bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the role of the multiple sclerosis susceptibility gene CLEC16A in T cells
Authors: Eriksson Anna M. , Leikfoss Ingvild Sørum , Abrahamsen Greger , Sundvold Vibeke , Isom Martine Mesel , Keshari Pankaj K. , Rognes Torbjørn , Landsverk Ole J. B. , Bos Steffan D. , Harbo Hanne F. , Spurkland Anne , Berge Tone
Published: May 2021

C‐type lectin‐like domain family 16 member A (CLEC16A) is associated with autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS), but its functional relevance is not completely understood. CLEC16A is expressed in several immune cells, where it affects autophagic processes and receptor expression. Recently, we reported that the risk genotype of an MS‐associated single nucleotide polymorphism in CLEC16A intron 19 is associated with higher expression of CLEC16A in CD4+ T cells. Here, we show that CLEC16A expression is induced in CD4+ T cells upon T cell activation. By the use of imaging flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, we demonstrate that CLEC16A is located in Rab4a‐positive recycling endosomes in Jurkat TAg T cells. CLEC16A knock‐down in Jurkat cells resulted in lower cell surface expression of the T cell receptor, however, this did not have a major impact on T cell activation response in vitro in Jurkat nor in human, primary CD4+ T cells.
Reconstructing spatial information diffusion networks with heterogeneous agents and text contents
Authors: Ye Xinyue , Wang Wenbo , Zhang Xiaoqi , Li Zhenlong , Yu Dantong , Du Jiaxin , Chen Zhihui
Published: May 2021

It is important to reconstruct the hidden network structure from the infection status change of an information propagation process for evidence‐based spatial decision‐making. Unlike previous work, we not only consider the heterogeneity of the propagation agents, but also incorporate the heterogeneity of the text contents of information within the propagation process. In addition, the infection status is no longer restricted to the binary type (infected or not), and we allow the number of pieces of information texts to be counted which represents the degree of infection. The resulting model is a network‐based multivariate recurrent event model, in which the interactions between different types of text, between different agents, between agents and text types, and their mutual impacts on the whole propagation process can be comprehensively investigated. On that basis, a nonparametric mean‐field equation is derived to govern the propagation process, and a compressive sensing algorithm is provided to infer the hidden spatial propagation network from the infection status data. Finally, the proposed methodology is tested through synthetic data and a real data set of information diffusion on Twitter.
Long‐term surveillance for hepatitis E virus in an Italian two‐site farrow‐to‐finish swine farm
Authors: Ianiro Giovanni , Chelli Eleonora , De Sabato Luca , Monini Marina , Ostanello Fabio , Di Bartolo Ilaria
Published: May 2021

In humans, hepatitis E virus (HEV) is responsible for an acute enterically transmitted hepatitis, which can become chronic in immune‐compromised patients. Genotypes 3 and 4 (HEV‐3 and HEV‐4) are zoonotic, and domestic pigs and wild boar are the main reservoirs. The occurrence of autochthonous cases in Europe, which have been increasing over the last 10 years, has been associated with food‐borne zoonotic transmission of HEV‐3, mainly linked to consumption of undercooked or raw pork products (sausages containing liver) and wild boar meat. Zoonotic HEV‐3 strains are widespread on pig farms, but little information is available on the dynamic of HEV‐3 infection within farms, among pigs. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of the infection among pigs of different ages along the production chain by the zoonotic HEVs, and to evaluate how long the virus may persist in the farm environment. The presence of HEV‐RNA was investigated by real‐time reverse transcription PCR (RT‐PCR) in 281 test faecal pools over 19 months (2017–2019) on a two‐site farrow‐to‐finish farm (about 1,000 sows), in Northern Italy. A total of 67/281 test faecal pools (23.8%) resulted positive for the presence of HEV‐RNA (site 1: 59/221, 26.7%; site 2: 8/60, 13.3%). Nucleotide sequencing revealed a unique HEV‐3 viral variant circulating during 19 months of surveillance. The same HEV‐3 strain was detected in the same farm on 2012, indicating the persistence of the same virus over 7 years, and highlighting the role of the environment as a continuous source of infection on pig farms. The results confirmed the circulation of the zoonotic genotype HEV‐3 in pigs before slaughtering.
Development of a Fingerprint Lock Safe with Vibration Sensor
Authors: Alim Sabur , Eseyin Theophilus
Published: May 2021

Biometric recognition is a means of identification in which natural human endowment is used. Fingerprint, Iris, Face, DNA are examples of biometrics. Algorithms have been developed to recognize and identify each natural human endowment which in turn can be used to identify every human being. The aim of this study is to develop a safe which can only be accessed using Fingerprint with vibration sensor thereby improving the safety and security of traditional locks using key and padlock. This system ensures that only users whose fingerprint has been enrolled on the fingerprint sensor memory can access the Safe. Fingerprint Biometric among other biometrics can deliver high level of security which eradicates the need to remember PINs, passwords or the necessity of carrying keys/cards and identity proof. The system makes use of an Arduino UNO microcontroller which controls and connect the necessary hardware required for locking and unlocking the safe. The program running on the microcontroller was developed using Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE) with C programming language. The range of functionality of the system is wide, it is implemented with low cost hardware, simple user interface, high security reliability and theft alert are some of the major advantages of this project. It is intended that the fingerprint lock safe shall eventually replace the manual traditional methods used for personal safe keeping of properties that is common in Nigeria and hence provide practicable way for a better security.
Quality of Service Evaluation of Software Defined Internet of Things Network
Authors: Paulson Eberechukwu Numan , Mohamad Yusof Kamaludin , Bin Marsono Muhammad Nadzir , Suleiman Dauda Umar , Kofoworola Fapohunda
Published: May 2021

