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Active shooter drills are widely used in schools throughout the United States, with more than 92% of public schools having an active shooter plan. These drills can increase student stress and anxiety and can have a variety of negative effects, such as somatic complaints, anxiety, poor self-regulation of emotions and behaviors, risk for depression, and prevalence of obesity and eating disorders. This article describes the efficacy of physical activity breaks, mindful breathing techniques, and emotional regulation strategies to reduce stress reactivity and enhance recovery in elementary-age students following active shooter safety drills. A list of example activities is provided for each of the three stress management categories. Each of the activities can be adapted to various developmental levels (i.e., K-12), settings (i.e., classroom, hallway, outdoors), and time availability (i.e., one minute to 10 minutes). The strategies may also be utilized following other emergency drills or during other times of high student and classroom stress.

In this study, we examine the relationship between sleep duration and reported levels of optimism in Generation Z (i.e., born after 1996) students aged 17 to 24. This study hypothesizes that optimism and duration of sleep will have a statistically significant positive relationship. Participants in this study are Generation Z college students located in the Southeastern United States. The sample consisted of 1562 students enrolled in a required physical activity class. A Pearson's correlation determined that there was a statistically significant positive relationship between sleep and optimism. Research implications and future research trends on sleep and optimism are discussed. [Note: The publication year (2021) shown on the PDF is incorrect. The correct publication year for this article is 2022.]

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between curiosity, gratitude, and life satisfaction in undergraduate college students. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant relationship between gratitude, curiosity, and satisfaction with life. College students from a southeastern college were recruited via email, in-class announcements, and throughout campus via QR codes to participate in the study. A total of 300 undergraduate students consented to participate in the research study and 231 completed the surveys. Participants completed surveys assessing curiosity, gratitude, and satisfaction with life. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's r correlations, and separate one-way ANOVAs to determine group differences in gratitude, curiosity, and satisfaction with life. Hedge's g effect sizes were calculated as well. Gratitude was positively related to curiosity (r = 0.20), and satisfaction with life (r = 0.36). Furthermore, women exhibited greater gratitude as well as satisfaction with life when compared to men, [F(2,230) = 14.40, p < 0.001]. These results are consistent with the hypotheses and will be discussed in regard to previous research and future application.

Objective: To examine the relationship between college student anxiety, optimism, gratitude, and perception of the Physical Activity and Lifestyle program (PAL) instructional response/effectiveness following COVID-19. Participants: Data were collected from a southeastern, midsize university (n = 1640) during April 2020. Methods: Participants responded to a Web-based survey that included mental health factors (optimism, gratitude, anxiety) and perceptions of COVID-19 academic response. Results: The results of this study revealed a significant, negative relationship between anxiety and optimism (r = 0.36), gratitude (r = -0.12), and perceived instruction following COVID-19 (r = -0.11). There were statistically significant differences in perceived PAL instructional response/effectiveness following COVID-19 between anxiety classification, with severely anxious students expressing lower instructional response to COVID-19 when compared to moderately or mildly anxious students, [F(2,1516) = 10.60, p < 0.001]. Conclusions: The results inform educators on the importance of effective education and coping strategies following online transition during a pandemic.

Podcasting targets student engagement through technology-based blended learning and application of the four perspectives previously discussed. Podcast-based walking programs, based off of the Walking Classroom, promote exercise and learning without reducing educational time. The purpose of this commentary is to explain a teaching method that promotes blended learning through physical activity and podcast-based learning. Students expressed enjoyment and desire to continue this learning modality across other classes, believed they retained information better while walking, and that it helped them engage in physical activity after commuting to campus or sitting at work. Lastly, students expressed enjoyment with this style of learning because it helped energize and motivate them prior to class in the morning. The authors discussed this tailored teaching method for a university setting as well as future research implications.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the Sources of Strength program implemented at a high school in the southeastern United States using the RE-AIM framework. Students (n = 1,250) were recruited from one high school in the southeastern United States that was implementing Sources of Strength. College undergraduate students mentored high school peer leaders to implement Sources of Strength to promote opioid and suicide protective factors for the high school. This was a cross-sectional design in which a post-implementation survey assessed program effectiveness, satisfaction, and feedback for maintenance. Analysis used the RE-AIM framework of reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Reach: 100 % of students participated in at least one campaign. Effectiveness: Mean protective factor scores were 3.83 for happiness; 3.93 for knowledge of coping skills, and 3.38 for practice of coping skills. Adoption: One high school and 100 % of classrooms participated in at least one campaign. Implementation: 18 high school peer leader meetings were facilitated by the undergraduate mentors. Maintenance: High school students qualitatively provided input on future campaign needs, and the program was continued following this RE-AIM analysis. The Sources of Strength program promoted suicide and opioid protective factors in high school students during COVID-19. Future research should compare the efficacy of Sources of Strength at baseline and follow-up with multiple high school sites.

