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Statistical Data (statistical + data)
Terms modified by Statistical Data Selected AbstractsDevelopment of chemistry attitudes and experiences questionnaire (CAEQ)JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING, Issue 7 2003Jacinta Dalgety In this article we describe the development of the Chemistry Attitudes and Experiences Questionnaire (CAEQ) that measures first-year university chemistry students' attitude toward chemistry, chemistry self-efficacy, and learning experiences. The instrument was developed as part of a larger study and sought to fulfill a need for an instrument to investigate factors that influence student enrollment choice. We set out to design the instrument in a manner that would maximize construct validity. The CAEQ was piloted with a cohort of science and technology students (n,=,129) at the end of their first year. Based on statistical analysis the instrument was modified and subsequently administered on two occasions at two tertiary institutions (n,=,669). Statistical data along with additional data gathered from interviews suggest that the CAEQ possesses good construct validity and will prove a useful tool for tertiary level educators who wish to gain an understanding of factors that influence student choice of chemistry enrolment. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 40: 649,668, 2003 [source] Influence of hatchery diets on early grow-out of the Cortez oyster Crassostrea corteziensis in Sinaloa, MexicoAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 16 2009José M Mazón-Suástegui Abstract We measured the growth and physiological condition of juveniles of the Cortez oyster Crassostrea corteziensis during the early grow-out phase in Sinaloa (Mexico) after using three experimental diets during the hatchery period: (1) 1:1 blend of the microalgae Isochrysis galbana and Chaetoceros muelleri as the control group; (2) mix of the same microalgae replaced by 50% of its wet weight with cornstarch; and (3) mix of the two microalgae replaced by 50% its wet weight with wheat flour. Specimens were cultivated under suspension conditions for 60 days and monitored weekly for growth (shell height and wet and dry weight) and the first 15 days for physiological response (condition index, digestive gland index and muscle index). Juveniles fed exclusively on microalgae attained larger sizes and had higher digestive gland and muscle indices, while those fed microalgae with cornstarch gained more biomass (wet and dry weight) and reached a better condition. The lowest values of these indicators occurred in oysters fed microalgae with wheat flour. Statistical data revealed that differences in the growth and condition of specimens between treatments were slight, confirming that mixed diets (particularly microalgae/cornstarch) have potential application for reducing hatchery-operating costs without affecting the performance of planted juveniles in the field. [source] Consumption of glaucoma medicationACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 1 2001B. M. Calissendorff ABSTRACT. During recent decades consumption of antiglaucoma drugs has shown a steady increase in the Nordic countries. The cost increase can partly be explained by the use of newer, more expensive drugs. The increase in daily doses, however, is relatively much larger than the corresponding ageing of the population. There are large national and regional differences. Measured in daily defined doses (DDD) the consumption of glaucoma medication is almost three times as high in Sweden as in Denmark. Within all the Nordic countries there exists up to more than two-fold regional differences between high- and low-consuming counties. The new classes of IOP-lowering drugs have been very quickly adopted. Statistical data indicate that adding new drugs is more common than switching to a new therapy. [source] Comparison of Additional Costs for Several Replacement Strategies of Randomly Ageing Reinforced Concrete PipesCOMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 7 2009Franck Schoefs Some of them carry seawater and can deteriorate with time because of internal corrosion. Because of the low O2 content of aggressive water, slow corrosion is expected for such applications. If the RCPs are not periodically replaced, they will eventually fail. Replacement strategies for these pipes depend on (1) the risks associated with the failure of the water distribution network, and (2) the costs associated with replacing the pipes, including the removal of existing pipes, installation of new pipes, and associated production losses. Because of the lack of statistical data regarding RCP failure, the development of a risk-based replacement strategy is not an easy task. This article demonstrates how predictive models for the evolution of the failure of RCPs and the associated consequences of failure can be used to develop risk-based replacement strategies for RCPs. An application for the replacement strategies of a network modeled as a system consisting of 228 RCPs is presented as a case study. We focus on the assessment of the number of replaced components that governs the costs. The main objective of this article is to provide a theoretical approach for comparing replacement strategies, based on (1) the results