Nordic Type Research Articles

Size selectivity of standardized multimesh gillnets in sampling coarse European species

We studied gillnet selectivity by using a direct method to compare fish-size distributions from gillnet catches (Nordic type, mesh size range 5–135 mm, knot-to-knot, factor between adjacent mesh sizes 1.25) with a reference distribution obtained using beach seines for fry and adult fish (net length 10, 40 and 50 m, mesh size 1, 6 and 10 mm, respectively) in five Czech reservoirs. Target species were roach Rutilus rutilus (L.), perch Perca fluviatilis L. and rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus (L.). The most common pattern of difference in fish-size distributions between the two gears was that more 0+ and 1+ year old fish were caught by beach seines and slightly higher proportions of larger fish were observed in gillnet catches. For the three species, gillnets were unable to enmesh fish smaller than approximately 40 mm in standard length. We developed average species-specific corrections that increased proportions of 0+ and 1+ year old fish and decreased proportions of larger fish. However, the average correction gave corrected size distributions that were biased in about 20% of cases. We also applied Kurkilahti’s correction given in European Standard EN 14 757, but it had a negligible effect on reducing the bias in size distributions. Future research is needed to develop more accurate corrections for size distributions, otherwise interpreting results from gillnet sampling can be very misleading especially for those including data on 0+ and 1+ year old fish.

Corporate responsibility reporting by large pulp and paper companies

The forest-based industry has a crucial role in global sustainable development because of its unique raw material basis and increasing internationalisation. Using institutional organisation theory as a background this paper analyses corporate responsibility reporting in the world's ten largest pulp and paper companies, representing 25% of global production capacity. The studied companies have their headquarters in Japan, the Nordic countries or North America, and have very different geographical and cultural bases and variable company product portfolios ranging from wood-based products and printing papers to packaging boards and consumer goods. Both quantitative and qualitative economic, environmental and social metrics from the annual and social responsibility reports of the companies were analysed regarding institutionalised, culture-specific and company-specific characteristics. The results showed that regulated financial and environmental reporting leaves little flexibility for company-specific diversification in reporting. Only a few regional characteristics were identified, mainly in social responsibility reporting, while the reporting largely reflected a general North American–Nordic type of corporate responsibility and the globalisation trend of the studied companies. Regardless of the many challenges in the assessment of corporate responsibility, the concepts discussed in this paper are potentially useful tools for helping to achieve sustainable development in the pulp and paper industry.

The Economics of Immigration into a Nordic Welfare State - And a Comparison to an Immigration State and a Guest Worker State

This paper examines the economic and related consequences of immigration from a less developed country (LDC) to a developed country (DC) in three different stylized cases: A guest worker society of the Dubai type, an immigrant society of the US type, and a tax-based welfare state with institutions of the Nordic type. In the Dubai type case it appears that mutually beneficial decisions can be made, and the same applies to a degree in the US type case. However, in the Nordic type evolved welfare case, immigration is only an advantage for the immigrant, especially one with less marketable skills, while it is a disadvantage for the natives. This poses an additional threat to the continuation of this type of welfare state.

A study on the meaning and role of “Nordic type” Consumer Education

A study on the meaning and role of “Nordic type” Consumer Education

CONCEPT OF DYNAMIC LIQUID FOAM INSULATION FOR GREENHOUSE INSULATION AND THE ASSESSMENT OF ITS ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCES

CONCEPT OF DYNAMIC LIQUID FOAM INSULATION FOR GREENHOUSE INSULATION AND THE ASSESSMENT OF ITS ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCES

04/01134 Disclosure of electricity products — lessons from consumer research as guidance for energy policy: Markard, J. and Holt, E. Energy Policy, 2003, 31, (14), 1459–1474

Recently, many countries have introduced systems of tradable green certificates (TGCs) in order to increase the proportion of their electricity supply obtained from renewable sources. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the analytics of a TGC system of the Nordic type when integrated within several countries and to determine what can be expected from the system when applied in a real world setting. Both an analytical and a partial equilibrium version of the model are applied. In particular, we ask whether it is possible to derive analytically clear-cut results with respect to how the system affects generation of electricity from renewable resources, and from carbon emitting resources, in the same way as it is possible for other known policy instruments such as an emission permit system or a plain carbon emission tax. A key result is that TGCs may be an imprecise instrument for regulating the generation of green electricity and that the combination of TGCs with a system of tradable emission permits may yield outcomes contrary to the intended purpose.

