Community Authorities Research Articles

ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY OF FOREST RESOURCES: CASE OF COMMUNITY FORESTS IN SIGLE/CENTRAL-WEST, BURKINA-FASO

orest ecosystems from Burkina Faso are suffering from natural and anthropogenic disturbances that threaten their sustainability. This study aims to investigate human practices that pose a threat to the sustainability of community forests in the community of Siglé, in the Centre-West region of Burkina Faso. A mixed method (quantitative and qualitative), that consisted to survey questionnaires, interviews and field observations was employed. Ten practices that threaten the sustainability of forest resources were observed. The pFractices that pose the greatest threat to the forests were: i) Harvesting of fruits; ii) forest fires, expansion of the cultivation area and grazing, with average scores ranging from 2.59 to 3.5 on the Likert scale. These activities need to be regulated by the community authorities for the harmonious development of forest spaces in the municipality.

The Role of Women in Islamic Sacred Texts: A Critical Study of Women's Narratives and Authority in Islamic Tradition

This research aims to examine the role and authority of women in Islamic sacred texts, focusing on narratives within the Quran and Hadith and their implications for the social status and leadership of women in contemporary religious contexts. The urgency of this study stems from a significant discrepancy between women's representation in Islamic doctrine and their participation and recognition in broader religious and social power structures. Employing a qualitative methodology with a phenomenological approach, this study collected data from primary sources through in-depth interviews, as well as document analysis and secondary literature review, to explore interpretations of texts and prevailing practices. The findings reveal that although the sacred texts provide a basis for gender equality, traditional interpretations often restrict women's roles in leadership and authority capacities. Discussions on reinterpreting these texts with a more inclusive gender perspective offer opportunities to expand understandings of women's leadership in Islam. This study also highlights the importance of education in supporting women to take on more active roles in religious activities and leadership. Based on these findings, the research recommends adopting a more egalitarian interpretative approach in Islamic theology and integrating gender-inclusive religious education as strategies to overcome structural and social barriers that hinder women. These recommendations aim to encourage broader dialogue and fairer religious practices, supporting social change that recognises and promotes women's roles and authority in Muslim communities.

Potential and challenges of clinical high-dimensional flow cytometry: A call to action.

Clinical biomarker strategies increasingly integrate translational research to gain new insights into disease mechanisms or to define better biomarkers in clinical trials. High-dimensional flow cytometry (HDFCM) holds the promise to enhance the exploratory potential beyond traditional, targeted biomarker strategies. However, the increased complexity of HDFCM poses several challenges, which need to be addressed in order to fully leverage its potential and to align with current regulatory requirements in clinical flow cytometry. These challenges include among others extended timelines for assay development and validation, the necessity for extensive knowledge in HDFCM, and sophisticated data analysis strategies. However, no guidelines exist on how to manage such challenges in adopting clinical HDFCM. Our CYTO 2024 workshop "Potential and challenges of clinical high-dimensional flow cytometry" aimed to find consensus across the pharmaceutical industry and broader scientific community on the overall benefits and most urgent challenges of HDFCM in clinical trials. Here, we summarize the insights we gained from our workshop. While this report does not provide a blueprint, it is a first step in defining and summarizing the most pressing challenges in implementing HDFCM in clinical trials. Furthermore, we compile current efforts with the goal to overcome some of these challenges. As such we bring the scientific community and health authorities together to build solutions, which will accelerate and simplify the full adoption of HDFCM in clinical trials.

Promising Directions for Modernizing Legal Regulations on Non-Custodial Sentences and Criminal Measures

The reduction of criminal repression has gained recognition in modern criminal law, embraced not only by proponents of humanistic principles in criminal justice but also by advocates of a rationalistic approach to maintaining law and order in society and the state. A prevalent trend in modern penitentiary policy is the expansion of legal boundaries and practices involving criminal penalties and measures not involving the isolation of convicts from society. Strategic planning documents for the development of the penal system of the Russian Federation emphasize ongoing modernization efforts, particularly the adoption of alternative state coercive measures to imprisonment. However, an analysis of law enforcement practice reveals divergent trends that characterize the current state of penitentiary policy. Understanding these trends demands careful attention from the scientific community, legislators, and law enforcement authorities.

Assessment and enhancement of community water supply system sustainability: A dual framework approach

Population growth, pollution, and urbanization strain water sustainability, leading to the premature failure of community-managed water systems globally. This underscores the formidable task of precisely defining and quantifying sustainability within these community contexts. Based on the “You can't manage what you can't measure” adage, this study developed dual frameworks at community scale to assess and enhance the water supply system's sustainability. The assessment framework includes dimensions, indicators, and variables that convene into a Water Sustainability Index (WSI). WSI ranges from 1 to 4 where a score below 1.5 indicates poor water sustainability, while a score exceeding 3.5 signifies excellent sustainability. Likewise, the enhancement framework consists of dimensions, goals, and strategies. These frameworks relied on three specific dimensions, efficiency, resiliency, and community support. The identification of indicators, variables, and goals was based on SMART criteria. While the dimensions, indicators and goals are to remain consistent regardless of study areas, variables and strategies are site-specific and their selection needs to be based on each community's situations and data availability. The assessment framework suggested that the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) community has achieved fair water sustainability status with a score of 2.25. The strategic framework yielded several recommendations aimed at enhancing the sustainability of the water supply system at the AIT. The study's outcomes offer tools to evaluate the current situation of sustainability and assists local community authorities in devising solutions to enhance sustainability in community supply systems. Looking ahead, these frameworks lay the groundwork for future investigations, to explore localized, community-centric strategies for sustainable water management.

How Reproducible Is Feraheme® (Ferumoxytol Injection)? Comparison of Size, Zeta Potential, and Complement Activation of Different Batches over 15 Years

Ferumoxytol injection, also known as Feraheme®, is an approved IV injectable iron supplement and an experimental MRI contrast agent. Initially, it was approved as an IV bolus agent, but its use was later limited to a slow infusion drip due to high levels of infusion reactions. We collected various batches of ferumoxytol with expiration dates ranging from 2010 to 2025 and compared their size and zeta potential. Since nanoparticle surface properties can affect infusion reactions, we conducted a dot blot immunoassay to measure complement C3 opsonization with ferumoxytol preparations. We observed differences in nanoparticle size and zeta potential between batches and a 2.5-fold variation in complement activation. Interestingly, older batches from 2010 showed more uniform size distribution and lower complement activation than some of the newer batches. This finding may be valuable to the nanomedicine community and regulatory authorities.

Village Self-Government in the Period 1944-1955 in an Anthropological Perspective: The Example of the Village of Dobri Do

Rural self-government is an insufficiently researched topic in domestic and foreign anthropological literature. What is more, the extent to which archives of local self-government bodies can be useful as sources for anthropological research has not been sufficiently studied. For this reason, an attempt was made to provide a contribution to a better understanding of these scientific issues on the example of the village of Dobri Do in the vicinity of Pirot, and on the basis of material in the Historical Archive of Pirot that refers to the work of the Local People's Committee in this village. The period after the Second World War was chosen, due to the state of the materials in the archival collections and the fact that the period was marked by numerous processes that highlighted scientific problems more clearly. It started from the assumption that the local self-government, as a mediator between the rural community and state authorities, was primarily directed towards protecting the interests of the rural community itself. The analysis showed that MNO archives can be very useful sources, and that they can be combined with classical anthropological research methods (participant observation, interview, biographical method). Nevertheless, a critical attitude must be taken towards this archival material, because it is incomplete, insufficiently conscientiously collected and organized. Based on the available material, it is possible to see many questions that have not been raised so far about the relationship between the local community and state institutions. Further research will show to what extent it is possible to improve the use of this material within ethnological and anthropological research.

УПРАВЛІННЯ СТЕЙКХОЛДЕРАМИ У ВОЛОНТЕРСЬКИХ ПРОЄКТАХ

The issue of the significant role of volunteering in solving social problems in modern conditions is considered. The low effectiveness of the processes of interaction of interested parties during the implementation of charitable initiatives is emphasized, which necessitates the management of stakeholders in volunteer projects. The purpose of the article is to research the processes and develop a mechanism for involving stakeholders of volunteer projects in decision-making to ensure the inclusive participation of representatives of various community interest groups. The object of the study is the process of stakeholder management in volunteer projects. The methodological basis of the research is logical methods of information processing, methods of analysis for stakeholder mapping, an abstract-logical method for formulating recommendations and conclusions. Presenting main material. The issue of involvement of interested parties in decision-making during the implementation of volunteer projects is considered. The definition and general characteristics of project stakeholders are given. The problem of low efficiency of interaction between community residents, authorities and volunteer project teams was studied. A stakeholder management mechanism for volunteer projects is proposed, which is based on the method of dividing stakeholders into groups depending on the degree of their interest and influence. Effective management of interested parties will make it possible to avoid misunderstandings and contradictions, improve the quality of the final product and contribute to the successful implementation of volunteer projects. The originality and practical significance of the study is confirmed by the possibility of using the proposed measures as a practical tool for managing stakeholders of volunteer projects. Conclusions and prospects for further research. The proposed stakeholder management mechanism of volunteer projects can be used for further improvement of co-creation processes in communities.

Navigating Pluralism in Islamic Jurisprudence: A Comparative Analysis of Mut'ah Marriage in Ja'fari and Sunni Schools of Thought

This study examines the differing views on mut'ah (temporary) marriage between the Ja'fari and Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence through a comparative analysis of their legal reasoning methodologies. Employing qualitative research methods including textual analysis of primary sources, historical examination, and comparative legal analysis, the study explores the origins of these divergent interpretations and their implications for contemporary Muslim societies. The findings reveal that differences in scriptural interpretation, hadith authentication, and legal principles contribute to the contrasting positions on mut'ah marriage. While the Ja'fari school considers it permissible based on Quranic verses and certain hadith, Sunni schools generally prohibit it, citing abrogation and potential social harms. The study highlights how these differing views reflect broader patterns of legal pluralism in Islamic jurisprudence and impact contemporary debates on gender, marriage, and religious authority in Muslim communities. By critically evaluating arguments from both traditions, this research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of Islamic legal diversity and its ongoing negotiation in modern contexts.

PARTISIPASI MASYARAKAT DALAM MENGATASI PUTUS SEKOLAH DI KABUPATEN TANGERANG

Nia Qurrotul'ain, 6670190064, Citizens Participation in Overcoming School Dropouts in Tangerang, Dr. Elly Nurlia, M.Si., Government Science, Faculty of Social and Politic Science, Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University, 2024. This article discusses community participation in overcoming school dropouts in the District. Tangerang. Tangerang Regency occupies the highest position in Banten Province regarding the number of children out of school. This makes the government in Kab. Tangerang solved the problem by creating a program and participating in the program. In this research, researchers used qualitative methods with a case study approach with community participation theory by Sherry Arnstein. The results of this research show that the Pakades Program is included in the moderate participation category where the community has the opportunity to convey their aspirations as material for consideration by the government in determining policy, but the community's authority to participate in formulating policy is not large. The role of the school committee is included in the high category where the community has influence on the decision-making process. Community participation (poor/vulnerable community groups) has entered the space for determining the process, results and impact of policies by implementing partnerships, namely that the community has been able to negotiate with "power holders." ” in an equal position, delegation of power means that the community has been able to direct policy because the decision-making space has been “controlled”.

