Dot-to-Dot LinX

Dot puzzles are often given to preschool and kindergarten children for recreation and number sequence review. Versions with numbers up to 100 can be used with older children. Others appropriate for students in early elementary grades label successive dots with addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division facts. This article discusses how to use dot puzzles with Logo tools

Increased area of a highly suitable host crop increases herbivore pressure in intensified agricultural landscapes

Landscape simplification associated with agricultural intensification has important effects on economically important arthropods. The declining cover of natural and semi-natural habitats, in particular, has been shown to reduce natural-enemy attack of crop pests, but also in some cases reduced crop colonization by such pests. In this study, we examined the influence of changes in two elements of landscape composition, natural grassland cover and cover of a highly suitable crop host, on infestation by a generalist insect pest in wheat, and parasitism of this pest by its dominant natural enemies. Surprisingly, we found no significant influences of increasing natural grassland habitat, at either local or landscape scales, on infestation by the wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus, or parasitism of this pest by the native parasitoid wasps, Bracon cephiand Bracon lissogaster. In contrast, we found significant increases in levels of C. cinctus infestation with increasing wheat cover at the landscape scale. This pattern was consistent across six study regions spanning three states in the northern Great Plains of North America, despite large differences in cropping systems and pest population densities across regions. Regional variation in pest infestation was best explained by long-term averages in precipitation, with higher C. cinctus infestation rates found in drier regions. Results suggest that landscape-mediated variation in pest pressure in this system is better explained by a direct response of pest insects to increasing cover of a highly suitable crop rather than an indirect response via reductions in natural enemies as natural habitat declines. The implication is that habitat diversification at the landscape scale could play a role in suppressing agricultural pest populations via reductions in area of suitable crop hosts

Film architecture and the transnational imagination: set design in 1930s European cinema

Film Architecture and the Transnational Imagination presents for the first time a comparative study of European film set design in the late 1920s and 1930s; based on a wealth of designers' drawings, film stills and archival documents, the book offers a new insight into the development and significance of trans-national artistic collaboration during this period. European cinema from the late 1920s to the late 1930s is famous for its attention to detail in terms of set design and visual effect. Focusing on developments in Britain, France, and Germany, Film Architecture and the Transnational Imagination: Set Design in 1930s European Cinema provides a comprehensive analysis of the practices, styles, and function of cinematic production design during this period, and its influence on subsequent filmmaking patterns

Service Management in Operations

In recent years, the growth in popularity of frameworks such as the IT Information Library (ITIL®), the Control Objectives for Information and Technology (COBIT), and the Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI) have caused IT organizations to begin to develop specific service processes for their organizations. This research surveys IT managers on their understanding and practice of service management in IT operations. The results found significant conceptual confusion across the several IT service management models, indicating a need for better definitions, clearer terminology, and broader dissemination of framework information

Moving on Up

This article shows how a practical approach, developed at Cranfield School of Management, can shift the dials on the numbers of women executives in organizations. We illustrate how we have used our Inclusive Talent Management template to guide our partnership with HSBC’s 80,000-strong global Operations, Services and Technology division (HOST). The HOST Executive Committee (ExCo) established a programme called Accelerating for Difference to create a strong pipeline of female talent and achieve greater female representation, particularly at the most senior levels

Towards a strategy for workplace learning: Report to HEFCE by CHERI and KPMG

The study, undertaken between March and November 2005 aimed to inform HEFCE thinking on developing a strategy for workplace learning by: exploring the nature, purposes and outcomes of workplace learning; considering workplace learning within the broader relationships between the worlds of work and learning; exploring emerging changes in higher education which may impact on workplace learning in the future; identifying structural issues that currently enable or inhibit workplace learning, and identify future opportunities

