bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Didática: uma proposta ergoavaliativa para reconfiguração da prática pedagógica durante a pandemia
Authors: Silva Jurandir , Veríssimo Mariana , Philippe Gabriel
Published: August 2022

Este texto tem por objetivo refletir sobre a proposta de trabalho ergoavaliativa implementada com uma turma do 2º Período do curso de Pedagogia de uma Instituição de Ensino Superior (IES) de Belo Horizonte/MG. Considera as implicações da pandemia da Covid-19, bem como os desafios para as aprendizagens e o trabalho docente e discente em um contexto de distanciamento social. Buscou-se implementar, no segundo semestre de 2020, uma proposta de trabalho que atendesse às demandas de um contexto em que professores e estudantes se viam desafiados não somente pela pandemia, mas também pelo Regime Remoto Emergencial (ERE). A partir da proposta ergoavaliativa, os(as) alunos(as) refletiram quanto aos aspectos gerais e específicos da disciplina Didática: Fundamentos da Prática Docente, bem como quanto ao ERE na IES pesquisada, a disposição de recursos para a realização das aprendizagens, a prática docente, os desafios dessa nova dinâmica e outros aspectos. Ainda, os(as) participantes dedicaram um momento para a autoatribuição de uma nota, de 0 a 100, haja vista as exigências da IES. Nesses termos, a proposta ergoavaliativa fez-se significativa não somente para que os(as) estudantes externassem suas percepções quanto ao referido momento, mas também para que compreendessem as questões relativas ao processo pessoal de investir saberes no corpo-si. Ainda, possibilitou a reflexão mais profunda quanto à prática docente e às condições materiais e imateriais para a implementação/execução de um modelo como o ERE.
Saberes do cárcere versus saberes de uma prisão incomum: o processo de trabalho de formadores em unidades prisionais
Authors: Amorim-Silva Karol , Barbosa Renan , Fidalgo Fernando
Published: August 2022

Ao considerar a convergência entre os sistemas de privação de liberdade que vigoram no Estado de Minas Gerais, o convencional e o apaqueano, tem-se a legislação que dispõe sobre a educação no sistema prisional por meio do termo de convênio celebrado entre as Secretarias de Estado de Educação e de Justiça e Segurança Pública, sendo a primeira de forma latente submetida à segunda. O objetivo é traçar um panorama acerca da formação e atuação dos(as) trabalhadores(as) docentes envolvidos(as) nos processos educativos que acontecem em duas instituições prisionais distintas a fim de compreender se a natureza e modelo do ambiente carcerário influencia na aplicação da legislação, acesso à programas de formação e formas de atuação. Foi possível perceber que o modelo e a forma como é executada a pena privativa de liberdade pode influenciar no processo de trabalho dos formadores no interior das unidades prisionais.
Evidences of our inhumanity: Representations of evil and the quest for postcolonial healing in Tadjo’s The Shadows of Imana: Travels in the heart of Rwanda
Authors: Sam Christabel Aba , Nkansah Samuel Kwesi
Published: August 2022

In spite of Tadjo‘s evident references to the concept of evil and its ramifications in post-genocide Rwanda, it still remains peripheral in the literature. This gap distorts our understanding of traumatogenic experiences and the diagnostics that is required. Drawing on Immanuel Kant‘s conceptions of evil and postcolonial literary theory, this paper explores the literary representations of evil in relation to the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda while simultaneously looking at therapeutic strategies in healing the wounds of the past as depicted in Veronique Tadjo‘s The Shadows of Imana: Travels in the heart of Rwanda. Such a reading, as the paper argues, creates new conversations for understanding travel writings and historical violence.
Economic valuation of consumers’ preferences for bush yam attributes: Implications for breeding commercial crop in Ghana
Authors: Dadzie Samuel Kwesi Ndzebah , Mbroh Isaac , Ghartey William , Mensah Albert O.
Published: August 2022

Bush yam has been underutilized and underrated for long due to its undesirable attributes or traits, hence the commercial and food security potentials of the crop have been downgraded and unexploited. This paper, therefore, explored the Ghanaian bush yam consumers’ decisionmaking behaviour towards the crop’s cultivar selection and the values they place on its diverse attributes. With the aim of examining consumers’ preference and willingness to pay for bush yam, we designed a choice experiment which was implemented through a cross-sectional survey, involving 390 bush yam consumers in the Western-North, Eastern and Central Cocoa Regions of Ghana. We employed Conditional logit to model consumers’ preference behaviour for bush yam attributes from the choice experiment and, subsequently, computed their willingness-to-pay for each attribute, following the Lancaster consumer theory, using the ratios of specific product attributes and cost parameter. Our estimates of consumers’ preferences for bush yam attribute revealed a highly significant preference for bigger tuber size, no colour change and sweet taste attributes. Age, education, marital status, and years of consumption were found to have influenced consumers’ preferences for bush yam attributes. Furthermore, we found that bush yam consumers are willing to pay extra price value for improvement in tuber size, colour change and taste to meet their indicated preferences. We, therefore, recommend that, for breeding programmes to be more effective and sustainable towards developing a commercial cultivar, breeding institutions and policy makers should focus on the preferred attributes as indicated by consumers for a successful future commercialization of bush yam in the country
Effect Of Job-Related Stress on Employee Performance at Selected Banks in Ghana
Authors: Segbenya Moses , Hatsu Tracy Aku Selasi
Published: August 2022

