bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal Variation of Drought and Associated Multi-Scale Response to Climate Change over the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China
Authors: Li Hao , Liu Liu , Shan Baoying , Xu Zhicheng , Niu Qiankun , Cheng Lei , Liu Xingcai , Xu Zongxue
Published: July 2019

Drought is one of the most widespread and threatening natural disasters in the world, which has terrible impacts on agricultural irrigation and production, ecological environment, and socioeconomic development. As a critical ecologically fragile area located in southwest China, the Yarlung Zangbo River (YZR) basin is sensitive and vulnerable to climate change and human activities. Hence, this study focused on the YZR basin and attempted to investigate the spatiotemporal variations of drought and associated multi-scale response to climate change based on the scPDSI (self-calibrating Palmer drought severity index) and CRU (climate research unit) data. Results showed that: (1) The YZR basin has experienced an overall wetting process from 1956 to 2015, while a distinct transition period in the mid 1990s (from wet to dry) was detected by multiple statistical methods. (2) Considering the spatial variation of the scPDSI, areas showing the significantly wetting process with increasing scPDSI values were mostly located in the arid upstream and midstream regions, which accounted for over 48% area of the YZR basin, while areas exhibiting the drying tendency with decreasing scPDSI values were mainly concentrated in the humid southern part of the YZR basin, dominating the transition period from wet to dry, to which more attention should be paid. (3) By using the EEMD (ensemble empirical mode decomposition) method, the scPDSI over the YZR basin showed quasi-3-year and quasi-9-year cycles at the inter-annual scale, while quasi-15-year and quasi-56-year cycles were detected at the inter-decadal scale. The reconstructed inter-annual scale showed a better capability to represent the abrupt change characteristic of drought, which was also more influential to the original time series with a variance contribution of 55.3%, while the inter-decadal scale could be used to portray the long-term drought variation process with a relative lower variance contribution of 29.1%. (4) The multi-scale response of drought to climate change indicated that changes of precipitation (PRE) and diurnal temperature range (DTR) were the major driving factors in the drought variation at different time scales. Compared with potential evapotranspiration (PET), DTR was a much more important climate factor associated with drought variations by altering the energy balance, which is more obvious over the YZR basin distributed with extensive snow cover and glaciers. These findings could provide important implications for ecological environment protection and sustainable socioeconomic development in the YZR basin and other high mountain regions.
Neuro-Sliding Control for Underwater ROV’s Subject to Unknown Disturbances
Authors: García-Valdovinos Luis Govinda , Fonseca-Navarro Fernando , Aizpuru-Zinkunegi Joanes , Salgado-Jiménez Tomas , Gómez-Espinosa Alfonso , Cruz-Ledesma José Antonio
Published: July 2019

Proposed in this paper is a model-free and chattering-free second order sliding mode control (2nd-SMC) in combination with a backpropagation neural network (BP-NN) control scheme for underwater vehicles to deal with external disturbances (i.e., ocean currents) and parameter variations caused, for instance, by the continuous interchange of tools. The compound controller, here called the neuro-sliding control (NSC), takes advantage of the 2nd-SMC robustness and fast response to drive the position tracking error to zero. Simultaneously, the BP-NN contributes with its capability to estimate and to compensate online the hydrodynamic variations of the vehicle. When a change in the vehicle’s hydrodynamics occurs, the 2nd-SMC may no longer be able to compensate for the variations since its feedback gains are tuned for a different condition; thus, in order to preserve the desired performance, it is necessary to re-tune the feedback gains, which a cumbersome and time consuming task. To solve this, a viable choice is to implement a BP-NN control scheme along with the 2nd-SMC that adds or removes energy from the system according to the current condition it is in, in order to keep, or even improve, its performance. The effectiveness of the proposed compound controller was supported by experiments carried out on a mini-ROV.
An Advanced First Aid System Based on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and a Wireless Body Area Sensor Network for Elderly Persons in Outdoor Environments
Authors: Fakhrulddin Saif Saad , Gharghan Sadik Kamel , Al-Naji Ali , Chahl Javaan
Published: July 2019

For elderly persons, a fall can cause serious injuries such as a hip fracture or head injury. Here, an advanced first aid system is proposed for monitoring elderly patients with heart conditions that puts them at risk of falling and for providing first aid supplies using an unmanned aerial vehicle. A hybridized fall detection algorithm (FDB-HRT) is proposed based on a combination of acceleration and a heart rate threshold. Five volunteers were invited to evaluate the performance of the heartbeat sensor relative to a benchmark device, and the extracted data was validated using statistical analysis. In addition, the accuracy of fall detections and the recorded locations of fall incidents were validated. The proposed FDB-HRT algorithm was 99.16% and 99.2% accurate with regard to heart rate measurement and fall detection, respectively. In addition, the geolocation error of patient fall incidents based on a GPS module was evaluated by mean absolute error analysis for 17 different locations in three cities in Iraq. Mean absolute error was 1.08 × 10−5° and 2.01 × 10−5° for latitude and longitude data relative to data from the GPS Benchmark system. In addition, the results revealed that in urban areas, the UAV succeeded in all missions and arrived at the patient’s locations before the ambulance, with an average time savings of 105 s. Moreover, a time saving of 31.81% was achieved when using the UAV to transport a first aid kit to the patient compared to an ambulance. As a result, we can conclude that when compared to delivering first aid via ambulance, our design greatly reduces delivery time. The proposed advanced first aid system outperformed previous systems presented in the literature in terms of accuracy of heart rate measurement, fall detection, and information messages and UAV arrival time.
The Potential of Goat Meat in the Red Meat Industry
Authors: Mazhangara Irene Rumbidzai , Chivandi Eliton , Mupangwa John Fisher , Muchenje Voster
Published: July 2019

