bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
POLYMORPHISM OF METHYLENETETRAHYDROFOLATE REDUCTASE (A1298C) AS A RISK FACTOR FOR OSTEOPOROSIS IN POST-MENOPAUSAL INDONESIAN WOMEN
Authors: Auerkari Elza Ibrahim , Kusdhany Lindawati , Umami Sri Sofiati , Rahardjo Tri Budi Wahyuni , Talbot Christopher
Published: October 2017

Objective: The study aimed to assess the association between the A1298C polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and risk to osteoporosis in post-menopausal Indonesian women.Methods: After ethical approval, calcaneus bone mineral density (BMD) (T-scoring) was assessed from 194 consenting post-menopausal Indonesian women by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and DNA of the participants was isolated from peripheral blood samples. To determine the status of A1298C polymorphism of MTHFR, isolated DNA was polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified in 35 cycles, to result in PCR product sizes of 302 bp (1298A) and 275 bp (1298C). For fragment detection, the PCR product was subjected to electrophoresis on agarose gel. The results were statistically assessed for genotype and allotype comparison according to the T-score grouping by Chi-square analysis, assuming statistical significance at p<0.05.Results: The results show no significant association between the T-score (BMD) grouping and genotype (or allotype) of the tested polymorphism of MTHFR. The observed genotype distribution of the tested MTHFR polymorphism (A1298C) differs clearly from those previously reported, with AC as the dominant genotype in the Indonesian sample population of the present work.Conclusion: The MTHFR (A1298C) polymorphism is relatively infrequent in the Indonesian female population, and no significant association was observed between this polymorphism, bone mineral density, and osteoporotic status.
POTENTIAL ANTIOXIDANT AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITIES OF ARECA NUT (ARECA CATECHU LINN.) EXTRACT IN HUMAN ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA AND KERATINOCYTE CELLS
Authors: Meutia Sari Liza , Subita Gus Permana , Auerkari Elza Ibrahim
Published: October 2017

Objectives: Areca (betel, Areca catechu) nuts have been reported to show high contents of phenolic and flavonoid compounds with associated antioxidant activity. This study was undertaken to assess the anticancer potential of areca nut extract on human squamous carcinoma (HSC)-3, HSC-2, and human keratinocyte (HaCat) cancer cell lines, and to elucidate the mechanism of its action.Methods: In this study, the areca nut extract was prepared in 96% ethanol and analyzed for the total phenolic and flavonoid content, 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, and 5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4,5-dimenthylthiazoly)-3-(4-sulfophenyl)tetrazolium inner salt assay.Results: The indicated total phenolic content of the areca nut extract was 80.3 mg tannic acid equivalent/g and total flavonoid content 238.5 mg catechin equivalent/g. The extract showed good scavenging activity against DPPH radical (efficient concentration 15.95±0.84 μg/ml). The extract showed higher toxicity on HSC-3 than HSC-2 cells, IC50 was 164.06 μg/ml in HSC-3 versus 629.50 μg/ml in HSC-2. The extract had no cytotoxic effect on HaCat cells.Conclusions: The antioxidant activity of the areca nut extract might be associated with the presence of high content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The extract showed selective cytotoxicity against HSC-3 and HSC-2 cells but not on HaCat cells. Instead, the extract induced high rate of proliferation in HaCat cells.
PHYTOPHARMACEUTICAL POTENTIALS OF PROSOPIS LAEVIGATA, SYMPLOCOS COCHINCHINENSIS AND NYMPHAEA ALBA: A REVIEW
Authors: Matta Diksha , Nanda Harshit , Mahalingam Gayathri
Published: October 2017

Medicinal plants are used from a very long interval of time for treatment of several diseases. In this review, we present detailed information about the diversified medicinal properties of three different plants, namely, Prosopis laevigata, Symplocos cochinchinensis, and Nymphaea alba. The different medicinal properties found in these three unexplored plants can have industrial applications in the treatment of peculiar diseases such as heart attacks and hypercholestriamia. The typical medicinal properties found in these plant’s antioxidant, antibacterial, and antimicrobial activity, which suggests that all these plants can be used in drug design and modeling at commercial level. The unique properties of P. laevigata include anti-biofilm and anti-corrosion activities. The exclusive properties found in S. cochinchinensis include anti-snake venom activity and anticancer activity. The rare properties of N. alba include uterotonic and anxiolytic activities. Combining all these activities, we compare all the properties in these plants and hence conclude with the future therapeutic applications in drug design of these plants.
REVERSION OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE WITH BETA-LACTAMASE INHIBITOR FROM MEDICINAL PLANTS
Authors: Arora Sneha , Nandi Shoma Paul
Published: October 2017

