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Universities and colleges have been slow to take climate-related action considering their unique dual roles of supporting climate change research and education of the generation who will be most confronted with managing this crisis. In addition to legacy programs which have focused on climate issues for decades, more recently there have been historic efforts to advance sustainability and climate initiatives. In this article, the authors shares the story of one university's commitment to accelerate its climate change agenda. They trace the origins of University of Southern California (USC)'s effort and its evolution from a handful of faculty meetings in a conference room to a university-wide effort that has impacted almost every aspect of campus life in just a few years.

Native Americans are highly underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers; however, little research exists concerning how to promote Native Americans' participation in STEM. In this study, we address this gap by examining variables hypothesized to promote participation using the career self-management (CSM) model among Native American college students with STEM career goals. Results of stepwise regressions demonstrated that academic achievement along with the problem-solving aspects of career self-management (CSM) self-efficacy and instrumental assistance from parents, peers, and others in students' schools and communities predicts clearer, more specific, and more personally congruent goals; and that these goals along with self-efficacy and instrumental assistance predict career exploration. Contrary to hypotheses, neither STEM outcome expectations nor gender was related to goals or exploration. These findings suggest that CSM can be used to guide research regarding the STEM career development of Native American college students.

Growth mindset plays an important role in students' motivation for learning. Students who believe that their abilities are malleable are more likely to set mastery goals and to persist when encountering difficulties. Design-based makerspace -- or a makerspace structured with design-based learning components -- has many features known to improve growth mindset. The present study examined how growth mindset of 3rd-6th grade students developed over 2 years in a design-based makerspace course. Growth modeling was used to examine trajectories of students' growth mindset as well as its two associative factors -- self-efficacy and creative mindset. Results showed that students' growth mindset initially decreased slightly in the first year, but significantly improved during the intervening period and remained high throughout the second year. Students with higher creative mindset showed more adaptive growth mindset trends. Our study contributes to an understanding about how makerspace experiences may contribute to growth mindset development.

This research examined the risk and protective factors of responders and nonresponders to a schoolwide implementation of positive behavioral interventions and supports (SW-PBIS) within an alternative school. Students completed self-perception measures of individual, school, community, and home systems. Multivariate analysis of variance indicated a statistically significant difference between responders and nonresponders on the individual and school systems models. Direct logistic regression indicated that within these models, hostility, destructive expression of anger, depression, academic self-concept, attitude to teachers, and attitude to school each made a significant contribution in identifying responders and nonresponders. Findings suggest that factors at the individual and school levels may be crucial in identifying individuals who respond favorably to SW-PBIS. Interventions that target specific risk factors may improve responsiveness to SW-PBIS in alternative schools.

Individuals often have misconceptions about education policy issues. Prior research has shown that refutation texts can address misconceptions in other areas (e.g., climate change, GMOs); this study is the first to explore whether participants' views on controversial education policies--the Common Core State Standards and charter schools--are similarly malleable through refutation text interventions. Results of two experiments show that refutation texts reduced participants' misconceptions and increased their correct conceptions about both policy issues. These impacts persisted for at least a week in both cases. Our findings hold promise for policymakers, implementers, and researchers seeking to buttress support for policies through direct, evidence-based refutation texts.

Given the dearth of high-quality curriculum materials aligned with the new standards (NGSS and CCSS) and low student persistence in STEM fields, we sought to develop and test a STEM curriculum that would improve student knowledge, interest, and emotions. A cluster randomized control trial was conducted to assess the impact of Speedometry, a two-unit STEM curriculum that uses familiar toy cars to explore math and science concepts. A total of 1,615 fourth-grade students across 48 classrooms and 17 schools in an urban district participated in the study. Using a 3-level multilevel model (students nested within teachers and schools) and controls for student and teacher characteristics, we found that Speedometry led to significant increases in student knowledge and positive emotions such as excitement. Speedometry also led to significant decreases in negative emotions such as boredom, frustration, and confusion. The curriculum was implemented with high fidelity as evidenced by classroom observations and teacher self-reports.

