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Characterization Of The Behavioral Patterns In Salmonella Biofilms Across Different Serovars And Environmental Conditions, Hudson Thames May 2024

Characterization Of The Behavioral Patterns In Salmonella Biofilms Across Different Serovars And Environmental Conditions, Hudson Thames

Theses and Dissertations

Biofilms have the potential to form on various abiotic surfaces and have been found to be more resistant to environmental stressors. Therefore, there is a need to investigate the biofilm forming ability and characteristics of Salmonella strains isolated from poultry meat. These studies characterized the biofilm forming capabilities of 5 Salmonella strains on abiotic surfaces, and investigated changes in gene expression that are associated with Salmonella biofilm formation in 3 Salmonella strains. Salmonella biofilms were cultivated on stainless steel, concrete, rubber, and polyethylene under static and shear stress conditions. Biofilm matrix density was determined using a modified crystal violet assay, …


A Modular Compact Kw-Class Ipos Dc-Dc Converter For Pulsed Power Applications, Walker Joseph Thames May 2024

A Modular Compact Kw-Class Ipos Dc-Dc Converter For Pulsed Power Applications, Walker Joseph Thames

Theses and Dissertations

Pulsed power systems are concerned with the delivery of significant amounts of power in a greatly condensed time frame. To achieve this, energy is often stored in a capacitor, where it can be rapidly discharged. Certain applications require repeated charging and discharging of the load capacitor in a specifically modulated manner; special power electronics systems must be developed for these situations. Existing systems on the market sacrifice a small form factor for greater pulsed power output. The proposed design outlines the development of a compact pulsed power capacitor charger capable of charging a load capacitor to high voltages at a …


Southern Pine Beetle Colonization: Dispersal Phenology And Host Selection, John William Thomason May 2024

Southern Pine Beetle Colonization: Dispersal Phenology And Host Selection, John William Thomason

Theses and Dissertations

The southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a prime example of a bark beetle of high ecological and economical importance. As these bark beetles adapt to a changing environment, forest managers must continue to evolve management strategies to improve forest resilience to these pests. Herein, we examined the validity of phenological trap timing cues for the annual spring D. frontalis risk assessment survey and found the traditional use of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) (Cornaceae) bloom occurred an average of 3 weeks after peak D. frontalis spring flight activity. We also examined the natal host influence on adult …


Does Attendance In Head Start And Early Head Start Programs Influence Social And Emotional Development In Young Children?, Mary Elizabeth Thorne May 2024

Does Attendance In Head Start And Early Head Start Programs Influence Social And Emotional Development In Young Children?, Mary Elizabeth Thorne

Theses and Dissertations

Social and emotional development is a crucial domain of development that influences child outcomes. Apart from a child’s family, early care and education (ECE) programs offer opportunities to develop critical skills that promote academic achievement, emotion regulation, cognition, and literacy. There are achievement gaps in these areas when comparing children from low and high socioeconomic backgrounds, lending to the federal legislation to form Head Start and Early Head Start programs nationwide. While these programs have attendance mandates, the national attendance average is below the requirements, which may hinder the full benefits of Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Using …


Setting The Table: A Study Of Grassroots Organization Political Training Program And Black Women Interests To Run For Local Government., Adrian Shonna Tillman May 2024

Setting The Table: A Study Of Grassroots Organization Political Training Program And Black Women Interests To Run For Local Government., Adrian Shonna Tillman

Theses and Dissertations

The comparative study aims to assess the efficacy of grassroots organizations that provide political training programs for Black women to equip them for local office candidacy. An online survey was performed among alums to assess the influence of enrolling in these programs on participants' aspirations to pursue and actively run for local office. The alum survey comprised thirty-four questions to evaluate if Black women had obtained the essential abilities for political candidacy. The poll aims to determine the perceived strengths, problems, and opportunities for Black women participating in political leadership training programs. The surveys aimed to collect important information about …


A Determination Of Host Receptors To Choline-Binding Proteins Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Milisen Tvarkunas May 2024

A Determination Of Host Receptors To Choline-Binding Proteins Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Milisen Tvarkunas

Theses and Dissertations

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), a gram-positive bacterium, is commensal to the human nasopharynx. It is also a common cause of respiratory tract infections and multiple invasive diseases worldwide. Pneumococci attach to the nasopharynx, lung, and vascular endothelial cells, which contributes to colonization as well as to the development of pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis. Choline binding proteins (CBPs) are a unique set of cell wall proteins conserved within pneumococci. CBPs bind noncovalently to the phosphocholine of the cell wall through choline binding domains. The choline binding domains of the CBPs are highly conserved; however, they are diverse in their affinities and functions …


