scholarly journals Biometric technologies and the prospect of sustainable democracy in Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-43
Author(s):  
Harrison Adewale Idowu

The paper interrogates the prospect of attaining sustainable democracy in Africa using biometric technology (BT) for elections. Technology has become relevant in virtually every aspect of human endeavour, including election management and democratic development. In Africa, BT has also been deployed to improve the quality of elections and democracy. Using document analysis and review of relevant literature, findings indicate that to a large extent, BT is charting the path for sustainable democracy in Africa. However, the deployment of BT for African elections still faces serious challenges such as its high cost, inability to address some forms of electoral fraud, and lack of technical know-how. The paper concludes that the cultivation of political will to improve the quality of elections is important in order to address the current challenges of using BT in African elections and increase the prospect of attaining sustainable democracy.

Politeia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abiodun Fatai ◽  
Lekan Ismaila Adisa

The use of technological devices in the electoral process has been seen as the solution to electoral fraud and manipulations in many fledgling democracies in Africa. Technological innovations such as biometric devices have reinforced democratic quality of elections, ensuring electoral integrity in many countries in Africa. The study examines the uses of biometric technology in the 2015 elections in Nigeria. This paper argues that although these technological innovations encountered some change in the 2015 elections, these innovations enhanced the free and fair character, credibility and legitimacy of the 2015 elections when compared to previous elections since 1999 in Nigeria. While the paper adopted a qualitative research method it concludes on the need for INEC to undertake critical training of their officials, as well as rigorous education of the political elites on the efficient use of the card readers and the implication for democratic consolidation in Nigeria.


Widyaparwa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-164
Author(s):  
Novita Sumarlin Putri

Tindak tutur komisif merupakan salah satu aspek pragmatik yang harus diperhatikan oleh penerjemah ketika menerjemahkan teks. Hal itu dilakukan agar menghasilkan terjemahan yang berkualitas dari aspek keakuratan dan keberterimaan. Berdasarkan alasan tersebut, penelitian ini bertujuan mendiskripsikan tingkat keakuratan dan keberterimaan terjemahan kalimat yang mengakomodasi tindak tutur komisif dengan pendekatan pragmatik. Data yang digunakan ialah tuturan komisif dan hasil penilaian kualitas terjemahan. Data bersumber dari novel Insurgent karya Veronica Roth dan informan. Data dikumpulkan dengan cara analisis dokumen, kuesioner dan Focus Group Discussion. Selanjutnya, data dianalisis dengan cara analisis domain, taksonomi, komponensial, dan tema budaya. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa terjemahan dalam novel Insurgent mempunyai nilai keakuratan dan keberterimaan yang cukup tinggi. Berdasarkan penelitian ini, dapat disimpulkan bahwa tingkat keakuratan dan keberterimaan pada setiap jenis tindak tutur komisif memiliki dampak terhadap kualitas keseluruhan terjemahan kalimat yang mengandung tindak tutur komisif.Commissive speech act is one of the pragmatic aspects to regard by the translator in translating the text. It aims to produce a qualified translation in regarding accuracy and acceptability aspects. According to the aspects, this research aims to describe accuracy and acceptability of translation in sentences which accommodate commissive speech act using pragmatic approach. The data used is commissive speech and qualitative translation value result. The sources of the data are an Insurgent novel by Veronica Roth and informants. The data were collected through document analysis, questionnaire, and Focus Group Discussion then analyzed the domain, taxonomic, componential analysis, and cultural theme. The result shows that translation in the Insurgent novel has high accuracy and acceptability values. This research concludes that the accuracy and acceptability level in each commissive speech act has an impact on quality of whole translated sentences which contain commissive speech act.


