Table of Contents
- Research Article
An Empirical Examination of the Arbitrage Pricing Theory: Evidence from Jordan PDF Mohammad K. Elshqirat Investors in the stock market need a valid and accurate model to predict the expected rate of return on their portfolios which necessitate testing many pricing models and determining which model is the most accurate. The problem is that both single-factor and multi-factor capital asset pricing models (CAPM) are not valid for predicting the expected rate of return. The purpose of this quantitative study was to test the validity of the arbitrage pricing theory (APT) in the Jordanian stock market as an alternative to the CAPM. The study was theoretically based on the arbitrage pricing theory introduced by Stephen Ross. The main focus of the research questions was on examining the relationship between stocks' rate of return calculated using the price index of Amman stock exchange (ASE) and a set of macroeconomic variables. The website of ASE, central bank of Jordan, and department of statistics were used to collect data about ASE price index and the independent macroeconomic variables of unemployment rate, gross domestic product (GDP), industrial producers' price index (IPPI), and exports for the period from 2000 to 2016. Collected data were analyzed using multiple-linear regression. Due to the detected multicollinearity between GDP and exports, GDP was excluded from the proposed model. The results revealed that among three variables tested, only IPPI had a significant negative effect on the stocks' rate of return. - Research Article
A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Inquiry: Probing Challenges and Prospects of Left-behind Children Education in the Northern Shaanxi Province, China PDF Lin Ge, Douglas Durst This research presents the lived experience of left-behind children living in the northern Shaanxi province, China. Herein hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry is employed to identify the main challenges faced by those left-behind children who are in the primary school stage and underlying causes. Unstructured observations in classroom and recess sessions are conducted. Ten left-behind children in the age range from 9-13 years, their guardians, and teachers in two towns are interviewed. The findings report the personal feelings and experiences of these children, including academic skills, socializing abilities, life, and psychological stress. Recommendations for policy and practice are offered. Arguably, the findings in the study might not only potentially serve as viable targets for universal preventive interventions and socially inclusive education of the group but also facilitate a more supportive and inclusive life and educational process for similarly marginalized groups outside China. - Research Article
The African Verbal Art Artist PDF Andrew Bula This paper probes three broad characteristics of the African verbal art artist, namely: the sources from which materials are derived for oral performance, the aesthetics of the artist’s oral art, and the functional role of the same. Bias attention is paid to the verbal art artist among the Tivs in Nigeria in West Africa and particularly to the artist’s art of oral poetry, although references to other art forms and other African peoples or places are made without being heavy-handed with the geographical zones of the continent. It is postulated that the sources where ideas are gotten to produce oral poetry are from personal and social experiences; the amusement provided by the artist through verbal art has a modicum of usefulness; and the utility of the art of the verbal artist also offers diversionary. - Research Article
Improvement of Public Health Services in the Era of Regional Autonomy in Sidoarjo Regency, Indonesia PDF Rr Herini Siti Aisyah, Hadi Shubhan, Nur Basuki Minarno, L. Budi Kagramanto The World Health Organization (WHO) states that there are three dimensions, that must absolutely be considered, to improve the public health, namely (1) what the percentage of the population is guaranteed, (2) how complete the services are guaranteed, and (3) how much the direct costs are borne to the population. Meeting the need for health services must be supported by various health facilities and institutions. Procurement of health facilities is carried out jointly by the government and the private sectors by taking into account the factors of effectiveness and achievement for the poor and special groups such as infants, toddlers and pregnant women. The higher the demand of the people for the quality of health services and facilities, the harder the government must strive to meet them to gain the excellent service. The quality service must be implemented in all facilities of government and private health centers. Through the better quality of health service, it is highly epected that the people will be more interested in utilizing the health care facilities such as primary health cares, hospitals and others. It is expected that the greater authority of the regional goernment in the era of autonomy can accelerate the bureaucratic reform encouraging the realization of the excellent service in the health sector. In order to be able to provide satisfactory services to the people, some various systematic and comprehensive efforts are necessary to carry out related to the development of technology in the health sector and the better treatment of the diseases. Improving excellent service is compulsory to serve the people satisfactorily. - Research Article
The Mueller Report: More Questions Than Answers PDF Richard J. Hunter, John H. Shannon This paper considers three major points of the Mueller Report, namely: Was the entire matter of Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election a “hoax”? Did the Trump Campaign conspire with, coordinate with, or collude with Russia? And, did the President obstruct justice? The paper also includes our conclusions and commentary relating to Special Counsel Mueller’s decision-making and choices, many of which we argue were flawed, leaving more questions than answers for the American people. - Research Article
