Every Kid in a Park Climate Change Academies: Notes from the field

Students learn about climate change at on-site academies, with examples from Indiana Dunes National Park and Cape Cod National Seashore

An analysis of the evolving comoving number density of galaxies in hydrodynamical simulations

The cumulative comoving number-density of galaxies as a function of stellar mass or central velocity dispersion is commonly used to link galaxy populations across different epochs. By assuming that galaxies preserve their number-density in time, one can infer the evolution of their properties, such as masses, sizes, and morphologies. However, this assumption does not hold in the presence of galaxy mergers or when rank ordering is broken owing to variable stellar growth rates. We present an analysis of the evolving comoving number density of galaxy populations found in the Illustris cosmological hydrodynamical simulation focused on the redshift range $0\leq z \leq 3$. Our primary results are as follows: 1) The inferred average stellar mass evolution obtained via a constant comoving number density assumption is systematically biased compared to the merger tree results at the factor of $\sim$2(4) level when tracking galaxies from redshift $z=0$ out to redshift $z=2(3)$; 2) The median number density evolution for galaxy populations tracked forward in time is shallower than for galaxy populations tracked backward in time; 3) A similar evolution in the median number density of tracked galaxy populations is found regardless of whether number density is assigned via stellar mass, stellar velocity dispersion, or dark matter halo mass; 4) Explicit tracking reveals a large diversity in galaxies' assembly histories that cannot be captured by constant number-density analyses; 5) The significant scatter in galaxy linking methods is only marginally reduced by considering a number of additional physical and observable galaxy properties as realized in our simulation. We provide fits for the forward and backward median evolution in stellar mass and number density and discuss implications of our analysis for interpreting multi-epoch galaxy property observations.Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures, submitted to MNRAS, comments welcom

Unifying first principle theoretical predictions and experimental measurements of size effects on thermal transport in SiGe alloys

In this work, we demonstrate the correspondence between first principle calculations and experimental measurements of size effects on thermal transport in SiGe alloys. Transient thermal grating (TTG) is used to measure the effective thermal conductivity. The virtual crystal approximation under the density functional theory (DFT) framework combined with impurity scattering is used to determine the phonon properties for the exact alloy composition of the measured samples. With these properties, classical size effects are calculated for the experimental geometry of reflection mode TTG using the recently-developed variational solution to the phonon Boltzmann transport equation (BTE), which is verified against established Monte Carlo simulations. We find agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements in the reduction of thermal conductivity (as much as $\sim$ 25\% of the bulk value) across grating periods spanning one order of magnitude. This work provides a framework for the tabletop study of size effects on thermal transport

Rabies Surveillance Identifies Potential Risk Corridors and Enables Management Evaluation

Intensive efforts are being made to eliminate the raccoon variant of rabies virus (RABV) from the eastern United States and Canada. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services National Rabies Management Program has implemented enhanced rabies surveillance (ERS) to improve case detection across the extent of the raccoon oral rabies vaccination (ORV) management area. We evaluated ERS and public health surveillance data from 2006 to 2017 in three northeastern USA states using a dynamic occupancy modeling approach. Our objectives were to examine potential risk corridors for RABV incursion from the U.S. into Canada, evaluate the effectiveness of ORV management strategies, and identify surveillance gaps. ORV management has resulted in a decrease in RABV cases over time within vaccination zones (from occupancy (ψ) of 0.60 standard error (SE) = 0.03 in the spring of 2006 to ψ of 0.33 SE = 0.10 in the spring 2017). RABV cases also reduced in the enzootic area (from ψ of 0.60 SE = 0.03 in the spring of 2006 to ψ of 0.45 SE = 0.05 in the spring 2017). Although RABV occurrence was related to habitat type, greater impacts were associated with ORV and trap–vaccinate–release (TVR) campaigns, in addition to seasonal and yearly trends. Reductions in RABV occupancy were more pronounced in areas treated with Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait (ONRAB) compared to RABORAL V-RG®. Our approach tracked changes in RABV occurrence across space and time, identified risk corridors for potential incursions into Canada, and highlighted surveillance gaps, while evaluating the impacts of management actions. Using this approach, we are able to provide guidance for future RABV management

Time reparameterization in Bianchi type I spinor cosmology

The problem of time reparameterization is addressed at both the classical and quantum levels in a Bianchi-I universe in which the matter source is a massive Dirac spinor field. We take the scale factors of the metric as the intrinsic time and their conjugate momenta as the extrinsic time. A scalar character of the spinor field is identified as a representation of the extrinsic time. The construction of the field equations and quantization of the model is achieved by solving the Hamiltonian constraint after time identification has been dealt with. This procedure leads to a true Hamiltonian whose exact solutions for the above choices of time are presentedComment: 16 pages, no figures, to appear in Annals of Physic

Stretching the limits in help-seeking research

This special section focuses on help seeking in a wide range of learning environments, from classrooms to online forums. Previous research has rather restrictively focused on the identification of personal characteristics that predict whether or not learners seek help under certain conditions. However, help-seeking research has begun to broaden these self-imposed limitations. The papers in this special section represent good examples of this development. Indeed, help seeking in the presented papers is explored through complementary theoretical lenses (e.g., linguistic, instructional), using a wide scope of methodologies (e.g., teacher reports, log files), and in a manner which embraces the support of innovative technologies (e.g., cognitive tutors, web-based environments)

Goal-Focused Emotion-Regulation Therapy (GET) for young adult survivors of testicular cancer: a pilot randomized controlled trial of a biobehavioral intervention protocol.

