1811 research outputs found
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China’s innovation-based approach in the fight of Covid-19. An estimation of China’s impact for global health to come
Full text linkWhen the infectious coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 broke out it resulted in a global crisis. In the fight of Covid-19, China’s government relied on its strength to apply new technologies, i.e. for controlling and containment of the virus by tracing and tracking Chinese citizens. Relying on the trajectory of industrialisation, China has pursued a path of innovation. While it is reasoned that China’s advantage might have origin in the experience of the SARS outbreak almost two decades ago, this article argues that mainly China’s innovation- driven climate has favoured the application of new technologies in combatting the current crisis. Based on the innovation-driven trajectory this article explores China’s pathway out the corona crisis and how this might strengthen China’s role in global health governance. In order to pursue this aim, this article explores several areas, in which the next generation of technologies, such as AI-based diagnostic or intelligent robots were applied and concludes with an outlook based on the formulated political agenda, strategic considerations and initial international cooperation regarding China’s impact for global health
Regional management of the Bay of Bengal water area. The challenges of maritime security
Full text linkThe Bay of Bengal is the largest bay in the world that forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean, bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Myanmar and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (part of India) to the east. The regional management of the Bay of Bengal water area is performed by regional organisations such as ASEAN, SAARC, BIMSTEC and IORA unifying Bay’s coastal states. Nevertheless, differences in political and economic interests of the states, separate conflicts between states and consequences of the pandemic not only challenged the integrity of the regional management but also led to rising insecurity of the Bay of Bengal and fears to navigate in that area. In this article, the authors, in a more detailed way, will disclose existing regional management systems, concerns related to maritime security and give recommendations on how to increase efficiency in collective management of maritime security issues and how the concept of due diligence may play the vital role in the regulation of not only maritime security aspects but also aspects of environmental protection and potential transition to the blue economy
Economic Strain and Adolescent Violence. Are extracurricular activities a conditioning effect?
Full text linkThis article examines the extent to which participation in sports acts as a conditioning effect to the relationship between economic disadvantage and adolescent violent delinquency. Deriving hypotheses from general strain and social control theories, we use data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to test if type of extracurricular activity participation diminishes the risk of economic disadvantage on violent delinquency. In support of social control theory, the direct effect of academic clubs and performing arts is negatively associated with adolescent violence. Additionally, analyses indicate that participation in contact sports decreases the relationship economic disadvantage and violent delinquency when other strain controls are added including race/ethnicity, family structure, lack of parental supervision, etc. Overall findings are expected of the social control conditioning effect of general strain theor
Biography and Social Research
Full text linkThis essay tries to show the scientific validity of the biographical approach in social research. In a sense, it is the realization that nobody would talk about his or her intimate existential experiences, or Erlebnisse, to a tape-reading machine. The object of sociology is not an object. It is a person, a human being living in society, and as such it must be dealt with.https://academicus.edu.al/nr26/Academicus-MMXXII-26-009-026.htm
Eradicating Plastic Pollution Globally by 2030
Full text linkA world without plastic packaging waste by 2030 is achievable. But it will require significant change. It will require consumers to be connected to the packaging they use. It will require a marriage between economy, ecology, and society. And it will require a monetary, ecological (i.e., carbon credit), and social value to be assigned to packaging that is currently disposed of all too easily. And finally, it will require “Uberization of waste management.”
In this paper, a number of solutions and recommendations for creating a world without plastic packaging waste are presented – all are in harmony with the pace of change we are witnessing within the present age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) aka Industry 4.0. The study explores how the plastics industry in general, and Food & Beverage (F&B) industry in particular can adopt the recommendations, thus transforming the industry, and crafting entirely new customer value propositions.
The findings from the yearlong qualitative study that commenced in 2018, in part were based on interviews of industry experts. They are condensed into nine strategic recommendations to help achieve the vision of a world free plastic pollution by 2030. The recommendations were chosen to be both achievable yet bold and strive to encourage all stakeholders to work collectively towards meeting the vision by 2030
INCORPORATING MICROSCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY INTO ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN
No full textThe importance of localized power generation, heating and cooling from renewable energy
sources is becoming increasingly necessary. Domestic power generation may also lead to
less travel searching for fuel and paying for it too. This is especially relevant now in this time of the current pandemic with its quarantine and restriction on outdoor activities. This
research will focus on incorporating specifically microscale renewable energy technologies
into the fabric of newbuild architecture and urban design. Microscale generation technologies covered will include the utilisation of micro-wind turbines, photo-voltaic
window panels, solar space and thermal heating. The scope of the technologies also covers; hydroelectric (stream or tidal); geothermal; ground source heat pump; combined heat and power (CHP); bio-fuel and biomass sources. Off-peak excess energy storage technologies are also discussed (batteries; super capacitors and pumped storage). Recommendations are finally given based on regional factors with a conclusion that nuclear-renewable microhybrid energy systems (N-R MHES) is the optimal solution.
Urban designs near streams harnessing micro-hydro power units combined with pumped
storage are described. Depending on the local ground thermal activity, geothermal sources can be exploited. New builds can benefit from ground source heat pumps and air source heat pumps. The need for effective insulation of buildings needs to be considered for the efficient usage of heat pumps. Reliance on the power grid need and foreign import of fuel and energy need to be reduced. The need to install combined heat and power (CHP) will be discussed. Along with communal bio-fuel and biomass generators.
