bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pengaruh Durasi Waktu Pada Sexing Spermatozoa Sapi Bali Terhadap Kualitas Dan Efektivitas Sexing Spermatozoa Dengan Menggunakan Alat Electric Separating Sperm (ESS)
Authors: Ashari Lukman , Mustofa Imam , Yunita Maya Nurwartanti , Sardjito Trilas , Saputro Amung Logam , Prastiya Ragil Angga
Published: June 2019

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mengetahui perbedaan kualitas (viabilitas, motilitas dan abnormalitas) spermatozoa Sapi jantan Bali hasil sexing menggunakan alat ESS yang dialiri listrik selama lima menit dan sepuluh menit pada sisi anoda dan katoda dan mengetahui perbedaan efektivitas pemisahan spermatozoa Sapi Bali hasil sexing menggunakan alat ESS yang dialiri listrik selama lima menit dan sepuluh menit pada sisi anoda dan katoda. Penelitian ini menggunakan Sapi Bali yang berumur 4 tahun sampai 7 tahun dengan motilitas di atas 45% dan di bawah 60%. Penelitian ini menggunakan diluter tris kuning telur. Sexing spermatozoa menggunakan alat ESS yang dialiri listrik dengan durasi 5 menit dan 10 menit pada masing-masing anoda dan katoda. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan kualitas (viabilitas, motilitas dan abnormalitas) mengalami penurunan. Kualitas terbaik pada sexing spermatozoa terdapat pada durasi lima menit.  Efektivitas pemisahan spermatozoa yang paling baik yaitu pada durasi sepuluh menit pada sisi katoda spermatozoa X sebesar 62,17±0,240% dan  pada sisi anoda spermatozoa Y sebesar 67,33± 1,03%.
Market Entry Strategy of Multinational Enterprise (MNE): A Case Study of Harley Davidson
Authors: Triwastuti Ria
Published: June 2019

Harley Davidson America has been facing internationalisation issue from economic and social forces. Besides some potentials of entering emerging market, there are some challenges to be encountered by Harley Davidson such as political-economy and cultural differences between USA and India. This study elaborates and evaluates the strategy of Harley Davidson USA to expand its market to India. The method used in this paper is a qualitative analysis with case study approach, supported by a few quantitative data. Data collected from the publicly available documents related Harley Davidson. The study finds that entry market strategy conducted by Harley Davidson is effective and favourable for the firm though it has several potential risks.
Conventionalisation of Organic Agriculture: Betterment or Diminishment?
Authors: Kalyana Putu Calista Gitta
Published: June 2019

Organic products become more popular as an alternative for consumption which are often perceived to be healthier and more environment-friendly. As the demand for organic products increases, the conventionalisation of organic agriculture practice becomes inevitable. The advantage of conventionalisation is arguable because although it can increase the production efficiency, the practice tends to disregard the principle of organic farming. This paper will discuss the issue through utilitarianism and justice theory framework. Utilitarianism perspective supports the conventionalisation of organic farming practice since the economic benefit would outweigh the cost of negative outcome from the damaged environment. Theory of justice offers opposing perspective by considering the marginalised farmer and the effect of the conventionalisation practice to the environment. According to the ecological justice perspective, conventionalisation of organic agriculture practice is unacceptable as it undermines the organic principle and proven to be detrimental for the small farmer where only the large operations perform the conventionalisation practice.
The Use of Digital Marketing Communication Media as a Tool to Achieve Brand Awareness of Kitchenindo Products
Authors: Riskyawan Ahmad Vinza , Ervianty Rizka Miladiah
Published: June 2019

There are various ways to use the internet technology for marketers. One of them is the use of social media as a means for marketers to inform or sell products or services for customers' online market share. Social media is a new marketing tool that makes it possible to know customers and prospective customers in ways that were previously impossible (Clayman, 2017). The subjects of this study were the people of Surabaya, who were selected by simple random sampling. This study uses a Likert scale as a measurement scale, which consists of four answer choices. This was used to accommodate differences in respondents' answers between categories of respondents. Data collection was carried out through a questionnaire containing several questions which were then recorded, calculated on average per dimension, and analyzed descriptively. The questionnaire in this study employed to measure the effectiveness of advertising is based on EPIC theory (Empathy, Persuation, Impact, and Communication - EPIC), and to measure brand awareness is based on the brand awareness of the pyramid theory (top of mid, brand recall, brand recognition, and unaware of the brand) by David Aaker quoted in Durianto (2004). All respondents knew the Kitchenindo brand with the help of content or advertisements through the Kitchenindo Instagram account and respondents rated Kitchenindo's ads or content on Instagram as effective. Thus, the use of digital marketing communication media can be used as a tool to achieve the awareness of the Kitchenindo brand, although this research only reached the brand recognition stage and has not reached the level of brand recall and even top of mind. This turned out to have an impact on the number of product sales figures that did not significantly give benefit to the company.
Smart Meter Data-based Three-Stage Algorithm to Calculate Power and Energy Losses in Low Voltage Distribution Networks
Authors: Grigoras Gheorghe , Neagu Bogdan-Constantin
Published: June 2019

