Changing teaching techniques and adapting new technologies to improve student learning in an introductory meteorology and climate course

Responding to the call for reform in science education, changes were made in an introductory meteorology and climate course offered at a large public university. These changes were a part of a larger project aimed at deepening and extending a program of science content courses that model effective teaching strategies for prospective middle school science teachers. Therefore, revisions were made to address misconceptions about meteorological phenomena, foster deeper understanding of key concepts, encourage engagement with the text, and promote inquiry-based learning. Techniques introduced include: use of a flash cards, student reflection questionnaires, writing assignments, and interactive discussions on weather and forecast data using computer technology such as Integrated Data Viewer (IDV). The revision process is described in a case study format. Preliminary results (self-reflection by the instructor, surveys of student opinion, and measurements of student achievement), suggest student learning has been positively influenced. This study is supported by three grants: NSF grant No. 0202923, the Unidata Equipment Award, and the Lucia Harrison Endowment Fund

Activity of type I methanotrophs dominates under high methane concentration: methanotrophic activity in slurry surface crusts as influenced by methane, oxygen, and inorganic nitrogen

Livestock slurry is a major source of atmospheric methane (CH4), but surface crusts harboring methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) could mediate against CH4 emissions. This study examined conditions for CH4 oxidation by in situ measurements of oxygen (O2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), as a proxy for inorganic N transformations, in intact crusts using microsensors. This was combined with laboratory incubations of crust material to investigate the effects of O2, CH4, and inorganic N on CH4 oxidation, using 13CH4 to trace C incorporation into lipids of MOB. Oxygen penetration into the crust was 2 to 14 mm, confining the potential for aerobic CH4 oxidation to a shallow layer. Nitrous oxide accumulated within or below the zone of O2 depletion. With 102 ppmv CH4 there was no O2 limitation on CH4 oxidation at O2 concentrations as low as 2%, whereas CH4 oxidation at 104 ppmv CH4 was reduced at ≤5% O2. As hypothesized, CH4 oxidation was in general inhibited by inorganic N, especially NO2–, and there was an interaction between N inhibition and O2 limitation at 102 ppmv CH4, as indicated by consistently stronger inhibition of CH4 oxidation by NH4+ and NO3– at 3% compared with 20% O2. Recovery of 13C in phospholipid fatty acids suggested that both Type I and Type II MOB were active, with Type I dominating high-concentration CH4 oxidation. Given the structural heterogeneity of crusts, CH4 oxidation activity likely varies spatially as constrained by the combined effects of CH4, O2, and inorganic N availability in microsites

Dilution of seawater affects the Ca2 + transport in the outer mantle epithelium of crassostrea gigas

Varying salinities of coastal waters are likely to affect the physiology and ion transport capabilities of calcifying marine organisms such as bivalves. To investigate the physiological effect of decreased environmental salinity in bivalves, adult oysters (Crassostrea gigas) were exposed for 14 days to 50% seawater (14) and the effects on mantle ion transport, electrophysiology and the expression of Ca2+ transporters and channels relative to animals maintained in full strength sea water (28) was evaluated. Exposure of oysters to a salinity of 14 decreased the active mantle transepithelial ion transport and specifically affected Ca2+ transfer. Gene expression of the Na+/K+-ATPase and the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase was decreased whereas the expression of the T-type voltage-gated Ca channel and the Na+/Ca2+-exchanger increased compared to animals maintained in full SW. The results indicate that decreased environmental salinities will most likely affect not only osmoregulation but also bivalve biomineralization and shell formation.Funding Agency European Union (EU) 605051 Swedish Mariculture Research Center, SWEMARC, University of Gothenburg Herbert & Karin Jacobssons Stiftelse 15/h17 Helge Ax:son Johnsons Stiftelse F18-0128 Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology UID/Multi/04326/2019 Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology UID/Multi/04326/2019 FCT, under the "Norma Transitoria" DL57/2016/CP1361/CT0020 DL57/2016/CP1361/CT0011info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mida arvavad arstitudengid laste haiglahirmust?

Taust. Haiglahirm on patsientide ravisoostumust ja arstiabi kvaliteeti mõjutav kriitiline tegur kõigis vanuserühmades, eriti oluline aga laste puhul.Eesmärk. Töö eesmärk oli uurida arstitudengite teadmisi ja hinnanguid seoses laste haiglahirmuga.Metoodika. Uuringus osales 256 Tartu Ülikooli V kursuse arstitudengit, kes täitsid autorite koostatud 12 küsimusest koosneva esseetüüpi ankeedi. Küsimused olid struktureeritud eesmärgiga selgitada välja osalejate suhtumine ja teadmised laste haiglahirmu ning selle võimalike leevendusmeetodite kohta. Vastuste baasil koostati märksõnad, mis klasterdati edasise andmeanalüüsi tegemiseks.Tulemused. Tulemused näitasid, et ainult 5,5% arstitudengitest ei pidanud haiglahirmu oluliseks probleemiks. 88,3% üliõpilastest arvas, et hirmuga peavad tegelema eelkõige lapsevanemad, arstide ülesandeks pidas seda 45,7% ja muu meditsiinipersonali kohustuseks 79,3%. Selgus neli olulist põhjust haiglahirmuga tegelemiseks: hirmu ennetamine tulevikus (70,3%), kvaliteetse arstiabi pakkumine (66,8%), parem koostöö (48,0%) ja stressitaseme vähendamine (39,8%). Hirmu leevendamise võimalusteks peeti protseduuri selgitamist (73,4%), nüüdisaegsete distraktsioonimeetodite kasutamist (50,0%), sõbralikku ja mängulist lähenemist (20,3%).Järeldused. V kursuse arstitudengite teadmised laste haiglahirmu kohta olid rahuldavad, kuid nad soovisid siiski rohkem infot hirmu vähendamise konkreetsete tehnikate kohta. Haiglahirmu käsitlust ei ole praeguseni meditsiiniteaduste õppekavas, kuid arvestades uuringu tulemusi on soovitatav see teema õppekavasse lisada

