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Undergraduate Catalog, Georgia Southern University

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Bias Of Rank Correlation Under A Mixture Model, Russell Land

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This thesis project will analyze the bias in mixture models when contaminated data is present. Specifically, we will analyze the relationship between the bias and the mixing proportion, p, for the rank correlation methods Spearman’s Rho and Kendall’s Tau. We will first look at the history of the two non-parametric rank correlation methods and the sample and population definitions will be introduced. Copulas will be introduced to show a few ways we can define these correlation methods. After that, mixture models will be defined and the main theorem will be stated and proved. As an example, we will apply this …

Effects Of A Suggestion Based Intervention On Human Cooperation In The Stag Hunt Game, Melvin S. Marsh

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Cooperation has been one of the most foundational aspect of human society and is frequently studied via use of “The Stag Hunt” which has been used to tease out factors which may influence cooperation. The present study is the first study to attempt to influence human cooperation by means of positive imagery. Participants included 33 males and 72 females) who listened to either an a 7-minute audio designed to encourage them to trust others or an audio designed to encourage them to trust themselves. Participants played 40 rounds of the Stag Hunt game. The total number of times the participant …

Study Of Student Resource Use In Introductory Chemistry Courses, Sarah E. Melvin

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), college textbook prices have increased by 186% from 1986 to 2004.1 The impact of rising cost of textbooks is increasingly apparent as students are becoming more selective in the courses they enroll in, as well as more concerned with the quality of the learning experience they receive once enrolled in a course.¹ In response to high textbook prices, open-education resources (OER) are increasingly becoming more accepted for student use as an alternative to traditional textbook options. OERs are open-source textbook and/or materials that are free to use without worrying about copyright …

Predation Threat In A Variable Landscape: Connecting Predation Risk To Nesting Success For The Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza Maritima Macgilivraii), Corina D. Newsome

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Predation, the leading cause of nest-failure in birds, not only exists as a direct threat to nesting success, but may exacerbate other sources of nest mortality. Birds inhabiting Atlantic coastal marshes, such as Seaside Sparrows (Ammospiza maritima; hereafter SESP), are experiencing significant and rapid changes to their habitat, particularly sea level rise (SLR) and encroaching urbanization, that may affect the relative influence of nest predation on overall productivity. For SESPs, SLR presents an inherent threat to nest success in its potential to increase the frequency of nest flooding. In addition to this direct threat, the ability of SESPs …

Current Recommendations For Lower Body Aerobic Exercise In Chronic Unilateral Stroke - A Systematic Review, Jordan N. Brown

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background: Chronic stroke patients (i.e., > six months since the onset of stroke) continue to experience persistent gait complications. Once formal physical therapy concludes, exercise professionals can implement exercise interventions designed to improve quality of life and reduce risk of secondary stroke. This systematic review aimed to evaluate whether lower-body aerobic exercise transferred to gait improvements in chronic unilateral stroke. Methods: An electronic search of the following databases were undertaken: MEDLINE, CINHAL, Ovid, and SPORTdiscus. Two independent reviewers selected articles using predetermined inclusion criteria: adults (i.e., >18 years old) who suffered from a chronic unilateral stroke. Additionally, all included studies were …

Design, Synthesis And Applications Of Nanoparticles In Suppression Of Mosquito-Born Flaviviridae Viruses, Maria R. Blahove

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Recently, nanoparticles have become an origin of exploration in the chemistry field due to their unique medical uses. The current drug delivery models of nanoparticles often include a metal base with a drug conjugated to its surface. However this raises concerns regarding toxicity. A novel approach to solving this dilemma is the development of nanosized biocompatible polymer-based micelles, created from PEG-PCL-PEG triblock polymer, and formed around a drug of choice. The goal is to create a drug carrier nanoparticle system that is labile at a specific intracellular pH, without undue toxicity to the cell. This creates a drug-loaded nanoparticle that …

Identifying Strategies To Increase The Recruitment And Retention Of Minority Males In The Public Health Workforce: A Two-State Comparative Case Study Approach, Melicent R. Miller

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Non-White males have higher rates of morbidity and mortality from chronic health conditions as compared to Whites. An essential element for achieving success in eliminating health disparities is to increase the presence of racial/ethnic minorities (i.e., people of color) within public health careers. One of the most important competencies for a public health professional is the ability to work in culturally and racially diverse populations. Yet, individuals are significantly more likely to receive their care and experience greater satisfaction from providers that are of the same racial or ethnic background. The racial/ethnic composition of the health professions workforce continues to …

