Micrurus limbatus

Number of Pages: 3Integrative BiologyGeological Science

CHARACTER ASSESSMENT, GENUS LEVEL BOUNDARIES, AND PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSES OF THE FAMILY RHACOPHORIDAE:: A REVIEW AND PRESENT DAY STATUS

The first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the family Rhacophoridae was conducted by Liem (1970) scoring 81 species for 36 morphological characters. Channing (1989), in a reanalysis of Liem’s study, produced a phylogenetic hypothesis different from that of Liem. We compared the two studies and produced a third phylogenetic hypothesis based on the same characters. We also present the synapomorphic characters from Liem that define the major clades and each genus within the family. Finally, we summarize intergeneric relationships within the family as hypothesized by other studies, and the family’s current status as it relates to other ranoid families

SLIDES: Integrated Policy, Planning, and Management of Water Resources

Presenter: Robert Wilkinson, Ph.D., Director of the Water Policy Program, Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California-- Santa Barbara 60 slide

Enhancing Lecture Interaction through Live SMS

A consistent challenge with lectures to large audiences is the extent to which the lecturer can develop interaction with the audience. Obtaining answers to the lecturer’s questions or stimulating questions from the audience during the lecture may be hampered by the fact that the lecturer and the audience are not able to hear speakers in the audience clearly. This article reports on an experimental design to test the feasibility of allowing live SMS messaging as a means to stimulate interaction during large lectures. The context concerned lectures on academic writing in bachelor’s programmes in business and economics. Each lecture attracted about 500 students. The students were invited to send text messages to a dedicated phone line connected to a computer, which, at chosen intervals, displayed messages for everyone to see. The set-up allowed the lecturer to switch instantly from slides to the message display. Messages could be easily transferred to an Excel fi le for subsequent processing if necessary. Results showed that students did not use the opportunity as frequently as expected, and most messages were not relevant to the topics of the lectures. In this article, explanations for these outcomes are discussed, and recommendations for further implementation are presented. Using a new technology, even a pervasive one like SMS messaging, in a lecture entails modifications to the design, delivery and content of the lecture itself

SLIDES: Integrated Policy, Planning, and Management of Water Resources

Presenter: Robert Wilkinson, Ph.D., Director of the Water Policy Program, Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California-- Santa Barbara 60 slide

The measurement of university performance using concepts derived from data envelopment analysis (DEA)

Performance measurement in higher education is examined during this study, in particular university performance indicators are reviewed and discussed. The conclusion is made that appropriate input and output indicators require some form of combination in order to allow practical consideration to be made. The technique of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is reviewed and found to have a number of conceptual drawbacks. The model is considerably developed within the thesis, primarily by the introduction of weight restrictions on the variables. Taken as a whole the developments, coined the DEAPMAS process, create a technique which can be used to assess cost effectiveness rather than simply efficiency. Data for two examples of subject areas, defined by recognised accounting units, are applied to the program as inter-university comparison was felt to be impractical at institutional level; due to differing subject mixes. A considerable computer implementation of the developed theory was written and utilised to provide results over a number of data runs for the examples. It was concluded that the results obtained represented a considerable improvement over separate consideration of numerous performance indicators

THE ATOMISATION AND DETERMINATION OF VOLATILE METALS IN COAL

London Research Station, British Gas Corporation, London SW6 2A