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Weathering steel enhances corrosion-resistant steel features over conventional steel when a patina properly forms on the weathering steel surface. The patina is a dense protective oxide film layer that develops on the steel member surface. The patina defends the steel from corrosion by preventing moisture, oxygen, and contaminant penetration. However, long periods of moisture and deicing chemicals applied during wet wintry conditions hinder proper patina formation. Weathering steel bridges in Arkansas are uncoated and exposed to ambient conditions that may promote steel corrosion. This paper presents the approach used by the authors to relate weathering steel bridge corrosion to bridge condition in order to prioritize bridges for remediation based on their oxide film deterioration severity. The study protocol used was to review uncoated weathering steel (UWS) bridges and prioritize bridges based on their need for immediate remediation. The potential for incorporating the use of a small unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for future bridge inspections is discussed. The research work in this paper serves as a basis for establishing bridge inspection guidelines to identify and grade oxide film degradation for bridge condition and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural producers adopt management practices that positively and negatively affect the lives of non-producers in their communities. CRB has important environmental and human health implications, and local non-producers might have different perceptions and attitudes from agricultural producers about crop residue burning. In this paper, we use a multi-stakeholder approach to study the issue of crop residue burning (CRB). Survey data were collected from a sample of producers in Arkansas who burn crop residue and a sample of non-producers who resided in the same counties as the producers. Non-producers may not be willing to compensate producers at an amount that would reduce the use of CBR. Non-producers do not fully understand some of the benefits of CRB, like reduced tillage or equipment savings cost, and producers are less likely to perceive increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as a negative externality associated with CRB. A multi-stakeholder approach can provide more depth and breadth to understanding complex decisions about farm management practices, and these results have implications for policies that incentivize adopting best farm management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Macroeconomic conditions are widely known to influence health outcomes through direct behavioral change or indirect mental effects of individuals. However, they have not received much attention in relation to childhood obesity. Methods: Using gender-specific predicted employment growth rates as an index for labor market conditions, we analyze how economic shocks affect children's weight status in Arkansas. To understand the underlying mechanisms behind these results, we use data on individual time use to examine how economic shocks are related to activities related to children's weight. Results: Improvement in the female labor market is associated with an increase in body mass index (BMI) and the probability that a child is overweight or obese, while an improvement in the male labor market has no significant effects on children's weight. This impact is particularly evident among female children, older children, and African-American children. We also find a negative effect of improvements in the female labor market on time spent on preparation for foods at home. Conclusions: These results suggest that a decrease in time spent preparing home-cooked foods might be a plausible explanation for the pro-cyclical relationship between children's weight and improvement in the labor market conditions. Thus, the policy implications of our paper should be aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of women's labor participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely, accurate, and repeatable crop mapping is vital for food security. Rice is one of the important food crops. Efficient and timely rice mapping would provide critical support for rice yield and production prediction as well as food security. The development of remote sensing (RS) satellite monitoring technology provides an opportunity for agricultural modernization applications and has become an important method to extract rice. This paper evaluated how a semantic segmentation model U-net that used time series Landsat images and Cropland Data Layer (CDL) performed when applied to extractions of paddy rice in Arkansas. Classifiers were trained based on time series images from 2017–2019, then were transferred to corresponding images in 2020 to obtain resultant maps. The extraction outputs were compared to those produced by Random Forest (RF). The results showed that U-net outperformed RF in most scenarios. The best scenario was when the time resolution of the data composite was fourteen day. The band combination including red band, near-infrared band, and Swir-1 band showed notably better performance than the six widely used bands for extracting rice. This study found a relatively high overall accuracy of 0.92 for extracting rice with training samples including five years from 2015 to 2019. Finally, we generated dynamic maps of rice in 2020. Rice could be identified in the heading stage (two months before maturing) with an overall accuracy of 0.86 on July 23. Accuracy gradually increased with the date of the mapping date. On September 17, overall accuracy was 0.92. There was a significant linear relationship (slope = 0.9, r2 = 0.75) between the mapped areas on July 23 and those from the statistical reports. Dynamic mapping is not only essential to assist farms and governments for growth monitoring and production assessment in the growing season, but also to support mitigation and disaster response strategies in the different growth stages of rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research uses a "migration with dignity" framework to look at the twin impacts of COVID-19 and discrimination on the Marshallese community in Springdale, Arkansas. Specifically, it focuses on the ways in which rights to non-discrimination, to basic quality of life, and to access services, especially healthcare, have not been adequately upheld. As the research was conducted in partnership with the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese (ACOM), the paper also aims to examine some of the community-based work that has been addressing these issues. The research, based on interviews and desk research, found that almost all Marshallese community members interviewed expressed that they had not felt safe from COVID-19 and it had significantly impacted their lives. Many expressed that existing issues with limited access to healthcare or perceived discrimination in the healthcare system had been exacerbated by COVID-19. In particular, factors such as lack of translation of unemployment and COVID-19 documents into the Marshallese language, lack of paid sick leave, and multigenerational housing, all exacerbated the effects of the pandemic on Marshallese community members. General racial or cultural discrimination was an issue expressed by about half of the respondents, who shared varying stories of discrimination occurring in workplace and school settings, but almost none expressed fear over personal safety in Springdale. Community organizations and structures, specifically health clinics, community vaccine drives, and a community food pantry, were all mentioned as ways that the Marshallese community upheld rights to non-discrimination, basic quality of life, and right to access services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pell Grant is the foundational need-based student aid program in the United States, providing students of lower socio-economic status a pathway to afford college costs and educational expenses. Currently, over