bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antagonistic Endophytic Fungi of Globba pendula Roxb. from Taman Hutan Raya, North Sumatra against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC® 29213TM
Authors: Lutfia A , Munir E , Yurnaliza
Published: July 2019

Globba pendula Roxb. is a species in Zingiberaceae with prospective source of novel bioactive compounds. Traditionally, the roots or rhizomes have been used to treat several ailments in South Sumatra, Indonesia. Bioprospecting of its bioactive compounds is still limited along with its associated microorganisms, especially the natives one in North Sumatera. In this study, we conducted a preliminary screening of 16 (sixteen) fungal endophytic isolated from rhizome of G.pendula in Taman Hutan Raya, North Sumatera. The isolates were subjected against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC® 29213™ using dual culture plate assay. The sixteen isolates were differentiated morphologically by considering characters such as: Form, Elevation, Margin, Color, Texture, Concentric ring and Radial lines. All isolates were antagonists of S.aureus with different performances. Two isolates exhibited very strong antagonistic activity (++++), 13 isolates with strong activity (+++), and only one with mild activity (++). The results suggest that fungal endophytes from G. pendula may be used as source of antimicrobial compounds. The molecular identification of endophytes is currently under investigation.
Physicochemical Properties of Gelugur Powder (Garcinia atroviridis)
Authors: Karo-Karo Terip , Julianti Elisa , Nurminah Mimi
Published: July 2019

Garcinia fruits (local name asam gelugur) are one of endemic species in North Sumatera, Indonesia. In Indonesia, asam gelugur have been used for seasoning cook and tea. This study used two factors, the maturity level (T) and drying temperature (S). The result showed that the level of maturity had a very significant effect on water content, total soluble solid, and total acid; had a significant effect on ash content. Drying temperature had a very significant effect on water content, ash content, vitamin C content, total soluble solid, and color score; had a significant effect on total acid. The interaction between the two factors had a very siginificant effect on total soluble solid. The raw gelugur and drying temperature 50 °C produced the best and more acceptable quality of gelugur powder.
Abundance and Growth Parameter of Mangrove Crab (Scylla serrata) in Estuary Water of Karang Gading, District Deli Serdang
Authors: Mulya Miswar Budi , Harahap Zulham Apandy
Published: July 2019

Research about the abundance and growth parameter of mangrove crab Scylla serrata in the estuary water of Karang Gading, District Deli Serdang has been done. The aims of this research are to analyze the abundance, frequency distribution of wide carapace, and growth parameter of mangrove crab. This research use purposive sampling methods. Sampling of mangrove crab use bubu, and data analysis use the equation according to Bengen and Fish Stock Assesment Tool (FISAT II). The study obtained 146 individu of male crabs and 192 individu of female crabs. The abundance of male mangrove crabs is 88 ind m3-1 and female crabs 116 ind m3-1 . The highest value of mangrove crab abundance was found at station 4 of 68 ind m3-1 consisting of 17 male crabs and 51 female crabs, and the lowest in station 1 was 37 ind m3-1 consisting of 23 male crabs and 14 female crabs. Distribution of mud crab is included in the group distribution pattern. The male crabs takes 4 month to reach maximum carapace width, and female crab takes 5 month.
Isolation and amplification DNA of Elaeis guineensis from Bangun Bandar Plantation, North Sumatra
Authors: Hayati R , Basyuni M , Afandi D , Arifianto D , Bimantara Y , Syahputra I
Published: July 2019

Elaeis guineensis is the primary commodity that supports the economy of Indonesian country. Lately, several reported diseases of oil palm caused by fungi, have declined in the quality of oil palm plantation also caused the death of several mature oil palm plants. The disease damages roots or tree trunk tissue is known as Basal Stem Rot (BSR). The present study aimed to report explains of the PCR and UV-tex method for detecting Ganoderma in mature palm plants. PCR can detect disease and primer EgMT used to produce various sizes of PCR products. Each sample has different brightness amplification depending on the reaction of the plant to the BSR fungus. The primer is expected to be suitable for detecting Ganoderma fungus in dura, pisifera and tenera oil palm mature plants. The length of the DNA fragment is visible with UV-1D after being irradiated with UV light. DNA amplification ranged from a value of 10,526-114,289 bp. The type of dura plant detected by amplified BSR disease was 34,211-114,289 bp. On the other hand, pisifera is only 21,053 bp and tenera 10,526-104,844 bp.
Database of Eleusine indica from NCBI
Authors: Tampubolon Koko , Purba Edison , Basyuni Mohammad , Hanafiah Diana Sofia
Published: July 2019

