Publishing undergraduate research: linking teaching and research through a dedicated peer reviewed open access journal

In 2015, the University of Huddersfield Press launched Fields: the journal of Huddersfield student research. The journal was developed with two key purposes: ensuring that high quality student research was made available to a broader audience and inspiring students to work to the highest standards by considering the potential of their work for impact in the wider world. The existing literature is reviewed regarding the growth of student research journals, as well as some of the benefits these journals can offer to students. The institutional rationale for Fields is outlined and the process of setting up a multidisciplinary open access student research journal is discussed. The outcomes of an evaluation are presented with particular focus to lessons learned and future developments to improve support for authors. The experience of the project team will be useful to universities and university presses considering strategies for supporting students to develop research for publication/dissemination

Body Dissatisfaction and Weight Bias in Children

This article reviews the rate of body dissatisfaction and weight bias among young children. It was initially hypothesized that body-image begins much earlier than adolescence, where most interventions take place. Out of fifty articles read on the subject, forty-five peer reviewed articles were included in this review. The findings of these articles were synthesized for a comprehensive review on the topic. Results suggested that weight bias begins around three years of age, while body dissatisfaction begins around age five for girls, and seven for boys. Rates of body dissatisfaction among children were similar to the rate among adolescents, averaging out to be 50%. Results were also similar between males and females, concluding that body dissatisfaction is similar regardless of gender. However, protective factors, such as race and ethnicity, and the absence of weight bias and misclassification in parents, often decreased the rates of body dissatisfaction. Interventions have been implemented as a means to increase body satisfaction in children and adolescents, but none have been successful. Most interventions provided an increase in knowledge for participants, but changes in behavior were not seen long term. The conclusions reached in this study include an optimal age for intervention, between three and seven, and provide information on where this dissatisfaction could stem from

Structured feedback training for timeout: Efficacy and efficiency in comparison to a didactic model

Although time-out has been demonstrated to be effective across multiple settings, little research exists on effective methods for training others to implement time-out. The present set of studies is an exploratory analysis of a structured feedback method for training time-out using repeated role-plays. The three studies examined (a) a between-subjects comparison to more a traditional didactic/video modeling method of time-out training, (b) a within-subjects comparison to traditional didactic/video modeling training for another skill, and (c) the impact of structured feedback training on in-home time-out implementation. Though findings are only preliminary and more research is needed, the structured feedback method appears across studies to be an efficient, effective method that demonstrates good maintenance of skill up to 3 months post training. Findings suggest, though do not confirm, a benefit of the structured feedback method over a more traditional didactic/video training model. Implications and further research on the method are discussed

JUMP-LANDING KINETIC ASYMMETRIES PERSISTED DESPITE SYMMETRIC SQUAT KINETICS IN COLLEGIATE ATHLETES FOLLOWING ACL RECONSTRUCTION

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) re-injury rates are high in collegiate athletes. Squats and countermovement jumps (CMJ) are commonly used for assessments and training after ACL reconstruction (ACLR). The purpose was to quantify the differences and correlations in kinetic asymmetries between squats and CMJs in collegiate athletes following ACLR. Fourteen athletes performed 1-2 squats and CMJs within 24-month following ACLR for a total of 25 assessments. Greater kinetic asymmetries showed in CMJs than squats. Kinetic asymmetries strongly correlated between the ascending and descending phases in squats and moderately between the jumping and landing phases in CMJs. Two phases of squats moderately correlated with the jumping phase of CMJs but the landing phase. CMJ kinetic asymmetries should be directly assessed and trained for mitigating ACL re-injury risk

A high content, small molecule screen identifies candidate molecular pathways that regulate rod photoreceptor outer segment renewal

The outer segment of the vertebrate rod photoreceptor is a highly modified cilium composed of many discrete membranous discs that are filled with the protein machinery necessary for phototransduction. The unique outer segment structure is renewed daily with growth at the base of the outer segment where new discs are formed and shedding at the distal end where old discs are phagocytized by the retinal pigment epithelium. In order to understand how outer segment renewal is regulated to maintain outer segment length and function, we used a small molecule screening approach with the transgenic (hsp70:HA-mCherryTM) zebrafish, which expresses a genetically-encoded marker of outer segment renewal. We identified compounds with known bioactivity that affect five content areas: outer segment growth, outer segment shedding, clearance of shed outer segment tips, Rhodopsin mislocalization, and differentiation at the ciliary marginal zone. Signaling pathways that are targeted by the identified compounds include cyclooxygenase in outer segment growth, γ-Secretase in outer segment shedding, and mTor in RPE phagocytosis. The data generated by this screen provides a foundation for further investigation of the signaling pathways that regulate photoreceptor outer segment renewal

Policy in Support of Pedagogy: Collaboration Among Scientists, Science Educators, and Engineers in Preparing Qualified K-8 STEM Teachers

Teachers with knowledge of science and science teach-ing pedagogy are essential to teaching science in K-12 schools. We present collaborative efforts among science and science education faculty members that build a sci-ence teacher program with an overarching objective of training qualified science teachers. Our Foundational Level General Science program goes beyond increasing science content knowledge. Its design fosters a sustained collaboration for faculty in science and education to in-tegrate inquiry-based pedagogy into curricula with the goal of recruiting and retaining STEM teachers. Our ex-perience suggests that certain policies within the higher education infrastructure are necessary to sustain these efforts

Materials for Heated Head Automated Thermoplastic Tape Placement

NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) is currently pursuing multiple paths to develop out of autoclave (OOA) polymeric composite materials and processes. Polymeric composite materials development includes the synthesis of new and/or modified thermosetting and thermoplastic matrix resins designed for specific OOA processes. OOA processes currently under investigation include vacuum bag only (VBO) prepreg/composite fabrication, resin transfer molding (RTM), vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) and heated head automated thermoplastic tape placement (HHATP). This paper will discuss the NASA Langley HHATP facility and capabilities and recent work on characterizing thermoplastic tape quality and requirements for quality part production. Samples of three distinct versions of APC-2 (AS4/PEEK) thermoplastic dry tape were obtained from two materials vendors, TENCATE, Inc. and CYTEC Engineered Materials** (standard grade and an experimental batch). Random specimens were taken from each of these samples and subjected to photo-microscopy and surface profilometry. The CYTEC standard grade of APC-2 tape had the most voids and splits and the highest surface roughness and/or waviness. Since the APC-2 tape is composed of a thermoplastic matrix, it offers the flexibility of reprocessing to improve quality, and thereby improve final quality of HHATP laminates. Discussions will also include potential research areas and future work that is required to advance the state of the art in the HHATP process for composite fabrication

Optimising commercial traits through gene editing in aquaculture: Strategies for accelerating genetic improvement

Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing food production sectors. As the global human population continues to increase and further pressure is added to the prospects of achieving global food security, aquaculture is expected to play an integral role in meeting future nutrition demands. With advances in genetic technologies over recent years, much progress has been made within the realm of selective breeding. Despite success, selective breeding programs have limitations to the rate of genetic gain they can achieve. The incorporation of targeted genetic technologies, such as gene editing, into research related to selective breeding programs will help identify specific genes related to commercially desirable traits, as well as expedite genetic improvement. This review summarises research encompassing the most commonly targeted traits using gene editing within aquaculture, namely reproduction and development, pigmentation, growth and disease resistance. In addition, this review illustrates how the incorporation of gene editing can expedite genetic improvement through the rapid fixation of desirable alleles, as well as suggests strategies to accelerate genetic improvement for aquaculture production