Disadvantaged Regions Research Articles

ELEMENTARY STUDENTS’ CREATIVE THINKING SKILLS IN SCIENCE IN THE MALUKU ISLANDS, INDONESIA

Learning that encourages the development of students’ creative thinking needs to be maximized since the level of primary education, including in the disadvantaged, outermost, and frontier regions that is referred to 3T areas (terdepan, terluar, tertinggal) in Indonesia is still categorized as underdeveloped that requires special attention. The main objective of this research was to diagnose students’ creative thinking skills for four components including fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration on students in the islands. The study was conducted on 161 students sitting in fourth grade from 6 elementary schools. The unique thing why this research was conducted because the research location was one of the Maluku Islands, which has abundant sea, air and land in terms of natural resources and is one of the areas that borders directly with Australia, so it can be predicted students’ creative thinking skills will be good. However, the analysis results report that students’ creative thinking skills were still very low and thus require comprehensive learning improvement to improve students’ creative thinking skills. It was hoped that good creative thinking skills of students will support better regional development in the future.

Preface

SIDI International Conference 2019 (SIDI IC 2019) is organized by the Consortium of Sustainable Island Development Initiatives (SIDI) of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), held at the Research Center Building, ITS Campus – Surabaya on 2nd – 3rd September, 2019. This is to provide a forum for exchanging views, ideas, perspectives, research results, academic and business experiences from the stakeholders who have certain concerns to the community and environment of small islands from around the world. Overall this forum is expected to offer a good opportunity to build relationships and also provide dynamic foundations in the effort of developing small islands in sustainable manners.The current conference is organized in collaboration with a number of national partners, namely the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration, University of Pattimura, University of Airlangga, and Maritime Polytechnics Surabaya. Further, the collaboration is also established with the international partners, namely Wismar University of Applied Sciences, Technische Universität Berlin and Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst of Germany.List of Organizers and Hosters and logos are availble in this pdf.

Incorporating financial ratios in DEA - an application to goat farming data. A critical examination

Goat farming in Greece, is practiced in disadvantaged regions that cannot be otherwise valorised. For these areas, goat farming is one of the main economics activities. Despite the significance of the sector, goat farming shows low efficiency and competitiveness and this is due to the high production costs. Most farms in Greece operate under increasing scale. The goal of this paper is to present how corporate performance can be measured - using data envelopment analysis (DEA) method - with financial indexes. DEA is a useful technique that measures the efficiency. However, the lack of the ability to attend to ratio measures is an ongoing challenge in DEA. In this paper there is a combination of DEA and financial ratios and that has many advantages. It is implemented by a specific procedure that is called directional distance function, and the main advantage of this method, belonging to the class of non-radial approach, is the flexibility.

Incorporating financial ratios in DEA - an application to goat farming data. A critical examination

Goat farming in Greece, is practiced in disadvantaged regions that cannot be otherwise valorised. For these areas, goat farming is one of the main economics activities. Despite the significance of the sector, goat farming shows low efficiency and competitiveness and this is due to the high production costs. Most farms in Greece operate under increasing scale. The goal of this paper is to present how corporate performance can be measured - using data envelopment analysis (DEA) method - with financial indexes. DEA is a useful technique that measures the efficiency. However, the lack of the ability to attend to ratio measures is an ongoing challenge in DEA. In this paper there is a combination of DEA and financial ratios and that has many advantages. It is implemented by a specific procedure that is called directional distance function, and the main advantage of this method, belonging to the class of non-radial approach, is the flexibility.

Regional Development Disparities in Sri Lanka

This article discloses the nature and the background causes of the regional variations of development in Sri Lanka. Though Sri Lanka is a lower-middle-income country with a GDP per capita of USD 3852 (2019) and a total population of 21.8 million, the income inequalities and the human wellbeing between the communities and regions are significantly high. These regional gaps and regional disparities in Sri Lanka are a chronic issue and have taken a new dimension with excessive concentration of growth in the Western Province, the Colombo Megalopolis while the less developed and disadvantaged other regions are awaiting to shift to a more liberalized economic regime since 1978. The average infrastructure index for the Western Province is 1.77 compared to less than 1.00 for all other provinces. The study proves that the 30-year civil war between the ethnic groups and the youth unrests and merging fundamentalism of Sri Lanka are also the results of reginal disparities of development. This article is based on secondary data and provides some of the cases as evidence to prove the spatial and temporal development disparities of the country. The urban biased development approach of all the successive government and welfare approaches of the development policies are the major causes behind the regional variations of the human wellbeing of Sri Lanka.

