France and the Community of Six: The Schuman Declaration to the Treaties of Rome

This paper investigates France’s role during the first decade of European integration, and in particular the initiatives of Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman which led to the creation of the European Communities. Monnet and Schuman began the modern process of uniting Europe with the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community, but the process of integration faced its strongest opposition within France itself and the movement had its first setback in 1954 when the French National Assembly rejected the proposed European Defense Community. Nevertheless, European integration continued, and after the subsequent French election, France rebuilt momentum for further European integration and led the effort to create the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community. Both of these Communities came into existence in 1958 and – along with the European Coal and Steel Community – laid the institutional foundation for the European Union

Algeria, De Gaulle, and the Birth of the French Fifth Republic

This paper explores the role of the French Army and the role of General Charles de Gaulle in the Crisis of May 1958, and how the Crisis marked the end of the French Fourth Republic. The role of civilians in starting the uprising in Algeria is highlighted, and it is emphasized that the French Army joined the revolt once it was in progress. Although General de Gaulle had been out of public life for a decade, it was he who came to power because of the Crisis and it was he who went on to create the new French Fifth Republic. This paper was selected as the winner of the first annual Providence College Undergraduate Research Prize in 201

Perceptions of Blended Learning: A Case Study on Student Experiences in an Advanced Placement Macroeconomics Course

The purpose of this study was to use a case study design to examine the impact of a blended learning instructional model on students in an Advanced Placement (AP) Macroeconomics course. Using an instrumental case study design, the researcher investigated blended learning and students’ perceptions of their own interactions with the materials as well as perceptions of overall performance in the course. The study also used grade point averages (GPA), LMS Usage Reports, and AP exam scores to triangulate with the interview data. The key factors influencing the students’ views were discussed, an enhanced model of blended learning was proposed, recommendations for future research were made, and strategies and practices were offered

Monnet, the General, and the Community of Six: French Policy on European Integration in the 1950s and 1960s

This thesis examines the roles of Jean Monnet and General Charles de Gaulle in crafting French policy towards a united Europe during the postwar decades. Monnet strongly supported supranational integration in which the nations of Europe cede power to common governing institutions. But, French policy changed dramatically when de Gaulle came to power in 1958. As a nationalist he refused to sacrifice France’s independence by ceding power to the common institutions. He risked the existence of a united Europe, but after his sudden departure in 1969 it became clear that French popular opinion opposed his limiting policy towards European integration

Electric fan use during heat waves: Turn off for the elderly?

Comment on: Ravanelli NM, Jay O. Electric fan use in heat waves: Turn on or turn off? Temperature. 2016;3:358–360. doi:10.1080/23328940.2016.1211073

A shade tolerance index for common understory species of northeastern North America

Since Baker's [Baker, F.S., 1949. A revised tolerance table. J. For. 47, 179-181] classic contribution, shade tolerance indices have not been much modified for North American plant species. While many common tree and shrub species are included in the shade tolerance index, much less is known about this characteristic for the abundant and rich understory vascular and nonvascular plant layers. The classification of the shade tolerance is widely used to compare relative growth and survival among plant species under closed canopies and is also fundamental to an understanding of stand development following small and large scale disturbances. Although qualitative, it is frequently used both in research and management implications. Here we provide a significant revision to Baker's shade tolerance table to include the most common forest understory plant species found in northeastern North America forests. Our index is based on: (1) the compilation of the opinions of five experts, (2) a comparison with Ellenberg's index from Europe as well as, (3) information from current literature. For most of the 347 plant species investigated, a consistent and robust shade tolerance index, ranging between 1 (very tolerant) and 9 (very intolerant), was found. Here we present revised shade indices for 71 tree and shrub species, 185 herbaceous species, and 91 bryophyte and lichen species

Quinoa biomass production capacity and soil nutrient deficiencies in pastures, tree plantations and native forests in the Andean Highlands of Southern Ecuador

In the high Andes of Ecuador, although expanding agricultural practices and overgrazing have had negative impacts on soil fertility, few investigations have been conducted to identify which practices are most likely to reduce fertility. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) was grown in soils from native forests, Nf; pastures, Pa; Eucalyptus globulus Labill. plantations, Eg; and Pinus patula Schlecht. plantations, Pp. A bioassay study was conducted using a randomized block design with control (C), ammonium nitrate (N), triple superphosphate (P), and combined N and P (N+P) fertilizer treatments. On soils from Pp, quinoa mortality was 100% in N, 88% in C, 63% in N+P and 0% in P; P enhanced growth the most; quinoa biomass attained only 0.1 g/pot and had a P content of 0.7 mg/pot. N+P enhanced quinoa growth the most on soils from Nf, Pa and Eg. Here, quinoa biomass (g/pot) averaged 0.1 in C, 0.4 in N, 1.6 in P and 7.2 in N+P; P content (mg/pot) averaged 0.9 in C, 0.6 in N, 12 in P and 38 in N+P. In all soils, PO4- was the principal limiting factor. K deficiencies and Al toxicity probably occurred only in Pp soils. This study suggests that the studied soils cannot support production of quinoa crops without additions of combined fertilizers containing P and K as the principal elements. Pp have the least fertile soils, presumably resulting from a longer history of use after pasturing in addition to the pine effect itself

Child and Young Adult Headed Households in the Context of the AIDS Epidemic in Zimbabwe, 1988-2006

The emergence of Child-Headed Households (CHH) and Young Adult Households (YAH) has largely been taken as an indicator of the erosion of the traditional safety nets in sub-Saharan countries and a direct consequence of the increasing number of orphans in the region. However, the initial evidence presented so far suggests that the process of formation of CHH and YAH is more complex than it appears to be. Using the four available waves of the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Surveys (1988, 1994, 1999, and 2005/2006) we find that the proportion of households with no adults have remained stable in the last years, although the number of orphans have increased significantly. In fact, a large number of children living in CHH are non-orphans, which suggests that this kind of living arrangements is not always a direct consequence of parental death. Moreover, our analysis show that children living in CHH and YAH are less likely to have unmet basic needs than children in households headed by working-age adults and other vulnerable households