Government Entities Research Articles

Ethnic Dynamics in Northern Senatorial Zone, Taraba State, Nigeria: An Inter-Group Perspective

This paper, titled "Inter-Group Relations and Peace in the Northern Senatorial Zone, Taraba State, Nigeria: A Study of Ethnic Dynamics," explores the relationships among diverse ethnic groups in Taraba State's Northern Senatorial Zone. Utilizing qualitative methods, particularly a narrative research design, the study delves into the dynamics of coexistence and tensions among ethnic groups, with a focus on indigenous communities such as the Fulbe, Hausa, Jenjo, Mumye, Wurkun, and others. Data collection involved interviews, participatory observations, and contextual analysis of documentary sources.The findings underscore the rich cultural diversity of Taraba State, where Traditional religions, Islam, and Christianity coexist within localities, deeply rooted in family identities. Historical connections among ethnic groups, characterized by peaceful coexistence, have been disrupted since the creation of Taraba State, leading to ethno-religious conflicts influenced by factors such as ethnic superiority, religious sentiments, and economic disparities. Challenges identified encompass disunity, power struggles, ethnic identity concerns, and unfavorable government policies, revealing the intricate nature of inter-group relations in the zone. Addressing these challenges necessitates collaborative efforts involving traditional, political, governmental, non-governmental, and religious entities. Recommendations to foster lasting harmony include increasing awareness and education, establishing dialogue platforms, promoting interfaith dialogue, empowering local communities, enhancing security measures, collaborating with NGOs, and conducting media sensitization campaigns to encourage responsible reporting and unity among diverse communities.

NYC’s Overdose Prevention Centers: Data from the First Year of Supervised Consumption Services

Unintentional drug overdose deaths are a critical public health concern nationally and locally; New York City (NYC) reported 3,026 overdose fatalities in 2022, the highest number of overdose deaths citywide since reporting began in 2000. The burden of overdose deaths is highly unequal: older New Yorkers, Black and Latino/a New Yorkers, people experiencing homelessness, and residents of high-poverty neighborhoods continue to experience the highest rates of fatal overdose citywide. The rise in overdose deaths is driven by the proliferation of fentanyl, which was present in 81% of overdose deaths in NYC in 2022. Overdose prevention centers (OPCs), also known as supervised consumption spaces, have demonstrated international success in reducing overdose deaths and associated harms. OPCs provide hygienic spaces where people can use previously acquired substances under the supervision of trained staff. These OPCs, which opened in NYC on November 30, 2021, are recognized as the first OPCs with supervised use of illicit substances to be formally supported by a governmental entity in the United States. The OPCs are operated by the nonprofit organization OnPoint NYC; the City of New York provides monetary support for many services at the OPCs except direct supervised consumption, as well technical assistance and programmatic oversight by the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. This report summarizes the first year of operations of these two centers in NYC. From November 30, 2021, to November 30, 2022, 2,841 individuals visited the two OPCs 48,533 times and staff intervened during 636 visits (1.3%) to prevent overdose-related injury and death. During this period, emergency medical services (EMS) were called only 23 times, and no overdose deaths occurred in the OPCs. Results suggest that the OPCs diverted up to 39,000 instances of public drug use and played a critical role in connecting participants to care, with 75% of participants accessing other harm-reduction, social, and medical services through OnPoint NYC. Despite these early successes, these and other OPCs face challenges sustaining operations in uncertain legal and law enforcement, legislative, and funding environments. Additional research exploring the needs of participants, patterns of OPC service utilization, and the long-term impacts of OPC use on health outcomes is needed to expand the body of evidence supporting OPCs in the United States.

