Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of National Board Certified Teachers On Mathematics Achievement For Students In A Title I School, Watress Lashun Harris

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine if there is a difference in mathematics mean scale score growth on the MCT2 mathematics assessment between students taught by national board certified teachers (NBCTs) and those taught by non-NBCTs in a low socioeconomic, high minority, Title I school. For this study, a causal-comparative research design and a statistical analysis procedure of ANCOVA were used to answer two research questions: First, is there a statistically significant difference in mathematics mean scale score growth on the MCT2 mathematics assessment between fourth grade African American and Caucasian students taught by NBCTs and those taught …

The Effects Of Low Atmospheric Pressure And Electrical Stunning On The Instrumental And Sensory Quality Of Broiler Breast Meat Deboned At 45 Minutes And 4 Hours Postmortem, Vijayakumar Radhakrishnan

Theses and Dissertations

Low Atmospheric Pressure Stunning (LAPS) has recently become available to the broiler industry. Therefore, research was conducted to determine the effect of stunning method (LAPS and Electrical Stunning(ES)) and postmortem deboning time (0.75 hr and 4 hr) on the instrumental and sensory acceptability (3 replications) of breast meat (n=576, 144 birds per treatment) prepared using different cooking methods (fried, baked, sous vide). Breast meat was evaluated for pH, CIE L*a*b*, yields, shear force, and consumer acceptability. Postmortem pH decline was more rapid (P<0.05) in the breast meat of LAPS stunned birds when compared to ES stunned birds, but no differences existed (P>0.05) among treatments with respect to final pH. On average, no differences (P > 0.05) existed in the …

Mississippi Private Forest Owner Characteristics And Future Plans: Implications For Extension Forestry, Emily Fleming Vanderford

Theses and Dissertations

Extension professionals are faced with the challenge of effectively communicating relevant information to an evolving audience with diverse interests. This study utilized mixed methodologies to highlight specific educational programming needs of nonindustrial private forest landowners (NIPFs) in Mississippi. Ten landowner focus groups were conducted during January 2012, followed one year later by the mailing of 3,000 survey questionnaires to Mississippi NIPFs owning 20 or more acres of uncultivated land. Findings indicated NIPFs are more likely to adopt new ideas if educational programming is tailored to their specific needs, indicating the need to group the audience by their interests. In particular, …

Monitoring Gulf Coast Fish Quality, Karl Edward Bell

Theses and Dissertations

Globalization and the rise of fish importation has led to an increase in mislabeling. To combat this problem, analytical and molecular methods have been employed. First, nitrofuran metabolites were extracted, hydrolyzed, and derivatized in channel catfish, swai, and tilapia. Utilizing high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry, derivatized metabolites were detected at levels of 1 ng/mL with coefficients of determination greater than 0.998. Recoveries greater than 90% and relative standard deviation less than 17% indicate that the method is successful. Secondly, chip based electrophoresis coupled with restriction fragment length polymorphism was used for the species differentiation. By …

Molecular Basis Of Salmonella Enterica Serovar Kentucky Attachment To Broiler Skin, Sanaz Salehi

Theses and Dissertations

The presence of Salmonella enterica throughout the production and processing continuum is a concern in broiler industry. While federal regulations have lowered the acceptable level of Salmonella contamination on broiler carcasses, the mechanisms that contribute to pathogen attachment are not fully understood. Salmonella Kentucky has become the predominant Salmonella serovar isolated from broilers carcasses at the end of the immersion chill tank. In Europe and Africa this serovar has been shown to acquire antibiotic resistance genes that may lead this non-typhoidal serotype to become a potential public health concern. To investigate the genes that are involved in colonization of the …

The Importance Of Choice: Natural Birth And Midwifery In Northeast Mississippi, Colleen Elmer

