Amos Rapoport is one of the pioneers of the studies on the relationship between people and their environments. At the same time, analyzing the built environment as a factor co-determining human ...interactions in the courtroom tends to be more and more popular in literature. Following this line, the paper aims to consider whether Rapoport’s theoretical framework (especially its part related to non-verbal communication through the environment) could be fruitfully applied to the study of the courtroom, especially to shed some light on the spatial, physical, or architectural aspects of the courtroom (which is treated as a particular environment). This paper offers a very initial, preliminary examination of the usefulness of Rapoport’s framework in reference to the courtroom interior. What needs to be stressed is that, rather than focusing on a given jurisdiction as a point of reference when elaborating on the usefulness of Rapoport’s framework, the authors try to examine its general applicability.
We propose a novel tomographic measurement approach that enables a noise suppressed characterization of microstructures. The idea of this work is based on a finding that coherent noise in the input ...phase data generates an artificial circular structure whose magnitude is the highest at the centre of tomographic reconstruction. This method decreases the noise level by applying an unconventional tomographic measurement configuration with an object deliberately shifted with respect to the rotation axis. This enables a spatial separation between the reconstructed sample structure and the area of the largest refractive index perturbations. The input phase data defocusing that is a by-product of the introduced modification is numerically corrected with an automatic focus correction algorithm. The proposed method is validated with simulations and experimental measurements of an optical microtip.
Biochars are proposed as a strategy for long-term carbon sequestration. High resistance for decomposition, low decay rate and long estimated lifetime allow for stable forms of carbon to be retained ...in the environment. Nevertheless, the application of pyrolyzed feedstock, particularly along with exogenous organic matter, may affect carbon dynamics in soil through the introduction of labile compounds and the stimulation of extracellular enzymes. The aim of this research was to evaluate the influence of biochars and unprocessed organic amendments in two agricultural soils on the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content and activity of three enzymes involved in carbon turnover. In the incubation experiment, the activity of dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, and cellulase and the DOC content were measured on days 30, 60, 90, 180, and 360. The addition of biochars stimulated dehydrogenase and β-glucosidase, while cellulase was suppressed. Fresh biomass enhanced the activity of the enzymes through a priming effect. DOC content was the highest in treatments with high enzyme activity, suggesting that it acted as a source of energy for microbes. The findings suggest that the biochar properties and the presence of exogenous organic matter affect microbial response in soil, which might be crucial for carbon sequestration. However, long-term studies are recommended to fully understand the mechanisms that determine the response of soil biota to biochar.
Unfavourable quantitative and qualitative changes of soil organic matter result from degradation processes, such as water erosion connected with intense arable land use. In order to take adequate ...preventive action, the proper indicators of soil quality or degradation are urgently needed. In particular, tests considering the soil organic matter quality seem to be beneficial for soil monitoring. In this paper, we performed organic matter fractionation using the Tyurin and IHSS procedures on eight profiles of chernozemic soils (non-degraded, eroded, forest and accumulative soils). The study conducted confirmed the applicability of using humic and fulvic fractions in order to determine the pedogenesis processes and degradation rates of chernozemic soils. For example, the HA/FA ratio was higher in non-eroded and accumulative soils, compared with eroded or forest profiles. These findings were supported by statistical discrimination performed on the mid-infrared spectra of humic acids extracted from the selected profiles. Groups of samples were divided into classes depending on land usage or degradation rate. Considering the results, fractions of humic substances can be recommended as useful tools for the assessment of soil transformation.
Interactions with the Roman Empire presumably enhanced social differentiation and caused the emergence of an elite class among Gothic communities in present-day northern Poland (Pomerania) in the ...first centuries AD. Arguably, the process is documented archaeologically by the presence of exceptional burials, richly furnished with imported artefacts. Such features were discovered at the Wielbark culture cemetery in Czarnówko, however, due to poor preservation neither their infills nor the interred human remains have previously been fully examined. We studied (by means of osteological, Sr isotope, anthracological and soil analyses) a newly-found, well-preserved cremation grave in order to assess (1) the biological profile, geographical origin and mobility of the buried individual, (2) details of the multi-stage funerary practice, and (3) the formation of the grave-pit infill. Most probably, the grave belonged to a
senilis
woman who was born and spent her final years in Pomerania, seemingly living in good health. Except for outstanding grave goods, her funeral reassembled other Wielbark culture cremation interments: the body was burned shortly after death on a birch-wood pyre, together with single artefacts, at high temperatures, with good oxygen supply, until the calcination of bones. The burned remains were separated from the pyre debris and randomly deposited in the urn. The vessel was placed at the bottom of a pit and covered with sand containing charcoals. Subsequently, the grave was re-opened and backfilled once again. This singular cremation burial reflects the idea of “eliteness” in the local Gothic community – Roman-influenced but rooted in Wielbark culture traditions. However, to address the issue of social stratification comprehensively, similar research focused on graves of “common people” is required.
