Government Work Research Articles

Vegetation community recovery on restored bottomland hardwood forests in northeast Indiana, USA.

Vegetation communities in restored bottomland hardwood forests in northeast Indiana were studied 6-21 years after restoration to assess progress toward restoration objectives. The study focused on four sites that were restored to compensate for resource injuries after contaminant releases. The restored sites were compared with four reference-site conditions, including crops (prerestoration condition), old field communities representing a no-management alternative, locally sampled second-growth mature forests, and forest community types described by the US National Vegetation Classification (USNVC), which represent ideal or defining conditions of recognized vegetation communities. Fixed-area plots provided data on field-sampled environmental variables, vegetation, soil, and hydrological conditions for crops, old fields, restored areas, and mature forests. The USNVC database provided quantitative data for three historically and geographically relevant reference forest community types for comparison with the sampled communities. Results of nonmetric multidimensional scaling based on species cover revealed clear gradients relating to site age and canopy development. Along those gradients, restored areas demonstrated increasing similarity to mature forest reference communities in terms of floristic composition. Specifically, the floristic quality of restored areas was significantly greater than that of crops and old fields. Furthermore, soil health measurements of physical, chemical, and hydrological conditions indicated significant improvements in restored site soils compared with prerestoration conditions represented by cropland soils. Descriptions and data from the USNVC provided ecological context for restoration target conditions and facilitated the assessment of restoration recovery along a trajectory from starting conditions to those target conditions. Descriptions by USNVC also helped identify deviations from the intended restoration objectives (e.g., invasive species recruitment) and potential adaptive management actions to return sites to their intended trajectories. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1917-1938. Published 2024. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

A survey of availability and affordability of polypills for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases in selected countries

Abstract Background/Introduction The recent inclusion of polypills—fixed-dose combinations of two or more antihypertensive drugs and statin with or without aspirin—in the World Health Organization’s Essential Medicines List (EML) reiterates the potential of this approach to improve global treatment coverage for primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Although there exists extensive evidence on efficacy, safety, and acceptability of polypills, there is no research to-date assessing the "real world" availability and affordability of polypills globally. Purpose We conducted a cross-sectional survey of public and private sector facilities in 13 countries from around the world to evaluate the availability and affordability of polypills. Methods In the surveyed countries, we first ascertained whether any polypill was authorized for marketing and/or included in the national EMLs and clinical guidelines. The facility survey employed a modified WHO/Health Action International methodology. In each country, we collected retail and price data for polypills from at least one public sector facility and three private pharmacies using convenience sampling. Polypills were considered unaffordable in a given country if the lowest paid worker spends more than a days’ wage to purchase monthly supply. Results Polypills were approved for marketing in four of the 13 surveyed countries: Spain, India, Mauritius, and Argentina. None of these countries included polypills in national guidelines, formularies, or EMLs. Further, none of the surveyed public pharmacies in any of the four countries stocked any polypills. Among the surveyed private sector facilities, availability ranged from 0% in India (out-of-stock on the survey day but listed for sale) to 100% in Argentina and Spain. In the private sector, we identified seven unique polypill combinations, marketed by eight different companies. Although not in stock, India had a wider range of various combinations (n=5). Many combinations (63%) found in this survey were affordable in the local context, but these were limited to India and Spain. A lowest paid government worker would spend between 0.2 (India)–2.8 (Mauritius) days’ wages to pay the price for one month’s supply of the polypills. Polypills were likely to be affordable in countries that locally manufactured them. Further, two-pill combinations (one antihypertensive and a statin) were stocked by private pharmacies in Argentina, Bangladesh, Cameroon, India, Nepal, and Spain, with affordability ranging from 0.2 (India)–7.1 (Cameroon) days’ wages. Conclusion Low availability and affordability of polypills in both public and private sectors suggest that the implementation and overall uptake of polypills remains poor globally. Context-specific multi-disciplinary health system research is required to understand factors affecting polypill implementation and to design and evaluate appropriate implementation strategies.

Making a difference? Attracting new generations into local government

ABSTRACT The nature of local government work has radically changed over the past fifty years. Local government officers could once be characterised as processing transactional work (e.g. rent collection). However, the changing nature of public services and increasing expectations of citizens have required more transformational and relational work, alongside new roles and skills. This context may now be shifting again. Fiscal pressures may prompt a return to narrow definitions of statutory responsibilities and transactional relationships. We focus here on the implications of these changes for newer generations of public servants, particularly so-called Millennials. Younger workers express a desire to ‘make a difference’ and don’t necessarily see local government as the sector in which to do this. To recruit and retain the best public servants, local government needs to provide a vision of hope for the future and to articulate how it can be the sector where people can make a difference.

