Vitoria-Gasteiz\u27s Green Infrastructure for a Sustainable Development

Infrastructure is the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society. In addition, it is in charge of sustaining the wellbeing of the members of society. Infrastructure is more than tunnels that reduce commuting time, or bridges that open trade between two regions; it is a tool to give society more time to enjoy their preferred activities, and a way to connect with other people. The strong tie infrastructure has with society \u27s wellbeing, is the reason why a well-designed infrastructure is key to develop sustainably. This paper illustrates the efforts ofVitoria-Gasteiz, Spain to develop sustainably through the adoption of a comprehensive green infrastructure. The importance of green infrastructure is that it reminds society of its bio-centric past, and of the vast number of wheels that need no reinvention. In addition of the aesthetic and environmental services green infrastructure provides when properly planned, society also gains a broad range of economic and social benefits. This document will explore such benefits using Vitoria-Gasteiz\u27s Green Infrastructure (VG-GI) as an example and contrasting it to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This project is limited to the targets and goals in which VG-GI has had a direct impact. It was determined that VG-GI has had a direct impact on UN SDGs 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 15. The study aims to demonstrate the potential green infrastructure has as a tool to meet the UN SDGs. It is worth noting that many of the targets examined in this study are not met solely by the physical aspect of VG-GI, but by a combination of projects, and outstanding individuals that rely on the green infrastructure as a source of inspiration, a space for experimentation, and a vital piece of the community. VG-GI should serve as an example of how infrastructure can once again become a tool for wellbeing, community, and sustainability

Vocational Training for Disadvantaged Youth in Colombia: A Long-Term Follow-Up

We evaluate the long-term impacts of a randomized Colombian training and job placement program. Following the large short-term effects, we now find that the program effects persist, increasing formal participation and earnings contributions to social security and working in larger firms. By using a large administrative source we are also able to establish that the program improved both male and female labor market outcomes by a similar amount--a result that was not apparent with the smaller evaluation sample. The results point to a cost-effective approach to reducing informality and improving labor market outcomes in the long run

Traffic characterization in a communications channel for monitoring and control in real-time systems

The response time for remote monitoring and control in real-time systems is a sensitive issue in device interconnection elements. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the traffic of the communication system in pre-established time windows. In this paper, a methodology based on computational intelligence is proposed for identifying the availability of a data channel and the variables or characteristics that affect the performance and data transfer, which is made up of four stages: a) integration of a communication system with an acquisition module and a final control structure; b) communication channel characterization by means of traffic variables; and c) relevance analysis from the characterization space using SFFS (sequential forward oating selection); d) Channel congestion classification as Low or High using a classifier based on Naive Bayes algorithm. The experimental setup emulates a real process using an on/off remote control of a DC motor on an Ethernet network. The communication time between the client and server was integrated with the operation and control times, to study the whole response time. This proposed approach allows support decisions about channel availability, to establish predictions about the length of the time window when the availability conditions are unknown

Behavioral dimensions of international cooperation

International cooperation to tackle complex common resource problems like climate change is extremely difficult. Although there is broad agreement on the nature of the problem and what is required to solve it, many nations continue to block any meaningful action for solution. This global cooperation crisis is baffling in the light of recent evidence about the surprisingly cooperative disposition of human beings. Research from social and natural sciences points to an unmistakable conclusion: people cooperate all the time, and they enjoy doing so. This picture of human behaviour is at odds with common assumptions about people being narrowly — and exclusively — self-interested, and prompts the question that we address in this paper: why, if we are so good cooperating at interpersonal levels, is international cooperation so hard? We address this question in three steps. First, we review the recent multidisciplinary evidence demonstrating that people cooperate much more than rational-theory models predict, and that this might stem from a natural, evolved, predisposition to cooperate. Second, we argue that there are seven basic mechanisms that determine whether or not cooperation is successful or sustainable: reciprocity, trust, communication, reputation, fairness, enforcement and we-identity. We group these mechanisms in a ‘cooperation hexagon’ that summarizes the current consensus about what makes cooperation work. Finally, we discuss what these findings mean for global cooperation. We argue that power games are not enough to explain off current international cooperation blockades. A new, comprehensive theory of international cooperation must be compatible with the recent insights about the fundamentally cooperative nature of human behaviour. We suggest that the search for this theory be made in three directions: a) establish how cooperation scales up from interpersonal to lager scales, and how the basic mechanisms of cooperation behave under conditions of unprecedented complexity and rapid change; b) investigate cooperation at the ‘meso-level’ of global governance — the relatively small group of people who represent nations in international discussions and institutions — a key interface between interpersonal and inter-institutional motivations for cooperation; and c) examine patterns of international cooperation in the light of the cooperation hexagon, to ascertain whether international cooperation blockades are the result of the underprovisioning of the basic mechanisms of cooperation, and how these mechanisms can be used as criteria for designing better institutions for global governance

In the Eye of the Beholder:Changes in Perceived Emotion Expression after Smile Reanimation

