bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management of groundwater in the Nobi Plain that modeled groundwater use for earthquake disasters and environmental preservation
Authors: Daito Kenji
Published: April 2020

Abstract. The pumped discharge of groundwater increased rapidly in
Japan during the period of fast economic growth since the beginning of the
1960s. As a result, land subsidence has been observed, including throughout
the Nobi Plain. Laws have led to restrictions on the collection of
underground water, and pumped discharge has gradually reduced. In recent
years, the groundwater level that had formerly decreased has begun to rise
again, leading to less land subsidence. However, as groundwater levels rise,
the occurrence of new problems is feared, such as the danger posed by
liquefaction. In this study, an analysis was conducted on the changes in the
state of groundwater based on future groundwater-use scenarios and forecasts
of land subsidence. This involved thinking about the effective use of
groundwater to prevent excessive rises in groundwater levels, using a
three-dimensional groundwater-flow analysis and a perpendicular
one-dimensional subsidence consolidation analysis. As a result, it was shown
that it would be beneficial to use groundwater as a means of continuous
environmental preservation and as the water resource at the earthquake
disaster. At this time new wells were set up at the refuge of the disaster
specified in the Nobi Plain. And the remarkable land subsidence was not
caused by pumped discharge.
Pressurized drainage can effectively reduce subsidence of peatlands – lessons from polder Spengen, the Netherlands
Authors: Hoekstra Jantine , van Schie Annette , van Hardeveld Henk A.
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Reducing soil subsidence caused by peat oxidation is a major
challenge in the Dutch peatlands. To maintain suitable conditions for dairy
farming water levels are periodically lowered to keep pace with soil
subsidence. Consequently, soil subsidence continues, causing increasing
water management costs. We experimented with pressurized drainage in Polder
Spengen, a peatland polder in the west of the Netherlands that is primarily
used for dairy farming. In this polder, surface water levels of 40 cm below
ground surface are maintained, which results in average soil subsidence
rates of 7 mm yr−1. Pressurized drainage is a novel technique to reduce
soil subsidence, it uses field drains that are connected to a small water
basin. Surface water can be pumped in or out the water basin, which enables
active manipulation of the pressure head in the field drains. The objective
of this study is to implement this technique into practice and determine its
effect on groundwater tables, soil subsidence rates, and water demand. We
applied pressurized drainage in 55 ha of peatland meadows in Polder
Spengen, distributed over seven farms. We monitored groundwater tables,
surface elevation and water demand. Preliminary results show that during the
extreme dry summer of 2018, groundwater tables could be maintained at 40 cm
below ground surface, which is 60 cm higher compared to locations without
pressurized drainage. This reduced soil subsidence by 50 %. Throughout the
entire summer of 2018, the water demand amounted to 3–5 mm d−1. We
believe the technique can effectively contribute to minimize soil
subsidence, but relatively high implementation costs may be a barrier to
large-scale implementation.
Mitigating Land Subsidence in the Coachella Valley, California, USA: An Emerging Success Story
Authors: Sneed Michelle , Brandt Justin T.
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Groundwater has been a major source of agricultural,
municipal, and domestic water supply since the early 1920s in the Coachella
Valley, California, USA. Land subsidence, resulting from aquifer-system
compaction and groundwater-level declines, has been a concern of the
Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) since the mid-1990s. As a result, the
CVWD has implemented several projects to address groundwater overdraft that
fall under three categories – groundwater substitution, conservation, and
managed aquifer-recharge (MAR). The implementation of three projects in
particular – replacing groundwater extraction with surface water from the
Colorado River and recycled water (Mid-Valley Pipeline project), reducing
water usage by tiered-rate costs, and increasing groundwater recharge at the
Thomas E. Levy Groundwater Replenishment Facility – are potentially linked
to markedly improved groundwater levels and subsidence conditions, including
in some of the historically most overdrafted areas in the southern Coachella
Valley. Groundwater-level and subsidence monitoring have tracked the effect
these projects have had on the aquifer system. Prior to about 2010, water
levels persistently declined, and some had reached historically low levels
by 2010. Since about 2010, however, groundwater levels have stabilized or
partially recovered, and subsidence has stopped or slowed substantially
almost everywhere it previously had been observed; uplift was observed in
some areas. Furthermore, results of Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar
analyses for 1995–2017 indicate that as much as about 0.6 m of
subsidence occurred; nearly all of which occurred prior to 2010. Continued
monitoring of water levels and subsidence is necessary to inform the CVWD
about future mitigation measures. The water management strategies
implemented by the CVWD can inform managers of other overdrafted and
subsidence-prone basins as they seek solutions to reduce overdraft and
subsidence.
Dutch national scientific research program on land subsidence: Living on soft soils – subsidence and society
Authors: Stouthamer Esther , Erkens Gilles , Cohen Kim , Hegger Dries , Driessen Peter , Weikard Hans Peter , Hefting Mariet , Hanssen Ramon , Fokker Peter , van den Akker Jan , Groothuijse Frank , van Rijswick Marleen
Published: April 2020

