Institutional Vulnerability and Governance of Disaster Risk Reduction: Macro, Meso and Micro Scale Assessment : With Case Studies from Indonesia

This PhD research addresses two central questions: How should institutional vulnerability that shapes disaster risks and disaster reduction policy be assessed? How does the quality of institutions and governance influence the level of disaster risk and disaster reduction policy? In this dissertation, institutional vulnerability at global and local levels is analyzed and an answer to such questions is pursued. General vulnerability assessment frameworks on the global scale and local scale have limitations in measuring how and to what extent institutions in all countries can reduce risks. This PhD dissertation is pioneering in that it assesses global institutional vulnerability using an index-based approach on a national/local scale by employing mixed methods such as social network analysis complemented by qualitative approaches (e.g. participant observation and literature reviews) and quantitative approaches (simple regression, scatter plots and simple descriptive statistics). In this dissertation, it is hypothesized that the countries with greater institutional quality tend to have better governance over disaster risks, which leads to a higher level of disaster risk resilience. Risk assessors have often overlooked institutions. In fact, when one assesses vulnerability, for example, social/human vulnerability (such as using health, education, human development indices), physical vulnerability (quality of physical housing and infrastructure), economic vulnerability (income, economic production), and environmental vulnerability (land degradation, environmental quality indicators), the assessor essentially measures the “outcomes” of the institutions rather than the institutions directly. Institutional vulnerability to disaster risk is defined here as both the context and the process by which formal institutions (regulations, rule of law, constitutions, codes, bureaucracy, etc.), informal institutions (culture, norms, traditions, etc.), and governance are either too weak to provide protection against disaster risk or are ignorant of their duty to provide safety and human security. Central to this argument is the concept that institutions are designed, among others, to reduce risks. In this research, the focus is on disaster risks. This suggests a hypothesis that nations will fail to reduce risks owing to institutional and governance factors that modify their vulnerabilities and resilience. The findings show that both qualitative and quantitative methods at different scales of governance can assess institutional vulnerability and the governance of disaster risk reduction. At a global level, a quantitative approach to measuring institutional quality and governance disaster risk reduction is possible thanks to recent global data on countries’ implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action; however, more efforts are required in the future. At the meso- and microlevels, this work describes the history of institutions for disaster risk management in Indonesia from the colonial period until the present challenges of decentralized governance. The main message is as follows: without considering institutions, institutional quality, and specific governance of disaster reduction at macro-, meso-. and microscales, disaster risk reduction will not be sustainably implemented.Institutionelle Vulnerabilität und Beeinflussung der Qualität von Institutionen und Governance auf den Grad der Katastrophenvorsorge auf globaler und lokaler Ebene Diese Doktorarbeit befasst sich mit zwei zentralen Fragen: Wie sollte institutionelle Vulnerabilität von Massnahmen zu Katastrophenrisiken und -vorsorge beurteilt werden? Wie beeinflusst die Qualität von Institutionen und Governance den Grad der Katastrophenvorsorge? Diese Dissertation analysiert institutionelle Vulnerabilität auf globaler und lokaler Ebene, um eine Antwort auf diese Fragen zu geben. Allgemeine Beurteilungssysteme von Vulnerabilität auf globaler und lokaler Ebene sind in ihrer Aussagekraft darüber begrenzt, wie und in welchem Umfang Institutionen in allen Ländern Risiken tatsächlich reduzieren können. Diese Dissertation ist eine grundlegende Arbeit dahingehend, indem sie globale institutionelle Vulnerabilität mittels eines Index-basierten Ansatzes auf nationaler / lokaler Ebene misst ergänzt durch gemischte Methoden wie soziale Netzwerkanalyse sowie qualitative (z.B. teilnehmende Beobachtung und Literaturrecherchen) und quantitative Ansätze (z.B. einfache Regression, Scatter-Plot, einfache deskriptive Statistik). In dieser Disssertation wird die Hypothese aufgestellt, dass die Länder mit der höchsten institutionellen Qualität eine bessere Governance von Katastrophenrisiken haben, was zu einer höheren Widerstandskraft gegen Katastrophenrisiken führt. Risiko-Assessoren haben oftmals Institutionen übersehen. Im Falle der Messung von Vulnerabilität, z.B. soziale / menschliche Vulnerabilität (wie z.B. Gesundheit, Bildung, Indizes der menschlichen Entwicklung), physische Vulnerabilität (Qualität der physischen Behausung / Gebäude und Infrastruktur), ökonomische Vulnerabilität (Einkommen, Wirtschaftsproduktion) und Umweltvulnerabilität(Landverödung, Umweltqualitätindikatoren), misst ein Assessor eigentlich nur das "Resultat" von Institutionen, aber nicht die Institution direkt. Institutionelle Vulnerabilität gegenüber Katastrophenrisiken wird hier definiert als der Kontext wie auch der Prozess, durch die formale Insitutionen (Verordnungen, Gesetz, Verfassungen, Vorschriften, Verwaltung usw.), informelle Institutionen (Kultur, Normen, Traditionen usw.) sowie Governance so geschwächt werden, dass sie entweder keinen Schutz gegenüber Naturkatastrophen bieten oder zu Ignoranz gegenüber ihrer Aufgabe führen, für Sicherheit und menschlichen Schutz zu sorgen. Ein zentrales Argument ist die Vorstellung, dass Institutionen u.a dafür gestaltet wurden, um Risiken zu reduzieren. In dieser Forschungsarbeit wird der Schwerpunkt auf Katastrophenrisiken / Naturkatastrophen gelegt. Dies führte zu der Hypothese, dass Nationen nicht in der Lage sind, aufgrund institutioneller Faktoren und Governance, die ihre Vulnerabilität und Fähigkeit zur Abpufferung ändern, Risiken zu reduzieren. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass qualitative sowie quantitative Methoden auf verschiedenen Ebenen der Governance institutionelle Vulnerabilität und Governance der Katastrophenvorsorge messen können. Auf globaler Ebene ist die Anwendung eines quantitativen Ansatzes zur Messung der Qualität von Institutionen und Governance zur Reduzierung von Naturkatastrophen möglich dank der zur Verfügung stehenden globalen Daten aus Ländern, die das Hyogo Framework for Action eingesetzt haben. Trotzdem sind stärkere Anstrengungen in der Zukunft nötig. Auf der Meso- und Mikroebene beschreibt diese Arbeit die historische Entwicklung von Institutionen zur Katastrophenvorsorge in Indonesien von der Kolonialzeit bis zu den aktuellen Herausforderungen einer dezentralisierten Verwaltungsstruktur. Die wichtigste Aussage ist die Tatsache, dass Katastrophenvorsorge nicht nachhaltig implementiert werden kann, ohne Insitutionen, die Qualität von Institutionen sowie die spezifische Governance der Risikoreduktion auf der Makro-, Meso- und Mikroebene zu berücksichtigen

