bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post-surgical pulmonary abscess in a lung carcinoma patient
Authors:   Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital Thessaloniki, Greece, Pyrpasopoulou Athina
Published: January 2023

Surgical resection remains the standard-of-care for patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer at initial stages [1]. Post-surgical complications, both cardiac and non-cardiac, occur to a significant proportion of the patients, 9-37%, affecting short- and long-term prognosis [2]. They depend on age and comorbidities of the patient, and type of resection. Complications are further classified as early, ie occurring in the 6-month period after the surgery, and late [3]. The clinical course of post-surgical patients is regularly followed with plain radiographs; complications are preferably diagnosed by computed tomography scans [4]. Pneumonia represents the most common early complication following lung tumor resection.
Experimental investigation of the effect of damping coefficients on spring diameter thickness
Authors: Kadhim K.J.
Published: January 2023

The main objective of this research is to study the effect of damping coefficients on the damping strength of shock absorbers using Taguchi Design Experiment (DOE) and rough surface method in Design Expert 7.0.0.To achieve and measure the damping force based on the data analysis in the design program. The effecting parameters are: damping diameter (A), gas pressure nitrogen in damping (B), and suspension velocity(C). Consequently, the experiment was carried out in the lab to measure the damping force based on the data analysis.The experimental results demonstrated that nitrogen gas at a pressure of 40 bars is appropriate for dealing with motorcycles and that optimum parameter values may be achieved using ANOVA (Analysis of Variance), regression analysis, and confirmation studies.The measure of the damping force in this process widely depend on the technical specifications of a testing machine. Consequently, machine operating parameters consider the main limiting factor in this process.In this current work, a steel spring of (50) mm diameter has been used in this experimental investigation to measure the influence of the damping force based on the data analysis. In addition, optimal working parameter values that maximize the performance were identified. The experimental test was planned and conducted according to the ANOVA (Analysis of Variance).The validation of experimental results shows that this analysis gives an average error 5%, it’s also concluded that the gas at a pressure of 40 bars is appropriate for dealing with motorcycles and can be adopted safely.
Utilidad clínica de microalbuminuria para el diagnóstico de insuficiencia renal en adultos mayores.
Authors: García Vélez Ronny Adrián , León Chilan Jamileth Lisseth , Mina Ortiz Jhon Bryan
Published: January 2023

La microalbuminuria es un marcador de disfunción vascular generalizada y predictor independiente de riesgo aumentado de morbimortalidad cardiovascular en pacientes con diabetes mellitus y con hipertensión arterial, así́ como en la población general, el riñón es el centinela de la vasculatura. Si la microalbuminuria está presente, es indicación de una permeabilidad incrementada de las células endoteliales e implica la presencia de cierto nivel de lesión de modo que está comprometida la respuesta vascular. El objetivo de la investigación fué Evaluar la microalbuminuria como marcador para detección de insuficiencia renal crónico en adultos mayores. Se realizó un estudio con diseño documental y el tipo de estudio es descriptivo de nivel explicativo con estrategia de búsqueda científica con publicaciones desde los años 2015-2021. Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica de artículos científicos en idioma inglés y castellano en revistas indexadas en PubMed, Scopus, Biomed Central, Scielo y Science Direct. Para la recopilación de información se utilizó las palabras claves tales como: metabolismo, microalbuminuria, medición, niveles, en las cuales se utilizaron los términos como, daño, factores, renal, riesgo. Se aplicaron criterios de selección basados en la relevancia y centradas en la temática. La microalbuminuria en la actualidad es un problema de salud que está mereciendo especial atención médica, dado que las nuevas técnicas de detección han hecho más factible de reconocimiento de cantidades más pequeñas de albumina en muestra de orina.
Post harvest management of Karnal bunt (Tilletia indica) in wheat by mechanical seed processing
Authors: KUMAR ASHWANI , GUPTA ANUJA
Published: January 2023

Experiment was conducted on Centella asiatica (L.), Urban an important hydrophytic perennial medicinal plant tostudy the effect of water regimes on biomass production, secondary metabolites content and production, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), water economic efficiency (WEE) and economic returns in upland ecosystem. Maximum leaf area (22.1 cm2/leaf) and number of leaves (11.4/node) were recorded at 1.4 and 0.4 IW/CPE water regime, respectively. However, irrigation at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio produced optimum leaf area and number of leaves per node. Water application at medium regimes at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio produced significantly highest dry herbage yield (1301 kg/ha), triterpenes content (1.7%) and their yield (22.3 kg/ha), and gross return (182.1×103 `/ha), net return (60.3×103 `/ha) and benefits cost ratio (1.5). Significantly higher IWUE (6.9 kg/ha cm) and WEE (295 `/ha cm) were recorded at 0.4 IW/CPE ratio with minimum water use and longer application intervals. Thus, water application at medium regimes (0.8 IW/ CPE ratio) found optimum to produce quality herbal biomass under commercial cultivation in uplands ecosystem.
Impact of elevated CO2 and temperature on quality and biochemical parameters of pea (Pisum sativum)
Authors: KUMARI MEENA , VERMA S C , BHARDWAJ S K
Published: January 2023

