Complementary Factors Research Articles

عوامل النجاح الحرجة فـي تطبيق معاييـر جودة التعليم العالـي: دراسة استطلاعية تحليلية لآراء عينة من القيادات الإدارية والهيئة التدريسية فـي جامعة التنمية البشرية «السليمانية، إقليم کوردستان العراق» Critical Success Factors in The Application of The Quality of Higher Education Standards: Analytical Study of the Views of a Sample of

يهدف البحث إلـى التعرف علـى عوامل النجاح الحرجة فـي تطبيق معاييـر جودة التعليم العالـي وتشخيصها وعلـى النحو الذي يعزز من قدرة إدارة المؤسسات التعليمية فـي ضمان التطبيق النجاح للمعاييـر المعتمدة من جهة وتحقيق أهدافها المنشودة من جهة أخرى.تم إجراء البحث فـي قطاع مؤسسات التعليم العالـي فـي إقليم کوردستان العراق باعتماد المقابلات الشخصية واستطلاع آراء عينة من القيادات الإدارية والهيئة التدريسية فـي جامعة التنمية البشرية فـي مدينة السليمانية – إقليم کوردستان العراق، کما تم اعتماد استمارة استبيان ضمت 40 سؤالا جسدت مضاميـن عوامل النجاح الحرجة فـي تطبيق معاييـر جودة التعليم العالـي، بهدف التعرف علـى أهم العوامل الحرجة التـي يمکن اعتمادها لتسهيل عملية تطبيق معاييـر جودة التعليم ونجاحها، وصولا إلـى تحقيق رؤية واضحة وشاملة لمعرفة أفضل الممارسات ذات الصلة بتلبية متطلبات الجودة يمکن تبنيها وتطبيقها بوصفها خريطة طريق منهجية تسهم فـي الارتقاء بمستوى العملية التعليمية. تم اعتماد التحليل العاملـي باستخدام بـرنامج SPSS-10 For Windows بهدف تفسيـر العوامل المستخلصة بوصفها المعبـرة عن واقع عوامل النجاح الحرجة فـي مجال تطبيق معاييـر جودة التعليم العالـي فـي المنظمة المبحوثة فضلا عن اعتماد بضع أساليب إحصائية للوصول إلـى صورة متکاملة تسهم فـي تفسيـر الواقع قيد الدراسة.توصل البحث إلـى مجموعة من الاستنتاجات، کان أهمها أن عوامل النجاح الحرجة فـي تطبيق معاييـر جودة التعليم العالـي تتمثل بمجموعة من العوامل المتـرابطة والمتکاملة تشمل کل من (التحضيـر لنشر ثقافة الجودة، التأسيس لمعاييـر جودة التعليم، والتکيف لتبنـي معاييـر جودة التعليم، الاختبار الأولـي والتنفيذ، متطلبات الدعم والمساندة، وأخيـرا عملية التقييم والتحسيـن المستمر)، واستنادا لذلک تمت الإشارة إلـى بعض المقتـرحات المرتبطة بتفعيل عوامل النجاح ونقلها إلـى حيـز التنفيذ من أهمها 1. إعداد خطة شاملة لنشر ثقافة الجودة، 2. تهيئة العامليـن للتطويـر المستقبلـي، 3. العمل علـى تعديل الهيکل التنظيمـي بما يتناسب مع التوجهات الجديدة لتبنـي معاييـر جودة التعليم وتطبيقها. The research aims to identify the critical success factors in the application of the quality of higher education standards, diagnosis and as enhances the educational institutions the ability of management to ensure the success of the application of the approved standards on the one hand and to achieve its objectives on the other.The research was conducted at institutions of higher education sector in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq adoption of personal interviews and a survey sample of the views of the administrative leaders and faculty in the Human Development University in the city of Sulaymaniyah - Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as has been the adoption of the questionnaire included 40 questions reflected the contents of the critical success factors in the application standards of quality of higher education, in order to identify the most critical factors that can be adopted to facilitate the application of quality standards of education and the success of the process, thus achieving a clear vision and a comprehensive knowledge of relevant best practices to meet the quality requirements can be adopted and applied as by systematically contribute to the upgrading of the educational process level map. The adoption of the factor analysis using SPSS-10 program For Windows in order to interpret the factors learned as a mouthpiece of the reality of the critical success factors in the application of the quality of higher education standards in the surveyed organization as well as the adoption of a few methods of statistics to reach a comprehensive picture help explain the reality under study. The research found a set of conclusions, the most important was that the critical success factors in the application of the quality of higher education standards are a set of interrelated and complementary factors, including each of (preparation for the deployment of a culture of quality, incorporation of standards of quality of education, to adapt to the adoption of standards, the initial testing and implementation, support requirements and support and, finally, the evaluation process and continuous improvement), and based on that reference was made to some of the proposals to enact the success factors and transported to the effect of the most important 1. prepare a comprehensive plan to spread the culture of quality, 2. creating workers for future development, 3. work on modifying the organizational structure including commensurate with the new trends for the adoption of the quality of education standards and their application.