of a reliability study, (2) the representation of the distributions of failed components (binomial distribution), and (3) the decision tree representation for replacement of RCPs. A focus on the scatter of the induced costs themselves is suggested to emphasize the financial risk. [source] English and Scottish overseas trade, 1300,16001ECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW, Issue 2 2006MARTIN RORKE This article compares English and Scottish exports, from 1300,1600, using existing statistical data from England and a new data set of Scottish exports. It shows that the significant English and Scottish wool trades collapsed at almost identical rates. However, while England shifted towards exporting woollen cloth, a similar move in Scotland was weak,because of the poor quality of cloth and the urban form of the industry. In the second half of the sixteenth century, as English exports stagnated, Scottish trade began to grow, especially new and less-established commodities. This ,recovery' was based on the heavy depreciation of the Scottish currency. [source] Effect of location on virgin olive oils of the two main Tunisian olive cultivarsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF LIPID SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 9 2009Mokhtar Guerfel Abstract The olive oil content in phenolic compounds depends on the variety of the fruit used for its extraction as well as on the predominant climate conditions in the tree cultivation area. Here, we report on the characterization of virgin olive oil samples obtained from fruits of the main Tunisian olive cultivars Chemlali and Chétoui, grown in three different Tunisian locations, Zaghouan (North), Sousse (Center) and Sfax (South). Chétoui olive oil samples obtained from fruits of olive trees cultivated in Zaghouan and Chemlali olive oil samples obtained from fruits of olive trees cultivated in Sousse were found to have a higher mean total phenol content (1004 and 330,mg/kg, respectively). Olive oil samples obtained from fruits of both cultivars had different phenolic profiles and a higher content in 3,4-DHPEA-EDA when the olive trees were cultivated in Zaghouan. Both olive cultivars were found to have different responses to environmental conditions. Chétoui olive oil showed decreased oxidative stability when the fruits were obtained from olive trees cultivated in the center of Tunisia (34.8,h) and in Sfax (16.17,h). Furthermore, statistical data showed that the phenolic composition and oxidative stability of Chétoui olive oil varied more by location than those of Chemlali olive oils. [source] Human survivability in motor vehicle firesFIRE AND MATERIALS, Issue 4 2008K. H. Digges Abstract Automobile fires are consistently among the largest causes of fire death in the United States (about 500 annually) and the U.S. motor vehicle industry and others have spent a significant amount of money in recent years studying this problem. The authors of this review have analyzed the auto industry reports, the scientific literature, and statistical data, and conclude that measures should be taken to improve survivability in automobile fires. The U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 302 (FMVSS 302) was introduced almost 40 years ago to measure the flammability of interior materials, but improvements in the crashworthiness of automobiles and their fuel tanks and the increased use of combustible materials have changed the motor vehicle fire scenario significantly. In particular, the primary threat has changed from ignition of a small quantity of combustible interior materials by a lit cigarette, in 1960, to ignition of a large quantity of combustible interior and exterior materials by an impact-induced fire, at present. The authors therefore suggest that FMVSS 302 is no longer relevant to automobile fire safety and recommend improved standards based on objective criteria for fire safety performance (fireworthiness) at the system/vehicle level as is routinely done for crashworthiness. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] INTRA-REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT GROWTH IN LUXEMBOURG (1994,2005)GEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES B: HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2010Olivier Walther ABSTRACT. The specialization of city-centres towards more advanced service activities has mostly been studied in the largest city-regions, the case of smaller urban centres being less well documented. In that context, the objective of this article is to analyse the role of sectoral and regional factors in employment growth in Luxembourg between 1994 and 2005. Using statistical data from the Luxembourg General Inspection of Social Security, this contribution distinguishes 12 categories of manufacturing industries and services according to an OECD-Eurostat knowledge-based classification. Five intra-regional areas are distinguished based on morphological and functional criteria in the Luxembourg Metropolitan Area. Using several indexes, this article first analyses the sectoral specialization and geographical concentration of employment. A model of intra-regional employment growth, initially developed by Marimon and Zilibotti and applied at the European level, is then shown to account for 40 per cent of