scholarly journals Use of European Funds and Ex Post Evaluation of Prevention Measures against Wolf Attacks (Canis lupus italicus) in the Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy)

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1536
Author(s):  
Duccio Berzi ◽  
Jacopo Cerri ◽  
Carmela Musto ◽  
Maria Luisa Zanni
Keyword(s):  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Emilia Romagna Region ◽  
New Policies ◽  
Large Predators ◽  
Resources Sharing

Introduction: Compensation programs are an important tool for mitigating conflicts between farmers and large predators. However, they present significant weaknesses and faults. For years, the EU has been prioritizing programs for the prevention of damage caused by large carnivores, rather than compensation programs, introducing compulsory compensation for the purposes of decision EC (2019) 772 of 29/01/19. This manuscript reports the experience with the wolf damage prevention programs in an Italian region, Emilia-Romagna, which implemented a pilot project, adopting a new method to interface with the farmers involved in the prevention programs. Methods: Starting in 2014, a project aimed at spreading prevention measures was financed through regional and European resources, accompanied by resources sharing and technical assistance with breeders from the regional body. In detail, (i) standardized types of intervention were defined and technical assistance was structured; (ii) ex post, the effectiveness of the interventions carried out was assessed; and (iii) the difficulties encountered in using the various financing instruments were analyzed. Results: Overall, 298 farms were analyzed, of which 166 applied for regional calls and 132 applied for European funds. The mitigation measures produced a reduction in predatory phenomena of 93.4%, i.e., from 528 to 35 predations over a period of 4–6 years. This study shows that more than one-third of the farmers were forced to abandon the two tenders, mainly due to the lack of liquidity in anticipating the prevention measures. Conclusion: In the years examined by this study, the prevention programs in the Emilia-Romagna region, due to the technical support offered, proved to be a functional and effective tool, capable of significantly reducing the wolf predation on livestock. However, this work highlights the high percentage of denials of mitigation measures by farmers interested in adopting these tools, stressing the need for regional agencies to focus on new policies that can provide advance economic resources to farmers and solve the authorization problems related to the various bodies with which the participant in the tenders must interface.

scholarly journals HATE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS

2020 ◽  
pp. 081
Author(s):  
Darko Dimovski
Keyword(s):  
Crime Prevention ◽  
Violent Crime ◽  
Hate Crime ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
Hate Crimes ◽  
Human History ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Media

Hate crimes have existed throughout human history. Although in recent decades many countries have criminalized this form of violent crime in their legislation, few countries pay special attention to prevention measures aimed at countering hate crimes. In this paper, the author will present the hate crime prevention programs launched in the countries that have advanced most in the creation and implementation of such prevention measures. The first two parts of the paper are dedicated to the analysis of special hate crime prevention programs focusing on the perpetrator, while the third part presents the programs focusing on the potential victims. The last part of the paper discusses the role of the media as the bearers of hate crime prevention programs.

scholarly journals Passing the Test: A Model-based analysis of safe school-reopening strategies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyssa Bilinski ◽  
Joshua A. Salomon ◽  
John Giardina ◽  
Andrea Ciaranello ◽  
Meagan C. Fitzpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Schools ◽  
High Schools ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Single Infection ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
School Students ◽  
School Based ◽  
Community Transmission

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has induced historic educational disruptions. In December 2020, at least two-thirds of US public school students were not attending full-time in-person education. The Biden Administration has expressed that reopening schools is a priority.ObjectiveTo compare risks of SARS-COV-2 transmission in schools across different school-based prevention strategies and levels of community transmission.DesignWe developed an agent-based network model to simulate transmission in elementary and high school communities, including home, school, and inter-household interactions.SettingWe parameterized school structure based on average US classrooms, with elementary schools of 638 students and high schools of 1,451 students. We varied daily community incidence from 1 to 100 cases per 100,000 population.Patients (or Participants)We simulated students, faculty/staff, and adult household members.InterventionsWe evaluated isolation of symptomatic individuals, quarantine of an infected individual’s contacts, reduced class sizes, alternative schedules, staff vaccination, and weekly asymptomatic screening.MeasurementsWe projected transmission among students, staff and families during one month following introduction of a single infection into a school. We also calculated the number of infections expected for a typical 8-week quarter, contingent on community incidence rate.ResultsSchool transmission risk varies according to student age and community incidence and is substantially reduced with effective, consistent mitigation measures. Nevertheless, when transmission occurs, it may be difficult to detect without regular, frequent testing due to the subclinical nature of most infections in children. Teacher vaccination can reduce transmission to staff, while asymptomatic screening both improves understanding of local circumstances and reduces transmission, facilitating five-day schedules at full classroom capacity.LimitationsThere is uncertainty about susceptibility and infectiousness of children and low precision regarding the effectiveness of specific prevention measures, particularly with emergence of new variants.ConclusionWith controlled community transmission and moderate school-based prevention measures, elementary schools can open with few in-school transmissions, while high schools require more intensive mitigation. Asymptomatic screening should be a key component of school reopenings, allowing reopening at higher community incidence while still minimizing transmission risk.

