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This study is a comparative analysis of the environmental philosophies of college undergraduates enrolled in a Midwestern university. Two courses were used for the research, one from a recreation management curriculum and the other from environmental studies. The study utilized a survey instrument called the Environmental Action and Philosophy Matrix to determine the extent to which students’ environmental attitudes are based on scientific or religious rationale, as well as anthropocentric or biocentric perspectives. Findings show students to possess scientific underpinnings for their viewpoints, regardless of anthropocentric or biocentric tendencies. In addition, the environmental studies students displayed more biocentric attitudes than the recreation management students.

We quantified the level of dietary mercury (Hg), delivered as methylmercury chloride (CH3HgCl), associated with negative effects on organ and plasma biochemistries related to glutathione (GSH) metabolism and oxidative stress, and chromosomal damage in captive-reared common loon (Gavia immer) chicks reared from hatch to 105 days. Mercury-associated effects related to oxidative stress and altered glutathione metabolism occurred at 1.2 microg Hg/g and 0.4 microg Hg/g, an ecologically relevant dietary mercury level, but not at 0.08 microg Hg/g. Among the variables that contributed most to dissimilarities in tissue chemistries between control and treatment groups were increased levels of oxidized glutathione (GSSG), GSH peroxidase, and the ratio of GSSG to GSH in brain tissue; increased levels of hepatic GSH; and decreased levels of hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH). Our results also suggest that chronic exposure to environmentally relevant dietary Hg levels did not result in statistically significant somatic chromosomal damage in common loon chicks.

The authors examined how instructor attitudes relate to grading behavior using two attitude instruments (ascription of responsibility and approval motivation) and resulting data collected from general education instructors at a midwestern comprehensive university. The results of the research show that approval motivation is significantly related to grading behavior. The authors also found that male instructors are more likely to ascribe responsibility to the individual than are female instructors, and tenured faculty are more likely to ascribe responsibility to the individual than are nontenured instructors. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

We evaluated the use of a simple rake sampling technique for predicting the biomass of submersed aquatic vegetation. Vegetation sampled from impounded areas of the Mississippi River using a rake sampling technique, was compared with vegetation harvested from 0.33-m2 quadrats. The resulting data were used to model the relationship between rake indices and vegetation biomass (total and for individual species). We constructed linear regression models using log-transformed biomass data for sites sampled in 1999 and 2000. Data collected in 2001 were used to validate the resulting models. The coefficient of determination (R2) for predicting total biomass was 0.82 and ranged from 0.59 (Potamogeton pectinatus) to 0.89 (Ceratophyllum demersum) for individual species. Application of the model to estimate total submersed aquatic vegetation is illustrated using data collected independent of this study. The accuracy and precision of the models tested indicate that the rake method data may be used to predict total vegetation biomass and biomass of selected species; however, the method should be tested in other regions, in other plant communities, and on other species.

High rates of Common Loon (Gavia immer) chick mortality have been documented in Wisconsin, especially on acidic lakes, but causes and timing of chick mortality are poorly understood. We modified and evaluated a subcutaneous transmitter implant technique for Common Loon chicks using wild and captive reared chicks. Results indicated that behavior, growth, energy expenditure, and survival did not differ significantly between chicks marked with miniature transmitters (mass 0.76 g, representing ,0.8% of body mass at hatching) and unmarked chicks. SINOPSIS. Efecto de transmisores implantados subcutaniamente en la conducta, crecimiento ener- getica y supervivencia de polluelos de Gavia immer Se han documentado, particularmente en Wisconsin, altas tasas de mortalidad en polluelos de Gavia immer particular en lagos asirificados. Sin embargo, las causas y el periodo de mortalidad no se entienden claramente. Evaluamos un radiotransmisor modificado implantado subcutaniamente en polluelos cautivos y silvestres de la especie antes mencionada (de masa de 0.76 g, representado ,0.8% de la masa corporal al nacer). Los resultados indican que la conducta, crecimiento, gasto energetico y supervivencia no variosignificativamente entre los polluelos con radiotransmisores y un grupo control.