Global climate change, i.e. increase in carbon dioxide concentration in atmosphere and the associated increase in temperature result significant positive and negative impacts on the vegetable crop production. The field experiment was conducted during 2014 and 2015 which aimed to study effect of elevated CO2 and temperature on quality and biochemical parameters of pea (Pisum sativum L.) and experiment was carried out under four combinations of CO2 and temperature. Pooled data for two years indicated that pod length, pod girth, leaf chlorophyll content of pea showed significant differences between all four combinations. Higher total phenols (0.55 g/100g), ascorbic acid content in pods (46.24 mg/100g) were found under elevated CO2 and least under natural condition (total phenols: 0.37 g/100g) (ascorbic acid: 28.44 mg/100g). Total soluble solids (20.81°B) and nitrogen content (2.34%) were higher under natural condition and lowest under elevated CO2 (TSS: 12.47 Â°B) (N: 1.97%). Higher P (0.29%), K (1.11%) and Mg (1.28%) content was recorded under natural condition as compared to other treatments. Elevated CO2 recorded significantly higher Ca content (0.56 %) and least under natural condition (0.46 %). Both elevated CO2 and temperature had significant negative effects on quality and biochemical parameters in pea crop as compared to elevated CO2 and natural conditions. So changing climate can alter the composition of these important elements in pea crop and degrade the overall quality.
Potential impacts of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide on yield and plant growth of rice (Oryza sativa) and maize (Zea mays) crops
Authors: PINGALE B N , SINGH S D , YADAV ACHCHHELAL
Published: January 2023

Free air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) facility was used to conduct the experiments during 2011-12 and 2012-13 cropping seasons for assessing the growth and yield attributes of rice (Oryza sativa L) and maize (Zea mays L). The concentration of CO2 was kept 550± 30 ppm in enriched condition. The concentration of ambient condition was 395±30. Recommended doses of NPK fertilizers were given to both the crops. Plant growth and yield parameters were measured and analyzed for both the conditions. Assessment revealed that the plant height of rice and maize did not change significantly. A significant (F= 9.800; P<0.02) change was noticed in the post-harvest index of rice. However, there no change was noticed in the post-harvest percentage of maize. Leaf area of rice (P<0.01) and maize (P<0.005) increased significantly at flowering stage of plants under enriched CO2 environment over the ambient. Under elevated CO2 condition, biological yields of rice and maize were improved by 14.3% and 17.2% respectively. Carbon dioxide enrichment exposure improved the grain yield by16. 2% (P<0.02) and 13.8% ( P<0.02) for rice and maize respectively.
Emamectin benzoate: A novel second generation avermectin derivative for management of biotic stress in lac culture through treatment of broodlac
Authors: JAISWAL A K , SINGH J P , PATAMAJHI P
Published: January 2023

Experiment was conducted to evaluate the safety of emamectin benzoate, against lac insect [Kerria lacca (Kerr)] and bio-efficacy against associated lepidopteran predators in lac culture. Seven concentrations of emamectin benzoate (5% SG) ranging from 0.00025 % a.i. (0.05 g/L) to 0.0030 % a.i. (0.6 g/L) were evaluated by dipping of broodlac (functional seed of lac culture) in insecticidal formulation for 5, 10 and 15 min durations. Non-significant differences amongst various treatments and control on survival of settled second instar larvae and adult female lac insect clearlyindicated the safety of insecticide on lac insect. Treatment of broodlac in insecticidal formulations (0.00025, 0.0005, 0.0010, 0.0015, 0.0020, 0.0025 and 0.0030 % a.i.) for 5, 10 and 15 min durations exerted significant reduction in the population of both key lepidopteran predators, Eublemma amabilis Moore (Noctuidae) and Pseudohypatopa pulverea Meyr (Blastobasidae) harboring broodlac. The treatment of rangeeni broodlac with 0.00025 % a.i. emamectin benzoate for 10-15 min and kusmi broodlac with 0.0005 % a.i. for 5-10 min duration provides effective tool for the management of both major lepidopteran predators of lac insects. This novel insecticide can be safely and effectively integrated inIPM programme of lac production system.
Quality characteristics and nutrient yield of fodder maize (Zea mays) as influenced by seeding density and nutrient levels in Indo-Gangetic Plains
Authors: KUMAR RAKESH , SINGH M , MEENA B S , KUMAR SOURABH , YADAV M R , PARIHAR C M , RAM H , MEENA R K , MEENA V K , KUMAR U
Published: January 2023

