bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Colloquium 5 Commentary on Gonzalez
Authors: Julian Brian
Published: November 2020

This commentary argues that, in contrast to the view of Professor Gonzalez, Aristotle’s account of final causation is not very helpful for addressing contemporary concerns. Aristotle presents it as a type of cause, but, when one considers Aristotle’s distinction between facts and explanations, a final cause is better viewed as simply a fact. It is true that organisms show an internal directedness towards an end, but one can still ask why this is the case. Because of its limitations, Aristotle’s account of final causes is not a third ontological region between materialism and intelligent design, but its lack of explanation leaves it open to attack from either side.
Intermedial Translation as Circulation
Authors: Yeung Jessica Siu-yin
Published: November 2020

We generally believe that literature first circulates nationally and then scales up through translation and reception at an international level. In contrast, I argue that Taiwan literature first attained international acclaim through intermedial translation during the New Cinema period (1982–90) and was only then subsequently recognized nationally. These intermedial translations included not only adaptations of literature for film, but also collaborations between authors who acted as screenwriters and filmmakers. The films resulting from these collaborations repositioned Taiwan as a multilingual, multicultural and democratic nation. These shifts in media facilitated the circulation of these new narratives. Filmmakers could circumvent censorship at home and reach international audiences at Western film festivals. The international success ensured the wide circulation of these narratives in Taiwan.
Black/Africana Studies and Black/Africana Biblical Studies
Authors: Smith Abraham
Published: November 2020

In this study, Abraham Smith introduces the nature, history, and interventions of two theoretical-political cultural productions: Black/Africana studies (the systematic and rigorous study of Africa and African descendants) and Black/Africana biblical studies (a biblical studies’ subfield that analyzes and appraises the strategies of reception and the historical and contemporary impact of the Christian bible for people of African descent). Both cultural productions were formally introduced in U.S. educational institutions in the late 1960s as a part of the Black Freedom movement. Both have long and deep intellectual antecedents on the one hand and ever-evolving recent interventions that challenge a narrow politics of identity on the other. Through the interrogation of keywords (such as race, family, and Hip Hop or cartographies, canons, and contexts), moreover, the study examines how these two theoretical-political projects question the settled epistemologies or prevailing intellectual currencies of their respective times.
Make Way for Women: Philosophical Adaptation of Confucian Property Practices
Authors: Mower Gordon B.
Published: November 2020

Women struggling for recognition encounter an important difficulty in structural barriers to property ownership. In this paper, I propose to investigate the possibility of a roughly Confucian conception of property that both eschews the liberal property rights conception and provides more space for women than has been allowed in traditional Confucian property schemes. Western property regimes also failed to provide women with adequate access to property, but this was corrected in a manner in keeping with the Western fixation on the individual. Important social problems arose in connection with the Western individualized approach to property relations. The traditional Confucian approach managed to avoid the Western problems, but, as in the West, it failed to provide women with sufficient access to property. I argue here that Confucianism is adequately supplied to correct this deficiency through two routes: one ritual-based and one canon-based.
A Han Feizian Worry with Confucian Meritocracy – and a Non-Moral Alternative
Authors: Harris Eirik Lang
Published: November 2020

The political philosophies of Kongzi, Mengzi, and Xunzi can fruitfully be understood as focusing substantially on politically relevant merit – and as having conceptions of politically relevant merit intertwined with their conceptions of morality and virtue. In short, on their account, politically relevant merit finds its necessary foundation in morally relevant merit. In critiquing this position, Han Fei questions four positions that must be true in order for the early Confucian position to succeed: 1) Politically relevant merit is necessarily tied to moral merit; 2) Virtuous individuals who possess the relevant moral merits can reliably be identified even by those who are not themselves virtuous; 3) Moral cultivation is actually possible; and 4) Those qualities that make someone virtuous can reliably be ascertained. This paper examines the worries that Han Fei has with these positions and offers up an account of Han Fei’s own account of politically relevant merit – a non-moral alternative tied to task specific competencies.
Comparison between Antidumping and Countervailing Duties: The Case of the United States International Trade Commission, 1995-1999
Authors: Mah Jai S.
Published: November 2020

This study compares the determinants of antidumping duties with those of countervailing duties using data for the U.S. ITC under the World Trade Organization system. The empirical evidences show that the commissioners are responsive to changes in trade balances and unemployment rate. Their decisions in case of antidumping duties are revealed to be less responsive to changes in macroeconomic variables than those relating to countervailing duties. The Democrat Commissioners are revealed to be more responsive to macroeconomic variables than the Republican Commissioners in the case of countervailing duties-related decisions.
The Rwandan Crisis: A Watershed for Humanitarian Intervention
Authors: Howe Brendan M.
Published: November 2020