Impact of Plant Utilization on Irreversible Investment Under Uncertainty with Application to Refinery Investment

Why are some regions preferred when investors consider irreversible investment? This study offers an explanation to this question and suggests improvements that will assist disadvantaged regions improve on their bid for funds. The paper considers irreversible investment under uncertainty when installed capacity utilization is incorporated. We develop a normative model for irreversible investment problem under uncertainty using real options approach. Capacity utilization was not a major consideration by previous authors who assumed that installed capacity would be fully utilized. Variations in capacity utilization may be attributed to disruption in input supply or infrastructural bottlenecks that limit firms to get their products to customers. This study modifies the geometric Brownian motion for the value of a project to account for capacity utilization in the derivation of irreversible investment decision rule. The proposed model provides a theoretical explanation of how utilization affects irreversible investment decisions. Data on petroleum refinery margins is used to illustrate application of the proposed model to refinery investment. The study reveals that capacity utilization has an inverse effect on the investment trigger, and so, links irreversible investment decisions to plant utilization. We recommend optimal utilization of installed plant capacity for regions seeking funds for irreversible investment.

Review of Direct Payments for Less-Favoured Areas: Evidence from Japan

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishery (MAFF) in Japan launched direct payment for hilly and mountainous areas considered as less-favored areas in 2000 with aim of preventing further farmland abandonment in the areas, compensating the farmers working in such disadvantaged regions for their costly production, and enhance agricultural multi-functionality through community cooperation. This review examines the effect of direct payments on continuous land use, prevention of farmland, agrarian structural change, environmental dimension, and income inequality through both quantitative and qualitative methods. Also, I connected the empirical results to theoretical economics using simple profit functions.

О СОСТОЯНИИ РЕЦИДИВНОЙ ПРЕСТУПНОСТИ В ДАЛЬНЕВОСТОЧНОМ ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОМ ОКРУГЕ

The Far Eastern Federal District is one of the most disadvantaged regions of Russia with a high level of recidivism. In 2019, the proportion of crimes committed by persons who had previously committed crimes among those investigated was 64.7%. Recidivism rate per 100 thousand people reached 660.5, which is 1.6 times higher than the national average. More than half of all recurrent crimes detected in the Far Eastern Federal District are in Primorsky, Zabaikalsky, Khabarovsk Krais. Zabaikalsky Krai, the Republic of Buryatia, Magadan and Amur Oblasts are leading in terms of the recidivism rate. In the structure of recidivism, in addition to embezzlement, drug crimes and criminal violations of traffic rules occupy a noticeable place (Art., 264, Art. 264.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

Фасциолез в субъектах Северного Кавказа как вероятная биологическая, эпидемиологическая и эпизоотическая угроза населению и животноводству

When analyzing statistical materials from 32 polyclinics in 15 cities of the North Caucasus (Grozny, Gudermes, Argun, Magas, Nazran, Vladikavkaz, Beslan, Ardon, Karachaevsk, Cherkessk , Nalchik, Nartkala, Baksan, Prokhladny and Mayskiy) in 18,0 thousand samples of feces, the indices of occurrence per 100 thousand of population and abundance of F. gigantica eggs were 0, which indicates an epidemic the well-being of the region in relation to zoonosis, thanks to the program organization of health education of the population. At the same time, for fascioliasis (Fasciola gigantica) of sheep, cattle and buffaloes, all 5 Republics of the North Caucasus belong to the disadvantaged regions of southern Russia with a critical risk index for the biosafety of livestock industries in all climatic zones of the subject due to the weak and half implementation of antiepizootic measures. In 5 Republics of the North Caucasus in 2011–2019. The indices of the incidence and abundance of fascioliasis in sheep, cattle and buffaloes increased by 2–3 times, which indicates the threat of invasion to the efficiency of livestock subsectors in the region. Our data indicate a high level of sanitary contamination of the soils of near-village pastures in the plain and foothill zones of all subjects of the North Caucasus with invasive elements of the causative agent of giant fascioliasis and their absence in the soils of distant pastures. In 100% of soil samples from rural pastures in the plain and foothill zone, invasive eggs of Fasciola gigantica were identified, which, according to forecasts, may lead to the spread of parthenitis among intermediate hosts, followed by the spread of invasion among the population of 5 regions, such as the Chechen and Ingush Republics, RNOAlania, Kabardino-Balkarian and Karachay-Cherkess Republics.

