Close, but No Degree: Removing Barriers to Degree-Completion and Economic Advancement in New Jersey

Examines current policies, programs, and initiatives designed to facilitate degree completion by offering the option through employment and workforce development services. Recommends increased system alignment, funding, student supports, and flexibility

An Inquiry Into the Purchasing Power of the Drachma in Ancient Greece, for the Purpose of Determining, If Possible, the Material Conditions Which Prevailed in Athens During Her Existence as an Independent State

Abstract Not Provided

Cross-cultural validity of the Nature Relatedness Scale (NR-6) and links with wellbeing

Nature relatedness refers to individual differences in subjective connectedness with the natural environment. We aimed to cross-culturally validate the Nature Relatedness scale and examine links between nature relatedness and wellbeing. We also tested whether spirituality or self-transcendent emotions such as gratitude mediate the relationship between nature relatedness and wellbeing. University student participants (N = 798) from four countries (Hungary, India, South Korea, and Canada) completed the short-form Nature Relatedness scale (NR-6; Nisbet & Zelenski, 2013), the Inclusion of Nature in Self scale (Schultz, 2002a), and measures of hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing. Cross-cultural differences were found in a number of nature relatedness principal components, as well as differences in links between nature relatedness, spirituality, and wellbeing. In all four countries, gratitude formed a significant indirect path from nature relatedness to mental health and quality of life. The findings suggest that spiritual aspects of human-nature relationships may contribute to wellbeing across cultures

Becoming One with Nature: A Nature Intervention for Individuals Living with Cancer Participating in a Ten-Week Group Exercise and Wellness Program

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(3): 498-518, 2021. Positive outcomes for psychological and physiological health have resulted from a nature experience. However, evidence is limited for nature-based interventions and their effect on a cancer population. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to determine if incorporating the One Nature Challenge (ONC) into a ten-week group exercise program (WE-Can) for individuals living with cancer could offer additional psychological and/or physiological benefits to those previously observed in WE-Can. For this study, two separate ONCs were implemented throughout two seasons (summer and winter) to formulate a ONC group (n = 18; 60 ± 12yrs). Previous WE-Can graduates were used as a control group (n = 160; 59 ± 11yrs) for this study. Psychological and physiological assessments were administered in a pre- and post-test. In addition, nature relatedness (NR; ones’ relationship with nature) was measured at the beginning, middle, and end of WE-Can. Following five weeks, the ONC began and participants tracked the days they experienced nature for at least thirty-minutes (24 ± 6 days), for a thirty-day period. The ONC finished concurrently with WE-Can where post-evaluations and focus groups were administered immediately following. No additional gain in overall health was found between groups. However, aerobic fitness and fatigue significantly improved for the ONC group. This was supported by frequent activities and self-reported restoration of the mind while experiencing nature. In conclusion, the lack of overall improvement could be limited by sample size and the high level of NR prior to ONC, indicating participants were already ‘one with nature.

Flourishing in nature: A review of the benefits of connecting with nature and its application as a wellbeing intervention

From the increasing number of people living in urban areas to the continued degradation of the natural environment, many of us appear to be physically and psychologically disconnected from nature. We consider the theoretical explanations and present evidence for why this state of affairs might result in suboptimal levels of hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing by reviewing the large body of research on the mental health benefits of connecting with nature. The advantages of contact with nature as a potential wellbeing intervention are discussed, and examples of how this research is being applied to reconnect individuals to nature and improve wellbeing are given. We conclude by considering the limitations of, and proposing future directions for, research in this area. Overall, evidence suggests that connecting with nature is one path to flourishing in life

The NR-6: A new brief measure of nature relatedness

The construct of (dis)connection with nature or "nature relatedness" has become increasingly useful in the study of environmental behavior as well as psychological health and well-being. Strong nature relatedness is associated with greater happiness and ecologically sustainable behavior. A number of scales reliably assess individual differences in nature relatedness, but some circumstances may necessitate a brief measure. We developed a short-form version of the nature relatedness scale (NR-6), comprised of 6 items from the "self" and "experience" dimensions, and tested the new scale's predictive ability across multiple samples and with longitudinal data in students, community members, and business people. The new NR-6 scale demonstrated good internal consistency, temporal stability, and predicted happiness, environmental concern, and nature contact. This new brief measure of connectedness may have advantages where time and space are limited and the research context requires an assessment of connectedness elements rather than environmental attitudes

Occurrence of Salmonella-Specific Bacteriophages in Swine Feces Collected from Commercial Farms

