Draft Policy Research Articles

The impact of COVID-19 on local government stakeholders' perspectives on local food production

Local food production (LFP) can play an impor­tant role in ensuring access to food during supply chain disruptions. Because the drafting, adoption, and implementation of policies regulating LFP is under the purview of local governments in many U.S. states, researchers at University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Exten­sion conducted a study to assess whether COVID-19 affected local government stakeholders’ (LGS) (N=92) perspectives on LFP and the role that LFP can play in responding to public health emergen­cies. LGS who oversee the drafting, adoption, and implementation of LFP policies include staff responsible for code enforcement, sustainability initiatives, and planning, as well as elected and ap­pointed leaders, such as mayors, city and county managers, and city and county commissioners. The survey assessed LGS’ attitudes and knowledge about LFP. The survey also asked LGS about their perceptions and awareness of LFP in their commu­nities, including their perceptions of the benefits of and barriers to LFP and the ways in which LFP producers were using the food they produced. Sur­vey questions also focused specifically on COVID-19 and the role of LFP in public health emergen­cies. In particular, survey questions asked whether LGS perceived a change in their own attitudes, knowledge, and perspectives; whether there had been a change in the LFP activi­ties in their communities following COVID-19; and what they thought the role of LFP was in responding to public health emergencies. Direct comparisons of LGS who responded to a 2019 survey (N=43) were assessed for statistically sig­nificant changes in overall attitudes, knowledge, or perceived benefits of LFP following COVID-19. This study found that LGS have generally positive attitudes and perceptions of benefits of LFP, including its role in public health emergencies, but have limited knowledge about LFP or awareness of barriers to its implementation. The results of this study indicate that LGS understand the potential benefits of LFP in public health emergencies but would benefit from information and training to support the development of policies and programs in their communities.

How transport policy shapes commuting patterns: The case of the Bratislava sub-urban area

We analyse the commuting patterns in Bratislava’s fast growing sub-urban region with sub-optimally developed infrastructure. A standardized discrete choice model is used to estimate the demand for individual car transport as well as public buses and trains, and to obtain corresponding elasticities with respect to travel costs, times and income. We find a low rate of substitution between the available modes of transport. The direct price elasticity for public modes of transport is in accordance with the often-quoted rule of thumb of −0.3. Negative income elasticities of the demand for buses and trains, together with a low direct price elasticity for car transport can be hard to overcome when looking for a solution for the current traffic problems in the region. We use modelled demand to predict the effects of two recent draft policies – the new parking system in Bratislava city and the construction of highway D4R7. In the case of the first policy, we expect a massive reduction in car use due to increased costs for car commuters. On the other hand, the new highway would only have a limited impact on mode choice and could reduce the number of train commuters.

ANALYSIS ON THE PRINCIPLES OF MAQASID SHARIAH IN ISLAMIC HOTELS

Tourism industry’s development recently is irrefutably hit the international awareness and sparked the local interest. Statistical data of Tourism Malaysia showed a rise of 6.8 per cent tourists’ growth from 2018 leads to the figure of 13.35 million international tourists in 2019. Malaysia, as a multicultural country with the majority of 63.7% of the population are Muslims, should take active steps to intensify the ways in discovering the market needs. Desires of Islam need to be cleared and the spirit of Maqasid Shariah have to be manifested equally to the Muslim and the non-Muslim. This paper therefore, aims to discuss on the necessity to clarify the relevancy of having Islamic hotel as to align with the basic principles of Maqasid Shariah and to see whether the current practices and policies are coherent with the Maqasid. This qualitative study embarked on content analysis from a few relevant policies and previous studies. In addition, an in-depth interview was conducted with two relevant local authorities. Having analyzed the information gained, it was found that as now, no specific legislative Islamic hotel policy was in place. However, few limited existing guidelines are found to intrinsically applying the Principles of Maqasid Shariah. The results presented here have profound implications on a proper drafting of an inclusive Islamic Hotel policy in the future. It is hoped that Maqasid will be set as a benchmark for the future policy setting as this will boost the confidence of the tourists in visiting the country.

Sickle cell disease in India: a scoping review from a health systems perspective to identify an agenda for research and action

IntroductionSickle cell disease (SCD) disproportionately impacts Adivasi (tribal) communities in India. Current research has focused on epidemiological and biomedical aspects but there has been scarce research on social determinants and...