scholarly journals Priority environmental investment programme: Development and implementation

Spatium ◽  
2004 ◽  
pp. 84-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoran Njegovan
Keyword(s):  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Technology Policy ◽  
Main Tool ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Environmental Investment ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Environmental Monitoring System ◽  
Programme Development ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Investment Programme

This paper is created to serve as a methodological base and possible work plan for Assistance in Priority Environmental Investment Programme Development and Implementation in the Republic of Serbia. It will contribute to improved mechanisms for selection of priority environmental investments. Also, the paper should outline a scope of work for technical assistance for Republic of Serbia in developing mechanisms for identifying and selecting priority environmental investments. The main feature of the long-term environmental policy in the Republic of Serbia is absence of integrated approach, which goes hand by hand with the international environmental standards, and lack of efficient economic instruments and regulations. It causes an inadequate technology policy and location of the polluters. Besides that there has been a lack of appropriate environmental monitoring system good enough to provide efficient ex-ante and ex-post protection. It has caused a lot of environmental damages so that a completely new approach in the field of environment is expected to be created out of which the Priority Environmental Investment Programme (PEIP) should be a main tool for experience of good environmental governance in the Republic of Serbia as well as in the region of SEE.

scholarly journals Lockdown, relaxation, and ACME period in COVID-19: A study of disease dynamics in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayra Tocto-Erazo ◽  
Jorge A. Espíndola-Zepeda ◽  
José A. Montoya-Laos ◽  
Manuel Adrian Acuña-Zegarra ◽  
Daniel Olmos-Liceaga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo Study ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Relaxation Dynamics ◽  
Health Ministry ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Starting Date ◽  
The One ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Second Wave

Lockdown and social distancing measures have been implemented for many countries to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent overwhelming of health services. However, success on this strategy depends not only on the timing of its implementation, but also on the relaxation measures adopted within each community. We developed a mathematical model to evaluate the impacts of the lockdown implemented in Hermosillo, Mexico. We compared this intervention with some hypothetical ones, varying the starting date and also the population proportion that is released, breaking the confinement. A Monte Carlo study was performed by considering three scenarios to define our baseline dynamics. Results showed that a hypothetical delay of two weeks, on the lockdown measures, would result in an early ACME around May 9 for hospitalization prevalence and an increase on cumulative deaths, 42 times higher by May 31, when compared to baseline. On the other hand, results concerning relaxation dynamics showed that the ACME levels depend on the proportion of people who gets back to daily activities as well as the individual behavior with respect to prevention measures. Analysis regarding different relaxing mitigation measures were provided to the Sonoran Health Ministry, as requested. It is important to stress that, according to information provided by health authorities, the ACME occurring time was closed to the one given by our model. Hence, we considered that our model resulted useful for the decision-making assessment, and that an extension of it can be used for the study of a potential second wave.

A (semi-)probabilistic storm surge EWS implementation for the Emilia-Romagna region (Italy)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Germano Biolchi ◽  
Silvia Unguendoli ◽  
Lidia Bressan ◽  
Beatrice Maria Sole Giambastiani ◽  
Andrea Valentini
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Storm Surge ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Deterministic System ◽  
Emilia Romagna Region ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Coastal Risk ◽  
Sea Storm ◽  
The Eu

