bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supply and demand of beef in Indonesia: a system dynamics approach
Authors: Kusumaningrum R , Darjanto A , Nurmalina R , Mulatsih S , Suprehatin
Published: May 2024

This research paper thoroughly analyzes a constructed model that aims to investigate the intricate dynamics of beef supply and demand in Indonesia. The main aim of this study is to enhance comprehension of the diverse factors that influence beef supply and demand within Indonesia’s beef production system. The disparity between beef consumption and beef production in Indonesia has been acknowledged as contributing to the nation’s reliance on beef imports, impacting food security inside the country. The per capita beef consumption in Indonesia remains relatively low compared to the global average. Indonesia has achieved a level of beef self-sufficiency amounting to 71%. However, the Indonesian government has set a goal of attaining a 90% fulfillment of domestic production to satisfy the increasing demand of the people adequately. This research utilizes a qualitative system dynamics methodology to examine the impacts of pricing, cow population, and beef production technology in Indonesia by applying causal loop and stock-flow diagrams. The findings of this study will offer significant insights to assist the government in understanding the causal relationships between several factors related to the improvement of beef production policies in Indonesia.
Disharmony of policy laws and regulations in the effort to develop beef cattle production in Indonesia
Authors: Kalalo J J J , Betaubun R M N , Marpaung D N , Badilla N W Y
Published: May 2024

This study aims to analyze the disharmony of policies that have been implemented by the government in this case to review several regulations that have been established that do not support each other in efforts to develop beef cattle production in Indonesia. In this study, sampling used several regulations that were not aligned, namely in Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 41 of 2014 concerning Amendments to Law Number 18 of 2009 concerning Livestock and Animal Health, Government Regulation Number 11 of 2022 concerning Amendments to Government Regulation Number 4 of 2016 concerning the Entry of Livestock and / or Animal Products in certain cases originating from a country or zone In the Country of Origin, Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture Number 41 of 2019 concerning the Entry of Large Ruminants into the Territory of the Republic of Indonesia. The research method is carried out with the Normative Research method using Primary Legal Materials, namely laws and regulations, secondary legal materials, namely data from law books, legal texts, legal articles, legal journals. Based on the results of the study, it is known that the failure to develop beef cattle production in Indonesia occurs due to several laws and regulations that are not in harmony with both higher and lower regulations. Laws, Government Regulations and Regulations of the Minister of Agriculture issued as well as Decrees of the Minister of Agriculture have discrepancies in the implementation of these policies. Based on these results, it can be seen that there are several conflicting laws and regulations, based on the Lex Superior Derogat Legi Inferiori Principle states that lower regulations must not conflict with higher regulations, so a policy is taken if they conflict with higher laws and regulations. The above regulation is by itself declared null and void.
Policy response on handling of foot and mouth disease outbreaks in Indonesia
Authors: Antari L D , Kusumastuti T , Juwari A , Widiati R
Published: May 2024

Endemic Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks are a threat to animal husbandry, especially beef cattle in Indonesia. As a response to the emergence of the outbreak, appropriate management policies are needed to minimize losses, considering that the majority of animal husbandry in Indonesia is small businesses. This study aimed to find out the government’s policy response in handling FMD in Indonesia since it was first discovered (28 April 2022) in Gresik, East Java to early 2023. This research method uses a qualitative method with a case study approach sourced from government data in the form of publications, reports, statutory policies, statistics, and regulatory literature studies issued by the government in response to the outbreak. The results of the research show that the government implemented various policies to control FMD outbreaks starting from the pre-crisis evaluation stage with the existence of Law Number 41 of 2014 and Law Number 21 of 2019 and the derivative regulations under them. In the second phase, pre-crisis preparedness, the government responds to outbreaks in several districts in East Java and Aceh to designate them as FMD pandemic areas. In the third stage, crisis response through organizational coordination is carried out with the cooperation of Pentahelix from various sectors and layers of society in handling FMD. Finally, after recovery and investigation, the government realized the importance of vaccination and outreach, especially to smallholder farmers in Indonesia.
Edible bird nest farming business development strategy in the Pulang Pisau Regency, Central Kalimantan Province, Indonesia
Authors: Sulistiyowati H , Ali M S S , Mujahidin I F , Saud M Y
Published: May 2024

The edible bird nest business has both potential and challenges. Regional and seasonal characteristics affect edible bird nest production. The dry season causes temperature to rise and affects the swiftlet foraging behavior. Efforts to overcome these challenges require strategy. Research aims to: 1) analyze the factors in the edible bird nest business; 2) formulate strategies for swiftlet farmers in facing the season; 3) formulate economic and social strategies for the development of edible bird nest business. Qualitative research method with a case study approach. The research from April to June 2023 in Pulang Pisau Regency, with characteristics of river, forest, and swamp areas. Informants were swiftlet farmers. This research uses SWOT analysis to combine strengths and opportunities to overcome weaknesses and threats. The research results: 1) internal factors are strengths (population, high selling value, quality, benefits) and weaknesses (large capital, long preparation, seasonal influence); external factors are opportunities (high market demand, suitable location) and threats (licensing, high land prices, pest attacks, theft, sewage waste, ecosystem imbalance); 2) strategies in the dry season by using dew water technology, air ventilation, temperature and humidity timers; 3) economic strategies by increasing population and product quality; social strategies by increasing cooperation networks with stakeholders.
The role of social capital in the development of swiftlet birdhouse potential in Central Kalimantan Province, Indonesia
Authors: Fajarwati B , Mujahidin I F , Ali M S S
Published: May 2024