Substance use treatment in Appalachian Tennessee amid COVID-19: Challenges and preparing for the future

The COVID-19 pandemic created a number of rapidly emerging and unprecedented challenges for those engaged in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, forcing service providers to improvise their treatment strategies as the crisis deepened. Drawing from five ongoing federally funded SUD projects in Appalachian Tennessee and hundreds of hours of meetings and interviews, this article explores the pandemic's impact on an already structurally disadvantaged region, its recovery community, and those who serve it. More specifically, we note detrimental effects of increased isolation since the implementation of COVID-19 safety measures, including stakeholders' reports of higher incidences of relapse, overdose, and deaths in the SUD population. Treatment providers have responded with telehealth services, but faced barriers in technology access and computer literacy among clients. Providers have also had to restrict new clients to accommodate social distancing, faced delays in health screening those they can accept, and denied family visitations, which has affected retention. In light of these challenges, several promising lessons for the future emerged––such as preparing for an influx of new and returning clients in need of SUD treatment; making arrangements for long-term housing and facility modification; developing a hybrid care delivery model, taking advantage of new regulations enabling telemedicine; budgeting for and storing personal protective equipment (PPE) and related supplies; and developing disaster protocols to withstand threats to intake, retention, and financial solvency.

The Readiness of Disadvantaged Regions in Implementing E-Government in Indonesia: Case Study in East Seram Regency

The East Seram Regency is a disadvantaged region in Indonesia with many sub-districts that do not have access to internet and electricity. The remaining options for sub-districts was hindered because it is limited by wilderness and free oceans and the APBD (Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget) in this regency is also limited. Although, the implementation of e-Government by the Regent are willing to follow the mandate of Presidential Regulation No. 95 of 2018 concerning Electronic-Based Government Systems (SPBE). The purpose of this study was to analyze and determine the readiness of the East Seram Regency in implementing the e-government system in Indonesia. This study used a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods and data collection technique was also carried out by using a questionnaire for 76 respondents, in-depth interviews for 7 informants, and documentation. The result showed the quality of public human resources and civil servants in the field of communication and the informatics are low. Also, the ICT infrastructure such as internet, servers, networks, and computer equipment are inadequate. The East Seram Regency is a disadvantaged region that prioritizes physical development infrastructure rather than allocating a high budget for the information technology tools. Therefore, it is concluded that the East Seram Regency as one of the disadvantaged region in Indonesia whose Local Government is 'Not Ready' to implement an e-government system as mandated by Presidential Regulation No. 95 of 2018.

Економічні аспекти превенції сказу тварин

Економічні аспекти превенції сказу тварин

Postnatal Depression Screening among Postpartum Women Attending Postnatal Care at Selected Community Health Centres Situated in the Nkangala District of South Africa

Background: The postnatal period represents a time of risk for the emergence of Postnatal Depression (PND), a common maternal mental health problem affecting the well-being of the mother, the newborn and the entire family. Previously, it was postulated that African women were not affected by PND, due to traditional rituals and other cultural factors. However, the assumption has been refuted because of the existence of empirical evidence of PND in Africa and beyond, particularly among women living in socio-economic disadvantaged regions. Despite the growing magnitude of PND reported in South Africa, the country continues to focus more on reducing maternal and infant mortality and promoting infant physical health with limited efforts made to address PND among postpartum women. Objective: To screen for PND and determine the associated risk factors among postpartum women in selected community health centres situated in the Nkangala District, South Africa. Methods: The study was cross-sectional in design and applied a quantitative approach. Random sampling was used to select the three community health centres in the Nkangala District. A sample of 228 women who had delivered a live infant within 12 weeks of the time of data collection was selected using purposive sampling from the three community health centres. Trained research assistants administered a questionnaire to obtain information on demography and obstetric history, while the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EDPS) was used to screen for postnatal depression. An EDPS score of 13+ confirmed the probability of PND. Data was analysed using STATA 14. Results: The mean age of women was 28±7 years. The majority of women were single (61%), living in large households (77%), and living in households with a monthly income of less than $291.10 (63%). Most women had normal (i.e., vaginal) delivery (83%) and reported unplanned pregnancies (65%). The probability of developing PND among women was 22%. The odds of developing PND were 3.17 times more likely in women with babies aged six weeks and above (AOR=3.17, CI; 1.39 - 7.23) and 4.50 times more likely in women living in households with an income of less than $115.55 (AOR=4.50, CI; 1.03 - 19.74). Partner/husband violence increased the odds of developing PND (AOR = 6.89, CI; 1.49 - 31.93), as well as a stressful life event (AOR= 3.73, CI: 1.52 - 9.17). Having partner/husband support (AOR=0.10, CI: 0.03 - 0.37) and receiving social support (AOR=0.28, CI: 0.09 - 0.93) reduced the risk of developing PND. A chi-square test showed significant associations between the EDPS scores and partner/husband support, partner/husband having another sexual partner, receiving social support, having a person who offers social support, partner/husband violence, and stressful life events. Conclusion: The probability of PND was high among postpartum women in the Nkangala District of the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. The key determinants for the probability of PND were the age of a baby, household income, partner/husband violence, partner/husband support and receiving social support. Routine screening to identify women who are at risk of PND should be integrated into postnatal care settings for immediate intervention to protect the mother and her baby from different forms of morbidity.