one-third of all U.S. undergraduate students receive Pell. This paper examines federal Pell assistance and institutional costs for students at the 38 publicly controlled regional Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which serve high average percentages of low-income students and students of color. By deploying the University of Alabama Education Policy Center's new Mission-Driven Classification System to enrollment, tuition and fees, and other costs metrics along with federal Pell and student loan data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), a more direct apples-to-apples comparison of the 38 public regional HBCUs to the 182 public regional non-HBCU in the same 19 southern states, is revealed, as are comparisons to the universe of 461 public regional universities nationally. This paper finds that America's most financially disadvantaged students rely on Pell Grants to alleviate financial constraints at public regional HBCUs, where 55 percent of students are Pell recipients, a rate 24 percent higher than their non-HBCU counterparts. Moreover, the data underscore an opportunity for Congress to construct a meaningful federal role in higher education by providing stable and sustainable funding for the Pell Grant program.

The impact of the building and construction sector on climate change is becoming more important and recognized. Multiple initiatives around the globe have been utilized to design and develop residential structures, aiming to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions; yet, there are several barriers to effective construction processes. This research outlines the gaps and barriers encountered by key stakeholders that were engaged during the preconstruction phase of a three-story multi-generational low-impact Passive House in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Through direct observation and open-ended interviews, the primary data are collected, and secondary data from a comprehensive literature review are detailed to capture the challenges faced during different phases of the implementation of sustainable residential dwellings. This study highlights the limited knowledge and experience in sustainable building design as a common barrier among participants along with the insufficiency of the regulatory framework governing adopted building codes in Arkansas, in facilitating sustainable building design implementation. These challenges, among others, are then thoroughly examined, and recommendations to address them are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The extraordinary growth in women's incarceration over the past several decades has resulted in calls for expansion of research into their unique needs and experiences, including those related to pregnancy and perinatal care. However, while research into the health outcomes of women who are incarcerated while pregnant has grown, research on women's custodial and perinatal care patterns has remained nearly non-existent. Here, we sought to describe (1) the characteristics of the population of women who came to be incarcerated in a state prison system during pregnancy and (2) the characteristics of women's custodial and perinatal care patterns during and after incarceration. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of the population of women who received perinatal care while incarcerated in the Arkansas state prison system over a 5-year period from June 2014 to May 2019. Electronic medical records and state prison records were merged to form our study population. Data were from 212 women (Mage = 28.4 years; 75.0% non-Latina White) with a singleton pregnancy who received at least one obstetric care visit while incarcerated. Results: Drug-related convictions were the most common crimes leading to women's incarceration while pregnant, and violent crime convictions were rare. Nearly half (43.4%) of women who gave birth in custody did so within 90 days of admission and the great majority (80.4%) released within 1-year of giving birth, including 13.3% who released within 30 days. Discussion: The frequency with which women who became incarcerated while pregnant released from prison either prior to or shortly after giving birth was a striking, novel finding of this study given the implications for perinatal care disruption among a high-risk population and the harms of forced separation from infants within hours of birth. Conclusions: Diversionary programs for pregnant women convicted of crimes, particularly in states without current access, are urgently needed and should be a priority for future policy work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.] is a troublesome weed species in different agricultural and non‐agricultural areas. Because of its biology, reproductive system, and seed production, effective management is challenging. An accession with low susceptibility to the acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACCase)‐inhibiting herbicides fluazifop‐p‐butyl (fluazifop) and pinoxaden was collected in eastern Arkansas. In this research, the molecular mechanisms responsible for ACCase resistance were investigated. Dose–response experiments showed a resistance factor of 181 and 133 for fluazifop and pinoxaden, respectively. Molecular analysis of both ACCase1 and ACCase2 genes was researched. Nucleotide comparison of ACCase1 between resistant and susceptible accessions showed no single nucleotide polymorphisms. Nonetheless, analysis of ACCase2 in fluazifop‐resistant johnsongrass plants revealed the Ile1781Leu target‐site mutation was dominant (nearly 75%), whereas the majority of pinoxaden‐resistant johnsongrass plants had the Ile2041Asn (60%). Not all sequenced johnsongrass plants displayed a target‐site mutation, suggesting the presence of additional resistance mechanisms. Amplification of ACCase1 and ACCase2 was not responsible for resistance because of the similar values obtained in both resistant and susceptible accessions. Experiments with malathion and NBD‐Cl suggest the presence of herbicide metabolism. Outcomes of this research demonstrated that fluazifop‐ and pinoxaden‐resistant johnsongrass plants displayed a target‐site mutation in ACCase2, but also that non‐target‐site resistance mechanisms would be involved and require a detailed study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to all other options, homeschooling provides parents with the most control over their children's educational experiences. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in the U.S. homeschool population. Black families had the largest increase in home educators from 3.3% to 16.1% between April 2020 and October 2020. The emerging literature on Black home education has focused almost entirely on urban areas. This paper presents findings from a pilot study designed to begin to address the omission of rural setting representation in Black home education research literature. This qualitative study employed conceptual frameworks that value Black women's ways of knowing (e.g., Black Feminist Theory, Endarkened Feminist Epistemologies, and Critical Race Theory) to emphasize the role of participating mothers who represented a single-parent household or a household where the mother maintained primary responsibility for the home education of children.