Productivity and quality traits of forage crops are largely affected by agronomic management at field conditions in different climatic strata. Therefore, the present field investigation was carried out during kharif season of 2014 and 2015 at ICAR-NDRI, Karnal to evaluate the effect of different planting densities and fertility levels on nutritive yields and quality of fodder maize (Zea mays L.). An experiment was laid out in split plot arrangement with three treatments in main-plot of planting densities of 60, 75 and 90 kg seed/ha and six treatments in subplot of nutrient levels, i.e. 0, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), i.e. 120 kg N/ha and 60 kg P2O5/ha. All the seed rates were found statistically at par for all the parameters except fiber fractions, i.e. neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) content, in which 60 kg/ha seed rate accumulated significantly lower fiber contents. However, numerically higher values of fodder yields and quality parameters were observed at lower planting density. Nutrient levels showed significant increase in fodder yields with increase in dose of fertility up to 125% RDF. The combined use of 60 kg/ha seed rate and 125% RDF obtained significant maximum green (61.7 t/ha) and dry fodder yield (14.1 t/ha). The results showed that use of 150% RDF improved CP content by 20.2%, ether extract by 20.1% and ash content by 23.3% over control. Further, the maize fodder supplied with 150% RDF attributed minimum level of fiber fractions and magnitude of reduction in NDF was 3.49%, ADF was 3.54% and that of ADL was 7.65% in comparison to 0% RDF. The combination of 60 kg/ha seed rate and 125% RDF obtained significant maximum CP (1542.1 kg/ha), EE (367.4 kg/ha) and ash yield (1280.0 kg/ha). The use of 150% RDF also resulted into improvement in the nutrient content to the tune of 20.2% in N and 12.5% in P and enhanced nutrient uptake by 50.5% of N and 41.9% that of P over control. It can be concluded that to realize higher productivity with enhanced quality of fodder maize with optimum density (60 kg/ha) and use of 125% of RDF are quite helpful, which will further strengthen and sustain the performance of livestock in terms of health and milk production.
Effect of salicylic acid treatment on fruit quality of Japanese plum (Prunus salicina) cv. Santa Rosa
Authors: SHARMA SWATI , SHARMA R R
Published: January 2023

Santa Rosa plum (Prunus salicina Lindell) grows profitably under sub-temperate conditions of India but has a very limited postharvest life due to decay, mechanical injury and other ripening related changes. This necessitates searching for novel methods to make it available for longer period in the market. The plums were treated with salicylic acid (SA) (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mM) aqueous dip treatments for 10 min at 20oC, air-dried and packed in plastic punnets followed by storage at 2ÂºC and 90 Â± 5 % RH. Among different treatments, SA (2.0 mM) was found to be the best formaintaining the fruit quality and overall acceptability. Likewise, SA treatments significantly influenced fruit quality. The colour of SA treated fruits was maintained for a significant period over control. This study reflects that salicylic acid dip treatment can be integrated as an effective postharvest practice in the supply chain management of Santa Rosa plums to extend their storage life while maintaining fruit quality during storage for 36 days.
Effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens formulations on decay and quality of mango (Mangifera indica) fruits during storage
Authors: BARMAN KALYAN , ASREY RAM , SINGH DINESH , PATEL V B , SHARMA SWATI
Published: January 2023

Anthracnose and stem-end rot caused by Colletotrichum gleosporioides and Botryodiplodia theobromae, respectively are the most important postharvest diseases of mango (Mangifera indica L.) causing huge economic losses. In this study, biocontrol efficacy of Pseudomonas fluorescens was evaluated against anthracnose and stemend rot of naturally infected mango fruits during their postharvest storage. Physiologically mature mango fruits were treated with P. fluorescens formulations (107 cfu/ml and 108 cfu/ml) by dipping them for 5 min. Following treatment,fruits were air-dried and stored at ambient condition (30Âº Â± 2ÂºC) for 12 days. Among the treatments, P. fluorescens 108 cfu/ml showed significant reduction (5.92%) in decay loss of mango fruit compared to control (24.52%). Respiration and ethylene evolution rates were also brought down by P. fluorescens treatments. Loss of firmness, total phenolics content and titratable acidity were also found lower in P. fluorescens treated fruits. No significant differences in a* and b* values of fruit colour was recorded between control and treated fruits while, the L* value was lowest in control fruits. The fruits treated with P. fluorescens @ 108 cfu/ml maintained highest total carotenoids and total soluble solidscontent than other treatments. Therefore, P. fluorescens @ 108 cfu/ml treatment may be used as a potential biocontrol agent in reducing anthracnose and stem-end rot, and maintaining desirable fruit quality attributes of mango during postharvest storage.
Phenomenology of the Middle Eastern Frame-Tale Collections
Authors: Marzolph Ulrich
Published: January 2023