employment growth. An estimation of the contributions of sectoral and geographical factors highlights the primacy of the latter over the former. Finally, the construction of virtual economies confirms the City's overall lower performance as compared to its close periphery. Results underscore a process of functional integration in the Luxembourg metropolitan area: as the core of the city undergoes a specialization process, the urban area benefits from a relocation of activities less sensitive to distance and transaction costs, while the periphery becomes increasingly diversified, notably in the South where traditional industrial activities are being replaced by service activities. These results suggest that the evolution pattern of employment growth in Luxembourg is very similar to that of some larger metropolitan centres, owing to its exceptional financial service activities. [source] Simulation of groundwater dynamics in the North China Plain by coupled hydrology and agricultural modelsHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 16 2006Tadanobu Nakayama Abstract We simulated the effects of irrigation on groundwater flow dynamics in the North China Plain by coupling the NIES Integrated Catchment-based Ecohydrology (NICE) model with DSSAT-wheat and DSSAT-maize, two agricultural models. This combined model (NICE-AGR) was applied to the Hai River catchment and the lower reach of the Yellow River (530 km wide by 840 km long) at a resolution of 5 km. It reproduced excellently the soil moisture, evapotranspiration and crop production of summer maize and winter wheat, correctly estimating crop water use. So, the spatial distribution of crop water use was reasonably estimated at daily steps in the simulation area. In particular, NICE-AGR reproduced groundwater levels better than the use of statistical water use data. This indicates that NICE-AGR does not need detailed statistical data on water use, making it very powerful for evaluating and estimating the water dynamics of catchments with little statistical data on seasonal water use. Furthermore, the simulation reproduced the spatial distribution of groundwater level in 1987 and 1988 in the Hebei Plain, showing a major reduction of groundwater level due mainly to overpumping for irrigation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The issue of gender within computing: reflections from the UK and ScandinaviaINFORMATION SYSTEMS JOURNAL, Issue 2 2001Maxine Robertson Abstract. Thispaper explores some of the reasons that may underlie the gender segregation and declining levels of female participation within the field of computing in Europe during the 1990s in both the professional (industrial) and academic spheres. The interrelationships between three areas , communicative processes, social networks and legitimizing claims to knowledge overlaid by gendered-power relations , are used to analyse and explain the existing situation. The paper draws upon statistical data to explore the extent of gender segregation and then focuses on the authors' own experiences within the UK and Scandinavia in order to explore some of the underlying causes. While direct discrimination does still occur, the paper suggests that indirect, deep-rooted discrimination is the major reason for the situation that currently exists. Drawing upon our own experiences in academia and business and acknowledging the importance of the institutional context, the paper offers a number of recommendations as to how the current situation may be improved. We suggest first that consideration is given to the pedagogical design and marketing of computing courses so that individuals are initially attracted to computing from far more diverse backgrounds, approaches and interests than at present. Second, we suggest that those with influence in the field reflect upon the constitution and behaviours of the informal networks in which they are involved and seek to include female researchers more actively here. Finally we suggest that consideration is given in more general terms to how the field may become more gender neutral and, thus, more inclusive in the future. Masculine discourses and ,hard' skills have dominated within computing for too long and contribute significantly to the declining participation of women within computing. [source] Inequality in the welfare state?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WELFARE, Issue 3 2001Local variation in care of the elderly, the case of Sweden This article uses Sweden as an example to describe and analyse municipal variation in services and care for elderly people. Responsibility for these services lies with the municipalities. National statistical data on municipalities are analysed to map out the variations in old-age care; to study compensating factors in the care system; and to explore the connection with municipal structural and political conditions. The overall finding of the bivariate analyses was that most relations with structure and policy were weak or non-existent. The final multivariate model explained only 15% of the variance. The large differences between municipalities makes it more appropriate to talk about a multitude of ,welfare municipalities' rather than one single welfare state. The article concludes that this municipal disparity constitutes a greater threat to