Context: Physical activity has been shown to have physiological and psychological benefits in adults worldwide. Those in the healthcare industry, including long-term care employees, face unique occupational stressors that could be barriers to initiating and maintaining a physically active lifestyle.Objectives: 1) to describe the physical activity level of a group of long-term care employees; and 2) examined demographic and self-efficacy influences on physical activity level.Methods: The cross-sectional study included an online questionnaire with demographics, the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ), and the Self-Efficacy for Exercise Scale, in a convenience sample of 218 participants.Findings: Results found 71.5% of the sample were classified as active, the percentage of participants who indicated they were highly active in their youth compared to adulthood decreased from 40.3% to 16.0%, and 37.3% of the sample decreased their physical activity level during COVID-19. Additionally, the GLTEQ score was significantly higher for those with high exercise self-efficacy (M = 65.97, SD = 30.78) compared to those with moderate exercise self-efficacy (M = 37.14, SD = 27.07, p = .000) and low exercise self-efficacy (M = 16.00, SD = 15.11, p = .000).Implications: Although the majority of the long-term care employees were considered active even during the COVID-19 pandemic, strategies to promote physical activity in the occupation setting are needed. Additional research is warranted to better understand if the nature of healthcare and occupational physical activity may have impacted this value.

Active shooter drills are widely used in schools throughout the United States, with more than 92% of public schools having an active shooter plan. These drills can increase student stress and anxiety and can have a variety of negative effects, such as somatic complaints, anxiety, poor self-regulation of emotions and behaviors, risk for depression, and prevalence of obesity and eating disorders. This article describes the efficacy of physical activity breaks, mindful breathing techniques, and emotional regulation strategies to reduce stress reactivity and enhance recovery in elementary-age students following active shooter safety drills. A list of example activities is provided for each of the three stress management categories. Each of the activities can be adapted to various developmental levels (i.e., K-12), settings (i.e., classroom, hallway, outdoors), and time availability (i.e., one minute to 10 minutes). The strategies may also be utilized following other emergency drills or during other times of high student and classroom stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to screen for mental and behavioral health risk of Division II collegiate student athletes using a novel online screening tool (i.e., Heads Up Checkup) via the Sharpen mobile platform and learn the practicality of using such a tool. Collegiate student athletes (n = 367) were recruited to complete the Heads Up Checkup mental and behavioral health screening through the Sharpen mobile application. A total of 338 out of 367 possible collegiate student athletes completed the screening for a participation rate of 92.09%. Participants self-reported mental and behavioral health symptoms, including risk and criteria for 26 ICD-10 disorders. Across the sample, 17.1% of participants (n = 63) met at least 50% of the criteria for at least one diagnosis, 18.8% of participants (n = 69) met 70–99% of diagnostic criteria for at least one diagnosis, and 15.5% of participants (n = 57) met 100% of diagnostic criteria for at least one ICD-10 diagnosis. Although the Heads Up Checkup cannot diagnose disorders, it can be a valuable screening tool to assist coaches, trainers, clinicians, and athletic staff to collaboratively care for collegiate student athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mindfulness meditation can effectively enhance every dimension of holistic wellness and learning, including cognition, attention, self-regulatory resources, and first-year academic success. Aim: This paper discusses the potential impact of a mindfulness meditation room on student wellness, education, experiential learning, and development. Methods: The program curriculum and the structure of the Wolf Wellness Lab at the University of West Georgia emphasizes a holistic approach to higher education curriculum development and student wellness and is based on the National Wellness Institute's six dimensions of wellness. The newly developed mindfulness meditation room is discussed in regard to recent research and valid, practical application as a way to improve student learning and overall wellness. Conclusions: The mindfulness meditation room provides experiential learning and high-impact practices associated with the University of West Georgia educational curriculum. The mindfulness meditation room could promote student learning and overall well-being via personal practice and opportunities to guide other students and faculty through meditation practice.

