On the measurement of employment intensity of agricultural growth

Employment is the bedrock of a functioning economy for any nation wishing to progress and prosper. It is of great importance for policy makers to be able to measure the employment intensity of a nation’s economy to identify regions of productive employment growth. Employment intensity has traditionally been measured in relation national economic growth typically as ratios. However, ratios are naturally biased and unbalanced. This does not allow the observer to take into account the differences in regions that may differ greatly in socioeconomic structure. For instance, some regions may be mired in poverty while others prosper greatly although both may show employment growth. This may instead indicate that employment is transferring from low productivity sectors into high productivity sectors instead of actual growth in the agricultural sector. Thus, we propose a new measure of employment growth focusing on the agricultural sector which we call the “Employment Intensity Index” which is symmetrical, proportional and scale invariant to regional differences. The index provides a single number that is comparable, simple and growth sensitive across all types of economic sectors across all differing policies within those sectors/regions regardless of the GDP/geographic size of sector/region. We then proceed to show its applicability

Efficiency of Fixed-Width Transect and Line-Transect-based Distance Sampling to Survey Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus spadiceus) in Peninsular Malaysia

Reliable survey method is very important to estimate wildlife population. In this study, fixed-width strip- and line-transect samplings were simultaneously used to yield population estimates on oil palm plantation. The latter was found to be more accurate but less precise than the former based on the Per cent Relative Bias (hereafter PRB). Using the strip-transect, an overall density and abundance were estimated at 0.3237 birds/ha and 3 018 ± 273 birds (CV = 9.05%), respectively. An unbiased overall density generated by line-transect, D ± S.E. = 0.500 ± 0.069 birds/ha (95% CI: 0.38137 - 0.65521) and estimated total abundance, N ± S.E. was 4 661 ± 644 birds (95% CI: 3 556 - 6 109; CV = 13.81%) for the entire 9 323.53 ha study area. The former and latter method gave relative and absolute estimates, respectively

Hubungan antara Ekspresi Cyclooxygenase-2 dengan Derajat Histopatologi dan Invasi Limfovaskular Karsinoma Sel Skuamosa Serviks

Karsinoma sel skuamosa (KSS) serviks merupakan karsinoma invasif yang terdiri dari sel-sel dengan diferensiasi skuamosa. Berdasarkan derajat histopatologinya KSS serviks dibagi menjadi derajat 1 (diferensiasi baik), derajat 2 (diferensiasi sedang) dan derajat 3 (diferensiasi buruk). Banyak faktor yang berperan dalam karsinogenesis KSS serviks, antara lain cyclooxygenase-2, enzim kunci dalam sintesis prostaglandin, namun hubungan antara COX-2 dengan derajat histopatologi KSS serviks masih menjadi kontroversi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan antara ekspresi COX-2 dengan derajat histopatologi dan invasi limfovaskular KSS serviks dengan pemeriksaan immunohistokimia. Penelitian ini adalah penelitian potong-lintang. Lima puluh slaid sampel diambil dengan cara simple random sampling dari arsip Patologi Anatomi RSUP Dr. Mohammad Hoesin Palembang dari Januari sampai Desember 2013. Dilakukan pulasan menggunakan antibodi COX-2 dan dianalisis hubungan ekspresi tersebut dengan derajat histopatologi dan invasi limfovaskular KSS serviks. Hasil penelitian didapatkan derajat histopatologi terbanyak adalah derajat atau diferensiasi buruk (derajat 2 dan 3) sebesar 78%, diikuti derajat atau diferensiasi baik (22%). Terdapat hubungan yang bermakna antara ekspresi COX-2 dengan derajat histopatologi KSS serviks (p=0,046). Invasi limfovaskular dijumpai pada 78% kasus, tetapi tidak berhubungan dengan positifitas ekspresi COX-2 (p=0,618). Didapat juga temuan lain yaitu sebukan atau infiltrasi sel radang yang padat pada 72% kasus dan adanya hubungan yang bermakna dengan positifitas ekspresi COX-2 (p=0,020). Disimpulkan bahwaekspresi COX-2 paling tinggi terdapat pada KSS serviks dengan derajat atau diferensiasi buruk dan semakin menurun pada derajat atau diferensiasi baik. Invasi limfovaskular tidak berhubungan dengan ekspresi COX-2

In vitro fermentation of broiler cecal content : the role of oactobacilli and pH value on the composition of microbiota and end products fermentation.

