scholarly journals Trends and trend reversal detection in 2 decades of tropospheric NO<sub>2</sub> satellite observations

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 6269-6294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aristeidis K. Georgoulias ◽  
Ronald J. van der A ◽  
Piet Stammes ◽  
K. Folkert Boersma ◽  
Henk J. Eskes
Keyword(s):  
Economic Recession ◽  
Western World ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Socioeconomic Changes ◽  
Tropospheric No2 ◽  
Environmental Protection Policies ◽  
Scanning Imaging ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Trend Reversal

Abstract. In this work, a ∼21-year global dataset from four different satellite sensors with a mid-morning overpass (GOME/ERS-2, SCIAMACHY/ENVISAT, GOME-2/Metop-A, and GOME-2/Metop-B) is compiled to study the long-term tropospheric NO2 patterns and trends. The Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) and GOME-2 data are “corrected” relative to the SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) data to produce a self-consistent dataset that covers the period April 1996–September 2017. The highest tropospheric NO2 concentrations are seen over urban, industrialized, and highly populated areas and over ship tracks in the oceans. Tropospheric NO2 has generally decreased during the last 2 decades over the industrialized and highly populated regions of the western world (a total decrease of the order of ∼49 % over the US, the Netherlands, and the UK; ∼36 % over Italy and Japan; and ∼32 % over Germany and France) and increased over developing regions (a total increase of ∼160 % over China and ∼33 % over India). It is suggested here that linear trends cannot be used efficiently worldwide for such long periods. Tropospheric NO2 is very sensitive to socioeconomic changes (e.g., environmental protection policies, economic recession, warfare, etc.) which may cause either short-term changes or even a reversal of the trends. The application of a method capable of detecting the year when a reversal of trends happened shows that tropospheric NO2 concentrations switched from positive to negative trends and vice versa over several regions around the globe. A country-level analysis revealed clusters of countries that exhibit similar positive-to-negative or negative-to-positive trend reversals, while 29 out of a total of 64 examined megacities and large urban agglomerations experienced a trend reversal at some point within the last 2 decades.

scholarly journals Trends and trend reversal detection in two decades of tropospheric NO<sub>2</sub> satellite observations

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aristeidis K. Georgoulias ◽  
Ronald J. van der A ◽  
Piet Stammes ◽  
K. Folkert Boersma ◽  
Henk J. Eskes
Keyword(s):  
Economic Recession ◽  
Western World ◽  
Developing Regions ◽  
Average Decrease ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Socioeconomic Changes ◽  
Tropospheric No2 ◽  
Satellite Sensors ◽  
Environmental Protection Policies ◽  
Trend Reversal

Abstract. In this work, a ~ 21-years self-consistent global dataset from four different satellite sensors with a mid-morning overpass (GOME/ERS-2, SCIAMACHY/ENVISAT, GOME-2/Metop-A and GOME-2/Metop-B) is compiled to study the long-term tropospheric NO2 patterns and trends. The GOME and GOME-2 data are corrected relative to the SCIAMACHY data in order to reproduce what SCIAMACHY would measure if it was in orbit for the period 4/1996–9/2017. The highest tropospheric NO2 concentrations are seen over urban, industrialized and highly populated areas and over ship tracks in the oceans. Tropospheric NO2 has generally decreased during the last two decades over the industrialized and highly populated regions of the Western World (e.g. average decrease of the order of ~ 49 % over the U.S., the Netherlands and the U.K., ~ 36 % over Italy and Japan and ~ 32 % over Germany and France) and increased over developing regions (e.g. average increase of ~ 160 % over China and ~ 33 % over India). It is suggested here that linear trends cannot be used efficiently worldwide for such long periods. Tropospheric NO2 is very sensitive to socioeconomic changes (e.g. environmental protection policies, economic recession, warfare, etc.) which may cause either short term changes or even a reversal of the trends. The application of a method capable of detecting the year when a reversal of trends happened shows that tropospheric NO2 concentrations switched from positive to negative trends and vice versa over several regions around the globe. A country-level analysis revealed clusters of countries that exhibit similar positive-to-negative or negative-to-positive reversals while 29 out of a total of 64 examined megacities and large urban agglomerations experienced a trend reversal at some point within the last two decades.

