bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Promoting the image of Africa through media: the role of African leaders (case study of Nigeria)
Authors: Zeph-Ojiako Chizirim Favour , Anakwuba Blessing Winny
Published: November 2020

Media is the mirror through which people see the outside world. Media is information and information, they say, is power. The role of media in the obnoxious depiction of Africa and its people, which is mainly business-oriented, cannot be overemphasized. Innumerable negative reports and exaggerated stories have been intellectually presented, discussed and debated on both local and international media platforms with very wide or large audiences. This has affected Africans, especially how they are perceived and treated in the outside world and this has in turn caused emotional and psychological distress for Africans. What worsen the situation is the nonchalance of African leaders in taking adequate measures to put a stop to this stereotypical and Afro-pessimistic media exposure. This is why this study after examining the role of the Western media in stereotyping Africa through the Agenda-setting theory, and the sad experiences of Nigerians and other Africans in the diaspora gathered through interview, suggested roles that her leaders can play in promoting and rebranding the image of Africa and Nigeria in particular, in order to restore her glory before it descends into new lows. This paper therefore, presents the extent of this unfortunate portrayal of Africa to the rest of the world, how deep this has affected Africa and Africans negatively, the reasons for this negative connotations with Africa, and why the time is now not only for Africa to show to the world its profound histories and beautiful stories impeccably but also to strategically control the access and activities of researchers/ tourists/ media outlets in sensitive places within the continent. Also, how the African leaders can regain its image positively by promoting the real Africa to the world through Media.
Cultural transposition and challenges of policy making: a review of select Nigerian television series
Authors: Okoye Chukwudi M.C. , Abunike Chibuike M.
Published: November 2020

Cinematic entertainment, it is safe to say, cannot be wished away. Indeed, as a child of necessity, the film and by extension the Televised Drama-series industry have come a long way. However, African countries like Nigeria today continue to grapple with issues of Genre, Form, Cultural imperialism and so on. This hasconsequently raised questions on issues of policy making and realistic interpretation as expressed by film scholars and critics and as observed through the eyes of the regular viewer. Furthermore, the issues of cinematic language or style, raises another concern as this is capable of engendering different levels of psychological involvement or emotional attachment from the viewing audience. Thus, factors such as the social, political and even religious make up of the intended audience become imperative for the director who must fuse these thematic, artistic and technical aspects in order to truly engage his audience on the discourse of the moment. This research work finds that there appears to be a disconnect on how the average Nigeria Television drama series is packaged and presented from its original thematic content. The question of cultural transposition further emboldens this view as directors seem to infuse certain values as seen through dialogue, dressing, set and so on; and as such distract and in some cases prevent the audience from accessing the real message behindthe story. The researchers employed the qualitative research method which entails the analysis of text, online journals and handbooks for proper and objective content analysis and appreciation. The researchers also analyzed two Nigerian series; that is The Johnsons and Professor Johnbull. The study recommends that discussions in the area of Cultural transposition and policy making especially as it concerns the film medium should be intensified as this would not only encourage a more, Professional approach to Film and Television. Drama industry, but would allow for the enthronement of content above glamour as well as engender more believable and realistic story telling.
Legislative, Organisational, and Economic Factors of Debt Level of Municipalities in Slovenia
Authors: Horvat Tatjana , Vidmar Marjanca , Justinek Gorazd , Bobek Vito
Published: November 2020

Municipalities are self-governing local governments established for the purpose of providing and improving social and economic life. However, the financial resources of the municipalities are limited, which is why they provide additional funds for the implementation of investments, among other things by taking out loans. The debt level of municipalities can be influenced by a variety of factors. In this paper, the authors limit themselves to a selection of factors, which have been divided into three areas - legislation, organisation and economy. As far as the legislative factor is concerned, we provide an insight into whether the total debt of municipalities has decreased with the adoption of the Constitutional Act amending Article 148 of the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia (UZ148) and how this affects investment. With regard to the organisational factor, the authors try to find out, on the basis of correlation analysis, how the size of municipalities, divided into three classes according to the number of inhabitants, affects debt, current expenditure and total expenditure. With regard to the economic factor, the authors examine the impact of the municipalities' own revenues on their debt.
The Transformation of the Municipal Social Care System in Hungary – In the Light of the Provision of Home Care Services
Authors: Szatmari Andrea , Hoffman Istvan
Published: November 2020

Municipalities play a significant role in the field of social care services. The basic social services are primarily provided by local governments. The Hungarian municipalities have strong social powers and duties, but their role is in a permanent transformation. The strongly decentralised system established in the early 1990s has since been centralised and the majority of specialised social services has been nationalised in the last decade. This has resulted in a new model; a mixed system having evolved after 2013. The provision of the specialised services has been mainly centralised, while the basic services have remained the responsibility of the municipal bodies. In this article, the impacts of this reform are analysed. The centralisation of the specialised services and the reforms of the financial support of municipal basic social services significantly transformed the former accessibility. The accessibility to these services depends on several factors: it depends on the central regulation of the entitlement rules, of the central funding of the municipal tasks and partly that of the economic power of the municipality. The central regulation and the central support of these services play a very important role in this system.
Profesor Marian Smoluchowski (1872–1917) – zapomniany rektor Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Authors: Słowik Grzegorz P.
Published: November 2020