<p>The low lying and sandy coastal areas of the Emilia-Romagna region are heavily threatened by sea storms, often leading to flooding and coastal erosion events with severe impacts on citizens’ quality of life, damages to the cultural heritage and effects on economic activities (e.g. aquaculture, fisheries, tourism, beach facilities). Climate change projections reinforce the need of strategies and tools to prevent damages and promptly react to extreme events. In this context and in the framework of non-structural mitigation measures, the Hydro-Meteo-Climate Service of Arpae Emilia-Romagna (Arpae-SIMC) developed and operationally manages a Coastal Early Warning System (EWS) for the Emilia-Romagna Region (Northeast Italy).</p><p>The EWS was developed during the EU Project FP7-MICORE and it is a state-of-the-art coastal forecasting system that follows a chain of operational numerical models: the meteorological model COSMO, the wave model SWAN-MEDITARE, the ocean model AdriaROMS, and the morphodynamic model XBeach. The latter is currently implemented on a series of cross-shore beach profiles covering eight locations distributed along the Emilia-Romagna shore. Deterministic daily forecasts (72-hours) are generated and Storm Impact Indicators (SIIs) used to assess sea-storm induced coastal risk along the region’s littoral (geo.regione.emilia-romagna.it/schede/ews). </p><p>It is widely known that among the limitations of deterministic approaches, the lack of uncertainty estimation is often problematic as decision-makers might be misled if the only forecast available underestimates (or overestimates) incoming conditions. Hence, following the success of probabilistic forecasting in meteorological applications, storm surge EWSs following ensemble frameworks have been recently developed, allowing for more information available to sustain the decision-making process. Towards the new paradigm change, one of the foreseen outputs of the European Interreg Italy-Croatia CBC Programme project Strategic development of flood management (STREAM) involves the development of a “probabilistic EWS for coastal risk implemented and tested on at least one location along the Emilia-Romagna Coast”. </p><p>The initial implementation of the (semi-)probabilistic framework benefits from the EU ADRION I-STORMS (Integrated Sea Storm Management Strategies) project outcomes, in which wave and sea level multi-model ensembles were developed for the Adriatic Sea giving origin to the Transnational Multi-Model Ensemble (TMES). The TMES was made available as one of the six Integrated Web System (IWS) components, combining five wave and six sea level forecasting systems as means to provide 48-hour forecasts in terms of sea level and wave characteristics (Hs, Tm and Dm). Ensemble mean and standard deviation (SD) are calculated based on different forecasting systems’ results. In the initial approach, four TMES combinations have been tested as XBeach forcing: the TMES mean; the mean minus one SD; the mean plus one SD; the mean plus two SDs. Two months were analyzed together with the already implemented deterministic system for two profiles along the region’s coast.</p><p>The methodology followed for the test period will be shown as well as the results. Furthermore, the methodology under development will be also shown as means to enhance the discussion involving storm surge ensemble applications.</p>

The Ancient Timber Roofing Structures in Emilia-Romagna Region

2013 ◽  
Vol 778 ◽  
pp. 968-975
Author(s):  
Anna Marzo ◽  
Giuseppe Marghella ◽  
Maurizio Indirli
Keyword(s):  
Complex Structure ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Construction Technology ◽  
Seismic Behaviour ◽  
Emilia Romagna Region ◽  
Historic Memory ◽  
Historic Centre ◽  
The Town ◽  
Non Destructive

Widespread survey, aiming at the evaluation of both vulnerability of the structures and usability of the buildings, have been carried out after the seismic events occurred on May 2012 in Emilia-Romagna districts. During the surveys, several cover typologies have been verified, which often evidenced lack in terms of earthquake-proof features. In contrast, some ancient timber roofs showed an original construction technology, according to the seismic mitigation measures. Clearly, the attention to the behaviour of the covering structures against the horizontal actions was due to the historic memory related to earthquakes occurred in the past or simply due to a good construction practice lost during the following years.This paper it is devoted to explain the analysis campaign carried out on an ancient timber covering structure located in the historic centre of the town of Cento (FE), aiming at the characterisation of its seismic behaviour. The study consists on three subsequent steps: 1) in-depth visual and geometrical survey; 2) in-situ non-destructive tests for material characterization; 3) Finite Element modelling of the complex structure.

scholarly journals Trends in China's anthropogenic emissions since 2010 as the consequence of clean air actions

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Zheng ◽  
Dan Tong ◽  
Meng Li ◽  
Fei Liu ◽  
Chaopeng Hong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Decomposition Analysis ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Anthropogenic Emissions ◽  
Index Decomposition ◽  
Clean Air ◽  
New Policies ◽  
Relative Change

Abstract. To tackle the problem of severe air pollution, China has implemented active clean air policies in recent years. As a consequence, the emissions of major air pollutants have decreased and the air quality has substantially improved. Here, we quantified China's anthropogenic emission trends from 2010–2017 and identified the major driving forces of these trends by using a combination of bottom-up emission inventory and Index Decomposition Analysis (IDA) approaches. The relative change rates of China's anthropogenic emissions during 2010–2017 are estimated as follows: −62 % for SO2, −17 % for NOx, +11 % for NMVOC, +1 % for NH3, −27 % for CO, −38 % for PM10, −35 % for PM2.5, −27 % for BC, −35 % for OC, and +18 % for CO2. The IDA results suggest that emission control measures are the main drivers of this reduction, in which the pollution controls on power plants and industries are the most effective mitigation measures. The emission reduction rates markedly accelerated after the year 2013, confirming the effectiveness of China's Clean Air Action that was implemented in 2013. We estimated that during 2013–2017, China's anthropogenic emissions decreased by 59 % for SO2, 21 % for NOx, 23 % for CO, 36 % for PM10, 33 % for PM2.5, 28 % for BC, and 32 % for OC. NMVOC emissions increased by 11 % and NH3 emissions remained stable from 2010–2017, representing the absence of effective mitigation measures for NMVOC and NH3 in current policies. The relative contributions of different sectors to emissions have significantly changed after several years' implementation of clean air policies, indicating that it is paramount to introduce new policies to enable further emission reductions in the future.

