Research Division Research Articles

Knowledge transfer and technological upgrading of foreign affiliates in Indonesia: firm level analysis

Knowledge transfer is an essential process to generate the capacity of technological advancement for industrial development in developing countries. This paper aims to explore the role of knowledge transfer and learning process to support the improvement of technological capabilities of local suppliers. By using a sampling method of 26 multinational companies (foreign affiliates) in machinery and electrical components sector in Indonesia, several possible determinants pursuing knowledge transfer activities are analysed. The size of the sample is limited by the data collection. This study confirms findings that the possibility of knowledge transmission for local suppliers does exist, particularly for joint venture firms and those who have export activities. The foreign affiliates with research and development divisions are more likely to transfer knowledge to local firms. To explore in detail, two case studies were selected from the sample to describe how knowledge transfer activities managed among partners. It suggested that knowledge transfer as an effort of upgrading technology dependent on the learning experience between firm development and external source of knowledge. A process to formalise knowledge transfer relationships with equal benefits between sender and recipient is a key.

THE SYSTEM, MOSAIC OR KALEIDOSCOPE?: LINGUISTIC, LITERARY AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF LVIV AND HALYCHYNA AS AN INTELLECTUAL ISSUE

The question of methodological bases and synthesis of research around Lviv and Halychyna is raised. It is studied how Lviv studies and Halychyna studies developed at different stages, maps of research of Lviv and Halychyna are outlined: from the texts by the older generation of researchers of this problem of the 19th – middle of the 20th century to the works of scientists of the late 20th – early 21st century. Thematic niches of this research map are outlined: the studies on social history, language, literature, book culture, and other phenomena. Emphasis is placed on the institutional and professional division of research, the existence of information barriers among philologists, historians, linguists, and cultural studies scholars; Ukrainianists, Polonists, Germanists, experts in the history of the culture of Central and Eastern Europe, etc. The world and Ukrainian experience of building complex schemes of history of the cities and regions as social, linguistic, cultural, and literary centers are briefly analyzed. Different approaches to writing different types of histories of languages and literatures as social phenomena are analyzed. A theoretical attempt is made to model and combine different dimensions of the social, cultural, linguistic, and literary history of Lviv and Halychyna in general. It is noted that the beginnings of this complex and complicated history should be derived from the literary heritage, social and political history of the medieval «Proto-Halychyna» and Lviv. It is described through the prism of the Ruthenian (Ukrainian) tradition at the first stage and the gradual break with this tradition, its Latinization, Germanization and Polonization after the 1340s. The specifics of the late medieval and early modern history of the Rus’ voievodship, the role of Ruthenian (Ukrainian), Polish and other book cultures in the functioning of the society of that time are clarified. Interactions between the Latin and post-Byzantine cultural heritage of Lviv and the region in this period are revealed. The main changes in the development of culture, language, literature and books in the context of Austrian Lviv and the newly formed Halychyna and Volodymyr after 1772 and before 1918 are traced. Attention is drawn to the profound transformations in the ethno-social, cultural, linguistic and literary spheres of city life during and after World War II. The main parameters of the Soviet and post-Soviet linguistic, cultural and literary situation are revealed and compared.

Research submitted to the Department of Preparation and Training / Division of Research and Studies

Research submitted to the Department of Preparation and Training / Division of Research and Studies

Studying the effect of the genotypes of the prolactin gene (PRL) on the productive performance of Holstein cows