A public service announcement is a form of public, free-space messaging in which an individual proposes an idea with the aim to influence the public's attitude toward an exciting potential (Slater 2006). In this article, the author describes implementing this method across a wide variety of undergraduate content disciplines, including psychology, physical education, sociology, and kinesiology. Four key steps to promote statistical investigation and research, creative development, and application of knowledge of the PSA project are presented so students can learn to connect theory to practice by selecting evidence-based strategies in their given topic area.

Research supports the "broaden and build" nature of positive emotions on child socio-emotional outcomes. This article describes three lesson plans that can promote learning while helping students express positive emotions.

The primary objective was to (a) test the effectiveness of an Exercise Is Medicine® on Campus (EIM-OC) program in a university setting and (b) compare the baseline levels of physical activity, mental health, and physical health with post-EIM-OC levels. Referred and consenting students (n = 9) participated in a 12-week program. At pre- and postprogram, participants completed measures of current health behaviors, obstacles to physical activity, health goals, physical activity history, biometric screening (resting heart rate, blood pressure (BP), waist-to-hip ratio, body composition percentage via bioelectrical impedance, cardiovascular and muscular endurance baseline, and flexibility), perceived stress, and self-compassion. All of the participants adhered to 100% of the program. Participants experienced a decrease in resting heart rate, body composition, and BP and an increase in sleep, physical activity, and self-compassion. The program will be implemented with a larger sample of referred students with the goal of reducing risk or prevalence of chronic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fission time projection chamber (fission-TPC) was developed to provide precise neutron-induced fission measurements for several major actinides. As fission fragments lose energy in one of the gas volumes of the fission-TPC, energy loss information is captured and may be used to determine fission product yields as the stopping power of an ion is dependent on the atomic number. The work presented here demonstrates the ability to apply machine learning techniques for Bragg curve classification. A set of one million energy loss curves for 24 different fission-fragment elements was generated using common stopping power software. A ResNet architecture optimized for 1D data was used to train, test, and validate a model for light and heavy fission fragments using the simulated data. The resultant classification accuracy for the light and heavy fragments indicates that this could be a viable method for elemental classification of data from the fission-TPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of an Exercise is Medicine on Campus® program on university student biometrics and muscular endurance. It was hypothesized that participants in the 12-week program would experience significant improvements in body mass index, blood pressure, body fat percentage, waist circumference, and muscular endurance. Methods: To be eligible for the program, participants must have met two of the three criteria: (1) blood pressure over 140 and/or 90 (3 consecutive measurements over 2 weeks), (2) BMI over 30, and/or (3) diagnosed chronic condition or currently taking medication for chronic condition. Participants engaged in six bi-weekly exercise instructional meetings that lasted approximately 30 minutes in length. Participants completed measures of resting heart rate, waist-to-hip ratio, body composition percentage via bioelectrical impedance, and muscular endurance before and after the program. Results: Although not statistically significant, there was a decrease in BMI, blood pressure, body fat percentage, and waist circumference from pre- to post-program. Two-tailed t-tests revealed significant improvements in squats (P =.04), pushups (P =.05), and curl-ups (P =.03) from pre- to post-program. Conclusion: The results are discussed in terms of current research and future university campus application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different aspects of the nuclear fission process have been studied at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) using various instruments and experimental techniques. Properties of the fragments emitted in fission have been investigated using Frisch-grid ionization chambers, a Time Projection Chamber (TPC), and the SPIDER instrument which employs the 2v-2E method. These instruments and experimental techniques have been used to determine fission product mass yields, the energy dependent total kinetic energy (TKE) release, and anisotropy in neutron-induced fission of U-235, U-238 and Pu-239.