With the exponential growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) devices connected to the internet, resource provisioning for such the heterogeneous network is a challenging task for the traditional network architecture. In this context, the Software-Defined Networking (SDN) introduces many opportunities and provides the potential to overcome challenges associated with traditional network architecture. This work presents a Software-Defined IoT (SDIoT) architecture. The main focus of this research is to design a control plane (CP) for the SDIoT. The scope of this work is limited to the introduction of an overlay SDN CP in the traditional IoT network architecture. The proposed architecture focuses on resource provisioning while ensuring the quality of service (QoS) satisfaction for the network. A comparative analysis between the traditional and the SDN network approach was done in terms of Jitter, Latency and Throughput. From the latency, delay and throughput performance results, the SDN-based IoT network improves network efficiency by reducing network overheads generated from frequent communication between the nodes and the controllers. Precisely, the average latency and average jitter percentile improvement from the traditional IoT network to the SDIoT for all the nodes is 574% and 600% respectively. Also, an overall throughput improvement is recorded for the SDIoT when compared to traditional IoT network for all the nodes.
Direct and Indirect TDOA Estimation based Multilateration System Position Estimation Accuracy Comparison
Authors: Yaro Abdulmalik Shehu , Sha'ameri Ahmad Zuri , Yarima Saâ€™id Musa
Published: May 2021

Multilateration (MLAT) system estimate aircraft position from its electromagnetic emission using time difference of arrival (TDOA) estimated at ground receiving station (GRS)s with a lateration algorithm. The position estimation (PE) accuracy of the MLAT system depends on several factors one of which is the TDOA estimation approach. In this paper, the PE performance of a minimum configuration 3-dimensional (3-D) MLAT system based on the direct and indirect approaches to TDOA estimation is presented. The analysis is carried out using Monte Carlo simulation with the transmitter and receiver parameters based on an actual system used in the civil aviation. Simulation results show that within 150 km radius, the direct TDOA based MLAT system performs better than the indirect TDOA based MLAT system. Beyond 150 km radius, the indirect TDOA based MLAT system has the least PE error compared the direct TDOA based MLAT system. Further comparison of the MLAT system based on the two TDOA estimation approaches with other surveillance systems shows that the direct TDOA based MLAT system has the least PE error within 150 km radius while long-range aircraft PE beyond 150 km, automatic surveillance dependent broadcast (ADS-B) outperformed the MLAT system as it has the least PE error
Simulating and Building an Appliance Clustering Fuzzified SVC for Single Phase System
Authors: Ahmed Osama , Abdul Ali Abdul Wali
Published: May 2021

A power system suffers from losses that can cause tragic consequences. Reactive power presence in the power system increases system losses delivered power quality and distorted the voltage. As a result, many studies are concerned with reactive power compensation. The necessity of balancing resistive power generation and absorption throughout a power system gave birth to many devices used for reactive power compensation. Static Var Compensators are hunt devices used for the generation or absorption of reactive power as desired. SVCs provide fast and smooth compensation and power factor correction. In this paper, a Fuzzified Static Var Compensator consists of Thyristor Controlled Reactor (TCR) branch and Thyristor Switched Capacitors branches for reactive power compensation and power factor correction at the load side is presented. The system is simulated using Simulink using a group of blocks and equations for measuring power factor, determining the weightage by which the power factor is improved, determining the firing angle of TCR branch, and capacitor configuration of TSC branches. Furthermore, a hardware prototype is designed and implemented with its associated software; it includes a smart meter build-up for power monitoring, which displays voltage, current, real power, reactive power and power factor and SVC branches with TRIAC as the power switching device. Lastly, static and dynamic loads are used to test the system's capability in providing fast response and compensation. The simulation results illustrated the proposed system's capability and responsiveness in compensating the reactive power and correcting the power factor. It also highlighted the proportional relation between reactive power presence and the increased cost in electricity bills. The proposed smart meter and SVC prototypes proved their capabilities in giving accurate measurement and monitoring and sending the data to the graphical user interface through ZigBee communication and power factor correction. Reactive power presence is an undesired event that affects the equipment and connected consumers of a power system. Therefore, fast and smooth compensation for reactive power became a matter of concern to utility companies, power consumers and manufacturers. Therefore, the use of compensating devices is of much importance as they can increase power capacity, regulate the voltage and improve the power system performance.
A Review on Demand Side Management Applications, Techniques, and Potential Energy and Cost saving
Authors: Shalaby Hossam Eldin Hamed
Published: May 2021

