Digital Commons Network^™

Why Rural Matters 2023: Centering Equity And Opportunity: A Discussion With The Research Team, Sara L. Hartman, Jerry Johnson, Daniel Showalter, Karen Eppley, Bob Klein

The Rural Educator

Authors of the Why Rural Matters 2023 report discuss its development and key findings.

Self-Regulatory Metacognitive Skill Use In Elementary Students During Computer And Paper Reading Assignments: A Qualitative Study, Katerina Sergi, Anastasia Elder, Tianlan Wei, Kristin Javorsky, Jianzhong Xu

Publications

Self-regulated learning (SRL) and metacognitive processes are important in education because they contribute to effective learning and improved academic performance. Metacognitive SRL may be facilitated by the implementation of computer technology. This qualitative study examined the presence and use of metacognitive SLR processes among elementary school students as they completed computer- and paper-based reading assignments. Students in two after-school programs were recruited from a public school district in a southeastern region of the United States (U.S.). The participants consisted of 52 elementary students in Grades 2-5. Students participated in two, counterbalanced, conditions that involved computer- and a paper-based reading assignments. …

Dedication Of The Grant Monument, Riverside Park, April 27, 1897

Pamphlets

Illustrations of President Grant, his first home, and his last home are included. An invitation to the dedication is at the end of the pamphlet.

Hospitalizations For Hepatitis C In Mississippi, 2014-2018 – A Hidden Epidemic, Manuela Staneva Md, Mph, Thomas Dobbs Md, Mph, Paul Byers Md, Meg Pearson Pharmd, Ms, Jonathan Hubanks Pharmd

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Goal: Utilizing Mississippi’s hospital discharge data (HDD), we examined trends, demographics, comorbidities, in-hospital deaths, and hospital charges for hospitalizations with diagnoses for hepatitis C virus (HCV).Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of hospitalizations with primary or secondary HCV diagnoses. We performed descriptive and inferential statistical analyses using SAS 9.4. We compared categorical variables with chi-square tests and continuous variables with t-tests.Results: Between 2014 and 2018, patients hospitalized with an HCV diagnosis were more likely to have coexisting intravenous drug use (IDU) diagnoses compared to all other hospitalized patients (20.3% versus 3.3%, p < 0.001). From 2014 to 2018, hepatitis C infections associated with IDU spiked by 53.8%, fueling the overall increase in the number of hepatitis C hospitalizations in Mississippi. Almost one-third (31.8%) of all hepatitis C stays had a severe liver condition and 48.2% had nicotine dependence. The average charges for stays with coexisting HCV and decompensated cirrhosis were $65,975.Conclusions: In Mississippi, there has been a rapid increase in HCV hospitalizations associated with IDU. In addition, HCV hospitalizations were associated with severe morbidity burden and high economic expense. These findings underscore the need for measures aimed at containing the spread of this dangerous but preventable infection.

Prevalence Of Probable Hoarding And Associated Consequences At The Scene Of Mississippi Fires, 2009-2019, Mary E. Dozier Phd, Ben Porter Phd

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Increased risk for fire is an often-discussed consequence of hoarding disorder; however, the source of this association has been largely through clinicians’ accounts or hoarding patients’ self-reports.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between probable hoarding and incidence of fires using archival data from Mississippi.Methods: Incidents of residential fires from 2009-2019 were provided by the Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s Office. Fires that were classified as having “a significant amount of fire load present” were classified as probable hoarding fires for analysis.Results: Of the 5,194 unique residential fires identified across the study period, 96 fires (1.9% …

Assessment Of Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Determinants Of Infant Mortality In Head Start Teachers, Teacher Aides, Caregivers, And Family Support Workers, Susan Mayfield-Johnson Phd, Mches, Danielle Fastring Phd, Stephanie T. Mcleod Mph