An Open-Source Digital Twin Of The Wire Arc Directed Energy Deposition Process For Interpass Temperature Regulation, Ryan Mitchell Stokes May 2024

An Open-Source Digital Twin Of The Wire Arc Directed Energy Deposition Process For Interpass Temperature Regulation, Ryan Mitchell Stokes

Theses and Dissertations

The overall goal of this work is to create an open-source digital twin of the wire arc directed energy deposition process using robot operating system 2 for interpass temperature regulation of a maraging steel alloy. This framework takes a novel approach to regulating the interpass temperatures by using in-situational infrared camera data and a closed loop feedback control that is enabled by robot operating system 2. This is the first implementation of robot operating system 2 for wire arc directed energy deposition and this framework outlines a sensor and machine agnostic approach for creating a digital twin of this additive …


Identity Status And Identity Style In The Emo Subculture: Exploring Identity Between Emo Vs. Non-Emo Emerging Adults, Melanie Rebekah Uggen May 2024

Identity Status And Identity Style In The Emo Subculture: Exploring Identity Between Emo Vs. Non-Emo Emerging Adults, Melanie Rebekah Uggen

Theses and Dissertations

Emerging adulthood can be viewed as a time of exploration and experimentation for college-aged adults (Arnett, 2000). As individuals begin trying on their possible selves as they explore personal identity, they can gravitate to peer groups that fit their interests. For some, that can mean being drawn to the emo subculture. This subculture focuses on its fashion, often based on dyed black hair, dark clothing, studded accessories, and black eyeliner (Chernoff & Widdicombe, 2015), centered around music with lyrics often interpreted as depressive or angst?ridden. Emo subculture has been subject to criticism and stereotypes, especially those with mental health themes …


Integrating Building Information Modeling (Bim) And Blockchain Technology In The Pre-Construction Planning Processes, Abdul Wahab May 2024

Integrating Building Information Modeling (Bim) And Blockchain Technology In The Pre-Construction Planning Processes, Abdul Wahab

Theses and Dissertations

Adopting new technologies is a relatively slow process in the construction industry due to the nature of activities involved in construction projects. However, with the current evolution in Information Technology (IT) and other computing technologies it is essential to incorporate them into the construction world to enhance and upgrade some critical activities to yield higher accuracy and productivity. The current literature provides a good overview of the construction industry's modern technology. Still, it lacks specific details about the factors that contribute the most in the two pre-construction processes, i.e., cost estimation and contracts. Therefore, this dissertation expands the current literature …


Optimizing Water, Nitrogen, And Row Patterns For Irrigated Corn And Soybean In The Mississippi Delta, Amilcar Jose Vargas Loyo May 2024

Optimizing Water, Nitrogen, And Row Patterns For Irrigated Corn And Soybean In The Mississippi Delta, Amilcar Jose Vargas Loyo

Theses and Dissertations

Integrating water-saving technologies with optimized nutrient management strategies provides opportunities for sustainable agriculture in the Mississippi Delta. Three studies were conducted to determine the effects of irrigation systems, row patterns, and nutrient management strategies on corn and soybeans. The first study determined the effects of irrigation, row pattern, and nitrogen (N) placement methods on corn (Zea mays L.) productivity and N use efficiency. The effects of N placement methods were only evident in 2021 when the rainfall events were more pronounced than in 2020. Regardless of the row pattern, placing N with one knife increased corn grain yield and the …


A Day In The Life Of A Farm-Fluencer: Can Agriculturalists Change Public Perceptions Towards Agriculture By Using Social Media, Josey M. Webb May 2024

A Day In The Life Of A Farm-Fluencer: Can Agriculturalists Change Public Perceptions Towards Agriculture By Using Social Media, Josey M. Webb

Theses and Dissertations

As generations have moved away from the farm, the population has become less aware of the practices behind the agriculture industry. However, people are becoming interested in how their food is produced. Since most of the population has not received an agriculture education, they look towards social media as their source of information. Social media has become a platform for sharing opinions and knowledge on certain topics. It has also been studied the perceptions of others can be influenced by emotionalizing and repeating stories related to the topic. Farmers and ranchers are now sharing their knowledge and experiences regarding agriculture …


Application And Feasibility Of Visible-Nir-Mir Spectroscopy And Classification Techniques For Wetland Soil Identification, Caleb Whatley May 2024

Application And Feasibility Of Visible-Nir-Mir Spectroscopy And Classification Techniques For Wetland Soil Identification, Caleb Whatley

