Trends in Emission Inventory of Marine Traffic for Port of Haifa

Located in the Middle East, Haifa Port serves both local and international trade interests (from Asia, Europe, America, Africa, etc.). Due to its strategic location, the port is part of the Belt and Road initiative. This research investigates Haifa Port’s emissions contribution to the existing daily emission inventory level in the area. This research is based on a developed full bottom-up model framework that looks at the single vessel daily voyage through its port call stages. The main data sources for vessel movements used in this research are the Israel Navy’s movements log and the Israel Administration of Shipping and Ports’ (ASP) operational vessel movements and cargo log. The Fuel Consumption (FC) data and Sulfur Content (SC) levels are based on official Israel ASP survey data. The observation years in this research are 2010–2018, with a focus on the Ocean-Going Vessel (OGV) type only. The results show that the vessel fleet calling at Israel ports mainly comprises vessels that have a lower engine tier grade (i.e., Tier 0 and 1), which is considered a heavy contributor to nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution. The study recommends an additional cost charged (selective tariff) to reflect the external social cost linked to the single vessel air pollution combined with supportive technological infrastructure and economic incentive tools (e.g., electric subsidy) to attract or influence vessel owners to assign vessels equipped with new engine tier grades for calls at Israeli ports.

Implementation and Adaptation of a Combined Economic Empowerment and Peer Support Program Among Youth Living With HIV in Rural Rwanda

Background: Youth living with HIV in rural Rwanda experience poor clinical outcomes. In 2017, we implemented Adolescent Support Groups (ASGs), which provided economic incentives and peer support to youth aged 15-25. Methods: We assessed the ASG program using programmatic and electronic medical records. We described group composition and achievement on three indicators used to determine economic incentive levels: (1) quarterly pharmacy visit attendance, (2) biannual savings target achievement, and (3) annual viral suppression. Results: In total, 324 members enrolled in 34 ASGs. Group size and member ages varied more than anticipated. Groups performed well on pharmacy visit attendance (median quarterly group attendance range 91-100%) and on achieving savings targets (median biannual achievement range 80–83%). The viral suppression indicator could not be implemented as planned. Conclusion: To reflect contextual realities, adaptations in enrollment, indicator evaluation, and awarding of incentives occurred during implementation. Future research should assess whether these adaptations affected results.

Let Them Eat Fish!—Exploring the Possibility of Utilising Unwanted Catch in Food Bank Parcels in The Netherlands

The Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union was reformed in 2013 with the aim of improving the sustainability of the fishing sector. The Landing Obligation, a cornerstone of this reform, requires fishers to land their unwanted catch instead of discarding it at sea. Existing literature pays little attention to what becomes of this unwanted catch once it is landed. To further the discourse on the sustainable valorisation of unwanted catch, this study explores whether unwanted catch that is safe for human consumption could be used for improving food security. The paper focuses on Dutch food banks, which deliver critical food aid to over 160,000 individuals yearly but struggle to provide all dependant recipients with nutritionally balanced food parcels. The research question is addressed in two ways. The food bank recipients’ willingness to consume UWC is evaluated quantitatively through a survey. Next to this, data from interviews with relevant stakeholders are analysed qualitatively. Results indicate that the Food Bank Foundation and its recipients are willing to receive this fish if it is safe to consume and accessible. However, various factors such as existing infrastructure, lack of economic incentive to donate, competition from non-food and black markets, and the fishing industry’s conflict with the landing obligation might pose barriers to this kind of valorisation. The dissonance between fisheries, food, and sustainability policies is discussed and identified as a key limiting factor. To bridge the differences between these policy areas, we propose public-private partnerships and voluntary agreements among involved stakeholders.

