A Scientist's Guide to Achieving Broader Impacts through K-12 STEM Collaboration.

The National Science Foundation and other funding agencies are increasingly requiring broader impacts in grant applications to encourage US scientists to contribute to science education and society. Concurrently, national science education standards are using more inquiry-based learning (IBL) to increase students' capacity for abstract, conceptual thinking applicable to real-world problems. Scientists are particularly well suited to engage in broader impacts via science inquiry outreach, because scientific research is inherently an inquiry-based process. We provide a practical guide to help scientists overcome obstacles that inhibit their engagement in K-12 IBL outreach and to attain the accrued benefits. Strategies to overcome these challenges include scaling outreach projects to the time available, building collaborations in which scientists' research overlaps with curriculum, employing backward planning to target specific learning objectives, encouraging scientists to share their passion, as well as their expertise with students, and transforming institutional incentives to support scientists engaging in educational outreach

Phenomenology of Single Mothers Transitioning from Homelessness to Independent Living

Department of Human Development and Family Scienc

Survey of Glycerol Dialkyl Glycerol Tetraethers (GDGTs) in Nevada and California Hot Springs and Selected T thermophiles

Glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) are core membrane lipids of many Archaea and some Bacteria found ubiquitously in soils and in many aqueous environments. Here, we examined the GDGT concentration in forty sediment samples from geothermal hot springs in the Great Basin (USA). Sediment samples were collected in tandem with extensive geochemical and site characterization. Hot spring temperatures ranged from 31 to 95°C and pH values from 6.8 to 10.7. Parametric Pearson\u27s correlation coefficients and nonparametric Spearman\u27s rho values were calculated to identify significant correlations between GDGT profiles and geochemical analytes. Isoprenoidal GDGTs (iGDGTs) negatively correlated with pH and positively correlated with temperature, Cr, and Cu, which is consistent with the importance of iGDGTs in the maintenance of membrane integrity at high temperature spring sources. In contrast, branched GDGTs (bGDGTs) displayed a negative relationship with temperature and a positive correlation with nitrate, nitrite and dissolved oxygen, demonstrating a niche for bGDGT-producing organisms in cooler, more oxidized springs away from the hottest geothermal sources. In addition, a collection of eleven thermophilic bacterial strains hypothesized to synthesize bGDGTs were tested; however, none synthesized GDGTs under the tested conditions. Our data provides insight into the environmental conditions under which archaeal and bacterial GDGTs are produced, which may improve the use of GDGTs as environmental proxies for understanding climates and conditions of the past and the future

Medical, Recreational, and Mixed Marijuana Users: An Examination of Physical and Mental Health Correlates

Marijuana use in the U.S. doubled between 2001 and 2013, largely due to increases in legalization laws. Little attention, however, is given to the type of marijuana user (e.g., recreational or medical), particularly with health outcomes. Our study used data from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N=5,349) to examine physical health, mental health, and demographic variables by marijuana user type (including non-marijuana users). In physical health, the non-marijuana group was generally healthier, getting the most sleep, lowest BMI, and lowest alcoholic consumption. Medical users self-reported the poorest physical health, BMI, and sleep. Similar results were found in the mental health category between non-marijuana and medical users. Future longitudinal research is needed to investigate whether medical users, over time, increase their marijuana use to include recreational use (i.e., become mixed users) as a method of coping with the combination of health, emotional, and quality of life problems. Although this is among the first nationally representative studies to examine unique marijuana user groups, future studies should track user groups over time to understand the implications of transitioning into medical or recreational user groups

Effects of a standard provision versus an autonomy supportive exercise referral programme on physical activity, quality of life and well-being indicators:a cluster randomised controlled trial

Background: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the UK has recommended that the effectiveness of ongoing exercise referral schemes to promote physical activity should be examined in research trials. Recent empirical evidence in health care and physical activity promotion contexts provides a foundation for testing the feasibility and impact of a Self Determination Theory-based (SDT) exercise referral consultation. Methods: An exploratory cluster randomised controlled trial comparing standard provision exercise referral with an exercise referral intervention grounded in Self Determination Theory. Individuals (N = 347) referred to an exercise referral scheme were recruited into the trial from 13 centres. Outcomes and processes of change measured at baseline, 3 and 6-months: Minutes of self-reported moderate or vigorous physical activity (PA) per week (primary outcome), health status, positive and negative indicators of emotional well-being, anxiety, depression, quality of life (QOL), vitality, and perceptions of autonomy support from the advisor, need satisfaction (3 and 6 months only), intentions to be active, and motivational regulations for exercise. Blood pressure and weight were assessed at baseline and 6 months.Results: Perceptions of the autonomy support provided by the health and fitness advisor (HFA) did not differ by arm. Between group changes over the 6-months revealed significant differences for reported anxiety only. Within arm contrasts revealed significant improvements in anxiety and most of the Dartmouth CO-OP domains in the SDT arm at 6 months, which were not seen in the standard exercise referral group. A process model depicting hypothesized relationships between advisor autonomy support, need satisfaction and more autonomous motivation, enhanced well being and PA engagement at follow up was supported. Conclusions: Significant gains in physical activity and improvements in quality of life and well-being outcomes emerged in both the standard provision exercise referral and the SDT-based intervention at programme end. At 6-months, observed between arm and within intervention arm differences for indicators of emotional health, and the results of the process model, were in line with SDT. The challenges in optimising recruitment and implementation of SDT-based training in the context of health and leisure services are discussed

