bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bevægelse i special­pædagogisk undervisning – en fænomenologisk undersøgelse af bevægelsens betydning for læring og udvikling
Authors: Bille Thomas
Published: November 2020

Øvrige forfattere: Mette Schmidt, lektor og Master, UC Absalon og Göran Krantz, M.Ed. og Ph.d., Uddannelsescenter Marjatta ResumeI de senere år har der været stærkt politisk fokus på nødvendigheden af at inkludere bevægelse i skoleundervisningen. Omdrejningspunktet i såvel den praktiske indsats som forskning på området har primært været fysiske tiltag såsom motion, gymnastik og idræt med det formål at styrke sundhed, trivsel og læring blandt børn i skolen. Ikke desto mindre er der problemer med at integrere bevægelse direkte i undervisningen. Dette gælder i høj grad også i specialundervisningen. Derfor er der brug for at se på nye forståelser af bevægelse i skolen, som kan udvikle bevægelsesorienteret praksis. I denne artikel med case i specialundervisningen på Skolehjemmet Marjatta belyser vi, hvordan varieret brug af bevægelse i undervisningen har betydning for væsentlige aspekter af funktionsnedsatte elevers udvikling og læring. Der præsenteres en holistisk forståelse af bevægelse i undervisningen og nye perspektiver på, hvordan bevægelse kan integreres meningsfuldt i undervisning i pædagogiske situationer.Abstract In recent years, an urgent political focus has been to include movement in teaching that aims to strengthen health, quality of life and learning amongst children in schools. Based on a case study on special education at Marjatta, a school of disabled children, we suggest that a holistic approach to movement in school teaching will improve central aspects of development and learning of disabled children. This article develops new perspectives on how movement can be meaningfully integrated in special education.
”Intet er givet på forhånd” – Om kunst, æstetiske læreprocesser og studerendes identitetsdannelse i pædagoguddannelsen
Authors: Jensen Julie Borup
Published: November 2020

ResumeUndervisningsaktiviteter med kunst har potentiale til at styrke pædagogstuderendes udvikling af professionsidentitet. Professionsidentitet forstås i artiklen som en dynamisk, personligt forankret, professionsbaseret teoretisk og praktisk viden, der kommer til udtryk i en reflekteret professionsudøvelse. Artiklens empiri er hentet fra et aktionsforskningsbaseret udviklingsprojekt på en dansk professionshøjskole, hvor en gruppe undervisere har eksperimenteret med egen undervisning ved at inddrage kunstneriske værker og metoder i forskellige undervisningsforløb, hvor kunstinddragelsen viste sig at have betydning for de studerendes refleksionsmuligheder og meningsskabelse i spændet mellem personlig erfaring og professionens sprog, begreber og teorier. I lyset af æstetiske og sociokulturelle læringsteorier peger resultaterne på, at undervisningsaktiviteter med kunst har potentiale til at styrke de studerendes forestillingsevne om sig selv som fremtidigt kompetente, vidensbrugende professionsudøvere som pædagoger.AbstractArts-based teaching activities have the potentials to support the development of social education students’ professional identity. Professional identity is understood as a dynamic, embodied, profession-based theoretical and practical knowledge that is expressed in reflected professional action. The empirical material of the article derives from an action research-based educational development project at a Danish university college. A group of educators have experimented with their own teaching by involving art works and arts-based methods in different educational courses. In these courses, the involvement of art seemed to be significant for the students’ opportunities for reflection and meaning creation in the tension field between personal experience and the language, concepts and theories of the profession. In light of aesthetic and socio-cultural learning theories, the results point to the potentials of arts-based teaching activities to strengthen the students’ imagination of themselves as future competent, knowledge using professional social educators.
Pædagoger som forældrevejledere
Authors: Bach Dil
Published: November 2020

Siden udbygningen af daginstitutionsområdet i 1960erne, er der sket en massiv ’defamilisering’ i den forstand, at børn i dag tilbringer en stor del af deres barndom uden for familien. Ikke desto mindre bliver forældre betragtet som hovedpersoner i deres børns liv og som hovedansvarlige for barndommens kvalitet, hvilket vidner om en samtidig ’refamilisering’. Baseret på etnografisk feltarbejde i tre daginstitutioner og tilhørende familier, viser vi i denne artikel, at forældre ikke kun holdes ansvarlige for deres børns liv hjemme, men også for pædagogers muligheder for at gøre et godt stykke arbejde med børnene i daginstitutionen. Dette udtrykkes i form af en forventning om, at forældrene ”støtter op om” institutionens pædagogiske arbejde. I denne artikel fokuserer vi på pædagoger som forældrevejledere, dels i forhold til at få forældre til at støtte pædagogernes daglige arbejde med børnene i institutionen, dels i forhold til at rådgive om, hvordan man er en ansvarlig forælder, der samarbejder på ’rigtige’ måder og stimulerer sit barns udvikling derhjemme. Forældrene modtager velvilligt sådanne råd, da de er meget bevidste om at undgå forskellige risici. Denne risikobevidsthed er ofte indlejret i diagnostiske former, hvilket er med til at gøre forældre meget ’lydige’ og positionere pædagoger som forældreskabseksperter.

