The Anatomy of Absenteeism

Based on comprehensive administrative register data from Norway, we examine the determinants of sickness absence behavior; in terms of employee characteristics workplace characteristics, panel doctor characteristics, and economic conditions. The analysis is based on a novel concept of a worker's steady state sickness absence propensity, computed from a multivariate hazard rate model designed to predict the incidence and the duration of sickness absence for all workers. Key conclusions are i) that most of the cross-sectional variation in absenteeism is caused by genuine employee heterogeneity; ii) that the identity of a person's panel doctor has a significant impact on absence propensity; iii) that sickness absence insurance is frequently certified for reasons other than sickness; and iv) that the recovery rate rises enormously just prior to the exhaustion of sickness insurance benefits.sickness absence, multivariate hazards, MMPH, NPMLE

Pobreza, Deforestación y Pérdida de la Biodiversidad en Guatemala

This paper explores the causes of deforestation and biodiversity loss in Guatemala and is organized into 4 parts. First, an overview about deforestation in Guatemala from 1950-2000 is provided, and the relationship between deforestation and biodiversity loss is explored. Secondly, some underlying causes of deforestation are examined. While caution is needed about many conventional hypotheses, there are strong reasons to believe that higher rural wages generated by greater off-farm employment opportunities reduce deforestation. Thirdly, an empirical analysis indicates that agricultural activities in rural areas remain closely tied to deforestation because of the virtual absence of non- environmental assets of the poor. And finally, some doubts are placed on the excessive establishment of Integrated Conservation and Development Projects (ICDPs) within the countryside. In particular, the paper concludes that for the case of Guatemala strengthening the rural non- farm sector and human capital formation should be regarded as a key elements of a development strategy that tries to combine biodiversity conservation within a framework of sustainable economic growth and poverty alleviation. El presente trabajo explora las causas de la deforestación y la pérdida de la biodiversidad en Guatemala. El documento se divide en cuatro partes. En la primera parte, se presenta una generalización sobre la deforestación en Guatemala entre 1950-2000. Así mismo, se explora la relación entre la deforestación y la pérdida de la biodiversidad. En la segunda parte, se examinan algunas de las causas de la deforestación. Aunque es necesario analizar con cuidado algunas de las hipótesis convencionales, hay razones sólidas para creer que mayores salarios rurales generados por mejores opciones de empleo no agrícola reducen la deforestación. En la tercera parte, se realiza un análisis empírico, el cual indica que las actividades agrícolas en las áreas rurales están fuertemente relacionadas a la deforestación debido a la ausencia de activos no ambientales de los pobres, como por ejemplo la educación. Finalmente, se plantean algunas dudas sobre el establecimiento excesivo de áreas protegidas dentro del país. En particular, el trabajo concluye que el fortalecimiento del sector rural no agrícola y la formación de capital humano deberían tomarse como elementos claves para una estrategia de desarrollo que intente combinar conservación de la biodiversidad con crecimiento económico sostenible y reducción de la pobreza.Biodiversity, Deforestation, Econometrics, Education, Integrated Conservation and Development Projects, Poverty, Rural Non- farm Employment, Guatemala, Biodiversidad, Deforestación, Econometría, Educación, Areas protegidas, Pobreza, Empleo rural no agrícola

Pobreza, Deforestación y Pérdida de la Biodiversidad en Guatemala

Poverty, Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss in Guatemala This paper explores the causes of deforestation and biodiversity loss in Guatemala and is organized into 4 parts. First, an overview about deforestation in Guatemala from 1950-2000 is provided, and the relationship between deforestation and biodiversity loss is explored. Secondly, some underlying causes of deforestation are examined. While caution is needed about many conventional hypotheses, there are strong reasons to believe that higher rural wages generated by greater off-farm employment opportunities reduce deforestation. Thirdly, an empirical analysis indicates that agricultural activities in rural areas remain closely tied to deforestation because of the virtual absence of non-environmental assets of the poor. And finally, some doubts are placed on the excessive establishment of Integrated Conservation and Development Projects (ICDPs) within the countryside. In particular, the paper concludes that for the case of Guatemala strengthening the rural non-farm sector and human capital formation should be regarded as a key elements of a development strategy that tries to combine biodiversity conservation within a framework of sustainable economic growth and poverty alleviation.Biodiversity, Deforestation, Econometrics, Education,Integrated Conservation and Development Projects,Poverty, Rural Non-farm Employment, Guatemala.

