Using participatory multi-criteria assessments for assessing disaster risk reduction measures

This paper introduces a participatory Multi-Criteria Assessment (MCA) methodology developed through the Resilience Increasing Strategies for Coasts – Toolkit (RISC-KIT) project and implemented in nine case studies in Europe. The purpose of the MCA was to bridge the disciplinary divide between engineering sciences and social sciences, facilitate the communication and dissemination of local coastal risk assessments and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) measures' evaluation to a broad range of actors. The process addressed the importance of integrating scientific knowledge with stakeholders’ knowledge to understand and assess the possible social, political and economic implications of different DRR measures, which could foster or hinder successful implementation. The paper discusses the methodological aspects and implementation of the approach which included visualizing risk reduction of DRR measures using paper-based cards to support interaction and negotiation among participants to select preferred strategic alternatives (SA), and a participatory MCA where stakeholders evaluated the SA against three (self-weighted) criteria: feasibility, acceptability and sustainability

The relationship between ethnicity, academic achievement, and perception of school culture of Mexican American and Puerto Rican urban high school students

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationships that exist between ethnicity and the perception of school culture and achievement among Mexican American and Puerto Rican students. The procedure included surveying 211 high school students in two urban public schools using the Student Background Questionnaire and the Instructional Climate Inventory. The self-reported ethnic affiliation of students in the Student Background Questionnaire was used to determine their ethnicity. The socio-economic status of the subjects was determined by their participation in the free or reduced lunch program. The Instructional Climate Inventory was used as the scale to determine the perception of school climate among the subjects. The research design used for this investigation was the t-test in order to determine the level of significant difference between the means of the two ethnic groups of students with regards to their perception of school climate and their academic achievement as determined by their grade point average. The author found that there is no statistically significant difference in the perception of school culture by Mexican-American and Puerto Rican students from the same socio-economic status. This result implies that these two ethnic groups have similar perceptions of the school climate. The researcher also found that there is no statistically significant difference in the academic achievement of Mexican American and Puerto Rican students from the same socio-economic status. Therefore, no statistically significant evidence was found to support the contention that Mexican American and Puerto Rican students from the same socio-economic status had different academic achievement

Treatment of retinal pigment epithelial detachment with antiangiogenic therapy

Purpose: evaluate the efficacy of pegaptanib, a selective anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agent, and bevacizumab, a nonselective anti-VEGF agent, for retinal pigment epithelial detachment (PED) associated with occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: prospective, comparative, nonrandomized pilot study included patients with PED comprising >50% of total lesion in subfoveal location with visual acuity (VA) 20/40-20/400 and lesions either previously untreated or treated only with photodynamic therapy/verteporfin. Seven patients received pegaptanib 0.3 mg intravitreally (IVT); eight received IVT bevacizumab 1.25 mg. Follow-up occurred every 4-6 weeks for 6 months. Reinjection of initial medication occurred if there was intra- or subretinal fluid observed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) or increased PED. Endpoints were mean changes from baseline to month 6 in VA (ETDRS) and foveal thickness. Results: at baseline, mean VA was lower, and mean foveal thickness was greater in pegaptanib versus bevacizumab-treated patients (36.1 vs 49.5 letters; 470.4 vs 321.1 mum). Mean improvements to month 6 in VA and foveal thickness were greater for pegaptanib (VA: +9.1 vs +7.2 letters; foveal thickness: -88.2 vs -52.9 mum). On average, pegaptanib-treated patients had slower but more sustained improvement in VA and foveal thickness; bevacizumab-treated patients showed rapid improvement with a slow return towards baseline. Both agents were well tolerated. Conclusion: intravitreal injections of pegaptanib or bevacizumab are both efficacious and safe treatments for PED associated with occult CNV secondary to AMD

Re-defining the criteria for American and US-Hispanic Literatures at the beginning of the 21st Century

Con el objetivo de desactivar tanto los límites políticos, ideológicos y morales, como los diversos purismos, temores y binarios (a saber, ‘mayoría / minoría’, ‘anglo / hispano’, ‘centro / periferia’ y ‘ellos / nosotros’) derivados de las prácticas concretas de los siglos XIX y XX, abogo aquí por comprender las nuevas circunstancias estadounidenses producto de la creciente presencia hispana en el país, y repensar así los criterios que puedan redefinir el canon de la literatura latina y el de la literatura estadounidense de inicios del siglo XXI.This article seeks to examine and therefore disable the political, ideological and moral boundaries as well as the implicit purisms, fears and binaries (‘majority / minority,’ ‘Anglo / Hispanic,’ ‘center / periphery’ and ‘they / we’) that have characterized the concrete critical practices of the 19th and 20th centuries. I make the case for both understanding the new US contexts brought about by the growing Hispanic presence in the country, and rethinking the criteria to re-define the canons of Latino literature and US literature from the early 21st century