Indonesia is the largest producer of Swiftlet bird’s nest in the world. One of the largest contributors to production is Central Kalimantan Province. This is a great potential in regional economic growth. It can be seen that part of the region’s income comes from the export of Swiftlet bird’s nest. The active participation of these breeders is inseparable from the existing capitals, one of which is social capital. The research aims to (1) map the form of social capital in the development of Swiftlet bird houses and (2) analyze the role of social capital in the development of swiftlet farms. The method used is qualitative. Data analysis through interactive models with reduction, presentation, and conclusions. Research informants were selected purposively, namely Swiftlet birdhouse owners, management teams, and exporters in Central Kalimantan Province. Data collection techniques use observation, in-depth interviews, and secondary data studies. The results showed that: (1) the development of Swiftlet birdhouse potential in Central Kalimantan is based on social capital, namely trust, norms and networks. (2) Social networks, beliefs and norms have an important role in developing the potential of Swiftlet birdhouses and affect economic, social and environmental aspects.
Profile and motivation of integrated small farmers regarding tiny circular economy practices in the Province of Isabela, Philippines
Authors: Liangco N C , Guntoro B , Haryadi F T , Qui N H , Tvu A T , Thongma W
Published: May 2024

Small-scale circular farming models have great potential for rural families’ circular economy and food sustainability but many local residents do not see this as an opportunity to improve their well-being. This descriptive-correlation research was conducted to assess the profile and motivation of integrated small farmers towards the small circular economy farming model. The research participants were farmers in Isabela Province who integrated free-range chickens, pigs, small ruminants and food crops on their small farms. This research mostly involved women, aged 51 to 60 years, married, educated, involved in integrated farming. Most of the participants raised less than 50 free-range chickens, 5 pigs did not receive integrated livestock management training and earned less than 10 thousand pesos from integrated farming. Respondents are generally motivated in integrated small-scale farming. In essence, respondents are integrated small farmers because they like farming because of its health benefits and can be a source of additional income for the family. Extrinsically, respondents are motivated to carry out integrated farming because they believe that integrated farming will be a strong industry in the future, and a stable market is available. Male and female respondents have comparable internal and external motivations in integrated farming. Intrinsically, respondents who are older, married and unemployed, highly educated, raise less than 50 free-range chickens, 3 pigs, and earn less than 10 thousand are more motivated to run an integrated small livestock business. Extrinsically, respondents who are older, widower, and highly educated, and have more chickens, pigs, and income from raising free-range chickens, work in the public sector, and raise more livestock have greater motivation to raise integrated agriculture. The study reveals that small-scale integrated agriculture has a positive impact on farmer motivation, thereby creating the potential for a small circular economy for rural families.
Strategic management of livestock-based integrated farming system with zero waste (LEISA) agriculture principle in north Minahasa regency
Authors: Lainawa J , Lumy T F D , Endoh E K M
Published: May 2024

In zero waste agriculture, all parts of plants or animals produced will be fully utilised. The aim of the research was to study the integration of livestock-based IFS with the principle of zero waste agriculture through a strategic management approach with farmer household land (RTP). Qualitative research with the main target of limited land farmers with integrated farming systems of food crop agriculture, livestock and fish farming in ponds. Data were analysed using the strategic management method, where the results of the analysis revealed the potential for the development of integrated farming systems in North Minahasa district. From the 4F product development target, namely food, feed, fuel, and fertiliser, there is still one result that has not been fulfilled from the integration system, namely fuel. Therefore, the development strategy model is to empower farmers by streamlining the extension system, farming partnerships, regulatory support, creating brand products and promotion of organic agricultural, livestock and fish products.
Ecological disparities of swiftlets in coastal areas and cities and management of swiftlet nests in supporting export activities. Case Study: Bangka-Belitung Province, Indonesia
Authors: Herwintarti  , Ali M S S , Baco S , Fahmid I M
Published: May 2024