Pobreza, Deforestación y Pérdida de la Biodiversidad en

This paper explores the causes of deforestation and biodiversity loss in Guatemala and is organized into 4 parts. First, an overview about deforestation in Guatemala from 1950-2000 is provided, and the relationship between deforestation and biodiversity loss is explored. Secondly, some underlying causes of deforestation are examined. While caution is needed about many conventional hypotheses, there are strong reasons to believe that higher rural wages generated by greater off-farm employment opportunities reduce deforestation. Thirdly, an empirical analysis indicates that agricultural activities in rural areas remain closely tied to deforestation because of the virtual absence of non- environmental assets of the poor. And finally, some doubts are placed on the excessive establishment of Integrated Conservation and Development Projects (ICDPs) within the countryside. In particular, the paper concludes that for the case of Guatemala strengthening the rural non- farm sector and human capital formation should be regarded as a key elements of a development strategy that tries to combine biodiversity conservation within a framework of sustainable economic growth and poverty alleviation. - El presente trabajo explora las causas de la deforestación y la pérdida de la biodiversidad en Guatemala. El documento se divide en cuatro partes. En la primera parte, se presenta una generalización sobre la deforestación en Guatemala entre 1950-2000. Así mismo, se explora la relación entre la deforestación y la pérdida de la biodiversidad. En la segunda parte, se examinan algunas de las causas de la deforestación. Aunque es necesario analizar con cuidado algunas de las hipótesis convencionales, hay razones sólidas para creer que mayores salarios rurales generados por mejores opciones de empleo no agrícola reducen la deforestación. En la tercera parte, se realiza un análisis empírico, el cual indica que las actividades agrícolas en las áreas rurales están fuertemente relacionadas a la deforestación debido a la ausencia de activos no ambientales de los pobres, como por ejemplo la educación. Finalmente, se plantean algunas dudas sobre el establecimiento excesivo de áreas protegidas dentro del país. En particular, el trabajo concluye que el fortalecimiento del sector rural no agrícola y la formación de capital humano deberían tomarse como elementos claves para una estrategia de desarrollo que intente combinar conservación de la biodiversidad con crecimiento económico sostenible y reducción de la pobreza.Biodiversity, Deforestation, Econometrics, Education, Integrated Conservation and Development Projects, Poverty, Rural Non- farm Employment, Guatemala, biodiversidad, deforestación, econometría, educación, áreas protegidas, pobreza, empleo rural no agrícola

Dual Mutation Events in the Haemagglutinin-Esterase and Fusion Protein from an Infectious Salmon Anaemia Virus HPR0 Genotype Promote Viral Fusion and Activation by an Ubiquitous Host Protease

Funding: The Scottish Government funded this work, as part of their global budget on aquaculture research. The funder had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Pobreza, Deforestación y Pérdida de la Biodiversidad en

This paper explores the causes of deforestation and biodiversity loss in Guatemala and is organized into 4 parts. First, an overview about deforestation in Guatemala from 1950-2000 is provided, and the relationship between deforestation and biodiversity loss is explored. Secondly, some underlying causes of deforestation are examined. While caution is needed about many conventional hypotheses, there are strong reasons to believe that higher rural wages generated by greater off-farm employment opportunities reduce deforestation. Thirdly, an empirical analysis indicates that agricultural activities in rural areas remain closely tied to deforestation because of the virtual absence of non- environmental assets of the poor. And finally, some doubts are placed on the excessive establishment of Integrated Conservation and Development Projects (ICDPs) within the countryside. In particular, the paper concludes that for the case of Guatemala strengthening the rural non- farm sector and human capital formation should be regarded as a key elements of a development strategy that tries to combine biodiversity conservation within a framework of sustainable economic growth and poverty alleviation.Biodiversity, Deforestation, Econometrics, Education, Integrated Conservation and Development Projects, Poverty, Rural Non- farm Employment, Guatemala, biodiversidad, deforestación, econometría, educación, áreas protegidas, pobreza, empleo rural no agrícola

