Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integrative character education (ICE): grounding facilitated prosocial development in a humanistic perspective for a multicultural world

Abstract Character Education initiatives within schools have gained both proponents and opponents over recent years and continue to garner mixed reviews. Proponents argue that the need is urgent and the increasing level of school disruption, antisocial behavior and violence requires a focus on values/virtues/moral education and claim this is synonymous with good practice in education. Opponents ask, whose values will be taught and how does this address the needs of our multicultural reality? While others claim that, many initiatives embrace moral education delivered in a behaviorist fashion promoting control by other and lack a humanistic understanding of the pluralistic nature of modern society. This review addresses these issues by exploring, critically interpreting, and synthesizing educational and psychological research. The aim being to develop a definition of character education that is not confined to antiquated understandings of ethnocentric non-negotiable ideological values/virtues/morals. The main focus of the review being to inform a unified theory of character education embedded in a sociocultural understanding of personality development that can inform practice in multicultural settings. By developing a research informed discussion of characteristics beneficial to life outcomes a theory of integrative character education is offered.
Analysis of Training Needs of Mothers on Exclusive Breastfeeding; a Study in Health Care Centers

BackgroundBreastfeeding is a natural way to provide nutrients required for proper growth and development of infants. In view of that, it is of great importance to enhance the knowledge of mothers on exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months after birth and the time of starting complementary feeding. This study aimed to assess the training needs of mothers on exclusive breastfeeding, was conducted in the city of Qom, Iran.Materials and MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on 292 mothers who had children aged 6 to 12 months old. The subjects were selected via multistage sampling method. Using a researcher made questionnaire, the required data was collected via face-to-face interviews. The collected data were analyzed via descriptive and analytical tests. The significance level was set at 0.05ResultsOf all, 42.5% (n=124) of the children were exclusively breastfed. The mean of knowledge of mothers on exclusive breastfeeding was 10.3±1.5 (of a total score of 12), their mean of maternal attitudes was 38.7±3.3 (of a total score of 44), and their mean score of performance was 6.5±1.8 (of a total score of 9). There was a significant and direct relationship between maternal education level and their knowledge and attitude scores (P<0.001). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between maternal knowledge (P<0.001, r=0.311), attitude (P<0.001, r= 0.304) and performance.ConclusionThe results showed that mothers had a desirable level of knowledge, attitude, and performance in terms of exclusive breastfeeding. With promoting knowledge, mothers had a more favorable attitude and a higher score of breastfeeding performance.
The Sustainability of Fiscal Policy in Italy: A Long-Term Perspective

The recent fears of a sovereign debt crisis have spurred interest in the sustainability of public debt. There are two different approaches to the assessment of sustainability: the use of sustainability gap indicators (Blanchard et al., 1990) and the time series approach (Trehan and Walsh, 1988). In this paper we analyze the sustainability of public debt in Italy following the latter approach. We examine almost the entire life of the Italian State, i.e. 1861-2010, by employing a database containing several statistical novelties: new time series estimates of public debt and GDP (respectively Banca d’Italia, 2008 and Baffigi, 2011) and an original reconstruction of the revenues of the State. The long-term analysis of new homogeneous statistical series has led to a different perspective, in particular when compared with the existing Italian literature on the debt-to-GDP ratio. Two main issues are addressed. First, we examine the size and dynamics of public finance aggregates. In particular, we carry out a detailed historical analysis, aiming to identify, in a narrative approach, the determinants of public debt and its ratio to GDP. Second, exploiting unit root analysis and cointegration, we test for the sustainability of public debt in Italy following the approach proposed both by Trehan and Walsh (1988, 1991) and Bohn (1991).
The Unfree Labour Category and Unfree Labour Estimates: A Continuum within Low-End Labour Relations

The article argues against the singling out of unfree labour as something wholly unique and entirely separate and different from other labour relations. Existing dichotomous approaches to free–unfree labour hinder a proper understanding of these labour relations, both theoretically and empirically. It argues that the way in which both mainstream and Marxist approaches conceptualise and operationalise unfree/forced labour is problematic and proposes replacing the unfree-free dichotomy with a continuum of unfreedoms. Such unfreedoms should be understood as one among many ‘un-decent’ forms and aspects of labour relations. All of these can be understood as outcomes of the class struggle from above, which in today’s world is part and parcel of neo-liberalism. The discussion is informed by examples primarily from India and China.
The Rise of Dollar Credit in Emerging Market Economies and Us Monetary Policy

