2,304 research outputs found
Photographic and cinematic appropriation of atrocity images from Cambodia: auto-genocide in Western museum culture and The Missing Picture
As a harrowing sub-discipline of English and Comparative Literature, Trauma Studies is in need of geographical expansion beyond its moorings in European genocides of the 20th century. In this article, the authors chart the institutional and cinematic appropriation of atrocity images in relation to the Khmer Rougeâs auto-genocide from 1975â1979 in Cambodia. They analyse the cultural and scholarly value of these images in conjunction with genocide studies to reveal principles often overlooked, taken for granted, or pushed to the periphery in photography studies and film studies. Through grim appropriations of archival or news footage to more experimental approaches in documentary, such as the use of dioramas, the authors examine the commercial and artistic articulations of trauma, reconciliation and testimony in two case studies: The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) exhibition Photographs from S-21: 1975â1979 (1997) and Pithy Panhâs documentary The Missing Picture (2013). The authors first focus on the relatively obscure scholarship devoted to contextualizing images from international genocides outside the Euro-American canon for genocide study in order to build their critical formulations; they go on to explore whether these atrocity-themed still and moving images are capable of defying aspects of commodification and sensationalism to instead convey positive notions of commemoration and memory. Finally, their contribution to this debate regarding the merit of appropriating atrocity imagery is viewed from two perspectives: âcommodified witnessingâ (a negative descriptor for the MoMA exhibition) and âcommemorative witnessingâ (a positive term for the Cambodian film)
Adoption and impact of gaps in pig value chains: Implications for institutional policy and practice change
This paper investigates the adoption of VietGAHP, a set of guidelines for best practices
in pig production, and evaluates impacts using quantitative and qualitative indicators. It tackles
the following specific research questions: 1) What is the extent of adoption of VietGAHP
among smallholder pig producers? 2) Is there a difference in performance between VietGAHP
adopters and non-adopters? Outcomes from adoption and compliance with VietGAHP are
assessed using reduction in mortality as a metric for efficacy. Cost-benefit comparisons are
also made to illustrate economic outcomes as a measure of effectiveness. We employ statistical
t-tests for mean comparison of outcomes between VietGAHP adopters and non-adopters and
across exposed and control sites. Our study shows productivity gains from practice and
behavioral changes elicited from adoption and compliance with VietGAHP outweigh the costs
of doing so, at least at the household level. The observed economic and market incentives could
boost the adoption of VietGAHP if these incentives are sustained with appropriate institutions
in place. Scalability could be facilitated by exposure via demonstration effects. Peer-to-peer
learning is an effective strategy in enhancing capacity for uptake. With exposure being strongly
linked to uptake, regardless of gender of respondents, training opportunities for non-exposed
groups are worthwhile to pursue
An evaluation of economic viability of small scale slaughterhouses in Vietnam: Implication for pig value chain development
Slaughterhouse plays important role in pig value chain in Vietnam, not only for the
functions it plays and economic added value it generates, but also for product quality relates to
food safety standards that is much affected under slaughtering activity. The study is aimed to
get a better understanding of structure, conduct, performance and economic viability of small
scale slaughter houses in the pig value chain, and draw key implications for pig value chain
development in Vietnam. Nghe An and Hung Yen are selected as study site. Data is collected
from 51 small scale slaughterhouses in 18 communes. Descriptive and comparative statistics
are employed with t-test for mean comparison. Results show that slaughterhouse plays multiple
functions in the pig value chain, generate permanent jobs for at least 2 family labors, and
provides an income of about 18 USD/working day for family labor, contributing about threefourths
of total family income. Slaughtering activity generates an added value of 165 USD/one
ton of live pig, accounting from 24%-44% total value added in the pig value chain. Upstream
and downstream linkages of slaughterhouses in the chain are quite loose with no formal
contract. The majority of small scale slaughterhouses do not meet the standards for pig
slaughterhouse as required by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The setting
up as well as slaughtering practices are perceived to contribute to exposure of meat to
contamination that could lead to higher incidence of salmonella in pork, a common cause of
foodborne illness for consumers. Rising concerns of consumers about food safety as well as
increasing level of economic integration of Vietnam are factors potentially having great
impacts on economic viability of small scale slaughterhouse in Vietnam. Several
recommendations for upgrading slaughterhouse are proposed accordingly
Using a system dynamics framework to assess disease risks of pig value chains in Vietnam
In Vietnam, there are more than 4 million households producing pigs and pork. This
accounts for 57% of quantity of meat consumed. One of the most critical constraints
to pig production is the presence of animal disease. Pig disease outbreaks are a regular
occurrence in various parts of the country, with the industry affected by diseases
such as foot and mouth disease, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, classical
swine fever, porcine high fever disease, and swine influenza. In addition, food
safety issues related to pig diseases and pork-borne diseases have also increasingly become
more important concerns for consumers. Recent studies have shown significant
changes in consumption behaviour in response to disease outbreaks. For instance, at
least half of urban consumers stop consuming pork in times of pig disease epidemics
and/or shift consumption to other meat substitutes such as poultry or fish. Disease
risks thus have both public health and livelihoods impacts that are important to understand
for appropriate policy and practice response.