Theses and Dissertations

Wetland determinations require the visual identification of anaerobic soil indicators by an expert, which is a complex and subjective task. To eliminate bias, an objective method is needed to identify wetland soil. Currently, no such method exists that is rapid and easily interpretable. This study proposes a method for wetland soil identification using visible through mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy and classification algorithms. Wetland and non-wetland soils (n = 440) were collected across Mississippi. Spectra were measured from fresh and dried soil. Support Vector Classification and Random Forest modeling techniques were used to classify spectra with 75%/25% calibration and validation split. POWERSHAP …


Effects Of Moderate Exercise Regimen On Reproductive Development Of Replacement Beef Heifers Reared In Drylots At A High Stocking Density, Logan M. Whipple May 2024

Effects Of Moderate Exercise Regimen On Reproductive Development Of Replacement Beef Heifers Reared In Drylots At A High Stocking Density, Logan M. Whipple

Theses and Dissertations

Raising beef females in drylots is gaining popularity because a more intensive management style facilitates adequate feeding for growth. However, drylots increase stocking density which has previously been shown to be stressful and impair reproductive development, whereas exercise has been shown to alleviate stress. Therefore, the objective was to determine if providing access to an exercise area would improve reproductive development of replacement beef heifers reared in drylots. Body weight, pedometer readings, and blood samples for plasma cortisol were collected weekly. Additional blood samples for genes associated with welfare, hair cortisol samples, and heifer temperament was assessed periodically throughout the …


Choosing A Foundational Mathematics Course In Higher Education: How Is The Decision Made?, Heather Marie Wood May 2024

Choosing A Foundational Mathematics Course In Higher Education: How Is The Decision Made?, Heather Marie Wood

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research used the tenants of phenomenological research to structure a study that begins to identify faculty coordinator’s decision processes in selecting a general education mathematics course. In this study, I examined the question if a faculty member's experiences or beliefs had any influence on the decision process. The interviews occurred with faculty in degree programs grouped by the following a) no specific mathematics requirements (e.g., Humanities) degree programs, b) mathematics-light degree programs (e.g., Social Sciences) and c) mathematics-intensive degrees (e.g., Computer Science). The results of this study are varied but suggest that faculty tasked making decisions on mathematics …


Performance Evaluation Of Low-Cost Gps Machine Guidance Systems For Livestock Production Forage And Pasture Management Applications, Conner Childress Wright May 2024

Performance Evaluation Of Low-Cost Gps Machine Guidance Systems For Livestock Production Forage And Pasture Management Applications, Conner Childress Wright

Theses and Dissertations

Global Positioning System (GPS) machine guidance aids in the precise navigation and piloting of farm machinery and serves to boost productivity and optimize farm operations. Characterization of low-cost GPS guidance systems for livestock production operations is necessary for return on investment (ROI) decision making. The objective of this research is to characterize the accuracy of four commercially available low-cost ($985 - $4,200) wide area augmentation system (WAAS) corrected GPS guidance systems. Testing procedures were designed in accordance with the ASABE/ISO standard 12188-2 for testing of satellite-based guidance systems during straight line travel. The vehicles lateral deviation of a planned path, …


Selective Noise Cancelling Application For Misophonia Treatment, Timothy Wunrow May 2024

Selective Noise Cancelling Application For Misophonia Treatment, Timothy Wunrow

Theses and Dissertations

Misophonia is a sensory disorder where specific stimuli, usually auditory, trigger the fight-flight-freeze response, causing extreme reactions, typically anger, panic, or anxiety. Research into treatment for misophonia is limited, primarily consisting of case studies applying common methods of therapy. However, research into similar disorders like tinnitus shows that there are many avenues of treatment that should be investigated, including audiological treatment. To apply audiological treatment to misophonia, selective noise cancelling must be used to control specific trigger sounds. In this research, a basic selective noise cancelling algorithm was developed using a convolutional neural network and was evaluated using a survey. …


The Effect Of Salient Features And Recent Strategy Use On Strategy Selection In Problem Solving, Xinyu Xie May 2024

The Effect Of Salient Features And Recent Strategy Use On Strategy Selection In Problem Solving, Xinyu Xie

Theses and Dissertations

Salient features of a task play an important role in how people create task representations which then influence strategy selection for accomplishing the task. We examined two theories, Represent-Construct-Choose-Learn and Rational Metareasoning, both of which incorporate task features into their models of strategy selection but differ in feature set modification. We used the Building Sticks Task (BST) in which it has been shown that people are sensitive to a salient feature in the BST to test the predictions of both theories. The results showed that neither theory aligned closely with empirical data. Additionally, we investigated participants’ strategy preferences in BST …


