scholarly journals Cultural Economy for the Environmental Preservation of the Landscape as a Key Resource in Historic Territories

Agriculture ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciano Pilotti
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Policy ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Large Network ◽  
New Model ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Cultural Marketing

Sustainable production besides economic, energetic, and environmental aspects should consider social and cultural features of the territory in which it relies. This occurs above all for agriculture that is intrinsically related to the territory. Today, the territory as a landscape represents a complex eco-system (subjects, communities, traditions, cultures, and specific agricultural systems) and a valuable vehicle for art and history and it is also a strategic asset to defend and promote with environmental policies. The topic of urban preservation and regeneration has been increasing by opening up to other factors such as the engagement of local communities and the contribution they can give toward the development of the identity and the symbolic universe of every community especially for historic territories. The main research question of this study is: Can historic territories be described as the landscape of a complex eco-system able to support a new cultural policy? In addition, which type of connections between physical resources and the virtual-cultural ones of that landscape are strategic assets for promoting historic territories? This theoretical manuscript is oriented toward improving territorial policies. In more details, it tries to develop a new model to reach a “global community of creativity” as a bridge between the networks of historic territories, which is meant as roots of variety to transfer to future generations, and between local and global quality in an emergent landscape. In order to reach this new model, the local community and ecosystem capabilities require a multi-level connection among both art, science, and culture as well as nature, technology, and civic capability. The result is that the new model is able to share common goods, which are both internal and external. Following this path, it is urgent to develop policies in an emergent perspective that are able to combine artistic, ecological, environmental, and cultural assets. In particular, the goals are to: (i) explore the complex value of territorial contexts that develop/evolve from both a medium-term and long-term point of view that is not described by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) standard indicators, (ii) reach the suggestion of a continuous re-articulation of sectors of knowledge proposed by cultural resources, and (iii) highlight that cultural marketing is involved in the interpretation and transmission within a large network of participants, users, institutions, markets, virtual, and territorial places. The starting point is identified as the landscape of historic territory, but an important achievement will be to transfer the main results to other territories by studying specific case histories of urban and non-urban landscapes.

scholarly journals Female-Owned Innovative Startups in Italy: Status Quo and Implications

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Paoloni ◽  
Giuseppe Modaffari
Keyword(s):  
Social Context ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Female Entrepreneurship ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Economic Context ◽  
The Social ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Main Factors

The aim of the paper is to provide an overview of the current literature of this business phenomenon with regard to gender studies and to point out what is substantially happening and what has happened in the Italian economic context. The main research questions were RQ1: How is the phenomenon of female Startups treated from a scientific point of view? RQ2: Which is the Italian situation of this phenomenon? The methodology used is both qualitative and explorative. A bidirectional analysis has been carried out for this purpose. In order to expand the first research question (RQ1), an analysis was carried out of the articles in the EBSCO database on the topic of female startups. In order to expand the second question (RQ2), an analysis was carried out on the data concerning the phenomenon of female startups, using the register of companies held at the Chambers of Commerce which were territorially competent. Our research, carried out within the Italian economic context, demonstrates how the phenomenon of Woman Startups (WSU), even if it is widely expanding, is inherent in all the typical elements of female entrepreneurship, as reported in the literature by gender scholars. The main factors that emerge for the WSU are the small size and the undercapitalization in the startup phase. This work contributes to the expansion of studies on the topic of startups in the context of gender and can be useful to the social context, new entrepreneurs, and practitioners of the sector.

scholarly journals Total Quality Management in the Implementation of Tasks of The Local Community: The Case of Pre-School Education

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jože Benčina ◽  
Srečko Devjak
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Total Quality Management ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Research Question ◽  
School Education ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Government Provision

The paper presents the challenge of establishing a substantial governance framework of local government provision of tasks and services. The assumption that this end is highly dependent on the implementation of total quality management paradigm has led us to base our work on the Common Assessment Framework model. The research discusses the case of pre-school education. The main research question is how the representatives of the municipality, responsible for pre-school education, understand their role and accountability in the process of the provision of local government genuine services and tasks. As the main methodological result of the research is approved that the questionnaire based on the CAF model can help to discover the main opportunities for improvement of governance of genuine local government tasks. The results of the survey on pre-school education show that local governments are in control of financial matters and that their strategic focus is limited to the investment aspect. The accountability for quality management was approved as a key opportunity for improvement of local government governance.

