bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physical versus economic water footprints in crop production: a case study for China
Authors: Yang Xi , Zhuo La , Xie Pengxuan , Huang Hongrong , Feng Bianbian , Wu Pute
Published: April 2020

Abstract. A core goal of sustainable agricultural water resources management is to implement lower water footprint (WF), i.e., higher water productivity, while maximising economic benefits in crop production. However, previous studies mostly focused on crop water productivity from a single physical perspective. Little attention is paid to synergies and trade-offs between water consumption and economic value creation of crop production. Distinguishing between blue and green water composition, grain and cash crops, and irrigation and rainfed production mode in China, this study calculates the production-based WF (PWF) and derives the economic value-based WF (EWF) of 14 major crops in 31 provinces for each year over 2001–2016. The synergy evaluation index (SI) of PWF and EWF is proposed to evaluate quantitatively the synergies and trade-offs between the two. Results show that both the PWF and EWF of most considered crops in China decreased with the increase of crop yield and prices. The high (low) values of both PWF and EWF of grain crop tended to obvious cluster in space and there existed a huge difference between blue and green water in economic value creation. Moreover, the SI revealed a serious incongruity between PWFs and EWFs both in grain and cash crops. Negative SI values occurred mostly in northwest China for grain crops, and overall more often and with lower values for cash crops. Unreasonable regional planting structure and crop prices resulted in this incongruity, suggesting the need to promote regional coordinated development to adjust the planting structure according to local conditions and to regulate crop prices rationally.
Hydrology and beyond: The scientific work of August Colding revisited
Authors: Rosbjerg Dan
Published: April 2020

Abstract. August Colding was one of the three pioneers, who in the mid-1800s almost simultaneously and independently formulated the first law of thermodynamics, the two others being Robert Mayer and James Joule. This first, significant achievement was followed by a sequence of other ground-breaking discoveries within a broad range of disciplines: magnetism, steam power, gas production, hydraulics, soil physics, hydrology, heating and ventilation, meteorology and oceanography. Moreover, he gave a significant contribution to the understanding of the spread of cholera. In hydrology, he used evaporation experiments to obtain water balances. Independently, he formulated Darcy's law, and, as the first one, he calculated the water table between drainpipes and the piezometric surface in confined aquifers. His main occupation, however, was chief engineer in Copenhagen, where he modernised the city by introducing groundwater-based water supply and building a waterworks delivering pressured, clean water into the houses, a gasworks and gas-based street lightening, and a citywide sewage system. Colding has not been recognised internationally as he might deserve, probably because most of his publications were written in Danish. Even in Denmark, he seems today almost forgotten. This paper highlights his most important scientific contributions, in particular his achievements in hydrology, hydraulics, meteorology and oceanography.
Time-lapse cross-hole electrical resistivity tomography (CHERT) for monitoring seawater intrusion dynamics in a Mediterranean aquifer
Authors: Palacios Andrea , Ledo Juan José , Linde Niklas , Luquot Linda , Bellmunt Fabian , Folch Albert , Marcuello Alex , Queralt Pilar , Pezard Philippe A. , Martínez Laura , del Val Laura , Bosch David , Carrera Jesús
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Surface electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a widely used tool to study seawater intrusion (SWI). It is noninvasive and offers a high spatial coverage at a low cost, but its imaging capabilities are strongly affected by decreasing resolution with depth. We conjecture that the use of CHERT (cross-hole ERT) can partly overcome these resolution limitations since the electrodes are placed at depth, which implies that the model resolution does not decrease at the depths of interest. The objective of this study is to test the CHERT for imaging the SWI and monitoring its dynamics at the Argentona site, a well-instrumented field site of a coastal alluvial aquifer located 40 km NE of Barcelona. To do so, we installed permanent electrodes around boreholes attached to the PVC pipes to perform time-lapse monitoring of the SWI on a transect perpendicular to the coastline. After 2 years of monitoring, we observe variability of SWI at different timescales: (1) natural seasonal variations and aquifer salinization that we attribute to long-term drought and (2) short-term fluctuations due to sea storms or flooding in the nearby stream during heavy rain events. The spatial imaging of bulk electrical conductivity allows us to explain non-monotonic salinity profiles in open boreholes (step-wise profiles really reflect the presence of freshwater at depth). By comparing CHERT results with traditional in situ measurements such as electrical conductivity of water samples and bulk electrical conductivity from induction logs, we conclude that CHERT is a reliable and cost-effective imaging tool for monitoring SWI dynamics.
Assessing the factors governing the ability to predict late-spring flooding in cold-region mountain basins
Authors: Vionnet Vincent , Fortin Vincent , Gaborit Etienne , Roy Guy , Abrahamowicz Maria , Gasset Nicolas , Pomeroy John W.
Published: April 2020

