Digital Commons Network^™

Branching Fraction Measurements Of Ξc + → Σ+H+H− And Λc + → P+H+H− Using Belle Ii Monte Carlo, Azwad Adnan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Charmed baryon decays are a great place to probe and search for physics beyond the Standard Model. The Belle II experiment is equipped to explore this area with high statistics datasets to shed light on any potential anomalies. In addition to searches for new physics, the Belle II data samples can be used to make SM measurements that are either missing, statistics limited, or require confirmation.

Creating A Caring, Accountable, Respectable, And Engaging Environment (2care2): An Applied Research Study To Address Chronic Absenteeism, Eula Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I will explore some of the root causes behind middle school students' failure to attend class. Data shows that students are labeled chronically absent when they miss more than 10% of a school year, regardless of the absences- expelled, unexcused, or suspended. According to the U.S. Department of Education, about seven million students were labeled chronically absent in the 2015-16 school year, equating to roughly one out of every six students across the United States being absent for 15 or more days. The problem exists nationwide; however, it is more prominent in urban areas with low socioeconomic …

A Case For Digital Coaches, Elise Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In response to COVID-19, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) invested approximately $295 million to support digital learning efforts. This investment, referred to as the Mississippi Connects Initiative, funded state level infrastructure improvement, bulk device purchasing, digital subscription purchasing, telehealth and teletherapy resources, and professional learning for educators. Focusing on professional learning, this study aimed to determine if differences existed between schools that did and did not receive professional learning via the digital learning coaching program.

The data used in this study was collected in the spring of the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years, using the BrightBytes® Technology and Learning …

Vascular Adaptations To Single Sprint Training, Matthew Alexander Chatlaong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Recent sprint interval training studies suggest cardiorespiratory fitness improves after training with 2 x 20s but not 1 x 20s. While insufficient for improving whole-body cardiorespiratory fitness, vascular function or other components of cardiorespiratory fitness may improve. It is unknown if brief intense exercise bouts are sufficient for improvements in these outcomes. This initial exploratory work investigated these outcomes to facilitate future research in this area. Purpose: Investigate changes in micro- and macro-vascular function in young, untrained adults following 4-weeks of single sprint training. Methods: 46 healthy, untrained participants ages 18-35 were allocated to either a training or time-matched …

Advancing Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion: A Graduate Portfolio On Lebonheur Children's Hospital Initiatives, James Lee Hawkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In every facet of life, diversity finds a way to play a role. By advocating for, acknowledging, and drawing attention to the disparities that emerge within the various spaces people may encounter, we consciously strive to bridge the gap, aiming for a future that is more equitable and inclusive. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have not only become personal moral imperatives but also essential pillars at the forefront for companies, healthcare, educational institutions, and businesses alike.

Polymer Coated Microneedles, A Novel Technology For Drug Delivery And Sampling, Deeksha Jakka

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Microneedles are used to deliver drugs to the skin and the mucous membrane. Soluble polymers are used to make soluble microneedles; these polymers instantly dissolve in the tissue and release their entire drug load, including the polymer construct. To reduce the severity of side effects at the site of administration and systemic unfavorable effects, it is often better for the drug to release slowly into the tissue. Furthermore, it is safe and effective to release the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) under controlled release, excluding the excipients.

In the first chapter, Polymer-Coated Polymeric (PCP) microneedles were fabricated using PVP K 30 …

Data Driven Approaches To Study Gravitational Waves From Binary Black Hole Mergers, Akshay Khadse

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In a matter of a hundred years, we have come from the time when Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves to today, where multiple detections of gravitational waves in a week are not surprising. We are headed towards a future where, with advanced detectors, not only will the frequency of gravitational wave events increase even higher, but we will also discover new gravitational wave sources. Numerical Relativity is catching up to this challenge, and we now have dozens of independent NR codes and multiple gravitational waveform catalogues. As NR codes continue to improve, it is essential to compare …

A Quantitative Study Of The Effectiveness Of The University Of Mississippi's Biology Bootcamp, Nicole Lewis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is a growing demand for a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) trained workforce in the United States. In order to remain globally competitive, the US needs to increase the STEM workforce not only in numbers but also diversity. Colleges and universities throughout the US need to not only gain STEM majors but retain them through graduation. Research has shown that the majority of STEM students struggle their first year in college for a variety of reasons. Many academics agree that incoming freshman need to integrate both socially and academically to prevent attrition. This has led to the creation …

Search For Cpt And Lorentz Invariance Violation In The Fnal Muon G − 2 Experiment, Baisakhi Mitra

