bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optical gain sensitivity of BGaAs/GaP quantum wells to admixtures of group III and V atoms
Authors: Mączko Herbert S. , Kudrawiec Robert , Gladysiewicz Marta
Published: October 2020

21st-century studies in the field of epitaxy brought observable progress in a field of heterogeneous integration of III-V materials onto silicon photonic systems. BGaAs/GaP quantum wells (QWs) are a new material system, which can be grown on GaP/Si templates and thereby can be integrated with a Si platform. This work presents calculations of the material optical gain spectra for the QWs modified by an incorporation of group III and V elements, in both the QWs region and its barriers. The gain spectra are calculated based on the 8-band
k · p
model and Fermi’s Golden Rule. Incorporations of indium and phosphorus are analyzed for the thin film of the QWs, and boron, aluminum, indium, and arsenic for its barriers. Since an energy of gain peak in the BGaAs/GaP QWs can be tuned within a range of 690-730 nm and the positive optical gain is presented for the QWs with these modifications, this system is promising for further development of red-light lasers integrated with Si.
Neural speech restoration at the cocktail party: Auditory cortex recovers masked speech of both attended and ignored speakers
Authors: Brodbeck Christian , Jiao Alex , Hong L. Elliot , Simon Jonathan Z.
Published: October 2020

Humans are remarkably skilled at listening to one speaker out of an acoustic mixture of several speech sources. Two speakers are easily segregated, even without binaural cues, but the neural mechanisms underlying this ability are not well understood. One possibility is that early cortical processing performs a spectrotemporal decomposition of the acoustic mixture, allowing the attended speech to be reconstructed via optimally weighted recombinations that discount spectrotemporal regions where sources heavily overlap. Using human magnetoencephalography (MEG) responses to a 2-talker mixture, we show evidence for an alternative possibility, in which early, active segregation occurs even for strongly spectrotemporally overlapping regions. Early (approximately 70-millisecond) responses to nonoverlapping spectrotemporal features are seen for both talkers. When competing talkers’ spectrotemporal features mask each other, the individual representations persist, but they occur with an approximately 20-millisecond delay. This suggests that the auditory cortex recovers acoustic features that are masked in the mixture, even if they occurred in the ignored speech. The existence of such noise-robust cortical representations, of features present in attended as well as ignored speech, suggests an active cortical stream segregation process, which could explain a range of behavioral effects of ignored background speech.
A cobertura televisiva da pandemia de Covid-19 em Portugal
Authors: Cabrera Ana , Martins Carla , Cunha Isabel Ferin
Published: October 2020

O ano de 2020 ficará marcado na memória mundial como o ano da pandemia de Covid-19. Embora a doença tenha eclodido na China no final de 2019, a sua propagação foi posterior e veio colocar em causa a sociedade globalizada, com efeitos sociais, políticos e económicos graves, mas ainda a serem determinados em toda a sua extensão. Na cobertura do surto o jornalismo, em crise há algu- mas décadas (Zelizer, 2004; 2009; 2015; 2017), reassumiu um papel central e ad- quiriu um novo vigor, viajando por múltiplos dispositivos e écrans (Deuze, 2019). Em Portugal, num cenário de isolamento, predominantemente familiar, a televisão emergiu como elo social (Wolton, 1994), confirmando que continua ser o médium dominante (ERC, 2016, 2019; OBERCOM, 2018; Statista, 2019). Neste contexto, a nossa homenagem a Nelson Traquina tem como objetivo apresentar, comen- tar e discutir a sua contribuição para o estudo do jornalismo em Portugal a partir da análise da cobertura jornalística televisiva da crise pandémica. Com este fim, recuperámos estudos teóricos sobre as Teorias da Notícia e os estudos empíri- cos sobre o HIV/SIDA realizados pelo autor (por exemplo, Traquina, 1993; 2002; 2004; 2010; Traquina e al., 2001). Elegemos um corpus de análise empírico, com- preendido por blocos de jornais televisivos dos canais generalistas RTP1, SIC e TVI. Utilizamos uma metodologia fundada na construção de uma base de dados em File Maker Pro inspirada nos trabalhos de Traquina sobre o HIV/SIDA. Os re- sultados obtidos, ainda que com caráter exploratório, permitem a discussão das teorias da notícia enquanto construção (Traquina, 1993) e o papel das rotinas na produção da informação televisiva.
As entrevistas televisivas
Authors: Rodrigues Adriano Duarte
Published: October 2020

As entrevistas televisivas são atividades interacionais que merecem es- pecial atenção, porque mostram a maneira como cada um dos participantes entende o lugar que nelas ocupa de acordo com a maneira como categoriza a sua identidade, observando o modo como escolhe adotar em cada momen- to os comportamentos apropriados e o modo como se apropria dos recursos de que dispõe para desempenhar as tarefas que entende realizar. Mas as en- trevistas televisivas mostram, antes de mais, que nas atividades interacionais que nelas realizam, as pessoas aplicam regras e obedecem a normas especí- ficas do ambiente constituído pelo funcionamento do próprio dispositivo tele- visivo. É por isso uma atividade que nos revela, não só como se dá a consti- tuição do ambiente televisivo, mas também a maneira como as pessoas nele envolvidas se apropriam das regras e das normas que regulam as interações que nele têm lugar.
Status Konservasi dan Peran Mamalia di Pulau Jawa
Authors:   Indonesian Institute Of Sciences, Maharadatunkamsi Maharadatunkamsi , Phadmacanty Ni Luh Putu Rischa , Sulistyadi Eko , Inayah Nurul , Dwijayanti Endah , Farida Wartika Rosa , Wirdateti Wirdateti , Wiantoro Sigit , Nugraha R. Taufiq Purna , Fitriana Yuli Sulistya , Kurnianingsih Kurnianingsih
Published: October 2020