The frame tale is a fascinating device of storytelling, whether oral or literary. The Middle Eastern frame-tale collections differ in nature from most corresponding collections in the Western literatures that are the subject of many of the existing historical and theoretical discussions. First and foremost, all of the Middle Eastern frame-tale collections are of considerable antiquity and owe their existence to the creativity of authors whose identity is lost in the mist of time. Although their diligent composition betrays the conscious hand of an intellectually gifted author, even the documented precursors of Middle Eastern frame-tale collections in the ancient Indian literatures can hardly be connected to an author known by name. Moreover, over the long history of their international dissemination, they have come to be regarded as products of popular tradition. And second, the same assessment applies to the tales the collections embed. While it remains speculative to which extent these tales themselves derive from oral or popular tradition, many of them have become part of popular tradition, whether as embedded constituents of their respective frame tales or as separate tales.
My considerations begin with an assessment of the Middle Eastern frame tales and frame-tale collections in terms of a focused definition. Although frame tales might at times embed only a single tale, my special interest is with the large collections that embed several, sometimes many, tales. I then proceed to discuss the phenomenology of the frame tales, their functional potentials, and the special relation between a given frame tale and its embedded tales. As I will repeatedly point out in my presentation, it is particularly this relation that deserves more attention than it has previously attracted.
Key words:      Frame-tale, Embedding and embedded tales, The Thousand and One Nights, Kalīla wa-Dimna, The Seven Sages, Khurāfa
Beyond Fictionality
Authors: Maleh Zina
Published: January 2023

According to Gérard Genette, frame narratives are one of few reliable textual markers of fictionality. While very different from the corpus studied by Genette, al-Tanūkhī’s (d. 384/994) compilation al-Faraj baʿd al-shidda includes many anecdotes featuring at least one instance of narrative framing, as well as many more anecdotes told on a single narrative level (after the usual introductory chain of transmitters). As such, the compilation presents a good case study for the link between fictionality and narrative levels in a premodern Arabic context. On the strength of many examples drawn from the compilation, this article describes three uses of frame narratives in the Faraj and argues that even if some of the compiled material thematizes questions of reports’ plausibility (rather than “fictionality”), narrative levels are not a reliable marker of stories considered to be more implausible. One use of the frame narrative in the Faraj is indeed in addressing a report’s plausibility (1), but other anecdotes achieve this without any such framing. Moreover, frame narratives also take on other functions whereby they neither flag nor are reliably associated with a story’s lesser plausibility. Such functions include anchoring a story’s narration within a familiar situation and highlighting the message of a narrative by setting up parallels between its different levels (2). Another function is to negotiate the incorporation of less familiar voices and content, remote in social milieu or geography from al-Tanūkhī’s life, into the world of the compilation (3). These different uses show that frame narratives are not reliable markers of fictionality in the Faraj, and that they were not artificially affixed onto the Faraj’s less plausible plots. Instead, they served different functions, introducing a wide variety of content and shaping the reception of stories by questioning their plausibility, yes, but also by exploiting and manipulating readers’ expectations, and by pushing the limits of spaces and perspectives incorporated into the Faraj’s overall message of deliverance after hardship.
Key words:  Frame narratives, fictionality, plausibility, foreignness, al-Tanūkhī, al-Faraj baʿd al-shidda, compilation, Abbasid literature.
Demonic Narrator, Angelic Interpreter
Authors: Ron-Gilboa Guy
Published: January 2023

An Arabic legend tells how King Solomon arrived at a magnificent castle, half buried in the sands. Roaming through its corridors, Solomon wonders who could have built such a magnificent edifice and why it had been abandoned. Two variants of the tale employ two different strategies for solving the conundrum: in one variant, the answer is hidden in an inscription that Solomon cannot understand till a mysterious youth appears from the desert and deciphers it for him. In the second variant, the solution is offered in an embedded tale told to Solomon by a serpent demoness, who witnessed the building of the castle and partook in the final demise of its inhabitants.
In this paper, I offer a reading of this legend as a midrash, i.e., an exegetical tale that attempts to “fill in the gaps” of the Qurʾānic portrayal of Solomon. Considering the narrative questions raised by the frame tale and exploring the ways in which the embedded elements in each of the two variants employ competing strategies of “filling in the gaps” of the frame tale, I show that the divergent solutions offered in each of the variants to an ostensibly identical narrative problem lead to a different interpretation of each version. This leads to a discussion of the hermeneutic function of embedding as a form of “inner-midrash.” In the conclusion, I suggest that the two variants offer competing epistemologies of storytelling.
Key words:  Solomon, qiṣaṣ al-anbiyāʾ, midrash, storytelling, narrative interpretation, narrative embedding
Administrative and legal status of the national security and defence council of Ukraine as a subject of information security of the state
Authors: Dashkovska Anastasiia
Published: January 2023

