Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Creative thinking in prospective teachers: the status quo and the impact of contextual factors

To create unique and appropriate learning opportunities and environments and to nurture the development of creative thinking abilities among learners are some of the demands for creative thinking currently expected of teachers globally and also in South Africa. Creative thinking in academic context assumes, among other things, the ability to generate a variety of original ideas, to see different viewpoints and elaborate on ideas. We report on the findings of a quantitative pilot investigation by means of experimental research utilizing an ex post facto design to determine the status quo regarding the creative thinking abilities of a hetrogeneous group of 207 pre-service teachers studying at a South African university, using the Abbreviated Torrance Test for Adults (ATTA) and a Partial Least Squares (PLS) exploration into the relationship between contextual factors and the students’ creative thinking abilities. Strong correlations were found among a variety of contextual factors such as the type of school model and culture and creative thinking abilities and also between specific contextual factors such as the choice of role model and socio economic and acculturation factors and certain creative thinking abilities. This research explores a largely unknown field, namely, the creative thinking abilities of a group of South African pre-service teachers of different cultural groups and creates an awareness of the need for the development of creative thinking abilities among these prospective teachers. Keywords : contextual factors; creativity and culture, creativity; creative thinking; creative thinking abilities; teacher training
Scale development: consumer economic nationalistic tendencies (CENTSCALE)

TENDECIES (CENTSCALE) Isaac Cheah, Curtin University, Australia Ian Phau, Curtin University, Australia ABSTRACT Economic nationalism has been identified as a critical component of nationalistic sentiment, influencing cognitions, attitudes, evaluation and purchase intentions. This study develops a scale specifically tailored to measure consumer economic nationalistic tendencies. Scale generation, purification, validation and confirmation are achieved through four studies. BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM DEVELOPMENT Economic nationalism is described as the associated need with protectionism in the third world that involves discrimination in favour of one’s own nation (Akhter, Kim & Hosseini, 2003; Baughn & Yaprak, 1996; Macesich, 1985). It is the readiness to support nationalist economic policy, primarily adopting an ‘us first’, in-group versus out-group distinction (‘domestic’ versus ‘foreign’ companies). In this case, it is proposed to be associated with personal job insecurity, authoritarianism, and intolerance of ambiguity (Baughn & Yaprak, 1996). Other studies have also demonstrated that the term attributed to three components namely nationalism, patriotism and internationalism (Mort & Duncan, 2003; Kosterman & Feshback, 1989). In addition, some related the term to ethnocentrism, economic discrimination and even racism (Adorno et al., 1960; Balabanis et al., 2001; Johnson, 1992), including the resistance to the immigration of foreign workers as well as to foreign investment; job utility, ownership of intellectual property and technological competitiveness.
Realization of Directional Amplification in a Microwave Optomechanical Device

Directional transmission or amplification of microwave signals is indispensable in various applications involving sensitive measurements. In this work we show in experiment how to use a generic cavity optomechanical setup to non-reciprocally amplify microwave signals above 3 GHz in one direction by 9 decibels, and simultaneously attenuate the transmission in the opposite direction by 21 decibels. We use a device including two on-chip superconducting resonators and two metallic drumhead mechanical oscillators. Application of four microwave pump tone frequencies allows for designing constructive or destructive interference for a signal tone depending on the propagation direction. The device can also be configured as an isolator with a lossless nonreciprocal transmission and 18 dB of isolation.
Global Liquidity, House Prices, and the Macroeconomy: Evidence from Advanced and Emerging Economies