Professor Marian Smoluchowski (1872–1917): The Forgotten Rector of the Jagiellonian University The article presents the figure of the great Polish physicist Professor Marian Smoluchowski who lived at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. It presents his most important achievements as a scientist, a physicist of the Nobel Prize dimension, and in other fields:: didactic, organizational, as well as personal (related to his greatest passion – mountaineering). The study specifies the three most important periods of Smoluchowski’s life and scientific activity: the Vienna, Lviv and Krakow periods, and describes his cooperation with other scholars, mostly of the world-wide renown, such as Albert Einstein. The Viennese period included childhood, education at the Collegium Theresianum, physical studies at the University of Vienna, PhD and habilitation. In Lviv, Smoluchowski spent fourteen years employed at Jan Kazimierz University. There, he developed, among others, the theory of Brownian motion. He spent the last four years of his life in Krakow as a professor at the Jagiellonian University, where he mainly dealt with experimental physics. In 1917 he was elected rector of the University, but in the same year, at the age of 45, he died prematurely of dysentery before taking over this office. He managed to prepare the inaugural lecture “On the uniformity of natural laws.”
Development of Online Science Learning Devices Cooperative Model Type STAD Assisted by Video Media to Improve Learning Outcomes of Elementary School Students
Authors: Hariyati  , Budi Jatmiko  , Raharjo
Published: November 2020

The research aims to produce STAD cooperative model online learning tools with the help of video media to improve student learning outcomes in elementary schools. The development of learning tools used the 4D model and was tested on 40 students. The results showed that online science learning tools were valid with validation results in the very valid category (84.9%) and Student Teaching Materials (96%); practical in terms of implementing RPP (87.26) is categorized as very good and obstacles during learning can be overcome; effective in terms of positive student responses (88.89%), student activity (91.76%) is categorized as very good, and student learning outcomes increase knowledge competence with an average N-gain of 0.75 in the high category. In the Independent T-test, the 2-way significance value of 0.456> 0.05 indicates that there is no difference in the average learning outcomes between groups. then on the t-pair Sig. (2-tailed) 0.000 <0.005 indicates an increase in learning outcomes. The conclusion of this study, that the online STAD IPA cooperative learning model assisted with developed video media is appropriate to be used to improve learning outcomes of elementary school students.
Problem Based Learning With The SETS Method To Improve The Student’s Critical Thinking Skill of Senior High School
Authors: Devy Alvionita  , Prabowo  , Z.A. Imam Supardi
Published: November 2020

This study aims to improve students' critical thinking skills through the application of learning materials with the PBL-SETS method. They were developed with the 4D model. This research is pre-experimental used one group pretest and posttest design. Data collection methods used validation, observation, and test. The data analysis technique used is the paired sample T-test. The learning materials have a very valid category and it can be used to improve critical thinking skills. The average critical thinking post-test score is 84 with an N-Gain of 0.7 which categorize as medium, while the overall student completeness reached 87%. The results of data analysis show that t-count = -21,967 and t-table = 1,693 (at df 32 and the significance level of 0.05). Research shows that the use of PBL with the SETS method affects increasing critical thinking skills. The responses of students towards learning by 88% (very good). Based on the results of this study it can be concluded that learning materials of the PBL model with the SETS method can improve the students’ critical thinking skill on fluid dynamic topic. PBL with SETS learning is expected to be able to make students more actively in the process of problem solving directly so that students are easier to develop critical thinking skill. From the indicator of critical thinking skills, students can more easily understand the concept and develop their critical thinking skill.
Feasibility of Developing Direct Learning Models With a Life Based Learning Approach
Authors: Annita Kastur  , Mustaji  , Yatim Riyanto
Published: November 2020

This study aims to analyze the feasibility of the results of the learning model instrument, textbooks, student worksheets, assessment sheets, and learning implementation plans. This study uses the Dick and Carey development model. There are 7 steps in Dick and Carey's learning, including 1) Identifying learning objectives, 2) Conducting learning analysis, 3) Analyzing student characteristics and learning context, 4) Formulating specific learning objectives, 5) Developing learning instruments, 6) Developing strategies learning, 7) Developing and selecting learning materials, 8) Designing and developing evaluation and assessment, 9) Revising learning programs, 10) Implementing and developing evaluations. Based on the results of the study showed that the research instruments in the form of the results of the learning model, textbooks, student worksheets, assessment sheets, and learning implementation plans scored good criteria. The direct learning model with a life-based learning approach is suitable for use as a learning model in improving student learning outcomes. This can be shown by the validity of the instrument.
ORGANIZATION-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS IN MITIGATING THE BURDEN OF WORKPLACE CONFLICTS
Authors: Dorothée UWIMPUHWE
Published: November 2020

Conflicts are unavoidable at workplace and become a burden in case managers and leaders ignore their roots. Despite conflicts appear annoying and destructive, they sometimes provide a positive way to strengthen employees- manager’s relationship and reveal the means to solving repetitive organization issues occurring at workplace. Conflicts within organizational settings are therefore an interesting topic to be discussed by researchers or scholars so that they can propose adequate solutions to handle them. This paper identifies conflicts handling styles recommended for managers and leaders to address and mitigate the burden of workplace conflicts whose outcomes are burnout, psychological and physical illness, absenteeism, lost productivity (from being unwell in the workplace) and turnover resulting from personality, diversity, perception, culture, occupational stress, etc., based on the types (task, process and relationship conflicts) with proper diagnosis and organizational- level interventions of such conflicts as compared to non-intervention controls. The researcher concluded that as negative outcomes of workplace conflicts are unpredictable, it is better to prevent conflicts than to cure them.
A CONFIRMATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS OF THE NEW MALAYSIAN INDEX OF ELDERLY WELL-BEING: A PRELIMINARY FINDINGS
Authors:   UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA, IBRAHIM RAHIMAH , MAT DIN HAZWAN , ABDULLAH SITI FARRA ZILLAH , HAMID TENGKU AIZAN
Published: November 2020

