Jørgen Lauridsen

This study investigates the environmental implications of Aid for Trade (AfT) flows in developing countries by employing the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) framework. By utilizing CO ₂ emissions, ecological footprint (EF), and the load capacity factor (LCF) as comprehensive indicators, the research assesses the effects of total, energy‐oriented, and non‐energy‐oriented AfT flows. The empirical findings reveal that total AfT disbursements and their sectoral components yield no statistically significant impact on EF. However, all AfT categories positively impact CO ₂ emissions across all quantiles in a statistically significant manner, with the positive effect diminishing in higher‐pollution quantiles. When evaluating environmental quality through the LCF framework, only energy‐specific AfT flows are found to exert a statistically significant negative impact, thereby confirming environmental degradation. These results, verified by Driscoll‐Kraay, 2SLS, and FMOLS estimators, demonstrate that environmental consequences are highly sensitive to the chosen indicator. The study discusses these outcomes via scale and composition effects, advocating for a ‘green’ transformation of AfT. It recommends prioritizing energy aid for renewable energy development, particularly for countries with lower pollution levels, in order to promote sustainable trade practices and environmental quality.

Foreign aid can contribute to the development of the renewable energy sector, thereby increasing energy diversity. This study investigates the impact of renewable and non-renewable energy aid on energy diversity. The study analyses 28 developing countries using the system-GMM technique, covering the period 2003-2021. According to the findings, renewable and non-renewable energy aid have an inverse U-shaped relationship with energy diversity. In other words, while renewable and non-renewable energy aid increases energy diversity, exceeding a certain level of such aid negatively affects energy diversity. Furthermore, the Difference-GMM estimator and outlier treatment via winsorization confirm the empirical robustness of this non-linear trajectory, while sub-sample analyses reveal that the positive initial impact of aid is significantly more pronounced in upper-middle-income countries and the Latin American region. Based on this finding, it can be claimed that whether energy aid targets the renewable or non-renewable energy sector has the same effect on energy diversity. Authorities can use the mentioned energy aid as a tool to increase diversity. However, when energy aid exceeds a certain level, authorities should implement policies to redirect it to areas that will promote the development of alternative energy sources to oil, such as renewable or nuclear energy, in order to increase energy diversity.

International quality standards for biocide treated wood were developed in early twentieth century, but none for wood modification, including thermally modified wood (TMW). The Nordic Wood Protection Council (NWPC) offers a regional standard for industrially protected modified wood in the Nordic Countries [1]. Standards for product quality are important components of all mature industries, and ongoing efforts for standard development are currently being made in the wood modification industry [2]. A key component of any quality system is its control parameters, i.e. metrics used for process and product control and product quality improvement. For exterior wood-based products, resistance to fungal attack is the most important quality property. Existing metrics for biocide treated wood are not meaningful for TMW, and different alternative metrics have been discussed in literature. An overlooked aspect in this discussion is variation in product quality, in this case variation in decay resistance. Quality metrics without criteria for acceptable deviations are unfit for purpose, and quality cannot be improved without understanding causes for variation in product quality. Decay resistance of thermally modified wood is widely believed to be related to reduction of wood cell wall moisture capacity. Using a large dataset comprising 9 species, we further explore the presence of decay resistance threshold related to equilibrium moisture content (EMC) and moisture exclusion efficiency (MEE). We also explore the extent and cause of variance in threshold decay resistance. The purpose of the paper is to further develop a scientific basis for using EMC as a technology independent quality parameter in industrial quality management and improvement systems and in the development of international standards.

Background Socioeconomic status and health are intertwined. Inequalities in health mostly focuses on patient-induced inequalities in a narrow part of the patient pathway. Less focus has been given to system induced inequality. The homogeneous group of patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) face well-described quality indicators, but low socioeconomic status is correlated with reduced use of recommended care. Objective To investigate education and income inequality in guideline-based quality indicators for patients presenting with STEMI across three organisational phases of care: pre-hospital, hospitalisation, and post-hospitalisation. Methods Register-based, nationwide, individual-level data for 24,552 consecutive patients who presented with STEMI from 2011 through 2022 were analysed to assess inequality in guideline-based quality indicators. Multiple definitions of inequality were used (relative/absolute in attainment/shortfall versions, ranked by years of education/family equivalised disposable income) and were visualised by concentration curves. Results Significant pro-educated and pro-rich concentration indices were found in all phases of care with varying magnitudes, depending on the rank variable and definition of inequality. In general, the shortfall relative inequality was greater than the attainment relative and absolute inequalities. The significant inequalities ranged between [0.006; 0.042] in absolute terms across education/income and all inequality definitions. Conclusion This study shows that education and income inequality remains for acute patients in urgent need of standardised care. This system-induced inequality is shown to persist across three organisational phases of care in a universal healthcare system with equal access to care. Improved and faster triage and follow-up from discharge to rehabilitation can reduce these inequalities.

