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Neofeudalism and Its Historical Unraveling. A Review of Jodi Dean’s Capital’s Grave: Neofeudalism and the New Class Struggle (Verso Books, 2025)
No full textAmerican Marxism political scholar Jodi Dean’s concept stands out from the numerous neofeudalism intellectual currents. In her early work, she proposed the concept of “communicative capitalism” as a more advanced form relative to traditional capitalism. However, in the development of her thought during the early 21st century, she demonstrated a trajectory from political critique to the critique of communicative political economy. Having become aware of the issue raised by McKenzie Wark in Capital is Dead concerning capitalism’s descent into an even more dire historical phase, Dean too perceives contemporary capitalism as potentially entering a state of decline, transitioning into a new feudalism. However, her definition of this neofeudalism is grounded in political interpretation, leading her to identify its characteristics as parcellated sovereignty, new lords and serfs, hinterlandization, and catastrophic anxiety. Examining Capital’s Grave through Marx’s historical materialism reveals that Dean’s conception of neofeudalism bears traces of political abstraction, lacks an analysis of contemporary capitalist exploitation and inequality grounded in concrete political-economic critique, and thus fails to grasp that the core of neofeudalism is not political in nature, but rather the historical result of transforming cloud fiefs into private property
Microvertebrate fossils of the Middle Mississippian Ste. Genevieve Formation, Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA
No full textThe Middle Mississippian Ste. Genevieve Formation of Mammoth Cave National Park preserves a diverse and understudied microvertebrate assemblage. This study expands on a recent paleontological resource inventory conducted by the National Park Service to better document, manage, and interpret the park’s fossil record. Screenwashed sediment samples from six cave localities produced 510 specimens, with chondrichthyans representing the most abundant group (at least 13 distinct taxa), along with occurrences of osteichthyans and conodonts. These results expand the paleontological record of Mammoth Cave, with intra-cave comparisons revealing faunal overlap. Global faunal analyses highlight both shared and distinctive elements relative to other Mississippian localities. Notably, a tooth whorl of Heteropetalus elegantulus collected in this study represents the oldest record of the species, extending its temporal range into the Viséan. Overall, this study enhances understanding of Mississippian paleoecology, refines knowledge of chondrichthyan distribution, and underscores the value of microvertebrate assemblages in reconstructing evolutionary history
Barriers to higher education in Mississippi prisons: A systematic literature review and policy analysis
No full textHigher education in prison reduces recidivism and improves reentry outcomes, yet Mississippi’s prison education programs remain underdeveloped due to financial constraints, policy challenges, and systemic barriers. While national research on prison education is expanding, Mississippi-specific policy evaluations remain limited. This capstone employs a desk-based research methodology, integrating a systematic literature review and policy analysis to examine these challenges. The study synthesizes recent research on the impact of prison education, funding limitations, and policy frameworks, addressing a critical gap in state-specific policy evaluation. The policy analysis evaluates Mississippi’s correctional education policies and funding mechanisms, using Southwest Mississippi Community College’s (SMCC) Prison Education Program (PEP) application at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) as a case study to highlight institutional and regulatory hurdles. Although the project was originally conceived to include direct research with incarcerated students, IRB constraints necessitated a desk-based approach. Institutional schedules and program records were monitored to provide contextual information on operations; however, no interviews were conducted with incarcerated individuals, and no participant-level data were collected for this study. Findings indicate that Mississippi relies heavily on private funding, while bureaucratic inefficiencies, digital access restrictions, and policy gaps further limit educational opportunities. These barriers disproportionately impact African American males, exacerbating educational and economic inequalities. Comparative insights from Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas suggest that policy reforms, federal resource expansion (e.g., Second Chance Pell), and funding transparency could improve program accessibility. This study provides evidence-based recommendations for Mississippi policymakers, MDOC administrators, and community stakeholders to enhance correctional education, fostering post-release success and workforce reintegration
Effects of parenting and differentiation of self on career identity development in emerging adults
No full textThis work investigates how parenting styles relate to the development of career identity in emerging adults and whether differentiation of self helps explain those links. Using a two?manuscript format with a shared dataset of U.S. undergraduates (n =148), parenting behavior (i.e., warmth and control) was assessed alongside career identity constructs (career exploration and commitment); a second study added differentiation of self as a possible mediator of these relationships. Manuscript 1 examined whether parenting styles are associated with Marcia-based career identity outcomes. After deriving identity groupings consistent with achievement, foreclosure, moratorium, and diffusion, multinomial models indicated that more autonomy?supportive, high-warmth parenting was associated with a greater likelihood of an achieved career identity and a lower likelihood of diffused or moratorium statuses relative to more controlling or low-warmth parenting. Manuscript 2 evaluated a mediation model in which parental care and control were specified to predict exploration and commitment directly and indirectly through differentiation of self. Results showed no significant indirect effects via differentiation of self and no reliable positive associations between differentiation and the career identity constructs. By contrast, parental care/warmth emerged as a significant direct predictor of both exploration and commitment, whereas controlling tendencies showed weaker or inconsistent links with career identity constructs. Taken together, findings highlight the central role of warm, autonomy?supportive parenting in fostering exploration and commitment during emerging adulthood, while providing little evidence that differentiation of self operates as the mechanism in this sample. Implications regarding career counseling and higher education practices are discussed
Genetic reconstruction and diversity analysis in the USDA Forest Service Populus deltoides breeding collection