This study investigated the effect of job-related stress on employee performance in the banking sector. The study adopted a cross-sectional study design.  The population of the study was 320 employees from 7 selected banks with a sample size of 160 respondents. Simple random sampling was used in selecting the respondents for the study. The data was solicited using closed-ended questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to find out the level of stress and work-related stressors of participants. An inferential statistic of regression was used to analyse the effect of job stress on performance. The study found a high level of job-related stress among employees in the banking sector. Job stress was found to have a significant effect on employee performance at the selected banks. The study also established that stress management on the part of the management of the selected banks was low, which contributed to the high level of the negative effect of job-related stress on employee performance at the banks. It was recommended that the management of the banks should conduct a stress audit to identify the level of stress of its staff and put measures to alleviate or curtail them.
Is the selection of Ghanaian policy makers based on socio-cultural and ethnic reasonings relevant in today’s politics? Evidence from the Cape Coast Metropolis in Ghana
Authors: Akuffo D.O , Owusu N.O , Opoku S
Published: August 2022

This study examines the effect of appraisive attitudes on citizens’ participation behaviour at the sub-national electoral levels in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. The study was quantitative with cross-sectional explanatory design. The study population was 1145 with a sample size of 291. The SPSS was employed for descriptive analysis and the Smart PLS was employed for structural equation modelling.  It was found that all the three dimensions of appraisive attitudes (policy responsiveness, performance and integrity) used in this study have positive effects on citizen participation behaviour in the study area of the Cape Coast Metropolis in Ghana. This means Africans have come of age and the days of choosing Africa policy makers based on socio-cultural and ethnic reasoning appear to be over. Policy makers must, therefore, take into consideration the interests of the citizens and work to improve on their living conditions in order to sustain their political career.
Enhancing access to institutional financial support for small and medium enterprises in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis of Ghana
Authors: Enu-Kwesi Francis , Quarshie Maria-Antoinette Adriana , Mensah John Victor
Published: August 2022

This paper discusses the factors which affect access to financial support by small and medium enterprise (SMEs) in Sekondi-Takoradi. Financial resources are crucial in the life of all businesses including SMEs. However, access to financial support comes with the problems of information asymmetry, moral hazard and adverse selection. The factors that influence access to financial support are investigated using a non-interventional cross-sectional study design. Quantitative data were collected from 303 randomly selected SMEs using interview schedules, while qualitative data, using an interview guide, were obtained from 21 institutions offering financial support to SMEs in Sekondi- Takoradi. With the use of interpretations of the qualitative data, and descriptive statistics including cross tabulations, the results showed that interest rates, collateral, guarantors and, business and financial information, and financial literacy play a role in the access of institutional financial support by SMEs.
Perception of Postgraduate Students on Customer Service at the School of Graduate Studies, University of Cape Coast
Authors: Addo-Nkrumah Betty K.
Published: August 2022

The aim of this study was to examine the quality of service provided by the School of Graduate Studies, University of Cape Coast to its students (customers). This study employed a descriptive survey design. A questionnaire designed by the researchers was used to obtain data from 400 postgraduate students (customers), using the stratified sampling technique. Data were presented and analyzed using descriptive statistics which included frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation. The study found that staff members at the School of Graduate Studies, University of Cape Coast provide quality services to postgraduate students at different dimensions when they seek assistance. It was therefore recommended that the Directorate of Human Resource in collaboration with Training and Development Section of the University of Cape Coast should include aspect of customer care topics in the training programmes for all categories of staff in order to improve professionalism in tangibility dimension of service delivery.
Firm-Level Determinants of Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Ansong Abraham
Published: August 2022

This paper examined firm-level determinants of social performance among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana, using specific traits, such as firm age, firm size, financial performance, leverage and managerial competence. It contributes to our knowledge on how firm-level characteristics influence the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives among SMEs. The study analysed primary data of 423 SMEs, using regression analysis. It documented positive relationships between managerial competence, financial performance and CSR, and a negative relationship between leverage and CSR. The thrust of the study is that, besides managerial competence, financial performance variables were far more important determinants of the social performance of SMEs than non-financial ones. Therefore, it recommended that policy makers that desire active participation of the SME sector in addressing societal problems should institute measures that will improve their financial performance. These could include providing cheaper alternatives to accessing funds and maintaining a sustainable macroeconomic environment that support the financial prosperity of this sector. Finally, since it has been proven that managerial competence improves social performance, SME owner/managers are being encouraged to invest a lot of time and resources in sharpening their managerial competencies.
Perceived Stress and Social Support Among Postgraduate Students: Implications for Well-Being and Engagement
Authors: Kosi Isaac
Published: August 2022