Politics ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 026339572199148
Author(s):  
Anthony Costello

On the 25 March 2017, leaders of the EU27 and European Union (EU) institutions ratified the Rome Declaration. They committed to invite citizens to discuss Europe’s future and to provide recommendations that would facilitate their decision-makers in shaping their national positions on Europe. In response, citizens’ dialogues on the future of Europe were instituted across the Union to facilitate public participation in shaping Europe. This paper explores Ireland’s set of dialogues which took place during 2018. Although event organisers in Ireland applied a relatively atypical and more systematic and participatory approach to their dialogues, evidence suggests that Irelands’ dialogues were reminiscent of a public relations exercise which showcased the country’s commitment to incorporating citizens into the debate on Europe while avoiding a deliberative design which could have strengthened the quality of public discourse and the quality of public recommendations. Due to an absence of elite political will for a deliberative process, as well as structural weaknesses in design, participants’ recommendations lacked any clear and prescriptive direction which could shape Ireland’s national position on the future of Europe in any constructive or meaningful way.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-63
Author(s):  
Rabindra Acharya ◽  
Gopal P. Mahapatra ◽  
Kadamibini Acharya

Human beings have always strived towards excellence and progress since time immemorial. Industrialisation, automation and technological disruptions have led to increased comfort and quality of living of human beings and enhanced output, productivity and efficiency. Consequently, of late, health and wellness are receiving increased attention globally. Stress and stress-related diseases and workplace-related ailments have significantly increased over the last few decades and gained attention from society and industrial organisations. In the recent past, in the coronavirus pandemic context, wellness has been focused upon in many countries, communities and organisations worldwide. Yoga has been part of the Indian ethos for centuries. In this article, the authors discuss the General Yoga Programme (GYP), its broad coverage, and the impact it has had on the participants in terms of their wellness. With the help of a survey of the participants and linking it to relevant literature and research in the field, the authors highlight how GYP is a useful tool for enhancing various wellness dimensions. They recommend that GYP in its simplified form can be extended to the workplace; and also, HR professionals can play a facilitative role in the process.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salah Amrani ◽  
Duygu Kocaefe ◽  
Yasar Kocaefe ◽  
Dipankar Bhattacharyay ◽  
Mohamed Bouazara ◽  
...  

AbstractCarbon anodes are used in the electrolytic production of aluminum. The quality of anodes is directly related to the production cost, carbon and energy consumption, and environmental emissions. It is desired that the anodes have high density, low porosity/cracks, low electrical resistivity as well as low air and CO2 reactivities. Low resistivity of anodes reduces energy required to produce aluminum during electrolysis. The presence of cracks and pores increases the anode electrical resistivity. Therefore, it is important to know how and when the pores and cracks form during the anode production so that the necessary actions could be taken to prevent their formation. A study was carried out to investigate the effect of different anode production parameters such as anode composition, type of raw material used, time and top-former bellow pressure of vibro-compactor, green anode cooling medium, and heating rate used during baking on the crack formation. The anodes are fabricated at the carbon laboratory of University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC) and characterized by measuring their properties (density, electrical resistivity, and surface crack density). The anode properties, hence the anode quality, were correlated with the anode production parameters. Also, their tomographic analysis was carried out to visualize and quantify the internal cracks. Graphical abstract


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1387
Author(s):  
Oswaldo Sebastian Peñaherrera-Pulla ◽  
Carlos Baena ◽  
Sergio Fortes ◽  
Eduardo Baena ◽  
Raquel Barco

Cloud Gaming is a cutting-edge paradigm in the video game provision where the graphics rendering and logic are computed in the cloud. This allows a user’s thin client systems with much more limited capabilities to offer a comparable experience with traditional local and online gaming but using reduced hardware requirements. In contrast, this approach stresses the communication networks between the client and the cloud. In this context, it is necessary to know how to configure the network in order to provide service with the best quality. To that end, the present work defines a novel framework for Cloud Gaming performance evaluation. This system is implemented in a real testbed and evaluates the Cloud Gaming approach for different transport networks (Ethernet, WiFi, and LTE (Long Term Evolution)) and scenarios, automating the acquisition of the gaming metrics. From this, the impact on the overall gaming experience is analyzed identifying the main parameters involved in its performance. Hence, the future lines for Cloud Gaming QoE-based (Quality of Experience) optimization are established, this way being of configuration, a trendy paradigm in the new-generation networks, such as 4G and 5G (Fourth and Fifth Generation of Mobile Networks).


