“From School of Crisis to Distinguished”

Despite conditions that would work against a small and rural school in an impoverish rural area of the United States, Fairway Elementary School has managed to excel in its accountability measures. Through interviews with faculty, staff, teachers, students, and parents of children at Fairway Elementary School a model was developed through the lens of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It was found that a new administrator at the school started with the physiological needs of the children and are now working within the esteem stage of Maslow’s Hierarchy. Details from each stage of the hierarchy are provided as a promising practice for other rural schools. Fairway Elementary continues to succeed in their efforts to improve not only student achievement, but the culture of their school within an impoverished community

Froebel Gifts: A Tool to Reinforce Conceptual Knowledge of Fractions

In this manuscript, we review Froebel Gifts and its use as an effective, practical tool to teach and reinforce conceptual knowledge that students should acquire regarding fractions. Furthermore, we set forth and examine the different techniques and methods that can be used to explore this manipulative as a teaching material, and end focusing on the fifth Froebel Gift and several practical and interesting activities that can be developed with this material in class

“From School of Crisis to Distinguished”: Using Maslow\u27s Hierarchy in a Rural Underperforming School

Despite conditions that would work against a small and rural school in an impoverish rural area of the United States, Fairway Elementary School has managed to excel in its accountability measures. Through interviews with faculty, staff, teachers, students, and parents of children at Fairway Elementary School a model was developed through the lens of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It was found that a new administrator at the school started with the physiological needs of the children and are now working within the esteem stage of Maslow’s Hierarchy. Details from each stage of the hierarchy are provided as a promising practice for other rural schools. Fairway Elementary continues to succeed in their efforts to improve not only student achievement, but the culture of their school within an impoverished community

Archaeological Survey Of The Proposed Grapevine Aerial SS Repair Tarrant County, Texas

The City of Grapevine is proposing to repair an aerial sanitary sewer across Big Bear Creek in Tarrant County, Texas. The project area is located on the south side of a horseshoe bend in the floodplain of Big Bear Creek, north of Western Oaks Drive and west of Texas State Highway 121. AR Consultants, Inc. (ARC) conducted the intensive pedestrian archaeological survey in an area approximately 50-meters by 25-meters (0.3-acres) on June 8, 2018. Four shovel tests were excavated within the project area during the systematic field inspection. The archaeological potential for prehistoric and historic cultural resources was considered low. During survey, no cultural resources were identified in the shovel tests or found on the surface. Given the results of this survey, AR Consultants, Inc. recommends that further cultural resource investigations are unnecessary for this project, and requests that the Texas Historical Commission and the Fort Worth District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concur with this recommendation. The field notes, photographs, and photo logs will be curated with the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas

An Analysis of Graduate Teaching Assistants’ Noticing Skills During Calculus and Physics Tutoring Scenarios

Professional noticing of mathematical thinking, as defined by Jacobs, Lamb, and Philipp (2010) can be broken down into three components: attending to relevant cues, interpreting the mathematical understanding, and deciding the next best instructional steps. Most research on this topic has been conducted with elementary children. However, there is a gap in the research on professional noticing at more advanced levels, particularly college students. The purpose of this study was to take the concept of professional noticing and apply it to mathematics education at the post-secondary level. Specifically, the question we sought to answer in this study was: To what extent do mathematics and physics Teaching Assistants (TAs) attend and interpret student thinking when making decisions in their classroom? Mathematics and Physics TAs (n = 20) participated in this study focusing on their professional noticing skills when analyzing a college student struggling with two calculus-based problems. Results show that the TAs struggle most with interpreting student understanding and that those with more experience are better at deciding the next steps. Additionally, there is some data to support that knowledge of the content can impact their decision-making skills

