Tenuous Foundations: Historical Lessons for Modern Land Agreements

The past decade has seen a wave of land leases, sales and concessions unparalleled since colonial times. Concurrently, many countries are embroiled in ongoing remedial and restitutive work over historical land leases, sales and concessions that have failed or had unforeseen consequences. This raises the question of whether historical agreements can provide insights into long-term outcomes of latter-day land deals. Three cases are reviewed of agreements between British authorities and indigenous groups, and the outcomes are compared critically. The article concludes that the terms of such agreements are often far broader than the written words, and that if modern agreements are to avoid complications in the long term they should be closely attuned to the longevity of verbal commitments, cultural protocols and trust relationships.Peer Reviewe

Using the Photovoice Method to Advocate for Change to a Campus Smoking Policy

Objective: The authors used the photovoice method as a strategy for empowering students to advocate for change of a campus smoking policy. Participants: Participants included 49 college students and 160 photo-exhibit attendees during spring 2011. Methods: Students were trained in the use of the photovoice method and a public exhibit was used to educate the campus community and advocate for change. Results: The photovoice initiative resulted in an effective platform for students to successfully advocate for the relocation of ashtrays that were in violation of the policy and for the elicitation of future advocacy targets. Conclusions: The photovoice project provided a platform for students to have their views heard by campus community members and policymakers. The project served as a useful tool for grassroots student advocacy. Those interested in addressing campus health policy issues may want to consider conducting a photovoice project similar to the one described in this article

Cigarette Smoking and Facial Wrinkles: A Review of the Literature

Research studies indicate that smoking cigarettes is related to a premature development of facial wrinkles. Given that facial wrinkles may act as motivation for people to quit smoking, it is crucial that smoking cessation professionals be able to accurately inform clients about research concerning smoking and wrinkles. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide an updated overview of the literature which can be used by cessation clinicians as a practical reference on smoking and facial wrinkles. Databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles that study the association with smoking and wrinkles. In all, 17 articles were located and reviewed for research methods and results. Although facial wrinkles and smoking were measured inconsistently between studies, the overall literature indicates that those who smoke have a higher risk of developing premature facial wrinkles as compared to those who do not smoke. The implications of this review for smoking cessation professionals are described

The Association between Coach and Teammate Injunctive Norm Reference Groups and College Student-Athlete Substance Use

This study assessed perceptions about teammate and coach approval of alcohol and other drug use (i.e., injunctive norms) among a sample of 3,155 college student-athletes in their first year of athletic eligibility. Student-athletes perceived that their teammates were more approving of alcohol and other drug use as compared to coaches. A multi-level model analysis indicated that perceived approval from both teammates and coaches were independently associated with student-athletes' alcohol and other drug use behaviors. Future research should explore whether substance use prevention programs that target normative beliefs specific to teammates and coaches may reduce alcohol and other drug use among college student-athletes

Analysis of vadose zone inhomogeneity toward distinguishing recharge rates: Solving the nonlinear interface problem with Newton method

Citation: Steward, D. R. (2016). Analysis of vadose zone inhomogeneity toward distinguishing recharge rates: Solving the nonlinear interface problem with Newton method. Water Resources Research, 52(11), 8756-8774. doi:10.1002/2016wr019222Recharge from surface to groundwater is an important component of the hydrological cycle, yet its rate is difficult to quantify. Percolation through two-dimensional circular inhomogeneities in the vadose zone is studied where one soil type is embedded within a uniform background, and nonlinear interface conditions in the quasilinear formulation are solved using Newton's method with the Analytic Element Method. This numerical laboratory identifies detectable variations in pathline and pressure head distributions that manifest due to a shift in recharge rate through in a heterogeneous media. Pathlines either diverge about or converge through coarser and finer grained materials with inverse patterns forming across lower and upper elevations; however, pathline geometry is not significantly altered by recharge. Analysis of pressure head in lower regions near groundwater identifies a new phenomenon: its distribution is not significantly impacted by an inhomogeneity soil type, nor by its placement nor by recharge rate. Another revelation is that pressure head for coarser grained inhomogeneities in upper regions is completely controlled by geometry and conductivity contrasts; a shift in recharge generates a difference Dp that becomes an additive constant with the same value throughout this region. In contrast, shifts in recharge for finer grained inhomogeneities reveal patterns with abrupt variations across their interfaces. Consequently, measurements aimed at detecting shifts in recharge in a heterogeneous vadose zone by deciphering the corresponding patterns of change in pressure head should focus on finer grained inclusions well above a groundwater table

The Relationship between Knee Valgus and Clinical Measures in Professional Basketball: A CART Analysis

