Academic literature on the topic 'CBA'

The effects of dietary Clostridium butyricum (CB) on growth performance, intestinal morphology, tight junction proteins, and immune-related gene mRNA levels in Pelteobagrus fulvidraco were investigated. The fish were fed with diets containing 0 (control, CB0), 4.8 × 10 6 (CB1), 4.5 × 10 7 (CB2), 5.1 × 10 8 (CB3), and 3.6 × 10 9 (CB4) CFU/kg Clostridium butyricum for 56 days followed by a 72 h ammonia challenge. The results showed that significantly higher final weight, specific growth rate, body length, and intestinal weight were observed in fish fed with CB diets ( P < 0.05 ). The fish fed with CB1, CB2, and CB3 diets had significantly higher intestinal length, propionic acid concentration, and alkaline phosphatase activity and significantly lower feed conversion ratio than those in CB0 ( P < 0.05 ). Significantly higher concentrations of butyric acid and valeric acid and significantly lower malondialdehyde content were observed in CB4 than in CB0 ( P < 0.05 ). Intestosomatic index, villus length, villus width, intestinal protease, Na+/K+-ATPase, and creatine kinase activities were significantly increased in CB2 or CB3 than in CB0 ( P < 0.05 ). Fish in CB2 or CB3 had significantly lower content of interleukin 1β and interleukin 6 and relative expression of interleukin 1 (Il-1), interleukin 8 (Il-8), and nuclear transcription factor-κB (Nf-κb) compared to that in CB0 ( P < 0.05 ). Dietary CB significantly decreased the relative expression of myosin light chain kinase (Mlck) (P <0.05). Significantly higher relative expressions of claudin-1, zonula occludens protein-1, and occludin were observed in CB2, CB3, and CB4 compared to CB0 ( P < 0.05 ). Fish in CB0 had higher CMR than that in CB2, CB3, and CB4 under ammonia nitrogen stress for 48 and 72 h ( P < 0.05 ). Dietary Clostridium butyricum improved growth performance and resistance to ammonia stress in yellow catfish by increasing intestinal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) productions, upregulating genes encoding tight junction proteins, downregulating transcription of proinflammatory factors Il-1 and Il-8, and inhibiting the Mlck/Nf-κb signaling pathway.

Life-cycle assessments (LCAs) were conducted to evaluate the replacement of sand with coal bottom ash (CBA) in concrete. CBA is a byproduct of coal-fueled electricity production. Sand was replaced with CBA at proportions of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 wt.%, and the resultant concretes were denoted as CBA0, CBA25, CBA50, CBA75, and CBA100, respectively. Two concrete mixture design methods (that resulted in different component qualities of concrete mixtures) were used: (i) Mixture with a fixed slump (MIX-fixed-SLUMP) and (ii) mixture with a fixed water/cement ratio (MIX-fixed-W/C). The ReCiPe2016 midpoint and single score (six methodological options) methods were followed to compare the environmental damage caused by the CBA-based concretes. The ReCiPe2016 results showed that replacing sand with CBA was environmentally (i) beneficial with the MIX-fixed-SLUMP design and (ii) harmful with the MIX-fixed-W/C design. Therefore, using CBA as a partial sand replacement in concrete production is a controversial issue as it highly depends on the concrete mixture design method.

Abstract The aim of this investigation was to identify domains of collagen type I that can support platelet adhesion under flow conditions. Four cyanogen bromide (CB) fragments composing 87% of the collagen alpha 1(I)-chain were studied under static and flow conditions. Under static conditions, bovine and human collagen fragment alpha 1(I)CB3 induced aggregate formation, whereas alpha 1(I)CB7 and alpha 1(I)CB8 supported adhesion of dendritic and contact platelets. Bovine alpha 1(I)CB6 weakly supported platelet adhesion. At shear rate 300/s, collagen fragment alpha 1(I)CB3 strongly supported platelet adhesion, whereas lower platelet adhesion was observed to alpha 1(I)CB7 and alpha 1(I)CB8. The fragment alpha 1(I)CB6 did not support platelet adhesion under flow conditions. Adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB3 was completely inhibited by a low concentration (0.6 IgG microgram/mL) of anti-GPIa monoclonal antibody (MoAb), whereas this concentration of antibody partially inhibited adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB7 and alpha 1(I)CB8. At higher concentrations (3 micrograms/mL) the anti-glycoprotein Ia (GPIa) antibody completely inhibited adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB8 and further reduced adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB7. Platelet adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB3, alpha 1(I)CB7, and alpha 1(I)CB8 was strongly inhibited by an anti-GPIb MoAb. A MoAb against the GPIb-binding site of von Willebrand factor (vWF) strongly inhibited platelet adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB7 and alpha 1(I)CB8, whereas platelet adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB3 was not inhibited. We conclude that under flow conditions alpha 1(I)CB3, alpha 1(I)CB7, and alpha 1(I)CB8 support GPIa/IIa-dependent platelet adhesion. The GPIb-vWF interaction is important under flow conditions for adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB7 and alpha 1(I)CB8 and probably also to alpha 1(I)CB3.

The aim of this investigation was to identify domains of collagen type I that can support platelet adhesion under flow conditions. Four cyanogen bromide (CB) fragments composing 87% of the collagen alpha 1(I)-chain were studied under static and flow conditions. Under static conditions, bovine and human collagen fragment alpha 1(I)CB3 induced aggregate formation, whereas alpha 1(I)CB7 and alpha 1(I)CB8 supported adhesion of dendritic and contact platelets. Bovine alpha 1(I)CB6 weakly supported platelet adhesion. At shear rate 300/s, collagen fragment alpha 1(I)CB3 strongly supported platelet adhesion, whereas lower platelet adhesion was observed to alpha 1(I)CB7 and alpha 1(I)CB8. The fragment alpha 1(I)CB6 did not support platelet adhesion under flow conditions. Adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB3 was completely inhibited by a low concentration (0.6 IgG microgram/mL) of anti-GPIa monoclonal antibody (MoAb), whereas this concentration of antibody partially inhibited adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB7 and alpha 1(I)CB8. At higher concentrations (3 micrograms/mL) the anti-glycoprotein Ia (GPIa) antibody completely inhibited adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB8 and further reduced adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB7. Platelet adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB3, alpha 1(I)CB7, and alpha 1(I)CB8 was strongly inhibited by an anti-GPIb MoAb. A MoAb against the GPIb-binding site of von Willebrand factor (vWF) strongly inhibited platelet adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB7 and alpha 1(I)CB8, whereas platelet adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB3 was not inhibited. We conclude that under flow conditions alpha 1(I)CB3, alpha 1(I)CB7, and alpha 1(I)CB8 support GPIa/IIa-dependent platelet adhesion. The GPIb-vWF interaction is important under flow conditions for adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB7 and alpha 1(I)CB8 and probably also to alpha 1(I)CB3.

