SAFETY CONCEPTS FOR EVERY RIDE: A STATISTICAL ENSEMBLE SIMULATION TO MITIGATE ROTATIONAL FALLS IN EVENTING CROSS COUNTRY

Rotational falls are the leading cause of death and serious injury in the equestrian sport of eventing. Previous studies to develop safety devices used physical models representing one or at most several physical situations leading to different designs and no common understanding. In this thesis, a statistical ensemble model is developed and applied to generate and evaluate 10,000 different situations that might potentially lead to rotational falls. For accurate statistical representation of the horse and rider inertia distributions, measurements of over 400 training or competing horses and riders were recorded and incorporated. Video was recorded of 218 total competitors approaching 10 different jumps on cross country courses in competitions ranging from Preliminary to CCI5*, yielding jump configuration angles for different fence types. Combining information for these, among 26 total variables, a statistical ensemble simulation using impulse momentum physics identifies conditions for rotation and defines design criteria for future general and situation-specific jumps and safety devices. A Jump Safety Quality Index is also devised to represent the benefit of an activating fence design for mitigating rotational falls versus the detriment and competition penalties of false activation

Risk Mitigation for Travelers: Managing Endemic and Emerging Threats

International travel continues to increase in numbers and complexity. Despite the availability of pretravel health advice, travelers remain at risk for exposure to common organisms as well as emerging pathogens. With low rates of travel clinic utilization, it is important for the general practitioner to remain aware of the importance of travel health, risk factors unique to individual patients, and evolving threats. This review highlights important considerations when evaluating ill travelers, incorporating emerging infectious threats

Regenerative economics for planetary health: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between humans and our planet is conditioned by an economic system that undermines rather than supports health. There has been an emerging focus on the relationship between economic structures and planetary health, but alternative economic approaches to support health for people and the planet require further development. Regenerative economics offers a compelling approach to transform humankind’s relationships with each other and their environment. Regenerative economics fosters grounded, pragmatic solutions to wider human and ecological crises that moves beyond a sustainability discourse towards one of regeneration. While there are, notionally, large areas of overlap between regenerative economics and planetary health, to date these have not been systematically articulated. METHODS: A scoping review was performed to examine the background, principles, and applications of regenerative economics, and their implications for planetary health. Five databases (SCOPUS, Ovid Medline, Web of Science, Geobase, IEEE Xplore) were searched for peer-reviewed literature using key terms relating to regenerative economics and planetary health. Findings were reported using thematic synthesis. RESULTS: The review identified a total of 121 articles and included 30 papers in the final review, from economics, industrial design, business, tourism, education, urban design and architecture, energy, technology, and food and agriculture. The principles of regenerative economics focused on people, place, planet, position, peace, plurality, and progress. Putting these principles into action requires identifying and valuing different forms of capital, taking a dynamic systems approach, applying regenerative design, developing a true circular economy, good governance, and transdisciplinary education and advocacy. CONCLUSIONS: While the principles of regenerative economics and planetary health are well aligned, the tools and actions of each field differ substantially. Planetary health can learn from regenerative economics’ grounding in natural design principles, systems-based approaches, actions at the right scale and cadence, respect for diversity, community and place, and mindset that moves beyond sustainability towards a regenerative future

Can Direct Vocabulary Instruction Increase Student\u27s Background Knowledge in Mathematics?

A common problem found among classrooms is the lack of effective direct vocabulary instruction. A strong correlation has been found between a student\u27s knowledge of vocabulary and their academic achievement. Content area vocabulary, particularly mathematics vocabulary, has been found to be some of the most difficult concepts for children to master. Direct vocabulary instruction has been studied, and six common characteristics have been found to be effective when implemented in the classroom. These six characteristics were implemented in a 5th grade classroom during a preexisting math unit on geometry. Student engagement and comprehension increased throughout this unit. As a result, student success rates nearly doubled when compared to a unit in mathematics taught without direct vocabulary instruction

“HE TELLS YOU YOUR WORK IS TO GIVE BIRTH”: REPRODUCTIVE COERCION AND COVERT USE OF CONTRACEPTION AMONG FEMALE INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE SURVIVORS IN NAIROBI, KENYA

