Digital discretion and public administration in Africa: Implications for the use of artificial intelligence

The digitalisation of public services is implicated in fundamental changes to how civil servants make decisions and exercise discretion. Most significant has been a shift in responsibility away from ‘street-level bureaucrats’ to ‘system-level bureaucrats’; a technology-savvy community of officials, consultants and private enterprises involved in the design of information technology systems and associated rules. The relatively recent inclusion of artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven algorithms raises new questions about the conflation of policy formulation and system development activities, but also intensifies concerns about the epistemic dependence and policy alienation of public officials. African public administrations are in an especially vulnerable position with respect to the adoption of AI, and so this chapter seeks to synthesise lessons from previous digital implementations on the continent, and considers the implications for AI use. Four broad considerations emerge from the review of literature: Integrity of recommendations provided by decision-support systems, including how they are influenced by local organisational practices and the reliability of underlying infrastructures; Inclusive decision-making that balances the (assumed) objectivity of data-driven algorithms and the influence of different stakeholder groups; Exception and accountability in how digital and AI platforms are funded, developed, implemented and used; and a Complete understanding of people and events through the integration of traditionally dispersed data sources and systems, and how policy actors seek to mitigate the risks associated with this aspiration.

Recognized and Emerging Features of Erythropoietic and X-Linked Protoporphyria

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP) are inherited disorders resulting from defects in two different enzymes of the heme biosynthetic pathway, i.e., ferrochelatase (FECH) and delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase-2 (ALAS2), respectively. The ubiquitous FECH catalyzes the insertion of iron into the protoporphyrin ring to generate the final product, heme. After hemoglobinization, FECH can utilize other metals like zinc to bind the remainder of the protoporphyrin molecules, leading to the formation of zinc protoporphyrin. Therefore, FECH deficiency in EPP limits the formation of both heme and zinc protoporphyrin molecules. The erythroid-specific ALAS2 catalyses the synthesis of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), from the union of glycine and succinyl-coenzyme A, in the first step of the pathway in the erythron. In XLP, ALAS2 activity increases, resulting in the amplified formation of ALA, and iron becomes the rate-limiting factor for heme synthesis in the erythroid tissue. Both EPP and XLP lead to the systemic accumulation of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) in blood, erythrocytes, and tissues causing the major symptom of cutaneous photosensitivity and several other less recognized signs that need to be considered. Although significant advances have been made in our understanding of EPP and XLP in recent years, a complete understanding of the factors governing the variability in clinical expression and the severity (progression) of the disease remains elusive. The present review provides an overview of both well-established facts and the latest findings regarding these rare diseases.

The Mysterious Multitude: Structural Perspective on the Accessory Subunits of Respiratory Complex I

Complex I (CI) is the largest protein complex in the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation electron transport chain of the inner mitochondrial membrane and plays a key role in the transport of electrons from reduced substrates to molecular oxygen. CI is composed of 14 core subunits that are conserved across species and an increasing number of accessory subunits from bacteria to mammals. The fact that adding accessory subunits incurs costs of protein production and import suggests that these subunits play important physiological roles. Accordingly, knockout studies have demonstrated that accessory subunits are essential for CI assembly and function. Furthermore, clinical studies have shown that amino acid substitutions in accessory subunits lead to several debilitating and fatal CI deficiencies. Nevertheless, the specific roles of CI’s accessory subunits have remained mysterious. In this review, we explore the possible roles of each of mammalian CI’s 31 accessory subunits by integrating recent high-resolution CI structures with knockout, assembly, and clinical studies. Thus, we develop a framework of experimentally testable hypotheses for the function of the accessory subunits. We believe that this framework will provide inroads towards the complete understanding of mitochondrial CI physiology and help to develop strategies for the treatment of CI deficiencies.

