bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rickets: Historical, Epidemiological, Pathophysiological, and Pathological Perspectives
Authors: Walker Alfredo , el Demellawy Dina , Davila Jorge
Published: June 2018

Rickets was a common metabolic disease of bone a century ago in Europe, North America, and East Asia (mainly due to vitamin D deficiency) but was largely eradicated in growing children by use of cod liver oil and the introduction of vitamin D fortification of milk in the 1930s in the United States. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) remains the most common form of metabolic bone disease that is entirely preventable and treatable. Historically, rickets has appeared in sporadic epidemics and, despite the introduction of numerous preventive strategies, VDD has remained a global health problem amongst children. Moreover, developed countries such as Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have not been exempt from this.

The radiological and histological features of rickets are both distinctive and characteristic and they reflect the underlying pathophysiological issue of decreased mineralization of bone as a result of VDD. The radiological features include 1) metaphyseal cupping and fraying, 2) poor mineralization of epiphyseal centers, 3) irregular and widened epiphyseal plates, 4) increased distance between the end of shaft and epiphyseal center, 5) cortical spurs at right angles to the metaphysis, 6) coarse trabeculation, and 7) periosteal reactions. Fractures may also be evident.

The histological features of rickets reflect the failure of cartilage to mineralize and undergo resorption. This results in 1) disordered proliferation of chondrocytes in the hypertrophic zone secondary to a lack of apoptosis, 2) loss of the columnar arrangement of chondrocytes that results in thickening and disorganization of the hypertrophic zone, 3) tongue-like projections of cartilage that extend into the spongiosa, 4) irregularity of the limit between the proliferative and hypertrophic zones, and 5) penetration of blood vessels into the hypertrophic zone.

The case of a premature 3-month-old female infant, born in the winter months in the arctic region of Canada who died from a lobar pneumonia with an incidental finding of radiological and pathological evidence of rickets, is presented. The case is used to review the entity of rickets from historical, pathophysiological, radiological, and histological perspectives.
Analysis of the Medical Assistance in Dying Cases in Ontario: Understanding the Patient Demographics of Case Uptake in Ontario since the Royal Assent and Amendments of Bill C-14 in Canada
Authors: Rosso Alexandra E. , Huyer Dirk , Walker Alfredo
Published: June 2018

On June 17, 2016, the Canadian government legalized medical assistance in dying (MAID) across the country by giving Royal Assent to Bill C-14. This Act made amendments to the Criminal Code and other Acts relating to MAID, allowing physicians and nurse practitioners to offer clinician-administered and self-administered MAID in conjunction with pharmacists being able to dispense the necessary medications. The eligibility criteria for MAID indicates that the individual 1) must be a recipient of publicly funded health services in Canada, 2) be at least 18 years of age, 3) be capable of health-related decision-making, and 4) has a grievous and irremediable medical condition.

Because this is a new practice in Canadian health care, there are no published Canadian statistics on MAID cases to date, and this paper constitutes the first analysis of MAID cases in both the province of Ontario and Canada. Internationally, there are only a few jurisdictions with similar legislation already in place (US, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Columbia, Japan, and the United Kingdom). The published statistics on MAID cases from these jurisdictions were reviewed and used to establish the current global practices and demographics of MAID and will provide useful comparisons for Canada.

This analysis will 1) outline the Canadian legislative approach to MAID, 2) provide an understanding of which patient populations in Ontario are using MAID and under what circumstances, and 3) determine if patterns exist between the internationally published MAID patient demographics and the Canadian MAID data.

Selected patient demographics of the first 100 MAID cases in Ontario were reviewed and analyzed using anonymized data obtained from the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario so that an insight into the provision of MAID in Ontario could be obtained. Demographic factors such as age, sex, the primary medical diagnosis that prompted the request for MAID, the patient rationale for making a MAID request, the place where MAID was administered, the nature of MAID drug regimen used, and the status/specialty of medical personnel who administered the MAID drug regimen were analyzed.

The analysis revealed that the majority of the first 100 MAID recipients were older adults (only 5.2% of patients were aged 35-54 years, with no younger adults between ages 18-34 years) who were afflicted with cancer (64%) and had opted for clinician-administered MAID (99%) that had been delivered in either a hospital (38.8%) or private residence (44.9%).

Although the cohort was small, these Ontario MAID demographics reflect similar observations as those published internationally, but further analysis of both larger and annual case uptake in both Ontario and Canada will be conducted as the number of cases increases.
Trends in United States Mass Fatality Incidents and Recommendations for Medical Examiners and Coroners
Authors: Carroll Emily , Johnson Amy , DePaolo Frank , Adams Bradley J. , Mazone Dennis , Sampson Barbara
Published: June 2018

It is imperative that medicolegal jurisdictions prepare for the occurrence of a mass fatality incident. Despite the trend to plan for catastrophic and complicated incidents, this analysis of recent mass fatality events seeks to better inform authorities regarding the scale and types of incidents that could potentially impact their jurisdiction. The guidance provided by this study serves as a tool to guide the development of plans, acquisition of appropriate resources, and training of staff.

