Starting at the End: Measuring Learning Using Retrospective Pre-Post Evaluations

Blog post to AEA365, a blog sponsored by the American Evaluation Association (AEA) dedicated to highlighting Hot Tips, Cool Tricks, Rad Resources, and Lessons Learned for evaluators. The American Evaluation Association is an international professional association of evaluators devoted to the application and exploration of program evaluation, personnel evaluation, technology, and many other forms of evaluation. Evaluation involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses of programs, policies, personnel, products, and organizations to improve their effectiveness

Estimation of spatially correlated random scaling factors based on Markov random field priors

Multiplicative random effects allow for cluster-specific scaling of covariate effects. In many applications with spatial clustering, however, the random effects additionally show some geographical pattern, which usually can not sufficiently be captured with existing estimation techniques. Relying on Markov random fields, we present a fully Bayesian inference procedure for spatially correlated scaling factors. The estimation is based on highly efficient Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms and is smoothly incorporated into the framework of distributional regression. We run a comprehensive simulation study for different response distributions to examine the statistical properties of our approach. We also compare our results to those of a general estimation procedure for independent random scaling factors. Furthermore, we apply the method to German real estate data and show that exploiting the spatial correlation of the scaling factors further improves the performance of the model

Environmental Correlates of Hermatypic Coral (Montastrea annularis) Growth on the East Flower Gardens Bank, Northwest Gulf of Mexico

Time series of annual linear growth increments from 12 Montastrea annularis (E. and S.) collected at the East Flower Gardens Bank reef in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico have a common pattern. This is best expressed in an index master chronology (average by year of the annual percentage deviations from the mean of each coral.) Comparisons with time series of environmental data indicate that coral extension rates vary positively with seasonal (February through May - 4 months) surface water temperature and negatively with annual discharge of the Atchafalaya River. We propose that secular variations of water temperature and other parameters are the major long term controls of coral growth in the area. Our data do not support the view that sinking of the Flower Gardens reef, caused by catastrophic collapse of the underlying substrate, has been a prime influence on the corals

Biozonation of Deep-Water Lithoherms and Associated Hardgrounds in the Northeastern Straits of Florida

Elongated carbonate mounds ( lithoherms ) oriented parallel to prevailing northerly bottom currents at moderate depths (500-700 m) along the western margin of the Little Bahama Bank exhibit a consistent faunal zonation characterized by attached, suspension-feeding invertebrates. The four most abundant macroepibenthic groups (alcyonarians, crinoids, sponges and stylasterid hydrocorals) dominate all hard substrates examined except upcurrent ends and crests of lithoherms. We recognize three faunal zones on these mounds: a Coral Zone (Lophelia prolifera) restricted to the upcurrent end; a Zoanthid Zone (?Gerardia sp.) along upcurrent crests, and a Crinoid/Alcyonarian Zone along lithoherm flanks and downstream crests. Taxa characteristic of the latter also occur on surrounding, low-relief hardgrounds but are accompanied by additional taxa usually absent from mounds. Intervening unconsolidated sediment is largely barren. Biozonation appears chiefly dependent on current flow regime and secondarily on substrate. The observed zonation occurs over a much smaller areal scale than previously reported for deep-water (non-hydrothermal) hard bottoms. Abrupt, small-scale faunal zonation can no longer automatically be considered as evidence of a shallow-water environment in interpreting fossil assemblages

Sclerosponges: Primary framework constructors on the Jamaican deep fore-reef

Sclerosponges grow on hard substrates in areas protected from high rates of sediment accumulation to depths of about 200 m at Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Here they are primary framework builders on the deep fore-reef between 70 m and 105 m

Lessons Learned from Two Case Studies in Higher Education

As places where future citizens are educated, knowledge is (co-)produced and societal developments are critically reflected, higher education institutions (HEIs) can play a key role in addressing sustainability challenges. In order to accelerate mutual learning, shared problem understanding, and joint development of sustainable solutions, interinstitutional exchange and collaboration between HEIs is crucial. However, little research to date has focused on institutional HEI networks in the field of sustainability. More specifically, we still understand little about the concrete development, implementation, and adaptation of such networks. This article explores early-stage HEI networks for sustainability from a conceptual and empirical stance in order to develop a framework that facilitates structured descriptions of these networks, as well as to foster cross-HEI learning on their effective performance. It therefore combines insights from an explorative literature review, two case studies and an interactive workshop at the ISCN Conference 2018. As results, we first suggest an analytical framework to facilitate a systematic characterization of HEI networks. Second, by applying the framework to the two case studies, we present and discuss lessons learned on how a single HEI can contribute to establishing a network and how it can utilize its network membership effectively to strengthen its efforts for sustainability

Review: Impact of Helminth Infection on Antimycobacterial Immunity—A Focus on the Macrophage

Successful immune control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) requires robust CD4+ T cell responses, with IFNγs as the key cytokine promoting killing of intracellular mycobacteria by macrophages. By contrast, helminth infections typically direct the immune system toward a type 2 response, characterized by high levels of the cytokines IL-4 and IL-10, which can antagonize IFNγ production and its biological effects. In many countries with high burden of tuberculosis, helminth infections are endemic and have been associated with increased risk to develop tuberculosis or to inhibit vaccination-induced immunity. Mechanistically, regulation of the antimycobacterial immune response by helminths has been mostly been attributed to the T cell compartment. Here, we review the current status of the literature on the impact of helminths on vaccine-induced and natural immunity to MTB with a focus on the alterations enforced on the capacity of macrophages to function as sensors of mycobacteria and effector cells to control their replication

Vrana-See, Kroatien. Bauhistorische Untersuchungen zu den be­fes­tigten Höhensiedlungen in der kroatischen Vrana-See-Region (Zadar). Die Arbeiten des Jahres 2021

The architectural research on the ancient hilltop settlement of Zamina and other fortified gradines in its vicinity was supported by a research grant from the German Archaeological Institute (DAI). It is integrated into the ­German-Croatian research project of the Romano-Germanic Commission (RGK) »From the Karst Mountains to the Sea. Settlement forms, spatial de­velopment and use from the Iron Age to Late Antiquity at Lake Vrana«. In October 2021, a joint three-week building survey campaign was conducted by various project participants, ranging from hand measurements to 3D LiDAR scans. The construction research clearly shows how the interdependencies of the regional natural, anthropogenic, and economic conditions determined the settlement morphology