Exploring the Relationship Between Daily Steps, Body Mass Index and Physical Self-Esteem in Female Australian Adolescents

Current research suggests that a decline in physical activity occurs some time during the adolescent years, but at what specific age is unknown. Determination of the age at which physical activity levels decline and possible contributors to this phenomenon, are needed to increase Australian healthcare knowledge. The participants involved in the study were female adolescents (n = 297) aged 13-15 years from a high school in Southeast Queensland, Australia. The purpose of this study was to: (a) determine mean steps per day, using pedometers, for grade 8 through 10 girls, (b) determine body mass index (BMI) by measuring height (cm) and weight (kg), and (c), using the Children and Youth Physical Self-Perception Profile (CY-PSPP) questionnaire, identify determinants of physical self-worth in Australian female adolescents and their relationship to activity level and BMI. The study revealed that a significant drop-off in pedometer-determined mean daily steps occurred at grade ten, or approximately 15 years of age. A significant inverse relationship between mean daily steps and BMI was found (r = ¯.251, p<.0001). The study also revealed negative correlations between BMI and all self-perceptions (p<.05), except strength, which showed a positive correlation (p<0.05). A positive correlation was found between level of physical activity and all self-perceptions, except Global Self-Worth, which showed no significant difference

IMPROVEMENTS IN SUSTAINABILITY OF GRAVITY-FED WATER SYSTEMS IN THE COMARCA NGÄBE-BUGLÉ, PANAMA: SPRING CAPTURES AND CIRCUIT RIDER MODEL

Gravity-flow aqueducts are used to bring clean water from mountain springs in the Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé, Panama, to the homes of the indigenous people who reside there. Spring captures enclose a spring to direct the flow of water into the transmission line. Seepage contact springs are most common, with water appearing above either hard basalt bedrock or a dense clay layer. Spring flows vary dramatically during wet and dry seasons, and discharge points of springs can shift, sometimes enough to impact the capture structure and its ability to properly collect all of the available water. Traditionally, spring captures are concrete boxes. The spring boxes observed by the author were dilapidated or out of alignment with the spring itself, only capturing part of the discharge. An improved design approach was developed that mimics the terrain surrounding the spring source to address these issues. Over the course of a year, three different spring sites were evaluated, and spring captures were designed and constructed based on the new approach. Spring flow data from each case study demonstrate increased flow capture in the improved structures. Rural water systems, including spring captures, can be sustainably maintained by the Circuit Rider model, a technical support system in which technical assistance is provided for the operation of the water systems. During 2012-2013, the author worked as a Circuit Rider and facilitated a water system improvement project while exploring methods of community empowerment to increase the capacity for system maintenance. Based on these experiences, recommendations are provided to expand the Circuit Rider model in the Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé under the Panamanian Ministry of Health’s Water and Sanitation Project (PASAP

Lymphedema Self-Management by Breast Cancer Survivors: A Focus on Psychosocial and Occupational Performance Factors

For American women, breast cancer remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers. The average lifetime risk of developing this disease is approximately 12% according to the American Cancer Society (American Cancer Society, 2019). Medical interventions, such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy to name a few for breast cancer, supports survivorship and longevity; however, many late and lasting effects from breast cancer treatment present themselves in the lives of women. One of the residual effects of breast cancer treatment can be damage to the lymphatic system resulting in lymphedema occurring anywhere from 5% of women following sentinel node biopsy, 13% of women after standard axillary dissection, and 22% of women following surgery and radiotherapy (Rockson & Rivera, 2011). Peer-reviewed research supported the idea that breast cancer related lymphedema may influence psychosocial status and occupational performance factors. Few occupational therapy professionals address psychosocial status and occupational performance when caring for this population. Recommendations as a result of this project include creating an integrated mindbody approach towards physical management, occupational performance, and psychosocial factors to help women live meaningful lives. Occupational performance and psychosocial factors are intertwined through the lens of an occupational therapy practitioner. The purpose of this project was to examine current evidence of occupational performance and psychosocial factors related to daily selfmanagement and health education for women living with breast cancer related lymphedema and propose strategies for improving occupational therapy services for these women. The approach for disseminating this evidence and knowledge is through three knowledge translation projects. The three knowledge translation projects included writing an article for a practice magazine, creating a poster presentation for a state conference, and submitting a proposal for a short course at a national conference

Evaluating complex digital resources

Squires (1999) discussed the gap between HCI (Human Computer Interaction) and the educational computing communities in their very different approaches to evaluating educational software. This paper revisits that issue in the context of evaluating digital resources, focusing on two approaches to evaluation: an HCI and an educational perspective. Squires and Preece's HCI evaluation model is a predictive model ‐ it helps teachers decide whether or not to use educational software ‐ whilst our own concern is in evaluating the use of learning technologies. It is suggested that in part the different approaches of the two communities relate to the different focus that each takes: in HCI the focus is typically on development and hence usability, whilst in education the concern is with the learner and teacher use

Deisha Myles, Oral History Interview, 2021

A member of the Native American Student Organization at Eastern Michigan University at the time of the struggle to change the EMU mascot and logo, Deisha [Olszewski] Myles attended nearly every meeting related to the change of what many considered to be an insensitive depiction of Native American culture. Myles speaks of her experience as a student on the Logo Selection Committee, witnessing the tense interactions between university administrators and describing the divisions amongst indigenous participants, divisions that often adhered closely to differing generational values.https://commons.emich.edu/oral_histories/1073/thumbnail.jp