Assessment of climate change impacts on rainfall and streamflow in the Alto Paranapanema Basin, Brazil

ABSTRACT Climate change has the potential to fundamentally transform landscapes on global scale. Leveraging advanced predictive modeling to enhance water resource management within the Alto Paranapanema Basin (Brazil), holds the potential to proactively anticipate challenges and alleviate the impacts and conflicts arising from this phenomenon. This is particularly important in a region boasting over 1,600 centerpivot irrigation systems. This study employs the Soil Moisture Accounting Procedure, a physical model, to simulate long-term climate datasets and flows. Future climate scenarios, rooted in the Representative Concentration Pathways, are developed through the downscaling of Global Climate Models. The findings reveal a temporal shift in rainfall patterns, characterized by a reduction during the wet season of up to 40% compared to the average historical rainfall, and an increase throughout the dry season up to 40% compared to the same historical, estimated by the Eta -BESM model. These changes present challenges regarding to water availability, hydroelectric generation, and agricultural. By fostering collaboration among different governmental entities responsible for the managements of basins and harnessing the potential of predictive models, this research advocates for the adoption of proactive strategies in management of water resources. These strategies are imperative to effectively counteract the far-reaching effects of climate change.

County-level prioritization for managing the Covid-19 pandemic: a systematic unsupervised learning approach

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has posed many challenges in almost all sectors around the globe. Because of the pandemic, government entities responsible for managing health-care resources face challenges in managing and distributing their limited and valuable health resources. In addition, severe outbreaks may occur in a small or large geographical area. Therefore, county-level preparation is crucial for officials and organizations who manage such disease outbreaks. However, most COVID-19-related research projects have focused on either state- or country-level. Only a few studies have considered county-level preparations, such as identifying high-risk counties of a particular state to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to prioritize counties in a state based on their COVID-19-related risks to manage the COVID outbreak effectively.Design/methodology/approachIn this research, the authors use a systematic hybrid approach that uses a clustering technique to group counties that share similar COVID conditions and use a multi-criteria decision-making approach – the analytic hierarchy process – to rank clusters with respect to the severity of the pandemic. The clustering was performed using two methods, k-means and fuzzy c-means, but only one of them was used at a time during the experiment.FindingsThe results of this study indicate that the proposed approach can effectively identify and rank the most vulnerable counties in a particular state. Hence, state health resources managing entities can identify counties in desperate need of more attention before they allocate their resources and better prepare those counties before another surge.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to use both an unsupervised learning approach and the analytic hierarchy process to identify and rank state counties in accordance with the severity of COVID-19.

Understanding Public Perception of Naloxone: A Study of FAQs and Answer Source Credibility

Purpose The most commonly used intervention for opioid overdoses is naloxone. With naloxone soon to be sold over-the-counter in the United States, the goal of this paper is to categorize frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about naloxone using internet sources in a cross-sectional fashion. Methods Terms “narcan” and “naloxone” were searched on a clean Google Chrome browser using the “People also asked” tab to find FAQs and their answer sources. We classified questions and sources and assessed each website’s quality and credibility grading with JAMA benchmark criteria. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to determine variance of mean JAMA score by source type and Post-Hoc Dunn’s test with Bonferroni corrected alpha of 0.005 used to compare source types. Results Of the 305 unique questions, 202 (66.2%) were classified as facts, 78 (25.6%) were policy, and 25 (8.2%) were value. Of the 144 unique answer sources, the two most common included 55 (38.2%) which were government entities and 47 (32.6%) which were commercial entities. Ninety-two (of 144, 63.9%) sources met three or more JAMA benchmark criteria. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between the JAMA benchmark scores by source type H(4) = 12.75, p = 0.0126 and between the mean rank of academic and government sources (p = 0.0036). Conclusion We identified FAQs and their citations about naloxone, highlighting potential lack of understanding and knowledge of this important intervention. We recommend updating websites to accurately reflect current and useful information for those that may require naloxone.

Experimentalist governance under hierarchy through leading small groups: a solution to power fragmentation?

ABSTRACT Taking policy experimentation in several selected pilot sites as test beds prior to the implementation nationwide has emerged as a notable phenomenon amidst China’s reform trajectories. However, the country’s combined party-state authoritarian governance structure and relatively fragmented bureaucratic system have presented challenges to this experimentation process. This paper investigates the dynamic interplay between experimentalist governance and hierarchy in China by examining how hierarchical controls facilitate the implementation of experimentalist practice in the case of Wujin rural land reform. It reveals that the establishment of leading small groups (LSGs) at each administrative layer has aided in the materialization of local experimentation by enhancing the bargaining power of lower-level governmental entities and streamlining the vertical communication process across the lengthy administrative hierarchies. This mechanism also mitigates regulatory gaps among different branches of governmental departments responsible for land resources management. The political design of LSGs manifests the Chinese central government’s strategic commitment to promoting experimentalist governance while exerting careful control over the varied sub-national implementation practices, exemplifying the increasing feature of top-level design in China’s current policy experimentation and governance efforts.