Abstract. From 19 to 22 June 2013, intense rainfall and
concurrent snowmelt led to devastating floods in the Canadian Rockies,
foothills and downstream areas of southern Alberta and southeastern British
Columbia, Canada. Such an event is typical of late-spring floods in cold-region mountain headwater, combining intense precipitation with rapid
melting of late-lying snowpack, and represents a challenge for hydrological
forecasting systems. This study investigated the factors governing the
ability to predict such an event. Three sources of uncertainty, other than
the hydrological model processes and parameters, were considered: (i) the
resolution of the atmospheric forcings, (ii) the snow and soil moisture initial conditions (ICs) and (iii) the representation of the soil texture.
The Global Environmental Multiscale hydrological modeling platform
(GEM-Hydro), running at a 1 km grid spacing, was used to simulate
hydrometeorological conditions in the main headwater basins of southern
Alberta during this event. The GEM atmospheric model and the Canadian
Precipitation Analysis (CaPA) system were combined to generate atmospheric
forcing at 10, 2.5 and 1 km over southern Alberta. Gridded estimates of snow
water equivalent (SWE) from the Snow Data Assimilation System (SNODAS) were used
to replace the model SWE at peak snow accumulation and generate alternative
snow and soil moisture ICs before the event. Two global soil texture
datasets were also used. Overall 12 simulations of the flooding event
were carried out. Results show that the resolution of the atmospheric
forcing affected primarily the flood volume and peak flow in all river
basins due to a more accurate estimation of intensity and total amount of
precipitation during the flooding event provided by CaPA analysis at
convection-permitting scales (2.5 and 1 km). Basin-averaged snowmelt also
changed with the resolution due to changes in near-surface wind and
resulting turbulent fluxes contributing to snowmelt. Snow ICs were the main
sources of uncertainty for half of the headwater basins. Finally, the soil
texture had less impact and only affected peak flow magnitude and timing for
some stations. These results highlight the need to combine atmospheric
forcing at convection-permitting scales with high-quality snow ICs to provide
accurate streamflow predictions during late-spring floods in cold-region mountain river basins. The predictive improvement by inclusion of high-elevation weather stations in the precipitation analysis and the need for
accurate mountain snow information suggest the necessity of integrated
observation and prediction systems for forecasting extreme events in
mountain river basins.
Contribution of understory evaporation in a tropical wet forest during the dry season
Authors: Jiménez-Rodríguez César Dionisio , Coenders-Gerrits Miriam , Wenninger Jochen , Gonzalez-Angarita Adriana , Savenije Hubert
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Tropical wet forests are complex ecosystems with a large number of plant species. These environments are characterized by a high water availability
throughout the whole year and a complex canopy structure. However, how the different sections of the canopy contribute to total evaporation is poorly
understood. The aim of this work is to estimate the total evaporation flux and differentiate the contribution among canopy layers of a tropical wet
forest in Costa Rica. The fluxes were monitored during the dry season by making use of the energy balance to quantify the fluxes and stable water isotopes
to trace the sources of water vapor. Total evaporation was 275.5 mm and represents 55.9 % of the recorded precipitation (498.8 mm),
with 11.7 % of the precipitation being intercepted and evaporated along the forest canopy. The understory beneath 8 m contributed
23.6 % of the evaporation, and almost half of it comes from the first 2 m of the understory. Stable water isotope signatures show different
soil water sources depending on the plant type. Palms make use of a water source with an isotope signature similar to precipitation and
throughfall. Soil water with a fractionated signature is used by trees, bushes and lianas. The isotope signature of water vapor samples overlap among
different heights, but it was not possible to make use of the Keeling plot method due to the similar isotope signature of the possible sources of
water vapor as well as the high water concentration even on the dryer days.
Improving early warning of drought-driven food insecurity in southern Africa using operational hydrological monitoring and forecasting products
Authors: Shukla Shraddhanand , Arsenault Kristi R. , Hazra Abheera , Peters-Lidard Christa , Koster Randal D. , Davenport Frank , Magadzire Tamuka , Funk Chris , Kumar Sujay , McNally Amy , Getirana Augusto , Husak Greg , Zaitchik Ben , Verdin Jim , Nsadisa Faka Dieudonne , Becker-Reshef Inbal
Published: April 2020

Abstract. The region of southern Africa (SA) has a fragile food economy and is vulnerable to frequent droughts. Interventions to mitigate food insecurity
impacts require early warning of droughts – preferably as early as possible before the harvest season (typically starting in April) and lean season (typically starting in November). Hydrologic monitoring and forecasting systems provide a unique opportunity to support early warning efforts, since they can provide regular updates on available root-zone soil moisture (RZSM), a critical variable for crop yield, and provide forecasts of RZSM by combining the estimates of antecedent soil moisture conditions with climate forecasts. For SA, this study documents the predictive capabilities of RZSM products from the recently developed NASA Hydrological Forecasting and Analysis System (NHyFAS). Results show that the NHyFAS products would have identified the regional severe drought event – which peaked during December–February of 2015–2016 – at least as early as 1 November 2015. Next, it is shown that during 1982–2016, February RZSM (Feb-RZSM) forecasts (monitoring product) available in early November (early March) have a correlation of 0.49 (0.79) with the detrended regional crop yield. It is also found that when the February RZSM forecast (monitoring product) available in early November (early March) is indicated to be in the lowest tercile, the detrended regional crop yield is below normal about two-thirds of the time (always), at least over the sample years considered. Additionally, it is shown that the February RZSM forecast (monitoring product) can provide “out-of-sample” crop yield forecasts with comparable (substantially better with 40 % reduction in mean error) skill to December–February ENSO. These results indicate that the NHyFAS products can effectively support food insecurity early warning in the SA region. Finally, since a framework similar to NHyFAS can be used to provide RZSM monitoring and forecasting products over other regions of the globe, this case study also demonstrates potential for supporting food insecurity early warning globally.
Impact of a medicane on the oceanic surface layer from a coupled, kilometre-scale simulation
Authors: Bouin Marie-Noëlle , Lebeaupin Brossier Cindy
Published: April 2020