Objective: Screening of medicinal plants for the presence of beta-lactamase inhibitor identified three plants; Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellirica, and Ocimum tenuiflorum, extracts of which inhibit beta-lactamase enzyme in vitro. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare beta-lactamase inhibiting potential of these plant extracts.Methods: Extracts of these plants were prepared with 6 solvents of different polarity. Beta-lactamase inhibition study was performed using antibiotic-resistant bacteria in bioassay and by micro-iodometric assay. Multidrug-resistant clinical strains of Escherichia coli and laboratory strain with plasmid carrying beta-lactamase gene as positive control were used.Results: Our results from bioassay, as well as micro-iodometric assay for enzyme activity, confirmed the presence of beta-lactamase inhibitor in these plant extracts. Among the extracts made by different solvents, hexane and ethyl acetate extract of T. chebula, hexane extract of T. bellirica, and all extracts of O. tenuiflorum except dichloromethane, possessed beta-lactamase inhibitor. Multidrug-resistant clinical isolate of E. coli AIIMS-1 could be reverted by applying 50 μg/μl of extract of all the medicinal plants. The micro-iodometric result showed highest beta-lactamase inhibition with O. tenuiflorum extracts. Comparative evaluation of the O. tenuiflorum extracts with increasing concentration of inhibitor suggests that ethyl acetate extract of O. tenuiflorum contains the highest inhibition potential, which is comparable with clavulanic acid.Conclusion: The results demonstrated that the ethyl acetate extract of O. tenuiflorum contain the highest level of beta-lactamase inhibitor, which in the future can be used as an alternative to synthetic beta-lactamase inhibitors that are presently being used to control beta-lactam antibiotic resistance
POTENTIAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF PLUMBAGO ZEYLANICA
Authors: Subramaniyan Vetriselvan , Paramasivam Velmurugan
Published: October 2017

Objective: To determine the anti-inflammatory activity of dichloromethane extract of Plumbago zeylanica (DMEPZ), and its possible mechanism of action.Methods: Male Wistar rats (180-200 g) under controlled standard conditions (24±1°C, 55-58 humidity and 12 hrs light/dark cycle). The groups were divided into 5 groups (n=6/group) and assigned as positive control, negative control, and standard and two different test dose groups of P. zeylanica. Paw edema induced by subplantar injection of 0.1 mL of carrageenan (suspended in 1% carboxymethyl cellulose) into the right hind paw in all groups except negative control group. Granuloma induced by cotton pellets (10±1 mg) were implanted into groin region of each rat. The groups were divided into 4 groups (n=6/group) and assigned as possitive control, two different test dose groups of P. zeylanica and standard.Results: Oral administration of DMEPZ shown a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent protection against carrageenan-induced paw edema. At 1st hr, P. zeylanica shown an inhibition effect of edema in the different doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg were found to be 28.57 and 31.79%, respectively. At 3rd hrs, the paw edema inhibition was found to be 30.70 and 40.15%, respectively. Diclofenac (25 mg/kg) had effect of 34.10 and 41.73% (p<0.001) inhibition of paw edema at in 1 and 3 hrs. P. zeylanica 500 mg/kg showed percentage inhibition of wet and dry cotton pellet granuloma in rats 55.84% and 47.92%, respectively.Conclusion: Thus, the present study revealed that the DMEPZ offered significant protection against inflammation.
EFFECT OF GOLD AND NICKEL NANOPARTICLES ON IMMUNE PROTEINS OF TOXOPLASMOSIS PATIENTS
Authors: A Abdulsattar Sura , H Drywall Abdullah
Published: October 2017

Objective: An interaction between a nanoparticle and the immune system is considered desirable when it may lead to various beneficial medical applications such as vaccines, delivery of drugs, antigens or therapeutics for inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. This study aims to evaluate the impact of some immune proteins by the presence of gold and nickel nanoparticles in sera of toxoplasmosis patients.Methods: A total of 20 patients women with toxoplasmosis aged (20-40 year) attending Central Health Laboratory in Baghdad city for the period (November 2016 to February 2017) and 20 age-matched of women healthy as a control were included in this study.Results: A non-significant increase in the activity and specific activity of protease in the sera of women infected with toxoplasmosis were observed in comparison to their values in the healthy (p˃0.05). While a non-significant decrease in total protein values was reported. The results of effect of nanoparticles showed a decrease in the level of the enzyme in the presence of nanoparticles by 41.3%, while the results showed that inhibition of nickel nanoparticles was greater and 43.8%. The results indicated that IgA, IgG, and IgM levels were decreased in the presence of gold nanoparticles. In the same context, both IgA and IgG were shown to be inhibitory in the presence of nickel nanoparticles while the results showed activation of the IgM level with nickel nanoparticles.Conclusion: We conclude from this study that other studies are required to confirm our results and therefore support the possibility of using nickel nanoparticles as a support for the treatment of toxoplasmosis through its dual effect first by reducing the protease, which is essential for survival of the parasite and second by activating IgM level, which enhances the immune defense of the body against the parasite.
OKRA FRUIT GUM-CHITOSAN IMPREGNATED POLYMER NETWORK FILMS: FORMULATION AND SUBSTANTIAL DEPICTION
Authors: Nagpal Meenu , Aggarwal Geeta , Jain Upendra Kumar , Madan Jitender
Published: October 2017