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The discrepancy between theoretical and experimental values for the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, aμ, is one of the most important indications for new physics. The Muon g−2 experiment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL) aims to measure the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon to a record precision of 140 parts per billion using data taken over six years from 2018 to 2023. The first result which was based on the Run-1 data comprises 6% of the total statistics. The Runs 2 and 3 data were collected in 2019-2020 and published in 2023. These results measured the positive …

A Machine Learning Approach To Managing 5g Network Slicing In The O-Ran Environment, Mohammad Omari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis is to assess the performance of a data-drivennetwork scheduler in optimizing network performance in a three-slice 5G wireless cellular network. Each slice represents a distinct 5G traffic category or use case. These slices operate on the same underlying physical core and radio network; how- ever, they appear as independent networks from the end-user perspective. This work models the resource scheduling problem as a Markov decision process. A dataset of key performance measurements of a 5G network is constructed using MATLAB to train a deep Q-network reinforcement learning agent. Simulation results show that the agent can …

Fabrication And Evaluation Of Polyetherimide Membranes Containing Pluronic® P 123 And Graphene For Separation Of Bovine Serum Albumin From Water: A Comparison Between Two Fabrication Methods, Mohammad Hosein Moghadasin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Polyetherimide (PEI) ultrafiltration membranes were created and evaluated for their ability to separate bovine serum albumin (BSA) from water using two fabrication methods: nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) and vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS). In the NIPS method, membranes were made with varying amounts of Pluronic® P-123 and with or without graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The membrane with 1 wt.% Pluronic® P-123 exhibited the best performance, achieving a pure water flux (PWF) of 355 L m-2 h-1 (LMH) and a rejection rate of 90.9%. Adding 1 wt.% GNPs to this system further improved performance, resulting in a PWF of 747 LMH and …

Analytical Performance Evaluation Of Denm Loss In V2v Sidechannel Communications, Avijit Sarker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation is to quantify the loss of Decentralized Environmental Notification Messages (DENMs) in a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) scenario in which DENMs are transmitted over subchannels of the sidelink (SL) specifically allocated for DENM transmission, with vehicular user equipments (VUE) autonomously selecting and managing the radio resources for transmitting DENMs. A slot-based discrete parameter, discrete-valued Markov Chain (DVMC) model that reflects DENM generation requirements for an ensemble of VUEs is developed. This model simultaneously acknowledges the potentially bursty nature and correlations within the DENM generation process and is used to assess DENM loss. DENM loss is determined according …

Synchronous, Asynchronous, Or Neither: Examining The Effects Of A Single-Session Prevention Program On Student Mental Health, Katelyn M. Sharpe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Young adults (aged 18-25) were identified as the most stressed age group due to internal and external factors that are relatively unique to their group. High stress levels are alarming as they coincide with a multitude of adverse effects on psychological health, including difficulty falling and staying asleep, reduction in overall sleep quality, and exacerbated depression and anxiety symptomatology. Young adults attending post-secondary education institutions are at particular risk for developing and maintaining these adverse psychological effects of stress, especially considering the low rate in which they seek treatment for psychiatric difficulties. Limited literature exists to date regarding condensing a …

Inclusive Measurement Of Upsilon(4s) To Upsilon(1s) Decays With Belle Ii Data, John Wilson Stacy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An inclusive measurement of ϒ(4S) decays to ϒ(1S) is reported. Using 364.5 fb−1 of Belle II data collected at the ϒ(4S) center-of-mass energy, ϒ(4S) → ϒ(1S) decays are identified via a fit to the μ+μ− invariant mass spectrum. Backgrounds from initial state radiation production of ϒ(1S) are subtracted using a fit to 42.6 fb−1 of data collected below the ϒ(4S) center-of-mass energy. Using our models and values taken from literature, the inclusive branching ratio for inclusive ϒ(4S) decays to ϒ(1S) can be measured with a statistical uncertainty of 5.1% and a systematic uncertainty of 14.8%.

Tidal Perturbations Of Kerr Spacetime And Their Impact On Orbits, L. Joseph Rivest

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

I develop a software package to produce and analyze tidally perturbed geodesics in a Kerr background spacetime. Though my simulations do not include radiation reaction, they are a good proxy for Extreme Mass-Ratio Inspirals (EMRI) in a perturbing environment. The goal of this work is to categorize cases in which perturbations are likely to bias Gravity Wave (GW) signals detected by the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) strongly enough to require additional modeling. I limit my investigation to static perturbation fields. I perform metric reconstruction in the Geroch-Held-Penrose (GHP) formalism followed by a novel approach to the derivation of the …