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

IMR (11.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births) almost twice the rate observed in (6.2 infant deaths per 1,000 live births). Objectives. The purpose of this project was to assess Head Start teachers’, teacher aides’, caregivers’, and family support workers’ perceptions, knowledge, attitudes, values and beliefs on topics (nutrition, exercise, breastfeeding, safe sleep, smoking, stress, postpartum depression, and mental health) related to infant mortality prevention in a Mississippi Gulf Coast Head Start consortium. Methods. A 47-item questionnaire was developed that focused on areas associated with primary prevention of infant mortality. Results. Participants (n=82) ages were 25 to 44 years of …

Factors Associated With History Of Unintended Pregnancy Among Mothers In Mississippi, Stephanie T. Mcleod Mph, Morgan Bradwell, Lei Zhang, Olivia Hogan Ismail, Eden Blackwell, Tanya Funchess, Jerome R. Kolbo

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Mississippi has the highest rate of unintended pregnancy in the nation. Accessibility, availability, and affordability of women’s health services and effective contraceptive methods are key in preventing unintended pregnancies. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with history of unintended pregnancy among parous women of childbearing age in Mississippi in order to improve understanding of these relationships and to fill a gap in literature about the state. Methods: Through a multi-stage, probability sample, mothers of students in childcare facilities were selected to participate in a survey about health care and contraceptive use. Chi-square tests of …

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 …

Ocular Biomarkers Of Disease: Employing Routine Eye Exams To Promote Better Health Surveillance, Dawn S. Mclendon, Kenneth R. Butler Phd, Michael A. Welsch Phd, Facsm

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

America’s burden of vision impairment, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), and cardiovascular disease will continue to rise over the next 40 years. The burden of these diseases will be greater for women, Hispanics, African-Americans, and those from lower socio-economic regions. A key challenge is to develop strategies to deny the organization of the pathologies that eventually lead to the manifestation of the disease. An important feature within this battle is the development of appropriate tools and biomarkers for early reconnaissance of the enemy. Recent advances in Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) present a unique opportunity to examine physiological features …

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, …

Policies On Hand-Held Mobile Device Use While Driving: Considerations For Mississippi, Amy Radican-Wald

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Mississippi enacted a texting/accessing social networking sites ban for all drivers in 2015; this ban is due for reauthorization in 2018. Purpose: Examine state policies prohibiting mobile device use while driving and changes in behaviors, attitudes, and opinions over time for Mississippi adults regarding distracted driving. Methods: Review literature and enacted policies. Analyze traffic, death, and survey data statewide from 2010 to 2017. Results: Mississippi’s crash death rate rose significantly (22.7 to 25.6 per 100,000; p < .01) from 2010 to 2015. Mississippi adults surveyed said they had talked on a mobile device (75.4%), texted (45.5%), or emailed (10.1%) while driving in 2017. Each reported risky driving behavior increased significantly (p < 0.05) from 2010. Most Mississippians support bans on texting (95%) and hand-held device use (89%) while driving. Support for these types of bans significantly (p < 0.05) increased from 2010 to 2017. Enacted policies vary among states and include mobile device use bans for novice drivers (n = 38) and texting (n = 47) and hand-held (n = 14) bans for all drivers. While safety campaigns coupled with aggressive enforcement are found effective, officials cite enforcement difficulties. Only three texting citations were issued to Mississippi drivers during 2016. Conclusions: Enforcement of policies addressing drivers’ mobile device use is a key factor to consider in reducing crash-related deaths.

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 …

Speech-Language Pathologists And Respiratory Therapists: Team Approach To Caring For Patients With Long-Term Tracheotomy, Javis M. Knott

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Recent technological advances, together with growing social acceptance of patients with disabilities, has led to a realization of the importance of long-term management of technologically dependent and chronically ill patients with tracheostomies. This includes tracheostomy patients who are ventilator dependent, neurological patients, patients with severe illness such as stroke, and so forth. These patients are able to have a higher quality of life and communicate verbally due to advances in health care. One of the major advancements is communicating via a tracheostomy. Hence, this study will provide ways in which respiratory therapists (RTs) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can work …

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 …

Academic Performance Of Texas 4-H Alumni, Alexandra Skrocki, Darlene Locke, Gary Ellis, Montza Williams

