Applying Reflection and Self-Assessment Practices to Integrative STEM Lessons: A Design-Based Research Study to Develop an Instrument for Elementary Practitioners

This study utilized design-based research (DBR) to develop an empirically substantiated local instruction theory about the use of self-assessment and reflection in creating and assessing integrative STEM lessons. The research goals that guided this study are: 1. Determine the initial STEM self-efficacy level for the study\u27s participants. 2. Utilize theories of reflection and self-assessment to create an instrument for preparing and assessing an integrative STEM lesson. 3. Refine the instrument through two Design-Based Research macro cycles to ensure appropriate content and applicability for use in a K-2 elementary classroom. A conjectured local instruction theory was developed through the study\u27s literature review. A reflective and self-assessment practice instrument that embodied this local instruction theory was then created. It was conjectured that teachers who undergo self-assessment and reflection are better able to create and assess their integrative STEM lessons. Therefore, the study\u27s instrument was used to guide teachers through self-assessment and reflection of their integrative STEM lessons during their initial planning, active teaching, and post teaching times. DBR relies on an iterative process where participants of a study assist in the identification of relevant contextual factors while aiding and enriching the researchers\u27 understanding of the intervention itself through continuous cycles of design, enactment, analysis and redesign (Cobb, 2001; Design-Based Research Collective, 2003). This process contributes to how teachers can utilize self-assessment and reflection in creating and assessing integrative STEM lessons. The study\u27s instrument was implemented at the same elementary school for the duration of the study. Findings indicate that the use of self-assessment and reflection helped study participants create, assess, and even improve their integrative STEM lessons. In addition, study findings appear to indicate improved teacher self-efficacy beliefs upon implementing the study\u27s instrument. A revised local instruction theory is presented as result of the findings from this study in Chapter 4

Upon Leaving a Firm: Tell the Truth or Hide the Ball

This Article analyzes the relevant ethical mandates and the history of postemployment restrictive covenants between lawyers. In so doing, this Article raises and answers questions concerning the traditional position taken by lawyers. First, Part II examines the conflicts that increasingly occur when attorneys depart their firms. Part III discusses the evolution and ethical rationale underlying the traditional, per se impermissibility of noncompetition clauses between lawyers. Next, Part IV acknowledges the unique position of lawyers in the public sphere and the judiciary's use of a reasonableness standard, rather than a commercial standard, to evaluate attorney restrictive covenants. Part V examines the Cohen decision, while Part VI analyzes the recent judicial trend in upholding postemployment covenants. Part VII then discusses the balancing test currently used to reject the per se impermissibility of noncompetition clauses between lawyers. Part VIII discusses the adverse impact resulting from the application of the balancing test. Finally, in Part IX, this Article concludes that the legal profession is inherently different from any other profession, mandating that attorney noncompetition clauses be treated differently in order to protect the best interests of the client

Hand Cooling during Recovery from Exercise in the Heat: Cold Water Immersion vs. Dry Cold Negative Pressure

