Technical communicator\u27s encroachment on public relations: a report from the field

A survey was conducted to focus on technical communicators and their roles within organizations. The study utilized public relations encroachment theory and survey research to investigate five research questions relating to technical communication encroachment of public relations. The research found that there may be some encroachment occurring in public relations by technical communicators, but only in two roles: Problem-Solving Process Facilitator and Communication Facilitator. Additionally, the study found that a technical communicator\u27s experience level was linked to encroachment. Less experienced technical communicators were more likely to perceive they encroach on public relations. Gender and education did not play a role in encroachment. Ultimately, the study and findings can be examined further to determine if curricular changes should be made in technical communication programs and also to better define the professional field of technical communication

State-wide training sessions for county office personnel using the Blue Ribbon data management system

A statewide training initiative was necessitated by the upgrade of the statistical database management program required by the State 4-H Office. The upgrade was released in the fall of 1998, but was flawed and buggy, resulting in much frustration among users. Additionally, I was the newly-hired State Support Specialist, and had not established any credibility with the users I was hired to support. The Associate State Director and I decided that an ambitious early spring training program would be beneficial to all parties involved. I believe that this project was both a personal and a professional success. I was able to effectively teach others to use the new program, formed personal and professional relationships, and gained a deeper understanding the clients I am hired to serve

Making Rapid Change: Leaning 4-H

Nationwide, Extension is restructuring and searching for efficiencies due to reduced funding. When American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds became available, the Iowa 4-H program used the funding allocated to support training the administrative team and key staff to improve 4-H statewide processes. Building a lean culture of streamlining processes and eliminating waste through the use of kaizen events helped redirect funding for priority work, as well as create team spirit

Seasonal Variations in the Growth and Reproduction of Helcion Concolor (Krauss, 1848) Limpet along The Wild Coast Of South Africa

Growth and reproduction are crucial in understanding the biology and ecology of rocky intertidal limpet species. It is inevitable that seasonal fluctuations affect the different reproductive stages of each limpet species in the wild. This led to this research project investigating the seasonal effects on the reproduction and growth rate of the colour variable limpet Helcion concolor (Krauss, 1848). Growth was quantified by comparing the shell dimensions (i.e. shell length, shell width and shell height) and weight (i.e. total body mass, shell weight, somatic weight and gonad weight) of both male and female individuals across the seasons. Histological studies were conducted to quantify the reproductive variation of both male and female individuals during different seasons. Shell conicity (SC), shell ellipticity (SE) and gonad somatic index (GSI) were then calculated to determine seasonal variability. The results revealed that H. concolor females were longer, broader, taller and heavier than the males. Daily incremental shell length analysis detected that the limpets gained more shell length and width in autumn while they gained more shell height in spring and autumn. The ratio of males to females fluctuated on a monthly basis resulting in more females (51.67 ± 4.41 %) than males (48.33 ± 4.41 %) in this study. Males had a larger GSI than females. GSI for females was lowest in summer and highest in spring. For males, the GSI was highest during the winter season. Regression results revealed that shell length and width were useful in determining GSI in both male and females. Histological analysis detected five stages of germ cells for females (Oogonia, Previtellogenic oocyte, Vitellogenic oocyte, Mature oocyte and Atresic oocyte) and four stages for males (Spermatogonia, Spermatocytes, Spermatids and ii Spermatozoa). Mature oocytes were the most abundant stage for females, mostly abundant in autumn and winter. For males, spermatozoa increased from summer to winter and decreased during spring. Histological studies further revealed that H. concolor was a partial spawner as the gonads always contained sperm and eggs within them. Overall, this study highlighted that seasons had more effect on the reproduction than the growth rate of this limpet. Keywords: histology, gonad somatic index, oocytes, patellid, shell dimensions, spawning

Seasonal Variations in the Growth and Reproduction of Helcion Concolor (Krauss, 1848) Limpet along The Wild Coast Of South Africa

Growth and reproduction are crucial in understanding the biology and ecology of rocky intertidal limpet species. It is inevitable that seasonal fluctuations affect the different reproductive stages of each limpet species in the wild. This led to this research project investigating the seasonal effects on the reproduction and growth rate of the colour variable limpet Helcion concolor (Krauss, 1848). Growth was quantified by comparing the shell dimensions (i.e. shell length, shell width and shell height) and weight (i.e. total body mass, shell weight, somatic weight and gonad weight) of both male and female individuals across the seasons. Histological studies were conducted to quantify the reproductive variation of both male and female individuals during different seasons. Shell conicity (SC), shell ellipticity (SE) and gonad somatic index (GSI) were then calculated to determine seasonal variability. The results revealed that H. concolor females were longer, broader, taller and heavier than the males. Daily incremental shell length analysis detected that the limpets gained more shell length and width in autumn while they gained more shell height in spring and autumn. The ratio of males to females fluctuated on a monthly basis resulting in more females (51.67 ± 4.41 %) than males (48.33 ± 4.41 %) in this study. Males had a larger GSI than females. GSI for females was lowest in summer and highest in spring. For males, the GSI was highest during the winter season. Regression results revealed that shell length and width were useful in determining GSI in both male and females. Histological analysis detected five stages of germ cells for females (Oogonia, Previtellogenic oocyte, Vitellogenic oocyte, Mature oocyte and Atresic oocyte) and four stages for males (Spermatogonia, Spermatocytes, Spermatids and ii Spermatozoa). Mature oocytes were the most abundant stage for females, mostly abundant in autumn and winter. For males, spermatozoa increased from summer to winter and decreased during spring. Histological studies further revealed that H. concolor was a partial spawner as the gonads always contained sperm and eggs within them. Overall, this study highlighted that seasons had more effect on the reproduction than the growth rate of this limpet. Keywords: histology, gonad somatic index, oocytes, patellid, shell dimensions, spawning