In the paper, an improved smart meter data-based three-stage algorithm to calculate the power/energy losses in the three-phase low voltage (LV) distribution networks was proposed. In the first stage, an loading procedure of input data was built, being able to work simultaneously with files containing the active and reactive power profiles provided by smart meters and typical profiles associated to consumers without smart meters, based on the energy consumption categories, day type (weekend and working), and season type, knowing the daily energy indexes, in the second stage, a structure vectors-based algorithm was implemented to recognize the network topology, and in the third stage, an improved version of forward/backward sweep-based algorithm was proposed to calculate fast the power/energy losses to three-phase LV distribution networks in balanced and unbalanced regime. A real LV rural distribution network from a pilot zone belonging to a Distribution Network Operator (DNO) from Romania was used to verify the accuracy of the proposed algorithm. The results were compared with those obtained using the DigSilent PowerFactory Professional Software, the MAPE being by 0.94%.
Assessment of Standards and Codes Dedicated to CFRP Confinement of RC Columns
Authors: Kaeseberg Stefan , Messerer Dennis , Holschemacher Klaus
Published: June 2019

Reinforced concrete (RC) columns are often placed under confinement to increase their strength and ductility. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials have recently been recognized as favorable confinement systems. At present, a number of national standards and codes dedicated to the design of concrete components strengthened with CFRP in general and CFRP confinement in particular are available. These sets of rules provide design equations for confined reinforced concrete columns with circular and rectangular cross sections. Most of the standards and codes exhibit significant differences, including the used predictive models limitations, observed effects, and covered loading conditions. In this paper, five international standards and design guidelines are introduced and discussed. The purpose is to present a constructive and critical assessment of the state-of-the-art design methodologies available for CFRP confined RC columns and to discuss effects not previously considered properly. Therefore, some recent research efforts and findings from the Leipzig University of Applied Sciences are also introduced. The obtained data is used for a comparative study of the guideline predictive equations. Furthermore, it is shown that some new findings concerning the rupture strength and the maximum strength plus accompanying axial strain of a CFRP confined column are suitable to improve the current guidelines.
“Tahukah kamu?”: Analisis set data Survei Sosial Ekonomi Nasional (Susenas)
Authors: Johar Meliyanni , Soewondo Prastuti , Pujisubekti Retno , Satrio Harsa , Adji Ardi , Wibisono Iqbal
Published: June 2019

Set data Susenas telah mendasari banyak riset ilmiah dan kebijakan di negara kita dari tahun 1960an. Akan tetapi ada fitur-fitur Susenas yang belum dipahami benar oleh para penggunanya. Artikel ini mengangkat dua fitur yang dapat menghasilkan inferensi yang tidak akurat, bahkan tidak mendasar. Yang pertama adalah variabel pengeluaran di Susenas tidaklah mengukur pengeluaran pribadi rumah tangga, melainkan mengukur level konsumsi rumah tangga. Ini dikarenakan variabel pengeluaran di Susenas menambahkan nilai berbagai bantuan ekonomi yang diterima rumah tangga dalam pembelian barang dan jasa. Implikasinya adalah variabel pengeluaran ini yang sering lebih lanjut dipakai untuk pancaran pendapatan rumah tangga, menaksir terlalu tinggi daya beli rumah tangga berpenghasilan rendah yang mendapat banyak bantuan ekonomi, termasuk subsidi Pemerintah. Fitur Susenas kedua yang diangkat adalah adanya perubahan struktur kuesioner Susenas tahun 2015 dan selanjutnya yang dapat mengganggu analisa tren pengeluaran dari tahun ke tahun. Khususnya untuk pengeluaran kesehatan, perubahan survei ini berbarengan dengan pencapaian tahun pertama program Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN) yang dimulai di tahun 2014. Evaluasi JKN menjadi lebih rumit karena peniliti harus memisahkan dampak riil JKN terhadap penggunaan servis kesehatan dari perubahan sintesis yang disebabkan oleh perubahan desain survei.
JMETRIK: Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory Data Analysis Software
Authors: AKSU Gökhan , GÜZELLER Cem Oktay , ESER Mehmet Taha
Published: June 2019

The aim of this study is to introduce the
jMetric program which is one of the open source programs that can be used in
the context of Item Response Theory and Classical Test Theory. In this context,
the interface of the program, importing data to the program, a sample analysis,
installing the jmetrik and support for the program are discussed. In sample
analysis, the answers given by a total of 500 students from state and private
schools, to a 10-item math test were analyzed to see whether they shows
differentiating item functioning according to the type of school they attend.
As a result of the analysis, it was found that two items were showing
medium-level Differential Item Functioning (DIF). As a result of the study, it
was found that the jMetric program, which is capable of performing Item
Response Theory (IRT) analysis for two-category and multi-category items, is
open to innovations, especially because it is open-source, and that researchers
can easily add the suggested codes to the program and thus the program can be
improved. In addition, an advantage of the program is producing visual results
related to the analysis through the item characteristic curves.
Prognostic factors of key outcomes for motor neuron disease in a multiracial Asian population
Authors: Deng Xiao , Hao Ying , Xiao Bin , Tan Eng-King , Lo Yew-Long
Published: June 2019

Objective

To determine potential prognostic factors for survival, need for feeding and ventilation support in motor neuron diseases (MND) patients in a multi-racial Asian population.