Worldwide the consumption of chevon (goat meat) has increased largely due to its distinct nutritional attributes when compared to other red meats. In addition to being a good source of dietary protein for human beings, chevon comparatively has a lower total fat, saturated fatty acid and cholesterol content, which makes it a healthful product. Chevon’s health promoting chemical composition fulfils the expectations of consumers’ demand for healthful foods and thus explaining its growing popularity and increased demand. The increase in the popularity and demand of chevon is essential to contributing towards the increase in demand for animal-derived protein sources for human consumption, which is driven by an expansion in urban settlements, improving incomes, and the need for a better lifestyle. Despite chevon being established as lean red meat with low content of fat, cholesterol and saturated fatty acids, there are misconceptions regarding the perceived inferior quality of chevon compared to beef, pork or lamb among some consumers. This review seeks to provide evidence supporting the favorable nutritive characteristics of chevon and it being a healthful product that is poised to make a significant contribution to animal-derived foods for human consumption.
Global Sustainability Crossroads: A Participatory Simulation Game to Educate in the Energy and Sustainability Challenges of the 21st Century
Authors: Capellán-Pérez Iñigo , Álvarez-Antelo David , Miguel Luis J.
Published: July 2019

There is a general need to facilitate citizens’ understanding of the global sustainability problem with the dual purpose of raising their awareness of the seriousness of the problem and helping them get closer to understanding the complexity of the solutions. Here, the design and application of the participatory simulation game Global Sustainability Crossroads is described, based on a global state-of-the-art energy–economy–environment model, which creates a virtual scenario where the participants are confronted with the design of climate mitigation strategies as well as the social, economic, and environmental consequences of decisions. The novelty of the game rests on the global scope and the representation of the drivers of anthropogenic emissions within the MEDEAS-World model, combined with a participatory simulation group dynamic flexible enough to be adapted to a diversity of contexts and participants. The performance of 13 game workshops with ~420 players has shown it has a significant pedagogical potential: the game is able to generate discussions on crucial topics which are usually outside the public realm such as the relationship between economic growth and sustainability, the role of technology, how human desires are limited by biophysical constraints or the possibility of climate tipping points.
Impact of Time Restriction and Logistics Sprawl on Urban Freight and Environment: The Case of Beijing Agricultural Freight
Authors: Zhao Boshuai , Zhang Juliang , Wei Wenchao
Published: July 2019

Time restriction and logistics sprawl (e.g., relocating logistics facilities), as two popular urban policies, usually affect the urban freight and environmental burden, but their combination might lead to unexpected results. This paper analyzes the impact of time restriction and logistics sprawl on urban freight and local environments based on a Beijing agricultural freight case through traffic simulation. The data is derived through a freight demand forecasting method. Based on the data, this paper constructs four groups of scenarios to represent different policies (or combined policies) and then conducts macro-simulation to obtain the economic and environmental indicators. Results show that (1) time restriction can increase the freight costs and slightly decrease local emissions, while logistics sprawl can increase both costs and emissions; (2) the joint implementation of the two policies are proved to be positive in economic and environmental aspects because it helps freight carriers adopt a new strategy to improve delivery efficiency; (3) urban freight policies are closely related to the freight carriers because different responses from carriers can lead to different policy effects.
The Impact of High-Speed Rail on Housing Prices: Evidence from China’s Prefecture-Level Cities
Authors: Wang Rong , Ye Li , Chen Liwen
Published: July 2019

The rapid development of the high-speed rail (HSR) network enhanced the regional accessibility between cities, drove the rise in cities’ investment levels, and expanded the activity radius of the labor force, causing changes in housing prices along the rail lines. Based on panel data of 285 cities in China from 2008–2016, this study used the difference-in-difference based on propensity score matching (PSM-DID) method to calculate the impact of HSR on housing prices. The conclusions of the study indicated that, at the regional level, HSR significantly promoted the rise in housing prices in HSR cities along the rail line. HSR had a positive effect on housing prices, where the coefficient of HSR influence was 0.1511 and passed a 1% significance test. From the perspective of the combination of sub-regional and sub-city scales, HSR mainly played a significant role in promoting housing prices in “small and medium-sized cities” and “central and western cities”, especially in small and medium-sized cities in the central and western regions; in general, HSR can narrow the housing price gap between “small and medium-sized HSR cities” in the central and western regions and large HSR cities in the east region. Lastly, the results of the intermediary mechanism test showed that the income level of residents and employment levels played an intermediary role in the influence of HSR on the housing prices of cities along the rail line. Thus, this paper suggests that the Chinese government needs to formulate housing price control policies that suit local conditions according to the characteristics of different cities.
Predicting the Future Chinese Population using Shared Socioeconomic Pathways, the Sixth National Population Census, and a PDE Model
Authors: Guo Aijun , Ding Xiaojiang , Zhong Fanglei , Cheng Qingping , Huang Chunlin
Published: July 2019