Buku ini berisi 52 spesies mamalia terpilih di Pulau Jawa dengan kriteria endemik, status konservasi, peran alamiah penting dan keunikannya; dilengkapi dengan nama ilmiah, nama lokal, gambar dan peta sebaran. Ditulis secara rinci dengan gaya bahasa yang sederhana dan lugas sehingga mudah dipahami berbagai kalangan. Detail informasi yang disajikan dalam buku ini meliputi klasifikasi, deskripsi, ekologi, habitat, ancaman, dan status konservasinya sesuai dengan Permen LHK No. 106 Tahun 2018 serta status populasinya menurut IUCN dan CITES. Buku ini diharapkan dapat membantu para pengambil kebijakan dan masyarakat dalam mengenal lebih jauh mamalia yang ada di Pulau Jawa dan membantu dalam upaya konservasinya. Selain itu juga untuk melengkapi khazanah ilmu pengetahuan di Indonesia.
Using Virtual Reality with Integrated Eye Tracking for Visual Rehabilitation
Authors:   Rochester Institute of Technology, A. Fromm Catherine , Huxlin Krystel ,   University of Rochester, J. Diaz Gabriel ,   Rochester Institute of Technology
Published: October 2020

A stroke affecting the visual areas of the brain can often cause substantial blind areas in the visual field, called cortical blindness (CB). These blind spots are not caused by damage to the eye itself, but by damage to the visual processing mechanisms in the brain. Although rehabilitation programs have been developed to help CB patients recover visual function, they are limited in the efficiency of the recovery. The first generation of recovery techniques are performed while seated at a desktop computer with the head immobilized in a chin rest. Eye tracking, which is essential to the successful completion of the training, is only done at the first training session supervised by an expert, and the absence of in-home eye tracking during the remainder of the training leads to many wasted trials. Additionally, the training target is very simple, and does not fully stimulate the regions of the brain that enable the recovery. Our aim is to improve upon previously demonstrated training efficiency by leveraging emerging virtual reality (VR) technology with integrated eye tracking. Our new VR-based system is cost effective, can be deployed at home, and facilitates more natural, head-free behavior. The proposed work is a first step towards the long-term goal of developing a more effective at-home rehabilitation paradigm that provides richer a richer stimulus, is more enjoyable, and can increase training efficiency, thus improving patient recovery of visual function.
Transverse Chromatic Aberrations in Virtual Reality Devices
Authors:   Center for Devices and Radiological Health Food and Drug Administration, Beams Ryan , Cheng Wei-Chung ,   Center for Devices and Radiological Health Food and Drug Administration, S. Kim Andrea ,   Center for Devices and Radiological Health Food and Drug Administration, Badano Aldo ,   Center for Devices and Radiological Health Food and Drug Administration
Published: October 2020

We demonstrate a method for measuring the transverse chromatic aberration (TCA) in a virtual reality head-mounted display (VR HMD). This procedure was used to characterize the optical performance of the Oculus Go VR HMD. Results show a measurable TCA for angles larger than approximately 6◦ from the center of the field of view. TCA can be thought of as a wavelength dependent magnification, and as a result, the relative size of objects vary based on the rendering color. In addition, this leads to color changes in the image due to mixing with neighboring pixels, which impacts image quality. The test results for the Oculus Go show promise for characterizing TCA across different HMDs.
From the Co-Editors
Authors:   Rochester Institute of Technology/ National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Pagano Todd
Published: October 2020

We continue to work diligently to improve JSESD. One of the largest challenges to the journal remains the solicitation of manuscript submissions. As such, we are asking the journal’s readership to assist us in advertising the journal. If you are familiar with individuals who might be interested in submitting a manuscript, please pass along the JSESD author link provided above. We are especially interested in articles on science education for students with varying types of disabilities and at a full range of grade levels (K-12 and postsecondary).
El silencio… una aproximación
Authors: Rojas Gloria
Published: October 2020

El silencio como condición indiscutible para la escucha, posibilita varias maneras de percibirse. Desde un carácter interdisciplinar, se considera su inexistencia, así como las contingencias estéticas que pueden surgir desde él. A esto le sigue una mirada sobre lo cultural y socio-antropológico que muestra también, diversas formas de distinguirlo. Se reconoce además, una frontera intra e intersubjetiva del silencio que llama a un detenimiento y reflexión ante un mundo cargado de ruidos y sonidos que no dan tiempo ni espera para la principal escucha: la de sí.
La Masacre de los Inocentes: una aproximación desde la materialidad a la obra de Antonio Berni
Authors: Wasserman Malena
Published: October 2020

