Unintentional Climate Policy: Swedish experiences of carbon dioxide emissions and economic growth 1950-2005

This paper examines the development of carbon dioxide emissions in Sweden, especiallyn with a focus on the absolute reductions during the post-war period, during the 1970s and 1980s. The paper shows that the largest reductions were achieved before the introduction of an active climate policy in 1991. This was in turn the result of significant improvements in energy efficiency and energy conversion, while structural changes were considerably less important. One reason behind this decoupling process may be that the active energy policy put pressure on households and industries to conserve energy and to substitute from oil to electricity and biofuels. The process was substantially reinforced by the development of world oil prices in combination with the development of domestic electricity prices, where nuclear power seems to have played an important role.Sweden; climate policy; economic growth; carbon dioxide reduction; carbon tax

Which news moves the euro area bond market?

This paper explores a long dataset (1999-2005) of intraday prices on German long-term bond futures and examines market responses to major macroeconomic announcements and ECB monetary policy releases. In general, adjustments in prices are quick and new information is usually incorporated into prices within five minutes of announcements. The volatility adjustment is more long-lasting than that in the conditional mean, and excess volatility can be observed up to 30 minutes after the releases. Overall, German bond markets tend to react more strongly to the surprise component in US macro releases compared to euro area and domestic releases, and the strength of those reactions to US releases has increased over the period considered. The paper also provides evidence that the outcome of German unemployment figures has been known to investors ahead of the prescheduled release. JEL Classification: E43, E44, E58intraday data, macroeconomic announcements, monetary policy

Technical change, carbon dioxide reduction and energy consumption in the Swedish pulp and paper industry 1973-2006

This study examines the historical relation between carbon dioxide emission and output growth in the Swedish pulp and paperindustry 1973-2006. We find that the industry achieved an 80 per cent reduction in CO2 emission. Foremost energy substitution but also efficiently improvement contributed to the reduction. Growing prices of fossil fuel due to market price change and taxes and subvention, explains most of the efficiency improvements and substitution. Taxes on energy explain 40 per cent of the total reduction in CO2 intensity. Most of the reduction took place before the implementation of active climate policy in 1991.Sweden; Climate policy; economic growth; carbon dioxide reduction; carbon tax; paper and plant industry

Дотримання принципу науковості при формуванні у майбутніх викладачів природничих дисциплін сучасної наукової картини світу

(uk) Стаття присвячена актуальній проблемі формування у майбутніх викладачів природничих дисциплін сучасної наукової картини світу.(en) The article is devoted the issue of the day of forming for the future teachers of natural disciplines of modern scientific picture of the world

The historical relation between banking, insurance and economic

We examine empirically the dynamic historical relation between banking, insurance economic (income) growth in Sweden using time-series data from 1830 to 1998. We examine long-run historical trends in the data using econometric tests for cointegration and Granger causality. Our results indicate that the development of domestic banking, but not insurance, preceded economic growth in Sweden during the nineteenth century, while Granger causality was reversed in the twentieth century. We also find that the development of bank lending in the nineteenth century increased the demand for insurance as well as promoting economic growth. In later periods, the development of insurance fosters demand for banking services but only in times of economic prosperity. For the entire period of our analysis, we find that banking is the predominant influence on both economic growth and the demand for insurance. In contrast, the insurance market appears to be driven more by the pace of growth in the economy rather than leading economic development. Therefore, we conclude that financial intermediation, particularly banking, is an important prerequisite for stimulating economic growth and argue that our results could have important policy implications for contemporary emerging economies that are developing their financial and legal infrastructures

The effect of vitamin B supplementation on neuronal injury in people living with HIV – a randomised controlled trial

