scholarly journals Smart and Age-Friendly Cities in Romania: An Overview of Public Policy and Practice

Author(s):  
Loredana Ivan ◽  
Dorin Beu ◽  
Joost van Hoof

The role of smart cities in order to improve older people’s quality of life, sustainability and opportunities, accessibility, mobility, and connectivity is increasing and acknowledged in public policy and private sector strategies in countries all over the world. Smart cities are one of the technological-driven initiatives that may help create an age-friendly city. Few research studies have analysed emerging countries in terms of their national strategies on smart or age-friendly cities. In this study, Romania which is predicted to become one of the most ageing countries in the European Union is used as a case study. Through document analysis, current initiatives at the local, regional, and national level addressing the issue of smart and age-friendly cities in Romania are investigated. In addition, a case study is presented to indicate possible ways of the smart cities initiatives to target and involve older adults. The role of different stakeholders is analysed in terms of whether initiatives are fragmentary or sustainable over time, and the importance of some key factors, such as private–public partnerships and transnational bodies. The results are discussed revealing the particularities of the smart cities initiatives in Romania in the time frame 2012–2020, which to date, have limited connection to the age-friendly cities agenda. Based on the findings, a set of recommendations are formulated to move the agenda forward.

Tehnika ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 646-653
Author(s):  
Ivana Buzdovan ◽  
Marko Asanović ◽  
Nataša Gospić

This study elaborates the elements which are important in the development of the smart city strategy, both at national and local level. They should provide a good foundation for the development of a longterm sustainable and comprehensive smart city concept. When developing the strategy itself, it is necessary to follow the examples of the smart cities in Europe, Region and based on their experience, to identify advantages and disadvantages in order to form clear goals and vision. This study also gives the proposal for defining the elements necessary for establishing the smart cities development strategy as a solution for improving the quality of life in cities, and therewith overall social and economic sustainable development of a country. Montenegro and the city of Budva have been developed as a case study. Montenegro is keeping pace with technological development and therewith the need to define a development strategy for its smart cities. This study emphasizes the role of state bodies, institutions and citizens themselves in that process.


Author(s):  
José David Gutiérrez

El artículo analiza, a partir del caso de estudio de asentamientos chabolistas en Madrid y Barcelona, la población Rrom que ubicándose en la periferia de dichas ciudades malvive en condiciones de pobreza y exclusión social. Basándose en una investigación de corte cualitativo donde se aprecian similitudes en cuanto a los medios de subsistencia empleados por el colectivo, así cómo la movilidad constante tanto en España como en Europa, el artículo se interroga el papel que tienen las administraciones públicas a nivel local y regional en la búsqueda de soluciones que permitan una mayor inclusión social y mejoras en la calidad de vida. Mediante una comparativa de los asentamientos, esta investigación presenta la experiencia profesional desarrollada en asentamientos con altos niveles de exclusión social donde se pone de relieve, la necesidad de intervenir socialmente desde el Trabajo Social y además, bajo una armonización de protocolos de atención social a la población Rrom desde una perspectiva igualitaria dentro de la Unión Europea, debido sobre todo a las prácticas similares de subsistencia de la población y por compartir procesos de exclusión y pobreza desde origen. The article analyzes, based on the case study of shanty towns in Madrid and Barcelona, the Rrom population, which is located on the periphery of these cities, lives in conditions of poverty and social exclusion. Based on qualitative research where similarities can be seen in terms of livelihoods used by the collective, as well as constant mobility both in Spain and in Europe, the article questions the role of public administrations at local and regional level in the search for solutions that allow greater social inclusion and improvements in the quality of life. Through a comparison of the settlements, this research presents the professional experience developed in settlements with high levels of social exclusion where it is highlighted, the need to intervene socially from Social Work and also, under a harmonization of social care protocols to the Rrom population from an egalitarian perspective within the European Union, mainly due to the similar practices of subsistence of the population and for sharing processes of exclusion and poverty from origin.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edy Nasrudin ◽  
Khusnul Fuad ◽  
Yudha Satriyo ◽  
Agung Nur Probohudono
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
John McCarthy ◽  
Tibor Bors Borbély-Pecze

Public policy formation and implementation for career guidance provision are complex issues, not least because in most countries career guidance is a peripheral part of legislation for education, employment, and social inclusion. Policy solutions are compromises by nature. Regulations and economic incentives are the main policy instruments for career guidance provision, but there is often incoherence between the intentions of the regulations and the economic incentives provided for policy implementation. The intermediary organizations that serve to implement policy add significant variability to policy effects. International bodies and organizations have shown significant interest in the role of career guidance in education and employment policies through the undertaking of policy reviews, the formulation of recommendations for career guidance, and, in some cases, providing economic incentives to support their implementation. However, there is a dearth of evaluation studies of policy formation and implementation at the national level.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1283
Author(s):  
Vasileios Ziogas ◽  
Georgia Tanou ◽  
Giasemi Morianou ◽  
Nektarios Kourgialas

