globalization. The analysis is based on a dynamic model applied to a panel of 22 two-digit manufacturing industries for the time period of 22 years covering 1980/1981 to 2001/2002. It is assumed that as competition increases industries adjust their employment to a desired level which is both industry and time specific. The results indicate that the manufacturing sector has shown a considerable dynamism in adjusting its workforce. The long-run labour demand responds greatest to the output, followed by capital and least by wages. It is observed that Indian manufacturing is not inefficient in labour use as modest speed of adjustment has led employment size closer to the optimal level. ©2005 Institute of East and West Studies, Yonsei University, Seoul.
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| 18. |
- Bhandari, A. K., et al.
(författare)
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Willingness to pay for biodiversity conservation
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1054-8408 .- 1540-7306. ; 27:6, s. 612-623
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nature-based tourism is the fastest growing tourism in many parts of the world. The attitude toward conservation of nature is measured by individuals’ willingness to pay. This study has made an attempt to investigate the determinants of tourists’ willingness to pay (WTP) for biodiversity conservation. The determinants include a combination of socio-economic and site-specific characteristics of tourists. The study was conducted in Sikkim, which is India’s prime nature-based tourism destination. Results show WTP, and effects of education, and income of tourists. Among site-specific characteristics, length of stay and number of spots are the significant determinants ofWTP. This empirical research is a valuable input to identify market segment among tourists, which might help to generate more revenues for biodiversity conservation in Sikkim. ©Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
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| 19. |
- Gadallah, Adel S., et al.
(författare)
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Anti-Inflammatory Principles from Tamarix aphylla L. : A Bioassay-Guided Fractionation Study
- 2020
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Ingår i: Molecules. - : MDPI AG. - 1431-5157 .- 1420-3049. ; 25:13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Natural products have served as primary remedies since ancient times due to their cultural acceptance and outstanding biodiversity. To investigate whether Tamarix aphylla L. modulates an inflammatory process, we carried out bioassay-guided isolation where the extracts and isolated compounds were tested for their modulatory effects on several inflammatory indicators, such as nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), proinflammatory cytokine; tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), as well as the proliferation of the lymphocyte T-cells. The aqueous ethanolic extract of the plant inhibited the intracellular ROS production, NO generation, and T-cell proliferation. The aqueous ethanolic crude extract was partitioned by liquid-liquid fractionation using n-hexane (n-C6H6), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc),n-butanol (n-BuOH), and water (H2O). The DCM and n-BuOH extracts showed the highest activity against most inflammatory indicators and were further purified to obtain compounds 1-4. The structures of 3,5-dihydroxy-4',7-dimethoxyflavone (1) and 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid methyl ester (2) from the DCM extracts; and kaempferol (3), and 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-(E)-cinnamic acid (4) from then-BuOH extract were elucidated by different spectroscopic tools, including MS, NMR, UV, and IR. Compound 2 inhibited the production of ROS and TNF-alpha, whereas compound 3 showed inhibitory activity against all the tested mediators. A better understanding of the potential aspect of Tamarix aphylla L. derivatives as anti-inflammatory agents could open the door for the development of advanced anti-inflammatory entities.
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| 20. |
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| 21. |
- Heshmati, Almas, et al.
(författare)
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Introduction to and summary of the contributions
- 2012
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Ingår i: Perspectives on Kurdistan's economy and society in transition. - New York : Nova Science Publishers, Inc.. - 9781622579341 ; , s. 1-6
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 22. |
- Heshmati, Almas, et al.
