Time Frame Set Research Articles

Advanced Traffic Management System

Abstract: Traffic Management is one of the major issues which is arising rapidly because of significant increase in number of vehicles. To address this there is the need of a smart traffic management system which will enable the smooth traffic flow. Today there are traffic signals which work on the timeframe setting and switch signals after the certain fixed time frame. This system works but a problem arises that is if within the timeframe if the lane becomes empty before the time ends then the signal will not immediately switch as it will complete the timeframe and then switch according to its default setting

Accuracy of Artificial Intelligence Models in the Prediction of Periodontitis: A Systematic Review.

Periodontitis is the main cause of tooth loss and is related to many systemic diseases. Artificial intelligence (AI) in periodontics has the potential to improve the accuracy of risk assessment and provide personalized treatment planning for patients with periodontitis. This systematic review aims to examine the actual evidence on the accuracy of various AI models in predicting periodontitis. Using a mix of MeSH keywords and free text words pooled by Boolean operators ('AND', 'OR'), a search strategy without a time frame setting was conducted on the following databases: Web of Science, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, and IEEE Explore. The QUADAS-2 risk of bias assessment was then performed. From a total of 961 identified records screened, 8 articles were included for qualitative analysis: 4 studies showed an overall low risk of bias, 2 studies an unclear risk, and the remaining 2 studies a high risk. The most employed algorithms for periodontitis prediction were artificial neural networks, followed by support vector machines, decision trees, logistic regression, and random forest. The models showed good predictive performance for periodontitis according to different evaluation metrics, but the presented methods were heterogeneous. AI algorithms may improve in the future the accuracy and reliability of periodontitis prediction. However, to date, most of the studies had a retrospective design and did not consider the most modern deep learning networks. Although the available evidence is limited by a lack of standardized data collection and protocols, the potential benefits of using AI in periodontics are significant and warrant further research and development in this area. The use of AI in periodontics can lead to more accurate diagnosis and treatment planning, as well as improved patient education and engagement. Despite the current challenges and limitations of the available evidence, particularly the lack of standardized data collection and analysis protocols, the potential benefits of using AI in periodontics are significant and warrant further research and development in this area.

Nurturing youth film literacy: Post-qualitative arts-based inquiry into critical self-awareness

Post-digital, as a timeframe set, raises specific concerns for young adults engaged in artistic and cultural activities, seeking to establish a sustainable livelihood within a semi-rural South African context. They grapple with issues such as determining their positionality within a world marked by fading boundaries between the physical and digital. To better understand the post-digital impact on experiential learning opportunities for young adults, the authors explored the specific ways and extent to which active engagement in shortfilm-making contributes to developing critical self-awareness among the participating post-school youth. An assemblage of transformative theories and concepts, rather than pre-determined methodologies, guided this inquiry that extended beyond the development of career and workplace competencies. The strengths of spaciousness and in-between boundary positions provided by the spider’s thread metaphor served as a useful methodological tool. Moving beyond the limitations of traditional discourse and content analysis, multimodal discourse analysis in combination with a modified, six-category measuring instrument was used to explore (analyse) the evidence (data) created as products of active participant engagement in a shortfilm-making project, over a 10-month period in 2020. Findings revealed that, for the participants, it was by moving from physical self-centred understandings of reality to experiential creations of authentic reality (shortfilm-productions) and involving an expanded awareness of those alternative possibilities that nurtured their potential transpersonal growth.Transdisciplinary Contribution: A synthesis of arts-based, post-qualitative and developmental phenomenographic approaches was employed to create, explore and communicate evidence in ways that present a holistic picture of alternative pathways to knowledge production.