Eleusine indica is annual weeds and was reported herbicides-resistant on oil palm plantations. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) online available overall suite of online resources can be accessed for biological information the data, including the PubMed database and additional NCBI resources, focus on literature, health, genomes, genes, proteins, and chemicals. Results found in 16 databases for E. indica. Databases of E. indica have one book and reports, 1 MeSH, 3 NLM catalog, 303 scientific and abstracts or citations, 838 full-text journal articles, and 744 nucleotide DNA and RNA sequences. This information can be used in biotechnology research which contains explanations about herbicides-resistant, including early detection and management for herbicides-resistant E. indica biotype.
The Effect Of Plant Growth Regulators On Callus Induction Of Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.)
Authors: Nasution Nurul Hidayah , Nasution Irda Wahidah
Published: July 2019

Induction callus is one of the tissue culture techniques. Callus formation can be driven by the addition of Plant Growth Regulator such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and coconut water on the media to promote callus formation. The purpose of this research was to obtain the best medium formulation for induction and growth callus from an explant of stem mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.). The research design was used completely randomized design with two factors: the concentration of 2,4-D (0, 1, 2, and 3 ppm) and coconut water (0, 15, and 30%) with 12 treatments and 3 replications. Parameters observed in this study were the time of formation callus (weeks), callus fresh weight (g) and callus morphology (colour and texture). The result after 12 weeks observation showed that the addition of 2,4-D and coconut water on the media can induced callus formation from an explant of stem mangosteen. The treatment combination of 2 ppm 2,4-D and 15% coconut water was the best combination for the formation of mangosteen callus and produced yellow and compact callus. This concentration was recommended to grow the mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) callus, might be useful for the production of disease free and healthy plant materials and also it would be useful for genetic transformation and secondary metabolite production of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) using biotechnological approach.
Stand structure and diversity of restored mangroves at abandoned pond in eastern coast of North Sumatra
Authors: Onrizal O , Amelia R , Amri K , Sulistiyono N , Mansor M
Published: July 2019

Mangrove forests are one of the coastal wetland ecosystems and productive that functions as a buffer of life. However, in the last few decades, mangrove forests continue to be degraded or lost due to various human activities, especially the conversion of mangroves into ponds. Mangrove restoration on abandoned pond land has been carried out in recent years in eastern coast of North Sumatra. This study aimed to determine the diversity and structure of mangrove vegetation resulting from restoration on ex-pond lands on the eastern coast of North Sumatra. A total of 30 sample plots, each measuring 10m x 10 m, have been built at each age of stands from 5 years-old to 9 years-old and secondary forests. All trees with diameter (DBH) ≥ 2 cm in the sample plot were identified, measured DBH and height. The restored mangroves on the eastern coast of North Sumatra have high regeneration although the diversity was lower than secondary mangroves. A number of mangrove tree species were found growing in restored mangrove even though they were not planted. Therefore, the mangrove restorations have good impact on mangrove conservation. Some efforts to maintain mangrove forests from restoration and secondary forests need to be considered in order to avoid various disturbances.
The Effect of Argon and Carbon Ion After Heavy Ion Beam Irradiation of Toraja Local Rice
Authors: Rinaldi S , Riadi M , Rafiuddin  , Trisnawaty AR , Putra M M , Okasa A M , Kannapadang S
Published: July 2019

Red rice is not popular to be cultivated extensively by farmers because of long harvest period, which takes between 6 to 7 months before harvested. Therefore, there is a need to create a diversity of morphological characters, as the character for selection, especially related to the time of harvest. One method is through breeding mutation by irradiation using ion beam. The aim of this study is to evaluate early maturing lines after irradiation using ion beam in Toraja local rice. The experiment was conducted at Gowa and Enrekang Regency, South Sulawesi using Red local Toraja rice variety (Pare Lea) treated with ion beam irradiation of Argon ion (10 Gy) and Carbon (150 Gy). The result showed that Carbon ion irradiation treatment produced a higher number of mutants than argon ion irradiation at both locations. Secondly, carbon ion has a greater number of frequencies in the criteria of early maturing compared to Argon ion and harvesting day of red rice in the highlands is comparatively still longer than in the lowlands.
Genetic Similarity of Three Durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) Populations from Nias Island Sumatera Utara Based on Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR)
Authors: Hannum Saleha , Ndruru Indah Fiyar , Rahayu Suci
Published: July 2019

