Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding the Underlying Factors Affecting the Perception of Pre-Service Teachers’ Teacher Identity: A New Instrument to Support Teacher Education

The study aimed to understand the factors affecting pre-service teachers’ teacher identity. The sample of the study was comprised of 286 fourth-year preservice teachers. The draft item pool of the scale was based on the teacher education literature related to the factors affecting teacher identity administered to the preservice teachers studying at a public university in Turkey’s Mugla province. The finding of the study revealed that the scale, which was consisted of 28 items, had six factors. The scale’s six factors explained 63.50% of all the variance as well as the factor loading of the scale ranged from . 50 to . 88. The internal consistency scores of the scale dimensions ranged from . 77 to . 90. The item analysis of 27% upper and lower means calculation yielded statistically significant t values. Additionally, confirmatory factor analysis resulted good and pretty high fit indices. This showed that the scale with six factors was acceptable.
Investigating the links between political settlements and inclusive development in Uganda: towards a research agenda

The changing character of the political settlement in Uganda since independence has closely shaped the character and performance of the institutions and actors responsible for delivering development. Successive political leaders sought to establish 'dominant ruler' forms of political settlement, with little sustained effort to depersonalise public institutions or build stable and inclusive ruling coalitions. This seemed to change in 1986, as Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Movement (NRM) sought to establish a new settlement, based on a broad-based coalition and an ostensible commitment to development. However, the NRM's record of generating the commitment and capacity required to deliver development has been mixed. On the one hand, a mixture of elite commitment, pockets of bureaucratic excellence and external support has enabled impressive levels of economic growth, macroeconomic stability and social expenditure. However, the current settlement – characterised by deepening levels of competitive clientelism, highly personalised forms of public bureaucracy, collusive state–business relations, and a ruling coalition that is (expensively) inclusive at the lower levels while becoming narrower and more nepotistic at the pinnacle – has failed to provide the basis for tackling the more difficult challenges of achieving structural transformation, delivering high-quality public services and challenging social inequalities. The case of Uganda reveals the need to extend the current boundaries of political settlement analysis beyond a narrow focus on incentives at the national level, to incorporate a stronger focus on ideas and transnational factors. Dominant ideas around state legitimacy and development have played an important role in shaping governance and development in Uganda, and this has often involved a role for the shifting sets of transnational actors on which the regime relies to maintain itself in power. This paper includes suggestions for further research on the politics of development in Uganda, including around the extent to which the discovery of oil will both be shaped by and help reshape the political settlement.
The Chaetognatha of the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico During April-May, 1986

An analysis of the distribution and abundance of Chaetognatha species from the Gulf of Mexico during April–May 1986 is presented. Zooplankton samples were collected at 43 stations from the southwestern and eastern regions of Mexico’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Species richness and abundance were higher in the southwestern stations located at the platform slope. The rank of Importance Value (IV) shows 3 groups of species; the first group included Flaccisagitta enflata, Mesosagitta minima, Serratosagitta serratodentata, Krohnitta subtilis, Pterosagitta draco, Sagitta bipunctata, and Krohnitta pacifica which were the most widely distributed species during this period. Density data were classified and analyzed by Morisita’s similarity index, depicting 2 large groups of sampling stations along with a third group made up of 5 stations. Two stations were distinct from the others because of the low species richness and because only 2 species with high densities were present. Simpson’s dominance index showed low values throughout the study area. Densities of chaetognath species did not differ significantly between day and night samples. Gulf and Caribbean Research Vol. 13, 51–57, 2001 Manuscript received July 14, 2000; accepted February 9, 2001
Comparison of Androstadienone with Androstenol and Muscone

Previously, we have shown that 4,16-androstadien-3Social chemical signals influence physiology, psyone modulates psychological state, reducing negative mood and increasing positive mood (Jacob and McClintock, 2000; Jacob et al., 2001a). In order to determine whether similar musky compounds also produce these effects, we compared the effects of androstadienone to those of androstenol and muscone, measuring the psychological states of 37 participants. Androstenol and muscone were chosen because they too have a musky odor at high concentrations, while androstenol is a steroid like androstadienone and muscone is not. In a controlled laboratory setting, we conducted a double-blind, within-subject, repeated-measures experiment counterbalanced for order of presentation. Under each participant’s nose, a nanomolar amount of each compound was presented, masked by clove oil to minimize perceptible olfactory differences. Participants completed a baseline psychological battery and twice again at 25-min intervals after exposure. Androstadienone’s effects on psychological state were unique in comparison with those of androstenol and with muscone. Exposure through passive inhalation, rather than dermal contact, was sufficient for these effects. Although this is additional evidence that androstadienone may be a pheromone, it is yet to be determined whether humans exude concentrations into the air adequate for social communication or process this chemical information within natural social contexts. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA)
Invariant Formulation for the Minimum Induced Drag Conditions of Nonplanar Wing Systems