Effective antiretroviral therapy has radically changed the course of the HIV pandemic. However, despite efficient therapy, milder forms of neurocognitive symptoms are still present in people living with HIV. Plasma homocysteine is a marker of vitamin B deficiency and has been associated with cognitive impairment. People living with HIV have higher homocysteine concentrations than HIV-negative controls, and we have previously found an association between plasma homocysteine concentration and CSF concentration of neurofilament light protein, a sensitive marker for ongoing neuronal injury in HIV. This prompted us to perform this randomised controlled trial, to evaluate the effect of vitamin B supplementation on neuronal injury in a cohort of people living with HIV on stable antiretroviral therapy. At the Department of Infectious Diseases at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden, 124 virally suppressed people living with HIV were screened to determine eligibility for this study. Sixty-one fulfilled the inclusion criteria by having plasma homocysteine levels at or above 12 μmol/L. They were randomised (1:1) to either active treatment (with cyanocobalamin 0.5 mg, folic acid 0.8 mg, and pyridoxine 3.0 mg) q.d. or to a control arm with a cross-over to active treatment after 12 months. Cognitive function was measured repeatedly during the trial, which ran for 24 months. We found a significant correlation between plasma neurofilament light protein and plasma homocysteine at screening (n = 124, r = 0.35, p < 0.0001). Plasma homocysteine levels decreased by 35% from a geometric mean of 15.7 μmol/L (95% CI 14.7–16.7) to 10.3 μmol/L (95% CI 9.3–11.3) in the active treatment arm between baseline and month 12. No significant change was detected in the control arm during the same time period (geometric mean 15.2 [95% CI 14.3–16.2] vs geometric mean 16.5 μmol/L [95% CI 14.7–18.6]). A significant difference in change in plasma homocysteine levels was seen between arms at 12 months (-40% [95% CI -48 – -30%], p < 0.001). However, no difference between arms was seen in either plasma neurofilament light protein levels (-6.5% [ -20–9%], p = 0.39), or cognitive measures (-0.08 [-0.33–0.17], p = 0.53). Our results do not support a vitamin B-dependent cause of the correlation between neurofilament light protein and homocysteine. Additional studies are needed to further elucidate this matter

The effect of vitamin B supplementation on neuronal injury in people living with HIV: a randomized controlled trial

Effective antiretroviral therapy has radically changed the course of the HIV pandemic. However, despite efficient therapy, milder forms of neurocognitive symptoms are still present in people living with HIV. Plasma homocysteine is a marker of vitamin B deficiency and has been associated with cognitive impairment. People living with HIV have higher homocysteine concentrations than HIV-negative controls, and we have previously found an association between plasma homocysteine concentration and CSF concentration of neurofilament light protein, a sensitive marker for ongoing neuronal injury in HIV. This prompted us to perform this randomized controlled trial, to evaluate the effect of vitamin B supplementation on neuronal injury in a cohort of people living with HIV on stable antiretroviral therapy. At the Department of Infectious Diseases at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden, 124 virally suppressed people living with HIV were screened to determine eligibility for this study. Sixty-one fulfilled the inclusion criteria by having plasma homocysteine levels at or above 12 mu mol/l. They were randomized (1:1) to either active treatment (with cyanocobalamin 0.5 mg, folic acid 0.8 mg and pyridoxine 3.0 mg) q.d. or to a control arm with a cross over to active treatment after 12 months. Cognitive function was measured repeatedly during the trial, which ran for 24 months. We found a significant correlation between plasma neurofilament light protein and plasma homocysteine at screening (n = 124, r = 0.35, P < 0.0001). Plasma homocysteine levels decreased by 35% from a geometric mean of 15.7 mu mol/l (95% confidence interval 14.7-16.7) to 10.3 mu mol/l (95% confidence interval 9.3-11.3) in the active treatment arm between baseline and Month 12. No significant change was detected in the control arm during the same time period [geometric mean 15.2 (95% confidence interval 14.3-16.2) versus geometric mean 16.5 mu mol/l (95% confidence interval 14.7-18.6)]. A significant difference in change in plasma homocysteine levels was seen between arms at 12 months [-40% (95% confidence interval -48 to -30%), P < 0.001]. However, no difference between arms was seen in either plasma neurofilament light protein levels [-6.5% (-20 to 9%), P = 0.39], or cognitive measures [-0.08 (-0.33 to 0.17), P = 0.53]. Our results do not support a vitamin B-dependent cause of the correlation between neurofilament light protein and homocysteine. Additional studies are needed to further elucidate this matter. Tyrberg et al. report the results of a randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of vitamin B supplementation on neuronal injury in people living with HIV with effective antiretroviral therapy. Supplementation decreased levels of homocysteine but not neuronal injury measured by neurofilament light protein