Abstract. In the Netherlands land subsidence is a continuously ongoing
process. Consequently, an increasing number of people and economic assets
are exposed to subsidence, damage costs are soaring, and flood risk and
greenhouse gas emissions are increasing. In some areas tipping points have
already been reached, where current land-use can no longer be maintained
without considerable costs, underlining the urgency to take action. Together with a consortium consisting of universities, research institutes,
governmental agencies, public and private partners we have developed a
national, multidisciplinary research programme aiming to develop an
integrative approach to achieve feasible, legitimate and sustainable
solutions for managing the negative societal effects of land subsidence,
connecting fundamental research on subsidence processes to socio-economic
impact of subsidence and to governance and legal framework design. The program is designed to co-create insights that help to effectively
mitigate and adapt to subsidence within the Netherlands by making major
improvements in measuring and modeling the processes and consequences of
subsidence, identifying, developing and critically evaluating control
measures and designing governance and legal approaches that facilitate their
implementation. Hereto we will develop (a) new satellite-based technology to
measure, attribute and monitor subsidence, (b) solid understanding of the
interacting multiple processes contributing to total subsidence, (c) sophisticated physical and economic numerical models to predict
human-induced subsidence rates and impacts, and (d) implementation strategies
that go beyond technical measures, to strengthen governance and financing
capacities as well as legal frameworks. This fully integrated approach deals
with all impacts of land subsidence on society and the economy.
Towards a legal strategy fitting today's challenge of reducing impacts of subsidence in the Netherlands
Authors: van Gils Martijn , Stouthamer Esther , Groothuijse Frank
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Land subsidence in the Netherlands is an ongoing process.
An increasing number of people and economic assets are exposed to subsidence
and damage costs are soaring. In some areas tipping points have already been
reached, where current land-use can no longer be maintained without
considerable costs. A specific policy focusing on subsidence is lacking. Dealing with the
societal impacts of subsidence is mainly the (implicit) responsibility of
the public authorities that regulate the drivers of subsidence. As the
societal impacts continue to occur and are increasing, discussions arise on
the exact drivers of subsidence and responsibilities for the impacts on
society. Our study aims to analyse whether and to what extent public decision-making,
which controls land subsidence due to groundwater-table lowering and
extraction of hydrocarbons and its societal impacts, is organised
effectively to reduce these societal impacts, and how the legal framework
can be improved to achieve that. By studying the respective legal frameworks
of these drivers, we map legal solutions for mitigation of subsidence itself
or adaptation to its societal impacts – both eventually aimed at reducing
the societal impacts of subsidence. In this paper, we focus on the legal
framework of one of these drivers: groundwater-table lowering.
Casos de ensino na formação professores: contribuições para a reflexão sobre a prática docente
Authors: Preichardt Duek Viviane
Published: April 2020

O artigo apresenta resultados de uma pesquisa-intervenção desenvolvida em uma escola da rede pública municipal de Natal/RN, que contou com a participação de oito professoras. Metodologicamente, adotou-se o modelo construtivo-colaborativo, tendo os casos de ensino como principal estratégia formativa e investigativa. Enquanto um recorte de um estudo maior, este artigo tem como objetivo analisar o potencial dos casos de ensino na promoção de processos reflexivos de professoras que atuam com alunos com deficiência nos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental. Os resultados indicam que a elaboração dos casos de ensino pelas professoras fomentou processos reflexivos, entendidos como relevantes para a aprendizagem e o desenvolvimento profissional docente. Ao possibilitar que práticas sejam descritas, tal estratégia assume importante papel na sistematização dos conhecimentos e das teorias pessoais que embasam a ação pedagógica, além de permitir o compartilhamento de informações e discussão de experiências de ensino entre os pares, vislumbrando o redimensionamento de suas práticas. Conclui-se, assim, que os casos de ensino proporcionaram às professoras oportunidades para aprender e desenvolverem-se profissionalmente, sugerindo a sua adequação como ferramenta a ser utilizada em pesquisas e em ações de formação continuada, ancorados na perspectiva do professor reflexivo.
Esportes de combate na educação física escolar: a perspectiva dos alunos do ensino médio de uma escola do município de jatai, goiás
Authors: Santos Douglas de Assis Teles , Silva Aline Martins Ferreira , Santos Sinara Moreira de Freitas , Lima Pollyana Freitas Silva , Silva Rizia Rocha , Viana Ricardo Borges , Santos Rafaela Gomes dos
Published: April 2020

O objetivo desta pesquisa é verificar se há influência das lutas transmitidas pela mídia sobre a violência social no contexto dos alunos do Ensino Médio. A metodologia aplicada é caracterizada como qualitativa e exploratória, para a qual foi utilizado como instrumento de coleta de dados um questionário semiestruturado em que a análise de conteúdo foi adotada para sua interpretação. Para a discussão, os resultados apontaram as seguintes categorias de análises: influência da mídia; não há relações entre lutas e violência; identificação com os lutadores. Os participantes afirmaram acompanhar as lutas nos veículos de mídia e acreditam não haver relação entre as lutas, como esporte e a violência e finalmente, que eles se identificam com algum atleta que tenha sido campeão nas lutas em que participou em sua respectiva categoria. Pode-se concluir que há influência da mídia na percepção dos participantes sobre as lutas, mas eles sabem distinguir lutas de violência e ainda se identificam com lutadores.
O brincar sob o olhar de professoras da pré-escola
Authors: Paná Katy da Silva , Rodrigues Sílvia Adriana
Published: April 2020

