Institute for Regional Studies

As community efforts to reduce the overpopulation and euthanasia of unwanted and unowned cats and dogs have increased, many veterinarians have increasingly focused their clinical efforts on the provision of spay-neuter services. Because of the wide range of geographic and demographic needs, a wide variety of spay-neuter programs have been developed to increase delivery of services to targeted populations of animals, including stationary and mobile clinics, MASH-style operations, shelter services, community cat programs, and services provided through private practitioners. In an effort to promote consistent, high-quality care across the broad range of these programs, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians convened a task force of veterinarians to develop veterinary medical care guidelines for spay-neuter programs. These guidelines consist of recommendations for general patient care and clinical procedures, preoperative care, anesthetic management, surgical procedures, postoperative care, and operations management. They were based on current principles of anesthesiology, critical care medicine, infection control, and surgical practice, as determined from published evidence and expert opinion. They represent acceptable practices that are attainable in spay-neuter programs regardless of location, facility, or type of program. The Association of Shelter Veterinarians envisions that these guidelines will be used by the profession to maintain consistent veterinary medical care in all settings where spay-neuter services are provided and to promote these services as a means of reducing sheltering and euthanasia of cats and dogs.

Urban areas account for around 50% of global solid waste generation. In the last decade, the European Union has supported numerous initiatives aiming at reducing waste generation by promoting shifts towards Circular Economy (CE) approaches. Governing this process has become imperative. This article focuses on the results of a governance analysis of six urban regions in Europe involved in the Horizon 2020 project REPAiR. By means of semi-structured interviews, document analysis and workshops with local stakeholders, for each urban area a list of governance challenges which hinder the necessary shift to circularity was drafted. In order to compare the six cases, the various challenges have been categorized using the PESTEL-O method. Results highlight a significant variation in policy contexts and the need for these to evolve by adapting stakeholders’ and policy-makers’ engagement and diffusing knowledge on CE. Common challenges among the six regions include a lack of an integrated guiding framework (both political and legal), limited awareness among citizens, and technological barriers. All these elements call for a multi-faceted governance approach able to embrace the complexity of the process and comprehensively address the various challenges to completing the shift towards circularity in cities.

Species turnover is ubiquitous. However, it remains unknown whether certain types of species are consistently gained or lost across different habitats. Here, we analysed the trajectories of 1827 plant species over time intervals of up to 78 years at 141 sites across mountain summits, forests, and lowland grasslands in Europe. We found, albeit with relatively small effect sizes, displacements of smaller- by larger-ranged species across habitats. Communities shifted in parallel towards more nutrient-demanding species, with species from nutrient-rich habitats having larger ranges. Because these species are typically strong competitors, declines of smaller-ranged species could reflect not only abiotic drivers of global change, but also biotic pressure from increased competition. The ubiquitous component of turnover based on species range size we found here may partially reconcile findings of no net loss in local diversity with global species loss, and link community-scale turnover to macroecological processes such as biotic homogenisation.

(1995). Measuring the value of culture. The European Journal of Cultural Policy: Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 309-322.