Abstract. A kilometre-scale coupled ocean-atmosphere numerical simulation is used to study the impact of the 7 November 2014 medicane on the oceanic upper layer. The processes at play are elucidated through analyses of the tendency terms for temperature and salinity in the oceanic mixed layer. Whereas comparable by its maximum wind speed to a Category 1 tropical cyclone, the medicane results in a substantially weaker cooling. As in weak to moderate tropical cyclones, the dominant contribution to the surface cooling is the surface heat fluxes, with secondary effects from the turbulent mixing and lateral advection. Upper-layer salinity decreases due to heavy precipitation that overcompensates the salinizing effect of evaporation and turbulent mixing. The upper-layer evolution is marked by several features believed to be typical of Mediterranean cyclones. First, strong, convective rain occurring at the beginning of the event build a marked salinity barrier layer. As a consequence, the action of surface forcing is favoured and the turbulent mixing dampened, with a net increase of the surface cooling as result. Second, due to colder surface temperature and weaker stratification, a cyclonic eddy is marked by a weaker cooling, oppositely to what is usually observed in tropical cyclones. Third, the strong dynamics of the Sicily Strait enhances the role of the lateral advection in the cooling and warming processes of the mixed layer.
Plio-Quaternary tectonic evolution of the southern margin of the Alboran Basin (Western Mediterranean)
Authors: Lafosse Manfred , d'Acremont Elia , Rabaute Alain , Estrada Ferran , Jollivet-Castelot Martin , Vazquez Juan Tomas , Galindo-Zaldivar Jesus , Ercilla Gemma , Alonso Belen , Smit Jeroen , Ammar Abdellah , Gorini Christian
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Progress in the understanding and dating of the sedimentary record of the Alboran Basin allows us to propose a model of its tectonic evolution since the Pliocene. After a period of extension, the Alboran Basin underwent a progressive tectonic inversion starting around 9–7.5 Ma. The Alboran Ridge is a NE–SW transpressive structure accommodating the shortening in the basin. We mapped its southwestern termination, a Pliocene rhombic structure exhibiting series of folds and thrusts. The active
Al-Idrissi Fault zone (AIF) is a Pleistocene strike-slip structure trending
NNE–SSW. The AIF crosses the Alboran Ridge and connects to the transtensive
Nekor Basin and the Nekor Fault to the south. In the Moroccan shelf and at
the edge of a submerged volcano we dated the inception of the local
subsidence at 1.81–1.12 Ma. The subsidence marks the propagation of the AIF
toward the Nekor Basin. Pliocene thrusts and folds and Quaternary
transtension appear at first sight to act at different tectonic periods but
reflect the long-term evolution of a transpressive system. Despite the
constant direction of Africa–Eurasia convergence since 6 Ma, along the
southern margin of the Alboran Basin, the Pliocene–Quaternary compression
evolves from transpressive to transtensive along the AIF and the Nekor
Basin. This system reflects the logical evolution of the deformation of the
Alboran Basin under the indentation of the African lithosphere.
Distribution and seasonal evolution of supraglacial lakes on Shackleton Ice Shelf, East Antarctica
Authors: Arthur Jennifer F. , Stokes Chris R. , Jamieson Stewart S. R. , Carr J. Rachel , Leeson Amber A.
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Supraglacial lakes (SGLs) enhance surface melting and can flex and fracture ice shelves when they grow and subsequently drain, potentially leading to ice shelf disintegration. However, the seasonal evolution of SGLs and their influence on ice shelf stability in East Antarctica remains poorly understood, despite some potentially vulnerable ice shelves having high densities of SGLs. Using optical satellite imagery, air temperature data from climate reanalysis products and surface melt predicted by a regional climate model, we present the first long-term record (2000–2020) of seasonal SGL evolution on Shackleton Ice Shelf, which is Antarctica’s northernmost remaining ice shelf and buttresses Denman Glacier, a major outlet of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. In a typical melt season, we find hundreds of SGLs with a mean area of 0.02 km2, a mean depth of 0.96 m, and a mean total meltwater volume of 7.45 x 106 m3. At their most extensive, SGLs cover a cumulative area of 50.7 km2 and are clustered near to the grounding line, where densities approach 0.27 km2 per km2. Here, SGL development is linked to an albedo-lowering feedback associated with katabatic winds, together with the presence of blue ice and exposed rock. Although below average seasonal (December-January-February, DJF) temperatures are associated with below average peaks in total SGL area and volume, warmer seasonal temperatures do not necessarily result in higher SGL areas and volumes. Rather, peaks in total SGL area and volume show a much closer correspondence with short-lived high magnitude snowmelt events. We therefore suggest seasonal lake evolution on this ice shelf is instead more sensitive to snowmelt intensity associated with katabatic wind-driven melting. Our analysis provides important constraints on the boundary conditions of supraglacial hydrology models and numerical simulations of ice shelf stability.
Subglacial carbonate deposits as a potential proxy for glacier's existence
Authors: Lipar Matej , Pérez Andrea M. , Tičar Jure , Pavšek Miha , Gabrovec Matej , Hrvatin Mauro , Komac Blaž , Zorn Matija , Zupan Hajna Nadja , Zhao Jian-Xin , Ferk Mateja
Published: April 2020