Sustainability through the Digitalization of Industrial Machines: Complementary Factors of Fuel Consumption and Productivity for Forklifts with Sensors

Increasing the fuel efficiency of industrial machines through digitalization can enable the transport and logistics sector to overcome challenges such as low productivity growth and increasing CO2 emissions. Modern digitalized machines with embedded sensors that collect and transmit operational data have opened up new avenues for the identification of more efficient machine use. While existing studies of industrial machines have mostly focused on one or a few conditioning factors at a time, this study took a complementary approach, using a large set of known factors that simultaneously conditioned both the fuel consumption and productivity of medium-range forklifts (n = 285) that operated in a natural industrial setting for one full year. The results confirm the importance of a set of factors, including aspects related to the vehicles’ travels, drivers, operations, workload spectra, and contextual factors, such as industry and country. As a novel contribution, this study shows that the key conditioning factors interact with each other in a non-linear and non-additive manner. This means that addressing one factor at a time might not provide optimal fuel consumption, and instead all factors need to be addressed simultaneously as a system.

Frequency dependence of the polar motion resonance

SUMMARY The nutation of the Celestial Intermediate Pole can be considered as a retrograde diurnal polar motion. As the common polar motion, it presents a resonance, but with period TPM and quality factor QPM differing from the ones characterizing the Chandler wobble (TCW = 430.2−431.6 d, QCW in the interval (56 255) according to Nastula & Gross): according to the nutation analysis presented in a separate paper, this period is about TPM = 380 d and the quality factor becomes −10. In this study, we aim to revisit the geophysical interpretation of this result. Two complementary factors account for the observed values: the non-equilibrium response of the ocean to the pole tide potential in the diurnal band, and the resonance of the solid Earth tide at the free core nutation period. This leads to a resonance of TPM in the vicinity of the free core nutation period, confirmed by estimates derived from nutation analysis.

Performance enhancement of two-camera robotic system using adaptive gain approach

PurposeThis paper aims to improve the performance of a two-camera robotic feedback system designed for automatic pick and place application by modifying its velocity profile during switching of control.Design/methodology/approachCooperation of global and local vision sensors ensures visibility of the target for a two-camera robotic system. The master camera, monitoring the workspace, guides the robot such that image-based visual servoing (IBVS) by the eye-in-hand camera transcends its inherent shortcomings. A hybrid control law steers the robot until the system switches to IBVS in a region proven for its asymptotic stability and convergence through a qualitative overview of the scheme. Complementary gain factors can ensure a smooth transition in velocity during switching considering the versatility and range of the workspace.FindingsThe proposed strategy is verified through simulation studies and implemented on a 6-DOF industrial robot ABB IRB 1200 to validate the practicality of adaptive gain approach while switching in a hybrid visual feedback system. This approach can be extended to any control problem with uneven switching surfaces or coarse/fine controllers which are subjected to discrete time events.Practical implicationsIn complex workspace where robots operate in parallel with other robots/humans and share workspaces, the supervisory control scheme ensures convergence. This study proves that hybrid control laws are more effective than conventional approaches in unstructured environments and visibility constraints can be overcome by the integration of multiple vision sensors.Originality/valueThe supervisory control is designed to combine the visual feedback data from eye-in-hand and eye-to-hand sensors. A gain adaptive approach smoothens the velocity characteristics of the end-effector while switching the control from master camera to the end-effector camera.

