United Nations Classification Research Articles

Impact of the rule of law, corruption and terrorism on tourism: Empirical evidence from Mediterranean countries

Research background: Tourism sector is considered as a driving force of economic development and understanding factors that deter the flow of tourists and hinder its development, which is essential for all actors involved in this industry. Purpose of the article: The purpose of the article is to investigate the impact of rule of law, corruption, and terrorism on tourism in 14 coastal states of the Mediterranean Sea based on the United Nations classification. Methods: The short and long-run relationships among the rule of law, corruption, terrorism and tourism are respectively analyzed through Dumitrescu and Hurlin causality test and LM bootstrap cointegration test taking notice of the presence of heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence. Findings & value added: The causality analysis reveals that control of corruption has a significant influence on tourism only in the short run. The cointegration analysis uncovers that terrorism negatively affects the tourism in Albania, Algeria, Egypt, and Tunisia, but improvements in corruption also positively affect the tourism in Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece and Italy. Last, the rule of law has a positive impact on tourism in Egypt, Greece, and Israel. In this context, the rule of law can also be a key factor for tourism development via combat with corruption and terrorism. Based on some unique characteristics, the Mediterranean region has consolidated its position as the world's leading tourist destination, but to maintain this competitive position, it is crucial to recognize and adopt strategies that respond to all key challenges faced by this sector.

Primary caregivers’ perceptions of factors influencing preschool children’s oral health: social practices perspective—a protocol for qualitative metasynthesis

IntroductionThe role of primary caregivers in setting the foundation for a child’s oral health throughout life is well recognised. Due to the dominant behaviour-based approach, research to date has mainly...

Worldwide variation in cardiovascular magnetic resonance practice models

IntroductionThe use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for diagnosis and management of a broad range of cardiac and vascular conditions has quickly expanded worldwide. It is essential to understand how CMR is utilized in different regions around the world and the potential practice differences between high-volume and low-volume centers. MethodsCMR practitioners and developers from around the world were electronically surveyed by the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) twice, requesting data from 2017. Both surveys were carefully merged, and the data were curated professionally by a data expert using cross-references in key questions and the specific media access control IP address. According to the United Nations classification, responses were analyzed by region and country and interpreted in the context of practice volumes and demography. ResultsFrom 70 countries and regions, 1092 individual responses were included. CMR was performed more often in academic (695/1014, 69%) and hospital settings (522/606, 86%), with adult cardiologists being the primary referring providers (680/818, 83%). Evaluation of cardiomyopathy was the top indication in high-volume and low-volume centers (p = 0.06). High-volume centers were significantly more likely to list evaluation of ischemic heart disease (e.g., stress CMR) as a primary indicator compared to low-volume centers (p < 0.001), while viability assessment was more commonly listed as a primary referral reason in low-volume centers (p = 0.001). Both developed and developing countries noted cost and competing technologies as top barriers to CMR growth. Access to scanners was listed as the most common barrier in developed countries (30% of responders), while lack of training (22% of responders) was the most common barrier in developing countries. ConclusionThis is the most extensive global assessment of CMR practice to date and provides insights from different regions worldwide. We identified CMR as heavily hospital-based, with referral volumes driven primarily by adult cardiology. Indications for CMR utilization varied by center volume. Efforts to improve the adoption and utilization of CMR should include growth beyond the traditional academic, hospital-based location and an emphasis on cardiomyopathy and viability assessment in community centers.

An alternative methodology addressing United Nations classification type for self‐reactive substances

AbstractThe UN “Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods” presents schemes for the classification of hazardous materials such as explosives, flammable liquids, or oxidizing substances, and gives descriptions of the test methods and procedures for the selection of appropriate packages and shipping types, as well as consignment procedures. Substances are classified according to their degree of danger, and the “Model Regulations” provide a hazard hierarchy. Class 4.1 and Class 5.2 materials are self‐reactive and solid desensitized explosives, and organic peroxides, respectively, and these hazard classes trump many other classification levels. The UN “Manual of Tests and Criteria” provides standard test methods for classifying self‐reactive and organic peroxide substances into seven groups (A–G) according to their hazard levels but also allows for other procedures to be used provided that adequate correlation has been obtained with the classification tests on a representative range of substances. There are eight test series (A–H) documented in the Manual of Tests and Criteria that could be needed in order to identify the hazard level for Class 4.1 and Class 5.2 materials, which can be an expensive and time‐consuming requirement. An alternative method aimed at streamlining the hazard classification process is proposed. This alternative method utilizes low phi‐factor adiabatic calorimetry data and the measured maximum rate of pressure rise to classify self‐reactive and organic peroxide substances for transport. Benchmarking experiments using this alternative method to classify t‐butyl perbenzoate, 50%–70% TBHP in decane, and 70% TBHP in water are promising, indicating that further evaluation of the proposed method is warranted.

