bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anatomical profile and genetic variability of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) cultivars in Banyumas, Central Java, based on RAPD markers
Authors: SITI SAMIYARSIH  , Fitrianto Nur , ENUR AZIZAH  , WIWIK HERAWATI  , ROCHMATINO
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Samiyarsih S, Fitrianto N, Azizah E, Herawati W, Rochmatino. 2020. Anatomical profile and genetic variability of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) cultivars in Banyumas, Central Java, based on RAPD markers. Biodiversitas 21: 1755-1766. Indonesia has developed a food consumption diversification based on local sources. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is one of the tubers of carbohydrate sources in addition to wheat, rice, corn, potatoes, and cassava. It has a wide distribution, and high cultivars diversity produces a high variation on its morphology, anatomy, and genetic modification. The objectives of this research were to investigate the anatomical profile and genetic variability of eight sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) cultivars found in Banyumas, Central Java, Indonesia. Anatomical profile was observed by the embedding method and subjected to analysis of variance. DNA amplification using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method with 10 primers, namely OPA-1, OPA-2, OPA-3, OPA-4, OPA-9, OPA-11, OPA-13, OPA-15, OPA-16, and OPA-18. The result of the anatomical study showed that eight sweet potato cultivars have significantly different (p<0.05) variation in leaf anatomical profile. RAPD primers produced 52 amplified fragments varying from 100 to 1300 bp in size, and 90.40% of the amplification bands were polymorphic. The genetic similarity level is ranged from 0.37 to 0.93. Two unspecific groups were forming at a coefficient of 55% from the dendrogram. The first group consisted of one cultivar, Cangkuang, and the second group consisted of seven cultivars Antin, Ungu Tua, Borobudur, Sukuh, Sari, Beta, and Kidal. The nearest relationships cultivars were Borobudur, and Ungu Tua had the highest similarity coefficient of 93%, and the lowest similarity found in Cangkuang and Antin with a coefficient of 37%. The range of genetic distance of eight cultivars was from 0.37-0.93. Implementation of the research would particularly useful for the identification and evaluation of the genetic improvement of sweet potato cultivars.
Full-color optically-sectioned imaging by wide-field microscopy via deep-learning
Authors: Bai Chen , Qian Jia , Dang Shipei , Peng Tong , Min Junwei , Lei Ming , Dan Dan , Yao Baoli
Published: April 2020

Wide-field microscopy (WFM) is broadly used in experimental studies of biological specimens. However, combining the out-of-focus signals with the in-focus plane reduces the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and axial resolution of the image. Therefore, structured illumination microscopy (SIM) with white light illumination has been used to obtain full-color 3D images, which can capture high SNR optically-sectioned images with improved axial resolution and natural specimen colors. Nevertheless, this full-color SIM (FC-SIM) has a data acquisition burden for 3D-image reconstruction with a shortened depth-of-field, especially for thick samples such as insects and large-scale 3D imaging using stitching techniques. In this paper, we propose a deep-learning-based method for full-color WFM, i.e., FC-WFM-Deep, which can reconstruct high-quality full-color 3D images with an extended optical sectioning capability directly from the FC-WFM z-stack data. Case studies of different specimens with a specific imaging system are used to illustrate this method. Consequently, the image quality achievable with this FC-WFM-Deep method is comparable to the FC-SIM method in terms of 3D information and spatial resolution, while the reconstruction data size is 21-fold smaller and the in-focus depth is doubled. This technique significantly reduces the 3D data acquisition requirements without losing detail and improves the 3D imaging speed by extracting the optical sectioning in the depth-of-field. This cost-effective and convenient method offers a promising tool to observe high-precision color 3D spatial distributions of biological samples.
Increasing the SBS threshold by applying a flexible temperature modulation technique with temperature measurement of the fiber core
Authors: Lou Zhaokai , Han Kai , Wang Xiaolin , Zhang Hanwei , Xu Xiaojun
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we proposed a temperature modulation technique for the suppression of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). This technique can achieve different kinds of temperature distributions in a high-power laser system with compact design and safe operation. We built up an experiment platform and a theoretical model to evaluate the performance of the temperature modulation technique by applying different temperature distributions along the gain fiber. A total of 3.3 dB SBS suppression can be achieved with only a 70 °C temperature gradient at 36 W output power in this experiment. During the experiment, optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) was used to measure the temperature distributions of the gain fiber core under the effect of the temperature modulation technique. By further simulating and optimizing the temperature distributions, we can see the potential of SBS suppression rise to 3.5 dB with this temperature modulation technique. Through these studies, we demonstrated our temperature modulation technique with high flexibility and great potential for SBS suppression in a high-power single-frequency laser system.
Multi-parameter characterization of atherosclerotic plaques based on optical coherence tomography, photoacoustic and viscoelasticity imaging
Authors: Wang Pingping , Chen Zhongjiang , Xing Da
Published: April 2020