A voluntary waterfowl avoidance area (VWAA) was established on Lake Onalaska in Navigation Pool 7 of the Upper Mississippi River, Wisconsin, USA, in 1986, to reduce boating disturbance to migratory waterfowl. We monitored boater compliance with the VWAA program in 1993 and 1997. Of 1,664 “boating events” observed on Lake Onalaska, boats intruded into the VWAA on 127 occasions. Boating events have increased from 1.82 boating events/h in 1986-88 to 1.97 in 1993 and 2.58 in 1997. Despite a 60% increase in boating traffic, the lake-wide disturbance rates in 1997 were comparable to that in 1981. We attribute this to a significant reduction in the proportion of lake-wide boating events that resulted in disturbance, a direct consequence of the VWAA program. Rate of intrusion into the VWAA was 0.11 per boating event in 1997 compared to 0.18 per boating event in 1986-88. Boating disturbances to waterfowl within the VWAA occurred at about half the rate (0.24 to 0.28 disturbances·hr-1) observed prior to est...

The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical and plantar loading variables related to hallux valgus. Fifty-one healthy control subjects and 40 subjects with a diagnosis of moderate hallux valgus deformity of similar age and body weight were recruited for this study. Clinical measurements of pain, first metatarsophalangeal joint range of motion, and single-leg resting calcaneal stance position were obtained. Biomechanical measurements were obtained using a capacitive pressure platform. Plantar loading variables were calculated for seven regions of the plantar surface. A univariate analysis followed by a stepwise logistic regression was used to analyze the data. The results indicated that high values for pain, single-leg resting calcaneal stance position, hallux region peak pressure and force–time integral, and central forefoot region force–time integral increased the likelihood of hallux valgus. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 93(2): 97-103, 2003)

Suppose an experiment requires the fitting of a linear relationship to data, (xi,yi ) where X and Y were both measured subject to error. In this paper a variety of methods are used to estimate the value of the slope β. Many popular methods are reformulated into a single class of optimization problems. Each method studied seeks to minimize a combination of the sum of the weighted deviations in the horizontal and vertical directions. The reformulation of each method is presented along with the results of a simulation study of the methods.

One challenge in tourism market segmentation research is finding a statistical clustering method that can use data from the commonly used qualitative (categorical scale) survey instrument. Current proven methods require the use of quantitative (ratio or interval scale) data. However, quantitative survey instruments are seldom used. Many quantitative clustering methods severely restrict the number of attributes measured despite the fact that segmentation analysis works best when it measures all the multistate attributes that visitors identify as influencing their tourist experience. This study demonstrated that multistate categorical survey data could be successfully used. Using data from a bed-and-breakfast survey (229 guests), a two-stage analysis method was employed. First, multiple correspondence analysis was used to spatially map each of the attributes, and then cluster analysis was used to identify market segments. It is believed this method can be more practical in the field of applied tourism research.

The problem of estimation of an unknown common scale parameter of several Pareto distributions with unknown and possibly unequal shape parameters in censored samples is considered. A new class of estimators which includes both the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) and the uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator (UMVUE) is proposed and examined under a squared error loss.

In this paper improved estimators of the scale and its reciprocal, θ(0−1), and the location, μ, of a two-parameter exponential distribution are given based on a doubly censored sample. Also the problem of estimating the linear function μ + zθ is considered, where z is a given constant. It is shown that the improved estimators are better than the best affine equivariant estimators.

Problem based learning (PBL) in occupational therapy education has become very popular, although the efficacy of this teaching method has not been well documented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a PBL case in meeting faculty generated learning objectives. A pretest/posttest design was utilized to evaluate students' perceptions of content acquisition. A two-way ANOVA with repeated measures was completed; results yielded a significant difference among the pretest and posttest scores (p-v < 0.01). The posttest mean scores were higher, which indicated that students perceived they acquired the intended knowledge and PBL was an effective method to facilitating learning.

The problem of robust estimation of the common scale parameter of several Pareto distributions with unknown and possibly unequal shape parameters is considered. In this paper, a wide class of estimators dominating the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) is derived under a class of convex loss functions. The problem discussed in this paper arises quite frequently in socio-economics, reliability, life testing, and survival analysis.

