scholarly journals Farmers Education and Risk Perceptions of Large-Scale Mining in Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol Special Issue (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Owusu-Ansah
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Pearson's R ◽  
Mining Project ◽  
Mining Projects ◽  
Pearson’S R

Empirical studies that use household farmers as unit of analysis to examine the relative influence of education on risk perceptions of large scale mining projects in Ghana are virtually absent. This study combined evidence from literature, mixed methods, Pearson’s Chi square (X2) and correlation analyses. Systematic random sampling was used in selecting farmers. Data obtained from 725 households was analyzed using SPSS. The hypothesis “education has no relationship with farmers’ risk perceptions of large-scale mining projects in Ghana” was tested. Results revealed that large-scale mining has both positive and negative image in the minds of farmers. Farmers’ education strongly correlated with their knowledge of the state of the environment and natural resources before the arrival of the mining project [Pearson’s (X2) = 26.743; p = 0.024; Pearson's (r) = 0.791; p = 0.010]. Statistical evidence exists to support the claim that local communities protested against the mining project due to their ability to anticipate adverse effects of the project on environmental quality. Education significantly influenced farmers’ ability to link sources of livelihood to environmental and resource protection [Pearson's (X2) = 25.516, p = 0.043; Pearson's (r) = 0.640; p = 0.036]. Farmers’ risk perceptions of large scale mining as a threat to: community’s natural capital; traditional systems; environmental and social protection regime; established administrative procedures and good conducts of public officials; as well as being a threat to rural livelihood have serious implications for achieving the goals of sustainable mining in Ghana. Nonetheless, farmers associated mining as agent of economic development, and education significantly influenced this assessment [Pearson’s (X2) = 28.093, p = 0.021; Pearson’s (r) = 0.077; p = 0.041]. This paper concludes that education is a significant predictor in risk perception assessment. Robust environmental and social protection regimes, strong public institutions and improved socio-economic status are good predictors of farmers’ risk perceptions of mining.

scholarly journals Decline of Pearson’s r with categorization of variables: a large-scale simulation

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 389-399
Author(s):  
Takahiro Onoshima ◽  
Kenpei Shiina ◽  
Takashi Ueda ◽  
Saori Kubo
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Large Scale Simulation ◽  
Pearson's R ◽  
Pearson’S R

scholarly journals COVID-19 mortality: positive correlation with cloudiness and sunlight but no correlation with latitude in Europe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Omer ◽  
A. Iftime ◽  
V. Burcea
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Model Fitting ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Solar Exposure ◽  
Pearson's R ◽  
Virus Survival ◽  
Pearson’S R

AbstractWe systematically investigated an ongoing debate about the possible correlation between SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) epidemiological outcomes and solar exposure in European countries, in the period of March – August 2020. For each country, we correlated its mortality data with solar insolation (watt/square metre) and objective sky cloudiness (as cloud fraction) derived from satellite weather data. We found a positive correlation between the monthly mortality rate and the overall cloudiness in that month (Pearson’s r(35)=.779, P<.001; linear model fitting the data, adjusted R2 =0.59). In Europe, in colder months, approximately 34% to 58% of the variance in COVID-19 mortality/million appears to be predicted by the cloudiness fraction of the sky, except in August in which only ∼15% of the variance was explained. The data show a low, negative correlation between the mortality rate with the overall insolation received by the country area in that entire month (Pearson’s r(35)=-0.622, P<.001). Additionally, we did not find any statistically significant correlation between the mortality and the latitude of the countries when the “latitude of a country” was precisely defined as the average landmass location (country centroid). The unexpected correlation found between cloudiness and mortality could perhaps be explained by the following: 1) heavy cloudiness is linked with colder outdoor surfaces, which might aid virus survival; 2) reduced evaporation rate; 3) moderate pollution may be linked to both cloudiness and mortality; and 4) large-scale behavioural changes due to cloudiness (which perhaps drives people to spend more time indoors and thus facilitates indoor contamination).

