Experiences of violence and moral reasoning in a context of vengeance/ experiencias de violencia y razonamiento moral en un contexto de venganza/ experiências de violência e racionamento moral em um contexto...

Relations between exposure to violence and moral reasoning were explored. Ninety-six participants aged 6-16 years evaluated the acceptability of stealing and causing physical harm in a situation of vengeance. Self-reports of exposure to violence were collected from each participant. Findings indicated that previous exposure to violence is related to moral reasoning in contexts of vengeance. Participants who reported having witnessed more violence, especially against family members, evaluated causing physical harm more positively, provided justifications entailing retaliation more frequently, and offered fewer reasons related to the conventional and personal realms, in a context of vengeance. Moreover, witnessing particular violent events was found to be positively correlated with judgments justified with reasons involving retaliation. These results suggest that participants think of vengeance as a way to restore justice (a moral issue) through expiatory sanction

An estimation of the default probabilities of Spanish non-financial corporations and their application to evaluate public policies

Este documento modeliza la probabilidad de impago a un año de las sociedades no financieras españolas utilizando información del período 1996-2019. Mientras que, en general, la literatura previa considera que una empresa está en situación de impago si solicita concurso de acreedores, aquí se define dicha situación como tener préstamos dudosos durante al menos tres meses en un mismo año. Esta definición más amplia permite predecir problemas financieros en una fase más temprana, antes de que estos sean demasiado graves y las empresas tengan que recurrir a procedimientos formales de insolvencia o a reestructuraciones privadas de deuda, lo que generalmente no puede ser observado por el investigador. En concreto, se estiman mediante regresiones logísticas tanto un modelo general que hace uso de todas las empresas de la muestra como seis modelos para diferentes combinaciones de tamaño y sector productivo. Las variables explicativas seleccionadas son cinco ratios financieras, que resumen la calidad crediticia de las empresas, y el crecimiento agregado del crédito a las sociedades no financieras para capturar el papel de la disponibilidad de crédito en mitigar el riesgo de impago. Finalmente, se llevan a cabo dos aplicaciones prácticas de estos modelos de predicción: se construyen matrices de transición de calificaciones crediticias y se evalúa el programa de ayudas directas del Gobierno español durante la crisis del COVID-19.We model the one-year ahead probability for default of Spanish non-financial corporations using data for the period 1996-2019. While most previous literature considers that a firm is in default if it files for bankruptcy, we define default as having non-performing loans during at least three months of a given year. This broader definition allows us to predict firms’ financial distress at an earlier stage that cannot generally be observed by researchers, before their financial conditions become too severe and they have to file for bankruptcy or engage in private workouts with their creditors. We estimate, by means of logistic regressions, both a general model that uses all the firms in the sample and six models for different size-sector combinations. The selected explanatory variables are five accounting ratios, which summarise firms’ creditworthiness, and the growth rate of aggregate credit to non-financial corporations, to take into account the role of credit availability in mitigating the risk of default. Finally, we carry out two applications of our prediction models: we construct credit rating transition matrices and evaluate a programme implemented by the Spanish government to provide direct aid to firms severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis

Molecular dynamics simulations of nanosheets of polymeric carbon nitride and comparison with experimental observations

A computational study of the properties of polymeric carbon nitride using molecular dynamics is presented. The analysis of ideal infinite-extent sheets permits to evaluate the effect of temperature on the network of hydrogen bonds responsible for the linkage of the material. The weakening of this binding mechanism at sufficiently high temperatures, together with the inter-layer interactions characteristic of this type of 2D materials, is shown to determine the conformation properties of polymeric carbon nitride at the nanoscale. The results obtained from the simulation of finite samples in the canonical ensemble at varying temperatures are consistent with those from the characterization of our experimentally synthesized samples. Hydrogen bonding between adjacent polymer ribbons leads this process and is the cause of the typical crumpled structure of this material

Methane capture at room temperature: adsorption on cubic d-MoC and orthorhombic b-Mo2C molybdenum carbide (001) surfaces

Based on periodic Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, carried out using a standard generalized gradient approximation type exchange-correlation functional including or not a van der Waals dispersive forces, the ability of the cubic δ-MoC(001) surface to capture methane at room temperature is suggested. Adsorption on the orthorhombic β-Mo2C(001) surfaces, with two possible terminations, has been also considered and, in each case, several molecular orientations have been tested with one, two, or three hydrogen atoms pointing towards the surface on all high-symmetry adsorption sites. The DFT results indicate that the δ-MoC(001) surface shows a better affinity towards CH4 than β-Mo2C(001). The calculated adsorption energy values on δ-MoC(001) surface are larger, and hence better, than on other methane capturing materials such as metal organic frameworks. Besides, the theoretical desorption temperature values estimated from the Redhead equation indicate that methane would desorbs at 330 K when adsorbed on the δ-MoC(001) surface, whereas this temperature is lower than 150 K when the adsorption involves β-Mo2C(001). Despite of this, adsorbed methane presents a very similar structure compared to the isolated molecule, due to a weak molecular interaction between the adsorbate and the surface. Therefore, the activation of methane molecule is not observed, so these surfaces are, in principle, not recommended as possible methane dry reforming catalysts

El uso de canciones como herramienta pedagógica para enseñanza del idioma inglés en la institución educativa docente de Turbaco, Bolívar