Abstract. The monosaccharide anhydrides (MAs) levoglucosan, galactosan and mannosan are products of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis of cellulose and hemicelluloses, and are found to be major constituents of biomass burning (BB) aerosol particles. Hence, ambient aerosol particle concentrations of levoglucosan are commonly used to study the influence of residential wood burning, agricultural waste burning and wildfire emissions on ambient air quality. A European-wide intercomparison on the analysis of the three monosaccharide anhydrides was conducted based on ambient aerosol quartz fiber filter samples collected at a Norwegian urban background site during winter. Thus, the samples' content of MAs is representative for BB particles originating from residential wood burning. The purpose of the intercomparison was to examine the comparability of the great diversity of analytical methods used for analysis of levoglucosan, mannosan and galactosan in ambient aerosol filter samples. Thirteen laboratories participated, of which three applied high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC), four used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and six resorted to gas chromatography (GC). The analytical methods used were of such diversity that they should be considered as thirteen different analytical methods. All of the thirteen laboratories reported levels of levoglucosan, whereas nine reported data for mannosan and/or galactosan. Eight of the thirteen laboratories reported levels for all three isomers. The accuracy for levoglucosan, presented as the mean percentage error (PE) for each participating laboratory, varied from −63 to 20%; however, for 62% of the laboratories the mean PE was within ±10%, and for 85% the mean PE was within ±20%. For mannosan, the corresponding range was −60 to 69%, but as for levoglucosan, the range was substantially smaller for a subselection of the laboratories; i.e. for 33% of the laboratories the mean PE was within ±10%. For galactosan, the mean PE for the participating laboratories ranged from −84 to 593%, and as for mannosan 33% of the laboratories reported a mean PE within ±10%. The variability of the various analytical methods, as defined by their minimum and maximum PE value, was typically better for levoglucosan than for mannosan and galactosan, ranging from 3.2 to 41% for levoglucosan, from 10 to 67% for mannosan and from 6 to 364% for galactosan. For the levoglucosan to mannosan ratio, which may be used to assess the relative importance of softwood versus hardwood burning, the variability only ranged from 3.5 to 24 . To our knowledge, this is the first major intercomparison on analytical methods used to quantify monosaccharide anhydrides in ambient aerosol filter samples conducted and reported in the scientific literature. The results show that for levoglucosan the accuracy is only slightly lower than that reported for analysis of SO42- (sulfate) on filter samples, a constituent that has been analysed by numerous laboratories for several decades, typically by ion chromatography and which is considered a fairly easy constituent to measure. Hence, the results obtained for levoglucosan with respect to accuracy are encouraging and suggest that levels of levoglucosan, and to a lesser extent mannosan and galactosan, obtained by most of the analytical methods currently used to quantify monosaccharide anhydrides in ambient aerosol filter samples, are comparable. Finally, the various analytical methods used in the current study should be tested for other aerosol matrices and concentrations as well, the most obvious being summertime aerosol samples affected by wildfires and/or agricultural fires.

The effect of midazolam on the induction dose-response curve for alfentanil was studied in nonpremedicated ASA physical status I or II patients. The response to the verbal command was used as an end point of anesthesia. Dose-response curves for midazolam, alfentanil, and their combination were determined with a probit procedure, and compared with algebraic (fractional) analysis of drug interaction. Interaction between midazolam and alfentanil was found to be synergistic (supraadditive). The results suggest that the use of this combination is advantageous not only because it helps to achieve different anesthetic goals with specific drugs (a benzodiazepine for unconsciousness and an opioid for blockade of the responses to noxious stimulation), but also because its components are complementary for unconsciousness.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of malnutrition among pulmonary TB patients prior to starting treatment and assess the impact of socio-economic characteristics on their nutritional status DESIGN: Intervention study SETTING: Communicable Diseases Unit, Effia-Nkwanta Regional hospital, Sekondi, Ghana PARTICIPANTS: A total of 570 newly diagnosed adults with pulmonary tuberculosis INTERVENTIONS: A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic and socio-economic information, after which basic anthropometric measurements were done at registration and after two months of TB treatment MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Body mass index (BMI) at time of starting treatment and change in BMI after two months of treatment RESULTS: The mean BMI at registration was 18.7 kg/m(2); 51% were malnourished; 24%, 12% and 15% respectively had mild, moderate and severe malnutrition. Two months after starting treatment, the mean BMI was 19.5 kg/m(2); 40% were malnourished; 21%, 11% and 8% respectively had mild, moderate and severe malnutrition. Using univariate regression analysis, nutritional status was significantly associated with marital status, income per month, educational level, believe in avoiding certain food types and immediate family size at the time starting TB treatment. Two months after starting treatment, change in BMI was significantly associated with age group, marital status, employment status, educational level and belief in avoiding certain food types. CONCLUSIONS: Half of TB patients were malnourished at the time of registration. However, the initiation of treatment resulted in improvement in nutritional status of the patients, with socio-economic factors being important correlates of the observed malnutrition. The findings can be used to advance the argument in support for nutritional supplementation among TB patients in Ghana.