Background/Purpose: Lower extremity injuries occur at an amplified rate in professional basketball. Evidence suggests that knee frontal plane valgus may be associated with risk of injury. The Landing Error Scoring System includes the assessment of maximum knee valgus during a countermovement jump. The investigation of interactions among linear and non-linear factors may help the understanding of the interdependence of various measures and poor performance on the knee valgus displacement (KVD) component of the LESS in professional basketball players. The purpose of this study was to investigate predictors of knee valgus displacement on the LESS. We hypothesize that a positive finding on the knee valgus displacement component of the LESS will be predicted by select clinical measures. Methods: 47 professional basketball players participated. Measurements were completed as part of preseason mobility screening prior to the 2015-16 and 2016-17 NBA seasons. Classification and Regression Tree Analysis (CART) were used to investigate linear and non-linear interactions among predictors and their influence on KVD in players who performed the LESS test. Results: Of the 47 players included in this study, 16 players did not test positive for KVD on the LESS test and 31 did. Pruning resulted in 4 splits (r2=0.507) demonstrating that KVD was predicted by total hip rotation range of motion, dominant leg hip external rotation, and standing arch height index measure. Predictive modeling, classified 18 of the 31 players with KVD and 8 of the 16 players who tested negative for KVD. The area under the ROC curve was .9183, suggesting that classification of players using this model was not random. Conclusion: KVD and performance on the LESS has been linked with injury. CART analysis captured linear and non-linear interactions between clinical measures suggesting that lower extremity biomechanical factors may be associated with predicting KVD during performance on the LESS. Clinical Relevance: KVD and the LESS test has been shown to be predictive of injury. Identifying which clinical measures may be linked with poor performance on this test may aide clinicians in determining appropriate interventions that may be associated with improved scores and minimize risk of injury.https://ecommons.udayton.edu/dpt_symposium/1000/thumbnail.jp

Diffusion of medication drop-boxes in North Carolina from 2007 to 2016

Introduction: A permanent drug donation box (“drop-box”) is one strategy implemented in communities across the United States to reduce the availability of excess controlled medications, including prescription opioids, for diversion. The objective of this study was to examine correlates of the diffusion and implementation of drop-boxes in North Carolina.Methods: We assessed the number and location of drop-boxes implemented in North Carolina. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine covariates associated with drop-box implementation in NC counties (n?=?100) between 2007 and 2016.Results: There were 311 drop-boxes implemented in 91 (out of 100) counties. Most drop-boxes were in law enforcement agencies (78.8%) and a growing number were in pharmacies (14.5%). Counties with a higher percentage of whites, more educated residents, a substance abuse prevention coalition, higher rates of controlled medications dispensed and prescription opioid overdose, and that were Appalachian were more likely to be early adopters. Rural counties were less likely to have a drop-box. In the multivariate model, only higher rate of controlled medicines dispensed was significant.Conclusions: A growing number of drop-boxes are being implemented in law enforcement offices and pharmacies. Given that communities with higher rates of controlled medication dispensing likely have the highest need for disposal opportunities, it is promising that they are early adopters of drop-boxes. Future research should assess the effectiveness of drop-boxes as they become more widespread in a variety of locations

Quantifying littered cigarette butts to measure effectiveness of smoking bans to building perimeters.

Objective: The authors estimated the number of violations of a university policy that prohibited smoking within 25 ft of all campus buildings. Participants: The project was conducted by 13 student researchers from the university and a member of the local public health department. Methods: Students quantified cigarette butts that were littered in a 30-day period inside the prohibited smoking area of 7 campus buildings (large residential hall, small residential hall, administrative building, 2 academic buildings, campus cafeteria, and student union). Results: Investigators found a total of 7,861 cigarette butts (large residential hall: 1,198; small residential hall: 344; administrative building: 107; 2 academic buildings: 1,123 and 806; campus cafeteria: 2,651; and student union: 1,632). Conclusions: Findings suggest that there is low compliance with the university's smoking policy. The described project may be repeated by students at other universities as a method to advocate for policy change

Going the distance: Delivery of high school drug prevention via distance education.

The purpose of this project was to develop a technology that can be used in schools where there are insufficient resources to implement a quality drug prevention program. The specific technology—distance education via teleconferencing—allows a highly qualified teacher to deliver programs in such settings with increased quality. A promising high school drug prevention program, All Stars, Sr., was modified to be delivered using the latest technological advances in distance education. Student-level effects are reported across six mediating variables as well as past thirty-day and lifetime use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, ecstasy, and other illicit drugs

Developing a Web-Based Tool Using Information and Communication Technologies to Expand the Reach and Impact of Photovoice

Information and communication technologies are opening up vast new arenas for conducting the work of health promotion. Technology-based health promotions expand reach, standardize information and its delivery, provide opportunities for tailoring, create engaging interactivity within content delivery, provide for privacy and autonomy, improve portability, and lower delivery costs. This commentary describes the ongoing exploration and development of a web-based tool for enhancing the reach and impact of Photovoice as a community change intervention. Features of the tool use information and communication technologies that integrate the use of an online learning management system, tailored messaging, gaming technology, interactive features, and the application of social media's power to increase the capacity of communities to employ comprehensive strategies to improve the health of their communities. It will enable individuals and groups to use photos and captions to assess the physical environment, social norms, and behaviors of communities; raise community awareness of the factors contributing to ill health in their communities; mobilize stakeholders; and inform environmental strategies and policy changes. We believe that it will enhance the delivery of educational content about conducting Photovoice projects, provide features unavailable without the application of information and communication technologies, and be substantive advancement over existing Photovoice resources