bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
OPTIMISATION OF MICROWAVE PRETREATMENT CONDITIONS OF ORANGE AND PLANTAIN PEELS FOR POLYGALACTURONASE PRODUCTION BY ASPERGILLUS AWAMORI CICC 2040
Authors: Adedeji O. E. , Ezekiel )O. O.
Published: April 2021

This study investigated the optimisation of microwave pretreatment of orange and plantain peels for polygalacturonase (PG) production, by Aspergillus awamori CICC 2040, using response surface methodology. The microwave pretreatment factors interacted were particle size (PS) (<0.4250, 0.4250<PS<0.8025, and 0.8025<PS<1.1800 mm), microwave power (240, 480 and 720 W) and time (2.50, 6.25, and 10.00 min.). These factors were interacted to determine combinations for maximum polygalacturonase activity (MPA). Pretreated orange and plantain peel powders were inoculated with 106 spores/mL Aspergillus awamori CICC 2040, incubated at 28oC for 5 days, and crude polygalacturonase was extracted and its activity determined. Same microwave pretreatment combination, 0.8025<PS<1.1800 mm, 720 W and 10.00 min, gave MPA for orange and plantain peels. The MPA from orange and plantain peels was 26.21 and 26.72 U/mL, respectively. F and p values obtained for orange peel powder were 35.42 and 0.00, respectively while those obtained for plantain peel powder were 5.71 and 0.006, respectively. R2 and R2 (adjusted) of 96.96 and 94.22%, respectively were obtained for PG activity produced using orange peel powder while 90.71 and 79.04% were recorded for PG activity produced using plantain peel powder. Optimised microwave pretreatment conditions of orange and plantain peels for MPA from Aspergillus awamori CICC 2040 were established. Keywords: Aspergillus awamori, Fruit peel, Microwave, Optimisation, Polygalacturonase, Pretreatment,
ՀՀ տնտեսության պարտքային անվտանգության խնդիրները Արցախյան պատերազմի համատեքստում
Authors: Grigoryan Ani
Published: April 2021

The 2020 began with the Coronavirus crisis and ended with the Artsakh war, causing both financial and human losses. An extremely difficult economic and political situation was created for the Republic of Armenia.
The volume of military expenditures, which is expenditure priority due to military operations, has increased by about 40 billion drams in the current year.
The epidemic restrictions reduced tax revenues by about 113 billion drams.
The purpose of this article is to reveal the challenges that Armenia has been facing, due to the epidemic and the Artsakh war, substantiating the approach, that the above-mentioned instabilities will inevitably lead to a violation of the logic of the planned economic growth.
During the research, the indicators of the government debt-to-GDP ratio of different years were calculated by the method of quantitative analysis, which show the amount of the debt burden.
As a result of the research we came to the conclusion that the economic problems will lead to an increase in the budget deficit. And the lack of the resources to finance the latter will make it inevitable for the Republic of Armenia to attract new external public debt, which will increase the already heavy external public debt burden of the RA.
Considering the above-mentioned issues as a priority, this article aims to study the dynamics of the external debt obligations of the RA economy during the difficult economic and political period for the Republic of Armenia.
Մոտիվացիոն գործոնների ազդեցությունը կոլեկտիվի հոգեբանական մթնոլորտի վրա. հետազոտության արդյունքների համեմատական վերլուծությունը
Authors: Baghdasaryan Svetlana
Published: April 2021

The aim of the article is to study the mutual agreement of the psychological atmosphere in the team of motivational factors in state and international organizations. The urgency of the work is due to the need to improve staff performance. Determining the type of employee motivation is a difficult but very important task that contributes to the effective and efficient performance of the set tasks. The purpose of the article is to study and to find out experimentally the link between the psychological environment of the team in different organizations and the primary factors of motivation of the person during work, to perform the analysis of the psychological atmosphere of the team also the reciprocity of motivational factors.
Analysis of the relevant theoretical foundations of work using the test-questionnaire methods figured out that any application of motivation should meet the needs of the individual, that those surveyed in state and international organizations are aware of their needs, but the socio-psychological environment among 25 to 45 years old is unfavorable among the staff of civil servants, in contrast to the staff of an international organization of the same age. The engagement of an HR specialist or management psychologist in the above mentioned organizations is suggested to identify the socio-psychological behavior of employees, work hygiene, motivational factors, based on the age group, which can predict ways to meet the needs of employees.
Փախստականների իրավական կարգավիճակը Արցախի Հանրապետությունում
Authors: Mkhitaryan Elina
Published: April 2021