Abstract Cutaneous basophil anaphylaxis (CBA) was elicited by intradermal rechallenge of cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity (CBH) sites in guinea pigs sensitized 7 days previously with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). The antiallergy agent disodium cromoglycate (DSCG), administered i.v. immediately before rechallenge, inhibited the increased vasopermeability (measured by tissue dye uptake) and basophil degranulation (measured by light microscopic counts of intact basophils) characteristic of the CBA reaction. The antihistamine mepyramine, administered orally, inhibited vasopermeability but not basophil degranulation. The component contributed by DSCG inhibition of mast cell degranulation to the overall inhibition of the reaction was found to be minimal, since intact mast cells were found to be depleted at CBH sites and totally absent at CBA sites from animals treated with DSCG. Electron microscopic examination of basophils at CBA sites from DSCG-treated animals revealed the presence of ruffled perigranular membranes and enlarged perigranular spaces, but both the formation of degranulation sacs and the subsequent fusion of granule sac membranes with the plasma membrane were inhibited. DSCG also inhibited the vasopermeability and basophil degranulation of the CBA reaction elicited by KLH at day 14 and by C5a at day 7. When a basophil-enriched leucocyte preparation from KLH-sensitized guinea pigs was studied in vitro, DSCG inhibited both antigen-induced and C5a-induced basophil degranulation at 10(-5) and 10(-4) M. DSCG failed to inhibit the vasopermeability and the mast cell degranulation produced by either intradermal C5a or intradermal compound 48/80. These results indicate that anaphylactic degranulation of basophils, but not mast cells, is inhibited by DSCG in the guinea pig. This inhibition appears to take place independent of stimulus at an early stage of granule membrane fusion.

Purpose This study aims to investigate factors impacting host country consumers’ attitudes toward acquirers’ corporate brands and target brands after cross-border acquisitions (CBAs). Design/methodology/approach Surveys were conducted with US consumers using two fictitious CBA scenarios in the automobile industry. Findings Consumer ethnocentric tendencies (CETs) are negatively related to attitudes toward a CBA event; attitudes toward a CBA event are positively related to post-CBA attitudes toward the acquirer's corporate brand; brand-image fit is positively related to attitudes toward a CBA event, and post-CBA attitudes toward the acquirer's corporate brand and the target brand; post-CBA attitudes toward the acquirer's corporate brand and the target brand are positively related. Research limitations/implications This study is limited in the sample, analysis approaches, context and factors examined. Future research could use more representative samples and both quantitative and qualitative methodologies; conduct more tests; examine real CBAs in different industries and countries; and investigate effects of other factors affecting attitudes toward the CBA event and post-CBA brand attitudes. Practical implications Managers should consider CETs and brand-image fit and strategically influence attitudes toward a CBA event and post-CBA brand attitudes. Originality/value It investigates the mediating effect of attitudes toward a CBA event on the relationship between CETs and post-CBA attitudes toward the acquirer's corporate brand and the effects of brand-image fit on attitudes toward a CBA event and post-CBA brand attitudes.

Cells of Pseudomonas strain LB400, grown on biphenyl, glucose, or glycerol, transformed polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners into chlorobenzoic acid (CBA) metabolites. Transformation of the PCB congeners, 2,3-chlorobiphenyl (CBP), 2,2'-CBP, 2,5,4'-CBP, and 2,4,2',4'-CBP, produced the metabolites, 2,3-CBA, 2-CBA, 4-CBA, and 2,4-CBA, respectively. Rates and extents of PCB transformation and metabolite formation were highest with biphenyl-grown cells. Intermediate rates of metabolite production were observed with glycerol-grown cells, and lowest rates of production were found with glucose-grown cells. Regardless of carbon source, the rate of degradation of congeners was faster than the rate of production of CBAs. Relative rates of PCB transformation and metabolite production from different congeners with cells grown on a particular substrate followed the same general order, 2,3-CBA (from 2,3-CBP) > 2-CBA (from 2,2'-CBP) > 4-CBA (from 2,5,4'-CBP) > 2,4-CBA (from 2,4,2',4'-CBP). Pseudomonas strain LB400 appeared unable to grow on any of the chlorobenzoic acids. However, Pseudomonas strain LB400 cells grown on biphenyl appeared capable of degrading 2-CBA and 2,3-CBA but not 4-CBA nor 2,4-CBA. Cells grown on glycerol appeared unable to metabolize any CBAs.Key words: polychlorinated biphenyls, metabolites, Pseudomonas LB400.

This study investigates the strength and permeability properties of pervious concrete-containing coal bottom ash (CBA) aggregates. Two pervious concrete mixtures were fabricated with different aggregate size distributions. One mixture contained CBA aggregates with a single-type distribution and the other mixture contained CBA aggregates with a hybrid-type distribution. The test parameters of the CBA pervious concrete included the water/cement (W/C) ratio and compaction level to investigate their effects on the properties. W/C ratios of 0.25, 0.30, and 0.35 were considered for the mixture, and compaction levels of 0.5, 1.5, and 3.0 MPa were applied to fabricate the pervious specimen. The increase in the W/C ratio reduced the strength by approximately 20% to 30% of the CBA pervious concrete. The increase in the compaction level reduced the permeability by approximately four to five times but significantly increased the strength of the CBA pervious concrete. The test results indicate that the use of single-type CBA or hybrid CBA aggregates with different size distributions affected the properties of the pervious concrete. The strength of specimens, including hybrid CBA aggregates, was 30% to 45% greater than that of the specimens containing single-type CBA aggregates. Meanwhile, the use of hybrid CBA aggregates reduced the permeability of the CBA pervious concrete by approximately 20% to 35%. Finally, relationships between the strength properties, permeability characteristics and total void ratios of the CBA pervious concrete specimens are suggested based on the test results.

Easter lilies (Lilium longiflorum Thunb. `Nellie White') were forced in root media composed of 1 peat: 1 vermiculite (v/v) mixed with coal bottom ash (CBA) at rates of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% CBA. Lilies in all levels of CBA were equal in mean per plant flower bud numbers, fresh and dry weights, and numbers of yellow or brown lower stem leaves. Lilies in 100% CBA were significantly lower in mean stem length than plants in 0% or 50% CBA. Plants in 100% CBA required more frequent irrigation than plants in all other media. Media pH and solution electrical conductivity increased with increase in percent CBA. Analysis of leaf tissue showed no difference in nutrient levels between plants in 0% or 100% CBA.

The effects of temperature and hydrogen partial pressure on 4-Carboxybenzaldehyde (4-CBA) hydrogenation over Pd/TiO2 catalyst were investigated in a batch reactor. The results show that 4-CBA hydrogenation is a consecutive reaction. And 4-CBA hydrogenation to 4-hydroxymethylbenzoic (4-HMBA) is a reversible exothermic reaction. Meanwhile, a parallel reaction of 4-CBA decarbonylation occurs during the process. The hydrogenation rate of 4-HMBA is more sensitive to temperature and hydrogen partial pressure than that of 4-CBA. Macro-kinetics of 4-CBA reaction over Pd/TiO2 was obtained from the experimental data using the power-law kinetics model. The apparent activation energies of 4-CBA hydrogenation, 4-HMBA hydrogenation, 4-CBA decarbonylation and 4-HMBA dehydrogenation are 29.65 kJ/mol, 42.55 kJ/mol, 74.32 kJ/mol and 69.34 kJ/mol, respectively. The reaction orders with respect to 4-CBA and 4-HMBA are both first-order.

