Innovations in Podcasting and Screencasting Course MaterialsTo Bring Mathematics to Life

Online and other forms of distance learning are a permanent fixture in the educational landscape. Mathematics taught in distance formats pose an even greater challenge to students and teachers alike. As mathematics is a skill subject, demonstration of concepts and processes is crucial, if not critical, to learning, particularly to visual and kinesthetic learners. Video podcasts and screencasts are the answer to distance students’ need for demonstration and explanation of mathematical topics. In the current economic climate, however, expensive audio/video capture software and hardware, as well as a lack of technical media support, make it virtually impossible to create such course materials. Also, there is the question of ownership of intellectual property if created with institutional funds and/or resources. Free capture software and internet video hosting sites make it possible for an individual to create his or her own podcasts and screencasts for student use, retaining ownership of the created materials.Materials developed for online students can be made available to students in seated class. This benefits students who are unable to attend class, but can be made available to the entire class

Patterns and Trends in Cetacean Occurrence Revealed by Shorewatch, a Land-Based Citizen Science Program in Scotland (United Kingdom)

Shorewatch is a citizen science project, managed by Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), that records the occurrence of cetaceans during regular, standardized watches from a series of locations along the coast of Scotland (United Kingdom). Observer training and a clearly defined protocol help deliver a valuable source of information about cetacean occurrence and activity along the coast. Between 2005–2018, over 52000 watches generated over 11000 sightings of at least 18 cetacean species. Generalized Additive Models based on sightings for the five most commonly sighted species (bottlenose dolphin, harbor porpoise, minke whale, Risso’s dolphin, and common dolphin), at those sites with the longest time series, demonstrated seasonal, geographical and year-to-year differences in their local occurrence and relative abundance. Bottlenose dolphins are mainly present at observation sites located on the east coast of Scotland, being uncommon on the west coast, while harbor porpoise and minke whale are principally present at sites located on the west coast. The seasonality observed in cetacean occurrence is consistent with peak abundance in summer months described by previous studies in the area. Mean depth around the observation sites is the static variable that apparently has the greatest influence on species presence and number of sightings, except for Risso’s dolphin. All the species except bottlenose dolphin showed upward trends in occurrence and number of sightings over the period 2012–2018. Evidence of temporal autocorrelation was found between results from consecutive watches at the same site on the same day as well as between results from consecutive days at the same site. The power to detect declines in local abundance over a 6-year period depends on the underlying sighting rate of each cetacean species, the number of watches performed and the rate of decline. Simulations performed to determine the power to detect a decline suggest that the current intensity of observation effort in some observation sites, of about 2500 watches per year, may offer good prospects of detecting a 30% decline of the most frequently sighted species (95% of the time) over a 6-year period, although a more even distribution of observation effort in space and time is desirable. The data could potentially be used for monitoring and 6-yearly reporting of the status of cetacean populations.En prens

Finiteness and children with specific language impairment: an exploratory study

Children with specific language impairment (SLI) are well known for their difficulties in mastering the inflectional paradigms; in the case of learning German they also have problems with the appropriate verb position, in particular with the verb in second position. This paper explores the possibilities of applying a broader concept of finiteness to data from children with SLI in order to put their deficits, or rather their skills, into a wider perspective. The concept, as developed by Klein (1998, 2000), suggests that finiteness is tied to the assertion that a certain state of affairs is valid with regard to some topic time; that is, finiteness relates the propositional content to the topic component. Its realization involves the interaction of various grammatical devices and, possibly, lexical means like temporal adverbs. Furthermore, in the acquisition of finiteness it has been found that scope particles play a major role in both first- and second-language learning. The purpose of this paper is to analyze to what extent three German-learning children with SLI have mastered these grammatical and lexical means and to pinpoint the phase in the development of finiteness they have reached. The data to be examined are mostly narrative and taken from conversations and experiments. It will be shown that each child chooses a different developmental path to come to grips with the interaction of these devices

Environmental DNA (eDNA) for monitoring marine mammals: Challenges and opportunities

Monitoring marine mammal populations is essential to permit assessment of population status as required by both national and international legislation. Traditional monitoring methods often rely on visual and/or acoustic detections from vessels and aircraft, but limitations including cost, errors in the detection of some species and dependence on taxonomic expertise, as well as good weather and visibility conditions often limit the temporal and spatial scale of effective, long-term monitoring programs. In recent years, environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a revolutionary tool for cost-effective, sensitive, noninvasive species monitoring in both terrestrial and aquatic realms. eDNA is a rapidly developing field and a growing number of studies have successfully implemented this approach for the detection and identification of marine mammals. Here, we review 21 studies published between 2012 and 2021 that employed eDNA for marine mammal monitoring including single species detection, biodiversity assessment and genetic characterization. eDNA has successfully been used to infer species presence (especially useful for rare, elusive or threatened species) and to characterize the population genetic structure, although additional research is needed to support the interpretation of non-detections. Finally, we discuss the challenges and the opportunities that eDNA could bring to marine mammal monitoring as a complementary tool to support visual and acoustic methods

