Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Developing the intercultural competence of early childhood preservice teachers: preparing teachers for culturally diverse classrooms

ABSTRACT This research reports on studies conducted in two early childhood education (ECE) teacher preparation programs focused on increasing preservice teachers’ intercultural competence through intercultural teaching and learning and diverse US and international field experiences. Study 1 took place at a large U.S. Midwestern university with the first cohort (n = 43) of preservice teachers to have completed the revised internationally focused program. Study 2 took place at a midsized rural university in the U.S. Rocky Mountain region with preservice teachers (n = 9) who completed an eight-month university-led program with Nepal field experience. The researchers used the same instrument to measure preservice teachers’ intercultural sensitivity – the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) – before and after completion of the respective programs. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used for the analysis of the IDI scores of participants; paired samples t-test yielded individual and composite results. IDI pre and post results showed statistically significant increases in the composite scores for preservice teachers’ levels of intercultural competence for most participants. Attributes of movement away from trivializing other cultures and toward recognizing cultural similarities, appreciation of and curiosity about cultural differences, and the ability to interpret phenomena taking place in a cultural context became evident.
Spiritual inclusiveness at end-of-life for Punjabi Indians: experience with Regional Residential Aged Care Facilities

ABSTRACT This article draws on data generated from a wider study into experiences of the Punjabi Indians with palliative care services at regional residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in the Riverina region of New South Wales (NSW) Australia. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, group interviews with the Punjabi Indians and the care staff of RACFs reveal a perceived substandard quality of psychosocial care, one that overlooks religious and spiritual aspects for service users. The findings of this study highlight the importance of restoring the balance between biomedical and psychosocial-spiritual aspects of palliative care especially for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and faith groups, such as Punjabi Indians within the aged care sector.
Growth, yield and economics of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) as influenced by use of different combinations of biofertilizers

Cauliflower is a cool season vegetable belonging to cruciferae family and important member of cole group. It is a rich source of Vitamin A, C, and minerals. It is widely cultivated in India for its edible 'curds'. Famers often use chemical fertilizers to harness its maximum yield potential to make it viable commercially. But excessive use of these chemical fertilizers had adversely impacted soil health, environment and other natural resources including human health. Therefore it becomes mandatory to reduce the use of harmful chemical fertilizers. To achieve the objective of sustainable vegetable production along with environmental conservation, Krishi Vigyan Kendra S.A. S. Nagar (Mohali) has planned and conducted on-farm-trials during 2018-19 at five locations in the district. The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of biofertilizers on growth, yield and economics of cauliflower. Biofertilizers are naturally occurring products which have role in fixing atmospheric nitrogen and phosphorus solubalization. Besides they also stimulate plant hormones, improves soil health, and plant nutrient availability resulting in higher and sustainable crops yields. The trial was conducted in randomized block design (RBD) with four treatments and three replications. The treatments comprised T1: 25 kg biofertilizer Jaivik Prom, 500 g Tricho (contains Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma harzianum), 250 ml PSB Plus (bio fertilizer based on bacillus megatherium, bacillus polymixa and pseudomonas striata and pseudomonas ranthonis bacteria), 500 g Fluorescence (developed through bacteria pseudomonas Fluorescens) per acre,, T2: 20 kg biofertilizer Jaivik Khad, 500 g Tricho, 250 ml PSB Plus, 500 g Fluorescence per acre T3: 2.5 kg bio fertilizer Poshak, 500 g Tricho, 250 ml PSB Plus, 500 g Fluorescence per acre, T4: No application (Farmers Practice). The results revealed that T1 provided highest yield (76 q/acre) with maximum BC ratio of 4.04 followed by T2 (74 q/acre) with BC ratio of 3.96, T3 (72.5 q/acre) with BC ratio of 3.90 and T4 with yield of 65 q/acre and BC ratio of 3.60. Similar trend was observed for growth parameters. On the basis of above investigation it can be concluded that use of biofertilizers gave higher yields and better returns as compared to control and application of 25 kg biofertilizer Jaivik Prom, 500 g Tricho, 250 ml PSB Plus, 500 g Fluorescence per acre was found to be the best treatment.
Strength of ties and pioneering orientation: The moderating role of scanning capabilities

The purpose of this article is to study the curvilinear effect on pioneering orientation of one of its key relational backgrounds: strength of ties. The study is based on a sample of 224 companies in the footwear industry in Spain. A hierarchical regression analysis was performed. The results show a curvilinear U-shaped relationship between the strength of ties and pioneering orientation. This curvilinear relationship is increasingly pronounced as scanning capabilities grow. Managers wishing to develop a pioneering orientation should avoid excessive levels of strength in their ties and unduly low levels. Furthermore, firms might benefit from developing scanning capability. JEL CLASSIFICATION: M100; o320
Tunneling in AlAl2O3Al MIM structures