AKTUALISASI SEMANGAT KEBANGSAAN DALAM MENYIKAPI WABAH COVID 19 DI SMP MUHAMMADIYAH 1 PURWOKERTO

This research aims to get actual and factual information about the actualization of the national spirit in responding to the covid 19 outbreak at Muhammadiyah 1 Purwokerto Junior High School. The research process uses a qualitative approach with case study methods. Data collection techniques are carried out through observation, interviews, documentation studies and literature studies. This research was conducted on the learning process of Pancasila Education and Citizenship (PPKn). Subjekresearch is the principal, teacher PPKn and student. The findings in this study show that; 1) Students do not yet have a complete understanding of the concept of national insight, but implicitly in the process of learning PPKn, teachers always build a climate of togetherness and help each other. This condition can actually be understood if the seeds of the national spirit have appeared. The selection of varied learning methods is used by PPKn teachers and IPS teachers, which support the national attitude of students. PPKn and IPS learning carried out contributes considerable in shaping the national spirit of students in school which is characterized by the direction of achievement of learning success that not only looks at cognitive aspects, but also emphasized on affective and psychomotor aspects, especially those that are charged with national values. 2) Strengthening the organization with the foundation of the spirit of nationalism based on state ideology and Muhammadiyah values. Through a strong organizational commitment, the spirit of nationality flows in students. 3) The practice of the student's national spirit is realized through its participation in scouting activities (Hizbul Wathan/ HW scouting), flag ceremony activities, sports competitions, and regional arts events are a form of stimulation in developing national values in students and not spreading hoax news about the covid 19 pandemic.

“Person” in CIC and CCEO Matrimonial Law. On the Idea of Vetera et Nova Harmonization in the Church Doctrine and Jurisprudence

serious confrontation with the subject: “Person” in the Code of Matrimonial Law (CIC and CCEO), is an—invariably relevant—challenge that the study of canon law and jurisprudence have to face. The argument for the validity of this conclusion is provided by the famous John Paul II’s thesis, proclaimed in the Familiaris Consortio exhortation (1981) and the famous 1997 Address to the Roman Rota, which can be summarized in the following words: the foundation and structural principle of interpersonal (ethical and legal!) relationships in marriage is matrimonial love. This axiom—still insufficiently present in the thoughts of canonists and church judges—reflects the deepest truth, of which “prophetically” the author of the monumental works Love and Responsibility and The Acting Person gave testimony; the truth that not elsewhere, but in the conciliar spiritually person-centric vision of matrimonial community (communio/consortium), a hermeneutic key should be sought for an adequate and complete understanding of the structure of marriage, harmoniously integrating its two personal and institutional dimensions.Karol Wojtyła’s/John Paul II’s brilliant thought deserved to be confronted with the premises that prove the hypothesis that the mere declarative identification in the expressed judgments/concepts with the idea of a personalistic aggiornamento (“programmed” especially in numbers 47–52 of the Council’s Constitution Gaudium et Spes) does not yet guarantee the adequacy and completeness of the canonistic approaches to the “truth of matrimony.” This is both in the sphere of theological exposure in accordance with the Magisterium (in the light of the “Image of God”) and at the praxis level: the interpretation and application of the normative records in the nodal canons of CIC and CCEO. The first part of the study is dedicated to illustrating such a state of affairs – in various proposals of doctrine and jurisprudence: from a concept that is completely misguided and destined to fail in advance; through a concept that, because of its extremely conservative approach to the need for vetera et nova harmonisation, has not stood the test of time, to concepts, indeed, universally acknowledged in the study of canon law, whose authors (or their adherents), after all, should be suggested to implement certain necessary corrections: bigger or smaller. In the second part, the research contemplation focuses on the conclusions of the realization of the conciliar postulate of “harmonization” in presenting a person-centric vision of matrimony. These synthetic remarks constitute an attempt to show the basis for an adequate interpretation of the formula adopted by the two codes announced in the title: “a partnership of the whole of life”.