Combatting Suicidality In The Military: Harnessing Forgiveness And Self-Regulation Against The Harrowing Effects Of Moral Injury And Suicidality, Mikaela J. Raley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with military backgrounds are significantly more likely to experience mental health concerns, including suicidal ideation. Moral injury, which is associated with suicidality, is the feeling of shame, grief, and guilt associated with perpetrating, failing to prevent, or witnessing morally transgressive acts. According to the Moral Injury Model, when one acts or witnesses an act that transgresses their moral beliefs, they experience dissonance and internal conflict. A topic that has not yet been studied in terms of moral injury is the positive psychology construct of character strengths, including forgiveness and self-regulation. This study hypothesized ratings of suicide would be positively …

Evolving To Abstraction - Seclusion Of Efik And Ibibio Women From The Precolonial Era To The Present, Itunuoluwa Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Female seclusion was an important cultural practice to the Efik and Ibibio peoples in southernmost Nigeria. Before the advent of Western education in the precolonial and colonial eras, it was particularly essential to the development of the girl child as she received a first-rate education and preparation for maturity, marriage, and motherhood. However, despite its crucial role in both cultural societies, studies on the Efik and Ibibio female seclusion cultures are far and in-between. Furthermore, the nkuho and mbopo – as they are called in Efik and Ibibio respectively – are often analyzed and presented as one singular entity, in …

Dunc13 Isoforms, Rim, And Rab3 Differentially Modulate Ethanol Sedation Sensitivity In Drosophila Melanogaster., Gaurav Shrestha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dunc13 is a Drosophila active zone protein homologous to the mammalian Munc13that interacts with RIM and Rab3 as a heterotrimer. Alcohol binds to the C1 domain of Dunc13/Munc13 and inhibits its ability to bind to Diacylglycerol, inhibiting neuronal signaling. The genetic reduction of Dunc13 activity in the Dunc13P84200/+ heterozygotes induces a state in flies that mimics alcohol tolerance, evidenced by increased self-administration, and behavioral, physiological, and molecular resistance. This includes changes in the expression of key synaptic proteins, such as decreased expression of Dunc13 and Syb mRNA, and increased expression of Rim and Rab3 4hrs after ethanol exposure. Dunc13 has …

Mental Health In Rural Mississippi Counties: Experiences And Beliefs Of African American Pastors, Angela R. Adams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

African Americans seek formal mental health treatment services at lower rates than white Americans (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2024) and higher risk of mental illness exists among rural African Americans (Haynes et al., 2017). Religiousness and spirituality have emerged as widely utilized coping methods among African Americans, therefore it is important to understand pastoral perspectives on mental health. In addition to the type of services being sought, the decision to seek help plays an important role in treatment utilization. Along these lines, two theoretical frameworks were used to formulate this study, the Theory of Planned Behavior …

3d-Printed Clay Composites For Lunar Habitats: Graphene And Simulant Integration, Omar Algharibeh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Developing sustainable construction materials for lunar habitats is critical for advancing extraterrestrial exploration, supporting a long-term human presence on the Moon, and advancing earth-based, resilient, locally available resources. Our primary goal is to utilize indigenous resource-based construction materials and 3D printing technology to reduce payloads and streamline the materials processing procedures. Additionally, enhancing the performance of native binding materials, such as those formed from local rocks and sand, may require the integration of low-cost nano-additives. These nano-additives can significantly improve the fresh and hardened properties of 3D-printed construction materials. This research focused on optimizing the mechanical performance of a clay …

Linguistic Gender Differences In English Among Saudi Medical Students In Online Courses, Ala Mohammed Alshahrani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research explores gender differences in language use among Saudi medical students in online courses. Employing purposive sampling, the study, aims to comprehend the influence of gender on language patterns and communication styles in online education. Data collection involves online interviews with five teachers and survey questionnaires administered to twenty actively enrolled Saudi medical students. The interviews provide insights into language use patterns in the online learning environment, while surveys offer a broader perspective on student language use. Thematic analysis unveils recurring themes: “courses developed,” “reasons for online courses,” “interaction among male and female students in online courses,” “comfort …

Student Leadership In The Musical Ensemble: A Descriptive Study, Anna Bullock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research study investigated the nature of student leadership opportunities in middle school, high school, and collegiate ensembles. It comprehensively reviewed existing research and proposed potential avenues for future developments. Through a descriptive inquiry, the investigation aimed to ascertain whether similar outcomes are observed across all facets of music education classrooms, including choir, band, and orchestra. The exploratory nature of this study lends itself to no specific hypotheses; however, the findings may have implications for music education classrooms.

The research questions are structured based on relevant literature to uncover the skills conferred by occupying a student leadership position. Subjects were …

Applied Research For Improving The Behavior Intervention Process With The Help Of School Counselors, Teachers, And Administrators, Amberly T. Chapman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored how improvements to a district’s multi-tiered system of supports can improve the behavior interventions implemented for students needing behavioral support. Districts with poorly functioning intervention systems fail to provide students with the proper academic and behavioral support they need. School counselors are integral to the success of schools and districts and their participation in the MTSS process. This study examined the creation and implementation of behavior intervention and the additional support school counselors provide to students receiving the interventions. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used in this study and the program was evaluated at the conclusion.

Elucidating The Mechanisms Of Myosin Ii Force Feedback And Coordination In Actomyosin Ensembles, Omayma Alazzam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation delves into the dynamics of myosin II motors within actomyosin networks, emphasizing their crucial role in muscle functionality and the broader implications for cardiovascular health. Given the critical involvement of myosin II in conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and heart failure, this research presented here is important for understanding such diseases at the molecular level. Through the use of fluorescence microscopy and optical tweezers, the study reveals novel insights into how myosin II generates force and coordinates within myosin ensembles—a key to grasping the mechanics of muscle contraction. Specifically, this work aimed to unravel the mechanisms of …

Effects Of Music-Induced Arousal On Spatial Cognition, April Marie Joyner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Arousal is known to influence the manner in which spatial stimuli are processed and remembered. Although music is considered a spatial stimulus, the relationship between music-induced arousal through music listening and spatial ability remains understudied. This study was designed to determine whether arousal induced by musical stimuli differentially impacts memory performance on a map learning task created to measure spatial memory. Participants were exposed to two different pieces of music selected to induce either high or low arousal or were exposed to a control condition in which music was not presented. Participants listened to music or completed multiplication problems prior …

The Effect Of A Scarcity Mindset On External Auditors' Reliance On The Internal Audit Function, Brett Patterson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Audit regulators are concerned that times of economic uncertainty will likely cause external auditors to misuse the work of the internal audit function (IAF). These concerns are consistent with prior psychology research finding that objective poverty or a subjective, perceived lack of resources induces a scarcity mindset, which then leads to counterproductive economic behaviors. Therefore, I examine the effect of such a scarcity mindset on external auditors’ IAF reliance choices. In an experiment that incorporates a setting mimicking the evidence collection process, I manipulate the external auditor’s scarcity mindset and the internal audit function’s competence. I find that external auditors …

The Effects Of A Resilience Training Program On The Quality Of Life Of Children Who Stutter, Emily Lauren Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Children who stutter (CWS) are at heightened risk for decreased Quality of Life (QoL) due to the adverse impact of stuttering on daily life experiences. One way CWS may be able to lower this risk is through increasing their resilience to negatively-charged events. Resilience, defined as the ability to thrive in the face of adversity through application of one’s available resources, is a dynamic trait that can be learned to help individuals respond to adverse situations in a healthy and positive manner. Resilience Training can provide a viable avenue for CWS to ameliorate the adverse impact of stuttering on their …

Fostering Inclusive Excellence For Black Women In Undergraduate Computing Sciences At A Predominantly White Institution, Toni Avant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Employment projections indicate that the computing sciences field is expected to increase by more than 600,000 jobs from 2020-2030. As society becomes increasingly reliant on technological innovations, the demand continues to rise for qualified graduates in this field. It is essential that employers build a diverse and inclusive workforce in order to accommodate the markets they serve. Yet, the lack of representation of Black women in the computing sciences field is of great concern.

Nourishing Narratives: A Photovoice Exploration Of Black Maternal Nutrition In Tennessee, Carissa Bacon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the perceptions of facilitators, barriers, and feelings of empowerment related to achieving healthy nutrition outcomes among pregnant and postnatal African American women in Tennessee. Data in this study was gathered utilizing the qualitative Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach of photovoice and the Transdisciplinary Contextualized Resilience Framework (TCRF) to examine factors influencing nutrition across multiple levels. The study recruited 13 African American mothers who ages ranged from 24-35 years old and who lived in the Greater Knoxville, Tn area. The study utilized a survey to capture the participants’ demographic characteristics and employed a modified version of the …

Effects Of Multiple Stressors On Pseudomonas Fluorescens Over Short And Long Timescales, Parisa Burchfield

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stressors are ubiquitous factors in biological systems that result in deviations from an organism's optimal physiological state, potentially causing fitness decreases. Stressors can be biotic (e.g., predators, parasites, competitors) or abiotic (e.g., pH changes, temperature, environmental toxins). Persistent stress can lead to population declines unless organisms respond through mechanisms such as evolutionary adaptation. Experimental evolution with microorganisms, particularly bacteria, is a powerful method for studying these phenomena due to their short generation times, large populations, as well as the ability to control their environment, and freeze and revive populations. Bacteria-phage systems, such as Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 and its lytic phage …