bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Micro reservoirs and runoff in the Itaim basin in Taubaté, SP, Brazil
Authors: Santos Eduardo Rodrigues dos , Targa Marcelo Dos Santos , Santos Paulo Sergio dos , Cezar Vicente Rodolfo Santos , Catelani Celso De Souza
Published: April 2020

Urbanization of the watersheds in developing countries is generally accelerated and disorderly. The urbanization process generates soil impermeability, which impedes the infiltration of rainwater, accelerating surface runoff to favor accumulation of water at the lowest points, causing flooding. The construction of micro reservoirs for rainwater storage and infiltration within residential areas can minimize flood problems. In the present study, the effective precipitation and its reduction in the Itaim stream basin in the city of Taubaté, SP, were estimated by usage of 3400 and 6800 liters micro reservoirs to capture water on 125 m² roofs in different soil occupations, according to the Law 412/2017 of the Master Plan of Municipal Physics of Taubate (PDFMT). Effective precipitation was estimated using the curve number (CN) method, while variation in land use and occupation considered the land area in accordance with current legislation, with urban expansion at 50 and 100% over the macrozone rural, as well as 100% urban consolidation. The results showed that surface runoff (Pe) in the Itaim basin increases with the expansion of the urban area, as well as urban consolidation. The use of micro reservoirs considerably reduces runoff volumes. The micro reservoir, with a storage volume of 3400 liters, made it possible to restrict the flow promoted by rain of up to 25 years of return period, simulating the urban expansion of 50% over the rural area, while the reservoir with 6800 liters in capacity contains rain of up to 200 years return period for the same simulation condition. Although this type of structure was not considered in the municipal land use and occupation law, this study demonstrates that the use of hydraulic systems or elements with potential to reduce runoff can be an important means to ensure the sustainability of urbanization. of watersheds with planned stormwater disposal.
Driving Safety Performance Assessment Metrics for ADS-Equipped
Vehicles
Authors: Wishart Jeffrey , Como Steven , Elli Maria , Russo Brendan , Weast Jack , Altekar Niraj , James Emmanuel , Chen Yan
Published: April 2020

The driving safety performance of automated driving system (ADS)-equipped
vehicles (AVs) must be quantified using metrics in order to be able to assess
the driving safety performance and compare it to that of human-driven vehicles.
In this research, driving safety performance metrics and methods for the
measurement and analysis of said metrics are defined and/or developed.

A comprehensive literature review of metrics that have been proposed for
measuring the driving safety performance of both human-driven vehicles and AVs
was conducted. A list of proposed metrics, including novel contributions to the
literature, that collectively, quantitatively describe the driving safety
performance of an AV was then compiled, including proximal surrogate indicators,
driving behaviors, and rules-of-the-road violations. These metrics, which
include metrics from on- and off-board data sources, allow the driving safety
performance of an AV to be measured in a variety of situations, including
crashes, potential conflicts, and near misses. These measurements enable the
evaluation of temporal flows and the quantification of key aspects of driving
safety performance. The identification and exploration of metrics focusing
explicitly on AVs as well as proposing a comprehensive set of metrics is a
unique contribution to the literature. The objective is to develop a concise set
of metrics that allow driving safety performance assessments to be effectively
made and that align with the needs of both the ADS development and
transportation engineering communities and accommodate differences in
cultural/regional norms.

Concurrent project work includes equipping an intersection with a sensor suite of
cameras, LIDAR, and RADAR to collect data requiring off-board sources and
employing test AVs to collect data requiring on-board sources. Additional
concurrent work includes development of artificial intelligence and computer
vision-based algorithms to automatically calculate the metrics using the
collected data. Future work includes using the collected data and algorithms to
finalize the list of metrics and then develop a methodology that uses the
metrics to provide an overall driving safety performance assessment score for an
AV.
Riding the Yield Curve
Authors: Chami Ralph , Cosimano Thomas , Rochon Celine , Yung Julieta
Published: April 2020

Investors seek to hedge against interest rate risk by taking long or short positions on bonds of
different maturities. We study changes in risk taking behavior in a low interest rate
environment by estimating a market stochastic discount factor that is non-linear and therefore
consistent with the empirical properties of cashflow valuations identified in the literature. We
provide evidence that non-linearities arise from hedging strategies of investors exposed to
interest rate risk. Capital losses are amplified when interest rates increase and risk averse
investors have taken positions on instruments with longer maturity, expecting instead interest
rates to revert back to their historical average.
Sudan
Authors:   International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
Published: April 2020

