Green accounting in Colombia: a case study of the mining sector

The environmental crisis involves several responsible parties, and industries are one of them. Therefore, it is important to interrelate the environment and economy to generate an environmental commitment by industries. Green accounting arises with the aims of providing quantitative and qualitative information on the company’s environmental aspects. This paper describes the current state of green accounting in the leading mining companies in Colombia according to the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Colombia. Findings show that 80% of the selected mining companies integrate green accounting in their management system. However, the underlying procedures are not always put into practice. Therefore, accounting studies must lead to the development of an environmental accounting model and the implementation of mandatory regulations for green accounting

Assessing a Quality Improvement Project in a Georgia County Health Department

The study and evaluation of quality improvement among Georgia’s public health systems continues to be a major priority for the Georgia Public Health Practice Based Research Network (GAPH-PBRN). This article focuses on the application and evaluation of a Quality Improvement project in a Georgia County Health Department. The QI team sought to reduce the waiting time in the teen clinic; thereby, increasing the Quality Improvement culture one project at a time in this Health Department. The project revealed that Quality Improvement is a continuous process that requires change and adaptation by employees. This initial Quality Improvement project was the first step in helping to establish Quality Improvement culture in the County Health Department

On the evolution of “cleaner production” as a concept and a practice

“Cleaner Production“(CP) is about less and more efficient energy and materials use and the substitution of more harmful products (for the environment and health) by less dangerous ones. CP was the reply of the industry to the call for sustainable development as launched by the WCED (1987) and further elaborated in Rio's Agenda 21 (UN, 1992). During the past 25 years, the concept was put in practice. During this period it changed in scope, methods, and application area. This provided a deeper socio-economic impact to an idea that was originally launched to awaken industry on its environmental responsibilities. This paper provides a review of essentials that contributed to the fundamental changes in CP during the most recent quarter of a century. It takes off with a review of CP definitions illustrating the changes of the content. Changes in scope are exemplified with the increasing importance of “Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSR). This includes that post-modern companies have not only responsibilities on their economic performance and the environment, but should also act on issues including human rights and resources, business ethics, and community involvement. The links between CP and green and circular economy are indicated. The CP approach is increasingly applied outside the industry. CP for sustainable tourism is discussed in more detail but is only an example of the wider application in e.g. agriculture or health services

Comparison of practice based research network based quality improvement technical assistance and evaluation to other ongoing quality improvement efforts for changes in agency culture

Abstract Background Public health agencies in the USA are increasingly challenged to adopt Quality Improvement (QI) strategies to enhance performance. Many of the functional and structural barriers to effective use of QI can be found in the organizational culture of public health agencies. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of public health practice based research network (PBRN) evaluation and technical assistance for QI interventions on the organizational culture of public health agencies in Georgia, USA. Methods An online survey of key informants in Georgia’s districts and county health departments was used to compare perceptions of characteristics of organizational QI culture between PBRN supported QI districts and non-PBRN supported districts before and after the QI interventions. The primary outcomes of concern were number and percentage of reported increases in characteristics of QI culture as measured by key informant responses to items assessing organizational QI practices from a validated instrument on QI Collaboratives. Survey results were analyzed using Multi-level Mixed Effects Logistic Model, which accounts for clustering/nesting. Results Increases in QI organizational culture were consistent for all 10- items on a QI organizational culture survey related to: leadership support, use of data, on-going QI, and team collaboration. Statistically significant odds ratios were calculated for differences in increased QI organizational culture between PBRN-QI supported districts compared to Non-PBRN supported districts for 5 of the 10 items, after adjusting for District clustering of county health departments. Conclusions Agency culture, considered by many QI experts as the main goal of QI, is different than use of specific QI methods, such as Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles or root-cause analyses. The specific use of a QI method does not necessarily reflect culture change. Attempts to measure QI culture are newly emerging. This study documented significant improvements in characteristics of organizational culture and demonstrated the potential of PBRNs to support agency QI activities

Age of first arrest and its relation to cognitive and executive function variables in a group of juvenile delinquents

