Balanced options for access and benefit-sharing : stakeholder insights on provider country legislation

The over-arching aim of the access and benefit-sharing (ABS) of genetic resources is to enable fair distribution of benefits between the users (such as universities and biotech companies) and providers (such as biodiversity rich countries) so as to both open the doors for innovation and create incentives for biodiversity conservation. Access to genetic resources is crucial for research related to conservation of plant genetic resources as well as R&D for agricultural products and evolved crops that can attain to the new weather conditions climate change brings. Therefore, access to genetic resources in general as well as benefit-sharing from that access is a key element for sustainable development in order to secure research as well as environmental sustainability and resource availability. ABS is currently a rapidly developing and evolving field that is shaped by each and every implementation of the Parties. This means that the national implementation of the Parties determine how ABS goals are realised and how ABS principles find form within regulatory mechanisms. These principles are found in international legal documents such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as well as Nagoya Protocol. Additionally, decisions and guidelines drafted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity shape these principles that are then to be fulfilled by the Parties when drafting their ABS laws by means of implementing regulatory mechanisms that comply with the international law. This article reviews 20 provider country’s ABS frameworks as well as one regional law with the aim of identifying the common regulatory mechanisms that find place in these legal texts. This descriptive approach is then followed by an empirical comparative analysis through semi-structured stakeholder interviews in order to identify the most beneficial regulatory mechanisms according to ABS experts that belong in four different stakeholder groups (provider countries, academic users, industrial users and collections

On-line Computation of Stackelberg Equilibria with Synchronous Parallel Genetic Algorithms

Cataloged from PDF version of article.This paper develops a method to compute the Stackelberg equilibria in sequential games. We construct a normal form game which is interactively played by an artificially intelligent leader, GAL, and a follower, GA(F). The leader is a genetic algorithm breeding a population of potential actions to better anticipate the follower's reaction. The follower is also a genetic algorithm training on-line a suitable neural network to evolve a population of rules to respond to any move in the leader's action space. When GAs repeatedly play this game updating each other synchronously, populations converge to the Stackelberg equilibrium of the sequential game. We provide numerical examples attesting to the efficiency of the algorithm. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Effects of Augmented Reality on Student Achievement and Self-Efficacy in Vocational Education and Training

This study aimed to test the impact of augmented reality (AR) use on student achievement and self-efficacy in vocational education and training. For this purpose, a marker-based AR application, called HardwareAR, was developed. HardwareAR provides information about characteristics of hardware components, ports and assembly. The research design was quasi experimental with pre-test post-test that included a control group. The study was conducted with 46 undergraduate students in the Computer Hardware Course. Computer hardware course achievement test, motherboard assembly self-efficacy questionnaire and unstructured observation form were used in the study for data collection purposes. The control group learned the theoretical and applied information about motherboard assembly by using their textbooks (print material) while students in the experimental group used HardwareAR application for the same purpose. It was found that the use of AR had a positive impact on student achievement in motherboard assembly whereas it had no impact on students’ self-efficacy related to theoretical knowledge and assembly skills. On the other hand use of AR helped learners to complete the assembly process in a shorter time with less support. It is concluded that compared to control group students, experimental group students were more successful in computer hardware courses. This result shows that AR application can be effective in increasing achievement. It was concluded that AR application had no effect on students’ motherboard assembly theoretical knowledge self-efficacy and motherboard assembly skills self-efficacy. This result may have been affected from the fact that students had high levels of theoretical knowledge and assembly skills before the implementation. Observations showed that AR application enabled students to assemble motherboard in a shorter time with less support. It is thought that simultaneous interaction between virtual objects and real world provided by the AR application is effective in reducing assembly time. The students who were able to see the process steps and instructions directly with the help of HardwareAR application could complete the assembly by getting less help. Considering these results, it can be argued that, thanks to simultaneous interaction it provides, AR offers an important alternative for topics that need learner application and practice

STOCK MARKET VALUATION OF HOTEL FIRMS’ SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVES

This study aimed to examine stock price reactions to announcements of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified hotel openings. Using an event study method, the authors analyze news related to 15 hotel openings between the periods of 2009 and 2013. The results show that abnormal returns on stocks are significantly negative after the announcements of LEED-certified hotel openings, suggesting that stock market investors perceive sustainable investments to be value-decreasing projects in the short-term. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed within the framework of the microeconomic theory of pollution abatement

Analysis of Teacher Candidates’ Educational Internet Self-efficacy Beliefs in Terms of Various Variables

AbstractNowadays, the rapid developments in informational technologies result in significant changes in the field of education as well as other fields. One of the most important changes is the use of internet for educational aims. In this sense, a new competence is now among the competencies expected from teachers; moreover, educational use of Internet has become a concept regarded for an efficient teaching process. The aim of this study is to analyze teacher candidates’ educational use of Internet self-efficacy beliefs in terms of various variables. The sample of the study conducted in descriptive model consists of teacher candidates at a state university. Educational Use of Internet Self-Efficacy Beliefs Scale and Personal Information Form were used as data collection tools. It is concluded that teacher candidates’ educational Internet self-efficacy beliefs have meaningful differences in terms of gender, departments they study on, how long they have used the Internet, duration of daily Internet use, the place they get online, and whether they desire to take their lessons online

Investment and Firm Value: Is There an Optimal Investment Level in Hotel Firms?

This study aimed to examine whether an optimal investment level exists in hotel firms. The authors examined the quadratic relation between investments and hotel firm value. The results show that there is an optimal investment level that maximizes firm value. However, the optimal investment level varies across firms on the basis of the quality of investment opportunities or under- and over investment problems. The optimal investment level is higher for hotel firms with under investment problems, which suggests that these firms have valuable investment opportunities. However, the optimal investment level is lower for hotel firms with over investment problems, which implies that shareholders of these firms perceive additional investments to be value destroying. These results support the postulations of the Q theory of investment, pecking order theory, and free cash flow theory. Practical implications are discussed in the realm of financing, investment, and dividend policies

Analysis of teacher candidates' educational internet self-efficacy beliefs in terms of various variables

5th International Conference on New Horizons in Education (INTE) -- JUN 25-27, 2014 -- Paris, FRANCEWOS: 000383740203031Nowadays, the rapid developments in informational technologies result in significant changes in the field of education as well as other fields. One of the most important changes is the use of internet for educational aims. In this sense, a new competence is now among the competencies expected from teachers; moreover, educational use of Internet has become a concept regarded for an efficient teaching process. The aim of this study is to analyze teacher candidates' educational use of Internet self-efficacy beliefs in terms of various variables. The sample of the study conducted in descriptive model consists of teacher candidates at a state university. Educational Use of Internet Self-Efficacy Beliefs Scale and Personal Information Form were used as data collection tools. It is concluded that teacher candidates' educational Internet self-efficacy beliefs have meaningful differences in terms of gender, departments they study on, how long they have used the Internet, duration of daily Internet use, the place they get online, and whether they desire to take their lessons online. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Efficacy of Gain Index in Predicting the Economic Impacts of Climate Change to Tourism Receipts in the Mediterranean Basin

This study tests the efficacy of Global Adaptation Institute (GAIN) Index, which summarizes a country\u27s vulnerability to climate change and its readiness to improve resilience, in estimating the economic impacts of climate change to tourism. We employ panel cointegration and panel DOLS methods for sixteen countries (Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia and Turkey) that have a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. The results indicate that there is a cointegration relation in the model, and tourist arrivals depend negatively on vulnerability and economic readiness and depend positively on governances and social readiness