1. |
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2. |
- Hellstrand, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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The relevance of ecological and economic policies for sustainable development
- 2009
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In: Environment, Development and Sustainability. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1387-585X .- 1573-2975. ; 11, s. 853-870
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A sustainable development can be understood as social and economic development within ecological sustainability limits. The operationalisation of a sustainable development presupposes integration of resource concepts covering relevant disciplines and systems levels. In this paper descriptive domains within physical resource theory (PRT), nutrition theory (NT), economic theory (ET) and emergy theory (EmT) are joined in what we call a “sustainability map.” The sustainability map represents a conceptual model of the economic production system in its ecological and social contexts. It is a contribution within the field integrated assessment. The relevance domain of each resource concept is analysed by comparison with the sustainability map. It is concluded that resource concepts that well supports a sustainable development should recognise the process restrictions that defines ecological, economic and social sustainability limits; thus recognise and in a relevant way treat threshold—and resilience phenomena; and capture the use-value of resources for human well-being. We suggest that the integration of NT, ET and EmT may contribute, while we find the value of PRT limited, as physics, thus PRT, is indifferent to life as a system characteristic, while life of microbes, plants, animals and humans is central in the sustainability context. The paper contributes to a theoretical foundation supporting a bridging of the implementation gap of a sustainable development, e.g. through its proposal of how to develop more accurate natural resource concepts.
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3. |
- Ahlroth, Sofia
(author)
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Valuation of environmental impacts and its use in environmental systems analysis tools
- 2009
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Valuation of environmental impacts in monetary terms is a both difficult and controversial undertaking. However, the need to highlight the value of ecosystem services in policy decisions has become more and more evident in the face of climate change and diminishing biodiversity in the sea and other ecosystems. Valuing non-market goods and services, like ecosystem services, is a lively research field within environmental economics, and valuation methods have been considerably elaborated in the last ten years. In practical policy analyses, there is often a need for readily available valuations of different impacts. This thesis explores and develops several ways to include valuation of environmental impacts in different policy tools, such as cost-benefit analysis, environmental accounting and life-cycle analysis. The first paper in this thesis is a part of the Swedish attempts to construct and calculate an environmentally adjusted NDP (net national product). This work involved putting a price on non-marketed environmental goods and assets. The valuation methods used in paper I include many of the available methods to value non-marketed goods and services. Valuation of environmental impacts and/or environmental pressures is used in a number of environmental systems analysis tools besides environmental accounting. Examples are Cost-Benefit Analysis, Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle Cost analysis, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Environmental Management Systems. These tools have been developed in different contexts and for different purposes; the way valuation is used also differs. In paper II, the current use of values/weights in the tools is explored, as well as the usefulness of a common valuation/weighting scheme and necessary qualities of such a scheme. In the third paper, a set of generic weights meeting these criteria is developed. Some of the generic values in the weighting set are taken from directly from other studies, while some are calculated by applying a benefit transfer method called structural benefit transfer on results from selected valuation studies. The method is tested on a number of valuation studies in the fourth paper. Climate change will have a significant impact on Sweden during this century, both positive and negative. In the fifth paper, a rough estimate of the impacts on man-made capital and human health is presented. The study is an example of an impact assessment including only marketed assets valued with market prices. In the last paper, the economics of sustainable energy use is discussed; what is a sustainable energy price, and how might growth be affected if energy use is limited to a sustainable level? The discussion is based on two different models of thought: a back-casting study, describing how a sustainable future society might look like, and economic scenarios projected with general equilibrium models.
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4. |
- De, Kishalay, et al.