Validazione del CBA-Young Form (CBA-Y) Project of research "CBA young form: validation of a wide spectrum questionnaire for screening of the protective and risk factors linked with psychological disease of young people" Introduction CBA group build up a psychological tool thought to the screening of young people: CBA young form. The questionnaire born to cover an Italian lack concerned the psychological tools for people aged within 14 and 25 years old (Sanavio, et al., 1992; Michelin & Sica, 1996). The aim of CBA young form is evaluating the typical trouble of adolescence in Italy. The main goal of the questionnaire is the evaluation of three things: psychological wellness, the probability whom the subject could have some kinds of dangerous behaviors and the subject's skills against negative events in life. The diagnosis of the state of well-being and psychological adjustment of the subject is a priority goal for any instrument of medical, also referring to an age evolving as that of adolescence or youth, it becomes essential to collect elements that can help the specialist to provide for "risky behavior" on the part of the subject. Alcohol, drugs, AIDS, car accidents, vandalism, etc.. seriously put at risk the lives of many young people and invariably mark the future adulthood. Finally, it is necessary to be able to estimate the presence of so-called "coping strategies" coping strategies can be conceptualized as psychological resources that help the person to develop and address the mutavoli situations she encounters in the course of their lives (Goldfried and Davison , 1976; Petter, 1999). In fact, insufficient acquisition of these strategies results in difficulties and problems in interpersonal behavior and social life of the individual. On the other hand, realistic expectations of self-efficacy, the ability to restructure erroneous beliefs, a sense of self-confidence, problem solving skills, etc.., Can be considered as real factors "protective" of the psychological health of the person and more generally an indicator of well-being and psychosocial adjustment. Description of the CBA-Y The CBA-Y in its final form consists of 500 items by filling in the form checklist. Who fills in the questionnaire flows individual item and mark in the box corresponding to those judges can adapt to your situation. This mode of response is generally considered to be less invasive because it allows the omission of the item rather than forcing the individual to give an answer. Compilation time is around 30 minutes. Protocol CBA-Y are obtained across a range of information about individual items marked dall'esaminato. In addition there is the structuring of responses within two control scales (Autoapertura, Emotional State), two scales of well-being (well-being, psychosocial adjustment) and 7 scales of discomfort (Use of Drugs and Unusual Experiences, psychopathological risk, Love the risk and search of excitement, anxiety and emotional instability, Characteristics and antisocial behavior, irritability, aggressiveness and hostility Events psychophysiological). It also calculates the number of items that were used to describe as additional information for the psychologist. At the same time it was realized the short form of the same questionnaire, the Youth Welfare CBA (CBA-BG). The short form differs from the baseline questionnaire for the reduction in the number of items that have been brought to 200. The stairs that are calculated has been eliminated on the emotional state portandone the total number to 10. Objectives The overall objective of the research is to validate the CBA Young form. The validation process is divided into different times with different priorities. 1. Investigate the main psychometric characteristics of the questionnaire. We intend to evaluate the factor structure of the questionnaire, the distribution of scores in the scales and their reliability, possible gender differences in the responses and any differences related to age groups. 2. Convergent and discriminant validity: comparison of the instrument with other psychological screening questionnaires in charge of the youth population. 3. Criterion validity: to observe the pattern of response to the questionnaire populations characterized by the presence of specific symptoms in the field of psychology. 4. Measure the predictive power of the questionnaire to the onset of psychopathological symptoms in young people. Participants A large representative sample of the normal population (about 2000 participants). Subsamples pathological to test the response of the questionnaire when administered to individuals critical. A sample external to that used for the collection of normative data to test the external validity of the questionnaire. Materials and methods - Informed Consent Form - Folder registry (socio demographic information, medical history and related to pharmacological treatment in progress) - Medical Record (information on the diagnosis and course of the disease) - Young form CBA (CBA-Y) - CBA youth welfare (CBA-BG) - Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory version adolescents (Butcher & Williams, 1996). The number of participants will take part in the compilation of one or more questionnaires. Partecipanti Un vasto campione rappresentativo della popolazione normale (circa 2000 partecipanti). Sottocampioni patologici per verificare la risposta del questionario se somministrato a individui critici. Un campione esterno a quello utilizzato per la raccolta dei dati normativi per testare la validità esterna del questionario. Materiali e metodo - Modulo di consenso informato - Cartella anagrafica (informazioni socio anagrafiche, anamnestiche e relative al trattamento farmacologico in corso) - Cartella clinica (informazioni relative alla diagnosi e al decorso della malattia) - CBA young form (CBA-Y) - CBA benessere giovanile (CBA-BG) - Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory versione adolescenti (Butcher & Williams, 1996). I diversi partecipanti dovranno partecipare alla compilazione di uno o più questionari. Study 1: analysis of the differences between the response mode "checklist" and how to respond "true or false". Goal. The objectives of this work are twofold: to assess whether the checklist mode with respect to the true / false influence scores and highlight any differences between paper and electronic administration. Method. 100 people completed the questionnaire in response mode checklist and true / false in order counterbalanced. 50 people have made the two compilations in the electronic version and 50 in the paper version. To evaluate the differences between the two modes of response was used the McNemar test on the 16 sections of the questionnaire and the analysis of variance on the scores obtained in 15 steps. To evaluate the differences between paper and electronic administration has been used analysis of variance on the scores obtained in 15 steps. Results. The McNemar test showed that the number of items marked "true" is greater than the number of items selected in the checklist in all sections of the questionnaire included the "status anxiety." The ANOVA showed that the mean scores in the scales of the questionnaire are higher in answer mode "true / false" with respect to the checklist. There were no differences between the paper and the electronic administration. Study 2: Validation of the CBA-Y. Goal. Validate the questionnaire CBA-Y on the Italian population. Method. For the validation of CBA-Y were recruited 1732 children, 842 males (48.6%) and 890 females (51.4%) aged between 14 and 25 years. It 'a community group, recruited on a voluntary basis in schools, workplaces and other settings supposedly' normal '; 92% resides in Northern Italy. Everyone was instructed about how to complete the questionnaire and freely accepted to take part in the compilation informed consent. During compilation that could be both individual and group psychologist has always been available for any questions related to the task. The collected data were then analyzed to derive threshold values belonging to each scale of the questionnaire divided by gender and age groups. The reliability of the scales was investigated by Cronbach's alpha index (Cohen, 1988). The convergent validity (Campbell & Fiske, 1959) of the questionnaire was analyzed by correlating the questionnaire with the MMPI version adolescents. Results. The questionnaire has revealed a good degree of reliability and internal validity. The relationship with the MMPI is detected consistent with what is present in the literature. Study 3: Application of the CBA-Y to a clinical population. Goal. Investigate whether the CBA-Y discriminate between normal and pathological population. Method. Looking took part in 34 patients with a clinical diagnosis on axis I and II. The average age of the entire sample was 20.5 years (range 14-26; Ds 3.66). Within the sample children in treatment were divided into five subgroups based on the principal diagnosis: anxiety, mood, personality, and substance use disorders of adolescence. The delivery took place at the services of Pediatrics, or at home on the experimenter sending the psychotherapist. To investigate the differences between the normative sample and the clinical sample was used the test t-student. Results. Analysis of data shows a good discriminating power of the CBA-Y to distinguish the normal population from the clinic. Study 4: Differences between normative data and a sample of French students. Goal. This study aims to investigate how a population different from the Italian answer to the CBA-BG to investigate aspects of external validity. Method. The Italian version of the questionnaire (the original version) was translated into French and then reported in the original language (back Traslation) in agreement with the suggestion made in the article by Brislin 1970. The questionnaire was administered in French in the Faculty of Psychology of Nanterre (Paris Ouest) during breaks between classes. Each student completed the questionnaire individually and has previously been instructed to ask any questions the examiner. Surveyed 109 students (50 males, 45.9%) French aged between 18 and 24 years. The average age of the children was 21.98 years (SD = 2.44) compared to women was 20.81 years (sd = 1.51). The age between the two genders differed significantly (F (1,107) = 8.35, p <0.01). All respondents were students of the psychology faculty of Nanterre. There is no statistically significant difference between the number of boys and girls (χ2 (1) = 0,743, p = 0,389). Analysis: to confirm the factor structure within the French sample were used for structural equation modeling in their simplest form, the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Because of the scarcity of the sample each scale of the CBA-BG was evaluated individually in order to reduce the complexity of the model. To investigate whether there were differences between the responses of the French champion than a sub-sample extracted from matched normative data was used univariate analysis of variance using factors such as gender and group (French and Italian). The results of the analysis are considered the interaction between the factors and the main effect of group. The first explicit the presence of differences between gender differences in the two groups while the second investigates the possible difference between the groups. The main effect of gender is irrelevant for the purposes of this research. Results. The analysis on the French champion has confirmed the validity of the questionnaire for seven of the ten scales analyzed. The only partial adherence of the model to the original data can be attributed to the nature of the scales of CBA-BG. They were not obtained through statistical procedures but are designed in theory to investigate the different areas in preparation of the instrument were considered useful for clinical practice. The two samples tested were equivalent in all important aspects. In addition to pairing by gender, age, education and professional status they did not differ even for the conditions of administration. A variable difficult to control in the analysis that often do not pay particular attention during data collection. The analysis of the scores obtained in the two samples did not reveal substantial differences between the scales of the questionnaire. Only the scale of well-being and the number of items used to describe show a score significantly lower than that in the sample French Italian. We can conclude by saying that the results of this study to generalize the data obtained in the first phase of validation of the questionnaire are broadly satisfactory.