White sorghum landrace and corn starches in glucose syrups production using enzymatic and acid amylolysis

The aim of this study was to optimize and compare the production of glucose syrups from starches isolated from Algerian white sorghum and imported corn in order to study the possibility to use sorghum starch as alternative for glucose syrups production. Two combinations (acid–enzyme and enzyme–enzyme) amylolysis of starch isolated and purified from white sorghum using alkaline method and commercial corn starch were tested. The optimal conditions of the two hydrolysis steps (liquefaction and saccharification) were determined. Concentrations of 30% and 35% (w/v) for white sorghum and corn starches, respectively, were used as substrate. Optimal saccharification process occurs at 60°C, pH of 4.5 during 72 hr, and 1% (w/v) of Rhizopus mold amyloglucosidase. Final values of DE 88.32% and 97.03% using enzymatic liquefaction and 83.81%, 94.68% using acid liquefaction were obtained for sorghum and corn starches, respectively. The results indicate that the enzyme–enzyme amylolysis is more advantageous due to a high glucose conversion yield. Practical applications The study has shown that starch of white sorghum cultivated in disadvantaged regions of Algerian Sahara can be used for glucose syrups production. Starch represents 74.82% of kernel (db) and has very interesting physicochemical properties which make it a potential source of glucose syrups industry. The enzymatic amylolysis led to get glucose syrups with DE of 88.32% and good sensory properties. This product is widely used in pharmaceutical industries and commercial food production as a sweetener, thickener, and moisture-retaining agent. Further research will be planned to carry out for its applicability.

Content of radionuclides and public health of environmentally disadvantaged region

Relevance. The main source of radionuclide contamination in Kazakhstan is the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site (SNTS), where more than 460 nuclear explosions were made. There are still people living in some areas of the SNTS. The source of radionuclides entering the human body is animal food. The aim of the study was to study the content of 137Cs and 90Sr radionuclides in cattle meat and their impact on public health in areas close to the SNTS. Materials and methods. The data on the content of radionuclides were obtained at the Semipalatinsk Regional Veterinary Laboratory of the East Kazakhstan Region. The object of the study was meat of cattle (cattle) (67 samples) obtained in Abai, Borodulikhinsky, Zharminsky, Beskaragaysky districts and the city of Semipalatinsk, East Kazakhstan region, adjacent to the SNTS. The retrospective of the analyzed indicators was 10 years (1991-2000). The sources of information on the incidence of the entire population in the regions of East Kazakhstan region were data obtained from the Republican Center for Electronic Health for the period 2000-2015. Mathematical and statistical processing of the results was carried out using the applied statistical program Statistica-10. Results. The average content of 137Cs in cattle meat was 0.15 Bq/kg, and 90Sr - 0.11 Bq/kg. The dynamics revealed a 1.9-fold decrease in the level of 137Cs and a 2-fold decrease in the level of 90Sr. The consumption of cattle meat by residents was 14.7%. The average morbidity level of diseases of the musculoskeletal system was 3305 ppm. The morbidity of endocrine system diseases increased 1.4 times in dynamics. The morbidity level of diseases of the digestive system was 3358.9 ppm and decreased by 24.6% in dynamics. A correlation was found between the consumption of cattle meat and the morbidity level of diseases of the musculoskeletal system r=0.78. Conclusions. The study showed a positive trend of reducing the level of radionuclides in cattle meat among the studied regions. There was an increase in the average morbidity level of diseases of the musculoskeletal system by 1.2 times, and the endocrine system by 1.4 times. There is a trend to reduce the morbidity of diseases of the digestive system in the population of the studied regions. The revealed relationship between the consumption of cattle meat and the incidence of the musculoskeletal system diseases requires further study and monitoring.

Point-of-care testing of HbA1c, renal function and lipids in remote or disadvantaged regions.

For optimal diabetes management HbA1c, lipid and renal function measurements are key. Suitable point-of-care systems can provide such data in remote areas, diabetes camps, disaster relief, small community hospitals and in community screening days in disadvantaged regions. Some systems are currently used in Australian rural, remote and indigenous health services.

