Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning a language abroad and the implications for social participation and positioning

ABSTRACT For second language learners, an international experience can have positive effects on language learning and intercultural development even when participating in a program of relatively short duration. One issue which has not yet received attention is the potential impact that the study abroad experience may have on social participation and position as perceived by the learners themselves. The present study draws on post-structural views of second language acquisition and positioning theory to qualitatively analyze these issues among language learners who were currently studying abroad. Thirteen students from a Canadian university participated in a four-week language immersion experience in Spain. On Day 1, the participants were asked to give their informal definitions of social participation and social positioning and on Day 2, were asked to submit more formal definitions of these issues after having researched them on their own. On the last day abroad, the participants re-read their Day 2 responses and answered open-ended questions in which they reflected on how these social participation and positioning may be affected as a result of the study abroad experience. The discussion of the findings provides implications for study abroad programming and directions for future research.
Detection of microplastics using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) operated in single-event mode

The occurrence of microplastics in many, if not all environmental compartments is a matter of increasing concern and deserves proper attention. However, there is still a lack of analytical tools for straightforward monitoring of these tiny plastic particles at environmentally relevant levels in water. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) operated in single-particle mode (SP-ICP-MS) was demonstrated to be a powerful technique for the characterization of metallic nanoparticles, but to the best of the authors' knowledge, SP-ICP-MS has not yet been evaluated for the purpose of detection of microplastics and their quantitative determination (particle number density). In this work, spherical polystyrene microspheres of 1 and 2.5 μm – to mimic microplastics coming from plastic waste – have been detected using ICP-MS. The approach developed relies on the ultra-fast monitoring of transient signals (with a dwell time of 100 μs) when using a quadrupole-based ICP-MS unit in the so-called single-event mode and registering the signal spikes produced by individual microparticles by monitoring the signal intensity at a mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of 13 (13C+). The accuracy of the number-based concentration results (particle number densities) has been assessed by comparing the number of events detected when monitoring 13C+ to those detected when monitoring 165Ho+ for 2.5 μm lanthanide-doped polystyrene beads. Additionally, the results obtained for both polystyrene microspheres in terms of size (most frequently occurring intensity of the signal distribution) compare well with the size as determined using electron microscopy. ICP-MS operated in single-event mode thus allows information on both the size distribution and mass concentration of microplastics to be obtained. As this approach makes use of instrumentation already available in many routine labs analyzing environmental samples, it can enable these labs to analyze microplastics by using their instrument in single-event mode.
Comparing Constructions of Professionalism in Student Affairs Graduate Preparation Programs

This comparative case study examined how graduate students in two student affairs preparation programs were socialized to constructions of professionalism. One program regularly conveyed that professionalism was reflected via formal communication and dress, and through demonstrating professional competency as defined by ACPA and NASPA. The second program did not provide clear definitions of professionalism to students; consequently, students created their own definitions of professionalism by observing colleagues. At both institutions, students described professionalism as constraining.
A Kinematic Model for Understanding Rain Formation Efficiency of a Convective Cell

A pure theoretical investigation of convective rain formation processes and formation efficiency (FE) is performed using a kinematic one‐dimensional time‐dependent model with warm rain microphysics. FE is defined as the ratio of total cloud‐to‐rainwater conversion to total condensation. FE is a component of precipitation efficiency, which is an important but poorly understood parameter in idealized climate models. This model represents a cloud by a cylindrical thermal bubble rising at constant velocity. The model focuses on the interaction between auto‐conversion, collection, and lateral mixing about which no theory has been proposed. Taking the auto‐conversion threshold into account, a criterion for rain formation and a semianalytical approximate solution of FE are found. The auto‐conversion threshold limits the temporal and spatial extent of the “vigorous rain formation region” where most of the rain is produced. The collection and auto‐conversion compete with lateral mixing to determine the strength of rain formation within this region. The FE is predicted to be most sensitive to auto‐conversion threshold, fractional entrainment rate, and initial bubble water vapor density.
CuSCN as Hole Transport Material with 3D/2D Perovskite Solar Cells

We report stable perovskite solar cells having 3D/2D perovskite absorber layers and CuSCN as an inorganic hole transporting material (HTM). (Phenylethyl)ammonium (PEA) and [(4-fluorophenyl)ethyl]am.
ALPORT SYNDROME: Clinical and molecular study of Portuguese families