The objective of the article is to raise the problem of the legal status of refugees in the inner legal field, in conjunction with international humanitarian law, which is to protect rights of sheltered refugees in the country. We do clarify the specifics of the legal status of refugees to elucidate main issues related to the legal status of refugees in the Artsakh Republic, which is not a subject of international law.
In comprehensive study of the problems posed within the article, general scientific - dialectical, logical, historical, as well as individual (personal) or special methods were used, such as legal-comparative, analytical, statistical, systemic methods.
The result of the research is the conclusion that legal status of refugees are their rights and freedoms, the legitimate interests, which are reflected in the Constitution, laws, normative legal acts of the Artsakh Republic. Substantiating need of comprehensive, well-thought-out mechanism in ensuring the legal status of refugees, the author points out both the benefits and drawbacks of the legislation in the Artsakh Republic, appreciates incessantly stipulating the principles of legal status of refugees and guarantees in legal acts.
SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN NIGERIA AND VICTIMS’ SUSCEPTIBILITY TO PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION
Authors: Labe M. R. , Amande A. M. , Terngu T. P. , Atsehe A. P.
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this paper was to present a comprehensive review of sexual violence against women and the victims’ susceptibility to emotional distress and sexual dysfunction. A total of 50 cases of rape victims and rape statistics report were gathered from secondary sources of information. From the retrospective description of some victims’ traumatic experiences, the picture of their negative emotions and grief were carefully analyzed and explanation provided on their exposure to psychological distress and psychosexual dysfunction. Deducing from the review and analysis of the histories and experiences of sexual violence victims, there is a strong relationship between women with history of sexual violence and susceptible to psychological distress sexual dysfunction such as; PTSD, sexual arousal inhibition, sexual avoidance contact, anger and hatred. Others include paranoia, fear of relationship with men as well as stress and re-experience of grief from the unpleasant memories of the rape incidence. Pathologically, sexual violence can threaten the psychological well-being of the survivors in a short and long-term depending on the circumstances and probably where the victim is left without care and support from friends, family and appropriate professional intervention. Thus, women who have been exposed to rape need intensive and suitable psychological intervention to heal their traumatized emotions that induce psychological distress and sexual dysfunction.
Energy Consumption Data Analysis: Indonesia Perspective
Authors: Prastyabudi Wahyu Andy , Isa Hafidz
Published: April 2021

Energy consumption has been increasing affected by many factors such as population growth, energy price, etc. This paper utilizes data analysis to examine energy consumption data and its correlation the GDP growth, particularly in case of Indonesia. The data observed in this study comprises a record from 1961-2018. An exploratory data analysis was employed to comprehend the features of the data, while beforehand a pre-processing and testing were conducted to prepare the data. Data visualization was built then a Spearman correlation rank was also performed to see the association among variables. The result shows that the energy consumption is dominated by fossil generated energy i.e. oil, coal, gas. Meanwhile, the renewable energy was started to use since early 2000 with a huge leap of consumption on solar energy. The result of correlation ranking indicates that the energy consumption and the GPD growth has no significant association as the rank value is negative and the p-value is greater than the chosen significant level. Thus, we can conclude that the higher energy consumption does not directly affect the increase in GDP.
Preprosesing dan normalisasi pada dataset kupu-kupu untuk ekstraksi fitur warna, bentuk dan tekstur
Authors: Satria Yudha Kartika Dhian , Maulana Hendra
Published: April 2021

Penelitian dalam bidang citra digital masing terus berkembang. Perkembangan penelitian dalam bidang pertanian, kesehatan ataupun mendukung infrastruktur atau tata kelola kota. Penelitian dalam citra digital bisa membantu mendapatkan keputusan terbaik agar hasil yang didapatkan sesuai dengan prediksi. Penelitian dalam bidang citra digital yang berkembang salah satunya dalam hal serangga. Jenis serangga yang digunakan untuk penelitian ini adalah kupu-kupu sebanyak 890 data. Dataset tersebut dibagi menjadi 10 kelas, masing-masing kelas sebanyak 89 data. Dataset akan dilakukan proses ekstraksi fitur warna, fitur tekstur dan fitur bentuk. Sebelum proses ekstraksi fitur hal terpenting adalah melakukan preprosesing dan normalisasi ukuran piksel. Preprosesing dilakukan untuk menghilangkan noise pada gambar. Noise dalam penelitian citra digital merupakan hal yang harus dihilangkan agar tidak mengurangi hasil yang akan didapatkan. Selain menghilangkan noise, proses normalisasi ukuran setiap objek dataset juga disesuaikan. Ukuran masing-masing dataset disamakan sehingga hasil yang didapatkan juga mempunyai standarisasi nilai. Hasil yang didapatkan pada proses klasifikasi kupu-kupu mempunyai nilai akurasi sebesar 75% penggabungan dari ketiga ekstraksi fitur warna, fitur tekstur dan fitur bentuk pada ukuran piksel 256x160.