A proposed methodology for investigating disease risks uses a system dynamics analysis
framework. System dynamics models are particularly relevant in the study of livestock
systems, as they capture the diverse actors and feedbacks present in value chains
and their interface with disease risk and behaviour. A system dynamics model is developed
that will describe different scenarios of disease risks and the consequences of
different interventions to mitigate these risks.
Data from a sample of 1000 farmers and value chain actors including all actors in the
pig value chain in Vietnam was collected with support from an ACIAR-funded project
on Reducing Disease Risks and Improving Food Safety in Smallholder Pig Value
Chains in Vietnam. We propose to test the hypotheses that disease risk is affected by
type of production system, feeding system and types of feed uses, access to inputs
and services, and selected socio-demographic variables associated with farmers and
location
One year follow-up of physical performance and quality of life in patients surviving COVID-19: a prospective cohort study
INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to affect many countries globally, with the long-term impact of the disease now being recognized. According to the latest research, some of the affected individuals continue to experience functional limitations, reduced physical performance and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) even after eight months. This prospective cohort study aimed to describe the longer-term recovery of physical performance and HRQoL in COVID-19 survivors over one year.
METHOD: A cohort (n = 43; 32-84 years old) hospitalized with COVID-19 between March and June 2020 was followed over one year and assessed at three time points: hospital discharge, 3 months and 12 months post-admission. Participants experienced mild (10/43) to critical (6/43) pneumonia and stayed in the hospital for a median of 10 days (IQR 9). Participants were assessed for physical performance (six-minute walk test), HRQoL (EQ-5D-5L), COVID-19 related limitations in functionality (PCFS), hospital-related anxiety and depression (HADS-A/-D), lung function (FEV1, FVC) and dyspnea during activity (mMRC). All assessments were conducted by physiotherapists trained in cardio-respiratory rehabilitation.
RESULTS: After discharge, 8/34 showed reduced physical performance, 9/42 had lower HRQoL and 14/32 had COVID-19 induced limitations in functionality on the PCFS scale. Physical performance did not change significantly between discharge and 12-month follow-up, but 15/34 participants showed clinically relevant improvements in walking distance (>30 m). However, 16/34 had a decreased walking distance >30 m when comparing 3-month to 12-month follow-up. At 12 months, 12/41 of participants still perceived COVID-19 related limitations in daily life on the PCFS scale. For HRQoL, 12/41 participants still perceived moderate-to-severe symptoms of pain and discomfort and 13/41 slight-to-severe symptoms of anxiety and depression.
CONCLUSION: This cohort of adult patients hospitalized for mild to severe COVID-19 in Switzerland was generally mildly affected but still reported some limitations after one year. These results offer preliminary indications for ongoing support after hospitalization and point towards the need for specific, individualized follow-up to support their recovery.
ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04375709
Market-based approaches to food safety and animal health interventions: Lessons from smallholder pig value chains in Vietnam
Food safety and animal health issues are increasingly important constraints to smallholder pig
production in Viet Nam. Recent studies have highlighted the significant prevalence of animal
disease and foodâborne pathogens inherent within the Vietnamese pig sector. These in turn have
important negative livelihoods effects on smallholder pig producers and other value chain actors,
as well as important public health impacts. An important research gap is in identifying exâante
appropriate marketâbased policy responses that take into account the tradeoffs between
improved animal health and food safety outcomes and their associated costs for different value
chain actors as a means of developing chainâlevel solutions for their control. In this paper, we
constructed a system dynamics model of the pig value chain that combines a detailed model of
herd production and marketing with modules on shortâ and longâterm investment in pig capacity,
and decisions by value chain actors to adopt different innovations. The model further highlights
the feedbacks between different actors in the chain to identify both the potential entry points for
upgrading food safety and animal health as well as potential areas of tension within the chain that
may undermine uptake. Model results demonstrate that interventions at nodal levels (e.g. only at
farm or slaughterhouse level) are less costâeffective and sustainable than those that jointly
enhance incentives for control across the value chain, as weak links downstream undermine the
ability of producers to sustain good health practices
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