Theses and Dissertations

For many American women, insurance restrictions and lack of access restrict women’s options when choosing birth experiences. This research uses a biocultural approach and cognitive anthropological methods to explore the ways and the degree to which alternative birthing practices, such as home-, clinic-, and hospital-based natural births, and midwifery services, physically and emotionally affect the women and infants who experience them. This research explores the reasons women pursue natural or alternative births. These topics are explored through interviews with women who have had natural births, who have used midwifery services, and who have had highly medicalized, OBGYN-attended births. Findings indicate …

The Role Of Habit In Information Security Behaviors, Kalana Malimage

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this present study is to understand the role of habit in information security behaviors. The automatic aspect of habit and its impact on secure behavior and the intention-behavior relationship was explored in this dissertation through the lens of protection motivation theory. Three secure behaviors were selected for the investigation after following a rigorous process to identify habitual secure behaviors. The three behaviors that were investigated are: locking the PC when leaving it unattended, verifying the recipient email addresses before sending email and visiting only verified websites. Separate pilot studies were conducted for each of the behaviors followed …

The Unwanted Horse Population: A Survey, Shannon Alina Lindsey

Theses and Dissertations

Unwanted horses are a growing problem in the United States, and through the use of surveys, researchers can understand public opinion and experiences related to this problem. This study administered surveys specific to horse and non-horse owners through face-toace delivery and to rescue/retirement and auction facilities through the mail. Data was analyzed using a CRD, GLM and Fisher’s Protected LSD with á of 0.05. Comparisons were completed between horse and non-horse owners, horse owners and non-horse owners with equine experience, non-horse owners with and without equine experience, Quarter horse and other breeds owners, and auction and rescue/retirement facilities. Similarities were …

Urban Flow-Through Facilities' Media Compositions For Stormwater Quality And Quantity Improvements, Emily Gwynne Overbey

Theses and Dissertations

Urban stormwater management is evolving toward sustainable approaches which rely on dispersed small-scale bioretention BMPs. One such BMP is the flow-through planter, commonly applied in areas where infiltration into in situ soil is restricted or not possible. A project was developed to evaluate 18, vertically scaled flow-through mesocosms. Three replicates of six treatments, including four soil mixtures containing varied percentages of sand, compost and topsoil, were tested for orthophosphate and nitrate removal, volume reduction capabilities, and peak flow attenuation through the application of a synthetic solution over a simulated 2-inch, Type II storm event. Runoff volume was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced compared to controls. Nutrient levels observed along the hydrograph at different time-steps and flow rates revealed patterns not apparent in cumulative results. The observation of preferential flow patterns along with variability in nutrient removal across treatments highlights the need for design modifications of flow-through facilities.

Urban Fringe And Transportation Corridor Convection-Diffusion Model For Anthropogenically-Initiated Wildfire Ignition Prediction, Ravi Raj Sadasivuni

Theses and Dissertations

A novel approach for modeling anthropogenically-initiated wildfire ignition was developed that significantly advances the theoretical knowledge of human-wildfire interactions. Gravity interaction models that are commonly used for economic analyses associated with business competition were combined with fluid dynamics models that mimic human movement patterns to predict the probability of anthropogenically-initiated wildfire. Herein, a combined gravity interaction and fluid dynamics models is developed and validated for wildfire potential prediction against historic and current wildfire data. The study identified population centers and transportation corridors, in particular: proximity to railroads and roads; traffic volume; and density of the corridors as the most influential …

Formation Of Oxidative-Stress Resistant Phenotypes Of Listeria Monocytogenes Serotypes 1/2a And 4b And Their Stability At 37oc And 4oc, Piumi De Abrew Abeysundara

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to induce an oxidative-stress adaptation in Listeria monocytogenes Bug600 (serotype 1/2a) and F1057 (serotype 4b) by pre-exposing to sublethal H2O2 and alkali-stress either singly or sequentially. Our findings show that the sequential pre-exposure of cells to pH 9 for 30 min treatment followed by 50 ppm H2O2 for 30 min at 37°C yielded the highest oxidative-stress resistant phenotypes of L. monocytogenes Bug600 and F1057. The sublethal H2O2 and sublethal alkali-stress induced oxidative-stress adaptations were completely reversible within 60 min at 37°C in the absence of such sublethal stress. However, the oxidative-stress adaptation induced at …