Objective: The present research is aimed at formulation and evaluation of okra fruit gum (OFG)-chitosan (CH) impregnated polymer network films.Methods: The film forming property of the gum attained from fruits of Abelmoschus esculentus was enhanced by co-processing it with CH. Estimation of properties including swelling index (SI), film volume, volume index, film surface contact angle with buffer solutions (pH 1.2, 7.4 or 6.8), work of adhesion (Wa), and spreading coefficient was done.Results: The contact angle and SI of OFG-CH film in both acidic and alkaline buffers were witnessed to be lowest when equated with the films prepared with difference in ratios of both gum and CH. Moreover, the Wa and spreading coefficient were less for this film. These results could be attributed to the optimum interaction between –COO− groups of gum and -NH3+ groups of CH.Conclusion: The actual nature of the film found to be tough, flexible, and water resistant. Hence, the results have shown that the films produced have a high potential for use in modified drug release and in food and pharmaceuticals.
ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF EXTRACT, FRACTIONS, AND ASIATICOSIDE COMPOUND ISOLATED FROM CENTELLA ASIATICA LINN. LEAVES IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC MICE
Authors: Fitrianda Eka , Sukandar Elin Yulinah , Elfahmi Elfahmi , Adnyana I Ketut
Published: October 2017

Objective: Centella asiatica Linn. is known and used as traditional antidiabetic drug especially in ayurvedic traditional system in some countries. The main objective of this study was to evaluate antidiabetic activity of ethanolic extract, saponin-rich fraction (SRF), nonsaponin fraction (NSF), and asiaticoside compound isolated from C. asiatica Linn. leaves in alloxan-induced diabetic mice.Methods: Diabetes was induced in albino mice by administration of alloxan monohydrate (60 mg/kg i.v). Extract was administrated orally each in doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg, the SRF and NSF were in doses of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg, while the asiaticoside was administrated in doses of 1.4, 2.8 and 5.6 mg/kg for 21 days. Blood fasting glucose level, insulin level, and glycosylated hemoglobin level were measured, and histopathology of pancreas was observed to determine antidiabetic activity of each sample.Results: Decreased blood fasting glucose level, increased insulin, and decreased glycosylated hemoglobin were observed in diabetic mice treated with extract, SRF and asiaticoside. On 21st day, extract at dose 500 mg/kg, SRF at dose 300 mg/kg, and asiaticoside at dose 5.6 mg/kg gave lowest blood glucose level in their each group which were 239±8.0, 254±10.4, and 217±8.1 mg/dl, respectively, compared to control group at 290±14.8 mg/dl. Insulin level of these three groups was 19.4±0.59, 24.8±0.99, and 27.8±0.77 μIU/ml, respectively, the highest value in their each group compared to 7.28±0.34 μIU/ml in control group. Meanwhile glycated hemoglobin level of these groups was 2.040±0.08, 2.010±0.04, and 2.11±0.07 ng/ml, respectively, lowest value in their each group compared to control group at 2.76±0.06 ng/ml. However, histopathology study in these groups did not show any improvements in regeneration of β-cells of pancreas. In the other side, NSF treatment did not affect any the parameters mentioned above.Conclusions: It can be concluded that extract, SRF and asiaticoside isolated from C. asiatica Linn. possess significant antidiabetic activity in diabetic mice. Based on increased levels of insulin and histopathology studies of pancreatic tissue, antidiabetic activity of those samples was believed to occur through the mechanism of increasing secretion of healthy pancreatic β-cells without any ability to regenerate β-cells that were damaged by alloxan.
A REVIEW ON PHYTOSOMES: NOVEL APPROACH FOR HERBAL PHYTOCHEMICALS
Authors: Kumar Arun , Kumar Bimlesh , Singh Sachin Kumar , Kaur Barinder , Singh Saurabh
Published: October 2017

The poor oral bioavailability of polyphenolic compound can be enhanced through the incorporation of them into phospholipid based self-assembled delivery system, i.e. popularly known as phytosome. “Phyto” means plants and “some” resembles a covering around/or a structure. Phytosome is generally prepared by reacting one or two moles of polyphenolic phytoconstituents and phospholipid. It may be either in the ratio of 1:1 and 1:2. By using phytosomes, one can also achieve enhanced rate and extent of the passage of lipophilic herbal constituents across lipid membrane that explains its character as a carrier as well as acid labile herbal drugs could also be protected in gastrointestinal tract. There are number of products available in the market that contains phytosomal drug delivery system such as Ginkgo biloba, Silybum marianum, and Camellia sinensis. The present review describes an updated overview of preparation of phytosomes, advancement in phytosomes technology, various herbal drugs for which phytosomes have been used as a carrier, its commercial availability and applications.
VITAMIN D RECEPTOR GENE POLYMORPHISMS AND HAPLOTYPE ANALYSIS IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS FROM NORTH INDIA
Authors: Taneja Nancy , Khadgawat Rajesh , Mani Shalini
Published: October 2017

