“Bio Buddies:” Peer Tutoring as an Instructional Strategy

Peer tutoring (PALS) is an instructional strategy where peers act as “instructional agents” for fellow students. In this study, 10 high school biology students participated in a ten day peer-tutoring intervention to determine whether peer tutoring would 1) facilitate student academic success, 2) enhance student focus as well as engagement in biology class, and 3) favorably affect students’ behavior in class leading to fewer off- task behavioral problems. Baseline data and post-intervention data included scores on academic tasks, student surveys, student reflection journal entries, teacher observation field notes, and behavior checklists. Student scores were higher after peer-tutoring, with the exception of scores on the unit assessment. After peer-tutoring, off-task behavior in class was reduced. Most students “agreed strongly” that working with peers led to greater understanding, better focus on -task, and more enjoyment in studying biology

CATSAT: A 6U Inflatable Antenna Technology Demonstration Mission

This paper describes the design, development and flight testing of a half-meter spherical membrane reflector antenna built out of reflective and clear Mylar segments. A custom-built line feed optimized for operation at 10.5 GHz is used for spherical correction. The antenna system has been jointly developed by the University of Arizona and FreeFall Aerospace, Inc as primary payload to be demonstrated on-orbit on the University of Arizona’s 6U LEO mission CATSAT, nominally scheduled to launch no earlier than September 2022. The launch is a part of NASA’s CSLI program. The mission has been designed for a low earth sun-synchronous orbit. With the primary objective being the demonstration of high data rate transmission from the inflatable antenna system. This paper describes the mission and pre-flight development activities. We present key results from integration and testing activities and future work planned

Effective strategies to strengthen the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Introduction: The purpose of this paper is to draw on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) perspectives, theoretical understandings, and available evidence to answer questions about what is required to effectively address Indigenous people’s mental health and social and emotional wellbeing. Social and emotional wellbeing is a multifaceted concept. Although the term is often used to describe issues of ‘mental health’ and ‘mental illness’, it has a broader scope in that Indigenous culture takes a holistic view of health. It recognises the importance of connection to land, culture, spirituality, ancestry, family and community, how these connections have been shaped across generations, and the processes by which they affect individual wellbeing. It is a whole-of-life view, and it includes the interdependent relationships between families, communities, land, sea and spirit and the cyclical concept of life–death–life. Importantly, these concepts and understandings of maintaining and restoring health and social and emotional wellbeing differ markedly to those in many non-Indigenous-specific (or mainstream) programs that tend to emphasise an individual’s behavioural and emotional strengths and ability to adapt and cope with the challenges of life. This paper explores the central question of ‘what are culturally appropriate mental health and social and emotional wellbeing programs and services for Indigenous people, and how are these best delivered?’. It identifies Indigenous perspectives of what is required for service provision and program delivery that align with Indigenous beliefs, values, needs and priorities. It explores the evidence and consensus around the principles of best practice in Indigenous mental health programs and services. It discusses these principles of best practice with examples of programs and research that show how these values and perspectives can be achieved in program design and delivery. This paper seeks to provide an evidence-based, theoretically coherent discussion of the factors that influence the effective development, implementation and outcomes of initiatives to address Indigenous mental health and wellbeing issues. It seeks to assess whether the current investment in Indigenous people’s mental health is aligned with available evidence on what works. To this end, the paper reviews Australian literature and government health, mental health and social and emotional wellbeing policies and programs. The scope of programs and their criteria for inclusion in this paper are informed by the Key Result Area 4, Social and Emotional Wellbeing objectives, within the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health 2003–13: Australian Government Implementation Plan 2007–2013. This paper acknowledges the holistic nature of health, mental health and wellbeing, and the effects of Australia’s colonial history and legacy on the contemporary state of Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing. It recognises that there is a complex relationship between social and emotional wellbeing, harmful substance misuse, suicide, and a range of social and economic factors. Although this paper encompasses the broad priorities identified within the key Indigenous mental health policies and frameworks, it does not provide a detailed discussion of programs and resources that, although relevant here, are covered in a number of existing Closing the Gap Clearinghouse resource sheets and issues papers (see Appendix 1). These interweavings and overlaps are not surprising given the complexity and interconnectedness of the issues and determinants that are being addressed to strengthen Indigenous mental health and wellbeing

Facilitating empowerment and self-determination through participatory action research:Findings from the national empowerment project

The National Empowerment Project (NEP) is an innovative Aboriginal-led community-based project. Since 2012, it has been working with communities in 11 sites across Australia to develop a culturally appropriate health promotion and primary prevention intervention strategy to reduce the high rates of psychological distress and suicide among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The NEP is built around the use of localized participatory action research (PAR) processes to support communities to identify key factors negatively impacting on their lives as well as strategies for promoting well-being and building resilience. This article details the application of the PAR approach by the NEP Aboriginal community-based researchers. It provides some unique insights into how PAR facilitated communities to have a voice and the ways in which it supported important change processes at both an individual and a community level