Aim: To assess the probiotic effects of Lactobacillus agilis JCM 1048 and L. sali-varius ssp. salicinius JCM 1230 and the pH on the cecal microflora of chicken and metabolic end products. Methods and Results: An in vitro system, operated with batch bioreactor, was used for this assessment. Selected bacterial species were monitored at two pH values, over 24 h of batch culture incubation. The concentration of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and lactate in the fermented material was also determined. The addition of L. agilis JCM 1048 and L. salivarius ssp. salicinius JCM 1230 into vessel 2 (Cc + P) increased the total anaerobes, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria after 24 h incubation. Moreover, lactobacilli supplementation decreased the total aerobes and streptococci, but it did not have any effects on coliforms. The supplementation of lactobacilli in vessel 2 (Cc + P) was found to significantly increase the production of lactate, propionate and butyrate. Further- more, pH did not alter the formation of butyrate, whereas the production of acetate and propionate was significantly decreased at pH = 5Æ 8.Conclusions:L. agilis JCM 1048 and L. salivarius ssp. salicinius JCM 1230, as probiotic bacteria, have the ability to re-establish proper microbial balance by the formation of lactate as well as propionate, and stimulate butyrate-producing bacteria to produce butyrate in the chicken cecum. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study was the first to report this under in vitro conditions, highlighting the probiotic roles of the two Lactobacillus strains in broiler cecal fermentation at different initial pH. These useful data can be helpful in improving the fermentation process in chicken cecum

Pengaruh Punguan Pomparan Raja Naiambaton (Parna) pada Pemilukada Kabupaten Simalungun Tahun 2016

Kinship system is referred to as Batak Association, such as Punguan Pomparan Raja Naiambaton (PARNA) that located in District of Simalungun. The purpose of this study to determine and describe the influence factors of Parna Association in the election District of Simalungun 2016. The theory used is theory of identity politics with primordial approach. This research method is descriptive qualitative. Research data collection techniques by observation, interview and documents. The results of this study found that Parna Association legitimacy as a majority is dominating community in District of Simalungun at the election by supporting one candidate regent that have relation. People in District of Simalungun still give prioritize aboriginal to become a leader in the region that can be seen from the way determining the choice of candidates still based on several factors: blood ties, races, religions, and regions

A new constant market share competitiveness index

Constant-market-share analysis (CMSA) is one of the most widely employed descriptive tool for measuring the export competitiveness of a country relative to other countries or regions of trade for goods and services. Typically, export growth is attributed to growth in the country’s export competitiveness and also to the growth effect of the market itself. However, CMSA measurement is prone to a number of methodological short comings which stems from the CMS identities used in the analysis. Namely, the discrete approximation of continuously changing trade patterns, the interaction effects term residual from the CMS identity decomposition and the arbitrary choice of weights attached to base periods. This paper addresses some of the short comings of the classic CMSA approach. Within a geometric framework we reexamine the CMS decomposition and propose a new net-share approach that is easier to implement and interpret. For researchers and policy makers, this methodology presents a simpler but more consistent measurement for more accurate CMS measurement and interpretations of changing trade patterns

The feasibility of using line-transect-based distance sampling to survey Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus spadiceus Bonnaterre) in Peninsular Malaysia

Population management of exploited species requires information on absolute density and abundance through reliable survey methods available. The baseline information is further needed for population dynamics studies and to determine conservation status. In the case of gamebird management in Peninsular Malaysia, the current population size of Red Junglefowl (RJF) is totally unknown because no official attempt to estimate it has been made in previous years. In this study, line transect based Distance Sampling was used to yield population estimates in palm oil plantation. Data from aural and visual counts were combined to calculate overall estimates. Results indicated that an unbiased overall density and abundance of RJF generated by this method for the entire 9,323.53 ha study area., was estimated at, D±S.E.=0.500±0.069 birds/ha (95% CI: 0.381-0.655) and, N±S.E.=4,661±644 birds (95% CI: 3,556-6,109; CV=13.81%), respectively. The cluster size of the species was estimated at, E(s)±S.E.=2.471±0.144 birds/flock (95% CI: 2.202-2.772; CV=5.82%)

An Implementation of Grouping Nodes in Wireless Sensor Network Based on Distance by Using K-Means Clustering

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is a network consisting of several sensor nodes that communicate with each other and work together to collect data from the surrounding environment. One of the WSN problems is the limited available power. Therefore, nodes on WSN need to communicate by using a cluster-based routing protocol. To solve this, the researchers propose a node grouping based on distance by using k-means clustering with a hardware implementation. Cluster formation and member node selection are performed based on the nearest device of the sensor node to the cluster head. The k-means algorithm utilizes Euclidean distance as the main grouping nodes parameter obtained from the conversion of the Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) into the distance estimation between nodes. RSSI as the parameter of nearest neighbor nodes uses lognormal shadowing channel modeling method that can be used to get the path loss exponent in an observation area. The estimated distance in the observation area has 27.9% error. The average time required for grouping is 58.54 s. Meanwhile, the average time used to retrieve coordinate data on each cluster to the database is 45.54 s. In the system, the most time-consuming process is the PAN ID change process with an average time of 14.20 s for each change of PAN ID. The grouping nodes in WSN using k-means clustering algorithm can improve the power efficiency by 6.5%