Detection of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability is the critical step in prevention of acute coronary events. Fibrous cap thickness, lipid core size, and inflammation extent are three key parameters for assessing plaque vulnerability. Here, we report on multimodality imaging of mice aortic plaques using a system that integrates optical coherence tomography (OCT), photoacoustic imaging (PAI), and photoacoustic viscoelasticity imaging (PAVEI). The thickness of fibrous cap is accurately evaluated by OCT, and PAI helps to determine the distribution and size of lipid core. The mechanical properties of plaques are closely related to the plaque compositions and the content and distribution of macrophages, while PAVEI can characterize the plaque viscoelasticity through the phase delay of photoacoustic signal. Experimental results demonstrate that the OCT-PAI-PAVEI system can comprehensively characterize the three traits of atherosclerotic plaques, thereby identifying high-risk lesions.
Dynamic control of Bessel beams through high-phase diffractive axicons
Authors: Gutierrez Benjamin K. , Davis Jeffrey A. , Sánchez-López María M. , Moreno Ignacio , Cottrell Don M.
Published: April 2020

In this work, we present the realization of a high-phase diffractive axicon. For that purpose, we use a spatial light modulator that exhibits 10π phase modulation. We compare the results with standard diffractive axicons that exhibit 2π phase modulation. We show that high-phase modulation axicons generate Bessel beams with a shorter range and a smaller radius than standard axicons with the same period. We also find that the higher phase modulation regime provides improved diffraction efficiency since fringing effects are reduced. Therefore, dynamic control of Bessel beams is presented, controlled through the phase modulation dynamic range.
Understanding the religious controversy around democracy in Muslim-majority societies: An educational perspective
Authors: Saada Najwan
Published: April 2020

This study examines the debate over the meaning and place of democracy in Arab and Muslim-majority societies as interpreted by Islamist–Salafi vs. liberal/progressive perspectives. We explore the epistemological and political tenets of both ideologies and emphasize the possible educational implications of liberal/progressive Islam in the transitional societies of the Middle East. We propose the teaching of Islam through phenomenological and cultural studies pedagogies so that students exercise their capacities of inclusive and equal citizenship, religious reasoning, reflective identities and the pursuit of the common good.
Visualizing civic values: Representations of idealized citizenship behaviours in images found in Nepalese social studies textbooks
Authors: Shah Rabi , Brett Peter , Thomas Damon
Published: April 2020

Citizenship and political education has increasingly been identified as an important component in educating young people for democratic citizenship. The National Curriculum Framework for School Education in Nepal 2007, the Nepalese social studies school curriculum, and textbooks explicitly underline the promotion of a democratic system and culture along with the development of civic and citizenship skills among Nepalese citizens. This article reports on a qualitative analysis of selected civic awareness images in Nepalese social studies textbooks using a ‘visual grammar’ framework. The analysis reveals that the images attempt to promote a message of national unity and respect for diversity in the country. However, the low quality black and white images and textbooks have some adverse teaching and learning implications for teachers and students and tend towards idealized representations.
Exploration of immigrant in-service and pre-service teachers’ conception and practice of citizenship in the United States
Authors: Hung Yu-Han , Perez Natasha
Published: April 2020

This study is aimed at exploring public school in- and pre-service teachers’ conception, understanding and practice of citizenship in the United States. Using a case study design, this study documents how two public school in- and pre-service teachers as immigrants in the Midwest, the United States conceptualize and practise citizenship in their daily lives. The findings indicated social isolation and civic disengagement are the main factors impacting their development of citizenship. In addition, the findings illustrated immigrant in- and pre-service teachers take different actions for citizenship at their personal and professional level than non-immigrant in- and pre-service teachers.
Democratic Discord in Schools: Cases and Commentaries in Educational Ethics, Meira Levinson and Jacob Fay (eds) (2019)
Authors: Journell Wayne
Published: April 2020

Review of: Democratic Discord in Schools: Cases and Commentaries in Educational Ethics, Meira Levinson and Jacob Fay (eds) (2019)

Cambridge: Harvard Education Press, 342 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-68253-302-4, p/bk, USD 34.00
回艺 (huí yì): Exploring art-based life review to support the relocation process for older adults with dementia in nursing homes
Authors: Tan Chao Min , Tan Michael Koon Boon
Published: April 2020

Relocation to a nursing home can be a highly stressful process for older adults with dementia, yet programmes to support them are limited. This study developed an art-based life review programme (Project 回艺; huí yì) and examined its capability to support the process of relocation into the nursing home for older adults. The programme took place over six weeks with twelve older adults in two nursing homes. Each session comprised art-making and storytelling activities to create content that contributed to an individualized life review artbook. Data were gathered through qualitative interviews and observation of participants in sessions. Constant comparative analysis of qualitative data revealed three themes: empowering environment, identity reconstruction and personal biography. The three themes provide guidance for future art-based life review projects through a proposed practice framework.
Els manuscrits del Cançoner sagrat de vides de sants
Authors: Barceló i Trigueros Sergi
Published: April 2020