In this paper we first compare house price cycles in advanced and emerging economies using anew quarterly house price data set covering the period 1990-2012. We find that house prices in emerging economies grow faster, are more volatile, less persistent and less synchronized across countries than in advanced economies. We also find that they correlate with capital flows more closely than in advanced economies. We then condition the analysis on an exogenous change to a particular component of capital flows. We find that a global liquidity shock, identified by aggregating bank-to-bank cross border flows and by using the external instrumental variable approach of Stock and Watson (2012) and Mertens and Ravn (2013), has a much stronger impact on house prices and consumption in emerging markets than in advanced economies. In our empirical model, holding house prices or the exchange rate constant in response to this shock tends to dampen its effects on consumption in emerging economies.
Rainfall in Australia's eastern seaboard: a review of confidence in projections based on observations and physical processes

There is a high degree of variation in rainfall projections for later this century for Australia's eastern seaboard, partly because of how different climate models represent the relevant physical processes. These processes include local environmental conditions, synoptic phenomena and large-scale atmospheric and oceanic modes of variability. We review these processes using a wide range of analyses from observations and modelling. A synthesis of this review is used to produce likelihood and confidence measures for the rainfall projections, intended to inform planning and adaptation.
The Global Crisis and Equity Market Contagion

We analyze the transmission of the financial crisis of 2007 to 2009 to 415 country-industry equity portfolios. We use a factor model to predict crisis returns, defining unexplained increases in factor loadings and residual correlations as indicative of contagion. While we find evidence of contagion from the U.S. and the global financial sector, the effects are small. By contrast, there has been substantial contagion from domestic markets to individual domestic portfolios, with its severity inversely related to the quality of countries' economic fundamentals. This confirms the "wake-up call" hypothesis, with markets focusing more on country-specific characteristics during the crisis.
A Learning Combination: Coaching with CLASS and the Project Approach.

The focus of this ongoing research is the effectiveness of coaching in improving the quality of teacher-child instructional interactions in Head Start classrooms. This study examines the relationship between two measures: Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) and a Project Approach Fidelity form developed by the authors. Linear regressions were used to investigate predictors of CLASS domain scores. The Project Approach Fidelity scores have positive predictive relationships to the CLASS domains. Higher Project Approach Fidelity scores predicted higher scores for the CLASS Emotional Support, Classroom Organization, and Instructional Support domains. Consistent with their findings, the authors recommend that use of the Project Approach be combined with attention to behaviors emphasized in the CLASS to help teachers intentionally improve instructional quality in prekindergarten classrooms.
Cash Holding, Trade Credit and Access to Short-Term Bank Finance

Since 1988, cash holding of the UK companies has increased from 10.6% to 16.4% of total assets. To explain this increase, we develop a panel vector autoregression and analyse the dynamics between cash holding and its closest substitutes, trade credit and short-term bank finance. Impulse response functions confirm the signalling theory, as trade credit facilitates access to bank finance. Firms experiencing liquidity shocks resort to cash or trade credit but not to bank finance. Cash holding improves access to trade credit. Additional cash and trade credit trigger a slowdown of the cash conversion cycle explained by agency theory. Cash-rich firms have accumulated more cash than predicted because of an unexpected decline in short-term debt, stressing the role of banks in explaining the increase in cash holding.
Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia in Hospitalized Patients Receiving Insulin