Background: Tools to quantify layperson assessments of facial palsy are lacking. In this study, artificial intelligence was applied to develop a proxy for layperson assessments, and compare sensitivity to existing outcome measures. Methods: Artificially intelligent emotion detection software was used to develop the emotionality quotient. The emotionality quotient was defined as the percentage probability of perceived joy over the percentage probability of perceived negative emotions during smiling, as predicted by the software. The emotionality quotient was used to analyze the emotionality of voluntary smiles of normal subjects and unilateral facial palsy patients before and after smile reanimation. The emotionality quotient was compared to oral commissure excursion and layperson assessments of facial palsy patients. Results: In voluntary smiles of 10 normal subjects, 100 percent joy and no negative emotion was detected (interquartile ranges, 0/1). Median preoperative emotionality quotient of 30 facial palsy patients was 15/-60 (interquartile range, 73/62). Postoperatively, median emotionality quotient was 84/0 (interquartile range, 28/5). In 134 smile reanimation patients, no correlation was found between postoperative oral commissure excursion and emotionality quotient score. However, in 61 preoperative patients, a moderate correlation was found between layperson-assessed disfigurement and negative emotion perception (correlation coefficient, 0.516; p <0.001). Conclusions: Computer vision artificial intelligence software detected less joy and more negative emotion in smiles of facial palsy patients compared with normal subjects. Following smile reanimation, significantly more joy and less negative emotion were detected. The emotionality quotient was correlated with layperson assessments. The simplicity, sensitivity, and objectivity of the emotionality quotient render it an attractive tool to serve as a potential proxy for layperson assessment, an ideal outcome measure in facial palsy

Evaluación de la fertilidad masculina en 81 genotipos de la colección colombiana de solanum phureja

81 genotipos de la Colección Colombiana de Solanum phureja, Juz. et Buk. se sembraron para evaluar su fertilidad y la duración de la viabilidad del polen. Las flores se colectaron y se dejaron secar al aire durante 48 horas, luego se extrajo el polen y se guardó en nevera a 7°C. Cada cinco días, se evaluó la fertilidad por el método de germinación "in vitro» y cada 15 días por el método de tinción. Según los resultados, seis genotipos de la colección son estériles y, en general, los genotipos presentan baja fertilidad (menor 20%). El método más adecuado para la estimación de la fertilidad del polen en el tiempo fue la germinación in vitro. Bajo las condiciones de almacenamiento, el polen de la mayoría de los genotipos evaluados tiene un período corto de viabilidad.81 genotypes of the Colombian Collection of Solanum phureja were grown in the field to evaluate fertility and duration of pollen viability. Flowers were Collected and air-dried for 48 hours, then pollen was extracted and kept at 7°C. Fertility was evaluated by the in vitro germination method every five days, and by the stain method every 15 days. Six genotypes of the collection are sterile and, in general, the genotypes have low fertility (less than 20%). The most adequate method to estimate pollen fertility was in vitre germination. Under the storage conditions, the pollen of most genotypes evaluated had a short period of viability

Edible films based on black chia (Salvia hispanica l.) seed mucilage containing Rhus microphylla fruit phenolic extract

Functional films based on black chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seed mucilage (BCm) containing Rhus microphylla (Rm) fruit phenolic extract were built and characterized. A hydro-alcohol extract (HAE) of Rm was incorporated as the bioactive agent due to its noteworthy phenolic profile, and good antioxidant and antifungal activities. The effects of the BCm concentration (0.2% and 0.4%, w/v), HAE incorporation, and their interaction with glycerol (1.0%, w/v) and calcium chloride (0.05%, w/v) on the films physicochemical properties were evaluated. The filmogenic solutions successfully fitted to the HerschelBulkley model (R2 0.05) changed by the HAE addition, but their surface tension was enhanced (p < 0.05), which could favor their coating ability. The polyanionic nature of the systems (zeta potential-Zp values from 26.9 to 33.3 mV) allowed them to interact with Ca2+ cations, thus forming stable and resistant films. All the films showed low water solubility (15.0% to 22.3%) and high permeability (3.7 to 4.0 × 1010 g m1 s1 Pa1), as well as high biodegradability (moisture content from 66.0% to 80.9%); although the moisture content was reduced (p < 0.05) with HAE addition. The combination of higher BCm ratio and HAE addition (BCm0.4+Rm) led to a more resistant, thick, opaque, and dark film compared with the others obtained. This study reveals the BCm-based films potential, highlighting those with HAE, representing a novel alternative to improve the quality of food products.Financial support from Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro (UAAAN) is gratefully acknowledged by the authors. Zlatina Genisheva thanks to Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for the financial support (ref. SFRH/BPD/108868/2015) and to the project COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029145). This study was supported by FCT under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. The authors would also like to thank to Pablo Virgen of Biocampo S.A. de C.V. and MSc Fidel Peña-Ramos from UAAAN, for their assistance during this study.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Factors Affecting Consumers’ Purchase Intention of Eco-friendly Food in China: The Evidence from Respondents in Beijing

The purpose aims to examine the key factors influencing Chinese consumer’s purchasing behaviour of eco-friendly food in China giving its context as an emerging economy and its rapidly rising importance in the world eco-friendly food market. This paper adopts and extends the Responsible Environmental Behaviour (REB) theory by empirically testing key psycho-social factors influencing the purchase intention of eco-friendly food and the moderating effects of consumers’ demographic characteristics on the relationship between the key psycho-social factors and the purchase intention.  A number of hypotheses are proposed. A questionnaire was designed and distributed via online survey in Beijing, China.  A total of 239 valid responses were received. The empirical data was used to test the research hypotheses using the hierarchical multiple regression analysis. The research finds that the personality factors in the REB model (i.e., pro-environmental attitudes, the internal locus of control and personal responsibly) have significant positive effects on the consumers’ eco-friendly food purchase intention. Such effect is stable across consumers with different income levels. On the other hand, the knowledge-skill factors in the REB model do not have significant effect on the purchase intention of consumers. This study contributes to a better understanding of factors affecting eco-friendly food consumption intention in China and the behavioural characteristics of consumers in developing countries. Moreover, the findings also shed light on the applicability of the REB theory in emerging economies and a specific industrial context