Al–Al2O3–Al MIM structures are prepared by vacuum deposition of Al films in a pressure of 4 × × 10−3 Pa and oxidising them in air for 15 h at room temperature and then again depositing Al films over them. Tunneling studies on these Al–Al2O3-Al structures are carried out from 77 to 300 K. The barrier parameters, viz. barrier height and barrier thickness, are evaluated using Simmon's theory (1963/64) and by the graphical method of Simmons' and Unterkofler (1963). It is observed that with a decrease of temperature, the barrier height increases and the barrier thickness decreases. Also the variation of the tunnel current density with temperature is in agreement with Simmons' equation. The variation of barrier height and thickness with temperature is attributed to band gap and ionic space charge variations in the dielectric and the existence of trap levels. Al–Al2O3-Al-MIM-Strukturen werden durch Vakuumdeponierung von Al-Schichten bei Drucken von 4 × 10−3 Pa prapariert und in Luft 15 h bei Zimmertemperatur oxidiert und anschliesend daruber Al-Schichten abgelagert. Tunneluntersuchungen an diesen Al–Al2O3-Al-Strukturen werden zwischen 77 und 300 K durchgefuhrt. Die Barrierenparameter, z. B. Barrierenhohe und Barrierendicke werden mit der Theorie von Simmons (1963/64) und mit der graphischen Methode von Simmons und Unterkofler (1963) berechnet. Es wird beobachtet, das mit Abnahme der Temperatur die Barrierenhohe zunimmt und die Barrierendicke abnimmt. Auch die Anderung der Tunnelstromdichte mit der Temperatur befindet sich in Ubereinstimmung mit der Gleichung von Simmons. Die Anderung der Barrierenhohe und -dicke mit der Temperatur wird Bandlucken- und Ionenraumladungsanderungen im Dielektrikum und der Existenz von Trapzustanden zugeordnet.
Cascaded Control of Flexible-Joint Robots Based on Sliding-Mode Estimator Approach

The inherent highly nonlinear coupling and system uncertainties make the controller design for a flexible-joint robot extremely difficult. The goal of the control of any robotic system is to achieve high bandwidth, high accuracy of trajectory tracking, and high robustness, whereby the high bandwidth for flexible-joint robot is the most challenging issue. This paper is dedicated to design such a link position controller with high bandwidth based on sliding-mode technique. Then, two control approaches ((1) extended-regular-form approach and (2) the cascaded control structure based on the sliding-mode estimator approach) are presented for the link position tracking control of flexible-joint robot, considering the dynamics of AC-motors in robot joints, and compared with the singular perturbation approach. These two-link position controllers are tested and verified by the simulation studies with different reference trajectories and under different joint stiffness.
La2@C72: Metal-Mediated Stabilization of a Carbon Cage

In this study, we report production, isolation, and characterization for the relatively small endohedral metallofullerene, La2@C72. As described, La2@C72 is readily isolated from conventional electric-arc-generated carbon/metal soot. This new species was purified by HPLC chromatography and characterized by laser desorption mass spectrometry and UV-vis spectroscopy. The mass spectrum also demonstrates the presence of the monometal species, La@C72, but the absence of empty-cage C72. Since empty-cage C72 has not been successfully isolated to date, the results of the present study are in agreement with the argument for metalmediated stabilization of the C72 carbon cage by lanthanum ions. The chromatographic retention data suggest that the electronic structure of La 2@C72 is consistent with a (La 3+ )2@C72 6- species and the prediction of a relatively small dipole moment.
Exploring Organizational Resilience Through Key Performance Indicators

ABSTRACT Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are quantifiable aspects (widely used by national and global enterprises) that help in the process of monitoring and managing goals and organizational plans. This study intends to empirically explore the influence of non-financial KPIs to generate organizational resilience. In-depth case studies were conducted in two enterprises embedded in the metal-mechanical sector in Brazil. As a result, 29 KPIs (20 of them were empirically identified) and 13 Elements of Resilience (EoR) were discussed. Due to different organizational strategies from each company, each case presented a key KPI that was predominant in creating organizational resilience. Company T focused on the stock level (SLE), whilst Company S on Supplier Quality Score (SQS). This study contributes by exploring the relation between non-financial KPIs and EoR, thus highlighting KPIs to help managers to deal with unpredictable disruptive situations to make assertive decisions and help their organizations become competitive and sustainable.
Addressing Students’ Misconceptions about Gases, Mass, and Composition

Much research has been published that describes the misconceptions students have about gases; however, not much research has been published that suggests how to change these misconceptions. The action research presented in this article examined how using laboratories to contradict students’ preconceived ideas would affect their learning. High school students took a pretest to identify their misconceptions. The results of the pretest revealed that students’ largest misconceptions were that they believed gases weighed less than solids and liquids and that they thought water decomposed when boiled. A lab and a demonstration were developed to contradict these incorrect ideas. The approach taken with a group of high school students to identify the misconceptions and to develop laboratories to contradict the problematic ideas is described.
Reflections in the Educational Leadership Internship: Bridging Theory and Practice