Esse trabalho aborda o brincar entendido como uma atividade realizada pela necessidade da criança em interagir com e sobre o mundo exterior (pessoas e objetos), entendendo que é a partir das experiências eminentemente sociais que há sua inserção e apreensão do meio sociocultural. Neste sentido, brincar é uma atividade característica da criança, que acompanha e evolui ao ritmo do seu desenvolvimento, sendo este último entendido como processo dinâmico e dialético de interação entre o aparato biológico do ser humano e os estímulos oferecidos pelas relações/experiências com os pares e a cultura. Estudos recentes, advindos de diversas áreas do conhecimento, preconizam a concepção de criança como sujeito ativo e competente e a necessidade de as ações pedagógicas intencionais se ampararem em propostas que respeitem as peculiaridades, necessidades, desejos e direitos da criança, incluindo neste último, o de brincar. Desse modo, apoiando-se nos pressupostos teóricos de Henri Wallon, a investigação aqui exposta teve como propósito examinar as concepções de professores da pré-escola sobre o brincar, tendo ainda como objetivos específicos: apreender e analisar as concepções das professoras acerca do brincar na Educação Infantil; refletir sobre possíveis direções que propiciem um ambiente atraente, pensado para as crianças, que as valorizem como sujeitos completos, competentes e ativos. Para tanto, o estudo, de abordagem qualitativa, teve como participantes profissionais que atuam na pré-escola da cidade de Ladário-MS. A partir da análise dos dados obtidos, por meio de questionário misto, pode-se afirmar que as profissionais indicam compreender o brincar como ferramenta de auxílio no processo ensino-aprendizagem, utilizando-o como instrumento que permite a criança assimilar conteúdos. De outra forma, está presente no discurso das profissionais a importância e a valorização do brincar como prática cotidiana; porém, o olhar para a descrição de suas práticas deixa claro o desencontro de suas afirmativas, evidenciando o predomínio de ações que não condizem com as concepções apresentadas.
Rosseau e o sentimento da infância
Authors: Brito Edson de Sousa , Carvalho Antonio Alves de , Cipriano Juraci da Rocha
Published: April 2020

O tema da presente comunicação aborda a questão sobre o Emílio e o pensamento político/pedagógico de Rousseau. A metodologia utilizada foi a de pesquisa bibliográfica onde foram pesquisadas as obras de Rousseau e de seus principais comentadores. Entre as principais obras que foram pesquisadas destacam-se três: Discurso sobre a origem e os fundamentos da desigualdade entre os homens, o Contrato social e o Emílio ou Da educação. Tem-se como objetivo e problema principal a análise do conceito de sentimento de infância no pensamento político e pedagógico do autor. O pensamento político de Rousseau tem como fonte colaboradora para sua coesão interna o seu pensamento pedagógico. O projeto de Rousseau é formar o homem e o cidadão. Porém, entre as barreiras que seu pensamento acaba levantando, acerca de vários temas, temos uma, em especial, que nos chama a atenção, que é o problema da desnaturação do homem. Para que o processo formativo aconteça de forma a desnaturar o homem corretamente, é necessário se perguntar como formar o homem a partir da ideia de educação natural, que no nosso entender é o momento da infância. Essa educação tem suas bases nos argumentos hipotéticos que Rousseau elaborou sobre estado natural. Esta comunicação tratará em especial da questão do entendimento do primeiro momento da educação do homem, a saber, a infância. Desta forma é tratado a questão do surgimento do conceito de infância na obra de Rousseau, onde se busca entender qual o lugar da infância na educação do homem/cidadão no projeto político/pedagógico do autor estudado.
Pacto nacional pela alfabetização na idade certa (pinaic) na educação infantil
Authors: Ferreira Trindade Ana Paula , Oliveira Lima Laís Leni
Published: April 2020

Este trabalho é parte de uma pesquisa em andamento e tem como objetivo compreender o seu sentido e suas implicações do Pacto Nacional pela Alfabetização na Idade Certa - PNAIC enquanto programa de formação continuada para efetivar mudanças na qualidade social do trabalho docente na Educação Infantil. A questão problematizadora, é no sentido de compreender como a formação continuada de professores de educação infantil acerca do PNAIC, um programa voltado para a alfabetização na idade certa, tem contribuído para que o professor possa ressignificar sua prática pedagógica frente crianças de 0 a 5 anos. Para o desenvolvimento do trabalho, fundamentamos teoricamente a temática por meio de estudos exploratórios de cunho bibliográfico, com abordagem qualitativa por meio de materiais já divulgados. Considerando a relevância do tema, procuramos elucidá-lo por meio de autores que estudam o assunto em questão, considerando suas análises, tais como Duarte (2000), Martins (2012, 2018), Saviani (2007, 2011), Arce e Martins (2010), Gatti (2008), Gadotti (2013), dentre outros. Os referidos autores contribuíram com as reflexões no sentido de compreendermos que a formação continuada de professores é fruto de um longo processo de lutas e entraves políticos tendo em vista os desdobramentos e implicações dentro do complexo da educação infantil e a qualidade da educação. Conclui-se que a prática pedagógica nessa etapa de educação deverá se constituir na união dos conhecimentos adquiridos pelo professor ao longo de sua trajetória formativa e na busca de novas formas de fazer, isto é, um trabalho que que gere desenvolvimento na criança e contribua para sua formação, considerando as especificidades e características próprias da infância.
Funções e especificidades da escola pública nos processos inclusivos
Authors: Nascimento Lilian Batista do , Costa Vanderlei Balbino da
Published: April 2020