The curriculum, Hot Wheels Speedometry (Mattel, El Segundo, CA, USA), was designed to align with the Next Generation Science Standards for science and the Common Core State Standards for mathematics. Our objective was to develop, implement, and evaluate the impact of this integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curriculum on students' knowledge, interest, and engagement. The authors conducted the study in a district where students were predominantly from communities under-represented in STEM fields. The findings indicate that student individual interest developed. Furthermore, students demonstrated affective, behavioral, and cognitive engagement along their progression of interest development. The study shows promise for the development of interest and engagement in under-represented groups through the use of an integrated STEM curriculum.

Purpose: This paper is one of seven in this volume, each elaborating different approaches to quality improvement in education. The purpose of this paper is to delineate a methodology called positive deviance. Design/methodology/approach: The paper presents the origins, theoretical foundations, core principles and a case study demonstrating an application of positive deviance in US education, specifically dealing with the problem of high school dropout prevention in a California school district. Findings: The six phases of this "asset-based" improvement approach are: define the organizational or community problem and desired outcomes; determine common practices relevant to the problem; discover uncommon but successful behaviors and strategies that solve the problem (the positive deviants), through inquiry and observation; design an action learning initiative based on findings; discern (monitor) progress of the initiative by documenting and evaluating regularly; and disseminate results through sharing, honoring and amplifying success stories. Originality/value: Few theoretical treatments and demonstration cases are currently available on commonly used models of quality improvement from business, manufacturing and other fields that have potential value in improving education systems internationally. This paper fills this gap by elucidating one promising approach. By facilitating a comparison of the positive deviance approach to other quality improvement approaches treated in this volume, the paper provides added value.

Gaps between what scientists and laypeople find plausible may act as a barrier to learning complex and/or controversial socioscientific concepts. For example, individuals may consider scientific explanations that human activities are causing current climate change as implausible. This plausibility judgment may be due-in part-to individuals' perceptions about the information source and the certainty associated with the message claim. In this study, we examined the relationship among source credibility (trustworthiness and expertise), perceptions of certainty in message claims, and plausibility perceptions about climate change. Our analysis revealed that trustworthiness and message certainty perceptions were significant predictors of plausibility perceptions, above and beyond knowledge about human-induced climate change. These findings suggest that perceptions about information sources may have an important influence on plausibility judgments and, consequently, on learning about controversial and/or abstract concepts.

Peer victimization is a pervasive problem among children and associated with numerous psychological and behavioural problems for all participants. Research is needed to understand the complex relations between factors that increase risk of victimization and its consequences. We used autoregressive cross-lagged modelling with self-report data to examine the longitudinal reciprocal effects of victimization by friends with problem behaviour, as well as the mediating effects of school bonding and peer norms. Participants were 316 4th grade students in socioeconomically disadvantaged elementary schools in California, USA, most of whom were Latino/a American (89.9%). Results indicated a causal path from peer victimization by friends in 4th grade to problem behaviour in 5th grade, which was fully mediated by school bonding and peer norms for academics in 5th grade. These results confirm the need to monitor and respond to peer victimization by friends in any setting. Moreover, results demonstrate the importance of creating opportunities to positively engage students in school activities that teach or ensure positive social interactions and exposure to peers that are engaged in normative social and academic behaviours. (Contains 1 table and 2 figures.)