The increasing importance of large cities (metropolises) poses a range of challenges to the socio-economic functions of the rural and agricultural areas around them. One such challenge is pressure ...exerted on family-run farms to abandon agricultural activity and on people engaged in such activity to shift to other sectors. This may be a hindrance to successful succession on family farms. The aim of this paper is to present spatial variation in generational changes in farms located around large cities (metropolises) in Poland and to assess the factors affecting the scale of such changes. Special attention was paid to the importance of the location of farms relative to large cities. One innovative feature of the approach presented was to conduct an analysis of generational changes in the agricultural sector at the supra-local level along with an attempt to quantify the impact of large urban centers on that process. The empirical material based on which the conclusions were formulated included official statistics data and information made available by an institution engaged in the implementation of agricultural policy programs financed from European Union (EU) funds, i.e., young farmer payments (Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) pillar I) and measures “Setting up of young farmers” and “Early retirement” (CAP Pillar II). In the executed study, methods of descriptive and multivariate statistics, including regression trees, were used. It was found that socio-economic (exogenous) factors had a significant statistical impact on generational changes in farms. In areas with an attractive labor market and a high level of urbanization, a successful generational shift in farms occurred less often. Nonetheless, generational changes in the agriculture of the analyzed areas were relatively most strongly determined by endogenous factors linked with the economic potential of the farm. Farm characteristics (area of agricultural land and economic size) and the characteristics of managers, including in particular their education, were found to be more important than exogenous factors. In areas where large and economically strong farms dominated and the level of education among farmers was relatively high, generational changes were faster compared to other areas.
This paper’s aim is to promote greater interest in courtroom practices of minute-taking—the preparation of written documents that constitute a record of what was said and done in the courtroom during ...a case hearing, very often based on a judge’s dictation of rephrased questioned person’s statements to a clerk who records them. This aim is achieved through discussion ultimately focused on the distinguishable aspects of minute-taking (for example, faithfulness, frequency of interruptions, and linguistic precision), its possible underlying mechanisms (such as time limits or the quality of questioned person’s statements), and further consequences (especially for the dynamics of courtroom communication, opinions about judges, and basic procedural principles), followed by some remarks concerning the judge–clerk relationship outside the scope of minute-taking and more direct discussion of clerks themselves. The discussions and analyses presented here are empirically-grounded, forming a side result of a larger research project conducted in a Polish lower court that combined observations of case hearings with witness interviews. Despite their inadvertent origin, the investigations presented here demonstrate the complexity and multifaceted nature of minute-taking to a greater extent than previous relevant studies have revealed. While minute-taking has not been neglected entirely in legal research, there remain many questions to be addressed. This paper suggests some of these questions as well as potential directions for future research on minute-taking through discussion of how the identified aspects of minute-taking can be utilized and which theoretical frameworks may be applicable. Although the paper is a result of empirical research conducted in Poland, its aims are relevant outside the Polish context, particularly in other continental European countries where minutes are also taken from case hearings.
The aim of the paper is to outline a new original approach to judicial innovations, in comparison to the previous conceptualizations or actual innovation agendas. The proposed approach flows from ...larger theoretical and empirical project concerned with the reconceptualized, in comparison to Geert Hofstede’s, understanding of power distance and its application to courtroom interactions, especially between judges and witnesses. First, the paper carefully clarifies the underlying reconceptualized power distance and empirical research based on it, focused on judge-witness courtroom interactions. Subsequently, the proposed conceptualization of judicial innovations is presented, its assumptions explained and particular examples provided. Against the background of other judicial innovations studies and agendas, it is argued that this proposal is not only much more theoretically and conceptually clear, but, even more importantly, much more practical, in a sense that it significantly widens perspective on the possible advancements in judicial systems and helps in generating innovation ideas.
El objetivo del artículo es trazar un abordaje original al tema de las innovaciones judiciales, en comparación con conceptualizaciones anteriores o programas reales de innovación. El acercamiento propuesto fluye a partir de un proyecto teórico y empírico más amplio relacionado con la conceptualización, en comparación con la concepción de Geert Hofstede de la distancia de poder y su aplicación a la interacción en los tribunales, sobre todo entre jueces y testigos. Primero, el artículo clarifica cuidadosamente la distancia de poder reconceptualizada subyacente y la investigación empírica basada en ella y centrada en la interacción entre juez y testigo. En consecuencia, se presenta la conceptualización propuesta de innovaciones judiciales, con una explicación de sus supuestos y con ejemplos concretos. Sobre el trasfondo de otros estudios y programas de innovación judicial, se aduce que esta propuesta no sólo es mucho más clara en teoría y conceptos, sino que, lo que es más importante, es mucho más práctica, por cuanto amplifica de forma significativa la perspectiva sobre posibles avances en sistemas judiciales, y ayuda a generar nuevas ideas para innovar.
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