Malaysia is experiencing rapid ageing. With such rapid demographic changes, the need for understanding elderly well-being become a necessity. This study aims to validate a new developed Malaysian index of elderly well-being (MIEW) among the Malaysian community-dwelling elderly. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the elderly in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The preliminary MIEW contained 40 items and is composed of five factors; economic, health, social, psycho-spiritual and environmental well-being. Confirmatory factor analysis using maximum likelihood estimation method was conducted to assess the validity and reliability of the instrument. A total of 629 respondents participated in this study, with an average age of 70.36 years old. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded 18 items with five factors. The model fitted the data well, showing strong construct validity and reliability of the instrument. The findings from this study suggested an acceptable level of validity and reliability for the new instrument. However, MIEW should be used with caution as the discriminant validity of social and environmental well-being was unsatisfactory. Further research in this section is recommended.
Pengaruh Kebiasaan Sarapan Dan Status Gizi Remaja Terhadap Prestasi Belajar
Authors: Masrikhiyah Rifatul , Octora Muhammad iqbal
Published: November 2020

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui hubungan antara kebiasaan sarapan dan status gizi anak usia sekolah dengan prestasi belajar siswa SMP N 02 Songgom. Desain penelitian dalam penelitian ini adalah crossectional. Populasinya adalah semua siswa kelas VII. di SMP N 2 Songgom, sedangkan sampel penelitian ini yaitu siswa SMP N 02 Kelas VII A dan VII E sebanyak 60 anak. dengan menggunakan teknik pengambilan sampel secara random sampling. Pengumpulan data untuk kebiasaan sarapan menggunakan kuesioner sedangkan status gizi dilihat dari nilai IMT anak yang didapat dari pengukuran berat badan dan tinggi badan siswa SMP N 02 Songgom. Data prestasi belajar siswa merupakan data sekunder yang diperoleh dari nilai raport siswa. Analisis menggunakan uji chi Square untuk mengetahui hubungan antara variabel dependent dan variabel independent. Hasil penelitian diperoleh siswa dengan kebiasaan sarapan dan status gizi yang baik memiliki tingkat prestasi yang baik. Kesimpulan dalam penelitian ini yaitu terdapat hubungan kebiasaan sarapan (P<0,005) dan status gizi (p<0,005) terhadap prestasi belajar siswa di SMP N 02 Songgom. Kekuatan hubungan antara kebiasaan sarapan dengan prestasi belajar siswa sebesar 2,34 yang artinya siswa yang memiliki kebiasaan sarapan yang baik memiliki peluang mendapatkan prestasi belajar siswa yang baik 2,34 kali lebih baik dibandingkan siswa yang kebiasaan sarapannya kurang. Kekuatan hubungan antara status gizi dengan prestasi belajar siswa sebesar 1,56 yang artinya siswa yang memiliki status gizi normal memiliki peluang mendapatkan prestasi belajar siswa yang baik 1,56 kali lebih baik dibandingkan siswa yang kebiasaan sarapannya kurang.
ANALISIS PERISTIWA TUTUR (SPEAKING) DALAM ACARA NGOBRAS BERSAMA DEKAN FKIP UMUS BREBES
Authors: Hidayatullah Syarif , Romadhon M. Yusri
Published: November 2020

Peristiwa tutur bisa terjadi dalam segala kegiatan. Dalam dunia pendidikan, termasuk perkuliahan, juga selalu terjadi peristiwa tutur. Didalam aktivitas akademik maupun aktivitas non-akademik yang ada di Universitas Muhadi Setiabudi (UMUS) Brebes juga selalu berhubungan dengan peristiwa tutur. Begitu juga pada saat terjadinya acara “Ngobras” bersama Dekan FKIP (Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan) UMUS Brebes, telah terjadi  peristiwa tutur yang dikemukakan oleh Dell Hymes yang dikenal dengan sebutan “SPEAKING”. Tujuan penelitian ini yaitu untuk mendeskripsikan persitiwa tutur “SPEAKING” dalam acara “Ngobras” bersama Dekan FKIP (Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan) UMUS Brebes. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini yaitu metode deskriptif dengan pendekatan kualitatif. Pengumpulan data penelitian dilakukan dengan menggunakan teknik simak dan catat melalui tayangan sebuah video. Berdasarkan penelitian, ditemukan hasil bahwa dalam acara “Ngobras” bersama Dekan FKIP (Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan) UMUS Brebes terdapat semua unsur peristiwa tutur yang dikemukakan oleh Dell Hymes yaitu Setting and Scene, Participants, Ends, Act sequences, Key, Instrumentalities, Norms, Genres, atau yang lebih dikenal dengan sebutan singkat “SPEAKING”. Semua unsur peristiwa tutur “SPEAKING” tersebut terdapat dalam acara “Ngobras” bersama Dekan FKIP (Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan) UMUS Brebes. Hal ini membuktikan bahwa dalam dunia pendidikan, termasuk perkuliahan, selalu berhubungan dengan peristiwa tutur “SPEAKING”.
Diseño emocional, una contribución a la sostenibilidad
Authors: Soler Guitián Andrea
Published: November 2020