Under the hypotheses of linear potential flow and rigid wake aligned with the freestream, a configuration-invariant analytical formulation for the induced drag minimization of single-wing nonplanar systems is presented. Following a variational approach, the resulting Euler–Lagrange integral equation in the unknown circulation distribution is obtained. The kernel presents a singularity of the first order, and an efficient computational method, ideal for the early conceptual phases of the design, is proposed. Munk’s theorem on the normalwash and its relation with the geometry of the wing under optimal conditions is naturally obtained with the present method. Moreover, Munk’s constant of proportionality, not provided in his original work, is demonstrated to be the ratio between the freestream velocity and the optimal aerodynamic efficiency. The augmented Munk’s minimum induced drag theorem is then formulated. Additional induced drag theorems are demonstrated following the derivations of this invariant proced.
LMI Robust Control of PWM Converters: An Output-Feedback Approach

This chapter proposes a systematic approach for the synthesis of robust controllers for dc-dc converters. The approach is based on the Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs) framework and the associated optimization algorithms. The aim of this approach is to allow the designer to describe the uncertainty of the converter and to deal with the requirements of the application beforehand. The aforementioned dc-dc converters (see Figure 1) are devices that deliver a dc output voltage, with different properties from those in the input voltage (Erickson & Maksimovic, 1999). They are usually employed to adapt energy sources to the load requirements (or vice versa). These devices present several challenges regarding their robust control. First, the converter must maintain a tight regulation or tracking of the output. Moreover, the controller design is focused on maximizing the bandwidth of the closed-loop response in order to reject the usual disturbances that appear in these systems. Finally, the response of the converter must satisfy desirable transient characteristics, as for example, the shortest possible output settling time or the minimum overshoot. Besides of these common requirements, the converter can be affected by uncertainty in its components or by input or output disturbances that may appear.
Design of Compact Bandpass Filters based on Fractal Defected Ground Structure (DGS) Resonators

Modified Minkowski fractal geometry has been found to be attractive for microwave circuit designers because of its high space-filling property. This property will lead to the design of compact circuits; meeting the requirements of the modern communications systems to be with small size. In this paper, the design of a compact microstrip BandPass Filters (BPF) has been proposed based on the modified Minkowski fractal (DGS) resonators. The proposed BPF structure is composed of two coupled resonators etched as fractal DGS structures. Results reveal that as the iteration level of fractal based DGS becomes higher, more compact filter structure will result in. Furthermore, the presented DGS structures with fractalshaped resonators can be adopted to design compact planar BPFs with reasonable performances. The performance curves offered by the resulting filters are characterized by the low loss across the passband and high rejection levels outside it with steep roll-off in both edges of passband. Measured results of a fabricated prototype of a 2nd iteration fractal DGS BPF have shown reasonable agreement with those predicted by simulation. Measured results of a 2nd iteration fractal DGS BPF have shown satisfactory agreement as compared with simulation results. There is a slight shift of the lower edge of the passband response of the transmission characteristics, while the upper edge is s very close. The results have shown that the filter has reasonable performance characteristics with considerable reduction of higher harmonics. The compact size of the proposed filter together with the realized high selectivity will make it suitable for a broad range of the recently available wireless communication services.
ESTIMATING PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS THROUGH OBSERVED NASH EQUILIBRIA

This article uses simple game models to investigate penalty kick shoot- outs in soccer. As opposed to existing research, which mainly focuses on empiri- cal/experimental problems, the game itself is the main focus here. Interesting ndings include a proposed Nash equilibrium invariance for possible preference dierences between penalty kick Executors and Keepers as well as iden- tication and demonstration of how game models may be used in order to estimate player performance characteristics through observed Nash equilibria outcomes. A non-mixed strategy Nash equilibrium is also shown to be possible with poten- tial interesting consequences for goal keepers. 1. The penalty kick
Environmental variability and its relationship to site index in Mediterranean maritine pine