Analisis Pengelolaan Limbah Bahan Berbahaya dan Beracun (B3) di Industri Perhotelan Kota Jambi

This research aims to identify the type and amount of B3 waste, identify B3 waste management based on Government Regulation Number 22 of 2021, as well as the SWOT strategy for B3 waste management in the Jambi City hotel industry. The research method is a mixed method. Data collection techniques were carried out by means of open interviews using questionnaires, documentation and literature studies. This research used two types of informants, namely 5 experts and 36 hotel staff, with a questionnaire as the data collection instrument. The results of this research are the type of B3 waste in hotels, namely used oil with the highest amount, namely 0.786 tonnes, and the smallest amount, namely used cloth, amounting to 0.009 tonnes. The research results also found that the hotels that produced the most B3 waste were 5-star hotels, amounting to 0.752 tons. The stages of B3 waste management implemented in the hotel industry are the reduction stage and the storage stage. In the SWOT diagram, it is in quadrant II, namely a combination of strategies between strengths and threats (ST strategy), namely central government regulations, administrative sanctions for hotels, reducing the use of B3 waste in hotels, preparing TPS for B3 waste not mixed with other waste, the government working together. with third parties for B3 waste management, inviting the public to protect the environment.

The new private urban governance: Vestiges, ventures and visibility

Despite the growth, prevalence and influence of private urban governance, scholarship that explores the intimate workings of these manifold and mutating forms remains limited. While these private ventures carry forward elements from the past, the landscape of urban governance has nonetheless undergone profound transformation. Over the past few decades, the global expansion and influence of private governing ventures have reshaped how cities are managed, organised and experienced. This special issue on the New Private Urban Governance examines the constantly evolving modalities of private governance (i.e. business improvement districts/areas, condominium/strata corporations, gated communities, POPS and others) in a global context. Organised around new, interrelated themes of vestiges, ventures and visibility, this issue comprises case studies, syntheses of longstanding empirical projects and novel theoretical/conceptual interventions into political and spatial practices, knowledges and technologies of these privately governed realms. Focused on the spatialisation of politics, vestiges reflects the idea that while neoliberal forms of private urban governance continue to proliferate, they rely and build upon, rather than fully replace, earlier, more public governance practices, logics and spaces. Ventures emphasises that the private and market-oriented thrust of urban governance is heavily predicated on the protection and extraction of value and the intensifying financialisation of urban landscapes and life. Visibility highlights how governing technologies render private urban governance visible and in doing so highlight the politics of space. These three themes together expose the workings of the new private urban governance while invigorating further explorations of this complex phenomenon.

Defining Disability in Policy and in Practice in México

In the interest of providing inclusive education for students with disabilities within higher education and vocational formation, it is imperative that we examine how disability is understood by the actors involved. This research examines the definition of disability as it moves from an inclusive policy in México into practice at the macro, meso, and micro levels of implementation. Two key policy documents, one from the United Nations and one from México, were examined for how they define disability. Interviews, in which participants were asked to define disability, were conducted with government workers in key entities, program directors, and students with disabilities. The definitions from both documents and the interviews were categorized by specific constructs used in disability research including the social model, the medical model, the adaptability approach, and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. A salient finding is that the construct of disability used within policies does not permeate to the actors involved in practice. To develop a clear understanding of this construct and in the interest of cohesion across implementation, a conversation between all actors would be beneficial.

Assessing the psychometric properties of the World Health Organization -five well-being index (WHO-5) in Filipino samples amid the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThe WHO-5 well-being index is a brief rating scale extensively used to evaluate well-being symptoms. Despite the increasing number of studies validating this instrument across different samples from different countries, its psychometric properties remain unexplored in the Philippine context. Bridging this gap, the present study assessed the psychometric properties of the WHO-5 in Filipinos amid the pandemic.MethodsIn study one, exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) was conducted using a sample of Filipinos (N = 2,521) from the general population and a unidimensional model of well-being was extracted. In study two, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to examine the one-factor model in 1,289 Filipino government workers. In study three, nomological validity was examined by performing a mediation analysis using 407 Filipino left-behind emerging adult children with dysfunctionality as mediator, pandemic-related adversities as independent variable, and well-being as the dependent variable.ResultsThe results of ESEM and CFA provided support for the WHO-5 one-factor model. Moreover, the negative relationship of well-being to anxiety, depression, and distress lend evidence to the scale’s criterion validity. The results of the mediation analysis performed in study three implied that those who experienced pandemic-related adversities tended to have greater dysfunctionality, and in turn, had lower levels of well-being.ConclusionsOverall, the findings suggest that the WHO-5 well-being index is a psychometrically sound tool for measuring Filipinos’ well-being.