An Exploratory Analysis of the Role of Higher Educationin Developing Knowledge Economy in Pakistan

Knowledge is the key for growth and development of any country. Historically, only those countries succeeded and advanced which based their economies on knowledge. Higher education authorities in Pakistan are trying to promote the notion of knowledge economy in the country. This paper provides an exploratory analysis of various factors and indicators which disclose relationship between the higher education products and economic indicators of the country. There are four main pillars of knowledge economy i.e. education and training, information infrastructure, economic incentive &institutional regime, and innovation systems. Progress on different economic indicators is analyzed and concluded that investment in higher education is not supporting a shift in the nature of economy in Pakistan. Spontaneous and temporary steps may further deteriorate the situation. The paper urges on an overall restructuring of higher education policy and procedure of its implementation in contemporary economic and financial scenario of the country and globe.

Analyzing the Effectiveness of Environmental Policies to Reduce Citizens’ Exposure to Air Pollution

Exposure to air pollution causes significant damage to health, which leads to large economic and social welfare losses. As a result, the urgency of reducing PM2.5 levels, the main indicator of citizens’ exposure to air pollution, is gaining importance. PM2.5 is a mixture of solid and liquid particles, smaller than 2.5 micrometers, that are suspended in the air. Most literature on the analysis of environmental policies is measured exclusively in CO2 targets, excluding other measurements of air pollution, and failing to analyze the effectiveness of those policies in terms of citizen exposure to air pollution. This paper reviews relevant literature and offers approaches to reducing citizens’ exposure to air pollution by comparing an Ordinary Least Square (OLS) analysis on the effectiveness of environmental policies to reduce PM2.5 emissions in thirty-three OECD countries between 1990 and 2012, grouped into R&D investment policies, economic incentive policies, and fiscal policies. Moreover, this article presents evidence that not all environmental policies are equally effective at minimizing PM2.5 and highlights successful innovation and economic incentive policies that create opportunities to invest or develop alternative forms of production. In summary, state investment policies in R&D show positive but limited results, university-industry research partnerships show highly positive indirect effects on PM2.5 levels; fiscal policies have counterproductive effects, and among economic incentive policies, only feed-in tariffs present an actual opportunity to reduce PM2.5 emissions. The empirical discoveries presented here diversify the research on environmental policies and have profound political implications. Therefore, this study provides a useful tool for environmental policymakers that aim to cut air pollution levels and reduce the human, social and economic consequences.

Proof of Renewable (PoR) the ROBe2 Protocol

We are at a serious crossroads as it relates to carbon emissions and the condition of our planet. Global conditions are spiraling out of control. Climate change is widespread, occurring extremely fast, and intensifying. The consumption of nonrenewable energy sources is impacting both the environment and the economy in equal proportions. Up to this point society has tried to solve these problems with local solutions but we have fallen short. The missing component to solve the global problem is an alignment of individuals and organizations coming together, taking responsibility, and creating global solutions to meet the goal of being carbon negative by 2050. In this paper, we propose the ROBe2 protocol as the global solution that brings everyone together to solve these very important issues. Renewable Obligation Base energy economy (ROBe2 ) is a protocol attempting to aggregate local renewable energy solutions into a global impact while providing an economically sound framework and allowing the creation of an economic incentive for using renewable energy in place of a fossil one [1].

Gestión organizacional y productividad laboral en las unidades educativas en el Sur De Manabí De Ecuador

