What Students Tell Us About School If We Ask

This article examines what school climate factors students perceive as helping them be successful in school, and what school administrators can do to aid the process. Specifically, the questions that drove this inquiry were How does sociocultural theory impact student voice and student engagement in the classroom? How does caring pedagogy impact student voice and student engagement in the classroom? What school climate factors do students perceive as helping them to be successful in school

The Effect of Stuttering and Fluency-enhancing Conditions on a Manual Movement Task

The present study investigated the possibility of finding and quantifying correlates of stuttering behaviors outside of the speech production system. One female and six male adults who stutter (aged 22-49) drew continuous circles on a digital x-y pad under seven conditions: 1) while silent, 2) while reading alone, 3) while reading under choral speech, 4) while reading under frequency altered feedback (FAF) shifted up one-half octave, 5) while reading under FAF shifted down one-half octave, 6) while reading under delayed auditory feedback (DAF) of 100 milliseconds (ms), and 7) while reading under DAF of 200ms. Normalized jerk (NJ), a measure of motor disfluency, was measured during the drawing tasks. In addition, the proportion of stuttered syllables was computed for all reading tasks. Seven age and gender matched non-stuttering participants were also tested to examine group differences in NJ measures. Participants in the stuttering group displayed higer levels of mean NJ than controls in all reading conditions, but not for the silent condition. For the stuttering group, mean NJ measures were lowest in the silent (non-reading task), and showed a 49% increase for the unassisted (solo) reading condition. In terms of stuttering frequency, solo reading, the condition in which NJ measures were the highest, was also the condition which produced the highest mean proportion of stuttered syllables (0.13). During the choral condition, in which stuttering was reduced by 95% to its lowest level (0.01), the NJ measures were reduced by approximately 20%, more than any other reading task. The FAF and DAF conditions resulted in 58-75% decreases in stuttering frequency, and NJ values that were lower than solo reading, but higher than the choral condition. For the control subjects, the mean NJ values remained relatively stable across conditions. In conclusion, for the stuttering group, under conditions in which stuttering frequency was high, NJ measures were high, and under fluency-enhancing conditions which lowered the stuttering frequency, NJ measures also decreased. Thus, it appears that stuttering can produce quantifiable disfluent effects on motor systems beyond the speech motor system and that reductions in overt stuttering are related to reductions in measures of normalized jerk

Using the MMPI-A to Predict Recidivism in Adjudicated Minors

This study explored the ability of selected subscales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent; an objective measure of personality used in the psychological evaluation of juvenile delinquents (Archer & Krishnamurthy, 2002), to predict recidivism. Previous literature suggested the subscales reflecting “excitatory” behavior have been useful in discriminating delinquent from nondelinquent adolescents. In this study, three scales that reflect excitatory behavior, including one Clinical Scale (4- Psychopathic Deviate) and two of the Content Scales (Adolescent-Conduct Problems and Adolescent-Cynicism), were used to predict recidivism for adjudicated minors. For the purposes of this study, recidivism was defined by legal charges, excluding detainment. Participants included 107 males, ages 12-17 (x= 14.5 sd= 1.25), with the following ethnic representation, 32 Caucasian (30%), 34 Native American (32%), and 41 Hispanic American (38%). Juveniles were assessed and then followed for one-year post-assessment, and recidivism was measured according to the presence or absence of subsequent legal charges, not including detainment. Results showed that both A-Conduct Problems and Scale 4 successfully predicted recidivism with the strongest relationship between A-Con and re-offense. In the regression analysis, A-Con explained 29.8% of the variance, and Scale 4 increased the predictive utility by 2.7% accounting for 32% of the variance in recidivism. Results suggest that the content of the A-Con scale may capture some of the attitudes and behaviors that characterize these high-risk adolescents

Contraception Options and Provision to Adolescents

Adolescent pregnancy is a significant cause of global morbidity and mortality. Adolescents who become pregnancy have lower educational attainment, are more likely to live in poverty, and have lower wellbeing. Increasing access to hormonal contraceptives and long acting reversible contraception is highly effective in reducing adolescent pregnancies. This narrative review covers key aspects of the provision of contraception to adolescents, including confidentiality, counseling, and data supporting expanded access to adolescents. We provide information for pediatric providers to start adolescent patients on contraceptives, including a detailed description of each method, including effectiveness, use, starting, side effects and benefits. Tools for counseling and prescribing are provided