(author)
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The Zwicky Transient Facility Census of the Local Universe. I. Systematic Search for Calcium-rich Gap Transients Reveals Three Related Spectroscopic Subclasses
- 2020
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 905:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using the Zwicky Transient Facility alert stream, we are conducting a large spectroscopic campaign to construct a complete, volume-limited sample of transients brighter than 20 mag, and coincident within 100 '' of galaxies in the Census of the Local Universe catalog. We describe the experiment design and spectroscopic completeness from the first 16 months of operations, which have classified 754 supernovae. We present results from a systematic search for calcium-rich gap transients in the sample of 22 low-luminosity (peak absolute magnitude M > -17), hydrogen-poor events found in the experiment. We report the detection of eight new events, and constrain their volumetric rate to greater than or similar to 15% +/- 5% of the SN Ia rate. Combining this sample with 10 previously known events, we find a likely continuum of spectroscopic properties ranging from events with SN Ia-like features (Ca-Ia objects) to those with SN Ib/c-like features (Ca-Ib/c objects) at peak light. Within the Ca-Ib/c events, we find two populations distinguished by their red (g - r approximate to 1.5 mag) or green (g - r approximate to 0.5 mag) colors at the r-band peak, wherein redder events show strong line blanketing features and slower light curves (similar to Ca-Ia objects), weaker He lines, and lower [Ca II]/[O I] in the nebular phase. We find that all together the spectroscopic continuum, volumetric rates, and striking old environments are consistent with the explosive burning of He shells on low-mass white dwarfs. We suggest that Ca-Ia and red Ca-Ib/c objects arise from the double detonation of He shells, while green Ca-Ib/c objects are consistent with low-efficiency burning scenarios like detonations in low-density shells or deflagrations.
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5. |
- Drake, Erik, et al.
(author)
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Furustammars yttre och inre geometri inmätta inom projektet "Kvalitetssimulering av sågtimmer"
- 1988
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Denna rapport är en katalog över egenskaperna hos de 51 furustammar som mätts in i projekt "Kvalitetssimulering av sågtimmer". Stammarna kommer från 4 bestånd (Mora, Skara, Bredbyn och Järlåsa), valda med hänsyn till geografisk spridning och vikt som råvaruområde för sågverken. De 4 bestånden jämförs sinesemellan vad gäller olika kvist- och andra egenskaper. Någon djupare analys av inbördes samband mellan olika egenskaper har dock inte gjorts. Rapporten kan betraktas som en referensbank för andra forskare/utredare.
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6. |
- Ekblom Bak, Elin, 1981-, et al.
(author)
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Accelerometer derived physical activity patterns in 27.890 middle‐aged adults : The SCAPIS cohort study
- 2022
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0905-7188 .- 1600-0838. ; 32:5, s. 866-880
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The present study aims to describe accelerometer-assessed physical activity (PA) patterns and fulfillment of PA recommendations in a large sample of middle-aged men and women, and to study differences between subgroups of socio-demographic, socio-economic, and lifestyle-related variables. A total of 27 890 (92.5% of total participants, 52% women, aged 50–64 years) middle-aged men and women with at least four days of valid hip-worn accelerometer data (Actigraph GT3X+, wGT3X+ and wGT3X-BT) from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study, SCAPIS, were included. In total, 54.5% of daily wear time was spent sedentary, 39.1% in low, 5.4% in moderate, and only 0.1% in vigorous PA. Male sex, higher education, low financial strain, born in Sweden, and sedentary/light working situation were related to higher sedentary time, but also higher levels of vigorous PA. High BMI and having multiple chronic diseases associated strongly with higher sedentary time and less time in all three PA intensities. All-year physically active commuters had an overall more active PA pattern. The proportion fulfilling current PA recommendations varied substantially (1.4% to 92.2%) depending on data handling procedures and definition used. Twenty-eight percent was defined as having an “at-risk” behavior, which included both high sedentary time and low vigorous PA. In this large population-based sample, a majority of time was spent sedentary and only a fraction in vigorous PA, with clinically important variations between subgroups. This study provides important reference material and emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive assessment of all aspects of the individual PA pattern in future research and clinical practice.
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7. |
- Hammar, Henrik, et al.
(author)
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Kan ekonomiska styrmedelbidra till en giftfri miljö?