In search of better opportunities: transnational social workers in the UK navigating the maze of global and social mobility

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shereen Hussein
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Western World ◽  
International Mobility ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
Level Of Training ◽  
International Identity ◽  
The Uk

Social workers are increasingly becoming global professionals, both in utilising their professional qualifications as a means to achieve international mobility, and in the expectation of gaining an internationally transferable set of skills. However, there is a continued dilemma in defining such professional international identity due to contradictory processes of ‘indigenisation’, or the extent to which social work practice fits local contexts; ‘universalism’, finding commonalities across divergent contexts; and ‘imperialism’ where western world-views are privileged over local and Indigenous cultural perspectives (Gray, 2005). Many regard social work to be especially context-sensitive in that a good understanding of language and cultural clues is an essential element in the ability of workers to perform their work effectively. In that sense, while global professional mobility facilitates transnational social work (Hanna and Lyons, 2014), social work is not yet a global ‘common project’ and clear differences remain at the level of training, qualifications and practice (Weiss-Gal and Welbourne, 2008; Hussein, 2011, 2014).

The Legacy of Economic Recession in Terms of Over-Indebtedness: A Framework and Review of the Evidence

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-124
Author(s):  
Heikki Hiilamo
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rates ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Debt Crisis ◽  
Housing Price ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Oecd Countries ◽  
Mortgage Lending ◽  
Global Economic Crisis ◽  
Run Up ◽  
The Uk

With the expansion of credit, low interest rates and overly optimistic expectations about future economic and housing price developments, mortgage lending soared in most OECD countries in the run-up to the 2008 global economic crisis. The crisis revealed the hidden epidemic of over-indebtedness, which continues to overshadow the lives of millions in rich countries. In the wake of the global economic crisis, the household debt crisis led to worsening economic conditions and put pressure on government finances, which caused further income shocks in the form of austerity measures such as social welfare cuts and higher taxes. This article is based on a scoping review aimed at summarising and reflecting on the available literature. It analyses the effects of over-indebtedness on individuals and societies across six OECD countries: Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK and the US.

scholarly journals HEALTHY AGEING FOR ALL? SOCIOECONOMIC CHANGES OVER TIME IN DISABILITY-FREE AND INDEPENDENT LIFE EXPECTANCIES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S902-S902
Author(s):  
Holly Q Bennett ◽  
Fiona E Matthews ◽  
Louise Robinson ◽  
Lynne Corner ◽  
A Kingston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Area Deprivation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Socioeconomic Changes ◽  
Disadvantaged Women ◽  
Independent Life ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Changes Over Time

Abstract Background: Previous research using cross-sectional data shows widening inequalities in disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) by socioeconomic status (SES) in the UK. We aimed to understand the underlying transitions of DFLE and years dependency free (DepFLE) using longitudinal data from the Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies (CFAS I and CFAS II). Methods: Two large population based studies of those aged 65+ in three centres (Newcastle, Nottingham, Cambridgeshire) interviewed at baseline in 1991 (CFAS I) and 2011 (CFAS II) with follow up two years later. Disability was measured using difficulty in activities of daily living (ADL), and dependency by time between help required for ADLs. SES was based on area deprivation categorised into study specific tertiles. Transitions between disability or dependency states and death were modelled using Interpolated Markov Chain software. Results: Between 1991 and 2011, DFLE and disabled life expectancy (DLE) at age 65 increased for men in every SES group, with men being less likely to become disabled or die, and more likely to recover, in 2011 than 1991 across SES groups. For the most disadvantaged women, DFLE was similar, and DLE increased, whilst for the remaining women DFLE increased and DLE was similar. For women probability of recovery increased and probability of death from disability decreased but probability of becoming disabled decreased only for the most advantaged. DepFLE patterns across time were similar but more pronounced. Conclusion: Preventive measures should focus on reducing the disability and dependency onset in the most disadvantaged to ensure inequalities do not widen further.

