scholarly journals Ageing in Southern Europe. Emerging Perspectives and Challenges for Sociology

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-135
Author(s):  
Francesco Marcaletti ◽  
Tatiana Iñiguez-Berrozpe ◽  
Emma Garavaglia
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Study ◽  
Public Policies ◽  
Northern Europe ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Southern Europe ◽  
Social Trends ◽  
Demographic Shifts ◽  
Ageing Populations

The process of transitioning to an ageing population has occurred later, but nevertheless more intensely, in Southern Europe than in other regions. Consequently, these countries have been forced to politically, socially and economically adapt to this significant challenge. Sociologists play an important role in identifying and understanding social trends and issues, as well as in contributing to the design of public policies across Europe. However, research has tended to explore issues of ageing populations in Northern Europe, in spite of the notable demographic shifts and contextual specificities of Southern Europe. In response, this study has a dual objective: first, to collect the theoretical and methodological contributions of authors from or focusing on Southern Europe, and second to explore the originality of studies that belong to Southern European sociological traditions. In order to systematise the study, the theoretical paradigm of Marshall’s classification of social science theories in the field of ageing is used. Specifically, the present study incorporates the topics of active ageing, adult education and ageing at work as the main foci of analysis. The results of this theoretical study show that the sociology of Southern Europe can contribute significantly both to the issue of ageing and to public policies for its management, in the process providing a more holistic and human-centred approach.

scholarly journals Towards a hydrological classification of European soils: preliminary test of its predictive power for the base flow index using river discharge data

2007 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1501-1513 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Schneider ◽  
F. Brunner ◽  
J. M. Hollis ◽  
C. Stamm
Keyword(s):  
Water Movement ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Regression Coefficients ◽  
Northern Europe ◽  
Flow Index ◽  
Discharge Data ◽  
Base Flow Index ◽  
The Uk

Abstract. Predicting discharge in ungauged catchments or contaminant movement through soil requires knowledge of the distribution and spatial heterogeneity of hydrological soil properties. Because hydrological soil information is not available at a European scale, we reclassified the Soil Geographical Database of Europe (SGDBE) at 1:1 million in a hydrological manner by adopting the Hydrology Of Soil Types (HOST) system developed in the UK. The HOST classification describes dominant pathways of water movement through soil and was related to the base flow index (BFI) of a catchment (the long-term proportion of base flow on total stream flow). In the original UK study, a linear regression of the coverage of HOST classes in a catchment explained 79% of BFI variability. We found that a hydrological soil classification can be built based on the information present in the SGDBE. The reclassified SGDBE and the regression coefficients from the original UK study were used to predict BFIs for 103 catchments spread throughout Europe. The predicted BFI explained around 65% of the variability in measured BFI in catchments in Northern Europe, but the explained variance decreased from North to South. We therefore estimated new regression coefficients from the European discharge data and found that these were qualitatively similar to the original estimates from the UK. This suggests little variation across Europe in the hydrological effect of particular HOST classes, but decreasing influence of soil on BFI towards Southern Europe. Our preliminary study showed that pedological information is useful for characterising soil hydrology within Europe and the long-term discharge regime of catchments in Northern Europe. Based on these results, we draft a roadmap for a refined hydrological classification of European soils.

scholarly journals Home Features and Assistive Technology for the Home-Bound Elderly in a Thai Suburban Community by Applying the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Supawadee Putthinoi ◽  
Suchitporn Lersilp ◽  
Nopasit Chakpitak
Keyword(s):  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
International Classification ◽  
International Classification Of Functioning ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Disability And Health ◽  
Ageing In Place ◽  
Personal Use ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

The ageing population is having an impact worldwide and has created a serious challenge in Thailand’s healthcare systems, whereby healthcare practitioners play a major role in promoting independent interaction of their client’s abilities, as well as environmental factors. The purpose of this study was to survey features of the home and assistive technology (AT) for the home-bound elderly in the community of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Home evaluation included features inside and outside the home, and AT was based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) concept. Methods included observation and an interview that were used by the researcher for evaluation. The study found that every home had at least one hazardous home feature such as inappropriate width of the door, high door threshold, tall stair steps, no bedside rail, and inappropriate height of the toilet pan. AT was found in houses as general products and technology for personal use in daily living and for personal indoor and outdoor mobility as well as transportation. Therefore, home features and AT can afford the home-bound elderly independent living within the community. Perspective AT according to the ICF concept could provide a common language for ageing in place benefits.

Public Policies for the Development of Agroecosystems Resilient to Climate Change

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Mikery-Gutiérrez ◽  
A. Pérez-Vázquez ◽  
J.P. Martínez-Dávila ◽  
O. Ruiz-Rosado ◽  
J.C. García-Albardo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Theoretical Study ◽  
Public Policies ◽  
Agricultural System ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Factors Associated

Objective: Analyze public policies in Mexico facing climate change in agriculture that allow the development of resilient agroecosystems. Design/methodology/approach: An analysis of research on resilience to climate change in the agricultural and rural sectors, as well as analysis of literature on public policies formulated to climate change in the agricultural sector (period 2013-2019), was realized. Results: Multiple sources of resilience for agroecosystems are present. Policies could be oriented to identify such sources and to strengthen capacities according to different scales and contexts. There is the possibility of considering factors associated with the evolution of these systems to employ strategies that are consistent and that allow coordination between political levels. Limitations of the study/Implications: This is a theoretical study restricted to the available literature published until 2019. Findings/Conclusions: Public policies require integrating the perspective of the dynamics of the complex agricultural system and the multiple sources of resilience at different scales and contexts, articulating the development of resilient agroecosystems to climate change.

