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The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

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Evaluating Reactive Gliosis In The Brain Of Adult Zebrafish Following The Ingestion Of Nanopolystyrene., Hannah A. Kelehear

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Polystyrene nanoplastics are one of the most pervasive environmental contaminants and have been shown to infiltrate multiple organ systems following ingestion. Studies in several animal models and humans have demonstrated that nanoplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier. Additionally, there is evidence that plastics will induce an inflammatory response in the brain involving reactive gliosis of microglia and astrocytes. This process has yet to be thoroughly investigated in the zebrafish model system in the context of micro-/nanoplastic ingestion. In the current study, we examined microglial and astrocytic phenotypes in the adult zebrafish telencephalon after consuming food contaminated with 44 nm polystyrene …

Transcending The Taboo: Using Literature To Explore Depictions Of Suicide With Adolescents In Secondary Classrooms, Elizabeth M. Williams

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This thesis examines depictions of suicide in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (1597), Art Spiegelman’s Maus (1986), and Octavia E. Butler’s Kindred (1979) in the context of teaching literature in secondary classrooms during the developmental stage known as middle adolescence. Using an analysis of these literary works, this thesis advocates for incorporating self-regulation practices when addressing conceptually challenging and emotionally complex ideas. It proposes model lessons and emphasizes the responsibility of educators to facilitate discussions on weighty concepts. This thesis also emphasizes the need for an intersectional approach when examining trauma and suicide. Furthermore, it underscores the unique developmental and …

The Effects Of External Load Type And Eccentric Tempo On Hamstring Electromygraphy During Unilateral And Bilateral Prone Hamstring Exercise, Toraya Hughes

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Isotonic hamstring exercises are employed to mitigate the risk of a future hamstring strain and after strain, incorporated into return-to-play protocols. However, research has negated leg dominance's influence on muscle recruitment and exercise form. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare muscle recruitment between the dominant (DOM) and non-dominant (nonDOM) during prone hamstring exercise (PHSE) variations. METHODS: Twenty trained participants aged 18 – 33 (M = 23 years, SD = 3 years) completed familiarization and experimental protocols > 72 hours apart. Participants underwent four PHSE variations that differed by load type (barbell vs. dumbbell), exercise strategy (bilateral …

Investigation Of Topologically Protected Wave Propagation Near Dirac-Like Cones In Acoustic Metamaterials, Md Arif Iqbal Khan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study presents a novel approach to investigate an exceptionally rare acoustic phenomenon – topologically protected wave propagation (TPWP) within a solid-solid domain. While previous research has attempted to unravel the physics behind this phenomenon, most efforts have been grounded in the framework of condensed matter physics and quantum mechanics often requiring complex geometries to realize TPWP in solid-fluid interactions. In contrast, this thesis introduces a geometric tuning method that enables the achievement of TPWP with simpler geometric configurations within a solid-solid domain. Rather than explaining by the quantum trio - quantum anomalous hall effect, quantum valley hall effect, and …

Encapsulating Scars, Ashley Smith

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

My work explores scars through encapsulation, a desire to enclose and express the emotional scars of memories or physical scars of the body. Life’s experiences impact the living, leaving behind scars that we feel the need to understand. Through the mediums of metal and mixed-media photography, I utilize found and created imagery, as well as a triality of text in order to preserve and remember these scars.

Examining The Relationship Between Puberty And Trauma Symptomatology, Justina M. Harsche

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study sought to examine the relation between puberty and trauma symptomatology in young adults. More specifically, does it matter what developmental period one is in when trauma occurs? Additionally, geographical region was examined as it relates to receiving and reporting mental health services and later trauma symptoms. Using data from 362 students at Georgia Southern University, multiple analyses were conducted. A Moderation Analysis where adverse events served as the predictor, trauma symptomatology as the outcome variable, and the developmental period in which the trauma occurred as the moderator was conducted. The interactions for this hypothesis were not significant. However, …

Neo Retro: Rapid Prototyping And The Evolving Role Of Artistic Practice, Robert D. Miller

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

My art is always executed with a timeline in mind. I am influenced by a world as it exists in the distance past, the recent past, the present (with all its multifaceted complexities), and the near future (as it applies to my legacy after I'm gone), as well as the distance future. Time and space – to me - are all part of a grand narrative. The art that I create is an indexical gesture of my creative processes and these creative processes are reflected in the imagery that I create as well as the materials I use for my …

Unlocking The Power Of Ketogenic Diets: Evidence-Based Insights Into Weight Loss, Diabetes, And Beyond, Doreen Ugwu, Ana M. Palacios

Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health

No abstract provided.