Competing corporate sustainability perceptions in a global retail organization

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulf Elg ◽  
Jens Hultman ◽  
Axel Welinder
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Communication Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Strategic Issue ◽  
Retail Managers ◽  
The Uk

PurposeThe purpose is to explore the different and often contradictory perceptions individual managers have about corporate sustainability within a global retailer.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative case study method is used, including interviews and document studies. The authors study the global retailer IKEA. In total the authors have interviewed respondents on both the global level and the country level, within the sustainability organization as well as corporate, sales and communication management. The study includes managers in Sweden, the UK and Germany.FindingsThe research is based on institutional theory, focusing upon cognitive and normative aspects; the authors propose that managers may have a proactive, forceful view on sustainability or a reactive view. These need to coexist. The authors also show how global retailers can balance sustainability goals with other business considerations, as well as about the implications of the sustainability approach for the retailer's business model.Practical implicationsRetail managers need to recognize and integrate the contradictory views on sustainability that managers hold. The authors show how sustainability can be given different impact depending on the context and the strategic issue it is linked to.Originality/valueMost studies have focused on how sustainability is managed on an organizational level and how different goals can co-exist. The authors’ focus is on individual managers and their perceptions of sustainability – what it includes, how they want to manage sustainability issues, and the priority it should be given.

scholarly journals Recent satellite-based trends of tropospheric nitrogen dioxide over large urban agglomerations worldwide

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 1205-1220 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Schneider ◽  
W. A. Lahoz ◽  
R. van der A
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Dioxide ◽  
Regional Differences ◽  
Linear Trend ◽  
Urban Agglomerations ◽  
Seasonal Model ◽  
Tropospheric No2 ◽  
Small Set ◽  
Scanning Imaging ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Increasing Trends

Abstract. Trends in tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) columns over 66 large urban agglomerations worldwide have been computed using data from the SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) instrument onboard the Envisat platform for the period August 2002 to March 2012. A seasonal model including a linear trend was fitted to the satellite-based time series over each site. The results indicate distinct spatial patterns in trends. While agglomerations in Europe, North America, and some locations in East Asia/Oceania show decreasing tropospheric NO2 levels on the order of −5% yr−1, rapidly increasing levels of tropospheric NO2 are found for agglomerations in large parts of Asia, Africa, and South America. The site with the most rapidly increasing absolute levels of tropospheric NO2 was found to be Tianjin in China with a trend of 3.04 (±0.47) × 1015 molecules cm−2yr−1, whereas the site with the most rapidly increasing relative trend was Kabul in Afghanistan with 14.3 (±2.2) % yr−1. In total, 34 sites exhibited increasing trends of tropospheric NO2 throughout the study period, 24 of which were found to be statistically significant. A total of 32 sites showed decreasing levels of tropospheric NO2 during the study period, of which 20 sites did so at statistically significant magnitudes. Overall, going beyond the relatively small set of megacities investigated previously, this study provides the first consistent analysis of recent changes in tropospheric NO2 levels over most large urban agglomerations worldwide, and indicates that changes in urban NO2 levels are subject to substantial regional differences as well as influenced by economic and demographic factors.

scholarly journals National citation patterns ofNEJM,The Lancet,JAMAandThe BMJin the lay press: a quantitative content analysis

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. e018705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Casino ◽  
Roser Rius ◽  
Erik Cobo
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
New York Times ◽  
Western World ◽  
Quantitative Content Analysis ◽  
Medical Journals ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
Quantitative Content ◽  
The World ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Uk

