Alcohol-Related Consequences Among First-Year University Students: Effectiveness of a Web-Based Personalized Feedback Program

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a web-based personalized feedback program using an objective measure of alcohol-related consequences. Participants were assigned to either the intervention group or an assessment-only control group during university orientation. Sanctions received for campus alcohol policy violations were tracked over the academic year. Results indicated high-risk drinkers in the control group received significantly more sanctions than other students. Results support the effectiveness of web-based interventions

Trends in Vibriosis Transmission among the Top Four Vibrio Species, United States, 1988-2012

Background Vibrio infection (vibriosis) results from consuming contaminated seafood or exposing skin directly to marine waters or raw seafood. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 80,000 illnesses occur each year in the United States. Four species, V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, V. alginolyticus, and V. cholerae (excluding toxigenic O1 and O139), are responsible for most cases. Understanding foodborne and non-foodborne transmission routes is important for describing epidemiological trends and for directing prevention efforts. Methods Demographic, clinical, and epidemiological data for cases reported between 1988 and 2012 were extracted from CDC’s Cholera and Other Vibrio Illness Surveillance System (COVIS). Outcomes and seasonal trends were described by species and transmission route. Results A total of 10,173 domestically acquired, non-toxigenic cases of vibriosis were reported, including 4,224 (41.5%) V. parahaemolyticus cases, 1,998 (19.6%) V. vulnificus cases, 1,267 (12.5%) V. alginolyticus cases, and 963 (9.5%) V. cholerae cases. There were 4,026 hospitalizations and 795 deaths reported. When categorized by transmission route, 5,775 (56.8%) cases were foodborne and 3,317 (32.6%) were non-foodborne.. Most (52.4%) cases occurred during the summer months with peaks in July and August. Only 140 cases were reported from eight states in 1988 compared to 907 cases reported by 42 states in 2012. The overall crude incidence in 2011 was 0.26 cases per 100,000 population. Discussion The number of reported cases of vibriosis has been increasing steadily since 1988. Increased prevention efforts, including safer seafood products and consumer education, are needed.These efforts should focus on specific populations and transmission routes for each of the top four species that cause most vibriosis cases in the United States

Astro2020 Science White Paper: Triggered High-Priority Observations of Dynamic Solar System Phenomena

Unexpected dynamic phenomena have surprised solar system observers in the past and have led to important discoveries about solar system workings. Observations at the initial stages of these events provide crucial information on the physical processes at work. We advocate for long-term/permanent programs on ground-based and space-based telescopes of all sizes - including Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) - to conduct observations of high-priority dynamic phenomena, based on a predefined set of triggering conditions. These programs will ensure that the best initial dataset of the triggering event are taken; separate additional observing programs will be required to study the temporal evolution of these phenomena. While not a comprehensive list, the following are notional examples of phenomena that are rare, that cannot be anticipated, and that provide high-impact advances to our understandings of planetary processes. Examples include: new cryovolcanic eruptions or plumes on ocean worlds; impacts on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune; extreme eruptions on Io; convective superstorms on Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune; collisions within the asteroid belt or other small-body populations; discovery of an interstellar object passing through our solar system (e.g. 'Oumuamua); and responses of planetary atmospheres to major solar flares or coronal mass ejections.Comment: Astro2020 white pape

Evolution of Level I Fieldwork during an International Pandemic: Students’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Virtual Simulation-based Level I Fieldwork

Fieldwork education is an essential component of occupational therapy (OT) curriculum; yet national shortages and the COVID-19 pandemic have affected fieldwork availability. To combat the shortage, some academic programs implemented simulation-based Level I fieldwork experiences. The objective of this research study was to compare the perceived knowledge, confidence, and attitude of OT students that completed a virtual simulation-based Level I fieldwork to those that completed a traditional Level I fieldwork. This study involved a sample of 26 doctorate of OT students that completed a traditional or virtual simulation-based Level I fieldwork. Students completed pre-and-post fieldwork surveys regarding their perceived knowledge, confidence, and attitude. Mann Whitney and Wilcoxin signed rank tests were used for comparative analysis. There was no statistically significant difference in knowledge or confidence between the two groups (p = .734, p = .303). Students that completed a virtual simulation-based fieldwork experienced increased attitude (p = .021) and both groups experienced an increase in perceived knowledge (p = .012, p = .003) following their fieldwork experience. This study adds to the growing body of knowledge regarding the utilization of simulations in OT curricula and proposes an alternative Level I fieldwork model to assist with the national shortage of fieldwork availability

Building professional development opportunities in data services for academic librarians

