Analysis Of Trees Damaged From Flooding And Ice In Columbus, Nebraska

In the spring of 2019, an intense storm system came through eastern Nebraska resulting in a historic flooding event. This flood caused many trees throughout the state to be uprooted, broken, or scarred. This study looks at trees on the Quail Run golf course in Columbus, Nebraska to determine the extent of damage on trees caused by flooding and recommend tree care solutions to ensure safety. The cottonwood trees endured the most damage compared to other species on the property. All of the trees showed wound wood meaning that the trees were recovering from their injuries. Dead and broken branches from the storm should be pruned, trees that show signs of decay should be removed, and all other damaged trees should be monitored in the years to come for signs of declining health

Assessing the effectiveness of descriptive and experimental analyses to identify variables influencing problem behavior in domestic dogs

Problem behavior in dogs is a concern for pet owners. Many contemporary approaches to intervention first involve a process of diagnosis and classification which is often structural in nature. An accurate diagnosis is considered essential for effective treatment, however, outcome data validating the efficacy of this procedure are dubious. The success of strategies used to assess and treat behavior problems that identify behavioral function in humans (functional assessment), however, suggests the potential utility of such techniques in the assessment and treatment of behavior problems in dogs. Therefore, two separate assessments were conducted to identify and manipulate variables affecting problem behavior in dogs. An initial assessment comprised of indirect and direct observations suggested hypotheses that were tested experimentally in assessment two. In assessment two, the manipulation of environmental events suggested by these hypotheses demonstrated functional relations controlling problem behavior in pet dogs

Salary Compression Among University Faculty: A Review and Case Study of Remediation and Prevention in a Collective Bargaining Environment

Salary compression has been an issue in higher education for almost four decades, during which a diverse literature on the topic has accumulated. Perhaps because of the absence of a compilation and review of this literature, administrations and collective bargaining agents commonly develop their own methods for identifying and rectifying salary compression on each campus. Most responses are short-term and do not prevent the problem from recurring. We review the literature concerning salary compression in higher education, then summarize our approach to correcting salary structure and preventing future compression

Analysis of academic administrators’ attitudes: annual evaluations and factors that improve teaching

This article examines academic administrators’ attitudes towards the academic evaluation process in the US and those factors that are utilised to improve teaching. We use path regressions to examine satisfaction with evaluation procedures, as well as the direct and indirect effects of these factors on perceptions of whether the evaluation process facilitates quality instruction. With increased pressure for accountability being placed on higher education, it is important to ensure that we are meeting both public and academic expectations. The evaluation process is an important tool to ensure the university’s goals and values are articulated and that academics can be successful in their individual career paths. The problem is most research finds flaws with the current method of evaluation, and academics and academic administrators are sceptical about the process and results. We find there are environmental factors that influence academic administrators’ perceptions of academic evaluations and the ability to improve classroom instruction

Effects of free versus scheduled feeding on shelter dogs exhibiting food-related aggression

Among shelter dogs, food guarding behavior is the most frequently cited reason for considering a dog unadoptable (Mohan-Gibbons, Weiss & Slater, 2012). However, the specific variables that affect food-related aggression are not well understood. Degree of access to food in the shelter environment may be a relevant variable and one of the easiest for shelter staff to modify. In this study we measured the effect of food access (unlimited access versus scheduled feedings) on the food guarding behavior of dogs. Dogs were assessed using the using the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) SAFER® Aggression Assessment (Weiss, 2012) and those who scored a 3, 4, or 5 on the food bowl component were randomly assigned into one of two groups. Dogs in both groups were exposed to three days of free feeding prior to assessment as well as scheduled feedings in the context of a multiple baseline and reversal design. A third group of dogs that exhibited no food aggression at the initial assessment served as a control group to assess the impact of repeated SAFER assessments on guarding behavior. Change scores across assessments were compared for each group. SAFER scores for dogs in the experimental groups decreased (i.e., improved) in one situation when free-feeding was implemented. Dogs in the control group showed a small increase in SAFER scores from initial assessment to assessment two, which may be an artifact of the scoring system. Discussion will include follow-up studies in progress and the implications of findings for shelter management. Mohan-Gibbons, H., Weiss, E., Slater, M. (2012). Preliminary investigation of food guarding behavior in shelter dogs in the United States. Animals, 2, 331-346. doi:10.3390/ani2030331 Weiss, E. (2012, November). Canine Assessment: ASPCA SAFER Overview. Retrieved from http://aspcapro.org/webinar/2012-11-28-000000/canine-assessment-aspca-safer-overvie