Alternaria Spores in the Air Across Europe: Abundance, Seasonality and Relationships with Climate, Meteorology and Local Environment

We explored the temporal and spatial variations in airborne Alternaria spore quantitative and phenological features in Europe using 23 sites with annual time series between 3 and 15 years. The study covers seven countries and four of the main biogeographical regions in Europe. The observations were obtained with Hirst-type spore traps providing time series with daily records. Site locations extend from Spain in the south to Denmark in the north and from England in the West to Poland in the East. The study is therefore the largest assessment ever carried out for Europe concerning Alternaria. Aerobiological data were investigated for temporal and spatial patterns in their start and peak season dates and their spore indices. Moreover, the effects of climate were checked using meteorological data for the same period, using a crop growth model. We found that local climate, vegetation patterns and management of landscape are governing parameters for the overall spore concentration, while the annual variations caused by weather are of secondary importance but should not be neglected. The start of the Alternaria spore season varies by several months in Europe, but the peak of the season is more synchronised in central northern Europe in the middle of the summer, while many southern sites have peak dates either earlier or later than northern Europe. The use of a crop growth model to explain the start and peak of season suggests that such methods could be useful to describe Alternaria seasonality in areas with no available observations.

Deconstruction-reconstruction of Computer Game and Immersive Environment Semiotics

Computer game technology produces compelling ‘immersive environments’ where our digitally-native youth play and explore. Players absorb visual, auditory and other signs and process these in real time, making rapid choices on how to move through the game-space to experience ‘meaningful play’. How can immersive environments be designed to elicit perception and understanding of signs? In this paper we explore game design and gameplay from a semiotic perspective, focusing on the creation of meaning for players as they play the game. We propose a theory of game design based on semiotics.

Foreign Direct Investment and Political Uncertainty

Recent developments in the general equilibrium theory of multinationals emphasize the importance of multilateral considerations. Yet, existing explanations and corresponding estimations of FDI patterns have largely limited political and institutional investment impediments to a bilateral framework. Through the application of spatial econometric techniques, I demonstrate that the presence of both domestic and regional political uncertainty generate real options effects that lead to the delay or redirection of foreign direct investment. The magnitude and direction of these effects is conditional upon the host country regime type and the predominant multinational integration strategies in the region. Comparing these results with FDI of U.S. origin, I find evidence for divergent investment behavior by U.S. multinationals during regime changes in partner countries. Additionally, I find no evidence that multinationals from developing countries are more likely to complete cross-border deals in environments characterized by greater political risk or political uncertainty.

Local savings and credit organizations : towards an innovative approach for rural Zimbabwe

