Summative evaluation of climate application activities with pastoralists in western Queensland

Survey methods were engaged to measure the change in use and knowledge of climate information by pastoralists in western Queensland. The initial mail survey was undertaken in 2000-01 (n=43) and provided a useful benchmark of pastoralists climate knowledge. Two years of climate applications activities were completed and clients were re-surveyed in 2003 (n=49) to measure the change in knowledge and assess the effectiveness of the climate applications activities. Two methods were used to assess changes in client knowledge, viz., self-assessment and test questions. We found that the use of seasonal climate forecasts in decision making increased from 36% in 2001 (n=42) to 51% in 2003 (n=49) (P=0.07). The self-assessment technique was unsatisfactory as a measure of changing knowledge over short periods (1-3 years), but the test question technique was successful and indicated an improvement in climate knowledge among respondents. The increased levels of use of seasonal climate forecasts in management and improved knowledge was partly attributed to the climate applications activities of the project. Further, those who used seasonal forecasting (n=25) didn't understand key components of forecasts (e.g. probability, median) better than those who didn't use seasonal forecasts (n=24) (P>0.05). This identifies the potential for misunderstanding and misinterpretation of forecasts among users and highlights the need for providers of forecasts to understand the difficulties and prepare simply written descriptions of forecasts and disseminate these with the maps showing probabilities. The most preferred means of accessing climate information were internet, email, 'The Season Ahead' newsletter and newspaper. The least preferred were direct contact with extension officers and attending field days and group meetings. Eighty-six percent of respondents used the internet and 67% used ADSL broadband internet (April 2003). Despite these findings, extension officers play a key role in preparing and publishing the information on the web, in emails and newsletters. We also believe that direct contact with extension officers trained in climate applications is desirable in workshop-like events to improve knowledge of the difficult concepts underpinning climate forecasts, which may then stimulate further adoption.

Developing Strategic Marketing Plan

This publication is first in a series targeted for Coordinators and Managers within Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach Programs concerned with developing continuous quality improvement approaches. This early publication focuses on understanding strategies for market position, strategic planning and provides a tool for conducting an organizational self-assessment along with a stakeholder analysis

EMS in the pastoral industries of western Queensland: From customisation to implementation

This paper outlines the customisation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) for the pastoral industry of western Queensland, the recruitment and training of pastoral producers, and their development and implementation of EMS. EMS was simplified to a 7-step process and producers were recruited to trial this customised EMS. Producers from 40 properties received EMS training, either as groups or individually. Of these, 37 commenced Pastoral EMS development through a facilitated approach that allowed them to learn about EMS while developing an EMS for their property. EMS implementation has been more effective with producers who were trained in groups. At this stage, however, most producers do not see value in EMS as there are currently no strong drivers to warrant continued development and implementation. Key findings resulting from this work were that personal contact and assistance is vital to encourage producers to trial EMS, and that a staged approach to EMS implementation, commencing with a self-assessment, is recommended. EMS training is most successful in a group situation; however, an alternative method of delivery should be provided for those producers who, either by choice or isolation, have to work alone. A support network is also necessary to encourage and maintain progress with EMS development and implementation, particularly where no strong drivers exist.

Aika hyv�� rehtoriksi : Selvi����k�� koulun johtamisesta hengiss��?

The aim of this study was to describe school leadership on a practical level. By observing the daily behaviour of a principal minute by minute, the study tried to answer the following questions: how did the principals use their time, did they have time to develop their school after participating in the daily life of the school, and how did the previously studied challenges of modern leadership show in their practical work? Five principals in different areas of Helsinki were observed ��� two women and three men. The principals were chosen at random from three educational conferences. The main hypothesis of this research was that the work of the principal consists of solving daily problems and routines concerning the pupils, teachers and other interest groups and writing all kinds of bureaucratic reports. This means that the school and its principal do not have enough resources to give to a visionary development of teaching and learning ��� in other words pedagogical leading ��� even though every principal has the best knowledge about his or her own school���s status quo and the needs for development revealed by this status quo. The research material was gathered by applying the Peer-Assisted Leadership method. The researcher shadowed each principal for four days for three hours at a time. After each shadowing period, any unclear situations were clarified with a short interview. After all the shadowing periods, the principals participated in a semi-structured interview that covered the themes emerging from the shadowing material. In addition to this, the principals evaluated their own leading with a self-assessment questionnaire. The results gathered from the shadowing material showed that the actions of the principals were focused on bureaucratic work. The principals spent most of their time in the office (more than 50%). In the office they were sitting mainly by the computer. They also spent a significant mount of time in the office meeting teachers and occasional visitors. The time spent building networks was relatively short, although the principals considered it as an important domain of leadership according to their interviews. After the classification of the shadowing material, the activities of the principals were divided according to certain factors affecting them. The underlying factors were quality management, daily life management, strategic thinking and emotional intelligence. Through these factors the research showed that coping with the daily life of the school took about 40% of the principals��� time. Activities connected with emotional intelligence could be observed over 30% and activities which required strategic thinking were observed over 20% of the time. The activities which according to the criteria of the research consisted of quality management took only 8% of the principals��� time. This result was congruent with previous studies showing that the work of school leaders is focused on something other than developing the quality of teaching and learning. Keywords: distributed leadership, building community, network building, interaction, emotional intelligence, strategy, quality management