RESUMO: O presente artigo tem como objetivo discutir de forma reflexiva sobre as funções e especificidades da escola pública, em uma perspectiva inclusiva. O problema de pesquisa enfatizado neste estudo gerou o seguinte questionamento: por que ainda se registra a falta de compreensão sobre as funções e especificidades da escola pública em relação aos processos inclusivos? A opção metodológica foi pela pesquisa qualitativa, apoiado em referenciais bibliográficos que deram suporte teórico para a realização do estudo. Os resultados sinalizaram que na escola pública, em uma perspectiva inclusiva, há uma falta de compreensão no que se refere à sua especificidade (que é garantir aos educandos uma formação cultural e científica, por meio da instrução, estabelecida nas relações pedagógicas definidas historicamente). Registra-se ainda incompreensão sobre a sua função (que é de garantir ao educando um saber sistematizado, com base no ensino). Assim, esta função acaba não se efetivando para os alunos com Necessidades Educativas Especiais (NEE), uma vez que a educação ainda não é um direito garantido para todos.
A interação do conhecimento da matemática e gastronomia para o empoderamento da mulher
Authors: Libório de Oliveira Ana Maria , De Oliveira Lima Erika , Soares dos Santos Caroline , Caitano de Sousa Neto Domingos
Published: April 2020

O presente artigo tem como objetivo corroborar para o desenvolvimento de projetos que possam estabelecer o crescimento pessoal, profissional e intelectual de mulheres na contemporaneidade. O projeto teve como finalidade possibilitar o conhecimento da interação da Matemática, com a Gastronomia e o empoderamento de mulheres em situação de vulnerabilidade social, por meio da formação humana e qualificação profissional. Além dessas ações, o projeto possibilitou a reflexão sobre os direitos e deveres constitucionais, a promoção da autoestima, progresso na qualidade de vida, relações familiares e comunitárias e também capacitou na área da Gastronomia. A metodologia direcionou-se com atividades expositivas e práticas, no sentido de intervenção, com explanação da interação da matemática, gastronomia e empoderamento. Apresentou em seus resultados efetivos a aprendizagem da matemática e gastronomia, possibilitando o estabelecimento de relações, assim como, com a intervenção na qualificação profissional e valorização em ser mulher.
Weber’s Law Applies to the Ants’ Visual Perception
Authors: Cammaerts Marie-Claire , Cammaerts Roger
Published: April 2020

Non-numerical distance and size effects have been previously observed in the ant Myrmica sabuleti. As such effects can be theoretically in line with Weber’s law, we presumed that this law, until now examined in vertebrates, could also apply to ants. Using operant conditioning we trained then tested M. sabuleti workers faced with black circles having fixed diameters of 2, 3 and 4 mm against circles with diameters increasing by 0.5 mm until the ants perceived a difference between the smaller and the larger circles. This just noticeable difference occurred when the larger diameter reached 3.5, 5.5 and 7 mm respectively, what corresponded to a ratio larger/smaller surface of 3.06, 3.36 and 3.06. Owing to the degree of accuracy of the experimental methodology, this ratio is sufficiently constant for being consistent with Weber’s law.
Restoring a Hemorrhaged Identity: The Identity and Impact of the Bleeding Woman in Luke 8:40–56
Authors: Shaw David M.
Published: April 2020

The hemorrhaging woman of Luke 8 (and Mark 5) is almost universally presumed to be of Jewish origin, but there are clues in the Gospel accounts and other primary sources to suggest that she may be a Gentile. On this understanding, her healing signals the fulfillment of Jesus’s words in Nazareth (Luke 4:16–30), as extension of God’s mission to the Gentiles. Moreover, her faith acts as a model for both Jairus and the early church, consequently subverting expected cultural and social norms. This investigation weighs these options by considering Luke’s immediate and surrounding narrative framework alongside some linguistic parallels. By doing so, I aim to establish that seeing the woman as a Gentile is a reasonable understanding of the text, alongside its sociological/cultural implications for the early church.
Building Meaning: Constructions of Imperial Power in Domitianic Architecture, Visual Culture, and Literary Sources
Authors: Hulls Jean-Michel
Published: April 2020

