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Activity Patterns Among Head-Started Juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii), Parker R. Golliglee Jan 2022

Activity Patterns Among Head-Started Juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii), Parker R. Golliglee

MSU Graduate Theses

In contrast to many species of aquatic turtle, Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) are putatively nocturnal. Data supporting this assertion are chiefly anecdotal, however, and two recent studies cast doubt on this generalization. Differences in activity patterns may be related to variability in temperature and photoperiod across the species’ range and may be influenced by ontogenetic changes, as well. To assess this, I equipped juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles spanning a range of different ages with activity data loggers. I used 4-year-old turtles were to measure latitudinal differences in activity which were reared in hatchery ponds spanning the species’ …


On The Chromatic Numbers Of Subgroup Lattices, Jacob C. Miles Jan 2022

On The Chromatic Numbers Of Subgroup Lattices, Jacob C. Miles

MSU Graduate Theses

In this thesis we investigate the chromatic number of the Hasse diagram of a subgroup lattice. We combine results of Bollobás and Tůma to show that there exist infnite groups whose subgroup lattices have arbitarily high chromatic numbers. We show that fnite supersolvable groups have bipartite subgroup lattices but that CLT and non-solvable groups may not have bipartite subgroup lattices. Lastly, we give a preliminary argument suggesting that there are an infnite number of non-solvable groups whose subgroup lattices are bipartite.


England's Fairest Creatures, Madison Hart Jan 2022

England's Fairest Creatures, Madison Hart

MSU Graduate Theses

Set in 1616 Jacobean England, surrounding a tragic chamber pot incident, the place setting of the small fishing town of Lechlade, England, begins our story. From generations of fisherman, Elias Eaton, is the first Eaton not to bear a son. Instead, his fierce daughter in her mid-twenties, Julia, our protagonist, helps her father at the docks daily. Although Julia is a champion for women of her time, she dreams of there being something more out there for her than the town that has shackled Eatons for centuries. Julia’s mother, Sybil, is the daughter to the town baker. Her literate father …


A Comparison Of The Magnitude Of The Mental Health Benefits Of Exercising Outdoors Vs Exercising Indoors: A Review, Greta M. Rueschmann Jan 2022

A Comparison Of The Magnitude Of The Mental Health Benefits Of Exercising Outdoors Vs Exercising Indoors: A Review, Greta M. Rueschmann

MSU Graduate Theses

Many people in the United States suffer from poor mental health which can lead to suicide, self-harm, or negative effects on job performance and relationships. Not everyone can afford traditional therapy nor feels comfortable with it. With a greater emphasis placed on taking care of one’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, there should also be a greater emphasis placed on finding alternative types of therapy that can be matched to individuals based on their personalities and preferences. One such alternative is outdoor exercise. This review was conducted to examine whether exercising or performing physical activity outdoors results in greater …


It’S Still Hot In Here: Exploring The Relationship Between Incentivization And Climate Related Behaviors To Combat Climate Change, Meredith T. Matthews Jan 2022

It’S Still Hot In Here: Exploring The Relationship Between Incentivization And Climate Related Behaviors To Combat Climate Change, Meredith T. Matthews

MSU Graduate Theses

Consumer behavior continues to play a centralized role in the anthropogenic (i.e., human) factors causing exponentiated rates of climate change at a global scale. The present study utilized a mixed-method research design which combined components from both quantitative and qualitative research. The purpose of the mixed-methods study was to examine the extent to which self-monitoring and incentivization through extra credit in a graduate psychology course would impact participants pro or anti-climate behaviors using two commercially available applications. In the primary study, eight participants selected from a graduate psychology course at Missouri State University completed a combined intervention including self-monitoring of …


The Examination And Evaluation Of The Public Foster Care System's Attachment-Based Intervention And Trainings For Foster Parents In The West North Division Of The Midwestern States, Brooke T. Crowell Jan 2022

The Examination And Evaluation Of The Public Foster Care System's Attachment-Based Intervention And Trainings For Foster Parents In The West North Division Of The Midwestern States, Brooke T. Crowell