the principle of equality in care of the elderly than gender and socio-economic differences. [source] The Return on Investment of the Guggenheim Museum BilbaoINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF URBAN AND REGIONAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2006BEATRIZ PLAZA The city of Bilbao has made use of a museum as one of the multiple means to restructure its former industrial base. However, the effectiveness of this costly formula is not always clear. Three major issues have arisen: the effects of Guggenheim Museum Bilbao on Bilbao's image, the effects on overnight stays, and the effects on the local economy. There is little debate about the first issue, and room for more evidence on the second and third issues. The aim is to quantify the museum's impact on tourism and employment and to calculate its yield (Return on Investment and Net Present Value). The approach adopted is the quantitative analysis of statistical data to try to isolate the economic contribution of the Guggenheim. [source] Prevalence of renal cell carcinoma: A nation-wide survey in Japan, 2002INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 6 2007Ken Marumo Objective: To investigate the incidence of renal cell carcinoma, classified by sex, age group and region in Japan, following a 5-year interval after a previous survey performed in 1997. Methods: The survey was conducted between the beginning of January 2002 and the end of December 2002. A total of 1288 institutions in all 47 prefectures throughout Japan were requested to register cases. Results: There were 7405 persons with renal cell carcinoma, consisting of 5063 males and 2342 females. Crude incidence rates were 8.2 and 3.6 per 100 000 population for men and women, respectively. Incidence rates in the Hokkaido region were highest followed by the Shikoku region. Conclusions: Despite incidence of renal cell carcinoma increasing to 7405 from the 6358 persons in 1997, statistical data reported by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare indicate that rising age-adjusted death rate for this tumor reached a ceiling in the past decade. Early detection may have contributed to this current trend; however, further epidemiological research is required to fully elucidate this. [source] The Second Generation in Germany: Between School and Labor Market,INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION REVIEW, Issue 4 2003Susanne Worbs The German "mode of integration" after World War II has been to include migrants and their offspring into general societal institutions. This can be stated despite differences between federal states in some aspects of migrant integration (e.g., the educational sector). Migrant children normally attend the same schools and classes as their German age peers, they participate in the dual system of vocational training, and there are only a few limitations in labor market access. The second generation in Germany consists mainly of children of the "guestworkers" recruited in southern and southeastern European countries from the 1950s onwards. It is not easy to obtain information about their numbers and their socioeconomic position, as most statistical data distinguish only between foreigners and Germans. The achieved integration status of the second generation varies between areas: obvious problems in the educational system go along with considerable progress in the vocational training system and in the labor market. Children of Turkish migrants are the most disadvantaged group among the second generation. [source] Chronic urticaria , which clinical parameters are pathogenetically relevant?JOURNAL DER DEUTSCHEN DERMATOLOGISCHEN GESELLSCHAFT, Issue 1 2007A retrospective investigation of 339 patients Summary Background: Urticaria is a clinical reaction pattern triggered by many factors causing liberation of vasoactive substances such as histamine, prostaglandins and kinins. It presents as transient itching wheals which are either limited to the local stimulus area or more widespread. Urticaria is classified according to its duration into acute (duration , 6 weeks) and chronic (duration 6 weeks) forms. Various clinical investigations may be initiated to diagnose the cause. This study critically evaluates the relevance of frequently performed laboratory investigations and searches for infectious foci, as well as the results of physical provocation testing and oral provocation with food additives. Patients and Methods: The laboratory and clinical data of 339 patients who had been treated for urticaria at the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel over a period of four years were collected in a data entry form and statistically evaluated. Nominal values were analyzed by their relative and absolute quantities, quantitative parameters with the help of statistical data such as minimum, maximum, median and 25th and 75th percentiles. Results: Chronic recurrent urticaria was most common, accounting for 52% of cases. Women were affected 1.8 times more often than men. One-third of the patients also had angioedema. The medians of all laboratory parameters evaluated were within normal values. Only rarely were elevated antinuclear antibody titers, abnormal thyroid function tests or active infections such as hepatitis B or borreliosis detected. The