This Selected Issues paper on Sudan provides a first stock-taking of the scale, main transmission channels and potential costs of poor governance and corruption in Sudan and offers preliminary recommendations. A large body of literature and country analyses confirm that weak governance and corruption undermine economic growth, amplify income inequality and erode public trust in the institutions. According to international agencies and existing literature, Sudan has scored very poorly on compliance with rule of law best practices in the past. Effective implementation of preventive measures is important; particularly in relation to politically exposed persons. Transparency on beneficial ownership of legal persons and arrangements to prevent their misuse for laundering the proceeds of corruption are necessary. Transparency, accountability, and comprehensive communication should be the backbone of governance and anti-corruption reforms in each sector. Rationalizing tax exemptions and phasing out tax holidays would strengthen governance while boosting fiscal revenues.
The influence of residential wood combustion on the concentrations of PM2.5 in four Nordic cities
Authors: Kukkonen Jaakko , López-Aparicio Susana , Segersson David , Geels Camilla , Kangas Leena , Kauhaniemi Mari , Maragkidou Androniki , Jensen Anne , Assmuth Timo , Karppinen Ari , Sofiev Mikhail , Hellén Heidi , Riikonen Kari , Nikmo Juha , Kousa Anu , Niemi Jarkko V. , Karvosenoja Niko , Santos Gabriela Sousa , Sundvor Ingrid , Im Ulas , Christensen Jesper H. , Nielsen Ole-Kenneth , Plejdrup Marlene S. , Nøjgaard Jacob Klenø , Omstedt Gunnar , Andersson Camilla , Forsberg Bertil , Brandt Jørgen
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Residential wood combustion (RWC) is an important contributor to
air quality in numerous regions worldwide. This study is the first extensive
evaluation of the influence of RWC on ambient air quality in several Nordic
cities. We have analysed the emissions and concentrations of PM2.5 in
cities within four Nordic countries: in the metropolitan areas of
Copenhagen, Oslo, and Helsinki and in the city of Umeå. We have
evaluated the emissions for the relevant urban source categories and
modelled atmospheric dispersion on regional and urban scales. The emission
inventories for RWC were based on local surveys, the amount of wood
combusted, combustion technologies and other relevant factors. The accuracy
of the predicted concentrations was evaluated based on urban concentration
measurements. The predicted annual average concentrations ranged spatially
from 4 to 7 µg m−3 (2011), from 6 to 10 µg m−3 (2013), from 4 to more than 13 µg m−3 (2013) and from 9 to more
than 13 µg m−3 (2014), in Umeå, Helsinki, Oslo and
Copenhagen, respectively. The higher concentrations in Copenhagen were
mainly caused by the relatively high regionally and continentally
transported background contributions. The annual average fractions of
PM2.5 concentrations attributed to RWC within the considered urban
regions ranged spatially from 0 % to 15 %, from 0 % to 20 %, from 8 % to 22 % and from 0 % to 60 % in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Umeå and Oslo,
respectively. In particular, the contributions of RWC in central Oslo were
larger than 40 % as annual averages. In Oslo, wood combustion was used
mainly for the heating of larger blocks of flats. In contrast, in
Helsinki, RWC was solely used in smaller detached houses. In Copenhagen and
Helsinki, the highest fractions occurred outside the city centre in the
suburban areas. In Umeå, the highest fractions occurred both in the city
centre and its surroundings.
Heterogeneous N2O5 reactions on atmospheric aerosols at four Chinese sites: improving model representation of uptake parameters
Authors: Yu Chuan , Wang Zhe , Xia Men , Fu Xiao , Wang Weihao , Tham Yee Jun , Chen Tianshu , Zheng Penggang , Li Hongyong , Shan Ye , Wang Xinfeng , Xue Likun , Zhou Yan , Yue Dingli , Ou Yubo , Gao Jian , Lu Keding , Brown Steven S. , Zhang Yuanhang , Wang Tao
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Heterogeneous reactivity of N2O5 on aerosols is
a critical parameter in assessing NOx fate, nitrate production, and
particulate chloride activation. Accurate measurement of its uptake
coefficient (γN2O5) and representation in air quality models
are challenging, especially in the polluted environment. With an in situ
aerosol flow-tube system, the γN2O5 was directly measured on
ambient aerosols at two rural sites in northern and southern China. The
results were analyzed together with the γN2O5 derived from
previous field studies in China to obtain a holistic picture of
N2O5 uptake and the influencing factors under various climatic and
chemical conditions. The field-derived or measured γN2O5 was
generally promoted by the aerosol water content and suppressed by particle
nitrate. Significant discrepancies were found between the measured γN2O5 and that estimated from laboratory-determined parameterizations.
An observation-based empirical parameterization was derived in the present
work, which better reproduced the mean value and variability of the observed
γN2O5. Incorporating this new parameterization into a regional
air quality model (WRF-CMAQ) has improved the simulation of N2O5,
nitrogen oxides, and secondary nitrate in the polluted regions of China.
Satellite mapping of PM2.5 episodes in the wintertime San Joaquin Valley: a “static” model using column water vapor
Authors: Chatfield Robert B. , Sorek-Hamer Meytar , Esswein Robert F. , Lyapustin Alexei
Published: April 2020