L’estudi de l’obra de Miquel Ortigues comporta una sèrie d’obstacles difícils de resoldre ateses les mancances documentals que es tenen a l’abast. Tot i això, l’estudi minuciós dels manuscrits del Cançoner sagrat de vides de sants pot oferir molta informació i encendre algunes llums per tal de resseguir les petjades d’aquest autor. Així ha ocorregut en analitzar aspectes formals com les filigranes del paper, el tipus de lletra, la composició dels quaderns o la pròpia història dels manuscrits. És ara que es pot començar a parlar de forma empírica de les dates, del procés de redacció i plantejar acaraments amb altres documents d’Ortigues per a albirar noves informacions que podrien resultar reveladores.
Cancionero Imagery and the Haptic Power of the Gaze in Roís Corella’s Història de Leànder i Hero
Authors: López González Luis F.
Published: April 2020

The purpose of this study is to show the import of vision and visual discourses in the articulation of desire in Joan Roís de Corella’s fifteenth-century Història de Leànder i Hero. The topoi of the “arrows of love” and the power of the gaze to make others fall in love represent both the catalyst that sets in motion the passionate love of Hero and Leànder and the means through which the lovers express their desire and longings. After Hero and Leànder wound each other with the arrows of love, they cannot stop their life-long quest to apprehend visually each other either across the crowd of guests in the festivity or across the Hellespont. Hero’s tower, which becomes a metonym for Hero, is always within Leànder’s choric visual field and cannot stop staring until he dies. Like Leànder, when her lover is not in Sestos with her, Hero cannot stop gazing across the sea in search Leànder. Hence after Leànder drowns and the currents carry his corpse to the shore of Sestos, Hero opens his eyes and kisses them with her own eyes. The eyes-to-eyes kiss underscores and attests to the preeminence of vision and visual theories in forming and conveying desire through sight. Corella, then, uses optical theories, extant during his own time, to showcase the power of the gaze in the articulation and expression of human behavior and desire.
Un testimonio desconocido de la poesía satírica del Conde de Villamediana: los textos
Authors: Vaccari Debora
Published: April 2020

En estas páginas se ofrece la edición de 23 textos satíricos y de un soneto lírico de Juan de Tassis, Conde de Villamediana, tal y como aparecen en el inédito Ms. Barberini Latini 3602 de la Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BV). Se trata de un cancionero facticio nunca antes consultado por los especialistas del autor, que desconocían su existencia, y en el que los textos del Conde aparecen en ocho puntos distintos, en folios independientes uno de otro. Del cotejo con las tres principales ediciones modernas tomadas como referencia se desprende que BV contiene a veces lecciones mejores respecto a la tradición y unas interpolaciones inéditas. En suma, este testimonio de la poesía del Conde de Villamediana confirma la gran complejidad de la tradición textual de sus sátiras políticas, debida a la gran cantidad de testimonios que la recogen, a los que se añade este cancionero romano.
Butylated hydroxytoluene protects bull sperm surface protein-P25b in different extenders following cryopreservation
Authors: Khumran A. M. , Yimer N. , Rosnina Y. , Wahid H. , Ariff M. O. , Homayoun H. , Asmatullah K. , Bello T. K.
Published: April 2020

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different concentration of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on sperm membrane surface protein "P25b" from cryopreserved bull semen in either lecithin based Bioxcell® (BX) or two egg-yolk based extenders, tris-egg yolk (TEY), and citrate-egg yolk (CEY). Materials and Methods: Forty-five semen samples, 15 each were extended with either BX, TEY, or CEY extender which contained different concentrations (0.0 - control, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 3.0 mM/mL) of BHT. The extended semen samples were frozen at a concentration of 20×106/mL in 0.25 mL straws and stored in liquid nitrogen for 2 weeks. The frozen samples were thereafter thawed, proteins extracted and analyzed for quantities of protein P25b through direct sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gel densitometry. Peptides were confirmed by Western blotting (WB). Results: Results showed that supplementation of BHT improved (p<0.05) quantity of protein P25b at concentrations of 0.5 mM/mL for BX and at 1.0 mM/mL for TEY and CE when compared with the controls and other treatments. Conclusion: BHT supplementation at 0.5 in BX and 1.0 mM/mL in TEY and CEY has protected bull sperm fertility marker protein P25b in frozen-thawed bull sperm.
OSCILLATION DAMPER CALCULATION BASED ON THE ELECTRO HYDRAULIC ANALOGY
Authors: Britsyn S. V. , Ryabinin M. V. , Semenov S. E.
Published: April 2020