The Feasibility of Achieving Objectives of the Euro 7 Standards in the Baltic Countries

Abstract Today, the concept of sustainability covers an increasing number of business areas. The transport sector is one of the largest contributors to air pollution in the world today but still plays a fundamental role in Europe’s economic growth. Finding the optimum balance between achieving sustainability objectives and boosting the performance of the transport sector is essential to avoid undermining Europe’s economic activity and growth prospects. One of the main tools for promoting environmental, social and economic sustainability is the EURO 7 standards, which have the most significant impact on the transport sector, and which aim to minimise carbon emissions by phasing out the production of combustion-engined cars by 2035, set stricter emission standards and introduce various emission control mechanisms. Each EU country has ambitious carbon minimisation goals. However, the current vehicle fleet structure analysis of the EU countries shows negative past and future trends in terms of sustainability factors. The goal of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of achieving the carbon minimisation objectives of the EURO 7 standards in the Baltic countries within the timeframe set. In order to achieve this goal, the structure of the Baltic countries vehicle fleets was analysed in terms of sustainability parameters and the transport sector expert forecasts of achieving the carbon minimisation objectives of the EURO 7 standards in the Baltic countries were collected.

МІСЦЕ ПРОЦЕСУ УПРАВЛІННЯ ПРОЕКТАМИ В СТРАТЕГІЇ РОЗВИТКУ ПІДПРИЄМСТВ

Project management plays a key role in the activity of any business entity, as it ensures the coordination of necessary decisions regarding project goals, planning, and personnel. The process of project management has significantly developed with the growth of the IT industry, in which all companies have a project manager who is responsible for the timely and effective implementation of certain projects. At the same time, project management is important in all enterprises, since the activity of any enterprise can be considered as a continuous process of implementation of certain project decisions.
 The purpose of the article is to systematize approaches to determining the essence and features of the project management process.
 The implementation of the strategy involves the formation of a number of tactical tasks, which in their essence are certain projects of the enterprise. The work systematizes approaches to determining the essence of the project management process. It was determined that the process of project management is quite important in the process of forming the development strategy of all economic entities, as it affects the efficiency of operations, strategic development. Project management is the process of managing material, financial, and labor resources aimed at achieving a predetermined goal within the time frame set in the project. There are different approaches to the classification of projects, in particular by types, scales, complexity, sources of financing, terms of implementation, nature and scope of activity, status of participants, branch affiliation. The main differences between the projects and the current activities of the enterprise are considered.

Етнофармакология и фитохимия на някои представители на рода Prunus

Representatives of the Prunus genera, found in almost every country and continent, have been recognized not only for their delicious fruits and nuts, but also because of their beneficial properties. To date, numerous cultivars have been phytochemically studied, leading to the identification of various compounds including terpenes, tannins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, carotenoids, fatty acids, and so on. Pharmacological studies on Prunus species have also revealed a variety of bioactive potentials including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, brain protecting, and other evidence based uses. This review covers articles, retrieved from scientific databases, using “Prunus” as search term (“all fields”) and with a specific time frame set for search. Information about Prunus amygdalus, Prunus armeniaca, Prunus cerasifera, Prunus persica, Prunus domestica, Prunus avium, and Prunus cerasus was selected and summarized giving information about their ethnopharmacological uses, isolated phytochemicals, and pharmacological activities.

865 Reducing Delays in Cholecystectomy Surgery of Patients Admitted with Gallstone-Related Disease Within Gold Standard Time Frame Set Out By NICE