Run Boys Run: Historical Markers Of Sherman's March To The Sea, Whitley A. Gatch

Honors College Theses

Georgia's historical markers highlight significant events in Georgia's history in the location where they happened– they are meant to be understood and consumed by the general public. Due to the widespread development of the Lost Cause narrative in the post-Confederate South, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s, historical markers concerning Sherman's March to the Sea contain many false notions about General Sherman and his Union soldiers. Focusing on historical markers in Georgia's Coastal Plain and Low Country, this study analyzes the memorialization of the march and the impact of an invented mythico-history on the narrative portrayed as such falsehoods perpetuate …

A Philosophical Look Into The Morality And Legality Of Abortion, Alexis J. Agnew

Honors College Theses

In his Nicomachean Ethics, Greek philosopher Aristotle posits an understanding of ethics and how human life is characterized by the “good.” Aristotle argues that (I) ethics involve humans possessing a rational capacity and specific function; (II) ethics are habitual, and the “doctrine of the mean” is used to gauge proper action; and (III) justice is linked to virtue. A moral issue that can be analyzed through Aristotle’s Ethics, as well as works of contemporary philosophers, is abortion. Abortion has been a controversial topic and has been brought before the Supreme Court to determine its morality and legality. Using …

Rescue From Hybrid Mortality In Nasonia Wasps Through An Interspecific Introgression, Samantha K. Mcginn

Honors College Theses

Nasonia vitripennis and Nasonia giraulti are parasitoid wasps that use fly pupae as hosts to lay their eggs. These two species can produce hybrids when crossed together. However, hybrids are only partially viable and suffer 50-80% mortality from egg to adult development. The highest mortality occurs when N. giraulti females are used in the cross. Previous research shows that hybrids with an N. vitripennis allele of a mitochondrial-targeted gene within a specific locus on chromosome 5 have incompatible interactions with the N. giraulti mitochondria, which are maternally inherited. Collaborators at the University of Rochester have generated an introgression strain of …

Evolution Of Angular Momentum In Triaxial Dark Matter Halos, Tara C. Nester

Honors College Theses

Galactic halos are believed to form through both the early inflow of dark matter from the cosmic web and mergers over an extended period. At the same time, stellar disks are forming within this evolving halo. How a stellar disk responds to a changing halo is investigated in this study using live n-body disks embedded in an analytic triaxial potential. At triaxialities of a few percent, we find that while there are subtle perturbations in the disk, there is no significant change in the total disk angular momentum. However, between 5 and 10% triaxialities there is a sharp transition to …

Exploring Social Inclusion And Community Participation Opportunities For Adults With Developmental Disabilities, Arilyn Jewel Baldowski

Honors College Theses

Social Inclusion and community participation among adults with developmental disabilities (DD) have remained critically underexplored, despite their essential role in promoting equal opportunities and access to fulfilling lives. This study addressed a significant gap in the literature by investigating the experiences of individuals within the population. The research aimed to explore social inclusion and community participation opportunities on adults with DD. Participants were recruited through an organization that offers residential camp programs to adults with developmental disabilities, and an online survey was used to collect data on the availability of opportunities, the extent of involvement, and the perceived impacts on …

Enumeration Of Increasing Trees, Garrett M. Southwood

Honors College Theses

We consider the generating function for increasingly labelled trees. By generalizing the proof through symbolic method, we are able to study various statistics regarding binary increasing trees with respect to height restrictions. We then apply our approach to special colorings of increasing trees in order to obtain their generating functions and, from there, derive the counting sequence for (ak+a)-colored recursive trees. We also present some interesting bijections between colored and non-colored increasing trees.