BRILLA: Shining on Through a Pandemic

This article highlights the community partnership between a primary school Dual Language program and university Spanish students. In this submission related to personal experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of classroom teachers within the BRILLA (Bilingual Readiness through Interaction, Language, Literacy and Alliances) program is explored. Teachers are the light bearers who make human connection and authentic learning happen in-person and over screens; pandemic, or no pandemic, they shine

DTB 027 Erica Thomas Maull 6-8-2022

In this interview, Erica Thomas Maull is interviewed by Jada Jones and Ryan Morini at her home in Mobile, Alabama. Ms. Maull discusses growing up Down the Bay, and relates some of her family history—including her parents’ florist shop, which they built in their backyard. She also discusses some of the businesses she remembers, both downtown and Down the Bay, and describes how her family navigated the segregated Mobile she grew up in

Evaluation of coral reef carbonate production models at a global scale

Calcification by coral reef communities is estimated to account for half of all carbonate produced in shallow water environments and more than 25% of the total carbonate buried in marine sediments globally. Production of calcium carbonate by coral reefs is therefore an important component of the global carbon cycle; it is also threatened by future global warming and other global change pressures. Numerical models of reefal carbonate production are needed for understanding how carbonate deposition responds to environmental conditions including atmospheric CO₂ concentrations in the past and into the future. However, before any projections can be made, the basic test is to establish model skill in recreating present-day calcification rates. Here we evaluate four published model descriptions of reef carbonate production in terms of their predictive power, at both local and global scales. We also compile available global data on reef calcification to produce an independent observation-based data set for the model evaluation of carbonate budget outputs. The four calcification models are based on functions sensitive to combinations of light availability, aragonite saturation (&Omega;_a) and temperature and were implemented within a specifically developed global framework, the Global Reef Accretion Model (GRAM). No model was able to reproduce independent rate estimates of whole-reef calcification, and the output from the temperature-only based approach was the only model to significantly correlate with coral-calcification rate observations. The absence of any predictive power for whole reef systems, even when consistent at the scale of individual corals, points to the overriding importance of coral cover estimates in the calculations. Our work highlights the need for an ecosystem modelling approach, accounting for population dynamics in terms of mortality and recruitment and hence calcifier abundance, in estimating global reef carbonate budgets. In addition, validation of reef carbonate budgets is severely hampered by limited and inconsistent methodology in reef-scale observations

Social Emotional Learning Strategies for Students in Self-Contained Classrooms: A Systematic Review and Quick Reference Guide for Evidence-Informed Curricula Selection

This research project was conducted in collaboration with Heather Austin, OTR/L and the Puyallup School District. Through discussion with Heather, we determined that there is a need to study the efficacy of social-emotional learning (SEL) curricula for children with severe disabilities who often do not receive the same comprehensive SEL instruction as their peers in general education classrooms. A mixed-methods systematic review of the literature was conducted on strategies and interventions for SEL for students ages 3-12 years old in classrooms that serve students with severe disabilities. We analyzed 19 articles published in peer-reviewed journals by reviewing each for statistically significant results pertaining to SEL outcomes for the population of interest. Results indicated the majority of curricula included in this research had mixed to positive outcomes. Interventions with statistically significant findings included play-based treatments, art therapy, mindfulness, and theory of mind training, as well as branded curricula and strategies such as ICME, PATHS, Integra Social Competence Program, and Second Step. Critically Appraised Topic findings were translated into the development of a quick reference guide which was organized by SEL outcome and structured according to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning core competencies. Each outcome contained suggestions on dosage, intervention approaches, and resources for application. An in-service and survey were completed to evaluate usability of this product by practitioners and educators working in school-based settings. Fifty percent of respondents worked with students in self-contained classrooms. Overall the survey data revealed a positive trend of ratings and qualitative feedback from respondents and a good match of SEL outcomes addressed in the quick reference guide to needs identified by practitioners. A primary implication of our research is that the field of occupational therapy needs to capitalize on its potential to provide support to students with disabilities around their social participation and emotional regulation. Occupational therapy can support teachers in implementing SEL curricula and interventions to promote positive outcomes and reduce maladaptive behaviors

Lessons Learned: COVID-19 in Post-Corrections Secured Behavioral Rehabilitation

Background: The COVID-19 case rate on June 5, 2020, for prisoners in the United States (US) was 5.5 times higher than the US population case rate (Saloner et al., 2020). Secure facilities were challenged to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. One secure behavioral rehabilitation facility made many changes to facility and program protocols to meet this challenge. Methods: The purpose of this program evaluation was to assess newly implemented infection control measures at a secure behavioral rehabilitation facility and to inform policy and procedure recommendations for the mitigation of COVID-19 transmission in congregate living facilities in the future. Case rates, percent positivity, and case fatality rates were used as surrogate measures to evaluate this facility\u27s COVID-19 program. A PRECEDE/PROCEED logic model was used to guide the program evaluation. Results: Attack rates varied significantly by unit, from 1 resident case (3.94%) to 31 cases (92.26%). The 7-day rolling average ranged from 0.0% to 4.34% positivity during the study period, and 205/355.6 residents (57.56%) were infected during the 3-month study period. Conclusions: COVID-19 places significant logistical and human strain on residents, employees, and administrators of secured congregate settings. Despite extensive infection control measures the study facility experienced a significant number of cases, special hospitalizations, and deaths. Further research is recommended to define adequate infection control measures to vulnerable populations in such settings