Background: Insulin is commonly prescribed to treat hyperglycemia in the hospital setting, but is associated with a risk of hypoglycemia. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence rate and risk factors for hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients receiving insulin. Method: Retrospective cohort study analysing 58,496 patient-days of insulin exposure from 7780 hospitalizations of 5537 adult subjects at a teaching hospital between July 2009 and June 2011. The incidence rate of hypoglycemia (glycemia ≤ 3.9 mmol/L) and hyperglycemia (glycemia >16.7 mmol/L) were evaluated. Glycemia was measured by point-of-care blood-glucose. The association between risk factors and hypoglycemia/hyperglycemia events was determined using a Cox model. Results: The incidence rates for days with hypoglycemia were 11.1 per 100 patient-days for subcutaneous (s.c.) insulin and 10.4 per 100 patient-days for continuous intravenous insulin (CII). The incidence rates for days with hyperglycemia were 10.2 and 4.6 per 100 patient-days for s.c. insulin and CII, respectively. Clinically relevant risk factors associated with hypoglycemia for subjects on s.c. insulin were: creatinine clearance ≤ 60 mL/min: adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.14 [95% CI: 1.03-1.27]; surgery: HR 1.23 [95% CI: 1.04-1.46]; and diabetes: HR 1.79 [95% CI: 1.44-2.23]. For hyperglycemia, the risk factors were diabetes: HR 5.10 [95% CI: 3.65-7.12]; use of systemic corticosteroids: HR 2.13 [95% CI: 1.90-2.38]; and prescription of scheduled with sliding scale insulin: HR 1.89 [95% CI: 1.62-2.21]. ] Conclusion: The identified risk factors indicate areas for targeted improvement initiatives for glycemic control and should help reduce the rate of hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic events, thereby decreasing the occurrence of adverse outcomes.
Investigation of some possible mechanisms involved in the anticonvulsant activity of Tulbaghia violacea harv

Even though Tulbaghia violacea has been used to treat and manage epilepsy in South Africa by traditional medicine practitioners, no evidence in any literature has shown any scientific scrutiny of the effectiveness of the plant species in therapy. This study was intended, therefore, to investigate the anticonvulsant effect of the leaf methanol extract of Tulbaghia violacea by studying its effect against tonic convulsion induced by either PTZ (pentylenetetrazole), bicuculline, picrotoxin, strychnine or NMDLA (N-methyl-DL-aspartic acid) in mice. Qualitative phytochemical analysis, acute toxicity and HPLC studies were also carried out on the plant species. Leaf methanol extract of Tulbaghia violacea, phenobarbitone, diazepam or muscimol significantly antagonised PTZ, bicuculline or picrotoxin-induced convulsion. Combined treatment of sub-effective doses of T. violacea and muscimol significantly antagonised tonic convulsion induced by PTZ. T. violacea or phenobarbitone significantly antagonised strychnine-induced tonic convulsion. T. violacea or LY233053 significantly antagonised NMDLA-elicited tonic convulsion. Phenytoin or DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) did not significantly affect the tonic convulsion produced by PTZ, bicuculline, picrotoxin, strychnine or NMDLA. The phytochemical qualitative analysis of the plant species showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, reducing sugars, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, triterpene steroids, quinones and tannins. The LD50 value obtained following oral administration of the plant extract was over 4000 mg/kg. The data in the present study indicate that the leaf methanol extract of T. violacea has anticonvulsant activity which is probably underpinned by GABAergic, glutaminergic and glycinergic mechanisms.
Sediment deposition and availability in the riparian wetlands of the Cape Fear River

Tidal riparian wetlands serve as buffers between upland areas and the adjacent river channel. The ability of these swamps and marshes to keep up with changes in sea level depends on a combination on several factors including: sediment availability, hydrologic regime, deposition rates, and below ground productivity, that control surface elevation. This study examines sediment availability, deposition, and elevation change across different types of tidal wetlands in the Lower Cape Fear River Estuary, North Carolina. The study used marsh and swamp sites as well as sites along two different stream types, black and brown-water, within the estuary. Marshes and wetlands along the brown-water river exhibited significantly greater and more variable deposition rates than swamps and wetlands located along the black-water river (0.720 ± 1.310 gm2day-1 and 0.710 ± 1.270 gm2day-1). The brown-water marsh site exhibited significantly greater rates of deposition than any of the other sites. Organic content of deposited material was highest at the black-water swamp site and lowest at the brown-water marsh site. Total suspended solids measured once a month over a single flood tide were highest at the black-water marsh (33.01 ± 43.54 mgL-1) and lowest at the black-water swamp (3.07 ± 10.62 mgL-1). Measurements of surface water flow during a single ebb tide at each site were examined along with the mean grain size of available material. Results showed vertical flow speed and grain size were the dominant controls on deposition in this system. Measurements of surface elevation at each wetland showed a loss of elevation at the marsh sites and very slight increases at the swamp sites. When compared to current rates of sea-level rise for the area, it appears that these wetlands are not able to maintain their elevation in the face of rising sea-level.
Peer Victimization, Internalizing Symptoms, and Aggression among High-Risk Youth: The Mediating Role of Emotion Dysregulation

