Synthesizing Middle Grades Research on Cultural Responsiveness: The Importance of a Shared Conceptual Framework

In conducting a literature review of 133 articles on cultural responsiveness in middle level education, we identified a lack of shared definitions, theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches, and foci, which made it impossible to synthesize across articles. Using a conceptual framework that required: 1) clear definitions of terms; 2) a critically conscious stance; and 3) inclusion of the middle school concept, we identified 14 articles that met these criteria. We then mapped differences and convergences across these studies, which allowed us to identify the conceptual gaps that the field must address in order to have common definitions and understandings that enable synthesis across studies

The Steady-State Economy As A Solution to The World’s Problems: A Theoretical Examination of The Greatest Environmental Problem Facing Human Society

This paper is a theoretical exploration of the questioning, if you were given a magic power to solve one, and only one, of the worlds problem outlined by a classic environmental author, which would you solve, and why? While the field of environmental studies is relatively new, since the publishing of Malthus’ An Essay on the Principles of Population environmental scholars have been debating what should be considered the greatest environmental problem facing humanity. This paper explains how the creation of a steady-state economy to replace our current economic system, as described by Herman Daly, offers a holistic solution to the world’s problems. It briefly outlines how the steady-state economy would operate, and then overviews how the creation of a steady state economy would create the solution to many other world problems outlined by other classic environmental authors

Systemic Stress in Mid-Century American Military Service Members: The Impact of Socioeconomic Status and Military Service Length on the Human Skeleton

The purpose of this study is to identify how socioeconomic status (SES) and, separately, length of military service, may affect the human skeleton. Specifically, this study considers non-specific indicators of skeletal stress such as periosteal reactions, enamel defects, and skeletal porosity in a sample of World War II decedents. The Exact Logistic Regression test was used to examine the possible association between military service length and the presence of skeletal porosity and periosteal reaction, and Fisher’s Exact Test of Independence was used to evaluate the relationship between SES and presence of enamel defects, skeletal porosity, and periosteal reaction. In total, this research examined five hypotheses. The study showed evidence that greater length of military service was associated with lower presence of periosteal reaction and that lower SES was associated with greater presence of periosteal reaction in this sample. This could be due to the economic security provided by the military and it could also be due to potential nutritional deficiency associated with low SES, respectively. Conversely, the Osteological Paradox is a phenomenon that may have affected this study sample. Finally, there are several avenues for future research with regards to non-specific indicators of skeletal stress, SES, and military service length. Advisor: William R. Belche

Pruning the Garden of the Nervous System: Neurodegeneration in Drosophila

In general, mitochondrial structural alterations occur early in programmed cell death, apoptosis. α-spectrin and Bruchpilot are two proteins required for synapse formation in Drosophila melanogaster. The purpose of this study was to identify if neurodegeneration can be caused by a knockdown of α-spectrin, if apoptosis is observed in degenerating neurons, and if Bruchpilot localization was affected by a decrease in functional α-spectrin. This study utilized GAL4 UAS α-spectrin RNAi Drosophila to knockdown α-spectrin. The musculature and nerves from both these and WT Drosophila were dissected out and imaged under scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and epifluorescent microscopy using a monoclonal antibody specific for Bruchpilot. The SEM indicated that an α-spectrin knockdown causes a separation of the nerve from the muscle at the synapse. Images from TEM showed a degeneration of neuron filament organization as well as disorganized mitochondrial membranes, signifying apoptosis was underway. Bruchpilot localization under epifluorescence was altered in the α-spectrin knockdown, showing that a decrease in α-spectrin affects the patterning of Bruchpilot in the synapse. These findings could have implications in finding treatments for human neurodegenerative diseases like spinocerebellar ataxia type 5

Personality and Happiness

The connection between personality, emotions, and experience have been of interest to researchers for many years. The present study was designed to assess the specific connection between personality, happiness, and happiness inducing behaviors (HIB) within individuals. This study also extends previous research by assessing whether any or all of these variables were connected to the recommendations an individual would make to improve the mood of a hypothetical other. The data from 424 university students were analyzed to determine the relationship between self-reported extraversion and neuroticism and self-reported affect, engagement in HIB, and the recommendations provided. The results revealed the expected positive correlation between extraversion, happiness, and engagement in HIB along with the expected negative correlation between neuroticism, happiness and engagement in HIB. Contrary to hypothesis, although there were differences in recommendations provided by those high or low in HIB, these differences did not indicate that those high in HIB made the most beneficial recommendations to help improve the mood of another. A discussion of the importance, implications, and limitations of the present study is provided

