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To date, several studies have investigated the potential benefits of using Quizlet and podcasts for vocabulary development. However, they have mainly focused on the use of available material, and its effects on receptive vocabulary acquisition and students' motivation. In contrast, relatively little has been done to study the effects of student-generated podcasts and Quizlet flashcards sets on second language vocabulary acquisition including productive skills. Hence, the present study seeks to analyze and compare how student-created podcasts and Quizlet flashcards affect vocabulary retention, taking into account both receptive and productive vocabulary knowledge. Twenty-three adults, aged 18-61, participated in the study. The instruments used were vocabulary tests as pre-tests to check students' prior knowledge, and as immediate post-tests to measure receptive and productive vocabulary acquisition, and a questionnaire to gauge students' perceptions of the two methods. Results showed that although there was no significant difference between the two methods regarding receptive or productive vocabulary acquisition, and both techniques helped students to retain new vocabulary, participants expressed a greater preference for the Quizlet methodology.

There are two main approaches to downscale global climate projections: dynamical and statistical downscaling. Both families have been widely evaluated, but intercomparison studies between the two families are scarce, and usually limited to temperature and precipitation. In this work, we present a comparison between a statistical downscaling model (SDM) based on machine learning and six regional climate models (RCMs) from EURO‐CORDEX, for five variables of interest: temperature, precipitation, wind, humidity and solar radiation under present climatic conditions. The study is conducted at a continental scale over Europe, with a spatial resolution of 0.11° and daily data. Both the SDM and the RCMs are driven by the ERA‐Interim reanalysis, and observations are taken from the gridded dataset E‐OBS. Several aspects have been evaluated: daily series, mean values and extremes, spatial patterns and also temporal aspects. Additionally, a multivariable index (fire weather index) derived from the fundamental variables has been included. The SDM has better scores than the RCMs for all the evaluated metrics with only a few exceptions, mainly related to an underestimation of the variance. After bias correction, both the SDM and the six RCMs present similar results, with no significant differences among them. Results presented here, combined with the low computational expense of SDMs and the limited availability of RCMs over some CORDEX domains, should motivate the consideration of statistical downscaling at the same level as RCMs by official providers of regional information, and its inclusion in reference sites. Nonetheless, further analysis on crucial aspects such as the impact on long‐term trends or the sensitivity of different methods to being driven by global climate models, is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a crucial component of the terrestrial carbon cycle and its turnover time in models is a key source of uncertainty. Studies have highlighted the utility of δ13C measurements for benchmarking SOC turnover in global models. We used 13C as a tracer within a vertically discretized soil module of a land‐surface model, Organising Carbon and Hydrology In Dynamic Ecosystems‐ Soil Organic Matter (ORCHIDEE‐SOM). Our new module represents some of the processes that have been hypothesized to lead to a 13C enrichment with soil depth as follows: 1) the Suess effect and CO2 fertilization, 2) the relative 13C enrichment of roots compared to leaves, and 3) 13C discrimination associated with microbial activity. We tested if the upgraded soil module was able to reproduce the vertical profile of δ13C within the soil column at two temperate sites and the short‐term change in the isotopic signal of soil after a shift in C3/C4 vegetation. We ran the model over Europe to test its performance at larger scale. The model was able to simulate a shift in the isotopic signal due to short‐term changes in vegetation cover from C3 to C4; however, it was not able to reproduce the overall vertical profile in soil δ13C, which arises as a combination of short and long‐term processes. At the European scale, the model ably reproduced soil CO2 fluxes and total SOC stock. These findings stress the importance of the long‐term history of land cover for simulating vertical profiles of δ13C. This new soil module is an emerging tool for the diagnosis and improvement of global SOC models. Key Points: Soil 13C was incorporated as a tracer in the land surface model ORCHIDEE‐SOMThe model was able to reproduce short‐term changes such as those observed after a shift in C3/C4 vegetationLong‐term changes in δ13C were more difficult to represent, highlighting the importance of some missing mechanisms [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are evidences of how climate change is affecting seaweeds distribution and the ecosystems services they provide. Therefore, it is necessary to consider these impacts when managing marine areas. One of the most applied tools in recent years to deal with this are species distribution models, however there are still some challenges to solve, such as the inclusion of hydrodynamic predictors and the application of effective, transferable and user-oriented methodologies. Five species (Saccorhiza polyschides , Gelidium spinosum , Sargassum muticum , Pelvetia canaliculata and Cystoseira baccata) in Europe and 15 variables were considered. Nine of them were projected to the RCPs 4.5 and 8.5 for the mid-term (2040–2069) and the long term (2070–2099). Algorithms for each species were applied to generate models that were assessed by comparison of probabilities and observations (area under the curve, true skill statistics, Boyce index, sensitivity, correct classification rate), niches overlap (Schoener's