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Typical quantitative evaluations of public policies treat policies as a binary condition, without further attention to how policies are implemented. However, policy implementation plays an important role in how the policy impacts behavioral and health outcomes. The field of policy-focused implementation science is beginning to consider how policy implementation may be conceptualized in quantitative analyses (e.g., as a mediator or moderator), but less work has considered how to measure policy implementation for inclusion in quantitative work. To help address this gap, we discuss four design considerations for researchers interested in developing or identifying measures of policy implementation using three independent NIH-funded research projects studying e-cigarette, food, and mental health policies. Mini case studies of these considerations were developed via group discussions; we used the implementation research logic model to structure our discussions. Design considerations include (1) clearly specifying the implementation logic of the policy under study, (2) developing an interdisciplinary team consisting of policy practitioners and researchers with expertise in quantitative methods, public policy and law, implementation science, and subject matter knowledge, (3) using mixed methods to identify, measure, and analyze relevant policy implementation determinants and processes, and (4) building flexibility into project timelines to manage delays and challenges due to the real-world nature of policy. By applying these considerations in their own work, researchers can better identify or develop measures of policy implementation that fit their needs. The experiences of the three projects highlighted in this paper reinforce the need for high-quality and transferrable measures of policy implementation, an area where collaboration between implementation scientists and policy experts could be particularly fruitful. These measurement practices provide a foundation for the field to build on as attention to incorporating measures of policy implementation into quantitative evaluations grows and will help ensure that researchers are developing a more complete understanding of how policies impact health outcomes.

The Education Sector of the recently updated National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP, 2023) was developed to assist schools, early care and education centers, and colleges and universities to establish policies and provide programmatic opportunities to support all students in adopting physically active lifestyles. The 2023 Education Sector strategies target K-12 education, preschool and early childhood education, as well as college and university contexts to develop and advocate for strong policies that promote physical education and physical activity for all students. Successful implementation of the Education Sector strategies has the potential to support high-quality program delivery. Specific to school physical education programs, the strategies' adoption has the capacity for a broad, lifelong impact. This article presents an overview of the Education Sector strategies and their related tactics, along with objectives specific for K-12 school physical education programming.

Objective: Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a fatal disease and a clinical challenge, as few effective treatment modalities are available. Previous evidence links the gut microbiome to the host immunoreactivity to tumors. We thus evaluated the impact of a novel microbiome modulator compound (MMC) on the gut microbiota composition, tumor immune microenvironment, and cancer control in a model of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Methods: Age- and weight-matched immunocompetent (n = 23) or athymic BALB/c mice (n = 15) were randomly assigned to MMC or no treatment (control) groups. MMC (31 ppm) was administered through the drinking water 14 days before AB12 malignant mesothelioma cell inoculation into the pleural cavity. The impact of MMC on tumor growth, animal survival, tumor-infiltrating leucocytes, gut microbiome, and fecal metabolome was evaluated and compared with those of control animals. Results: The MMC delayed tumor growth and significantly prolonged the survival of immunocompetent animals (P = .0015) but not that of athymic mice. The improved tumor control in immunocompetent mice correlated with increased infiltration of CD3+CD8+GRZB+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes in tumors. Gut microbiota analyses indicated an enrichment in producers of short chain fatty acids in MMC-treated animals. Finally, we observed a positive correlation between the level of fecal short chain fatty acids and abundance of tumor-infiltrating cytotoxic T cells in malignant pleural mesothelioma. Conclusions: MMC administration boosts antitumor immunity, which correlates with a change in gut microbiome and metabolome. MMC may represent a valuable treatment option to combine with immunotherapy in patients with cancer.

Background: Strategies used by wellness teams (WTs) to foster local wellness policy (LWP) implementation have been documented, yet there remains a need to better understand how WTs respond to district-level LWP requirements, particularly when bundled with additional health-related policies. This study's goal was to explore how WTs implement Healthy Chicago Public School (CPS), a district-led initiative focused on both LWP and other health policy implementation in the CPS district, one of the most diverse in the nation. Methods: Eleven discussion groups were conducted with WTs in CPS. Discussions were recorded, transcribed, and thematically coded. Results: Six overarching strategies used by WTs in working to achieve Healthy CPS include: (1) using district guides and resources to support planning, progress monitoring, and reporting; (2) under the leadership of wellness champions, as required by the district, facilitating engagement among staff, students, and/or families; (3) taking district guidance and adapting and integrating it into their schools' existing structures, curricula, and practices, often taking a holistic approach; (4) fostering linkages in the communities surrounding their schools to supplement internal school capacities; and (5) stewarding resources, time, and staff for sustainability. Implications: Strategies for LWP implementation by WTs in urban and diverse schools include planning for staff turnover, integrating health and wellness into existing curricula and structures, and leveraging relationships with the local community. Conclusion: WTs can play a critical role in supporting schools in diverse, urban districts to implement district-level LWP and the plethora of related policies that schools are subject to at the federal, state, and district levels.

