Documentary Research Research Articles

Non-Destructive Testing and Synergistic Investigation of a Historic Tower

This paper focuses on the reliability of a synergistic procedure, involving dynamic tests complemented by documentary and architectural research, for the structural assessment of heritage towers. The reliability of the presented method is exemplified in a relevant case study, the Zuccaro’s Tower in Mantua. As is known, historic buildings require addressed procedures in order to consider past building transformation and eventual damage/decay, which can affect the masonry properties and, more generally, the structural behavior. The proposed investigation procedure is based on multidisciplinary information (i.e., merging data) from historical and document studies, direct inspections, surveys of geometry and front surfaces, and dynamic tests in operational conditions. The processed information allowed the development and the calibration of a simplified numerical model, useful in driving the seismic/structural assessment of the tower. The results of past investigations, found during the archival research, contributed to the structural evaluation. This paper describes the main research outcomes and the model tuning with a special focus on the key role of the synergy between the applied methods for the assessment of a historic building.

Experiences and lessons from using digital technology for noncommunicable disease services during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Background: Harnessing digital technology for health service provision is inevitable, especially after the dramatic increase in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic and the observed global disruption of health services especially for People Living with Noncommunicable Diseases (PLWNCDs). Aims: To document and share experiences, challenges and lessons learned from the use of digital health interventions (DHIs) for noncommunicable disease (NCD) service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Methods: We conducted a documentary research on the use of DHIs for continuity of NCD services during the COVID-19 pandemic in EMR. We collected our data using a questionnaire that was developed and administered by email to WHO NCD focal persons at the ministries of health of all EMR countries. Using the WHO classification of DHIs we then mapped the various interventions and the stakeholders involved. Results: Seven countries – Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and United Arab Emirates – shared their documentations. Documented DHIs used by countries to overcome the disruption of services during the pandemic were mostly on the use of client-to-provider telemedicine for NCD services. The level of implementation varied between countries. NCD and mental health helplines and COVID-19 prevention awareness campaigns for PLWNCDs were the most mentioned interventions. Conclusions: DHIs for NCD service provision were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in all settings: highmiddle- and low-income countries in the EMR. There is a high potential for incorporating DHIs within health systems to increase access to health services beyond the pandemic. Documentation, regulation and national capacity-building for mainstreaming DHIs in public health services in the EMR are strongly encouraged, based on each country’s needs.

School physical education in conflagrated areas: a documentary research in Complexo do Salgueiro, São Gonçalo

In this study, we intended to discuss how School Physical Education can influence (and be influenced) by the sociocultural contexts related to armed violence in the daily life of the Complexo do Salgueiro community. Although it is recognized for its plurality of circulating cultures, this territory of the city is known to be occupied by armed groups that operate under violent coercion in the municipality of São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro. The aim was to understand the episodes of violence in this region, chosen as the locus of research, as well as its manifestations in schools, in the discipline of Physical Education. The methodological path followed was rooted in the personal history of its first author with the daily life of the communities of Complexo do Salgueiro. As a result, it was observed that as Physical Education in schools can be negatively influenced by violence, it contributes positively through the promotion of critical awareness and health. However, it is important to highlight that it is essential to strengthen community initiatives that promote a culture of peace, and people mobilization to pressure the State to implement comprehensive public policies to prevent and combat violence.

The suffering is expensive: comparison of therapeutic costs between palliative care and dysthanasia patient

Objectives: Several studies highlight benefits of palliative care for patients with lifethreatening illnesses, especially in terms of pain control and improving life quality. However, there is still research gap, particularly in the Brazilian context, regarding its ability to reduce costs associated with unnecessary invasive tests and procedures often invested in dysthanasia patients, thereby relieving the burden on the healthcare system. Given this scenario, the objective was to determine whether there is a significant difference in healthcare costs between cancer patients receiving palliative care and those in dysthanasia. Method: Documentary research, analyzing 94 medical records of patients who died from cancer in a hospital, divided into two groups: 47 in palliative care and 47 in dysthanasia. The groups had their average costs compared by surveying all tests and procedures recorded in the last 30 days of each patient’s life, with values scored based on the price table of the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde). Results: Patients receiving curative care in dysthanasia incurred an average cost of 2,316.92 Brazilian Reais (SD = 3,146.60) for tests and procedures in the last 30 days of life. Patients in palliative care had an average cost of 945.40 Brazilian Reais (SD = 2,508.01). There is a statistically significant difference in the invested values between patients in palliative care and those in dysthanasia (U = 620.00; Z = -4.334; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Implementing palliative care can be considered an effective strategy for reducing hospital costs, leading to significant savings within the healthcare system.

