LEGU-MED: Developing Biodiversity-Based Agriculture with Legume Cropping Systems in the Mediterranean Basin

Environmental degradation and the decrease of ecosystem service provision are currently of major concern, with current agricultural systems being a major driver. To meet our future environmental and sustainability targets a transformation of the agro-food systems and current agricultural value chain are crucial. One approach to redesign farming systems is the concept of biodiversity-based agriculture (BBA) which relies on sustainable diversification of biological components and their natural interactions in farming systems to maximize fertility, productivity, and resilience to external perturbations. Despite minimizing anthropogenic inputs, BBA is not yet able to meet all beneficial environmental objectives. BBA applied in the Mediterranean basin requires urgent innovation in approaches, methodologies, and models for small-holder traditional farming systems to ensure a stable provision of ecosystem services and better resilience to environmental stresses linked to climate change. Legumes are the backbone of the Mediterranean agro-ecosystems from ancient times, but their unique and wide biodiversity was not sufficiently valorized, especially by North-African countries. Here, we present LEGU-MED, a three-year international project funded by PRIMA initiative 2019. An international consortium was established involving five universities, 5 research institutes, and one private company from 8 countries: Italy, Germany, Spain, Algeria, Tunisia, Turkey, Lebanon, and Croatia. The main objective of this project is to put forward an international and well-integrated plan to valorize the legume agrobiodiversity of the Mediterranean in biodiversity-based farming systems and consequently enhance agro-ecosystem functions and services in the Mediterranean basin. The successful completion of LEGU-MED will have the following impacts on Mediterranean legume-based farming systems: (1) improve water use efficiency, (2) reduce the use of anthropogenic inputs through the maintenance of soil fertility, (3) enhance pollination and improve ecological connectivity with flora and fauna, (4) protect close-by wildland ecosystems, (5) enhance other ecosystem services (e.g., pest, disease, and weed suppression), and (6) provide healthier and safer protein-rich food.

IMPLEMENTASI LEAN SIX SIGMA DALAM MENGURANGI BREAKDOWN MAINTENANCE PADA SISTEM AUTOMATIC LENGTH CONTROL DI PT XYZ MENGGUNAKAN METODE DMADV

PT XYZ is a private company engaged in steel manufacturing, one of the products produced by this company is tire cord. This product is in the form of steel wire that serves to maintain the shape of the tire. The length of the wire is a very critical factor in quality, because one coil of wire that is not suitable length will cause a lot of scrap in consumers, namely the company that produces tires and of course this will cause customer complaints and customer dissatisfaction. Therefore, it is contained in the Automatic Length Control system to avoid the possibility of wire coils that are not suitable for delivery to customers. Every system must have weaknesses that lead to failure that causes maintenance breakdown. This study used the DMADV method to reduce breakdown maintenance on the Automatic Length Control system at PT XYZ. After going through all the stages using the DMADV method (Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, and Verify) a significant reduction in the number of breakdowns was obtained. Reduction of ALC-related breakdown maintenance by 88.1% or from 185 breakdowns to only 22 breakdowns. So that this flat pulley design was successful in reducing alc problems in henxing machines that produce tyre cord construction 3 +9 +15x0,23 +0.15 NT 6/12/18/5 SSZS

IMPACT OF MODERN TECHNOLOGIES ON FREE MOVEMENT OF EVIDENCE IN EUROPEAN UNION

According to the estimate of the EU Commission 85 percent of criminal investigations require electronic evidence, while in almost two thirds (65 percent) of the investigations where e-evidence is relevant. Investigation and prosecution of crime increasingly relies on the possibility to have access to data held by service providers, as private company. Modern criminal investigation and use of electronic evidence imposes challenges to the right to fair trial and rule of law standards. The paper identifies benefits and challenges of proposed EU instruments for facilitating e-evidence. The European Commission proposed Regulation of Production Order and Preservation Order with the aim to facilitate access to relevant data stored by service providers. The paper recognizes shortcomings of the proposed Regulation. The biggest challenge is lack of judicial oversight of orders, as a guarantee of fair trial. The paper includes recommendations and policy options for promoting judicial system for cross border access and collection of electronic data in line with EU fundamental rights standards.

