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Evaluating the performance of Moroccan social incubators: an SFA analysis of youth platforms under the national initiative for human development
Get PDFPurpose – This study focuses on the evaluation of youth platforms as an important social incubator of the National Initiative for Human Development (NIHD) in Morocco, particularly to promote social entrepreneurship and support very small enterprises (VSE). Numerous social incubators have been created to support social entrepreneurship and foster innovative and effective socio-economic relations. However, their impact remains limited, raising questions about their performance.
Research methodology – Based on a sample of 40 NIHD youth platforms, the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) method was applied to measure their technical efficiency (TE), and then the determinants of the TE obtained were analysed by a regression using the Tobit model.
Findings – The results indicate that management costs (MC), the number of accompanied project holders (APH) and income improvement actions in social and solidarity economy (II- ASSE) have a significant impact on the creation and development of VSE or cooperatives. In addition, the experience of the platform manager has a positive influence on TE, while age has no significant effect.
Research limitations – The conclusions of the study may not be entirely applicable to the current situation of NIHD youth platforms in Morocco, because they are based on data available at a time conditioned by an exceptional context (e.g., post-covid; government austerity policy, etc.).
Practical implications – This study provides public policymakers and platform managers with actionable insights into optimizing resource use and improving platform operations. Policy-makers can use the findings to allocate funding more effectively, prioritize support services like income improvement actions, and identify platforms that serve as benchmarks for best practices. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of experienced platform managers, guiding recruitment and training policies to improve platform outcomes.
Originality/Value – The study paves the way for future research aimed at exploring in more depth the underlying mechanisms of the efficiency of NIHD youth platforms
Unveiling digital creativity: enhancing teachers’ capacities in the digital education landscape
Get PDFThis article aims to unveil the concept of teachers’ digital creativity, recognizing it as one of their fundamental capacities to meet the challenges posed by digital education. The theoretical segment of the article engages in a comprehensive discourse on the concept of teachers’ digital creativity. The theoretical discourse is complemented by an empirical study, engaging general education school teachers, to provide insights into their understandings and perspectives related to digital creativity. The empirical study was organized in Lithuanian general educations schools. Eleven interviews with teachers, who are already using digital tools and platforms in their teaching process, were conducted. The research findings not only enrich the understanding of teachers’ digital creativity in education, but also lay the groundwork for the further development of a robust framework of teachers’ digital creativity, offering practical considerations that may be essential for its effective formulation and implementation
Creativity of formal analysis in the study of ballroom dancing choreography
Get PDFThe article presents a structural analysis of the dynamics of position development in a pair in ballroom dancing with the use of research tools based on the method of formal analysis by Alexander Georgievich Gabrichevsky and the analysis of body movement in space by Rudolf von Laban. The aim of the study is to identify the distinctive features of the evolution of form in ballroom dancing. On the basis of formal analysis, the objectives of the research were to study ballroom dancing in spatial and temporal terms, to structure the dance form in vertical and horizontal planes, in the correlation of the categories of rhythm and meter, as well as in the context of static and dynamic time. The result of this study is a synthesis of the categories of space and time, which showed the leading trends in the development of the aesthetics of modern standard dances in the periods of modernism, postmodernism, and metamodernism. The comparative method made it possible to identify the characteristic features of the dynamics of form development in modern standard dances of the aforementioned periods. The uniqueness of the performing style in the categories of space, time, and their synthesis are revealed and analyzed. Illustrative examples of the study of the position of couples in the vertical and horizontal planes using the figure icosahedron are presented. The study also presents a conceptual map of the development of ballroom dancing in the context of the modern, postmodern, and metamodern eras. The main provisions of the study are the unity of spatial and temporal chronotope in ballroom dancing, considered as spatial and temporal parameters of expression of cultural and artistic meanings of modernity, postmodernity, and metamodernity, as well as the subordination of artistic time to rhythmic logic, based on metric alternations and movements, ordering the overall composition in the artistic space of ballroom dancing. This study provides a promising toolkit for analyzing the development and dynamics of forms in broad application in the fields of dancesport and choreographic art forms. It will also help to identify choreographic art in the cultural metamodern landscape
Dissipative measure-valued solutions to the magnetohydrodynamic equations
Get PDFIn this paper, we study the dissipative measure-valued solution to the magnetohydrodynamic equations of 3D compressible isentropic flows with the adiabatic exponent γ > 1 and prove that a dissipative measure-valued solution is the same as the standard smooth classical solution as long as the latter exists, provided they emanate from the same initial data (weak–strong) uniqueness principle