The Effects Of Nacl On The Triple Helix Structure Of Collagen And The Reinforcement Of Tung Oil-Based Polymers With Collagen Peptides, Christopher Dzorkpata

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In this research, a collagen-reinforced bio-composite from tung oil was prepared using free radical initiation and thermal polymerization, leading to polyolefinic tung oil-based matrix. Two peptides (long and short) were synthesized and their secondary features were analyzed using circular dichroism spectroscopy. After this analysis, the long peptide exhibited more triple helix characteristics as compared to the short peptide. The full protein will ultimately have a better interaction with the tung oil, was used in the synthesis of the collagen-reinforced bio-composite. The presence of NaCl in the triple helix and its overall effect on the thermal and mechanical properties of the …

Hydroamidation With Acetamides And Trifluoroacetamides, Gordon H. Whitetree

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The hydroamidation reaction is an attractive methodology for the construction of larger functional molecules. In our research, a baseline reactivity was established for the hydroamidation reaction using a set of N-alkyl and N-aryl (trifluoro)acetamides with methyl acrylate and acrylonitrile, various bases and varying reaction conditions. The combination of alkenes, acetamides, and trifluoroacetamides with base was crucial for reaction rate. N-aryl trifluoroacetamides exhibited near quantitative conversions in neat alkene with Diazabicycloundecene (DBU) as base. The less acidic N-aryl acetamides performed much faster in the presence of KOtBu and conversions of >95% were accomplished regularly but contained a large presence …

Unobtrusive Assessment Of Student Engagement Levels In Online Classroom Environment Using Emotion Analysis, Sasirekha Anbusegaran

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Measuring student engagement has emerged as a significant factor in the process of learning and a good indicator of the knowledge retention capacity of the student. As synchronous online classes have become more prevalent in recent years, gauging a student's attention level is more critical in validating the progress of every student in an online classroom environment. This paper details the study on profiling the student attentiveness to different gradients of engagement level using multiple machine learning models. Results from the high accuracy model and the confidence score obtained from the cloud-based computer vision platform - Amazon Rekognition were then …

New Results On Cyclic Compositions And Multicompositions, Silvana Ramaj

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Integer compositions, cyclic compositions, and lately k-compositions, are an important topic in combinatorics and number theory. In this paper, we will explain, the general approach of using generating functions to study number sequences involving compositions, cyclic compositions, k-compositions, and the number of parts in each of them. After generating the data, some properties are observed and proved. Also, some interesting bijections involving Pell numbers and the Jacobsthal sequence are given.

Numerical Approximation Of Lyapunov Exponents And Its Applications In Control Systems, Nakita K. Andrews

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The progression of state trajectories with respect to time, and its stability properties can be described by a system of nonlinear differential equations. However, since most nonlinear dynamical systems cannot be solved by hand, one must rely on computer simulations to observe the behavior of the system. This work focuses on chaotic systems. The Lyapunov Exponent (LE) is frequently used in the quantitative studies of a chaotic system. Lyapunov exponents give the average rate of separation of nearby orbits in phase space, which can be used to determine the state of a system, e.g. stable or unstable. The objective of …

Assessing Short-Term Microalgal Community Responses Over Altering Hydrological Conditions In Experimental Wetlands Of Costal Georgia, Maggie M. Kuhn

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Wetlands provide valuable ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling and carbon storage. Microalgae (i.e., diatoms) provide the foundation of primary production and determine rates of energy transfer throughout the system. Climate change models predict an increase in frequency of intense storms and severe drought conditions that pose a threat to known hydrological regimes and wetland ecosystem stability. The purpose of my study was to assess the effects of water permanence (i.e., duration of flooding) on diatom community structure in experimental wetlands. I predicted that wetlands with prolonged periods of flooding (i.e., permanent) would harbor a consistent diatom community throughout flooding …

Influence Of Increased Options On Performance Generalization Across Two Variations Of The Monty Hall Dilemma, Robert A. Southern

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The Monty Hall dilemma (MHD) is a probability puzzle at which humans consistently fail to adopt the optimal winning strategy. The participant chooses between three identical doors, behind one of which is a valuable prize. After the participant makes their initial decision, the host reveals that there is nothing behind one of the two remaining doors, then asks the participant if they would like to stay with their originally selected door or switch to the remaining unopened door. The optimal choice is to switch to the previously unchosen door, which increases the probability of winning from 33% to 67%. Despite …