Research data management represents a significant professional development area for academic librarians –significant for its growing importance to the profession, since researchers are increasingly expected to comply with research data management requirements, and for the extent of competence needed by librarians to support researchers in research data management practices and plans. This article recounts how the Association of College and Research Libraries is fostering professional development opportunities in research data management. The authors describe two key endeavors: (1) the development and deployment of a needs assessment survey, which allowed insight into the types of librarians expressing the most need; and (2) planning and implementation of a pre-conference workshop for ACRL 2015, intended to prototype a future professional development offering. The article concludes by discussing additional assessment that was done following the workshop and how the pre-conference laid the foundation for proposing a ‘‘roadshow’’ for research data management, similar to what the Association of College and Research Libraries sponsors for scholarly communication

Routines and Attitudes of Smartphone and Tablet Use for Social Connection Among Rural Older Adults

Background: Loneliness is associated with negative health outcomes for older adults. Social connection may occur using information and communication technologies (ICTs), such as smartphones and tablets and interventions to increase ICT use have shown positive results. Purpose: This study aims to investigate the routines and attitudes of smartphone and tablet use for social connection and secondarily, determine if there is an association between the routines and attitudes and connection. Methods: Participants completed a survey with questions that included demographics, 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale, Brief Sense of Community Scale, and open-ended questions. Results: Participants (N=21, median age of 76-80) report mostly living alone (76%), community center attendance of 2-5 days weekly (M=3.4), feelings of loneliness (48%), performance skill difficulty (90%), and median ICT use of 5-10 years. Over half report a daily routine of voice calls (90%), text messages (86%), social media (62%), email (57%), and others report never playing virtual games (71%), video calls (43%), listening to media (43%), or sending a question to a provider (38%). Participants agree smartphones and tablets help connect with family and friends (95%), peers (90%), and the community (81%). Voice call frequency is negatively associated with loneliness, while social media frequency is positively associated. Qualitative data reveals insight into valued tablet and smartphone skills, skill acquisition, and barriers. Conclusion: Older adults report positive attitudes of tablets and smartphones for social connection, routines of select social activities on devices, unmet social needs, and limitations with performance skills and patterns of device use. Plain Language Summary. Loneliness can result in poor health for older adults and many people connect through smartphones and tablets. This study surveyed older adults use and feelings of using mobile devices for social connection. Older adults shared positive attitudes of their smartphone or tablet for social connection and using their device for certain social activities. However, older adults also shared limited skills and routines of using their device for social activities, and feelings of loneliness. More use of social media was linked to higher levels of loneliness, while more use of voice calls was linked to lower levels. This study demonstrates the value of occupational therapy evaluation of attitudes, performance skills, and performance patterns

Addressing Food Insecurity: A Qualitative Study of Undergraduate Students\u27 Perceptions of Food Access Resources.

Food insecurity has emerged as a leading health care problem in the United States, impacting college students’ health, well-being, and academic performance. The aims of this study were: (1) to assess the prevalence of food insecurity, (2) to identify college students’ perceptions about food access resources, and (3) to explore students’ expressed needs from the university in improving food security status. A mixed-methods approach was used to assess the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the study aims. An online survey to gather demographic information and assess food security status using the 6-item version of the US Household Food Security Scale Module (HFSSM) was administered. Next, qualitative focus groups with subsets of participants was conducted to gain further insight into the perceptions, coping mechanisms, and resource utilization issues related to food insecurity. This study found 34.1% of undergraduate college students to be food insecure and demonstrates that students with a meal plan are less likely to be food insecure (p = 0.012; OR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.489, 0.918). Qualitative data identified key influencers of food insecurity: (1) personal beliefs, (2) life skills, and (3) the university. The results of this study contribute to the literature focused on food insecurity prevalence in college students and presents insight from the college student perspective. Findings may support the development of relevant interventions that are congruent with students’ needs, enhancing resource utilization to increase food security status among college students

A Theory-Grounded Measure of Adolescents\u27 Response to Media Literacy Interventions

Media literacy interventions offer relatively new and promising avenues for the prevention of risky health behaviors among children and adolescents, but current literature remains largely equivocal about their efficacy. We propose that (a) much of this ambiguity stems from the lack of conceptual clarity in the literature regarding the cognitive process through which media literacy interventions influence their target audience, and (b) that the ability to track this cognitive process by means of valid and reliable measures is necessary to evaluating the effects of media literacy programs on their audience. Accordingly, the primary objective of this study was to develop and test theoretically-grounded measures of audiences’ degree of engagement with the content of media literacy programs based on the recognition that engagement (and not participation per se) can better explain and predict individual variations in the effects of these programs. We tested the validity and reliability of this measure with two different samples of 10th grade high school students (Study I N = 294; Study II N = 171) who participated in a pilot and actual test of a brief media literacy curriculum. Responses to an inventory of items measuring evaluation of the media literacy program underwent an exploratory factor analysis for Study I. Four message evaluation factors (involvement, perceived novelty, critical thinking, personal reflection) emerged and were confirmed through CFA (Study II), demonstrating acceptable reliability as scales as well as item-level convergent validity and convergent and discriminant validity with other measures. We discuss the implications of including process of effect measures in the design and evaluation of media literacy interventions