A precise multi-scenario prediction of future population, based on micro-scale census data and localized interpretation of global scenarios, is significant for understanding long-term demographic changes. However, the data used in previous research need to be further refined. Few studies have focused on predicting the sex ratio at birth, which is vitally important for estimating the future size and structure of the population. It is also important to interpret and set parameters for China’s future population development in line with the framework for global shared socioeconomic pathways. This paper, therefore, used the structural population data for provinces, prefectures, and counties from the Sixth National Population Census of China. It comprehensively considered the impact of China’s economic development level, specific population policies, and loss of an only child on key parameters, and localized the population change parameters for different scenarios. A population–development–environment model was used to explain the population change parameters. The population of 340 districts was refined, forecast, and aggregated to the national scale. The results show that the Chinese population is expected to first increase then decrease under the five paths from 2010 to 2050. The aging demographic structure is not reversed under any paths, and the increase or decrease in the urban and rural populations between adjacent node years is closely related to the fertility rate and urbanization speed. We suggest that measures should be taken to encourage childbearing, manage the aging population problem, and reduce the pressure on young and middle-aged people.
Adaptive Backstepping Sliding Mode Control for the Vertical Launching Barrel-Cover of the Underwater Missile
Authors: Yin ShiCai , Shen Gang
Published: July 2019

The vertical launching barrel-cover device is a symmetry mechanism, so we can simplify this symmetry mechanism into an electro-hydraulic servo problem. The vertical launching barrel-cover of the underwater missile has parameter uncertainty, load time-varying and strong nonlinear of motion and coupling during the submarine movement. Therefore, it is important to study the nonlinear adaptive antidisturbances control method of the vertical launching barrel-cover. For the vertical launching cover system of the underwater missile, an adaptive backstepping sliding mode control system based on disturbance observer is proposed. The backstepping sliding mode controller is used to solve the problem of nonlinearity and chattering in the system; the adaptive method is used to dynamically follow the changes of the system characteristics, adjust the controller parameters. At the same time, the disturbance observer is added to the system to reduce the sensitivity of the system to disturbance By completing the process of switching cover, we have experimented with the designed adaptive backstepping sliding mode controller to verify the effectiveness of the controller. The controller improves the stability of the whole switch cover system. The experimental results show that compared with traditional proportional integral (PI) controller and sliding mode controller, the controller solves the problem of over-limit when the cover is in place, and has excellent tracking performance in the process of the switch cover.
Two-Dimensional Advection–Diffusion Process with Memory and Concentrated Source
Authors: Ahmed Najma , Shah Nehad Ali , Vieru Dumitru
Published: July 2019

Two-dimensional advection–diffusion processes with memory and a source concentrated in the symmetry center of the domain have been investigated. The differential equation of the studied model is a fractional differential equation with short-tail memory (a differential equation with Caputo–Fabrizio time-fractional derivatives). An analytical solution of the initial-boundary value problem has been determined by employing the Laplace transform and double sine-Fourier transforms. A numerical solution of the studied problem has been determined using finite difference approximations. Numerical simulations for both solutions have been carried out using the software Mathcad.
A Short Peptide Derived from the ZorO Toxin Functions as an Effective Antimicrobial
Authors: Otsuka Yuichi , Ishikawa Tomohiro , Takahashi Chisato , Masuda Michiaki
Published: July 2019

Antimicrobial peptides are potential molecules for the development of novel antibiotic agents. The ZorO toxin of a type I toxin–antitoxin system in Escherichia coli O157:H7 is composed of 29 amino acids and its endogenous expression inhibits E. coli growth. However, little is known about its inhibitory mechanism. In this study, we demonstrate that the ZorO localized in the inner membrane affects the plasma membrane integrity and potential when expressed in E. coli cells, which triggers the production of cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals. We further show that five internal amino acids (Ala–Leu–Leu–Arg–Leu; ALLRL) of ZorO are necessary for its toxicity. This result prompted us to address the potential of the synthetic ALLRL peptide as an antimicrobial. Exogenously-added ALLRL peptide to Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, and a fungus, Candida albicans, trigger cell membrane damage and exhibit growth defect, while having no effect on Gram-negative bacterium, E. coli. The ALLRL peptide retains its activity under the physiological salt concentrations, which is in contrast to natural antimicrobial peptides. Importantly, this peptide has no toxicity against mammalian cells. Taken together, an effective and short peptide, ALLRL, would be an attractive antimicrobial to Gram-positive bacteria and C. albicans.
Diets and Trophic Structure of Fish Assemblages in a Large and Unexplored Subtropical River: The Uruguay River
Authors: López-Rodríguez Anahí , Silva Ivana , de Ávila-Simas Sunshine , Stebniki Samanta , Bastian Rodrigo , Massaro Marthoni Vinicius , Pais Joaquin , Tesitore Giancarlo , Teixeira de Mello Franco , D’Anatro Alejandro , Vidal Nicolas , Meerhoff Mariana , Reynalte-Tataje David A. , Zaniboni-Filho Evoy , González-Bergonzoni Iván
Published: July 2019

