Open Research Online - a self-archiving success story

Broadly speaking, institutional research repositories can be split into three categories based on the way in which they secure content. 1. Passive Repositories, which essentially rely on content drifting in as and when faculty members become aware of the repository for themselves. 2. Incentivised Repositories, which typically have one or more dedicated staff member involved in managing, advocating and developing the repository, as well as supporting faculty members in their engagement with the repository. 3. Mandated Repositories, which encompass all the elements of incentivised repositories, but are also underpinned by an institutional mandate, requiring faculty members to deposit their research. Much debate exists in the literature, on listservs, and in the blogosphere as to whether a successful and sustainable repository can be achieved solely through advocacy, management, and development, or whether this is only likely to happen if an institutional mandate is introduced. A much quoted figure is that a non-mandated repository is only likely to capture around 15% of its institution's research output, and at the very most (for an Incentivised Repository) 30% (Harnad, 2009). In this poster, we use the example of Open Research Online - the research repository of the Open University - to show that dedicated management and active development and advocacy of an institutional repository can lead to very successful results under the self-archiving model, in this case capturing regularly an estimated 60% of peer-reviewed journal output. Also demonstrated is the significant rise in full text (i.e. fully open access) items in the repository since the implementation of this approach. Harnad, S. (2009) DEBATE: Institutional repository success is dependent upon mandates. Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 5 (4)

Stream Restoration Monitoring in Theory and Practice A Case Study of Restored Streams in the Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Recently, the importance of quantifying the success of stream/river restoration projects has become a priority in restoration. The absence of ecological monitoring of stream restoration has been made very evident, resulting in the questioning of the viability of restoration activities that have taken place, the ecological approaches used and of restoration as a field of study as a whole. Priority has been set towards illustrating what a successfully restored stream should consist of with development of conceptual frameworks. My study builds upon that concept, by drawing a methodological framework that illustrates how successful stream restoration projects should be quantified using a stream restoration monitoring protocol; asking the question whether a stream restoration monitoring protocol can be created and whether it can appropriately quantify the success of restored stream reaches; further, what assessment technique(s) are best suited for monitoring; ecological, geomorphic or a hybrid approach. In Waterloo, Ontario 29 restored test stream reaches were assessed using benthic macroinvertebrates. Benthos community composition was described using Family Richness, Simpson’s Diversity, % EPT, and % Chironomidae. The same reaches were also assessed using a geomorphic assessment technique I designed for this study, which focused on channel stability measures and substrate type as habitat. The methodology was then used to develop information on disturbed (n=7) and natural (n=5) reference reaches in Waterloo. The reference condition approach was used to quantify the relative placement of the restored test streams to reference condition. The ecological assessment technique was best able to quantify the success of a restored reach, by showing linear relationships between benthic metrics in a PCA analysis (0.657). The geomorphic approach, as analyzed by a Non-metric multidimensional scaling test did not consistently evaluate or significantly distinguish between restored reaches and reference conditions, shown by a stress of 25.31. However, a canonical correspondence analysis showed that there are some relationships, although weak, between the ecological approach and geomorphic approach (0.696; p=0.03). This study showed that it is possible to quantify the success or lack of success of restored stream reaches and it is recommended that a hybrid approach be used when monitoring for stream restoration success

Developing an Understanding for Wastewater Treatment in Remote Communities in Nunavut, Canada: Investigating the Performance, Planning Practice and Function of Tundra and Constructed Treatment Wetlands

