68 research outputs found
Spillover and Competition Effects: Evidence from the Sub-Saharan African Banking Sector
No full textThis paper examines the efficiency effects of foreign bank entry on domestic banks in sub-Saharan Africa during the period 1999-2006. Using a recently compiled dataset on foreign bank presence, the competition and spillover effects of North-South, regional and nonregional South-South banks are distinguished. The results show that the competitive pressure on domestic banks' net interest margins emanates only from regional South-South banks. There is evidence of spillover effects from North-South and regional South-South banks on domestic banks. As domestic banks invest in foreign technologies, their overhead costs increase in the short-run. Non-regional South-South banks seem to have little effect on the efficiency of domestic banks. --Sub-Saharan Africa,efficiency,South-South banks,spillover
On the epidemiology, biology and food-dependent reproduction of the feral pigeon (Columba livia)
No full textMillions of feral pigeons (Columba livia, Gmelin 1789) live in close association with the human population in our cities. They have managed to adapt extremely well to city life. The partial absence of an effective regulation by enemies and the rich food basis in urban habitats allows the development and maintenance of large feral pigeon populations. These, however, can cause various problems such as fouling with feces, and the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms and parasites to humans. While many wild-living species have a parasitic fauna comparable to that of feral pigeons, no other species lives as close to humans and offers that many possibilities of transmission. Feral pigeons breeding and roosting close to human lodgings thus pose a serious health risk, which is why many homeowners try to protect themselves by repelling the birds from their house facades, window ledges and balconies.
New pigeon proofing systems are regularly introduced onto the market, but scientific proof of efficacy and a statement regarding their use from the point of view of animal welfare is usually lacking. We therefore evaluated the effectiveness of two gel repellents on free ranging feral pigeons in an experimental pigeon loft. The gels used an alleged tactile or visual aversion of the birds, reinforced by additional sensory cues. This study concludes that both gels show a restricted, transient repellent effect, but fail to prove the claimed complete effectiveness. In addition, the adhesive effect of the gels conflicts with animal welfare concerns because gluing of plumage presents a serious risk to feral pigeons and also to other non-target birds. The repellent gels are therefore not suitable for feral pigeon management in urban areas.
Additionally, an overview of the most essential pigeon proofing systems is provided within the frame of this thesis. It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the most widespread systems and further sets the focus on animal welfare issues. The overview points out that even initially harmless and animal friendly proofing systems might become dangerous to the birds over time if they are not regularly maintained. It further highlights how important it is to scientifically test each system before usage. Moreover, this outline supports the recommendation that each system should come with a proper installation and maintenance guide when it is introduced onto the market. If untested systems are being put to the test by unknowing end users, they might endanger the birds. Additionally, uninformed homeowners violate the animal protection law if a system harms an animal, even if this happens with no ill intent.
In a further study, we examined the effect of a sudden decrease in the natural food basis on the reproduction of a well-studied feral pigeon breeding colony. Despite the known fact that food shortage is a major source of reproductive failure in feral pigeons, it was still unclear at which phase of the reproductive cycle it reduces overall reproductive success. The findings of this study imply that the number of broods per pair decreased significantly under food reduction, while the hatching success remained more or less constant. However, a significantly greater number of nestlings died during the costly rearing phase. Results suggest that the high energy demand of the fast growing feral pigeon nestlings cannot be met under food scarcity. The decreased number of broods and the limited fledging success consequently reduce the total number of fledged young by more than half, which finally leads to a decrease in colony size.
Another negative side effect of large feral pigeon populations, maintained through the abundant anthropogenic nutritional basis in urban surroundings, is the overcrowding at breeding places. From an epidemiological point of view, these high population densities can increase the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms and parasites, such as the pigeon tick Argas reflexus. The medically and veterinary important A. reflexus usually feeds on pigeons, but if a natural host is not available, it also enters dwellings to bite humans who can respond with severe allergic reactions including anaphylactic shock. The pigeon tick is ecologically extremely successful due to certain outstanding morphological, physiological, and ethological features. Yet, until today, it was still unclear how it finds its hosts. In the main study, we tested different host stimuli, such as living nestlings as well as begging calls, body heat, smell, host breath and pigeon tick feces, under controlled laboratory conditions. Of all stimuli tested, only heat seemed to play a central role in host-finding. Subsequently, the crucial heat stimulus was tested under natural conditions within a pigeon loft. The results demonstrated that the host finding ability of A. reflexus is restricted to only a few centimeters. We concluded that this ectoparasite finds its host by random movements and recognizes it only shortly before direct contact is made. These findings are useful for the control of A. reflexus in infested apartments, both to diagnose an infestation and to perform successful monitoring after disinfestation.
