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Comparison Of Offspring Growth Models In Atlantic Puffins Fratercula Arctica , Katja H. Kochvar, Raul Zabala Belenguer, Pierre-Paul Bitton

Marine Ornithology

Growth of morphological traits in the offspring of many seabirds, including Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica, has typically been characterized by linear models despite displaying nonlinear patterns. We assessed the fit of six typical avian growth models to measurements of puffling mass, wing length, and tenth primary length. Across all three biometrics, the first- and second-best performing models were nonlinear (i.e., quadratic, logistic, extreme value function); these models were then used to generate separate growth curves for individual pufflings and extract easily interpretable and comparable parameter estimates. We recommend the reported models in future studies incorporating metrics of puffling growth and …

Artificial Brood Parasite Technique For Rearing Abandoned Eggs Of The Endangered Little Tern Sternula Albifrons, Masaharu Hayakawa

Marine Ornithology

The Little Tern Sternula albifrons is a ground-nesting species classified as Endangered on the Japan Ministry of the Environment's Red Data List. It may abandon its eggs owing to disturbances, a factor having a negative impact on its population trends. Successful artificial nurturing of these eggs could aid in the recovery of the species. To address this issue, I developed a ‘brood parasite' technique. The process involves taking abandoned eggs from a nest, incubating them in a facility until one day before hatching, and then covertly placing the protected eggs into other nests within the colony. By these means, foster …

Breeding Season Movements Of Aleutian Terns Onychoprion Aleuticus: Implications For Population Assessment And Monitoring, Kelly Nesvacil, Grey W. Pendleton, John P. Skinner, Susan Oehlers, Jeff Mondragon, Donald E. Lyons

Marine Ornithology

In 2017 and 2018, satellite transmitters were deployed (n2017 = 13, n2018 = 14) on Aleutian Terns Onychoprion aleuticus in two areas of Alaska, USA, to investigate breeding season movements and temporal patterns of colony activity. The effort was intended to aid in the development of a large-scale population-assessment framework. Across the two years, we observed dispersal to seven confirmed or potential (putative) colonies, none of which were previously documented, ranging in distance from 0.4 to 64.2 km from tag deployment sites. Although most terns did not associate with any known colonies during the breeding season, several individuals from the …

Technological Evolution Generates New Answers And New Ways Forward: A Progress Report From The First Decade At The Karlsö Auk Lab, Jonas Hentati-Sundberg, Per-Arvid Berglund, Agnes B. Olin, Aron Hejdström, Henrik Österblom, Astrid A. Carlsen, Quentin Queiros, Olof Olsson

Marine Ornithology

In 2008, we built an artificial nesting construction for Common Murres Uria aalge, the Karlsö Auk Lab, on an island in the Baltic Sea (Hentati-Sundberg et al., 2012). The aim was to create an environment in which the birds could be readily monitored and accessed, and technological equipment easily installed. In this current paper, we report on murre recruitment to the Auk Lab over the first decade, assess the performance of the birds living on the lab compared to natural cliff ledges, and revisit the original research questions. We conclude that the tremendous developments in sensor technology (video surveillance, automated …

Decrypting The Breeding Biology Of The Elusive And Declining Tahiti Petrel Pseudobulweria Rostrata, Angelique Pagenaud, Karen Bourgeois, Léna Payandi, Wilfried Weiss, Éric Vidal, Andreas Ravache

Marine Ornithology

Among procellariids, the Tahiti Petrel Pseudobulweria rostrata is one of the most endangered and least known species. Its global populations are declining, yet demographic and ecological studies remain scarce. Understanding the breeding cycle and behavior of Tahiti Petrel adults and chicks is essential to develop effective protection measures. To address this knowledge gap, Tahiti Petrel colonies of various sizes were studied at three sites in New Caledonia, with extensive sampling at two main sites and limited sampling at a third. A total of 157 burrows were monitored for up to two years using endoscopic cameras and camera traps. This allowed …

Contents, Pacific Seabird Group

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Author Instructions, Pacific Seabird Group

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

No Evidence For High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza In Waved Albatross Phoebastria Irrorata, Gustavo Jiménez-Uzcátegui, Alberto Vélez, Patricio Vega, Verónica Buendia, Verónica Montenegro-Benalcázar, Christian Sevilla, Marilyn Cruz

Marine Ornithology

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is caused by the Alphainfluenzavirus influenzae species (type A, subtype H5N1), which has been detected in mammals (including humans) and marine birds in the Americas, including the Galápagos Islands. The Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata is a marine endemic species of Ecuador. Most of its breeding population nests on Española Island in the Galápagos Archipelago, and it forages at sea in the eastern South Pacific. This marine bird shares its feeding areas with the Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus thagus, Peruvian Booby Sula variegata, Guanay Cormorant Leucocarbo bougainvillii, Humboldt Penguin Spheniscus humboldti, Sanderling Calidris alba, Belcher’s Gull Larus …

Life-History Traits And Divergence In Population Trends Of Two North Pacific Auks: Rhinoceros Auklet Cerorhinca Monocerata And Tufted Puffin Fratercula Cirrhata, J. Mark Hipfner

Marine Ornithology

Population trends in two closely related and ecologically similar North Pacific auks, the Rhinoceros Auklet Cerorhinca monocerata and Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata, have diverged over recent decades: stable in the former, declining in the latter. I propose that differences between the two species in a broad suite of interrelated morphological, demographic, behavioral, and physiological life-history traits could explain their differing responses to recent environmental conditions.