- 2007
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Det av Riksdagen beslutade miljökvalitetsmåletGiftfri miljö är ett uttryck för att samhälletanser att det finns risker för hälsa och miljö genom nuvarande och tidigare kemikalieanvändning.Eftersom det är långt kvar till att Sverige uppfyller alla delmålenunderGiftfri miljö, finns det ett behov av ökad styrning. Det samhällsekonomiska motivettill reglering kan därmed härledas från målet om en effektiv resurshushållningoch att detta inte kan uppnås när marknader inte fungerar tillfredsställande. Den nationalekonomiskatermen för detta är marknadsmisslyckanden, vilket är när marknadeninte självmant hushåller med resurserna effektivt. Målet för samhällets åtgärder äri detta perspektiv att korrigera signalerna på marknaden så att aktörerna (hushåll ochföretag) ändrar sitt beteende till att ligga i linje med det som är samhällsekonomisktlönsamt. Det är angeläget att de styrmedel som införs stimulerar till kostnadseffektiviteti omställningen av konsumtion och produktion, dvs. att de åtgärder som införsstimulerar till att uppsatta mål nås till så låg samhällelig kostnad som möjligt.Huvuddelen av samhällets styrning inom kemikalieområdet för att gagna hälsa ochmiljö sker genom lagar avseende förbud, restriktioner för användning och skyddsåtgärder.I dag används ekonomisk styrning inom jordbruksområdet i form av skatter påbekämpningsmedel, på kvävegödselmedel och på kadmium i fosforgödselmedel. Somframgår av den här rapporten finns det skäl att tro att en ökad och kompletterandestyrning via ekonomiska incitament, givet vissa förutsättningar, kan öka kostnadseffektiviteteni kemikaliepolitiken.De specifika faktorer som vi bedömt centrala vid val och utformning av kompletterandeekonomisk styrning är: (1) priskänslighet, (2) skillnader i omställningskostnadermellan reglerade aktörer, (3) antal aktörer som är inblandade och (4) förväntad förekomstav alternativa ämnen och teknisk utveckling. Faktorerna har också varit utgångspunktenför den bedömningsmall som utvecklats, vilken är tänkt att utgöra ettstöd vid styrmedelsutveckling. I varje specifikt styrmedelsfall är det fullt möjligt att enenskild faktor bör väga extra tungt eller att det finns andra aspekter som bör beaktas.Idéskisser på några möjliga styrmedel inom kemikalieområdet har utvecklats i syfte attkonkretisera betydelsen av de olika faktorerna och lyfta fram utestående frågor kringden framtagna bedömningsmallen. De skisser som tas upp är:•Differentiering av energiskatten på bensin och diesel efter benseninnehåll.•Differentierad skatt på tvåtaktsolja.•Differentierad skatt på växtskyddsmedel.•En avgiftsrabatt för kemikalieanvändning, dvs. en kombination av avgift påanvändning och rabatt om användning minskar i ett svenskt och i ett europeisktperspektiv.Idékisserna skall inte ses som slutgiltiga eller som att vi starkt förordar den ena ellerandra, utan tjäna som utgångspunkt för vidare analyser inom ramen för miljömålsarbe
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8. |
- Hellstrand, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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A biophysically anchored production function
- 2010
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In: Environment, Development and Sustainability. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1387-585X .- 1573-2975. ; 12:4, s. 573-596
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The first part presents a conceptual model of the economic system in its ecological and social context. It is developed via an integration of basic concepts in physical resource theory, animal and human physiology, economic theory and systems ecology. The capacity of the model to support analysis of such complex systems where life is a key system characteristic is high. The conceptual model shows the dependency of the human economy on support by non-renewable and renewable resources from Nature (i. e. ecological source restrictions), as well as the capacity of ecosystems to assimilate wastes (ecological sink restrictions). The analysis focuses general principles; thus, the high level of abstraction results in an apparent simplicity. In the second part, we integrate traditional economic production functions and the conceptual model, which results in the formulation of a biophysically anchored production function (BAPF). The BAPF by itself, and through the system of ecological economic accounts that can be derived from it, represent a toolbox that supports the operationalisation of a sustainable development from micro to macro level. It is coherent with Impredicative Loop Analysis, existing management systems within agricultural sciences, OECD's principles for sustainable development and the approach of Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Compared to analytical approaches used in the formulation of sustainability policies in the private and public sphere, based on conceptual models ignoring the complexity when life (bios) is a defining system characteristic, its relevance for the operationalisation of sustainable development approaches infinity. The third part presents results from statistical analysis of relations between gross domestic product and energy supply and some emissions, respectively, for different nations and time periods, delivering values on levels and trends for parameters in the BAPF as well as a first test of the relevance of the BAPF proposed. The paper is ended by a theoretical analysis of the costs of provoking an economic system working under ecological source and sink restrictions to follow exponential growth: The need to decouple economic growth from natural resource use and emissions is highlighted. Otherwise, the erosion of the ecological foundation of the economy with regard to source as well as sink aspects will be a function of exponential growth
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9. |
- Kupfer, Thomas, et al.
