Assessing Sleep Quality in Young Adult College Students, Aged 18 - 24 in Relation to Quality of Life and Anthropometrics

Little is known about the impact of sleep on quality of life and anthropometrics in young adults. College students (n=218) were recruited through a variety of methods for a study on weight management for obesity prevention and randomized into control (n=108) or treatment (n=110) groups. Of those, 152 (71%) completed pre- and post-tests, including the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), scored 0-4 =normal and 5-21=disordered, (a=0.80), the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ), scored from 0-14=good quality of life to 15-36=poor quality of life, (ct=0.87), and anthropometrics. Statistical analyses included linear regression, one way ANOVA, chi-square analysis, and Pearson\u27s Product-Moment Correlation. Significance was set at a P5, indicating disordered sleep quality; for GHQ, 12% had scores \u3e15 indicating poor quality of life. As sleep quality became more disordered, post-test BMI increased (P=0.008). For every increase in sleep quality score, BMI increased by P=0.29 (CI=0.08-.5, P=0.008). Disordered sleepers had higher post-test waist circumferences (88.7 cm±8.9 cm) than normal sleepers (81.7 cm±4.9 cm) (P=0.007). As age increased waist circumference also increased (P=0.031) by a factor of β=1.38. Disordered sleep quality was associated with approximately a 400% increased risk of poor quality of life at post-test (OR=4.11, 95% Cl=1.6-10.4, P=0.003). For every increase in year of age there was a 57% increase in the risk for a poor quality of life (OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.01-2.46, P=0.045). Quality of life decreased for subjects who got(short sleepers) compared to those who slept 7-9 hours per night (normal sleepers) (P=0.005). Regardless of test time there were significant correlations between sleep quality and quality of life, and sleep quality and anthropometric data. Sleep duration was negatively correlated with weight for the total sample and specifically for males (p=0.01). Based on the findings from this study, sleep should be addressed in wellness programming on university campuses, including its long-term implications on health

Development of a 3-Pronged Approach to Evaluation for the iCook-4H Project

Most nutrition education programs are created without adequate forethought to planning evaluation strategies. The goal of this study was to develop and implement a comprehensive 3-pronged approach to evaluate iCook 4-H, a six- session, biweekly program for 9-10 year old youth and their adult main food preparer. It was used to evaluate the curriculum for the intervention of a 2-year childhood obesity prevention study. Forty iCook 4-H classes were implemented for 150 dyads by 16 leaders between September and December, 2013, in Maine, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The evaluation included measures of fidelity of implementation, process evaluation, and program outcomes. The Fidelity of Implementation instrument, composed of 6-tool, was developed to determine if the program was implemented as intended. Based on evaluation of 23% of 240 total sessions, evaluators reported session objectives were met 96% of the time; youth (3.86±0.34] and adults (3.75±0.33] were almost very engaged in thesessions and leaders were almost very effective (3.70±0.69) (scale range, l=not engaged/effective to 4=very engaged/effective). During process evaluation—a 5- minute online survey at the end of each session—youth consistently selected preparing” and tasting” new recipes as learning experiences for the day over each of the six sessions. They increased selecting learning about new and fun ways of being physically active from Session 1 to 6 (p=0.01). Through Word Cloud methodology, the importance of family meals was documented by both youth and adults. The strong positive trend in increasing family meals (p=0.75) and significant increase (p=0.05) in physical activity reported among youth were promising evidence of changing behavior among youth. The program outcome instruments, developed through confirmatory factor analyses, were internally consistent (youth a=0.80; adult a=0.73) and reliable (youth 0- to 4-month r=0.81, 0-to 12-month r=0.75; adult 0- 4-month r=0.83; 0- to 12-month r=0.73). A scoring mechanism was established, and results were reported as part of the intervention study findings. While incorporating a comprehensive evaluation into community-based programming can be time-intensive, measuring program evaluation in a manner that allows for reliable results and comparison across groups and over time can provide the types of data that are needed to demonstrate program effectiveness and receive recognition for program outcomes from administrators

Extra dimensions and Strong Neutrino-Nucleon interactions above 101910^{19} eV : Breaking the GZK Barrier

Cosmic ray events above $10^{20}$ eV are on the verge of confronting fundamental particle physics. The neutrino is the only candidate primary among established particles capable of crossing 100 Mpc intergalactic distances unimpeded. The magnitude of $\nu N$ cross sections indicated by events, plus consistency with the Standard Model at low-energy, point to new physics of massive spin-2 exchange. In models based on extra dimensions, we find that the $\nu N$ cross section rises to typical hadronic values of between 1 and 100 mb at energies above $10^{20}$ eV. Our calculations take into account constraints of unitarity. We conclude that air-showers observed with energies above $10^{19}$ eV are consistent with neutrino primaries and extra-dimension models. An {\it upper bound} of 1-10 TeV on the mass scale at which graviton exchange becomes strong in current Kaluza-Klein models follows.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures, minor change

RNA pseudoknots: folding and finding

RNA pseudoknots are important for function. Three-dimensional structural information is available, insights into factors affecting pseudoknot stability are being reported, and computer programs are available for predicting pseudoknots

Erosion and Repair of Unlined Spillway Chute Excavated in Rock

Discharges up to 60,000 cfs that lasted 21 days caused extensive erosion of the unlined spillway chute excavated in alternating layers of limestone and shale. An empirical model allowed to evaluate the extent of erosion anticipated for future events. Parametric calculations showed that relatively low discharges a long period of time are critical for the induced damage. It was determined that the spillway can safely pass the design discharge if weathering of rock exposed by erosion is prevented. Accordingly, the interim repair was designed to protect the rock units, especially the critical limestone layers, from weathering. Although it is expected much of the repair to be eroded during future spillway flows, it will ensure the spillway can safely pass the next discharge event

Higher Education Exchange: 2008

This annual publication serves as a forum for new ideas and dialogue between scholars and the larger public. Essays explore ways that students, administrators, and faculty can initiate and sustain an ongoing conversation about the public life they share.The Higher Education Exchange is founded on a thought articulated by Thomas Jefferson in 1820: "I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education."In the tradition of Jefferson, the Higher Education Exchange agrees that a central goal of higher education is to help make democracy possible by preparing citizens for public life. The Higher Education Exchange is part of a movement to strengthen higher education's democratic mission and foster a more democratic culture throughout American society.Working in this tradition, the Higher Education Exchange publishes interviews, case studies, analyses, news, and ideas about efforts within higher education to develop more democratic societies