Persian Collections: Center and Periphery at Achaemenid Imperial Capitals

The absence of a true Achaemenid Persian “historiography” necessitates that we look elsewhere to construct Persian ideological interactions with the periphery. Like many Mesopotamian kings before them, the Achaemenids became famous for their collecting practices, and sources often depict them looting and stealing artifacts—many of an antiquarian nature—from conquered peoples. Recently, scholars have argued that we should read this picture as a later Greco-Roman historiographical construct, meant to retroactively vilify the Persian kings for their involvement in Hellenic affairs. However, the archaeological record, read together with cuneiform sources, appears to corroborate these statements. The careful recontextualization in Persian capitals of important cultural heritage items, looted mainly from religious environments in rebellious areas, served not only to demonstrate the superiority and dominance of the Persian center over the periphery but also to situate the Persian kings in an historical continuum of Mesopotamian kingship. A reevaluation of Achaemenid collecting practices from the sixth to the fourth centuries BCE may allow for a more complete understanding of the discursive nature of Persian imperial display.

Visualizing Amṛta

Chapter 9 focuses on the Svacchanda Tantra to translate a section of the text focused on visualized meditation meant to conquer both time and death. Like the Netra Tantra, which assuages the threat of death through ritual, the Svacchanda Tantra also does so through meditation. This meditation focuses on breath control, drawing on the haṃsa mantra and instructing the practitioner to visualize Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra in order to attain longevity. It then offers further visualization of the self washed over with nectar. The chapter compares the imagery of the Svacchanda and Netra Tantras to offer a more complete understanding of immortality within the Śaiva canon.

The Delineation of the History of Philosophy

This chapter assesses the proper delineation of the object of the study of the historian of philosophy, which has always been a problem, however one conceived of this study and whatever conception of philosophy one may have had. It considers how the historian can know what belongs to his history and what does not without presuming to know, without taking a position on the philosophical question, what philosophy is. One reason why this is an enormous subject is that the history of philosophy is but one aspect of general history, a strand of developments within general history, in any case so closely intertwined with other developments in general history, or with the development of other social factors, that in order to have a complete understanding of the history of philosophy one will also have to take into account all these connections and dependencies. The chapter deals with this problem by distinguishing between an internal and an external history of philosophy. The internal history of philosophy will be the history of philosophy accounted for, as far as this is possible in terms of purely philosophical considerations, rather than by factors and developments outside philosophy.

Economic solidarity as a constitutional principle of the Russian economic system

The constitutional regulation of the economic system of modern Russia has undergone changes in connection with the amendments to the Constitution of Russia in 2020 aimed at establishing the ideological and value component of interaction within the system business - society - state. One of the new constitutional principles was the movement towards economic solidarity. However, the content of this category to date does not have a complete understanding and unambiguous interpretation, while the category has received a wide understanding within the framework of sociology, philosophy, economics. It has been established that economic solidarity is a category of legal, has features of constitutional value and constitutional principle.

An Extended k-Surface Framework for Electromagnetic Fields in Artificial Media

The complete understanding of the electromagnetic field characteristics in artificially created bulk or thin media is essential to the efficient harnessing of the multitude of linear and nonlinear effects resulting from it. Due to the fact that recently developed artificial metastructures exhibit controllable electric and magnetic properties that are completely different from natural ones, the spectrum of behavior resulting from subjecting such media to electromagnetic fields has to be revisited. In this paper, we introduce a k-surface framework that offers complete information on the dispersion properties of media with designer electric and magnetic responses with positive and negative values, as well as for the coupling between the two. The extension from the classic k-surface case resides in the consideration of magnetic and bianisotropic materials with positive and negative permittivity and permeability values, as well as the introduction of the chirality coefficient.To illustrate the applicability of our framework, we have investigated the conditions to obtain collinear second harmonic generation in the case of artificial media with positively and negatively valued electric and magnetic responses. As expected, the phase matching tuning curves, defined as the intersections between the k-surfaces at both frequencies, are significantly modified with respect to the classic ones.