Research Progress and Application Prospects of Solid-State Hydrogen Storage Technology.

Solid-state hydrogen storage technology has emerged as a disruptive solution to the "last mile" challenge in large-scale hydrogen energy applications, garnering significant global research attention. This paper systematically reviews the Chinese research progress in solid-state hydrogen storage material systems, thermodynamic mechanisms, and system integration. It also quantitatively assesses the market potential of solid-state hydrogen storage across four major application scenarios: on-board hydrogen storage, hydrogen refueling stations, backup power supplies, and power grid peak shaving. Furthermore, it analyzes the bottlenecks and challenges in industrialization related to key materials, testing standards, and innovation platforms. While acknowledging that the cost and performance of solid-state hydrogen storage are not yet fully competitive, the paper highlights its unique advantages of high safety, energy density, and potentially lower costs, showing promise in new energy vehicles and distributed energy fields. Breakthroughs in new hydrogen storage materials like magnesium-based and vanadium-based materials, coupled with improved standards, specifications, and innovation mechanisms, are expected to propel solid-state hydrogen storage into a mainstream technology within 10-15 years, with a market scale exceeding USD 14.3 billion. To accelerate the leapfrog development of China's solid-state hydrogen storage industry, increased investment in basic research, focused efforts on key core technologies, and streamlining the industry chain from materials to systems are recommended. This includes addressing challenges in passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and hydrogen refueling stations, and building a collaborative innovation ecosystem involving government, industry, academia, research, finance, and intermediary entities to support the achievement of carbon peak and neutrality goals and foster a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient modern energy system.

Smart Cities and Smart Supply Chain: Integration for Sustainable Urban Development.

As urbanization accelerates globally, the concept of smart cities emerges as a promising solution to address the multifaceted challenges of sustainable urban development. Smart cities leverage advanced technologies to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life for their residents. Concurrently, the evolution of supply chain management towards smart supply chains has gained traction, driven by the imperative of optimizing logistics, minimizing waste, and enhancing resilience. This paper explores the integration of smart cities and smart supply chains as a holistic approach to foster sustainable urban development. The integration of smart cities and smart supply chains presents a symbiotic relationship wherein advancements in one domain catalyze improvements in the other. Smart cities rely on seamless and efficient supply chain operations to ensure the smooth flow of goods and services, essential for meeting the needs of urban inhabitants. [1],[2] Conversely, smart supply chains benefit from the data-rich environment and infrastructure of smart cities to optimize routing, inventory management, and last-mile delivery, thereby reducing environmental impact and enhancing overall efficiency. Key components of this integration include the utilization of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, big data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain technology to enable real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and transparent, secure transactions throughout the urban supply chain. By harnessing these technologies, cities can achieve significant improvements in resource utilization, energy efficiency, and carbon footprint reduction. Furthermore, the paper examines the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) and regulatory frameworks in facilitating the integration of smart cities and smart supply chains. Collaborative efforts between government entities, industry stakeholders, and technology providers are essential to overcome barriers such as data privacy concerns, interoperability challenges, and investment constraints. In conclusion, the integration of smart cities and smart supply chains represents a promising pathway towards achieving the goals of sustainability, resilience, and prosperity in urban environments. By embracing innovative technologies and fostering collaboration, cities can pave the way for a more efficient, equitable, and environmentally conscious future.