Introduction: The present study aims to describe the change in the perception of patient safety culture among physicians in the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine at a regional hospital in Denmark after applying a structured patient safety culture program. Methods: A prospective cross‐sectional experimental study was conducted. To improve patient safety culture, a four‐step model was introduced. This included regular patient safety leadership rounds, simulation‐based training, enhanced daily patient safety awareness, and strengthened clinical risk management. Perception of patient safety culture among physicians was monitored using the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire. Measurements were obtained before and during the implementation of the four‐step model annually in a 5‐year period. Results: Data from 114 questionnaires from physicians were included. The results showed a significant improvement in perception of patient safety culture regarding safety climate and teamwork climate among physicians in general. Furthermore, we found an increase regarding stress recognition among junior doctors compared to specialist physicians. Finally, our results showed an initial drop in all three dimensions after the Covid‐19‐pandemic. Conclusion: Applying a structured, proactive four‐step model consisting of patient safety leadership rounds, simulation‐based training, patient safety awareness, and clinical management for improvement of patient safety culture can increase teamwork and safety climate among physicians, leading to a healthier and safer patient safety culture. The results show that both specialist physicians and junior doctors benefit from the interventions. More studies are recommended to further specify underlying causes for improvement of patient safety culture. Editorial Comment: This report presents perceptions about patient safety culture in an anesthesiology and intensive care department, and how this can be altered by a structured approach for improvement over a 4 year period. A combination of clinical rounds with focus on patient safety, simulation‐training, daily patient safety awareness dialogue, and strengthened clinical risk management improved perceptions in junior and senior doctors, as well as relieved perceived stress. The impact on actual patient safety, or preventable adverse events, remains to be documented as the next step.

The rise in energy prices due to global uncertainties and risks is accelerating the transition to renewable energy in countries. It is expected that embracing energy diversity instead of dependence on a single energy source, such as oil, will curb energy-related increases in inflation. In this study, the impact of the transition to renewable energy on inflation is investigated using the energy diversification index. For this purpose, the Chinese economy is analyzed with the Augmented ARDL method. According to the long-term results of the analysis covering the 1991–2023 period, the effect of energy diversity on inflation is negative. The study also examined the effect of composing an energy portfolio consisting of various renewable energy sources rather than a single renewable energy source on inflation. According to the results obtained, renewable energy diversity has a negative effect on inflation, too. As a result, inflation is expected to decrease as renewable energy diversification and overall energy diversification increase. In sum, inflation can be expected to fall when authorities increase both renewable energy diversity and overall energy diversity instead of solely depending on oil or any renewable energy source.

Yenilenebilir enerji, özellikle çevresel bozulmaları azaltması ve enerji arz güvenliğini sağlaması nedeniyle önem taşımaktadır. Bu çalışmada, yenilenebilir enerjinin tek bir yenilenebilir enerji kaynağından mı yoksa birden fazla yenilenebilir enerji kaynağından mı elde edilmesinin ekonomi açısından önemi incelenmiştir. Bu kapsamda, yenilenebilir enerji çeşitliliğinin istihdam üzerindeki etkisi BRIC-T ülkeleri için araştırılmıştır. Yenilenebilir enerji çeşitliliğini temsil etmek üzere Gozgor ve Paramati’nin (2022) yöntemi kullanılarak yeni bir endeks hesaplanmıştır. Çalışmada, 2000-2021 dönemi AMG (Genişletilmiş Ortalama Grup) yöntemi ile analiz edilmiş ve yenilenebilir enerji çeşitliliğinin istihdamı pozitif etkilediği tespit edilmiştir. Bu sonuç, yenilenebilir enerji çeşitliliğinin istihdamı artırdığını ifade etmektedir. Bu durumda, BRIC-T ülkelerinde otoritelerin tek bir yenilenebilir enerji kaynağına bağlı kalmayıp farklı yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklarını teşvik etmesi istihdamı artırıcı etki gösterebilir. Çalışmada fosil enerji çeşitliliğinin istihdam üzerindeki etkisi de benzer şekilde sorgulanmış ve pozitif etki tespit edilmiştir. Özetle, otoriteler sadece petrole bağımlı olmak yerine yenilenebilir ve yenilenemeyen enerji kaynaklarının çeşitlenmesini teşvik eden politikalar uyguladığında istihdamda da artış gözlenebilir.

Aims: Better prediction of outcome after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is warranted. Systemic inflammation and central neuroinflammation are possibly involved in progression of osteoarthritis and pain. We explored whether inflammatory biomarkers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were associated with clinical outcome, and baseline pain or disability, 12 months after THA.Methods: A total of 50 patients from the Danish Pain Research Biobank (DANPAIN-Biobank) between January and June 2018 were included. Postoperative outcome was assessed as change in Oxford Hip Score (OHS) from baseline to 12 months after THA, pain was assessed on a numerical rating scale, and disability using the Pain Disability Index. Multiple regression models for each clinical outcome were included for biomarkers in blood and CSF, respectively, including age, sex, BMI, and Kellgren-Lawrence score.Results: Change in OHS was associated with blood concentrations of tumour necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), glycoprotein 130 (gp130), and IL-1β (R² = 0.28, p = 0.006), but not with CSF biomarkers. Baseline pain was associated with blood concentrations of lymphotoxin alpha (LTα), TNFR1, TNFR2, and IL-6R (R² = 0.37, p < 0.001) and CSF concentrations of TNFR1, TNFR2, IL-6, IL-6R, and IL-1Ra (R² = 0.40, p = 0.001). Baseline disability was associated with blood concentrations of TNF, LTα, IL-8, IL-6, and IL-1α (R² = 0.53, p < 0.001) and CSF concentrations of gp130, TNF, and IL-1β (R² = 0.26, p = 0.002). Thus, preoperative systemic low-grade inflammation predicted 12-month postoperative outcome after THA, and was associated with preoperative pain and disability.Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of systemic inflammation in osteoarthritis, and presents a possible path for better patient selection for THA in the future. Preoperative central neuroinflammation was associated with preoperative pain and disability, but not change in OHS after THA.Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2024;13(12):741–749.