Youth strengths are as important to consider as deficits in understanding developmental outcomes and thus are an important component of psychoeducational assessment. Latino/as are understudied with regard to strength-based constructs, although cultural and socioeconomic factors may be related to differences in Latino/a parents' views of their children's strengths and school experiences. The Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale-2 (BERS-2) Parent Report is one of the most widely used measures to examine school-based strengths of students. With two sets of data collected with Spanish-speaking Latino/a parents of students aged 9 to 14 years, the authors examined the BERS-2 to explore and then preliminarily confirm latent constructs present in reports of their children's strengths. A three-factor model, labeled Self-Control, School Participation, and Emotional Health, emerged as an alternative fit to the data. Results indicate that the BERS-2 measures culturally sensitive constructs, yet amended procedures may enhance the assessment of student strengths from the parent perspective, particularly when working with Spanish-speaking Latino/a families. (Contains 6 tables and 1 note.)

Since Hirschi's (1969) seminal work with delinquent youths, researchers have included school bonding and related constructs in analyses of delinquency, school dropout, student motivation, risk and resiliency, and academic achievement. In addition to school bonding, researchers have studied school engagement, school attachment, school connectedness, and other constructs as they relate to various student outcomes. At times, these constructs are measured and defined quite similarly, if not identically. However, in other instances, identical terms have been used to describe a construct that is measured in vastly different ways. These redundancies and discrepancies make it difficult to draw conclusions and build upon the summative knowledge gleaned from the extant school bonding research. In this article, research studies that use school bonding or a related construct (e.g., school engagement) are reviewed, with a specific focus on definition and measurement. A factor analysis was conducted using selected survey items from various school bonding and related measures, yielding five factors. The unique and shared aspects of these factors are discussed as well as implications for school practice and future research. (Contains 4 tables and 1 figure.)

There are many factors associated with academic success at school. In addition to having the requisite cognitive abilities and scholastic skills, students need to feel that school is a place in which they belong. This study examines factors related to perceptions of school belonging for a sample of Latino elementary school students. Participants were 57 Latino youth, 26 of whom were English Language Learners and the rest of whom were English proficient. Students were assessed in fourth and sixth grades in this longitudinal study. Self-perceptions and teacher perceptions of these students were available at the beginning and end of each academic year. The results indicated that in fourth grade English Language Learners had a decrease in school belonging while their English proficient classmates did not. Factors associated with school belonging differed between the fourth and the sixth grades. In addition to the impact of language proficiency, fourth graders' sense of belonging was associated with teacher evaluations while sixth graders' perceptions were primarily affected by peer self-concept. Implications for school psychologists and other educational professionals are discussed. (Contains 3 tables.)