Library Practice for Young Learners (LYPL)

The LPYL project focused on human resource development and was designed to explore some of the untested innovations in the South African draft Policy Framework for School Library Standards (South Africa, 1998) among a sample of school librarians in all of South Africa’s nine provinces. The project was also designed to provide mutual exchange of knowledge and expertise between Swedish and South African library personnel. Ideas from a conference in 1995 and the planning of the South African Policy Framework for School Library Standards formed the important bases for the strategic direction of the project. The two phases involved South Africa’s national and provincial education departments and two South African and one Swedish non-governmental organisations.

HTLV on the government agenda: the case of the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais, Brazil

HTLV is a retrovirus that affects the human T-lymphocytes. Transmission is bloodborne, sexual, or mother-to-child. Most infected persons are asymptomatic carriers, but some may develop severe cases such as tropical spastic paraparesis, leukemia/lymphoma, and other manifestations. Brazil is considered the country with the highest absolute number of cases, with an estimated 800,000 infected individuals. This article aimed to investigate and analyze the process of inclusion of HTLV on the government agenda in the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais, and which impacted health sector actions and policies. Interviews were held with key actors, and a document search was performed for analysis, using as the main reference the Multiple Streams framework proposed by John Kingdon. Various factors contributed to the theme's inclusion on the health sector agenda in Bahia, the state of Brazil with the widest range of policies on HTLV, involving high prevalence of the infection, a favorable political context, and activism by infected individuals. In Minas Gerais, we observed difficulties in the implementation of this health sector policy; due to the lack of organized advocacy groups, the problem was not a priority in the state's Health Departments. In the current context, individuals with HTLV infection and other stakeholders still have a long road ahead with social mobilization for investments in the area, drafting and implementation of public policies, and guarantee of social rights.

Suspended sediment transport map for disaster mitigation in the upper course of Jangkok River

Jangkok River, a very important river for irrigation purposes in Lombok Island Indonesia is experiencing a rapid change in the land use of its watershed. The conversion of trees into seasonal crops in the watershed causes a decrease in the carrying capacity of the watershed and reduces its ability to prevent soil erosion. Environmental damages such as erosion and sedimentation along the river are becoming increasingly difficult to control. This paper proposed an idea to identify river conditions based on suspended sediment concentration. A series of field measurements of suspended sediment concentrations and river flow discharges were carried out to obtain the relationship between these two parameters. A resulting watershed map contains information on the rate of suspended sediment transport in the form of a suspended sediment-flow discharge rating curve is designed as a sediment conservation health indicator of the watershed. The map allows the authority to observe the condition of each river order in the upper course of the Jangkok River since the nearby tributaries are most likely to have their pattern of suspended sediment transport rate. The finding from this preliminary study can facilitate the drafting and implementation of the right policy in watershed conservation management planning which leads to preventive action and better preparedness in disaster mitigation.

The Structural Shortcomings of INEE: An Intersectional Perspective on Young Women of Afghanistan

Given the gender-inequality index regarding education in the backdrop of protracted conflicts, the narrow “Education in Emergency” paradigm observed by the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) provides the evidence for institutional and policy failure to understand the structural intricacies as well as socio-political temporalities in a contextual manner (Shuayb, 2018). INEE’s drafts for the educational policies designed amidst the conflict without a sound epistemological approach give the impression that the definition of their progress and sustainability is reduced to mere statistical data. The theoretical conceptualizations seem to be apolitical and don’t use a contextual and intersectional feminist lens producing a wide longitudinal research gap. This study intends to explore these research gaps in the policy frame analysis of INEE through a gendered lens and contextualizes the case study of Afghanistan. It hypothesizes that the de-politicization, exclusiveness, repatriation, and short-term vision of INEE policies are responsible for not achieving the desired results. A comprehensive consideration and mapping of geopolitical and biopolitical realities of Afghan women along with a structural understanding of socio-cultural realities, however, might lead to the better drafting of educational policies for women during the conflict and crisis.

