The Effects of Gibberellic Acid, Smoke Water, and Cold Stratification on the Germination of Native Perennial Seed

In this study, I evaluated the germination rates of twenty native plant species and their response to cold stratification as well as four chemical solution treatments—water (control), gibberellic acid, smoke water, and gibberellic acid with smoke water. Seeds were evaluated and counted twice a week. Of the twenty evaluated species, sixteen had germination rates over 3% or 1 seed out of 30. Stratification increased germination by 54% when compared to the control. For chemical treatments, gibberellic acid and gibberellic acid with smoke water were significantly different from the control and increased germination by an average of 47% and 48%, respectively. Six species showed a response to chemical treatment and stratification. Four species showed a response to chemical treatments only, and four species showed a response to stratification only. No growth defects were discovered upon further evaluation after sowing the seed. This study suggested that the combination of stratification with smoke water and/or gibberellic acid has a significant effect on the seed germination yield of some native perennials

Vertebrate Paleontology and Magnetostratigraphy of the Upper Aguja Formation (Late Campanian), Talley Mountain Area, Big Bend National Park, Texas.

Considerable north-south latitudinal diversification existed among vertebrate faunas along the Western Interior Seaway during the late Campanian; this has caused difficulty correlating isolated faunas, especially southern ones, which contained endemic taxa and often lack non-paleontologic age control. The Talley Mt. local fauna is a late Campanian vertebrate fauna from the upper Aguja Formation, Big Bend National Park, Texas. It is one of the southernmost late Campanian vertebrate faunas, and is one of the few associated with magnetostratigraphy. The fauna is from five channel deposits, spanning 20 meters of section, from the lower portion of the upper shale member of the Aguja Formation. Deposition occurred within a coastal floodplain during the final marine regression from the area. Fossils were recovered by bulk sampling ($\sim$1630 kg) and acid-disaggregating pedogenic nodule-rich, carbonate-cemented, conglomeratic rocks. The fauna contains 35 terrestrial and aquatic taxa, including 8 chondrichthyans, 2 actinopterygians, 3 amphibians, 1 trionychid turtle, 4 squamates (including Chamops and Peneteius sp. nov., new records for the Aguja), 5 crocodylomorphs, 6 dinosaurs, and 6 mammals (Cimolomys sp., Meniscoessus sp., cf. Cimexomys, Paracimexomys sp., Alphadon cf. A. halleyi, and A. cf. A. sahnii). Aquatic taxa decrease in abundance upsection, reflecting the marine regression from the area and the beginning of drier, more seasonable climates. The fauna is taxonomically similar to the nearby Terlingua local fauna, but with significant taphonomic and sampling differences. The 52 meter paleomagnetic polarity sequence contains two reversed polarity zones, and is correlated to the base of Chronozone 32 based on the Tudithian taxa in the fauna and on the ages of underlying and overlying Aguja deposits. On the basis of this correlation and on average sedimentation rates of 29 meters/million years (My), the Talley Mt. local fauna is approximately 73.6 to 74.3 Ma

Doctor behaviors that impact patient satisfaction

Patient satisfaction with their doctor is an essential component of healthcare that impacts both patient health outcomes and fiscal success of healthcare organizations. This study identifies doctor behaviors that act as drivers of patient satisfaction when doctor expertise is set aside and determines the importance of these behaviors between different age groups. Survey data were gathered from two samples, one comprising younger adults at a mid-size Midwestern university (n=100) and one comprising older adults from a national market research survey panel provider (n=187). Subjects were asked to rate their satisfaction with their doctors from 0‑100 and rate the importance of 21 doctor behaviors from 1-5. Results support evaluating patients’ overall views with their doctors separately from their views of their doctors when ignoring doctors’ expertise, as three unique doctor behaviors were identified when ignoring the doctors’ expertise (i.e., not rushed, long-term relationship, and being fun). Results also support the existence of age-related patient satisfaction drivers. Unique satisfaction drivers among younger patients include not rushing the interaction, being fun, conveying a caring demeanor, and protecting patient privacy. Conversely, unique satisfaction drivers among older patients include listening, conveying friendliness, building long-term relationships, and seeking patient input. Findings indicate that expertise-independent doctor behaviors are quantifiable and demonstrate clear patterns of importance in terms of patient satisfaction to different age groups. They also align with prior research findings that behaviors traditionally classified as “soft skills” like smiling and active listening are important attributes when considering patient satisfaction. Experience Framework This article is associated with the Staff & Provider Engagement lens of The Beryl Institute Experience Framework (https://theberylinstitute.org/experience-framework/). Access other PXJ articles related to this lens. Access other resources related to this lens

Dissociation of H2 molecule on the {\beta}-Ga2O3 (100)B surface: The critical role of oxygen vacancy

We systematically study the dissociation of H2 molecules on the {\beta}-Ga2O3 (100)B surface, with the influences of surface oxygen vacancy being considered. After introducing the surface oxygen vacancy, the nearest topmost O(I) atom becomes very active, and hydrogen molecules become much easier to dissociate.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Socialization Agents That Puerto Rican College Students Use to Make Financial Decisions

Using consumer socialization theory as theoretical framework, the purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study was to identify the information sources that Puerto Ricans college students use to gather financial knowledge. A sample of 198 Puerto Rican college students answered a portion of the College Student Financial Literacy Survey. The research question addressed the preference of four financial information sources, including parents, peers, media, and school. A combination of descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, repeated-measures analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression confirmed that participants preferred to gather financial knowledge from parents. Researchers, educators, and policymakers may use this study as a foundation for the development of effective financial education strategies that will promote positive social change in Puerto Rico

A Case Study Exploration of Blue-Collar Worker Retirement Plan Investment Decisions

The finances of blue-collar workers were the most acutely impacted as these workers lost their jobs during the Great Recession of 2007 through 2009. The literature revealed a minimal understanding of how blue-collar workers allocated funds for their retirement, and what their investments might be when they invested. To address this problem, the current qualitative study addressed (a) how blue-collar workers chose to invest or not invest for retirement and (b) how blue-collar workers diversified their portfolio if they chose to invest. Theoretical foundations of the study were based on regret theory and prospect theory. A nonrandom purposeful sample of 10 blue-collar worker participants answered 19 open-ended questions. Data from these questions were analyzed inductively. Findings revealed that, as participants reached the age of 30, they started to consider investing for their retirement. Participants under the age of 30 were not as likely to invest. Only one person over the age of 30 did not invest for retirement. The factors that contributed to these blue-collar workers’ investment decisions for retirement were based on an employer-provided retirement accounts, the fear of running out of money later in life during retirement, and the addition of new family members. One of the most popular retirement investment products for the participant group, which included mechanics, laborers, and material movers, was the U.S. Treasury bonds. Other popular investments were mutual funds, 401(k)s, and IRAs. These findings may inform researchers who are conducting a study on the investment decisions of blue-collar workers. The findings can also be beneficial for other blue-collar workers by showing them that other blue-collar workers do invest, and by revealing their rationales in doing so

Rural Research Brief: Using an Ecojustice Perspective to Inform Science Teacher Recruitment and Retention in the Rural Black Belt Region of Georgia

This article highlights the significance of using ecojustice theory in scholarly discussions regarding issues of science teaching and learning in rural communities of the Southeastern United States. We offer an explanation of how ecojusticetheory provides a new way to look at often studied issues surrounding education in rural communities. This article specifically addresses the issue of science teacher recruitment and retention and draws attention to some of the emergingtensions faced by educators in the Black Belt region of Georgia