Understanding the Dearth of Contacts between Citizens and their Members of Parliaments in Africa

This dissertation seeks to understand when and why ordinary citizens in Africa initiate contacts with their Member of Parliament. It fills an important gap in the literature by probing the roles of intermediary informal institutions to facilitate interactions between citizens and their representatives. To answer this question, I analyze cross-national survey data with logistic regression models, three-stage-least square regression models, and seemingly unrelated regressions, using Afrobarometer survey data from over dozen African countries. I find that African citizens use two intermediary informal institutions to contact their representatives: grassroots organization and traditional and religious authorities. Importantly, these channels help to strengthen the weak political attachment ordinary citizens have with their political systems in Africa. I also show that the key causal factor to contact between MPs and their constituents is MPs displaying a willingness to listen to their constituents

Price of Freedom: Improving Domestic Revenue In Developing Countries by Combining Democracy with State Effectiveness

When it comes to improving tax revenues in developing countries, we do not have a clear understanding of whether it is more important to have democracy or state effectiveness. Two theories have prevailed in the literature; one is to focus on building strong states that can have financial autonomy, the other is to promote democracy with the assumption that democracy brings about economic growth. Yet, for over four decades, developing countries’ tax to GDP ratio is still desperately low. On average, developing countries ‘tax to the GDP ratio is less that half that of the OCDE countries. This article contends that greater taxation outcomes result from the synergistic combination between democracy and state effectiveness. Empirical evidence from a time-series-cross-sectional dataset covering up to 120 countries during the 2003-2012 time period supports the conclusion that the two attributes working together increase tax revenue by 16% because they force political leaders to focus on citizens by improving their political participation (democracy) and by meeting voters’ basic needs (performance)

A molecular Dissection of the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Signalling in Cryptococcus neoformans

Cryptococcosis is a severe fungal infection caused by an opportunistic fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans which has been medically significant for more than half of the last century. This yeast displays noticeable ploidy shifts during in vivo pulmonary infection. These polyploid cells often generate aneuploid progeny which has been repeatedly reported as one of the main virulence factors for disease progression. Given this capability of escaping equal chromosome segregation during mitosis, they are possibly escaping several cell cycle controls including the spindle assembly checkpoint. The spindle assembly checkpoint is undescribed in this fungal pathogen. Therefore, I aimed to understand how this checkpoint signalling contribute to cell division in C. neoformans. My current aim is to study one of the critical spindle assembly checkpoint proteins, Mad1, which remains undescribed in this fungal pathogen. Deletion of mad1 and mad2 in Cryptococcus showed sensitivity to anti-microtubules drugs. Microscopy and microfluidics data revealed that the mad1 and mad2 mutants were unable to maintain mitotic arrest in response to such drugs. Both proteins were also found to be important for Titan cell viability. Mad1 showed localisation to unattached kinetochores of arrested cells. Purified Mad1 complexes showed interactions with other checkpoint proteins Bub1, Mad2, Cdc20 and Mps1, by co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry. I believe that several of these interactions are driven by phosphorylation. I found Mad1 to be phosphorylated by recombinant Mps1 kinase. I have generated several Mad1 phospho-mutants and some show defects in checkpoint signalling. Thus, Mad1 protein-protein interactions could be regulated by kinases such as Mps1, Cdk, Plk1 or Bub1 kinase and this may affect Mad1 interaction with Cdc20 (the APC/C co-activator). This study leads to a plausible molecular explanation of Mad1 contribution in MCC assembly (Mitotic checkpoint complex). The precise in vivo functions of Mad1 and more details of the underlying molecular mechanisms of spindle assembly checkpoint signalling in this understudied pathogenic fungus will be discussed

Enjeux et dynamiques de bureaucratisation des pratiques associatives en milieu rural

This article is an analysis of the process of bureaucratization of associative practices in rural areas. It proposes a case study of the bambourang-ba association in the commune of Adeane in the department of Ziguinchor (Senegal). At first glance, bambourang-ba appears to be an autonomous structure made up of local actors who form a partnership with the NGO ChildFund and the dimbaya federation. However, the data reveal an organizational and management dynamic that is driven from the top and that meets a need for control by the NGO and its local partner. This dynamic of bureaucratization becomes more complex as the NGO's activities (sponsorship) expand into the department of Ziguinchor. It is coached by field agents who mobilize various resources and supervise its appropriation by the association's leaders. Finally, the article proposes an analysis of intermediation and the dynamics of bureaucratization around sponsorship.Cet article est une analyse du processus de bureaucratisation des pratiques associatives en milieu rural. Il propose une étude de cas de l’association bambourang-ba dans la commune d’Adéane du département de Ziguinchor (Sénégal). À première vue, bambourang-ba apparaît comme une structure autonome constituée d’acteurs locaux qui nouent un partenariat avec l’ONG ChildFund et la fédération dimbaya. Toutefois, les données révèlent une dynamique d’organisation et de gestion insufflée par le haut et qui répond à une exigence de contrôle de l’ONG et son partenaire local. Cette dyna- mique de bureaucratisation se complexifie au fur et à mesure que les activités de l’ONG (le parrainage) s’étendent dans le département de Ziguinchor. Elle est coachée par des agents de terrain qui mobilisent des ressources variées et encadrent son appropriation par les dirigeants de l’association. Enfin, l’article propose une analyse de l’intermédia- tion et des dynamiques de bureaucratisation autour du parrainage des enfants