Feedback and clinical practice improvement: A tool to assist workplace supervisors and students

In work integrated learning, students may report difficulties applying theory learned at university to clinical practice. One contributing factor may be students' inability to engage in meaningful reflection and self-correcting behaviours. This paper reports the evaluation of a tool, process and resources developed to assist students to reflect on feedback and engage in self-assessment. Students were assisted to develop self-assessment skills by reflecting on, and engaging with feedback from previous workplace experiences to develop goals, learning outcomes and strategies to improve performance with mostly positive results. A secondary aim was to identify common learning strategies or barriers that impacted on student outcomes. Four themes emerged from the qualitative data: 1) preparing for clinical learning; 2) relationships and engagement levels; 3) shared awareness, and; 4) developing clinical practice. Overall students felt the tool assisted them to narrow their attention on what needed to be improved. While supervisors believed the tool helped them to focus on specific needs of each student. Common barriers to clinical practice improvement related to a lack of opportunity in some settings, and lack of staff willingness to support students to achieve identified goals. Students and supervisors found the use of the tools beneficial and assisted students to demonstrate a greater understanding of how to apply feedback received to support their learning in the clinical environment.

Sanailua, kyn��ily��, intoilua ja ep��ily�� : Oppilaiden kirjoitustaito ja sen arvioiminen alkuopetuksessa

Objectives. In primary education the pupils form a basis for their writing skills. By assessing pupils writing skills the teacher gathers information about the development of their skills and notices possible learning disabilities. The assessment of writing skills requires both knowledge of different evaluation methods and the phonological system in Finnish language. The purpose of this study is to analyze the pupils writing skills and different assessment methods that help the teacher in writing evaluation. The pupils writing skills are viewed from spelling, composing and writing motivation s point of view. Methods. The research material consists of dictation exercises, written stories and writing motivation self-assessments of 19 pupils. Dictation exercises measured the spelling skills of pupils and they were written in the spring of the first grade and the autumn of the second grade. Dictation exercises were analyzed with two different methods: mistake analysis and word-structure analysis. Information of pupils spelling skills development was gathered by comparing their performance in autumn s dictation exercise to spring s dictation. Composing skills were measured with stories that the pupils wrote. Both the stories and the writing motivation s self-assessment were made in the autumn of the second grade. Composing skills were analyzed according to assessment criteria formed for this study. Results. The spelling skill of most of the pupils had developed from the first grade s spring to the second grade s autumn. The spelling skills of half of the pupils (N=9) had improved significantly. The composing skills of the pupils varied largely. Strongest part of the pupils composing skill was following instructions and the weakest part was the use of versatile vocabulary and clause structures. The girls outdid the boys in all segments of their composing skills. For most pupils their spelling skill reflected their composing skill: good spellers were also good story writers. The relation between writing motivation and general writing skill was not this simple: some pupils (N=5) writing motivation was much higher than what would have been expected based on their writing skills.