Abstract. The use of satellite aerosol optical thickness (AOT) from imaging
spectrometers has been successful in quantifying and mapping high-PM2.5
(particulate matter with a mass <2.5 µm diameter) episodes for
pollution abatement and health studies. However, some regions have high
PM2.5 but poor estimation success. The challenges in using AOT
from imaging spectrometers to characterize PM2.5 worldwide
was especially evident in the wintertime San Joaquin Valley (SJV). The SJV's
attendant difficulties of high-albedo surfaces and very shallow, variable
vertical mixing also occur in other significantly polluted regions around
the world. We report on more accurate PM2.5 maps (where cloudiness permits)
for the whole winter period in the SJV (19 November 2012–18 February 2013).
Intensive measurements by including NASA aircraft were made for several
weeks in that winter, the DISCOVER-AQ (Deriving
Information on Surface Conditions from COlumn and VERtically Resolved
Observations Relevant to Air Quality) California mission. We found success with a relatively simple method based on calibration and
checking with surface monitors and a characterization of vertical mixing,
and incorporating specific understanding of the region's climatology. We
estimate PM2.5 to within ∼7 µg m−3
root mean square error (RMSE) and with R values of ∼0.9, based
on remotely sensed multi-angle implementation of atmospheric
correction (MAIAC) observations, and certain further work will improve that
accuracy. Mapping is at 1 km resolution. This allows a time sequence of
mapped aerosols at 1 km for cloud-free days. We describe our technique as a
“static estimation.” Estimation procedures like this one, not dependent on
well-mapped source strengths or on transport error, should help full
source-driven simulations by deconstructing processes. They also provide a
rapid method to create a long-term climatology. Essential features of the technique are (a) daily calibration of the AOT to
PM2.5 using available surface monitors, and (b) characterization of
mixed layer dilution using column water vapor (CWV, otherwise “precipitable
water”). We noted that on multi-day timescales both water vapor and
particles share near-surface sources and both fall to very low values with
altitude; indeed, both are largely removed by precipitation. The existence
of layers of H2O or aerosol not within the mixed layer adds complexity,
but mixed-effects statistical regression captures essential proportionality
of PM2.5 and the ratio variable (AOT ∕ CWV). Accuracy is much higher than
previous statistical models and can be extended to the whole Aqua satellite
data record. The maps and time series we show suggest a repeated pattern for
large valleys like the SJV – progressive stabilization of the mixing
height after frontal passages: PM2.5 is somewhat more determined by
day-by-day changes in mixing than it is by the progressive accumulation of
pollutants (revealed as increasing AOT).
Acrylic acid and related dimethylated sulfur compounds in the Bohai and Yellow seas during summer and winter
Authors: Wu Xi , Li Pei-Feng , Zhang Hong-Hai , Zhu Mao-Xu , Liu Chun-Ying , Yang Gui-Peng
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Spatiotemporal distributions of dissolved acrylic acid
(AAd) and related biogenic sulfur compounds including dimethylsulfide (DMS)
and dissolved and total dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSPd and DMSPt) were
investigated in the Bohai Sea (BS) and Yellow Sea (YS) during summer and
winter. AAd and DMS production from DMSPd degradation and AAd degradation
were analyzed. Significant seasonal variations in AAd and DMS(P) were
observed. AAd exhibited similar distributions during summer and winter;
i.e., relatively high values of AAd occurred in the BS and the northern YS,
and the concentrations decreased from inshore to offshore areas in the
southern YS. Due to strong biological production from DMSP and abundant
terrestrial inputs from rivers in summer, the AAd concentrations in the
surface seawater during summer (30.01 nmol L−1) were significantly
higher than those during winter (14.98 nmol L−1). The average
concentration sequence along the transects during summer (AAd > DMSPt > DMS > DMSPd) showed that particulate DMSP
(DMSPp) acted as a DMS producer and that terrestrial sources of AAd were
present; in contrast, the sequence in winter was AAd > DMSPt > DMSPd > DMS. High values of AAd and DMS(P) were
mostly observed in the upper layers, with occasional high values at the
bottom. High AAd concentrations in the porewater, which could be transported
to the bottom water, might result from the cleavage of intracellular DMSP
and reduce bacterial metabolism in sediments. In addition, the
production and degradation rates of biogenic sulfur compounds were significantly
higher in summer than in winter, and the removal of AAd was primarily
attributed to microbial consumption. Other sources of AAd existed aside from
the production from DMSPd.
A proposed method for estimating interception from near-surface soil moisture response
Authors: Acharya Subodh , McLaughlin Daniel , Kaplan David , Cohen Matthew J.
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Interception is the storage and subsequent evaporation of rainfall by
above-ground structures, including canopy and groundcover vegetation and
surface litter. Accurately quantifying interception is critical for
understanding how ecosystems partition incoming precipitation, but it is
difficult and costly to measure, leading most studies to rely on modeled
interception estimates. Moreover, forest interception estimates typically
focus only on canopy storage, despite the potential for substantial