Abstract Introduction As per NICE guidelines, Cholecystectomy Quality Improvement Collaborative (Chole-QuIC) aims for 80% of eligible patients with gallstone-related disease to receive their cholecystectomy within 8 days of presentation1. Only 63.6% of eligible patients at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) had their surgery within the target time. This project was done to identify the reasons behind ELHT not achieving the set target and to implement changes to overcome this. Method This was a retrospective review of a prospectively collected data of 444 patients from the ELHT Chole-QuIC database (July 2019-November 2020). Data were analysed in three periods: initial period (July 2019-November 2019), pre-COVID-19 period (December 2019-February 2020), COVID-19 period (March 2020-November 2020). Time to surgery was established. If the 8-day target was not met, reasons behind the delay were recorded. Results During the first cycle, the main reasons delays included the patients being temporarily unfit (13.8%), insufficient theatre capacity (13.8%) and variations in treatment plans (11.32%). 8% of patients had re-admissions related to their gallstone disease. Changes were implemented forward included a clear local gallstone disease management pathway and CholeQuIC referral system, increasing theatre capacity, and allocating pre-operative assessment slots. Gold standard cholecystectomy target period improved from 63.6% to 67.4% within three months of changes. However, the figure drastically reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic (36.3%) as elective surgeries were temporarily suspended. Conclusions The implementation of a gallstone disease management pathway, a coordinated referral system and additional theatre capacity contributed to the increase in cholecystectomies that were performed within the 8-day national target period.

Challenges to effective governance in a low income healthcare system: a qualitative study of stakeholder perceptions in Malawi

BackgroundAll countries face challenging decisions about healthcare coverage. Malawi has committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, the timeframe set out by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As in other low income countries, scarce resources stand in the way of more equitable health access and quality in Malawi. Its health sector is highly dependent on donor contributions, and recent poor governance of government-funded healthcare saw donors withdraw funding, limiting services and resources. The 2017 National Health Plan II and accompanying Health Strategic Plan II identify the importance of improved governance and strategies to achieve more effective cooperation with stakeholders. This study explores health sector stakeholders’ perceptions of the challenges to improving governance in Malawi’s national health system within the post-2017 context of government attempts to articulate a way forward.MethodsA qualitative study design was used. Interviews were conducted with 22 representatives of major international and faith-based non-government organisations, civil society organisations, local government and government-funded organisations, and governance bodies operating in Malawi. Open questions were asked about experiences and perceptions of the functioning of the health system and healthcare decision-making. Content relating to healthcare governance was identified in the transcripts and field notes and analysed using inductive content analysis.ResultsStakeholders view governance challenges as a significant barrier to achieving a more effective and equitable health system. Three categories were identified: accountability (enforceability; answerability; stakeholder-led initiatives); health resource management (healthcare financing; drug supply); influence in decision-making (unequal power; stakeholder engagement).ConclusionsHealth sector stakeholders see serious political, structural, and financial challenges to improving governance in the national health system in Malawi which will impact the government’s goal of achieving UHC by 2030. Stakeholders identify the need for improved oversight, implementation, service delivery and social accountability of government-funded service providers to communities. Eighteen months after the introduction of the policy documents, they see little evidence of improved governance and have little or no confidence in the government’s ability to deliver UHC. The difficulties stakeholders perceive in relation to building equitable and effective healthcare governance in Malawi have relevance for other resource-limited countries which have also committed to the goal of UHC.

Health Technology Assessment of Drugs in Ireland: An Analysis of Timelines.

BackgroundThe National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) is commissioned by the Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit of the Health Service Executive (HSE-CPU) to assess the evidence for the comparative effectiveness and cost effectiveness of drugs for use by patients in Ireland. All new drugs are required to undergo rapid review (RR) appraisal by the NCPE. Following this, high-cost drugs or those predicted to have a significant budget impact then undergo a full health technology assessment (HTA) appraisal by the NCPE.ObjectiveThe objective of this paper was to quantify each stage of the timeline from marketing authorisation (MA) to completion of HTA appraisal and explore the association between submission features and the time to appraise RRs and HTAs.MethodsAll RRs and HTAs submitted to the NCPE (2015–2017 inclusive) were included in the dataset. Several dates and features of each submission were also listed for the purpose of analysis.ResultsA total of 158 RR and 49 HTA appraisals were completed by the NCPE between 2015 and 2017. The median time from MA to submission of RR was 59 days; the median time to appraise RR was 31.5 days. Only 49% of RRs appraised (2015–2017 inclusive) were recommended for HTA. The median time from RR decision to submission of HTA was 115 days, and the median time taken by the NCPE to appraise an HTA was 131 days.ConclusionThis paper identifies which stages of the process make a substantial contribution to the HTA timeline. Time to submission of RR varied widely between submissions, with only a few companies choosing to submit prior to an MA being granted. The average RR appraisal time was in line with the 4-week timeframe set out in a 2016 agreement. The time to appraise an HTA was longer than the 90-day timeframe.

