Plant Community Associations of Two Invasive Thistles

In order to combat the growing problems associated with biological invasions, many researchers have focused on identifying which communities are most vulnerable to invasion by exotic species. However, once established, invasive species can significantly change the composition of the communities that they invade. The first step to disentangling the direction of causality is to discern whether a relationship with other vegetation exists at all. Carduus nutans and C. acanthoides are similar invasive thistles, which have caused substantial economic damage worldwide. We assessed the associations between the thistles and the standing flora in four sites in central Pennsylvania in which they co-occur. After sampling nearly 2000 plots of 1 m2, we used partial Mantel tests to assess the differences in vegetation between thistle and non-thistle plots after accounting for location, and non-metric multidimensional scaling to visualize differences among plots and sites. We found significant differences in community composition in plots with and without Carduus thistles. The non-native species Sisymbrium officinale and Coronilla varia were consistently associated with the presence of Carduus thistles. Several species were associated with areas that were free of Carduus thistles, including an important non-native pasture species (Trifolium repens). We found no evidence for differences in composition between plots with C. nutans versus C. acanthoides, suggesting that they have similar associations with the vegetation community. We conclude that even at the within-field scale, areas invaded by Carduus thistles have different vegetation associations than uninvaded areas, allowing us to target future research about the role of vegetation structure in resisting and responding to invasion

Plant Community Associations of Two Invasive Thistles

In order to combat the growing problems associated with biological invasions, many researchers have focused on identifying which communities are most vulnerable to invasion by exotic species. However, once established, invasive species can significantly change the composition of the communities that they invade. The first step to disentangling the direction of causality is to discern whether a relationship with other vegetation exists at all. Carduus nutans and C. acanthoides are similar invasive thistles, which have caused substantial economic damage worldwide. We assessed the associations between the thistles and the standing flora in four sites in central Pennsylvania in which they co-occur. After sampling nearly 2000 plots of 1 m2, we used partial Mantel tests to assess the differences in vegetation between thistle and non-thistle plots after accounting for location, and non-metric multidimensional scaling to visualize differences among plots and sites. We found significant differences in community composition in plots with and without Carduus thistles. The non-native species Sisymbrium officinale and Coronilla varia were consistently associated with the presence of Carduus thistles. Several species were associated with areas that were free of Carduus thistles, including an important non-native pasture species (Trifolium repens). We found no evidence for differences in composition between plots with C. nutans versus C. acanthoides, suggesting that they have similar associations with the vegetation community. We conclude that even at the within-field scale, areas invaded by Carduus thistles have different vegetation associations than uninvaded areas, allowing us to target future research about the role of vegetation structure in resisting and responding to invasion

From ‘Harry Potter’ to ‘Bachelor Boy’ and beyond: Bridging the gap between expectations and reality for first year students

The focus of this paper is two-fold: to present data from a research project which explores the expectations/reality mismatches of first year students who were first in the family to attend university and to outline two different approaches that address the needs of beginning students. Undoubtedly, most new students arriving at university experience varying degrees of ‘culture shock’ when their expectations fail to match the reality they encounter. However, for students from equity backgrounds and those who are the first in family, this mismatch can be immense. Many of the expectations presumed both prior to arrival at university and during the initial stages of study may remain hidden or unexplained. There is now widespread recognition of the need to provide improved preparation and support for students entering the tertiary sector. A key implication for each university must be to establish a ‘community of practice’ that serves to initiate new students into its institutional culture

Addressing social, emotional, and organizational goals for a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have social, emotional, and organizational skill deficits which are frequently addressed through behavioral based skills training. However, these approaches often do not result in generalization of skills. This case study sought to understand if the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP), a problem-solving approach, is effective for addressing social, emotional, and organizational goals with a child with an ASD. Pre and post-intervention assessments indicated an improvement on all three client-centered goals, with the client transferring his goals and problem-based strategies to the community. Analysis of video recordings of the intervention sessions indicated the global strategies Goal-PlanDo-Check were effective, with the participant spending most time in “plan.” A majority of the domain specific strategies did not apply to this case study. Additionally, the participant utilized “verbal guidance by therapist” most often and spent a majority of dimension of time on task “talking about the task.

Impact of Combat Experiences on Veteran Students in Adult Learning Environments: Two Research Perspectives

Multiple combat tours have impacts on combat veteran students performance in the adult education classroom. This paper reports the results from research that details challenges such students face

Understanding the psychosocial impact of Joint Hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

AbstractIntroduction: Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Hypermobility Type (EDS-HT) are heritable disorders affecting connective tissue. Existing research has predominately focused on biological features such as joint range of movement and pain, while less consideration has been given to psychosocial and behavioural factors.Methods: This multiphase mixed-methods design explored the lived experience of adults with JHS and EDS in three studies. Firstly, a systematic review of the literature appraised and analysed ten papers using thematic synthesis. Secondly, semi-structured telephone interviews with a purposive sample of 17 adults (14 women, 3 men), considered participants’ lived experiences and the psychosocial, cognitive and behavioural impact of JHS/EDS-HT on their lives. In the final study, these results were mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework and COM-B model in a behavioural analysis to identify potential behaviour change interventions. Intervention options were presented to focus group participants (n=9, all women) with JHS/EDS-HT to gain consensus on priorities in a modified nominal group technique (NGT).Results: Results from the systematic review showed that people with JHS and EDS experience difficulties being understood by others in society, have limited participation in social activities, and often depend on their families for help. Similarly, results from interviews indicated a general lack of awareness of JHS/EDS-HT, fears regarding injuries or decline in ability, and a range of positive coping strategies including physiotherapy. The behavioural analysis prioritised a number of different behaviour change interventions.Conclusion: The psychosocial impact of JHS/EDS-HT on adults is substantial, and there are a number of unmet areas of care and support for this population. Novel findings have been linked to potential intervention recommendations. The findingsare discussed and triangulated in relation to existing literature and implications for future research