Creating a videotape for instruction

"1/86/2M""Videotape provides some distinct advantages over other electronic media. The equipment has become more portable, easier for the non-technically trained person to use, and very cost effective when compared to 16mm film production. Creating a worthwhile instructional videotape is a time-consuming challenge. However, its proven effectiveness in teaching, plus other production advantages, make it worth the planning and production time. An hour-long lecture by a teacher can be shortened to about forty minutes on videotape, without loss of content or meaning. Time saved can be used for review, questions or discussions. The video version doesn't 'forget' key points or get side-tracked. An instructional video is often better understood by the learner who can review confusing segments right away. CAUTION: a poor lecture will not magically become better just because it is videotaped. Proper planning is vital to a quality instructional videotape. This guide is for non-technically trained persons working alone or with professionals."--First page.Judith A. Wells, Annette C. Sanders, and David H. Trinklei

Report on the 2013 Rapid Assessment Survey of Marine Species at New England Bays and Harbors

Introduced species (i.e., non-native species that have become established in a new location) have increasingly been recognized as a concern as they have become more prevalent in marine and terrestrial environments (Mooney and Cleland 2001; Simberloff et al. 2005). The ability of introduced species to alter population, community, and ecosystem structure and function, as well as cause significant economic damage is well documented (Carlton 1989, 1996b, 2000; Cohen and Carlton 1995; Cohen et al. 1995; Elton 1958; Meinesz et al. 1993; Occhipinti-Ambrogi and Sheppard 2007; Pimentel et al. 2005; Thresher 2000). The annual economic costs incurred from managing the approximately 50,000 introduced species in the United States alone are estimated to be over $120 billion (Pimentel et al. 2005). Having a monitoring network in place to track new introductions and distributional changes of introduced species is critical for effective management, as these efforts may be more successful when species are detected before they have the chance to become established. A rapid assessment survey is one such method for early detection of introduced species. With rapid assessment surveys, a team of taxonomic experts record and monitor marine species–providing a baseline inventory of native, introduced, and cryptogenic (i.e., unknown origin) species (as defined by Carlton 1996a)–and document range expansions of previously identified species. Since 2000, five rapid assessment surveys have been conducted in New England. These surveys focus on recording species at marinas, which often are in close proximity to transportation vectors (i.e., recreational boats). Species are collected from floating docks and piers because these structures are accessible regardless of the tidal cycle. Another reason for sampling floating docks and other floating structures is that marine introduced species are often found to be more prevalent on artificial surfaces than natural surfaces (Glasby and Connell 2001; Paulay et al. 2002). The primary objectives of these surveys are to: (1) identify native, introduced, and cryptogenic marine species, (2) expand on data collected in past surveys, (3) assess the introduction status and range extensions of documented introduced species, and (4) detect new introductions. This report presents the introduced, cryptogenic, and native species recorded during the 2013 survey

The Swift X-ray flaring afterglow of GRB 050607

The unique capability of the Swift satellite to perform a prompt and autonomous slew to a newly detected Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) has yielded the discovery of interesting new properties of GRB X-ray afterglows, such as the steep early lightcurve decay and the frequent presence of flares detected up to a few hours after the GRB trigger. We present observations of GRB 050607, the fourth case of a GRB discovered by Swift with flares superimposed on the overall fading X-ray afterglow. The flares of GRB 050607 were not symmetric as in previously reported cases, showing a very steep rise and a shallower decay, similar to the Fast Rise, Exponential Decay that are frequently observed in the gamma-ray prompt emission. The brighter flare had a flux increase by a factor of approximately 25,peaking for 30 seconds at a count rate of approximately 30 counts s-1, and it presented hints of addition short time scale activity during the decay phase. There is evidence of spectral evolution during the flares. In particular, at the onset of the flares the observed emission was harder, with a gradual softening as each flare decayed. The very short time scale and the spectral variability during the flaring activity are indicators of possible extended periods of energy emission by the GRB central engine. The flares were followed by a phase of shallow decay, during which the forward shock was being refreshed by a long-lived central engine or by shells of lower Lorentz factors, and by a steepening after approximately 12 ks to a decay slope considered typical of X-ray afterglows.Comment: 23 pages, 5 figures, Accepted by the Astrophysical Journa

Hanford Tank Farms Waste Certification Flow Loop Test Plan

A future requirement of Hanford Tank Farm operations will involve transfer of wastes from double shell tanks to the Waste Treatment Plant. As the U.S. Department of Energy contractor for Tank Farm Operations, Washington River Protection Solutions anticipates the need to certify that waste transfers comply with contractual requirements. This test plan describes the approach for evaluating several instruments that have potential to detect the onset of flow stratification and critical suspension velocity. The testing will be conducted in an existing pipe loop in Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s facility that is being modified to accommodate the testing of instruments over a range of simulated waste properties and flow conditions. The testing phases, test matrix and types of simulants needed and the range of testing conditions required to evaluate the instruments are describe