التخطیط لتمکین جماعات الضغط المجتمعی من المشارکة فی صنع القرار التعلیمی فی ضوء استراتیجیة 2030 لتطویر التعلیم العالی بمصر

ملخص عربى : تسعى مصر إلى بناء نظام تعليمي عصري يواکب تطلعاتها نحو مستقبل واعد، يمکنها من مواجهة کافة التحديات وکافة الأزمات التي تحيط بها على کافة الأصعدة المحلية والإقليمية والعالمية، ولذلک وضعت مصر رؤيتها للتنمية المستدامة 2030 وأفردت مساحات منها للحديث عن مستقبل التعليم العالي فى مصر حتى عام 2030 متناولة أسس الإصلاح وآلياته ومتطلباته وکل هذا في إطار استراتيجي يرسم لمصر مستقبلا واعدا في ظل الاستقرار السياسي والأمني والاقتصادي الذي شهدته مصر بعد عام 2013 خصوصا مع سعي قوى الضغط المجتمعي لأن يکون لها دور بارز في صياغة مستقبل مصر التعليمي الجامعي في إطار من المشارکة والمواءمة مع الدولة.وتمثلت مشکلة البحث في التساؤل الرئيس التالي:کيف يمکن التخطيط لتمکين جماعات الضغط المجتمعي من المشارکة في صنع القرار التعليمي في ضوء استراتيجية 2030 لتطوير التعليم العالي بمصر؟استهدف البحث إلى:تعرف الإطار المفاهيمي لجماعات الضغط المجتمعي في مصر، وأسس مشارکتها في صنع القرار والأطر العامة لتطوير منظومة التعليم العالي في مصر وفق رؤية 2030 وصولا إلى بناء رؤية مستقبلية تمکن جماعات الضغط المجتمعي في المشارکة في صناعة القرار التعليمي بمصر فيما يخص إصلاح سياسات التعليم الجامعي وفق رؤية 2030.تناول البحث إطار نظريا: تناول استعراض مفهوم قوى الضغط وأسس مشارکتها في صنع القرار التربوي، واستعراض رؤية مصر 2030 للإصلاح التعليمي العالي وکيف يمکن لجماعات الضغط أن تمارس أدوارا فاعلة في تنفيذ هذه الرؤية المستقبلية.وتناول البحث إطار ميدانيا: اعتمد على المقابلة المفتوحة مع عينة من السادة المعنيين بالمستقبل التعليمي لمصر في ضوء استراتيجية 2030 للتعليم العالي وقدم البحث تصورا مقترحا لتمکين جماعات الضغط المجتمعي من المشارکة في صنع القرار التعليمي في ضوء استراتيجية مصر 2030 لتطوير التعليم العالي. ملخص انجليزى : The current research aims to set a proposed perception to enable social-press groups to participate in the process of educational decision making in the light of Egyptian- strategy 2030 for developing higher education in Egypt, and to achieve this aim it uses the descriptive method, The results of the study indicated that :The formulation of the plan is very far from the accepted principles of strategic planning and is only a set of guidelines and aspirations that are absolute general, The objectives set out in the plan are unrealistic, since it is impossible to achieve many of the objectives set in accordance with the time frame set for them.