Abstract. The retreat of ice shelves and glaciers over the last century provides unequivocal evidence of recent global warming. Glacierets (miniature glaciers) are an important component that highlights the global retreat of glaciers, but knowledge of their behaviour prior to the Little Ice Age is lacking. Here, we present subglacial carbonate deposits from a recently exposed surface previously occupied by the disappearing Triglav Glacier (southeastern European Alps) that may elucidate the glacier’s existence throughout the entire Holocene since their maximum uranium-thorium (U-Th) ages suggest their possible preservation since the Last Glacial Maximum and Younger Dryas. These thin deposits, formed by regelation, are easily eroded if exposed during previous Holocene climatic optima. The age data indicate the glacier’s present unprecedented level of retreat since the Last Glacial Maximum, and the potential of subglacial carbonates as additional proxies to highlight the extraordinary nature of the current global climatic changes.
The effect of seasonally and spatially varying chlorophyll on Bay of Bengal surface ocean properties and the South Asian Monsoon
Authors: Giddings Jack , Matthews Adrian J. , Klingaman Nicholas P. , Heywood Karen J. , Joshi Manoj , Webber Benjamin G. M.
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Chlorophyll absorbs solar radiation in the upper ocean, increasing mixed-layer radiative heating and sea surface temperatures (SST). The solar absorption caused by chlorophyll can be parameterised as an optical parameter, h2, the scale depth of absorption of blue light. Seasonally and spatially varying h2 in the Bay of Bengal was imposed in a coupled ocean-atmosphere model to investigate the effect of chlorophyll distributions on regional SST, atmospheric circulation and precipitation. There are both direct local upper-ocean effects, through changes in solar radiation absorption and indirect remote atmospheric responses. The depth of the mixed layer relative to the perturbed solar penetration depths modulates the response of SST to chlorophyll. The largest SST response to chlorophyll forcing occurs in coastal regions, where chlorophyll concentrations are high (> 1 mg m−3), and when climatological mixed layer depths shoal during the intermonsoon periods. Precipitation increases significantly by up to 3 mm day−1 across coastal Myanmar during the southwest monsoon onset and over northeast India and Bangladesh during the Autumn intermonsoon period, decreasing model biases.
Encephalopathy an Atypical Presentation of Intussusception: A Case Report
Authors: Mampilly Venma , Sankaran Sasikumar Manalumukkil , Subbiah Ramaraj
Published: April 2020

Background: Intussusception Encephalopathy is a pediatric emergency where a stuporous child presents with or without abdominal symptoms. Neurological manifestations of intussusception are an atypical presentation of this condition. It often misleads clinicians to other differential diagnoses of encephalopathy.

The Case: We present to you a case of an 11-month-old child presented with encephalopathy, acute in onset with underlying intussusception.

Conclusion: Intussusception encephalopathy is a pediatric emergency. It should be kept as a differential diagnosis when a child presents with complaints of acute onset of drowsiness with or without abdominal symptoms. Early diagnosis could save grave complications and improve the prognosis.
ST-Segment Elevation and Normokalemia in Acute Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Case Report and Brief Literature Review
Authors: Dhir S. Bryn , Husain Abbas
Published: April 2020

Background: Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening complication of Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 (DM1) and requires prompt management; however, benign transient electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities with normal serum potassium levels can be seen in diabetic patients secondary to metabolic changes. Understanding the varying presentation among patients provides valuable insight into the management of this seemingly uncommon and benign diagnosis.

The Case: A 24-year-old male with a history of DM1 presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with ST-segment elevation, normal potassium levels and metabolic acidosis. The patient was found to be in DKA with benign cardiac manifestations.

Conclusion: The correction of underlying metabolic abnormalities in DKA and the awareness of the benign cardiac pseudo pathology on ECG allows for effective management and personalized patient care.
Polymyositis as a Rare Musculoskeletal Manifestation of Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease: A Case Report of a 33-Year-Old Patient
Authors: Ben-Nun David
Published: April 2020

Background: Musculoskeletal manifestations of chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD) are rare and unfamiliar to most clinicians. Here we discuss the pathophysiology of chronic GVHD, current treatments and direction of research for improved therapy and prophylaxis and focus on the common and less common musculoskeletal complications of this unfortunately prevalent and burdensome disease.