Incidence, Etiology, and Outcomes of Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Population-Based Study

To access publisher's full text version of this article, please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field or click on the hyperlink at the top of the page marked FilesBACKGROUND: The microbial etiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is often unclear in clinical practice, and previous studies have produced variable results. Population-based studies examining etiology and incidence are lacking. This study examined the incidence and etiology of CAP requiring hospitalization in a population-based cohort as well as risk factors and outcomes for specific etiologies. METHODS: Consecutive admissions due to CAP in Reykjavik, Iceland were studied. Etiologic testing was performed with cultures, urine-antigen detection, and polymerase chain reaction analysis of airway samples. Outcomes were length of stay, intensive care unit admission, assisted ventilation, and mortality. RESULTS: The inclusion rate was 95%. The incidence of CAP requiring hospitalization was 20.6 cases per 10000 adults/year. A potential pathogen was detected in 52% (164 of 310) of admissions and in 74% (43 of 58) with complete sample sets. Streptococcuspneumoniae was the most common pathogen (61 of 310, 20%; incidence: 4.1/10000). Viruses were identified in 15% (47 of 310; incidence: 3.1/10000), Mycoplasmapneumoniae were identified in 12% (36 of 310; incidence: 2.4/10000), and multiple pathogens were identified in 10% (30 of 310; incidence: 2.0/10000). Recent antimicrobial therapy was associated with increased detection of M pneumoniae (P < .001), whereas a lack of recent antimicrobial therapy was associated with increased detection of S pneumoniae (P = .02). Symptoms and outcomes were similar irrespective of microbial etiology. CONCLUSIONS: Pneumococci, M pneumoniae, and viruses are the most common pathogens associated with CAP requiring hospital admission, and they all have a similar incidence that increases with age. Symptoms do not correlate with specific agents, and outcomes are similar irrespective of pathogens identified.Icelandic Center for Research, Rannis Landspitali University Hospital Science Fund University of Iceland Research Fun

No effect of remdesivir or betamethasone on upper respiratory tract SARS-CoV-2 RNA kinetics in hospitalised COVID-19 patients: a retrospective observational study

Background The viral kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 has been considered clinically important. While remdesivir and corticosteroids are recommended for COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen support, there is a limited number of published reports on viral kinetics in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 treated with remdesivir or corticosteroids. Methods We conducted a retrospective study by collecting longitudinal samples from the nasopharynx/throat of 123 hospitalised patients (median age 55 years, 74% male) with COVID-19, to evaluate the effects of remdesivir and corticosteroid treatment on viral RNA levels. The subjects were divided into four groups: those receiving remdesivir (n = 25), betamethasone (n = 41), both (n = 15), or neither (n = 42). Time to viral RNA clearance was analysed using Kaplan-Meier plots, categorical data were analysed using Fisher\u27s exact test, and Kruskal-Wallis for continuous data. Viral RNA decline rate was analysed using a mixed effect model. Results We found no significant difference in SARS-CoV-2 RNA decline rate or time to SARS-CoV-2 RNA clearance between the groups. Moreover, clinical status at baseline was not correlated with time to viral clearance. Conclusions Since SARS-CoV-2 RNA kinetics was not affected by treatment, repeated sampling from the upper respiratory tract cannot be used to evaluate treatment response