interception by groundcover vegetation and surface litter. In this study, we developed an approach to quantify “total” interception (i.e., including forest canopy, understory, and surface litter layers) using measurements of shallow soil moisture dynamics during rainfall events. Across 34 pine and mixed forest stands in Florida (USA), we used soil moisture and precipitation (P) data to estimate interception storage capacity (βs), a parameter required to estimate total annual interception (Ia) relative to P. Estimated values for βs(mean βs=0.30 cm; 0.01≤βs≤0.62 cm) and Ia∕P (mean Ia/P=0.14; 0.06≤Ia/P≤0.21) were broadly consistent with reported literature values for these ecosystems and were significantly predicted by forest structural attributes (leaf area index and percent ground cover) as well as other site variables (e.g., water table depth). The best-fit model was dominated by LAI and explained nearly
80 % of observed βs variation. These results suggest that
whole-forest interception can be estimated using near-surface soil moisture
time series, though additional direct comparisons would further support this assertion. Additionally, variability in interception across a single forest type underscores the need for expanded empirical measurement. Potential cost savings and logistical advantages of this proposed method relative to conventional, labor-intensive interception measurements may improve empirical estimation of this critical water budget element.
Flood Vulnerability Assessment of Urban Traditional Buildings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Authors: D'Ayala Dina , Wang Kai , Yan Yuan , Smith Helen , Massam Ashleigh , Filipova Valeriya , Pereira Joy Jacqueline
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Flood hazard is increasing in frequency and magnitude in Southeast Asia major metropolitan areas due to the effects of fast urban development and changes in climate, threatening people's properties and life. Typically, flood management actions are mostly focused on large scale defenses, such as river embankments or discharge channels or tunnels. However, these are difficult to implement in historic centres without disturbing their heritage value, and might not provide sufficient mitigation in these areas. Therefore urban heritage buildings may be particularly exposed to flood events, even when they were originally designed and built with intrinsic resilient measures, based on the local knowledge of the natural environment and its threats at the time. Their attractiveness, cultural and economic values, means that they can represent a proportionally high contribution to losses of any event. Hence it is worth to pursue more localised, tailored, mitigation measures. Vulnerability assessment studies are essential to inform the feasibility and development of such strategies. In the present paper we propose a multi-level methodology to assess the flood vulnerability of residential buildings in an area of Kuala Lumpur Malaysia characterised by traditional timber housing. The multi-scale flood vulnerability model is based on a wide range of parameters, covering building specific parameters, neighbourhood conditions and catchment area condition. Parameters for 163 buildings were measured in detail by a field surveys integrated with Google Street View. The vulnerability model is combined with high resolution fluvial and pluvial flood maps providing likely water depths for a range of different flood return periods. The obtained vulnerability index shows ability to reflect different exposure by different building types and their relative locations. The study provides evidence that results obtained for a small district can be scaled up at city level, to inform both generic and specific protection strategies. The paper discusses these in relation to a scenario event of 0.1 % Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP), based on hydrological and hydraulic models developed for the Disaster Resilient Cities Project.
Unprecedented atmospheric conditions (1948–2019) drive the 2019 exceptional melting season over the Greenland ice sheet
Authors: Tedesco Marco , Fettweis Xavier
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Understanding the role of atmospheric circulation anomalies on the surface
mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) is fundamental for improving
estimates of its current and future contributions to sea level rise. Here,
we show, using a combination of remote sensing observations, regional
climate model outputs, reanalysis data, and artificial neural networks, that
unprecedented atmospheric conditions (1948–2019) occurring in the summer
of 2019 over Greenland promoted new record or close-to-record values of
surface
mass balance (SMB), runoff, and snowfall. Specifically, runoff in 2019 ranked second within
the 1948–2019 period (after 2012) and first in terms of surface mass
balance negative anomaly for the hydrological year 1 September 2018–31 August 2019. The summer of 2019 was characterized by an exceptional
persistence of anticyclonic conditions that, in conjunction with low albedo
associated with reduced snowfall in summer, enhanced the melt–albedo
feedback by promoting the absorption of solar radiation and favored
advection of warm, moist air along the western portion of the ice sheet
towards the north, where the surface melt has been the highest since 1948.
The analysis of the frequency of daily 500 hPa geopotential heights obtained
from artificial neural networks shows that the total number of days with the
five most frequent atmospheric patterns that characterized the summer of
2019 was 5 standard deviations above the 1981–2010 mean, confirming the
exceptional nature of the 2019 season over Greenland.
Adaptación de la Escala de Activación Conductual para la Depresión (BADS) en pacientes con cáncer
Authors: Villanueva Torres Yesica María , Jurado Cárdenas Samuel , Ramírez Ramírez Armando
Published: April 2020