KARAKTERISASI SIFAT KEMAGNETAN PASIR BESI PANTAI PUNTARU KABUPATEN ALOR-NTT

Iron sand is a source of natural magnetic material which is quite abundant. Iron sand can be useful as a magnetic source material which has the potential as a raw material for using magnetic materials. Iron sand contains non magnetic minerals which can reduce its magnetic properties. Therefore, iron sand sample preparation was carried out by washing NaOH 0,4 M and sand sample size variations. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of washing and the size of iron sand on the magnetic properties in terms of the increase in magnetic elements. The results of research with XRF (X-Ray Fluoresence) show that iron sand with a size of 120 mesh has a magnetic content of Fe (78.07%) higher than iron sand with a size of 80 mesh with Fe content (34.63%). XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) analysis shows that washing iron sand with a size of 80 mesh gives a quarts phase (SiO2) at 2θ = 27.62° and iron sand washing with a size of 120 mesh gives the main peak magnetite phase (Fe3O4) at 2θ = 30.69° with a crystallinity of 15%. VSM (Vibrating Sample Magnetometer) analysis depicted on the hysteresis curve shows that the smaller the particle size of iron sand, the higher the magnetic properties. There are still minor oxides in iron sand as  oxide minerals

UNSUR ETNOMATEMATIKA YANG TERKANDUNG PADA BAHASA SUKU TUBBE SEBAGAI SUMBER BELAJAR BILANGAN SISWA SEKOLAH DASAR

The purpose of this research is to explore ethnomathematical elements contained in the language of the Tubbe tribe which is then associated with the context of learning student numbers in elementary schools. The research method used in this study is qualitative research method with exploratory, descriptive, and ethnographic approaches. The results of this study are in the form of classification of place values and number construction based on the language structure of the Tubbe tribe. In addition, the results of this study are in the form of a set of numbers contained in the Tubbe Tribe language, namely the set of natural, digit, prime, composite, integers, rational, decimal, irrational, and rill numbers. Some mathematical concepts in numbers such as root and negative forms are not found in the Tubbe language. Thus, to relate the language of the Tubbe tribe to the context of number learning in elementary schools must still be linked to mathematical concepts using Indonesian language

Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Studies of Citrus macroptera

Citrus macroptera (family Rutaceae), commonly known as Sat Kara, is a pharmacologically diverse medicinal plant. Various parts of this plant, specifically fruit, have an immense range of medicinal uses in folk medicine directed for a number of ailments. A plethora of active phytochemical constituents of this plant have been revealed so far, namely, limonene, beta-caryophyllene, beta-pinene, geranial edulinine, ribalinine, isoplatydesmine, and so forth. Several studies demonstrated the exploration of pharmacological potential of various parts such as fruits, leaves, and stems of C. macroptera as antioxidant, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, thrombolytic, hypoglycemic, anxiolytic, antidepressant, cardioprotective, and hepatoprotective. Furthermore, inhibition of in vitro α-amylase, inhibition of paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity, and potentiation of brain antioxidant enzyme are also ascertained. In present review, comprehensive study focused on knowledge regarding several phytopharmacological activities of Citrus macroptera has been described

IDENTIFIKASI ICHNOFOSIL DAN LINGKUNGAN PENGENDAPAN FORMASI KEBO-BUTAK, LINTASAN TEGALREJO, GEDANGSARI, GUNUNG KIDUL, D.I YOGYAKARTA

Lokasi penelitian berada di Desa Tegalrejo, Kecamatan Gedangsari, Kabupaten Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, pada lintasan Tegalrejo teridentifikasi sebagai Formasi Kebo-Butak, tersusun oleh litologi berupa perselingan batupasir, batulempung dan breksi. Penelitian bertujuan untuk melakukan identifikasi Ichnofosil, serta lingkungan pengendapan berdasarkan karakteristik litologi dan ichnofosil yang ditemukan. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini berupa metode primer dengan melakukan observasi di lapangan, serta mengidentifikasi ichnofosil dan interpretasi lingkungan pengendapan menggunakan referensi terkait. Pada lokasi penelitian litologi yang berkembang umumnya bersifat silikaan dengan struktur sedimen berupa graded bedding, parallel lamination dan wavy lamination. Ditemukan Ichnofosil yang teridentifikasi sebagai Ophiomorpha dan Planolites, lingkungan pengendapan berdasarkan karakteristik litologi dan ichnofosil yaitu Submarine fan pada bagian smooth to channelled-channelled portion of suprafan lobes