This paper examines the hypothesis that the boom in dollar credit in the emerging market economies is associated with excessively low interest rate in the US. For this purpose, we use a multivariate correlated unobserved component model that allows for correlation between shocks to dollar credit, interest rates and dollar index both in the short-run and in the long-run. In addition, it also provides us a quantitative estimate of the permanent and transitory movements in dollar credit in emerging markets, US interest rate and the dollar index. The results from this model do suggest that a temporary decline in interest rate and dollar index below their long-run levels are associated with an increase in dollar credit with a very high degree of negative correlation. The estimate of the cyclical component of the dollar credit in emerging market from our model captures the recent boom and bust in this market and compares favorably to a univariate trend-cycle decomposition benchmark.
The differentiated impacts of organizational innovation practices on technological innovation persistence

This article tests the major determinants of technological (product and process) innovation persistence and provides evidence of the significant role of organizational innovation. Design/methodology/approach Data came from two waves of the Luxembourg Community Innovation Survey (CIS): CIS2006 for 2004–2006 and CIS2008 for 2006–2008. The longitudinal data set resulted in a final sample of 287 firms. A multinomial probit model estimates the likelihood that each firm belongs to one of three longitudinal innovation profiles: no, sporadic, or persistent innovators. Findings The determinants have differentiated impacts on process and technological innovation persistence. Organizational innovation influences technological innovation persistence. In the analysis of detailed organizational practices, strong evidence emerged that knowledge management exerts a crucial effect on product innovation persistence; workplace organization instead is associated with process innovation persistence.
On wartime money finance in the Japanese occupied territories during the Pacific War: The case of instant reserve banks as bad central banks

This paper explores how the Japanese government financed war expenditures locally in the occupied territories during the Pacific War. First, the reserve banks, founded instantly by the government, funded the occupation forces by issuing their bank notes in North/Central China, and Southern Regions. Second, the Japanese government financed military expenses by requesting the existing central banks to issue their legal tenders in Manchuria, Indochina, and Thailand. In the years 1943-1945, the first method in the regions with sharp inflations yielded 559.7 billion yen at face value, but only 7.2 billion yen at purchasing power parity (PPP), while the second in the regions with relatively low inflations generated only 5.8 billion yen at face value, but still 3.6 billion yen at PPP. In the former regions, the occupation forces did not acquire that much purchasing power, while in the latter regions, non-negligible portions of the occupied countries' nominal GDP were transferred to the occupation forces.
ALLEVIATION OF ADVERSE EFFECTS OF SALT STRESS ON SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS L.) BY EXOGENOUS APPLICATION OF SALICYLIC ACID: GROWTH AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS

The present study was conducted to assess whether exogenously applied SA as a foliar spray could ameliorate the adverse effects of salt stress on sunflower plants. Two lines of sunflower (Hisun-33 and SF-187) were grown under normal or saline (120 mM NaCl) conditions. Different levels of salicylic acid (0, 100, 200, 300 mg L -1 ) were applied as a foliar spray. Salt stress reduced the growth of both lines, but both cultivars were equally responsive to the stress. Application of 200 mg L -1 of SA caused an increase in biomass of both lines under non-saline or saline conditions. Photosynthetic rate of both cultivars increased due to SA applied foliarly both under control and saline conditions, particularly in line SF-187. Furthermore, increase in growth of both cultivars due to exogenously applied SA may have been due to changes in photosynthesis. However, SA applied as a foliar spray did not change the sub-stomatal CO2 suggesting that stomtal factors were not the major controlling factors for photosynthesis. Overall, the adverse effects of salt stress could be alleviated by exogenous application of SA.
Screening Aegilops -Triticum species for Boron tolerance

Boron toxic soils are a problem for wheat production in many regions of the world. Wild Triticeae relatives are known to provide gene pools for wheat germplasm improvement. To establish their potential for improving Boron tolerance, Aegilops speltoides , Ae. longissima , Ae. sharonensis , Ae. bicornis , Ae. searsii , Ae. kotschyi , Ae. peregrina ssp. cylindrostachys , Ae. peregrina ssp. euvariabilis , Ae. geniculata syn. ovata , Ae. biuncialis , Ae. triuncialis , and Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides accessions collected from Israel, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, and Iran were screened for Boron tolerance using a hydroponic system containing elevated levels of Boron. The results indicated that some Ae. longissima , Ae. kotschyi , Ae. peregrina ssp. cylindrostachys , Ae. peregrina ssp. euvariabilis , and Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides accessions were tolerant to excess Boron. Tolerant Triticeae accessions can be useful sources of Boron tolerance for wheat improvement. The difficulties of screening wild Triticum and Aegilops species in hydroponics are discussed.
The Impact of Domestic Investment on Economic Growth: New Evidence from Malaysia