The method of the synthesis and the pressure fluctuations damping calculation based on the electro-hydraulic analogy is proposed. The mathematical model describing the processes of unsteady fluid flow through the device is developed. Using the composed transfer function and its approximation, the oscillation damper parameters identification to reduce the outlet pressure pulsations in the triplex plunger pump is carried out.
FORMATION OF PROJECTED MACHINING OPERATIONS INSTRUMENTAL EQUIPMENT
Authors: Kondakov A. I. , Zaitsev A. V. , Sharapov S. N.
Published: April 2020

Determination of the composition and structure of technological operations instrumental equipment is the most important stage of their design. The level of these design procedures formalization does not meet modern requirements, which leads to an unreasonable increase in production costs. The latter can be reduced by building operations on a reasonable combination of simple and instrumental technological transitions. The article analyzes various options for the construction of operations and their impact on the appropriate instrumental equipment. It is shown that the automated search for elements of instrumental equipment can be efficiently organized on the basis of the technological objects predicate representation. The development of concentrated operations on highly automated CNC machines should be carried out from instrumental transitions of manufacturing technological complexes of machined surfaces, for which a methodical sequence of design actions is proposed.
CONNECTION OF THE ACTION THE LATENT HEAT AND IMPURITY ELEMENT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE STRUCTURE FORMATION PROCESS OF PERIODIC CRYSTALLIZATION WELD METAL DURING WELDING
Authors: Morozov V. P. , Romanov Yu. G.
Published: April 2020

The mechanism of the bath metal crystallization process during welding, despite a number of numerous’ works in this direction, is a significant complexity, including not only non-equilibrium cooling conditions, but also periodicity. The influence of external thermal fluctuations on the structure formation can be directed both in the positive direction and in the direction of obtaining negative results. The main role is played by internal causes, which are associated with the release of latent heat, the accumulation of alloying and impurity elements at the interface, the change in thermal properties when the metal is cooled. At the same time, an external heat source can have both a positive effect on structure formation and a negative one. At the same time, the frequency of the processes of crystallization of the weld metal under normal welding or surfacing conditions is given a secondary role by numerous authors. The complexity of the processes of interaction of hidden sources of heat and external energy sources is currently the subject of discussion in this article.
TO THE QUESTION OF THE STANDARD OF MECHANICAL STRESSES
Authors: Vengrinovich V. L. , Vintov D. A. , Em V. T. , Karpov I. D.
Published: April 2020

The results of a study of a biaxial stress-strain state using neutron diffraction, standardized in the field of stress measurement, and the Barkhausen effect method are presented. The possibility of using a device with a biaxial load as a standard of stress is evaluated. The article gives an assessment of an error in measuring voltage using strain gauges in relation to measurements made by the neutron diffraction method. The Barkhausen effect method is used as one of the non-destructive testing methods that are sensitive to the stress-strain state. The studies describe the possibility of adapting this method to the proposed stress standard.
ON THE REPRESENTATION AERODROME SURFACEROUTING NETWORK EDGE BY SMOOTH CURVES
Authors: Shustov V. V. , Veresov K. A.
Published: April 2020

The actual problem of ways to represent aerodrome surface route network is considered. Based on the analysis of various options, an approach is proposed for representing route network sections as smooth curves, which are described by parametric vector functions. Each of the vector function components is represented by a two-point Hermite interpolation polynomial, which uses derivatives up to some order inclusive. Within this approach, the optimization problem related to the coefficients selection of these polynomials based on minimizing the distance between the broken line and smooth curve is solved. The problem is reduced to solving a system of linear equations by the derivatives values at the ends of the route network section. The corresponding finite formulas for approximating broken lines by smooth curves are proposed. Based on the formulas obtained, algorithm and program for approximating route network sections using information about taxi lines, which are stored in aerodrome mapping database (AMDB), were developed. The program also allows you to calculate statistical indicators, what allow to get a quantitative approximation estimate. Numerical experiments based on the Sheremetyevo aerodrome dataset have shown the promise of this approach to presenting aerodrome surface route network, which can significantly (2 – 4 times) reduce the amount of data and increase the realism of the aerodrome model.
REAL-TIME CONTROL OF OPERATIONAL AND TECHNICAL PERFORMANCES OF THE AIRCRAFT GROUP
Authors: Buryak Yu. I. , Lyubovnikov M. P. , Kolesnikov K. A.
Published: April 2020

The article deals with the issues of improving the efficiency of control of operational and technical characteristics of the aircraft group by ensuring the completeness, reliability and relevance of data collection on the results of their operation. Proposals have been formed to combine aircraft maintenance work and collect the necessary data in a single automated real-time process. New approaches to automation of information processes of aircraft technical operation on the basis of wide use of mobile computer devices, document flow in electronic form and means of automatic identification United by the corresponding software components are offered. Mathematical models, algorithms and supporting software have been developed. The methodical approach for the automated creation of software applications using the tools of the software and technology platform is considered. A software and hardware complex for collecting and monitoring real-time parameters of the technical condition and operational and technical characteristics of the aircraft group was developed, the main functions of its components and the scheme of interaction were determined. It is shown that the proposed methodological and software-technical solutions allow to provide an increase in the reliability and efficiency of the assessment of operational and technical characteristics of aircraft using both single and integrated (complex) indicators.
Wage Inequality, Firm Size and Gender: The Case of CANADA
Authors: Islam Sadequl , Safavi Mohammad
Published: April 2020