Persian gum as a newly introduced hydrocolloid with unique adhesive and gel forming properties has found wide applications in various industries such as medicine, food and textile. Recently, it has been employed in soil environment as a biocompatible stabilizing agent. However, due to its novelty, there is no study about its application in cohesionless sandy soil. This paper provides a comprehensive evaluation of Persian gum treated sand through macro- and microscale tests including compaction, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), direct shear (DS), triaxial (UU), California bearing ratio (CBR), falling head permeability, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), stereo zoom microscopy (SZM), Brunner, Emmet and Teller (BET), particle size analysis (PSA) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The tests were conducted on untreated and treated soil with different Persian gum contents and curing times. The obtained results represent the powerful performance of this novel gum in mechanical strength and bearing capacity enhancement through binding soil particles and formation of large agglomerated grains. Also, the remarkable ability of this novel gum in pore filling and compacting soil interstructure makes it a favorable additive in soil projects with permeability reduction purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Racial and ethnic segregation has been linked to a number of deleterious health outcomes, including violence. Previous studies of segregation and violence have focused on segregation between African Americans and Whites, used homicide as a measure of violence, and employed segregation measures that fail to take into account neighborhood level processes. We examined the relationship between neighborhood diversity and violent injury in Oakland, California. Violent injuries from the Alameda County Medical Center Trauma Registry that occurred between 1998 and 2002 were geocoded. A local measure of diversity among African American, White, Hispanic, and Asian populations that captured interactions across census block group boundaries was calculated from 2000 U.S. Census data and a Geographic Information System. The relationship between violent injuries and neighborhood level of diversity, adjusted for covariates, was analyzed with zero-inflated negative binomial regression. There was a significant and inverse association between level of racial and ethnic diversity and rate of violent injury (IRR 0.30; 95% CI: 0.13-0.69). There was a similar relationship between diversity and violent injury for predominantly African American block groups (IRR 0.23; 95% CI: 0.08-0.62) and predominantly Hispanic block groups (IRR 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01-0.76). Diversity was not significantly associated with violent injury in predominantly White or Asian block groups. Block group racial and ethnic diversity is associated with lower rates of violent injury, particularly for predominantly African American and Hispanic block groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which examined blood nicotine levels in smokers who were non-accustomed to electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use and accustomed e-cigarette users. Topics covered include the potential role of e-cigarettes in tobacco harm reduction, the heterogeneity of nicotine deliveries both between products and with the same products used by different cohorts and the addictive properties of cigarette smoking.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are found widely in the ambient air and result from combustion of various fuels and industrial processes. PAHs have been associated with adverse human health effects such as cognitive development, childhood IQ, and respiratory health. The Fresno Asthmatic Children's Environment Study enrolled 315 children aged 6-11 years with asthma in Fresno, CA and followed the cohort from 2000 to 2008. Subjects were evaluated for asthma symptoms in up to three 14-day panels per year. Detailed ambient pollutant concentrations were collected from a central site and outdoor pollutants were measured at 83 homes for at least one 5-day period. Measurements of particle-bound PAHs were used with land-use regression models to estimate individual exposures to PAHs with 4-, 5-, or 6-member rings (PAH456) and phenanthrene for the cohort (approximately 22,000 individual daily estimates). We used a cross-validation-based algorithm for model fitting and a generalized estimated equation approach to account for repeated measures. Multiple lags and moving averages of PAH exposure were associated with increased wheeze for each of the three types of PAH exposure estimates. The odds ratios for asthmatics exposed to PAHs (ng/m3) ranged from 1.01 (95% CI, 1.00-1.02) to 1.10 (95% CI, 1.04-1.17). This trend for increased wheeze persisted among all PAHs measured. Phenanthrene was found to have a higher relative impact on wheeze. These data provide further evidence that PAHs contribute to asthma morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined progress after 1 year of treatment for children with autism who received a mean of 36 hours per week one-to-one University of California at Los Angeles Applied Behavior Analysis (UCLA ABA) treatment. Two types of service provision were compared: an intensive clinic based treatment model with all treatment personnel (N = 23), and an intensive parent managed treatment model with intensive supervision only (N = 21). A non-concurrent multiple baseline design across participants (N = 13) examined whether progress was associated with ABA treatment or confounders. Between intake and follow-up, children in both groups improved significantly on IQ, visual-spatial IQ, language comprehension, expressive language, social skills, motor skills and adaptive behaviour. There were no significant differences between the two groups on any of the measures at follow-up. Mean IQ for participants in both groups increased by 16 points between intake and follow-up. These findings are consistent with previous studies demonstrating the benefits of ABA treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the construction and features of the 1-km-long and four lane highway Otay River Bridge in San Diego County, California. The author stated that the bridge, which highlights a combination of ingenuity and design is the second bridge to employ segmented precast concrete segmental construction. In addition, the bridge design incorporates lean lines and curving edges to mimic the natural setting of the region and in response to the environmental goals of the project. She emphasized that the bridge has been built using the balanced-cantilever method.