ВЗАЄМОЗВ’ЯЗОК МІЖ РОЗВИТКОМ ІННОВАЦІЙ ТА ДОСЯГНЕННЯМ ЦСР

Sustainable development goals (SDGs) cover a wide range of issues important to society, such as health, education, climate change and environmental degradation. SDGs are the guidelines for the draft forecast and policy documents development, draft regulations in order to ensure the balance of economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. The problem of ensuring sustainable development is considered by scientific environment, politics and economics environment. Ensuring sustainable development is a strenuous task that requires a systematic approach, timely response as well as concerted actions for prevention. The article examines the close interconnection between the innovation development and the ensuring of sustainable human development. The Global Innovation Index (GII) was chosen from among other indices that measure innovation due to a complex set of indicators. The index is calculated on the basis of 82 variables as a weighted sum of estimates of two groups of indicators. The first group includes the available resources and conditions for innovation implementation (Innovation Input). The second group includes the achieved practical results of innovation (Innovation Output).Therefore, the GII gives an opportunity to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of efforts to develop innovation in countries. The quantitative interconnection between the development of innovations and the SDGs achievement was analyzed: based on the construction of a one-factor regression model, the degree of correlation between the Human Development Index and the Global Innovation Index was investigated. The correlation coefficient (r = 0.834) indicates the closeness of the linear relationship, and the coefficient of determination according to this model is 0.6956. The adequacy of this model is proved in the article, and the connection between the features is not accidental.Innovative development is adopted as an integral part of the society development goals, and the introduction and development of innovations and technologies is seen as means and a necessary tool that contributes to the goals achievement. The development and implementation of innovations requires close cooperation between scientists, state and entrepreneurs. As a result of such interaction, new ideas are transformed into innovations that have not only economic benefits, but also determine the level of competitiveness of the state, the degree of national security and integration into the world economy.

Mapping the Scientific Landscape of Diabetes Research in Malaysia (2000-2018): A Systematic Scientometrics Study.

The escalated burden of diabetes on the population’s health has catalyzed rigorous scientific research to produce appropriate evidence for treatment and control. Malaysia suffers from the leading diabetes epidemic within the Western Pacific region. It is crucial to map the scientific landscape of diabetes research for the country to identify trends in productivity and determine whether research efforts are directed toward the needs-gaps priority for evidence synthesis that could be used for the drafting of policies and guidelines. This systematic scientometrics study was conducted to map the scientific research output (trends and distribution, citation frequency, keywords link visualization, and thematic cluster conceptualization) related to diabetes between 2000–2018 in Malaysia. Using three international databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus) and one local database (MyCite), scientific publication records related to diabetes in Malaysia between 2000 and 2018 were retrieved and analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Microsoft Excel 2016, EndNote X9.2, BibExcel 2016, GraphPad Prism 8.0.1, VOS viewer software 1.6.13, and R software version 1.3.959 were used to analyze the trend and contents of diabetes publications. A total of 2094 publication records that accounted for 35,497 citations were analyzed. Kuala Lumpur was the most scientifically productive state in Malaysia, contributing 754 papers. Medical Journal of Malaysia had the highest number of publications. The inflection point of the Malaysian diabetes research output was in 2013, with most publications being non-collaborative research works. Most publications originated from academia, especially from local public universities. The overall publication productivity of diabetes research in Malaysia was conceptualized into eleven thematic clusters, with clinical and animal studies being the most prevalent themes. The diabetes literature in Malaysia has grown steadily over the past 19 years. However, the cumulative evidence remains inadequate and is insufficiently powered to guide policymaking and the control of diabetes. It does not yet seem feasible to direct the diabetes epidemic curve to a plateau for the Malaysian population based on Malaysian diabetes publications.

Comments on Draft Policy Statement on Licensing Negotiations and Remedies for Standards-Essential Patents Subject to Voluntary F/RAND Commitments

Comments on Draft Policy Statement on Licensing Negotiations and Remedies for Standards-Essential Patents Subject to Voluntary F/RAND Commitments

Developing a system dynamics model to study the impact of renewable energy in the short- and long-term energy security

This study discusses the impact that the share of renewable energy (RE) in the energy mix for total primary energy supply and electricity generation has on Malaysia's short and long-term energy security (ES). Three key dimensions of the ES of Malaysia have been studied thoroughly from the existing body of work to extract the indicators and their causal relation with each other. The system dynamics approach of modelling has been implemented to quantitatively analyse the impact on the relevant energy security indicators. The results are optimistic towards the increase in the share of RE to ensure both short and long-term ES through an increase in production to reserve ratio, decrease in energy dependency, and import in the long run. The energy policy structure needs to incline more towards diversification of energy sources to ensure that RE holds a major share in the energy mix as per the current energy policy objectives. This approach of modelling ES can be critical towards future policy design through consolidated data and evidence. This research aims to facilitate the nation's policymakers to dwell upon the need for separate ES policy drafts. The next stage of this research would involve the stakeholders to collect and validate the model.