Swiftlet’s nests have become a part of Indonesia’s superior export commodity. Indonesia is the largest swiftlet nest-producing and exporting country in the world, contributing 85% of the global demand. Bangka Belitung Province region produces good quality swiftlet nests. This research was used to analyze various factors driving the disparities in production and quality of swiftlet nests between coastal and city areas and to alayze the management of swiftlet nests in supporting export activities. This research is a case study in Bangka Belitung Province. This research uses a qualitative descriptive method and a comparative case study. The results showed that the factors causing disparities in nest production and yields between coastal and urban areas were geographical location, agro-climate, building feasibility, building structure, food vegetation, and swiftlet-calling techniques. Export management is carried out by fulfilling export requirements, grading, back-up marketing, waste management, and drawing up regional regulations. Therefore, a synergy is needed between the central government, local governments, breeders, the Agricultural Quarantine Center, and exporting companies to monitor and maintain the quality and quantity of swiftlet nests so that they become a source of regional income for the Bangka Belitung Province and national income.
Access of information, control, and benefits for women in beef cattle farming households in Lakitan Utara Nagari, Pesisir Selatan Regency
Authors: Andarwati S , Guntoro B , Fajri M
Published: May 2024

The objective of this study was to analyze the access of information, control, and benefits for women in beef cattle farming households in Lakitan Utara Nagari, Pesisir Selatan Regency, Sumatera Barat Province. This study employed a descriptive approach using survey and involved 100 families. The survey comprised of questionnaires and interviews. Results showed that women gained access of information mostly from their farming counterparts. They also have the access to and control for decision making on resources and livestock care. These women also enjoyed the benefits from farming beef cattle.
Capital aspects of livestock procurement in households raising beef cattle in Nagari Lakitan Utara, Pesisir Selatan Regency
Authors: Andarwati S , Guntoro B , Fajri M
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to describe the sources of capital for livestock procurement, especially the gaduhan (sharing) system, in small-scale operations in in Lakitan Utara Nagari, Lengayang Subdistrict, Pesisir Selatan Regency, Sumatera Barat Province. This descriptive study was conducted by observations, surveys, and interviews, involving 100 respondents. Results showed that 61% adopted the gaduhan system, 28% were self-funded, while 8% used self and gaduhan funds, and 3% received endowment in addition to their own funds. The gaduhan system was widely practiced because many farmers still experienced a limited access to capital. The profit sharing of this system could further categorised into two types, which were distributions of sales proceeds from fattening of male cattle and distributions of calves from a cow-calf operations.
Business feasibility analysis of dairy goat livestock group Gampong Meunasah Mon, Mesjid Raya District, Aceh Besar Regency
Authors: Armia Y , Fitri C A , Koesmara H , Ammar M , Qudriansyah S
Published: May 2024

Dairy goat is a type of goat that is able to produce milk in an amount that exceeds the needs of its children. Dairy goats are a dual-purpose type of goat because in addition to producing milk, their meat can also be consumed. One of the dairy goat groups in Aceh Besar District is the Meunasah Mon Group, which is located in Gampong Meunasah Mon, Mesjid Raya District. Until now there is no definite data regarding goat milk production, especially in Aceh Besar District. This is because there are not many quality goat farms and goat milk is still not much in demand in the region. Competition for goat milk producers in the region is also low. Livestock business economic analysis is carried out to analyze the balance between income and business. Based on the results of the study it can be concluded that the dairy goat farming business in Meunasah Mon Village, Mesjid Raya District, Aceh Besar District can be declared eligible. This is evidenced by the results of the analysis where the B/C and R/C ratios were 1.55 and 1.80 respectively and the total income/revenue was Rp. 2,786,000 per month with sales of 53.12 liters (1 ltr/bottle) of fresh milk products.
Production efficiency of young Acehnese cattle by giving fermented of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), palm fronds, and sago stems with addition of digestive enzymes
Authors: Yaman M A , Koesmara H , Raskita R , Yanhendri
Published: May 2024

Community needs for animal protein sources such as meat is increasing along with population growth. The need for beef in Indonesia continues to increase, especially in Aceh Province. According to data from the Directorate General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture, (2021), the number of beef cattle in Aceh in 2021 was 66,764 head. The increasing public demand for beef supply must be balanced with abundant feed biodiversity. Alternative feed sources other than forage can be fulfilled through the utilization of waste. The purpose of this study was to see the effect of fermenting water hyacinth, palm fronds, and sago stems on the performance and analysis of Aceh’s cattle fattening business. The material used in this study were 4 young male Acehnese cattle aged 12 months. This research used a Latin Square Design, with four treatments and four periods (repetitions). The results showed that complete feed based on fermented water hyacinth, palm fronds, and sago stems on the average consumption of dry matter is 5.46, Income Over Feed Cost (IOFC) Rp2,842,268 during maintenance and daily body weight gain (PBBH) 340 grams/head/day. This study showed that feeding fermented water hyacinth, palm fronds, and sago stems resulted in a moderate level of feed efficiency with an efficiency value of 6.23%.
Rice land agroecosystem in supporting the development potential of duck-rice integration
Authors: Siahaan R , Elly F H , Imbar M R , Gumilar B , Ryan R
Published: May 2024