Letter To The Editor: Embedding Indigenous Knowledges In Occupational Therapy: ‘Nothing About Us Without Us.’, Chontel Gibson, Isla Emery-Whittington, Lavonne Fox, Tirritpa Ritchie, Kaarina Valavaara, Angela Phenix, Tara Pride

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

As a collective of Indigenous occupational therapists, we write this letter not only in response to McColl et al.'s (2024) Letter to the Editor, but as a call to action for the profession, to enhance its ability to apply decoloniality and Indigenous human rights via strengths-based approaches.

Occupation-Based Practice Needs Occupation-Based Assessments: The Loss Of The Amps Family Assessments And How We Move Forward From Here, Leon Kirschner

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The Occupational Therapy Domain and Process identifies participation in life activities as a key aspect of occupational therapy’s domain. It also identifies assessment as a key process in our practice. Still, few commonly used assessments use real, meaningful activities in real context to identify what factors are affecting performance. The AMPS family of assessments were among the only assessments used for these purposes. Because of a series of factors, these assessments recently became unavailable for new users and are no longer supported by a central organization. This paper explores the strengths and needs for these types of assessments, the factors …

Environmental Advocacy As An Occupation: Perceived Self-Efficacy And Occupational Justice In Community Programming, Emma Sims, Laura H. Vanpuymbrouck

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Current occupational therapy literature demonstrates a gap in knowledge of environmental advocacy as an occupation, which directly impacts occupational justice in those experiencing environmental racism or discrimination. This study’s purpose was to provide foundational information on the importance of advocacy work in the sphere of environmental and occupational justice through the lived experiences of those directly involved in community environmental advocacy.

Method: Qualitative data was collected via three focus groups using semi-structured interviews focused on perceptions of participant experiences in environmental advocacy occupations. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes relating to research questions.

Results: When …

Benefits Of Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Training (Smart) In Occupational Therapy Graduate Students, Asha K. Vas, Lori G. Cook, Wanyi Wang, Alisha Schaefer

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists engage in critical thinking to integrate knowledge into clinical application. Academic curricula offer critical thinking strategies to facilitate flexible thinking and innovation to optimize clinical outcomes. Prior research has demonstrated that a gist-based reasoning program called Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Training (SMART) is beneficial in improving critical thinking skills in both healthy and clinical populations. The current study examined the benefits of the SMART program in masters-level occupational therapy (OT) students. Fourteen students between the ages of 22 and 45 (M = 25.71, SD = 6.34) completed the research study. The SMART program teaches strategies of strategic attention, …

Enhancing Occupational Therapy Practice Through A Mentorship Program: A Qualitative Study, Natalie S. King, Bryan M. Gee, Sarah A. Schoen, Mim Ochsenbein

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Occupational therapy entry-level education is filled with opportunities for experiential learning. Post-professionally, few opportunities exist for participation in structured mentored experiences. Mentoring in health care professions is not new; it has resurged over the past 15 years, documenting the nature of mentorship for practicing clinicians, the design of programs to promote advancement, and the effectiveness of these programs. Level I Mentorship by the STAR Institute uses a small group format and entails a blend of live and online instruction, fostering discussion and reflection rooted in on-site learning experiences. This qualitative study aims to understand participants' perceptions of STAR …

A Qualitative Study Of Disabled Performance Art In Occupational Identity Formation And Empowerment, Lisa Mahaffey, Kristin Chrissos, Kate Wettergren

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Disabled performance artists use their occupation of performance art to challenge the attitudes of their audience toward disability, leading to a greater sense of empowerment and a strong identity as disabled people.

Method: This project used a narrative approach to qualitative inquiry to explore how engagement in performance art influences occupational identity and empowers disabled artists. Personal connections and snowball sampling resulted in six self-identified disabled performance artists participating in 60- to 90-min interviews. A thematic analysis resulted in three overarching themes.

