Smoking Behavior: An Analysis of Menthol\u27s Effect on Nicotine

Smoking cigarettes is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Menthol is well known to exacerbate tobacco addiction. It is unclear, however, if menthol directly effects dopamine release which may increase the reward associated with smoking or if menthol has any effect on environmental cues which act as reinforcers for smoking behavior. Study 1 used fast scan cyclic voltammetry to examine the effects of nicotine and menthol, administered alone and in combination, on phasic dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Results confirmed that nicotine, but not menthol, enhances phasic dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. Menthol added to nicotine did not enhance phasic dopamine release above that elicited by nicotine alone. Study 2 used an online survey to examine the relationship between menthol status and environmental cues on nicotine consumption in human smokers. Results determined that there is no significant relationship between menthol status and smoking behavior. Taken together these results suggest that nicotine is the driving force behind tobacco addiction and menthol may act as a facilitator to make nicotine consumption more appealing

Pest or pastime? Coarse fish in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Freshwater ecosystems are extremely important, both socially and ecologically, in Aotearoa/New Zealand. However, through detrimental practices of land-use change and the introduction of non-indigenous aquatic species, the health of freshwater areas is increasingly under threat. Coarse fish are one group of non indigenous fish that are largely perceived to have a negative effect on freshwater biodiversity and water quality. Despite this, there are people in New Zealand that value coarse fish highly, and consider their lives to be enriched through the practice of coarse angling. This thesis examines the diversity of perceptions and values ascribed to coarse fish by a variety of different environmental managers and resource users to understand how these multiple meanings influence approaches to freshwater biodiversity management in Aotearoa/New Zealand. As coarse anglers are often considered responsible for deliberate translocation of coarse fish, a space for communication and compromise between these stakeholder groups is also identified. Additionally, appropriate and effective educational methods to raise awareness of freshwater ecosystem restoration and non-indigenous invasive fish are discussed. Social factors are often the primary determinants of whether conservation efforts succeed or fail. Grounded in the theoretical perspectives of social construction, environmental perception, political ecology, and critical environmental adult education, this thesis provides an important contribution to the practice of interdisciplinary research by demonstrating the ways in which social science complements scientific approaches to environmental management. Utilising semi structured interviews with multiple stakeholder groups and an internet survey targeted at coarse anglers this research found that, while a multitude of perceptions of coarse fish exist, there is also willingness on both sides to engage in communication and develop effective practices to aid in managing the freshwater environment. A number of suggestions for improving legislation that addresses invasive freshwater fish, and several ideas regarding education and compliance, also emerged

A Profile of Service Learning Programs in South Carolina and Their Responsiveness to the National Priorities

The purpose of this study was to develop a profile of Service Learning activities and programs in South Carolina; to explore the relationship between the person coordinating these activities and the degree to which Service Learning is practiced; to determine how Service Learning projects and activities respond to the national priorities of meeting critical educational, human, public safety, and environmental needs; and to determine how many students are participating and the number of hours they are volunteering in Service Learning activities. The study addressed all public schools funded in FY93 with Serve America and FY94 with Learn and Serve America money. The study employed two primary methods of data collection: questionnaires and individual interviews

The use of design thinking in non-design contexts – a journey and experience

Design thinking is gaining momentum for developing solutions to issues in many areas, eg, health, education and business management. It is seen as a tool for improving creativity, addressing complex or wicked problems and a method for promoting interdisciplinary working among students and professionals. In this paper, we focus on the experiences of four academics on their design thinking journey as part of a European project. This aimed to share design thinking skills and processes for peer training and application with non-design student cohorts. Important is the fact that none of the participants are trained designers. The four have been participants, facilitators and teachers and been subject to and used design thinking tools and techniques in a variety of contexts, together and individually. By reflecting on these experiences and drawing out lessons learned the paper argues that design thinking is useful in a non-design context and has become well enough defined to be applied by people whose background is not design. The paper concludes with some key factors in delivering design thinking workshops for the future as well as identifying areas for further research

Riverton SW. - Tunstill Pod & Arroyo Bluff Pod 138-kV Transmission Line Routes Reeves County, Texas

Oncor Electric Delivery Company, LLC is planning to construct the Riverton Sw. – Tunstill Point of Delivery (POD) and Arroyo Bluff POD 138-kV transmission line routes in Reeves County, Texas. Halff Associates, Inc., the routing consultant for Oncor, contracted with AR Consultants, Inc. to conduct an intensive pedestrian survey of the 6.57 miles of new 138-kV transmission line on private property. Survey was conducted June 4-6, 2018. Seventeen shovel tests were excavated near drainages, where buried deposits were expected, and two 15-m transects were walked within the 70-ft-wide survey corridor (approximately 54 acres). Two archaeological sites were identified and recorded. Site 41RV61 is an abandoned segment of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad, dating from the early-20th century. This site is in poor condition, the rails and most of the ties having been removed. Site 41RV142 is a surficial historic trash deposit with artifacts dating from the late-19th century to the mid-20th century. The site been poorly preserved. ARC recommends both sites ineligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Properties. Therefore, no additional cultural resources investigations are recommended for this project. However, should the proposed right-of-way alignment change, additional archaeological survey may be necessary. Furthermore, should any cultural resources be discovered during the construction activities associated with the project, work in the immediate area should cease and the Texas Historical Commission should be contacted

Understanding the genetic and environmental specificity and overlap between well-being and internalizing symptoms in adolescence

Moderate inverse correlations are typically found between well-being and mental illness. We aimed to investigate the role of genes and environments in explaining the relationships between two aspects of well-being and two measures of internalizing symptoms. Altogether, 4700 pairs of 16-year-old twins contributed data on subjective happiness and life satisfaction, as well as symptoms of depression and emotional problems. Well-being was moderately correlated with internalizing symptoms (range = 0.45, 0.58). Multivariate twin model-fitting indicated both genetic and environmental overlap. Life satisfaction and happiness demonstrated different patterns of overlap, with stronger genetic links between life satisfaction and depression. Non-shared environmental influences were largely specific to each trait. This study supports the theory of mental health and illness being partly (but not entirely) correlated dimensions. There are also significant genetic and environmental factors to identify for well-being that go beyond the absence of mental illness. It is therefore possible that different interventions are needed for treating mental illness and promoting mental health

Decision-making in COVID-19 and Frailty

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Exploring the Design Thinking – STEAM Nexus

Our central question ‘How might we realise the benefits of a STEAM curriculum through Design Thinking?’ is based on the authors’ experiences of two Erasmus+ funded projects: DT.Uni and STEAM INC. Both projects highlight the need for user- or socially relevant framing and the transformative capabilities of creative approaches to address contemporary complex challenges. STEAM stands for Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. In our thinking, Arts encompasses artistic, cultural and creative practices, including design. Similarly, Sciences includes not only natural sciences, but also the social and environmental sciences. STEAM has been viewed as a means of equipping workers of the future with an interdisciplinary understanding that embraces a creative approach (Catterall, 2017). Its inter-/transdisciplinary approach encourages links to policy and practice through private sector innovation projects as well as public sector programmes. Concurrently, design thinking (DT) has been gaining momentum for developing solutions to issues in areas such as health, education and business management. It is seen as a tool for addressing ‘wicked problems’ and for promoting inter-/trans-disciplinary working among students and professionals. Our contribution explores some commonalities and differences between DT and STEAM approaches. It critically examines their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges for use in curricular and extra-curricular activities to foster transdisciplinary activities. We also explore the progression from multi-, to inter- and trans-disciplinary ways of learning and working. Our aim is to help provide a strong methodological basis and academic grounding for a Higher Education (HE) STEAM curriculum