Toward a Reliable Measure of Prosody: An Investigation of Rater Consistency

Abstrac

Louisiana Tech’s Parkinson Resource Center Nursing Student Scholars

The abstract for this presentation can be downloaded by clicking on the blue download button

Community Educational Support of Clients with Mental Illness at Second Beginnings

Service Learning is utilized in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing at Louisiana Tech University. Local mentally ill clients, an underserved population, are offered educational and socialization support at a public funded day program, Second Beginnings. Faculty directed, nursing students develop a program for an identified community need, provide topic specific resources, and incorporate a variety of teaching tools within a three hour format. Sexually transmitted infections, medication adherence, and oral care are recent topics. Students critically evaluate the effectiveness of their preparation and teaching. Additionally, they reflect on the experience in a confidenti

Student Perceptions of Course Configuration: Hybrid and Face-to-Face Models

Hybrid or blended learning has gained enormous popularity in higher education because of its demonstrated ability to increase student learning, reduce undergraduate attrition rates, and maintain costs in an era of relentlessly increasing tuition. This study reviews the literature on hybrid or blended learning, enumerating both the benefits and liabilities of this type of instruction and the controversies surrounding it. The researchers then describe the two forms of a mixed-methodology survey instrument used to determine the satisfaction of primarily undergraduate students who are enrolled in separate sections of an introduction to education course, one taught in a traditional face-to-face mode and one in a blended configuration during two academic terms at a public regional comprehensive university in the Northwest portion of the United States. They then analyze the findings of the qualitative and quantitative data with recommendations for further research

Fe availability drives phytoplankton photosynthesis rates during spring bloom in the Amundsen Sea Polynya, Antarctica

Abstract To evaluate what drives phytoplankton photosynthesis rates in the Amundsen Sea Polynya (ASP), Antarctica, during the spring bloom, we studied phytoplankton biomass, photosynthesis rates, and water column productivity during a bloom of Phaeocystis antarctica (Haptophyceae) and tested effects of iron (Fe) and light availability on these parameters in bioassay experiments in deck incubators. Phytoplankton biomass and productivity were highest (20 µg chlorophyll a L−1 and 6.5 g C m−2 d−1) in the central ASP where sea ice melt water and surface warming enhanced stratification, reducing mixed layer depth and increasing light availability. In contrast, maximum photosynthesis rate (P*max), initial light-limited slope of the photosynthesis–irradiance curve (α*), and maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) were highest in the southern ASP near the potential Fe sources of the Dotson and Getz ice shelves. In the central ASP, P*max, α*, and Fv/Fm were all lower. Fe addition increased phytoplankton growth rates in three of twelve incubations, and at a significant level when all experiments were analyzed together, indicating Fe availability may be rate-limiting for phytoplankton growth in several regions of the ASP early in the season during build-up of the spring bloom. Moreover, Fe addition increased P*max, α*, and Fv/Fm in almost all experiments when compared to unamended controls. Incubation under high light also increased P*max, but decreased Fv/Fm and α* when compared to low light incubation. These results indicate that the lower values for P*max, α*, and Fv/Fm in the central ASP, compared to regions close to the ice shelves, are constrained by lower Fe availability rather than light availability. Our study suggests that higher Fe availability (e.g., from higher melt rates of ice shelves) would increase photosynthesis rates in the central ASP and potentially increase water column productivity 1.7-fold, making the ASP even more productive than it is today

Fe availability drives phytoplankton photosynthesis rates during spring bloom in the Amundsen Sea Polynya, Antarctica

Abstract To evaluate what drives phytoplankton photosynthesis rates in the Amundsen Sea Polynya (ASP), Antarctica, during the spring bloom, we studied phytoplankton biomass, photosynthesis rates, and water column productivity during a bloom of Phaeocystis antarctica (Haptophyceae) and tested effects of iron (Fe) and light availability on these parameters in bioassay experiments in deck incubators. Phytoplankton biomass and productivity were highest (20 µg chlorophyll a L −1 and 6.5 g C m −2 d −1 ) in the central ASP where sea ice melt water and surface warming enhanced stratification, reducing mixed layer depth and increasing light availability. In contrast, maximum photosynthesis rate (P * max ), initial light-limited slope of the photosynthesis-irradiance curve (a *), and maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (F v / F m ) were highest in the southern ASP near the potential Fe sources of the Dotson and Getz ice shelves. In the central ASP, P * max , a *, and F v / F m were all lower. Fe addition increased phytoplankton growth rates in three of twelve incubations, and at a significant level when all experiments were analyzed together, indicating Fe availability may be rate-limiting for phytoplankton growth in several regions of the ASP early in the season during build-up of the spring bloom. Moreover, Fe addition increased P * max , a*, and F v / F m in almost all experiments when compared to unamended controls. Incubation under high light also increased P * max , but decreased F v / F m and a * when compared to low light incubation. These results indicate that the lower values for P * max , a*, and F v / F m in the central ASP, compared to regions close to the ice shelves, are constrained by lower Fe availability rather than light availability. Our study suggests that higher Fe availability (e.g., from higher melt rates of ice shelves) would increase photosynthesis rates in the central ASP and potentially increase water column productivity 1.7-fold, making the ASP even more productive than it is today