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Context: Research on emotional intelligence (EI) shows this concept's decades-long positive influence on well-being, self-efficacy, employability, and academic and professional achievement. Indeed, several studies have demonstrated that students with high EI have better grades and quality of life, as well as are more employable than students with low EI. By considering the two conceptualizations of EI as either an ability or personality trait, the present study investigates EI's influence on training achievement in initial vocational education and training (IVET). We posited that the two types of EI positively influence training achievement in a complementary way: Ability EI relates to achievement in theoretical training, while trait EI relates to achievement in practical training. Furthermore, these links are mediated by apprentices' engagement at school and in learning. Method: To test our hypotheses, 92 dual IVET health and social care apprentices in their last year of vocational school completed an online survey composed of validated scales measuring EI as an ability, EI as a personality trait, personality traits, and school engagement. The apprentices' grades were also obtained with their permission. Results: The findings confirmed our hypotheses and reflected EI's positive influence on training achievement. We observed that participants with high EI (as an ability and personality trait) obtained better grades than participants with lower EI. Moreover, our results showed that ability EI has a direct influence on achievement in theoretical health and social care training, while the link between trait EI and practical training is indirect and mediated by engagement in learning. Conclusion: The present study confirms EI's positive influence on school achievement in the VET context and further corroborates the important role that EI can play in dual IVET apprentices' achievement, particularly in the health and social sectors. This original study contributes to research on the VET system by placing EI among the skills necessary to ensure professional success.

This article examines the ways in which the scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL) can be integrated into graduate education in the humanities to support future faculty preparation in teaching. Drawing on data from a multi-year project at a research-1 institution in the United States, and theories from postmodern geography and postcolonial studies, the article argues that such integration engenders both reflective practice and deeper understanding of the relationship between disciplinary epistemologies and pedagogic knowledge. Moreover, when such integration occurs within the contours of a "third space", it affords graduate students an opportunity for rewriting narratives of professional identities. That is, when SOTL is integrated into graduate education in sites outside the formal department or doctoral program yet inside the institutional context, it can effectively change the ethos of teaching. (Contains 17 notes.)

Brown rot is a major disease of stone fruits caused by Monilinia spp. It can reach high incidence that leads to considerable losses during storage. Our work aimed at the evaluation of innovative biological and integrated approaches to control brown rot of apricots and peaches, and of their influence on the presence of fungicide residues both in the harvested fruits and derived peach juices. In this work, we report the results of a two-year field investigation carried out in 5 different farms in Southern Italy. Plant health management strategy was based on two treatments performed in the last thirty days before harvest. Two biocontrol agents (BCAs), the yeast Rhodotorula kratochvilovae strain LS11 and the commercial biofungicide Serenade Max® (based on Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713), were applied alone (biocontrol) or in combination with low doses of the fungicides (25% of full dosage, integrated control) cyprodinil (30 days before harvest), and boscalid (7 days before harvest). The highest protection was recorded in conventional (fungicides applied at full dosage) and integrated control treatments, both on apricots and peaches. In the integrated control, residues of fungicides in fruits and in peach juice were significantly lower compared to those of the conventional control in both fruit species. Our data show that biological and integrated control based on two key treatments at thirty and seven days before harvest can be considered as effective and safer control strategies of brown rot of stone fruits. Furthermore, the applied strategies can dramatically reduce and even set to zero the level of fungicide residues in derived fruit juices. • Rhodotorula kratochvilovae was effective in controlling brown rot of stone fruits. • Biological and integrated control strategies were effective against brown rot. • Integration of biological and chemical control minimized fungicide residue in juice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]