Digital Commons Network^™

“There's An Unspoken Set Of Rules”: Rural Education In The Northern Plains, Louise M. Yoho, Jarrett D. Moore

The Rural Educator

Teacher preparation programs that operate in rural areas need to consider the lived experiences of rural students when making instructional decisions. However, exploration of rural schools and educators is seriously limited. This study aims to gain an understanding of students enrolled in teacher preparation programs in rural areas of the Northern Plains and the unique experiences they bring to, and need from, preservice teacher training programs. Seventeen interviews were conducted with rural participants who were enrolled in teacher preparation programs. Based on the data collected, we do not recommend changing the traditional canon of teacher preparation but do recommend contextualizing …

Rural Teachers’ Burnout, Well-Being, And Covid-19 Related Stress During The Pandemic, Jennifer D. Deaton, L. Dianne Borders, Carrie Wachter Morris, Jasmine L. Garland Mckinney, Saron Fantahun, Alexandria N. Smith

The Rural Educator

To date, researchers have not explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of rural teachers specifically. Rural schools already faced long-standing issues of lower salaries, professional isolation, teacher shortages, and technology challenges, suggesting rural teachers may have experienced even higher levels of distress due to the pandemic. Overall, however, teachers from one rural county school system in the southeastern United States reported moderate COVID-19 concerns, low distress, and moderate well-being. Results could reflect responses characteristic of rural resilience. Further study is needed to explore teachers’ unique coping strategies.

Examining The Relationship Of Teacher And Peer Belonging To Rural Attachment And Community Aspirations Among Diverse Rural Youth, Greysi Irdam, Angela Starrett, Matthew J. Irvin, Christine Lotter, Jan A. Yow

The Rural Educator

This study examines how race/ethnicity moderates the relationship of teacher and peer belonging in mathematics and science classrooms with rural attachment and aspirations (i.e., community and proximity aspirations) among rural secondary students. Data were collected from a larger rural teacher leadership study and include 6,616 rural student participants who were surveyed from 2015 to 2019. Our findings reveal that peer and teacher belonging is related to adolescents’ rural attachment and both community and proximity aspirations differently across race/ethnicity. Also, while rural youth of color compared to White students tend to have lower levels of rural attachment and aspirations, results illustrate …

A Guide To Proactively Navigate Policy Conflict For Rural Educational Leaders, Daniella Sutherland

The Rural Educator

No abstract provided.

Adaptability In Community-Based Participatory Research: Comparisons Of Coalitions In The Deep South, Candace Forbes Bright Phd

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Health inequities in the Gulf states are complex issues to resolve, and no single solution or strategy can improve the health rankings in each state. Yet, using grassroots approaches and building community partnerships are promising strategies to identify important health issues and opportunities for policy change. Purpose: This paper illustrates how the Gulf States Health Policy Center coalitions in four different locations used the same community-based participatory research model, but with distinct differences in processes, across nine projects to address issues that negatively affected population health. Methods: Recognizing that communities have unique needs, resources, and complementary health efforts, we …

Rural Medical Scholars Program: Filling The Gap For Health-Care And Public Health Leaders In Mississippi, Ann Sansing, David R. Buys, Marion W. Evans Phd, Mches, Laura Downey, Jasmine Harris-Speight

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

The Rural Medical & Science Scholars program aims to help rising high school seniors determine if they want to pursue health-related careers. The program shapes students’ interest in and understanding of medicine, health-related disciplines, and other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The program combines didactic, observational, and practical learning during a summer semester. Participants earn seven college credits to jumpstart a health or STEM career. We report on descriptive statistics since the program’s inception in 1998. The program has matriculated 401 students, of whom approximately 71% have chosen health-related careers in nursing, physical or occupational therapy, dentistry, pharmacy, …

Training The Next Generation Of Primary-Care Physicians: Are Student-Run Free Clinics (Srfcs) The Way To Go?, Tobe Momah