scholarly journals Trends in China's anthropogenic emissions since 2010 as the consequence of clean air actions

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 14095-14111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Zheng ◽  
Dan Tong ◽  
Meng Li ◽  
Fei Liu ◽  
Chaopeng Hong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Decomposition Analysis ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Anthropogenic Emissions ◽  
Index Decomposition ◽  
Clean Air ◽  
New Policies ◽  
Relative Change

Abstract. To tackle the problem of severe air pollution, China has implemented active clean air policies in recent years. As a consequence, the emissions of major air pollutants have decreased and the air quality has substantially improved. Here, we quantified China's anthropogenic emission trends from 2010 to 2017 and identified the major driving forces of these trends by using a combination of bottom-up emission inventory and index decomposition analysis (IDA) approaches. The relative change rates of China's anthropogenic emissions during 2010–2017 are estimated as follows: −62 % for SO2, −17 % for NOx, +11 % for nonmethane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), +1 % for NH3, −27 % for CO, −38 % for PM10, −35 % for PM2.5, −27 % for BC, −35 % for OC, and +16 % for CO2. The IDA results suggest that emission control measures are the main drivers of this reduction, in which the pollution controls on power plants and industries are the most effective mitigation measures. The emission reduction rates markedly accelerated after the year 2013, confirming the effectiveness of China's Clean Air Action that was implemented since 2013. We estimated that during 2013–2017, China's anthropogenic emissions decreased by 59 % for SO2, 21 % for NOx, 23 % for CO, 36 % for PM10, 33 % for PM2.5, 28 % for BC, and 32 % for OC. NMVOC emissions increased and NH3 emissions remained stable during 2010–2017, representing the absence of effective mitigation measures for NMVOCs and NH3 in current policies. The relative contributions of different sectors to emissions have significantly changed after several years' implementation of clean air policies, indicating that it is paramount to introduce new policies to enable further emission reductions in the future.

Neutron Embrittlement of VVER 1000 and 440/213 RPVs: Learning From EC Projects on RPV Integrity

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claude Rieg ◽  
Ralf Ahlstrand ◽  
Michel Bieth ◽  
Luigi Debarberis ◽  
Filippo Sevini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
End Of Life ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Nickel Content ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Final Decision ◽  
Original Design ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Integrity Assessment ◽  
Management Procedure ◽  
Open Issues

Since 1991 the European Commission has financed a significant number of Technical Assistance Projects to the Commonwealth of Independent States (TACIS) and EURATOM R&D actions addressing the main safety issues on RPV material embrittlement and integrity assessment. Since the VVER 440 reactors of the reference series 213 are made from recognised neutron embrittlement resistant materials and include comprehensive surveillance programmes, a standard plant life management procedure can be applied to address long-term concerns, mostly aiming at reducing uncertainties in the assessment techniques. Therefore, the open issues (flux effect, upgrading of surveillance results, implementation of toughness measurements and relevant acceptance criteria, behaviour of the cladding) are quite universal. The efficiency of late annealing (at fast [E>0.5 MeV] neutron doses over 1020n/cm2) and the re-embrittlement after annealing remain key issues for any final decision for their operational lifetime. The more recently developed VVER 1000 reactors have some well-known features arising from the original design and manufacturing process (high nickel content in the core weld, location of the surveillance specimens), which have to be carefully considered if appropriate mitigation measures are to be implemented during operation. A precise identification of the issues related to the surveillance programme has been achieved thanks to research on dosimetry evaluation, representativeness (temperature and flux effect) of the specimens and optimisation of the evaluation of their results. Nickle, just as copper and phosphorus, is now recognised as having a detrimental effect on neutron embrittlement in synergy with other elements (e.g. manganese). The analyses of available data for CrNiMn steels do not show a significant effect for fast [E>0.5 MeV] neutron doses below 7.1019n/cm2, but their consistency and relevance might be questionable. A way has already been pioneered which shows how valuable results can be obtained using the existing surveillance programmes specimens. A systematic application on the Russian & Ukrainian plants is now planned in order to get updated figures on design end of life (EOL) integrity assessment. This includes updated dosimetry assessment, multiple specimen testing (reconstitution, impact and static toughness tests) and advanced integrity analyses. An optimised database of representative surveillance results (up to the design end of life) is expected, which should provide a sound basis for further understanding and setting up of relevant prediction tools, considering at the same time any other specific R&D results. The global integrity assessment will also provide for preparing and implementing adequate mitigation measures in due time, if necessary. The paper will report about the knowledge on RPV embrittlement effects, providing evidence of recent contributions to solve shortcomings of the VVER 440/213 and 1000 units. The current state-of-the-art and the remaining open issues have been assessed recently by a group of international experts. The planned R&D activities and the detailed scope of the latest TACIS projects are described.

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