Human-machine dialogues unveiled: an in-depth exploration of individual attitudes and adoption patterns toward AI-powered ChatGPT systems

PurposeChatGPT is an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) form that can generate human-like text based on large amounts of data. This paper aims to empirically examine the ChatGPT adoption level among Indian individuals by considering the key factors in determining individuals’ attitudes and intentions toward newly emerged AI tools.Design/methodology/approachThis paper used “partial least square structural equation modeling” (PLS-SEM) to investigate the relation among several latent factors by applying a representative sample of 351 individuals.FindingsThis study found that trialability, performance expectancy and personal innovativeness significantly influence individuals' attitudes, while compatibility and effort expectancy do not significantly impact attitudes. Additionally, trialability, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, personal innovativeness and attitude significantly influence behavioral intentions. However, compatibility has an insignificant impact on behavioral intention. Moreover, the research highlights that attitude and behavioral intention directly correlate with actual use. Specifically, the absence of compatibility makes people hesitate to use technology that does not meet their specific needs.Practical implicationsThese unique findings provide valuable insights for technology service providers and government entities. They can use this information to shape their policies, deliver timely and relevant updates and enhance their strategies to boost the adoption of ChatGPT.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the pioneering attempts to exhibit the research stream to understand the individual acceptance of ChatGPT in an emerging country. Moreover, it gained significant attention from individuals for delivering a unique experience and promising solutions.

Collaboration in agricultural value chains: a scoping review of the evidence from developing countries

PurposeCollaboration in agricultural value chains (AVCs) has the potential to increase smallholders’ participation in international value chains and increase their benefits from participation. This scoping review explores existing collaboration models among stakeholders of AVCs in developing countries, examines enablers and constraints of collaboration and identifies policy gaps.Design/methodology/approachWe systematically searched three databases, CAB Abstracts, Econlit (EBSCO) and Agricola, for studies published between 2005 and 2023 and included 59 relevant studies on AVC collaboration.FindingsThe primary motivations for collaboration are to enhance market access and improve product quality. Key outcomes of collaboration include improvements in farmers’ welfare, market participation and increased production; only a few studies consider improved risk management as an important outcome. Robust support from government and non-governmental entities is a primary enabler of collaboration. Conversely, conflicts of interest among stakeholders and resource limitations constrain collaboration possibilities. Collaboration involving high-value crops prioritizes income increases, whereas collaboration involving staple crops focuses on improving household food security.Research limitations/implicationsThis study may have publication bias as unsuccessful instances of collaboration are less likely to be published.Originality/valueThis study is unique in highlighting collaboration models’ characteristics and identifying AVC policy and programmatic areas where private firms, farmers’ groups, local governments and donor agencies can contribute.

Beyond a technological tool: How a platform as a meta-organization enables a successful public service project in China

Successful public service projects are few. An extreme case in this study shows that the performance of a public service project in Beijing adopting a platform not only meets but goes beyond the expectations of the policy designer. Existing studies on platforms focus on the impact of a platform from a static perspective in information systems studies, but have not investigated the transformational process where a platform was built and functioned. A platform development and governance model was developed. Our findings suggest that in a public service project, (1) working as a technological tool, the platform built through contextual pressures, authorized and technological capacities of multiple stakeholders affected the roles of the government and social sector entities, and then reorganized the services to reduce corruption risks and standardized actions to better serve the people; and (2) working as a meta-organization, the platform was built through the authorized and link-building capacities of stakeholders. It integrated multiple stakeholders to better serve the people and calmed conflicts and catalyzed innovations to build norms to regulate actions and offer better service. The above governance factors promoted the multi-oriented performance of the project. In the course of generating the grounded model, we clarify the key factors in the dynamic process of how a platform works.

Fiqh al-Bī'ah and the Concept of Green and Blue Economy for Achieving Sustainable Development in the Context of SDGs