Varias investigaciones han demostrado que las canciones han servido como herramienta primordial en los procesos de aprendizaje. La explicación, es que forman parte de la identidad cultural de las personas, apelan a los sentimientos de estas y además contribuyen al desarrollo y práctica de habilidades auditivas, pronunciación y adquisición de vocabulario. Los Seres Humanos desde muy pequeños identifican palabras y objetos a través de las canciones, lo que ha permitido que esta herramienta pueda utilizarse en el ámbito educativo y del aprendizaje; en especial el de las lenguas extranjeras, en este caso el idioma inglés. Como consecuencia de lo planteado previamente, se consideró fundamental y de vital importancia emplear un programa de estudio en el que se enseñó el Idioma Inglés con canciones. La investigación se desarrolló en la Institución Educativa Docente de Turbaco, con los estudiantes del grado 6-02. De manera sistemática y con distintos enfoques comunicativos, se desarrollaron cinco talleres con los estudiantes en los que se usó: la música como herramienta pedagógica. Durante el transcurso de su aplicación, un diario de campo para observar los aspectos positivos y negativos de la actividad. Además se implementó, un formulario de encuesta para medir la percepción de los estudiantes al finalizar los talleres

The Juxtaposition of Revenge and Forgiveness in Peer Conflict Experiences of Youth Exposed to Violence

In a sample of 95 urban Colombian mid-adolescents, this mixed-method study examined how youths’ retaliatory desires and actions were juxtaposed with forgiveness and nonforgiveness in their narrative accounts of peer conflict. Quantitative analyses examined how retaliatory desire and action were associated with variations in youths’ lifetime exposure to violence and recent victimization by peers at school. These measures of violence exposure were related to revenge only in the context of unforgiven harms. Qualitative analyses explored aspects of youths’ narrative accounts that may underlie the observed associations. Overall, findings suggest that exposure to violence may interfere with youths’ capacity to reflect on revenge in ways that recognize their own fallibility and thus open the door to forgiveness

Desarrollo y pruebas de campo de la vacuna sintética contra la malaria spf66

De acuerdo a estadísticas recientes de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, se estima que 2100 millones de personas habitan en cerca de 100 países donde la malaria es una enfermedad endémica, afectando cerca de 270 millones de individuos anualmente y siendo la causa directa de por 10 menos dos millones de muertos al año, especialmente de niños menores de cinco años de edad. Las medidas de control del vector y del parásito con insecticidas y quimioterapia parecían ser suficientes para la erradicación, pero a lo largo del tiempo se ha demostrado la poca eficacia de estas medidas, hacienda que el desarrollo de una vacuna sea esencial como un componente efectivo para el control y erradicación de la malaria especialmente en los países del tercer mundo

Effects of N2 Plasma Pretreatment on the SiN Passivation of AlGaN/GaN HEMT

The impact of in situ low-power plasma pretreatment, prior to silicon-nitride (SiN) deposition, was investigated in AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). These studies reveal that the use of plasma in HEMT passivation reduces current-collapse and gate-lag effects. Such treatment is also beneficial to improve gate leakage, and from RF measurements, no degradation of was observed. These beneficial effects of the plasma pretreatment seem to be due to a significant reduction in interface charge density, as shown in this letter using GaN MIS devices, where a decrease of 60% was observed

From urea to melamine cyanurate: Study of a class of thermal condensation routes for the preparation of graphitic carbon nitride

Producción CientíficaThis work presents a survey of the intermediates in the well-known thermal synthesis of graphitic carbon nitride from urea. The analysis of the crystalline phases depicts a successive transformation of the precursor into different substances previously used as starting reactants, whereby melamine cyanurate arises as the ultimate precursor of a class of thermal condensation routes to obtain graphitic carbon nitride. The study of the optical properties of the synthesized materials evidences the simultaneous production of an amorphous phase with a significant presence of melon oligomers. These results are also supported by the further characterization of the materials performed using THz-TDS, FT-IR, HRTEM, and XPS techniques, and by theoretical studies conducted using semi-empirical quantum chemistry methods.Junta de Castilla y León (grant VA296P18)Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (grant PID2020-320 119418GB-I00

Software and the Notion of Goods under the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods

El presente documento es el producto de una investigación desarrollada a lo largo de la asignatura de Derecho Comercial Internacional en cabeza del doctor Héctor Mauricio Medina Casas. El objetivo del documento consiste en plantear la problemática que se suscita como consecuencia de la omisión de definición del concepto de mercadería en la Convención de Viena sobre Compraventa Internacional de Mercaderías. Específicamente, se desarrollará un análisis respecto a la posible inclusión del software como mercadería. Para ello, se emplearon el método doctrinal y el método cuantitativo en el proceso de construcción del presente escrito. Así pues, a pesar de existir decisiones judiciales y posturas académicas que permiten, bajo ciertas circunstancias, entender el software como mercadería, no parece conveniente adoptar esta posición —minoritaria—; pues afectaría la seguridad jurídica e ignoraría la razón de ser de la Convención, su interpretación generalizada y sus precedentes/origen histórico.This paper is the result of the research conducted in the context of the commercial law class taught by professor Héctor Medina and seeks to present the problems posed by the lack of a definition of the word goods in the context of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. The paper examines whether it is possible or not to include software as good. The method used to conduct the research was quantitative and resorted to theoretical findings about the subject matter. Although there are stances defending that software be considered a good, the paper argues that such position would entail risking legal stability and would ignore the raison d'être of the Convention, its generalized interpretation and its origins