A TALE OF TWO CONTEXTS: MATHEMATICS SELF-EFFICACY DEVELOPMENT AMONG RURAL AND URBAN STUDENTS

Self-efficacy, or a belief in one’s ability to complete a task, has been shown to predict student success and persistence. Rural students have a history of lower college enrollment and degree attainment than urban students. However, no studies have compared self-efficacy or its sources across rural and urban groups. The purpose of this study is to examine differences in how rural and urban middle school students develop self-efficacy and self-efficacy for self-regulated learning in the domain of math. Data were collected from 174 rural students and 1743 urban students in grades 6-8 in the southeastern United States. Measurement invariance analyses determined that rural and urban students respond to measures of self-efficacy and its sources similarly, but not identically. Comparison of latent means revealed that rural students reported more vicarious experiences than urban students. However, structural equation modeling showed that rural students relied solely on mastery experience when evaluating their self-efficacy. This differed from urban students who relied on mastery experience, vicarious experience, and negative physiological state when judging their self-efficacy. This study is the first to compare self-efficacy across rural and urban groups and extends research examining self-efficacy and its sources in understudied populations

Mine reclamation using biofuel crops: Insights into the microbial ecology of the switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) microbiome

Bioenergy crop production has steadily increased due to growing political support for renewable energy, thus initiating a demand to find alternative agricultural land. An innovative option is the use of marginal soils, such as reclaimed mine lands, to produce bioenergy crops. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a promising bioenergy crop that can be grown on marginal lands due to its robust growth in various soil types and climates. However, little is known regarding plant-microbe interactions among switchgrass systems within reclaimed mine lands. A study conducted in 2008 grew switchgrass on high- and low- quality reclaimed mine sites (Hampshire and Hobet, respectively) in West Virginia to examine the resilience of switchgrass as a reclamation-friendly bioenergy crop. Switchgrass yields at Hampshire were nearly an order of magnitude higher than Hobet (8.4 Mg ha−1 vs 1.0 Mg ha−1). Within Hampshire, the Cave-in-Rock cultivar yield was approximately 2-fold greater than that of Shawnee (12.9 Mg ha-1 vs. 7.6 Mg ha-1). Here, I sought to illuminate plant-microbial interactions that may account for this drastic shift in cultivar yield by assessing the soil microbial community’s function and composition. I tested two hypotheses: i) that the microbial community’s ability to acquire C, N, and P will be greatest in Hampshire soils compared to that of Hobet and ii) that there will be a cultivar-specific root-associated microbiome that may drive previously observed greater, but differential yields across switchgrass cultivars at Hampshire. I found that reclamation strategy substantially impacts the switchgrass microbiome’s composition as well as its ability to acquire critical nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. I also found that a functionally, but not necessarily compositionally, unique microbiome exists in the root-associated soils compared to that of the bulk soil. Additionally, there were indicators that organic amendments to the topsoil may induce cultivar-specific soil microbiomes that mediate or facilitate differential yields within Hampshire. Taken together, I suggest that organic amendments to the topsoil during reclamation selects for a cultivar-specific microbiome more adept to acquiring critical nutrients and thus, increases aboveground productivity

Evaluating scale to achieve optimal image classification accuracy in New Hampshire forests

New England forest complexity creates obstacles for land cover classification using satellite imagery. New methodologies such as object-oriented image analysis exhibit potential to improve classification. Although these methods have proven more accurate than traditional methods, it has been unclear what resolution yields the most accurate classification. As high resolution imagery increases classification difficulty and lower resolutions may not provide sufficiently detailed maps, this study explored the use of object-oriented classification to classify several resolutions of satellite imagery (Landsat TM, SPOT, IKONOS) at various spatial scales. Although Landsat TM imagery yielded the highest accuracy, all classification results were unacceptable for practical use. While classification was inaccurate, segmentation successfully delineated forest stands. A comparison of 1-foot resolution aerial photography and 4-meter resolution IKONOS imagery demonstrated little agreement between segmentation of individual tree canopies. This study indicates that finer resolution imagery is needed for segmentation and classification of individual trees

Divorce Mediation and its Impact on Children

The percentage of children experiencing divorce in the United States and around the world has dramatically increased in the last fifty years and currently affects one million children every year. Divorce mediation can be helpful and beneficial for families when resolving emotional and familial conflict, which could decrease the negative effects divorce can have on children. This research aims to address the decision making process that mediators use when deciding to include children in the mediation process. A qualitative study was conducted, in which professional mediators were interviewed regarding the decision making process used to determine whether or not children are included in the mediation process. Data were analyzed and coded using inductive grounded theory. Significant similarities between the literature and findings included mediators providing education to parents, parents deciding whether or not to include children in mediation, and the age of the child impacting the inclusion of the child in mediation. These findings were linked to research, but provided an additional focus on the age of children, how mediators can be mindful of children’s developmental levels and how that would affect how and when they are included in the mediation process. Further research is needed to determine how mediators are being trained to work with children and provide developmentally appropriate and competent services