Environmental variability and site productivity relationships, estimated by means of soil-site equations, are considered a milestone in decision making of forest management. The adequacy of silvicultural systems is related to tree response to environmental conditions. The objectives of this paper are to study climatic and edaphic variability in Mediterranean Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) forests in Spain, and the practical use of such variability in determining forest productivity by means of site index estimation. Principal component analysis was used to describe environmental conditions and patterns. Site index predictive models were fitted using partial least squares and parsimoniously by ordinary least square. Climatic variables along with parent material defined an ecological regionalization from warm and humid to cold and dry sites. Results showed that temperature and precipitation in autumn and winter, along with longitudinal gradient define extreme site qualities. The best qualities are located in warm and humid sites whereas the poorest ones are found in cold and dry regions. Site index values are poorly explained by soil properties. However, clay content in the first mineral horizon improved the soil-site model considerably. Climate is the main driver of productivity of Mediterranean Maritime pine in a broad scale. Site index differences within a homogenous climatic region are associated to soil properties.
Computational Approaches to Dialogue

Computational approaches to dialogue generally fall into two categories of computational task: Dialogue Modeling and Dialogue Management. Dialogue modeling refers to developing and updating an explicit representational model of the dialogue, with a purpose of inferring other information about the participants, the content or the process of the dialogue. Dialogue modeling takes the perspective of an observer of the dialogue, but not necessarily a participant. Dialogue management refers to the process of deciding what to do next in dialogue, and thus takes the perspective of a participant in dialogue, not just an observer. Generally a dialogue system will have both dialogue modeling and dialogue management components. There are some computational systems that include only dialogue modeling, and either analyze a dialogue ex post facto, or assist one or more dialogue participants, without the system making any decisions about dialogue participation. Some examples of roles for computational systems that do dialogue modeling only are:
Survey of Community Detection Algorithms to Identify the Best Community in Real-Time Networks

Community detection is a common problem in graph data analytics. It consists of finding groups of densely connected nodes with few connections to nodes outside of the group. In particular, identifying communities in large-scale networks is an important task in many scientific domains. Community detection algorithms are used to study the structural properties of real-world networks. In this review, we evaluated some of the traditional algorithms for overlapping and disjoint community detection on large-scale real-world networks to identify the best community in realtime networks.
Rheology and microstructure of experimentally deformed plagioclase suspensions

We present the result of the first deformation experiments at high-temperatures and high-pressures on synthetic magmatic suspensions of strongly anisometric particles. The results highlight the interplay between the rheological response and the development of microstructures and they demonstrate the critical importance of the shape of crystals on the mechanical behaviour of magmas. Plagioclase suspensions with two crystal fractions (0.38 and 0.52) were deformed both in compression and in torsion in a Paterson apparatus. With increasing crystal fraction, the rheological behaviour of the magmatic suspension evolves from nearly steady-state flow to shear weakening, this change being correlated with a microstructural evolution from a pervasive strain to a strain partitioning fabric. Magmatic suspensions of plagioclase have viscosities approximately five orders of magnitude higher than suspensions of equivalent crystallinities made of isometric particles such as quartz.
HIT AND MISS: WHY IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ECONOMIC GROWTH AND MALNUTRITION SO VARIED?

A wide range of research has used cross-country dat a to test the relationship between economic growth and monetary measures of poverty, yet the smaller s trand of research looking at the effects of growth on childhood malnutrition – an equally important indic ator of poverty has generally found much weaker relationships (Smith and Haddad, 2000, Apodaca, 200 8). In this paper we seek to investigate why growth malnutrition relationships appear to be so varied a cross countries. To do so we replicate some of the key tests used in the literature on poverty and growth, including those for sectoral growth effects as wel l as rural-urban decompositions. We also explore some of the mechanisms through which growth may affect nutrition, such as health care, infrastructure and foo consumption effects.
Multiresolution Transform based Denoising in Direction Finding

In this paper, multi-resolution transforms based denoising followed by an improved method of Direction of Arrival (DOA) estimation is investigated. The predominant subspace method, Multiple Signal Classification (MUSIC) algorithm is very practical and efficient for direction of arrival estimation, but it fails to determine the direction at low Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR). The pre-eminence of MUSIC algorithm is used to upgrade the resolution of direction of arrival under adverse noisy situations. The noise is suppressed and thereby the gain of the received signal from sensors is improved by ridgelet transform and GHM (Geronimo J.S, Hardin D.P and Massopust P.R) multiwavelet transform based denoising. The simulation results of denoising and pseudo spectrum of the algorithm delivers improved performance in terms of root mean square error (RMSE), spectrum function, bias and gain. SNR, snapshots, array elements are the input parameters. General Terms Direction of arrival, multiresolution transform based denoising
Plasmonic Enhancement of Irregular Shape Nano-Patch for Thin Film Silicon Solar Cells