Strategi Bisnis PT Pertamina Dalam Mengambil Alih Hak Eksplorasi Migas Dari PT Total Exploration Di Blok Mahakam Tahun 2015

This research describes the strategy of Pertamina Company in take controll of fuel and oil exploration rights from Total Exploration and Production Company in Mahakam Bloc in 2015. Mahakam Bloc are one of most oil exploration in Indonesia especially in South Kalimantan. Since 1967 Indonesia Government gave the exploration right of Mahakam Bloc to Total Exploration & Production Company. Unit 2017 the exploration right was limitted and Pertamina Company as a state corporate want to be a company that have a exploration right in Mahakam Bloc. The writer collects data from books, encyclopedia, journal, mass media and websites to analyze the strategy of Pertamina Company in take controll of fuel and oil exploration rights from Total Exploration and Production Company in Mahakam Bloc. The theories applied in this research are neoliberalisme perspective with the International cooperation theory. The conclution of this research are the strategy of Pertamina Company in take controll of fuel and oil exploration rights from Total Exploration and Production Company in Mahakam Bloc are done by Pertamina Company have done meeting with Indonesia Government in lobby of Mahakam Bloc exploration, Pertamina Company prepare a facility in take controlling exploration oil from Mahakam Bloc, Pertamina Company cooperation with Total E&P Company as a contractor oil Mahakam Bloc, Pertamina Company used IRRS in support Pertamina to oil exploration