Objetivo: adaptar la Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) y someterla a análisis factorial confirmatorio en una muestra de pacientes oncológicos. Método: Estudio instrumental en dos fases, en la fase 1 se tradujo y adaptó la escala original (BADS) al castellano según los estándares de la American Psychological Association (n= 101), en la fase 2 se aplicó la escala obtenida en la fase anterior y se sometió a análisis factorial confirmatorio (n= 341). Resultados: el análisis factorial confirmatorio arrojó una escala formada por cuatro factores y 12 reactivos, con un ajuste: X2= 1,24 gl= 48 p=,118; CFI= ,98, TLI= ,98, RMSEA= ,027, NFI= ,93, RFI= ,91, IFI= ,98, PNFI= ,68; tuvo una correlación negativa media con los constructos de ansiedad y depresión. Conclusiones: la adaptación de la Escala de Activación Conductual para la Depresión dirigida a pacientes oncológicos, tiene propiedades psicométricas aceptables lo que permite tener un instrumento adecuado para medir el nivel de activación conductual en esta población.
Estudio de la efectividad de la intervención psicológica en pacientes con cáncer de mama localizado
Authors: Moraga Sahuquillo Gloria , Bellver Pérez Ascensión , Santaballa Beltrán Ana
Published: April 2020

Objetivo: valorar la efectividad de la intervención psicológica individual sobre ansiedad, depresión y las estrategias de afrontamiento en tres grupos: Grupo 1 (G1) que utiliza la Terapia Cognitivo Conductual (TCC); Grupo 2 (G2) basado en counselling y psicoeducación; y el Grupo Control (GC) que no realiza intervención psicológica. Método: estudio cuasi experimental con una muestra de 180 pacientes y 51,9 años de edad media. Los instrumentos de evaluación fueron el MINI-MAC y el HADS; se administraron después de la operación quirúrgica a G1 (n= 50) y G2 (n=98), y al finalizar el tratamiento quimioterápico a G1, G2 y GC (n=32). Resultados: después de 7 meses de intervención psicológica, G1 redujo significativamente las medias de ansiedad, depresión, preocupación ansiosa y desesperanza; en G2 disminuyeron los niveles de ansiedad, depresión; y se mantuvo el espíritu de lucha al mismo nivel. El GC demostró niveles de depresión, ansiedad y preocupación ansiosa mayores que G1 y G2. Conclusión: la intervención psicológica (independientemente del tipo de terapia) ayuda a reducir las medias de depresión y ansiedad e incrementar las estrategias de afrontamiento adecuadas como el espíritu de lucha. La TCC es más efectiva en la reducción de sintomatología clínica depresiva y ansiosa. El counselling y la psicoeducación contribuyen a mantener y mejorar las medias de ansiedad, depresión en parámetros no clínicos y fomenta el
The person-environment relationship in the process of finitude
Authors: Alves da Costa Myrlanne , Bezerra de Holanda Renata , De Freitas Melo Cynthia , Martins Ferreira Karla Patrícia , Eberhardt Lins Ana Cristina
Published: April 2020

Objective: To understand the relationship between caregivers and patients who are undergoing the process of finitude with the environment where they are during this process. Method: This is a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research. According to the saturation criterion, there were 19 participants: 10 patients (5 in palliative care at home and 5 in curative care in Intensive Care Units - ICU) and 9 relatives of the respective patients. They responded to a narrative interview, which is characterized as an instrument that makes it possible to understand how the participant perceives and experiences the environment around her/him. For the analysis of the material, the interview was interpreted through textual analysis using the Iramuteq software. Results: The results indicated great adversities in the process of finitude in both environments: ICU and home; however, the family environment is seen as promoting quality of life and of death with dignity by patients, due to the support network offered by family and friends. Conclusion: the person-environment relationship in the process of finitude is characterized by affections and meanings, and needs to be taken into account as a facilitator of quality of life.
Economic Uncertainty and the Demand for Broad Money in South Africa
Authors: Tan Wen-Hsien , Puah Chin-Hong , Wong Shirly Siew-Ling , Chong Mei-Teing
Published: April 2020

This paper scrutinised the impact of economic uncertainty on the broad money demand in South Africa using quarterly data from 2001 to 2018. Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (GARCH) model is employed to capture the volatilities of selected components in order to construct an economic uncertainty index (EUI) for South Africa. The constructed index is then used as a regressor along with real income, interest rate and exchange rate in determining South African demand for broad money. The empirical finding using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag approach notably shows that the EUI is negatively affecting South Africa’s demand for broad money in the long term. This reveals that economic agents tend to hold real or safer assets than riskier assets, thus reduce broad money demand during times of heightened economy in South Africa. The model is cointegrated in the long-run and stable with the inclusion of EUI in the broad money demand function for South Africa. The findings are able to assist policy makers in using suitable determinants as stabilisation tools and targeting a more effective monetary policy framework refined by appropriate monetary aggregates in South Africa.
Malaysia Private Entity Reporting Standard (MPERS) adoption for SMEs: Insights from Accounting Practitioners in Malaysia
Authors: Jamil Nurul Nazlia , Ramli Nathasa Mazna , Marzuki Ainulashikin , Ahmad Nurul Nadiah
Published: April 2020

