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PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS\u27 PERSPECTIVES ON INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AND THE ROLE OF TEACHER TRAINING
Full text linkIncluding children with special needs represents a cornerstone of contemporary educational policy, but its implementation often poses complex practical, emotional, and pedagogical challenges. While existing research has focused primarily on the perspectives of in-service teachers, this study examines pre-service teachers’ perspectives on inclusive education during their professional training . Using a mixed-methods approach, this study analyzed the attitudes of 27 pre-service teachers toward the inclusion of children with special needs in regular classrooms, with a particular focus on how teacher training programs shape their evolving perspectives. Data were collected using two complementary tools: (1) a semi-structured questionnaire administered via Google Forms, incorporating closed and open-ended items, and (2) semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with 15 participants who provided informed consent. The analysis revealed three main themes: positive attitudes among most teacher students toward inclusion, the critical importance of practical experience, and the significant contribution of theoretical coursework to shaping attitudes. Based on these results, we recommend that teacher education programs expand theoretical training and incorporate diverse and meaningful field experiences in inclusive educational settings from the earliest stages of professional development. Early exposure to inclusive practice may better prepare future teachers to navigate the complexities of serving children with special needs in mainstream settings
WHERE IS THE HYDROXYL GROUP IN THE AMMONIA MOLECULE? A GREEK HIGH-SCHOOL CONQUEST.
Full text linkElectrolyte solutions are discussed in every chemistry educational program and their constitution and behaviour are studied in relation to other basic aspects of chemistry, such as stoichiometry, solution concentration and reactions, with special interest in neutralization and chemical equilibrium. Like every other topic related to science teaching and understanding, electrolyte solutions are not free from misconceptions. Unfortunately, several of these misconceptions originate from the form in which the related chapters are written in the textbooks or the manner in which their content is presented by the teacher and in several instances from the whole structure of the chemistry-oriented education program. Indeed, in a recent study we came across certain difficulties faced by undergraduate students in manifesting the basic nature of ammonia. Since it is known that early acquired knowledge plays a major role in determining the quantity and quality of later additions through teaching and experimenting, we undertook the current survey among high-school students for which a limited introductory teaching on bases takes place. In view of the results obtained we propose some simple amendments to the secondary education curriculum which could benefit the apprehension of basic character aspects and report the comments received by a group of post-graduate students and Ph.D. holders in Chemistry
PROMOTING DIVERSITY THROUGH A STUDENT-STAFF COLLABORATIVE HISTORY-FOCUSED CHEMISTRY COURSE
Full text linkThis study evaluates the development, delivery, and reception of a collaboratively designed, historyfocused chemistry course for first-year undergraduates at Durham University. Co-created by student interns and academic staff, the course aimed to broaden students’ understanding of chemistry’s global and historical development and to promote diversity and inclusivity through case studies and narratives often absent from traditional curricula that feature a Eurocentric perspective. A post-course survey conducted at the end of the module found the course particularly effective in enhancing students’ understanding of the historical evolution of chemistry and the contributions of diverse chemists. Thematic analysis of qualitative feedback highlighted appreciation for the global scope and interdisciplinary perspective of the course, alongside suggestions for more applied chemistry content, a clearer chronological structure, and greater scientific depth. Challenges included condensing wideranging material into limited lecture time and balancing historical breadth with contemporary relevance. Ongoing improvements, guided by student feedback, have focused on clearer communication of course aims and supplementary resources to deepen engagement with chemical concepts. Findings highlight the educational value of integrating historical context, cultural diversity, and student–staff cocreation in science curricula. This approach not only fosters richer student engagement but also offers a transferable model for inclusive curriculum innovation across STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines
ENABLING FACTORS OF THE GREEN ECONOMY TRANSITION
