Education and Civil Conflict: The Negative Effects of Intolerant Curricula in Kosovo, Pakistan, and Sudan

Education has long been used as a tool for national identity formation and social cohesion. However, in diverse communities across the globe, the question must be asked: are educational institutions creating citizens with a narrow view of “us vs. them” or an identity built on multiculturalism and acceptance? Through past research, it is obvious that education has either acted as an instigator or mitigator of civil conflict, though to what extent is still largely unknown. In this thesis, I argue that both the extent and quality of education in a country can instigate or, at least, exacerbate the outbreak of civil conflict. To prove this hypothesis, I will highlight two educational factors as causally connected to civil conflict: educational access and educational content. First, educational access can affect civil conflict since a lack of educational and, in effect, economic opportunities may lead to rebel recruitment of a country’s youth. Second, educational content can affect civil conflict, as the language, images, and facts utilized in schools’ curricula may stir up ethnic and religious divides and hatred. In conclusion, though educational access is certainly connected to civil conflict, the results are varied, thus necessitating the need to dig deeper into the curricula of countries affected by civil conflict. These factors will help to pinpoint problem areas in the educational systems of countries dangerously close to civil conflict, as well as how to reshape educational policies for the future

Critical behaviour in the nonlinear elastic response of hydrogels

In this paper we study the elastic response of synthetic hydrogels to an applied shear stress. The hydrogels studied here have previously been shown to mimic the behaviour of biopolymer networks when they are sufficiently far above the gel point. We show that near the gel point they exhibit an elastic response that is consistent with the predicted critical behaviour of networks near or below the isostatic point of marginal stability. This point separates rigid and floppy states, distinguished by the presence or absence of finite linear elastic moduli. Recent theoretical work has also focused on the response of such networks to finite or large deformations, both near and below the isostatic point. Despite this interest, experimental evidence for the existence of criticality in such networks has been lacking. Using computer simulations, we identify critical signatures in the mechanical response of sub-isostatic networks as a function of applied shear stress. We also present experimental evidence consistent with these predictions. Furthermore, our results show the existence of two distinct critical regimes, one of which arises from the nonlinear stretch response of semi-flexible polymers.

Why the idea of framework propositions cannot contribute to an understanding of delusions

One of the tasks that recent philosophy of psychiatry has taken upon itself is to extend the range of understanding to some of those aspects of psychopathology that Jaspers deemed beyond its limits. Given the fundamental difficulties of offering a literal interpretation of the contents of primary delusions, a number of alternative strategies have been put forward including regarding them as abnormal versions of framework propositions described by Wittgenstein in On Certainty. But although framework propositions share some of the apparent epistemic features of primary delusions, their role in partially constituting the sense of inquiry rules out their role in helping to understand delusions

Existential Communication and Leadership

The aim of this article is to introduce and explain a number of important existentialist philosophers and concepts that we believe can contribute to a critical approach to leadership theory. Emphasis is placed on understanding the nature of communication from an existentialist perspective and so Jaspers' conceptualization of existential communication is introduced along with important related concepts that may be regarded as important facets of leader communication including Being-in-the-world, the Other, intersubjectivity, dialogue and indirect communication. Particular attention is paid to Buber's ideas on communication as relationship and dialogue. Throughout, reference is made to contemporary, and what is often regarded as orthodox, thinking regarding the centrality of communication to leadership practice as a means by which to highlight the salience of an existentialist analysis

Resonant interaction between runaway electrons and the toroidal magnetic field ripple in TCV

This work explains the anomalously high runaway electron (RE) pitch angles inferred in the flat-top of dedicated Tokamak à Configuration Variable (TCV) experiments. Kinetic modelling shows that the resonant interaction between the gyromotion of the electrons and the toroidal magnetic field ripple will give rise to strong pitch angle scattering in TCV. The resulting increase in synchrotron radiation power losses acts as a RE energy barrier. These observations are tested experimentally by a magnetic field ramp-down, which gradually reduces the resonant parallel momentum at which the REs interact with the ripple. Resulting changes in synchrotron emission geometry and intensity are observed using three multi-spectral camera imaging systems, viewing the RE beam at distinct spatial angles in multiple wavelength ranges. Experimental reconstructions of the RE distribution in momentum- and real-space are consistent with kinetic model predictions.</p

Saprophytic colonization of the bark by Neofusicoccum species mediates subsequent infection of grapevines through wounds