Ten years on, the impact of the inaction of the international community during the Rwandan crisis is still being felt. This article considers normative, legal, and realpolitik constraints operating upon decision- makers, contending that the first two should have enabled decision- makers to authorize intervention if not actually requiring them so to do, and that the international community's non-intervention in genocide was, therefore, due to considerations of national interest. However, international law played a significant role in framing excuses for inaction, and the end of the crisis saw international decision-makers having their hands forced by pressure &om their internal and external communities, promising that non-state-centric humanitarian considerations could play a greater role in future conflicts such as Kosovo and Sudan. Thus this article demonstrates not only that liberal claims of a new world order at the end of the Cold War were premature, but also that post-Rwanda power-political considerations no longer fully explain normative war-fighting decision-making.
Debt Relief for the Poorest: An Assessment of the Heavily-Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative
Authors: Sharma Shalendra D.
Published: November 2020

High level of external debt poses a serious constraint on the ability of poor countries to pl.ll.'SUe sustainable development and reduce poverty. The Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative was designed to relieve the high external debt of some of the world's poorest nations by either writing-off or reducing debt to sustainable levels. It was launched by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 19% and "enhanced" in 19()9 to expand and accelerate the process of debt relief and free scarce public resources fur sustainable economic development, in particular, broad based development to reduce poverty. Whether debt relief, in general, or the HIPC Initiative, in particular, can achieve such development outcomes has been the subject of much debate. 1bis paper argues while the HIPC initiative is a positive step towards debt relief and sustainability, it is important to note that sustainable debt is not an end in itself, but should be an essential element in realizing the growth needed to reduce poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). To realize the full potential of debt relief, donor countries will not only have to be more generous, and the recipient countries need to undertake deeper structural reforms, debt sustainability assessments should specifically take into account how the poor countries can achieve the MDGs.
Chaebol Investments and Government Policy
Authors: Yun Eugene
Published: November 2020

It is argued that one key reason behind Korea's stalling economic growth is the lack of sufficient investments in facilities, especially by the chaebol companies. The government charges the chaebols with under-investing and has put considerable pressure on them to invest more aggressively. Since one main pathological feature of the chaebols has been their propensity co over-invest, this paper examines whether there has been a change in chacbol behavior. Evidence shows chat chaebols are not under-investing in facilities. The chaebols arc engaging in investments that make business sense, even though these levels of investment may fall short of what the government would like to sec. By misreading the true situation, the government may be initiating a complex power game with the chaebols, which will prove to be counter-productive.
FDICIA and Risk Shifting 1n the Banking Industry
Authors: Lee Seok-Weon
Published: November 2020

This is an empirical study that examines how the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act (FDICIA) of 1991 in the U.S. banking industry affects the moral hazard risk-taking incentives of banks. We find that FDICIA appears to be effective in significantly reducing the systematic risk-taking incentives of the banks. Considering that the banks' asset portfolios are necessarily largely systematic risk-related, the significant decrease in their systematic risk-taking incentives provides some evidence of the effectiveness of FDICIA. However, with respect to the nonsystematic risk-taking behavior, the results generally indicate statistically insignificant decreases in the risk-taking incentives after FDICIA. To well-diversified investors who can diversify nonsystematic risk away, nonsystematic risk may not be a risk any more. However, to maintain a sound banking environment and to reduce the risk to individual banks, this result implies that regulatory agents should monitor the banks’ nonsystematic risk-taking behavior more closely, as long as it is positively related to the banks’ failures. We further test the change in the risk-taking incentives by partitioning the full sample into two groups: Banks with higher moral hazard incentives as those with larger asset size and lower capital ratio and banks with lower moral hazard incentives as those with smaller asset size and higher capital ratio. The main result for this test is that, with FDICIA, the decrease in the risk-taking incentives of the banks with higher moral hazard incentives (larger asset-size and lower capital-ratio banks) is less than that of the banks with lower moral hazard incentives (smaller asset-size and higher capital-ratio banks), with respect to both systematic and nonsystematic risk-taking measures. Furthermore, the change in the nonsystematic risk-taking incentives of the banks with higher moral hazard incentives is rather mixed, while their systematic incentives are decreased. These findings imply that the regulatory agents should allocate more time and effort toward monitoring the banks with higher moral hazard incentives with particular emphasis on their nonsystematic risk-taking behavior.
The Amount of Shares Held by Chaebol’s Other Affiliated Firms and Affiliated Firm's OwnershipControl Disparity: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Lee Jae-Hyung , Yi Myung Hoon
Published: November 2020