To perform this analysis, data were collected from mass fatality incidents occurring in the United States from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2016 that resulted in ten or more fatalities. Specific data points were collected for each incident including the date, location, number of fatalities, incident type (e.g., man-made or natural), incident subtype, and description (e.g., mass shooting, hurricane, aviation). A total of 137 incidents fit the criteria for inclusion in the analysis, resulting in a total of 8462 fatalities. The average number of incidents was eight per year during the study period. The analysis demonstrates that most mass fatality incidents (88.8%) result in between ten and 50 fatalities and are variable based on incident type and geographic location.

This study includes several large-scale incidents, which as outliers have influenced fatality management operations and preparedness efforts on a national level. In particular, the World Trade Center attack of September 11, 2001 and subsequent remains recovery and identification operations have served to inform the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the capabilities required to manage a complex, protracted victim identification process involving extensive body fragmentation and commingling. While the World Trade Center attack has been shown to be outside the normal trends of mass fatality incidents, it has nonetheless offered the medicolegal community several invaluable lessons.
The Dead Detainee: The Autopsy in Cases of Torture
Authors: Pollanen Michael S.
Published: June 2018

The fatal maltreatment of people that are detained against their will, such as political prisoners and suspected terrorists, can occur in unstable countries. The death of such detainees is often controversial and debated in the media, legal tribunals, and communities. Therefore, there is a need for nonpartisan information about the cause of death of prisoners due to the implications that the data may have about a conclusion that human rights were abused. Autopsies are the only scientific way to prove the cause of death of detainees and to ascertain the truth behind how injuries may have occurred. On this basis, all forensic pathologists ought to be able to interpret the basic injury patterns commonly encountered in torture. The injuries are similar to those found in child abuse, but also include trauma from suspension and “homicide by heart attack” during interrogation. This paper will review the postmortem findings in cases of torture.
The Role of a Forensic Pathologist in Armed Conflict
Authors: Peerwani Nizam
Published: June 2018

Wars and armed conflicts by their very nature are cruel and ruthless. In the 17th century, the Dutch jurist Hugo Grotius, widely regarded as the father of public international law, wrote in The Rights of War and Peace Book 3, Chapter 1:VI that “wars, for the attainment of their objects, it cannot be denied, must employ force and terror as their most proper agents.” A forensic pathologist can play a crucial role in armed conflicts because of the unique training that he or she receives, including examination of human remains to determine both the cause and manner of death, and discussing the mechanism of death. Although the obvious role, then, would be to perform exhumation autopsies in mass killings or genocides, being a physician, a forensic pathologist is also uniquely qualified to evaluate and document physical torture, use of excessive force, and use of chemical weapons, as well as violation of medical neutrality in armed conflicts based on prevailing laws and conventions.

Most of the investigations this author has conducted, including investigation of Rwanda and Bosnia genocides, violation of medical neutrality and use of excessive force in Bahrain and the Occupied West Bank and Gaza, searching for mass graves in post-Saddam Iraq, documenting mass graves in Bamiyan as well as Dash-t-Layli in Afghanistan after the defeat of the Taliban, and conducting local area capacity assessment in Libya after the fall of Colonel Gadhafi were all sponsored and logistically supported by nongovernmental organizations such as Physicians for Human Rights (USA).
The West Kingston/Tivoli Gardens Incursion in Kingston, Jamaica
Authors: Cordner Stephen , Pollanen Michael S. , Mendonca Maria Cristina , Morcillo-Mendez Maria Dolores
Published: June 2018

On May 24, 2010, 800 soldiers and 370 police officers stormed into Tivoli Gardens, an impoverished district in the capital of Jamaica. Their aim was to restore state authority in this part of Kingston and to arrest Christopher “Dudus” Coke, who was wanted for extradition to the United States on drug and arms trafficking charges. The incursion was the culmination of nine months of national political turmoil. The first aim was achieved, but the second was not, and only at great cost. Around 70 civilians and three members of the security forces were killed. The authors constituted a small group of international forensic pathologists who, at the request of the Public Defender and over a four-week period from mid-June, observed the autopsies of the civilians. This paper describes some of the outcomes of this work, set within the evaluation of the incursion by the Commission of Enquiry. The Enquiry concluded there was evidence of at least 15 extrajudicial killings and was highly critical of many other aspects of the operation and its aftermath.
South Africa: Vulnerable Persons and Groups in a Vulnerable Democracy — Can Forensic Medical Services Help to Ensure Justice in Critical Times?
Authors: Saayman Gert
Published: June 2018