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have very significant contribution to economic growth of the countries as more than 95% of companies worldwide and employment are represented by the SMEs industries. Therefore, in increasing the harmonization of reporting standard of SMEs, Malaysia is moving aggressively towards the efforts by introducing the Malaysian Private Entity Reporting Standard (MPERS) for SMEs starting from 1st January 2016 onwards. MPERS is seen to bring opportunities to the business as it is adoption of international standard that has been designed to fits the local needs and the customization to the Malaysian business environment could ensure comparability of the locals with the international business. Hence, this research attempt to 1) examine the perceptions of accounting practitioners on MPERS implementation and 2) identify the problems encountered in applying MPERS in SMEs. This study provides pioneering evidence on the problems of the practitioners encountered when applying the MPERS through the 176 questionnaires survey that have been distributed to the accounting practitioners that involve with MPERS implementation for SMEs in Malaysia. The insights and perceptions obtained highlighting new dimensions to the inherent problem such as issues of consistency and guidance in applying the MPERS with the cost-effective manner. Thus, the issues of differences in judgements among the practitioners become a phenomenon in relation to the application of MPERS for SMEs. The findings of this study are of interest to standard setters and SMEs stakeholders in Malaysia and other countries.
The Influence of YouTube Beauty Vloggers on Indonesian Consumers’ Purchase Intention of Local Cosmetic Products
Authors: Chen Jui-Lung , Dermawan Apritika
Published: April 2020

Social media are web-based technology and social platform that involve social, personal and technological factors, which have triggered the development and evolution of website-based communities. Moreover, relevant web-based applications have also become the mainstream media for value creation and information exchange. The proliferation, convenience, and immediacy of social media have attracted many enterprises to adopt social media as a marketing tool. Among them, Electronic Word-of-Mouth (E-WoM), used mostly by vloggers (video bloggers), enables its users to review products and express their opinions on social media. Therefore, E-WoM has gradually become an important source of information for consumers, which influences their purchasing decisions. YouTube, a video sharing platform affiliated with Google, is a popular social media with tons of users. One of its most appealing and popular communities is Beauty Blogger, where beauty vloggers create and upload videos about beauty products. This study explored the impact of YouTube beauty vlogger on the attitude of Indonesian women towards locally made cosmetics and their willingness to purchase them. Based on the research results, relevant conclusions and recommendations were proposed which can be used as a reference for future research and practical applications.
Factors Affecting Brand Equity in Fast Food Restaurants Industry in Egypt
Authors: Ali Barakat Mohamed
Published: April 2020

The main aim of this study is to build and test a model that includes determinants of brand equity in fast food restaurants industry. Designed questionnaire was distributed to customers sample in fast food restaurants in Egypt. Data were obtained from 307 respondents and were analyzed using Amos.18 and Spss.16 to test hypotheses established in a research model. The results indicated that there is a positive significant relationship between perceived value and customer satisfaction. The results revealed that there is a positive significant relationship between customer satisfaction and customer trust. It is found that there is a positive significant relationship between customer satisfaction, customer trust and brand equity.
Experimental Investigations of Thin-layer Drying of Leaves in a Heat-Pump Assisted Tray-type Batch Drying Chamber
Authors: Babu A.K. , Kumaresan G. , Antony Aroul Raj V. , Velraj R.
Published: April 2020

The design of a batch drying chamber with multiple trays for the thin-layer drying of fragile, heat-sensitive food materials, such as edible leaves, is a challenging task. It is essential to ensure good air distribution with minimum pressure drop in all the compartments of the drying chamber to obtain uniform drying of the product. In the present work, a drying chamber that was optimized from different configurations using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software was fabricated and tested in the heat pump dryer. The experimental investigation was carried out with an optimized configuration for the temperature range of 50 ºC to 60 ºC, the relative humidity range of 20 % to 12 %, and air velocities of 1.41 m/s, 2.39 m/s, and 3.24 m/s. These optimal operating conditions were chosen based on an extensive literature survey on leaf drying. It was found that the drying process took place only in the falling rate period, fully controlled by the mechanism of liquid diffusion. The effects of air velocity on the performance parameters of the dryer were studied. Calculations based on the mean average parameters of the experimental data showed that a relatively higher heat utilization factor (0.17), moisture extraction ratio (0.375 kg/h), specific moisture extraction ratio (0.1529 kg/(kWh)), coefficient of performance (4.60), drying efficiency (76.23 %) and lower specific energy consumption (1.16 kW/kg) were obtained for a moderate drying velocity of 2.39 m/s in the heat pump drying process due to higher convection mass and heat transfer effects. Drying curves were plotted for different drying conditions and discussed. The findings were in agreement with those of many earlier research studies listed in the references section. The tested drying chamber can be used for drying all kinds of leaves in a heat pump dryer.
Szkołownia as a cultural conceptualization of Summer Schools of Young Pedagogues
Authors: Dembiński Mariusz
Published: April 2020

The essence of this statement is the attempt to demonstrate, that Summer Schools of Young Pedagogues in his own (original) form, implemented by Maria Dudzikowa, were ukształcającym (Bildung) phenomenon pedagogical, and at the same, a polyphonic cultural occurrence. As a pedagogical phenomenon, played a unifying and holistic role in shaping the pedagogical thought developed in Poland since 1993. As a cultural occurrence, they became executive (performative) spectacles of pedagogical reality, which I bring to the notion of Szkołownia - polyphonic form of performative genres of cultural executive, constituting a conceptual foundation for liminal changes of consciousness of individuals, as well as pedagogy itself.
Maria Dudzikowa’s postulate of noble student laughter
Authors: Grzybowski Przemysław
Published: April 2020

