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Writing as both instructors and students who worked together in the undergraduate course "Water Justice," we reflect on the limits and possibilities of engaging in anticolonial teaching-learning practices within the ongoing contexts of settler colonialism and racial violence that shapes universities. We describe how we designed "Water Justice" as a place-based, anticolonial research collaboration, and focus on how students grappled with the substantive and affective dimensions of their (un)learning process. Together, we illustrate the tensions and possibilities of anticolonial approaches to undergraduate education.

How well does the undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory curriculum prepare students for academic research, or for a bench job in industry? Running experiments that are more representative of research chemistry has the potential to better equip students for working in a research laboratory, while at the same time giving them insight into a typical outcome in a research project. We describe here an experiment that we have launched in the sophomore organic chemistry lab at UC Davis that presents challenges in chromatographic separation, structural assignment by NMR, and mechanistic interpretation. Optional exercises in computational modeling of the NMR data and chromophore analysis by UV- vis/fluorescence measurements are included.

Where dominant models of urban school reform often regard immigrant communities as obstacles that must be managed or reduced, the two projects analyzed in this study ("Alianza" and the Project) regard the community as a powerful source of knowledge and as partners working towards educational improvement (Nygreen, 2009). This paper analyses the ways in which Latino parents involved in these projects, come together to learn about their communities and engage in a process of community building that strengthens their capacity to resist, if not overcome, dominant ideologies and institutions. Latino parents in these projects do more than simply challenge the narrative of reform that continues to position them at the margins; they establish their own spaces of learning and solidarity that enable them to crystallize their perspectives and become agents of change in their local context. We posit that community building is key to creating sustained long-term relationships that can survive and withstand the struggle towards institutional change and open doors for Latino community empowerment in schools and the broader society. (Contains 7 footnotes.)

This article offers a detailed definition for the concept of precarious work, how the independent contractor classification can be misused, some brief context on the classification of independent contractors in California and Ontario, and finally an analysis of factors that influence misclassification and the rise of precarious work. Factors include the economic status of the worker, gendered and/or racialized status of the worker, the jurisdiction of the employer, and the test for classification itself. This article concludes by reviewing recent developments in this area of the law and providing predictions about possible future developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

California, along with a few other states leaning toward the liberal side of America's political system, enacted a series of laws banning state-funded or state-sponsored travel to other states identifying more as conservative. While other states enacted these mandates through gubernatorial executive orders. California legislated its ban. Multiple states have attempted Supreme Court challenges to California's law under the Court's Article III original jurisdiction. Yet, the Court twice declined the opportunity to hear the issue. Justice Thomas and Justice Alito wrote extensive dissents against the majority's rejection, arguing that the Court must exercise its jurisdiction in controversies between the states. This Article analyzes the Court's history of original jurisdiction cases and seeks to answer why the Court likely did not address the constitutionality of California's laws. Further, this Article analyzes whether California's statute is unconstitutional under Article I of the U.S. Constitution and the Dormant Commerce Clause. Finally, this Article concludes with an analysis of possible likely outcomes of California's laws and other states' reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate how the addition of concurrent chemotherapy to radiation therapy (RT) affects outcomes for Asian American patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: Using the California Cancer Registry – a population‐based, state‐sponsored database – Asian American patients with newly‐diagnosed, locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosed between 1998 and 2010 were identified. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to analyze overall survival and cancer‐specific survival. Cox proportional hazards models were constructed to investigate the association with chemotherapy. Propensity score methods were used to control for measure confounders. Results: A total of 812 Asian Americans were included; 91 (11.2%) underwent RT alone, and 721 (88.8%) underwent RT with chemotherapy. The overall survival at 5 years was 65% with RT alone versus 72% with RT plus chemotherapy (p = 0.31). The corresponding rates of cancer‐specific survival were 70% and 78% (p = 0.35). Cox regression analysis confirmed a trend toward reduced mortality (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.62–1.25, p = 0.37) in patients receiving RT and chemotherapy. Conclusion: Consistent with other studies that have been published, the addition of chemotherapy to RT was associated with improved clinical outcomes. Although this improvement did not reach statistical significance, the use of concurrent chemoradiation seems reasonable for Asian Americans with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Women are under-represented in academia. Causative factors include challenges of career-family integration. We evaluated factors reflecting institutional culture (promotion, retention, hiring, and biasing language in promotion letters) as part of an intervention to help shift culture and raise awareness of flexibility policies at the University of California, Davis (UCD). Materials and Methods: Data on faculty use of family-friendly policies were obtained at baseline, and surveys for policy awareness were conducted pre(2010)/post(2013) an NIH-funded study educational intervention. Data on hires, separations, and promotions were obtained pre(2007-2009, 2234 person-year data points)/post(2010-2012, 2384 person-year data points) intervention and compared by logistic regression and for gender differences. Department promotion letters (53) were also analyzed for biasing language. Results: Policy use was overall low, highest for female assistant professors, and for maternity leave. Awareness significantly increased for all policies postintervention. Promotions decreased, likely because of increases in advancement deferrals or tenure clock extensions. Pre/postintervention, female and male hires were near parity for assistant professors, but female hires were substantially lower than males for associate (54% less likely, p = 0.03) and full professors (70% less likely, p = 0.002). Once hired, women were no more likely to separate than men. Fewer associate/full professors separated than assistant professors ( p = 0.002, p < 0.001, respectively), regardless of gender. Language in promotion letters was not gender biased. Conclusions: We demonstrate a shift at UCD toward a culture of work-life flexibility, an environment in which letters of recommendation show very few biased descriptions, and in which assistant professor hiring is gender equitable. At the same time, a decrease in number of faculty members applying for promotion and an imbalance of men over women at senior hires independent of policy awareness may challenge the assumption that family-friendly policies, while promoting flexibility, also have a positive impact on professional advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The ability to use serving size information on food labels is important for managing age-related chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity and cancer. Past research suggests that older adults are at risk for failing to accurately use this portion of the food label due to numeracy skills. However, the extent to which older adults pay attention to serving size information on packages is unclear. We compared the effects of numeracy and attention on age differences in accurate use of serving size information while individuals evaluated product healthfulness.Design: Accuracy and attention were assessed across two tasks in which participants compared nutrition labels of two products to determine which was more healthful if they were to consume the entire package. Participants' eye movements were monitored as a measure of attention while they compared two products presented side-by-side on a computer screen. Numeracy as well as food label habits and nutrition knowledge were assessed using questionnaires.Setting: Sacramento area, California, USA, 2013-2014.Subjects: Stratified sample of 358 adults, aged 20-78 years.Results: Accuracy declined with age among those older adults who paid less attention to serving size information. Although numeracy, nutrition knowledge and self-reported food label use supported accuracy, these factors did not influence age differences in accuracy.Conclusions: The data suggest that older adults are less accurate than younger adults in their use of serving size information. Age differences appear to be more related to lack of attention to serving size information than to numeracy skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which analyzed the prevalence of scapular malposition and dyskinesis as well as hip dysfunction in preadolescent and adolescent baseball players. Results show that compared with the preadolescent group, dominant shoulder scapular dyskinesis is highly prevalent in the adolescent group. It concluded the association of scapular dyskinesis with a higher mean coracoid distance.