The agroecosystem of paddy fields in the Tondano Lake area was an environmental system that has been managed directly by farmers for the benefit of food production, namely rice, fiber and various other food products such as ducks. The types of commodities that can be developed in paddy field ecosystems were more limited than those in dry land ecosystems. In fact, the farmer community in paddy fields generally had weak capabilities, especially with regard to capital, there was a rice farming culture that is not aware of damaging the environment and low technology adoption. Farmers use paddy fields for the development of duck livestock. The problem was how far the paddy field agroecosystem supports the potential for the development of duck-rice integration (INTIP). The purpose of this study was to analyze the biophysical characteristics, management of land resources and duck livestock resources. The research method used was a survey method with locations around Lake of Tondano. The number of respondents was 30 farmers who developed local ducks in paddy fields. Data analysis used was descriptive analysis. The results showed that the area of rice fields in District of Remboken was 323 Ha, South Tondano was 457 Ha, West Kakas was 664 Ha, East Langowan was 663 Ha and West Tondano was 693 Ha. The population of ducks for the five districts was respectively 8177 ducks, 6525, 4311, 4277 and 9240 ducks. Paddy fields are used as duck grazing land after the rice harvest. The feed consumed was the remains of rice that has fallen out, small animals in the fields after harvest and added with “renga”. Based on the results of the study it can be concluded that duck had the potential to be developed in paddy fields with agroecosystems that were only planted with rice plants.
Local Duck Business Development Prospects
Authors: Elly F H , Imbar M R , Siahaan R , Gumilar B , Reza
Published: May 2024

Local ducks were one of the poultry commodities that play a role in supporting livestock development around Lake Tondano, Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi. This livestock had the opportunity to supply meat and eggs for animal protein needs from livestock. Efforts were also being made to increase the productivity of local ducks by farmers who were integrated with rice crops (INTIP). The problem was how far the prospects for local duck business integration with rice. The research method used was a survey, located around Lake Tondano. Respondents were 30 farmers who developed local ducks in rice fields. The data analysis used was descriptive. Local duck farming was developed traditionally and unsustainably, mostly being grazed in rice fields. The food consumed was small animals and rice remains that fall out after harvest plus “renga” obtained from Lake Tondano. In conclusion, the local duck farming business had the opportunity to be developed based on the potential of available land and duck resources, but had threats due to the conversion of rice fields into residential areas, the availability of breeds was increasingly scarce, and the difficulty of obtaining feed.
Analysis of the Sustainability of Beef Cattle Breeding Business-Intensive Rearing Patterns in, Indramayu Regency, West Java
Authors: Sutrisno  , Cyrilla Ensd L , Putra B W
Published: May 2024

The increase population growth may cause an increase in the need for food originating from animal protein, one of which is meat. The demand for beef is not matched by an increase in the national cattle population or productivity. Policies on cattle breeding in the future require basic information, potential resources, and supporting facilities that are actualized in indicators and aspects of sustainability. The aim of the study was to analyze the index and status of the sustainability of a cattle breeding business with an intensive rearing pattern in Situ Bolang Indramayu, West Java, which was assessed from ecological, socio-cultural, economic, legal-institutional, and technological-infrastructure indicators. The method used is multidimensional scaling (MDS) with the Rap-UPTS approach for the analysis of index values and sustainability status. The identification of sensitive indicators, errors in index values, and sustainability in each aspect was carried out by Leverage and Monte Carlo analysis. The respondents amounted to 12 farmers. The results of the sustainability index analysis illustrate that the ecological indicators are 66.39, socio-cultural 57.14, economic 56.31, and legal-institutional 57.44, with a fairly sustainable status. In the Technology-Infrastructure Indicator 45.48, the status is less sustainable. It is necessary to increase the status of sustainability in the future, and it is necessary to make efforts to improve overall in all sensitive aspects of increasing the status of cattle breeding areas.
Evaluation of liquid smoke of cocoa bean shell against Escherichia coli and Candida utilis
Authors: Pasaribu T , Sofyan A , Sinurat A P , Sakti A A , Harahap M A , Julendra H
Published: May 2024

Cocoa bean shells are one of the by-products produced from chocolate processing. The cocoa bean shells contain polyphenols approximately 5.8%. The study aimed to evaluate the effectivity of liquid smoke produced from cocoa bean shells against Escherichia coli and Candida utilis It is expected that liquid smoke from cocoa bean shells will have the opportunity to replace AGPs. Total phenol, saponin, and tannin compounds were analyzed and were made in three replications. To determine the inhibition of liquid smoke of cocoa bean shells (LSCBS) on E. coli and C. utilis, the diameter of the clear area on the media was measured using a ruler. The antibacterial and antifungal activity test was carried out by well diffusion methods. Ten treatments, i.e. different concentrations of the LSCBS (0, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%/non-diluted), each with four replications were performed, and the growth of the E. coli and C. utilis was observed. Statistical analysis was conducted using a completely randomized design. The results showed total phenol content was 0.17 g/100mL, saponin 0.46 g/100mL, and tannin 0.047 g/100mL in LSCBS. The antibacterial activity with a 10-100% concentration of LSCBS did not show zona inhibition (clear zone) against E. coli. Likewise, antifungal activity with a 10-100% concentration of LSCBS did not show zona inhibition against C. utilis. Not all liquid smoke from plant by-products inhibits bacterial growth. This research showed that the liquid smoke from the cocoa bean shells did not affect the growth of Escherichia coli and Candida utilis in vitro, the possible cause was the very low content of total phenols, saponins, and tannins It means liquid smoke from cocoa bean shells could not replace AGPs.
Antibiotic resistance of Lactobacillus fermentum isolates of dadiah Lintau
Authors: Amelia R , Harun H , Pratama Y E , Suryanis I
Published: May 2024

