Key Performance Indicators for Infrastructure Sustainability - A Comparative Study between China and the United States

2011 ◽  
Vol 250-253 ◽  
pp. 2984-2992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Zhou ◽  
Daniel Castro Lacouture
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Delphi Method ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Key Performance Indicators ◽  
The United States ◽  
Indicator System ◽  
System Structure ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Set Up

This paper compares key performance indicators (KPI) for infrastructure sustainability in the United States and China. The paper also discusses the implications and challenges of addressing sustainability and sustainable development in the two countries. The research shows that there are noticeable differences in the indicator system structure, although there is general agreement on the concrete sub-indicators. These differences are closely linked to the research method, theory of the respective country and the macro-level priorities in formulating their sustainable development agenda. The America KPIs system was set up by Delphi method, while the Chinese one was based on complicated systematical theory and systematical ecology. The most significant agreements are on sub-indicators related to ecology, economy, project management and administration. However, there are significant disagreements on some indicators related to special indicators of highway systems. The contribution of this paper provided empirical evidence of such underlying differences. Based on the comparison of the two KPIs systems, further research is suggested to validate the indicators and the structure for infrastructure sustainability.

scholarly journals Bibliometric Analysis of SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 Studies from India and Connection to Sustainable Development Goals

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7555
Author(s):  
Raghu Raman ◽  
Ricardo Vinuesa ◽  
Prema Nedungadi
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Bibliometric Analysis ◽  
Data Access ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Good Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Sciences And Humanities ◽  
Semantic Associations ◽  
Number Of Publications

India is ranked fifth in the world in terms of COVID-19 publications accounting for 6.7% of the total. About 60% of the COVID-19 publications in the year 2020 are from United States, China, UK, Italy, and India. We present a bibliometric analysis of the publication trends and citation structure along with the identification of major research clusters. By performing network analysis of authors, citations, institutions, keywords, and countries, we explore semantic associations by applying visualization techniques. Our study shows lead taken by the United States, China, UK, Italy, India in COVID-19 research may be attributed to the high prevalence of COVID-19 cases in those countries witnessing the first outbreak and also due to having access to COVID-19 data, access to labs for experimental trials, immediate funding, and overall support from the govt. agencies. A large number of publications and citations from India are due to co-authored publications with countries like the United States, UK, China, and Saudi Arabia. Findings show health sciences have the highest number of publications and citations, while physical sciences and social sciences and humanities counts were low. A large proportion of publications fall into the open-access category. With India as the focus, by comparing three major pandemics—SARS, MERS, COVID-19—from a bibliometrics perspective, we observe much broader involvement of authors from multiple countries for COVID-19 studies when compared to SARS and MERS. Finally, by applying bibliometric indicators, we see an increasing number of sustainable development-related studies from the COVID-19 domain, particularly concerning the topic of good health and well-being. This study allows for a deeper understanding of how the scholarly community from a populous country like India pursued research in the midst of a major pandemic which resulted in the closure of scientific institutions for an extended time.

International Wheat Council

1947 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 386-387
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Great Britain ◽  
The United States ◽  
Member States ◽  
Central Organ ◽  
Set Up

Established by a Memorandum of Agreement signed by Argentina, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, and the United States in April, 1942, the International Wheat Council was set up as an agency to deal with the allocation of wheat surpluses. During the war it has served as a central organ to administer and coordinate the work of implementing the commitments of member-states to a pool of wheat for the relief of war-stricken and other necessitous areas. It held two sessions in Washington during 1946.

scholarly journals Les relations canado-américaines : Nationalisme et continentalisme

2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Balthazar
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
North America ◽  
Manifest Destiny ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cultural Integration ◽  
British North America ◽  
History Of ◽  
Canadian Nationalism ◽  
Set Up ◽  
National Perspective