Heteronormative Hegemonic Gender Performances on Dating Apps

Gender is the socially constructed norms, expectations, and roles assigned based on biological sex. Thus, gender is the actions and behaviors expected of men and women, while sex is a set of biological checkboxes used to categorize bodies into the male/female binary (Lewontin, 1991; Lorber, 1993). Both sex and gender are continually constructed, maintained, and reinforced through social interactions and formative gender performances (Martin, 2004; Schwalbe, 1998; West & Zimmerman, 1987). Contemporarily, these hegemonic expectations of doing gender are perpetuated by modern technology, such as online dating and/or dating apps. When reinforcing gender norms, most dating apps establish a space of hyper-masculinity, where men must put on their best performances to attract potential partners (Eller & Walker, 2016; Hanson, 2022). On the other hand, women are given more opportunities to express their gender in nonnormative ways. For example, apps like Bumble force women to make the first move, therefore, destabilizing the heteronormative, hegemonic sexual script (Cvetkovska & Arora, 2020; Owen & Gerber, 2017). The goal of this exploratory research is to better understand the heteronormative, hegemonic gender performances on apps. Through Dr. Pryor’s Social Research Methods class, we sent an online survey to her Introduction to Sociology classes, analyzed secondary data from the ICPSR database, conducted content analysis by looking at online dating profiles, and lastly, interviewed students about their gender performance and gender expectations on dating apps. In this presentation, we will clearly explain our methodologies, processes, analyses, findings, and potential future research

Collaboration and Creativity: A case study of how design thinking created a cultural cluster in Dublin

Tourism is a rapidly expanding industry with a wide range of economic benefits. Expenditure by tourists visiting Ireland was estimated to be €4bn in 2012, a 4.4% increase on 2011, adding to tourism expenditure by Irish residents of €1.4bn. Tourism accounts for 4% of national GDP and 6% of all employment in Ireland. Following the economic collapse in Ireland post 2007, the national tourism agency (Fáilte Ireland) has had to dramatically alter its role from being a funder for tourism infrastructure to being a catalyst for and facilitator of collaborative R&D and innovation . This paper explores a case study of one such innovation initiative: a collaborative innovation experiment that brought together over 30 of Ireland’s most significant cultural institutions (including the National Gallery of Ireland, National Library of Ireland, Museum of Natural History) and commercial bodies to use a design thinking process to develop Merrion Square as a new, more integrated cultural tourism destination. Merrion Square is a 'cluster' or geographic concentration of cultural organisations that, in this case, cooperated to focus on delivering new and better cultural experiences for visitors. The group drew on ethnographic research; involved customers, tour operators, historians, local community activists and artists, and used them to develop a portfolio of novel ideas for individual and joint implementation. The outcome has been the launch of a series of successful new visitor experiences and the development of a far higher level of cooperation between the institutions. 85% of the institutions involved report increased visitor numbers as a consequence of the project – with some specific events reporting an attendance rate up over 42% on the prior year. Such events are now synchronised through a management company comprised of the member institutions. This paper makes a valuable contribution by outlining the role of design-thinking in collaborative, multisectoral tourism service design and by spotlighting the role of trends research

Muscle Fatigue Resistance via Energy Drink Consumption – Assessment of Pre- and Post- Experiment Participant Feedback

Energy drink consumption poses a health risk among college students, and long-term health implications are unclear. Because energy drinks are classified as dietary supplements, the FDA is not responsible for proving consumption is safe for the consumer. This research project studies the consumption of an energy drink and an energy bean’s effect on muscle fatigue using a grip force transducer, subjective perceptions of the participants after consumption across the two trials, and subjects’ opinion of energy drinks after the conclusion of the experiment. All subjects, ages 18-24 and regular users of caffeine, were recruited through email at the University of Mississippi to participate in this blind study where the investigator was aware of whether the subject consumes the caffeine-containing energy drink/bean or the placebo, but the subject was not. Grip strength (MVC), time-to-fatigue, heart rate, and pulse rate before and after consumption of the energy drink, or energy bean, were measured. Subjects consumed 8 ounces of an energy drink (containing 80 mg of caffeine or placebo) or 42.5 g of energy beans (containing 75 mg of caffeine or placebo). 10 minutes after consumption the subject was asked to squeeze a grip force for as long and hard as possible until fatigued. After measuring the physiological time-to-fatigue, grip strength, heart rate, and pulse rate, each subject completed a survey assessing his or her alertness and energy levels. One week later, subjects returned for participation in the second trial of the study. In the second trial, baseline measurement of grip strength (MVC) and heart rate were also measured. If the subject consumed the caffeinated energy drink or bean in the first trial, he or she consumed the placebo drink or bean in the second trial, and vice versa. The second part of the experiment measured the same values as the first part (physiological time-to-fatigue, grip strength, heart rate, and the subjective assessment). When all data were collected, subjects were provided with the post-experiment results, as well as information on the effects of energy drinks. After reviewing the results, subjects completed the free response exit survey. Significant physiological changes (MVC, time-to-fatigue, and heart rate) after consumption of the energy bean were not found. There was a significant decrease in maximum voluntary contraction after consumption of the energy drink, but no other significant physiological changes. Subjects who consumed the placebo and caffeinated version of the solid-form and the placebo version of the liquid-form did report a significant increase in mental focus. While previous studies have found physiological differences, such as increased heart rate, muscular strength, and time-to-fatigue from the ingestion of caffeine in energy drinks and energy beans, the present study did not find the same results.. This could have been due to subjects ingesting a too little dosage of caffeine, and variances in subjects activity levels, habitual dietary intake of caffeine, and the timing of the experiment. By increasing the amount of caffeine consumed, the subjective perceptions of mental focus, energy levels, and degree of fatigue may have clearer results. In the future, the mg of caffeine consumed should be increased or tailor-made to the subjects’ body weight to induce physiological results