The impact of NH4+ loading on the scleractinian coral Acropora

Master of ScienceDepartment of BiologyMajor Professor Not ListedWalter K DoddsCoral reefs are one of the most diverse and complex ecosystems in the world supporting an estimated 25-38% of all marine life. Unfortunately, coral reef ecosystems and their keystone organisms, scleractinian coral, are declining at an alarming rate due to anthropogenic activities. Some species such as those within the genus Acropora, are imperative to reef ecosystems on a global scale; however, Acropora are considered to be the most sensitive to anthropogenic stressors. How these crucial reef builders respond to stressors such as bleaching and acidification is widely known; however, how Acropora respond to eutrophic conditions is greatly understudied in comparison as the ocean has historically been nitrogen (N) limited. Scleractinian coral rely upon associated microbes, Symbiodinium, and heterotrophic feeding to supplement their N demand. Under high N conditions, the balance between the coral and Symbiodinium is disrupted with uncontrollable Symbiodinium division and the retention of nutrient-rich photosynthates. The balance between metabolism (photosynthesis and respiration) and N cycling rates allow for a better understanding of coral physiological responses to environmental stressors. Here I am interested in determining how varying ammonium (NH4+) levels impact 1.) metabolism measurements in aquacultured and wild Acropora and 2.) remineralization, nitrification, and uptake rates in aquacultured and wild Acropora and their surrounding environment. These experiments seek to improve the understanding of how scleractinian coral respond to eutrophic conditions, specifically NH4+ loading. Surface area measurements of each Acropora fragment were required to properly scale metabolism and N cycling rates. Methods to determine surface area measurements are ubiquitous throughout scientific literature and the accuracy of these methods are often debated upon. Two of the most cost-effective and cited surface area methods are foil wrapping and wax dipping. Neither method produced statistically significant differences in the aquacultured Acropora surface area estimations and displayed similar results using calibrated objects. I determined the foil wrapping method best suited our study. Metabolism measurements conducted on scleractinian coral can estimate the energy produced and consumed by the coral and its associated Symbiodinium and microbes. I measured respiration and primary production in Acropora exposed to varying levels of NH4+ under light and dark conditions. I found a significant, positive relationship between aquacultured Acropora primary production and the level of NH4+ treatment; however, there was not a significant relationship between NH4+ treatment levels and respiration in both the aquacultured and wild Acropora. Respiration rates were significantly different between wild Acropora fragments collected from two different sites surrounding the island of Guam. These findings indicate that factors other than NH4+ influence respiration rates while primary production is limited by N. Rates of remineralization, nitrification, and uptake are not well established for corals and their associated microbial communities. However, these rates, similarly to metabolism rates, can determine how scleractinian coral respond to increasing levels of NH4+. I quantified rates of remineralization, nitrification, and uptake for wild and aquacultured Acropora subjected to elevated NH4+ treatments using an isotopic tracer method. Rates of remineralization, nitrification, and uptake in aquacultured and wild Acropora were not statistically different among NH4+ treatment levels. Lastly, rates of remineralization, uptake, and nitrification of both aquacultured and wild Acropora under varying NH4+ treatments are presented and compared to rates from previous studies. Acropora uptake and nitrification rates were consistent with rates presented in previous studies with scleractinian coral under ambient seawater. These rates of N cycling in Acropora are some of the first to be quantified for scleractinian coral under elevated NH4+ treatments

Occupational Therapy Interventions to Optimize Functional Use of the Upper Extremity After Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE: Peripheral nerve injuries are a distinct group of injuries that are commonly caused by motor vehicle accidents, falls, industrial accidents, household accidents, and penetrating trauma (Kamble et al., 2019). A peripheral nerve injury can affect an individual’s daily occupations and routines due to unrelenting pain, loss of sensation, and/or burning sensations. Peripheral nerve injuries can result in motor loss and subsequent muscle imbalance which can create functional loss (Chae et al., 2020). The purpose of this systematic review was to provide occupational therapists with evidence supporting the use of interventions to increase the functional use of the upper extremity after peripheral nerve injury. DESIGN: We conducted a systematic review and included studies relevant to peripheral nerve injury, functional use of the upper extremity, and interventions within the scope of occupational therapy. All articles included were published within the last decade. METHOD: We reviewed 31 titles and abstracts from MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus databases and retrieved 11 full-text articles. Six met inclusion criteria. To determine the strength of evidence, we used the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force levels of certainty and grade definitions. RESULTS: Three themes emerged: mirror therapy, sensory re-education, and the use of an orthosis. Three level I studies, and one level II study reported on the effectiveness of mirror therapy interventions. These studies provide moderate strength of evidence supporting the use of mirror therapy for improving upper limb function after peripheral nerve injury. One level II study reported on the effectiveness of sensory re-education interventions. Based on this study, sensory re-education is another supported intervention for improving functional outcomes of the upper limb after a peripheral nerve injury. However, this is based on low strength of evidence. One level IV study reported on the effectiveness of orthosis interventions. Using a volar wrist orthosis to enhance upper limb functional use is supported for treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome but is found to be disadvised for ulnar nerve injuries, based on low strength of evidence provided by this study. More evidence is needed to determine the effectiveness of this intervention. CONCLUSION: Based on moderate level of evidence, mirror therapy is a recommended intervention for improving functional outcomes of the upper limb after a peripheral nerve injury. These findings suggest that occupational therapists should be well-educated and trained in mirror therapy procedures and protocols in order to provide best practice to increase functional use of the upper limb after peripheral nerve injury. Sensory re-education is another recommended intervention to improve functional outcomes of the upper limb after a peripheral nerve injury that can be considered on a case-by-case basis. Due to limited literature, future research in the area of peripheral neuropathy interventions within the scope of occupational therapy should focus on increasing sample size using high quality study designs and developing a more standardized mirror therapy protocol.https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/cahp_ot_sysrev/1003/thumbnail.jp