Heart failure and treatment with Sodium-glucose Co-transporter Inhibitor (SGLT2): dapagliflozin and its effects on the cardiac system

This article thoroughly examines the effectiveness of treatment with dapagliflozin, a sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitor, in the context of heart failure. The primary focus of this analysis lies in evaluating patients' clinical condition, the diagnostic procedures employed, and the various medications used as part of the treatment regimen. The objective of this investigation is based on a meticulous analysis of relevant scientific articles. Classified as documentary research within the field of Applied Linguistics, this study draws upon research covering classification, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, pharmacological treatment, and the role of SGLT2 inhibitors in heart failure as its primary theoretical framework. The findings indicate dapagliflozin's efficacy in reducing the heart's ejection fraction, regardless of the presence of diabetes. However, it emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive medical assessment before initiating the use of this medication, highlighting the need for caution and appropriate professional supervision.

Cultural Resistance and Collective Memory: The Impact of Nationalism of the Vargas Dictatorship on Hungarian Heritage in Jaraguá Do Sul - SC

This work encompasses an analysis of the dictatorship experienced in Brazil between 1937 and 1945, during the Estado Novo (New State), the government of Getúlio Vargas, when there was an attempt to consolidate a fictitious homogeneity in the country, especially regarding culture. In a country where layers of different cultural influences converge, making it rich, unique, and celebrated for its diversity, cultural heritage is of extreme importance. During this period, in a contradictory manner, through repression and adaptation of culture to fit the interests of the State, the period witnessed censorship and sometimes even the forgetting of cultural heritages that somewhat conflicted with the interests of the regime at the time. The issues that emerge are related to the impact of nationalism in the face of the repression of the expression of different cultures, through documentary research in primary sources, including publications in local newspapers and testimonials from descendants of the local community about the collective memory of the repression of the cultural expression of immigrants in the southern region, finally reaching the feelings generated that resonate to this day. The analysis reached a possible rupture and distortion of the collective memory, indicating how nationalism shaped and still shapes imagined communities. Amidst a discussion that also presents an analysis of the role of nationalist discourses in architecture and its homogenization.

AGE-GRADE DISTORTION

This article, which has the theme of age-grade distortion, presents the results of a documentary research and a qualitative approach, with the aim of analyzing the age-grade distortion rates of students in the final years of elementary school in the state network of Roraima and the actions implemented by the Department of Education and Sports (SEED) to meet this demand. The collection of data on school flow indicators was carried out in documents published by INEP and QEdu, with an analysis of the historical series of the School Census of the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 and information on the actions implemented by SEED, to assist students that make up this group, were obtained from publications on the official websites linked to that body. Results show that, although the age-grade distortion indicator shows a reduction, it is still present in both urban and rural state schools in the 15 municipalities of Roraima. Notwithstanding, the collection of data on the actions implemented by SEED has been limited to electronic media disclosures, it was found that actions are developed to reduce dropout, repetition and dropping out of school, such as the active search of students, the realization workshops and training courses for teachers working in flow correction classes.

A review on sustainable sewage treatment technologies applicable to semi-arid regions

Sustainability in the context of Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) is manifested when the principles of circular economy are prioritized, and the use of by-products takes center stage. From this perspective, a notable gap exists in the literature, as no bibliometric analysis has evaluated the sustainability of sewage treatment technologies in semi-arid climates. Addressing this, the current study aims to contextualize, map, and analyze the evolution and trends of sustainable WWTPs through bibliometric analyses, to assess the hypothesis of the existence of sustainable wastewater treatment plants and, in the affirmative, to evaluate which ones are best suited to the semi-arid climate. The research utilized documentary research data. To this end, the VosViewer software was employed to map information from titles and abstracts. Furthermore, the Bibliometrix software was used for bibliometric analyses. Additionally, a systematic analysis of selected articles was carried out to validate the results obtained in the integrative analysis. The integrative review revealed an evolution in scientific production related to the sustainability of WWTPs, with a significant increase in publications over time. As a result, it can be observed that sewage treatment technologies such as constructed wetlands, pond systems, sand filtration, and septic tanks were highlighted as more sustainable and applicable approaches in semi-arid regions compared to other sewage treatment technologies analyzed. Bibliometric analysis identified prominent authors, leading countries in scientific production, and key scientific journals in the field. The validation of results through systematic analyses reinforced the reliability and robustness of the information obtained in the study. As seen, this study contributes to a significant advancement in knowledge about sustainable sewage treatment in semi-arid regions, providing relevant insights for public and private stakeholders in making informed and sustainable decisions.