Perceived environmental restorativeness and affective responses to indoor vs. outdoor exercise

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of environmental setting (indoor vs. outdoor) on affect and attentional focus during exercise. In this counterbalanced, repeated measures design, 26 women (ages 18-26) exercised at a moderate intensity (60-70% of MHR) for 30 minutes in two settings: indoor track and outdoor path. Participants filled out dimensional measures of affect pre- and post-exercise: Activation Deactivation Adjective Check List, Feeling Scale (FS), and Felt Arousal Scale (FAS). FS, FAS, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed every 10 minutes during exercise. Post-exercise, participants also filled out the Attentional Focus Questionnaire, Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS), and Evaluation of Exercise Setting. Mixed analyses of variance with order as a between-subjects factor and time and setting as within-subjects factors indicated that exercise, regardless of setting, resulted in significant reductions in tiredness, F(1, 24) = 11.58, p = .002, and significant increases in affective valence, F(1.9, 46.1) = 7.1, p = .002, arousal, F(2.29, 55.02) = 21.65, p These findings suggest that being in an outdoor environment can make exercise more enjoyable, particularly for less active individuals. Future research might examine the environment's impact on longer-term adherence and mood, and ways to manipulate exercise settings to promote enjoyment and positive affect

Loblolly Pine Growth Response to Mid-rotational Treatments in an Eastern Texas Plantation

The effects of mid-rotational treatments (herbicide, prescribed burn, combination of herbicide and burn, and fertilization) on growth of loblolly pine were evaluated. Five replicates were established in a split-plot experimental design with fertilizer treatments as the whole-plot factor and competition control treatments as the sub-plot factor. Growth response was measured (as change in diameter, total height, and volume) at 8 months and again 4 years after treatments were applied. Mid-rotational treatments failed to enhance diameter, height, and volume growth of loblolly pine. However, a small positive response of diameter growth to fertilization was detected. Height growth was not significantly affected by any treatment 8 months after application date, while it was slightly negatively affected by herbicide and the combination of herbicide and prescribed burning 4 years after application of treatments. In this study, no substantial positive growth response to mid-rotational treatments was detected. However, loblolly growth response may vary from site to site based on differences in soil type, soil condition, and competition level. In addition, associated factors such as seedling quality and planting method may greatly influence loblolly growth response to mid-rotational treatments

Gastro oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)-related symptoms and its association with mood and anxiety disorders and psychological symptomology: a population-based study in women

Background: Psychopathology seems to play a role in reflux pathogenesis and vice versa, yet few population based studies have systematically investigated the association between gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and psychopathology. We thus aimed to investigate the relationship between GORD-related symptoms and psychological symptomatology, as well as clinically diagnosed mood and anxiety disorders in a randomly selected, population-based sample of adult women.&nbsp;Methods:&nbsp;This study examined data collected from 1084 women aged 20-93 yr participating in the Geelong&nbsp;Osteoporosis Study. Mood and anxiety disorders were identified using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IVTR Research Version, Non-patient edition (SCID-I/NP), and psychological symptomatology was assessed using the&nbsp;General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). GORD-related symptoms were self-reported and confirmed by medication&nbsp;use where possible and lifestyle factors were documented.Results: Current psychological symptomatology and mood disorder were associated with increased odds of&nbsp;concurrent GORD-related symptoms (adjusted OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.5, and OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.7-5.6, respectively). Current&nbsp;anxiety disorder also tended to be associated with increased odds of current GORD-related symptoms (p=0.1).&nbsp;Lifetime mood disorder was associated with a 1.6-fold increased odds of lifetime GORD-related symptoms (adjusted OR&nbsp;1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.4) and lifetime anxiety disorder was associated with a 4-fold increased odds of lifetime GORD- related&nbsp;symptoms in obese but not non-obese participants (obese, age-adjusted OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.8-9.0).Conclusions: These results indicate that psychological symptomatology, mood and anxiety disorders are positively&nbsp;associated with GORD-related symptoms. Acknowledging this common comorbidity may facilitate recognition and&nbsp;treatment, and opens new questions as to the pathways and mechanisms of the association.</div

Changes in understory vegetation of a ponderosa pine forest in northern Arizona 30 years after a Wildfire

Wildland fires can cause shifts in understory species composition and production. Many studies have examined short-term changes in understory vegetation following a wildfire; however, very few long term studies are available. The objective of this study was to examine changes in understory (herb and shrub) species composition and production since the 1972 Rattle Burn wildfire on the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona. Understory species composition and production were originally sampled in 1972, 1974, and 1980 and were re-sampled during July and August of 2002 and 2003 on 30 plots in each of four sites: high severity burn, low severity burn, unburned site prescribed burned in 1977, and an unburned site. Repeated measures analysis was used to test for the effects of fire and time on species production. The effects of fire and time on species composition as well as species production were tested using Multi-Response Permutation Procedures (MRPP). A lingering effect of the Rattle Burn wildfire on the understory plant production and composition was revealed. Burned sites may have greater understory production as compared to unburned sites up to 30 years after a wildfire. However, species composition on burned sites is altered. A significant relationship between tree density and understory species composition and production was found for 1972, but no relationship was found for overstory parameters and understory species production and composition for 2003