Areas of the body that are devoid of hair, such as the palms of our hands, efficiently dissipate heat through specialized blood vessels. Immersing the hands in cold water is said to benefit the process of heat exchange, but has been criticized for its ability induce cutaneous vasoconstriction. The use of dry cold negative pressure is proposed to bypass this reflex in order to increase constant heat dissipation. PURPOSE: To compare the effect of two different hand cooling modalities on core temperature when recovering from exercise in a hot environment. METHODS: Males (N=12, 21±2 yr, 64±15 kg, 174±6 cm) of average cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2Peak=37+3 ml.kg-1.min-1) participated in three heat trials (35.1±0.2°C, 42±1%RH,) where they exercised on a cycle ergometer at 65% VO2Peak until a desired core temperature (38.3°C), 95% of heart rate max, or until volitional maximum. During recovery from the heat trials, subjects underwent one of three hand cooling treatments for 10 min [cold water immersion (WTR), dry cold negative pressure (NEG), and a control with no hand cooling (CON)] in a balanced crossover design. In WTR trials subjects submerged one hand in cold (10°C) water, and in NEG the hand was placed in sealed cold (10°C) container (AVAcore CoreControl Pro) that provided negative pressure (-47 mm Hg). Heart rate (HR) and core temperature (rectal, Tre) were measured pre-/post-recovery cooling. Two way (cooling method x time) repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze recovery HR and Tre (α=0.05). RESULTS: The main effect for cooling method was not significant for both HR (WTR=117±12 bpm, NEG=113±9 bpm, CON=118±13 bpm)(p=0.1650) and Tre (WTR=37.7±0.3°C, NEG=37.8±0.2°C, CON=37.8±0.3°C)(p=0.3560) during recovery. As expected, the main effect for time was significant for both Tre (Pre=37.8±0.2°C, Post=37.6±0.2°C)(p=0.0040) and HR (Pre=135±13 bpm, Post=97±9 bpm)(p=0.0001) as both declined during recovery. The cooling method x time interaction (p=0.4280) did not demonstrate that Tre decreased differently between the three cooling modalities, but the cooling method x time interaction for HR was significant (p=0.0320) where the change in HR during recovery periods did differ significantly between the cooling modalities. The significant interaction was driven by the WTR treatment HR declining at a slightly quicker rate than NEG and CON. CONCLUSION: The use of WTR or NEG didn’t decrease Tre any more efficiently than CON, but recovery HR did decline at slightly greater rate in WTR compared to both NEG and CON. This could suggest that while WTR provided a similar Tre reduction as NEG and CON, it did so with a quicker reduction in heart work

Controlled Cold Water and Water Slushy Ingestion, and Heat Performance in Subjects of Average Fitness

Fluid ingestion is known to improve exercise performance and could lead to a heat sink effect, if cold enough. While research has been conducted on the influence of hydration in exercise performance, little has been done which consider beverages’ temperature during controlled consumption. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of controlled consumption of water at different temperatures on heat performance in subjects of average fitness. METHODS: Fifteen males, ages 18-29, with no prior heat illness were recruited. Subjects were tested for body composition and peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) prior to testing. All subjects underwent three experimental trials [cold water (CD=4̊C), water slushy (SL=-1̊C), room temperature water (RM=22̊C)] in a balanced crossover design. Subjects were required to exercise on a cycle ergometer at intensity 70% VO2peak (vigorous exercise) in the heat (34.0±0.6̊C, 41.7±2.7% RH, 3.6 km∙hr∙-1 wind speed) until volitional maximum. Subjects were required to consume a controlled volume (2.5 g∙kgBodyMass-1) of one of the treatments (CD, SL, RM) every 10 minutes each trial. Measurements for maximum exercise time (ExT), pre-/post-core body temperature change (ΔTc), heart rate (HR), mean skin temperature (MTsk), sweat rate (SR), and RPE were recorded. One-way (beverage) or two-way (beverage x time) ANOVA with repeated measures was used (α=0.05). RESULTS: ExT did not differ significantly between treatments (CD=33.8±9.4 min; SL=35.0±9.8 min; RM=31.5±8.6 min) but a trend (p=0.0680) was seen where SL&CD\u3eRM, which was supported by all subjects having their longest bouts during CD (n=10) and SL (n=5) trials. Neither ΔTc (CD=0.69±0.36˚C, SL=0.64±0.43˚C, RM=0.77±0.45˚C), or SR (CD=1545±1109 ml·hr-1; SL=1837±692 ml·hr-1; RM=1891±489 ml·hr-1), differed (p\u3e0.05) between treatments. A main effect for beverage was seen in HR (CD=157±16 bpm; SL=153±18 bpm; RM=160±17 bpm)(p\u3c0.05) where SLsk or RPE (p\u3e0.05). A main effect for time (p\u3c0.05) was see in HR (T20=161±18 bpm\u3eT10=153±16 bpm), MTsk (T20=36.2±0.3˚C\u3eT10=35.9±0.3˚C), and RPE (T20=5.8±2.1 (0-10)\u3eT10=3.3±1.4 (0-10)). A trend towards significant beverage x time interaction was seen for HR (p=0.0900) but treatments did not respond differently over time for MTsk or RPE (p\u3e0.05). HR at volitional maximum differed between treatments (CD=168±20 bpm; SL=165±20 bpm; RM=173±20 bpm)(p\u3c0.05), specifically SLsk or RPE (p\u3e0.05). CONCLUSION: SL appeared to improve performance over RM, but not CD. There may be a point where colder beverage temperature does not yield a greater heat sink effect or, results could have been due to shorter exercise time in subjects of average fitness