Este artículo se propone recorrer algunos de los conceptos que vertebran el pensamiento de Aby Warburg (1866-1929) para, a partir de sus claves metodológicas, poder profundizar en la interpretación de la obra artística de Antonio Berni producida entre los años ‘50 y ‘80. Es durante este período que el artista incorpora una variedad de materiales y objetos al espacio de representación que le otorgan un carácter distintivo al mismo. Recuperar ciertas herramientas conceptuales de Warburg y aplicarlas sobre un caso en particular como fue la instalación La Masacre de los Inocentes realizada por el artista rosarino en París entre 1971 y 1972, nos va permitir ahondar en la riqueza enunciativa que condensan estas obras bernianas en su dimensión material.

imensión material.
Erotismo y sensualidad: pervivencias visuales desde una perspectiva de género
Authors: Luque Rodrigo Laura
Published: October 2020

Con frecuencia encontramos en la literatura episodios donde el erotismo y la sensualidad juegan un papel importante en el desarrollo de la historia. En este texto, centrado especialmente en la literatura medieval española, se analiza ese tipo de escenas, y el rol que se otorga a las mujeres, a través de sus representaciones en las artes plásticas y visuales, desde los grabados que ilustraron las ediciones, a manifestaciones contemporáneas, perpetuando una imagen colectiva que no siempre se corresponde con el texto original.
DEVELOPMENT OF A BENCH FOR SEMI-FULL-SCALE MODELING OF A CONTROL SYSTEMFOR THE MOVEMENT OF A TRACKED VEHICLE WITH A HYDROSTATIC TRANSMISSION
Authors:   South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation, Kondakov S.V. , Pavlovskaya O.O. ,   South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation, Ishbulatov A.R. ,   South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation
Published: October 2020

The article presents the results of the development of a bench for a semi-full-scale simulation of the motion control system of a tracked vehicle with a hydrostatic trans-mission, intended both for teaching programming of logical controllers and for testing control algorithms at the stage of their development. The analysis of technical solutions known on the market with the identification of their main shortcomings is performed. In the framework of the concept of semi-full-scale modeling, a structure has been drawn up and implemented. A mathematical model of the control system for the movement of a tracked vehicle with hydrostatic transmission is presented. It is made on the basis of an industrial tracked tractor of traction class 15 tons manufactured by JSC Ural Road Construction Equipment Plant and adapted to the needs of the stand. A set of control algorithms has been formed, which includes an algorithm for controlling the movement of a caterpillar vehicle, an algorithm for activating the running-side brake when there is a risk of skidding, and an algorithm for activating the brake of the lagging side when the hydrostatic mechanism is overloaded by pressure. To organize the input of initial data, as well as observations of the simulation results, the Altair Embed software package developed a visualization system that includes an operator panel mimic diagram demonstrating changes in the basic parameters of the tracked vehicle's motion (center of gravity speed; center of gravity trajectory; pump flow control pa-rameters; curvature of the trajectory (set and current); track rotation speed on the left and right sides; soil resistance coefficient under each track), a panel settings the algorithms for motion control of a tracked vehicle, a panel of adjustment of parameters of the soil and the selection panel motion path of the tracked vehicle.
FORMATION OF GEARINGS FROMINVOLUTE-BEVEL GEARS
Authors:   South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation, Lopatin B.A. , Plotnikova S.V. ,   South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation, Deryabin I.P. ,   South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation
Published: October 2020

When designing modern machine drives based on traditional gears, in some cases there are problems associated with the complexity of the rational layout of the drive, and its load capacity. These problems can be solved using gears with involute bevel wheels. The involute bevel gear (IBG) is the most common case of gearwheel with an involute tooth profile. In IBG, when teeth are formed, the tool displacement coefficient varies linearly along the width of the gear rim. The geometry of the IBG and the gears made up of them was developed at the Department of Technical Mechanics, a branch of SUSU in Zlatoust. The article presents the main dependencies necessary for determining the size of the IBG and possible schemes for the formation of gears with the IBG. Gearings on the base can be formed at any position of the axles of the gears in space. This paper presents schemes for the formation of spatial (on intersecting axes), bevel (on intersecting axes), cylindrical (on parallel axes) transmissions with IBG. The advantages of gears with IBG (layout, operational, load) in relation to gears from traditional cylindrical and bevel wheels are shown. Thus, transmissions from the IBG on intersecting axes make it possible to transmit rotation at arbitrarily small distancesbetween the axles of the wheels with the required contact localization, up to obtaining a linearcontact in gearing of the teeth. Bevel gears with IBG are less sensitive to errors and can be formed at small interaxial angles, which is problematic for traditional bevel gears. Cylindrical gears with IBG differ from traditional ones in increased load capacity and smooth operation. In addition, they can be used as backlashless and single-sided gears. Thus, gears with IBG due totheir versatility and advantages over traditional gears can be successfully used in modern drives(aviation, space, automobile, etc.) with any arrangement of gear axles in space.
MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF A MULTI-INERT OSCILLATORY MECHANISM
Authors:   Kurgan State University, Kurgan, Russian Federation, Popov I. P.
Published: October 2020