The role and contribution of an objective and professional medicolegal death investigation service should be valued and strengthened, especially in countries and communities where institutional and governmental corruption, incompetence, and abuse of power may exist, and where there are weak civil watchdog agencies such as a free press. South Africa is a fledgling democracy and is now at a critical juncture from a sociopolitical perspective. A number of incidents and historical perspectives are presented, all of which have specific relevance to the forensic medical community and which serve to illustrate the importance of ensuring the protection of the rights of vulnerable groups and persons who may easily suffer from disregard and abuse by state agencies and their representatives and which may ultimately impact very negatively on the broader society. Strengthening the organizational and legislative framework within which forensic pathologists can function is vital to ensure effective investigation in matters such as deaths in custody and of institutionalized persons/patients as well as deaths associated with police action and mob killings, to name but a few.
Case Series of Novel Illicit Opioid-Related Deaths
Authors: Papsun Donna , Hawes Amy , Mohr Amanda L.A. , Friscia Melissa , Logan Barry K.
Published: June 2018

Novel illicit opioids, such as furanyl fentanyl and U-47700, are being encountered with increasing frequency in street heroin samples and have been confirmed in a series of overdose deaths in Tennessee. In this paper, we report the pathology and toxicology from 11 deaths involving furanyl fentanyl and U-47700. Routine toxicology was performed on postmortem femoral or antemortem hospital blood samples with targeted broad spectrum drug screening using liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF/MS). Confirmation and quantitation of the opioid agonists U-47700 and furanyl fentanyl was performed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) using a novel method. Two cases were identified as containing U-47700 in whole blood (189 and 547 ng/mL), and nine cases contained furanyl fentanyl in whole blood, with concentrations ranging from 2.0 – 42.9 ng/mL. In all 11 cases, the manner of death was deemed accident, with drug intoxication being the primary cause of death; one case was complicated by smoke inhalation. All of the decedents were males ranging from 18-62 years, with the median age being 36 years old. The successful identification and confirmation of these novel illicit opioids in this case series relied on the comprehensive investigation and collaboration of scene investigation, forensic pathology, and forensic toxicology.
A Brief History of the Expert Witness
Authors: Milroy Christopher M.
Published: June 2018

Expert witnesses are now an accepted part of criminal and civil trials. The use of expert witnesses and the admissibility of their science has developed over the last 250 years, when the concept of allowing an expert witness to give opinion evidence on the facts of other witnesses was allowed by Lord Mansfield in the case of Folkes v. Chadd in 1782. This paper briefly describes how court procedures have changed over the centuries before opinion evidence was admitted and then traces the history of the expert witness in England, USA, and Canada, examining issues of admissibility and duties of the expert from the 18th century to the 21st century. The paper further describes the change in admissibility with US decisions in Frye and Daubert and how they have affected courts in the UK and Canada. Also described are recent decisions in the UK on duties of experts and immunity from suit.
Child Death Review: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Quinton Reade A.
Published: June 2018

This article describes the current state of child death reviews (CDR) in the United States. The CDR process has evolved over almost 40 years from informal local meetings to a coordinated effort involving all 50 states. Child death review programs across the country vary in the level of financial and administrative support, legislation, and review processes. While there is still a long way to go in standardizing the practice between states, great strides have been made in data collection, education, and prevention initiatives.
Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Certification in New York City: Intra-Agency Guideline Compliance and Variables that May Influence Death Certification
Authors: Pasquale-Styles Melissa A. , Regensburg Margaret , Bao Ruijun
Published: June 2018

Introduction

Differences in certification of similar sudden infant deaths exists among forensic pathologists. This study sought to measure adherence to intra-agency guidelines for infant death certification in one jurisdiction and describe variables that may be associated with the differentiation of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), asphyxia, and undetermined death certifications.

Methods

A retrospective study of deaths at the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner identified 427 sudden infant deaths with investigation and autopsy whose cause of death was ruled SIDS, asphyxia, or undetermined. Cases were reviewed for number and types of risk factors for asphyxia, demonstrable evidence of asphyxia, potential competing causes of death, and a doll reenactment. Descriptive and statistical analysis was performed.

Results

Of 427 deaths, the causes of 100 deaths (23.4%) were ruled asphyxia; 43 (10.0%) SIDS; and 284 (66.5%) undetermined. Forensic pathologists conformed to agency guidelines in 406 deaths (95.1%). Three or more risk factors for asphyxia were found in 328 deaths (76.8%). Demonstrable evidence of asphyxia (40.7%) was most associated with a certification of asphyxia. A potential competing cause of death (20%) was most associated with undetermined. A doll reenactment had little association with certification type.

