Technical Resources Research Articles

Planning of the investigation of criminal offenses in the sphere of economic activities committed involving law enforcement officials: The Ukrainian perspective

The article is devoted to formulation of theoretical principles and practical recommendations regarding organization and planning of the investigation of criminal offenses in the field of economic activity, which are committed with the participation (assistance) of law enforcement officers. The methodology for the article is chosen taking into account the purpose and tasks, object and subject matter of the study. The research results were obtained with the help of the following methods: dialectical; formal and logical; formal and legal; comparative and legal; historical and legal, complex analysis; analysis and synthesis; axiomatic; system and structural method. The obtained results of the study indicated that organization and planning of the investigation of criminal acts under consideration is a purposeful activity of the authorized bodies, which is carried out under the guidance of the investigator, detective of the pre-trial investigation body. These activities require systematic, comprehensive approach and must take into account a wide range of circumstances that can affect the process and results of the investigation: the nature of the criminal offense, access to the necessary financial, human and technical resources; the competence of the investigator, the detective; terms and deadlines for investigation and presenting materials to the court, establishing effective cooperation between competent authorities. The study highlights the peculiarities of the organization and planning of the investigation of criminal offenses in economic activities, when law enforcement officers are involved, and suggests directions for improving the effectiveness of their implementation.

Mining industry’s potential for community development, challenges, and way forward in the East Africa community. A review

ABSTRACT East African Community (EAC) countries have abundant natural resources, including minerals which are critical inputs for achieving sustainable development. The mining sector contributes a substantial portion of EAC exports, revenue, and gross domestic product to achieve sustainable development goals. Despite this accomplishment, the mining industry is nevertheless plagued by various issues. As a result, this review provides an overview of the mining sector’s challenges and way forward. It also looks at ways to improve the situation in the future. The study found that financial resources, human and technical resources, infrastructure, political instability, the nature of mineral reserves, social difficulties, marketing, and limited research and exploration are some of the main challenges faced by the mineral sector in the EAC region. Thus, the study recommends capacity building, resolving political instabilities, diversifying the economy to lessen reliance on mining, improving marketing, improving mining infrastructure, and encouraging research and exploration.

Creation of Stem-Centers Within Experimental Activities (Best Practices)

The article is devoted to the analysis of the organization of the creation of STEM centers as innovative educational environments aimed at the formation and development of STEM competencies and creative activity of education seekers, the development of innovative models of education and the professional improvement of pedagogical workers in the STEM direction. It was found that the organization of the creation of STEM centers requires the provision of organizational, scientific-methodical, material and technical conditions and personnel support. It was determined that the organizational conditions include the development and adoption of the necessary regulatory documents that determine the principles of STEM-centers' activities. The scientific and methodological conditions provide for the development and adaptation of educational programs and educational and methodological materials, lesson plans and manuals focused on the integration of STEM disciplines. Material and technical conditions provide for the availability of modern equipment, computer classes, laboratories, workshops, software and other technical means and resources. Staffing requires the involvement of qualified teachers, trainers, instructors, methodologists, specialists in STEM disciplines. The study is aimed at studying the best practices of creating STEM centers within the framework of the implementation of an innovative educational project at the all-Ukrainian level on the topic "Organizational and scientific-methodical conditions for the creation of STEM centers" in 2022-2027. The author of the article provided practical recommendations for organizing the creation of STEM centers, taking into account the results of the survey of basic educational institutions of the innovative educational project and the needs of modern education.

Environmental impacts of drugs against parasitic vector-borne diseases and the need to integrate sustainability into their development and use