search for infectious foci identified tonsillitis or sinusitis in almost 50% of analyzed patients. Positive reactions to physical testing occurred in 30% of patients and in 11% to oral provocation with various food additives. Conclusions: This study of a large patient group stresses the relevance of individually- tailored evaluations in patients affected with urticaria rather than an expensive initial broad diagnostic testing. More specific searches should be based on individual clues. [source] Multidimensional analysis of fishery production systems in the state of Pernambuco, BrazilJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 3 2009R. P. Lessa Summary A total of 17 fishery systems covering gillnets, traps and seines targeting fish and crustaceans as well as hand-collected mussels in the state of Pernambuco (Brazil) were compared and analyzed in the present study using the RAPFISH method and 57 attributes to qualify five evaluation dimensions: economic, social, ecological, technological and management. The aim was to determine the sustainability of each field from the fishery (i.e. stocks) and social standpoint (i.e. fishermen). With regard to sustainability, it was generally apparent that the fisheries analyzed are far from any ideal that would permit long-term exploitation, but are nonetheless also distant from the extremes of non-sustainability in the environments investigated. The low degree of organization demonstrated in most fisheries of Pernambuco and the low level of schooling among the fishermen contribute toward maintaining the status quo, with an increase in situations of conflict and a lack of valorization regarding the activities. The shrimp system is the least sustainable, mainly due to its environmental impact; however, this is compensated by the relatively higher quality of living provided stakeholders through its exploitation. The evaluation dimensions showed the most sustainable system in Pernambuco to be the stationary ,uncovered pound net', followed by the line system. Alternative procedures for integrated fishery management, such as an increase in statistical data, coastal zoning to limit shrimp farms and establishing protected areas are proposed and discussed. Such procedures may contribute toward the formulation of public policies for the fishery industry of the state, which is essentially made up of artisanal fisheries with low yields and exercised by the 11 926 fishermen affiliated with coastal fishing colonies. [source] The American Master Bedroom: Its Changing Location and Significance to the FamilyJOURNAL OF INTERIOR DESIGN, Issue 1 2005John L. Vollmer M. S. ABSTRACT This article discusses the possible relationship between changes in the master bedroom and parenting values in middle class America. The authors review information from the US homebuilding industry, statistical data on housing trends, literature on the history of the bedroom from the Colonial period to the present, and literature on family sleep practices. The owner's bedroom, one domain among various domains in the home, is an individual-private domain that functions to ensure adult privacy and increase physical barriers between parents and children. The authors contend that changes in the location and function of the master bedroom in the American home over the past centuries reflect the upward social mobility afforded by rising incomes, expansive and undeveloped land, and shared concepts of prestige held by home builders and homeowners. These influences have helped develop a purely American sense of parenting among middle and upper-income families that reflects their individualism. Middle class parents have encouraged more physical distance between themselves and their offspring. Consistent with this trend, they have shown a preference for houses with large master suites that are sometimes located at a distance from other bedrooms in the house. Using a model by Chermayeff and Alexander (1965), the authors examine the relationship between parenting practices and private space, highlighting the implications of this trend for home planners and interior designers. [source] ,With a rope around their neck': grant researchers living in suspended timeNEW TECHNOLOGY, WORK AND EMPLOYMENT, Issue 3 2009Emília Rodrigues AraújoArticle first published online: 20 OCT 200 This paper identifies the relevance of developing further studies of academic/scientific identities at work. Qualitative analysis of interviews with junior researchers and contextual statistical data are used to examine the processes of identity construction in the pursuit of establishing both recognised status in scientific and research systems and a more rewarding and stable professional life path. [source] Using multimethods ethnography to promote quality service and understand interactions among organizationsNONPROFIT MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP, Issue 4 2006Jo Anne Schneider Multimethods ethnography combines qualitative techniques with analysis of statistical data and sometimes mapping techniques. Ethnography provides a comprehensive picture of process in an agency or other setting by examining the dynamics between individuals and institutions to understand how systems work. Ethnography is particularly good at evaluating complex problems involving multiple