High and Dry: An Economic Analysis of Drug Use in Dry Counties

This paper focuses on how alcohol prohibition affects the drug seeking behaviors of citizens in dry counties. Dry counties are counties that do not permit the production or sale of alcohol and are typically found in Southern states only. This paper analyzes the relationship between dry county laws and three different drug incident measures in order to get a better picture of the unintended consequences of modern alcohol prohibition in the states of Alabama, Arkansas and Kentucky. To estimate drug related events I used the seizure of production sites used to make methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs, as reported by the Drug Enforcement Administration as well as measurements for possession of marijuana and possession of crack/cocaine according to the Uniform Crime Statistics for each state. The results of the analyses offer some interesting insights into drug seeking behavior in relation to alcohol prohibition. It finds that the seizure of production sites used to make methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs is significantly higher in dry counties than in wet counties in all states used in the analysis. This variable represents the relationship of drug supply with alcohol supply and finds that the two are substitutes. For the demand of drugs, the relationship was the opposite for both substances used in the analysis: crack/cocaine and marijuana. This suggests that these non-synthetic drugs have a complementary relationship with alcohol permissive laws for consumers

The Effects of Teaching Prefix Meaning and a Strategy to Derive Word Meaning on a Prefix Vocabulary Test and Sentence Comprehension Test for Middle School Students with Learning Disabilities

Previous researchers have concluded that there is a need for determining how vocabulary instruction effects vocabulary comprehension and reading comprehension for young learners. Researchers have implemented morphemic strategies in various studies to identify effective methods for vocabulary instruction. In the present study, four prefixes were taught to students with disabilities to extend vocabulary research by using a morphological approach with a focus on prefix instruction. In addition students were taught how to combine the meaning of a prefix to the meaning of a root word. Data patterns indicate an increase in students\u27 ability to provide definitions for prefixed words while the transfer to reading comprehension was minimal. The results of this study provide direction for future research in implementing a morphemic approach for vocabulary instruction

Evaluation of Helical Piles as Anchors for Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Foundation Systems

The development of floating offshore wind energy is essential for growth of the renewable energy industry, and to decrease the reliance on fossil fuels and emission of greenhouse gasses. Advances in ease of construction and installation of turbines can make the floating offshore wind industry more marketable and feasible on a large scale; this can in part be achieved by innovation in foundation anchoring systems. This thesis presents an evaluation of helical pile foundations for offshore deep-water application as anchors for floating offshore wind systems with catenary mooring lines in clay and sandy soils. This research outlines the influence of helical geometry, angle of installation and pile group effects on helical pile capacity and required installation torque. Axial capacities were determined using Terzaghi’s general bearing capacity equations, lateral capacities were determined using American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice and required installation torque was estimated using a Cone Penetration Test based system of equations. Models of semisubmersible and spar buoy floating offshore wind turbine platforms with single-line and multiline catenary mooring systems were used to generate expected anchor loads for design. Given the variance in functionality, both single piles and pile groups of four and nine were considered in 5 the analysis. Load conditions and pile configurations were compared to suction caissons and evaluated for efficiency and ease of construction. The use of a spar buoy platform and multiline system decreased the required helical pile size compared to a semisubmersible platform and a single-line mooring system. Helical piles designed for sand were smaller in size compared to helical piles in clay due to greater strength of the sand. Individual helical piles designed for pile groups were smaller in overall geometry than single piles, where battered helical pile groups were lighter and vertical helical pile groups were heavier than single piles in terms of net weight. However, smaller helical piles required a fraction of the torque needed to install the larger, single helical piles. For efficiency in terms of capacity per unit weight, single and groups of helical piles are more efficient than suction caissons, using less steel to produce the same capacity. For catenary line systems the helix of a vertically installed helical pile does not contribute to lateral load resistance but it does provide a means for potentially quieter installation compared to driven piles

Teacher Questions in the Classroom: The Effects of Using a Low- to High-Level Questioning Sequence on the Text-Based Reading Comprehension Outcomes of Low-Performing Students

Teacher questioning may be an effective instructional procedure for building students’ reading comprehension. Strategically asking questions at two different levels, low-level (text explicit) and high-level (text implicit), may be needed to assist students to engage in higher order thinking skills. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a low- to high-level questioning sequence without or with linking prompts on the text-based reading comprehension outcomes of fifth-grade students who evidenced poor reading comprehension. A secondary analysis was used to determine whether the questioning sequence was effective regardless of students’ interest in the narrative stories used in the reading lessons. Eleven fifth-grade students across three groups participated in this repeated measures study that consisted of two reading comprehension measures: response quantity and comprehension accuracy. In addition, a multiple baseline design was applied across the lowest-performing students (n= 5). Groups of students engaged in reading lessons where one condition consisted of the low- to high-level questioning sequence and the other condition consisted of high-level questions only. Student outcomes for both reading comprehension measures were assessed immediately following each reading lesson. All students completed a student interest survey to identify their preference for the narrative stories. Students increased the quantity and accuracy of their responses when the questioning sequence with linking prompts was implemented. This result was also found for four of the five lowest-performing students. Further, the questioning intervention was effective for increasing students’ performance on both reading comprehension measures regardless of student interest in the narrative stories. Students preferred the high-level questions only condition but indicated that the low- to high-level questioning sequences helped them remember the stories better. Students also reported that they were better readers and liked reading the stories out loud in small groups, but had mixed ratings about leaving their classrooms to participate in the study. Potential confounds and limitations of the study are discussed, specifically regarding the elements of the low- to high-level questioning sequences and study procedures as well as the need to further develop reading comprehension measures and student interest measures. Considerations for future investigations are also discussed