Electrical peak load demand all over the world is always anticipated to grow, which is challenging electrical utility to supply such increasing load demand in a cost effective, reliable and sustainable manner. Thus, there is a need to study some of load management (LM) techniques employed to minimize energy consumption, reduce consumers' electricity bills and decrease the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming. This paper presents a review of several recent LM strategies and optimization algorithms in different domains. The review is complemented by tabulating several demand side management (DSM) techniques with a specific view on the used demand response (DR) programs, key finding and benefits gained. A special focus is directed to the communication protocols and wireless technology, incorporation of renewable energy resources (RERs), battery energy storage (BES), home appliances scheduling and power quality applications. The outcome of this review reveals that the real time pricing (RTP) is the most efficient price-based mechanism program (PBP), whilst time of use (TOU) is the basic PBP and easiest to implement. Energy efficiency programs have proved the highest influential impact on the annual energy saving over the other dynamic pricing mechanism programs. Through a forecasted proposal of future study, DSM proved tremendous potential annual energy savings, peak demand savings, and investment cost rates within different consumption sectors progressively up to year 2030.
Generalisations of Splicing Languages in DNA Splicing Systems Involving Two Palindromic Restriction Enzymes
Authors: Fong Wan Heng , Ismail Nurul Izzaty , Sarmin Nor Haniza
Published: May 2021

DNA splicing system is initiated by Head to mathematically model a relation between formal language theory and DNA molecules. In DNA splicing systems, DNA molecules are cut and recombined in specific ways with the existence of enzymes, which are also known as endonucleases, to produce further molecules. The resulting molecules are depicted as splicing languages by using concepts in formal languages theory. A sequence of restriction enzyme that reads the same forward and backward is called as a palindromic rule. Previously, researches on different types of splicing languages have been done. In this research, generalisations of splicing languages resulting from DNA splicing systems with non-overlapping cutting sites of two palindromic restriction enzymes are presented as theorems using the induction method. The results from this research are beneficial for researchers in the field of DNA computing since it contributes to the development of splicing languages generated from DNA splicing systems with different palindromic restriction enzymes by using these generalisations.
Prioritization of Students Understanding in Rules of Differentiation using Fuzzy Soft Matrices and Lambda – max Method
Authors: Razak Samsiah Abdul , Omar Aslina , Ab. Hamid Ainon Syazana , Saari Izni Syamsina
Published: May 2021

Calculus is one of the most important courses especially for undergraduate students in many fields of study. Some researchers have identified the causes of the high failure rate which includes lack of basic foundation of mathematics and basic concept of differentiation. Aside from that, the main problems that can be seen among students are the difficulty in identifying the type of function in differentiation and identifying the suitable method to solve a particular problem. There are three rules included in differentiation which are the Chain Rule, Product Rule and Quotient Rule. This study is conducted to examine the level of understanding of the students on the function and the derivative techniques after applying derivative game applications in this course. This paper is based on Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy AHP) which use fuzzy number in pair-wise comparison matrix. The prioritization of students’ understanding in differentiation rules will then be measured by Fuzzy AHP using Lambda-max method. The highest among the three rules in differentiation will considered as a result. The findings of this study indicated that the highest score with 0.4700 is the Chain Rule. This study can help lectures to know the level or understanding among three rules in differentiation and lecturer well prepared their teaching materials in the classroom as well as to reduce the failure rate among students in this course
A Boundary Integral Equation Related to the Ahlfors Map
Authors: Abdul Wahid Nur Hazwani Aqilah , Mohamed Murid Ali Hassan , Muminov Mukhiddin I.
Published: May 2021

The Ahlfors map is a mapping function that maps a multiply connected region onto a unit disk. This paper presents a new boundary integral equation related to the Ahlfors map of a bounded multiply connected region. The boundary integral equation is constructed from a boundary relationship satisfied by the Ahlfors map of a multiply connected region.
Application of Drying Model to Determine Extraction Behaviours on Peanut Skin Oil Recovery by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide-Ethanol
Authors: Putra Nicky Rahmana , Rizkiyah Dwila Nur , Abdul Aziz Ahmad Hazim , Idham Zuhaili , Jumakir Jumakir , Waluyo Waluyo , Che Yunus Mohd Azizi
Published: May 2021

The main objective of this study was to determine the mass transfer for extraction of peanut (Arachis hypogea) skin by using drying models as alternatives extraction models. The mass transfer was measured at the pressure ranging from 10 MPa to 30 MPa, temperature of 40 oC to 70 oC, and rate of modifier 0.075 mL/min to 0.225 mL/min. The Lewis, Page, Peleg, Henderson and Pabis, and Avhad and Macetti as drying models were modified to illustrate the extraction process and to transform as alternative empirical models. An average absolute relative deviation percentage (AARD%) of Lewis, Page, Peleg, Henderson - Pabis, and Avhad-Macetti was 9.52%, 4.67%, 19.41%, 0.26%, and 0.04%. Avhad and Macetti model offered the best fitting between experimental data and modelling data. The results showed that drying model was applicable to correlate the experimental data of extraction process due to low percentage of error and high coefficient determination.
Exploring the Effects of Fermented Chitin Nanowhiskers on Tensile and Thermal Properties of Poly(ethylene glycol) modified Polylactic Acid Nanocomposites
Authors: Mohd Asri Syazeven Effatin Azma , Zakaria Zainoha , Hassan Azman , Mohamad Kassim Mohamad Haafiz , Arjmandi Reza
Published: May 2021