stakeholders as well as understanding agency processes. I use examples from the Neighborhood Settlement House Evaluation Project and Kenosha Social Capital Study to describe the ethnographic method and its potential uses for nonprofit managers. I begin with an outline of methodological techniques, including problem definition, sample design, various data collection techniques, and analysis. Next I discuss ethnography's approach to the common research concerns of generalizability and replication. In concluding, I discuss ways that this method can be useful to nonprofit managers. Quality work is compared with less complete research techniques throughout each section. [source] Stakeholder appraisal of policy options for responding to obesity in ItalyOBESITY REVIEWS, Issue 2007B. De Marchi Summary This article deals with the phenomenon of obesity in contemporary Italian society. It is based on the fieldwork carried out during the year 2005 within the European Union-funded project ,PorGrow: policy options for responding to obesity' (see: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/spru/PorGrow). The most recent statistical data on the spread of overweight and obesity in Italian society reveal that the phenomenon has reached a dimension that, albeit not as serious as in other Western countries, constitutes a serious threat to public health and to the national budget. The panel of stakeholders interviewed for this research showed awareness of this issue and generally agreed on the necessity to adopt a very multifaceted portfolio of policy measures to address the problem. Participants frequently regarded educational policies as the highest priority, followed by informational measures and infrastructural actions. Fiscal policy options were widely considered ineffective and unacceptable, and little enthusiasm was shown for technological innovations. In sum, while interviewees saw a real need for improved food habits on the part of Italian citizens, nonetheless in a country affected by many criticalities, the weakness of political will and the pressure of fast food culture remain severe obstacles in the fight against overweight and obesity. [source] Quantitative analysis of the microscale of auxetic foamsPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (B) BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 3 2005N. Gaspar Abstract The auxetic foams first produced by Lakes have been modelled in a variety of ways, each model trying to reproduce some observed feature of the microscale of the foams. Such features include bent or broken ribs or inverted angles between ribs. These models can reproduce the Poisson's ratio or Poisson's function of auxetic foam if the model parameters are carefully chosen. However these model parameters may not actually reflect the internal structure of the foams. A big problem is that measurement of parameters such as lengths and angles is not straightforward within a 3-d sample. In this work a sample of auxetic foam has been imaged by 3-d X-ray computed tomography. The resulting image is translated to a form that emphasises the geometrical structure of connected ribs. This connected rib data are suitably analysed to describe both the microstructural construction of auxetic foams and the statistical spread of structure, that is, the heterogeneity of an auxetic foam. From the analysis of the microstructure, observations are made about the requirements for microstructural models and comparisons made to previous existing models. From the statistical data, measures of heterogeneity are made that will help with future modelling that includes the heterogeneous aspect of auxetic foams. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Probability-based protein secondary structure identification using combined NMR chemical-shift dataPROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 4 2002Yunjun Wang Abstract For a long time, NMR chemical shifts have been used to identify protein secondary structures. Currently, this is accomplished through comparing the observed 1H,, 13C,, 13C,, or 13C, chemical shifts with the random coil values. Here, we present a new protocol, which is based on the joint probability of each of the three secondary structural types (,-strand, ,-helix, and random coil) derived from chemical-shift data, to identify the secondary structure. In combination with empirical smooth filters/functions, this protocol shows significant improvements in the accuracy and the confidence of identification. Updated chemical-shift statistics are reported, on the basis of which the reliability of using chemical shift to identify protein secondary structure is evaluated for each nucleus. The reliability varies greatly among the 20 amino acids, but, on average, is in the order of: 13C,>13C,>1H,>13C,>15N>1HN to distinguish an ,-helix from a random coil; and 1H,>13C, >1HN ,13C,,13C,,15N for a ,-strand from a random coil. Amide 15N and 1HN chemical shifts, which are generally excluded from the application, in fact, were found to be helpful in distinguishing a ,-strand from a random coil. In addition, the chemical-shift statistical data are compared with those reported previously, and the results are discussed. A JAVA User Interface program has been developed to make the entire procedure fully automated and is available