Integrating content-based language learning and intercultural learning online: An international eGrops collaboration

Learning language through content in the tertiary context presents a challenge in that language teachers, particularly in EAP/ESP contexts, are not necessarily experts in their students’ speciality subject areas, while subject experts might lack language teaching methodology. Furthermore, intercultural awareness, a key qualification in today’s global work environment, tends to take a back seat in a content-based approach. This paper reports on a didactic concept which integrates subject-based language learning with intercultural experience through online collaboration in an international eGroups set-up. The creation of a collaborative learning space aimed to bring together learners from different cultural contexts (New Zealand and Germany) and with different target languages (German and English) towards shared learning outcomes. Data from student interactions will help illustrate to what extent the eGroups model promoted interactive, communicative and intercultural competence through content-related bilingual collaboration

Value-oriented process modeling - towards a financial perspective on business process redesign

To date, typical process modeling approaches put a strong emphasis on describing behavioral aspects of business operations. However, they often neglect value-related information. Yet, such information is of key importance to strategic decisionmaking, for instance in the context of process improvement or business engineering. In this paper we propose a valueoriented approach to business process modeling based on key concepts and metrics from operations and financial management. A simple case study suggests that our approach facilitates managerial decision-making in the context of process re-design

Mechanics of replenishment of a heavily hunted population of snowshoe hares

To evaluate the relative roles of natality and immigration in the replenishment of a heavily hunted population of snowshoe hares

Reintroduction of the Cougar Felis Concolor in Adirondack Park: A Problem Analysis and Recommendations

The objectives of this study are to (1) collect current information on the existence of free-living cougars in the northeast; (2) develop techniques relating cougar sightings and sign to population density; (3) examine existing cougar materials in the northeast in relation to museum specimens; (4) collect historical information; (5) determine the extent of captive cougar escapes in the northeast; (6) identify potential areas of cougar survival; (7) develop a conservation plan for the subspecies; and (8) coordinate with the southeastern cougar, headed by Mr. Robert L. Downing of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Observing Snowshoe Hares in Adirondack Forest Openings and Management Implications

In the Adirondack region, snowshoe hares are not commonly seen during most of the year because of their secretive nature and affinity tor dense forest cover. However, in spring they can be observed in grassy forest openings. The mean duration of individual hare observations for mornings and evenings was 13 minutes. Ninety percent of the time was spent by hares sitting and feeding. Hares in openings stayed on the average of 2 m away from the forest edge. Snowshoe hares apparently venture into sunlit openings to feed on the dense spring growth of annual plants. Stem densities of grasses and annual plants in openings were 3.2 to 17.2 times as great as stem densities in adjacent forest during May. The high level of hare activity in openings in mid-May coincides with mean parturition and conception dates for the first and second litters respectively

Habitat management for optimum population densities and maximum utilization of snowshoe hares

To develop habitat management procedures for optimum population densities and maximum utilization of snowshoe hare

Little Things Become Big : Drivers and impacts of benthic cyanobacterial blooms on coral reefs

Over the past four decades, benthic cyanobacterial mat abundance has increased significantly on many coral reefs worldwide. It however remains unclear what actually drives their current success, and how they impact the reef ecosystem as a whole. This PhD thesis presents a missing link that explains - via a mechanistic approach - the recent proliferation of benthic cyanobacterial mats. Results indicate that benthic cyanobacterial mats have a large impact on the functioning of the reef, especially via their vast N2 fixation capacity and release of dissolved organic carbon into the water column. Additionally, in comparison to other reef organisms, benthic cyanobacterial mats have very high nutrient uptake kinetics and high primary productivity rates. These characteristics likely contribute to their recent successfulness on the reef. This thesis furthermore suggests that nutrient and organic matter reduction is essential to prevent benthic cyanobacterial blooms from occurring on the reef