Chapter 9 Informing Practice Through Collaboration: Listening to Colonising Histories and Aboriginal Music

This chapter describes an interdisciplinary and intercultural method for writing about historical performances of music and dance by Aboriginal people, and to inform collaborative performances with Aboriginal musicians. It discusses an approach of listening to history through current Indigenous knowledges, and interrogates how seeking to understand the continuities and disruptions of culture through the experiences of living Aboriginal people allows for new interpretations of archival sources. In combining Indigenous knowledges with historical methods, the chapter responds to Aileen Moreton Robinson's (2000) critique of scholarly approaches that contrast the ‘traditional’ and ‘contemporary’ Aboriginal subject, while erasing ongoing colonising influences. The chapter presents a song as methodology and practice, to sing up story and knowledges from history in the present

The Impact of Probabilistic Classifiers on Appointment Scheduling with No-Shows

Appointment no-shows are common in outpatient clinics and increase clinic costs and patients’ dissatisfaction. We develop a framework to predict the no-show probabilities of a given set of patients, and to subsequently employ these predictions to find the optimal appointment schedule. Some existing work assumes that all patients have the same no-show probability (1-class approach); other work assumes that patients have either a low or a high no-show probability (2-class approach). In contrast, we utilize probabilistic classifiers to obtain the individual patients’ no-show probabilities (N-class approach). Our approach results in better-quality schedules, as measured by a weighted average of patient waiting time and provider overtime. We also find that a small increase in the prediction performance (measured by the Brier score) translates into a large decrease in the schedule cost. Our results are obtained through a large-scale computational study and validated on a real-world data set from an outpatient clinic

Implementation of a Smoking Cessation Program in a Multidisciplinary Clinic

Tobacco use remains the solitary, most preventable cause of death and secondary disease among patients in the United States (US). Health-related smoking costs are in an excess of $300 billion yearly (CDC, 2018). Addressing this global, public health concern is vital in order to attempt to reduce unnecessary smoking-related comorbid conditions and death. This project is important to scholarly nursing practice in order to reduce smoking-related Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbations, reduce carbon monoxide (CO) levels, and reduce dyspnea on exertion (DOE) among current primary care smokers. The expectations of this project are for the doctoral of nursing practice (DNP) student to implement a personalized, clinic-based smoking cessation program to reduce nicotine dependence in order to reduce the harmful outcomes of smoking and to improve the patient’s quality of life

Virtual OSCE Solutions for Nurse Practitioner Students During COVID

This presentation discusses the Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) utilized for evaluating the clinical skills of graduating nursing students. The OSCE method assesses clinical competency in a structured manner with an emphasis on objectivity. The framework involves multiple stations where students rotate and perform designated tasks for assessment in healthcare disciplines

Chapter 9 Informing Practice Through Collaboration: Listening to Colonising Histories and Aboriginal Music

This chapter describes an interdisciplinary and intercultural method for writing about historical performances of music and dance by Aboriginal people, and to inform collaborative performances with Aboriginal musicians. It discusses an approach of listening to history through current Indigenous knowledges, and interrogates how seeking to understand the continuities and disruptions of culture through the experiences of living Aboriginal people allows for new interpretations of archival sources. In combining Indigenous knowledges with historical methods, the chapter responds to Aileen Moreton Robinson's (2000) critique of scholarly approaches that contrast the ‘traditional’ and ‘contemporary’ Aboriginal subject, while erasing ongoing colonising influences. The chapter presents a song as methodology and practice, to sing up story and knowledges from history in the present

Benefits of Individualized Weight Loss Program in the Overweight Adult Population in Primary Care

The purpose of this project was to increase health by implementing a personalized, clinic-based weight loss program for overweight/obese patients leading to a decrease in weight, BMI, and waist circumference and an increase in muscle mass by using resistance training (RT) exercises as an adjunct to diet, therefore helping to decrease comorbidities associated with obesity. This project aimed to use strength training exercises as an adjunct therapy to lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, counseling) to decrease body weight by 8 pounds, decrease BMI by at least 1%, decrease waist circumference by at least 1 inch, and increase muscle mass percentage by at least 1% among overweight/obese adults within two months of intervention. The project was successful in helping participants to decrease weight and BMI but was unsuccessful in reducing waist circumference or increasing muscle mass.https://jagworks.southalabama.edu/scholarsday2023_spring-posters/1006/thumbnail.jp