Molecular genetic analysis of the COL4A5, COL4A4 and COL4A3 genes is the best non-invasive available approach for diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and genetic couseling of collagen IV-related nephropathies – Alport syndrome and thin basement membrane nephropathy. In this national multicenter study, 65 unrelated families with a clinical diagnosis of Alport syndrome or thin basement membrane nephropathy were studied. Pathogenic COL4A5 mutations were identified by direct sequencing and multiplex-ligation dependent amplification in 22 families (22/65; 34%), confirming a diagnosis of Xlinked AS. A novel genotype-phenotype correlation was disclosed, as a deletion involving COL4A5, but not COL4A6, was detected in a family with diffuse leiomyomatosis associated with X-linked AS. This result suggests that the deletion of the 5’ exons of COL4A6 and of the common COL4A5_COL4A6 promoter region is not essential for the development of diffuse leiomyomatosis in patients with Alport syndrome and diffuse leiomyomatosis. COL4A3 and COL4A4 were analyzed by direct sequencing in five families with autosomal inheritance pattern, as a first-tier approach, and in 35 families with an unclear inheritance pattern and no pathogenic mutations in the COL4A5 gene. Pathogenic mutations in COL4A3 or COL4A4 were detected in 25 unrelated families (25/40; 63%), confirming the diagnosis of autosomal Alport syndrome or thin basement membrane nephropathy. A similar proportion of families with X-linked Alport syndrome and of families with autosomal Alport syndrome or with thin basement membrane nephropathy was observed, with prevalences of 37% (22/62) and 40% (25/62), respectively. Altogether, these results suggest that Next-Generation Sequencing would be a more effective and less expensive approach to the genetic molecular study of Alport syndrome in the Portuguese population.
Innovative Action as Skilled Affordance‐Responsiveness: An Embodied‐Mind Approach

Innovative action has often been regarded as the preserve of the deliberate mind and the outcome of individual explicit thought processes. In this regard, the material context within which innovative action occurs is considered as a passive container or at best a modifier of innovative action. Although recent studies have witnessed an interest in relating innovation to issues of embodiment, space and materiality, mainstream research remains largely grounded in a cognitivist, psychological idiom. The present paper takes an embodied-mind perspective and focuses on the individual–environment system as a whole to suggest that innovative action emerges from an agent's skilful responses to unconventional environmental affordances (or action possibilities). Rather than viewing innovation as occurring within material contexts, we offer a new understanding of context as a rich landscape of affordances that is partly constitutive of innovation. The paper concludes with discussions of the proposed approach, its implications for studying innovative action and suggestions for further enquiry.
Trends in poaching for west coast rock lobster from modelling the “old” and the “new” databases simultaneously updated to 2018

Results are given for an approach which simultaneously models the “old” and the “new” databases as recommended by the Panel for the 2018 International Fisheries Stock Assessment Workshop. These results are compared to two previous GLM methods reported by Brandão and Butterworth (2018a); a) a GLM applied to the “new” compliance database, and b) a GLM method applied to the “old” database in which estimates of relative effort efficiencies obtained from the “new” database are used to link effort to the number of confiscations (“old”-linked). By simultaneously modelling the “old” and the “new” databases, information on the trend in poaching, as well as on the relative efficiencies of different effort types from the “new” database, influence the estimates of poaching trends obtained from the combined model. However, due to the fact that the “old” database is a summation of operations which produced a number of instances of confiscations (including cases of zero confiscations), while the “new” database reports individual incidents with nonzero confiscations, undue weight is being given to the information available in the “new” database if data from each are equally weighted. We therefore advocate that an analysis which upweights the data in the “old” database should be used in the model which combines use of both the ”old” and “new” database values, and that this should serve as the primary basis for inferring poaching trends.
Droughts and Decisions: Pastoralism, Decision Junctures and Rain Forecasting