There has been a shift in higher education from traditional lecture-based learning to incorporating high-impact practices and experiential learning. These practices offer students an opportunity to engage in real-world settings that allow them to apply course content directly into practice. In order for high-impact practices to be effective, both program implementation and evaluation should be conducted collaboratively with community stakeholders, also known as community-based participatory research (CBPR). The Girls Empowering Movement (GEM) initiative, an out-of-school time physical activity program, is an example of CBPR in that it was developed by middle school girls, for middle school girls. The purpose of this article is to provide the framework used to recruit and train undergraduate students to collaboratively lead the GEM initiative in the southeastern United States. This article discusses how community partnerships were created, how specific content and curricular decisions were made to foster a unique learning experience, and how evaluation protocols were created to ensure undergraduate learning and community collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Physical activity has been shown to have physiological and psychological benefits in adults worldwide. Those in the healthcare industry, including long-term care employees, face unique occupational stressors that could be barriers to initiating and maintaining a physically active lifestyle. Objectives: 1) to describe the physical activity level of a group of long-term care employees; and 2) examined demographic and self-efficacy influences on physical activity level. Methods: The cross-sectional study included an online questionnaire with demographics, the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ), and the Self-Efficacy for Exercise Scale, in a convenience sample of 218 participants. Findings: Results found 71.5% of the sample were classified as active, the percentage of participants who indicated they were highly active in their youth compared to adulthood decreased from 40.3% to 16.0%, and 37.3% of the sample decreased their physical activity level during COVID-19. Additionally, the GLTEQ score was significantly higher for those with high exercise self-efficacy (M = 65.97, SD = 30.78) compared to those with moderate exercise self-efficacy (M = 37.14, SD = 27.07, p = .000) and low exercise self-efficacy (M = 16.00, SD = 15.11, p = .000). Implications: Although the majority of the long-term care employees were considered active even during the COVID-19 pandemic, strategies to promote physical activity in the occupation setting are needed. Additional research is warranted to better understand if the nature of healthcare and occupational physical activity may have impacted this value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perhaps the most prevalent cause of anxiety among the elderly is the fear of falling, considering that a fall can lead to serious complications and decline of health. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived social support and the fear of falling among people ages 60 and up. Methods: Upon completing informed consent, participants (n = 33) in assisted living facilities, living independently, or with a loved one completed a demographic questionnaire, the Falls Efficacy Scale-International and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Results: There was not a statistically significant relationship between fear of falling and perceived social support (p =.14); however, there was a significant, strong positive correlation between age and fear of falling (r =.41, p =.05) and cane use and fear of falling (r =.54, p =.05). There were no statistically significant group differences in fear of falling (p =.48) for living status. There was a statistically significant difference in fear of falling between cane use (p =.001), with individuals using a cane reporting a significantly greater fear of falling (M = 48.21, SD = 12.95) than individuals not using a cane (M = 30.56, SD = 12.74). The results provide further insight into the relationship between fear of falling, perceived social support, cane use, and living status. Interventions and future research should examine the impact of social support and physical activity on fear of falling and reducing in cane use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persoanl income in the Nation increased 0.8 percent in the second quarter of 1995 after increasing 1.8 percent in the first.(1) The 0.8-percent increase, the smallest increase since the third [...]

Personal Income in the Nation increased 1.8 percent in the first quarter of 1995 after increasing 2.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 1994.(1) In the first quarter, the 1.8-percent [...]

THIS ARTICLE presents preliminary fourth-quarter and year 1994 estimates of total personal income for States, regions, and the United States and preliminary 1994 estimates of per capita personal income. In [...]

Personal income in the Nation increased 1.3 percent in the third quarter of 1994 after increasing 1.9 percent in the second.(1) The second-quarter increase had been partly due to a [...]

BACKGROUND: Desire2Move (D2M) is an 8-week team-based, workplace program that incorporates competition and self-monitoring to encourage physical activity (PA). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-compassion (SC) intervention within the existing workplace PA program. METHODS: University employees (n = 20) were assigned to a SC treatment group or an attention control group. Participants logged their PA minutes using MapMyRun. Treatment group. participants received a 7-week, SC podcast intervention. Participants self-reported PA, SC, and demographic information at pre- and post-intervention. Separate ANOVAs were used to determine group differences. RESULTS: There was not a statistically significant group x time interaction for SC, F(1, 18) = 0.02, p = 0.90, or main effects for time, F(1, 18) = 0.28, p = 0.61, or group, F(1, 18) = 1.70, p = 0.21, g = –0.42 [95%CI = –3.13, 2.29]. There were not significant differences between groups for total PA minutes during D2M, F(1, 18) = 2.15, p = 0.16, g = –0.63 [–1.53,0.27]. Overall, participants engaged in more than the recommended levels of PA each week. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study provided feedback and guidance for future online SC training within a workplace PA intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]