Objective: Vitamin D receptor (VDR) mediated Vitamin D signaling is important for expression of insulin gene and glucose transporters, which help in glucose uptake by cells. Current evidence suggests that four common polymorphisms (FokI, BsmI, ApaI, TaqI) of VDR gene are associated with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in different populations. However, there is a scarcity of data on VDR polymorphisms from Indian population.Methods: In the current study, total genomic DNA was isolated from 100 well-characterized T2DM patients and 100 healthy controls. We investigated the prevalence of FokI and ApaI polymorphisms in VDR gene of these patients by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism-based method. Taking help of our previous published data on TaqI and BsmI polymorphisms in same patients, the haplotype study was also conducted. Statistical analysis of data was performed using SPSS 21.0 software. Haplotype and linkage disequilibrium analysis was performed by Haploview software.Results: Both the wild (TT) and mutant (CC) genotype of FokI polymorphism showed a significant difference between patients and controls (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). The frequency of mutant allele (C) was also significantly higher in T2DM patients than the controls (p<0.001). In case of ApaI, frequency of wild (GG) and mutant (CC) genotype was significantly different in patients and controls (p=0.017 and p=0.034). As per haplotype analysis, the CACT haplotype was predicted to be of significance in patients and consists of mutant alleles of three polymorphisms (FokI, BsmI, ApaI). Conclusion: Our study supports the association of FokI and ApaI polymorphism in T2DM. The haplotype analysis also indicates that the combinations of mutant allele of different VDR polymorphisms are probably responsible for increased susceptibility of these individuals toward T2DM.
EVALUATION OF IN VITRO CYTOTOXIC EFFECT OF VIOLACEIN PRODUCED BY NOVEL ISOLATE CHROMOBACTERIUM VACCINII CV5 AGAINST THE CERVICAL AND LUNG CANCER CELL
Authors: Santhosh Vishnu T , Muthusamy Palaniswamy
Published: October 2017

Objectives: This study investigates the in vitro anticancer activity of the violacein extracted from the Chromobacterium vaccinii CV5.Methods: Natural colorants or dyes derived from flora to fauna are believed to be safe because of nontoxic, noncarcinogenic, and biodegradable in nature. There are a number of natural pigments, but only a few are available in sufficient quantities for industrial production. The cytotoxicity activity of pigment was assessed against the cervical (HeLa) and lung cancer (A549) cell lines using the MTT assay and there by potential cytotoxic activity exhibited by the pigment was identified.Results: The result of the pigment shows potent anticancer activity on the two cancer cell lines tested in a concentration dependent manner. The potent anticancer activity was observed with the pigment with IC50 values of 26 μg/mL on HeLa and 31 μg/mL on A549 cells, respectively.Conclusion: The study is pioneering report for determining the better in vitro anticancer activity of violacein from the novel isolate C. vaccinii CV5.
ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF ARGEMONE MEXICANA L (FLOWERS) AGAINST HUMAN LIVER CANCER (HEPG2) CELL LINE
Authors: D Prabhakaran , Mm Senthamilselvi , A Rajeshkanna
Published: October 2017

Objective: To explore the anticancer activity of the flowers of Argemone mexicana L. against the human hepatoma cell line (HepG2).Methods: In vitro anticancer activity was carried out to screen cytotoxicity effectiveness of the solid obtained from ethyl acetate fraction of A. mexicana L. flower extract at different concentrations against the HepG2 cell line. The MTT (methylthiazolyl diphenyl- tetrazolium bromide) assay for cell viability and markers is expected to confirm the cytotoxicity.Result: Ethyl acetate fraction from the flower extract of A. mexicana L. was tested for its anticancer activity against HepG2 cell lines (liver cancer) at various concentrations by MTT assay. It was confirmed that the IC50 value of this sample was 72±1.7 μg/ml against liver cancer HepG2 cell line.Conclusions: A. mexicana L. is a potential plant with anticancer activity. The isolation of the pure compounds and determination of the structure of individual compounds will be further performed.
A REVIEW ON MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF CENTELLA ASIATICA
Authors: Prakash Ved , Jaiswal Nishita , Srivastava Mrinal
Published: October 2017

Plant-based drug discovery has drawn the attention of researchers, especially the one used as traditional medicines. Centella asiatica is traditional Ayurveda medicine widely used in India and across Asia for treating a variety of diseases. The aerial parts and roots are used for medicinal purpose, and its chemical constituents have wide therapeutic applications in areas of antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, antioxidant, and wound healing activities. Many of its uses have been proven scientifically, and bioactive ingredients have been validated. In this review, we have done a critical evaluation of available literature looking for the pharmacological importance of C. asiatica. Further studies will be helpful to discover more bioactive compounds their exact mode of actions.
ASSESSING STUNTING AND PREDISPOSING FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN
Authors: Gupta Anil
Published: October 2017