Growing Salvia Miltiorrhiza In Mississippi, Zhiheng Xing May 2024

Growing Salvia Miltiorrhiza In Mississippi, Zhiheng Xing

Theses and Dissertations

Salvia miltiorrhiza is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine widely used to prevent and treat cardiovascular and other diseases. With the increasing awareness and use of herbal medicines worldwide, there has been a rapid increase in the use of medicinal plants in the United States. Currently, the majority of medicinal plants used in the US are imported from foreign countries. However, increasing concerns over safety such as heavy metal and chemical contaminations pose significant challenges to US pharmaceutical and related industries in sourcing quality plant materials. It is critical for US industries to have access to high-quality medicinal plants, which provides …


Insights From The Past: Does Access To Unsuccessful Problem Attempts Facilitate Restructuring In Insight Problems?, Emily Ann Williamson Creel May 2024

Insights From The Past: Does Access To Unsuccessful Problem Attempts Facilitate Restructuring In Insight Problems?, Emily Ann Williamson Creel

Theses and Dissertations

Insight problems are often comprised of a period of impasse during which no new attempts are generated followed by an abrupt realization of the solution arising from the restructuring of an initial flawed problem representation. However, the precise mechanisms precipitating these processes are still being investigated. One hypothesis is that analyzing the unchanging elements of previous attempts may facilitate restructuring. We investigated this hypothesis using three classic insight problems. Participants were provided either three common examples of unsuccessful problem attempts, their own problem attempts, or no previous attempts. The prior attempts conditions eliminate the need to rely on memory to …


Mitre Attack Framework Adaptation In Uav Usage During Surveillance And Reconnaissance Missions, Jeffrey Greer Iv May 2024

Mitre Attack Framework Adaptation In Uav Usage During Surveillance And Reconnaissance Missions, Jeffrey Greer Iv

Theses and Dissertations

As unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) increasingly become integral to surveillance and reconnaissance (S&R) operations, their susceptibility to cyber threats poses significant risks to operational integrity. The current cybersecurity protocols often fail to address UAV operations’ unique vulnerabilities and challenges in S&R contexts, highlighting a gap in specialized cybersecurity strategies. This research adapts the MITRE ATTACK framework to enhance cybersecurity approaches, safeguarding UAVs against evolving cyber threats. This thesis maps existing vulnerabilities against comprehensive tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) through a scenario-based analysis. Hypothetical and practical S&R operation case studies demonstrate the applicability of proposed cybersecurity strategies, validating their effectiveness in …


Theory, School Policy, And Practices In Education And Culture In A Classroom Setting For Minority Students, Philip Turner May 2024

Theory, School Policy, And Practices In Education And Culture In A Classroom Setting For Minority Students, Philip Turner

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study investigates the discrepancies between theory, school policy, and practices within educational settings, particularly concerning minority students. Grounded in the persistent racial achievement gaps documented in educational literature, the study aims to understand the challenges and successful strategies for bridging these gaps. Drawing upon Critical Race Theory (CRT), Intergroup Contact Theory, and Stereotype Threat as conceptual frameworks, the research explores the experiences of eight participants through thematic analysis. Three overarching themes emerged: challenges aligning theories, policies, and practices; successful strategies for alignment; and unsuccessful strategies. Findings underscore the importance of culturally responsive curriculum, teacher professional development, student- …


State Funding Of Higher Education Institutions: An Analysis Of Equity, Brittany O. White Doty May 2024

State Funding Of Higher Education Institutions: An Analysis Of Equity, Brittany O. White Doty

Theses and Dissertations

Land grant, also known as Morrill Act, institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were founded upon the principles to educate a target population with limited access to resources to expand their educational opportunities and social mobility. With the rise of new public management and neoliberalism, state financial support for higher education has changed drastically over the past two decades. Institutions are required to demonstrate performance metrics for funding. However, some of these institutions have been disproportionately under-resourced for many decades and the funding inequality has left them with a unique set of challenges to overcome. Social construction theory …


Enhancing Data-Driven Process Quality Control In Metal Additive Manufacturing: Sensor Fusion, Physical Knowledge Integration, And Anomaly Detection, Christian E. Zamiela May 2024

Enhancing Data-Driven Process Quality Control In Metal Additive Manufacturing: Sensor Fusion, Physical Knowledge Integration, And Anomaly Detection, Christian E. Zamiela

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation aims to provide critical methodological advancements for sensor fusion and physics-informed machine learning in metal additive manufacturing (MAM) to assist practitioners in detecting quality control structural anomalies. In MAM, there is an urgent need to improve knowledge of the internal layer fusion process and geometric variation occurring during the directed energy deposition processes. A core challenge lies in the cyclic heating process, which results in various structural abnormalities and deficiencies, reducing the reproducibility of manufactured components. Structural abnormalities include microstructural heterogeneities, porosity, deformation and distortion, and residual stresses. Data-driven monitoring in MAM is needed to capture process variability, …


Full Issue, Volume 12, Number 1, Donna J. Peterson, Scott Cummings May 2024

Full Issue, Volume 12, Number 1, Donna J. Peterson, Scott Cummings

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.