The Case: This is a case report of a 33-year-old male with a past medical history of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) who presented with a 1-month history of generalized, proximal weakness and was found to have polymyositis secondary to chronic GVHD. Elicitation of further history showed that the patient had had multiple manifestations of both acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease in the two years following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Conclusion: It is important for clinicians to be familiar with polymyositis secondary to chronic GHVD, which may appear in patients more than 100 days following allogenic HSCT and typically presents as diffuse, generalized myopathy with preserved sensation and elevated CPK and aldolase. The current mainstay of treatment is glucocorticoids with or without a calcineurin inhibitor, however due to the side effects associated with long term treatment, more effective prophylactic and therapeutic treatments are needed to address this and other manifestations of chronic GVHD.
A New Reality: Experiences from Canadian Clerkship Medical Students during COVID-19
Authors: Leong Jeffrey , Sarohia Gurkaran S.
Published: April 2020

Medical students across the globe are being impacted by COVID-19. We are Canadian third year medical students who offer our experience as to how COVID-19 has impacted our medical training. We offer insight as to what medical students are doing despite being away from clinical duties. Questions regarding medical student responsibility during COVID-19 are raised. Our lived experience during this time will be beneficial to learn how the role of medical students during a pandemic evolve over time.
Antecedences of employees’ creativity: Evidence from IT, Educational and Advertisement sectors of Pakistan
Authors: Shahid Abdullah , Siddiqui Danish Ahmed
Published: April 2020

This study aims to propose elaborative theoretical framework to assess factors that influences creativity. We combine (Teresa M. Amabile et al., 1996; Jothi & Hin, 2015; Lin & Liu, 2012; Yeh & Huan, 2017) models featuring work and its environmental related factors into one holistic framework to assess the antecedents and consequence of creativity. We propose two level mediation to assess the effect of environmental variables on innovation and motivations through creativity  as well as Job Stressors. Environmental factors included Leaders Behavior, Freedom, Resources, Social Support, Workload, Perceived Organizational Support, Person job fit, and Challenging work. Perceived Organizational Support was further affected by Organizational impediments, Supervisory encouragement, and Work group supports. These factors influences Job Stressors that include Challenge and Hindrance stressors, and work pressures in environment. These stressors further affect creativity as proposed by Zhang & Wee (2018). We also categorize creativity into Quantity and Quality as per Yeh & Huan, (2017). Empirical validity was established by conducting a survey of employees in high creativity sectors like IT, Educational and Advertisement. Result shows that among work and environmental factors, only Leaders Behavior, Perceived Organizational Support, and Challenging work significantly affect job stressors. On the contrary, job stressors significantly affect both Quantity and Quality of creativity. However, subsequent effect of creativity on innovation and motivation could not be established.
Human Capital Development and Employee Training as Correlates to Employee Job Performance in Redeemer University Ede, Osun State
Authors: Zacceheaus Olonade, , Oluwatobi Omotoye
Published: April 2020

The study examined Human Capital Development and Employee Training as correlates to Employee Job Performance in Redeemer University, Ede. This was for the purpose of ascertaining the significance of Human Capital Development and Employee Training on Employee Job Performance. The study embraced a survey research design using primary data to collect information through the use of questionnaire. One hundred (100) respondents were selected out of the Two Hundred and Forty Eight (248) members of staff of Redeemer University, Ede, Osun State, as at the time of the study. Two hypotheses were formulated and tested with Pearson Correlation and Linear Regression Analysis. Hypothesis one revealed that Human Capital Development significantly and positively influence Employee Performance [r (98) = .401**, P<0.01]. Furthermore, the second hypothesis revealed that Employee Training has a significant contribution to employee job Performance in Redeemer University Ede, Osun State (F (2, 97) = 7.834, P<.05, R2 = 0.139). The study recommended that the goals of Training and Development must be communicated to both the management and the staff of the University. The Performance Appraisal System need be used to identify areas in which employees need further Training and Development in order to be more relevant to the needs of the University. Also, workers rewards is recommended to be enhanced so that they have a positive effect on their Job Performance. Finally, the management of the institution should come up with effective plans to advance the Job Security of employees, as Workers' Job Security is synonymous with Job Performance.
Growth Curve of Selectively Bred Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) Reared in Different Environments
Authors: Marcos Rebeca , Corrêa Filho Ruy Alberto Caetano , Abreu Janessa Sampaio de , Seraphim Guilherme Do Nascimento , Silva Ana Carla Carvalho , Fornari Darci Carlos , Ribeiro Ricardo Pereira , Pires Luana Barbosa , Martins Thiago Xavier , Povh Jayme Aparecido
Published: April 2020