Examining Global Occurrence Of Complications Related To Peripheral Iv Catheters Using A Focused Literature Review

The peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) is one of the world’s most frequently used medical devices, with an estimated annual volume of 2 billion units sold globally. This study aimed at acquiring a holistic understanding of publications investigating PIVC-related complications worldwide by conducting a literature review and preliminary data analysis. A systematic literature review, using key terminologies in the PubMed advanced search engine, was executed with timeframe set to 2005 onwards. Key articles outside the analytical framework were added by clinical experts in the Becton Dickinson (BD) catheter team. Complications examined in this review included catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI), catheter-related infections, bacteremia, occlusion, thrombosis, phlebitis, infiltration, extravasation, and dislodgement. The initial review identified 13,251 articles written in English and 11 additional articles were contributed by the BD internal repository. 985 articles were excluded before full-text examination with key outcomes other than PIVC-related complications, and/or with nonhuman subjects. Ultimately, 84 articles met inclusion criteria with data available for extraction, while the remaining 12,277 did not. PIVC-related complication rate was described under three units: % of catheters, % of patients, and per 1,000 catheter days. Complication rate in the same unit were weighted with study sample size and reported as weighed averages and are as follows: CRBSI: 4.33%, catheter related infections: 4.12%, bacteremia: 9.32%, occlusion: 6.87%, thrombosis: 7.00%, phlebitis: 13.60%, infiltration: 31.49%, extravasation: 5.30%, and dislodgement: 5.70%. Outliers include the neonatal population and a healthcare facility inside a developing nation. Complication rates under % patients and per 1,000 catheter days also showed similar burden. Given the widespread use of PIVCs, magnitude and implications of PIVC-related complications might be understated. As use of PIVCs continues to increase due to aging populations and prevalence of chronic diseases, more in-depth analyses and real-world studies are needed to understand and confirm actual burden.

Importance & Significance of Damages as a Remedy for Breach of Contract

Where a party performing a contract does not do so to the standard required by the contract or within the time frame set, that party is said to have committed breach of contract. A contract, being a fountainhead of a correlative set of rights and obligations for the parties would be of no value, if there were no remedies to enforce the rights arising thereunder. The party committing breach of contract is known as the ‘guilty party’ and the other party is known as the ‘injured’ or ‘aggrieved’ party. The latin maxim ‘ubi jus, ibi remedium’ denotes ‘where there is a right, there is a remedy’. The word ‘damages’ means monetary compensation for loss suffered. Whenever a breach of contract takes place, the remedy of damages is the one that comes to mind immediately as the consequence of breach. A breach of contract may put the aggrieved party to some disadvantage or inconvenience or may cause a loss to him. The court would desire the guilty party to accept responsibility for any such loss of the aggrieved party and compensate him adequately. The quantum of damages is determined by the magnitude of loss caused by the breach. Damages are meant to compensate the injured party for any consequences of the breach of contract. The underlying principle is to put the injured party financially as near as possible, into the position he would have been in had the promise been fulfilled.

Perspectives on Learning and Business Plans—More in Common Than Meets the Eye

In 2010, Palo Alto Software performed a survey of 2877 people and found that those who completed business plans were nearly twice as likely to successfully grow their businesses or obtain capital as those who did not write a plan.1 Thus, a business plan increases individuals' likelihood of success.2,3 Along the same vein, why would you embark on developing a skill or competency or better some aspect of your learning without developing a learning plan? The self-regulated learner would argue that you would not, and although a learning plan does not guarantee success, it can increase the likelihood of achieving your learning goals.4,–6 This article explores the components of structured learning plans, illustrating that they have more in common with business plans than first meets the eye. Whether you are in a mentor role, helping learners think through a plan, or a learner role, trying to change or redirect your own learning, a plan can provide an organized way of approaching the task. The motivations behind the development of a business plan are myriad but often revolve around issues of starting or redirecting a venture and addressing an issue of limited resources or expenditure of capital in the form of equipment, material costs, and development of a new technology or renovation. In all instances, the underlying theme is the management of change. Learning plans also focus on change. They frequently revolve around such areas as development of a new skill, mastery of a new subject, or addressing a targeted area for improvement. In other words, learning plans often focus on self-regulated learning, “renovating” oneself in a targeted learning area and trying to address the issue of one's personal limitations. The advantages to both types of plans lie in the formal analysis of one's current situation, determining pros and cons of initiating change, assessing requisite resources, creating action, and monitoring progress throughout implementation. The goal is to create a situation that affords one the best chance to succeed. Cohn and Schwartz7 outline typical components of a business plan in their review on the subject for a physician leadership audience. The table compares the components of a learning plan to a business plan and provides an example of how the process might play out. Although the components are presented in a numerical order, many of these may be completed simultaneously and at times in different order. TABLE Typical Components of a Business Plana Versus Learning Plan