One Health communication channels: a qualitative case study of swine influenza in Canada in 2020

BackgroundWith increased attention to the importance of integrating the One Health approach into zoonotic disease surveillance and response, a greater understanding of the mechanisms to support effective communication and information sharing across animal and human health sectors is needed. The objectives of this qualitative case study were to describe the communication channels used between human and animal health stakeholders and to identify the elements that have enabled the integration of the One Health approach.MethodsWe combined documentary research with interviews with fifteen stakeholders to map the communication channels used in human and swine influenza surveillance in Alberta, Canada, as well as in the response to a human case of H1N2v in 2020. A thematic analysis of the interviews was also used to identify the barriers and facilitators to communication among stakeholders from the animal and human health sectors.ResultsWhen a human case of swine influenza emerged, the response led by the provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health involved players at various levels of government and in the human and animal health sectors. The collaboration of public and animal health laboratories and of the swine sector, in addition to the information available through the surveillance systems in place, was swift and effective. Elements identified as enabling smooth communication between the human and animal health systems included preexisting relationships between the various stakeholders, a relationship of trust between them (e.g., the swine sector and their perception of government structures), the presence of stakeholders acting as permanent liaisons between the ministries of health and agriculture, and stakeholders' understanding of the importance of the One Health approach.ConclusionsInformation flows through formal and informal channels and both structural and relational features that can support rapid and effective communication in infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response.

Flood events in the lower reaches of the Yellow River: OSL and radiocarbon dating on the Anshang site

The lower reaches of the Yellow River have witnessed numerous episodes of flooding and considerable shifts in its course. Examining flood records within the Yellow River basin offers invaluable insights into ancient human settlements, agricultural practices, trade routes, and technological advancements of ancient Chinese civilizations. However, dating these fluvial sediments poses a considerable challenge due to either the scarcity of organic material for radiocarbon (14C) dating or the potential incomplete bleaching of sediments for optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques. This study focused on the Anshang site located in Henan Province, we obtained OSL ages from distinct grain size fractions of quartz and cross-verified them with independent acceleration mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C ages. The findings revealed that both coarse quartz grains (CG) and medium quartz grains (MG) underwent complete bleaching in silt-dominated flood deposits and shallow lacustrine deposits. Conversely, the OSL ages of CG and MG quartz were notably overestimated by approximately 3–6 ka in silty clay-dominated flood deposits. Upon comparing the OSL ages with AMS 14C ages, it was evident that bulk organic matter AMS 14C ages aligned with CG OSL ages in shallow lacustrine deposits, but they appeared older than CG OSL ages in flood deposits. However, the AMS 14C ages from plant demonstrated good consistency. Consequently, we successfully identified flood-lacustrine sediments dating back to approximately ∼13 ka, ∼8–3 ka, ∼2.6 ka, ∼1 ka, and the last few hundred years, aligning well with historical documentation and earlier research. The regional evidence presented herein enhances our understanding of the applicability of OSL dating and AMS 14C dating in fluvial-lacustrine sediments. Armed with these new ages, we constructed a reference chronology for archaeological localities situated in the fluvial sediments of the lower reaches of the Yellow River.

Characterization The Factors Influencing Construction Productivity Using Index System and D-S Evidence Theory

It is a very importance, both theoretically and practically, to create an indicator system to evaluate the factors affecting construction productivity. This paper uses the expert consultation opinion, the questionnaire survey technique, and the documentary research methods to analyze the and prioritizing influencing factors on construction productivity and evaluate it from the aspects of construction, management, special circumstances, and building the evaluation index system of those factors. Based on the principle of Dempster-Schaffer evidence theory to make group decisions by constructing a comprehensive judgment matrix (to effectively gather the opinions of experts and solve the problem of conflicting opinions, then determine the weights of the indicators through the analytical hierarchy process,. In the end, an index system was obtained to evaluate the factors affecting construction productivity in Iraqi projects, including three first-level indicators/indicators, seven secondary indicators, and 56 third-level indicators, which provides theoretical guidance for project departments in order to study these factors. And work towards developing a system to effectively increase project productivity.