The aim of this thesis was to provide important insights into the epidemiology, biology and food-dependent reproduction of the feral pigeon. With these findings we hope to contribute to the healthier coexistence of feral pigeons and humans in urban habitats
Spillover and Competition Effects: Evidence from the sub-Saharan African Banking Sector
No full textThis paper examines the efficiency effects of foreign bank entry on domestic banks in sub- Saharan Africa during the period 1999–2006. Using a recently compiled dataset on foreign bank presence, the competition and spillover effects of North–South, regional and nonregional South–South banks are distinguished. The results show that the competitive pressure on domestic banks' net interest margins emanates only from regional South–South banks. There is evidence of spillover effects from North-South and regional South-South banks on domestic banks. As domestic banks invest in foreign technologies, their overhead costs increase in the short-run. Non-regional South-South banks seem to have little effect on the efficiency of domestic banks.sub-Saharan Africa, efficiency, South–South banks, spillover
The History of the Committee of the Regions - 25 years of cities and regions furthering European integration
No full textThis study on the history of the Committee of the Regions will be presented by Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the Committee of the Regions, just before the closing of his mandate. The author Birte Wassenberg, professor of Contemporary History at the institute for Political Studies, University of Strasbourg, will comment on the study and will answer the audienc
The History of the Committee of the Regions - 25 years of cities and regions furthering European integration
No full textThis study on the history of the Committee of the Regions will be presented by Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the Committee of the Regions, just before the closing of his mandate. The author Birte Wassenberg, professor of Contemporary History at the institute for Political Studies, University of Strasbourg, will comment on the study and will answer the audienc
Stancetaking in interest-based online communities: A corpus pragmatic comparative analysis
No full textThe author defended her doctoral dissertation Stancetaking in interest-based online communities: A corpus pragmatic comparative analysis at the University of Helsinki, Faculty of Arts, on 11 November 2023. The opponent was Professor Birte Bös (Universität Duisburg-Essen) and the custos was Dr. Turo Hiltunen. The doctoral dissertation was published in the series Dissertationes Universitatis Helsingiensis. The summary of the article-based dissertation is available at http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-51-9453-
Sophie’s journey through Switzerland : Sophie von La Roche’s “Tagebuch einer Reise durch die Schweiz” as educational literature for women
No full textIm Zentrum der Arbeit stehen die Reiseberichte von Sophie von La Roche und ihre Funktion als weibliche Bildungslektüre. Sophie von La Roche reist Ende des 18. Jahrhunderts unter anderem in die Schweiz (1784), nach Frankreich (1785) sowie nach Holland und England (1786) und stellt jede dieser Reisen in einem ausführlichen Bericht dar. Sie lebt und wirkt in einer Zeit, in der sich die gesellschaftliche Rolle der Frau und somit auch das Verständnis von weiblicher Bildung, weiblicher Autorschaft und weiblicher Mobilität verändern. Trotz mancher gesellschaftlicher Widerstände verzichtet Sophie von La Roche weder auf das Schreiben noch auf das Reisen. Sie versucht beide Tätigkeiten mit der Frage nach der Bestimmung der Frau in Verbindung zu bringen. Zu diesem Zweck stellt sie viele ihrer Werke in den Dienst der weiblichen Bildung. Sie möchte Mädchen und jungen Frauen den gesellschaftskonformen weiblichen Lebensraum näher bringen, indem sie ihnen Ratschläge und Tipps für eine mustergültige weibliche Lebensführung präsentiert. Das gilt auch für ihre Reiseberichte. Die Faszination durch jene Länder, die ihr als Leserin vertraut sind und die sie nun auch reisend erkundet, und das Bedürfnis, ihre Reiseerfahrungen schreibend mitzuteilen und pädagogisch auszuarbeiten, gehen Hand in Hand. Der erste Teil der Arbeit rekonstruiert das gesellschaftliche und literarische Umfeld, in dem