Keywords: citra digital; preprosesing; normalisasi piksel, ekstraksi fitur, kupu-kupu
Analisa Kinerja Teknik Reduksi PAPR Metode SLM dan HPA Predistorsi dengan Pemodelan Hammerstein pada Sistem OFDM
Authors: Anisah Ida
Published: April 2021

Abstrak: Teknik OFDM mempunyai kelemahan, salah satunya adalah tingginya PAPR yang akan menyebabkan distorsi non-linear pada Power Amplifier (PA), dikarenakan PA membatasi keluaran dengan nilai tertentu yang dapat mengurangi efisiensi daya amplifier. Dalam mengatasi masalah tersebut maka diperlukan teknik reduksi PAPR. Untuk teknik reduksi PAPR efisien yang digunakan adalah Selective Mapping (SLM). Teknik Reduksi PAPR SLM sendiri tidak dapat untuk memperbaiki daerah non-linear pada Power Amplifier, oleh karena itu diterapkan teknik pemodelan HPA Predistorsi untuk meningkatkan efisiensi dari PA dengan memperluas jangkauan linear dan mencegah sinyal jatuh ke wilayah saturasi PA. Untuk pemodelan HPA yang digunakan yaitu pemodelan Hammerstein. Model Hammerstein ini sederhana namun efektif untuk menggambarkan kinerja PA dan kinerja predistorter non-linear akan berlawanan dengan PA dengan menggunakan efek memori. Hasil kerja dari teknik gabungan tersebut dapat dianalisa berdasakan kurva BER dan kurva CCDF yang dihasilkan. Performansi BER dapat diperbaiki ketika menggunakan teknik reduksi SLM yang dikombinasikan dengan teknik predistorsi, dimana pada nilai SNR sebesar 15 dB sudah mampu mengatasi probabilitas BER. Namun, ketika tanpa teknik predistorsi baru bisa mengatasi probabilitas BER pada nilai SNR sebesar 22 dB. Untuk teknik reduksi SLM dan teknik predistorsi dengan subblok 16 mampu menghasilkan nilai lebih baik daripada saat menggunakan subblok 4 dan 8 yaitu dapat mencapai probabilitas BER hingga 10-6 dengan nilai SNR 14 dB, dan sudah dapat mengatasi probabilitas BER pada SNR 15 dB.  Dengan teknik predistorsi ini mampu meningkatkan linearisasi pada PA. Sehingga dapat dibuktikan untuk dapat melewati HPA, sinyal dengan reduksi menggunakan subblok 4 sudah dapat melewati HPA yang mempunyai linearisasi tinggi.
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) profile of a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar: indications, procedures, and complications
Authors: Anwar Muhammad Naveed , Hayat Muhammad Khizar , Ahmad Zunnoor , Iftikhar Mawara , Khan Mohammad Ahmed Arsalan
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP), being a useful though technically demanding diagnostic and therapeutic procedure to evaluate and treat diseases of biliary and pancreatic ducts is dependent in large part for its success on the skill of the operator.

Objective: To determine the indications, procedures performed and success rate of ERCP at a tertiary care center of Peshawar.

Materials & Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at the Endoscopy Unit of Rehman Medical Institute (RMI) from January 2020 to April 2020 using universal sampling technique. All ERCP procedures done in the endoscopy unit from January 2019 to December 2019 were included in the study regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity or presenting complains. Any ERCP that did not have complete data were excluded from the study. Data were collected in a structured Performa. Data were analyzed in Microsoft Excel for descriptive statistics.

Results: A total of 161 ERCP procedures were performed during the study duration, of which 84(52.2%) were in males while 77(47.82%) were in females; the mean age was 54.82 ± 15.83 years. Biliary Stent placement (51.6%) was the most commonly performed procedure followed by Biliary Stone extraction (22.4%). Failed ERCP accounted for 30(18.6%) cases. The main indication for ERCP was Obstructive Jaundice (65.8%) followed by Common Bile duct (CBD) stones (42.9%). The least common indication was Dilated Intrahepatic Duct (1.86%). Only 4 cases of minor bleeding were observed during the procedure which were controlled during the procedures. No major complications have been seen on follow-up.

Conclusion: Obstructive Jaundice is major contributor to ERCP’s being performed. It is a relatively safe procedure in the hands of an experienced operator.

Keywords: Obstructive Jaundice; Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography; Gallstones; Pancreatic Duct.
George Herbert Mead and the Psychology of Language Learning
Authors: Benson Phil
Published: April 2021

George Herbert Mead was an early-twentieth century American psychologist, who work on social psychology has been especially influential in sociology. Although Mead wrote a good deal on language, his work has had much less influence on linguistics and applied linguistics. Outlining key ideas from Mead’s work on the emergence of language and mind from social interaction in the environment, this paper makes a case for Mead to be considered among the foundational figures in the psychology of language learning. It argues that his work is especially worth reading as a source of ideas that might underpin an ecological view of the psychology of language learning.
Methodological Diversity in Emotions Research: Reflexivity and Identities
Authors: Miyahara Masuko
Published: April 2021

