TAXPAYER PREFERENCES FOR USDA EXPENDITURES

Taxpayer Preferences, USDA Budget, Budget Allocation, Agricultural and Food Policy, Q18,

Collaborative Teacher-Driven Professional Development : The Documented Journey of a Practitioner Action Research Teacher Study Group

Laws such as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) and the Every Student Succeeds Act have shaped the landscape of education in many ways, including how professional development is structured. As a result, professional development has become increasingly limited to training teachers to carry out top-down mandated reforms based on subject-knowledge rather than concentrating on teacher learning efforts focused on the growth of adults as learners (Cochran-Smith & Lytle, 2006, 2009; Hirsch, 2006; Mertler, 2010). Organic, teacher-driven professional development, such as action research, provide teachers with opportunities to disrupt the often paternalistic power structures that currently exist. The purpose of this practitioner action research study was to examine professional learning within a teacher-driven study group. The study group consisted of seven secondary level English and social studies teachers, including myself, where we self-selected topics to examine that we believed were important. I was guided by the following research question: What does professional development look like when we, as teachers, gather to examine elements of classroom practice that are meaningful to us? I utilized James Paul Gee\u27s (2004, 2007, 2015) affinity space concept as a useful lens to make meaning of these organic, collaborative learning experiences. I found that despite conducting professional development without administrative oversight, the group initially found it difficult to avoid replicating traditional professional development structures. However, once the group was able to break the unspoken rules that govern traditional professional development, concepts such as expertise, space, and funding could be challenged. Additionally, I found that not only did the study group adjust to meet our changing needs but we also grew professionally as our work created ripple effects as we shared what we learned with others

The Influence of Controller Parameters on the Quality of the Train Converter Current

This paper presents a stability analysis of train converters in order to evaluate how the controller parameters affect the absorbed current. The new dynamic model presented in this paper is capable of considering the time-variant nature of the system for the correct tuning of the feedback proportional-integral PI controller, applying a current controlled modulation technique never used in high-power traction converters. The reduction of the harmonic content of the current absorbed by a converter employed at the input stage onboard high-speed trains is really important, considering the interaction with the signaling system set up for traffic control. A computer model of the converter, considering both the power and the control structure, has also been implemented in order to deliver a validated tool for the developed theoretical analysis

Suspicion of Motives Predicts Minorities' Responses to Positive Feedback in Interracial Interactions.

Strong social and legal norms in the United States discourage the overt expression of bias against ethnic and racial minorities, increasing the attributional ambiguity of Whites' positive behavior to ethnic minorities. Minorities who suspect that Whites' positive overtures toward minorities are motivated more by their fear of appearing racist than by egalitarian attitudes may regard positive feedback they receive from Whites as disingenuous. This may lead them to react to such feedback with feelings of uncertainty and threat. Three studies examined how suspicion of motives relates to ethnic minorities' responses to receiving positive feedback from a White peer or same-ethnicity peer (Experiment 1), to receiving feedback from a White peer that was positive or negative (Experiment 2), and to receiving positive feedback from a White peer who did or did not know their ethnicity (Experiment 3). As predicted, the more suspicious Latinas were of Whites' motives for behaving positively toward minorities in general, the more they regarded positive feedback from a White peer who knew their ethnicity as disingenuous and the more they reacted with cardiovascular reactivity characteristic of threat/avoidance, increased feelings of stress, heightened uncertainty, and decreased self-esteem. We discuss the implications for intergroup interactions of perceptions of Whites' motives for nonprejudiced behavior

Perceptions of Diabetes Distress and Counseling During the Pandemic - Rural Provider Perspectives

Introduction West Virginia is an Appalachian rural state that ranks highest in the nation in the prevalence of diabetes (16.2%). The COVID-19 pandemic impacted routine diabetes care. As a result, individuals experienced diabetes distress over the physical and psychological burdens of diabetes management. In rural and medically underserved counties (71%), diabetes care is often provided by primary care physicians. However, healthcare providers’ perspectives on diabetes distress and related counseling to address them are unclear. This cross-sectional study’s objective was to explore healthcare providers’ (HCP) perspectives regarding their patient’s diabetes distress and how it guided their counseling for diabetes self-care during clinic visits. Methods Participants included 72 West Virginia Practice-Based Research Network members who completed an online survey in June 2021. However, only HCPs (physicians and advanced practice professionals, N=59) were included in the analysis. Data was collected using validated measures of diabetes distress, health literacy, and counseling for diabetes self-care. Results HCPs frequently evaluated their patients’ diabetes distress and health literacy levels to guide their conversations. Furthermore, HCPs perceived high diabetes distress (58.5%) in their patients during the pandemic and provided optimal counseling, especially for healthier diets and improved physical activity (98%). Multivariable logistic regression showed a significant reduction in diabetes distress with diabetes counseling. Results also showed HCPs were less likely (65%) to counsel for diet and 4.2 times more likely to counsel for exercise for patients with high diabetes distress. Conclusion Formal training of providers on the importance of assessing diabetes distress and tailoring their counseling can further improve diabetes management

Battery Electric Storage Systems: Advances, Challenges, and Market Trends

The increasing integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) and the growing demand for sustainable power solutions have necessitated the widespread deployment of energy storage systems. Among these systems, battery energy storage systems (BESSs) have emerged as a promising technology due to their flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the diffusion and deployment of BESSs across various applications, analyzing their impact on grid stability, renewable energy integration, and the overall energy transition. The paper examines the key drivers and challenges associated with BESS adoption, as well as market trends influencing their proliferation. Through an analysis of empirical data, this study aims to shed light on the current state of BESS diffusion. Finally, this research contributes to the knowledge base surrounding battery storage technology and provides insights into its role in achieving a sustainable and reliable energy future