The study was conducted at Taj Al-Nahrain station in Al-Diwaniyah Governorate, which is 200 km from the center of Dhi Qar Governorate. For the period from 10/15/2021 to 4/15/2021, 85 Holstein cows imported from Germany were used in this experiment, and they were selected from among 700 cows in the station, all of which are in the third production cycle. As for the laboratory part of the study, it was conducted in the laboratories of the Department of Life Sciences at the College of Science / Dhi Qar University for the purpose of separating the genetic material (DNA), conducting polymerase chain reaction and electrophoresis, and identifying genetic mutations in the studied genetic segment on the prolactin gene, The animals in the station were fed according to the season and year in terms of the availability of feed and the percentage of costs involved in raising cows, as well as depending on the general state of cow productivity. But in general, it is provided with green fodder, which includes yoghurt, barley, corn stalks, and a percentage of both dry feed (hay and hay) and concentrated feed (barley, bran and cake) according to what is available from them, as well as limestone and table salt. The data on milk production were collected from the station records, where the milk production was recorded weekly for the morning circuit and the evening circuit by the station, and the milk components were analyzed in the Abu Ghraib Dairy Company / Research and Development Division by a Milk Analyzer, and 3 ml of blood was collected from a vein The udder of each cow was given by medical syringes with a capacity of 5 ml, suitable for the size of the animal’s vein, and placed in collection tubes containing an anticoagulant substance (K2 EDTA) and transferred in a cooler box for freezing at a temperature of -18°C until the time of extraction. From the results obtained from this study, it can be concluded that the mutation C83T changed the code of the amino acid histidine to the amino acid Tyrosine, which had a significant effect on the characteristics of daily and total milk production, while the mutation G168C changed the amino acid arginine to the amino acid Proline, which was significantly reflected on the traits of persistence. In milk production, the length of the milk season and the proportion of milk protein, most of the average traits for cows in the third season of production appeared higher than the general averages compared to other studies, and most of the simple correlation coefficients between the study traits were high and significant.

LGBTQ youth mental health during COVID-19: unmet needs in public health and policy

LGBTQ youth mental health during COVID-19: unmet needs in public health and policy

REASSEMBLING TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER IN INDONESIA

This article aims to provide a dynamic picture of the technology transfer process in public research institutions in Indonesia that has been updated by establishing the National Research and Innovation Agency in August 2021. This body is directly under the President of the Republic of Indonesia based on Presidential Regulation number 78 of 2021. During the research period, there was a change in the landscape of technology transfer actors. Some of these changes are in line with the results of the analysis, namely increasing the role of GFRI and research and development agencies under the ministry. This change is referred to as technology transfer reassembly. The arrangement of technology transfer leads to a new form. The research was initiated in October 2017 using the AHP to determine the best institutional arrangement for integrating research. The AHP results show the rank of institutional arrangements from highest to lowest as Government Funded Research Institutes (GFRI) (0.27833), a research division under the Ministerial Office (0.24890), universities (0.17966), private R&D (0.13589) and foreign agencies (0.07214). Government Funded Research Institutes are the top choice of experts for having a significant role in the technology transfer process. The core function of GFRI in the technology transfer system is to plan, conduct and develop technology and they have contributed significantly to the policy-making process by providing information and policy recommendations. This research enriched the application of the recommendations by establishing the National Research and Innovation Agency as the most influential actor in building a national technology transfer system.

NIA Division of Behavioral and Social Research

Dr. Nielsen will discuss research priorities for the Division of Behavioral and Social Research. Dr. Nielsen will also be available for small group discussion.

NIA Priorities on Emotional Well-Being

In 2021, NIH funded six high-priority research networks designed to develop resources to support and advance the study of emotional well-being (EWB) and its core components. These research networks aim to advance the field by facilitating transdisciplinary research in the social, behavioral, psychological, biological, and neurobiological sciences. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) co-sponsored the RFA, and provided funding for NEW Brain Aging, because of the central importance of EWB to health trajectories across the adult lifespan. In this presentation, Dr. Simmons, Chief of the Individual Behavioral Processes Branch within the NIA Division of Behavioral and Social Research (BSR), will discuss how EWB research fits within NIA priorities. She will then facilitate open discussion about NIA and BSR’s vision for the EWB ‘network of networks,’ the synergy of NEW Brain Aging with other members of the larger network, and the opportunities these networks will provide for investigators interested in EWB.