Full text linkIn response to the global challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, the process of green economy transition has significantly accelerated in the last decade. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive picture of the international and national policy instruments, economic incentives and legal frameworks used between 2015 and 2025 to facilitate the transition to a green economy. The study identifies the most important areas of intervention based on a systematic literature review: the research reviews fiscal, regulatory, market-based and social integration instruments used in international practice and their effectiveness. The results show that a successful green economy transition requires a multi-level, integrated policy framework. The article highlights the importance of long-term planning, predictable regulation and social acceptance, multi-level governance and stakeholders in ensuring an effective green transition
THE ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTIVE CONSUMPTION AND POSITIONAL INVESTING
Full text linkThis paper brings together the results of research in the field of economics of productive consumption and positional investing. It is based on a model of supply and demand of investment funds and investment opportunities. It extends the existing results by the aspect of generating future investment opportunities (not only of the investor himself but also of other players) in the realization of the current investment opportunities. This article defines the equilibrium of this model as the maximum of future income from the realization of investment opportunities whereas this does not depend on whose investment funds are used to realize the investment opportunities and to whom additional investment opportunities are generated. This is a substantial extension of equilibrium, conceived as the utilization of investment opportunities according to their rate of return, irrespective of who owns the investment funds. The paper contains a methodology for building the relevant models and for the calculation of the equilibrium. This enables to distinguish between prisoner\u27s dilemma situations and situations in which players have the highest payoffs if they cooperate (KK). Based on this, KK situations can be identified at different stages of history, at present, or for which conditions exist for the future. Consequently, the causes that have led or may lead to the change of a situation from KK to NN can be revealed, which has important practical applications
FROM FINANCIAL NEWS TO PRICE FORECASTS: ASSESSING THE ROLE OF NLP-BASED SENTIMENT ANALYSIS AND VARIABLE SELECTION IN STOCK PRICE PREDICTION
Full text linkThis study investigates the impact of NLP-based sentiment analysis and variable selection techniques on stock price prediction. Sentiment indicators are extracted using Natural Language Processing (NLP) methods, including TextBlob-based sentiment polarity scores, VADER compound scores, and domainspecific lexicon-based sentiment scores. To address the complexity and dimensionality of financial data, variable selection techniques (PCA, LASSO, Elastic Net, PCA + LASSO, and PCA + Elastic Net) are employed. These methods help in constructing a more efficient feature set by reducing noise and multicollinearity. The selected features, combined with sentiment variables, are utilized in predictive models including ARIMAX, ANN, LSTM, and GRU. The models are tested on eight publicly traded stocks (AAPL, AMZN, GOOG, META, MSFT, NFLX, NVDA, TSLA) over a four-year period. The results indicate that the inclusion of sentiment variables improves forecasting performance, particularly when combined with dimensionality reduction and regularization techniques. Among these approaches, combinations of PCA with regularization techniques often lead to more stable and competitive forecasting performance. The findings highlight the value of integrating unstructured textual data from financial news into time series forecasting models, contributing to improved predictive performance in stock market applications
COMPARATIVE STUDY ON DRY MATTER PRODUCTION AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF SOME TYPES OF GRASSLAND FORAGE MIXTURES
Full text linkThe aim of this paper was to compare dry matter production and nutritional quality for different forage mixtures. The study was carried out in the experimental field of the Grassland Research and Development Institute Brașov, in 2022. Twelve grassland forage mixtures were analysed, with different proportions of perennial grass and legume species, recommended for use in three modes (grazing, mowing and mixed). Dry matter production was determined on three mowings, their sum being analyzed, and the quality of the forage obtained from each mixture was analysed as the average of the three mowings. Dry matter production ranged between 8.25 t/ha and 17.02 t/ha, and the ANOVA results showed significant differences (p<0.01) between the 12 forage mixtures. The highest CP content (18.28%) was recorded in the C1 mixture (ICDP – 60%G, 40%L) – use: mowing. Regarding CF, the highest contents (28.74%; 27.29%) were obtained in C6 (Versamax Hot&Dry – 80%G, 20%L) – use: mixed and C7 (Versamax Robust – 95%G, 5%L) – use: mixed. The highest DDM value (74.06%) was obtained in C12 (Zanandrea – 63%G, 37%L) – use: grazing, with a significant difference compared to the other mixtures. The similarity of the fodder mixtures was different on each mowing, both for dry matter production and for nutritional quality, this aspect being highlighted by Cluster analysis