(författare)
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Population growth similarity in North and East Africa
- 2022
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Ingår i: The Journal of developing areas. - : Tennessee State University College of Business. - 0022-037X .- 1548-2278. ; 56:4, s. 151-167
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- World population growth is falling due to declining fertility rates, increase in literacy rate, women labour market participation and the rapid urbanization. Africa is an exception. With the highest rate of population growth, Africa is expected to account for more than half of the world's population growth between 2015 and 2050. We investigate the degree to which population growth and changes in Africa have become more similar over time. The data cover six countries in the North and another six countries in East Africa for the time period 1970-2018. The two sub-samples of countries are heterogeneous but within a group the countries are more similar by culture, religion and values. A population similarity index is computed pairwise both at level changes and growth rates. In addition, fractional integration is used. Population growth is an important issue with regard to the achievement of sustainable development goals. The countries in the two regions are pairwise compared. The population similarity index shows that for most country pairs, changes in population growth and changes between consecutive periods became more similar over time. We find significant differences in the pattern between using growth rates and changes in population. Application of rank-correlation measure shows that correlations between the sample countries indicates a tendency towards reduced population growth, increased similarity and movement towards a sustainable population development. The similarity in population growth between countries is assumed to be a result of tendencies in socioeconomic behaviours and characteristics to become more homogenous and similar leading to demographic convergence. Unlike population, there is no evidence of convergence in fertility and mortality among the countries studied. The results of this study can help policy makers to derive conclusion about the future regional convergence. Regional convergence is important for planning, economic reforms, interstate collaboration, engagement in political, economic and social relations with neighbouring states as well as formation of economic and monetary unions. Investment in education, gender equality, inclusive growth and welfare policies can affect fertility rate and subsequently population growth. Optimal demographic development is important to economic development and very likely ease achievement of the sustainable development goals in Africa.
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| 23. |
- Heshmati, Almas, et al.
(författare)
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Preface
- 2012
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Ingår i: Perspectives on Kurdistan's economy and society in transition. - New York : Nova Science Publishers, Inc.. - 9781622579341 ; , s. ix-x
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 24. |
- Heshmati, Almas, et al.
(författare)
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Recent trends in economic development of MENA region
- 2009
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Ingår i: Handbook of regional economics. - Hauppauge, NY : Nova Science Publishers, Inc.. - 9781607410362 ; , s. 285-332
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Middle East and North African (MENA) economies have been subject to major changes in recent decades. These changes are attributed to both internal and external factors. The trends in their economic, social and political developments have been different, leading to heterogeneous development as well as polarization of the economies. The countries also differ greatly in their initial conditions and reliance on natural resources. Several country groups can be distinguished, including those which rely on agriculture and tourism, those exporting crude oil and gas, countries with access to technology and capital from advanced countries and countries enjoying special Mediterranean trade agreements with the European Union. In this study, which is based on the World Development Indicator database, we investigate the trends in development economics in the MENA region. We identify different development patterns in the MENA. By using up-to-date data and simple statistical methods we intend to study development in the area of natural resources and in particular oil exports, tourism, construction, flow of direct foreign investment, wages, globalization, education, etc. The result will shed light on the economic conditions and potential of the region that can be useful in policy analysis, in investment decisions and as a forecast of the development in the region.
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| 25. |
- Ishio, H., et al.
(författare)
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Wave function statistics for mesoscopic transport through chaotic open billiards : Time reversibility, space reciprocity breaking and statistical crossover
- 2001
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Ingår i: Computer Physics Communications. - 0010-4655 .- 1879-2944. ; 142:1-3, s. 64-70
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- We investigate the probability distributions and spatial correlations of the local densities of electron wave functions for ballistic transport through mesoscopic chaotic open billiards. By quantitative comparison between our accurate fully-quantal calculations with theoretical expressions, we find wave-statistical behaviors intrinsically different from those in closed systems. It is shown that chaotic-scattering wave functions in open systems can be universally interpreted in terms of statistically independent real and imaginary random fields together with breaking of the endowed space reciprocity, resulting in the same wave function statistics as in the time-reversal symmetry-breaking crossover regime in closed systems. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 26. |
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| 27. |
- Martins, Mikael A., et al.