Environmental life cycle assessment of different biorefinery platforms valorizing municipal solid waste to bioenergy, microbial protein, lactic and succinic acid

The progressive exhaustion of fossil energy resources and the environmental problems provoked by the excessive use of these resources have driven us to transit from a fossil fuel dependent economy to a more bio-based economy. In this regard, exploiting the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) for producing high value bioproducts and bioenergy under a biorefinery approach has attracted great interest. This paper presents the state of the art of urban biowaste biorefinery concepts. Accordingly, different novel valorization pathways, namely single cell protein, biosuccinic acid, and lactic acid, as well as bioenergy production were consolidated into some scenarios. Moreover, successfully tested hydrogen-assisted biological biogas upgrading was also incorporated into some scenarios as energy source for methanotrophs to upcycle nitrogen rich digestate into single cell protein. Upon the successful lab-scale experiments, different biorefinery platforms were developed and their sustainability was environmentally scrutinized using consequential life cycle assessment. The results obtained herein demonstrated that despite having different net environmental benefits, all the developed scenarios were eco-friendly solutions for valorizing biowaste into bioproducts and bioenergy. Scenarios including microbial protein production led to a saving of −58 to −147 kg CO2,eq/t biopulp in Climate change category, depending on the biorefining pathway. The net saving in Climate change category achieved for Succinic acid- and Lactic acid-based biorefinery was estimated at −73 and −173 kg CO2,eq/t biopulp, respectively. Biological biogas upgrading, if implemented, could increase energy payback by 9724 MJ/t biopulp and contribute more to the sustainability of other developed scenarios. Although scenarios with the main focus on bioenergy production outperformed others in terms of environmental sustainability, some complementary factors such as policy decisions, energy directives, economic issues, and carbon trade schemes must be taken into account in order to introduce the best valorization pathway.

1154P - Expression of estrogen receptor and programmed cell death-ligand 1 can be complementary prognostic factors in HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

BackgroundOropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSC) continues to increase in incidence with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Despite the good overall prognosis, it needs to assess the risk of not only survival, but also the risk of local, regional, or distant treatment failure to guide de-intensification regimens. This study aimed to investigate the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) proteins according to the status of HPV infection and their prognostic implication in OPSCC patients. MethodsConsecutive 80 patients diagnosed with OPSCC with surgical treatment from 2004 to 2017 were included. Immunohistochemistry for ER and PD-L1 was performed formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissues. HPV status assessed with p16 immunohistochemistry and HPV DNA testing. ResultsER and PD-L1 expression were observed in 37.5% (30/80) and 60% (48/80), respectively. Both ER and PD-L1 protein expression were higher in HPV-positive OPSCC than in HPV-negative subgroup (47.5% vs. 9.5% for ER, 66.1% vs. 42.9% for PD-L1). There was no significant association between ER and PD-L1 expression (correlation coefficient: 0.105, p>0.05). Using Kaplan-Meier curves, PD-L1 expression was associated with longer recurrence-free duration (p=0.013), whereas ER expression was associated with prolonged overall survival (p=0.043). In subgroup analysis, PD-L1 expression was found to be an independent excellent prognostic factor for recurrence-free duration in HPV-positive OPSCC (p=0.002, HR=0.085 [0.018-0.399]). ER expression also tended to be associated with longer overall survival in the HPV-positive OPSCC subgroup, but no statistical significance was observed. In HPV-negative subgroup, both ER and PD-L1 expression were not associated with any clinicopathologic factor nor survival. ConclusionsER and PD-L1 expression can be complementary prognostic factors in HPV-positive OPSCC. It may allow us to investigate the independent role of anti-hormone receptors and the tumor microenvironment in the treatment of OPSCC. Legal entity responsible for the studyThe authors. FundingHas not received any funding. DisclosureAll authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Factors that affect Mutual Recognition: an exploratory approach to 'Education of Recognition'