In 2022, when Russia unleashed a full-scale military attack against Ukraine, considerable attention was paid to information warfare, which is a direct threat to the country's information security. Information security is an important aspect of national security, and its subjects have proven their ability not only to withstand the onslaught of the aggressor state but also to fully resist it. Selfless confrontation, including information threats, was carried out by both state and non-state structures, IT specialists and citizens who understood the importance of winning on the information front. The purpose of the study is to outline the essence of the administrative and legal status of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. It takes promising measures to counter threats to the state's information security. Based on the analysis of the accumulated empirical material, information security as the basis of national security of Ukraine is summarised; the position of the NSDC in the system of subjects of state information policy is outlined; measures to eliminate information threats through the application of prohibitive and restrictive sanctions are revealed. The scientific novelty lies in the attempt to consider the elements of the administrative and legal status of the NSDC in the information field for the first time since the full-scale armed invasion by the Russian Federation using the studied material and the legislative framework. The paper analyses existing gaps in the development and implementation of state policy in the information environment and outlines possible solutions. The author proposes her own interpretation of the administrative and legal status of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. The suggestions for subsequent determination of the administrative and legal status of the NSDC and the mechanism for monitoring the effectiveness of the implementation of the Information Security Strategy will encourage scientists to further study this issue
Bimbingan Teknis Perancangan Modul Ajar Berbasis Merdeka Belajar dan Terpusat pada Murid
Authors: Rosfiani Okta , Hermawan M Cecep Maman , Rizqiya Fauza , Sidqi Danisa Amalia
Published: January 2023

Direct teaching is a teaching strategy in which new knowledge and skills are presented by the trainer and followed by the teacher-participant. His Three Principles of the Professional Learning Community (KBP). This means ensuring students are learning, collaborating, and focused on student achievement. These three principles focus on working together to achieve student achievement. Therefore, there is a need to build professional learning community partnerships between scholars (teachers) and teachers (class practitioners) through this service activity. Since the launch of the Education Module (RPP) adopted by the Ministry of Education and Culture last year. This service is conducted in a private school using direct instruction (demonstration). This technical instruction influences the development of teachers' professionalism in their professional competencies. Teachers will ultimately be able to understand new topics and guidelines for independent curricula and appropriately and accurately design self-study and student-centered teaching modules. Be ready to practice in a wider context and content. wide for each class.
Corporate Accruals Practices of Listed Companies in Bangladesh**
Authors: Hasan Md. Shamimul , Rahman Rashidah Abdul , Hossain Syed Zabid
Published: January 2023

Corporate accounting scandal is not a new phenomenon and it is the outcome of corporate accruals i.e., accruals by management choice. This study investigated the use of corporate accruals in the financial statements of the listed companies in Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) through segregating total accruals into corporate (discretionary) and accounting (non-discretionary) accruals. The average rate of corporate accruals was 35 percent and in many cases, cash flow from operation exceeded the net income, the growth in accounts receivable was faster than sales growth, and inventory growth was not consistent with sales growth. In this context, this study may create awareness of the risk factors of corporate accruals among external users’ of accounting information especially analysts, regulator, policy makers, existing and potential shareholders, lenders, trade creditors, external auditors, researchers, financial advisors, and stock brokers. Consequently, it may reduce the use of management discretion in preparing the financial statements.
Volatility Spillovers and Stock Market Co-Movements Among Western, Central and Southeast European Stock Markets**
Authors: Ivanov Mile
Published: January 2023

The aim of this paper is to examine the return and volatility spillovers and stock market co-movements among Western, Central and Southeast European stock markets. To examine the volatility spillover effects we employ a multivariate GARCH-BEKK (1, 1) model on a daily data from 2005 to 2014. There is a high and stable conditional correlation between Central and Western European markets during most of the analyzed period and the conditional correlation rises sharply during the periods of financial turmoil, suggesting some evidence on contagion. Conditional correlation between Croatian and Romanian markets and their Western counterparts is modest but it increases during the periods of financial crisis. Conditional correlation coefficients indicate that Macedonian and Serbian stock markets are relatively isolated from the advanced European markets. The return spillovers are investigated with the forecast-error variance decomposition based on the generalized VAR model. Following Diebold and Yilmaz (2012), we develop “spillover indices” based on the variance decomposition results on the generalized VAR model. The results indicate that total spillover index rose sharply during the periods of major financial disruptions. DAX and FTSE100 are the major net transmitters of spillovers to Central and Southeast European markets. There are bi-directional spillovers between DAX and FTSE100, between PX and WIG-20 and between MBI10 and BELEX15.
Strategic Change for Survival: A Case of Construction Company in Slovenia**
Authors: Sustersic Luka , Vouldis Angelos
Published: January 2023