We examine the relationship between the amount of shares held by Chaebol’s other affiliated firms and affiliated firm's ownership-control disparity. To this end, the ownership-control disparity equations are estimated with the ownership-control disparity index and the voting right leverage index as dependent variables, using cross-sectional data on 78 affiliated firms in Chaebols in 2005. These Chaebols are controlled by the ceiling on the total amount of holding shares of other affiliated firms in Chaebol. The estimation results with the ownership-control disparity index indicate that the increase in the amount of shares held by Chaebol’s other affiliated firms deepens the ownership-control disparity. And the amount of net assets and the amount of cash flow mitigate the ownership-control disparity. The estimation results of the voting right leverage index are almost the same as those of the ownership-control disparity index. We also find that the ownership-control disparity index is more elastic than the voting right leverage index with respect to the amount of shares held by Chaebol’s other affiliated firms. Overall, these empirical findings suggest that the ceiling on the total amount of holding shares of other affiliated firms in Chaebol can contribute to the desirable corporate governance.
Ownership Structure and Principle-Agent Problem: Evidence from the U.S. Banking Industry
Authors: Lee Seok Weon
Published: November 2020

From the sample of 62 U.S. bank holding companies over the 1987-1995 period, we found that banks with a higher degree of risk diversification significantly increase more risk as managerial stock ownership rises, compared to the banks with a lower degree of risk diversification over the period 1987-1990 when the banking regulations were relatively loose. However, we also found that this increased risk-taking has not ultimately resulted in better performance of the banks. Thus, even though the owner/manager agency problem of banks can easily be ad~ by changing their insider holdings or ownership structure, in particular when the banks' asset portfolios are well diversified and banking regulations are loose, this change in ownership structure may have to be associated with closer and more frequent monitoring of the banks’ risk-caking behavior, because the increased risk-taking with higher managerial ownership could only end up with increasing the possibility of failure of the bank without contributing to improving bank profitability.
Trade in Information Technology and Wage Inequality in the Digital Economy: The Case of Korea
Authors: Yoon Sang-Chul
Published: November 2020

This paper examines the impact of trade in information technology (IT) on wage inequality in the digital economy. The empirical results based on the quarterly data for the period 1994-2004 in Korea show the evidence supportive of the view that trade in IT as intermediate inputs has escalated wage inequality in digital economy, which supports the Feenstra-Hanson (2001) hypothesis.
Mitigating Partisan Perceptions between Individual and Collective-based Groups
Authors: Kim Jasper S.
Published: November 2020

In our increasingly globalized and cross-border world, negotiators come across increasingly different cultures, and thus, methods of approaching solutions and problems. Often such cultures may seem "alien" or "unusual" to us, which may in turn give rise to certain partisan perceptions. Within the context of East-West negotiations, I suggest that such partisan perception may further be linked to cultural variables and described as a "barbarian bias," which represents a significant variable that has not been fully discussed in the current literature. This is linked to other phenomenon, such as "accidental Occidentalism" and "biased benchmarking," which can be used, knowingly or unknowingly, by both individual and collective-based negotiators to their possible detriment.
Cross-Instrument Division of Labor in International ODA: Grant-loan Allocation and Implications for Korean ODA
Authors: Yun Mikyung
Published: November 2020

The importance of the division of labor to enhance donor coordination is increasingly recognized, but little attention has been paid to the cross-instrument division of labor. such as grant-loan coordination. This paper analyses the current international division of labor that has emerged between grant and loan aid and elicits implications for emerging donors such as the Republic of Korea. This paper argues that considering the international division of labor and characteristics of Korean ODA. Korea should strengthen cooperation with multilateral donors and that its coordination strategies with bilateral donors should depend on whether they are grant oriented or loan oriented.
Human Resource Management and Organizational Performance-The Mediating Role of Organizational Commitment: Empirical Evidence from the Public Sector in a Non-Western Context
Authors: Zeidan Susan , Farah Assaad , Abouzeid Shadi
Published: November 2020

Research in the field of strategic human resource management has attracted a great deal of interest because of its likely impact on bottom line outcomes. Recent work in this area posits that organizational commitment can mediate the relationship between human resource management (HRM)practices and organizational performance. However, most of the studies conducted in this area were concentrated on samples gathered from private organizations, and mainly in western countries. In this paper, the impact of HRM on organizational performance is assessed. Furthermore, this research attempts to shed more light on the ‘black box’ between human resource practices and organizational performance by investigating the mediating function of organizational commitment in two public sector entities within the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The mediating factor was tested through regression of the data collected from a sample of 371 workers who are employed within the two aforementioned public sector entities. The main findings are in line with the outcomes of earlier HRM-performance studies conducted in western public and private sectors, where employers can expect improved organizational performance when their employees' perceptions of the HRM practices within the organization tend to foster an increase in their organizational commitment.
Beyond Aid Effectiveness?: Private and Public Partnerships in South Korea’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) Strategy as Soft Power Strength and Weakness
Authors: Watson Iain
Published: November 2020