Antibiotic resistance is one of the tests that Lactic Acid Bacteria must pass in order to boost their potential as probiotics. This study aims to determine the resistance of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolate Lactobacillus fermentum to tetracycline, chloramphenicol, ampicillin, kanamycin, and penicillin and to measure levels of resistance. The disc diffusion method was used to assess the zone of inhibition of LAB growth against antibiotics, and a quantitative descriptive method was used to analyze the results. According to the study’s findings, L. fermentum had an overall mass of 86x108 CFU/ml and was strongly resistant to the medicines penicillin, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol, with only modest resistance to amoxicillin and kanamycin.
Brillouin spectroscopy for accurate assessment of morphological and mechanical characteristics in micro-structured samples
Authors: Passeri Alessandra Anna , Argentati Chiara , Morena Francesco , Bonacci Francesco , Neri Igor , Fioretto Daniele , Vassalli Massimo , Martino Sabata , Mattarelli Maurizio , Caponi Silvia
Published: May 2024

Brillouin spectroscopy has recently attracted attention as a powerful tool for the characterization of the mechanical properties of heterogeneous materials, particularly in the biological and biomedical domains. This study investigates the procedure to use Brillouin data to provide relevant morphological parameters of micro-structured samples. When acquiring Brillouin spectra at the interface between two regions of the sample, the spectrum shows signatures of both regions. This feature can be used to precisely identify the position of the interfaces by analyzing the evolution of the fitting parameters of the Brillouin spectra acquired by performing a linear scan across the interface. This concept has been demonstrated by measuring the thickness of adherent HEK293T cells. The results are validated using fluorescence microscopy, showing an excellent agreement. The present analysis showcases the wealth of information present in the Brillouin spectrum and the potentiality of Brillouin spectroscopy not only for mechanical characterization but also for label-free, high-resolution imaging of sample morphology. The study introduces the possibility of correlating mechanical properties and shape of biological samples using a single technique.
Eddie Mabo as Moses
Authors: Brett Mark G
Published: May 2024

The chapter begins with the ground-breaking legal judgement Mabo v. Queensland in the High Court of Australia in 1992. Multiple colonial discourses are re-iterated in this case, including some transnational themes that are discussed in subsequent chapters of this volume. The case reveals, among other peculiarities, that the Australian colonies represent the only jurisdiction of the English common law tradition within which no treaties were made with the First Nations. Instead, there is a peculiar development of terra nullius ideology, which can be traced back to the historic influences of the book of Genesis in Puritan thought in the seventeenth century. Mabo also recovers some of the earlier notions of natural rights, which appeared in Spanish Catholic debates in the sixteenth century. Some of the legal problems outlined in Mabo v. Queensland remain unresolved, not only in Australia but also in other settler colonial states that historically embraced English common law—the USA, Canada, and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Discovery and War
Authors: Brett Mark G
Published: May 2024

The chapter begins with an examination of the ideas of discovery and jurisdiction in sixteenth-century Catholic sources, along with associated developments in theories of just war. An overture to this story includes Christopher Columbus’s El libro de las profecías (1502), in which the book of Isaiah figures prominently in his interpretation of European discovery and conquest in the Indies. An influential canon lawyer, Juan López de Palacios Rubios, defended papal authority while at the same time providing an account of Indian property rights in Libellus de insulis oceanis quas vulgus indias appelat (1512–1516). This work explains how the rules of war in Deut 20:10–12, along with other sanctions, helped to shape the notorious requerimiento, a brutal and self-contradictory legal “requirement” designed to legitimate the Spanish wars of conquest between 1513 and 1548. Bartolomé de Las Casas and Francisco de Vitoria, among others from the Salamanca School, famously derided the requerimiento. Rather than sharing no common ground, Palacios Rubios, Las Casas, and Vitoria can all be located within long-standing traditions of canon law and biblical interpretation. The famous debate between Las Casas and Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda in Valladolid (1550–1551) addressed new legal questions that arose long after the major wars of conquest, and the Lascasian arguments in this debate later influenced the Protestant reformulations of the doctrine of discovery in the seventeenth century.
Whiteness and Genocide
Authors: Brett Mark G
Published: May 2024

