The causal factors of international inequality in CO2 emissions per capita: a regression-based inequality decomposition analysis

This paper uses the possibilities provided by the regression-based inequality decomposition (Fields, 2003) to explore the contribution of different explanatory factors to international inequality in CO2 emissions per capita. In contrast to previous emissions inequality decompositions, which were based on identity relationships (Duro and Padilla, 2006), this methodology does not impose any a priori specific relationship. Thus, it allows an assessment of the contribution to inequality of different relevant variables. In short, the paper appraises the relative contributions of affluence, sectoral composition, demographic factors and climate. The analysis is applied to selected years of the period 1993–2007. The results show the important (though decreasing) share of the contribution of demographic factors, as well as a significant contribution of affluence and sectoral composition.

Eliminació d'artefactes en EGG mitjançant l'ús de la Multivariate Empirical Mode Decomposition

La tècnica de l’electroencefalograma (EEG) és una de les tècniques més utilitzades per estudiar el cervell. En aquesta tècnica s’enregistren els senyals elèctrics que es produeixen en el còrtex humà a través d’elèctrodes col•locats al cap. Aquesta tècnica, però, presenta algunes limitacions a l’hora de realitzar els enregistraments, la principal limitació es coneix com a artefactes, que són senyals indesitjats que es mesclen amb els senyals EEG. L’objectiu d’aquest treball de final de màster és presentar tres nous mètodes de neteja d’artefactes que poden ser aplicats en EEG. Aquests estan basats en l’aplicació de la Multivariate Empirical Mode Decomposition, que és una nova tècnica utilitzada per al processament de senyal. Els mètodes de neteja proposats s’apliquen a dades EEG simulades que contenen artefactes (pestanyeigs), i un cop s’han aplicat els procediments de neteja es comparen amb dades EEG que no tenen pestanyeigs, per comprovar quina millora presenten. Posteriorment, dos dels tres mètodes de neteja proposats s’apliquen sobre dades EEG reals. Les conclusions que s’han extret del treball són que dos dels nous procediments de neteja proposats es poden utilitzar per realitzar el preprocessament de dades reals per eliminar pestanyeigs.

Deep-water macroalgal-dominated coastal detritic assemblages on the continental shelf off Mallorca and Menorca (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean)

We present a quantitative physiognomic characterization of major macroalgal-dominated assemblages on coastal detritic bottoms of the continental shelf off Mallorca and Menorca (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean). In late spring of 2007 and 2008, 29 samples were collected by bottom trawling at depths between -52 and -93 m. These samples were then sorted and identified to their lowest taxonomic level. Statistical analyses distinguished six different assemblage types: shallower water environments (-52 to -65 m in depth) were characterized by Osmundaria volubilis and Phyllophora crispa meadows and two types of Peyssonnelia beds; two assemblage types, Laminaria rodriguezii beds and maërl beds, were only present in deep-water environments (-77 to -81 m); and an assemblage dominated by P. crispa and Halopteris filicina was found in both shallow and deep waters (-57 to -93 m). We assess the distribution of these six assemblage types through the studied area.

Estudo e caracterização da zeólita OFF Tipo T empregando diferentes fontes de silício

Offretite T zeolite was synthesized using different source of Si (Ludox AS-30, Ludox LS-30 and Aerosil 200 Degussa). The obtained materials were characterized by different complementary techniques: XRD, textural analysis by N2 adsorption, IV, SEM and chemistry analysis. This zeolite has an intermediary structure between offretite and erionite zeolites. In all experiments offretite T phase was obtained. Offretite phase presenting better crystalility are obtained in synthesis with stirring and employing aerosil as silicon source. This zeolite presents a potencial application as catalyst for hydroisodewaxing process.

Sisäisen toimittajan palvelutasosopimuksen kehittäminen ja toimitusvarmuuden parantaminen, CASE: oy Shell ab

Tämän tutkielman tarkoituksena on tehostaa toimitusketjua kehittämällä palvelutasosopimusta ja parantamalla toimitusvarmuutta toimittajan ja oy Shell ab:n välillä. Työssä perehdytään näiden kahden yrityksen väliseen sopimukseen ja toimitusvarmuutta kuvaavaan mittariin nimeltä Supplier OTIF. Nykytila arvioidaan molempien osalta ja mahdollisia parantavia toimenpiteitä tuodaan esille. Tämä tutkimus perustuu yrityksessä työskentelyn ohella haastatteluihin, kyselyihin sekä omiin havaintoihin eri osastoilla. Työn teoriaosuudessa tarkastellaan ostosopimuksen yleisintä kaupallista sisältöä. Lisäksi paneudutaan palveluyrityksen käytäntöihin, tulkitaan palveluyrityksen suorituskykyä ja sen mittaamista tunnuslukujen avulla. Tutkimus osoittaa, että niin palvelutasosopimus kuin toimitusvarmuuskin eivät ole riittävällä tasolla case-yrityksessä. Erityisesti osapuolien välistä yhteistyötä ja tiedonjakoa on parannettava tavoitteiden saavuttamiseksi. Työssä esiteltyjen kehitys- ja parannusehdotusten osittainen käyttöönotto aikaansai toimitusketjun tehokkaamman toiminnan. Case-yrityksen tuleekin harkita lisätoimenpiteiden käyttöönottoa. Toiminnan sekä yhteistyön parantaminen yhä edelleen jää case-yrityksen ja toimittajien yhteisesti tulevaisuudessa tehtävien ratkaisujen varaan.

