An empirical investigation of trade flows between Australia and its major trading partners

This study introduces Net Export (NX) models to examine the determinants of the trade flows between Australia and eight selected trading partner (TP) countries (China, France, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America) in four selected Trade Deficit (TD) categories (Pharmaceutical Products; Nuclear Reactors, Boilers, Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Machinery and Equipment; Sound Recorders and Producers, and Vehicles Other Than Railway or Tramway Rolling-Stock). A total of 29 NX models are estimated, which are based on both the monetary and Quantity (QTY) values. Findings in this study suggest that macroeconomic variables such as money supply, interest rates and savings rates have no-significant effect in the determination of the NX levels in the selected categories. This highlights that monetary policy cannot influence the NX levels in the selected TD categories in Australia. This study also identifies some policy implications which arise from this paper

Mediasi Sebagai Alternatif Penyelesaian Sengketa Perbankan Syariah di Luar Pengadilan (Studi Kasus BPRS Bhakti Sumekar)

Abstrak Penelitian ini membahas tentang beberapa cara dalam menangani seketa diluar pengadilan, diantaranya negosiasi, mediasi, konsiliasi, dan arbitrase. Namun, dalam penelitian ini lebih terfokuskan kepada proses peyelesaian sengketa diluar pengadilan dengan menggunakan metode mediasi. Penelitian ini juga menjelaskan tentang bagaimana proses mediasi dalam penyelesaian sengketa diluar pengadilan. memaparkan prinsip-prinsip dan dasar hukum pelaksanaan mediasi dalam menyelesaikan sengketa perbankan dilluar pengadilan. Penelitian ini bertempat di PT. BPRS Bhakti Sumekar.            Kualitatif diskriptif menjadi salah Metode gunakan oleh peneliti dalam melakukan penelitiand. dengan menggunakan metode kualitatif deskriptif. Metode kualitatif merupakan suatu paradigma penelitian untuk mendeskripsikan peristiwa, fenomena, perilaku orang atau suatu keadaan pada tempat tertentu secara rinci dan mendalam dalam bentuk narasi. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian lapangan (field reseacrh). Pendekatan yang digunakan adalah Studi kasus merupakan salah satu jenis pendekatan kualitatif yang menelaah sebuah "kasus" tertentu dalam konteks atau setting kehidupan nyata kontemporer. Studi kasus merupakan jenis penelitian yang mendalam tentang individu, satu kelompok, satu organisasi, satu program kegiatan, dan sebagainya dalam waktu tertentu.             Hasil penelitian menemukan bahwa metode mediasi dalam penyelesaian sengketa perbankan diluar pengadilan sebagai salah satu bentuk alternatif dapat memenuhi kebutuhan masyarakat dalam penyelesaian sengketa perbankan. Terbukti dengan dibentuknya lembaga-lembaga yang menyediakakn jasa mediasi. Mekanisme penyelesaian sengketa antar nasabah dan Bank pada Bank Indonesia dapat ditempuh dengan dua tahap. Pertama, Bank ajib menyelesaikan terlebih dahulu sengketa dengan nasabahnya sesuai dengan peraturan Bank Indonesia (PBI) N0. 7/7/PBI/2005, tahap kedua adalah apabila sengketa belum dapat diselesaikan dengan baik, maka nasabah Bank dapat mengajukan permohonan penyelesaian sengketa melalui mediasi sesuai PBI No. 8/5/PBI/2006. metode mediasi dapat berjalan sesuai dengan fungsinya yaitu terbatas pada penyediaan tempat, membantu nasabah dan Bank untuk mengemukakan pokok permasalahan yang menjadi sengketa, penyediaan nara sumber, dan mengupayakan tercapainya kesepakatan penyelesaian sengketa antar nasabah dan Bank. Kata Kunci : Mediasi, Sengketa perbankan, Pengadilan

Epithelial lining of the endometrium during the luteal phase in patients under controlled ovarian hyperstimulation

