Do central banks respond to exchange rates and restrictions to capital flows? Evidence from panel data

This paper examines whether central banks consider exchange rates and restrictions to capital flows when setting the policy rate. Specifically, this paper studies if there is a difference in the reaction between inflation targeting central bank and non-inflation targeting central banks in advanced and emerging economies. The recent financial crisis is also covered, that is, did the crisis change whether central banks are considering movements in the exchange rate as well as restrictions to capital flows as determinants of their policy rate. Using a linear monetary policy reaction function where the short-term interest rate reacts to expected future inflation deviation, output-gap and real exchange rate fluctuations. Then in order to investigate the effect of restrictions to capital flows (as measured by the Schindler index) on central bank’s exchange rate policy, these variables are included in the policy function. A panel data set of 48 inflation targeting and non-targeting is employed, and the empirical results suggest that short-term interest rates in both advanced and emerging inflation targeting countries react to real exchange rate deviations and foreign interest rates. When the whole sample period is considered no significant response to the restriction variables is found, however when the sample period is divided in to a pre- and post-crisis period a reaction to the restriction variables is found

The effect of housework on wages in Sweden

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the effect of housework on wages for women and men in Sweden using both linear and non-linear specifications of the effect. Furthermore, we investigate the effort and selection hypotheses, i.e. whether the effect of housework on wages can be explained by reduced effort and/or selection into jobs which are more compatible with housework. Three methods are applied: OLS, IV regressions and propensity score matching. The latter two methods are used in attempt to reduce potential endogeneity of housework. We find weak support for the effort and selection hypotheses but there is a statistically significant wage penalty for women in the linear specification, while the effect for men is less pronounced. However, in the upper part of the housework scale, which is captured in the non-linear specification, the result is somewhat reversed in that performing housework 18 hours or more per week penalise the wages of men more than those of women. We discuss our results in relation to potential endogeneity of housework, which is an important, although often neglected, issue throughout previous literature on the subject

Feministiskt självförsvar - för eller emot?

The aim of this thesis is to discuss and analyse the media debate about feminist self-defence, by pointing out the pros and the cons. The arguments in favour could be separated into three different parts: statistical arguments, psychological arguments and justice arguments. The counter arguments could also be separated into three parts: general arguments, violence-related arguments and gender-related arguments. In short, feminist self-defence is built on women's experiences of men's violence. It contains three different parts to help women avoid violence, threat of violence, insult and sexual harassment. These parts are mental, verbal and physical. The second aim of the thesis is to point out that feminist theories differ from one another. They have one thing in common: to make women's lives better. But to achieve this goal, the feminist theories have different ways to go. In this thesis I will exemplify this by analysing the arguments in the media debate about feminist self-defence from two different feminist theories: liberal feminism and radical feminism. From these different points of view, the arguments that surround feminist self-defence could be both justified and criticized

Remote nocturnal bird classification by spectroscopy in extended wavelength ranges

We present optical methods at a wide range of wavelengths for remote classification of birds. The proposed methods include eye-safe fluorescence and depolarization lidar techniques, passive scattering spectroscopy, and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. In this paper we refine our previously presented method of remotely classifying birds with the help of laser-induced beta-keratin fluorescence. Phenomena of excitation quenching are studied in the laboratory and are theoretically discussed in detail. It is shown how the ordered microstructures in bird feathers induce structural "colors" in the IR region with wavelengths of around 3-6 mu m. We show that transmittance in this region depends on the angle of incidence of the transmitted light in a species-specific way and that the transmittance exhibits a close correlation to the spatial periodicity in the arrangement of the feather barbules. We present a method by which the microstructure of feathers can be monitored in a remote fashion by utilization of thermal radiation and the wing beating of the bird. (C) 2011 Optical Society of Americ

Elevated plasma levels of heparin-binding protein in intensive care unit patients with severe sepsis and septic shock