The Neotropics represent a hotspot for freshwater biodiversity with vast number of fish species of scarce ecological knowledge. This holds true for the Uruguay River, where fish assemblages and their diets remain unexplored. Fish assemblages were surveyed in 14 sites along the river main course, from headwaters to mouth (approximately 1800 km), with the aim to identify the trophic roles of fishes and to describe trophic structure of these assemblages, following standardized sampling campaigns and laboratory procedures. One hundred species (2309 gut contents) were analysed and classified into four trophic groups subdivided into eight lower-level groups: Piscivore, piscivore-invertivore, detritivore, omnivore-detritivore, omnivore-invertivore, omnivore-planktivore and omnivore-herbivore. The trophic structure of the assemblages varied along the river, with the relative species richness of fish consuming terrestrial invertebrates increasing towards the middle river section, probably driven by the large floodplains in that areas, supporting global theories such as the flood pulse concept. This study describes the feeding habits of fish along the Uruguay River, being the first dietary description for 29 species. This knowledge is essential for management and conservation, serving as baseline in the context of future environmental changes while generating novel evidence on the functioning of ecosystems in this scarcely studied climatic region.
Development and Evaluation of an Agricultural Drought Index by Harnessing Soil Moisture and Weather Data
Authors: Ajaz Ali , Taghvaeian Saleh , Khand Kul , Gowda Prasanna H. , Moorhead Jerry E.
Published: July 2019

A new agricultural drought index was developed for monitoring drought impacts on agriculture in Oklahoma. This new index, called the Soil Moisture Evapotranspiration Index (SMEI), estimates the departure of aggregated root zone moisture from reference evapotranspiration. The SMEI was estimated at five locations across Oklahoma representing different climates. The results showed good agreement with existing soil moisture-based (SM) and meteorological drought indices. In addition, the SMEI had improved performance compared to other indices in capturing the effects of temporal and spatial variations in drought. The relationship with crop production is a key characteristic of any agricultural drought index. The correlations between winter wheat production and studied drought indices estimated during the growing period were investigated. The correlation coefficients were largest for SMEI (r > 0.9) during the critical crop growth stages when compared to other drought indices, and r decreased by moving from semi-arid to more humid regions across Oklahoma. Overall, the results suggest that the SMEI can be used effectively for monitoring the effects of drought on agriculture in Oklahoma.
Hydrological Effectiveness of an Extensive Green Roof in Mediterranean Climate
Authors: Palermo Stefania Anna , Turco Michele , Principato Francesca , Piro Patrizia
Published: July 2019

In urban water management, green roofs provide a sustainable solution for flood risk mitigation. Numerous studies have investigated green roof hydrologic effectiveness and the parameters that influence their operation; many have been conducted on the pilot scale, whereas only some of these have been executed on full-scale rooftop installations. Several models have been developed, but only a few have investigated the influence of green roof physical parameters on performance. From this broader context, this paper presents the results of a monitoring analysis of an extensive green roof located at the University of Calabria, Italy, in the Mediterranean climate region. To obtain this goal, the subsurface runoff coefficient, peak flow reduction, peak flow lag-time, and time to the start of runoff were evaluated at an event scale by considering a set of data collected between October 2015 and September 2016 consisting of 62 storm events. The mean value of subsurface runoff was 32.0% when considering the whole dataset, and 50.4% for 35 rainfall events (principally major than 8.0 mm); these results indicate the good hydraulic performance of this specific green roof in a Mediterranean climate, which is in agreement with other studies. A modeling approach was used to evaluate the influence of the substrate depth on green roof retention. The soil hydraulics features were first measured using a simplified evaporation method, and then modeled using HYDRUS-1D software (PC-Progress s.r.o., Prague, Czech Republic) by considering different values of soil depth (6 cm, 9 cm, 12 cm, and 15 cm) for six months under Mediterranean climate conditions. The results showed how the specific soil substrate was able to achieve a runoff volume reduction ranging from 22% to 24% by increasing the soil depth.
U-Pb dating identifies titanite precipitation in Paleogene sandstones from a volcanic terrane, East Greenland
Authors: Weibel Rikke , Thomsen Tonny B.
Published: July 2019

Titanite (CaTiSiO5) occurs as a rare mineral in magmatic and metamorphic rocks. It is commonly found in clastic sedimentary rocks as an accessory heavy mineral – a mineral of high density. Recently, U-Pb dating of single-grains of detrital titanite has been shown to be a useful tool in sedimentary provenance studies (e.g. McAteer et al. 2010; Thomsen et al. 2015). Titanite U-Pb geochronologies can add important information to constrain the sediment sources of rocks and basins, and can help date precipitation of titanite. However, there are a number of complicating factors that must be taken into consideration for reliable application of titanite U-Pb dating in provenance studies.