Long-finned pilot whale population diversity and structure in Atlantic waters assessed through biogeochemical and genetic markers

Acknowledgements. Cetacean samples were collected under the auspices of stranding monitoring programs run by the Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, the Coordinadora para o Estudio dos Mamíferos Mariños (supported by the regional government Xunta de Galicia), the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme and the Scottish Agriculture College Veterinary Science Division (jointly funded by Defra and the Devolved Governments of Scotland and Wales), the Marine Mammals Research Group of the Institute of Marine Research (Norway), the Museum of Natural History of the Faroe Islands and the International Fund for Animal Welfare Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Program (USA). The authors thank all the members of these institutions and organizations for their assistance with data and sample collection. S.S.M., P.M.F. and M.F. were supported by PhD grants from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (POPH/FSE ref SFRH/BD/ 38735/ 2007, SFRH/BD/36766/2007 and SFRH/BD/30240/ 2006, respectively). A.L. was supported by a postdoctoral grant from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (ref SFRH/BPD/82407/2011). The work related to strandings and tissue collection in Portugal was partially supported by the SafeSea project EEAGrants PT 0039 (supported by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Financial Mechanism), the MarPro project Life09 NAT/PT/000038 (funded by the European Union program LIFE+) and the project CetSenti FCT RECI/AAG-GLO/0470/2012 (FCOMP- 01-0124-FEDER-027472) (funded by the program COMPETE and the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia). G.J.P. thanks the University of Aveiro and Caixa Geral de Depósitos (Portugal) for financial support. The authors acknowledge the assistance of the chemical analysts at Marine Scotland Science with the fatty acid analysis.Peer reviewedPostprintPublisher PD

A qualitative investigation of breast cancer survivors’ experiences with breastfeeding

This is an exploratory, qualitative investigation of breast cancer survivors’ experiences with breastfeeding. Previous studies have focused on the physiology of lactation after surgery and treatment, but have not explored factors influencing breastfeeding decisions and behavior. We used purposeful sampling to identify 11 breast cancer survivors who had a child after their diagnosis and treatment. Participants were recruited from among those in the Women’s Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) study and a Young Survival Coalition (YSC) affiliate. We conducted semi-structured, open-ended telephone interviews lasting 45–75 min. We used social cognitive theory (SCT) to structure questions regarding influences on breastfeeding behavior. We transcribed interviews and used cross-case, inductive analysis to identify themes. Ten of 11 participants initiated breastfeeding. The following main themes emerged: 1) Cautiously hopeful, 2) Exhausting to rely on one breast, 3) Motivated despite challenges, 4) Support and lack of support, and 5) Encouraging to others. Study participants were highly motivated to breastfeed but faced considerable challenges. Participants described problems that are not unique to women with breast cancer, but experienced these to a much greater degree because they relied mostly or entirely on one lactating breast. This study revealed a need for improved access to information and support and greater sensitivity to the obstacles faced by breast cancer survivors. Results of this qualitative analysis indicate that interventions to support the efforts of breast cancer survivors who are interested in breastfeeding are warranted. Additional research would aid in the development of such interventions

A rhetoric-in-context approach to building commitment to multiple strategic goals

There are still few explanations of the micro-level practices by which top managers influence employee commitment to multiple strategic goals. This paper argues that, through their language, top managers can construct a context for commitment to multiple strategic goals. We therefore propose a rhetoric-in-context approach to illuminate some of the micro practices through which top managers influence employee commitment. Based upon an empirical study of the rhetorical practices through which top managers influence academic commitment to multiple strategic goals in university contexts, we demonstrate relationships between rhetoric and context. Specifically, we show that rhetorical influences over commitment to multiple goals are associated with the historical context for multiple goals, the degree to which top managers' rhetoric instantiates a change in that context, and the internal consistency of the rhetorical practices used by top managers. Copyright © 2007 SAGE Publications

Inter-species differences in polychlorinated biphenyls patterns from five sympatric species of odontocetes : Can PCBs be used as tracers of feeding ecology?