Methods

One hundred and four MND patients from the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) between January 2004 and December 2017 were reviewed. All relevant clinical data, demographic information were collected. Kaplan-Meier and cox regression model were performed to identify potential prognostic factors for crucial outcomes (survival, need for feeding support and ventilation support).

Results

Mean age of onset was 59.54± 10.91 years, Mean age of onset in Malays was significantly younger than that of other ethnic groups (Malay: 54.18±12.95years; Non-Malay: 60.39±10.38years, p=0.035). Fifty six of the male and 33of the female were diagnosed with ALS (90.3% vs 78.6% p=0.048). Mean overall survival duration from symptom onset was significantly longer in female than male patients (female: 39.2± 29.04 months; male: 29.4± 24.06months, P=0.03).

Bulbar onset was a significant risk predictor for both the need of feeding support (HR=3.87, p<0.001) and respiratory aid (HR=3.43, p=0.01).A longer interval from symptom onset to diagnosis was correlated with a longer time to the need for feeding support (HR=0.94, p=0.002) and respiratory aid (HR=0.9, p=0.009).

In the univariable cox regression analysis, need for respiratory support (HR=2.1, p=0.03) indicated poor survival outcome significantly, while MND subtypes other than ALS (HR=0.25, p=0.008) and slower disease progression, including longer duration from symptom onset to second symptom (HR=0.97, p=0.005), to feeding support (HR=0.95, p<0.001), to ventilation support (HR=0.96, p=0.004), significantly suggested lower risk of death. In the multivariable cox regression model, bulbar onset (aHR=5.28, p=0.035) correlated with poor survival outcome while longer duration from onset to second symptom (aHR=0.96, P=0.037) indicated better survival.

Conclusions

Bulbar onset was a significant risk predictor for survival, need of feeding support and ventilation aid. Slower disease progression correlated with better outcomes. Age of onset may differ among ethnic groups. Male patients are more likely to develop ALS and have shorter survival duration.
The loop-mediated isothermal amplification technique to determine T. gondii infection in women with spontaneous abortion
Authors: Kheirandish Farnaz , Fallahi Shirzad , Mahmoudvand Hossein , Anbari Khatereh , Araban Ali , Rouzbahani Arian Karimi , Akbari Soheila
Published: June 2019

Background

Toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii is well-known as one of the most widespread parasitic diseases, which has now infected nearly a third of the world's population. Among the infectious agents, T. gondii is considered as one of the main causes of spontaneous abortion (SA). The present study aimed to use the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique in comparison with serological tests to determine the rate of T. gondii infection in women suffering from SA in Lorestan Province, Western Iran.

Methods

A total of 140 women suffering from their first spontaneous abortion and who had been referred to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Asalian hospital (Khorramabad, Iran) were included in this study. The collected aborted fetal remains and blood samples (5 ml) from each patient were examined in sterilized conditions using the LAMP technique and ELISA commercial kits to determine the specific IgM and IgG anti-Toxoplasma antibodies respectively. Moreover, a questionnaire about some demographic and risk factors, such as the mother’s age, gestational age, and contact with cats was completed for each patient.

Results

Of the 140 women, 80 (57.1%) tested seropositive for anti-T. gondii antibodies by ELISA, 72 (51.4%) women tested seropositive for the IgG antibody, 8 (5.7%) tested seropositive for the IgM antibody. Among the 8 women who’d had their first spontaneous abortion who tested seropositive for IgM antibody by ELISA, only 5 cases (62.5%) reported positively to the LAMP test. The difference in the frequency distribution of the LAMP results for measuring the Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women under study was statistically significant (P <0.001) from the results of the serological test (ELISA). Although there was a significant difference between age and positivity in the LAMP test (P = 0.017), no significant difference was observed between positivity in the LAMP test and residence, education, job, and contact with cats.

Conclusion

The findings of the present investigation suggest that LAMP is a preferred method for determining Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women suffering from spontaneous abortion compared with other routine serological tests.
Interaction of camel Lactoferrin derived peptides with DNA: a molecular dynamics study
Authors: Pirkhezranian Zana , Tahmurespur Mojtaba , Daura Xavier , Monhemi Hassan , Sekhavati Mohammadhadi
Published: June 2019

Background: Lactoferrampin (LFampin), Lactoferricin (LFcin), and LFchimera are three well-known antimicrobial peptides derived from Lactoferrin and proposed as alternatives for antibiotics. Although the intracellular activity of these peptides has been previously demonstrated, their mode of action is not yet fully understood. Here, we performed a molecular dynamics simulation study to understand the molecular interactions between camel Lactoferrin derived peptides, including CLFampin, CLFcin, and CLFchimera, and DNA as an important intracellular target. Results: Our results indicate that all three peptides bind to DNA, albeit with different propensities, with CLFchimera showing the highest binding affinity. The secondary structures of the peptides, modeled on Lactoferrin, did not undergo significant changes during simulation, supporting their functional relevance. Main residues involved in the peptide-DNA interaction were identified based on binding free energy estimates calculated over 200 ns, which, as expected, confirmed strong electrostatic interactions between DNA phosphate groups and positively charged peptide side chains. Interaction between the different concentrations of CLFchimera and DNA revealed that after binding of four copies of CLFchimera to DNA, hydrogen bonds between the two strands of DNA start to break from one of the termini. Conclusions: Importantly, our results revealed that there is no DNA-sequence preference for peptide binding, in line with a broad antimicrobial activity. Moreover, the results showed that the strength of the interaction between DNA and CLFchimera is concentration dependent. The insight provided by these results can be used for the rational redesign of natural antimicrobial peptides targeting the bacterial DNA.
De novo sequencing of the transcriptome of Fargesia macclureana (Poaceae) reveals regulators of the floral transition and ecological adaptations to high altitude
Authors: Li Ying , Zhang Chunxia , Yang Kebin , Shi Jingjing , Ding Yulong , Gao Zhimin
Published: June 2019