In 2009 Hubbard and Duggan published their book ‘The Aid Trap’ which argued that a thriving private business sector in the recipient country must be encouraged. Otherwise foreign aid simply reinforces debt, poverty and dependency. This debate between neoliberal and neo-Keynesian approaches influenced the formation of effective foreign aid `strategies from new ODA donors such as South Korea. South Korea’s role in the ODA debate represents a more general geopolitical shift by emerging nations. The paper provides a critical assessment of South Korea’s state-led and soft power ODA policies by focusing on initiatives on aid effectiveness and fostering private/public partnerships (PPP’s). The paper goes on to critically consider and judge these eliteled ODA initiatives by addressing a grassroots NGO perspective.
A Multiplicity of Regionalisms in Southeast Asia
Authors: Misalucha Charmaine
Published: November 2020

Regional arrangements in Southeast Asia (SEA) beg the question of why this “alphabet soup” exists. This can be addressed by looking at a wider context: these regionalisms are not merely SEA states’ responses to international events, nor are they solely projections of independence/self-assertion. Instead, SEA’s ventures demonstrate Constructivist logic: Southeast Asian states shape and are themselves shaped by the historical and geographical circumstances in which they find themselves. Beginning with the assumption that international relations are fluid and mutually constitutive, SEA regionalisms can be explained by complex engagement, as seen in the evolution of ASEAN and the dynamics of the APT and the EAS. In short, this paper argues that the multiplicity of regionalisms in Southeast Asia is a reflection of Constructivism at work.
Building a Human Security-based Framework for the Protection of Migrants in Northeast Asia
Authors: Nagy Stephen Robert
Published: November 2020

This paper argues that human security (HS) is a suitable framework for the protection of migrants in Northeast Asia. Drawing on policy papers and interviews with Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials and scholars in Japan, this paper contends that the Japanese focus on “freedom from want” vis-à-vis HS resonates with the views on HS of neighbours in the region, as it focuses on the collective rather than the individual, is non-interventionist, apolitical and non-ideological. By focusing on existing capabilities in the region, this paper advocates that, through harmonization of migrant policies bilaterally or multilaterally, employing mutually agreed upon, pre-existing understandings of labour rights, and finding a role for local governments and NGOs, human security-based migrant policies can help protect migrants in the region.
Building an Asia-Pacific Peace Community from a Human Security Perspective
Authors: Peou Sorpong
Published: November 2020

This paper argues that the development of a regional peace community requires a high degree of human security that only stable democratic states are capable of providing. It advances the concept of regional peace community and seeks to formulate and validate the proposition that people-centered democracies are stable and stable democracies make regional peace communities durable. Although much has been written about human security in East Asia, no serious effort has been made to make human security the key conceptual foundation of a regional peace community in the Asia-Pacific.
The 'Reactive State' as Foreign Aid Giver: A Historical Analysis of the Aid Policy Regime (1953-1999) in South Korea
Authors: Yi Jisun
Published: November 2020

Why are donor goverments eager to increase foreign aid and how do they justify aid increase? This essay present a historical insight into the bilateral donors' rhetoric behind aid expansion. south korea provides one critical case. Not with standing its imperssive aid growth over the last decade, the country has constantly failed to meet its annual commitment by a significant margin. This article argues that such policy behaviour might stem from its legacy as a 'reactive state.' During the cold War, the country's nascent aid policy regime produced expansionary but non-strategic rhetoric, due to its fragmented structure and lack of indigenenous policy rationales. such traits of the policy regime linger today, thereby continuously favouring overstimated aid targets ana outwardlooking aid initiatives.
The End of the Eternal Return of “Econophoria” in Northeast Asia?: On the Use and Abuse of the Economic Concept of Peace
Authors: Richey Mason
Published: November 2020

This article evaluates the concept of “econophoria” in the context of the contemporary international relations of Northeast Asia. The article begins by discussing the idea’s general meaning, some of its theoretical and empirical subtleties (including problems), and how it occupies a special role in studies of Northeast Asian security. The middle section examines the geoeconomics and geo-politics of Northeast Asia through an “econophoric” lens, and then identifies the “Asian Paradox” as a situation that calls into question the region’s recent status quo. I conclude by arguing why the “econophoric” program requires transformation over coming decades. Notably I demonstrate that international institutions (especially regional institutions) will be a crucial mechanism for continued stability, development, and peace in Northeast Asia going forward.
The European Two-Level Game in Central Asia: Visegrad Countries and Kazakhstan
Authors: Plenta Peter
Published: November 2020

Since 2007, the European Union has developed a strategy towards Central Asia. Relations with the region have created an opportunity to focus on a wider spectrum of interests across different levels of EU foreign policy. This article examines the “two-level game” between EU member states (from Central Europe) and EU institutions in Brussels regarding economic interests versus values agenda with the focus on Kazakhstan.