Typical quantitative evaluations of public policies treat policies as a binary condition, without further attention to how policies are implemented. However, policy implementation plays an important role in how the policy impacts behavioral and health outcomes. The field of policy-focused implementation science is beginning to consider how policy implementation may be conceptualized in quantitative analyses (e.g., as a mediator or moderator), but less work has considered how to measure policy implementation for inclusion in quantitative work. To help address this gap, we discuss four design considerations for researchers interested in developing or identifying measures of policy implementation using three independent NIH-funded research projects studying e-cigarette, food, and mental health policies. Mini case studies of these considerations were developed via group discussions; we used the implementation research logic model to structure our discussions. Design considerations include (1) clearly specifying the implementation logic of the policy under study, (2) developing an interdisciplinary team consisting of policy practitioners and researchers with expertise in quantitative methods, public policy and law, implementation science, and subject matter knowledge, (3) using mixed methods to identify, measure, and analyze relevant policy implementation determinants and processes, and (4) building flexibility into project timelines to manage delays and challenges due to the real-world nature of policy. By applying these considerations in their own work, researchers can better identify or develop measures of policy implementation that fit their needs. The experiences of the three projects highlighted in this paper reinforce the need for high-quality and transferrable measures of policy implementation, an area where collaboration between implementation scientists and policy experts could be particularly fruitful. These measurement practices provide a foundation for the field to build on as attention to incorporating measures of policy implementation into quantitative evaluations grows and will help ensure that researchers are developing a more complete understanding of how policies impact health outcomes.

The study focused on the morphological diversity of pods and seeds from six ecotypes of carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.), originating from different regions of Morocco including Khemissat, Safi, Aït Attab, Berkane, Ouezzane, and Agadir. Thirty pods per ecotype were collected from 10 different trees. Measurements were taken to analyze the morphology of seeds and pods. The results revealed significant differences among ecotypes for most morphological characteristics such as pod length, pod width, pod thickness, total pod weight, pulp weight, total number of seeds in the pod, seed weight within the pod, seed length, seed width, seed thickness, single seed weight, and weight of 100 seeds. Correlation analysis revealed associations among different morphological measures, highlighting the influence of pod morphology on seed yield. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis confirmed the presence of two distinct groups of ecotypes: the first group comprising the ecotypes Agadir, Aït Attab, Safi, and Khemissat, while the second group included the ecotypes Berkane and Ouezzane. These results have significant implications for variety selection and improvement of carob tree cultivation, with significant potential to enhance food security in Mediterranean regions. By better understanding the impact of ecotype on morphological characteristics, selection efforts can be directed towards developing varieties better adapted to changing environmental conditions, thereby contributing to strengthening the resilience of agricultural systems face of climate change.

Background: The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) framework supports the "whole child" across 10 domains. This study assessed state law and district policy WSCC coverage. Methods: Primary legal research was used to compile relevant district policies and state laws for a stratified random sample of 368 public school districts across 20 states for school year 2017-18. Policies/laws were evaluated on 79 items across the WSCC domains (range: 3-14 items/domain). Multivariable regressions examined the relationship between state laws and district policies, controlling for district characteristics, and weighted to account for the sample design and non-response. Results: On average, district policies and state laws addressed 53% and 60% of the 79 items, respectively. State law predicted district policy WSCC attention across items (coeff. = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.14, 0.38) and 4 domains: physical activity (coeff. = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.29, 0.86); health services (coeff. = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.39, 0.62); social and emotional climate (coeff. = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.23, 0.45); and family engagement (coeff. = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.28, 0.54). State law was associated with lower district-level coverage in 3 domains (health education; counseling, psychological, and social services; and community involvement). Conclusions: Although WSCC implementation is locally-driven, states have an active role to play in setting a policy "floor" for guiding district WSCC attention.

