scholarly journals Endangering the integrity of science by misusing unvalidated models and untested assumptions as facts: General considerations and the mineral and phosphorus scarcity fallacy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland W. Scholz ◽  
Friedrich W. Wellmer
Keyword(s):  
Food Production ◽  
Scientific Models ◽  
Environmental Action ◽  
Transition Management ◽  
Public Media ◽  
Knowledge Brokers ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
High Level ◽  
Societal Problems ◽  
Epistemological Barriers

AbstractThere is increasing demand for science to contribute to solving societal problems (solutionism). Thereby, scientists may become normative activists for solving certain problems (advocacy). When doing this, they may insufficiently differentiate between scientific and political modes of reasoning and validation (de-differentiationism), which is sometimes linked to questionable forms of utilizing the force of facts (German: Faktengewalt). Scientific findings are simplified and communicated in such a way that they acquire a status as unfalsifiable and absolutely true (truth to power). This becomes critical if the consistency and validation of the findings are questionable and scientific models underlying science activists’ actions are doubtful, oversimplified, or incorrect. Herein, we exemplarily elaborate how the integrity of science is endangered by normative solutionist and sociopolitically driven transition management and present mineral scarcity claims that ignore that reserves or resources are dynamic geotechnological-socioeconomic entities. We present the main mineral scarcity models and their fallacious assumptions. We then discuss the phosphorus scarcity fallacy, which is of particular interest as phosphorus is non-substitutable and half of all current food production depends on fertilizers (and thus phosphorus). We show that phosphorus scarcity claims are based on integrating basic geoeconomic knowledge and discuss cognitive and epistemological barriers and motivational and sociopolitical drivers promoting the scarcity fallacy, which affects high-level public media. This may induce unsustainable environmental action. Scientists as honest knowledge brokers should communicate the strengths but also the constraints and limits of scientific modeling and of applying it in reality.

THE IMPACT OF UKRAINE'S EXCISE DUTY POLICY ON THE TRANSFORMATION PROCESSES OF THE TOBACCO MARKET

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (10) ◽  
pp. 19-33
Author(s):  
Nadiia NOVYTSKA ◽  
◽  
Inna KHLIEBNIKOVA ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Changes ◽  
Tax Avoidance ◽  
Transformation Process ◽  
State Regulation ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Excise Duty ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Transformation Processes

The market of tobacco products in Ukraine is one of the most dynamic and competitive. It develops under the influence of certain factors that cause structural changes, therefore, the aim of the article is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of transformation processes in the market of tobacco and their alternatives in Ukraine and identify the factors that cause them. The high level of tax burden and the proliferation of alternative products with a potentially lower risk to human health, including heating tobacco products and e-cigarettes, are key factors in the market’s transformation process. Their presence leads to an increase in illicit turnover of tobacco products, which accounts for 6.37% of the market, and the gradual replacement of cigarettes with alternative products, which account for 12.95%. The presence on the market of products that are not taxed or taxed at lower rates is one of the reasons for the reduction of excise duty revenues. According to the results of 2019, the planned indicators of revenues were not met by 23.5%. Other reasons for non-fulfillment of excise duty revenues include: declining dynamics of the tobacco products market; reduction in the number of smokers; reorientation of «cheap whites» cigarette flows from Ukraine to neighboring countries; tax avoidance. Prospects for further research are identified, namely the need to develop measures for state regulation and optimization of excise duty taxation of tobacco products and their alternatives, taking into account the risks to public health and increasing demand of illegal products.