The objective of this study was to obtain the growth curve of selectively bred tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) reared in different environments. The experiment was carried out in the municipalities of Santo Antônio de Leverger (Mato Grosso – MT) and Campo Grande (Mato Grosso do Sul – MS), Brazil, over 431 days. Weight and morphometric traits of two families (A and B) from the second generation of selective breeding (G2) were measured every 30-45 days. The Gompertz regression model was used to obtain the growth curves. The production performance of both families and the interaction between families and locations (genotype × environment) were evaluated by analysis of variance considering the family (A and B), location (MT and MS), family × location interaction and error as variation factors. The asymptotic value (parameter A) obtained for weight and morphometric traits (except head length) was higher (P<0.05) in MT (weight of families A and B: 2279.6 g) than in MS (weight of family A: 1400.0 g; weight of family B: 1600.0 g). Family B showed better production performance in MS. There was a genotype × environment interaction effect on weight, body length and standard length. The two families have distinct growth patterns in different production environments. Family B has better growth performance in the environment with lower temperatures (MS).
Resistance and Revolution in Society Exemplified in Film Noir and Science Fiction in the Baby Boomer and Millennial–GenZ Age
Authors: Lundskow George
Published: April 2020

Sociocultural attitudes have fundamentally changed between the Baby Boomer era of the long 1950s (1945–1965) and the present rise of Millennial and GenZ. Whereas the Boomer mainstream sought social change and opportunity within the established socioeconomic system, Millennial–GenZ seeks essential structural change in the form of cultural equality for all orientations and identities that accept inclusiveness, and radical redistribution of wealth and even mainstream challenges to the legitimacy of the capitalist system as wealth concentrates at the top and the quality of life declines for the vast majority worldwide. Socially critical and forward-looking media, namely popular film noir and science fiction, exemplify the socially dominant attitudes of their respective eras, and illustrate actual social attitudes as demonstrated in empirical research of each respective era.
Job-related Stress and Well-being Among Teachers: A Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Wong Ruth
Published: April 2020

Teachers are believed to be a profession which brings relatively high job satisfaction as well as high level of stress in their job settings because of various reasons such as heavy workload, long teaching hours, large class size, students’ disciplinary problems, cramped classrooms, excessive administrative work and so on. To examine what the main stressors are and whether gender and teaching experiences will make a difference on how teachers perceive job-related stress, this study has designed a questionnaire called Stress and Job Satisfaction Scale for Teacher (SJSST) to explore the issues. Results showed that school teachers faced moderate level of job-related stress. The main stressors were ‘demands from job’, ‘work-life balance’ and ‘control over work’. It was also found that male teachers had higher level of stress in general. ‘Psychosocial work environment’, ‘health & well-being’, and ‘relations at work’ were found to have significant difference between male and female teachers. According to the results of ANOVA, years of teaching experience were significant for all stressors. Teachers with more than 30 years of teaching experience received highest level of stress from ‘demands from job’ and ‘work-life balance’ among other groups of teachers. Teachers with 11-20 years of experience had highest level of stress from ‘control over work’ and ‘psychosocial work environment’. While teachers with 6-10 years of experience, they suffered highest level of stress from ‘health and well-being’, ‘future and change’, ‘relations at work’, and ‘physical environment’.
Women and Stock Market Participation: Empirical Evidence from the Saudi Stock Market
Authors: Al-Amir Eman Ahmad , Othman Jaizah , Qureshi Naila Iqbal
Published: April 2020

The purpose of this paper is to explore the rareness of female Saudi traders in the Saudi stock market. This research employed the use of a cross-sectional study design with the data collection methods being mixed. The study makes use of a structured survey questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The findings from the study clearly indicated that most of the respondents viewed education as an anchoring factor in breaking down social barriers as well as cultural barriers among the Saudi community. From the practical implications point of view, promoting women’s participation in the stock market will help equality in job opportunities and contribute to wealth creation. Women constitute nearly half of the total population of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The participation of these women in the Kingdom’s economy is significant in terms of the enhancement and contribution to improving the socio-economic prospects of the state.
Legal Examination of the Constitutional Court Number 28/PUU-XI/2013 Concerning the Case of Judicial Review of Law Number 17 of 2012 Concerning Cooperatives
Authors: Marsuni Lauddin , Salle Salle , Syarifuddin Syarifuddin , Husen La Ode
Published: April 2020

This study aims to understand the legal review on Decision of the Constitutional Court No. 28/PUU-XI/2013 on the review of Law No. 17 of 2012 on Cooperatives against The 1945 Constitution. The benefits of this research are socialization and provide legal awareness about cooperatives activities in Indonesia. This research uses a normative approach that focuses on studying the legal and regulatory norms associated with the object of the problem. The technical analysis used in this study is the Hermeneutic and Interpretation analysis methods. The results of the study indicate that Phrase “natural person” in the cooperatives sense was based on Article 1 point 1 of Law No. 17 of 2012 is against Article 33 section (1) of The 1945 Constitution because that definition leads to individualism. Furthermore, although the Petitioner's petition is only regarding certain articles it contains substantial norm content, it will cause other articles in Law No. 17 of 2012 has no binding legal force. Therefore the Petitioner's petition must be declared in accordance with the law for all contents of Law No. 17 of 2012. As for the sake of legal certainty, Law No. 25 of 1992 valid for a while awaiting the establishment of a new Law.
A Study on the Relationship between Social Policy and Social Capital: Evidence from Asian Countries
Authors: Lee Yung Soo
Published: April 2020