The livelihood of the Maasai pastoral communities in Longido District of Northern Tanzania are impacted by droughts regularly, with expectations of increasing variability in rainfall patterns the coming years due to climate change. The goal of this research is to explore if weather forecast and remote sensing data can be tailored to existing coping strategies and decision-making. Furthermore, it is assessed if this tailored information provides enough skill to effectively complement local knowledge and drought management strategies. The study generated important methodological and theoretical findings, both of which have practical implications for policy and technological development. An ethnographic and participatory approach, including four months of immersion with local families, was used to document local knowledge and strategies, and understand what specific, weather information may benefit pastoralists. The study focused on alamei periods, which refers to times of drought and scarcity in the Maasai language. It revealed that weather information around particular important ‘decision junctures’ is most relevant. On the one hand, decisions to move livestock during vulnerable times are based on current water and grass availability; on the other hand, families also consider expectations of rainfall in their decisions. The research determined that at very specific junctures throughout respective seasons, key, timely decisions must be made to maintain household resiliency. It is at these junctures that rainfall predictions become crucial. Using NDVI data and the ECMWF weather model, it was assessed if the onset of rains at such junctures can be predicted with enough skill to support livestock movement decisions. It revealed both optimism and scepticism about the role of current remote sensing and weather prediction technologies vis-a-vis variable, dryland ecologies and pastoral livelihoods.
Does China’s Municipal Solid Waste Source Separation Program Work? Evidence from the Spatial-Two-Stage-Least Squares Models

This paper evaluates the impact of the second municipal solid waste (MSW) source separation program on municipal solid waste generation (MSWG) in China. Without considering the spatial interactions between cities, the second MSW source separation program has a nonsignificant adverse effect on the per capita municipal solid waste generation (PMSWG). Relaxing the stable-unit-treatment-value assumption (SUTVA), which holds in most of the previous estimation literature on treatment effects, involving the spatial spillover effect among cities, as well as correcting the endogenous local policy has a significantly negative but not robust impact on the PMSWG. The estimation results of the generalized nesting spatial regression models (GNS) imply that the spatial interaction characteristics among Chinese prefecture-level cities may, if neglected, lead to underestimation of the reduction effects of the second MSW source separation policy on the absolute amount of PMSWG. More importantly, our study indicates that although not all the spatial econometric models support the significant reduction effect of source separation on the absolute amount of PMSWG, the source separation program significantly reduces the relative amount of PMSWG, and this result is robust in all spatial models.
Impact of Inertia Control of DFIG-Based WT on Torsional Vibration in Drivetrain

As wind power reaches a high penetration in power systems, inertia control is required in grid codes to improve the system frequency dynamics. This supplemental control will couple the mechanical system of wind turbines (WTs) with the electrical system, causing torsional vibration in drivetrains. However, the impact of inertia control on this torsional vibration can be rarely seen in literature. This article studies the mechanism of this impact and the impact rule of different parameters. A small-signal model of a DFIG-based WT with inertia control is first proposed to study the interaction between the inertia control and WT's torsional vibration. The differences between controls in DFIG-based WTs are considered in this model. Through the model, interaction paths can be obtained to help explain the impact mechanism from a general perspective. On the basis of analyzing the interaction paths, the impact rules of different parameters on the damping of torsional vibration in drivetrain are investigated in detail. Finally, time-domain simulations are performed to demonstrate the correctness of the analyses.
Riesgos, entusiasmos e incertidumbres en torno a la carrera profesional universitaria: el nudo gordiano de la investigación en España

espanolLa tendencia que venimos observando en los ultimos anos dentro de las politicas educativas espanolas se sustentan en unos criterios y practicas cuantitativos y de marcado corte neoliberal, siendo el referente practicamente exclusivo a la hora de evaluar y determinar la idoneidad y competencias que se habran de desarrollar en el trabajo universitario. En el presente ensayo se adopta un enfoque critico que permite cierta reflexion con la intencion de abrir perspectivas e ir mas alla de esta tendencia, cada vez mas monopolizada en la formacion de posgrado y doctorado y en el desarrollo profesional de jovenes docentes e investigadores. El texto procura conectar lo social con lo individual, invitando al dialogo y a desvelar el riesgo que supone orientar la investigacion y la carrera profesional dentro de la universidad principalmente hacia la formacion de profesionales tecnicos y competentes, dejando en un plano marginal y secundario el desarrollo de sus cualidades criticas y reflexivas. EnglishThe trend that we have been observing in recent years within Spanish educational policies is based on quantitative criteria and practices of a markedly neoliberal nature, being the practically exclusive reference when it comes to evaluating and determining the suitability and competencies that will have to be developed in university work. The present essay adopts a critical approach that allows certain reflection with the intention of opening perspectives and going beyond this trend, which is increasingly monopolized in postgraduate and doctoral training and in the professional development of young teachers and researchers. The text seeks to connect the social with the individual, inviting dialogue and revealing the risk involved in orienting research and professional careers within the university mainly towards the training of technical and competent professionals, leaving the development of their critical and reflective qualities on a marginal and secondary level.
Nation branding, cultural identity and political polarization – an exploratory framework