This article compares and contrasts male immigrant labor market experiences in Sweden and Denmark during the period 1985–1995. Using register-based panel data sets from Sweden and Denmark, a picture of the employment assimilation process of immigrants from Norway, Poland, and Turkey is presented. The comparative approach shows that immigrants in Sweden and Denmark experienced similar declines in employment prospects between 1985 and 1995 despite quite different developments of aggregate labor market conditions. A possible explanation is that the changing organizational structure – toward more flexible work organization – has resulted in a decrease in the attractiveness of immigrant employees due to the increasing importance of country-specific skills and informal human capital.

Abstract Urbanization is a global problem but is more pronounced in developing countries. Population growth in developing countries is in line with population movement from rural to urban areas due to easy access to jobs, welfare, and the economy. Indirectly, urbanization will burden urban areas in various vital sectors and contribute directly to waste generation. Unscientific waste handling causes health hazards and urban environmental degradation. Solid Waste Management is a formidable task in Indonesia that will become more complicated with increasing urbanization, changing lifestyles, and increasing consumerism. Several current obstacles related to waste management have made the situation even worse. Current inappropriate waste disposal practices have created severe environmental and public health problems. The purpose of this paper is to critically review the impact of urbanization on waste generation, what is currently being done, and the benefit of integrating a circular economy into waste management to address the waste problem in Indonesia. This review provides an overview of urbanization trends, the projected increase in waste due to urbanization, solid waste status, and current waste management in Indonesia. An integration circular economy approach provides an overview of the benefits of implementing this approach in five crucial sectors in Indonesia. The circular economy approach is expected to be one of the future solutions to the problem of waste management in Indonesia.

OBJECTIVE: Adherence to hypertension treatment is a major public health challenge for low and middle-income countries particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. One potential reason could be the discordance between lay and medical explanatory models of hypertension and its treatment. Understanding community perceptions and practices may contribute to improving hypertension control as they present insights into psychosocial and cultural factors that shape individual behaviour. We explore community perceptions regarding hypertension and its treatment in rural northern Ghana and how they differ from medical understanding. DESIGN: This was a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to collect data, which were analysed using a thematic approach. SETTING: A multisite study conducted in four rural communities in two regions of northern Ghana. PARTICIPANTS: We conducted 16 semi-structured interviews and eight focus group discussions with community leaders and members, respectively. RESULTS: Three major themes were identified: community perceptions, treatment options and community support for people with hypertension. Community perceptions about hypertension include hypertension perceived as excess blood in the body and associated with spiritual or witchcraft attacks. Traditional medicine is perceived to cure hypertension completely with concurrent use of biomedical and traditional medicines encouraged in rural communities. Community members did not consider themselves at risk of developing hypertension and reported having inadequate information on how to provide social support for hypertensive community members, which they attributed to low literacy and poverty. CONCLUSION: There is a substantial mismatch between communities' perceptions and medical understanding of hypertension and its treatment. These perceptions partly result from structural factors and social norms shaped by collective processes and traditions that shape lay beliefs and influence individual health behaviour. Socioeconomic factors also thwart access to information and contribute to inadequate social support for persons with hypertension. These findings highlight the need for a public health approach to hypertension control targeting families and communities.

Due to the development of ICT technologies the so-called sharing economy has spread all over the world, gaining significant market share in certain sectors. One of the well-known and debated manifestations of sharing economy is Airbnb, which is an online platform for accommodation provision. Airbnb has wide-spreading effects on rental and real estate markets, thus it is important to analyse the uneven spatial effects of the phenomenon. This paper aims to map and analyse the intra-urban spatial pattern of Airbnb using three indicators: prices, distance from centre, and attractiveness of the area. The case study area is Budapest, Hungary. Collecting data from various sources we compiled 3-band raster maps to present the significance of the selected indicators. The maps reveal the hotspots of Airbnb within the city and the effects of distance and attractiveness on Airbnb prices.