NIA Division of Behavioral and Social Research Priorities in Health Disparities

This presentation will include priority research areas in health disparities in the NIA Division of Behavioral and Social Research (BSR). It will include a portfolio analysis and description of BSR program and research in health disparities. Specifically, the 2019 BSR National Advisory Committee on Aging (NACA) recommended BSR’s number one research priority in health disparities. In 2020 BSR held a workshop on structural racism. BSR supports funding announcements in health disparities in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias, sleep, Native American Health, and immigration among others. Key themes for BSR include racial disparities that often center on context and resources, that is, factors such as residential segregation, rurality, individual and neighborhood SES, and access to health care; persistent racial differences in chronic health conditions; disparities in health systems; immigration and nativity closely linked with race and health outcomes; and racial discrimination linked to poorer mental health and psychological stress.

Challenges of Implementing the PRISM 2.0 Trial for Supporting Social Connectivity Through Technology

Following the success of the Personal Reminder Information and Social Management (PRISM) trial, which found that a specially designed computer system for older adults can enhance social connectivity and reduce loneliness among older adults at risk for social isolation, the PRISM 2.0 trial sought to replicate and extend these results to a new technology platform (tablet rather than desktop) with expanded social features and diverse populations of older adults, including older adults living in rural areas, assisted living communities, and senior housing. This symposium discusses the aims of the trial conducted by the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE), challenges encountered (including challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic), and solutions to those challenges. S. Czaja will begin with an overview of the PRISM 2.0 system and the trial. J. Sharit will discuss challenges encountered working within the context of assisted living facilities and with impaired participants. This will be followed by a discussion of technical challenges encountered during the course of the trial presented by N. Charness. W. Rogers will present training issues involved (both with respect to participants and assessors). Finally, W. Boot will describe challenges encountered with measuring and quantifying technology use during the trial. Lessons learned are applicable to many types of technology interventions administered in diverse contexts. D. Plude, Deputy Director in the Division of Behavioral and Social Research of NIA, will serve as discussant.

Health Disparities Research With the National Institute on Aging (NIA)

The National Institute on Aging has taken special efforts to support research endeavors that explore ways to address health disparities. For example, the NIA Health Disparities Research Framework was developed in 2015 to provide a visualization of priority areas in Aging Research. The Framework can help researchers assess advances and potential opportunities for stimulating and supporting rigorous methods to address health disparities in Aging Research among the phases of research. The goal of this symposium is to highlight the different resources and research opportunities that NIA offers to support aging researchers, centers, and institutions for health disparities-related research or programs. Dr. Ron Kohanski will present a concept piece on how laboratory animals might be leveraged to mimic the impact of early life disparities on aging over the life-course, based on research in the hallmarks of aging support by NIA’s Extramural Division of Aging Biology. Dr. Damali Martin will identify the different resources focused on health disparities related research within the Division of Neuroscience. Dr. Lyndon Joseph will discuss the different health disparities research opportunities that are available from the Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Geriatrics. Dr. Frank Bandiera will highlight the different resources and research opportunities that are available to address health disparities within the Division of Behavior and Social Research. These presentations, taken together, will provide important information that bolsters knowledge of resources and research opportunities to address health disparities over the lifecourse and in late life.

QTL mapping of panicle architecture and yield-related traits between two US rice cultivars 'LaGrue' and 'Lemont'

Grain yield is a quantitative trait, which is determined by several agronomic traits. Unfortunately, there is little information about the genetics behind yield components in US rice cultivars. The objectives of the present study were to (1) conduct a QTL study to identify chromosome (chr. hereafter) regions associated with yield traits in two U.S.-developed rice cultivars and (2) identify candidate genes in major QTL regions related to yield traits. Four rice cultivars were evaluated in summer 2017 at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's Rice Research and Extension Center (RREC) at Stuttgart, AR. for 15 agronomic traits associated with yield. Of the four cultivars, "LaGrue" had a higher number of seeds/panicle, number of primary panicle branches/panicle, and number of seeds/plant and "Lemont," despite having longer panicles and higher 100 seed weight/panicle, produced the least number of seeds among the cultivars. A bi-parental population was developed from a cross between LaGrue and Lemont for QTL analysis. A set of 322 F2:3 lines were evaluated in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) for several agronomic traits at two locations with three replications for each line. A total of 17 major QTL were detected, including two major QTL for plant height on chr. 1 and two major QTL for flag leaf length and panicle length on chr. 8 with seven candidate genes found in these regions. The results from the study would be useful for marker-assisted selection in rice breeding.