The present study examined the mediational role of emotion dysregulation in the relations between peer victimization, internalizing symptoms, and aggression. Participants were 253 predominantly African-American elementary school children from a low-income, high-risk environment. Results indicated that worry dysregulation partially mediated the associations between child-reported overt and relational victimization and anxiety symptoms. Evidence for partial mediation of the associations between self-reports of overt and relational victimization and aggression through anger dysregulation were also found. These results provide general support for notion that emotion dysregulation operates as a mechanism linking overt and relational victimization to internalizing symptoms and aggression. Directions for future research and implications for interventions targeting victimized youth are discussed.
Good governance and the misleading myths of bad metrics

The article discusses aspects of corporate governance and bad metrics. Certain finance studies have suggested that even when shareholder activists have been able to change firm governance structures the changes have not translated into improvements in operating performance. There is no definitive research suggesting that increased director age leads to impaired judgment. One dimension or standard said to promote good governance is for directors to own significant amounts of stocks in their firms. The thinking is that directors with an ownership stake will have a heightened incentive to govern well.
VARIATION IN ONION VARIETIES FOR REACTION TO NATURAL INFECTION OF ALTERNARIA PORRI (ELLIS) CIFF. AND STEMPHYLIUM VESICARIUM (WALLR.)

Twenty two onion varieties were tested during 2010-2012 at Kalyani, West Bengal, for evaluating their resistance levels against A. Porri and S. vesicarium, causal agents of purple blotch and stemphylium blight diseases, respectively under field condition. Disease severity was recorded by using 5 point rating scale when the disease was developed to its maximum extent and percent disease index was calculated. None of the 22 varieties, screened against purple blotch & stemphylium blight disease, was free from the disease. There were significant variations were existed among the varieties under study. Results revealed that, only one variety viz VG-18 performed best among all the tested cultivars by displaying resistant and moderately resistance to purple blotch and stemphylium blight, respectively, while its comparative yield (288.18 q/ha) also remained at top. While three varieties viz. NRCRO-4(1168), Sel.157and COLL-652 are susceptible, varieties VG-18 and VG-19 were found moderately resistant and remaining 17 are moderately susceptible to stemphylium blight only. In case of purple blotch, only VG-18 is resistant, 12 varieties are moderately resistant and nine varieties are moderately susceptible. Total yield also affected with the increase in disease severity. Highest yield recorded in variety VG-18(288.18 q/ ha) followed by VG-19 (285.72).
Pupillometry: Psychology, Physiology, and Function

Pupils respond to three distinct kinds of stimuli: they constrict in response to brightness (the pupil light response), constrict in response to near fixation (the pupil near response), and dilate in response to increases in arousal and mental effort, either triggered by an external stimulus or spontaneously. In this review, I describe these three pupil responses, how they are related to high-level cognition, and the neural pathways that control them. I also discuss the functional relevance of pupil responses, that is, how pupil responses help us to better see the world. Although pupil responses likely serve many functions, not all of which are fully understood, one important function is to optimize vision either for acuity (small pupils see sharper) and depth of field (small pupils see sharply at a wider range of distances), or for sensitivity (large pupils are better able to detect faint stimuli); that is, pupils change their size to optimize vision for a particular situation. In many ways, pupil responses are similar to other eye movements, such as saccades and smooth pursuit: like these other eye movements, pupil responses have properties of both reflexive and voluntary action, and are part of active visual exploration.
Effect of relaxation therapy on depression, anxiety, stress and quality of life among diabetic patients

Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of relaxation therapy on depression, anxiety, stress, quality of life, and blood glucose levels among patients diagnosed with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A quasi-experimental research design was used. Sample: Convenience sample of 70 patients was recruited and assigned to one of two groups, an intervention group (Group A) and a control group (Group B). A table of random numbers was generated and used to make group assignments. Setting: The study was conducted at Medical Outpatient Clinics in Menoufia University Hospital, Menoufia governorate, Egypt. Instruments: Data collection included a structured interview questionnaire that included socio-demographic characteristics and clinical data, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BRIEF). Results: The findings indicate that anxiety level, stress, depression, and quality of life were improved in the intervention group with a statistically significant degree compared to the control group. Conclusions: Relaxation therapy improved depression, anxiety, stress, quality of life, and blood glucose levels among patients diagnosed with T2DM. Recommendation: Relaxation therapy, patient education programs and treatment protocols should be integrated into the medical outpatient clinic to assist patients diagnosed with T2DM to cope with their stress, anxiety, depression, and enhance blood glucose control.
Tax Systems Under Fiscal Adjustment: A Dynamic CGE Analysis of the Brazilian Tax Reform

This paper uses a dynamic computable general equilibrium model (CGE) to analyze the macroeconomic and redistributive effects of replacing turnover and financial transaction taxes in Brazil by a consumption tax. In order to approximate Brazil`s compliance with its fiscal adjustment targets, the proposed reform is subject to a non increasing path for the level of public debt. Despite an increase in the average consumption tax rate in the first years after the reform, a majority of individuals experienced an increase in their lifetime welfare. This result rejects the hypothesis that the on-going fiscal adjustment effort carried on by the Brazilian government was an obstacle to the implementation of a more efficient tax system.
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope: high-energy results from the first year

The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi) was launched on 11 June 2008 and began its first year sky survey on 11 August 2008. The Large Area Telescope (LAT), a wide field-of-view pair-conversion telescope covering the energy range from 20 MeV to more than 300 GeV, is the primary instrument on Fermi. While this review focuses on results obtained with the LAT, the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) complements the LAT in its observations of transient sources and is sensitive to x-rays and γ-rays with energies between 8 keV and 40 MeV. During the first year in orbit, the Fermi LAT has observed a large number of sources that include active galaxies, pulsars, compact binaries, globular clusters, supernova remnants as well as the Sun, the Moon and the Earth. The GBM and LAT together have uncovered surprising characteristics in the high-energy emission of gamma-ray bursts that have been used to set significant new limits on violations of Lorentz invariance. The Fermi LAT has also made important new measurements of the Galactic diffuse radiation and has made precise measurements of the spectrum of cosmic-ray electrons and positrons from 20 GeV to 1 TeV.
A high‐resolution hindcast of wind and waves for the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea, and the Barents Sea

[1] A combined high-resolution atmospheric downscaling and wave hindcast based on the ERA-40 reanalysis covering the Norwegian Sea, the North Sea, and the Barents Sea is presented. The period covered is from September 1957 to August 2002. The dynamic atmospheric downscaling is performed as a series of short prognostic runs initialized from a blend of ERA-40 and the previous prognostic run to preserve the fine-scale surface features from the high-resolution model while maintaining the large-scale synoptic field from ERA-40. The nested WAM wave model hindcast consists of a coarse 50 km model covering the North Atlantic forced with ERA-40 winds and a nested 10–11 km resolution model forced with downscaled winds. A comparison against in situ and satellite observations of wind and sea state reveals significant improvement in mean values and upper percentiles of wind vectors and the significant wave height over ERA-40. Improvement is also found in the mean wave period. ERA-40 is biased low in wind speed and significant wave height, a bias which is not reproduced by the downscaling. The atmospheric downscaling also reproduces polar lows, which cannot be resolved by ERA-40, but the lows are too weak and short-lived as the downscaling is not capable of capturing their full life cycle.