Essential oil of mustard to control Rhizoctonia solani causing seedling damping off and seedling blight in nursery

The essential oil extracted from mustard (Brassica rapa) seeds was evaluated for its effect on suppression of Rhizoctonia solani growth in vitro, and in field soils, for reducing saprophytic substrate colonization and seedling damping off and blight using snap beans as indicator plant, the in vitro growth was completely inhibited at a concentration of 50 mul/l. The saprophytic substrate colonization in soils 24 h after treatment was drastically reduced to 45% at 150 mul/kg soil concentration, in contrast to 100% colonization at concentrations of 0, 50, or 75 mul/kg. This recovery rate gradually declined to 6% and 60%, respectively, in nine days. A control of pre and post-emergence seedling damping off and blight in common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), without any apparent phytotoxic effect was achieved by irrigating R. solani infested soils with water containing the emulsified essential oil to provide 150 mul/l soil volume ten days prior to planting, gave over 95%. The effect of the mustard essential oil was not influenced by the physical soil texture, and it appears to be a good substitute for methyl bromide fumigation in nurseries for seedling production.

Preparation and thermal decomposition of solid state cinnamates of alkali earth metals, except beryllium and radium

Solid state compounds of general formula ML2.nH2O [where M is Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba; L is cinnamate (C6H5 -CH=CH-COO-) and n = 2, 4, 0.8, 3 respectively], have been synthetized. Thermogravimetry (TG), derivative thermogravimetry (DTG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction powder patterns have been used to characterize and to study the thermal stability and thermal decomposition of these compounds.

Thermal decomposition and stability in a series of heterobimetallic carbonyl compounds of the type [Fe(CO)4(HgX)2] (X=Cl, Br, I)

Heterobimetallic carbonyl compounds of the type [Fe(CO)4(HgX)2] (X= Cl, Br, I), which have metal-metal bonds, have been prepared in order to study their thermal stabilities as a function of the halogen coordinated to mercury atoms. The characterization of the above complexes was carried out by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopies. Their thermal behaviour has been investigated and the final product was identified by IR spectroscopy and by X-ray powder diffractogram.

Thermal degradation behaviour of some polydithiooxamide metal complexes

The thermal decomposition behavior of the Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) complexes of polydithiooxamide has been investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) at a heating rate of 20°C min-1 under nitrogen. The Coats-Redfern integral method is used to evaluate the kinetic parameters for the successive steps in the decomposition sequence observed in the TGA curves. The processes of thermal decomposition taking place in the four complexes are studied comparatively as the TGA curves indicate the difference in the thermal decomposition behavior of these complexes. The thermal stabilities of these complexes are discussed in terms of repulsion among electron pairs in the valence shell of the central ion and electronegativity effects.

Thermal decomposition of solid state compounds of lanthanide and yttrium benzoates in CO2 atmosphere

Solid-state Ln-Bz compounds, where Ln stands for trivalent lanthanides and Bz is benzoate have been synthesized. Simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis in a CO2 atmosphere were used to study the thermal decomposition of these compounds.

Thermal stability and thermal decomposition of sucralose

Several papers have been described on the thermal stability of the sweetener, C12H19Cl3O8 (Sucralose). Nevertheless no study using thermoanalytical techniques was found in the literature. Simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and infrared spectroscopy, have been used to study the thermal stability and thermal decomposition of sweetener.

Decomposition of corn and soybean residues under field conditions and their role as inoculum source

Necrotrophic parasites of above-ground plant parts survive saprophytically, between growing seasons in host crop residues. In an experiment conducted under field conditions, the time required in months for corn and soybean residues to be completely decomposed was quantified. Residues were laid on the soil surface to simulate no-till farming. Crop debris of the two plant species collected on the harvesting day cut into pieces of 5.0cm-long and a 200g mass was added to nylon mesh bags. At monthly intervals, bags were taken to the laboratory for weighing. Corn residues were decomposed within 37.0 months and those of soybean, within 34.5 months. Hw main necrotrophic fungi diagnosed in the corn residues were Colletotrichum gramicola, Diplodia spp. and Gibberella zeae, and those in soybeans residues were Cercospora kikuchii, Colletotrichum spp, Glomerella sp. and Phomopsis spp. Thus, those periods shoulb be observed in crop rotation aimed at to eliminating contaminated residues and, consequently, the inoculum from the cultivated area.

Late effects of cancer at a young age: Registry-based studies of the health of cancer patients and their off-spring

Modern cancer therapy has resulted in increased survival among patients diagnosed with cancer at a young age. These improvements have led to the investigation of late morbidity and mortality associated with cancer and its treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate late effects of cancer treated at a young age on the health of patients and their offspring. Utilising the nationwide population-based registries in Finland, we evaluated the risk of hypothyroidism and the probability of parenthood in cancer survivors as well as preterm birth, neonatal outcomes, and the risk of cancer among offspring of patients. The survivor cohort, identified from the Finnish Cancer Registry, consisted of 25,784 cancer patients diag-nosed between ages 0 and 34 in 1953–2004. By linkage to the population register, siblings of these patients were identified for comparison. The prevalence of hypothyroidism was higher among former childhood cancer (aged 0–16) patients than in the general population. The probability of parenthood following early onset cancer was overall significantly reduced compared to siblings. Offspring of female cancer survivors were at an increased risk of preterm birth, this risk being highest among patients diagnosed in childhood and early adulthood (aged 20–34 years). The offspring were not, however, at a significantly increased risk of neonatal death or stillbirth, though they were more likely to need monitoring or intensive care in the neonatal period. The risk of sporadic cancer among offspring of male and female cancer survivors was not elevated in comparison to the general population. The study showed that former cancer patients are at risk of certain adverse endocrine and reproductive health outcomes and should be followed for timely intervention. The offspring of cancer survivors do not appear to be at risk for adverse health outcomes.