bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety and Efficacy of Intravenous Golimumab in Adults with Ankylosing Spondylitis: Results through 1 Year of the GO-ALIVE Study
Authors: Reveille John D. , Deodhar Atul , Caldron Paul H. , Dudek Anna , Harrison Diane D. , Kim Lilianne , Lo Kim Hung , Leu Jocelyn H. , Hsia Elizabeth C.
Published: March 2019

Objective.

Evaluate safety and efficacy of intravenous (IV) golimumab (GOL) in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) through 1 year.

Methods.

A total of 208 patients were randomized to IV infusions of GOL 2 mg/kg (n = 105) at weeks 0, 4, and every 8 weeks thereafter or placebo (n = 103) at weeks 0, 4, and 12, then crossover to GOL at weeks 16, 20, and every 8 weeks thereafter through Week 52. Efficacy was assessed using the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis international Society (ASAS) criteria, the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI). Health-related quality of life was assessed using the AS Quality of Life (ASQoL) index. Efficacy and safety were monitored through Week 52 and Week 60, respectively.

Results.

The primary endpoint (ASAS20) and all controlled endpoints at Week 16 were achieved. At Week 52, 69.5% and 65.0% of patients in the GOL group and placebo crossover group, respectively, achieved an ASAS20; 56.2% and 51.5% achieved an ASAS40; 56.2% and 55.3% achieved a BASDAI50; 24.8% and 24.3% achieved ASAS partial remission; and 25.7% and 26.2% met ASDAS inactive disease criteria (all last observation carried forward). Mean changes from baseline to Week 52 in BASFI and ASQoL scores were similar between the GOL group and the placebo crossover group (BASFI: −2.7 and −2.6; ASQoL: −5.5 and −5.4). Through Week 60, 55.4% of all GOL-treated patients had ≥ 1 adverse events (AE); 3.4% had ≥ 1 serious AE.

Conclusion.

Efficacy was maintained through 1 year with IV GOL 2 mg/kg among patients with active AS. AE were consistent with the known safety profile of GOL.
Association of Physical Activity and Medication with Enthesitis on Ultrasound in Psoriatic Arthritis
Authors: Wervers Kim , Herrings Irene , Luime Jolanda J. , Tchetverikov Ilja , Gerards Andreas H. , Hazes Johanna M.W. , Vis Marijn
Published: March 2019

Objective.

Enthesitis is a manifestation of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), but its symptoms are difficult to interpret clinically. We investigated the associations of ultrasonographic changes in entheses with clinical characteristics in patients with PsA, and compared enthesis changes of patients aged 35 to 60 years with healthy volunteers of that age.

Methods.

Consecutive patients with PsA participated in this cross-sectional study, irrespective of enthesitis complaints and age. We collected data about complaints, physical activity and activity avoidance, medication, and clinical enthesitis. Inflammatory and structural enthesis changes were scored with the modified MAdrid Sonographic Enthesitis Index (MASEI). Among all patients, associations between ultrasound (US) scores and clinical characteristics were investigated using linear regression. We compared US scores of healthy volunteers and patients with PsA aged 35–60 years using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.

Results.

Eighty-four patients with PsA and 25 healthy volunteers participated. In patients with PsA, we found a small association between higher inflammatory-modified MASEI score and older age (β 0.07, 95% CI 0–0.13) and current use of biologics (β 1.56, 95% CI 0.16–2.95). Patients who reported avoiding activities had significantly lower inflammatory-modified MASEI scores (β −1.71, 95% CI −3.1 to −0.32) than those who did not. The patients with PsA aged 35–60 years (n = 50) had similar inflammatory scores as healthy volunteers but higher structural scores (median 6 vs 2; p = 0.01).

Conclusion.

Within patients with PsA, avoiding physical activity, younger age, and not using biologics were associated with less enthesis inflammation. Patients with PsA and healthy volunteers aged 35 to 60 years displayed similar levels of inflammatory changes of the entheses, but patients had more structural damage.
Breastfeeding among Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis Compared with the General Population: Results from a Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ince-Askan Hilal , Hazes Johanna M.W. , Dolhain Radboud J.E.M.
Published: March 2019

Objective.

The World Health Organization recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed until the age of 6 months. The first objective was to compare breastfeeding frequencies and time of cessation between women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the general population. The second objective was to identify why patients with RA discontinue breastfeeding.

Methods.

This study was embedded in the Pregnancy-induced Amelioration of Rheumatoid Arthritis (PARA) study, a nationwide prospective cohort study. From 2002 to 2008, a total of 249 pregnancies were followed from pregnancy until 6 months postpartum. Data on lactation and medication use were collected. Proportion tests were used to compare percentages of breastfeeding between the study population and the general/reference population.

Results.

At 4–6, 12, and 26 weeks postpartum, 43%, 26%, and 9% of the RA patients breastfed their offspring, respectively, compared with 63%, 46%, and 41% in the general population, respectively (p < 0.001). The main reason for women to discontinue breastfeeding was the restart of medication (n = 129, 57.8%). Nevertheless, more than 40% of these patients restarted medication that was considered compatible with breastfeeding.