Results: (a) Belonging to a community of disability activists promotes feelings of empowerment for disabled performance …

Evicted From The Outside, Colleen Cosgriff

Maine Law Review

In recent years, Maine has seen an increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness who are living outdoors. People living in these circumstances often shelter together in groups of tents or other temporary structures commonly referred to as “encampments.”As municipalities across Maine struggled with how best to respond to the increase in encampments across the state, the United States Supreme Court decided City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, a case originating in Grants Pass, Oregon. Grants Pass wanted to issue civil and criminal fines to people for sleeping outdoors, even when no alternative shelter was available. The city ultimately …

Thermal Analysis And Experimental Design Of A Cryogenic System For Low-Noise Amplifiers, Tapuwa Makombore, Tunde Bello-Ochende

Seatific Journal

This study details the design and characterisation of a cryogenic test facility for low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) used in radio astronomy. Following a review of available cooling and vacuum pumping methods, a dedicated test system was designed and manufactured to meet specific performance requirements. Mathematical models were developed to predict the thermal and pressure behaviors within the cryostat, enabling accurate assessments of the system’s cooling efficiency. Experimental results showed that the first and second stages reached minimum temperatures of 11 K and 38 K, closely aligning with the calculated values of 13 K and 42 K, respectively. Vacuum testing across the …

Motivational Interviewing For Weight Loss: A Review Of Evidence-Based Outcomes In Overweight And Obese Adults, Marian Dover

Dissertations

Obesity is a significant clinical problem affecting 41.9% of adults in the United States, with profound implications for individual health and healthcare economics. Standard weight loss interventions, often limited to pharmacological treatments and dietary guidance, frequently fail to achieve sustained adherence and meaningful longterm outcomes. This quality improvement (QI) project evaluated the integration of motivational interviewing (MI), a patient-centered counseling strategy, into routine clinical practice at Innovafusion, a medically supervised weight loss clinic in Aubrey, Texas. The aim was to enhance adherence to lifestyle modifications, promote intrinsic motivation, and improve weight loss outcomes among adults aged 18–65. Using a retrospective …

Implementation Of Mindfulness-Based Interventions And Weekly Visits To Reduce Loneliness In Older Adults, Victoria E. Cobb

Dissertations

Implementation of Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Weekly Visits to Reduce Loneliness in Older Adults

Abstract:

Problem: Social isolation and loneliness have emerged as a significant public health issue for the older adult population. Loneliness has been linked to both physical and mental health effects. According to current literature, there is no standard intervention to treat loneliness in the older adult population.

Methods: This quality improvement (QI) project utilized a descriptive cohort design and the Visit-A-Bit screening assessment instrument. Undergraduate nursing students implemented mindfulness interventions during weekly visits over an eight-week period at an independent living facility located in the Midwest. Descriptive …

Implementing Behavioral Management And Social Skills Training For Pediatric Patients With Adhd And Their Caregivers, Meagan A. Conwell

Dissertations

Problem: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects 11.4% of children in the United States. Patients diagnosed with ADHD struggle with focus, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, resulting in executive and emotional dysfunction, poor social skills and quality of relationships, and poor school performance.

The American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines recommend that school-age children diagnosed with ADHD should receive both medication management and behavioral management training (BMT) for the best treatment outcomes. Research over the last decade has found that combining social skills training (SST) with BMT results in even better outcomes for these patients. Less than half of pediatric …

Improving Hpv Vaccination Decision-Making For Adolescents And Their Caregiver, Mary E. Hohman

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a viral infection associated with the development of certain cancers and is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States (U.S.) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2023). The CDC (2021) asserts that more than 90% of cancers caused by HPV infections could be prevented through the HPV vaccination. The CDC recommends the HPV vaccine series for children ages 11 or 12 years; however, this organization further submits that the HPV series could be initiated as early as 9 years of age through 26 years of age (CDC, 2024). Despite CDC …

Implementing A Turn Team Process To Reduce Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries On A Telemetry Unit At A Hospital In The Midwest, Sally Wang

Dissertations

Problem: Pressure injuries (PI) are localized wounds to the skin and soft tissues that typically result from sustained pressure on specific areas of the body (Zaidi & Sharma, 2024). Hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) refers to pressure injuries that develop while a patient is in the hospital (Rondinelli et al., 2018). PI can cause patients to experience pain, decreased feelings of dignity, increased feelings of depression and anxiety, reduced levels of social activity, difficulty sleeping, and impaired cognitive function (Roussou et al., 2023). The Advanced Cardiac Care Unit (ACCU) at Missouri Baptist Medical Center experienced an increase in HAPI cases: …

Depression Screening In The Adult Inpatient Oncology Population, Erica Bizub

Dissertations

Routinely screening oncology patients for depression is recommended due to the higher rates of depression in this population as well as the negative impact of untreated depression. The goal of this QI project is to implement a standard depression screening protocol for patients admitted to this hospital, where there is currently no standard screening protocol. There were 110 patients included in this study, and 67 (60.91%) of patients received a PHQ-9 screening. Of the patients who completed the PHQ-9, 21 (19.09%) had a positive screening, which was a score of seven or higher. While there were high rates of provider …

A Program Evaluation: Insomnia In Adults With Major Depression Disorder With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Insomnia (Cbt-I), Taylor E. Wilson

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: In 2023, Compass Health Network (CHN) data analysts found that 91% of CHN patients in the United States who have died by suicide reported problems with sleep, which was the highest risk factor for suicide. The objective of this program evaluation project is to evaluate CHN CBT-I effectiveness on patients ‘suicidality by improving their insomnia.