Modern Illegal Drug Business in Ukraine: Multidisciplinary Study of the System of Prevention and Countermeasures Against the Legalization of Income (Money Laundering) Obtained by Criminal Means

Established that the modern illegal drug trade is an integral part of transnational organized crime, involving the laundering of proceeds obtained through criminal activities. A comprehensive multidisciplinary study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Ukraine's efforts to combat the contemporary drug trade and to analyze the international system for preventing and countering the legalization of illicit income (money laundering). This study confirmed the connection between transnational organized crime and the laundering of money derived from the illegal trafficking of banned psychoactive substances. The research emphasized the critical need to enhance the criminal and legal frameworks, improve medical and pharmaceutical support, and expand social and economic assistance. By examining the global experience in combating organized crime and drug-related offenses, the study provided valuable insights into effective strategies. Particular attention was given to forensic pharmaceutical practices related to the detection of prohibited psychoactive substances and the legalization of income from their illicit trade. To address these challenges, the study recommends increasing the criminal liability for members of organized drug trafficking gangs and suggests specific amendments to articles 115, 305, and 307 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of the European Union’s roadmap and international cooperation efforts in combating the illegal circulation of prohibited psychoactive substances and the laundering of illegal profits was conducted. Normative initiatives aimed at amending Article 209 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code were developed and proposed. The study indicated the importance of implementing the EU Roadmap measures in Ukraine to foster cooperation among various private and public institutions. This collaborative approach aims to coordinate joint actions, conduct research, and organize conferences and training sessions based on the EMCDDA European prevention program and UN initiatives. The study underscores the relevance, timeliness, and practical significance of engaging the international community, including scientists, medical professionals, pharmacists, students, the public, legal experts, law enforcement, and government authorities. Through this multidisciplinary approach, the study seeks to promote a more effective and coordinated response to the challenges posed by the modern drug trade and its associated criminal activities.

Legitimacy of Community Justice. A Look From the Aymara Communities of Peru

Objective: The objective is to identify the designation of communal authorities in the form of election, its organizational structure, its attributions, roles, functions and legitimacy in the community. Finally, to explain the prevailing norms, forms of conflict resolution within the framework of the administration of communal justice, considering as a source the cultural patterns as a mechanism of access to justice. Results: The study is carried out in the district of Chucuito, Puno, Peru, where the ancestral social political organization persists and the administration of justice is based on its cultural practice, especially rooted in the ancestral historical legacy. In the article, an analysis is made regarding the scope and limitations of the administration of community justice. Method: The method used is ethnographic-qualitative. In the procedural aspect, it was carried out through the analysis of the Communal Minutes Book, where the cases dealt with in the communal assemblies are recorded. Observation guides and in-depth interviews were used as research instruments. The field work was carried out following a program of visits coordinated with the communal authorities for a period of one year. Conclusions: The ancestral practices of justice administration are in force in the Aymara communities practiced by the families of the community and authorities, mainly Lieutenant Governors, based on custom, ancestral traditions and the legitimacy attributed to them by the community population, and they seek to lay the foundations for the understanding and incorporation to the official state justice spheres.

Seasonal Decomposition of Sexual Victimization-Related Cases in Hyderabad, Pakistan

The issue of sexual assault is a serious concern that contributes to abuses of human rights and risks to public health. Evaluating situations like these is absolutely necessary in order to make the judicial process easier for both the victim and the person who committed the crime. When the seasonality of sexual assault-related incidents is determined, it can provide the community and law enforcement authorities with information that can help them implement preventative measures. Objective: To assess the seasonality of sexual assault-related cases at casualty department of a teaching hospital in Hyderabad, Pakistan. Methods: In current descriptive/prospective study, ninety two sexual assault-related medico-legal cases (MLCs) were included. This study based on the seasonality of sexual assault-related MLCs using seasonal decomposition of three-year from January 2020 to December 2022 data from a leading tertiary care teaching hospital in the Hyderabad region. Results: Most of the cases (N=42) were reported in the year 2021. The percentage of sexual assault-related MLCs was found to be concentrated from June to August (10.86% to 14.13%). The highest number of sexual assault-related MLCs occurred in July. The seasonal decomposition also showed pronounced peaks in summer, with intense peaks in July for rape and total sexual assault cases. Conclusions: The number of sexual assault-related cases was aggregated in mid-year, showing a higher trend in summer season. Efficient preventive measures in certain seasons and education of vulnerable groups can minimize sexual violence in the community

I want to be safe: understanding the main drivers behind vaccination choice throughout the pandemic