Resumen: El artículo comienza con un debate sobre el concepto de “contracción” y sus orígenes, fuera del ámbito del desarrollo rural. A partir de ahí, se muestra la distribución de las zonas rurales en contracción en toda Europa. A continuación, se describen los procesos socioeconómicos que impulsan el declive demográfico en las zonas rurales, utilizando tanto la revisión bibliográfica del proyecto ESCAPE como los resultados de sus ocho estudios de caso. Seguidamente, se describe de forma breve la evolución de las intervenciones de la UE para paliar los efectos del declive demográfico, y se hacen algunas observaciones sobre el panorama político/de gobernanza actual. Concluimos considerando cómo una mejor comprensión del problema y del proceso de reducción puede conducir a intervenciones más eficaces, en el contexto de una visión renovada a largo plazo para el medio rural europeo. Este último debe reconocer plenamente el creciente abanico de oportunidades a las que se enfrentan las zonas rurales, a medida que la COVID-19 cambia estas y se aceleran las transformaciones en el comportamiento laboral y en la geografía de la actividad económica, y se cumplen los anteriores cambios graduales en la tecnología y los mercados. Palabras clave: Espacios rurales, declive demográfico, enfoque neo-endógeno, crecimiento inclusivo. Abstract: The paper begins with a discussion of the concept of “shrinking”, and its origins, outside the realm of rural development. Building on this, the paper shows the distribution of shrinking rural areas across Europe. Using both the project’s literature review and findings from its eight case studies the socio-economic processes which drive demographic decline in rural areas are then described. A brief account of the evolution of EU interventions to alleviate the effects of shrinking, and some remarks about the current policy/governance landscape follow. We conclude by considering how a better understanding of the problem and process of shrinking may lead to more effective interventions, within the context of a refreshed long-term vision for Rural Europe. The latter needs to fully acknowledge the expanding repertoire of opportunities confronting rural areas as COVID-19 changes in working behaviour, and the geography of economic activity, accelerate, and fulfil, previously incremental shifts in technology and markets. Key words: Rural areas, demographic decline, neo-endogenous approach, inclusive growth.

“Learning from abroad” is a widely recognised and used means to innovate and improve strategies and policies implemented by regions and cities. However, literature on knowledge transfer and related concepts, such as policy transfer, policy mobility or lesson-drawing, highlights the limitations of this process, especially when it entails the simple transfer of (best) practices from “place A” to “place B”. Such a transfer may lead to suboptimal solutions particularly when the imported practices concern complex phenomena, involving networks of multiple actors and relying on place-specific dynamics. Departing from this critique, the article sheds light on the process of knowledge transfer in the field of circular economy, taking place between the two metropolitan regions of Amsterdam and Naples. This process is guided by an innovative methodology based on a network of (peri-urban) living labs generating eco-innovative solutions for using material waste and wastescapes as a resource in peri-urban areas. Using participant observation in knowledge transfer workshops, stakeholder interviews and surveys, it investigates how the process of co-creation of knowledge in the relational space of the networked living labs takes place thanks to the participation of stakeholders from both regions. This in turn allows for drawing conclusions on what barriers are encountered in such knowledge transfer, what makes solutions transferable across different contexts, and, finally, how the solutions are adapted as they travel from one place to another.

This review article reflects on thirty years of FDI-dependent development in Central and Eastern European regions (with a special emphasis on the Visegrad countries). The modernisation potential of FDI-led European integration is examined from a critical and comparative perspective. The authors argue that the FDI-led “Dependent Market Economy” (DME) model has fallen short of its anticipated modernisation potential, while other, potentially lucrative development alternatives have been neglected. While early-stage benefits were considerable, the development model now faces signs of exhaustion and an increasing number of contradictions. The paper builds on previous original research by the authors, as well as a review of international academic literature to describe the limitations and trade-offs of the DME development model, followed by an overview of three alternate growth paths for the future. In the macro-level perspective, it is argued that long-term catching-up rates across Central and Eastern Europe over 30 years have been limited, and signs of slowdown are increasingly apparent. Likewise, FDI does not seem to contribute significantly to domestic capital accumulation. On the micro-economic and regional levels, limited income effects are coupled with intangible risks and trade-offs. Strengthened socio-economic and territorial disparities ultimately pose problems for both metropolitan core regions and peripheries, while low capital embeddedness and limited spillovers denote weak territorial integration. It I advanced that the DME model may exacerbate future structural crises and exogenous shocks, and finally, that a development model dependent on exogenous capital structures shows curtailed capability to explore, learn, and benefit from beneficial growth opportunities. The paper makes the case that, while the DME model cannot be realistically dismantled in the foreseeable future without considerable risk to the CEE economies, a comprehensive diversification agenda should seek to gradually reduce its risks and foster alternate sources of growth. Embedding foreign capital into local economic networks represents one possible compromise, coupled with growing supplier networks and anchoring value creation in business services as well as innovation and R&D activities. However, alternate sources of development are also to be explored. The new revival of industrial policies in Europe and across the world opens opportunities before previously ‘inconceivable’ state-led development initiatives, including support for the emergence of new national champions. Last but not least, a strengthening domestic SME sector with competitive medium-sized enterprises and locally embedded production networks should serve to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems in domestic capital accumulation and value creation. Together, these and similar steps have the capability to shift the balance from the DME model towards a more competitive and resilient “successor model” where the interests of FDI and domestic development can be fruitfully reconciled.