Evolutionary theory is fundamental to biology, yet evolution instruction in high schools has often been unsatisfactory. How or whether high school biology teachers teach evolution is influenced by their own acceptance or rejection of evolutionary theory, parents' and community members' views, and in the case of some private schools, their religious affiliations. Studies documenting how evolution is taught in public high schools have been conducted, yet private schools remain underresearched. Arkansas high school biology teachers employed by public and private schools were invited to complete a survey composed of the Measure of Acceptance of the Theory of Evolution (MATE) and other items designed to allow comparison of their treatment of topics within evolutionary theory. Specifically, we sought to compare public and private teachers' acceptance of evolution, how they teach it in their classrooms, and how their acceptance of the validity of evolution compares with four other widely accepted scientific theories (cell, gene, germ, and atomic). Results suggest that public school teachers have higher levels of acceptance of evolution than private school teachers. However, teachers in both public and private schools reported lower acceptance of the validity of evolutionary theory compared with the other four scientific theories. Across topics within evolution, natural selection was given the most treatment while human evolution was given the least. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Biodiversity is facing increasing threats and loss worldwide because of anthropogenic pressures. Natural reserves act as protected reservoirs for local biodiversity, and the management of alien species in these areas represents one of the main challenges for conservation biologists and environmental managers. We applied the Invasive Species Effects Assessment Tool (INSEAT) to quantify their impact and potential benefits on ecosystem services and the results indicated that all the assessed species had more negative impacts than benefits on the ecosystem services. Moreover, for each species, we evaluated the feasibility of the main eradication techniques currently proposed in the literature using the non-native risk management scheme (NNRM), with the final aim of suggesting effective actions for the management of aquatic invasive species in this kind of environment. As globalization is leading to the ever-growing spread of alien species worldwide, we stress the urgency of implementing risk assessment and management tools, particularly in protected areas, to highlight the multiple (sometimes unexpected) consequences of alien species introduction, that in turn will help address management decisions for effective conservation actions. Riverine wetlands are stepping-stone environments for the protection of local biodiversity, but they are particularly vulnerable to biological invasions. In order to take action against biological invasions, it is crucial to assess the impacts of alien species. However, it is also important to assess the potential benefits on ecosystem services that alien species could have. Once it has been verified that negative impacts are higher than potential benefits, it is important to propose feasible actions to contrast them. In this study, we assessed eight freshwater alien species recorded in an integral protected wetland using the Invasive Species Effects Assessment Tool (INSEAT) to quantify their negative impacts and potential benefits on ecosystem services. Moreover, for each species, we evaluated the feasibility of the main eradication techniques currently proposed in the literature using the Non-Native Risk Management scheme (NNRM), with the final aim of suggesting effective actions for their management. The INSEAT results indicated that all the assessed species had more impacts than benefits while NNRM provided useful indications on the best practical conservation actions to use for reducing the density, and therefore, the negative impacts on ecosystem services and the local biodiversity of the assessed alien species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1901, heavy rainfall events have increased in the United States in both intensity and frequency, and human population in the United States has increased, resulting in significant land use changes. Both trends contribute to an increase in observed flood magnitude and frequency. To determine if a relationship exists between land use/land cover and changing stream flows in northwest Arkansas, this study analyzed temporal changes in various flow statistics for 14 stream gages and compared the rates of change in flow statistics from gages on streams with watersheds that have varying land uses, i.e., urban, agricultural, and undeveloped. Mann‐Kendall analysis was used to determine statistically significant changes in flow statistics, which were then compared to National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) watershed land uses from 2001 and 2019. All analyzed gages had one or more flow statistics with at least a moderately significant increase, and all analyzed flow statistics showed at least moderately significant streamflow increases at two or more gages (P < 0.100). There were no decreases of any significance in any flow statistic at any gage. In general, urban land development did not happen on native prairies and forests but on previously agricultural land. Significant positive relationships were found between maximum yearly flow and 2019 urban land use, urban land use change from 2001 to 2019, and 2019 Human Development Index (HDI). A similar relationship was found to exist between yearly minimum flow and 2019 HDI. These results highlight the importance of considering the cost of potential stream bank erosion and flooding in future land use planning, permitting, and zoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eleven species of the freshwater isopod genus Lirceus occur in the Interior Highlands, a region of the south-central United States comprised of the Ozark and Ouachita physiographic provinces. As part of research on the morphology and molecular genetics of eastern North American asellid isopods, three new species of Lirceus were discovered in the Interior Highlands. Lirceus slayorum, n. sp., is described from Greathouse Spring, Washington County, Arkansas and occurs in caves and springs associated with the Ozark Springfield Plateau. Lirceus ozarkensis, n. sp., is described from Maxey Cave, Pulaski County, Missouri and was originally identified in 1949 by Hubricht and Mackin as a subspecies of Lirceus hoppinae. In actuality, L. ozarkensis is quite distinct from L. hoppinae, and occurs allopatrically in caves and springs of the southern Ozark Salem Plateau in southern Missouri. Lirceus robisoni, n. sp., is described from Abernathy Spring, Polk County, Arkansas and is found in only a few springs in a narrow area of the Ouachita Mountains in western Arkansas. Eight other species of Lirceus occur in the Interior Highlands, most of which are confined to springs and caves. New localities are presented and the ranges of the species are established. Illustrations of the genital pleopods demonstrate a common theme across the species of the Interior Highlands, with all possessing a sperm-transfer cannula arising adjacent to a variously papillate or dentate digitiform lateral process, and nestled under a dominant broadly rounded or subtriangular apex. Within this morphological template, some of the Ozark species, like Lirceus bidentatus, are among the most anatomically bizarre in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compatibility holds great importance because it can predict the overall performance of asphalt mixtures. Incompatible aggregate-binder duos can result in a weak and friable mix as well as increase mixtures' stripping potential. Being unaware, local agencies and contractors often struggle with premature pavement failure, which consequently places unexpected strain on the budget. Thus, this study assessed the compatibility among 18 asphalt binders with a performance grade (PG) of PG 64-22, PG 70-22, and PG 76-22, each collected from six different refineries; and eight different types of aggregates (sandstone, novaculite, limestone, and dolomite, each collected from two different quarries). Viscosity, penetration, pH, and work of cohesion values of binders were used to develop a binder ranking system. Similarly, the aggregates were ranked based on physical (specific gravity and absorption), durability (abrasion resistance and soundness), and chemical (pH and surface free energy) properties. Overall relative rankings of aggregates and binders were also provided by assigning weight factors to different tested parameters. A total of 144 aggregate-binder mixture systems were ranked based on their dry