via http://ccsr3150-p3.stanford.edu. [source] East-Central Europe's changing energy landscapes: a place for geographyAREA, Issue 4 2009Stefan Bouzarovski Energy developments in the post-Communist states of Eastern and Central Europe (ECE) have a major impact on global energy security and sustainability, thanks to this region's key geographical position between the energy-exporting states of the former Soviet Union, on the one hand, and the energy-importing states of Western and Southern Europe, on the other. At the same time, post-socialist reforms of energy industries in this region provide unique insights into the complex relations of power, economic transformation and spatial inequality that govern energy production and consumption. This paper therefore aims to provide an initial look at some of the theoretical and policy issues that underpin the emergent ,geographies' of energy reform in ECE, as well as their embeddedness in relations of power stemming from organisational, infrastructural and economic inequalities in the region. It employs an analysis of local news reports, policy papers and statistical data to examine the intricate institutional networks and spatial formations that have governed the energy transformation process. In broader terms, the paper aims to emphasise the important role that human geography can play in making sense of the territorial differences and frictions that have emerged during the post-socialist reform process, while challenging the idea of a ,neat' neoliberal transition from a centrally planned to a market-based mode of energy regulation. [source] Fieldwork among the Dong national minority in Guizhou, China: Practicalities, obstacles and challengesASIA PACIFIC VIEWPOINT, Issue 2 2010Candice CornetArticle first published online: 28 JUL 2010 Abstract The People's Republic of China (PRC) is increasingly open to foreigners undertaking social science fieldwork; yet obstacles remain. Working with ethnic minorities adds further complexities because of the sensitive topics such research may raise. Based on recent fieldwork among the Dong in southeast Guizhou, as the first foreign researcher to ask for and gain official permission to work in the region, this article exposes some of the challenges, both practical and methodological, of conducting research in the PRC. Gaining access to my field site was a long trek through the hierarchic maze of Chinese administration. While reflecting upon this process, I detail my negotiations with local authorities. I then examine how I found reliable statistical data, was able to access the voices of peasants, acted to protect the anonymity of dissident informants, and negotiated working with local research assistants once in the field. These aspects, in turn, highlighted the importance of considering positionality in the field. Although each person's experiences and routes to fieldwork are unique, there are recurrent issues that shape the research process in the PRC. I reflect upon a number of these here, in the hope that this can smooth the way for future researchers. [source] Implementing Racial Anti-vilification Laws in New South Wales 1989-1998: A StudyAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, Issue 1 2000Katharine Gelber Anti-vilification laws in Australia now have a decade-long history, yet remarkably little research has been conducted into their operation, nor has there been any systematic collation of outcomes. This paper seeks to fill this gap in the available research and also to make some proposals as to how to improve the legislation in practice. The paper reports on 10 years of complaints lodged under the NSW racial anti-vilification legislation, the oldest in Australia enacted in 1989. Other similar legislation followed in WA, SA, Tasmania. The results of all finalised case files from NSW since its inception in 1989 to the end of 1998 (568 cases) are examined. The research combines quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Some statistical data are provided, which are not relative; that is, there is no meaning available or implied between the different categories of outcome and each case has been interpreted separately. The qualitative method used provides an in-depth examination of specific case study outcomes in order to provide an accurate and sensitivepicture of the legislation in practice. The study may also be of use to researchers in other complaints-driven systems of regulation designed to support beneficial legislation. [source] A conceptual framework for siting biorefineries in the Canadian PrairiesBIOFUELS, BIOPRODUCTS AND BIOREFINING, Issue 4 2010Jason Luk Abstract Ethanol is increasingly used as a means to reduce gasoline consumption. As a result, it has also attracted analysis of its economic, social, and environmental merit. In order for the ethanol production industry to continue to expand, these issues must be confronted in future development. Although technological development is often relied upon, carefully considered ethanol refinery siting also mitigates some of these concerns. Five alternative siting locations were selected in the western Canadian Prairies. These were evaluated using 12 criteria which represent regional resources, economic conditions, government support, or social indicators. The criteria were weighted