본 연구에서는 악셀 호네트(Axel Honneth)의 인정이론에 기반하여 음성적 의사소통 능력, 사회적 규범 수용, 창의적 발상이 학생들의 인정 획득에 미치는 영향력을 분석하였다. 『한국교육종단연구2013』 2∼5차 조사 자료를 다변량 잠재성장모형을 활용하여 분석한 결과, 다음과 같은 결론을 도출하였다. 첫째, 음성적 의사소통 능력은 학생들의 인정 획득의 변화에 정적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 학교교육은 학생들 간 음성적 의사소통을 증진시키는 방향으로 교육과정 및 교육활동을 구성해야 하며, 학생들 간의 음성적 의사소통을 통해 지성과 감성 두 요소를 융합시킬 수 있는 토론식 수업을 보다확대할 필요가 있다. 둘째, 사회적 규범 수용과 창의적 발상은 학생들의 인정 획득에 정적 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 사회적 규범 수용과 창의적 발상이라는 다소 대립되지만 상호 보완적인 두 요인이학교교육 속에서 조화롭게 상호작용할 수 있도록, 적정한 범위 내에서 새로운 생각과 방식을 시도하는학생들의 창의적 발상을 허용하고 장려하는 노력이 요구된다. 셋째, 학생들의 인정 획득 수준에 영향을미치는 요인을 분석함에 있어 통제변인의 영향력을 살펴보면, 남학생에 비해 여학생의 인정 획득 수준이높았으며, 외동일 경우, 가정의 사회경제적 지위가 높고, 부모가 맞벌이를 하지 않고, 부모의 교육적 지원(학업, 정서) 수준이 높을수록 학생들의 인정 획득 수준이 높은 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 학교는 인정을 많이 받지 못하는 학생들에게 더 많은 관심과 기회를 제공함으로써, 이들이 청소년 시기에 학교생활을 통해 인정 획득을 경험하고 나아가 성공적 자아정체감을 형성할 수 있도록 돕는 구체적인 정책방안을 모색할 필요가 있다.The present study aimed to analyze the factors—verbal communication competence, acceptance of social norms and creative ideas—that affect students’ mutual recognition, based on Axel Honneth s recognition theory. For this purpose, data was drawn from the second through fifth surveys of the Korean Education Longitudinal Study of 2013 and multivariate latent growth modeling was employed as the analytic method. First, the result showed that verbal communicative competence had a positive effect on changes in students’ level of recognition. In this regard, it is necessary for schools to provide curriculum and educational activities in a way that enhances verbal communication among students; thus it is needed to expand discussion-based classes that bring intelligence and sensitivity together through further verbal communication. Second, acceptance of social norms and creative ideas have been shown to have positive effects on students’ level of recognition. Efforts are required to allow and facilitate students’ creative ideas to try new ideas and ways to a reasonable extent so that the two contradictory but complementary factors—acceptance of social norms and creative ideas —can interact harmoniously in school education. Third, influences of control variables—gender of student, presence of sibling, family’s socio-economic status, dual income family, and parents’ educational support (academically/emotionally)—on the level of recognition were statistically significant. Therefore, schools need to seek specific measures to help students, who are unable to obtain sufficient recognition, to experience recognition through school life and, by extension, successfully establish their identity.

Integrating Entrepreneurship Skills across Radio, Television and Electronic Work Trade Curriculum in Technical Colleges in North-Western Nigeria

New trends in curricula emerge globally where two or more courses of study are blended to produce a single curriculum. Countries like Finland and Jordan practiced embedded curricula in order to promote learning and reduce numerous courses of study. This qualitative study explores the integration of entrepreneurship skills (ES) across the curriculum of Radio, Television and Electronic Work trade curriculum in North-Western Nigeria. Based on the perceptions of two strata of stakeholders (entrepreneurship teachers and Radio, Television and Electronic Work curriculum planners), the feasibility and desirability of embedding entrepreneurship skills across Radio, Television and Electronic Work trade curriculum in selected technical colleges were analyzed after conducting a preliminary study. Document analysis and semi-structured interview were used as the methods for data collection. The findings show that cross-curricula entrepreneurship skills remain non-existent in technical colleges in Nigeria, largely because its implementation is not captured in technical disciplines. However, the study points out the importance of embedding entrepreneurship skills into Radio, Television and Electronic Work trade curriculum for wealth creation and employment generation among technical college graduates. In addition, the five stages of integrating curriculum adopted from the lifelong learning model were briefly discussed. The components of entrepreneurship skills discovered in the study included: entrepreneurial awareness, starting and operating a business, business ideas and opportunities, characteristics or traits of entrepreneurs, and self and paid employment among others. Donor support and retraining needs of trade teachers were also highlighted as complementary factors for enhancing the implementation of embedded curriculum in Nigeria. The findings of this study can be applicable to technical colleges in Nigeria especially in Radio and Television Trade.