This paper investigates the relationship between domestic investment and economic growth in Malaysia. In order to achieve this purpose, annual data for the periods between 1960 and 2015 was tested by using Correlation analysis, Johansen co-integration analysis of Vector Error Correction Model and the Granger-Causality tests. According to the result of the analysis, it was determined that there is a positive effect of domestic investment, exports and labors on economic growth in the long run term, however, there is no relationship between domestic investment and economic growth in the short run term. These results provide en evidence that domestic investment, exports and labors are seen as a source of economic growth in Malaysia
Examining the Effect of Cultural Intelligence on the Internationalization of Swiss Small and Medium Enterprises

The study examines the relationship between cultural intelligence (CI) and the internationalization of Swiss Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). It also evaluates the role of internationalization motivators within that relationship. A self-administered survey was sent (by email) to the managers of 640 Swiss SMEs, identified from the Swiss SME database (Switzerland Global Enterprises-ge.com). The data analysis confirms that the internationalization process and the intention to internationalize depend to a large extent on the cultural intelligence of these managers. The analysis also identified access to information on foreign markets as the main motivator that affects this relationship. The study proposes solutions and recommendations to stakeholders and policy makers to enhance and support SME internationalization through developing specific individual and organizational aspects, mainly the cultural competencies of managers and more access to detailed information on foreign markets and their differing environments.
Barriers influencing teacher’s technology integration in their teaching practice

Teachers are expected to integrate technology in their daily teaching and learning practice. However, despite the implementation of some technological reform and project to support teacher‟s technology integration, the integration by teachers continues to be limited. This paper therefore discuss some barriers that teachers face in their effort to integrate technology. First order barriers related to technology facilities and time constraint were reported by teachers, which consequently influences the second order barriers related to teachers belief and decision to integrate technology.This finding has directed into further work that take into consideration how teachers could negotiate these barrier through participation and engagement in school Communities of Practice.
THE RENOVATION OF THE ISOLDE INSTRUMENTATION

The ISOLDE [1] instrumentation [2] is mainly based on mechanical scanners, wire-grids and faraday-cups. Additional items are the “fixed needle beam scanner” (FNBS), the tape-station and a device called the “fast faraday cup”. The control system for these devices is being redesigned and reimplemented in order to be integrated in the standard control system of the CERN accelerators complex. While some devices will still be controlled with "usual" standards (VME), the tape-station and the wire-grids will be controlled using industrial PLC’s. In fact, recently, the automates have become fast enough for these applications. This article will describe the different developments in the control electronics, the improvements of the devices themselves and will finish with a short peek at future projects.
Nitrogen use efficiency is associated with chlorophyll content in Brazilian spring wheat

The use of wheat cultivars with high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is essential to reduce production costs and minimize environmental contamination through nitrogen losses. Despite several investigations reported worldwide, NUE still has not been studied in Brazilian wheat varieties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the general and specific combining ability (GCA and SCA) of agronomic traits associated with NUE components in a diallel cross. Six wheat parents and fifteen F2 populations were planted in the field in a randomized block design with three replications. The relative chlorophyll content was measured in flag leaves at the post-anthesis stage, while agronomic traits and NUE components were evaluated at physiological maturity. Additive and non-additive genetic effects were identified controlling NUE components. The parents, Mirante, Valente, and BRS Tangar , showed high values of GCA for NUE components. The chlorophyll B index was significantly correlated with grain yield (0.49*), thousand kernel weight (0.44*), and NUEg (0.50*), indicating that chlorophyll B index can be used as an effective selection criterion in early segregating generations. To our knowledge, this is the first report of genetic variability of nitrogen use efficiency in Brazilian spring wheat.
Electronic structure of granular Fe – Al 2 O 3 thin films prepared by co-evaporation

We studied the electronic structure of granular Fe–Al 2O3 thin films using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The samples were produced by co-evaporation of Fe and Al 2O3 and have relatively large Fe volume factions (27 and 48%). The Fe 2p XPS spectra show that the Fe precipitates in the granular alloy are in a majority metallic phase. The spectra show also that there is a minority Fe oxide phase and that this phase decreases for the 48% sample. The valence band spectra of granular Fe– Al2O3 can be understood as a linear combination of the individual Fe and Al 2O3 bands, which is consistent with mostly metallic Fe precipitates deduced from the core level Fe 2p XPS spectra. The core level and valence band results suggest the possibility of little interaction between the Fe precipitates and the Al 2O3 matrix. In turn, this would suggest that there is little interdiffusion as well as relatively well-defined and abrupt grain boundaries. This information is important to understand the transport and magnetic properties of the Fe–Al 2O3 thin films. q 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
A geometrical robust design using the Taguchi method: application to a fatigue analysis of a right angle bracket

