Technological Transition to Electric Aviation in the Kvarken Region: A Review of the FAIR Reports (Finding Innovations to Accelerate the Implementation of Electric Regional Aviation)

Accelerating technological transitions (TT) from carbon-based aviation to Electric Regional Aviation (ERA) is contingent on increased awareness and innovative ideas. Finding innovations to Accelerate the Implementation of Electric Regional Aviation (FAIR) aims to facilitate TT to electric aviation in the Kvarken-Nordland region of Finland, Sweden, and Norway. This paper reviewed 13 reports used in the FAIR project. These reports suggest that TT will provide many socioeconomic and environmental benefits. These include increased connectivity to new areas with zero operational carbon footprints, reduced cost, and travel time. However, most of the investigations in the FAIR reports focused on economic and technical aspects. Studies suggest that TT is also contingent on human factors such as public engagement and participation. Therefore, this paper notes that it is imperative to increase the knowledge of ERA among young people in higher educational institutions in the region, particularly given that they constitute an integral part of the aviation market. In addition, although the three universities participating in the FAIR project have energy-related studies, which are essential in advancing knowledge on TT, they lack aviation-specific courses. This paper proposes that, in their next agenda, regional actors could advocate for the introduction of a multidisciplinary aviation-centred course into the university curriculum. The idea is that such inclusion not only will increase the knowledge of ERA and the chances for accelerated innovative ideas in the implementation process but could also motivate and spur increased engagement in climate actions among young people.©2023 Author. This manuscript version is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Simulation of heavy metal contamination of fresh water bodies: Toxic effects in the catfish and its amelioration with co-contamination with glyphosate

The toxic implications of fresh water contamination with zinc in the catfish, Clarias albopunctatus (Lamonte and Nicole, 1927), and the effect of a co-contamination with a sub-lethal dose of glyphosate (Roundup) was studied using the static bioassay model. Thirty six fish were divided into 3 equalgroups. Fish in Group 1 were placed in normal tap water, and served as the control group, while fish in Groups 2 and 3 were placed in water contaminated with ZnSO4 and ZnSO4 + glyphosate, respectively. The study lasted for96 hours (though sampling was done at the 48th hour). Biochemical markers of toxicity were measured and the fish liver and gill histology were studied using standard protocols. The results show that ZnSO4 was significantly toxicto the fish only after 96 hours. Co-contamination of the water with both toxicants was found to ameliorate the toxic effects of ZnSO4 significantly. The metal chelating property of glyphosate may be responsible for the observedattenuation of toxicity in the fish in Grou

Health Implications of Occupational Exposure of Butchers to Emissions from Burning Tyres

Background: Flames from burning scrap tyres are used in de-furring animals for human consumption in most parts of Nigeria. Emissions from tyres are known to contain a myriad of toxic mixtures especially particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds, hazardous air pollutants, and inspirable metals, some of which are known human carcinogens. This cross-sectional study investigated the deleterious health effects of these emissions in occupationally-exposed workers at the Dei-Dei Abattoir, Abuja, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 156 respondents were divided into two groups. Group 1 (124 butchers) and group 2 [32 administrative staff (AS)]. Data from digital spirometry were used to determine the association between chronic exposure to tyre emissions and lung function. Urinary 1-Hydroxypyrene concentration, phenolic compounds levels and heavy metal concentrations were determined. Also ambient PM and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations at 3 delineated points in the abattoir were measured. Findings: Spirometry results showed significant deterioration of lung function in the butchers. The concentration of 1-Hydroxypyrene (μg/molCret) in the post-shift urine samples of the butchers was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in butchers relative to the AS (0.52 ± 0.13 Vs 0.20 ± 0.07, respectively). Similarly the concentrations of zinc and nickel (mg/l) were significantly higher in the butchers compared to the AS (zinc: 0.91 ± 0.19 Vs 0.31 ± 0.28, respectively; nickel: 0.11 ± 0.06 Vs 0.06 ± 0.02, respectively). Anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo-a- pyrene, and PM concentrations were significantly higher at the de-furring point when compared to the wash bay and the administrative building, especially between 8.00 and 8.30 am. Conclusion: Occupational exposure to scrap tyre emissions resulted in significant adverse health effects. The existing laws banning the use of burning tyres in meat processing should be enforced while the use of personal protective equipment should be encouraged in abattoirs