Objective: The present study was aimed at “assessing stunting and predisposing factors among children.”Methods: Prospective, descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study was conducted comprising children between 2 years and below 5 years age group in the city Fazilka in Punjab, India. Random, two-stage cluster sampling method was adopted. Direct observation and interview methods were used to assess physical appearance, demographic characteristics, habit of soil eating, and episodes of diarrhea (diarrheal episodes 2 weeks before investigation). Inspection method was used to assess nail beds of children to ascertain pallor.Results: Prospective, descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study was conducted comprising children between 2 years and below 5 years age group in the city Fazilka in Punjab, India. Study population was made up of total 440 children which were differentiated into 240/440, 127/440, and 73/440 children representing about 54.5%, 28.9%, and 16.6% of proportions from schools, child care, and slums, respectively. Children 55/240, 36/127, and 35/73 from schools, childcare centers, and slums suffered from stunting which amounted to about 23%, 28%, and 48% prevalence of stunting in school, childcare center, and slum children. Gender-wise characterization of study population depicted boys (260/440) and girls (180/440) with a proportion of 59% boys and 41% girls. Among the participants, about 20.5% (90/440) and 79.5% (350/440) of children belonged to illiterate and literate parents. The odds for stunting were nearly 1.6 times higher among anemic children in comparison to children in non-anemic group represented by odds 0.575 and 0.348 in former and latter groups of children with odds ratio (OR=1.65). Children (n=41) out of total children (n=80) those belonged to income (<2000 INR) per month in family, were stunted and contributed to 51% prevalence of stunting. Another group of children (n=85/360) who belonged to income (>2000 INR) per month in family, suffered from 23.6% prevalence of stunting.Conclusion: National policies should be reformed to generate employment, Maintain minimum support price for Agricultural products, Sustain food security and contribute and promote community sanitation and hygiene.
INVESTIGATING STOCK MARKET REACTION ON JAKARTA ISLAMIC INDEX (JII) ANNOUNCEMENT
Authors: Laila Nisful , Nasih Mohammad
Published: October 2017

The aim of this research is to investigate the stock market reaction from the event when Jakarta Islamic Index (JII) is announced. The indication of stock market reaction was shown by appearing abnormal return during the date when the emiten are in the list of JII, and also several days before and after the annaouncement day. The method of this research is called event studies. Data collected from daily stock price from Indonesian Stock Exchange data base. By using market adjusted model, it was found that 21 stocks from JII latest list, during 11 days observation shown significant abnormal return, at 5% significant level. The conclusion from this finding is that the information of JII announcement has important content that caused the abnormal return during and around the announcement day. Moreover the information is shown a positive signal for investor, so that caused positive abnormal return
PENGARUH INVESTASI DAN TENAGA KERJA TERHADAP PRODUK DOMESTIK REGIONAL BRUTO (PDRB) DAN PENDAPATAN ASLI DAERAH (PAD) KOTA BALIKPAPAN
Authors: Rosmalia Johana , Iskandar Rusdiah , Fitriadi Fitriadi
Published: October 2017

This study used secondary data in the form of time series which are analyzed using Pathway analysis with multiple linear regression formula. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of investment and labor to gross regional domestic product (GRDP) and regional revenues in Balikpapan city.  The results of the study was shown that Y = 0.202 - 0.098 X1 + 0.244 X2 + 0.825 X3. The results showed that investment, labor and gross regional domestic product (GRDP) have jointly effect on the regional revenues in Balikpapan city. Partially; the investment has no significant effect on gross regional domestic product (GRDP), labor has significant effect on gross regional domestic product (GRDP), gross regional domestic product (GRDP) has significant effect to regional revenues in Balikpapan city, the investment has no significant effect on regional revenues in Balikpapan city, and labor has no significant effect on regional revenues in Balikpapan city. The contribution of investment, labor and gross regional domestic product (GRDP) variable was about 93.5 % and it means that those have very strong relationship; meanwhile, the rest, about 6.5 %, has been influenced by other factors.
Anthropology and Business: Influence and Interests
Authors: Baba Marietta L.
Published: October 2017

The premise of this article is that the expansive domain of business, as expressed in its market-transaction based, organizational, and institutional forms, has influenced the development or “making” of anthropology as a discipline and a profession for the better part of a century (i.e., since the 1920s). The influences were reciprocal, in that making anthropology played a role in forming the industrial order of the early 20th century and established precedents for the interaction of anthropology and the business domain that continues into the contemporary era. Anthropologists acknowledge that the time has come for our discipline to attend to business and its corporate forms and engage them as legitimate subjects of inquiry (Fisher and Downey 2006; Cefkin 2009; Welker et. al. 2011), and this suggests that it would be prudent to examine the ways in which business is focusing upon anthropology, and the potential implications of such attention. Throughout this article, the term “business” will refer to private firms as members of an institutional field, meaning “organizations that in the aggregate, constitute a recognized area of institutional life” (; i.e., the totality of relevant actors; Bourdieu 1971; DiMaggio and Powell 1983:148). Over time, this field has attracted prominent academic researchers (as will be discussed herein), who may become intellectual “suppliers” to businesses, and thus part of the field. Therefore, the term “business” may include any organization or individual that is part of the field, including academic suppliers (see also discussion section). To reflect the scope and complexity of the institutional field, the term “domain of business” may be used interchangeably with “business”.
Studying Consumption Behaviour through Multiple Lenses: An Overview of Consumer Culture Theory
Authors: Joy Annamma , Li Eric Ping Hung
Published: October 2017