Since humans began to permanently settle locations for extended periods of time there has been the challenge to safely dispose of, or treat human effluent. In specific to the communities of Nunavut and Arctic Canada, the treatment of wastewater has been particularly challenging. The harsh climate, remote nature and socio-economic factors are a few of the aspects which make the treatment of wastewater problematic in Canadian Arctic communities. In the past several decades a number of conventional and alternative wastewater treatment systems (e.g. lagoons and tundra wetlands) have been proposed and implemented in Nunavut and other remote Arctic communities. Knowledge of performance of these systems is limited, as little research has been conducted and regulatory monitoring has been poorly documented or not observed at all. Also, in the past, the rational design process of treatment systems in Arctic communities has not acknowledged cultural and socio-economic aspects, which are important for the long-term management and performance of the treatment facilities in Arctic communities. From 2008 to 2010 I characterized and studied the performance of several tundra wastewater treatment wetlands in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, as well as two in the Inuvaliat Region of the Northwest Territories. Performance testing occurred weekly throughout the summer of 2008. Characterization included surveys of plant communities in the tundra wetlands, specifically analyzing the relationship between Carex aquatilis and various nutrient contaminants in wastewater. Through their characterization I was able to provide greater insight into primary treatment zones within the wetland, and identify the main potential mechanisms for the treatment wastewater in the Arctic. I also studied the performance of a horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) constructed wetland in Baker Lake Nunavut; the first system of its kind in the Canadian Arctic. The weekly performance study showed average weekly percent reduction in all parameters, with small deviations immediately after snow-melt and at the beginning of freeze-up. For the six parameters monitored I observed reductions of 47-94% cBOD5, 57-96% COD, 39-98% TSS, >99% TC, >99% E. coli, 84-99% NH3-Nand 80-99% TP for the six tundra treatment wetlands. Whereas, the wetland characterization study through the use of spatial interpolations on each of the wetlands and their water quality showed that concentrations of the wastewater parameters decreased the most in the first 100m of the wetland in all three treatment wetlands used in this portion of the analysis (Chesterfield Inlet, Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok). Areas of greatest concentration where shown to follow preferential flow paths with concentrations decreasing in a latitudinal and longitudinal direction away from the wastewater source. The Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok treatment wetlands were observed to effectively polish pre-treated wastewater from the facultative lake and engineered lagoon, with removals of key wastewater constituents of cBOD5, TSS and NH3-N to near background concentrations. And despite the absence of pre-treatment in Chesterfield Inlet, the wetland was also observed to effectively treat wastewater to near background concentrations. Further characterization on the composition of the sedge C. aquatilis, showed a high percent cover of the species corresponded with areas of high concentration of NH3-N in the wastewater. A principal components analysis verified the spatial results showing correlation between C. aquatilis cover and NH3-N concentrations. Analysis also showed strong positive relationship between sites closer to the source of wastewater and C. aquatilis. No correlation was found between the other parameters analyzed and C. aquatilis. The first year of study of the HSSF constructed wetland showed promising mean removals in cBOD5, COD, TSS, E. coli, Total Coliforms, and TP throughout the summer of 2009; removals of 25%, 31%, 52%, 99.3%, 99.3%, and 5% were observed respectively. However, the second year of study in 2010 the system did not perform as expected, and concentrations of effluent actually increased. I concluded that a high organic loading during the first year of study saturated the system with organics. Finally, a review of planning process and regulatory measures for wastewater in Arctic communities and the impending municipal wastewater standards effluent resulted in the following recommendations; i) wastewater effluent standards should reflect the diverse arctic climate, and socio-economic environment of the northern communities, ii) effluent standards should be region or even community specific in the Arctic, and iii) for planning and management of wastewater incorporation of Inuit understanding of planning and consultation needs to be incorporated in the future. This research has several major implications for wastewater treatment and planning for Nunavut and other Arctic Regions. The performance and characterization of tundra treatment wetlands fills significant gaps in our understanding of their performance and potential mechanisms of treatment, and treatment period in the Kivalliq Region. Although the HSSF constructed wetland failed, further research into engineered/augmented treatment wetlands should be considered as they provide low-cost low maintenance solutions for remote communities. Finally, the data collected in this study will provide significant insight into the development of new municipal wastewater effluent standards for northern communities, which will be reflected in the Fisheries Act.1 yea

Beyond peer observation of teaching

OBJECTIVE To summarize the evidence on effectiveness of translational diabetes prevention programs, based on promoting lifestyle change to prevent type 2 diabetes in real-world settings and to examine whether adherence to international guideline recommendations is associated with effectiveness. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Bibliographic databases were searched up to July 2012. Included studies had a follow-up of ≥12 months and outcomes comparing change in body composition, glycemic control, or progression to diabetes. Lifestyle interventions aimed to translate evidence from previous efficacy trials of diabetes prevention into real-world intervention programs. Data were combined using random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression considering the relationship between intervention effectiveness and adherence to guidelines. RESULTS Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. The primary meta-analysis included 22 studies (24 study groups) with outcome data for weight loss at 12 months. The pooled result of the direct pairwise meta-analysis shows that lifestyle interventions resulted in a mean weight loss of 2.12 kg (95% CI -2.61 to -1.63; I(2) = 91.4%). Adherence to guidelines was significantly associated with a greater weight loss (an increase of 0.3 kg per point increase on a 12-point guideline-adherence scale). CONCLUSIONS Evidence suggests that pragmatic diabetes prevention programs are effective. Effectiveness varies substantially between programs but can be improved by maximizing guideline adherence. However, more research is needed to establish optimal strategies for maximizing both cost-effectiveness and longer-term maintenance of weight loss and diabetes prevention effects

Understanding marine food web dynamics using fatty acid signatures and stable isotope ratios:Improving contaminant impacts assessments across trophic levels

