Exploring The Effects of a STEM Integrated Program Experience on Girl Scouts’ Pro-environmental Intentions

Youth have a natural curiosity about the world around them. However, even with this curiosity and the known benefits to spending time outdoors, many youth do not spend much time outdoors; they spend a majority of their time indoors. Through programming relating to a real-world problem, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) integrated programming, youth can begin develop an appreciation for the world around them by learning and by having an interest in spending more time outdoors. By spending more time in the outdoors, youth may develop a stronger connection to their environment, which is important in this time of increasing global challenges and a disconnect with the natural environment. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the effects of a STEM integrated non-formal program, with an outdoor experience, on Girl Scouts’ pro-environmental intentions. This study took place over six weeks in the fall of 2017 with two groups, control and treatment, with 25 total participants (14 control, 11 treatment). The control group completed their program entirely indoors, while the treatment group had a portion of outdoor exploration time each week along with their indoor lesson. The researcher looked to compare differences in interest, engagement (affective, behavioral, and cognitive), and intentions to participate in pro-environmental behaviors between the control and treatment group. Girl Scout participants completed a three point Likert scale pre- and post- program questionnaire, which was developed through examination of literature relating to environmental education, engagement, and interest. Girls from both groups were interviewed following completion of the program to learn more about their experiences with the program and what motivated them to have intentions to participate in pro-environmental behaviors. There were four conclusions to this study. First, Girl Scout participants, both control and treatment groups, described being more interested in nature and the outdoors after participating in this STEM integrated program. Second, Girl Scout participants in both the control and treatment group for the STEM integrated program were cognitively engaged and the girls in the treatment group with the outdoor experience were behaviorally engaged when compared to their peers that had their program entirely indoors. Third, Girl Scout participants in both the control and treatment groups described similarly positive views toward their intentions to participate in pro-environmental behaviors. Lastly, Girl Scout participants in both groups shared positive experiences during the STEM integrated program, and described the parts of the program that motivated them to participate in outdoor activities and pro-environmental behaviors. The results of this study indicate that STEM integrated programming may be a link between youth and interest in the outdoors. Regardless of whether Girl Scout participants spent time outdoors during their program, all participants were interested in the outdoors and had intentions to participate in pro-environmental behaviors. Future research might focus on providing a more in-depth program experience, specifically regarding the length of the program and the amount of time youth were outdoors. Continuing to examine the interactions between STEM and environmental education would be an area of investigation following this exploratory study

Magnetic excitations in the spin-trimer compounds Ca3Cu3-xNix(PO4)4 (x=0,1,2)

Inelastic neutron scattering experiments were performed for the spin-trimer compounds Ca3Cu3-xNix(PO4)4 (x=0,1,2) in order to study the dynamic magnetic properties. The observed excitations can be associated with transitions between the low-lying electronic states of linear Cu-Cu-Cu, Cu-Cu-Ni, and Ni-Cu-Ni trimers which are the basic constituents of the title compounds. The exchange interactions within the trimers are well described by the Heisenberg model with dominant antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor interactions J. For x=0 we find JCu-Cu=-4.74(2) meV which is enhanced for x=1 to JCu-Cu=-4.92(6) meV. For x=1 and x=2 we find JCu-Ni=-0.85(10) meV and an axial single-ion anisotropy parameter DNi=-0.7(1) meV. While the x=0 and x=1 compounds do not exhibit long-range magnetic ordering down to 1 K, the x=2 compound shows antiferromagnetic ordering below TN=20 K, which is compatible with the molecular-field parameter 0.63(12) meV derived by neutron spectroscopy.Comment: 22 pages (double spacing), 1 table, 9 figures, Submitted to Phys. Rev. B (2007

CC125 Chemical Drying Sprays as an Aid for Seed Production

Extension Circular CC125 This circular is about using chemical drying sprays as an aid for seed production

CC125 Chemical Drying Sprays as an Aid for Seed Production

Extension Circular CC125 This circular is about using chemical drying sprays as an aid for seed production

Predictive ability of the ISS, NISS, and APACHE II score for SIRS and sepsis in polytrauma patients

Purpose: Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis as causes of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) remain challenging to treat in polytrauma patients. In this study, the focus was set on widely used scoring systems to assess their diagnostic quality. Methods: A total of 512 patients (mean age: 39.2±16.2, range: 16-88years) who had an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥17 were included in this retrospective study. The patients were subdivided into four groups: no SIRS, slight SIRS, severe SIRS, and sepsis. The ISS, New Injury Severity Score (NISS), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores, and prothrombin time were collected at admission. The Kruskal-Wallis test and χ2-test, multinomial regression analysis, and kernel density estimates were performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis is reported as the area under the curve (AUC). Data were considered as significant if p<0.05. Results: All variables were significantly different in all groups (p<0.001). The odds ratio increased with increasing SIRS severity for NISS (slight vs. no SIRS, 1.06, p=0.07; severe vs. no SIRS, 1.07, p=0.04; and sepsis vs. no SIRS, 1.11, p=0.0028) and APACHE II score (slight vs. no SIRS, 0.97, p=0.44; severe vs. no SIRS, 1.08, p=0.02; and sepsis vs. no SIRS, 1.12, p=0.0028). ROC analysis revealed that the NISS (slight vs. no SIRS, AUC 0.61; severe vs. no SIRS, AUC 0.67; and sepsis vs. no SIRS, AUC 0.77) and APACHE II score (slight vs. no SIRS, AUC 0.60; severe vs. no SIRS, AUC 0.74; and sepsis vs. no SIRS, AUC 0.82) had the best predictive ability for SIRS and sepsis. Conclusion: Quick assessment with the NISS or APACHE II score could preselect possible candidates for sepsis following polytrauma and provide guidance in trauma surgeons' decision-makin

Estimation and prediction using generalized wendland covariance functions under fixed domain asymptotics

We study estimation and prediction of Gaussian random fields with covariance models belonging to the generalized Wendland (GW) class, under fixed domain asymptotics. As for the Matérn case, this class allows for a continuous parameterization of smoothness of the underlying Gaussian random field, being additionally compactly supported. The paper is divided into three parts: first, we characterize the equivalence of two Gaussian measures with GW covariance function, and we provide sufficient conditions for the equivalence of two Gaussian measures with Matérn and GW covariance functions. In the second part, we establish strong consistency and asymptotic distribution of the maximum likelihood estimator of the microergodic parameter associated to GW covariance model, under fixed domain asymptotics. The third part elucidates the consequences of our results in terms of (misspecified) best linear unbiased predictor, under fixed domain asymptotics. Our findings are illustrated through a simulation study: the former compares the finite sample behavior of the maximum likelihood estimation of the microergodic parameter with the given asymptotic distribution. The latter compares the finite-sample behavior of the prediction and its associated mean square error when using two equivalent Gaussian measures with Matérn and GW covariance models, using covariance tapering as benchmark

G81-562 Guidelines for Using Pipewick and Other Selective Applicators

The use of selective applicators is being rapidly adopted by farmers to supplement their weed control programs. A low-cost method of removing tall, escaped weeds from short stature crops, selective application is also environmentally appealing since the herbicide is applied only to the target weeds and thus only small amounts of herbicides are used. There are three basic types of applicators available: ropewicks, recirculating sprayers (RCS), and carpeted rollers. This NebGuide discusses each applicator and how it can be used on the farm