Spatial analysis of water quality and income in Europe

The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) relationship between water quality and income within the European Union, considering spatial interdependences across countries. To this end, we apply a spatial econometrics framework using panel data, at the national level, for twenty EU countries across seventeen years, 1998 to 2014. Furthermore, we account for the role of human and livestock population size, institutional quality and economic openness for water quality. Results show that a significant EKC relationship is seen with an inverted N-shaped relationship between income and water quality. Water quality is decreasing in income for low income levels, increasing in income when GDP per capita for medium income levels, and deteriorating for high income levels. Eight out of twenty countries have income levels associated with a declining water quality. Spatial spillovers between countries are significant. Higher livestock density levels are associated with lower levels of water quality, while institutional quality and openness to trade are positively associated with water qualit

Epidemiological profile and north-south gradient driving baseline systemic involvement of primary Sjogren's syndrome

Objective: To characterize the systemic phenotype of primary Sjögren’s syndrome at diagnosis by analysing the EULAR-SS disease activity index (ESSDAI) scores. Methods: The Sjögren Big Data Consortium is an international, multicentre registry based on worldwide data-sharing cooperative merging of pre-existing databases from leading centres in clinical research in Sjögren’s syndrome from the five continents. Results: The cohort included 10 007 patients (9352 female, mean 53 years) with recorded ESSDAI scores available. At diagnosis, the mean total ESSDAI score was 6.1; 81.8% of patients had systemic activity (ESSDAI score ≥1). Males had a higher mean ESSDAI (8.1 vs 6.0, P < 0.001) compared with females, as did patients diagnosed at <35 years (6.7 vs 5.6 in patients diagnosed at >65 years, P < 0.001). The highest global ESSDAI score was reported in Black/African Americans, followed by White, Asian and Hispanic patients (6.7, 6.5, 5.4 and 4.8, respectively; P < 0.001). The frequency of involvement of each systemic organ also differed between ethnic groups, with Black/African American patients showing the highest frequencies in the lymphadenopathy, articular, peripheral nervous system, CNS and biological domains, White patients in the glandular, cutaneous and muscular domains, Asian patients in the pulmonary, renal and haematological domains and Hispanic patients in the constitutional domain. Systemic activity measured by the ESSDAI, clinical ESSDAI (clinESSDAI) and disease activity states was higher in patients from southern countries (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The systemic phenotype of primary Sjögren’s syndrome is strongly influenced by personal determinants such as age, gender, ethnicity and place of residence, which are key geoepidemiological players in driving the expression of systemic disease at diagnosis.

Systemic phenotype related to primary Sjögren's syndrome in 279 patients carrying isolated anti-La/SSB antibodies

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the systemic phenotype associated with the presence of isolated anti-La/SSB antibodies in a large international registry of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) fulfilling the 2002 classification criteria.METHODS: The Big Data Sjögren Project Consortium is an international, multicentre registry created in 2014. Baseline clinical information from leading centres on clinical research in SS of the 5 continents was collected. Combination patterns of anti-Ro/SSA-La/SSB antibodies at the time of diagnosis defined the following four immunological phenotypes: double positive (combined Ro/SSA and La/SSB,) isolated anti-Ro/SSA, isolated anti-La/SSB, and immunonegative.RESULTS: The cohort included 12,084 patients (11,293 females, mean 52.4 years) with recorded ESSDAI scores available. Among them, 279 (2.3%) had isolated anti-La/SSB antibodies. The mean total ESSDAI score at diagnosis of patients with pSS carrying isolated anti-La/SSB was 6.0, and 80.4% of patients had systemic activity (global ESSDAI score ≥1) at diagnosis. The domains with the highest frequency of active patients were the biological (42.8%), glandular (36.8%) and articular (31.2%) domains. Patients with isolated anti-La/SSB showed a higher frequency of active patients in all ESSDAI domains but two (articular and peripheral nerve) in comparison with immune-negative patients, and even a higher absolute frequency in six clinical ESSDAI domains in comparison with patients with isolated anti-Ro/SSA. In addition, patients with isolated anti-La/SSB showed a higher frequency of active patients in two ESSDAI domains (pulmonary and glandular) with respect to the most active immunological subset (double-positive antibodies). Meanwhile, systemic activity detected in patients with isolated anti-La/SSB was overwhelmingly low. Even in ESSDAI domains where patients with isolated anti-La/SSB had the highest frequencies of systemic activity (lymphadenopathy and muscular), the percentage of patients with moderate or high activity was lower in comparison with the combined Ro/SSA and La/SSB group.CONCLUSIONS: Patients carrying isolated La/SSB antibodies represent a very small subset of patients with a systemic SS phenotype characterised by a significant frequency of active patients in most clinical ESSDAI domains but with a relative low frequency of the highest severe organ-specific involvements. Primary SS still remains the best clinical diagnosis for this subset of patients