Irrigation.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynette Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Fresh Water ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Cultivated Land ◽  
Plant Life ◽  
Total Food ◽  
Global Issue ◽  
Growing Medium ◽  
Increasing Demand

Abstract Crop production in many regions has been reliant on irrigation for almost as long as man has been cultivating plant life. For 6000 years, irrigation has ranked among the most powerful tools of human advancement (Postel, 1999), and by the start of the 21st century no less than 75% of the world's fresh water was in use for agricultural production (Levy and Coleman, 2014). In 2012, twenty percent of total cultivated land was under irrigation, contributing forty percent of the total food production worldwide, this represented 275 million hectares under actual irrigation with a total of 324 million hectares equipped for irrigation (FAO, 2016). Irrigation, which can be defined as 'the artificial application of water to land, soil or other growing medium for the purposes of crop growth', has become a global issue in more recent times as the increasing demand for fresh water has seen problems develop with water scarcity, quality issues and conflict over usage.

scholarly journals AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 with Hydraflow Extension

1970 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina GRIGORE ◽  
Severin CAZANESCU ◽  
Raluca Alexandra CAZANESCU
Keyword(s):  
Food Production ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Computing Time ◽  
Land Development ◽  
Rainfall Runoff ◽  
Software Application ◽  
Droughts And Floods ◽  
Drinkable Water ◽  
High Level ◽  
Short Time

In our days, communities have to face high level of water and food consumption based on uncertain supplies and growing demands. Thus, they work to prevent floods, soil erosion, to supply fresh water for population, industry and irrigation and to redirect streams and rivers in order to increase the food production. On the other hand, climate changes increased the frequency of extreme events like droughts and floods, and water management became a matter of great concern, in order to protect and preserve fertile land and drinkable water resources. Powerful software are needed to help environmental specialists to develop reliable projects for sustainable land development, in a short time. In the present paper, we will briefly present AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010, the most powerful software application released by Autodesk Inc., a short time ago. Using AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 components together with new set of extensions, named Hydraflow Extension, land development specialists can deal with a large variety of hydrologic and hydraulic aspects, such as delineating watersheds and drainage areas and computing time of concentration and other rainfall-runoff relationship for the designated basins.

Challenges of Integrating Information and Communication Technology in Teaching among National Teachers' Colleges in Uganda

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (Issue 3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Nyakito ◽  
Catherine Amimo ◽  
Vencie B. Allida
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Strategy ◽  
Teachers Colleges ◽  
Internet Connectivity ◽  
Teachers College ◽  
Attitudinal Barriers ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
High Level ◽  
Teaching Programs ◽  
The Cost

In this 21st century, educational institutions the world over are faced with increasing demand from society to transform from analogue practices to digital systems using technology. This study investigated the challenges experienced by teacher education college lecturers in their quest to integrate ICT in teacher training practices. The study was qualitative, using focus group discussions, interview and observation with 10 college lecturers from each of the 4 colleges and 4 Principals, one from each college. Snowball purposive sampling strategy was used to draw the participants. The findings revealed a host of challenges, despite a high level of appreciation among college lecturers on the importance of ICT integration into classroom instructional practices. Several debilitating factors evolved including, lack of experience and skills in using ICT, lack of ICT curriculum for the teachers' colleges, lack of clear government policy on the teaching of ICT in the teachers' college curriculum, inadequate ICT resources, obsolete ICT hardware and soft wares, intensive teaching programs due to examination pressures, overcrowded classrooms, lack of time, heavy workload, slow internet connectivity, intermittent electricity supply and, attitudinal barriers from the relatively older lecturers with technophobia. The researchers therefore, recommended government intervention with a clear policy on ICT inclusion in the curriculum, equipping the colleges with adequate and up-to-date equipment, regular training opportunities for the lecturers, provision of alternative and affordable source of power, recruiting more human resource in the colleges to reduce the workload for the lecturers and government subsidizing on the cost of internet connectivity.

scholarly journals Recent Progress of Metal–Air Batteries—A Mini Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (14) ◽  
pp. 2787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunlian Wang ◽  
Yongchao Yu ◽  
Jiajia Niu ◽  
Yaxuan Liu ◽  
Denzel Bridges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Rechargeable Batteries ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Power Sources ◽  
Electrical Vehicles ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Manufacturing Technologies ◽  
High Level

With the ever-increasing demand for power sources of high energy density and stability for emergent electrical vehicles and portable electronic devices, rechargeable batteries (such as lithium-ion batteries, fuel batteries, and metal–air batteries) have attracted extensive interests. Among the emerging battery technologies, metal–air batteries (MABs) are under intense research and development focus due to their high theoretical energy density and high level of safety. Although significant progress has been achieved in improving battery performance in the past decade, there are still numerous technical challenges to overcome for commercialization. Herein, this mini-review summarizes major issues vital to MABs, including progress on packaging and crucial manufacturing technologies for cathode, anode, and electrolyte. Future trends and prospects of advanced MABs by additive manufacturing and nanoengineering are also discussed.

