Examining the Deficit Narrative

This chapter addresses the deficit-laden narratives about Black boys by offering a dramatic alternative, that is, a paradigm shift to recognize and value the funds of knowledge of Black boys, and in doing so, redefine the constructs of success for Black boys. As a starting point, the author contends that researchers, teachers, school and district administrators, and policymakers must unequivocally reject and rebuke current deficit-based narratives about Black boys. These false narratives, which are harmful to Black boys, make it impossible for them ever to find success or be viewed as successful in K-12 education. A critical paradigm was selected as most appropriate. Using the African American Male Theory as well as an Anti-Deficit Framework, this chapter will highlight the funds of knowledge of Black boys to demonstrate counter-stories of their learning and successes, and in doing so, not only rewrite the deficit narratives of Black boys, but also broaden academia's perspective on how we define knowledge and whose knowledge counts.

Exploring the interactions between vulnerability, resilience and adaptation to extreme temperatures

Proposed ways of improving adaptation to climate change have most often been supported by narrowly framed and separate analysis. This article investigates how different levels of vulnerability and resilience interplay with adaptation to extreme temperatures, what is the nature of these relationships and whether lower vulnerability and higher resilience contribute to increased adaptation. This article explores the governance implications of a project that, unlike other, brings together vulnerability, resilience and adaptation assessments. The project has made significant advances in addressing the current deficit integrated assessments for shaping governance propositions. Such propositions argue that the diverse levels of vulnerability and resilience convey important bases for (1) targeting at-risk older individuals; (2) developing vulnerability reduction actions; (3) resilience building actions; and (4) understanding ‘success cases’ and learn from them for developing appropriate policy measures. Taken together, these propositions offer a social, psychological and health framework not simply for governing extreme temperatures but for governing responses to climate change at large.

Exploring the interactions between vulnerability, resilience and adaptation to extreme temperatures

Proposed ways of improving adaptation to climate change have most often been supported by narrowly framed and separate analysis. This article investigates how different levels of vulnerability and resilience interplay with adaptation to extreme temperatures, what is the nature of these relationships and whether lower vulnerability and higher resilience contribute to increased adaptation. This article explores the governance implications of a project that, unlike other brings together vulnerability, resilience and adaptation assessments. The project has made significant advances in addressing the current deficit integrated assessments for shaping governance propositions. Such propositions argue that the diverse levels of vulnerability and resilience convey important bases for (1) targeting at-risk older individuals; (2) developing vulnerability reduction actions; (3) resilience building actions; and (4) understanding ‘success cases’ and learn from them for developing appropriate policy measures. Taken together, these propositions offer a social, psychological and health framework not simply for governing extreme temperatures but for governing responses to climate change at large.

Analysis Working Environment Among of Malaysian Seafarer's

Malaysian shipping industry is facing a crewing crisis the seriousness of which does not seem to have registered as a priority by the industry given the fact that the current deficit of about 10,000 could leap-fold to unprecedented levels in the next couple of years. The global shipping industry must come to grips quickly with the realities and the concerns on the emerging shortages and the demand for well-trained and experienced seafarers as the biggest challenge facing the shipping industry itself. The worldwide population of seafarers serving on internationally trading merchant ships today is estimated to be in the order of 400,000 officers and 825,000 ratings. As far as ratings are concerned they are, in the majority recruited from developing countries especially Malaysia. A staggering 20,000 new crew at an average of 15 crews per ship will be needed to meet the demand annually and the number needed could be potentially more if attrition from those currently employees are also taken into account. The issue is not only the concern over the projected shortage of seafarers. There is need also to ensure that the seafarers are not burdened by the spate of new rules and regulations that are impacting on ship operations and management and how the human factor is accounted for and dealt with in these regulations. The seriousness could be clearly reflected when the number of ships currently on order worldwide totalling about 8,000 vessels with deliveries averaging 2,000 annually over the next three years and relate it to the demand for crew for each of these ships. Given the current rate of growth of the shipping industry, there is no easy solution or a quick-fix to the crewing crisis that could overwhelm the industry.