Evaluasi Kinerja Petugas Distribusi Berkas Rekam Medis Rawat Jalan di RSUD dr. Saiful Anwar Malang

Patrang Health Center has implemented medical records management, but there are problems in the implementation of medical record management. when duplicating medical record numbers at Patrang Health Center. Duplication in the Patrang Community Health Center results in a decrease in the quality of medical records. The purpose of this study was to analyze the causal factors and determine the priority causes of duplicate medical record numbers at Patrang Health Center. This type of research is qualitative. The technique of collecting data in this study is observation of data duplication of medical records and interviews with respondents based on 7M indicators. Data processing with CARL criteria. The results of this study were found in studies that found the main priority of less useful duplication of the medical record number on the medical record data map with a score of 144. Further problems were officers, filing space was less extensive, filing shelves were inadequate and patients did not carry KIB with a score 108. With the discovery of priorities leading to duplication, the study provides the main solution that discusses the medical record number written on the front and sides of the file as well as other solutions to overcome the problem and made a draft policy to reduce the incidence of duplicate medical record numbers that have been approved.

Attitudes Towards Inclusive Education among Instructors at Universities in Taiwan

ABSTRACT While there is currently a steadily growing number of disabled students at universities in Taiwan, there has been as yet no research concerning the attitude towards inclusive education of university instructors. This study investigated differences in attitude towards inclusive education among instructors at universities in Taiwan using a ‘University Instructor Attitude towards Inclusive Education’ questionnaire to examine instructors’ attitudes and the differences in inclusive education of instructors’ attitudes in various background variables. The inclusive education attitude questionnaire contained three subscales respectively examining cognition, affection, and behavioural tendencies; 299 valid ones of the 400 distributed questionnaires were collected, the valid questionnaire response rate was 74.7%. The study revealed that while university instructors in Taiwan had an active, positive attitude towards inclusive education, there were significant differences in attitude towards inclusive education among instructors with different gender, special education backgrounds, school type, and teaching field. This study also makes recommendations based on our findings, hopes to provide a reference aiding the drafting of special education policies at the higher education level in Taiwan, and also seeks to provide Taiwan’s experience to other countries as a reference.

NEP 2020: A Political Economy Perspective

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the National Education Policy 2020 on 29 July 2020. The policy is based on the Draft National Education Policy 2019 which the Committee for Draft National Education Policy, chaired by Dr K. Kasturirangan, submitted to the Ministry of Human Resource Development on December 15, 2018. Earlier, Social Change carried an extensive comment on the Draft Policy and continuing its tradition of debate and discussion the journal brings you comments by domain experts on the impact of the NEP 2020.

Life sentence as a type of criminal punishment in France of the late XVIII – early XIX centuries

This article questions the opinion established in modern French historiography on implementation of life sentence as a criminal punishment under the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte (in accordance with the Criminal Code of 1810). Leaning on examination of legislative, policy drafting, and court materials, the author traces the evolution of the system of criminal penalties associated with incarceration. and determines the role of life sentence therein – since the adoption of first criminal laws in the era Great Revolution until the revision Napoleonic Criminal Code in 1832, and the court of Peers under Louis-Philippe I. The acquires materials demonstrate that after long absence of the  Consulate and Early Empire in the time of Revolution,  life sentence was envisaged by the Criminal Code of 1810 as an alternative measure to penal servitude for life or deportation (for criminals of senior age), rather than an separate type of criminal punishment. Reference to the practice of the court of Peers during the Restoration and the July Monarchy suggests that life sentence became a separate type of criminal punishment only with the advent of verdict passed by Peers with regards to 1830 case of former ministers. This sentence was based on the combination of legislative and court functions in actions of the Chamber of Peers as higher justice authority, and thus was of constitutive nature. The conclusion is made that the implementation of life sentence in French criminal law should be attributed to the time of the July Monarchy rather than the ruling of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Effects of Media Reportage on Terrorist Activities in Mandera County, Kenya

Presently terrorists are having a ‘good-day' in the media because of the unnecessary publicity given to them. Most terrorists often play on the psychology of media practitioners by carefully planning attacks that would compel the press to cover and disseminate them globally. The media has on a number of occasions been seen to act as an accomplice to the successes of these acts of terror. This has been witnessed more so during the processes of reporting and covering these acts of terror whenever they take place. Their reportage intentionally or unintentionally gives so much publicity to the terrorist groups, a mileage they really crave to achieve. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of media reportage on terrorism in Mandera County. It was established that most of the media broadcasts relating to terrorism journalism were war or violence oriented and to a greater extent, media content opposed efforts aimed at fighting terrorism. The resultant effects included radicalization and youth recruitment into Al-Shabaab, poor infrastructural development, and increased hatred for Security Agencies. The study was motivated by the need to inform the drafting of new policies and guidelines and the re-drafting of existing policies regarding to the broadcast of terrorism activities.