Ready-mix concrete business as the part of the procurement chain in the construction industry is strongly influenced by the economic and social situation in Slovenia. The financial crisis has revealed all the weaknesses and forced the industry into huge transition that left behind a mass of companies at the edge of survival. The purpose of this study is to investigate and examine the most appropriate strategic change framework with some proposals for the selected organization. After the analysis of current situation a desk research was made to explore different strategic change models. In the next stage the study adopted a quantitative methodology using self-completing questionnaire to collect relevant data about customer values and requirements and a qualitative methodology conducting a focus group interview among company's management team to evaluate most important strategic change issues. New mission, vision, and core values were developed as the core strategic elements of new approach. On the basis of selected strategic model new strategy was transformed into a set of managerial projects. Conclusions of the study confirm that ready-mix concrete production is a commodity business that competes mostly on price and quality on geographically small markets. However, further analysis demonstrates additional opportunities when customers are segmented into more specific groups in view of their core businesses and specialities. In addition to regular ready-mix concrete production for general use, there is a possibility to provide individually developed concrete based solutions. All presented findings and conclusions that constitute a new strategic approach contribute to long term company stabilization, competitive advantage and overall performance.
Debt Crisis and Fiscal Consolidation in Spain**
Authors: Galetić Fran , Ostojić Maja
Published: January 2023

This paper analyses the start of the debt crisis in Europe and in Spain, which increased inflation, unemployment and public debt. Although Spanish banking system was considered one of the best, the growing debt brought Spain into one of the worst affected countries in financial crisis. Because of this, Spain was faced to the fiscal consolidation as the imperative for further development. The strength of the crisis in Spain can be seen from main economic indicators. Budget deficit in Spain was almost 12% just two years after it went into surplus for the first time in 30 year period. Public debt has started to rise from 2007 and in 2013 it overcomes 90% of GDP. The rate of unemployment also started to rise from 2007 and in 2013 it is higher than 25%. This paper analyses also Phillips curve in Spain using the actual data after the start of fiscal consolidation.
Distinctiveness of Self-Initiative Expatriates**
Authors: Podrug Najla , Pavlić Ana , Kovačić Ana
Published: January 2023

Existence of global rivalry between corporations causes the need for expatriation as one of potential sources of international competitive advantage. Expatriation is standard practice of multinational corporations to accomplish their missions. In this paper focus is put on self-initiated expatriates who represent contemporary trend among global working force. Their importance and uniqueness is elaborated broadly. Special emphasis is put on comparison between traditional and self-initiated expatriates. The most important differences between those two categories are analyzed as well as different motives that lead and encourage them to successfully finish their international assignments.
Investing in Microfinance under Different Institutional Configurations (The Paper is Partly Supported by a Grant of Russian Foundation of Basic Research (Project № 14-06-00207))**
Authors: Vardanyan Arman , Yerznkyan Bagrat
Published: January 2023

The peculiarities of microfinance and prospects of its implementation in the institutional structure of a social and economic system in general and transitional economies systems in particular are considered. Special attention is paid to the problems of investing in microfinance activity under globalization and different institutional configurations.
Is UK Financial Reporting Becoming Less Prudent?
Authors: Conway Elaine
Published: January 2023

This paper seeks to discover whether as a result of the removal of prudence as a concept within the revised 2010 Conceptual Framework, the accounts of companies in the FTSE100 in the UK have displayed any trends to be more or less conservative/prudent. The research design uses the two most popular measures of accounting conservatism (prudence) used in literature, Market-to-Book ratio and the Basu Asymmetric Timeliness model (Basu 1997) and compares the period prior to the change in the 2010 Conceptual Framework with the same measures post the change. The study finds that using both measures of conservatism, the levels of conservatism have fallen since the removal of prudence from the Conceptual Framework. This paper has implications for the users of financial statements and standard setters as the lower levels of prudence or accounting conservatism are associated with higher levels of risk (litigation) and costs (agency costs) which can affect stock valuations.
Improving Unified Process Methodology by Implementing New Quality Management Discipline
Authors: Todorović Boris
Published: January 2023

Unified process, a leading software development methodology, allows project teams to incrementally build their software and structurally defines project roles, phases, iterations and disciplines. One of the issues that arise when applying unified process is absence of discipline for quality assurance and control. This research aims to define new discipline entitled “quality management of software development” and its processes, in order to produce modified version of unified process, suitable for continually controlling quality in software development projects. This discipline will integrate ISO 9126 “Software engineering – product quality”, which is an international standard for addressing software quality and quality control tools, as proposed by Project Management Book of Knowledge 2010. Main hypothesis of this research is that, by defining and integrating new discipline of quality management, project teams that employ this new, modified version of unified process, will be able to produce software of higher quality level. Experimental research is conducted on four software development projects, ranging from 2009 to 2010, two of which use standard, and two of which use modified unified process model. Research results show higher software quality levels in two projects that use modified unified process methodology.
Reorganization Strategy for the Tunisian Central Bank
Authors: Mohsen Brahmi , Laadjal Adala
Published: January 2023