(författare)
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Convergence of carbon dioxide emissions in the Americas and its determinants
- 2022
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Ingår i: Latin American Economic Review. - : Centro de Investigacion y Docencia Economicas. - 2198-3526. ; 31:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper investigates the convergence behaviour of carbon dioxide emissions for 39 countries in the Americas from 1960-2016. A linear regression test of convergence which looks for conditional sigma convergence is employed, and a clustering algorithm is used to identify convergence clubs. The results show evidence of convergence in the region for the long run. Convergence clubs are identified for the short run. The convergence clubs show some relation to spatial distribution and income level. Possible factors determining the formation of convergence clubs are investigated through logistic regression. Initial level of emissions and energy intensity were found to have the largest impact determining what convergence club a country belongs to. Per capita GDP, trade openness, and renewable energy were all found to be highly significant factors determining what convergence club a country belongs to as well. Different results were found for urbanization’s impact in determining the formation of convergence clubs. These findings show that policymakers should promote allocation schemes for carbon dioxide emissions. Policymakers should also aim to reduce carbon footprint based on the economy’s structural characteristics.
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| 28. |
- Menon, Vijay Krishna, et al.
(författare)
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A Spark (TM) Based Client for Synchrophasor Data Stream Processing
- 2018
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Ingår i: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND UTILITY EXHIBITION ON GREEN ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ICUE 2018). - : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). - 9789748257990
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The SCADA based monitoring systems, having a very low sampling of one reading per 2-4 seconds is known to produce roughly 4.3 Tera Bytes (TiBs) of data annually. With synchrophasor technology, this will go up at least 100 times more as the rate of streaming is as high as 50/100 (60/120) Hz. Phasor data concentrators (PDCs) transmit byte streams encapsulating a comprehensive list of power system parameter including multiple phasor measurements, instantaneous frequency estimates, rate of change of frequency and several analog and digital quantities; this high volume and velocity of data makes it truly 'Big Data'. This helps in making the power grid a lot more observable, enabling real-time monitoring of crucial grid events such as voltage stability, grid stress and transient oscillations. Synchrophasor technology uses the IEEE C37.118.2-2011 (TM) Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) /PDC communication protocol for data exchange which has no direct interface with any contemporary big data stream APIs or protocols. In this paper we propose a streaming interface in Apache Spark (TM), a popular big data platform, using Scala programming language, implementing a complete IEEE C37.118.2-2011 (TM) client inside a stream receiver so that we can effortlessly receive synchrophasor data directly to Spark (TM) applications for real-time processing and archiving.
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| 29. |
- Mousavi, Hesam, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of Increasing Salinity by Drip Irrigation on Total Grain Weight Show High Yield Potential of Putative Salt-Tolerant Mutagenized Wheat Lines
- 2022
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Ingår i: Sustainability. - : MDPI AG. - 2071-1050. ; 14:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Twenty-three lines from a mutagenized Bangladeshi BARI Gom-25 wheat population that included previously identified salt-tolerant lines, and the BARI Gom-25 control variety, were cultivated in a drip-irrigated salinity test field at Salt Farm Texel, Netherlands, to assess their performance during salt stress in European climatic conditions. Lines were tested at irrigation salinity levels of 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 dS m(-1) in four repetitions of plots with 24 plants per plot. Average plant height, tiller number, spike length, frequency of live plants, and total grain weight (TGW) were recorded as functions of seasonal mean pore water salinity in the soil. Increases in salinity triggered reductions in all evaluated variables of the assessed lines and the control variety. However, nine mutagenized lines had at least twofold higher mean TGW than the control variety, 18.73 +/- 4.19 g/plot at 1-16 dS m(-1) salinity levels. Common models of salt tolerance confirmed this pattern, but there were no clear differences in salinity tolerance parameter estimates between the mutagenized lines and the control variety. Thus, despite the apparent similarity in responses of all lines to salinity increase, we clearly identified lines that tended to have higher TGW at given salinities than the control variety. This higher TGW at the full range of salinity treatments indicates not only a possible higher salinity tolerance but a higher yield potential as well. The mechanisms involved clearly warrant further attention.
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| 30. |
- Okkenhaug, G, et al.