Background The current scientific discourse on environmental impacts of veterinary medicines mostly focuses on ectoparasiticides. Meanwhile, the environmental impacts of widely prescribed drugs for the treatment of human and animal parasitic vector-borne diseases (PVBD) remain largely unexplored. There is thus a need for evidence-based information to support guidelines and protocols for sustainable One Health PVBD drug development and use, while promoting greener research practices. Here, we reflect on the potential environmental impacts of PVBD drugs in current use, and the environmental impact of our research practices for developing new antiparasitics. Methods We conducted a survey of the membership of the “One Health drugs against parasitic vector borne diseases in Europe and beyond” Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action 21111 (OneHealth drugs) to assess the current appreciation of sustainable drug design concepts and the extent to which One Health and sustainability principles are integrated into PVBD drug discovery and development. The survey also explored which human, technical, and funding resources are currently used in Europe and neighbouring countries in PVBD drugs research. Results The survey was conducted and analysed by OneHealth drugs and garnered 89 respondents, representing a response rate of 66% from 32 countries, predominantly European. 87% of participating collaborators worked in Academia; research groups were small (60% with 1–4 researchers) and mostly consist of few researchers, mostly at early career stages (63% <35 years old). Collaborations were mostly between academics, and 60% collaborated with non-European researchers, while funding was mostly from national governments. Motivation for greener research practices was high but there was as yet low implementation of green strategies or the incorporation of ecotoxicological test in drug development workflows, due to cost and unfamiliarity. Conclusions We highlight the need for early-ecotoxicological testing of new drug candidates and suggest best practices as we move towards standardized protocols in developing safe and efficacious PVBD drugs.

Contextual barriers to infection prevention and control program implementation in hospitals in Latin America: a mixed methods evaluation

BackgroundInfection prevention and control (IPC) programs are essential to prevent and control the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms in healthcare facilities (HCFs). The current implementation of these programs in Latin America remains largely unknown.MethodsWe conducted a mixed-methods evaluation of IPC program implementation in HCFs from Guatemala, Panama, Ecuador, and Argentina, March-July 2022. We used the World Health Organization (WHO) IPC Assessment Framework (IPCAF) survey, a previously validated structured questionnaire with an associated scoring system that evaluates the eight core components of IPC (IPC program; IPC guidelines; IPC education and training; healthcare-associated infection [HAI] surveillance; multimodal strategies; monitoring and audit of IPC practices and feedback; workload, staffing, and bed occupancy; and the built environment and materials and equipment for IPC). Each section generates a score 0–100. According to the final score, the HCF IPC program implementation is categorized into four levels: inadequate (0–200), basic (201–400), intermediate (401–600), or advanced (601–800). Additionally, we conducted semi-structured interviews among IPC personnel and microbiologists using the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety model to evaluate barriers and facilitators for IPC program implementation. We performed directed content analysis of interview transcripts to identify themes that focused on barriers and facilitators of IPC program implementation which are summarized descriptively.ResultsThirty-seven HCFs (15 for-profit and 22 non-profit) completed the IPCAF survey. The overall median score was 614 (IQR 569, 693) which corresponded to an “advanced” level of IPC implementation (32% [7/22] non-profit vs. 93% [14/15] for-profit HCFs in this category). The lowest scores were in workload, staffing and bed occupancy followed by IPC training and multimodal strategies. Forty individuals from 16 HCFs were interviewed. They perceived inadequate staffing and technical resources, limited leadership support, and cultural determinants as major barriers to effective IPC guideline implementation, while external accreditation and technical support from public health authorities were perceived as facilitators.ConclusionsEfforts to strengthen IPC activities in Latin American HCFs should focus on improving support from hospital leadership and public health authorities to ensure better resource allocation, promoting safety culture, and improving training in quality improvement.

ADOPTION OF MEDIA INNOVATIONS FOR MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS FOR UMKM FOR THE LATEST COLD DRINK IN THE DIGITALIZATION ERA

The implementation of innovation in digital communication media by MSMEs in the cold beverage sector faces several significant challenges, including lack of technical knowledge, limited resources, and limited access to digital training. This study aims to investigate the effect of digital technology adoption on MSME business performance, especially in terms of increasing customer engagement, sales, and expanding market reach. The methodology applied is a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews with MSME owners in the cold beverage industry. The research results revealed that despite the challenges faced, the use of social media can increase interaction with customers, expand market reach beyond local areas, and increase sales by up to 40%. The findings of this study indicate that support in the form of digital training and access to resources is essential to optimize the use of digital media by MSMEs. Implementing the right digital strategy has the potential to strengthen the competitiveness of MSMEs amidst increasingly tight global market competition.