In this game, the EU’s member states focus on developing trade and economic relations while they let space for the EU’s institutions to discuss sensitive issues, such as democracy promotion and human rights dialogue. This is the case for the Visegrad countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) that prefer a pragmatic approach towards Kazakhstan as the most important country in the Central Asian region.
Invasion as a Practice: Understanding State Behavior in Putin’s Russia
Authors: Stent Dylan , Lee Eugene
Published: November 2020

Throughout 2014 and 2015 Russia annexed Crimea and helped secessionist forces in Eastern Ukraine. However, interventions are nothing new to modern Russia. In 2008 Russia invaded Abkhazia and South Ossetia unilaterally after the Russo-Georgian War. The question arises: what drives Russia’s leaders, namely President Putin, to acquire new territories? Normative theories have proven inadequate at predicting Putin’s decisionmaking in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and thus, this paper analyzes these developments through the lens of practice theory. This paper proposes that Putin’s innate learning during his upbringing, and during his time in the Комите́т госуда́рственной безопа́сности (KGB), has tempered his diplomatic practice. Surrounding himself with likeminded policymakers, and embedding a carefully crafted propaganda image, we call it a new Putinism, has prevailed in Russian diplomatic practice. This proposed concept is based on five premises: Russian ethno-centrism, not being scared of the global West, secrecy, disdain for multilateral institutions, and the creation of a Russian sphere of influence. The paper concludes that Russia is likely to continue annexing close-by lands as a way of legitimizing the regime of President Putin.
The Importance of Crisis and Failure:The case of Saemangeum and the Green Life Theory Project
Authors: Levine Amy
Published: November 2020

This paper explores the cross-disciplinary, continous,and important roles of crisis and failure in modern South Korea. In particular, it explores the highly contested phase just before the completion of the state-led Saemangeum national development project at the end of Dae-Jung Kim's presidential term (1998-2003), and the activist mobilizations and legal battles to "Save our Saemangeum (SOs)" ending in 2006. In addition, this paper ethnographically examines one civil leader's failed effort-a project he called Green Life Theory and then Greenism-to respond not only to Saemangeum, but also to the larger theoretical demand foir an alternative to neoliberal capitalism. Ultimately, this paper argues that 1) the Saemangeum reclamation be understood as a post-authoritarian, democratic hope for cashing in and social redemption (Peterson 2009); 2) that the Green life Theory Project is an attempt to "orchestrate time" (Cho 2015; 3) that both Saemangeum and the green Life Theory projects illuminate a key difference between activists and academics in terms of endpoints (Miyazaki and Riles 2005);and 4) that both projects fail on disciplinary metrics in trying to acheive interdisciplinarity (e.g. Jean Klein and Riles 2005; Riles 2000; Strathern 2004).
Depopulation and Migration in the Russian Far East: International, Federal and Local Factors
Authors: Levie Matthew Benjamin
Published: November 2020

Russia faces an acute demographic crisis and labor shortage, and this crisis is most evident in the Russian Far East (RFE). Migration from within Russia and immigration from foreign sources are one potential solution to this crisis. This paper examines the history of migration to the RFE and addresses the questions of where the necessary additional migrants or immigrants might come from and what political, cultural and economic structures might be most effective in mitigating the existing demographic situation.
Corporate Governance Structure and Accounting Information Disclosure Quality: Evidence from Shenzhen Stock Exchange in China
Authors: Xu He , Rhee Chang Seop
Published: November 2020

This study investigates the effect of corporate governance structure on the quality of accounting information disclosure using Shenzhen stock exchange data. Existing literatures reported that corporate governance can help to improve accounting quality. However, China's corporate governance structure may have different consequences from prior studies because it has less maturity than developed countries in Europe and the United States. China government, in particular, has a very strong influence on the companies in China and we needs to be verified if the corporate governance structure works properly.

From the empirical tests, we find that the proportion of stateowned shares, the proportion of tradable shares, ownership concentration, the size of the board of directors, the proportion of ownership of the board of directors, and size of the board of supervisors are positively associated with the quality of accounting information disclosure. This study will contribute to academics and practitioners by documenting the factors of corporate governance structure on accounting disclosure quality in China.
‘Steady as She Goes’: Effect of the Fukushima Disaster on Australia-Japan Relations
Authors: Vivoda Vlado
Published: November 2020

This paper analyses the effect of the March 11, 2011 (3/11) disaster on bilateral relations between Australia and Japan. It explores key areas of cooperation and conflict in the bilateral relationship and evaluates the extent to which these were affected by the Fukushima disaster. While the main focus is on bilateral energy relations, the paper also considers broader security and trade relationship between Canberra and Tokyo. The paper accounts for change and continuity in mutual political and economic interests, perspectives towards security cooperation, and ideational factors. The argument put forward is that the Australia-Japan relationship has been strengthened in the aftermath of the 3/11 disaster.
Introduction: Conflict in the Deep South of Thailand: Never-ending Stalemate?
Authors: Chambers Paul , Jitpiromsri Srisompob , Waitoolkiat Napisa
Published: November 2020