The incorporation of fermented chitin nanowhiskers (FCHW) into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) increased the tensile modulus and strength of PLA at the expense of ductility. The brittleness of PLA can be overcome with the use of plasticizer such as polyethylene glycols (PEG). The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of FCHW on the tensile and thermal properties PLA incorporated with PEG as plasticizer (PLA/PEG). PLA/PEG and FCHW reinforced PLA/PEG nanocomposites were prepared using solution mixing technique. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to determine the thermal properties while tensile properties were determined from the tensile test. The incorporation of PEG successfully increased the ductility and tensile strength of PLA at the expense of modulus. Based on the tensile properties, 5 phr PEG was chosen for further investigation on the effect of FCHW on PEG modified PLA. Incorporation of 1 phr FCHW PLA/PEG increased the tensile strength and Young’s modulus. However, the tensile strength decreased with further addition of FCHW. The elongation at break of PLA/PEG decreased drastically with the incorporation of 1 phr FCHW and decreased gradually with further increase of FCHW. The thermal stability from TGA of FCHW reinforced PLA/PEG nanocomposites at 5 phr FCHW content was observed to be significantly higher compared to PLA/PEG, as indicated by T20 and Tmax.
LH-Moments of the Wakeby Distribution applied to Extreme Rainfall in Thailand
Authors: Piyapatr Busababodhin , Monchaya Chiangpradit , Tossapol Phoophiwfa , Park Jeong-Soo , Manoon Do-ove , Pannarat Guayjarernpanishk
Published: May 2021

This article applies the Wakeby distribution (WAD) with high-order L-moments estimates (LH-ME) to annual extreme rainfall data obtained from 99 gauge stations in Thailand. The objectives of this study investigate to obtain appropriate quantile estimates and return levels for several return periods, 2, 5, 10, 25 and 50 years. The 95% confidence intervals for the quantiles determined from the WAD are derived using the bootstrap technique. Isopluvial maps of estimated design values that correspond to selected return periods are presented. The LH-ME results are better than estimates from the more primitive L-moments method for a large majority of the stations considered.
Molecular Docking of Polyphenol Compounds from Anacardium occidentale with Alpha-Glucosidase and Dipeptidyl-Peptidase-4 Enzymes
Authors: Nur Farahin Puteri , Nadia Norsyarina , Susanti Deny , Hasniza Noor , Abd Halim Khairul Bariyyah , Haron Normah
Published: May 2021

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease, in which the body failed to regulate blood glucose level due to insulin resistance. This condition may lead to high glucose level, which could potentially causes many serious health problems associated with cardiovascular system, nerve, eye and kidney. In treatment of T2DM, enzymes such as alpha-glucosidase (AG) and dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (DPP-4) have become the main targets since these enzymes play important roles in controlling the blood glucose level in the human body. In this study, the computational approach using molecular docking simulation study was used to predict the interaction and binding affinity of polyphenol compounds from Anacardium occidentale (A. occidentale) towards the AG and DPP-4 enzymes. The results were analysed based on three parameters: binding energy value, hydrogen bond formation and hydrophobic interaction between the compound and the protein at the binding site. The result showed that myricetin interacted with AG with the lowest binding energy of -7.6 kcal/mol and formed only one hydrogen bond to the Asp327 residue. In contrast, acarbose the positive control, interacted with many residues such as Asp327, Asp443 and Asp542 with the binding energy of - 6.0 kcal/mol. As for DPP-4 enzyme, sitagliptin was predicted as the best binder out of 15 polyphenols with binding energy of -9.2 kcal/mol. At the DPP-4 enzyme druggable region, sitagliptin formed an interaction with Tyr547 residue. In conclusion, our result suggested alpha-glucosidase as the most promising enzyme interacted with polyphenol compounds with favourable inhibitory effect since it can interact better than the current anti-diabetic drug, acarbose.
Differential gradient evolution plus algorithm for constraint optimization problems: A hybrid approach
Authors: Tabassum Muhammad Farhan , Akram Sana , Mahmood-ul-Hassan Saadia , Karim Rabia , Naik Parvaiz Ahmad , Farman Muhammad , Yavuz Mehmet , Naik Mehraj-ud-din , Ahmad Hijaz
Published: May 2021