BackgroundTesticular cancer diagnosis and treatment, especially given its threat to sexuality and reproductive health, can be distressing in the formative period of young adulthood and the majority of young survivors experience impairing, distressing, and modifiable adverse outcomes that can persist long after medical treatment. These include psychological distress, impairment in pursuit of life goals, persistent physical side effects, elevated risk of secondary malignancies and chronic illness, and biobehavioral burden (e.g., enhanced inflammation, dysregulated diurnal stress hormones). However, few targeted interventions exist to assist young survivors in renegotiating life goals and regulating cancer-related emotions, and none focus on reducing the burden of morbidity via biobehavioral mechanisms. This paper describes the methodology of a randomized controlled biobehavioral trial designed to investigate the feasibility and preliminary impact of a novel intervention, Goal-focused Emotion-Regulation Therapy (GET), aimed at improving distress symptoms, emotion regulation, goal navigation skills, and stress-sensitive biomarkers in young adult testicular cancer patients.MethodsParticipants will be randomized to receive six sessions of GET or Individual Supportive Therapy (ISP) delivered over 8 weeks. In addition to indicators of intervention feasibility, we will measure primary (depressive and anxiety symptoms) and secondary (emotion regulation and goal navigation skills, career confusion) psychological outcomes prior to (T0), immediately after (T1), and 12 weeks after (T2) intervention. Additionally, identified biomarkers will be measured at baseline and at T2.DiscussionGET may have the potential to improve self-regulation across biobehavioral domains, improve overall cancer adjustment, and address the need for targeted supportive care interventions for young adult cancer survivors.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov, NCT04150848. Registered on 28 October 2019

Predictors of normotension on withdrawal of antihypertensive drugs in elderly patients: prospective study in second Australian national blood pressure study cohort

Objectives: To identify simple long term predictors of maintenance of normotension after withdrawal of antihypertensive drugs in elderly patients in general practice. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: 169 general practices in Victoria, Australia. Participants: 503 patients aged 65-84 with treated hypertension who were withdrawn from all antihypertensive drugs and remained drug free and normotensive for an initial two week period; all were followed for a further 12 months. Main outcome measures: Relative likelihood of maintaining normotension 12 months after drug withdrawal; relative likelihood of early return to hypertension after drug withdrawal. Results: The likelihood of remaining normotensive at 12 months was greater among younger patients (65-74 years), patients with lower "on-treatment" systolic blood pressure, patients on single agent treatment, and patients with a greater waist:hip ratio. The likelihood of return to hypertension was greatest for patients with higher "on-treatment" systolic blood pressure. Conclusions: Age, blood pressure control, and the number of antihypertensive drugs are important factors in the clinical decision to withdraw drug treatment. Because of consistent rates of return to antihypertensive treatment, all patients from whom such treatment is withdrawn should be monitored indefinitely to detect a recurrence of hypertension.Mark R Nelson, Chris M Reid, Henry Krum, Tui Muir, Philip Ryan, John J McNei

Physical Activity, Park, Nature Trail Usage among Students, Faculty and Staff at a Mid-sized University

Physical activity (PA) is a vital component of a healthy lifestyle. There is strong evidence demonstrating an association between PA and reduced risk of many chronic diseases, increasing in prevalence and incidence in the United States. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the PA levels of the students, faculty, and staff members of a mid-sized state university and how usage of a nature center and community park facilitated PA. METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional survey design was used to complete the study objectives. The 20-minute survey was distributed online using Survey Monkey to all faculty, staff and students at the host university. It consisted of basic demographic questions, questions concerning respondents’ physical activity behaviors and their use of two community parks to engage in physical activity. The two park spaces included in the survey, Bay Area Park (BAP) and Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC), are located approximately 3.5 Km from the university. Survey respondents were incentivized by being entered into a raffle to win a small gift card and students could receive course credit for completing the survey. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 952 students, 94 faculty, and 250 staff members. Students reported the least PA, with an average of 2.8 PA days per week, 26.9% reporting no PA days per week, and only 5.3% reporting daily PA. Staff reported 3.0 average PA days per week, 20.2% reported no PA days per week, and 5.9% reported daily PA. Faculty reported 3.4 average PA days per week, 21.4% reported no PA days per week, and 14.3% reported daily PA. Participants less than 20y reported the least amount of inactivity (15.7%); 9.8% reported daily PA and on average exercised 3.3 days per week. Participants 50-60y reported the highest amount of inactivity (28.6%) and \u3e60y reported the lowest average number PA days per week (2.7 days). Students, faculty, and staff report not using parks (including BAP and ABNC) as a main place for PA; 69.5% report not visiting a park in the last week, 59% have not visited BAP in the last 3 months and 84% have not visited ABNC in the past 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Students, faculty, and staff surveyed are not meeting the recommended daily PA. Neighborhood outdoor space is the main space used for PA (38.1%). The majority of students, faculty and staff surveyed had not visited any parks in the week leading up to this survey and most have not visited the parks utilized in this survey during the past 3-months. Further research interventions is necessary to determine if awareness of parks and nature trails facilitate increased physical activity