THE EFFECT OF METAL NANOPARTICLES ON THE CULTIVATION AND CONTENT OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN CHLORELLA VULGARIS
Full text linkNanoparticles are microscopic objects ranging in size from 1 to 100 nm. The distinctive properties of nanoparticles are their size, morphology and bioactivity. Metallic nanoparticles make up to 90% of all used nanomaterials. This paper presents a new approach to obtaining silver nanoparticles by chemical reduction of silver cations in the presence of biopolymer reductants and stabilizers sodium alginate and sodium carboxymethylcellulose. The obtained silver nanoparticles were used to cultivate the biomass of Chlorella vulgaris. The results of the experimental studies showed the environmental safety and bioactivity of the obtained nanoparticles for the growth of microalgae. The most pronounced stimulating effect was found for silver nanoparticles obtained in the presence of the biopolymer sodium carboxymethylcellulose
PRODUCTION OF COPPER MATRIX COMPOSITES
Full text linkComposites containing two or more distinct components, and having significantly different chemical, physical, and mechanical properties, are important materials for engineering applications. Copper is widely used as a matrix material in aviation, space, transportation, and electrical contact transmission due to its excellent electrical conductivity and its lubrication and friction prevention performance. Copper, which is one of the most basic components of the electrical and electronics sector, also has high thermal conductivity. In addition, copper is preferred in many engineering applications due to its low thermal expansion coefficient, good oxidation resistance, high corrosion resistance, high alloying ability, low cost, and good ductility. However, despite the many excellent properties of copper, its ductility makes it vulnerable to mechanical stresses. In the study, TiB2 ceramic particles with properties such as high hardness, wear resistance and good thermal stability were reinforced into the copper matrix as a reinforcement material. The mechanical properties of the obtained composite will be investigated
RHEOLOGICAL DESIGN OF RECYCLED PET–CLAY NANOCOMPOSITES THROUGH ORGANOPHILIC TUNING
Full text linkPreparation of well-dispersed recycled polyethylene terephthalate-organoclay nanocomposites with enhanced processing and mechanical properties remains a significant challenge due to the low thermal stability of organoclays. This issue is particularly critical during the melt compounding process, where high temperatures are required to process recycled PET. At elevated temperatures, organoclays, especially those modified with traditional quaternary ammonium salts, tend to degrade, releasing volatile byproducts such as ammonia and other decomposition products. This degradation not only compromises the thermal stability of the nanocomposite but also accelerates the degradation of the recycled PET matrix itself, leading to a reduction in molecular weight and deterioration of mechanical properties. The low thermal stability of organoclays is primarily attributed to the organic modifiers used to render the hydrophilic clay compatible with the hydrophobic polymer matrix. These modifiers, while effective in improving clay dispersion, often decompose at temperatures below the processing range of PET, which typically exceeds 250°C. As a result, the development of thermally stable organoclays is essential to overcome this limitation and achieve the desired improvements in nanocomposite performance. In this study, an overview of various surface modification techniques for sodium-type montmorillonite was conducted to enhance its compatibility with recycled PET. Surface modifications included the use of organic modifiers, such as quaternary ammonium salts, and other innovative approaches aimed at improving the dispersion of the clay within the polymer matrix. The thermal stability of the organoclays and the resulting nanocomposites was evaluated using melt rheology, which provided insights into the degradation behavior and processability of the materials. The results demonstrated that organoclays modified with alternative surface treatments exhibited superior performance compared to those modified with conventional quaternary ammonium compounds. Specifically, the newly prepared clays significantly suppressed matrix degradation during melt mixing, which is a common issue in the processing of PET. The findings suggest that the use of advanced surface-modified clays can open new avenues for the development of high-performance recycled PET-based nanocomposites, which can be utilized in a wide range of applications, including packaging, automotive components, and construction materials. This approach aligns with the growing demand for sustainable materials and the circular economy by adding value to recycled plastics while reducing environmental impact