Developing A Multistage Model For Treponemal Disease Susceptibility, Sarah A (Sarah Ann) Mathena

Theses and Dissertations

Despite numerous studies, little is known about the influential factors impacting treponemal disease susceptibility. Yet, forms of treponemal disease, specifically yaws, are a major source of morbidity in the developing world. Bioarchaeological materials may assist with deficit by testing full ranges of disease expression. This study explores the relationship between treponemal disease ecology, specifically yaws, and susceptibility through six southeastern United States archaeological samples. Results show early life health experiences have a relationship to later life disease expression. However, influences of climate may only be seen at a cross-regional level. Finally, although nutrition, as evidenced by subsistence strategy, may play …

Integration And Mental Health Care, Rick Van Den Pol, Marilyn Zimmerman

Rural Health Workshop

No abstract provided.

Establishing Healthy Lifestyles In Rural Settings, Kathy Humphries

Rural Health Workshop

No abstract provided.

Ec627 Revised No Date New Method Of Feeding Milk Cows, C. W. Nibler

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Extension circular 627nd is a revised version of extension circular 627. the original date is unknown. It provides information on what and how to feed dairy cows during the various stages of their milking cycle.

Future Directions In Rural Health Care: Research Needs And Opportunities For The Arts And Sciences, Joseph Knapp M.D., Timothy Descamps Cpa, Cra, Heidi Boehm Rn, Ccrc

Rural Health Workshop

No abstract provided.

Frontier Medicine Better Health Partnership, Denyse Traeder Mhc, Ache, Principal Investigator, Tawnie Sabin Director Of Lean And Community Coordination

Rural Health Workshop

No abstract provided.

The Mechanisms Of Synaptic Maintenance, Shaoyun Zang

Open Access Dissertations

Synapses are specialized cell-cell contacts where signals are reliably transduced from a neuron to its target cell in a regulated manner. Structurally, synapses are comprised of the pre- and post-synaptic terminals, and the synaptic cleft. Within each of these compartments is a complex network of molecular machinery, the components of which require constant turnover and “maintenance” to ensure a consistent relay of information. In neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s (AD), Parkinson’s (PD), and prion-related diseases, synaptic degeneration is often an early event associated with disease severity, which is evinced by the degree of cognitive decline. A dysfunction of synaptic maintenance …

“We Found Ourselves”—Music And Identity Among The Chinese American Diaspora In Miami, Yiyu Zhang

Open Access Theses

Chinese American communities have been part of the United States since the 19th century. Presently, their high rates of immigration have made them one of this country’s fastest growing communities. However, in Miami, only 0.3% of the population are Chinese Americans. In this local setting, music serves, in the words of Su Zheng, as an important “signifier that produces complex cultural meanings.” Because traditional music forms one of the most significant aspects of music in China, it is critical to explore the extent to which Chinese American musical culture has developed and changed. This thesis discusses the function of Chinese …

An Exploratory Study: The Use Of Privately Owned Vessels As Mobile Research Platforms, Brittany L. Stockman

Open Access Theses

Due to limited public funding for scientific studies and data collection, private sector entities increasingly fill the gap by facilitating research inquiries. Specifically, coastal, oceanic and marine conservation nonprofit organizations (NPOs) play a direct role in research by both funding and orchestrating research missions across the globe. Through the examination of existing organizations and vessels involved in such efforts, this study examined the practicality of a NPO managed program that provides marine scientists with suitable mobile research platforms and evaluated the overall benefits of such a program on the ocean research community. One such organization, the International SeaKeepers Society (SeaKeepers), …

Prescribed Reading: December 2013, Centracare Clinic

Prescribed Reading

• Holiday greetings!
• Recognition for years of service
• Kudos to . . .
• CentraCare launches automated reminders
• CentraCare Urgency Center to open Jan. 20
• Welcome to these new providers
• Welcome to our new employees
• L.I.F.E. Program starts Jan. 7
• Employee Self Service is coming soon!
• Year-end reminders for employees
• Change for the 2014 Medical Expense
• 2014 CentraCare Plan Change Highlights
• Biometric Questions/Answers
• Wellness Reward Points Program
• Sign up for personal training sessions
• New MyChart features available
• Organize your care with MyChart features
• Are you planning international travel?