VertexWiseR: a package for simplified vertex-wise analyses of whole-brain and hippocampal surfaces in R

Abstract Currently, whole-brain vertex-wise analyses on brain surfaces commonly require specially configured operating systems/environments to run and are largely inaccessible to R users. As such, these analyses are inconvenient to execute and inaccessible to many aspiring researchers. To address these limitations, we present VertexWiseR, a user-friendly R package, to run cortical and hippocampal surface vertex-wise analyses, in just about any computer, requiring minimal technical expertise and computational resources. The package allows cohort-wise anatomical surface data to be highly compressed into a single, compact, easy-to-share file. Users can then run a range of vertex-wise statistical analyses with that single file without requiring a special operating system/environment and direct access to the preprocessed file directories. This enables the user to easily take the analyses ‘offline’, which would be highly appropriate and conducive in classroom settings. This R package includes a conventional suite of tools for extracting, manipulating, analysing, and visualizing vertex-wise data, and is designed to be easy for beginners to use. Furthermore, it also contains novel or advanced functionalities such as hippocampal surface analyses, meta-analytic decoding, threshold-free cluster enhancement, and mixed effects models that would appeal to experienced researchers as well. In the current report, we showcase these functionalities in the analyses of two publicly accessible datasets. Overall, our R package opens up new frontiers for the R’s user base/community and makes such neuroimaging analyses accessible to the masses.

Productivity and Quality of Facilities and Infrastructure as Support for RRI Tolitoli Broadcasting

This research aims to answer the basic problems faced by Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) Tolitoli in increasing the productivity and quality of broadcasting facilities and infrastructure. Using a qualitative approach and descriptive research methods, this research was conducted at the Republic of Indonesia Radio Public Broadcasting Institute (LPP RRI) Tolitoli over a three-month period. Primary data was obtained through direct observation and in-depth interviews with six informants selected purposively. The research results show that RRI Tolitoli faces a number of challenges in increasing productivity and broadcast quality, especially related to poor infrastructure conditions. Through analysis of productivity and quality variables, research findings highlight the need for improvements in technical and managerial aspects. Although RRI Tolitoli has demonstrated a strong commitment to providing quality broadcasting services, there is still room for significant improvement in terms of technical infrastructure and resource management. The recommendations resulting from this research can become the basis for continuous improvement efforts in public broadcasting in Indonesia, with the main aim of meeting public demands for broadcasting that is informative, high quality and has a positive impact.

Implementation of the international health regulations – global challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract The International Health Regulations (IHR) govern how 196 countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) collectively manage global disease spread while preserving international travel and commercial trade. The COVID-19 pandemic set an unprecedented challenge to the IHR commitments. To address this gap, two scoping reviews were conducted: one identifying global challenges in IHR implementation and the other analyzing challenges, successes and limitations of the IHR during the COVID-19 pandemic. The scoping reviews followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA methodology, utilizing the PubMed, Medline, World of Science, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar databases, plus backwards citation chaining. Data selection and analysis were guided by pretest forms. From 128 articles screened, 52 met inclusion criteria for the IHR implementation review. 135 challenges were identified, in these categories: (1) requirement of financial and technical resources, (2) lack of enforcement and accountability mechanisms, (3) need for rules clarification, (4) deterrents to reporting, (5) inadequate governance, (6) insufficient cooperation between countries, (7) sovereignty issues, (8) scarcity of guidance and technical support from WHO, (9) lack of inclusion of roles for relevant non-state actors, (10) conflicts and emergencies. In the COVID-19 review, 15 articles were included. Although the role of the IHR during Health Emergencies was acknowledged, most countries faced limitations in its implementation during the pandemic. Key lessons included reinforcing the global health security strategy, reviewing the IHR to address current challenges and strengthening countries and states’ commitment to resolutions compliance. The ongoing debate over IHR updates confirms the need for its revision to safeguard global health. A more effective response grounded on the IHR is needed to face upcoming and expected events of COVID-19’s magnitude and severity.