Radiation Oncology Workforce in Colombia

Colombia is experiencing an epidemiologic transition, with an increasing incidence of cancerous neoplasms prevalent in high-income countries, while infection-associated tumors remain highly prevalent. According to international standards, Colombia has a deficit of radiotherapy machines (a shortage of about 47 machines) and radiation oncology specialists (a shortage of about 19 to 149 specialists based on number of centers and incident cases, respectively) to meet the national demand, which may induce an inappropriate dynamic in radiation oncology services. Estimates based on cancer incidence trends and the rate of new specialists in radiation oncology expected to graduate per year suggest that the current deficit will remain unchanged or may even increase during the next decades. The situation is critical because of the existence of a single training program in the country for a population of 45 million inhabitants and the low availability of educational programs offered in the Latin American region to cover the national demand. A comprehensive analysis of radiotherapy services should include data on medical physicists, radiotherapists, and the oncology nursing workforce; however, we found no reliable information available. A better balance between the educational programs offered and the demand for radiotherapy is highly valuable.

Optimum Renewable Energy Investment Planning in Terms of Current Deficit: Turkey Model

In this study, a methodology was suggested for wind and solar energy investment plans through linear optimization model for the countries with an energy-based current deficit problem. The originality of the study is that it is a renewable energy investment model based on the functioning of the balance of payments for current deficit reduction, which has not previously been encountered in the literature. While creating the model, without causing external economic imbalance, certain parameters were taken into consideration such as profit transfers for the foreign direct investments, interest payments for the domestic investments, import rates for the wind and solar energy systems, energy electric power production values, electric power load balance, electricity transmission infrastructure, CO2 emission, future electric power demand projection, and import source rates in the electric power production. It was proven that the model, for the 2019–2030 period in Turkey, not only is an opportunity for decreasing the current deficit but also ensures reaching the CO2 emission reduction target. Additionally, through the investments in wind and solar energy, it was calculated that fossil-based electric power production will decrease by 80%, and a CO2 reduction will be provided, which is equivalent of 100 million tonnes GWh natural gas. As a more general result, an optimization model was created which provides a solution for countries coping with energy-based current deficit in economic terms, energy-based air pollution in environmental terms, and renewable energy technology insufficiency.

Photovoltaic solar power plant investment optimization model for economic external balance: Model of Turkey

Through using a linear optimization model that interprets solar energy and current deficit parameters, investment plans were performed for countries which have current deficit problem of energy source. The specifics of the study are due to the linear optimization model, which reveals the current deficit and solar energy together for the investment strategy. While the model is constituted, without affecting the existed current account, some parameters based on such as profit transfers for foreign investments, payments of interest for domestic investments, import rates for photovoltaic solar panels, solar energy electricity production values, electricity demand projection for the future and import resource rates for electricity production. In the framework of these constraints of the model, the effects of solar systems on domestic investment and foreign direct investments on current account balance are analyzed for the period of 2017–2030 in Turkey. In the application of the model in Turkey to reduce the current deficit, this is concluded that the solar energy is a significant opportunity. In addition, the linear optimization model is considered as a reference for countries facing energy-related current deficit problems.

United Arab Emirates growth may depend on transparency

Significance The United Arab Emirates (UAE) economy is increasingly diversified, not least with the imposition of VAT since January 1 -- albeit at a low initial level of 5%. Fiscal transparency has not necessarily kept pace, especially in ad hoc financial support both among the emirates and externally to Gulf neighbours. Impacts Any reduction in financial support from Abu Dhabi through GCC funds might endanger Bahrain’s currency peg. Increased clarity on UAE commitments could help to stabilise weaker economies in Bahrain and Oman. The federal government is likely to convert its current deficit to a surplus of around 2% in 2018. Fiscal reforms and innovations will not challenge Abu Dhabi’s financial dominance among the seven emirates. Plans to privatise state-owned firms will create further pressure to boost transparency.