Evaluation of the programme for long-term operation for safety requirements during operational safety

The programme for long-term operation (LTO) in the nuclear power plant (NPP) installations is one of the essential nuclear safety concerns. It may be defined as an operation beyond an established time frame set forth by, for example, licence term, design, standards, licence and/or regulations, which has been justified by safety assessment, with consideration given to life-limiting processes and features of systems, structures and components (SSCs). The objective of this paper is to provide evaluation and information on key technical considerations and activities to ensure safe LTO of pressurised power plants in accordance with regulatory requirements. We study the case of VVER-440/213 units at Paks NPP, Hungary, which is limited to the design lifetime of 30 years. Prolongation by additional 20 years of the operational lifetime is feasible. Paks NPP is a pioneer considering the power uprate and preparation of LTO of the VVER-440/213 design. Systematic preparatory work for LTO of Paks NPP has been started in 2000. This paper takes into account approaches, practices and experience of IAEA member states pursuing LTO. It aims to support the operating organisations in demonstrating the safety of their NPPs during LTO and the regulatory bodies in verifying their safety.

Legal and Institutional Challenges of Economic Integration in Africa

AbstractThere is a plethora of economic integration arrangements on the African continent and almost all African countries belong to more than one economic integration group. The African Union (AU), which was established in 2001, and which took over from the failed Organisation of African Unity, attempts to consolidate economic integration arrangements in Africa within one structure. Although this appears simple on paper, there are huge legal and institutional challenges and questions arise as to whether an African‐wide economic integration arrangement can be achieved within the time frame set for this in the African Economic Community (AEC) Treaty. This paper assesses the legal and institutional challenges facing the AU/AEC agenda.

Direct renin inhibition: an evaluation of the safety and tolerability of aliskiren

ABSTRACTBackground: Aliskiren, an antihypertensive drug approved in the United States and Europe, is the first in a new class known as direct renin inhibitors. Aliskiren has been evaluated for safety and tolerability in more than 6400 patients. It has demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile alone or in combination with other drugs.Objective: This article reviews the currently available safety and tolerability data for aliskiren.Methodology: Using the search term aliskiren, MEDLINE (no timeframe set) and major cardiovascular congresses (2005–2008) were searched. Articles and abstracts with safety and drug interaction data were included.Findings: Aliskiren may share common adverse effects observed with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy. In placebo-controlled trials, those commonly reported for aliskiren at the approved dosage were headache, diarrhea, and fatigue, with incidences similar to those of placebo. Aliskiren has been well tolerated in black, geriatric, diabetic, or obese patients and patients with renal or hepatic impairment. Aliskiren neither inhibits nor induces the cytochrome P450 system; it does not inhibit P-glycoprotein, but is a substrate for this drug transporter. Adding a direct renin inhibitor to another renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitor may further improve cardiovascular outcomes, renal outcomes, or both, without increasing the incidence of adverse effects.Conclusions: Aliskiren is well tolerated, has an adverse effect profile comparable to that of placebo, and has a low potential for drug interactions. Data from ongoing trials evaluating the effects of aliskiren on surrogate markers, morbidity, and mortality will further define the role of direct renin inhibition in the antihypertensive armamentarium.