Empowerment of the ageing population: a contribution to active ageing

2017 ◽  
pp. 1251-1258
Author(s):  
Ina Voelcker ◽  
Alexandre Kalache
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Lifelong Learning ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
The Public ◽  
Policy Level ◽  
Prevention And Health Promotion ◽  
Definition Of

Empowerment is fundamental to release the potential generated by the longevity revolution and to actualize the concept of active ageing. It is a key component in the promotion and maintenance of health, the fostering of lifelong learning and social participation, as well as in the safeguarding of protection until the end of life. The definition of empowerment becomes more complex in the context of increasing numbers of the very old, with its frequent association with dementia and limited functional capacity. Active ageing highlights that ageing is a lifelong process firmly rooted in the ideas of health prevention and health promotion. Implicit to it, is the view that actions at both the personal and the public policy level are essential to optimize opportunities for people as they age.

scholarly journals The Spectrum of FANCM Protein Truncating Variants in European Breast Cancer Cases

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gisella Figlioli ◽  
Anders Kvist ◽  
Emma Tham ◽  
Jana Soukupova ◽  
Petra Kleiblova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Female Breast Cancer ◽  
Northern Europe ◽  
Southern Europe ◽  
Case Control Studies ◽  
The Third ◽  
Female Breast ◽  
Initial Spectrum ◽  
European Populations

Germline protein truncating variants (PTVs) in the FANCM gene have been associated with a 2–4-fold increased breast cancer risk in case-control studies conducted in different European populations. However, the distribution and the frequency of FANCM PTVs in Europe have never been investigated. In the present study, we collected the data of 114 European female breast cancer cases with FANCM PTVs ascertained in 20 centers from 13 European countries. We identified 27 different FANCM PTVs. The p.Gln1701* PTV is the most common PTV in Northern Europe with a maximum frequency in Finland and a lower relative frequency in Southern Europe. On the contrary, p.Arg1931* seems to be the most common PTV in Southern Europe. We also showed that p.Arg658*, the third most common PTV, is more frequent in Central Europe, and p.Gln498Thrfs*7 is probably a founder variant from Lithuania. Of the 23 rare or unique FANCM PTVs, 15 have not been previously reported. We provide here the initial spectrum of FANCM PTVs in European breast cancer cases.

scholarly journals The Usability Study of a Proposed Environmental Experience Design Framework for Active Ageing

Buildings ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masa Noguchi ◽  
Nan Ma ◽  
Catherine Woo ◽  
Hing-wah Chau ◽  
Jin Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Architectural Design ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Experience Design ◽  
Research Framework ◽  
Environmental Experience

Growing ageing population today may be necessitating building design decision makers to reconsider the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) standards in a way that accommodates senior occupants’ diverse and individual needs and demands. An experience design approach to rationalising and individualising end-user experience on how to utilise tangible products may serve to reflect user perceptions. Generally, architectural design practices tend to incorporate neither IEQ monitoring and analysis data, nor environmental experience design today. In response to the need for filling this gap, the authors of this paper conducted a feasibility study previously that led to structuring and defining an ‘Environmental Experience Design’ (EXD) research framework. Based on the previous case study on the collective spatial analysis and IEQ monitoring results, this paper further explored the usability and applicability of this proposed EXD framework particularly to the previously documented aged care facility in Victoria, Australia, which has been stressing active ageing agendas. This EXD framework usability experiment helped to build the capacity for engaging the subjectivity and objectivity of end users’ expectations, desires, and requirements in the architectural design thinking process. Nonetheless, due to the limitation of this initial and fundamental usability study’s resources and the objective, the necessity of adjusting the scale and scope of EXD analyses emerged. Moreover, the universality of this EXD research framework usage under various architectural typologies and user conditions yet require further attempts and investigations.

scholarly journals Molecular Quantification and Genetic Diversity of Toxigenic Fusarium Species in Northern Europe as Compared to Those in Southern Europe

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 162-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tapani Yli-Mattila ◽  
Sari Rämö ◽  
Veli Hietaniemi ◽  
Taha Hussien ◽  
Ana Carlobos-Lopez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Fusarium Species ◽  
Northern Europe ◽  
Southern Europe

scholarly journals A Comparative Analysis of Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction 2009 Certified Projects in Finland, Sweden, Turkey, and Spain

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetlana Pushkar
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Environmental Design ◽  
Northern Europe ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Southern Europe ◽  
Water Efficiency ◽  
European Regions ◽  
New Construction ◽  
The Difference

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is currently intensively applied in several European countries. The aims of the present study were to compare the difference between (i) two countries from the same region (i.e., Finland vs. Sweden or Turkey vs. Spain) and (ii) two European regions (northern Europe [Finland and Sweden] vs. [Turkey and Spain]) when the LEED- New Construction (NC) 2009 Certified rating level certified projects were analyzed. We found that, in the northern and southern parts of Europe, LEED- NC 2009 credit achievements in terms of Sustainable Sites (SS), Water Efficiency (WE), Materials and Resources (MR), and Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) were similar, whereas credit achievements in Energy and Atmosphere (EA) were different. High achievements were revealed in WE and SS, with values of 80–100% and 70–75%, respectively; intermediate achievements were revealed in EQ, with values of 40–60%; and low achievements were revealed in MR (20–40%). EA achievements were intermediate (60–65%) in northern Europe, while they were low in southern Europe (40%). This evidence can help recognize the categories that are performed with a high number of points and those that are performed with a low number of points.

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