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The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted assessment of student learning. A shift from in-person to a fully online and remote instruction format occurred at many institutions of higher education soon after the World Health Organization announced the pandemic status in mid-March of 2020 (WHO 2021). Even after the 2019-2020 academic year, many college courses continued to be taught in a fully remote and online mode as the pandemic persisted. In this study, the researchers wanted to understand the factors that instructors considered when assessing student learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first aim was to understand instructors' responses to the pandemic circumstances in terms of assessment practices. They gathered information on relative changes (before vs. during the pandemic) in the format and administration of assessments. The second aim was to better understand the challenges and methods of adaptation in various aspects of assessment, including the instructors' decisions concerning the prioritization of content covered, adjustment to the course grading scheme/policy, preparation for exams, difficulties administering assessments online, and the handling of academic integrity concerns. Aligning with the terminology used by Ober and Cheng (2022) in the context of this investigation, terms such as "tests" or "exams" are distinguished from the broader category of "assessments." While "test" or "exam" refers to more conventionally structured assessment formats, "assessment" is a more encompassing term which includes these in addition to essays or capstone projects, for example. To achieve these aims, an online survey was administered to a sample of college instructors teaching across a variety of disciplines at higher education institutions throughout the United States.

Mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, are eponymous larval mosquito predators. Their ability to colonize and survive in habitats that are uninhabitable by other potential predators allows them to naturally manage larval mosquito populations in most ground pools they are present in. However, effluent from residential onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTSs) appears to limit the presence of fish predators. This is especially problematic in Louisiana, where regulations allow the discharge of OWTS effluent into open drainage conveyances. To determine the effect of effluent on the capacity of mosquitofish for biocontrol in contaminated areas, we assessed the body condition metrics of populations from two effluent-exposed sites and two sites not exposed to effluent, determined the lethal effect of effluent-contaminated drainage water on fish, and measured the prey consumption rates in the presence of effluent. Female fish collected from effluent-impacted sites had a reduced somatic body condition and most females examined displayed masculinized anal fins resembling the male gonopodium structure. This trait was not seen in fish collected from the control sites and has not yet been documented in association with OWTSs or in the state of Louisiana. Fish from the control sites survived at effluent-contaminated water levels < 70%, and the prey clearance rates increased with dilution. Onsite wastewater treatment system effluent has significant effects on both the short- and long-term persistence of mosquitofish, their body composition, reproductive health, and larval mosquito consumption. These effects likely release mosquito larvae from suppression and may increase the threat of mosquito-transmitted pathogens in effluent-contaminated locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomechanics research often revolves around understanding traits impacting suction feeding performance in fishes, using freshwater ray‐finned sunfishes (Family Centrarchidae) as models. However, simultaneous feeding and locomotion kinematics during prey capture are not recorded for many species and there is less information on how these kinematics vary within a species and within individuals. To (1) add to existing data on the prey capture kinematics of centrarchids, (2) assess variation in a species both within and across individuals, and (3) compare morphology and prey capture kinematics of well‐sampled centrarchids, we filmed five redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus) at 500 fps−1 approaching and striking non‐evasive prey. Redbreast approach prey at ~30 cm s−1 and use approximately 70% of their maximum gape size. Traits related to feeding are more repeatable than traits related to locomotion. However, the Accuracy Index (AI) was consistent across individuals (AI = 0.76 ± 0.07). Functionally, redbreast sunfish are more similar to bluegill sunfish but morphologically they fall in the intermediate morphospace alongside green sunfish when compared with other centrarchids. These data show that whole organism outcomes (AI) are similar despite variation present both within and across individuals and demonstrate the importance of considering both interspecific and intraspecific differences in the functional diversity of ecologically and evolutionarily important behaviors such as prey capture. Research Highlights: Intraspecific variation was constrained for feeding traits and flexible for locomotion traits, however strike accuracy remained high.Morphologically, redbreast are close to largemouth bass and green sunfish but functionally similar to bluegill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article outlines 10 things to know when dealing with government entities. These include difference between contracting with government entities and contracting with private entities, inability of public agencies to extend indemnification or agree to limit liability, inverse inherent authorities of public and corporate entities, and absence of assurance that nondisclosure agreements will prevent disclosure and tendency of private conversations to be made public.

Assessment Practices of U.S. College Instructors in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for a Post-Pandemic Era Whereas most instructors indicated proctoring exams in person during the Fall 2019 semester (71.4%), not a single instructor in the sample proctored an exam in person during the pandemic-affected Spring 2020 semester. Whereas most exams were administered during class time in both the Fall 2019 (70.4%) and early portion of the Spring 2020 (60.6%) semester, relatively few instructors indicated administering exams during class time amidst the pandemic-affected period in Spring 2020 (27.4%). [Extracted from the article]

Based on quantitative survey data and qualitative data from journal entries by students in a seminar focused on community-based research, undergraduate student perceptions of community partners are explored in the context of debates about the politics of knowledge. Student perceptions that frame community partners as the recipients of academic expertise are differentiated from those that validate partner expertise as essential to the co-creation of knowledge. Evidence is presented indicating that appropriately structured courses, especially those supported by robust institutional infrastructure for community-engaged learning, can (and should) encourage students to recognize community partners as valuable sources of knowledge. (Contains 7 notes.)

OBJECTIVE To better understand the experiences and perceptions of veterinary professionals in the US responding to suspected cases of animal cruelty. SAMPLE 1,027 US veterinary professionals. PROCEDURES An anonymous survey was distributed via social media and veterinary professional associations between October 15 and November 15, 2020. RESULTS Responses indicated that more cases of suspected animal cruelty were seen by those who reported having had crueltytraining and in workplaces with emergency intake ora relationship with law enforcement. In addition, suspected cases were more likely to be reported to authorities by respondents who indicated there was a workplace policy for handling cruelty cases and by individuals who indicated that they were aware that they were mandated reporters. CLINICALRELEVANCE The important needs for veterinary professionals in relation to animal cruelty are more training to recognize animal cruelty, workplace policies for reporting, and knowledge of reporting laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]