Discussion

Guidelines in one agency were effective at limiting incorrect SIDS diagnoses. The interpretation of risk factors can be subjective. Diagnostic overlap occurred in deaths certified differently as SIDS, asphyxia, and undetermined, despite similar findings. Elimination of SIDS as a certification option and better guidelines that help differentiate asphyxia and undetermined deaths are recommended for improved infant death certification.
Medicolegal Death Investigation: Coroner and Forensic Pathology Functions and Processes in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Ranson David L. , Bugeja Lyndal
Published: June 2018

The medicolegal death investigation in Victoria, Australia is a traditional coroner system based on the model in England and Wales in the early 20th Century. In 1985, the first of a series of legislative amendments were made that proved the vanguard of reform of the coroners' jurisdictions in Australia. The Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (the Institute) was established by the Coroners Act 1985 (Vic.), now the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine Act 1985 (Vic.), to provide forensic pathology, medical, and related scientific services needed by the justice system.

In addition to death investigation, other forensic and scientific services are performed by the Institute including: clinical medical examinations and support services for assault victims and perpetrators, forensic toxicology services and molecular biology, and anthropology and odontology services in relation to human identification. Medical and nursing staff provide medical information and support to families in a therapeutic setting, as well as direct referral to clinical medical specialists. This takes place where a medical death investigation procedure uncovers genetic or familial disease that may place other family members at risk of future illness. A donor tissue bank ensures that a death also provides the opportunity for families to donate organs and tissues from the deceased for transplantation. Today, the traditional autopsy is one of several modalities of death investigation with postmortem radiology and imaging playing a significant role.

This paper describes the principles and new processes at the Institute that support the coroner in death investigation and prevention as well as the therapeutic services designed to relieve the burden of disease on the community.
Beyond the Forensic Pathology Investigation: Improving Warfighter Survivability
Authors: Mazuchowski Edward L. , Gordon Christopher J. , Finelli Louis N. , Harcke Howard T.
Published: June 2018

The Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES) conducts forensic pathology investigations in accordance with Title 10 U.S. Code 1471. Since 2004, the AFMES has incorporated advanced radiologic imaging, such as computed tomography, into its protocol. This incorporation has led to increased fidelity in depicting injuries, efficient localization of foreign bodies, and the ability to accurately document medical therapy – all of which enhance the forensic pathology investigation. As with most jurisdictions, information contained in the forensic pathology investigation is disseminated to family members and criminal investigating authorities. In addition, AFMES also disseminates information regarding the location of resuscitative devices to casualty care providers and trainers, collaborates with trauma physicians and medical providers in regards to evaluating injuries and treatment for the assessment of potential improvements in medical care and survivability, and provides information and subject matter expertise to investigative boards and other organizations that reconstruct fatal events. The overarching goal of these additional collaborations is to enhance the understanding of the nature of traumatic injuries, improve casualty care, and ultimately decrease morbidity while improving survivability.
National Association of Medical Examiners Position Paper: Recommendations for the Definition, Investigation, Postmortem Examination, and Reporting of Deaths in Custody
Authors: Mitchell Roger A. , Diaz Francisco , Goldfogel Gary A. , Fajardo Mark , Fiore Stephany E. , Henson Tanisha V. , Jorden Michelle A. , Kelly Sean , Luzi Scott , Quinn Megan , Wolf Dwayne A.
Published: June 2018

The National Association of Medical Examiners commissioned an ad hoc committee to provide recommendations for the investigation, examination, and reporting of deaths in custody. Deaths in custody, whether occuring in jail/prison or during an altercation with law enforcement, is a complex issue and requires the forensic pathologist to be knowledgable and deliberative about his/her diagnosis. This paper provides recommendations for the forensic pathologist as it relates to 1) categorization of deaths in custody, 2) critical information required during investigation, 3) enhanced autopsy procedures, 4) guidance on death certification, 5) parameters for statistical reporting, and 6) release of information to the public. A uniform approach by medical examiners and coroners to the investigation and evaluation of deaths in custody is critical. The establishment of recommendations has the potential to ensure consistency and reliability to the definition, investigation, and certification of these cases. Such uniformity and consistency will instill confidence in the independence of the medical examiner/forensic pathologist/coroner by the criminal justice system, public health system, and community at large.
Comparison of Injury Patterns in Consensual and Nonconsensual Sex: Is It Possible to Determine if Consent was Given?
Authors: Song Sung Hoon , Fernandes John R.
Published: June 2018

