University of Southern Mississippi
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Molecular Characterization of Stress Response in Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Get PDFHoney bees are incredibly important for the reproduction of flowering plants and the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems. However, they face various stressors such as pesticides, pathogens, habitat loss, and climate change. Extensive research has been conducted to understand how bees respond to these stressors. Scientists have discovered that honey bees exhibit complex physiological and behavioral responses to stress at individual and colony levels. Stress can have a significant impact on their immune function, foraging behavior, and reproductive success (Decourtye et al., 2010). Understanding bee responses to stress is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, honey bees are vital for the pollination of numerous crops, contributing significantly to global food production (Aizen et al., 2008). Declines in honey bee populations due to stress can have far-reaching consequences for food security and ecosystem stability (Vanbergen 2013). Secondly, honey bee declines also have broader implications for biodiversity, as they play a key role in maintaining plant diversity and ecosystem resilience (Winfree et al., 2009). Moreover, honey bees serve as valuable model organisms for studying stress biology and resilience mechanisms in social insects (Winston 1937). Insights gained from honey bee research can inform conservation efforts of sustainable pest management strategies (Johnson and Ellis, 2010). In conclusion, this research on honey bee responses to stress underscores the critical need to protect pollinator populations and mitigate anthropogenic stressors. By integrating knowledge from biochemical, physiological, and ecological perspectives, scientists can inform conservation efforts and promote sustainable beekeeping practices to safeguard honey bee populations and the ecosystems they support
Assessing the Independent Role of Moral Foundations In Attitudes Toward Various Justifications For Abortion
No full textAlthough many states have legal frameworks that restrict abortion to certain situations, largely associated with health risks to the mother, child or both, other factors, such as financial stability, emotional readiness, and partner\u27s presence, are not covered by existing laws, though they may be critical factors contributing to abortion decisions. To assess the role of these factors, participants (N= 302) were recruited online via Prolific Academic and randomly assigned on a between participants basis to view a single vignette that manipulated abortion justification category (financial, emotional, partner) and the presence/absence of justification. They reported the extent to which they support the target’s reasons for having an abortion, and completed a moral reasoning measure, an assessment of religiosity and political affiliation, and a demographics form. At the bivariate level, results revealed that stronger deontological moral values, religiosity, and conservatism were associated with less overall support for abortion, whereas stronger utilitarian moral values predicted more support for abortion. There were no main and interactive effects of justification and justification presence/absence on abortion support. Findings also indicated no independent effects of moral reasoning when religiosity and political conservatism were included in the models, though higher order interactions revealed that more religious men were less supportive of a target’s abortion decision when driven by financial unreadiness, whereas more conservative men were less supportive of a target’s abortion decision when driven by emotional unreadiness and partner absence concerns. This study expands knowledge of what drives abortion attitudes to inform public discourse on this divisive topic
The Effectiveness of Curriculum Assessment Literacy Training For Head Start Teachers on Teacher Fidelity Scores and CLASS Assessment Scores
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was threefold, first to assess teachers’ initial knowledge of The Curriculum Fidelity Assessment Tool among Head Start Teachers utilizing the self -assessment. Secondly, the purpose was to assess if an intensive curriculum assessment literacy training made a difference in teacher’s knowledge of the curriculum fidelity Use as measured by The Curriculum Fidelity Assessment Tool for Administrators as reported by ECD Coaches and PI at the pre-test and post-test level. Third, the purpose of this study was to assess if intensive assessment literacy training makes a difference in the variables of interest, namely, curriculum use, classroom organization scores and instructional support scores. The utilization of specific training tenets of this study was employed to promote effective teaching practices utilizing experiential learning theory and self-determination theory. It is hypothesized that the assessment ratings by teachers and ECD Coaches will increase as a function of the curriculum fidelity assessment training intervention. The hypothesis will be tested using a true experimental design. The population of interest is Head Start teachers in Mississippi teaching three- and four-year-old children, who utilize the Creative Curriculum in conjunction with the CLASS observational assessment. The sample includes 30 Head Start ECD Coaches at two separate grantees in Mississippi. The ECD Coaches possess over five years of experience utilizing the Creative Curriculum and over five years of experience as certified CLASS observers. ECD Coaches share the responsibility of making CLASS assessment observations, conducting Curriculum Fidelity assessments, and providing ongoing CLASS coaching to teachers. In this experimental study, the ECD Coaches will be utilized to assess teachers’ curriculum implementation fidelity Use and facilitate CLASS observation scoring. The principal investigator will work along with the coaches to provide teachers with the curriculum fidelity assessment training, coaching, group discussions and CLASS observations
Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Skill of Involvement: Differences in First Year ADN and BSN Nursing Students in Rural Oklahoma
Get PDFThe impact of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) on Skill of Involvement (SOI) has not been adequately studied in nursing education. The skill of involvement is defined by Benner (2022) as necessary to expert-level nursing and it brings humanity, meaningfulness, acute situational awareness, and rapid thinking required for strong clinical decision-making in crisis management of the deteriorating patient. It is important for nurse educators to understand how SDOH impacts SOI on nursing students in order to transform the delivery of nursing education. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of SDOH on SOIs in first-year nursing students and compare the differences between ADN and BSN students. A quantitative descriptive-bivariate correlational design was used to examine and compare a convenience sample of nursing students from twelve Oklahoma state colleges and universities
From the Hispaniolan Dry Forests to Interstate Truck Stops: Investigations into the Ecology of Endangered Rock Iguanas in the Dominican Republic and the Origins of Invasive House Geckos in the Southern United States
No full textIguanidae (iguanas) and Gekkonidae (geckos) represent approximately 17% of extant lizard species, with Iguanidae being one of the smallest families and Gekkonidae being one of the largest families within Squamata. These two families of lizards cover a diverse array of life history traits, habitats, and size; represented by large, long-lived iguanas found primarily in the New World to small, rapidly reproducing geckos that are globally distributed. Both families include endangered species that are of great conservation concern with rapidly declining populations and invasive species that are swiftly spreading outside of their native ranges.