The chapter focuses on the nineteenth century and examines the connections between racial theories and genocide when viewed through the lens of biblical theology—acknowledging that the word “genocide” was not coined until 1944 and that the earlier conceptual history is complex. Official policies and laws varied across the Anglophone colonies, but an explicit discourse of white superiority found new expressions in law in the nineteenth century, as did a variety of assimilationist policies. Case studies illustrate how, in this comparatively late period in settler history, it is still possible to raise questions about whether official policies can be considered genocidal, not just in failing to prevent continuing massacres but also in the forced removal of Indigenous children from their families. The chapter considers the influential view of historian Patrick Wolfe who argued that exploitation of Indigenous labour is always secondary to an over-riding purpose of settler colonialism, which is to eliminate the native—whether through overt violence or by structural genocide.
Conclusions and Implications
Authors: Brett Mark G
Published: May 2024

The chapter concludes that academic debates about the origins of so-called subjective rights, or the founding moments of modern international law, are not central to the story of how the Bible has influenced the modern making of Indigenous rights. In taking a long view of natural and human rights, this book does not assume any particular theory of legal continuity or influence. Nor does it describe the strikingly different relational rights and obligations that emerge from within particular Indigenous traditions. Nevertheless, by following the trail of biblical language in the discourses of rights in colonial history, and also by considering the biblical literature in its own ancient contexts, the overall argument provides insights into the possibilities for mediating between overlapping notions of rights and competing concepts of sovereignty. While colonial legal histories were almost inevitably entangled with oppressive interpretations of the Bible, the legacies of biblical language and ideas are still open to revision in modern treaties and covenants that seek to remedy the extensive history of broken treaties—or in the peculiar case of Australia, the lack of any treaty at all. The contrasts between various jurisdictions of English common law—notably between the USA, Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Australia—suggest that remedial actions will need to engage with the specific histories and legal arrangements in each context.
A Package of Views
Authors: Brown Jessica
Published: May 2024

I introduce the existing debate between summative and non-summative accounts of group doxastic states. I extend the distinction between summative/non-summative accounts of group doxastic states to the other phenomena discussed in the book: group evidence, the basis of group belief, what it is for a group to act for a reason, and group ignorance. I then argue for a range of linking claims, showing how non-summativism about one group phenomenon motivates non-summativism about others. In the rest of the book, I defend a non-summative package of views by providing a range of independent arguments for non-summativism about key group phenomena, arguments that don’t appeal to the relevant linking claims.
Group Belief for a Reason
Authors: Brown Jessica
Published: May 2024

One might have evidence which provides justification to believe that p, and believe that p, yet one’s belief not be justified because it’s not based on the evidence. Thus a key issue is what it is for a group to believe for, or on the basis of, a reason. In this chapter, I argue against summativist accounts on which the reason(s) for which a group believes that p is a function of the reason(s) for which its members believe that p. For I argue that they have difficulties in accommodating different bases cases in which although most of the members of a group justifiably believe that p for a reason, they do so for different reasons. Instead, I defend a non-summative causal account on which a group believes that p on the basis of reason r if and only if the group’s belief that p is non-deviantly caused by r.
Concluding Remarks: Organized Groups as Agents
Authors: Brown Jessica
Published: May 2024

In these concluding remarks, I summarize the main claims of the book. The book focuses on organized groups, such as governments, corporations, and charities. I defend the commonsense view that such organizations genuinely have mental states, and are capable of action. More specifically, I defend a non-summative account of a range of group phenomena including group belief, group evidence, group justified belief, group knowledge, what it is for a group to act or believe for a reason, and group excuse from blameless ignorance. This helps illuminate the moral responsibility of the organized groups with which we interact on a daily basis.
Habitual Regular Coffee Consumption and Arterial Stiffness: Data From the 3rd Pamela Survey
Authors: Dell’Oro Raffaella , Quarti-Trevano Fosca , Facchetti Rita , Cuspidi Cesare , Mancia Giuseppe , Grassi Guido
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND

We evaluated whether chronic coffee consumption affects arterial stiffness, assessed by cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI).

METHODS

In 514 subjects, aged 66.6 ± 9.9 years (mean ± SD), recruited in the 3rd follow-up of the PAMELA study, subdivided into 3 groups according to the daily intake of regular coffee (0, 1–2, and ≥3 cups/day), we measured CAVI and clinic, ambulatory blood pressure (BP), and other variables.

RESULTS

The 3 groups displayed similar age, gender, metabolic, and renal profile. Clinic and ambulatory BPs were similar in the 3 groups, this being the case for CAVI (0 cup: 9.1 ± 1.8, 1–2 cups: 9.5 ± 2.3, and ≥3 cups: 9.2 ± 2.1 m/s, P = NS). No significant gender difference in CAVI and in participants under antihypertensive treatment was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show that chronic coffee consumption leaves unaffected arterial stiffness in the general population, this being the case in subgroups. The neutral vascular impact of coffee may favor the absence of any significant BP effect of habitual coffee intake.
Drawing the fuzzy line: arbitrability of dissolution-related disputes in China
Authors: Dai Zhizhou , Liu Zhixing
Published: May 2024