First, titanite is less stable than zircon – the most commonly employed dating target. For example, in Palaeocene sediments in the North Sea, titanite rarely occurs as detrital grains at burial depths greater than 1400 m (Morton 1984). It can also show dissolution features due to weathering and burial diagenesis (e.g. Morton 1984; Turner & Morton 2007). Second, titanite may precipitate during burial diagenesis, which would reflect the burial history of sediments and not their provenance. Precipitation of authigenic titanite is documented from deeply buried (i.e. at temperatures greater than 100°C) volcaniclastic sandstones and mudstones (Helmond & Van de Kamp 1984; Milliken 1992) and intrusion-associated mineralisation in volcanic Permian sandstones (van Panhuys-Sigler & Trewin 1990). Moreover, titanite also occurs in shallow-buried Jurassic sandstones with no volcanic affinity (Morad 1988). Thus, the formation of titanite is not necessarily linked to a volcaniclastic source, but nevertheless, the presence of volcanic material seems to promote titanite precipitation. If authigenic titanite precipitation was incorrectly identified as detrital, this would have considerable implications for provenance investigations, as apparently titanite-rich source rocks would be wrongly inferred to be present in the sediment source area. Here, we present examples from the Kangerlussuaq Basin in southern East Greenland of what appeared to be detrital titanite. However, new U-Pb dating reveals that the titanite formed authigenically, and hence contributed to the burial history, and not the provenance, of the sediments.
Persepsi Klien BPJS Tentang Caring Perawat di Sebuah Rumah Sakit
Authors: Maryana Maryana
Published: July 2019

Perilaku caring belum diaplikasikan dengan optimal dalam pelayanan keperawatan. Citra perawat di mata sebagian besar masyarakat Indonesia saat ini belum terbangun dengan baik. Masyarakat mempersepsikan perawat professional apabila perawat memiliki etik dan caring dalam pelayanan keperawatan. Penelitian ini bertujuan teridentifikasi berbagai perilaku caring perawat pelaksanana di ruang rawat inap. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kasus. Partisipan adalah pasien yang dirawat inap berjumlah 10 partisipan. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan wawancara mendalam, observasi, dan studi dokumentasi. Waktu penelitian dilakukan pada 11 Mei s.d 20 Juli 2017. Penelitian ini menemukan 5 lima tema proses caring perawat yaitu maintaining belief, knowing, being with, doing for, dan enabling. Perlunya upaya mempertahankan dan meningkatkan perilaku caring perawat melalui tiga pendekatan yang meliputi pendekatan individu dalam bentuk diskusi refleksi kasus, pendekatan organisasi melalui supervisi dan monitoring evaluasi serta pendekatan leadership dengan menciptakan iklim motivasi di lingkungan keperawatan.
Hubungan Pengetahuan Makanan Cepat Saji (Fast Food) Dengan Kejadian Dismenorhoe Pada Siswi Kelas VII di SMPN 2 Jalaksana Kecamatan Jalaksana Kabupaten Kuningan Tahun 2018
Authors: Soviyati Evie , Nurjannah Siti
Published: July 2019

Remaja sering mengalami gangguan menstruasi (dismenorhoe). Salah satu faktor penyebabnya adalah asupan gizi yang kurang baik, makanan cepat saji  banyak mengandung asam lemak trans salah satu radikal bebas yang mengandung zat pemicu prostaglandin (Anisa,2015). Studi pendahuluan yang dilakukan pada siswi SMP 2 Jalaksana menunjukkan bahwa sebagian besar siswi belum mengetahui makanan cepat saji dapat mengakibatkan dismenorhoe. Tujuan penelitian untuk mengetahui hubungan pengetahuan makanan cepat saji dengan kejadian dismenorhoe, rumusan masalah ‘Adakah hubungan pengetahuan makanan cepat saji dengan kejadian dismenorhoe pada siswi kelas VII di SMPN 2 Jalaksana Tahun 2018?’. Hipotesa penelitian terdapat hubungan antara pengetahuan makanan cepat saji dengan kejadian dismenorhoe. Penelitian menggunakan metode analitik,dengan rancangan cross sectional subjek penelitian siswi kelas VII sebanyak 204, tehnik sampel stratifikasi sampling diperoleh sampel sebanyak 58 siswi, pengumpulan data menggunakan kuesioner dan menggunakan analisis univariat dan bivariat dengan rumus chi square. Hasil analisis univariat dari 58 siswi diperoleh 31(53.4%) berpengetahuan baik, dan kejadian dismenorhoe adalah 31(53.4%). Analisis bivariat  diperoleh nilai p-value (0,01), dengan presentasi siswi dengan pengetahuan kurang mendominasi terjadinya dismenorhoe (99,9%). Semakin tinggi pengetahuan mempengaruhi perilaku dan sikap siswi dalam mengonsumsi makanan. Kejadian dismenore terjadi akibat penumpukan prostaglandin dalam jumlah banyak, dimana bersumber dari makanan cepat saji. Terdapat hubungan  pengetahuan  makanan cepat saji dengan kejadian dismenorhoe. Upaya meminimalisasi dampak negatif makanan cepat saji dengan bersikap bijak memilih menu makanan, disertai mengkonsumsi sayuran dan buah-buahan. Selain itu tenaga kesehatan  memberikan sosialisasi Gerakan Masyarakat Hidup Sehat di sekolah.
JOHN CALVIN AND PHILIP MELANCHTHON’S SUM OF THEOLOGY
Authors: WELLS PAUL , WELLS ALISON
Published: July 2019