Decentralised Governance in Indonesia’s Disadvantaged Regions: A Critique of the Underperforming Model of Local Governance in Eastern Indonesia

This article investigates the challenges facing decentralised governance in poor and underdeveloped areas in Eastern Indonesia. The Timor Tengah Selatan (TTS) regency in West Timor in Nusa Tenggara Timur province is taken as a case study. Indonesia’s radical decentralisation programme applied a national model of decentralised governance, not taking into account the different conditions applying to disadvantaged regions ( daerah tertinggal, DRs). In the TTS regency, decentralised governance is underperforming in two core areas – administration and fiscal viability – while making some progress in political decentralisation. Governance is restricted by limited social capacity, a poor resource base, and a lack of investment capital and infrastructure. The question then arises: if the uniform model of decentralisation is not performing adequately in TTS, is there a more appropriate model of local governance and central subnational relations that can better perform in DRs? While not detailing the features of a new model, this article identifies the areas requiring policy development.

Methodology for assessing the impact of lead on farm animals under chronic intake with the ration

The methodology for assessing the impact of lead on farm animals under chronic intake with the ration is based on the lead metabolism and mechanism of biological action. When assessing the impact of lead, the environmental and epizootic situations, as well as the health of farm animals at different levels of biological organization: cell – organ – organism – population are studied. According to the results of environmental and epizootic studies the acting and concomitant factors, the scope of pollution, levels of contamination of soil, drinking water and feeds, the duration of lead intake with the ration into farm animal are determined. Under assessment of the animals health, along with the biomarkers “exposure” and “effect”, generally established clinical, hematological and biochemical indicators are determined. If necessary, the morphological state of organs and tissues (liver, kidneys, spleen, bone marrow, heart, lungs) is studied. The presented methodology will allow us to more correctly assessing the impact of lead on farm animals in environmentally disadvantaged regions.

Life Cycle Analysis of Ponggok Tourism Village, Polanharjo District, Klaten Regency, Central Java Province

This study aims at analyzing the development of Ponggok Tourism Village since its first progression as a tourism destination. Ponggok is one of the best tourism villages in Indonesia according to the 2017 report published by the Ministry of Villagers, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigrations. However, the tourism village tends to be in a stagnant condition and even experience a decline in visitors. The life cycle analysis is chosen as the approach to fulfill the requirements needed to study the time series (longitudinal) data to dissect the development of Ponggok Tourism Village. The indicator and parameter of assessment in this life cycle analysis is the model stated by Laurenco: planning, action, and living. The technique of primary data collecting is through observation, mapping, interview, and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Furthermore, the secondary data is acquired through literature studies and institutional surveys in accordance with the scope of the study. The result of the research shows that the development of Ponggok Tourism Village has, at least, four segments of time. The first segment occurred in 2007-2010, the second segment occurred in 2011-2013, the third segment was 2014-2016, and the fourth segment of time occurred in 2017-2018. In the aftermath of this study’s results, it is recommended that Ponggok Tourism Village need to replan their strategies to avoid the stagnation-decline stage and to stimulate the occurrence of rejuvenation. Keywords: Life Cycle Analysis, Ponggok, Tourism Village.

ANALISIS PERAN INSPEKTORAT UTAMA DALAM PENCEGAHAN FRAUD (STUDI PADA BADAN PEMERIKSA KEUANGAN REPUBLIK INDONESIA)

ABSTRACT In 2017, there were two cases of fraud which involved Supreme Audit Institution’s (BPK) auditors at the Ministry of Village, Disadvantaged Regions Development and Transmigration; and at PT Jasa Marga. These incidences indicate that the roles of BPK’s Inspectorate Office are not yet optimal in preventing fraud. This research aims at obtaining a description and comprehension about the process of fraud prevention conducted by the Inspectorate Office, and to analyze the reasons why fraud cases persist in the process of inspection performed by BPK auditors, despite the many efforts of fraud prevention by the Inspectorate Office.This research was conducted on the Inspectorate Office which is in charge of performing monitoring on the implementation of all BPK employees’ duties and functions. This research uses a qualitative method with a case study approach. The data collection technique used in this research is semi-structured, in-depth interview using an interview guide. Additionally, this research also uses a document review technique on activity performance reports and internal regulations in the BPK.The research results show that the Inspectorate Office has performed the five types of fraud prevention efforts in the BPK, namely prevention, deterrence, disruption, identification, and prosecution. Whereas the persistence of fraud in the process of examination conducted by the BPK is caused by three factors, namely pressure that comes from needs or lifestyle, opportunity which emerges due to weaknesses in the internal control system, and rationalization.