 

[Abstract – UK]In Denmark, a process of defamilising has taken place since the expansion of the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector in the 1960s, in the sense that children now spend a large part of their childhood outside the family. Nevertheless, parents are still seen as key figures in children’s upbringing and as having primary responsibility for the quality of childhood, implying a simultaneous process of refamilising. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in three kindergartens and their families we show that parents are not only held responsible for their children’s lives at home, but also for ensuring that ECEC staff have the best possible opportunity to support children’s development at ECEC institutions. We analyse how ECEC staff offer guidance on how to be a responsible parent who cooperates in ‘the right’ ways, and on how to cultivate children’s development at home. Parents willingly accept such advice because of a strong risk consciousness embedded in diagnostic forms, positioning ECEC staff as parenting experts.
Kollektiv ledelse
Authors: Wiedemann Finn
Published: November 2020

Artiklen beskriver og analyserer den særlige selvforståelse og praksis, der knytter sig til ledelsesformen kollektiv ledelse. Artiklen peger på, at der ikke kun er en måde at udøve kollektiv ledelse på, selv om de undersøgte institutioner bekender sig til de samme værdier. Forskellene kommer blandt andet til udtryk i den ledelsesmæssige struktur og det pædagogiske arbejde med børn og forældre. I ledelsestermer kan kollektiv ledelse fortolkes som et forsøg på at fastholde autonomi og forskellighed i en tid, hvor stadig flere centrale løsninger og modeller vinder indpas. Som afsæt for analyserne inddrages blandt andet ledelsesteori, pædagogisk historie og pædagogisk teori. Datagrundlaget stammer fra kvalitative interview med pædagoger ansat i tre daginstitutioner, som arbejder med kollektiv ledelse

 

[Abstract – UK]Shared Leadership: Is that related to chickens knit?The article deals with experiences with shared leadership in daycare institutions. The article points out that shared leadership can be practiced in different ways. The differences are among other things seen in the pedagogical work with children and parents. Seen from a leadership perspective, shared leadership could be interpreted as an attempt to maintain autonomy and difference in a time when more and more centralized and standardized solutions are seen within daycare institutions.
Redaktionelt Hvad uddannes pædagoger til – og hvordan?
Authors: Redaktion FPPU
Published: November 2020

Redaktionel introduktion til dette nummer.
25 års brok
Authors: Frederiksen Jan Thorhauge , Fenger Nadia
Published: November 2020

Hvordan vurderer studerende på pædagoguddannelserne deres undervisning – og hvordan skal man fortolke deres eventuelle kritik eller utilfredshed?  I en lang række evalueringer, undersøgelser og forskningsprojekter der beskæftiger sig med professionsuddannelserne i Danmark, kan man finde visse gentagne kritikpunkter fra de studerende. De er især utilfredse med uddannelsens tilrettelægning og med deres medstuderendes engagement.  I denne artikel vil vi prøve at anlægge en teoretisk ramme for at forstå sådanne kritikker i lyset af professionsforskningen, kritisk læringsteori og historisk uddannelsessociologi. Vores påstand er, at de studerendes kritik skal forstås som et udtryk for de særlige læringsprocesser man gennemlever som studerende på en professionsuddannelse og som et aspekt af det, man kan kalde semi-professions-problematikken; den særlige begrænsede professionelle status og anerkendelse, der bliver velfærdsprofessioner til del i den danske velfærdsstat. Denne artikel vil også vise, hvordan manglende anerkendelse af professionen manifesterer sig i de studerendes studierefleksioner og -praksis på pædagoguddannelsen. At forsøge at forstå brok i lyset af disse læsninger er, mener vi, et vigtigt bidrag til den aktuelle debat om pædagoguddannelsen og de pædagogstuderende, fordi brok ikke bare er udtryk for den enkelte studerendes oplevelser, men også har med profession og uddannelse som strukturelle fænomener at gøre.

Abstract25 years of complaining – social educator training in the intersection between student expectations and institutional framing

How do social educator students evaluate their training, and how should we interpret their dissatisfaction or critique? In several evaluations, studies and research concerned with professional training, we find certain complaints repeating. These concern the organization of the training, and the level of commitment from other students. This paper proposes a theoretical framework for interpreting these complaints, in the light of theories of professionalization, critical learning theory, and historical educational sociology. We argue that the complaints must be understood as both an aspect of the kind of learning one must encounter in such a training program, and as an aspect of what one might call the problem of semi-professions, the limited professional status and recognition welfare professions obtain in the Danish welfare state. The paper also shows how limited professional recognition also manifests in the student’s reflections and study practices. To understand complaints with such theoretical tools is, we suggest, an important contribution to current debates about social educator training, since such understanding emphasizes structural aspects related to professions and education as part of complaining.
Kommende pædagogers mestringer af pædagogfaglig identitet
Authors: Petersen Martin
Published: November 2020

I seks fokusgruppeinterviews er det blevet undersøgt, hvordan kommende pædagoger mestrer trusler imod pædagogfaglig identitet. Gennem en analyse af materialet fremstår to mønstre for mestring: Et robust mønster, hvor fordringen på identitet går på personlig udvikling og bidrag til pædagogisk indsats. Og et skrøbeligt mønster, hvor en udefra pånødet fordring på kernefaglighed placerer den kommende pædagog i en krydsild af identitetstrusler med besværlige mestringer til følge.