An overview of anti-diabetic plants used in Gabon: Pharmacology and Toxicology

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Ethnopharmacological relevance: The management of diabetes mellitus management in African communities, especially in Gabon, is not well established as more than 60% of population rely on traditional treatments as primary healthcare. The aim of this review was to collect and present the scientific evidence for the use of medicinal plants that are in currect by Gabonese traditional healers to manage diabetes or hyperglycaemia based here on the pharmacological and toxicological profiles of plants with anti-diabetic activity. There are presented in order to promote their therapeutic value, ensure a safer use by population and provide some bases for further study on high potential plants reviewed. Materials and methods: Ethnobotanical studies were sourced using databases such as Online Wiley library, Pubmed, Google Scholar, PROTA, books and unpublished data including Ph.D. and Master thesis, African and Asian journals. Keywords including ‘Diabetes’ ‘Gabon’ ‘Toxicity’ ‘Constituents’ ‘hyperglycaemia’ were used. Results: A total of 69 plants currently used in Gabon with potential anti-diabetic activity have been identified in the literature, all of which have been used in in vivo or in vitro studies. Most of the plants have been studied in human or animal models for their ability to reduce blood glucose, stimulate insulin secretion or inhibit carbohydrates enzymes. Active substances have been identified in 12 out of 69 plants outlined in this review, these include Allium cepa and Tabernanthe iboga. Only eight plants have their active substances tested for anti-diabetic activity and are suitables for further investigation. Toxicological data is scarce and is dose-related to the functional parameters of major organs such as kidney and liver. Conclusion: An in-depth understanding on the pharmacology and toxicology of Gabonese anti-diabetic plants is lacking yet there is a great scope for new treatments. With further research, the use of Gabonese anti-diabetic plants is important to ensure the safety of the diabetic patients in Gabon.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

The Oil Industry CSR and School Climate Protest in Norway

Master's thesis in Energy, Environment and SocietyDespite being a significant fossil fuel exporter, Norway is often perceived as one of the greenest countries in Europe. The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies of oil and gas companies represent a key element behind this perception. If these CSR strategies are resulting in genuine contributions to environmental targets, they could be regarded as one important tool for achieving the green shift. Whether CSR strategies can be effective in this way depends on several societal framework conditions. Young people constitute an indispensable element in this context, as this group indicates the evolution of those social norms and identities CSR strategies must take into consideration. Recent climate protests of young people in Norway and all over the world put the established CSR strategies and the ability of the industry to contribute to the green transition to the test. The response of the Norwegian oil and gas industry to these protests is particularly significant, as Norwegian society is strongly guided by the idea of aligning economic activity with societal values. Stronger than elsewhere, companies are expected to contribute to values across environmental, social, and economic dimensions as stipulated by the policy guidelines set by the Norwegian government. This study thus examines how young people at various Norwegian institutions perceive and portray the oil industry’s response to the recent school climate protest in Norway. Energy experts within academia were also consulted. Social Constructivist theory provides the theoretical underpinning for explaining how young people construct their social realities, while semi-structured interview, and discourse analysis were utilized in data collection and analysis. Firstly, findings show that despite the tremendous contributions of the oil industry’s CSR in three-main areas such as sports, culture, and entertainment, there is inadequate knowledge-based engagement of young people in companies CSR. Secondly, young people perceive the existing climate measures by the industry as slow-paced, rhetoric driven, and largely public relations based. Hence, their decision to embark on climate activism to demand for genuine and increased commitment to climate action beyond political gains and rhetoric’s. The oil industry should implement new measures that would guarantee the broadening of their CSR to include specifically designed programs for increased green innovation-based youth engagement, participation and mutual communication with young people towards shaping their energy future as well as accelerate climate action

