The world’s population is ageing at a rapid and increasing rate. This chapter discusses the challenges that developing countries face as a consequence of growing shares of the population above retirement age. The chapter discusses reasons why commonly advanced solutions to the ageing challenge are not likely to help. Increasing migration is discussed as a non-solution, as is fertility increase and

PurposeBy drawing on a detailed case study of the work of tax consultants, the purpose of this paper is to develop a more detailed understanding of the role of ambiguity in professional work, and its relationship to the division of labour in professional service firms (PSFs).Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a three-year, longitudinal interpretive case study comprising 42 interviews

Atmospheric pollution has implications for the health and diversity of temperate forests covering large parts of central Europe. Long-term elevated anthropogenic deposition of nitrogen (N) is driving forest ecosystems from the limitation by N to other nutrients and is found to affect tree health and ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF), which most trees depend on for nutrient uptake. However, the consequen

Combining palaeontological and neontological data offers a unique opportunity to investigate the relative roles of biotic and abiotic controls of species diversification, and the importance of origination versus extinction in driving evolutionary dynamics. Ferns comprise a major terrestrial plant radiation with an extensive evolutionary history providing a wealth of modern and fossil data for mode

The purpose of this paper is to empirically explore antecedents associated with information sharing across multiple supply chain tiers. We conduct a Delphi study with 29 supply chain experts to collect qualitative and quantitative data, and identify a total of 22 factors that are grouped into six categories: information utilization, technology utilization, power structures, culture, business proce

In this study, multi-objective optimization of the performance of a solar receiver with dimple and delta-winglet vortex generators (DWVGs) is carried out. The thermal performance and outlet dimensionless turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) are chosen as the optimization objectives. The dimple depth, dimple arrangement, the length, height, angle and spacing of the DWVGs are selected as the optimization

Due to water scarcity, there is great interest in reusing various nutrient-rich wastewaters. The aim of this article is consequently to evaluate if domestic wastewater treated by various wetland systems can be successfully recycled to irrigate generations of commercial crops such as Chilli (Capsicum annuum) grown in compost within a laboratory environment to obtain a cultivar adapted to domestic w

The molybdenum(VI) and tungsten(VI) complexes [MO2(L)] (M = Mo (1), W (2), H2L = bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butybenzyl)morpholinylethylamine) were synthesized and the complexes were used to catalyze oxotransfer reactions, viz. sulfoxidation, epoxidation and benzoin oxidation. For comparison, the same reactions were catalyzed using the known complexes [MO2(L′)] (M = Mo (3), W (4), H2L′ = bis(2-hydro

The concept of evaporation driven self-assembly of nanoparticles is exploited to fabricate three dimensional microstructures on textured superhydrophobic surfaces. The evaporative droplets always remain in Cassie–Baxter state during the process of drying. However, the wetting transition from Cassie to Wenzel state has been observed for pure water drop on similar surfaces. After complete evaporatio

Early agriculture can be detected in palaeovegetation records, but quantification of the relative importance of climate and land use in influencing regional vegetation composition since the onset of agriculture is a topic that is rarely addressed. We present a novel approach that combines pollen-based REVEALS estimates of plant cover with climate, anthropogenic land-cover and dynamic vegetation mo

We present results from the anodization of single crystal Al(100) and Al(111) surfaces and the aluminum alloy AA 6063 studied in situ by X-ray reflectivity and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. We observe that the anodic oxide layer grows linearly with the anodization potential and that the thicknesses are similar for all samples. However, the thicknesses obtained from X-ray reflectivity are

In-plane cohesive failure of paperboard was characterized by short-span uniaxial tension tests. Six paperboards' qualities were experimentally investigated, from which cohesive stress-widening curves were extracted. A fracture energy was defined, expressed in the tensile strength and maximum slope of the cohesive stress-widening relation. Analytical cohesive relations were derived based on the ten

In parallel with five new scientific scenarios of alternative societal developments (shared socioeconomic pathways, SSPs), a wide range of literary representations of a future world in which climate change comes to matter have emerged in the last decade. Both kinds of narrative are important forms of “world-making.” This article initiates a conversation between science and literature through situa

Metal forming processes require wear-resistant tool surfaces in order to ensure a long life cycle of the expensive tools together with a constant high quality of the produced components. Thermal spraying is a relatively widely applied coating technique for the deposit of wear protection coatings. During these coating processes, heterogeneous coatings are deployed at high temperatures followed by q

Background and aims: Decomposition and transformation of organic matter (OM) in forest soils are conducted by the concomitant action of saprotrophic and mycorrhizal fungi. Here, we examine chemical changes in OM after fungal colonization in nitrogen fertilized and unfertilized soils from a Norway spruce forest. Methods: Sand-filled bags amended with composted maize leaves were placed in the forest