MSU Graduate Theses

The effectiveness of many foster parent training curricula in the United States foster care system is basically unknown (Adkins et al., 2018). Furthermore, there is little to no research that indicate when and how attachment-focused interventions and trainings are being implemented in the United States. Thus, the initial purpose of this study was to examine and evaluate interventions and trainings pertaining to attachment that exist throughout the United States public foster care system. As this study progressed however, the purpose shifted to answering this question: How is the Midwest foster care system training staff and foster parents on issues of …


Optimizing The Fluorescent Quantum Yield Of Carbon Dots, Megan B. Prado Jan 2022

Optimizing The Fluorescent Quantum Yield Of Carbon Dots, Megan B. Prado

MSU Graduate Theses

Carbon dots (CDs) are a subclass of carbon nanomaterials that exhibit unique properties of fluorescence, photostability, low toxicity, and biocompatibility. These unique properties have enabled numerous applications including biosensing, heavy-metal detection, and pH-sensing, among others. Their optical properties can be modified via doping to produce increasingly fluorescent CDs after appropriate purification. Herein, doped CDs were synthesized in four bottom-up methods for comparison using sucrose or citric acid as carbon precursors. Varying hetero-atom dopants (N, S, B) were used in differing molar ratios. The pH-dependent fluorescence and fluorescent quantum yield (QY) were measured for each sample. Characterization was conducted using Fourier-Transform …


Factors Leading To Worry And Helpful Supports During The Transition To Middle School, Kearstin Hofstetter Jan 2022

Factors Leading To Worry And Helpful Supports During The Transition To Middle School, Kearstin Hofstetter

MSU Graduate Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the worries that students encounter and to explore students’ perceptions of the helpfulness of specific supports when transitioning to middle school. It gives insight to schools, parents, future students, and administrators, which can help them create better resources, programs, and tools to support students during this transition. The research questions were: Which factors lead students to worry most during the transition to middle school? Which supports do students think would be most beneficial to assist with the middle school transition? This mixed methods study gathered data through surveys from seventy 6th grade …


Review Of Current Reactive Force Field Potentials For Use In Simulating The Atomic Layer Deposition Of Alumina On Aluminum, Devon T. Romine Jan 2022

Review Of Current Reactive Force Field Potentials For Use In Simulating The Atomic Layer Deposition Of Alumina On Aluminum, Devon T. Romine

MSU Graduate Theses

Alumina has recently garnered quite a bit of attention for use as a tunnel barrier in Josephson tunnel junctions. The quality of the metal oxide layer in the Josephson tunnel junction is a key factor in its effectiveness. To optimize the deposition method of alumina, we need a deep understanding of the large-scale surface interactions that cannot be reached using ab initio molecular dynamics. In this study, I have compared two existing reactive force field (ReaxFF) parameters to determine their abilities to model the atomic layer deposition (ALD) of alumina on an aluminum surface. ReaxFF molecular dynamics was chosen because …


Tissue And Sex-Specific Rna Editing During Induced Acute Inflammation, Claire E. Nichols Jan 2022

Tissue And Sex-Specific Rna Editing During Induced Acute Inflammation, Claire E. Nichols

MSU Graduate Theses

A-to-I RNA editing is a process where select adenosine (A) nucleotides are deaminated by an editing enzyme, ADAR, to become inosines (I) in RNA transcripts. RNA editing can affect the sequence of the encoded protein and the regulation of the RNA. ADAR1 also plays a role in regulating innate immunity and its expression is upregulated during inflammation. Current data on the effects of increasing ADAR1 on RNA editing is limited, and most studies are completed only in male animals. We are interested in expanding RNA editing data to include female animals. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce acute inflammation and …


Effect Of Electrocochleography Stimulus Rate And Intensity On Identification Of Noise Induced Hidden Hearing Loss In Humans, Amanda E. Mccarthy Jan 2022

Effect Of Electrocochleography Stimulus Rate And Intensity On Identification Of Noise Induced Hidden Hearing Loss In Humans, Amanda E. Mccarthy