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Academic achievement is one of the central outcomes targeted by all major models of youth development. Youth who succeed academically are well-positioned to thrive through meaningful careers, positions of community leadership, and fulfilling personal and family lives (Arnold, 2018). As such, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has established a set of ambitious goals for the postsecondary education of Texas youth. Almost in tandem with the establishment of these goals, outcomes of academic achievement in relation to membership in Texas 4-H have become a keen interest for stakeholders. Through our study, we compared postsecondary academic achievement of Texas 4-H …

Opportunities For Competency Support Of Virginia Cooperative Extension Professionals At The Colleague Stage, Karen A. Vines, Ruth E. Wallace, Cynthia Gregg, Neil Clark, Jane Henderson, Lonnie Johnson, Dickson Otieno, Sarah Baughman

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This study focused on the professional development needs of Cooperative Extension agents and specialists with between four and seven years of experience, placing them roughly within the colleague career stage. Data were collected through focus groups and validated through member checking and the use of a modified World Café approach. A research team collaborated, increasing the reliability of the findings through intentional reflection in the development of the findings. Areas of competency strength and weakness vary for agents and specialists, and specific topic areas within competencies vary. While many of the emergent competencies identified in this study fit within the …

Full Issue, Volume 11, Number 2, Donna J. Peterson, Scott Cummings

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

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 …

Workshops @ Your Library - Fall 2023, Mississippi State University Libraries

Workshops

Catalog of workshops being offered by the Mississippi State University Libraries during the Fall 2023 semester.

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 …

Visual And Spatial Audio Mismatching In Virtual Environments, Zachary Lawrence Garris

Theses and Dissertations

This paper explores how vision affects spatial audio perception in virtual reality. We created four virtual environments with different reverb and room sizes, and recorded binaural clicks in each one. We conducted two experiments: one where participants judged the audio-visual match, and another where they pointed to the click direction. We found that vision influences spatial audio perception and that congruent audio-visual cues improve accuracy. We suggest some implications for virtual reality design and evaluation.

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Agricultural Extension Advice On Household Food Consumption And Food Security Outcomes In Malawi, Mphatso Chinsinga

Theses and Dissertations

My study examined the influence of agricultural extension advice on household food consumption and food security outcomes in Malawi. I utilized a pooled cross-sectional dataset from the Malawi Integrated Household Survey (IHS) and Integrated Household Panel Survey (IHPS) conducted in 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019. To identify the effects, multivariate linear and logistic regression models were employed, considering various factors and incorporating fixed effects for survey wave, district, and data collection month. My findings revealed heterogeneity in the impacts of agricultural extension advice on food consumption and food security outcomes. Specifically, the results showed a positive correlation between agricultural extension …

Identification And Characterization Of Silk Gland Specific Ugt34 Gene In Helicoverpa Zea, Courtney Nicole Wynn

Theses and Dissertations

Uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferase (UGT) is a multigene family of enzymes responsible for catalyzing glycosylation of small hydrophobic molecules. Recently, a genomic analysis of the corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) identified 45 different UGT genes. We discovered a UGT gene (UGT34) showing high levels of expression exclusively in the silk gland tissue. The expression levels of UGT34 were analyzed in different developmental stages and silk gland sub-segments, revealing that UGT34 is generally expressed at all larval instar stages and largely expressed in the middle and posterior subsegments of the silk glands. The soybean looper (Chrysodeixis includens), another noctuid …

Evaluation Of The Virulence Potential Of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia Coli Isolated From Broiler Breeders With Colibacillosis In Mississippi, Jiddu Joseph

Theses and Dissertations

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is a bacterium that is responsible for colibacillosis in birds. However, information about broiler breeder APEC isolates is limited, but the data is critical due to the transfer of this bacteria down the production pyramid to progenies resulting in high mortality. Therefore, we evaluated the phenotypic virulence characteristics of 28 isolates using embryo lethality and day-old chick challenge assays. Also, the in vitro adhesion and invasion potential of selected nine isolates were identified. Results showed more than 1/3^rd of the isolates were highly virulent and the virulence increased as the number of virulence-associated genes …