scholarly journals Preliminary analysis on mowing and harvesting grass along riverbanks for the supply of anaerobic digestion plants in north-eastern Italy

2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Boscaro ◽  
Andrea Pezzuolo ◽  
Stefano Grigolato ◽  
Raffaele Cavalli ◽  
Francesco Marinello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Preliminary Analysis ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Labour Requirement ◽  
Methane Potential ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Energy Aspects

The increasing demand of vegetal biomass for biogas production is causing competition with food production. To reduce this problem and to provide new opportunities it is necessary to take into consideration different kinds of vegetable biomass that are more sustainable. Grass from the maintenance of non-cultivated areas such as riverbanks has not yet been fully studied as a potential biomass for biogas production. Although grass has lower methane potential, it could be interesting because it does not compete with food production. However, there is a lack of appropriate technologies and working system adapted to these areas. In this paper, different systems that could be available for the mowing and harvesting of grass along riverbanks have been preliminarily assessed through the evaluation of the field capacity, labour requirement, economic and energy aspects. The splitting of the cutting and harvesting phases into operations with different machinery seems to be the best system for handling this biomass. However, these solutions have to take into consideration the presence of obstacles or accessibility problems in the harvesting areas that could limit the operational feasibility and subsequent correct sizing.

scholarly journals The Practice Structured on the Discourse: Repertoires and Dominant Discourses in Brazilian Scientific Literature on Agrochemicals

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Larissa Hery Ito Ribeiro Homem ◽  
Michelle Bonatti ◽  
Luiz Renato D´Agostini ◽  
Marcos Lana ◽  
Stefan Sieber
Keyword(s):  
Food Production ◽  
Historical Perspective ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Scientific Production ◽  
Discursive Practices ◽  
Integrated Pest Control ◽  
High Level ◽  
Chemical Pesticides ◽  
Technical Area

<p>The present work aims to clarify the discursive practices of Brazilian scientific literature on chemical pesticides in order to understand, from a historical perspective, which repertoires are available to give meaning to the use of pesticides in Brazil. It further draws a picture of the positions taken in the technical area, from the creation of the “Agrochemicals Law” in 1989 until the present day. A total of 78 articles from ten journals were reviewed using the analysis of the discourses method as well as an overview of the database according to years, authors, and titles. The results show that scientific production is concentered in the south and southeast Brazilian institutions where the authors mostly come from. Their articles analyze presented repertoires that were categorized into three types: "required use of pesticides", "use of pesticides integrated with biological control”, and "no use of pesticides". The results suggest that there is no consensus in the discursive practices of Brazilian scientific literature on agrochemicals. It was concluded that there is in literature the suggestion that integrated pest control could improve the quality of production and lessen impacts on health and the environment. The dominant discourse is still linked to the paradigm that in order to have a high level of food production it is still necessary to use pesticides.</p>

A Semiquantitative Approach for Evaluating Safety Assurance Levels for Salmonella spp. throughout a Food Production Chain

2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (7) ◽  
pp. 1146-1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. SAULI ◽  
J. DANUSER ◽  
C. WENK ◽  
K. D. C. STÄRK
Keyword(s):  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Safety Assurance ◽  
Egg Products ◽  
High Level