Genetic similarity of 3 durian poulations [Nias Kota (NK), Nias Induk (NI), and Nias Barat (NB)] had been evaluated based on Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers. The objectives of this study were to assess the genetic similarity of three durian population. There were 10 durian samples from each population. The genomic DNA was amplified using 4 primers (DzMTb021, Dz621, Dz535, and Dz504). All of locus had 100% of pholymorphism except Dz621 with 33.33% pholymorphism. Dendrogram was cosntructed using Unweighted air-Group Method Arithmetic (UPGMA) based on Numerical Taxonomy and Multivariate System (NTSys) computer program. The result showed that the ten sample were not clustered within their populations. Genetic similarity of 30 durian from three population was 63%, and genetic similarity of durian within NK, NI, and NB population was 72, 74, and 59% respectively. The similarity of NK and NI population ws the highest when compared to NB.
Comparing Characteristics of Charcoal and Activated Carbon from Oil Palm Fronds
Authors: Maulina Seri , Anwari Fikri Naufal
Published: July 2019

This study aimed to make use of oil palm fronds that contained cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in manufacturing of charcoal through pyrolysis and activated carbon through pyrolisis and impregnation process. To do so, oil palm fronds were pyrolyzed at 150 °C, 200 °C, and 250 °C for 90 minutes. Afterwards, the pyrolyzed fronds or charcoal were smoothed with a ball mill, sieved to 140 meshes, and impregnated using a Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3) for 24 hours at a concentration of 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 % (w/v). The effect of impregnation process has been investigated. Activated carbon with the highest iodine value of 565.19 mg/g was obtained at 5.0 % (w/v) of sodium carbonate at temperature of 250 °C and the charcoal was 493,5 mg/g. The activated carbon has 6.55% of water content, 13.11% of ash content, 13.46% of volatile matter, 67.67% of fixed carbon. The charcoal has 4.21% of water content, 17.91% of ash content, 14.42% of volatile matter, 66.33% of fixed carbon. FTIR Analysis indicated that charcoal and activated carbon tends to be more polar and contained specific bonds of activated carbon. Moreover, SEM analysis also indicated that activated carbon contained coarse and distributed porous.
Soil-transmitted helminth and its associated risk factors among school-aged children
Authors: Darlan D M , Winna M , Simorangkir H A H , Rozi M F , Arrasyid N K , Panggabean M
Published: July 2019

Soil-transmitted helminth is still prevalent among developing region population consisting of three helminthic species infection, Ascariasis, hookworm, and Trichuriasis. Poor personal hygiene, poor environmental sanitation, low social economy, and population density are associated with the infection. Our study aimed to determine any significance among purposed risk factor of STH infection. This study was an analytical survey with cross sectional design. The number of samples is 39 student of 101747 Public Elementary School located in Klumpang Kebun Street, Klumpang Kebun Village, Hamparan Perak District, Deli Serdang who are determined based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data of personal hygiene, environmental sanitation and socio-economic was obtained by filling in the questionnaire. STH infections data was examined by the Kato-Katz method. Thus, bivariate statistical analysis is established to view the risk factors that play a role in the transmission of STH. Among 39 school age children studied, an overall STH prevalence of 25.6% was found. Questionnaires showed good personal hygiene 74.4%, good environment 77% and high income 53.8%. Also, bivariate analysis showed the strong relationship between the STH risk factor and its infections consisting of personal hygiene (p = 0.000, 95% CI 3.762 - 181.066) and environmental sanitation (p = 0.000, 95% CI 4.367 - 206.071). The significant association of proposed risk factor and STH infection must have led to a specific intervention performed by any official institution including government.
Synthesis and characterization of pure natural hydroxyapatite from fishbone biowaste of coastal communities
Authors: Sihotang M Sontang , Sinuhaji Perdinan , Aisyah Dara
Published: July 2019

Fish bone waste has long been used in research laboratories that make it necessary for the program to transfer the knowledge to the community in order to improve its usefulness. Fish bone is a form of waste generated from the fish crackers processing industries that like the highest content of calcium hydroxyapatite (HA or HAp). In the bones, the minerals are mainly deposited in the form of calcium phosphate compounds with the greatest majority existing as apatite and only a small amount of the most carbonate containing apatites. Fish bone was converted to hydroxyapatite by heat treatment method at different temperature sand for different conversion durations. Based on the result characterization (at temperature of 1100 °C by FTIR) only the phosphate is exist which is at 1026 cm−1which almost has no impurities that the coumpound HA at high temperatures and smaller particle will be produced hydroxyapatite which is the particle size using 25 μm.
Effect of Mahkota Dewa Ethanolic Extracts (Phaleria macrocarpa Scheff.) to Hepar Histology of Female Rat (Rattus novergicus) In Preeclampsia
Authors: Ilyas S , Tanjung M , Nurwahyuni I , Pasaribu F Y
Published: July 2019