The article contains an overview of the opinions of Maria Dudzikowa about the phenomenon of student laughter and the reconstruction of the residual results carried out by the Author on this subject. The article presents the views of M.Dudzikowa based on the cognitive concept of man. They mainly concern laughter in the relations between students and teachers. The article discusses the types of laughter distinguished by the author and the categories of teachers associated with laughing at school. A review of the opinions and research results of M.Dudzikowa has been presented against the background of similar works by other specialists.
The review is accompanied by examples in the form of quotations taken from the statements of high school students in Poland. Due to the memorable nature of this study, the footnotes contain all the well-known publications of the author of laughter at school - both academic studies and journalistic texts.
The effects of economic migration of Poles for functioning of the family-selected aspects
Authors: Kochan Izabela
Published: April 2020

About one billion people around the world move abroad or outside their birthplace seeking better earning possibilities. Economic migration has been accepted by many families as a strategy aiming improvement of their functioning. In a long-term prospect it affects the family’s well-being among others through investing in education and health. The mobility of one or several family members colours the leaving and those who remain at home both in positive and negative way depending individual conditions. Although postal orders are potentially an important way to mitigate the limits of the family budget, the weakest family members who need attention, repeatedly bear high cost of migration decisions. The individualistic effect of the economic migration of the Poles for functioning of their families is migrational orpanhood of the children and older people which is the main theme of intellectualizing in the present article. Special attention should be drawn to people in grand old age whose proportion in our country is still rising. In the context of relevant issues, it is necessary to take steps aiming to mitigate the costs of migration born by families, offering support recouping the losses coming from the mobility.
Who is to raise, a family and / or school. A voice in the discussion
Authors: Sędek Andrzej
Published: April 2020

The article presents the determinants of the educational crisis in the contemporary family and school. Theoretical assumptions were discussed of effective strategies for cooperation between family and school environments. It presents substantive psychological and pedagogical competences of teachers - educators necessary in the cooperation process.
The support of the Churches dedicated to the family in its economic crisis
Authors: Tranda Hanna
Published: April 2020

The article shows the ways of helping a family given to it by Churches and Christian organizations in the existing reality. In addition, it shows work with children and young people, which is to prevent their demoralization and to teach them self-reliance and responsibility.
On the psychological value of contemporary feature film (Lady Bird; I, Tonya; Estui 1993; Call me by your name)
Authors: Dąbrowska Dorota
Published: April 2020

The article contains a reflection on the psychological value of the film, general comments are made on selected examples of films created in 2017 in the Euramerican circle: Lady Bird, I, Tonya, Estiu 1993, Call me by your name. Although the analyzed examples do not strictly follow the genre formula of psychological cinema, they can be treated as a source of knowledge about the human psyche, and also as a tool for a clear impact on the psyche of the recipient.

Keywords: psychology, film, Lady Bird, I, Tonya, Estiu 1993, Call me by your name
Growth Paths in the Solow Model with Alternative Trajectories of the Number of Workers
Authors: Filipowicz Katarzyna , Syrek Robert , Tokarski Tomasz
Published: April 2020

The aim of the study is a comparative analysis of growth paths of basic macroeconomic variables (labor productivity and capital labor ratio) in the Solow growth model with three alternative assumptions about the trajectory of the number of workers. There are standard trajectory (the number of workers increasing exponentially), logistics trajectory (the number of workers is growing to the certain asymptote) and so-called Gaussian trajectory (the number of workers is similar to the density function of Gaussian distribution). In the result, nonstandard growth paths of macroeconomic variables are defined by certain functions compose with hypergeometric function and Gauss error function (so called Gaussian special functions). Moreover, labor productivity and capital labor ratio for logistic trajectory is growing to asymptote, which is located higher than in the original Solow model. The labor productivity and capital labor ratio for Gaussian trajectory of the number of workers increase to infinity.
Estimation of Income of Companies on the Basis of the Fay-Herriot Model
Authors: Dehnel Grażyna , Pietrzak Michał , Wawrowski Łukasz
Published: April 2020

The main source of information about revenues of small business sector is currently provided mainly by sample surveys conducted by the Central Statistical Office. Parameters of interest can only be estimated with acceptable precision at the level of the country and province or by NACE section. It is caused by the sample size, method of estimation and sample design. The motivation for the study was the growing demand for reliable estimates at a low level of aggregation. The aim of this study was application of the Fay-Herriot model, one of the methods, which use auxiliary variables, for estimating revenue of enterprises employing 10 to 49 employees. The study used data from a meld DG 1, the most important research in the field of business statistics, as well as data from administrative registers. The study allowed to observe some regularities and characteristics of the small business sector in Poland.
Stability and Price Equilibria in a Many-to-Many Gale-Shapley Market Model
Authors: Świtalski Zbigniew
Published: April 2020

In the paper we study relationships between generalized competitive equilibria defined in the paper of Świtalski (2016) and price equilibria for some variant of many-to-many market model of Gale- Shapley type and between price equilibria and stable matchings for such a model. Obtained results are used for proving theorems on existence of price equilibria in the many-to-many GS-model and in the many-to-many model generalizing the model of Chen, Deng and Ghosh (Chen et al., 2014).
Adjustment Processes on the Market with Countable Number of Agents and Commodities
Authors: Lipieta Agnieszka
Published: April 2020