Optimization for all disciplines is very important and applicable. Optimization has played a key role in practical engineering problems. A novel hybrid meta-heuristic optimization algorithm that is based on Differential Evolution (DE), Gradient Evolution (GE) and Jumping Technique named Differential Gradient Evolution Plus (DGE+) are presented in this paper. The proposed algorithm hybridizes the above-mentioned algorithms with the help of an improvised dynamic probability distribution, additionally provides a new shake off method to avoid premature convergence towards local minima. To evaluate the efficiency, robustness, and reliability of DGE+ it has been applied on seven benchmark constraint problems, the results of comparison revealed that the proposed algorithm can provide very compact, competitive and promising performance.
He kaiwhakatere ahau: A (k)new practice model in the care of rangatahi and whānau
Authors: Makoare Georgina Denise , Makoare Zack Henare , Cram Fiona
Published: May 2021

INTRODUCTION: A Kaiwhakatere position funded as part of Te Taitimu Trust’s Ngā Moko Ā Ngā Tūpuna initiative has created a space for a navigation practice model within the context of suicide prevention. The Kaiwhakatere is akin to a “professional auntie” who draws on her knowledge of whakapapa, whenua and whānau to engage rangatahi and whānau and build their connectedness and confidence as Māori.METHOD: Discussions with the Kaiwhakatere (Georgina) and the Chief Executive (Zack) of the Trust have explored the emergence of the Kaiwhakatere practice model. This model draws on Georgina’s social work expertise and her recollections of her own upbringing.IMPLICATIONS: The resulting Taikoko (rising spring tide) practice model of the Kaiwhakatere is grounded in Tākitimutanga to ensure that rangatahi and their whānau are connected to their cultural heritage, to their environment, and to a network of supports and relationships that facilitate their collective resiliency. Early feedback from rangatahi, whānau and education providers has been positive and encouraging.
Social worker experiences in disaster management: Case studies from Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Hay Kathryn , Pascoe Katheryn Margaret , McCafferty Liz
Published: May 2021

INTRODUCTION: Despite minimal public attention, many social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand have been active contributors to disaster management practice. Disaster management comprises four stages: risk reduction; readiness; response; and recovery. Social workers, as professionals in multiple fields of practice, may be engaged in one or more of these stages.METHODS: This article draws from a four-stage project that explored the involvement of registered social workers from Aotearoa New Zealand in disaster management. In the final project stage, 11 social workers were interviewed for the purpose of developing case studies for research and teaching purposes. This article presents the practice observations of two of these social workers in a case study format.FINDINGS: The experiences of the two social workers emphasises the importance of understanding communities, debriefing and supervision, and having a suite of tools for post- disaster situations. The case studies highlight the complex and vital work undertaken by the social workers following the Canterbury 2011 earthquakes.CONCLUSION: It is important that social workers understand disaster management and how their skills and knowledge can be transferred into this space. Regular professional supervision, and adequate resources are essential components in the long-term recovery phase of disaster management. Social work as a profession can provide leadership in disaster management through celebrating previous social work practice in this field.
“Knocking on the door to integration”: Korean immigrants’ stories of seeking membership in Aotearoa New Zealand society
Authors: Kim Hagyun
Published: May 2021

INTRODUCTION: While citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand are granted full participation regardless of racial and cultural background, Asian immigrants appear exempt from the benefits of inclusion. For many, immigration is a stress-inducing journey with resultant socio-economic marginalisation adversely impacting on their participation in society.METHODS: Theoretically underpinned by symbolic interactionism, this Straussian-grounded theoretical study explored how nine South Koreans re-constructed life after immigration. Semi- structured interviews were analysed using open, axial and selective coding.FINDINGS: To re-establish their lives, participants gradually “knock on the door to integration” while retaining a sense of safety in their ethnic community. This process continues until they find a place where they are recognised as a member of society. In this sense, “seeking membership” is what participants try to achieve in the host society.CONCLUSION: If we want to be at the forefront of efforts to address ethnic minority groups’ life-challenges, social work practice must include specific competencies in assisting Asian immigrants, helping them to master their new surroundings and endorse their equal membership in society.
Re-writing the “rules of engagement”: Using critical reflection to examine ableist social work practice
Authors: Fox Jessica
Published: May 2021

INTRODUCTION: Normative beliefs and practices reaffirm a hegemonic construction of human ability that legitimises the socio-cultural status quo. This disenfranchises people with diverse abilities who are excluded from this construction whilst simultaneously normalising the structural inequality and oppression that they experience. Helping professions such as social work often provide support to people who are disadvantaged by these social structures. However, practitioners within these fields are not immune to the influence of socio-cultural norms, therefore it is essential for them to reflect on the ways in which they might reproduce them within their practice.APPROACH: This article outlines my experience of using critical reflection as a research methodology to examine an incident from my practice. Deconstruction and reconstruction methods were used to analyse the normative assumptions within my construction of this incident.REFLECTIONS: The deconstruction analysis revealed how assumptions about impairment within my account of the incident were underpinned by ableist discourses. Reconstructing this through a neurodiversity lens enabled me to generate new insights around the anti-oppressive potential for using a pluralistic approach that undermines hegemonic constructions of ability.CONCLUSIONS: By critically reflecting on this incident, I realised the importance of challenging normative assumptions when practising within neoliberal contexts where socio-cultural hegemony is amplified.
Caught between a rock and a hard place: Social work in non-government organisations
Authors: Price Ashleigh
Published: May 2021

