The global impact of non-communicable diseases on macro-economic productivity: a systematic review

© 2015, The Author(s). Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have large economic impact at multiple levels. To systematically review the literature investigating the economic impact of NCDs [including coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), cancer (lung, colon, cervical and breast), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD)] on macro-economic productivity. Systematic search, up to November 6th 2014, of medical databases (Medline, Embase and Google Scholar) without language restrictions. To identify additional publications, we searched the reference lists of retrieved studies and contacted authors in the field. Randomized controlled trials, cohort, case–control, cross-sectional, ecological studies and modelling studies carried out in adults (>18 years old) were included. Two independent reviewers performed all abstract and full text selection. Disagreements were resolved through consensus or consulting a third reviewer. Two independent reviewers extracted data using a predesigned data collection form. Main outcome measure was the impact of the selected NCDs on productivity, measured in DALYs, productivity costs, and labor market participation, including unemployment, return to work and sick leave. From 4542 references, 126 studies met the inclusion criteria, many of which focused on the impact of more than one NCD on productivity. Breast cancer was the most common (n = 45), followed by stroke (n = 31), COPD (n = 24), colon cancer (n = 24), DM (n = 22), lung cancer (n = 16), CVD (n = 15), cervical cancer (n = 7) and CKD (n = 2). Four studies were from the WHO African Region, 52 from the European Region, 53 from the Region of the Americas and 16 from the Western Pacific Region, one from the Eastern Mediterranean Region and none from South East Asia. We found large regional differences in DALYs attributable to NCDs but especially for cervical and lung cancer. Productivity losses in the USA ranged from 88 million US dollars (USD) for COPD to 20.9 billion USD for colon cancer. CHD costs the Australian economy 13.2 billion USD per year. People with DM, COPD and survivors of breast and especially lung cancer are at a higher risk of reduced labor market participation. Overall NCDs generate a large impact on macro-economic productivity in most WHO regions irrespective of continent and income. The absolute global impact in terms of dollars and DALYs remains an elusive challenge due to the wide heterogeneity in the included studies as well as limited information from low- and middle-income countries.WHO; Nestle´ Nutrition (Nestec Ltd.); Metagenics Inc.; and AX

Alternative sources of fossil carbon : Ex-ante assessment of novel technologies using waste as a source

Industrial production is driven by society’s demand of fuels, chemicals and materials, which has resulted in unsustainable levels of consumption and emissions. Fossil fuels are still the most common sources of carbon used in production processes. Besides long-term availability issues of fossil fuels, the chemical, petrochemical and road transport sectors contributed to circa 20% of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2012. Therefore, identifying alternative carbon resources can be crucial to address these concerns derived from the large-scale use of fossil fuels. This thesis investigates the use of industrial waste streams (including industrial wastewater and CO2 emitted in industrial processes) as alternative resources for the production of chemicals and fuels. Through waste valorisation, waste streams are converted into valuable products to provide an additional service. There is a need to improve our current understanding on to what extent waste-to-product approaches can contribute to reduce fossil feedstock demand and climate change while providing a business case. Thus, the focus of this dissertation is on the investigation of novel waste-to-product technologies at early development stages. In particular, three knowledge gaps are explored: the environmental performance and economic viability of novel waste-to-product technologies; the suitability of early assessments to evaluate the performance of novel waste-to-product technologies; and whether the increase in operational complexity in waste-to-product technologies pays-off. Careful assessments of different novel waste-to-product technologies and configurations, quantifying costs and environmental impacts prior to commercial-scale implementation can provide insights of their potential and limitations, which are needed to foster the use of waste as an alternative carbon resource. Eventually, this might enable minimising possible downsides and identify the most promising strategies. The overall goal of this thesis is to gain insights into the performance of novel waste-to-product technologies by assessing their environmental and economic performance at the early development stage. To achieve this goal, several case studies were developed. In these case studies, novel waste-to-product technologies with different type of waste used as resource (i.e. wastewater or CO2), diverse final products (i.e. polymers, fine chemicals or transportation fuels) and various levels of configuration complexity (i.e. integrated systems, multi-output processes or cascading in consecutive series) were explored. Comprehensive ex-ante assessments were performed including process design, modelling, ex-ante techno-economic and environmental life-cycle assessments of waste-to-product technologies at their early development stages. Based on the ex-ante technology assessments performed in this thesis, promising opportunities for novel waste-to-product technologies were found. According to the analyses carried out, there is potential in novel waste-to-product technologies to lower fossil feedstock demand and contribute to climate change mitigation. However, environmental and economic gains are not guaranteed in all novel waste-to-product technologies. Therefore, performing ex-ante technology assessments integrating economic and environmental aspects before introducing any novel waste-to-product technology is recommended. Ex-ante assessments allow identifying trade-offs and the most promising alternatives at an early-stage, thereby supporting technology development. Moreover, ex-ante assessments allow effectively implementing measures to minimize future downsides

