League tables

Whilst initial development was primarily in the fields of fibres and rubbers, the presence of polyurethanes at about sixth position in the production league tables is largely due to the widespread use of foam materials. By 1980 global consumption was of the order of 3 X 10 tonnes per annum. 

As with other farm livestock, birds with the same apparent housing and nutrition facilities, and of the same genetic material, give vastly different results depending on the level of management. In surveys it has been clearly demonstrated that the farms which head the productivity league tables are the smaller units managed by the owner. 

When these figures are compared to those of other major industrial countries (Figure 10.2), it is clear that the United Kingdom has a relatively good utilisation rate (57%) but its recovery rate is close to the bottom of the international league table (30%). 

The number of samples analysed varies greatly from country to country. For example, in Europe (Table 10.4) the greatest number of samples analysed on a per capita population basis is in Sweden (1001 x 10 6 per capita in 1996 - total number of samples analysed = 8908) and the smallest is in the UK (15 x 10-6 per capita - total number of samples analysed = 878) (Shaw, 1999). Whether this reflects the individual country s concern for consumer well-being is uncertain Countries that rely on fruit and vegetable exports often appear towards the top of the samples analysed per capitum league table. For example, Holland analysed 706 x 10 6 samples per capita in 1996 (total number of samples analysed = 11015 (Shaw, 1999) and was second in the European league. Some countries do not carry out pesticide monitoring schemes (e.g. New Zealand), but instead opt for the total diet survey approach. 

In order to calculate values of G from equation (29) we have to know not only the kinetic parameters but also the thermodynamic driving force for the SN2 reaction. We are grateful for Dr Abraham s advice and help in calculating these values. His values for the reactants and products are collected together in Table 1 (Abraham and McLennan, 1977). The results for the calculation of G are displayed in Table 2 which has been arranged like a football league table. Only half the table needs to be filled in, since, as shown in (31), the Marcus theory does obey the proper thermodynamic constraint that the ratio of the rates of the forward and backward reactions is given by the equilibrium... 

The values of Gx x for the symmetrical reactions are found by first calculating the difference between adjacent rows or columns of the league table. If the Marcus pattern is obeyed, the difference should be constant. The values, together with their standard deviations, are displayed as A and a in the table. To within a few kJ mol 1 the differences are indeed found to be constant. Now if is the difference between two rows then (39) holds. Thus for rt... 

Marcus league table for methyl transfers in water... 

In passing, it is interesting to note that we can predict the free energy of activation for other reactions in the league table. For instance we find AGX for the hydrolysis of acetonitrile to be 270 kJ mol-1 corresponding to a rate constant of 10-35 s 1 (10-28 years-1)- So it is not surprising that acetonitrile-water mixtures are stable. 

Thermodynamic and kinetic data for methyl transfers in other solvents are not available for us to carry out such an extensive analysis as we have done in water. However, we can construct a number of smaller league tables to see if the Marcus pattern is found in other solvents. 

We now explore the interconnection between the m Y relation describing the variation in reaction rate for a particular reaction as the solvent is changed and the Marcus pattern of reactivity which explains the rates of different reactions in the same solvent. In Fig. 15 we depict two typical Marcus league tables for two different solvents S3 and S2. For each reaction there will be a m Y relation connecting the corresponding squares in the grid. At the same... 

The laboratory of the Government Chemist in London undertakes the analysis of tobacco smokes in order to produce league tables (Fig. 20) of the tar and nicotine content of all cigarette brands available in the UK, on behalf of the British government. In this context tar is defined as the total particulate matter present in the main-stream smoke (inhaled smoke), adjusted for its content of water and nicotine alkaloids. Nicotine is defined as the total nicotine-type alkaloids present in the mainstream smoke both are expressed in mg per cigarette. The tar and nicotine league tables are published every six months, and include details of approximately 130 brands of cigarette. 

M Fig. 20. League table published by the British povemment s health departments, showing tar and nicotine yields for cigarettes. (Reproduced with acknowledgement to the copyright owner)... 

A league table of top project risks is presented in Table 6.1. If these are relevant in a particular case but in practice treated casually or even ignored, then project budgets, schedules, and system functionality will almost certainly be compromised. This in turn is bound to affect the standard of validation. It is therefore painfully clear that project risk management is very important not only in terms of project delivery but also in terms of the operational compliance that the computer system will be capable of achieving once put into use. 

Drummond MF, Torrance GW, Mason J. Cost-effectiveness league tables more harm than good Soc Sd Med 1993 37 33-40. 

Table 2.7 League table of benefits of environmental reporting... 

By July 2000, some three years later, according to ISO World figures, the number had leapt to over 18000, with close to 70 countries involved. Table 3.11 shows a league table of the top countries. 

It has been normal practice for some time to evaluate and compare companies and annual reports in a variety of ways, resulting in league tables based on various parameters. A good example of this is the FT s World s Most Respected Companies , which looks at environmental issues under the attribute of corporate culture. 

The 1999 KPMG Survey included a league table of verifiers (Table 3.18). The top four positions were occupied by KPMG (24%), PricewaterhouseCoopers (12%), Aspinwall (11%) and Deloitte Touche (11%). This same report showed an overall CER verification level of 17%, with the oil and gas sector leading the field with a level of 32%. The chemicals sector was in third place with a level of 18%. 

BiE formulated an Index of Corporate Environmental Engagement (ICEE), to rate companies against a set of environmental attributes. From the results, the companies can be grouped in a league table divided into five sections. 

Table 7.1 Country league table for chemicals industry CERs... 

The Western European (Europe + Scandinavia) companies did significantly better than their North American counterparts, accounting for 18 (90%) of the companies in the top 20, compared with just one for North America. In fact, six (86%) of the US companies were in the bottom half of the league table. 

Using Tables 7.3(a) to 7.3(d) comprising the master yes/no grid, it was also possible to construct a league table of EPI utilisation. This is presented in Table 7.5, and shows the extent to which EPIs are used in chemicals industry CERs. 

Another concern is that some laboratory clients are requesting that a league table of proficiency results by laboratory be drawn up and published. The... 

C.D. Shaw, Health-care league tables in the United Kingdom, Journal of Quality in Clinical Practice 17 (1997), 215-219. 

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