AbstractSix focus group interviews have been done to investigate, how social educators-to-be cope with threats to their professional identity. The finding is, that there are two patterns of coping: A robust pattern, where the claim to identity is about personal development and contributions to social educational endeavors. And a fragile pattern, where a claim to professional core competences imposed from the outside places the social educator to be in a crossfire of identity threats with troublesome copings as a result.
Sansen for at gøre det gode dannes gennem praksis
Authors: Boll Brian Harring
Published: November 2020

ResuméDenne artikel tager afsæt i den antagelse, at en skolastisk tilgang til undervisningen i etik ikke er tilstrækkelig. Med afsæt i et aristotelisk og dannelsesteoretisk inspireret forsknings- og udviklingsprojekt undersøger artiklen værdien og meningsfuldheden i en alternativ didaktisk rammesætning af arbejdet med etik i uddannelse. Først beskrives den teoretiske og filosofiske inspiration til projektet, dernæst den didaktiske rammesætning. I forlængelse heraf analyseres projektets empiri, der primært er baseret på 15 pædagogstuderendes refleksioner over deres bestræbelser på at realisere en selvvalgt dyd i deres anden praktik. Det sker i lyset af projektets dannelsesteoretiske forståelseshorisont. Projektet viser bl.a., at de studerende finder koblingen mellem deres egen udviklingsproces og bestræbelsen på at realisere dyden særdeles meningsfuldt. De oplever, at dette øger deres selvindsigt, samt skærper og nuancerer deres blik for det etiske i praksis. Dette afføder normative overvejelser hos de studerende om, hvad de kan stå inde for i praksis, hvem de ønsker at være som pædagog, og hvad de må arbejde med for at kunne realisere det gode.

AbstractThe sense of doing good is formed through practice. This paper takes its starting point in the assumption that a scholastic approach to ethics education is insufficient. Based on a research and development project inspired by Aristotle’s definition of virtues and Humboldt’s theory of self-formation, this paper examines the value and meaningfulness of an alternative didactic framing of working with ethics in education. First the theoretical and philosophical inspiration for the project is described followed by a description of the didactic framework. Next comes an analysis of the project's empirical data, which is primarily based on the written reflections made by 15 social education students on their continuous efforts to realize a self-elected virtue during the second internship of their study programme. The analysis is conducted within the horizon of theory of self-formation. Among other things, the project demonstrates that the students find the linkage between their own development and their virtue-based endeavours highly meaningful. They feel that their efforts to realize their chosen virtue increase their self-insight and develop their eye for the many significant facets of practice. This in turn leads the students to make normative considerations about what they can vouch for in practice, who they want to be as social educators, and what they will have to focus on in order to be able to realise the good.
Pædagogiske ildsjæle og entreprenører
Authors: Boysen Mikkel Snorre Wilms , Hansen Nils Falk , Yamil Mostafa
Published: November 2020

ResuméI de seneste 30 år har pædagogprofession og pædagoguddannelse ændret sig på måder, der tilsyneladende har gjort faglig fordybelse for pædagoger og UC undervisere vanskeligere. I dette lys synes entreprenante pædagogiske ildsjæle at repræsentere en mulig modpol, i den forstand at ildsjæle ofte evner at stå værn om faglig kvalitet, fx med afsæt i fagområder som drama, musik eller billedkunst. Ligeledes formår entreprenører ofte at etablere værdifulde initiativer indenfor, udenfor eller på tværs af formelle institutioner og organisationer. I artiklen undersøges denne hypotese og problemstilling via et empirisk studie af tre pædagogiske entreprenante ildsjæle før/under/efter en række workshops, hvor ildsjælene arbejder med pædagogiske målgrupper. Tre forskere/undervisere og 50 pædagogstuderende på tre forskellige campusser foretager undersøgelsen. Studiet peger på, at faglig ekspertise og specialviden kan opnås både udenfor og inden for etablerede formelle institutioner, men at entreprenørskab giver nogle særlige muligheder i forhold til at fastholde ildsjælenes fokus på deres pædagogiske visioner og deres faglige ekspertise. I artiklen diskuteres afslutningsvist ulemper og fordele ved at anvende entreprenørskabs-modeller til at oparbejde og tilbyde specialviden på kanten af den pædagogiske profession og uddannelse.