Background: Women’s reproductive autonomy is limited by reproductive coercion (RC), or interference in contraceptive and reproductive decisions via direct intervention, threats, or pressure. Women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) may be at higher risk of RC, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where little is known about RC behaviors and impact. Methods: Utilizing the existing infrastructure from myPlan Kenya, this research examined RC among reproductive age women experiencing IPV through analysis of quantitative baseline data (n=352) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) conducted at three-month follow-up among women indicating RC experience (n=30). Aim 1 assessed the transferability of the US-developed RC Scale and explored RC experiences. Aim 2 examined quantitative correlates and explored qualitative contributors of RC. Aim 3 described the relationship between RC and covert use of contraception and explored IPV survivors’ use of reproductive safety strategies. Results: In the past three months, 82% of IPV survivors experienced any RC and 3.8 types on average. Aim 1 results indicated transferability of the RC Scale to a population of IPV survivors in Nairobi’s informal settlements; items factored into pregnancy coercion and condom manipulation sub-scales. Convergence matrixes corroborated transferability via congruous display of RC summary score and qualitative experience. Aim 2 results highlighted the importance of couple roles and communication in childbearing decisions, with findings indicating that healthier couple communication may be protective against RC. Partner’s distrust of contraception and fear that women would seek other partners were described as contributors to RC in IDIs. Aim 3 findings indicated increased relative risk of covert use and decreased relative risk of overt use, compared to non-use, for women experiencing RC. IDIs demonstrated the cyclic nature of RC and covert use, with women often facing multiple types of RC and attempting to use several contraceptive methods covertly. Conclusions: Results highlight the severity of RC for women experiencing IPV in Nairobi’s informal settlements. Violence and family planning providers must be aware of coercive partner behaviors that prohibit contraceptive uptake and continuation. Use of reproductive safety strategies, namely covert use of contraception, can help maximize women’s reproductive preferences considering RC experience

Quantifying relationships between rock hardness, shore platform topography, and intertidal biota: Oregon Coast

To test the link between rock hardness and meter-scale shore platform morphology and the link between rock hardness and biodiversity, we examined six locations on the Oregon Coast, USA with varying rock types. At each site, we collected rock hardness data along a transect using a Schmidt hammer. To quantify topography, we processed hand-held photographs of each site using structure-from-motion photogrammetry in Agisoft PhotoScan, calculating surface roughness and related statistics in CloudCompare. Our preliminary results confirm that sites with softer rocks tend to have smoother shore platforms and higher levels of biodiversity

Is it possible to estimate the minimal clinically important treatment effect needed to change practice in preterm birth prevention? Results of an obstetrician survey used to support the design of a trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sample sizes for obstetrical trials are often based on the opinion of investigators about clinically important effect size. We surveyed Canadian obstetricians to investigate clinically important effect sizes required before introducing new treatments into practice to prevent preterm birth.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Questionnaires were mailed to practicing obstetricians, asking the magnitude of pregnancy prolongation required to introduce treatments into practice. The three prophylactic treatments were of increasing invasiveness: vaginal progesterone, intramuscular progesterone, and cervical cerclage. We also asked about the perceived most relevant outcome measures for obstetrical trials and current obstetrical practice in preterm birth prevention.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>544/1293(42.1%) completed questionnaires were received. The majority of respondents required one or two weeks' increase in length of gestation before introducing vaginal (372,77.1%), and intramuscular progesterone(354,67.9%). At least three weeks increase was required before introducing prophylactic cervical cerclage(326,62.8%). Clinicians who already used a treatment required a smaller difference before introducing it into practice. Decreasing neonatal morbidity was cited as the most important outcome for obstetrical trials (349,72.2%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Obstetricians would require a larger increase in treatment effect before introducing more invasive treatments into practice. Although infant morbidity was perceived as a more important outcome, clinicians appeared willing to change practice on the basis of prolongation of pregnancy, a surrogate outcome. We found that there is not a single minimum clinically important treatment effect that will influence all practising clinicians: rather the effect size that will influence physicians is affected by the nature of the treatment, the reported outcome measure and the clinician's own current clinical practice.</p