Using data from the Labor Force Survey, February 2006 and 2019 of Canada, we document a decrease in wage inequality for females and males. In 2006 and 2019, wage inequality in small firms is higher than large firms and much of overall wage inequality occurs within groups (firm size and sex) rather than between groups.
The Impact of Infectious Diseases on Kenya’s Health Diplomacy; An Inter-State Phenomenon
Authors: Kurgat Paul K. , Kurgat Alice J. , Juma Thomas Otieno
Published: April 2020

The impact of infectious diseases is a real global phenomenon in the 21st century buoyed by the accelerated pace of globalization which seem to dissolve the distinctions between; many domestic and foreign issues, regions and multinational actors, and even friendly and hostile states. The impact of infectious diseases on Kenya’s health diplomacy calls for need to enhance public health partnerships to tackle such issues of international concern to effectively handle such diplomacy matters and timely. The study used qualitative study methodology by describing the context of Kenya’s health diplomacy and employing available documents analysis. The study concluded that controlling emerging and reemerging infectious diseases require extreme actions and coordination between many national and international actors which Kenya and her international network of states must do through diplomacy.
Where is Italian domestic labor law moving toward
Authors: Grandi Barbara
Published: April 2020

Not Available
An Analysis of Relationship between Stock Futures and Underlying Stock Volatility
Authors: Ganai Dr. Khurshid Ali
Published: April 2020

In this study, the researcher has undertaken an analysis to establish whether the introduction of stock futures trading influences the volatility of the underlying stock or not. In order to establish this, the researcher has taken eight companies into consideration which belongs to four different sectors such as pharmaceuticals, Banking, Oil and Gas and Fast Moving Consumer Goods sector. The researcher has taken a reference period of fourteen years which is sub-divided into two sub-groups namely pre-derivatives period, comprises of seven years from 1995-2001 and post-derivatives period, comprises of seven years from 2002-2008. The findings put forth by the study confirms increased volatility during the post-derivatives period compared to pre-derivatives period. These findings collaborates with the findings of Lee and Oak (1992), Bechetti and Robert (1999) and Kamara et.al (1992).
Copreneurs: The Impact of Spousal Relationships on Business success In Nigeria
Authors: Aladejebi Olufemi
Published: April 2020

Copreneurship is a term used to describe a situation where the husband and wife manage the same company. Copreneurship is a branch of the family business. It is becoming popular among the type of businesses. The main objectives of this research study include the examination of how spousal relationships affect a firm's financial profitability, factors that limit and improve the effective functioning of copreneurial teams, and how decisions are made. A purposeful sample was used to select respondents. Data was collected from fifty-five (55) couples out of which forty- seven (47) were viable. The research instrument was based on a five-point Likert scale. The questionnaire administered contained 2parts, Part 1: contains general information while Part 2: contains Perceived success, financial performance, growth performance, shared dream, Leadership, personal needs alignment, Division of labour, complementary skills, supportive employees, competencies, adequate resources. The results showed that the primary operators of the businesses were mostly wives. The majority of the copreneurs benefitted greatly from their business relationship in terms of perceived success, financial performance, growth performance, and shared dreams.
B. IS & MIS Information Systems and Management Information Systems: The backbone, sustenance and accomplishment of modern business
Authors: Kwadade-Cudjoe Francis
Published: April 2020

Information System (IS) has always been mixed up and confused with Management Information System (MIS) by many Information Technology professionals, and even in definitions ascribed to them thereby puzzling many users of Information Technology (IT). It should however, be noted that IS deals with the generality of the process of generating information from data; and MIS is definite about information generation for the use of management to enable them to efficiently / effectively plan, organize, direct, control and govern organisations. Any organisation lacking good IS and MIS for effective management of its functions / activities would be seriously handicapped, and as such could be doomed for collapse. Many modern organisations may be culprits of possessing the needed information for effective management of their enterprise, thereby denying the establishment of achieving its goals. It is a fact that achievement of organisational goals are synonymous with success of the enterprise, and management is required to attain the goals established with the directors of the company.
C. Pareto's Rule 80/20 Pareto’s Rule on global wealth and material distribution: The role of start-ups to change the dynamics of the rule
Authors: Kwadade-Cudjoe Francis
Published: April 2020