Background

Fargesia macclureana (Poaceae) is a woody bamboo species found on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) approximately 2,000 ~ 3800 m above sea level. It rarely blossoms in the QTP, but it flowered 20 days after growing in our lab, which is in a low-altitude area outside the QTP. To date, little is known regarding the molecular mechanism of bamboo flowering, and no studies of flowering have been conducted on wild bamboo plants growing in extreme environments. Here, we report the first de novo transcriptome sequence for F. macclureana to investigated the putative mechanisms underlying the flowering time control used by F. macclureana to adapt to its environment.

Results

Illumina deep sequencing of the F. macclureana transcriptome generated 140.94 Gb of data, assembled into 99,056 unigenes. A comprehensive analysis of the broadly, specifically and differentially expressed unigenes (BEUs, SEUs, and DEUs) and a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed that changes in expressions of unigenes related to the circadian cycle may account for the differences in the floral transition of F. macclureana after being transplanted from the QTP to a laboratory outside. In addition, differences in active carbohydrate metabolism and signal transduction between the flowering and non-flowering plants. Moreover, we detected the expression of unigenes related to DNA repair and plant-pathogen interactions, which may be of adaptive importance. Finally, we detected 9,296 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) that may be useful for further molecular marker-assisted breeding.

Conclusions

F. macclureana may have evolved specific reproductive strategies for flowering-related pathways in response to photoperiodic cues to ensure long vegetation growing period. Our findings will provide new insights to future investigations into the mechanisms of flowering time control and adaptive evolution in plants growing at high altitudes.
Ocular Trauma Pattern in the North Bund Area of Shanghai Pinpoints Risk Factors and Predicts Visual Outcomes
Authors: Zhang Jian , Chen Shimei , Suo Yan , Yao Xieyi , Wei Fang , Chen Fenge
Published: June 2019

Background

To identify the ocular trauma pattern in the north Bund area of Shanghai.

Methods

This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study. Patients between January 2016 and December 2018 with trauma in one eye and being hospitalized for at least one day in Shanghai General Hospital were selected in this study. All patients received first evaluation at the emergency room, followed by careful eye examination by one of attending ophthalmologists and reevaluation by one of the authors. Demographics and related patient’s clinical data at the time when trauma occurred were recorded, including age, gender, occupation, cause and type of trauma, location and size of injury, type of surgery, and hospitalization time.

Results

206 patients were reviewed. We found that gender and age are two mutually correlated risk factors for ocular trauma. We also identified occupation as a major risk factor, which is closely associated with penetrating injury. Moreover, season change adds an additional layer of risk factor for ocular trauma, showing a significantly higher peak of ocular trauma incidence in hot summer months. Furthermore, RD and VH were identified as two prevailed types of complications. Importantly, we found that complications, along with location and/or size of injuries, determine the visual outcomes.

Conclusions

We identified a clear ocular trauma pattern in the north Bund area of Shanghai. Importantly, complications, location and/or size of injuries determine the visual outcomes. Our findings pinpoint risk factors for ocular trauma, which predict visual outcomes and might be further applied in eye injury prevention.
CYP1B1 variants have low contribution to Pakistani patients with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Page
Authors: Shahani Muhammad Yaqoob , Memon Samreen , Waryah Ali Muhammad , Narsani Ashok Kumar , Bano Umbreen , Shaikh Shakeel Ahmed , Shahani Shazia Begum
Published: June 2019

Background

Glaucoma is a group of complex neurodegenerative ophthalmological disorders and is the second common of cause of irreversible blindness around the globe. Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the commonest type of all glaucoma and is characterized by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) leading to optic nerve damage and visual field defects. Inherited mutations in CYP1B1 are a rare cause of POAG.

Objective

This study was conducted to screen Pakistani population with POAG for CYP1B1 variants.

Methods

Detailed family history was recorded from all participating families. The disease was confirmed through ophthalmological examinations. Blood samples were collected for genomic DNA extraction. CYP1B1 exons were directly sequenced in one affected individual from each family.

Results

CYP1B1 sequencing revealed a novel heterozygous missense variant, c.649G>A (p.Asp217Asn). All affected individuals having the variant had characteristic glaucomatous changes with mean disease onset at 35 years. The unaffected individuals in the family had no signs of POAG. The prevalence of CYP1B1 associated POAG in study cohort is 4% (1/25). In silico predictions showed that p.Asp217Asn, substitution affects the structure and function of the protein.