Level of Income and the Investment Development Path Theory: Evidence From Africa

The investment development path theory delineates countries in stages I, II, III, IV, and V according to the level of development as developing, transition, and developed countries. The World Bank’s classification of countries by income, however, identifies countries as lower-income, lower-middle-income, upper-middle-income, and high income. In this paper, we test the investment development path theory for countries based on the level of income using data from 1980 to 2019. Africa offers unique data as it is the only continent made up of entirely developing countries together with countries that fit into all four classifications based on income. Income level classifications appear to enhance the position of countries within the investment development path ahead of that based on the United Nations classification. The use of income classification should complement that of the United Nations in the empirical testing of the investment development path theory for a more current investment development path status.

Convergence and transition paths in transportation: Fresh insights from a club clustering algorithm

This study examines the convergence in global transportation for 102 countries spanning 1990–2018. The econometric convergence method of Phillips and Sul was employed to test club convergence and the modelling of transition paths to convergence. I disaggregated the panel data into five regions, based on the United Nations classification of geographical regions. Transportation infrastructure was constructed by using a composite index of transportation via the principal component analysis/method. Our findings suggest the presence of panel convergence at the global and regional levels (except for Africa, Europe and Oceania, which exhibited divergence). However, I identified different numbers of clubs for the regions using an iterative testing procedure and found that the results could not be generalised across the regions as there were both convergent and divergent clubs. The policy measures on transport infrastructures for the regions are discussed in this study.

Breastfeeding experiences among mothers living with food insecurity in high resource, Western countries: a qualitative systematic review protocol.

The objectives of this review are to identify, appraise, and synthesize the qualitative evidence on the breastfeeding experiences of mothers living with food insecurity in high-resource, Western countries. Breastfeeding and food insecurity are inter-related health issues. Globally, breastfeeding augments food security at individual, household, and community levels, but a growing body of evidence from high-resourced countries also suggests that a mother's breastfeeding practice may be negatively impacted by the additional experience of food insecurity. This protocol outlines a systematic approach to understanding the experiences of breastfeeding from the perspective of mothers living with food insecurity. Findings will provide much-needed evidence toward guiding policies and practices that support mothers to breastfeed. The review will consider studies that explore the breastfeeding experiences of mothers aged 18 years and older who self-identify, or are classified using a screening tool, as food insecure. Papers that will be included in this review will consider all qualitative methodologies and will be limited to studies from countries identified as being within the United Nations classification of Western European and Other States Group (WEOG). The authors will conduct a three-step search process across both published and gray literature to identify relevant studies for inclusion. A preliminary search using the PubMed database was undertaken in January 2020. Studies published in English from 1981 to 2020 will be included. The recommended JBI methodology for qualitative systematic review for study selection, critical appraisal, data extraction, and data synthesis will be followed. PROSPERO CRD42020183652.

Motivations for Becoming a Police Officer: a Global Snapshot

This study investigated the motives to work for the Police focusing on the differences between recruits from developing and developed countries. Age and year recruited were also accessed to ascertain whether they can account for variance in motives. A total of 233 participants from 28 countries, of which 70 were female, were recruited from active (N = 82) or former (N = 151) Police officers (mean age = 37.65, SD = 8.76, range = 20–62). Of the 28 countries, 16 were classified as developing and 12 as developed by the United Nations classification guide. An adapted 14-item survey was used based on the original scale developed by Lester (1983) listing respectively different reasons for joining the police. Participants from developing countries scored higher motives related to job availability and benefits, helping family and friends, and family influence than those from developed countries. The age recruited was negatively associated with social-capital and family influence motives and positively associated with job availability and benefits-driven motives. Those recruited more recently were more likely to score highly motives related to job availability and benefits motives. The study extended the scope of past research by recruiting a diverse sample of (former) policemen from several countries to offer a more comprehensive snapshot of the factors affecting motives.