This preface to the French translation of Melanchthon’s Sum of Theology (Opera Omnia 9:847–50) was written by Calvin in 1546. It has been translated from the French by Alison Wells, introduced and annotated by Paul Wells. Our thanks to Paul Helm for suggesting this translation, to our knowledge the first time into English.
SEXUALITY AND THE LOST PROLETARIAT
Authors: WEEKS NOEL
Published: July 2019

Original Marxism was utopian, materialistic, and determinist. All human dynamics were explained by the dialectic or conflict between capitalists and the proletariat, with the victory of the proletariat being certain. In spite of the fact that determinism eliminates responsibility, those opposing Marxism were seen as evil. Marx’s prophecy failed, and Russian communism emerged as evil and repressive. “Western” Marxism used Freudian psychology to explain the rise of fascism. It looked for another “proletariat,” who were “oppressed.” Co-opting the 1960s social revolution, it found this proletariat in non-Europeans, women, and homosexuals. This involved accepting the genetic determinism of the fascists. All who disagree continue to be treated as evil.
GENESIS 2:24 AND THE NEW COVENANT: A PROFOUND MYSTERY
Authors: HAMER COLIN
Published: July 2019

Ephesians 5:31–32 articulates the root metaphor of New Testament marital imagery. The profound mystery is that the “one flesh” marital affinity union of Genesis 2:24 is how the new covenant fulfills the Abrahamic promise and brings the elect of “all the nations” into union with Christ. Thus, a sensus plenior is read into Genesis 2:24 that foreshadows redemptive history.
LESSONS FROM THE REFORMATION FOR HERMENEUTICS TODAY
Authors: VAN DEN BELT HENK
Published: July 2019

Recent views of the hermeneutical process, including philosophical speech-act theories, challenge Scripture’s authority and emphasize the author’s intention rather than a historical-grammatical view. Relating theological issues to philosophical views is legitimate, provided that the results do not contradict the spiritual authority of Scripture. The following hermeneutical principles of the Reformation can help maintain this adherence: 1) Scripture is the first principle and ultimate norm for all theology; 2) Scripture is the living and powerful Word of God; 3) the sovereign Spirit binds himself to the Word; and 4) the Spirit-breathed Word begs for a spiritual and clear explanation. In the (post)modern context, we need to approach hermeneutics from pneumatology and test it by God’s Word.
ELECTION: THE FATHER’S DECISION TO ADOPT
Authors: VAN VLIET JASON
Published: July 2019

The doctrine of election presents us with an intellectual challenge. The Synod of Dort maintained that, based on his sovereign good pleasure, God decided to choose some for salvation and punish others with condemnation. This truth often leaves the impression that God acted in an arbitrary or even unjust manner. The Canons of Dort, though, present the electing God as a merciful Father and frame election within the language of adoption. As the Canons shape this doctrine in this way, they help God’s people understand it better, even though certain questions will remain. This article combines doctrinal analysis and parabolic storytelling to highlight the particular strengths of the Canons’ treatment of this challenging doctrine.
The Magnitude of Trade Misinvoicing and Resulting Revenue Loss in Pakistan
Authors: Ahmed Qureshi Tehseen , Mahmood Zafar
Published: July 2019

This study estimates the magnitude of trade misinvoicing in Pakistan with 21 of its developed trading partners in 52 major traded commodities during 1972–2013. We find that the total volume of trade misinvoicing for this period exceeds US$92.7 billion. The gross revenue loss borne by the national exchequer due to trade misinvoicing is estimated at US$21.2 billion. Moreover, the total net revenue loss is an estimated US$11 billion in the form of evasion of customs duties and export withholding tax. The annual average net revenue loss due to trade misinvoicing is almost equivalent to 11.2 percent of the total revenue generated from customs tariffs. We also find that customs tariffs and the interest rate are positively associated with import under-invoicing, while improvements in the current account balance and political stability reduce the extent of import over-invoicing. Capital account openness is found to be insignificant in determining trade misinvoicing.
The Diversification Puzzle: The Role of Asymmetric Information and Insider Trading in Pakistan
Authors: Hussain Khan Mushtaq , Fraz Ahmad , Hassan Arshad
Published: July 2019

While corporate diversification is a fundamental issue both in the management literature and in corporate policy, the question that remains is whether it destroys or enhances firm value. This empirical study of the corporate diversification–value relationship for Pakistani firms looks at the role of asymmetric information and insider trading over a 10-year sample period, 2005–14. Using the industrial entropy index and purchase ratio to capture corporate diversification and insider trading, respectively, the study provides empirical evidence that questions the agency theory-based explanation of the corporate diversification–value relationship. Our results show that, in cases of asymmetric information, insiders increase the purchase of their firms’ shares in the open market when diversification is high. This contradicts the corporate diversification–value destruction stance of agency theory as well as the idea that outside investors’ undervaluation occurs due to information asymmetries. These results have strategic implications for corporate diversification strategies and are relevant to firm managers, regulators and shareholders.
Agglomeration and Firm Turnover in Punjab
Authors: Nasir Marjan
Published: July 2019