This study's main objective was to characterize the spontaneous vascular flora of the Asjen region and Brikcha forest. It was conducted in the study area Moroccan Atlantic North-1 (Man-1) in 2021-2022. The stratified sampling method combined with the records of the surface and itinerant survey methods were used as a basis to collect floristic data. Three hundred and eighty-four taxa belonging to 270 genera and 80 families were recorded, of which five species distributed among four families were new additions to the flora of the study area: Crepis vesicaria L. subsp. stellata (Ball) Babc and Scorzonera hispanica L. subsp. Hispanica (Asteraceae), Glinus lotoides L. (Molluginaceae), Juniperus oxycedrus L. subsp. oxycedrus (Cupressaceae) and Quercus coccifera L. (Fagaceae). The biological spectrum indicates the dominance of therophytes (47.66%), followed by hemicryptophytes (16.93%). Dicotyledons represent the most dominant systematic group (305 taxa, 79.43%), followed by Monocotyledons (72 taxa, 18.75%). Six families are dominant and represent 46.62% of all identified species: Asteraceae (61 species, 15.89%), Fabaceae (32 species, 8.33%), Poaceae (30 species, 7.81%), Lamiaceae (26 species, 6.77%), Apiaceae (17 species, 4.43%) and Caryophyllaceae (13 species, 3.39%). The most species-rich genus is Plantago, with six species, followed by Teucrium, with five species. The rate of endemism is 6.51%, with 25 species, eight of which are strictly endemic to Morocco. Rare or threatened species represent 3.12% of total species (12 species), with seven taxa on the national red list. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies examine why rural public schools have weaker policies and practices related to school nutrition environments compared to their urban counterparts. It is important to understand this disparity because federal school meal standards aim for children to access health-promoting nutrition environments. In this study, we identify challenges and opportunities for the implementation of school meal standards in rural high schools. Methods: We interviewed 38 rural school professionals from 22 high schools across 7 states. School professionals included food service directors, principals, school nurses, and teachers. Team coding in Atlas.ti Qualitative Data Analysis software v8 and principles of comparative analysis were employed to generate themes related to challenges and opportunities. Results: Overall, school professionals described improvements with implementation experiences and student acceptance over time. Key challenges included the negative influences of home and community food environments and limited staff size and capacity. Key opportunities involved joining co-ops to enhance purchasing power, leveraging state technical assistance, and forming external partnerships. Conclusions: This study offers insights from a broad range of rural school professionals' implementation experiences. The findings can inform governments and technical assistance agencies working with rural schools and school districts to facilitate implementation and sustainability of initiatives.

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a tunable source of reactive species and other physical factors. It exerts luxuriant biochemical effects on diverse cells, including bacterial cells, mammalian cells, and plant cells. Over the past decade, CAP has shown promising application in modern agriculture. Here, we focused on the state of the art of plasma agriculture, particularly the improvement of seed germination rates. Typical plasma sources, underlying physical principles, and the chemical and cellular mechanism of plasma’s effect on plants seeds have been discussed in depth.

Background: Under "Smart Snacks," state agencies can adopt a policy regulating infrequent school-sponsored fundraisers. Fundraiser exemptions allow noncompliant foods and beverages to be sold during the school day. This article examines fundraiser exemption policies in each state as of September 1, 2017. Methods: Laws were collected for all 50 states and the District of Columbia using Boolean searches of LexisNexis and Westlaw. Informal state-level policies (eg, memos) were collected through searches of state department of education and child nutrition program websites. Policies were analyzed to determine the number of exempt fundraisers allowed in each state. Results: By September 1, 2017, 47 states adopted a fundraiser exemption policy; 21 states adopted a zero exemption policy; 19 states regulated the number of exempt fundraisers; five states regulated the number of exempt fundraising days; one state regulated the number of exempt events; and one state approved all requested exemptions. Four states had not adopted a policy and default under the rule to zero exemptions allowed. Conclusions: A patchwork of state policies governs the school food-related fundraiser landscape. However, the overall goal of improving the school food environment should persist as an important factor in determining how many, if any, will be allowed each school year.