Climate change mitigation via modular refinery in the context of illegal oil refining in the Niger Delta region

This study examines the perception of the local community in the Niger Delta region on the socio-economic and environmental costs and benefits of climate change mitigation via modular refinery. According to IPCC (2014, p.6) “mitigation outcome may be influenced by how individuals perceive risks and uncertainties and take them into account.” The ancillary costs and benefits theory of climate change mitigation serves as a guide in the study. The theory shows that mitigation has ancillary effects (costs and benefits), and the parties involved are more likely to participate in mitigation if they perceive the benefits to outweigh the costs (Krupnick, Burtraw, & Markandya, 2000). Hence, the perception of the local community shapes their involvement in the mitigation process which is vital for achieving mitigation objectives. The literature review provides the contextual background; it establishes the link between oil production, environmental degradation, weak institution, loss of livelihood and the consequent emergence of illegal oil refinery as a survival alternative in the region. The latter constitutes one of the drivers of climate change in the region because they produce more criteria pollutants and are not subjected to environmental impact assessment (Iheriohanma 2016, p.30). This study is based on qualitative research methods because it deals with subjective social realities. Data was generated using semi-structured interview to gain in-depth insight on respondents’ perception. The findings of this study show that most members of the local community are optimistic on the outcome of mitigation i.e. they perceive ancillary mitigation benefits to outweigh the costs. Therefore, the study concludes that future mitigation outcome has high chances of success in the region given the prevailing socio-economic circumstances. The study serves as a guide for policy makers and international environmental institutions on the likely future mitigation outcome in the region. It recommends among other things, the establishment of a mandatory Saving for Clean Future (SCF) contributory funds for staff of modular refineries, to ensure gradual transitioning to cleaner forms of energy.M-I

An overview of the Nordic Battery Belt: an emerging network for cooperation within the Nordic battery cluster

There is an increasing global demand for batteries in the decarbonisation process and an attempt to increase its production within Europe, thereby reducing the dependency on the Asian market. Consequently, the battery industry cluster is emerging in the Nordic region with the requisite raw materials for battery production in Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The industry will encounter medium- and long-term challenges in its supply value chain due to the envisaged transport connectivity issues in the region, especially as the industry begins experiencing growth. Regional networks will play a key role in mitigating these challenges by providing a space for cooperation among actors; however, how regional networks address these transport connectivity issues still needs to be explored. This paper introduces results from a qualitative study that adopts the network approach in examining the nature and the role of a novel network within the Nordic battery cluster. They show that the Nordic Battery Belt (NBB) is an emerging cross-border regional network established to proactively identify the prevailing and the envisaged connectivity challenges within the Nordic region. The NBB, therefore, contributes to the development of logistical strategies and inventories for sustainable and cost-effective transport systems, which will support the battery industry’s supply chain and reduce the industry’s carbon footprints. Overall, the paper advances the understanding of networks and their role in the regional energy transitions literature viz-a-viz the battery industry

An Investigation of the Skill Sets Needed by Information Systems Managers to Cope Effectively with the Transition from Legacy Systems to Client/Server and Distributed Computing Environments