The literature on industrial organization shows that geographic and industrial concentration affects firm turnover. This study conducts a firm-level analysis to gauge the impact of agglomeration on firm entry and exit in domestic industries in Punjab, Pakistan. It also illustrates how certain industries exist in clusters while others are highly dispersed. The results suggest that higher rates of firm entry and exit are associated with highly agglomerated industries.
The Impact of Rural Electrification on Education: A Case Study from Peru
Authors: Aguirre Julio
Published: July 2019

This study examines the indirect impact of rural electrification on education. It finds that the greater the likelihood of a household being connected to the electricity grid, the more time the household’s children are likely to spend studying at home. This finding is interpreted as indirect evidence of an improvement in levels of schooling. Using instrumental variables to overcome endogeneity problems, the study’s LATE estimates reveal that providing households with access to electricity leads to children studying an extra 94 - 137 minutes at home per day, on average.
The Impact of Remittances Versus Parental Absence on Children’s Wellbeing: Evidence from Rural Punjab
Authors: Jamil Nida
Published: July 2019

This study examines the impact of migration on children left behind in terms of schooling and child labor by quantifying two aspects of migration: remittances and parental absence, in cases where the father is the migrant. The study is based on a panel analysis of data drawn from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey for 2007 and the Privatization in Education Research Initiative survey for 2011. The sample comprises 820 households with children aged 5–14 years. The study uses the instrumental variable (IV) approach due to endogeneity. Exogenous variation in parental absence and remittances sent by migrants from a given kinship network are employed as IVs. This, combined with household fixed effects and random effects, increases the reliability of the results. While remittances benefit the children, father’s absence has adverse consequences for them. However, mother’s presence in the house appears to compensate for the father’s absence, making the migration beneficial on net for the child. The father’s absence has worse consequences for girls in terms of increased child labor, where the money coming in through remittances has a larger impact on boys’ schooling.
Globalization, Endogenous Oil Price Shocks and Chinese Economic Activity
Authors: Khan Gulzar , Kiani Adiqa , Maqsood Ahmed Ather
Published: July 2019

Using a structural vector autoregressive model, this study investigates the extent to which international oil price shocks have influenced the Chinese economy over the period 1991–2014. Given China’s intensified macroeconomic activity and its increasing demand for energy resources, we also examine the endogenous response of international oil prices to economic conditions in the country. To that end, we derive and empirically estimate a small open-economy New Keynesian model for China and the rest of the world. Our results show that the Chinese economy is relatively more sensitive to global economic conditions than to domestic policy actions. Global productivity shocks appear to be the most important variable causing Chinese macroeconomic activity through trade, where oil prices impact aggregate demand negatively.
Testing the Dynamic Linkages of the Pakistani Stock Market with Regional and Global Markets
Authors: Azizv Zohaib , Iqbalv Javedv
Published: July 2019

This article examines the dynamic linkages between Pakistan’s emerging stock market and (i) the US market and (ii) the regional markets of India and Japan. Using data for the daily returns and volatility spillovers of three market pairs (Pakistan-US, Pakistan-Japan and Pakistan-India), the study estimates a series of bivariate asymmetric VARMA(1,1)-GARCH(1,1) models. It also fits multivariate asymmetric VARMA(1,1)-GARCH(1,1) models for two groups of markets: Pakistan-India-US and Pakistan-India-Japan. Based on the mean spillovers, the results suggest that the global and regional equity markets (Granger) cause the Pakistani market. There are unidirectional volatility spillovers to Pakistan from the US and Japan, while India is the only regional market with a significant cross-asymmetric effect on Pakistan. In the multivariate case, the regional and global markets have significant joint mean and variance spillovers and asymmetric effects on the Pakistani market. This indicates a weak degree of integration between the Pakistani market and the global and regional markets, implying that local risk factors – either firm-specific or country-specific – explain the expected returns on investment in the Pakistani stock market.
Mobile Banking: A Potential Catalyst for Financial Inclusion and Growth in Pakistan
Authors: Kumail Abbas Rizvi Syed , Naqvi Bushra , Tanveer Fatima
Published: July 2019

Almost half the world’s adult population lacks access to a formal bank account and other financial services. Pakistan is no exception and it is also among those countries at the lower end of the spectrum of financial inclusion. However, steps are being taken by government regulators and the private sector to improve access to financial services such as credit, savings, remittances and insurance. The introduction of mobile banking is a notable step in this context. Mobile banking, which comprises mobile wallets and over-the-counter transactions, is rapidly growing around the world and has the potential to reduce barriers to financial inclusion and thus transform economies. The benefits of this platform are even more pronounced for economies with a weak financial architecture and where formal banking entails considerable costs in terms of time and distance. This paper traces the history of mobile banking in Pakistan, studies various models of mobile banking and assesses its current state using the available data to understand how this segment has evolved and transformed conventional banking structures in the country. It also touches on the ecosystem that needs to be built in Pakistan to utilize the full potential of mobile technology.
The Fiscal Deficit and Economic Growth in Pakistan: New Evidence
Authors: Iqbal Nasir , ud Din Musleh , Ghani Ejaz
Published: July 2019