MSU Graduate Theses

Noise exposure has been known to cause both temporary and permanent shifts in hearing thresholds in humans. Animal and human studies have shown noise exposure to lead to damage to the ribbon synapses of the cochlea. This damage, referred to as noise induced hidden hearing loss (NIHHL), is not detectable with standard hearing assessments, though can be the cause of difficulties understanding speech in the presence of background noise. Recent studies have begun to explore the use of electrocochleography (ECochG) to detect this neural damage in humans. Such studies strive to aid in the development of a clinical tool for …


Intrasexual Territoriality, Degree Of Aggression, And Duet Function In The Carolina Wren (Thryothorus Ludovicianus), Danny Zapata Jan 2022

Intrasexual Territoriality, Degree Of Aggression, And Duet Function In The Carolina Wren (Thryothorus Ludovicianus), Danny Zapata

MSU Graduate Theses

Territorial behavior is fundamental for the reproductive success of many species. In many monogamous birds, mated pairs defend year-round territories from conspecifics. Males and females often participate in such interactions in a seemingly cooperative fashion. Furthermore, many of them have developed complex vocal interactions known as duets, in which one member of a pair overlaps its partner’s song in a more or less coordinated fashion, apparently to cooperate in territory defense. However, males and females often respond differently depending on the sex of the intruder; they differ in the degree and mode of aggression displayed during these interactions, and the …


Analysis Of Root System Architecture And Qtl Identification In Grapevines, Sujan Thapa Jan 2022

Analysis Of Root System Architecture And Qtl Identification In Grapevines, Sujan Thapa

MSU Graduate Theses

The root system of the plant plays a vital role in water and nutrient uptake. Native North American grapevines adapted to a broad range of climatic and soil conditions, which led to the evolution of diverse root system architecture (RSA) within the Vitis genus. Despite the importance of RSA in viticulture, little is known about the genetic basis of the RSA in grapevine. I used novel root phenotyping tool, RhizoVision Analyzer to characterize the root system of 208 genotypes of an F1 grapevine progeny obtained from a cross between Vitis rupestris Scheele B38 and Vitis riparia Michx. HP-1. Dormant …


An Exploratory Analysis Of Bias Formation, Prejudice, And Discrimination Through Contextual And Functional Similarities Using The Theoretical Framework Of Relational Density Theory, Elana Keissa Sickman Jan 2022

An Exploratory Analysis Of Bias Formation, Prejudice, And Discrimination Through Contextual And Functional Similarities Using The Theoretical Framework Of Relational Density Theory, Elana Keissa Sickman

MSU Graduate Theses

Behavior Analysis “attempts to improve the human condition through behavior change”, with behavior being the primary target (BACB, n.d.). However, considering the way people perceive, interact with, and establish relational frames within different contexts is widely misunderstood. Much of this research has expanded on the components found in Stimulus Equivalence (SE) and Relational Frame Theory (RFT) by providing a more modern approach to examining language and its treatment approach. Relational responding of individuals and groups may contribute to implicit biases, prejudice, and discrimination as well as how they operate within nested contingency systems. While critical theorists have provided foundations for …


Us Strategic Culture, Homeland Ballistic Missile Defense, And Mutual Vulnerability, Jacob T. Blank Jan 2022

Us Strategic Culture, Homeland Ballistic Missile Defense, And Mutual Vulnerability, Jacob T. Blank

MSU Graduate Theses

Strategic scholars have long understood the indispensable linkage between culture and security policymaking. By shaping the perceptions through which decision-makers formulate security policy, strategic culture analysis adds vital context to the perilously difficult science of understanding and predicting state security outputs. One area where this analytical framework fails to generate the expected result is American missile defense policy. Salient themes of US strategic culture, including an optimistic and problem-solving mindset, positive role of machines, and ahistorical exceptionalism, are reflected in the American way of war – a technologically driven, leadership casualty averse, moralistic, apolitical, and firepower focused enterprise. These factors …