Este artículo aborda el diseño emocional como una contribución a la sostenibilidad, a partir de la generación de relaciones duraderas entre las personas y los productos de diseño. Entendemos al diseño emocional como el enfoque que estudia los estados afectivos que provocan los productos en las personas. Se realiza una revisión del análisis de ciclo de vida del producto, para ejemplificar cómo, al considerar a la afectividad y las emociones, se puede apoyar al diseño sostenible. Además, se presenta el desarrollo de una propuesta de diseño que aplica el conocimiento teórico; la solución tiene el fin de estimular la liga afectiva persona-producto.
Creative Economy at Girona, Spain: a potential, a hope, and investments to be
Authors: Fraguas Nobre Guilherme
Published: November 2020

Some key players have been considering the ‘creative economy’ (or the ‘knowledge economy’, ‘creative industries’, etc.) a viable driver for Girona – a way to escape from a traditional socioeconomic model, based on agriculture, hard industry, or low-tech services. Although the rhetoric coming from the heads of the government (local and regional) seems to adhere to such opinion, the facts reveal a strong concentration of such activities at the Province of Barcelona instead. Actually, a study over the data available to Girona shows its economy deep-seated at services mostly intensive on managerial competences. Therefore, it is suggested that Girona also approaches the ‘creative economy’ from a managerial perspective, embracing the wider concept of ‘experience economy’ – in the sense given by the Scandinavian countries.
Aplicación Móvil educativa para facilitar el aprendizaje de la Lengua de Señas del Perú en personas sordomudas
Authors: Isuiza Pérez Dany Dorian , Asto Huamán Leonidas , Arangüena Yllanes Magaly Roxana , Diaz Dumont Jorge Rafael
Published: November 2020

En el Perú existen más de 532,000 personas sordas con 23 intérpretes y un solo colegio especial donde se enseña el lenguaje de señas, aunque en el país se reconoce oficialmente la lengua de señas peruana (LSP). Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo diseñar una aplicación móvil que facilite el aprendizaje de LSP. Se probó esta aplicación móvil educativa con los estudiantes dentro y fuera del aula, con los padres de familia, y personas del entorno. La aplicación móvil facilitó a las personas con esta discapacidad a mejorar la comunicación versátil, sin necesidad de tener un intérprete a su lado.
Consumo de energía eléctrica y fuel oil en una empresa de productos cárnicos en Cuba
Authors: Rodríguez-Ponce Yoandro , Guardia-Puebla Yans , Camps-Michelena Manuel , Taramona Ruiz Luis Alberto , Sánchez Garcia Eva
Published: November 2020

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar el consumo de energía eléctrica y fuel oil de una empresa de producción de cárnicos en Cuba. Se analizaron informaciones existentes de producción y consumos de portadores energéticos en un periodo consecutivo de 36 meses, aplicando las herramientas de la Tecnología de Gestión Total y Eficiente de la Energía (TGTEE), para establecer el consumo de energía eléctrica y fuel oíl y se diseñó un biodigestor de cúpula fija para la producción de biogás. La energía eléctrica y fuel oil fueron los mayores influyentes en el costo energético de la producción, representando un 91.93 % del total del consumo en el período evaluado. Se obtuvieron 15 m3 de biogás diario con una concentración de 70 % de metano, a partir de los residuales orgánicos generados del proceso productivo con un biodigestor anaerobio. La producción de biogás en las plantas que procesan cárnicos, resulta una alternativa adecuada, para propiciar una mejora de la eficiencia energética y las potenciales de la empresa, de manera sostenible y económica, con el fin de ahorrar y producir energías renovables.
Il Buon Governo Senese
Authors: Drechsler Wolfgang
Published: November 2020

In his Keynote speech given at the IASIA 2015 Conference in Paris, France, Wolfgang Drechsler, addresses the classic notion of good governance, the role of the state and its role in service delivery
RD Congo
Authors: Ngala Ntumba Kabadashi Peter
Published: November 2020

La réforme de la décentralisation consacrée, en RD Congo, par sa Constitution du 18 février 2006 reste, dix ans après, tâtonnante et partant moins satisfaisante. Plusieurs études contemporaines démontrent que le processus est en crise. Toutefois, il existe des acquis qui rendent la démarche à nos jours presqu’irréversible. L’heure est donc de s’interroger sur les voies de sortie de la crise. Dans cette lancée, le présent article estime qu’il urge d’organiser un Forum national de l’évaluation et de redynamisation dudit processus.
New Rules for Implementation of Fiscal Decentralization
Authors: Wright Glen
Published: November 2020

This paper reviews the issue of how well fiscal decentralization has been implemented and how successful these projects have been in achieving a new level of local government financial capacity and service delivery. It reviews the most recent research literature that has assessed the success and failure rates of fiscal decentralization in a global and Central and Eastern European context. Overall, the levels of success have not been encouraging with fiscal decentralization having a positive impact. Professor Roy Bahl in a 1999 paper titled “Implementation Rules for Fiscal Decentralization” defined the basic approach to implementing fiscal decentralization and many of these rules have found been the guiding principles for implementing fiscal decentralization. This paper addresses the deficiencies in these rules based on the experiences over the past decades and formulates new rules for implementing fiscal decentralization. The paper concludes that new rules need to be formulated and encourages more dialogue and discussion among researchers and practitioners engaged in implementing fiscal decentralization.
The Process and Analysis of the National Civil Service Reform in Japan
Authors: Watanabe Yaskuyuki
Published: November 2020