Integrating Entrepreneurship Skills Across Radio, Television and Electronic Work Trade Curriculum in Technical Colleges in North-Western Nigeria

This qualitative study explores the integration of entrepreneurship skills (ES) across the curriculum of Radio, Television and Electronic Work trade curriculum in North-Western Nigeria. Based on the perceptions of two strata of stakeholders (entrepreneurship teachers and Radio, Television and Electronic Work curriculum planners), the feasibility and desirability of embedding entrepreneurship skills across Radio, Television and Electronic Work trade curriculum in selected technical colleges were analysed after conducting a preliminary study. Document analysis and in-depth interview were used as the methods for data collection. The findings show that cross-curricula entrepreneurship skills remain non-existent in technical colleges in Nigeria, largely because its implementation is not captured in technical disciplines. However, the study points out the importance of embedding entrepreneurship skills into Radio, Television and Electronic Work trade curriculum for wealth creation and employment generation among technical college graduates. In addition, the five stages of integrating curriculum adopted from the lifelong learning model were briefly discussed. The components of entrepreneurship skills discovered in the study included: entrepreneurial awareness, starting and operating a business, business ideas and opportunities, characteristics or traits of entrepreneurs, and self and paid employment among others. Donor support and retraining needs of trade teachers were also highlighted as complementary factors for enhancing the implementation of embedded curriculum in Nigeria.

Does Governance Quality Moderate the Finance-Renewable Energy-Growth Nexus?: Evidence from Five Major Regions in the World

This paper investigates the moderating role of governance quality on the finance-renewable energy-growth nexus in five major regions in the world, including 123 countries from 1990 to 2017. These regions concern the Asia Pacific, Europe & Central Asia, America (North America and Latin America & Caribbean), Middle-East and North Africa (MENA), and Sub-Saharan African (SSA) regions. Following the principal component analysis (PCA), we constructed composite indexes of governance quality and financial development using six institutional indicators and eight financial variables. Next, we applied the two-stage least squares, difference-GMM, and system-GMM methods, as well as the Granger non-causality test in Dumitrescu and Hurlin (2012). First, the results show that better governance quality wipes out the harmful effects of financial development and renewable energy consumption on economic growth in the Asia Pacific, MENA, and SSA regions, respectively. Conversely, the level of governance quality reduces the positive effects of financial development and renewable energy consumption on economic growth in America, with few exceptions in Europe & Central Asia region, respectively. Second, we find marginal adverse effects of financial development and renewable energy consumption on growth in the Asia Pacific, MENA, and SSA regions due to their low levels of governance quality. However, the marginal effect of renewable energy consumption on growth is positive in America and Europe& Central Asia regions, whereas the marginal effect of financial development is negative in these regions in most cases. Third, there is bidirectional causality between financial development and economic growth in all areas, whereas the bidirectional causality between renewable energy consumption and growth is only confirmed in America and SSA regions, respectively. This study reveals the threshold effect of governance quality on the renewable energy-finance-growth nexus across regions. Thus, financial development, renewable energy consumption, and governance quality are complementary factors to enhance economic growth in the Asia Pacific, MENA and SSA regions, contrary to America and Europe & Central Asia regions, with some exceptions. Therefore, policymakers should improve the level of governance quality, the efficiency of financial systems and renewable energy consumption to promote sustainable development in the different regions, especially in the Asia Pacific, MENA, and SSA regions.

Do Poor Countries Really Need More IT?

Abstract Productivity differences across countries are often attributed to differences in technological capabilities. This paper asks whether there are systematic cross-country differences in the adoption of information technologies (IT). We document a positive correlation between IT use and income, which weakens over time. However, given that IT use is an endogenous outcome of both technological capabilities and the abundance of complementary factors of production, it tends to over-state the degree of cross-country differences in technology. We propose two novel calibration approaches to address this problem. After accounting for endogenous differences in industrial composition, we find that there is no systematic relationship between income and IT capabilities.