Beyond The Veil, Alyssa K. Malloy Jan 2022

Beyond The Veil, Alyssa K. Malloy

MSU Graduate Theses

Three centuries after the Veil’s destruction reunited the land of Mishnal, archaeologists make a discovery in the wild Veiled Lands that will shed light on the cataclysmic event that changed the world forever. Through their analysis of the unearthed memories in the Veiled Lands and remnants of manuscripts penned by key governmental figures, we learn about Mina, a woman with demonic heritage who knows the only way to free herself of her oppressors is by her own clawed hands and the sharpened teeth that she knows can rend flesh from her victims. The first book of the Beyond the Veil …


Garlic Curing: Post-Harvest Nutrient Remobilization From Leaves To Cloves, Mary L. Books Jan 2022

Garlic Curing: Post-Harvest Nutrient Remobilization From Leaves To Cloves, Mary L. Books

MSU Graduate Theses

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is grown on small and large scales worldwide. After harvesting, garlic undergoes a drying process for long-term preservation, called curing. Some producers cure with leaves intact, while others will remove and discard the leaves, curing only the bulbs. Due to the ability of plants to remobilize nutrients from leaves to underground storage organs, such as bulbs, the curing method of garlic may affect clove nutrient content. This study explores nutrient remobilization responses in garlic when cured with leaves intact compared to leaves separated from bulbs. Four cultivars of garlic, German White, Chesnok Red, Romanian Red, and …


Examining The Effectiveness Of Khan Academy As An Instructional Tool In A Highschool Mathematics Course, Shane C. Kreller Jan 2022

Examining The Effectiveness Of Khan Academy As An Instructional Tool In A Highschool Mathematics Course, Shane C. Kreller

MSU Graduate Theses

With the many educational resources available to today’s educators, it is critical that educators utilize the best options to maximize instructional time and resources. With the widespread use of Khan Academy, it is worthwhile to examine if its most well-known attribute, its math program, is effective in improving student outcomes. This study examined if the use of Khan Academy in a high school math course would improve participating student scores over the course of a quarter marking period. The researcher anticipated that participating students would experience higher math scores and increased confidence in their ability to handle covered mathematical concepts.


The Comparison Of Three Different Fecal Egg Counting Techniques And Their Ability To Perform A Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test, Diana J. Summitt Jan 2022

The Comparison Of Three Different Fecal Egg Counting Techniques And Their Ability To Perform A Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test, Diana J. Summitt

MSU Graduate Theses

A comprehensive gastrointestinal parasite control program includes an understanding of common parasites, application of chemotherapeutic agents, as well as frequent and appropriate diagnostic testing. An effective control program is essential for facilities such as animal shelters, that deal with large populations of transient canines with unknown parasite exposure and deworming history. The identification of a sensitive flotation method to evaluate anthelmintic efficacy is critical in monitoring parasite populations for drug resistance. The objective of the current study was to compare three different fecal egg counting technologies and their ability to perform a fecal egg reduction test. The flotation techniques evaluated …


Cesarean Skin-To-Skin Contact: Who Gets The Experience In The Operating Room?, Jessica S. Junk-Wilson Jan 2022

Cesarean Skin-To-Skin Contact: Who Gets The Experience In The Operating Room?, Jessica S. Junk-Wilson

MSU Graduate Theses

For the past decade, skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth has been the general recommendation for all births, as there is evidence that it provides many benefits for mothers and infants. Yet, research has shown that immediate skin-to-skin contact is not the standard practice after most Cesarean births. This study assessed access, incidence, and circumstances surrounding Cesarean skin-to-skin contact (CSSC) in the operating room and examined influencing maternal characteristics of age, education, race, and number of births via a survey of 2327 people. Women who experienced a Cesarean section birth in the past 10 years were recruited through Facebook groups for …


The São Paulo Forum’S Armed Forces Agenda: Examining Venezuela And Brazil, David J. Guenni Bravo Jan 2022

The São Paulo Forum’S Armed Forces Agenda: Examining Venezuela And Brazil, David J. Guenni Bravo