Résumé : L'épargne et le crédit sont reconnus comme deux éléments clés du développement économique. Or, jusqu'à ce que les membres défavorisés d'une communauté aient accès aux ressources et services financiers, ils seront toujours privés de la participation au processus du développement et des bénéfices qui pourraient s'en suivre. La recherche indique que les services des prêts offerts par les institutions officielles ne parviennent que rarement aux plus pauvres de la société, qui sont obligés par conséquent de dépendre des intermédiaires informels comme les groupes d'épargne et les usuriers. Diverses organisations sur place comme les coopératives ont essayé de répondre aux besoins du développement des communautés défavorisées. Dans ce contexte, nous ferons d'abord le bilan historique et international des coopératives d'épargne et de crédit (i.e. les caisses populaires). Ensuite, nous analyserons quatre autres tentatives récentes qui eurent pour but de créer de nouvelles formes d'institutions financières, de les développer de telle sorte qu'elles offrent un degré d'accès raisonnable, sinon privilégié, aux ménages de revenu inférieur. L'analyse de ces cas-ci (venant du Zimbabwe, de l'Inde, du Ghana, et du Bangladesh) permettra d'identifier leurs caractéristiques communes et divergentes. À partir des résultats de cette analyse, un projet pilote au Zimbabwe fut initié pour élaborer une stratégie appropriée qui faciliterait le développement d'un réseau de caisses rurales. L'analyse théorique, la mise en pratique du projet, ainsi que les conclusions subséquentes soulignent l'importance de la participation directe des communautés à l'élaboration des organisations populaires. Il est évident que ces méthodes sont de loin plus efficaces que celles basées sur des politiques et des structures uniformes et compréhensives.||Abstract : Savings and credit are recognized as key elements of economic development, but until such time as disadvantaged members of the community have access to financial resources and services, they are obstructed from participating fully in the development process. Experience has shown that formal institutional credit bas rarely reached the poorer sectors of society, who have had to rely on informal intermediaries such as savings groups and money-lenders. Local organizations such as co-operatives have attempted to respond to the development needs of disadvantaged communities, and the historical and international record of savings and credit co-operatives (i.e. credit unions) is examined in this context. Four recent initiatives to design and develop new forms of financial institutions that give fair if not favoured access to low-income housebolds are also identified. These cases (from Zimbabwe, India, Bangladesh, and Ghana) are examined in an effort to identify common and divergent characteristics. Following from this analysis, a pilot project in Zimbabwe was initiated in an effort to elaborate an appropriate strategy for development of a network of rural savings and credit organization. The theoretical analysis, field exercise and subsequent reflections highlight the need for participatory methods of organizational design and development, rather than any all-encompassing structural or policy guidelines.

Promoting Investment and Increasing Employment among the Economically Inactive - A Review of Best Practice.

Final report to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Northern Ireland. This report sets out the findings from a study into strategies that link the promotion of investment and the employment of economically inactive groups. The aim is to ascertain current practice in 10 relevant countries (Australia; Belgium; Denmark; Finland; Germany; the Netherlands; New Zealand; Slovenia; Spain; USA plus Great Britain) and their transferability to the Northern Ireland (NI) policy and labour market context. The study was carried out by the Employment Research Institute at Edinburgh Napier University on behalf of the Department of Trade, Enterprise and Investment in NI (DETI). The study describes cases of good practice in securing investment in areas, sectors and occupations that provide accessible entry-level positions for economically inactive groups. It seeks to identify the ‘critical success factors’ common to effective strategies, drawing out lessons for future Northern Ireland policy. In this study ‘Investment’ includes foreign direct investment (FDI) and private investment that expands the ‘export’ capacity of the NI economy (i.e. excluding investment aimed at the NI market). ‘Economically inactive’ people are those excluded or seriously at risk of exclusion from the labour market.

Appendices - Promoting investment and increasing employment among the economically inactive.

Appendices - Promoting investment and increasing employment among the economically inactive.

Climatic classification: the semi-arid tropics and its environment a review.

This paper analyses the advantages and limitations in using the Troll, Hargreaves and modified Thornthwaite approaches for the demarcation of the semi-arid tropics. Data from India, Africa, Brazil, Australia and Thailand, were used for the comparison of these three methods. The modified Thornthwaite approach provided the most relevant agriculturally oriented demarcation of the semi-arid tropics. This method in not only simple, tut uses input data that are avaliable for a global network of stations. Using this method the semi-arid tropics include major dryland or rainfed agricultural zones with annual rainfall varying from about 400 to 1,250 mm. Major dryland crops are pearl millet, sorghum, pigeonpea and groundnut. This paper also presents the brief description of climate, soils and farming systems of the semi-arid tropics.

National university`s students perspective of teachers and college education: their characteristic and classroom environment

This article presents the results of a research project in which the characteristics of university teachers and classroom environment were studied from the students´ perspectives. The study was based on a mixed design, this one attempts to develop a profile of the teachers, with the participation of students being trained in pedagogy majors. The results indicate that the students underline the importance of personality and psico-pedagogical characteristics in contrast with the theoretical findings, which point more towards professional characteristics.

Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC): new biregional trade and investment relations in a changing world economic environment$c

Includes bibliography

Comparing "socially responsible" and "sustainable" commercial property investment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to set out to explore the similarities and differences between jargon used to describe future-focussed commercial building product. This is not so much an exercise in semantics as an attempt to demonstrate that responses to challenges facing the construction and property sectors may have more to do with language than is generally appreciated. Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual analysis which draws upon relevant literature. Findings – Social responsibility and sustainability are often held to be much the same thing, with each term presupposing the existence of the other. Clearly, however, there are incidences where sustainable commercial property investment (SCPI) may not be particularly socially responsible, despite being understood as an environmentally friendly initiative. By contrast, socially responsible assets, at least in theory, should always be more sustainable than mainstream non-ethically based investment. Put simply, the expression of social responsibility in the built environment may evoke, and thereby deliver, a more sustainable product, as defined by wider socially inclusive parameters. Practical implications – The findings show that promoting an ethic of social responsibility may well result in more SCPI. Thus, the further articulation and celebration of social responsibility concepts may well help to further advance a sustainable property investment agenda, which is arguably more concerned about demonstrability of efficiency than wider public good outcomes. Originality/value – The idea that jargon affects outcomes is not new. However, this idea has rarely, if ever, been applied to the distinctions between social responsibility and sustainability. Even a moderate re-emphasis on social responsibility in preference to sustainability may well provide significant future benefits with respect to the investment, building and refurbishment of commercial property.

Retrospective evaluation and prospective value-add : a review of R&D investment in Australia

This paper describes a lead project currently underway through Australia’s Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre evaluating diffusion mechanisms and impacts of R&D investment in the Australian built environment. Through a retrospective analysis of R&D investment trends and industry outcomes, and a prospective assessment of industry futures using strategic foresighting, a future-focussed industry R&D roadmap and pursuant policy guidelines will be developed. This research aims to build new understandings and knowledge relevant to R&D funding strategies, research team formation and management, dissemination of outcomes and industry uptake. Each of these issues are critical due to: the disaggregated nature of the built environment industry; intense competition; limited R&D investment; and new challenges (e.g. IT, increased environmental expectations). This paper details the context within which this project is being undertaken and the research design. Findings of the retrospective analysis of past R&D investment in Australia will be presented at this conference.

Property investment, construction and economic growth : the case of Malaysia

It is generally accepted that there is a close relationship between property investment and construction activity. The construction sector plays a crucial role in economic development, especially for a developing nation such as Malaysia. However, the volume of new properties added to the property market is only a fraction of the total volume of the property market. Is the conventional assumption of the relationship between property investment and construction supported by empirical data? This paper revisits the tripartite relationships between economic growths, property investment and construction activities with official Malaysian 2000Q1-2010Q4 quarterly time series data. The Granger causality tests are used to establish the causality runs from the GDP to the value of property transactions, and the growth of construction activities to GDP growth. The result is expected to be useful for policymakers and industrial practitioners in formulating industrial policies and corporate strategies.

Project 2.7 Leveraging R&D Investment for the Australian built environment : Phase 2 Case Study Report Part 2 - Road Construction Safety

This report discusses findings of a case study into "Road Construction Safety" undertaken as a part of the retrospective analysis component of Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre (SBEnrc) Project 2.7 Leveraging R&D investment for the Australian Built Environment. The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (QTMR) has taken a leadership role in developing a safer working environment for road construction workers. In the past decades, a range of initiatives have been introduced to contribute to improved performance in this area. Several initiatives have been undertaken by QTMR as part of their overarching commitment to safety. Three such initiatives form the basis for this case study investigation, in order to better illustrate the nature of R&D investment and its impact on day-to-day operations and the supply chain. These are the development and implementation of: (i) the Mechanical Traffic Aid: (ii) the Thermal Imaging Camera; and (iii) the Trailer-based CCTV (camera). This case study should be read in conjunction with Part 1 of this suite of reports.