The Introduction to this Special Issue lists the background, principal causes, possible future scenarios and potential solutions to the conflict in Thailand’s Deep South. It also presents summaries of the articles in the Special Issue.
When Violence Rises and Politicians Fall
Authors: Utarasint Daungyewa
Published: November 2020

This article examines a faction of parliamentary politicians called “Wadah.” The faction is fundamentally Malay-Muslim, regionally-based in Thailand’s Deep South and has moved from party to party since its inception in 1986. The initiators of the Wadah group believe that, by assembling themselves as one cohesive group, it would enhance their bargaining power vis-à-vis the central Thai government. This article examines Wadah’s origins, growth, downfall, and semi-resurgence up until today. While Wadah became a useful organization for pushing the needs of Malay-Muslims in the Deep South, the 2004 violence undermined Wadah politicians’ support in their own constituencies. The lesson for Wadah is that the greater the magnitude of violence that occurs, the more likelihood incumbent politicians belonging to ruling coalition will see their constituents defect from them in the next general election.
Human Rights Anchored in Business: Practice and Challenges in the Palm Oil Sector in Malaysia
Authors: Wahab Andika AB.
Published: November 2020

The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights aims to address gaps in human rights governance by setting a standard and corporate culture of respecting human rights. In Malaysia, despite growing requirements for sustainable production, the palm oil sector has been implicated in various corporate human rights violations. This article discusses how do three public listed companies in the palm oil sector in Malaysia perform their obligation to respect human rights? This article argues that while large palm oil companies have shown modest progress in realizing their human rights obligation – the lack of regulatory framework, resources, direct market pressure and membership to sustainability standards continue to serve as critical challenges in compensating the gaps in human rights governance.
Mapping Out the Possible Outcomes of the Security Dilemma in International Politics
Authors: Tan Er-Win
Published: November 2020

Whilst a significant amount of work has been undertaken in the field of security dilemma theory, there is a gap in the academic literature concerning the possible scenarios that may result from this phenomenon in international politics. To date, no known systematic attempt has been made to consider the full range of scenarios that may result from the security dilemma. Six possible scenario outcomes may be identified, these being: first, the security dilemma is transcended; second, a security-seeking state leaves itself unilaterally vulnerable to external aggression; third, the inappropriate adoption of diplomatic and military assertiveness to reaffirm deterrence instead arouses the fears of another security-seeking state, thereby leading to inadvertent escalation of a crisis into a conflict; fourth, a ‘deep security dilemma’ based on long-running mutual hostility that does not escalate into conflict; fifth, a security dilemma that escalates to the brink of conflict but is then de-escalated; and sixth, mitigation of the security dilemma between rival states. This article will explore these respective scenarios in terms of their underpinnings, as well as their implications for security and diplomacy.
Dendrothripoides moundi (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), a new species from Madagascar
Authors: GOLDARAZENA ARTURO , MATSUMOTO MASAMI , RANARILALATIANA TOLOTRA , DIANZINGA NIRY T. , FRAGO ENRIC , MICHEL BRUNO
Published: November 2020

The genus Dendrothripoides was originally described by Bagnall (1923) from India and is currently represented by five species (ThripsWiki 2020). Dendrothripoides innoxius (Karny) is widely distributed in the Oriental and Pacific regions; D. microchaetus Okajima is from the Philippines and Indonesian archipelago; D. nakaharai Reyes known only from the Philippines, D. poni Kudo from Thailand, and D. venustus Faure from Rhodesia [Zimbabwe] and South Africa (Faure 1941; Kudo 1977; Bournier 2000). Little is known about the biology of these species because collections often have samples with few specimens. D. innoxius is considered a minor pest on Ipomoea crops (Watson & Mound 2020) but adults have been taken on the leaves of plants in numerous families (Asteraceae, Convolvulaceae, Dioscoreaceae, Musaceae, Poaceae). Dendrothripoides was classified within the Panchaetothripinae by Priesner (1957) for having a reticulate body surface. However, Ananthakrishnan (1963) indicated that the similarities are superficial, and that this genus should be classified in the Aptinothripina of the Thripinae because the pronotum lacks long setae. The genus is now not included in the Anaphothrips genus-group (Masumoto & Okajima 2017), but the systematic position is unclear with a recent morphological phylogenetic analysis indicating a position near the Panchaetothripinae that may be due to superficial resemblance (Zhang et al. 2019).
Beauty in the eye of the beholder: a new species of gecko (Diplodactylidae: Lucasium) from inland north Queensland, Australia
Authors: VANDERDUYS ERIC , HOSKIN CONRAD J. , KUTT ALEX S. , WRIGHT JUSTIN M. , ZOZAYA STEPHEN M.
Published: November 2020