It is noted that the free harmonic vibrations of a classical pendulum are due to the mutual conversion of the kinetic energy of the load intothe potential energy of the spring. Oscillators with a different nature of energy exchange have been developed, for example, by converting the kinetic energy of a load into the energy of a magnetic field of a solenoid or the energy of an electric field of a capacitor. All these oscillatory systems and the like were a prerequisite for the creation of a biinert oscillator,in which the acceleration of one load occurs due to the braking of another, i. e. only kinetic energies are exchanged. The aim of the work is mathematical modeling of a multi-inert oscillatory mechanism. The main research methods in the framework of this work are methods of mathematical modeling and analysis. The methods used make it possible to obtain a reliable description of the studied objects. Inthe proposed multi-inert oscillator, inert bodies of mass m each carry out harmonic oscillations due to the mutual exchange of kinetic energy. The potential energy of the springs is not requiredfor this. Body vibrationsare free. A feature of a multi-inert oscillator is that the frequency of itsfree oscillations is not fixed and is determined mainly by the initial conditions. This feature can be very useful for technical applications, for example, for self-neutralization of mechanical reactive (inertial) power. n-gon, formed by inert bodies, carries out complex motion – orbital rotation around the center of coordinates and spin rotation around its axis passing through the center of the n-gon. Moreover, each load performs linear harmonic oscillations along its guide. With the arrangement of the guiding weights not in the form of a star, but in parallel to each other, the angles between the corresponding cranks must be 360/n degrees.
Studi Kasus: Strategi Perencanaan Kawasan Perkotaan Pancur-Pamotan
Authors: Wungo Grandy Loranesssa
Published: October 2020

Pancur dan Pamotan merupakan kawasan agropolitan dan memiliki sektor unggulan berupa industri pengolahan berbasis pertanian, dan pertambangan yang tentu mempengaruhi dalam perkembangan aktivitas ekonomi, sosial, dan lingkungan. Namun, terdapat juga permasalahan yang terjadi yaitu menurunnya produktivitas pertanian dan kurangnya ketersediaan infrastruktur menjadi hambatan bagi pertumbuhan ekonomi. Penelitian ini bertujuan memahami isu perencanaan perkotaan secara komprehensif di kawasan perkotaan Kecamatan Pancur dan Pamotan.Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan campuran dengan sampling 280 responden. Pengumpulan data menggunakan kuesioner secara daring dan observasi lapangan sebagai data dalam penelitian dengan menggunakan content analysis yang meliputi 7 sektor utama digunakan untuk menggambarkan isu kawasan perkotaan Pancur dan Pamotan, kemudian dengan SWOT Analysis untuk menentukan strategi. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa isu utama dari kawasan perkotaan Pancur dan Pamotan ialah mundurnya perkembangan di sektor pertanian yang terbentur dengan kondisi fisik alam, sehingga diperlukan strategi dalam pengembangan sektor lain seperti sektor pariwisata.
Analisis Penentuan Komoditas Unggulan Subsektor Perkebunan Kecamatan Penajam, Kabupaten Penajam Paser Utara
Authors: Amaliah Sitinur , Tufail Dwiana Novianti , Kadri Mohtana Kharisma
Published: October 2020

Pemanfaatan sumberdaya alam secara optimal menjadi indikator keberhasilan pengembangan ekonomi salah satunya melalui komoditas subsektor perkebunan. Kecamatan Penajammemiliki potensi terbesar pada sektor pertanian khususnya subsektor perkebunan sebagai arahan pemanfaatan lahan perkebunan seluas 39,707 ha dibandingkan kecamatan lainnya. Dengan potensi lahan yang besar membuat Kecamatan Penajam memiliki peluang untuk meningkatkan pengembangan ekonomi melalui pemanfaatan komoditas subsektor perkebunan. Disisi lain potensi fungsi lahan perkebunan yang tinggi, terdapat pemanfaatan yang belum optimal pada subsektor perkebunan. Sehingga diperlukan upaya pengembangan ekonomi sebagai identifikasi pengembangan wilayah berbasis ekonomi yang dapat dilakukan dengan penentuan komoditas unggulan subsektor perkebunan di Kecamatan Penajam. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahuikomoditas unggulan subsektor perkebunan sebagai upaya pengembangan ekonomi di Kecamatan Penajam, Kabupaten Penajam Paser Utara dengan menggunakan metode analisis kuantitatif terhadap data sekunder yaitu hasil produksi komoditas perkebunan tahun 2014 – 2019. Adapuntahapan analisis terdiri dari: 1) Menentukan komoditas basis/non basis subsektor perkebunan menggunakan teknik analisa Location Quotioent (LQ), 2) Menentukan nilai pertumbuhan dan daya saing menggunakan teknik Shift Share Analysis (SSA), 3) Menentukan komoditas unggulan dengan teknik analisa komulatif hasil LQ dan SSA. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian didapatkan bahwa komoditas unggulan subsektor di Kecamatan Penajam yaitu komoditas kelapa dan komoditas kelapa sawit.
The Ethics of Tax Evasion: Relevant Demographic Variables within the scope of Higher Education Students and Professors.
Authors: Ribeiro César , Santos Pinho Carlos
Published: October 2020