The problem investigated in this study was the specific nature of management issues in the information system (IS) data conversion process: extended project time, high staff turnover, cost overrun, adherence to procedure and user disagreement. Data conversion involves the transfer of computer programs and data files from one computer system to another. Managing data conversion projects has posed problems and difficulties. A thorough comprehension of these issues has systematically eluded information technology (IT) professionals, and this may be related to unsuccessful outcomes of data conversion. Presently, most successful data conversion outcomes are ad hoc solutions rather than a more permanent strategy that will improve success rate of the conversion outcomes. Little of these data have been analyzed concerning the human elements of the organization. Reports from the IS literature have indicated that data conversion tends to have more managerial than technical problems. Secondly, IT experts have warned that automated tools and experience alone may not guarantee immunity from data conversion headaches. In addition, studies have shown that the cyclical nature of the IT industry suggests that data conversion traumas (problems and difficulties) still lurk ahead. The researcher\u27s goal in this dissertation was to investigate management issues during the information systems change process in order to determine the relationships between attribution factors and styles. A second goal was to analyze relationships (if any), among the study variables. The researcher used attribution theory to investigate various relationships among management issues. The researcher used a validated instrument called the Occupational Attribution Style Questionnaire (OASQ), developed by Adrian Furnham, Valda Sadka and Chris Brewin. The validity and reliability of this instrument were established previously with Chronbach\u27s alpha of 0.92. Mail-in questionnaires were distributed to 300 stratified IT managers and professionals from companies, government agencies, colleges and universities. The survey results were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to determine the relationships between attribution factors and styles. Analysis of the descriptive data indicated that the factors were perceived to be very important with mean scores ranging from a minimum of2.14 to a maximum of 4.56. A factor analysis resulted in the identification of 5 items that loaded significantly on three factors: (1) internality, (2) externality, (3) chance. Correlation analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses and to identify associations between these stated factors. Conclusive evidence from these analyses showed the following: (a) there was a positive correlation between attribution factors and management attribution, (b) there was a positive correlation between attribution style and project success, (c) there was a positive correlation between salary and position, (d) there was a negative correlation between gender and education, (e) there was a positive correlation between salary and education. The conclusions of the researcher in this study contributed to the base of knowledge by providing empirically tested information for assisting management in industry, academicians and government in implementing data conversion programs. In addition, results of this research provided a variety of interesting decision-making skills and professional practices among IT professionals. These results can be used to implement techniques and strategies for increasing the success rate of data conversion projects

Simulation of heavy metal contamination of fresh water bodies: toxic effects in the catfish and its amelioration with co-contamination with glyphosate

The toxic implications of fresh water contamination with zinc in the catfish, Clarias albopunctatus (Lamonte and Nicole, 1927), and the effect of a co-contamination with a sub-lethal dose of glyphosate (Roundup) was studied using the static bioassay model. Thirty six fish were divided into 3 equal groups. Fish in Group 1 were placed in normal tap water, and served as the control group, while fish in Groups 2 and 3 were placed in water contaminated with ZnSO4 and ZnSO4 + glyphosate, respectively. The study lasted for 96 hours (though sampling was done at the 48th hour). Biochemical markers of toxicity were measured and the fish liver and gill histology were studied using standard protocols. The results show that ZnSO4 was significantly toxic to the fish only after 96 hours. Co-contamination of the water with both toxicants was found to ameliorate the toxic effects of ZnSO4 significantly. The metal chelating property of glyphosate may be responsible for the observed attenuation of toxicity in the fish in Group 3

Expanded-multidimensional turnover intentions: scale development and validation

Abstract Background This study aims to provide researchers and practitioners with a more elaborate instrument to measure turnover intentions based on the planned behaviour theory model. The questionnaire assesses 5 distinct aspects of turnover intentions (i.e., subjective social status, organisational culture, personal orientation, expectations, and career growth). Methods In this cross-sectional study (comprise of 2 studies in one) a wave survey design was applied to a large diversity of workers drawn from the staff of universities, banks, hospitals, factories, and telecommunication companies. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was applied the identify the sub-dimensions and Cronbach’s alpha to assess the reliability of the first study. In the second study, for the Confirmatory factor analysis to establishing structural model of the dimensions. Results We demonstrate the reliability, factor structure, and validity evidence based on internal structure and relationship with other variables of the new measure among two samples (N1 = 622; N2 = 433). Twenty-five items with 5 factors were extracted to represent a broader perspective of turnover intention scale. Conclusions In total, the study indicates that the assessment can be used to reliably assess several major indicators of turnover intentions. Therefore, improved employees’ evaluations and reduced loss of valuable staff as a result of avoidable measures in considering the interests of workers