This study revisits the relationship between the fiscal deficit and economic growth in Pakistan to determine whether there exists a threshold fiscal deficit that might serve as a benchmark for policymakers aiming to promote growth through fiscal expansion. We apply the smooth transition autoregressive model to time-series data for the period 1972–2014. The empirical analysis shows that the threshold level of fiscal deficit is 5.57 percent of GDP, above which the deficit has a negative impact on growth. Overall, the fiscal deficit has a negative impact on economic growth, mainly because it has tended to remain above the threshold level. However, there is room for fiscal policy to promote growth, provided the fiscal deficit is kept below the threshold level and public spending is channeled into productive investments that raise the country’s long-term growth potential.
Pakistan’s Experience with the Pakistan–China FTA: Lessons for CPEC
Authors: Theresa Theresa , Jamil Nida , Chaudhry Azam
Published: July 2019

As Pakistan enters the CPEC era, there is a sense of optimism as well as concern in the country, given the uncertain economic impact of this major collaboration between China and Pakistan. Using firm-level and trade data, we empirically test the impact of the 2006 free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries on the productivity, size and value added of potentially affected Pakistani firms. These results have important policy implications for CPEC initiatives. We start with a difference-in-difference analysis, comparing trends in those sectors in Pakistan made more vulnerable by tariff reductions on Chinese goods relative to sectors for which the tariff did not change significantly. Next, we examine those sectors in Pakistan that were given greater access to Chinese markets through reductions in the Chinese tariff on Pakistani goods relative to sectors for which market access remained roughly the same. In the sectors made more vulnerable by reductions in Pakistani tariffs on Chinese goods, imports to Pakistan have risen, while productivity, value added and value added per worker have fallen relative to other sectors since the FTA. In the sectors for which Pakistan gained access to Chinese markets, exports and employment have risen, but productivity and value added have fallen relative to other sectors since the FTA.
COUNTRY IMAGE AND ITS IMPACT ON BILATERAL RELATIONS: CASE CURRENT US-RUSSIAN RELATIONS
Authors: Avralev N.V. , Rykhtik N.I. , Zhernovaya O.R.
Published: July 2019

This paper is devoted to the effects of country image on contemporary US-Russian relations. This is an attempt to apply the results of joint project (University of Florida and Lobachevski University) to the analysis of US-Russian bilateral relations in a broader sense as well as combine tourist management and political science methods and literature. The relationships between the U.S. and Russia have been steadily deteriorating in the last five years. The amount of negative coverage of both countries in Russian and American media and social networks has been gradually increasing for the last few years, starting with the Magnitsky Act and the Dima Yakovlev Law in 2012 and culminating over the events of political crisis in Ukraine, operation in Syria, economic sanctions towards Russia. Media and social networks, as well as rhetoric of official agencies of both countries reflect the growing levels of national pride and mutual animosity. We believe that foreign policy has become a special and independent type of social activity. Economic relations, economic integration, humanitarian relations (education, culture, science, tourism, etc.) are an important part of foreign policy today. Thus, country image does matter.
Mapping and evaluation of reference evapotranspiration methods under arid conditions
Authors: M.A. Mahmoud , G.M. Ali
Published: July 2019

Reference evapotranspiration ( ETo ) is a vital factor in water resources managing and planning. Various estimation methods have been developed for different climatic regions and according to the available data. Therefore, the reliability of such methods depends upon climatic conditions. The present investigation evaluates four temperature based methods: FAO Blaney-Criddle (BC), Turc, Jensen-Haise (JH) and Hargreaves (HG), and two radiation based methods: FAO-radiation (FAO-rad) and Priestley-Taylor (PT) in comparison with the FAO-PM method under arid conditions of Libya. In order to select the best ETo method, the percentage error of estimate ( PE ), the root mean square error ( RMSE ), and mean bias error ( MBE ) were calculated. The obtained ETo values (FAO-PM and the average of best-estimated monthly ETo ) were utilized to generate spatial distribution maps of ETo with the aid of Kriging technique. Statistical analysis of the obtained results revealed that, Turc equation fitted well for the northern part of the study area, which include Nalut, Zuara, Mosrata, Sirt, Shahat, Derna, Tubruk, Hon, Galo and Gagbub. While for southern zone, HG equation performed better for Opari and Tazirbu, BC equation for Kufra and Ghadames, FAO-Rad equation for Sebha; and JH equation for Ghat.
A CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS IN THE SERVICE SECTOR
Authors: Morton Flor , Treviño Teresa , Zapata-Cantú Laura
Published: July 2019

The increasingly global competition in all productive sectors – including the service sector – has forced companies to adjust their organizational processes to incorporate a customer experience approach. This adjustment implies the need for modifications to certain internal organizational factors, such as organizational culture, values and beliefs, in order to survive. This research proposes that – besides other factors – organizational culture type and the level of cus- tomer orientation can account for a considerable portion of a company’s success or failure. Therefore, the objective of this conceptual paper is to propose a model that determines which type of organizational culture (clan, hierarchi- cal, adhocracy, or market) facilitates a greater degree of customer orientation. Specifically, this research proposes that a market type of organizational culture will have greater customer orientation than the other classifications of organi- zational culture and that a higher degree of customer orientation fosters employee satisfaction, which can have a pos- itive impact on customer satisfaction.