The endometrium is receptive for the embryo and presents an implantation window for a limited time. This study is aimed at highlighting an alternation in pinopod expression and to provide more analysisof the structural characteristics of epithelial lining of the endometrium during luteal phase in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimmulation (COH). Twelve oocyte donors were used. Theyunderwent two endometrial biopsies 2-7 days after human chronic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration. Endometrial epithelial surface appearance was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Microvillibecame more uniformly distributed as the luteal phase progressed. Also the central aspects of the cells appeared to protrude more into the endometrial lumen as the cycle progressed. Apical protrusions(pinopods) were noted to develop and regress during the midluteal phase after HCG administration. Pinopods began development in the region of the glandular orifices to become much denser at the glandular orifices than in regions further away from the glands. In conclusion, epithelial lining ofendometrium in stimulated cycle during the luteal phase progresses in an orderly manner. This advanced development may result in an alteration of the window of implantation between the developing endometrium and the developing blastocyst and affect pregnancy rates in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimmulation

Implementation of Character Education through Children's Language Development in Elementary Schools

Character education implementation through language development is essential in primary education. However, the application of character education in reality has not been optimal. This study aimed to explore the implementation of character education through language development in primary schools. This research used a qualitative approach, and data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The population of this study consisted of 522 students and 16 teachers in 15 classes at Silih Asah II State Elementary School in Cirebon City, Indonesia. The research sample was sampled from class 2A, consisting of 40 students, and 10 students' parents also gave feedback regarding this learning. The teacher sample consisted of 5 male and 5 female teachers, including the principal. The results showed that the implementation of character education through language development can be accomplished by combining language development activities with character learning activities such as storytelling, singing, and group games that involve all students. In addition, the results showed that through language development, children can learn communication and social skills that help them build good character. Therefore, this study concluded that language development can be an effective medium for implementing character education in primary schools.

Probing phospholipid microbubbles by atomic force microscopy to quantify bubble mechanics and nanostructural shell properties

Microbubbles (MBs), which are used as ultrasonic contrast agents, have distinct acoustic signatures which enable them to significantly enhance visualisation of the vasculature. Research is progressing to develop MBs which act as drug/gene delivery vehicles for site-specific therapeutics. In order to manufacture effective theranostic vehicles, it is imperative to understand the mechanical and nanostructural properties of these agents; this will enrich the understanding of how the structural, biophysical and chemical properties of these bubbles impact their functionality. We produced microfluidic phospholipid-based MBs due to their favourable properties, such as biocompatibility and echogenicity, as well as the ability to modify the shell for targeting applications. We have drawn upon atomic force microscopy to conduct force spectroscopy and tapping-mode imaging investigations. We have, for the first time to our knowledge, been able to accurately quantify the thickness and lipid configuration of phospholipid-shelled MBs - showing a trilayer as opposed to the conventional monolayer structure. Furthermore, we have measured MB stiffness and employed different mechanical theories to quantify the Young’s modulus. We show that the Reissner theory is inappropriate for mechanical characterisation of phospholipid MBs, however, the Hertz model does offer biologically relevant comparisons. Analysis using the Alexander-de Gennes polymer brush theory has allowed us to provide new information regarding how the thickness of the polyethylene glycol brushes, end-grafted to our phospholipid microbubbles, changes with diameter

Pengaruh Pemberdayaan Ibu dalam Perawatan Bayi melalui Pendekatan Modelling

Ibu merupakan faktor lingkungan yang utama dan dapat berperan terhadap tumbuh kembang bayi melalui pemberian ASI. Pemberian ASI sangat dianjurkan pada bayi sampai anak berusia 2 tahun. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengidentifikasi efektivitas pemberdayaan ibu dalam merawat bayi 0-6 bulan dengan memberikan pendidikan kesehatan dengan pendekatan modeling terhadap pengetahuan dan dukungan keluarga dengan status laktasi bayi. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain quasi eksperiment pre-post control group design. Analisis menggunakan uji wilcoxson dan uji Mann Whitney. Intervensi yang diberikan berupa pemberian pendidikan kesehatan dengan pendekatan modelling tentang manajemen laktasi dan stimulasi tumbuh kembang bayi. Sampel berjumlah 81 orang terdiri atas 41 orang kelompok perlakuan dan 40 orang kelompok kontrol. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pengetahuan ibu dari kelompok intervensi dan kontrol masing-masing menunjukkan terdapat perbedaan pengetahuan sebelum dan sesudah intervensi (p=0,000; p=0,001). Dukungan keluarga dari kelompok intervensi dan kontrol masing masing menunjukkan terdapat perbedaan pengetahuan sebelum dan sesudah intervensi (p=0,000; p=0,009). Status laktasi menunjukkan ada perbedaan yang signifikan (p=0,001) antara kelompok perlakuan dan kelompok kontrol. Kesimpulan dari penelitian bahwa efektivitas pemberdayaan ibu dalam merawat bayi menunjukkan terdapat perbedaan antara pengetahuan, dukungan keluarga dan status laktasi sebelum dan sesudah pemberian pendidikan kesehatan dengan pendekatan modelling

