Research in rural education is alive and well; the chapters in this book demonstrate that researchers are doing rural education work that is both rigorous and responsive to (and inclusive of) the communities in which it takes place. They are addressing a broad range of meaningful research questions and using multiple methods to approach the challenges inherent in rural research. In addition, these chapters call us to action to continuously improve our own research work and dissemination. In this final chapter we suggest some lessons for rural researchers taken from the work presented in the book, including the importance of explaining how rural context affected the conduct of the research, considering multidimensional risk in rural environments, including a variety of stakeholders in research partnerships, trying rigorous designs even with small samples, being realistic about rural recruiting costs, and preparing for sustainability after studies end.
Chapter
Detection of Demographics and Identity in Spontaneous Speech and Writing
This chapter focuses on the automatic identification of demographic traits and identity in both speech and writing.
Methods of Association and Dissociation for Establishing Selective Brain-Behavior Relations
Methods for identifying and understanding brain structure–function relations have evolved over the past century, from astute observations of selective impairments associated with focal brain damage to dissociations measured by combining quantitative neuropsychologic assessment and brain imaging. Enhanced spatial and temporal resolution in brain imaging modalities has led to refined visualization and quantification of the brain’s substructures, microstructural integrity, and functional connectivity of neural networks. The double dissociation model has been a gold standard used to demonstrate that a particular cognitive, emotional, sensory, or motor process is selectively related to a particular brain region or neural network and not to others. This model has provided a fruitful means for testing hypotheses of functional localization and enabled examination and establishment of component processes contributing to complex cognitive and motor functions, parsing multifactorial behaviors and identifying brain regions, and networks subserving these complex abilities. In this chapter we discuss the evolution of the dissociation model and highlight how the modifications of this model are used presently to establish selective brain–behavior relationships in disorders such as chronic alcoholism with a neuropathologic signature but no localizable, space-occupying lesion.
Controlling Haematophagous Insects: The Quality-of-Life Scenario
This chapter highlights the financial and psychological impact of haematophagous insects in urban environments, using bedbugs as an example. The utility of strategies for vector control in the management of haematophagous insects is also discussed.
Authentic Student Work Samples Support Formative Assessment in Middle School
Examination of how Assessment Work Sample Method (AWSM) professional development (PD) impacts teacher practice of mathematics formative assessment.
Navigating the Future of Afterschool Science: Afterschool Science Networks Study Recommendations
SRI’s Afterschool Science Networks (ASN) study provides new insights and empirical findings regarding the offering of science learning opportunities at scale.
Identifying User Demographic Traits through Virtual-World Language Use
The paper presents approaches for identifying real-world demographic attributes based on language use in the virtual world.
Deuterium Protection of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids against Lipid Peroxidation: A Novel Approach to Mitigating Mitochondrial Neurological Diseases
Oxidative stress is associated with numerous neurological disorders. Mitochondrial malfunction contributes to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in proximity to mitochondrial membranes rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). ROS initiate PUFA autoxidation, a chain reaction that alters membrane fluidity and promotes toxic reactive carbonyl products (RCP) that damage proteins and DNA. Due to the stochastic nature of ROS generation, increased antioxidants cannot prevent such injury. However, deuterium-for-hydrogen substitution at bis-allylic sites reduces the rate-limiting step of autoxidation and results in inhibition of the subsequent PUFA oxidation chain reaction, decreasing toxic RCP levels. We propose a novel approach, using such isotopic reinforcement, to alleviate oxidative injury and have pre-clinical evidence demonstrating neuroprotection in an oxidative stress model of Parkinson’s disease. We hypothesize that site-specific PUFA deuteration will mitigate progression of degeneration in other disorders that manifest oxidative injury either as a primary or secondary insult.