The Biobehavioral Effects Of Embryonic Exposure To Neural Inflammation And Oxidative Stress In Zebrafish, Dalton J. Anderson

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this research is to improve understanding of the neurodevelopmental effects of embryonic exposure to elevated inflammation and oxidative stress induced by the antipyretic drug acetaminophen (APAP). Our study was the first to examine the interactive effects of APAP and inflammation in zebrafish embryos and how the treatments affect brain development and larval behavior. Experimental groups of zebrafish larvae were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammation, APAP, or LPS + APAP and larval behavior was analyzed using Ethovision automated behavioral tracking software. We also measured changes in whole-brain Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Beta (GSK3B) and GSK3B phosphorylation, …

Assessment Of The Extraction And Quantification Of Pfbs From Sprague Dawley Rat Adipose Tissues, Joshua O. Osaghae

Honors College Theses

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of complex synthetic chemicals that have applications ranging from automotives to consumer products. PFAS have been found to bioaccumulate in the ecosystem as their carbon-fluorine bonds are among the strongest bonds in organic chemistry. Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) compounds are used as surfactants in water- and stain-repellent coatings for fabrics and carpets, cleaning agents, and paints. The persistence of PFAS has led to their accumulation in sources of groundwater, making them ubiquitous drinking water contaminants of concern with evidence linking PFAS exposure to adverse health effects, including reduced kidney function, thyroid disruption, and …

Fungal Activity In Fusarium Keratoplasticum Isolates With And Without Endohyphal Bacteria On Various Carbon Sources, Maya Brown

Honors College Theses

In recent years, the fungus Fusarium keratoplastic has been associated with failed sea turtle eggs. One fungal isolate collected from a failed egg collected on Wassaw Island, GA in 2020 contained endohyphal bacteria, bacteria living within the hyphae of the fungus. The type of endohyphal bacteria (EHB), as well as the relationship between the bacteria and fungal hosts, are currently unknown. Previous research on the same fungus and EHB, specifically Chitinophaga sp., discovered that EHB influenced the ability of the fungus to utilize carbon sources. Our research goal was to examine the metabolic relationship of Fusarium isolated from failed sea …

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, An Old Disease With A “Second Life”, Anna Walick, Lorenza Beati Ziegler

Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health

No abstract provided.

Graduate Catalog, Georgia Southern University

Graduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

The Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance: Insights And Strategies, Foram Patel

Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health

No abstract provided.

Eagle Executive Magazine, Georgia Southern University

College of Business: News & Publications

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Understanding The Role Of Recalcitrant Organic Phosphorus Mineralization On Harmful Algal Blooms At The Sediment-Water Interface Of Freshwater System, Tasnuva Farnaz

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Over the past few decades, an enormous number of resources have been allocated to reduce the amount of phosphorus (P) entering the environment from both point and non-point sources. Nevertheless, the decrease in external P loading has not always resulted in a simultaneous decrease in the occurrence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in waters contaminated with phosphorus. A two-part study is currently being conducted to investigate and measure the role of legacy recalcitrant P forms in the overall pool of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP). However, the objective of this particular study is to evaluate the potential of Organic Phosphorus (PO) …

Cultivation Of A Commercially Important Macroalga (Ulva Sp) For Polyculture Research In Coastal Georgia, Kyle Mundy

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The Georgia coast has shown great potential for large-scale oyster aquaculture, and the rate at which the sector has grown demands implementation of novel techniques to ensure sustainability and success in the face of climate change. One practice – integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) or polyculture – is known to have positive effects on the health and quality of farmed organisms and the surrounding environment through low pH/alkalinity amelioration, while also being a unique and viable way for a farming operation to diversify its products. To date, there has been no such attempt at investigating or demonstrating macroalgae culture in Georgia. …

Testing Differential Predation As A Mechanism Of Color Polymorphism In A Cryptic Lizard., Justin A. Sanclemente