AUDIOVISUAL METHOD IN LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES

The article reveals the essence of the audiovisual method of teaching foreign languages. The main methods of learning foreign languages are characterized (grammatical translation, audio-lingual, communicative, immersive, direct, suggestive, neurolinguistic methods). The history of the emergence of the audiovisual method is traced and the contribution of various scientists to its development is analyzed (P. Rivan, R. Lado, R. Riсher). It is noted that the audiovisual method of learning foreign languages is a teaching method based on a combination of auditory (audio) and visual (video) stimuli, i.e. the defining feature of the method is the simultaneous use of sound and image. The importance of the method in the context of further development of multimedia resources is emphasized. The main characteristics of the method are presented: combination of images and sounds, contextual learning, emphasis on listening comprehension and pronunciation, lack of translation, repeated practice. Determined components of the method: listening, watching videos, repetition, perception of context. Advantages and disadvantages of the method are outlined. The advantages of the audiovisual method include: improving perception and memorization, immersive learning, getting closer to the natural language environment, active use of the context, and gradual mastery of the language. The limitations of the audiovisual method are: less emphasis on writing, the need for technical resources, which can make it difficult to use the method in schools or at home. Prospects for further research of the audiovisual method and its potential are indicated, especially in the context of technology development and individualization of education. It was concluded that the audiovisual method is a powerful tool for the initial stage of language learning, but it needs to be supplemented with other methods for comprehensive language acquisition.

Towards a method for understanding collaborative learning in makerspaces using dynamic sociotechnical networks

ABSTRACT This study’s objective was to discuss approaches to understanding learning in an educational makerspace by considering complex and dynamic interactions that take place there. Our investigation focusses on technical resources within these interactions – particularly how to gain a structural perspective on these dynamic interactions. We address two primary challenges: (1) conceptualizing makerspace activity as networks of human and nonhuman actors, and (2) capturing the structural dynamics of interaction in sociotechnical makerspace networks, as well as discussing how solving these challenges can help understand technology-mediated collaborative learning practices in the makerspace. We present potential approaches to yield a more granular and nuanced view based on video data on the interplay between collaborators and technical tools and materials, such as how to transform video data into structural data, as well as capture and represent dynamic networks. We discuss how these approaches can inform researchers about collaborative learning in makerspaces by discussing students’ sociotechnical ego-networks, changing roles and the use of sociotechnical structural data as background information in qualitative analysis. Furthermore, the paper examines our study’s broader implications for understanding makerspace networks, suggesting node-grouping strategies and sociotechnograms to simplify and name the display of sociotechnical interdependencies.

Study on Curriculum Construction of Law Major in Colleges and Universities Under the Background of New Liberal Arts

With the development of the new liberal arts construction, more attention has been paid to the education of legal talents in undergraduate colleges, which also puts forward deeper requirements for the curriculum construction of colleges and universities. Law curriculum as the focus of liberal arts education reform, it needs teachers to comprehensively deepen the reform of teaching, make full use of all kinds of technical resources to enrich the content of teaching, improve the quality of legal education, and cultivate students’ comprehensive quality. Based on this, the article deeply analyzes the ideas of college law curriculum construction under the background of new liberal arts, fully explains the connotation of liberal arts construction, on this basis, puts forward the principles of curriculum construction, explores the existing problems of college law curriculum construction under the background of new liberal arts, and on this basis, puts forward the path of college law curriculum construction under the background of new liberal arts for reference.

Successful ability to stay at home - an interview study exploring multiple diagnosed older persons and their relatives’ experiences

BackgroundSociety places increased demands on regions and municipalities to jointly carry out activities for multi-diagnosed older persons with extensive coordination needs. Interprofessional collaboration is reported as an important success factor for the overall health care of this group of patients. This project focuses on older persons with multiple diagnoses and their relatives’ own experiences of what is most important for safety and security in their homes. The aim of the study was: to illuminate the meaning of success for the ability to stay at home as experienced by older persons with multiple diagnoses and their relatives.MethodsThe project had a descriptive explorative design with a phenomenological hermeneutic approach based on analysis of 14 in-depth interviews with older people and their relatives.FindingsOwn resources were identified such as belief in the future, spiritual belief, social network, having loved ones and pets. Technical aids were seen as helpful resources, working as indoor and outdoor security safeguards. These resources included having good telephone contact with social and professional networks as well as other forms of personal equipment such as a personal alarm. The professional network was a resource, acting as support when the patient’s own abilities were not sufficient. Finally, having personnel who had the time and interest to listen was seen as crucial to experience safety.ConclusionsThe main reason for being able to continue homecare was the person’s self-care system, their personal, social, and technical resources. Professional care development should anchor team work to the patient’s own system of self and informal care.

