Classtalk: A Classroom Communication System for Active Learning

This pdf file is an article describing the advantages of using Classtalk technology in the classroom to enhance classroom communication. Classtalk technology cab facilitate the presentation of questions for small group work, collec the student answers and then display histograms showing how the class answered. This new communication technology can help instructors create a more interactive, student centered classroom, especially when teaching large courses. The article describes Classtalk as a very useful tool not only for engaging students in active learning, but also for enhancing the overall communication within the classroom. This article is a selection from the electronic Journal for Computing in Higher Education. Educational levels: Graduate or professional

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia Australasian consensus practice statement

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most common haematological malignancy in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). Considerable changes to diagnostic and management algorithms have occurred within the last decade. The availability of next-generation sequencing and measurable residual disease assessment by flow cytometry allow for advanced prognostication and response assessments. Novel therapies, including inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTKi) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) inhibitors, have transformed the treatment landscape for both treatment-naïve and relapsed/refractory disease, particularly for patients with high-risk genetic aberrations. Recommendations regarding appropriate supportive management continue to evolve, and special considerations are required for patients with CLL with respect to the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The unique funding and treatment environments in Australasia highlight the need for specific local guidance with respect to the investigation and management of CLL. This consensus practice statement was developed by a broadly representative group of ANZ experts in CLL with endorsement by peak haematology bodies, with a view to providing this standardised guidance

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits—the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants—determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits—almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Small licence-exempt groundwater sources

The Environment Agency has a' general duty ,to 'prott:?ct water resources. It has a further" specific duty to proteCt all so~rc~s from derogation,' and in some circumstances itneects to have particular regard to the presence of such sources to protect them from pollution.' In addition, the Agency's 'Policy and Practice forthe Protection of Groundwater' aims to protect (from pollution) all potable groundwater sources many of which are small, licence-exempt ,sources. However, under existinglegislatio~ai1d the'current abstraction licensing system there is no established mechanism' for identifyIng these sources in order that the Agency can ,adequately fulfil its responsibilities. ' , ' , , Whilst the Agency's primary interest is the identification and protection of Small Licence~ xempt Groundwater Sources ('SLEGS'), British Geo·ldgical Survey's (BGS) interest in this' area lies in enhancing and maintaining the National Well Record Archive. The archive is a unique store of more than 100,000 geologically Classified records of wells, boreholes and springs within England anciWales, for which the main source of information is well logs from drilling companies. , ' : , " ,,' , ", -' This study descnbes and' evalu~tes.the various ways in~hichthe Agency can identify SLEGS' , which, iftaken to include springs; are believed to coinprisethe vast majority of small, exempt sources. The shtdy draws on the experience arid views of Agency staff across England andWales. It reports on the relevant 'legislation, existing practices, data availability, and the lessons learnt from past initiativ~s'by the Agency to identify these sources. The transfer of relevant information betWeen the Agency and BGS' National Well Record Archive is also considered. ,-'-, ' The study reveals that, as a _consequence 'of pastinitiatives~ the Agency has already established a large body ofdatll pertaining.to these soUrces.- In some Agency regions,listings of SLEGS' have been established, by staff working in pollution prevention, whilst in other' regions similar data have peen compiled by abstraction licensing staff. Consultations with Agency staff have highlighted a vanety of existing methods of identifying SLEGS. These include use of: " , ' :'. ,.' • Ad-hQcwater featur~ sui-v~ys'; , , " ' ., Local Authority EnviroIimental Hellith Dep~entiecords of private supplies; .' Water company records of water mains andeonnections; • N~tio~al W,ell Record Archive('13riti~li O~ological.sufvey). Lessons learnt from- the -application of tli'e above methods in various regions are presented so that the collective' experIence of the Agency; can be' shared and used to help guide future initiatives in this field. , ,-' ,- ..' ' The above methods may beusect'in conjunction with, or independent to, the establishment of new local registers of licence-exempt sources (nominally <2Om3/d). For those parts of the country that adopt the new registration scheme, it is 'proposed (DETR 1999) that only those sources that voluntarily 'appear on _ the local. register will be afforded protection from derogation. However, this report finds that the Agency will under some circumstances still need to have regard to SLEGS where they maybe at risk from pollution. ' Furthermore, the Agency's 'Policy and Practice for the Protection of Groundwater' aims to protect (from pollution) all potable groundwater sources, many of which are SLEGS. Beyond legal requirements and the needs of established policy, there may also be considerable additional benefit to the Agency and BGS from identifying SLEGS. This is due to their potential to yield valuable information' about groundwater quality, yield capability and groundwater levels, all of which contribute to the effective management and protection of groundwater. As a consequence, even in areas that establish a'registration scheme, methods of identifying SLEGS(beyond voluntary registration) are still likely to be required. • < In general the study has found that the single most praCtical ~ean~ 'of identifying' the majority' of SLEGS is by access to Environmental Health Department (EHD)' records. of private' supplies. When EHD records are used in combination with other, complemeQ.tary methods; Agency experience shows that reasonably accurate listings of SLEGS cari be produced. This report presents guidance for the' selection of the most appropriate combination of methods to meet local needs. In 'allcase~, care must be taken to ensure that the Agepcy' is compliant with the current data protection law (as recentlyupdated).· . ." As part of this s~dy, new, tentative estimates of the number ofSLEGS in England and Wales are derived. : These figures are compared with an estimate of private water supplies·.(as opposed to sources) from aprevious, unpublished study. . . . . . , A number of recommendations are presented that aredesignedto~egularisethe A.geIicy~s . approach towards SLEGS and to improve future access to infoima,tion:·.· 'Most notably,. the' '. Agency regards access . to EHD records. as a principal requirement to enable"it to carry out its ~egal duties, whilst improvements in the numbers of well logs reported by drilling companies to BGS, would probably be the best means of enhancing the National Well Record Archive