The indigenous bioculture of the Pungalá parish of Ecuador an approach to their culinary and medicinal heritage

The food and culinary heritage with medicinal uses are a fascinating field that combines history, culture, and health through food. Over the centuries, various cultures have developed knowledge and practices related to the use of specific ingredients and culinary preparations with medicinal properties. In the Pungalá parish in Ecuador, these generational knowledge and traditions form a valuable biocultural heritage that helps us understand the close relationship between food and traditional medicine. Through qualitative and documentary research, interviews and community workshops are conducted to gather information using different techniques. Among the findings regarding the food and culinary heritage of Pungalá are extinct culinary traditions, as well as important culinary techniques and processes that play a role in nutrition and medicine, valuing traditional and ancestral knowledge as part of their culture. The inventory includes 22 plants used in Andean medicine and 38 preparations, including beverages, porridges, stews, soups, and wrapped dishes that become an integral part of everyday routines, dietary habits, and festive traditions. It is concluded that this knowledge constitutes a valuable food and culinary heritage, and its biocultural is based on ancestral knowledge of the healing properties of local plants and foods, contributing to the health and identity of the community. Measures should be taken to preserve and promote this heritage in the face of current challenges.

Os reflexos da pandemia do novo coronavírus na judicialização do direito à saúde perante o Supremo Tribunal Federal

Objective: to identify whether the pandemic situation interfered with the extent and way in which issues relating to the right to health were assessed by the Federal Supreme Court. Methodology: documentary research was carried out, which, after consulting the Federal Supreme Court database, with the filter using the term “health”, returned a total of 1,178 rulings, 447 from the pre-pandemic period and 731 from the pandemic period, which were analyzed and classified according to thematic relevance. After the classification stage discards, 70 rulings were identified in the pre-pandemic period and 167 rulings in the pandemic that effectively deal with the right to health. Results: the pandemic imposed numerous challenges on the health system, so that the Judiciary was urged to speak out in the face of the now established controversies. In these manifestations, it was identified that there was an increase in demands for concentrated control and in the absolute quantity of decisions involving the right to health, as well as that qualitatively, in general, the previous decision-making pattern was maintained, although new themes have emerged. Conclusion: the study concluded that the Supreme Court's tendency remains in favor of the recognition of health rights, using arguments such as the non-offense of the separation of powers and the impossibility of arguing on the possible reservation to prevent their granting. Submission: 01/29/23|Review: 10/24/23|Approval: 10/30/23

The role of technological modernization in Brazil's border security: a study on the Integrated Border Monitoring System (SISFRON)

The central purpose of this study is to conduct a scientific analysis of the influence of technological innovations on crime mitigation and the enhancement of public security in the border zone of Brazil. This examination aims to understand how the adoption of cutting-edge technologies can contribute to reducing criminal activity and strengthening security in the country's border areas. This study is of great relevance as it seeks to assess the importance of implementing the Integrated Border Monitoring System (SISFRON) as a preventive and repressive measure against crimes in the border regions between Brazil and other Latin American countries. SISFRON is essential as it integrates the Armed Forces, government agencies, and federative states, playing a crucial role in National Defense. The methodology employed in this work is based on a deductive approach, involving qualitative bibliographic and documentary research. The analysis of institutional documents, mapping of key actors from institutions involved in border protection, and investigating their role in promoting public security and defending Brazilian borders are fundamental steps in this research. By concluding this study, it is expected to confirm that SISFRON emerges as a significant tool of the National Defense Policy. It not only focuses on internal security and strengthening territorial defense in border areas but also serves as a link for cooperation between neighboring countries, enabling the sharing of information and joint actions in combating various forms of transboundary illicit activities.

Christianization of Akpéma and Kondona Initiation Rites and Their Desecration by the Catholic Church in the Prefecture of Kozah in Northern Togo

The objective of this research is to examine the impact of the celebration of akpéma and kondona rites in church on their sacredness. The survey covered 80 people, including 25 catholic priests and 55 guarantors of Kabyè habits and customs, through to purposive sampling. Direct observation, individual interview and documentary research are the data collection techniques used. The data collected was subject to content analysis. The results indicate that upon entering the church, the akpéma and kondona rites were remodeled, losing everything that founded their sacredness: the eponymous ancestor, the sacred place, the mythical time, the founding myths, the bloody sacrifices, the person of the celebrant (cojo) and his verbal words. However, some new landmarks allow us to note an attempt at their resacralization by the church.

The Dynamics of Caring for the Education of Internally Displaced School-Age Children: Teaching During a Crisis in the Mayo Tsanaga Department

