Cambrian-Ordovician Aquifer Sustainability Study Linn and Johnson County Groundwater Protected Area Linn and Johnson County, Iowa

The Linn and Johnson County Groundwater Protected Area site (LJCPA) is located in east-central Iowa. Eight water users with nine water use permits are found within the LJCPA that allow withdrawal from the Cambrian-Ordovician (CO) aquifer. Water use permits within the LJCPA include the City of Marion, City of North Liberty, City of Tiffin, City of Coralville, City of Iowa City, Archer Daniels Midland-Cedar Rapids (ADM), IngredionCedar Rapids, the University of Iowa - Oakdale Campus, and the University of Iowa - Water Treatment Plant (UI WTP). The LJCPA is one of two designated groundwater protected areas for the CO aquifer in Iowa.https://ir.uiowa.edu/igs_wrir/1020/thumbnail.jp

Investigation of a Recharge Basin to Improve Drought Resiliency and Aquifer Sustainability Rock Valley Rural Water

https://ir.uiowa.edu/igs_wrir/1017/thumbnail.jp

Aquifer Sustainability at the Osceola County Rural Water System H-Series Wellfield

https://ir.uiowa.edu/igs_wrir/1019/thumbnail.jp

A Systematic Review of Recommendations for Behavioral Health Services for Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults: The Three-Legged Stool of Evidence-Based Practice is Unbalanced

There is a growing literature of clinical recommendations for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) affirming behavioral health care, yet it is unknown to what extent these recommendations are rooted in evidence-based practice (EBP). This systematic review included 65 articles published between 2009 and 2018 with recommendations for behavioral health services with TGD adults, emphasizing general clinical care. Coded variables included type of article, participant demographics, aspects of EBP, and whether care was informed by objective assessment. Most articles did not equally draw from all components of EBP. Recommendations for specific clinical problems are increasingly available and address diversity within TGD communities. More research, including clinical trials adapting established interventions, is needed to inform state-of-the-art TGD-affirmative behavioral health care

Test–Retest Reliability and Sensitivity of a Brief Clinical Monitoring Measure for Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults: The Trans Collaborations Clinical Check-In (TC\u3csup\u3e3\u3c/sup\u3e)

The current study aimed to examine the test–retest reliability and sensitivity of the Trans Collaborations Clinical Check-In (TC3) in a 3-month period with four assessment points at baseline, 1, 2, and 3 months to examine its utility as a clinical progress monitoring measure. This study builds on the initial validation study conducted by Holt et al. (2019). The sample of 32 transgender and gender diverse (TGD) participants were chosen who met screening for at least modest depression and anxiety, and did not have other significant risk factors (e.g., mania, self-harm). Participants completed a battery of measures that assessed mood, well-being, and gender-related constructs at each of the time points in addition to demographic questionnaires. Overall, the TC3 exhibited excellent test–retest reliability. While there was no systematic change in scores, there was some random variation of scores around the mean; and large, within-person correlations between time points. The TC3 also demonstrated convergence with many of the gender-related constructs, and to a lesser degree demonstrated criterion validity with mental health constructs. Further longitudinal study with larger samples in addition to study within intervention frameworks are necessary next steps to understand the utility of the TC3 for assessing systematic change over time. Overall, the current study highlights the initial utility of the TC3 to measure aspects of gender-related well-being across time, such as during health or behavioral health services. Public Significance Statement -- The overall findings of the study suggest that the Trans Collaborations Clinical Check-In (TC3) is a valid and reliable tool for use with transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people in clinical settings, which addresses the dearth of validated, brief TGD-specific assessments that are routine essentials for providing evidence-based care

Psychometric Evaluation of the Transgender Congruence Scale

Introduction Despite increased attention to transgender and gender diverse (TGD) issues in psychological literature during the past decade, gaps remain for psychometric validation of TGD-specific measures. Kozee et al. (Psychology of Women Quarterly 36(2):179–196, 2012) addressed such gaps by creating the Transgender Congruence Scale (TCS), measuring gender acceptance and feelings of gender congruence between internal and external attributes across a broad range of gender identities. The current study extended Kozee and colleagues’ work by further examining the psychometric properties of the TCS. Methods Between October and November of 2017, 210 transmasculine, transfeminine, and gender diverse adults between ages 19 and 73 completed online surveys containing demographic, gender identity-specific, and well-being measures including the TCS. Results Results of confirmatory factor analysis replicated the original two-factor model (Appearance Congruence and Gender Identity Acceptance), with the elimination of two poorly loading items, resulting in a 10-item reduced model (TCS-10). Higher scores on TCS-10 were associated with positive scores on gender-related well-being, congruence, and pride, positive affect, and life satisfaction, as well as lower scores on gender-related dysphoria, non-affirmation, internalized transphobia, and marginalization. There were modest but significant associations between Gender Identity Congruence and both depression and negative affect. Conclusions Despite limitations of sample size and diversity of identities, the study reaffirmed the utility of the TCS as an overall construct of gender identity congruence with a 10-item reduced structure related to other established TGD constructs. Policy Implications Though socio-political climate is the ultimate domain for alleviating TGD stigma and discrimination, factors such as gender congruence are essential areas of focus to foster resiliency

Trans Collaborations Clinical Check-In (TC3): Initial Validation of a Clinical Measure for Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults Receiving Psychological Services