Multistate product traceforward investigation to link imported romaine lettuce to a US cyclosporiasis outbreak – Nebraska, Texas, and Florida, June–August 2013

During June–August 2013, 25 US states reported 631 cyclosporiasis cases including Nebraska and Iowa where a regional investigation implicated common-source imported salad mix served in two chain restaurants. At least two common-origin growing fields were likely sources of contaminated romaine lettuce. Using producer- and distributor-provided data, we conducted a grower-specific traceforward investigation to reveal exposures of ill US residents elsewhere who reported symptom onset during 11 June–1 July 2013, the time period established in the Nebraska and Iowa investigation. Romaine lettuce shipped on 2–6 June from one of these Mexico-origin growing fields likely caused cyclosporiasis in 78 persons reporting illness onsets from 11 June to 1 July in Nebraska, Texas, and Florida. Nationwide, 97% (314/324) of persons confirmed with cyclosporiasis with symptom onset from 11 June to 1 July 2013 resided in 11 central and eastern US states receiving approximately two-thirds of romaine lettuce from this field. This grower’s production practices should be investigated to determine potential sources of contamination and to develop recommendations to prevent future illnesses

Cultural Competence Guides for COVID-19 Messaging in Hispanic Communities

Purpose: The Rio Grande Valley in South Texas comprises 5% percent of Texas\u27s population yet 17%of Texas\u27s COVID-19 deaths. We aimed to address underlying mistrust and systemic racism in our Hispanic community that contributes to health inequities by developing a cultural competence guide for public health messaging. Methods: We employed a mixed method design (e.g., focus groups, surveys, interviews) to develop and implement a cultural competence guide in an iterative community-informed process. We created a general cultural competence guide, one for the Hispanic community and one for the hard-of-hearing community. Results: Our cultural competence guides provide an interpretation as to whether the message is culturally competent or requires revisions. The guides have the following five categories: content and clarity, emotions and values, audience and inclusivity, call to action, and gestalt. Conclusions: The Hispanic community needs more culturally competent public health messaging to address a key root cause of health inequities surrounding COVID-19. Our novel, concise guides can help organizations and individuals seeking to create culturally sensitive and, therefore, more effective public health messaging for Hispanic or deaf and hard-of-hearing communities

25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are lower in patients with positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with a clinical outcome ranging from mild to severe, including death. To date, it is unclear why some patients develop severe symptoms. Many authors have suggested the involvement of vitamin D in reducing the risk of infections; thus, we retrospectively investigated the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in plasma obtained from a cohort of patients from Switzerland. In this cohort, significantly lower 25(OH)D levels (p = 0.004) were found in PCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2 (median value 11.1 ng/mL) patients compared with negative patients (24.6 ng/mL); this was also confirmed by stratifying patients according to age >70 years. On the basis of this preliminary observation, vitamin D supplementation might be a useful measure to reduce the risk of infection. Randomized controlled trials and large population studies should be conducted to evaluate these recommendations and to confirm our preliminary observation

Repulsive photons in a quantum nonlinear medium

The ability to control strongly interacting light quanta (photons) is of central importance in quantum science and engineering. Recently it was shown that such strong interactions can be engineered in specially prepared quantum optical systems. Here, we demonstrate a method for coherent control of strongly interacting photons, extending quantum nonlinear optics into the domain of repulsive photons. This is achieved by coherently coupling photons to several atomic states, including strongly interacting Rydberg levels in a cold Rubidium gas. Using this approach we demonstrate both repulsive and attractive interactions between individual photons and characterize them by the measured two- and three-photon correlation functions. For the repulsive case, we demonstrate signatures of interference and self ordering from three-photon measurements. These observations open a route to study strongly interacting dissipative systems and quantum matter composed of light such as a crystal of individual photons.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure