Scientists Warn Research Articles

Cas Mudde: “O termo populismo não é apenas um eufemismo. Falta-lhe clareza e temos termos melhores para descrever o mesmo fenômeno”

n this interview, Cas Mudde, one of the most influential political scientists in the United States and an international reference in the study of populism and right-wing extremism, criticizes the concept of populism and emphasizes why his current work is focused on the concept of far-right. Mudde also compares the far-right in the Global South and the Global North and explains what he understands by mainstreaming and normalization. Finally, the political scientist warns about the threats to liberal democracy.

Six tips for better coding with ChatGPT.

Although powerful, the tools are not as intelligent as they seem. Use them with caution, computer scientists warn. Although powerful, the tools are not as intelligent as they seem. Use them with caution, computer scientists warn.

Rule-Governed Behavior and Climate Change: Why Climate Warnings Fail to Motivate Sufficient Action.

Climate scientists warn of dire consequences for ecological systems and human well-being if significant steps to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions are not taken immediately. Despite these warnings, greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise, indicating that current responses are inadequate. Climate warnings and reactions to them may be analyzed in terms of rules and rule-governed behavior. The literature on rule-governed behavior in behavior analysis has identified a variety of factors that can reduce rule following, including insufficient rule exposure, insufficient learning history and rule complexity, incomplete rules, instructed behavior not sufficiently learned, rules having weak function-altering effects, conflicting rules, lack of speaker credibility, rule plausibility and inconsistency with prior learning, and insufficient reinforcement for rule following. The present paper aims to analyze how these factors might impact responses to climate change, and possible solutions and strategies are discussed. Much of the theory and research on climate-change communication has come from outside of behavior analysis. Thus, the paper also aims to integrate findings from this literature with a behavior-analytic approach to rule control. Interpreting climate warnings and climate solutions in terms of rule-governed behavior may improve our understanding of why such rules are not more effective, and aid in the development of verbal and nonverbal strategies for changing behavior and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Microsoft's chief scientist warns of new deepfake threats

Microsoft's chief scientist warns of new deepfake threats

Recovery fund distribution model has flaws, scientists warn

Recovery fund distribution model has flaws, scientists warn

IPCC's starkest message yet: extreme steps needed to avert climate disaster.

Radical emissions cuts combined with some atmospheric carbon removal are the only hope to limit global warming to 1.5 °C, scientists warn. Radical emissions cuts combined with some atmospheric carbon removal are the only hope to limit global warming to 1.5 °C, scientists warn.

Predicted wind and solar energy expansion has minimal overlap with multiple conservation priorities across global regions

Protected areas and renewable energy generation are critical tools to combat biodiversity loss and climate change, respectively. Over the coming decades, expansion of the protected area network to meet conservation objectives will be occurring alongside rapid deployment of renewable energy infrastructure to meet climate targets, driving potential conflict for a finite land resource. Renewable energy infrastructure can have negative effects on wildlife, and co-occurrence may mean emissions targets are met at the expense of conservation objectives. Here, we assess current and projected overlaps of wind and solar photovoltaic installations and important conservation areas across nine global regions using spatially explicit wind and solar data and methods for predicting future renewable expansion. We show similar levels of co-occurrence as previous studies but demonstrate that once area is accounted for, previous concerns about overlaps in the Northern Hemisphere may be largely unfounded, although they are high in some biodiverse countries (e.g., Brazil). Future projections of overlap between the two land uses presented here are generally dependent on priority threshold and region and suggest the risk of future conflict can be low. We use the best available data on protected area degradation to corroborate this level of risk. Together, our findings indicate that while conflicts between renewables and protected areas inevitably do occur, renewables represent an important option for decarbonization of the energy sector that would not significantly affect area-based conservation targets if deployed with appropriate policy and regulatory controls.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome- Coronavirus 2