D, Hellinger's I), geographical similarity (interquartile range) and ecological realism. Models built demonstrated very good predictive accuracy and sensitivity, without overfitting risk. A medium overlap in the historical and RCPs environmental conditions were obtained, therefore the models can be considered transferable and results accurate because only some isolated points were detected as outliers, corresponding to low probabilities. The areas of S. polyschides and G. spinosum have been identified to be dramatically reduced, meanwhile S. muticum and C. baccata were predicted to expand their range. P. canaliculata was expected to keep its sites of presence but with a decrease in its probability of occurrence. For all species it was remarkable the importance of hydrodynamic variables and parameters representing extreme conditions. Spatially predictions of the potential species and areas at risk are decisive for defining management strategies and resource allocation. The performance and usefulness of the approach applied in this study have been demonstrated for algae with different ecological requirements (from upper littoral to subtidal) and distributional patterns (native and invasive), therefore results can be used by marine planners with different goals: marine protected areas designation, monitoring efforts guiding, invasions risk assessment or aquaculture facilities zonation. Image 1 • Distribution area of S. polyschides and G. spinosum would be dramatically reduced. • S. muticum and C. baccata would expand their range in climate change scenarios. • P. canaliculata probability of occurrence would decrease. • Remarkable importance of hydrodynamic variables and extreme conditions. • Dependence plots for all parameters and species were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in surface waters is connected to DOC in soil solution through hydrological pathways. Therefore, it is expected that long-term dynamics of DOC in surface waters reflect DOC trends in soil solution. However, a multitude of site studies have failed so far to establish consistent trends in soil solution DOC, whereas increasing concentrations in European surface waters over the past decades appear to be the norm, possibly as a result of recovery from acidification. The objectives of this study were therefore to understand the long-term trends of soil solution DOC from a large number of European forests (ICP Forests Level II plots) and determine their main physicochemical and biological controls. We applied trend analysis at two levels: (1) to the entire European dataset and (2) to the individual time series and related trends with plot characteristics, i.e., soil and vegetation properties, soil solution chemistry and atmospheric deposition loads. Analyses of the entire dataset showed an overall increasing trend in DOC concentrations in the organic layers, but, at individual plots and depths, there was no clear overall trend in soil solution DOC. The rate change in soil solution DOC ranged between -16.8 and =23%yr-1 (medianD C0.4%yr-1/across Europe. The non-significant trends (40 %) outnumbered the increasing (35 %) and decreasing trends (25 %) across the 97 ICP Forests Level II sites. By means of multivariate statistics, we found increasing trends in DOC concentrations with increasing mean nitrate (NO3-/deposition and increasing trends in DOC concentrations with decreasing mean sulfate (SO42-/deposition, with the magnitude of these relationships depending on plot deposition history. While the attribution of increasing trends in DOC to the reduction of SO42- deposition could be confirmed in low to medium N deposition areas, in agreement with observations in surface waters, this was not the case in high N deposition areas. In conclusion, longterm trends of soil solution DOC reflected the interactions between controls acting at local (soil and vegetation properties) and regional (atmospheric deposition of SO42- and inorganic N) scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying, promoting and preserving a strategically planned green infrastructure (GI) network can provide ecological, economic and social benefits. It has also become a priority for the planning and decision-making process in sectors such as conservation, (land) resource efficiency, agriculture, forestry or urban development. In this paper we propose a methodology that can be used to identify and map GI elements at landscape level based on the notions of ecological connectivity, multi-functionality of ecosystems and maximisation of benefits both for humans and for natural conservation. Our approach implies, first, the quantification and mapping of the natural capacity to deliver ecosystem services and, secondly, the identification of core habitats and wildlife corridors for biota. All this information is integrated and finally classified in a two-level GI network. The methodology is replicable and flexible (it can be tailored to the objectives and priorities of the practitioners); and it can be used at different spatial scales for research, planning or policy implementation. The method is applied in a continental scale analysis covering the EU-27 territory, taking into account the delivery of eight regulating and maintenance ecosystem services and the requirements of large mammals’ populations. The best performing areas for ecosystem services and/or natural habitat provision cover 23% of Europe and are classified as the core GI network. Another 16% of the study area with relatively good ecological performance is classified as the subsidiary GI network. There are large differences in the coverage of the GI network among countries ranging from 73% of the territory in Estonia to 6% in Cyprus. A potential application of these results is the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, assuming that the core GI network might be crucial to maintain biodiversity and natural capital and, thus, should be conserved; while the subsidiary network could be restored to increase both the ecological and social resilience. This kind of GI analysis could be also