The majority of components used in aeronautic, automotive or transport industries are subjected to fatigue loads. Those elements should be designed considering the fatigue life. In this paper the geometrical design of a right angle bracket has been simulated by FEM, considering the type of material, the applied load and the geometry of the pieces. The geometry of the right angle bracket has been optimized using the Taguchi’s robust optimization method. As far as the authors know, there are no publications dealing with the use of the Taguchi’s robust optimization method applied to the geometric design of industrial pieces having as output variable the Findley fatigue coefficient. This paper presents a method for determining the critical design parameters to extend the product life of components subject to fatigue loading. This pioneer idea is applicable to any other design or physical or mechanical application so it can be widely used as new methodology to fatigue robust design of mechanical parts and components.
Asymptotic analysis of the 2-dimensional soliton solutions for the Nizhnik--Veselov--Novikov equations

In this paper we present a direct approach to determining a class of solutions, the asymptotic analysis of the dromion solutions, and their asymptotic properties of the Nizhnik--Veselov--Novikov equations by means of Pfaffians. The form of the solution obtained allows a detailed asymptotic analysis of the dromion solutions and compact expression for the phase shifts and changes of amplitude as a result of interaction of the dromions to be determined.
Anthropogenic influence on SOA and the resulting radiative forcing

Abstract. The effect of chemical changes in the atmosphere since the pre-industrial period on the distributions and burdens of Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA) has been calculated using the off-line aerosol chemistry transport model Oslo CTM2. The production of SOA was found to have increased from about 35 Tg yr−1 to 53 Tg yr−1 since pre-industrial times, leading to an increase in the global annual mean SOA burden from 0.33 Tg to 0.50 Tg, or about 51%. The effect of allowing semi-volatile species to partition to sulphate aerosol was also tested, leading to an increase in SOA production from about 43 Tg yr−1 to 69 Tg yr−1 since pre-industrial times, while the annual mean SOA burden increased from 0.44 Tg to 0.70 Tg, or about 59%. The increases were greatest over industrialised areas, especially when partitioning to sulphate aerosol was allowed, as well as over regions with high biogenic precursor emissions. The contribution of emissions from different sources to the larger SOA burdens has been calculated. The results suggest that the majority of the increase was caused by emissions of primary organic aerosols (POA), from fossil fuel and bio fuel combustion. As yet, very few radiative forcing estimates of SOA exist, and no such estimates were provided in the latest IPCC report. In this study, we found that the change in SOA burden caused a radiative forcing (defined here as the difference between the pre-industrial and the present day run) of −0.09 W m−2, when SOA was allowed to partition to both organic and sulphate aerosols, and −0.06 W m−2 when only partitioning to organic aerosols was assumed. Therefore, the radiative forcing of SOA was found to be stronger than the best estimate for POA in the latest IPCC assessment.
Structure and Sodium Ion Dynamics in Sodium Strontium Silicate Investigated by Multinuclear Solid-State NMR

The high oxide ion conductivity of the proposed sodium strontium silicate ion conductors Sr0.55Na0. 45SiO2.775 (>10–2 S·cm–1 at 525 °C) and its unusual alkali metal substitution strategy have been extensively questioned in the literature. Here, we present a comprehensive understanding of the structure of this material using a combination of XRD and multinuclear 17O, 23Na, and 29Si solid-state NMR spectroscopy data and a detailed investigation of the Na ion dynamics by high temperature 23Na NMR line shape analysis and relaxation rates measurements. Both 23Na and 29Si NMR spectra demonstrate the absence of Na doping in strontium silicate SrSiO3 and the presence of an amorphous phase identified as Na2O·2SiO2 glass as the Na-containing product. Devitrification at 800 °C yields crystallization of the Na2O·2SiO2 glass into the known crystalline α-Na2Si2O5 phase which was positively identified by its XRD pattern and the extensive and clear 17O, 23Na, and 29Si NMR fingerprints. High temperature 23Na NMR reveals th.
MOOD STATES OF SOCCER PLAYERS IN THE ENGLISH LEAGUES: REFLECTIONS OF AN INCREASING WORKLOAD

The aim of this investigation was to assess whether the demands of the modern English competitive soccer season would be reflected in the mood states of professional soccer players. Sixty-nine male participants either activity competing in English soccer leagues or resident in England were recruited and grouped accordingly as professional soccer players, university level soccer players, Sunday league soccer players, or non-sporting controls. On three separate occasions; at the beginning, at the middle, and finally towards the end of the English soccer season, participants completed both the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire as well as a questionnaire related to their teams' performance in addition to their perceived life stress. Results showed the POMS scores to differ over the season in relation to the groups' standard of competition. ANOVAs demonstrated this pattern to be significant for the dependent measures of tension, depression, and confusion with significant group by time interactions (95% level of confidence). At the outset of the season professionals had the most positive POMS profile, however, as the season progressed they showed the greatest change towards a negative profile. These results indicate that English soccer is placing professional players at a predisposition of demonstrating POMS commensurate with negative adaptation to training, having important implications for their long-term performance and health.