Student agency for democratic culture in schools:a thematic analysis of reference framework of competences for democratic culture

Abstract. Neoliberal education paradigm consists of theories such as human capital theory and social capital theory. The aim of neoliberal education paradigm is to increase the effectiveness of education systems. Effective education systems are expected to integrate students to the work force to create a prosperous society with a more opportunities for work and in life for the citizens. Schooling practices such as classrooms, subjects, curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment are structured based on this paradigm. Decisionmakers are more influential on these practices than students. In that context, neoliberal education paradigm limits the democratic practices in education and ignores promoting democratic culture in schools. Creating democratic culture in schools and education requires a student-centered approach. The Council of Europe published “the reference framework of competences for democratic culture” as the core of the “free to speak, safe to learn — democratic schools for all” campaign in 2018. The framework aims to increase the students’ competences so that they can deal with complex social issues in Europe, such as populism and extremism, within democracy. The framework offers a student-centered approach to schooling. The aim of this study is to analyze how the framework define student agency in relation to creating democratic culture in schools for Europe. The research questions for the analysis are “How does the framework define student agency in relation to democratic culture in schools?” and “How does the framework connect student agency and school context?”. The framework is analyzed by using thematic analysis. The themes that I have developed in my analysis are: democratic environment in schools; conventional approaches to schooling; teachers teaching the competences; students as democratic agents. The research paradigm relies on poststructuralism and critical pedagogy. The framework adapts a student-centered approach and aims to create a space for students to practice their agency in all aspects of schooling. Students are expected to be autonomous individuals who can function in a democracy. However, some practices are under the influence of neoliberal education paradigm. Democratic culture is to be promoted by questioning and changing the neoliberal schooling practices and the methods to teach democracy. Schooling practices is to be inclusive to create a more robust democratic platform for every stakeholder of the school community to practice democracy

Glyphosate reduced seed and leaf concentrations of calcium, manganese, magnesium, and iron in non-glyphosate resistant soybean

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to study the effects of glyphosate drift on plant growth and concentrations of mineral nutrients in leaves and seeds of non-glyphosate resistant soybean plants (Glycine max, L.). Glyphosate was sprayed on plant shoots at increasing rates between 0.06 and 1.2% of the recommended application rate forweed control. In an experiment with 3-week-old plants, increasing application of glyphosate on shoots significantly reduced chlorophyll concentration of the young leaves and shoots dry weight, particularly the young parts of plants. Concentration of shikimate due to increasing glyphosate rates was nearly 2-fold for older leaves and 16-fold for younger leaves compared to the control plants without glyphosate spray. Among the mineral nutrients analyzed, the leaf concentrations of potassium (K), phosphorus (P), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were not affected, or even increased significantly in case of P and Cu in young leaves by glyphosate, while the concentrations of calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn) and magnesium (Mg) were reduced, particularly in young leaves. In the case of Fe, leaf concentrations showed a tendency to be reduced by glyphosate. In the second experiment harvested at the grain maturation, glyphosate application did not reduce the seed concentrations of nitrogen (N), K, P, Zn and Cu. Even, at the highest application rate of glyphosate, seed concentrations of N, K, Zn and Cuwere increased by glyphosate. By contrast, the seed concentrations of Ca, Mg, Fe and Mn were significantly reduced by glyphosate. These results suggested that glyphosatemay interfere with uptake and retranslocation of Ca, Mg, Fe and Mn, most probably by binding and thus immobilizing them. The decreases in seed concentration of Fe, Mn, Ca and Mg by glyphosate are very specific, and may affect seed quality

Medial olivocochlear suppression in musicians versus non-musicians

The medial olivocochlear efferent (MOCE) branch synapses with outer hair cells (OHCs), and the efferent pathway can be activated via a contralateral acoustic stimulus (CAS). The activation of MOCE can change OHC motile responses and convert signals that are capable of controlling the sensitivity of the peripheral hearing system in a frequency-specific manner. The aim of this study was to examine the MOCE system activity in professional musicians using transient evoked otoacoustic emission test and CAS. Musician group showed stronger suppression in all frequency bands in the presence of CAS

The Case for Improving the Robinson Formulas

Auroral particle precipitation is the main source of ionization on the nightside, making it a critical factor in geospace physics. This magnetosphere‐ionosphere linkage directly contributes to, even controls, the nonlinear feedback within this coupled system. One study has dominated our understanding of this connection, presenting a pair of equations relating auroral particle precipitation to ionospheric Pedersen and Hall conductance, the famous Robinson formulas. This Commentary examines the history of the development and usage of the Robinson formulas and the recent studies exploring corrections and expansions to it. The conclusion is that more work needs to be done; the space physics research community should take up the task to develop improvements and enhancements to better quantify the connection of auroral precipitation to ionospheric conductance.Key PointsThe development and usage of the famous Robinson formulas, relating auroral precipitation to ionospheric conductance, is recountedRecent approaches to address shortcomings of these formulas are reviewed and discussed, noting shortcomings in some of these studiesThe space physics research community is urged to take on the action of improving the connection between precipitation and conductancePeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163473/2/jgra56025.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163473/1/jgra56025_am.pd

Heavy metal accumulation in Artemisia and foliaceous lichen species from the Azerbaijan flora

Artemisia plants and foliaceous lichens are known to be capable of accumulating heavy metals (HM) from soil and air. These plant species are widespread on polluted sites of Azerbaijan. However, so far their capacity to accumulate HM in their shoots and roots has not been tested. Three Artemisia and two lichen species were collected from different contaminated sites of Azerbaijan. Plant and surface soil samples were measured for Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn concentrations by ICP-AES.The results indicated that among the Artemisia species A. scoparia showed the best HM accumulation properties. Lichen species were also distinguished by very high amounts of HM in their biomass, while in surrounding soil samples HM concentrations had higher contents than the soils occupied only with Artemisia species.The results indicate that on contaminated sites Artemisia and lichens accumulated metals in their biomass without toxicity symptoms. Taking large biomass and high adaptation ability into account, A. scoparia represents a good tool for a phytoremediation approach on polluted soils