Morphosyntaktische Variation in Verbalkomplexen des Verbs lassen und der Modalverben im Infinitiv II. Eine Analyse aus der Perspektive von Zentrum und Peripherie

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-134
Author(s):  
Vít Dovalil
Keyword(s):  
Word Order ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Eine Analyse ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Subordinate Clauses ◽  
Functional Equivalency ◽  
Verb Clusters ◽  
Prague School ◽  
Auxiliary Verb

Abstract This paper deals with a morphosyntactic variable of German verb clusters containing a full verb and an infinitive perfect of the verb lassen or of modal verbs (gelassen haben, gekonnt haben). The corpus-based analysis draws upon the concept of center and periphery as it was developed by the Prague School. The main research question underpinning the synchronic analysis concentrates on the use of the IPP (infinitivus pro participio equivalent to the German term Ersatzinfinitiv) and the word order of the auxiliary verb within the cluster. In total, there is empirical evidence for four variants in which this variable is realized. Two of them fully correspond to the system of German infinitive constructions (full verb + gelassen/gekonnt haben, or haben + full verb + IPP lassen/können). However, these systemic constructions are used (much) less frequently in contemporary written German than the other two constructions (past participle of full verb + haben + lassen/können, or full verb + haben lassen/können). Whereas the former ones can be counted to the center of the German infinitive system from the structural point of view, the latter ones are classified as peripheral, because they are not derivable from the rules of this system. In spite of that, the paper explores one of identifiable epicenters within the periphery of the system, arguing with the highest frequency and further regularities of the third type of the construction (past particple of full verb + haben + lassen/können). The structural analysis takes the functional equivalency of subordinate clauses and the corresponding infinitive constructions into consideration. This contributes to better clarification of both morphology and word order of the elements creating the analyzed verb clusters.

scholarly journals PERM STUDENTS’ IDEASOF THE LANGUAGE NORM AND SPEECH CULTURE: EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 60-69
Author(s):  
Anastasiia S. Chernousova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Native Speakers ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Other ◽  
Cultural Environment ◽  
Literary Language ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Research Material ◽  
The One ◽  
Colloquial Speech

The article describes the results of a pilot sociolinguistic experiment the purpose of which was to study the ideas of modern youth about the language norm and speech culture. The main research question was how this social group assesses linguistic innovations / transformations and other facts of modern Russian speech. The research material was collected by means of a survey in which 80 informants took part. The task was to identify and analyze opinions on the concept of ‘speech culture’ and its features, ‘degradation’ / ‘non-degradation’ of the language, as well as the influence of the popular Russian TV series Real’nye patsany (Real Guys) on the creation of the image of Perm residents. The research results reveal the problems of speech culture essential from the point of view of young speakers, the most striking of which are the insufficient purity of speech, unjustified borrowing, and spelling mistakes. The presence of diametrically opposite ideas of the currently occurring processes (from the recognition of innovations to the idea of complete degradation) indicates that informants recognize the process of constant development of the language, which is, on the one hand, naturally-determined and, on the other, beyond the control of native speakers. The informants distinguish between the norm of the literary language and the norms of other language variants (for example, local variants of literary colloquial speech, various types of jargon), determine for each of the idioms their own sphere of functioning, socio-cultural environment, circle of speakers and, accordingly, their own evaluative characteristics of language variants, which do not always coincide with others.

scholarly journals The compliance evolution of the corporate governance codes in emerging European countries – a content analysis perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 516-536
Author(s):  
Pompei Mititean ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Research Question ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Corporate Governance Codes

Research Question: Does the corporate governance codes from 18 Emerging European countries respect the European Commission recommendations? Motivation: The corporate governance is a wildly debated topic in the literature but only few studies are addressed to the level of compliance between the corporate governance and the European Commission recommendations, especially in emerging countries. Idea: The objective of this study is to analyse the corporate governance codes form eighteen Emerging European Countries and examine if these countries comply with the recommendations of European Commission regarding corporate governance by using the content analysis technique. The main research proposition is to identify how many out of the 32 recommendations included in this analysis are fulfilled by the corporate governance codes from the Emerging European Countries and how these developed during time. Data: Data sample consists of 18 corporate governance codes from Emerging European Countries, which are examined in the context of the recommendations of European Commission COM-284, and the next years updates from 2004 (2004/913/EC), 2005 (2005/162/EC) and 2009 (2009/384 and 385/EC), divided into five group, covering 32 recommendations. Tools: The latest versions of corporate governance codes from each country, from 2004-2020, were downloaded, collecting the data manually from each corporate governance code using the content analysis technique. Findings: The results illustrate that Slovenia and Czech Republic are the countries with the highest compliance degree, while Poland and Estonia are the countries with the least fulfilled recommendations Contribution: This paper provides a general overview regarding the level of compliance of the corporate governance codes and European Commission recommendations, thus being a starting point for researchers who will further study this subject. Secondly, we have contribute to the limited studies that analysed the evolution of corporate governance codes following the best practices for the companies issued by European Commission.