Palaeontological and Biological Collections – Bridging the gap

Palaeontology and biology are closely related sciences, as are the collections associated with them. Nevertheless there are differences between the two types of collections and the scientific data that they yield with regards to taxonomy, climate and ecology. In order to bridge the gap between the two subjects, it is important to clarify what these differences are and how they can be used to supplement research that addresses future environmental/climatic issues. In biology, valuable traits of the whole organism serve for taxonomy. In the fossil record, a morphospecies concept needs to be used because specimens are mainly preserved fragmentarily and palaeontologists have to take advantage of morphological traits that are often disregarded by biologists. Another difference is that biological objects represent modern time, while the fossil record provides valuable information on a deep time perspective, i.e., in a third dimension. Yet, these two disciplines obviously depend on each other: while biologists provide palaeontologists with information about unfossilised soft parts, palaeontology can help to solve questions about life in the past. Using four current case studies from the Stuttgart Natural History Museum, we provide examples of how biological and palaeontological information stored in museum collections are linterlinked, and particularly how palaeontology can help to solve current and future problems. We also highlight the potential of palaeontological collections and demonstrate the necessity of digitizing large quantities of objects as well as the related basic information. Case studies are: Fossil leaves provide evidence for past atmospheric CO2 levels and climate change, which can be used for climate change models. Fossils help to understand current and future hazards e.g., fossils embedded in tsunami sediments can provide information on how tsunamis affect shelf marine ecosytems. Extensive taxonomic studies of Miocene land snails and the comparison with extant relatives allow the reconstruction of fossil environments. Combined with complementary methods, the biological, geological and meteorological factors controlling these environments can be reconstructed. Phylogenetic studies tell us how life evolved and how organisms have changed through time. An important factor for phylogeny is the time-aspect, such as the splitting of lineages. Phylogenetic trees based on modern taxa can only be validated by fossils. We will present an example of insect phylogeny. Fossil leaves provide evidence for past atmospheric CO2 levels and climate change, which can be used for climate change models. Fossils help to understand current and future hazards e.g., fossils embedded in tsunami sediments can provide information on how tsunamis affect shelf marine ecosytems. Extensive taxonomic studies of Miocene land snails and the comparison with extant relatives allow the reconstruction of fossil environments. Combined with complementary methods, the biological, geological and meteorological factors controlling these environments can be reconstructed. Phylogenetic studies tell us how life evolved and how organisms have changed through time. An important factor for phylogeny is the time-aspect, such as the splitting of lineages. Phylogenetic trees based on modern taxa can only be validated by fossils. We will present an example of insect phylogeny. These case studies not only show how biology and palaeontology are interlinked, but the first three studies are sound examples of how the knowledge of the past helps to understand the present. Furthermore, the first two studies are highly relevant for predicting the future. All of this information can only be used appropriately, if large proportions of data are available that include information on geology and age. For this reason, the Access to Biological Collection Data Extended for Geosciences (ABCD EFG) standard is so important, as it extends the two-dimensional view (Recent) into a third dimension (deep time). Our vision is an integrated modelling of past, present and future scenarios, whether for climate or ecosystem change, or geological hazards. Considering the deep time information, we can model how changes would take place under natural conditions, i.e., without anthropogenic influence. This requires the availability of large data sets of taxonomic information on the EFG level from all over the world.

Soil Carbon Stock in Non-traditional Black Soils of North Eastern India: Tripura as Example