Matters of sexual consent and sexual assault are hotly debated issues among professionals and laypersons alike. A widespread misconception of sexual assault is that most victims of sexual assault sustain significant physical trauma. It is the purpose of this review article to compare the patterns of physical injury (both genital and extragenital) in victims of sexual assault and participants of consensual sex to conclude if physical injury alone can indicate whether consent was given. Interpretations of injury have great forensic significance as it can influence the outcome of sexual assault cases. Several articles indicate that extragenital injuries are commonly found in sexual assault victims (46%-82%) and that most of such injuries are deemed minor. Articles report a wide range of genital injury detection rates in both sexual assault victims (6%-87%) and consensual sex participants (6%-73%). Usage of different examination techniques may partly explain the wide range of detection rates reported. Out of all those who sustained genital injuries, only a small portion of people required hospitalization. In both consensual and sexual assault cases, genital injuries in the 6 o'clock position were most common. Studies of genital injury lacked standardization of factors that significantly influence the results, such as time to examination after sex, examination techniques, and injury severity scales. Therefore, medicolegal personnel should be aware that sexual assault victims can present with a wide range of physical trauma and should avoid relying on physical trauma alone to conclude whether consent was present.
Hypothermic Death in the Arctic State
Authors: Rolf Cristin M. , Gallagher Kenneth E.
Published: June 2018

Hypothermic deaths are seen across the United States, but are more commonly seen in Alaska compared to the other states due to its northern latitude and variable climate. Vulnerable populations, such as the homeless and people with substance abuse are at increased risk. Our approach is to examine the scene circumstances, patient health factors, and autopsy findings to arrive at an accurate categorization of cause and manner of death in these cases. Literature on hypothermia is reviewed and various features of hypothermia including scene findings and pathophysiological findings of the victims are discussed. Various Alaskan cases demonstrating common features seen in hypothermia death are discussed. Photographic demonstration of the typical findings in the cases are shown and described. Methods of diagnosis and prevention are given at the conclusion of the article.
The Shock of Strep: Rapid Deaths Due to Group a Streptococcus
Authors: Thompson Katrina M. , Sterkel Alana K. , McBride Joseph A. , Corliss Robert F.
Published: June 2018

Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as group A beta-hemolytic strep, is a Gram positive coccus responsible for several million infections every year. The types of infections vary widely from pharyngitis to myositis, but all can advance to severe life threatening invasive disease. Of those infected, approximately 1100 to 1600 people die each year due to invasive disease. Why certain individuals contract severe infections is not known, but many strains of Streptococcus pyogenes are known to produce toxins and superantigens. Invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infections have been shown to cause significant morbidity and rapid mortality. In many cases, patients expire before full antemortem testing can be performed, causing physicians and families to look to forensic pathologists for answers. Understanding the pathogenesis of invasive group A strep infections, relevant gross and microscopic findings, and proper culturing techniques is critical for forensic pathologists to diagnosis this condition and assist in the education and protection of the communities they serve.
Fatal Ludwig's Angina: Cases of Lethal Spread of Odontogenic Infection
Authors: Miller Catherine R. , Von Crowns Kendall , Willoughby Vickie
Published: June 2018

We report two cases of deaths resulting from complications of odontogenic infections/submandibular space infections. In one case, the decedent had a history of toothache as well as facial and tongue swelling; autopsy revealed inflammation involving the tongue and larynx. In the second case, the decedent had a history of toothache, and at autopsy there was spread of infection to the mediastinum. Ludwig's angina is a form of submandibular space infection, which often is a result of odontogenic infection. The infection can spread into the deep spaces of the neck, producing complications including edema of the tongue and pharynx (causing airway obstruction), descending mediastinitis, pericarditis, necrotizing fasciitis, pleural empyema, and pneumonia. Gross findings at autopsy might reveal a dental abscess or other forms of infection of the head and neck, necrosis of the neck muscles and larynx, and infrequently, infection extending to the chest cavity. Microscopically, there is acute inflammation with necrosis and/or granulation tissue predominantly within the fascia. Without treatment, submandibular space infections can be life threatening and progression to death can be swift. These cases demonstrate the lethal effects of odontogenic infections. Without a clinical history of toothache or dental abscess, one can be alerted to a possible submandibular space infection by identifying isolated necrosis of the neck musculature.
Young Children's Language uses during Play and Implications for Classroom Assessment
Authors: Peterson Shelley Stagg , Eisazadeh Nazila , Rajendram Shakina , Portier Christine
Published: June 2018

THIS PAPER REPORTS ON research examining children's use of language in dramatic play and play with construction materials in kindergarten classrooms within three Indigenous and two non-Indigenous northern Canadian rural communities. Underpinned by sociolinguistic theory, the research involves inductive analysis of video-recorded interactions of five-year-old children during play. Participating children used language for 36 different purposes. Children's construction play talk often involved purposes within the categories of Language for learning and Language for own needs. Children often used language for purposes associated with the Language for learning and Language for imagining categories in dramatic play. As part of collaborative action research, teachers and researchers used these findings to develop a formative oral language observation tool. Using the tool, information gathered can inform practice and communication with parents and speech-language pathologists working with identified children.
Advancing Australia's Agenda for Young Children's Health and Wellbeing: Empirical Insights into Educator Knowledge, Confidence and Intentions in Promoting Children's Learning, Eating, Active Play and Sleep (LEAPS)
Authors: Cleland Phoebe , Byrne Rebecca , Vidgen Helen , Irvine Susan , Farrell Ann , Gallegos Danielle
Published: June 2018