Since Miller’s (1995) ground-breaking directive to the anthropology community to research consumption within the context of production, CCT has come of age, offering distinctive insights into the complexities of consumer behaviour. CCT positions itself at the nexus of disciplines as varied as anthropology, sociology, media studies, critical studies, and feminist studies; overlapping foci bring theoretical innovation to studies of human behaviours in the marketplace. In this paper, we provide asynthesis of CCT research since its inception, along with more recent publications. We follow the four thematic domains of research as devised by Arnould and Thompson (2005): consumer identity projects, marketplace cultures, the socio-historic patterning of consumption, and mass-mediated marketplace ideologies and consumers’ interpretive strategies. Additionally, we investigate new directions for future connections between CCT research and anthropology.
The Coming of Age of Anthropological Practice and Ethics
Authors: Briody Elizabeth K. , Pester Tracy Meerwarth
Published: October 2017

Anthropology as a discipline is well over 100 years old; as a profession it is just gearing up. It is the diversity of anthropological work, not simply by subfield and geographic location, but by job function that has contributed to the field’s expansion. This growth has led to ethical questions and issues surrounding anthropological identity, adaptation, and collegiality, as increasing numbers of anthropologists are finding alternatives to the work of the professor. While the “split” or “divide” between academic and nonacademic work now seems narrower, much more needs to be done to acknowledge that practitioners are a growing and contributing segment of the field. As the career paths of anthropologists continue to differentiate, efforts will be necessary to unify anthropology so that the work of practitioners is considered on par with academics. This article takes on that challenge and proposes solutions to help practice and academia work together to advance the field.
Towards Transdisciplinarity: Liminality and the Transitions Inherent in Pluridisciplinary Collaborative Work
Authors: Miller Christine Z.
Published: October 2017

Although the value of cross-disciplinary teams is widely accepted, relatively little attention has been given to the work that precedes addressing a team’s objective or stated problem, that is, the work required to negotiate their various disciplinary perspectives. This article considers how the notion of liminality, a cultural and social state of “betweenness,” might be used to conceptualize transitory stages in the development of pluridisciplinary groups and teams that are comprised of individuals from many diverse disciplines. It suggests how anthropologists can play a role in guiding and facilitating this particular domain of invisible work.
Business Ethnography: Inducing Liminality in Pursuit of Innovation
Authors: Wall Patricia , Englert Jennifer
Published: October 2017

Ethnographic studies have become an integral part of many projects at Xerox: guiding product improvements, inspiring new product concepts, uncovering technology and organizational issues, and informing strategic directions. Ethnographic methods provide a deep understanding of technology usage in context and have the potential to shift the perspectives of the researchers themselves, the study participants, and the business stakeholders. These transformations facilitate the creation of innovative solutions that are meaningful and useful for the practitioners they are designed to support. In this article, we draw on three case studies to demonstrate how ethnographic methods invoke liminality, and how these studies support transformation in the perspectives of the researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders who participate in the studies.
Ethnography and Co-Creation in a Portuguese Consultancy: Wine Branding Research as an Example
Authors: Oliveira Pedro
Published: October 2017

As ethnography branches into the fields of business, marketing research, innovation and design research, anthropologists working outside academic contexts are developing a set of practices that in many ways mirror the work of academic anthropology and in other ways diverge from it. Drawing from the anthropologist Viveiros de Castro’s notion of controlled equivocation (Castro, 2004), this paper explores the relation between academic anthropology and applied business anthropology, clients and anthropologist as a particular kind of ‘equivocation’. A wine branding research case is given as an example.
Opinions: What business anthropology is, what it might become… and what, perhaps, it should not be
Authors: Arnould Eric J. , Becker Howard S. , Boyer Dominic , Hannerz Ulf , Lien Marianne , Löfgren Orvar , Marcus George E. , Morais Robert J. , Nakamaki Hirochika , Smart Alan , Smart Josephine , Swedberg Richard , Wilk Richard R. , Moeran Brian
Published: October 2017

No available abstract.
Incarnation Inc. Managing Corporate Values
Authors: Røyrvik Emil A.
Published: October 2017

This article describes the substantial efforts put into creating and managing a comprehensive ‘value-based’ corporate culture and identity-building program, and reflects on how both the making and the reception of the programme can be understood in light of the three main ways of talking about value/s (economic, moral, meaning). Through the program’s use of technologies of production and enchantment, including the magic of advertising, the argument unfolds the program’s processes of valuation through both making visible and creating social relations. The article explores valuation as social practices involved in representation and signification. It argues that the preoccupation with making value visible in an industrial production company is symptomatic of the contemporary ‘economy of signs’, and that resistance towards these efforts shows that valuation in this context is considered more as accurate representation than as signification.
Opinions: The Anthropology of Finance
Authors: Rudnyckyj Daromir , Ong Aihwa , Miyazaki Hirokazu , Lee Benjamin , Fisher Melissa S.
Published: October 2017

One of the more salutory effects of the financial crisis in 2007-8 has been the realization, even by some economists, that numbers do not explain everything and that social forms and relations also play a major part in financial trading. Here anthropologists (and some sociologists) have come to the fore. The JBA therefore asked a number of scholars to write an opinion piece about different aspects of the anthropology of finance that interested them. Here is what some of them kindly contributed.
Business Ethics as an Ethical Self-Promotion? How Advertising Executives Promote their Activity
Authors: Porée Léa
Published: October 2017