Evolutionary Learning of a Box-Pushing Controller

2011 ◽  
pp. 104-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieter Spronck ◽  
Ida Sprinkhuizen-Kuyper ◽  
Eric Postma ◽  
Rens Kortmann
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Evolutionary Algorithm ◽  
Fitness Function ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Initial Population ◽  
Evolutionary Learning ◽  
Main Research ◽  
The Neural Network ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Good Starting Point

In our research we use evolutionary algorithms to evolve robot controllers for executing elementary behaviours. This chapter focuses on the behaviour of pushing a box between two walls. The main research question addressed in this chapter is: how can a neural network learn to control the box-pushing task using evolutionary-computation techniques? In answering this question we study the following three characteristics by means of simulation experiments: (1) the fitness function, (2) the neural network topology and (3) the parameters of the evolutionary algorithm. We find that appropriate choices for these characteristics are: (1) a global external fitness function, (2) a recurrent neural network, and (3) a regular evolutionary algorithm augmented with the doping technique in which the initial population is supplied with a solution to a hard task instance. We conclude by stating that our findings on the relatively simple box-pushing behaviour form a good starting point for the evolutionary learning of more complex behaviours.

Influence of relational and referential coherence on the distribution of coordinated verb-second clauses in German and Dutch

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 35-64
Author(s):  
Geert Stuyckens
Keyword(s):  
Syntactic Structure ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Verb Second ◽  
States Of Affairs ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Role And Reference Grammar ◽  
Reference Grammar ◽  
State Of Affairs ◽  
Syntactic Prominence

This paper investigates, from the point of view of role and reference grammar, the formal and the functional side of SLF (‘subject gap in finite/frontal clauses’) coordination on the basis of a bidirectional parallel German-Dutch corpus. The main research question is how relational and referential coherence are mapped to the syntactic structure of SLF and coordination constructions alternating with it. A typology of the alternative constructions is proposed. Since both relational and referential coherence at the discourse level, as well as the nexus types at the syntax level, are composed of more or less prominent states of affairs, the paper defines a relative concept of prominence on both these grammar levels and examines whether and, if so, how this concept influences the mapping between discursive and syntactic structure. In particular, it looks at absolute and relative frequencies so as to find potential trends in this mapping. There is a tendency that the more prominent the discursive states of affairs are, the more syntactically prominent the chosen coordination alternative is. The states of affairs linked by the interclausal coherence relation seem to affect the distribution of the coordination alternatives both in German and in Dutch. The state of affairs expressed by the information-structural status of the first subject seems to affect at least the distribution of two types. To a certain extent, both German and Dutch strive to iconically map discursive to syntactic prominence.

scholarly journals Assessing Russia’s New Interaction with Africa: Energy Diplomacy, Arms Exports and Mineral Resource Markets

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Research Question ◽  
The United States ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
African Continent ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Military Aid ◽  
Major Supplier ◽  
Energy Diplomacy

In recent years, Russian President Vladimir Putin increasingly places a high premium on re-building Russia’s global influence, which includes a boosting of Russia’s relations with the African continent. This coincides with Putin’s position that the strengthening of ties with African states is a Russian foreign policy priority. Moreover, there is little doubt that much of Moscow’s new involvement in Africa relates to Putin’s desire to revive his country’s great-power status. The main research question is: What is behind Moscow’s renewed push into the continent? Three areas of Russia-Africa relations of special importance are suggested in this article. Firstly, much of Russia’s focus on the African continent centres on energy diplomacy. Secondly, Russia is the second largest exporter of arms globally after the United States, and Moscow is a major supplier of weapons and military aid to Africa. Thirdly, the continent is rich in mineral wealth, and Moscow has an economic interest in mineral riches in Africa. This article argues the above-mentioned issues are the main drivers underlying Russia’s renewed strategic engagement with the African continent. The article further reflects on whether Russia’s foreign policy successes in Africa have been overblown, or whether Russia’s renewed engagement with Africa is actually of considerable significance in the global context and from an African point of view.

scholarly journals People’s Perceptions of Community Participation in Conservation of Natural Resources in Rwanda - the Case of Nyungwe National Park

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Gloriose Umuziranenge
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Community Participation ◽  
National Park ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Revenue Sharing ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Natural Resources Management ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Main Research

