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Copiah County Courthouse, Hazelhurst, Mississippi
No full textA color illustration of the Copiah County courthouse in Hazelhurst, Mississippi is pictured on this postcard. The courthouse, a two story building with a portico and two, round columns on the left and a row of four columns across the front, and a wide cupola is situated on a lush, green lawn with shrubs, bushes and trees framing it. The title of the postcard is printed along the upper edge of the image.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/mss-lampton-images-ms-capitol/1544/thumbnail.jp
Investigating Implementation Practices and Initiatives for Using Blue Light to Enhance Work Zone Safety in the United States
No full textUsing appropriate warning lights in roadway work zones is crucial for the safety of workers and road users. Several state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) in the United States have conducted projects exploring the use of blue lights for work zone safety. In 2019, Mississippi’s “Blue Light Law” was officially signed into effect, permitting the use of blue lights by police departments in road construction areas. However, a comprehensive understanding of the practices for implementing blue lights remains limited. Therefore, this study aims to identify and investigate blue light implementation practices and initiatives to enable state DOTs, particularly the Mississippi DOT, and other partners to implement blue lights more effectively. This study used a two-fold method. First, a systematic literature review was conducted to examine current warning/blue light practices in work zones, including light specification, installation platform, light location, and driver behavior. Based on these results, a survey was designed and distributed across the U.S in collaboration with the Mississippi DOT. The survey addressed six categories related to blue light implementation: demographics, organizational progress, respondent reaction, light deployment, light effectiveness, and light configuration. Based on the survey responses, 83 % of respondents believed blue lights help reduce vehicle speeds, 87 % reported increased alertness near flashing blue lights, and 68 % preferred placing blue lights at the start of work zones. This study identifies operational challenges such as limited organizational policies, a lack of regulations, and communication gaps between law enforcement and construction teams regarding the implementation of blue lights for work zone safety. The implications of these findings offer important insights for DOTs to standardize deployment practices, prioritize enforcement coordination, and enhance public safety through improved implementation strategies
Bovine Serum Albumin and Caffeine Enhance Activation of Sperm from the American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)
No full textThe collection and cryopreservation of anuran spermic urine results in multiple osmolality shifts that inactivate and reactivate sperm motility prior to in-vitro fertilization. These shifts in osmolality reduce motility recovery and fertilization potential. Here, we analyzed the effects of metabolic supplements for reactivation of sperm motility and forward progression from the American toad (Anaxyrus americanus). Male toads (n = 30) were administrated hormones to stimulate spermiation and samples were mixed 1:1 with 2× simplified amphibian ringers solution for sperm inactivation. Inactivated sperm samples were randomly assigned to five treatment groups to be reactivated in distilled water alone (control) or supplemented with BSA (0.1 %, 0.2 %, 0.4 %), caffeine (1, 10, 25 mM), sodium pyruvate (0.5, 1, 2 mM), sodium lactate (10, 20, 40 mM), or sodium bicarbonate (10, 20, 40 mM). Sperm samples were assessed for total motility (TM) and quality of forward progressive movement (QFPM) at 0, 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min after reactivation. Results showed that sperm activated with BSA produced higher (P \u3c 0.05) recovered motility than the control, regardless of BSA concentration. Moreover, the addition of caffeine (1 mM) resulted in higher (P \u3c 0.05) sperm QFPM following reactivation compared to the control. In contrast, bicarbonate and lactate treatments resulted in lower recovery of TM and QFPM, while pyruvate had no effect (P ≥ 0.05). Our findings highlight the efficacy of BSA and caffeine on enhancing sperm motility and forward progression, respectively, following inactivation and reactivation of sperm undergoing short-term storage or cryopreservation procedures
A brief history of remote sensing of soybean
No full textThe last 20 years have been a period of significant advancement in the tools available for remote sensing of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in terms of price, ease of use, quality of information provided, and range of available research applications. This review article posits that now is an appropriate time to reflect on the previous two decades of research effort devoted to remote sensing of soybean to gain an appreciation for how far the field has come, while also acknowledging how much work remains to be performed. Structured by field management activities, this review is based on selected works culled from a broad search. These works contributed meaningful knowledge specific to soybean or elucidated key points not presented in those more intentionally focused on soybean. While there were many successes in the varied applications of remote sensing in soybean research, taking this 20-year perspective also exposed areas of unmet expectations. Advances in knowledge are hampered by systemic challenges with inconsistent results and confounding factors imposed by research settings. There is potential to address these challenges by tempering expectations for what is possible and addressing reporting standards and data needs, specifically related to machine learning. The future is bright, but a concerted community effort is needed to continue to advance the state of knowledge into the next 20 years
Prevalence of Clinically Relevant Nightmares and Their Differences by Sex and Diagnosis in Psychiatric Inpatients
No full textNightmares have been shown to be associated with numerous forms of psychopathology, but the vast majority of this research has taken place in the general population and very little is known about their relation with psychopathology in those requiring inpatient hospitalization. In a sample of 1170 voluntarily admitted psychiatric inpatients, this study explores the frequency of reported nightmares in psychiatric inpatients with the aim of examining the prevalence of psychiatric diagnosis in those with and without clinically relevant nightmares. Participants completed the Disturbing Dream and Nightmare Severity Index (DDNSI) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID-5) at admission. G-squared analyses were conducted and odds ratios computed to examine for differences between those with and without clinically relevant nightmares. Clinically relevant nightmares were endorsed by 29.4 % of the respondents on the DDNSI. Participants reporting clinically relevant nightmares had higher rates of several forms of psychopathology including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anorexia, and Substance Use Disorder, though they were less likely to have a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder. Nightmare rates were also significantly different by sex. These findings replicate and extend previous research for differences in clinically relevant nightmares in individuals with psychiatric disorders and highlight the importance of integrating evidence-based nightmare assessment and intervention within inpatient psychiatric settings to improve the outcomes of our most psychiatrically vulnerable
Enhancing Public Health Strategies: Addressing the RSV Burden in Alabama Through Clinical Treatment, Community Prevention, and Surveillance Approaches
No full textIntroduction: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a highly contagious pathogen driving morbidity, hospitalizations, and economic burden. This review uses the epidemiological triad and National Wastewater Surveillance System data to assess transmission, viral load spikes in Alabama, and strategies for treatment and prevention.