The analysis of monetary policy in Tunisia highlights three main distinct periods with the support of the IMF: the last in 1987 when the country was in deep recession, after 1989 with the gradual privatization plan launched by the government and recently current period in the end of 2012, after revolution, in which the economic and financial balance recorded major shocks remanding back of the ex-period and the rise in arrow of the inflation. This article aims to provide an overview on key reforms Tunisian financial markets from 1989. These reforms have particularly affected the banking system and the implementation of monetary policy based on the interest rate as an instrument controller for the first phase and also the monetary aggregates, M3 mainly, following the evolution of economic conditions to our days 2014. But from the 90's view that the success recorded by the industrialized countries precursors on Inflation Targeting strategy IT and some developing countries as follower, we will demonstrate the inability of the Tunisian Central Bank TCB to pursue this inflation target announce strategy as a primary objective and the main difficulties before its actual realization in the current difficult economic environment.
Service Quality Provided to Non-European High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIS) By Banks, Legal and Accounting Offices in Cyprus
Authors: Vouldis Angelos , Constantinou Eleni Zakchaiou
Published: January 2023

Service quality leads to customers’ satisfaction and gives a competitive advantage to the firms/organisations against their rivals. Furthermore, service quality by firms in a country gives a competitive advantage to the country against rival countries as well. The global financial crisis has affected Cyprus too. The National Strategy plan for economy recovery is included as a main point the attracting of direct foreign investments by non- European High Net Worth Individuals in the island. Banks, Accounting and Legal offices in Cyprus cooperate together in providing full services to them for their corporate and wealth management needs. The aim of this research is to investigate if Banks, Legal and Accounting firms in Cyprus concern about providing a high level of service quality to non-EU HNWIs and examines the ways of implementation based on the five dimensions of SERVQUAL model.It also researches the impact of different ethnicities on service quality expectations and illustrates how this matter is treated by the firms examined. The study also investigates the priority of importance of the different service quality dimensions and emits new service quality dimensions found important for this industry in Cyprus. After studying different service quality models and different ways of research through literature review and academic resources, this research adopted a qualitative methodology. It was conducted through face-to face semistructured interviews with the managers of ten firms and organisations involved. The conclusions of the study confirm that Banks, Legal and Accounting offices in Cyprus do concern about offering high level of service quality to non-EU HNWIs however the whole infrastructure of the industry has been built mostly on Russian speaking customers’ needs. The firms are performing well in the five dimensions of SERVQUAL and ethnicity matters are taken into consideration with a different approach treatment. Responsiveness is found to be the most important dimension after reliability based again on Russians’ demand for quick service while flexibility and transparency emitted to be new important dimensions apart of pricing.
Are There Relationship among Stressor, Behavior, and Employee Performance? A Case of Civil Servants in Bantul, DIY, Indonesia
Authors: Muafi  , Probosari Ninik , Hartati Anis Siti
Published: January 2023

High stressors can be experienced by employees, both by civil servants and private sector employees. This could have an impact on the positive and negative behaviors of employees and could eventually affect employee performance. The purpose of this study is to examine and analyze the effect of stressors on deviant behavior (negative and positive) and work performance of civil servants in Bantul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This research is a survey research using questionnaires given in private to civil servants as respondents, with a purposive sampling technique. Research results concluded that; (1) stressor of individual and task demands has a significant positive effect on negative behavior, (2) stressor of role demand has no significant effect on negative behavior, (3) stressor of individual demand has a significant negative effect on positive behavior, (5) stressor of task demand has no significant effect on positive behavior, (6) stressor of role demand has no significant effect on positive behavior, (7) negative attitudes have a significant negative effect on employee performance, and(8) positive behaviors have a significant positive effect on employee performance.
The Impact of the Iron and Steel Industry to Karabük and Sheffield: A Historical Background**
Authors: Biçer Can , Yaman Kemal
Published: January 2023

In this study, the two cities, Sheffield in the UK and Karabük in Turkey, which are famous for iron and steel producing, were analyzed through their historical background to focus on the differences and similarities from an urban perspective. Both the rise in the production of iron and steel in the 18th century through Industrial Revolution and the innovations made Sheffield popular throughout the world. Karabük is called “The Republic City” in Turkey because the first iron and steel works were built in Karabük in 1937 shortly after the proclamation of Republic of Turkey. The museums were visited and the local studies and academic papers were sorted out to see the effects of sudden changes which the heavy industry caused in the cities and it’s concluded that the industrial, urban and social experiences of Sheffield may be a guide for Karabük.
Firms’ Financial Performance and Corporate Board Diversity: Evidence from Kenya **
Authors: Oyieke Samuel Ojwang'
Published: January 2023