Special Project -- Legal Issues Arising from the Mexican Economic Crisis

The economic crisis in Mexico, which profoundly altered the financial and political course of that nation, has also had a significant impact on persons and corporations having business ties to Mexico. Foreign investors and businesses now are required to follow new Mexican rules that often differ dramatically from those previously in effect. The impact of the crisis has not been confined to changes in Mexican law. A substantial number of issues have arisen that will have significant bearing on United States and international law. The Special Project discusses the changes in the legal environment following the crisis, with its focus upon issues confronting private persons, principally foreign businesses and investors. The Introduction and Overview summarizes the history and structure of Mexico\u27s regulation of foreign investment and recounts the events of the crisis. The first section of the Special Project examines the problems faced by foreign lenders and creditors. Specifically, it addresses the following: (1) the Mexican regulations that set forth the schedules for repayment of amounts owed to foreign creditors; (2) the possibilities for relief should the obligations be dishonored; (3) the efficacy of leading proposals for the restructuring of Mexican and international debt; and (4) the recently promulgated laws and regulations that will govern future international lending activity by United States banks. The second section explores the problems of investors in devalued peso-denominated accounts and the applicability of United States securities laws to those obligations. Section three addresses the immigration problem now exacerbated by the economic crisis and discusses the scope, effect, and wisdom of the proposed Simpson-Mazzoli Bill. The fourth section studies transborder environmental issues that recently have arisen as a result of Mexico\u27s desire for rapid industrial development

Prognostic modeling studies of the Keweenaw Current in Lake Superior. Part II: Simulation,

ABSTRACT The formation and evolution of the Keweenaw Current in Lake Superior were examined using a nonorthogonalcoordinate primitive equation numerical model. The model was initialized by the monthly averaged temperature field observed in June and September 1973 and run prognostically under different forcing conditions with and without winds. As a Rossby adjustment problem, the model predicted the formation of a well-defined coastal current jet within an inertial period of 16.4 h after the current field adjusted to the initial temperature field. The magnitude and direction of this current jet varied with the cross-shelf temperature gradient and wind velocity. It tended to intensify during northeastward (downwelling favorable) winds, and to lessen, or even reverse, during southwestward to northwestward (upwelling favorable) or southeastward (downwelling favorable) winds. In a case with strong stratification and without external atmospheric forcings, a well-defined clockwise warm-core eddy formed near the northeastern coast of the Keweenaw Peninsula as a result of baroclinic instability. A warmcore eddy was detected recently from satellite surface temperature images, the shape and location of which were very similar to those of the model-predicted eddy. The energy budget analysis suggested that the eddy kinetic energy grew exponentially over a timescale of 7 days. Growth was due to a rapid energy transfer from available eddy potential energy. The subsequent decline of the eddy kinetic energy was the result of turbulent diffusion, transfer from the eddy kinetic energy to mean kinetic energy, and outward net energy flux

Centerscope

Centerscope, formerly Scope, was published by the Boston University Medical Center "to communicate the concern of the Medical Center for the development and maintenance of improved health care in contemporary society.

Collaborative review of pilot projects to inform policy: A methodological remedy for pilotitis?

BACKGROUND In rural health and other health service development contexts, there is frustration with a reliance on pilot projects as a means of informing policy and service innovation. There is also an emerging recognition that existing research methods do not draw lessons from the failed sustainability that characterises many of these pilots and demonstration projects. DISCUSSION: This article describes critical aspects of the methodology of a successful collaborative, multi-method, systematic synthesis of exemplary primary health care pilot projects in rural and remote Australia, which synthesised principles from a number of pilot projects to inform policy makers and planners. Hallmarks of the method were: the nature of the source materials for the research, the subsequent research engagement with the actual pilot projects, the extent of collaboration throughout the study with end-users from policy and planning arenas, and the attention to procedural quality. SUMMARY: The methodology, while time consuming, has resulted in applied, policy-relevant findings, and evidence of consideration by policy-makers

Validation of a novel associative transcriptomics pipeline in Brassica oleracea: identifying candidates for vernalisation response

Background: Associative transcriptomics has been used extensively in Brassica napus to enable the rapid identification of markers correlated with traits of interest. However, within the important vegetable crop species, Brassica oleracea, the use of associative transcriptomics has been limited due to a lack of fixed genetic resources and the difficulties in generating material due to self-incompatibility. Within Brassica vegetables, the harvestable product can be vegetative or floral tissues and therefore synchronisation of the floral transition is an important goal for growers and breeders. Vernalisation is known to be a key determinant of the floral transition, yet how different vernalisation treatments influence flowering in B. oleracea is not well understood. Results: Here, we present results from phenotyping a diverse set of 69 B. oleracea accessions for heading and flowering traits under different environmental conditions. We developed a new associative transcriptomics pipeline, and inferred and validated a population structure, for the phenotyped accessions. A genome-wide association study identified miR172D as a candidate for the vernalisation response. Gene expression marker association identified variation in expression of BoFLC.C2 as a further candidate for vernalisation response. Conclusions: This study describes a new pipeline for performing associative transcriptomics studies in B. oleracea. Using flowering time as an example trait, it provides insights into the genetic basis of vernalisation response in B. oleracea through associative transcriptomics and confirms its characterisation as a complex G x E trait. Candidate leads were identified in miR172D and BoFLC.C2. These results could facilitate marker-based breeding efforts to produce B. oleracea lines with more synchronous heading dates, potentially leading to improved yields