The Midlands LGBT Needs Assessment Community Report

Health disparities research seeks to understand specific health-related needs and outcomes for groups of people, particularly minority groups. In 2011, the Institutes of Medicine (IOM) released a report commissioned by the National Institutes of Health entitled The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) People: Building a Foundation for Understanding. For the first time, research on the health and well-being of LGBT persons has been prioritized by research funders at the highest levels

Should I stay or should I go? Stress, coping, and retention among novice teachers

There are many factors that lead to stress and burnout of teachers that ultimately result in up to half of teachers leaving the profession before their sixth year of experience. This study is a mixed-method approach to the problem that began with surveying n=385 secondary teachers of all content areas. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to measure the teachers’ burnout levels, the Classroom Appraisal of Resources and Demands (CARD) was used to measure stress, and the Preventive Resources Inventory (PRI) was used to determine the teachers’ preventive coping skills. An independent t-test was conducted that found the stress and burnout levels between new and experienced teachers are not statistically different. Additionally, multiple regression tests were conducted with various combinations of independent and dependent variables. It was found that stress and burnout were significant predictors of job satisfaction. It was also revealed that years of experience, job satisfaction, and burnout are significant predictors of stress, while job satisfaction, preventive coping skills, and stress were significant predictors of burnout. This project aims to further research mathematics teachers as they are teachers in one of the most critical needs area of education. After the collection and analysis of the surveys, four mathematics teachers were chosen for follow-up interviews where they were questioned about their stressful occasions, coping mechanisms, and their ideas on mathematics teacher retention. The teachers were chosen randomly from groups that were stratified based on their preventive coping skills and stress levels

Under-referrals for Developmental Delays by Pediatricians: A Systematic Review

Developmental screenings for children have become increasingly popular, as early intervention has taken strides in providing services to children at risk for developmental delays. Thus, it has been suggested that developmental screenings be routinely used in early childhood, however, many children are not being detected until school entrance. A literature review was conducted to explore why there continues to be an inconsistency of children being screened for developmental delays. Using PsycInfo and PubMed databases, this review included 45 peer-reviewed journals published between 1990 and 2014 that studied the underlying issues of developmental screenings in pediatric care and the referral rates. Findings show that pediatricians are inconsistent in their referral patterns due to their reluctance to use developmental screenings because of time dependency and lack of resources. Furthermore, the literature suggests that parental concern on child development is exceedingly useful and can aid in reducing the amount of under-referrals. Limited research has also indicated that child-care providers have been shown to assist in providing knowledgeable feedback on children's developmental capabilities, and can be instrumental in providing a comprehensive evaluation. To conclude, routine visits with a pediatrician are critical opportunities for children to be screened for developmental delays and for the families to receive resources on obtaining intervention services. Therefore, in addition to implementing surveillance and routine developmental screenings, it is essential to focus on procedures that allow active collaboration between pediatricians, families, and childcare providers to help detect developmental delays early and reduce the amount of under-referrals.Ope