In this paper, I suggest that we untangle the business ethics of a French advertising agency as a social critique of the advertising field. I attempt to analyse the display and promotion of values used in order to enhance the agency’s activity. Is the agency’s business ethics simply a form of commodification and a marketing strategy? Or is it an attempt to introduce morality into a business that is supposedly not moral? I also intend to highlight the way that employees understand and negotiate this entrepreneurial discourse. Ethics has multiple purposes: it is a communication tool that promotes the agency itself, and it serves as a guarantee for good advertising practice. The study of business ethics in the agency emphasizes how the firm reconciles its entrepreneurial logic with the moral values it claims.
The “Right Way”: Moral Capitalism and the Emergence of the Corporate Ethics and Compliance Officer
Authors: Sampson Steven
Published: October 2017

Under the influence of U.S. government regulations, enforcement of anti-bribery laws and embarrassing corruption scandals, major global corporations have realized that unethical conduct may affect not only their reputations but also their profits. This development has given rise to a new position within the traditional management team: the ethics and compliance officer (who differs from the established corporate social responsibility function). Based on field research in the compliance industry, this article describes how the moralization of firms has led to the emergence of a new corporate function: the ethics and compliance officer. It further describes how ethics and compliance officers learn their craft and how they cope with their role as moral compass of firms that need to compete in a global market where ethics may be viewed as a cost that inhibits profitability.
Ethnographic strategies for making the familiar strange: Struggling with ‘distance’ and ‘immersion’ among Moroccan-Dutch students
Authors: De Jong Machteld , Kamsteeg Frans , Ybema Sierk
Published: October 2017

Ethnographic fieldwork is a balancing act between distancing and immersing. Fieldworkers need to come close to meaningfully grasp the sense-making efforts of the researched. In methodological textbooks on ethnography, immersion tends to be emphasized at the expense of its counterpart. In fact, ‘distancing’ is often ignored as a central tenet of good ethnographic conduct. In this article we redirect attention away from familiarization and towards ‘defamiliarization’ by suggesting six estrangement strategies (three theoretical and three methodological) that allow the researcher to develop a more detached viewpoint from which to interpret data. We demonstrate the workings of these strategies by giving illustrations from Machteld de Jong’s field- and text-work, conducted among Moroccan-Dutch students in an institution of higher vocational education.
The Rise and Demise of a Supply Chain
Authors: Brøgger Benedicte
Published: October 2017

This article investigates the global ‘retail revolution’ through the path chosen by key people in the Norwegian trade network called Technical Supplies Partner (TSP). The story is told from the perspective of a single entrepreneur working closely together with an A-team of fiercely independent shop-owners who helped transform TSP from a voluntary association into a market-leading Scandinavian retail chain. The trade network then became a global supply chain, before finally nearly going bankrupt. Three main points are made. The first is that the ‘retail revolution’ occurred as the result of new technology and market liberalization, but only as these were mediated through people’s efforts at new venture creation. The second point is that entrepreneurship itself changes the conditions for entrepreneurship, and the third that ethnography is a good method for investigating how entrepreneurship changes the conditions for entrepreneurship.
Possessed by the Zeitgeist: Inspiration and Prophecy in the Business of Fashion
Authors: Vangkilde Kasper Tang
Published: October 2017

The ability to foretell the future―and, as such, to conquer and determine it―is an essential preoccupation of contemporary business, which supposedly distinguishes the winners from the losers. The business of fashion is perhaps the case in point, being inherently concerned with continually staking out new paths into the future. In this article, I explore how fashion designers deal with this imperative through processes of seeking inspiration, constituting a distinctive “technology of prefiguration” by which the designers come to enter a prophetic condition. Rooted in an animistic mode of being, this attests to a shamanic practice, which entails the designers becoming possessed by a zeitgeist and, hence, turning into prophetic agents with particular visions of the future. The world of fashion is, in this sense, populated by entities and processes not commonly associated with modern business, in that animistic tendencies, jumping things, spiritual beings and shamanic efforts enable the designers to attain otherwise unattainable prophetic viewpoints. Underlying this argument is a more general ambition to open up our conception of business, as I suggest that business anthropologists may do well to uphold a profound naïveté in their methodology, which may essentially challenge and revise our assessment of modern capitalism.
Consistent Inconsistency in Fashion Magazines: The Socialization of Fashionability in Hong Kong
Authors: Tse Tommy
Published: October 2017

Fashion plays a significant role in the global creative industries and in urban social space, and has recently evolved from a peripheral topic to a valued interdisciplinary subject coined as “fashion-ology,” investigating how fashion as an intangible and changeable meaning is systematically produced by and amongst different cultural intermediaries, and how it is cyclically diffused in society. As an exercise in understanding the conflictual notions of fashion in operation under the rubric of production inside a local fashion media organization, this study emphasizes how text and image in fashion representation can be multifarious and are intertwined with the commercial and capitalist logic of the fashion industry. This research supplements related ethnographic studies and discerns how industry practitioners actually negotiate fashion meanings and are constantly torn between encoding desirable (luxury) fashionability, while at the same time anticipating and serving different advertisers’ interests.Fieldwork data portray partly conflicting, partly consistent notions of fashion among different workers in the fashion media. The focus was: What shapes the collective interpretation and production of fashionability within a media organizational setting? The responses demonstrate the effect of advertising on fashion editorial pages and its major role in shaping fashionability, in addition to the contradictory rules guiding how media people strive to present a preferred face of luxury fashion in the magazine and why such an attempt was unsuccessful in this case.
Modeling Time-to-Acceptance for ISI-Indexed Journals in the Profession of Library and Information Science
Authors: Wu Jingjing , Yang Le
Published: October 2017