Pembuatan Biobriket dari Limbah Dedaunan

There were so many leaves waste in our environment. This reseach is conduct to study the possibility of using that waste as a raw material of Bio-briquettes. The leaves that useare mangoes, jackfruits, rambutans, and teak wood powder as comparison. Bio-briquettes were make with and without pyrolysis, for 2 and 5 gram starch. The characteristics test, flame test and water boiling test are conducted with Anglo and Biomassa Stove. The results of the test shows that only moisture content that meet SNI, but the good information that the calories of three type of leaves are more than 4,600 calories/gram, especially the rambutan leaves is 4960 calories/gram. The SNI standar for wood is 5,000 caloris/gram. The flame test results shows that at Biomassa Stove better than at Anglo, and 2 gram starch better than 5 gram. For water boiling test at Angglo is better than at Biomassa Stove, and 2 gram starch better than 5 gram

Sorafenib, Rapamycin, and Venetoclax Attenuate Doxorubicin-Induced Senescence and Promote Apoptosis in HCT116 Cells

Emerging evidence has shown that the therapy-induced senescent growth arrest in cancer cells is of durable nature whereby a subset of cells can reinstate proliferative capacity. Promising new drugs named senolytics selectively target senescent cells and commit them into apoptosis. Accordingly, senolytics have been proposed as adjuvant cancer treatment to cull senescent tumor cells, and thus, screening for agents that exhibit senolytic properties is highly warranted. Our study aimed to investigate three agents, sorafenib, rapamycin, and venetoclax for their senolytic potential in doxorubicin-induced senescence in HCT116 cells. HCT116 cells were treated with one of the three agents, sorafenib (5 µM), rapamycin (100 nM), or venetoclax (10 µM), in the absence or presence of doxorubicin (1 µM). Senescence was evaluated using microscopy-based and flow cytometry-based Senescence-associated-β-galactosidase staining (SA-β-gal), while apoptosis was assessed using annexin V-FITC/PI, and Muse caspase-3/-7 activity assays. We screened for potential genes through which the three drugs exerted senolytic-like action using the Human Cancer Pathway Finder PCR array. The three agents reduced doxorubicin-induced senescent cell subpopulations and significantly enhanced the apoptotic effect of doxorubicin compared with those treated only with doxorubicin. The senescence genes IGFBP5 and BMI1 and the apoptosis genes CASP7 and CASP9 emerged as candidate genes through which the three drugs exhibited senolytic-like properties. These results suggest that the attenuation of doxorubicin-induced senescence might have shifted HCT116 cells to apoptosis by exposure to the tested pharmacological agents. Our work argues for the use of senolytics to reduce senescence-mediated resistance in tumor cells and to enhance chemotherapy efficacy

A comparison between London and Baghdad surface urban heat islands and possible engineering mitigation solutions

This study adopts remote sensing techniques to compare the Surface urban Heat Island (SUHI) in Bagh-dad and London as they represent different climatic conditions, natural environments and levels of urbandevelopment. It tests the reported correlation of land surface temperature (LST) with land cover in theliterature under different conditions and, based on the findings, suggests engineering mitigation strate-gies for each city. The land surface was characterized using supervised classification and spectral indices,using the Landsat 8 optical bands (2–7), and the LST was retrieved from Landsat’s thermal band 10 afteremissivity calibration. Two Landsat 8 satellite images were used, acquired in July 2013 when maximumsurface temperature would be expected in both these capital cities. Image processing included radio-metric calibration and atmospheric correction and various land surface indices were then calculated.The independent validation of land cover types was performed using higher spatial resolution opticaldata, and LST patterns were validated using ASTER thermal images. Land cover types or indices and landsurface temperature display high correlations, with most having a positive relationship with LST, but veg-etation has a negative relationship. The hottest surface type also differs for the two cities. Consequently,covering the soil in Baghdad with new construction, for example, reduces the surface temperature andhence urban heat island effect, while the same action in London increases it. Thus, engineering solutionsto urban heat island issues need to take local factors into accoun