Con el objetivo de conocer la gestión organizacional y la dinámica de productividad laboral del talento humano para el funcionamiento y evolución de las instituciones educativas del Distrito 13D03 de la zona 4 en Jipijapa – Manabí, se realizó un estudio para identificar si se aplican o no los procesos administrativos, si la gestión realizada en la organización es correcta, y con ello se logra la productividad laboral del talento humano. La metodología utilizada en la investigación fue cualitativa - cuantitativa, las técnicas aplicadas fueron: encuestas al personal docente, administrativo y de servicio, y la entrevista, a los directivos de los planteles educativos. El número de la muestra correspondió a 536 personas. En los resultados obtenidos, se determinó que no se está llevando de forma eficiente la gestión organizacional, y con ello el talento humano se siente insatisfecho por la no aplicación de los reglamentos en la aplicación de planes de incentivos económicos o no económicos, controles inadecuados de horarios de trabajo, sueldos y salarios indignos, carencia de capacitaciones en áreas administrativas, así como en desarrollo personal, incorrecta comunicación, deficiente colaboración de equipos de trabajo, y demás deberes y derechos del trabajador. Por lo que se concluye que la inexistencia de un modelo de gestión organizacional ajustado a las necesidades del entorno, influye de manera directa en la productividad de quienes laboran en las unidades educativas. With the objective of knowing the organizational management and the dynamics of labor productivity of human talent for the operation and evolution of the educational institutions of District 13D03 of zone 4 in Jipijapa - Manabí, a study was carried out to identify whether or not the administrative processes, if the management carried out in the organization is correct, and with this the labor productivity of human talent is achieved. The methodology used in the research was qualitative - quantitative, the techniques applied were: surveys of the teaching, administrative and service personnel, and the interview with the directors of the educational establishments. The number of the sample corresponded to 536 people. In the results obtained, it was determined that the organizational management is not being carried out efficiently, and with this human talent feels dissatisfied by the non-application of the regulations in the application of economic or non-economic incentive plans, inadequate controls of unworthy working hours, wages and salaries, lack of training in administrative areas, as well as in personal development, incorrect communication, poor collaboration of work teams, and other duties and rights of the worker. Therefore, it is concluded that the lack of an organizational management model adjusted to the needs of the environment directly influences the productivity of those who work in educational units.

The Issue of Proxies, And why EU law matters for recommender systems

Recommendations are meant to increase sales or ad revenue, as these are the first priority of those who pay for them. As recommender systems match their recommendations with inferred preferences, we should not be surprised if the algorithm optimises for lucrative preferences and thus co-produces the preferences they mine. This relates to the well-known problem of feedback loops, filter bubbles and echo chambers. In this article I will discuss the implications of the fact that computing systems necessarily work with proxies when inferring recommendations and raise a number of questions about whether recommender systems actually do what they are claimed to do, while also analysing the often perverse economic incentive structures that have a major impact on relevant design decisions. Finally, I will explain how the GDPR and the proposed AI Act will help to break through various vicious circles, by constraining how people may be targeted (GDPR) and by requiring documented evidence of the robustness, resilience, reliability and the responsible design and use of high risk recommender systems (AI Act).

Is geoheritage a “cutting-edge” science? Promotion of an extension to the definition of geoheritage with emphasis as a significant discipline in geosciences with cultural and societal relevance

ABSTRACT Geoheritage documentation is critical for the academic community, and thus incurs an expense to the general public, who may or may not feel the need to fund such an “academic” database. Fortunately, this documentation helps foster appreciation of geosites within a geotouristic framework and can inspire a nationalistic sense of pride, thus bringing about an economic incentive to countries actively involved in geoheritage research and documentation. Yet there remains a prejudice within academia that geoheritage is a descriptive field, is arbitrarily qualitative, and lacks the capacity to create new and important scientific discoveries. We present herein a description and discussion of the results of applying “cutting-edge” science in a geoheritage framework with ample examples from Greece and two case studies of its application. The first of these is The Aliakmon Legacy Project of Northern Greece that necessitated modern documentation to preserve its heritage base when plate tectonic global geoheritage localities were flooded. The second summarizes the geologic history of the Meteora World Heritage Site with an emphasis on how its long complex geologic history ultimately resulted in the Byzantine Monastic community. We propose this paper as a discussion model for the integration of primary geologic research with cultural heritage localities and emphasize that these promise to elevate geoheritage studies to a scale critical for documentation of human civilization itself. It is our opinion that geoheritage is capable of becoming a dynamic field of study in which documentation and preservation expands to integrate renewed multidisciplinary research that in turn comprises the scientific foundation of a “new” cutting-edge geologic field of study.