sich die Autorin mit ihrer Autorschaft, ihren Reisen und den anschließenden Reiseberichten bewegt. Der zweite Teil der Arbeit widmet sich dem Leben von Sophie von La Roche und verdeutlicht, welchen Einfluss die gesellschaftlichen Entwicklungen auf das Leben und Schaffen der Autorin hatten. Im dritten Teil der Arbeit steht Sophie von La Roches "Tagebuch einer Reise durch die Schweiz" im Mittelpunkt. Die Analyse und die Interpretation des Reisetagebuches ermitteln, welches Bildungsprogramm Sophie von La Roche in ihrem Tagebuch präsentiert.This master thesis focuses on the travelogues of Sophie von La Roche and their function as educational literature for women. At the end of the 18th century, Sophie von La Roche travelled to Switzerland (1784), to France (1786) as well as to the Netherlands and to England (1786), among other places, and described each of these journeys in a detailed report. She lived and acted in a time, in which the social role of women and therefore the understanding of female education, female authorship and female mobility have been changing. Despite some social resistance, Sophie von La Roche abstained neither writing nor traveling. She tried to relate both activities to the question of the determination of women. For these purposes, she commissioned all her work to female education. She wanted to give girls and young women an understanding of the society-compliant female living space by presenting them advice and tips for an exemplary female lifestyle. That applies to her travelogues as well. The fascination with those countries, she was only familiar with as a reader has become even stronger when she explored them by travelling. This goes hand in hand with her need to convey her travel experiences in writing and to elaborate them in an educational way. The first part of this master thesis reconstructs the social and literary environment, in which the author acts with her authorship, her travels and the travelogues that followed. The second part of the master thesis is dedicated to the life of Sophie von La Roche und illustrates the impact of social developments to the author’s life and work. The third part of the master thesis focuses on Sophie von La Roche’s "Tagebuch einer Reise durch die Schweiz". The analysis and the interpretation identify the educational program Sophie von La Roche is presenting in her travelogues.vorgelegt von Birte SammtlebenAbweichender Titel laut Übersetzung der Verfasserin/des VerfassersZsfassungen in dt. und engl. SpracheGraz, Univ., Masterarb., 2015 2.072
Sophie’s journey through Switzerland : Sophie von La Roche’s “Tagebuch einer Reise durch die Schweiz” as educational literature for women
No full textIm Zentrum der Arbeit stehen die Reiseberichte von Sophie von La Roche und ihre Funktion als weibliche Bildungslektüre. Sophie von La Roche reist Ende des 18. Jahrhunderts unter anderem in die Schweiz (1784), nach Frankreich (1785) sowie nach Holland und England (1786) und stellt jede dieser Reisen in einem ausführlichen Bericht dar. Sie lebt und wirkt in einer Zeit, in der sich die gesellschaftliche Rolle der Frau und somit auch das Verständnis von weiblicher Bildung, weiblicher Autorschaft und weiblicher Mobilität verändern. Trotz mancher gesellschaftlicher Widerstände verzichtet Sophie von La Roche weder auf das Schreiben noch auf das Reisen. Sie versucht beide Tätigkeiten mit der Frage nach der Bestimmung der Frau in Verbindung zu bringen. Zu diesem Zweck stellt sie viele ihrer Werke in den Dienst der weiblichen Bildung. Sie möchte Mädchen und jungen Frauen den gesellschaftskonformen weiblichen Lebensraum näher bringen, indem sie ihnen Ratschläge und Tipps für eine mustergültige weibliche Lebensführung präsentiert. Das gilt auch für ihre Reiseberichte. Die Faszination durch jene Länder, die ihr als Leserin vertraut sind und die sie nun auch reisend erkundet, und das Bedürfnis, ihre Reiseerfahrungen schreibend mitzuteilen und pädagogisch auszuarbeiten, gehen Hand in Hand. Der erste Teil der Arbeit rekonstruiert das gesellschaftliche und literarische Umfeld, in dem sich die Autorin mit ihrer Autorschaft, ihren Reisen und den anschließenden Reiseberichten bewegt. Der zweite Teil der Arbeit widmet sich dem Leben von Sophie von La Roche und verdeutlicht, welchen Einfluss die gesellschaftlichen Entwicklungen auf das Leben und