Media literacy education in higher education policy : pedagogical choices and learning outcomes

Includes vita.This study proposes a participatory pedagogical framework founded on critical thinking as a method for analysis, reflection, and creative production of media through an understanding of the ways in which media literacy is being taught in higher education institutions in the United States. A qualitative design was utilized that included techniques of content and ethnographic analysis to focus on shared patterns across a sample of higher education courses in the U.S. containing elements of media literacy instruction. This study has found inconsistencies in the pedagogical approaches being utilized, a misunderstanding of the critical thinking and inquiry-based learning methods required for a critical field such as media literacy, and the lack of administrative oversight or policy support as key factors contributing to the discrepancies in media literacy's instruction and learning outcomes. Implications include recommendations for the field to consolidate theoretical frameworks, modifications to teaching, and policy and administrative advocacy efforts.Includes bibliographical references (pages 233-249

The Craft of Incentive Prize Design: Lessons from the Public Sector

In the last five years, incentive prizes have transformed from an exotic open innovation tool to a proven innovation strategy for the public, private and philanthropic sectors. This report offers practical lessons for public sector leaders and their counterparts in the philanthropic and private sectors to help understand what types of outcomes incentive prizes help to achieve, what design elements prize designers use to create these challenges and how to make smart design choices to achieve a particular outcome. It synthesizes insights from expert interviews and analysis of more than 400 prize

The Iron Ore, Coal and Gas Sectors

The industrialisation of Asia – particularly China and India – has led to a strong increase in global demand for key resource commodities. The associated sharp rise in the prices of these commodities has underpinned a significant increase in the levels of Australia’s resource investment, production and exports over the past five years, especially for iron ore, coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG). This article outlines some key features and recent developments in these three commodity sectors within Australia.Resource exports; resource capacity; iron ore; coal; LNG

Place-based knowledge networks : the case of water management in South-West Victoria, Australia

This article aims to investigate the need for effective exchanges between knowledge generators and knowledge users in water management. Firstly, we explore the use of adaptive management for water governance and then outline the communication issues of water-management knowledge at a regional scale. Central to this approach is the need to harness \u27local\u27 knowledge that can be used to develop community participation in local water governance. Accordingly, we propose a three-network communication model to illustrate the process and identify the issues of concern for developing place-based strategies. Since research plays a central role in knowledge generation, one of the first ways to proceed is to recognise local research and incorporate it into an inclusive decision-making process. One way to achieve this is through the development of regional networks that are openly available to all, and we explore this by focusing on the place of \u27network thinking\u27 at local scale using a newly developed regional network for local knowledge dissemination in south-west Victoria, Australia. We conclude that so far this new network is too heavily reliant upon one web-based tool and outline a broader range of strategies that can be used to achieve its aims.<br /

Distribution of plasma membrane-associated syntaxins 1 through 4 indicates distinct trafficking functions in the synaptic layers of the mouse retina

BACKGROUND: Syntaxins 1 through 4 are SNAP receptor (SNARE) proteins that mediate vesicular trafficking to the plasma membrane. In retina, syntaxins 1 and 3 are expressed at conventional and ribbon synapses, respectively, suggesting that synaptic trafficking functions differ among syntaxin isoforms. To better understand syntaxins in synaptic signaling and trafficking, we further examined the cell- and synapse-specific expression of syntaxins 1 through 4 in the mouse retina by immunolabeling and confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Each isoform was expressed in the retina and showed a unique distribution in the synaptic layers of the retina, with little or no colocalization of isoforms. Syntaxin 1 was present in amacrine cell bodies and processes and conventional presynaptic terminals in the inner plexiform layer (IPL). Syntaxin 2 was present in amacrine cells and their processes in the IPL, but showed little colocalization with syntaxin 1 or other presynaptic markers. Syntaxin 3 was found in glutamatergic photoreceptor and bipolar cell ribbon synapses, but was absent from putative conventional glutamatergic amacrine cell synapses. Syntaxin 4 was localized to horizontal cell processes in the ribbon synaptic complexes of photoreceptor terminals and in puncta in the IPL that contacted dopaminergic and CD15-positive amacrine cells. Syntaxins 2 and 4 often were apposed to synaptic active zones labeled for bassoon. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that each syntaxin isoform has unique, non-redundant functions in synaptic signaling and trafficking. Syntaxins 1 and 3 mediate presynaptic transmitter release from conventional and ribbon synapses, respectively. Syntaxins 2 and 4 are not presynaptic and likely mediate post-synaptic trafficking