BackgroundDespite being a major advancement in modern medicine, vaccines face widespread hesitancy and refusal, posing challenges to immunization campaigns. The COVID-19 pandemic accentuated vaccine hesitancy, emphasizing the pivotal role of beliefs in efficacy and safety on vaccine acceptance rates. This study explores the influence of efficacy and safety perceptions on vaccine uptake in Italy during the pandemic.MethodsWe administered a 70-item questionnaire to a representative sample of 600 Italian speakers. Participants were tasked with assessing the perceived effectiveness and safety of each vaccine dose, along with providing reasons influencing their vaccination choices. Additionally, we conducted an experimental manipulation, exploring the effects of four framing messages that emphasized safety and/or efficacy on participants’ willingness to receive a hypothetical fourth vaccine dose. Furthermore, participants were asked about their level of trust in the scientific community and public authorities, as well as their use of different information channels for obtaining COVID-19-related information.ResultsOur study reveals a dynamic shift in vaccine efficacy and safety perceptions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially influencing vaccination compliance. Initially perceived as more effective than safe, this assessment reversed by the time of the third dose. Beliefs regarding safety, rather than efficacy, played a significant role in anticipating future vaccinations (e.g., the booster dose). Safety-focused messages positively affected vaccination intent, while efficacy-focused messages showed limited impact. We also observed a changing trend in reasons for vaccination, with a decline in infection-related reasons and an increase in social related ones. Furthermore, trust dynamics evolved differently for public authorities and the scientific community.ConclusionsVaccine perception is a dynamic process shaped by evolving factors like efficacy and safety perceptions, trust levels, and individual motivations. Our study sheds light on the complex dynamics that underlie the perception of vaccine safety and efficacy, and their impact on willingness to vaccinate. We discuss these results in light of bounded rationality, loss aversion and classic utility theory.

Time Trend of Occupational Noise-induced Hearing Loss in a Metallurgical Plant With a Hearing Conservation Program

BackgroundThis study aimed to analyze the trend of occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) in Brazilian workers at a metallurgical plant with a hearing conservation program (HCP), which has been addressed in a previous study. MethodsAll 152 workers in this time series (20032018) participated in the HCP and used personal protective equipment. All annual audiometry records in the company's software were collected from the electronic database. The trend of ONIHL was analyzed with the joinpoint regression model. The hearing thresholds of ONIHL cases at the end of the series were compared with those found in a national reference study. ResultsThe binaural mean hearing thresholds at 3, 4, and 6 kHz at the end of the series were higher for ages ≥50 years, exposures ≥85 dB (A), time since admission >20 years, and maintenance workers. Significance was found only in the group divided by age. There was an increasing time trend of ONIHL, though with a low percentage variation for the period (AAPC = 3.5%; p = 0.01). Hearing thresholds in this study differed from the reference one. ConclusionDespite the unmet expectation of a stationary trend in the study period, the time pace of ONIHL evolution did not follow what was expected for a population exposed to noise. These findings signal to the scientific community and public authorities that good ONIHL control is possible when HCP is well implemented.

Simulasi Sistem Monitoring Kenaikan Level Air pada Area Rawan Banjir Secara Real-Time berbasis Smartphone Android

Abstract
 Flooding is the most prevalent disaster that often occurs, flooding occurs due to an increase in water levels in flood-prone areas such as rivers, creeks, swamps and seas that can no longer be dammed which results in overflowing water, in controlling the increase in water levels, a technology is needed that is able to minimize casualties and property. So, the purpose of this research is to create a technology or monitoring tool for water level rise that can be monitored through an Android smartphone where the use of this system will make it easier for the community and local authorities to monitor real-time water level rise. This research uses Research and Development (R&D) research methodology and data is managed and taken through observation, literature study and validation methods. This system uses the HCSR-04 ultrasonic sensor as a sensor and ESP32 as a microcontroller, as an output result, the data will be in the form of two visualizations, namely real-time graphs and tables and notifications via email. The results of the tool system output are built based on progressive web app through Laravel PHP.