Domitian’s architecture was much denigrated, and nuanced readings of his buildings were closed off. His damnatio memoriae was remarkably complete. Buildings act as theoretically open spaces where meaning is constructed, deconstructed, and reconstructed. Imperial buildings exist on a conceptual continuum with humbler structures. Domitianic architecture is read through the poetry of Martial and Statius, through elite writers such as Pliny, Suetonius, and Dio, and through Domitian’s own coinage and inscriptions. Senatorial survivors justify their continued existence through denigration of Domitian’s buildings, but Domitian himself becomes a kind of writer, constructing his own existence through his utterances on and in architecture.
Damnatio Failure: Domitian’s Urban Vision of Rome through the Case Study of the Porticus Absidata
Authors: Nocera Daira
Published: April 2020

Domitian’s urban vision as it emerged from his architectural and topographical projects presents us with several opportunities to un-damn the youngest Flavian emperor. Second only to those of Augustus, Domitian’s buildings and urban interventions changed the face of ancient Rome, leaving an indelible mark and surviving his damnatio memoriae. In this chapter, I discuss the forum of Domitian’s strange end module, the Porticus Absidata, as a case study of a large, coherent building program, revealing an image of Domitian that does not match the accounts surviving from the period of Nerva and Trajan.
Condemning Domitian or Un-damning Themselves? Tacitus and Pliny on the Domitianic “Reign of Terror”
Authors: Szoke Martin
Published: April 2020

This article reconsiders two of our most important literary sources on Domitian: Pliny the Younger’s Letters and Tacitus’s Agricola. Although historians have either accepted Pliny’s and Tacitus’s portrayal of Domitian as a bloodthirsty tyrant or dismissed it as the invention of two vengeful senators, I argue that their depiction of the last Flavian and his reign is much more complex than is usually assumed, for both men had in fact themselves served in the Domitianic administration. In their literary projects, they thus strove not only to condemn the former emperor, but also to un-damn themselves.
Toward a Start-to-Finish Cross-Disciplinary Instructional Model for National and International Higher Education
Authors: Harris Victor William , Harris Heidi
Published: April 2020

Using their cross-disciplinary review of Ideas that Work in College Teaching, the authors explore the pedagogical commonalities of fifteen higher education instructors from SUNY Potsdam (State University of New York at Potsdam) in an attempt to reveal the secrets of teaching success across thirteen academic disciplines—math, computer science, geology, modern languages, political science, philosophy, history, biology, psychology, sociology, physics, and art. While the specific instructional disciplines varied considerably in the content that was both studied and presented, the authors found that the principles of effective teaching were quite similar across each of these disciplines. The insights shared by these fifteen accomplished instructors provide pedagogical wisdom that all teachers can learn from regardless of context or developmental age and stage of student capability and competence. Common goals and principles associated with effective teaching in higher education are highlighted using specific examples from individual authors where appropriate. A new model of instruction is then introduced: Attention, Interact, Apply, Invite – Fact, Think, Feel, Do (AIAI-FTFD), as a potential start-to-finish approach to effective teaching in higher education. Implications for use of the model in both national and international higher education contexts are discussed.
Examining the Changes in Beliefs of Preservice Mathematics Teachers Attending the Pedagogic Formation Program about Teacher and Students Roles
Authors: Köğce Davut
Published: April 2020

This study aimed to identify the beliefs of preservice mathematics teachers receiving formation program as undergraduates or graduates in the Faculty of Science and Letters about teacher and student roles in the classroom setting and to explore how their beliefs changed at the end of the program. The research was conducted in the qualitative research design. The data were collected with a form of three open-ended questions asked to the preservice mathematics teacher attending the formation program in the faculty of education in the fall term of 2014-2015 academic year. The data were collected by applying this questionnaire to the preservice teachers at the beginning and end of the formation program. The answers of the preservice teachers were analyzed by classifying thematically by similarity and difference using the MAXQDA 11 qualitative data analysis software. While the preservice teachers had had beliefs placed somewhere between absolute knowing and transitional knowing about both teacher and student roles before the formation program, these beliefs were transformed into ones placed somewhere between transitional knowing and independent knowing after the formation program. This result indicated how important the pedagogical formation programs are for preservice teachers.
Impact of Audit Quality on the Implementation of Corporate Governance in the Insurance Companies Listed in Amman Stock Exchange
Authors: Alrashidi Mousa F M
Published: April 2020

The study aimed to identify the concepts and principles underpinning the corporate governance, and get to know the level of commitment of the Jordanian insurance companies' implementation of the instructions of corporate governance issued by the insurance commission, and determining the effect of audit quality on the level of implementation of the instructions of corporate governance. The study was conducted on a sample consists of 15 Jordanian Insurance Companies listed in the Amman Stock Exchange, during the period from 2011 to 2014. Audit quality was measured by the size of the audit office, audit fees, and auditor retention, relying on the instructions of corporate governance for insurance companies. The researcher designed a questionnaire containing five sections Associated with each of the board of directors, executive management, and the audit committee, risk management, and internal control system, and internal audit, the questionnaire was distributed to insurance company's staff who occupy different managerial positions. To achieve the objectives of the study the researcher used a number of statistical methods that fit the nature of the variables of the study, such as (Simple linear Regression model) and (Multiple Regression model) to test the hypotheses of the study.