Methods: A review of literature on supportive care, vaccination, monoclonal antibodies, and emerging nanomedicine was reviewed to evaluate strategies for reducing viral burden and complications.
Results: Trends from December 2024–January 2025 were assessed with National Wastewater Surveillance System data. Primary prevention includes immunization, hygiene, air quality maintenance, and early diagnostics. Tertiary care addresses complications such as secondary infections. Effective surveillance, and nurse-led education are critical to reducing transmission and improving outcomes.
Discussion: RSV poses a major health burden, with seasonal surges heightening risks for vulnerable groups. Integrating surveillance and targeted prevention strategies is essential to reduce morbidity and hospitalizations
Assessing Education and Training of Developmental Screening Tools Among Residents in a Southern Academic Medical Center
No full textBackground: Developmental disabilities are highly common. Early identification of developmental disabilities is critical, but many practitioners, including those in Southern U.S. states like Mississippi, do not utilize developmental screening tools.
Purpose: We aimed to identify modifiable targets within resident training experiences and their correlates using a quality improvement approach to serve as a baseline for intervention efforts.
Methods: Medical residents (N = 57) in pediatrics (n = 26), combined medicine-pediatrics (n = 12), and family medicine (n = 19) completed a survey assessing training, attitudes, practices, and perceived barriers regarding using screening tools. Perceived barriers were modeled after the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Periodic Survey.
Results: Approximately 70% used tools at well-child visits, and 52% had received prior training. Resident comfort with screening processes declined from implementation to administrative aspects of screening. Frequently reported barriers included lack of time and knowledge/training with tools and billing. Increased comfort with administration and interpretation correlated with resident familiarity and training during residency.
Conclusions: Results identify modifiable targets for resident education in developmental screening tools. Barriers identified largely mirrored prior AAP physician surveys, suggesting negative attitudes for some are developed prior to workforce entry. Implications for resident education, including available emerging models of physician education in Mississippi, are discussed
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Relationship Education for Latino Adolescents
No full textAdolescent romantic relationships are often characterized as exploratory and fleeting; however, they have lasting impacts on individual well-being and relationship quality during and beyond adolescence, shaping future relationship expectations and quality (Collins, 2003; Madsen & Collins, 2011). Adolescent relationship education is an important programmatic feature under the broader umbrella of family life education (Simpson et al., 2018). Previous evaluative studies document positive outcomes in educating adolescents on how to build and recognize healthy relationships (Bradford et al., 2023; Kerpelman et al., 2010); however, research remains limited in addressing potential benefits for adolescents from historically underrepresented groups. This study addresses this research gap by evaluating the effectiveness of relationship education for Latino adolescents who participated in the Premarital Interpersonal Choices and Knowledge (PICK) program (Van Epp, 2011). As part of a statewide, Extension-based initiative, this mixed-methods study evaluated the impact of the PICK program on participants’ understanding of key relationship concepts, while also seeking to learn about participants’ experiences. Such research is timely, given the increased diversity in the U.S. (Frey, 2018) and the risk factors Latino adolescents face (Cuevas et al., 2014)
Teaching Leadership in the Context of Crisis: Connecting Organizational Leadership and Crisis Competencies in a Faculty Leadership Education Program
No full textThis research focused on enhancing leadership instruction in colleges of agriculture. A multi-institutional research team initiated a program to teach agricultural and natural resource faculty how to create leadership-oriented case studies for undergraduates. Forty faculty members participated in an online training academy centered on Bolman and Deal’s Organizational Frames and case study writing. Following the academy, these faculty members participated in field experiences in the southeastern U.S. to gather data on natural disasters, which they used to write case studies about leadership in agriculture. Though the program focused on organizational leadership, it also discussed leadership in the context of natural disasters. The study aimed to analyze how the faculty depicted crisis leadership competencies in their case studies, comparing their identified leadership frames with those from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s crisis competency leadership model. The findings explored the intersection of these models and provided recommendations for future research to offer a more holistic view of leadership for students