Preeclampsia is a disease at 20 weeks’ gestation which is characterized by an abnormal increase in blood pressure (Hypertension) and Proteunaria. This study used a type of analytic study with an experimental quasi design in pregnant female rats (Rattus norvegicus) consisting of four treatments with six replications each. The study consisted of a control group (K) which was only fed ad libitum, Treatment 1 (P1) was injected with LPS intervena at a dose of 0.2 / kgBW, and the group was given extract of Mahkota Dewa Plant (Phaleria macrocarpa Scheff.) With each dose -one of 100 mg / kgBW (P2) and 200 mg / kgBW (P3). Rat liver organ (Rattus norvegicus) is taken after surgery. Liver organ is made into a preservative preparation with paraffin method and staining of Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE). Morphological observations showed a marked decrease in liver weight (p <0.05) in P1 compared to Control and a change in liver color in P1 compared to controls. Normal hepatocyte histological observations and necrosis showed that there were significant differences (p < 0.05) and hepatocyte parenchymatic degeneration and hydropic degeneration showed no significant differences (p > 0.05).
Effect of Combination of Nano Herbal Andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC.) and Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) to Kidney Histology of Preeclampsia Rats
Authors: Situmorang P C , Ilyas S , Hutahaean S
Published: July 2019

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy disorder that can cause interference in the kidneys. This study aims to determine the safety effects of the combination of Nano herbal Andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium) and Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) in preeclampsia. This study consisted of 5 groups ie K(-): Pregnant Rats, K(+):PE model Rats, P1: PE model Rats + 0,45g EVOO/day/200gBW at 13rd-19th days pregnancy, P2: PE mode Rats + Nano-Andaliman 100mg/200gBW at 13rd-19th days pregnancy and P3: PE model Rats + 0,45g EVOO/day/200gBW + Nano-Andaliman 100mg/200gBW at 13rd-19th days pregnancy. This study showed no differences in kidney weight (p>0,05) but there were significant differences in Necrosis in kidneys (p < 0.05). Combination of Nano herbal Andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium) and Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) in preeclampsia can effect in histology kidneys.
Spectroscopic properties of few-layer tin chalcogenides
Authors: Dewandre Antoine , Verstraete Matthieu J , Grobert Nicole , Zanolli Zeila
Published: July 2019

Stable structures of layered SnS and SnSe and their associated electronic and vibrational spectra are predicted using first-principles DFT calculations. The calculations show that both materials undergo a phase transformation upon thinning whereby the in-plane lattice parameters ratio a/b converges towards 1, similar to the high-temperature behaviour observed for their bulk counterparts. The electronic properties of layered SnS and SnSe evolve to an almost symmetric dispersion whilst the gap changes from indirect to direct. Characteristic signatures in the phonon dispersion curves and surface phonon states where only atoms belonging to surface layers vibrate should be observable experimentally.
Beneficial impact of materials with reduced dimensionality on the stability of perovskite-based photovoltaics
Authors: Petrović Miloš , Rogdakis Konstantinos , Kymakis Emmanuel
Published: July 2019

Organometallic lead-halide solar cells exhibited immense potential over the past years and reached the transition point from lab to industry-scale fabrication. However, bridging this gap and establishing perovskites as a viable competitor to conventional Si-based photovoltaics, hinges on the success of cost-effective upscaling process. The key factor impeding this transition is operational stability of solar cells under realistic photoconversion conditions. To this extent, reducing the dimensionality of cell constituents appears as a promising and very attractive approach to tackle this issue. The beneficial influence of such materials on device stability, which is explicitly tied to the engineered interface quality with underlying layers, comes as a result of complex interplay between energy alignment, strain-induced interactions and barrier-like properties of 2D components. The aim of this perspective is to briefly outline key challenges regarding the exploitation of 2D materials within the framework of perovskite photovoltaics, as well as to suggest further development directions.
Asian American Theater and Drama from the 1960s to the 1990s
Authors: Lee Esther Kim
Published: July 2019

Asian American theater was created in the 1960s and the 1970s as a national movement by actors, playwrights, designers, directors, and producers who wanted to promote the inclusion and representation of Asian Americans in American culture. At the beginning of the 1960s, the concept of “Asian American theatre” did not exist, and “Asian American drama” was not a known genre. Instead, there were “oriental” actors who wanted to play non-stereotypical roles and to fight the practice of yellowface, a makeup convention in which white actors alter their face to look Asian. The “oriental” actors had a two-pronged agenda of art and activism to be taken seriously for their talent and experience. The first Asian American theater company, the East West Players, was founded in 1965 by actors in Los Angeles to further the agenda. In the 1970s, other Asian American theater companies and groups emerged around the country, and original Asian American plays began to be produced. Playwrights such as Frank Chin, Wakako Yamauchi, and Philip Kan Gotanda had their first plays produced at Asian American theater companies founded in the 1960s and 1970s.