Conclusion.

This large prospective study demonstrates that RA is associated with lower proportions of women breastfeeding their offspring and earlier cessation compared with the general population. A considerable number of patients discontinued breastfeeding so that they could start medication, even though many of the medications are considered safe to use during lactation. Using the results of this study, intervention strategies supporting RA patients who wish to breastfeed may be developed.
Intraarticular Glucocorticoid Injection as Second-line Treatment for Lyme Arthritis in Children
Authors: Horton Daniel B. , Taxter Alysha J. , Davidow Amy L. , Groh Brandt P. , Sherry David D. , Rose Carlos D.
Published: March 2019

Objective.

To determine whether second-line intraarticular glucocorticoid (IAGC) injection improves outcomes in children with persistently active Lyme arthritis after initial antibiotics.

Methods.

We conducted an observational comparative effectiveness study through chart review within 3 pediatric rheumatology centers with distinct clinical approaches to second-line treatment of Lyme arthritis. We primarily compared children receiving second-line IAGC to children receiving a second course of antibiotics alone. We evaluated the risk of developing antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis (ARLA) using logistic regression and the time to clinical resolution of Lyme arthritis using Cox regression.

Results.

Of 112 children with persistently active Lyme arthritis after first-line antibiotics, 18 children received second-line IAGC (13 with concomitant oral antibiotics). Compared to children receiving second-line oral antibiotics alone, children treated with IAGC had similar baseline characteristics but lower rates of ARLA (17% vs 44%; OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.95; p = 0.04) and faster rates of clinical resolution (HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2–3.9; p = 0.01). Children in IAGC and oral antibiotic cohorts did not differ in treatment-associated adverse events. Among children receiving second-line IAGC, outcomes appeared similar irrespective of use of concomitant antibiotics. Outcomes were also similar between intravenous (IV) and oral antibiotic-treated cohorts, but older children seemed to respond more favorably to IV therapy. IV antibiotics were also associated with higher rates of toxicity.

Conclusion.

IAGC injection appears to be an effective and safe second-line strategy for persistent Lyme arthritis in children, associated with rapid clinical resolution and reduced need for additional treatment.
The effectiveness of multiple intelligences based teaching strategy in enhancing the multiple intelligences and science process skills of junior High School students
Authors: Winarti Atiek , Yuanita Leny , Nur Moh.
Published: March 2019

The study was aimed to investigate the effectiveness of teaching strategy based on Multiple Intelligences (MI) theory to improve multiple intelligences and science process skills of junior high school students in Indonesia. The study used quasi experimental design and the effectiveness of the teaching strategy was evaluated by pretest-posttest-control-group design. The samples consisted of two schools selected by Stratified Random Sampling. The experimental group (n=63) was taught using the MI strategy while the control group (n=61) was taught using the traditional strategy. This study was conducted in 12 weeks. Data were obtained from multiple intelligences test, science process skills test, and observation sheets. The hypotheses of student multiple intelligences and science process skills were tested using Wilcoxon’s Signed Rank Test and ANOVA test. The results indicated that students who were instructed by using MI strategy improved on four specific types of multiple intelligences namely visual spatial, intrapersonal, kinesthetic, and musical intelligences. However, the interpersonal logic remains unchanged, while the mathematical logic decreases after treatment. Also, these showed an improvement of the science process skills, specifically in the questioning ability.
The enhancement of pre-service mathematics teachers’ mathematical understanding ability through ACE teaching cyclic
Authors: Afgani Muhammad Win , Suryadi Didi , Dahlan Jarnawi Afgani
Published: March 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the enhancement of the mathematical understanding ability of pre-service mathematics teachers through Activity-Class Discussion-Exercise (ACE) teaching cyclic based on APOS theory. This study used a quasi-experiment method with non-equivalent pre-post test control group design. The subjects of this study were 120 pre-service mathematics teachers from two universities in Palembang, Indonesia. The subjects were divided into two class, that is, experiment and control class. Experiment class was a class that is applied ADE teaching cyclic based on APOS theory, whereas control class was a class that is applied direct learning. The subjects were also divided into three groups of mathematical initial ability, that is, high, average, and low. The Instruments used in this study were mathematical initial ability test, mathematical understanding ability test, observation, and interview. Data analysis tests used in this study were statistic test of parametric and non-parametric. The results of data analysis showed that 1) there is no significant difference between the improvement of mathematical understanding ability of pre-service mathematics teachers applied ACE teaching cyclic based on APOS theory and direct learning in terms of overall and the group of mathematical initial ability, 2) there is no interaction between learning factors (APOS and direct learning) and the group of mathematical initial ability (high, average, and low) to the improvement of mathematical understanding ability of pre-service mathematics teachers.
The design and implementation of an Arabic pronunciation application for early childhood
Authors: Aljojo Nahla , Munshi Asmaa , Almukadi Wafa , Alanaya Ihdaa , Zainol Azida , Albalawi Hawazin , Alharbi Ghadeer , Almadani Nada , Almohammadi Elaf , Kadu Alaa , Abdulghaffar Nadia , Almohammadi Elaf , Kadu Alaa , Abdulghaffar Nadia A.
Published: March 2019