Pareto Rule of 80/20 has a lot to inform the globe of the inequalities that prevail in human and business systems. This Rule of 80/20 was first postulated by Juran in 1937, however the principles are still applicable in the modern society. It is so unfortunate that the 20% who controls 80% (vital few) of the global wealth, is still sustained. The 80% who controls only 20% (trivial many) of the global income still find themselves constricted to that position. This is a pathetic situation, and governments should do well to help start-ups and the marginalised in societies to extricate themselves from this mess. Poverty or unfair distribution of wealth should not be accepted as the order of life, and individuals should do well to come out of it. It is the hope of this article that when start-ups are given the necessary push by government to be sustainable, there would be a paradigm shift within the 80/20 Rule of Pareto
Ethical Philanthropy in the era of Patient-Centric, Value-Based Health Care
Authors: Kalina Peter
Published: April 2020

Patient-centered, value-based health care implies care that is high-quality, responsive to patient preferences, delivered safely, and at a fair cost.   The future of healthcare portends changes; including less favorable payer mix, decreased reimbursement and alternate compensation models.  Innovative strategies will be required to maintain excellence in care while efficiently maximizing existing capital and human resources.  Successfully implementing a health care institution’s initiatives cannot be achieved entirely from within.  Philanthropy must fill gaps to help support research, education and clinical missions. Strong physician – patient relationships are essential to facilitating philanthropic gifts from grateful patients. While we assume magnanimous intentions and motivations, gifts may potentially influence behavior.  While VIP care for patients who donated (or believed likely to) is a successful strategy; distinctions are needed between development and clinical relationships.  Philanthropy cannot affect care, which must be irrespective of wealth or position. The highest professional and ethical standards and practices must be maintained when accepting grateful patient philanthropy. Developing and promoting a sustainable philanthropic strategy begins with reviewing needs and goals to support the mission;  motivated and inspired by improving outcomes.  Achieving missions in health care requires dedicated philanthropic partnerships.  Pursued with professionalism, thoughtfulness and integrity; philanthropy represents a vital pathway to innovatively advance patient care.   Support allows donors to make an investment and express their values. Realizing the direct and lasting impact of collaboration provides rewarding benefit and meaningful recognition.
An overview of Beauty Standards as culturally projected within Ghana’s Most Beautiful Pageant
Authors: Azuah Scholastica Wompakeah , J. Adu-Agyem , A. Eric Appau
Published: April 2020

Beauty pageants such as Ghana’s Most Beautiful (GMB) normally select a lady to serve as a symbolic representation of their collective identity to a larger audience. The common tastes including fashion and lifestyle of members of a society collectively form and represent the tastes and lifestyle of its people; therefore the fashion and culture of a particular time symbolize the spirit of the times. Cultural principles refer to the cultural values that are categorized, organized and evaluated in each society. The principles governing standards in one region or country may not be same for other places. For example, the reasons for wearing of beads in one region may differ from that of other regions in Ghana. Standards are held to when they are documented and subsequently in line with cultural values. In a discussion with two members of the GMB organizing team during a national audition at TV3 premises in August 2017, they admitted that there was no comprehensive policy document spelling out beauty standards and guidelines of the pageant. The research adapts a sequential exploratory design with a population made up of all participants of GMB.  The purpose of the study was to find out the beauty standards of GMB pageant as culturally projected within the beauty pageant. It was found out that the pageant occasionally deviates from its main focus of projecting Ghanaian cultural values. It should therefore regularly refer to its objectives while exhibiting all its activities.
Prevalence and Perpetrators of Domestic Violence against Adolescents in Rivers State.
Authors: Okey-Orji Stella , Asogwa Emmanuel U.
Published: April 2020

The study investigated prevalence and perpetrators of domestic violence against adolescents in Rivers State.  Cross sectional and co-relational designs were used for the study. Three research questions guided the study and four hypotheses were postulated and tested. The population for the study was 93,076 adolescents in Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools. A sample size of one thousand five hundred and twelve (1512) respondents was selected using multistage sampling procedures.  The instrument for data collection was validated self-structured/adapted 59-item questionnaire titled domestic violence prevalence and perpetrators questionnaire (DVPPQ). The data generated were subjected to statistical analysis using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while Z-test and ANOVA were used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 alpha levels.  The findings of the study revealed that domestic violence against adolescents was prevalent in Rivers State with grand mean of 2.63.  Guardians, siblings and parents were the major perpetrators of physical, verbal, economic and emotional abuses, while relatives, friends and neighbors were the perpetrators of sexual abuse against adolescents.  The findings also revealed that age, parents’/guardians’ educational and occupational status had no significant influence on the perpetration of domestic against adolescents but gender did. Based on the findings, the study recommended among others that integrated approaches be adopted to curb the menace of domestic violence in the society, particularly in Rivers State.
The Impact of Entrepreneurial Networks on The Performance of Small Business in Nigeria
Authors: Aladejebi Olufemi
Published: April 2020