The Japanese civil service system was reformed in 2014 by the amendment of the National Public Service Act. The amended act covers a wide range of areas, but the key point is the new appointment process for executive officials. The introduction of this new process changed the relationship between the Prime Minister and executive officials drastically. This article first describe the reason why the Japanese government had to undertake the civil service reform. This article will then analyze the content and process of this reform in two dimensions (i.e., transformational factors and transactional factors) by applying Burke-Litwin Model, after which it will explain how the reform changed the relationship between the Prime Minister and executive officials.
Bayesian Gaussian models for point referenced spatial and spatio-temporal data
Authors: BAKAR K. SHUVO , KOKIC PHILIP
Published: November 2020

When data is correlated both spatially and temporally, spatial and spatio-temporal modelling is useful for meaningful interpretation of the parameters of the covariates and for reliable predictions. In this paper we discuss some modelling strategies for point referenced spatial and spatio-temporal data. We describe Gaussian models in this context and use Bayesian hierarchical approaches for model based inference and predictions through the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm. Yearly average precipitation data from
Western Australia is used to illustrate the models.
On modified Kies distribution and its applications
Authors: KUMAR C. SATHEESH , DHARMAJA S. H. S.
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we consider a class of bathtub-shaped hazard function distribution through modifying the Kies distribution and investigate some of its important properties by deriving expressions for its percentile function, raw moments, stress-strength reliability measure etc. The parameters of the distribution are estimated by the method of maximum likelihood and discussed some of its reliability applications with the help of certain real life data sets. In addition, the asymptotic behavior of the maximum likelihood estimators of the parameters of the distribution is examined by using simulated data sets.
Power generalized Weibull distribution based on order statistics
Authors: KUMAR DEVENDRA , DEY SANKU
Published: November 2020

In this article, we establish recurrence relations for the single and product moments of order statistics from the power generalized Weibull (PGW) distribution due to Bagdonovacius and Nikulin (2002). These recurrence relations enable computation of the means, variances and covariances of all order statistics for all sample sizes in a simple and efficient manner. By using these relations, we have obtained the means, variances and covariances of order statistics from samples of sizes up to 5 for various values of the shape and scale parameters and present them in figures.
Weighted generalized estimating equations for response-adaptive treatment regimes in two-stage longitudinal studies
Authors: HSU JESSE YENCHIH , WAHED ABDUS S.
Published: November 2020

Two-stage longitudinal studies are common in the treatment of mental diseases, such as chronic forms of major depressive disorders. Outcomes in such studies often consist of repeated measurements of scores, such as the 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, throughout the duration of therapy. Two issues that make the analysis of data from such two-stage studies different from standard longitudinal data are: (1) the randomization in the second stage for patients who fail to respond in the first stage; and (2) the drop-out
of patients which sometimes occurs before the second stage. In this article, we show how the weighted generalized estimating equations can be used to draw inference for treatment regimes from two-stage studies. Specifically, we show how to construct weights and use them in the generalized estimating equations to derive consistent estimators of regime effects, and compare them. Large-sample properties of the proposed estimators are derived analytically, and examined through simulations. We demonstrate our methods by applying them to a depression data set.
On an extended skew curved normal distribution and its application
Authors: Kumar C. Satheesh , Anusree M. R.
Published: November 2020

In this paper we introduce a new class of asymmetric normal distributions, namely extended skew curved normal distribution, as a generalization of the skew curved normal distribution of Arellano-Valle et al. (Commun. Statist. Theor. Meth., 2004) and study some of its important aspects. A location scale extension of this family of distribution is also considered and the estimation of the parameters of the extended class is discussed.
Surgical-site infections in emergency abdominal paediatric surgeries at a tertiary-care hospital in Pakistan
Authors: Ali Faisal Saleem  , Huma Faiz Halepota  , Hasaan Omar  , Areeba Zain  , Muhammad Arif Mateen Khan
Published: November 2020

Abstract

A retrospective chart review was carried out in children (neonates to 18 years) who underwent acute surgical abdominal exploration during 2012-2016 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, to evaluate the post-operative surgical site infection rates in emergency paediatric abdominal surgery. Incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) was estimated. P-value was calculated, chi-square and non-parametric tests were performed by comparing pre-surgical and post-surgical procedure pathogen occurrence and pre-procedure wound status. Pathogen occurrence related to time-trend of 98 paediatric patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery was plotted. Of the 94 who were discharged in stable condition, it was found that there was no significant difference between pre- and post-surgical pathogens. Escherichia coli (n=10) was found to be the most common pathogen. Contaminated wounds were associated with higher SSI (p=0.036, OR 1.95 95% CI 0.7-5.4). Continuous...
Effect of multi-pronged interventions in reducing low birth weight and maternal anaemia among pregnant women. A community-based interventions research in non-agrarian resource constrained setting of rural Pakistan
Authors: Inayat Thaver  , Ahsan Maqbool Ahmad  , Mariam Ashraf  , Syed Kamal Asghar  , Muhammad Sarwat Mirza
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect on maternal and infant health of iron plus folate and multiple micronutrient supplements, along with deworming and health education session provided to pregnant women in rural, non-agrarian and food-insecure areas.