Urbanism, discourse and class in Amdo Tibet: analysis of five Tibetan fictions as ethnography

ABSTRACT This article examines how Tibetans in the cultural region of Amdo experienced urbanization as a social process when it began intensifying in the region in the early 2000s. By using five pieces of Tibetan fiction as ethnographic data, this article looks at the process of urbanization from the angle of class, analyzing the formation of the urban Tibetan class in relation to social spaces in cities, and its structural position in society. This article further explores the subjectivity of urban Tibetans through the discourse and quoted speech of characters in fiction. In doing so, the article demonstrates that urbanization is occurring as a social process, and Lishaypa, or government workers, react to urbanization intensively as a class. This results in a new social demarcation being established among Tibetans, one based on urban residence and in which urban residents place themselves above rural villagers.

Digital competency among the aged entrepreneurs under the silver economy with soft power in Thailand

The rise of the elderly in Thailand experiencing a significant demographic transformation resulted in a growing senior population to become a super-aged society by 2030. This affacted the demand for “silver economy in Thailand. The objectives are to study (1) the overview of digital competency among the aged entrepreneurs under the silver economy with soft power; and (2) the mechanism for digital competency empowerment among the aged entrepreneurs under the silver economy with soft power in Thailand. Mixed-research method was employed by quantitative (survey questionnaire) and qualitative (Focus group discussion and interview) with a total of 100 samples and 15 key informants involved: the government workers, the aged entrepreneurs, the private & industrial workers, the digital competency expertise, the elderly expertise, and the community leaders. Two main results reflected the objectives accordingly: 1) the overview of digital competency summarized from survey questionnaire found most of the positive factors as follow; 1.1) positive attitude toward digital competency even of their quite low educational background; 1.2) their positive practical existing skilled in digital competency : digital communication, digital media production, privacy, security, analytic thinking skills that can be well applied with their silver economy’s activities. 2) the mechanism for digital competency empowerment among the aged entrepreneurs found most urgent needs in more closed collaboration among all relevant sectors, starting from the lead government sector, private sector, and the local sectors to help expanding all kinds of empowerment activities. Deepen links by driving more inter-sectoral mechanism, resources sharing, regular consultation for internship, apprenticeship, on-site training, employment, market outlet and other schemes with equity, quality and sustainable practices.

Противодействие коррупции в сфере государственных и муниципальных закупок как способ обеспечения экономической безопасности государства

The article discusses the main indicators of corruption in public and municipal procurement. Based on the analysis of anticorruption legislation in the Russian Federation and the practice of its application, the author suggests possible measures to minimize corruption risks, provides practical examples of the work of public authorities and local governments aimed at combating corruption in this area.

A practitioner-led research agenda for local government

ABSTRACT The last 50 years of local government studies have documented extraordinary changes: economic transformations, international democratisation, the digital revolution and the rise of the internet have transformed local government. Looking forward to the next 50 years: climate change, ageing populations, financial pressure, populist politics, will all come home to roost in the day-to-day work of local government. This paper makes the case for building a research agenda around the practical experiences of local policy practitioners. Using our experience from a series of interviews with over sixty local government chief executives, and the example of two research projects built around LGIU’s local authority members network in England, the paper describes the valuable opportunities that come from engaging with local government practitioners for developing and directing research.

Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence among Male Local Government Workers in Ekiti State

Intimate partner violence (IPV) against men is a global prevalent issue. It is the abuse that transpires within or outside a romantic relationship. It affects men and women equally but the cases of men are under-reported. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of intimate partner violence among male local government workers in Ekiti State. The study adopted a cross sectional descriptive research design using a quantitative method approach of data collection. Multistage sampling technique was used to select two hundred and eighteen (218) respondents from six local government areas in Ekiti State. Data were collected with the aid of adapted questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The result showed that the average age of the respondents was approximately 43 years with 67.9% being within 36-51 years old and 79.4% were married with an average length of 13 years in relationship. The overall prevalence of IPV was 94.5% with psychological violence being the most prevalent (89.0%), followed by psychological violence (78.9%), then by sexual (39.9%) and physical (19.3%). IPV against men is prevalent and it is mostly psychological. The fact that physical assault is minimal does not mean that men are undergoing IPV. Hence nurses and other health workers should screen men who present with psychological symptoms for necessary help.

A taste for government employment also rests on its political flavor

AbstractThe global experience of political polarization, and politicians' attacks on democratic institutions, render individuals' identification with the governing coalition, or with its opposition, a likely antecedent of their attraction to work in government. This article examines to what extent individuals' partisan alignment with the governing coalition, and perceptions of its actions as a threat to democracy, shapes attraction to government jobs. Findings are based on a two‐stage survey with 1861 Israeli panel respondents, aged 21–30, carried out during the government's attempt to undermine the legal system (hereafter: the Judicial Overhaul), and a follow‐up survey experiment with 1211 of the respondents. Against the politically neutral explanations of previous research, we show that partisan alignment affects the propensity to choose a job in a government ministry versus other sectors. We find mixed evidence in support of the proposition that perceptions of the Judicial Overhaul as a threat to democracy underlie this effect.

A Study of digital literacy among the marginalizes in Thailand: Issues, challenges for implementation and the way forward

The concerns about digital literacy in Thailand especially relevant to fake news, disinformation, and misinformation keep increasing and creating a multifaceted challenges to various sectors of Thai society i.e. financial, commercial, politics, society, and health-related. Among the areas identified include digital contents creation, dissemination, and social media enabling various information with complex challenges such as the proliferation of fake news, disinformation, and misinformation affected more kinds of negative effects currently. This study employs mixed-research method quantitative (survey questionnaire) and qualitative (Focus group discussion, observation, interview) data collection and analysis. A total of 315 samples and key informants were involved as well as grouped under 5 categories: marginal youths, elderly, community leaders, teachers, also government workers focusing on digital literacy knowledge and skills relevant to fake news. It also highlights the relevant contexts i.e. regulatory frameworks and mechanisms driven by key agencies in Thailand. Two main results were revealed that reflected the objectives of the study accordingly: The first objective is (1) overview of digital literacy and how to achieve it. The findings summarized from survey questionnaire include 1.1) even regulations exist found inadequate enforcement and low public awareness call for more effective and collaborative communication from all partners starting from the government agencies; 1.2) urgent need for public awareness communication campaigns emphasizing all the marginalized groups. Youths expressed in the interviews about their contribution to help reduce all kinds of fake news; 1.3) support more friendly ICT context provision such as availability, affordability, accessibility, usability, and useful information. The second objective is (2) mechanism for digital skills empowerment. The feedback from key informants include: 2.1) strengthening digital literacy skills among all marginalized groups to be a smart citizen then can help protecting themselves, their families and their communities; 2.2) all agencies from policy to local i.e. community leaders, educational institutions, private sectors, social media companies, civil society, and others must synergized more contributions; 2.3) educational institutions must design digital literacy academy with digital new-skills for the marginalizes, ensuring them for their safety and future job demands; 2.4) private sectors should support and co-designing digital products and services that address all current needs; 2.5) local government, and all partners should take an active collaboration and enforcement. The study concluded with implications and suggestions for future research in line with SDGs.

Koordinasi Pemerintah Desa dalam Penyusunan Rencana Kerja Pemerintah Desa di Desa Tamiajeng Kecamatan Trawas Kabupaten Mojokerto

The implementation of a village government work plan can run well because it is based on coordination and cooperation between the village government and the activity implementer. In this research, the researcher will use descriptive qualitative research, because the researcher wants to describe and describe in detail the phenomena or problems raised. The location of this research was conducted in Tamiajeng Village, Trawas District, Mojokerto Regency. The focus of this research is on vertical, horizontal and functional coordination in preparing the Village Government Work Plan in Tamiajeng Village. The sources of informants in this research were the Village Head, Head of the Village Development Planning Section, Village Secretary, and Village Staff/Apparatus involved in preparing village government work plans. Data collection techniques, such as Interviews, Questionnaires and Observations. Techniques for testing data validity in qualitative research, namely trustworthiness, transferability, dependability and conformability. Data analysis techniques use data reduction, data collection, data presentation and conclusions. The research results show that the coordination carried out by the Tamiajeng village government as a whole has gone quite well, both vertically, horizontally and functionally. Community participation is quite active in musrembangdes activities to voice aspirations. The key to success in coordinating the preparation of RKPDes for Tamiajeng village is communication, collaboration and cooperation between village institutions and village communities.