Cultural mediators and the protection of ethnic minority cultural rights: reflecting on successes and challenges around quilombo heritage in Brazil

ABSTRACT This article discusses the protection of quilombo land and cultural rights in Brazil, through an examination of pottery production in a quilombo community in Maranhão state. Quilombos are village communities with a legally protected status that is similar to that of indigenous peoples in Brazil. In this article, the focus is placed on the production and management of ‘quilombo heritage’ by the potters and the different cultural mediators involved in various stages of this process. In doing so, the article examines what the different parties regard as the major advances achieved and the challenges currently faced in the protection of their cultural rights. The discussion critically explores cultural mediators’ role in promoting, enriching or restricting quilombo cultural production and their different views on heritage. Finally, the article reflects on the need for community participation in the drafting and implementation of cultural heritage policies.

Boil the Plan, But Do Not Fry The Issue; Indonesian Cooking Terms Metaphor

Cultural a spect and experiential basis is two of the components in the metaphor production. Several studies have been conducted in conceptual metaphor framework, but there haven’t many of the studies relate how the daily Indonesian cultural life affects the metaphor production. This paper aims to focus on the use of Indonesian cooking terms in media news headlines. The conceptual metaphor theory (Lakoff and Johnson, 1980) is used as the theoretical framework. Qualitative method is used during this study with purposive sampling data collection method. The source of the data is ten news headlines from Indonesian online media news that use cooking terms metaphor. The result shows that the metaphorical use of Indonesian cooking terms come from two types, the first is the level of cooking with words mentah (raw/ undercooked), and matang (fully cooked) to describe a progress of a plan or policy draft, and the second type is process of cooking by using godok (to boil) and gore ng (to fry) but with a different target domain. The result also shows that the use of godog (to boil) as metaphor refer to a plan or a program that are being prepared and being discussed and implies a positive association, whereas the metaphorical use of menggoreng (to fry) tends to be more negative as it refers to an exaggerated ( political) issue.

STUDI PENDAHULUAN: KONSTRUKSI KEBIJAKAN PENGELOLAAN SAMPAH DI KOTA PEKANBARU 2012-2014

Problematika sampah merupakan pekerjaan rumah bagi pemerintah dan masyarakat untuk menyelesaikannya. Kota-kota besar di Indonesia seperti Kota Pekanbaru juga mengalami permasalahan yang sama terkait pengendalian sampah. Berdasarkan data statistik menunjukkan bahwa ada lonjakan penduduk di Kota Pekanbaru sejumlah 1.100.000 jiwa per tahun 2014 yang menyebabkan volume timbulan sampah mencapai sebesar 2.750 m3 dengan asumsi setiap orang menghasilkan sampah 2,5 liter/ hari. Apabila dibandingkan dengan jumlah sampah yang yang diangkut di tempat pembuangan akhir (TPA) Muara Fajar saat ini mencapai 1.667 m3 atau 450 Ton per hari maka capaian cakupan pelayanan pengangkutan sampah kota Pekanbaru adalah 40,91%. Penelitian ini mengidentifikasi rancangan kebijakan pemerintah untuk menyelesaikan permasalahan sampah di Kota Pekanbaru. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan penelitian kualitatif dan teknik triangulasi sehingga mendapat gambaran mengenai rancangan kebijakan yang dibuat oleh Pemerintah Kota Pekanbaru dalam menanggulangi permasalahan sampah ini. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa bentuk rencana kebijakan yang dilakukan oleh pemerintah Kota Pekanbaru disusun melalui skema kebijakan rencana aksi daerah sampah (KRADS) Kota Pekanbaru dengan mengoptimalisasikan fungsi kelembagaan yang bertanggung jawab dalam pengelolaan sampah, menguatkan fungsi regulasi, dan membenahi teknis operasional pengelolaan sampah.