Methods: The quasi-experimental study was conducted in Tharparker and Umerkot districts, Sindh, Pakistan, in 2013-14, and comprised pregnant women in their earlier weeks of pregnancy. The enrolment and follow-up phase entailed 3 visits to each subject. Areas covered by lady health workers were designated as intervention areas, and those with non-LHW population were labelled as non-intervention areas.

Results: Of the 1204 subjects, 600(49.8%) were in the intervention group and 604(50.2%) were in the non-intervention group. By the end of the follow-up phase, significantly more women had increased number of meals in the intervention group compared to the non-intervention group (p<0.001). There was a significantly higher increase in mean haemoglobin levels and body mass index of women in the intervention arm after 3 and 6 months of interventions (p<0.05). Significantly higher mean birth weight was recorded in intervention areas compared to non-intervention areas (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Community-based provision of multiple micronutrients to women along with deworming, health education and dietary counselling significantly reduced the prevalence of anaemia and reduced the incidence of low birth weight.

Key Words: Maternal anaemia, Low birth weight, Multiple micronutrients, Nutrition. Continuous...
Management of professionalism matters by foreign returned doctors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.
Authors: Zaheer -ul- Hassan  , Usman Mahboob  , Kamran Ashfaq  , Naeem Riaz  , Bilal Akram  , Baber Niazi
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Objective: To determine the management of professionalism issues by foreign returned doctors who are practicing clinicians after returning from abroad. Methods: The qualitative study was conducted in tertiary care hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province from January to August 2016. Purposive sampling technique was used to include foreign returned doctors who shared how they managed professionalism matters in context of contrasting cultures at home and abroad. The participants were interviewed in-depth, and the audio records were transcribed verbatim. The data analysis generated codes that were consolidated under categories and then themes.

Results: Interviews with ten foreign returned doctors led to 20 codes that resulted in eight categories out of which four main themes were developed namely;

Foreign Cultural influence that observed how their stay abroad have influenced their practice methods. Experience, showed how personal experiences of the interviewees helped forge their practice rules in Pakistan. Social Contract theme included the ways in which foreign returned doctors understood and accepted the concept of social contract in Pakistan as compared to west and how they adapted accordingly. Wise Man Approach included the help sought and received by foreign returned doctors from their senior colleagues in managing and adjusting to societal norms regarding professional behaviors in Pakistan.

Conclusion: There are multiple dissimilarities between the socio-cultural aspects, practices, and knowledge of foreign returned and local medical practitioners. There exists a gap in knowledge with regards to their clinical practice between foreign returned and local doctors. Continuou....
Intravenous drug abusers presenting with pseudoaneurysm and other surgical complications in Pakistan
Authors: Muhammad Amar Qudeer  , Syed Asghar Naqi  , Muhammad Zeeshan Sarwar  , Hafiza Amina Mujahid
Published: November 2020

Abstract

People who inject drugs (PWIDs) reuse injection equipment and other paraphernalia, which is a major source of transmission of human immunodeficiency (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. PWIDs who use infected injections develop many surgical complications which are life- threatening. The most common complication is infected pseudoaneurysm. To assess complications requiring surgery in drug abusers, a study was conducted in the East Surgical Ward of Mayo Hospital Lahore, Pakistan from Jan 2017 to Jan 2019.

A total of 48 PWIDs presented to the surgical department, out of which 39 (81%) were HIV positive, and 31 (64%) were HCV positive. Of the 52% who had pseudoaneurysm, 92% had femoral and popliteal aneurysm and 8% had brachial aneurysm. After ligation and excision of pseudoaneurysm only 8% required major amputation. Mortality rate was 0%. Ligation and excision is a safe option in pseudoaneurysm. Continuous...
Faktor-faktor yang Mempengaruhi Gaya Pengajaran Grasha-Riechmann dalam kalangan Guru: Sorotan Literatur Bersistematik
Authors: Sim Sze Hui , @ Ewan Mohd Matore Mohd Effendi
Published: November 2020

Setiap guru mempunyai gaya pemikiran, pilihan dan cara tertentu dalam melaksanakan sesuatu sehingga mempengaruhi tingkah laku individu. Kejayaan atau kegagalan murid dikaitkan dengan stail pengajaran guru yang ada kaitan terus dengan kaedah mengajar yang digunakan semasa pengajaran. Secara tidak langsung, gaya pengajaran guru menjadi salah satu komponen pemindahan isi pengajaran yang komprehensif dan sebagai faktor penentu utama kejayaan pembelajaran pelajar. Dalam kajian ini, gaya pengajaran guru merujuk kepada gaya pengajaran Grasha-Riechmann (1996) dalam kalangan guru. Kajian-kajian lepas telah meninjau dan mengenal pasti faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi gaya pengajaran Grasha-Riechmann guru pada pelbagai peringkat pengajian dengan memerhatikan dan mengkaji tingkah laku responden guru. Justeru, kajian sorotan literatur bersistematik ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti dan menganalisis faktor-faktor yang boleh mempengaruhi gaya pengajaran Grasha-Riechmann guru baik secara langsung mahupun tidak langsung berdasarkan kajian penyelidikan sebelumnya. Kajian kualitatif ini melibatkan analisis kandungan terhadap 30 artikel penyelidikan yang mengkaji tentang isu ini. Pencarian artikel telah dilakukan antara tempoh awal bulan Mei 2020 hingga Jun 2020 melalui tiga pangkalan data bibliografi iaitu Google Scholar, ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) serta Science Direct. Kriteria penerimaan (inclusion) dan penolakan (exclusion) diterapkan agar artikel yang dipilih tepat memenuhi syarat keperluan kajian ini. Berdasarkan analisis yang dijalankan, terdapat tiga kategori faktor yang telah dikenal pasti iaitu faktor demografi, individu dan persekitaran. Hasil dapatan menunjukkan bahawa faktor jantina dan faktor pengalaman mengajar guru dalam kategori demografi merupakan faktor dominan yang mempengaruhi gaya pengajaran Grasha-Riechmann guru. Diharapkan kajian ini dapat menyumbang kepada konseptualisasi penyelidikan masa depan mengenai gaya pengajaran Grasha-Riechmann guru.
Pengangguran dalam kalangan Tenaga Kerja Semasa Wabak COVID-19
Authors: Abdul Aziz Abdul Rashid
Published: November 2020

