Search results for "Population"

TEMPORAL CHANGES IN RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS/DISEASES AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN REAL LIFE

Background: The prevalence of respiratory diseases increased during last centuries and the rapid rise in the prevalence of such diseases cannot be explained by genetic factors. Analyses on general population samples investigated at interval of some years can permit to better comprehend these increases and the associated risk factors, adding new evidences on this important item taking into account the real life setting. Aims: to assess real life temporal changes in respiratory diseases/symptoms (asthma, allergic rhinitis - AR - and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - COPD) and associated risk factors in general population samples investigated during a period of 30 years. Methods: a gener…

Invasive alien species – potential cheap resources of plant substances for medicinal use

2018

Some alien species demonstrate rather invasive behaviour. They have high tolerance of various habitat conditions and potent propagation ability. They not only over-compete the local vegetation but suppress the seed development of the native plants. In the newly invaded habitats they might not have suitable herbivores to control their populations. The only effective enemy might be Homo sapiens. Humans are known with their destructive power once an object has become significant for industrial utilization. The aim of this study is to review research data and reveal the potential of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Erigeron canadensis L., Xanthium strumarium L. and Dittrichia graveolens (L.) W. Greu…

Maintenance of genetic diversity in cyclic populations—a longitudinal analysis in Myodes glareolus

2012

Conspicuous cyclic changes in population density characterize many populations of small northern rodents. The extreme crashes in individual number are expected to reduce the amount of genetic variation within a population during the crash phases of the population cycle. By long-term monitoring of a bank vole (Myodes glareolus) population, we show that despite the substantial and repetitive crashes in the population size, high heterozygosity is maintained throughout the population cycle. The striking population density fluctuation in fact only slightly reduced the allelic richness of the population during the crash phases. Effective population sizes of vole populations remained also relative…

Returns To Education During And After The Economic Crisis: Evidence From Latvia 2006–2012

2017

We employ EU-SILC micro data for Latvia to study how returns to education changed during the economic crisis of 2008–2009 and afterwards. We found that returns to education increased significantly during the crisis and decreased slightly during the subsequent economic recovery. The counter-cyclical effect was evident in nearly all population groups. After the crisis, education became more associated than before with a longer working week and a higher employment probability. Furthermore, we show that returns to education in Latvia are generally higher in the capital city and its suburbs than outside the capital city region, as well as for citizens of Latvia than for resident non-citizens and…

Effect of an insect growth regulator (halofenozide) on the cuticular hydrocarbons of Culex pipiens larvae

2013

The cuticular hydrocarbons of the fourth-instar larvae of Culex pipiens aged one and six days were analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The effect of an insect growth regulator (halofenozide = RH-0345) on the cuticular hydrocarbons was evaluated using newly moulted fourth-instar larvae of C. pipiens, at the lethal concentrations (LC50 = 12.58 and LC90 = 28.58 mu g/l). A previous study revealed that RH-0345 is toxic to larvae of C. pipiens by induction of precocious larval moulting. Several cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) were identified and many of the other compounds remained unknown. Our data show that the CHC classes consisted of n-alkanes (C23-C29) and …

Ensuring the comparability of cross-national survey data on intimate partner violence against women: a cross-sectional, population-based study in the…

2020

Objectives To ensure the cross-national comparability of the set of questions addressing physical and sexual intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) included in the European Union (EU) Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) survey. Once the measurement invariance of these measures is established, we aim to make appropriate and valid comparisons of the levels of physical and sexual IPVAW across the EU countries. Design Cross-sectional, population-based study. Participants Data were drawn from the survey conducted by the FRA on violence against women, including the responses of 42 002 adult women from the 28 countries of the EU. Main outcome measures The set of questions addressing lifet…

The Fear of Covid-19 Scale (FCV-19S) in Spain: Adaptation and Confirmatory Evidence of Construct and Concurrent Validity

2021

Fear of the coronavirus has important implications on mental health. In western countries, a significant degree of vaccination has been achieved, but in Spain, less than 75% of the population has received both doses. The current situation is still seen as a threat by many people. Therefore, it is important to have reliable and valid measurement instruments to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the population. In this study, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale has been adapted to Spain, and its psychometric properties have been studied in a Spanish sample using Structural Equation Modeling. This methodology allows obtaining more reliable estimates, regardless of the measurement scale of the variables. …

Do the Mega and Titan Tests Yield Accurate Results? An Investigation into Two Experimental Intelligence Tests

2020

The Mega and Titan Tests were designed by Ronald K. Hoeflin to make fine distinctions in the intellectual stratosphere. The Mega Test purported to measure above-average adult IQ up to and including scores with a rarity of one in a million of the general population. The Titan Test was billed as being even more difficult than the Mega Test. In this article, these claims are subjected to scrutiny. Both tests are renormed using the normal curve of distribution. It is found that the Mega Test has a higher ceiling and a lower floor than the Titan Test. While the Mega Test may thus seem preferable as a psychometric instrument, it is somewhat marred by a number of easy items in its verbal section. …

Estar al otro lado de la mesa. Profesionales de los servicios públicos de empleo ante los dilemas de la activación laboral

2019

Under the paradigm of activation, the Public Employment Services has been reshaped by two levels of contractualization. On one hand, the collaboration of the administration with a network of agents on the programme scheme that make up the active policies of employment. On the other hand, the unemployed person?s access to a compartmentalized offer of services and individually taking responsibility for finding work. This double contractualization reveals redefinition of lowering public responsibility faced with the problem of unemployment that this activation supposes. This paper analyses how this redesign has an impact on how professionals serve the unemployed population. This lays bare, in …

Public Libraries – Facilitators of Information Society and e- Inclusion in Latvia

2014

Abstract The economic growth and national competitiveness is closely correlated with the development of information society. In the last few years the role of public libraries has significantly increased and libraries have greatly contributed to the improvement of information society in Latvia. The usage of library services had never been as high as they were in 2011 – 42% of the population were active library users and 90% of them used the Internet. Nowadays, the public library network in Latvia provides a powerful network of information, knowledge and community centres and they are highly demanded by society.