Strengthening Families Affected By Intimate Partner Violence: A Pilot Evaluation Of A Rural Extension Program, Pamela B. Payne, Jill Baker-Tingey May 2024

Strengthening Families Affected By Intimate Partner Violence: A Pilot Evaluation Of A Rural Extension Program, Pamela B. Payne, Jill Baker-Tingey

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Heart and Hope (H&H) was designed to provide parenting education and social-emotional skills to children and parents exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) in rural Nevada. The goal was to evaluate IPV efforts by measuring parent (N = 47) and children’s (N =100) knowledge and behavior change around building healthy relationships and improved parenting practices following exposure to IPV and the H&H curriculum. Results indicated significant increases in both perceived knowledge and behavior change, suggesting that the program is effective in strengthening family relationships, improving parenting practices, developing emotional competency, and helping families envision a positive future. One of the …


Pilot Evaluation Of Programmatic Elements For First-Generation And Historically Marginalized Doctoral Students And Their Families, Bridget A. Walsh, Sarah Mitchell, Emmanuel Kyeremeh Addai, Matthew Aguirre, Keira Hambrick May 2024

Pilot Evaluation Of Programmatic Elements For First-Generation And Historically Marginalized Doctoral Students And Their Families, Bridget A. Walsh, Sarah Mitchell, Emmanuel Kyeremeh Addai, Matthew Aguirre, Keira Hambrick

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

While research demonstrates that family support is essential for doctoral students, research detailing institutional efforts to involve families is limited. We developed the GAIN Scholars program, consisting of two 3-week-long boot camps for incoming first-generation and historically marginalized doctoral students. Quantitative data were collected from 38 doctoral students in the GAIN Scholars program (n = 22) and the control (n = 16). One key component of this program was family support for doctoral students. Family members (n = 15) were invited to the opening ceremony, a day of programming, and online activities. Pre- and post-test measures indicate participants had a …


Female Choice: Attraction In The Animal Kingdom, Lindsay Culpepper May 2024

Female Choice: Attraction In The Animal Kingdom, Lindsay Culpepper

Honors Theses

Across taxa, choosing a mate is one of the most crucial decisions a female can make. This choice can come with direct benefits like protection and parenting assistance, but it may also provide indirect benefits through the survival of her offspring and thus the continuation of her genes. The female considers numerous qualities when making that choice, evaluating aspects of potential mates’ physical appearance and behavior. Understanding female choice is crucial to effective animal conservation and management, as it has significant implications for captive breeding programs, both in terms of output and in preparing offspring for release. This thesis will …


Evaluating A Short Duration Relationship And Marriage Education (Rme) Event Across Time And Format: 8 Years Of Learning, Pamela B. Payne, Naomi Brower May 2024

Evaluating A Short Duration Relationship And Marriage Education (Rme) Event Across Time And Format: 8 Years Of Learning, Pamela B. Payne, Naomi Brower

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The COVID-19 pandemic changed how short-term relationship and marriage education (RME) reached participants for events such as the Utah Marriage Celebration Conference. This article examines participant-perceived relationship knowledge from an annual marriage conference that began prior to the pandemic and has continued through the disruption (from 2015 through 2022). Results indicate this short-duration marriage conference does improve participant-perceived knowledge across years [t(2381) = 59.84, p = .001]. Further, results indicate that online participants rate their perceived relationship knowledge as higher than in-person participants at both pre [F(1, 2752) = 153.0, p = .001] and post [F(7, 2594) = 25.14, p …


The Left Must Rediscover Free Speech And Academic Freedom, Albena Azmanova, Enzo Rossi Apr 2024

The Left Must Rediscover Free Speech And Academic Freedom, Albena Azmanova, Enzo Rossi

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

The conflict in Gaza has brought to a boil the systematic threat to academic freedom and freedom of speech in Western liberal democracies. This neo-McCarthyism can only be countered by a united front not only within the Left, but across the left-right ideological divide.


On The Political Economy Of Knowledge-Production - An Interview With Richard Wolff, Maria Cernat Apr 2024

On The Political Economy Of Knowledge-Production - An Interview With Richard Wolff, Maria Cernat

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

With her interview with Marxian economist Richard Wolff, Maria Cernat launches the two-part series on the political economy of knowledge production.