The purpose of our study is to determine the depth of various arguments that have emerged to justify tax evasion as an ethical procedure considering several demographic variables. Data collection was done using a questionnaire addressed to professors and students of higher management and non-management courses. This instrument was based on the 18 statements reflecting the three views of tax evasion ethics used by McGee and Benk [1]. Using a 5-point Likert scale, it is intended to evaluate whether the arguments contained in the statements have an effect on the perception of tax evasion as an ethical procedure and whether the previous effect varies according to age, sex, bachelor degree and income level. A universe of 406,980 individuals was determined using official information (sample: 384 individuals). Principal Component Analysis was used, as well as the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Statistics in order to measure the adequacy of the input matrix. After the extraction of the components three variables were identified: “Always Ethical”, “Waste, Corruption and Injustice” and “Discrimination and Oppressive Regimes” (Cronbach's Alpha results: 0.887, 0.85 and 0.862). “Discrimination and Oppressive Regimes” is the one that has values ​​closest to “totally agree” that tax evasion is ethical. In general, older men with higher incomes tend to disagree about the ethics of tax evasion. The originality of the study is reflected in the controversial relationship between Ethics and Evasion and the source of the data collected. Interacting with professors and students allows the business and academic components to be combined.
Big Data Analytics for Energy Efficiency
Authors: Angelopoulos Michail , Kontakou Christina
Published: October 2020

Industries and utilities explore more and more case studies and expert advice concerning the possibilities of intelligent business administration and Big Data analytics. The movement to integrate and meaningfully interpret huge tanks of data points is reaching beyond cutting edge utilities into the mainstream. This project aims at exploring the application of Big Data analytics in the energy sector. Within project’s framework, already developed and operational datasets will be combined with supplemental data from publicly available sources, including prior energy efficiency program participation, enrollment in other energy programs and services, geographic data, customer equipment profiles, demographics, and psychographic customer segmentation categories. There are significant technical, budgetary and project management challenges in undertaking the development and integration of Big Data analytics. There are also organizational challenges in managing change, making decisions in a cooperative framework, and grounding project goals and strategies in the customer experience. The ultimate goal of the project is to develop a reliable database for a step closer to the energy efficiency direction.
Job-Related Factors And Productivity Of Labour In The Nigerian Public Sector: The Case Of Lamata
Authors: Fajana Sola , Shonuga Adedoyinsola
Published: October 2020

Productivity has a sustained demonstrable influence on business and political processes and outcomes in all climes. This study explores how the public sector in Nigeria can create ‘decent jobs’ which are more productive and rewarding in all senses. The adopted methodology was positivism which involves figurative or quantitative investigation and communication of observed phenomena. Based on this approach, a questionnaire was designed to gather information from fifty (50) staff in the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA). Data was analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics, and the Pareto chart and Kano’ Product/Service attribute classification mechanism.  The findings were indicative of dominant factors such as opportunities for learning and development (µ=4.4), gifts at special periods (µ=4.7), and pay and rewards (µ=4.5). It was recommended that organizational and institutional policy drivers should continually consider these factors as expressed in the direct and group expectations of the employees in the policy-making and review processes.
If you plan to write a covered call option which will expire does traditional option pricing theory apply and, if not, what can replace the Greeks?
Authors: Samsa Greg
Published: October 2020

The primary goal of option pricing theory is to calculate the probability that an option will be exercised at expiration. These calculations are often summarized using "the Greeks", for example, theta is the expected change in the price of the option associated with a 1-unit change in time.  Options can either be traded or held until expiration.  If the investor's intention is to write a covered call option which will expire, and is indifferent between whether or not the option is exercised, then option pricing theory in general and the Greeks in particular are not directly relevant to them.   Here, we consider the question of what information in fact is important to an investor who writes such a covered call option, and then explore the extent to which an analogy between that investor's analysis and the Greeks can be developed.  A case study is presented, and then it is demonstrated that an analogue of theta addresses the same general construct of time value decay.  The degree to which the writing of covered calls is an investment strategy versus a speculative strategy is also considered.  In conclusion, for an investor who intends to write a covered call option with the intention of allowing it to expire, even though the Greeks are not directly helpful, the principles which underpin their derivation very much are.
The Influence Of Facebook Marketing On Consumer Buying Intention Of Clothing: Evidence From Young Adults
Authors: Bernard D. T. Kingsley , Munasinghe A. A. S. N. , Premarathne I. K. R. J. , Wijayarathne S.
Published: October 2020

As a result of the rapid improvements paved through global advertising pathways, marketers have started to promote their products through social media platforms and among that; Facebook had become the most popular mode of communicating out of all. The study was conducted with the objective of comprehensively investigating the influence of Facebook marketing on consumer buying intention of clothing using evidence of young adults. Predominantly, the research focused upon identifying the superiority of Facebook as a social media communication platform and its relevant impact upon advertising. Majority of the businesses aims toward increasing the  reach, whereas Facebook users expect clear experience through Facebook rather than watching typical pop ups, web banners and adds. However,