The Einasleigh Uplands bioregion of central north Queensland, Australia, harbours a unique suite of reptiles that have begun to receive significant attention in the last 20 years. This has resulted in a number of new reptile species being described, and recognition that others await description. We describe a new species of Lucasium Wermuth, 1965 from the western Einasleigh Uplands. Lucasium iris sp. nov. is genetically distinct and morphologically diagnosable from all congeners by its large size, long and narrow tail, nares in contact with rostral scale, homogeneous body scales, distinct vertebral stripe, and paired, enlarged, apical subdigital lamellae. It is known from low rocky hills in a localised area of the Gregory Range, has the most restricted known distribution of any Lucasium, and is the only Lucasium endemic to Queensland. The new species appears most closely related to L. steindachneri (Boulenger, 1885), based on mitochondrial DNA sequences, but has a colour-pattern more similar to L. immaculatum Storr, 1988. All three of these species occur in the Einasleigh Uplands, but only L. steindachneri is known to occur in sympatry with L. iris sp. nov. In addition to the description of the new species, we present records of Lucasium immaculatum from the Einasleigh Uplands, which represent a significant known range extension.
Six new species of the spider genus Centroctenus Mello-Leitão from the Neotropical region (Ctenidae, Cteninae)
Authors: BRESCOVIT ANTONIO D. , TORRES RICHARD A. , REGO FELIPE N. A. A. , POLOTOW DANIELE
Published: November 2020

The species of the genus Centroctenus can be distinguished from other Ctenidae genera by the presence of a long tibiae and the absence of a retrolateral projection of the cymbium in the male palp, and by the presence of a rounded spermathecae in the female epigynum. The composition of this spider genus is herein expanded to eleven Neotropical species, with the description of six new species: Centroctenus dourados sp. n., C. claudia sp. n., C. chalkidisi sp. n., and C. varzea sp. n., from Brazil; and Centroctenus coloso sp. n. from Colombia and Centroctenus alinahui sp. n. from Ecuador. A map with the distribution of all known species in the genus is presented.
Anesthesia Effect of Propofol Nanoinjection Combined with Nerve Block
Authors: Luo Jie , Wang Deming , Guo Wenqiang , Cao Hong
Published: November 2020

Anesthesia for upper limb surgery is commonly used in clinical practice. At present, the traditional method uses anatomical localization for nerve block, which can result incomplete local block and reduced anesthetic effect. Instead, ultrasound-guided nerve block can help clinicians
intuitively grasp structure of patient tissues and provide a real-time display of needle penetration. Propofol is the most commonly used intravenous anesthetic in the world, but its use is still limited. In order to improve the limitations of this drug, a propofol nanoemulsion was developed
and used in combination with a lower brachial plexus block. In this study, 100 patients were randomly divided into two groups, 50 in each group. The propofol nanoinjection for nerve block was used in the experimental group and ketamine was used in the control group. The quality of the operation,
respiratory inhibition/asphyxia, recovery time, OPS score, agitation score, and complications were compared between the two groups. There was no significant difference in blood loss between the two groups (P > 0 05). The experimental results showed that the lower brachial plexus block and
propofol nanoemulsion provided a better analgesic effect than ketamine and propofol nanoemulsion in the operation.
Potential for Standardization of Refractive Measures for Manifest Refraction Before and After Using Mydriatic Eyedrops in Children
Authors: Cho Yenling , Chen Xue , Huang Lisha , Yang Xue , Wang Yuhua
Published: November 2020

This study aimed to standardize the refractive measures using manifest refraction (MR) before and after using mydriatic eyedrops, and to explore the potential impact of age on the MR differences before mydriatic eyedrops (MRM), after rapid pupil dilation (MRRPD), and after slow pupil
dilation (MRSPD). Three hundred sixty-two participants, aged 3–18 years were recruited from January 1, 2018, to September 30, 2018, using cluster sampling. MRM, MRRPD, and MRSPD were applied for measuring sphere and cylinder in the left and right eyes. At the initial inspection stage
there were no significant differences between the MRM and MRRPD groups for sphere and cylinder values in the left and right eyes (P > 0 05). A significant difference was found for the sphere value in the left (P < 0 001) and right eyes (P < 0 001) among the MRM,
MRRPD, and MRSPD groups, whereas there was no significant difference in cylinder value in the left (P = 0 691) and right eyes (P = 0 172) among groups at the review stage. The sphere value in the left and right eyes was significantly different among the MRM, MRRPD, and MRSPD
groups for children aged 3–6 years, and there was a significant difference among groups for the sphere value in the right eye for children aged 7–11 years. There were no significant differences between the MRM and MRRPD groups in terms of sphere or cylinder values in the left and
right eyes of children aged 12–18 years. The study findings indicate the results of sphere and cylinder measurements in the left and right eyes are consistent for MRM and MRRPD during the initial inspection stage, without any effect of the age of the children. However, the results of
sphere measurements in the left and right eye were significantly different between the MRM, MRRPD, and MRSPD groups, especially for younger children.
Clinical Significance of MicroRNA-155-Regulated Autophagy and Apoptosis by Targeting Rictor/Fos in Gastric Cancer Progression
Authors: Chen Gang , Li Yu , Ren Zhijian , Gu Yanmei , Tang Futian , Mao Jie , Zhu Junmin , Wang Ling , Li Yumin
Published: November 2020