AbstractSocial entrepreneurs within the pedagogical profession: A study of entrepreneurship as a possible way to build up specialized pedagogical competence and environments. In Denmark, the pedagogical profession and the field of social education have changed radically over the last thirty years: pedagogues are expected to acquire both academic and practical competence, as well as have a broad set of knowledge within many different pedagogical subcategories. In consequence, educators and pedagogues have found it increasingly difficult to achieve and maintain specialized, rather than general, professional expertise. In this perspective, social entrepreneurship seems to represent a possible gateway, because entrepreneurs are often able to focus on a specific professional agenda and approach, e.g. within the field of drama, music, visual art, therapy, etc. In the current article, this hypothesis is investigated through a qualitative case study of three social entrepreneurs’ pedagogical careers, methods, approaches and visions. The study is conducted by three researchers/educators and fifty students across three different campuses. The study indicates that specialized knowledge and competence can be achieved and maintained both within and outside formal institutions. Still, entrepreneurship seems to offer unique possibilities when it comes to the establishment of specialized pedagogical environments with a continuous focus on specific visions and approaches. At the end of the article, entrepreneurship within the pedagogical profession is discussed from a normative perspective and essential pros and cons are highlighted.
”Det gjorde sygt, sygt ondt”
Authors: Jørgensen Hanne Hede , Skovbjerg Helle Marie
Published: November 2020

ResumeMed afsæt i en pilotundersøgelse baseret på Design-Based-Research og etnografisk intervention præsenterer denne artikel et legedesign som ramme for studier af børns deltagelsesmuligheder i leg. Studiet tager udgangspunkt i legen som stemningspraksis og viser, at børns viden om at slå-for-sjov samt deres kendskab til et dø-dramatisk-narrativ har betydning for, om legen opleves som god, mens børn, der har forestillinger om virkelig, fysisk smerte, umiddelbart ikke oplever at være inkluderet i leg. Artiklen diskuterer afslutningsvis, hvordan børns viden om leg kan udgøre et pædagogisk potentiale, samt hvorfor legen bør sættes på den pædagogiske dagsorden i skole og SFO.

Abstract”It hurts awesomely”. Designing inclusive play environment in schools in collaboration with pedagoguesStarting from a pilot study based on Designed-Based-Research and ethnographic intervention this article presents a play design. The play design is based on play as a mood practice and frames a study on children´s possibilities to participate in play. The study discloses how knowledge on hitting for fun and a narrative of dramatic death is significant for the children´s experiences of good play. Children, however, who do not experience themselves included in play, tend to speak of real pain. Finally, the article discus the pedagogical potential of children´s knowledge of play and why play ought to be part of a pedagogical agenda in schools and leisure time clubs.
An Adaptive Version of Brandes' Algorithm for Betweenness Centrality
Authors: Bentert Matthias , Dittmann Alexander , Kellerhals Leon , Nichterlein André , Niedermeier Rolf
Published: November 2020

Betweenness centrality-measuring how many shortest paths pass through a vertex-is one of the most important network analysis concepts for assessing the relative importance of a vertex.
The well-known algorithm of Brandes [J. Math. Sociol. '01] computes, on an $n$-vertex and $m$-edge graph, the betweenness centrality of all vertices in $O(nm)$ worst-case time.
In later work, significant empirical speedups were achieved by preprocessing degree-one vertices and by graph partitioning based on cut vertices.
We contribute an algorithmic treatment of degree-two vertices, which turns out to be much richer in mathematical structure than the case of degree-one vertices.
Based on these three algorithmic ingredients, we provide a strengthened worst-case running time analysis for betweenness centrality algorithms.
More specifically, we prove an adaptive running time bound $O(kn)$, where $k < m$ is the size of a minimum feedback edge set of the input graph.
Exploring Law's Manifestations in Private/Public Places
Authors:   , Dickinson Sarah Jill
Published: November 2020

The importance of 'place' for mental and physical wellbeing is well-documented. Yet profound social, economic, and technological changes increasingly challenge those who regulate, own, fund, develop, manage, operationalise, and/or use places. This generates tensions between competing stakeholder interests and potentially affects the continued existence of different places. I present my research against a backdrop of combined cross-disciplinary concepts that include: space and place, legal geography, temporality, legal pluralism and governance. I examine gaps in the literature around the interactions between regulatory forces and exhibited behaviours, and their potential influence on the future existence of particular places. The overarching aim of the research programme is to explore law's manifestations in private/public places. To achieve this, I developed a grounded theory research strategy. I also implemented multiple methods, including law in action, doctrinal and empirical approaches, to generate robust findings and minimise methods bias. My collection of seven publications demonstrates an overarching theme of place-sustainability. The research programme makes a four-fold contribution. First, it adopts a specific combination of perspectives and methods for investigating: perceived manifestations of law; the law's quest to achieve a balance of stakeholder interests; relationships between place-related regulatory forces and exhibited behaviours; inter-stakeholder tensions; and, their combined influence on the future existence of places. Second, it demonstrates how a multi-disciplinary approach can be used to generate new understandings of place-sustainability within the context of a particular range of private/public places. Third, it evidences the complex nature of place-sustainability, particularly around: the enduring prioritisation of property ownership and occupation, the tensions between competing stakeholder interests, and the general inefficacy of a black-letter approach. Fourth, it details recommendations for combining legislative development, collaborative working, and supporting structural and cultural change to ease inter-stakeholder tensions and support place-sustainability within the context of a dynamic environment.
Modernisation of Electric Equipment of Combined Cycle Units for Adaption to New Electricity Market Requirements
Authors:   , Oļekšijs Romāns
Published: November 2020