 

 

 

 

Facebook marketing was identified to be positively and negatively influencing the companies and users. Therefore, focus was to analyze the impact to consumer’s buying

intention from Facebook marketing. The companies can identify the effectiveness of the

advertising and the improvement to be done. The study has undertaken a comprehensive survey to achieve the objectives of the research and those data was analyzed through component factor analysis, regression analysis and correlation coefficient. As per the results of the analysis, researchers have accomplished the stated objectives of the study. In conclusion, it was identified that there was a strong relationship between independent and dependent variables except E-WOM. Among that, Likes and sharing are the most important variables in Facebook marketing. According to outcomes, E- WOM was not an important variable, nonetheless researchers recommend focusing on E-WOM in order to convert this variable in to positive way to make better results, as previous researches stated that E-WOM can make massive impact to consumer purchase intention.
Facilities and Materials for Teaching Sewing in Junior High Schools in Selected Schools in Ghana
Authors: Akomaning Esther Laurinda
Published: October 2020

The study explored the views of Junior High School teachers in an urban area in Ghana on instructional facilities and materials for teaching Sewing. Descriptive survey design was used to conduct the study and the objectives were to find out the instructional facilities and materials available and not available for teaching Sewing. Through purposive, cluster and systematic random sampling procedures, 78 teachers were sampled to participate in the study. Questionnaire and observation checklist were used to collect data. The data were analysed with SPSS to generate frequencies and percentage table. The results show that classrooms, basic tools such as needles, dress maker’s pins, pin cushion, scissors, tape measure, brown paper and BDT textbook were available. However, sewing machines, thimbles, seam rippers, fabrics, threads and cupboards/chest of drawers were not available in the schools to facilitate effective teaching and learning. For improvement, all stakeholders in education should help with the provision of teaching and learning resources for Sewing.
Utilization and Processing of Sorghum by Small Holder Farmers in Drought Prone Agro-ecological Zones of Kenya
Authors: Beinah Abdiaziz , Kunyanga Catherine , Ngugi Kahiu
Published: October 2020

Sorghum is an under-utilized crop and one of the most important cereal crops in semi-arid tropics. In Kenya, sorghum is grown in the often drought prone marginal agricultural areas of Eastern, Nyanza and Coast regions where there are many biotic and abiotic constraints that reduce its productivity. The aim of the present study was to assess the current utilization and processing practices by small holder farmers. Makueni County, a representative of drought prone areas situated in agro-ecological zone was selected since sorghum is a widely cultivated crop and the region has organized formally registered farmer groups. Key informant interviews (20), household survey questionnaires (300) and focus group discussions (12) with the farmers were conducted to gather data on sorghum production, challenges in production consumption and utilization, processing technology and market access. Key informant interviews (20), household survey questionnaires (300) and focus group discussions (12) with the farmers were conducted to gather data on sorghum production, challenges in production consumption and utilization, processing technology and market access. The main uses of sorghum include: Stiff porridge (ugali) (37.6%), thin porridge (uji) (35.2%), fried dough (mandazi) (3.1%), flat bread (chapatti) (2.6%),githeri(sorghum mixed with legumes) (8.0%), sorghum cake (1.2%), beverage (sorghum tea) (0.8%) and animal feed (8.5%). The greatest challenges that hinders utilization and limits processing of sorghum and value addition were lack of markets (12.3%), low volumes of production due to low productivity (3.5%), lack of capital (4.6%), pest and diseases (38.2%), lack of farm equipment (24.6%) and lack of processing knowledge (16.8%). This work recommended that more farmers training on sorghum value addition be conducted to create awareness on sorghum products utilization and to link the products to the markets.
Hypothyroidism In Women With Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion
Authors: EMARAH MOHAMED S. A. , EL-NAGGAR MOHAMED A. , SHABACY ABEER EL , QUSHWA SAHAR H.
Published: October 2020

Recurrent miscarriage, defined as loss of two or more consecutive pregnancies, occurs in 1–2% of couples attempting to bear children. The major causes of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) based on the literature include parental structural chromosome rearrangement, immunologic factors (i.e. antiphospholipid syndrome), thrombophilic factors (both inherited and acquired), anatomic factors of uterine anomalies, and endocrinologic disorders. Luteal phase defect, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease and hyperprolactinemia are among the endocrinologic disorders implicated in approximately 17% to 20% of RPL. The prevalence of hypothyroidism in the general population of reproductive age is about 2-3%.

The aim of this study is to observe the benefit of screening for hypothyroidism amongst women with recurrent spontaneous abortion early in the first trimester.

The study included one hundred and sixty (160) women, in the reproductive age of life, where there ages ranged from 20 – 33 years, and divided into two groups. Study group which included eighty (80), non pregnant women with a history of two or more consecutive spontaneous abortions early in the first trimester, with no living children and control group which included eighty (80), non pregnant women having one or more living children without any history of abortion.

Hypothyroidism was noted in ten (10) cases (12.5%) in the study group and noted in two (2) cases (2.5%) in the control group with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.01). The mean levels of TSH in the study group was 22.71  13.13 Iu/ml.