scholarly journals Uncertainty Management Associated With Project Scheduling in Mine Construction: A Coal Mining Case Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt Renaud ◽  
Mustafa Kumral
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Critical Path ◽  
Optimal Schedule ◽  
Commodity Prices ◽  
Monte Carlo Sampling ◽  
Project Outcomes ◽  
Mining Project ◽  
Mining Projects

Abstract Due to the cyclical nature of commodity prices, the profitability of mining projects relies on proper timing. To ensure optimal profits, mines should be brought online at the time, which maximizes the potential value of the asset. In this paper, a coking coal mine construction case is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of scheduling large-scale construction projects with uncertain durations under price cyclicality. Project parameters are obtained stochastically via Monte Carlo sampling, allowing for the influence of uncertainty to be quantified. The critical path method and linear programming are employed to analyze the results and to optimize the construction process, ensuring the maximum value of the mining project. The parameters are repeatedly sampled to obtain distributions of possible project outcomes, allowing for risk and sensitivity quantification. The optimal schedule for construction was determined to be 247 weeks, with a most likely value of $813 million.

CODEM Instrument

GeroPsych ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Kuemmel (This author contributed eq ◽  
Julia Haberstroh (This author contributed ◽  
Johannes Pantel
Keyword(s):  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Interrater Reliability ◽  
Discriminant Validity ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Communication Behavior ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Pearson's R ◽  
Pearson’S R

Communication and communication behaviors in situational contexts are essential conditions for well-being and quality of life in people with dementia. Measuring methods, however, are limited. The CODEM instrument, a standardized observational communication behavior assessment tool, was developed and evaluated on the basis of the current state of research in dementia care and social-communicative behavior. Initially, interrater reliability was examined by means of videoratings (N = 10 people with dementia). Thereupon, six caregivers in six German nursing homes observed 69 residents suffering from dementia and used CODEM to rate their communication behavior. The interrater reliability of CODEM was excellent (mean κ = .79; intraclass correlation = .91). Statistical analysis indicated that CODEM had excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .95). CODEM also showed excellent convergent validity (Pearson’s R = .88) as well as discriminant validity (Pearson’s R = .63). Confirmatory factor analysis verified the two-factor solution of verbal/content aspects and nonverbal/relationship aspects. With regard to the severity of the disease, the content and relational aspects of communication exhibited different trends. CODEM proved to be a reliable, valid, and sensitive assessment tool for examining communication behavior in the field of dementia. CODEM also provides researchers a feasible examination tool for measuring effects of psychosocial intervention studies that strive to improve communication behavior and well-being in dementia.

Bullying, School Violence, and Climate in Evolving Contexts

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ron Avi Astor ◽  
Rami Benbenisthty
Keyword(s):  
School Violence ◽  
School Safety ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Teacher Student ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
New Research

Since 2005, the bullying, school violence, and school safety literatures have expanded dramatically in content, disciplines, and empirical studies. However, with this massive expansion of research, there is also a surprising lack of theoretical and empirical direction to guide efforts on how to advance our basic science and practical applications of this growing scientific area of interest. Parallel to this surge in interest, cultural norms, media coverage, and policies to address school safety and bullying have evolved at a remarkably quick pace over the past 13 years. For example, behaviors and populations that just a decade ago were not included in the school violence, bullying, and school safety discourse are now accepted areas of inquiry. These include, for instance, cyberbullying, sexting, social media shaming, teacher–student and student–teacher bullying, sexual harassment and assault, homicide, and suicide. Populations in schools not previously explored, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students and educators and military- and veteran-connected students, become the foci of new research, policies, and programs. As a result, all US states and most industrialized countries now have a complex quilt of new school safety and bullying legislation and policies. Large-scale research and intervention funding programs are often linked to these policies. This book suggests an empirically driven unifying model that brings together these previously distinct literatures. This book presents an ecological model of school violence, bullying, and safety in evolving contexts that integrates all we have learned in the 13 years, and suggests ways to move forward.