Examining Preference Heterogeneity in Best-Worst Scaling: Case of Preferences for Job Opportunities in Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) Communities in Indonesia

This research empirically examines the preferences for job-related attributes among rural villagers living close to artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Indonesia. Based on hypothetical scenarios in which a private company collaborates with the local government to establish a food processing industry in these villages, a questionnaire survey designed with best–worst scaling (BWS) was administered to households to determine their preferences. Additionally, the heterogeneity among the villagers was examined by applying a latent class logit (LCL) model. The main household survey was conducted in 2019 in Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo Province. The estimation results revealed that villagers are separated into four classes, and each class has different and unique preferences. Creating more job opportunities for society is a highly evaluated attribute; however, the preference for skill acquisition differs among groups. The results indicate that accounting for heterogeneous preferences regarding job opportunities is helpful to delink dependency on ASGM and health hazards and improve the livelihoods of rural villagers. The study yields key information to substantially reduce environmental and health hazards in the poverty-plagued ASGM community by facilitating job opportunities in Indonesia.

Family business valuation in emerging economies: the arcor case

Learning outcomes This case can be used to help students achieve the following objectives: To project financial statements and assemble different pieces of financial information to create a valuation model (objective #1, create), To calculate a value for Arcor shares, supporting the estimated value with the chosen assumptions and methodologies (objective #2, evaluate), To draw connections between four different approaches to valuation (DCF, EVA, RV and VI), contrasting them and weighting their advantages and limitations (objective #3, analyze), To examine the relationship between forecasted financial statements and valuation (objective #3, analyze), To discuss the calculation of the Weighted Average Cost of Capital in a new situation as is an emerging economy, with the corresponding country-risk adjustment (objective #4, apply), To discuss the sources of value creation in a family-owned private company in a developing economy (objective #4, apply), To understand the dilemma that the head of a company was facing, identifying the three possible financing alternatives discussed in the text as follows: corporate bonds, earnings reinvestment and an IPO (objective #5, understand). To recall basic facts, as the main character’s opinion on the direction of the local economy or the fact that Arcor already complies with the information requirements of a public company (objective #7, remember). Case overview/synopsis This case is based on the valuation of the world’s largest candy maker, Arcor S.A.I.C., originally a Latin American company, which remains a private family business. The key problem presented by the case is the use of different valuation approaches to price Arcor shares, in view of a possible Initial Public Offer. The case illustrates the application of four main valuation approaches as follows: Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Economic Value Added (EVA), Relative Valuation (RV) and Value Investing (VI). Additionally, it includes a fundamental analysis of eight years of historical financial information and the preparation of forecasted financial statements. Set in a developing economy, the Arcor case introduces the complexities of calculating the cost of capital with the inclusion of country risk, as well as the financial analysis distortions caused by an environment of high inflation. Complexity academic level The Arcor case is appropriate to be used in graduate courses of Corporate Finance, Valuation or Private Equity. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 1: Accounting and Finance.

The landfill from nickel production in Danubian Lowland and its environmental implications

The main objective of the paper is to point out to the origin of the waste from the production of nickel at the landfill in Sereď and its physical and chemical properties that affect the environmental conditions of the site. The landfill of metallurgical technological waste in Sereď is the second largest landfill for non-ferrous metallurgy in Slovakia (Central Europe). It is located in the northern part of the Danubian Lowland, southwest of the industrial zone of town Sereď. We divided the research into two phases. The preparatory phase consisted in obtaining all available archival materials for the years 1956−1993, so from of the construction of the plant to the end of production. The production was lasting from 1963 to 1993. The second phase concerned field research and was associated with sludge sampling for laboratory analysis. The results of the analysis identified the physical and chemical properties of the sludge as well as the possibilities of its use in some sectors of the economy. The production process in the nickel smelter was stopped in 1993 due to economic (annual state production subsidy was CZK 250 million) and ecological reasons. The landfill at the city’s industrial zone has remained to this day, but it was sold to a private company in 1994, thus relieving of the state’s liability for environmental damage.