Conclusion: Screening for hypothyroidism has clinical significance and would help to reduce miscarriage rate in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion.
Was Buddha a prophet?
Authors: Khattab Mohammad Ali
Published: October 2020

This research is a view of the life of Buddha in his childhood, in the palace of

his father, and his religious education taught by Hindu monks of the

Brahmins. He has reached a prestigious position in knowledge.

The research also dealt with the stage of his young adulthood, his marriage,

son and family. The report also reviewed the stage of searching for the truth

in the forest, accompanying a group of his friends, and then the report spoke

of the despair that entered Buddha's heart by not arriving a result, and how he

left the forest and the way of austerity.

The research spoke about the Enlightenment obtained under the tree of

knowledge, as a logical result of the journey of asceticism, worship and

mutilation. The research also touched on the Buddha's call and principles;

followed by his students and disciples, and the conditions he developed for

the individual to become Buddhist. Buddha's campaign was not an ordinary

religious call; it became preponderant that Buddha may have been a prophet,

after a comprehensive account of the evidences that accompanied it, but a

host of internal and external obstacles diverted the religion from its origin,

and moved it from its nature, to claim the divinity of the Buddha afterwards.
Assessing the Effect of Liquidity Management on the Performance Of Deposit Money Banks In Nigeria.
Authors: Nzotta Samuel Mbadike , Atuonwu Obiageri Eunice
Published: October 2020

This study examines the effect of liquidity management on bank’s performance in Nigeria from the period 1980-2017. The major aim of the study was to find empirical evidence of degree to which effective liquidity management affects bank performance and how to improve bank performance and liquidity position. The cointegration and error correction technique were produced from the ARDL technique of data analysis as well as Granger causality test was employed to investigate the relationship between liquidity management and banks’ performance. The study reveals that there is a long run relationship between banks’ performance and the selected key variables, although LQR was found to be the only significant variable in the model from the individual test, however, it was jointly shown that the liquidity components significantly impact on banks’ performance in Nigeria in the long run. Based on the empirical findings, we recommend that central bank of Nigeria should ensure effectiveness and efficiency in the review and monitoring of liquidity policy tools in banks in order to stabilize deposit money banks performance and strengthen the financial sector of the economy.
Measurement Instrument of Soft Skills and Work Ethics
Authors: Soelistiyowati Endang , Yuanti Erlin Estiana , Sari Yohana Ika Harnita , . Suwardo
Published: October 2020

There has been an issue toward to what extent a formal education specifically embeds soft skills and work ethics, the aspects that employees must possess, and what efforts have been given to help develop them. This paper aims at developing a measurement instrument to assess, to help improve the employees’ level of soft skills and work ethics in industries and at the same time to give an insight about what universities should prepare to help their students acquire a sufficient acquisition of soft skills and work ethics. This research is a Research and Development (R&D), aimed at developing a measurement instrument on skills and work ethics. Partial Least Square (PLS) was employed to confirm the validity and reliability of the instrument. Some observations in industries were done, and semi-structured qualitative interviews and Focused Group Discussion (FGD) were conducted with stakeholders, HR managers, and psychologists. The results show that 47 out of 56 items are valid to measure intrapersonal, interpersonal skills, and communication skills. While for the work ethics, 44 statements were valid to measure commitment, integrity, professional attitude, and hard work. For the reliability, a composite value of reliability >0.70 is used, and the results show that the instrument is reliable.
A LEADERSHIP FUNCTIONS OF WOMEN BUREAUCRATS AS A LEADER IN A DENGUE FEVER DISEASE CONTROL IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OF BEKASI CITY, WEST JAVA PROVINCE INDONESIA
Authors: Yuningsih Neneng Yany
Published: October 2020

The era of democracy has opened opportunities for women to have and build a career in various fields including in bureaucracy environment of civil apparatus. This research focuses on analyzing the role of leadership functions of women bureaucrats as a leader in dengue fever disease control in the Department of Health of Bekasi City in 2015-2016. Leadership theories are used to analyze the themes. During the period, dengue fever (DBD) disease is a disease with extraordinary status in Bekasi City; thus, it requires particular attention on its control from the municipal government of Bekasi City. The Department of Health of Bekasi City assigns dr. Pusporini as a person in charge to handle the DBD disease issue in the city. dr. Pusporini, as a bureaucrat, is a physician on duty in the department. She is the head of infectious disease control division. As a woman, it is not an easy task to be a leader with considerable responsibilities.
American GDP Alone Predicts Human Development
Authors: Bechtel Gordon , Bechtel Timothy
Published: October 2020

Bechtel (2018, 2019) linked gross domestic product (GDP) to the United Nation’s Human Development Index (HDI).  These results at the national level, and subsequent results at the global level (Bechtel, G. and Bechtel, T., 2020), induce our hypothesis that a transform of American GDP predicts global HDI.  This hypothesis is confirmed by two distinct bilinear regressions in which global HDI is predicted by American GDP alone. 