Among the various abiotic stresses, drought is the major factor limiting crop productivity worldwide. Citrus has been recognized as a fruit tree crop group of great importance to the global agricultural sector since there are 140 citrus-producing countries worldwide. The majority of citrus-producing areas are subjected to dry and hot summer weather, limited availability of water resources with parallel low-quality irrigation water due to increased salinity regimes. Citrus trees are generally classified as “salt-intolerant” with high water needs, especially during summer. Water scarcity negatively affects plant growth and impairs cell metabolism, affecting the overall tree growth and the quality of produced fruit. Key factors that overall attempt to sustain and withstand the negative effect of salinity and drought stress are the extensive use of rootstocks in citriculture as well as the appropriate agronomical and irrigation practices applied. This review paper emphasizes and summarizes the crucial role of the above factors in the sustainability of citriculture.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 166
Author(s):  
Hartmut Müller ◽  
Marije Louwsma

The Covid-19 pandemic put a heavy burden on member states in the European Union. To govern the pandemic, having access to reliable geo-information is key for monitoring the spatial distribution of the outbreak over time. This study aims to analyze the role of spatio-temporal information in governing the pandemic in the European Union and its member states. The European Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) system and selected national dashboards from member states were assessed to analyze which spatio-temporal information was used, how the information was visualized and whether this changed over the course of the pandemic. Initially, member states focused on their own jurisdiction by creating national dashboards to monitor the pandemic. Information between member states was not aligned. Producing reliable data and timeliness reporting was problematic, just like selecting indictors to monitor the spatial distribution and intensity of the outbreak. Over the course of the pandemic, with more knowledge about the virus and its characteristics, interventions of member states to govern the outbreak were better aligned at the European level. However, further integration and alignment of public health data, statistical data and spatio-temporal data could provide even better information for governments and actors involved in managing the outbreak, both at national and supra-national level. The Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe (INSPIRE) initiative and the NUTS system provide a framework to guide future integration and extension of existing systems.


2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Maags ◽  
Heike Holbig

Abstract:Since “intangible cultural heritage” (ICH) became the new focal point in the global heritage discourse, governments and scholars in many countries have begun to promote this new form of “immaterial” culture. The People’s Republic of China has been one of the most active state parties implementing the new scheme and adapting it to domestic discourses and practices. Policies formulated at the national level have become increasingly malleable to the interests of local government-scholar networks. By conducting a comparative case study of two provinces, this article aims to identify the role of local elite networks in the domestic implementation of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, focusing on the incentives of scholars and officials to participate in ICH policy networks. It finds that the implementation of the Convention has not removed the power asymmetry between elite and popular actors but, instead, has fostered an elite-driven policy approach shaped by symbiotic, mutually legitimizing government–scholar networks.


Author(s):  
Dr Kailas Sonmankar

Abstract: SLE an autoimmune disorder where mulitisystem is involved.Its management is done by analgesics and cortiocosteriods . Drug resistance ,increasing doses of haepatotoxic drugs and imunosupressants steroids are hazards of the management .Here the patient suffering from SLE  was unable to do her day today work. Panchakarma treatment is found very effective in this case to improve her quality of life and to live with her own.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 24-29
Author(s):  
Shruti . ◽  
C V Rajashekhar ◽  
Manjunatha Adiga

Apasmara (epilepsy) is defined as the apagama (deterioration) of smriti (memory) associated with bibhasta cheshta (seizures) due to derangement of dhi and satwa, mainly related to vata and rajo dosha vitiation, which effects both Sharira (body) and Mana (mind). The present antiepileptic drugs control the seizure attack, but long-term use generates adverse effect at cognitive level and leads to behavioral disorders, hence there is need of safe and effective treatment which not only controls seizure attack but helps to cure the disease. A 44-year-old man approached Kayachikitsa OPD with the complaints of frequent seizure attacks, since from at the age of one and half year with regular oral antiepileptic drugs medications (allopathic), the dose of medications increasing yearly and he was not satisfied with treatment, so he was advised with Panchakarma treatment starting from Deepana, Pachana, Vamana (medicated emesis), Virechana (medicated purgation), Basti (medicated enema), Shirodhara along with palliative treatment. After each treatment it was observed that the patient was satisfied with treatment and the complaints of seizure attack reduced in frequency and duration with improved quality of life. Palliative treatment was advised to continue along with modern medications.


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