Effect of Screening in the Nordic Cancer Control up to the Year 2017

The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of screening for cancer on mortality, quality of life and cost in the Nordic countries up to 2017. Data from the Nordic Cancer Registries were used to predict, by means of the age-period cohort models, cancer mortality assuming no screening, the screening actually practised and most effective screening observed. Cost of screening was assessed assuming the cost of breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening per person as well as treatment, follow-up and terminal care by stage. The results were adjusted for quality of life directly associated with screening and indirectly induced as dementia by the prolongation of life. Ultimately, in the year 2017 screening will prevent about 4 000 deaths in the Nordic countries, most (91%) cervical cancer and a smaller proportion of breast cancer (18%) and colorectal cancer (18%) deaths are preventable. This is equal to 5.7% among all potential cancer deaths in 2017, which corresponds to about one life year gained due to all cancer screening per 1 000 years lived by the Nordic population in 2017. Adjustment for quality of life may at most reduce the benefit by about 20%. The cost of screening for breast cancer is expensive, that for cervical cancer is likely to be cost saving, and cost of screening for colorectal cancer may occupy an intermediate position. It is concluded that about 6% of the cancer deaths in the Nordic countries can be prevented by screening. This figure is fully realistic given the Nordic type of organized screening programmes, whereas many other predictions affecting cancer burden are more speculative.

The Early Middle Ages necropolis of Collecchio (Parma). Human remains

The present study examines the skeletal remains found in the necropolis of Collecchio (Parma) and belonging to the Early Middle Ages (VII century A.D.). The buried population is represented by at least 154 individuals: 64 infants, 13 youths, and 77 adults (36 males, 25 females). It should be noted the high infant mortality (42%). The mean age at death of the inhumated in Collecchio is about 24.5 years. the following characteristics were observed: stenomorphic and medium-low skulls with low and wide forehead, very prominent supraorbital ridges, glabella and occiput. As regards the post-cranial skeleton the characteristics are the following: eurybraky, euroleny, eurymery and eurycnemy. The stature is medium-tall for males and tall for females. According to such characteristics it is also possible to recognize in Collecchio a prevalence of subjects referable to the Nordic type, and to a lesser degree, to the Mediterranian and Alpine type.

Devaluations and Employment in the Economic Policy of the Nordic Countries - Some Reflections on the Finnish Experience

The small open economies of the Nordic type (Sweden, Norway and Finland, in particular) have close similarities as far as their economic structure and institutions are concerned. They are all heavily dependent on foreign trade; their exports are quite highly concentrated and cyclically sensitive; the labour market partners are well organized and the wage-setting institutions are fairly similar; economic policy priorities are also rather close to one another, with heavy emphasis on employment, growth and external balance.Against this background of structural similarities, one cannot help but notice that there are clear systematic and persistent differences in the economic policy mixes adopted by these countries. Notwithstanding the fact that these differences are partly explained by different political coalitions, different traditions of economic policy thinking etc, it is worth analyzing the contents of these differences as such and assessing their effects on the economic performance of different Nordic countries. This is what the present paper attempts to do from a certain restricted perspective. In particular, it highlights the peculiarities of the Finnish policy mix.

Observations of palsas within the continuous permafrost zone in eastern Siberia and in Svalbard

Akerman H. Jonas: Observations of paisas within the continuous permafrost zone in eastern Siberia and in Svalbard. Geografisk Tidsskrift 82: 45–51, Copenhagen, October 15, 1982. Observations from the area north of Chernychevsky, Yakutia, USSR (63° N 112°E) are described. In the area several paisa bogs of a »Nordic type«, containing well developed paisas of the dome, plateau and complex types, are found. In Svalbard four types of palsa-like features has been observed, including: 1) »Traditional paisas«, 2) injection ice turf mounds, 3) active layer turf mounds and 4) vegetative turf mounds.

Research Items

Woolly Hair in a Nordic Pedigree. An interesting case of an apparent mutation in hair character inherited as a simple Mendelian dominant through five generations in a Norwegian family has been described by Dr. O. L. Mohr (J. Hered., vol. 23, No. 9). The hair is woolly or ulotrichous and short, closely resembling that of a negro but densely set. The individuals are otherwise of Nordic type and colouring, and all the circumstances render any crossing in the ancestry highly improbable. The descent is from a woman who married twice and left woolly-haired individuals in both lines of descent, the sibships numbering 38 woolly, 42 non-woolly and 3 unknown. The parents and grandparents of this woman are known, but not their hair characters. The woolly hair is flattened or kidney-shaped in cross-section and shows only traces of a medulla. It only reaches the length of negroid hair but is light in colour. This appears illuminating in regard to the origin of the ulotrichous races of mankind, as such hair is also dominant in racial crosses. The similarity cannot, however, be pressed too far, since in negro crosses the later generations show various degrees of the woolly condition. Nevertheless it helps to indicate how the ulotrichous character may have arisen, possibly independently, in Negro and Melanesian.

The Passing of the Great Race; or, The Racial Basis of European History

IN this work Mr. Grant takes up a theme which was broached by Dr. Gustav Retzius in his Huxley lecture to the Royal Anthropological Institute in 1909. In speaking of the two competing types of Europeanthe—tall, long-headed, blue-eyed Nordic type, and the short, round-headed, dark-eyed Alpine type—Dr. Retzius expressed himself thus:— The Passing of the Great Race; or, The Racial Basis of European History. By Madison Grant. Pp. xxi + 245. (London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1917.) Price 8s. 6d. net.