1,140 research outputs found
Expansion and retrenchment of the Swedish welfare state: a longterm approach
pp. 226-245In this paper we will undertake a long-term analysis of the evolution of the
Swedish welfare state, seeking to explain that evolution through the use of a
systemic approach. That is to say, our approach will consider the interrelations
between economic growth (EG), the socio-political institutional framework
(IF), and the welfare state (WS) − understood as a set of institutions
embracing the labour market and its regulation, the tax system, and the socalled social wage − in order to find the main variables that elucidate its
evolution. We will show that the expansive phase of the Swedish welfare state
can be explained by the symbiotic relationships developed in the WS-EG-IF
interaction; whereas the period of welfare state retrenchment is one result of
changes operating within the socio-political (IF) and economic (EG) bases.S
Unheated soil-grown winter vegetables in Austria: Greenhouse gas emissions and socio-economic factors of diffusion potential
The adaption of historic European cultivation techniques for unheated winter vegetable production has gained momentum during the last years in Austria. Studies that evaluate ecological and socio-economic sustainability-factors of these production techniques are scarce. In this study, we analyze the greenhouse gas emissions along vegetable supply chains based on a life cycle approach and investigate factors of the socio-economic system towards future market diffusion of these new-old technologies based on the Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) guidelines of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Data of the supply-chains of lettuce, spinach, scallions and red radish was collected from field trials in different climatic regions in Austria and compared to existing commercial systems in Austria and Italy. The results show, that unheated winter vegetable production is feasible. Greenhouse gas emissions of unheated vegetables are lower with 0.06e0.12 kg CO2 equivalent versus 0.61e0.64 kg CO2 equivalent per kg fresh product crops from heated systems. Due to small packaging units unheated vegetables show maxima of 0.58 kg CO2 equivalent per kg product. Heated products were outreached by two times when individual shopping trips to the farm were taken into account. Keeping salad frost-free was not found to contribute to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional systems. The analysis reveals that a diffusion of unheated winter harvest systems depend primarily on 11 interdepending socio-economic factors. An innovative subsidy system and the creation of a positive image of winter harvest from unheated vegetables production together with an increased utilization rate of polytunnel areas and the consultancy for producers and processors are the most influential factors towards a sustainable market diffusion of winter harvest produce
Field-induced structural evolution in the spin-Peierls compound CuGeO: high-field ESR study
The dimerized-incommensurate phase transition in the spin-Peierls compound
CuGeO is probed using multifrequency high-resolution electron spin
resonance (ESR) technique, in magnetic fields up to 17 T. A field-induced
development of the soliton-like incommensurate superstructure is clearly
indicated as a pronounced increase of the ESR linewidth (magnon
excitations), with a at 13.8 T. The anomaly is
explained in terms of the magnon-soliton scattering, and suggests that the
soliton-like phase exists close to the boundary of the dimerized-incommensurate
phase transition. In addition, magnetic excitation spectra in 0.8% Si-doped
CuGeO are studied. Suppression of the anomaly observed in the
doped samples suggests a collapse of the long-range-ordered soliton states upon
doping, that is consistent with high-field neutron scattering experiments.Comment: Accepted to Phys. Rev.
Methodological considerations in the analysis of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in tufted capuchins (Cebus apella)
Analysis of fecal glucocorticoid (GC) metabolites has recently become the standard method to monitor adrenocortical activity in primates noninvasively. However, given variation in the production, metabolism, and excretion of GCs across species and even between sexes, there are no standard methods that are universally applicable. In particular, it is important to validate assays intended to measure GC production, test extraction and storage procedures, and consider the time course of GC metabolite excretion relative to the production and circulation of the native hormones. This study examines these four methodological aspects of fecal GC metabolite analysis in tufted capuchins (Cebus apella). Specifically, we conducted an adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) challenge on one male and one female capuchin to test the validity of four GC enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) and document the time course characterizing GC me- tabolite excretion in this species. In addition, we compare a common field-friendly technique for extracting fecal GC metabolites to an established laboratory extraction methodology and test for effects of storing “field extracts” for up to 1 yr. Results suggest that a corticosterone EIA is most sensitive to changes in GC production, provides reliable measures when extracted according to the field method, and measures GC metabolites which remain highly stable after even 12 mo of storage. Further, the time course of GC metabolite excretion is shorter than that described yet for any primate taxa. These results provide guidelines for studies of GCs in tufted capuchins, and underscore the importance of validating methods for fecal hormone analysis for each species of interest
Exact Groundstates for Antiferromagnetic Spin-One Chains with Nearest and Next-Nearest Neighbour Interactions
We have found the exact ground state for a large class of antiferromagnetic
spin-one chains with nearest and next-nearest neighbour interactions. The
ground state is characterized as a matrix product of local site states and has
the properties characteristic of the Haldane scenario.Comment: 8 pages, to appear in Z. Phys. B, preprint Cologne-94-474
High field magnetic resonant properties of beta'-(ET)2SF5CF2SO3
A systematic electron spin resonance (ESR) investigation of the low
temperature regime for the (ET)2SF5CF2SO3 system was performed in the frequency
range of ~200-700 GHz, using backward wave oscillator sources, and at fields up
to 25 T. Newly acquired access to the high frequency and fields shows
experimental ESR results in agreement with the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
investigation, revealing evidence that the transition seen at 20 K is not of
conventional spin-Peierls order. A significant change of the spin resonance
spectrum in beta'-(ET)2SF5CF2SO3 at low temperatures, indicates a transition
into a three-dimensional-antiferromagnetic (3D AFM) phase.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figures, minor grammatical change
Understanding Far-Infrared Absorption in the S=1 Antiferromagnetic Chain Compound NENP
Infrared transmission measurements on the antiferromagnetic chain
compound NENP in applied magnetic fields show a sharp absorption line at the
field-shifted Haldane gap. This violates a wave-vector selection rule of the
Hamiltonian normally used for NENP, as the gap excitations occur at the
Brillouin zone boundary. We argue that the crystal structure admits terms which
can explain the absorption lines. In addition, in an applied field, staggered
orientations of the g-tensors produce a staggered magnetic field. This can
explain the observation of a finite gap at all applied fields.Comment: 12 pages, revtex, preprint HU-CMT-93H9
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