Seabird ecology in high-energy environments: approaches to assessing impacts of marine renewables

It has been widely acknowledged that a global change in energy production, from fossil fuels to renewable sources, is required in order to reduce carbon dioxide outputs and help mitigate anthropogenic climate change. The UK is recognised as having one of the largest practical marine energy resources in Europe, including ‘wet renewables’ energy sources; tidal-stream and wave energy. Scotland, as well as having some of the best marine energy resources, also holds internationally important numbers of breeding seabirds. Both wave energy and tidal stream devices have the potential to place a new anthropogenic pressure on already declining seabird populations. Wet renewables are predicted to impact seabird populations through collision, disturbance, habitat loss and changes to food availability. However, few devices have been deployed to enable monitoring of impacts and there have been few studies of the ecological implications and magnitude of any impacts to these populations. The aim of this thesis is to address key knowledge gaps relating to our understanding of seabird ecology in high-energy marine environments, specifically exploring spatial, temporal and habitat drivers for their use of these areas. This is to help expand the scientific basis used to assess the impacts of marine renewable energy devices on marine birds. This thesis also aims to increase our understanding of bird survey requirements for wet renewable energy schemes to help develop methods for environmental impact assessment. Chapters 2, 3 and 4 demonstrate that marine birds show differing spatial and temporal patterns of abundance and behaviour within high-energy marine environments. By using shore-based vantage point methods in three high-energy areas in the Northern Isles, I explore some variations in vantage point methods. Chapter 5 provides the most extensive and up-to-date review of diving and foraging behaviour for UK marine bird species. I identify knowledge gaps including the species and parameters for which there are a paucity of studies. I demonstrate a more robust approach to data collection in these high-energy tidal stream, which can shed insight on how they are being used by marine birds, while the diving and foraging behaviour synthesis provided many of the values that are required to undertake underwater collision risk modeling. It is hoped that developers can adopt the approaches identified here, which will improve the accuracy of their assessments and improve monitoring of any potential impacts

Premenarchal Girls' Genital Examination Experiences

Purpose To explore girls' experiences having an external genital examination during early adolescence. Methods Ten premenarchal girls were interviewed about their experiences receiving an external genital examination as part of a larger longitudinal study. Qualitative methods were used for analysis, looking for concepts based on themes and shared beliefs among the girls to create a model of the genital examination experience. Results Most participants could not remember ever having a genital examination before enrollment in the larger study. The examination was best characterized as “weird,” and many aspects of the examination were novel. Overall, genital examinations were not experienced negatively because of moderating factors like having support from mothers during the examination and having examiner preferences toward gender and personal characteristics. With repeated study examinations in the larger study and for those participants who reported their provider performed genital examinations, the examination was viewed as a skill for growing up or routine. Conclusions External genital examinations, although a new experience for many girls, can be experienced positively. Providers should address concerns about this important recommended examination and acknowledge that examiner attributes, mothers, and experience of having examinations all influence how genital examinations are experienced

IUD Use in Adolescents With Disabilities

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are safe, highly effective, and recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as a first-line contraceptive option for adolescents.1,2 In this month’s Pediatrics, Schwartz et al3 examine the use of IUDs among adolescents with disabilities, providing further evidence that IUDs are safe for menstrual management and contraception in this population. In their work, Schwartz et al3 raise 3 important issues in IUD use and contraceptive decisions among adolescents with disabilities: recognition of the adolescent’s sexuality and rights to sexual and reproductive health; the need to incorporate quality of life into risk/benefit decisions; and the use of shared and supported decision-making approaches to maximize autonomy and dignity