Methods: CHN quality improvement (QI) project used a quantitative method pre/post score design. Quantitative aggregate data was collected on the participants who met the inclusion criteria via retrospective and prospective chart review prior to CHN implementing the intervention. CBT-I clinicians collected PHQ-9, Columbia-Suicide …

Care Coordination In Pediatric Primary Care, Alyssa K. Durzo

Dissertations

No central documentation of care plans exists for children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) in the electronic health record (EHR). Providers of a large pediatric primary care office in St. Louis Missouri were asked to identify CSHCN in the practice. Clinic nurses completed a comprehensive chart review of the patients identified and constructed care coordination documents using a pre-established smart-text phrase. Subsequently, these were documented centrally in the EHR under the Problem List.

Likert score data was obtained from providers on the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the intervention through the verified tools: Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), Intervention Appropriateness …

Screen Foundations: How Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Can Implement ‘Family Media Use Plans’ In Primary Care To Reduce Pediatric Behavior Concerns, Katie Anderson

Dissertations

Abstract for:

Screen Foundations: How Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Can Implement ‘Family Media Use Plans’ in Primary Care to Reduce Pediatric Behavior Concerns

Problem: Parents of children 2-5 years-old increasingly reach out to PCPs for escalating behavior concerns, including when the child doesn’t listen well, is inattentive, having tantrums, meltdowns, hitting, yelling, etc. Referrals to psychiatry and/or play therapy result in long waits, or referrals not accepted. Coincidingly, toddler and preschool aged children continue to exceed daily screen time recommendations. This results in a gap of care for families with young children and externalizing behavior.

Methods: This quality improvement project addressed …

Best Practice Toolkit For Burnout Prevention In Emergency Department Nurses, Moises A. De Oleo

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Burnout Syndrome (BS) is a serious problem in emergency department (ED) nurses and is associated with higher nurse turnover rates. A burnout prevention toolkit is needed.

PICOT: The project was guided by the following PICO question: "For emergency department nurses (P), how does the development of the best practice burnout prevention toolkit (I), compared to the absence of a structured intervention (C), support the establishment of nurse burnout best practices when evaluated using the CDC Program Evaluation Framework? (O)".

Evidence: The analysis of the literature supported the implementation of active interventions in the form of workshops.

Intervention: A …

Research Progress In Thermo-Reversible Polysaccharide Gels, Dongxin Zhou, Ziao Zhang, Su Chen, Weimin Yang, Jiajun Sun, Shengzu Han, Anning Xie, Xiaoxiao Li, Yuxiang Bai

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

Thermo-reversible gels are widely applied in the processing of baking,meat,and snack products including cakes,candies,jelly,aspic,and steamed custard buns.Currently,the most effective thermo-reversible gel is gelatin,which can combine with water to form a transparent gel that melts when it is close to the temperature of the human oral cavity.However,gelatin is expensive.Therefore,researchers have turned their attention to polysaccharide gels,hoping to obtain more thermo-reversible food raw materials with different properties.The author reviews thermo-reversible polysaccharide gels from natural sources such as plants,algae,and microorganisms and those modified by physical,chemical,and enzymatic methods and summarizes the sources,structures,gelatinization mechanisms,and product applications of polysaccharide gels.It is expected to provide a reference …

High School Teachers’ Perceptions On Implementing Curriculum-Based Standards For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kevin Keogh Iacoboni

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was that special education (SPED) teachers struggle to implement curriculum-based standards into their instruction of high school students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a Mid-Atlantic state’s system of nonpublic schools. Guided by Billingsley’s schematic representation and Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore high school teachers’ perceptions on their successes, challenges, and resources provided for implementing the state-mandated curriculum-based standards for students with ASD in the Mid-Atlantic state’s nonpublic schools. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 high school SPED teachers from …

Better Together: Collaborative Approaches To Teaching Primary Source & Information Literacy, Rebecca Fitzsimmons

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

Special collections librarians and their research & instruction colleagues discuss collaborative approaches to primary source and information literacy instruction in the university classroom. Through presentations and panel discussion they cover the types of classes where they collaborate, including a representative example class; how they work with teaching faculty; their favorite learning objectives; and how their partnerships have made them better teachers.

Panelists represent public universities in Arkansas, Illinois, and Maine, and a private college in Ohio.