This dissertation focuses on one pair of endangered Rock Iguanas, the Ricord’s Rock iguana, Cyclura ricordii and the Rhinoceros Iguana, Cyclura cornuta, and one species of undescribed non-native House Gecko, Hemidactylus cf. malcolmsmithi. These three species represent opposite ends of the management and research spectrum: with the goal of conservation for the endemic Cyclura and the goal of preventing the spread of non-native Hemidactylus. The first two chapters of this dissertation focus on the systematic trapping and burrow ecology of Cyclura ricordii and Cyclura cornuta south of Lago Enriquillo in the Dominican Republic. The third chapter investigates the distributions and origins of Hemidactlyus cf. malcolmsmithi across the southern United States using molecular (i.e. mitochondrial) techniques
SIMULACRA ALLIGORÍA SPÍLAIO SOCRÁTI A RECONSIDERATION OF THE ALLEGORY OF SOCRATES CAVE: GAME-BASED THEORY IN INCLUSIVE HIGHER EDUCATION
No full textThis dissertation addresses the use of Game Based Learning (GBL) and Game Based Pedagogy (GBP) implemented in higher education and considers what effects may be measured on retention and learning.
Using the allegory of Socrates Cave, a story which challenges how learners’ perspectives differ according to each individual’s unique understanding, this study considered how participants reacted in similar scenarios during ‘serious games’ implemented in college level classes to reinforce and review material before testing. This study used a pre- and post-test model to assess the difference games used as an intervention had on short-term retention. The final credential scores of this year’s two intervention groups and the control group were compared to the outcomes of classes from the last ten years.
Data showed that specifically tailored ‘serious games’ purposefully implemented in higher education have a positive effect on both retention and learning for the majority of participants evaluated. The significance of this study is that it offers insight into the effects of GBL in higher education, on two different communities of participants, by reporting both quantitative and qualitative evaluation of participation in the intervention
Enhancing Cybersecurity in Wireless Sensor Networks: Machine Learning, Blockchain and Future Perspectives
Get PDFSecurity in the Industrial Internet of Things encounters various security issues but the main issues can be broken down into three core issues: Availability, Integrity, and Confidentiality. Security challenges generally tend to be caused by a failure of the system in one of these areas or cause a failure in one of these areas. Therefore researching scalable solutions to these security issues is prudent to explore methods that could be applied to large-scale industrial IIoT with tens to hundreds of devices as well as small-scale systems on a tiny factory floor comprising of just a few devices. In our research, we explore some of these methods focusing on the availability and integrity of the data. Our research intentions are to explore solutions to the Availability, Integrity, and Confidentiality issues individually and then bring it together to create an encompassing solution that solves all three problems. In our initial project, we delved into the concept of availability from a transmission standpoint. In doing so, we conducted experiments aimed at comprehending the limitations, characteristics, and behaviors of various transmission protocols applicable to over-the-counter IoT devices. These devices typically consist of simple MCU and sensor combinations, which are commonly found in small-scale IIoT setups, often deployed in noisy industrial environments. Our objective was to assess how these protocols performed under conditions resembling the real-world industrial setting, where noise is prevalent. We sought to understand the extent to which noise affected their operation and how closely they adhered to ideal operational parameters. The protocols we investigated included Xbee, Zigbee, Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi, and LoRa. In our second experiment, our objective was to investigate the feasibility of utilizing blockchain for ensuring data integrity, and whether it could be efficiently scaled down to run directly on IIoT devices. To achieve this, we successfully developed a functional proof of concept that not only met the stringent data integrity requirements and testing criteria but also demonstrated lightweight characteristics, enabling it to run directly on our IIoT devices. This implementation actively participated in the operation of the wireless sensor network that controls the IIoT devices. In the final experiment, we aimed to investigate and enhance the performance of our network security machine-learning model for intrusion detection by focusing on model selection. A significant aspect of our entire research endeavor is efficiency and lightweight operability, given that many components of our designed systems rely on low-powered computing systems such as the Raspberry Pi. In this context, the elimination of features that do not significantly contribute to intrusion detection in the network is essential to reduce the model’s complexity and resource requirements
Prescription for Change: Tackling Inappropriate Antibiotic Use in Urgent Care Settings
Get PDFA pressing global health issue that significantly contributes to antibiotic resistance is the inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for Upper Respiratory Infections (URI’s) in urgent care settings (World Health Organization [WHO], 2022). The purpose of this doctoral project was to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions for URI at an urgent care in D’Iberville, Mississippi through the implementation of an educational pamphlet.