Privacy And Cloud Computing In Public Schools, Joel Reidenberg, N. Cameron Russell, Jordan Kovnot, Thomas B. Norton, Ryan Cloutier, Daniela Alvarado

Center on Law and Information Policy

Today, data driven decision-making is at the center of educational policy debates in the United States. School districts are increasingly turning to rapidly evolving technologies and cloud computing to satisfy their educational objectives and take advantage of new opportunities for cost savings, flexibility, and always-available service among others. As public schools in the United States rapidly adopt cloud-computing services, and consequently transfer increasing quantities of student information to third-party providers, privacy issues become more salient and contentious. The protection of student privacy in the context of cloud computing is generally unknown both to the public and to policy-makers. This study …

Strengthening Immigrants' Health Access: Current Opportunities, Leighton C. Ku

Health Policy and Management Issue Briefs

This brief summarizes key opportunities helping the nation’s newcomers in gaining health insurance coverage and health access that are possible under the current law. Provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will help millions of legal immigrants gain access to affordable health insurance coverage. At the same time, however, immigrants will also face new responsibilities. Like citizens, lawfully present immigrants will be responsible for having health insurance coverage or paying a tax penalty, although some are exempt. Rules about immigrants’ access to health insurance benefits are often complicated because they depend on specific immigration categories, as well as eligibility for …

[2013-12-13] Meeting Of The Academic And Health Affairs Policy Committee, Virginia Commonwealth University. Board Of Visitors

VCU Board of Visitors Minutes

Official minutes of the VCU Board of Visitors and its Executive Committee.

[2013-12-13] Meeting Of The Board Of Visitors Of Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Commonwealth University. Board Of Visitors

VCU Board of Visitors Minutes

Official minutes of the VCU Board of Visitors and its Executive Committee.

Personal Reflection, Caitlin S. Hobbs

Capstone Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of The Industrial Skill Set; Lewis County Case Study, Jonathan Shane Wallingford

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the College of Science and Technology Morehead State University in Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Science by Jonathan Shane Wallingford on December 13, 2013.

Cellular Roles Of Dna Polymerase Beta, Sreerupa Ray, Miriam-Rose Menezes, Ali Senejani, Joann Balazs Sweasy

Biology and Environmental Science Faculty Publications

Since its discovery and purification in 1971, DNA polymerase ß (Pol ߆) is one of the most well-studied DNA polymerases. Pol ß is a key enzyme in the base excision repair (BER) pathway that functions in gap filling DNA synthesis subsequent to the excision of damaged DNA bases. A major focus of our studies is on the cellular roles of Pol ß. We have shown that germline and tumor-associated variants of Pol ß catalyze aberrant BER that leads to genomic instability and cellular transformation. Our studies suggest that Pol ß is critical for the maintenance of genomic stability and that …

A Mightier Pin: Creating A Credible Reference Library On Pinterest At Murray State University, Rebecca Richardson, Candace Vance, Elizabeth Price, Jeffrey Henry

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This case study shows how the reference librarians at Murray State University use Pinterest as an added component in reference services. Statistics were collected in an attempt to monitor the number of items shared with the number of people who actively follow each board. This study will help interested reference librarians gain an understanding of how this social media site can be used to promote online resources, both those owned by the institution and those available freely on the internet. It will also serve as an example of how reference librarians can build a reference library within the confines of …

Domestic Genocide, Ivan Kilgore

Writing Beyond the Prison Living Archive

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