The present study explores how graduate students in an educational leadership program in the United States constructed reflections during an internship. An archival review of students’ assignments for a class was conducted. A constant comparison analysis which used grounded theory was carried out. Findings suggest there were two major typologies of reflections. For one group, reflections were centered around summarizing, showing appreciation, and offering buzzwords for improvement; a small group centered on capacity for change, showed discontent, and offered an alternative to current practices. Findings suggest reflections in education are of questionable value, and students would be better served by developing reflective capabilities using research methods. A review of the literature compares findings with previous research and theoretical perspectives. There is a discussion and recommendations to improve the reflective process for teachers and educational leaders.
Photoisomerization of azobenzene in the interlayer space of magadiite

The intercalation of a cationic azobenzene derivative into the interlayer space of magadiite was conducted by the ion exchange reactions between magadiite and p-[2-(2-hydroxyethyldimethylammonio)ethoxy]azobenzene bromide. X-Ray diffraction and elemental analysis confirmed the formation of the p-[2-(2-hydroxyethyldimethylammonio)ethoxy]azobenzene magadiite intercalation compound. The spectral properties, as well as the X-ray diffraction results, reveal that the adsorbed azo dye cations form head-to-head aggregates in the interlayer space. The intercalation compound exhibited a novel photomechanical effect; the basal spacing changed reversibly upon photoisomerization of the intercalated azo dye.
Ab initio structure solution by iterative phase-retrieval methods: performance tests on charge flipping and low-density elimination

Comprehensive tests on the density-modification methods charge flipping [Oszlanyi & Suto (2004). Acta Cryst. A60, 134-141] and low-density elimination [Shiono & Woolfson (1992). Acta Cryst. A48, 451-456] for solving crystal structures are performed on simulated diffraction data of periodic structures and quasicrystals. A novel model-independent figure of merit, which characterizes the reliability of the retrieved phase of each reflection, is introduced and tested. The results of the performance tests show that the quality of the phase retrieval highly depends on the presence or absence of an inversion center and on the algorithm used for solving the structure. Charge flipping has a higher success rate for solving structures, while low-density elimination leads to a higher accuracy in phase retrieval. The best results can be obtained by combining the two methods, i.e. by solving a structure with charge flipping followed by a few cycles of low-density elimination. It is shown that these additional cycles dramatically improve the phases not only of the weak reflections but also of the strong ones. The results can be improved further by averaging the results of several runs and by applying a correction term that compensates for a reduction of the structure-factor amplitudes by averaging of inconsistently observed reflections. It is further shown that in most cases the retrieved phases converge to the best solution obtainable with a given method.
Marriage counterfactuals in Japan: Variation by gender, marital status, and time

Background: This paper takes a unique perspective on the debate surrounding the deinstitutionalization of marriage. Rather than examining how diversification of family behaviors (external context) relates to marriage, it considers how perceptions of marriage dimensions (the internal context) vary across relevant stakeholders. Objective: We ask whether perceived consequences of marriage differ for people who married vs. people who never married and men vs. women and over time. Methods: Based on data from the 1994 National Survey on Work and Family Life in Japan and the 2000 and 2009 National Survey of Family and Economic Conditions (NSFEC) in Japan (N = 8,467) we use unique measures of perceived consequences of marriage (“marriage counterfactuals”) to examine social, economic, psychological, and personal dimensions (i.e., respect, living standard, emotional security, freedom, and overall satisfaction). Results: Ordinal regression results reveal that marital perceptions worsened over time (in terms of living standard and freedom), consistent with worsening economic conditions. We also find that people who have never been married tend to view marriage more favorably than their married counterparts (especially freedom and respect), while men view marriage consequences (except for living standard) more favorably than women. Conclusions: Despite more negative change over time in perceptions of marriage among people who never married than people who have married, the traditional breadwinner-homemaker model of marriage continues to be important and influential in Japan, and cultural beliefs regarding traditional marriage persist in spite of structural changes. Contribution: Research and theory on family change should pay more attention to the internal marriage context more fully than they have in the past.
Drying and Shrinkage Kinetics of Solid Waste of Olive Oil Processing

The problems created in managing olive mill wastewater (OMW) have been extensively investigated during the last few years. In most cases, dehydration of olive mill wastes is a first step before developing further applications. The subject of this study was to determine the drying behavior of OMW solid fraction (OMWS). Drying (moisture vs time) and shrinkage (image vs time) data were obtained on slabs of OMWS in an air dryer operated at 60–80°C. The effective diffusivity was determined using (a) the simplified solution of Fick's second law and (b) the method of slopes of the drying curve, taking into account the effect of moisture content on diffusivity and sample shrinkage. The combined effect of moisture content and temperature on effective diffusivity was expressed by an empirical model. In addition, each moisture loss and shrinkage curve was fit to 10 simplified drying models. The dependence of the best descriptive model constants on drying temperature was expressed by an appropriate type of model.
Financial reporting quality of privately held firms: evidence from private corporations versus limited companies