Thirty-nine isolates of Fusarium oxysporum were collected from tomato plants displaying wilt symptoms in a field in California 2 years after F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 3 was first observed at that location. These and other isolates of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici were characterized by pathogenicity, race, and vegetative compatibility group (VCG). Of the 39 California isolates, 22 were in VCG 0030, 11 in VCG 0031, and six in the newly described VCG 0035. Among the isolates in VCG 0030, 13 were race 3, and nine were race 2. Of the isolates in VCG 0031, seven were race 2, one was race 1, and three were nonpathogenic to tomato. All six isolates in VCG 0035 were race 2. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and sequencing of the intergenic spacer (IGS) region of rDNA identified five IGS RFLP haplotypes, which coincided with VCGs, among 60 isolates of E oxysporum from tomato. Five race 3 isolates from California were of the same genomic DNA RFLP haplotype as a race 2 isolate from the same location, and all 13 race 3 isolates clustered together into a subgroup in the neighbor joining tree. Collective evidence suggests that race 3 in California originated from the local race 2 population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship of health insurance status and delivery systems to breast cancer outcomes - stage at diagnosis, treatment selected, survival - focusing on comparisons among women aged 65 or more having Medicare alone, Medicare/Medicaid, or Medicare with group model HMO, non-group model HMO, or private fee-for-service (FFS) supplement. DESIGN: Retrospectively defined cohort from Sacramento, Calif, regional cancer registry. SETTING: Thirteen-county region in northern California with mature managed care market. PATIENTS: Female invasive breast cancer patients aged 65 or more ( N = 1,146), diagnosed 1987-1993. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Health insurance was determined from hospital records. Outcomes were analyzed with multivariate regression models, controlling for age, ethnicity, time, and SES measures. Stage I diagnosis was more likely among group model HMO patients than among private FFS insured (odds ratio [OR], 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84 to 2.40). Stage I tumors were significantly less likely for Medicaid patients (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.82). Use of breast-conserving surgery plus radiation (BCS+) varied significantly by hospital type (including HMO-owned and various-sized community hospitals) and time. Survival of patients with private FFS, group-, and non-group model HMO insurance was not significantly different, but was for those with Medicaid or Medicare alone. CONCLUSIONS: This study sheds new light on the relationship of insurance to stage and survival among older breast cancer patients, highlighting the importance of distinguishing types of HMOs and types of FFS plans. These outcomes do not differ significantly between women with Medicare who are in HMOs and those with private FFS supplemental insurance. However, patients with Medicare/Medicaid or Medicare alone are at risk for poorer outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes issues and practices in measuring perinatal alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment outcomes in California. Pros and cons for sampling, recruitment, and data analytic strategies; Limitation of information about the effectiveness of AOD treatment programs; Selection of the interview modality appropriate for research resources.

Focuses on the establishment of monitoring program to compare vegetation development on San Antonio Terrace at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Range of habitats in dune swale wetlands on the Terrace; Creation of transects and plots for long-term vegetation monitoring; Collection of quantitative vegetation and environmental data.

The perceived magnitude of perinatal chemical dependency in California was the impetus for an interagency partnership within the California Health and Welfare Agency called Options for Recovery (OFR). It offered alcohol and drug treatment and recovery, case management, and recruitment and training of foster parents and relative caregivers to chemically dependent pregnant and parenting women. A 3-year, multi-method evaluation was conducted that included quantitative analyses of secondary data sources, semi-structured interviews with staff and clients, self-administered surveys of staff and clients, client focus groups, and child developmental assessments. Findings indicate that to achieve success, programs structured on the OFR model must recruit chemically dependent women early in their pregnancies, provide mechanisms for retention, offer a continuum of treatment modalities within the service system, make available a comprehensive array of ancillary services, and be responsive to the social, cultural, and familial context within which these women live. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information about a case management program for children at the Center for the Vulnerable Child at Children's Hospital in Oakland, California. The integrated hospital-based case management program for foster children, drug-exposed infants living with their biological mothers, and young teenage families was introduced as part of the clinical service programs at the Center. The use of case management in the health care setting is implied for two contradictory purposes namely to extend the provision of services and improve access to care, and to contain costs.