In this first issue of The Journal for the Psychology of Language Learning, this paper discusses some of methodological issues surrounding research methodology on emotions in the field of applied linguistics and language learning research. The aim of this paper is to develop a basic understanding and awareness of the challenges and issues involved in conducting research on emotions by bringing the notion of researcher’s reflexivity to the forefront. Studies on researcher’s reflexivity in any empirical research is nothing new, but how it is actually incorporated and manifested in the research process is a fairly neglected matter. The purpose of this paper is thus to pursue this matter by revisiting one of author’s previous research that explores emotions in conjunction with its related and intertwining factors such as identity, L2 self, positionality and learners’ language learning experiences.
Motivation and the Support of Significant Others across Language Learning Contexts
Authors: Noels Kimberly A. , Adrian-Taylor Shelley , Saumure Kristie , Katz Joshua W.
Published: April 2021

According to Self-Determination Theory, intrinsic and self-determined extrinsic motivation are maintained to the extent that learners feel that engagement in an activity is a personally meaningful choice, that the task can be performed competently, and that they share a social bond with significant others in the learning context. These perceptions are enhanced when significant others act or communicate in a way that encourages learner autonomy, provides informative feedback on how to improve task competency, and establishes a sense of connection with the learner. The present study used a focused essay technique to examine how the learning context impacts learners’ motivation and the kinds of support (or lack thereof) received from different people. Heritage (n = 34), modern (n = 34), and English-as-asecond-language (ESL; n = 36) learners described their reasons for language learning, and reported how teachers, family members, peers, and members of the language community encouraged or discouraged their engagement in language learning. The results indicated that heritage students are more included to learn the language because it is integral to their sense of self than the two other groups, whereas ESL students are generally more regulated by external contingencies. Although there were some commonalities, different people supported learners’ motivation in different ways depending upon the learning context. The results point to the importance of the language learning context for understanding students’ motivation and how others can support them.
Retorisk poetik
Authors: Kock Christian
Published: April 2021

”Retorisk poetik antager og argumenterer for at litteratur er til for at virke på læsere. Dermed menes andet og mere end at den er budskaber der overfører betydning. Litteratur er til for at gøre noget ved eller for læsere. Eller for at udtrykke det uden reference til nogen iboende formålsbestemmelse: Litteratur er først og fremmest afgrænset ved, og interessant ved, at den gør noget ved eller for sine modtagere. Retorisk poetik gør altså op med den tradition der har været i akademisk litteraturvidenskab og beslægtede discipliner til at identificere det væsentlige og interessante ved litteratur som det betydningsindhold den overfører. Men ordene og deres betydning er midler til mål af en anden orden; målene er de virkninger de kan skabe hos modtagerne – virkninger som ikke kun er kognitive, ikke kun tilegnelse af betydningsindhold (i sig selv et spændende og uhyre komplekst emne), men som involverer dynamiske, tidslige processer hvori følelser ofte spiller en rolle, og som er endnu mere vanskelige at analysere end tilegnelse af betydning.” Bogen er en samling af Christian Kocks artikler om retorik og litteratur – visse reviderede, andre for første gang på dansk.
“Den høyere retorikk” hos Hume
Authors: Meland Ingmar
Published: April 2021

Our understanding of David Hume’s philosophy in general can benefit from being read as part of the history of rhetoric. In connection with some relatively new studies of Hume, the article tries to show what makes Hume’s philosophy relevant to political rhetoric today. The starting point is that Hume’s Treatise can be regarded as a rhetorical anthropology and that this anthropology gives us keys to a reading of the essay Of Eloquence. By separating Hume’s rhetorical anthropology from his own philosophical rhetoric, as well as from his views on the art of everyday conversation and political rhetoric, his use of ancient forms and his retrenchment of the gentleman’s ideals of his time are highlighted to offer a fresh perspective on what these aspects of Hume’s philosophy might imply today
Retorisk forhandling af følelse og stemning
Authors: Lund Marie , Madsen Carsten
Published: April 2021

Whereas most rhetorical theories of pathos focus on the strategic influence on the audience, this article aims at a broader interpretation of emotion. Considering examples from rhetorical practice, such as a sense of community in the ­oratorical situation, we argue that some emotions do not seem determinable within traditional rhetorical categories, nor do they relate to the persuasion of an audience. We aim to provide a better foundation for understanding the role of emotions in rhetoric. Based on Aristotle’s positioning of pathos under ­diathesis, the audience’s disposition for certain emotions, and on Heidegger’s interpretation thereof, we propose a distinction between a technical pathos concerned with the strategic influence on an audience, and a generalized pathos that exceeds any specific state of mind of the audience
Emotionelle appeller i aktivistiske hashtags
Authors: Thode Hougaard Tina
Published: April 2021