MSU Graduate Theses

The São Paulo Forum (SPF) is a resilient ideological alliance that provides extremist public policy recommendations to formal political parties, social movements, and insurgent groups throughout the Western Hemisphere. Based on substantial evidence, this research project asserts that the SPF has successfully influenced the national security and defense policies of states in the Latin America & Caribbean (LAC) region. Analysis of two significant cases in South America shows that, after being elected to high office, SPF affiliates and their political parties/platforms sought transformation of their countries’ national security and defense sectors to conform to SPF positions. Given its extensive influence …


Intracellular Trafficking And Distribution Of Cd And Inp Quantum Dots In Hela And Ml-1 Thyroid Cancer Cells, Min Zhang Jan 2022

Intracellular Trafficking And Distribution Of Cd And Inp Quantum Dots In Hela And Ml-1 Thyroid Cancer Cells, Min Zhang

MSU Graduate Theses

The study of the interaction of engineered nanoparticles, including quantum dots (QDs), with cellular constituents and the kinetics of their localization and transport, has provided new insights into their biological consequences in cancers and for the development of effective cancer therapies. The present study aims to elucidate the toxicity and intracellular transport kinetics of CdSe/ZnS and InP/ZnS QDs in late-stage ML-1 thyroid cancer using well-tested HeLa cells as a control. The XTT viability assay showed that ML-1 cells, and non-cancerous mouse fibroblast cells, exhibit no viability defect in response to these QDs, whereas HeLa cell viability decreases. These results suggest …


The Impact Of Nato´S Ballistic Missile Defense Efforts On The Relationship With Russia, Christian Hofmann Jan 2022

The Impact Of Nato´S Ballistic Missile Defense Efforts On The Relationship With Russia, Christian Hofmann

MSU Graduate Theses

Strategic missile defense or anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems are considered deterrence by denial assets. The debate on the question if these systems stabilize or destabilize the balance of power between nuclear powers is still unresolved. This work reviews this impact using the example of the East – West relationship by focusing on NATO´s missile defense efforts. This is done in two parts. The first is a historical part, reviewing the East – West relationship during the Cold War based on strategic arsenals, crisis events and arms control talks related to missile defense developments. The second part reviews the development since …


Elucidating The Role Of Hemodynamic Force In Regulating The Attachment Of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (Vsmcs) To Maturing Vessels During Mouse Embryonic Development, Israt Jahan Jan 2022

Elucidating The Role Of Hemodynamic Force In Regulating The Attachment Of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (Vsmcs) To Maturing Vessels During Mouse Embryonic Development, Israt Jahan

MSU Graduate Theses

Blood vessel maturation is characterized by the recruitment and attachment of vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) around immature blood vessels, which ultimately form the tunica media. Improper maturation can lead to vascular birth defects ranging from minor birthmarks to lethal brain aneurysms. Previously, our lab demonstrated that hemodynamic force plays an important role to regulate vSMCs recruitment from neighboring low-flow to high-flow vessels followed by the attachment of these vSMCs to the high-flow vessels. To understand the reason for the preferred attachment of vSMCs to high-flow vessels, instead of low-flow vessels, I hypothesize that hemodynamic force modulates the expression of …


Crutches, James Preston Heil Jan 2022

Crutches, James Preston Heil

MSU Graduate Theses

The following thesis is a collection of creative nonfiction essays, poems, and short stories. The overarching theme of this body of work is Millennial-aged adults grappling with a variety of traumas both personal and global; this dovetailing of personal grief alongside international grief is meant as an artistic expression of anxiety. In other words, the question posed here is: what does a young adult make of a world that is incessantly brutal? The answer is explored in both fictional and nonfictional ways, and no definitive conclusion is given. Rather, the events of the stories contained herein are representative of the …


Largemouth Bass In The Upper Mississippi River: An Evaluation Of Management Strategies And Understanding Potential Factors Influencing Dynamic Rate Functions, Kylie Beth Sterling Jan 2022