Culturally Contested Curriculum? African American Students And Classical Education, Mary E. Negley

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation is a series of speculative essays that explore the intersections of classical education, African American education, and culturally responsive/relevant/sustaining pedagogy. For centuries, classical education dominated the educational scene, and even today many people consider it to be a paragon of learning. However, it contains elitist and outdated ideas. By recognizing the miseducation of Blacks in the United States and exploring the educational journeys of four prominent African Americans: Marva Collins (1936-2015), W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963), August Wilson (1945-2005), and Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950), I explore possibilities that classical education can be culturally empowering for African American …

The Devaluation Of Career Technical Education (Cte) By The Graduates Of Wonderwood High School, Jason J. Weiss

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In Georgia, high school graduates are expected to be college and career ready, however due to recent educational legislative changes the focus has been placed on being college ready. These modifications have led to a low number of graduates completing a Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway as well as a low number of graduates passing their CTE End-of-Pathway assessments and earning industry credentials. To assist in determining the factors that have led to the devaluation of CTE by Georgia graduates, a critical qualitative inquiry study was conducted on a sample of 13 graduates from Wonderwood High School, in South Heights, …

Lstm-Based Model For Human Brain Decisions Using Eeg Signals Analysis, Lorela Bano

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

As machine learning models become more sophisticated, and biometric data becomes more readily available through new non-invasive technologies, it becomes increasingly possible to gain access to interesting biometric data that could revolutionize Human Computer Interaction. In this research, we propose a framework to assess and quantify human preference (like or dislike) on presenting various external visual stimuli. Our framework relies on an Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) based model and on electroencephalogram (EEG) signals analysis to predict Like or Dislike preference of human subjects when presented with various marketing images.

Using Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) To Evaluate The Use Of Food Waste Based Feed In Sustainable Small-Scale Aquaculture, Caitlin May

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Food waste is rich in nutrients and a valuable resource, but currently its primary method of disposal in the United States (US) is unsustainable. In 2018 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated that the commercial, institutional, and residential sectors of the US economy wasted 63 million metric tons of food, most of which was sent to landfills. Instead, food waste could be recycled and used to supplement or replace commercial feed in aquaculture to sustainably stimulate production of fish. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are a well characterized animal model closely related to other fish species that are important …

New Longitudinal Error Balancing Approaches For Closed Traverses, Jose L. Manzano

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study presents two novel approaches to balance the horizontal longitudinal error of closure, E_C, in closed polygonal traverses. The standard procedure to balance E_C is the Compass Rule. This technique reduces E_C to zero by applying corrections in the lengths of all traverse sides. Those corrections are proportional to the corresponding side lengths. That is, this approach is not an error-correcting approach, but an error-balancing procedure.

The proposed new techniques are based on sensitivity analysis of E_C with respect to small variations, Δ_i, in the lengths of all sides i = 1, …

The Role Of Symbiotic Algae In The Acclimatization Of Oculina Arbuscula To Ocean Acidification, Erin M. Arneson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Ocean acidification (OA) caused by CO₂ emissions is projected to decrease seawater pH to 7.6 by 2100. Scleractinian corals are at risk because excess H⁺ in seawater binds to carbonate (CO₃^2-), reducing its availability for CaCO₃ skeletons. The energy demand for skeletal growth increases as pH decreases because corals must actively purge excess H⁺ from their seawater sourced calcifying fluid to maintain high calcification rates. In scleractinian corals it is hypothesized that photosynthesis by symbiotic algae is critical to meet this increased energy demand. To test this hypothesis, I conducted laboratory and field …

Implementing A Neural Network For Supervised Learning With A Random Configuration Of Layers And Nodes, Kane A. Phillips

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Deep learning has a substantial amount of real-life applications, making it an increasingly popular subset of artificial intelligence over the last decade. These applications come to fruition due to the tireless research and implementation of neural networks. This paper goes into detail on the implementation of supervised learning neural networks utilizing MATLAB, with the purpose being to generate a neural network based on specifications given by a user. Such specifications involve how many layers are in the network, and how many nodes are in each layer. The neural network is then trained based on known sample values of a function …

Novel Quantification And Localization Of Water And Solute Transporters In The Tissues Of The Spiney Dogfish (Squalus Acanthias), Tolulope B. Ojo