INTRODUCTION: Non-government organisations (NGOs) make a significant contribution to social service delivery in Aotearoa New Zealand. The purpose of this research is to understand how government policy impacts social work practice in non-government organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand. How NGO social workers apply and maintain ethical principles and standards in the current socio-economic climate was explored. The study aimed to increase understanding of how NGO social workers remain dedicated to the pursuit of social justiceand social change in their day-to-day practice, within conflicting policy environments and the government’s social investment approach.METHODOLOGY: A qualitative research methodology informed by a constructivist epistemology was adopted as the research strategy for this study. The interest was in exploring personal perspectives so qualitative in-depth interviews were carried out with five experienced NGO social work practitioners.FINDINGS: Thematic analysis of the research data found that contemporary NGO social work is a practice characterised by a sense of powerlessness. From this sense of powerlessness, five sub-themes were identified: freedom and powerlessness; the application of the principle of social justice at a macro level; professional dissonance; issues of funding and resourcing constraints as a result of neoliberal economic policy; and finally, different realities and a notion of othering.CONCLUSION: This research found that the social justice element of social work practice may be at risk should the dominant neoliberal social policy environment remain in existence.
Maintaining social work connections during lockdown
Authors: MacAulay Anne
Published: May 2021

On Saturday 21 March 2020, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a 4-level alert system around the rise of covid-19 coronavirus in Aotearoa New Zealand. At that time there were 52 confirmed cases in New Zealand. On Monday 23 March, Ardern announced New Zealand would move to Level 4 and full lockdowni at midnight on Wednesday 25 March. Full lockdown in New Zealand meant exactly that. Everyone working from home, unless they were deemed essential workers. Retail outlets all closed. No travel unless essential. No interactions with people outside of your household—your “bubble”.In my role as Continuing Professional Development Coordinator, I connect with social workers regularly by way of webinars. We have begun using Zoom to hold discussions and consultations. I decided to set up a Zoom meeting for social workers to talk about what was happening in their workplaces, what their colleagues were talking about, how they were adapting their work.
Expanding field education: Hope Trust Community Garden
Authors: Heerink Sandra , Sinclair-Phillips Vivienne , Jagger Alison , Hay Kathryn
Published: May 2021

Field education is well known as a defining experience in the personal and professional development of social work students. Authentic, meaningful learning opportunities in the workplace contributes to students becoming socialised to the profession and being able to integrate theoretical learning into their practice. Field education occurs across myriad fields of practice and organisational environments. Community gardens are an emerging field of practice for student placements in Aotearoa New Zealand. This viewpoint reflects on the value of field education in this domain from the perspectives of the field mentor, student and external field educator. The reflections highlight the value of this space for learning and supporting social and environmental justice for clients and communities.
Reassessing attachment theory in child welfare
Authors: Joy Eileen
Published: May 2021

Book review
“Crossover” children in the youth justice and child protection systems
Authors: Parkes Fritha
Published: May 2021

Book review
Supervision and professional development in social work practice
Authors: Rankine Matt
Published: May 2021

Book review
Toeplitz-Superposition Operators on Analytic Bloch Spaces
Authors: Bakhit M. A. , Ahmed A. El-Sayed
Published: May 2021

The important purpose of this current work is to study a new class of operators, the so-called Toeplitz-superposition operators as an expansion of the weighted known composition operators, induced by such continuous entire functions mapping on bounded specific sets. Minutely, we have deeply discussed the conditions for boundedness of this new type of operators between certain types of some holomorphic Bloch classes with some specific values of the weighted functions.
Puritanism in Transatlantic Perspective
Authors: Van Engen Abram C. , Haefeli Evan , Pettegree Andrew , van Lieburg Fred , Hall David D.
Published: May 2021

David D. Hall’s book comprises a transatlantic history of the Puritan movement from its sixteenth-century emergence to its heyday under Oliver Cromwell and its subsequent political demise after 1660. Hall provides insights into the movement’s trajectory, including the various forms of Puritan belief and practice in England and Scotland and their transatlantic migration. In Hall’s sweeping view, Puritanism was a driving force for cultural change in the early modern Atlantic world and left an indelible mark on religion in America. The four reviewers praise Hall’s book for its monumental achievement, with Abram Van Engen emphasizing the centrality of Puritan theology. They place it within its historiographical context, as Evan Haefeli does by comparing it with Michael Winship’s Hot Protestants: A History of Puritanism in England and America (2018) and as Fred van Lieburg does by reminding us of the centuries-old German tradition of Pietismusforschung. The reviewers also raise critical questions as to the audience of Puritan publications and point to the benefits of studying Puritanism in an even wider comparative framework, one that looks forwards and backwards in time and one that speaks to the large, overarching questions raised by global history and digital humanities, including Andrew Pettegree’s ustc project. In his response David Hall begins by acknowledging the decades of Anglo-American scholarship on the Puritan movement on which his book builds, replies to points raised by the reviewers, and reflects on the situation of Puritan studies in the United States at this moment in time.
“A Bad Race of Infected Blood” The Atlantic Profile of Gaspar Riveros Vasconcelos and the Question of Race in 1650 New Spain
Authors: Lazzari Matteo
Published: May 2021