included in the negotiations of the European Regional Development Funds or the Rural Development Programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lateral transport of carbon plays an important role in linking the carbon cycles of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. There is, however, a lack of information on the factors controlling one of the main C sources of this lateral flux, i.e., the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in soil solution across large spatial scales and under different soil, vegetation, and climate conditions. We compiled a database on DOC in soil solution down to 80 cm and analyzed it with the aim, first, to quantify the differences in DOC concentrations among terrestrial ecosystems, climate zones, soil, and vegetation types at global scale and second, to identify potential determinants of the site-to-site variability of DOC concentration in soil solution across European broadleaved and coniferous forests. We found that DOC concentrations were 75% lower in mineral than in organic soil, and temperate sites showed higher DOC concentrations than boreal and tropical sites. The majority of the variation ( R2 = 0.67-0.99) in DOC concentrations in mineral European forest soils correlates with NH4+, C/N, Al, and Fe as the most important predictors. Overall, our results show that the magnitude (23% lower in broadleaved than in coniferous forests) and the controlling factors of DOC in soil solution differ between forest types, with site productivity being more important in broadleaved forests and water balance in coniferous stands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mapping and assessment of ecosystem services is essential to provide scientific support to global and EU biodiversity policy. Coastal protection has been mostly analysed in the frame of coastal vulnerability studies or in local, habitat-specific assessments. This paper provides a conceptual and methodological approach to assess coastal protection as an ecosystem service at different spatial–temporal scales, and applies it to the entire EU coastal zone. The assessment of coastal protection incorporates 14 biophysical and socio-economic variables from both terrestrial and marine datasets. Those variables define three indicators: coastal protection capacity, coastal exposure and human demand for protection. A questionnaire filled by coastal researchers helped assign ranks to categorical parameters and weights to the individual variables. The three indicators are then framed into the ecosystem services cascade model to estimate how coastal ecosystems provide protection, in particular describing the service function, flow and benefit. The results are comparative and aim to support integrated land and marine spatial planning. The main drivers of change for the provision of coastal protection come from the widespread anthropogenic pressures in the European coastal zone, for which a short quantitative analysis is provided. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The Summit of Independent European Vaccination Experts (SIEVE) recommended in 2007 that efforts be made to improve healthcare workers' knowledge and beliefs about vaccines, and their attitudes towards them, to increase vaccination coverage. The aim of the study was to compile and analyze the areas of disagreement in the existing evidence about the relationship between healthcare workers' knowledge, beliefs and attitudes about vaccines and their intentions to vaccinate the populations they serve. Methods: We conducted a systematic search in four electronic databases for studies published in any of seven different languages between February 1998 and June 2009. We included studies conducted in developed countries that used statistical methods to relate or associate the variables included in our research question. Two independent reviewers verified that the studies met the inclusion criteria, assessed the quality of the studies and extracted their relevant characteristics. The data were descriptively analyzed. Results: Of the 2354 references identified in the initial search, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. The diversity in the study designs and in the methods used to measure the variables made it impossible to integrate the results, and each study had to be assessed individually. All the studies found an association in the direction postulated by the SIEVE experts: among healthcare workers, higher awareness, beliefs that are more aligned with scientific evidence and more favorable attitudes toward vaccination were associated with greater intentions to vaccinate. All the studies included were cross-sectional; thus, no causal relationship between the variables was established. Conclusion: The results suggest that interventions aimed at improving healthcare workers' knowledge, beliefs and attitudes about vaccines should be encouraged, and their impact on vaccination coverage should be assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Higher Education regulation process in Europe, known as the Bologna Process, has involved many changes, mainly in relation to methodology and assessment. According to some authors, one of the terms that may characterise best this Higher Education framework is "modularization". This concept is linked to the new structure of the university studies which is precisely based on "modules". The paper given below is related to implementation of the new EU study plans into the Teacher Training University College of Vitoria-Gasteiz; it is the first interdisciplinary paper involving teaching staff and related to the Teaching Profession module, the first contained in the structure of the new plans. The coordination of teaching staff is one of the main lines of work in the Bologna Process, which is essential to develop the right skills and maximise the role of students as an active learning component. The use of active, interdisciplinary methodologies has opened up a new dimension in universities, requiring the elimination of the once componential, individual