Work-Related Stress and Coping Strategies for Elementary Teachers

The purpose of the study was to examine kindergarten through fifth grade teachers’ responses regarding their work-related stressors, the type of manifestations of stress, both emotional and/or behavioral, they experienced due to work-related stress, and their identification of coping strategies used to reduce their work-related stress. The teachers who participated in the study were from identified school districts in northern Minnesota. The study participants completed a 21 question online survey based on the Teacher Stress Inventory developed by Dr. Michael J. Fimian in 1984 and through the researcher’s teaching experiences. The intent of the study was to assist classroom teachers and their administrators in acknowledging that work-related stress does exist and that there are strategies that could assist teachers with coping with work-related stressors. Study findings revealed kindergarten through fifth grade teachers in select northern Minnesota schools reported the most noticeable work-related stressors were described by the following statements: there is too much work to do; student behaviors negatively impact my ability to perform my job; there is little time to prepare for my lessons/responsibilities; and my personal priorities were being short-changed due to time demands at work. Those most noticeable work-related stressors represent emotional manifestations of stress. Physical manifestations of stress reported by the study participants included: feeling tired before arriving to work; physical exhaustion; and becoming fatigued over a short period of time. The coping strategies most used to cope with work-related stressors were identified by study participants as personal and family relationships, physical activity, and entertainment. The study results indicated that teachers should be made aware that they could benefit from implementing coping strategies to address work-related stress and that those strategies, such as mindfulness and healthy habits and relationships, provide ways to manage their stress. Furthermore, school districts leaders should be cognizant of the immense stress teachers experience and, as a result, invest in professional development opportunities, such as mindfulness-based programs, that can be customized to address this important issue

Description of an experimental (hydrogen peroxide) rocket system and its use in measuring aileron and rudder effectiveness of a light airplane

A hydrogen peroxide fueled rocket system, which is to be used as a research tool in flight studies of stall and spin maneuvers, was installed on a light, four place general aviation airplane. The pilot controlled rocket system produces moments about either the roll or the yaw body axis to augment or oppose the aerodynamic forces and inertial moments acting on the airplane during various flight maneuvers, including the spin. These controlled moments of a known magnitude can be used in various ways to help analyze and interpret the importance of the various factors which influence airplane maneuvers. The rocket system and its installation in the airplane are described, and the results of flight rests used to measure rudder and aileron effectiveness at airspeeds above the stall are presented. These tests also serve to demonstrate the operational readiness of the rocket system for future research operations

General Characteristics of a Airspeed System using Fuselage Static Vents on a Swept-Wing Airplane

Studies have been made by the NACA wing-flow method of the use of fuselage static orifices between the wing and tail of a swept-wing airplane for possible application to service airspeed installations. The tests were made at zero angle of attack. The results indicate that, although the maximum errors are large, these locations are usable from the consideration that the local Mach numbers at the locations studied are sensitive to variation of the true Mach number within the test Mach number range of 0.7 to 1.2. The maximum errors in Mach number in the subsonic range varied from zero for the most forward location to -0.05 for the most rearward location (indicated Mach number less than true). At Mach numbers above 1.0, the maximum errors were from 0.14 for the most forward location to 0.04 for the most rearward location

Chondrule magnetic properties

The topics discussed include the following: chondrule magnetic properties; chondrules from the same meteorite; and REM values (the ratio for remanence initially measured to saturation remanence in 1 Tesla field). The preliminary field estimates for chondrules magnetizing environments range from minimal to a least several mT. These estimates are based on REM values and the characteristics of the remanence initially measured (natural remanence) thermal demagnetization compared to the saturation remanence in 1 Tesla field demagnetization

Total synthesis of spirofungins A and B and formal synthesis of the C1-C38 fragment of (+)-sorangicin A

The enantioselective total synthesis of spirofungins A and B is reported in 14 steps over the longest linear sequence. The synthesis of three key fragments in six steps or less and excellent overall yield allowed for the assembly of spirofungins A and B in a highly efficient manner. Highlights of the synthesis include the use of thiazolidinethione-mediated aldol reactions to install five of the seven stereocenters, and the appendage of the C1-C6 unsaturated side chain through a challenging cross metathesis reaction. Efforts towards the total synthesis of (+)-sorangicin A resulted in the completion of a formal synthesis of the C1-C38 fragment. The preparation of three orthogonally differentiated cyclic ether fragments allowed for the investigation of several coupling strategies for assembly of the natural product. A cross metathesis reaction was employed to form the C29-C30 bond and unite the bicyclic ether and tetrahydropyran fragments. It was our intention to utilize a second cross metathesis reaction to install the C15-C16 olefin and append the dihydropyran moiety to the rest of the molecule; however, a low yield for this cross metathesis reaction prompted us to instead use a Julia-Kocienski olefination to arrive at the C1-C38 fragment. Completion of the total synthesis of (+)-sorangicin A can be achieved in six known steps from this advanced intermediate

Weighted Devices for Somatosensory Regulation

Description: A weighted vest is a vest that typically has 10% of a person’s body weight evenly distributed around the vest (Olson et al., 2004). A weighted vest can provide sensory input that is believed to alleviate dysregulation, inattentiveness, and stereotypic behaviors (Carter et al., 2009). Goal: Our community group is specifically targeting children with sensory processing impairments who are attending speech therapy sessions at the RiteCare clinic. Sensory behaviors exhibited by the clients are most commonly shown through dysregulation, outbursts, inattentiveness, and hyperactivity. The goal is to limit these maladaptive behaviors and increase attention span during intervention sessions. Weighted vests have been shown to be effective with remediating these problems, and improving hyperactivity, stereotypic behaviors and clumsiness (Carter et al., 2009). This product decreases sensory modulation dysfunction and will lower arousal states (Lin et al., 2014). In turn, improving attention, increasing time for on task behavior, and decreasing distractibility while wearing the vest (Collins et al., 2011)

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Spirofungins A and B

The enantioselective total synthesis of spirofungins A (1) and B (2) is reported in 14 steps over the longest linear sequence. Key steps include the use of thiazolidinethione mediated aldol reactions to assemble the major fragments and installation of the C1–C6 side chain using a cross metathesis reaction