Perceived stress and social support affect student well-being and engagement. Drawing on the Job Demand and Resource (JD-R) theory, this study examined perceived stress and social support on well-being (life satisfaction) and work engagement among postgraduate students in Ghana. Based on a cross-sectional survey and voluntary sampling technique, data were collected from 205 students, using a self-report questionnaire. The PLS-SEM ver3 was used to test the uniqueness of the constructs and to analyse the hypothesised path models. The findings suggest that perceived stress, social support and well-being play a crucial role in predicting student work engagement. Student well-being partially mediated the relationship between social support and engagement but not between perceived stress and engagement. In conclusion, this present study has shown that social support is critical for a student; hence, there is the need to improve support systems in the universities.
Declaration of assets by public officers: when breach of duty to declare assets is a technical offence in Nigeria
Authors: Ewere Anthony Osaro
Published: August 2022

The Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act 1991 established the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal, primarily for the purpose of tracking assets owned by public officers as a mechanism against corrupt enrichment. Section 15 of the Act mandates public officers to declare their assets at various times in the course of employment. Though the Act criminalises failure to declare assets, the proviso to section 3 thereof however restrains the Bureau from referring cases of non-compliance to the Tribunal if a public officer admits his breach in writing. This makes such infraction a mere technical offence for which no blame can be ascribed to an ‘offender’ who admits his breach. Therefore, initiating criminal proceedings where the law absolves public officers from liability seems to violate the object of the law. It also undermines the right not to be tried for offences that are unknown to law. To give effect to the object of the Act, this paper proposes that the proper order the Tribunal should make, where cases covered by the proviso to section 3 of the Act are referred to it, is to dismiss the action in limine or strike out same for lack of jurisdiction.
Why the supreme court of Ghana erred on the proper application of the doctrine of vicarious liability in its recent decision in Kwadwo Appiah v. Kwabena Anane
Authors: Bewel Daniel Bioyel , Owusu-Dapaa Ernest
Published: August 2022

The Common law has evolved in leaps and bounds since the Normans Conquest of 1066. Certain areas of private law including the tort of negligence have developed into settled doctrines well known and generally followed in many common law jurisdictions. Vicarious liability is one of such well-developed doctrines with clear prerequisites for its deployment. The Supreme Court of Ghana is also required to follow the doctrine of vicarious liability unless there is a clear reason for a departure. The apex Court is mandated to justify any departure from its previous decisions with sound judicial analysis of the precedents vis-à-vis the case under consideration. In the case under review, the Supreme Court obviously ignored the established rules for the application of the doctrine of vicarious liability. The Court equally failed to justify the need for such a monumental departure from the tenets of the doctrine. The Supreme Court of Ghana invoked the doctrine of vicarious liability when the most basic of requirements for its applicability- such as the existence of an employment relationship or its analogous relationship between the tortfeasor and the Defendant-had not been established on the facts before the Court. The burden of this paper is to demonstrate that the Court erred when it failed to follow well-established principles for holding the defendant vicariously liable for a tort or breach of statutory duty by the tortfeasor. The paper expresses grave concern that unless the Supreme Court’s decision is departed from by the Court there is going to be a monumental confusion in Ghana’s Legal System as all other courts are bound to follow decisions of the Supreme Court.
Notas E Considerações Sobre Migração E A Distribuição Da População No Oeste Do Paraná - 1975 A 2010
Authors: Rippel Ricardo , Ferrera de Lima Jandir , Sobrinho Del Bianco Tatiani
Published: August 2022

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a distribuição da população urbana e rural nos municípios da Região Oeste do Paraná e em relação ao Estado do Paraná (2000 e 2010). Para isso foram utilizados os indicadores de análise regional. Os resultados demonstraram que houve mudanças significativas no padrão de concentração da população, cidades que apresentavam alta concentração de domicílios rurais evidenciam perca desse dinamismo, para os grandes centros. Os municípios de Cascavel, Foz do Iguaçu, Guaíra, Medianeira, Santa Terezinha de Itaipu e Toledo, são os que demonstraram em todas as analises concentração populacional na zona urbana e também os maiores captadores da população de cidades vizinhas, dada atual situação de desenvolvimento e poder de atratividade e assim mantiveram seus patamares de análises anteriores a partir da década de 1970, com alta concentração de domicílios urbanos.
Segurança alimentar: Um estudo multidisciplinar de qualidade do filé de tilápia comercializado no município de Toledo-PR
Authors: Librelato Fabiane Regina , Shikida Sonia Aparecida Reis Lopes
Published: August 2022