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: The consensus over the last 20 years is that increased availability of primary care reduces the overall cost of healthcare and improves mortality and morbidity rates by as much as 1.44 fewer deaths per 10,000 people (American College of Physicians, 2008; Shi, Starfield, Kennedy, & Kawachi, 1999). However, not enough physicians are going into primary care to meet the need for improved and increased access. By 2020, the expanded Title VII program goal is to produce a physician workforce that is at least 40 percent primary care (Jackson et al., 2014). Estimates show that 74% of U.S. medical school …

Maternal, Child, And Parenting Factors Associated With Obesity Among Pre-Kindergarten Children In Mississippi, Jerome R. Kolbo

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Obesity among children and youth has been consistently assessed among public school students in Mississippi since 2005. Significant declines in the prevalence of obesity among elementary students over the past decade suggest that changes may be occurring prior to entry into public school. Purpose: The purpose was to collect anthropometric data on a weighted, representative sample of children ages 3 to 5 years in licensed childcare facilities across Mississippi, and to correlate maternal, child, and parenting characteristics to obesity. Methods: The Body Mass Index was calculated using measured height and weight data. Results: A total of 14.12% of the …

Remaining In The Workforce After Motherhood: Does The Family Medical Leave Act Play A Role In The Decisions Of Mississippi Mothers?, Danielle Fastring

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Increased maternity leave has been shown to have a positive impact on maternal and child health, and to increase the length of time mothers breastfeed their infants. After childbirth, working women must decide if and when they will return to the workforce. Purpose: To determine the impact of current U.S. family leave policies on Mississippi mothers’ decisions to return to work after the birth of their first child. Methods: A survey was developed to collect information about factors influencing mothers’ decisions to return to work after the birth of their first child. The survey collected study eligibility information, demographics, …

Using Medicaid Data To Identify Factors That Predict Reinstitutionalization Of Mississippians With Disabilities And Elderly People, Hwanseok Choi

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Mississippi Bridge to Independence (B2I) was Mississippi’s Money Follows the Person (MFP) program seeking to rebalance the state’s long-term care system by transitioning Medicaid beneficiaries from institutional living to home- and community-based settings (HCBS). Success of initial transitions has been documented in state cost-savings and participants’ quality of life increases. However, reinstitutionalization poses a challenge to sustaining a positive outcome for the initiative. Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of this research is to identify the underlying causes of participants’ reinstitutionalization. Methods: The Quality of Life (QoL) survey designed by Mathematica Policy Research was used to measure variables in 7 categories. …

The Relationship Between Obesity And Depression Among Federally Qualified Health Center Patients, Hwanseok Choi

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Obesity has reached epidemic levels in Mississippi. In the shadow of these skyrocketing obesity levels, there are comorbid high levels of depression. Both obesity and depression complicate and, in many cases, compromise critical health outcomes. A significant association between obesity and depression has been suspected for decades. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between obesity and depression among patients receiving medical care from a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in a southern state. Methods: The sample was comprised of 3,272 subjects. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to measure the severity of depression, …

Convenience Over Nutrition For Recreation League Youth Sport Team Snack And Mealtime Choices, Morgan Ashley, Tony Weaver, Andrew Ramsey, Lauren Haldeman

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Fifty-six percent of school-aged children participate in team sports, yet there is limited evidence on how participation in youth sports impacts the dietary behaviors of participants and their families. Our team surveyed parents and caregivers of children participating in recreation league youth sports (n = 178) to assess the foods and beverages offered as team snacks and factors that influence team snack choices. Juice was the most popular beverage, and crackers were the most popular snack reported by parents. Convenience, followed by cost and child preference, were the most frequently reported factors influencing team snack choices. Survey items also included …

Community Science Online: Building Capacity For Native Bee Monitoring, Lauren Vilen, Lisa Mason, Sarah Viders, Jill Zarestky

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Native bees are crucial for sustainable productivity in natural, agricultural, and urban ecosystems, but they are losing natural habitat spaces. Extension can facilitate community science programs to collect ecological data on native bee populations and support pollinator conservation. Native Bee Watch, an in-person community science program, transitioned to a hybrid format where volunteers received online training and support for conducting field-based data collection. This article presents the volunteers’ perceptions of the program training, support, and bee monitoring based on surveys and data analytics collected from technology tools. Study results indicate redesign successes and challenges and provide insight on how to …

