Vegetation development in old fields at the UWM Field Station

We studied abandoned fields at the UW-Milwaukee Field Station in 1990 to determine how previous cropping history and management practices have influenced present vegetation composition. Eleven fields were sampled for herbaceous species presence and coverage, and species compositions were analyzed by Detrended Correspondence Analysis ordination. Nearly all the fields were abandoned in the mid-1960\u27s. Standing crop biomass of the herbaceous vegetation peaked in late July. Fields with very recent management (last 5 years) in the form of mowing or burning differed in species composition from fields without recent management and fields that have been unmanaged since abandonment. Species such as Poa spp., Bromus inermis, and Solidago altissima were common to nearly all the fields. However, recently managed fields were distinguished by the presence of a group of weedy, exotic species in contrast to the presence of many perennial native species in fields without recent management. Crop history, soil type, and field proximity did not have strong influences on species composition

Effects of management and site history on plant succession and seedbank composition in old-fields at the UWM Field Station

Vegetation succession and seedbank composition were studied in eleven oldfields with differing crop histories. All the fields had been abandoned from agriculture in the mid-1960\u27s, and some fields are currently receiving periodic management in the form of burning, mowing, and/or removal of exotic species. Oldfield plant composition was found to be most strongly influenced by management history since abandonment. Recently-managed fields had a greater abundance of certain early-successional nonnative species in the herbaceous layer, whereas unmanaged fields contained greater abundances of many later-successional, native perennial herb species. Woody plants showed the most significant response to management. Woody plant densities and species richness were significantly lower in recently-managed fields, whereas unmanaged fields had well-developed sapling and shrub layers. In contrast to the vegetation, the soil seedbanks contained many early-successional, non-native species irrespective of management history. In general, the management techniques are meeting the desired goals of maintaining diverse stages of successional vegetation and reducing establishment of invasive exotic shrubs

Academic Librarians in Second Life

The multi-user virtual world Second Life is an online software platform that allows users to jointly explore realistic three-dimensional environments via avatar characters, communicate via voice and text chat, and collaborate using shared creation tools. Librarians and educators have been developing academic content and services in Second Life for use with students and other constituency groups since 2005. This study surveyed academic librarians working in Second Life to discover their perceptions of virtual world environments for teaching and learning and to gauge the impact of this technology on their work with faculty and students. Sixty-two librarians provided details on various aspects of their professional involvement in Second Life. Findings show that librarians from every type of academic institution, at all levels of advancement, and in every depart-ment participate in this virtual world. Results include details of roles and functions, as well as perceived benefits and challenges. Because many adolescents and teenagers worldwide are currently active virtual world participants, academic librarians in Second Life view virtual world technology as a significant near-future educational trend

Hippocampus: seahorse; brain-structure; spatial map; concept

Through an exploration of both sculptural and thought processes undertaken in making my Masters exhibition, ‘Hippocampus’, I unpack some possibilities, instabilities, and limitations inherent in representation and visual perception. This thesis explores the Hippocampus as image (seahorse) and concept (brain-structure involved in cognitive mapping of space). Looking at Gilles Deleuze’s writings on representation, I will expand on the notion of the map as being that which does not define and fix a structure or meaning, but rather is open, extendable and experimental. I explore the becoming, rather than the being, of image and concept. The emphasis here is on process, non-representation, and fluidity of meaning. This is supportive of my personal affirmation of the practice and process of art-making as research. I will refer to the graphic prints of Maurits Cornelis Escher as a means to elucidate a visual contextualization of my practical work, particularly with regard to the play with two- and three-dimensional space perception. Through precisely calculated ‘experiments’ that show up the partiality of our visual perception of space, Escher alludes to things that either cannot actually exist as spatial objects or do exist, but resist representation. Similarly I will explore how my own sculptures, although existing in space resist a fixed representation and suggest ideas of other spaces, non-spaces; an in-between space that does not pin itself down and become fixed to any particular image, idea, objector representation

Prenatal to Grade 3 Alignment Initiative

The purpose of this project is to create stronger connections between elementary schools & providers of early childhood care/education programs; and between schools & parents of young children in 10 grantee communities across Oregon. The evaluation team developed data collection tools and is currently providing data collection and utilization training and technical assistance, and conducting systems evaluation data collection and analysis

Implementing Change: How, Why, and When Teachers Change Their Classroom Practices

Teacher implementation of school reforms varies widely and often results in inconsistent student outcomes. Teachers adopt or resist change for complex reasons that are not fully understood. This qualitative study explored how veteran teachers described their experiences with school reform and changes in classroom practices that occurred over the course of their careers; it also examined factors that teachers identified as having positive and negative influences on their adoptions of change. The conceptual framework was based on Senge\u27s systems theory as applied to learning organizations and Goleman\u27s emotional intelligence theory. The research questions focused on: (a) How veteran teachers described their experiences with various school reforms and changes in classroom practices that have occurred over the course of their careers, and (b) What internal and external factors veteran teachers identified as having a positive or negative influence on their adoptions of change. Eight veteran K-12 public school teachers from a northeastern state were interviewed using a semi-structured, open-ended questionnaire. Data were analyzed using first and second level coding in order to identify emerging patterns and themes and discrepant data. Key findings indicated that the teachers who reported successful implementation of school reforms also reported that the internal factors of self-assessment, self-confidence, initiative, adaptability, and empathy, and the external factors of shared vision, team learning, and systems thinking were important to implementing change. When administrators supported teachers through quality professional development, adequate collaboration time, and respect for their professional judgment, participants embraced school reforms and changed their classroom practices

What does the chronic pain grade questionnaire measure?

This study explored the ability of the Chronic Pain Grade Questionnaire (CPG) to operationalise the WHO's model of health outcomes, namely the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Twelve expert judges used the method of discriminant content validation to allocate the seven items of the CPG to one or more ICF outcome, namely, impairment, activity limitations and participation restrictions. One-sample t-tests classified each item as measuring impairment, activity limitations or participation restrictions, or a combination thereof. The results indicated that the CPG contains items able to measure each of the three ICF outcomes. However, the pain grade classification system used in the CPG conflates the ICF outcomes. The implication of this conflation of outcome for the assessment of interventions is discussed

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat

The biblical saga of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes to vibrant life in this delightful musical parable. Joseph, his father’s favorite son, is a boy blessed with prophetic dreams. When he is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and taken to Egypt, Joseph endures a series of adventures in which his spirit and humanity are continually challenged. He is purchased by Potiphar, falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, and thrown into jail. When news of Joseph’s gift to interpret dreams reaches the Pharaoh, Joseph is well on the way to becoming second in command. Eventually his brothers, having suffered greatly, find themselves begging at the feet of the brother they betrayed but no longer recognize. The family is brought back together as the story of forgiveness unfolds. Set to an engaging cornucopia of musical styles, from countrywestern and calypso to 50s rock ‘n’ roll, this Old Testament tale emerges both timely and timeless.https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/theatre_productions/1009/thumbnail.jp