Art, Artifact, Archive: African American Experiences in the Nineteenth Century

Angelo Scarlato’s extraordinary and vast collection of art and artifacts related to the Civil War, and specifically to the Battle of Gettysburg, the United States Colored Troops, slavery and the African American struggle for emancipation, citizenship and freedom has proved to be an extraordinary resource for Gettysburg College students. The 2012-14 exhibition in Musselman Library’s Special Collections, curated by Lauren Roedner ’13, entitled Slaves, Soldiers, Citizens: African American Artifacts of the Civil War Era and its corresponding catalogue provided a powerful and comprehensive historical narrative of the period. This fall, students in my course at Gettysburg College “Art and Public Policy”—Diane Brennan, Maura Conley, Abigail Conner, Nicole Conte, Victoria Perez-Zetune, Savannah Rose, Kaylyn Sawyer, Caroline Wood and Zoe Yeoh—selected additional objects of material and print culture from Angelo’s private collection and drew from Lauren’s expertise for the exhibition Art, Artifact, Archive: African American Experiences in the Nineteenth Century to investigate public representations of a newly freed population as well as their more personal perspectives. [excerpt]https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/artcatalogs/1015/thumbnail.jp

Tracking Onslow: a community in transition. edition 3, late 2013

When change is happening, communities talk and some tales get taller in the telling. Opinions are often based on shared stories and collectively these opinions are the community sentiment that affects the way people live and act. This magazine was produced by a collaboration between the ECU Journalism Program and the Shire of Ashburton that set out to track the shifts in the community sentiment in Onslow over the construction phase of the Wheatstone and Macedon gas hubs. The project aims to capture the stories being told in Onslow as the town changes, regardless of their factual accuracy. Where possible we have sought to verify facts and provide balance, but we have not excluded comments by community members on the grounds that they didn\u27t check out, because if we did that, then this would not be an accurate record of what people are saying. In all cases we have been careful to correctly report what people said in our interviews. The result is a sometimes optimistic and sometimes disgruntled reaction to the town\u27s rapid, but in some ways not rapid enough, growth spurt. We hope that you enjoy this snapshot of what was being said in Onslow in the middle of 2013 and find it interesting food for thought about the impact of major resource projects on their host communities. There is a digital version of the magazine available on the website so you can email a link to it to your family and friends in other places. The website also has soon-to-be updated galleries showing how parts of the town have changed almost beyond recognition and video interviews with Onslow locals. We look forward to seeing you when we come back in early 2014

The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic On adolescent Mental Health and Substance Use

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to determine whether COVID-19-induced financial impact, stress, loneliness, and isolation were related to perceived changes in adolescent mental health and substance use. METHODS: Data were from Baseline (2018) and Wave 3 (2020; mean age = 14.8; 50% female) of 1,188 adolescents recruited from 12 Texas public middle schools as part of a randomized controlled trial. Participants were primarily Black (23%), Latinx (41%), Asian (11%), and White (9%). We assessed mental health and substance use (Baseline and Wave 3) and pandemic-related physical interaction, loneliness, stress, family conflict, and economic situation (Wave 3). RESULTS: COVID-19-induced stress and loneliness were linked to depression (beta = 0.074, p ≤ .001; beta = 0.132, p ≤ .001) and anxiety (beta = 0.061, p = .001; beta = 0.088, p ≤ .001) among ethnically diverse adolescents. Adolescents who did not limit their physical interactions due to COVID-19 had fewer symptoms of depression (beta = -0.036, p = .03); additionally, adolescents who did not restrict their socializing were substantially more likely to report using a variety of substances (e.g., for episodic heavy drinking; odds ratio = 1.81, p = .001). Increased use of a food bank was linked to depression (beta = 0.063, p ≤ .001) and a negative change in financial situation was linked to increased alcohol use (odds ratio = 0.70, p = .04) among adolescents. DISCUSSION: After controlling for prepandemic psychopathology and race/ethnicity, COVID-19 induced isolation, loneliness, stress, and economic challenges were linked to poor mental health and substance misuse. Substantial structural, community, school, and individual level resources are needed to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent psychosocial health