Purpose: The objective of this research is to propose a framework which is apt to assess how a nation branding campaign could promote cultural identity by ultimately curbing political polarization. D Design/Methodology/Approach Methodology summary: By relying on a multidisciplinary approach that blends theoretical constructs from different fields the methodology is based on a mixed-method approach whereby the qualitative data stemming from a set of interviews with key-informants is coupled by a survey of Colombian citizens in order to gain in-depth insights over the impact of nation branding on political polarization. Findings: From the findings, it emerges that a campaign based on nation branding and targeting domestic citizens could curb political polarization within Colombia, by also fostering cultural identity. Research limitations/Implications: The study considers only Colombia. To fully assess the robustness of the framework it would be useful to extend the analysis to a broader range of countries and to a wider set of domestic issues. Practical Implications: The research not only provides in-depth insights on how nation branding can be used effectively in order to curb political polarization but also practical guidance on how a nation branding campaign effective can be effectively designed. The findings are relevant to policy-makers that have the opportunity to implement informed and educated nation branding campaigns not just overseas, but also to strategically address important domestic issues by engaging the domestic stakeholders. Originality/Value: While country branding has been extensively investigated within the context of international business, we have a relatively limited understanding of its domestic impact. In contrast to traditional country branding literature, this paper aims to theoretically advance our understanding of nation branding and its effect on political polarization, as well as gauging its impact on cultural identity
Improvement in Gait Performance after Training Based on DeclarativeMemory Cues in Patients with Parkinsons Disease: A Randomized ClinicalTrial

Background: Deficits in automatic motor control, a typical feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD), contribute to progressive impairment in gait performance. The use of declarative memory cues in order to promote the engagement of attention and activation of the next movement in gait may minimize the consequences of lack of automatic control. Objectives: To verify the long-term efficiency of a new strategy based on declarative memory cues to improve the gait performance and independence in activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with PD. Design: Parallel prospective, single blind, randomized clinical trial. Setting: Brazil Parkinson Association. Participants: Forty-four patients with PD in stages 2-3 of disease evolution according to Hoehn and Yahr Classification. Interventions: The experimental training (ET) consisted of eight gait training sessions, twice a week, using the declarative memory cue strategy (DMCS). The control training (CT) consisted of a similar gait training without DMCS. Primary outcome measure: Gait performance in terms of speed and stride length. Secondary outcome measure: Independence in ADL according to Section II of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. Randomization: Participants were randomized into a control group (CG), which performed the CT, and an experimental group (EG), which performed the ET, through blinded drawing of names. Statistical analysis: Gait performance and independence in ADL before, 2 and 60 days after the end of training were compared for CG and EG using RM-ANOVA. Results: RM-ANOVA revealed a significant improvement of the gait performance in terms of speed and stride length and independence in ADL, remained until 2 months after the end of training, exclusively for the EG after ET. Conclusion: Gait training associated to declarative memory cues promotes significant long-term improvements in gait performance and can be considered a new useful strategy to compensate the deficiency in automatic motor control of gait in PD patients.
Discrimination of nail polish using attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics

ABSTRACT Trace nail polish evidence recovered in forensic investigations can serve as important corroborative evidence and assist in crime reconstruction, especially in cases related to physical and sexual assault against women. Nevertheless, nail polish evidence has been neglected either owing to its infrequent occurrence or, when it is encountered, it is present in only a trace quantity, which makes the analysis difficult when using conventional techniques. In this study, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy has been employed for the analysis of 19 brands of nail polish with 73 different series (similar shades). The spectra obtained using this technique have been interpreted statistically using PCA and Correlation Coefficient methods with discriminating powers of 99.5% and 99.3% respectively. The spectrum of nail polish showed various functional groups: aliphatic amine, aliphatic and aromatic nitro groups of nitrocellulose, alcohol, acid, and aromatic ester. In addition, peaks of alkyne groups indicative of talc or mica compounds were also observed. The current research methodology effectively differentiated almost all the samples and has the prospect of potential application in future forensic casework.