This study aims to explore existing literature on Fiqh al-Bī’ah's role in the Green and Blue Economy concepts to achieve Sustainable Development, specifically examining implementation, principles, roles, and objectives aligned with Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘ah. The literature review identified two primary themes: first, the SDGs' foundational principles within the green and blue economy frameworks, and second, Fiqh al-Bī’ah's viewpoint on these economic models. The findings demonstrate the enactment of green and blue economies through SDGs Principles, incorporating people as principal agents in upholding and executing the green and blue economy to realize SDGs across multiple facets, including environmental, social, economic, and legal governance; Planet, which entails diverse measures to safeguard the earth from degradation in terrestrial, marine, and aerial realms; Prosperity, highlighting efforts towards achieving prosperity through economic, social, and technological initiatives; Peace, emphasizing endeavors towards establishing peace, justice, and an inclusive society free from fear and violence, alongside securing environmental safety; and Partnership, involving collaborative efforts in global development with both government and non-government entities to maintain and conserve the environment. Additionally, Fiqh al-Bī’ah in the Green Economy is characterized by safeguarding the body and soul, aligning worldly and afterlife goals, ensuring balanced production and consumption, preserving ecosystem equilibrium, upholding the dignity of all beings, and humans fulfilling their stewardship on earth. The Blue Economy includes Zero Waste, ecosystem protection, promoting environmental cleanliness and friendliness, resource utilization efficiency, and encouraging social inclusiveness and employment creation.

Collaborative investor engagement with policymakers: changing the rules of the game?

Purpose Applying universal ownership theory and drawing on a multiplecase study design, this study aims to analyze what drives institutional investors to engage with government entities and what challenges they find in the process. Design/methodology/approach The authors relied on document analysis and conducted 12 semi-structured interviews with representatives from asset owners, asset managers, investor associations and academia. Findings The authors identify a trend where investors conduct policy engagement to fulfill their fiduciary duty, improve investment risk management and create an enabling environment for sustainable investments. As for engagement challenges, investors report the longer-term horizon, a perceived limited influence toward governments, the need for capacity building for investors and governments, as well as the difficulty in accessing government representatives. Originality/value This research contributes to filling a gap in the literature on this new form of investor activism, as a growing number of investors engage with sovereign entities on environmental, social and governance issues.

Злоупотребление процессуальными правами и реализация дискреционных прав властными субъектами в досудебном производстве: понятие и соотношение

In the course of pre-trial proceedings, government entities are authorised to carry out procedural actions and make decisions, most of which are determined as a result of an assessment of the sufficiency of the grounds and conditions for this, based on internal conviction. Sometimes the discretionary rights of such participants are difficult to assess from the point of view of the validity and sufficiency of the information (evidence) available in the audit materials or the criminal case. This leads to appeals against the actions and decisions of officials as having been carried out with abuse of procedural authority. But can this right be abused? To answer this question, it is necessary to clarify the essence of abuse of procedural rights and determine their relationship with discretionary ones. In the course of the study, by analysing the available approaches and practices of applying the norms of the Criminal Procedure Code, it is concluded that an intentional dishonest act under the guise of the exercise of one’s procedural rights by a government entity, excluding the subsequent proper exercise by other participants in criminal proceedings of their procedural rights or their procedural duties within a reasonable time, should entail procedural, disciplinary or criminal liability depending on the consequences and be regarded as abuse. Abuses of the right by the prosecutor and the person in charge of the criminal case to timely grant the status of a participant, to charge, to cancel procedural decisions, during investigative actions, and when choosing measures of criminal procedural coercion have been identified and considered in relation to discrete powers. Some ways to overcome such abuses are presented.

Злоупотребления правом на досудебных стадиях уголовного процесса: виды и способы их преодоления

The article analyses the concept and signs of abuse of law in criminal proceedings. Among such signs the author names: the presence of a person with a specific subjective right; the implementation of law in contradiction with its purpose, or the purpose of criminal proceedings in general; inconsistency of a person’s behaviour with the criteria of good faith and reasonableness; causing harm to the interests of other participants in criminal proceedings, society and the state. Analysing the signs of abuse of right, the article indicates some types of abuse of right by private individuals or government entities, and makes a distinction between abuse of subjective right and abuse of discretionary powers. In conclusion, the author proposes to provide a legislative mechanism for overcoming abusive behaviour in criminal proceedings in the form of applying specific response measures to individuals and officials.

