The Development and Initial Validation of the Suicide Prevention Attitudes Rating Scale

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for the 10-24 age range (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). Despite national attention, youth suicide rates have increased by 50% since 1999 (CDC WISQARS, 2018). To better target and evaluate school-based suicide prevention efforts, this study undertakes the development and initial validation of the Suicide Prevention Attitudes Rating Scale (SPARS) in a sample of California school principals. After a thorough literature review and initial item development, experts in the suicide prevention field reviewed and provided feedback on the initial items and construct definition. A cognitive interview protocol with school principals was then used to ensure items are interpreted as intended. After a large-scale data collection process, psychometric analyses used methods from classical psychometrics, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and item response theory to refine the internal structure of the measure. Through these methods, the study collects initial validity evidence in the areas of test content evidence, response process evidence, evidence of internal psychometric structure, and evidence based on relations to other variables (AERA, APA, NCME, 2014)

Flooding Schools: School Mental Health Providers and the Climate Crisis

This study provides an example of using a problem-solving model to explore the impact of the climate crisis on schools. Using publicly available climate change and flooding prediction data, we estimate that by 2100, assuming a “medium” climate change scenario, more than 1677 schools in the coastal United States are expected to flood every year and more than 2262 schools are expected to flood every 10 years. Within the data, “medium” is defined as warming levels that will lead to an estimated five feet of sea level rise by the year 2100. Limitations in the data suggest these numbers are likely overly conservative estimates and preclude the analysis of more extreme climate models. Potential actions, the role school mental health providers, and the involvement of students in climate advocacy are discussed

Hill plots for yield evaluation in a doubled haploid recurrent selection program in barley (Hordeum vulgare L)

Seven selected doubled haploid lines, from each of three cycles (C0, C1, C2) of a diallel recurrent selection program, the seven original parents and two check cultivars were evaluated in replicated hill and row plots at two locations in Ontario in 1988 and 1989. Comparison of hill and row plots using means ranges, coefficient of variation, repeatability and correlations among traits indicated that grain yield, days to heading plant height and powdery mildew resistance could be evaluated with similar accuracy and precision using either of the methods. Regression of row plot yield on hill plot yield was positive and highly significant showing a strong relationship between the two plot types for grain yield. Selection efficiency in hill plots was high for all the traits. The percentage of lines with similar performance for yield in both the plot types was high. The hill plot method appears to be a useful technique for evaluating homozygous lines for yield and other agronomic traits in a doubled haploid recurrent selection program in six-row barley

The Bright and Dark Sides of Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme: The Case of Latvia

Evidence collected by researchers over several decades suggests that the successful implementation of the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS) may deliver significant, cost-effective energy savings over many years. However, before starting EEOS in Latvia, predictions by energy efficiency policy researchers envisaged that it is at high risk of savings shortfalls. This study aims to carry out an ex-post policy evaluation of EEOS in Latvia and assess its ability to deliver significant savings in the first phase of the new EEOS. This paper questions whether the new EEOS can reach savings goals without prior experience with voluntary agreement schemes and emulation of successful EEOS from other countries. The second goal of the research is to create a web-based optimization tool as an Interactive Learning Environment to help policymakers and EEOS-obliged parties to create goal-oriented strategies. The study has found that, contrary to expectations, Latvia has reached and even overfulfilled EEOS saving goals. Estimated cumulative savings obtained during the starting phase (329.2 GWh) are 68% higher than the cumulative savings planned by the policymakers for 2020 (234 GWh). This success is related to the enforcement of a stick-type approach in the policy. However, the study also revealed the dark side of EEOS implementation by discussing different types of energy efficiency measures applied by EEOS and the role of implementing and monitoring institutions. The ex-ante evaluation projected that 50% of the EEOS savings would be derived from information and education measures and 50% through contributions to the Energy Efficiency Fund or by implementing the most cost-effective energy efficiency measures. The ex-post evaluation shows that around 95% of savings are achieved through information measures and the rest by introducing energy efficiency measures on the consumer side. EEOS parties do not contribute to the Fund because the cost of information measures (on average 4 EUR/MWh) is significantly lower than the contribution to the Fund (70 EUR/MWh)