Conclusion

The study suggests that CYP1B1 mutations are considered to have have less contribution in pathogenesis of POAG in Pakistani population studied. Identification of novel dominantly inherited variant shows allelic heterogeneity and may help in early diagnosis for effective management of the disease through genetic counseling.
Vector analysis of Contoura Vision for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism
Authors: Lin Ying , Huanjun Su , Jianbin Wu , Xia Zhang , Xi Xu , Muzhi Yuan
Published: June 2019

Background: To evaluate the visual outcomes of Contoura Vision with automatic eye tracking system in eyes with myopia and myopic astigmatism.
Methods: In this prospective study, 40 consecutive patients (80 eyes) with moderate myopia and irregular astigmatism were included from January to August 2018 at Liuzhou Worker Hospital. Subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group (40 eyes) that underwent Contoura Vision FS-LASIK and a control group (40 eyes) that underwent wavefront-optimized FS-LASIK. Target refractions of all subjects were plano. Visual outcomes and astigmatic vector analysis were evaluated and compared between preoperatively and 3 months post-operatively.
Results: The preoperative spherical and cylindrical refractive errors were similar in both groups (P>0.05). At 3 months postoperatively, cumulative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 20/16, 20/20, or 20/25 in 30 %, 95%, 100 % of patients in the experimental group, respectively. The experimental group was better than the control group in predictability of astigmatism correction at 3 months after operation. In the experimental group, 80% of eyes had deviation of astigmatic axis within 15° and 35% of eyes had deviation of astigmatic axis within 5°, both were better than those in the control group. The number of eyes with residual astigmatism within 0.5D were higher in the experimental group (60%, 24 eyes) than the control group (50%, 20 eyes). Compared with the preoperative, C7 significantly reduced to 0.056±0.030 in the experimental group at 3 months after the procedure (P<0.05), and were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Contoura Vision with automatic eye tracking system was safe and effective for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism.
Satisfactory performance of the Abbott ARCHITECT i2000 tacrolimus Immunoassay against the LC-MS/MS tacrolimus assay demonstrated in kidney transplant patients from the Northern Territory, Australia
Authors: Rathnayake Geetha , Mogulla Manohar Reddy , Ashford Jenna , Karepalli Vijay , Sallustio Benedetta C , Majoni Sandawana William
Published: June 2019

Background

Tacrolimus, a post-transplant immunosuppressive drug with a narrow therapeutic window requires close monitoring of levels to avoid under-immunosuppression or toxicity. Top End Renal Services in the Northern Territory (NT) refer to South Australia (SA) for drug levels as there was no local service. We aimed to evaluate the Abbott ARCHITECTi2000 immunoassay against the liquid chemistry tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) used in SA for measuring tacrolimus levels to provide on-site service in NT.

Methods

465 specimens were collected over 5 months and analyzed over several reagent lots. We used Passing-Bablok regression plots and Bland–Altman plots to assess the agreement between tacrolimus levels on both platforms.

Results

The Passing-Bablok regression plot demonstrated a slope of 1.172 (CI 1.136 to 1.207) with an intercept of 0.262 (CI 0.040 to 0.472). In Deming analysis, the slope was 1.095 (CI 1.074 to 1.116) with an intercept of 0.773 (CI 0.592 to 0.955), correlation coefficient (r) was 0.9782. Bland-Altman plot demonstrated positive bias for Abbott ARCHITECT results. The mean absolute bias was 1.494 ug/L and the mean percentage bias was 18.78%. Within run imprecision, Co-efficient of Variation (%) was 5.1, 2.7, 4.3, 3.4 and 3.5 at tacrolimus concentration levels of 4.2, 6.5, 9.5, 17.2 and 24.4 µg/L. Results turnaround time improved by 80%.

Conclusion

The results demonstrate that Abbott ARCHITECT i2000 is an acceptable method to monitor levels of tacrolimus. The positive bias could be justifiable if the drug levels are initially based and then monitored on results from the same platform.
Does intimate partner violence influence the utilization of maternal health services?
Authors: Acharya Devaraj , Adhikari Ramesh , Ranabhat Chhabilal , Paudel Radha , Thapa Purna Bahdur
Published: June 2019

Background

Intimate partner violence [IPV] is public health problem globally and most common in developing countries that affects more than one fourth of women of reproductive age [WRA]. It is more critical during pregnancy. IPV not only affects physical and mental well-being but also leads in birth outcomes with negative consequences.

Methods

We use secondary data from Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2016 to assess the association between IPV, and maternal service utilization: ANC visits and institutional delivery. Altogether 1374 WRA were randomly selected. Background characteristics of WRA and IPV were the independent variables, and ANC visits and institutional delivery were the dependent variables.

Results

Data show that 26 percent of WRA had faced at least one form of IPV, 68 percent had visited health facilities at least four times for ANC check-up during pregnancy, and the rate of institutional delivery was 61 percent. There were association among IPV with ANC visits and institutional delivery (p<0.001). Age group, educational level, ethnicity, number of child, residence setting, and wealth status of WRA were significantly associated with ANC visits and institutional delivery (p<0.001).

