WhenThe Birds Are Singing In The Springtime

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/4508/thumbnail.jp

Cognitive Health And African American Elders Study: Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices

A substantial body of literature suggests that cognitive impairment disproportionately affects African Americans. To date, research has uncovered disturbing racial disparities associated with the prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia and found prevalence rates of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to be higher among African Americans (Potter et al., 2009). Furthermore, a 2002 report from the Alzheimer’s Association described AD in the African American community as an “emerging public health crisis”. This dissertation examined the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) associated with the promotion of cognitive health among a sample of 120 African American women aged 65 and older. Knowledge pertains to knowledge about AD risk and protective factors, and concern and susceptibility to AD. Attitudes pertain to attitudes about the importance and ability to maintain cognitive health. Practices pertain to engagement in physical activities and brain training exercises linked to optimal cognitive health. Based on the Theory of Fundamental Causes, the study postulated a positive relationship between SES, as measured by education level and income, and KAP on subjective cognitive health. Specifically, the study hypothesized that high SES individuals will have greater knowledge about cognitive decline, more positive attitudes about maintaining their cognitive health, and will be more likely to participate in activities that promote cognitive health relative to low SES individuals. The KAP domains were measured using existing validated scales adapted for the study. Factor analyses were conducted to create KAP scales and subscales. Regression analyses were conducted and all models controlled for age and marital status. Models for SES and KAP indicated that: (1) age is negatively associated with knowledge about protective and risk factors for AD, (2) age is negatively associated with attitudes about cognitive decline, (3) income is negatively associated with barriers to healthy eating, (4) age and income were predictive of engagement in physical activity and (5) marital status and education were predictive of engagement in brain training exercise. While SES was not a significant predictor in the models for SES, KAP and subjective cognitive health, findings indicates that concern and susceptibility to AD; healthy eating practices, and physical activity are predictors of subjective cognitive health

Down In The Little Mossy Dell

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/5176/thumbnail.jp

The Impact of Teacher Absenteeism and Teacher Characteristics on Third through Eighth Grade Achievement in Language Arts and Mathematics

This study examined the relationship between teacher absenteeism and teacher characteristics on third through eighth grade achievement as measured by the Mississippi Curriculum Test 2 (MCT2) language arts and mathematics assessment. School year 2012-2013 yearly assessment scores for 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students in 1 school district in the State of Mississippi were analyzed to determine if teachers’ rate of absenteeism, age, gender, years of teaching experience, degree and certification influenced student academic achievement. This study was guided by 5 research questions and employed 2 research designs. Correlational research was used to answer research question 1, 4 and 5. Question 1 sought to determine the differences in the magnitude of the relationships between teacher absences and student achievement across schools and grade levels. Questions 4 and 5 sought to determine how accurately teachers’ rate of absenteeism, age, gender, years of teaching experience, degree and certification predicted 3rd through 8th grade student achievement in language arts and mathematics. Questions 2 and 3 were answered using a causal-comparative research design to determine the differences in MCT2 scores of students in Grades 3-8 whose teachers missed 5 or fewer days and students whose teacher missed more than 5 days of school. The findings of this study indicated that there was a small relationship between teacher absences and achievement across grade levels and schools. In addition findings indicated that teacher absences did not impact student achievement in language arts; however; findings revealed that teacher absences had a negative impact in student achievement in mathematics. Finally, age, degree and certification were predictors of student achievement in language and mathematics. The study concludes with recommendations for future research

The Georgia Cracker

Woman\u27s face with roses in hair extending from cracking circlehttps://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/cht-sheet-music/11431/thumbnail.jp

The Impact of Teacher Absenteeism and Teacher Characteristics on Third through Eighth Grade Achievement in Language Arts and Mathematics

This study examined the relationship between teacher absenteeism and teacher characteristics on third through eighth grade achievement as measured by the Mississippi Curriculum Test 2 (MCT2) language arts and mathematics assessment. School year 2012-2013 yearly assessment scores for 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students in 1 school district in the State of Mississippi were analyzed to determine if teachers’ rate of absenteeism, age, gender, years of teaching experience, degree and certification influenced student academic achievement. This study was guided by 5 research questions and employed 2 research designs. Correlational research was used to answer research question 1, 4 and 5. Question 1 sought to determine the differences in the magnitude of the relationships between teacher absences and student achievement across schools and grade levels. Questions 4 and 5 sought to determine how accurately teachers’ rate of absenteeism, age, gender, years of teaching experience, degree and certification predicted 3rd through 8th grade student achievement in language arts and mathematics. Questions 2 and 3 were answered using a causal-comparative research design to determine the differences in MCT2 scores of students in Grades 3-8 whose teachers missed 5 or fewer days and students whose teacher missed more than 5 days of school. The findings of this study indicated that there was a small relationship between teacher absences and achievement across grade levels and schools. In addition findings indicated that teacher absences did not impact student achievement in language arts; however; findings revealed that teacher absences had a negative impact in student achievement in mathematics. Finally, age, degree and certification were predictors of student achievement in language and mathematics. The study concludes with recommendations for future research

