Der Umzug der Menschheit: Die transformative Kraft der Städte

Die Wucht der derzeitigen Urbanisierungsdynamik und ihre Auswirkungen sind so groß, dass sich weltweit Städte, Stadtgesellschaften, Regierungen und Internationale Organisationen diesem Trend stellen müssen. Ein „Weiter so wie bisher“, würde ohne gestaltende Urbanisierungspolitik zu einer nicht-nachhaltigen Welt-Städte-Gesellschaft führen. Nur wenn Städte und Stadtgesellschaften ausreichend handlungsfähig werden, können sie ihre Kraft für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung entfalten: In den Städten wird sich entscheiden, ob die Große Transformation zur Nachhaltigkeit gelingt. In diesem Buch werden die Erfolgsbedingungen dafür diskutiert

Humanity on the move: Unlocking the transformative power of cities

The momentum of urbanization and its impacts are so massive that we must face up to this trend. In view of the existing cognitive, technical, economic and institutional path dependencies, a policy of business as usual – i.e. an unstructured, quasi-automatic urbanization – would lead to a non-sustainable ‘world cities society’. Only if cities and urban societies are sufficiently empowered can they make use of the opportunities for sustainability and successfully follow the urban transformation pathways. The success or failure of the Great Transformation will be decided in the cities. The WBGU discusses the relevant conditions for the success of this transformation in this report

From habits of attrition to modes of inclusion: enhancing the role of private practitioners in routine disease surveillance

Background: Private practitioners are the preferred first point of care in a majority of low and middle-income countries and in this position, best placed for the surveillance of diseases. However their contribution to routine surveillance data is marginal. This systematic review aims to explore evidence with regards to the role, contribution, and involvement of private practitioners in routine disease data notification. We examined the factors that determine the inclusion of, and the participation thereof of private practitioners in disease surveillance activities. Methods: Literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Web of Knowledge, WHOLIS, and WHO-IRIS databases to identify peer reviewed and gray full-text documents in English with no limits for year of publication or study design. Forty manuscripts were reviewed. Results: The current participation of private practitioners in disease surveillance efforts is appalling. The main barriers to their participation are inadequate knowledge leading to unsatisfactory attitudes and misperceptions that influence their practices. Complicated reporting mechanisms with unclear guidelines, along with unsatisfactory attitudes on behalf of the government and surveillance program managers also contribute to the underreporting of cases. Infrastructural barriers especially the availability of computers and skilled human resources are critical to improving private sector participation in routine disease surveillance. Conclusion: The issues identified are similar to those for underreporting within the Integrated infectious Disease Surveillance and Response systems (IDSR) which collects data mainly from public healthcare facilities. We recommend that surveillance program officers should provide periodic training, supportive supervision and offer regular feedback to the practitioners from both public as well as private sectors in order to improve case notification. Governments need to take leadership and foster collaborative partnerships between the public and private sectors and most importantly exercise regulatory authority where needed

Development and justice through transformation: The Four Big ‘I’s. Special Report

2015 saw a historic double success for sustainability and climate policy. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement on climate ­protection establish a system of ambitious policy goals for the world. The group of twenty major ­industrialized and emerging economies (G20) now needs to resolutely advance implementation of both agreements, seizing the opportunity of this ‘Great Transformation’ to sustainability as a unique ­modernization project that could offer substantial economic development opportunities. Complete ­decarbonization of the world economy, which is necessary to avoid the gravest climate risks, can only be achieved by profoundly ­transforming energy systems and other high-emissions infrastructures. This transformation could inspire ­Innovation and channel Investment into sustainability and climate protection, and into the kinds of ­sustainable Infrastructures that need to be ­established and expanded. At the same time, the transformation could combat inequality and promote ­Inclusion within societies and globally, thus becoming an equity project

ROUTING OPTIMIZATION FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT

Waste Management (WM) obtains one third of its revenue from landfill disposals and two-thirds from waste-collection services. As most of the revenue comes from collecting trash, improving efficiency in operating the fleet improves the bottom line. After a flurry of acquisitions and a merger with USA Waste, WM found itself with a large fleet of vehicles whose routing, dispatching, maintenance, and management were decentralized. WM recognized that it could reduce operating costs by improving its use of assets. It contracted with the Institute of Information Technology to develop WasteRoute, a comprehensive route-management system that took into account WM's specific routing concerns and provided broad benefits. Initially, the target audience of the system was the dispatchers and indirectly the drivers. Sales and customer service also benefited because WasteRoute integrated the sales, customer service, and operations departments. The system reduced operating costs, provided better customer service, and determined appropriate prices. WM deployed WasteRoute across the nation beginning in March 2003. By the end of 2003, WM had 984 fewer routes, saving $18 million. It estimated that its savings for 2004 due to the reduction will be$44 million. As it extends the system to additional areas, it expects additional route reductions.X1162sciescopu

Geschwindigkeitsmessung der Randkantenverschiebung mit kombinierter Anwendung von Doppelbelichtungsstroboskopie und endolaryngealer 2-Punkt-Laservermessung

Einleitung: Die Doppelbelichtungsstroboskopie (DBS) ermöglicht die Darstellung des Ausmaßes der Randkantenverschiebungen der Stimmlippen auf der axialen Ebene zwischen den ausgesendeten verschiedenfarbigen Lichtblitzen und die Darstellung dieser Bewegungen auf nur einem Bild. Mit der endolaryngealen 2-Punkt-Laservermessung (ELV) ist eine millimetergenaue Größenbestimmung von Strukturen in der Stimmlippenebene möglich. Eine Kombination beider Verfahren wurde zur Geschwindigkeitsmessung der Randkantenverschiebungen eingesetzt. Methode: Bei 40 Probanden wurden im Rahmen einer Doppelbelichtungsstroboskopie mit gleichzeitiger endolaryngealer Laservermessung Untersuchungen über den Einfluss verschiedener Lautstärken (SPL) und Tonhöhen (F0) auf die Geschwindigkeit der Randkantenverschiebungen durchgeführt. Ergebnisse: Die Geschwindigkeiten der Randkantenverschiebungen der Stimmlippen erreichen in den meisten Fällen Werte zwischen 30 cm/s und 100 cm/s. Eine Zunahme der Lautstärke (SPL) führt dabei in der Regel zu einer Erhöhung der Geschwindigkeit. Die Frequenz ist dabei für die jeweiligen Geschwindigkeiten von geringerer Bedeutung. Schlussfolgerung: Mit der Kombination dieser beiden neuartigen Untersuchungsmethoden (DBS und ELV) ist somit eine gezielte Untersuchung der Geschwindigkeit der Randkantenverschieblichkeit der Stimmlippen möglich

Screening and flagging of solar irradiation and ancillary meteorological data

Solar irradiance and ancillary meteorological data is frequently measured by Automatic Weather Stations for use within solar resource assessment for solar power plants. High accuracy measurement data are required for comparison and adjustment of satellite data and derivation of the expectable long-term mean value. Thus utmost diligence must be taken during the measurement process and data evaluation to get the data bankable. The combination of automatic data screening and manual flagging by an expert in daily frequency in close collaboration with a local station operator is the securest way to detect impacts on measurement data and paves the way for post-correcting data treatment where necessary and reasonable. This is the preferred and recommended procedure, resulting in utmost data quality. The presented work is also understood as a basis for ongoing development and discussion among the corresponding expert group about screening of irradiance and ancillary meteorological data and its corresponding flagging. A common understanding and wide conformity about the screening process and flagging of data would be aspired