Problem drug users and assault

Comments on an article by Problem drug use and by J. Neale, M. Bloor, and C. Weir, (see record 2005-16593-005). The authors acknowledge that their study does not address the 'circumstances' of the assault nor 'the relationships between the involved parties'. Practitioners need to be knowledgeable about the dynamics of abuse, be equipped with the knowledge, skills and support as well as the ability to question how the person's experiences are linked to their substance use. The authors state that assault was 'self-defined' which means that each respondent would have interpreted 'assault' differently based on their learning and experiences. In the case of domestic abuse, even women who suffer severe forms of torture and abuse, will often not identify as experiencing 'domestic violence'. Another issue raised by this study is the time-frame set for reported experiences of assault. The authors suggest more qualitative research is needed. It is important to hear the views of the people who suffer or perpetrate violence. They highlight the need for drug treatment settings to address service users' violent tendencies or victimization. There is a need to acknowledge gender differences in terms of the historical context of violence and abuse and the subsequent implications this has for 'strategies for addressing' assault from a treatment perspective. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)

Using the Cayman Islands and Other Offshore Jurisdictions for Securitization Transactions

There has been continued growth in the use of the Cayman Islands and other offshore jurisdictions for securitization transactions. Sponsors analyze several factors when structuring a securitization transaction and selecting an appropriate jurisdiction for an SPV. These factors include: 1) ensuring that the transaction is tax-neutral in order to avoid any tax leakage arising through the payment of corporation tax in the jurisdiction of incorporation of the SPV, or where it is deemed to be carrying on business, or through withholding taxes on payments made or received by the SPV; 2) ensuring that the SPV is ?bankruptcy-remote? so that it and its assets are effectively? ring-fenced? and, accordingly, would not be effected adversely by the bankruptcy of the originator; 3) ensuring that the jurisdiction of incorporation of the SPV is credible to, and accepted by, the rating agencies and prospective investors and that its legal regime is familiar and creditor-friendly, and thereby suitable for such transactions; 4) ensuring that experienced professional service providers are readily available in the jurisdiction of incorporation of the SPV; and 5) ensuring that the cost, ease, and speed of setting up the structure and completing the transaction are within the budget and timeframe set for the securitization by the transaction parties.

Sharing benefits of globalisation through an EU-ASEAN FTA?

In the aftermath of the stalled launch of a new WTO round in Seattle in 1999, Singapore and Japan initiated a joint study into a possible bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The resulting ‘New-Age Economic Partnership Agreement’ was signed in 2002, reduced barriers in trade and investment in goods as well as services, technical standards and public procurement. Other FTAs followed including a US-Singapore FTA in 2003. In response, other ASEAN countries initiated negotiations towards bilateral FTAs, such as Thailand with India and Malaysia with Japan etc. Moreover, China declared its intention to enter into a FTA with the ASEAN by 2012. The failure at Cancun in 2003 implies that the Doha Development Agenda will not be achieved within the time-frame set. In this environment, the question of a feasibility of an inter-regional EU-ASEAN FTA is investigated. ASEAN’s trade policy regime is opening up and the gains of further tariff elimination will be modest, because most ASEAN countries already apply low tariffs, while those of the EU on import from ASEAN are low as well – e.g. for Singapore the tariff rate is merely 1.04 per cent (trade weighted). Nevertheless, a further reduction will benefit both EU and ASEAN because a significant share of imports is intra-firm trade, with EU firms operating from ASEAN as a production platform for the EU markets. However, for an EU-ASEAN FTA to be worthwhile, it must generate benefits on issues relating to non-tariff barriers to trade, esp. technical standards, SPS and mutual recognition of testing. Further significant benefits to EU and ASEAN may be realised by advancing liberalisation of international trade in services (e.g. banking and insurance licences, air and sea transport). Reducing restrictions on foreign direct investment in selected␣service sectors is bound to enhance investment flows from the EU to ASEAN.

Quo vadis psychologia Europaea

Quo vadis psychologia Europaea