ObjectivesTo analyse the total number of newspaper articles citing the four leading general medical journals and to describe national citation patterns.DesignQuantitative content analysis.Setting/sampleFull text of 22 general newspapers in 14 countries over the period 2008–2015, collected from LexisNexis. The 14 countries have been categorised into four regions: the USA, the UK, Western World (European countries other than the UK, and Australia, New Zealand and Canada) and Rest of the World (other countries).Main outcome measurePress citations of four medical journals (two American:NEJMandJAMA; and two British:The LancetandThe BMJ) in 22 newspapers.ResultsBritish and American newspapers cited some of the four analysed medical journals about three times a week in 2008–2015 (weekly mean 3.2 and 2.7 citations, respectively); the newspapers from other Western countries did so about once a week (weekly mean 1.1), and those from the Rest of the World cited them about once a month (monthly mean 1.1). The New York Times cited above all other newspapers (weekly mean 4.7). The analysis showed the existence of three national citation patterns in the daily press: American newspapers cited mostly American journals (70.0% of citations), British newspapers cited mostly British journals (86.5%) and the rest of the analysed press cited more British journals than American ones.The Lancetwas the most cited journal in the press of almost all Western countries outside the USA and the UK. Multivariate correspondence analysis confirmed the national patterns and showed that over 85% of the citation data variability is retained in just one single new variable: the national dimension.ConclusionBritish and American newspapers are the ones that cite the four analysed medical journals more often, showing a domestic preference for their respective national journals; non-British and non-American newspapers show a common international citation pattern.

scholarly journals WHY SOME HESITATE MORE: CROSS-CULTURAL VARIATION IN CONSPIRACY BELIEFS, BELIEF IN SCIENCE, AND VACCINE ATTITUDES

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gul Deniz Salali ◽  
Mete Sefa Uysal
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Relative Effect ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Cultural Variation ◽  
Vaccine Acceptance ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Conspiracy Beliefs ◽  
The Cross ◽  
The Uk

Background: Countries differ in their levels of vaccine hesitancy (a delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines), trust in vaccines, and acceptance of new vaccines. In this paper, we examine the factors contributing to the cross-cultural variation in vaccine attitudes, measured by levels of 1) general vaccine hesitancy, 2) trust in vaccines, and 3) COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Methods: We examined the relative effect of conspiracy mentality, belief in COVID-19 conspiracies, and belief in science on the above-mentioned vaccine attitudes in the UK (n= 1533), US (n= 1550), and Turkey (n= 1567) through a quota-sampled online survey to match the population for age, gender, ethnicity, and education level. Results: We found that belief in COVID-19 conspiracies and conspiracy mentality were the strongest predictors of general vaccine hesitancy across all three countries. Belief in science had the largest positive effect on general vaccine trust and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Although participants in Turkey demonstrated the lowest level of vaccine trust, their belief in science score was significantly higher than participants in the US, suggesting that belief in science cannot explain the cross-cultural variation in vaccine trust. The mean levels of conspiracy mentality and agreement with COVID-19 conspiracies were consistent with the country-level differences in general and COVID-19 vaccine attitudes. Demographic variables did not predict vaccine attitudes as much as belief in conspiracies and science. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that cross-cultural variation in vaccine hesitancy, vaccine trust, and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates are mainly driven by differences in the prevalence of conspiratorial thinking across countries.

scholarly journals Perceptions of an Insufficient Government Response at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic are Associated with Lower Mental Well-Being

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thiemo Fetzer ◽  
Marc Witte ◽  
Lukas Hensel ◽  
Jon Jachimowicz ◽  
Johannes Haushofer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Variation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Government Response ◽  
Country Level ◽  
The World ◽  
Large Scale Survey ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Mental Well Being

We conducted a large-scale survey covering 58 countries (N = 108,075) at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic—between March 20th and April 7th 2020—to explore how beliefs about citizens’ and government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the actions taken by governments, affected mental well-being. Our analyses reveal three findings. First, many respondents indicate that their country’s citizens and government’s response was insufficient. Second, respondents’ perception of an insufficient public and government response was associated with lower mental well-being. Third, we exploit time variation in country-level lockdown announcements, both around the world and through an event-study in the UK, and find that strong government actions—i.e., announcing a nationwide lockdown—were related to an improvement in respondents’ views of their fellow citizens and government, and to better mental well-being. These findings suggest that policy-makers may not only need to consider how their decisions affect the spread of COVID-19, but also how such choices influence the mental well-being of their population.

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