Largemouth Bass In The Upper Mississippi River: An Evaluation Of Management Strategies And Understanding Potential Factors Influencing Dynamic Rate Functions, Kylie Beth Sterling

MSU Graduate Theses

The Upper Mississippi River (UMR) supports ecologically and economically important commercial and recreational fisheries. One recreational fishery in the UMR is the Largemouth Bass fishery. Recreational fisheries can be effectively managed using information on population dynamics, though little is known about Largemouth Bass population dynamics in large river ecosystems. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to 1) evaluate recruitment, growth, and mortality of three Largemouth Bass populations in the UMR, specifically within Pools 4, 8, and 13, and 2) to use those estimates of recruitment, growth and mortality to inform exploitation models to evaluate best management practices for each …


Comparing The Motivation Of Auto Thieves And Carjackers, Tara Rose Abrahams Jan 2022

Comparing The Motivation Of Auto Thieves And Carjackers, Tara Rose Abrahams

MSU Graduate Theses

Motor vehicle theft is a popular crime with hundreds of thousands of vehicles stolen each year. Two common MVT methods are auto thefts and carjackings. Auto thefts occur solely as property crimes, in which an offender steals an unoccupied vehicle. Carjackings are interpersonal crimes, in which the offender steals the vehicle from the driver by force or coercion. This study compares the motivation of the two offender groups. Utilizing 28 in-depth semi-structured interviews with active offenders, this study explores why they chose to commit crimes, why they chose vehicle-related crimes, and why they chose their preferred method. Although both offender …


Synthesis And Characterization Of Antimony Cyanoximates For Microbiological Studies, Seth Adu Amankrah Jan 2022

Synthesis And Characterization Of Antimony Cyanoximates For Microbiological Studies, Seth Adu Amankrah

MSU Graduate Theses

Antibiotic-resistant pathogenic microorganisms (such as MRSA and alike) represent a real and significant threat to the health and wellbeing of the general population. The search for new compounds of non-antibiotic nature that act as antimicrobial agents is an important task with obvious practical applications in the biomedical field. Metal-based coordination and organometallic compounds that demonstrate antimicrobial activity was found to exhibit a completely different mode of action compared to antibiotics. That suggests the absence of the mechanism of developing tolerance to these types of compounds at least for 30 - 40 years. Thus, there are numerous organotin (IV), silver (I), …


Stress And Its Interventions In Undergraduate College Students During Covid-19, Katie A. Jones Jan 2022

Stress And Its Interventions In Undergraduate College Students During Covid-19, Katie A. Jones

MSU Graduate Theses

Though stress in postsecondary education is a highly researched topic, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has created many new questions that require answers. It is important to connect total perceived stress in undergraduate students with academic, COVID-19, and distance-learning factors and examine the effectiveness of interventions on stress and anxiety during the pandemic. This research determines the efficacy of mindfulness stress interventions (cognitive-behavioral, guided meditation, and music) for individual differences in stress, self- efficacy, and anxiety and links these variables to performance. This study measures levels of different types of stress (total perceived, distance-learning, academic, and COVID-19) for undergraduate …


Mining-Contaminated Sediment And Metal Storage In Channel Deposits In Turkey Creek, Tri-State Mining District, Missouri And Kansas, Max Quinn Hillermann Jan 2022

Mining-Contaminated Sediment And Metal Storage In Channel Deposits In Turkey Creek, Tri-State Mining District, Missouri And Kansas, Max Quinn Hillermann

MSU Graduate Theses

The Joplin subdistrict, within the Tri-State Mining District (TSMD), was a major producer of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) ore between the 1880s to 1920s. Metalliferous mining wastes are still stored in the channel deposits of local streams raising environmental and health concerns. This study quantifies the volume, sediment size, and metal concentrations in channel bed, bar, bench, and chute deposits to quantify the spatial variability of contaminated sediment storage in Turkey Creek (119 km2). Sample reaches (n=14) contained metal concentrations elevated above the Tri-State Mining District specific probable effects concentration at every site with mean concentrations in …