Conclusion

IPV, educational level, and wealth status of WRA were significant predictors for maternal health service utilization. Policy maker should incorporate these significant predictors during planning and intervention as well.
Reporting and synthesis practices in barriers and facilitators reviews: a methodological systematic review
Authors: Bach-Mortensen Anders , Verboom Ben
Published: June 2019

Background: An increasing number of systematic reviews published in high-ranking journals set out to identify and synthesise research on ‘barriers’ to and ‘facilitators’ of the achievement of various outcomes. Yet, this type of review has been criticised for relying on aggregative synthesis approaches (such as ‘vote counting’), and for generating overly simplistic representations of complex social phenomena. While proponents have argued that barriers and facilitators reviews have both explanatory value and the potential to support policy and practice, critics have recommended retiring this genre of review altogether. No review has systematically examined the synthesis practices used in barriers and facilitators reviews, and consequently the factual basis of arguments both for and against these reviews is unclear. We therefore sought to describe and appraise the reporting and synthesis practices used in recently published health-related barriers and facilitators reviews.

Methods: We conducted a methodological systematic review of reviews in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. A protocol for this review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD4201811236).

Results: One hundred reviews published over a thirteen-month period were identified. The findings indicate that (1) barriers and facilitators reviews are frequently published, (2) there is a high degree of variation in the synthesis and categorisation practices applied in these reviews, and (3) most reviews neither critically engage with, nor provide a rationale for using, the concepts of barrier and facilitator. While in most cases the barriers and facilitators approach was used without justification or critical discussion by review authors, we identified several common issues across the minority of reviews that included explicit discussion of the approach. These issues tended to be either conceptual/definitional (e.g. ideas about the interrelationships and overlap between factors) or methodological/practical (e.g. challenges related to the aggregation of heterogeneous research).

Conclusion: This review provides a systematic snapshot of the synthesis and reporting practices used in barriers and facilitators reviews. Going forward, we suggest that such reviews would benefit from (1) clearly defining their constructs of analysis, (2) explicitly describing how factors are extracted and subsequently synthesised, and (3) providing critical reflection on the contextual variability and reliability of identified factors.
Compositional Equivalence with Actor Attributes: Positional Analysis of the Florentine Families Network
Authors: Rivero Ostoic J. Antonio
Published: June 2019

This paper extends Compositional Equivalence – which is a structural correspondence type intended for multiplex networks – by incorporating actor attributes in the modeling of the network relational structure as diagonal matrices. As an illustration, we construct the positional system of the Florentine families network with Business and Marriage ties together with relevant characteristics acquired from the actors such as the families’ financial Wealth and the number of Priorates they held. Different representations of the cumulated person hierarchies reveal that adding Wealth to the modeling provides a more accurate picture of what the substantial narrative says about this network.
Legume Cover Crops Reduce Poultry Litter Application Requirements in Organic Systems
Authors: Ackroyd Victoria J. , Cavigelli Michel A. , Spargo John T. , Davis Brian , Garst Grace , Mirsky Steven B.
Published: June 2019

Organic farmers are challenged by increasing soil P levels resulting from the use of manure to meet cash crop N needs. The use of a legume cover crop may address this challenge. In a 2‐yr study at three organic production sites in Maryland, we examined the combination of a winter annual legume cover crop (hairy vetch, crimson clover, Austrian winter pea, and a no‐cover control) at three poultry litter (PL) application rates (to meet the N requirement of corn, to replace P removed by corn grain harvest, and a no‐PL control). Cover crop biomass varied by site and by year, ranging from about 600 to 6100 kg ha–1 for crimson clover. Cover crop N accumulation ranged from 15 to 169 kg N ha–1. Corn yields, which ranged from 2.9 to 14.2 Mg ha–1, tended to be lowest in the control (0 PL) no‐cover treatments and similar in the N‐based and P‐based treatments irrespective of the cover crop species. These results indicate that when legume cover crops are used, PL can be applied at a P‐replacement rate on sites with a history of PL application to meet crop production and environmental stewardship goals.

Core Ideas

Legume cover crop N accumulation ranged from 15 to 169 kg N ha–1.

Corn yield after legume crops was not affected by poultry litter application rate.

Legume cover crops provide opportunity to reduce poultry litter application rates.
Edge mode locality in perturbed symmetry protected topological order
Authors: Goihl Marcel , Krumnow Christian , Gluza Marek , Eisert Jens , Tarantino Nicolas
Published: June 2019

Spin chains with a symmetry-protected edge zero modes can be seen as
prototypical systems for exploring topological signatures in quantum
systems. However in an experimental realization of such a system,
spurious interactions may cause the edge zero modes to delocalize. To
combat this influence beyond simply increasing the bulk gap, it has been
proposed to harness disorder which does not drive the system out of a
topological phase. Equipped with numerical tools for constructing
locally conserved operators that we introduce, we comprehensively
explore the interplay of local interactions and disorder on localized
edge modes in such systems. Contrary to established heuristic reasoning,
we find that disorder has no effect on the edge mode localization length
in the non-interacting regime. Moreover, disorder helps localize only a
subset of edge modes in the truly interacting regime. We identify one
edge mode operator that behaves as if subjected to a non-interacting
perturbation, i.e., shows no disorder dependence. This implies that in
finite systems, edge mode operators effectively delocalize at distinct
interaction strengths despite the presence of disorder. In essence, our
findings suggest that the ability to identify and control the best
localized edge mode trumps any gains from introducing disorder.
Theory and Practice of Literary Historiography in Brazil, 1950s: A Look into the Corporate Logic of a Modernist Institution
Authors: Gouveia Saulo
Published: June 2019

