Evaluation-modification loops in the the design process used by students building technological devices

This research is based on observations of and interviews with five seventh grade students during problem solving activities in a technological context. When left to their own devices in an environment rich in three-dimensional materials (Lego components), they follow Evaluation-Modification Loops. The research is based on: 1. observations during class activity over one semester (12 meetings) 2. open interviews with each student during class activities. The study focused on two issues: 1. identifying the characteristics of the design process of technological devices 2. students’ attitude towards their original design goals during the process of designing technological devices. An Evaluation-Modification Loops model containing decision making space was developed based on the observations and interviews

Migratory Species and Health: A Review of Migration and Wildlife Disease Dynamics, and the Health of Migratory Species, within the Context of One Health

A desire for good health unites us all. Still in a time of COVID-19 and with the looming threat of future pandemics, we are reminded of the fragility of our collective health. Now more than ever, we understand that human health is inexorably linked to the health of the environment in which we live and the species, be they wild or domestic, on which we depend. As we threaten and change our climate, transform natural landscapes, intensify our agricultureactivities, unsustainably exploit resources, and pollute our air, land and water, the pressures on the environment and on migratory species have never been greater. All of these actions in turn drive the emergence of diseases and increase our fragility. I have lived through a time when diseases of wildlife may have been only of scientific interest to some. Now we see the wider and significant consequences of the emergence of both infectious and non-infectious diseases and the growing threat they pose to the very survival of species.Bringing UNEP into the health Quadripartite to work alongside the World HealthOrganization, UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Animal Health Organization is a clear sign that, as a society, if we are to tackle global human ill-health we need to pay significant attention to One Health, taking a holistic approach to disease issues at the global level. Yet within One Health the environment and wildlife health are too often the ‘poor relation.’ There remains too little understanding of disease dynamics and scant consideration of wildlife health when making decisions on food production, trade, land planning, energy production and infrastructure development. Due to the now obvious interconnectivity of health, we know that what is bad for wildlife health, is ultimately bad for us.Too often we overlook the value of wildlife health, only opening our eyes when we feel the negative consequence for human ill-health. For example, when we are confronted with the appalling sights of acute outbreaks of diseases like highly pathogenic avian influenza, or when wildlife diseases spill into livestock or zoonotic infections affect people and present pandemic risks. There is a need to turn the adage of ‘no prizes in prevention’ into applauded actions to maintain the integrity and resilience of ecosystems to stop disease emergence at its source. Developing cost-effective ways to prevent disease emergence that also benefit ecosystems is surely a key challenge for the future.This Report, authored and reviewed by a world leading team of wildlife health specialists, led by the University of Edinburgh, contributes to the growing body of work which highlights the needs for interdisciplinary action to protect the health of us all. Instead of viewing issues through the single anthropocentric lens of human health, it takes the perspective of the wider environment and of the species within, helping to rebalance and improve our thinking aboutOne Health.The Report is a seminal contribution to the work of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) on the issue of wildlife health and will guide the work of the CMS Working Group on Migratory Species and Health. It adds to the CMS work on One Health issues such as the poisoning of species, and highly pathogenic avian influenza, which has helped guide Parties and other stakeholders dealing with the negative health consequences of human activities.The Report examines our current understanding of the determinants of health and considers the gains to be made from taking One Health approaches. With a frequent perception of migratory species as vectors of disease it reviews the complexities of their disease dynamics and considers both the benefits and dis-benefits that migration brings for health in all sectors. Importantly, the report provides the findings from a global expert consultation of key health threats for CMS-listed species. Despite the diversity of species considered, from insects to elephants, and their diverse health threats, there is remarkable similarity in theunderlying drivers of their health threats, namely the human induced pressures outlined above.The key recommendations1 outline the frameworks required to deliver One Health, and how to reduce risks at wildlife interfaces, tackle non-infectious diseases, improve disease prevention and preparedness, fill knowledge gaps, and improve wildlife health reporting and information sharing. These actions will not only improve the conservation status of migratory species, but they will also reduce the health risks to people and livestock.In a climate changing world with an interlinked global biodiversity crisis where the consequences of the current Covid pandemic still playing out, we need no more warnings, we now know now what we have to do to act for the health of us all