The study results showed that the Jordanian insurance companies show an acceptable commitment of the corporate governance instructions implementation; also, it showed that there is an impact of audit quality on the implementation of these instructions. Based on these results, the study provides a set of recommendations including Identify regulators responsible for following up the actual implementation of instructions of corporate governance in insurance companies, and reformulation of these instructions in a way to ensure the protection of the rights of stakeholders, and to clarify the functions and responsibilities of the Audit Committee. In addition, to focusing on the role of the external auditor, and working on increasing external auditor communication with the Audit Committee and Internal Auditors.
Peak Load Habits for Sale? Soft Load Control and Consumer Preferences on the Electricity Market
Authors: Broberg Thomas , Brannlund Runar , Perssona Lars
Published: April 2020

The main purpose of this paper is to estimate lost consumer values due to various restrictions on household electricity use involving behavior adaptation. To do this, we conduct a choice experiment where households choose between hypothetical electricity contracts including various restrictions on the use of high-power household appliances. In addition, we use a contingent valuation question related to complete blackouts to study a restriction on other types of electricity usage (heating, lighting, TV, etc.). The results indicate a significant difference between the value lost due to the soft control, and the blackouts. Furthermore, policies aiming at stimulating behavioral changes are costly and it is far from obvious that demand response requiring behavioral adaptation is more cost effective than supply response (i.e., increased production of electricity).
The Natural Gas Announcement Day Puzzle
Authors: Prokopczuk Marcel , Simen Chardin Wese , Wichmann Robert
Published: April 2020

This paper studies natural gas futures returns on EIA storage announcement days.More than 50% of the annual return is earned on these days. We find a significant difference between announcement and non-announcement day returns, which cannot be explained by the announcement surprise or other control variables. At the intraday level, the return splits half into a pre- and post-announcement part. The pre-announcement return is entirely generated on days when storage levels exceed analysts’ expectations casting doubt on explanations based on informed trading.After transaction and funding cost, a simple trading strategy yields substantial returns.Gas Markets, Announcement Effect, Storage News, Intraday
ScreenTB: a tool for prioritising risk groups and selecting algorithms for screening for active tuberculosis
Authors: Miller C. R. , Mitchell E. M. H. , Nishikiori N. , Zwerling A. , Lönnroth K.
Published: April 2020

SETTING AND OBJECTIVES: There is an urgent need to improve tuberculosis (TB) case detection globally. This would require greater focus on the implementation of TB screening programs. However, to be productive, cost-effective, and ethical, TB screening efforts should be tailored
to their local context, targeted to the populations most likely to benefit and utilizing diagnostic tools with sufficient accuracy.DESIGN AND RESULTS: We have developed an online tool, ScreenTB to help National TB Programmes (NTPs) and their partners plan TB screening activities
by modeling the potential outcomes of screening programs, including yield of TB cases diagnosed (true- and false-positives), costs, and cost-effectiveness, specific to the populations screened and the diagnostic algorithms used. In Myanmar, ScreenTB was used to assist the NTP in prioritizing
risk groups for screening efforts and selecting appropriate screening algorithms to maximize case detection and minimize false-positive diagnoses.CONCLUSION: The ScreenTB tool can help facilitate the prioritization of risk groups for screening and the selection of appropriate screening
algorithms. This is useful when used as part of a larger planning process that considers feasibility of screening, vulnerability of risk groups, potential impact of screening on TB transmission, human rights implications of screening and equity in health care access.
Tuberculosis trends in a hot-spot region in Paris, France
Authors: Pierre-Audigier C. , Talla C. , Alame-Emane A-K. , Audigier B. , Grall N. , Ruimy R. , Andremont A. , Cadet-Daniel V. , Sola C. , Takiff H. , Gicquel B. , Vray M. , Armand-Lefevre L.
Published: April 2020

SETTING: Tuberculosis (TB) incidence is declining overall in France, but not in Paris where some areas remain relative hot spots for TB.OBJECTIVES: To obtain a better knowledge of local TB epidemiology in order to facilitate control measures.DESIGN: Analysis
of demographic data of TB patients diagnosed at the Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital from 2007 to 2016, with spoligotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates.RESULTS: During the study period, 1096 TB patients were analysed. The incidence of TB diagnosis was stable,
averaging 115 patients per year, predominantly males (71%), foreign-born (81%), with pulmonary TB (77%) and negative HIV serology (88%). The mean age of foreign-born TB patients decreased over the study period, most significantly in recent arrivals in France, whose average age decreased by
two years (P = 0.001). The time period between arrival in France and being diagnosed with active TB decreased annually significantly by 0.75 years (P = 0.02). The proportion of L4.6.2/Cameroon and L2/Beijing sub-lineages increased annually by 0.7% (P < 0.05). Multi-drug
resistant strains, representing 4% of all strains, increased annually by 0.75% (P = 0.03)CONCLUSION: The number of TB patients remained high in northern Paris and the surrounding suburbs, suggesting the need for increased control measures.
Tuberculosis from transmission in clinics in high HIV settings may be far higher than contact data suggest
Authors: McCreesh N. , Grant A. D. , Yates T. A. , Karat A. S. , White R. G.
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND: In South Africa, it is generally estimated that only 0.5–0.6% of people's contacts occur in clinics. Both people with infectious tuberculosis and people with increased susceptibility to disease progression may spend more time in clinics, however, increasing
the importance of clinic-based transmission to overall disease incidence.METHODS: We developed an illustrative mathematical model of Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission in clinics and other settings. We assumed that 1% of contact time occurs in clinics. We varied the
ratio of clinic contact time of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive people compared to HIV-negative people, and of people with infectious TB compared to people without TB, while keeping the overall proportion of contact time occurring in clinics, and each person's total contact time,
constant.RESULTS: With clinic contact rates respectively 10 and 5 times higher in HIV-positive people and people with TB, 10.7% (plausible range 8.5–13.4%) of TB resulted from transmission in clinics. With contact rates in HIV-positive people and people with TB respectively
5 and 2 times higher, 5.3% (plausible range 4.3–6.3%) of all TB was due to transmission in clinics.CONCLUSION: The small amount of contact time that generally occurs in clinics may greatly underestimate their contribution to TB disease in high TB-HIV burden settings.
Linezolid use for drug-resistant tuberculosis in Georgia: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Mikiashvili L. , Kipiani M. , Schechter M. C. , Avaliani Z. , Kiria N. , Kempker R. R.
Published: April 2020