(författare)
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The presence and leachability of antimony in different wastes and waste handling facilities in Norway
- 2015
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Ingår i: Environmental Science. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 2050-7887 .- 2050-7895. ; 17:11, s. 1880-1891
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The environmental behaviour of antimony (Sb) is gathering attention due to its increasingly extensive use in various products, particularly in plastics. Because of this it may be expected that plastic waste is an emission source for Sb in the environment. This study presents a comprehensive field investigation of Sb concentrations in diverse types of waste from waste handling facilities in Norway. The wastes included waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), glass, vehicle fluff, combustibles, bottom ash, fly ash and digested sludge. The highest solid Sb concentrations were found in WEEE and vehicle plastic (from 1238 to 1715 mg kg−1) and vehicle fluff (from 34 to 4565 mg kg−1). The type of acid used to digest the diverse solid waste materials was also tested. It was found that HNO3:HCl extraction gave substantially lower, non-quantitative yields compared to HNO3:HF. The highest water-leachable concentration for wastes when mixed with water at a 1:10 ratio were observed for plastic (from 0.6 to 2.0 mg kg−1) and bottom ash (from 0.4 to 0.8 mg kg−1). For all of the considered waste fractions, Sb(V) was the dominant species in the leachates, even though Sb(III) as Sb2O3 is mainly used in plastics and other products, indicating rapid oxidation in water. This study also presents for the first time a comparison of Sb concentrations in leachate at waste handling facilities using both active grab samples and DGT passive samples. Grab samples target the total suspended Sb, whereas DGT targets the sum of free- and other chemically labile species. The grab sample concentrations (from 0.5 to 50 μg L−1) were lower than the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) of 113 μg L−1. The DGT concentrations were substantially lower (from 0.05 to 9.93 μg L−1) than the grab samples, indicating much of the Sb is present in a non-available colloidal form. In addition, air samples were taken from the chimney and areas within combustible waste incinerators, as well as from the vent of WEEE sorting facility. The WEEE vent had the highest Sb concentration (from <100 to 2200 ng m−3), which were orders of magnitude higher than the air surrounding the combustible shredder (from 25 to 217 ng m−3), and the incinerator chimney (from <30 to 100 ng m−3). From these results, it seems evident that Sb from waste is not an environmental concern in Norway, and that Sb is mostly readily recovered from plastic and bottom ash.
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| 31. |
-
Perspectives on Kurdistan’s economy and society in transition
- 2012
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Samlingsverk (redaktörskap) (refereegranskat)abstract
- The First World Kurdish Congress was held in October 2011 at Rotterdam with the theme of researching science and culture towards increased progress in Kurdistan. The papers presented focused on various important aspects of health, education, economy, culture and political science in Kurdistan. The objective was to create a network of academicians to exchange and develop knowledge on how to further enhance the progress within the Kurdish society. This book is a collection of 20 studies presented at the Congress. The presentation topics are diverse, covering several areas pertinent to the current Kurdish situation. The studies are divided into eight areas including: human rights and freedom; greater Kurdistan, education and nation building; diaspora; politics and international relations; corruption; health care and trauma; and economy, business and science and technology. ©2012 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 32. |
- Rahimpoor, M., et al.
(författare)
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A New Weighting Approach to Non-Parametric Composite Indices Compared with Principal Components Analysis
- 2017
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Ingår i: International Journal of Industrial Mathematics. - : Islamic Azad University. - 2008-5621. ; 9:1, s. 59-73
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction of Human Development Index (HDI) by UNDP in early 1990 followed a surge in use of non-parametric and parametric indices for measurement and comparison of countries performance in development, globalization, competition, well-being and etc. The HDI is a composite index of three indicators. Its components are to reflect three major dimensions of human development: longevity, knowledge and access to resources represented by GDP per capita, educational attainment and life expectancy. In recent years additional gender and poverty aspects are included. A known example of the non-parametric index is the HDI, while Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Factor Analysis (FA) are among the parametric counterparts. The indices differ mainly in respect to weighting the indicators in their aggregation. The non-parametric index assumes the weights, while the parametric approach estimates them. In this research, it is aimed to purpose a new weighting approach to non-parametric indices when they are used simultaneous with principal components analysis.