In this thesis I assessed whether and how the local communities participate in the daily activities regarding the park’s management through implementation of tourism revenue sharing and how it impacted local communities’ participation in conservation of Nyungwe National Park as well as the promotion of their well-being. The main research question of my thesis was the following: How do people perceive local community participation in natural resources management? The main research question of my thesis was: How do people perceive local community participation in natural resources management? It was split into five sub-questions: (1) How do local communities participate, and perceive their role in the conservation of the park?, (2) What are the benefits and opportunities do they get as neighbors of the Park through TRS?, (3) How do they participate in decision-making process?, (4) What are challenges do they face being neighbors of the park?, (5) What do local communities wish to minimize the challenges they face? My thesis was organized as a paper-based thesis. It includes in total five papers which were published in different scientific journals. In the research process, I used different methodologies according to the aim of each paper. The findings show that the Park’s management has improved the relationship between the local community and the Park by accommodating local needs such as infrastructures (schools, health centers, communal water tanks), income generating activities, increased awareness in terms of park’s protection through a tourism revenue sharing scheme that was introduced since 2005. According to the perceptions of the respondents, this study shows that the governance of the park is still dominated by a top-down approach through a distant representative democracy where the participation of the local community remains passive. This research indicates human-wildlife conflicts as one of the challenges faced by the local community. People perceive that more efforts should be dedicated on participation as an integrative and learning process where the local community should be empowered. Die kumulative Studie befasst sich mit der Frage nach der Beteiligung lokaler Gemeinden am Management der natürlichen Ressourcen durch den Nyungwe Nationalpark. Es wird bewertet, ob und wie die lokalen Gemeinden an den Aktivitäten des Managements der durch die Implementierung der touristischen Einnahmeaufteilung teilnehmen und danach gefragt wie dieses Vereinbarung die Beteiligung der lokalen Gemeinden an der Erhaltung des Nyungwe Nationalparks sowie ihr Wohlbefindens beeinflusst. Die zentrale Forschungsfrage, wie die Menschen die Beteiligung der lokalen Gemeinschaft am Management natürlicher Ressourcen wahrnehmen, ist in fünf Unterfragen aufgeteilt: (1) Wie partizipieren die lokalen Gemeinden und wie nehmen sie ihre Rolle bei der Erhaltung des Parks wahr?, (2) Welche Vorteile und Möglichkeiten erhalten sie als Nachbarn des Parks durch TRS?, (3) Wie nehmen sie am Entscheidungsprozess teil?, (4) Was sind die Herausforderungen, denen sie als Nachbarn des Parks gegenüberstehen?, (5) Was wünschen sich die lokalen Gemeinden, um die Herausforderungen, denen sie gegenüberstehen, zu minimieren? Meine Studie umfasst insgesamt fünf Arbeiten, die in verschiedenen Fachzeitschriften veröffentlicht wurden. Je nach Fragestellung wurden im Forschungsprozess verschiedene Methoden verwendet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass das Management des Parks die Beziehung zwischen der lokalen Gemeinde und dem Park verbessert hat, indem es lokale Bedürfnisse wie Infrastruktur (Schulen, Gesundheitszentren, kommunale Wassertanks), einkommensschaffende Aktivitäten und ein erhöhtes Bewusstsein für den Schutz des Parks durch ein Programm zur Beteiligung an den Tourismuseinnahmen, das seit 2005 eingeführt wurde, berücksichtigt hat. Die in der Studie untersuchten Wahrnehmungen der befragten zeigt auch, dass die Verwaltung des Parks immer noch von einem Top-Down-Ansatz durch eine distanziert-repräsentative Demokratie dominiert wird, bei der die Beteiligung der lokalen Gemeinschaft passiv bleibt. Die Untersuchung zeigt, dass Konflikte zwischen Mensch und Wildtieren eine der Herausforderungen sind, mit denen die lokale Gemeinschaft konfrontiert ist. Seitens der Befragten wird vorgeschlagen, mehr Initiativen für die Partizipation als integrativen und lernenden Prozess unternommen werden sollten, um dadurch die lokale Gemeinschaft zu stärken.

scholarly journals Regional Retail Sector Development in Serbia – Key Performance and Development Indicators’ Gap

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stojković Dragan ◽  
Manić Emilija ◽  
Bogetić Zoran ◽  
Dokić Aleksa
Keyword(s):  
Regional Differences ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Retail Sector ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Development Indicators ◽  
Retail Development ◽  
The One ◽  
Key Indicators ◽  
Official Sources

Abstract Are there significant regional differences in regional retail development in Serbia? This was the main research question at the beginning of writing this paper. The main goal of this paper was to analyse regional differences in retail development based on existing statistical data. The idea was to point out regions with underdeveloped retailing and the one with endangered retail competition. Thorough desk research has been performed. It included both literature review and data collection from available official sources. Existing retail data have been analysed. However, the lack of data at lower levels of aggregation (regional and local) prevents the authors from getting strong conclusions. In addition, the lack of data also altered the main research question, which has now become adequacy of data in the retail sector and potential solutions for that problem. The noted lack of crucial data and solutions for solving this problem were the main purpose of this paper. The main finding is that decision makers in Serbia do not have adequate information about retail network. This is a problem because it is very hard to prove anticompetitive actions or to plan (stimulate) retail development without relevant data from both government and business point of view. Retail census would help getting key indicators about development of retailing in certain regions and municipalities. However, the solution needs to be sustainable. Therefore, some legislative requirements should provide information for census update.

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