Learning is not limited to a certain age group or a formal study environment.  However, the first eight years, and particularly the first three years, are most important, as the effects of the care and attention provided to the child during this period will continue throughout his or her life. A child’s early learning processes develop their educational abilities and skills, and fosters their academic achievements.Preschool can be very benefit to development and learning for children, but there are differences between countries in this area. It can reduce the repetition in the classroom and can raise achievement scores for students through the preschool programs of high quality (Jacobson and Linda 2008). There are many applications in the Middle East that teach kids, but there is didn't link between the vowels of the Arabic alphabet characters and verbally voice for each character and training to select correct format of Arabic alphabet like (fatha, dama and kasra). This study aims to develop an educational application for children from the ages of 3 to 5 to help them improve their skills and abilities. The application will also prepare them for school by teaching them the Arabic letters, pronunciation and the short vowels (fatha, dama and kasra). The application also aims to help children communicate and interact more effectively with their external environment by employing several theories about learning skills, such as Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development, Edger Dale’s Cone of Learning and Bloom's Taxonomy of Cognitive Goals. The application will focus on the first three levels of Bloom's Taxonomy Pyramid which are ‘Remember’, ‘Understand’ and ‘Apply’. Furthermore, the application will be designed to aid children with their Arabic pronunciation, and aural and oral skills, and train and educate them in preparation for attending school. The expected result is that it will be considerably better than educational books for children’s education. Combining education and play in e-learning applications is an important way to attract children.
Mechanisms of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
Authors: Boden Barry P , Dean G Scott , Feagin John A , Garrett William E
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACT

This study examined the mechanisms of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. In the first part of the study, using a comprehensive, standardized questionnaire, 89 athletes (100 knees) were interviewed about the events surrounding their ACL injury. A noncontact mechanism was reported in 71 (72%) knees and a contact injury in 28 (28%) knees; one patient was unsure if there was any contact. Most of the injuries were sustained at footstrike with the knee close to full extension. Noncontact mechanisms were classified as sudden deceleration prior to a change of direction or landing motion, while contact injuries occurred as a result of valgus collapse of the knee. Hamstring flexibility parameters revealed a statistically higher level of laxity in the injured athletes compared with a matched group of 28 controls.

In the second part of the study, videotapes of 27 separate ACL disruptions were reviewed and confirmed that most noncontact injuries occur with the knee close to extension during a sharp deceleration or landing maneuver. Because the knee is in a position to allow the extensor mechanism to strain the ACL and maximum, eccentric muscle force conditions usually apply, the quadriceps may play an important role in ACL disruption. Passive protection of the ACL by the hamstring muscles may be reduced in patients with above-average flexibility.
Geological setting and mineralization styles of the Sunday Lake and Lower Detour 'gold trends', northwestern Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Ontario and Quebec
Authors: Castonguay S , Dubé B , Mercier-Langevin P , Wodicka N
Published: March 2019

The Detour Lake gold mine (approximately 25 Moz Au) and Lower Detour zones (e.g. Zone 58N; 534 000 oz Au) are in the northwestern part of the Abitibi greenstone belt in Ontario. They are spatially associated with the Sunday Lake and Lower Detour deformation zones
that delineate gold trends extending eastward into Quebec, where gold mineralized zones, such as the Vortex and Martiniere - Bug Lake deposits, also occur. Gold is associated with quartz-carbonate±tourmaline veins and/or silicified zones and disseminated to locally semi-massive sulphides in
veins or sericitized, chloritized, or biotitized wall rocks. These structurally controlled auriferous zones are hosted in volcanic sequences of the 2734 to 2724 Ma Deloro assemblage and in porphyritic rocks near faulted contacts with Porcupine-like turbidite of the less than 2.70 Ga Caopatina
assemblage. Strained Timiskaming-like polygenic conglomerate locally delineates the regional-scale deformation zones. These relationships are analogous to parts of the southern Abitibi belt, such as in Timmins - Porcupine or Val d'Or areas. Geochemical and geochronological analyses are underway to
document the lithotectonic setting and alteration associated with gold mineralization and to better constrain the timing of deformation, magmatism, sedimentation, and mineralization along the Sunday Lake and Lower Detour deformation zones.
Macroscopic control on Carlin-type gold mineralization in north-central Yukon
Authors: Pinet N , Sack P J
Published: March 2019