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| 33. |
- Sadreev, Almas, et al.
(författare)
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Thermal reduction of activation energy of tricyclohexylphosphine on a rhodium crystal surface
- 2001
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Ingår i: Journal of Chemical Physics. - : AIP Publishing. - 0021-9606 .- 1089-7690. ; 115:20, s. 9513-9518
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The activation energy of desorption for TCHP adsorbed on Rh(111) was calculated. Thermal atomic displacements of a semi-infinite metal of the crystal and effects of molecular rotation modes were included in the calculation. The potential versus the molecular distance to the Rh surface was taken as the Morse potential but with parameters fitted to the DFT calculations. The resulting data was analyzed in detail.
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| 34. |
- Saichev, A.I., et al.
(författare)
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Statistics of interior current distributions in two-dimensional open chaotic billiards
- 2002
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Ingår i: Journal of Physics A. - : IOP Publishing. - 0305-4470 .- 1361-6447. ; 35:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The probability current statistics of two-dimensional open chaotic ballistic billiards is studied both analytically and numerically. Assuming that the real and imaginary parts of the scattering wave function are both random Gaussian fields, we find a universal distribution function for the interior probability current. As a by-product we recover previous analytic forms for wave function statistics. The expressions bridge the entire region from GOE to GUE type statistics. Our analytic expressions are verified numerically by explicit quantum mechanical calculations of transport through a Bunimovich billiard.
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| 35. |
- Tausch, A., et al.
(författare)
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Migration, openness and the global preconditions of ’smart development’
- 2012
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Ingår i: Bogazici Journal. - 1300-9583. ; 26:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a first empirical reflection on smart development,’ its measurement, possible drivers and bottlenecks.’ We first provide cross-national data on how much ecological footprint is used in the nations of the world system to deliver a given amount of democracy, economic growth, gender equality, human development, research and development, and social cohesion. To this end, we first developed UNDP-type performance indicators on these six main dimensions of development and on their combined performance. We then show the non-linear regression trade-offs between ecological footprints per capita on these six dimensions of development and their combined performance index. The residuals from these regressions are our new measures of smart development (a country experiences smart development, if it achieves a maximum development with a minimum of ecological footprint). We then look at the cross-national drivers and bottlenecks of this smart development and compare their predictive power using stepwise regression procedures. Apart from important variables and indicators, derived from sociological dependency and world systems theories, we also test the predictive power of several other predictors as well. Our estimates underline the enormous importance of the transfer of resources from the center to the periphery, brought about by migration, with huge statistical observed positive effects of received worker remittances on smart human development, Happy Life Years, smart gender justice, smart R&D, and both formulations of the smart development index.
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| 36. |
- Tausch, A., et al.
(författare)
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The effects of multinational corporation (MNC) penetration on the global political economy. A re-analysis of a recur-rent sociological proposition with contemporary data
- 2012
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Ingår i: Sociológia (Bratislava). - 0049-1225 .- 1336-8613. ; 44:3, s. 314-347
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this essay we reconsider the effects of direct foreign investments on the host countries around the globe. A number of sociological analyses (Bandelji 2009; Mahutga - Bandelji 2008), already applied such a question to Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Is the growing penetration of host countries of multinational investment heralding the promised gains of stable economic growth and social cohesion, or is social polarization around the corner instead? In our re-analysis with contemporary data of one of the most influential essays ever published in international sociology (Bornschier - Chase-Dunn - Rubinson 1978), which predicted that direct foreign investment would increase economic inequality and that it would have a short-term dynamic, but a long-term stagnation effect on the economic growth of the host countries (Bornschier - Chase-Dunn - Rubinson 1978: 651), we re-confirm the main thrust of the sceptical hypotheses on multinational corporation (MNC) penetration. We also show that on the global level and in the 183 countries analysed there is indeed a very strong connection between foreign capital penetration in the mid-1990s on the one hand and rising inequality, deficient life expectancy, rising unemployment, and a deficient under five mortality rate in the first decade of the new Millennium on the other. Economic growth in the contemporary period (2010) is also being determined negatively by the long-term effects of multinational corporation penetration in the mid-1990s, while in the period between 1990 and 2005 the effect was positive. We thus confirm that the approach, established by Bandelji 2009 and Mahutga and Bandelji 2008, is a valid one, and can be generalized on a global level.