Based on manuscripts from the Mexican National Archive recording a 1650 Inquisition trial for astrology, this article will present a reconstruction of the story of Gaspar Riveros Vasconcelos, a “mulatto” born in Tangier, a descendant of a Portuguese father and Angolan mother. He travelled the Atlantic commercial routes – visiting Angola, Pernambuco, Cartagena de Indias, La Havana – and got involved in political discussions with Spaniards residing in mid-seventeenth century Mexico City. This period was particularly tough for Portuguese people in Spanish America, given the 1640 breach of the dynastic union of Spain and Portugal, which had been formerly achieved in 1581 by King Philipp ii. Vasconcelos’ story allows us to reflect on identity formation in time, on the concept of race, as well as on the ways in which “a persona miserable de color pardo” could deploy his agency as Afro-Portuguese in colonial Mexico society.

As such, this paper aims to reconsider the relevance of individual narratives which can generate a growing awareness of the importance that Afro-descendants had in the Ibero-American world and how they could influence the process of racialization in the local context of seventeenth century New Spain.
The Twilight of Parliament – Parliamentary Law and Practice in Hungary in Populist Times
Authors: Szente Zoltán
Published: May 2021

This study is based on the assumption that if there really has been a transition to authoritarian rule in Hungary since 2010, this should also have had a significant impact on Parliament. The article reviews changes in parliamentary law and practice, examining whether they have indeed aimed at concentrating power and instrumentalizing the legislature. In doing so, it analyses the key organizational and operational reforms of the National Assembly. The final conclusion of the study is that 2010 was an important milestone in the very recent history of Parliament, and it evaluates some of the subsequent changes as unconstitutional, while it also argues that some new trends in parliamentary law and practice have destroyed the quality of the activities of the Parliament. As a consequence, the Parliament only formally performs its constitutional functions, and plays a marginal role in the constitutional system, having a number of institutional and operational features that are incompatible with the standards of modern constitutional democracies.
The echr Grand Chamber Judgment in the case of Mugemangango v. Belgium
Authors: Caboor Pieter Dirck G.
Published: May 2021

The reviewed Judgment concerns a post-election dispute relating to the Walloon Parliament elections held on 25 May 2014. The European Court of Human Rights sitting as a Grand Chamber held unanimously on 10 July 2020 that the Kingdom of Belgium had violated the right to free elections and the right to an effective remedy at the occasion of the 2014 elections for the Walloon Regional Parliament.
Measuring Legislative Activity during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Introducing the ParlAct and ParlTech Indexes
Authors: Bar-Siman-Tov Ittai , Rozenberg Olivier , Benoît Cyril , Waismel-Manor Israel , Levanon Asaf
Published: May 2021

This research note introduces two novel indexes designed to measure legislative activity (ParlAct) and use of digital devices to maintain legislative functions (ParlTech) during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. It will also present a novel comprehensive dataset on the functioning of legislatures during a critical period of the pandemic, providing scores for 152 domestic legislatures on both the ParlAct and ParlTech indexes. It will be argued that both indexes could also serve as templates for future research on legislative activity during other pandemics, crises and contingencies.
Legislation and Legislative Process in Eastern Europe
Authors: Szabó Zsolt , Küpper Herbert
Published: May 2021

The study describes and systemises the constitutional requirements on legislation in Eastern Europe. The comparison reveals that the basic structures of the legislative process live up to the standards of the rule of law. The details, however, are quite frequently deficient or problematic. Laws requiring a qualified majority often cause structural problems, based on poor political culture, and the vague and contradictory regulatory framework. Other problems are a legacy of socialism, e.g. the instrumental perception of the law, or the immature separation of powers. However, the apparent homogeneity of the region and its structural problems that was typical of the socialist era, has given way to a stronger differentiation which often reflects differences that existed prior to the socialist dictatorship. This stronger differentiation concerns, i.a. the extent of executive law-making, the structure of parliament (mono- or bicameral), the majority requirement for the decisions in parliament, and the participation of the people in legislation. In the states that have joined the EU, the European criteria of the rule of law have had their effect, whereas the candidate states on the Wester Balkans are on the way of consolidating their legislative system. Further to the East, the rule of law becomes weaker and weaker.
Rationalizing Parliamentary Rules of Procedure in the Czech Republic
Authors: Syllová Jindřiška
Published: May 2021

Post-socialist Central European parliaments in the period since 2010 have seen rationalizing tendencies with the intention of increasing the effectiveness of the legislative procedure. This article describes in detail the changes to the parliamentary rules of procedure in the Czech Republic. Parliamentary procedure in the Czech Republic is subject to extremely slow development and is being reformed only gradually within the existing stabilized system of procedural rules.
Remote Sessions of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia and its Working Bodies
Authors: Briški Maja , Verbič Bojan
Published: May 2021