Determinants of formal financial services in the development of entrepreneurship in rural Ecuador

Purpose: To analyze the determinants of access to and use of formal financial services through the banking correspondent channel on the development of enterprises in rural areas of Ecuador. Method: Qualitative case study methodological strategy. Eighteen rural communities of the Coast and Highlands of Ecuador were studied. A thematic analysis was carried out to identify and analyze recurring patterns within the data. themes and sub-themes were categorized, allowing for the exploration of underlying meanings of interviews. Through an inductive analysis in Atlas.ti 9. The concepts identified in the interviews and the researcher's files were reviewed and the results were compared with the theoretical assumptions specified in the literature. Results: The main new contribution of this research to the business management knowledge of this research was the following: This study showed that there is a gap on the effect of banking correspondents without access to credit on the economic development of communities. In the case of Ecuador, correspondents differ in that they do not grant credit, which reaffirms that financial inclusion generates business development, not access to credit. The presence of the correspondent in communities has eliminated non-financial transaction costs by reducing the physical distance between the user and the distributor of financial services. The non-payment of non-financial transaction costs positively affected the generation of savings; in addition, the presence of the correspondent allowed the inhabitants to open savings accounts, which are used for personal and business transactions. Many businesses started their activities after the incorporation of the correspondent due to the concentration of potential customers of local businesses. In addition, the growth of business after correspondent banking is generated from the savings of time and money. 7 Limitations and recommendations for future research: It is recommended to empirically address the effect of access to financial services, without considering credit, on economic development and poverty reduction.Propósito: Analizar los determinantes del acceso y uso de servicios financieros formales a través del canal de corresponsalía bancaria en el desarrollo de empresas en zonas rurales del Ecuador. Método: Estrategia metodológica de estudio de caso cualitativo. Se estudiaron dieciocho comunidades rurales de la Costa y Sierra del Ecuador. Se llevó a cabo un análisis temático para identificar y analizar patrones recurrentes dentro de los datos. Se categorizaron los temas y subtemas, lo que permitió la exploración de los significados subyacentes de las entrevistas. A través de un análisis inductivo en Atlas.ti 9. Se revisaron los conceptos identificados en las entrevistas y los archivos del investigador y los resultados se compararon con los supuestos teóricos especificados en la literatura. Resultados: La principal nueva contribución de esta investigación al conocimiento de la gestión empresarial de esta investigación fue la siguiente: Este estudio mostró que existe una brecha sobre el efecto de los corresponsales bancarios sin acceso al crédito en el desarrollo económico de las comunidades. En el caso de Ecuador, los corresponsales difieren en que no otorgan crédito, lo que reafirma que la inclusión financiera genera desarrollo empresarial, no acceso al crédito. La presencia del corresponsal en las comunidades ha eliminado los costos de transacción no financiera al reducir la distancia física entre el usuario y el distribuidor de servicios financieros. El no pago de los costos de transacción no financieros afectó positivamente la generación de ahorro; además, la presencia del corresponsal permitió a los habitantes abrir cuentas de ahorro, las cuales se utilizan para transacciones personales y comerciales. Muchos negocios iniciaron sus actividades luego de la incorporación de la corresponsal debido a la concentración de clientes potenciales de los comercios locales. Además, el crecimiento del negocio después de la banca corresponsal se genera a partir del ahorro de tiempo y dinero. 2 Limitaciones y recomendaciones para futuras investigaciones: Se recomienda abordar el empíricamente efecto del acceso de los servicios financieros, sin considerar el crédito, en el desarrollo económico y la reducción de pobreza

A Brazilian perspective on remanufacturing

Part of: Seliger, Günther (Ed.): Innovative solutions : proceedings / 11th Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing, Berlin, Germany, 23rd - 25th September, 2013. - Berlin: Universitätsverlag der TU Berlin, 2013. - ISBN 978-3-7983-2609-5 (online). - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:83-opus4-40276. - pp. 5–8.The goal of this paper is to give further information concerning the Keynote “A Brazilian perspective on sustainable manufacturing and remanufacturing” held on the 11th CIRP Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing. Therefore, this paper contains the description of the current Brazilian situation in terms of poverty, social inequalities and violence and in contrast the country’s abundance of natural resources. Thus, it is reported how this current situation is associated with sustainable development, mainly in the Brazilian industrial sector. Finally, an example of a sustainable approach to be adopted by companies within this context is given, namely remanufacturing

Determinants of formal financial services in the development of entrepreneurship in rural Ecuador