Ab initio vibrations in nonequilibrium nanowires

We review recent results on electronic and thermal transport in two different quasi one-dimensional systems: Silicon nanowires (SiNW) and atomic gold chains. For SiNW's we compute the ballistic electronic and thermal transport properties on equal footing, allowing us to make quantitative predictions for the thermoelectric properties, while for the atomic gold chains we evaluate microscopically the damping of the vibrations, due to the coupling of the chain atoms to the modes in the bulk contacts. Both approaches are based on a combination of density-functional theory, and nonequilibrium Green's functions.Comment: 16 pages, to appear in Progress in Nonequilibrium Green's Functions IV (PNGF4), Eds. M. Bonitz and K. Baltzer, Glasgow, August 200

Effects of improved nutrition in pregnant reindeer on milk quality, calf birth weight, growth, and mortality

A group of 35 pregnant reindeer (Rangifcr tarandus) was divided into two groups in mid-February. Until calving in May one of the groups (L) received lichen ad lib., while the other group (IN) received an improved diet, rich in protein and minerals. After calving both groups received the same improved diet. In both groups it was distinguished between young (<3 years) and old (>3 years) animals. At the start of the experiment the body weight of L-young animals was 58.5 ± 4.6 kg, IN-young 56.2 ± 2.8 kg, L-old 70.3 ± 6.0 kg and IN-old 68.2 ± 4.8 kg. At calving the weights of the same animals were 55.9 ± 4.5 kg (L-young), 68.1 ± 2.5 (IN-young), 70.0 ± 6.9 kg (L-old) and 81.6 ± 6.8 kg (IN-old). Birth weight of IN-young calves was 4.5 ± 0.7 kg and of L-young calves 3.7 ± 0.5 kg. Birth weight of IN-old calves was 5.7 ± 0.8 kg and of L-old calves 4.4 ± 0.6 kg. The birth weight of the calves in all groups was correlated to the weight of the female just prior to calving. Growth rates in all but the IN-old group were not different, the IN-old group showing a significantly higher growth rate than the other groups. In mid-September, however, the average body weight for the calves from the L and IN-groups did not differ significantly. Neither chemical composition nor total energy content of the milk differed significantly between the groups. Total mortality in the L-group was 28% as compared to 7% in the IN-group. Two females in the IN-old group had not given birth at the end of the experimental period.Virkningen av bedret ernæring til drektige reinsimler på melkekvalitet, kalvenes fødselsvekt, vekst og dødelighet.Abstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag: En flokk på 35 drektige reinsimler (Rangifer tarandus) ble delt i to grupper i midten av februar. Frem til kalving i mai ble den ene gruppen gitt lav ad lib. (L-gruppe), mens den andre gruppen ble tilleggsforet med 2 kg RF - 71/dag (IN-gruppe). Etter kalving ble begge gruppene gitt 2 kg RF - 71/dag. Innen begge gruppene ble det skilt mellom unge (<3 år) og gamle (>3 år) simler. Ved forsøkets start var kroppsvekten for unge simler ca. 57 kg, og for gamle simler ca. 69 kg, i begge ernæringsgruppene. Ved kalving var kroppsvekten for unge simler 55.9 ± 4.5 kg (L-gruppe), og 68.1 ± 2.5 kg (IN-gruppe) mens kroppsvekten for gamle simler var 70.0 ± 6.9 kg (L-gruppe) og 81.6 ± 6.8 kg (IN-gruppe). Fødselsvekt for kalver etter IN-unge simler var 4.5 ± 0.7 kg, og 3.7 ± 0.5 kg for kalver etter L-unge simler. De tilsvarende fødselsvektene for kalver etter gamle simler var 5.7 ± 0.8 kg (IN-gruppe) og 4.4 ± 