and wet work of adhesion values as well as Texas boiling test results. The compatibility ratio (CR) was also computed, and each of the systems was designated A, B, C, or D based on their relative CR values. Upon analysis, three binders (S2B2, S3B1, and S4B1) and three aggregates (DM2, LS2, and DM1) were designated as the most preferable construction materials. CR values predicted LS2, DM1, and DM2 mixtures as the most compatible mixtures. SS2, LS1, and DM2 mixtures showed the highest stripping resistance in the Texas boiling test. These databases are expected to help the agency and asphalt producers to select compatible binders and aggregates for producing durable asphalt concrete. This study covered a wide variety of aggregates and asphalt binders prevalent in but not limited to Arkansas. A database developed under this project was based on observed individual aggregates' and binders' performances as well as their combined performances. The information provided in this study will help contractors and agencies to choose the most appropriate aggregate-binder system within their reach for producing quality asphalt mixtures. By knowing the rankings, state agencies can adjust project budgets and assign timely rehabilitation due to the usage of less compatible aggregate-binder systems. Contractors can tweak the existing mix design if they must use local but inferior materials. This ranking will also help them to select project-specific materials depending on the project's significance. The refineries as well will have the opportunity to improve their products to be more compatible with local materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probation has received relatively little research attention. In this exploratory two-study inquiry, we first analyzed quantitative data to identify factors driving probation revocation in Pulaski County, Arkansas, among 10,260 individuals (mostly male and African American) between 2015 and 2019 (Study 1). We found individuals with felony histories were significantly more likely to be revoked (aOR 17.2 for one or two convictions; aOR 25.1 for three or more convictions). Other predictors include lower education, younger age at first sentence, unemployment, and substance use. In Study 2, we conducted 20 in-depth qualitative interviews with 12 key stakeholders and 8 individuals with probation experience. We found that client financial instability, substance use and mental health disorders, stakeholder risk avoidance, officer caseload, and lack of accessible resources/services contributed to probation revocation. We conclude with recommendations for changes to probation policy and practice, including officer training, alternatives to incarceration, service expansion, and community engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the concordance between and benefit of adding prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data to all‐payer claims database (APCD) data for identifying and classifying opioid exposure among insured individuals. Data Sources and Study Setting: Arkansas APCD and PDMP. Study Design: Enrollees in APCD were classified as (1) true positives: if they received opioids in both databases, (2) false positives: if they only received opioids in APCD, (3) true negatives: if they had no opioid exposure in both databases, (4) false negatives: if they only received opioids in the PDMP database. Specificity, sensitivity, negative, and positive predictive values were calculated using PDMP as the "gold standard" database source. Subjects were also categorized as those who received any opioid, chronic opioid, high‐dose opioid, or high‐risk opioid therapies. Data Collection/Extraction Methods: Arkansas residents continuously enrolled with pharmacy coverage in 2016 were included. APCD and PDMP were linked using an encrypted enrollee identifier, gender, and year of birth. Principal Findings: The degree of concordance in opioid exposure between the two databases among 1,411,565 enrollees was high (sensitivity = 92.67%, specificity = 96.13%, positive predictive value = 91.60%, negative predictive value = 96.65%). Enrollees classified as having any opioid (APCD: 31.64% vs. PDMP: 31.26% vs. APCD+PDMP: 33.93%), chronic opioid (APCD: 7.81% vs. PDMP: 7.54% vs. APCD+PDMP: 8.24%), high‐dose opioid (APCD: 10.60% vs. PDMP: 9.62% vs. APCD+PDMP: 11.33%), or high‐risk opioid (APCD: 5.28% vs. PDMP: 5.33% vs. APCD+PDMP: 6.20%) therapies, were similar using only APCD versus PDMP versus the combined APCD and PDMP data sources. Conclusions: Claims data sources, such as APCDs, are fairly accurate in identifying opioid exposure and the level of opioid exposure among persons with continuous pharmacy coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The aquaculture industry suffers large financial losses every year to a bacterial disease known as columnaris. Columnaris can be treated with antibiotics in the feed, but this is expensive and can lead to antibiotic resistance. Alternative inert substances that are inexpensive and that would not lead to antibiotic resistance are needed. One such alternative is kaolin clay. This clay is added to the water and has been shown to bind to columnaris bacteria in laboratory studies. This study used kaolin clay on several species of game and sportfish stocked at commercial rates. When added to the water as a prophylactic treatment, the kaolin clay bound to columnaris. The kaolin clay did not damage the organs of the fish, nor did it cause mortalities. We have shown that kaolin clay is safe to use as a prophylactic treatment in several freshwater fish species raised in Arkansas, USA. Aquaculture farms in Arkansas, USA routinely battle columnaris disease caused by Flavobacterium covae. Columnaris is prevalent during stressful events such as feed training and when fish are stocked at high densities in holding vats before sale. Kaolin clay was effective in laboratory trials as a treatment for columnaris in catfish. As a result, fish farmers are interested in applying kaolin products but were hesitant as they feared that the high doses of kaolin clay in vats might negatively affect the gills and overall health of fish. Therefore, we evaluated potential clay concentrations that might be used to prophylactically treat fish in vats. The effects of low to excessively high doses (0, 1, 2, 4, or 8 g/L) of kaolin clay (AkuaProTM, Imerys, GA, USA) were evaluated using a 72 h bioassay conducted in static tanks using Micropterus salmoides, Pomoxis nigromaculatus, Lepomis macrochirus, Ictalurus punctatus, Notemigonus crysoleucas, and Pimephales promelas. Results of these trials revealed a 100% survival rate across all six fish species exposed to kaolin clay at concentrations of up to 8 g/L for 48 h (followed by a 24 h recovery period in clean water) with no adverse effects to eyes, skin, gastrointestinal tract, or liver histology noted at any treatment. In addition, Micropterus salmoides analyzed for heavy metals due to exposure to the clay indicated that concentrations did not differ from control fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trauma care is a vital part of the US healthcare system, given that it is the leading cause of death for non-elderly individuals. The need for improved systems of trauma care--particularly in rural areas--has been acknowledged over recent years. Arkansas was one of several states to build a trauma system in the 2000s and demonstrated its economic and health benefits through research after implementation. In this article, we briefly review the history of rural trauma care in the United States leading up to the creation of the Arkansas Trauma System (ATS), discuss the development and components of the ATS, and focus on future directions and needs. The lessons learned from the system developed in Arkansas and the work yet to be done are generalizable to other states with large rural populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to determine salient factors affecting the decision to become a beginning organic farmer. New and beginning organic farmers have unique characteristics, showcasing their dedication to environmental justice and social justice at the expense of their own businesses. This research aimed to determine why people with no background in agriculture would start a farm when it is a high-risk and low-return business. With multigenerational farmers aging out of agriculture, we investigated the new generation and shifting demographics of people entering farming that will replace retiring farmers and feed our future. This research employed a multiple-case case study design. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 40 first-generation farmers who operate organic farms in Arkansas, Florida, or Georgia. We analyzed interview transcripts using the qualitative analysis approach of coding. Our results reveal two primary reasons why people with little practical knowledge start farms. First, they are inspired by those around them who succeed, and second, they are encouraged by influential characters in the field who assure them they can do something they love and be profitable. This research showed that first-generation farmers find inspiration and develop values rooted in food justice. Our findings have implications for developing and implementing current and future programmatic activities that aim to enhance beginning farmer training and workforce development. We identified sources of inspiration that will help researchers and service providers target newer and beginning farmers to support a vibrant food system, including burgeoning market opportunities, developing strong communities around food, and building grassroots solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated preservice teachers' self-efficacy and attitude in working with ELLs in Arkansas. The investigator employed a within-subject design to examine the interrelationships among social cognitive variables (self-efficacy, motivation, and teachers' preparation programs) and their role in predicting preservice teachers' confidence to teach ELLs in their future classrooms. The main finding of this study is that preservice teachers who are attending educational programs have high-levels of motivation and self-efficacy to work with ELLs in Arkansas. Furthermore, the results of this study revealed that preservice teachers show a strong and positive correlation between their level of confidence to engage ELLs in class activities, to create instructional strategies tailored for ELLs, and to manage ELLs classroom environment. Finally, the results of this study found that speaking a second-language and the level of intrinsic motivation are significant predictors of preservice teachers' self-efficacy to work with ELLs in their future classrooms. In general, these results are consistent with previous findings produced in the context of preservice and inservice teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccines are one of the most successful tools for protecting the public's health. However, widespread vaccine hesitancy in the Southern United States is preventing effective mitigation of the current COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to assess COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among adults living in a largely rural Southern state. This cross-sectional study collected data from 1,164 Arkansas residents between October 3 and October 17, 2020 using random digit dialing. The primary outcome was a multidimensional COVID-19 vaccine acceptance measure with scores between -3 to +3. The full COVID-19 vaccine acceptance scale was measured along with perceived vaccine safety, effectiveness, acceptance, value, and legitimacy subscales. Statistical analyses were conducted using multivariable linear regression. Results indicated Black participants had the lowest overall vaccine acceptance (0.5) compared to White participants (1.2). Hispanic participants had the highest scores (1.4). In adjusted models, Black participants had 0.81 points lower acceptance than White participants, and Hispanic participants had 0.35 points higher acceptance. Hispanic participants had the highest scores for all five vaccine acceptance subscales, relatively equivalent to White participants. Black participants had consistently lower scores, especially perceived vaccine safety (mean -0.2, SD 0.1). In conclusion, the lowest vaccine acceptance rates were among Black participants particularly on perceived vaccine safety. While Black participants had the lowest acceptance scores, Hispanic participants had the highest. This variability shows the value of a multidimensional vaccine acceptance measure to inform COVID-19 vaccination campaign strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry litter is a useful product as a fertilizer, energy feedstock for thermochemical conversion, and a precursor for synthesis of adsorbents and catalysts. Detailed characterization of baseline properties is necessary for enhanced environmental and economic utilization of this valuable resource. Baseline physicochemical characterization was carried out at two broiler production facilities (Arkansas, PL1, and North Carolina, PL2). Greater concentrations of inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were obtained for PL1, suggesting greater nutrient value compared to PL2. PL2 had greater carbon content and water-holding capacity than PL1. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of PL1 and PL2 indicated a similarity between litters in terms of the presence of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen bonds. Both poultry litters had oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorous functional groups, as confirmed by infrared spectroscopy. Time of flight - secondary ion mass spectroscopy of negative ions also indicated similarity of the surface charge distribution between PL1 and PL2. Overall, poultry litters evaluated had similar surface chemistries, with nutrient composition varying based on rearing conditions, which has implications for downstream use in thermochemical conversion and other value-added products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable forest management provides ecological, economic, and social benefits to society. Sustaining these benefits in Arkansas relies on 345,000 nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners who own 4.2 million hectares (10.4 million acres) of forests. Forest certification is a voluntary and market-based mechanism aimed to enhance such societal benefits while providing incentives or benefits for the landowners. Understanding NIPF landowners' perspectives on the benefits associated with adopting forest certification programs would be useful in identifying potential participants and in designing outreach and communication programs to elevate the interests of less interested landowners in participating in certification programs. Using data collected from a mixed mode of mail and online (Qualtrics) survey of NIPF landowners in Arkansas, this study examined the potential factors that influence landowners' perspectives on different benefits associated with adopting sustainable forest management certification by employing binary logistic regression. Results revealed that ownership and forestland characteristics (i.e., ownership size, whether having a harvesting plan), as well as ownership motivations (biodiversity protection, financial investment, hunting), were significantly associated with landowners' agreement on the benefits of increasing timber growth and health, expanding markets, having a price premium for certified timber, enhancing public recognition, more environmental-friendly harvesting, and better management practices. These findings improve the understanding of landowners' expectations after certifying their forestland and provide baseline information for improving certification program design to attract more adoption among private and family landowners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rates of SMM have been steadily increasing in Arkansas, a southern rural state, which has the 5th highest maternal death