Abstract. An examination of Medi-Cal-paid claims was undertaken to assess the utilization of mental health services by children in California's foster care system. Using unduplicate counts of service use and diagnoses, it was determined that children in foster care account for 41% of all users of mental health services even though they represent less than 4% of Medi-Cal-eligible children. When partitioned into specific service categories, children in foster care account for 53% of all psychologist visits, 47% of psychiatry visits, 43% of Short Doyle/Medi-Cai inpatient hospitalization in public hospitals, and 27% of inpatient psychiatric hospitals. Expenditure for services paralleled utilization frequency. When compared to the non-foster care Medi-Cal-eligible child population, children in foster care have 10 to 20 times the rate of utilization per eligible child for selected services. For children in foster care, 75% of all diagnoses for billed service were accounted for by four diagnoses, adjustment disorders (28.6%), conduct disorders (20.5%), anxiety disorders (13.8%), and emotional disorders (11.9%), with clear age-related differences in the distribution of diagnoses. Pediatrics 1992;89:1238-1244; foster care, mental health services, Medicaid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. The number of children in foster care in California doubled from 27 534 in 1980 to more than 62 419 in 1988, representing approximately 1% of the child population in the state. Past studies have demonstrated that children in foster care have high rates of medical and mental health problems. An examination of all Medi-Cal-paid claims was undertaken to describe the utilization of health services by children in foster care. Although children in foster care represent 4% of Medi-Cal-eligible children younger than 18 years of age, they account for approximately 5% of children using Medi-Cal services and 6.7% of expenditures, representing a 23% greater utilization rate and 41% greater expenditure rate than all children covered by Medi-Cal. Using the entire Medi-Cal population younger than 18 years of age as a comparison group, examination of inpatient care, Medicaid, utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the role of the libraries of Pomona College and Claremont McKenna College in carrying out specifications of the Knight Foundation grant given in 1989. Increasing the availability of, access to and use of electronic data bases; Implementation of CD-ROM local area network; Preparation and presentation of instructional sessions on the use of available data base.

The article talks about the role of superintendents in institution planning presented by Gale H. Walker, superintendent at the Polk State School, delivered at the 77th annual Meeting of the American Association on Mental Deficiency held at the Hotel Statler in Los Angeles, California on May 12-16, 1953. He discusses that superintendent has opportunity in projecting himself to his full limits of capability into a building program and the general goals of the institution.

The article focuses on the use of precast concrete pavement slabs in repairing the freeway road system in California. The slabs were selected by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) because of their strength in withstanding bigger vehicles with higher weights. The ease by which the slabs can be placed on the road by Caltrans maintenance crews is cited as another advantage.

Abstract: Many fruit and nut species require cold temperatures during the dormancy season to initiate flowering and bear fruit. Quantifying these chilling requirements is crucial for identifying appropriate cultivars for a given site, for timing applications of rest-breaking chemicals and for predicting consequences of climate change. We present a new method to test temperature models describing chilling and heat requirements of perennial plants, and use this method to compare the ability of four chilling models (Chilling Hours, Utah Model, Positive Utah Model and Dynamic Model) to explain walnut phenology in California. When plotting remaining heat before a phenological stage is reached against accumulated winter chill, observational curves for all years should intersect in one common point, assuming fixed chilling and heat requirements and a sequential fulfillment of these requirements. This point defines the chilling and forcing requirements of the plant, and the quality of the chilling/heat model combination is indicated by how well defined the intersection point is. We used this method on a total of 1297 phenological observations, including four walnut cultivars, seven phenological stages and eight locations in California. Using an hourly temperature record, winter chill was quantified by the four chilling models and remaining heat was estimated using the Growing Degree Hour concept. The theoretical intersection point was more clearly defined for the Dynamic and Positive Utah Models than for the Chilling Hours and Utah Models in almost all cases, indicating that these are superior in explaining walnut phenology. It was also apparent that chilling models were not equivalent and that chilling requirements determined under constant temperature conditions, when quantified in Chilling Hours, were not representative of chilling requirements in orchards. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]