Tripura state in the north-eastern region (NER) of India, by its geographic location and richness in biodiversity, well supported by complementary climatic factors, more particularly high rainfall for luxuriant phyto-biomass (both above and below ground) in the form of forests and allied sources of vegetation, are known as non-traditional black soil area. Studies conducted on the soils of Tripura indicate that about 18.20 per cent area of the State consists of black soils. The study attempts to identify the important factors responsible for the formation of black soils even in the non-traditional black soil area of the north-eastern region in general and Tripura state in particular. These black soils are deep to very deep and are mostly dominated by smectitic clays. Such soils resembled the Vertisols mapped elsewhere in other parts of the country concerning texture, periodical opening and closing of cracks and subsurface colour but have dissimilarity for slickenside development, wedge-shaped structure and colour on the surface. The CEC of these soils indicate the dominance of low-activity clays (LAC). However, the clay CEC of these soils are more than 30 and it has been extended up to 60, indicating mixed mineralogy and dominance of smectites or hydroxy interlayered smectites in the clay fraction, which holds more nutrient and moisture and thus converts these areas as the granary of the State. Therefore, besides the dominating effect of humid climate with cooler winter months with profuse vegetation, the soil substrate quality (quality and quantity of expanding clay minerals) is of fundamental importance in the sequestration of OC in the soil. The study indicated that within the 0-30 cm soil depth, black soils of Tripura has got the capabilities to store 0.01Pg soil organic carbon stock which is about 20 per cent of the SOC stock of whole Tripura and 0.01 per cent of SOC stock of India. These soils are more fertile, holding more nutrients and moisture and are still in the weathering stage and show the presence of HIS and HIV in their mineralogical makeup. Therefore, the present information will be helpful for developing appropriate land use plans and conservation planning to ensure the green belt in northeastern India in general and Tripura state in particular to protect natural ecosystems.

Sub-lethal effects of the pesticide imazalil on the earthworm Eisenia andrei: reproduction, cytotoxicity, and oxidative stress.

Although considered an emerging contaminant and detected in the environment, the systematic and penetration fungicide imazalil ((RS)-1-(β-allyloxy-2,4-dichlorophenylethyl) imidazole) has received relatively little scientific attention with regard to its possible negative effects in the environment. Only a few toxicological studies have assessed the potential environmental effect of imazalil and its impact on organisms. In this context, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of the pesticide imazalil on the earthworm Eisenia andrei in acute contact and chronic tests in natural soil. Moreover, several endpoints, such as biomass loss or gain, reproduction, behavior, effects on immune system cells, and oxidative stress were also evaluated. Imazalil toxicity to E. andrei was determined by three approaches: a filter paper contact test (0, 0.16, 1.66, 16.6, 166μg.cm-2), an avoidance (0, 0.1, 1, and 10mg.kg-1), and a chronic test for 45days (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10mg.kg-1). All organisms exposed to the filter paper contact and chronic tests were submitted to two endpoint analyses: first, coelomic fluid collection by the extrusion method to determine density, viability, and cell type; second, oxidative stress assessments by determining GST and CAT enzymatic activities. This study allows for the conclusion that imazalil does not cause immediate earthworm death after exposure (LC50 > 166μg.cm-1). However, due to several complementary factors, this compound may compromise earthworm health and lead to death, as E. andrei individuals did not avoid the contaminated soil, thus contributing to longer exposure periods and consequent cumulative damage to their systems. Decreased immunocompetent cellular viability (p < 0.05) and density (p < 0.05) in the chronic test are noteworthy, leading to susceptibility to exogenous factors, as well as irreversible cellular damage provoked by oxidative stress, such as cellular membrane rupture.

Encouraging Investors to Enable Corporate Sustainability Transitions: The Case of Responsible Investment in France

This article studies the case of the socially responsible investment industry in France. This case accounts for how the socially responsible investment category and practices have successfully moved from the margins of the industry in the late 1990s to become mainstream over two decades. We bring to the forefront the importance of three complementary factors in the process of causing corporations to transition toward more sustainable businesses: the role of investors and, in particular, institutional investors; the importance of the presence of a clear category definition and of intermediary organizations, providing ratings, scores, and other calculative devices; and the role of governments and regulators. With other studies, this case stresses the fundamental influence of investors in how corporations manage sustainability transitions.

Need Analysis for Infusing Entrepreneurship Skills into Radio, Television and Electronic Work Programme in Technical Colleges in North-Western Nigeria

This qualitative study explores the integration of entrepreneurship skills (ES) across the curriculum of Radio, Television and Electronic Work (RTEW) trade in Nigeria. Based on Lifelong Learning Model of entrepreneurship, the feasibility and desirability of embedding entrepreneurship skills across Radio, Television and Electronic Work trade curriculum in selected technical colleges are analysed after conducting a preliminary study. In-depth interviews and document analysis were used for data collection. The findings show that cross-curricula entrepreneurship skills remain non-existent in technical colleges, largely because its implementation is not captured in technical disciplines. However, the study points out the importance of embedding entrepreneurship skills into Radio, Television and Electronic Work trade curriculum for wealth creation and employment generation among technical college graduates. Donor support and retraining needs of trade teachers are also highlighted as complementary factors in enhancing the implementation of embedding entrepreneurship skills across Radio, Television and Electronic Work curriculum in Nigeria.