Houses built should be designed with energy storage technologies from the use of building materials with high specific heat capacities to architectural changes. Some newer
technologies such as the use of super capacitors will be explained. Recommendations based on regional factors will be discussed and given. The research will conclude with the need to incorporate micro-hybrid energy systems into the building architecture and the setting up of micro-grids and local energy storage systems
THE RETROFITTING OF REGGIO CALABRIA’S STADIUM AND ITS ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY: THE EVALUATION IN SUPPORT OF THE PERSPECTIVES FOR URBAN REGENERATION
No full textThe paper shows a study of the economic feasibility of the retrofitting project on the “Oreste Granillo” stadium in Reggio Calabria (Italy), in case of a public-private partnership for the realization of the work and the consequential management. This work, once illustrated the modern strategies on the European and Italian level, leads to expose the case study. After the description of the context in which the stadium is collocated and its main features, it follows the analysis of some best practices that drove the planning choices. Once defined the overall strategy, which provides the retrofitting of the existing stadium rather than the realization of a new stadium out of the city, there’s the explanation of the planned measures. After that, it was possible to define the planning choices and verify the economic feasibility of the entire work, thanks to the Discounted Cash Flow Analysis
INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO THE ORGANIZATION OF SMART HEALTHY AGE- FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENTS BY THE DOCTOR OF GENERAL PRACTICE
No full textAttention to the problem of integration in healthcare has arisen in Belarus as well as in many
countries in the last 10-15 years. Life expectancy has increased by about 10 years over the
past 50 years for both men and women. These changes create challenges and opportunities
for us. Aging is causing widespread debate, leading to the development of new approaches
in healthcare. The growing level of fragmentation of medical care for elderly necessitates a
solution to this problem due to the emerging trend towards narrow specialization of help. An
integrative approach involves the analysis of a holistic health care system, which includes
several levels. Thus, various options of management models to control one`s health are the
basis for creating an integrated smart healthy environment for the elderly. It is required to
develop an algorithm for ensuring coordination and continuity of medical care for the elderly,
taking into account their needs and local conditions (demography, morbidity and mortality
structure, equipment of medical institutions with equipment and personnel, etc.), the
creation of a unified educational, informational, organizational and technical system of smart
healthy age-friendly environment that will provide older patients with access to relevant
knowledge and skills to control their health status, as well as allow to establish information
exchange of data between the patient and a team of specialists from various healthcare
organizations. At the same time, the leading role in the integration processes is played by
the organizations of primary health care for the elderly, which are the organizational and
coordinating links in interaction with organizations that provide specialized medical and
social care. If we want to ensure a fair treatment between generations and a good standard
of living for all citizens, then there is a need for urgent action to implement a Smart Healthy
Age-friendly Environments
Firm Internationalization in CEE Countries: Exploring the Main Determinants
Full text linkThe aim of this thesis is to indentify and estimate the impact of firm-specific variables in export propensity and export performance in small and medium enterpises (SMEs) of Central and Eastern European countries, including within this group also the six Western Balkan countries. Therefore, in total this work studies 17 countries of this region. SMEs constuct the majority of the firms in the region, and they are the backbone of these economies; yet, they are the least represented in international trade. The increase of their internationalizaiton in international trade will contribute to the economic growth and development of the region. However, compared to large firms, they lack resources and capabilities and face many barriers that hinder their internationalization. This work indentifies the importance of SMEs in the studied economies and explores the main factors, such as innovaiton capacity, foreign ownership, networks, imports, and so on in export propensity and export performance.
Previous studies conducted in this region investigate specific countries. On the contrary, this work conducts a compehensive study, focusing on the whole region and uses the latest survey data of Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey of World Bank before the COVID-19 pandemic. The data used for the empirical analysis are cross-sectional data of 2003, 2009 and 2019. The empirical analysis uses an OLS, probit and tobit model and the factor analysis. The probit model is used to measure the impact of firm-specific factors on the probability of SMEs to become exporters. The tobit model measures the impact of these factors on the export performance of SMEs that are already operating in foreign markets through exporting. The conclusion derived from the implemented models demonstrate that firm-characteristics such as firm size, foreign ownership, and labor
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productivity are significant indicators that increase the probability of a certain SME to become an exporting firm/entity the innovation capacity of SMEs creates competitive advantages for SMEs and makes them more likely to enter foreign markets through exporting or increase their exporting performance. Indicators of labor capital such as average labor cost or industry experience of top managers also have a significant impact on export propensity and export performance. Imports are another form of internationalization, and they create opportunities for SMEs to network and gain knowledge about foreign markets. This increases their probability to become exporting SMEs. Networks and collaborations at national and international level compensate for the lack of resources and capabilities in SMEs and enable them to gather information regarding foreign markets. This reduces uncertainty and increases the probability for an SME to become an exporting firm/entity; it also increases their exporting performance; in case they are already operating in foreign markets. These findings fill the gap and extend the literature in relation to this specific field of CEE countries. They contribute, helping managers and policy makers in realizing on the importance of SME internationalization and identifying the factors that make them more likely to export or increase their exporting performance
Community of Practice as a teaching approach in a postgraduate environment. An insider ethnography of a higher education institution in South Africa
Full text linkThis auto-ethnographic description of the experiences in the development of the teaching and learning approach, at the postgraduate level, introduces the impact of the community of practice in the development of the learning processes in South Africa, with an international view. The principles of community of practice are outlined and the theoretical grounding is provided in terms of the notion of assemblage theory, the definitions of fundamental and derivative epistemic authority, as well as the assemblage boundary and the personal intents of the community of practice members. The theoretical grounding is then applied through several iterations of the community of practice between 2006 and present. The adaptive nature of the community of practice as an assemblage and the function as a sociology-of-knowledge system are outlined