Salutogenic Design as Health Preservation Technology: Prospects for Implementation in Public Health

Introduction. The concept of salutogenic design, focused on creating a healthy environment, is based on the salutogenesis concept, developed back in the 1970s by Aaron Antonovsky. This approach is becoming increasingly popular in urban planning, development, and certification of buildings, offices, and medical fa-cilities. Due to ongoing national projects, there is an increasing demand for specialists in public health and salutogenic design in Russia, which has justified the creation of an interdisciplinary educational program. Objective. To present the implementation of the network master's program "Salutogenic Design" in the field of public health and the creation of a healthy urban environment.Materials and methods. We conducted literature review on existing practices for applying salutogenic de-sign in urban planning and described the implementation of the network master's program "Salutogenic De-sign" at the Institute of Leadership and Health Management of the I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) and Moscow institute of architecture (MIARCH).Results. The concept of salutogenic design is a prominent scientific and practical issue for researchers, pro-fessional community, and executive authorities worldwide, with particular interest in implementation studies of salutogenic design for designing and constructing environments, transport, medical organizations, and the urban landscape, as well as developing tools for urban environment assessment. The master's program "Salutogenic Design" is a unique educational experience that includes the development of professional skills in an interdisciplinary area of health sciences and urban planning, distinguishing it from other educational projects.

The History of Violence in Scotland Reconsidered: The Culture, Filtering and Treatment of Assault in Police Courts, c. 1829–1900

While recent scholarly attention has focused on serious, indicatable violent crime in Scotland, this article considers the more common offence of lower-level assault that was dealt with summarily in police magistrate courts in the nineteenth century. It explores the role that police courts played in conceptualising, categorising and processing such violence, the role assault played in Scottish urban communities and the culture that surrounded it. The article also examines how magistrates dealt with assault and what this might suggest about the impact of the police and the courts on violent behavioural patterns. It argues that interpersonal violence had a more important, complex and nuanced role to play in Scottish urban communities than conclusions based on criminal indictments suggest. Assault was a disturbingly accepted facet of conflict resolution, a means of exerting authority and patriarchy in communities and households and an ever-present threat with which a sizeable percentage of the urban masses had to live. The article stresses that the boundaries between lower-level assault that was dealt with summarily and more serious (or ‘aggravated’) assault that was tried in a higher court on indictment were determined not just by the nature of violence wielded or the injury sustained, but by a raft of social, cultural and practical factors. Indeed, the rise of summary justice in the form of police courts helped to lower indictment rates for serious assault, as magistrates often dealt summarily with assaults that warranted a more serious charge. This is a point that historians need to bear in mind when considering what indictment rates for serious assault reveal about violence in Scotland more broadly.

Whose Authority, Whose Autonomy?

The presentation of the tension between the autonomy and authority of the scientific community should be recalibrated as the tension between the authority of the scientific community and the autonomy of individuals within a democratic state. Limiting the authority of the scientific community necessarily limits its autonomy (and in this sense the “tension” dissipates). Whatever constraints are imposed on the scientific community by the state, they do not by themselves sanction individual disregard for state policies. The tension, then, is between the political authority of policy makers and the autonomy claimed by individuals. There should be no indiscriminate license for following one’s “gut feelings” when a state adheres to (scientific) expert recommendations that protect and save individual lives.

Wojciech Bogumił Jastrzębowski’s Draft of the European Constitution of 1831 – Genesis, Main Assumptions and Significance

Wojciech Bogusław Jastrzębowski’s federative concept of a united Europe was developed during the November Uprising. The printed text of the 1831 pamphlet Constitution for Europe, the manuscript of which is kept by the Archive of Old Records in Warsaw, was conceived as a project for a pan-European constitution. The main aim of the future federation of nations was to prevent any further wars on our continent. In the 77 articles of the Constitution, Jastrzębowski specified, inter alia, the principles of the functioning of the common institutions of the monarchical federation and the national institutions. He also defined the mutual relations between nations and community authorities, criminal sanctions for breaching European and national laws, as well as the fundamental rights and duties of citizens of a united Europe. The author of the project stipulated the equality of all before the law and the abolition of all state privileges.