Regarding the situation related to Covid-19, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia in the spring of 2020 wanted to change the way of participation in the sessions of the National Assembly and its working bodies by means of information and communication technology. The main purpose and gole was that even in the case of physical absence of some of MPs, the National Assembly could still perform its constitutionally determined role. With a view of remote participation (debate and voting), the rules of procedure had to be amended first. The article deals with legal dilemmas when changing the rules of procedure and with subsequent technical realisation.
Measures taken by the House of Commons in Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Priddy Sarah
Published: May 2021

As Covid-19 began to change all aspects of daily life, the House of Commons was no exception. The pandemic meant changes to parliamentary procedures such as ‘hybrid proceedings’ that required most MPs to attend the Chamber via Zoom. To track these changes, the House of Commons Library created a spreadsheet to record the COVID-related procedural changes, now published as a “https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/house-of-commons-coronavirus-timeline/” timeline on the Commons Library website. This article looks at changes to Commons procedures and practices, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, to allow for virtual participation and remote voting.

Although the House of Commons has been significantly impacted by the ability of Members of Parliament to attend Westminster due to the coronavirus, the political parties and House administration have worked together to adapt procedures to allow virtual participation and remote voting at the height of the pandemic in the spring, followed by limited virtual participation in the summer.
Re-Structuring Parliamentary Roles
Authors: Bates Stephen Holden
Published: May 2021

Prominent extant definitions of, and approaches to, parliamentary roles conflate roles and behaviour and, consequently, contain a latent behaviouralism that enfeebles the role that institutions and other structural features play in outcomes. To overcome such issues, this article makes the case for a historical institutionalist approach to the study of parliamentary roles, premised on a critical realist ontology and the figure of homo sentiens. Such an approach defines parliamentary roles in terms of sets of expectations impinging on incumbents of the social position of Member of Parliament and has a number of consequences for how we study parliamentary roles. Namely: the focus of research is squarely on legislative roles; attention is shifted away from focusing (so much or solely) on what mp s think; patterns of behaviour become the starting point for identifying parliamentary roles; and normative questions concerning the ‘goodness’ of parliamentary roles and attendant parliamentary institutional architecture gain prominence.
The genus Mallacoota (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Maeridae) in New Zealand
Authors: KILGALLEN NIAMH M. , AHYONG SHANE T.
Published: May 2021

The New Zealand species of the amphipod crustacean genus Mallacoota are revised. Previous records of Mallacoota subcarinata (Haswell, 1879) from New Zealand are based on a new species, Mallacoota chiltoni sp. nov. and M. petriei (Thomson, 1882), which is re-established as valid based on a neotype. Mallocoota chiltoni apparently has a southern distribution in New Zealand, occurring only south of the Subtropical Convergence, whereas M. petriei ranges widely in both the north and south islands. A history of the genus Mallacoota in New Zealand is given.
A new species of Sandro Karaman & Barnard (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Austroniphargus family group) from South-East Madagascar
Authors: DANELIYA MIKHAIL E.
Published: May 2021

A new austroniphargid amphipod Sandro straussi sp. n. (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Austroniphargus family group) is described on a large collection from forest streams of the Ranomafana National Park, South-East Madagascar. The new species differs from the only known congener, S. starmuehlneri (Ruffo, 1960), by the absence of dorsal spine-setae on telson, unlobed propodus of gnathopods, presence of distal bifurcation on posterior lobe of male uropod 3 peduncle and other characters. The unique feature of S. straussi sp. n. is the sexual dimorphism of uropods 1 and 3: males of the species possess a distolateral lobe on the uropod 1 peduncle and mentioned bifurcated lobe on uropod 3. Despite the absence of eyes, S. straussi sp. n. is widely distributed in epigean stream of the Ranomafana National Park. The diagnosis of the genus Sandro Karaman & Barnard, 1979 is revised and a key to austroniphargid species is composed.
Plectotropis yonganensis sp. nov. (Gastropoda: Bradybaenidae) from China, with revision of two Chinese camaenid species (Gastropoda: Camaenidae)
Authors: ZHOU WEI-CHUAN , XIAO QIONG , CHEN DE-NIU , HWANG CHUNG-CHI
Published: May 2021

The terrestrial snail genus Ganesella Blanford, 1863, sensu lacto by Zilch (1959–1960), is mainly distributed in the Oriental region from Japan, through south of the Yangtze of China to South-east and South Asia. Most of these land snails are endemic species with narrow geographic distribution (Tryon 1888; Pilsbry 1894; Zilch 1959–1960, 1966; Richardson 1985, Chen & Gao 1987; Azuma 1995). The genus is characterized in having thin, smooth or weakly ridged shell, slightly descent body whorl in front, toothless aperture, expanded to reflected lips, long and narrow foot, long penis with a caecum (= penial appendix) and a flagellum. However, the anatomical characters of the type species, G. capitium Benson, 1848, are still wanting. A major part of its members have been assigned to different genus according to shell characters. The species in East-Asia, i.e., Japan, Korea and Taiwan, were assigned to the genus Satsuma (+ syn. Coniglobus Pilsbry & Hirase, 1906 and Luchuhadra Kuroda & Habe, 1949). About 100 species are still catalogued in Ganesella (Richardson 1985).