The dissolution of a Sino-foreign joint venture can lead to high-stakes disputes between the company’s shareholders, who often have pre-agreed arbitration clauses in their joint venture contract or the constitutional documents of the joint venture company. However, as the dissolution and liquidation of a company involves the termination of the company’s legal capacity and will thus have an effect in rem, whether or not (and to what extent) such a dispute is capable of being settled by a private tribunal invites controversy. This article examines the various reply letters, meeting minutes and judgements handed down by the Chinese courts in an attempt to draw the line between the power of arbitral tribunals and the power of the courts when it comes to dissolution-related disputes under Chinese law. Three sets of dichotomies are set out to provide an analytical framework on this issue: first, disputes arising during the liquidation process (arbitrable) vs disputes leading to the dissolution of a company (probably non-arbitrable); second, disputes under the corporate organizational law, particularly judicial dissolution due to company deadlock (non-arbitrable) vs disputes arising from contractual grounds for dissolution (arbitrable); and finally, disputes where the parties seek an outright order for the dissolution (non-arbitrable) vs disputes where the parties merely seek a declaration confirming their rights or an order for the performance of contractual obligations on the other party’s side (arbitrable).
A comprehensive benchmarking of machine learning algorithms and dimensionality reduction methods for drug sensitivity prediction
Authors: Eckhart Lea , Lenhof Kerstin , Rolli Lisa-Marie , Lenhof Hans-Peter
Published: May 2024

A major challenge of precision oncology is the identification and prioritization of suitable treatment options based on molecular biomarkers of the considered tumor. In pursuit of this goal, large cancer cell line panels have successfully been studied to elucidate the relationship between cellular features and treatment response. Due to the high dimensionality of these datasets, machine learning (ML) is commonly used for their analysis. However, choosing a suitable algorithm and set of input features can be challenging. We performed a comprehensive benchmarking of ML methods and dimension reduction (DR) techniques for predicting drug response metrics. Using the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer cell line panel, we trained random forests, neural networks, boosting trees and elastic nets for 179 anti-cancer compounds with feature sets derived from nine DR approaches. We compare the results regarding statistical performance, runtime and interpretability. Additionally, we provide strategies for assessing model performance compared with a simple baseline model and measuring the trade-off between models of different complexity. Lastly, we show that complex ML models benefit from using an optimized DR strategy, and that standard models—even when using considerably fewer features—can still be superior in performance.
irGSEA: the integration of single-cell rank-based gene set enrichment analysis
Authors: Fan Chuiqin , Chen Fuyi , Chen Yuanguo , Huang Liangping , Wang Manna , Liu Yulin , Wang Yu , Guo Huijie , Zheng Nanpeng , Liu Yanbing , Wang Hongwu , Ma Lian
Published: May 2024

irGSEA is an R package designed to assess the outcomes of various gene set scoring methods when applied to single-cell RNA sequencing data. This package incorporates six distinct scoring methods that rely on the expression ranks of genes, emphasizing relative expression levels over absolute values. The implemented methods include AUCell, UCell, singscore, ssGSEA, JASMINE and Viper. Previous studies have demonstrated the robustness of these methods to variations in dataset size and composition, generating enrichment scores based solely on the relative gene expression of individual cells. By employing the robust rank aggregation algorithm, irGSEA amalgamates results from all six methods to ascertain the statistical significance of target gene sets across diverse scoring methods. The package prioritizes user-friendliness, allowing direct input of expression matrices or seamless interaction with Seurat objects. Furthermore, it facilitates a comprehensive visualization of results. The irGSEA package and its accompanying documentation are accessible on GitHub (https://github.com/chuiqin/irGSEA).
A multi-view graph contrastive learning framework for deciphering spatially resolved transcriptomics data
Authors: Zhang Lei , Liang Shu , Wan Lin
Published: May 2024

Spatially resolved transcriptomics data are being used in a revolutionary way to decipher the spatial pattern of gene expression and the spatial architecture of cell types. Much work has been done to exploit the genomic spatial architectures of cells. Such work is based on the common assumption that gene expression profiles of spatially adjacent spots are more similar than those of more distant spots. However, related work might not consider the nonlocal spatial co-expression dependency, which can better characterize the tissue architectures. Therefore, we propose MuCoST, a Multi-view graph Contrastive learning framework for deciphering complex Spatially resolved Transcriptomic architectures with dual scale structural dependency. To achieve this, we employ spot dependency augmentation by fusing gene expression correlation and spatial location proximity, thereby enabling MuCoST to model both nonlocal spatial co-expression dependency and spatially adjacent dependency. We benchmark MuCoST on four datasets, and we compare it with other state-of-the-art spatial domain identification methods. We demonstrate that MuCoST achieves the highest accuracy on spatial domain identification from various datasets. In particular, MuCoST accurately deciphers subtle biological textures and elaborates the variation of spatially functional patterns.
Complementary multi-modality molecular self-supervised learning via non-overlapping masking for property prediction
Authors: Shen Ao , Yuan Mingzhi , Ma Yingfan , Du Jie , Wang Manning
Published: May 2024

