Decomposer biomass in the rhizosphere to assess rhizodposition

Quantification of the organic carbon released from plant roots is a challenge. These compounds of rhizodeposition are quickly transformed into CO2 and eventually bacterial biomass to be consumed by bacterivores (protozoa and nematodes). Microbes stimulate rhizodeposition several-fold so assays under sterile conditions give an unrealistic value. Quantifying bacterial production from H-3-thymidine incorporation falls short in the rhizosphere and the use of isotopes does not allow clear distinction between labeled CO2 released from roots or microbes. We reduced rhizodeposition in 3-5 week old barley with a 2 week leaf aphid attack and found that biomass of bacterivores but not bacteria in the rhizosphere correlated with plant-induced respiration activity belowground. This indicated top-down control of the bacteria. Moreover, at increasing density of aphids, bacterivore biomass in the rhizosphere decreased to the level in soil unaffected by roots. This suggests that difference in bacterivore biomass directly reflects variations in rhizodeposition. Rhizodeposition is estimated from plant-induced increases in bacterial and bacterivore biomass, and yield factors, maintenance requirements, and turnover rates from the literature. We use literature values that maximize requirements for organic carbon and still estimate the total organic rhizodeposition to be as little as 4-6% of the plant-induced respiration belowground

Narrative therapy with first-generation college students : Impacts on anxiety, depression, and retention rates.

Over 50% of students entering higher education represent the first generation in their family to do so. These students experience unique stressors related to educational background, finances, membership in underrepresented populations, and other identities which shape their worldview. Grappling with such complexities can lead to increased likelihood of depression and anxiety, contributing to a 400% drop-out rate when compared with continuing-generation students. Narrative Therapy (NT) has shown promise in treating anxiety and depression and may be beneficial in integrating the intersectional experiences of first-generation students. Our proposed research would examine the impact of NT on depression, anxiety, and retention rates

The Role of the School Administrators in Supporting Teachers in the Integration of Educational Technology Into K-12 Classrooms

While the role of the administrator has been regarded as significant in school improvement activities, little information exists which describes the specific roles and responsibilities of the administrator as a technology leader. This study is based on the premise that the role of the school administrator is crucial to the successful introduction and use of technology in the K-12 classroom. The purpose of the study was to examine relationships that may reflect the influence school administrators have on teachers’ technology integration competencies. The study used transformational leadership theory, specifically Kouzes and Posner’s (1985) five leadership practices, to examine the leadership by school administrators. Data obtained from a U.S. Department of Education Technology Literacy Challenge Project was used in this study. The sample consisted of the K-12 teachers and administrators who participated in the North Dakota Teaching with Technology Initiative (ND TWTi). Participants included 89% of the K-12 teachers and administrators from 423 public and private schools throughout North Dakota. Data was collected using the Professional Competency Continuum surveys for both teachers and administrators developed by the Milken Exchange and the North Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium. Data from the administrative competency ratings of administrators and teachers’ technology integration competency ratings were tested using the Pearson correlation. The administrative competency indicators were (a) modeling effective use; (b) leading professional development; (c;) leading and managing systemic change; and (d) maintaining a knowledge base. The teacher competencies included: (a) core technology skills; (b) curriculum, learning, and assessment; (c) professional practice; and, (d) classroom and instructional management. The correlations were significant beyond the .001 level between all administrative competencies and teachers’ core technology skills and between teachers’ professional practices. The correlations were significant at the .05 level between administrative competencies and teachers’ curriculum, learning, and assessment, and teachers’ classroom and instructional management. The correlations indicate that the administrative competencies of school administrators are likely determinants in the technology integration competency ratings of teachers under their leadership. As a result of the study, 14 recommendations for further study were made. Five recommendations for practical applications of the study were also provided

Internationalisering i grundskolen – kun for ildsjæle?

Temanummerets kroni

Disturbance promotes non-indigenous bacterial invasion in soil microcosms:analysis of the roles of resource availability and community structure

Invasion-biology is largely based on non-experimental observation of larger organisms. Here, we apply an experimental approach to the subject. By using microbial-based microcosm-experiments, invasion-biology can be placed on firmer experimental, and hence, less anecdotal ground. A better understanding of the mechanisms that govern invasion-success of bacteria in soil communities will provide knowledge on the factors that hinder successful establishment of bacteria artificially inoculated into soil, e.g. for remediation purposes. Further, it will yield valuable information on general principles of invasion biology in other domains of life.Here, we studied invasion and establishment success of GFP-tagged Pseudomonas fluorescens DSM 50090 in laboratory microcosms during a 42-day period. We used soil heating to create a disturbance gradient, and hypothesized that increased disturbance would facilitate invasion; our experiments confirmed this hypothesis. We suggest that the key factors associated with the heating disturbance that explain the enhanced invasion success are increased carbon substrate availability and reduced diversity, and thus, competition- and predation-release. In a second experiment we therefore separated the effects of increased carbon availability and decreased diversity. Here, we demonstrated that the effect of the indigenous soil community on bacterial invasion was stronger than that of resource availability. In particular, introduced bacteria established better in a long term perspective at lower diversity and predation pressure.We propose increased use of microbial systems, for experimental study of invasion scenarios. They offer a simple and cost-efficient way to study and understand biological invasion. Consequently such systems can help us to better predict the mechanisms controlling changes in stability of communities and ecosystems. This is becoming increasingly relevant since anthropogenic disturbance causes increasing global change, which promotes invasion. Moreover, a thorough understanding of factors controlling invasion and establishment of artificially amended micro-organisms will mean a major step forward for soil-remediation microbiology

Clinical Reasoning in Physical Therapy: A Concept Analysis

Background Physical Therapy, along with most health professions, struggles to describe clinical reasoning, despite it being a vital skill in effective patient care. This lack of a unified conceptualization of clinical reasoning leads to variable and inconsistent teaching, assessment, and research. Objective The objective was to conceptualize a broad description of physical therapists’ clinical reasoning grounded in the published literature and to unify our understanding for future work related to teaching, assessment, and research. Design/Methods The design included a systematic concept analysis using Rodgers’ Evolutionary methodology. A concept analysis is a research methodology in which a concept\u27s characteristics and the relationship between features of the concept is clarified. Results Based on findings in the literature, clinical reasoning in physical therapy was conceptualized as integrating cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills. It is contextual in nature and involves both therapist and client perspectives. It is adaptive, iterative, and collaborative with the intended outcome being a biopsychosocial approach to patient/client management. Limitations Although a comprehensive approach was intended, it is possible that the search methods or reduction of the literature was incomplete or key sources were mistakenly excluded. Conclusions A description of clinical reasoning in physical therapy was conceptualized, as it currently exists in representative literature. The intent is for it to contribute to the unification of an understanding of how clinical reasoning has been conceptualized to date by practitioners, academicians, and clinical educators. Substantial work remains to be done to further develop the concept of clinical reasoning for physical therapy, including the role of movement in our reasoning in practice