Educational institutions and the state cultural apparatus play a decisive role in canon formation. As an academic subfield usually linked to institutions of higher education and sometimes to government agencies, literary historiography attempts to give the national canon a fixed form, a chronological and thematic structure that aims to regulate the study of literature in the educational field.
Niketche: A Story of Success
Authors: Martins Ana Margarida Dias
Published: June 2019

The thesis pursued in this article is that Niketche’s popularity owes more to the limits its internal exotic charge draws to provocation than to its provocative taboo-lifting undertone.
Sá, Lúcia. Life in the Megalopolis: Mexico City and São Paulo. London and New York: Routledge, 2007.
Authors: Larkosh Christopher
Published: June 2019

At the start of her latest book, Lúcia Sá explains the intellectual trajectory that led her to a study of the Latin American megacities of Mexico City and São Paulo by way of Mário de Andrade’s Macunaíma: “in order to recover his muiraquitã, the eponymous Mário de Andrade traveled from one end of Brazil to the other, the Amazon to São Paulo, and in a sense, having completed Rain Forest Literatures (2004), this is what I have attempted to do in this study” (x). Such a work, following one on the literatures of the Amazon, underscores Sá’s admirable commitment to exploring the literary and cultural extremes of her native Brazil, while at the same time incorporating other materials that make a more comparative discussion with internal indigenous cultural elements or other Latin American societies possible.
Duke, Dawn. Literary Passion, Ideological Commitment: Toward a Legacy of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian Women Writers. Lewisburg: Bucknell University Press, 2008.
Authors: Feracho Lesley
Published: June 2019

This study takes a comparative look at Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian women’s poetic production in order to chart their development from written object to writing subject. By tracing the progression of the poetic voice and identifying common thematic approaches in the process of women’s empowerment, Duke emphasizes what she terms a “woman-centered aesthetic” (11).
Forced Migrants, Media, and Securitization: Making Sense of the Changing Representations of Transit Asylum Seekers in Indonesian Print Media
Authors: Lee Antony
Published: June 2019

This paper aims to explain how and why the representations of transit forced migrants in Indonesian major print media were vastly different within two time spans: (1) during the arrivals of the Indochinese refugees in 1975-1996 and (2) in the period of the new generations of refugees from Middle Eastern and South Asian countries in 1997-2013. Employing media content analysis of 216 news articles from three major print media in Indonesia, this study found out that the Indochinese refugees were portrayed with positive labels and thus, mainly discussed in connection with the non-security theme. In contrast, the new generations of forced migrants were portrayed with negative labels such as ‘illegal immigrants’ and were framed as security threats. Grounded within Securitization Theory, this paper thus argues that the changing representations were caused by the securitizing move made by specialized agencies in Indonesia.
The Radical Politics of Nation-States: The Case of President Rodrigo Duterte
Authors: Maboloc Christopher Ryan Baquero
Published: June 2019

The advent of terrorism in the midst of political conflict requires an understanding of local context and history. Anti-establishment leaders like President Rodrigo Duterte expose the limits of liberalism. By applying the critical distinction between “politics” and the “political,” we can imagine an alternative framework in our desire to unravel the narrative of Duterte’s communitarian style. Disruption is not simply meant to put into question the status quo. The goal of progressive leadership is to transform society in ways that will improve the difficult lives of the people. While the president’s critics say that he is authoritarian, it will be argued that radical means are needed to overcome the failures of Philippine democracy.
Confessing Love to the Nation: Audrey Yu Jia Hui’s Works and Identity Reconstruction
Authors: Adji Alberta Natasia , Arimbi Diah Ariani , Setijowati Adi , Wulan Nur , Karnanta Kukuh Yudha
Published: June 2019

This article addressed identity reconstruction through an analysis of two of the most prominent fictional works by one of the Chinese Indonesian young writers, Audrey Yu Jia Hui. In encompassing the idea of identity rewriting, I addressed Hui’s second and third novels respectively, Mellow Yellow Drama (2014) and Mencari Sila Kelima (Searching for the Fifth Principle, 2015), through the post-structural concepts of Derrida’s deconstruction, and also in relation to cultural studies views on identity. The works were analyzed through close-reading technique. The novels were published during the Reformation (Reformasi) era, where politics had served to be a profound aspect that directed the cultural identity and social attitude of the society. In a range of aspects, from narrative structure to their deeper themes, Hui’s literary works were found to draw on a distinguishable set of strategies which enabled Hui to establish her own identity as someone who was liberated, culturally accepted and free to embrace local colors. This article also showed that Audrey Yu Jia Hui’s narratives have served as an acceptance of an individual’s multiple identities, which often depends on the problem at hand as well as the context of choices.
Political Leadership in South Korea’s Developmental State: A Historical Revisit
Authors: Putri Ratu Ayu Asih Kusuma
Published: June 2019