Esta pesquisa teve corno temática avaliar a qualidade do filé de tilápia comercializado em supermercados de Toledo/PR, já que o peixe está entre os produtos de origem animal mais susceptíveis ao processo de deterioração, devido ao pH próximo à neutralidade, à elevada atividade de água nos tecidos e ao elevado teor de nutrientes. Foram analisadas duas marcas de filé de tilápia (A e B) de lotes distintos. Realizou-se a análise microbiológica de aeróbios mesófilos, aeróbios psicrotrófilos, coliformes totais, coliformes fecais e Escherichia coli. Os resultados obtidos foram: quanto à contagem total de mesófilos revelou-se que somente urna amostra do lote 2 não apresentou contagem, ao passo que a contagem de aeróbios psicrotrófilos mostrou-se presente nas duas amostras. Quanto à pesquisa de coliformes totais, todas as amostras o apresentaram, não havendo detecção de coliformes fecais e E. coli. Os resultados permitiram concluir que, das duas marcas analisadas, a marca B mostrou-se superior em termos de qualidade microbiológica. De modo macro, o filé de tilápia comercializado em Toledo/PR encontra-se em boas condições de consumo, contudo, os valores encontrados para contagem padrão em placas e coliformes totais evidenciaram que a condição higiênico-sanitária do filé deve ser feita de forma mais criteriosa.
Application of the Levenberg-Marquardt Algorithm in Solving the Economic Emission Dispatch Problem Integrating Renewable Energy
Authors: Dridi T. , Jouini H. , Mami A. , El Mhamedi A. , Dafaoui E. M.
Published: August 2022

The Economic Emission Dispatch (EED) is a multi-objective optimization problem that seeks to find the optimal balance between the reduction of the generation costs and the pollutant emissions of power thermal plants while respecting power balance and several operational restrictions. This balance could be carried out by proper scheduling power generation of the committed units to fulfill the power demands considering emissions. This paper presents a novel application of the conventional Levenberg-Marquardt Algorithm (LMA) optimization approach to solve the EED problem with the integration of renewable energy. Wind and solar energy were chosen to be injected into the system’s power balance constraint. The combined EED objective function with Valve Point Effects (VPE) consideration was modeled using price penalty and weight factors. This study showed the effectiveness of the chosen optimization technique and the influence of injecting renewable energy along with traditional power resources on reducing total cost and pollutant emissions. The proposed method was applied to the IEEE 9-bus test system and tested in Matlab.
Monitoring and Analysis of Agricultural Field Parameters in Order to Increase Crop Yield through a Colored Object Tracking Robot, Image Processing, and IOT
Authors: Usha S. M. , Mahesh H. B.
Published: August 2022

Adequately watering plants is a challenging task. Over- and under-watering may harm plants and seeds, as excess or restraint watering reduces crop production and yield. This study presents a method to remotely monitor and efficiently water agricultural fields to increase crop production by utilizing advanced technologies such as internet things, robotics, image processing, and neural networks. Accurate smoothing and image segmentation techniques were employed to study the plants' conditions. Color median, Gaussian, and hybrid median filters were employed to preprocess the data before segmentation and classification. The hybrid median filter and multilevel luminance grading system were employed to increase the quality of the image. The k-means clustering approach was used for image segmentation. The signal-to-noise ratios of the original and recreated images were compared and analyzed.
CYANanobot: Miniaturized Boat-Assisted Data Acquisition for Automated Cyanide Monitoring in Wastewater Using Optical Nano-Sensors
Authors: Loquero J. S. , Demetillo A. T. , Pongcol I. B. , Sakuddin J. M. , Mendoza R. N. , Amper G. L. , Candare R. J. U. , Amarga Y. P. C. , Capangpangan R. Y.
Published: August 2022

Cyanide contamination in water and wastewater is ubiquitous, particularly in gold mining industries, where cyanide is commonly used to extract gold. It is constantly being monitored by collecting samples which are analyzed in the laboratory using traditional cyanide analysis, which requires complicated instrumentation, skilled analysts, and expensive equipment. Using the gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-decorated paper-based sensor employing Whatman Filter Paper (WFP) as a substrate, an automated process for cyanide monitoring with the aid of an assembled and improvised remotely controlled miniature boat was developed. The technology is equipped with a filtration system with automated water sample collection and preparation with an automatic paper sensor dispenser. Images of the collected wastewater samples are taken at different time intervals and are analyzed on their respective color spaces based on 8 mathematical models, each predicting the cyanide level of the water sample. The predictions are compared to the actual Ion-Selective Electrode (ISE) measurement, and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values were calculated. The predictions at 165s using the Hue, Saturation, Value (HSV) color space exhibited the highest R2 of 0.85 and the lowest RMSE of 3.80 parts per million (ppm) with an average error of 3.40ppm. The predictions are sent to a database using Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). The results suggest that the CYANanobot technology facilitates fast analysis time, circumvents the frequent instrument calibration, reduces operating costs, minimizes exposure to toxic cyanide-containing samples, and reduces person-to-person interaction.
An Intelligent Fault Detection and Classification Scheme for Distribution Lines Using Machine Learning
Authors: Ponukumati B. K. , Sinha P. , Maharana M. K. , Kumar A. V. P. , Karthik A.
Published: August 2022