In times of epidemics and humanitarian crises, it is essential to translate scientific findings into digestible information for government policy makers who have a short time to make critical decisions. To predict how far and fast the disease would spread across Hungary and to support the epidemiological decision-making process, a multidisciplinary research team performed a large amount of scientific data analysis and mathematical and socioeconomic modeling of the COVID-19 epidemic in Hungary, including modeling the medical resources and capacities, the regional differences, gross domestic product loss, the impact of closing and reopening elementary schools, and the optimal nationwide screening strategy for various virus-spreading scenarios and R metrics. KETLAK prepared 2 extensive reports on the problems identified and suggested solutions, and presented these directly to the National Epidemiological Policy-Making Body. The findings provided crucial data for the government to address critical measures regarding health care capacity, decide on restriction maintenance, change the actual testing strategy, and take regional economic, social, and health differences into account. Hungary managed the first part of the COVID-19 pandemic with low mortality rate. In times of epidemics, the formation of multidisciplinary research groups is essential for policy makers. The establishment, research activity, and participation in decision-making of these groups, such as KETLAK, can serve as a model for other countries, researchers, and policy makers not only in managing the challenges of COVID-19, but in future pandemics as well.

A tanulmány célja az elmúlt évtizedekben meghatározóan a külföldi működő tőkére alapozott iparfejlődés összehasonlító értékelése a tágan értelmezett posztszocialista Közép-Európa országaiban és régióiban. Ez a folyamat, amely a rendszerváltások utáni dezindusztrializációt követően bontakozott ki, piaci erők által mozgatott, térben szelektív újraiparosodáshoz vezetett a posztszocialista országok régióinak egy részében. A külföldi működő tőkén alapuló iparfejlődés gyors megoldást kínált számos ipari térség válságára, és elősegítette Közép-Európa (újra)integrációját az európai, illetve a globális ipar munkamegosztásába. Bármennyire versenyképes struktúrák jöttek létre, az átalakulást nemcsak jelentős vállalatok közötti és térbeli különbségek fémjelzik, hanem ma már azt a kérdést is meg kell fogalmazni, hogy milyen mellékhatásokkal, haszonáldozati költségekkel járt a folyamat, és a következő évtizedekben mennyire marad fenntartható a jelenlegi növekedési modell. A tanulmány ezért öt részre oszlik. Az első részben megvizsgálja a gazdaságszerkezeti átalakulás Közép-Európa térszerkezetére gyakorolt következményeit, és azt, hogy milyen hajtóerők mozgatják az egyes gazdasági szektorok térbeli letelepülését. A második és harmadik részben bemutatja a külföldi működő tőkén alapuló iparfejlődés legfontosabb vonásait, valamint azt, hogyan lokalizálódnak az ipari tevékenységek, szakértői megkérdezés eredményeivel is alátámasztva. A negyedik rész a fejlődési modell buktatóiról, továbbfejleszthetőségének kérdéseiről szól, amit a tanulmány végén a közép-európai ipar fenntartható fejlődéséről megfogalmazott következtetések zárnak.