Setting an Agenda for Entrepreneurial Governments: A Global Baseline Assessment of Disaster Risk Reduction Investment

Disaster scholars and practitioners have argued that disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a legitimate investment and there are multiple dividends that are associated with DRR. This paper argues that there is a need for a new policy framing that DRR investment is imperative that will generate dividends for governments and society at large. Under the auspice of the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction, governments around the world and international communities are urged to develop DRR strategies to not only aimed at reducing mortality and disaster losses but also provide multiple benefits to the society including achieving Sustainable Development Goals. This research aims to develop a global scale baseline of investment in disaster risk reduction worldwide. A total of 222 countries and territories are included in this study to assess their relative investment in DRR. We define DRR investment as an aggregation of three distinct investment: financial investment, social investment and early warning system investment.  The study generated a global index that measures disaster risk reduction investment committed by the countries. The findings suggest that investment in disaster risk reduction remains low in high risk but low to middle - income countries in contrast to higher income countries such as the OECD group. Insights from our research suggests that the concept of entrepreneurial government is needed in order to be more ambitious in triggering, facilitating and initiating investment in disaster risk reduction in a broader framework

Ethnobotanical Study of Some Medicinal Species Used in Kimvula City (Kongo Central/ RDC)

This study has been conducted at Kimvula city. The goal was to investigate the medicinal plants used in that city. Thus, any ethnobotanical survey has been realized on the use of the plants in six towns by direct interviews among 180 peoples with an average of age comprise between 17- 70 years old with high representatives of women. This study has allowed us to establish a floristic list of 188 medicinal species belonging in 158 genera and 69 families where Fabaceae dominant group. Anemia was indications mostly cited as a sickness threated by using plants. Concerning the characteristics of the treatment preparation, leaves are the plant’s organs mostly used; decoction is the preparation way cited and the oral admistration is the administration way for those medicinal drugs. Morinda morindoides, Ocimum gratissimum, Disphania ambrosioïdes and Moringa oleifera have the VAUs superior or eaual to 1.10. There is not a link concerning the use of plants between the inhabitant of group 1 and the inhabitant of group 2. By the wah, that there is a link concerning the use of plants between the Lona, Winda, Pado, Revolution and Kinata neighborhoods (Group 2). Three sspcies characterized the group 1 like: Clematis hirsuta, Saccharum officinarum and Voacanga africana, and four especies Ceiba pentandra, Indigofera paracapitata, Maprounea africana and Ochna afzelii characterized the group 2

Studies on structural, morphological, and optical properties of Cr2O3 nanoparticles: Synthesized via one step combustion process by different fuels