Overcoming Barriers in Infrastructure Development Planning and Community Involvement

Abstract. The success of national development is often reflected in infrastructure improvements at the village level, particularly in promoting community welfare. In the specific context, Wunut Village in Porong District, Sidoarjo Regency, faces challenges in infrastructure planning, including transparency issues and limited community participation. The knowledge gap lies in the need for effective infrastructure planning to optimize the use of available resources and to identify obstacles in rural development. This study aims to analyze the village's development planning and identify barriers using a qualitative approach. Based on Syaodih's theory, focusing on achieving better goals, optimizing resources, addressing limitations, and ensuring efficiency, the results show a lack of transparency in the village work plan and passive community participation. This research's novelty highlights the critical role of transparency and engagement in successful infrastructure planning. The implications suggest enhancing community involvement and transparency for more effective rural development. Highlights: Transparency in village government work plans is essential for effective infrastructure development. Community involvement must be improved to enhance the planning and implementation process. Strategic planning is key to overcoming limitations in rural infrastructure projects. Keywords: Infrastructure, Development Planning, Rural Development, Community Participation, Transparency

Using Reporter Gene Assays to Screen and Identify Chemical Compounds that Modulate Estrogen Receptor Activity.

Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) is a nuclear receptor that is expressed mainly in the breast, uterus, and ovary, among several other organs. ERα plays important roles in reproduction, mammary gland formation, and glucose homeostasis. Disruption of ERα may result in adverse outcomes, such as cancer, impaired fertility, and abnormal fetal growth. Therefore, identifying compounds that modulate ERα is of great interest due to their potential-endocrine disrupting capability and pharmaceutical applications. To rapidly test tens of thousands of compounds, high-throughput screening assays are essential. Here, we describe high-throughput screening methods, including plating and treatment of cells in 384-well and 1536-well plates and analysis of the resulting data. The two cell lines used, MCF7-VM7Luc4E2 and HEK293-ERα-bla, have been described previously. MCF7-VM7Luc4E2 cells are a stable luciferase reporter gene cell line expressing full-length endogenous estrogen receptor in the MCF7 cell line background, and HEK293-ERα-bla cells stably express an ERα ligand-binding domain/GAL4 DNA-binding domain fusion regulating a UAS β-lactamase reporter gene. These cell lines can be used to identify and confirm ERα modulators. Published 2024. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Establishment of a high-throughput ERα reporter gene assay with luminescence readout to identify activators and inhibitors of estrogen receptor α Basic Protocol 2: Use of an orthogonal assay with fluorescence readout to confirm potential estrogen receptor activators or inhibitors.

Application Of Block-Chain And Artificial Intelligence Technology In China's E-Government

This article looks at how blockchain and artificial intelligence can be used in electronic governance. It examines how the Chinese government is currently using digital technology and the problems it faces. It suggests ways to make electronic governance more efficient, keep data safe, and encourage new ideas. Studies have found that using blockchain and artificial intelligence can make electronic governance work better, making government services more open and trusted by the public

Producer services agglomeration and low-carbon economic transition: the role of economic growth target constraint

Abstract Objective. Producer services are an intermediate input factor that permeates every link in the industrial production chain and is essential to the growth of a low-carbon economy. This study aims to elucidate the connection between producer services agglomeration (PSA) and low-carbon economic transition. Methods. Based on China’s provincial panel data from 2004 to 2021, we empirically test the influence of PSA on low-carbon economic transition using a two-way fixed effects model, and utilize government work reports to construct an indicator of economic growth target constraints and its characteristics to further explore its moderating effect. Results. PSA contributes to enhancing low-carbon economic transition. The heterogeneity test finds that PSA significantly helps low-carbon economic transition in the east and west regions, but not in the central region. The quantile regression findings demonstrate that PSA is more effective at raising the level of low-carbon economic transition at the 10th and 90th quantiles, which indicates that the carbon reduction and efficiency enhancement effects of PSA play a greater role in regions with lower and higher low-carbon economic transition levels. Further research presents that the economic growth target constraint negatively moderates PSA’s impact on low-carbon economic transition, but this constraint characterized by soft constraints strengthens the positive effect of PSA on low-carbon economic transition. Implications. In view of this, the government can foster PSA in accordance with local conditions, optimize agglomeration area layout, and establish a scientific and reasonable government target management system to strengthen low-carbon and high-quality economic development.

사회복지전담공무원의 메타역량, 직무역량, 직무몰입 간 관계에 관한 탐색적 연구

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between meta-competence, job competence, and work engagement among social workers in local government. Using data collected from social workers in local government across the country, a PLS-based structural equation model analysis was conducted. The analysis revealed significant paths among meta-competence, job competence, and work engagement. Firstly, meta-competence had a positive impact on both job competence and work engagement. Secondly, the relationship between job competence and work engagement was also found to be positive. Thirdly, job competence acted as a partial mediator in the relationship between meta-competence and work engagement. Based on the research findings, the importance of competency development for social workers in local government was discussed, as well as integrated approaches to meta-competence and job competence in social work education.