This open file summarizes observations from diamond drillhole logging on a section through the Sunrise prospect, in north-central Yukon, and to a lesser extent the Osiris prospect. Carlin-type mineralization is hosted in a lime-mudstone unit (Osiris limestone,
Neoproterozoic Gametrail Formation) bounded on both sides by a non-calcareous mudstone unit (Osiris Mudstone, Nadaleen Formation), which is interpreted to have low porosity and permeability. This geometry provides first-order control on mineralized zones that are grossly concordant with bedding.
Discontinuous rudstone and floatstone intervals in the Gametrail Formation also played an important role in focussing mineralizing fluids and influenced the location, geometry, and characteristics of orebodies. Clast-supported rudstone intervals (flat pebble conglomerate) deposited through
short-transport gliding acted as impermeable barriers, whereas matrix supported floatstone and coarse grainstone intervals, deposited through debris flows, preferentially channelled fluids. Variation of the pre-mineralization fracture permeability, due to bed thickness and lithology or specific
tectonic features (e.g. cataclastic zone, fold hinge zone), also influenced the location of the mineralization.
Analysis of wireline logs and vertical seismic profiling data acquired with fibre-optic cable at the copper-gold New Afton porphyry deposit, British Columbia
Authors: Bellefleur G , Schetselaar E , Wade D , White D , Enkin R , Schmitt D R
Published: March 2019

Wireline logs and vertical seismic profile (VSP) data were acquired in two boreholes intersecting the mineralized zone and alteration halo at the copper-gold New Afton porphyry deposit, Canada. Log data provide physical rock properties for the main lithologies
and alteration zones. Calliper logs reveal many faults and caved-in zones indicating rocks with low integrity at the borehole wall. The preponderance of these zones as indicated by the logs suggests that their response may dominate the seismic reflection wavefield. Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS)
was used to acquire VSP data in the boreholes surveyed with logs. Straight and helically wound fibre-optic cables used for the VSP survey housed standard fibres and a fibre engineered to increase the intensity of backscattering at the DAS interrogator. A new generation of DAS interrogator connected
to the engineered fibres provided field data with lower noise level and higher signal-to-noise ratio. Data with higher signal-to-noise ratio from straight fibre-optic cable were processed and used for depth imaging. Depth images benefitted from new migration weights that account for the directional
sensitivity of the straight fibre-optic cable and limit the extent of migration artefacts. Migration results show several reflectors with shallow dips to the northwest, some explained by faults intersecting the boreholes. The main sub-vertical lithological and alteration contacts at New Afton
generated downgoing reflections that were not considered in the migration.
Contrasts in petrological features between Silurian-Devonian plutons in the Mira and Aspy terranes of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia: implications for porphyry-style mineralization
Authors: Moning A , Barr S M , White C E , van Rooyen D
Published: March 2019

The Devonian Gillis Mountain granitoid pluton in the Avalonian Mira terrane of southern Cape Breton Island hosts porphyry-style copper-molybdenum mineralization. In contrast, plutons of Silurian and Devonian age with similar rock types in the Leonard MacLeod
Brook area of the Ganderian Aspy terrane of northern Cape Breton Island are not known to be mineralized. The Gillis Mountain pluton is calc-alkalic and likely formed as a result of slab failure in a subduction zone, whereas plutons in the Leonard MacLeod Brook area may have formed during within-arc
extension followed by slab failure in the Devonian. Silurian plutons in the Leonard MacLeod Brook area are bimodal and intruded co-magmatic volcanic rocks, whereas the Devonian Gillis Mountain pluton intruded older shale and siltstone and is not associated with co-magmatic volcanic
rocks.
SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating of the South Mountain Batholith, Nova Scotia: timing and duration of crystallization and evidence for inheritance
Authors: Bickerton L , Kontak D J , Samson I M , Murphy J B , Kellett D
A
Published: March 2019

The South Mountain Batholith (SMB) is the largest (7300 km2) granitoid body in the Appalachian Orogen. It is a composite peraluminous intrusion with early stage biotite-granodiorite to biotite-monzogranite and later leucomonzogranite to leucogranite plutons. The
latter are associated with subeconomic to economic polymetallic mineral deposits, including the past-producing (1985-1992) East Kemptville Sn-Cu-Zn-Ag(-In) deposit.
Sensitive High-Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP) analyses of zircon were used to constrain the timing of emplacement for phases across the SMB and to investigate potential sources of contamination to the magma. Zircon from four granodiorite to monzogranite samples and one from a more evolved
leucogranite were analyzed to complement our previous SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating of the more evolved phases (ca. 377-370 Ma). The granodiorite samples yielded ages between 384.9 ± 4.4 Ma and 375.9 ± 4.5 Ma whereas the leucogranite yielded an age of 377.7 ± 5.2 Ma (2? errors). A late
monzogranitic phase on the edge of the SMB also yielded an age of 367.7 ± 4.0 Ma. Collectively, the data sets indicate an apparent span of ca. 11 to 23 Ma for emplacement and assembly of the SMB, but with most ages between ca. 378 to 370 Ma.
The abundance of xenocrystic zircon cores varies throughout the complex; from common in less evolved granodiorite samples to rare in the more evolved leucogranite samples. The relative age population density pattern for the inherited cores is very similar to the detrital zircon signature for the
upper stratigraphy of the Meguma Supergroup that hosts the SMB.
Origin of boron-rich fluids in the formation of unconformity associated deposits of the Sibley Basin
Authors: Kelly C J , Davis W J , Potter E G , Metsaranta R , Puumala M
Published: March 2019