Mental Health First Aid Training In Rural Maryland During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Program Implementation Through Virtual Delivery, Jee Hun Yoo, Alexander E. Chan, Stephanie Hutter-Thomas, Mariama Lukulay, Anna Kim, Alyssa K. Lucero, Ghaffar Hurtado Choque, Jinhee Kim

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The growing mental health concerns during COVID-19, particularly among rural residents, is a public health emergency. Rural residents are at an elevated risk, as rurality has been associated with various disparities, including lower accessibility to mental health services. Maryland Rural Opioid Technical Assistance (ROTA; Maryland Extension) aimed to address this issue by delivering evidence-based programs on opioid misuse and mental health to rural community members and practitioners throughout Maryland when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S. and all research activities had to transition to the virtual setting. The current study provides an overview of the implementation process of the Mental …

Mississippi State University Libraries Strategic Planning Initiative, Executive Summary, Stephen H. Cunetto, Julie D. Shedd, Pattye R. Archer, Blair Booker, Amanda Carlock, Danny D. Davis, Kate Gregory, Lauren Geiger, Emily D. Harrison, Corinne Kennedy, Simon C. Marcy, Lara Taylor

Library Assessment and Statistics

This report is divided into two sections: Strategic Planning Survey Executive Summary and the Qualitative Data from Focus Groups, SWOT Analyses, and Survey.

The Strategic Planning Survey was developed as a part of the MSU Libraries’ Strategic Planning process which began in the Summer of 2022. The questions for the survey were derived from a variety of existing library surveys and based on common questions from faculty, staff and students. The survey was developed during the fall 2022, released to faculty, staff, and students in January 2023 and remained open until March 2023. The survey's purpose was to gather information …

Script-Based Design Toolkit For Digitally Fabricated Concrete Applied To Terrain-Responsive Retaining Wall Design, Nada Abdel-Aziz

Theses and Dissertations

The potential of digitally fabricated concrete (DFC) to produce terrain responsive designs has not been thoroughly investigated. Existing research indicates diverse benefits of DFC, such as the rapid fabrication of customized geometries. This research clarifies the advantages and design processes involved in creating site-specific DFC structures. Existing literature is analyzed to provide an overview of fabrication methods and their impacts and constraints on design. Parametric scripting is used to develop an interactive toolkit that integrates aesthetic, structural, and fabrication considerations into the design process. This toolkit specifically focuses on unreinforced retaining walls with interchangeable modules for terrain analysis, wall form …

Maximum Size-Density Relationships In Mixed-Species And Monospecific Stands Of The Southeastern United States, Maxwell Robert Schrimpf

Theses and Dissertations

Maximum size-density relationships (MSDR) are used to quantify differences across sites in the number of trees of a given size and species that can be supported per hectare. These relationships are important to managers who are trying to maximize basal area and wood volume. In my study, I examined MSDR across Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi using US Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data. I determined the impact of species-specific, specific gravity, functional traits, and environmental factors on MSDR using a quantile regression approach. Overall, I found that climatic factors had the greatest influence on MSDR, and that …

Vertical Federated Learning Using Autoencoders With Applications In Electrocardiograms, Wesley William Chorney

Theses and Dissertations

Federated learning is a framework in machine learning that allows for training a model while maintaining data privacy. Moreover, it allows clients with their own data to collaborate in order to build a stronger, shared model. Federated learning is of particular interest to healthcare data, since it is of the utmost importance to respect patient privacy while still building useful diagnostic tools. However, healthcare data can be complicated — data format might differ across providers, leading to unexpected inputs and incompatibility between different providers. For example, electrocardiograms might differ in sampling rate or number of leads used, meaning that a …

Signings Of Graphs And Sign-Symmetric Signed Graphs, Ahmad Asiri

Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, we investigate various aspects of signed graphs, with a particular focus on signings and sign-symmetric signed graphs. We begin by examining the complete graph on six vertices with one edge deleted ($K_6$\textbackslash e) and explore the different ways of signing this graph up to switching isomorphism. We determine the frustration index (number) of these signings and investigate the existence of sign-symmetric signed graphs. We then extend our study to the $K_6$\textbackslash 2e graph and the McGee graph with exactly two negative edges. We investigate the distinct ways of signing these graphs up to switching isomorphism and demonstrate …