Change of market principles and European Union environmental targets leads to more cycling operations of combined cycle units, which used to operate in baseload regime. Due to generation imbalanced allocation, which mainly provoked by intermitting generation, power network becomes less stable. As a result, new requirements for generator connection in Europe were developed, challenging existing power plants to fulfill them. All this leads to higher operational costs of combined heat and power plants and solutions must be found to reduce costs and/or increase revenue. Cycling operation negative impact on power plant thermal equipment is well studied. This Doctoral Thesis reviews the cycling operation impact on combined heat and power plant main electrical equipment and provides empirical formulas to evaluate reliability for different operation scenarios. Solutions for power plant modernisations to fulfill new requirements and provide ancillary services are analyzed. Possible costs of ancillary service provision from combined heat and power plants as well as sites connected to transmission system are evaluated, providing information for further calculations. Detailed methodology of solar generated energy applicability for self-consumption needs was developed, which allows to choose the right power of installation to make the fastest payback time. A battery storage optimization methodology was developed to reduce self-consumption costs of power plant interacting with the solar generation or operating separately. The methodology for combined heat and power plant operation planning enhancement was developed, which use gain from ancillary service provision to move startup’s back in time or shutdowns further in future to provide highest revenue. Methodology also allows to use additional profit to grant lowest number of startup’s per year. Results of both approaches are used to make incident rate calculations by developed empirical formulas, which allow to choose optimal strategy for power plant operation. Obtained formulas can be easily used for most combined heat and power plants. Developed methodologies can be used to optimize the self-consumption of any applications. Methodology for power plant operation planning enhancement is applicable to various scenarios. All developed methodologies were tested on historical data. The results of analysis of ancillary service provision remuneration impact on combined heat and power plant main electrical equipment incident rate and possible income should lead to new researches in this area.
Life Cycle Assessment of Renewable Polyol Monomers for Polyurethane Production
Authors:   , Fridrihsone Anda
Published: November 2020

ycle Inventory of winter and spring rapeseed production in Latvia as a case study country in Northern Europe. In-depth and up-to-date agricultural practices used in the region under study data were provided by a large agricultural company located in Zemgale region in Latvia. Chapter III Part II presents an inventory of rapeseed oil mill stage with data provided by operation oil mill in Zemgale region. Different allocation methods are applied to further investigate the effect of different allocation methods on the environmental profiles of rapeseed oil-based bio-polyols and the consequences of applying these methods considering the main aims of the study. Chapter III Part III presents Life Cycle Impact Assessment of winter and spring rapeseed production and rapeseed oil production. Environmental performance is analyzed with Cumulative energy demand impact indicator along with the ReCiPe impact assessment methodology. The main environmental hotspots were identified. Sensitivity analysis was performed. Chapter III Part IV presents results of the Life Cycle Assessment of two rapeseed oil-based bio-polyols. Life Cycle Inventories were built on experimental data for polyol synthesis that were performed in a pilot-scale (50 L reactor). Bio-based polyols were compared with the petrochemical counterpart. The two developed rapeseed oil-based polyols were analyzed with three different modelling approaches for the bio-based feedstock stage. Sensitivity analysis was performed.
Bioresursu pāreja uz ilgtspējīgu bioekonomiku
Authors:   , Žihare Lauma
Published: November 2020

Promocijas darba mērķis ir izstrādāt integrējošu metodoloģiju ilgtspējīgas bioekonomikas novērtēšanai, izmantojot bioresursu pārejas novērtējumus, izmantojot lejupejošās un augšupejošās pieejas, transdisciplināru analīzi un nepietiekami izmantoto biomasas potenciālu. Darba galvenais ieguldījums izriet no integrētas daudzlīmeņu pieejas, kurā ņemti vērā tehniskie, sociālekonomiskie, vides un tirgus aspekti. Darba mērķu sasniegšanai ir izvirzīti šādi uzdevumi: 1) Novērtēt bioekonomikas izpratni un izveidot konsolidētu skatījumu uz bioekonomiku 2) Izvērtēt disciplinaritātes pieejas ilgtspējīgai bioekonomikai 3) Identificēt bioekonomiku ietekmējošos faktorus, to savstarpējās saites un ierosināt iespējamos saistību novērtējumus 4) noteikt faktoru raksturlielumus 5) Izveidot faktoru saistību līmeņatzīmi 6) Izveidot bioekonomikas efektivitātes noteikšanas metodiku 7) Identificēt neizmantotos bioresursus un novērtēt to potenciālo vērtību efektīvai resursu pārejai, ierosinot jaunas vai esošās bioresursu vērtību ķēdes un to prioritātes 8) Nodrošināt inovāciju nodošanu ar tirgus un ekonomiskās analīzes sistēmu, lai noteiktu, vai inovatīvam bioloģiskam produktam vai tehnoloģijai ir potenciāls veiksmīgai komercializācijai 9) Validēt bioresursu potenciālu veicot eksperimentālo analīzi. Pētījums piedāvā vairākas jaunas pieejas, kuras iepriekš nav izmantotas bioekonomikā. Šajā darbā ir aprakstīti trīs galvenie bioresursu pārejas novērtēšanas līmeņi ar metodoloģiju izveidi un gadījumu izpēti, lai aprobētu šīs metodoloģijas. Šajā darbā iegūtais rezultāts paplašina esošās zināšanas bioekonomikā daudzlīmeņu pieejai ar starpnozaru analīzi. Rezultāti ir labvēlīgi valsts, vietējā un nozaru līmeņa valdības iestādēm, ieinteresētajām personām un zinātniekiem.
A conserved LDL-receptor motif regulates corin and CD320 membrane targeting in polarized renal epithelial cells
Authors: Zhang Ce , Chen Yue , Sun Shijin , Zhang Yikai , Wang Lina , Luo Zhipu , Liu Meng , Dong Liang , Dong Ningzheng , Wu Qingyu
Published: November 2020