There are two competing hypotheses regarding the relationship between social policy and social capital. The crowding-out hypothesis suggests that public resources allocated through social policies and programs eradicate various forms of social capital such as trust, social network and norms. The crowding-in hypothesis, on the contrary, emphasizes virtuous cycles between social policy and social capital. Empirical evidence, mostly conducted for Western countries with advanced economies, has not produced consistent findings regarding the relationship. This study empirically tested these hypotheses based on data from 24 Asian countries. This study further explored how relationships between social policy and social capital vary by sub-regions of Asian countries. Findings from both macro- and micro-level analysis suggest that social policy influences social capital differently according to the forms of social capital. There also seems to be heterogeneity across sub-regions in the relationship between social policy and social capital. Theoretical and policy implications as well as future research directions were further discussed.
Reviewer acknowledgements for English Language Teaching, Vol. 13, No. 5, May 2020
Authors: Yu Gavin
Published: April 2020

Reviewer acknowledgements for English Language Teaching, Vol. 13, No. 5, May 2020
Adoption of NPS Fertilizer on Sorghum Crop Production by Smallholder Farmers in Gemechis and Mieso Districts of West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
Authors: Hiko Muhammed Shako
Published: April 2020

The adoption of inorganic fertilizer such as NPS which is concerned by development clients and government is different from one farmer to another farmer and this makes productivity of agricultural crops to vary from one plot to another plot due to socio-economic, institutional and other factors. Therefore, this study was intended to know the socio-economic factors that significantly affect utilization of inorganic fertilizer NPS. Primary data was collected from 201 sampled households of selected districts. Secondary data was collected from stakeholders related with production of sorghum and inorganic fertilizer NPS in the study areas. In the sampling procedure, two stage simple random sampling was used. In the first stage, kebeles were randomly taken from total kebeles in the two districts. In the second stage, households were randomly selected from the selected kebeles. Data was analyzed using descriptive, inferential statistics and econometric models methods of data analysis. In econometric models Double Hurdle model was use to know factors affect adoption decision of inorganic fertilizer NPS and intensity use of inorganic fertilizer NPS. Double Hurdle model result confirms that district of the household, education level, family size, extension visit, expectation of the coming rainfall by the household, number of farm plot owned, total farm land owned and off/non-farm income earned by the household significantly affect adoption decision inorganic fertilizer NPS. Double hurdle model result also reveals that, district of the household, livestock holding, number of farm plot owned, participation on agricultural training by the household significantly affect intensity use of inorganic fertilizer NPS. Government and concerned stakeholders should give attention on these significant socio-economic factors so that utilization inorganic fertilizer can be improved to sorghum crop productivity.
Reviewer acknowledgements for Journal of Materials Science Research, Vol. 9, No. 2
Authors: Green Lily
Published: April 2020

Reviewer acknowledgements for Journal of Materials Science Research, Vol. 9, No. 2, 2020
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Public Administration Research, Vol. 9, No. 1
Authors: Tai Gabriel
Published: April 2020

Reviewer acknowledgements for Public Administration Research, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2020.
Speech Act Analysis of Whatsapp Statuses Used by Jordanians
Authors: Rababah Luqman
Published: April 2020

This qualitative study aims at investigating the WhatsApp statuses as used by Jordanians. It also investigates the types of speech acts used in these statuses. For this purpose, the study has collected and analyzed 200 statuses. The population of the study included all English language students of Jadadra University, where the sample of the study included (50) students, representing 20 % of the whole population. The results showed that data were classified into six main topics; religious, social, political, personal, romantic and national. Additionally, five themes emerged from the data, namely, expressive, directive, assertive, commissive and declaration. Expressive speech acts represent (37 %) of the total speech acts types analyzed. The directive took the second place, representing (25%) of the total status update analyzed. The assertive and commisive fall into the third and fourth position representing (23%) and (15%) respectively. The declarative type has the no occurrences representing (0 %) of the analyzed data. Some of the recommendations suggested are that further research needs to be conducted into the speech acts used by Jordanians on different social networking platforms.
Interacción en foros virtuales al integrar modelización matemática para formar ingenieros
Authors: Juárez Ramírez Jazmin Adriana , Chamoso Sánchez José María , González Astudillo María Teresa
Published: April 2020

La modelización matemática posibilita que los estudiantes vinculen su aprendizaje con situaciones reales. En este trabajo se analiza una experiencia con estudiantes de ingeniería cuando elaboraban un proyecto de modelización matemática utilizando foros virtuales, que considera los niveles de interacción y de profundidad de sus mensajes y la influencia de esos foros en las modificaciones realizadas para mejorar sus trabajos. Los resultados reflejan que, principalmente, se consiguieron niveles de interacción medios y niveles de profundidad bajos, que el nivel de interacción dependió de la forma de realizar la experiencia, y que los más altos niveles de interacción y profundidad se correspondieron con las mayores mejoras de los trabajos. Ello abre posibilidades futuras sobre el uso de foros virtuales al integrar la modelización en el aprendizaje de las matemáticas en cursos universitarios.
Physical Capital, Production of the Energy and Time of Natural Resources’ Exhaustion
Authors: Malaczewski Maciej
Published: April 2020