Disabilities In Higher Education: The Impact Of The Disability Resource Center At Mississippi State University, Brecken Rush

Theses and Dissertations

Given the significance of completing college, the low college graduation rate for students with disabilities, and the effect of support services on students in the general population's ability to complete college, it is essential to understand the link between accessing support and attaining positive postsecondary education outcomes for the wide-ranging population of college students with disabilities. Students with disabilities attend postsecondary education more significantly than ever before, and the literature shows they do not perform as well academically as their peers. Higher education institutes expect students with disabilities to perform academically at the same levels as their non-disabled peers. Therefore, …

Examining Shifting Factors Predictive Of Health Center Utilization On College Campuses Using The Abm Theoretical Model, Kimberly Loren Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations

There is extensive research over the decades around health care services utilization trends, however, limited data and research exists around student utilization of campus health centers. Furthermore, there is very minimal data on student utilization trends of campus health services since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since a crucial component to fostering healthy and safe college campuses is through campus health services, it clearly indicates a need for further research on the trends and perceptions of students’ campus health services utilization. This study examines utilization rates of students through exploring key demographic characteristics of students, including their perceptions toward …

Elucidating Self-Assembly Of Semiconducting Polymers In The Presence Of A Low Molecular Weight Gelator, Madhubhashini Lakdusinghe

Theses and Dissertations

Semiconducting polymers with a conjugated backbone are important for energy storage, conversion, and biomedical field applications. The self-assembly process of these polymers in solutions depends on the polymer concentration and quality of the solvent. The electrical properties of thin films obtained from the solution phase depend on the self-assembled process. Thin films of conjugated polymer gels with percolating networks of self-assembled structures display improved electrical conductivities. In this dissertation, we studied the impact of the secondary gel matrix formed by a low molecular weight gelator, on the self-assembly of conjugated polymers, the preservation of assembled structures in dried gel films …

Evaluation Of Heat Abatement Use, Vaginal Temperature, And Activity Of Pregnant, Lactating Holstein Cows Housed On Pasture With Or Without The Choice Between Shade And Sprinklers For Heat Abatement., Kevin M. Braman

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis was to determine how pregnant, lactating Holstein cows on pasture interact with shade and sprinklers when offered a choice or no-choice between methods. Authors hypothesized that cows would use shade more then sprinklers, but sprinklers would be more effective at cooling cows. Additionally, authors predicted cows using shade more would have decreased lying bouts and steps and an increase in time lying, compared to cows choosing sprinkler. Results indicate cows will use both methods when offered alone or together. However, cows will choose to be exposed or in shade at lower temperature humidity index values, …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Redox-Noninnocent Pyrazine(Diimine) Iron Complexes And An Inverted Pyridine(Diimine) Ligand, Jaylan Billups

Theses and Dissertations

Cooperativity between the metal center and the ligand has been shown in nature to be an important feature of systems that catalyze two-electron processes that first-row transition metals usually cannot catalyze on their own. In these cases, the ligand acts as a site of reactivity that in many instances can store electrons or react directly with substrates in solution. The design and study of systems where there is synergy between the metal and the ligand have been leveraged to catalyze polymerization and hydrogenation-type reactions as well as the activation of small molecules such as dihydrogen. Specifically, the pyridine(diimine) ligand scaffold …

Identifying Student Challenges In Organic Chemistry: Supporting Student Understanding Through Eye-Tracking, Think-Aloud Interviews And Alternative Questions, Lisa Ann Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Think-aloud interviews are a strategy used to identify misconceptions held by students. We incorporated think-aloud interviews and studied representational competence of novice and expert participants with identifying alkyl halides with multiple representations. We hypothesized that the participants would approach representations differently and think-aloud interviews would reveal misconceptions. Eye-tracking results showed that novice and expert participants differ in their approaches to representations and that novice participants spend more time on representations. Think-aloud interviews revealed that novice participants contain misconceptions on alkyl halide identification. This research provided insights on student understanding in identifying alkyl halides and representations, allowing instructors to use student …