0.6 kg (L-gruppe). Fødselsvektene var korrelert til simlenes kroppsvekt like før kalving. Kalveveksten i de første tre ukene etter fødselen var signifikant høyere for kalver etter IN-gamle simler, sammenlignet med kalveveksten i de øvrige tre gruppene, som ikke var innbyrdes signifikant forskjellige. I midten av september var det ingen signifikante forskjeller i kalvenes kroppsvekt gruppene imellom. Det var ingen signifikante forskjeller hverken i totalt energiinnhold eller i kjemisk sammensetning av melken fra simlene i de to ernæringsgruppene. Total dødelighet for kalver i L-gruppen var 28% mot 7% i IN-gruppen i løpet av de tre første ukene etter fødselen. To av de gamle simlene i IN-gruppen hadde ikke kalvet ved forsøkets slutt.Kantavien porovaatimien parannetun ravinnon vaikutus maidonlaatuun, vasojen syntymåpainoon, kasvuun ja kuolleisuuteen.Abstract in Finnish / Yhteenveto: 35 kantavan porovaatimen (Rangifer tarandus) lauma jaettiin kahteen ryhmaan helmikuun puolivålisså. Vasomiseen saakka toukokuussa annettiin toiselle ryhmalle jåkalaa ad. Ub. (L-ryhmå), kun taas toinen ryhma sai lisåravintona 2 kg RF-71 rehua påivåsså (IN-ryhmå). Vasomisen jålkeen annettiin molemmille ryhmille 2 kg RF-71 rehua påivåsså. Molemmissa ryhmisså erotettiin nuoret (< 3-vuotiaat) ja vanhat (> 3-vuotiaat) vaatimet toisistaan. Tutkimuksen alkuvaiheessa oli nuorten vaatimien ruumiinpaino n.57 kg, ja vanhojen vaatimien n.69 kg, molemmissa ravintoryhmisså. Vasomisen aikana oli nuorten vaatimien ruumiinpaino 55,9 ± 4,5 kg (L-ryhmå), ja 68,1 ± 2,5 kg (IN-ryhmå), kun taas vanhojen vaatimien ruumiinpaino oli 70,0 ± 6,9 kg (L-ryhmå) ja 81,6 ± 6,8 kg (IN-ryhmå). Vasojen syntymåpaino IN-nuorten vaatimien ryhmåsså oli 4,5 ± 0,7 kg, ja 3,7 ± 0,5 kg L-nuorten vaatimien ryhmåsså. Vastaavat syntymåpainot vanhojen vaatimien vasoilla olivat 5,7 ± 0,8 kg (IN-ryhmå) ja 4,4 ± 0,6 kg (L-ryhmå). Syntymåpainot olivat vastaavuussuhteessa vaatimien ruumiinpainoon våhåå ennen vasomista. IN-vanhojen vaatimien vasojen kasvu ensimmåisten kolmen viikon aikana syntymån jålkeen oli merkittåvåsti korkeampi, verrattuna niiden kolmen muun ryhmån vasankasvuun, jotka eivåt olleet keskenåån merkittåvån erilaisia. Vasojen ruumiinpainossa ryhmien kesken ei ollut mitåån merkittåviå eroavaisuuksia syyskuun puolivålisså. Nåiden kahden ravintoryhmån vaatimien maidossa ei ollut mitåån merkittåviå eroja kokonaisuudessa ravinnon sisåltoon eikå kemialliseen kokoonpanoon nåhden. Vasojen kokonaiskuolleisuus L-ryhmåsså oli 28% ja IN-ryhmåsså 7% kolmena ensimmåisenå viikkona syntymån jålkeen. Kaksi vanhaa vaadinta IN-ryhmåsså ei ollut vasonut tutkimuksen lopussa

Electronic transport properties of fullerene functionalized carbon nanotubes: Ab initio and tight-binding calculations

Fullerene functionalized carbon nanotubes—NanoBuds—form a novel class of hybrid carbon materials, which possesses many advantageous properties as compared to the pristine components. Here, we report a theoretical study of the electronic transport properties of these compounds. We use both ab initio techniques and tight-binding calculations to illustrate these materials’ transmission properties and give physical arguments to interpret the numerical results. Specifically, above the Fermi energy we find a strong reduction in electron transmission due to localized states in certain regions of the structure while below the Fermi energy all considered structures exhibit a high-transmission energy band with a geometry-dependent width.Peer reviewe