Distribution of contaminants in biota and sediments in the Musquash Estuary, Atlantic Canada, marine protected area site initiative and contaminant exclusion zone.

The Musquash Estuary, one of the last ecologically intact estuaries in New Brunswick, has been designated an area of interest for a marine protected area (MPA) under the Oceans Act. The area has been assessed for contaminant background levels as required for establishing MPA environmental quality. American lobster (Homarus americanus), blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and sediments were collected for assessing contaminant levels and distribution in the harbour. Levels of contaminants from the indicator species and the abiotic component have shown: (1) two extremes of high and low Cu and Ag in lobster from the area; and (2) lower metal levels in inner Musquash Harbour sediments and mussels than in those from the harbour mouth. These suggest that deposition of contaminants into the Musquash MPA site was due to transport of contaminants by coastal currents from upstream coastal industrial activities. This reverse trend with higher contaminant levels in the biotic and abiotic components in the outer harbour than in the inner harbour differs from a contaminated harbour and suggests that a contaminant exclusion zone should be considered for controlling contamination from nearby coastal and estuarine industrial sites to protect the sensitive habitats within the marine protected area.

Feedback from dental students: performance in an anatomy department.

A questionnaire was devised and administered to first-year dental students to obtain feedback on the courses in an anatomy department. A closed statement format was used with a small number of open requests for comment, both to elicit information which would lead to course improvement, and also to validate the questionnaire itself and assess its suitability for inclusion in a formal appraisal system. Data were produced on course structure, teaching methods, examinations and personal tutoring. The students were divided into subgroups and their perceptions in these areas compared. The median responses to closed statements for each discipline within anatomy were calculated and displayed graphically as course profiles. The questionnaire itself is discussed in detail in relation to the validity of the feedback produced. Improvements are suggested and the questionnaire found to be suitable for wide usage in an appraisal system, particularly with the development of course profiles. The specific responses by the students, and their requests for further guidance, are also considered and suggestions made for alterations in the courses.

Medical student concentration during lectures.

A simple procedure, based on a questionnaire, was used for the assessment of student concentration during lectures. Analysis of 1353 questionnaires from 12 lectures showed that student concentration rose sharply to reach a maximum in 10-15 min, and fell steadily thereafter. The data suggest that the optimum length of a lecture may be 30 instead of 60 min. This method by which student feedback is obtained may also be used to improve lecturing performance.