Hydrothermal magnesio-foitite or dravite (tourmaline) is common within the ore zones of unconformity associated uranium deposits globally. Magnesium-rich tourmaline ranging in composition from dravite to magnesio-foitite is identified in two uranium showings
within the Sibley Basin. Hydrothermal dravite from the Malborne Lake showing (delta-11B = -22.5 permille to -20.2 permille) is significantly isotopically lighter than dravite and magnesio-foitite analyzed from the Innis Lake showing (delta-11B = 16.5-20.0 permille). The isotopically light delta-11B
values of tourmaline from Malborne Lake is consistent with local metamorphic tourmaline, indicating that boron is primarily basement-derived. This contrasts with the isotopically heavy compositions of hydrothermal tourmaline from the Innis Lake showing that are comparable to values reported from the
Athabasca Basin. A positive delta-11B value indicates that boron was sourced from, or potentially equilibrated with, the overlying marine evaporites, such as the chemical sediments of the Sibley Basin. The delta-11B values of hydrothermal tourmaline from the two occurrences are markedly different
and suggest that vein-hosted mineralization in the basement rocks of the Sibley Basin did not form via a unique mechanism.
Quantifying fertile alteration in the Patterson Lake corridor, Saskatchewan, through visible-near infrared-shortwave infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Powell J W , Potter E G , Tschirhart V , Percival J B , Mount S , McEwan B , Ashley R , Wheatley K
Published: March 2019

Visible-near infrared - shortwave infrared (VNIR-SWIR) spectroscopy, gamma-ray logs, and magnetic susceptibility measurements were taken on drill core samples that span the Patterson Lake exploration corridor (PLC) on the south-western margin of the Athabasca
Basin. Clay mineralogy and mineral properties (composition, crystallinity) derived from reflectance spectra were compared with gamma-ray and magnetic susceptibility profiles to assess relationships between uranium mineralization and alteration in the crystalline basement. In all drill core, the clay
mineralogy is similar to the clay alteration in deposits of the eastern portion of basin, although in the PLC, dickite is uncommon and kaolinite horizons are associated with high-grade mineralization. Several drill core exhibit trends between spectral parameters related to the crystallinity and
thermal maturity of clays (illite and kaolinite) and uranium mineralization. A non-mineralized drill core with moderate clay alteration was expectantly nonmagnetic. In comparison, the magnetic susceptibility within a mineralized hole that included multiple lithologies correlated with observed
parameters computed from reflectance spectra. These results highlight the efficacy of VNIR-SWIR reflectance spectroscopy in characterizing clay alteration associated with uranium mineralization. As shown throughout the Athabasca Basin, mineralogy and spectral parameters may vector towards fertile
fluid conduits when expanded to property- or corridor-scales.
Ni-Cu-PGE potential of the Nipissing sills as part of the ca. 2.2 Ga Ungava Large Igneous Province
Authors: Davey S , Bleeker W , Kamo S , Davis D , Easton M , Sutcliffe R H
Published: March 2019

This report summarizes mineralization associated with the Nipissing Diabase sills in the broader Sudbury area and evaluates the geochemical link between these sills and potential feeder dykes that are part of the broader ca. 2.2 Ga Ungava large igneous province.
New whole-rock major and trace element data are presented for the Nipissing sills and these are combined with previously published data. Sm-Nd isotope data are presented for the Maguire, Senneterre and Klotz dykes, and the Triangle Mountain sill, providing key constraints on their magmatic sources
and history of crustal assimilation. To help constrain the temporal evolution of the magmatic system, a new U-Pb baddeleyite age has been determined for the Triangle Mountain sill at 2216.5 ± 2.1 Ma. We also report a previously obtained, precise, U-Pb zircon age for the Ni-Cu-PGE mineralized
Shakespeare intrusion at 2217.0 +1.7/-1.5 Ma. Together, whole-rock major and trace elements, Sm-Nd isotopes, and U-Pb geochronology are used to gain a more complete picture of how the mineralized components of the ca. 2.2 Ga Ungava large igneous province were generated.
Architecture of magmatic conduits in chromium-PGE and Ni-Cu-PGE ore systems in Superior Province: example from the 'Ring of Fire' region, Ontario
Authors: Houlé M G , Lesher C M , Metsaranta R T , Sappin A -A
Published: March 2019

One of the most prominent features of the McFaulds Lake greenstone belt (also known as the 'Ring of Fire'; RoF) in northern Ontario is an abundance of 2.7 to 2.8 Ga mafic to ultramafic intrusive rocks that host world-class magmatic chromium, significant magmatic
Ni-Cu-PGE and potentially economically significant Fe-Ti-V mineralization. The Neoarchean intrusions in the RoF have been referred to as the Ring of Fire intrusive suite, which is here subdivided into two main magmatic subsuites: the spatially restricted ultramafic-dominated Koper Lake subsuite and
the more widespread mafic-dominated Ekwan River subsuite. The Koper Lake subsuite includes the Esker intrusive complex, which comprises the Black Thor and Double Eagle intrusions that host the Black Thor, Black Label, Big Daddy, Black Creek, Black Horse and Blackbird chromite deposits and several
Ni-Cu-PGE showings, the Blue Jay funnel, which hosts the Blue Jay Ni-Cu-PGE prospect, and the Eagle's Nest dyke, which hosts the Eagle's Nest Ni-Cu-PGE deposit. The Black Thor and Double Eagle intrusions are interpreted to have initially intruded separately, but to have coalesced over time with
magma inflation within a dynamic komatiitic system to form the chromium and Ni-Cu-PGE-bearing Esker intrusive complex, one of the most important members of an increasingly important class of polymetallic magmatic ore systems.
From the European Monetary Union to a euro–bancor: a stock–flow consistent assessment
Authors: Mazier Jacques , Valdecantos Sebastian
Published: March 2019