There are many factors affecting review duration after a paper has been submitted to a journal. Developing a time-to-acceptance model of each journal for the whole time span from submission to acceptance can help researchers when they are selecting journals to publish research results, as well as help editors when they are optimizing workflow and strategy. Using ISI-indexed journals in the profession of library and information science as an example, this study aims to explore the possible patterns of time-to-acceptance for refereed articles. Based on the theories of maximum likelihood estimation, this article models probability distributions for the retrieved data through the R package fitdistrplus. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test is further used to determine if the distribution for each journal can be accepted.
Prevalence of degree of severity of temporomandibular joint disorder based on sex and age group
Authors: Dewanti Luciana
Published: October 2017

Temporomandibular joint disorders are disturbances of mastication system due to one or more component of mastication system does not properly function. The factors that play a role in this problem divided into three factors; a) predisposition factor (systemic, occlusion disturbances and psychological trouble), b) initiation factor (traumatic) and c) perpetuation factor (social behavior). These disorders are able to cause a variety of symptom suck as limitedness of jaw movement, clicking, deviation locked joint, muscle pain, joint pain, jaw movement pain and pain of ear and headache. The objective of this study was to obtain information about the prevalence degree of severity of the temporomandibular joint disorder, the differences of prevalence between man and woman and the different among age groups. The study was descriptive and analysis survey, done to 134 patients as an experimental sample of 3–75-year old that have visited Dental Hospital, Padjadjaran University Bandung, during February 2008. Sample consist of 57 men and 77 women were evaluated by using Helkimo Index and analysis by using Z statistical proportion test to know the existence of difference prevalence degree of severity between man and woman and using the chi-square test to know the difference prevalence among age groups.The result of this study shows that there is highly prevalence severity of temporomandibular joint disorder (84,33%) and significantly different on prevalence severity between man and woman and among a group of ages.The conclusion can be drawn that patients who visited the dental hospital, Padjadjaran University have higher prevalence severity of temporomandibular joint disorder where a woman has higher level compare to man, and the young adult group has highest either man and woman. Clicking is the most often symptom appear to man and woman.
The differences of caries prevalence and caries index of children in primary school with UKGS and without UKGS in Kota Batam
Authors: Zulkarnain Ratna Ayu Alia , Riyanti Eriska , Sasmita Inne Suherna
Published: October 2017

The purposes of this research were to describe the caries prevalence and caries index of children in primary school with UKGS (SD Kartini I) and without UKGS (SD 009 Bulang) in Kota Batam. Total samples of this research were 193 persons, it is consist of 107 persons from SD Kartini I and 86 persons from SD 009 Bulang. The Chi-Square Test and U Mann-Whitney Test were conducted in this research. The statistical analysis was significant for caries prevalence between children in primary school with UKGS and without UKGS with χ2table = 2.71 and χ2calculate = 3.73, whereas def-t index between children in primary school with UKGS and without UKGS was significant with - Ztable = - 1.96 and Zcalculate = - 2.91 with α = 0.05. The DMF-T index between children in primary school with UKGS and without UKGS was significant with Ztable = 1.96 and Zcalculate = 6.32 with α = 0,05. The conclusions of this study indicate that there were differences of caries prevalence and caries index between children in primary school with UKGS and without UKGS.
Effect of 70% alcohol swabbing and flushing technique on high speed contra angle towards bacterial count and identification of pathogens
Authors: Mulyanti Sri
Published: October 2017

High-speed contra angle is a potential source of cross-infection due to its working system in blowing up water, saliva and microorganisms from the patients, as well as dental unit water line contamination. This experimental Quasy laboratory study aimed to determine the reduce of bacteria in high-speed contra angle after 70% alcohol swabbing and flushing for 30 seconds and identifying the presence of the pathogen. This study was conducted on 35 lower molar teeth with caries without abscess in patients during pulp opening with the contra-angle. Afterwards, the contra-angle was immersed in sterile aquadest and flushed. The immersed and flushed water were sampled then cultured on blood agar plates. The colony forming units were counted manually: Group I, was the control; Group II, after used on patients; and Group III, after treatment and swabbed with 70% alcohol and flushed. The data were statistically analyzed according to Anava and continued by test with least significant differences (LSD). The results showed that in bacterial identification there were pathogens. The bacteria amount was reduced after swabbing the contra-angle from 50.88±40.33 to 10.31±20.02 cfus. After flushing, the cfus decreased from 169.74±53.76 to 73.03±36.39. Based on the variant and LSD analyzes (p<0.01), CFU was significantly different among the three groups. Conclusion: 70% alcohol swabbing and flushing could reduce the bacterial amount in high-speed contra angle and there was the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the usage of high-speed contra-angle.