rate among the US states. The aims of the study were to test the functionality of the Bateman index in association to SMM, in clustering the risks of pregnancies to SMM, and to study the predictability of SMM using the Bateman index. From the ANGELS database, 72,183 pregnancies covered by Medicaid in Arkansas between 2013 and 2016 were included in this study. The expanded CDC ICD-9/ICD-10 criteria were used to identify SMM. The Bateman comorbidity index was applied in quantifying the comorbidity burden for a pregnancy. Multivariable logistic regressions, KMeans method, and five widely used predictive models were applied respectively for each of the study aims. SMM prevalence remained persistently high among Arkansas women covered by Medicaid (195 per 10,000 deliveries) during the study period. Using the Bateman comorbidity index score, the study population was divided into four groups, with a monotonically increasing odds of SMM from a lower score group to a higher score group. The association between the index score and the occurrence of SMM is confirmed with statistical significance: relative to Bateman score falling in 0–1, adjusted Odds Ratios and 95% CIs are: 2.1 (1.78, 2.46) for score in 2–5; 5.08 (3.81, 6.79) for score in 6–9; and 8.53 (4.57, 15.92) for score ≥10. Noticeably, more than one-third of SMM cases were detected from the studied pregnancies that did not have any of the comorbid conditions identified. In the prediction analyses, we observed minimal predictability of SMM using the comorbidity index: the calculated c-statistics ranged between 62% and 67%; the Precision-Recall AUC values are <7% for internal validation and <9% for external validation procedures. The comorbidity index can be used in quantifying the risk of SMM and can help cluster the study population into risk tiers of SMM, especially in rural states where there are disproportionately higher rates of SMM; however, the predictive value of the comorbidity index for SMM is inappreciable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare the stiffness of gravelly sand under various load conditions—static conditions using the CBR test and cyclic conditions using the resilient modulus test. The tests were conducted on natural soil and soil improved by the addition of polypropylene fibers and/or 1.5% cement. The impacts of the compaction and curing time of the stabilized samples were also determined. The soil was sheared during the M r tests, even after fiber reinforcement, so the resilient modulus value for the unbound sand could not be obtained. The cement addition improved M r , and the curing time also had an impact on this parameter. The fiber addition increased the value of the resilient modulus. The CBR value of the compacted gravelly sand was relatively high. It increased after adding 0.1% fibers in the case of the standard compacted samples. The greater fiber addition lowered the CBR value. For the modified compacted samples, each addition of fibers reduced the CBR value reduced the CBR value. The addition of cement influenced the CBR increase, which was also affected by the compaction method and the curing time. The addition of fibers to the stabilized sample improved the CBR value. The relationship M r = f (C B R) obtained for all data sets was statistically significant but characterized by a large error of estimate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managed honey bee populations have fluctuated over the past several decades in the U.S. While a single factor has not been identified for these losses, the interaction between multiple biotic and abiotic stressors have been suggested to be responsible. Of major concern are several invasive parasite and pathogen species as well as colony management. A single honey bee colony often suffers from multiple harmful agents, that may act synergistically and cause greater declines in bee health. We conducted a survey to detect known and lesser-known honey bee parasites and pathogens. While previous research has primarily focused on commercially managed colonies, research is limited to pertaining parasite and pathogen prevalence in hobbyist managed colonies. Molecular diagnostics were used to screen 541 Arkansas (AR) honey bee colonies from 107 hobbyist beekeepers for eight A. mellifera parasite and pathogen species. Colony samples were obtained between 2015–2016 and represented forty-seven of the seventy-five AR counties. Vairimorpha ceranae (11.6% occurrence) and parasite Varroa destructor (49.4% occurrence) were relatively common in AR hobbyist colonies. Interestingly, the lesser-studied pathogenic trypanosome species, Lotmaria passim, was detected in 11.3% of the colonies and widespread in twenty of the forty-seven counties sampled. None of the honey bee pathogens Vairimorpha apis, Spiroplasma apis, S. melliferum, Crithidia mellificae, or the parasitic phorid fly, Apocephalus borealis, were detected in the colonies sampled. This study provides an extensive assessment of the parasite and pathogen species occurring at the AR state-level in hobbyist-managed honey bee colonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Greater adoption and better management of spatially complex, conservation systems such as agroforestry (AF) are dependent on determining methods suitable for delineating in-field variability. However, no work has been conducted using repeated electromagnetic induction (EMI) or apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) surveys in AF systems within the Ozark Highlands of northwest Arkansas. As a result, objectives were to (i) evaluate spatiotemporal ECa variability; (ii) identify ECa-derived soil management zones (SMZs); (iii) establish correlations among ECa survey data and in situ, soil-sensor volumetric water content, sentential site soil-sample EC, and gravimetric water content and pH; and (iv) determine the optimum frequency at which ECa surveys could be conducted to capture temporal changes in field variability. Monthly ECa surveys were conducted between August 2020 and July 2021 at a 4.25 ha AF site in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The overall mean perpendicular geometry (PRP) and horizontal coplanar geometry (HCP) ECa ranged from 1.8 to 18.0 and 3.1 to 25.8 mS m−1, respectively, and the overall mean HCP ECa was 67% greater than the mean PRP ECa. The largest measured ECa values occurred within the local drainage way or areas of potential groundwater movement, and the smallest measured ECa values occurred within areas with decreased effective soil depth and increased coarse fragments. The PRP and HCP mean ECa, standard deviation (SD), and coefficient of variation (CV) were unaffected (p > 0.05) by either the weather or growing/non-growing season. K-means clustering delineated three precision SMZs that were reflective of areas with similar ECa and ECa variability. Results from this study provided valuable information regarding the application of ECa surveys to quantify small-scale changes in soil properties and delineate SMZs in highly variable AF systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspergillus flavus is an agriculturally important fungus that causes ear rot of maize and produces aflatoxins, of which B1 is the most carcinogenic naturally-produced compound. In the US, the management of aflatoxins includes the deployment of biological control agents that comprise two nonaflatoxigenic A. flavus strains, either Afla-Guard (member of lineage IB) or AF36 (lineage IC). We used genotyping-by-sequencing to examine the influence of both biocontrol agents on native populations of A. flavus in cornfields in Texas, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Indiana. This study examined up to 27,529 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a total of 815 A. flavus isolates, and 353 genome-wide haplotypes sampled before biocontrol application, three months after biocontrol application, and up to three years after initial application. Here, we report that the two distinct A. flavus evolutionary lineages IB and IC differ significantly