Selective protein distribution on distinct plasma membranes is important for epithelial cell function. To date, how proteins are directed to specific epithelial cell surface is not fully understood. Here we report a conserved DSSDE motif in LDL-receptor (LDLR) modules of corin (a transmembrane serine protease) and CD320 (a receptor for vitamin B12 uptake), which regulates apical membrane targeting in renal epithelial cells. Altering this motif prevents specific apical corin and CD320 expression in polarized Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Mechanistic studies indicate that this DSSDE motif participates in a Rab11a-dependent mechanism that specifies apical sorting. In MDCK cells, inhibition of Rab11a, but not Rab11b, expression leads to corin and CD320 expression on both apical and basolateral membranes. Together, our results reveal a novel molecular recognition mechanism that regulates LDLR module-containing proteins in their specific apical expression in polarized renal epithelial cells.
Polo-like kinase acts as a molecular timer that safeguards the asymmetric fate of spindle microtubule-organizing centers
Authors: Matellán Laura , Manzano-López Javier , Monje-Casas Fernando
Published: November 2020

The microtubules that form the mitotic spindle originate from microtubule-organizing centers (MTOCs) located at either pole. After duplication, spindle MTOCs can be differentially inherited during asymmetric cell division in organisms ranging from yeast to humans. Problems with establishing predetermined spindle MTOC inheritance patterns during stem cell division have been associated with accelerated cellular aging and the development of both cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we expand the repertoire of functions Polo-like kinase family members fulfill in regulating pivotal cell cycle processes. We demonstrate that the Plk1 homolog Cdc5 acts as a molecular timer that facilitates the timely and sequential recruitment of two key determinants of spindle MTOCs distribution, that is the γ-tubulin complex receptor Spc72 and the protein Kar9, and establishes the fate of these structures, safeguarding their asymmetric inheritance during Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitosis.
Static and dynamic alterations in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Ma Xujing , Lu Fengmei , Chen Heng , Hu Caihong , Wang Jiao , Zhang Sheng , Zhang Shuqin , Yang Guiran , Zhang Jiuquan
Published: November 2020

Background

Static changes in local brain activity in patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have been studied. However, the dynamic characteristics of local brain activity are poorly understood. Whether dynamic alterations could differentiate patients with ALS from healthy controls (HCs) remains unclear.

Methods

A total of 54 patients with ALS (mean age = 48.71 years, male/female = 36/18) and 54 (mean age = 48.30 years, male/female = 36/18) HCs underwent magnetic resonance imaging scans. To depict static alterations in cortical activity, amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) which measures the total power of regional activity was computed. Dynamic ALFF (d-ALFF) from all subjects was calculated using a sliding-window approach. Statistical differences in ALFF and d-ALFF between both groups were used as features to explore whether they could differentiate ALS from HC through support vector machine method.

Results

In contrast with HCs, patients with ALS displayed increased ALFF in the right inferior temporal gyrus and bilateral frontal gyrus and decreased ALFF in the left middle occipital gyrus and left precentral gyrus. Furthermore, patients with ALS demonstrated lower d-ALFF in widespread regions, including the right lingual gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus, bilateral precentral gyrus, and left paracentral lobule by comparison with HCs. In addition, the ALFF in the left superior orbitofrontal gyrus had a tendency of correlation with ALSFRS-R score and disease progression rate. The classification performance in distinguishing ALS was higher with both features of ALFF and d-ALFF than that with a single approach.

Conclusions

Decreased dynamic brain activity in the precentral gyrus, paracentral gyrus, lingual gyrus, and temporal regions was found in the ALS group. The combined ALFF and d-ALFF could distinguish ALS from HCs with a higher accuracy than ALFF and d-ALFF alone. These findings may provide important evidence for understanding the neuropathology underlying ALS.
Performance Evaluation of Farmers’ Onion Varieties against Purple Blotch Disease
Authors: Parvez Noushad , Choudhary Hardev , Shinde Vaibhavkumar V. , More Vijay G. , Kudtarkar U. S. , Gabhale L. K. , Dhane A. S. , Gangawane S. B. , Maru Bhaumik , Ghole Sandip V. , Pisore Babahaeb N.
Published: November 2020

Aims: To evaluate the performance of farmers’ onion varieties against purple blotch disease at different locations and to correlate Percent Disease Index with yield attributing and other important traits.

Study Design: Randomized Block Design, Field demonstration.

Place and Duration of Study: National Innovation Foundation- India Gandhinagar Gujarat, Repoli and Palghar research stations of Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli Maharashtra during October 2017 to April 2019.

