Participatory cotton breeding for organic and low input farming in Central India

Up to 80% of world’s organic cotton is produced in India. However, involved producers are facing increased difficulties to find suitable cultivars. Few hybrids selected for high input farming and genetically-modified (GM) cotton, which is explicitly excluded in organic farming, are presently dominating the Indian seed market. In addition farmers have lost their traditional knowledge on seed production and hybrid seed needs to be purchased each season

Ground motion parameters in Shillong and Mikir Plateau supplemented by mapping of amplification factors in Guwahati City, Northeastern India

Ground motion parameters for Shillong–Mikir Plateau of Northeastern India are examined. Empirical relations are obtained for ground motions as a function of earthquake magnitude, fault type, source depth, velocity characterization of medium and distance. Correlation between ground motion parameters and characteristics of seismogenic zones are established. Simultaneously, new empirical relations are derived for attenuation of ground motion amplitudes. Correlation coefficients of the attenuation relations depend on the site classifications that are identified based on average shear wave velocity and site response factors. The attenuation relation estimated for logarithmic width of Mikir Plateau found to be a little bit higher than that of Shillong Plateau both for soft and hard groun

Thermal instability of an expanding dusty plasma with equilibrium cooling

We present an analysis of radiation induced instabilities in an expanding plasma with considerable presence of dust particles and equilibrium cooling. We have shown that the equilibrium expansion and cooling destabilize the radiation condensation modes and the presence of dust particles enhances this effect. We have examined our results in the context of ionized, dusty-plasma environments such as those found in planetary nebulae (PNe). We show that due to the non-static equilibrium and finite equilibrium cooling, small-scale localized structures formed out of thermal instability, become transient, which agrees with the observational results. The dust-charge fluctuation is found to heavily suppress these instabilities, though in view of non-availability of convincing experimental data, a definitive conclusion could not be made.Comment: 23 pages, 14 figure