Scotland's marine food webs support a diversity of species and habitats. They contribute to maintaining the balance of the natural environment. Previous studies show that these ecosystems are contaminated by persistent organic pollutants and trace metals; with animals in higher trophic levels (e.g. cetaceans and pinnipeds) containing concentrations that are among the highest found in the ocean. Contaminants represent one of many pressures to which species and habitats are exposed. In assessing the contribution of contaminants to the overall pressure, measuring contaminants at a specific trophic level and then using trophic magnification factors (TMFs) to estimate concentrations at other trophic levels permits assessments across the food web, as well as allowing the adjustment of contaminant concentrations to a particular trophic level for comparison to assessment criteria. Fatty acid (FA) signatures and stable isotope (SI) ratios were used to develop a picture of Scottish marine food web ecology and reliably ascribe trophic levels to a wide range of species. Fatty acid trophic markers (FATMs) were used as trophic level indicators and with SI analysis, permitted identification of the mean trophic level of each species and determination of the feeding patterns and predator-prey relationships existing in the Scottish marine food web. Two hundred and eleven (211) samples comprising of seven fish species, one shark species, fourteen marine invertebrate species, three marine mammal species and two zooplankton species from different locations around Scotland were found to have mean trophic levels ranging from 1.47 ± 0.11 in zooplankton to 5.02 ± 0.35 in harbour seal. Fatty acid profile showed specific dietary information which differed between the eleven taxonomic classes and twenty-seven species. The organic and inorganic contaminant concentrations of the species for which trophic level has been determined, together with TMFs, will be reported in future papers

The concentration and biomagnification of trace metals and metalloids across four trophic levels in a marine food web

To be able to assess progress towards “Good Environmental Status” adopted across European Member States, and by the United Kingdom through its 3-stage Marine Strategy, contaminant concentrations and their biological effects need to be assessed in environmental samples by comparison to assessment criteria. This study examines the variability of concentrations (inter- and intra- species variation) of three priority heavy metals (Hg, Cd and Pb) and six additional trace metals and metalloids (As, Ni, Se, Zn, Cu and Cr) in twenty-three species across four trophic levels from different locations around Scotland. Trophic magnification factors (TMFs) were calculated using two methods for metals/metalloids possessing a significant trophic relationship (Hg, Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn) to refine and improve the application of TMFs to assess and predict biomagnification risk of metals/metalloids to biota in the environment. It was concluded that a reasonable balance in sample numbers of lower- versus higher-trophic level organisms is highly recommended when calculating TMFs and appropriate species selection is vital to ensure TMFs accurately represent the selected ecosystem

Passive sampling: partition coefficients for a silicone rubber reference phase.

Silicone rubber sheeting can be used as a passive sampling device for hydrophobic organic contaminants in the environment to determine the available concentrations in water and sediments. Reliable sampler-water partition coefficients are required to determine the sampling rates and the dissolved contaminant concentrations in water and in sediment pore water. Log partition coefficients (logKsr,w) for silicone rubber-water have been estimated for 32 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 2 deuterated PAH analogues and 32 chlorobiphenyls (CBs) using the cosolvent method, with methanol as cosolvent. Strong linear relationships were found with literature values for the corresponding log octanol-water partition coefficients (logKow) for both CBs and PAHs, confirming that partitioning into the silicone rubber is strongly determined by the hydrophobicity of the compounds, which suggests logKow is a good predictor of logKsr,w and that absorption is the main mechanism for accumulation of analytes into the silicone rubber polymer

Language learning strategies of preschool children on the example of French and German as foreign languages