structure, making us look for new areas of exchange that enable students' training to be developed jointly. Among the conclusions it is highlighted the implementation of module which has had its difficulties to be carried out. Moreover, we show the principal valuations made by teaching staff and students about this first interdisciplinary experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A multi-residue method for the analysis of semi-volatile organic pollutants in inland groundwater (river water) at ultra-trace levels in compliance with the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) has been developed and validated by stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) and thermal desorption coupled with gas chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (SBSE-TD–GC–MS/MS(QqQ)). The method includes various families of compounds included in the WFD and other compounds listed as persistent organic pollutants that are banned in the Stockholm Convention of Persistent Organic Pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatics hydrocarbons, and other pesticides not included in the WFD. The method also can be applied for compliance with regional environmental laws. Extraction conditions were optimised in order to analyse simultaneously analytes with very different polarities and octanol–water partition coefficients, which is an important parameter in the optimisation of a SBSE method. The quantification limits (LOQs) obtained ranged from 0.14 to 10ngL−1, lower that others presented in previous publications, and complies with the requirement for analytical methods to be used in the analysis of the compounds included in the WFD. Several quality parameters as linearity, trueness and precision were studied with good results, and also uncertainty was estimated. The WFD requires that the level of uncertainty must be lower than 50%, and this requirement was met for all compounds. Precision (in terms of RSD) was lower than 30%, recoveries ranged between 74 and 111%, and determination coefficients were higher than 0.990 for all analytes. Different factors that affect the SBSE procedure were optimised. GC–MS/MS parameters have also been revised. The accuracy of the method was tested participating in a proficiency testing scheme for each group of analytes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The definition of coastal waters in relation to the European Union (EU) environmental legislation was clearly stated in the Water Framework Directive. In compliance with this Directive, most of the EU Member States have delineated their coastal waters’ boundaries. However, these delineations are not as complete and homogeneous as could be expected. Hence, there is a need for a comprehensive and unambiguous delimitation of European coastal waters. This paper aims at bridging this gap, providing a pan-European mapping of coastal waters, covering 553,817km2 in 30 seaside countries, 340,524km2 of which pertain to the 22 EU Member States connected to the sea. For this purpose, a comprehensive geographical analysis of the national baselines and transitional waters distribution was performed. A pan-European baseline of 63,340km was delineated, together with the coastal waters delimitation (the final GIS layers are provided as supplementary material of this article). The results show significant differences between the available national declarations of coastal waters and the areas identified in this work (almost 12% of the compared area), the former defining an additional 29,337km2 of coastal waters with respect to the latter. The largest deviations seem to be due either to misinterpretations of the definition of coastal waters, or to one-sided national modifications. A clear identification of European coastal water boundaries is crucial for the Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive implementations, which depend on an accurate ecological/environmental assessment of those waters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article centers on the potential attractiveness of central and east European countries' (CEEC) economies for industrial groups given their comparative economic and institutional characteristics. The authors focus on the possibility that cars and components production may be relocated from plants currently operating in Spain to plants in new member states of the CEEC and that new investments under corporate internationalization strategies may go to those countries seeking to take advantage of the benefits inherent in setting up in states such as Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. The authors look at the key variables for decision making and compare the theoretical probabilities with assessments drawn up by firms themselves concerning location factors on the basis of information gathered during field work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the European Water Framework Directive, waterbodies have to be classified on the basis of their ecological status using biological quality elements, such as macroinvertebrates. This needs to take into consideration the influence of natural variation (both spatial and temporal) of reference biological communities as this may obscure the effects caused by anthropogenic disturbance. We studied the influence of among-habitat and temporal (seasonal and interannual) changes on the macroinvertebrate communities of an Iberian shallow lake and the variability of 21 measures potentially useful for bioindication purposes. Two series of data were examined: (a) macroinvertebrate samples taken on four occasions over an annual cycle were used to assess the effects of seasonality and among-habitat variability; (b) macroinvertebrate samples collected in three consecutive summers were used to assess interannual variability. Coefficients of variation, expressed as percentage, were used to quantify the effect of among-habitat and temporal variability on the selected metrics. According to our results, % Insecta, Shannon–Wiener diversity index and the qualitative taxonomic metrics (measures based on