Alternative sources of fossil carbon : Ex-ante assessment of novel technologies using waste as a source

Industrial production is driven by society’s demand of fuels, chemicals and materials, which has resulted in unsustainable levels of consumption and emissions. Fossil fuels are still the most common sources of carbon used in production processes. Besides long-term availability issues of fossil fuels, the chemical, petrochemical and road transport sectors contributed to circa 20% of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2012. Therefore, identifying alternative carbon resources can be crucial to address these concerns derived from the large-scale use of fossil fuels. This thesis investigates the use of industrial waste streams (including industrial wastewater and CO2 emitted in industrial processes) as alternative resources for the production of chemicals and fuels. Through waste valorisation, waste streams are converted into valuable products to provide an additional service. There is a need to improve our current understanding on to what extent waste-to-product approaches can contribute to reduce fossil feedstock demand and climate change while providing a business case. Thus, the focus of this dissertation is on the investigation of novel waste-to-product technologies at early development stages. In particular, three knowledge gaps are explored: the environmental performance and economic viability of novel waste-to-product technologies; the suitability of early assessments to evaluate the performance of novel waste-to-product technologies; and whether the increase in operational complexity in waste-to-product technologies pays-off. Careful assessments of different novel waste-to-product technologies and configurations, quantifying costs and environmental impacts prior to commercial-scale implementation can provide insights of their potential and limitations, which are needed to foster the use of waste as an alternative carbon resource. Eventually, this might enable minimising possible downsides and identify the most promising strategies. The overall goal of this thesis is to gain insights into the performance of novel waste-to-product technologies by assessing their environmental and economic performance at the early development stage. To achieve this goal, several case studies were developed. In these case studies, novel waste-to-product technologies with different type of waste used as resource (i.e. wastewater or CO2), diverse final products (i.e. polymers, fine chemicals or transportation fuels) and various levels of configuration complexity (i.e. integrated systems, multi-output processes or cascading in consecutive series) were explored. Comprehensive ex-ante assessments were performed including process design, modelling, ex-ante techno-economic and environmental life-cycle assessments of waste-to-product technologies at their early development stages. Based on the ex-ante technology assessments performed in this thesis, promising opportunities for novel waste-to-product technologies were found. According to the analyses carried out, there is potential in novel waste-to-product technologies to lower fossil feedstock demand and contribute to climate change mitigation. However, environmental and economic gains are not guaranteed in all novel waste-to-product technologies. Therefore, performing ex-ante technology assessments integrating economic and environmental aspects before introducing any novel waste-to-product technology is recommended. Ex-ante assessments allow identifying trade-offs and the most promising alternatives at an early-stage, thereby supporting technology development. Moreover, ex-ante assessments allow effectively implementing measures to minimize future downsides

The Olympic idea nowadays. perceptions and insights

Olympic values are the differential element of the Olympic Movement. Today, these dynamic values are subject to rapid changes. Understanding the structure of values from a social and cultural perspective is necessary for all actors and institutions related to Olympism and the Olympic Games. Through this academic project, a research on the structure of values associated to the Olympics has developed in order to identify which values are threatened today, and what values are changing change or remain constant with time. And also taking into account the proposals included in the IOC Olympic Agenda 2020, presented as a strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement. The book includes the contribution of 23 academics and experts in the field of Olympic studies sharing their reflections on the evolution of the Olympic Movement since Sydney 2000 and the impacts, contributions or changes posed by the London 2012 and Sochi 2014 Olympics

