Exploring School Staff Perceptions Relating to animals and their involvement in interventions to Support Mental Health

Given the growing awareness of the health benefits of human-animal interactions, the use of animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) in educational settings has increased over the years. While many school districts are now considering or utilizing AAIs, the literature investigating AAI-related perceptions among school stakeholders is limited with previous studies focusing on evaluating specific programs. to address this gap, a qualitative exploratory study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with school staff in the San Antonio, TX community. A total of 11 interviews were completed with staff serving preschool and elementary school age children. Data collected from interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings demonstrated that participating staff had some knowledge of the potential benefits of human-animal interactions and perceived the involvement of animals in interventions to be beneficial to children\u27s emotions and social-emotional skills. While perceptions of AAIs were generally positive, concerns around children\u27s safety and well-being were expressed as potential barriers in the adoption of AAIs in schools. These findings are preliminary and provide a segue to future research that can help expand our understanding of how school staff perceive AAIs, their impact on children\u27s mental health, their compatibility with school values, and their advantage relative to other interventions

School Parent attitudes and Perceptions Relating to animals, animal-Assisted interventions, and the Support of Children\u27s Mental Health

Growing awareness of the negative effects of trauma has led San Antonio, TX, school districts to expand efforts that can help mitigate these effects and support mental health. Given the literature around the psychological benefits of human-animal interactions, the concept of incorporating animals in treatments or interventions is not a new one. While schools have begun considering or utilizing animal-assisted interventions (AAIs), there have been limited efforts to understand existing perceptions relating to animals and AAIs among school parents in this Hispanic community. to address this gap, a cross-sectional study consisting of a 34-item survey was conducted to explore attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions relating to animals (i.e., pets), AAIs, and the need for supporting young children\u27s mental health among parents. A total of 187 surveys from two school districts were completed and utilized for analysis. The study\u27s findings demonstrate that parents acknowledged the importance of addressing mental health issues early on and were aware of the health benefits human-animal interactions can provide. Furthermore, parents had positive attitudes toward pets and positive perceptions toward AAIs in schools. Some implementation concerns were expressed relating to safety and well-being. Overall, these findings suggest there is existing parent support in using AAIs as a trauma-informed strategy and school innovation

Estabilidade de agregados em solos sódicos e salino-sódicos.

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Optical detection of scopolamine and ketamine with a BODIPY-Phen conjugate and Cu(II)

[EN] Chemical submission is becoming a global growing threat. Therefore, the development of fast and reliable methods for detecting the presence of chemical submission drugs in drinks is of great interest. For this purpose, a new BODIPY-Phen conjugate consisting of a 1,10-phenanthroline moiety connected through its 4-position to the meso position of a BODIPY dye has been synthesized and characterized by NMR, UV-vis spectroscopy and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. BODIPY-Phen in combination with Cu(II) was used as a probe for the fluorescent and colorimetric detection of scopolamine and ketamine, two of the drugs used in cases of chemical submission. The determined limits of detection in water were 3 mu M for scopolamine and 2.88 mu M for ketamine. Selectivity of the probe in the presence of other drugs and some possible interferents that could be found in beverages has also been tested. The detection process seems to be due to a reduction of the Cu(II) ion to Cu(I) followed by coordination of Cu(I) to the BODIPY-Phen conjugate, which results in quenching of its fluorescence together with a visible color change. The probe is able to detect by the unaided eye the presence of scopolamine in real soft drinks and alcoholic beverages spiked with the drug.The authors gratefully acknowledge grant PID2021-126304OB-C42 funded by the Spanish MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by "ERDF A way of making Europe, EU", and grant PDC2022-133576-C22 funded by the Spanish MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union "NextGenerationEU"/PRTR". SCSIE (Universidad de Valencia) is gratefully acknowledged for all the equipment employed. NMR was registered at the U26 facility of ICTS "NAMBIOSIS" at the Universitat of Valencia.Hernandez-Contreras, J.; Madrigal, P.; Arroyo, P.; Liu-González, M.; Gil, S.; Parra, M.; Sáez José A.... (2024). Optical detection of scopolamine and ketamine with a BODIPY-Phen conjugate and Cu(II). Dyes and Pigments. 221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2023.11180622

Choosing and Maintaining Programs for Sex Education in Schools: The CHAMPSS Model

Background: Despite effective solutions to reduce teen birth rates, Texas teen birth rates are among the highest in the nation. School districts can impact youth sexual behavior through implementation of evidence-based programs (EBPs); however, teen pregnancy prevention is a complex and controversial issue for school districts. Subsequently, very few districts in Texas implement EBPs for pregnancy prevention. Additionally, school districts receive little guidance on the process for finding, adopting, and implementing EBPs. Purpose: The purpose of this report is to present the CHoosing And Maintaining Programs for Sex education in Schools (CHAMPSS) Model, a practical and realistic framework to help districts find, adopt, and implement EBPs. Methods: Model development occurred in four phases using the core processes of Intervention Mapping: 1) knowledge acquisition, 2) knowledge engineering, 3) model representation, and 4) knowledge development. Results: The CHAMPSS Model provides seven steps, tailored for school-based settings, which encompass phases of assessment, preparation, implementation, and maintenance: Prioritize, Asses, Select, Approve, Prepare, Implement, and Maintain. Advocacy and eliciting support for adolescent sexual health are also core elements of the model. Conclusion: This systematic framework may help schools increase adoption, implementation, and maintenance for EBPs

Light-induced strain and its correlation with the optical absorption at charged domain walls in polycrystalline ferroelectrics

Photostrictive materials have a growing interest because of their great potential as light-driven actuators, among other optomechanical applications. In this context, the optical control of macroscopic strain in ferroelectrics has recently attracted remarkable attention as an effective alternative to the conventional electric control of strain. Here, a clear correlation between optical absorption and light-induced strain in polycrystalline BaTiO3 is shown. Specifically, the grain size and the sample thickness dependence of optical absorption when the material is irradiated with energy photons lower than the band gap evidence that light absorption at charged domain walls is the core of the observed photo-response in ferroelectrics. The photoinduced electronic reconstruction phenomenon is proposed as the primary physical mechanism for light absorption at charged domain walls. Results open a new pathway to designing ferroelectric-based devices with new functionalities like thickness gradient-based photo-controlled nanoactuators

Neutrophil Function in Elderly Patients Hospitalized with Community- Acquired Pneumonia

Background: Advanced age is associated with immunosenescence as well as increased risk for poor outcomes during episodes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Data on neutrophil function in hospitalized elderly patients with CAP is lacking. In this study we compared neutrophil function in elderly and non-elderly hospitalized patients with CAP. Methods: Prospective study of healthy controls (HC) and patients hospitalized with CAP nonelderly (NE-CAP) and elderly (E-CAP). Blood samples were obtained on the day of hospitalization. The following neutrophil functional assays were performed: degranulation of secretory vesicles (CD35), degranulation of specific granules (CD66b), phagocytosis, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare differences in neutrophil function. Results: A total of 12 HC, 28 NE-CAP, and 12 E-CAP were evaluated. There were no significant differences between NE-CAP and E-CAP patients in regard to CD35 expression (p=0.465), CD66b expression (p=0.601), phagocytosis (p=0.654), or H2O2 production (p=0.541) Conclusions: We failed to demonstrate any significant difference in neutrophil function in nonelderly versus elderly patients hospitalized with CAP in relation to membrane expression of CD35 and CD66b, phagocytosis, and respiratory burst. Abnormal neutrophil function is unlikely to be an important component of the immunosenescence described in elderly patients with CAP