Giardia duodenalis in Wildlife: Exploring Genotype Diversity in Italy and across Europe

Fragmented data are so far available on genotype diversity of G. duodenalis in wildlife in different countries in Europe, in particular, in Italy. In the present study, G. duodenalis sequences obtained from different Italian wild animals [12 porcupines (Hystrix cristata), 4 wild boars (Sus scrofa), 1 wolf (Canis lupus italicus), 6 Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra)] were compared with those available from wild host species in Europe to add new data on the geographic distribution of Giardia assemblages/sub-assemblages and their transmission patterns among natural hosts. Thirty-eight sequences were obtained by MLG analysis (SSU-rRNA, bg, gdh, and tpi genes) and subsequently compared by phylogenetic and network analyses with those from wild species monitored in the last decades in Europe. The results revealed the presence of potentially zoonotic (A-AI, A-AII from wild boar; B from porcupine) and host-adapted (D from wolf; E, A-AIII from chamois) assemblages and sub-assemblages and represent the first report for Italian wild boar. The analysis did not find any evidence of spatial or host segregation for specific genetic variants, mostly shared between different hosts from different European countries. However, conflicting evidence was found in genotypic assignment, advocating for data improvement and new genomic approaches.

The Quality Improvement of Educator Recruitment and Selection System in Madrasa

This study describes the recruitment and selection of teachers at Private Madrasah Aliyah PTP-VI Berangir, North Labuhanbatu Regency, North Sumatra Province. This research was conducted using a qualitative method with a case study design. Data collection tools using interviews with the head of the foundation, the head of the madrasa, the deputy head of the madrasa in the field of curriculum, and certified teachers, observation, and documentation. The research procedures include theme selection, literature reading, formulation of research focus and problems, data collection, data improvement, data processing, data analysis, theoretical dialogue, triangulation of findings, and conclusions of research results. Data analysis techniques include data collection, reduction, presentation, and conclusion. The results of this study are: (1) announcements of teacher recruitment and selection are rarely read or seen by the general public or even though they have used social media Facebook; (2) the admissions experience a few obstacles, namely the many qualifications that are not following the requirements of the madrasa (3) the implementation of all tests involves the principal, madrasa principal, deputy head of the madrasa in the field of curriculum, and teachers who already have professional educator certificates; (4) the results of the selection are carried out by contacting directly the prospective teacher who has passed all the tests and who has the highest score.

A community-developed extension to Darwin Core for reporting the chronometric age of specimens

Darwin Core, the data standard used for sharing modern biodiversity and paleodiversity occurrence records, has previously lacked proper mechanisms for reporting what is known about the estimated age range of specimens from deep time. This has led to data providers putting these data in fields where they cannot easily be found by users, which impedes the reuse and improvement of these data by other researchers. Here we describe the development of the Chronometric Age Extension to Darwin Core, a ratified, community-developed extension that enables the reporting of ages of specimens from deeper time and the evidence supporting these estimates. The extension standardizes reporting about the methods or assays used to determine an age and other critical information like uncertainty. It gives data providers flexibility about the level of detail reported, focusing on the minimum information needed for reuse while still allowing for significant detail if providers have it. Providing a standardized format for reporting these data will make them easier to find and search and enable researchers to pinpoint specimens of interest for data improvement or accumulate more data for broad temporal studies. The Chronometric Age Extension was also the first community-managed vocabulary to undergo the new Biodiversity Informatics Standards (TDWG) review and ratification process, thus providing a blueprint for future Darwin Core extension development.

EXPLORING FIRST YEAR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ STATISTICAL LITERACY: A CASE ON DESCRIBING AND VISUALIZING DATA

Statistical literacy, which is the ability to use statistics in daily life, is an essential skill for facing society 5.0. This study aims to explore first-year university students’ ability to properly use simple descriptive statistics and data visualization. Qualitative data were collected using a set of questions from 39 undergraduate students. Many students were able to calculate various descriptive statistics, but some of them were still unable to determine suitable statistics to describe the data clearly. Related to data visualization, many students failed to provide a meaningful chart that effectively shows the difference between two groups of data. Students with higher statistical literacy tend to use comparison or variability reasoning to determine the usage of descriptive statistics, and use data-based reason in visualizing the data. Improvement in statistical teaching – both in the university and the secondary school – is needed so that the students can use descriptive statistics and data visualization correctly.