Boards’ affects performance through their monitoring and advising functions. The ability to perform these functions depends on among other things, the experience of the board. This paper examines the effects of corporate board experience on firms’ financial performance of listed companies in the Nairobi Securities Exchange for the period 2001-2010 using System GMM. Performance variables are ROA, Tobin’s Q ratio, share price and price to book value. Experience is measured as stock of initial experience and tenure in a particular board. Tenure is found to be positively and significantly associated with the performance variables. Tenure ^2 captures the entrenchment behavior of the board. This entrenchment effect has a significantly negative effect on performance. This negative effect eventually outweighs the positive tenure effect and gives rise to the downward effect of tenure on performance hence the inverted U-relationship between tenure and performance. The study reports an optimal tenure of between 7 and 8 years depending on the performance variable being considered. At shorter tenure; there is a positive effect on performance, but at a longer tenure, entrenchment behavior of the veteran board members outweighs the monitoring effect. In fact these long tenured boards become ‘zombie boards’, thus negatively affecting performance. Stock of initial experience consists of education, and past managerial experience. It has a significant positiverelationship with performance.
Factors Influencing Customer’s Buying Decisions on Mobile Phone Buyers: A Study on Bijapur City, India
Authors: Mathapati Akash C. , Vidyavati K
Published: January 2023

The mobile phone has turned out to be a basic necessity in today world with multi-tasking ability based on user’s convenience and need. With staggering increase in mobile phone usage in India in recent years, people consider various factors before the purchase decision. This study is an effort to uncover the underlying factors that might affect customers in purchasing a mobile phone. Data were collected from those people those who live in Bijapur city maintaining equal ratios of various groups like male, female, businessmen, employees, students and others (housewives). To choose desired respondents, convenient sampling method was used. A structured questionnaire was designed based on the previous study with five points Likert scale was used to get responses. Factor analysis was used to elicit the underlying Factors that affect a mobile phone purchasing decision. The results show that the most important factor are physical attributes, pricing, battery life and service facilities, size and weight, friends and social group recommendations and advertising
Causality Relationship Between Public Investment and Private Investment: the Case of Indonesia
Authors: S Prima Rosita Arini , Siregar Baldric
Published: January 2023

Public investment in APBN annually budgeted as capital expenditure. However, public investment not only in the form of physical capital but also in the non-physical forms of human resources that can be looked at education expenditure and health expenditure that called as human capital. The purpose of this study is to provide empirical evidence about causality that occurred between public expenditure and private sector investment in Indonesia with 33 provinces over the study period 2010-2013. The statistical tool used in this study is the Three-stage Least Squares from E- Views. Results of this study indicate that there are causal relationship between public investment in infrastructure and private investment and between public investment in infrastructure and public investment in human resources. However, no causal relationship occurs between the public investment in human resources and private investment. As a control variable, GDP has positive and significance effect on private investment.
A Study on the Strategic Plans of the Metropolitan Municipalities: Case of Turkey**
Authors: Yamana Kemal
Published: January 2023

In this research, strategic plans, which were prepared by 10 Metropolitan Municipalities in Turkey for the period of 2015-2019, were analysed and to what extent environment and city topics were given place in these plans was put forward comparatively. Content analysis technique was benefited from as the research method. While there are 30 Metropolitan Municipalities in Turkey as of March 2016; 10 of them with the highest populations were taken into the scope of the research. Cities among the researched Metropolis that have the most comprehensive plans have been İstanbul (288 pages), İzmir (227 pages) and Gaziantep (226 pages), respectively. Cities that have given the most place to the city concept have been Adana (3,58 word/page), İzmir (2,89 words/page) and Bursa (1,75 words/page); while cities that have included the concept of environment the most have been Konya (1,39 words/page), Adana (1,24 words/page) and Şanlıurfa (1,16 words/page).
Comunicación familiar y su relación con el bienestar psicológico en estudiantes de bachillerato
Authors: Garcés Coca Michelle , Mejía Rubio Andrea del Rocío
Published: January 2023

La comunicación familiar representa un ente fundamental en el desarrollo emocional, conductual y psicológico en la etapa de la adolescencia, por consiguiente, se muestra como factor influyente para el desarrollo óptimo del bienestar psicológico (BP). La investigación busca determinar la relación entre la comunicación familiar y el bienestar psicológico en estudiantes de bachillerato. Se trató de un estudio cuantitativo no experimental, de corte transversal, y con un alcance descriptivo-correlacional. Los datos recolectados pertenecen a 219 estudiantes, cuyas edades oscilan entre 14 y 18 años, con una media de 15.9, de una unidad educativa de la ciudad de Ambato-Ecuador, a quienes se les administró la Escala de Comunicación familiar de Olson y la Escala de Bienestar Psicológico (BIEPS-J). Los resultados reflejan una correlación positiva leve (r=0.400. p=<0.001) entre la comunicación familiar y el bienestar psicológico en los estudiantes de bachillerato, además, se evidenció un nivel bajo de comunicación familiar (46.6%), y un nivel bajo de bienestar psicológico (56.4%) como predominantes. En conclusión, se infiere que el desarrollo de la comunicación dentro de la dinámica familiar podría contribuir al bienestar psicológico de forma favorable o desfavorable, por tanto, al presentar un bajo nivel de comunicación familiar se puede evidenciar a la vez un bajo nivel de bienestar psicológico.