to represent the perspectives of two stakeholders. The Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment and Evaluations (PROMETHEE) method was applied to this data, ranking the alternative sites. Several future scenarios were created to analyze the sensitivity of the results to both statistical data and subjective inputs. The rankings proved to be robust, and varied little in the different scenarios. Southern Alberta had an advantage with a high ethanol byproduct demand, education level, and ethanol demand. Southern Manitoba benefitted from the lowest labor and miscellaneous costs, due to higher unemployment. Saskatchewan suffers from low byproduct demand and a decrease in water availability while having a heated economy which increases costs. In addition, Saskatchewan as a whole is currently the leader in ethanol production, resulting in less net demand, reduced access to government incentives, and more local competition. Southern Alberta and Southern Manitoba are the optimal regions for future ethanol biorefinery, where as the Saskatchewan locations are the least attractive. © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [source] Civiale, stones and statistics: the dawn of evidence-based medicineBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2009Harry W. Herr The statistical research on bladder stones conducted by Paris urologist Jean Civiale in the early 19th century provided historical roots for evidence-based medicine. Translations of original documents by Civiale describing his work on treating bladder stones, and the discussion by members of the Paris Academy of Sciences that commented on his results in 1835, were reviewed. By collecting statistical data on a wide scale throughout Europe, Civiale argued that his new transurethral procedure, called lithotripsy, was superior to the more widely used but highly morbid technique, lithotomy. The Paris Academy of Sciences commented on his research and chose the occasion to debate whether or not numerical reasoning and statistics had any place in medical and surgical practice. Civiale's insights and methods espoused similar concepts and ideas driving today's new paradigm of evidence-based medicine. [source] A Quantitative Study of Fault Zone SealingACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA (ENGLISH EDITION), Issue 1 2010Yang LI Abstract: A fault is not simply a plane, but a zone consisting of a series of broken planes or lower faults. The greater the scale of faults, the wider and more complex the fault zone is. Fault-sealing properties are influenced by the fault zone itself, whose fault displacement, depth, net-to-gross-ratio of mudstone, fault plane angle, and fault mechanical properties play important controlling roles. The sealing of hydrocarbon by the fault zone depends on whether the fault zone can form a continuous sealing zone and if the pore throats connecting those fault zones are small enough. The concept of fault zone-sealing potential is proposed here, and a quantitative formula is established by using a great amount of practical statistical data as well as the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method, which is a comprehensive characterization parameter to judge whether or not fault zones could seal oil hydrocarbon. The greater the value of the fault zone-sealing potential, the better sealed the fault is. For example, with increasing depth, the sealing degree of the Xin 68 Fault in the Dongxin 1 oilfield changes greatly, reflecting the complexity of fault-sealing properties. [source] Prevention in integrated children's services: the impact of sure start on referrals to social services and child protection registrationsCHILD ABUSE REVIEW, Issue 1 2007John Carpenter Abstract Every Child Matters, the English government's plans for integrated children's services, proposed that preventative approaches such as those developed through Sure Start should be able to reduce the numbers of children requiring more intensive support from children's social services and, by implication, the numbers of children on the child protection register. This study examined the impact of Sure Start local programmes (SSLPs) on four local authorities with social services responsibilities in the northeast of England. The researchers analysed routinely collected statistical data concerning over 10,000 referrals of children under four years and over 1,600 child protection registrations (CPRs) in an eight-year period before and after the introduction of 19 SSLPs. They also analysed interviews with 36 key informants in eight case study SSLP areas. Contrary to expectations, the quantitative data revealed no discernable short-term effect on the numbers of referrals, or on CPRs. Interview data showed broad agreement on the potential impact of preventative work undertaken by SSLPs and many respondents believed that it was too early to draw conclusions. Alternatively, the universal approach to prevention within the Sure Start areas and the attempts to provide non-stigmatising and non-intrusive community-based services may be ineffective in reducing the need for intensive support for ,at risk' families. The findings are discussed in relation to ,targeted' prevention programmes and government policy intentions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||