Purpose: To analyze the determinants of access to and use of formal financial services through the banking correspondent channel on the development of enterprises in rural areas of Ecuador. Method: Qualitative case study methodological strategy. Eighteen rural communities of the Coast and Highlands of Ecuador were studied. A thematic analysis was carried out to identify and analyze recurring patterns within the data. themes and sub-themes were categorized, allowing for the exploration of underlying meanings of interviews. Through an inductive analysis in Atlas.ti 9. The concepts identified in the interviews and the researcher's files were reviewed and the results were compared with the theoretical assumptions specified in the literature. Results: The main new contribution of this research to the business management knowledge of this research was the following: This study showed that there is a gap on the effect of banking correspondents without access to credit on the economic development of communities. In the case of Ecuador, correspondents differ in that they do not grant credit, which reaffirms that financial inclusion generates business development, not access to credit. The presence of the correspondent in communities has eliminated non-financial transaction costs by reducing the physical distance between the user and the distributor of financial services. The non-payment of non-financial transaction costs positively affected the generation of savings; in addition, the presence of the correspondent allowed the inhabitants to open savings accounts, which are used for personal and business transactions. Many businesses started their activities after the incorporation of the correspondent due to the concentration of potential customers of local businesses. In addition, the growth of business after correspondent banking is generated from the savings of time and money. 7 Limitations and recommendations for future research: It is recommended to empirically address the effect of access to financial services, without considering credit, on economic development and poverty reduction.Propósito: Analizar los determinantes del acceso y uso de servicios financieros formales a través del canal de corresponsalía bancaria en el desarrollo de empresas en zonas rurales del Ecuador. Método: Estrategia metodológica de estudio de caso cualitativo. Se estudiaron dieciocho comunidades rurales de la Costa y Sierra del Ecuador. Se llevó a cabo un análisis temático para identificar y analizar patrones recurrentes dentro de los datos. Se categorizaron los temas y subtemas, lo que permitió la exploración de los significados subyacentes de las entrevistas. A través de un análisis inductivo en Atlas.ti 9. Se revisaron los conceptos identificados en las entrevistas y los archivos del investigador y los resultados se compararon con los supuestos teóricos especificados en la literatura. Resultados: La principal nueva contribución de esta investigación al conocimiento de la gestión empresarial de esta investigación fue la siguiente: Este estudio mostró que existe una brecha sobre el efecto de los corresponsales bancarios sin acceso al crédito en el desarrollo económico de las comunidades. En el caso de Ecuador, los corresponsales difieren en que no otorgan crédito, lo que reafirma que la inclusión financiera genera desarrollo empresarial, no acceso al crédito. La presencia del corresponsal en las comunidades ha eliminado los costos de transacción no financiera al reducir la distancia física entre el usuario y el distribuidor de servicios financieros. El no pago de los costos de transacción no financieros afectó positivamente la generación de ahorro; además, la presencia del corresponsal permitió a los habitantes abrir cuentas de ahorro, las cuales se utilizan para transacciones personales y comerciales. Muchos negocios iniciaron sus actividades luego de la incorporación de la corresponsal debido a la concentración de clientes potenciales de los comercios locales. Además, el crecimiento del negocio después de la banca corresponsal se genera a partir del ahorro de tiempo y dinero. 2 Limitaciones y recomendaciones para futuras investigaciones: Se recomienda abordar el empíricamente efecto del acceso de los servicios financieros, sin considerar el crédito, en el desarrollo económico y la reducción de pobreza

Transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy with tissue plasminogen activator, gas and intravitreal bevacizumab in the management of predominantly hemorrhagic age-related macular degeneration

Purpose: to determine the efficacy and safety of treating predominantly hemorrhagic age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), and intravitreal bevacizumab. Methods: retrospective study, consecutive case series. Patients with acute hemorrhagic AMD treated with 25- or 23-gauge TSV, subretinal or intravitreal tPA, fluid-air-SF6 exchange and intravitreal injection of bevacizumab. All operations were performed within the first 5 days after the start of symptoms, which consisted of visual acuity (VA) loss and central scotoma. Results: fifteen eyes from 15 patients were included. The patients' mean age was 79.6 years, and the mean follow-up was 11.8 months. Five patients (33%) were receiving oral anticoagulant treatment. At baseline, the mean VA (logMAR values) was 1.5 (20/640 Snellen equivalent). At the last follow-up visit, the mean VA was 1.1 (20/250) (P < 0.0001; paired t-test). The submacular hemorrhage was successfully displaced in all the cases. Complications consisted of three cases of vitreous hemorrhage and a tear or the retinal pigment epithelium. Twelve cases (80%) did not require further treatment during the follow-up period. Conclusion: a surgical approach with 25- or 23-gauge TSV, tPA, SF6 and intravitreal bevacizumab is an efficacious and safe procedure in patients with hemorrhagic AMD. Early treatment is advisable for obtaining the optimal outcome