Balancing voices and views in socratic circle seminars: A self-study

Abstract: Object of study. My research revolves around Socratic Circle Seminars (SCSs) which are intellectual conversations and democratic discussions carried out between students and centered on exploring and interpreting common texts (Adler, 1982; Lambright, 1995; Copeland, 2005). This form of qualitative research and practitioner inquiry (Samaras, 2015) draws upon my 15 years of experience in implementing SCSs in Enriched English as a Second-Language (EESL) classrooms at the Académie Ste-Thérèse in Québec (2001-2017). Specifically, this Self-Study focuses on how I conducted three SCSs in my EESL classes in Secondary 5 (94 learners) in June 2017. Problem. Despite all my classroom experience with SCSs, my recalibration of practice, my production of resources as well as my outreach to the teaching and research community (Nelson, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2015a, 2015b), I still face the recurrent problem of uneven student participation as well as the unbalanced expression of viewpoints. This situation is explored from the vantage point of “living educational theory” (McNiff, Lomax, & Whitehead, 2003; McNiff & Whitehead, 2006; Samaras, 2011) by framing and reframing typical problems as disjunctions or discrepancies between practice and belief. General and Specific Research Objectives & Hypothesis. Generally, I seek to identify what needs to be done to get all learners to participate more actively in Socratic Circle Seminars so that the process of meaningful and democratic dialogue includes more voices and balances more views. Specifically, I will be looking to better align my practice with my belief by identifying “avoidable obstacles” through more strategic teaching. Research Design and Methodology. This research corresponds to “Reflexive Analysis of One’s Professional Practice” (Paillé, 2007). In terms of underlying methodological guidelines, I am applying the “Five Foci” framework of Self-Study Teacher Research (Samaras, 2011, p.94): 1) personal situated inquiry; 2) critical collaborative inquiry; 3) improved learning; 4) transparent and systemic research process; 5) knowledge generation and presentation. Data Analysis, Interpretation & Assessment. I collected and catalogued three types of data (Hendricks, 2006) from a variety of sources and in a variety of formats: 1) teacher-produced artefacts; 2) observational data; and 3) inquiry data. I employed “constant comparative method” (Creswell, 2007), presented the evidence into emerging and converging themes and later conducted a categorical analysis of the evidence. The data analysis and interpretation as well as my methodology was assessed by my Critical Friend Team to increase validity, ensure transparency and secure trustworthiness of findings. Summary conclusions. My findings show that I had been unintentionally short-circuiting my own better intentions about using SCSs to implement student-centered learning and participation. The most significant finding of my research shows the necessity of adopting a more pro-active coaching role as a teacher and developing very flexible and differentiated coaching skills. Originality of contribution. Beyond this specific educational context of second-cycle high-school EESL teaching in Québec, this study would be of special interest for those who wish to implement SCSs in their own classrooms in a more systematic way. Novice and seasoned teachers alike who read this study would be better prepared to understand tested practices that shape stronger participation in student-centered, democratic and academic conversations.Objet d’étude. Ce projet de recherche comporte une analyse réflexive entourant ma pratique dans l’enseignement des « Séminaires de Cercles Socratiques » (SCSs) au deuxième cycle du secondaire en tant qu’enseignant d’Anglais langue-seconde enrichi à l’Académie Ste-Thérèse au Québec. Les SCSs sont des conversations intellectuelles et discussions démocratiques centrées sur l’exploration et l’interprétation de sujets et de textes plus complexes (Adler, 1982; Lambright, 1995; Copeland, 2005). Plus précisément, ce projet de recherche qualitative propose une auto-analyse de ma pratique pédagogique (Samaras, 2015) avant, pendant et après trois SCSs pilotés dans des cours d’anglais enrichis en 5e secondaire (94 apprenants) au mois de juin 2017. Problématique. Malgré 15 ans d’expérience en classe avec les SCSs, le partage de mon expertise dans la communauté de la recherche en enseignement au Québec (Nelson, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2015a, 2015b), la production d’outils didactiques, ainsi que le réinvestissement de mes réflexions dans l’action pédagogique, les problèmes portant sur la participation active ainsi que l’expression plus équilibrée des perspectives multiples persistent. Cette situation est explorée à partir de la perspective d’un enseignant qui cherche à recadrer des problèmes typiques en tant que divergences entre ses croyances et sa pratique, selon le courant de « living educational theory » (McNiff, Lomax, Whitehead, 2003 ; McNiff & Whitehead, 2006 ; Samaras, 2011). Objectif général et objectif spécifique de recherche ainsi que l’hypothèse. Généralement, je cherche à identifier ce qui doit être fait afin de favoriser un plus grand nombre d’apprenants à participer dans les SCSs pour enclencher un processus de dialogue démocratique signifiant qui inclut plus de voix et balance plus de perspectives. Plus précisément, je cherche à mieux aligner ma pratique avec mes croyances tout en identifiant les « obstacles potentiels » à travers un enseignement plus stratégique. Modèle d’essai et méthodologie de recherche. Ce projet de recherche correspond à « une auto-analyse réflexive de sa pratique professionnelle » (Paillé, 2007). En termes méthodologiques, ce projet applique le cadre « Cinq Axes » ou « Five Foci Framework of Self-Study Teacher Research» (Samaras, 2011, p.94) qui comporte les principes récursifs et herméneutiques suivants : 1) investigation personnelle et située; 2) investigation critique et collaborative; 3) apprentissage amélioré; 4) processus systémique et transparent de recherche; 5) production et présentation du savoir. Analyse, intérprétation et validation des données. J’ai récolté et compilé trois types de données (Hendricks, 2006) provenant d’une variété de sources et de formats : 1) des artéfacts produits par l’enseignant; 2) des données observées; 3) des données d’évaluation. J’ai utilisé la « méthode constante et comparative » (Creswell, 2007), présenté des thèmes émergents de mes données afin d’en faire une analyse catégorique. Des membres de mon équipe d’amis critiques (Critical Friends Team) ont validé la méthodologie utilisée, ainsi que l’analyse et l’interprétation de données afin d’assurer la transparence, garantir la fiabilité et augmenter la crédibilité de ma recherche. Conclusions sommaires. Mes découvertes démontrent que j’étais en train de court-circuiter ma propre vision socio-constructiviste de l’apprentissage et l’enseignement au sein des SCSs. La découverte la plus probante de ma recherche porte sur la nécessité d’accorder une place plus importante au rôle de coach-enseignant. De plus, je dois dévellopper davantage des compétences flexibles et différenciées en coaching

Participatory cotton breeding for organic and low input farming in India

Organic cotton production currently takes place in 22 countries resulting in 241’697 metric tons of fibre and 1.1% of the global cotton production (Truscott et al. 2010). Up to 80% of world’s organic cotton is produced in India. However, this market is threatened due to the displacement of traditional cotton species and cultivars by genetically modified (GM) hybrids selected for high input farming. Organic cotton farmers are facing increased difficulties in finding suitable cultivars in India (Nemes, 2010). Moreover, there is a big risk of physical and genetic contamination of organic cotton with GM cotton and the loss of locally adapted genetic resources. Therefore fast action is needed to re-establish a GM-free seed chain and breeding programs for cultivars suited for organic and low input farming conditions

Static dipole polarizability of C70 fullerene

The electronic and vibrational contributions to the static dipole polarizability of C70 fullerene are determined using the finite-field method within the density functional formalism. Large polarized Gaussian basis sets augmented with diffuse functions are used and the exchange-correlation effects are described within the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof generalized gradient approximation (PBE-GGA). The calculated polarizability of C70 is 103 Angstrom^3, in excellent agreement with the experimental value of 102 Angstrom^3, and is completely determined by the electronic part, vibrational contribution being negligible. The ratio of polarizabilities of C70 and C60 is 1.26. The comparison of polarizability calculated with only local terms (LDA) in the PBE functional to that obtained with PBE-GGA shows that LDA is sufficient to determine the static dipole polarizability of C70.Comment: IOP style, 1 figur