The crisis of the euro area has questioned the fairness, sustainability and viability of the current setting of the European Monetary Union (EMU). In this article we use a four-country stock–flow consistent (SFC) model in the tradition of Godley/Lavoie (2007a) to examine to what extent an adaptation to Europe of Keynes's plan of a clearing union with bancor balances could help reduce the imbalances that, at least in part, drove the eurozone into crisis. Our simulation experiments suggest that the implementation of Keynes's ideas may conduct European countries to a stronger and more sustainable growth cycle.
Challenges to Sustaining University-Community Partnerships in War-Torn, Northern Uganda: Investigating Resistance, Negative Stereotyping, and Gender Bias in Agricultural Students’ Attachments
Authors: Roberts Richie , Edwards M. Craig
Published: March 2019

Gulu Town (Gulu) served as a site of refuge for many during northern Uganda’s armed conflict that spanned from 1986 to 2006. Since then, Gulu transitioned into a region with sprawling slums and deteriorating social conditions. To combat these trends, the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment (FAE) at Gulu University adopted a development approach emphasizing community transformation. The FAE conceptualizes community transformation as the building of Gulu community members’ capacity to transition from a subsistence agrarian lifestyle to one more economically sustainable. One mechanism the FAE uses to enact their commitment to community transformation are university-community partnerships established to facilitate agricultural student attachments, or internships. Because of the myriad ways university-community partnerships are manifested, we examined the challenges to sustaining such partnerships in this post-conflict region. When interpreting findings through Foucauldian (1972) discourse theory, three themes emerged: (a) resistance, (b) reinforcement of stereotypes, and (c) gender bias. Moving forward, we recommend training opportunities be developed to promote more collaborative, contextually grounded strategies to overcome the challenges and enhance the partnerships such that all participants benefit.
Identifying Knowledge Management Capacity Needs of Rural Advisory Service Networks
Authors: Lamm Kevan W. , Lamm Alexa J. , Davis Kristin , Swaroop B. Jyothi
Published: March 2019

Knowledge management is the creation, coordination, transfer, and integration of knowledge so it is accessible and usable by specific stakeholders. Knowledge management has been shown to facilitate the development of networks, as well as to sustain established networks, based on the appropriate collection and subsequent application of embedded social capital. For rural advisory service (RAS) networks, knowledge management can be an important tool to ensure that both explicit and tacit knowledge is shared amongst network members with the anticipated benefit of increased capacity of the network. Although the importance of knowledge management is well documented within the literature, there are limited guidelines for what
specific knowledge management capacities a RAS network should develop. Using the Delphi process, a panel of 31 experts from 24 countries arrived at consensus on 34 specific knowledge management capacities associated with effective RAS networks. The results of the research provide a practical framework for RAS providers and networks to focus knowledge management capacity assessment and capacity-building activities.
Barriers Faced by Small Scale Farmers in the North Department of Haiti
Authors: Albert Bertrhude , Roberts T. Grady , Harder Amy
Published: March 2019

Haiti is one of the economically poorest countries in the world. As a result, billions of dollars have been invested into agricultural initiatives in Haiti, however, less emphasis has been placed on building the capacity of farmers through training and educational programs. Limited research has been conducted on barriers faced by Haitian farmers. The purpose of this study was to explore the barriers and faced by small scale farmers in the North Department of Haiti. A qualitative approach was used to achieve this purpose. Results revealed 11 major barriers, organized in the two themes of environmental challenges and resource limitations. Emergent themes included an external locus of control as a cause of barriers. Based on findings, recommendations for practice and future research are provided. Lessons learned from this research can help extensionists in Haiti and similar locations better meet the needs of farmers.
Taiwanese Smallholder Farmers’ Perceptions and Barriers to Adopting Facebook
Authors: Chang Chia-Wei , Lindner James R.
Published: March 2019

Social media is an effective tool used in extension services and mass/distance education. Facebook is a successful social network site for information gathering and sharing. Facebook's penetration rate is higher in Taiwan than in any other Asian country. The purpose of this study was to determine the influences of selected factors on the adoption of Facebook by Taiwanese smallholder farmers. The study examined smallholder farmers’ perceptions of Facebook according to Rogers’ (2003) characteristics of an innovation and smallholder farmers’ perceptions of potential barriers to adopting Facebook. Three hundred and fifty one smallholder farmers participated in the survey research. Respondents were asked to rate their perceptions of
Facebook and potential barriers to adopting Facebook: relative advantages, compatibility, complexity, trialability, observability, financial concerns, concerns about time, concerns about incentives, planning issues, and technology concerns. Respondents held positive perceptions of compatibility, complexity, observability, relative advantage, and trialability as characteristics of Facebook. Respondents neither agree nor disagree with respect to technology concerns, financial concerns, concerns about time, planning issues, and concern about incentives for the adoption of Facebook. Future research should focus on perceptions of potential barriers by smallholder farmers who were in early and middle stages of the innovation-decision process.
This may help extension services understand better the barriers that slow down the speed of Facebook adoption by smallholder farmers.
Applying the Best-Fit Framework to Assess and Strengthen National Extension and Advisory Services
Authors: Davis Kristin , Spielman David J.
Published: March 2019

Agricultural extension and advisory services are critical to supporting technological and institutional changes that can improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in developing countries. However, many extension services are under-resourced, out of date, and need of structural and content changes. However, efforts to systematically strengthen local extension systems often fall into the trap of promoting blueprints that are insufficiently adapted to local context. To that end, researchers developed the best-fit framework in the 2000s to provide impetus for pursuit of more locally-tailored extension solutions. Today, almost a decade later, researchers test the framework under real-world conditions in a cross-country application. This paper examines the application of this framework across six dimensions and seven countries to formulate a set of best-fit recommendations that are also broadly appreciable. The findings show that it is possible to apply the framework to the analysis of EAS across countries while also maintaining a very localized perspective on recommendations. Across the seven countries, certain obvious commonalities exist: The growth in pluralism in extension providers, the persistence of weak incentives for extension agents, and the lack of enabling policies. At the same time, innovative solutions to many of the challenges held in common—ICT-enabled
extension, performance incentives, and value-chain oriented extension—are heterogeneous. The framework allows users to pursue change processes in EAS in response to their own local realities.
Effectiveness of Agricultural Extension Wildlife Mitigation Strategies on Human-Wildlife Conflict Among Small-Scale Maize Farmers in Laikipia County, Kenya
Authors: Nyamwamu Ronald Orare , Ombati Justus Moturi
Published: March 2019

Agriculture is critical in the achievement of food security, employment of creation opportunities, steering economic growth, and also a source of raw materials for agricultural industries in many Sub-Saharan countries. However, farmers face various challenges which negatively affect farm productivity and production. Human-wildlife conflict is one of the most pressing challenges that smallholder maize farmers experience in some parts of Kenya. It arises from either people’s encroachment on wildlife habitats or the movement of wildlife from their natural habitat into neighboring farmland. Small-scale farmers use various agricultural extension strategies to mitigate the conflict. However, the effectiveness of the agricultural extension mitigation strategies adopted by smallholder maize farmers in Laikipia County had not been investigated and information on the same was inadequate and poorly documented. This study sought to determine the effectiveness of the agricultural extension wildlife conflict mitigation strategies adopted by smallholder maize farmers in Laikipia County. Whereas a document review guide was used to collect secondary data, semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect primary data from maize farmers and extension agents. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze primary data. It was established that crop damage was very severe, even up to 70% per cropping season although farmers used mitigation strategies such growing of unpalatable plants, live fences, hairy crops, and digging trenches. This study concluded that the Agricultural Extension Mitigation Strategies used were not effective. It was recommended concerted efforts between
stakeholders in the conflict to realize the benefits of synergies so as to stem crop damage and give small-scale farmers a chance to be food secure.
Effective Advocacy for Extension Networks: An Evaluation of Critical Capacities
Authors: Lamm Kevan W. , Lamm Alexa J. , Davis Kristin , Swaroop B. Jyothi
Published: March 2019

Across the globe extension or rural advisory service (RAS) networks are experiencing dramatic changes. Rural to urban population shifts, climate variability, and increased competition for limited resources have created a challenging environment. When done effectively, advocacy is one of the most successful tool extensionists possess to increase understanding and visibility for the value and impacts RAS networks can have. Despite the importance of advocacy there has not been any research into the capacities necessary for RAS networks to advocate effectively. To address the gap researchers conducted a three-round Delphi process with an expert panel of 31 individuals from 24 different countries. The panel achieved consensus on 39 specific capacities necessary for RAS networks to advocate effectively. Additional recommendations are provided for RAS networks to develop capacities accordingly.
Evaluating Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services through a Governance Lens
Authors: Álvarez-Mingote Cristina , McNamara Paul E.
Published: March 2019

Demand-driven extension services have been promoted as a potential mechanism to improve governance quality and lead to better-served farmers. In this paper, we evaluate i) the extent to which demand-driven elements are present in extension services in developing countries, and ii) whether governance problems persist and why. We accomplish so by performing a qualitative analysis of the Modernizing Extension and Advisory Services (MEAS) country assessments, and find that, despite the adoption of demand-driven features, extension services are not fully participatory, transparent, accountable, equitable and responsive to needed farmers.
Entrepreneurial Education in Middle-Level Tertiary Colleges in the Rift Valley of Kenya
Authors: Lawver David E. , Baker Matt , Gikunda Raphael Mwiti , Magogo Juma , Kanyi Michael
Published: March 2019