number of taxa) were robust in terms of temporal (seasonal and interannual) and among-habitat variability. Abundance ratio and some metrics based on functional feeding groups were highly variable. Therefore, qualitative taxonomic metrics may be promising tools in biomonitoring programs of Mediterranean shallow lakes due to their comparatively low variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to disentangle the causes of variations in water chemistry among European shallow lakes, we performed standardised sampling programs in 86 lakes along a latitudinal gradient from southern Spain to northern Sweden. Lakes with an area of 0.1 to 27 000 ha and mean depth of 0.4–5.6 m located in low to high altitudes were investigated within the EC project ECOFRAME 1–4 times during June–October 2000–2001. Several variables like conductivity, alkalinity, abundance of submerged plants, concentrations of suspended solids, total nitrogen and phosphorus were latitude-dependent decreasing from south to north. Secchi depth, concentrations of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, suspended solids, and chlorophyll a correlated strongly with the presumed quality classes of the lakes. We came to the conclusion that the variability of shallow lakes in Europe is still mostly dependent on natural differences. Variables connected to lake morphometry, seasonality, basin geology and climate explained altogether nearly half of the total variability of lakes. The trophic state factor, describing mostly the human influence on lakes, was the strongest single factor responsible for nearly a quarter of the total variability of the studied European lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers how recent tendencies in automotive production have affected suppliers in the European periphery. Assembly-firm strategies and the consequent reactions of component suppliers are analysed. Demands from the former have led to the emergence of oligopolies in the production of more complex systems. The effects of this productive reorganization on European periphery suppliers are explored with reference to the case of Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial diversity of agricultural soils has gained importance as an indicator of soil health and related soil functions. Among the ecosystem services provided by soil microorganisms it is important to highlight the soil suppressiveness which is the ability of a soil to prevent/suppress disease development in the presence of a virulent pathogen and a susceptible host plant, interacting under favourable climatic conditions for disease development. The project SoilMan aims to study in detail the existing relationships between soil management, and how soil biodiversity in arable fields affect soil ecosystem services and its effect on productivity and sustainability. The starting hypothesis is that edapho-climatic conditions, combined with different soil management practices, will modify the microbial community composition and therefore the level of soil suppressiveness to soilborne plant pathogens.Within the project SoilMan, long term experiments with crop rotations and under low (direct drilling) and high (conventional) tillage intensities were selected across Europe (Spain, France, Germany, Romania and Sweden) with wheat as a common crop in the rotation. Soil sampling from the top 25 cm was carried out during the springs of 2017 and 2018 at the same wheat developmental stage in each country and different soil physicochemical indicators were measured. A soil suppressiveness experiment with the model pathosystem V. dahliae/watermelon was performed using classical pathogenicity tests in growth chambers. Disease incidence and severity was measured weekly, and the final number of infected and death plants, for each treatment. Additionally, plant physiological variables including plant height and fresh weight, flavonoid, chlorophyll and anthocyanin leaf content, nitrogen balance index (NBI), leaf temperature and leaf reflectance within the visible and NIR regions were measured on all treatments combinations at the end of the experiment (3 months). Initial analyses indicated that both the type of soil, the soil management, and their interactions affected disease development. However, the effect of soil management was lower as compared to the soil type on disease variables. Leaf Chlorophyll and NBI showed little variation among soils and values were in general higher for non-inoculated plants. On the contrary, flavonoids showed great differences among soils, management systems and inoculation treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, has emerged as a major invasive insect pest of small and stone fruits in both the Americas and Europe in the last decade. Females oviposit in ripening fruit, and significant economic losses can occur. Control measures are mainly associated with the use of pesticides, but the sterile insect technique (SIT), an ecologically friendly pest-specific method, could be used against this species. The objective of this study was to estimate the mass rearing, quality control parameters, and bioconversion using four artificial larval diets and their economic aspects oriented to the SIT application. Diets were based on the combination of coconut fiber, corncob powder, Brewer's and Torula yeast and were used as oviposition substrate and larval development. We found that a life cycle is completed in 10.19 ± 0.35 d and that adults live an average of 33.67 ± 0.76 d. The highest number of pupae per gram of diet and the maximum bioconversion (6%) were associated with flies developed in the coconut fiber + Brewer's yeast diet. Under our conditions, the establishment of D. suzukii required at least four generations. The use of 30 × 40 × 30 cm Plexiglas cages, each loaded with 5,000 adults and stocked with 500 g of coconut fiber and Brewer's yeast diet distributed in 15 × 5 × 10 cm plastic trays with a diet layer 3-cm thick, allows a minimum production of 84,000 pupae of D. suzukii per day., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)