Introduction: Rapid detection of, and optimized treatment for, severe sepsis and septic shock is crucial for successful outcome. Heparin-binding protein (HBP), a potent inducer of increased vascular permeability, is a potentially useful biomarker for predicting outcome in patients with severe infections. Our aim was to study the systemic release and dynamics of HBP in the plasma of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock in the ICU. Methods: A prospective study was conducted of two patient cohorts treated in the ICU at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge in Sweden. A total of 179 patients was included, of whom 151 had sepsis (126 with septic shock and 25 patients with severe sepsis) and 28 a non-septic critical condition. Blood samples were collected at five time points during six days after admission. Results: HBP levels were significantly higher in the sepsis group as compared to the control group. At admission to the ICU, a plasma HBP concentration of >= 15 ng/mL and/or a HBP (ng/mL)/white blood cell count (10(9)/L) ratio of >2 was found in 87.2% and 50.0% of critically ill patients with sepsis and non-septic illness, respectively. A lactate level of >2.5 mmol/L was detected in 64.9% and 56.0% of the same patient groups. Both in the sepsis group (n = 151) and in the whole group (n = 179), plasma HBP concentrations at admission and in the last measured sample within the 144 hour study period were significantly higher among 28-day non-survivors as compared to survivors and in the sepsis group, an elevated HBP-level at baseline was associated with an increased case-fatality rate at 28 days. Conclusions: Plasma HBP levels were significantly higher in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock compared to patients with a non-septic illness in the ICU. HBP was associated with severity of disease and an elevated HBP at admission was associated with an increased risk of death. HBP that rises over time may identify patients with a deteriorating prognosis. Thus, repeated HBP measurement in the ICU may help monitor treatment and predict outcome in patients with severe infections

Lynx gene flow in Fennoscandia

This study assesses the connectivity and gene flow between Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) populations in Finland and Scandinavia for the purpose of providing data for the evaluation of favorable conservation status for the European Union Habitats Directive. Using tissue samples from deceased lynx in Fennoscandia, i.e., Sweden, Norway, and Finland, collected between 2019 and 2022, we genotyped these samples using 91 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A separate data set was used for validation, consisting of 73 samples from Scandinavia collected between 2010 and 2015 that were RAD sequenced and genotyped using 881 SNPs. We assessed genetic structure within all of Fennoscandia, as well as genetic differentiation and recent gene flow between Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway) and Finland. We also estimated individual relatedness to identify first order relatives, or immediate family members, for the purpose of assessing contemporary connectivity. The results suggest distinct genetic differentiation between the Scandinavian and Finnish lynx populations, with migration rates of approximately eight migrants per generation in either direction, which is comparably low but likely sufficient to prevent complete genetic isolation. These findings have significant implications for lynx conservation strategies under the European Habitats Directive. They underscore the importance of maintaining genetic diversity and facilitating connectivity between transboundary populations, highlighting the need for collaborative management approaches between Sweden, Norway, and Finland

Sammanställning av släktträdet över den skandinaviska vargpopulationen fram till 2023

Under inventeringsperioden 2023/2024 påvisades 46 familjegrupper av varg i Skandinavien. I en av dessa familjegrupper fanns en revirmarkerande, reproducerande immigrant och i sju av familjegrupperna fanns en eller två revirmarkerande F1, d.v.s. avkommor till immigranterna i Galven/Prästskogen eller Tiveden 2. Det genomsnittliga värdet för inavelskoefficienten bland avkommorna i familjegrupperna under vintern 2023/2024 (F̅ = 0,23) var något lägre än föregående vinter

Cystatin C and derived measures of renal function as risk factors for mortality and acute kidney injury in sepsis - A post-hoc analysis of the FINNAKI cohort

Peer reviewe

CELSR2 is a candidate susceptibility gene in idiopathic scoliosis

A Swedish pedigree with an autosomal dominant inheritance of idiopathic scoliosis was initially studied by genetic linkage analysis, prioritising genomic regions for further analysis. This revealed a locus on chromosome 1 with a putative risk haplotype shared by all affected individuals. Two affected individuals were subsequently exome-sequenced, identifying a rare, non-synonymous variant in the CELSR2 gene. This variant is rs141489111, a c. G6859A change in exon 21 (NM_001408), leading to a predicted p. V2287I (NP_001399.1) change. This variant was found in all affected members of the pedigree, but showed reduced penetrance. Analysis of tagging variants in CELSR1-3 in a set of 1739 Swedish-Danish scoliosis cases and 1812 controls revealed significant association (p = 0.0001) to rs2281894, a common synonymous variant in CELSR2. This association was not replicated in case-control cohorts from Japan and the US. No association was found to variants in CELSR1 or CELSR3. Our findings suggest a rare variant in CELSR2 as causative for idiopathic scoliosis in a family with dominant segregation and further highlight common variation in CELSR2 in general susceptibility to idiopathic scoliosis in the Swedish-Danish population. Both variants are located in the highly conserved GAIN protein domain, which is necessary for the auto-proteolysis of CELSR2, suggesting its functional importance.Peer reviewe