Sweet Peppers

Sweet peppers are available year round, but taste the best and are less expensive during the summer

Preserve the Harvest: Peaches

This fact sheet provides information for preserving peaches. It includes selection and preparation, freezing peaches, canning peaches, canning peach nectar/puree, canning pie filling, jams, jellies, preserves, drying peaches, nutrition and storage

Avian Ecology During Oak Savanna and Woodland Restoration in the Mid-South

Disturbance-dependent ecosystems in the eastern United States have been declining since European settlement, and, in recent years, early-successional species have followed. My objective for this research was to determine if oak savanna and woodland restoration (i.e., overstory thinning and prescribed fire) was a viable method of recovering declining earlysuccessional species to the landscape of the Mid-South. At 3 sites, Catoosa Wildlife Management Area (CWMA; Tennessee), Green River Game Lands (GRGL; North Carolina), and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL; Tennessee), oak savanna and woodland restoration projects were established and maintained. Closed-canopy stands were thinned and a 2-year burn schedule was implemented. In Chapter One, I present on nest- and stand-level vegetation metrics associated with Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor) nest survival and nest-site selection at CWMA 7 years after canopy disturbance and consistent burning. In 2015 and 2016, Prairie Warblers had average nest success (0.937 ± 0.007) compared with other studies and selected for increased herbaceous groundcover around the nest compared with available habitat. Nest survival in 2015 was lower than in 2016. A positive trend between groundcover and nest survival was found. In Chapter Two, I describe nest- and stand-level vegetation metrics associated with Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) nest survival and nest-site selection at CWMA 7 years after canopy disturbance and consistent burning. Red-headed Woodpeckers had very high nest success (84.1%) compared with other studies and selected nest sites with greater herbaceous groundcover, dead basal area, and midstory density (in 2016) compared with available habitat. A negative trend was found between nest survival and live basal area. In Chapter Three, I describe vegetation metrics (herbaceous groundcover, live and dead basal area, and midstory density) influencing 28 bird species’ abundances at CWMA, GRGL, and LBL 2010–2012 and 2014–2016. Moderate to high amounts of disturbance were associated with increased populations of early-successional species while low to moderate amounts of disturbance either did not affect or were positively associated with populations of most mature forest species. Oak savanna and woodland restoration is a viable method to increase populations of early-successional bird species while retaining most mature forest species

Stroke Symptom Identification Tool for Hospitalized Patients in a Rural Setting

Thousands of persons in the United States yearly suffer acute large vessel occlusion stroke (LVO). Caring for these individuals with strokes and the ensuing issues increases healthcare dollars. In underserved, rural communities, there is a dire need for improved methods to access care for these individuals. A 3-month evidence-based practice (EBP) project was conducted in a small rural town in Virginia with one of the state’s highest rates of acute stroke. Nurses in the rural hospital voluntarily participated in an educational program on recognizing acute stroke and utilizing the Vision, Aphasia, Neglect (VAN) assessment tool. The participants (N-15) were asked to complete pre- and post-questionnaires on stroke and VAN knowledge. In addition, the nurses completed a Likert confidence scale and a subjective evaluation at the end of the 12 weeks. Nurses were given a badge card and a smartphone application to help remind them of the VAN assessment. Following the educational program, the participants had a 7.5% increase in knowledge. After the 3-month intervention, the overall knowledge retention was only 1.7%, thus a 5.8 percent decrease in knowledge retention. According to the Likert scale and subjective data, the nurse’s comfort level with recognizing patients who could be suffering from an acute LVO stroke increased. The data confirms that educating the nursing staff is crucial in recognizing new acute stroke symptoms in their patient population. VAN assessment tools, badge cards, and smartphone applications are effective interventions that need frequent re-education and reinforcement of learning concepts to increase the recognition of acute LVO stroke symptoms in the patient population

TESTING A MODEL OF HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN PERSONS WITH HIV AND LIVER DISEASE

Persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are living longer and therefore are more likely to suffer significant morbidity due to potentially treatable liver diseases. Liver diseases alone have been shown to have a significant negative effect on one's health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Clinical evidence suggests that persons living with HIV and liver disease, a growing number of individuals, may have a poorer HRQOL than persons living with HIV who do not have liver disease. Thus, this study examined the multiple components of HRQOL by testing Wilson and Cleary's model in persons with HIV and in persons living with HIV and liver disease using structural equation modeling. This secondary analysis used de-identified baseline and medical record review data from a parent study testing interventions to improve medication adherence in persons living with HIV (R01 NR04749). The Wilson and Cleary model components include: biological/physiological factors (HIV viral load, CD4 counts), symptom status (Beck Depression Inventory II, Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey [MOS-HIV] mental function), functional status (missed appointments, MOS-HIV physical function), general health perceptions (Perceived burden visual analogue scale, MOS-HIV health transition), and overall QOL (Satisfaction with Life Scale, MOS-HIV overall QOL). Characteristics of the individual and environment were also explored. The Wilson and Cleary (1995) model was found to be useful in linking clinical indicators to patient-related outcomes. The findings provide the foundation for development and future testing of a targeted bio-behavioral nursing intervention to improve HRQOL in persons living with HIV and liver disease

Data Processing for the Upward Bound Program

The Upward Bound Program at Ouachita began in 1966 and since then until the present date the only source of information about an Upward Bound participant was his file folder. Working with Dr. Charles Chambliss, Mr. John Small and Mr. Bill Allen, I worked to put Upward Bound on Data Processing. This process entailed (1) deciding on the information that would be recorded on the data cards (2) deciding on the placement of the information on the card (3) setting up a code sheet for the information (4) designing a form containing the coded information would be used by the keypunch operator to punch the data cards (5) going to the Upward Bound folder and gathering the information needed (6) coding the forms (7) keypunching the data cards and (8) getting a computer printout of the information contained in the new Upward Bound data file

Radiopharmaceuticals and the PET probe in the detection of Ductal Carcinoma in situ of the breast

The use of a hand-held positron emission tomography (PET) probe during breast surgery can potentially reduce the rate of second operations, having a number of implications. The PET probe tested in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) surgery demonstrated to be 96.5% accurate when compared to pathology. This research examines the current technology available, the epidemiology of DCIS in Western Australia, testing of the radiopharmaceutical used with the probe and the PET probe itself