Esta investigación presenta un nuevo método de síntesis de un solo paso para obtener Cr2O3 nanoestructurado a partir de una solución de nitrato de cromo y un combustible como ácido aspártico, o lisina, o trihidroximetilaminometano, o etilendiaminotetraacético. Una vez obtenido los polvos fueron calcinados a 500ºC. Luego se caracterizaron mediante difracción de rayos X (DRX), microscopía electrónica de barrido (MEB), microscopía electrónica de transmisión (TEM), espectroscopía infrarroja por transformada de Fourier (FTIR), espectroscopía por UV-Visible y técnicas de Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). Estos polvos serán utilizados en superficies absorbedoras como cermts o pinturas selectivas solares. En las cenizas y los polvos calcinados obtenidos se identificó la estructura cristalina del Cr2O3, correspondiente al sistema romboédrico y al grupo espacial R-3c. El tamaño promedio de cristalita de los productos obtenidos estuvo entre 29 y 45 nm, donde para las cenizas el tamaño fue menor en comparación a los polvos obtenidos para todos los combustibles utilizados. Es probable que para un incremento de la temperatura el tamaño de cristalita crezca. Un área específica de 167 m2 /g fue determinada para las cenizas obtenidas con ácido aspártico. Este fue el mayor valor observado en la literatura específica y podría utilizarse para reacciones de catálisis, mientras que el resto de los valores obtenidos para las cenizas fue mayor en comparación a los polvos calcinados para todos los combustibles. El tamaño promedio de partícula observado a través de TEM resultó entre 50 y 100 nm aproximadamente. La energía de Band Gap determinada resultó entre 3.055 eV y 3.078 eV, esta variable aumenta suavemente con la temperatura de calcinación. Para confirmar esta tendencia se deberían realizar mayor cantidad de experimentos.This research presents a novel one-step solution combustion synthesis to obtain nano-structured Cr2O3 from chrome nitrate solution and one fuel such as aspartic acid (Asp) or Lysine (Lys), or trihydroxymethylamino methane (Tris) or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Edta). Once obtained, the ashes were calcined at 500°C. The powders were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transform (FTIR), UV-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-VIS) spectroscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) techniques. These powders will be used in solar absorbing surfaces: in composites (o cermets) and painted coatings. Within the obtained ashes and calcined powders, it was identified a Cr2O3 crystalline structure corresponding to the rhombohedral system and to the R-3c spatial group. The average crystallite size was determined for ashes and calcined powders, this value was in nanometric range between 29 and 45 nm, where for ashes were in general minor than calcined powders in all cases. It is probable that with an increment of the temperature, crystallite size would grow. A specific area of 167 m2/g was determined for asp-ashes. This was a highest value observed in specific literature and it could be used in catalysis reactions, while the area values of ashes was higher than calcined powders value for each fuel. The average particle size observed through TEM resulted in 50 nm to 100 nm approximately. The determined Energy band gap resulted in 3.055eV to 3.078 eV approximately. The Energy band gap slightly increased with calcination temperature. Further trials and investigation will confirm the mentioned tendencies.Fil: Palermo, Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas "Dr. Jorge J. Ronco". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Gardey Merino, María Celeste. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional de Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Vazquez, Patricia Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas "Dr. Jorge J. Ronco". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Alonso, José A.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Romanelli, Gustavo Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas "Dr. Jorge J. Ronco". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Marina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional de Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Lassa, Maria Silvina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentin

Human polyomaviruses in children undergoing transplantation, United States, 2008-2010

Immunocompromised patients are at risk for disease caused by infection by some polyomaviruses. To define the prevalence of polyomaviruses in children undergoing transplantation, we collected samples from a longitudinal cohort and tested for the 9 known human polyomaviruses. All were detected; several were present in previously unreported specimen types

Theorising Global Governance Inside Out: A Response to Professor Ladeur

Professor Ladeur argues that administrative law’s postmodernism (and by extension Global Administrative Law) necessitates that we move beyond relying on ideas of delegation, account- ability and legitimacy. Global Governance, particularly Global Administrative Law and Global Constitutionalism, should try to adapt and experiment with the changing nature of the postmod- ern legality and support the creation of norms that will adapt to the complexities of globalisation. Ladeur’s contestation, similar to GAL’s propositions, can be challenged. By taking the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, a significant contributor to the field of international criminal law, as an example, it is suggested that the creation of networks that Ladeur makes visible may not account for ‘regulatory capture’. This paper will argue that from the outside, the proliferation of networks may suggest that spontaneous accountability is possible. A closer look, however, drawing on anthropological insights from the ICTR, reveals that international institutions are suscepti- ble to capture by special interests. Furthermore, there are two central themes that animate the response to Professor Ladeur: the political nature of international institutions and the history of international law, and the role of institutions in this history

Evaluation of Lesions and Viral Antigen Distribution in Domestic Pigs Inoculated Intranasally with African Swine Fever Virus Ken05/Tk1 (Genotype X)

The understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms and the clinicopathological forms caused by currently circulating African swine fever virus (ASFV) isolates is incomplete. So far, most of the studies have been focused on isolates classified within genotypes I and II, the only genotypes that have circulated outside of Africa. However, less is known about the clinical presentations and lesions induced by isolates belonging to the other twenty-two genotypes. Therefore, the early clinicopathological identification of disease outbreaks caused by isolates belonging to, as yet, not well-characterised ASFV genotypes may be compromised, which might cause a delay in the implementation of control measures to halt the virus spread. To improve the pathological characterisation of disease caused by diverse isolates, we have refined the macroscopic and histopathological evaluation protocols to standardise the scoring of lesions. Domestic pigs were inoculated intranasally with different doses (high, medium and low) of ASFV isolate Ken05/Tk1 (genotype X). To complement previous studies, the distribution and severity of macroscopic and histopathological lesions, along with the amount and distribution of viral antigen in tissues, were characterised by applying the new scoring protocols. The intranasal inoculation of domestic pigs with high doses of the Ken05/Tk1 isolate induced acute forms of ASF in most of the animals. Inoculation with medium doses mainly induced acute forms of disease. A less severe but longer clinical course, typical of subacute forms, characterised by the presence of more widespread and severe haemorrhages and oedema, was observed in one pig inoculated with the medium dose. The severity of vascular lesions (haemorrhages and oedema) induced by high and medium doses was not associated with the amount of virus antigen detected in tissues, therefore these might be attributed to indirect mechanisms not evaluated in the present study. The absence of clinical signs, lesions and detectable levels of virus genome or antigen in blood from the animals inoculated with the lowest dose ruled out the existence of possible asymptomatic carriers or persistently infected pigs, at least for the 21 days period of the study. The results corroborate the moderate virulence of the Ken05/Tk1 isolate, as well as its capacity to induce both the acute and, occasionally, subacute forms of ASF when high and medium doses were administered intranasally.Innovate UK; Roslin Institute; APHA (CSKN0019); Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Scottish Government; the Welsh Government; Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

Biochemical markers of bone turnover and clinical outcome in patients with renal cell and bladder carcinoma with bone metastases following treatment with zoledronic acid: The TUGAMO study

Background: Levels of bone turnover markers (BTM) might be correlated with outcome in terms of skeletal-related events (SRE), disease progression, and death in patients with bladder cancer (BC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with bone metastases (BM). We try to evaluate this possible correlation in patients who receive treatment with zoledronic acid (ZOL). Methods: This observational, prospective, and multicenter study analysed BTM and clinical outcome in these patients. Serum levels of bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), procollagen type I amino-terminal propeptide (PINP), and beta-isomer of carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (b-CTX) were analysed. Results: Patients with RCC who died or progressed had higher baseline b-CTX levels and those who experienced SRE during follow-up showed high baseline BALP levels. In BC, a poor rate of survival was related with high baseline b-CTX and BALP levels, and new SRE with increased PINP levels. Cox univariate analysis showed that b-CTX levels were associated with higher mortality and disease progression in RCC and higher mortality in BC. Bone alkaline phosphatase was associated with increased risk of premature SRE appearance in RCC and death in BC. Conclusion: Beta-isomer of carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen and BALP can be considered a complementary tool for prediction of clinical outcomes in patients with BC and RCC with BM treated with ZOLNovartis Oncology Spain for supporting this stud

Usefulness of bone turnover markers as predictors of mortality risk, disease progression and skeletal-related events appearance in patients with prostate cancer with bone metastases following treatment with zoledronic acid: TUGAMO study

Owing to the limited validity of clinical data on the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) and bone metastases, biochemical markers are a promising tool for predicting survival, disease progression and skeletal-related events (SREs) in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive capacity of biochemical markers of bone turnover for mortality risk, disease progression and SREs in patients with PCa and bone metastases undergoing treatment with zoledronic acid (ZA). Methods: This was an observational, prospective and multicenter study in which ninety-eight patients were included. Patients were treated with ZA (4mg every 4 weeks for 18 months). Data were collected at baseline and 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months after the beginning of treatment. Serum levels of bone alkaline phosphtase (BALP), aminoterminal propeptide of procollagen type I (P1NP) and beta-isomer of carboxiterminal telopeptide of collagen I (b-CTX) were analysed at all points in the study. Data on disease progression, SREs development and survival were recorded. Results: Cox regression models with clinical data and bone markers showed that the levels of the three markers studied were predictive of survival time, with b-CTX being especially powerful, in which a lack of normalisation in visit 1 (3 months after the beginning of treatment) showed a 6.3-times more risk for death than in normalised patients. Levels of these markers were also predictive for SREs, although in this case BALP and P1NP proved to be better predictors. We did not find any relationship between bone markers and disease progression. Conclusion: In patients with PCa and bone metastases treated with ZA, b-CTX and P1NP can be considered suitable predictors for mortality risk, while BALP and P1NP are appropriate for SREs. The levels of these biomarkers 3 months after the beginning of treatment are especially importantThis study was supported by Novartis Oncology Spai