Cultural Angle and Degrees of Transculturation in Multicultural Societies

Current Western societies are characterized by cultural diversity. Europe has gradually become a place populated by very diverse groups, due mainly to an influx of immigration. Various adaptation mechanisms have developed in the receiving society, and in turn, in immigrant groups. Due to a variety of factors, including well-embedded social prejudices, stereotypes and cultural distance, there are different expressions of ethnocentrism and degrees of transculturation in multicultural contexts. The main focus of this paper is to establish an original and realistic classification of these social responses, based on systematic observation and direct interaction

Scenario analysis of fuel-pellet production - the influence of torrefaction on material flows and energy balances

Studies carried out within the 'Eforwood' project focusing mainly on biomass flows, the potential for pellet production and on the enrgy balances of the process solutions studied are presented. A new biofuel upgrading technology, torrefaction, is described and analysed

Forecasting Future Procurement Potential of Swedish Forest Biomass Using Forest Inventory Data

In the last 20 years the use of forest biomass for energy production and sawlog and pulpwood production has increased by 68%, 11% and 31% in Sweden. As Sweden is trying to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, the high demand for biomass can also be expected in future. Therefore, a method to project the amount of spatially available biomass assortments for industries was developed. Available amounts of different forest assortments were estimated and visualised in a web-based tool using forest inventory data and nationwide projection analyses of available biomass for 2035–2039. In this interval, the greatest amount of available biomass and roundwood will be in Northern Sweden. Results also indicate that already existing harvesting intensity is very high compared to the available biomass in the future. The industry can expect noticeably more available biomass in the coming 100 year period. With increased competition between large pulp mills and biorefineries, the supply areas can exceed 200 km to satisfy raw material demand. The long distance and high volume supply chain requirements will demand further improvement in transportation solution nationally and cross-border in the Baltic Sea Region

The CO2 cutting cost of biogas from humanure and livestock manure

The European Union is accelerating its rollout of sustainable energy production and promotion of a circular economy. Electricity from biogas has synergy with energy-policy and rural-development goals yet its economic value is often convoluted. This study assessed the economic potential of biogas electricity using a representative rural case and quantified the cost and level of state support required for viability. The cost of CO2-equivalent emission reductions was determined using the recast Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). The results showed that a feed-in tariff of 0.33 € kWh−1 for green electricity was required for economic feasibility. This yielded a CO2 cutting cost of 251 € t−1. The methane energy potential was 78 467 kWh a−1 from 31 498 kg (dry mass) of substrates, 80% livestock manure and humanure and 20% plant-based. Circular use of the digestate from anaerobic digestion, enabled a nitrogen recovery potential of 1 575 kg a−1. The conclusions reached are that the economic value of the avoided emissions, through the RED II framework, is significant but it does not substantially improve the cost-effectiveness of biogas as an emission-mitigation technology. For biogas plant capacities less than 500 kW, current EU feed-in tariffs do not support economic viability

Forecasting Future Procurement Potential of Swedish Forest Biomass Using Forest Inventory Data

In the last 20 years the use of forest biomass for energy production and sawlog and pulpwood production has increased by 68%, 11% and 31% in Sweden. As Sweden is trying to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, the high demand for biomass can also be expected in future. Therefore, a method to project the amount of spatially available biomass assortments for industries was developed. Available amounts of different forest assortments were estimated and visualised in a web-based tool using forest inventory data and nationwide projection analyses of available biomass for 2035–2039. In this interval, the greatest amount of available biomass and roundwood will be in Northern Sweden. Results also indicate that already existing harvesting intensity is very high compared to the available biomass in the future. The industry can expect noticeably more available biomass in the coming 100 year period. With increased competition between large pulp mills and biorefineries, the supply areas can exceed 200 km to satisfy raw material demand. The long distance and high volume supply chain requirements will demand further improvement in transportation solution nationally and cross-border in the Baltic Sea Region

End-of-life research: do we need to build proxy consent into all clinical trial protocols studying the terminal phase?

Research into symptoms that occur at the end of life is paramount for ensuring we provide the best possible care for patients in the terminal phase, yet obtaining informed consent from the study participant is not possible at the time these symptoms occur. Importantly, these questions cannot be answered in any clinical population and defining the net clinical effect of medications used, for example, for noisy respiratory secretions is crucial if the quality of care is to be further improved

Progressing an evidence-base beyond case series

High-quality randomized trials in hospice and palliative care are achievable to provide quality evidence to guide our practice especially if several sites work together to conduct the trial. Palliative medicine is a specialty that is contributing more and more to the care of patients with life limiting disease. It is time we based this practice on highquality evidence and that can only come with high-quality research

Combining behavioural TOPSIS and six multi-criteria weighting methods to rank biomass fuel pellets for energy use in Sweden

EU energy and climate policies continue to drive interest in biomass fuel pellets which can be produced from a wide variety of feedstock. The use of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to support feedstock selection has the potential for more transparent and better decision-making. This study applies the behavioural TOPSIS, a prominent MCDA technique, to rank pellets for energy use in Sweden produced from under-utilised forest and agricultural biomass. Seven criteria were used to assess and rank the biomass pellets. The alternatives include 88 types of pellets from 11 biomass materials. Possible attitudes of an expert towards the risk of losses (risk averse, risk neutral and risk-seeking) were combined with six sets of criteria weights obtained using six weighting methods – a total of 18 input settings (scenarios). Despite having different input settings, almost identical results were obtained in all scenarios, meaning that the rankings were stable and consistent. Across all 18 scenarios, pellets produced from a reference spruce/pine sawdust blend are ranked ahead of other pellet types. Pellets produced from Scots pine bark exhibited stable and consistent rankings across all scenarios; and thus this biomass is the second-best overall. The next best materials overall are poplar, reed canary grass and wheat straw, whereas torrefied pellets (torrefied beech, poplar and wheat straw) were ranked last in all scenarios. Combining behavioural TOPSIS and a variety of criteria-weighting methods is a meaningful way of improving decision-making with respect to producing a more valid and reliable ranking of biomass fuel pellets for energy use in Sweden

Studies of N,N-Dibutyltrimethylenediamine and N, N,N'Triethylenediamine for CO2 absorption and desorption

CO2 gas emissions and their increasing role in global warming have become an issue of much concern. Chemical absorption is preferred for lowering the partial pressure of CO2, The potential of completely new amines N,N-Dibutyltrimethylenediamine and N,N,N' Triethylenediamine which are both categorized and widely known as diamine (amine that may contains two active nitrogen atoms without going through any conventional mixing process) were investigated for CO2 absorption and desorption processes. In order to investigate the potential of these diamines for CO2 absorption and desorption, experiments and analysis were conducted to determine the absorption rate, absorption capacity, desorption rate and desorption effectivity of CO2

A review on wood powders in 3D printing: processes, properties and potential applications

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a technology that, for a multitude of raw materials, can be used in the production of complex structures. Many of the materials that currently dominate 3D printing (e.g. titanium, steel, plastics, and concrete) have issues with high costs and environmental sustainability. Wood powder is a widely available and renewable lignocellulosic material that, when used as a fibre component, can reduce the cost of 3D printed products. Wood powder in combination with synthetic or natural binders has potential for producing a wide variety of products and for prototyping. The use of natural binders along with wood powder can then enable more sustainable 3D printed products. However, 3D printing is an emerging technology in many applications and more research is needed. This review aims to provide insight into wood powder as a component in 3D printing, properties of resulting products, and the potential for future applications