Solving class of mixed nonlinear multi-term fractional Volterra-Fredholm integro-differential equations by new development of HAM
Get PDFThis work implements the standard Homotopy Analysis Method (HAM) developed by Professor Shijun Liao (1992), and a new development of the HAM (called ND-HAM) improved by Z.K. Eshkuvatov (2022) in solving mixed nonlinear multi-term fractional derivative of different orders of Volterra-Fredholm Integrodifferential equations (FracVF-IDEs). Other than that, the existance and uniqueness of solution as well as the norm convergence with respect to ND-HAM, were proven in a Hilbert space. In addition, three numerical examples (including multi-term fractional IDEs) are presented and compared with the HAM, modified HAM and ”Generalized block pulse operational differentiation matrices method” developed in previous works by illustrating the accuracy as well as validity with respect to ND-HAM. Empirical investigations reveal that ND-HAM and the modified HAM yields the same results when control parameter ℏ is chosen as ℏ = −1 and is comparable to the standard HAM. The findings discovered that the ND-HAM is highly convenient, effective, as well as in line with theoretical results
Development and analysis of an efficient Jacobian-free method for systems of nonlinear equations
Get PDFA multi-step derivative-free iterative technique is developed by extending the well-known Traub-Steffensen iteration for solving the systems of nonlinear equations. Keeping in mind the computational aspects, the general idea to construct the scheme is to utilize the single inverse operator per iteration. In fact, these type of techniques are hardly found in literature. Under the standard assumption, the proposed technique is found to possess the fifth order of convergence. In order to demonstrate the computational complexity, the efficiency index is computed and further compared with the efficiency of existing methods of similar nature. The complexity analysis suggests that the developed method is computationally more efficient than their existing counterparts. Furthermore, the performance of method is examined numerically through locating the solutions to a variety of systems of nonlinear equations. Numerical results regarding accuracy, convergence behavior and elapsed CPU time confirm the efficient behavior of the proposed technique
A priori estimate and existence of solutions with symmetric derivatives for a third-order two-point boundary value problem
No full textWe study a priori estimate, existence, and uniqueness of solutions with symmetric derivatives for a third-order boundary value problem. The main tool in the proof of our existence result is Leray-Schauder continuation principle. Two examples are included to illustrate the applicability of the results
Fractional multiwavelet methods for solving spatiotemporal fractional diffusion equations with non-smooth solutions
Get PDFThis introduces a new method that effectively solves spatiotemporal fractional diffusion equation(FDE) using fractional Lagrange interpolation and fractional multiwavelets. The method effectively addresses situations with non-smooth solutions. The approach begins by discretizing the time variable t using the fractional piecewise parabolic Lagrange interpolation method. For the spatial variables, we construct fractional multiwavelets. Through the least residue method, we obtain approximate solutions, while also conducting convergence analysis. Numerical demonstrations validate the high accuracy achieved by the proposed method, notably showcasing the better approximation capability of fractional polynomials compared to their integer counterparts
Well-to-wheel analysis of the emissions from the electric buses used in Poland and Czechia
No full textRoad transport is one of the major sources of pollution. To solve this problem, alternative fuels with a lower environmental impact are sought. Therefore, it is important to determine the impact of the life cycle of transport fuels in order to assess, which of them are more environment-friendly by taking into account the emissions generated during fuel production and vehicle operation. Electric Vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular. This article discusses a life cycle approach to the assessment of transport fuels intended for electric buses. It presents a comparative Well-To-Wheel (WTW) analysis of the emissions from the buses used in Poland and Czechia by analysing their life cycle, with particular consideration of the production of the electricity required to charge electric batteries. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of an electric bus and a conventional diesel bus has been performed. The results of the analysis are expressed as Greenhouse Gas (CHG) emission ratios across the life cycle of the buses operated in Poland and Czechia
Coastal ecological dynamics: monitoring vegetation changes in the Sfiha-Swani region (Morocco)
Get PDFThis study examines the dynamics of vegetation cover in the coastal region of Al Hoceima, focusing on Sfiha and Swani beaches. It aims to understand changes in land cover categories, particularly the distribution and dynamics of vegetation cover. The research uses a comprehensive spatio-temporal analysis using advanced remote sensing technology and GIS.
The methodology uses four Landsat satellite images and four aerial photos from Google Earth from 2003 to 2021. It involves digital processing, radiometric and geometric corrections, and on-site ground visits to validate remote sensing data outcomes.
The study used land cover maps and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) maps to analyze changes in vegetation cover over the past 18 years. The maps revealed percentages of 21% (2003), 25% (2010), 33% (2015), and 15% (2021) of vegetation cover changes, indicating degradation in the study area.
The study reveals a significant decline in vegetation in the coastal region due to a combination of human and natural factors. This assessment is crucial for developing effective conservation and management strategies. The findings extend beyond Al Hoceima, providing insights for broader environmental conservation efforts, and highlighting the intricate relationship between human activities and environmental changes