Botryosphaeriaceae species infect grapevines via wounds. A previous study isolated Botryosphaeriaceae at higher frequencies from the bark than the underlying wood of asymptomatic grapevines canes from vineyards,suggesting they were latent on surface tissues. This study investigated the colonization of the bark as a saprophytic link to infection of the underlying wood. The bark of trunks of Sauvignon blanc and Pinot noir potted vines were inoculated by spraying an area of 3 cm length with ~1 mL of a Neofusicoccum luteum or N. parvum conidial suspensions (10⁴/mL). Control vines were inoculated with sterile water. After 1 hour (T1), 2 days (T2) or 7 days (T3) a cut was made in the bark and through to the wood 1 cm above the inoculation area using a sterile scalpel. After 24 h, isolations were carried out from surface sterilized bark and wood. Infection incidence did not differ significantly between species or grapevine cultivar. Infection incidence of the bark was 100% and associated wood of the central inoculated section was 76.3%, 83.3% and 90.2% for T1, T2 and T3, respectively indicating bark infection progressed rapidly into the adjacent wood. Infection of bark and wood 1 cm above the inoculation point increased with incubation time, being 25% for bark and wood at T1 and 71% and 67% for bark and wood, respectively at T3. Infection of the bark and wood 1 cm below the inoculated area was 0%. This study showed that the pathogens remained latent in the bark and, when the cane was wounded, that the pathogen progressed towards the wound. Fluorescent microscopic observations of bark and underlying wood sections of shoots inoculated onto the bark, but without wounding, showed germinating conidia and mycelium in the bark near lenticels, and mycelia in the underlying wood, indicating that the pathogens had entered through lenticels

The Analysis of Temporally Ordered Configurations: Challenges and Solutions

In organizational research there is an increasing interest in the study of configurations, i.e., of “multidimensional constellations of conceptually distinct characteristics that occur together” (Meyer, Tsui and Hinings, 1993: 1175). Frequently, the object of study is a process, i.e., a complex of activities that unfolds over time (e.g., an innovation project, a reorganisation, an implementation process). The characteristics that form the configuration are “conditions” (e.g., conditions A, B, and C) that are present (A, B, C) or absent (a, b, c). The notation ABC, thus, represents the observation that the three conditions A, B, and C are present in a process that is studied. Temporally ordered configurations can be defined as those configurations in which conditions occur in a specific temporal order (e.g., C→A→B, meaning that, in one case, C appears first, A next, and finally B). In this chapter we use the term “(temporal) sequence” for such a temporally ordered configuration. Note that the term “(temporal) order” is used here empirically as a synonym of the word “(temporal or chronological) pattern” and is not meant normatively (as opposed to “disorder”). Specific temporal sequences might generate or allow outcomes that are not generated or allowed by the same configuration of conditions if they appear in another temporal order (e.g., A→B→C or B→A→C). The terms “generating” and “allowing” (an outcome), which are used here in order to avoid the term “cause”, will be discussed below in the section on necessary conditions

Design and effects of representational scripting on group performance

This study investigated the effects of representational scripting on non-expert student learning while collaboratively carrying out complex learning-tasks. The premise underlying this research is that effective cognitive activities would be evoked when complex learning-tasks are structured into phase-related part-tasks and are supported by providing students with part-task-congruent external representations for each phase; representational scripting. It was hypothesized that this approach would lead to increased individual learning and better complex learning-task performance. In groups, 96 secondary education students worked on a complex business-economics problem in four experimental conditions, namely one condition in which the groups received representations that were part-task-congruent for all three phases and three conditions in which the groups received one of these representations for all three phases (i.e., part-task-incongruent for two of the three phases). The results indicate that groups receiving part-task-congruent representations in a phased order performed better on the complex learning-task, though this did not result in increased individual learning

Feasibility of charge exchange spectroscopy fast helium measurements on ITER

The feasibility to measure fast alpha particles using Active Charge Exchange Recombination Spectroscopy (CXRS) on ITER is investigated. Through modelling of the charge exchange spectral line for fast ions together with the expected background emission, the signal-to-noise ratio has been calculated as a function of the diagnostic design parameters. Combining the CXRS data from both the heating and the diagnostic neutral beams on ITER, information on the fast ion energy spectrum up to 1 MeV can be obtained for the parameters of the ITER core CXRS diagnostic design, provided that the signal is binned in 100 keV bins and a time resolution of Isec is used.</p