MicroRNA-155 plays an important role in the pathogenesis, progression, and treatment of various cancers. It is abnormally expressed in gastric cancer, but its expression level, function, and significance remain controversial. Therefore, we studied these facets of microRNA-155 in gastric
cancer. A total of 700 (miRDB) and 556 (TargetScan) target genes were obtained and 280 genes were identified by Venn mapping, 49 of which had a target score of 90 or higher. GO and KEGG analysis revealed that they were associated with the autophagy and apoptosis pathways. Rictor and Fos were
selected for further study. Thirty-two cases exhibited high microRNA-155 expression (group H) and 11 cases showed low expression (group L). Twelve patients had high Rictor expression, whereas 31 patients exhibited low expression. Thirteen cases showed normal Fos expression and 30 cases had
low or negative expression. Thirty-three cases had high Beclin1/LC3 expression, whereas 10 cases exhibited low expression. Ten cases had high caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression, whereas 33 cases had low expression. According to the results of immunohistochemistry and western blot analyses,
Rictor, Fos, caspase-3, and caspase-9 were minimally expressed, whereas Beclin1 and LC3 were highly expressed in group H. However, all six genes exhibited no significant expression differences in group L. The abnormal expression of microRNA-155 may indicate the occurrence of gastric cancer
and its expression level was negatively correlated with the clinical stage of cancer. Down-regulated expression of Rictor and Fos, enhancement of autophagy, and reduced apoptosis may be related to the overexpression of microRNA-155. MicroRNA-155 may promote the progression of gastric cancer
by promoting autophagy and inhibiting apoptosis.
Epidemiology and Management of Pediatric Head and Neck Burns: An Institutional Review
Authors: Merceron Tyler K. , Williams Rachael Y. , Ingram Walter L. , Abramowicz Shelly
Published: November 2020

Background

Pediatric head and neck burns (HNBs) require special attention due to the potential for long-term disfigurement, functional impairment, and psychosocial stigma.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of patients <18 years old admitted to Grady Memorial Hospital with a diagnosis of HNB from 2009-2017. Demographic data, burn characteristics, management, and hospital course were analyzed.

Results

Of the 272 patients included, 65.4% were male with a mean age of 63.2 months. Burn mechanism was primarily secondary to scalding liquids (70.2%) or flames (23.9%). The average total body surface area involved was 10.3%, and 3.0% for the head/neck. Average length of stay was 5.2 days and overall mortality was 1.1%. Twenty-five patients (9.2%) required surgery in the acute setting, and 5 (1.8%) required secondary surgery for hypertrophic scarring or contracture.

Discussion

Pediatric HNBs occur most commonly in males <6 years old secondary to scalding liquids or open flames. Most patients can be managed nonoperatively without long-term sequelae.
Closed Incision Negative Pressure Therapy: Indications and Adherence to Protocol
Authors: Foroutanjazi Sina , Jonczyk Michael , Chen Lilian , Chatterjee Abhishek
Published: November 2020

Background

Complications associated with wound management not only increase the morbidity and mortality of surgical interventions but they also increase the cost and decrease the quality of care. Closed incision negative pressure therapy (CINPT) has been proposed as a superior method of wound care compared to the more traditional wound management methods. Since the Food and Drug Administration indications for using CINPT are broad and generally nonspecific, it is unclear whether patients are appropriately screened for and receive this treatment modality.

Material and Methods

To identify common clinical indications for CINPT, we conducted a literature review to define a consensus for CINPT candidates and used the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database to indicate if certain patient demographics impact decision-making.

Results

Based on the literature review, encompassing 57 articles, and the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database, over 11,000 patients received CINPT. Both the NSQIP data and the literature review commonly reported BMI >30 (47.1% and 39.6%), smoking (22.7% and 29.2%), and diabetes mellitus (22.7% and 47.9) as the most common clinical indications for using CINPT.

Discussion

The most common indications for using CINPT according to the literature review and the NSQIP database are BMI > 30, smoking status, and diabetes mellitus. Besides identifying patients who potentially benefit the most from CINPT, the results of this study suggest clinical adherence to the practice guidelines reported in the literature regarding wound management using this treatment modality.