Progetto di ricerca “CBA forma Giovanile: validazione di una questionario ad ampio spettro per lo screening dei fattori protettivi e predisponenti al disagio psicologico nella popolazione giovanile”. Quadro di riferimento Nello sviluppo delle ricerche del gruppo CBA è stato ideato uno strumento di indagine clinica per la popolazione giovanile: il CBA forma giovani. Il questionario nasce per colmare una lacuna che esiste in Italia per quanto riguarda gli strumenti di assessment e ricerca che siano adatti per persone tra i 14 e 25 anni (Sanavio, et al., 1992; Michelin & Sica, 1996). Il CBA forma Giovani ha lo scopo di valutare le problematiche proprie della tarda adolescenza e della giovinezza nel contesto italiano. Nella costruzione del questionario si sono ritenuti prioritari tre obiettivi: valutare il benessere psicologico e l’adattamento psicosociale del soggetto, valutare la probabilità che si verifichino condotte che potrebbero ledere il soggetto stesso o altre persone e valutare le risorse del soggetto per far fronte ad eventi avversi nella propria vita. La diagnosi dello stato di benessere e adattamento psicologico del soggetto è uno scopo prioritario per qualsiasi strumento di carattere clinico; inoltre, riferendosi ad una fascia d’età in piena evoluzione come quella della adolescenza o della giovinezza, diventa fondamentale poter raccogliere degli elementi che possano aiutare lo specialista a prevedere dei “comportamenti a rischio” da parte del soggetto. Alcool, droga, AIDS, incidenti stradali, teppismo, ecc. mettono seriamente a repentaglio la vita di moltissimi giovani o segnano invariabilmente la futura età adulta. Infine è necessario poter fare una stima della presenza delle cosiddette “strategie di coping”; le strategie di coping possono essere concettualizzate come delle risorse psicologiche che aiutano la persona ad elaborare ed affrontare le mutavoli situazioni che incontra nel corso della propria vita (Goldfried e Davison, 1976; Petter, 1999). Infatti, l’insufficiente acquisizione di tali strategie si traduce in difficoltà e problemi nel comportamento interpersonale e nella vita sociale dell’individuo. Per contro, aspettative realistiche di auto efficacia, la capacità di ristrutturare convinzioni erronee, un senso di fiducia nelle proprie capacità, abilità di problem solving, ecc., possono essere considerati dei veri e propri fattori “protettivi” della salute psicologica della persona e più in generale un indicatore di benessere e adattamento psicosociale. Descrizione del CBA-Y Il CBA-Y nella sua forma definitiva è composto da 500 item da compilare in forma checklist. Chi compila il questionario scorre i singoli item e segna la casella corrispondente a quelli che giudica possano adattarsi alla sua situazione. Questa modalità di risposta è giudicata in generale come meno invasiva perché consente l'omissione dell'item anziché forzare l'individuo a dare una risposta. Il tempo di compilazione si aggira attorno ai 30 minuti. Dal protocollo CBA-Y si ricavano tutta una serie di informazioni inerenti i singoli item marcati dall'esaminato. Inoltre è prevista la strutturazione delle riposte all'interno di 2 scale di controllo (Autoapertura, Stato Emotivo), 2 scale di benessere (Benessere, Adattamento psicosociale) e 7 scale di disagio (Uso di Droghe ed Esperienze Inusuali, Rischio Psicopatologico, Amore per il rischio e ricerca di sensazioni forti, Ansia e Instabilità Emotiva, Caratteristiche e comportamenti antisociali, irritabilità Aggressività Ostilità e Manifestazioni Psicofisiologiche). Viene inoltre calcolato il numero di item che sono stati usati per descriversi come ulteriore informazione per lo psicologo. Parallelamente è stata realizzata la forma breve dello stesso questionario, il CBA Benessere Giovanile (CBA-BG). La forma breve si differenzia dal questionario di base per la riduzione nel numero degli item che sono stati portati a 200. Dalle scale che vengono calcolate è stata eliminata quella relativa allo stato emotivo portandone il numero totale a 10. Obiettivi L’obiettivo globale della ricerca è validare il CBA forma Giovani. Il processo di validazione si articola in diversi momenti con differenti priorità. 1. Indagare le principali caratteristiche psicometriche del questionario. Si intende valutare la struttura fattoriale del questionario, la distribuzione dei punteggi nelle scale e la loro attendibilità, eventuali differenze di genere nelle risposte e eventuali differenze legate alle classi di età. 2. Validità convergente e discriminante: confronto dello strumento con altri questionari preposti allo screening psicologico della popolazione giovanile. 3. Validità di criterio: osservare i pattern di risposta al questionario di popolazioni caratterizzate dalla presenza di sintomatologie specifiche in ambito psicologico. 4. Misurare il potere predittivo del questionario verso l’insorgenza di sintomi psicopatologici nella popolazione giovanile. Partecipanti Un vasto campione rappresentativo della popolazione normale (circa 2000 partecipanti). Sottocampioni patologici per verificare la risposta del questionario se somministrato a individui critici. Un campione esterno a quello utilizzato per la raccolta dei dati normativi per testare la validità esterna del questionario. Materiali e metodo - Modulo di consenso informato - Cartella anagrafica (informazioni socio anagrafiche, anamnestiche e relative al trattamento farmacologico in corso) - Cartella clinica (informazioni relative alla diagnosi e al decorso della malattia) - CBA young form (CBA-Y) - CBA benessere giovanile (CBA-BG) - Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory versione adolescenti (Butcher & Williams, 1996). I diversi partecipanti dovranno partecipare alla compilazione di uno o più questionari. Studio 1: analisi delle differenze tra la modalità di risposta "cheklist" e la modalità di risposta "vero o falso". Obiettivo. Gli obiettivi del presente lavoro sono due: valutare se la modalità checklist rispetto al vero/falso influenza i punteggi ed evidenziare eventuali differenze tra somministrazione cartacea ed elettronica. Metodo. 100 persone hanno compilato il questionario in modalità di risposta checklist e vero/falso in ordine controbilanciato. 50 persone hanno effettuato le due compilazioni in versione elettronica e 50 in versione cartacea. Per valutare le differenze tra le due modalità di risposta è stato utilizzato il test di McNemar sulle 16 sezioni del questionario e l’analisi della varianza sui punteggi ottenuti nelle 15 scale. Per valutare le differenze tra somministrazione cartacea ed elettronica è stata utilizzata l’analisi della varianza sui punteggi ottenuti nelle 15 scale. Risultati. Dal test di McNemar è emerso che il numero di item siglati “veri” è maggiore del numero di item selezionati nella checklist in tutte le sezioni del questionario esclusa la sezione “ansia di stato”. L’ANOVA ha evidenziato che i punteggi medi nelle scale del questionario sono più alti nella modalità di risposta “vero/falso” rispetto alla checklist. Non si sono riscontrate differenze tra la somministrazione cartacea e quella elettronica. Studio 2: validazione del CBA-Y. Obiettivo. Validare il questionario CBA-Y sulla popolazione italiana. Metodo. Per la validazione del CBA-Y sono stati reclutati 1732 ragazzi, 842 maschi (48,6%) e 890 femmine (51,4%) di età compresa tra 14 e 25 anni. E’ un gruppo di comunità, reclutato su base volontaria in scuole, luoghi di lavoro e altri contesti presumibilmente ‘normali’; il 92% risiede nel Nord-Italia. Ogni individuo è stato istruito circa la modalità di compilazione del questionario e ha accettato liberamente di prendere parte alla compilazione previo consenso informato. Durante la compilazione che poteva essere sia individuale sia di gruppo uno psicologo è sempre rimasto disponibile per gli eventuali chiarimenti inerenti il compito. I dati raccolti sono stati poi analizzati per ricavare i valori di soglia appartenenti a ciascuna scala del questionario suddivisi per genere e fasce d'età. L'affidabilità delle scale è stata indagata attraverso l'indice alfa di Cronbach (Cohen, 1988). La validità convergente (Campbell & Fiske, 1959) del questionario è stata analizzata mettendo in relazione il questionario con l'MMPI versione adolescenti. Risultati. Il questionario ha rivelato un buon grado di affidabilità e di validità interna. La relazione con l'MMPI si rileva coerente con quanto presente in letteratura. Studio 3: Applicazione del CBA-Y ad una popolazione clinica. Obiettivo. Indagare se il CBA-Y discrimina tra la popolazione normale e patologica. Metodo. Alla ricerca hanno preso parte 34 pazienti con diagnosi clinica in asse I e II. L'età media dell'intero campione è di 20,5 anni (range 14-26; Ds 3,66). All'interno del campione i ragazzi in trattamento sono stati divisi in 5 sottogruppi in base alla diagnosi principale: ansia, umore, personalità, disturbi dell'adolescenza e uso di sostanze. La somministrazione è avvenuta presso i servizi di Neuropsichiatria Infantile, o a domicilio dello sperimentatore su invio dello psicoterapeuta. Per indagare le differenze tra il campione normativo e il campione clinico è stato utilizzato il test t-student. Risultati. Dall'analisi dei dati emerge una buona capacità discriminante del CBA-Y nel distinguere la popolazione normale da quella clinica. Studio 4: Differenze tra i dati normativi e un campione di studenti francesi. Obiettivo. Questo studio vuole indagare come una popolazione diversa da quella italiana risponda al CBA-BG per indagarne gli aspetti di validità esterna. Metodo. La versione italiana del questionario (versione originale) è stata tradotta in francese e successivamente riportata nella lingua originaria (back traslation) in accordo con quanto suggerito nell'articolo di Brislin del 1970. Il questionario in lingua francese è stato somministrato all'interno della facoltà di psicologia di Nanterre (Paris Ouest) durante le pause tra le lezioni. Ogni studente ha compilato il questionario individualmente ed è stato preventivamente istruito a chiedere eventuali chiarimenti all'esaminatore. Hanno partecipato all'indagine 109 studenti (50 maschi; 45,9%) francesi di età compresa tra i 18 e i 24 anni. L'età media dei ragazzi era di 21,98 anni (ds=2,44) e quella delle ragazze era di 20,81 anni (sd=1,51). L'età tra i due generi si differenziava significativamente (F(1,107)=8,35; p<0,01). Tutti gli intervistati erano studenti universitari della facoltà di psicologia di Nanterre. Non vi è differenza statisticamente significativa tra il numero di ragazzi e di ragazze (χ2(1)=0.743; p=0.389). Analisi: per confermare la struttura fattoriale all'interno del campione francese sono stati utilizzati dei modelli di equazioni strutturali nella loro forma più semplice, l'analisi fattoriale confermativa (CFA). A causa delle scarsità del campione ogni scala del CBA-BG è stata valutata singolarmente in modo da ridurre la complessità del modello. Per indagare se vi fossero differenze tra le risposte del campione francese rispetto a quelle di un sottocampione appaiato estratto dai dati normativi è stata utilizzata l'analisi della varianza univariata utilizzando come fattori il genere e il gruppo (francesi e italiani). I risultati dell'analisi presi in esame sono l'interazione tra i fattori e l'effetto principale del gruppo. La prima esplicita la presenza di differenze tra le differenze di genere nei due gruppi mentre il secondo indaga l'eventuale differenza tra i gruppi. L'effetto principale del genere è irrilevante ai fini della presente ricerca. Risultati. L'analisi sul campione francese ha confermato la bontà del questionario per sette delle dieci scale analizzate. La soltanto parziale aderenza del modello ai dati originali è da attribuire alla natura stessa delle scale del CBA-BG. Esse non sono state ricavate tramite procedimenti statistici ma sono state pensate a livello teorico per indagare le differenti aree che in fase di stesura dello strumento erano state considerate utili per la pratica clinica. I due campioni presi in esame erano equivalenti sotto tutti gli aspetti salienti. Oltre che l'appaiamento per genere, età, scolarizzazione e condizione professionale essi non differivano nemmeno per le condizioni di somministrazione. Una variabile difficile da controllare in sede di analisi a cui spesso non si presta particolare attenzione durante la raccolta dei dati. L'analisi dei punteggi ottenuti nei due campioni non ha fatto emergere differenze sostanziali tra le scale del questionario. Solo la scala di benessere e il numero di item utilizzati per descriversi mostrano un punteggio significativamente minore nel campione francese rispetto a quello italiano. Possiamo concludere dicendo che i risultati di questo studio teso a generalizzare i dati ottenuti nella prima fase di validazione del questionario sono globalmente soddisfacenti.

Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) has for a long time been used in transport planning, but it is often questioned. One main argument against CBA is that the results depend largely on assumptions regarding one or a few input factors, as for example the future fuel price or valuation of CO2 emissions. The three papers included in this thesis investigate some aspects of uncertainty in transport CBA calculations. The two first papers explore how changes in input data assumptions affect the CBA ranking of six rail and road investments in Stockholm. The first paper deals with the effect of different land-use assumptions while the second deals with the influence of economic growth, driving cost and public transport fare. The third paper investigates how alternative formulations of the public transport mode choice and route choice affect travel flows, ticket revenues and consumer surplus. These are important factors previously known to affect CBA results. The findings of the first two papers suggest that CBA results are robust concerning different land-use scenarios and single input factors. No change in rank between a road and a rail object is observed in the performed model calculations, and only one change between two road objects. The fact that CBA results seem robust regarding input assumptions supports the use CBA as a tool for selecting transport investments. The results in the third paper indicate that if there is detailed interest in, for example, number of boardings and ticket income from a certain transit line, or the total benefit of a price change, a more detailed formulation of the public transport mode choice and route choice will provide more reliable results. On the other hand, this formulation requires substantially more data on the transit line and price structure than the conventional formulation used in Swedish transport planning, especially in areas with many different pricing systems.