Wabak COVID-19 yang melanda Malaysia dan dunia telah memberi impak yang besar kepada sistem politik, ekonomi, sosial, kesihatan, dan pendidikan negara. Ekoran daripada wabak yang berlaku, kerajaan Malaysia telah mengumumkan pelaksanaan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) kepada rakyat bermula 18 Mac 2020 sekaligus memberi impak terhadap sektor pekerjaan. Hal ini kerana, banyak sektor pekerjaan yang terpaksa menghentikan operasi serta merta dalam usaha mengekang penularan wabak COVID-19 daripada terus menular dalam masyarakat. Bahkan, penutupan perniagaan semasa PKP telah menyebabkan banyak syarikat tidak dapat menampung kos perbelanjaan termasuklah gaji pekerja hingga menyebabkan syarikat terpaksa membuang pekerja. Natijahnya berlaku kenaikan kadar pengangguran pada suku tahun pertama iaitu 3.9 peratus berbanding 3.3 peratus pada tahun 2019 (laporan Statistik Tenaga Buruh, 2020). Kajian ini menggunakan metod kajian perpustakaan dengan meninjau sorotan literatur bagi mengenal pasti impak COVID-19 terhadap tenaga kerja, model dan faktor yang mempengaruhi kobolehdapatan pekerjaan semasa wabak COVID-19 dalam mengatasi masalah pengangguran. Seterusnya dapatan dan perbincangan utama tertumpu kepada penerokaan faktor yang mempengaruhi kebolehdapatan kerja semasa COVID-19 seperti program kerjaya, insentif untuk menjana pendapatan dan inisiatif yang dilakukan oleh pihak kerajaan untuk membantu sektor pekerjaan serta kemahiran tenaga kerja yang sesuai dengan keperluan masakini.
Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction among Academic Employees in Polytechnic
Authors: Omar Muhamad Saufiyudin , Abdul Aziz Siti Fatimah , Mohd Salleh Nurasyikin
Published: November 2020

Satisfied employees are crucial in developing a successful organization. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that affect job satisfaction among polytechnic academic employees in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was employed and stratified random sampling was used to collect the data. A total of 130 respondents answered the questionnaires. The results revealed that job security, salary and working conditions had significant and positive influence on job satisfaction among polytechnic academic employees. Hence, strengthening the factors of job security, salary and working conditions among the polytechnic academic employees is critically important to ensure the employees are satisfied which will then lead towards a successful polytechnic.
Community Attitude towards Urban Green-Blue Space and Perceived Cultural Ecosystem Benefits: A Preliminary Study at Taiping Lake Garden, Perak, Malaysia
Authors: Mohd Nasir Mohammad Izzamil , Abdul Rahim Asyirah
Published: November 2020

blue spaces. Attitude towards green-blue space were also studied. However, little attention is given to perceived benefits and attitude components in ecosystem service research. This paper aims to examine community attitudes towards urban green-blue spaces and its association with perceived benefits based on cultural ecosystem services concept. A questionnaire was conducted among 31 respondents of local community at Taiping Lake Garden, Perak. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) which involving multiple regression to capture the effects of attitude components on perceived benefits. The findings suggest that overall attitudes of respondents had an excellent level of perceived attitudes toward urban green-blue space. However, among three sub-construct of attitudes, only cognitive attitude was found to be the dominant variable compared to conative and affective attitude that predicts perceived cultural ecosystem benefits. This indicates that if the community could enhance their positive attitudes toward their urban green-blue space, they may perceive higher cultural ecosystem benefits. Future research should continue to explore ways of enhancing positive attitudes among urban community as attitude may guide them to enhance their engagement in urban green-blue spaces.
Pembelajaran Terarah Kendiri dan Pengaruhnya terhadap Tanggapan Kebolehgajian Diri Pelajar Vokasional di Sabah
Authors: Gili Asrin , Ambotang Abdul Said
Published: November 2020