scholarly journals Pre-Planned and Non-Planned Agility in Patients Ongoing Rehabilitation after Knee Surgery: Design, Reliability and Validity of the Newly Developed Testing Protocols

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 146
Author(s):  
Ivan Peric ◽  
Miodrag Spasic ◽  
Dario Novak ◽  
Sergej Ostojic ◽  
Damir Sekulic
Keyword(s):  
Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Knee Arthroplasty ◽  
Arthroscopic Surgery ◽  
The Body ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Pearson's R ◽  
Total Knee ◽  
Type Of Surgery ◽  
Pearson’S R

Background: Due to its association with the risk of falling and consequent injury, the importance of agility is widely recognized, but no study so far has examined the different facets of agility in an untrained/clinical population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability, validity, and correlates of newly developed tests of non-planned agility (NPA) and pre-planned agility (PPA) in an untrained/clinical sample. Methods: The sample comprised 38 participants older than 40 years (22 females, age: 56.1 ± 17.3 years, height: 170.4 ± 10.8 cm, mass: 82.54 ± 14.79 kg) who were involved in a rehabilitation program following total knee arthroplasty and knee arthroscopy. Variables included age, gender, type of surgery, history of fall, anthropometrics/body composition, and newly developed tests of NPA and PPA. Results: The results showed the high inter-testing- (ICC > 0.95, CV < 9%), and intra-testing-reliability (ICC > 0.96, CV < 9) of the newly developed tests. PPA and NPA were found to be valid in differentiation between age groups (>50 yrs. vs. <50 yrs.), and genders, with better performance in younger participants and males. Only NPA differentiated participants according to type of surgery, with better performance in those who had arthroscopic surgery, than those who had total knee arthroplasty. No differences in NPA and PPA were established between groups based on fall-history. In females, the body mass (Pearson’s r = 0.58 and 0.59, p < 0.001) and body fatness (Pearson’s r = 0.64 and 0.66, p < 0.001) were negatively correlated, while the lean body mass (Pearson’s r = 0.70 and 0.68, p < 0.001) was positively correlated with PPA and NPA. The NPA and PPA were highly correlated (Pearson’s r = 0.98, p < 0.001). Conclusions: We found that the proposed tests are reliable when evaluating agility characteristics in an untrained/clinical population after knee arthroplasty/arthroscopy. Further evaluation of the specific validity of the proposed tests in other specific subsamples is warranted.

A cascade of exclusion: administrative burdens and access to citizenship in the case of Argentina’s National Identity Document

2021 ◽  
pp. 002085232098454
Author(s):  
Mariana Chudnovsky ◽  
Rik Peeters
Keyword(s):  
National Identity ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Institutional Characteristics ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Administrative Capacity ◽  
Identity Document ◽  
Protection Systems ◽  
Social Protection Systems

Administrative burdens can hinder people’s social, political and economic participation. However, most empirical studies usually tackle the issue of how they affect access to citizenship merely indirectly. This article examines administrative exclusion from Argentina’s National Identity Document and its effects on a key social policy: the Universal Child Allowance. Findings indicate that: (1) administrative exclusion from official identity documents ‘feeds back’ into the construction of a vulnerable target group that is systematically excluded from social benefits and public services; and (2) limitations in the administrative capacity for identity registration and documentation ‘trickle down’ to complications in the implementation of social policies as target groups remain ‘off the radar’. Findings also demonstrate the importance of understanding administrative burdens as a systemic issue. Burdens manifest themselves at the level of citizen–state interactions but their causes and consequences are tied up with intractable institutional characteristics, administrative capacities and social inequalities. Points for practitioners Efforts by developing countries to develop effective social protection systems are often thwarted by limitations in the state’s capacity to identify and reach marginalized citizens. This suggests the need for a systemic perspective of the state’s entire capacity instead of merely focusing on the design of social protection programmes. Specifically, we demonstrate that complete, accessible and up-to-date civil registries, identity documents and other forms of registration are a precondition for transforming formal rights into a tangible reality for citizens.