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The dogfish, Squalus acanthias is a marine cartilaginous elasmobranch found in the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Dogfish synthesize and excrete urea as a product of nitrogen metabolism. They also convert ammonia into urea and retain this urea, such that their plasma is isosmotic or slightly hyperosmotic to the surrounding seawater. To facilitate the regulation of body fluid and to maintain ionic concentrations and osmotic pressure, Dogfish use ion and solute transporters (e.g., NCC, UT-1) and aquaporin water channel proteins. Studies have identified some of the aquaporin genes in the elasmobranch genome, but their functions are mostly uncharacterized. Recent transcriptomic …

Advancements In Bio-Based Novel (Co)Monomers For Polymeric Materials, Khristal Anne Monroe

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Most current research in the area of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials relate to the use of renewable sources for the fabrication of bio-based polymers and composites. Using plant-based derivatives is a common strategy. Pine sap can be distilled into turpentines (light fraction) and pine rosin (heavy fraction). Pine rosin is obtained as a brittle solid and its major component is abietic acid. This project aims at investigating a synthetic approach for the synthesis of a pine rosin-based polymer that can be potentially used for manufacturing a collection device for pine sap. The synthetic strategy consisted in the preparation of …

Arnold Transformations As Applied To Data Encryption, Haley N. Anderson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

As our world becomes increasingly digital, data security becomes key. Data must be encrypted such that it can be easily encrypted only by the intended recipient. Arnold Transformations are a useful tool in this because of its unpredictable periodicity. Our goal is to outline a method for choosing an Arnold Transformation that is both secure and easy to implement. We find the necessary and sufficient condition that a key matrix has periodicity. The chosen key matrix has a random structure, and it has a periodicity that is sufficiently high. We apply this method to several image and data string examples …

Measuring The Success Of A Coastal Sand Dune Restoration On Tybee Island: Plant Growth, Sand Accretion, And Implications For Management, Shannon Matzke

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Coastal communities are developing rapidly in the face of increased risks of sea level rise and hurricanes stemming from anthropogenic climate change. In the US, erosion is projected to cost $530 million/year in property loss, but beaches and dune systems can minimize these losses. Dunes are vital to coastal protection, particularly when they are colonized by native plant species that stabilize sand with their root systems and accumulate sand by trapping particles with their stems and leaves. Dune construction can be used as a nature-based solution to climate change, but more studies are needed to fully understand the best practices …

Sexual Dimorphism Of Thermal Preference In Florida Scrub Lizards (Sceloporus Woodi) And Predicting Response To Climate Change In Two Rare Habitats, Sidney E. Anderson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The Florida Scrub Lizard (Sceloporus woodi) is endemic to Florida, where it inhabits fragments of xeric sandhill uplands including endangered long-leaf pine and sand pine scrub habitats. Lizards depend on a predictable range of temperatures to maximize their growth and productivity, and to do so, they shuttle among various thermal micro-environments. Thus, the spatial distribution of temperatures in the habitat is important. Habitats dominated by either high or low extremes of an organism’s preference are energetically costly and dangerous (less optimal), especially to gravid females. This study examines thermal preference of a near-threatened species that also inhabits increasingly rare habitats. …

Lack Of Plasticity In Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus Polyphemus) Nesting Behavior And Fecundity In A Translocated Population, Jennifer N. Desha

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Lack of Plasticity in Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) Nesting Behavior and Fecundity in a Translocated Population

Development Of A Mathematical Model For Galvanic Cells, Joshua C. Johnson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

It is possible to utilize principles of equilibrium thermodynamics to model the voltage a battery renders as it powers a load in time and discharges. Similarly, consideration of the internal chemistry inside a battery, or galvanic cell, enables modeling thereof. This paper builds upon these principles and presents a derivation of the Nernst equation that utilizes this result to model discharge curves in time for different types of batteries. The Nernst equation relates chemical activity of the reagents inside a battery to the open circuit voltage rendered by the system. By combining the Nernst equation with Faraday's laws of electrolysis, …

Disease Prevalence And The Population Genetic Structure Of Crassostrea Virginica Along The Georgia Coast, Sarah Batchelor

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is an ecologically important species that plays a role in protecting shorelines, water filtration, and providing habitat and food for various fish species. Perkinsus marinus and Haplosporidium nesloni are two pathogens currently affecting oyster populations. These pathogens have both been documented as causes of mass mortality events along the East coast. They greatly diminish the health of oysters, resulting in the degradation of oyster tissue, reduction in growth and reproductive ability, and may cause death. In this study, wild oysters were collected from eleven locations along the Georgia coast to investigate the presence, intensity, …