Systemic phenotype related to primary Sjögren's syndrome in 279 patients carrying isolated anti-La/SSB antibodies

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the systemic phenotype associated with the presence of isolated anti-La/SSB antibodies in a large international registry of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) fulfilling the 2002 classification criteria.METHODS: The Big Data Sjögren Project Consortium is an international, multicentre registry created in 2014. Baseline clinical information from leading centres on clinical research in SS of the 5 continents was collected. Combination patterns of anti-Ro/SSA-La/SSB antibodies at the time of diagnosis defined the following four immunological phenotypes: double positive (combined Ro/SSA and La/SSB,) isolated anti-Ro/SSA, isolated anti-La/SSB, and immunonegative.RESULTS: The cohort included 12,084 patients (11,293 females, mean 52.4 years) with recorded ESSDAI scores available. Among them, 279 (2.3%) had isolated anti-La/SSB antibodies. The mean total ESSDAI score at diagnosis of patients with pSS carrying isolated anti-La/SSB was 6.0, and 80.4% of patients had systemic activity (global ESSDAI score ≥1) at diagnosis. The domains with the highest frequency of active patients were the biological (42.8%), glandular (36.8%) and articular (31.2%) domains. Patients with isolated anti-La/SSB showed a higher frequency of active patients in all ESSDAI domains but two (articular and peripheral nerve) in comparison with immune-negative patients, and even a higher absolute frequency in six clinical ESSDAI domains in comparison with patients with isolated anti-Ro/SSA. In addition, patients with isolated anti-La/SSB showed a higher frequency of active patients in two ESSDAI domains (pulmonary and glandular) with respect to the most active immunological subset (double-positive antibodies). Meanwhile, systemic activity detected in patients with isolated anti-La/SSB was overwhelmingly low. Even in ESSDAI domains where patients with isolated anti-La/SSB had the highest frequencies of systemic activity (lymphadenopathy and muscular), the percentage of patients with moderate or high activity was lower in comparison with the combined Ro/SSA and La/SSB group.CONCLUSIONS: Patients carrying isolated La/SSB antibodies represent a very small subset of patients with a systemic SS phenotype characterised by a significant frequency of active patients in most clinical ESSDAI domains but with a relative low frequency of the highest severe organ-specific involvements. Primary SS still remains the best clinical diagnosis for this subset of patients

With a simple tulip.. : A qualitative study on how flowers are valued and consumed, as well as how it can be applied in visual communication.