Assume independent random samples are drawn from two populations which are uniformly distributed with unknown scale parameters. The problem is to estimate the minimum and the maximum of the two unknown scales. In this paper, several simple estimators are proposed which are better than the natural estimators in terms of standardized bias, risk under squared error loss and the Pitman nearness criterion.

Consider the problem of estimating the common mean of two normal populations when the order of the unknown variances is known. In this article we have constructed a simple improved estimator which is better than the usual Graybill-Deal estimator in terms of stochastic domination.

In this paper we first address the problem of estimating the common scale of several exponential distributions with unknown location parameters when censored samples are observed. The improved estimators are basically Stein type testimators. These testimators are then used to construct improved estimators of location parameters.

The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytical framework to assess students’ general business competencies, acquired in core and capstone courses, as learning outcomes. First, the rationale for the use of students’ general business competencies as outcomes assessment is provided. Second, the methodology for measuring these competencies is presented and explained. Third, the underlying concepts and influential factors relative to general business competencies of students are analyzed and discussed. Finally, the findings and practical implications of the proposed approach for faculty development are examined.

This longitudinal study evaluated the learning and retention of task-specific training during the subjects' classroom performance of a one-person pivot transfer. Twelve subjects were videotaped completing the transfer (pretest). The subjects then participated in a two-hour training session. One week later (posttest 1), and one year later (posttest 2) the subjects were videotaped again. A checklist was used to analyze the videotapes. A one-way ANOVA with repeated measures revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between the tests (F = 243.73, p-value0.0001). A post hoc analysis (Bonferroni procedure) indicated that the posttest 1 scores (mean = 13, SD = 0.40) were significantly higher than the pretest scores (mean = 2.96, SD = 0.39) indicating an improved score on the checklist. There was no significant difference between the scores of posttest 1 and posttest 2 (mean = 12.79, SD = 0.60) indicating that subjects continued to perform the task with proper body mechanics one year post training.

Body mechanic checklist scores during a one-person pivot transfer, and boosting up in bed were evaluated to determine the effectiveness of training on the work performance of female student nurses from a local college. Thirty subjects participated in the study and were divided into a control group, an experimental group that received basic body mechanic training, and an experimental group that received job specific training. A one-way ANCOVA was calculated to examine the effects of the experimental procedures on the subjects' performance. This revealed a statistically significant difference between the groups (patient transfer F = 10.11, p value0.001; boosting F = 38.62, p value0.001). A post hoc analysis (Bonferroni procedure) indicated that the job specific training group (mean 11.65, SD 0.66) demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in their performance compared to the other two groups (control group mean 7.5, SD 0.67; BBMT mean 9.66, SD 0.67).

Problem-based learning (PBL) in occupational therapy (OT) education has become increasingly important. However, the efficacy in identifying clinical reasoning skills has not been well researched. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utilization of clinical reasoning by students in the USA and Scotland. Thirty OT students were videotaped during a PBL case. Responses were transcribed and compiled into 122 statements. The two primary investigators independently coded each of the responses into one of five categories: Procedural, Interactive, Conditional reasoning, N/A, or Other. Intraclass correlation coefficients reflected strong reliability between the two raters (ICC = 0.914). Results of this study indicated that the predominant form of clinical reasoning was procedural in nature (61%) followed by conditional reasoning (27%) and interactive reasoning (12%). Students in Scotland tended to use interactive reasoning more than the students in the USA. Further research is needed to explore educational models to foster clinical reasoning skills in occupational therapy students.

Many elementary statistics textbooks recommend the sign test as an alternative to the t-test when the normality assumption is violated. This recommendation is not always warranted, as we demonstrate by extending previous studies of the effects of skewness, kurtosis, and shifting of the location parameter on the size and power of the t-and sign tests for the one-sample case. For skewed populations our simulations reveal that the power of the t-test can actually be higher than that of the t-test for a normal parent population when the location parameter is shifted in the opposite direction of the skewness of population. In that same instance, the power of the t-test is also significantly greater than that of the sign test. Furthermore, our simulations reveal that for low-kurtosis populations the power of the t-test is again greater than that of the sign test.

Many undergraduate students are introduced to frequentist or classical methods of parameter estimation such as maximum likelihood estimation, uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimation, and min...