2014 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 671-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTINA BEHME

The Science of Language, published in the sixth decade of Noam Chomsky's linguistic career, defends views that are visibly out of touch with recent research in formal linguistics, developmental child psychology, computational modeling of language acquisition, and language evolution. I argue that the poor quality of this volume is representative of the serious shortcomings of Chomsky's recent scholarship, especially of his criticism of and contribution to debates about language evolution. Chomsky creates the impression that he is quoting titbits of a massive body of scientific work he has conducted or is intimately familiar with. Yet his speculations reveal a lack of even basic understanding of biology, and an unwillingness to engage seriously with the relevant literature. At the same time, he ridicules the work of virtually all other theorists, without spelling out the views he disagrees with. A critical analysis of the ‘Galilean method’ demonstrates that Chomsky uses appeal to authority to insulate his own proposals against falsification by empirical counter-evidence. This form of discourse bears no serious relation to the way science proceeds.


2007 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franklin Becker

While considerable attention has been paid to how the design of nursing units can help reduce nurse fatigue, improve safety, and reduce nosocomial infection rates, much less attention has been paid to how nursing unit design influences informal communication patterns, on-the-job learning, and job stress and satisfaction. Yet the literature consistently cites communication among diverse caregivers as a critical component for improving quality of care. This paper reviews relevant literature related to nursing unit design and communication patterns, and suggests an evidence-based design research agenda grounded in the concept of “organizational ecology” for increasing our understanding of how hospital design can contribute to improved quality of care.


1964 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-180
Author(s):  
Taina Kuusi

Experiments have been made in the development of various new black-currant products, such as cloudy juice, juice concentrate and various freeze-dried preparations, along with a study of the effect of these different methods of preparation on the initial quality and storage properties. The quality was assessed from the stability of ascorbic acid and colour, the aroma number, and organoleptic evaluation. Storage lasted up to 8 months. It was established that the cloudiness exercised a slight protective effect on ascorbic acid. However, the instability of the cloud meant that the appearance of the cloudy juice was less attractive than that of the clear juice. No well-founded advantage of the cloudy juice could be demonstrated. Concentration proved less suitable, as there occurred harmful changes in ascorbic acid, colour and organoleptic properties. The freezing-drying method was excellent with respect to ascorbic acid and colour. In contrast, considerable losses in aroma occurred, with consequent weakening of the organoleptic properties. This method would be of advantage only in combination with aroma recovery, and solution of the financial problems involved. The results are discussed in the light of relevant literature.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-290
Author(s):  
Suzana Oliveira CAMPOS ◽  
Fabio SCORSOLINI-COMIN

Infertility has repercussions as a problem in different areas. Regarding the sphere of the couple, this is a situation that can affect both spouses and operates in marital satisfaction. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to know how the conjugality is affected by the female infertility from the national and international scientific production. It is an integrative review of the scientific literature indexed in the databases/libraries PUBMED, PsycINFO and LILACS published between 2008 and 2018, in the Portuguese, Spanish and English languages, which recovered 34 publications, which were submitted to critical analysis. It is a predominantly international production, with a quantitative approach. The guiding question that led to the present revision was answered, so that it was found that infertility transforms the conjugal relationship, most often negatively, which has no direct influence of the female factor as cause. In contrast, the search for treatment is shown as an aspect of cohesion between the couple, which strengthens itself in pursuit of a common goal. Therefore, it is necessary to develop actions that aim at improving the marital and sexual quality of life of couples who are undergoing diagnosis and treatment for infertility. Palavras-chave : Infertility; Marriage; Spouses.


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