Methodology: Two farmers’ onion varieties Sona-40 and Sandip were characterized and tested for their response against purple blotch disease under field condition in comparison with location-specific check varieties. Percent Disease Index of purple blotch was observed, compared and correlated with important traits viz. the plant height, leaves per plant, bulb diameter, maturity period, bulb weight, bulb yield and keeping quality. In Maharashtra areas, the study was conducted under Repoli and Palghar conditions during winter (Rabi) 2017, whereas at Gandhinagar Gujarat, it was undertaken in winter (Rabi) 2017 and 2018.

Results: The farmers’ onion cultivars Sandip and Sona-40 were found to be tolerant to the purple blotch disease at all the locations. In Maharashtra and Gujarat, the average Percent Disease Index (PDI) in Sona-40 (12.1%, 12.2%) and Sandip (10.75%, 14.64%) was found significantly lower as compared to the checks respectively. The present studies also confirmed that onion bulb’s yield, weight and keeping quality were significantly correlated with the purple blotch disease.

Conclusion: This study exhibited that the farmers’ onion varieties may perform better against disease infestation such as purple blotch disease. It also confirmed that the response of the onion varieties against purple blotch may vary in different locations. It is shown that the bulb weight, yield and shelf life of bulbs are significantly affected by purple blotch disease.
Determinants of Food Security among Rural Women in Kaduna State, Nigeria
Authors: Olagunju O. E. , Ariyo O. C. , Emeghara U. U. , Olagunju O. S.
Published: November 2020

Adequate nutrition is a crucial component of a healthy society. One of the major problems of human health is malnutrition and it is in every society. Rural households engage in food production, yet, they are mostly food insecure.This study accessed the determinants of food security among rural women in Kaduna state. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to draw the sample. Four rural Local Government Areas (LGAs) were randomly selected, while three villages were randomly sampled from each LGA resulting in 12 villages. Ten percent of the rural women in each of the sampled villages were randomly selected to give a total of 240 respondents. Interview schedule was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as Chi–square, Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and Regression. Mean age was 29.7±8.08 years. Most (60.4%) of the respondents were Christians. Thirty-four percent of the respondents hadsecondary education while some (40.0%) of the respondents were involved in trading. Dry season was considered as season of abundance by majority (70.8%) of the respondents. PPMC indicates that age (r=0.119; p=0.009) and household size, (r = 0.221; P = 0.001) were significantly related with household food security, while position as wife (β= 0.194), household size (β= -0.173) and monthly income (β= -0.095) were major determinants of household food security. Rural women have reasonable access to food. The study recommends that rural women should practice home gardening and domesticate animals to enhance food secured rural family.
Predicting Taxpayers Attitudes towards of Indian Tax Payers towards the E-Return Filling: An Empirical Study of Delhi, NCR, India
Authors: Mittal Ruhee , Prakash Bishwajeet , Vishal .
Published: November 2020

The aim of the present study is to examine the attitude, awareness, perception of the individual tax-payers in Delhi, National Capital Region (NCR) towards the e-filling tax portal started by Government of India (GOI). The study is based on the quantitative variables in which different dimension of Technology acceptance model [1], are taken for assessing the individuals behaviour towards e-filing. The data is collected from 200 individual tax payers through purposively sampling method from Delhi NCR region. The findings of the study indicate that the e-tax filling has reduced the cost, time, convenience, improve the efficiency, and better from traditional method of tax filling procedures. The study reveals that age, education level and gender of the individuals are affecting the attitude, perception and awareness towards the e-tax filling tax system.  This study makes a novel attempt to identify or to examine the tax payers’ satisfaction, problems they face in filing ITR online, awareness levels, and their perception towards E-filing system. The work has a relevant practical justification, to evaluate the user’s satisfaction with Online Import Declaration system, used to make it more transparent and secure, both for taxpayers and for the government. In this way, the study contributes to increasing the efficiency of the collection system, making the financing of the public projects more viable, without the need to increase the tax burden.
Managing the Incidence of Electoral Violence in Ghana’s Fourth Republic
Authors: Belley Harrison Kofi
Published: November 2020

Since the inception of the fourth republic in 1992 [1], Ghana has gone through seven major successive general elections and has received numerous commendations all over the world. Incidentally, all these elections were associated with electoral violence. This study aimed at studying the causes, nature, and effects of electoral violence in the Volta Region of Ghana. The objective of the study included how electoral violence affects the credibility of the electoral system and what measures the Electoral Commission (EC) and the stakeholders in the conduct of elections have put in place to address the occurrence of electoral violence in the Volta Region in particular. The study identified two broad factors as responsible for the occurrence of electoral violence. The first factor is the process factor that serves as immediate cause of an eruption of electoral violence. The second is the external factors which, also serve as fertile grounds for electoral violence to occur. The study used qualitative research design in gathering data. The study used purposive sampling technique. In-depth interviews were conducted as the primary sources of data collection while secondary sources were gathered through existing documents, reports, textbooks, and internet search. The study recommended that EC should be professional in their electoral activities so that their actions would not serve as a spark of electoral violence.
Studies on Economic Feasibility and Suitability of Intercrops in Aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn L.) Plantation
Authors: Dharani Bhavanasi , Mishra Saket
Published: November 2020