In this work plasmonic resonance of highly irregular aluminum nanostructures on a silicon photovoltaic substrate is investigated. These structures are inspired by natural surface structuring that occurs during the top-down aluminum induced crystallization of amorphous silicon. The computer simulations are obtained using the Ansys® HFSS allowing studying the enhanced fields transmitted into the silicon layer. The obtained results show significant light trapping and enhancement of the transmitted fields when these nanostructures are composed of high aluminum and low silicon concentration. These effects decrease for lower aluminum and high silicon concentrations cases nanostructures.
Masked Priming of Word and Picture Naming: The Role of Syllabic Units ☆

A series of word, nonword, and picture naming experiments is reported using the masked priming paradigm with very brief prime exposures. In Experiment 1 naming latencies for both bi- and trisyllabic words were faster when preceded by primes that corresponded to the first syllable than when preceded by primes that contained one letter more or less than the first syllable. Experiment 2 showed syllable priming effects with bisyllabic nonword targets in the naming task. Experiment 3 failed to observe such syllable priming effects with word and nonword targets in the lexical decision task. Finally, Experiment 4 replicated the syllabic priming effects using pictures as targets. These results suggest that the syllable represents a functional unit of output phonology in French. q 1996 Academic Press, Inc.
An Empirical Equilibrium Model of Formal and Informal Credit Markets in Developing Countries

In this paper, I develop and estimate a dynamic equilibrium model of household borrowing and savings decisions in formal and informal credit markets. The model features households with heterogeneities in productivity and wealth, and characterizes credit market access by interest rates, fixed costs, and borrowing constraints. Households have access to an exogenous formal credit market and to an informal credit market in which the interest rate is endogenously determined by the local demand and supply of credit. My application focuses on Thailand which implemented policies in 2001 that primarily encouraged borrowing. I estimate the model by simulated maximum likelihood using data from the Townsend Thai Monthly Survey. Based on the estimated model, I find that lower fixed costs increased the proportion of households borrowing formally, and that relaxed formal borrowing collateral constraints lowered informal interest rates. In terms of welfare, I find that low wealth but productive households benefited from Thai policies to expand credit access, but the gains were smaller than suggested by previous studies that ignored the informal market. Moreover, approximately 18% of households suffered welfare losses because of diminished opportunities for informal saving. Counterfactual policy simulations suggest that policies that combine borrowing and savings subsidies could yield higher average social welfare at a cost similar to the implemented policies.
Role of JAK-STAT Signalling on Motor Function Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury

JAK-STAT signalling is a main transduction pathway of cytokines and growth factors, which is involved in several biological processes including cell proliferation, cell differentiation, axon regeneration, apoptosis and inflammation. After spinal cord injury several cytokines activate the JAK-STAT pathway, thereby modulating several cell responses. In this chapter we discuss how regulation of this signalling pathway could improve motor recovery after injury by modulation of axon regeneration, neuropro‐ tection, glial scar formation, demyelination and inflammatory response. Studies with gene over-expression, gene deletion and in vitro approaches will be discussed for understanding the cell-specific response to JAK-STAT signalling, with a focus on preclinical treatment with IL6-family cytokines, hematopoietic cytokines and IL10.
Environmentally-Oriented Innovative Strategies and Firm Performances in Services - Micro-Evidence from Italy

This paper aims at analysing the role of the environment in innovative strategies based on firm economic performance indicators such as employment, turnover, and labour productivity growth. We exploit a unique dataset of 773 Italian service firms with 20 or more employees comprising 1993-1995 CIS II data on firm innovation strategic motivations and 1995-1998 data on employment, turnover, and labour productivity from the System of the Enterprise Account (SEA). We specify a Gibrat-like empirical model in which the covariates include firm strategies (innovation and environmental), and a set of other explanatory variables and controls. Our econometric findings show a negative link between environmental motivations and growth in employment and turnover and a consequent not significant effect on labour productivity growth. The effect on employment is partly in line with past evidence and may derive from efficiency improvements (dematerialization processes) which also impact on efficiency by reducing workforce number. It is plausible that the net effect derives from the absence of low skilled employment and a creation of high skilled jobs, as a consequence of increased environmental awareness. The effect on turnover shows a negative impact from environmental innovation strategy, implying either a short-medium effect, possibly balanced in the long run by net benefits in terms of higher added value, or a real negative impact, which may be contingent on the observed period, when environmental strategies where not at the heart of strategic management policies. However, productivity-related effects (the core of performance indicators) are not significant. Mainstream hypotheses related to eventual negative impacts are thus not confirmed, although Porter-like effects and virtuous circles between environmentally strategies and performance do not seem to be present.