ABSTRACT In this paper, we examine whether requirements to disclose audited financial statements enhance financial reporting quality of privately held firms. Unlike U.S. private firms, private corporations in Korea are required to prepare and disclose audited financial statements. While limited companies, another type of Korean private firms, are almost identical to private corporations in economic substance, they are exempt from reporting requirements to disclose audited financial statements. Using this unique institutional environment in Korea for the period of 2007–2012, we investigate the effect of audit and disclosure requirements on financial reporting quality and find that such requirements enhance financial reporting quality of private companies. Our findings shed light on the economic consequences of mandatory disclosure of audited financial statements and should be of interest to academics and regulators as we evidence the effects of audit and disclosure requirements on financial reporting quality outside of public firms.
Tropical Rainfall Linked to Stronger Future ENSO‐NAO Teleconnection in CMIP5 Models

The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has previously been shown to influence the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Here we investigate the ENSO‐NAO teleconnection in historical and RCP8.5 scenario CMIP5 simulations and show a future strengthening of the teleconnection under RCP8.5. The teleconnection strength is associated with increased East Pacific tropical rainfall variability. Stratospheric and tropospheric teleconnection pathways are examined, with both pathways having stronger links in the future. The stratospheric pathway involves the Aleutian Low and the stratospheric polar vortex with a downward influence on the NAO. This pathway is clearest in the high‐top models that better resolve the stratosphere. The tropospheric pathway is driven by the Pacific subtropical jet strengthening and extending further into the Atlantic in the future, generating increased baroclinicity in the Caribbean and influencing the Atlantic storm track. These results suggest increasing influence of tropical rainfall on extratropical circulation in the future.
Using 360˚ Videos for Teaching Volleyball Skills to Primary School Students

The study presents the results from a pilot project in which 360˚ videos were utilized for teaching students basic volleyball skills. The target group was thirty-six, eleven-to-twelve years-old primary school students, divided into two groups: the first was taught conventionally and the second using apps in which 360˚ videos were embedded. The project lasted for six two-teaching-hour sessions (three for each method), and data were collected using observation sheets and a questionnaire for recording students’ views regarding their experience. The data analysis confirmed that, compared with conventional teaching, 360˚ videos allowed students to perform better the skills that were examined. The participating students also thought that by viewing 360˚ videos they were more motivated to learn and that their experience was an enjoyable one. On the other hand, students did not consider the 360˚ videos as being useful in their learning. Given the lack of research in this field, the findings provide an initial indication of 360˚ videos’ potential in Physical Education. Then again, the results also point to the need of finding more innovative methods for integrating 360˚ videos in everyday teaching.
Early Career Physical Therapist Faculty Connecting With Others for Scholarly Activity: A Grounded Theory Study

Introduction. e professional relationships of early career physical therapist (PT) faculty aid in career advancement by supporting scholarly activity. A recent study suggested that a professional network structure that is less interconnected is an effective network for more scholarly activity. However, no studies have addressed the process of how early career PT faculty build their network. e purpose of this study is to develop a theoretical model that explains the process that early career PT faculty use to develop effective networks for scholarly activity. Methods. Participants were purposely selected to represent variations in scholarly productivity and effectiveness in their professional network. One-on-one interviews were conducted with 20 early career PT faculty, representing 15 institutions from 12 states. Questions focused on why individuals were included in the network, how they were connected, and examples of the outcomes of the relationships. Conceptual depth for the theory development was determined through conceptual maps, coding trees, axial coding, member checking, and peer debriefing. Results. We present a theoretical model of the process early career PT faculty members use to develop effective networks for scholarly activity.Motivations to develop network connections were meeting accreditation standards, job requirements, and a desire to contribute to the knowledge base. Network development strategies included reaching out to previously established connections, making new acquaintances within one’s current institution, unplanned “fluke” encounters, and “cold calling. ” Outcomes of developing network connections were new opportunities, advancing connections, and receiving feedback. Challenges to this process were a lack of time, funding, individual elements, and institutional factors. Discussion and Conclusion. is theory improves our understanding of the process early career faculty use to build professional network connections anduse the relationships to generate a scholarly agenda. Traditional introductions, self-initiated contact, and taking advantage of chance encounters can all help early career faculty advance their network connections. Implementing these strategies to develop connections is not only the responsibility of the individual faculty member but also must be encouraged by professional associations and educational institutions. is study underscores the importance of early career faculty connecting with others to be successful in higher education.