EDUCATORS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD education and care (ECEC) settings play a critical role in advancing Australia's agenda for children's health and wellbeing. The LEAPS (Learning, Eating, Active Play, Sleep) professional development program was designed to acknowledge and improve educator knowledge of national healthy eating and physical activity guidelines, as a critical foundation for health and wellbeing of children and families. The program consisted of online reading and face-to-face professional development. Change in educator knowledge and confidence was assessed via pre- and post-questionnaire, with two additional open-ended questions regarding intention to change practice post-program.

Educators (n = 765) participating in LEAPS increased their knowledge of nutrition and physical activity guidelines, and planned to implement practice changes as a result—namely communication of healthy eating and physical activity messages with colleagues, parents and children; and engaging parents in these areas within their service. Professional development regarding health guidelines is important to support evidence-based communication between educators and parents.
”Man får hjälp då man behöver” - äldre närståendevårdtagares vårdval ur ett livsloppsperspektiv
Authors: Åkerman Sarah , Nyqvist Fredrica , Nygård Mikael
Published: June 2018

Den demografiska utvecklingen leder till omorganiseringar inom den finländska äldreomsorgen. Privatisering, marknadisering och närståendevård ökar med konsekvenser för vårdbehövande och deras anhöriga. Temat för den här artikeln är närståendevård. Tidigare forskning har fokuserat i större utsträckning på vårdarna, trots att också vårdtagaren är en aktiv part i vården. Enligt livsloppsperspektivet ses åldrande som en livslång process. En individs livslopp påverkas av de begränsningar och möjligheter som styr hennes val och handlingar i en specifik historisk och social kontext. I den här studien har sju vårdtagare intervjuats med kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer. Syftet var att studera äldre närståendevårdtagares vårdval ur ett livsloppsperspektiv. Studiens frågeställningar var: hur kan bakgrunden till närståendevårdtagarnas vårdval förstås ur ett livsloppsperspektiv? Vad har vårdtagarna för tankar om framtiden? Resultaten visade att valet av närståendevård påverkades av den personliga bakgrunden och relationen till närståendevårdaren, men även av delvis negativa attityder till formell äldreomsorg. Vårdtagarna oroade sig för framtida vårdarrangemang.

”You receive help when you need it” – older informal care recipients’ care choice from a life course perspective

Demographic development leads to increasing privatization, marketization and informal care in Finnish eldercare. The theme for this study is informal care. Previous research has focused on caregivers, even though the recipient is also an active part in care. According to the life course perspective, ageing is a lifelong process that takes place in a historical and social context. Seven older informal care recipients have been interviewed using qualitative semi-structured interviews. The aim was to study older informal care recipients’ care choice from a life course perspective. The research questions were: how can the background of the recipients’ care choice be understood from a life course perspective? What are the recipients’ thoughts on the future? The results showed that the care recipients’ choice was affected by personal reasons and the relationship with the caregiver, but also by partly negative attitudes towards formal eldercare. The care recipients worried about future arrangements.
CONTEXTUALIZING NUSANTARA STUDIES
Authors: M. Anwar Od.
Published: June 2018

Jonus stands for Journal of Nusantara Studies, a university journal of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Malaysia. This journal is not a mere study about Nusantara, instead it encompasses a wide range of academic disciplines in humanities and social sciences, embracing (but not limited to) culture, history, language, education, social, politics, communication, psychology, development, tourism, arts, economy, science and technology (in sociocultural terms) and international relations in the region currently belonged to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Even though clearly stated in ancient native sources―especially in Nāgara-Kěrtāgama (a 14th century Javanese-Majapahit poem dated 1365), Pararaton (a writing of the 14th century Majapahit-Javanese kingdom), and Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals - the historical record of Old Malay Sultanate during their reign in Melaka)―and also bears very significant meaning to the indigenous communities, the word ‘Nusantara’ is yet universally used. In addition, understanding about it is still very vague and misleading. Therefore, it is worthy to give a brief account of what the term ‘Nusantara’ means based on the native primary sources. Nusantara is a unified geographical region of indigenous communities that covers the entire part of Southeast region of Asia. In fact, its geopolitical coverage is almost identical to Southeast Asia. Even though in the 13th and 14th centuries (during Kertanegara and Majapahit kingdoms) it centered at Javanese, in our contemporary times, the term ‘Nusantara’ has become common among the indigenous communities in the region. While ‘Southeast Asia’ is a foreign term, ‘Nusantara’ deeply conveys historical, cultural and sentimental values of the natives of this region. It fertilizes a form of sense of belonging that is often pronounced as ‘a compatriot kin’ (bangsa serumpun) based on their common ancestors, spoken language, beliefs, way of life, and skin colours, besides their domiciles. It is within this spirit that ‘Nusantara’ is chosen as the title of this journal.Cite as: Anwar, Od. M. (2016). Contextualizing nusantara studies. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 1(1), 1-6.
CONTRADICTORY TRANSFORMATION OF AMBA NOVEL: CRITICAL RESPONSE WITH INTERTEXTUALITY APPROACH
Authors: Tri Priyatni Endah
Published: June 2018