Self-supervised learning plays an important role in molecular representation learning because labeled molecular data are usually limited in many tasks, such as chemical property prediction and virtual screening. However, most existing molecular pre-training methods focus on one modality of molecular data, and the complementary information of two important modalities, SMILES and graph, is not fully explored. In this study, we propose an effective multi-modality self-supervised learning framework for molecular SMILES and graph. Specifically, SMILES data and graph data are first tokenized so that they can be processed by a unified Transformer-based backbone network, which is trained by a masked reconstruction strategy. In addition, we introduce a specialized non-overlapping masking strategy to encourage fine-grained interaction between these two modalities. Experimental results show that our framework achieves state-of-the-art performance in a series of molecular property prediction tasks, and a detailed ablation study demonstrates efficacy of the multi-modality framework and the masking strategy.
Risk of death, major adverse cardiac events and relapse in patients with bullous pemphigoid treated with systemic or topical corticosteroids
Authors: Kridin Khalaf , Bieber Katja , Vorobyev Artem , Moderegger Eva Lotta , Hernandez Gema , Schmidt Enno , Ludwig Ralf J
Published: May 2024

Background

According to current guidelines, systemic or topical corticosteroids are both recommended as first-line treatments for bullous pemphigoid (BP). There is evidence to suggest that topical application may be associated with a lower risk of mortality. However, there is a lack of comprehensive large-scale data comparing mortality rates, as well as the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), infections and relapse, between systemic and topical corticosteroid treatments.

Objectives

To evaluate the risk of death, MACE, infections and relapse in patients with BP treated with systemic or topical corticosteroids.

Methods

A population-based retrospective cohort study was performed using the TriNetX US Collaborative Network. As a measure against bias, propensity score matching for age, sex, 10 diseases and 6 medications was done, and 3 sensitivity analyses were conducted.

Results

All-time risk of death was increased in US patients with BP exposed to any dose of systemic corticosteroids (n = 2917) vs. patients treated with topical clobetasol propionate [n = 2932; hazard ratio (HR) 1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28–1.58 (P < 0.001)]. This was consistent in time-stratified analysis (1- and 3-year mortality rates) and in analysis contrasting prednisone (equivalent) doses of 1–10 mg (low) or 30–100 mg (medium–high) systemic corticosteroid to topical treatment. The increased risk of death in US patients with BP exposed to any dose of systemic corticosteroids vs. topical treatment was accompanied by increased risks for MACE (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.08–1.64; P = 0.008) and infections (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.15–1.54; P < 0.001). The risk of continued disease or relapse was decreased in patients treated with systemic vs. topical corticosteroids (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.77–0.94; P = 0.002). Results regarding mortality and continued disease or relapse persisted in three sensitivity analyses. Potential limitations included the retrospective data collection, bias for treatment selection and miscoding.

Conclusions

Pending validation in prospective studies, where feasible – and despite the heightened risk of relapse – topical corticosteroid treatment may be advantageous over systemic corticosteroid treatment owing to its significantly lower risk of death.
THE APPLICABILITY OF THE EUROPEAN HERNIA SOCIETY AND AMERICAN HERNIA SOCIETY GUIDELINES ON ABDOMINAL WOUND CLOSURE IN COLORECTAL AND EMERGENCY SURGERY PATIENTS: A GRANULAR ANALYSIS
Authors: Bellato V , Blackwell S , Elhadi M , Grove T , Massey L , Vieira B , Denys A , Pata F , van Ramshorst G
Published: May 2024

Aim

To critically appraise the evidence of the European and American Hernia Society guidelines on abdominal wall closure in colorectal and emergency patients.

Material and Methods

Relevant references addressing key questions (KQ) and recommendations were screened and included if colorectal/emergency surgery was reported. Data extraction was performed with a standardized form and authors were contacted for missing data. Quality and risk of bias were assessed independently by two reviewers.

Results

33 studies were included: 15 systematic reviews and one literature review rated low or critically (AMSTAR 2); 12 randomized controlled trials with mostly moderate or high risk of bias (Cochrane RoB-2 tool); five observational studies of low to very low quality (GRADE) with serious risk of bias (ROBINS-I). 32 studies included colorectal (n = 15,856) and 14 emergency patients (n = 4,582). To answer KQ1 on ‘minimally invasive or open surgery’ and ‘type of incision’ 9/10 studies included colorectal and none emergency patients. 1/4 and 8/9 studies included colorectal/emergency patients for recommendations regarding trocar sites closure (KQ2) and closure after laparotomy (KQ3). For KQ5, regarding the use of mesh, 11/11 studies included colorectal/emergency patients. 3/3 and 1/1 studies included colorectal patients for KQ6 (abdominal binders) and KQ7 (restriction of activity), but none included emergency patients.

Conclusions

Recommendations on KQs 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 are applicable to colorectal patients, but evidence for KQ 2 is lacking. The recommendations on KQs 1, 2 6 and 7 cannot be extrapolated to emergency patients. Furthermore, this study highlights the lack of other outcomes, important to patients.