In the 1980s, Asian American plays began to be produced in mainstream theater, which includes Broadway, off-Broadway, and regional theaters. The success of David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly, which received the 1988 Tony Award for Best Play, brought much attention to Asian American drama, and a number of plays were produced and published subsequently. Playwrights such as Velina Hasu Houston, Elizabeth Wong, and Jeannie Barroga had their plays produced at major theater companies, and Asian American theater companies continued to support new playwrights. In nontraditional theater venues, multimedia and avant-garde artists such as Jessica Hagedorn and Ping Chong were active in creating original performance pieces. Additionally, solo performance became a major performance genre for Asian American artists who wanted to use their body and voice to tell their own stories. Dan Kwong, Denise Uyehara, and Brenda Wong Aoki were forerunners in launching the genre of Asian American solo performance. A number of Asian American actors such as B. D. Wong, John Lone, and Mia Katigbak also received significant opportunities and recognition, but their two-pronged agenda of art and activism remained relevant and urgent. In the early 1990s, Asian American actors led the protest of the Broadway production of the mega-musical Miss Saigon that featured a white actor in yellowface makeup in the original London production. The protest galvanized Asian American theater artists around the country and inspired a new generation of writers, actors, designers, directors, and producers to create what would become one of the fastest growing sectors of American theater.
Community Journalism
Authors: Meyer Hans , Speakman Burton
Published: July 2019

It is all too common to think of community journalism as being like all other types of journalism, just on a smaller scale. With the growth of the Internet and virtual community, this form of journalism cannot be distinguished solely by circulation size or geographic delineations.

Within the larger journalism research sphere, community journalism remains underrepresented, even though the majority of publications in the United States can be classified as community journals, and throughout the world, small publications, both in print and online are commanding respect. If community media outlets are defined as having a circulation of lower than 50,000, then there are 7,184 community daily or weekly newspapers in the U.S. compared to only 4 publications with circulations of more than 500,000. Worldwide, data cannot be as easily condensed into percentages, but it is reasonable to think the figures are similar. Yet, media research typically focuses on the work and attitudes of the elites, i.e. the larger and best-known publications.

Existing research on community journalism has identified key distinctions between community journalism and other types. First, community media focus on information connected to everyday life, and second, its media members tend to develop a closer, more intimate connection to the community they serve.

The idea of closeness began with early research into the idea of community itself. Community as a concept revolves around emotional connection and membership. The two necessary elements for community formation are for a group of people to have something in common, and something that differentiates them from other groups.

Community media build upon these concepts to give communities a voice. The audience for community news is often connected by an interest in, and emotional attachment to, a geographic area, which represents one form of community or a specific viewpoint, interest, or way of thinking which often represents virtual community. Both groups need journalists, who provide factual information on the community and enable and support strong community ties. Community journalists can also help build place attachment and create third places for community members to congregate and interact socially in.
The Practice of Fixing and the Role of Fixers in Global Journalism
Authors: Plaut Shayna , Klein Peter W.
Published: July 2019

Sociologists and media scholars have offered a robust body of literature regarding the daily workings of global journalism—both in newsrooms and in the field. Although fixers are sometimes mentioned in this literature, the role they play in the production of global reporting is rarely analyzed. Such work often focuses on logistical assistance provided by fixers and discusses some tensions in the field regarding credit and security. Although this literature starts to paint an accurate picture of current trends in global journalism, it fails to critically examine how institutional and on-the-ground power dynamics impact a fixer’s work, let alone how global, systemic, and institutional dynamics shape which stories are reported and how the reporting itself is done. This is a glaring gap in knowledge as it ignores the impact that fixers can have on global journalism.

To rectify this gap, all aspects of global journalism must be explored, including the economic forces that allow global journalism to operate within a context of uneven power and resources. Recognizing that journalism functions in and as a field of uneven power offers a strong introduction to this discussion, but one must also situate journalism, journalists, and fixers themselves within the larger geopolitical realities of unequal economic and political power. These forces shape the process of fixing, which is why any thorough analysis of the role of fixing and fixers in global journalism must situate the conversation within a larger body of critical theory. In this context, mapping current trends and highlighting nuanced dynamics and tensions within the practice of fixing is essential to understanding how global journalism functions—and the role that fixers play in shaping its stories.
Journalism as a Field
Authors: Baisnée Olivier , Nollet Jérémie
Published: July 2019

Journalism as a field is a theoretical construction inspired by Pierre Bourdieu’s field theory, which sheds new light on the issues of media studies. This analytical framework was developed in France, beginning in the 1990s with the work of Patrick Champagne on the mutual influences between the fields of journalism and politics; the rare writings of Bourdieu on the journalistic field; and finally the work of young researchers on the subfields of specialized journalism. Reception of field theory in international journalism research dates back to the early 2000s, in particular around the work of Rodney Benson.