Various safety assurance measures are implemented in Switzerland throughout the food production chain to prevent foods of animal origin from being contaminated with Salmonella. The data that are generated from the implementation of these measures are dispersed and heterogeneous. This hinders a general overview and makes a comprehensive national evaluation of the safety assurance level difficult. A semiquantitative method that considers the quality and relevance of the various safety assurance measures for Salmonella spp. was developed. The method uses the data generated from the implementation of safety assurance measures on a national basis (gathered by interviewing stakeholders in the production step). By assembling and analyzing the data systematically, the safety assurance level for Salmonella spp. can be evaluated at every step of the food production chain. This method allows the detection of strengths and weaknesses of the safety system. The systematic evaluation procedures permit comparisons between production steps and product categories. The method was used for evaluating the safety assurance levels throughout the production chain of eggs and egg products in Switzerland. Results of the analysis showed that the overall safety assurance levels for Salmonella spp. at all production steps for eggs and egg products were good. The relatively straightforward implementation of the method made it particularly appropriate in the context of a preliminary evaluation. The method does not have the same high level of detail that is provided by microbial quantitative risk assessments, but it allows an analyst to provide meaningful results when the large amount of data required for a quantitative approach are not present while including the entire “farm to fork” continuum. It may be used as a basis for more in-depth assessments of food safety levels within various production sectors. The method could be adapted for evaluating the safety assurance for other zoonotic foodborne pathogens of interest, such as Campylobacter spp.

scholarly journals Proposed methodology for measurement, survey and assessment of vertical deformation of structures

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Ruiz-Jaramillo ◽  
Emilio Mascort-Albea ◽  
Antonio Jaramillo-Morilla
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Outcome Analysis ◽  
Vertical Deformation ◽  
Surface Mapping ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Contour Maps ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
High Level ◽  
Inspection Techniques

Purpose – Growing awareness of the importance of preserving the built environment has created an increasing demand for experts capable of performing building inspections to ensure a high level of preservation. Technical surveys include a set of procedures and tests that have become essential tools providing the necessary knowledge required for maintenance, preservation and improvement of buildings. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Within this set of inspection techniques, this paper presents a method developed to produce vertical deformation plans from the levelling data obtained from different floors of a building. It also explains how to perform accurate levelling and an outcome analysis to provide displacement maps. Thus, based upon obtained measurements, it is possible to achieve 2D contour maps and three-dimensional (3D) surface mapping by means of specialized software that is typically used for cartographic and territorial analysis. Findings – The developed methodology provides easier analysis of the deformation of buildings and structures. Consequently, the method produces relatively accurate outcomes that are sufficient to make a proper assessment that facilitates the diagnostic and decision-making process. The case studies analysed show the applicability and usefulness of the procedure. Originality/value – This sustainable and non-destructive system is an essential instrument for providing valuable and useful information to the specialist. The 2D/3D graphical data displays enable easier analysis of survey results, also aiding comprehension of these results in the context of liability claims.

scholarly journals Generación de energía eléctrica en la edificación mediante tecnología de disco Stirling =Electrical energy generation in building by means of Stirling dish technology

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Carlos Morón ◽  
Daniel Ferrández ◽  
Jorge Pablo Díaz ◽  
Pablo Saiz
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Stirling Engine ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Expected Performance ◽  
New Energy ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
High Level

ResumenLa creciente demanda de energía acompañada de los elevados niveles de emisión de gases contaminantes a la atmosfera hace patente la necesidad de encontrar nuevos sistemas de producción de energía. Una de las posibles alternativas se encuentra en la energía solar de concentración, y más concretamente en la tecnología termosolar con motor Stirling que alcanza unos niveles de rendimiento muy superiores a la energía solar fotovoltaica en cuanto a producción de energía eléctrica. En este trabajo se muestra el diseño y la caracterización de un prototipo de captador paraboloidal con motor Stirling, que permite obtener datos reales del funcionamiento de este tipo de sistemas. Esto permitirá modelizar de manera real el comportamiento esperado de equipos comerciales reales antes de abordar su implantación en edificios y viviendas unifamiliares.AbstractThe increasing demand for energy accompanied by high level of emission of the contaminating gases into the atmosphere underscores the need to find new energy production systems. One of the possible alternatives is concentrating solar power and, more specifically, solar thermal technology with a Stirling engine that reaches higher performance levels than photovoltaic solar energy in terms of electricity generation. This paper shows the design and characterization of a prototype paraboloidal collector with a Stirling engine that allows obtaining real data of this type of systems functioning. This will allow modelling in a real way of expected performance of real commercial devices before approaching their introduction in buildings and single-family houses.

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