Pengaruh kepimpinan pengajaran guru besar ke atas efikasi kendiri guru-guru sekolah rendah di daerah Kapit, Sarawak

This research was to examine the influence of instructional leadership of headmasters on the level of efficacy of primary school teachers in Kapit district, Sarawak. The sample consisted of 121 teachers randomly chosen. Cross-sectional survey method using standardized questionnaires were used in this study. The Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS) developed by Hallinger and Murphy (1985) was utilized to measure the instructional leadership of headmaster while teacher's efficacy scale developed by Ever, Brouwers and Tomic (2002) was used to measure the level of teachers' efficacy. The pilot study showed that all instruments were high reliability to be used in the study. The finding showed that the headmasters in Kapit were high as instructional leaders. The mean score for all dimensions of instructional leadership were between 3.67 and 4.28. The two dimensions with high score were communicating the school goal and promoting professional development of teachers (mean = 4.26 and 4.28 respectively). While the three dimensions with low score were providing incentives for teachers (mean =3.90), supervising and evaluating instruction (mean = 3.79) and maintaining high visibility (mean = 3.67). The research also found that the level of teachers' self-efficacy were high (mean = 4.14). The study found that there was no significant difference of teachers' self-efficacy based on age, position, the length of service, and the category of teachers. The research also found that there were significant relationships between instructional leadership of headmasters and teachers' self-efficacy. Finally, regression analysis revealed that 29.4 percent of teachers' efficacy variance was explained by instructional leadershi

Metric System for Evaluating Off-site Mitigation for Ecosystem Services and Wildlife Habitat in Sagebrush Ecosystems

A fundamental concept of mitigation is that it is possible to compensate for impacts to ecosystem services at one site (the impact site) by replacing or increasing the same services at another site (the mitigation site). A challenge in the use of off-site mitigation is assuring that ecosystem services, including wildlife habitat, produced by off-site mitigation are commensurate with on-site impacts. Recent increases in energy developments within the sagebrush biome have raised concerns about impacts associated with these activities and efforts to mitigate those impacts. To help address these concerns, we developed a metric system to quantify impact losses and mitigation benefits based on a combination of NRCS Ecological Sites, existing vegetation conditions, and habitat assessment conducted at the landscape level for sagebrush-associated wildlife species. Changes to vegetation conditions within sagebrush ecosystems produced by on-the-ground mitigation treatments or by impacts are quantified based on comparison to a reference standard developed from the Ecological Site Description for the specific plant communities associated with either the mitigation or impact site. Wildlife benefits are also evaluated at a landscape scale using models that quantify the gains or losses in habitat quality associated with the mitigation or development activities. This metric system provides a standardized way of quantifying gains and losses of ecosystem services and wildlife habitat associated with impacts and mitigation which will help to ensure that gains associated with mitigation activities are commensurate with losses resulting from development

Dynamics of Western Juniper Woodland Expansion into Sagebrush Communities in Central Oregon

Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) woodlands in Oregon have expanded four-fold from 600,000 ha in 1930 to \u3e 2.6 million ha, often resulting in the reduction and fragmentation of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) communities. We documented dynamics of western juniper across the John Day Ecological Province in central Oregon by recording size class and growth form at 178 sites. We used stratified random sampling, with strata based on vegetation association (sagebrush, juniper, other) and distance from juniper stands. Only 26 percent of sites contained pre-settlement trees (in other words, \u3e 140 years old), and \u3c 5 percent of the 2,254 junipers tallied were pre-settlement trees. Mean densities of pre-settlement trees by stratum ranged from 0 to 18 trees/ha, suggesting that historically, juniper was widely scattered across the landscape. Current densities of post-settlement trees ranged from 75 to 211 trees/ha in non-woodland strata to 457 trees/ha in the juniper stratum. Juniper in non-woodland strata was most abundant in sites adjacent to juniper stands and in sagebrush communities. Mean densities of post-settlement trees were greatest in the \u3e 2.0-m tall size class (82 trees/ha), followed by the 0.3 to 1-m tall size class (52 trees/ha). These densities pose substantial risk to sagebrush communities in central Oregon. Questions remain about the extent of western juniper woodlands across the species’ range that have replaced or are expanding into sagebrush communities versus sites that historically supported woodlands. However, our findings suggest that within sagebrush communities of the John Day province, intensive management through removal of western juniper may be prudent, while retaining pre-settlement trees