SETTING: Data on the long-term use of linezolid (LZD) in the treatment of drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (DR-PTB) are limited.OBJECTIVE: To assess safety, tolerability and efficacy of LZD-containing regimens for the treatment of DR-PTB in the country of Georgia.DESIGN:
A retrospective study was conducted among DR-PTB patients receiving LZD 600 mg/day as part of newly implemented regimens (bedaquiline or delamanid, repurposed and second-line drugs) from July 2014 to October 2015 in programmatic conditions and following WHO recommendations.RESULTS:
One hundred mostly male (82%) patients with a median age of 33 years received LZD. Most patients (77%) had previously been treated for TB; 57% had extensively drug-resistant TB. The median duration of LZD use was 503 days (interquartile range 355–616). LZD-associated adverse events occurred
in 12 patients, leading to discontinuation in 4 (2 each due to peripheral neuropathy and cytopenias), and dose reduction to 300 mg/day in 6 cases (4 due to peripheral neuropathy and 2 for cytopenias). Almost all patients (95%) achieved culture conversion and 79% had a successful treatment
outcomes.CONCLUSION: Treatment regimens including lengthy LZD use showed fairly good safety and tolerability and were associated with high rates of culture conversion and favorable outcomes.
Support of the monitoring and forecasting labour market by official statistics
Authors: Batóg Jacek , Batóg Barbara , Rozkrut Monika , Mojsiewicz Magdalena
Published: April 2020

The main source of data on the labour market are sets of the official statistics. The aim of the article is to analyze the availability of the data used in forecasting: supply and demand of labour by occupation, the number of graduates by occupation, variables related to unemployment, as well as diagnosing demand for qualifications and skills at the local and regional labour markets. The analysis was conducted on the example of a system devised for the Zachodniopomorskie voivodship. A system of monitoring indicators was built for
this very province.
Business registers as sources of data in microscale business location analysis
Authors: Celińska-Janowicz Dorota
Published: April 2020

The aim of the article is to analyze the usability of data from the business registers (REGON and EDG) in the microscale location analysis. The data were used in the study of functional transformation of the main Warsaw shopping streets in years 1996—2010. The article discusses limitations of using such data in the analysis carried out on small sets, indicating methods to overcome or minimize these limitations. The results shows that business registers are relatively reliable source of information about general branch structure of business entities, but their use in quantitative analysis requires corrections, and it should only take place with sufficiently large sets.
Paradoxes of the propensity to risk. Certain inaccuracies of the prospect theory
Authors: Czauderna Krzysztof
Published: April 2020

The tendency to financial risk has a strong and numerous conditions. Its taking depends not only on psychological motives but the objective factors. The strongest influence on risking in cash games had sex (men often play) in the empirical study. Wealth and its changes although it was an important determinant of risk-taking when a gain was expected — did not have such an impact when a potential loss was taken into account by the players. Data from a Polish panel study, the Social Diagnosis, and carried out surveys show inconsistency of reflection and certainty effects for medium-probability gambles, which is contrary to the hypothesis of Kahneman and Tversky. The reflection effect is also a premise for identification of factors associated with risk-seeking separately for gain and loss possibilities, which was performer using bivariate econometric models. Independently from the assumed model and chosen measurement variables, education level, material situation as well as amount of expected value of a gamble affect attitude towards risk in area of losses and gains in a different way.
Spatial diversity of demographic aging in Poland
Authors: Podogrodzka Małgorzata
Published: April 2020

In the assessment of the demographic age and ageing a lot of measures are being exploited. Among the most commonly used may be mentioned those which express the relationship between the number of people in two age groups (the elderly and the general population or younger age group). Rarely are used such measures, which take into account all the age structure of the population. The article presents a new method to analyze spatial diversity of the population age structure using the method of agglomeration with the Euclidean metric. The test objects were the voivodships (provinces), and the explanatory variables were five-year age groups (20 variables). In addition, a hypothetical business was introduced, which has a regressive age structure. Its introduction allowed for an evaluation of how the test regions differ not only among themselves, but also how far they deviate from the pattern of development of the Polish population. Considerations were conducted separately for men and women and the 1991, 2001, 2011.
Housing in Germany
Authors: Gorczyca Mirosław
Published: April 2020

The article presents the housing situation in Germany in years 2000—2011. Conditions for the development of housing, the situation in housing, resources and expenditure on housing are discussed. The author also presents a comparison of indicators characterizing the housing in Poland and Germany.
”Statistics for a better world” — expectations and trends. The 60th World Congress of Statistics, Rio de Janeiro 2015
Authors: Bielak Renata , Cierpiał-Wolan Marek , Okrasa Włodzimierz , Witkowski Janusz
Published: April 2020

The 60th World Congress of Statistics, organized by the International Institute of Statistics gathered numerous statisticians and was an opportunity to present the latest plans and achievements in the field of statistics. Extensive problems of the Congress related both to scientific issues, methodological, and practical aspects of statistical offices. A particular interest was the discussion inspired by current issues, including issues relating to quality of life and sustainable development. According to the keynote of the Congress, ie. ”Statistical science for a better world”, much attention was devoted to reflection on the role of statistics and the challenges of growing informational expectations and possibilities of the use of different data sources. Among the more than 1250 papers presented at the Congress were some presenting Polish experiences concerning, among others cross-border statistics, quality of life and communication with users. It was a great opportunity to promote Polish public statistics among international statisticians — theoreticians and practitioners.
A balanced sampling and calibration
Authors: Kozłowski Arkadiusz
Published: April 2020

A balanced sampling design is a design in which Horvitz-Thompson estimators of population totals for a set of auxiliary variables equal the known totals of these variables. On the other hand, calibration is a technique where the modification of design weights occurs in such a way that the new weights, when applied to auxiliary variables, reproduce, i.e. estimate withouterror, the known totals for these variables. The general idea behind balanced sampling and calibration is thus the same — both techniques tend to reproduce known totals of the auxiliary variables. The purpose of the paper is to describe and compare both techniques, considering them as alternatives in achieving the same goal. More attention was devoted to balanced sampling. The algorithm for selecting a sample was illustrated with two numerical examples. The comparison between balanced sampling and calibration, as alternatives, indicates calibration, but the best strategy is to use both methods simultaneously.
A wrong advice concerning the test F Snedecor
Authors: Drapella Antoni
Published: April 2020

Readers of some domestic statistical textbooks and Internet publications related to F test are advised to accomplish the following test scheme: After having sample variances calculated use quotient of greater to smaller of them as the test statistics. Then take 1 quantile of the F distribution as the critical value. This paper identifies this advice to be wrong and gives reason for it: test statistics in question definitely does not follow the F distribution. So, derivation of the proper test statistics named WF as well as the method of calculating WF' s cumulative distribution function is given. Analytical considerations are confirmed by two Monte Carlo experiments. These show that following the advice one makes first type error two times greater than wanted.
Cost estimates of the legal and civic informal assistance system
Authors: Florczak Waldemar
Published: April 2020

The article presents estimates of the costs of the current, free legal and civil guidance system in Poland. Due to the lack of hard data the author proposes his original measurement procedure. He specifies two valuation methods: quasi-market and quasi-fiscal. According to the first of them, the public costs of the functioning of the informal legal and civil guidance system totaled 540 million PLN in 2012. This figure was obtained on the basis of information on the total number of granted advices and their distribution by difficulty or time-consuming. In the other method, depending on the availability of data and the specifics of the legal and civil donors' advices, three variants of the measurement are proposed. The total cost of the quasi-budget procedurę amounted to 514 million PLN. The obtained result is therefore close to the size of the resulting method quasi-market, which seems to strengthen the reliability of the analysis. Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that public expenditure for the functioning of non-institutionalized legal and civic assistance system is not lower than 500 million PLN per year.
Expenditure on selected stimulants in European households
Authors: Piekut Marlena
Published: April 2020

The aim of the study is to show the level and the share of expenditure on alcoholic beverages, tobacco and drugs in European households, with particular emphasis on Polish households. Data of the CSO and Eurostat were used for the analysis. Research methods used in the study are: Ward cluster analysis, correlation relationship. The biggest expenditures on stimulants in the household budget were observed in the Czech Republic and Estonia. In Poland were noted a relatively low level of spending, a relatively high share in the structure of expenditure and the positive rate of change in the years 1995——2012. The variables having the greatest relationship with expenditure on alcoholic beverages, tobacco and drugs were disposable income per capita, as well as household size and a stage of development of the family.
The structure and rate of return on portfolios investment
Authors: Hadaś-Dyduch Monika
Published: April 2020

The aim of the article is to assess the effectiveness of investment portfolios. Portfolios are established under the proprietary algorithm that is described in detail in the article. The proposed method of construction of investment portfolios and their evaluation, requires the determination of the volatility and average return included in the portfolio of structured products, as well as determine the risk for each product. These parameters are calculated from the number of data obtained by applying a ”backward the window”, consisting in the fact that each structured product included in the study was run in theory for one year every week.