This paper examines relationships between beginner farmers and land trusts in coastal California. Set within the context of land consolidation in agriculture and increasing land values, some beginner farmers have created innovative land tenure relationships with land trusts in order to gain access to affordable farmland. To examine the relationships between land trusts and beginning farmers, we ask: how do conservation land trusts and agricultural land trusts view their mission in relation the intersection of conservation and agriculture? Findings suggest there is a spectrum of positions that conservation and agricultural land trusts have taken in regards to the coexistence of agriculture and conservation on their land. The increasingly popular concepts found within the local food movement may be influencing a shift in the portrayal of land trust position and mission. However, differences between how land trusts act internally and how they portray themselves publicly emerged in farmer interviews. While there may be great deal of potential for land trusts to work with beginner farmers and thereby connect a new swath of the public to conservation through agriculture, both land trusts and beginner farmers need to wade carefully into relatively uncharted waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine how the growth in vote-by-mail and changes in voting technologies led to changes in the residual vote rate in California from 1990 to 2010. In California’s presidential elections, counties that abandoned punch cards in favor of optical scanning enjoyed a significant improvement in the residual vote rate. We also conduct the first analysis of the effects of the rise of vote-by-mail on residual votes. Regardless of the election, increased use of the mail to cast ballots is robustly associated with a significant rise in the residual vote rate. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article analyzes the performance of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operations in Central Valley, California. It is reported that, under the CSA system farmers come into direct contact with the consumers of their products. It is reported that, CSA has become an important form of direct marketing, which is crucial for smaller farms, as reflected by the fact that gross sales per acre of CSA are higher than almost all other agricultural trading system.