The responsibility of veterinarians to address companion animal obesity

Obesity is a modern-day epidemic in both people and companion animals. A summary of the current research on the causes, risk factors, consequences, and implications of overweight and obesity, and the compliance of small-animal practitioners in recognizing and addressing pet obesity, is provided. Ethical and animal welfare concerns are raised regarding these findings. We argue that a patient advocacy posture compels the veterinary profession to confront this issue more reliably. Evidence is presented to support obesity as a One-Health problem, and discrete and practical recommendations for preventing and addressing companion animal obesity are proposed. The One-Health perspective encourages coordinated action by veterinary healthcare professionals in order to address overweight and obesity in companion animals as a public health concern

Reply to the Comment from Watson, KM "Letter to the Editor Re: Kipperman, BS and German, AJ Animals 2018, 8, 143" Animals 2018, 8, 179

We appreciate the interest [1] in our opinion paper [2] regarding companion animal obesity and, although there is limited published evidence, agree that some pet owners might respond negatively when this issue is addressed [...

In Search of a Sustainable Future: An International Overview of the Contribution from Design and Technology Education

In 1987 the World Commission on Environment and Development developed a definition of sustainability that was included in its report Our Common Future. This report stated that sustainable development ‘meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs’ (Brundtland, 1987, p. 40). Five years later, in 1992, the UN General Assembly asked for a report on progress and convened the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, 1992). The Rio Earth Summit declared that the right to development must be fulfilled in order to meet equitably developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations. The purpose of this paper is to describe the extent to which design and technology education curricula in eight countries are teaching students to take into account, when designing and making products and services, the needs of the present generation without compromising a sustainable future. Do curricula emphasise sustainability? How effectively is sustainability addressed in schools within design and technology education? The main body of the paper consists of contributions from the eight authors, who describe design and technology in their own country (or region) in terms of:• its organisation;• its core aims;• the extent to which it encourages students to think about meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising a sustainable future;• an example of good practice that relates design and technology education and sustainability and that could be adapted for use in other counties.The reality is that internationally design and technology is diverse in all these aspects but, whether they have the backing of curriculum frameworks or not, design and technology educators in many countries are making significant efforts to help young people consider issues of sustainability when making decisions in the process of designing and making

Baseline characteristics of patients in the reduction of events with darbepoetin alfa in heart failure trial (RED-HF)

<p>Aims: This report describes the baseline characteristics of patients in the Reduction of Events with Darbepoetin alfa in Heart Failure trial (RED-HF) which is testing the hypothesis that anaemia correction with darbepoetin alfa will reduce the composite endpoint of death from any cause or hospital admission for worsening heart failure, and improve other outcomes.</p> <p>Methods and results: Key demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings, along with baseline treatment, are reported and compared with those of patients in other recent clinical trials in heart failure. Compared with other recent trials, RED-HF enrolled more elderly [mean age 70 (SD 11.4) years], female (41%), and black (9%) patients. RED-HF patients more often had diabetes (46%) and renal impairment (72% had an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Patients in RED-HF had heart failure of longer duration [5.3 (5.4) years], worse NYHA class (35% II, 63% III, and 2% IV), and more signs of congestion. Mean EF was 30% (6.8%). RED-HF patients were well treated at randomization, and pharmacological therapy at baseline was broadly similar to that of other recent trials, taking account of study-specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Median (interquartile range) haemoglobin at baseline was 112 (106–117) g/L.</p> <p>Conclusion: The anaemic patients enrolled in RED-HF were older, moderately to markedly symptomatic, and had extensive co-morbidity.</p&gt

Milt ¨The Judge¨ Hinton: A Musical Analyses

In the world of jazz bass, Milt “The Judge” Hinton truly deserves a special place. Hinton has shared the bandstand and recording studio with countless famous jazz and poplar musicians in a career that spans over seventy years. Some of the highlights of his career include performances with Cab Calloway, Billy Holiday, Miles Davis, Count Basie, and Dizzy Gillespie, to name a few. Hinton also has thousands of recording credits to his name, more than any other jazz bass player. He was a significant figure in defining the role and sound of the jazz bass. The elegance, linear content, and drive of his bass lines provided a strong foundation and a prototypical model for generations of jazz bassists. He also created his unique approach to slap-bass technique. Furthermore, “The Judge” was a passionate jazz educator and historian. This doctoral essay will focus on the analysis of the harmonic implications and technical vocabulary of Hinton’s playing. As he was an educator, his pedagogical contributions to jazz will also be examined. Source material for this analysis will include a representative selection of his audio and video recordings, as well as relevant interviews and writings. This essay will hopefully inform both educators and students on the topics of jazz bass