Reflections on Government’s Accountability in Complex Socio-Economic Realities (In the Post-Political Era)

Author(s):  
Lech W. Zacher

Government accountability is important for more rational and effective functioning of authorities and societies. The actual assessment of government performance in the present complex and diverse socio-economic realities is not possible without qualitative and quantitative analyses. Additionally, new approaches and methods in synchronization with ICTs, computer simulations, and modeling enable the improvement of execution of the governments. This chapter advocates that multicriterial and multilevel assessment of governments should be enriched by recognition and analyses of contexts in which they act. Government characteristics and the present contexts are diverse and their responses to new challenges are limited and differentiated.

Author(s):  
Jerrold L. Abraham

Inorganic particulate material of diverse types is present in the ambient and occupational environment, and exposure to such materials is a well recognized cause of some lung disease. To investigate the interaction of inhaled inorganic particulates with the lung it is necessary to obtain quantitative information on the particulate burden of lung tissue in a wide variety of situations. The vast majority of diagnostic and experimental tissue samples (biopsies and autopsies) are fixed with formaldehyde solutions, dehydrated with organic solvents and embedded in paraffin wax. Over the past 16 years, I have attempted to obtain maximal analytical use of such tissue with minimal preparative steps. Unique diagnostic and research data result from both qualitative and quantitative analyses of sections. Most of the data has been related to inhaled inorganic particulates in lungs, but the basic methods are applicable to any tissues. The preparations are primarily designed for SEM use, but they are stable for storage and transport to other laboratories and several other instruments (e.g., for SIMS techniques).


Planta Medica ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 74 (09) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Jankovic ◽  
G Zdunic ◽  
K Savikin ◽  
I Beara ◽  
N Mimica-Dukić

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Mariangela Marrelli ◽  
Maria Rosaria Perri ◽  
Valentina Amodeo ◽  
Francesca Giordano ◽  
Giancarlo A. Statti ◽  
...  

Photochemotherapy is one of the most interesting current therapeutic approaches for the treatment of melanoma. Different classes of naturally occurring phytochemicals demonstrated interesting photoactive properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the photocytotoxic potential of two Cachrys species from Southern Italy: C. sicula and C. libanotis (Apiaceae). The enriched-coumarin extracts were obtained from aerial parts through both traditional maceration and pressurized cyclic solid-liquid (PCSL) extraction using Naviglio extractor®. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of furanocoumarins were performed with GC-MS. The photocytotoxic effects were verified on C32 melanoma cells irradiated at a dose of 1.08 J/cm2. The apoptotic responses were also assessed. Moreover, phenolic content and the in vitro antioxidant potential were estimated. Xanthotoxin, bergapten, and isopimpinellin were identified. All the samples induced concentration-dependent photocytotoxic effects (IC50 ranging from 3.16 to 18.18 μg/mL). The C. libanotis sample obtained with Naviglio extractor® was the most effective one (IC50 = 3.16 ± 0.21 μg/mL), followed by C. sicula sample obtained with the same technique (IC50 = 8.83 ± 0.20 μg/mL). Both Cachrys samples obtained through PCSL induced up-regulation of apoptotic signals such as BAX (Bcl2-associated X protein) and PARP (poly ADP-ribose polymerase) cleavage. Moreover, these samples proved to be more photoactive, giving a greater upregulation of p21 protein in the presence of UVA radiation. Obtained results suggest that investigated species could be promising candidates for further investigations aimed to find new potential drugs for the photochemotherapy of skin cancer.


2021 ◽  
pp. 001041402198975
Author(s):  
Ryan E. Carlin ◽  
Timothy Hellwig ◽  
Gregory J. Love ◽  
Cecilia Martínez-Gallardo ◽  
Matthew M. Singer

Public evaluations of the economy are key for understanding how citizens develop policy opinions and monitor government performance. But what drives economic evaluations? In this article, we argue the context in which information about the economy is distributed shapes economic perceptions. In high-quality information environments—where policies are transparent, the media is free, and political opposition is robust—mass perceptions closely track economic conditions. In contrast, compromised information environments provide openings for political manipulation, leading perceptions to deviate from business cycle fluctuations. We test our argument with unique data from eight Latin American countries. Results show restrictions on access to information distort the public’s view of economic performance. The ability of voters to sanction governments is stronger when democratic institutions and the media protect citizens’ access to independent, unbiased information. Our findings highlight the importance of accurate evaluations of the economy for government accountability and democratic responsiveness.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. e002938
Author(s):  
Austin Carter ◽  
Nadia Akseer ◽  
Kevin Ho ◽  
Oliver Rothschild ◽  
Niranjan Bose ◽  
...  

This paper introduces a framework for conducting and disseminating mixed methods research on positive outlier countries that successfully improved their health outcomes and systems. We provide guidance on identifying exemplar countries, assembling multidisciplinary teams, collecting and synthesising pre-existing evidence, undertaking qualitative and quantitative analyses, and preparing dissemination products for various target audiences. Through a range of ongoing research studies, we illustrate application of each step of the framework while highlighting key considerations and lessons learnt. We hope uptake of this comprehensive framework by diverse stakeholders will increase the availability and utilisation of rigorous and comparable insights from global health success stories.


Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 372 (6549) ◽  
pp. 1424-1428
Author(s):  
Israel Hershkovitz ◽  
Hila May ◽  
Rachel Sarig ◽  
Ariel Pokhojaev ◽  
Dominique Grimaud-Hervé ◽  
...  

It has long been believed that Neanderthals originated and flourished on the European continent. However, recent morphological and genetic studies have suggested that they may have received a genetic contribution from a yet unknown non-European group. Here we report on the recent discovery of archaic Homo fossils from the site of Nesher Ramla, Israel, which we dated to 140,000 to 120,000 years ago. Comprehensive qualitative and quantitative analyses of the parietal bones, mandible, and lower second molar revealed that this Homo group presents a distinctive combination of Neanderthal and archaic features. We suggest that these specimens represent the late survivors of a Levantine Middle Pleistocene paleodeme that was most likely involved in the evolution of the Middle Pleistocene Homo in Europe and East Asia.


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