The aim of this paper is to analyze long-run economic growth of the economy endowed with natural resources. In the model we assume that natural resources are the main source of the energy necessary to power physical capital. We also assume existence of second type of physical capital that does not need energy. We consider optimal consumption per capita – maximizing behaviour of the economy, and also analyze the time of exhaustion of natural resources.
Driving Forces of the Shadow Economy. Theoretical Model
Authors: Malaczewska Paulina
Published: April 2020

We present theoretical model of shadow economy. The model includes not only economic factors, such as tax burden or fines for unregistered activity, but also legal and organizational background factors, such as level of bureaucracy (corruption), quality of public sector services and institutions, or tax morale. In the proposed model shadow economy arises as a result of interactions between economic entities – government and households. The Nash Equilibrium level of shadow economy is derived and comparative statics analysis is presented.
The Neoclassical Growth Model with Sinusoidal Investments
Authors: Dykas Paweł , Misiak Tomasz
Published: April 2020

The aim of the present study is an attempt to extend the neoclassical model of economic growth of Solow by repealing the assumption of fixed investment and introducing an investment function dependent sinusoidally on the time. The adoption of the sinusoidal function of investment is substantiated by the fact that investments (like manufacturing) are largely depended on the economic situation, which is subject to periodic fluctuations. The authors introduce the theoretical considerations on the notion of cyclical and smooth path of temporal capital-labour ratio and labour productivity. When using these tools the authors identified, by calculating the relative deviations of the mentioned path, the impact of investment function dependent sinusoidally on the time.In the empirical analysis the authors conducted the calibration of parameters used by the research model. Based on panel data for the EU15 between the years 2000–2013 the α parameter (production flexibility in relation to capital) was estimated first at 0,349. That value was adopted to further numerical analysis. In the second stage the simulations of numerical, calibrated deviations of temporal cyclical path of capital-labour ratio (labor productivity) from the smooth path of capital-labour ratio (labor productivity) was performed. When conducting numerical analysis the impact of different investment rates (15%, 20%, 25%) and periods of cyclical fluctuations (4 or 10 years) have been considered in relation to the formation of these deviations. Numerical analysis for the economies of the EU15 group was made for one hundred time series.
Formal Comparison of Copula-AR(1)-t-GARCH(1,1) Models for Sub-Indices of the Stock Index WIG
Authors: Mokrzycka Justyna , Pajor Anna
Published: April 2020

Copulas have become one of most popular tools used in modelling the dependencies among financial time series. The main aim of the paper is to formally assess the relative explanatory power of competing bivariate Copula-AR-GARCH models, which differ in assumptions on the conditional dependence structure represented by particular copulas. For the sake of comparison the Copula-AR-GARCH mod-els are estimated using the maximum likelihood method, and next they are informally compared and ranked according to the values of the Akaike (AIC) and of the Schwarz (BIC) information criteria. We apply these tools to the daily growth rates of four sub-indices of the stock index WIG published by the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Our results indicate that the informal use of the information criteria (AIC or BIC) leads to very similar ranks of models as compared to those obtained by the use of the formal Bayesian model comparison.
On Approximation of Transition Density for One-Dimensional Diffusion Processes
Authors: Szczepocki Piotr
Published: April 2020

Estimation methods for stochastic differentia equations driver by discretely sampled continuous diffusion processes may be split into two categories: maximum likelihood methods and methods based on the general method of moments. Usually, one does not know neither likelihood function nor the-oretical moments of diffusion process and cannot construct estimators. Therefore many methods was developed to approximating unknown transition density. The aim of article is to compare properties of selected approaches, indicate their merits and limitations.
Can Lognormal, Weibull or Gamma Distributions Improve the EWS-GARCH Value-at-Risk Forecasts?
Authors: Chlebus Marcin
Published: April 2020

In the study, two-step EWS-GARCH models to forecast Value-at-Risk are analysed. The following models were considered: the EWS-GARCH models with lognormal, Weibull or Gamma distributions as a distributions in a state of turbulence, and with GARCH(1,1) or GARCH(1,1) with the amendment to empirical distribution of random error models as models used in a state of tranquillity. The evaluation of the quality of the Value-at-Risk forecasts was based on the Value-at-Risk forecasts adequacy (the excess ratio, the Kupiec test, the Christoffersen test, the asymptotic test of unconditional coverage and the backtesting criteria defined by the Basel Committee) and the analysis of loss func-tions (the Lopez quadratic loss function, the Abad & Benito absolute loss function, the 3rd version of Caporin loss function and the function of excessive costs). Obtained results show that the EWS-GARCH models with lognormal, Weibull or Gamma distributions may compete with EWS-GARCH models with exponential and empirical distributions. The EWS-GARCH model with lognormal, Weibull or Gamma distributions are relatively less conservative, but using them is less expensive than using the other EWS-GARCH models.