O Protocolo de Kyoto e o mercado de cr��dito de carbono: estudo de caso das emiss��es de gases de efeito estufa da f��brica de combust��vel nuclear pertencente ��s Ind��strias Nucleares do Brasil no ano de 2008

A presente disserta����o discute as quest��es relacionadas �� intensifica����o das mudan��as clim��ticas por causas antr��picas conforme a evolu����o no uso dos recursos naturais, inova����es nos processos produtivos, transforma����es econ��micas, sociais, culturais, pol��ticas e, especialmente ambientais. Aborda a comercializa����o dos cr��ditos de carbono atrav��s de projetos de Mecanismo de Desenvolvimento Limpo (MDL), um dos mecanismos de flexibiliza����o criados pelo Protocolo de Kyoto. No contexto de mudan��as clim��ticas, uma matriz energ��tica que utilize fontes de energia que n��o emitam gases causadores do efeito estufa (GEE) se mostra uma importante estrat��gia de desenvolvimento sustent��vel. Sob essa perspectiva, a energia nucleoel��trica �� apresentada como uma alternativa vi��vel aos combust��veis f��sseis, considerando que esta �� uma energia limpa e compat��vel com a perspectiva de desenvolvimento sustent��vel. A F��brica de Combust��vel Nuclear (FCN), localizada em Resende (Rio de Janeiro), pertencente ��s Ind��strias Nucleares do Brasil (INB), �� um conjunto de sofisticadas f��bricas nas quais se processam etapas importantes do ciclo do combust��vel nuclear. Na FCN, o Centro Zoobot��nico realiza a gest��o das atividades voltadas para a conserva����o da natureza tais como o Programa de Recupera����o de Mata Ciliar, Reflorestamento e Fauna. O Relat��rio de invent��rio das emiss��es diretas e indiretas de GEE da FCN, elaborado pela INB para o ano de 2008, permite a auto-avalia����o da empresa, retratando a preocupa����o corporativa com as quest��es relativas ��s mudan��as clim��ticas. Segundo este Relat��rio, o total de emiss��es de GEE quantificado corresponde a 12,14% da capacidade total de sequestro de di��xido de carbono, no per��odo de Janeiro a Dezembro de 2008. A prote����o de florestas e a planta����o de ��rvores s��o componentes essenciais de qualquer estrat��gia global para mitiga����o da mudan��a clim��tica, e a participa����o da INB no mercado de cr��dito de carbono pode proporcionar externalidades positivas, tais como ganhos de imagem, adequa����o a padr��es ambientais e melhoria do relacionamento com a sociedade.

Pol��ticas p��blicas de avalia����o para a educa����o superior no Brasil: autonomia e produ����o do conhecimento

A tese aborda as pol��ticas p��blicas de avalia����o para a educa����o superior no Brasil, desde o seu surgimento, indicado na Reforma Universit��ria de 1968 e sua efetiva����o a partir da d��cada de 1980, no Programa de Avalia����o da Reforma Universit��ria PARU e no Grupo de Estudos da Reforma da Educa����o Superior GERES, ambos com a fun����o de avaliar a Universidade brasileira. Contextualiza a sua institucionaliza����o na d��cada de 1990, por meio do Programa de Avalia����o Institucional das Universidades Brasileiras PAIUB, do Exame Nacional de Cursos ENC ou Prov��o, com enfoque na ��ltima e atual pol��tica, o Sistema Nacional de Avalia����o da Educa����o Superior SINAES e, neste, a avalia����o institucional. O objetivo que motivou a produ����o desta tese foi conseguir clareza sobre as pol��ticas p��blicas de avalia����o para a educa����o superior no Brasil, especificamente o processo de implanta����o e implementa����o da avalia����o institucional no per��odo do SINAES na UNIOESTE, bem como, seus desdobramentos no que concerne �� autonomia e �� produ����o do conhecimento. Para tanto, foi preciso percorrer meandros do tema, historicizando as pol��ticas p��blicas de avalia����o para a educa����o superior no Brasil; identificando, examinando e discutindo os processos de implanta����o e implementa����o da avalia����o institucional na UNIOESTE PR; analisando e discutindo os desdobramentos da avalia����o institucional no que concerne �� autonomia e �� produ����o do conhecimento na UNIOESTE. A metodologia se constituiu de pesquisa bibliogr��fica, an��lise documental e estudo do processo de implanta����o e implementa����o do SINAES e tamb��m de seus desdobramentos na quest��o da autonomia e produ����o do conhecimento em uma universidade p��blica estadual, a UNIOESTE. Sobre os desdobramentos do SINAES na quest��o da autonomia e da produ����o do conhecimento, infere-se que as medidas das pol��ticas p��blicas de avalia����o para a educa����o superior interferem e impactam a universidade, imprimindo autonomia e produ����o do conhecimento na medida/l��gica necess��ria para dar vigor a determinada conjuntura societ��ria. No SINAES, a Autoavalia����o Institucional �� um mecanismo falho, inoperante, que n��o atende ��s demandas da comunidade acad��mica e, ainda, que n��o atinge a sua finalidade prof��cua, a melhoria da universidade. Dessa maneira, no contexto atual, a universidade se consome em seu papel e fun����o social, dando espa��o e for��a �� conforma����o da universidade ��s demandas e determina����es do capital. A Autoavalia����o Institucional precisa ser analisada em suas premissas e no formato que se incorpora ao SINAES, mas n��o somente isso isoladamente, e, sim, todo o SINAES, enquanto uma pol��tica p��blica de avalia����o, para que seja direcionada em favor da universidade e da sociedade brasileira