A pre-post intervention project was conducted, collecting data on antibiotic prescribing practices via retrospective chart reviews before and after the educational intervention. Data was collected using a researcher developed screening tool based on Evidence based guidelines to distinguish viral vs bacterial infections. Pre-intervention data (July 29, 2024-September 11, 2024) consisted of 44 URI cases, while post-intervention data (August 2024—September 8, 2024) included 29 cases. Fisher’s Exact Test was used to compare prescribing rates and appropriateness.
Results revealed that the overall antibiotic prescribing rate rose from 20.5% to 62.1%, but the rate of inappropriate prescriptions remained stable, changing only slightly from 13.6% to 13.8%. Inappropriate prescriptions decreased from six to four even though the percentage slightly increased due to reduced sample size. A significant shift towards prescribing more narrow spectrum antibiotics was noted. Providers Pre intervention tended to prescribe broader spectrum antibiotics like azithromycin during the preintervention period. A change in the type of diagnostic cases seen also changed, with COVID-19 cases decreasing from 45% to 13% and sinusitis cases increasing to 22%. The educational intervention did slightly decrease inappropriate prescribing practices in the post intervention period. This demonstrated the potential of educational interventions to positively impact antibiotic stewardship. This doctoral project provided valuable information that could help guide future antibiotic stewardship efforts in urgent care settings
Sands of Change in the Mississippi Delta: How Local Newspapers Prevent News Deserts from Silencing Their Communities
Get PDFThis thesis analyzes the results from four interviews conducted with media professionals working in the Mississippi Delta to determine the risks news deserts pose in the Mississippi Delta. The interviewees represented The Yazoo Herald, Greenwood Commonwealth, The Panolian, and The DeSoto Times-Tribune. The Mississippi Delta is the poorest region of the poorest state in the United States of America, increasing the likelihood of news deserts since they form in poor and rural areas. The interviewees answered thirteen questions that addressed changes in the newspaper industry, the roles journalists fill in society, the future of journalism, and their concerns about news deserts.
News deserts prevent citizens from exercising their democratic rights on a grassroots level because they cannot make an informed decision without using local news reports to make their decision. Corruption becomes more common in local governments located in news deserts than communities with a local newspaper because politicians do not have to worry about journalists exposing their corruption. Communities form connections when local newspapers report businesses opening, cover high school sports, write feature stories on remarkable residents, and inform them of community events.
Although the media professionals interviewed for this study indicated that their newspapers are thriving, the results of this study suggest that news deserts still pose a significant threat to the Mississippi Delta. The newspapers in this study lack the funding, staff, and support to cover the entirety of their counties, making it difficult for them to assist current news deserts and prevent more from developing. With the populations of these four counties decreasing every decade, they risk losing the support that has kept their printing presses running longer than they would have in a big city.
This study on small newspapers in the Mississippi Delta exposed how small newspapers have outlasted many large newspapers. However, the detailed answers from interviewees and their experience in the media industry show that small newspapers are not exempt from the decline of the newspaper industry. After analyzing their responses, the disconnect between large media outlets not local to these four counties became apparent, further reflecting that the twenty-four-hour news cycle does not mean more representation for every community
REAPing What We Sow: The Implications and Outcomes of Mississippi House Bill 1125, The “Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures (REAP)” Act
Get PDFMississippi House Bill 1125 (MS HB1125), also known as the “Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures (REAP) Act,” was signed into law by Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves in early 2023 (REAP Act, 2023). It is one of multiple policies passed into law that limit the rights of transgender people. This thesis aims to clarify the history of the trans community, dispel myths around gender-affirming health care and the trans identity, and discuss the current state of anti-trans laws and transgender rights. Using a policy analysis framework by DiNitto (2011), MS HB1125 is analyzed on points like its social and economic costs, the perceived cause of the issue it addresses, and possible unintended consequences of the bill’s passing. Although MS HB1125 and similar bills from other states aim to restrict the rights of trans individuals, many states are working towards protecting these rights. As social workers, we must advocate for our young trans clients’ rights to bodily autonomy and self-determination. However, we must also consider the ethical implications of allowing minors access to all methods of gender transitioning procedures, especially those that are irreversible