Research on Ranciere’s Artistic Systems from Aesthetic Theory PDF Peng Haiyan This paper mainly discusses three kinds of artistic systems of Ranciere, i.e. the ethical system of image, the reproduction system of art and the aesthetic system of art, revealing that Ranciere’s aesthetic system is essentially an equal and democratic politics. - Research Article
The Role of VCB (Village Conslutative Body) in the Supervision of the Management of Village Fund in Indonesia PDF Tatiek Sri Djatmiati, Abd. Shomad, Bambang Suheryadi, Rizky Putra Zulkarnain The enforcement of the Village Law results in the very large amount of fund continuously flowing to the villages and each year it always increases. Therefore, it is highly necessary to have a more effective management of it in accordance with development of the priorities in the village. Some problems arise due to the powerful authority to manage the finances and resources but it not balanced with the control in the use of village budgets. A strict supervision from the local community is very important to do so that any deviations, waste, diversion, obstacles, mistakes, and failures in the financial management of the village funds can be avoided, and the goals and objectives are successfully achieved. VCB as the community representatives in carrying out the functions and roles are always involved in the activities starting from absorbing the aspirations of the people, planning, and monitoring so that the utilization of the village funds is in accordance with the public interests and maximally used for the development in order to create a just and prosperous society in all regions of Indonesia. A stricter supervision in the management of the village fund started from empowering the village communities to participate in planning, implementating, and reporting any activities supported by the village funds. It is hughly expected that the involvement of the village community leads to the optimal used of the village funds for the public interests in accordance with the needs of the community. - Research Article
A Review of the Phenomenon of Left-behind Children in China from the Perspective of Historicism with Discussion and Analysis of the Relevant Research Literature PDF Lin Ge The rapid industrialization and uneven regional development of China over the past few decades have forced a large number of young and middle-aged people in rural areas and small towns to leave their hometown and undertake burdensome manual jobs in urban areas. Many of them have become parents. The long separation with their children contributes to the widespread Chinese left-behind children phenomenon. This review article explains further the Chinese left-behind child phenomenon, identifies and discusses the relevant research literature, and analyzes research approaches and findings with attention to the concept of ‘historicism’ (attributing meaningful significance to elements of space and time). Arguably, it would provide a clear picture and guidelines such as research status, gaps, and depicts for underlying researchers. - Research Article
A Study on Promoting the Mechanism of the Rule of Thumb from the Perspective of the Smart Court in China PDF Chao Wang, Zhenyu Song This paper manifested the ought functions of the rule of thumb, and analyzed the causes of the practical dilemma of applying it, such as the absence of the explanation function, two extremes in the application of the rule of thumb, the outdated doctrine of proof, the difficulty of systematization and so on. This paper gave a suggestion that the application of the rule of thumb should be promoted by three dimensions as following: (1) procedural dimensions promoting the use of the rule of thumb- doctrine of proof and procedural justice; (2) technical dimension promoting the use of the rule of thumb- application of artificial intelligence; and(3) physical dimension promoting the use of the rule of thumb- case guidance system. Against the background of the construction of "Smart court" and the reform of "trial priority", efforts must be made to overcome shortcomings in the application of the rule of thumb like inappropriate systematization and difficult to capture and evaluate, and give full play to the roles of the rule of thumb in identifying evidence, ascertaining the fact, and applying the law. - Research Article
Origin and Evolution of Theatre: A Biological Interpretation PDF Nandan Bhattacharya This article tried to find the resemblances between theatrical and biological evolution and analogise them. In the evolution of art and culture, theatre was proposed to be considered as a subvariety while street theatre as form. It was showed that in theatrical evolution several traits can be distinguished which can be analogised with the gene. All forms of theatre have some of the traits inherited unaltered and some traits have been modified due to recombination and mutation like biological evolution. Thus each type of theatre has its definite evolutionary lineage and finding this lineage is necessary to analyse theatrical evolution. Focus was given to street theatre as a case study to trace the evolutionary lineage, selection and status in evolutionary tree to justify the proposed hypothesis. Article proposed that theatre originated from an archetype (prototheatre) where from classical and folk theatre originated. Street theatre was originated through a recombination of these two forms. It also intended to focus that survival of any form depends on two environmental selection factors, viz. rulers’ choice and peoples’ choice. Hegemony or dominance in cultural environment is a detrimental phenomenon and article recommended that variations should be conserved for future.