Background: Although women receive nearly half of all doctoral degrees and show a high interest in academic careers, the pipeline is leaky. The challenge of balancing life course events with career trajectory is an important determinant leading to premature dropout or slower career advancement. This report describes the findings of the first phase of a National Institute of Health Office of Research on Women's Health (NIH ORWH)-funded study using survey and academic data for exploring satisfaction and awareness of/intent to use specific career flexibility options at the University of California, Davis (UCD). Methods: All men and women faculty in the UCD's Schools of Medicine (SOM) and Veterinary Medicine (SVM) and College of Biological Science (CBS) were surveyed. Data also were obtained from deans' offices on use of family-friendly benefits by faculty. Results: Three hundred twenty-five total survey responses were received from the SOM, 83 from SVM, and 64 from CBS, representing 42%, 46%, and 52% of their total faculty, respectively. In each school, large percentages of men (32%-60%) and women (46%-53%) faculty have children under 18 and a moderately high level of demand of family care responsibilities. Women were significantly more likely to be childless, particularly in the SOM (35% vs. 14%, p<0.001). For all schools, documented use of any family-friendly policy was low (0%-11.5%), as was awareness of policies, although both were significantly higher for women than for men. Significantly more women than men wanted to use policies or chose not to, particularly in the SOM (51% vs. 28%, p<0.001, and 37% vs. 23%, p=0.016, respectively), because of multiple barriers. Faculty in all schools agreed/highly agreed that policies were important to recruitment, retention, and career advancement. Conclusions: Family-friendly policies are pertinent to men and women, as both demonstrate interest and need, linked to increased career satisfaction. A family-friendly policy is important, particularly for women in the biomedical sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: In primary, acute-care visits, patients frequently present with more than 1 concern. Various visit factors prevent additional concerns from being articulated and addressed.Objective: To test an intervention to reduce patients' unmet concerns.Design: Cross-sectional comparison of 2 experimental questions, with videotaping of office visits and pre and postvisit surveys.Setting: Twenty outpatient offices of community-based physicians equally divided between Los Angeles County and a midsized town in Pennsylvania.Participants: A volunteer sample of 20 family physicians (participation rate = 80%) and 224 patients approached consecutively within physicians (participation rate = 73%; approximately 11 participating for each enrolled physician) seeking care for an acute condition.Intervention: After seeing 4 nonintervention patients, physicians were randomly assigned to solicit additional concerns by asking 1 of the following 2 questions after patients presented their chief concern: "Is there anything else you want to address in the visit today?" (ANY condition) and "Is there something else you want to address in the visit today?" (SOME condition).Main Outcome Measures: Patients' unmet concerns: concerns listed on previsit surveys but not addressed during visits, visit time, unanticipated concerns: concerns that were addressed during the visit but not listed on previsit surveys.Results: Relative to nonintervention cases, the implemented SOME intervention eliminated 78% of unmet concerns (odds ratio (OR) = .154, p = .001). The ANY intervention could not be significantly distinguished from the control condition (p = .122). Neither intervention affected visit length, or patients'; expression of unanticipated concerns not listed in previsit surveys.Conclusions: Patients' unmet concerns can be dramatically reduced by a simple inquiry framed in the SOME form. Both the learning and implementation of the intervention require very little time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses clinical trial accrual. Remarkable advances in the treatment of cancer have been made over the past years. These improvements result from a combination of advances in the basic sciences, pharmaceuticals, radiation and surgery. There is little question that performance of a clinical trial, always difficult, has become considerably more arduous in the past few years. A number of reasons, including increased complexity, more stringent entry criteria and increased regulatory oversight have been cited for few patients actually enrolling on trials. Cancer clinical trials are essential to the development of new therapies and to improving patient outcomes. However, the rates of enrollment of patients with cancer to clinical trials remain dismally low, despite the fact that cancer patients and the public seem to have generally positive attitudes toward cancer research.

California's enactment of determinate sentencing came as a major event in the widespread abandonment of correctional rehabilitation. The law was initially a compromise between the interests of law enforcement and those of civil liberties and prisoner's rights groups. Penalties were soon increased, however, by amendments favorable to law enforcement. Total imprisonment has increased substantially under the new law, mainly because of an increasing commitment rate. Data for the first year show that most offenders committed to prison received the middle base term, with more of the remaining cases receiving the upper than the lower term. The upper base term was used more often for multiple- than for single-count cases, and especially for those offenders given consecutive rather than concurrent sentences. The standard enhancements were applied more often in robbery cases than in all other cases combined. Nevertheless, possible enhancements were frequently not applied, and enhancement for one type of circumstance--excessive property loss--very seldom occurred. Some possible implications of this for plea bargaining are discussed in the paper, especially in relation to the large increase in commitments under determinate sentencing. The length of prison terms is not directly comparable to terms under the indeterminate system because of the good-time provision in the new system. However, if it is assumed that most of the potential good time will be credited to inmates, prison terms for men given during the first year under the law will be shorter. Women's terms will be longer than under the former system. Standard deviations are smaller for most offenses, suggesting some reduction in sentencing disparity. Because piecemeal amendments can have substantial consequences, the law may be unusually vulnerable to further efforts to increase penalties. It is unclear whether the new system provides any logical limit to increasing sentences, commitment... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author analyzes San Diego's pay-as-you-go system of pension management and the implications it has for all public issuers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a postmodern illness, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is embedded in controversy, reflective of the cultural times in which we live. Within this debate, 2 perspectives, ADHD as myth and ADHD as behavioral disorder, are most frequently voiced. This article describes these 2 differing perspectives and reports qualitative data from 39 children and adolescents with a diagnosis of ADHD regarding their perceptions, meanings,and experiences of living with this disorder. None of the participants in this study denied that they had difficulties and many of the difficulties they described corresponded to DSM-IV-R criteria and the scientific literature. Given these discoveries, the continual debate about the authenticity of ADHD only further victimizes families who are in desperate need of services.