Use of Auto-Germ to Model Germination Timing in the Sagebrush-Steppe

Germination timing has a strong influence on direct seeding efforts, and therefore is a closely tracked demographic stage in a wide variety of wildland and agricultural settings. Predictive seed germination models, based on soil moisture and temperature data in the seed zone are an efficient method of estimating germination timing. We utilized Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to create Auto‐Germ, which is an Excel workbook that allows a user to estimate field germination timing based on wet‐thermal accumulation models and field temperature and soil moisture data. To demonstrate the capabilities of Auto‐Germ, we calculated various germination indices and modeled germination timing for 11 different species, across 6 years, and 10 Artemisia‐steppe sites in the Great Basin of North America to identify the planting date required for 50% or more of the simulated population to germinate in spring (1 March or later), which is when conditions are predicted to be more conducive for plant establishment. Both between and within the species, germination models indicated that there was high temporal and spatial variability in the planting date required for spring germination to occur. However, some general trends were identified, with species falling roughly into three categories, where seeds could be planted on average in either fall (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis and Leymus cinereus), early winter (Festuca idahoensis, Poa secunda, Elymus lanceolatus, Elymus elymoides, and Linum lewisii), or mid‐winter (Achillea millefolium, Elymus wawawaiensis, and Pseudoroegneria spicata) and still not run the risk of germination during winter. These predictions made through Auto‐Germ demonstrate that fall may not be an optimal time period for sowing seeds for most non‐dormant species if the desired goal is to have seeds germinate in spring

Fish fins as non-lethal surrogates for muscle tissues in freshwater food web studies using stable isotopes

RATIONALE: Dorsal white muscle is the standard tissue analysed in fish trophic studies using stable isotope analyses. However, sampling white muscle often implies the sacrifice of fish. Thus, we examined whether the non-lethal sampling of fin tissue can substitute muscle sampling in food web studies. METHODS: Analysing muscle and fin d15N and d13C values of 466 European freshwater fish (14 species) with an elemental analyser coupled with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer, we compared the isotope values of the two tissues. Correlations between fin and muscle isotope ratios were examined for all fish together and specifically for 12 species. We further proposed four methods of assessing muscle from fin isotope ratios and estimated the errors made using these muscle surrogates. RESULTS: Despite significant differences between isotope values of the two tissues, fin and muscle isotopic signals are strongly correlated. Muscle values, estimated with raw fin isotope ratios (1st method), induce an error of ca. 1% for both isotopes. In comparison, specific (2nd method) or general (3rd method) correlations provide meaningful corrections of fin isotope ratios (errors <0.6%). On the other hand, relationships, established for Australian tropical fish, only give poor muscle estimates (errors >0.8%). CONCLUSIONS: There is little chance that a global model can be created. However, the 2nd and 3rd methods of estimating muscle values from fin isotope ratios should provide an acceptable level of error for the studies of European freshwater food web. We thus recommend that future studies use fin tissue as a non-lethal surrogate for muscle

Non-lethal sampling for stable isotope analysis of pike Esox lucius: how mucus, scale and fin tissue compare to muscle.

Stable isotope analysis (SIA) was used to examine the isotopic relationships between dorsal muscle and fin, scale and epidermal mucus in pike Esox lucius. δ13 C and δ15 N varied predictably within each tissue pairing, with conversion factors calculated for the surrogate tissues, enabling their application to the non-lethal sampling of E. lucius for SIA. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

SUAS-BASED PAYLOAD DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING FOR QUANTIFYING OPTICAL TURBULENCE

High Energy Laser (HEL) systems are becoming ubiquitous across the Department of Defense for their precision, low shot cost, tunability and cycling time. However, laser propagation through the atmosphere is affected by atmospheric turbulence. It is essential to quantify this atmospheric effect to predict operational conditions as well as improve laser system performance. The main objective of this study is to quantity optical turbulence within the atmospheric boundary layer using a small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS). The sUAS-based sensor package was developed for this application. Temperature and humidity profiles were derived from a radiosonde system onboard the sUAS. Additionally, high-rate temperature and slow-response temperature were measured by a thermocouple and a high-accuracy platinum thermometer, respectively. All of these meteorological components were integrated into a comprehensive, lightweight and low-power consumption sUAS payload system. The sensor package was thoroughly ground tested in comparison with proven methods. Test flights of the sensor package integrated onto the sUAS were made at the McMillian Airfield. The platform proved itself in flying at various altitudes within the surface layer to measure optical turbulence. Optical turbulence varied most directly near the surface as a result of strong surface buoyancy forcing. Results of the mean profiles as well as optical turbulence from test flights and comparison bench testing are discussed.http://archive.org/details/suasbasedpayload1094559598Lieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited