AI and Climate Protection: Research Gaps and Needs to Align Machine Learning with Greenhouse Gas Reductions

Machine learning (ML) promises to revolutionize our socio-economic landscape, yet its impacts on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and strategies to harness ML for climate protection are not well understood. This discussion paper reviews key research on ML’s GHG effects, highlighting significant research gaps and needs for a climate-oriented ML transformation. The results show that research on GHG emissions caused during model development, training, and operation is progressing. However, there is no comprehensive overview of effective measures to reduce them along the entire ML software and hardware life cycle. (Industrial) research on the GHG effects of ML applications focuses mainly on GHG reduction potentials while neglecting the possibility that ML applications also increase emissions. Thus, research in at least three key areas is needed to align ML with GHG reductions. First, robust methods to assess and report the GHG impacts of ML models and applications are required to systematically compare them and identify best practices. Second, comprehensive GHG assessments at every effect level are essential to identify measures to increase the GHG efficiency of ML models and exploit their climate protection potential. Third, analysing ML business models is crucial to propose measures that incentivize ML providers and users to reduce GHG emissions. Addressing these issues is essential for mindfully steering ML toward GHG reductions. Otherwise, there is a risk that the GHG footprint of ML will skyrocket, that ML applications will primarily accelerate GHG-intensive activities, and that an opportunity for decoupling (economic) growth and GHG emissions will be missed

Learning from the best: how regional knowledge stimulates circular economy transition at company level

This paper investigates whether, and what kind of, regional knowledge has a stimulating effect on circular economy (CE) innovation by companies. We thus add to the literature on regional knowledge spillovers, which has rarely focussed explicitly on the CE. For the empirical study, we create econometric regressions based on a representative dataset with extensive information on the CE activities of about 1400 Swiss firms. The results confirm that regional knowledge is important for the implementation of CE innovations. However, geographical distance and the quality of the knowledge must be taken into account, that is, companies primarily learn from the best

Preliminary investigation of an idiopathic muscle disease in farmed burbot Lota lota

The rearing of less established fish species in recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs) is increasing, but may require adaptations of the rearing facilities if health impairments occur. We observed several health issues in burbot Lota lota reared for up to 2 yr in a RAS and used microbiological, histological and molecular-biological methods to identify the causative agents. Minor skin trauma led to the development of ulcers. In addition, several fillets of burbot showed pronounced granulomatous inflammation and calcification with signs of muscle fiber degeneration which resembled a condition called ‘sandy flesh disease’ in North American walleye. Several infectious agents were able to be excluded as a cause for the disease. Carnobacterium maltaromaticum was isolated in high numbers in some of the affected muscle tissue. However, the role of this bacterium or other causative agents or husbandry conditions remains to be elucidated

Origin of the Species Revisited

The Wallace Collection. Origin of the Species Revisited Vol. 1. The Bellon Complete Edition. Quintettes 1-12. TWC BS2021-004. 3 Discs

Subjektiver Nutzen von Bildungs- und Betreuungsangebote aus der Perspektive von jugendliche Schüler:innen: Befunde aus einer Studie zu Tagesstrukturen im Kanton Basel-Stadt

Im Vortrag geht Emanuela Chiapparini die Tagesstruktur auf der Sekundarstufe I in Basel, welches das einzige Modell mit nicht-unterrichtlichen Angeboten in der Schweiz ist, die ohne Anmeldung und damit völlig freiwillig von den Schüler*innen genutzt werden können. Der deutsche Fachdiskurs ist geprägt von Befürchtungen, dass die Freizeit in mehr Schulzeit umgewandelt wird bzw. vom sozialpädagogischen Mehrwert, der vom Angebot der Ganztagsschule erwartet wird. Aus Sicht der Jugendforschung ist es unerlässlich, die Perspektive der Nutzer*innen dieser Angebote einzunehmen, damit mögliche Lücken im Bildungsdiskurs geschlossen werden können. Das im Vortrag vorgestellte Forschungsprojekt stützt sich auf den theoretischen Rahmen der sozialpädagogischen Nutzer*innenforschung und geht mit Hilfe qualitativer empirischer Methoden folgenden Fragen nach: Welchen Nutzen sehen die Schüler*innen im Freizeitangebot der Tagesstruktur auf der Sekundarstufe I in Basel-Stadt und wie nutzen sie diese? Die Ergebnisse legen u.a. dar, dass die Schüler*innen im Umgang mit dem Angebot verschiedene Nutzungsstrategien zeigen und dabei eine Erweiterung von verschiedenen Kompetenzen und Fähigkeiten stattfinden kann. Ausserdem zeigen die Ergebnisse, wie vielfältig der Nutzen dieses Angebots für die Schüler*innen ist und dass eine Reihe von Bedingungen den Nutzen fördern oder einschränken

Richtungswechsel: ein Ansatz für die Beratung von Langzeitbeziehenden

Die Berner Fachhochschule hat gemeinsam mit der SKOS den Beratungsansatz «Richtungswechsel» entwickelt, der das Kompetenzerleben von Langzeitbeziehenden in der Sozialhilfe erhöhen und den Langzeitbezug verringern soll. Aufgrund der positiven Projektergebnisse bietet die SKOS nun allen Sozialdiensten Schulungen des Ansatzes an

Job satisfaction of advanced practice nurses in cancer care: A systematic review

PURPOSE: To identify, evaluate, and summarise evidence about advanced practice nurses' (APNs') job satisfaction in cancer care and its related factors. METHODS: A systematic review was performed including a narrative synthesis. Relevant evidence was identified from searches of three databases: Medline (PubMed), EBSCO (CINAHL), and PsychInfo. This systematic review searched for relevant articles published in English between 2000 and 2020. A structured process according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement was followed. The articles critical appraisal was based on the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool. Narrative data synthesis was based on the extracted data (study characteristics, type of questionnaire, level of job satisfaction, related factors, and risk of bias). RESULTS: Just four articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. Job satisfaction of APNs providing cancer care in different care settings varied from low to high. Satisfying factors were personal, role, work, and institutional factors, whereas dissatisfies included the work setting and stress factors. Different measurement tools of the job satisfaction level were used, which might lead to non-comparable results. CONCLUSION: The number of included studies and the findings from this systematic review present underinvestigated content according to the influence of patient group demands on APNs' job satisfaction. Evidence of patient group-specific factors relevant to APNs' job satisfaction could not be found. Further research is needed to address the influence of advanced nursing practice and patient group-related factors on job satisfaction

Rents for pills: Financial incentives and physician behavior

We study the impact of financial incentives on the prescription behavior of physicians based on a recent reform in two large Swiss cities. The reform opened up an additional income channel for physician by allowing them to earn a markup on drugs they prescribe to their patients. We find that the reform leads to an increase in drug costs by about 4-5% per patient translating to significantly higher physician earnings. The revenue increase can be decomposed into a substitution and rent-seeking component. Our analysis indicates that physicians engage in rent-seeking by substituting larger with smaller packages and by cherry-picking more profitable brands. Although patient health is not sacrificed, the rent-seeking behavior results in unnecessary costs for society