”It could have been me” and ”I have experienced” are phrases that are immediately unremarkable and available for everyday use. The expressions communicate understanding and acknowledgement and refer to incidents in the past without specifying these. This article explains how these expressions, when used as hashtags on Twitter in the context of subjects as different as everyday sexism and doctors’ working conditions, become vehicles of certain emotional appeals, and how they mobilize rhetorical agency and establish rhetorical communities. The impact of the hashtags is heightened by their narrative prompting of recipients to contribute a story of their own, but is empowered further in both reach and volume by their transnational and democratic functionality
Retorik der flytter stemmer. Hvordan man overbeviser i offentlig debat
Authors: Jørgensen Charlotte , Kock Christian , Rørbech Lone
Published: April 2021

Hvem vinder debatten? Den smarte brugtbilsælger, den arrogante type, den vrede og ophidsede demagog? "Nej," siger resultaterne og konklusionen på en undersøgelse af argumentation og dens effekt, "det er seriøsitet parret med engagement der frem for alt kendetegner den vindende debattør." Myten om at vælgere og andre modtagere af argumentation skulle være letpåvirkelige får sig et skud for boven, ligesom mediernes iscenesættelse af den politiske debat: "Den form for politisk retorik som medierne ynder at præsentere seerne for, er [...] ikke den der er mest egnet til at få folk til at ændre mening om politiske emner." Retorik der flytter stemmer er en undersøgelse af tv-debatprogrammet Bytinget, hvor to 'advokater' med vidners hjælp skulle overbevise 100 dommere. Charlotte Jørgensen, Christian Kock og Lone Rørbech har kortlagt vinder- og tabertræk i en undersøgelse som rækker langt ud over analysesituationen; resultaterne giver et enestående billede af den politiske retoriks virkning – samtidig som alle med behov for at overbevise får kontante råd med på vejen.
Dekorum og fortælling: Trump, Clinton og “the deplorables”
Authors: Iversen Stefan
Published: April 2021

At least since Cicero, the notion of decorum has been a key element in the education of public speakers as well as in the reflections on what public speaking is or should be. The current media climate seems saturated with emotional debates about appropriateness, debates where the questions of what is fitting is not relegated to the margins but rather situated at the very heart of what the debate is about. This article investigates aspects of accusations of breached decorum, guided by the assumption that this type of kategoria often follows a narrative logic: accusations retrospectively tell a story about a breach of decorum while prospectively using this story to constitute group identities. The objects of the study are artefacts from the Trump campaign’s accusations of breaches of decorum, following from Clinton’s statement that half of the potential Trump voters could be considered deplorable
Critical risk factors of the project finance loan spread in the infrastructure sector: Experience from the ASEAN countries
Authors: Nasution Elvi , Sugiarto Sugiarto , Shinta S Gracia , Ugut Ugut , Hulu Edison
Published: April 2021

This paper finds that in ASEAN-4, the micro loan characteristics: loan amount and LIBOR whilst the macro characteristics: inflation, net export and GDP growth influence the loan spread in the project finance. However, simultaneously at the country level, the determinants of the loan spread are distinctive to each country’s infrastructure industry characteristic. The paper’s main contribution relates to the determinants of the project finance loan spread at the country level and regional level, ASEAN-4. The purpose of this paper is to fathom the critical risk factors behind the project finance loan pricing differential across the ASEAN-4 countries. Hence, the policy makers, project developers and lenders can have a better understanding of the drivers behind the project finance loan spread pricing. The study adopted an ordinary least square (OLS) regression methodology and collected data from ASEAN-4 countries consisting of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand.
The role of corporate governance in enhancing the performance of Jordanian commercial banks
Authors: Alkazali Ahmad Salem , Al-Eitan Ghaith N. , Aleem Ala’a Ayed Abu
Published: April 2021

The study aimed to explore the relationship between corporate governance (i.e., tasks and responsibilities of the Board of Directors, disclosure and transparency, shareholders’ rights and fair treatment of shareholders, and audit and internal control) and bank performance. Data were collected using a questionnaire distributed to a sample consisting of managers of commercial banks in the northern region in Jordan. The study found a significant and positive relationship between corporate governance and bank performance. Particularly, the study pointed out two principles (i.e., tasks and responsibilities of the Board of Directors, and audit and internal control) were positively related to bank performance, while there were no significant relationships between the other two principles (i.e., disclosure and transparency as well as shareholders’ rights and fair treatment of shareholders). It was concluded that corporate governance is very critical for enhancing bank performance. Additionally, commercial banks should pay more attention to all principles of corporate governance.
The effects of the legal environment on the entire application of IFRS for small and medium-sized enterprises: The case of Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Duc Dung
Published: April 2021

The article explores the impact of factors in the legal environment on the application of the entire international financial reporting standards for small and medium-sized enterprises. Legal environmental factors include the legal system, the influence of the state role, professional associations and tax regulations. The author adopted the survey of 80 managers and 80 auditors to find out if there is any difference between the financial reporters and the financial reporting auditors on the impact of the legal environment. Through T-Test with SPSS 26 software, the author found that the tax factor is highly appreciated for both managers and auditors, especially for managers. The auditors assessed that the entire application of IFRS would bring benefits more than the costs while the managers assessed that the costs would be more than the benefits. Through the survey results, the author suggests limiting the impact of tax on accounting and further improving the role of professional associations.
Profitability variations and disparity in automobile sector: A case of leading Indian Automobile companies
Authors: Ali Anis
Published: April 2021