Der Artikel erforscht den bewussten Einsatz von Sprachlernstrategien im frühen Fremdsprachenerwerb. Zu diesem Zweck wurde eine Untersuchung mit 39 Kindern im Vorschulalter durchgeführt, die im Rahmen des frühen Fremdsprachenlernprogramms entweder Deutsch oder Französisch als Fremdsprache lernen. Als Instrument wurde eine Adaption des von J. Mihaljević Djigunović (2001) entwickelten Leitfadeninterviews eingesetzt. Es besteht aus sechs offenen Fragen, in denen die Testpersonen dazu angehalten werden, in kroatischer Sprache zu erklären, wie sie ihren Plüschtieren bestimmte Wörter und Wendungen auf Französisch oder Deutsch beibringen würden. Jedes Interview wurde digital aufgezeichnet und transkribiert. In den Abschriften wurden die genannten Sprachlernstrategien ausgezählt. Die Ergebnisse wurden mit Hilfe der deskriptiven Statistik erfasst und bearbeitet. Dabei wurde die Gesamtzahl von 571 registrierten Strategien auf 25 grundliegende Sprachlernstrategien zurückgeführt. Die ermittelten Strategien wurden nach Häufigkeit und Art sortiert. Anhand einer quantitativen Analyse wurde die mit Abstand größte Häufigkeit der Gedächtnisstrategien (N=320) nachgewiesen. Demnach können sie als im Bewusstsein fest verankert und erworben angesehen werden, wodurch sich ihre explizite Vermittlung erübrigt. Affektive Strategien kamen hingegen äußerst selten vor (N=3), vermutlich weil Kinder im Vorschulalter diese entweder noch nicht brauchen oder noch nicht imstande sind, sie sich bewusst zu machen und zu beschreiben. Kognitive Strategien wurden ebenfalls in geringer Zahl verzeichnet, u.z. bei durchschnittlich weniger als einem Drittel der Befragten (N=12), ebenso wie die Sozialen Strategien, lediglich bei mehr als der Hälfte der Befragten (N=27). Formale Strategien wurden im Schnitt mehr als einmal beschrieben (N=44), Nicht-formale (N=66) mehr als anderthalb Mal und Analytische Strategien (N=102) durchschnittlich häufiger als zweieinhalb Mal. Die qualitative Analyse der genannten Sprachlernstrategien bestätigte die Annahme, dass Vorschulkinder durchaus über die Fähigkeit verfügen, den eigenen Sprachlernprozess zu planen, durchzuführen, zu reflektieren und einzuschätzen, und sie gab Aufschluss über die Art und Weise, wie Kinder dabei bewusst vorgehen. Die endgültige Liste der im frühen Fremdspracherwerb besonders häufig ermittelten Sprachlernstrategien könnte als empirisch nachgewiesene Grundlage für ihren Einsatz im frühen Fremdsprachenunterricht dienen.This paper examines the awareness of language learning strategies use in early foreign language learning. The research was carried out on the sample of 39 preschool children who were included in early foreign language learning of French and German. A structured interview was conducted with the participants, based on the one used by Mihaljević-Djigunović (2001). It consists of six open questions. The participants were asked to explain how they would help various soft toys to learn some words and structures in French or German. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, and the reported strategies were then counted. The results were described and analysed based on descriptive statistics. A total of 571 solutions named by the participants were attributed to 25 language learning strategies. The strategies have been structured according to their frequency and functions. The quantitave analysis showed a considerable prevalence of memory-related strategies (N=320) which leads to the conclusion that they do not need to be taught, since they were mentioned and acquired by an overwhelming majority. This also applies to affective strategies. They occurred very rarely (N=3) indicating that preschool children either do not need those strategies or are not able to identify and use them. Cognitive strategies seem to be identified by an average of only one-third of the participants (N=12) and social strategies by little more than a half of them (N=27). On average, formal strategies were described more than once (N=44), informal strategies (N=66) more than one and a half times, while analytic strategies were described more than two and a half times (N=102). A qualitative analysis of these language learning strategies showed that young learners can plan, carry out, monitor, and evaluate their learning process, and indicates how children do this consciously. The final list of frequently described language learning strategies, which are specific to preschool children learning a foreign language, represents an empirical starting point for their implementation in early foreign language learning and teaching

The concentration and biomagnification of PCBs and PBDEs across four trophic levels in a marine food web.

Contracting Parties to the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Maine Environment of the North-East Atlantic are required to undertake monitoring and assessment of both inorganic and organic contaminants. There is a requirement to assess contaminants across different trophic levels on an ecosystem-specific basis. However, this is currently constrained by the availability of relevant samples to cover the full range of trophic levels. This study investigates the variability (inter- and intra-species variation) of the concentrations and distributions of thirty-two polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and nine polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners in twenty-six species covering four trophic levels from different geographic locations around Scotland. Trophic magnification factors (TMFs) were calculated using a traditional method and a balanced method for both the ICES-7 PCBs and BDE47, to refine and improve the application of TMFs to assess and predict biomagnification risk to biota in the marine environment. There were clear differences in congener percentage distribution between sample categories and species, with differences influenced by physiological processes and eco-biological parameters. Trophic magnification was found to occur for the ICES-7 PCBs and BDE47 using the traditional method, with the highest degree of trophic magnification reported for CB52. An unbalanced dataset was found to influence the calculated TMF and in some cases, the overall conclusion of the trophic transfer of PCB and PBDE congeners. The balanced method is highly recommended for calculating TMFs to ensure that the TMF is a true indication of the biomagnification potential, particularly when conducting regional comparisons for which sampling requirements are difficult to achieve