Recommended Research Literature for Students in Undergraduate and Master\u27s Degree Survey Courses in Exercise Physiology--A Pilot Study

PURPOSE. This was a pilot project for an intended larger study to determine the most highly recommended published research papers for use in teaching introductory survey courses in exercise physiology at both the undergraduate and the master’s degree level. METHODS. Using Web sites of relevant departments of selected colleges and universities in Texas, we identified 38 faculty members that likely had taught introductory, survey courses in exercise physiology, and their email addresses. We sent a survey to these 38 via email, requesting response via return email, and we sent a follow-up email reminder 15 days after the initial email. The survey requested demographic information that we thought might be related to recommendations of research literature. And for undergraduate and master’s degree levels separately, the survey instrument asked for response to: “I do not think there are any specific research papers that students . . . should be exposed to. . .[and] If you did not mark the previous statement, please list papers . . .” RESULTS. Two persons replied that they had not taught introductory, survey courses. Twelve individuals who had taught such courses (33% of 36 potentially eligible survey recipients) responded to the survey. All 12 had taught an undergraduate course; for these, number of years of teaching ranged from 3 to 35 (mean = 15). Nine had taught a master’s level course; for these, number of years of teaching ranged from 3 to 25 (mean = 11). Of the 12 respondents who had taught an undergraduate course, eight (67%) recommended no specific research papers. The other four recommended a total of 24 specific papers, four original reports and 20 other types (e.g., reviews, position stands, editorials). No paper was recommended by more than one person. Six (67%) of the nine who had taught master’s level courses recommended no specific papers. Three reported that they required specific papers, but only one provided a list. CONCLUSIONS. This pilot study suggested that the larger-scale study is feasible and would yield results of interest to faculty who teach introductory exercise physiology courses. The results suggest that most faculty do not recommend specific research papers that students should consistently be exposed to in introductory, survey courses in exercise physiology at either the undergraduate or the master’s degree level. The validity of generalizing these results is very low, however

Spider Community Organization : Seasonal Variation and the Role of Vegetation Architecture

The relationship between vegetation architecture and spider community attributes were examined in a big sage community. Spiders were separated into guilds using similarities of species\u27 hunting behavior. Shrub architecture was experimentally manipulated in the field by either clippings 50% of the shrub\u27s foliage to decrease foliage density or tying together a shrub\u27s branches to increase foliage density. Shrub perturbations resulted in changes in the number of spider species, spider guilds and guild importance values. The number on spider species and guilds in the tied shrubs were significantly higher than those in the clipped or control shrubs sampled. Spider species diversity and the number of species and guilds were positively correlated with indicators of shrub volume and shrub foliage diversity. This suggests that structurally more complex tier shrubs can support a higher number of spider species and species diversity. Temporal patterns of the number of spider species, and species diversity showed midsummer peaks in both 1974 and 1975. Evenness remained relatively constant through both seasons. The data suggest that architectural properties of habitat may be an important determinant of the distribution and species diversity of predatory invertebrates

Integrating Organic Soybean Production on Land Formerly in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

Objectives of this research and education program included an examination of tillage and weed management operations for organic farming on CRP land. In 1999, an experiment was initiated at the ISU McNay Research and Demonstration Farm at Chariton, Iowa, to evaluate the effect of four tillage methods for organic soybean production on land formerly in CRP. After demonstrating the success of organic soybeans on CRP land in 1999 (average yield–49.3 bushels/acre), an expansion of this experiment was initiated in 2000 as a longer term study to examine crop rotations and weed management in organic systems on CRP land

Blending the Old and the New: Qualitative Data Analysis a s Critical Thinking and Using NVivo with a Generic Approach

In this article the authors seek to make the case that qualitative data analysis can be explained within the framework of critical thinking and incorporates within this framework the role of technology – specifically NVivo. First they discuss critical thinking from the perspectives of Bloom, Adler, and Polanyi. They then link critical thinking to the concept of a general inductive approach to qualitative analysis as described by Thomas. Finally, they illustrate connections of both critical thinking and the general inductive approach to technology using NVivo screenshots

Assessing soil quality impacts after conversion of marginal cropland to productive conservation

Planting trees on poor quality cropland may yield some benefits for increasing soil organic carbon. Test plots in four parts of Iowa were examined to determine the level of benefits possible to achieve

Evaluation of Tillage and Crop-Rotation Effects in Certified Organic Production--McNay Trial, 2002

Organic farming has increased to an $8 billion industry in the U.S. and continues to expand approximately 20% annually. In Iowa alone, organic acreage has increased from 13,000 acres in 1995 to 150,000 acres in 2000. Across the North Central region, there has been a great interest in planting organic soybeans on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land, where up to a 300% premium can be obtained compared with conventionally raised soybeans. Regulation of soil organic matter through additions of plant residues and proper crop rotations will determine the long-term sustainability of the system. The objectives of this research and educational program included the following: (1) establish plots dedicated to organic farming research on CRP land, (2) implement production and management regimes for opening CRP land and for weed control in organic systems on CRP land, (3) evaluate the biological and economic outcomes of the different systems, and (4) promulgate technology transfer through demonstrations/field days and publications for area farmers and agricultural professionals