The Indian automobile sector is the biggest market and emerging by displacing some advanced countries. The Indian automobile sector contributes positively and progressively to the growth and development of the Indian economy. The study is based on secondary data and considers the financial statements available on concerned websites. Ratio analysis, ANOVA (Analysis of Variance), CV (Coefficient of Variation), and rank correlation applied to analyze the data extracted from the financial statements of leading Indian automobile companies. The study reveals that there is a significant difference in the profitability of the Leading Indian automobile companies for the period 2011 to 2020. There is a moderate positive relational relationship between PBDIT(Profit Before Depreciation, Interest, and Tax) ratio and PBIT(Profit Before Interest and Tax) ratio and their variability while PBT ( Profit Before Tax) ratio and PAT ( Profit After Tax) ratio and their variability positively and highly correlated. This reveals that manufacturing expenses and depreciation do not affect profitability while profitability governs the interest and taxes of the leading Indian automobile companies. The study suggests a possible reduction in all direct and indirect costs, optimum cost of capital, or low cost of capital structure can be considered to avoid excessive burden against the profits of the negative performing leading Indian automobile sector companies.
Pecking order, earnings management and capital structure
Authors: Budiarso Novi Swandari , Pontoh Winston
Published: April 2021

Most of studies imply that firms decrease or increase their debt capacity in context of pecking order theory or agency problems. On this point, the setting of this study is based on two main problems related to capital structure: the first is determining the source of funds for financing investments, and the second is solving the conflict between shareholders and managers, or the agency problem. The objective of this study is to provide evidence about how firms establish their capital structure in relation to pecking order theory and the agency problem by controlling earnings management in the context of Indonesian firms. This study conducts logistic regression on 28 firms in the consumer goods industry listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2010 to 2017.This study finds that pecking order theory determines the capital structure of most Indonesian firms with high debt. The results imply that agency problems are unable to explain corporate capital structure and earnings management is not effective for motivating Indonesian firms to establish corporate governance.
Behavioral dominance of leaders: Performance impact study in listed companies FTSE100 in London
Authors: Amara Tijani , Ncib Adel
Published: April 2021

The main objective of this research is to study the impact of the behavioral dominance of executives in listed companies regarding financial performance. Empirical tests were conducted on panel data from companies belonging to the FTSE 100 in London. To address this research issue, we analyzed the link between governance and the stock market in the first section. Then, based on financial theories we formulated a set of hypotheses related to the influence of compensation, the size of the board of directors, the presence of women and the independence of the board of directors on performance. The results of the empirical tests indicate that the importance of compensation had a positive effect on performance. Conversely, the empirical tests show that the size of the Board of Directors and the duality of function had negative effects on performance. Finally, the results of the tests on the behavioral dominance of executives are depending on the characteristics of the board’s directors.
The relationships between foreign direct investment, export and economic growth
Authors: Nguyen Duy Thuc , Tran Luu Cuong , Bui Thi Ngoc Han , Ngo Thi Thanh Thuy , Nguyen Thi Le Hang
Published: April 2021

This study aims to examine the causal relationship between foreign direct investment, exports and economic growth in Dong Nai province, Vietnam from 1999 to 2019. The study uses several economic models such as Vector Auto Regression - VAR (p), Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) and Granger causality tests to evaluate relationships between research model variables. The results show that foreign direct investment and exports have the positive effects on Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP). Therefore, this study recommends some policy implementation to simulate the foreign direct investment. Particularly, the policy makers in Dong Nai province should be aware of the role of foreign direct investment and export incentive policies, which is an important driving force for the socio-economic development of Dong Nai province, Vietnam.
Leverage, capital and profitability of the banks: Evidence from Saudi Arabia
Authors: Shaik Abdul Rahman , Sharma Raj Bahadur
Published: April 2021

The study examines the effect of leverage and capital on the profitability of selected Saudi Arabian Banks during the period 2014 and 2019. The banks have been selected based upon their size in terms of total assets. The profitability elements, such as Earnings per Share (EPS), Return on Assets (ROA), and Return on Equity (ROE) are the dependent variables; Total Debt Ratio (TDR), Tier 1 Capital Ratio (Tier 1 CAP), and Debt to Equity Ratio (DE) are the independent variables, and firm size is the control variable. The study estimates a pooled regression analysis to analyze the effect of these variables. The results of the study show that there is a positive relationship between the different profitability variables and Debt to Equity Ratio. The Total Debt Ratio is having positive association with ROA and ROE, and has an insignificant negative relationship with the EPS, and the Tier 1 capital ratio is having positive association with ROA and ROE, and has an insignificant relationship with the EPS.
Can ownership structure and board characteristics affect firm performance?
Authors: Al-Qatanani Nisreen , Siam Youssef Abu
Published: April 2021