Most components of the private ownership economy are the mappings independent on time, although they model activities of economic agents which take place in time. Therefore this structure is interpreted as the stationary model in which actions of economic agents on the market are constant on the analyzed time interval. The mathematical properties of the commodity-price space of the private ownership economy could be convenient in analyzing changes in the activities of economic agents. Hence, there is a need to determine how a private ownership economy could evolve over time.
In this context, the aim of the paper is to model evolution of the economy defined in the Arrow and Debreu apparatus by the use of difference equations. As a result, we get a coherent and unified description of the evolution of an economy that can be used, among others, in the analysis of the mechanisms of Schumpeter’s economic development, differently from the methods usually used in the growth theory.
Spatial diversity in the living standards of the population by powiats of Eastern and North-Eastern Poland
Authors: Malinowski Mariusz
Published: April 2020

The aim of this article is to order linearly and classify powiats in Eastern and North-Eastern Poland by the living standards of the population as well as to carry out spatial autocorrelation analysis based on the created synthetic indicators of the living standard. For the purpose of this article, a synthetic indicator was created to assess living standards of the population based on previously selected set of diagnostic variables. The use of synthetic indicators made it possible to replace the multi-variable description of objects with one statistical number. It enabled to measure a multidimensional area such as living standards of population as well as to perform a linear ordering of examined objects. 101 powiats in the Lubelskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Świętokrzyskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeships were included in the research. The TOPSIS, Ward’s and PAM methods were used in the research. Moreover spatial autocorrelation analyses were carried out based on the Moran’s I statistics. The main criterium for selecting variables was completeness and their accessibility for all objects in the research in the year 2014. Data from the Local Data Bank were used for the research purposes.
The impact of domestic and foreign gravity effects on the diversity of economic development of Poland
Authors: Filipowicz Katarzyna
Published: April 2020

The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of gravity effects on the diversity of economic development of Poland in the years 2002—2013. This article describes spatial differences in economic development of voivodships with the taxonomic analysis method based on the distance in Euclidean space. For the creation of a synthetic measure of economic development the following macroeconomic variables were used as diagnostic variables: gross value of fixed assets per capita, GDP per capita, investments per capita, average wages and salaries, unemployment rate and the number of entities in the REGON register per 1000 inhabitants. Moreover, it presents computation and description of combined domestic as well as foreign and total gravity effects in the voivodships. The article is based on the assumption that the individual gravity effects between two regions (by analogy with Newton’s law of gravity) are directly proportional to the product of the gross value of fixed assets per capita in these regions and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the capitals of these regions. The article also states that the combined gravity effect in the particular voivodeship is a geometric mean of the individual gravity effects. A summary of considerations is presented in a form of a statistical analysis that assesses the impact of gravity effects on the spatial differences in economic development of Poland. In the research data from the Local Data Bank were used.
Specificity and complementarity of quantitative and qualitative research
Authors: Tarka Piotr
Published: April 2020

This article examines the interrelationships between quantitative and qualitative research. Firstly, the essence and assumptions of quantitative and qualitative research methods were defined and the comparison between them was made on the basis of philosophy, quality metrology (a branch of science dealing with quality theory) and statistics. Moreover, the differences between the two types of research were discussed in the context of the planned experiments and empirical research. In the next part of the study, the possibilities of effective integration of quantitative and qualitative research in the process of triangulation were described.
Polish statistical research during the Second World War
Authors: Łazowska Bożena
Published: April 2020

The aim of this article is to present the research conducted by the Polish statisticians within 1939—1945. The paper was prepared on the basis of the query in the Central Statistical Archive of CSO and the State Archive of the Capital City of Warsaw, as well as German statistical sources, reports, memoirs, chronicles, press articles, biographies and historical monographs. It presents the work of the Polish statisticians employed by the Statistical Office of General Government in Cracow and the underground statistical research conducted mainly by the Institute of Social Economy under the name of the Central Welfare Council in Warsaw, including especially the effort of Ludwik Landau and Jan Piekalkiewicz. Also, the illegal statistical education and activity of the Government of the Republic of Poland in exile relating to the statistics were discussed.
The study shows that under the Nazi occupation Polish statisticians conducted underground statistical research mainly in Cracow and Warsaw and their results were delivered to the structures of the Polish Underground State and to the Polish Government in exile in London.
My memories of some research papers in statistics
Authors: Kordos Jan
Published: April 2020

The author presents a general overview of his contacts with „Statistical News" and research topics covered by the journal. He recalls the first editors-in-chief and cooperation with the editorial board. The author discusses some of his articles published in „Statistical News” devoted mainly to: sample surveys, quality of statistical data, methodology of poverty research and its analysis, consumer prices research, estimation method for small areas as well as total quality management (TQM). Finally, the author shares his reflections on 60 years of professional experience and mentions some of the achievements of national and foreign statisticians he cooperated with.