Abstract Background The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-296) prompted the expansion of federal requirements for local school wellness policies, which aim to improve health promoting practices across school districts in the USA. This qualitative study examined how school district superintendents—as key school leaders who are often listed as the district accountability figure for wellness policies applicable to kindergarten through 12th grade—engaged with wellness policy implementation. The inquiry was guided by evidence-informed implementation and leadership frameworks, including the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and “bridging, buffering, and brokering” strategies from education leadership theory. Methods We conducted focus groups and interviews with superintendents (n = 39) from 23 states. Interviews were recorded and professionally transcribed; transcripts were team-coded in Atlas.ti v8 using an iteratively revised coding guide that was informed by CFIR, pilot testing, and during weekly analyst meetings. Principles of constant comparative analysis were employed to develop themes. Results Most superintendents’ reported positive perspectives and personal motivations to engage with wellness policy implementation. Within the CFIR process domain, superintendents demonstrated adaptive leadership traits and employed a combination of “bridging, buffering, and brokering” strategies to lead implementation activities. Rather than focus on personal traits, an emphasis on specific strategies highlights actions that may be applied. Conclusions The findings offer practical strategies to support superintendents with implementation, as well as a formative contribution to the dearth of theoretical frameworks in school wellness literature, particularly by advancing the specific understanding of leadership roles within a broader implementation framework. The application of education theory allowed for a deeper inquiry into the potential ways that leaders’ strategies and engagement influences implementation more broadly.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine changes in school-based physical education (PE) attendance over time among nationally representative samples of U.S. high school students and how changes in PE attendance have varied across demographic subgroups. Method: Student demographic information and PE attendance data were obtained from 13 biennial cycles (1991-2015) of the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Physical education variables derived from YRBS data included "PE attendance," "daily PE," "average PE days/week," and "PE frequency." Logistic regression models examined trends in "PE attendance," "daily PE," and "PE frequency" for the overall sample and demographic subgroups. Linear regression models examined trends in "average PE days/week" in the overall sample only. Results: Overall, there was no significant change in the percentage of students reporting "PE attendance" during 1991 to 2015. However, "daily PE" and "average PE days/week" declined significantly from 1991 to 1995 (41.6% to 25.4% and 4.64 days to 3.64 days, respectively) and then remained stable through 2015 (29.8% and 4.11 days, respectively). The percentage of students reporting a "PE frequency" of 3 days per week increased significantly from 1991 to 1995 (1.5% to 19.0%) before stabilizing through 2015 (9.1%). Trends across demographic subgroups revealed notable differences in PE attendance. Conclusions: Study findings showed that U.S. schools have not substantially reduced PE amounts in recent years. Still, the prevalence of PE attendance among U.S. high school students is well below recommendations. For PE to contribute to increased adolescent compliance with national physical activity guidelines, significant policy actions are needed to improve PE access for all students.

Studies on the flora of the protected areas of the Prérif and particularly the mainland Site of Biological and Ecological Interest (SBEI) Brikcha are very limited. It is with this in mind that we carried out this study in order to identify the vascular flora and highlight the potential of this region. Using a combination of two methods, stratified probability sampling and the itinerant inventory, we carried out 50 days of field surveys between March 2023 and May 2024. The results obtained have allowed us to establish an exhaustive catalogue of 326 species, the emblematic species of which is Quercus faginea. In addition, six species have been reported for the first time in North Atlantic Morocco-1 (Man-1), of which SBEI is a part: Biscutella pseudolyrata, Coriaria myrtifolia, Gagea fibrosa, Hedera helix subsp. maroccana, Laurus nobilis and Tamarix canariensis. The species recorded are grouped into 253 genera and 81 botanical families, five of which have the highest species richness: Asteraceae (41 species, 12.58%); Fabaceae (31 species, 9.51%); Poaceae (30 species, 9.20%); Apiaceae (18 species, 5.52%) and Lamiaceae (14 species, 4.29%). A clear dominance of dicotyledons (75.46%) was also noted. Cistus and Quercus are the two most species-rich genera with four taxa each. The spring season is the preferred flowering time for 56.77% of the flora. Life forms are mainly represented by therophytes (46.01%), followed by geophytes (17.49%) and phanerophytes (14.11%). Twenty of the species inventoried are endemic (6.13%), seven of which are strictly Moroccan, six are threatened with extinction. Eleven species are rare in the broad sense of the term. Due to the richness and original diversity of its flora, the SBEI Brikcha constitutes a real phytogenetic reservoir in the Prérif, it deserves to be qualified as priority 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) directed the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to revise school meal standards. Students are most affected by efforts to improve the school food environment; yet, few studies directly include students. This study examined high school students' experiences of school meal reform to gain insight into implementation recommendations. Methods: We conducted 5 focus groups with high school students (N = 15) from high schools across 9 states. We also conducted follow-up interviews to further explore personal experiences. Focus groups and interview transcripts were coded and organized in Atlas.ti v7 by analysts, following principles of constant comparative analysis. Results: Students reported overall positive perceptions of the revised school meal standards and supported continued efforts to improve the food environment. Recommendations to improve the food environment included engaging students, focusing on the quality and palatability of meal items, moving toward scratch-cooking, and addressing cafeteria infrastructure. Conclusions: Students' recommendations point to opportunities where school districts, as well as local, state, and federal organizations can work to improve the school food environment. Their insights are directly relevant to USDA's recently released Local School Wellness Policy final rule, of which school meal standards are one provision.