Electric Toothbrushes–For Whom are They Designed?

2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Ciancio
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Special Populations ◽  
Gingival Health

Powered toothbrushes were first introduced on a large scale in the early 1960s. However, because of a clear lack of superiority compared with manual brushes, and problems with mechanical breakdowns, their sales decreased significantly. However, recommendation for their use continued in special populations with dexterity and cognition problems. The 1990s ushered in an era of new technology, and studies began to suggest superiority of some powered brushes, particularly those using oscillating-rotating or counter-rotational actions. Some studies have shown interproximal cleansing abilities superior to those of manual brushes and yielding results similar to those achieved with the use of a manual brush and floss. Both controlled and open-labeled studies have suggested that electric brushes improve gingival health with patients who routinely used manual brushes prior to using these new powered brushes, and safety has been clearly established. In recommending powered toothbrushes, practitioners should familiarize themselves with the products available, with the clinical studies supporting their benefits compared with manual brushes, their safety and ease of use, and the patient's economic status.

Risk assessment of mining projects in Ghana

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Teye Amoatey ◽  
Samuel Famiyeh ◽  
Peter Andoh
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Commodity Prices ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Culture ◽  
Mining Project ◽  
Mining Projects

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the critical risk factors affecting mining projects in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach A purposive sampling approach was used in selecting the respondents for the study. These were practitioners working on mining projects in Ghana. Findings The study identified 22 risk factors contributing to mining project failure in Ghana. The five most critical mining project risk factors based on both probability of occurrence and impact were unstable commodity prices, inflation/exchange rate, land degradation, high cost of living and government bureaucracy for obtaining licenses. Mitigation measures for addressing the identified risk factors were identified. Research limitations/implications This paper is limited to data collected from practitioners working on mining projects. Due to geographic and logistical constraints, the study did not include the perception of local communities in quantifying the risk factors. Practical implications This paper has documented the critical risk factor affecting the mining industry in Ghana. Though the identified risk types are also prevalent in other sectors of the construction industry, the key findings of this paper emphasize the need for a comprehensive risk management culture in the mining sector. From an academic research perspective, the paper contributes to a conceptual risk assessment framework. Originality/value The information gathered through this research can be utilized in identifying and understanding risks during the early stages of mining project implementation.

HESRi country impact and uptake in Slovenia

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Gabrijelčič Blenkus
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
National Development ◽  
Economic Research ◽  
Inequalities In Health ◽  
The Third ◽  
Health Report ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Equity and solidarity are strongly embedded in Slovene society from the second half of the 20th century on. Questions, exploring equity issues date in 1964, as a part of the Slovene Public Opinion (SPO) Survey. Slovenia is reporting on health equity and wellbeing in three strands. The first one is regular Human Development Report, based on Slovene Development Strategy since 2007, delegated partially to Institute of Economic Research (IER). Second one is regular Inequalities in Health Report, led by National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), and based on the National Health Strategy, since 2011. The third one is regular Poverty Report, led by Institute of Social Protection (ISP), based on the decision of the Parliamentarian Commission for Health and Social Affairs in 2013. NIPH comprehensively reported on Inequalities in Health in 2011, at that time based on direct measures of socio-economic status (SES) like education, or indirect measures or indexes (as development index or deprivation index of the municipality). In the second, 2018 report, several developments enabled for reporting health equity gap based on the individual SES status and first few cases of policy influences on equity status were described. In line with the WHO Rio SDH declaration 2011, in the third Health Equity Report, planned for 2021, further shift is foreseen and focus will be given to the policies influencing the equity gaps. For the 2021 Health Equity Report for Slovenia, three national key institutions (NIJZ, IER and ISP) decided to work together, based on the established multisectoral competences. WHO HESRi was developed and launched in best possible timing for the Slovene national initiative, to provide the international support, insights and facilitate further national development. Slovene priorities will be defined according to the national interests, Slovene presidency to EU in 2021 and Country Specific Recommendations in the frame of the European Semester.

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