Networking is ultimately the process of exchanging information between two or more people; in this case, entrepreneurs.  The main objective of this paper is to look into the firm attributes related to formal networking and investigate whether membership in formal networks in the form of business associations and industry/trade-specific associations has been an impact on the growth of SMEs business in Lagos, Nigeria. A purposeful sample was used to select respondents. Questionnaires designed to examine the views of the entrepreneur about SME networking were distributed amongst two SME groups, namely Nigerian Association Of Small  Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Lagos, and PHARMALLIANCE (Association of Community Pharmacists). The research instrument was based on a five-point Likert scale. The questionnaire administered contained 2parts, Part 1: contains general information, while Part 2: contains specific questions relating to networking. The results of the analysis showed a generally positive overview of SME networking in Nigeria. The respondents mostly agree across both groups that networking is of great benefit to their businesses.
Financial Crime, ICT & E-Governance: Libraries Role
Authors: Olowu Kemi , Gabasa P.
Published: April 2020

Love of money is the root of all evil (I Tim. 6:10) More than thirty financial crime are listed in this work making it like a spaghetti bowl. The list is inexhaustive with aid of ICT which is simply “putting old wine in new bottles” Elements of financial crime, consequences of these on the society and leeway for escape from justice in this climate are listed. From clumsy adjudication, corruption in  judiciary, in availability of experts ,nonexistence of e-governance, dead forensic laboratories to empower Questioned Documents Examination (QDE), dearth of criminal profiling, jurisdictional discrepancies due to extra territoriality of the crime,  short lifespan of cyber storage devices and double standards of investigatory unit, to difficulty of physical presence of suspects of borderless crimes. Overcoming these impediments are herculean but attainable. Recommendations to stem these crime’s negative effects on the economy and distortion of social stability etc. range from punishments bothering on cruelty and inhumanity like South Korea’s death penalty, documentation of financial criminals globally and information dissemination on such. Treaties on such crimes should be published widely, resuscitation of forensic laboratories to empower analysis of disputed signatures, fingerprints of ex-convicts.(CCR), Cross fertilization of ideas by jurists in foreign  lands and reports in law libraries. Possibilities in virtual environments via ICT are listed such as “FinTrack” software etc. to stem this unethical public, financial behaviour.
The Common Emotional Plot of the Four Gospels
Authors: Whissell Cynthia
Published: April 2020

One way of defining or describing a plot is through its emotional structure. This article examines the emotional structure of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in a modern English translation (WEB). Measures of emotion are based on quantitative sentiment analysis (Dictionary of Affect in Language).  A common plot is identified for all gospels, modeled with a regression analysis (p<.001), and described in terms of the relationship of emotion to content across time. The plot opens on an emotionally positive note. Emotions become increasingly unpleasant as Jesus meets with resistance from religious authorities while engaging in his ministry. Emotions then become more pleasant as Jesus completes his pre-Judean ministry, experiences the Transfiguration, and enters Jerusalem in triumph. After this, emotions become increasingly unpleasant again, leading to the low of the crucifixion. A turn to more pleasant emotions characterizes the resurrection. In a separate analysis it was noted that segments of the gospels presented as spoken by Jesus were more pleasant than remaining materials (p<.001): however, they did not vary emotionally in accordance with the plot (p>.20), but remained relatively stable across time.
Nigeria and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement Area (AFCFTA): Issues, Challenges and Prospect.
Authors: Mustapha Ayodele Haruna , Adetoye D.
Published: April 2020

In order to improve intra-continental trade in Africa Union (AU) introduced the African Continental Force Trade Agreement Area (AFCTFA) to create single continental market for the free movement of goods and services within the African Continent. AU is progressively eliminating tariffs as well as non-tariff barrier to African trade through the AFCFTA which will make it easier for African businesses to trade within the continent and benefit from growing African market. Nigeria’s position on the AFCFTA remains that African economic and social integration must be rules-based and with built-in safeguard against injurious practices. AFCFTA is an important part of the AU – 2063 Agenda to promote economic and social integration on the continent. Agreement comprises of the framework, the protocols for trade in goods and trade in services and the mechanism for dispute resolution. AFCFTA is to facilitate economic growth and diversification through preferential access to Africa’s market. The paper examines Nigeria’s stands which states that continental aspirations must compliment Nigeria’s national interest which includes not positioning it as a dumping ground for finished goods. The paper makes use of secondary source of data to elicit information while it examines the challenges like how will the agreement be implemented on the ground without the necessary infrastructure being built without the procedural issues that makes corruption very possible at the borders. The paper adopts free trade theory to midwife the study.
The Analysis Quintuple Helix Minicont as a challenge for Future Logistics Defense
Authors: Ghazalie Ghazalie
Published: April 2020