The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 in 2020 and still raging in 2021 is a global emergency where no country was spared from its high morbidity and mortality. Life changed in innumerable ways, from lock downs to job losses, isolation and mental health crisis. All countries suffered. If it were not for the quick development of medications and vaccines, coupled with preventive measures like facial masks, social distancing and frequent washing of hands, we will be in a worse chaos. Some countries like India and many in Latin America have been devastated and its consequences will be long felt even after the pandemic is controlled. Understanding the cause, its epidemiology and controlled measures is important. Although it took 100 years to encounter a global pandemic of this magnitude, scientists warn of almost inevitable future global pandemics. This review will explore some salient aspects of SARS-CoV-2 impact and measures to control the infection. The world’s death toll caused by SARS-CoV-2 exceeds 3 million and close to 200 million people have been infected. The available vaccines used in more than 400 million individuals, still fall short of producing herd immunity despite the high efficacy rate of most of them. There is a pressing need to immunize 80% or more. Some side effects to vaccine were reported, the majority of minor impact, although some rare ones are more serious such as thrombotic thrombocytopenia or myocarditis. Still the protection afforded from the vaccine vastly outweighs the risks and its wide use is encouraged.

Separatism as the final form of the secession and its influence on the maternal states' future development

In the article the problems with regard to the manifestations of secessionism at the present stage, provide recommendations for combating them have been investigated. The role and place of the world community in counteracting the manifestations of secessionism and the prevention of territorial conflicts on the world scene have been taken into account. It is argued that the primary possible step in resolving conflicts is, firstly, the use of nonviolent measures, political and diplomatic settlement, and the achievement of stability in any state is possible only in the conditions of maintaining the principles of social justice, regardless of territorial identity. It can be argued that the peculiarities of the origin and development of the separatism centres in the world influence the political and geographical position of the territory. In addition, experts note that the effective counteraction to separatism is to create exactly the conditions under which effective management of disintegration processes is carried out. It seems that the idea of separation loses its popularity over time. In the Donbas, Ukraine deals with hybrid separatism, which is part of the hybrid war of the Russian Federation. According to the researches of the National Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Ukraine, its basis is political separatism, which is based on the distortion of information, application of special propaganda measures, distortion of the history of Ukraine and myths about a better life in the format of self-proclaimed republics, etc. It is clear that this conflict must end. However, scientists warn against the use of negative experience in resolving such confrontations, especially in Ukraine. It should also be noted that despite the presence of varying levels of ethnicity in secessionist processes in Ukraine, it cannot be considered decisive or fundamental.

Tool to Retrieve Less-Filtered Information from the Internet

While users benefit greatly from the latest communication technology, with popular platforms such as social networking services including Facebook or search engines such as Google, scientists warn of the effects of a filter bubble at this time. A solution to escape from filtered information is urgently needed. We implement an approach based on the mechanism of a metasearch engine to present less-filtered information to users. We develop a practical application named MosaicSearch to select search results from diversified categories of sources collected from multiple search engines. To determine the power of MosaicSearch, we conduct an evaluation to assess retrieval quality. According to the results, MosaicSearch is more intelligent compared to other general-purpose search engines: it generates a smaller number of links while providing users with almost the same amount of objective information. Our approach contributes to transparent information retrieval. This application helps users play a main role in choosing the information they consume.

Unproven herbal remedy against COVID-19 could fuel drug-resistant malaria, scientists warn

An herbal tonic developed in Madagascar and touted as a cure for COVID-19 could fuel drug-resistant malaria in Africa, scientists warn Several African countries have said they are placing orders for the brew, whose efficacy has yet to be shown Branded Covid-Organics, the therapy was developed by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research (IMRA) Its chief ingredient is reported to be sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua), a plant of Asian origin that gave rise to the antimalarial drug artemisinin At its launch last month, Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina claimed the tonic had passed scientific scrutiny and cured two patients of COVID-19 The island nation has 151 confirmed coronavirus cases and no deaths

News - Briefing. Environment - Fast fashion growth must slow, scientists warn

News - Briefing. Environment - Fast fashion growth must slow, scientists warn

Speed coronavirus vaccine testing by deliberately infecting volunteers? Not so fast, some scientists warn

Speed coronavirus vaccine testing by deliberately infecting volunteers? Not so fast, some scientists warn

Environmental management and the poverty monitoring in the subjects of the Russian Federation