QC 20150414

Hydropower is a fundamental pillar in the Swedish energy system and accounts for a large part of the Swedish electricity production. The regulation power is also essential for balancing the grid load.  Fortum is one of the leading energy companies within hydropower and Klarälven is a river with high importance, where Fortum owns and operates nine powerplants. These power plants constitute a barrier for the wild salmonids in Klarälven, which need to migrate upstream to reach their spawning area. Since the 1930s, the spawning salmonids have been trapped and transported upstream by lorry. After the spawning period, the smolts and kelts, i.e. the juvenile and spawned salmonids, have to migrate downstream. Due to the lack of fishways, they are forced to pass the eight remaining power plants. This, together with predation, entails a high mortality rate. Two independently performed studies indicates on survival rates of 16 % and 30 %. To stabilize the wild salmonid population, the downstream survival must increase, and a proposed solution is to implement a downstream trap-and-transport solution. This trap implementation could be a step towards the environmental adaptation of hydropower and a part of the action plan proposed in June 2016, during the Agreement on Swedish energy policy. To find the most cost-beneficial environmental measure, a socio-economic assessment method can be used. A Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) is a commonly used socio-economic method, which evaluates the benefits and costs during the entire project lifetime. Energiforsk has, within the project FRAM-KLIV, developed a CBA tool that aims to simplify the socio-economic evaluation. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate whether the CBA tool can be used in future permit processes to prioritize between different project proposals to find the most beneficial environmental improvements. In order to evaluate the tool, it was to be applied on the trap-and-transport project in Edsforsen to evaluate the possibility of a socio-economic profitability. Also, the concepts and theory behind CBA was to be analysed and the suitability of translating environmental consequences into monetary values was to be evaluated. In the analysis of Edsforsen, 13 scenarios were developed. The first scenario served as a basis for the other scenarios, which were created as a sensitivity analysis. The result of the CBA showed a large socio-economic benefit and the most important parameter was identified as people’s willingness to pay for an increase of the wild salmonid stock in Klarälven. In the CBA, this parameter had a high uncertainty, as it was based on a survey performed for another project in another part of Sweden. It was found that in order for the socio-economic result to be positive, all households in Sweden must be willing to pay at least 35 SEK. As a complement to the CBA result, an evaluation regarding the marginal cost per fish was performed and an interval of 50-580 SEK per smolt was obtained. However, the calculations were based on several uncertainties and the interval should therefore be interpreted as a guideline rather than a precise result. It was concluded that in situations when a socio-economic analysis is required, and when it is possible to express consequences in monetary values, the method of CBA is appropriate. It is also a suitable methodology for evaluations of large projects, as it provides a comprehensible overview of the costs and the benefits. Despite the criticism directed towards CBA regarding uncertainties and its anthropogenic perspective, it could be concluded that using CBA as a socio-economic assessment method provides a perspicuous and quantitative result. Thus, the usage of CBA in prioritization processes of different environmental measures can be highly useful. Energiforsk’s CBA tool provides a framework with guidelines that can be highly useful and accelerate the analysis process. However, the performance of the tool version used in this thesis was not fully satisfactory due to a few malfunctions. The tool is still under development and it is likely that these errors will be adjusted in future versions. If the malfunctions in the tool would be adjusted, it could become useful for authorities, companies and other actors that wants to evaluate hydropower related environmental measures or when prioritizing between different project proposals to find the most beneficial environmental improvements in future permit processes.
Vattenkraften är en grundläggande pelare i det svenska energisystemet och står för en stor andel av den svenska elproduktionen på årsbasis. Vattenkraften har även hög betydelse för det svenska nätets balanseringsförmåga. Fortum är ett av de ledande energibolagen inom vattenkraft i Sverige och en viktig älv för dess kraftproduktion är Klarälven. Denna älv är dessutom fundamental för Klarälvslaxen och Klarälvsöringen och dess nödvändiga lekvandring. Under naturliga förhållanden ska den lekmogna laxen vandra uppströms Klarälven, men denna vandring försvåras av vattenkraftverken. Sedan 1930-talet har laxen transporterats uppströms Klarälven med lastbil för att nå sina lekområden, men när smolten och kelten ska vandra nedåt för att nå Vänern på nytt måste den passera de resterande åtta vattenkraftverken, vilket tillsammans med predation resulterar i en hög dödlighet. Två oberoende studier indikerar en överlevnad på 16 % respektive 30 %. För att stabilisera det vilda laxbeståndet föreslås en uppfångsanordning med nedströmstransport, där fisken fångas upp i en fälla och transporteras nedströms med lastbil. I juni 2016 beslutades det genom Energiöverenskommelsen att vattenkraften ska miljöanpassas och ett genomförande av en sådan fälla skulle möjligen kunna vara en sådan miljöanpassning. För att finna de mest lönsamma miljöanpassningarna inom vattenkraften bör samhällsekonomiska lönsamhetsbedömningar genomföras. En kostnadsnyttoanalys (CBA) är sådan bedömningsmetod där kostnader och nyttor genererade under projektets livstid ställs mot varandra. Genom projektet FRAM-KLIV har Energiforsk varit med och tagit fram ett CBA-verktyg som ska underlätta genomförandet av en sådan beräkningsanalys. CBA-verktyget användes som ram i det här examensarbetet där en kostnadsnyttoanalys gällande laxens förbättrade nedströmspassage genomfördes och utvärderades. Syftet med detta examensarbete har varit att undersöka huruvida detta CBA-verktyg skulle kunna användas i framtida prioriteringar under tillståndsprocesser för att hitta de mest lönsamma miljöanpassningarna. Dessutom skulle bakomliggande koncept och teori analyseras. Tillika skulle en utvärdering gällande lämpligheten i att värdera miljövärden i monetära termer utföras. I arbetet utformades totalt tretton scenarier, varav det första ansågs som grundscenariot och utgjorde basen för de övriga tolv, vilka skapades för att identifiera de mest kritiska parametrarna genom en känslighetsanalys. Kostnadsnyttoanalysens erhållna resultat tydde på en stor samhällsekonomisk lönsamhet och den mest kritiska parametern identifierades som människors betalningsvilja för en ökad vildlaxpopulation i Klarälven. Osäkerheten kring denna parameter var stor då den baserats på en annan projektundersökning i en annan del av landet. För att erhålla ett positivt samhällsekonomiskt resultat visade denna undersökning att det måste finnas en betalningsvilja på minst 35 kr per hushåll i Sverige. Som ett komplement till resultatet utfördes en beräkning gällande hur mycket varje smolt skulle behöva vara värd för att den samhällsekonomiska nyttan ska vara lika stor som kostnaden.  Beräkningen gav ett intervall mellan 50 och 580 kr, men då använd data innehöll stora osäkerheter bör resultatet ses mer som en riktlinje och inte ett exakt resultat. En slutsats som kunde dras var att det anses lämpligt att uttrycka miljövärden i monetära värden när en samhällsekonomisk analys är nödvändig. CBA som metod anses också vara lämplig och användbar när större projekt ska analyseras eftersom den ger en bred bild över fördelningen mellan kostnader och nyttor. Metoden förser dessutom användaren med ett lättolkat och överskådligt resultat och därav skulle CBA som metod vara lämplig gällande prioritering av miljönyttor. Energiforsks CBA-verktyg kan underlätta processen i och med att det ger användaren en ram med riktlinjer för hur beräkningsprocessen ska gå till. Verktygsversionen som användes i detta examensarbete uppfyllde dock inte full tillfredsställelse vad gällde dess funktionalitet. Verktyget är visserligen fortfarande under utveckling och det är möjligt att dessa funktionsfel kommer att justeras i framtida versioner. Om dessa justeringar sker kan verktyget komma att bli fullt funktionsdugligt och vara användbart för myndigheter, företag och andra aktörer som vill utvärdera vattenkraftrelaterade miljöåtgärder eller som prioriteringsverktyg gällande miljöförbättringar inom framtida tillståndsprocesser.

