A view of software management issues

The Software Development Environment (SDE) Panel addressed key programmatic, scope, and structural issues raised by its members and the general audience regarding the proposed software development environment for the Space Station program. The general team approach taken by this group led to a consensus on 18 recommendations to NASA mangament regarding the acquisition and definition of the SDE. This approach was keyed by the initial issues presentation given to the general audience. Additional issues (for a total of 23) were developed by the panelists in their first closed session from which key areas were selected and discussed in open session. These discussions led to key recommendations which are summarized and described

Sport as a privilege in Spain

The reduction of Physical Education hours in the Spanish curriculum originates from a false premise: families are already aware of the importance of physical activity, and attempt to compensate for the lack of it at school with an extra schedule. It seems then, that there is an assumption that classes that are available after school are only related to physical activity: this is not the case. Furthermore, only those families that are fully aware of the consequences of their children’s inactivity, and who can (and want to) invest in those extra classes and engage in some kind of physical activity after school. But the reality is that Physical activity only is important for some families

An exploratory investigation examining male and female students' initial impressions and expectancies of lecturers

The aim of this study was to examine the informational cues that male and female students perceive to be influential when developing initial impressions and expectancies of a lecturer. University students (n 752) rated the extent to which 30 informational cues influence their initial perceptions of a lecturer. Following exploratory factor analysis (EFA), a five-factor model (i.e. appearance (APP), accessories (ACC), third-party reports (TPR), communication skills (CS) and nationality/ethnicity (NE)) was extracted for male students and a five-factor model (i.e. ACC, TPR, APP, interpersonal skills (IPS) and engagement (ENG)) extracted for female students. Inspection of mean scores identified that male students rated CS (e.g. clarity of voice) and TPR (e.g. qualifications) and female students IPS (e.g. control of class), ENG (e.g. eye contact) and TPR to be influential factors in forming initial impressions and expectancies of a lecturer. The findings further identify the potential for expectancy effects within student lecturer interactions

Factors Affecting United States Geological Survey Irrigation Freshwater Withdrawal Estimates in Utah

Utah is, on average, one of the driest states in the United States, second only to Nevada, and drier conditions are projected. Irrigation is the largest water user in the state, representing about 80% of the total freshwater withdrawn each year. Withdrawals are obtained from sources like reservoirs or streams, or underground water from wells and springs, and supplied for use. The United States Geological Survey, a reputable federal science agency, has provided irrigation freshwater withdrawal estimates every five years since 1950. Understanding what factors affect irrigation withdrawals can better inform water resource planning to reduce withdrawals and conserve surface and groundwater in Utah. Prior studies have found total irrigated acreages, irrigation system technology, and freshwater availability as potential driving factors of these irrigation withdrawal estimates. This study sought to bring these findings up to date specifically in Utah for statewide, sub-state, and county areas. Relationships were assessed using a simple yet robust statistical approach. Statewide results indicate that irrigation withdrawals are not connected with the number of acres that are irrigated, nor with what type of irrigation system is used. This could mean that some practices like fallowing fields, or conversion to sprinkler irrigation systems, may not be sustainable irrigation withdrawal reduction practices. Other significant results, like between annual irrigation withdrawals and May air temperatures, could aid in projecting future irrigation withdrawals in the state. Water year freshwater availability key indicator correlation analyses with annual irrigation freshwater withdrawals showed relatively few significant correlations, suggesting that historical irrigation practices and infrastructure have been adequate at overcoming year-to-year freshwater availability fluctuations. This includes utilizing groundwater stores to sustain irrigation freshwater withdrawals through dry periods, which may be an unsustainable practice if projected drier conditions are realized. Limitations in the analyses were discovered that make it difficult to draw hard conclusions from these findings. There were a wide variety of county results, showcasing the importance and opportunities of localized plans and decision making for sustainable irrigation practices to reduce irrigation withdrawals in Utah