Virginia Wesleyan University

Time spent in nature benefits human mental and physical well-being. However, much of the variance in outcomes of nature contact remains unexplained, suggesting that new mechanistic pathways need to be considered. Here, we tested a novel conceptual model linking nature contact with life satisfaction via pathways involving positive experiences of living in and experiencing the world through the physical self. Using data from the Body Image in Nature Survey (BINS; N = 50,363), representing respondents from 58 nations and speaking 36 different languages, we find that nature contact is associated with greater self-compassion and greater perceived restoration in nature, which in turn are associated with more positive body image. In addition, more positive body image is associated with greater life satisfaction. These associations were robust to sensitivity tests, generalised to all gender identities and age groups, and held individually in almost all national groups and languages. Although replications are needed, we propose that the materialities of natural environments help to link bodily experiences to the production and experience of well-being, a process that is largely stable across national groups.

Human-animal studies ( HAS ) courses are becoming increasingly common in the college curriculum to help mitigate and address environmental and social problems. However, data on who takes these courses are lacking. This study examines differences between students who enroll in sociological HAS courses and those who do not. Survey data from three very distinct universities show that the main commonalities among students in HAS courses is bonding toward nonhuman animals and lower identification as meat-eaters. Differences across institutions further suggest that where instructors teach is perhaps as important as what and how they teach. These findings have implications for course design, pedagogical methods, recruiting, and engaging students who would otherwise not take HAS courses, and addressing potential barriers to transformational learning. The study provides missing baseline data so HAS scholars can assess change over time.

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) increase student engagement, persistence in STEM, and development of scientific practices. Although recent publications address implementation logistics, few studies specify curriculum development methods that result in inclusion of scientific practices and authentic research while maintaining necessary scaffolding. This article describes a professional development experience using backward design to support such curriculum development. Four analytical co-principal investigators engaged in backward design modules leading to the development of the & micro;CURE project. Evaluation of the & micro;CURE included student perceptions and analysis of teaching materials using modified inquiry and Three-Dimensional Learning Assessment Protocol (3D-LAP) rubrics. Results showed high student perceptions of learner-centeredness, nearly authentic levels of inquiry, and increase in the presence of scientific practice prompting. The backward design method was found to strengthen high-quality CURE development.

This paper presents the research upon the family phonebook online database project. The system provides a user-friendly web interface, allowing users to securely access, view, and update the database with minimal technical expertise. Overall, online database system provides a user-friendly environment that provides families the opportunity to share their data with other family members in a way that is safe and easy.

Halogen bonding is a highly directional, noncovalent, intermolecular interaction which has been harnessed for a variety of applications, including sensor design. A halogen bond (XB) is formed between a region of positive electrostatic potential on a halogen atom (X) and electron rich portions of target molecules. The strength of XB interactions relies on shorter XB bond distances and more linear R-X···B bond angles, which facilitate stronger, more negative binding energies. While prior studies have sought to maximize interactions, few have explored or experimentally demonstrated how geometries and bond angles can enhance XB interactions. Herein, fundamental studies are conducted at self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and gold nanoparticle (Au-NP) interfaces that are functionalized to engage in XB interactions. Alkanethiolate-stabilized Au-NPs, known as monolayer-protected gold clusters (MPCs), were enhanced with XB-donor capability by incorporating specialized XB donor thiol ligands including halogen terminated perfluorinated straight chain and rigid perfluoro-aromatic amide ligandsboth of which were used within nanomaterial composite films of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as a sensing interface in both solution and the gas phase. DFT and vapor studies targeting cyclohexanone (CH), a known byproduct of hard-to-detect, nonvolatile explosives (e.g., RDX), produced a sensing interface that achieved detection limits of CH (<10 ppm) that markedly outperform similar systems. The materials and methods presented in this study further demonstrate the potential of XB systems as a rapid and sensitive step toward developing field sensors for explosives.