In situ recordings of presumed folliculo-stellate cells in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary gland of Xenopus laevis

Contains fulltext : 28957.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Advanced FPGA Design: Architecture Implementation and Optimization

This book provides the reader with issues of advanced FPGA design as the underlying theme of the work. In practice, an engineer typically needs to be mentored for several years before these principles are appropriately utilized. The topics that are discussed in this book are essential to designing FPGA's beyond moderate complexity. The goal of the book is to present practical design techniques that are otherwise only available through mentorship and real-world experience. There are a number of books on FPGA design, but few of these truly address advanced real-world topics in detail. This book attempts to cut out the fat of unnecessary theory, speculation on future technologies, and the details of outdated technologies. It is written in a terse, concise format that addresses the various topics without wasting the reader's time. Many sections in this book assume that certain fundamentals are understood, and for the sake of brevity, background information and/or theoretical frameworks are not always covered in detail. Instead, this book covers in-depth topics that have been encountered in real-world designs. In some ways, this book replaces a limited amount of industry experience and access to an experienced mentor and will hopefully prevent the reader from learning a few things the hard way. It is the advanced, practical approach that makes this book unique

Gümnaasiumi õpilaste enesekohaste tuumikhinnangute ja stressi mõõdete vahelised seosed

Käesoleva seminaritöö eesmärgiks oli leida seoseid stressi ja enesekohaste tuumikhinnangute vahel. Kasutatud küsimustike hulka kuulusid stressiküsimustik ST-04 ja negatiivsete tuumikhinnangute alaskaalad. Valim moodustus Põltsamaa Ühisgümnaasiumi 10. ja 11. klasside õpilastest. Tulemused näitasid, et kõige tugevam seos stressiga on ärevusel. Lisaks sellele avaldus rida olulisi korrelatsioone stressiga tähelepanu- ja kontrolli-, nartsissismi- ning impulsiivsuse alaskaaladel. Selle uurimuse käigus kogutud andmestikku saab edaspidi kasutada erinevate võrdluste tegemiseks: võrrelda alaskaalasid sugude ja vanusegruppide kaupa.http://tartu.ester.ee/record=b2653983~S1*es

Denitrification and the hypoxic response in obligate aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria

Aerobic methanotrophic bacteria lessen the impact of the greenhouse gas methane (CH4) not only because they are a sink for atmospheric methane but also because they oxidize it before it is emitted to the atmospheric reservoir. Aerobic methanotrophs, unlike anaerobic methane oxidizing archaea, have a dual need for molecular oxygen (O2) for respiration and CH4 oxidation. Nevertheless, methanotrophs are highly abundant and active in environments that are extremely hypoxic and even anaerobic. While the O2 requirement in these organisms for CH4 oxidation is inflexible, recent genome sequencing efforts have uncovered the presence of putative denitrification genes in many aerobic methanotrophs. Being able to use two different terminal electron acceptors – hybrid respiration – would be massively advantageous to aerobic methanotrophs as it would allow them to halve their O2 requirement. But, the function of these genes that hint at an undiscovered respiratory anaerobic metabolism is unknown. Moreover, past work on pure cultures of aerobic methanotrophs ruled out the possibility that these organisms denitrify. An organism that can couple CH4 oxidation to NO3- respiration so far does not exist in pure culture. So while the role of aerobic methanotrophs in the carbon cycle is appreciated, the hypoxic metabolism and contribution of these specialized microorganisms to the nitrogen cycle is not understood. Here we demonstrate using cultivation dependent approaches, microrespirometry, and whole genome, transcriptome, and proteome analysis that an aerobic methanotroph – Methylomonas denitrificans FJG1 – couples CH4 oxidation to NO3- respiration with N2O as the terminal product via the intermediates NO2- and NO. Whole transcriptome and proteome analysis reveals that respiratory nitrate (Nar, Nap), nitrite (Nir), and nitric oxide (Nor) reductases are expressed and upregulated at the transcript and protein levels under denitrifying conditions. Physiological analysis of denitrifying cultures of M. denitrificans FJG1 also confirms that NO3- respiration is bioenergetically advantageous. We also confirm denitrification activity and upregulation of denitrification gene expression in another obligate methanotroph – Methylomicrobium album BG8 – and also show that this activity is supported by a diverse array of energy sources. Formaldehyde fermentation has been identified by others as an important adaptation of aerobic methanotrophs to hypoxia. We additionally illustrate here that M. denitrificans FJG1 can also ferment formaldehyde and that nitrate respiration and fermentation occur simultaneously during hypoxia. The work herein is a significant contribution to our knowledge of how aerobic methanotrophs affect greenhouse gas flux though CH4 oxidation in low O2 environments and through N2O production via denitrification