(author)
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Year 1 of the ZTF high-cadence Galactic plane survey : strategy, goals, and early results on new single-mode hot subdwarf B-star pulsatos
- 2021
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In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 505:1, s. 1254-1267
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present the goals, strategy, and first results of the high-cadence Galactic plane survey using the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF). The goal of the survey is to unveil the Galactic population of short-period variable stars, including short-period binaries, and stellar pulsators with periods less than a few hours. Between 2018 June and 2019 January, we observed 64 ZTF fields resulting in 2990 deg2 of high stellar density in the ZTF-r band along the Galactic plane. Each field was observed continuously for 1.5 to 6 h with a cadence of 40 sec. Most fields have between 200 and 400 observations obtained over 2–3 continuous nights. As part of this survey, we extract a total of ≈230 million individual objects with at least 80 epochs obtained during the high-cadence Galactic plane survey reaching an average depth of ZTF–r ≈ 20.5 mag. For four selected fields with 2–10 million individual objects per field, we calculate different variability statistics and find that ≈1–2 per cent of the objects are astrophysically variable over the observed period. We present a progress report on recent discoveries, including a new class of compact pulsators, the first members of a new class of Roche lobe filling hot subdwarf binaries as well as new ultracompact double white dwarfs and flaring stars. Finally, we present a sample of 12 new single-mode hot subdwarf B-star pulsators with pulsation amplitudes between ZTF–r = 20–76 mmag and pulsation periods between P = 5.8–16 min with a strong cluster of systems with periods ≈6 min. All of the data have now been released in either ZTF Data Release 3 or Data Release 4.
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10. |
- Larsson, Markus, 1971-
(author)
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Towards a Sustainable Food System : Entrepreneurship, Resilience and Agriculture in the Baltic Sea Region
- 2016
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This thesis compares conventional agriculture and Ecological Recycling Agriculture (ERA) in terms of their environmental and socio-economic effects. Environmental effects include greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, but this analysis focuses on nutrient losses. Socio-economic effects include production, costs and benefits at macro, firm and household level. Comparisons were made at regional (Baltic Sea), national (Swedish) and local (community/municipality) level. At regional level, the main challenge is to make agriculture more environmentally friendly and reduce nutrient losses, while maintaining food production. At national level, the challenges are to shift the product mix towards more vegetables and less meat and to address the geographical division between animal and crop production. At local level, the challenge is to achieve sustainable environmental, economic and social rural development. At regional level, the empirical findings were scaled up to create three scenarios. In one scenario, agriculture in Poland and the Baltic States was transformed to resemble the Swedish average structure and resource use, which gave increased nitrogen and phosphorus surplus and substantially increased food production. Two other scenarios in which agriculture in the entire Baltic Sea area converted to ERA gave reductions in nitrogen surplus and eliminated the phosphorus surplus, while food production decreased or remained stable, depending on the strategy chosen. At national level, the environmental effects of different production methods, transport and different food baskets were compared. A household survey was performed to construct an alternative food basket, which was high in vegetables, low in meat and high in locally produced organic food compared with the average Swedish food profile. It was also 24% more expensive. Food basket content was found to be as important as production method in reducing environmental effects. Local production and processing was less important. At local level, an importer and wholesaler of organic fruit and vegetables and a group of environmentally concerned consumers were studied. The business was found to be resilient, i.e. well-suited to adapt to turbulence, and with a history of being innovative.
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