Research Counts, Not the Journal

‘If there is one thing every bibliometrician agrees, is that you should never use the journal impact factor (JIF) to evaluate research performance for an article or an individual – that is a mortal sin’. Few sentences could define so precisely the uses and misuses of the Journal Impact Factor (JIF) better than Anthony van Raan’s. This manuscript presents a critical overview on the international use, by governments and institutions, of the JIF and/or journal indexing information for individual research quality assessment. Interviews given by Nobel Laureates speaking on this matter are partially illustrated in this work. Furthermore, the authors propose complementary and alternative versions of the journal impact factor, respectively named Complementary (CIF) and Timeless (TIF) Impact Factors, aiming to better assess the average quality of a journal – never of a paper or an author. The idea behind impact factors is not useless, it has just been misused.

Occupational health physicians' interventions based on the decision-making process for corporate health policies and company-employee needs: An exploratory study

The topic of occupational health physicians' specific interventions for deciding on corporate health measures has not been researched. Such interventions are necessary in corporate decision-making and for considering the needs of the company and its employees. We examined the aspects and methods of occupational health services that facilitate corporate decision-making regarding health measures. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 certified occupational health physicians involved in the planning of health measures at 10 companies. Data were analyzed qualitatively and inductively using Berelson's content analysis method. We divided 144 items corresponding to the research theme into three categories: organizational decision-making process in health measures, occupational health physician interventions, and complementary factors concerning interventions. The interventions were further categorized as follows: building relationships, promoting mutual understanding; consensus-building process, coordination; visualization company needs based on hypotheses; and integrated planning and proposals. The study identified specific intervention methods of each category. Aspects and methods that facilitate decision-making in occupational health services were as follows: 1) understanding the scope of consensus formation and its impact based on the characteristics of corporate decision-making regarding health measures and premises of decision maker; 2) improving awareness about occupational health by consistently presenting information on occupational health, translating it to be necessary for corporate management. Occupational health professionals, mainly occupational health physicians, are expected to contribute to health policy decisions while utilizing the method clarified in this study.

Impact of inquiry-based working on the capacity to change in primary education

Educational improvement projects are increasingly focused upon the significant role of data in determining student performance, teachers’ learning, and schools’ ability to initiate local reforms. Thus, schools are moving toward a new approach to learning, progressing from the routine to the non-routine through inquiry-based working. In addition, educational improvement requires teachers to exhibit the capacity to change, namely, to implement the innovations proposed by government agencies or the schools themselves. Therefore, the current study investigates the extent to which the inquiry-based working of primary school teachers predicts their capacity to change. Furthermore, the study identifies which aspects of inquiry-based working are the critical drivers in the capacity to change. A mixed model analysis of questionnaire data collected from a sample of 787 teachers at 65 Dutch elementary schools revealed that the central aspects of inquiry-based work (i.e., working with an inquiry habit of mind, demonstrating data literacy, using data in the classroom, and using data at the school level) are significant in promoting an increased capacity to change. Working with an inquiry habit of mind emerged as the most critical aspect. Data use in the classroom and at the school level are complementary factors that also enhance a teacher’s capacity to change.

BUSINESS&amp;#x2013;IT STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT MATURITY:&amp;#xD; PREDICTING THE IMPACT ON TRANSFORMATIONAL STRATEGY&amp;#xD; AND BUSINESS RESULTS

Academic and management literature hypothesize that organizations that adopt organizational and management practices (“complementary factors”) that improve IT-business communications and partnership are better able to transform their business models. This implies that these firms obtain higher productivity and profitability from IT investments than organizations with comparable levels of IT investment. This study employs a stage-growth model (the “strategic alignment maturity model”) that focuses on the evolution of a bilateral and ideally co-adaptive relationship between business and information technology functions to empirically test that hypothesis. Employing the results of a survey of pharmaceutical industry business and IT executives, this research provides new insights into the relationship between IT-business strategic alignment maturity and firm-level productivity and profitability. This study also helps to quantify important “complementary factors” that provide transformational impact on a firm’s production function by its investments in IT.