The current paper focuses on the development and deployment of Machine Learning (ML) based algorithms for the classification and detection of different faults in the electrical distribution system. The methodology adapted using ML has higher computational accuracy than traditional computational algorithms. The parameters involved in developing ML for fault detection/classification are fundamental frequency, fault voltage, and current components at fault situations. During faults, the current and voltage waveforms consist of high-frequency transient signals. The Wavelet Decomposition (WD) technique is used to break down transient signals to obtain the required information. To investigate the performance of the ML-based algorithms, an IEEE 33 bus system is utilized, and a fault is generated in Matlab/Simulink environment. The methodologies used for fault detection and classification are K Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Decision Tree (DT), and Support Vector Machine (SVM). The performance of the designed algorithm is assessed by employing a confusion matrix, and the results demonstrated extraordinarily high accuracy.
Direct ADC Controlled Asymmetric Cascaded Multilevel Inverter
Authors: Shah M. J. , Pandya K. S. , Chauhan P.
Published: August 2022

This paper presents an asymmetric multi-level inverter with a novel direct ADC control scheme. This scheme does not use a carrier wave or a reference sinusoidal wave to generate gate pulses for power switches, but an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) to create gate pulses. For n sources, n bit ADC will generate 2n+1-1 levels at the output voltage of the inverter. This scheme uses the ADC output for the gate pulses for power switching devices. In this topology, the inverter comprises a series of connected half-bridges to generate a more significant level. The presented topology uses binary level supply voltages. Different topologies with different parameters are compared with the proposed inverter, and the operation of the proposed control scheme is verified with a simulation in Matlab. The prototype of a 31-level inverter is developed in hardware, and the hardware results are discussed.
Monitoria em tempos de pandemia: lições e práticas de professores e monitores no curso de graduação em administração em uma universidade pública
Authors: Silva Murilo Gabriel da Costa , Azevedo Isaac Almeida Moraes Oliveira de , Lima Lynda Lee Batista dos Santos , Araújo Heudja Santana Varela Ribeiro de , Coelho Ana Lúcia de Araújo Lima
Published: August 2022

A monitoria acadêmica, como uma ferramenta de motivar o aluno à docência, mantém-se pouco estudada. Em meio à pandemia de Covid-19 e ao consequente isolamento social, o ensino e a monitoria tornaram-se remotos, exigindo novas configurações por parte de docentes e monitores. O presente trabalho busca entender, a partir da lógica desses atores, como ocorreu a adaptação do ensino e da prática de monitoria em meio a esse contexto. Utilizando-se, enquanto método, a pesquisa qualitativa básica, foram realizadas entrevistas e levantamentos documentais adicionais. Concluiu-se que a prática em si da monitoria acadêmica e do ensino não mudaram essencialmente, apenas passaram por mudanças contextuais e incrementais, por meio de um processo de aprendizagem experiencial a partir da experimentação. Depreendeu-se que muitas das práticas e ferramentas adotadas tornar-se-ão incorporadas ao contexto pós-pandêmico, fazendo oportunos os aprendizados adquiridos no contexto adverso vivenciado. O estudo contribui com o campo da monitoria acadêmica e expande a noção sobre os impactos do cenário pandêmico ao presente e futuro da educação superior.
Política de cotas e desempenho acadêmico: um estudo comparativo entre as categorias de vagas da UFF
Authors: Nascimento José Erinaldo dos Santos , Bonfim Mariana Pereira
Published: August 2022

A Lei nº 12.711/2012 (Lei de Cotas) tem contribuído para o acesso da classe menos favorecida às instituições federais de ensino superior. Diante de sua importância, se faz necessário entender de que forma esta política vem sendo implementada nestas instituições e identificar os resultados alcançados pelos estudantes beneficiados pelas cotas. Dentro deste contexto, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo comparar o desempenho acadêmico dos estudantes cotistas e não-cotistas, em suas diferentes categorias de vagas, do curso de Ciências Contábeis da UFF de Volta Redonda. Para alcançar o objetivo proposto, foi realizada uma análise através da estatística descritiva sobre os dados referentes aos estudantes das diversas categorias de vagas deste curso no período entre 2013 e 2019. Também foi utilizada a técnica da Análise Envoltória de Dados (DEA) para mensurar a eficiência acadêmica dos estudantes que estavam na condição de formados neste período. Os resultados desta pesquisa mostraram que, comparativamente, as médias de eficiência das categorias avaliadas foram similares, indicando não haver grandes diferenças entre o desempenho acadêmico dos estudantes dessas categorias. Além disso, identificou-se ainda um percentual elevado de cancelamentos de matrículas dos estudantes, principalmente da categoria “ampla concorrência”, expondo assim a necessidade de ações mitigatórias.
Pioglitazone in diabetic kidney disease: forgotten but not gone
Authors: Papaetis Georgios
Published: August 2022

