The impact of sensory learning modalities on children’s sensitivity to sensory cues in the perception of their school environment

Learning style models recognised that individuals differ in the sense learning modality of stimuli from which they best absorb, retain and process new information. The effect of sensory learning modalities on individual children’s sensitivity to sensory cues has so far been neglected. This paper reports on a study that sought to establish whether individual differences in children’s sensitivity to sensory cues in their perception of their school environmental features is influenced by their sensory learning modalities. Participants included Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils (N = 151) from four primary schools in South Gloucestershire, UK. The study used a child-friendly Visual, Auditory and Kinaesthetic questionnaire to establish children’s learning style modality. All children, independent of their learning style category, were exposed to three types of sensory cues, consisting of photo-safari, speech frequency and Global Positioning System. The analysis revealed that children’s sensitivity to sensory cues in their perception of school environmental features varied significantly between the three sensory learning modalities: visual, auditory and kinaesthetic. The implications of these findings on research, policy and practice are discussed.     

Into the Field: Naturalistic Education and the Future of Conservation

Abstract:  Some educational psychologists and researchers have argued that there are multiple ways of being intelligent. In the early 1980s, Howard Gardner presented a theory of multiple intelligences by proposing that humans can be described not by a single kind of intelligence, or intelligence quotient score, but rather by a variety of kinds of intelligence. This idea of considering multiple views of intelligence has helped educators look at intelligence from a less rigid, more expansive perspective. I considered how the relatively new concept of naturalistic intelligence, which is the cognitive potential to process information that is exhibited by expert naturalists, might influence the design of undergraduate biology curricula. Naturalistic intelligence can be fostered in undergraduate biology students by emphasizing the need for well-rounded scientific naturalists; developing curricula that involves students in outdoor inquiry-based projects; and helping students learn how to observe both the natural world and their own learning, skills that are essential to developing expert naturalistic knowledge. Professors, graduate students, and administrators can improve the naturalistic intelligence of undergraduate biology students by giving these students opportunities to be involved in outdoor research. Time spent outdoors alone and among people with expertise in natural history, ecology, and conservation biology will have important influences on the knowledge and skills biology undergraduates learn, the careers they pursue, and the contributions they make to conserving Earth's biodiversity.     

光环境污染监测分类与控制值探索

在研究分析国内外现有光污染相关技术规定的基础上,结合我国城市光污染现状,为解决我国城市光污染中危害最严重的典型问题,将我国城市光环境污染划分为玻璃幕墙眩光污染、交通道路眩光污染、居住区光污染、室外光污染源4个重点监测项目,并针对具体项目初步提出了玻璃幕墙反射眩光监测控制值、交通道路眩光监测控制值、居住区光污染监测控制值和室外光污染源监测控制值。     

城市不同功能区地表灰尘重金属时空动态变化

以贵阳市交通区-城市广场-文教区-住宅区-城中村地表灰尘为研究对象,对不同月份地表灰尘进行跟踪采样分析,研究不同功能区地表灰尘重金属质量比的时空变化特征,并通过内梅罗指数法对灰尘重金属累积程度进行评价。结果表明:1)As、Cd和Pb月质量比最低值出现在6—7月,而Cu、Ni和Zn月质量比最低值出现在11月上旬,各元素月质量比最高值出现的月份不尽相同,但以11—12月为主;2)春冬季地表灰尘重金属质量比高于夏秋季;3)灰尘中Ni、Zn质量比随时间和区域的变化最小,As、Cd、Cu和Pb质量比随时间和区域的变化较大,这4种元素在城市广场累积最重;4)人类活动是影响地表灰尘重金属迁移和累积的重要因素之一,温度、降雨、街道形状和地理位置也是影响地表灰尘重金属含量的因素。     

常温下IC反应器启动过程中的颗粒污泥性能研究

在常温下用自配葡萄糖废水启动IC反应器,研究了厌氧颗粒污泥的形成过程和特性。IC反应器进水浓度为3 000 mg COD/L,水温为14.5～26℃,25 d内形成了颗粒污泥。结果表明,随着运行时间和容积负荷的增加,颗粒污泥粒径逐渐增大。反应器启动完成后,反应器中2 mm的颗粒污泥增加到6.6%,0.3 mm的颗粒从57.7%减少到39.4%;VSS浓度从24.7 g/L上升到48.2 g/L;VSS/SS从34.4%增加到72.8%。颗粒污泥的沉降速度与颗粒粒径成正比,0.3～3 mm的颗粒污泥的沉降速度介于34.05～109.75 m/h之间,具有良好的沉降性能。初始接种污泥几乎没有产甲烷活性,与第30 d的初期颗粒污泥相比,成熟的颗粒污泥的产甲烷活性提高了46.7%。     