The Ability of Russia’s Federal Security Service to Influence the Executive Through its Apparatus of Seconded Employees

The French statesman Count Mirabeau once said about then-state Prussia that it “is not a state that has an army, it is an army that has conquered the nation.” 1With some irony, we can apply this statement to the situation in modern Russia by modifying it in this way: Russia is not a state that has a security service; it is a security service that has been ruling the nation. Russian Federation as the successor of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), takes much from the latter in terms of the instruments and the means used by its security agency – the Federal Security Service or the FSB ( Federalnaya Sluzhba Bezopasnosti). Despite formally proclaiming a democracy, Russia has saved many of the USSR’s “best practices” in state governance, which cannot be considered genuinely democratic. In this article, we look at the FSB’s historical prerequisites and present-day legal bases for using its officers seconded to other government entities and conclude its role concerning Russia’s executive branch. 1“Honoré-Gabriel-Riquetti de Mirabeau,” Drouot Group, accessed July 10, 2023, https://drouot.com/en/l/16525755--mirabeau-honore-gabriel-rique.

Gendered gaps to tuberculosis prevention and care in Kenya: a political economy analysis study

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) remains a public health concern in Kenya despite the massive global efforts towards ending TB. The impediments to TB prevention and care efforts include poor health systems, resource...

An Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility Practices and Their Impact on Local Communities in the Case of Samsung Electronics in India

This paper delves into Samsung Electronics’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in India and assesses their impact on local communities. It examines a range of programs aimed at social and economic development, from educational enhancements to healthcare access and environmental sustainability. The study seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of how these initiatives are planned, executed, and received by the communities they intend to serve. The analysis includes an exploration of Samsung’s Smart Class Program, which has transformed educational experiences by integrating digital technologies into classrooms in underserved areas. This initiative’s effect on student engagement and learning outcomes is evaluated to gauge its contribution to educational advancement. The paper also investigates Samsung’s healthcare projects, such as the deployment of mobile healthcare units and telemedicine centers, which have been instrumental in bringing medical services to remote and marginalized communities. Additionally, the research addresses the challenges Samsung faces in implementing its CSR initiatives, including issues of scalability and sustainability. It discusses the strategies the company has employed to overcome these hurdles and the lessons learned from these experiences. The paper emphasizes the importance of collaboration between corporations, government entities, and NGOs in enhancing the effectiveness of CSR activities. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of Samsung Electronics’ CSR practices in India and their significant contributions to community welfare and sustainable development. It highlights the potential of corporate social responsibility as a powerful tool for driving positive social change and underscores the need for ongoing commitment and innovation in CSR strategies to meet the evolving needs of local communities.

Perceived Behavioral Factors and Individual Investor Stock Market Investment Decision: Multigroup Analysis and Major Stock Markets Perspectives

The study aims to examine the impact of various behavioral biases such are overconfidence, representativeness, availability, anchoring and herding, and their effects on individual investment decisions in the case-developed country context of China. To achieve this, data was meticulously gathered from 362 participants active in the Shanghai stock market. Employing advanced analytical tools, particularly the Smart PLS 3.3.2 software and structural equation modelling (SEM), this study rigorously scrutinized the intricate relationships between behavioral biases and investment decisions. The findings of this study notably reveal that all examined behavioral biases exert a significant positive impact on investment decisions within the Anxin, Haitong, Shanxi, and China Galaxy stock markets. Remarkably, no substantial disparities in the effects of these biases on stock market trading were observed among these markets. Importantly, these findings bear exceptional significance within the context of a developed country like China. The implications extend to a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including government entities, regulatory bodies, practitioners, the academic community, industry professionals, and researchers. Regulatory authorities can leverage these insights to refine their strategies, practitioners can fine-tune their investment advisory approaches, and academia and researchers can build upon these findings to deepen the understanding of behavioral finance in the realm of stock market investments.

CIVIL LIABILITY OF SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES

This article provides a comprehensive exploration of civil liability within self-government bodies, examining the legal framework, sources of liability, and strategies for accountability and risk mitigation. Self-government bodies wield significant power in shaping local affairs and services, yet they face complex challenges in navigating the balance between autonomy and accountability. The concept of sovereign immunity, historical precedent, and evolving legal standards shape the landscape of civil liability, with implications for transparency, trust, and effective governance. Key sources of liability include tort claims, constitutional violations, and statutory obligations, posing financial and reputational risks for government entities.