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is described in approximately 20–40% of all diabetic patients and is associated with significant cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. The involvement of multiple metabolic, haemodynamic, inflammatory, and tubular pathways in the pathophysiology of DKD generates the need for multitargeted treatment approaches to improve its development at all levels and delay or even reverse its progression. Thiazolidinediones are potent exogenous agonists of PPAR-γ, which augment the effects of insulin on its cellular targets, mainly at the level of adipose tissue. Pioglitazone, currently the main thiazolidinedione in clinical practice, has achieved significant improvements of albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes. It can also interfere with most cellular pathways involved in the development and evolution of DKD. This paper explores the pathophysiological mechanisms governing its possible nephroprotective activity during a diabetic state. It also discusses its future role to ameliorate the global burden of DKD.
Impact of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria on Liver and Red Blood Cell
Authors: Rangel Gregorio , Leksomboon Ratana , Wanram Surasak
Published: August 2022

Malaria remains one of the greatest public health challenges worldwide, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Estimates about 212 million and 429.000 death per year worldwide. The liver and red blood cell (RBC) are the organ that has clearly changed in the early stages of infection. The aim of this study was to elucidate the inflamed sinusoidal area showing the change of liver morphology in severe Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) malaria infection and red blood cell anatomical changes. P. falciparum malaria invasion associated with endothelial activation and expression of adhesion molecules. Some infected RBCs can be eliminated by the host immune system. However, some carry on infection which leading to severe malaria. Decrease deformability of erythrocyte infected by malaria parasites may play a role of enrichment in the liver. The different sizes and shapes of infected RBC in the liver were resulted diversity morphological of RBCs and their function in the infected organs
Psychological defenses and their role in the rehabilitation of convicts' addictions
Authors: Бовин Борис Георгиевич , Пугачева Вероника Викторовна , Бондарь Елена Алексеевна
Published: August 2022

В статье предпринимается попытка рассмотреть причину неэффективности реабилитационных мероприятий, проводимых воспитательной, психологической и медицинской службами с лицами, страдающими алкогольной или наркотической зависимостями. С опорой на концепцию защитных механизмов, разработанную в психодинамическом направлении, была выдвинута гипотеза, согласно которой функционирование некоторых латентных механизмов психологической защиты является препятствием для проведения данных мероприятий. Методологическую основу исследования составили такие методы, как анализ, синтез, анкетирование, тестирование. Результаты исследования позволили выявить доминирование трех основных механизмов защит: отрицание, проекцию и интеллектуализацию, которые формируют симптомы невротической истерии, паранойи и обсессивности (навязчивости), способствующие сопротивляемости проводимым медицинской, воспитательной и психологической службами реабилитационным воздействиям. В статье обсуждаются современные психотехнологии, позволяющие работать с отрицанием, проекцией и рационализацией, формирующими невротическое развитие этой категории осужденных.

The article attempts to consider the reason for the ineffectiveness of rehabilitation measures carried out by educational, psychological and medical services with persons suffering from alcohol or drug addiction. Based on the concept of defense mechanisms developed in the psychodynamic direction, a hypothesis was put forward, according to which the functioning of some latent psychological defense mechanisms is an obstacle to these activities. The methodological basis of the study was made up of such methods as analysis, synthesis, questioning, testing. The results of the study made it possible to identify the dominance of three main defense mechanisms: denial, projection and intellectualization, which form the symptoms of neurotic hysteria, paranoia and obsessiveness (obsessiveness), contributing to the resistance to rehabilitation influences carried out by medical, educational and psychological services. The article discusses modern psycho technologies that allow working with denial, projection and rationalization, which form the neurotic development of this category of convicts.
Scientific experiment and observation in prison medicine
Authors: Пономарев Сергей Борисович
Published: August 2022

В статье рассматриваются теоретические аспекты особенностей научных исследований в области пенитенциарной медицины. Предметом исследования явился анализ особенностей научного исследования в пенитенциарной медицине в виде эксперимента и наблюдения. Цель исследования - определение особенностей научного эксперимента и наблюдения в пенитенциарной медицине. Методологическую основу исследования составили аналитический, формально-логический, технико-юридический методы. В статье дано определение понятий «наблюдение» и «эксперимент», показаны их сходства и различия, приведены ссылки на действующее законодательство в отношении возможности проведения опытов над лицами, содержащимися в условиях лишения свободы. Показано, что незнание закона, и также основ философии может привести к негативным последствиям и безосновательным обвинениям ученых, работающих в области пенитенциарной медицины, в организации противоправной деятельности. Предлагается признать целесообразным при проведении научных работ, касающихся медицинского обследования подозреваемых, обвиняемых и осужденных, при анализе смертности, заболеваемости, состояния здоровья подведомственного ФСИН России контингента четко определять объект и предмет научного исследования, подробно излагать суть применяемых методов, акцентировав их отнесение к категории «наблюдение», а также делать ссылки на соответствующие статьи закона и комментарии к нему. В статье приведены примеры из научной практики.