Box dynamics: A sectoral approach to analyse containerized port throughput interdependencies

Port throughput is the aggregation of products handled in a port and depends on the performance of relevant interdependent industries. In depth understanding of the fluctuations of a port’s activities at the aggregate level requires a granular analysis at the disaggregate level. This becomes more critical in the case of containers since in general limited information for a container’s content is available.In the present study Sydney’s container port throughput is decomposed in its main industrial sectors and focus on their interrelations. Quarterly data are used covering the 2014:Q3 – 1995:Q2 period and 15 sectors in line with United Nations classification. For the identification of spillover shocks across container sectors over time we develop a “spillover index” on the basis of a Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model. The interpretation of the results is enhanced with the use of network theory.The results document that fluctuations on the aggregate level are the output of co-movement across container sectors for both imports and exports, while at the same time they respond differently to shocks revealing “leadership” and “followship” behavior. Finally, the main macroeconomic determinants affecting the co-movement of sectors demonstrate different sign and significance for exports and imports.

Limited resources of genome sequencing in developing countries: Challenges and solutions

The differences between countries in national income, growth, human development and many other factors are used to classify countries into developed and developing countries. There are several classification systems that use different sets of measures and criteria. The most common classifications are the United Nations (UN) and the World Bank (WB) systems. The UN classification system uses the UN Human Development Index (HDI), an indicator that uses statistic of life expectancy, education, and income per capita for countries' classification. While the WB system uses gross national income (GNI) per capita that is calculated using the World Bank Atlas method. According to the UN and WB classification systems, there are 151 and 134 developing countries, respectively, with 89% overlap between the two systems. Developing countries have limited human development, and limited expenditure in education and research, among several other limitations. The biggest challenge facing genomic researchers and clinicians is limited resources. As a result, genomic tools, specifically genome sequencing technologies, which are rapidly becoming indispensable, are not widely available. In this report, we explore the current status of sequencing technologies in developing countries, describe the associated challenges and emphasize potential solutions.

KWIC Index to Government Publications

United States and United Nations publications were not efficiently proc- essed nor readily available to the reader at Brandeis University Library. Data processing equipment was used to make a list of this material which could be referred to by a computer produced KWIC index. Currency and availability to the user, and time and cost efficiencies for the library were given precedence over detailed subject access. United States and United Nations classification schemes&gt; and existing bibliographies and indexes were used extensively.

Comparative analysis of pharmaceuticals versus industrial chemicals acute aquatic toxicity classification according to the United Nations classification system for chemicals. Assessment of the (Q)SAR predictability of pharmaceuticals acute aquatic toxicity and their predominant acute toxic mode-of-action

Pharmaceuticals have been reported to be ubiquitously present in surface waters prompting concerns of effects of these bioactive substances. Meanwhile, there is a general scarcity of publicly available ecotoxicological data concerning pharmaceuticals. The aim of this paper was to compile a comprehensive database based on OECD's standardized measured ecotoxicological data and to evaluate if there is generally cause of greater concern with regards to pharmaceutical aquatic toxicological profiles relative to industrial chemicals. Comparisons were based upon aquatic ecotoxicity classification under the United Nations Global Harmonized System for classification and labeling of chemicals (GHS). Moreover, we statistically explored whether the predominant mode-of-action (MOA) for pharmaceuticals is narcosis. We found 275 pharmaceuticals with 569 acute aquatic effect data; 23 pharmaceuticals had chronic data. Pharmaceuticals were found to be more frequent than industrial chemicals in GHS category III. Acute toxicity was predictable (>92%) using a generic (Q)SAR ((Quantitative) Structure Activity Relationship) suggesting a narcotic MOA. Analysis of model prediction error suggests that 68% of the pharmaceuticals have a non-specific MOA. Additionally, the acute-to-chronic ratio (ACR) for 70% of the analyzed pharmaceuticals was below 25 further suggesting a non-specific MOA. Sub-lethal receptor-mediated effects may however have a more specific MOA.