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Selection via predation is a strong evolutionary force on small organisms, producing unique phenotypic adaptations. In cryptic species, different populations may exhibit color polymorphisms to better match multiple substrates or backgrounds. Here, I conducted a clay model study in the Ocala National Forest of Florida (USA) to test predation as a selective mechanism for color polymorphism in the Florida scrub lizard (Sceloporus woodi). Clay models were constructed to resemble light and dark morphs of S. woodi and placed on contrasting substrates in longleaf pine and Florida scrub stands. It is hypothesized Florida Scrub Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) …

What’S Agape Love Got To Do With It?: Teaching With Courage, Passion, And Compassion In A Rural Elementary School In North Georgia, Jhanna Bryson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores the crucial role of love in teaching, specifically focusing on the content of a rural elementary school in North Georgia. Drawing on qualitative research and personal experiences of the author, as well as other teachers at the same school, this study examines how love, manifested through courage, passion, and compassion, can significantly impact teaching practices and positively influence student outcomes in challenging educational settings. Theoretically my dissertations draws upon three bodies of literature such as critical pedagogy, (e.g. Darder, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2018; Freire, 1987, 1998, 2000, 2019; Giroux, 2010, 2018; hooks, 1994, 2001), radical love, …

Imperial Adolescence In Kenzaburō Ōe's "Prize Stock", D'Yanna Coffey

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The study of adolescents in Postcolonial Studies is a growing area of research. This thesis defines Imperial Adolescence, a critical framework that be used to examine the development of adolescents in imperial settings, applies it to Kenzaburō Ōe’s “Prize Stock,” and encourages postcolonial scholars to add to a steadily discourse. “Prize Stock” tells the story of a black American airman captive in a rural Japanese village, and Imperial Adolescence is applied to the novella’s adolescent narrator. The four stages of Imperial Adolescence (Childhood, Early Adolescence, Puberty, and Middle Adolescence) are used to trace the impact of Postcolonial elements (such as …

Highlighting Opportunities For Anaerobic Co-Digestion Of Food Waste From Universities With Pulp And Paper Mill Sludge, Md Nizam Uddin

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The disposal of food waste (FW) in landfills presents significant environmental and economic challenges, including greenhouse gas emissions and loss of potential resources. Concurrently, the pulp and paper industry, a major sector in the United States, generates substantial quantities of recalcitrant organic waste that is high in lignocellulosic content. Anaerobic co-digestion of FW with pulp and paper mill sludge (PPMS) emerges as a potential strategy to address both waste streams simultaneously, potentially enhancing organic matter degradation and biogas yield. However, the efficacy of this co-digestion approach and its broader sustainability implications remain insufficiently characterized. This study employs laboratory-scale experiments to …

Exploring Police K-9 Deaths, Their Causes, And Possible Remedies, John Wise

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Police K-9s face daily dangers due to their work. Data collected by the Officer Down Memorial Page from 2000-2023 on K-9 deaths (N = 405) shows that of K-9s that die in the line of duty, many fall victim to heat stroke. Research was conducted comparing heat stroke to all other causes of death. Through an exploration into the history of mankind’s use of working dogs, the unique capabilities of both dogs and K-9 specific dog breeds and applying Routine Activity Theory and Lifestyle Routine Activity Theory to police K-9s, this study’s objective is to bring awareness to, and …

Variation In The Fear Response Of Atlantic Sand Fiddler Crabs (Leptuca Pugilator) To Anthropogenic Disturbance, Katrina L. Buttram

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Leptuca pugilator is a common inhabitant of southeast Georgia salt marshes. This study examined the boldness of Leptuca pugilator across environmental conditions and human impacts. Here, boldness was defined as time taken to reemerge from a burrow after a fear stimulus. I hypothesized that crabs would vary in their boldness based on their surroundings, reproductive timing, and sex. Field and experimental trials were conducted to isolate which factors most influence boldness. Field trials were conducted at four sites varying in human influence throughout the breeding season. During each survey, vegetation height, substrate temperature, average burrow width, burrow count, and distance …