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| 37. |
- Tausch, A., et al.
(författare)
-
Worker remittances and the global preconditions of ’smart development’
- 2013
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Ingår i: Society and Economy. - 1588-9726 .- 1588-970X. ; 35:1, s. 25-50
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- With the growing environmental crisis affecting our globe, ideas to weigh economic or social progress by the ’energy input’ necessary to achieve it are increasingly gaining acceptance. This question is intriguing and is being dealt with by a growing number of studies, focusing on the environmental price of human progress. Even more intriguing, however, is the question of which factors of social organization contribute to a responsible use of the resources of our planet to achieve a given social result (’smart development’). In this essay, we present the first systematic study on how migration-or rather, more concretely, received worker remittances per GDP-helps the nations of our globe to enjoy social and economic progress at a relatively small environmental price. We look at the effects of migration on the balance sheets of societal accounting, based on the ’ecological price’ of the combined performance of democracy, economic growth, gender equality, human development, research and development, and social cohesion. Feminism in power, economic freedom, population density, the UNDP education index as well as the receipt of worker remittances all significantly contribute towards a ’smart overall development’, while high military expenditures and a high world economic openness are a bottleneck for ’smart overall development’.
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| 38. |
- Tsionas, M., et al.
(författare)
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Effects of the vaccination and public support on covid-19 cases and number of deaths in Sweden
- 2023
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Ingår i: Operational Research. - : Springer. - 1109-2858 .- 1866-1505. ; 23:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There are large variations between and within countries’ performance in coping with the Covid-19 pandemic. This study assesses the efficiency of different provinces in Sweden in managing the pandemic. Its objective to estimate the relative efficiency of provinces during the pandemic and identify the key determinants of the level and variations in their performance. Performance is measured as efficiency in keeping the number of negative outcomes low and the number of positive outcomes high for given resources. It uses a parametric distance function approach with multi-input, multi-output, and a flexible functional form for estimating the provinces’ efficiency and the variations in this efficiency over time. Variations in their performance are attributed to the observable characteristics of their socioeconomic, locational, demographic, and healthcare resources. The empirical part is based on a panel data of the population in 21 provinces observed on a weekly basis from January 2020 to September 2021. In particular, the paper estimates the effects of public support and vaccinations on a reduction in the number of deaths and the spread of new cases. The level and variations in outcomes are explained by various provinces and local and national policies. The results show large variations in provinces’ performance and their persistence/transitory nature attributed to their observable characteristics. The paper suggests some policy recommendations to help cope with the threat of the pandemic post the removal of restrictions.
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| 39. |
- Villanthenkodath, M. A., et al.
(författare)
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The impact of energy poverty on the aggregate and disaggregate material footprints in BRICS
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0964-0568 .- 1360-0559.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study aims to examine the impact of energy poverty on the aggregate and disaggregate material footprint components such as biomass, fossil fuel, metal ores and non-metallic minerals while considering the economic growth and tourism development during 2000–2014 for the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). By applying econometric tools, the study confirms a positive and significant impact of energy poverty on aggregate material footprint and its components. The same finding has been reached for tourism development. Moreover, this study finds a U-shaped Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) for all indicators used for material footprints. Based on the findings, this study proposes a set of policies for energy poverty alleviation to attain a sustainable environment and inclusive economic growth in the BRICS region.
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