PUBLIC ATTITUDES IN MASSACHUSETTS TOWARD THE RECREATIONAL USE OF DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY RESERVOIRS1

ABSTRACT: There is considerable controversy inthe Northeast surrounding the extent to whcih public drinking water reservoirs should be used for recreational purposes. This paper reports the results of two integrated studies of (1) recreation users of Quabbin Reservation, the largest inland water source in New England and (2) the general public of Massachusetts. Data were obtained by conducting on-site interviews of Quabbin users and through state-wide telephone interviews of the general public; both studies focused on assessing attitudes toward the recreational use of drinking water reservoirs in Massachusetts. Unlike the findings of a 1969 study conducted by Baumann, results showed that the majority of Massachusetts residents do not favor recreation-prohibiting laws for most activities. Most favored at least moderate use of reservoirs for recreational purposes. In addition, over all views were not as restrictive as present legislation would suggest. Finally, these findings suggest that current recreation-prohibiting laws should be reassessed in light of pugblic opinion which favors the use of these valuable resources.     

RECREATION AT DRINKING WATER RESERVOIRS IN MASSACHUSETTS: A SURVEY OF WATER MANAGERS1

The purpose of this study was to identify attitudes toward the recreational use of drinking water reservoirs in Massachusetts among municipal water supply managers in the state. Compared to the findings of recent studies assessing the attitudes of the general public, water officials were found to advocate highly restrictive views. No officials said that recreation was an insignificant source of water supply pollution; however, opinions were not found to be related to respondents' exposure to the literature on the topic. The majority were not, in fact, familiar with the literature assessing the impact of recreation on water supply reservoirs.     

PROBLEMS OF REESTABLISHING COMMERCIAL RECREATION BUSINESSES IN NEW YORK FOLLOWING HURRICANE AGNES1

ABSTRACT: Forty-two commercial campgrounds and 34 commercial marinas were studied to determine the amount and types of flood-related damages incurred from Hurricane Agnes, and to evaluate the institutional measures available to help management overcome these losses. Economic losses incurred by firms due to inability to operate, and declines in the number of recreationists, were over twice the magnitude of losses suffered via direct physical damages from flooding. The Federal Flood Insurance Program, as presently constituted, is of very little use to firms having structural investments in and over water. Most firms were complimentary of the Small Business Administration's loan programs. It appears that active programs of communication and promotion are needed following restoration of regions involved in natural diasters to reestablish the tourist industry of those regions.     

油田联合站沉降罐小呼吸损耗核算

利用美国石油协会(API)小呼吸损耗核算新公式对国内某油田4个联合站的采出液沉降罐进行了小呼吸损耗核算,并与实测数据进行了对比分析。分析结果表明,API的核算值与实测值的差别较大,相对误差可达90%以上,原因是国内油田采出液沉降罐的现场工况与API公式的模拟条件差别较大。在数据分析的基础上引入平均液体表面温度和平均气体流速两个影响因子对上述公式进行了修正,并利用修正后的公式对另外两个联合站的沉降罐进行了小呼吸损耗核算,核算结果的相对误差降至10%以下。     

DECISION FRAMEWORK FOR SEDIMENT CONTROL IN MUDDY CREEK WATERSHED1

ABSTRACT: The tailwater of Bridgewater Dam, below Lake James, North Carolina, is a designated trout stream. It has environmental attributes for a good cold water fishery with the exception of high suspended sediments. Muddy Creek, a tributary about 1.5 km downstream of the dam, is a major source of sediments. The Muddy Creek Watershed Restoration Initiative was established to develop and implement a sediment control plan. The Watershed Analysis Risk Management Framework was applied to simulate soil erosion and sedimentation and to help determine appropriate action. The simulated sediment concentrations of the river were comparable to observed data from November 1994 to November 2001. For the base condition, the sediment load was 135,000 kg/d from surface erosion and 1,300,000 kg/d from bank erosion. Increasing the buffer strip from existing 50 to 80 percent to 100 percent of stream segments would only reduce surface erosion to 70,400 kg/d with little change in sediment concentrations. Eliminating riverbank erosion would reduce the sediment load from 920,000 to 87,700 kg/d. The bank stabilization project would not only lower suspended sediment concentrations for Muddy Creek, but also reduce the lake sediment accumulation in the downstream Lake Rhodhiss by approximately 13 percent.