No full textThe thesis investigates the genetic structure and diversity of the Populus deltoides collection from the USDA Forest Service breeding program. Using genomics techniques, six population groups with varying levels of admixture were identified, revealing extensive historical recombination and complexity in the population structure, which contrasts with earlier studies from different regions. The research also confirms the collection\u27s integrity by detecting operational errors and contamination, addressed through genetic identity and parentage analysis. Notably, over 80% of the clones have contributions from multiple ancestors, indicating widespread interbreeding. Additionally, a reliable database was created, covering about 96% of the unique genotypes. This enables comparisons with other collections and enhances confidence in the current set. The study provides vital resources for management, breeding, and conservation, forming a foundation for future genetic diversity assessments. Overall, it emphasizes the importance of molecular markers in analyzing genetic structure, maintaining germplasm quality, and supporting sustainable breeding practices
Assessing native bee (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) community responses to seasonal wetland management and Red Imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta) in Mississippi
No full textSeasonal wetlands support the biological needs of diverse migratory and wintering waterbird species across the southern United States. Management of seasonally flooded impoundments often involves water management and soil and vegetation disturbances to promote early successional plant communities yielding abundant seeds for foraging birds. These wetlands are also occupied by native bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) and red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta; RIFA), yet how these insects respond to wetland manipulations remains understudied. I experimentally evaluated how native bee communities were influenced by various wetland management practices and reduction of RIFA populations within the wetlands. Overall, wetland manipulation techniques had no notable influence on bee communities. However, cavity-nesting Hymenoptera exhibited increased reproductive success at sites treated for RIFA. These findings suggest that the common wetland management practices that produce habitat diversity do not negatively influence native bees, sustaining valuable resources for both pollinators and waterfowl
Structure-property relationships of phenothiazine-based polyaniline derivatives
No full textThe design and synthesis of intrinsically conductive polymers (ICPs) require a fundamental understanding of how structural modifications influence material performance. Polyaniline (PANI), as a prototypical ICP, is well known for its versatile redox chemistry, environmental stability, and wide range of applications. However, translating its intrinsic molecular properties into advanced functional materials requires precise control over structure-property relationships. Specifically, backbone modifications, side-chain substituents, and morphology all affect the processability, conductivity, electrochemical behavior, and thermal stability. This dissertation systematically explores these relationships through backbone engineering, side-chain functionalization, and processing as thin films and electrospun fibers. Chapter I provides an overview of the historical development of conjugated polymers, with a specific focus on PANI and its derivatives, emphasizing the role of dopants, structural modifications, and applications. Chapter II describes the synthesis and analysis of nine phenothiazine-based PANI (PTZ-PANI) derivatives prepared. via the Buchwald-Hartwig coupling reaction. These derivatives incorporate various alkyl and aryl side chains on the phenothiazine core and methyl groups on the aryl backbone. The steric effects of the pendant groups significantly influence packing and conductivity, as bulky substituents disrupt π-π interactions, while rigid groups facilitate charge transport. Chapter III reports on the electrospinning processing of PTZ-PANI derivatives into uniaxial and coaxial fibers, revealing that coaxial architectures exhibit better chain alignment, higher glass-transition temperatures, and improved electrochemical activity. Chapter IV examines six biphenyl-phenothiazine-bridged PANI derivatives (PB-PANI), designed with various steric and electronic substituents around the biphenyl group. Substituent-dependent changes were identified using UV-Vis-NIR, CV, PXRD, and DSC analyses, establishing a strong link between electronic effects and functional performance. Selected derivatives also demonstrate promising activity in electrochemical sensing of biological analytes. Chapter V presents the synthesis of a fluorene-based PANI derivative (FL-PANI) and compares it with other fused-ring analogues containing carbazole, phenothiazine, and phenoxazine units. Incorporation of the fluorene core leads to the highest molecular weight, improved electrochemical and thermal stability, and highly reversible redox behavior. Chapter VI covers future perspectives, including expanding the substituent library, employing computational modeling and machine learning for predictive design, and pursuing device-level integration. Overall, this study demonstrates that systematic backbone and side-chain engineering, in conjunction with precise morphological control, enables the establishment of robust structure-property relationships that advance intrinsically conducting polymers toward practical applications in optoelectronic, sensing, and energy-related devices
Simulating nitrogen leaching from southern Mississippi croplands and its impact on Mississippi sound using crop model and remote sensing
No full textThis study integrates crop modeling, remote sensing, and machine-learning approaches to quantify nitrogen (N) leaching from southern Mississippi croplands and its ecological impact on the Mississippi Sound. Land use and land cover (LULC) changes from 2008 to 2024 were mapped using USDA CDL data to identify agricultural N use hotspots. The DSSAT crop model simulated N leaching, mineralization, and gaseous losses for major crops under varying fertilizer and irrigation regimes and climate scenarios. Results revealed high N losses in sandy loam soils and strong sensitivity to rainfall intensity and management practices. Leached nitrate fluxes were correlated with remotely sensed chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and net primary productivity (NPP) to assess coastal responses, assuming 1-year lagged relationships between agricultural N export and estuarine productivity. Machine learning models using DSSAT-derived N variables, rainfall, groundwater, and erodibility achieved robust prediction of Chl-a (R² ≤ 0.48) and NPP (R² ≤ 0.31). The integrated framework provides a replicable tool for managing nutrient loading and sustaining coastal ecosystem health
Street Scene in Hazelhurst, Mississippi
No full textA color photograph of a street in Hazelhurst, Mississippi is pictured on this postcard. The Center of Copiah: Hazelhurst building is on left side of the street and the Ford Mercury and Standard Oil buildings are visible on the right with cards parked at the sidewalks on their side of the street. A brief paragraph about Hazelhurst is printed on the upper left corner on the back of the card.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/mss-lampton-images-ms-capitol/1546/thumbnail.jp