Amba, a novel written by Laksmi Pamuntjak, is one of the leading works in Indonesian literature and is classified as a world-class novel. From its title, characters involved, theme and story ideas, as well as excerpts taken from Udyoga Parva at the beginning of each chapter, it can be concluded that Amba is a transformation of Mahabharata, a great and famous story. What is transformed? What are the underlying motif and ideology for the transformation? And what are their effects? Those three questions are the focus of this research. The study was conducted using intertextuality approach (comparison technique) and critical response perspective, which states that no text is neutral; each text has a certain tendency – certain ideologies exposed behind the text. Research findings indicate that it is the intrinsic element that is absorbed by the novel. The transformation is a contradictory transformation with the perspective of emancipation. The author rejects the weak-willed Amba in the story of Bhisma Parwa, and gives birth to a tough, brave, and rational Amba in her novel. The contradictory transformation gives birth to a great work that has the same theme, but different in the ways of cultivating the story and the portrayal of women. Keywords: contradictory transformation, novel amba, critical response, intertextuality approach, literatureCite as: Priyatni, E.T. (2016). Contradictory transformation of Amba novel: Critical response with intertextuality approach. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 1(1), 46-59.
ESL INSTRUCTORS AND LEARNERS’ VIEWS ON THE USE OF DROPBOX AS A SHARING TOOL IN WRITING LESSONS
Authors: Mohamed Misrah , Bahari Aireen Aina
Published: June 2018

Many researchers have been investigating ways to improve learners’ writing competency through various strategies. However, there are very few, if any, that look into ESL learners’ participation in an online discussion using Dropbox during writing lessons. How learners and instructors perceive the use of Dropbox for writing activities has also not been well informed. Therefore, this article aims to present a study that investigated the online interactions among 54 learners and two instructors from a local university in Malaysia who used Dropbox as a complementary tool in their English writing lessons. The study was a qualitative research which involved interviews and focus groups. The data collected was analysed using a qualitative data analysis software, Atlas.ti version 7. The findings revealed that instructors and learners had positive views towards the use of Dropbox in a writing lesson. It was also found that instructors and learners agreed Dropbox was an effective sharing tool for collaborative writing. The findings, however, pointed to the need for future studies on various ways Dropbox can be used to keep learners’ motivation high. Keywords: Dropbox, ESL learners, online interactions, sharing tools, writing skillsCite as: Mohamed, M. & Bahari, A.A. (2016). ESL instructors and learners’ views on the use of Dropbox as a sharing tool in writing lessons. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 1(2), 1-10.
TURNING THE TIDE: PROTEST POEMS ON MARTIAL LAW AS COUNTER-MEMORY
Authors: Majul Mary Ann Marcelino
Published: June 2018

Memories of Martial Law and the burial of strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on November 2016 prompted artists and writers to converge at a common platform—that of safeguarding national consciousness from the impending rewriting of history. Using Foucault’s concept of counter-memory, this paper attempted to illustrate how literature, specifically protest poetry, can be used to interrogate perceptions and knowledge of events and personalities on Martial Law.  Six poems namely “Open Letters to Filipino Artists,” “A Furnace,” “Still Life for Mendiola,” “A Metaphysical Dialogue Between the Bronze Man and the Great Stone Face,” “Third World Opera,” and “Dead Man’s Tale” were used to challenge the existing texts written on Martial Law. The results revealed that literature can either deceive or enlighten readers. It also remains an important site where ideology is articulated and truth is interrogated.Keywords: Martial Law, counter-memory, protest poems, alternative history, subjugated knowledge Cite as: Majul, M.A.M. (2017). Turning the tide: Protest poems on martial law as counter-memory. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 2(1), 111-121.
THE REVIEW OF THE WORDS ADNA AL-ARD AND AL-‘ANKABUT IN MALAY TRANSLATION OF HOLY QURAN: ANALYSIS GUIDED BY SCIENCE-ORIENTED EXEGESIS METHODOLOGY
Authors: Ahmad Hilmi Ahmad Bazli , Mohd Yusoff Zulkfli , Amir Selamat , Zakaria Zulkarnin
Published: June 2018