South Korea under President Park Chung Hee underwent rapid industrialization and experienced phenomenal economic growth making the country one of the Asian Tigers alongside Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. Had suffered by the long-standing Japanese colonialization, South Korea’s development strategies in its incipient economic venture, interestingly, postulate unforeseen similarities with those imposed by Japan primarily during the phenomenal industrial revolution of the Meiji government (1868-1912). Exponential modernization in South Korea was substantially forged by the implementation of ‘developmental state’ model. The term was initially coined by Johnson (1982) to explain the pacification of government policies – rather than market – to achieve successful economic rejuvenation of post-war Japan. In light to this historical paradox between South Korea and Japan, this article attempts to revisit the embarking point of South Korea’s rapid economic development beginning in the 1960s by drawing attention to the importance of leadership as one of the major components of the developmental state model. It concludes that Park Chung Hee’s strong Japanese linkage combined with his pretext for imposing ‘hard authoritarianism’ is particularly influential in determining South Korea’s pragmatic development trajectory.
Hayvancılık İşletmelerinin Yem Bitkileri Yetiştiriciliği ve Mera Kullanım Alışkanlıklarının Karşılaştırmalı Analizi
Authors: ÖZTÜRK Ozan , ŞEN Canan , AYDIN Başak
Published: June 2019

Bu
çalışma, Tekirdağ ve Kırklareli illerinde seçilen birer ilçede hayvancılık
işletmelerinin yem bitkileri yetiştiriciliği ve mera kullanım alışkanlıkları
açısından karşılaştırılması amacıyla yürütülmüştür. Tekirdağ ili merkez ilçeye
bağlı 6 köyde 36, Kırklareli ili Pehlivanköy ilçesinde bağlı 9 köyde 55 olmak
üzere toplam 91 üretici ile anket çalışması gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen
verilerin analizinde öncelikle yüzde, ortalama, standart sapma gibi tanımlayıcı
istatistikler kullanılmıştır. İncelenen değişkenler açısından iller arasında
farklılık olup olmadığı, kesikli verilerde ki kare testi ile ortaya
konulmuştur. İşletmelerin yem bitkileri yetiştiriciliği ve mera kullanım
alışkanlıkları bakımından birbirinden ayıran özellikler diskriminant analizi
ile belirlenmiştir. Kırklareli ilinde üreticilerin ortalama eğitim süresi 7.53
yıl, ortalama yaşı 46.84, ortalama hayvan sayısı 17.69, meradan yararlanma
süresi 3.89 ay, yetiştirilen yem bitkisi sayısı 1.87 adet, meralardaki bitki
türü sayısı 2.38 ve işletmenin meraya uzaklığı 574.55 m olarak bulunmuştur.
Tekirdağ ilinde ise üreticilerin ortalama eğitim süresi 7.56 yıl, ortalama yaşı
49.39, ortalama hayvan sayısı 41.92, meradan yararlanma süresi 6.56 ay,
yetiştirilen yem bitkisi sayısı 2.97 adet, meralardaki bitki türü sayısı 2.72
ve işletmenin meraya uzaklığı 688.89 m olarak bulunmuştur. Kırklareli
ve Tekirdağ ilindeki üreticiler arasındaki yem bitkileri yetiştiriciliği ve
mera kullanım alışkanlıkları farklılığının istatistiki olarak önemli olup olmadığını
tespit etmek üzere yapılan ki kare testi sonucunda, otlatma planlarında hayvan
türüne göre ayırım yapma, su baskınından etkilenen mera olması ve yem bitkileri
desteklemesi alma durumunun illere göre değiştiği tespit edilmiştir. Uygulanan
doğrusal diskriminant analizi sonucuna göre, üreticiler arasındaki ayırıma etki
eden en önemli değişkenlerin meradan yararlanma süresi ve yetiştirilen yem
bitkisi sayısı olduğu belirlenmiştir. Grup merkezi değerlerine göre, meradan
yararlanma süresinin ve yetiştirilen yem bitkisi sayısının Tekirdağ ilindeki
işletmelerde daha yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Diskriminant analizi
sonucunda toplamda bütün işletmelerin %75.80’inin doğru bir şekilde gruplandığı
bulunmuştur. Elde edilen bulgular doğrultusunda, Tekirdağ ilindeki üreticilerin
yem bitkileri yetiştiriciliği ve mera kullanımı konusunda Kırklareli ilindeki
üreticilere göre daha bilinçli olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.
Formação docente e práticas pedagógicas multiculturais críticas
Authors: Abu-El-Haj Mônica Farias , Fialho Lia Machado Fiuza
Published: June 2019

O trabalho objetiva compreender como se constituiu a formação docente de professoras da educação básica estadunidense para o desenvolvimento de posturas e práticas multiculturais no ambiente escolar. Com abordagem qualitativa, do tipo estudo de caso, mediante entrevista individual semiestruturada, a investigação foi realizada com três professoras da educação básica e uma docente universitária que atuam na perspectiva de educação multicultural crítica na cidade de Nova Iorque. A análise das narrativas demonstra que as histórias de vida das professoras foram marcadas por vivências em situações de conflito social e experiências de exclusão cultural e educacional, especialmente, em relação à diversidade étnico-racial. Essasvivências foram determinantespara abusca da formação e atuação profissional docente dentro de uma concepção de educação multicultural. A formação nessa perspectiva se mostrou relevante para a adoção de práticas educativas inclusivas, no entanto foram as experiências de exclusão que motivaram o compromisso das professoras com a educação multicultural crítica.