In the article the author considers the theoretical aspects of the features of scientific research in the field of penitentiary medicine. The subject of the study was the analysis of the features of scientific research in penitentiary medicine in the form of experiment and observation. The purpose of the study is to determine the features of a scientific experiment and observation in penitentiary medicine. The methodological basis of the study was analytical, formal-logical, technical-legal methods. The article defines the concepts of «observation» and «experiment», shows their similarities and differences, and provides links to the current legislation regarding the possibility of conducting experiments on persons held in confinement. It is shown that ignorance of the law, as well as the basics of philosophy, can lead to negative consequences and unfounded accusations of scientists working in the field of penitentiary medicine in organizing illegal activities. It is proposed to consider it expedient, when conducting scientific work related to the medical examination of suspects, accused and convicted persons, when analyzing mortality, morbidity, health status of the contingent subordinate to the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia, to clearly define the object and subject of scientific research, to state in detail the essence of the methods used, emphasizing their classification as «observation», as well as make references to the relevant articles of the law and comments to it. The article provides examples from scientific practice.
Strong particle production and condensational growth in the upper troposphere sustained by biogenic VOCs from the canopy of the Amazon Basin
Authors: Liu Yunfan , Su Hang , Wang Siwen , Wei Chao , Tao Wei , Pöhlker Mira L. , Pöhlker Christopher , Holanda Bruna A. , Krüger Ovid O. , Hoffmann Thorsten , Wendisch Manfred , Artaxo Paulo , Pöschl Ulrich , Andreae Meinrat O. , Cheng Yafang
Published: August 2022

Abstract. Nucleation and condensation associated with biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are important aerosol formation pathways, yet their contribution to the upper tropospheric aerosols remains inconclusive, hindering the understanding of aerosol climate effects. Here, we develop new schemes describing these organic aerosol formation processes in the WRF-Chem model and investigate their impact on the abundance of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in the upper troposphere (UT) over the Amazon Basin. We find that the new schemes significantly increase the simulated CCN number concentrations in the UT (e.g., up to ~400 cm-3 at 0.52 % supersaturation) and greatly improve the agreement with the aircraft observations. Organic condensation enhances the simulated CCN concentration by 90 % through promoting particle growth, while organic nucleation, by replenishing new particles, contributes an additional 14 %. Deep convection determines the rate of these organic aerosol formation processes in the UT through controlling the upward transport of biogenic precursors (i.e., BVOCs). This finding emphasizes the importance of the biosphere-atmosphere coupling in regulating upper tropospheric aerosol concentrations over the tropical forest and calls for attention to its potential role in anthropogenic climate change.
The Stochastic Ice-Sheet and Sea-Level System Model v1.0 (StISSM v1.0)
Authors: Verjans Vincent , Robel Alexander , Seroussi Helene , Ultee Lizz , Thompson Andrew
Published: August 2022

Abstract. We introduce the first version of the Stochastic Ice-sheet and Sea-level System Model (StISSM v1.0), which adds stochastic parameterizations within a state-of-the-art large-scale ice sheet model. In StISSM v1.0, stochastic parameterizations target climatic fields with internal variability, as well as glaciological processes exhibiting variability that cannot be resolved at the spatiotemporal resolution of ice sheet models: calving and subglacial hydrology. Because both climate and unresolved glaciological processes include internal variability, stochastic parameterizations allow StISSM v1.0 to account for the impacts of their high-frequency variability on ice dynamics, and on the long-term evolution of modeled glaciers and ice sheets. StISSM v1.0 additionally includes statistical models to represent surface mass balance and oceanic forcing as autoregressive processes. Such models, once appropriately calibrated, allow users to sample irreducible uncertainty in climate prediction without the need of computationally expensive ensembles from climate models. When combined together, these novel features of StISSM v1.0 enable quantification of irreducible uncertainty in ice sheet model simulations, and of ice sheet sensitivity to noisy forcings. We detail the implementation strategy of StISSM v1.0, evaluate its capabilities in idealized model experiments, demonstrate its applicability at the scale of a Greenland ice sheet simulation, and highlight priorities for future developments. Results from our test experiments demonstrate the complexity of ice sheet response to variability, such as asymmetric and/or non-zero mean responses to symmetric, zero-mean imposed variability. They also show differing levels of projection uncertainty for stochastic variability in different processes. These features are in line with results from stochastic experiments in climate and ocean models, as well as with the theoretical expected behavior of noise-forced non-linear systems.
Imminent reversal of the residual flow through the Marsdiep tidal inlet into the Dutch Wadden Sea based on multiyear ferry-borne ADCP observations
Authors: van der Molen Johan , Groeskamp Sjoerd , Maas Leo R. M.
Published: August 2022