Abstract Questions Woody encroachment affects many open habitats from semi‐deserts to wetlands and grasslands. We aimed to study the effect of native woody encroachment on grassland plant biodiversity in loess steppe fragments by analysing the vegetation composition of grasslands subjected to increasing levels of encroachment. We studied both ancient and restored grasslands with the following research hypotheses: (a) increasing woody encroachment decreases total diversity and the species richness of dry‐grassland species; and (b) the effect of woody cover on grassland biodiversity differs between ancient and restored grasslands. Location South‐Eastern part of Transdanubia, Hungary, Central Europe. Methods Altogether 63 loess grassland fragments were selected for the study. The percentage cover of trees, shrubs and herbaceous vegetation were recorded in 400‐m 2 ‐sized plots ( n = 110). The effects of woody encroachment and grassland age on diversity, total species richness of the herb layer, and richness of dry‐grassland species were analysed. Results We found that woody encroachment affected the total richness of the herb layer and the species richness of dry‐grassland species. For most of the listed variables, lowest values were found for the highest woody encroachment groups. Grassland age affected the species richness of the herb layer and that of dry‐grassland species; lower values were detected in restored grasslands. In restored grasslands, Shannon diversity and species evenness were lower, while Berger–Parker dominance was higher than in ancient grasslands. Species composition and richness displayed a relatively high resistance to moderate woody encroachment; the highest decrease in diversity was detected at a high level of woody encroachment (>52% of woody cover). Conclusions We can conclude that low to moderate woody encroachment cannot be simplistically regarded as degradation. Results suggest that moderately encroached loess grasslands can be easily restored by the suppression of woody species, as their species pool still contains many dry‐grassland species targeted for restoration.

COVID-19 pandemic starting at the end of 2019, hit hard tourism and hospitality industries throughout the world. As a part of the processes, the most popular P2P accommodation service, the Airbnb also faced a rapid drop in bookings. This study explores and compares the effects of the first wave of the pandemic on the Airbnb markets of 15 cities. The analysis is based on the data retrieved from Insideairbnb.com. Booking trends are compared between 2019 and 2020 and a day-to-day analysis of occupancy rates during the first months of 2020 is also performed. Special attention was paid to the effects of pandemic on different price categories of listings. The results show that the evolution of local pandemic situation had the most significant impact on bookings and occupancy rates in the investigated cities. The characteristics of local markets and the pandemic and economic situation of sending countries had also great influence on the bookings and cancellations. In addition, in some cases the cancellations did not affect the reservations made for the later periods, meaning that tourists hoped for a quick recovery. The effect on price categories was also different from one location to another. The study provides empirical insights to the effects of the disease on P2P accommodations. Furthermore, the future of short-term rentals is also discussed briefly.

The ‘at-risk-of-poverty’ rate is the most widely recognised indicator of income poverty. Its principal advantage is that it is relatively straightforward to define and (given appropriate data) to calculate. National at-risk-of-poverty rates play a key role in monitoring EU2020 objectives relating to combating poverty. Regional patterns of poverty have the potential to deepen our understanding of processes of impoverishment and differentiation, and how they can be more effectively addressed by policy. Estimating regional poverty rates, and especially producing a European map, is a challenging task, given current data resources. This paper begins by placing the at-risk-of-poverty rate within the wider conceptual context relating to poverty, social exclusion and deprivation. It then provides an account of an exercise to map at-risk-of-poverty rates at NUTS 3 across 20 European countries. Together with data derived from national registers (where available) and more direct apportionment methods, coverage of most of Western Europe is achieved. The patterns revealed are described, and generalisations, which serve as pointers to further research on the processes responsible, are derived. The paper concludes with some reflections on the value of regional at-risk-of-poverty rates in advancing our understanding of the distribution and causes of poverty, and hence appropriate interventions to ameliorate it.

ABSTRACT There is a large variety of types of rural areas and many of them are rich in landscape beauty. However, their preserved culture and traditions are revalued in today's rapid transformation of lifestyles. Alternative tourism is thus an emerging potential to economically support these areas, at the same time helps to preserve natural and cultural heritage. The methods provide sophisticated means to analyse the characteristics and the potential attractiveness of landscape and cultural attractions from the viewpoint of alternative tourism development. Homogenous tourism sub‐regions can be defined, and the most suitable development scenarios can be found to the certain areas. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.