Syftet med denna undersökning är att analysera och jämföra två olika CBA-verktyg där graden av komplexitet skiljer sig, för att identifiera eventuella skillnader med avseende på det samhällsekonomiska beräkningsbara resultatet som dessa två verktyg genererar. Fallstudie är den valda metoden för att undersöka examensarbetets syfte och författaren applicerar sedan en jämförande analys vars syfte är att jämföra det samhällsekonomiska beräkningsbara resultatet från två förbifartskalkyler på väg utförda med två olika CBA-verktyg inom Trafikverket där graden av komplexitet skiljer sig åt. Studien är avgränsad till två förbifartskalkyler på väg som sedan tidigare har genomgått samhällsekonomisk analys på uppdrag av Trafikverket. Det empiriska resultatet indikerar att val av CBA-verktyg som kan användas för liknande objektsanalyser verkar ha en betydelsefull inverkan på det samhällsekonomiska beräkningsbara resultatet. Trafikverket rekommenderas att se över rådande riktlinjer över val av CBA-verktyg och utföra jämförbara analyser av objekt där verktygsvalet inte är tydligt från början.

Examensarbetet går ut på att göra en kostnadsnyttoanalys för de olika transportmöjligheterna som finns för malmtransporterna från den nya gruva som ska öppna vid Kaunisvaara i Norrbottens län. Företaget Northland Resources planerar att påbörja brytning under 2012 för att under första halvan av 2013 börja transportera ut malm till Narvik och därefter skeppa ut det från hamnen. De första åren handlar det om brytning av ca 1-4 miljoner ton malm per år, men siktet är inställt på att redan 2017 vara uppe i full produktion av 4,7 miljoner ton malm per år. På grund av företagets brytning kommer ökningen av vägtransporter mellan främst Kaunisvaara och Svappavaara (där omlastning till järnväg sker) öka markant. För att bibehålla ett fungerande transportnät bör transportinfrastrukturen utökas på ett eller annat sätt, och ett bra sätt att utreda vilka/vilket alternativ som blir bäst för hela samhället är att göra en kostnadsnyttoanalys.   Examensarbetet är inriktat främst på att göra en analys över transportalternativen järnväg eller elväg, jämfört med referensalternativet baserat på vanlig väg med konventionella lastbilar. För att få ett säkrare resultat kommer även examensarbetet ha inslag av Monte-Carlo-simulering, detta för att kunna täcka osäkerheterna i analysen på ett bättre sätt. Inledningsvis görs en grundkalkyl, för att därefter återupprepa kalkylen, men istället för enskilda siffror för vissa osäkra effekter används istället sannolikhetsfördelningar som sedan slumpar fram siffror i ett relevant intervall. På så sätt kan man få många utfall som tillsammans bildar ett resultat som täcker in många olika fall.   Resultatet ur den ursprungliga kalkylen ger elväg som mest lönsamt alternativ baserat på nettonuvärdeskvot. Däremot är nettonuvärdet för järnvägsalternativet ca 1,7 miljarder högre än för elväg, vilket gör att järnvägen är mest lönsam enligt detta resultatsmått. Efter simulering höjs lönsamheten för elvägsalternativet och alternativet blir mest lönsamt oavsett resultatsmått. Rekommendationen är dock att på det stora hela betrakta järnvägsalternativet som det alternativ som bör genomföras, då osäkerheten är stor för olika parametrar i elvägsalternativet och lönsamhetsmåtten inkluderar inte omlastningseffekterna som uppkommer vid Svappavaara.
The purpose of this thesis is to do a Cost/Benefit analysis (CBA) treating the iron ore transports that follow the opening of the mine just outside the village Kaunisvaara in the northern part of Sweden. The mine and prospect company Northland Resources plan to start the mining in the fall of 2012 and the first iron ore transports are scheduled to the beginning of 2013. The mining company will use the port in Narvik, Norway, as their shipping point, which will radically increase the number of transports between Kaunisvaara and Narvik. In the opening years, Northland Resources plan to have an output of 1-4 million tonnes of iron ore per year until 2017. After that, the company has planned a full production rate of 4,7 million tonnes per year until at least 2037, since the company has secured production for a minimum of 25 years.   The transport route to the port in Narvik consists of both railway and country road. The first part, between the mine around Kaunisvaara to Svappavaara, consists only of country road, while the rest of the way from Svappavaara to Narvik will depend on railway traffic. The country roads are not dimensioned for the amount of truck traffic that is required to transport all of the iron ore (a truck every seventh minute), therefore a CBA is a good way to map out how different solutions will affect the welfare of society. This CBA will treat alternatives concerning railway and electric roads, matched against a traditional truck traffic solution. To gain a more reliable result, the sensitivity analysis will include Monte Carlo simulation, in order to cover the uncertainties in the calculation in a better way. In the simulation, some distinct figures are replaced by probability distributions. The basic calculation is recalculated 1500 times, based on the random figures generated in accordance with the particular probability distribution for every effect.   The basic calculation shows that the electric road alternative generate the most welfare relative to investment cost, while the railway alternative would have increased the welfare about 1,7 billion SEK more than the electric road alternative, purely in monetary effects. After simulation, the electric road alternative was found the most profitable for society. Although, since the transhipment costs from truck to railway at Svappavaara are not included in the calculation, the conclusion is that the railway alternative is the recommended alternative based on the results of this thesis.