This research aimed to examine the association between board of directors’ characteristics as a composite measure, the performance of companies in Jordan and the influence of family ownership on this association. Using data on industrial companies indexed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) from 2013 to 2017, a positive association between board characteristics and company performance was found, indicating that higher board effectiveness is associated with more effective monitoring of management behavior. In addition, the association between board characteristics and company performance was strong when there was an interaction with family ownership, as companies with boards with family members achieve higher performance than companies with boards run by external directors. The study findings could be useful to all regulators seeking to improve the quality of monitoring mechanism practices, especially in emerging economies.
Monetary policy, exchange rate, renewable energy and economic growth: An empirical analysis of Vietnam
Authors: Nga Nguyen Thi Viet
Published: April 2021

The aim of this study is focused on how monetary, energy consumption and other factors affect economic growth of the country of Vietnam. Based on collected secondary data covering from the World Bank and Vietnam’s General Statistics Office from 1985 to 2019, and some data collected from the State Bank of Vietnam, Vector Autoregressive Model was considered to apply in order to investigate this relationship. Results show that there exists an association among monetary policy, renewable energy and the country’s economic growth. Especially, the country’s exchange rate shows no influence on its economic growth while interest rate has negative effects and particularly money supply and renewable energy have a positive influence on the same direction and has a strong impact on economic growth.
Factors affecting capital structure of businesses in real estate sector on stock exchange
Authors: Ha Nguyen Ho Phi , Tu Mai Thanh
Published: April 2021

Based on the financial statements of real estate companies listed on Vietnamese stock market, the study has been conducted on factors affecting capital structure. The paper uses GLS (generalized least squared) estimation method related to panel data as well as testing to select the most appropriate model. Research results show that profitable real estate businesses, the ratio of fixed assets to total assets and the number of years of operation have a negative effect on capital structure. In contrast, renewable energy, size and growth are three factors that have positive effects on capital structure. In addition, the corporate income tax rate does not affect the capital structure decisions of real estate businesses. Through research, recommendations for the real estate business executives have been proposed to build an effective capital structure.
The effect of CEO characteristics on financial reporting timeliness in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Borgi Hela , Ghardallou Wafa , AlZeer Maha
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of some demographic characteristics of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on Financial Reporting Timeliness (FRT) in Saudi Arabia. More particularly, this study aims to test whether or not CEO characteristics, namely, tenure, accounting financial expertise, and sociability are associated with FRT. The sample of this study consists of 119 non-financial firms listed on Tadawul Stock Exchange for a period of four years (2014-2017). We use panel regressions and two proxies of FRT. Our findings report that a long-tenured CEO is associated with timely financial reports when the IFRS transition is simultaneously considered. This result implies that companies with a long-tenured CEO reduce the period taken to prepare and disclose their financial reports in the period of IFRS transition. Our findings show that CEO accounting financial expertise is significantly associated with timely financial reporting. This result implies that companies with a CEO who is an accounting financial expert reduce the period taken to prepare and disclose their financial reports on the capital market website. Our findings also report that CEO sociability is significantly associated with timely financial reporting in all instances. This result suggests that companies with a more sociable CEO reduce the period taken to prepare and disclose their financial reports on the capital market website. This result implies that when the CEO is more sociable via social media, firms tend to be more active in disclosing their annual reports timely. Overall, findings report that CEO characteristics do matter regarding the timeliness of financial reporting. Results are robust to an alternative measure of financial reporting timeliness. Our findings should be of interest to policymakers and regulators in Saudi Arabia in formulating new policies as they need to play a role in ensuring the shorter gap of financial report delay. The findings of this research have also a practical implication for shareholders and boards of directors in selecting a new CEO by taking into consideration their accounting financial expertise and their sociability on social media. Findings of this research contribute to the growing literature by examining the effect of CEO characteristics on timely reporting in Saudi Arabia, an understudied and unique context. The present study also complements the recent literature on the determinants of financial reporting timeliness by providing evidence that the sociability and accounting financial expertise of top leaders improve the financial reporting timeliness.
Factors affecting the attraction of foreign direct investment: A study in northwest of Vietnam
Authors: Hoa Phuong Tran , Thu Ha Nguyen Thi , Duc Duong Nguyen
Published: April 2021

Foreign direct investment (FDI) plays an important role in economic growth for developing countries where there is always a shortage of investment capital. Its role is manifested through promoting economic restructuring, expanding markets, promoting exports, developing human resources and providing new technologies for development. Therefore, FDI has always been addressed as the top concern of governments in developing countries. However, FDI inflows often fluctuate because of many factors related to the competitive environment, such as market size, economic openness, competition in labor resources, etc. There are many empirical studies related to FDI inflows. However, most of these studies are carried out in developed countries. Meanwhile, in developing countries, there is not as much as this kind of study. On the other hand, the empirical research results are not consistent. This article will analyze the factors affecting FDI in the Northwest region of Vietnam in the context of global economic integration in the period of 2000 - 2019, from which we draw out the policy implications that can be applied to Vietnam.
The role of enterprise risk management on disclosure transparency in the international financial reporting standards period
Authors: Almasri Bisan
Published: April 2021