Knowledge Management in the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE)

Abstract. With completion of the restructuring of the nuclear waste disposal landscape in Germany, the competences for construction and running of repositories for radioactive waste products are since 2017 with the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE). The BGE has over 50 years of experience in the disposal of nuclear waste in Germany. Over a period of several decades substantial effort was put into the research and developmental work on nuclear waste disposal in Germany, which led to a considerable state of knowledge, both thematically and quantitatively; however, so far no consistent overview exists on the various works and therefore on the total state of knowledge, as these works only partially exist or existed in the very different organizations (diffuse and local) within the nuclear waste disposal landscape. The emerging loss of specialist knowledge in Germany caused by the withdrawal from nuclear energy and the recession of national mining activities is doing the rest. This imminent loss of knowledge must be taken into consideration as a critical factor, especially considering the age structure within the BGE and the simultaneously occurring processes on selection of a site for disposal of highly radioactive waste products. For this reason, in the division of research and development/knowledge management (R&D/KM) an independent department for knowledge management was created in order to establish an infrastructure for knowledge management and a connection between knowledge management platforms and knowledge carriers in the company. In addition to the collection and distribution of the available knowledge, current results from research and development are also to be fed into the “learning organization”. For this purpose, knowledge management provides a digital information basis, into which current results from research and development are also entered as a knowledge store. This knowledge store consisting of over 14 000 documents, contains mostly research reports and scientific publications, which are concerned with diverse topics for the final disposal of radioactive waste products in geological formations. The total stock of internal company documents available can be accessed with a browser-based text analysis software. Intelligent search algorithms render the textual contents accessible, combine them with synonyms and dictionaries deposited in the system and make the resulting hits of the search queries available for the user in order of importance in summarized and full text versions. Using specific query terms, as known from search machines or library servers, this software analyzes the available documents of the digital information basis and in a brief summary of results, in addition to a brief description of the contents, the naming of relevant keywords, the identification of sources, compilers, institutions, knowledge carriers and an extended optimized information analysis of hits, also provides the possibility to retrieve the complete document and the download. The research options can, in addition to the queries via the established internet search engines also be combined with queries via the incorporated information or databank catalogue of national and international scientific institutions or libraries, which are concerned with research programs relevant for repositories. In order to further increase and optimize the information possibilities for employees of the BGE, a variety of knowledge landscapes has been implemented in the intranet, which enable specific queries on topics, expert information, institution, country and persons. Using these tools a first essential target of knowledge management, the collection, availability and distribution of written down knowledge in the company has been achieved. For the development of person-related and group-related knowledge the department of knowledge management is compiling concepts, which can only be implemented together and jointly with them, as they border on certain interfaces in the organization/company. This particularly concerns measures that fall into the areas of human resources, such as personnel management and personnel strategies or in the area of the particular project; keyword lessons learnt.

6.P. Round table: Strengthening refugee aid workers resilience during the pandemic and beyond

