Librarians Across The Sea: ACL And Missions

The Association of Christian Librarians (ACL) is missions-hearted, missions-minded, and missions-handled. This stance was vital to the founders. It is also vital for the calling and ministry of the present membership. We shall expand and illustrate these statements. The past, present development, and future will be covered

Assessing treatments used to reduce rumination and/or worry : a systematic review

Peer reviewedPostprin

The effects of the provision of an interactive teaching program and word processors on the writing of year 9 students with learning disabilities

Three male year nine students with learning disabilities were given an intervention program that involved use of a word processor to write science fiction stories. The program was conducted over a five-week period. The effects of the use of the word processor alone were compared to the effects of the provision of an interactive teaching course program in conjunction with a word processor. The treatment program was a single subject treatment design. One participant\u27s writing improved to an equal extent whether or not an interactive teaching program was provided. A second participant\u27s fluency, spelling and the number of unique words written improved more if an interactive program that provided feedback were provided than if he used the word processor alone. The mechanics of his writing improved regardless of the provision of an interactive program. The third participant\u27s spelling improved more if an interactive teaching program that provided feedback were provided. The mechanics of his writing improved regardless of the provision of the interactive program

Measuring Creativity for Innovation Management

Identifying the extent and nature of the creativity of new products is a key for innovation management. The revised Creative Solution Diagnosis Scale (CSDS) is a 27-item scale based on a theoretical model of functional creativity, consisting of five main criteria: Relevance & Effectiveness, Problematization, Propulsion, Elegance and Genesis. The CSDS offers potential for differentiated assessments of product creativity as part of the larger process of innovation. Non-expert judges rated a series of mousetrap designs using a 30-item version of the CSDS. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a simple structure that corresponded closely to the a priori theoretical model of functional creativity. The untrained judges were able to use the scale with a high degree of reliability and internal consistency. The scale offers a tool for managing innovation, especially for stimulating creativity and diagnosing the creativity of products

The Engineering Hubs and Spokes Project - institutional cooperation in educational design and delivery

The emergence of blended learning techniques that embrace a combination of face-to-face and online learning environments offers a raft of opportunity for flexibility in education. While much writing has focused on the opportunities for flexibility for the students and teachers, this paper focuses on the opportunities for effective sharing of expertise and effort between institutions. The Engineering 'Hubs and Spokes' project is a collaboration between The Australian National University and the University of South Australia. It draws on the strengths of each to improve the range and quality of educational opportunities for students. Two components of the project are underpinned by blended teaching and learning techniques: sharing of courses at the advanced undergraduate level; and development of an integrated graduate development program. We describe choices made, benefits identified, and the challenges encountered in the early stages of the project. We discuss recommendations for the future of cooperation in educational design and delivery, and comment on the opportunities that arise for structural reform of the higher education sector

Preliminary Investigation and Sequence of the Hyaluronidase Gene in the Venom of the Atlantic Sea Nettle (Chrysaora quinquecirrha)

Jellyfish cnidocysts contain many different venom proteins, each with unique functions that combine synergistically to achieve a more robust and toxic fluid. One of these proteins is hyaluronidase (EC 3.2.1.35), an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid, which is commonly found in the extracellular matrix of many multicellular organisms. Due to its wide application, this enzyme is also found in the venom of many arthropod and reptile families. Putatively, hyaluronidase aids in the dispersion of the other venom proteins as it perforates the matrix in the target tissue. This activity has been detected in Chrysaora quinquecirrha cnidocysts, but the gene encoding hyaluronidase has yet to be identified or sequenced in full. Preliminary analysis of this protein shows high homology (67% homologous) to similar venom proteins found in another Cnidarian, Hydra vulgaris, which both conserve the active and secondary sites found in SPAM1, a protein found on the surface of mammalian sperm as well. Chrysaora quinquecirrha\u27s hyaluronidase was previously located in mRNA sequencing, which was then amplified from genomic DNA using primers designed off this sequence. While the primers were 674 base pairs (bp) apart in the RNA, amplification by PCR of Chrysaora quinquecirrha gDNA produced an amplicon of ca. 2300 bp. From the initial sequencing, additional primers were designed, which generated amplicons of 1100 bp. In aligning the sequences with each other and, using the original mRNA sequence as a scaffold, two introns were discovered and characterized, accounting for part of the size disparity between the RNA and DNA sequences. These represent the first introns identified and sequenced for this organism. The conservation of amino acid residues in the active site as well as several secondary sites in the putative protein support the conclusion that I have isolated a genomic clone of hyaluronidase. Additionally, the fact that hyaluronidase enzymatic activity was detected in extracts of purified cnidocysts isolated from Chrysaora quinquecirrha confirms that hyaluronidase is present in the venom of this jellyfish. The hyaluronidase protein found in other highly homologous species is longer than our present assembly encodes for, so further extension of this sequence is necessary to elucidate the entire gene. Compared to the hyaluronidase-1 from Hydra vulgaris, which is 436 amino acids in length, I have generated a translation product of 280 amino acids, or ca. 64.2%

Digital Image Analysis of Selected Tchefuncte and Alexander Series Ceramics

In this study, I used digital image analysis to quantitatively describe and detail the prehistoric pottery associated with the coastal Tchefuncte culture (ca. B.C. 800—100 A.D.). The first step was to select and procure samples of Tchefuncte Plain var . Tchefuncte, var. Mandeville, Baldwin Plain var. O’Neal, and two decorated Alexander series wares from the Tchefuncte site. Two samples of var. Tchefuncte from the Bayou Jasmine site (16SJB2) and two Alexander series samples from the Tennessee-Tombigbee area were included for comparison. The sites represented by the samples from the Tennessee-Tombigbee region are the Kellogg Village Site (22CL527) and the Sanders Site (22CL917). Sediment samples were procured from near the Tchefuncte site in St. Tammany Parish, the Bayou Jasmine site in St. John the Baptist Parish, and from Lowndes County, Mississippi, an area associated with the Alexander series wares included in this study. The sediment samples were prepared and fired in a kiln at low temperatures similar to the conditions suggested for firing in the production of Tchefuncte wares. All of these samples were thin sectioned and digitally scanned for analysis. Analysis of the thin sections included digital point counting (via JMicrovision software) and digital image analysis (via ImageJ software). The results of digital image study identified wide variability in paste constituents, particularly for the Tchefuncte pottery. While a generalized profile of each of the plainwares in the sample was identified, some sherds in the sample appeared to be mistyped. While a relatively clear distinction could be made between the two Tchefuncte varieties, the sandy-paste Baldwin Plain var. O’Neal was difficult to differentiate from Tchefuncte Plain var. Mandeville and Alexander Incised var. Incised

Alien Registration- Cropley, Erma Margaret C. (Brunswick, Cumberland County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/31538/thumbnail.jp

Needs assessment for agricultural development: Practical issues in informal data collection

The growth of Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) as an approach to the initial preparation of development projects has had a significant impact on research methodology. It has reflected the shift in development over recent years to listen more to the needs voiced by local people while still allowing development workers to conduct research in spite of budget constraints. RRA could be viewed as just a shift in approach, or as the introduction of a set of new techniques. In practice there is a danger of burdening it with too many expectations and ignoring useful lessons learned from other techniques in the past. The authors have drawn on the extensive field experience within the Natural Resources Institute to assess the strengths and weaknesses of RRA in practice, and to make suggestions for any deficiencies by drawing on elements of older methodologies. Needs Assessment for Agriculture: Practical Issues in Informal Data Collection is designed to provide a practical addition to the materials available to workers in the field as well as to generate discussion amongst those interested in RRA theory