This research empirically investigates the role of the enterprise risk management system implementation level in capturing firm managerial incentives. The system plays an important role in understanding the association between international financial reporting standards and the capital market. Listed firms in the Australian market were used for the period 2000-2010 for this purpose. The study results imply that implementing higher levels of ERM by Australian firms during the mandatory IFRS adoption period does not capture firm incentives in IFRS period. Consequently, these results suggest that the implementation of ERM by Australian firms does not reduce the contractual costs between investors and management, whilst adopting IFRS does. Future research may use other techniques and/or strategies other than ERM, to capture the firm incentives, and as a result, may have economic consequences.
Factors Influencing Adjustment in Physical Education and Sports Learning after the COVID-19 Pandemic among Students in the Faculty of Education at Thailand National Sports University
Authors: Sukdee Thitipong , Chankuna Dittachai
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this study is to examine factors influencing the adjustments made to physical education and sports learning among students in the Faculty of Education at Thailand National Sports University after the COVID-19 pandemic. 595 students were selected using stratified random sampling from undergraduates in the Faculty of Education at Thailand National Sports University during Academic Year 2020. The data were then analyzed in terms of descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and Stepwise Multiple Regression Analysis. The potential influences to the adjustments made to physical education and sports learning after the COVID-19 pandemic among students in Faculty of Education at Thailand National Sports University comprised these 5 variables: 1) activities to promote knowledge of COVID-19 prevention within the university; 2) the university’s policies promoting the prevention of COVID-19; 3) facilities within the university; 4) imitating a classmate’s adjusted behaviors; and 5) learning in class. These 5 factors could predict the adjustments in physical education and sports learning after the COVID-19 pandemic in the studied group with the percentage of 73.60. The significance predicted by equations were as follows: In terms of raw scores: Y/ = -0.175 + 0.384 (X3) + 0.265 (X1) + 0.224 (X4) + 0.084 (X5) + 0.064 (X6) In term of standard scores: Z / Y = 0.357 (ZX3) + 0.356 (ZX1) + 0.207 (ZX4) + 0.067 (ZX5) + 0.062 (ZX6)
Determinants of Participation of Young Farmers with and without Disability in Agricultural Capacity-building Programs Designed for the Public in Uganda
Authors: Agole David , Baggett Connie D. , Brennan Mark A. , Ewing John C. , Yoder Edgar P. , Makoni Sinfree B. , Beckman Matthew D. , Epeju William Faustine
Published: April 2021

Participation of young farmers with disabilities in agricultural capacity-building programs in their communities is important as a poverty reduction strategy for people with disabilities in Uganda. This research study comparatively examined participation of young farmers with and without disabilities in capacity-building programs designed for the public in Northern and Eastern Uganda. The study employed a comparative, mixed methodology, cross-sectional research designs involving 774 young farmers composed of 388 with disabilities and 386 who had no disabilities. The sample selection strategies involved the use of a stratified, and random sampling techniques. This research utilized an interviewer-administered paper survey in collecting data. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used in analysing quantitative data. The findings indicate that young farmers with disability and being contacted face-to-face were less likely to participate in community capacity-building programs. In contrast, Northern Uganda, those contacted in a group setting, application of sign language interpretation, being female, and having supportive training staff increased the chances of their participation in community capacity-building programs.
The Effect of Pulsed Radiofrequency on Radicular Pain in Lumbal Herniated Nucleus Pulposus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Marliana Anita , Setyopranoto Ismail , Setyaningsih Indarwati , Rhatomy Sholahuddin
Published: April 2021

Context: Radiofrequency therapy is a medical procedure mainly used to reduce pain with a low complication rate (less than 1%), ease of application, and low cost. This review’s objective was to (1) evaluate the pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) effectiveness in treating radicular pain and (2) assess the PRF procedure’s safety in managing radicular pain in lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP). Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis. A tertiary care center and an academic medical center. Six full articles with the following features were selected for this review: (1) Articles published in English; (2) studies on the PRF effect on radicular pain in lumbar HNP; and (3) randomized control trials. Results: The studies showed that the PRF group had a reduction in pain scores at each evaluation. In four of the studies, the PRF group showed a more significant reduction in pain scores than the control, and in two of the studies, the reduction in pain scores was not significant in the PRF group compared to the control. An adverse effect was reported in one patient experiencing increased radicular pain after PRF. Lack of data required for statistical analysis, and lack use of a uniform duration for the PRF procedure by all the studies. Conclusions: PRF can be used as a promising clinical recommendation for pain management with minimally invasive radicular pain techniques due to lumbar HNP.