This paper's objective is to bring forth some elements which confirm the following hypothesis : Canada is consigned to continentalism, namely to economic and cultural integration with the United States though this fact is shrouded in a Canadian nationalism of sorts. The continentalist mentality is rooted in the history of British North America, inhabited mostly by refugees from America who have remained inherently "Yankees" in spite of their anti-americanism. The Confederation itself is based on a sort of complicity with the United States. More recently there were talks of a "North American nationality", and continentalism both cultural and economic has come to be seen as a 'force of nature" which the governments, at the most, put into a chanelling process. Still, it is possible for Canadian nationalism to exist provided it does not go beyond the threshold whence it would run headlong into the continental mentality. Canada has defined itself through an international or non-national perspective far too long for today's nationalism not to remain weak and poorly established. But the Americans whose "manifest destiny" has succeeded in spreading over Canada without even their having tried to hoist their flag there find it to their advantage to maintain some form of Canadian sovereignty. Canada as a "friendly nation" can be of use to Washington. That is why there are almost as many advocates for Canada's independence in the United States as there are north of the border. Canadian nationalism can thus further the interests of some Canadian elites without seriously prejudicing continental integration which can very well afford not to be set up into formalized structures.

Constitutional Law in 1942–1943: The Constitutional Decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States in the October Term, 1942

1944 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 266-288
Author(s):  
Robert E. Cushman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Supreme Court ◽  
West Coast ◽  
The United States ◽  
Japanese American ◽  
Circuit Court ◽  
Court Of Appeals ◽  
The Supreme Court ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Right

On February 15, 1943, Wiley B. Rutledge, Jr., a judge of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, took the seat on the Supreme Court vacated by the resignation in October, 1942, of Mr. Justice Byrnes. There were no other changes in the Court's personnel. Disagreement among the justices abated somewhat. In only a dozen cases of importance did either four or three justices dissent, as against some thirty cases in the last term. The Court overruled two earlier decisions, both recent; and the reversal in each case was made possible by the vote of Mr. Justice Rutledge.A. QUESTIONS OF NATIONAL POWER1. WAR POWER-CIVIL VERSUS MILITARY AUTHORITYWest Coast Curfew Applied to Japanese-American Citizens. In February, 1942, the President issued Executive Order No. 9066, which authorized the creation of military areas from which any or all persons might be excluded and with respect to which the right of persons to enter, remain in, or leave should be subject to such regulations as the military authorities might prescribe. On March 2, the entire West Coast to an average depth of forty miles was set up as Military Area No. 1 by the Commanding General in that area, and the intention was announced to evacuate from it persons of suspected loyalty, alien enemies, and all persons, aliens and citizens alike, of Japanese ancestry.

Washington will engage more with South-east Asia

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
East Asia ◽  
The United States ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Set Up

Significance She addressed two key issues during her trip: tensions in post-coup Myanmar and China’s growing regional footprint. Shortly after she left the region, the United States announced that it would donate unused COVID-19 vaccines abroad, including to South-east Asia. Impacts Washington will tighten its sanctions on the Myanmar military while supporting ASEAN’s five-point plan to ease the country’s crisis. The National Unity Government, a parallel administration to Myanmar’s junta set up by its opponents, will try to attract greater US backing. Manila and Washington may extend negotiations over renewing their Visiting Forces Agreement to prevent the pact expiring in August.

Organization for European Economic Cooperation

1960 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 359-360 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Cooperation ◽  
West Germany ◽  
Trade Association ◽  
European Economic ◽  
Underdeveloped Countries ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
European Free Trade Association ◽  
Set Up

The January 14, 1960, meeting of the Council of the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) was preceded by a meeting of representatives of the organization's eighteen members and of the United States and Canada to examine the resolutions adopted by a special economic conference. At this meeting, which ended with approval of a move sponsored by the United States that was designed to reorganize economic cooperation and transform the organization, it was decided, and subsequently approved by the OEEC Council and the United States and Canada, that: 1) four experts, representing respectively North America, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the European Economic Community (EEC) and other European nations, would prepare a report on the transformation of OEEC for consideration by senior officials of twenty countries, namely, the OEEC nations and the United States and Canada, at a meeting scheduled for April 19, 1960; 2) a preparatory meeting of representatives of the same twenty nations would be held in a month's time, when decisions would be taken to appoint a permanent chairman, a secretariat, and working parties to look into outstanding trade problems; and 3) a group, consisting of Canada, France, West Germany, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, the United States, the United Kingdom, and a representative of EEC, would be informally set up to coordinate aid policies to underdeveloped countries. The outcome of the discussions was regarded as paving the way for a new Atlantic economic grouping, composed of the members of OEEC plus the United States and Canada, which would give priority to consideration of the problems between the two rival European economic groups, EEC and EFTA. Other matters discussed by the Council were the removal of discriminatory measures against imports from the dollar zone and the increase in assistance to underdeveloped countries.