Persistence of SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibodies for 13 Months after Infection

Background: Dynamics of antibody responses were investigated after a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in a private company during the first wave of the pandemic. Methods: Workers of a sewing company (Lithuania) with known SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR result during the outbreak (April 2020) were invited to participate in the study. Virus-specific IgG and IgM were monitored 2, 6 and 13 months after the outbreak via rapid IgG/IgM serological test and SARS-CoV-2 S protein-specific IgG ELISA. Results: Six months after the outbreak, 95% (CI 86–99%) of 59 previously infected individuals had virus-specific antibodies irrespective of the severity of infection. One-third of seropositive individuals had virus-specific IgM along with IgG indicating that IgM may persist for 6 months. Serological testing 13 months after the outbreak included 47 recovered individuals that remained non-vaccinated despite a wide accessibility of COVID-19 vaccines. The seropositivity rate was 83% (CI 69–91%) excluding one case of confirmed asymptomatic reinfection in this group. Between months 6 and 13, IgG levels either declined or remained stable in 31 individual and increased in 7 individuals possibly indicating an exposure to SARS-CoV-2 during the second wave of the pandemic. Conclusions: Detectable levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies persist up to 13 months after infection for the majority of the cases.

Analisis Sistem Informasi Akuntansi Penggajian Karyawan Pada PT. Makesa Prima Motor Kota Baubau

PT. Makesa Prima Motor Kota Baubau is a private company engaged in services and trade. The research objective is to know the employee payroll accounting information system that has been implemented by PT. Makesa Prima Motor City of Baubau. The method used is descriptive method. Data analysis starts related functions are administration and general, time recording, payroll making, accounting and finance. Documents used are supporting documents on salary changes, attendance records, attendance cards, payroll, salary slips, salary statements, proof of cash out and receipts (proof of transfer). The accounting records used are daily cash statements, general journals, ledgers, ledgers. Research shows the payroll accounting system applied is not yet fully effective because it is not fully in accordance with the theory. The payment of salaries made by the company through bank transfer. And to carry out company activities, it is necessary to have a strict separation of duties

A New Recipe for Friction-Reducer Suppliers: Polymer Plus Frac Water, Minus the Cost

The argument for making friction reducer on site is simple: only one truck is required to deliver dry polymer vs. three loads required for the same amount of liquid additive. For Downhole Chemical Solutions (DCS), reducing the number of trips and the amount of chemicals needed to create a stable liquid by mixing it as needed on site reduces the average cost of a gallon of friction reducer by around 30%, said Mark Van Domelen, vice president of technology for DCS. “The business is very cutthroat and competitive on the pricing of polyacrylamide. We can reduce the cost further on friction reducer,” using dry polymer, he said. Polyacrylamide is generally described as the key component in friction reducers. Suppliers also add some ingredients to create a stable liquid and others that are supposed to improve performance. When DCS delivers dry polymer to a well pad to mix it on-site, the only other ingredient is water provided by the customer. It has been a winning strategy change for the private company; it has grown rapidly, even during last year’s slump. DCS increased the number of mixing units from one to 16, and dry polymer sales have grown from 10% to 90%, Van Domelen said. One of the company’s customers is John Blevins, the chief operating officer for Houston-based Hibernia Resources III and an early adopter who was a lead author of a paper on making friction reducer on site while fracturing (SPE 204176). Blevin, who uses the words “friction reducer” and “polymer” interchangeably, is the rare C-level executive who likes to manage operations from a frac van at a company that normally completes one pad at a time. The polymer is polyacrylamide. When Blevin works with DCS on a well, he purchases it directly from one of the few chemical companies that will produce the polymer based on his specifications. The price on the DCS invoice will be a price per pound that covers the cost of the polymer and the service. At Hibernia, a small private-equity and employee-owned company, there is a powerful incentive to pay close attention to the details. “When we spend a nickel, that nickel is divided among us at some point in time. If we are efficiently frugal, we are going to be better off in the long run,” Blevins said. The paper, which was presented at the Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (URTeC), included a chart showing stage-by-stage costs, with the average cost for dry stages ranging from 27% to 31% lower than similar stages that were fractured using liquids. The simplicity of the mix is a plus for Blevins whose company is especially focused on how chemicals are likely to react downhole. “We did a 6-month study before we pumped anything in the ground to make sure we had the right combination” of fracturing additives, he said. “We do study nearly every well and every landing zone to ensure the chemicals used are compatible.”