in their frequency distributions across states. We provide evidence of increased unidirectional gene flow from lineage IB into IC, inferred to be due to the applied Afla-Guard biocontrol strain. Genetic exchange and recombination of biocontrol strains with native strains was detected in as little as three months after biocontrol application and up to one and three years later. There was limited inter-lineage migration in the untreated fields. These findings suggest that biocontrol products that include strains from lineage IB offer the greatest potential for sustained reductions in aflatoxin levels over several years. This knowledge has important implications for developing new biocontrol strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Outbreaks of healthcare-associated mucormycosis (HCM), a life-threatening fungal infection, have been attributed to multiple sources, including contaminated healthcare linens. In 2020, staff at Hospital A in Arkansas alerted public health officials of a potential HCM outbreak. Methods We collected data on patients at Hospital A who had invasive mucormycosis during January 2017–June 2021 and calculated annual incidence of HCM (defined as mucormycosis diagnosed within ≥7 days after hospital admission). We performed targeted environmental assessments, including linen sampling at the hospital, to identify potential sources of infection. Results During the outbreak period (June 2019–June 2021), 16 patients had HCM; clinical features were similar between HCM patients and non-HCM patients. Hospital-wide HCM incidence (per 100 000 patient-days) increased from 0 in 2018 to 3 in 2019 and 6 in 2020. For the 16 HCM patients, the most common underlying medical conditions were hematologic malignancy (56%) and recent traumatic injury (38%); 38% of HCM patients died in-hospital. Healthcare-associated mucormycosis cases were not epidemiologically linked by common procedures, products, units, or rooms. At Hospital A and its contracted offsite laundry provider, suboptimal handling of laundered linens and inadequate environmental controls to prevent mucormycete contamination were observed. We detected Rhizopus on 9 (9%) of 98 linens sampled at the hospital, including on linens that had just arrived from the laundry facility. Conclusions We describe the largest, single-center, HCM outbreak reported to date. Our findings underscore the importance of hospital-based monitoring for HCM and increased attention to the safe handling of laundered linens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streams in agricultural lands tend to serve as a conduit for nutrient pollution. These streams are often modified and have reduced riparian zones, resulting in agriculture being the leading cause of nonpoint source pollution into streams of the United States. Eutrophication within the Gulf of Mexico has been attributed to nutrient and sediment contributions from watersheds within the greater Mississippi River Basin. One such watershed, the Cache River Watershed (CRW) located in northeast Arkansas, was assessed to determine the impacts of agricultural intensity on water quality at a local scale. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of agricultural activity on nutrient and sediment contributions to the CRW. Following American Public Health Association guidelines, physicochemical parameters, turbidity, and total nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) were analyzed weekly from October 2017–September 2020 at 12 subwatersheds of four varying agricultural intensities (low, low moderate, moderate high, high). Results indicate that physicochemical parameters increase (pH, conductivity, temperature) or decrease (dissolved oxygen) with increased agricultural intensity. Similarly, turbidity and total nutrients also increase (significantly for turbidity and total phosphorus) with increased intensity. Contributions of sediment and nutrients in the CRW not only influence local stream health but also contribute to hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sheath blight (ShB) disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn, is one of the most economically damaging rice (Oryza sativa L.) diseases worldwide. There are no known major resistance genes, leaving only partial resistance from small-effect QTL to deploy for cultivar improvement. Many ShB-QTL are associated with plant architectural traits detrimental to yield, including tall plants, late maturity, or open canopy from few or procumbent tillers, which confound detection of physiological resistance. Results: To identify QTL for ShB resistance, 417 accessions from the Rice Diversity Panel 1 (RDP1), developed for association mapping studies, were evaluated for ShB resistance, plant height and days to heading in inoculated field plots in Arkansas, USA (AR) and Nanning, China (NC). Inoculated greenhouse-grown plants were used to evaluate ShB using a seedling-stage method to eliminate effects from height or maturity, and tiller (TN) and panicle number (PN) per plant. Potted plants were used to evaluate the RDP1 for TN and PN. Genome-wide association (GWA) mapping with over 3.4 million SNPs identified 21 targeted SNP markers associated with ShB which tagged 18 ShB-QTL not associated with undesirable plant architecture traits. Ten SNPs were associated with ShB among accessions of the Indica subspecies, ten among Japonica subspecies accessions, and one among all RDP1 accessions. Across the 18 ShB QTL, only qShB4-1 was not previously reported in biparental mapping studies and qShB9 was not reported in the GWA ShB studies. All 14 PN QTL overlapped with TN QTL, with 15 total TN QTL identified. Allele effects at the five TN QTL co-located with ShB QTL indicated that increased TN does not inevitably increase disease development; in fact, for four ShB QTL that overlapped TN QTL, the alleles increasing resistance were associated with increased TN and PN, suggesting a desirable coupling of alleles at linked genes. Conclusions: Nineteen accessions identified as containing the most SNP alleles associated with ShB resistance for each subpopulation were resistant in both AR and NC field trials. Rice breeders can utilize these accessions and SNPs to develop cultivars with enhanced ShB resistance along with increased TN and PN for improved yield potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence studies largely focus on adults, but little is known about spread in children. We determined SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in children and adolescents from Arkansas over the first year of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods We tested remnant serum samples from children ages 1-18 years who visited Arkansas hospitals or clinics for non-COVID-19-related reasons from April 2020 through April 2021 for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We used univariable and multivariable regression models to determine the association between seropositivity and participant characteristics. Results Among 2357 participants, seroprevalence rose from 7.9% in April/May 2020 (95% CI, 4.9-10.9) to 25.0% in April 2021 (95% CI, 21.5-28.5). Hispanic and black children had a higher association with antibody positivity than non-Hispanic and white children, respectively, in multiple sampling periods. Conclusions By spring 2021, most children in Arkansas were not infected with SARS-CoV-2. With the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, recognition of long-term effects of COVID-19, and the lack of an authorized pediatric SARS-CoV-2 vaccine at the time, these results highlight the importance of including children in SARS-CoV-2 public health, clinical care, and research strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Career and technical education (CTE) is often perceived to be focused primarily on career readiness, and not necessarily on college readiness. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of CTE concentration on high school students' college readiness in mathematics. The researchers obtained a convenience sample of ACT Aspire (mathematics) scores for 865 students at a rural high school in Arkansas. The sample included scores for students who participated in three or more CTE courses as well as for students who took fewer than three CTE courses. The results show that neither CTE concentration nor sex appear to have a significant influence on the mathematics readiness of high school students. The researchers argue that this neutral influence may be related to a broader change in the scope of CTE programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing literature documents significant differences in college student outcomes between adjunct and full-time instructors, although less is known regarding the causes of these differences. Many existing studies implicitly treat instructor quality—as measured by an instructor's effect on student outcomes—as a fixed trait. However, instructor quality itself may be sensitive to employment rank, given that adjunct and full-time instructors work under very different conditions. Understanding mechanisms driving these differences is important for informing policy decisions aimed at improving student outcomes. Using panel data on first-semester students at public colleges in Arkansas, this paper first establishes that adjuncts have significantly worse student outcomes than full-time counterparts on a number of metrics. Next, I investigate mechanisms underlying differences in outcomes across instructor rank. I take advantage of the panel structure of the data and use an instructor fixed effects approach to provide evidence that within instructors, student outcomes improve when the instructor is full-time, compared to when the instructor is an adjunct. Results indicates improving student outcomes is about more than just getting better instructors, since instructor quality is not a fixed trait. Rather, factors like an instructor's conditions of employment and teaching and working environment may affect the outcomes of their students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media has been associated with decreased attention, memory, and learning abilities; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Dynamic function network connectivity (dFNC) analysis is suitable for uncovering dynamical brain activity. Besides, the effects of a cognitive task may persist for a while on the brain, even after the termination of the task, also known as the carryover effect. Consequently, we combined the dFNC analysis and cerebral carryover effects to study the brain dynamics of reading social media posts in the natural state and comparatively investigated the brain dynamics of reading science fiction on the smartphone. We performed functional MRI (fMRI) scans of all subjects at baseline and then assigned them a social media post or science fiction reading task. Immediately after, another fMRI scanning was performed for these subjects. We found that the change between dFNC states, the number of dFNC states, and the total distances increased after reading science fiction. Furthermore, the global, local, and nodal efficiencies of the deep-thinking state tended to increase after reading science fiction. On reading social media posts, the functional connectivity (FC) between the default mode network (DMN) and bilateral frontoparietal network (FPN) decreased, while the FC between DMN and visual network (VN) increased. Given the current evidence, we concluded that reading science fiction could substantially increase brain activity and network efficiency, while social media was related to abnormal FCs between DMN, VN, and FPN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptococcus neoformans is a serious human pathogen with limited options for treatment. We have interrogated extracts from fungal fermentations to find Cryptococcus-inhibiting natural products using assays for growth inhibition and differential thermosensitivity. Extracts from fermentations of four fungal strains from wild and domestic animal dung from Arkansas and West Virginia, USA were identified as Preussia typharum. The extracts exhibited two antifungal regions. Purification of one region yielded new 24-carbon macrolides incorporating both a phosphoethanolamine unit and a bridging tetrahydrofuran ring. The structures of these metabolites were established mainly by analysis of high-resolution mass spectrometry and 2D NMR data. Relative configurations were assigned using NOESY data, and the structure assignments were supported by NMR comparison with similar compounds. These new metabolites are designated preussolides A and B. The second active region was caused by the cytotoxin, leptosin C. Genome sequencing of the four strains revealed biosynthetic gene clusters consistent with those known to encode phosphoethanolamine-bearing polyketide macrolides and the biosynthesis of dimeric epipolythiodioxopiperazines. All three compounds showed moderate to potent and selective antifungal activity toward the pathogenic yeast C. neoformans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding and minimizing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccine hesitancy is critical to population health and minimizing health inequities, which continue to be brought into stark relief by the pandemic. We investigate questions regarding vaccine hesitancy in a sample (n = 1205) of Arkansas adults surveyed online in July/August of 2020. We examine relationships among sociodemographics, COVID‐19 health literacy, fear of COVID‐19 infection, general trust in vaccines, and COVID‐19 vaccine hesitancy using bivariate analysis and a full information maximum likelihood (FIML) logistic regression model. One in five people (21,21.86%) reported hesitancy to take a COVID‐19 vaccine. Prevalence of COVID‐19 vaccine hesitancy was highest among Black/African Americans (50.00%), respondents with household income less than $25K (30.68%), some college (32.17%), little to no fear of infection from COVID‐19 (62.50%), and low trust in vaccines in general (55.84%). Odds of COVID‐19 vaccine hesitancy were 2.42 greater for Black/African American respondents compared to White respondents (p < 0.001), 1.67 greater for respondents with some college/technical degree compared to respondents with a 4‐year degree (p < 0.05), 5.48 greater for respondents with no fear of COVID‐19 infection compared to those who fear infection to a great extent (p < 0.001), and 11.32 greater for respondents with low trust in vaccines (p < 0.001). Sociodemographic differences in COVID‐19 vaccine hesitancy raise concerns about the potential of vaccine implementation to widen existing health disparities in COVID‐19 related infections, particularly among Black/African Americans. Fear of infection and general mistrust in vaccines are significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southern Arkansas University has developed the SOAR Sustainability Conference to spotlight current sustainability-related efforts. SOAR, representing the southern Arkansas region, was added to the conference name to signify the area of emphasis for the event. This spring conference event has been held in April of 2022 and 2023. The 2023 conference included over 50 presenters from academia, private businesses, government agencies, and volunteer organizations. Session topics were aligned with the critical components of sustainability education including anticipatory thinking, empathy, change of perspective, justice, responsibility, and ethics. Surveys were distributed to SOAR conference attendees to gauge their level of attitudes, knowledge, and behavior regarding sustainability issues. Responses were very positive overall, showing gains in attendees' attitudes, knowledge, and behavior between 2022 and 2023. The behavior category showed the largest annual increase while knowledge gains over the same period were lower. Overall, the SOAR Sustainability Conference has shown success in engaging students and community stakeholders to take part in this effort to address sustainability-related challenges in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]