Developing a set of key performance indicators for monitoring sustainability of forest functions in the Hyrcanian forests

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-167
Author(s):  
S.Z. Goushehgir ◽  
J. Feghhi ◽  
J.L. Innes
Keyword(s):  
Delphi Method ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Key Performance Indicators ◽  
Cumulative Impacts ◽  
Hyrcanian Forests ◽  
Forest Functions ◽  
Northern Forests ◽  
Two Phases

This study identifies key performance indicators for monitoring the sustainability of forest functions in the northern forests of Iran. This process was conducted in two phases through the Delphi method, and Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM). The Delphi method classified indicators according to two properties, importance and measurability. These were used to identify four classes: (a) important and measurable, (b) important and less measurable, (c) less important and measurable, (d) less important and less measurable. Indicators placed in groups (a) and (b) were then used to develop a set of key performance indicators using FCM. The FCM enabled the evaluation of the overall cumulative impacts of all indicators within the network, individually and collectively, through their interactions with other indicators. The selected methods and possible application of the key performance indicators could be used to determine how to achieve the sustainable management of a forest area.

Changing the Mindset

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Verdini Trejo
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Data Sharing ◽  
Working Group ◽  
The United States ◽  
Negotiation Process ◽  
Sensitive Information ◽  
Hydrocarbon Reservoir ◽  
Building Trust ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Two Sides

Explains how the United States and Mexico negotiators were able to shift their approaches, taking a series of steps outside the typical inter-agency and diplomatic protocols. Building Trust by Sharing Information demonstrates the innovative data sharing ways the two sides relied on to exchange sensitive information, without giving up confidential components, which in turn empowered the two countries to get their energy, technical and political experts on the same page. Analyzing Precedents to Define a Roadmap illustrates how Mexico prepared for the negotiation process by evaluating international examples of transboundary hydrocarbon reservoir agreements, which allowed them to devise a set of alternatives for consideration. Switching From an Adversarial to a Mutual Gains Approach presents the genesis of the innovative suggestion by the lead U.S. negotiator to set up binational working group sessions, discarding the typical draft-counter-draft strategy that pervades and drags down so many diplomatic negotiations.

Arcade

2021 ◽  
pp. 93-96
Author(s):  
Jennie Germann Molz
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Buenos Aires ◽  
The United States ◽  
Science Museum ◽  
Shopping Center ◽  
Torrential Rain ◽  
Historical Significance ◽  
Research Interview ◽  
Set Up

“Let’s try to do something educational for the kids,” Sarah’s message read. Sarah Milken and her husband David were from the United States and had been traveling for several months with their eight-year-old son, Colin. We happened to be in Buenos Aires, Argentina at the same time, and I was trying to set up a research interview that could double as a playdate for Colin and Elliot. I suggested a children’s science museum, but it turned out to be closed for renovations. Maybe a park where the kids could play outside? The forecast promised torrential rain. We finally agreed on the Abasto shopping center. The building, at least, had some historical significance....

Discovering sign language

2019 ◽  
pp. 81-90
Author(s):  
François Grosjean
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
American Sign Language ◽  
Sign Language ◽  
Research Program ◽  
Deaf Child ◽  
The United States ◽  
American Sign ◽  
The World ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Right

The author discovered American Sign Language (ASL) and the world of the deaf whilst in the United States. He helped set up a research program in the psycholinguistics of ASL and describes a few studies he did. He also edited, with Harlan Lane, a special issue of Langages on sign language, for French colleagues. The author then worked on the bilingualism and biculturalism of the deaf, and authored a text on the right of the deaf child to become bilingual. It has been translated into 30 different languages and is known the world over.

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