These empirical findings contribute to the socioeconomic and philosophical debate on the nature of well-being.  They also show that HDI computation can be carried out from American GDP without survey sampling, questionnaire interrogation, probabilistic inference, significance testing, or even HDI data.  In view of trade-war and covid-19 shocks to all national economies, international attention to American GDP is now compelling.
D DEMOCRACY, DEMOCRATISATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: AN OVERVIEW
Authors: Udeoji Ebele
Published: October 2020

ABSTRACT

Democracy and development are key concepts in the developmental discourse, and they are considered crucial to a sustainable developmental strategy. This study thus appraised the nexus between democracy and development in Nigeria. The study utilized content analysis and descriptive method to actualize the objectives of the research. This study revealed that absence of democratic paraphernalia like free and fair election, rule of law, constitutionalism among others, have constituted series of misunderstandings in the tenets and principles of liberal democracy, especially in Nigeria. The study further ascertained that factors such as: poor state of economy, high level of unemployment, illiteracy, ignorance, ethnicity, tribalism, ethno-religious crises, and poverty have coalesced to constitute impediments to the smooth and effective operation of democracy in Nigeria, with serious implications for democratization and sustainable development. Among others, the study recommends political, structural and institutional reforms of the Nigerian state in a manner that promote and deepen democracy and national development.
2017 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN KENYA CONTEXTUALIZED ON THE CONCEPT OF DEMOCRACY
Authors: Manyara Ibrahim J.
Published: October 2020

ABSTRACT

    This paper attempts to examine the controversy intertwined in the concept of democracy in theory and practice. It is argued that in political discourses and electoral processes in a State, the concept has been as controversial as it is from individual perspectives. In whichever situation, the proponents are convinced that they are indeed right yet they cannot all be true at the same time. After an election in a State, one set of politicians, voters and election observers will pass a verdict that the process was democratic while at the same time another set of politicians, voters and elections observers will dismiss the elections as flawed and undemocratic. In an attempt to seek answers to this controversy, the paper is divided into three parts. Part A engages in a detailed Ontological and Epistemological analysis of the views and perspectives of theorists and scholars in all historical epochs of academic development. Part B captures the case study of the 2017 presidential elections in Kenya while in      Part C author attempts to contextualize the 2017 presidential elections in Kenya on the concept of democracy in an attempt to assess whether the elections were democratic or otherwise based on the researcher’s research findings of the elections. The paper combines both qualitative and quantitative approaches and is anchored on the investment theory of elections and game theory as the theoretical underpinnings. This study concludes that the 2017 presidential elections in Kenya were democratic and undemocratic at the same time.

Keywords: Ontology, Epistemology, Game theory, Investment theory of party competition.
Educational achievements in the OECD according to PISA 2018
Authors: Martínez Ricardo , Villar Antonio
Published: October 2020

We propose in this paper an approach to PISA outcomes intended to improve the descriptive power of summary statistics. We do so by computing separately the different parts of the outcome distribution of the PISA test. This is important because average values (or even dispersion measures) do not capture the fundamental asymmetries that appear across proficiency levels, especially regarding their tails (students below level 2 or in levels 5 and 6). We analyze the results of the OECD countries in PISA 2018, regarding reading comprehension. We show that the different measures that can be designed, aimed at assessing the extent of high, low and overall performance, differ from the conventional ones and give further insights on the structural differences between educational systems.
Willingness to pay for climate change mitigation: college students’ perceptions in Tennessee and Kentucky
Authors: Tewari Rachna
Published: October 2020

Climate change and its impact on agriculture and rural communities has been a much-discussed topic among scientists, academics, and the general public. Existing studies have revealed a disconnect between agricultural stakeholders and the wider climatological community in the U.S., which impacts the process of making informed decisions in response to climate related issues in agriculture. This study evaluates college students’ perspectives about global warming and climate change in two agricultural schools located in western Tennessee and western Kentucky, respectively. Data was collected using a Likert scale survey tool and questions ranged from awareness of specific climate change terms, mitigation efforts, and the level of concern for such efforts. Ultimately, this study analyzed differences in students’ perception of willingness to pay for climate change mitigation efforts as affected by demographics, concern about the impact of climate change on agriculture, and existing knowledge about climate change. Among other variables, the need for more information about climate change had a significantly positive impact on the willingness to make a financial contribution to climate change mitigation efforts. This study will potentially enhance existing literature on the future workforces’ perceptions for climate change mitigation efforts, which will in turn provide insights for policy recommendations.
Does School Viability Assessment is Really Matter towards Efficient Resource Allocations and Good Governance: A Situation Analysis of Public Sector Schools of Sindh Province
Authors: Hamzo Khan Tagar  , Ali Sheraz , Bijarni Ghulam Ali , Nazir Hira
Published: October 2020

This study is to assess the viability status of educational institutions inthe Sindh region and understand the factors for increasing non-viable schools on the ground. The study further highlights the school viability challenges associated with evidence-based planning and de-allocating resources from dysfunctional institutions. The viability of school is the basic requirement for access to education for all and the ultimate goal is to the optimization of resources and laid foundation towards good governance and quality education in the greater public interest. The findings of this study can be used for by the planners, decision-makers, policy-makers and implementing authorities for evidence based planning to enhance the performance within stipulated time frame and given limited resources in the school education department in greater public interest which leads to destinations of SDGs 04 quality education for all in the region.