Kutub Pertumbuhan Dan Gentrifikasi Pada Kawasan Pinggiran Kota Makassar

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji dan menganalisis bagaimana proses pembentukan kutub pertumbuhan wilayah dan gentrifikasi pada kawasan pinggiran Kota Makassar dalam hal ini Kelurahan Bangkala dan Tamangapa sebagai Kawasan Pinggiran Kota Makassar dan untuk melihat bagaimana pengaruh gentrifikasi yang terjadi terhadap perubahan struktur ruang Kota Makassar. Penelitian ini bersifat deskriptif kuantitatif dan kualitatif dengan menggunakan alat analisis Deskriptif Kualitatif-Kuantitatif dan analisis regresi linear berganda. Data diperoleh dari obeservasi langsung dilapangan untuk mengidentifikasi kondisi fisik lingkungan (hunian, penggunan lahan, geografis) dan sosial budaya masyarakat setempat, kuesioner wawancara langsung kepada sampel untuk lebih memperdalam data yang ingin diperoleh dan dokumentasi fisik lingkungan, untuk mendukung penyempurnaan data. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa gentrifikasi terjadi di kawasan pinggiran Kota Makassar (Kelurahan Bangkala dan Tamangapa), dicirikan dengan perubahan tipologi kawasan dan peningkatan fasilitas serta infrastruktur perkotaan yang secara bertahap muncul sebagai dampak dari pengaruh secara internal Kota Makassar kaitannya dengan fenomena migrasi dalam proses pembentukan kutub pertumbuhan. Faktor eksternal wilayah dari Kota Makassar juga menjadi faktor penyebab terjadinya kutub pertumbuhan dan gentrifikasi dalam bentuk konurbasi perkotaan dan pembentukan kawasan Metropolitan Mamminasata. Hasil uji statistik terhadap 7 variabel yang diteliti menunjukan sebesar sebesar 51,9% atau dari 4 variabel yang diteliti secara simultan memberikan pengaruh terhadap penyebab terjadinya gentrifikasi pada kawasan pinggiran Kota Makassar dan sebaesar 26,9% memberikan pengaruh terhadap perubahan struktur ruang Kota Makassar. Hal berikut memberikan kesimpulan bahwa pengaruh gentrifikasi terhadap perubahan struktur ruang kota Makassar terjadi dalam bentuk perubahan fungsi dan aktifitas pada kawasan pinggiran. Disamping itu tingkat aktifitas dan pergerakan juga menjadikan kawasan pinggiran (Kelurahan Bangkala dan Tamangapa) mengalami berbagai dinamika dan permasalahan keruangan yang tidak terlepas dari sudut pandang sosial, ekonomi dan fisik kawasan itu sendiri. Disamping itu, dapat dimaknai bahwa gentrifikasi tidak serta menyeluruh memberikan perubahan pada pembentukan struktur ruang melainkan hanya pada beberapa bagian dari struktur ruang dalam hal ini adalah perubahan fungsi dan aktifitas serta perubahan pada sistem jaringan sarana dan prasarana pada kawasan pinggiran. This study aims to examine and analyze how the process of regional growth poles forming and gentrification in the suburbs of Makassar City, in this case Bangkala and Tamangapa Sub-Districts as Makassar Suburbs and to see how the influence of gentrification that occurs on changes in the spatial structure of Makassar City. This research is descriptive quantitative and qualitative by using descriptive Qualitative-Quantitative analysis tools and multiple linear regression analysis. The data were obtained from field work observations to identify the physical conditions of the environment (occupancy, land use, geography) and the socio-cultural conditions of the local community, questionnaires, direct interview to the respondents to further deepen the data obtained and environmental physical documentation, to support data improvement. The results show that gentrification occurs in the suburbs of Makassar City (Kelurahan Bangkala and Tamangapa), characterized by changes in regional typology and improvements in urban facilities and infrastructure that gradually emerge as a result of the internal influence of Makassar City in relation to the phenomenon of migration in the process of forming growth poles. Regional external factors from Makassar City are also the factors causing the growth poles and gentrification in the form of urban conurbation and the formation of the Mamminasata Metropolitan area. The results of statistical tests on the 7 variables studied showed that 51.9% of the 4 variables studied simultaneously had an influence on the causes of gentrification in the suburbs of Makassar City and 26.9% had an effect on changes in the spatial structure of Makassar City. It can be concluded that the effect of gentrification on changes in the spatial structure of the Makassar city occurs in the form of changes in functions and activities in the suburb areas. Besides that, the level of activity and movement also makes the suburb areas (Bangkala and Tamangapa sub-districts) experience various dynamics and spatial problems that cannot be separated from the social, economic and physical point of view of the area itself. In addition, it can be interpreted that gentrification is not comprehensive and gives changes to the formation of spatial structures but only in some parts of the spatial structure, in this case, changes in functions and activities as well as changes in the network system of facilities and infrastructure in the suburbs.