The journalistic field is a theoretical framework consisting of about 10 main concepts that raise a large number of research questions, both theoretical and empirical. It first describes the internal relations in the social space, both as a field of struggle (with concepts of illusio or field effect) and as a field of forces (with concepts of capital, commercial vs. civic poles, autonomy, or subfield). At an individual level, it also makes sense of the conduct of individual journalists (with concepts of habitus, position and position taking, and strategy). Second, it enables consideration of the place of journalism in society and its relations with other social spaces (the concept of media capital), referring in particular to the analysis of information sources or mediatization of society.

This research program has been incompletely realized thus far: general descriptions of the structure of current fields are lacking; little work has been done on the reception of media messages and consideration of the development of the Internet; and transnationalization of the media is insufficient. The journalistic field nevertheless has a strong heuristic potential in at least two directions. First, it is a useful tool for comparing media systems because its relational approach avoids the pitfalls of nominalism and facade comparisons. Second, it is valuable in considering the history of journalism because it describes the emergence of specifically journalistic activity without giving way to anachronism or culturalism.

The journalistic field is a demanding but nonexclusive theoretical framework, presenting a refreshing analytical challenge for traditional topics of journalism studies, such as the production of journalistic information, the mediatization of societies, the history of journalism, or the comparison of media systems.
Serbia and the European Union
Authors: Bonomi Matteo , Uvalic Milica
Published: July 2019

Serbia is negotiating European Union (EU) membership, a process that started in 2014 after the Brussels-mediated agreement between Kosovo and Serbia was signed in April 2013. Although the Federal Republic (FR) of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) was officially included into the EU’s Stabilization and Association Process soon after the fall of the Milošević regime in October 2000, complex political issues have prevented its faster progress toward the EU. EU measures after 2001 in the areas of financial assistance, trade, and legal harmonization have sustained in a major way the country’s political and economic reforms, facilitating fast economic integration with the EU economy, financial and banking integration, the adoption of many laws in conformity with the acquis communuataire, new business opportunities, and increasing foreign direct investment. However, the Serbia–EU integration process has also been accompanied by strict political conditionality that has greatly delayed the establishment of contractual relations. Despite major efforts of various governments to comply with EU conditions, it was only in late April 2008 that Serbia concluded a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU, which has paved the way for obtaining candidate status in 2012 and the opening of EU accession negotiations in 2014. In the meantime, EU’s enlargement negotiations framework has been strengthened further, making the negotiation talks much more complex and demanding. In addition to Serbia’s insufficient compliance with accession criteria, particularly reforms of the judiciary and public administration, the contested issue of Kosovo’s independence continues to pose a major threat to Serbia’s entry into the EU. Despite the absence of a common position on the part of the EU, given that Kosovo has still not been recognized by five EU member states, the limited progress in the Belgrade–Priština EU-facilitated dialogue represents one of the major obstacles for Serbia’s EU membership. Serbia’s entry into the EU, which could possibly take place in 2025, is likely to bring many benefits to the country and its population, but also to the EU, as this is a region of not only risks but also opportunities.
Constitutions and Constitutional Reforms in African Politics
Authors: Ndulo Muna
Published: July 2019

Several African countries are currently engaged in the constitution-making process. In Africa, constitution-making usually takes three phases. The first phase took place at independence in the 1960s and was typically led by the colonial power. Constitution-making during this phase was part of the decolonization process. In the case of former British colonies, the independence constitution was British legislation which constituted the independent state. The second phase was from independence to 1989. During this phase, constitution amendments were made to the independence constitutions designed to concentrate power in the presidency. This was the era of authoritarian governments in Africa which culminated into one-party state systems of governance. The third phase, which runs from 1989 to the present, is associated with the worldwide wave of democratization. During this period, constitution-making has centered on rebuilding the political community as well as structures that had been distorted by political manipulation and violence during the era of authoritarian rule. This third phase is also marked by promoting the participation of citizens in the affairs of their own countries and the accountability of governments. A well-designed constitution can promote these objectives. In addition, inclusiveness and peaceful settlement of conflicts can be seen as a vehicle for national dialogue, good governance, and the consolidation of peace.
The Judiciary and the Rule of Law in Africa
Authors: Heyl Charlotte
Published: July 2019

In a liberal conception of democracy, courts play an important role in facilitating the rule of law by controlling the abidance to rules and by holding the political branches of government accountable. The power of constitutional review is a crucial element for exercising horizontal accountability. Courts across Africa are vested with the power of constitutional review, and, generally speaking, their independence has substantially increased since the beginning of the 1990s—although African courts enjoy overall less independence than the global average for courts’ independence.