This study adds to the knowledge base of Entrepreneurial Education (EE) in selected technical training institutes in Kenya. Using qualitative research inquiry, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a question guidebook and follow-up questioning. Data were collected from students, instructors, and administrators selected through purposive sampling. Open and axial coding was used to categorize the transcribed interview responses. Peer review was used to ensure credibility and confirmability. The results reveals that the learning institutions prepared students as entrepreneurs through coursework, mandatory field internships, internal projects, participation in agricultural and business fairs, and providing startup capital for cooperative shops. EE delivery faces numerous constraints including inadequate start-up capital, inadequate access to land, and output and input market resulting from poor infrastructure, competition, lack of marketing skills, and exam-oriented curricula. Dairy, horticulture, poultry, and apiculture enterprises were identified as the most promising and viable enterprises for graduates of middlelevel tertiary institutions. In conclusion, EE was being offered in these institutions as certificate courses or integrated as a topic in their existing curricula. In order to improve upon the delivery of the programs, the institutions needed to upgrade learning facilities, incorporating ICT in the curricula, enhance practical learning, conduct rigorous follow-up evaluations of graduates, and establish business incubators for providing start-up capital to graduates.
Haitian Faculty Perceptions of Students’ Competence at Graduation: An Opportunity for Curricula Modification
Authors: Pierre Absalon , Calixte Marie Christelle , Moore Kelly , Bunch J. C. , Roberts T. Grady
Published: March 2019

The contribution of agricultural universities to long-term food security in developing countries is widely acknowledged. The extent to which these universities in each country are helping students develop the requisite competence to meet employment needs is unknown. The purpose of this study was to explore Haitian faculty members’ perceptions of student competence at graduation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 37 lecturers who taught at five of the major agricultural universities in Haiti. The results of this revealed that (a) the employment conditions for university graduates were challenging; (b) faculty did not believe it was important for their students to graduate proficient in all the GFRAS New Extensionist competency areas; (c) faculty believed students should have research skills, the ability to be self-directed, and the ability to work in teams; and (d) faculty generally believed their institutions were producing graduates
with the competencies needed for employment, although several lecturers identified specific areas for improvement. Recommendations for curricula reform and additional research are suggested.
A Survey to Determine International Program Growth Areas and Needs to Guide a College of Agriculture International Programs Office
Authors: Edgar Leslie D. , Edgar Don W. , Caillouet Olivia , Dobbins Catherine
Published: March 2019

International programs (IP) continue to grow in importance. There is an increased demand from employers and communities for globally competent individuals, yet only 2.3% of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences (Bumpers College) students studied abroad in an agriculture-related program during the 2014 and 2015 academic year. This study used descriptive survey methods with University of Arkansas undergraduate students enrolled in Fall 2017 Bumpers College courses (n = 1,758) to determine their perceptions of international experiences. These perceptions included identifying the most influential barriers and benefits to participation. The majority of students were interested in short-term faculty-led programs (n =
1,190, 72.1%), followed by international internships (n = 760, 46%). Students wanted to participate in an IP during summer I (n = 1,138, 69%), followed by summer II (n = 839, 50.8%). Based on a 5-point Likert-type scale, students reported “cost is too high” (M = 3.83, SD = 1.10) and being “too busy with school” (M = 3.27, SD = 1.18) as the most influential barriers to participating in an IP. Using the same Likert-type scale, students reported an IP being a “lifechanging opportunity” (M = 4.49, SD = 1.75) and “sets me apart when applying for grad school/jobs” (M = 4.27, SD = 1.90) as the most influential benefits. The fact that 5.5% of the students surveyed had participated in an IP confirms that the Bumpers College requires more immersion in order to meet the University of Arkansas goal for 25% international participation by 2020.
Bridging Farmer and Researcher: Extension through the Eyes of Agents in Rural Pakistan
Authors: Heaney-Mustafa Sandra , Sofo Francesco , Afzal Mukaddas , Anwar Zubair , Fatima Bareerah , Hasan Faizan ul
Published: March 2019

Irrigation and efficient water usage by farmers remain key agricultural problems in Pakistan. Technological approaches to water management specifically irrigation management using cloud technology is a recent innovation currently being trialed in Pakistan through a project conducted by the authors and funded by the Australian Centre for International Research. The paper reports on the perceptions of rural agents in Pakistan involved in the scaling out of new technologies to improve irrigation practices of a large number of farmers. The methodology adopted the use of focus groups with water professionals and extension agents as this approach has been proven to be a key effective method to assist rural agents to gather current information on irrigation problems and the scaling out process. Eight focus groups were assembled with an average of ten participants in each group. The findings revealed the current practices, positive outcomes and challenges to conducting farmer education in Pakistan. The importance of this research is its potential to improving work practices of large numbers of farmers that continue to be highly challenging. The study gives fresh insights on how farmer education methods could be achieved in relation to improving water irrigation through new technological practices of a significantly increased number of farmers.