Kajian ini bertujuan mengenal pasti hubungan dan pengaruh Pembelajaran Terarah Kendiri (PTK) terhadap Tanggapan Kebolehgajian Diri (TKD) pelajar Kolej Vokasional (KV) di Sabah, Malaysia. Kajian kuantitatif yang mengaplikasikan kaedah tinjauan cross-sectional ini menggunakan satu set soal selidik adaptasi untuk memungut data daripada 297 orang pelajar semester akhir yang dipilih sebagai responden. Analisis deskriptif menunjukkan bahawa PTK dan TKD pelajar dipersepsi pada tahap tinggi. Analisis Korelasi Pearson pula mendapati bahawa terdapat hubungan yang signifikan, positif dan kuat antara PTK dan TKD pelajar. Sementara itu, analisis regresi mudah pula mendapati bahawa PTK mempunyai pengaruh yang signifikan dan merupakan peramal penting kepada TKD pelajar pada kadar 50.0%. Dapatan-dapatan kajian ini ialah bukti empirikal bahawa TKD yang menjadikan pelajar lebih berkeyakinan untuk bersaing dalam pasaran buruh selepas menamatkan pengajian boleh ditingkatkan melalui pengupayaan PTK. Justeru, dapatan kajian ini diharap dapat dijadikan panduan kepada semua pihak yang terlibat secara langsung atau tidak langsung dalam sistem pendidikan KV dan juga penyelidikan dalam usaha meningkatkan kebolehgajian pelajar menerusi intervensi PTK.
Penjanaan Komposisi Sisa Pepejal terhadap Amalan Kitar Semula di Sekolah Menengah Datuk Peter Mojuntin, Penampang, Sabah
Authors: Min Chong Oi , Mapa Mohammad Tahir
Published: November 2020

Pada masa kini, pertambahan jumlah pelajar sekolah menengah adalah semakin ramai pada setiap tahun. Fenomena ini telah mendatangkan masalah kepada penjanaan komposisi sisa pepejal yang tidak terkawal malah mencemarkan alam sekitar. Penjanaan komposisi sisa pepejal yang banyak merupakan masalah yang cukup rumit untuk diatasi. Oleh itu, satu tinjauan awal berkaitan penjanaan komposisi sisa pepejal dengan menggunakan cara kitar semula telah dijalankan di sebuah sekolah menengah di daerah Penampang. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti jenis dan jumlah sampah yang dihasilkan oleh semua warga sekolah dalam masa sebulan pada hari persekolahan. Pengkaji telah menggunakan reka bentuk tinjauan dengan mengaplikasikan pendekatan kualitatif iaitu melalui temubual tidak berstruktur dan pemerhatian ikut serta dalam kajian ini. Populasi kajian adalah pelajar tingkatan empat, pekerja pembersih dan pegawai majlis daerah Penampang untuk mengukur dan menimbang jumlah sampah yang dihasilkan dalam sehari dan seminggu dengan menggunakan alat penimbang elektronik. Melalui pengiraan dalam bentuk peratus dan kiraan berat dalam kilogram. Hasil dapatan menunjukkan dengan jelas sisa pepejal terbanyak yang dihasilkan adalah sisa makanan iaitu sebanyak 75.63kg, kedua banyak adalah plastik 71.46kg dan ketiga adalah polisterina sebanyak 61.35kg daripada jumlah sisa pepejal dalam masa seminggu. Manakala sebanyak 38% daripada sisa pepejal yang dihasilkan oleh semua warga sekolah merupakan barangan yang tidak boleh dikitar semula dan sebanyak 34% merupakan bahan yang berpotensi serta boleh dikitar semula tetapi tidak boleh dijual kepada vendor. Manakala sebanyak 28% daripada sisa pepejal yang dijana terdiri daripada bahan yang boleh dikitar semula dan boleh dijual kepada vendor. Dengan jumlah komposisi sisa pepejal yang dihasilkan, maka pihak sekolah boleh mengambil langkah kitar semula untuk mengurangkan jumlah sampah yang akan dihasilkan dan dihantar ke tapak pelupusan. Oleh itu, pihak sekolah harus mengadakan pelbagai program kitar semula secara bersepadu dan memupuk amalan kitar semula melalui pedidikan di sekolah untuk mengatasi masalah ini. Program dan pengetahuan pelajar diharap dapat mengurangkan penjanaan komposisi sisa pepejal dan meningkatkan kebersihan kawasan sekolah dan alam sekitar.
Kajian Motif Pemilihan Skema Pembiayaan LKMA PUAP di Jawa Tengah
Authors: Junaedi Dedi
Published: November 2020

The objective of this research is to explore the motif election financing scheme Rural Agribusiness Development (PUAP), knowing what factors affect the performance PUAP, and test whether performance sharia PUAP different from conventional PUAP in Central Java in 2008-2011. The study was conducted in the District of Banjarnegara, Banyumas, Jepara, Kendal and Kendal during the period from July to December 2012 Using qualitative and quantitative methods with a dummy variable multiple regression approach, the manager LKMA PUAP 185 respondents of this study with purposive sampling approach. From about 2267 LKMA PUAP in Central Java, the majority (87.25%) chose to operate with conventional financing scheme and only 289 (12.75%) which apply sharia scheme or the principle of profit sharing (profit sharing). Research shows PUAP sharia been selected for the motive of religious considerations (40.6%), while the conventional PUAP been LKMA practical reasons (35.3%) and the economy (30.2%). In the perception of respondents, LKMA PUAP sharia is considered more appropriate to the creed, manifestations of worship, fields expectation of reward, blessing and benefit. PUAP LKMA conventionally considered more practical, safe, and familiar with the daily habits of members. Statistical analysis showed motif election financing scheme LKMA significantly affected by the financing scheme (Sharia), education level (Educate), and regional differences (Kab). Motif scheme selection is also different between the respondent and the respondent voters LKMA sharia conventional LKMA voters.