���������������������������������������

A survey study of cancer survivors was conducted to explore the coping resources, which buffers the life of cancer survivors against stressful situation. Participants reported coping strategies, positive affect and negative affect, personality, perceived social support, fighting spirit and helpless/hopeless as well as quality of life through a set of self-assessment questionnaire. The results indicated that the frequency of coping strategies used by cancer survivors from high to low were: growing, problem solving, seeking support,self-controlling, wishful thinking, and distancing. The correlational analysis indicated that among the six sets of coping strategies, growing was positively correlated most strongly with most of the dimensions in quality of life as well as positive affect. Among the five personality, Neuroticism was positively correlated most strongly with helpless/hopeless and negative affect; and was negatively correlated most strongly with fighting spirit and positive affect. Extraversion was positively correlated most strongly with positive affect and negatively correlated most strongly with helpless/hopeless; Agreeableness was negatively correlated most strongly with negative affect; Conscientiousness was positively correlated most strongly with fighting spirit. Subjects with higher score in quality of life reported higher frequency of coping strategies in growing and problem solving and less in wishful thinking. They also reported higher scores in Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness as well as lower scores in Neuroticism. The regression analysis displayed that not negative affect but positive affect entered the regression model when all the psychological and social variables in the study were accounted for. Taken together, these data suggested that, growing was the most effective coping strategy among the six sets of strategies for cancer survivors to improve quality of life, to maintain positive affect and to enhance fighting spirit. Neuroticism was vulnerable to resist stressors; Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness were stress-resisted factors. Positive affect may has more adaptational significance than negative affect during chronic stress. These data also implicated that positive affect should be paid more attention to in coping research.

Developing the ability for making evaluative judgements.

It is suggested that a more specific emphasis should be placed in undergraduate education on the explicit development of the ability to make evaluative judgements. This higher level cognitive ability is highlighted as the foundation for much sound and successful personal and professional development throughout education, and in lifelong development. Yet it seldom seems to receive the explicit attention which is given in curricula in higher education to analysis and creativity. The paper includes several examples of activities which have been used and judged effective in developing the ability to make evaluative judgements, often at an early stage in undergraduate courses. Keywords: evaluative judgement; personal development; self-assessment; peerassessment; lifelong learning Outline

Droga do ucznia. Polonistyczne ocenianie kszta��tuj��ce na III i IV etapie edukacyjnym

Wydzia�� Filologii Polskiej i Klasycznej: Instytut Filologii Polskiej

Monitorizaci��n de la temperatura del pie como herramienta en la neuropat��a diab��tica

Objteivo: Valorar si existe relaci��n entre el aumento de temperatura en el pie y la neuropat��a diab��tica perif��rica. M��todos: La muestra fueron 27 pacientes diab��ticos a que se le realiz�� una exploraci��n neurol��gica y vascular, adem��s, haciendo uso de un term��metro infrarrojo medimos la temperatura en distintos puntos anat��micos de la planta del pie. Resultados: La temperatura es mayor los pacientes con neuropat��a con una diferencia de 2,24��C (p=0,454) en el pie derecho y 0,86��C (p=0,589) en el pie izquierdo. Conclusi��n: Los resultados sugieren que la automonitorizaci��n de la temperatura del pie por parte del paciente diab��tico podr��a ayudar a reducir la alta incidencia de complicaciones en el pie diab��tico.

Computerised Diagnostic Decision Support System for the Classification of Pre-Invasive Cervical Squamous Lesions.