Pengaruh Penempatan, Lingkungan Kerja Fisik dan Motivasi Kerja Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai Negeri Sipil di Lingkungan BAPPEDA Kabupaten Flores Timur

lnstansi pemerintah merupakan organisasi yang penting di dalam pemerintahan karena berkaitan dengan penyelenggaraan pemerintahan dan pembangunan negara. Kinerja pegawai menjadi ha] utama yang harus diperhatikan oleh instansi pemerintah. Untuk dapat mewujudkan kinerja yang diinginkan oleh Bappeda Kabupaten Flores Timur, maka banyak faktor yang dapat mempengaruhi kinerja pegawai. Dalam penelitian ini akan membahas tiga faktor yang diidentifikasi rnungkin dapat mernpengaruhi kinerja dari pegawai Bappeda Kabupaten Flores Timur, yaitu faktor penempatan pegawai, lingkungan kerja, dan motivasi kerja. Penempa.tan pegawai d.apat mempengaruhi k.inerja pegawai karena merupakan fak.tor penting yang dapat menghasilkan pendayagunaan sumber daya manusia (SDM) yang optimal bagi organisasi, sehingga dapat tercapainya tujuan organisasi. Dan para pegawai pun juga memerlukan lingkungan kerja yang sesuai untuk: mereka agar merasa nyaman saat bekerja. Selain itu, keberadaan motivasi juga dirasa penting karena dengan motivasi diharapkan setiap pegawai dapat bekerja keras dan antusias untuk. mencapai produktivitas kerja yang tinggi, Tujuan penelitian ini adalah (1) untuk: rnenganalisa ada atau tidaknya pengaruh simultan antara penempatan pegawai, lingkungan kerja fisik dan motivasi kerja terhadap kinerja pegawai negeri sipil di kantor Bappeda Kabupaten Flores Timur, dan (2) untuk: menganalisa ada atau tidaknya pengaruh parsial antara penempatan pegawai, lingkungan kerja fisik dan motivasi kerja terhadap kinerja pegawai negeri sipiJ di kantor Bappeda Kabupaten Flores Timur. Metode penelitian yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode penelitian kuantitatif. Vanabel independen (variabel bebas) dalam penelitian ini adalah penempatan (X1), lingkungan kerja fisik (X2), dan motivasi kerja (X3). Sedangkan, variabel dependennya (variabel terikat) adalah kinerja pegawai (Y). Adapun yang menjadt populasi dalam penelitian mi adalah pegawai di kantor Bappeda Kabupaten Flores Timur. Penarikan sampel menggunakan teknik sampel jenuh dan sampel dalarn penelitian ini berjumlah 28 pegawai. Pengumpulan data dilak.ukan melalui kuesioner dan observasi. Analisis data menggunakan analisa tabel silang (crosstab). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ( 1) Terdapat pengaruh secara simultan antara penempatan pegawai, lingkungan kerja fisik dan motivasi kerja terhadap kinerja pegawai di kantor Bappeda Kabupaten Flores Timur, dan (2) Terdapat pengaruh secara parsial antara penempatan pegawai, lingkungan kerja fisik dan motivasi kerja terhadap kinerja pegawai di kantor Bappeda Kabupaten Flores Timur

Techno-economic and carbon footprint assessment of methyl crotonate and methyl acrylate production from wastewater-based polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)

This paper assesses whether a cleaner and more sustainable production of the chemical building blocks methyl crotonate (MC) and methyl acrylate (MA) can be obtained in an innovative process in which resource consumption, waste generation and environmental impacts are minimized by using polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) produced from wastewater as feedstock. For this purpose, conceptual process design, process modelling, economic and carbon footprint assessments of five conversion alternatives for wastewater-based PHB to MC or MA are performed. The PHB conversion step is modelled based on experimental data for both intracellular and extracellular feedstock. Results show that, despite the lower reaction selectivity of the direct conversion of intracellular PHB to MC or MA, this route is economically and environmentally preferred because no intensive downstream process is required for cell release after wastewater fermentation. The lowest total production costs are achieved when dry intracellular PHB is used as feedstock: 1.31 €/kg MC and 2.89 €/kg MA. However, the use of aqueous PHB as starting material leads to minimal carbon footprint due to lower energy demand: 3.25 kg CO2-eq/kg MC and 8.78 kg CO2-eq/kg MA, respectively. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to evaluate the eco-efficiency of the PHB conversion routes when the co-products methyl 3-hydroxubutyrate, crotonic acid and propylene are sold