Effective communication of school health screening information: A pilot study evaluating the effect of electronic communication of BMI screening information in Elementary schools

Obesity is a growing concern surrounding today’s youth. School-based health screenings are promoted as a public health strategy to identify obese children and those at high risk for becoming obese. Despite numerous programs, data is lacking in effective school to parent communication of health related information. The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of electronic communication of health screening outcomes, including parents’ understanding of screening information, utilization of informational resources, and decision to seek physician follow-up. Screenings for body mass index, acanthosis nigricans and blood pressure were conducted during school hours among children in kindergarten and third grade. Parents received screening information via email or through conventional reporting, based on preference. A follow-up telephone survey was conducted to determine screening outcomes, successfully surveying only 35.8% of study population. There were no significant differences between communication method and screening outcomes indicated at follow-up. Parents who chose letter communication had a significantly higher chance of receiving the screening results, compared to parents who opted for e-mail communication (78.8% vs 47.1%; p=.023). Small sample size, due to difficulty in parents receiving screening letter and follow-up conduction, heavily influenced research findings

Residents\u27 Attitudes Towards Tourism - 4th Quarter 2020

This report is the most recent summary of Montana residents and their attitudes towards tourism in the state. ITRR typically conducts this survey during the 4th quarter of each year (October, November, December). The main purpose of this study was to assess Montanans’ attitudes towards tourism in the state. More specifically, these questions were gathered to better understand how Montanans perceive their quality of life in relation to tourism, how they perceive crowding in the state and their community, and the degree to which they feel tourism in their community benefits them economically. ITRR has been asking a core set of these questions since 1992. Additionally, residents’ attitudes about visitors in Montana and their own willingness to travel within the state during COVID-19 were assessed by asking specific, COVID-19 related questions

A novel platform for isotype-specific testing of autoantibodies.

The objective of this study was to test if a novel platform could be used for isotype-specific autoantibody testing in humans. Further, we evaluated if testing with this novel platform enables earlier detection of insulin autoantibodies in individuals that have first-degree relatives with type-1 diabetes than currently used approaches. Longitudinal serum samples from participants were collected before and after they converted to become positive for insulin autoantibodies by the current standardly used assays. Using a novel plasmonic gold chip platform, we tested these samples for IgM isotype-specific autoantibodies. Serial serum samples from individuals without diabetes were also tested as a comparison control cohort. Our results demonstrate proof-of-concept that a plasmonic gold chip can specifically detect the IgM insulin autoantibody. Five out of the six individuals that converted to being positive for insulin autoantibodies by standard testing had significant IgM autoantibodies on the plasmonic chip platform. The plasmonic chip platform detected IgM autoantibodies earlier than standard testing by up to 4 years. Our results indicate that the plasmonic gold platform can specifically detect the IgM isotype autoantibodies and suggest that combining isotype-specific testing with currently used approaches enables earlier detection of insulin autoantibodies in individuals that have first-degree relatives with type 1 diabetes

God\u27s Story, Our Story: Telling, Re-telling, Re-storying

Shifting trends within and beyond the walls of the church are reshaping Christianity in our present context. Many Christian denominations are in the midst of a paradigm shift as great as or greater than the 16th century Reformation. Because the way forward looks nothing like the path the church has journeyed, church leaders, theologians, and scholars recognize the need for innovative and adaptive leadership expertise to meet the opportunities and challenges of the present time. For more than two decades, Mennonite Church Canada congregations have been on a journey of development, learning, and growth, transitioning theologically and experientially to a missional ministry framework. “Missional” is grounded in God’s missionary nature and Jesus’ post-resurrection instruction to his disciples (John 20:21).1 Undergirding “missional” ecclesiology is the conviction that God is ahead of God’s people, present and active in the local neighbourhood and the world. Thus, the church’s call is to join with God to further God’s mission of restoration and reconciliation. The transition underway for Mennonite Church Canada congregations not only leads to fresh encounters with the Divine but is also a process that potentially leads to the transformation of congregational culture. This narrative inquiry research project investigated that amidst the current unstable and changing context, narrative engagement with predominant congregational narratives is a vital leadership tool that can be utilized to lead organizational change. Stories within a culture, including congregational culture are containers of meaning, experience, values, assumptions, world views, and more. As humans, we live storied lives. As Christians, we locate ourselves within God’s unfolding story of salvation and redemption. Stories provide a framework to 1 All Biblical references New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). iii understand lived experience and they inform future action. Additionally, stories are an invaluable leadership resource in that they can be analyzed to identify barriers and facilitators. The process of telling and re-telling predominant congregational stories uncovers limiting narratives as well as the presence and activity of God. Re-storying is a process of living into new stories which God is writing amongst us for God has said, “See I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:19). Literature in the field of pastoral leadership has focused heavily upon missional ecclesiology, organizational change, and adaptive leadership theory. Organizational culture change and narrative leadership theory provide unique lenses through which to examine and analyze pastors’ lived experience. Through open-ended focus group interviews, research participants were invited to share stories about their lived experiences adapting and responding to change. Analyzing the storied lives of seventeen experienced pastoral leaders, barriers, that is, obstacles that risk keeping a congregational system stuck were identified. Additionally, facilitators, that is strengths, capacities, and hope-filled stories that shimmer with the presence and activity of God were also identified. Leaders can effectively initiate change through stories as both barriers and facilitators are identified, examined, and when necessary re-storied. As new stories are embedded in an organizational system, individuals grasp what the change involves and why it may be desirable. New stories can effectively usher in a new life stage and propel the church into God’s future, thus impacting culture change within Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (MCEC) congregations and beyond

The Montana Expression 2020: Impact of COVID-19 on Montana\u27s Tourism Related Businesses - Wave 4

The purpose of this report was to collect and analyze responses from business owners and managers on a COVID-19 related survey as it pertains to their operations in Montana. This study was the fourth iteration in a series of similar studies conducted by The Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research (ITRR) with the goal of capturing the perceptions of business owners and managers throughout the course of the pandemic

Repeat Visitors - Assessing Motivations for Return Visits and the Influence of Previous Visits to Montana

Repeat visitors are more than three fourths of all nonresident visitors to Montana. This report highlights the characteristics of Montana’s repeat visitors attempting to understand what brings them back to Montana, where they travel, and if they might explore more parts of Montana on future trips. Highlights: Montana’s repeat visitor loves mountain-type vacations over any other type of experience for a vacation. Repeat visitors want both the familiar and variety while visiting Montana. Most repeat visitors who spent time visiting or living in Montana as a child have a high degree of love for the scenery, people, and recreation opportunities. Those childhood experiences are credited for their return trips. Montana is unique and brings visitors back. According to repeat visitors, the scenery, access to public lands and water, and wildlife is why they come here over other destinations

Measuring Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

Examining entrepreneurial ecosystem measurement is an interesting and important research activity for several reasons. First, there is a significant amount of taxpayer investment in play through public financing of small businesses and early stage companies. Second, practitioners and funders are currently seeking ways to expand entrepreneurial activity in order to increase regional prosperity. The goal of this research study is to quantitatively and qualitatively explore the indicators of entrepreneurial ecosystems. This study, with support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, focuses on two major questions: 1) what are the indicators of an entrepreneurial ecosystem, and which of these best reflect the ecosystem’s vibrancy? And 2) what indicators of entrepreneurial ecosystems are most valuable for entrepreneurs