Abstract. The Dutch Wadden Sea is a UN World Heritage Site connected to the North Sea by multiple tidal inlets. Although there are strong tidal currents flowing through these inlets, the magnitude and direction of the residual circulation in the western Dutch Wadden Sea is important for sediment, salinity and nutrient balances. We found that the direction of this residual flow is reversing. This residual circulation has been the subject of various studies since the 1970’s, in which substantially different net volume fluxes were presented. As driving mechanisms differences in tidal conditions in the main inlets, tidal rectification, and meteorology were identified. Here we analysed almost 13 years of ADCP observations collected on the ferry crossing the Marsdiep tidal inlet in the Dutch Wadden Sea since 2009. The results are combined with earlier investigations covering the period 1998–2009. We find a significant trend in the magnitude of the residual volume flux, with decreasing export to the North Sea, and with occasional imports observed in recent years. We infer that this trend is related to changes in tides in the North Sea, which are caused by increased strength and duration of stratification in response to global warming. With warming projected to continue, we expect the residual flow in the Marsdiep to continue to reverse to full inflow within the current decade, with potential knock-on effects for the sediment balance and ecosystem of the western Wadden Sea.
CREST-VEC: a framework towards more accurate and realistic flood simulation across scales
Authors: Li Zhi , Gao Shang , Chen Mengye , Gourley Jonathan , Mizukami Naoki , Hong Yang
Published: August 2022

Abstract. Large-scale (i.e., continental and global) hydrologic
simulation is an appealing yet challenging topic for the hydrologic
community. First and foremost, model efficiency and scalability (flexibility
in resolution and discretization) have to be prioritized. Then, sufficient
model accuracy and precision are required to provide useful information for
water resource applications. Towards this goal, we craft two objectives for
improving US current operational hydrological models: (1) vectorized routing
and (2) improved hydrological processes. This study presents a hydrologic
modeling framework, CREST-VEC, that combines a gridded water balance model and
a newly developed vector-based routing scheme. First, in contrast to a
conventional fully gridded model, this framework can significantly reduce
the computational cost of river routing by at least 10 times, based on
experiments at regional (0.07 vs. 0.002 s per step) and continental
scales (0.35 vs. 7.2 s per step). This provides adequate time
efficiency for generating operational ensemble streamflow forecasts and even
probabilistic estimates across scales. Second, the performance using the new
vector-based routing is improved, with the median-aggregated NSE
(Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency) score increasing from −0.06 to 0.18 over the
CONUS (contiguous US). Third, with the lake module incorporated, the NSE score is further
improved by 56.2 % and the systematic bias is reduced by 17 %. Lastly,
over 20 % of the false alarms on 2-year floods in the US can be
mitigated with the lake module enabled, at the expense of only missing
2.3 % more events. This study demonstrated the advantages of the proposed
hydrological modeling framework, which could provide a solid basis for
continental- and global-scale water modeling at fine resolution. Furthermore,
the use of ensemble forecasts can be incorporated into this framework; and
thus, optimized streamflow prediction with quantified uncertainty
information can be achieved in an operational fashion for stakeholders and
decision-makers.
Intelligent prospector v1.0: geoscientific model development and prediction by sequential data acquisition planning with application to mineral exploration
Authors: Mern John , Caers Jef
Published: August 2022

Abstract. Geoscientific models are based on geoscientific data, hence building better models, in the sense of attaining better predictions, often means acquiring additional data. In decision theory questions of what additional data is expected to best improve predictions/decisions is within the realm of value of information and Bayesian optimal survey design. However, these approaches often evaluate the optimality of one additional data acquisition campaign at a time. In many real settings, certainly in those related to the exploration of Earth resources, possibly a large sequence of data acquisition campaigns need to be planned. Geoscientific data acquisition can be expensive and time consuming, requiring effective measurement campaign planning to optimally allocate resources. Each measurement in a data acquisition sequence has the potential to inform where best to take the following measurements, however, directly optimizing a closed-loop measurement sequence requires solving an intractable combinatoric search problem. In this work, we formulate the sequential geoscientific data acquisition problem as a Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP). We then present methodologies to solve the sequential problem using Monte Carlo planning methods. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach on a simple 2D synthetic exploration problem. Tests show that the proposed sequential approach is significantly more effective at reducing uncertainty than conventional methods. Although our approach is discussed in the context of mineral resource exploration, it likely has bearing on other types of geoscientific model questions.
Atmospheric electricity observations at Lerwick Geophysical Observatory
Authors: Harrison R. Giles , Riddick John C.
Published: August 2022

Abstract. Atmospheric electricity measurements were made at Lerwick Observatory, Shetland, between 1925 and 1984. These principally provide a long series of hourly potential gradient (PG) measurements at an unpolluted site but also include air–Earth current density measurements during the late 1970s and early 1980s. An especially notable aspect was investigating the dramatic atmospheric electrical changes caused by nuclear weapon detonations in the late 1950s and early 1960s, which has parallels with the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole. The methodology employed at Lerwick to provide the PG measurements is described. There is renewed international interest in such measurements, not least because the Lerwick PG data have been shown to be linked to Pacific Ocean temperature anomalies. The past measurements described have characterised the Lerwick site exceptionally well in atmospheric electrical terms, which also indicate its suitability for future, similar measurements.