One key aspect of evidence-based psychological services is monitoring progress to inform treatment decision making, often using a brief self-report measure. However, no such measure exists to support measurement based care given the distinct needs of transgender and gender diverse people (TGD), a group facing large documented health disparities and marginalization in healthcare. The purpose of the present study was to develop and provide initial psychometric validation of a short, behavioral health progress monitoring self-report measure, the Trans Collaborations Clinical Check-in (TC3). TGD communities, providers identified as TGD-affirmative, and relevant academic experts contributed to item and scale development. The final 18 item version was administered to 215 TGD adults (75 transfeminine, 76 transmasculine, 46 nonbinary, 18 unknown; mean age of 30 with a range of 19 to 73), who were recruited for an online study, with other questionnaires assessing negative affect, well-being, gender dysphoria, gender minority stressors, and resilience. Higher scores on the TC3 (indicating better adjustment and comfort with gender) were generally associated with lower depression, anxiety, minority stress, and gender dysphoria and greater life satisfaction, body congruence, and positive aspects of being TGD such as pride in identity and community belongingness. These results support the validity of the TC3 as a brief measure to be used as a clinical tool for TGD people receiving mental health services. Additional research is needed on the reliability and validity of the TC3 across multiple time points to determine utility as a progress monitoring measure. The TC3 should also be further validated with more culturally diverse samples

Sarcopenia Does Not Affect Survival or Outcomes in Soft-Tissue Sarcoma

Background and Objective. Sarcopenia is associated with decreased survival and increased complications in carcinoma patients. We hypothesized that sarcopenic soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) patients would have decreased survival, increased incidence of wound complications, and increased length of postresection hospital stay (LOS). Methods. A retrospective, single-center review of 137 patients treated surgically for STS was conducted. Sarcopenia was assessed by measuring the cross-sectional area of bilateral psoas muscles (total psoas muscle area, TPA) at the level of the third lumbar vertebrae on a pretreatment axial computed tomography scan. TPA was then adjusted for height (cm2/m2). The association between height-adjusted TPA and survival was assessed using Cox proportional hazard model. A logistical model was used to assess the association between height-adjusted TPA and wound complications. A linear model was used to assess the association between height-adjusted TPA and LOS. Results. Height-adjusted TPA was not an independent predictor of overall survival (p=0.746). Patient age (p=0.02) and tumor size (p=0.009) and grade (p=0.001) were independent predictors of overall survival. Height-adjusted TPA was not a predictor of increased hospital LOS (p=0.66), greater incidence of postoperative infection (p=0.56), or other wound complications (p=0.14). Conclusions. Sarcopenia does not appear to impact overall survival, LOS, or wound complications in patients with STS

Erratum to:Effects of a physical activity and nutrition program in retirement villages: a cluster randomised controlled trial

Abstract Background This cluster randomised controlled trial aimed to determine if a 6- month home-based intervention could improve the physical activity and dietary behaviours of adults aged 60 to 80 years living in retirement villages located in Perth, Western Australia. Methods Participants (n = 363) from 38 retirement villages were recruited into the trial and allocated to the intervention (n = 197: 17 sites) or control (n = 166: 21 sites) group and were blinded. Previously validated instruments-Fat and Fibre Barometer and International Physical Activity Questionnaire, along with anthropometric measures (weight, height, waist and hip circumferences) and blood pressure were collected at baseline and 6 -month time period. Comparisons between intervention and control groups were undertaken pre- and post- intervention using univariate chi-square and t-tests. Multi-level mixed regression analyses were then conducted to ascertain the effects of the intervention on changes in the outcome variables over time and between groups. Results A total of 139 (70.5%) intervention and 141 (84.9%) control group participants completed the program and post-test assessments. The intervention group demonstrated significant increases in time (80 min more per week on average) devoted to moderate-intensity physical activity, engagement in strength exercises (from 23.7% to 48.2%), frequency of fruit consumed as well as fat avoidance and fibre intake scores, in addition to a 0.5 kg mean reduction in weight post program, whereas no apparent changes were observed in the control group. Mixed regression results further confirmed statistically significant improvements in weight loss (p < 0.05), engagement in strength exercises (p < 0.001) and fruit intake (p = 0.012) by the intervention participants at post-test relative to their controls. Conclusions Retirement offers a time to reassess lifestyle, and adopt positive health enhancing physical activity and dietary behaviours. This intervention was successful in improving weight, engagement in strength exercises, increasing levels of moderate-intensity physical activity and consumption of fruit among retirement village residents. Further investigation is needed on how to better engage retirement village managers in such programs. Trial registration Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12612001168842) registered November 2, 2012

Measurements of electron-proton elastic cross sections for 0.4<Q2<5.5(GeV/c)20.4 < Q^2 < 5.5 (GeV/c)^2

We report on precision measurements of the elastic cross section for electron-proton scattering performed in Hall C at Jefferson Lab. The measurements were made at 28 unique kinematic settings covering a range in momentum transfer of 0.4 $<$ $Q^2$ $<$ 5.5 $(\rm GeV/c)^2$. These measurements represent a significant contribution to the world's cross section data set in the $Q^2$ range where a large discrepancy currently exists between the ratio of electric to magnetic proton form factors extracted from previous cross section measurements and that recently measured via polarization transfer in Hall A at Jefferson Lab.Comment: 17 pages, 18 figures; text added, some figures replace