Within the African region, the level of judicial independence varies widely, between contexts that rarely allow judicial independence and contexts where courts have more power to challenge the government. Furthermore, across the continent, African courts experience undue interference—which frequently takes place informally. Informal interference can occur through the biased appointments of judges, verbal and physical threats, violent attacks, the payment of bribes, or the ouster of sitting judges. Informal networks—held together by ties based on shared educational trajectories, common leisure activities, religion, kinship relations, or political affiliations—are the channels through which such pressure can be transmitted. Yet judges also can actively build informal networks: namely, with the legal community, civil society, and international donors, so as to insulate themselves against undue interference and to increase institutional legitimacy.

Research has shown that the agency of judges and courts in signaling impartial decision-making, as well as in reaching out to society, is crucial to constructing legitimacy in the African context. In contrast, the explanatory power of electoral competition as an incentive for power holders to support judicial independence is not straightforward in the context of Africa’s political regimes, where the prospect of losing office is associated with financial, and in some cases even physical, insecurity. However, research on judicial politics in Africa is still only preliminary, because the field requires more comparative studies in order to fully reveal the political repercussions on Africa’s judiciaries as well as to delineate the scope conditions of the prominent theories explaining judicial independence.
Property and Territorial Rights in Political Philosophy
Authors: Angell Kim
Published: July 2019

To have property rights over X is to have rights to determine, in some respect, what shall happen to X, for example a piece of land. To have territorial rights is to have rights to make, enforce, and adjudicate the law within a geographical area. Property and territorial rights thus seem closely related, and philosophical accounts reveal various interesting connections between these bundles of rights—both in their nature and justification. A significant division, which we find in both old and new accounts—of property as well as territory—originates in the diverging political philosophies of John Locke and Immanuel Kant. Lockean accounts regard property and territorial rights as natural. People may acquire both without the prior existence of an adjudicating political authority. Kantian accounts, however, regard property rights as pure legal conventions. Non-existent outside civil society, they must be fully constructed by a state with territorial (jurisdictional) rights. Further divisions exist within Lockean and Kantian theories, and all the most prominent theories—of property as well as territorial rights—face significant unresolved philosophical challenges.
Religion and Political Conflict: “No Religious Affiliation” in the United States
Authors: Winters Kristi
Published: July 2019

After years of exceptionally high levels of religious adherence and identity, the latter part of the 20th century saw the start of a trend: increasing numbers of Americans reported they had no religious affiliation when asked by pollsters. From the start of polling on religious beliefs and identity in the mid-20th century, Americans were unlikely to report they had “none” when asked to name their religious identity. National surveys in the 1970s and 1980s found fewer than one-in-ten American adults reported they had no religious affiliation. After decades of reported religious belief levels and religious identity patterns that remained robust, America is experiencing a decline in religiosity in the 21st century. Research in 2016 found that nearly one-quarter of those surveyed identified as “atheist,” “agnostic,” or “nothing in particular,” nearly triple the 9% reporting the same during the General Social Survey in 1992. Those without a religious identification are now the second largest “religious” group in America

What accounts for the observed changes in American’s religious affiliation responses over time? Social researchers have identified more than one possible source of change. One could be changing social forces; a second source of variation might come from changes in which people, how people, and why people answer religious affiliation questions over time; and third, the factors people say were the source of change in their religious affiliation.
Latin America’s Autonomous Integration Initiatives
Authors: Preciado Coronado Jaime Antonio
Published: July 2019

If Latin American and Caribbean integration arose from the interests of nation-state institutions, linked to an international context where commerce and the global market was the mainframe of the economic development theory, some state and academic actors sought to expand the autonomy of nation-states in negotiating trade agreements and treaties under the paradigm of an autonomous governance of regionalism and economic integration. The autonomous integration initiatives arose between the 1960s and 1980s, before neoliberalism emerged as the sole model of development. However, since the 1990s, neoliberal policies have left little room for autonomous integration. A new period of autonomous integration emerged between the late 1990s and 2015, supported by progressive Latin American governments, along with a novel projection of social autonomy, complementary to autonomous integration, held by new social movements that oppose, resist, and create alternatives to neoliberal integration.

Inspired by the critical theory, the research linkages between the state and social autonomy question the neoliberal integration process, its perverted effects on exclusion and social inequality, and the conflicts related to the regional integration of democratic governance. The debates on autonomous regional integration cover three fields: economic interdependence, the realist perspective in international politics, and the theses of the field of International Political Economy. Arguments question their critique of the colonial outcomes of the modern world system, even more so than had been posited by dependency theory. Finally, there is the question of the emergence of an original Latin American and Caribbean theory of autonomous integration initiatives.
Prejudice and Religion
Authors: van der Noll Jolanda
Published: July 2019