<p>Previous studies have revealed considerable interobserver and intraobserver variation in the histological classification of preinvasive cervical squamous lesions. The aim of the present study was to develop a decision support system (DSS) for the histological interpretation of these lesions. Knowledge and uncertainty were represented in the form of a Bayesian belief network that permitted the storage of diagnostic knowledge and, for a given case, the collection of evidence in a cumulative manner that provided a final probability for the possible diagnostic outcomes. The network comprised 8 diagnostic histological features (evidence nodes) that were each independently linked to the diagnosis (decision node) by a conditional probability matrix. Diagnostic outcomes comprised normal; koilocytosis; and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, CIN II, and CIN M. For each evidence feature, a set of images was recorded that represented the full spectrum of change for that feature. The system was designed to be interactive in that the histopathologist was prompted to enter evidence into the network via a specifically designed graphical user interface (i-Path Diagnostics, Belfast, Northern Ireland). Membership functions were used to derive the relative likelihoods for the alternative feature outcomes, the likelihood vector was entered into the network, and the updated diagnostic belief was computed for the diagnostic outcomes and displayed. A cumulative probability graph was generated throughout the diagnostic process and presented on screen. The network was tested on 50 cervical colposcopic biopsy specimens, comprising 10 cases each of normal, koilocytosis, CIN 1, CIN H, and CIN III. These had been preselected by a consultant gynecological pathologist. Using conventional morphological assessment, the cases were classified on 2 separate occasions by 2 consultant and 2 junior pathologists. The cases were also then classified using the DSS on 2 occasions by the 4 pathologists and by 2 medical students with no experience in cervical histology. Interobserver and intraobserver agreement using morphology and using the DSS was calculated with K statistics. Intraobserver reproducibility using conventional unaided diagnosis was reasonably good (kappa range, 0.688 to 0.861), but interobserver agreement was poor (kappa range, 0.347 to 0.747). Using the DSS improved overall reproducibility between individuals. Using the DSS, however, did not enhance the diagnostic performance of junior pathologists when comparing their DSS-based diagnosis against an experienced consultant. However, the generation of a cumulative probability graph also allowed a comparison of individual performance, how individual features were assessed in the same case, and how this contributed to diagnostic disagreement between individuals. Diagnostic features such as nuclear pleomorphism were shown to be particularly problematic and poorly reproducible. DSSs such as this therefore not only have a role to play in enhancing decision making but also in the study of diagnostic protocol, education, self-assessment, and quality control. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</p>

Large body size for winning and large swords for winning quickly in swordtail males, Xiphophorus helleri

Contestants can either assess their own resource-holding potential relative to their opponent (mutual assessment) or rely solely on the assessment of their own fighting ability (self-assessment). To discriminate between these possibilities, we staged dyadic territorial contests between 'size-matched' male swordtails. These contests consist of a combination of ritualized displays and direct fighting. Although size differences were small, winners were larger than losers and smaller fish tended to be winners only when the size difference was negligible. Body size, however, did not influence contest duration and there was no increase in contest duration with mean body size; thus, there is no support for self-assessment in these animals. We also examined the effects of the sword, which comprises a sexually selected extension used in female choice that reduces swimming efficiency but increases acceleration. The length of the sword (adjusted for body size) did not differ between winners and losers; however, losers conceded earlier if the opponent had a large sword for its body size but this decision was independent of the loser's own sword length. Losers thus assessed the swords of winners, which precludes self-assessment; however, because winners appeared not to assess the swords of losers, this does not fully support the idea of mutual assessment. (c) 2008 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Understanding how animals fight with Lloyd Morgan's canon

Various game theory models have been used to explain animal contests. Here we attend to the presumed cognitive abilities required by these models with respect to information gathering and consequent decision making. Some, such as the hawk/dove game and self-assessment models require very limited cognitive ability. By contrast, the broadly accepted sequential assessment model requires that contestants know their own abilities and compare them with information gathered about their opponent to determine which has the greater resource-holding power. However, evidence for assessment of relative abilities is sparse and we suggest that this complex ability is probably beyond most animals. Indeed, perceptual limitations may restrict information about an individual's own displays and thus preclude comparison. We take a parsimonious view and conclude that simple summation of causal factors accounts for changes in fight motivation without requiring mutual evaluation of relative abilities. �� 2012 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.