The United Nations Classification Scheme: A Critique and Recommendations

ABSTRACT Anecdotal evidence suggests that dissatisfaction with the United Nations Classification Scheme (UNCS), a notational system in continuous use since 1946, has been widespread among researchers and government information specialists. Through the examination of over fourteen thousand document symbols assigned over the course of a year, this study identifies flaws in the notation that have limited its effectiveness. The criteria for this evaluation, which are drawn from both archival and library classification literature, include simplicity, the appropriate use of mnemonics, brevity, serial piece collocation, and the appropriate representation of administrative origin. The author concludes that the scheme satisfies none of these criteria consistently, due in part to the lack of centralized control over its development, and offers recommendations for correcting its defects.

Ending Africa's Poverty Trap

Ending Africa's Poverty Trap Jeffrey D. Sachs, John W. McArthur, Guido Schmidt-Traub, Margaret Kruk, Chandrika Bahadur, Michael Faye, and Gordon McCord Africa's development crisis is unique. Not only is Africa the poorest region in the world, but it was also the only major developing region with negative growth in income per capita during 1980-2000 (table 1). Some African countries grew during the 1990s, but for the most part this growth recovered ground lost during the 1980s. Moreover, Africa's health conditions are by far the worst on the planet. The AIDS pandemic is wreaking havoc, as is the resurgence of malaria due to rising drug resistance and the lack of effective public health systems. Africa's population continues to soar, adding ecological stresses to the economic strains. Policy-based development lending to Africa over the past twenty years, known as structural adjustment lending, did not solve the problem. A heavy debt burden is evidenced by the 155 Paris Club restructurings of African countries' debt between 1980 and 2001, much more than for any other region. In general, Africa remains mired in poverty and debt. This paper focuses on the tropical sub-Saharan African countries with populations of at least 2 million people in 2001. We leave out North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia,), southernmost Africa (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland), and a number of very small economies (Cape Verde, Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius, São Tomé and Principe, and Seychelles). Both nontropical ends of Africa are much richer [End Page 117] than tropical Africa. They grow temperate crops, escape the worst of malaria, enjoy (in the south) vast deposits per capita of gold and diamonds, and (in the north) benefit from proximity to EU markets. The smallest economies present idiosyncrasies that would distract more than inform the analysis. Click for larger view View full resolution Table 1. Selected Development Indicators for Major Developing Regionsa The thirty-three sub-Saharan African countries on which we focus (and which are listed in table 2) had a combined population of 617 million in 2001, with a population-weighted average annual income of $271 per person, or a mere 74 cents a day. Every country on the list is a low-income country according to World Bank country classifications, and twenty-six are among the forty-nine Least Developed Countries in the world by the United Nations classification. Of the four countries with income per capita of $500 or more, three (Angola, Cameroon, and Congo) are oil exporters, and only Côte d'Ivoire, which is currently in a vertiginous political and economic collapse, is a non-oil exporter. Every country on the list has a life expectancy at birth below sixty years, and in all but Ghana, Madagascar, and Sudan life expectancy at birth is below fifty-five years. Child mortality rates (deaths before the age of five per 1,000 live births) are above 100 in every country. The standard diagnosis is that Africa is suffering from a governance crisis. With highly visible examples of profoundly poor governance, for [End Page 118] Click for larger view View full resolution Table 2. Governance Ratings and Household Consumption in Tropical Sub-Saharan Africa [End Page 119] example in Zimbabwe, and widespread war and violence, as in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Sudan, the impression of a continent-wide governance crisis is understandable. Yet it is wrong. Many parts of Africa are well governed even though stuck in poverty. Governance is a problem, but Africa's development challenges run much deeper. Using our thirty-three-country sample, table 2 reports some common governance indicators that make this point. The first column presents a ranking of African governance compiled by Steven Radelet,1 who regresses a set of widely used World Bank governance indicators due to Daniel Kaufmann, Aart Kraay, and Massimo Mastruzzi on GDP per capita,2 and ranks countries according to the residuals from that regression, thereby standardizing the measurement of governance by level of income. This procedure recognizes that poorer countries have systematically poorer governance measures than richer countries, since good governance...