Studien ska undersöka unga kvinnors värderingar, samt varför denna grupp konsumerar blommor, för  att bidra med fördjupad kunskap om hur konsumtionsmönster påverkas av sociologiska aspekter, för att belysa den inverkan det kan ha på visuell kommunikation. Genom en kvalitativ intervjustudie ämnar författarna få insikt i unga kvinnors synsätt kring blomsterkonsumtion, och den empiriska datan ska användas i syfte att exemplifiera hur blomsterbutiker kan tilltala unga kvinnor genom visuell kommunikation. Tidigare forskning om det sociala värdet i blommor, samt inverkan på val av blommor rörs, och för att förstå konsumenten och varumärken präglas studien av teorier och begrepp som anses centrala för förståelsen. Här rörs Consumer Culture Theory, Conspicuous Consumption och Sociala strukturer, då insikt i konsumentena agerande är av stor vikt. Varumärkets visuella identitet, varumärken i sociala medier samt logotyper, illustrationer, färg och typsnitt tillämpas även, i syfte att fördjupa insikten i de visuella element som påverkar konsumenten. Genom en tematisk analys av åtta, transkriberade intervjuer presenteras resultat i form av sex rubriker. Efter genomförd analys kan det konstateras att blommor och blomstergesten laddas med symbolik och en djupare betydelse, kopplat till livsstil och identitet. Kvinnorna konsumerar blommor för att uttrycka uppskattning, samt för att ge bort som gåva. Snittblommor ses som en lyxvara, vilket visar på blommors relation till klasstillhörighet och livsstil. Resultatet visar dessutom ett mönster i svaren kopplat till visuella element, där respondenterna valde mellan olika färger, typsnitt, illustrationer och bildmanér. Med grund i teoretiskt ramverk, tidigare forskning och  empiriskt material har de övergripande frågeställningarna besvarats, samt en ny grafisk profil, logotyp och marknadsföringsmaterial utformats i linje med resultat och slutsatser. Målet är således att bidra med strategiska verktyg till blomsterbutiker, för att de ska kunna kommunicera effektivt och tilltala den eftersträvade målgruppen.The study will examine young women's values, as well as why this group consumes flowers, to contribute with in-depth knowledge of how consumption patterns are influenced by sociological aspects, to highlight the impact it can have on visual communication. Through a qualitative interview study, the authors intend to gain insight into young women's approach to flower consumption, and the empirical data will be used to exemplify how flower shops can appeal to young women through visual communication. Previous research on the social value in flowers, as well as the influence on the choice of flowers is touched upon, and in order to understand the consumer and brands, the study is characterized by theories and concepts that are considered central to the understanding. Here Consumer Culture Theory, Conspicuous Consumption and Social structures are touched upon, as insight into consumer behavior is of great importance. The brand's visual identity, branding in social media as well as logos, illustrations, color and fonts are also applied, with the aim of deepening the insight into the visual elements that influence the consumer. Through a thematic analysis of eight, transcribed interviews, results are presented in the form of six headings. After the analysis, it can be stated that flowers and the floral gesture are loaded with symbolism and a deeper meaning, linked to lifestyle and identity. The women consume flowers to express appreciation, as well as to give away as gifts. Cut flowers are seen as a luxury item, which shows the relationship of flowers to class affiliation and lifestyle. The result also shows a pattern in the answers linked to visual elements, where the respondents chose between different colors, fonts, illustrations and image styles. Based on theoretical framework, previous research and empirical material, the overall questions have been answered, and a new graphic profile, logo and marketing material designed in line with results and conclusions. The goal is thus to contribute strategic tools to flower shops, so that they can communicate effectively and appeal to the desired target group

With a simple tulip.. : A qualitative study on how flowers are valued and consumed, as well as how it can be applied in visual communication.