The present investigation entitled “Studies on economic feasibility and suitability of intercrops in Aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn L.) plantation” was carried out during2018- 2019 at the Department of Horticulture, SHUATS, Prayagraj. The result of the present investigation, regarding the effect of inter crops in Aonla plantation on tree growth and fruit yield of Aonla. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD), replicated thrice with the six intercropping system treatment combination of T0: Sole crop, T1:Spinach, T2:Radish, T3:Tomato, T4:Coriander, T5:Okra and T6: Fenugreek. From the present investigation the treatment T2 Radish is best maximum growth, fruit yield and quality of Aonla tree and was recorded. In the treatment T1 is the best for Intercrop Yield (q/ha) (198.53) under Prayagraj agro-climatic condition.
Phytochemical Screening, Mathematical Analysis and Antimicrobial Activity of Methanolic Seed Extract of Hunteria Umbellata
Authors: Aderele Oluwaseun Raphael , Rasaq Adekunle Kareem , Momoh Johnson Oshiobugie
Published: November 2020

Aim: The study evaluates the in-vitro antimicrobial activity of Hunteria umbellata against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus sp.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out for three months in 2019 in Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemical Sciences (Biochemistry unit), School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos- Nigeria.

Methodology: The qualitative and GC-MS analysis of Hunteria umbellata methanolic seed extract were determined using standard procedure. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the disc diffusion method and agar well diffusion method. The experimental data was resampled 1000 times to allow for higher degrees of freedom in carrying out t-test to test for the difference of the effect of in-vitro antimicrobial activity of H. umbellata against E. coli, S. aureus and Streptococcus sp using mathematical software R language (3.6.1 version). Line plots, histogram and t-test are used to explain the effect of antimicrobial activity of H. umbellate on the selected bacteria. MIC and MBC were determined using standard methods.

Results: The Phytochemical analysis of methanolic seed extract of Hunteria umbellata showed the presence of secondary metabolites like saponins, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, phenol among others. GC-MS assay of the H. umbellata seed extract revealed the presence of eight different compounds. Agar well diffusion method was characterized by inhibition zones of 18.36±0.87, 19.13±1.03 and 21.62±2.53 mm for E.coli, S. aureus and Streptococcus sp respectively at 300 mg/ml-1 and 21.70± 1.60, 23.83± 2.64 and 28.57± 1.52 for E.coli, S. aureus and Streptococcus sp respectively at 500 mg/ml. The results of the analysis show that there is a significant difference between the effects of in-vitro antimicrobial activity of H. umbellate on 3001 and 500 mg/ml on each bacteria tested at 5% level of significance. E.coli, S. aureus and Streptococcus sp were tested against 12 standard antimicrobial agents, of which six was sensitive and another six was resistance to E .coli, seven was sensitive, and five was resistance to S. aureus while four was resistance and eight sensitive to Streptococcus sp. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for E.coli, S. aureus, and  Streptococcus sp were 250, 125 and 31.25 mgml-1 while their minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were 500, 250 and 125 respectively. MIC and MBC tests showed that H. umbellata methanolic seed extract had noticeable bactericidal effects with MBC/MIC values ranging between 2 to 4. The extract has strong potency against these microorganisms with Streptococcus sp being the most susceptible.

Conclusions: Hunteria umbellata has potential as natural therapeutic agents against E. coli, S. aureus and Streptococcus sp and they may prevent pathogenic diseases.
Cost-benefit Analysis of Rating Scale and Criterion Reference Assessment Technique for Determining Students’ Performance in Rice Production in Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Authors: Elom Ogbonnaya , Onu Francis Madueke , Abu Mohammed , Onah Ogechukwu , Monwuba Nnennaya Sinachi
Published: November 2020

The objectives of the study were to determine the difference in costs of ingredients, the benefit in percentage score of students’ performance and the difference between the benefit in percentage score of students’ performance determined through the two assessment modes RS and CRAT- by implicating rice production in Ebonyi State. The study adopted quasi-experimental design. The population of the study was 570 made up of 20 teachers of agricultural science and 550 students offering agricultural science for the Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE) in Ikwo and Ivo Local Government Areas of the state. The sample of the study was 100 made up of 60 senior secondary II students and 40 teachers of agricultural science. Four sets of instruments were utilized for data collection. The reliability of the content- validated RS items was determined using Cronbach alpha formula which yielded a coefficient of 0.82.Split-half and Kudder-Richardson (K-R 20) was utilized to determine the stability of the test items which yielded a coefficient of 0.80. Procedural steps was adopted to administer and collect data from the two schools using the RS and CRAT items. Data collected was analysed using percentage, weighted mean and sign test to answer the research questions. Real limits of numbers were utilized to take decision on percentage. The study found out that the estimate cost of CRAT was cheaper than that of RS by ₦13,643.20. The study also established the benefit of CRAT (over RS) which can be utilized as a substitute to “alternative to practical” mode of determining students’ performance in rice production. It was recommended, among others, that external examination bodies should infuse the use of CRAT into their examination policy and that teachers of agricultural science should seek for training in CRAT development for use in determining students’ performance in relevant areas of agriculture.