Many studies have established that religious people display higher levels of prejudice. The review of the literature suggests, however, that in order to understand the relationship between religion and prejudice, it is important to consider the target of prejudice as well as the multifaceted nature of religion. Regarding the target of prejudice, some prejudices may be condemned in religious communities, whereas others may be perceived to be promoted by religious communities. Religion as a multifaceted construct encompasses social, moral, cognitive, and emotional aspects. In its relations with prejudice, the social and cognitive dimension are particularly relevant, as these dimensions determine who is considered to be an in-group member and what constitutes a threat to the own religious worldview. Furthermore, it has also been shown that the exposure to religious concepts influences prejudicial reactions. Finally, a review of the studies conducted outside the context of white Christians in North America and Europe shows that, regardless of social context and religious denomination, prejudice can to a large extent be explained by perceptions of threat, for example, to one’s belief system, which may especially be important for religious people.
Decolonizing the University in Africa
Authors: Nyamnjoh Francis B.
Published: July 2019

Since the euphoria of independence in the 1960s and subsequent attempts at decolonization of university education through promotion of perspectives grounded in African realities and experiences, African universities have almost without exception significantly Africanized their personnel but not their curricula, pedagogical structures, or epistemologies in a systematic and productive manner. Even a late arrival to political independence such as South Africa has, however reluctantly, embarked upon and covered some mileage toward Africanization of university personnel. Hardly addressed in any meaningful and transformative manner (even in countries that gained independence in the 1960s or shortly before), however, is the tradition of knowledge production and the epistemological order that informs it. This paper argues that any serious attempt at making African universities uncompromisingly inclusive institutions through embracing African traditions of knowing and knowledge production would require looking beyond the academy in its current configuration for inspiration. It uses the example of Amos Tutuola—a man of limited formal colonial education, and his writings depicting African universes as inspired by his Yoruba cosmology and ontology, to make the case on the reservoirs of insights and wisdom in the lived experiences of ordinary Africans, waiting to be tapped and channelled into the lecture halls of universities to refresh minds and reconfigure practice in the interest of a more relevant scholarship. The paper baptizes as convivial such a scholarship that dwells less on zero-sum games of absolute winners and losers, encourages a disposition of incompleteness and humility through the reality of the ubiquity of debt and indebtedness, and finds strength in themes of interconnections, interdependences, compositeness, and incompleteness of being that Tutuola’s writings exude.
Motivated Reasoning and Political Decision Making
Authors: Bolsen Toby , Palm Risa
Published: July 2019

Motivated reasoning is a pervasive force in politics. The concept of motivated reasoning was developed and elaborated in both psychology and economics as a way of understanding the way in which people learn and respond to information, and as a mechanism to explain behavior that is seen as less than optimal. It has been important in political science since the early 2000s. Political scientists initially connected the distinct constructs of motivated reasoning with online information processing, given the affective, unconscious, and automatic bases of both processes, but they later distinguished cognitive effort and processing style from underlying goals or motivation. Most research on motivated reasoning in political science focuses on two primary motivations: accuracy and directional goals. An accuracy motivation is defined by reasoning that seeks to arrive at a conclusion that is free from error given the information at hand, whereas a directional goal is defined by a desire to protect one’s existing beliefs or identities. Much of the early research on motivated reasoning in political science painted citizens as incapable of evaluating information objectively, and, to make matters worse, citizens’ processing biases appeared to increase with political knowledge, interest, and the strength of existing political beliefs. A second generation of research on motivated reasoning identified individual-level and contextual factors that moderated or eliminated directional biases. Scholars developed a better understanding of how motivations rooted in partisan identity affect information interpretation, evaluation, and decision-making, as well how different information environments can shift the motivations that citizens pursue when they are reasoning about politics. The pursuit of an accuracy motivation in political reasoning is now considered a realistic and attainable standard for evaluating citizen competence in democratic societies that avoids many of the pitfalls of past attempts to define the quality of citizens’ reasoning capacities.
Integrated Theories of Biological Aging
Authors: Bwiza Conscience P. , Son Jyung Mean , Lee Changhan
Published: July 2019

Aging is a progressive process with multiple biological processes collectively deteriorating with time, ultimately causing loss of physiological functions necessary for survival and reproduction. It is also thought to have a strong evolutionary basis, largely resulting from the lack of selection force. Here, we discuss the evolutionary aspects of aging and a selection of theories founded on a variety of biological functions that have been shown to be involved in aging in multiple model organisms, ranging from the simple yeast, worms, flies, killifish, and rodents, to non-human primates and humans. The conglomerate of distinct theories has together revolutionized aging research in the past several decades, far more than what humankind has known since the dawn of civilization. However, not one theory alone can independently explain aging and should not be interpreted out of context of the cell and organism in its entirety. That said, the 21st century has been and will be an exciting time in the field of aging, with scientific advances on health span and lifespan being made at multiple fronts of biology and medicine in an unprecedented scale.