Self-affirmation improves self-control over snacking among participants low in eating self-efficacy

bjective: Individuals low in eating self-efficacy are at particular risk of engaging in unhealthy eating behaviours, including the consumption of high calorie snacks. The elevated levels of snacking displayed by these individuals can largely be attributed to their experiencing low self-control over the avoidance of such foods (Hankonen, Kinnunen, Absetz, & Jallinoja, 2014). Interventions are thus required to boost self-control over snacking among those low in eating self-efficacy. Self-affirmation has been shown to boost self-control among individuals with depleted resources in other domains (Schmeichel & Vohs, 2009). The purpose of the current study was to test the hypothesis that a self-affirmation manipulation would similarly increase self-control over snacking for individuals low in eating self-efficacy. Methods: At baseline, participants (N = 70) completed measures of dietary restraint and eating self-efficacy. In the main study, participants completed either a self-affirmation or a control task immediately before undertaking a joystick category judgment task that assessed self-control over snacking. Results: Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed the predicted significant interaction between eating self-efficacy and self-affirmation, demonstrating that self-affirmation moderated the association between eating self-efficacy and self-control over snacking. Johnson-Neyman regions of significance confirmed that for participants low in eating self-efficacy the self-affirmation manipulation resulted in higher levels of self-control. Unexpectedly, however, for participants high in eating self-efficacy the self-affirmation manipulation was found to be associated with lower levels of self-control. Conclusions: Findings supported the hypothesis that a self-affirmation manipulation would boost self-control over snacking among individuals low in eating self-efficacy. Self-affirmation may thus provide a useful technique for strengthening self-control in relation to the avoidance of unhealthy foods among individuals who find it difficult to manage challenging dietary situations

Phosphorus sensitivity in species of Proteaceae (Protea obtusifolia, Leucadendron coniferum and Leucadendron salignum) from different soil habitats : possible candidates for growth on former agricultural soils high in P

The phosphorus (P) uptake capacities and tolerance to high P of three Proteaceae species from acid (Leucadenron coniferum, Leucadendron salignum) and alkaline (Protea obtusifolia, Leucadedndron meridianum) soils in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) were compared. These species were also investigated as potential candidates for growth on nutrient enriched, post-agricultural soils. In parallel, two crop plant species (Lupinus albus, with cluster roots; and L. angustifolius, without cluster roots) were also compared. The cluster-root forming species (L. albus) was more sensitive to higher P levels and showed toxicity in terms of photosynthesis, efficiency of PSII, transpiration and stomatal conductance. Growth, gaseous exchange and efficiency of photosystem II (as a measure of stress) were determined at 1, 10 and 100 μg P g⁻¹ sand for both lupins and Proteaceae. Kinetics of P uptake (in hydroponics) was determined at a range ( 4 to 2000 μM P) of P concentrations. Phosphorus sensitivity was relatively high in Ld. coniferum as evident from reduced growth, net photosynthetic rate, stomata} conductance and transpiration rates. Protea obtusifolia showed the least sensitivity to increased phosphorus concentrations under acidic and native alkaline conditions. The inability to regulate P uptake rates at elevated phosphorus concentrations and excessive P accumulation were major determinants of P sensitivity. The relatively higher P sensitivity of Lupinus albus compared to L. angustifolius is likely related to the efficient P uptake by cluster roots in the former

An observational cohort study to evaluate the use of serum Raman spectroscopy in a rapid diagnosis center setting

Cancer presenting with non-specific vague symptoms remains a clinical challenge. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of serum Raman spectroscopy for cancer detection in a rapid diagnosis center (RDC) setting. The primary aim was to identify significant spectral peaks of change in sera from cancer patients and the secondary aim was to assign molecular species at Raman peaks.In this prospective observation study of a secondary care RDC, patients referred with vague cancer-related symptoms were recruited. Raman spectra of blood sera of 54 patients was obtained. Of these, 10 patients were diagnosed with cancer, and 44 no significant pathology (control). Common spectral increase/decrease between control and cancer was seen in spectral peaks 830 cm−1, 878 cm−1, 1031 cm−1, 1174 cm−1, 1397 cm−1 tentatively attributed to amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and proteins. Individual differences between cancer and control via statistical analysis identifies 3 peaks with significance for all 10 of the cancer patients. The peaks are 878 cm−1, 1449 cm−1 and 1519 cm−1, tentatively attributed to proteins, amino acids, lipids, fatty acids, glycoproteins, carbohydrates, and carotenoids. Differences are also seen for at least 9 of the cancers in the peaks at 830 cm−1, 851 cm−1, 1127 cm−1, 1174 cm−1, 1270 cm−1, and 1656 cm−1, tentatively attributed to amino acids, lactate, lipids, triglycerides, carbohydrates, and proteins.Raman spectroscopy has the potential to enhance RDC referral criteria through the detection of peak differences seen commonly with different cancer types. Development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based models could enable rapid detection and discrimination of different cancer types with more data availability