Salmonella is one of the leading causes of human foodborne illness and is associated with swine production. Bacteriophages are naturally occurring viruses that prey on bacteria and have been suggested as a potential intervention strategy to reduce Salmonella levels in food animals on the farm and in the lairage period. If phages are to be used to improve food safety, then we must understand the incidence and natural ecology of both phages and their hosts in the intestinal environment. This study investigates the incidence of phages that are active against Salmonella spp. in the feces of commercial finishing swine. Fecal samples (n = 60) were collected from each of 10 commercial swine finishing operations. Samples were collected from 10 randomly selected pens throughout each operation; a total of 600 fecal samples were collected. Salmonella spp. were found in 7.3% (44/600) of the fecal samples. Bacteriophages were isolated from fecal samples through two parallel methods: (1) initial enrichment in Salmonella Typhimurium; (2) initial enrichment in Escherichia coli B (an indicator strain), followed by direct spot testing against Salmonella Typhimurium. Bacteriophages active against Salmonella Typhimurium were isolated from 1% (6/600) of the individual fecal samples when initially enriched in Salmonella Typhimurium, but E. coli B-killing phages were isolated from 48.3% (290/600) of the fecal samples and only two of these phages infected Salmonella Typhimurium on secondary plating. Collectively, our results indicate that bacteriophages are widespread in commercial swine, but those capable of killing Salmonella Typhimurium may be present at relatively low population levels. These results indicate that phages (predator) populations may vary along with Salmonella (prey) populations; and that phages could potentially be used as a food safety pathogen reduction strategy in swine

Healthy Outside-Healthy Inside: The Human Health & Well-being Benefits of Alberta\u27s Protected Areas - towards a benefits-based management agenda

This report details the results of an empirical study that examined perceived health and well-being motives and benefits among visitors to a sample of Alberta’s parks and protected areas. The study revealed several major findings with important policy and management implications. First, the human health and well-being benefits that the visitors expected to receive from visits were perceived to be a major personal motivation in the choice to visit Alberta protected areas. The most important motivation factors identified by respondents were psychological and emotional well-being (89.1% of visitors ranked this important), social well-being (88.3%), physical well-being (80.3%), and environmental well-being (79.4%). Second, the perceived benefits that visitors received from their protected areas experiences were substantial. The most frequently reported improvements were related to psychological and emotional (90.5%), social (85%), and physical well-being (77.6%). Interestingly, women perceived greater benefits than men associated with their visit, especially with respect to spiritual, social, and psychological and emotional well-being. Research findings substantiate the need for park agencies to better understand the motivations of visitors representing different social and population subgroups (e.g., youth, elderly, couples, etc.) in order to inform and develop policies and visitor experience programs in support of health and well-being related pursuits. Important policy and management implications for both park managers and health care professionals are highlighted

Fact Sheet: Oral presentations: preparation and delivery

Presentations can be positive experiences. There are a few things you can do to ease the strain to ensure that your presentation runs smoothly. This resource has been prepared to assist you with the planning and delivery of your next paper presentation

Evaluation of Phage Treatment as a Strategy to Reduce Salmonella Populations in Growing Swine

Salmonella is a foodborne pathogenic bacterium that causes human illnesses and morbidity and mortality in swine. Bacteriophages are viruses that prey on bacteria and are naturally found in many microbial environments, including the gut of food animals, and have been suggested as a potential intervention strategy to reduce Salmonella levels in the live animal. The present study was designed to determine if anti-Salmonella phages isolated from the feces of commercial finishing swine could reduce gastrointestinal populations of the foodborne pathogen Salmonella Typhimurium in artificially inoculated swine. Weaned pigs (n = 48) were randomly assigned to two treatment groups (control or phage-treated). Each pig was inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium (2 × 1010 colony forming units/pig) via oral gavage at 0 h and fecal samples were collected every 24 h. Swine were inoculated with a phage cocktail via oral gavage (3 × 109 plaque forming units) at 24 and 48 h. Pigs were humanely killed at 96 h, and cecal and rectal intestinal contents were collected for quantitative and qualitative analysis. Fecal Salmonella populations in phage-treated pigs were lower (p \u3c 0.09) than controls after 48 h. Phage treatment reduced intestinal populations of inoculated Salmonella Typhimurium in pigs compared to controls at necropsy. Cecal populations were reduced (p = 0.07) by phage treatment \u3e1.4 log10 colony forming units/g digesta, and rectal populations were numerically reduced. The number of pigs that contained inoculated Salmonella Typhimurium was reduced by phage treatment, but a significant (p \u3c 0.05) reduction was only observed in the rectum. We conclude that phages can be a viable tool to reduce Salmonella in swine. Further research needs to be performed to determine the most efficacious dosing regimens and the most effective combinations of phages targeting the diverse Salmonella population found in swine before they can enter the food supply