Digital Commons Network^™

Reimagining The Radical: Gender, Genre, And Anti-Fascism In Women's Writing At Mid-Century, Allison Nick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation looks at the work of four women writers—Martha Gellhorn, Elizabeth Bowen, Pearl S. Buck, and Rebecca West—who are united in their transnational commitment to critiquing the global rise of fascism and the fraught democratic imperatives of their own countries. “Reimagining the Radical” focuses on the temporal gap between modernism and postmodernism and is inspired by work from scholars like Marina MacKay, Lyndsey Stonebridge, and Beryl Pong to claim and define mid-century literature. By rethinking the bounds of modernism, “Reimagining the Radical” also seeks to fill the gaps in feminist history—between the suffragism of the early 20th century and …

Affording The Value Of Technology: Normalcy And Moral Frameworks, Mitchell Roberts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is often held that technology is value neutral. That is, technology is merely a means to an end and has no intrinsic moral worth. However, as some theorists have demonstrated, this view of technology may be mistaken. One theorist, Michael Klenk, offers what he calls an “affordance theory of embodied values” as one principled way of understanding how technological artifacts embody moral values. Under this view, artifacts embody affordances, or possibilities for action. These affordances are then judged in order to assess the moral status of the artifact which embeds them. In this paper, I develop one problem with …

Detection Of Rayleigh Faded Signal Using Two Distributed Sensors, Sayantan Saha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Distributed detection(DD) is an area of interest in the Cognitive Radio(CR) Network domain. With the help of geographically dispersed sensors and a Fusion Center(FC) (i.e. the network element which generates the global network decision), a DD system can determine the presence or absence of a primary user signal. This prevents any harmful interference by a secondary user who is trying to gain access to the unoccupied spectrum opportunistically. DD system gained its popularity in spectrum analysis due to the limited bandwidth of the reporting channels between the sensors and their fusion center.

"Since I Laid My Burden Down": A Comparative Analysis Of An African American Spiritual, Damein Dameco Wash

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This master's thesis presents a comparative analysis of the African American spiritual "Since I Laid My Burden Down." Through the use of various sources, including scholarly articles, books, and recordings, the origins, themes, and musical structures of the spiritual are explored. The study examines the historical context of African American spirituals and the importance of the call-and-response style, as well as the influence of gospel and blues music. The thesis also analyzes the performances of the song by Triumph The Church & Kingdom of God in Christ (2022), Mrs. Ulanda Crivens (2023), Shardé Thomas (2017), Othar Tuner (1982), Mississippi John …

Improving Act Mathematics Scores In A Rural Mississippi Independent School: An Applied Research Study, Michael Curtis Mccain Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents an applied research study focused on improving ACT mathematics scores in a rural Mississippi independent school. The study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of increased mathematics instructional time and curriculum mapping on improving the percentage of students meeting the College Readiness Benchmark scores on the ACT mathematics subtest. The research focuses on two elements, instructional time and curriculum alignment. Students were assigned to a mathematics lab in addition to their standard curriculum mathematics course to increase the amount of mathematics instructional time. The curriculum of the mathematics lab was subsequently aligned to the ACT mathematics standards. …

New Pharmacist Practitioner Experiences Of Listening And Responding To Patient-Driven Misinformation, Saara Zakkiya Nasruddin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background/Objectives

The infodemic, layered with partisan politics and unsubstantiated medical claims, placed pharmacists in a position to not only have to actively stay up-to-date on developing COVID-19 information but also COVID-19 misinformation. While pharmacists are taught which sources to trust for guidance on public health concerns, it is unclear how new pharmacist practitioners (NPP) were prepared and able to handle patient-driven misinformation. The primary objective of this study is to describe NPP experiences of handling COVID-19-related misinformation presented by patients.

Methods

The study included semi-structured interviews over Zoom with a sample population of St. John’s University (SJU) and University of …

The Effects Of Google Smart Compose On The Process Of Open-Ended Writing, Sijan Shrestha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recently, a lot of new natural language models have been developed which help individuals with writing. One of the widely used tools is Google’s Smart Compose which is a text-predictive system that helps individuals to write by reducing the need for repetitive typing. Though this tool has been well established and used by a lot of people, there is a lack of studies on its impact on open-ended writing.

In this thesis, we investigate the effect of Google’s Smart Compose in open-ended writing. To do this, we built a custom software that collects data while the users are writing on …

Unveiling Mississippi's Artistic Souls: A Documentary Journey, Sandip Rai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This MFA thesis presents a short documentary film focusing on the lives and artistic processes of four distinct artists residing in Mississippi: Andrew Bryant, Anne Scott Barrett, Jared Spears, and Stephen Brown (5th Child). The film delves into the intricacies of each artist's creative journey, capturing their unique perspectives and offering invaluable insights into their artistic endeavors.

Over the course of more than a year, this documentary underwent numerous revisions and refinements to ensure its significance both to the public audience and, most importantly, to the featured artists themselves. As an artist, the filmmaker was deeply motivated to unravel the …

Genomic And Metabolomic Investigation Into Xenic Cyanobacterial And Algal Cultures From Northern Mississippi, Alexis Dawn Wagner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cyanobacteria are well-known for their production of a vast array of secondary metabolites. Cyanobacteria are found in marine, aquatic, and terrestrial environments. Due to their production of an abundance of natural products, cyanobacteria may have significant applications in biotechnological, industrial, agricultural, and pharmacological fields. Although they have many beneficial implications, they are also known producers of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). These HABs can exude toxins into the marine environments, while decomposition of their biomass can create hypoxic zones. These HABs can lead to ecosystem destruction, wildlife death, and human health impacts. In order to better understand the metabolic capabilities and …

Mechanisms And Consequences Of Competition Between Microstegium Vimineum And Native Plants And Their Relevance To Invasion Theory And Oak Woodland Restoration, Griffin L. Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Previous work has shown that ecological communities with high species diversity are resistant to invasion, but evidence is lacking in woodland restoration conditions with native groundcover and oak species for the competitively superior invader: Microstegium vimineum. I addressed the following questions: (1) Does diversity-mediated competitive resistance resist invasion by M. vimineum, and what is the competitive effect of M. vimineum on resident plant diversity? (2) How do aboveground and soil-mediated competitive effects of M. vimineum influence survival of two perennial forbs at two sites of different M. vimineum productivity? (3) Are there species differences in acorn supply and seed removal, …

Anharmonic Vibrational Frequencies Of Large Hydrocarbons, Brent Robertson Westbrook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the proposed carriers of the unidentified infrared bands (UIRs) observed in widely varied astronomical environments. However, experimental investigation of PAHs has proven difficult as a result of their large size. As such, our knowledge of PAH vibrational spectra, and by extension the molecular carriers of UIRs, is limited to computed spectra. Despite the vast quantity of such data available, most of it has been generated using methods of relatively low quality, again due to the size of the systems in question. This work presents methods for extending the application of highly-accurate theoretical spectroscopic techniques to …

Bounds For Symplectic Capacities Of Rotated 4-Polytopes, Matthew Palmer Zediker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Symplectic capacities are a central tool from quantitative symplectic topology which act as symplectic invariants, distinguishing symplectic manifolds as different. There are a wide variety of capacities common in the literature today. The still-open Viterbo conjecture states all normalized symplectic capacities coincide on convex domains. Even upper bounds for these capacities are not completely understood, and there are many hard computational barriers. The recent work of Chaidez and Hutchings as well as that of Haim-Kislev have yielded results simplifying computation of a capacity in the case of convex polytopes. In this thesis, we prove an upper bound on normalized capacities …

Distraction By Any Other Name? The Impact Of Music On Social Exclusion Recovery, Sydney G. Wicks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Across three experiments, this work investigated whether the effectiveness of music on social exclusion recovery was greater than that of other distracting noises. I hypothesized that listening to music would be effective in improving needs satisfaction after instances of rejection (being explicitly disliked; Study 1) or ostracism (being ignored; Studies 2-3). Further, I examined whether this effectiveness was mediated by reduced rumination, increased emotional engagement (feeling moved by audio), and increased parasocial experiences (sense of one-sided psychological bonds). Ultimately, music was shown to be effective (albeit, relatively) in improving one’s needs when compared to a baseline condition. Additionally, listening to …

Service-Learning: A Key To Effective Communication For Radiologic Sciences Students, Chelsea Palmer Stephens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many healthcare entities across the globe are moving away from the idea of only treating patients’ diseases to a model of focusing on the overall well-being of patients. Because of this change, healthcare academia must also focus on this change when helping educate clinical practitioners. One major proponent of this type of care is effective communication between the practitioner and the patient. In order to help students grow in this vital attribute, educators must think outside the normal realm of academia and incorporate experiential learning strategies. One method that is often used to place students in an active environment with …

The Champion Of "The Permanent Things:" The Imaginative Conservatism Of Russell Kirk, Robert Nisbet, And Richard Weaver, Xiang Xu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

My dissertation deals with the intellectual thought of Russell Kirk, Robert Nisbet, and Richard Weaver. Renowned today as the prominent thinkers who inaugurated the postwar American conservative intellectual movement, these three thinkers by far have not received enough attention among historians as they deserved.

In my dissertation, by unpacking the central tenets of the conservative thought of the three thinkers, I try to demonstrate that their ideas were not just pertinent to the nascent American conservative movement emerging after the postwar decade, but their intellectual thought are in many ways enduring and timeless, transcending the barren limitations of their own …

Action In Causal Set Theory, Santosh Bhandari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this thesis is to explore causal set theory (CST), which proposes that at the smallest level of spacetime, discrete entities known as “spacetime atoms” are causally related to one another, forming the basis for understanding quantum gravity. While theories such as general relativity that operate on a continuous manifold are more appropriate when dealing with the universe on a large scale, it is crucial for the discrete causal points in CST to maintain their causal structure during the continuum approximation to ensure consistency with general relativity. One way to preserve the causal structure is to accurately embed …

Transportability Of Adversarial Attack, Jonggu Park

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this thesis is to leverage machine learning algorithms to introduce adversarial cloaks, or noise, into images containing real individuals and assess whether the resulting images still accurately represent human subjects. Specifically, I seek to discern whether images featuring avatars, placed in the same spatial configuration as humans and subjected to similar perturbations, can be effectively used to generate adversarial examples capable of fully masking a person. By analyzing the probability of correctly identifying personhood, I strive to establish a method of utilizing virtual avatars to provide increased privacy for users. This research has significant implications for advancing …

Experimental And Modeling Approaches To Groundwater Flow And Self-Potential For Estimating Aquifer Parameters And Investigating Surface-Groundwater Interaction, Md Lal Mamud

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents an exploration of the Self-Potential (SP) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) methods applied within the context of the Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) project near the Tallahatchie River at Shellmound, MS. The research introduces tools and methodologies, including 80-electrode SP data acquisition systems (80E-SPDAS) and the Hydro-Electrical Aquifer Properties Estimator (HEAPE), to measure SP data in the laboratory and the field. The first segment of the dissertation introduces the Hydro- Electrical Aquifer Properties Estimator (HEAPE), an apparatus designed for high-resolution Self-Potential (SP) data collection. The HEAPE apparatus is utilized in laboratory experiments to measure SP under varying conditions …

Has Journalism Education Kept Up With Digital Transformation?, Md Sazzad Hossain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the digital world, journalism is a highly technology-dependent profession (Goni & Tabassum 2020). But there are gaps between what journalism schools teach and what employers want (Wenger and Owens, 2013). As a result, students, educators, and professionals demand the development of specific digital skills (Lee 2022). This study examines how journalism educators adapt their programs to respond to changing media environments and to the demands of professional journalism in the digital age. The researcher used a quantitative survey method to target the 119 journalism and mass communication programs accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass …

Voices From Below: The Politics Of Leprosy Control In Southeastern Nigeria, 1926-1960, Odinakachukwu Kingsley Eze

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Leprosy was an endemic disease in colonial Southeastern Nigeria but became an epidemic between the 1920s and 1940s. Unlike malaria and sleeping sickness, its endemicity did not impede European penetration at the dawn of the twentieth century. However, its spread across Nigeria intensified during colonial rule, with acute prevalence in regions hitherto prone to the disease. Therefore, from the 1920s to 1960, Southeastern Nigeria became the epicenter of British policies tailored towards preventing, curing, and eradicating leprosy disease in Nigeria. Existing research has established the involvement of different actors in this course–including Christian missionaries, colonial officials, specialized agencies, and international …

Molecular Dynamics Simulations For The Mechanical Behavior Of Alpha Quartz With Void Defects Under Tension, Yu Jia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The structural and mechanical properties of void-free and single-void α-quartz were investigated using MD simulations with three different interatomic potentials (BKS, Vashishta and Tersoff). Two distinct ensembles, NVT and NPT, were separately applied to investigate the tensile response of α-quartz under uniaxial strain and uniaxial stress states. A comprehensive comparison among different potentials, as well as comparison with currently available experiments, has been made. The BKS and Vashishta potentials accurately predicted the structural properties of void-free α-quartz, while the Tersoff potential was deviated significantly from the experimental data. Under tension, the BKS did a better description for the mechanical performance …

Gender Differences And Directionality Of Intimate Partner Violence, Nate Juda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The academic discipline of intimate partner violence (IPV) is currently divided into two prevailing perspectives: the feminist perspective, which asserts IPV is a product of the long history of acceptance and encouragement of wife-beating, stemming from patriarchal values; and the gender-inclusive model, that finds IPV reflects multifunctional etiologies, across the types and severities of IPV, with both men and women as perpetrators and victims at similar rates. However, a review of the extant literature does not support either of these conclusions. There is a growing body of research evidence that suggest women are more likely than men to commit IPV. …

Attitudes Toward Arabic-English Code Switching In Saudi Society, Tareq Aldosari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study is designed to explore the attitudes of Saudi students at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University toward code switching between colloquial Arabic and English and toward borrowing from the English language in Saudi society, considering two significant variables: major studied and gender. The study utilized two tools: a) questionnaires that the participants fill out after listening to recordings demonstrating code switching, borrowing and Arabic-only and b) interviews that were conducted to explore further the participants’ attitudes and the reasons behind them. Both tools considered three dimensions: superiority, attractiveness, and dynamism of the speakers. One hundred twenty questionnaires were distributed …

“To Save My Own Life:” The Revisionary And Sustaining Practice Of Autotheory, Margaret Zee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Autotheory, a hybrid of autobiography and literary theory, is the term Paul B. Preciado used to describe his book Testo Junkie (2008), a term Maggie Nelson then borrowed as a label for her book The Argonauts (2015). Though the term autotheory is relatively new, such hybrid writing has a rich literary history which I trace to intersectional feminist writers like Audre Lorde, Gloria Anzaldúa, and bell hooks in chapter 1’s genealogy. I argue that autotheory participates in theory’s work even as it revises certain Theoretical assumptions that hold sway in the academy today. This dissertation names three contemporary American books …

How Prepared Are They? Mississippi Teachers’ Perceptions Of Preparedness For English Learners In Content Area Classrooms, Michelle Turonek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ perceptions of preparedness for English learners in Mississippi content area classrooms. Specifically, the study examined the feelings and experiences teachers had on their preparedness for English learners. While researching teacher perceptions, the study also attempted to discover the reasoning behind their preparedness through pre-service coursework, professional development, and strategies of second language acquisition. A qualitative approach was used through interviews and a survey to investigate how teachers perceived their preparedness and expressed their experiences. Data was collected from ten Mississippi teachers throughout the state and analyzed by the researcher to identify …

Habitat Characteristics That Drive Habitat Selection In Hyla Chrysoscelis (Southern Gray Treefrog) And Aquatic Insects, Ruric Bowman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Organisms must navigate complex landscapes selecting suitable habitats that will minimize costs to themselves or their offspring and maximize fitness. Habitat characteristics influence a patch’s quality and organisms may prioritize certain characteristics when selecting among patches. Canopy cover and patch size are two important habitat characteristics that organisms use to evaluate a patch’s quality. To understand whether canopy cover or patch size are a better determinant of patch quality for southern gray treefrogs, Hyla chrysoscelis and aquatic insects I implemented a compromise design that provided two suboptimal patch types (large, closed canopy and small, open canopy patches) for colonization. A …

The Mississippi School Funding Formula: A Study Of Adequacy, Marcus E. Cheeks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this was to examine the relationship between Mississippi public school district per pupil funding disaggregated by funding source (total, federal, state, and local) and student academic achievement gaps within districts based on poverty and race. Pearson's correlational coefficient was used to assess the relationship across 139 Mississippi school districts during fiscal year 2019. State Special Schools, Charter Schools, and Agriculture Schools were excluded from the analysis. School districts lacking a sufficient number of African American and Economically Disadvantaged children to calculate a school proficiency score in ELA and Math were also removed. Thus, the analysis consisted of …

Theoretical Spectroscopy Of Electronically Excited States, Megan Christina Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Modelling of spectroscopic properties is useful for detection of species which are di_- cult to study in the laboratory. Full reproduction of electronic spectra depends upon reliable spectroscopic data of electronically excited states. However, no means of producing accurate fundamental vibrational frequencies of these states exist. This doctoral work consists of applications of theoretical spectra for prediction and identification of novel species as well as attempts to extend this methodology to effectively treat electronically excited states. The former includes the study of conformers of methanediol and a set of [Al,N,C,O] isomers. The latter is done using equation-of-motion theory to form …

Through The Media's Eyes: The Media Coverage Of The 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike And The Assassination Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ashton Brooks Logan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this professional project, the researcher aims to uncover media bias presented in two publications, The New York Times and The Commercial Appeal in the coverage of the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike and the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. The researcher gathered fifteen articles spanning a date range from February 13, 1968 to June 9, 1968 in order to successfully gain perspective on the various events that took place. Five research questions were presented to investigate the diversity of direct quotes, writing style, story placement and length of stories. Three individuals assisted in interpreting the articles using …

Lack Of Institutional Control: An Analysis Of Ncaa Football Bowl Subdivision Public Infractions Case Decisions, Julie K. Owen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Division I college athletics is a billion-dollar industry where success or scandal can impact the entire university. This research endeavored to identify the characteristics of infractions cases at the Division I, Football Bowl Subdivision level resulting in lack of institutional control violations and how those have changed over time. Lack of institutional control is the most serious NCAA violation for an institution; therefore this finding can have the most detrimental impact on a university. Despite that, lack of institutional control is not defined and there is no safe harbor for universities seeking to demonstrate sufficient control over their athletics programs. …