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of volunteers from the Galician (CEMMA) and Portuguese (SPVS) stranding networks. The authors would like to thank R. Gallois and C. Trichet for their participation on total lipid content analysis. P. Méndez-Fernandez was supported during the research period through a PhD grant from the Fundação do Ministério de Ciência e Tecnologia de Portugal and ANIMATE project (SFRH/BD/36766/2007) and through a Science Without Borders (CSF) young talent postdoctoral grant of the Brazilian government. G. J. Pierce acknowledges support from the EU ANIMATE project (MEXC-CT-2006-042337), University of Aveiro and Caixa Geral de Depósitos (Portugal).Peer reviewedPostprin

Workshop on mitigation measures to reduce bycatch of short-beaked common dolphins in the Bay of Biscay (WKEMBYC2)

Following the special request from the DG MARE, the Workshop on mitigation measures to minimize bycatch of short-beaked common dolphins in the Bay of Biscay (WKEMBYC2) was established by ICES. WKEMBYC2 was tasked with updating and revaluating the scenarios previously proposed in the ICES special request advice in 2020. The group was asked to consider recent data on bycatch of common dolphins in commercial fisheries and total fishing effort in the Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coast ecosystem, as well as taking into account results from any mitigation trials carried out since the meeting in 2020. In section 2 of this report the efficacy of the scenarios provided during WKEMBYC in 2020 were reassessed using updated bycatch estimates calculated from at-sea monitoring and stranding data collected between 2019 and 2021. Scenarios and methods remained unchanged, to ensure comparability between both evaluations. Similarly, PBR values considered in the 2020 scenarios were again considered here, with the addition of the mPBR which was developed by OSPAR since the last workshop. The annual mortality due to bycatch inferred from French strandings in the Bay of Biscay and along the Western Channel was estimated at about 9,040 (95%CI [6,640 - 13,300]) common dolphins between 2019 and 2021. In the Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coast (areas 8 and 9), the mean annual bycatch estimated from at-sea observations between 2019-2021 across all métiers was 5938 (95% CI 3081-9700) common dolphins. The abundance estimate and PBR values used in this report were the same as those used in 2020; with common dolphin abundance estimated to be 634 286 (CV=0.307) for the European Atlantic Assessment Unit, and PBR for the species calcu-lated as 4926 individuals per year. The management objective of PBR is to ensure that “a population will remain at, or recover to, its maximum net productivity level (typically 50% of the populations carrying capacity), with 95% probability, within a 100-year period”. A modified PBR (mPBR) value of 985 was also used, with the management objective of ensuring “a population should be able to recover to or be maintained at 80% of carrying capacity, with probability 0.8, within a 100-year period”. Considering bycatch estimates calculated from at-sea monitoring, scenarios with a combination of pingers on OTM/PTB and at least 4-week closure in winter can reach the management objective of bycatch remaining below the PBR. The removal bycatch over a three-month period between the January and March winter period, and an addi-tional month closure in July/August potentially reduces bycatch below the mPBR level for at-sea monitoring bycatch estimates alone. Considering estimates inferred from strandings, a mini-mum of 6-week closure combined with pingers can achieve the objective of reducing bycatch below PBR. None of the scenarios can reduce bycatch below mPBR for either monitoring and stranding bycatch estimates. The narrower the fishery closure, the higher the risk of not achieving the management objective, as the peak of mortality can be missed. In section 3 of the report the workshop participants chose to further explore the scenarios with bycatch rates and estimate bycatch at a finer spatial and temporal scale and to consider additional mitigation measures based on results of newly conducted preliminary trials. This exploratory analysis allowed particular areas, métiers or periods with evidence of elevated bycatch rates to be identified at higher resolution, however, this approach requires significant at-sea monitoring in all strata. If such data were available, this method could be used to highlight specific areas, métiers and periods where particular effort in vessel observation should be deployed or mitigation measures implemented. WKEMBYC2 also recommended a series of monitoring actions to improve bycatch estimates, monitoring to data analysis, mitigation and the assessment of the northeast Atlantic common dolphin

An academic health center cost analysis of screening mammography

BACKGROUND The current study sought to determine the institutional financial impact of a screening mammography (SM) program in the context of an integrated cancer center. METHODS Using administrative databases, 10,048 women were identified as receiving screening mammograms in fiscal year 1999 and the first one-half of fiscal year 2000. The utilization of breast care resources was followed for an average of 1208 days. The University of Michigan cost accounting system was then used to determine overall margin (revenues − total costs) and contribution margin (revenues − actual costs) of the SM program, as well as other breast care services. RESULTS The percentage of variable costs to total costs for the SM program was 24%. The overall facility losses in the breast care line were $1.7 million with a positive contribution margin of$2.0 million. The annual yield of nonscreening/diagnostic mammographic procedures was 0.9%. All types of radiologic activity failed to cover their total costs, but did provide a positive contribution margin. Overall margins for surgery procedures were approximately even, and adjuvant medical and radiotherapy services were net positive. Modeling helped to identify overhead limits necessary to achieve margin targets associated with increased activity. CONCLUSIONS The current study showed that SM programs are unlikely to succeed financially without careful selection of those screened to increase the yield of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Based on favorable contribution margins, SM programs were viable when viewed as incremental business. Cancer 2004. © 2004 by the American Cancer Society.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/34389/1/20476_ftp.pd