Objective: The aim of this article is to examine the changes made by stakeholders in the provision of education for internally displaced school-age children during periods of crisis in the Department of Mayo Tsanaga. Method: Data was collected using development anthropology techniques from basic education authorities responsible for the education of displaced school-age children, implementing partners, parents or families of IDPs, pupils and informants likely to provide relevant information on this target group in the department of Mayo Tsanaga. The data was collected during the writing of our PhD thesis in Anthropology. Documentary research was also carried out. A total of 20 in-depth interviews were conducted in the locality of Zamai and surrounding villages with a split between urban and rural areas over a period from 15 November 2021 to the present day. Results: It has been shown that controlling the numbers of these displaced persons is a prerequisite for better planning and better integration into the education sector. The different forms of education will not eliminate the risk of conflict between individuals or groups of individuals, but they will enable people to know how to manage them and prevent them from degenerating into armed conflict, civil war or even genocide. Discussion: The particularity of this article is that, as well as being situated between forced displacement, terrorism and formal education, it takes a holistic look at the measures taken by stakeholders to encourage or compel parents to contribute to their children's education despite the hostilities, insecurity and armed conflicts that have arisen. Conclusion: The IDPs who are the subject of this study come from surrounding villages and Districts, with different cultures and differing apprehensions about formal education for their children.

Coalitions and repertories in the strategic action field of the people affected by the Rio Doce disaster

The collapse of the Fundão dam of the Samarco, Vale, and BPH Billiton mining companies in 2015 resulted in the spillage of unprecedented tailings in the Rio Doce Basin, Brazil. It was a disaster of multiple dimensions, generating conflicts between the affected community, mining companies, the government, and the justice system in the search for solutions to recover and repair the damage. Meanwhile, a governance system was created to conduct disaster responses and conflict resolution between those actors. In this article, we investigate how skilled actors in the affected field act to influence disaster governance by producing consequences for policy decisions. The analysis highlights the role of coalitions and action repertories in cooperative and conflicting relationships in the affected people's field. Through mixed-method research, four years of the socio-environmental disaster (2015–2019) were examined through interviews with activists, documentary research, and analysis of protest events. The main argument is that the mobilization of non-state actors in the affected field has influenced disaster governance and the content of compensation policies. Mobilization combined social skills and action repertoires and formed political coalitions to influence decision-making processes. The article contributes to expanding the understanding of the dynamics of political disputes among non-state actors, proposing to broaden the understanding of the repertoires of non-state actors in coalitions to generate consequences for political decisions.

Diálogos decoloniales: mística y formación docente en el grado de educación del campo en IFRN/Brasil

This article presents the results of our participation in the seminar Conversaciones sobre pedagogías, resistencias y espiritualidades, held at the Ecumenical School of Religious Sciences at the National University of Costa Rica. The event was part of the project Educaciones, espiritualidades y resistencias: hacia pedagogías de la esperanza (Méndez & Garcez, 2022). We opted for a bibliographical review and documentary research, based on Bogdan and Biklen (1994). By presenting IFRN’s experience, the dialogues allowed the exchange of academic, scientific, cultural, political and social knowledge that we have developed in the context of the universities in Costa Rica, Brazil and El Salvador.

Contribuições para a documentação técnica do edifício Copan: caracterização do embasamento

This article presents the results of an extensive documentary research aimed at discovering and documenting constructive aspects of the substructure of the Copan Building. The data acquisition process was divided into documentary research, geometric survey, and visual inspection. Primary sources retrieved from the archives of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of the University of São Paulo (FAUUSP), the São Paulo Institute of Technological Research (IPT), and the Copan Building condominium itself were used. As a result, a technical and historical description of the building’s construction aspects, with a focus on the foundation, is presented The documentation undertaken helped to understand and, primarily, confirm certain constructive characteristics of the building that often appeared contradictory in the literature or had not been properly recorded

The sustainable development goals and the role of environmental legislation in Brazilian poultry companies

Purpose This study aims to evaluate how corporate governance focused on meeting the legal requirements applied in poultry slaughterhouses contributes to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the environmental pillar and identify vulnerabilities in this governance framework. Design/methodology/approach This research was qualitative and was structured with the following steps: literature review, selection of companies and documentary research on licenses applied to these companies. Findings The assessment demonstrates that the governance strategy based on legal aspects contributes to progress in indicators related to SDGs such as clean water, climate action, life below water and life on land. However, it falls short when addressing SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy. Another vulnerability of this governance model is that legislation establishes metrics and indicators individually for each link in the poultry industry chain. Research limitations/implications Assessment of the corporate governance of poultry slaughterhouses, focusing on legality and analyzing vulnerabilities in the legal aspects of the poultry industry concerning the SDGs that encompass the environmental pillar. Practical implications The results provide valuable information for policymakers, regulators and industry stakeholders in the segment, suggesting the need to align legislation with SDGs or adopt incentive policies to encourage the spontaneous advancement of SDGs in the poultry industry. Originality/value Considering the need for progress toward a more sustainable world and the trend of organizations focusing their efforts on complying with local legislation, this study aims to contribute to understanding how the legal requirements applied in practice are prepared to support the advancement of the SDGs.