Dietary variations in three co-occurring rockfish species off the Pacific Northwest during anomalous oceanographic events in 1998 and 1999

Stomach samples from three rockfish species, yellowtail (Sebastes f lavidus), widow (S. entomelas), and canary (S. pinniger) rockfish, seasonally collected off the Pacific Northwest in 1998 and 1999, provided quantitative information on the food habits of these species during and after the 1997–98 El Niño event. Although euphausiids were the most common major prey of all three predators, gelatinous zooplankton and fishes were the most commonly consumed prey items during some seasonal quarters. The influence of the El Niño event was evident in the diets. Anomalous prey items, including the southern euphausiid species Nyctiphanes simplex and juveniles of Pacific whiting (Merluccius productus) frequently appeared in the diets in the spring and summer of 1998. The results of stomach contents analyses, based on 905 stomach samples from 49 trawl hauls during seven commercial fishing trips and from 56 stations during research surveys, were consistent with the timing of occurrence and the magnitude of change in biomass of some zooplankton species reported from zooplankton studies in the northern California Current during the 1997–98 El Niño. Our findings indicate that the observed variations of prey groups in some rockfish diets may be a function of prey variability related to climate and environment changes

A Comparison of Personality and Teacher Attitude Between Stout State University Undergraduate Fellows and Other Students Enrolled in Teacher Education

The problem of this study was to ascertain whether differentiation could be made between Undergraduate Fellows and Eon-Fellows enrolled In teacher education at Stout State University, Menomonie, Wisconsin, on the basis of personality needs as measured by Edwards Personal Preference Schedule and teacher attitude as measured by the Minnesota Teacher Attitude Inventory. Undergraduate Fellows are students recommended by faculty members to participate in seminars, in independent learning activities, and in leadership activities as means of encouraging such students to consider college teaching in the future

Stratification, Tracking and Course-Taking Patterns: An Examination of the Impact of Mathematics Course Placement on Achievement in a Regional High School District

This study examined the impact of mathematics track placement on the academic achievement of students as measured by student performance on the 2014 New Jersey High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) in mathematics, and math course attainment in high school as measured by the level of math class completed by the end of grade 12. A substantive empirical base (Goodlad & Oakes, 1998; Slavin, 1995; Oakes, 2005; Darling-Hammond, 2010; Gamoran 2009) exists that outlines the inequalities often associated within tracked school systems. Despite widespread criticism, tracking remains dominant as a strategy to group students in American high schools (Loveless 2013). Regional high schools accept students from multiple sending districts and must by nature make placement decisions based upon, in part, middle school performance. As the student data utilized in this study was culled from sending districts that all use traditional tracking strategies, the measurement of student performance within the larger regional high school may identify both effective and potentially problematic student grouping practices. The current debate in the field of education regarding the passage of standardized assessments as a requirement for graduation demands that the impact of course-taking patterns and tracking decisions on performance on such assessments be more fully investigated. This study indicated that while ninth grade course placement matters as it relates to standardized assessment scores, explaining 27.8 % of the student performance and 17.9% of grade twelve course attainment, other factors may positively alter an individual student academic trajectory regardless of track placement. The evidence indicates that school districts that take specific action to mitigate the impacts of tracking may provide students with opportunities and support that lead to increased academic outcomes. This study contributes to the growing research that indicates the use of standardized assessments as a sole measure of academic achievement is deeply flawed if not taking into consideration other factors such as course-taking atterns, academic opportunities for advancement, and tracking decisions at the local level

Educational Leadership Back to the Future

There is no doubt that our discipline as well as our programs are under fire and involved in the largest wave of change in history. This issue of School Leadership Review offers brief discussion as we work together as a discipline

Quantitative micro-elastography: imaging of tissue elasticity using compression optical coherence elastography

Probing the mechanical properties of tissue on the microscale could aid in the identification of diseased tissues that are inadequately detected using palpation or current clinical imaging modalities, with potential to guide medical procedures such as the excision of breast tumours. Compression optical coherence elastography (OCE) maps tissue strain with microscale spatial resolution and can delineate microstructural features within breast tissues. However, without a measure of the locally applied stress, strain provides only a qualitative indication of mechanical properties. To overcome this limitation, we present quantitative micro-elastography, which combines compression OCE with a compliant stress sensor to image tissue elasticity. The sensor consists of a layer of translucent silicone with well-characterized stress-strain behaviour. The measured strain in the sensor is used to estimate the two-dimensional stress distribution applied to the sample surface. Elasticity is determined by dividing the stress by the strain in the sample. We show that quantification of elasticity can improve the ability of compression OCE to distinguish between tissues, thereby extending the potential for inter-sample comparison and longitudinal studies of tissue elasticity. We validate the technique using tissue-mimicking phantoms and demonstrate the ability to map elasticity of freshly excised malignant and benign human breast tissues.Kelsey M. Kennedy, Lixin Chin, Robert A. McLaughlin, Bruce Latham, Christobel M. Saunders, David D. Sampson and Brendan F. Kenned

The effectiveness of interventions to improve the care and management of people with dementia in general hospitals: a systematic review

Background: People with dementia are at greater risk of being admitted to hospital where care may not be tailored to their needs. Interventions improving care and management are vital. Aim: Assess the effectiveness of interventions designed to improve the care and management of people with dementia in hospital. Method: Six medical and trial registry, and grey literature databases were searched (1999‐1998/2018). Search terms included “Dementia,” “Hospital,” and “Intervention” and limited to experimental designs. Interventions designed to improve the care and management of people with dementia in the general hospital setting were examined. Outcomes included behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), psychosocial, clinical, staff knowledge, and length of hospital stay. The CASP tools, Cochrane risk of bias tool, and GRADE system assessed methodological quality and certainty of evidence. Results: 9003 unique citations were identified; 24 studies were included. Studies were limited in study design and their conduct was at a risk of bias. There is very low‐quality evidence that multisensory behaviour therapy reduces BPSD. There is low‐quality evidence that a multidisciplinary programme reduces postoperative complications and that robot‐assisted therapy, music therapy, multimodal‐comprehensive care, person‐centred care, and family‐centred function‐focused care interventions improved staff knowledge, competence, efficacy, and communication. No studies reported reduced length of stay. Conclusions: Whilst we found that these interventions improved the care and management of people with dementia in hospital, it was low‐ to very low‐quality evidence. New clinical recommendations cannot be made based on current evidence, and robust trial designs are necessary to inform evidence‐based care