Consumer Racial Profiling in U.S. Restaurants: Exploring Subtle Forms of Service Discrimination against Black Diners

In this paper we advance scholarship on consumer racial profiling (CRP), in general, and the practice as it occurs in restaurant establishments, in particular, by presenting findings from a survey of restaurant consumers that was designed to ascertain the degree to which discriminate service is evident in Black and White customers’ perceptions and evaluations of their servers’ behaviors. We found no evidence of interracial differences in subjects’ perceptions of being the recipients of subtle server behaviors that are discretionally conveyed (e.g., recommend entrée, compliment food choice, joke with, etc.) or those that constitute standard markers of service quality (e.g., eye contact, smiling, expressing appreciation, etc.). We did, however, find some evidence of CRP in customers’ perceptions of their servers’ attentiveness/promptness. Additionally, we found that African Americans’ tend to subjectively appraise their servers’ performance less favorably than their White counterparts and this is the case even when other indicators of service quality are held constant. Findings taken as a whole suggest that servers’ extend similar cues of hospitality but do so in qualitatively different ways (e.g., less sincere) across racial groups. We discuss the implications of these findings and conclude by encouraging additional scholarship on the subtle nature of racial discriminatio

Activity of the Carbonyl Group of 4, 7-Dimethyl Indanone - 1

The general rule may be drawn that ketones in which the carbonyl group is directly attached to the ring will not react with the usual reagents (hydroxylamine, phenyl-hydrazine, etc.) if the two ortho positions of the ring are occupied by methyl groups. Nothing, however, was known about this effect in the indanones substituted in the 7 position. In these ketones free rotation about the bond between the carbonyl group and the ring is prevented and the increased opportunity for resonance might influence the steric effect. The ketone 4, 7-dimcthyl indanone-1, in which one ortho position is occupied by a methyl group and the other by the end of aliphatic ring, was prepared. It readily formed an oxime (m.p. 175.5 - 177.5° C), a semicarbazone (decomposed 215 - 221° C) and a phenyl-hydrazone (m.p. 99- 101° C)

Determining whether mate-searching males use directional information from female signals in Umbonia crassicornis

Abstract only availableVibrational communication is widespread in insect social and ecological interactions. In fact, it has been estimated that thousands of insect species use vibrational signals as a primary source of communication. During many interactions, such as courtship and predator encounters, it is necessary for individuals to locate the source of the vibrational signal. Although localization of this sort is important, the mechanisms that small insects use to locate the source of the vibrational signal are not known. We are studying mate localization in thornbug treehoppers, Umbonia crassicornis. These are small sap-feeding insects in which mate-searching males produce vibrational signals that are transmitted along the stems and leaves of their host plant during courtship. First, the male produces a vibrational signal that is detected by the female. The female responds with her own vibration, creating a duet which is repeated until the male reaches the female. We hypothesize that the female's vibrational signals provide directional information to searching males. In order to test this hypothesis, we recorded the routes traveled and decisions made by mate-searching males as well as audio of the male-female duets. Our preliminary data suggest that female signals do influence the paths that males take to find females. Our results will guide future research on the actual mechanisms used by treehoppers to determine the direction of a substrate vibration and will continue to provide important insights into insect social behavior, ecology, and evolution.NSF Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biolog

Determining whether mate-searching males use directional information from female signals in Umbonia crassicornis

Abstract only availableVibrational communication is widespread in insect social and ecological interactions. In fact, it has been estimated that thousands of insect species use vibrational signals as a primary source of communication. During many interactions, such as courtship and predator encounters, it is necessary for individuals to locate the source of the vibrational signal. Although localization of this sort is important, the mechanisms that small insects use to locate the source of the vibrational signal are not known. We are studying mate localization in thornbug treehoppers, Umbonia crassicornis (Hemiptera: Membracidae). These are small sap-feeding insects in which mate-searching males produce vibrational signals that are transmitted along the stems and leaves of their host plant during courtship. First, the male produces a vibrational signal that is detected by the female. The female responds with her own vibration, creating a duet which is repeated until the male reaches the female. We hypothesize that the female's vibrational signals provide directional information to searching males. In order to test this hypothesis, we recorded the routes traveled and decisions made by mate-searching males as well as audio of the male-female duets. Our preliminary data suggest that female signals do influence the paths that males take to find females. Our results will guide future research on the actual mechanisms used by treehoppers to determine the direction of a substrate vibration and will continue to provide important insights into insect social behavior, ecology, and evolution.NSF Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biolog