DNA methylation stability in cardiac tissues kept at different temperatures and time intervals

Investigating DNA methylation (DNAm) in cardiac tissues is vital for epigenetic research in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). During cardiac surgery, biopsies may not be immediately stored due to a lack of human or technical resources at the collection site. Assessing DNAm stability in cardiac samples left in suboptimal conditions is crucial for applying DNAm analysis. We investigated the stability of DNAm in human cardiac tissues kept at 4 °C and 22 °C for periods of 1, 7, 14, and 28 days (exposed samples) using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC v1.0 BeadChip Array. We observed high correlations between samples analysed immediately after tissue collection and exposed ones (R2 > 0.992). Methylation levels were measured as β-values and median absolute β-value differences (|∆β|) ranged from 0.0093 to 0.0119 in all exposed samples. Pairwise differentially methylated position (DMP) analysis revealed no DMPs under 4 °C (fridge temperature) exposure for up to 28 days and 22 °C (room temperature) exposure for one day, while 3,437, 6,918, and 3,824 DMPs were observed for 22 °C samples at 7, 14, and 28 days, respectively. This study provides insights into the stability of genome-wide DNAm, showing that cardiac tissue can be used for reliable DNAm analysis even when stored suboptimally after surgery.

Navigating Communication in Nursing Homes During COVID-19: Perspectives From Families, Healthcare Professionals, and Managers in Southern Switzerland-A Qualitative Study.

This study aims to understand the effectiveness and challenges of communication strategies implemented to maintain contact between nursing home (NH) residents and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic, by considering the perspectives of families, healthcare professionals, and NH managers. Using a qualitative research design, the study analyzed in-depth semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders (N = 34), including family members, NH staff, and managers. The study found that communication strategies like video calls, telephone calls, and window visits were generally appreciated and facilitated contact between residents and their families. However, challenges emerged around technical and organizational issues. Both internal and external stakeholders concurred that an increase in technological and human resources was necessary to alleviate these challenges. The study underscores the importance of innovative and flexible communication strategies to sustain connections between NH residents and their families in crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Future readiness calls for increased investment in human and technical resources, and a commitment to understanding and addressing the diverse communication needs of NH residents.

Exploring the Multimodal Approach in Pre-Service Chemistry Teacher Education: Perspective from Students and Lecturers

This study aims to investigate the implementation of a multimodal approach in the learning process and the summative tests of pre-service chemistry teacher education. Data were collected through Google Forms using semi-structured questions. Data were compared with analysis handbooks and summative test documents. The results show that most pre-service chemistry teachers have a multimodal learning style. However, the application of the multimodal approach in chemistry courses has not been extensively implemented due to several challenges. For instance, the time required for preparation can be a significant barrier, as creating and organizing multiple modes of communication can be time-consuming. The complexity of creating media is another challenge, as it requires technical skills and resources. Additionally, the characteristics of students who do not support independent learning can hinder the implementation of a multimodal approach. The most commonly used media in applying the multimodal approach are videos and PowerPoint presentations, supplemented by direct explanations from lecturers. Most of the test techniques used by lecturers were in written form, owing to the difficulties in developing multimodal tests. This study implies an urgent need for the development of multimodal test instruments to accommodate differences in students' learning styles.

