Is Environmental Tax Effective for Total Emission of Carbon Dioxide?

This paper deals with how to analyze the effectiveness of environmental tax (carbon tax) for controlling the total emission of carbon dioxide. The problem is formulated by using Leontief-type input-output model which represents a national environmental-economic model, where the environmental tax paid for emission of untreated carbon dioxide is included in the model. A numerical example based on the inter-industry table obtained in 1985, is included

Decision-Analysis under Extreme Uncertainties- Evaluating Unusual Weathers Caused by Global Warming

In this paper we propose a new methodology of decision analysis under extreme uncertainties which could analyze the preference of various type of persons from pessimistic ones to optimistic ones. For this purpose we revise a previous axiom of dominance for constructing a measurable value function (utility function) under uncertainty based on Dempster-Shafer theory of probability. The previous axiom of dominance has dealt with only the best and the worst results in the set element. Here, we propose a new axiom of dominance after defining the value of the set element taking into account the average of the value of all the results included in the set element. It is shown that we can construct a measurable value function under uncertainty for a pessimistic, an ordinary or an optimistic person, based on this new axiom of dominance. An example of evaluating the alternative policies to decrease the emission of carbon dioxide for avoiding global warming is included

Association of the phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) gene and cardioembolic stroke in an Australian cohort

Background: Large-scale epidemiological studies support an important role for susceptibility genes in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke, with phosphodiesterase 4D identified as the first gene predisposing to ischemic stroke. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms within the phosphodiesterase 4D gene have been implicated in the pathogenesis of stroke. Aim: Undertake a multivariate analysis of six single nucleotide polymorphisms within the phosphodiesterase 4D gene in a previously defined Australian stroke cohort, to determine whether these single nucleotide polymorphisms have an association with ischemic stroke. Methods: This case–control study was performed using an existing genetic database of 180 ischemic stroke patients and 301 community controls, evaluated previously for cerebrovascular risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, smoking and history of stroke in a first-degree relative). Based on previously reported associations with large vessel disease, ischemic stroke, cardioembolic stroke or a mixture of these, six single nucleotide polymorphisms in the phosphodiesterase 4D gene were selected for study, these being single nucleotide polymorphisms 13, 19, rs152312, 45, 83 and 87, based on previously utilized DeCODE nomenclature. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped using a sequence-specific polymerase chain reaction method and gel electrophoresis. Logistic regression was undertaken to determine the relevance of each polymorphism to stroke. Further analysis was undertaken to determine the risk of stroke following stratification for stroke sub-type and etiology. Results: Significant odds ratios were found to be associated with cardioembolic strokes in two single nucleotide polymorphisms: rs152312 and SNP 45 (P<0·05). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated an association between cardioembolic stroke and phosphodiesterase 4D single nucleotide polymorphisms rs152312 and 45. No significant association was found for the other four single nucleotide polymorphisms investigated within the phosphodiesterase 4D gene. We propose that the results from this Australian population support the concept that a large prospective international study is required to investigate the role of phosphodiesterase 4D in the cardiogenic cause of ischemic stroke.Austin G. Milton, Verna M. Aykanat, M. Anne Hamilton-Bruce, Mark Nezic, Jim Jannes, Simon A. Kobla

Social Media, Gender and the Mediatisation of War: Exploring the German Armed Forces’ Visual Representation of the Afghanistan Operation on Facebook

Studies on the mediatisation of war point to attempts of governments to regulate the visual perspective of their involvements in armed conflict – the most notable example being the practice of ‘embedded reporting’ in Iraq and Afghanistan. This paper focuses on a different strategy of visual meaning-making, namely, the publication of images on social media by armed forces themselves. Specifically, we argue that the mediatisation of war literature could profit from an increased engagement with feminist research, both within Critical Security/Critical Military Studies and within Science and Technology Studies that highlight the close connection between masculinity, technology and control. The article examines the German military mission in Afghanistan as represented on the German armed forces’ official Facebook page. Germany constitutes an interesting, and largely neglected, case for the growing literature on the mediatisation of war: its strong antimilitarist political culture makes the representation of war particularly delicate. The paper examines specific representational patterns of Germany’s involvement in Afghanistan and discusses the implications which arise from what is placed inside the frame of visibility and what remains out of its view

LINGUISTIC LABELS BASED METHODOLOGY FOR FUZZY GROUP DECISION MAKING

In this paper, we review our research works on gradual improvements to fuzzy group decision-making methodologies. Firstly, a single-level semi-numeric method, Le., linguistic labels representation with fuzzy sets computation, and a fully non-numeric method, Le., Linguistic labels representation with labels manipulation for solving pairwise fuzzy group decision making problems are discussed. Secondly, the extension of these methods into hierarchical semi-numeral and a hierarchical mom-numerical methods are described. Finally, the methods are verified and applied to solving some real cases of fuzzy group decision-making problems such as a waste disposal methods selection problems