The field of Humanitarian Aid is inherently demanding, stressful and often emotionally draining. Many refugee aid workers are confronted with emotional stories and suffering of refugees, have to make critical decisions, manage numerous demands and challenging situations with refugees and their families. Through different projects we have observed that for the majority of refugee aid workers, the current COVID-19 - pandemic has even exacerbated these challenges. Yet, only a strong and resilient workforce can build the necessary basis for supporting refugees and forcibly displaced migrants as best as possible. Providing mental support is thereby key in alleviating stress among refugee aid workers and to build up resilience. This roundtable discussion seeks to raise awareness to this neglected, but jet so important topic by convening individuals working across different sectors: public, private and academic in order to merge different perspectives and explore novel opportunities to support refugee aid workers. Panelists will discuss multi-sector and institutional solutions and collaborations needed to address these mental health support gaps. In addition, this panel will discuss recent experiences from the field, projects expanding educational and research partnerships and the development of tools and programs to promote mental health of refugee aid workers. Dr. Anne Jachmann from the Migration Medicine research division of the Emergency Department of the University of Bern will present results of a longitudinal, observational study investigating the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on refugee aid workers in Greece. Furthermore, as a result of an academic partnership, together with her colleague Dr. Evika Karamagioli, they will demonstrate current needs of refugee aid workers and how these can be met by training and activity offers, based on an online mental health week, as a model of good practice. Dr. Evika Karamagioli is a lecturer at the department of communication and media studies and a scientific collaborator at the faculty of medicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She has experience with diverse refugee projects by scaling up the importance of digital media and creating new ways of communication. Additionally, Evgenia Thanou, the director of Médecins du monde Greece will provide insights to the fieldwork of interdisciplinary teams with different backgrounds and what is needed to best support them, as her organization is providing medical care to refugees all over Greece in different settings. Finally, Dr. Nikos Gionakis, psychologist and head of Babel Day Centre, which provides mental health services to migrants and Dr. Lilian Markaki, psychiatrist at the Athens Medical Association will share their experiences and challenges from the field and introduce their approach on how to empower psychosocial skills of refugee aid workers. A discussion with the audience will follow the panelists presentations.Speakers/Panelists Evgenia Thanou Director of Médecins du monde Greece, Athens, Greece Nikos Gionakis Babel Day Centre, Athens, Greece Lilian Markaki Athens Medical Association, Athens, Greece Key messages Raising awareness of the need to promote mental health among refugee aid workers.Demonstration of current needs of refugee aid workers and opportunities for cross-sectional collaborations to provide mental support.

The Empathy Diaries: A Memoir

The Empathy Diaries: A Memoir

Trajectories of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I in the two decades before cardiovascular death in Whitehall II

Abstract Background High-sensitivity cardiac troponin may be a promising biomarker that could be used for personalised cardiovascular risk prediction and monitoring in the general population. Temporal changes in high-sensitivity cardiac troponin before cardiovascular death are largely unexplored. Purpose Using the longitudinal Whitehall II cohort, we evaluated whether three serial high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I measurements over 15 years improved prediction of cardiovascular death when compared to a single time point at baseline. Methods Whitehall II is an ongoing longitudinal observation cohort study of 10,308 civil servants, and we included participants who had at least one cardiac troponin measurement and outcome data available. We constructed time trajectories to evaluate the temporal pattern of cardiac troponin I in those who died from cardiovascular disease as compared to those who did not. Cox regression and joint models were used to investigate the association of cardiac troponin I in relation to cardiovascular death using single time point (at baseline) and repeated measurements (at baseline, 10 and 15 years), respectively. The discriminative ability was assessed by the concordance index. Results In total, we included 7,293 individuals (mean age of 58 years [SD 7] at baseline, 29.4% women). Of these, 5,818 (79.8%) and 4,045 (55.5%) individuals had a second and third cardiac troponin I concentration measured, respectively. Cardiovascular death occurred in 281 (3.9%) individuals during a median follow-up of 21.4 [IQR, 15.8 to 21.8] years. In the 21-year trajectories of cardiac troponin I, we observed higher baseline concentrations in those who died due to cardiovascular disease as compared to those who did not (median 5 [IQR, 2 to 9] ng/L versus 3 [IQR, 2 to 5] ng/L respectively, Figure). Cardiac troponin I was an independent predictor of cardiovascular death, and the hazard ratio (HR) derived from the joint model that included serial cardiac troponin measurements was higher than the HR derived from the single time point model (single time point model: adjusted HR 1.53, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.37 to 1.70 per naturally log transformed unit of cardiac troponin I, versus repeated measurements model: adjusted HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.58 to 2.02). The discriminative ability of the cardiac troponin model improved when using repeated measurements (concordance index of unadjusted cardiac troponin models, single time point: 0.668 versus repeated measurements: 0.724). Conclusions Our study shows that cardiac troponin I trajectories were persistently higher among individuals who died from cardiovascular disease. Cardiac troponin I is a strong independent predictor of cardiovascular death, and incorporating repeated measurements of cardiac troponin improves cardiovascular risk prediction in the general population. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Cardiac troponin I measurements and analysis were supported by were supported by Siemens Healthineers. The study was supported by Health Data Research UK which receives its funding from HDR UK Ltd (HDR-5012) funded by the UK Medical Research Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, Department of Health and Social Care (England), Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates, Health and Social Care Research and Development Division (Welsh Government), Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland), British Heart Foundation and the Wellcome Trust. NLM is supported by the British Heart Foundation through a Senior Clinical Research Fellowship (FS/16/14/32023), Programme Grant (RG/20/10/34966) and a Research Excellence Award (RE/18/5/34216). The funders had no role in the study and the decision to submit this work to be considered for publication.