Molecular Mechanisms Of Novel Brain-Penetrating Oxime Acetylcholinesterase Reactivators On Sarin Surrogate-Induced Toxicities, Darby Caroline Stanford

Theses and Dissertations

Organophosphorus compounds (OPs), both nerve agents and insecticides, may induce damage leading to long-term neurological deficits. Oxime 20, the lead compound from a platform of substituted phenoxyalkyl pyridinium oximes (US Patent 9,227,937), is an oxime that reactivates OP-inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and has displayed neuroprotection within the brain of rats in in vivo tests where the currently approved treatment, pralidoxime (2-PAM), has not. This research investigated the neuroprotective effect of novel oxime therapy. Gene expression in rat piriform cortex was analyzed to determine if neurotoxicity, stress, and synaptic plasticity-associated genes were down-regulated by Oxime 20 following a sublethal dose of sarin …

Comparing Current Consistency And Electrical Resistance Of Wearable Photovoltaic Cells Pre- And Post-Laundering And Pre- And Post-Corrosion Resistance Testing Conditions., Amit Talukder

Theses and Dissertations

Photovoltaic(PV) technology is promising due to its natural availability among energy harvesting technologies. There is a growing need for sustainable power sources that can function without being connected to a power source or needing regular battery replacements. Wearable PV cells are gaining popularity in different applications. However, most companies produce wearable PVs for terrestrial applications. Research on wearable PV applications for the marine environment remains limited because these cells suffer from several issues. This research compares commercially sourced wearable PV cells' maximum current consistency and electrical resistance for two testing conditions. The researcher followed standardized methods for these two laundering …

Dune To Shore: The Relationship Between Vegetative Dune Systems And Shoreline Stability In Barrier Islands, Walter Hastings Hogue

Theses and Dissertations

Dauphin, Petit Bois, and Horn Island form the Alabama gulf-barrier chain directly south of Mobile Bay. Many studies have targeted local climate stressors and the flux of longshore currents as factors for erosional and accretional changes on these islands, but little attention is paid to the degradation of their vegetative dune-systems as a contributor to their shoreline morphology (Hanley et al., 2014; Smith, 2018; Byrnes, 2010). This study fills this literary gap, utilizing GIS raster classification and Digital Shoreline Analysis System to measure vegetative health and shoreline change on these islands and verify a relationship between these two factors. The …

The Effects Of Mechanical Strain On Vascular Calcification And The Canonical Wnt Pathway, Hannah E. Douglas

Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease is a significant health crisis, representing 32% of deaths worldwide in 2019. Vascular calcification (VC), a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, is a regulated biomineralization process whose exact mechanisms are unknown. Additionally, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) significantly contribute to VC by undergoing a phenotypic switch and differentiating into osteoblast-like cells. When factors like hypertension cause disturbed laminar flow in the body’s vasculature, the mechanical stress promotes the phenotypic switch and calcification of VSMCs via mechanotransduction. VC is also induced by the Wnt pathway, which is activated via mineral imbalance and mechanical stimulation. However, the exact mechanisms behind …

Nanoscale Modeling Of Membrane Systems Under Mechanical Deformation In Traumatic Brain Injury Using Molecular Dynamics, Anh Thi Ngoc Vo

Theses and Dissertations

Neuronal membrane disruption and mechanoporation are nanoscale damage mechanisms that critically affect brain cell viability during traumatic brain injury (TBI). These nanoscale cellular impairments are elusive in experiments and necessitate in silico approaches such as molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Implementing MD, this research aims to investigate the effects of different key factors related to membrane deformation and damage, including force field resolutions, lipid compositions, and loading conditions.

To examine the impact of force field resolution, MD deformation simulations were conducted on 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) lipid bilayer membranes, using all-atom (AA), united-atom (UA), and coarse-grained Martini (CG-M) force fields. The mechanical responses …