In supporting competition areas, the International Trade and many kinds of free trade agreements in many industries will become progressively stringent. The implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community increases the need to grow the competitiveness of domestic industries through developing the performance of its logistics system. The Logistic Report Index 2018 was released by the World Bank Indicated that Indonesia rank was in 46th position out of 160 countries. Indonesia will definitely not be able to compete with their ASEAN peers if  the development of infrastructure is still poor and logistics cost is higher than another countries. Thefore  Indonesia is innovating Minicont-Mini Shipping Container which cutt off by up to 30% logistics cost and potentially become the next logistic defense. By applying quintuple helix this research is to analyze how Minicont can cut off logitisct cost significantly and support logistic defense in the future. The researchers apply descriptive method for data analysing and the result proved that Minicont shorten supply chain process.
Effect Of Kolawole’s Problem-Solving Teaching Strategy On The Academic Performance Of Secondary School Students In Mathematics In Nigeria
Authors: S. O. Olofin , Kolawole E. B.
Published: April 2020

The study examined the effects of Kolawole’s Problem Solving (KPS) teaching strategy on the academic performance of secondary school students in Mathematics in Nigeria. Specifically, the study was designed to ascertain which of the strategies (KPS or conventional) would be the more effective in the teaching of Mathematics. The study also investigated the difference in the academic performance of students exposed to KPS strategy in three geo-political zones of Nigeria. Quasi – experimental pre-test and post-test two group design (one experimental group and one control group) was used in the study. The sample consisted of 562 S.S.S. 2 students drawn from eighteen public secondary schools in three geo-political zones of Nigeria. The sample was selected using multistage sampling procedure. Performance Test in Mathematics (PTM) was used to collect relevant data for this study. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study showed that the two groups (KPS and Conventional) were homogeneous at the commencement of the experiment. Also, there was significant difference in the post-test mean score of students exposed to KPS and conventional strategies in favour of students exposed to KPS strategy. Furthermore, there was difference in students’ performance in Mathematics when exposed to KPS based on their geo-political zones. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that the use of KPS strategy should be encouraged in Mathematics class in secondary schools so as to enhance better academic performance of students in Mathematics.
The Struggle for Power in Post-Colonial Africa: Politics without Hegemony and the State.
Authors: Fadakinte M. M.
Published: April 2020

Scholars have explained the implications of colonization on Africa, but none has explained the implications to include crisis of hegemony and crisis of state. That is the thrust of this paper, an explanation of how/why post-colonial Africa got enmeshed in violent struggle for power by factions of the dominant class soon after independence. In Africa, colonialism imposed capitalism and inverted the process of evolving a capitalist sate, which made the emerging dominant class, who were of different ethnic and tribal origins, to develop into factions. As a result, the dominant classes were made up of belligerent factions and therefore cannot institute hegemonic process which will be the way they will maintain a dominant culture through the use of social institutions to formalize power. Consequently, in post-colonial Africa, politics is without hegemony (leadership, domination and control) and a state (institution for order).  And whenever people struggle for power without hegemony and the state, what emerges is chaos.  Hence, post-colonial African countries boil each time there is competition for power.  Thus, there is need to redefine state-society relations in post-colonial Africa, based on a new paradigm of state formation that will reflect their colonial experience.
IMPACT OF IMPORT TARIFF POLICIES ON RICE DEMAND AND SUPPLY IN INDONESIA
Authors: Pide Akhmad
Published: April 2020

Indonesia’s economic policies cannot be separated to its rice policies since rice is the staple food for Indonesian people. The paper aims to find out the impact of rice import tariff policies on rice demand and supply in Indonesia. The research uses time series data in 1981-2018. Data obtained are analyzed using econometric model with simultaneous equation system. Estimation results show that rice supply was positively and significantly influenced by grain rice price in farmer level, amount of rice production, and rice supply of the previous year. Meantime, domestic rice demand was negatively and significantly influenced by domestic rice price and positively and significantly influenced by domestic rice demand of the previous year. The result of policy simulation indicates that scenario of policy combination through an increase in rice import tariff and government purchase price brings a sizeable impact on the increase in domestic rice production and rice demand and supply. Therefore, Indonesia needs to conduct protection to farmers in the form of rice import tariff imposition as well as government purchase price.
Seasonal and Event-related Fluctuations in the Positivity of the Language in Sir Walter Scott’s Journal
Authors: Whissell Cynthia
Published: April 2020

Computerized sentiment analysis based on the Dictionary of Affect in Language (Whissell, 2009) was employed to assess patterns in the employment of positive (pleasant) language in the journal kept by Sir Walter Scott between 1825 and 1832. The continuous portion of the journal (33 months) was modeled with a polynomial regression. Two major patterns were observed. In the earlier portions of the journal, significant seasonal variations were present, with more positively toned entries in the Spring/Summer and less positive ones in the Fall/Winter. In the later portions of the journal there were discontinuities most likely attributable to ill health; significantly greater emotional variability was noted with some of the least positive entries occurring at about the time when Scott was facing his final illness and just before he stopped making journal entries.