Assessment of Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) Cultivars for its Yield and Yield Attributing Characters at Central Mid-Hill (Kathmandu Valley) Conditions of Nepal

A varietal study on five open pollinated cultivars of Radish viz Mino Early, Okura, Pusa Chetki, Forty Days and Miyasige with an objective to find the most superior variety was conducted at Horticultural Research Division, Khumaltar, Lalitpur in winter season for 3 years from 2016 in consecutive years. Mino Early and Forty Days are widely adopted varieties and kept as local check varieties. The trial was conducted under Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. Out of the five cultivars, Okura gave significantly the highest of Root wt. (326 g), Root yield (53.85 t/ha), Root length (25.5 cm), Root diameter (53.9 mm), and Leaf wt per plant. (268 g), Days to harvest (63 days) followed by Miyasige which had Root wt (259 g), Root length (23.4 cm) Root diameter (51.9 mm), Days to harvest (66 days). Okura had 49 percent yield increment followed by Miyasige with 21.9 percent as compared to Mino Early. Hence, these two cultivars are found superior and recommended for cultivation in central mid-hills like Kathmandu valley conditions in Nepal.

Modern concepts and application of soft robotics in 4D printing

Recent developments in (AM) additive developed normally Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a term used to describe printing that is three-dimensional in nature, have enabled researchers to use traditional production methods to create previously unthinkable, complex shapes. Usage of smart materials by the way of adopting the external stimuli in printing is part of a 3D-printing research division called 4D-printing.4D-printing allows for the development of dynamically controllable shapes on-demand by the addition of sometime as another dimension. The potential of 4D-printing has been significantly expanded by recent advances intelligent synthetic materials, new printers, processes of deformation and mathematical modelling. This paper deals with improvement in the area of 4D-printing, with a importance on its practical applications. With explications of their morphing mechanisms, Smart materials are discussed and produced using 4D-printing. Moreover, case study on soft robotics is discussed. We end with 4D Printing problems and future opportunities.

Research with variola virus after smallpox eradication: Development of a mouse model for variola virus infection

Funder: Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; funder-id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100006492

Effects of organic fertilizer on growth and yield of tomato

The experiment was conducted during rabi season 2019-2020 at Agricultural Research Station, On Farm Research Division, Alamnagar, Rangpur to find out the useful effects of organic fertilizer on growth and yield of tomato. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five treatments in three (03) compacted replicate blocks. The treatments included T1: 100% Recommended Chemical Fertilizer (RCF), T2: 85% CF + 3 tha-1 organic Fertilizer (OF), T3: 85% CF + 1 tha-1 OF, T4: 70% CF + 3 tha-1 OF and T5: 70% CF + 1 tha-1 OF. The highest yield was observed in T2 (50.59 t ha-1) due to more number of fruit plant-1& weight of fruit plant-1 and the lowest was in T5 (35.32 t ha-1). These results may be due the parameters of growth components increased with increasing amount of organic and inorganic fertilizers applied. Combination of organic and inorganic fertilizer treated plots produced higher yield than plots without combination of organic and inorganic fertilizer. The highest gross return (BDT. 607080) was found in T2 treatment and the lowest gross return (BDT. 423840) was recorded from T5. The highest gross margin (BDT. 328520 ha-1) was obtained from T2. The lowest gross margin (Tk. 145280 ha-1) was obtained from T5. Integrated nutrient management (combination of organic and inorganic fertilizer) is the best option for higher tomato production in Bangladesh.
 Progressive Agriculture 32 (1): 10-16, 2021