The social, cultural and historical context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians

To understand the contemporary life of Indigenous Australians, a historical and cultural background is essential. This chapter sets the context for further discussions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and issues related to their social and emotional wellbeing and mental health. The history of colonisation is addressed, the subsequent devastation of Indigenous Australians, and their resilience and struggle to claim equality and cultural recognition, and to shape the present. Indigenous Australia is made up of two cultural groups who have shared the same struggle, yet often when using the term Indigenous, a Torres Strait Islander history is absent. In this chapter both cultures are equally presented. Brief overviews are given of pre-contact times, colonisation, resistance and adaptation, shifting government policies, and the struggle for recognition. Indigenous identity and meanings of belonging in country, community and family are also briefly covered. Contemporary issues confronting Indigenous people are included, with particular attention to racism

SIMS chemical analysis of extended impact features from the trailing edge portion of experiment AO187-2

One hundred capture cells from the trailing edge, which had lost their cover foils during flight, were optically scanned for extended impact features caused by high velocity projectiles impinging on the cells while the foils were still intact. Of the 53 candidates, 24 impacts were analyzed by secondary ion mass spectroscopy for the chemical composition of the deposits. Projectile material was found in all impacts, and at least 75 percent of them appear to be caused by interplanetary dust particles. Elemental ratios are fractionated, with refractory elements enriched in the impacts relative to interplanetary dust particles collected in the stratosphere. Although this could be due to systematic differences in the compositions, a more likely explanation is volatility fractionation during the impact process

The Ultraviolet and Infrared Star Formation Rates of Compact Group Galaxies: An Expanded Sample

Compact groups of galaxies provide insight into the role of low-mass, dense environments in galaxy evolution because the low velocity dispersions and close proximity of galaxy members result in frequent interactions that take place over extended timescales. We expand the census of star formation in compact group galaxies by \citet{tzanavaris10} and collaborators with Swift UVOT, Spitzer IRAC and MIPS 24 \micron\ photometry of a sample of 183 galaxies in 46 compact groups. After correcting luminosities for the contribution from old stellar populations, we estimate the dust-unobscured star formation rate (SFR$_{\mathrm{UV}}$) using the UVOT uvw2photometry. Similarly, we use the MIPS 24 \micron\ photometry to estimate the component of the SFR that is obscured by dust (SFR$_{\mathrm{IR}}$). We find that galaxies which are MIR-active (MIR-"red"), also have bluer UV colours, higher specific star formation rates, and tend to lie in H~{\sc i}-rich groups, while galaxies that are MIR-inactive (MIR-"blue") have redder UV colours, lower specific star formation rates, and tend to lie in H~{\sc i}-poor groups. We find the SFRs to be continuously distributed with a peak at about 1 M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$, indicating this might be the most common value in compact groups. In contrast, the specific star formation rate distribution is bimodal, and there is a clear distinction between star-forming and quiescent galaxies. Overall, our results suggest that the specific star formation rate is the best tracer of gas depletion and galaxy evolution in compact groups.Comment: 19 pages, 17 figure

Predictors of Hearing Aid Use Time in Children With Mild-to-Severe Hearing Loss

Purpose—This study investigated predictors of hearing aid (HA) use time for children with mild-severe hearing loss. Barriers to consistent HA use and reliability of parent report measures were also examined. Method—Participants included parents of 272 children with hearing loss. Parents estimated the amount of time the child used HAs daily. Regression analysis examined the relationships among independent variables and HA use time. To determine parental accuracy of HA use time, datalogging from the HA was compared to parental estimates. Results—Longer HA use related to older age, poorer hearing, and higher maternal education. Parental consistency ratings revealed similar findings; younger children and children with milder hearing losses wore HAs less consistently than older children and children with more severe hearing loss. Parents’ estimates and datalogging were significantly correlated; however, results suggested parents overestimate the amount of time their children wear their hearing aids. Conclusions—The findings provide evidence that certain variables were significantly related to the amount of time children wore their HAs. Consistency rating scales provided insight into circumstances that were challenging for families. Use of both parental reports and datalogging may allow clinicians and researchers to obtain a general estimate of HA use time

Social determinants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander social and emotional wellbeing

In pres

SIMS chemical and isotopic analysis of impact features from LDEF experiments AO187-1 and AO187-2

Previous secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) studies of extended impact features from LDEF capture cell experiment AO187-2 showed that it is possible to distinguish natural and man-made particle impacts based on the chemical composition of projectile residues. The same measurement technique has now been applied to specially prepared gold target impacts from experiment AO187-1 in order to identify the origins of projectiles that left deposits too thin to be analyzed by conventional energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The results indicate that SIMS may be the method of choice for the analysis of impact deposits on a variety of sample surfaces. SIMS was also used to determine the isotopic compositions of impact residues from several natural projectiles. Within the precision of the measurements all analyzed residues show isotopically normal compositions