Studien ska undersöka unga kvinnors värderingar, samt varför denna grupp konsumerar blommor, för  att bidra med fördjupad kunskap om hur konsumtionsmönster påverkas av sociologiska aspekter, för att belysa den inverkan det kan ha på visuell kommunikation. Genom en kvalitativ intervjustudie ämnar författarna få insikt i unga kvinnors synsätt kring blomsterkonsumtion, och den empiriska datan ska användas i syfte att exemplifiera hur blomsterbutiker kan tilltala unga kvinnor genom visuell kommunikation. Tidigare forskning om det sociala värdet i blommor, samt inverkan på val av blommor rörs, och för att förstå konsumenten och varumärken präglas studien av teorier och begrepp som anses centrala för förståelsen. Här rörs Consumer Culture Theory, Conspicuous Consumption och Sociala strukturer, då insikt i konsumentena agerande är av stor vikt. Varumärkets visuella identitet, varumärken i sociala medier samt logotyper, illustrationer, färg och typsnitt tillämpas även, i syfte att fördjupa insikten i de visuella element som påverkar konsumenten. Genom en tematisk analys av åtta, transkriberade intervjuer presenteras resultat i form av sex rubriker. Efter genomförd analys kan det konstateras att blommor och blomstergesten laddas med symbolik och en djupare betydelse, kopplat till livsstil och identitet. Kvinnorna konsumerar blommor för att uttrycka uppskattning, samt för att ge bort som gåva. Snittblommor ses som en lyxvara, vilket visar på blommors relation till klasstillhörighet och livsstil. Resultatet visar dessutom ett mönster i svaren kopplat till visuella element, där respondenterna valde mellan olika färger, typsnitt, illustrationer och bildmanér. Med grund i teoretiskt ramverk, tidigare forskning och  empiriskt material har de övergripande frågeställningarna besvarats, samt en ny grafisk profil, logotyp och marknadsföringsmaterial utformats i linje med resultat och slutsatser. Målet är således att bidra med strategiska verktyg till blomsterbutiker, för att de ska kunna kommunicera effektivt och tilltala den eftersträvade målgruppen.The study will examine young women's values, as well as why this group consumes flowers, to contribute with in-depth knowledge of how consumption patterns are influenced by sociological aspects, to highlight the impact it can have on visual communication. Through a qualitative interview study, the authors intend to gain insight into young women's approach to flower consumption, and the empirical data will be used to exemplify how flower shops can appeal to young women through visual communication. Previous research on the social value in flowers, as well as the influence on the choice of flowers is touched upon, and in order to understand the consumer and brands, the study is characterized by theories and concepts that are considered central to the understanding. Here Consumer Culture Theory, Conspicuous Consumption and Social structures are touched upon, as insight into consumer behavior is of great importance. The brand's visual identity, branding in social media as well as logos, illustrations, color and fonts are also applied, with the aim of deepening the insight into the visual elements that influence the consumer. Through a thematic analysis of eight, transcribed interviews, results are presented in the form of six headings. After the analysis, it can be stated that flowers and the floral gesture are loaded with symbolism and a deeper meaning, linked to lifestyle and identity. The women consume flowers to express appreciation, as well as to give away as gifts. Cut flowers are seen as a luxury item, which shows the relationship of flowers to class affiliation and lifestyle. The result also shows a pattern in the answers linked to visual elements, where the respondents chose between different colors, fonts, illustrations and image styles. Based on theoretical framework, previous research and empirical material, the overall questions have been answered, and a new graphic profile, logo and marketing material designed in line with results and conclusions. The goal is thus to contribute strategic tools to flower shops, so that they can communicate effectively and appeal to the desired target group

The value of iron ore and timber in Sweden : An ex post study of the United Nations valuation framework for green national accounts

Green national accounts are a complement to the more traditional GDP measure which includes natural capital and the depreciation and regeneration of natural capital. The United Nations have developed an international standard model, the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting, for valuing natural resources within the green national accounts. The method is based on forecasts of future streams of expected incomes from the resource. This study aims to find out whether the valuation method used to forecast future incomes from iron ore and timber according to the international standard is consistent with the actual outcomes. In Sweden, previous studies have been made to develop green national accounts from the 1800s onward. By using the United Nations’ current and previous valuation methods and performing calculations on historical resource rents it is possible to evaluate how well the methods can estimate true future values. This study shows that both valuation methods systematically misestimate the future income streams from both resources.   Gröna nationalräkenskaper är ett komplement till det mer traditionella BNP-måttet som även tar hänsyn till bland annat naturkapitalet och dess förslitning. FN har utvecklat en internationell standardmodell för gröna nationalräkenskaper, System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), där en rekommenderad värderingsmetod för naturkapital finns angiven. Värderingsmetoden är baserad på framtida, förväntade, inkomstflöden från naturresursen. Den här studiens syfte är att ta reda på om värderingsmetoden för att förutse framtida intäkter för järnmalm och skog enligt den internationella standarden stämmer överens med de faktiska utfallen. I Sverige har tidigare studier gjorts för att utveckla gröna nationalräkenskaper från 1800-talet och framåt. Genom att använda FN:s nuvarande och tidigare rekommenderade värderingsmetoder för naturresurser och göra beräkningar på historiska vinster från naturresursen kan man se hur väl värderingsmetoderna fungerar i praktiken. Den här studien visar att bägge värderingsmetoderna systematiskt felskattar de framtida intäktsflödena från bägge resurser