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Project Management

Over the past decade, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology, particularly in project management. This study examines its impact in Latin America, with a focus on Ecuador. There is significant interest in AI adoption in Ecuador, driven by favorable policies, economic conditions, and technological advancements. Most respondents are educators, scientific researchers, and department heads, highlighting the relevance of AI in educational and scientific fields (Fernández & Fernández, 2019; Hassan, Khairudin, & Nasir, 2019). Large organizations, with more than 200 employees, are better positioned to adopt AI due to their greater financial and technical resources (Chui, Henke, & Miremadi, 2020). However, significant barriers persist, such as technological limitations, budgetary constraints, and a lack of managerial support, which complicate its implementation (Smith & Lazarus, 2021). Despite these barriers, most respondents anticipate a significant increase in AI adoption over the next five years, although doubts and challenges remain that must be addressed to ensure successful and sustained implementation (Jones, Patel, & Smith, 2019). This analysis underscores both the opportunities and challenges that AI faces in project management in Ecuador, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to maximize its benefits.

Manajemen Strategi Peningkatan Mutu Pendidikan Di Smp Al Bayan Kota Makassar

The purpose of this study is to describe the strategic management approach used to improve teaching standards at Al Bayan Junior High School Makassar City. This type of research is descriptive qualitative. The data collection techniques used include notes, interviews, and observations. This research uses three activity streams for qualitative data analysis, namely data reduction, data presentation, and verification/conclusion drawing. The data triangulation technique was used in assessing the validity of the data. The findings show that: (1) Al Bayan Junior High School Makassar City conducts integrated, methodical, and comprehensive planning through the following stages in order to realize the quality of education: a) Examining the school's internal environment both material, technical, and human resources. b) Examining the geographical, social, and economic context outside the school. c) Careful observation and in-depth analysis. (2) In implementing initiatives aimed at raising educational standards, Al Irsyad leaders use the following policies: a) Continuous process improvement. b) Creating standards for school improvement and quality assurance. c) Establishing a school culture. d) Modifying the organizational structure. e) Maintaining positive interactions with customers. (3) To verify that a high-quality education program has been achieved, evaluation is also conducted in the following ways: a) by tracking all results from planning and implementing strategic management activities. b) evaluating student and individual performance. c) providing reports on how all actions were carried out; and d) making necessary corrections.

Перспективи застосування жорсткого дорожнього одягу під час будування автомобільних доріг та удосконалення підходів до його конструювання і розрахування

Introduction. This article examines the issue of improving the methods of designing and calculating rigid road surfaces, outlined in the DSTU project “Guidelines for the Design of Rigid Road Surfaces” (hereinafter referred to as the DSTU project). The specified methods were developed on the basis of domestic and global experience in the design of highways with rigid road surfaces, analysis of current legal acts, regulatory documents, technical literature related to the object of standardization, taking into account the availability of modern road construction materials and technologies. density of traffic flow, diversity of subsoil, including in complex engineering and geological conditions, peculiarities of road and climatic regions of Ukraine, etc. Problem statement. The need for improvement and a unified approach to the design of rigid road clothing, taking into account the peculiarities of its operation, with the determination of the appropriate parameters depending on the initial data and the effective use of material and technical resources.

Developing Digital Skills in Students through Blended Learning

The conditions that provoked changes in the system of education and its receiving by students are mentioned. Traditional, distance and hybrid forms of education their features, advantages and disadvantages are considered from the point of view of modern education. The pandemic of COVID-19 necessitated the search for conditions for further implementation of education with minimal omissions. Solving that problem remote learning was invented for the quarantine period, while providing this format, some organizations had to develop a system of educational resources and online platforms for interaction between teachers and students in a short time. There was also a need for technical support for both students and teachers in need of mastering new technologies and competencies. Despite the difficulties encountered, the conditions of the pandemic made it possible to open up new online education opportunities that could not be ignored after all restrictions were lifted. Returning to the traditional form of education there is a crucial question how can the developed online resources and platforms be used in teaching students. Hybrid form of education has been recognized as an effective innovation with a number of conditions and requirements that act as an obstacle to the organization of the educational process, including for teachers, the role of the teaching staff in this system is changing and expanding. The information and technical resources and conditions that allow for the implementation of blended learning, and some of its types, are indicated. In conclusion, the effectiveness of hybrid education is outlined, as well as the basic requirements for students studying in this form.