An investigation of Hertzian contact in soft materials using photoelastic tomography

Hertzian contact of a rigid sphere and a highly deformable soft solid is investigated using integrated photoelasticity. The experiments are performed by pressing a styrene sphere of 15 mm diameter against a 44 x 44 x 47 mm$^3$ cuboid made of 5% wt. gelatin, inside a circular polariscope, and with a range of forces. The emerging light rays are processed by considering that the retardation of each ray carries the cumulative effect of traversing the contact-induced axisymmetric stress field. Then, assuming Hertzian theory is valid, the retardation is analytically calculated for each ray and compared to the experimental one. Furthermore, a finite element model of the process introduces the effect of finite displacements and strains. Beyond the qualitative comparison of the retardation fields, the experimental, theoretical, and numerical results are quantitatively compared in terms of the maximum equivalent stress, surface displacement, and contact radius dimensions. A favorable agreement is found at lower force levels, where the assumptions of Hertz theory hold, whereas deviations are observed at higher force levels. A major discovery of this work is that at the maximum equivalent stress location, all three components of principal stress can be determined experimentally, and show satisfactory agreement with theoretical and numerical ones in our measurement range. This provides valuable insight into Hertzian contact problems since the maximum equivalent stress controls the initiation of plastic deformation or failure. The measured displacement and contact radii also reasonably agree with the theoretical and numerical ones. Finally, the limitations that arise due to the linearization of this problem are explored

Exclosures: An Experimental Technique for Protection of Northern Bobwhite Nests

Nest predation has been implicated as a factor affecting northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) recruitment rates. Public stakeholders are increasingly questioning use of lethal methods to manage predation. We evaluated a nonlethal method consisting of single nest treatments using an exclosure to protect nests from potential predators. The exclosure treatment also included use of Amdrot (hydramethylnon) and Snake-a-wayt repellents to deter red-imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) and snakes, respectively. We compared nest success of treated (n 1⁄4 8) to untreated nests (n 1⁄4 18). Treated nests were 88% successful which was a 2-fold increase over unprotected nests. We did not observe any difference in hen behavior between treatment and controls. This technique may be useful to study nest success of wild quail and is not intended to be a management technique to influence overall population growth

Functional Mobility Outcomes in Telehealth and In-Person Assessments for Wheeled Mobility Devices

The purpose of this study was to compare telehealth and in-person service delivery models for wheeled mobility devices in terms of functional outcomes. We hypothesized that clinically significant improvements in functional mobility measured by the Functional Mobility Assessment (FMA) will occur in individuals receiving both telehealth and in-person clinic evaluations. A total of 27 Veterans receiving telehealth visits were compared to 27 individuals seen in clinic, selected from a database, matching for age, gender, and primary diagnosis. All mean individual item and total FMA scores in both groups increased from Time 1 to Time 2. Within the telehealth group, all changes in individual item and total FMA scores were statistically significant, with changes in 8 of 10 items meeting threshold for clinical significance (change &gt;1.85 points). Within the clinic group, changes in 7 of 10 individual items and total FMA scores were statistically significant, and these same 7 items met threshold for clinical significance. Change scores for individual item and total FMA scores did not differ significantly between the two groups. A larger and clinically significant change in transfer score was seen in the telehealth group, suggesting telehealth visits may confer an advantage in being able to assess and address transfer issues in the home

Nest-Site Characteristics of Northern Bobwhites Translocated Into Weeping Lovegrass CRP

Habitat loss and fragmentation have been considered major causes for the decline of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). There are . 400,000 ha of weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields in the Southern High Plains of Texas some of which could be modified to provide usable habitat for northern bobwhites. Timely colonization of improved CRP habitat by northern bobwhite is unlikely without transplantation, because of distance from existing populations. We radio-marked and transplanted 94 northern bobwhite into weeping lovegrass CRP and monitored nest success. We recorded high nest success in 2002 (70%) and 2003 (71%) for northern bobwhite nesting in weeping lovegrass CRP in the area studied. The composition of weeping lovegrass CRP fields available in our study area appears to be suitable nesting cover for northern bobwhite