The degradation of the natural world undermines efforts to eradicate poverty, scientists warn and note that the only chance for global prosperity for all countries is to recognize the fight against poverty as an environmental challenge. The most important driver for achieving environmental sustainability is the fight against poverty. It is generally accepted that poverty is a consequence of environmental degradation. On the basis of the materials from 77 constituent entities of the Russian Federation the authors determined that the provided regional action plans to achieve the national goal of halving the poverty level is not sufficient and propose the additional list of measures to achieve this goal. The authors propose the methods for calculating the target value of the poverty level indicator (the level of the population with incomes below the subsistence level and the distribution of target persons across the constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

ГЕЙМІФІКАЦІЯ В ПІДГОТОВЦІ СОЦІАЛЬНИХ ПРАЦІВНИКІВ

The article analyzes the meaning of the concept of "gamification". It is determined that since 2011 the number of specialized conferences, books and research on the topic of gamification has increased, but its content is interpreted differently by scientists: both as a process and as a set of techniques or techniques. It is characterized that gamification in education is used in two meanings: in a broad sense - the game shell (attributes, techniques, elements) is used without the use of ICT; in the narrow - gamification is based on the use of ICT (video games, specialized programs, etc.). The purpose of using gamification at higher education institutions in experimental research is clarified. The main components of gamification are identified. It has been found that scientists warn against mechanistic using of marketing methods in education. Experiences of using gamification in the training of social workers (Concordia University (Portland, USA) and the Center for Applied Social Research RTIM (Australia)) are analyzed. The most common practices are identified: online courses (MOOK) in the social field, trainings, gamification support platforms; 3D virtual environment. It has been found that gamification has not yet become widespread in the training of social workers. It is determined that the results of empirical studies of the effectiveness of gamification for the quality of training of social workers are different and reveal complications of technical, psychological and pedagogical nature. The factors that limit the introduction of gamification in the educational process are described. The possibilities of using gamification in the training of social workers in higher education institutions are generalized. It is determined that the choice of types and methods of implementation of game elements should be determined by the teacher depending on the general objectives of the discipline, ensuring the implementation of the educational program, and comply with the Standard for training a specialist in the social field. Increasing demand for distance learning services will expand the search for ways to use gamification in the training of social workers. It is planned to develop a general game scenario for a discipline in the LMS Moodle environment for distance learning of future social workers.

Date seed oil as a potential natural additive to improve oxidative stability of edible vegetable oils

Scientists warn against the dangers of frying food in oil as it release toxic chemicals linked to cancer and heart disease. The negative effects of synthetic antioxidants lead to searching for a substitute with natural recourses. In the present study, fruits of three date palm cultivars; 'Hayani', 'Sewi' and 'Sakouti', were collected at mature stage and date seeds were used for oil extraction. Chemical properties of the oil as well as rancimate measurements were measured to determine the oxidative stability of the oil. Different levels (5, 10. 15 %) of date seed oil were added to crude soybean oil and the oxidative stability for the mixer were then compared to the commercial soybean oil with BHT additive. Pit powder oil content ranged from 8.2-10.6.'Sewi' had the highest total phenols content of phenolic compounds that 183.92 mg among cultivars, while carotenoids content were varied (33.5- 88.5 mg/kg).The fatty acid compositions of all the cultivars were very similar. Rancimat measurements for all cultivars' oil were higher than that of crude soybean oil. Date seed oil addition at different level to soybean crude oil increased the rancimat induction time. Treatment of 'Sewi' oil at 15 % was the best treatment among cultivars and was higher than that of the synthetic BHT effect. The results suggested that the seeds from the examined date cultivars as by product are good source of oil with high quality that may efficiency used as a natural additive to promote the oxidative stability of other vegetable oil.

Dam building binge in Amazon will shred ecosystems, scientists warn

Dam building binge in Amazon will shred ecosystems, scientists warn

Scientists Warn and Call for the Protection of our Planet

Scientists Warn and Call for the Protection of our Planet

Корпоратизація державних університетів: Про що попереджають закордонні вчені?

Корпоратизація державних університетів: Про що попереджають закордонні вчені?

Former NOAA Chief Scientist Warns of Threats to Science

Rick Spinrad frets about threats to science from the current administration's attitudes and budget priorities but remains hopeful that things can be turned around.