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Rapid kinetic fluorogenic quantification of malondialdehyde in ground beef
No full textPresented herein is rapid kinetic fluorogenic method to quantify malondialdehyde (MDA) in ground beef, utilizing 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) as the fluorogenic probe. This assay significantly shortens the total analysis time, from sample preparation to data acquisition, to just six minutes presenting a major advancement over traditional methods that typically require two hours and multiple instruments. The assay’s robustness against matrix interferences was validated using sample volume variation and standard addition calibration methods. Additionally, the effects of ambient exposure to air, washing, and cooking on MDA content in raw ground beef were quantified. While both ambient exposure to air and cooking increased MDA levels, washing raw ground beef and decanting cooked ground beef broth effectively reduced MDA content in the ground beef. The findings contribute to food safety by offering a rapid, reliable method for MDA detection and provide actionable insights into how ground beef handling affects MDA concentration, which could help consumers reduce their intake of this carcinogenic compound. This thesis represents a significant contribution to the fields of food science and safety, showcasing a practical solution for rapid MDA quantification that could be widely adopted in both research and industry settings
Recolonizing black bears (Ursus americanus) in Mississippi: Gene flow, isotopic niche, and habitat use
No full textAmerican black bears (Ursus americanus) once ranged widely across the United States, but habitat loss and overexploitation in the early 20th century caused dramatic declines and extirpations across much of their range. Legal protections, translocations, and forest restoration have since promoted recovery, and black bears are now recolonizing portions of their historical range, including Mississippi. Effective conservation requires understanding the factors that shape recolonization. In this dissertation, I examined genetic connectivity, isotopic niche breadth, and habitat use to assess how black bears are re-establishing in Mississippi. In Chapter 1, I investigated genetic structure and connectivity of bears in western Mississippi using microsatellite genotyping. I identified three distinct genetic clusters corresponding to the Tensas River Basin, Upper Atchafalaya River Basin, and Arkansas subpopulations. Most gene flow originated from Tensas River Basin, but ancestry patterns indicated that southern Mississippi primarily received migrants from Upper Atchafalaya. Genetic diversity was greatest in southern Mississippi. These findings show that recolonization is occurring through multiple routes and highlight the importance of maintaining and enhancing habitat connectivity. In Chapter 2, I used stable isotope analysis of hair samples and food items to evaluate dietary niche breadth by region and sex. Males had broader isotopic niches than females, consistent with their larger home ranges and more varied foraging. Niche sizes were similar between the Delta and southwestern Mississippi, suggesting that reforestation in the Delta provides foraging opportunities comparable to intact forests in the southwest. In Chapter 3, I applied occupancy modeling to hair snare detections to assess summer site use in relation to forest stand and landscape characteristics. Bears were more likely to use landscapes with greater forest cover, larger patches, and more linear connectivity, such as riparian corridors. At the stand scale, use increased with more understory soft mast and fewer midstory shade-intermediate trees. A predictive map showed most use in contiguous forests of the southwest and localized hotspots in the Delta. Together, these results demonstrate that bottomland hardwood reforestation is supporting black bear recolonization in Mississippi and underscore the need to continue expanding and connecting forests to sustain recovery
Understanding Rural Schools’ Capacity to Learn About Evidence-Based Practices That Promote Youth Mental Health: A Comparative Case Study
Get PDFAmid growing student mental health concerns, numerous evidence-based practices (EBPs) exist to promote student mental health, but most rural schools do not have these practices in place. Little is known about the organizational capacity of rural schools to learn about and select youth mental health EBPs, or the role research intermediaries can play to support these processes. In this study, 11 middle school staff from three rural school districts participated in surveys and semi-structured interviews to provide information on how schools learn about and select mental health EBPs, related barriers and facilitators, and the role of intermediary support. A semi-structured interview guide was developed, with 16 questions and multiple probes. Interviews were conducted in-person (one via Zoom), recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded, and analyzed. Cross-case data analysis revealed that schools rely upon individuals or “champions” to bring EBPs to a school and district-level teams to select EBPs. Barriers to EBP selection included limited staff capacity due to burnout and scarce resources. Facilitators included funding, strong internal communication channels, and flexibility in staffing structures and roles. Suggestions for intermediary support included the need for in-person visits and understanding rural school contexts. This exploratory study is a first step in understanding the barriers and facilitators to how rural schools learn about and select EBPs. While schools have dedicated staff and teams around EBPs, limited staff capacity due to turnover and scarce resources are concerns. More research is needed to deepen our understanding of strategies to strengthen rural schools’ organizational capacity to promote youth mental health
Eviscerating the State: The New Oligarchic and Authoritarian Project to Undermine American Constitutional Democracy
Get PDFNote and Newspaper clipping, Minnie Crowder to Margaret Buchanan, December 1955
Get PDFThis note, addressed to Margaret, includes a newspaper clipping about a poem in which the writer speaks of welcoming and inviting homes and in the front note tells Margaret it made her think of her. The inside note expresses Christmas and New Year greetings for Frank and Margaret. Christmas stickers were used to mount the clipped poem to the notecard and the accompanying envelope was held closed by a poinsettia sticker.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/mss-james-franklin-buchanan/1042/thumbnail.jp
Letter, Virginia Scott to James Franklin Buchanan, September 4, 1981
Get PDFIn this letter, dated September 4, 1981, Virginia Scott writes to James Franklin Buchanan to thank him for the paper he wrote about her father. She goes on to talk about Frank\u27s and her father\u27s friendship and how special it was and informs him that she will be making copies of the paper for other family members. An envelope with a Jackson Mississippi postmark and an 18 cent postage stamp is included.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/mss-james-franklin-buchanan/1047/thumbnail.jp
Letter, Sidney W. Little to James Franklin Buchanan, May 10, 1943
Get PDFIn this letter, dated May 10, 1943, Sidney W. Little writes to James Franklin Buchanan to advise him that while he does not currently meet the requirements of the Surgeon General\u27s Office, he is encouraged to complete the forms for any future requisitions. A copy of the response letter from Buchanan to Little is included along with a handwritten graph of Buchanan\u27s resume of ten years of work an a list of responses to an unidentified questionnaire and an envelope with a Birmingham, Alabama postmark.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/mss-james-franklin-buchanan/1053/thumbnail.jp
Letter, James Franklin Buchanan to His Family, November 10, 1945
Get PDFIn this letter, dated November 10, 1945, James Franklin Buchanan writes to his collective family to updated the on how things are going and what he\u27d doing in Marseille, France while he\u27s stationed there. He gives them a resume of the mail he\u27s received and updates them on when he hopes to be able to leave.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/mss-james-franklin-buchanan/1058/thumbnail.jp
Letter, James F. Buchanan to the United States Army Finance Officer, August 30, 1946
Get PDFIn this letter, dated August 30, 1946, James F. Buchanan writes to the U. S. Army finance officer in New Orleans to notify that he is including the claim for settlement on his unused leave.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/mss-james-franklin-buchanan/1060/thumbnail.jp
Greeting card, Marie and Carolyn to James Franklin And Margaret Ray Buchanan, undated
Get PDFThis card, sent by Marie and Carolyn offers James Franklin and Margaret Ray Buchanan best wishes on the birth of their baby. An illustration of a Baby in a blue box is on the cover of the card and an illustration of two bluebirds is on the interior.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/mss-james-franklin-buchanan/1072/thumbnail.jp