One-hundred-and-fifty-one juvenile delinquents referred to the Juvenile Court Assessment Center were subjects for the cross-sectional investigation of the relationship between age of first arrest and certain measures of cognitive and executive function. The study was designed to test the developmental theory of conduct disorder of Terrie E. Moffitt regarding the existence of two groups of juvenile delinquents, one whose antisocial behavior is restricted to their adolescent years, and another whose antisocial behavior is persistent and manifested throughout the lifetime. Contrary to expectations, two groups of the expected type could not be distinguished based on age at time of first arrest. However, certain variables were found to be related to age of first arrest: reading achievement, Performance IQ, absence of father in the home, and exposure to violence

Social Anxiety and Aggression in Behaviorally Disordered Children

Thirty-nine boys (M = 10 years) attending classes for the behaviorally disturbed were given questionnaires on trait anxiety, social anxiety, empathy, depression and self esteem, and teachers rated them on aggression to test the hypothesis that anxiety and empathy attenuate aggression. Contrary to the hypothesis, anxiety and empathy scores were not correlated with aggression. However, scores on all of these measures were higher than those for normative samples suggesting that this sample had a limited range. A second important finding was that social anxiety was positively correlated with trait anxiety and depression, lending discriminant and concurrent validity, respectively, for the use of a relatively new Social Anxiety Scale with behaviorally disturbed children

Enhancing Quality Improvement Organizational Culture in Georgia\u27s Local Public Health Agencies

This presentation was given at the Keeneland Conference for Public Health Systems and Services Research

Adolescents from Divorced and Intact Families

Four hundred-forty adolescents (N = 123 adolescents from divorced families) were given a set of scales on relationships (intimacy with parents .and social support, faqily responsibil- ity-taking) and psychological variables (happiness, self-esteem, de- pression and risk-taking) to determine the effects of divorce on these variables. The adolescents from divorced families differed very liltle from those of intact families. As might be expected, they perceived less intimacy with their fathers as well as less social support, and they assumed more family responsibilities

Investigación del cromosoma filadelfia en leucemia mieloide crónica y leucemia linfoblástica

En el período comprendido entre el 1 de enero y el 31 de diciembre de 2000, en el Hospital del Instituto del Cáncer de Cuenca, en 32 pacientes con Leucemia Mieloide Crónica y Linfoblática Aguda se investigó la presencia del cromosoma Filadelfia como marcador tumoral cromosómico. Se encontró un rango de edad de entre 1 y 62 años con un promedio de 22.5 más menos 18.21. El 59.4 por ciento de la muestra fueron varones y el 40.6 por ciento mujeres. El 71.9 por de los pacientes tuvieron Leucemia Linfoblástica Aguda y el 28.1 por ciento tuvieron Leucemia Mieloide Crónica. El cromosoma Filadelfia se encontró en el 37.5 por ciento de la muestra y el 62.5 por ciento no estuvo presente. En un 21 por ciento del grupo total no se produjo la metafase. El grupo de edad que tuvo más incidencia en cromosoma Filadelfia fue el de 1 a 9 años que representó el 12.5 por ciento de la muestra. En el 88.88 por ciento de los pacientes con Leucemia Mieloide Crónica encontramos el cromosoma Filadelfia. La literatura reporta un 95 por ciento. En los pacientes con Leucemia Linfoblática Aguda el cromosoma Filadelfia se encontró apenas en el 17.93 por ciento. La literatura establece un 80 a 90 por cientoIn the period between January 1 and December 31, 2000, at the Cancer Institute Hospital of Cuenca, in 32 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia and acute Linfoblática the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome as a tumor marker chromosome was investigated. ranging in age from 1 to 62 years was found with an average of 22.5 plus or minus 18.21. 59.4 percent of the sample were male and 40.6 percent female. 71.9 of patients had acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 28.1 percent had chronic myeloid leukemia. The Philadelphia chromosome was found in 37.5 percent of the sample and 62.5 percent was not present. In 21 percent of the total group there was metaphase. The age group that had more impact on the Philadelphia chromosome was that of 1-9 years accounted for 12.5 percent of the sample. In 88.88 percent of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia Philadelphia chromosome we found. The literature reports 95 percent. In patients with Acute Leukemia Linfoblática Philadelphia chromosome found only in 17.93 percent. The literature provides 80 to 90 percentDoctor en Medicina y CirugíaCuenc