Schaffen der Autorin hatten. Im dritten Teil der Arbeit steht Sophie von La Roches "Tagebuch einer Reise durch die Schweiz" im Mittelpunkt. Die Analyse und die Interpretation des Reisetagebuches ermitteln, welches Bildungsprogramm Sophie von La Roche in ihrem Tagebuch präsentiert.This master thesis focuses on the travelogues of Sophie von La Roche and their function as educational literature for women. At the end of the 18th century, Sophie von La Roche travelled to Switzerland (1784), to France (1786) as well as to the Netherlands and to England (1786), among other places, and described each of these journeys in a detailed report. She lived and acted in a time, in which the social role of women and therefore the understanding of female education, female authorship and female mobility have been changing. Despite some social resistance, Sophie von La Roche abstained neither writing nor traveling. She tried to relate both activities to the question of the determination of women. For these purposes, she commissioned all her work to female education. She wanted to give girls and young women an understanding of the society-compliant female living space by presenting them advice and tips for an exemplary female lifestyle. That applies to her travelogues as well. The fascination with those countries, she was only familiar with as a reader has become even stronger when she explored them by travelling. This goes hand in hand with her need to convey her travel experiences in writing and to elaborate them in an educational way. The first part of this master thesis reconstructs the social and literary environment, in which the author acts with her authorship, her travels and the travelogues that followed. The second part of the master thesis is dedicated to the life of Sophie von La Roche und illustrates the impact of social developments to the author’s life and work. The third part of the master thesis focuses on Sophie von La Roche’s "Tagebuch einer Reise durch die Schweiz". The analysis and the interpretation identify the educational program Sophie von La Roche is presenting in her travelogues.vorgelegt von Birte SammtlebenAbweichender Titel laut Übersetzung der Verfasserin/des VerfassersZsfassungen in dt. und engl. SpracheGraz, Univ., Masterarb., 2015 2.072
The Europe without borders discourse and splitting European identities
No full textThe aim of this paper is to trace and scrutinize some of the underlyingforces that might contribute to explaining the current skepticism about apolicy of debordering Europe. The author therefore discusses why prefiguringa borderless Europe based on European identity has stumbled intomisconceived conceptions of the nation, and then presents an explanationof the transformative dynamics that undermine the vision of a borderlessEurope. The paper concludes that a borderless Europe will remain a visionas long as the idea of a European identity cannot establish a reliable alternativeto its national counterpart, but multiple cosmopolitan forces stillkeep pushing towards debordering Europe
The Interplay of Art, Occultism and Emancipation. Subversive Female Perspectives in Tyra Kleen’s Life and Work at the Turn of the Twentieth Century
No full textIn the early 1900s, the Swedish noblewoman Tyra Kleen (1874–1951) was a highly productive artist, author, suffragette and occult seeker. Although Kleen’s esoteric and feminist interests have to a limited extent been considered in previous research, these aspects have not received sufficient attention, either in relation to her art/writing or as relevant interests in their own right. Research on Tyra Kleen, in general, is scarce, especially on her identity beyond an artist and author. Therefore, this study focuses on the interplay between Kleen’s engagement in the women’s suffrage movement and occultism, and her creative output around 1900. By examining how these overlapping spheres of interest informed one another, this study aims to situate and comprehend Kleen more fully within her contemporary cultural, social and political context. It highlights the spiritual, political and social conflation of Kleen’s diverse emancipatory roles, and examines, among other factors, the importance of her companionship with Ellen Key in this context.ei tietoa saavutettavuudest
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