The idea for the translation of the meaning of the Holy Quran in Malay Archipelago had appeared since the middle of 17th century. However, some problems in the translation of its meaning had resulted in a non-accurate translation of Quranic words or verses. A major factor contributing to this problem is the limited skills among the translators in the various fields and topics covered in Quran. Thus, a Review Committee for the Translation of the Meaning of Al-Quran consisting of experts in various field of knowledge related to Quran such as Arabic language, the target language, Quran interpretation and other disciplines such as history, geography, chemistry, biology, medicine and others that have been proposed. This article analyses two Malay translations of Holy Quran; Tafsir Pimpinan ar-Rahman and Tafsir Quran Karim guided by science-oriented exegesis (tafsir ‘ilmi) to find out whether the translation of meaning matches modern scientific facts. The accurate translation of the verse will then be proposed. The result revealed limitation in the translation of the meaning for the word adna Al-Ard to “nearest place”, while the word has various meaning. With regard to the interpretation of the mufassir and modern science fact, the suggested meaning for the word adna Al-Ard is supposed to be “the nearest place with lowest altitude”. Cite as: Hilmi, A.B.A., Mohd Yusoff, Z., Amir, S., & Zakaria, Z. (2017). The review of the words adna al-ard and al-‘ankabut in Malay translation of holy Quran: Analysis guided by science-oriented exegesis methodology. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 2(1), 146-158.
EVOLVING A CONSENT-BASED SEXUAL ENCOUNTER
Authors: Ibhakewanlan John Okoria
Published: June 2018

Recently, the news media have been saturated with reports of sexual assault of women by men of high social status. In this article, the author examines sexual abuse from an evolutionary and socio-psychological perspective. The piece is based on a desk research (as opposed to a field research). It draws upon evolution as well as literature on human and animal behaviour, so as to re-examine how men may have evolved psychological mechanisms that compel them to sexually dominate women. Of particular concern to the author is the mating game apparently inherited from the lower animals. The article questions the persistence in modern society of such primitive attitude towards sexual relationship between men and women. Finally, it calls for further discussion and research enquiry about the human socialization process as a way of deconstructing the prehistoric mating game. While the issues highlighted in this paper are global in nature, they are pertinent to the Asian context – where there have been widespread reports of sexual abuse against women. It is important for readers in the South East Asian region to be informed of such transnational perspective on this world-wide phenomenon.Keywords: Gender, mating game, rape, sex in animals, sexual abuseCite as: Ibhakewanlan, J.O. (2017). Evolving a consent-based sexual encounter. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 2(2), 107-117.
SEXUALITY, CLASS AND FAMILY IN CHILDREN’S SHORT STORIES AFTER EDSA II
Authors: Majul Mary Ann Marcelino
Published: June 2018

This study examines how nine children’s stories which won awards in the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature in the English category portray and shape children’s view of themselves, their peers, family, community and the world. Using Marxism, Gender, Race and Ethnic Studies as its theoretical framework, the study reveals that the stories underscore the differences in gender roles, institutionalize the school and community as sites for learning and hegemony, contextualize decision making and ethnic identity and expose the vulnerability of women and children as reserved labor force. Furthermore, the child heroes are active participants in their respective social circles and are often enjoined to carry out adult responsibilities such as taking care of a sibling and saving a community. This paper concludes that children’s literature, specifically stories, have powerful influences in shaping the child’s conceptions of his or her sexuality, class consciousness and multiple roles as member of the family, community, and the state.Keywords: Children’s literature, family, gender roles, Post-Edsa II, sexualityCite as: Majul, M.A.M. (2017). Sexuality, class and family in children’s short stories after Edsa II. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 2(2), 15-28.
A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE AND THE LAW OF QISAS
Authors: Karim Ridoan , Newaz Shah , Kabir Ahmed Imran
Published: June 2018

Discussion on penology generally revolves around the philosophy behind the ‘punishment’ and its ‘implementation’ in order to maintain a crime-free, harmonious society. To understand the philosophy of the major school of thoughts for punishment, this paper discusses the theory of retributivism as a punishment mechanism and relates it to Qisas - the theory of punishment that hinges on Islamic criminal law jurisprudence. The objective of this paper is to compare the retributive concept of punishment with the Islamic theory of Qisas and to unravel how Islam attempts to establish justice through punishment while implementing forgiveness. It is significant to note that we can find a nexus between the retributive and Qisas school of theory that perpetrators should be punished as a consequence of the crime or an act that is against norms of the community. Nonetheless, this paper concludes that Qisas is quite distinct from the concept of retributivism in the case of punishment. Whereas the core of the retributive justice system is to put the moral blame on the offender for the offence and to provide justice through similar punishment; the law of Qisas is more concerned with the fairness and forgivingness.Keywords: Forgiveness, Islamic criminal law, punishment, retributive justice, QisasCite as: Karim, R., Newaz, S., & Kabir, A.I. (2017). A comparative analysis of retributive justice and the law of qisas. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 2(2), 169-177.