Developing STEM Identity of Nez Perce Students: Identifying Entry-Level Competencies for Forestry and Fire Management

The purpose of this study was to identify the competencies that are required for entry-level forestry and fire management technicians. The strategy is a part of a larger goal to develop the STEM identity of Nez Perce students through the integration of relevant competencies in middle and high school curriculums. The DACUM process was used. Through this groupware process, nine experts from the Nez Perce Natural Resources produced a competency profile consisting of 12 duties and 79 tasks, along with general knowledge and skills, attitudes, tools, and future trends. Findings indicate that the experts view relevant cultural competencies as central to the function of the job and not as mere enablers. This has implications for how content is integrated, taught, and assessed in schools

Fractal Location and Anomalous Diffusion Dynamics for Oil Wells from the KY Geological Survey

Utilizing data available from the Kentucky Geonet (KYGeonet.ky.gov) the fossil fuel mining locations created by the Kentucky Geological Survey geo-locating oil and gas wells are mapped using ESRI ArcGIS in Kentucky single plain 1602 ft projection. This data was then exported into a spreadsheet showing latitude and longitude for each point to be used for modeling at different scales to determine the fractal dimension of the set. Following the porosity and diffusivity studies of Tarafdar and Roy1 we extract fractal dimensions of the fossil fuel mining locations and search for evidence of scaling laws for the set of deposits. The Levy index is used to determine a match to a statistical mechanically motivated generalized probability function for the wells. This probability distribution corresponds to a solution of a dynamical anomalous diffusion equation of fractional order that describes the Levy paths which can be solved in the diffusion limit by the Fox H function ansatz.Comment: : 8 pages, 3 figures, AIPG Conference Meeting, Grand Junction CO, Oct. 200

Identifying Barriers and Supports to Breastfeeding in the Workplace Experienced by Mothers in the New Hampshire Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Utilizing the Total Worker Health Framework

Variations in the barriers and contributors to breastfeeding across industries have not been well characterized for vulnerable populations such as mothers participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Our study used the Total Worker Health Framework to characterize workplace factors acting as barriers and/or contributors to breastfeeding among women participating in the New Hampshire WIC. Surveys were collected from WIC mothers (n = 682), which asked about employment, industry, and workplace accommodation and supports related to breastfeeding in the workplace. We found workplace policy factors supporting breastfeeding (i.e., having paid maternity leave, other maternity leave, and a breastfeeding policy) varied by industry. Women in specific service-oriented industries (i.e., accommodation and retail) reported the lowest rates of breastfeeding initiation and workplace supports for breastfeeding and pumping. Further, how a woman hoped to feed and having a private pumping space at work were significantly associated with industry, breastfeeding initiation, and breastfeeding duration. A substantial portion of women reported being not sure about their workplace environment, policies, and culture related to breastfeeding. Additional studies with larger sample sizes of women participating in WIC are needed to further characterize the barriers to breastfeeding associated with specific industries

Beyond Surveillance toward Prevention of Injury and Illness at Camps

Camps have a long history of contributing to positive developmental outcomes for campers and staff. When illness or injury occurs at camp, however, the positive outcomes of the experience can be diminished. Therefore, surveillance and prevention are essential. This national study of camps provided a benchmark for assessing adverse risk factors at camp. The findings have resulted in initial steps to develop training materials to lower the incidence of injury and illness. Other opportunities that might be considered to further the value of surveillance studies might include: continuing to monitor staff as well as campers, assessing the severity of injuries, developing additional training modules, facilitating data collection and analyses in individual camps, exploring the influence of demographics and accreditation, and developing systems to monitor mental and emotional health in camps

Draft Genome Sequences of Two Vibrio parahaemolyticus Strains Associated with Gastroenteritis after Raw Seafood Ingestion in Colorado.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a Gram-negative pathogen associated with gastrointestinal and wound infections after exposure to raw seafood or contaminated waters. We report here the whole-genome sequences of two stool isolates (CDC-AM50933 and CDC-AM43539) from patients in Colorado presenting with gastroenteritis after ingesting raw seafood

Three Decades of Engendering History: Selected Works of Antonia I. Castañeda ed. by Linda Heidenreich and Antonia I. Castañeda (review)

Linda Heidenreich compiles leading Chicana historian Antonia I. Castañeda’s essays into one book featuring four thematic segments, each closed by a platica or discussion by Luz María Gordillo, in an effort to pass Chicana history and literature from one generation of scholars to the next. At the start of each section, Heidenreich includes an introduction that explains why she grouped certain essays together. The first pairs Castañeda’s essays on “The Political Economy of 19th Century Stereotypes of Californians” and “Malinche, Califa y Toypurina” to show how Mestiza and native women have been portrayed in California. Part two includes “Women of Color and the Rewriting of Western History” and “Gender, Race, and Culture”, two widely used historiographical discussions of the historical debate over and critique of Chicana history. In her third part, Heidenreich includes “Sexual Violence in the Policies of Conquest” and “Engendering the History of Alta California 1769–1848.” Both essays examine sexual structure among Alta California women

Evaluating Disparities in Quality of Life in the City of Atlanta Using an Urban Health Index

Measuring disparities in Quality of Life (QOL) can be challenging due to the vast amount of factors to be included. This study attempts to measure disparities in QOL using a newly developed Urban Health Index (UHI). Using 128 census tracts in City of Atlanta in Georgia as an example, this study selects six variables that are related to QOL. Their geometric mean is then used to construct a single numeric value for each census tract. The QOL disparity ratio is then determined by the upper and lower 10% of the data. The slope of disparity is calculated using the remaining 80% of the data. The results show that urban health index may be an affective indicator of QOL in a city

Factors That Influence Parent Communication Decisions For Their Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing Child In Illinois

The development of language in a deaf or hard of hearing child is dependent upon early and effective communication access (Marschark, 2018; Marschark & Hauser, 2012; Pittman, Sass-Lehrer, & Abrams, 2016; Scott & Dostal, 2019; Scott & Henner, 2020). For many parents of deaf and hard of hearing children, the most common early decisions that are made are related to communication and supporting language development, which is recognized by many in the field as a prime factor in early language acquisition (Decker, Vallotton, & Johnson, 2012; Sass-Lehrer, 2018). However, there are a lack of effective strategies for sharing information on specific communication approaches with families across the wide span of opinions regarding how deaf and hard of hearing children communicate. The focus of this dissertation study examined the parent perspective of their experience in gathering information about communication approaches for their child and how that ties into the recommended guidelines related to informed choice, decision-making, and information sharing within the early intervention process. Surveys and interviews were used The major findings of this study indicate that parents in Illinois receive inconsistent information regarding communication approaches; primary sources of information for parents in Illinois appear to be early intervention professionals and the parents themselves; access to opportunities in addition to satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the information emerged as top influencers in the process of making decisions; and the idea of a reference chart or communication matrix was deemed a potential desirable and beneficial resource. The potential implications for enhancing early intervention practices include standardization of practices to enhance informed choice and support decision-making