Economic analysis is often employed for the purpose of efficient decision-making and allocation of societies’ resources and has been utilized in the Swedish national infrastructure planning since the 1960’s. The topic of this report is the utilisation of CBA in investigating the benefits and costs of transport investments in Sweden and its consequent role as a decision basis. It is the study of various actors’ perspectives on CBA itself, and not least its role within Swedish transport-planning. On the one hand the study concerns the actors interpretation of the current practice, on the other; their perspectives of how CBA ideally should be utilized. The purpose of the study is to be able to, by combining existing ideas, insights and competences in ways which can bridge the diverse perspectives, increase awareness concerning the utilisation and role of CBA in Swedish transport planning. The goal is not to argue against the use of CBA as a method or decision basis, nor to study the technicalities of the method, but rather, it is an attempt to make sense of CBA through the interpretation of various actors’ perspectives from commission to decision. Two main research questions are put forth to lead towards this purpose: First, how does the understanding of CBA vary among actors? And secondly, how can CBA be utilised to its full potential in transport planning?
Ekonomisk analys används ofta för att uppnå ett effektivt beslutsfattande och fördelning av samhällets resurser, i den svenska nationella infrastrukturplaneringen har de nyttjats sedan 1960-talet. Ämnet för denna rapport är användningen av CBA för att utreda nyttor och kostnader av transportinvesteringar i Sverige och dess åtföljande roll som beslutsunderlag. Det är en studie av olika aktörers perspektiv på samhällsekonomisk analys (CBA), och inte minst dess roll inom svenskt transportplanering. Å ena sidan gäller studien olika aktörers tolkning av nuvarande praxis, å andra sidan deras perspektiv på hur CBA helst bör användas. Syftet med studien är att, genom en kombination av befintliga idéer, insikter och kompetenser på ett sätt som kan överbrygga olika perspektiv, öka medvetenheten om användningen och betydelsen av CBA i svensk transportplanering. Målet är inte att argumentera mot användningen av CBA som metod eller beslutsunderlag, inte heller att studera de tekniska aspekterna av metoden, studien syftar snarare att försöka skapa förståelse för CBA genom tolkning av olika aktörers perspektiv från beställning till beslut. Två huvudsakliga forskningsfrågor lyfts fram för att leda mot detta syfte: För det första, hur varierar förståelsen av CBA mellan aktörerna? Och för det andra, hur kan CBA utnyttjas till sin fulla potential i transportplaneringen?

Introdução: Staphylococcus aureus resistente à meticilina (MRSA) é um dos principais patógenos envolvidos em infecções nosocomiais, levando a altas taxas de morbidade e mortalidade em hospitais em todo o mundo. O anti-PBP2a é um anticorpo monoclonal (mAb) contra uma proteína de superfície do MRSA. Este mAb é produzido em sistemas de cultura de células animais, usando linhagem de células de hibridoma. A suplementação do meio de cultivo com componentes variados para o metabolismo celular está associada ao aumento da densidade celular e à obtenção do produto de interesse com qualidade. Objetivos: Estudar o aumento da produção do anticorpo monoclonal anti-PBP2a secretado por células de hibridoma. Materiais e métodos: Seis suplementos nutricionais comerciais, chamados de Cell Boosters (CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5 e CB6 / Cytiva®), foram preparados na concentração 10g/L em Meio Dulbecco MEM (DMEM) acrescido de 10% de soro fetal bovino (SFB). As células foram preservadas em nitrogênio líquido a -196°C. Após o descongelamento, foram cultivadas em frascos T25 cm2 contendo DMEM com 10% (v/v) SFB, volume de trabalho 5 mL, 2 mM Glutamina e mantidas a 37°C em atmosfera úmida de 5% CO2. Para os experimentos, os Cell Boosters foram inoculados em 10% (v/v) no dia 0 das culturas celulares. A quantificação do mAb anti-PBP2a foi realizada por imunoensaio enzimático direto (ELISA). Resultados: No final de cada cinética, verificou-se a concentração de anticorpos monoclonais do controle (42,5ug/mL) e dos suplementos CB3, CB5 e CB6 (55,2ug/mL, 49,9ug/mL e 51,6ug/mL), indicando um aumento de cerca de 30%, 17,5% e 21,5% na produção de mAb, respectivamente. Conclusão: Os suplementos 3, 5 e 6 aumentaram a produção do mAb, no entanto, o CB3 é mais relevante para melhorar a proliferação celular e concentração anti-PBP2a, principalmente.

Potted electronics are becoming more common in precision-guided artillery-launched munitions and also missile systems due to the requirements for miniaturization and structural-robustness. In this paper we have presented a methodology for encapsulating circuit board assemblies (CBA) with a thin polymer layer. The protective polymer layer is both flexible and soft enough to protect the CBA from damage caused by CTE mismatches, and without any appreciable degradation in the structural support during the high-g forces of projectile launch. The application process described here allows for the use of a broad range of polymer materials including those that may not be formed directly against an actual CBA. Proof-of-concept experimental tests and finite-element simulations have been performed and the tests and simulation results are shared in this paper. In addition, the protective polymer layer can also be used to improve in-circuit board crosstalk and RF interference shielding, tin-whisker growth control, moisture barrier properties, and thermal management for un-potted and potted CBAs.

<p>The decision to rehabilitate buildings in a sustainable way is complex, because the associated costs require different levels of assessment, given their relevance to all stakeholders in the decision- making, and are not always easily quantifiable. Following recent decisions of the European Union, it is urgent to carry on with studies to support for sustainable rehabilitation investment projects. In this context, the use of methodologies based on Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) contributes positively to support decisions. The CBA comprise methods to evaluate the net economic impact of an investment project, and can be used for a variety of interventions. The CBA is characterized by being an evaluation model that admits monetary unity as the main measure and has been predominantly used in the context of large public investments during the second half of the twentieth century.</p><p>The present paper aims to present the CBA concepts, its application to different investment projects, identifying the procedures and phases of the methodology, as well as the presentation of the main corresponding cost-benefit performance indicators. Its importance and potential will be highlighted for various stakeholders in the decision-making process, as well as examples of its application to the construction and / or rehabilitation of: i) architectural heritage; ii) school buildings; and iii) health infrastructures. Some final remarks of the study under development, to date, will be presented and discussed as well as future developments.</p>

Abstract Effective August 2021, Malaysia Assets Reset has launched Clustered Maintenance Planning and Execution (CMPE) department towards value focused asset management. To align with the department aspiration to continually generating optimum cashflow as well as staff upskilling, this study focuses on one of CMPE key result areas, with its main objective is to steer frontline maintenance work practice to value-generation perspective. Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) process is used in this study to analyze which maintenance tasks to proceed and which to forgo. It is performed by comparing the cost of frontline maintenance versus outsourcing for a maintenance task over a period of time. Elements taking into consideration for the cost calculation are materials, special tools, additional cost required to ensure internal resources competent to perform the job, outsourcing contract rate (on annual basis), and logistics associated costs. Currently, CBA assessment has been performed by CMPE on 15 potential maintenance tasks which was previously executed via outsourcing. Based on the cost saving/cost incurred derived from Frontline Maintenance versus outsourcing, 14 of the tasks are classified as cost-effective. Taking into consideration of clustered planning and scheduling, each planner are required to further assess on the perspective of manpower availability and re-strategize on manpower arrangement to execute the maintenance task via frontline maintenance. This CBA assessment not only resulted to an increase of 29% total planned frontline maintenance activities in 2022 versus pool of activities performed in 2021 but also contributed to additional technical skill sets to perform value-added maintenance tasks. The assessment via CBA has added value-generation perspective in identifying cost-effective and feasibility of the activities selected. By performing this study, it has supported towards achieving the company End State Aspiration.